#ripley 2000 manager

[choccos-aaart]

Larry and his manager at Ripley 2000

Their dynamic reminds me of the trope in britcoms where there's a guy in power that abuses his authority, and his punching bag that does everything he wants.

Here are the ones that come to mind:

Alan Partridge and Lynn Benfield from the Alan Partridge series, and

Bernard Black and Manny Bianco from Black Books to name a couple.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scottish actor Richard Madden born June 18th 1986 in Elderslie.

Richard was raised by his mother, Pat, a classroom assistant and his father, Richard, who worked for the fire service. He also has two sisters, Cara and Lauren.

His parents were “hippies”, he says, and their house was pretty open, with friends always piling in for big vegetarian meals. Madden spent a lot of time outside, in the woods behind their house. He has several injuries: he shows me where he shot his dad’s old air pistol and blew off part of his finger, then managed to wreck the same finger when he nailed a wooden plank to his skateboard, then crashed it, so apart from the Hippie parents it was much like most of our own days as bairns.

Despite growing up wanting to be an actor, Richard was very shy during his childhood. To overcome this, at age 11, he joined Paisley Arts Centre’s youth theatre program. In 1999 he was given the lead role as Sebastian Simpkins in BBC1’s children’s TV comedy series Barmy Aunt Boomerang, that’s him aged 12 in the first pic with co-star Toyah Wilcox.. By 2000, he’d made his feature film debut in the Iain Banks adaptation, Complicity.

After high school he was accepted to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland and in 2007, he graduated.

Less than two years later, Richard had a recurring role as Dean McKenzie on the 2009 BBC series Hope Springs. Soon after, he landed the role of Ripley in the 2010 movie Chatroom, a film about a group of teenagers who encourage each other’s bad behaviours after meeting online. In the same year, Richard played punk band Theatre of Hate singer Kirk Brandon in Worried About the Boy, a TV film about the life of British singer-songwriter Boy George.

In 2011 Richard landed his breakthrough role as Robb Stark in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones. Also in 2011, he played gay paramedic Ashley Greenwick on the short-lived British comedy-drama Sirens. During hiatus from filming Game of Thrones in 2013, Richard was cast to star as Prince Charming in the 2015 Disney film Cinderella.

Richard won his first Screen Actors Guild award in 2014 for the Discovery Channel mini-series, Klondike. He played Bill Haskell, one of two adventurers who travel to Yukon, Canada during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. He further enhanced his reputation as a good actor when he appeared in the BBC drama Bodyguard in 2018, the following year he played Lieutenant Joseph Blake in the film 2017 and was Elton John’s manager/lover in the biop of the star Rocketman.

In January 2019 Madden won a prestigious Golden Globe for his role as war veteran David Budd in the BBC show Bodyguard. He also appeared in the 2019 war movie 1917.

We last saw Richard in the movie, Eternals, which was okay, but nothing great, he is one of several actors being touted as the next James Bond,

Last year Richard starred in the Amazon Prime series Citadel, I've watcheit and was not really impressed with it,I think he does pull of the American accent well, but I noticed there have been people saying he doesnt, Madden revealed he spoke in the accent for two years straight to prepare for the series. The show has been earmarked for a second series. Richard is set to appear in the feature film Killer Heat next, it is in post production.

In July 2019, Madden received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. When asked about his personal life during a New York Times interview following speculation about his relationships and sexuality, Madden stated: “I just keep my personal life personal.”

Madden was recently named one of ‘Scotland’s Sexiest Men' following a new study that identifies the most attractive features for men, he has competition though, also in the running are Bathgate’s David Tennant and Glasgow’s James McAvoy,

Richard, quizzed on what he would like to do next he sad “I’d like to do something in comedy. It’s nice to not… I mean we go to work every day and we’re like, ‘You’re gonna die today,’” he said, adding that he wanted to “do something fun for a minute.”

[denimbex1986]

'Working as an actor for three decades, Andrew Scott is one of Ireland's premiere actors, having a variety of roles in movies and TV shows in that time. The Fleabag star got his acting career started by appearing in the stage play Brighton Beach Memoirs before securing his first film role in the 1995 Irish movie, Korea. After appearing in a diverse set of movies and shows through the 90s and 2000s, Andrew Scott's first big breakout role was in Sherlock, the 2010 BBC series based on the famous character.

After that, he added shows like Fleabag, Black Mirror, and His Dark Materials to his name, always bringing his best with every performance. On the film side, he appeared in Spectre, 1917, and All of Us Strangers. His most recent role was in Ripley, the Netflix adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley. With Wake Up Dead Man, the third Knives Out movie in production, and Richard Linklater's Blue Moon, there is a lot to look forward to for Andrew Scott going forward.

10. His Dark Materials (2019-2022)

Andrew Scott as Colonel John Parry / Jopari

His Dark Materials is the three-season HBO adaptation of the trilogy of novels of the same name by Philip Pullman. It's a spectacular adaptation, telling the story of a young girl named Lyra who attempts to search for her missing friend before stumbling upon a kidnapping plot that relates to an invisible cosmic dust. It's an incredible fantasy series that brings the stunning source material to life in thrilling fashion, making it a must-watch in Andrew Scott's filmography.

While he might not be a main character in the series, Scott is particularly great as Colonel John Parry, a marine and explorer, and is also known as Dr. Stanislaus Grumman or Jopari in Lyra's world. The character is complex, and Scott navigates his story with nuance given the weighty themes that can be explored in the series.

9. Locke (2013)

Andrew Scott as Donal

Locke features one of the best performances of Tom Hardy's career, as it revolves around a man named Ivan Locke, a construction manager who drives around conducting a series of phone interviews. What makes Locke special is that Tom Hardy is the only character to appear on-screen, and everyone else (including Andrew Scott) only utilizes their voice during the various phone calls. It's an intimate film that feels more grand than it might let on, and its unique premise really lets it shine.

Scott was tasked with voicing Donal, Ivan Locke's work trainee who needs Locke to coach him through the preparation of a pour. It's not the most substantial role of his career, but Scott is quite great in it, and his conversation with Locke is engaging despite being a rather mundane thing to talk about. In fact, it's aspects like their mundane conversation that make Locke so appealing.

8. Ripley (2024)

Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley

Ripley is Netflix's fantastic attempt to adapt Patricia Highsmith's seminal mystery novel, making it the latest adaptation, while also being the first to be a TV series. Because of that, it works incredibly well, really using the extra time it has to flesh out the characters and explore the engaging mystery at hand to its full depth. Of course, it isn't a one-to-one adaptation, making a number of changes to better suit the medium it is presented in. Still, it's one of the best takes on the novel and one filled with some spectacular performances.

Both the star and a producer, Andrew Scott excels at playing the enigmatic man at the center of it all, Tom Ripley. It feels like his take on the character is the most monstrous, with him doing some truly insidious acts throughout the series. It's Scott at his best, and perhaps the greatest interpretation from a character standpoint of Tom Ripley.

7. Pride (2014)

Andrew Scott as Gethin Roberts

Pride is an effective historical dramedy about LGBTQ+ activists that helped raise money to help families affected by the British miners' strike of 1984. The film is hilarious while still highlighting the similarities and solidarity between various groups of people plagued with different issues. It's empathetic and touching, while being one of Andrew Scott's most underrated films, as it feels so real and vulnerable and equally powerful.

Scott is particularly amazing in the movie, playing Gethin Roberts. He is the partner of Jonathan Blake, the second person diagnosed with HIV in the UK, and was alienated from his village when he came out to them over a decade ago. It's a powerful performance that packs a dramatic punch that is tragic and beautiful. His performance graciously handles the subject material and is that much better for it.

6. 1917 (2019)

Andrew Scott as Lieutenant Leslie

1917 is a harrowing look at two British soldiers, and their mission to carry an important message to call off a doomed attack during World War I. Utterly breathtaking throughout, what really makes 1917 shine is the way it employs a one-shot technique throughout the whole film, blending any cuts made seamlessly to make it feel like it was all filmed in one massive take. It's incredibly impressive and mind-blowing from a technical standpoint, but it also can be bleak and heartbreaking at times, showing the horrors of the war at hand.

Andrew Scott doesn't have a massive role in the film, playing Lieutenant Leslie, a worn-down soldier who explains to the two soldiers how to cross no man's land. While it is a small part, Scott is perfect in his role, portraying a weary, exhausted soldier who embodies the bleak situation while giving out possibly life-saving advice in the process.

5. Black Mirror (2019)

Andrew Scott as Christopher Michael Gillhaney

Black Mirror is fantastic television, utilizing its anthology approach to tell horrific, sad, and sometimes hopeful stories revolving around near-future technology and humanity's relationships to it. While some episodes are much better than others, each one feels unique in its own way, with fantastic performances across the board from the plethora of actors that come on board. Over the course of its first six seasons and counting, the tales it weaves are often poignant, effective, and often terrifying.

Like most actors who sign up for Black Mirror, Andrew Scott only appears in one episode called "Smithereens", playing Christopher Michael Gillhaney, a rideshare driver that takes the intern of a social media company hostage. Scott was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his performance as he was the true standout of the episode. It might not be the best Black Mirror episode ever, but Scott is phenomenal in it.

4. Band Of Brothers (2001)

Andrew Scott as Private John D. Hall

Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Band of Brothers is one of the most popular HBO shows of all time, and for good reason, since it is also one of the best. Telling the story of Easy Company from their beginnings at boot camp, through to the frontlines of Europe, and into the end of World War II. It's a masterpiece on every level, as it is exhilarating, gut-wrenching, and incredibly hopeful all at the same time.

Band of Brothers could easily take the top spot on any list, but given that Andrew Scott is only in one episode of the show, it doesn't have the same impact on his filmography as something like Sherlock. Still, Scott is magnificent as Private John D. Hall, supplying men of the Easy Company with TNT to thwart an attack, and is killed by a landmine in the process. Even though his role was brief, Scott made the most of it.

3. All Of Us Strangers (2023)

Andrew Scott as Adam

All of Us Strangers is a beautiful and tender fantasy romance film that explores grief through memories of the past. It follows the relationship between a screenwriter and his mysterious neighbor while he draws upon memories of his parents 30 years prior, as if nothing ever happened to them. While All of Us Strangers is bold and creative in its approach, it always chooses to focus on the characters in the middle of the narrative, handling them with grace and giving them depth and complexity.

All of Us Strangers features a pair of acting masterclasses with Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal. Scott in particular, is mesmerizing as the lonely screenwriter, Adam, who is drawn to Mescal's Harry. The narrative requires Scott to draw from a variety of emotions, and he does so with ease, making Adam an incredibly complex character who must navigate some life-changing situations.

2. Sherlock (2010-2017)

Andrew Scott as James Moriarty

At its best, Sherlock is a masterpiece, beautifully telling the story of the iconic character and the various mysteries he attempts to solve throughout the series. Benedict Cumberbatch is a revelation as Sherlock Holmes and the series is a wonderful, modern update to its source material. The chemistry between Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman's Watson was undeniable and one of the biggest reasons for how good the show truly is.

There is a lot to be said about Andrew Scott and his portrayal of Moriarty, the criminal mastermind and foil to Sherlock Holmes. He doesn't have a significant role until season 2, but he shines in every scene that he is in, portraying the character as dangerous and unpredictable, the perfect antagonist for Sherlock Holmes to face off against. He is one of the show's best characters, and Scott is a significant reason for that.

1. Fleabag (2019)

Andrew Scott as The Priest

It's hard to overstate just how amazing Fleabag is, and it is easy to see that it is the best Andrew Scott role that he has ever had. Starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge as "Fleabag", the series focuses on the free-spirited woman as she navigates life and love in London while trying her best to cope with a tragedy. What makes Fleabag so special is how witty and insightful it is, with fourth wall-breaking humor that provides running commentary to the audience while never overstaying its welcome.

Not appearing until season 2, Andrew Scott plays the priest, whom Fleabag ends up falling in love with. Scott is genuinely hilarious in the role, with a performance full of sarcasm, wit, and a lot of charm. It is easy to see why Fleabag fell for the character, and his performance is a big reason for that. Andrew Scott's priest is a special character in a very special show.'

[worldwideacademy]

Access code/key: 78B257V

[barabara111]

[kirbyrainboom]

handling business

[grigorydiamond]

for @barabara111 again It's love.

[goddevouringserpent]

Do you have any celebrity crushes?

HMMM I do have many celebrities I find attractive but I don't know if those count as celebrity crushes, per se? Because I think that for it to count as a crush there has to be a certain degree of... proactivity to it, or at least be a little be more involved than just looking at a person who happens to be a celebrity and think "wow, you're hot, Nice" lol

THAT BEING SAID. I have a well-known, well-documented weakness for women of metal & rock, such as Alissa White-Gluz (this picture explains it all), Cristina Scabbia, Floor Jansen, Melissa Bonny, Taylor Momsen, Lzzy Hale—the list goes on and on lol. Also Ethel Cain gets a special mention despite not making that kind of music simply because of her vibes.

Then, because the bisexuality will not let me rest: VV, but specifically 2000s era VV (not to say he isn't hot now, he very much is, I just fucked heavily with the gender vibes he had going on then). Also Brian Molko, for the aforementioned gender vibe reasons. And Hozier.

Then, stepping away from musicians, we've got Rhea Ripley—which, disclaimer: I do not watch wrestling at all, I just saw gifs of her on tumblr and immediately went 😳 Um Hello Ma'am What Can I Do For You—and Michael Mando and Rhea Seehorn and, and. And actually let's stop here. I've got to keep a measure of dignity don't I. (also I forgor all the other people I've ever seen. I'm lucky I managed to squeeze this much information out of my brain honestly so I'm taking it as a win.)

[screeeeeeeeee]

Laurence "Larry" Needlemeyer is a supporting character in The Amazing World of Gumball. He works at almost every store in the town of Elmore, usually as a cashier. He generally disliked the Watterson family prior to the events of "The Pizza," but he gets on more friendly terms with them after they apologize for antagonizing him and causing him to quit all his jobs. Larry manages to keep up with all of his jobs by "working very hard," but he has been fired on at least one occasion. He used to be called "Lazy Larry" and was known as the laziest person in Elmore, but the title was stolen by Richard in the summer of 1983.

Appearance

Larry typically wears a green shirt, an orange tie, a red badge with a diagonal stripe down the middle, and an orange hat with red and white stripes. He also wears black pants and black shoes. His cheeks are pink with freckles on them. However, throughout the show, he starts to wear other uniforms depending on which jobs he works at. He is incredibly skinny, similar to Rob and Miss Simian. His head is disproportionately large and blocky. While being Lazy Larry, he transforms into a huge block, which connects his head to his torso just like Richard.

In season 1, he had a more rocky texture. From season 2 and onwards, those textures were removed, and he looks like he is made completely out of origami.

Personality

Larry is a very hard-working and serious person, and cannot be fooled easily. He keeps many jobs around Elmore, from being a store clerk to a cashier, and does an admirable job at each of them. Although, on many of these occasions, he is accidentally fired, or is driven to do so by a member of the Watterson family. However, Larry also has a history of laziness, as shown in "The Laziest." It seems he can be a forgiving person, as seen in "The Pizza." It is also shown that he is often sleep-deprived, usually due to working both day and night shifts, as revealed in multiple episodes.

He has a fiancée named Karen, whom he has attempted to propose to three times in the show, though he failed on all three occasions.

Jobs

Collapse

Similar to Gary and Karen, Larry works numerous jobs. As of "The Menu," Larry is confirmed to have thirty-eight.

Laser Video

This is the first job Larry has been seen working at on-screen, where he works as the cashier. It is very similar to Ripley 2000 from "The Refund." Larry was seen here first in "The DVD."

Elmore Gas Station

This is the second job Larry has been seen working at. Sal Left Thumb has attempted to rob the store twice in Larry's presence but was stopped on both occasions. Despite this, Larry was seen working here in "The Bumpkin" and "The Night."

Food 'n' Stuff

Larry works here as a cashier. He got fired for yelling at a customer as an attempt to get Gumball and Darwin away from him in "The Laziest," but he is seen working here again in "The Name." This is currently the only job Larry has been fired from on-screen.

Joyful Burger

Larry's fourth job is where he works as a cashier. In "The Menu," Larry can be seen working at several different Joyful Burgers around Elmore.

Shoe store

Larry works as a cashier here. He was seen working here in "The Prank," when Richard wanted to return the shoes he bought originally for Gumball and Darwin, but is denied the return because they were filled with baked beans for a prank.

Ripley 2000

For his sixth job, he works as a clerk in the local video game store. He was first shown working here in "The Refund," when he denies Gumball and Darwin a refund for their computer game. He may have been fired from there as he failed to keep Gumball from getting a refund and abandoned his post. However, in the video "What Dad Would Do for a Sausage Part 1," he is seen working there, as well as later in "The Password."

Fervidus Pizza

In "The Job," Larry works for Fervidus Pizza. Larry is Richard's employer, and he fires Richard for eating parts of the pizzas he had to deliver. In "The Game," he gets prank-called by Nicole and delivers a pizza to himself as a consequence. In "The Pizza," he is seen working here again, during which he briefly quits, leading to the destruction of Elmore.

Elmore Shopping

He is seen working at Elmore Shopping in "Christmas" as the mall Santa in a small cabin called "Santa's Grotto." His girlfriend Karen is also seen directly outside of it, dressed as an elf.

Bank of Elmore

Larry can be seen working at the bank in "The Check" and "The Heist" as a bank teller.

Pet store

Larry is seen working at the pet store in episodes such as "The Origins" and "The Origins: Part Two," where he gives Richard all of the pet fish, and "The Roots."

Elmore Zoo

Larry is seen working here in "The Stars" as a zookeeper.

Other Jobs

Other jobs that Larry is seen, or mentioned doing include being the police force accountant, an ice cream vendor, a pest controller, a curator at an art gallery, and a repairman. He works so many jobs that Elmore's economical structure depends on him, and that if he ever stops working, the whole town would break down.

Trivia

Karen is his fiancée; a running gag throughout the series is him attempting to propose to her, but ultimately failing to do so due to circumstances outside of his control. This has happened in "The Laziest," "The Goons," "The Shippening," and on Anais' Flickr if one counts it as canon.

In "The Schooling," Larry claims that he makes $7 per hour.

In "The Night," he states that he does not sleep but in "The Question" he says his routine involves sleep.

In "The Finale," it is revealed why he has so many jobs: to repay damages the Wattersons have done.

Also in "The Finale," it is revealed Larry has a restraining order against the Wattersons.

Because Larry practically has every job in Elmore, if Larry quits all of them, Elmore's society would collapse and eventually lead to a full-blown apocalypse. This is seen in "The Pizza."

Thanks bluu

[keenstarlightmusic]

Are Slot Machines A Game Of Skill

Video games and slot machines converge to create a new casino experience

Skill Slot Machines For Sale

Are Slot Machines A Game Of Skill Play

Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania confirmed that video game machines manufactured and distributed by POM of Pennsylvania are considered “slot machines.” The questionable games, bearing the name ‘Pennsylvania Skill’ are produced by Pace-O-Matic and Savvy Dog Systems.

By Rob Wiser

The impact of video gaming has not been lost on slot manufacturers. It’s impossible not to notice how the machines have shifted towards flashier, arcade-style presentations, with plasma screens, booming speaker systems and sophisticated graphics. With titles such as Star Wars and Top Gun, the experience is practically cinematic

Today’s young adults have grown up with the Internet, gadget-packed cell phones, iPods and other devices that often leave parents scratching their heads. But the high-tech phenomenon that has really exploded with the younger generation is the video game industry. Though video games have been around since the 1970s—whether in the arcades, or played at home on your Atari—their popularity has soared due to blockbuster game titles released for the PlayStation, Xbox, and other state-of-the-art home consoles.

Video games have, in fact, begun to dominate the U.S. entertainment industry, generating nearly $20 billion in sales last year (including playing consoles and accessories). Back in September 2007, the game Halo 3 grossed a staggering $170 million in U.S. sales in its first 24 hours, making it by some reports the largest debut in entertainment history. By comparison, the biggest Hollywood blockbuster that year, Spider-Man 3 generated $151 million over its opening weekend.

Skill Slot Machines For Sale

The impact of video gaming has not been lost on slot manufacturers. It’s impossible not to notice how the machines have shifted towards flashier, arcade-style presentations, with plasma screens, booming speaker systems and sophisticated graphics. With titles such as Star Wars and Top Gun, the experience is practically cinematic—and the action goes far beyond tapping a button and watching the reels spin.

Targeting the Next Generation

Casino guests are getting younger. In Las Vegas, ultra-hip nightclubs draw thousands of young people to the Strip every weekend—and they travel with plenty of disposable income. Yet slot floors remain pretty predictable, if only because slot players, who tend to be older, demand a certain level of familiarity. The randomized spin is still the standard game after more than a century. Technology inspires innovation, but underneath it are the same devices we’ve been playing for years.

What will happen as the older generation of players is replaced by younger customers who have different expectations when they spend money on entertainment? Can the allure of a Blazing 7s machine compare to playing Halo on a giant home theatre system? Or can the two be merged?

Behind the scenes, this question is already being addressed. Skill-based (or “fully interactive”) games, which combine the thrill of chasing jackpots with a video game-style experience—in other words, rewarding manual dexterity or mental acuity—are on their way. This defies a long-standing misconception that all slot machines must be games of chance. Most people are under the impression that skill-based video games would not be allowed in a gaming floor.

Early attempts at skill-based slots (the more accurate term is “perceived skill”) have included titles like Battleship from Progressive Games International (formerly Mikohn), which arrived in casinos back in 2000. With this machine, the internal random number generator selected a field of several possible results, and the player used his wits to find the best bonus. As in the famous board game, ships were placed in predetermined locations on a grid, and the player had to find them and sink them to win the bonus amount. In Progressive’s Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! game, correct answers to multiple-choice trivia questions yielded higher bonuses.

Games like these gave the illusion of being skill-based. The outcomes of the bonuses were predetermined, and you had to be lucky to reach the bonus round in the first place, so it wasn’t as if being a trivia wiz or a great board game player guaranteed you a profit.

Amusement game laws vary by jurisdiction, but usually prohibit wagering on the outcome of a game. You feed coins into the machine simply for the experience of playing; if it paid out winnings, it would fall under the category of a gambling device. Slot machines, however, are gambling devices—each state designs its regulations to ensure a fair gamble, and even defines what constitutes a “gambling device.”

Historically, this has meant that slot machines are games of chance, and video games involve skill—but it doesn’t necessarily mean it is illegal to combine the two elements. Most gaming regulators are receptive to slot machines that include a skill component. In Nevada, Gaming Control Board member Mark Clayton remarked that he was “dumbfounded” that manufacturers hadn’t yet presented skill-based video games for consideration, in light of the soaring popularity of home video games. “There is no formal policy that would preclude skill-based games,” he says.

Are Slot Machines A Game Of Skill Play

Fact is, the slot manufacturers have already gotten started. Last year, Bally introduced a slot machine version of the classic Atari game Pong, in which players knock a ball back and forth between two paddles. The casino version plays like a typical slot machine until the player reaches the bonus round. This triggers a 45-second game of Pong, with the player competing against the computer. The amount of the bonus depends on how well you play.

This simple bonus feature, based on the most primitive of video games, is an industry milestone. Pong is the first slot machine that allows hand-eye coordination to affect payout. It was approved by Michigan’s Gaming Control Board and installed in Detroit’s casinos, as well as Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun. Before the Nevada Gaming Commission approved it, they wanted to make sure the bonus round offered some type of minimum payout, regardless of the player’s ability. That only seemed fair for a bonus round, after all.

Bridging Two Worlds

From a technical standpoint, incorporating a skill element wouldn’t be a big leap for slot manufacturers. Some of the biggest names in the industry have been involved with both types of games for years. Bally Technologies originated with a pinball game called Ballyhoo, and in the late 1970s and early 1980s, its former subsidiary Midway Gaming brought to the United States two of the most popular arcade titles in history: Space Invaders and Pac-Man.

Bally has kept up its involvement with traditional arcade games, but its focus is on slot machine development and casino management systems.

The Konami Corporation has also had success with both gaming formats. The Japanese-based company originally rented and repaired jukeboxes in the early 1970s, and over the following decade it developed classic video games for the Nintendo console, including Contra, Metal Gear and Castlevania. Konami entered the casino world in the late 1990s, applying its creativity and technical know-how to supply popular slot machines.

IGT, the biggest slot manufacturer of them all, has never been in the video game industry, though it has introduced many of the high-tech innovations that have made slot machines more of an arcade-style experience. The company has secured several patents that relate to “perceived skill” games, which appear to reward players based on how well they perform a certain action, although the outcomes are predetermined. Last year, IGT partnered with Sega Gaming, a major video game developer, to create a slot game called Three Kingdom Wars. We could see more of these partnerships in the future.

Cyberview Technology is another company that is actively developing video-slot games. In one of its titles, called Galaxium, the buttons normally used to draw or hold video poker hands are instead used to move a spaceship from side to side, or forward and backward. In another pinball-style video slot, The Big Score, the buttons are used to control left and right flippers. With these two games, the player purchases a set amount of time. As the pinball or spaceship comes into contact with various objects, the machine registers a win or a loss. The goal is to keep racking up points while your credits tick down for every second that elapses.

A highly skilled player is not guaranteed to make money—these are still slot machines. By playing well, you experience an average result closer to the odds of the game, while less skilled players will experience more volatility.

Another Twist on the Technology

Las Vegas-based Shuffle Master has also combined slot technology with a skill element, but in a different way—by installing random number generators in table games. Titles like Rapid Roulette, DigiDeal’s Digital 21, and Novomatic’s TouchBet roulette combine the excitement and social interaction of table game play with the high-tech graphics and automation of slot play. Some of these electronic blackjack and roulette tables feature a pre-recorded, life-size image of a dealer, while a random number generator determines the cards you are dealt or the outcome of the spinning wheel.

Although they play like tables, the technology behind these games makes them slot machines. This has enabled casinos in states where regular table games are not allowed to offer a table-playing experience.

As slot machines take on more arcade-like qualities, one aspect will remain constant—all of the new concepts and titles will be subject to strict testing and oversight. This makes it unlikely that we’ll see any dramatic leaps forward in the near future. There is also concern among gaming experts and manufacturers that players will need time to grow accustomed to the idea of skill-based slot machines.

It’s going to require a considerable amount of time before skill-based slots make a significant impact on gaming floors. Patenting, developing and testing these games of the future—and getting them licensed—could take years. But once these games begin to arrive, it could be a watershed for the industry. For future generations of slot players, the reel spinners we enjoy today might seem as primitive as Pong.

Video games and slot machines converge to create a new casino experience.

[choccos-aaart]

I have been re-watching TAWOG lately

The manager tells Larry to stop drinking on the job

RIPLEY 2000 MANAGER

More manager (feat. some doodles of Karen and also Larry)

Human Penny (feat. an unfinished Lesley)

And finally, season 1 Rob if he were to take on the post-void Rob role

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scottish actor Richard Madden born June 18th 1986 in Elderslie.

Richard was raised by his mother, Pat, a classroom assistant and his father, Richard, who worked for the fire service. He also has two sisters, Cara and Lauren.

His parents were “hippies”, he says, and their house was pretty open, with friends always piling in for big vegetarian meals. Madden spent a lot of time outside, in the woods behind their house. He has several injuries: he shows me where he shot his dad’s old air pistol and blew off part of his finger, then managed to wreck the same finger when he nailed a wooden plank to his skateboard, then crashed it, so apart from the Hippie parents it was much like most of our own days as bairns.

Despite growing up wanting to be an actor, Richard was very shy during his childhood. To overcome this, at age 11, he joined Paisley Arts Centre’s youth theatre program. In 1999 he was given the lead role as Sebastian Simpkins in BBC1’s children’s TV comedy series Barmy Aunt Boomerang, that’s him aged 12 in the first pic with co-star Toyah Wilcox.. By 2000, he’d made his feature film debut in the Iain Banks adaptation, Complicity.

After high school he was accepted to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland and in 2007, he graduated.

Less than two years later, Richard had a recurring role as Dean McKenzie on the 2009 BBC series Hope Springs. Soon after, he landed the role of Ripley in the 2010 movie Chatroom, a film about a group of teenagers who encourage each other’s bad behaviours after meeting online. In the same year, Richard played punk band Theatre of Hate singer Kirk Brandon in Worried About the Boy, a TV film about the life of British singer-songwriter Boy George.

In 2011 Richard landed his breakthrough role as Robb Stark in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones. Also in 2011, he played gay paramedic Ashley Greenwick on the short-lived British comedy-drama Sirens. During hiatus from filming Game of Thrones in 2013, Richard was cast to star as Prince Charming in the 2015 Disney film Cinderella.

Richard won his first Screen Actors Guild award in 2014 for the Discovery Channel mini-series, Klondike. He played Bill Haskell, one of two adventurers who travel to Yukon, Canada during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. He further enhanced his reputation as a good actor when he appeared in the BBC drama Bodyguard in 2018, the following year he played Lieutenant Joseph Blake in the film 2017 and was Elton John’s manager/lover in the biop of the star Rocketman.

In January 2019 Madden won  a prestigious Golden Globe for his role as war veteran David Budd in the BBC show Bodyguard. He also appeared in the 2019 war movie 1917.

We last saw Richard in the movie,  Eternals, which was okay, but nothing great, he is one of several actors being touted as the next James Bond,

James is currently in the Amazon Prime series Citadel, I've watched the first three episodes and am not really impressed with it,I think he does pull of the American accent well, but I noticed there have been people saying he doesn't pull it off, Madden revealed he spoke in the accent for two years straight to prepare for the series. The show has been earmarked for a second series. Richard is set to appear in the feature film Killer Heat next.

In July 2019, Madden received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. When asked about his personal life during a New York Times interview following speculation about his relationships and sexuality, Madden stated: “I just keep my personal life personal.”

Madden was recently named one of ‘Scotland’s Sexiest Men'  following a new study that identifies the most attractive features for men, he has competition though,  also in the running are Bathgate’s David Tennant  and Glasgow’s James McAvoy,

[emblem-333]

Nothing Matters In Wrestling Anymore

A lot of what made wrestling great in the past is sorely lacking today. Usually, this is attributed to the revolving door of personnel, except in the WWE the same person who oversaw the wrestling boom in the 1980s and its roaring renaissance or the late 1990s and early 2000s is still here. Vince McMahon still runs everything. One of the greatest performers in the history of sports entertainment, Triple H, is Chief Operating Officer of WWE and has been since 2011. Bruce Pritchard, a booker during the WWE’s most successful periods, was appointed the Senior Vice President. While the title is vague, it is implied Pritchard is no empty suit.

So why is the product so poor nowadays? Why does it seem McMahon is resting on his laurels even when there is no laurels to rest on?

In my eyes, the issue is too many cooks in the kitchen. The product became over bloated since the fall of WCW. Somewhere along the line, McMahon believed the WWE brand itself is the main selling point and not the wrestlers. You can see this in how the Survivor Series pay-per-view is booked in contrast to before. Monday Night Raw and whichever day Smackdown is airing, have been engaged in a fictitious war since the brands split in 2002. The “war” ended in 2013, then resumed in the summer of 2016.

The Survivor Series are traditionally characterized by having tag-team elimination matches, pitting teams of four or five combatants against one another. Before 2016, the teams were captained and defined by the highest ranking babyfaces and heels of the WWE. For an example, in the 1993 Survivor Series the top babyface was Bret “Hitman” Hart and the Hart Foundation, a stable made up of family members he was the leader of. They formed a five-man team to take on the heel Shawn Michaels and his “Knights”, who were just wrestlers going by “Knights” for reasons I have yet to understand.

Every Survivor Series team is now defined merely by which brand they are on. Team Raw vs Team Smackdown; in the most recent pay-per-view the WWE added NXT to the fold.

It’s curious in an era where the WWE invested so much into Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, they are given the role of leading their respective Survivor Series teams, but it is always about the brands they are on, not about them.

So why am I complaining about Survivor Series 2019? The PPV aired almost four-months ago, and it is WrestleMania season. Who cares about Survivor Series? But this is a perfect example of WWE not wanting to commit to anything long term, or having any real plans beyond kicking the can down the road and see what happens later on.

In October, Chris Jericho and TNT launched their weekly All Elite Wrestling show “Dynamite.” Quickly making an impression on a wrestling audience in search of anything but the stale product they’ve been subjected too. Despite wrestling in America being synonymous with the WWE, AEW caught on rather fast and NXT was thrust on to television to counter their chief competitors new show every Wednesday.

NXT is simply Triple H’s offspring. A pet project he began when his transitioned away from an every day performer on the road. It is a tighter, scaled back version of Raw and SmackDown. NXT is notorious for creating stars, like Bayley and Sasha Banks, then giving them to WWE who have no idea what to do with them. NXT is a modest boutique in the larger realm of WWE. But the brass of WWE thought it be a good idea to showcase the talent of NXT by staging an invasion storyline in hopes of gaining eyeballs on their Wednesday show.

For those wondering whether this worked, AEW and NXT have gone head-to-head since October 2nd and have won the ratings war just three times out the 26 weeks.

This is after NXT ran rough-shot on the best WWE had to offer. Adam Cole defeated four time champion Daniel Bryan on SmackDown. On the Survivor Series, the NXT women’s team destroyed Team Raw and SmackDown, and on the men’s side Keith Lee made an impression by taking Roman Reigns the distance in a losing effort. Shayna Baszler bested two WWE Women’s champions, Becky Lynch and Bayley to wrap the dominance of NXT up in a nice bow.

Outside of Lee, nobody walked away from Survivor Series with a rub. You could say Baszler earned some respect points, but she pinned Bayley, and the next day the WWE Twitter account downplayed the accomplishment by reminding us Becky, the champion that matters, did not eat the pin. Baszler didn’t even win the Royal Rumble. Charlotte Flair made her look like an idiot and won something she didn’t need to win. You can say challenging NXT champion Rhea Ripley is a continuation of the invasion angle, but you could have gotten her there by not sacrificing Baszler. Having Flair win the rumble only to challenge the smaller brand is like The Undertaker winning the Royal Rumble in 2007 and challenging ECW champion Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania. It doesn’t feel organic, and not thought out.

NXT began their invasion targeting former champions The Miz and the aforementioned Bryan, Baszler ambushed Bayley after her match against Nikki Cross. The next week, Triple H boasts the accomplishments of Baszler, Tommaso Ciampa, and Adam Cole, telling us he is the leader of this invading force.

There’s a couple of problems with the sacrifice lambs being Miz and Bryan. Since 2011, Miz has been a joke. There was a time when Miz managed to get himself over as WWE’s top heel, but ever since main eventing WrestleMania 27 he’s been ridiculed and minimized. Now on to Bryan, Triple H hates him. Never takes him seriously as a top guy and holds legit naked contempt for him and his most ardent fans. In this age of wrestling, the fans are as wise to the behind the scenes machinations and sausage making we can easily see through Triple H’s words even if it is meant to be viewed through the lens of keyfabe.

It makes the NXT guys look like losers they ignored Brock Lesnar and Bray Wyatt, who recently won the championships of their respective brands.

WWE never pooled their resources together to try and defeat the invaders. They just went about like business as usual. In the tag elimination matches, Raw wrestlers eliminated SmackDown wrestlers, and vice versa. It served as counterproductive, in the women’s 5-on-5-on-5 triple threat elimination match, the only NXT star to score a pin was Rhea Ripley at the end. The men’s side fared better. Ciampa eliminated Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin. Matt Riddle pinned Randy Orton. Lee pinned Seth Rollins.

But neither Ciampa, Riddle or Lee have done anything significant to capitalize. Ripley is the only one from either division to have a match at ‘Mania.

When Baszler failed to take the belt off of Becky, it perfectly signified the half-assed nature of WWE. A constant string of start-stop pushes, then wondering why the talent isn’t over. Nobody likes “always the bridesmaid.” Nobody likes a loser. Nobody likes wrestlers who express vulnerability. We like bad asses. We like killers. WWE isn’t cinema where you have to adhere to the Hayes Code.

If WWE booked Baszler to break Becky’s arm at Survivor Series and win the Rumble she is likely in a better position to be a main event player.

WWE had no plans for NXT beyond Survivor Series. The NXT roster will remain where they are until they are individually called up. The invasion meant nothing. Triple H didn’t try to stage a coup. Rollins didn’t defect, join NXT, and resurrect The Authority (I know they’re dead). None of the champions were challenged.

All of this meant nothing. None of it mattered. And if nothing matters, then there’s no point to getting invested in anything.

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Thecodontosaurus antiquus

By Scott Reid 

Etymology: Reptile with Teeth in Sockets

First Described By: Lydekker, 1890

Classification: Dinosauromorpha, Dinosauriformes, Dracohors, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Bagualosauria

Status: Extinct

Time and Place: Between 208 and 201 million years ago, in the Rhaetian age of the Late Triassic 

Thecodontosaurus is known from the Magnesian Conglomerate Formation, the Microlestes Quarry, and the Tytherington Quarry of Southwestern England 

Physical Description: Thecodontosaurus was a small “prosauropod” - the informal group of the dinosaurs more closely related to sauropods than to other dinosaurs, but aren’t sauropods themselves. These dinosaurs, while rather plain on the outside, are notable in a few ways - the biggest ones being that they are the most common dinosaurs of the Triassic, and that they show the evolutionary path from “generic dinosaur” to “giant behemoth sauropod”. Thecodontosaurus falls on the earlier end of that scale, being a small, bipedal, lightweight animal. It was only about two meters long, and less than a meter high at the hips. It had a fairly short neck with a larger head on the end than is seen in later sauropodomorphs (where necks got longer, but heads got smaller); it had many small, leaf-shaped teeth in its mouth, and large eyes in its skull. It had long and narrow hands, with very short front limbs and longer hind limbs; its tail was especially long, longer than the rest of the body put together. Some individuals were smaller than others, probably because they lived on a separate island and experienced insular dwarfism. Given its extremely small size - only weighing 11 kilograms - it was covered in fluffy protofeathers to aid in thermoregulation. 

By Slate Weasel 

Diet: With the serrated leaf-shaped teeth, Thecodontosaurus was definitely an herbivore, and a low browser at that. This is significant, because Prosauropods started out as Carnivores, and then transitioned to herbivory; Thecodontosaurus was, thus, well into that transition.

Behavior: Thecodontosaurus was probably a fairly social animal, having been found in decent numbers in concentrated locations. As such, small flocks of these dinosaurs would probably have roamed the coastline and scrub-caves. They would have probably had to be at least somewhat skittish, really only having their own speed to get away from predators. They also would have been quite active and warm-blooded. Thecodontosaurus would probably have spent most of its time eating, but it also probably took care of its own young and brought food back to the babies. 

By José Carlos Cortés 

Ecosystem: Thecodontosaurus lived during an interesting time in Earth’s History - the Rhaetian Age, though right before the Triassic extinction and probably the best time to look at how the unique life of the Jurassic managed to slip through said event, is not well-represented in the fossil record. Thus, Thecodontosaurus and its environs are, while sparse, uniquely important in terms of understanding the transition of Mesozoic life. This was a series of small islands called the Mendip Archipelago, filled with mosses, cycads, and algae, with frequent caves lining the environment. As such, many kinds of fish were especially common here, including the weird Palaeonisciforms, sharks, and more ray-finned fish. Some early almost-mammals were also present, such as Kuehneotherium and Thomasia, as well as Eozostorodon. There were many other reptiles as well, though very few were dinosaurs; many were just lizardy-things. There was the mysterious Palaeosaurus, the phytosaur Rileya, and the Rhynchocephalian Diphydontosaurus. As for other dinosaurs, there may have been theropods to prey on Thecodontosaurus, but its only major dinosaur neighbor seems to have been another prosauropod, Asylosaurus. 

By Ripley Cook 

Other: Thecodontosaurus, in addition to being an important step in the sequence from basic dinosaurs to the sauropods, is a notable discovery for being one of the first dinosaurs found. It was actually the fifth (non-avian) dinosaur named, after Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, Streptospondylus, and Hylaeosaurus. It has, thus, been used as the name of many dinosaurs around the world, but very few of these finds are actually Thecodontosaurus.

~ By Meig Dickson

Sources under the Cut 

Apaldetti, C., R. N. Martinez, O. A. Alcober and D. Pol. 2011. A new basal sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from Quebrada del Barro Formation (Marayes-El Carrizal Basin), Northwestern Argentina. PLoS ONE 6(11):e26964:1-19

Benton, M. J., L. Juul, G.W. Storrs and P.M. Galton, 2000, "Anatomy and systematics of the prosauropod dinosaur Thecodontosaurus antiquus from the upper Triassic of southwest England", Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(1): 77-108

Galton, P. M. 2007. Notes on the remains of archosaurian reptiles, mostly basal sauropodomorph dinosaurs, from the 1834 fissure fill (Rhaetian, Upper Triassic) at Clifton in Bristol, southwest England. Revue de Paléobiologie 26(2):505-591.

Galton, P.M., Yates, A.M., & Kermack, D. (2007). "Pantydraco n. gen. for Thecodontosaurus caducus Yates, 2003, a basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Upper Triassic or Lower Jurassic of South Wales, UK". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abh., 243: 119-125

Griffin, C. T., and S. J. Nesbitt. 2016. The femoral ontogeny and long bone histology of the Middle Triassic (?late Anisian) dinosauriform Asilisaurus kongwe and implications for the growth of early dinosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 36(3):e1111224:1-22

Haughton, S.H., 1924, "The fauna and stratigraphy of the Stormberg Series", Annals of the South African Museum 12: 323–497

Langer, M. C., M. D. Ezcurra, J. S. Bittencourt and F. E. Novas. 2010. The origin and early evolution of dinosaurs. Biological Reviews 85:55-110

McPhee, B. W., J. N. Choiniere, A. M. Yates and P. A. Viglietti. 2015. A second species of Eucnemesaurus Van Hoepen, 1920 (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha): new information on the diversity and evolution of the sauropodomorph fauna of South Africa's lower Elliot Formation (latest Triassic). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35(5):e980504:1-24

Morris, S. December 13, 2013. Thecodontosaurus, Bristol's own dinosaur, to go on display at university. The Guardian.

Naish, D., and D. M. Martill. 2007. Dinosaurs of Great Britain and the role of the Geological Society of London in their discovery: basal Dinosauria and Saurischia. Journal of the Geological Society, London 164:493-510

Nesbitt, S. J.; Barrett, P. M.; Werning, S.; Sidor, C. A.; Charig, A. J. (2013). "The oldest dinosaur? A Middle Triassic dinosauriform from Tanzania". Biol. Lett. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2012.0949.

Novas, F. E., M. D. Ezcurra, S. Chatterjee and T. S. Kutty. 2011. New dinosaur species from the Upper Triassic Upper Maleri and Lower Dharmaram formations of Central India. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 101:333-349

Otero, A., and D. Pol. 2013. Postcranial anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Mussaurus patagonicus (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33(5):1138-1168

Riley, H., and S. Stutchbury. 1836. A description of various fossil remains of three distinct saurian animals discovered in the autumn of 1834, in the Magnesian Conglomerate on Durdham Down, near Bristol. Proceedings of the Geological Society of London 2:397-399

Smith, N. D., and D. Pol. 2007. Anatomy of a basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Hanson Formation of Antarctica. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52(4):657-674

Upchurch, P., P. M. Barrett, and P. M. Galton. 2007. A phylogenetic analysis of basal sauropodomorph relationships: implications for the origin of sauropod dinosaurs. In P. M. Barrett, D. J. Batten (eds.), Evolution and Palaeobiology of Early Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs, Special Papers in Palaeontology 77:57-90

Vickers-Rich, P., Rich, T.H., McNamara, G.C. & Milner, A. (1999). "Agrosaurus: Australia's oldest dinosaur?". Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 57: 191-200

Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Triassic, Europe)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 521–525

Whiteside, D.I. and Marshall, J.E.A. (2008) "The age, fauna and palaeoenvironment of the Late Triassic fissure deposits of Tytherington, South Gloucestershire, UK". Geological Magazine, 14(1): 105-147

Xing, L., T. Miyashita, J. Zhang, D. Li, Y. Te, T. Sekiya, F. Wang and P. J. Currie. 2015. A new sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of China and the diversity, distribution, and relationships of mamenchisaurids. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35(1):e889701:1-17

Yates, A. M. (2003). "A new species of the primitive dinosaur Thecodontosaurus (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) and its implications for the systematics of early dinosaurs". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 1(1): 1-42

Yates, A.M. & Kitching, J. W. (2003). "The earliest known sauropod dinosaur and the first steps towards sauropod locomotion". Proc. R. Soc. Lond.: B Biol Sci. 2003 Aug 22; 270(1525): 1753–8

[20thcentutygeek]

The Fox Sci-Fi Universe - Julian Darius

Fox owns several venerable sci-fi franchises, most of which have struggled to one extent or another. Fox’s attempt to combine Predator and Aliens produced a couple lackluster movies, which were then contradicted by Ridley Scott’s Alien prequels. In sum, these properties are mostly languishing (to one degree or another), while Fox had problems managing continuity within franchises, let alone in its one attempt to combine two franchises.

The “Fox Sci-Fi Universe”, listed below, is an attempt to combine these Fox franchises anew, along with other Fox material. Fox has an extensive catalogue of classic films and series which would fit well, many of which haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. I think ,erging them into a single continuity would reinvigorate each film or property, making it part of a tapestry that encourages fans to draw connections and to explore material they otherwise might not.

In addition, Disney’s acquisition of Fox would permit Disney to merge some of its own sci-fi films, including franchises that have struggled on their own. Tron might not be successful on its own, but it could now be an interesting segment of a larger universe, with its world and technology available to characters from other stories.

Key to this strategy is to merge as much compatible material as possible, with special attention to quality material and material produced from the 1980s onward (which looks modern enough). Some quality movies are incompatible, for one reason or another. We can reject any movie we want, and the below list is subject to change. But in general, we don’t want to be purists, only incorporating the very best. We want to incorporate the best works, but we also want to be as all-encompassing as possible, so as to produce a grand tapestry spanning centuries of history.

An impressive body of work containing multiple beloved series and characters, the Fox Sci-Fi Universe contains material directed by Steven Spielberg, Joss Whedon, Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Cronenberg, Guillermo del Toro, and David Fincher.

One key franchise here might not be obvious: The X-Files, which retains a certain cache and which is perfect for such an expansive sci-fi universe because of its expansive scope. If you think about it, there’s no reason why Mulder and Scully couldn’t have investigated the VR world of Tron, the teleportation technology of The Fly, or reports of the murderous alien from Predator.

Chronologically prior to The X-Files, the Indiana Jones franchise fits well. Like The X-Files, it’s episodic and less concerned with a single, coherent version of the supernatural or of extraterrestrials than creating an exciting, all-encompassing world in which fantastic stories can be set.

Moving chronologically into the future, the dominant franchise is Aliens, which has the benefit of rarely depicting Earth, permitting us more freedom in terms of a consistent depiction humanity’s future. Beyond Aliens lies Firefly, which is also largely vague about Earth.

Moving forward, material set in the Fox Sci-Fi Universe can incorporate characters and ideas from other properties. Companies should be connected to one another; for example, Bartok Science Industries (from The Fly) could be purchased by Weyland Corporation (from Aliens), and we could learn that the Bartok teleportation technology was an important predecessors to Weyland’s own technology. Similarly, various government agents can be retroactively seen as predecessors or successors to the X-Files program.

The following is a timeline of the Fox Si-Fi Universe. As previously stated, it’s subject to change; movies can be added or removed relatively freely, at least until new installments explicitly place them in continuity. To help set them apart, TV series appear in red.

Era 1: Indiana Jones (1908-1962)

This era essentially contains all material set in the past, relative to its actual date of production.

1908-1920: The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (28 episodes across 2 seasons, 1992-1993)

1935: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

1936: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

1938: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

1938: The Rocketeer (1991) – assuming Disney owns the film rights in perpetuity

1957: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

1962: The Shape of Water (2017)

Era 2: The X-Files (1982-2018)

This era contains all material set in the present, relative to its actual date of production.

1982: Tron (1982)

1986: The Fly (1986) – features Bartok Science Industries, which funds Brundle’s research

1987: The Fly II (1989) – set about nine months after the first film, we might want to eliminate this film in favor of an alternate sequel (such as one directed by Cronenberg, which has been discussed over the years and which could now reference other material from this shared universe)

1987: Predator (1987)

1989: The Abyss (1989)

1993-1994: The X-Files, season 1 (24 episodes, 1993-1994)

1994-1995: The X-Files, season 2 (25 episodes, 1994-1995)

1995-1996: The X-Files, season 3 (24 episodes, 1995-1996)

1996-1997: The X-Files, season 4 (24 episodes, 1996-1997) and Millennium, season 1 (22 episodes, 1996-1997)

1997-1998: The X-Files, season 5 (20 episodes, 1997-1998) and Millennium, season 2 (23 episodes, 1997-1998)

1998: The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) – the first X-Files movie (sometimes simply called The X-Files), set between seasons 5 and 6

1998-1999: The X-Files, season 6 (22 episodes, 1998-1999) and Millennium, season 3 (22 episodes, 1998-1999)

1999-2000: The X-Files, season 7 (22 episodes, 1999-2000) – includes “Millennium,” wrapping up Millennium

2000-2001: The X-Files, season 8 (21 episodes, 2000-2001) and The Lone Gunmen (13 episodes, 2001)

2001-2002: The X-Files, season 9 (20 episodes, 2001-2002) – includes “Jump the Shark,” wrapping up The Lone Gunmen

Uncertain: Tron: Uprising (19 half-hour animated episodes, 2012-2013) – set before Tron: Legacy

2008: The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)

2010: Predators (2010) – features a group of humans on a Predator hunting planet and ends with them still stuck there; connected material also includes two 2010 short films, “Moments of Extraction” and “Crucified”

2010: Tron: Legacy (2010)

2016: The X-Files, season 10 (6 episodes, 2016)

2018: The X-Files, season 11 (10 episodes, 2016)

2018: The Predator (2018) – features a battle with Predators in American suburbia

Era 3: Aliens (2023-2381)

This era takes place in the future, from the late 21st century to the 24th century.

2023: “The Peter Weyland Files: TED Conference, 2023” (2012) – a 7-minute short film in which a young Peter Weyland gives a TED Talk

2079: “The Peter Weyland Files: Happy Birthday, David” (2012) – a 3-minute short film in which David explains what he thinks about and what makes him sad

2089: portions of Prometheus (2012) are set here; specifically, after the opening sequence (in which the Engineers seed life on Earth), archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway discover a star map in Scotland that matches others from several unconnected ancient cultures, which they interpret as an invitation from humanity's forerunners, the "Engineers"; Peter Weyland, the elderly CEO of Weyland Corporation, funds an expedition, aboard the scientific vessel Prometheus, to follow the map to the distant moon LV-223

2089: “The Peter Weyland Files: Quiet Eye, Elizabeth Shaw” (2012) – a 3-minute short film consisting of a video call from Shaw to Weyland, introducing herself and her findings

2091: “The Peter Weyland Files: 'Prometheus' Transmission” (2012) – a 7-minute short collection of pre-mission interviews with the Prometheus crew

Dec 2093: most of Prometheus (2012) takes place here, when the ship arrives at its destination

2094: “Alien: Covenant – Prologue: The Crossing” (2017) – a 3-minute short film in which Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (after the events of  Prometheus) repairs David on the abandoned Engineer vessel, as she searches for humanity’s creators

Uncertain: “Alien: Covenant – Meet Walter” (2017) – an in-universe advertisement for Walter, the android from Covenent (and the successor to David from Prometheus); although its place in continuity isn’t clear, it makes sense as an introduction to Walter, and thus should go here

2103: “Alien: Covenant – Phobos” (2017) – a 9-minute short film in which a computer program tests the feelings and reactions of the Covenant crew

2104: “Alien: Covenant – Prologue: Last Supper” (2017) – a 5-minute short film in which the Covenant crew and its android Walter enjoys a final meal before cryosleep on the way to their destination

2104: Alien: Covenant (2017) – sequel to Prometheus

2104: “Alien: Covenant – Advent” (2017) – a 7-minute short film in which David, after the events of Covenant, sends a transmission from the Covenant to Weyland-Yutani on Earth, elaborating upon the genetic experimentation he has been conducting on Planet 4.

Uncertain: “David’s Lab: Last Signs of Life” (2019) – a 12-minute short film, produced for Alien’s 40th anniversary, and set sometime after Alien: Covenant, in which an astronaut examines David’s lab and is attacked by a facehugger

2122: Alien (1979) – the main Alien sequence begins

Unknown: “Alien: Alone” (2019) – a 12-minute short film, produced for Alien’s 40th anniversary

Unknown: “Alien: Containment” (2019) – a 10-minute short film, produced for Alien’s 40th anniversary

Unknown: “Alien: Harvest” (2019) – a 9-minute short film, produced for Alien’s 40th anniversary

Unknown: “Alien: Night Shift” (2019) – a 9-minute short film, produced for Alien’s 40th anniversary

Unknown: “Alien: Ore” (2019) – an 11-minute short film, produced for Alien’s 40th anniversary

Unknown: “Alien: Specimen” (2019) – a 10-minute short film, produced for Alien’s 40th anniversary

2137: Alien: Isolation (7 episodes, 2019) – a mini-series, set 15 years after Alien, starring Ripley’s daughter Amanda and based on the video game of the same name; episodes were 8-14 minutes long

2179: Aliens (1986) – Ripley is revived after 57 years in status on one of the Nostromo’s escape shuttles

2179: Alien 3 (1992) – begins shortly after Aliens and ends with Ripley’s death

Unclear: Black Hole (1979) – this classic Disney film features no date and is difficult to fit into our timeline, since it features a space station monitoring a black hole, something arguably too advanced for the Alien franchise, yet also features robots less advanced than those in the Alien franchise

2381: Alien Resurrection (1997) – stars a clone of Ellen Ripley, more than 200 years after her death; ends with the clone arriving at Earth

Era 4: Firefly (2517)

This era takes place further in the future – specifically, in the 26th century.

2517: Firefly (14 episodes, 2002)

2517: Serenity (2005) – a continuation of Firefly

Stuff that Doesn’t Fit

The two Alien Vs. Predator movies (2004 and 2007) aren’t very good and are incompatible with the Alien prequel movies.

Predator 2 (1990) has been excluded for a few reasons. First, it is set in 1997 and guesses at future technology in a way that’s incompatible with the real world. Second, it features a Predator in Los Angeles and doesn’t limit those who are aware of its alien origins. Third, it briefly features an Alien skull on board a Predator ship, which is incompatible with the origin of the Alien species in the Alien prequel movies. Finally, Predator 2 isn’t great and is widely regarded as a weak film.

Material depicting public encounters with extraterrestrials in the (then) present must be excluded as incompatible with the rest of our material. This excludes material such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and Independence Day (1996). Although a closer call, Flight of the Navigator (1986) has been excluded for the same reason.

Other material is excluded because it presents a future that is incompatible with that of Alien. For example, Planet of the Apes could not be included for this reason (even if that franchise did not include copious incompatible material set in the present day). Post-apocalyptic material such as Zardoz (1974) must similarly be excluded (even if we were inclined to ignore that film’s tonal inconsistencies).

Other material is excluded because it’s incompatible with the rest of the material’s depiction of Earth’s state of technology. This is a subjective criterion, because The X-Files has plenty of technology and knowledge that isn’t referenced later, and this can be used to justify the inclusion of material such as Tron (1982) or The Fly (1986). However, it would be hard to reconcile the miniaturization technology in Fantastic Voyage (1966) with the rest of our timeline. Similarly, Tomorrowland (2015) features advanced androids that are incompatible with later development of androids as depicted in the Alien prequels.

Other material is excluded due to incompatible tone, another admittedly subjective criterion. It’s one thing to include The X-Files in the same universe as Alien, but it’s another to include Buckaroo Banzai (1984) or Idiocracy (2006). While Indiana Jones and The X-Files contain supernatural elements, the tone of Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes it incompatible, in my view. Similarly, the Kingsman franchise feels incompatible with the tone of The X-Files. The exclusion of some older films, such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) or the original The Fly (1958), may also be attributed to their tone.

Some material isn’t included but might be. For example, I’m not sure if James Cameron’s company doesn’t co-own Avatar (2009), and its sequels (in production) might contradict our timeline. Were Avatar to be cleared for inclusion, it would be set between Alien and Aliens. Similarly, because The Martian (2015) is an adaptation of a novel, it’s not clear that Fox retains all rights in perpetuity.

[freenewstoday]

New Post has been published on https://freenews.today/2020/11/17/stock-futures-little-changed-after-pause-in-the-record-rally/

Stock futures little changed after pause in the record rally

U.S. stock futures were flat in overnight trading on Tuesday as investors digested the recent record rally in equities.

Dow futures fell 16 points. Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 lost 0.04% and 0.03%, respectively.

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 167 points, dragged down by Walgreens, Home Depot and Walmart. The S&P 500 lost 0.5%. Tuesday’s session was the first time in three days the Dow and S&P 500 fell, following their record closes on Monday.

The Nasdaq Composite was the relative outperformer, dipping just 0.2%. Tesla shares popped more than 8% after after S&P Dow Jones Indices said that the electric vehicle company will join the S&P 500. 

Small-caps continued to outperform on Tuesday with the Russell 2000 gaining 0.37% to close at another record.

“For the most part, the economy has been recovering faster than many expected, as consumer spending has held up quite well throughout the crisis. Much of this can be seen through consumer spending habits, where the pandemic has caused consumers to shift spending away from service-oriented products and into to more goods-related products,” Charlie Ripley, Senior Investment Strategist for Allianz Investment Management, said in a note.

“While this has been beneficial to the economy overall, it has created a bifurcated recovery, as some sectors of the economy continue to be extremely depressed,” he added.

Stocks are having a strong month on the back of positive news from two U.S. drugmakers about successful Covid-19 vaccines. The Dow is up more than 12% and the S&P 500 is up more than 10% in November. The Nasdaq Composite is up more than 9%, lagging as investors ditch technology shares of cyclical plays.

Equities are rising amid a backdrop of worsening Covid-19 infections in the U.S. The U.S. seven-day average of daily new Covid-19 infections surpassed 150,000 for the first time on Monday, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Retail sales came in lower-than-expected for October as millions of Americans lost their unemployment benefits amid the surge in cases.

A slew of retailers report quarterly earnings on Wednesday, with Target, Lowe’s and TJX Companies set to report before the opening bell. Chipmaker Nvidia, Copa Holdings and L Brands report earnings following Wednesday’s session.

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