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Gascoine transforms a pottery hobby into thriving Monson business
MONSON — More than a quarter century ago Jemma Gascoine noticed an ad for an evening pottery class when she flipped through a copy of “Time Out London” magazine someone had left on a seat of the London train back in her native United Kingdom. Gascoine soon stopped by a class offered by Barry Guppy and attended his workshop classes for two years.
Barbara Eden, 95, Shares Health Update After Abruptly Canceling Film Festival Appearance
The 'I Dream of Jeannie' star set the record straight after fans expressed concern.
TCL Reveals New Soundbar Range
Full specifications and pricing for the UK and other European countries now available, with all models set to go on sale before Christmas.
California made Gavin Newsom famous. Will it drag down his 2028 presidential ambitions?
California's Democratic governor has barely begun to address what may be his biggest political liability as he stakes a claim as an early front-runner in the Democratic Party's 2028 shadow primary.
Barbara Eden abruptly cancels festival appearance after falling ill
Barbara Eden, who was scheduled to appear at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival, pulled out of the event due to a "sudden illness."
Yamal hits double as perfect Barca thrash Valencia
Lamine Yamal struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Valencia 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent start in La Liga.The reigning champions moved three points clear at the top of La Liga, after Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday.
Barbara Eden, 95, drops out of Cinecon Classic Film Festival due to ‘sudden illness’
The TV icon was scheduled to introduce a screening and receive an award at the Los Angeles event.
Barbara Eden, 95, drops out of Cinecon Film Festical due to ‘sudden illness’
95-year-old ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ star Barbara Eden canceled a scheduled appearance at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival due to a ‘sudden illness.’
Richard Barrera explains why he should be the next State Superintendent
Richard Barrera, a candidate for California state superintendent, shared his views on recent changes to the California Department of Education, his campaign priorities, and his vision for public schools in an interview on California Politics 360 this week.
Barcelona star forced off during Valencia clash
La Liga giants Barcelona have on Sunday been dealt a potential blow on the personnel front. This comes owing to developments in the Blaugrana’s latest outing on the domestic front.Hansi Flick’s tr...
Laramie County health and food inspections (8/28/26–9/3/26)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department inspects restaurants, bars, convenience stores, delis, grocery stores, bed and breakfasts
Australia’s humpback whales were acting weird. What happened next surprised scientists.
A citizen science project uncovers a new humpback whale calving ground around the Great Barrier Reef.
Australia’s humpback whales were acting weird. What happened next surprised scientists.
A citizen science project uncovers a new humpback whale calving ground around the Great Barrier Reef.
Confirmed: Barcelona starting line up to face Valencia
Barcelona are looking for their fourth consecutive victory this season as they take on Valencia at the Mestalla this afternoon.Ahead of this clash, Barcelona have unveiled their starting eleven that w...
Away games offer Julian Alvarez a route back at Atletico
Julian Alvarez is going nowhere, at least until January. But the Argentina forward’s public preference for a move to Barcelona over the summer has left Diego Simeone with a delicate problem that no ...
Oz joins Barr in Kentucky to discuss Medicaid reform and rural healthcare
Kentucky leaders are debating rural health funding, Medicaid reforms and how federal dollars could affect hospitals and care access statewide.
Oz joins Barr in Kentucky to discuss Medicaid reform and rural healthcare
Kentucky leaders are debating rural health funding, Medicaid reforms and how federal dollars could affect hospitals and care access statewide.
CVS Health (CVS) Stock Looks Below Fair Value But Mixed After 65% Return
CVS Health stock has delivered a strong 64.8% return over the past three years, and the current valuation picture is not a clear bargain or a clear stretch. Recent gains sit alongside a mixed value score and fresh headlines around its health insurance and compliance record, which give investors a few moving parts to weigh. The 64.8% three year return highlights how much value the market has already credited to CVS Health, so fresh buyers now have to judge whether that past performance still...
Valencia vs Barcelona, La Liga: TV & Streaming, Live Thread
Join us for another Barcelona La Liga adventure!
Mother, daughter bring barbering skills to Oroville’s men
Shawn Page sat in the shop chair draped in a haircutting cape grinning from ear to ear as Theresa Kereazis gave him a haircut.
What Was Reggie Barlow Thinking?
We’ve all seen it. A college football game is coming to its inevitable end. And as is so often the case, there’s going to be a winner, there’s going to be a loser, and everyone watching knows who the latter will be. The cameras pan to the coach of the soon to be losing team. […]
Matt Barnes on L.A.'s roster: 'Whitest Laker team since the Minneapolis Lakers'
Matt Barnes on L.A.'s roster: 'Whitest Laker team since the Minneapolis Lakers'
Agents plan for Liverpool star revealed, he's gone
The summer transfer window may have only just shut but, the rumour mill is already beginning to turn. Liverpool added four new players to their ranks this summer with Bradley Barcola and Ronald Araujo...
White Sox Minor League Update: September 5, 2026
The South Side affiliates went 1-for-5 on the day, with the Barons snagging the lone win in their doubleheader opener
‘What a Coward’ — Barstool Sports CFB Analyst Trashes Dave Portnoy After Michigan’s ‘Unbelievably Pathetic’ Week 1 Win
The college football world witnessed a stunning and wildly controversial finish between Western Michigan and Michigan on Saturday night in Ann Arbor. Despite Western Michigan holding a 12–7 advantage with less than a minute remaining, a highly debated officiating decision ultimately changed the course of the game and swung the momentum back toward Michigan at the very last second.
Dave Portnoy Sends Defiant Oklahoma Message After Michigan’s Wild Escape
Dave Portnoy needed only a few seconds to go from relief to complete confidence in Michigan.The Barstool Sports founder erupted after Bryce Underwood connected with J.J. Buchanan on a game-winning Hail Mary to give Michigan a stunning 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday night. The Wolverines needed officials to restore one second to the […] The post Dave Portnoy Sends Defiant Oklahoma Message After Michigan’s Wild Escape appeared first on HEAVY.
Indigenous knowledge helps reveal the ties between reefs and mangroves
In a recent scientific article in the journal Ocean & Coastal Management, alongside the list of scientist-authors were the Bardi Jawi and Oorany Rangers and the Bardi Jawi Traditional Owners. For the past decade, Bardi Jawi rangers and traditional owners have been working with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to study and protect […]
The GLP-1 Squeeze: How Soaring Healthcare Costs Are Forcing Employers to Act
New survey results from the consultancy firm Marsh released last week show that employers expect per-employee health benefit costs to increase 8.2% on average in 2027—which would be the highest jump since 2003.
Barcelona XI vs Valencia – Predicted lineup and team news
Barcelona are set to face Valencia in their upcoming La Liga fixture on Sunday, aiming to extend their impressive winning streak at the start of the new campaign.Hansi Flick’s Barcelona have made a ...
‘Unfinished business’: Travis Kalanick revisits robotaxis with new start-up
Atoms gears up for hiring spree and could link with Uber, the company he was ousted from almost a decade ago
Barcelona squad named for Valencia
Hansi Flick has called up 24 players for Sunday’s clash
Seahawks AJ Barner Provides Health Update Ahead of Season Opener
The Seattle Seahawks release their first injury report of the season tomorrow ahead of the opener, but this player is telling us he won’t be on it.
Former NBA champion calls Lakers roster ‘whitest Laker team’
The offseason has been a near overhaul for the Lakers' roster, and former NBA player Matt Barnes is having fun analyzing it.
Valencia vs Barcelona, La Liga: Preview
A chance for an early statement in the title race
Yankees Outfielder Hits Injured List; Jasson Domínguez Gets the Call
The New York Yankees announced a significant roster move on Saturday afternoon, sending center fielder Trent Grisham to the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. To replace him, the Yankees recalled outfielder Jasson Domínguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Since going down with a concussion in May, Domínguez's OPS in the minors has dropped 77 points, …
Barcelona star to be left out of squad vs Valencia
One member of the squad called upon by La Liga giants Barcelona for their upcoming meeting with Valencia will be omitted from the club’s official matchday list. This comes owing to an overbooking in...
Athletic Bilbao crush Simeone's flat Atletico
Athletic Bilbao thumped Atletico Madrid 3-0 in La Liga on a miserable Saturday afternoon for Diego Simeone's side.On Sunday, La Liga leaders Barcelona visit Valencia looking to move clear of Real Madrid, who lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday, among other fixtures. rbs/pb/dmc
Barcelona must decide what to do with additional €60m
Funds are available ahead of the January transfer window.
Checking in on the Yankees’ August additions, one month later
Luis García Jr., Heliot Ramos, and George Lombard Jr. have been with the Yankees for a month now. How have they fared?
Inter vs. Napoli, the official line-ups
OFFICIAL LINE-UPSINTER (3-5-2): 1 Martinez; 31 Bisseck, 25 Akanji, 95 Bastoni; 17 Diouf, 23 Barella, 7 Zielinski, 8 Sucic, 32 Dimarco; 94 Esposito, 10 Lautaro. Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 49 Provedel,...
California’s Healthcare Affordability Office Claims Power to Punish Overspending Hospitals
Noozhawk republishes news articles from CalMatters on state and local policy issues that affect Santa Barbara County readers. Year after
Rams can remain buyers into the season
Winning the Super Bowl is near impossible. Rams have set that bar for themselves and must do what it takes
Early morning shooting near a sports bar sparks safety and business concerns
Local business owners express concern over safety and economic impacts following a shooting on Cesery Boulevard.
Athletic Bilbao crush Simeone's flat Atletico
Athletic Bilbao thumped Atletico Madrid 3-0 in La Liga on a miserable Saturday afternoon for Diego Simeone's side.On Sunday La Liga leaders Barcelona visit Valencia looking to move clear of Real Madrid, who lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday, among other fixtures. rbs/pb
Santa Barbara County Health Launches Interactive Online Dashboards
Santa Barbara County Health launched three interactive public health dashboards tracking school immunizations, respiratory viruses, and communicable diseases.
FC Twente chief responds to Barcelona interest in Ruud Nijstad
The teenager has plenty of admirers.
Sonos Arc Ultra Dolby Atmos Soundbar Drops Back to a Record Low With Hundreds Off for Labor Day
The 9.1.4 surround sound Arc Ultra overperforms its new $899 price tag with voice control and Dolby Atmos.
All 7 ‘Scream’ movies, ranked from worst to best
For nearly 30 years, ‘Scream’ has terrified, entertained, and satirized multiple generations of horror fans. See how all seven movies rank from worst to best.
$20K Hustlers: 1994 Budget Sports Coupes Compared
Blistering performance costs less than one game’s play for Barry Bonds.
Where should UNC look for Michael Lombardi’s replacement?
There are more places than you might thank.
Hobart graduate donates $4.5 million to support summer science research
GENEVA — A Hobart graduate has left a majority of his estate to Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ summer science research programs.
Is Leon Bailey Playing Today for Volos vs. Olympiacos?
Olympiacos' new signing Leon Bailey faces a delayed debut as manager José Luis Mendilibar prioritises fitness over haste, omitting the former Aston Villa star from the trip to Volos.
Flick hoping Barca's Yamal can face Valencia after knock
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is hoping teenage star Lamine Yamal is fit to face Valencia in La Liga on Sunday after taking a knock."Lamine is a player who likes to play football."
Bill Belichick’s job reportedly at risk amidst investigation
The North Carolina Tar Heels might be 1-0 after a win over the TCU Horned Frogs to start the season, but it’s safe to say that things aren’t necessarily going well for Bill Belichick. On Thursday, North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi resigned from his position amidst an ongoing investigation, and it sounds like that…
Barcelona midfielder eyeing special milestone against Valencia
Rodri’s inclusion into Hansi Flick’s plans has been measured and cautious, for the manager is aware of the player’s fitness struggles and recent injury history.When fit, there is no doubt that t...
Mayor Parker’s election put lobbyist William Dunbar at the center of Philly politics. Now he’s awaiting sentencing on tax fraud charges.
Parker let Dunbar go from her campaign in August 2024. Neither side has publicly explained what led to the separation.
Barcelona train without Lamine Yamal ahead of Valencia clash
The forward has emerged as a doubt for the match.
Charles Barkley is ‘100 percent’ leaving Inside the NBA unless one condition is met
NBA legend Charles Barkley’s time with ESPN and Inside the NBA may come to a quick end. Last season, Inside the NBA officially moved on from TNT Sports as the show started airing on ESPN.
Author Lise Barnéoud on the bizarre and provoking world of microchimerism — when cells from one person live in another, genetically distinct individual
Journalist and author Lise Barnéoud talks to Live Science about her book "Hidden Guests," which dives into the field of microchimerism and how it's transforming our knowledge of genetics, immunology and evolution.
Barcelona’s new captain hierarchy confirmed with one surprise addition
Barcelona have finalised their captaincy structure for the 2026/27 season, with Lamine Yamal making a major leap into the leadership group despite being only 19.According to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Fli...
How will Barcelona line up against Valencia?
Hansi Flick’s possible XI for Sunday’s clash
Adrian Dunbar: Home, Irish unity and his new Line of Duty catchphrase
Actor Adrian Dunbar chats about how his heritage has shaped his life, his career and his politics.
Sampaguita Pictures actress Jean Lopez dies at 86
Photo from Instagram/@ barbicastelvi Veteran performer worked alongside many of Philippine cinema’s leading stars during the 1960s Veteran Sampaguita Pictures actress Jean Lopez, who appeared alongside some of Philippine cinema’s leading stars during the 1960s, died Sept. 1, her family said. She was 86. Her daughter Barbi Castelvi announced the death on social media, describing it as sudden and unexpected.…
New Entertainment Venue Featuring Restaurant, Bar Opens In Stratford
The venue is a "restaurant, arcade, and bar experience built around classic games that defined generations," according to its owners.
Liverpool's Iraola: A fit Isak will 'produce the numbers'
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has no doubt Liverpool's £125 million ($169 million) forward Alexander Isak will "produce the numbers" this season after a brace inside nine minutes inspired a 2-0 win at Ipswich. All eyes were on summer arrival Bradley Barcola in Suffolk, but after Iraola named the France forward on the bench, Isak showed why the Reds paid such a hefty fee to prize him away from Newcastle last summer.
Dianna Russini’s Next NFL Move Takes Shape as Barstool Sports Emerges as Favorite
Dianna Russini may not be away from the NFL spotlight much longer.Five months after leaving The Athletic, Russini is “absolutely” planning a return to sports media and has been discussing several potential opportunities, according to a new report from Front Office Sports.And one possible landing spot has quickly separated itself from the pack.Front Office Sports’ […] The post Dianna Russini’s Next NFL Move Takes Shape as Barstool Sports Emerges as Favorite appeared first on HEAVY.
Oz says rural health funding responsibility falls to governor
Congressman Barr and Gov. Andy Beshear have been going back and forth over rural health care.
Southern Decadence brings crowds, business boost to French Quarter
The 54th annual Southern Decadence is underway in the French Quarter, bringing a weekend of parties, drag shows and its annual parade Sunday. The Golden Lantern Bar on Royal Street is the official ho...
Health department shuts down Big Island restaurant due to rats
State health officials have issued the Waikoloa Restaurant & Bar a red placard, shutting it down, due to a rodent infestation.
Analysis: Lift-off for Isak
It was a night that was supposed to belong to Liverpool's latest blockbuster signing, Bradley Barcola, but Alexander Isak had other ideas. The Swede has endured a difficult, injury-hit first 12 months at Anfield, but he used the familiar surroundings of Portman Road to fully launch his Liverpool career. The last time he made the trip to Suffolk to face the Tractor Boys, he left with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick in Newcastle United's thumping 4-0 victory.
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches
In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.
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Maddie Scott and her friend, Makena Trentacoste, in April 2026, just after a local choir/theatre group sang "Happy Birthday" to her at Radio Bar in Baton Rouge.
Meloni celebrates her Italian government's longevity during party rally in Bari
BARI, Italy — Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated her government's milestone longevity at a rally Friday of supporters in the southern city of Bari, arguing that four years of
Opponents of new abortion law eye 2028 repeal effort
Activists angered over a new law that removes barriers to abortions later in pregnancy have filed paperwork seeking to suspend and ultimately repeal the measure in the 2028 election cycle.
Logan Health Primary Care Providers Sign Vote of 'No Confidence' in Leadership
Just over half a year after Logan Health primary care providers unionized, providers signed a vote of no confidence in the hospital’s primary care leadership. Despite months of being in the bargaining process with Logan Health and representatives from the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), providers wrote they “no longer have confidence that […]
‘There’s a desire to see steadiness’: Healey sounds pro-business note as he talks up growth
UK chancellor refuses to rule out higher taxes on banks in his first Budget, but tells FT he will press ahead with City deregulation drive
Maria Bartiromo’s lawyer claims she’s ‘still an employee at Fox’ after network said she’s ‘no longer’ at channel
Fox announced Thursday that Bartiromo “is no longer with Fox News Media” effective immediately.
Maria Bartiromo’s lawyer says she’s ‘still an employee at Fox’ despite network announcement
Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo’s lawyer tells EW she’s ‘still an employee at Fox’ despite the network announcing that she’s ‘no longer with’ the channel.
A&M System names Barton vice chancellor for business affairs
Texas A&M University System’s board of regents officially appointed John Barton as vice chancellor for business affairs. He had been serving as interim vice chancellor since January.
The Fierce Battle For Kids’ Eyeballs...Plus Two “Devils” Face Off
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) During the week of this report, Spider-Man: Brand New Day hit theaters and went on to become one of the biggest films of all time. So, you know what that means! It’s time for a poll! Recently, Project Hail Mary came to Prime Video and became a top five film for them, but didn’t smash streaming records, a feat I cautiously thought it could accomplish. Can Spider-Man 4 do better? To set the stakes, some of the biggest films of all time do just okay on streaming. Wicked, Top Gun: Maverick, and Barbie come to mind... But unlike those films, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a Sony film which means it’s headed to Netflix, the world’s largest streamer. Now, per friend of the newsletter and my go-to Netflix expert, Kasey Moore of What’s on Netflix, Sony films usually appear on Netflix 120 days after they premiere, which means Spidey 4 would land on Netflix on, checks notes, 28-November, one of the two biggest streaming weekends of the year! But Sony occasionally delays its biggest hits for a bit longer, to give them more time to make money on PVOD, so Spider-Man: Brand New Day might not swing onto Netflix until late December or even February 2027. Loading... Okay, on to this week’s issue. Since The Super Mario Galaxy Movie made its way to Peacock, I’m looking at the true workhorse of streaming viewership: kids films. And the surprising film that bested most Netflix animated movies. All that, plus Hulu has a new show that might be a hit (for them…?), two “Devils” square off on streaming, Zendaya tries to find some streaming magic, Netflix’s I Will Find You continues to do well, House of the Dragon tries to break into the season three top ten, some big NBC sports and summer programs, what friendly neighborhood Spider-Man character actually generates the most viewership on streaming, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of July 27th to August 2nd, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - As The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Hits Peacock, How Have Kids Films Fared in 2026? Like Mario hopping on a Koopa, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie landed on Peacock on 30-July. (Yeah, I kinda forced that Mario reference.) How did it do? Great, just like the first film. It got 13.0 million hours on its opening, and that’s good enough to take second place among Peacock films on the Nielsen charts all time: As I mention all the time, Peacock just isn’t the world’s biggest streamer—in fact, nowhere close—so its films struggle to put up numbers like Netflix (or even Prime Video and Disney+). So this is a solid debut for that streamer. And as we saw last time, The Super Mario Bros. Movie had a HUGE second life on Netflix when it moved streamers. This chart doesn’t even show how long the first Mario lasted on Netflix: a whopping, KPop-esque 31 weeks. For NBCUniversal, though, the big win was the second Mario movie grossing $429 million in America and over $1 billion globally. But yeah, to add a very strong streaming performance only makes its success even greater. Illumination pretty clearly has another hit franchise on their hands. This is a good time, though, to check in on kids films so far in 2026. We’ve had a few big, big titles, a rare Netflix success, and some disappointments. Let’s start with the top animated films since November of 2025, over their first four weeks on the charts, along with a few of the “best all time” animated films: (As a reminder, if a film doesn’t make the Nielsen top ten lists, I don’t have data for it, so it gets a “zero” in terms of viewership. Now, it had some viewership, but I don’t know what it is, so it gets a zero.) I added a few titles to get an idea of what the best of the best looks like in terms of animation. And you can see, through four weeks, Zootopia 2 can now claim “one of the biggest streaming films of all time” titles. GOAT too did surprisingly well, besting Netflix’s biggest films (Swapped and In Your Dreams) through four weeks. When I’ve talked about how films can have varying performances on streaming compared to their box office, this is what I mean. Goat just managed to gross even $103 million at the box office—so it’s popular, but just barely—but did very well on streaming. Of course, what set Encanto and KPop Demon Hunters apart from the rest was their absolutely insane longevity. Here are the kids film charts through eight weeks to show that: And really KPop Demon Hunters just kept going, and no 2025 or 2026 kids films have had that sort of longevity. I can’t wait to see the sequel in theaters. Film - Two Devils and a Drama As I wrote last week, in the past, theatrical-first film flops weren’t eligible for “Miss of the Week” or “Miss of the Year” honors/dishonors, but since so many more films go to theaters first these days, I’ve made them eligible now! But it’s complicated. You see, this is a Streaming Ratings Report, emphasis on streaming, which makes analyzing this week’s two biggest streaming misses—The Drama on HBO Max (A24’s dramedy starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson) and Prime Video’s The Devil Mouth (a killer shark movie starring young attractive people)—somewhat tricky. The Drama isn’t eligible for Luminate, but The Devil’s Mouth only had 1.5 million hours in its first week: The Devil’s Mouth notched 5.2 million hours according to Nielsen. Meanwhile, The Drama missed the charts entirely. Not great! But Prime Video is a much bigger streamer than HBO Max. That said, HBO Max titles are on Prime Video, but I think Prime Video prioritizes their original/exclusive titles, which helps boost their viewership. Complicating this further, The Drama made $48 million in the US—while A24 sells foreign distribution; the $57 million of overseas grosses helps A24 sell overseas rights for money in the future—off of a $28 million budget (which seems low for Zendaya and Pattinson, so they might have backend). The Devil’s Mouth, though, had zero dollars at the box office. The other stats for The Devil’s Mouth are bleak, and by “bleak”, I mean horrendous: a 4.7 on 15K reviews on IMDb (yikes) and a 46 on Metacritic (double yikes). The Drama, though buzzy online, only has a solid (but far from elite) 7.1 IMDb score on 121K reviews and a 59 on Metacritic (which is far, far lower than I’d have guessed). So which film is the “Miss of the Week”? I’m giving it to The Devil’s Mouth for one simple reason: it’s a horror film. And almost all horror films, even poorly reviewed horror films, should get a shot in theaters to at least try to recoup some of their budgets. The Drama made money at the box office and The Devil’s Mouth didn’t. It’s just like the situation last issue with Obsession and Masters of the Universe. Sure, Obsession didn’t pop on the streaming charts, but at least it already made it money at the box office. And as we’ve been seeing for years now and we’ll see all fall, theatrical films just do better on streaming. After all, the big “devil” winner this week was actually The Devil Wears Prada 2 with 14.8 million hours according to Nielsen. That’s right, The Devil Wears Prada 2—one of the box office success stories of May—came to streaming and parlayed its $220 million box office into 14.8 million Nielsen hours. Disney also put out a datecdote that it had 15.2 million “views” globally in five days, but again we don’t have a lot of great context for what that means. Here’s how it stacks up to other Hulu films, since I’m categorizing this mainly as a Hulu title (though it was also on Disney+): Share Quick Notes on Film We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Whether Hulu has a new hit show on its hands... The top first and third seasons of all time and which shows are climbing those charts… What version of Spidey is the most popular... What sport and TV show are performing better on NBC than the NBA... All the flops, bombs and misses... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! Next week, wow, things stay so busy. One of streaming’s biggest shows of all time, Ted Lasso, returns along with new YA-ish shows from Hulu (The Shards, from Ryan Murphy) and Prime Video (Sterling Point). The Challenge moves to Paramount+, plus My Life with the Walter Boys returns to Netflix and Futurama returns to Hulu. And Netflix has a new horror film, The Last House. Lots to talk about! All month, things stay busy. We’re talking Reacher on Prime Video! Outer Banks and Tires on Netflix! Lanterns on HBO Max! UFC 330 on Paramount+ and the MLB Field of Dreams game on Netflix. And a ton of smaller films come to streaming. Long term, the VMAs are back on 27-Sep! I feel like I haven’t heard much about this show in past years, but I’m seeing more news coverage and buzz for this show than in past years. I’m curious to see how it does.
Ag, economics, and politics
The drought monitor report as of Tuesday, Sept. 1, indicates a continued backwards slide into worse conditions. Almost all of Barton County and much of the surrounding are now in moderate/severe drought with more and most of Stafford and Rice Counties in severe drought. The northeastern third of the state is in good shape as is a small area of the northwest. The six-to-10-day forecast (Sept. 8-12) indicates a 70-90% chance of likely above normal for temperatures and 33-50% of leaning above near normal for precipitation. The eight-to-14-day forecast (Sept. 10-16) indicates a 60-80% chance of likely above normal for temperatures and near normal to leaning a bit above normal for precipitation.
Maria Bartiromo vs. Fox News: Pivot Between Politics, Wall Street Hurt
Maria Bartiromo's ongoing pivot between politics and coverage of Wall Street likely hurt her standing at Fox News
Maria Bartiromo vs. Fox News: Pivot Between Politics, Wall Street Hurt
Maria Bartiromo's ongoing pivot between politics and coverage of Wall Street likely hurt her standing at Fox News
Former Washington Football Star LB Returning For 12th NFL Season
Former Washington Huskies linebacker Shaq Thompson is set to embark on his 12th season in the NFL.
Scientists capture how bacteria build their protective antibiotic-resistant barriers
Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for causing several infections that are hard to treat, owing to their high resistance to antibiotics.
Maria Bartiromo’s lawyer says she was not fired from Fox News
Fox News Media said it had parted ways with the high-profile business anchor on Thursday.
Maria Bartiromo Denies Fox Firing, Retains Bryan Freedman As Attorney
"The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false," Freedman said.
Nigel Farage unveils small boats deal with Jordan Bardella at Reform conference
Reform says it would use the Navy to intercept boats and return migrants to France, if the party wins power.
Man Utd in 'good place' despite imperfect squad, says Carrick
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said he is delighted with the additions to his squad despite being outspent by Premier League rivals in the transfer window and short on depth in some areas.The Red Devils' fiercest rivals spent almost that budget on a single player as Manchester City broke the British transfer record for Enzo Fernandez, while Liverpool splashed up to £123 million on French winger Bradley Barcola.
St. Ambrose health clinic seeks patients for no-cost rehabilitation services
St. Ambrose University’s Interprofessional Health Clinic is putting out the call for patients throughout the Quad Cities who need neurological rehabilitation services but face barriers to accessing traditional care. As of Tuesday, Sept. 1, the SAU student-led clinic began providing the free rehabilitation services on Tuesday evenings at the St. Ambrose University Center for Health […]
Markey, Massachusetts and the limits of generational politics
Might age and incumbency matter less than a candidate’s policy platform?
Kerolin Nicoli move signals Barcelona’s new transfer ambition
Barcelona have signed Brazilian forward Kerolin Nicoli, 26, from Manchester City for a reported £1.25m, according to Sky Sports. The fee is the highest ever received for a Women’s Super League play...
Only 19% Make It: The Hidden Barriers Women Face in Science Today - Futura-Sciences
From Lecture Hall Storms to Today’s Invisible Barriers Let’s rewind to 1867, when women first arrived at university lecture halls. Instead of applause, they were greeted by a storm—literally. Baked apples thrown, misogynistic heckling echoing in the corridors, and courses deliberately sabotaged by peers. Every dirty trick was used to...
Arsenal to face Barca & Lyon in Women's Champions League
Arsenal will face holders Barcelona and record winners Lyon in the Women's Champions League, while Chelsea will travel to Lyon and Man City will take on Bayern Munich.
Repeated attacks on humanitarian warehouses put vital medical aid at risk in Ukraine: WHO
A new airstrike overnight damaged one of the main warehouses used by the UN health agency in Ukraine to store humanitarian medical supplies in the Kyiv region, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
Opponent watch: Valencia’s injury crisis deepens ahead of Barcelona visit
FC Barcelona will lock horns with Valencia this Sunday in a Matchday 4 fixture of the 2026/27 La Liga season.The Blaugrana will visit Mestalla having already won each of their three games this season ...
Ruth Bar breaks silence on her 1993 affair with Netanyahu, his early political rise
Thirty-three years after Netanyahu’s live TV confession, Ruth Bar speaks publicly for the first time about their professional relationship and his early political instincts.