Tag: passed
Catan creator Klaus Teuber has passed away at 70
Klaus Teuber, who created the board game sensation Settlers of Catan, has passed away at the age of 70. According to the official Catan website, Teuber died on April 1st after a “brief and severe illness.” He is survived by his wife Claudia and their two sons, Guido and Benny, all of which are involved with publisher Catan Studios.
It is hard to do justice to how important Catan was (and is) to the board game space. Teuber invented the multiplayer resource-trading game in 1995 and is one of the first European board games to achieve massive success throughout the rest of the world. As of 2020, over 32 million copies of Catan in 40 different languages have been sold globally.
It’s not just board games. The popularity of Catan has allowed for multiple digital versions available for smartphones, video game consoles and PCs. The game has also left quite a pop culture footprint, inspiring countless references in media properties like The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation, Supergirl and South Park. It even inspired a short film in 2014, The Lord of Catan, starring Amy Acker. There have also been rumors of a forthcoming Sony-produced feature film floating around since 2015.
Teuber may be best known for creating Catan, but the designer also had his hand in many popular board games like Barbarossa, Wacky Wacky Wacky and more. All told, he won the Game of the Year award a whopping four times. Not bad for a former dental technician who didn’t even begin developing games seriously until the 1990s, when he was in his 40s.
“I developed games to escape,” he told The New Yorker in 2014. “This was my own world I created.”
It is with profound sadness that we at CATAN Studio acknowledge the passing of Klaus Teuber, legendary game designer and creator of the beloved board game CATAN. Our hearts go out to Klaus’ family during this incredibly difficult time. pic.twitter.com/gPPIVtleHJ
— CATAN – Official (@settlersofcatan) April 4, 2023
Teuber also founded publisher Catan Studios, which posted a memorial tweet today urging the title’s many fans to honor his impact on the world of gaming by “being kind to one another” and pursuing their dreams to the fullest.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/catan-creator-klaus-teuber-has-passed-away-at-70-163347610.html?src=rss
Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie’s cause of death revealed after singer passed away aged 79
CHRISTINE McVie died of a massive stroke and cancer, it has been revealed.
The Fleetwood Mac star passed away aged 79 from an “ischaemic stroke” in November last year while in hospital.
Christine with bandmates Stevie Nicks, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood in 2018[/caption]
The star wrote hits including Little Lies, Everywhere and Don’t Stop[/caption]
Her death certificate has been seen for the first time by The Blast.
The star – who wrote hits including Little Lies, Everywhere and Don’t Stop – was diagnosed with “metastatic malignancy of unknown primary origin”.
It means cancer had spread in her body but doctors couldn’t tell where it started.
Last year her family’s statement read: “It is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine‘s death.
“We would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally”.
Christine’s death certificate was sent to court in a bundle of files to settle her £40million ($50million) estate, the website reports.
Her brother and his children are the sole heirs, the papers reveal, and several charities are also included.
BLOOD CLOT
Christine’s stroke was caused by a blood clot blocking an artery that lead to the brain.
The certificate also revealed she was suffering from her heart beating irregularly.
Rock band Fleetwood Mac, founded in London in 1967, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful groups ever.
Their best-known songs include Dreams, Go Your Own Way and Everywhere.
Christine’s devastated bandmates described her as “one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure” in a heartbreaking tribute.
A statement from Fleetwood Mac said on Twitter: “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie.
“She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.
“We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”
Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks described Christine as her “best friend in the whole world”.
She said she had not known Christine was ill until four days before her death, and had wanted to visit her in London.
Nicks wrote on Instagram: “A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away.
“I didn’t even know she was ill until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London, I wanted to get to London – but we were told to wait.
“So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so I’m singing it to her now.
“I always knew I would need these words one day… It’s all I can do now.”
‘I MISS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU’
Mick Fleetwood also paid tribute to his late bandmate, saying “part of my heart has flown away”.
He wrote on Twitter: “This is a day where my dear sweet Friend Christine McVie has taken to flight and left us earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that ‘song bird,’ reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us.
“Part of my heart has flown away today… I will miss everything about you Christine McVie.
“Memories abound.. they fly to me.”
Despite its tumultuous history, Fleetwood Mac became one of the famed rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, comprising of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, as well as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
Over three decades, Christine was part of the Fleetwood Mac circus – a rollercoaster ride of dizzying highs and crashing lows before she quit and retreated to the Kent countryside.
Christine, born Christine Perfect in Bouth, Lancashire, had been playing the piano since childhood but set aside her classical training once she heard early rock records by Fats Domino and others.
While studying at the Moseley School of Art, she befriended various members of Britain’s emerging blues scene and, in her 20s, joined the band Chicken Shack as a singer and piano player.
Among the rival bands she admired was Fleetwood Mac, which then featured the talents of blues guitarist Peter Green along with the rhythm section of Fleetwood and McVie.
She joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 as the keyboardist after marrying John McVie and contributing to the backup vocals on Kiln House.
What causes a stroke and what are the main symptoms to look out for?
A STROKE is a life-threatening emergency that can leave sufferers with long-term health complications.
Over 100,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK and they’re responsible for over 38,000 deaths.
Meanwhile, there are 1.3 million people living in the UK who have survived a stroke – many living with disabilities.
Here we explain everything you need to know about the condition.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a life-threatening brain attack, which occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off – without blood, the cells in your brain can be killed or suffer damage.
It can have different effects depending on where in the brain this damage occurs.
It can change how you think and feel, and cause speech problems or a weakness on one side.
For some, the effects of a stroke can be relatively minor and will fade quickly, but others can be left with problems that leave them dependent on other people.
Around one in eight people who suffer a stroke die within 30 days, so it is vital to get medical assistance as soon as possible – the sooner somebody is treated, the more likely they are to survive.
Are there different types of strokes?
There are two main types of stroke.
An ischaemic stroke is the most common, accounting for 85 per cent of all cases, and is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain.
A haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain, when a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.
What are the symptoms?
The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke:
F = Face drooping – if one side of a person’s face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it’s uneven then you should seek help.
A = Arm weakness – if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help
S = Speech difficulty – if a person’s speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 – if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.
Other symptoms include:
- sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- difficulty finding words
- sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
- sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
- a sudden and severe headache
- difficulty understanding what others are saying
- difficulty swallowing
If any of these symptoms occur for less than a few hours, you could be suffering from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
This attack, which is sometimes known as a “mini-stroke”, indicates that there is a problem with the blood supply to your brain.
It’s important to contact your GP or local hospital if experiencing these symptoms, as they could increase your risk of stroke in the near future.
What are the causes of a stroke?
Ischaemic stroke, the most common form of the condition, occurs when a blood clot prevents the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. This is typically caused by arteries becoming narrower over time.
While arteries can narrow naturally with age, other factors, some of which are preventable, can accelerate the process:
- smoking
- obesity
- drinking too much alcohol
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol levels
- having diabetes
The less common haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain, which is usually the result of high blood pressure.
Again, the factors which contribute to high blood pressure can often be prevented:
- being overweight or obese
- drinking too much alcohol
- smoking
- lack of exercise
- stress, which can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure
What treatments are there?
The NHS says that effective treatment of a stroke can prevent long-term disability and save lives.
Treatments depend on if a stroke has been caused by a blood clot or bleeding around the brain.
Andrew Marr suffered a stroke in 2013, paying thousands of pounds for a new treatment in Florida to rid himself of his leg brace.
The television presenter opted for an anti-inflammatory treatment, using anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) drug etanercept.
Other forms of stroke therapy includes “virtual physiotherapy” which has seen stroke patients regain the use of their paralysed arms.
Other drugs designed for rheumatoid arthritis have been found to potentially reverse the damage caused by a stroke.
The Stroke Association recently warned that patients faced a disability lottery depending on where they lived in accessing treatment.
In February 2018 it was revealed that researchers have developed a new stem-cell based treatment that reduces brain damage and accelerates the brain’s natural healing tendencies.
John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham in 1976[/caption]
Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood in London in 1987[/caption]
She had played the piano since childhood[/caption]
Intel co-founder Gordon Moore has passed away
Gordon Moore, co-founder and former CEO of Intel, has passed away at 94. He was the last surviving member of the Intel Trinity, which also included his fellow founder Robert Noyce and their first hire Andy Grove. Moore and Noyce previously worked with the co-inventor of the transistor, William Shockley, before helping found Fairchild Semiconductor. In 1968, the two struck out on their own and founded NM Electronics, which eventually became Intel.
A few years before that, in 1965, Moore wrote a paper that envisioned the miniaturization of computers. To be precise, he predicted that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit would double every year, leading to the creation and production of smaller and more powerful chips that would, in turn, enable advancements in technology. His prediction was dubbed “Moore’s Law,” and it was proven accurate in the years that followed. By 1975, he adjusted his estimate for the doubling of transistors to every two years, though now top chipmakers disagree on whether Moore’s Law still holds.
In 1979, Moore was named chairman of the board and CEO at Intel before giving up the latter role in 1987. He apparently served as mediator between Noyce and Grove, and he and Grove were the ones who decided that Intel would focus on microprocessors instead of continuing with its memory business. The rest, as they say, is history. Before Moore completely stepped down from his duties at Intel in 2006, he and his wife established the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with $5 billion in funding. The foundation supported environmental conservation efforts, mostly in the San Francisco Bay area, and donated to various educational institutions’ science and technology departments.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/intel-co-founder-gordon-moore-has-passed-away-073145647.html?src=rss
Prince Edward and Duchess of Edinburgh ‘always assumed’ new title would be passed down to son James
Oblivion: Somehow, 17 years have passed since The Elder Scrolls went mainstream and changed gaming forever
It’s completely absurd that the best part of twenty years have chundered along since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion came out. I barely feel old enough to have fully formed memories of doing things that long ago. But yes, fine, calendars don’t lie, and it really has been seventeen years, three console generations, and an entire global pandemic between the time that Oblivion first graced our monitor screens… and now.
It’s difficult to remember just how different the gaming landscape was back then. With the Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PS3 still months away from launch (and the latter stumbling its way out of the birth canal on a wave of bad PR), the Red Ring saga yet to hit Microsoft in the pocket, and Don Mattrick still working in relative obscurity at Electronic Arts, the Xbox brand was a serious, solid contender in the console space. It had beaten its contenders onto shelves by a full year, and by March 2006, the stage had been set for Next Gen to truly start.
Which it did. Despite Kaz Hirai’s flippant insistence that Sony, and Sony alone, would decide when the next generation starts, what actually kicked it off was a little game called The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, in what would be a watershed moment not just for Bethesda Softworks, but for RPGs in general.
Presidents’ Day has passed, but plenty of mattress sales are still live — here are the best ones this week
UPDATE: Feb. 22, 2023, 5:30 p.m. EST This list has been updated to reflect the latest mattress deals this week. Check out our top picks below:
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BEST BUDGET MATTRESS DEAL: The Bear Original mattress is breathable, comfortable, and more affordable than most other brands — $649
$998(save $349) -
BEST HYBRID MATTRESS DEAL: The Layla Hybrid mattress is a flippable mattress that employs both firm and soft sides, making it a great option for all types of sleepers — $1,499
$1,699(save $200) -
BEST BED-IN-A-BOX DEAL: The Purple Plus mattress comes with a cushion-y, premium foam layer for added comfort — $1,499
$1,899(save $400)
Splurging while online shopping isn’t always advisable — unless you’re shopping for a mattress. In that case, we recommend worrying less about the price tag and more about the quality of what you’re buying. That doesn’t mean you should scoff at a solid discount, though, and that’s exactly what we’re here for. Every week, we’ll be rounding up all the best mattress sales from across the web. Time for some sweet deals and sweet dreams. (Note: All prices are for queen-sized mattresses.)
Best budget mattress deal
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Why we like it
The Bear Original mattress may be on the cheaper side, but fortunately, that doesn’t seem to affect the quality. Featuring four separate layers, the Bear Original employs a breathable quilt cover, cooling gel, dynamic memory foam, and firmer support foam to create a mattress that’ll keep you cozy throughout the night. For Presidents’ Day, it’s even cheaper than usual — just $649 for a queen size.
Best hybrid mattress deal
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Our pick: Layla Hybrid mattress
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Why we like it
The Layla Hybrid mattress is like having a firm and soft mattress all in one; just flip it depending on your needs. One side is firm for those who need a little extra support, and the other is soft for added comfort. It’s a good choice for all types of sleepers.
Best bed-in-a-box-deal
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Our pick: Purple Plus mattress
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Why we like it
Purple is one of the most popular online mattress brands for good reason: Purple mattresses are known for being ultra-comfortable. The Purple Plus is no exception — it comes with a premium foam layer, a 2-inch GelFlex Grid that cradles your pressure points, and a foam core that cuts down on bounce.
More mattress deals by brand
Amerisleep
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save $450 on any mattress with code AS450
Avocado
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save up to $880 sitewide with code SAVE10
Bear
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save 35% sitewide
Beautyrest
Birch
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save 25% sitewide
Brentwood Home
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Get 10% off sitewide with code SAVE10
Brooklyn Bedding
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save 25% sitewide for Presidents’ Day
DreamCloud
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save 25% on everything for Presidents Day
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The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress — $899
$1,199(save $300) + free cooling pillow, sheet set, and mattress protector -
The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid mattress — $1,199
$1,599(save $400) + free cooling pillow, sheet set, and mattress protector
Eight Sleep
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Pod 3 mattress — $3,195
$3,395(save $200)
Helix
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save 25% sitewide with code PDS25
Leesa
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Leesa Original mattress — $1,099
$1,299(save $200) -
Leesa Original Hybrid mattress — $1,299
$1,499(save $200) -
Sapira Hybrid mattress — $1,699
$1,999(save $300) -
Legend Hybrid mattress — $2,099
$2,599(save $500) -
Studio mattress — $749
$799(save $50)
Nectar
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save 33% sitewide
Purple
Saatva
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Extended Presidents’ Day sale: Save up to $500 on mattresses
Serta
Sit n’ Sleep
Sleep Number
Tempur-Pedic
Tuft & Needle
Over-50s at work: ‘You feel your usefulness has passed’
ChatGPT (barely) passed graduate business and law exams
There’s plenty of concern that OpenAI’s ChatGPT could help students cheat on tests, but just how well would the chatbot fare if you asked it to write a graduate-level exam? It would pass — if only just. In a newly published study, University of Minnesota law professors had ChatGPT produce answers for graduate exams at four courses in their school. The AI passed all four, but with an average grade of C+. In another recent paper, Wharton School of Business professor Christian Terwiesch found that ChatGPT passed a business management exam with a B to B- grade. You wouldn’t want to use the technology to impress academics, then.
The research teams found the AI to be inconsistent, to put it mildly. The University of Minnesota group noted that ChatGPT was good at addressing “basic legal rules” and summarizing doctrines, but floundered when trying to pinpoint issues relevant to a case. Terwiesch said the generator was “amazing” with simple operations management and process analysis questions, but couldn’t handle advanced process questions. It even made mistakes with 6th grade-level math.
There’s room for improvement. The Minnesota professors said they didn’t adapt text generation prompts to specific courses or questions, and believed students could get better results with customization. At Wharton, Terwiesch said the bot was adept at changing answers in response to human coaching. ChatGPT might not ace an exam or essay by itself, but a cheater could have the system generate rough answers and refine them.
Both camps warned that schools should limit the use of technology to prevent ChatGPT-based cheating. They also recommended altering the questions to either discourage AI use (such as focusing on analysis rather than reciting rules) or increase the challenge for those people leaning on AI. Students still need to learn “fundamental skills” rather than leaning on a bot for help, the University of Minnesota said.
The study groups still believed that ChatGPT could have a place in the classroom. Professors could teach pupils how to rely on AI in the workplace, or even use it to write and grade exams. The tech could ultimately save time that could be spent on the students, Terwiesch explains, such as more student meetings and new course material.
The tech pioneer behind Sound Blaster has passed away
Singaporean inventor and tech pioneer Sim Wong Hoo passed away on January 4th at the age of 67. Sim may not be a household name these days, but he founded Creative Technology (or Creative Labs in the US), the company behind the Sound Blaster brand of sound cards, back in 1981. Sound Blasters were some of the first sound cards available to consumers, and there was a time when you had to make sure your system worked with them if you wanted to listen to music and play games.
Sim established his business in the US and started selling Sound Blasters a few years later, after which Creative became the first Singaporean company to be listed on the Nasdaq exchange. The integration of sound boards into the motherboard ended Sound Blaster’s popularity, but Bloomberg says the cards provided audio for more than 400 million PCs.
Under his leadership, Creative also launched a range of MP3 players, and Sim once tried to take on Apple by spending $100 million on advertising and marketing in its bid to dethrone the iPod. In 2006, Creative sued Apple for violating its patent for portable media system menus. The companies filed more lawsuits against each other after that before Apple settled with Creative and paid the company $100 million for the technology outlined in its patent.
Creative confirmed Sim’s passing on its website, calling him “a visionary, inventor, and entrepreneur who gave the PC a voice.” In a press release published by the company, interim CEO Song Siow Hui said in a statement:
“I have known and worked with Mr. Sim for over 30 years. This is a sad and sudden development and we feel a great loss especially since Mr. Sim and I recently had extensive discussions on the future direction of the Company. During those discussions, Mr. Sim was full of fresh vision. Even on the night before, he had a long discussion with the Engineering team and was scheduled to meet with the Online Sales team the next day. The best thing to do now is to ensure the continued smooth running of the Company, and also to execute and realise the vision and strategy that Mr. Sim had for the Company.”