All posts by StackGiant

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Pushes Back Against Jerry Seinfeld’s Cancel Culture Concerns

It’s been practically two months since TV icon Jerry Seinfeld generated right-wing applause with complaints about consciousness of cultural sensitivities. However in a brand new interview, Julia Louis-Dreyfus made it clear that she disagrees along with her 70-year-old Seinfeld co-star, even suggesting that his feedback are a bit out of step.

As you may recall, Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus moved from comedy fan favorites to family names within the early Nineties, when Seinfeld hit the air. Since then, televised reruns of the present have lined the pockets of far-right commentator Steve Bannon, who has an possession stake within the present. That was arguably its one in every of its biggest controversies till April, when present co-creator Seinfeld instructed the New Yorker that “the intense left and P.C. crap” has killed off televised comedies (although many stay on the air).

The response was swift, with pundits on the correct embracing the comic, whereas others characterised his feedback as the usual language of a rich American of a sure age.

However whereas Louis-Dreyfus is arguably rich and inside Seinfeld’s demographic, she’s taking pains to show that her former co-star’s views aren’t her personal. In an interview with the New York Instances Journal, she admitted that—as seen by others watching Seinfeld in 2024—“For those who look again on comedy and drama each, let’s say 30 years in the past, by means of the lens of at the moment, you may discover bits and items that don’t age nicely.” However in her thoughts, that doesn’t imply issues can’t evolve with the occasions.

“I believe to have an antenna about sensitivities shouldn’t be a nasty factor,” Louis-Dreyfus continued, including pointedly “It doesn’t imply that each one comedy goes out the window because of this.”

A subsequent remark from the actor additionally feels like a response to her former co-star’s remarks. “After I hear folks beginning to complain about political correctness — and I perceive why folks may push again on it — however to me, that’s a purple flag as a result of it typically means one thing else.”

These are unsurprising phrases from a public determine who beforehand teamed up with Seinfeld compatriots Jason Alexander and Larry David for a Democratic fundraiser in 2020. That occasion was a stroll down Seinfeld’s reminiscence lane, however in keeping with Louis-Dreyfus, as of late she’s wanting ahead.

“I simply know that the lens by means of which we create artwork at the moment — and I’m not going to only specify it to comedy, it’s additionally drama — it’s a unique lens. It truly is,” she stated. “Issues have shifted. And in that case, I’d say, issues have shifted very a lot for the nice.”

Specialized launches Crux DSW – ‘the lightest alloy gravel bike ever m – Rouleur

Tech from the the S-Works Crux – the world’s lightest carbon gravel bike – is trickled down into a brand new alloy model that makes use of Specialised’s patented D’Aluisio Smartwelds

Specialised has launched a DSW (D’Aluisio Smartweld) aluminium model of the Crux gravel bike which it’s claiming is the lightest alloy gravel bike ever made. In case you’re experiencing gentle déja-vu, that’s as a result of when the US model launched the carbon S-Works Crux in 2021, it mentioned that with its body weight of 725g, that was the world’s lightest gravel bike, interval.

Specialised mentioned it had utilized learnings from creating the Aethos street body to the carbon S-Works Crux. Now, for the Crux DSW, it says it took all the things it realized from the carbon Crux and used d’Aluisio Smartweld expertise to create “essentially the most succesful, nimble, balanced, and responsive alloy gravel bike ever made for quick, enjoyable, high-performance using … some might name it a carbon copy – we name it the Crux DSW.”

The claimed body weight for the Crux DSW is 1,399g and Specialised says totally constructed with the SRAM Apex XPLR mechanical groupset – the one one it is supplied with – it weighs 9.37kg in a dimension 56. Carbon copy may sound gimmicky, however the alloy Crux DSW has the identical tyre clearance because the carbon Crux – 47mm and as much as 2.1” on a 650b wheel – and the identical race-oriented geometry with an extended attain, low stack and 72mm BB drop.

The patented D’Aluisio Smartweld course of has been utilized to many alloy Specialised bikes prior to now. Most famously, Peter Sagan rode an Allez Dash within the Tour Down Below in 2019, which kicked off with a town-centre criterium round Adelaide. Though it was in fact a publicity stunt, he positioned second and proved that the aluminium bike was adequate for a high professional on the top of his powers.

Based on Specialised, D’Aluisio Smartweld – or DSW – is “an engineering course of that makes use of hydroforming to exactly match tube-to-tube joints for higher, stronger welds and, in the end, a lighter body that may be twice as sturdy as a standard alloy body. Smartweld helps us create a novel single-piece down tube and backside bracket for the Crux DSW, shaving weight and amplifying responsiveness. Seat tube and chainstays are then mated to the hydroformed one-piece down tube and backside bracket utilizing our Smartweld welding course of.”

Specialised says tubes are designed to intersect precisely with none – framebuilders look away now – “old school mitering or fudging” with materials added proper on the ends of the tubes the place they’re welded collectively. It says that specializing in the fabric wants within the extremely pressured weld zones and placing the required materials precisely the place it must be “provides us the liberty to make use of tubing that delivers the trip traits we would like as a substitute of getting to make do with overbuilt tubing that sacrifices trip high quality so as to be sturdy sufficient to outlive the trauma of old-school welding.”

The Crux DSW comes both as a frameset with the FACT 12r Crux carbon fork (£1,500) or totally constructed with a SRAM Apex XPLR mechanical groupset, DT G540 wheels and Pathfinder Professional 700x38c tyres (£2,300). There are six sizes from 49cm to 61cm; two color methods for the frameset and two for the whole bike. The spotlight colourway must be the frameset-only choice of Gloss Amber Glow/Vivid Pink/Metallic Midnight Shadow/Speckle, which is really spectacular. The entire builds come within the extra muted Gloss Birch/Clay or Satin Smoke/Oak Inexperienced (pictured within the way of life shot above). Take a look at all of the particulars at Specialised’s web site.


iPhone maker takes control with its own AI vision

When it lastly arrived, the most popular and most generally telegraphed partnership in Silicon Valley was introduced so shortly that the viewers at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino barely had time to applaud it.

Anybody anticipating OpenAI’s Sam Altman, one of many key gamers within the generative synthetic intelligence fever that has swept the tech sector, to seem onstage with Tim Prepare dinner at Apple’s flagship annual developer occasion for an iconic photograph alternative may have been dissatisfied.

The main target of Apple’s occasion on Monday was on simply that: Apple. And its message was that the partnership with OpenAI was merely the primary of many.

Apple’s pitch to traders fearful it’s slipping behind on the know-how is that if the primary wave of generative AI has involved synthetic intelligence that understands the broader world, the iPhone maker is uniquely positioned to supply generative AI that understands you.

Which means Apple’s personal generative AI fashions acquired prime billing. “Apple Intelligence” is the tech large’s catch-all time period for a set of fashions, constructed and educated by Apple, that shall be embedded in its new working programs iOS 18, iPadOS18, and macOS Sequoia.

The corporate has not constructed generative fashions of the complexity and scale provided by rivals. It has opted as a substitute to behave as a gateway to different merchandise in the marketplace that may do the issues Apple can’t. Its on-device foundational mannequin has 3bn parameters. OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Google’s Gemini Professional are estimated to have greater than a trillion.

“It doesn’t shock me [that Apple focused on its own solutions] as a result of they need to emphasise that they’re in management,” mentioned Gene Munster at Deepwater Asset Administration. There may be, he mentioned, a “mild 12 months hole” between their mannequin’s capabilities and OpenAI’s, and “they don’t seem to be going to play that piece up”.

Neither Apple nor OpenAI would say whether or not the partnership concerned one in every of them paying the opposite in the identical manner that Google pays Apple about $20bn a 12 months to be the default search engine on the iPhone maker’s units.

“We all know that there are different fashions on the market, and a few of them have actually unbelievable world data,” Apple senior vice-president for software program Craig Federighi mentioned following the keynote presentation. Apple, he mentioned, is just “beginning with one of the best” and already has a watch on one other cope with Google over Gemini.

However even when Apple is concentrated by itself options, a cultural shift continues to be underneath manner, Munster mentioned. “Apple’s AI, on the core of it, is in another person’s palms,” he mentioned. “They’ve by no means gone to a 3rd get together to license a core know-how.” The corporate’s longtime search partnership with Google, he mentioned, issues a function on the system, whereas AI “is extra of an working system”.

Sam Altman attends the Apple occasion on Monday © John Mabanglo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Apple is taking part in up its conventional differentiator. It says its on-device fashions deliver privateness and safety advantages, emphasising that any private knowledge used to coach its personal AI fashions will keep inside its ecosystem. These will run as a lot as potential on the system. The place they do want to make use of the cloud, queries will go to servers owned and managed by Apple. The thought is that customers won’t even discover which is getting used.

The options this permits, similar to custom-generated emojis, sensible photograph enhancing that enables customers to seamlessly take away undesirable individuals or objects from pictures, writing and drawing assistants, and a wiser Siri able to extra contextual consciousness and interacting with each Apple’s apps and third-party apps, are incremental. The thought is that the iPhone and its productiveness options will get smarter over time because the {hardware} will get extra highly effective and Apple’s personal fashions catch up.

Within the meantime, ChatGPT shall be tasked with dealing with extra advanced questions despatched to Siri. These may contain, for instance, sending an image of an ingredient that OpenAI’s fashions can determine and advocate recipes for. It can even be built-in into Apple’s writing instruments.

Customers won’t be pressured to make use of the function and can obtain a immediate from Siri earlier than doing so. OpenAI in the meantime guarantees “built-in” privateness protections each time Siri pings ChatGPT. Requests won’t be saved — which might permit a 3rd get together to develop a profile of a consumer — and customers’ IP addresses shall be obscured. Customers can select to attach their ChatGPT account, which is able to imply that ChatGPT’s knowledge insurance policies will then apply.

The transfer nonetheless had Tesla chief government and X proprietor Elon Musk fuming. On X, he mentioned that Apple apparently “isn’t sensible sufficient to make their very own AI” and “has no clue” about what OpenAI would do with the info. He mentioned he would ban Apple units at his firms if OpenAI had been built-in with them, calling it “an unacceptable safety violation”.

If nothing else, Musk’s intervention mirrored the extraordinary scrutiny going through AI partnerships in Huge Tech, with regulators vowing to intervene to deal with concentrations of energy. 

In the meantime, if customers need Apple’s new options, they are going to should be on Apple’s newest and strongest iPhones — the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max — powered by the latest A17 Professional chip. For laptops and tablets, the options will run on units outfitted with the M collection of chips, which date again to 2020.

If iPhone customers are clinging on to older fashions for longer, the demand that even smaller generative fashions place on ageing {hardware} creates an incentive for them to improve. The iPhone 16, anticipated later this 12 months, now appears set for a heavy advertising and marketing push highlighting its generative AI options.

Francisco Jeronimo, knowledge and analytics vice-president on the IDC analysis group, mentioned the occasion marked “the start of a brand new period for Apple and for his or her customers”, with Apple positioning itself to learn from a future “supercycle” of system gross sales because it transitions to new “clever units”.

Apple shares dipped after the occasion on Monday. However they roared again Tuesday morning, climbing greater than 3 per cent to the touch a report excessive.

Video: AI: a blessing or curse for humanity? | FT Tech

Part of Wyoming highway collapses in landslide, blocking crucial transit route

A part of Teton Move, a vital freeway weaving via the mountains of western Wyoming, collapsed Saturday morning in an enormous landslide that severed the first transit route between two cities within the area. Officers stated they anticipate the street will stay closed long-term, doubtlessly jeopardizing virtually half the workforce in and across the vacationer hubs of Jackson Gap, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Nationwide Park.

Crews have been nonetheless inspecting the location on Monday to find out whether or not it could be attainable to assemble some form of interim street for vacationers instead of the collapsed part of the freeway. The Wyoming Division of Transportation stated that present evaluations from engineers and geologists instructed they might be capable to construct a brief detour across the landslide. In keeping with transportation officers, that detour may very well be open to the general public as quickly as a number of weeks from now.

“Presently, WYDOT geologists and engineers are assured they’ll construct a secure, momentary detour across the slide space utilizing native fill materials and paving two momentary lanes,” the company stated in a social media put up. 

‼ IMPORTANT TETON PASS UPDATE ‼
Teton Move street closure continues, interim detour deliberate

WYDOT Teton County closed entry to Wyoming State Freeway 22/ Teton Move because of a landslide at milepost 12.8 and a mudslide at milepost 15. Commuters have been requested to detour round utilizing US 26 via Swan Valley after which into the Snake River Canyon. WYDOT crews are presently evaluating the soundness of the world and investigating adjoining areas for potential security hazards. That is being thought of an prolonged closure, and there presently isn’t any estimated opening date.

WYDOT crews have been working carefully with different companies and companions to safe the world and discover potential interim entry, in addition to long run reconstruction choices. Presently, WYDOT geologists and engineers are assured they’ll construct a secure, momentary detour across the slide space utilizing native fill materials and paving two momentary lanes. They’re hoping to have a brief detour open to the general public, seemingly with some strict weight and width restrictions, in a number of weeks.

“I wish to categorical my gratitude to WYDOT Director Westby and his total workforce for his or her efforts to quickly develop and implement a plan to get site visitors transferring over Teton Move once more as shortly as attainable,” Governor Mark Gordon stated.

Geologists and engineers are evaluating the world and placing collectively a long run plan to rebuild the street. There isn’t any present estimated timeline for that building. WYDOT will likely be flying the world with a survey aircraft and doing a little geological drilling in preparation for the reconstruction.

WYDOT is working carefully with the US Forest Service to supply entry to recreation areas outdoors the slide space, regardless of the street closure. Businesses are collaborating to put signage on the street to permit customers to entry campsites unaffected by each the landslide at milepost 12.8 and the mudslide at milepost 15. Yellowstone Nationwide Park and Grand Teton Nationwide park stay open for guests.

Crews proceed to handle the mudslide at milepost 15, and geologists and engineers are engaged on a plan to supply extra drainage to the affected space by putting in a field culvert. They’re planning to do that work concurrently with the momentary detour work at milepost 12.8. The work depends on availability of crews and supplies, however WYDOT’s purpose is to have this work accomplished when the momentary detour at 12.8 is prepared for restricted site visitors.

Governor Mark Gordon has issued an Govt Order declaring an emergency in response to each the mudslide at milepost 15 and the landslide at milepost 12.8. The declaration will assist the state entry extra assets from the Federal Freeway Administration (FHWA) to start the substantial repairs required.

WYDOT is grateful for the short responsiveness and assist from different authorities companies, together with the US Forest Service and the Idaho Transportation Division, which has allowed WYDOT to mobilize shortly with planning and repairs.

“WYDOT’s response via this disaster demonstrates the dedication, ardour and ingenuity of our crews,” stated WYDOT director Darin Westby. “We definitely wish to thank ​the Governor, the Federal Freeway Administration, the Idaho Transportation Division, the Wyoming Workplace of Homeland Safety, Evans Building and the US Forest Service​ for his or her fast response, teamwork and dependability in our time of want.”

The video under reveals the freeway in 2023 in comparison with what it regarded like June 8.

(reporters, we now have a media equipment out there: https://www.dot.state.wy.us/dwelling/news_info/media-kits.html )

Posted by WYOMING DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION on Monday, June 10, 2024

The replace got here as considerations mounted over the attainable financial implications of the Teton Move collapse. After it occurred, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon declared a state of emergency in hopes that federal funding would enable the state to entry the assets required to start everlasting repairs on the freeway, which officers have stated are “substantial.”

The Teton County department of the transportation division initially introduced early Saturday that the street at milepost 12.8 on Teton Move had “catastrophically failed,” and shared a number of photos on social media that confirmed the extent of the injury. Officers stated crews have been making an attempt to construct a detour across the preliminary collapse when the landslide broke down additional and successfully destroyed an entire part of the encompassing freeway. Nobody was injured.

“WYDOT is now reviewing a long run answer and repairs, and extra info on planning efforts will likely be out there quickly,” the division stated of their announcement. On the time, crews have been additionally working to clear particles from one other mudslide on the fifteenth mile mark on Teton Move.

The roadway at milepost 12.8 on Teton Move, has catastrophically failed, and a long run closure is predicted. WYDOT…

Posted by WYDOT Teton County on Saturday, June 8, 2024

Carved into the Teton mountain vary and working for about 17 miles, Teton Move is the one direct route between Victor, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming. Regardless of being notoriously treacherous at sure instances of yr, and usually closed throughout these instances due to weather-related security considerations, the freeway gives important entry to Teton County, which incorporates Jackson, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, for staff who commute there from jap Idaho. 

“We perceive this freeway is a lifeline for commuters, deliveries, medical care entry and tourism, particularly with restricted options and the summer time season upon us,” stated Darin Westby, the director of the Wyoming Division of Transportation, in a assertion after the collapse. “WYDOT engineers, surveyors and geologists mobilized shortly to attempt to preserve freeway viability so long as attainable, however catastrophic failure couldn’t be averted.”

Westby stated the Transportation Division was “decisively engaged on fixing the street and restoring connectivity to the Teton Valley.”

In a examine accomplished final January on the protection of the Teton Move hall, the Federal Freeway Administration acknowledged that the freeway “provides a essential connection for commuters and recreationists touring from Victor, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming.” The journey, from one finish to the opposite, would ordinarily take round half-hour or so in a automotive, or barely longer on public transit. Due to the steep mountain panorama, alternate routes ship vacationers on a prolonged detour that takes roughly thrice as lengthy and covers some 85 miles.

The Jackson Gap Journey and Tourism Board stated companies within the metropolis, in addition to Grand Teton and Yellowstone Nationwide Parks, would all stay open in a message shared on its web site within the wake of the Teton Move collapse. The board additionally acknowledged that closing the freeway indefinitely will seemingly have penalties for staff residing in Idaho and commuting to Teton County, who make up about 40% of the county’s workforce, in response to that message.

“Though companies will do their finest to assist workers and commuters, and can work to stay open and preserve regular working hours and companies, it’s anticipated that the workforce will likely be affected,” the journey and tourism board stated. “As a neighborhood, we ask guests and locals to train persistence and understanding in case you expertise longer than regular wait instances or interruptions in companies.”

Sara Cox, Roman Kemp, Chris Moyles and Ken Bruce make TRIC Radio Personality shortlist – RadioToday

The shortlist for this 12 months’s TRIC Awards have been introduced forward of the awards occasion hosted by Roman Kemp later this month.

The occasion, on June twenty fifth, is about to convey collectively stars from comedy, drama, leisure, factual programming, information, radio and streaming content material. There may also be a particular reside efficiency from Pixie Lott, as a part of the live-streamed occasion.

A complete of 18 awards shall be introduced on the day, together with the Radio Character Class which sees Sara Cox go up towards Ken Bruce, Roman Kemp and Chris Moyles.

The Radio Present class shortlist has Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, Coronary heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, Ken Bruce, and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Present.

The Information Presenter Class contains earlier winners Nigel Farage and Eamonn Holmes shortlisted alongside Susanna Reid and Matt Chorley.


The Nominees 

1/ DRAMA

Demise in Paradise 

Comfortable Valley 

Kin 

Mr Bates vs The Put up Workplace

 

2/ ENTERTAINMENT

Gogglebox 

Im A Superstar Get Me Out Of Right here! 

Race Throughout The World 

Strictly Come Dancing

 

3/ GAME SHOW

1% Membership 

The Chase

Dragons Den 

The Traitors

 

4/ FACTUAL

Martin Lewis Cash Present Reside 

Mr Bates vs The Put up Workplace – The Actual Story 

Planet Earth III 

The Restore Store

 

5/ LIVE EVENT

FIFA Girls’s World Cup Last

Glastonbury: Elton John’s Farewell

The Coronation of TM The King and Queen Camilla

The Ashes Take a look at Match Particular – BBC Radio 5 Reside

 

6/ FOOD

Gordon Gino and Fred: Viva Espana 

The Nice British Bake Off

MasterChef

Saturday Kitchen

 

7/ DAYTIME

A Place within the Solar

Escape to the Nation

Properties Below the Hammer

Ken Bruce

 

8/ NEWS

BBC Breakfast

BBC Information at Six

GB Information Breakfast

Good Morning Britain

 

9/ NEWS PRESENTER 

Eamonn Holmes

Matt Chorley

Nigel Farage

Susanna Reid

 

10/ PODCAST

Staying Related: Sam Thompson & Pete Wicks

That Peter Crouch Podcast

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

The Relaxation is Historical past

 

11/ INTERVIEW OF THE YEAR. 

Alastair Stewart reveals his heartbreaking prognosis to Camilla Tominey 

Louis Theroux Interviews Dame Joan Colins 

Ken Bruce interviews Noel Gallagher 

Piers Morgan Uncensored: PM and the PM

 

12/ SOCIAL MEDIA BROADCAST

Amelia Dimoldenberg

Giovanna Fletcher

Joe Wicks

Sophie Hinchcliffe 

 

13/ RADIO PERSONAILITY

Chris Moyles

Ken Bruce

Roman Kemp

Sara Cox

 

14/ RADIO SHOW

Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp

Coronary heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden

Ken Bruce

The Zoe Ball Breakfast Present

 

15/ TV PERSONALITY

Ant & Dec

Bradley Walsh

Martin Lewis

Piers Morgan

 

16/ SOAP ACTOR

David Neilson (Roy Cropper)

Derek Thompson (Charlie Fairhead)

Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle)

Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer). 

 

17/ SOAP OF THE YEAR

Coronation Avenue

EastEnders

Emmerdale

The Archers.

 

18/ TRIC SPECIAL AWARD

 

Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock Star in Practical Magic Sequel

Photograph: Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Assortment

Potion for an ideal sequel contains:
-2 Oscars
-2 Emmys
-1 George Lopez producer credit score
-1 AMC business
-1 Paddington Bear astronaut

It’s midnight someplace, so begin making some margaritas. In accordance with The Hollywood Reporter, a Sensible Magic sequel is brewing with Kidman and Bullock connected to executive-produce and to reprise their roles as sisters Gillian and Sally Owens. It is going to be written by one of many unique screenwriters of the primary movie, Akiva Goldsman. Proper now, there aren’t any plot particulars out there for the sequel. However after we final left off with the witches, they overcame the household curse stopping them from ever discovering love. Are any extra curses going to be uncovered up to now 20 years? Sally’s daughters can be all grown up by now; possibly they’ve their very own relationship (or broomstick) woes. Bumble, bumble, toil and bother.

Teton Pass, section of highway in Wyoming, collapses in mudslide

A big part of Teton Cross mountain freeway in Wyoming collapsed in a mudslide Saturday, closing a primary artery to Jackson Gap because the summer season tourism season begins. 

“At this level, we would not have an estimated timeline for the street to reopen,” Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon stated on Fb. “I acknowledge the impacts this closure has to Teton County residents, regional commuters and the native financial system, and we’re in direct communication with native officers. We’ll proceed to supply updates on the street standing as extra info turns into accessible.”

Aerial pictures and drone video of the collapse present the Teton Cross street riven with deep cracks, and an enormous part of the pavement disappeared altogether. A part of the guardrail dangled into the void, and orange site visitors drums marked off the hazard space. The street was closed on the time of the collapse due to giant cracks that “began to maneuver lots.” 

Portion of Teton Cross mountain freeway closed as a consequence of main mudslide (Wyoming Freeway Patrol by way of Storyful)

The transportation division stated by way of social media that the street “catastrophically failed” at milepost 12.8.

Stephanie Harsha, a spokesperson for the Wyoming Division of Transportation, stated an alternate route between Jackson and the realm of Victor, Idaho, goes greater than 60 miles (97 kilometers) out of the way in which and provides “fairly a bit to any commute.”

READ MORE: Veteran survives horrifying bear assault whereas climbing in well-liked nationwide park

“We had been very, very fortunate that no crews had been harmed. No gear was broken,” Harsha stated. 

Jackson Gap is a well-liked vacation spot for summer season vacationers, and it is also near Grand Teton Nationwide Park. Based on The New York Instances, Journey and tourism is Wyoming’s second-largest business – Teton County noticed roughly $1.7 billion in travel-related spending in 2022.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

‘Practical Magic 2’ is in the works, per Warner Bros.

It’s time to make midnight margaritas — once more.

“Sensible Magic 2” is within the works, and Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are in negotiations to return as witchy sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, respectively, per Selection.

Warner Bros. introduced the information on TikTok, captioning a clip from the 1998 romance-fantasy basic: “It’s official… Sensible Magic 2 is coming!”

Bullock and Kidman are anticipated to provide, Varity mentioned, alongside Denise Di Novi, who produced the unique movie and who is understood for female-focused flicks, together with “Heathers” and “Little Girls.” Oscar-winning ‘A Lovely Thoughts’ author Akiva Goldsman, who wrote the unique movie’s script, will take cost of the screenplay.

The unique movie advised the story of Sally and Gillian, two sisters who’re descended from a centuries-long line of witches and who have been raised and skilled in sensible magic by their aunts after their dad and mom’ premature deaths. After by accident poisoning Gillian’s abusive boyfriend, the sisters reanimate his corpse and must struggle his evil spirit whereas additionally contending with a curse that any man who loves an Owens lady will die.

“The place ‘Bewitched’ had only one romantic sorceress making an attempt to include her energy whereas indulging strange human passions, this one has two — the ever-wholesome Sandra Bullock, an Elizabeth Montgomery surrogate if there might be one, and the ever seductive Nicole Kidman,” The Instances mentioned in its 1998 evaluation of the unique film.

“Bullock and Kidman present spunky star turns, and [Stockard] Channing and [Dianne] Wiest play the eccentric aunts with apt hamminess,” the evaluation continued. “It simply doesn’t add as much as something — or break down — to something particular. For good or dangerous, there’s hardly a memorable scene in it.”

That mentioned, the sequel announcement is welcome information for followers, a few of whom have been baited by a 2019 announcement that HBO was making a prequel collection that includes the sisters’ aunts, Franny and Jet, as younger witches. The challenge was axed this February, whilst Di Novi was teasing to one more return to small-town Massachusetts.

“I feel the followers are going to be thrilled,” she advised UPI in February, including that one thing was “within the works” from “the world of ‘Sensible Magic.’”

A lot of the challenge stays underneath wraps, and a launch date has but to be introduced. Within the meantime, “Sensible Magic” is streaming on Max.

What’s New in Apple Latest iPhone Software, Release Date











iOS 18: What’s New in Apple Newest iPhone Software program, Launch Date


iOS 18: What’s New in Apple Newest iPhone Software program, Launch Date



































































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Options embody customization choices, Photographs overhaul and addition of ChatGPT

Courtesy of Apple

Apple has introduced iOS 18 — the subsequent era of the working system that powers iPhones. Right here’s an summary of what’s new within the forthcoming replace.

Based on Apple, iOS 18 can be obtainable this fall as a free software program replace for iPhone Xs and later. It features a slew of latest options and enhancements, together with customization choices, the flexibility to ship messages over satellite tv for pc, the addition of ChatGPT and different AI options, and what the corporate touts because the biggest-ever redesign of the Photographs app.

Customization Options

  • With iOS 18, iPhone customers can now prepare apps and widgets in any open area on the House Display screen — together with inserting them proper above the dock. As well as, app icons and widgets can tackle a brand new look with a darkish or tinted impact, and you may make them seem bigger.
  • Management Heart has been redesigned to supply sooner entry your most-used controls, akin to media playback, House controls and connectivity, in addition to the flexibility to simply swipe between every. Customers can also now add controls from supported third-party apps into Management Heart.
  • For the primary time, you’ll be capable of swap the controls on the backside of the Lock Display screen, together with selecting from choices obtainable within the controls gallery or eradicating them solely.

Photographs Options

  • The up to date Photographs app in iOS 18 contains a simplified, single view that features the acquainted grid, and new collections assist customers browse by themes. As well as, you may pin collections to maintain favorites simply accessible.
  • A brand new carousel view presents highlights that replace every day and have favourite individuals, pets, locations and extra. Autoplaying content material all through the Photographs app brings libraries to life, dislaying moments whereas looking.

Messages Options

  • iMessage will embody all-new textual content results that amplify any letter, phrase, phrase or emoji with animation. Customers can also add formatting like daring, underline, italics and strikethrough.
  • For sending messages to contacts who do not need Apple gadgets, the Messages app now helps the RCS (Wealthy Communication Providers) protocol for richer media and “extra dependable group messaging” in contrast with SMS and MMS, the corporate claims.
  • iOS 18 introduces Messages by way of satellite tv for pc for when mobile and Wi-Fi connections aren’t obtainable. Messages by way of satellite tv for pc robotically prompts customers to connect with their nearest satellite tv for pc straight from the Messages app to ship and obtain texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS; SMS availability will rely in your wi-fi provider and charges could apply.

Mail Options

  • The built-in Mail app will add new methods for customers to handle their inbox. On-device categorization organizes and types incoming e mail into “Major” for private and time-sensitive emails, “Transactions” for confirmations and receipts, “Updates” for information and social notifications, and “Promotions” for advertising emails and coupons.
  • A brand new digest view pulls collectively related emails from the identical enterprise, permitting customers to scan for what’s vital within the second.

Safari Options

  • In iOS 18, the Safari internet browser can use AI to floor key details about a webpage, like presenting a textual content abstract of an article or letting you take heed to an artist’s observe proper from an article in regards to the music or album.
  • Safari’s Reader has been redesigned to supply extra methods to learn articles, with a abstract and desk of contents included for longer articles.

Passwords App

  • New in iOS 18 would be the Passwords app, which Apple says builds on the inspiration of Keychain (first launched greater than 25 years in the past.) The brand new Passwords app offers a single place to entry passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords and verification codes.
  • The app additionally contains alerts for customers concerning widespread safety weaknesses, akin to passwords which can be simply guessed or used a number of occasions, in addition to people who seem in recognized information leaks.

Privateness Options

  • Locked and hidden apps present a brand new approach for customers to maintain data non-public, akin to app notifications and content material so they won’t inadvertently be seen by others. Customers can now lock an app, and for added privateness they’ll conceal it (transferring it to a locked, hidden apps folder). When an app is locked or hidden, content material like messages or emails contained in the app are hidden from search, notifications and different locations throughout the system.
  • iOS 18 enables you to select to share solely particular contacts with an app. As well as, builders now have a approach to join third-party equipment with iPhone with out letting an app see all the opposite gadgets on a consumer’s community, protecting a consumer’s gadgets non-public and enabling pairing.

Apple Intelligence: New AI Options

  • The “Apple Intelligence” announcement, a centerpiece of the 2024 Worldwide Builders Convention keynote presentation, guarantees a bunch of latest AI-enabled capabilities.
  • New Writing Instruments constructed into iOS 18 allow you to rewrite, proofread and summarize textual content “practically all over the place” on the iPhone, together with in Mail, Notes, Pages and third-party apps.
  • The brand new Picture Playground (to be obtainable as a separate app in addition to a characteristic in different apps like Messages) enables you to create “playful photographs” selecting from amongst three kinds: animation, illustration or sketch.
  • Reminiscences within the Photographs app will allow you to create tales by typing an outline; the app then arranges images and movies right into a “film with its personal narrative arc,” per Apple. As well as, a brand new Clear Up device can determine and take away “distracting” objects in picture backgrounds.
  • OpenAI’s ChatGPT can be built-in into Siri and the systemwide Writing Instruments throughout Apple’s platforms.

Extra Options in iOS 18

  • In Apple Maps, customers can browse hundreds of hikes throughout nationwide parks within the U.S. and create their very own customized strolling routes (which may be accessed offline).
  • Recreation Mode enhances the gaming expertise with extra constant body charges, particularly throughout lengthy play periods, and makes wi-fi equipment like AirPods and sport controllers extra responsive, in keeping with Apple.
  • Customers get new methods to pay with Apple Pay, together with the flexibility to redeem rewards and entry installments from their eligible credit score or debit playing cards. With Faucet to Money, customers can ship and obtain Apple Money by merely holding two iPhone gadgets collectively. Tickets in Apple Pockets will present key occasion data like stadium particulars and really useful Apple Music playlists.
  • SharePlay with Apple Music permits much more customers to share management of music taking part in from HomePod, Apple TV, or any Bluetooth-enabled speaker.
  • Within the Notes app, formulation and equations entered whereas typing are solved immediately with Math Notes. In Journal, an all-new insights view helps customers maintain observe of their journaling targets, and the flexibility to look and type entries makes it straightforward to get pleasure from previous reminiscences. A Journal widget is now obtainable for customers to shortly begin an entry from the House Display screen or Lock Display screen, audio recordings are robotically transcribed, and customers can export and print journal entries.
  • Calendar will present each occasions and duties from Reminders. Customers can create, edit, and full reminders proper from Calendar, and the up to date month view offers an summary of occasions and duties at a look.
  • Within the Well being app, Medical ID has been redesigned to make it simpler for first responders to seek out an important data in an emergency.
  • Emergency SOS Dwell Video permits customers to share context by streaming video and recorded media. In the midst of an emergency name, taking part emergency dispatchers can ship a request for a consumer to share dwell video or media from the consumer’s digicam roll over a safe connection, making it simpler and sooner to get assist.
  • The House app introduces visitor entry, offering customers with straightforward methods to grant visitors management of choose good residence equipment, set schedules for when visitors can entry the house, and extra. For an easy residence entry expertise, hands-free unlock with residence keys leverages Extremely Wideband expertise to permit customers to immediately open supported entry locks as quickly as they’re six toes away from their door. With handy updates to the Power class, the House app makes it simpler for eligible customers to entry, perceive, and make extra knowledgeable selections about their residence electrical energy use.
  • Accessibility updates embody Eye Monitoring, a built-in choice for navigating iPhone with simply eyes; Music Haptics, a brand new approach for customers who’re deaf or laborious of listening to to expertise music utilizing the Taptic Engine in iPhone; and Vocal Shortcuts that allow customers to carry out duties by making a customized sound.

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Emmanuel Macron gambles on snap France election after European defeat

President Emmanuel Macron has known as snap parliamentary elections later this month within the wake of a giant victory for his rival Marine Le Pen’s Nationwide Rally within the European Parliament vote.

The far-right occasion is heading in the right direction to win 32% of the vote, exit polls say, greater than twice that of the president’s Renaissance occasion.

Asserting the dissolution of parliament, he mentioned the 2 rounds of voting would happen on 30 June and seven July, just a few weeks earlier than the Paris Olympics.

Mr Macron made the dramatic and shock resolution in a televised handle from the Élysée Palace an hour after voting closed and exit polls had been declared in France’s EU elections.

His resolution got here not lengthy after Nationwide Rally’s 28-year-old chief, Jordan Bardella, had brazenly known as on the president to name parliamentary elections.

“I’ve heard your message,” the president informed French voters, “and I cannot let it go and not using a response.”

“France wants a transparent majority in serenity and concord,” he mentioned, including that he couldn’t resign himself to the far-right’s progress “in all places within the continent”.

Now barely two years into his second time period as president, Mr Macron already lacks a majority within the French parliament, and although this European vote in concept has no bearing on nationwide politics, he clearly determined that persevering with his mandate and not using a new standard session would place an excessive amount of of a pressure on the system.

The upcoming parliamentary elections additionally will not have an effect on Mr Macron’s personal job, as they’re separate from the presidential elections and his time period as president nonetheless runs for 3 extra years.

Ms Le Pen, who has twice been defeated by Mr Macron in presidential elections, instantly reacted, saying her occasion was “able to train energy, able to put an finish to mass immigration”.

Calling a snap election is a large shock for the nation, and an enormous danger for President Macron.

He may have reacted in a different way. He may have simply stored going, explaining the far proper’s large victory as a European aberration which might be corrected at extra essential elections.

He may have trusted to the approaching European soccer championship in Germany and above all of the Paris Olympics to maintain folks’s minds off politics for a few months.

That was actually how the Paris commentariat thought he would take his occasion’s rout.

However one can solely assume the president had seen this coming, and deliberate his response prematurely.

Actually the end result was an nearly precise duplicate of the polls, so he would have had loads of time to contemplate his choices.

The very fact is that he’s caught.

And not using a majority, getting any invoice via the Nationwide Meeting is already a wrestle. With many of the nation now so clearly towards him, any new laws – for instance the upcoming finances – may have proved explosive.

So he has plumped for “readability”. If Nationwide Rally has the votes then, he says, they need to be given the prospect to manipulate.

Clearly the president will hope his personal Renaissance occasion can mount a fight-back on the elections on 30 June and seven July – or that different events will do higher too.

However he should recognize that the percentages favour one other victory for Nationwide Rally. Possibly not one so sweeping as Sunday’s end result, however sufficient for it to turn into the largest occasion in parliament.

At which level we would effectively have a Prime Minister Marine Le Pen, or certainly Jordan Bardella.