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Entertainment briefs | Humboldt Folklife Festival runs from July 18 to 25 in Blue Lake
July 24’s “Barn Dance” features Lyndsey Battle and Cidermill Stringband at Prasch Hall in Blue Lake, starting at 7 p.m. No experience is needed to attend. Purchase tickets at
My Search for a Psychiatric Bed in an Overburdened Health System
Over the past 70 years, the number of inpatient psychiatric beds has dropped dramatically, leaving many without critical care when they experience mental health crises. I was one of the lucky ones to get a bed — after 21 hours of waiting.
Learn indigo dyeing at Siren Song Fleece Works
Experience the magic of indigo! We will use some basic tie dye wraps to prepare a t-shirt to dip into the best natural blue dye on the planet
Barcelona registers highest temperature in 112 years as UK health service urges children and elderly to ‘take weather seriously’
Some stations in Spain recorded temperatures of up to 44C after western Europe experienced the warmest June on record
UK weather latest: Temperatures above 30C expected again as heatwave continues
Amber and yellow heat health alerts are in place across England, as the UK experiences what could be one of the longest heatwaves since 1976.
Delta rolls out cheaper first-class, business fares with fewer perks: 'More ways to choose'
The fares include the same onboard premium experience but with added restrictions.
Sponsored: July brings live entertainment across the Bay Area
Summer is one of the busiest seasons for live entertainment, with everything from outdoor concerts and music festivals to immersive theater experiences happening across the Bay Area. The only chall…
Western Nevada College students engage in science research, bring education to life
While many college students spend summer break away from campus, a dedicated group of Western Nevada College student researchers devoted a month advancing biomedical science through paid research experiences as […]
Radiologist and Maine health providers ask judge to dismiss couple’s lawsuit
The couple say MaineHealth, Spectrum Healthcare Partners and a radiologist failed to diagnose a blood clot that led Jeffrey Sayward to experience a disabling stroke.
Gemini on Nest Hub redesigns weather and other knowledge answers
The Gemini for Home voice assistant is improving its Nest Hub and Smart Display experience with redesigned visual responses.
OpenAI upgrading ChatGPT with all-new voice mode experience, watch here
A shiny new model isn’t the only upgrade coming to ChatGPT this week. In addition to GPT-5.6’s release tomorrow, OpenAI...
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book demo now available on Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo has just announced that a demo for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is now available for free on Nintendo Switch 2. Players can experience the game’s first chapter, and save data can be transferred to the full version if they decide to purchase it later. Originally released on May 21, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a platformer that...
Katie Couric Suffered Amnesia in Health Scare
The veteran news anchor shared the experience in a Substack post titled 'The Day I'll Never Remember.'
Computer Science Alum Pair Gains Key Experience Overseeing Data Science Projects as BU Spark! Postbaccalaureate Fellows
Learn how a pair of MET CS alums—one MS in Software Development alum and one who earned a MS in Computer Science with a concentration in Data Analytics—got vital experience overseeing data science projects as postbaccalaureate fellows in the BU Spark! program.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger on Switch 2 is a solid port and very good handheld, but needs some more work
Digimon Story: Time Stranger delivers a great handheld experience with some small issues, but it should've been better docked.
Small Business Spotlight: Business blooms beyond bouquets
BUSINESS: The Busy Bloom OWNERS: Amanda and Walter Adkins ADDRESS: 708 S. 17th St., Wilmington EMAIL: thebusybloomco@gmail.com WEBSITE: thebusybloomco.com PHONE NUMBER: (910) 742-0790 YEAR FOUNDED: 2024 NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 4 WHAT IS THE BUSY BLOOM? AMANDA ADKINS: “The Busy Bloom is a flower shop with a spin – a creative experience shop located in Wilmington’s Cargo District. Founded in 2024 by husband-and-wife team Amanda and Walter Adkins, we offer fresh flowers, botanical teas, a build-your-own bouquet bar, candle-making experiences, gifts, workshops, wedding florals and event services. Our mission is simple: to make flowers accessible, approachable and enjoyable for everyone – not just for special occasions.” WHY DID YOU START THE BUSINESS? AMANDA ADKINS: “The Busy Bloom was born from a lifelong connection to flowers and a desire to create meaningful experiences for people. After doing my own wedding florals and after years of working in healthcare management, I found myself returning to gardening and floral design as a creative outlet and source of healing. The loss of my mother-in-law, who always shared flowers from her garden, inspired me to pursue floristry full-time. My husband encouraged me and built a small flower cart for us to grow, and fast forward to now, two years later, it has grown into a community-centered business focused on bringing joy, connection and creativity through flowers.” WHAT KIND OF GROWTH ARE YOU HOPING FOR? AMANDA ADKINS: “We’re focused on sustainable growth that allows us to continue serving our community while expanding creative experiences. We hope to grow our wedding and event services, expand our educational workshops and creative programming and become a destination where people can gather, create and connect. We’re also passionate about creating opportunities that showcase floral design as an art form, such as our Fleur Couture fashion show and other community collaborations.” WHAT PAST EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU HAD WITH STARTING/WORKING IN BUSINESS? AMANDA ADKINS: “Before opening The Busy Bloom, I worked as a clinical manager in healthcare and spent years building leadership, operations and customer service skills. I’ve also worked in education and nonprofit programming, teaching people about nature and local ecosystems. Along the way, I designed flowers for weddings and events on the side, gradually turning a passion into a business. Walter has years of welding and construction experience, combined with entrepreneurship and a drive to own his own company. …The Busy Bloom has been a journey of combining creativity with entrepreneurship alongside my husband ... learning every step of the way.”
For A Few Short Minutes Today, 99 Percent Of Humanity Will Be Bathed In Sunlight. If You Miss It, You Will Get Another Chance Tomorrow.
For a short few minutes, nearly all of humanity will experience sunlight together.
What to know about Delta’s expanded Basic fare options, available now
Starting today, Delta is offering Basic fares in premium products (Delta First, Delta Premium Select and Delta One — known as Basic Business) alongside Classic and Extra fares in select markets. This expansion of the Basic experience allows customers to access premium products at a lower price point, giving them more choice and the ability to tailor their travel based on what matters most.
The Billion-Dollar Business Of Belonging
The experience economy is really the business of belonging. Discover why connection, community and everyday experiences are shaping the next decade of consumer behaviour.
Academic Excellence Award Winner
Academic Excellence Award Winner Erin shares her experiences as a Public and Community Health Major, with double minors in Legal Studies and Health Policy and Management:"I came to Ithaca from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts knowing that I wanted an education that would allow me to change the world in a positive light. Admittedly, I was unaware when choosing the public health major just how much of an impact I could make, but through my experiences in this rigorous program, I know public health is where I am meant to be. Being a public health major during the COVID-19 pandemic was a unique experience. My education granted me the opportunity to work on and off campus with different populations to provide support during the pandemic. Professor Srijana Bajracharya was my professor for Research Methods in Health. She encouraged her class to create research projects that would benefit our communities. She was a mentor for me and helped me find my passion in research, which I have brought with me to my job as a research assistant for Rescue - The Behavior Change Agency. I thank Professor Bajracharya for her guidance and support throughout my time as a public health student."
INCUBASE Studio Accelerates Collectible Entertainment with GochaGocha's 23-Location Asia Debut of a New Photo Card Experience
INCUBASE Studio is expanding its IP entertainment ecosystem with the launch of GochaGocha, a new smart photo card machine platform developed by subsidiary INCUTix. Following a rapid rollout across 23 locations in Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok in early June, GochaGocha introduces a new channel connecting fans with officially licensed content through discovery, collectability and convenience.
Randi Mahomes speaks at Ultimate Sports Parent Experience on South Plains
Patrick Mahomes' mother shares lessons on staying involved in kids' sports
Palm Beach County students gain hands-on business experience at entrepreneurship forum
Nearly 300 students in Palm Beach County participated in the "Mind Your Business" forum, which focuses on STEM, media, artificial intelligence, and trades.
Edie Stewart new CEO at Forward Arkansas
Forward Arkansas announced Tuesday (July 9) Edie Stewart as its new CEO, effective August 3. Stewart brings more than three decades of experience spanning education, workforce development and the nonprofit...
The Ultimate NOLA Golf Experience 2026 at Five O Fore Golf + Entertainment
New Orleans, La. (WGNO) — FIVE O FORE GOLF + ENTERTAINMENT is New Orleans’ premier golf entertainment venue, featuring three levels of interactive golf bays, live local music, and one of the bigges…
Materials science and engineering students gain hands-on experience as part of a national manufacturing competition
Five engineering students put their design and manufacturing skills to the test in the Steel Founders' Society of America's Cast in Steel competition. The first season of the organization's YouTube series premieres on July 9.
Digital Health Tools and Technologies: An Overview of CMS’ Recent Efforts to Expand Their Use in Medicare
As an increasing share of older adults have adopted digital health technologies over the past several years, and with most expressing interest in using them to manage their health care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced several initiatives to expand the use of digital health technologies in Medicare. This brief summarizes these initiatives and draws on data from various surveys, including KFF Tracking Polls from September 2025 and March 2026, to highlight facts about recent experiences with and use of digital health tools among Medicare beneficiaries and older adults more generally.
UCLA scientists bring real-world experiences — and pop culture
Broad Stem Cell Research Center researchers use Pokémon, LeBron James to help science click for high school students.
The Harley-Davidson Museum announces “The Ride Home” entertainment and Labor Day weekend experiences
September 3-6.
Right Angle Entertainment Names Todd Rossi as First-Ever VP of Marketing and Revenue
Right Angle Entertainment appointed Todd Rossi to a newly created VP of Marketing and Revenue role, the company's first. Rossi brings over 20 years of live entertainment marketing and revenue strategy experience.
Seattle lives up to its reputation as soccer city during World Cup run
Seattle hosted the World Cup for 22 days. Few cities experienced the full scope of the world’s largest sporting event, on and off the field, as the Emerald City did.
Mesquite Entertainment launches $99 summer hotel package as travelers shift toward value-first getaways
(Sponsored) As Las Vegas hotels lean into all-inclusive packages that bundle stays with dining, perks and built-in experiences in response to rising resort fees and growing demand for more affordable
New entertainment concept with karaoke, dueling pianos and more to open on Pittsburgh’s North Shore
The concept will offer an evolving lineup of karaoke, “bandeoke,” dueling pianos, live performances from local and national bands, and curated DJ experiences.
Scientists discover how astrocytes help memories last
Some memories remain with us for years, shaping how we learn from experience and adapt to the world around us. Others disappear quickly, even when they once seemed important. Although scientists have long studied how memories are formed in the brain, far less is known about what allows certain memories to persist over time. A research team led by Dr. KOH Wuhyun at the Center for Memory and Glioscience within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), together with researchers at the Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), has now discovered that astrocytes play a critical role in this process. Astrocytes are star-shaped cells in the brain that have traditionally been considered support cells for neurons. The study shows that these cells actively help determine whether memories can be maintained over long periods of time, revealing a previously unknown mechanism that supports long-term memory persistence.
Insurance commissioner candidate touts experience
Sen. Ben Allen aims to reform home-insurance market.
Accel Entertainment, Inc. to Report Second Quarter 2026 Results, Host Conference Call and Webcast on August 4
CHICAGO, July 07, 2026--Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL) ("Accel" or "the Company"), a leading locals-focused gaming operator partnering with small businesses, local communities, and state governments to provide entertaining, convenient, and safe gaming experiences nationwide, announced today it will release its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, after market close on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The Company will host a conference call and webcast that
Dedicated ‘coffee crew’ credits camaraderie, teamwork for success of Aspinwall business
A java dream team brings fun and efficiency to work at Aspinwall Beans ‘N’ Cream. The crew of eight full-timers and one part-timer at Aspinwall Beans ‘N’ Cream — dubbed ABC by locals — shares more than 100 years of combined food and beverage experience while serving up hometown hospitality
Explosive Growth Anticipated: Generative AI in Media and Entertainment Market Set to Surpass $8 Billion by 2030
Key market opportunities in generative AI for media and entertainment include integration with VR/AR, cloud-based AI services, real-time personalization, and growth in interactive gaming. Trends involve AI-powered content creation, personalization, and storytelling. The market seeks innovation to enhance user experiences and content efficiency. Generative AI in Media and Entertainment Market Generative AI in Media and Entertainment Market Dublin, July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Generative
Advantage Business Capital Welcomes New Senior Vice President
Advantage Business Capital welcomed Todd Waldrip to its growing team. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Waldrip will be focused on asset-based
‘Sacred moments’ in healthcare: Not just for the religious among us
The phenomenon is not unique to healthcare, but researchers have been exploring the prevalence and predictability of these experiences in medical settings.
From bench to business: How I-Corps trains scientists for industry
NSF’s I-Corps program provides entrepreneurial training and hands-on business research experience to scientists, helping them take academic discoveries beyond the bench and into society.
From bench to business: How I-Corps trains scientists for industry
NSF’s I-Corps program provides entrepreneurial training and hands-on business research experience to scientists, helping them take academic discoveries beyond the bench and into society.
HRS: Exceptional entertainment and experiences
Experience good times and good food at The Rhythm Room.
Washington Commanders Sign Veteran Cornerback Rasul Douglas
The Washington Commanders are adding experienced depth to the secondary after inking veteran Rasul Douglas
HRS: Exceptional entertainment and experiences
Hampton Roads Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina News, Weather, Traffic and Sports.
OCEAN SIGNATURE RESORTS OFFERS UNMATCHED MULTIGENERATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT IN PUNTA CANA
/PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Signature Resorts is redefining the premium all-inclusive experience in the Caribbean by unveiling an elevated, sports-forward...
Niantic Games Team Now Officially Called Scopely Explore
Today, 6th July 2026, the Niantic games team officially updates its name to Scopely Explore. As part of the rebrand they intend to debut a new look. They have shared that the Pokémon GO team remains the same, as does their commitment to creating the best gameplay experiences for Trainers everywhere. It has been more […]
AI Is Changing How Customers Choose Your Business
As AI increasingly mediates how customers research, evaluate, and choose suppliers, competitive advantage is shifting from direct customer understanding to managing AI-shaped interactions. Drawing on the experiences of three small-to-medium sized businesses they worked with, the authors show how firms can adapt. A manufacturer improved sales efficiency by screening AI-generated inquiries before investing engineering time in quotations. A boutique hotel learned to monitor how AI tools described its business and revised public content to improve accuracy and differentiation. A B2B software company replaced periodic customer reviews with continuous monitoring of customer feedback and AI-generated market perceptions. Across all three cases, the lesson is that firms must treat AI as a new intermediary in the customer relationship. Winning companies will not necessarily spend the most on technology; they will build systems for continuously listening, interpreting signals, and adapting strategy in markets where both customers and the information they rely on are increasingly AI-mediated.
School shows late World Cup win to wide awake kids
Middlesbrough pupils experience England's World Cup drama without staying up into the early hours.
The wildest World Cup game so far, plus more on Balogun’s return
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Park the bus today. Inside: 🏴 England’s unthinkable win Balogun returns 🎾 Osaka shocker Any weekend with World Cup knockout games ensures a compelling experience. But even outside of those — which were scintillating, to be clear — yesterday was a banner day for winners across the sports spectrum. Let’s simply rank them: 1. England, sheesh This was slotted at No. 2 until the match unfolded.
Northwestern summer program helps high school students REACH for science and art education
In just three weeks, a Northwestern summer program introduces high school students to astronomy, art and coding. The Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students program trains students to become modern researchers, teaching them how to code and analyze data, according to REACH director James Schottelkotte. The program is running two three-week...
From roller rinks to laundromats, this Bywater company builds memorable marketing experiences at big events
"Audiences wanted to touch grass again and build relationships with brands in a more realistic way and not just get hammered by digital trash."
DC experiences ‘Code Red’ air quality after massive fireworks display
Residents of Washington, DC, on Sunday briefly experienced the worst air quality of any major city in the world, according to a company that ranks pollution globally, as the capital reckoned with the aftermath of a massive, 40-minute Fourth of July fireworks show.
She navigated the US alone. Now, a UNT Health Fort Worth strategist guides others
Annabel Luna-Smith turned her own immigrant experience from Venezuela into work connecting residents to care and support.
A Digital Twin-Lens Reflex Camera is Long Past Due
Of all the ways that we take photographs, the twin-lens reflex experience has been left by the wayside. Maybe that needs to change.
Gran Turismo 7 survey focuses on player progression
A Sony-issued survey about Gran Turismo 7’s player experience covers all topics, but seems heavily focused on progression systems.
Kean unveils mental health bill after return from depression treatment
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. unveiled a mental health parity bill a day after returning from treatment for depression and speaking publicly about his experience.
Scientist who cleaned space toilet on work experience now leading Mars exploration teams
Claire Parfitt says her time at the National Space Centre in Leicester gave her a unique insight.
Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math, science students Showcase Knowledge, skills gained at Summer Academy
GREENEVILLE – Five weeks of thorough preparation and mentoring by Tusculum University staff members with local high school students participating in a summer program resulted in high-caliber research projects that highlighted their hands-on learning experience. Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and
Author, mental health advocate Kendall Concini-Moore creates experiences, not just books
“The Cloudy Day Chronicles” picture book series helps parents navigate tough feelings with their children while providing resources to help the conversation continue.
I took my 3 kids to a Mets Sunday family game. It's a core memory.
Watching my three children experience their first Major League Baseball game reminded me why family traditions are worth starting.
Paranormal Cirque ‘Specter’ bringing dark big top circus entertainment to Galleria at Crystal Run
WALLKILL- Paranormal Cirque 'Specter' is set to bring its dark, theatrical big top circus experience to the Hudson Valley from June 3 through June 6 at Galleria
For one small business, AI was key to a quick start and expansion
Here Now Health isn't an AI-based company, but its quick path from an idea in founder Michelle Turner's mind to an operating mental health platform for foster children relied deeply on the technology now restructuring the U.S. economy. Working from her Virginia Beach home, she used AI tools to school herself in startup culture, create a business plan and fine-tune a presentation for early-stage investors. Funding began to flow, and the company, launched in January 2025, now has 16 employees and is certified in three states to provide Medicaid-funded mental health counseling for children entering the foster system, a gap in care she identified through her own experience as a foster parent.
The 'Black Mirror' Experience made me sick to my stomach
Naturally, stepping into the world of "Black Mirror" is upsetting.
Deaths surged 29% in France during week of record heat, health agency says
France experienced a surge in deaths during the hottest week of a record heat wave last month.
Long Reads for the Long Weekend
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) Happy Fourth of July weekend! As has been a tradition of mine going back to the beginning of the EntStrategyGuy website, I’m sharing my favorite long reads of the last year, like I did in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025. Let’s dive right in! Subscribe “Different Prices for the Same Ride: How Uber and Lyft Use AI to Get More Money Out of You“ by Derek Kravitz in Consumer Reports I don’t think surveillance pricing, like the kind described in this brilliant Consumer Reports article, is long for the world—it’s toxically unpopular—but we’ll see if either party takes on this issue. If I ran a political party focused on affordability, I would focus on a few pro-consumer and pro-market policies: Banning non-compete agreements. Ending surveillance pricing Eliminating junk fees (read more here...) Ensuring “right to repair” for consumer (and military!) products Capping excessive app store fees Stopping digital/algorithmic price-fixing tools. Preventing automatic subscription price increases. And more. If you want to fight inflation, there are a lot of great ways to do it quickly. Speaking of higher prices... “Secret Documents Show Pepsi and Walmart Colluded to Raise Food Prices Across the Economy“ by Matt Stoller in BIG Again, I think a political party should focus on lowering prices for consumers. And deals like this—Walmart making a deal/forcing Pepsi to offer the lowest prices at its stores and nowhere else—hypothetically lower prices at Walmart...but raise them everywhere else. “15 DUIs, still driving: California’s failure to take repeat drunk drivers off the road“ by Robert Lewis and Lauren Hepler in CalMatters CalMatters does terrific reporting in California, something the Golden State desperately needs more of, and this article is a great example of that. “PugLips: The next insanely popular thing you’ve never heard of…” by Simon Carless in Game Discover Co I thought that this parody article (and yes, it’s a parody, but I was definitely unsure at first) was hilarious and totally nailed how much tech/business journalism feels these days. Actually, three of my favorite articles this year were on hype in the video game industry, including Georg Zoller’s “The Video Game Industries Very Dark Night”—which I linked to recently and wrote a follow-up here—and Owen Mahoney’s “Derek Zoolander, Videogame Exec”. In particular, I like Mahoney’s focus on user experience as a guide to what trends will actually grab hold of customers. “The Matrix Lies“ by Evan Shapiro in Media War & Peace Evan Shapiro’s first person account of his experience with AI was hilarious. I think LLMs capabilities have significantly grown from last summer, and yet...my editor/researcher just had an abysmal experience using an LLM to do a quite basic task (which our LLM normally does each week) and the LLM made a mistake on every single data entry...along with seven different mistakes affecting twelve of the twenty or so entries, including mistakes that are explicitly spelled out in the prompt. That’s a brutal failure rate. Again, if you use AI/LLM for data collection, you need to take a lot of extra steps to verify and check the data. “Ghosts in the Balcony: A Cross-Country Trip to 58 Theaters Fighting to Survive“ by Matthew Frank in The Ankler I thought Matthew Frank’s pitch to head across America to visit theaters sounded insane aggressive at the time—at least it felt that way to someone a decade older than him; man, to be in your twenties again, am I right?—but I knew the result would be great. And it was, a terrific feature by a great young writer. Also, I loved Matthew’s recent article on who’s getting the precious few entry level jobs in Hollywood. (Hint: nepotism.) “Disney erased FiveThirtyEight“ and “Did Las Vegas get too greedy?” by Nate Silver in Silver Bulletin I love media history and analysis, and there’s no one better to get the history of FiveThirtyEight than from Nate Silver, who wrote about his personal experience in one of my favorite pieces from this year. I also loved Nate’s breakdown of what’s causing Vegas’ woes, but I’ll offer one criticism, summarized as “Might I suggest antitrust?” Many centrists/center-right/libertarian thinkers (Nate is self-described as the latter) often don’t consider consolidation or antitrust as factors in policy issues like housing, America’s military readiness, or, in this case, Las Vegas. Even if libertarians want to debunk antitrust/consolidation concerns, I’d love to read that debunking. In this case, Vegas is incredibly consolidated (though it also has been for a long time) and I’d have loved to read Nate at least contending with this factor, since he addresses almost every other potential factor for Vegas’ decline. “Why Microsoft’s Carbon Removal Pullback Is Such a Big Deal“ by Robinson Meyer in Heatmap News I’m a big supporter of carbon removal efforts, but this nascent industry faces a lot of headwinds, including this big move most recently. I think it’s clear that solar panels and batteries should be able to get the world to its carbon footprint goals, but effective carbon renewal remains necessary to prevent the worst impacts of global warming. “AI is killing the cheap smartphone“ by David Oks LLMs and AI will impact the world in ways we’re not ready for, and already, third world countries are seeing the prices of cheap cellphones skyrocket due to the cost of chips skyrocketing. This article by David Oks is a terrific breakdown. “100 Days of Madness: Netflix, Paramount, Warner and the Future of Hollywood“ by Wade Major at Hollywood Heretic Wade Major dove deep into Hollywood/streaming’s financials in this must read piece. Not that I agree with everything in this article (read my take on Warner Bros./Paramount here) but the analysis is top notch. I think many people discount how quality thinking, regardless of the argument/conclusion, will make you a better thinker. “Erased by the UFC: Frank Shamrock, The MMA GOAT of the 20th Century“ by Nate Wilcox in The MMA Draw Newsletter Growing up playing the UFC fighting game on the Dreamcast, Frank Shamrock was my favorite MMA fighter, and this history/tribute to him was great. Other Fun Reads “The Hardest Part Of History To Tell Is How It Felt“ by Craig Fehrman at Defector “Unmasking the Sea Star Killer“ by Craig Welch at bioGraphic “What Could Save the Industry? Fin-Syn“ by Richard Rushfield in The Ankler Alex Rollins Berg in Underexposed on movie bumpers, pillow shots, Disney trash cinema, cult films, and Casablanca. David H. Montgomery in YouGov’s The Surveyor on punctuation marks, condiments, dinosaurs, and comic strips and kids media. “How Medium finally pivoted its way to profitability“ and “Why the best journalists on YouTube are all former Vox employees“ by Simon Owens in Simon Owens’s Media Newsletter “It’s Not Just You, Netflix Shows Have Gotten Slightly Shorter: Here’s What the Data Says“ by Kasey Moore at What’s on Netflix “Numlock Awards: How Diane Warren became the biggest loser in Oscar history“ by Nathaniel Rakich and “Numlock Awards: The Oscar Bait era is over. The Oscar Chum era is here.” by Walt Hickey & Michael Domanico at Numlock Awards
The 15 jobs with the best workplace experience, according to Monster
Healthcare workers, math and data science professionals, and science technicians topped Monster's ranking for the best workplace experience.
Why Perplexity's founder doesn't think the American dream is over
Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, praised America's startup culture on "The Joe Rogan Experience."
Heat wave in France saw 2,000 more deaths, says public health authority
France experienced a surge in deaths during the hottest week of a record heat wave last month. Public Health France said it recorded at least 2,000 more deaths than the previous week.
Venezuela's infrastructure long a disaster waiting to happen
Even before June's devastating earthquakes, Venezuelans experienced electricity outages that affected the supply of drinking water, as well as serious failures in public services, transportation and telecommunications.
86% of fans say live sports are becoming a luxury experience
Davey Chadwick from YouGov Sport examines whether live sports are now reserved for well-off Americans.
Suicide Squad development felt ‘like I wasn’t making games anymore,’ says director
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League director Axel Rydby shares his experience of working on the doomed live-service.
Waymo robotaxis have easter eggs for the July 4 celebration
Waymo is tweaking the in-car experience to get into the festive spirit for the Fourth of July.
Upgrade Your Home Entertainment Experience and Save Big 45+ Fourth of July TV Deals
Shop unmissable Independence Day deals from big-name brands including Sony, LG and Samsung, with options starting at just $150.
‘Education, entertainment and celebration’: American Village hosting 2-day event for Fourth of July, America’s 250th
The two day festival spans from July 3 to July 4, bringing together music, history, food, art and family-friendly experiences in a “dynamic and patriotic setting.”
Detroit young adults tour with Usher, gain backstage experience in live entertainment
Four Detroit young adults are getting a rare, behind-the-scenes education in the entertainment industry, touring the country with Usher as part of a first-of-its-kind live-touring internship program.
Top ‘Suicide Squad’ Developers Say the Flop Made Them Not Want to Make Games Anymore
The director and top designer of Rocksteady’s failed game open up about their experiences
Students gain hands-on research skills during ASSURE summer science program
Liberty University’s ASSURE program, an annual six-week summer intensive through the School of Health Sciences’ Department of Biology & Chemistry, concluded last month with its largest participation yet, with 36 students gaining research experience under the supervision of 16 faculty members....
Fewer health information exchanges say they experience info blocking
Fewer companies may be impeding the flow of digital health information, but some could be doing so frequently, the ONC said.
Croatia criticised for ‘unambitious’ changes to 2022 science law
Croatia’s science ministry has been accused of a lack of ambition, and even incompetence, over proposed changes to the country’s 2022 science law. Critics say an opportunity has been missed to fix wider shortcomings in the research and universities system.“This law, like all the previous ones, will not significantly change the current state of science in Croatia,” Vlatko Silobrčić, a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences, told Science Business. “A small shift here and there will not have a significant impact.”The 2022 law introduced multi-year block grant financing of research, based on results, and changes intended to boost employment and career progression for researchers and lecturers. But implementation of the law has been uneven. “It became apparent that certain of its provisions were subject to different interpretations by higher education institutions and scientific institutes,” the science ministry said in its proposal for change. “This caused legal uncertainty in the system, administrative difficulties in implementation and, in certain cases, unequal treatment of teachers, scientists and students.”Most of the proposed amendments deal with technicalities in hiring and promoting staff, such as extending the committee deadlines from 60 to 90 days, or allowing applicants to cite all of their achievements and not only those since their last appointment.Both the ministry and Croatian media highlighted changes that would raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 years and allow part-time students 15 year rather than 10 years to finish their studies.The change to retirement age has been criticised for reinforcing a weakness in the system. According to Matko Marušić, professor emeritus at the University of Split, this will “allow unproductive teachers to advance and work longer, while hindering and discouraging productive ones.”A longtime campaigner for excellence-based meritocracy, he sees little hope in the new legislation. “I am not optimistic that things will improve,” he told Science Business. “As recent changes to the law in Croatia show, the legal framework is becoming increasingly hypocritical and harmful.”For Marušić, who analyses Croatia's university system in a recently published book, the situation is “unfavourable and constantly deteriorating” due to the criteria used for academic advancement.“The key criterion for advancement should be scientific productivity,” he said. “In Croatia [. . .] scientific criteria are increasingly lowered, and ineffective and absurd criteria such as waiting times for promotion and age limits for remaining in a job are promoted.” He would also like to see better criteria for the quality of teaching at universities. “In practice, teaching is not monitored or evaluated,” he said, estimating that up to a third of teaching simply does not take place. “Under the guise of university autonomy and bad laws, universities and faculties are allowed to earn additional money by increasing enrolment quotas that have nothing to do with the needs of the labour market.” Lack of ambitionDora Kršul, a reporter at Telegram.hr who covers science policy in Croatia, finds the rationale for changes “bizarre.” “The ministry responsible for supervising the uniform application of the law is changing the law because it is being implemented unevenly,” she said. “This primarily speaks to the power relationship in the sphere of science and higher education in Croatia, that is, the question arises as to who actually manages this system.”Rather than raising quality, she continued, the changes appear to be designed to help vocational and applied universities who have not been complying with the law.The Independent Union of Research and Higher Education Employees of Croatia said that the changes were “unambitious” and represent a missed opportunity for more important changes. “We think some of the changes are even negative,” it said in its statement on June 25. One of these is introduction of an “assistant” job title that allows people to be hired only for the duration of a project. Related articles: Elections to top science bodies test Croatia’s gender equality in researchSlovakia revises R&D approach to increase focus on competitivenessLatvia pilots citizen engagement in research grant evaluationsThe union’s president, Tvrtko Smital, who was part of the 15-member working group tasked with drafting the changes, told the local media there was a “worrying lack of ambition” in the process, and “lack of competence” in terms of research experience and understanding the problems in the system.“There is no clear will to deal with the problems,” said Smital, an assistant professor of marine and environmental sciences at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb. “It’s a combination of unambitiousness and incompetence,” he went on, expressing his “deep frustration” with the situation. “There is no strategy, no clear thinking, and money is not being spent optimally.”Croatia’s science ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
Front Row Seat: Goodbye to Duluth
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Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced. The move applies to all PlayStation games released from that point on, including those made by Sony and those released by third parties. The PlayStation group calls the change “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” according to a PlayStation blog post reviewed by Game File in advance of its publication. As movies, TV and music have shifted from physical media to an age of downloads and streaming, Sony’s move could speed the demise of physical media in a gaming. The industry has offered consumers games via cartridges, cassettes, floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays across a 50-year stretch. Sony has been reporting to investors in recent years that PlayStation games have been increasingly purchased as downloads, not as discs. The most recent figures show nearly four in five purchases of full games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were purchased digitally in the past year. Stats like that may cause today’s news to carry an air of the inevitable. But Sony’s declaration for 2028 is still likely to produce a shock, as the biggest gaming platform on the planet that uses game discs leaves them behind. Discs going away, but the fate of game boxes is unknown Sony is committing to still selling games in physical retailers even after they drop discs in 2028. Just how those games will be sold—in boxes with codes inside, as cards marked with digital redemption codes—is unclear. Digital games will also continue to be sold in the online PlayStation Store. New games released for PlayStation consoles prior to January 2028 will be unaffected by the policy change, Sony says. That means the PS5 games of 2027, be they a new Madden, a new God of War, a new Call of Duty, a new Sly Cooper (one can dream?), would still potentially be offered on disc. PlayStation 6 implications Sony’s timeline for a transition to a no-disc era will also spin up more speculation about the timing and configuration of Sony’s next-generation console, the probable PlayStation 6. “This pretty much guarantees that PS6 won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest,” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games research analyst at Ampere Analysis tells Game File. Harding-Rolls also concludes from today’s news that “the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive,” as Sony looks to keep costs down on the device. Sony itself is saying nothing about the PS6 today: not its timing, nor how it might or might not support internal or external disc drives in order to run disc-based PS4 and PS5 games, should the console be backwards compatible. The many signs this was coming Industry support for games being released on physical media has been waning. As has consumer interest in them. PC games effectively went all-digital years ago, thanks to the popularity of playing games through Steam and other digital storefronts. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept much of the global population home helped shift shopping patterns toward downloads. Sony’s own data shows PlayStation game downloads being an uncommon consumer choice a decade ago and now becoming the norm. On consoles, physical media has been in such decline that Sony and Microsoft both launched their current gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles in 2020 with cheaper versions that lacked disc drives. In early 2024, Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, told me that ““[w]e ship games physically and digitally, and we’re really just following what the customers are doing.” He added that the game industry had become an outlier in still supporting disc-based entertainment, even as movies and TV have bailed on discs in favor of downloads and steaming: “Gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive. And this is a real issue, just in terms of the number of manufacturers that are actually building drives and the cost associated with those. And when you think about cogs that we’re going to go put in a console—and as you have fewer suppliers and fewer buyers—the cost of the drive does have an impact.” Last year, the Nintendo’s Switch 2, which uses cartridges rather than discs, introduced the concept of game-key cards, which are physical media that contain no game, just a prompt for a download. Even disc-based games aren’t what they once were, now frequently containing just stubs of games rather than the whole thing. The website Does It Play has tested over 3000 games and found that, for example, that the disc version of this year’s hit 007: First Light, only contained the game’s first mission, with the rest needing to be downloaded. Beyond all that, last week brought the news that Grand Theft Auto VI, likely the biggest game launch this decade, will debut for PS5 and Xbox Series without a disc-based version. Today’s big news comes to you for free. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and ensure more of my work is possible, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Discs helped define PlayStation However the trends in entertainment may be going, it is still remarkable to see PlayStation ditch discs given their importance in PlayStation history: In the late 1990s, the first PlayStation’s support for games on relatively cheap CD-ROMs instead of traditional game cartridges allowed the upstart console to outmaneuver cartridge-based systems from Nintendo and Sega, as it drove down game prices down in the process. (The cheaper disc format even prompted Final Fantasy VII maker Square to taunt Nintendo in a magazine ad, saying that if the game was “available on cartridge, it’d retail for around $1200.”) PlayStation devices often doubled as machines for watching movies and TV on the latest disc-based formats. In the late 2000s, for example, Sony’s pricy PS3 gained traction as a go-to device for playing then-novel Blu-Ray discs. In 2013, Sony effectively roasted the digital game-sharing restrictions proposed by rival Microsoft for its upcoming Xbox One console by showing how games could be shared for the then-upcoming PS4. In a 21-second clip that has over 20 million views on YouTube, one PlayStation executive simply handed a game box—presumably with disc inside—to another, who said “thanks.” Sony’s possible motivations The PlayStation announcement today cites “consumer preferences” and a shift away from discs among “the broader entertainment industry,” but does not delve into the decision-making process that brought Sony to this point. Sony is not discussing the economics of this move (I asked!), but there are a number of potential factors: Abandoning discs will spare Sony the cost of manufacturing and shipping them, which analysts and industry veterans I spoke to said could account for $1 or so of a game’s retail price. For first-party games, that’s direct savings for Sony, though the amount is limited by the winnowing percentage of people who were even buying the disc-based versions. For third-party games, Sony could pass the savings on to partners or just retain the better profit margin for themselves. As the 2024 comments from Phil Spencer alluded to, leaving discs behind could mean leaving disc-drives behind, allowing Sony to produce consoles more cheaply. Switching to digital-only for games could diminish the risks of copies of new games leaking. It would also seemingly make second-hand sales of used games impossible, pushing more people to buy their own copies of games. These economic benefits for Sony could be boons for the games industry overall, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls tells Game File. Among other things, it could free publishers and retailers from having to worry about securing an inventory of game discs when trying to sell games, he noted. “If there is a way to streamline the business of games retail, I generally think it’s a good thing for the industry as it removes unnecessary costs,” Harding-Rolls said. “This will help offset pressure on margins from other directions – development and staffing costs for example.” Should the industry shift from game boxes that contain discs to smaller, cheaper game cards, Harding-Rolls said, that reduces pressure on publishers and retailers. “The advantage of everything going digital for the industry is that sales can be tracked much more easily and there is less commercial risk for publishers wanting to continue selling via retail,” he said. The shift to no discs will also likely impact game development timelines, as developers will no longer face the same urgency to have a build ready to submit to PlayStation for the production of a disc, as industry experts noted around GTA VI’s no-disc news last week. Instead, projects may gain weeks of development time, in the event delivery deadlines for platform approval move closer to release date. Preservationists’ likely worries While millions of gamers have shifted to digital, there are still people who associate game discs—and only game discs—with actual ownership of PlayStation games. That portion of the gaming community spoke up last week about wanting to buy a version of GTA VI that they could hold in their hands, could lend to a friend and could potentially pop into a well-preserved PS5 console three decades from now and still see it run. Such gamers didn’t want to worry that they’d merely purchased a digital copy that could lose access to the game if, say, the company behind the game someday turns of the servers that transmit downloadable copies. Digital copies of games are inherently less long-lasting, because consumers aren’t actually buying a game (on a disc), just buying access to the game. The fine print in online gaming shops notes this, as does a recent law that went on the books in California in 2025. That lasw requires game publishers doing business in the state to refrain from words like “sell” when offering digital copies of games, unless they explicitly tell consumers that what’s being sold isn’t the game itself but a potentially revocable license to access it. A Sony spokesperson noted to Game File that “[w]ith all digital content, including games, movies, and music, players are purchasing a personal license for non-commercial use.” Regarding the fears of PlayStation games being lost to time in an all-digital era, the rep also noted that Sony remains “committed to delivering experiences from past generations to the new platforms our players are using.” They noted that PlayStation has used emulation and remasters to keep offering its classic games to modern gamers. It’s true that many consumers have become accustomed to not having physical copies of new music albums or movies, but the relative precariousness of digital copies of games is in fact being highlighted today by…. Sony’s other big announcement: the upcoming closure of the PS3 and PS Vita online stores Sony said today that it will be closing the online marketplaces for its PlayStation 3 console and PS Vita handheld in most countries in July 2027 (sooner elsewhere: August 2026 for the PS3 store Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua; late 2026 for PS3 in other Latin American countries and the Middle East). “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming,” Sony said in its announcement, saying the move “was not an easy decision for us to make.” Sony said that PS3 and Vita marketplaces “are no longer able” to support modern commerce systems, prompting a “need” to close the shops and focus on more modern PlayStation platform stores. The news may spark some deja vu. Sony announced back in March 2021 that it planned to take the PS3, Vita and PlayStation Portable marketplaces offline that summer. The move would have caused some 2,000 digital-only games to become unavailable for new purchasers, according to a VGC analysis at the time. Fans complained loudly. By April 2021, Sony walked back the PS3 and Vita shop closures, with then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan saying “it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.” This time around, Sony is giving a longer notice period in most regions. The closure of those stores is still likely to cut off access to new purchases of digital-only PS3 and Vita games. The current PlayStation 5 marketplace sells PS5 and PS4 games, as well as a selection of PS1 and PS2 games. It does not sell PS3 games, because games for that platform can’t run on the system (some are offered via a PlayStation Plus streaming option). Vita games also aren’t sold via PS5. Sony says digitally purchased PS3 and Vita games will be downloadable after the stores’ shutdowns “for the foreseeable future.” Sony’s move contrasts with Microsoft’s Xbox platform, which continues to sell and support games from all four Xbox console generations. But it puts it in line with Nintendo, which disabled purchases in the marketplace for its Wii console (a contemporary of the PS3) in 2019. Nintendo discontinued purchases in the online shop for its 3DS portable (a contemporary of the Vita) in 2023. The big questions about Sony’s 2028 post-disc era Will Microsoft follow suit, ending support for new disc-based games on Xbox platforms and therefore all game consoles, too? Whether Microsoft does or not, will third-parties that can no longer release games on discs for PlayStation, simply ditch the disc options across the board? Given the GTA VI no-disc experiment launching this November, will more game publishers decide to forgo disc-based offerings even in 2027? How will no-disc PS5/6 games be packaged and sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores? What becomes of game sharing in an all-digital era? Will Sony modify its current set-up, which currently allows some sharing of digital games across a pair of consoles, to allow more casual lending? (See for example, Nintendo’s year-old system of letting players lend a digital game to another player in a “family group” for up to 14 days.) Will there be a version of a PS6 with a disc drive? Or will a drive be offered as an add-on? And how will gamers who want to retain access to PS4/PS5 disc-based games react to whichever configurations Sony chooses to offer? What will the final disc-based PlayStation game be?
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