Bards are an extremely fun class to play in Baldur’s Gate 3. I’m playing a Bard in my four-person friend group party and I’m loving it. Here is how to make the best Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3. How to make the best Bard build in BG3 The best Bards in BG3 focus on buffing their allies with heals and support spells and debuffing the enemy with control and damage spells. To create the best Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3‚ you need the best race‚ background‚ subclass‚ spells‚ cantrips‚ companions‚ armor‚ and weapons. I know‚ it’s a lot‚ but as a resident Bard expert‚ I’ll guide you through every decision. Related: Best Bard spells and cantrips in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) Screenshot: PC Invasion Best Bard race and background in BG3 Humans‚ Githyanki‚ and Halflings make the best Bards in Baldur’s Gate 3. You want to avoid Half-Orc and Dragonborn because their race perks focus more on armor and weapons ...

Although there’s a sliding scale for how scientifically accurate science fiction can be‚ it can seem pretty fantastical no matter where on that scale it falls. While a story may not have lightsabers or phasers‚ it can still include some technology that seems like an absurdity until somebody actually figures out how to develop it. But as unbound from reality as science fiction can seem... Source

Stefanik: Time to Defund the Rot in Higher Education -- Starting With My Alma Mater

SOMEBODY Has to Tell the Truth‚ and It Ain't Gonna Be the MSM

Although Rudolph and his band of flying reindeer would certainly be a sight to behold‚ the sad reality is that reindeer cannot fly. They do‚ however‚ have a bunch of other biological superpowers‚ some of which could even teach us humans a thing or two.Prancing over jet lagSome of us switch time zones when visiting family over the holidays and whilst seeing relatives might otherwise be pleasant‚ it’s hard to feel the festive cheer when you’re experiencing an ungodly level of jet lag. Changing time zones disrupts the circadian rhythm that normally dictates our sleep/wake cycle and makes us feel pretty crummy as a consequence.Reindeer living in the Arctic‚ however‚ don’t have that problem – they can override their circadian rhythms to deal with the continuous daylight in summer and eight-week-long polar night. This is probably also why their fictional‚ gravity-defying counterparts make such excellent travel companions for Santa.“Such daily clocks may be positively a hindrance in environments where there is no reliable light dark cycle for much of the year‚” said animal biologist Professor Andrew Loudon in a statement. “Organisms use their circadian clock to correspond with their living environment; but if their environment has a very different cycle‚ it may be better to follow that rather than use the internal clock."Reindeer have to deal with a whole host of harsh conditions in the Arctic.Image credit: Pav-Pro Photography Ltd/Shutterstock.comLoudon is the co-author of a 2010 study that revealed reindeer have a rhythm of melatonin – the hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycle – secretion that responds to the environmental light/dark cycle rather than an internal circadian rhythm. The study also found that whilst reindeer appear to have the full range of normal circadian or “clock” genes‚ two of the key ones are regulated in a different way."We believe that evolution has come up with a means of switching off the cellular clockwork or perhaps that there is still a circadian rhythm running in some tissues but these are disconnected from the usual outputs – i.e. they have lost the hands but not the gears of the clock. Whether it is a stopped or disconnected clock‚ the result is a lack of internal daily timekeeping in these animals‚” explained Loudon.Analysis of the differences between reindeer and human clock genes could help researchers to better understand how we might tackle jet lag and other sleep disorders in humans‚ such as insomnia. “Many of the same genes are involved in the same processes in reindeer as they are in humans‚” geneticist Rasmus Heller told New Scientist. Heller is part of the Ruminant Genome Project (RGP)‚ which has since identified clock gene mutations in reindeer.“There are specific gene variants involved in insomnia‚ and we can compare these with the genes from reindeer to further understand how people’s circadian rhythm is affected‚” added Zhipeng Li‚ also part of the RGP.Fighting cancer with antlersReindeer are also unique in their ability to completely regenerate their antlers. Our festive friends go through a yearly cycle of antler shedding and rapid regrowth – and by rapid‚ we mean rapid. Reindeer grow their characteristic headgear back by almost an inch (2.5 centimeters) per day‚ which is pretty impressive considering antlers are fully-fledged organs‚ with blood vessels‚ nerves‚ and bones to boot. This fast growth rate sounds like it should be cause for concern – rapid cell division and growth is one of the defining traits of cancer. But surprisingly‚ reindeer and other deer species have a cancer incidence rate around five times lower than that of other mammals‚ at least out of those living in captivity.Why? Again‚ it comes down to their unique genetics.  In a study carried out as part of the RGP‚ researchers found antler-specific expression of five growth factor and receptor genes that are all crucial to driving cancer cell proliferation and survival; this could explain why antlers are able to grow so fast‚ as tumors do.What’s stopping this from turning into cancer is a series of tumor-suppressing genes‚ some of which‚ like their tumor-proliferating nemeses‚ are expressed exclusively in the antlers. Reindeer also appear to have evolved a number of other genes that support p53‚ aka “the master tumor suppressor”. p53 is the central element to one of nature’s most critical signaling pathways‚ identifying DNA damage in cells – another hallmark of cancer – and either fixing it or triggering the cell to self-destruct.With a distinctive ability to fight off malignancy‚ researchers are interested in how they can apply this knowledge to treating human cancer. “Revealing the mechanism underlying the fine balance between the unparalleled growth rate and maintenance of genome stability in the antler model would undoubtedly help further understanding of the initial occurrence of cancer and devise more targeted drugs for cancer treatment‚” wrote the authors of a recent study on antlers.Such treatments are probably a while off‚ but the potential is nonetheless there. Who needs flight or a glowing red nose when reindeer’s real superpowers were inside all along?

The MAVEN Mars orbiter witnessed a brief restoration of the long-lost Martian magnetosphere and a temporary tripling of its ionosphere‚ where the Sun ionizes the upper atmosphere.The stream of charged particles known as the solar wind waxes and wanes. Mostly these are close enough to an average figure that the effects on planets are small‚ but occasionally the cocooning magnetic field is significantly affected. We now know its distance from the Sun doesn’t prevent proportionally similar effects on Mars.The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter’s prime task is to discover how and when Mars lost its atmosphere. The solar wind is the chief suspect here‚ its constant bombardment thought to have swept most of the once-abundant air away. Consequently‚ watching the way the solar wind affects the paltry remnants of the atmosphere and its former magnetic shield is a core activity.The solar wind varies in speed‚ and sometimes a fast-moving region overtakes a slower patch. The result is a denser area‚ followed by a relative void. In late December 2022 a void worth screaming into emerged and MAVEN got to watch its effects on Mars‚ arriving on Christmas Day.A year later the results are being released in the form of a conference presentation. They reveal both the magnetosphere and atmosphere expanded‚ having briefly escaped the solar wind’s pressure. While that was inevitable‚ the extent to which each occurred was remarkable."When we first saw the data‚ and how dramatic the drop in the solar wind was‚ it was almost unbelievable‚" Professor Jasper Halekas of the University of Iowa said in a statement. "We formed a working group to study the event‚ and we have found this time period to be rich with incredible findings."          The density of solar wind particles in the void was just 1 percent of the normal‚ equivalent to going from Earth’s atmosphere to that of Mars. Both the Martian magnetosphere and ionosphere tripled in size‚ stretching by thousands of kilometers. The atmosphere as a whole also spread out‚ although of course there was no increase in gas quantity.The Martian ionosphere became demagnetized and activity faded at the boundary between the solar wind and the magnetosphere."We are really getting to see how Mars responds when the solar wind is effectively removed‚" Halekas said. "It makes for a great outlier study on what Mars would be like if it were orbiting a less ‘windy’ star."We have discovered the existence of thousands of rocky planets‚ but can only study four closely‚ a poor sample size in anyone’s terms. Extreme variations like this offer a glimpse of how things could be for one of those four if one major forces shaping it were different. Halekas is co-author of a preprint arguing the study of the effects of the Sun has been impoverished by NASA’s Heliophysics Division’s focus on Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere at the expense of other planets.This is the first time the wind has dropped to anything like this extent since MAVEN arrived at Mars nine years ago. Indeed‚ scientists studying the results had to go back to 1999 to find a time when Earth experienced anything similar.The observations and initial analysis have been presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall conference‚ with several related talks about the event and its cause. 

Along the ancient streets where Roman bigwigs once strolled‚ archaeologists have uncovered a vast mosaic still beaming with colors as impressive as they were 2‚000 years ago.First uncovered in 2018 by archaeologists from the Colosseum archaeological park‚ the Italian Culture Ministry unveiled the discovery this week. The mosaic was found in the remains of a luxurious townhouse‚ known as a domus‚ located between the Roman Forum and the slopes of the Palatine Hill in Rome‚ a short walk from the Colosseum.It was once a luxurious home‚ featuring several stories‚ a garden‚ a grotto-like banquet room‚ and a water feature that worked using lead pipes embedded in the decorated walls.A close-up of the mosaic‚ showing its stunning detail.Image credit: Italian Culture MinistryThe centerpiece of the excavation is undoubtedly the mosaic found within the domus‚ which is dated to the last decades of the second century BCE. It was crafted using different types of seashells‚ Egyptian blue tiles‚ precious glass‚ flakes of white marble‚ and other types of stone.These precious materials were used to depict a complex sequence of figurative scenes‚ including shoots of lotus and vine leaves emerging from vases‚ stacks of weapons‚ Celtic trumpets‚ and ships with tridents.Perhaps‚ this hints that the owner of this house was a highly decorated general who led soldiers into battle on sea and land. Whoever they were‚ it's a safe bet that they were rich and held a high social status in Roman society.More of the motifs featured in the mosaic.Image credit: Italian Culture MinistryThe structure was built in at least three phases between the second half of the second century BCE and the end of the first century BCE. This was a pivotal period that encompassed the last decades of the Roman Republic and the rule of Augustus‚ the founder of the Roman Empire.Rome has been continually occupied for thousands of years‚ yet discoveries are continuously emerging as layers of the city’s rich past are unfolded. Although situated in the center of the Italian capital‚ it’s important to note that the ancient city is located some 7 meters (22 feet) below the streets walked upon by modern-day Romans and tourists.                Archaeologists are set to return to polish up the site in the new year‚ after which they hope to make the domus available to the eyes of the public. “The archaeological excavation will conclude in the first months of 2024 and we will subsequently work intensely to make this place‚ among the most evocative of ancient Rome‚ accessible to the public as soon as possible‚" Alfonsina Russo‚ Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park‚ said in a statement. 

The centrifugal force is pretty cool. It could be used one day to create artificial gravity onboard space stations (saving sci-fi films a lot of budget in the process) sparing astronauts the strange effects of microgravity on their bodies. It is also responsible for the fact that the earth bulges in the middle‚ and as a result‚ the fact that you weigh slightly less at the equator. But as any physics undergraduate will tell you‚ probably with quite a stressed-out look on their face‚ it isn't a real force.What do we mean by that? Well‚ say when you are on a roundabout spinning around‚ despite the fact that you feel yourself being "pushed" outwards‚ there is no external force pushing you off the play equipment. What you are actually feeling is the result of your own inertia‚ or the tendency for objects in motion to remain in motion in a straight line at the same velocity unless another force acts upon it.An easy way to see this intuitively is to send balls rotating around a circle‚ then quickly releasing them and watching what direction they travel in.    From within your rotating frame of reference‚ it may feel like a real force‚ but outside of it‚ it is easier to see what is going on. As you swerve the wheels of your car‚ with the friction between your tires and the road creating an apparent "centripetal force"‚ your body – happily moving forward in a state of inertia – continues to try to move forward. From inside‚ it feels like you are being pushed by a force‚ but you are actually trying to carry on a straight forward path while your car swings a big donut.All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  

United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry says it will take trillions of dollars to “solve” climate change. Then he says‚ “There is not enough money in any country in the world to actually solve this problem.” Kerry has little understanding of money or how it’s created. He’s a multimillionaire because he married a rich woman. Now he wants to take more of your money to pretend to affect climate change. Bjorn Lomborg points out that there are better things society should spend money on. Lomberg acknowledges that a warmer climate brings problems. “As temperatures get higher‚ sea water‚ like everything else‚ expands. So we’re going to maybe see three feet of sea level rise. Then they say‚ ‘So everybody who lives within three feet of sea level‚ they’ll have to move!’ Well‚ no. If you actually look at what people do‚ they built dikes and so they don’t have to move.” People in Holland did that years ago. A third of the Netherlands is below sea level. In some areas‚ it’s 22 feet below. Yet the country thrives. That’s the way to deal with climate change: adjust to it. “Fewer people are going to get flooded every year‚ despite the fact that you have much higher sea level rise. The total cost for Holland over the last half-century is about $10 billion‚” says Lomberg. “Not nothing‚ but very little for an advanced economy over 50 years.” For saying things like that‚ Lomberg is labeled “the devil.” “The problem here is unmitigated scaremongering‚” he replies. “A new survey shows that 60% of all people in rich countries now believe it’s likely or very likely that unmitigated climate change will lead to the end of mankind. This is what you get when you have constant fearmongering in the media.” Some people now say they will not have children because they’re convinced that climate change will destroy the world. Lomborg points out how counterproductive that would be: “We need your kids to make sure the future is better.” He acknowledges that climate warming will kill people. “As temperatures go up‚ we’re likely to see more people die from heat. That’s absolutely true. You hear this all the time. But what is underreported is the fact that nine times as many people die from cold. ... As temperatures go up‚ you’re going to see fewer people die from cold. Over the last 20 years‚ because of temperature rises‚ we have seen about 116‚000 more people die from heat. But 283‚000 fewer people die from cold.” That’s rarely reported in the news. When the media doesn’t fret over deaths from heat‚ they grab at other possible threats. CNN claims‚ “Climate Change is Fueling Extremism.” The BBC says‚ “A Shifting Climate is Catalysing Infectious Disease.” U.S. News and World Report says‚ “Climate Change will Harm Children’s Mental Health.” Lomborg replies‚ “It’s very‚ very easy to make this argument that everything is caused by climate change if you don’t have the full picture.” He points out that we rarely hear about positive effects of climate change‚ like global greening. “That’s good! We get more green stuff on the planet. My argument is not that climate change is great or overall positive. It’s simply that‚ just like every other thing‚ it has pluses and minuses. ... Only reporting on the minuses‚ and only emphasizing worst-case outcomes‚ is not a good way to inform people.”

Wednesday's evening shows all led with the House of Representatives authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden on a party-line vote. ABC‚ CBS‚ and NBC all echoed the preposterous "no evidence" claims of the White House. ABC spun for Biden the hardest‚ while NBC came closest to a middle-ground approach. On ABC's World News Tonight‚ David Muir began the program: "Tonight‚ breaking news involving President Biden. The House voting moments ago to formally open the impeachment inquiry despite no proof of high crimes or misdemeanors. The president's response just in....Republicans voting to formalize the impeachment inquiry involving the president‚ but where is the evidence? And the stunning moment today the president's son Hunter Biden coming before the cameras." Then he repeated it at the top story: "We do begin tonight with the breaking news from Capitol Hill just a short time ago. House Republicans voting to formalize the impeachment inquiry into president Biden despite providing no evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors. They say they need the inquiry to find the evidence." Then came reporter Mary Bruce: "For years‚ Republicans have tried to tie president Biden to his son's business dealings‚ but have found no concrete evidence of wrongdoing. Hunter Biden already indicted for failing to pay taxes he has since repaid‚ today insisting his father did nothing wrong." After three soundbites of Hunter‚ Bruce repeated: "House Republicans have spent a year investigating the Bidens and have come up with nothing on the president." Then she added a Biden statement:  "The president is calling this a baseless political stunt‚ not supported by facts. Biden saying instead of doing their jobs‚ House Republicans are focused on‚ quote‚ attacking me with lies." On the CBS Evening News‚ anchor Norah O'Donnell sounded the same note‚ just a little less: "This next step follows the years-long scrutiny of the president and his family that has turned up no proof of high crimes‚ and misdemeanors. But Democrats tonight are calling the move by Republicans‚ an extreme political stunt‚ that has no credibility and no legitimacy." CBS had four Hunter soundbites. Reporter Scott McFarlane concluded: "In a statement tonight President Biden said of Republicans‚ instead of doing anything to make Americans live better‚ they are focused on attacking me‚ with lies."  NBC Nightly News was the mildest of the three. Anchor Lester Holt opened: "The house moments ago narrowly voted to authorize the probe that has so far produced no evidence of wrongdoing." But the report by Ryan Nobles featured several facts the other two didn't.   Nobles said Hunter Biden "snubbed" a subpoena‚ even showing an empty desk with his name on it. Nobles noted that Hunter Biden wouldn't take questions‚ and showed video of his attempt to question Hunter. He also showed Joe Biden refused to take questions. NBC had two Hunter soundbites‚ but unlike the others‚ NBC offered substantive soundbites from Republican leaders Jim Jordan and Jim Comer. Nobles also ran a soundbite of Biden in 2019 lying that he'd never spoken to his son about his business dealings.  So Hunter Biden drew nine soundbites overall. None of the three network stories featured any video of Karine Jean-Pierre's evasive answers at the Wednesday briefing.