El Norte

@Getlawnoffmy @BackAftaThis Counter: Mississippi Grind

@BackAftaThis If you want compulsive gambler movie, “Owning Mahowny,” with Philip Seymour Hoffman, is the penultimate

'The Gambler' (1974). Terrific movie about a compulsive sports gambler. In this scene, James Caan's character has $50,000 ($330,000 in 2026 dollars) on the Lakers at a pick 'em. He already owes roughly the same amount to a different bookie, played by Paul Sorvino. Not ideal.

@dprez808 @adamlevitan just a live reporter, providing data so the match can be live.

@adamlevitan When I went to waste management open there was a guy with walkie talkie that wasn’t staff giving live updates on players took me awhile to realize he was a live betting guy for a sportsbook

Buddy, these guys are front-running live betting markets. (Sorry I mean “market making) (Sorry I mean “providing liquidity”)

@exQUIZitely Amiga version. 9/10. Played to bits

When it comes to turn-based strategy games, you often hear about the usual suspects: Heroes of Might and Magic, Civilization, Colonization, and Alpha Centauri - and yes, they are all great. A sometimes-forgotten early gem is the Warlords series. In this case, Warlords II (1993), which is my personal favorite. It doesn't have the complexity of those four classics, but that didn't make it any less fun. You assemble your armies from 30 different unit types, find artifacts that give combat bonuses, and explore a massive map shrouded in fog of war at the start. You can play against the computer (its AI was surprisingly strong for 1993 and often praised), or in hotseat mode with friends. It even supported play-by-email mode - which I never tried, but I can only imagine the patience required... and how a single game could stretch over several weeks. On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate it a solid 8. What score would you give it?

@macusuweru @SandyofCthulhu Effects have causes but it is never 100% predictable what will happen. If so, stock market and sports betting would be "solved", which it isnt. Reality has built-in randomness, and so should games, simulations or not.

@SandyofCthulhu I personally have the opinion that randomness (but not hidden information) is kind of bad. Like, in reality, effects have causes, so success and failure carries information. Dice is basically an attempt to escape that reality. I like a system where the cause actually exists.

As many of you know, all modern boardgaming is divided into two factions - casual gamers and avid gamers. Avid gamers can't usually enjoy the classic casual games - Monopoly, Scrabble, etc. can be a real drag when you're used to better things. Luckily, casual gamers can enjoy many real games - you just have to pick the right ones. My wife is emphatically casual, for instance but she's happy to play Ticket to Ride or Collosseum. Now the problem arises, for me, within the avid gamers which are ALSO split into two factions - ameritrash and eurogamers. Now, the great stereotype is that ameritrash are huge sprawling totally unbalanced super fun games and eurogames are tightly-balanced, carefully-crafted snoozefests, but of course there is overlap and exceptions. The iconic Ameritrash is Axis & Allies while the poster child for Eurogames is often Settlers of Cataan. Now one stereotype of eurogamers which is spot on is that they hate any random element. When I designed Cthulhu Wars, I had two random elements. First the hidden Elder Signs - when you take one, no one knows its value except you. The other is combat, which is dice-based. IMMEDIATELY after publication I had suggestions from Eurogamers how to "fix" my game. Make all the Elder Signs 2 points. Replace the combat dice with a fixed sequence of results. This was urged upon me innocently, with apparently no idea that I could possibly disagree because how could randomness be good? But I LIKE some randomness in a game. When I'm shaking a fistful of dice, hoping and praying for a decent roll, the thrill of expectation, the joy or tragedy of the result to me all add to the fun. The randomness of the Elder Signs means that you are never really sure if you are ahead - there's danger and risk added to the game. Like you, I hate games that are totally random - but you get enough Elder Signs and combat rolls in Cthulhu Wars that it balances out. And since strategy is even MORE important, everyone who's played it has seen someone with consistently good die rolls lose to someone who outwitted them. Now, I think my way of playing is the best. But if you buy my game, it belongs to you. You can change the rules as you please. Just don't blame me if the results are not all you hoped for. Also please tell the other players you changed the rules. It's only fair.

@aruvinchan Dress sense is 10/10 though. Which actually matters

If you think that Japan is full of girls looking like this, I'm sorry to disappoint you. Most Japanese girls are very mid, with major flaws with their looks. Pro-tip: Try Malaysian and Indonesian Chinese girls if you're an East Asian connoisseur.

@israel_ajoje So this is post-factum after the federations have agreed to meet right? Meaning Nigeria has agreed to meet France only q is when where etc Or is the agent even setting up matchups?

Yesterday, I said I would tell you guys something I bet 90% of football fans dont know about International Friendlies. Well here goes. Most people know what a football agent does. Very few people know that there is a completely separate category of Football Agents that has nothing to do with players and everything to do with the matches themselves. And while over 10,000 licensed football agents compete for transfer fees generating over $1.37 billion in 2025 alone, this other group operates quietly in the background making sure the matches those players play in actually happen. Let me introduce you to the FIFA Match Agent. FIFA Match Agents do not represent players. They do not negotiate contracts. What they do is organise international football matches, primarily friendlies and cross-confederation fixtures, and they are the reason those games happen at all. So you see those friendly matches that take place during International breaks, they organize them. Think about it this way. When Nigeria plays France in a friendly during an international break, somebody had to connect those two federations, negotiate the date, agree the venue, sort the appearance fees, the TV rights, the sponsorship and the logistics. That somebody is almost certainly a licensed FIFA Match Agent. Now here is where it gets interesting for anyone thinking about a career in football. As of 2025, becoming a licensed Football Agent requires passing a rigorous exam with an 18% pass rate, meaning only 1,394 of 7,745 candidates who sat the exam passed. You also pay annual fees and complete mandatory continuing professional development every year. The Match Agent licence has none of that. They write no exam and pay no annual fee to FIFA. To get the license, you need a support letter from a national federation, professional liability insurance, and a completed application to FIFA's Agents Department. That is it. The barrier to entry is significantly lower even though the role demands serious international networks and logistical expertise. Their earnings come from commission and are capped at a maximum of 25% of the negotiated match fee, broadcasting or sponsorship revenue, with 10% as the default if nothing is specified in the contract. The community is small and organised under FIFMA, the Fédération Internationale des Agents de Match FIFA, based in Paris. Notable figures include Marcus Häusler of SOCCATOURS in Germany, who has organised hundreds of high-level fixtures since 2011, and Ellen Chiwenga, recognised as the only female African FIFA Match Agent and the sole woman in the role in England. The football agent gets the headlines. The match agent makes sure the match actually happens. Hope you have learned something today. My name is Ajoje. I am a FIFA Licensed Agent and International Sports Lawyer. I write on the Law and Business of Football, a lot. Repost and Follow if you want to read more posts like this.

@RateTheTalent @fiago7 Just ignoring current champs Mjällby are we?

@fiago7 20 teams: Norway: Rosenborg Bodø/Glimt Brann Vålerenga Fredrikstad Molde Viking Stabæk Denmark: Midtjylland Nordsjælland FC Copenhagen Brøndby Randers Viborg Sweden: AIK Djurgården Hammarby Malmö FF Brommapojkarna Häcken

If there was a Scandinavian Football League, which clubs must be in? 🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇰

@NJedrej @sleafordmods Most underrated sequel ever

@sleafordmods Predator 2 is a great film as well. Just because arnie isn't I'm it a lot of people were disappointed. It's no predator but it doesn't deserve the hate. The scorpion is ready!!

Me n the boy did the OG Predator film last night. Gunna cane No2 when at sum point. Problematic on a few levels obviously. Homophobia, misogyny. That has to be said too, it was limescale problematic like that, but the tension and bigot free gags were priceless.

@clashreport These are all more like "own goal"

Trump “final blow” options: — Seize or blockade Kharg Island (Iran’s main oil export hub). — Invade/control Larak Island (key to Strait of Hormuz control). — Take Abu Musa + nearby islands (strategic entrance to the strait). — Block or seize Iranian oil tankers in the region. — Launch massive airstrikes on nuclear/energy sites. — (More extreme) Ground operations inside Iran to secure nuclear material.

@pegobry_en Map strangely missing British Honduras

Just imagine

@Clint_Davey1 @gmtgames Great game. Only rule found a bit iffy was supply. As written you need to have a unit in every area for supply. Too tough with limited movement of blocks. Rather play that supply can also be traced through empty, conquered areas (ie as long as no enemy interdiction)

One thing I really like about Triumph and Tragedy, by @gmtgames, is the economic system. Each faction has 3 variables: Industry Population Resources Your income is the LOWEST of these three numbers. So if you have lots of industry and population but no resources (like Germany), you need to trade or conquer to get them. Likewise, you might be high on population and resources but low on industry (like the Soviets). This little juggling act basically represents bottlenecks on your production and the need to match up workers and factories with raw materials. It's a very elegant mechanic.

@CameronWEF @Logan_ology Indeed. Nice showcase, but there is nothing indicating an actual Beijing-Shanghai link any time soon.

@Logan_ology China's had maglev technology for decades now, if they were serious about building a line between Beijing and Shanghai they'd have done it already. Looks more like the frequent content I see designed to portray China as futuristic, more than anything of actual substance.

London to Madrid 🚊 London to Rome 🚊 In 2.5 hours🚀 Beijing-Shanghai. That’s what this project seeks to deliver. 20 years ago this year I sat on Shanghai Pudong airport to Pudong Maglev, and the speed scared the bejeez outta me! Siemens tech. Inspiring to see this ⬇️

@90minutefamily @driblevekk_ Mye bra info, men tips til neste gang er: Dropp kjøre tekst gjennom chatbots. Det er en degradering.

Kall meg historieløs, men jeg gleder meg som en unge til årets OBOS-liga starter. Korter ned ventetiden med å skrive noen ord om en av nykommerne. Kan også anbefale episodene til @driblevekk_ De gutta leverer hver gang 🥳 90minutefamily.com/fk-haugesund-o… #obos #fkh #Haugesund

@PlusEVAnalytics @Pinnacle Even Pinnacle not trustworthy? The jig is up. Having problems with Betovo which hopefully will be solved

Hey @Pinnacle - my account has been frozen for 10 days for no apparent reason. Support says "there has been no response from the relevant team". I have a decent sized balance that I can't use or withdraw. What's going on?

@touchesinthebox And they bring out all their guns to Jamaica even for this minnows opposition?

Galaxy have to go LA > Jamaica > Portland in short span and like all these CCC teams, have more fixture congestion early. Paintsil out is a big blow, his pace would have been very useful v Timbers. I think the price right now is not factoring in situational things enough.

1u Portland pk [-140] (Sunday)

@PlayStationUK Dangerously close to Wonders of Sodom.

It was time for Thomas to leave. He had seen everything. You know the theme tune, Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor is out now on PS5.

@AngelicaOung Gulf states are regional rivals to Israel. This fucks them up and the US will take the blame while Israel keeps israeling.

What makes me angry is this doesn’t even put Israel into a better position. It’s just fuckery all around. Win perhaps for Russia and China that’s got nothing to do with it. Pain for the whole region plus a bunch of far away countries that need the energy. Reminds me of that scorpion frog story.

@Clint_Davey1 Root. Superb BUT absolutely hate Vagabond. Nobody seems to interfere with him and just quietly wins playing his own little game. Luckily with expansions you can just play other factions instead.

Just played Root with my game design class. It's the best way to teach them about asymmetry. You have 4 factions who are basically all playing a different game on the same board. The Vagabond is playing an RPG. The cats are playing an engine building euro. The birds are playing a wargame where you have to pre-program your turns. The Woodland Alliance are playing like the insurgents in a COIN game and spreading sympathy gradually before sparking revolts. Every time I play this with a group of students they love it. Really shows them what's possible with asymmetric wargame design.

@DigitalHuman @waronweakness Bookmarked for the techno-dystopia in the making.

Objectively speaking, the recent past has never been as measurably and tangibly better than the contemporary present. Ever. Never ever before in human history has this been more true. As the 90s era (which is really a way of saying pre-smart phone/social media, and absolutely pre-AI) is ceaselessly slipping away further into the past, the reach back is profoundly real and urgent. Those who experienced it desperately want to experience it again, and more importantly, to impart on those alive now who didn’t experience it that life in the west, and in America in particular, wasn’t always this ass backward, degenerate, and devoid of genuine fun. It is a potent form of generational nostalgia, and it is entirely understandable. That period of time was arguably the finest era of modern civilization, in nearly every aspect, the world may ever know. We had more than enough technology, while maintaining a high level of privacy, freedom, and our creative humanity. Prosperity was as broadly lived and experienced as ever before. The present configuration of humanity is a chronically anxious, dopamine addled, cripplingly expensive burden on the human soul. Despite all its compelling promise and capabilities, the advent of AI is accelerating the instinctual herd reaction to begin categorically rejecting the overreach of computer technology and the broader dehumanization of civilization. It’s a mangled cultural mess of staggering corporate greed, rampant government corruption, an epidemic of violence, and 24/7 scary newsprint and media broadcasting. Now bot powered algorithms are literally warping and twisting the very medium of lived reality itself. People are in their right minds to want to opt tf out of this techno tyrannical slop fest and retreat to a world that is close enough in memory, that may in part be able to be reconstructed if enough critical mass of humanity demands it, and helps rebuild it.

There is something going on with pre-smartphone nostalgia. This isn't just "meh I must be getting old because I miss the past" (I'm older millennial). I've never seen people crave the past as much as they do now.

@DavyWathne @NorskTippingAS NT vil i det minste aldri trenere uttak så mye som mulig.