Victims now know they were right about robodebt all along. Let the royal commission change the way we talk about welfare

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Victims now know they were right about robodebt all along. Let the royal commission change the way we talk about welfare     The long-awaited robodebt royal commission report landed today, making searing adverse findings against both politicians and bureaucrats. Key individuals are denounced in stark moral terms: for venality, cowardice and callous disregard. Continued here

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5 Years Ago, Square Enix Made Its Most Nostalgic Game -- And Also Its Most Innovative     Nostalgia is a hell of a thing, especially when it comes to video games. Square Enix RPGs from the ‘90s hold some of the greatest nostalgia for fans, and titles like Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, and Xenogears continue to live rent-free in gamers' heads as some of the best ever released. So how could any modern game live up to that nostalgia? Square Enix itself faced this problem head-on in 2018 and found that the best option isn’t to fight nostalgia but embrace it. The result is Octopath Traveler, released five years ago on July 13, 2018 for Nintendo Switch. This nostalgia-fueled RPG manages to replicate what made ‘90s RPGs great while subtly evolving the decades-old formula in a modern way. Continued here

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Machine Learning and Geometry: How Disney Made Indiana Jones Look Young Again     Making Indiana Jones look young again was (relatively) easy. The hard part? Doing the same for his latest enemy, a Nazi scientist played by Mads Mikkelsen.“There was a desire that we didn't necessarily want him to look like a younger Mads Mikkelsen,” VFX supervisor Andrew Whitehurst tells Inverse. Continued here

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'Guardians of the Galaxy 3' Deleted Scene Reveals the Fate of Its Biggest Villain     Half the fun of a great villain is seeing how they fall. Whether it’s plummeting down a shaft like Palpatine or dissolving into dust like Voldemort, seeing someone with ill intentions meet the fate they deserve is always satisfying. But what if the villain doesn’t deserve to die? Seeing someone reform can be satisfying too, but closure can slip by the wayside if a bad guy just decides to change his mind. While it may have seemed that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 fell into this trap, a new deleted scene finally shows what happened to the High Evolutionary, and it’s just as satisfying as you expect. Continued here

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It's topped with a crunchy, buttery, brown sugar pecan crumble     "Bye-bye, Miss American Pie" – the Don McLean song that epitomised '70s America, may have been a melancholic one, but the buttery, crusty delight it references gives people much more cheer.  Pies were likely invented in 2nd Century BCE by the ancient Egyptians or Romans, and popularized by the British in the 16th Century, but they are now synonymous with American cuisine, thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday and pop culture.  Continued here

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'Secret Invasion' Can't Avoid Marvel TV's Biggest Mistake     For 15 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was undefeated on the big screen. Marvel Studios have event filmmaking down to a science, and after a decade of cinematic feats, television felt like the final frontier. It’s a medium that the franchise attacked with gusto: since bowing on Disney+ in 2021, Marvel has produced nine series. Four premiered in 2021, three in 2022, and at least three more are slated for 2023. Quantity, however, is no substitute for quality; to everyone’s surprise, Marvel’s had a tough time translating its foolproof formula to the small screen. Many of the MCU’s efforts on streaming have been touted as “television events” or “must-see TV,” but so many fail to live up to that hype in any substantial way. Only Marvel’s first effort, WandaVision, felt like the true example of a watercooler series. The rest that followed have, for one reason or another, failed to justify their existence as TV shows. Most feel like films stretched across six hour-long episodes, but the franchise can’t seem to let go of that formula as the MCU chugs along. Continued here

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Everything We Know About 'Genshin Impact' 4.0 and the Fontaine Region     Say “au revoir” to Sumeru. As Genshin Impact 4.0 inches closer every day so too does our arrival in the nation of Fontaine. Even if players aren’t able to explore the watery nation just yet, the ability to play some of the characters of the region already means Fontaine will be the next stop in Genshin Impact update 4.0. Here’s everything we know about Fontaine and Genshin Impact 4.0.Genshin Impact will expand to include Fontaine in its 4.0 update. However, the date for the Genshin Impact 4.0 update is still up in the air. We do know that it will be the next major update after 3.8 was released at the beginning of July. The typical length of Genshin patches is roughly six weeks, so if that trend holds we should see the release of 4.0 in late August. Continued here

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Building Sustainability by Transforming Infrastructure - SPONSORED CONTENT FROM Panasonic     Infographic Sponsored By Panasonic Continued here

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Pandemic babies behind on communication at age two - but other developmental areas remain unaffected     The world changed for all of us when we were suddenly plunged into a pandemic in 2020. COVID sent us into a series of lockdowns in a bid to control the spread of the virus until a vaccine could be developed. Most of us knew that a vaccine would be the key to our post-pandemic lives. But what about those of us who knew nothing of the world before COVID? Continued here

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You Need to Watch the Most Subversive Western Thriller On Amazon Prime ASAP     Subversion has become a bit of a dirty word in certain circles. That’s partly due to some filmmakers using the term to explain away their less successful narrative swings, but toxic fan groups have also redefined the word as the source of all their least favorite franchise moments. Consequently, it’s easy to have a negative or skeptical first reaction upon seeing a film labeled subversive today.But not every movie that’s subverted expectations can be called cheap or unsuccessful. When done right, subversions can not only be thrilling to witness, but can single-handedly cast the story viewers thought they were experiencing in a new light. Some of the best movies, like 2007’s No Country for Old Men, do both. Over 15 years after its release, the 2008 Best Picture winner is still considered one of the best films of the century and one of the best book-to-screen adaptations Hollywood has ever produced. Continued here

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China's ties to Cuba and growing presence in Latin America raise security concerns in Washington, even as leaders try to ease tensions     Leland Lazarus is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonresident Fellow of the Atlantic Council Global China Hub, and a Board Member of the Fulbright Association.There is a push by leaders in Washington and Beijing to get U.S.-China relations back on track. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Xi Jinping in China in June 2023 to reopen the lines of communication between the countries. And Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is spending four days in China, beginning July 6, 2023, to try to stabilize U.S.-China economic ties. Continued here

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Thomas Hardy Takes a Rewrite Job at an Advertising Agency     Thomas Hardy’s rewrite: Where’s the flesh of the tender Dorset cow, whose herd is dying of bloat?Hardy’s rewrite: The rum-laced porridge you eat before auctioning off your wife and child. Continued here

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Tuberculosis on the rise for first time in decades after COVID-19 interrupted public health interventions and increased inequality     Before SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spread across the world in 2020, tuberculosis was responsible for more deaths globally than any other infectious disease. But thanks to targeted public health efforts in the U.S. and globally, tuberculosis cases had been steadily falling for decades. I am an infectious disease clinician and public health practitioner who has been caring for underserved communities in the U.S. for more than two decades. Continued here

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Rava upma: warm and savoury semolina     For millions of Indians, a day can start or end with a plate of warm rava upma, savoury semolina grains cooked to a tender, fluffy consistency. A classic rava upma is made from semolina, salt, vegetables and a South Indian-style seasoning of mustard and black lentils, and served with yogurt, pickles or bananas as accompaniments. A drizzle of ghee simply elevates this dish to a whole other level. Given how easy it is to put together upma, it appears at the family table as a practical dish that suits the rhythm of work-life balance.It's also popular outside of the home. "One plate upma, one filter coffee without sugar, please!" is a typical breakfast and dinner order in restaurants and bustling tiffin houses across South India. Continued here

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Why putting off college math can be a good idea     Putting off college math could improve the likelihood that students remain in college. But that may only be true as long as students don’t procrastinate more than one year. This is what colleagues and I found in a study published in 2023 of 1,119 students at a public university for whom no remedial coursework was required during their first year. Enrolling in a math course during the first semester of college resulted in students being four times more likely to drop out. Although delayed enrollment in a math course had benefits in the first year, its advantages vanished by the end of the second year. In our study, almost 40% of students who postponed the course beyond a year did not attempt it at all and failed to obtain a degree within six years. Continued here

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This 'Smart' Rice Cooker Is Just Grain Dead     If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIREDBack in March at my favorite trade show, the guy at the Cuckoo rice cooker stand glossed over a new model in favor of one with more bells and whistles. Continued here

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Forget VCs -- Get to Know Your Local Banker     Black women may receive less venture capital funding, but VC funds aren't necessarily your only -- or even your best -- option. Continued here

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Why a Long-Term Strategy is Key for Multifamily Investments     A savvy investor stands to gain even in the roughest market conditions. Continued here

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The history behind Orkney's vote to 'join Norway'     For the third time in half a century, Orkney, UK, has raised the issue of its Nordic origins and an apparent desire to embrace them once more. Earlier this week, Orkney Islands Council voted on a motion to begin exploring options of “greater subsidiarity and autonomy”, potentially looking beyond the UK and Scottish borders to build “Nordic connections”.This decision has made national and international headlines. These were centred on the possibility that the island group, located ten miles from the north coast of Scotland, may seek to become a Norwegian territory. Continued here

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Affirmative action lasted over 50 years: 3 essential reads explaining how it ended     Ever since U.S. President Lyndon Johnson enacted affirmative action in 1965, white conservatives have challenged the use of race in college admissions. Their arguments against such policies are typically based on the use of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which prohibits discrimination against American citizens on the basis of their race, religion or sexuality. Continued here

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Are You Ready to Be a Big Company? 6 Questions to Show You the Truth     Many entrepreneurs dream of having an enterprise-size company of thousands, yet most can't get above 10 people. Here's what's missing. Continued here

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If someone posts your private photos online, there has been little you can do about it - how changes in the law will finally help victims     In 2015, Keeley Richards-Shaw found her name and personal life splashed all over the media. Her photo, her job and links to her Facebook page were all published. She’d been in court seeing her ex-partner sentenced for harassment and sharing sexual images without her consent. After being stalked by him, she said she was now being “stalked by the media”.Having her private, intimate images shared was devastating. But the invasion of privacy made it even worse, leaving her distraught and humiliated after what should have been a legal victory. Continued here

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Oppenheimer, Nullified and Vindicated     “Architect of Atomic Bomb Cleared of ‘Black Mark.’ ” That was the headline last December 18th, when the Times ran a long story on page 16 reporting that Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm had “nullified a 1954 decision to revoke the security clearance of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a top government scientist who led the making of the atomic bomb in World War II but fell under suspicion of being a Soviet spy at the height of the McCarthy era.” Granholm had issued a press release explaining that her department had been “entrusted with the responsibility to correct the historical record and honor Dr. Oppenheimer’s ‘profound contributions to our national defense and scientific enterprise at large.’ ” She said that she was pleased to announce the nullification.The Times’ veteran reporter on things nuclear, William J. Broad, went on to summarize Oppenheimer’s life story and his downfall at the height of the Cold War: “Until then a hero of American science, he lived out his life a broken man and died in 1967 at the age of 62.” But, even in 1954, it was clear to most readers of the trial transcripts, leaked to the Times that spring, that the security hearing was a kangaroo court and that Oppenheimer had been publicly humiliated for political reasons. The “father of the atomic bomb” had to be silenced because he was opposing the development of the hydrogen “super” bomb. Ever since, historians have regarded him as the chief celebrity victim of the national trauma known as McCarthyism. Continued here

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Yevonde: Life and Colour exhibition reopens the National Portrait Gallery in style     A long-overdue exhibition of the work of photographer Yevonde Middleton (1893-1975) has opened at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), London. Yevonde: Life and Colour is the first major exhibition since the gallery reopened its doors, following a three-year refurbishment.Throughout her life, Yevonde was a vocal advocate for women. In her youth, she was a suffragette. And she championed women within photography throughout her long and successful career, gaining wide recognition in her own day. She is best known as a society portraitist and an early pioneer of colour photography at a time when commercial colour photography was new and there was widespread scepticism about its merits. Continued here

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Nonbinary genders beyond 'male' and 'female' would have been no surprise to ancient rabbis, who acknowledged tumtums, androgynos and aylonot     “Genderqueer” and “nonbinary” are contemporary terms for people who don’t fit neatly into male or female categories. But acknowledging that not everyone fits neatly into those two groups has a much longer history than you might suspect.As a scholar of Judaism and gender, I find that people across the political spectrum often assume religion must be inherently conservative and unchanging when it comes to sex and gender. They imagine that religions have always embraced a world in which there are only men and women. Continued here

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5 Ways to Make the Most of Outsourced Copywriters     B2B companies can find a better way to create impactful materials by looking beyond their own staff. Continued here

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Casetify's Evangelion Collab Protects Your AirPods From Their Next Impact     Casetify's ever-growing list of collabs has finally reached the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. The tech accessories company partnered with Studio Khara to release an Evangelion-inspired lineup of accessories like iPhone cases, MagSafe chargers, and even a limited-edition water bottle.The collab takes Casetify’s Impact lineup that’s designed to protect your smartphones and wireless earbuds from accidental drops and dresses it up in Evangelion’s familiar purple and green color combo. Mostly though, they’re meant to show off your love for one of the most iconic animes of all time. Continued here

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The Alternative Facts of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.     In November, 2007, the junior senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, appeared on ABC News for one of those soft-focus get-to-know-the-candidate segments. Obama admitted that, after he was at Harvard Law School for a while and felt “comfortable” among his hyper-ambitious classmates, he allowed himself to think that maybe he’d run for President someday. “Did you think to yourself, Barack, what kind of hubris is this?” the broadcaster Charlie Gibson said.“I think if you don’t have enough self-awareness to see the element of megalomania involved in thinking you can be President, then you probably shouldn’t be President,” Obama said. “There’s a slight madness to thinking that you should be the leader of the free world.” Continued here

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Emerging Strategies for Operationalizing Sustainability Efforts - SPONSORED CONTENT FROM DAGGERWING     Sustainability has become an issue of paramount concern in boardrooms and C-suites at companies around the world. Due to increasing regulatory pressure, reputational risk, and concern for the environment, companies increasingly believe they cannot take a business-as-usual approach if they hope to achieve their sustainability goals on schedule. A February 2023 survey conducted globally by Harvard Business Review Analytic Services of 528 respondents who are familiar with their organization’s sustainability strategy found that nearly two-thirds (63%) agree that sustainability initiatives must be approached in a fundamentally different way than other strategies. Continued here

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Call of Duty 2023? Everything We Know About the Rumored 'Modern Warfare 3'     Unsurprisingly, a new Call of Duty game will launch in 2023, but this apparently wasn’t always the plan. According to a 2022 Bloomberg report, Activision initially planned to skip a premium COD release in 2023 in favor of a large Warzone expansion. But now, according to new reports, this plan seems to have been scrapped, and Activision will, indeed, launch a brand new COD game later in 2023 — just as it has since 2005. Beyond that, this year’s entry is reportedly Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, a sequel to Modern Warfare 2 from 2022. But what do we know about this upcoming game and when will it launch?Much like past entries, COD 2023 will launch in the fall, and according to a report from Insider Gaming, we already have the release date. But keep in mind, this has not been confirmed by Activision. The campaign mode for Call of Duty 2023 will apparently launch on November 2, 2023, while the full release will come a week later on November 10, 2023. Continued here