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Bilbo Baggins once wrote that “the old that is strong does not wither.” Well, Lord of the Rings is over 70 years old, and War of the Rohirrim may be a worrying (but beautifully crafted, often entertaining) omen for a franchise looking to justify itself. Peter Jackson directed three of the greatest, most monumental movies in cinema history with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He tried, and failed, to recapture the wonder of Middle-earth with The Hobbit movies, needlessly chopped up and full of garish VFX (lest we forget Legolas defying gravity more than Wicked’s Elphaba ). Regrettably, the series has become a hotbed for insufferable finger-wagging and pedantry after Amazon’s Rings of Power . Admittedly, its first season was a bit iffy, but Season 2 was extraordinary, and perhaps the most vivid and compelling interpretation of Tolkien’s texts since the original films. Jackson, Phillipa Boyens and co. have since returned to the fold. They’re making at least two more live-action movies (starting with The Hunt for Gollum ). It could be an attempt to sway contemptuous fans back to the fold, or perhaps it’s just about money, or maybe – just maybe – they have good stories to tell. Unfortunately, War of the Rohirrim isn’t quite a testament to the latter hope. What is LOTR: The War of the Rohirrim about? “All of Middle-earth [and the real world, let’s be honest] knows the tale of the One Ring,” Miranda Otto’s Éowyn narrates. “But there are others... tales that light a path through the dark.” Set over 180 years before the events of the Fellowship of the Ring, the movie follows Héra (Gaia Wise), the “headstrong, wild” daughter of Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox), the king of Rohan – he won’t admit it, but he’s “proud of his tearaway daughter,” Éowyn says, and while you won’t find her name in the “old tales... by her hand, many great deeds were done.” Related: Everything seems swell in Edoras, but one punch starts a war. Freca (Shaun Dooley), a Dunlending lord with Rohirric blood (and a clear disdain for Helm) hears that Héra may be marrying a Gondorian prince. He proposes she marry Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), her childhood friend, instead. Helm turns him down, leading to a fight – a generous description, considering Helm haymakers Freca and kills him. Wulf is furious and vows to avenge his father’s death, lighting the fuse of the titular war. Lord of the Rings is perfect for anime Let me say this outright: War of the Rohirrim looks and sounds spectacular, with an eye-popping, vibrant blend of different styles; you can see Attack on Titan (both Weta and MAPPA worked on the visuals), Studio Ghibli , and even Ralph Bakshi’s original Lord of the Rings movie. The landscapes are breathtaking, Stephen Gallagher’s score bows its head to Howard Shore’s irreplaceable compositions while sprinkling its own melodies, and Kenji Kamiyama doesn’t merely try to emulate Jackson’s staging and direction – this feels like a unique entry in the LOTR canon; epic, but gorgeous in a way only this medium can allow. Here, the Mûmakil (the big elephants) are terrifying, fury-eyed beasts, the Great Eagles are great (the best animated birds since The Rescuers: Down Under – yes, really), and we even get a slimy, enormous Watcher in the Water that’s slickly brought to life. The action is generally well-done, if not always that exciting; anime has some of the most dynamic set pieces across movies and television, and outside of its world-building and general presentation, War of the Rohirrim doesn’t maximize its potential (Helm Hammerhand aside). War of the Rohirrim’s story is uninspiring Here’s the thing: War of the Rohirrim isn’t for the rookies, nor does it feel like a deep-cut Tolkien story (because it isn’t). Excluding Éowyn’s vague narration, it operates on the assumption that you not only know about Rohan and Gondor, but you care about their pasts, their lineages, and the political tensions that lie between the two allied kingdoms. That onus shouldn’t be on us , it’s on the filmmakers, and this movie fails where its predecessors (even The Hobbit films) succeeded. It’s not that it’s missing any connections to the main Lord of the Rings saga (its references are admirably restrained, and each one works better than the last), it just struggles to communicate why this story is worthy of our attention. There’s a blatant message in here – if men don’t curb their arrogance, it could be their downfall – but it’s tritely conveyed, a consequence of a film that’s fast-paced but lacks impact in its momentum. For example, Helm Hammerhand is immediately likable (mainly due to Cox’s wonderful voice performance), but do I feel like I know him as I did Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, and the rest of the Fellowship? This is a writing issue, and one character stands out: I’m sorry, but Héra is a dull lead, and it’s obvious that the movie was written around a character with almost no basis in the source material. She may be “headstrong and wild”, but we barely get a sense of who she is; everyone loves her, she’s a talented fighter, she’s not interested in getting married... and that’s about it. By Wise’s own admission, she’s not a “fully-formed woman” – but she’s not a fully-formed character, either. Dexerto review score: 3/5 – Good If nothing else, War of the Rohirrim is a proof of concept; we need more Lord of the Rings animes from Tolkien’s legendarium. However, striking animation and a charming vocal ensemble aside, it feels regrettably forgettable – entertaining in the moment, but dispensable. If “all we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us,” I’d rather wait for something better. Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will hit cinemas on December 13. Check out what we know about Rings of Power Season 3 , how to get the War of the Rohirrim popcorn bucket , and for more information on how we score TV shows and movies, check out our scoring guidelines here.ECA Board concludes 2024 with focus on strategic priorities for 2025 and beyond
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Without much fanfare, President Joe Biden signed 50 bills into law on his last Christmas Eve in the Oval Office - ranging from establishing the first federal anti-hazing college campus standard, to making the Bald Eagle the country's first official bird, to preventing federal agencies from issuing "useless reports" (by who's standard?). The bills also named federal buildings and post offices, a law to hold youth treatment and care centers more accountable, and a law which precludes members of Congress from collecting pensions if convicted of crimes. The Epoch Times has more detail on some of the bills: SB 4610 designates the bald eagle as the national bird, clearing up what has been assumed but not codified for nearly 250 years. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Markwayne Mullen (R-Okla.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), was passed by the Senate in July and by the House Dec. 16. It states “bald eagles are a historical symbol of the United States representing independence, strength, and freedom; the bald eagle is unique to North America; the bald eagle image remains the leading insignia for all branches of the United States military.” It notes that on June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was adopted as the Coat of Arms for the United States Great Seal but there was never any formal language encoded to designate it as the national bird. The new law remedies that by amending Chapter 3 of Title 36, United States Code to state , “The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the national bird.” Senate Bill 1351 , the “Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act,” creates a federal work group on youth residential programs to oversee the health, safety, care, treatment, and placement of minors in rehab and other programs. The bill had 24 bipartisan cosponsors and was adopted in the House, 373-33, on Dec. 18, after the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent. The bill was notable for the personal involvement of socialite and activist Paris Hilton, who testified before the House Ways & Means Committee in July about mistreatment and abuse she claims to have experienced in treatment centers. House Bill 5646 , the “Stop Campus Hazing Act,” co-filed by Reps. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and 57 co-sponsors, passed both chambers in unchallenged voice votes. The act, spurred by a North Carolina State University report that hazing is rampant on many college campuses, requires federally funded higher education institutions to disclose hazing incidents reported to campus or local police authorities in their annual security reports beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The president also signed SB 932, the “No CORRUPTION Act,” co-sponsored by Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), which disqualifies a member of Congress “convicted of crimes related to public corruption” from receiving their retirement payments. The bill—in long form, the “No Congressionally Obligated Recurring Revenue Used As Pensions To Incarcerated Officials Act”—was adopted in the Senate in July and by the House on Dec. 16. It eliminates a loophole that allowed members to continue receiving checks while exhausting appeals, an exploitable oversight exposed by the investigation into Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). Menendez was found guilty in July of accepting bribes in exchange for using his political influence HB 5301 , the “Eliminate Useless Reports Act,” seeks to streamline federal reporting processes by requiring federal agencies to file a list of outdated or duplicative plans or reports in their annual budget justifications. The bill was introduced in 2023 by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) with support from co-sponsors Reps. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), adopted by the House in November, the Senate on Dec. 11. The president signed a slate of bills renaming local postal offices in Texas and California. A San Francisco post office will be renamed in honor of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who passed away in September 2023.House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsTwo faces charges in January vehicle thefts
HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70Judge denies Musk $56 billion Tesla compensation package
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AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:29 p.m. ESTVirtual Reality in Tourism Market to Witness Stunning Growth with Airbnb, Google, Sony PlayStation VR 12-12-2024 12:06 AM CET | Tourism, Cars, Traffic Press release from: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Virtual Reality in Tourism Market HTF MI recently introduced Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market study with 143+ pages in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status (2024-2032). The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence. Some key players from the complete study are Oculus (Meta), HTC Vive, Sony PlayStation VR, Google, Samsung Gear VR, Expedia, Amadeus, VRBO, Airbnb, YouVisit, Immersion VR, Zeality, Matterport, Virtually Visiting, Holoride, Peek, TraveloVR, Inception VR, Realities.io, Ascape. Download Sample Report PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/4285747-2023-2031-report-on-global-virtual-reality-in-tourism-market?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash According to HTF Market Intelligence, the Global Virtual Reality in Tourism market is expected to grow from $3.5 Billion USD in 2024 to $15 Billion USD by 2032, with a CAGR of 15% from 2024 to 2032. The Virtual Reality in Tourism market is segmented by Types (VR Content Creation, Head-Mounted Displays, 360° Video, VR Booking Systems), Application (Travel Agencies, Hotels, Museums, Tourist Destinations) and by Geography (North America, LATAM, West Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Oceania, MEA). Definition: The use of virtual reality (VR) technology to offer immersive experiences of travel destinations. It enables users to explore landmarks, hotels, and attractions virtually, helping them make informed travel decisions and enjoy novel experiences. Dominating Region: • Europe Fastest-Growing Region: • Asia-Pacific Market Trends: •Gamified Travel Experiences, Digital Twin Destinations, AR/VR Convergence Market Drivers: •Rise in Immersive Tech, Post-COVID Recovery, Experience Demand Market Challenges: •High Equipment Costs, Content Limitations, Lack of VR Awareness Have a query? Market an enquiry before purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/4285747-2023-2031-report-on-global-virtual-reality-in-tourism-market?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below: In-depth analysis of Virtual Reality in Tourism market segments by Types: VR Content Creation, Head-Mounted Displays, 360° Video, VR Booking Systems Detailed analysis of Tank Container Shipping market segments by Applications: Travel Agencies, Hotels, Museums, Tourist Destinations Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share, and growth rate of the following regions: • The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.) • North America (United States, Mexico & Canada) • South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.) • Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) • Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia). Buy Now Latest Edition of Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Report 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=4285747?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Research Objectives: - Focuses on the key manufacturers, to define, pronounce and examine the value, sales volume, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis, and development plans in the next few years. - To share comprehensive information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (opportunities, drivers, growth potential, industry-specific challenges and risks). - To analyze the with respect to individual future prospects, growth trends and their involvement to the total market. - To analyze reasonable developments such as agreements, expansions new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. - To deliberately profile the key players and systematically examine their growth strategies. FIVE FORCES & PESTLE ANALYSIS: In order to better understand market conditions five forces analysis is conducted that includes the Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, and Threat of rivalry. • Political (Political policy and stability as well as trade, fiscal, and taxation policies) • Economical (Interest rates, employment or unemployment rates, raw material costs, and foreign exchange rates) • Social (Changing family demographics, education levels, cultural trends, attitude changes, and changes in lifestyles) • Technological (Changes in digital or mobile technology, automation, research, and development) • Legal (Employment legislation, consumer law, health, and safety, international as well as trade regulation and restrictions) • Environmental (Climate, recycling procedures, carbon footprint, waste disposal, and sustainability) Get 10-25% Discount on Immediate purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/4285747-2023-2031-report-on-global-virtual-reality-in-tourism-market?utm_source=Akash_OpenPR&utm_id=Akash Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market: Chapter 01 - Virtual Reality in Tourism Executive Summary Chapter 02 - Market Overview Chapter 03 - Key Success Factors Chapter 04 - Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market - Pricing Analysis Chapter 05 - Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Background or History Chapter 06 - Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Segmentation (e.g. Type, Application) Chapter 07 - Key and Emerging Countries Analysis Worldwide Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Chapter 08 - Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Structure & worth Analysis Chapter 09 - Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Competitive Analysis & Challenges Chapter 10 - Assumptions and Acronyms Chapter 11 - Virtual Reality in Tourism Market Research Methodology Key questions answered • How Global Virtual Reality in Tourism Market growth & size is changing in next few years? • Who are the Leading players and what are their futuristic plans in the Global Virtual Reality in Tourism market? • What are the key concerns of the 5-forces analysis of the Global Virtual Reality in Tourism market? • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors? • What are the different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Virtual Reality in Tourism market? Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter-wise sections or region-wise report versions like North America, LATAM, Europe, Japan, Australia or Southeast Asia. Nidhi Bhawsar (PR & Marketing Manager) HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Phone: +15075562445 sales@htfmarketintelligence.com About Author: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting is uniquely positioned to empower and inspire with research and consulting services to empower businesses with growth strategies. We offer services with extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events, and experience that assist in decision-making. This release was published on openPR.None
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Vancouver officials fear another Trump administration will reduce federal funding for projects the city has planned. The Vancouver City Council heard from its lobbyists at a workshop Monday night about the city’s federal agenda for 2025. Vancouver saw much success during the second half of outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration when it came to federal funding. From 2022 to 2024, Congress awarded Vancouver about $9.1 million for wastewater treatment equipment, road projects and police body cameras. The city also received almost $25 million in federal grants that went toward urban forestry, a safe streets initiative, the Heights District redevelopment project and firefighting equipment. “I do think that the new Trump administration is going to look for a number of areas to cut government funding and to cut regulations and to potentially reduce the staff size of the federal government,” said Joel Rubin, managing partner with the public policy advocacy firm CFM Advocates . However, the Trump administration may carry forward infrastructure investment because Biden’s 2021 funding package expires in 2026. “The optimistic side of me says that President-elect Donald Trump would want to do more than the previous administration when it comes to infrastructure,” Rubin said. “So that’s one area that I think could be an opportunity to fund additional local infrastructure for your community, your residents, but we’ll have to see how that all plays out.” The city backed $2.1 billion in successful federal funding requests for the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Program. However, Trump has yet to propose a comprehensive infrastructure investment plan similar to Biden’s and budget cuts are looming. Although the economy is growing, the federal government will likely make cuts for largely the same reasons the city of Vancouver did — inflation and rising costs. The U.S. budget deficit is projected to reach $1.9 trillion — one of the highest yearly deficit increases in American history, according to the Congressional Budget Office . National budget cuts could also threaten housing and homelessness assistance and climate initiatives. Previously, the city has received large grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, including an incoming $7 million grant for housing along the Fourth Plain corridor. The city has also spearheaded climate action initiatives with a goal to become carbon neutral throughout Vancouver by 2040. Trump previously criticized energy initiatives on the campaign trail and plans to roll back the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides billions of dollars in incentives for clean energy investments. Clawing back the act could jeopardize opportunities to fund the city’s climate initiatives laid out in its Climate Action Framework . David Hodges, partner with CFM Advocates, said the city’s congressional delegation will have sway and help fight for project funding. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is currently the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Sen. Maria Cantwell, a fellow Washington Democrat, is a ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Aaron Lande, the city’s policy and program manager, said the city should look for other funding sources, including within the private or philanthropic market and at the state level. “How do we keep a healthy mix of our grant pursuits and not put our eggs all in the federal basket or the state basket?” he said. This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism , a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation . Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj .