Vyhlášení Českých slavíků proběhne 29. listopadu ve Foru Karlín. Vy můžete hlasovat do 17. listopadu do půlnoci. Během slavnostního večera vystoupí interpreti jako Michal David, kapela Mirai, Marie Rotterová a po více než deseti letech se na pódiu slavíků vrátí Tomáš Klus. Zároveň bude uvedena do síně slávy Marta Kubišová. Po Jiřím Suchém a václavu Neckářovi to v ní bude první ženou.

Je to zvláštní přelom roku. V září bylo 35 let mně. V listopadu je 35 let tuzemské demokracii. A v dubnu bude 35 let Reflexu. O sobě mluvit nechci, ty druhé dvě další věci jsou důležitější a jako stejně starý člověk si je dovolím hodnotit. I když se to tak ve vašem okolí nemusí zdát, současný politický sy­stém je stále to nejlepší, co dokázalo lidstvo vymyslet. A časopis Reflex má pořád co říct.

V dnešní době navštíví nejproslulejší náměstí New Yorku přes 130 milionů turistů ročně. Stojí tu obří obchod s cukrovinkami M&M's i konkurenční Hershey's. Před třiceti lety se ale na Times Square odvážili jen ti nejotrlejší. Každoročně zde docházelo ke zhruba 2500 zločinů a místo turistů tu vládly prostitutky.

"Reasonable Doubt" centers on Los Angeles-based high-powered criminal defense attorney Jacqueline "Jax" Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) as she deals with past traumas, a struggling marriage, motherhood and a murder case, all while trying to keep her life together.

"Hollywood Squares," starring award-winning actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore as the center square, and hosted by Nate Burleson, premieres Thursday, January 9 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).

Plus: "9-1-1" kicked off season eight with an action-packed three-episode story arc rising +156% in Total Viewers (12.64 million vs. 4.93 million) and +519% in Adults 18-49 (2.91 rating vs. 0.47 rating) over its initial Live+Same Day audience.

The doubleheader begins on ESPN at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 27 when Aaron Judge and the Yankees host Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers, who won the National League Central in 2024.

A double missing person's case blurs the lines between the personal and the professional, as Calder and Tosh are drawn into a labyrinthine investigation.

Генеративный ИИ сможет имитировать голоса известных вокалистов

Meta готовится ввести рекламу в свое приложение Threads уже в январе 2025 года. Ранее компания отмечала, что монетизация этого сервиса может занять несколько лет.

RedMagic представила два новых Power Bank на мероприятии RedMagic 10 Pro в Китае: Dao Peak Power Stick и компактный Dao Peak Energy Cube.

Пентагон представил новую серию воздушных и морских беспилотников в рамках программы Replicator - масштабного проекта, направленного на ускорение поставок беспилотных систем вооружений в вооруженные силы США.

What kind of malware is MrBeast?

MrBeast ransomware is malware designed to encrypt files to extract money from victims. Additionally, this ransomware renames files by appending the ".MrBeastOfficial@firemail.cc-MrBeastRansom" extension and provides two ransom notes (displays a pop-up message and creates a text file named "MrBeastChallenge.txt").

An example of how MrBeast ransomware changes filenames: it renames "1.jpg" to "1.jpg.MrBeastOfficial@firemail.cc-MrBeastRansom", "2.png" to "1.jpg.MrBeastOfficial@firemail.cc-MrBeastRansom", and so forth. It is important to clarify that MrBeast is an online alias of a popular YouTuber who has nothing to do with the ransomware.

What kind of malware is Arcus?

We have examined Arcus and found that it is ransomware with two variants, one of which is based on Phobos ransomware. It encrypts files and appends an extension to filenames (the extension depends on the ransomware variant). Also, Arcus provides a ransom note (the Phobos variant generates an "info.txt" file and displays a pop-up window; the second one drops the "Arcus-ReadMe.txt" file).

The Phobos variant renames files by appending the victim's ID, an email address, and the ".Arcus" extension to filenames. For instance, it renames "1.jpg" to "1.jpg.id[9ECFA84E-3537].[arcustm@proton.me].Arcus" and "2.png" to "2.png.id[9ECFA84E-3537].[arcustm@proton.me].Arcus". The second variant appends "[Encrypted].Arcus" to filenames (e.g., "1.jpg[Encrypted].Arcus").

What kind of malware is DARKSET?

DARKSET is a malicious program categorized as ransomware. It is designed to encrypt files and demand ransoms for their decryption.

On our testing system, DARKSET encrypted files and added a ".DARKSET" extension. For example, a file initially named "1.jpg" looked like "1.jpg.DARKSET", "2.png" as "2.png.DARKSET", etc. After this process was completed, the ransomware changed the desktop wallpaper and created a ransom-demanding message titled "ReadMe.txt".

What is "Blockchain Rewards" scam campaign?

Our team has analyzed this scam campaign and found that there are at least two versions of this scam email. In both cases, the goal is to trick recipients into disclosing personal information on a deceptive website. Emails of this type are called phishing emails. Recipients should avoid such emails.

What is the fraudulent "SOMO Registration" site?

Our team has examined the website (registration-somogames[.]com) and found that it is a scam website posing as the real SOMO page (somo.xyz). We also found that the purpose of the fraudulent page is to steal cryptocurrency. Therefore, it is highly advisable to avoid this site and always verify the legitimacy of websites.

What is the fake "Privasea Registration" website?

During a routine investigation, our researchers discovered this fake "Privasea Registration" site (registration-privasea[.]org; other domains are possible). The scam imitates the Privasea AI Network (privasea.ai) and promises rewards to entice users into exposing their digital wallets to a crypto drainer.

Apple's new Mac mini and MacBook Pro models powered by M4 Pro and M4 Max chips introduce Thunderbolt 5 connectivity to the Mac lineup for the first time, bringing the first major bandwidth increase since Thunderbolt 3 debuted in 2015. While this next-generation standard promises significant improvements, understanding its specific benefits can help you decide whether it's really essential for your needs.


Let's take a closer look at Thunderbolt 5 – what it does, whether it's necessary, and which accessories leverage the latest standard.

Thunderbolt 5: What It Does

Thunderbolt 5 doubles the standard data transfer speed to 80 Gbps in both directions, with a special "Bandwidth Boost" mode reaching up to 120 Gbps for video-intensive tasks. This asymmetrical mode allocates 120 Gbps to display data while maintaining 40 Gbps for other data transfers, effectively tripling the bandwidth compared to Thunderbolt 4. The standard also increases maximum power delivery to 240W, up from Thunderbolt 4's 100W limit, enabling faster charging for power-hungry devices like the 16-inch MacBook Pro.


The increased bandwidth supports more demanding display configurations for M4 Pro and M4 Max-powered Macs. Thunderbolt 5 also incorporates DisplayPort 2.1, enabling features like 4K displays at 240Hz refresh rates, for smoother motion during gaming and video playback. Like previous versions, the standard maintains backward compatibility with older Thunderbolt standards and USB devices, including the latest USB4 2.0 specification.

Latest Macs With Thunderbolt 5

Apple's latest Mac models featuring Thunderbolt 5 offer enhanced external display support, varying by specific chip configuration. Both the Mac mini with M4 Pro chip and MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max chip provide three Thunderbolt 5 ports. Here's a detailed breakdown of what's capable in terms of display configurations:

MacBook Pro Models

• MacBook Pro with M4 Pro Chip:




• Supports up to two external displays:




• Two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt.


• One display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI.




• Alternatively, supports one external display:




• One display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI.


• One display with up to 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI.







• MacBook Pro with M4 Max Chip:




• Supports up to four external displays:




• Three displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI.




• Alternatively, supports up to three external displays:




• Two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or one display with up to 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI.

Mac mini Models

• Mac mini with M4 Pro Chip:




• Supports up to three external displays:




• Three displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt.




• Alternatively, supports one external display:




• One display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or one display with up to 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI.

Note that the Mac mini with the standard M4 chip features Thunderbolt 4 ports and supports up to three external displays, with specific configurations as detailed in Apple's technical specifications.

Do I Need Thunderbolt 5?

For most users performing everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, or even photo editing, Thunderbolt 4's 40 Gbps bandwidth remains more than adequate. Even 4K video editing and working with large file sizes works smoothly with Thunderbolt 4 connections, as many professionals will attest. The new Mac mini and base 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 chip includes Thunderbolt 4 ports that should serve most of these users.


It's worth considering Thunderbolt 5 if you work with 8K video, require multiple high-resolution displays, or regularly transfer extremely large files. The technology will be particularly beneficial if you work with virtual reality, 3D rendering, or high-end video production where every bit of bandwidth matters. However, remember that taking full advantage of Thunderbolt 5 requires compatible peripherals, which are just beginning to enter the market and typically command premium prices.

For most users, the presence of Thunderbolt 5 shouldn't be the deciding factor when choosing between M4 and M4 Pro/Max Macs. The standard M4 models with Thunderbolt 4 will continue to serve the majority of users well, making Thunderbolt 5 a "nice-to-have" rather than a necessity for typical Mac buyers. The technology's true benefits will likely become more apparent as compatible peripherals become more available and affordable over time.

• 14-Inch vs. 16-Inch MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide 2024


• M4 vs. M4 Pro vs. M4 Max Chip Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?


• M1 vs. M2 vs. M3 vs. M4 MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide: 30+ Differences Compared

Thunderbolt 5 Accessories

The first wave of Thunderbolt 5 peripherals is beginning to arrive. Apple's Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable ($69) features a braided black design, supports the full 120 Gbps bandwidth and 240W power delivery, while maintaining backward compatibility with Thunderbolt 3/4 and USB standards.


For storage, OWC's Envoy Ultra external SSD achieves speeds over 6GB per second – double that of previous Thunderbolt drives – and comes in 2TB ($399.99) and 4TB ($599.99) configurations with a built-in Thunderbolt cable.


Lastly, OWC's Thunderbolt 5 Hub ($189.99) expands a single port into three Thunderbolt 5 ports and one USB-A port, supporting up to 140W power delivery – enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The hub enables three separate device daisy chains and can drive up to three 8K displays at 60Hz with Display Stream Compression. Its aluminum enclosure uses passive cooling for silent operation, making it suitable for noise-sensitive environments like recording studios.
This article, "Thunderbolt 5 in New Macs: Features, Benefits, and Is It Needed?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Leading artificial intelligence companies including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are facing "diminishing returns" from their costly efforts to build newer AI models, according to a new Bloomberg report. The stumbling blocks appear to be growing in size as Apple continues a phased rollout of its own AI features through Apple Intelligence.


OpenAI's latest model, known internally as Orion, has reportedly fallen short of the company's performance expectations, particularly in handling coding tasks. The model is said to be lacking the significant improvements over existing systems when compared to the gains GPT-4 made versus its predecessor.

Google is also reportedly facing similar obstacles with its upcoming Gemini software, while Anthropic has delayed the release of its anticipated Claude 3.5 Opus model. Industry experts who spoke to Bloomberg attributed the challenges to the increasing difficulty in finding "new, untapped sources of high-quality, human-made training data" and the enormous costs associated with developing and operating new models concurrently with existing ones.

Silicon Valley's belief that more computing power, data, and larger models will inevitably lead to better performance, and ultimately the holy grail – artificial general intelligence (AGI) – could be based on false assumptions, suggests the report. Consequently, companies are now exploring alternative approaches, including further post-training (incorporating human feedback to improve responses and refining the tone) and developing AI tools called agents that can perform targeted tasks, such as booking flights or sending emails on a user's behalf.

"The AGI bubble is bursting a little bit," said Margaret Mitchell, chief ethics scientist at AI startup Hugging Face. She told Bloomberg that "different training approaches" may be needed to make AI models work really well on a variety of tasks. Other experts who spoke to the outlet echoed Mitchell's sentiment.

How much impact these challenges will have on Apple's approach is unclear, though Apple Intelligence is more focused in comparison, and the company uses internal large language models (LLMs) grounded in privacy. Apple's AI services mainly operate on-device, while the company's Private Cloud Compute encrypted servers are only pinged for tasks requiring more advanced processing power.

Apple is integrating AI capabilities into existing products and services, including writing tools, Siri improvements, and image generation features, so it can't be said to be competing directly in the LLM space. However, Apple has agreed a partnership with OpenAI that allows Siri to optionally hand off more open-ended queries to ChatGPT. Apple has also reportedly held discussions with other LLM companies about similar outsourcing partnerships.

It's possible that the challenges faced by major AI companies pursuing breakthrough general-purpose AI models could ultimately validate Apple's more conservative strategy of developing specific AI features that enhance the user experience. In that sense, its privacy-first policy may not be the straitjacket it first seemed. Apple plans to expand Apple Intelligence features next month with the release of iOS 18.2 and then via further updates through 2025.

This article, "AI Companies Reportedly Struggling to Improve Latest Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple last week replaced the M3 Max MacBook Pro with the new M4 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌, and we picked up one of the new high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ machines to see how it compares to the prior model with both benchmarks and real-world tests.

We tested an M4 Max with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and 48GB RAM against an M3 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ with similar specs. The two machines look similar, but the display on the M4 version did get some improvements and it's a little bit brighter. There's an option for nano-texture too, which makes a big difference if you ever work outside.

Thunderbolt 5 ports instead of Thunderbolt 4 ports allow you to connect more displays (up to three 6K displays) and get faster transfer speeds. Unsurprisingly, the M4 Max performed better across the board on benchmarks, and those higher numbers did indeed translate to actual improvements in day-to-day performance.

Creating a slow motion clip from a standard clip in Topaz Labs AI took the M3 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ a little over six minutes, while the M4 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ was done in under five minutes.

Exporting a 6 minute 4K video with effects, plugins, LUTs, Roto AI masks, Motion VFX, and more from Final Cut Pro took the M3 Max 1:17, while the M4 Max did it in 1:07. It's only a 10 second savings, but that adds up with longer videos and over time.

Obviously you're not going to be upgrading to the M4 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ if you have an M3 Max machine, but it is interesting to see the year-over-year improvements. If you have something like an M1 Pro or an M1 Max and do a lot of CPU/GPU heavy tasks, upgrading to the M4 Max could end up saving you a good amount of time.

Let us know what you think of the M4 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌'s performance in the comments below.
This article, "M4 Max MacBook Pro: Real-World Usage Tests" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released Logic Pro 11.1 for Mac and Logic Pro 2.1 for iPad, adding new features for songwriting, producing, and mixing. There's a new Quantec Room Simulator plug-in that uses the original algorithms and code from Quantec founder Wolfgang Buchleitner, allowing users to add naturalistic acoustic space to their music with Quantec QRS, or to select Quantec Yardstick for more accurate modeling of acoustic spaces.


Plug-in search lets Final Cut Pro users find and add any plug-in from the plug-in menu without clicking on a channel strip insert. Users can search by categories, company name, or part of a plug-in name.

There is a new Modular Melodies sound back that includes hundreds of loops crafted from patchable hardware synths and a collection of meticulously designed Alchemy synth patches.

Along with these features, the app also includes several enhancements.

• Drag channel strips to organize your mixer layout


• Send your mix directly to Voice Memos and preview on iPhone, ‌iPad‌ or Apple Watch


• Click on any plug-in slot while holding the command key to quickly remove plug-ins


• Quickly set input, output, side chain source, or bus routings using in-menu search


• Use key commands to move Marquee selections in all directions to speed up editing

Apple has also released a new version of Logic Remote with stability improvements and bug fixes.
This article, "Apple Releases Logic Pro 11.1 for Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced the launch of major updates for its Final Cut Pro video editing software designed for Macs and iPads. Final Cut Pro has been version 10 since 2011, but after 13 years, Apple is finally ready to debut Final Cut Pro 11.

Apple first teased a new version of Final Cut Pro when introducing the new M4 Macs in October, and now the updated software is available for download with a number of "intelligent" improvements.

With Final Cut Pro 11, Apple is making sure to take advantage of the full power of its M-series chips. Magnetic Mask, a new AI-powered tool, lets video editors isolate people and objects in a video clip without a green screen or time-consuming rotoscoping.


Magnetic Mask is ideal for customizing backgrounds and environments, and it can be combined with color correction and video effects for more control over each project.

Another new AI feature, Transcribe to Captions, lets Final Cut Pro automatically generate closed captions in the timeline using an Apple-trained large language model that analyzes spoken audio in a video.


Final Cut Pro 11 now has support for editing spatial video. Users are able to import footage from the iPhone 15 Pro models, iPhone 16 models, or Canon's R7 camera with RF-S7.8mm F4 STM Dual Lens to make color corrections, add effects, and enhance video with titles and other features. The depth position of titles and captured footage can be adjusted using FCP, and there are different viewing modes for previewing left and right eye angles on the Mac.

When a Mac is paired with a Vision Pro, the Mac Virtual Display can be used for editing spatial video with the Final Cut Pro software. Spatial videos edited in Final Cut Pro can be exported directly to a user's Photos library to be viewed on Vision Pro, or they can be shared with others by uploading them to the visionOS Vimeo app. Other new Final Cut Pro features:

- Reduce clutter in the browser by automatically hiding original clips when creating synced clips or multicam clips.
- Use Vertical Zoom to Fit to scale clip heights to fit in the timeline.
- Speed up your creative flow with new Picture in Picture and Callout effects.
- Create amazing visual reveals with new Modular transitions.
- Increase efficiency with new keyboard shortcuts for common tasks in the browser and timeline.
- Install third-party Media Extensions to support playback and editing of more video formats.

Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1 improves the touch-first editing experience by adding support for Enhance Light and Color, which refines color balance, contrast, and brightness in video or still images with one tap.


There's haptic feedback support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, which means users will feel a light pulse when trimming clips, moving media, navigating the timeline, and resizing viewer clips to snapping points. Apple added four new inks for the Live Drawing feature on ‌iPad‌ for adding animations to videos. There are now watercolor, crayon, fountain pen, and monoline pen options.


Other improvements include a vertical pinch gesture for expanding or minimizing clip height in the timeline, an option for dynamically adjusting the size and position of the viewer in Picture in Picture mode, and timeline support for recordings at 90 to 120fps on the iPhone 16 Pro models. The content library features additional modular transitions, color-grading presets, and dynamic soundtracks.

Apple also updated Final Cut Camera to version 1.1, adding support for capturing Log-encoded HEVC video in either standalone or Live Multicam sessions, pairing the dynamic range of Log with reduced file sizes. Users can also enable a preview lookup table (LUT) while recording in Log.


‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ users are able to record 4K 120fps footage for smoother cinematic slow motion and then import it into Final Cut Pro for ‌iPad‌ to edit. Other new features include an advanced level with roll and tilt indicators and a crosshairs indicator for top-down shots.

Along with these updates to Final Cut Pro, Apple refreshed Logic Pro for Mac and Logic Pro for ‌iPad‌, adding support for a new Quantec Room Simulator plug-in. There are also updates for Motion, Compressor, and iMovie.

The new versions of Final Cut Pro for Mac and ‌iPad‌, Final Cut Camera, and Logic Pro for Mac and ‌iPad‌ can be downloaded from the App Store. Final Cut Pro for Mac is priced at $299.99, while Final Cut Pro for ‌iPad‌ is priced at $4.99 per month or $49 per year. The version 11 update is available to existing users for free.

Logic Pro for Mac is priced at $199.99, while Logic Pro for ‌iPad‌ is priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
This article, "Apple Releases Final Cut Pro 11 for Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Госдума РФ приняла в первом чтении законопроект, который запрещает владельцам платформ ограничивать установку RuStore на свои гаджеты. Согласно закону, при продаже и использовании гаджетов не должно быть ограничений доступа к российским приложениям и единому магазину приложений. Также не должно быть ограничений на установку приложений из сторонних источников. Ранее депутат Госдумы Горелкин заявил, что техника Apple...

Депутат Госдумы Антон Горелкин сообщил, что Apple заинтересована в появлении RuStore на своих гаджетах. Об этом он заявил, комментируя новости о принятии Госдумой в первом чтении законопроекта об обязательной установке RuStore на смартфоны. Хочу отдельно подчеркнуть, что ни о каком запрете продажи iPhone в России и речи быть не может. Я не исключаю, что отдельной...

Южнокорейская компания Netmarble выпустила трейлер мобильной игры Game of Thrones: Kingsroad. Авторы заявляют, что хотят добиться графики консольного качества, поэтому разрабатывают новинку на Unreal Engine 5. По механикам, которые частично показали в ролике, тайтл напоминает God of War 2018 года. В видео также продемонстрировали Джона Сноу. Это будет одиночная игра с элементами мультиплеера. Трейлер: Релиз...

DC Compact Comics line has been a huge hit and all 15 more titles are coming in the format in 2025.

On the JewCE! Jewish Comics Experience 2024 and what it was like attending this year plus some special highlights.

Helen of Wyndhorn #6 is this week's lead Wednesday Comics review, plus we look at G.I. Joe, Arcbound, and more!

Action Comics #1075 features a retcon and a major status quo development for Metropolis across the Superman titles.

[This is a guest post by Conal Boyce] Recently I watched a video posted by Alexander Unzicker, a no-nonsense physicist who often criticizes Big Science (along the same lines as Sabine Hossenfelder — my hero). But in this case (link below) I was surprised to see Unzicker play back a conversation between himself and ChatGPT, […]

Joey Logano responded to critics of his NASCAR Cup Series Championship win with, "It's a bunch of bull----" and discussed the NASCAR playoff structure.

Patrick Mahomes wanted to get back to a hero-ball offense this season. It didn't work out, so he's gradually reverting to last year's plan.

Former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels detailed what it was like to prepare for games with Tom Brady every week during a season.

Nick Wright unveils his Week 11 Tiers alongside Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes and Coach Eric Mangini. Watch as Nick addresses "massively underestimating" the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles and why the Buffalo Bills climb higher up the tiers.

Chris "The Bear" Fallica delivers his best bet for NFL Week 11. Read why he's backing the Eagles to win and cover against the Commanders on Thursday Night Football.

Shaquille O'Neal joins the First Things First crew. Shaq answers if Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic can end career as a top 5 center. "He's on that list for me."

Michael Irvin breaks down whether the Buffalo Bills can finally end the Kansas City Chiefs' undefeated streak in this pivotal matchup. He analyzes the key factors at play as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen go head-to-head.

Gambling expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica and former NFL Offensive Lineman Geoff Schwartz are joined by friends and analysts Will Hill and Sam Panayotovich in The Gambling Group Chat to discuss the best bets and current wagers for Tennessee vs. Georgia in week 12 of college football.

The Chiefs got three of their key players back from injuries Wednesday: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, RB Isiah Pacheco and DE Charles Omenihu.

Fredrick King caught a two-handed alley-oop that extended the Creighton Bluejays' lead over the HCU Huskies.

Victor Wembanyama had a career-high 50 points and the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 139-130 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.

The New York Post reports that an Ecuadorian restaurant has opened in the Corona neighborhood of Queens. Le Casa Del Guy -- "the house of the guinea pig" -- has become famous for its focus on a staple of Ecuadorian cuisine: the guinea pig.

Guinea pigs raised for food are usually larger than those raised to be pets, weighing about two and a half pounds and measuring sixteen inches long. They can be quite expensive, sometimes over $100 a plate. That's because the restaurant management has to have the guinea pigs shipped from Ecuador then inspected. It might be cheaper to raise them domestically.

-via Dave Barry | Photo: La Casa del Cuy

Okay, that headline is a lot, but it is about as succinct a summary as I can provide. Sora News 24 has the full story.

A taishoku daikou is a company that a worker in Japan will hire to inform his/her current employer that he is quitting. This is apparently a thriving industry in Japan for cultural reasons that elude my understanding.

Momuri is the name of one such company that has processed over 20,000 resignations. Recently a rival firm contacted Momuri and informed it that a Mormuri employee was quitting. This particular employee had, prior to his employment at Mormuri, been a customer who had hired Momuri to help him quit the job that he had at the time.

You follow that?

Photo: Lukas Bieri