Photos: Dustin Johnson toasts Masters win with Caribbean vacation – Insider – INSIDER

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Dustin Johnson pocketed over $2 million in prize money for winning his first Masters title on Sunday, and he's wasting no time in splashing the cash to celebrate.

Just a day after his record-breaking victory at Augusta National, the American alongside his fiance, Paulina Gretzky, and a group of friends took a private jet to the Caribbean island of Saint Barthlemy, where they set up shop in luxury villa by the sea.

Kristina Melnichenko, who is on the trip with Johnson, shared snaps of the vacation on her Instagram account, which showed the group taking shots and playing giant Jenga.

Johnson and company flew out in a private jet. Instagram/kmelnichenko

They are staying in a luxury villa by the sea. Instagram/kmelnichenko

They have been passing the time with drinking games. Instagram/kmelnichenko

Melnichenko also posted a picture of the NHL legend Wayne Gretzky Paulina's father wearing one of the famed white boilersuits caddies at the Masters wear during the tournament.

Johnson set a Masters record during the weekend by finishing the tournament an astonishing 20 strokes under par as he claimed his first green jacket.

Afterward, he gave an emotional victory speech in which he was unable to hold back his tears.

"This is just a dream come true, as a kid, I always dreamed about being a Masters champion," he said."It's hard to talk. It's just incredible, as you can tell. Sorry.

"I've never had this much trouble trying to gather myself. On the golf course, I'm pretty good, but out here I'm not. I have a great team who Jesus, I can't even talk!"

Read more:

Dustin Johnson's Masters victory speech was so emotional it even made Tiger Woods cry

Dustin Johnson had to tell his younger brother caddying for him to stop crying on the final hole so he could wrap up the Masters

Bryson DeChambeau's plan to overpower Augusta National backfired spectacularly

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Photos: Dustin Johnson toasts Masters win with Caribbean vacation - Insider - INSIDER

WestJet Adds Flights to the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica – RusTourismNews

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WestJet today released its updated December schedule featuring up to 55 daily flights to sun destinations in the Caribbean, the United States (including Hawaii) and Mexico. The schedule also highlights increased domestic frequencies for travel starting December 5, 2020 through to January 4, 2021.

While this winter travel season looks quite different from years past, we are pleased to be able to offer our guests a variety of flights during the holidays, said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. Whatever the reason for travel, WestJet continues to safely connect Canadians to destinations across our network and will continue to make changes to the schedule to meet the ever-changing needs of our guests and airline.

For sun seekers the airline is adding December flights to Liberia (Costa Rica), Punta Cana, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Bridgetown (Barbados), Mazatln (Mexico), Huatulco (Mexico), Orlando, Las Vegas, Honolulu (Oahu) and Kahului (Maui).

WestJet continues to operate at a reduced schedule and has removed over 63 per cent capacity year over year, including approximately 73 per cent capacity from the December schedule alone. During the holiday season, the airline will offer flights to 54 destinations including 33 in Canada, nine in the U.S. including Hawaii, five in Mexico, five in the Caribbean, one in Europe and one in Central America. Frequencies will increase throughout the month of December, full details at bottom of the release.

Canadians travelling back through Calgary see benefits of post-travel testing trial

On November 2, YYC Calgary International Airport began the COVID-19 testing trial supported by the Governments of Canada and Alberta, trialing a reduced quarantine period in Alberta, while protecting Canadians from COVID-19.

Many Canadians are seeking alternatives to the 14-day quarantine and the testing trial at Calgary International Airport is a welcome first step, continued von zur Muehlen. We are optimistic in the early results of the YYC COVID testing trial and hope to see future expansion of testing opportunities closely follow at airports across the country.

Canadians travelling abroad are still subject to a 14-day quarantine upon their return to the country if not eligible for Albertas COVID-19 testing trial program.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, WestJet has implemented more than 20 additional health and safety measures during the travel journey and continues to evolve its cleaning to meet the needs of guests and WestJetters through its Safety Above All program.

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WestJet Adds Flights to the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica - RusTourismNews

The US and the Caribbean: time to seize the moment – Stabroek News

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It is easy to share the excitement felt across the Caribbean at President elect Joe Bidens victory in the US polls.

However, a calmer voice within suggests that while the outcome will bring some short-term big-picture policy gains for the region, the extreme political polarisation the election highlighted does not bode well for the country that matters most to the region.

That said, and despite Mr Trumps apparent interest in a confused and vindictive transition process, Mr Biden is already advancing plans in several policy areas of general significance to the Caribbean. These relate to climate change, addressing COVID, the roll out of a vaccine, and stimulating the US economy.

In the case of climate change, Mr Biden will reverse the Trump Administrations withdrawal from the 2016 Paris climate change accord and seek a significant role in the delayed COP 26 global climate summit, now to be held in Glasgow in November 2021. The US president elect has already said that he will listen to science, that it is his intention the US achieve net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century through radical reform measures, and will integrate climate change targets with US foreign policy.

The incoming administration is expected to re-join the World Health Organisation, establish a new COVID-19 task force, and allocate US$25bn for vaccine development and distribution. It will probably also support the WHOs COVAX facility that will benefit most Caribbean nations by providing at reduced cost significant quantities of vaccines as they become available.

Assuming Congress can agree, the region also stands to benefit indirectly from the Biden presidencys intention to deliver a package of domestic measures aimed at stimulating post pandemic economic growth. This and a possible vaccine should enable the Caribbean, two years out, to see the return of significant demand for US travel to the Caribbean.

Of almost as great importance to the region will be a change in US government values in the form of a commitment to multilateralism, an end to the induced polarisation in organisations like the Organisation of American States, the reassertion of ethical values on black lives and gender equality, and respect for and support for allies.

Although easy to overstate, given the global pressures they will face, Mr Biden, his wife and Ms Harris all know and understand what motivates and matters to the region. In addition, the often-underestimated importance of the expert advice and analysis provided by long-suffering career service officers in the Caribbean and in the US is now expected to be better heard.

On trade and investment policy the tone and approach of the Biden presidency will be different and linked less transactionally to the USs security and political concerns. However, there is little reason to believe that the new administration will do anything other than continue to secure the hemisphere as an integrated special trading partner in order to lessen Chinese influence, stimulate near shoring, and continue existing policies that support a central developmental role for the US private sector.

In contrast, the coercive and regionally divisive approach taken by President Trump in seeking a coalition of willing Caribbean states prepared to trade off an improved economic relationship against meeting US trade, political and security objectives, is expected to end. Despite this, the pressures in relation to Chinese 5G and other emerging technologies will continue, albeit based on a common Western approach to investment screening.

On security, the USs regional and hemispheric concerns and support are unlikely to alter. However, of particular significance to the Caribbean is an awareness in the Biden camp that the vacuum created by isolating Venezuela and Cuba has created a destabilising refugee crisis, citizen poverty, and instability, offering geopolitical opportunity to Russia, China, Iran and Turkey.

Specifically, on Cuba, the Biden team made clear before the election that it wants to restore a working relationship over time but that this cannot be the same as existed under President Obama. As in the case of Venezuela, this may involve a negotiated step by step approach that seeks to ease tensions, addresses the USs border refugee crisis, establishes on a multilateral basis support for the Cuban people, and slowly restores travel, trade and limited forms of cooperation.

What this caution reflects is concern among Democrats that the Cuban American vote in Florida and voter perceptions of socialism impacted to their detriment in what was once a swing state. Although Cuba has yet to say more about the election outcome, one interesting commentary in the state media has suggested that misplaced political perceptions about a relatively small group of Cuban-Americans in Florida may determine future US-Cuba policy. By focusing on that tiny vote, in national terms, both parties are unaware of the position of broad sectors of US voters who favour the most normalised relationship possible with Cuba and who have specific interests in business, science, culture, academic relations, health and other sectors, Cubadebate wrote.

More generally the Biden presidency is expected to continue the process of strategic reorientation begun under President Obama that recognised that the US would over time cease to be the sole global hegemon and that it needs to address Chinas rapid technological advance.

Caribbean leaders have congratulated President-elect Biden and in private are now looking forward to a period in which many of the economic and political issues that matter most to the region will receive a more sympathetic, less transactional hearing in Washington.

However, it is far from clear, even with a friend in the White House, whether a divided and poorly integrated Caribbean still struggling to overcome the pandemic has the energy and leverage to successfully prosecute its case.

Beyond the good news, the region urgently needs to end its graduation out of concessional financing, needs a well-supported multilateral post pandemic recovery package, and to convince Washington that fairly achieved US, Chinese, European and other investment all have a future place in the region. It needs to engage now.

David Jessop is a consultant to the Caribbean Council and can be contacted at

david.jessop@caribbean-council.org

Previous columns can be found at https://www.caribbean-council.org/research-analysis/

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House Hunting on Bonaire: Perched Above the Caribbean for $1.5 Million – The New York Times

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Sabadeco Terrace is about five miles north of Kralendijk, a small coastal city with a few thousand residents and a strip of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and other amenities, Mr. Bartikoski said. The 111-square-mile island of Bonaire is a magnet for scuba divers, but also attracts wind surfers to Lac Bay and kite surfers to Atlantis Beach. Pink Beach, on the islands southwestern shore, and Washington-Slagbaai National Park, on its northern tip, are each less than 20 minutes away by car. Bonaire International Airport is a 15-minute drive.

The Dutch island of Bonaire, with about 21,000 residents, has long attracted outsiders with its arid climate, coral reefs and relatively low risk of hurricanes. In recent years, its largely tourism-based economy has generated a flourishing real estate market, and not unlike many other tropical locales, its allure seems to have grown during the coronavirus pandemic.

The outbreak of the pandemic has only enhanced the islands appeal, Mr. Cooper said. Weve seen a steady rise in inquiries this year, including a huge surge the day after the U.S. election.

According to Bonaires most recent official data, reported by Statistics Netherlands in 2018, the housing index showed prices for residential properties were on average 21.6 percent higher than they were the previous year. The number of housing transactions from 2017 to 2018 grew by 52.8 percent, from 214 to 327.

Official data for 2019 is not available, but real estate experts said the market has continued apace. Its been insane, said Roderick Groenman, a notary with the office of Aniek H. Schouten. For the past three or four years, things have been going really well.

Mr. Groenman attributed the consistent growth to the islands status as a special municipality of the Netherlands, which provides free, high-quality health care to residents. (Aruba and Curaao, by contrast, are autonomous constituent countries of the Netherlands.) He also pointed to Bonaires stability on the U.S. dollar, which the island adopted as its currency in 2011. The economy has been expanding, with a 3.9 percent increase in the gross domestic product in 2018, and this year the Dutch government has provided subsidies to thwart an economic downturn.

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Positive COVID-19 tests reported on first Caribbean cruise to resume operations amid pandemic – UPI News

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Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The first cruise ship to set sail in the Caribbean since the cruise industry ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic has confirmed cases of the virus among its passengers.

In a press release on Thursday, the SeaDream Yacht Club said guests aboard the SeaDream I vessel have tested positive for COVID-19.

The release did not say how many passengers tested positive for the deadly and infectious coronavirus but said all crew have been tested and their results came back negative.

Due to the positive cases, the SeaDream I has "paused" its current Caribbean voyage and has returned to Barbados, the company said.

"We are working closely with local health and government authorities to resolve this situation in the best possible way," SeaDream's Andreas Brynestad said in the statement. "Our main priority is the health and safety of our crew, guests and the communities we visit."

All guests and non-essential crew have been quarantined to their staterooms while SeaDream awaits authorization from the Barbados government to disembark guests, the statement said.

There are 53 passengers and 66 crew aboard the ship, Cruise Critic reported.

The voyage, which set sail from Barbados over the weekend, was the first of 22 roundtrip sailings of the West Indies the company had planned for the SeaDream I following the completion of 21 voyages in Norway during the summer season, it said.

"This journey will take us to beautiful beaches while enjoying a safe environment onboard and SeaDream's signature service," the company said in a tweet as guests were boarding the ship late last week. "Proud to be the only line currently sailing in the Caribbean!"

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that research shows cruise ships pose a greater risk for transmitting COVID-19 than other settings due to their high density of their populations.

The CDC had issued a no sail order from March 14 to Oct. 29 and is currently taking a phased approach to resuming passenger operations, it said.

During the first months of the pandemic, several cruise ships became infected with the coronavirus.

In January, the Diamond Princess was moored off the Port of Yokohama in Japan after infections of the coronavirus were discovered among passengers on board. By the last passenger to disembark from the vessel, a total of 712 of the 3,711 passengers on board had tested positive for the virus.

In March, the Grand Princess docked off the California coast with at least 21 positives coronavirus cases.

The SeaDream Yacht Club said every crew member has been certified by the World Health Organization to prevent and control COVID-19 and has undergone the COVID-19 contact tracing course offered by Johns Hopkins University.

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Caribbean economies urged to invest in infrastructure to secure post-COVID growth – BNamericas English

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Statement from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In the face of rising COVID-19 cases, Caribbean economies will need more aggressive fiscal actions to protect their productive assets and invest in ways that ensure more sustainable growth in the future, according to a new reportby the Inter-American Development Bank.

While fiscal space is a constraint, as a nascent economic recovery emerges additional resources should be channeled to high-productivity infrastructure products to further stimulate growth, the study notes.

The report A Pandemic Surge and Evolving Policy Responses is part of the Quarterly Bulletin Series put together by the economics team of the Caribbean Department of the IDB. It includes detailed analysis for Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. It comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are rising worldwide and in most Caribbean countries, negatively impacting the tourism industry just as it enters its peak season.

First and foremost, countries need to stop the coronavirus from spreading, said David Rosenblatt, regional country economist for the Caribbean at the IDB, noting that the number of virus cases was rising everywhere with the exception of Barbados. Countries will need to use sophisticated tools that look at closure or reopening of their economies with decisions based on susceptible, infected and recovered models, both at source and destination countries.

Looking ahead, Caribbean economies face a challenging peak tourist season with double digit contractions, plus commodity shocks on non-tourist economies of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, though Suriname and Guyana will see a boost from high prices for gold. Early tourism booking data suggest sharp declines for Jamaica, The Bahamas and Barbados.

Governments have drawn on existing programs to ramp up social assistance as well as created new instruments to address the crisis.

A well-designed public investment program can help stimulate a lasting economic recovery, and several governments are already considering the options, said Henry Mooney, the Research Economics Advisor for the Caribbean department. Fiscal space will remain an important constraint, but as a nascent economic recovery emerges, additional resources could be channeled to productivity-boosting infrastructure projects to further stimulate near term growth, and long-term development.

Better roads or airports facilitate the transport of goods and services to market. Improved water and power infrastructure enable industries to operate at lower costs and improves an economys productive capacity.

Over time this drives higher levels of private investment, incomes, and consumption. Importantly, both economic theory and empirical evidence suggest that countries with relatively less public capital, or where the stock of capital is in need of improvement, stand to benefit most, according to the report.

About the IDB

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance, and training to public- and private-sector clients throughout the region.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean: 10 Most Glaring Continuity Errors In The Film Series – Screen Rant

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With so many films and a massive production, it makes sense that there would be some continuity errors in The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

The Pirates Of The Caribbeanfilm serieshas spent endless amounts of money on theexecutionof the five movies that have hit thetheaters. This is especially true when it comes to hiring some of the most acclaimed actors in the world, like Johnny Depp, who portrayed the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow character. However, because talent doesn't equal perfection, and an actor's performance is just part of a much bigger process, fans have been able to spot some very obvious continuity errorsthroughout the saga.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 15 Best Jack Sparrow Quotes

There's no doubt that the franchise is one of the most successful ever created, having grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide.Still, editing and writing mistakes were made and many viewers have scratched their heads when they see some of these most glaring continuity errors.

In the first movie, "The Curse Of The Black Pearl," Hollywood star Orlando shows off an inappropriate tattoo on his wrist, during a scene where he (Will Turner) is engaging in an acrobatic duel with Johnny Depp (Captain Jack).

In one of the shots, as he leans over to taunt Jack, a rather unusual tattoo is exposed. You can see the word "Nine" that is a tattoo he and his castmates had done as an homage to the time theyworked onanother very successful franchise - "The Lord Of The Rings".

This error is a classic one: a character uses one hand in one shot and the opposite in the next. When watching The Curse Of The Black Pearl," one cancatch thiserror in a specific scene.

When Captain Jack is trying to put together a crew, he encounters a female enemy from the past and receives one of his traditionalface slaps. After this heated moment, the woman (played by actress Zoe Saldana) is angrywith Jack, pointing at him with her right hand. Everything would be fine if she didn't end up pointing at Sparrow with her lefthand in the very next shot.

Fans might be disappointed to realize that an intimidating moment in which a character points a pistol at a foe in their favorite movie actually poses no real danger. And that is exactly the case here.

During On Stranger Tides,there's a scene that involves Captain Jack and Blackbeard as they battle as true pirates.As Jack finds himself with his back to a cliff and a gun in his face, a closer look reveals that Sparrow is actually safesince his enemy'spistol is only half-cocked. Consequently, the threatening dialogue that follows doesn't sound believable, as the gun wouldn't have been able to fireanyway ifanyone would have squeezed that trigger.

Some opinionssuggest that there is some inconsistency as far as the timing of when Captain Jack Sparrow became official. Proof of this is during a flashback scene in Dead Men Tell No Tales that shows an 18-year-old Jack Sparrow taking command of a caravel that caused the downfall of a Spanish pirate hunter. The surviving pirates then name Jack as their leader.

RELATED:Which Pirates Of The Caribbean Character Is Your Soulmate, Based On Your Zodiac?

But according to his chronological appearance in "The Price Of Freedom"novel, when Jack is 20, he is an ordinary deckhand aboard Captain Teague's ship. Thus, fans are left wondering how this scene fits in the narrative, continuity wise, when it comes to the chronology of the story.

In At World's End, Jack Sparrow steals a map from Hector Barbossa with the aim to use it to find the renowned Fountain Of Youth.

Viewers can see that this map shows the route towards Florida and the Fountain's specific location is marked with an X. However, if one watches the following movie (the fourth one entitled On Stranger Tides,) this exact Fountain is said to be placed on an unnamed island (not Florida or anything similar to it). This is clearly not a well-thought out part of the writing and a very obvious continuity error.

The internetwent above and beyond when the fifth movie in the franchise,Dead Men Tell No Tales,was released. Some consider it the least interesting in the series and an attempt to continue a saga that has increasingly lost its charm throughout its production.

Moreover, there are unexplained facts in the fifth movie that have left fans wondering about some plot holes. One of them is the appearance of Captain Salazar and his crew, who are turned into ghost pirates after their shipis wrecked. Though it's clear that this was caused by some sort of curse, it is never explained why this happened.

Captain Jack's compass is definitely an iconic part of the franchise. Most people who have watched the movies know that this little object doesn't point North, but rather to the thing its holder wants most. But this has been far from consistent.

During Dead Men Tell No Tales, viewers learn that if someone "betrays" the compass, it releases that person's greatest fear. Yet, facts show that over the course of the series, Jack has given away or lost his compass several times without activating any curses. Naturally, this has upset fans, who expected a sense of continuity with the powerful meaning behind this supposed magical treasure.

In the first movie of the Pirates Of The Caribbean saga, The Curse Of The Black Pearl, people have exposed a continuity error in one scene where they are able to see a fort, a parapet and a line Jack used to slide down.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 10 Times The Movies Referenced The Ride

But in the next scene, during daylight and at the exact same camera angle, these elements are gone. It's not a disastrous failure, yet it is worth noting since it's simply wrong.

Fans have spotted another error that surely was due to distraction by the crew when filming or editing a specific scene of The Curse Of The Black Pearl movie.

Here, one can see someone who looks like a crew member right next to the other pirates. Not only is he wearing an out-of-place cowboy hat, but he also wears a white T-shirt, which makes him look modern and completely out of context in the 1700's time period The Pirates Of The Caribbeanfilm series is set. This detail has been widely discussed on the web and has left people wondering how could such a distracting mistake not be corrected.

Captain Hector Barbossa had his share of continuity errors, too, especially in The Curse Of The Black Pearl. A brilliant character, portrayed by Australian actor Geoffrey Rush, he is definitely one of the strongest in the entire saga.

He is master of his own fate and considered "the ultimate survivor" throughout the film series. However, he was not a master at keeping his teeth looking consistent. There were shots where his teeth go from presentable to filthy - seemingly out of nowhere. The make-up artist responsible for Geoffrey's character might have forgotten to check the actor's teeth at all times.

NEXT:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 5 Reasons Curse Of The Black Pearl Is The Best (& 5 Reasons It's Dead Man's Chest)

Next 9 Past Best Picture Nominees Directed By Women (& 1 Winner)

Soraia Ferreira is a self-called Dreamer Virgo Artist. She has always been fascinated with films and stories, especially writing and producing them. Both her creativity and her too freaky organizational skills have greatly supported her work as a TV/Digital/Media Content Producer for more than 10 years.As a highly creative professional, Soraia's core skills are on producing audiovisual/digital projects, campaigns and social media content strategies both in Portuguese and English languages. Besides, she is very experienced with translating and proofreading all sorts of texts for both languages (press releases, e-mails, presentations, promotional info, display ads, videos and internal/external communication materials). Since 2009, Soraia has been writing, producing and developing all sorts of projects/campaigns/ads/work with clients from several backgrounds in the Media industry. More recently, she has developed a keen interest in Digital Marketing, which led her to expand my professional skills on this area too. At heart, Soraia is a storyteller that has learned to shape her talent into various platforms and different communication channels (offline and online media).She believes Art represents a huge spectrum of lifes expressions and exploring its many forms is a continuing process of learning about the world and us individually. So, she likes to think that she is a dreamer because she looks for fulfilling her hearts passions while also being a great doer and turning those passions into concrete solid action steps like a disciplined Virgo. So, here it is: a Dreamer Virgo Artist!

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Pirates Of The Caribbean: 10 Most Glaring Continuity Errors In The Film Series - Screen Rant

Bride and Groom from New York Drown on Caribbean Honeymoon – India West

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NEW YORK A newly married couple from New York drowned on their honeymoon at a Caribbean resort, family members said.

Pakistani American corporate attorney Mohammad Malik, 35, and his bride, Dr. Noor Shah, 29, were swimming near their Turks and Caicos Islands resort on Oct. 28 when they were pulled under by strong riptides, R. Maqbool Malik, the grooms father, told Newsday.

Witnesses pulled the couple from the water and performed CPR, but they died at the scene, the bereaved father said.

The pair had married four days earlier in East Meadow, New York.

Its a devastating loss, Malik said. This is a shock beyond belief. And its a tragedy of different dimensions when you have to lay two children to rest in a joint funeral.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths.

Malik criticized the resort, Como Parrot Cay, for failing to post warning signs about potentially dangerous riptides. Chris Orlikowski, a spokesperson for Como Hotels and Resorts, said in a statement Nov. 10 that company officials are deeply saddened by the tragic accident. He said the company is cooperating with the investigation.

India-West Staff Reporter adds: Mohammad Malik, a graduate of Cornell University and an attorney at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP in Manhattan, was dating Shah, a fourth-year surgical resident who was applying to a vascular surgery fellowship this year, for about two years, according to Newsday.

In a statement, Olshan Frome called the couple shining lights who touched everyone who had the benefit of knowing them. Mohammad was a humble, bright and talented attorney and a truly kind and gentle soul. Mohammad always strove to live life to the fullest and to appreciate the richness of human experience.

Shah, who grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, according to the publication, was a graduate of Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a fourth-year resident in the Department of Surgery at NYU Langone Health.

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Sunny And Cooler Days This Week; Iota Rapidly Intensifying In The Caribbean – Alabama News Network

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Posted: Nov 15, 2020 6:11 PM CST

Updated: Nov 15, 2020 7:20 PM CST

by Ben Lang

It was a mostly cloudy morning with scattered showers about, but sunshine was back in time for sunset. The clouds and rain were due to a cold front pushing through the area. The front is clearing southeast Alabama late this afternoon. Cooler air filters in tonight, with temperatures quickly falling through the 50s this evening. Expect a clear sky overnight, with lows in the low to mid 40s.

After a chilly Monday morning, a clear sky and abundant sunshine results in high temperatures in the 60s to near 70. Winds remain out of the north at 5 to 10 mph. Monday night looks clear and cold with lows near 40. Tuesday through Thursday look like sunny days with clear nights. Expect highs in the upper 60s to low 70s each day. Lows fall into the upper 30s to low 40s each night. Friday ends our week on a mostly sunny and dry note, with high temperatures in the mid 70s. Friday night wont be as cold, with a low near 50.

Mostly sunny/mostly clear skies prevail next weekend. It could be a bit warmer, with highs in the mid to upper 70s each day. Our next chance for rain may not arrive until early next week. At this time, it doesnt look like a sure bet or widespread, significant soaking of rain. Time will tell. In the meantime, enjoy the long stretch of sunny, dry, and tranquil weather.

Iota is a hurricane in the Caribbean now, and the National Hurricane Center forecast calls for rapid intensification over the next 36 hours. It could be a category 4 storm with winds near 140 mph by midday Monday. Landfall occurs Monday afternoon or evening along the northern Nicaragua coast. Unfortunately, this is virtual the same area that received a direct strike from Eta on November 3rd, or Election Day. This storm likely slams into the same area with similar intensity. Certainly not a good situation for central America.

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Pirates of the Caribbean Is Better Without Johnny Depp – Screen Rant

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Its always a sad sight to see an actor leave a role, but the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise needs to move on from Johnny Depps Jack Sparrow

ThePirates of the Caribbean franchise has needed to move on from Johnny Depps Jack Sparrow for some time now. With the news that Johnny Depp has officially stepped down from the role of Grindelwald in Harry Potter spin-off series Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, its a good time to revisit the controversial decision to remove Jack Sparrow from the soon-to-be-rebooted Pirates of the Caribbean franchise before the adventure series begins itssixth installment.

Depps decision to officially step down from the role of Grindlewald comes amid a prolonged and messy legal battle with the actor's ex-wife and alleged abuser Amber Heard,a lengthy and very public divorcewhich makes it clear that Depp could benefit from some time away from work. When it was first announced that thesixthPirates of the Caribbean franchise installment would be a reboot that moved on without Depps iconic Captain Jack Sparrow, fans were initially devastated at the news, as Depp is frequently considered the soul of theDisney franchise.

Related: Pirates of the Caribbean: All 4 Captains of the Black Pearl Explained

However, even disregarding the actors personal circumstances, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has needed to move on from Captain Jack Sparrow for some time now, and rebooting the series without him might be the best move for the uneven series of movies. Beginning in 2003 with The Curse of the Black Pearl(directed by The Ring helmer Gore Verbinski, of all people), the Pirates of the Caribbean franchisestarted life as a movie adaptation of a Disneyland ride. As a summer blockbuster on par with the same years Eddie Murphy flop The Haunted Mansion, expectations were not excessively high for the first Pirates of the Caribbean. But the movie shocked audiences and critics alike by being a spectacular action-adventure on par with classics of the genre like Raiders of the Lost Ark. The movie immediately spawned a pair of lesser sequels which nonetheless succeeded at the box office before dropping its supporting cast for the fourth sequel On Stranger Tides, which received a harsh critical drubbing, and a fifth, Dead Men Tell No Tales, which lost audience support as well as faring even worse with critics.

The balance of comedy, horror, and action-adventure captured in The Curse of the Black Pearl was unexpectedly immaculate for a movie burdened with no more expectations than adapting a theme park attraction to the screen, so it was inevitable and understandable that the franchises first 2 sequels struggled to recapture the magic. But while Depps performances in both Dead Mans Chest and At Worlds End were spotlighted as a high point of both muddled movies, the films were also criticized forcentering his character at the expense of the surrounding cast.Yes, Jack was still a fun and funny presence, but bothmovies attempted to maximizehis screen time while also telling a complex, sprawling story, and as a result,Dead Mans Chest and particularly At Worlds End ended up missing out on vital scenes such asDavy Jones killing theKraken, leaving the movies feeling bothunderwritten and convoluted.

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British Virgin Islands’ Scrub Island to Reopen Caribbean Journal – Caribbean Journal

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The British Virgin Islands Scrub Islands resort is reopening in December, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The private-island resort near Tortola will reopen on Dec. 1, timed with the destinations official reopening for tourism.

The resort will be open to both overnight guests and marina visitors.

Weve been working diligently to comply with the travel protocols laid out by the BVI government, and to make sure the return of our guests as safe as possible so they can relax and enjoy this fabulous island retreat, said General Manager Michael Schoonewagen. Our resort guests have the entire island to themselves, with ample space to spread out and enjoy the stunning natural Caribbean beauty in complete privacy. And the marina is perfect for those who want to venture out on a wide variety of land and sea excursions that still meet health and safety measures.

For more on the British Virgin Islands travel protocols, see here.

For more, visit Scrub Island.

CJ

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British Virgin Islands' Scrub Island to Reopen Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

Is there a bad cruise ship room to book? – Royal Caribbean Blog

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When you book a cruise, is there such thing as a bad stateroom to book?

The last thing anyone wants to do is make a mistake that they will have to live with for the entire length of their cruise, and which room you pick is a major decision in your cruise plans.

The good news is picking a cabin is less "hit or miss" when it comes to Royal Caribbean cruises compared to perhaps other cruise lines. In addition, modern cruise ship design haspaid closer attention to room locations to avoid some of the issues of the past.

If you are booking a cruise and want to know how to pick the perfect cabin (and which rooms to avoid), here is what you need to know.

If you are worried about picking a bad room, the question you really should be asking is what is your stateroom near and far away from?

Just like buying a house, the location of your cabin has implications for convenience, neighbors, and what the room has to offer.

The first thing you want to do is pull up a deck plan for your ship to see where your room is located on the ship.

You will want to check the deck plans for what is one deck above or below your cabin. Ideally, you want a room that has no public spaces (pools, restaurants, venues, etc) above or below your room to mitigate the chance of noise bleed.

If there is a public venue above or below your room, don't assume you are in for a disaster. This is more of a best practice, and Royal Caribbean cabins are generally speaking well insulated from noise.

You may also want to pay attention to distance from your room to elevators or staircases. On larger cruise ships, the walking distance to an elevator from rooms at the end of a hallway can be lengthy, so anyone with mobility issues or simply wants to reduce the "commute time" should look for a room closer to an elevator.

One other consideration is if you are worried about getting seasick. To minimize the sensation of movement, pick a room that is as close to the ship's center, and on the lowest possible deck.

Another consideration is if you want a room that has its own private balcony or not.

Booking a room with a balcony means you get not only fresh air whenever you need, but also your own private space to enjoy during the cruise.

First time cruisers may quickly dismiss booking a balcony or suite in order to save money, but a common regret is from people who book interior rooms and later wish they had a balcony.

Of course, you can have a great cruise without a private balcony, but it is something you should absolutely consider.

Another vestige of the old days of cruising is picking which side of the ship your cabin is located in order to get a better view.

For Caribbean and Alaska cruises, the side of the ship your room is located is irrelevant because the views are pretty much the same, and there is no advantage to being on one side or another.

Ships do not dock on the same side of the dock each time they visit a particular port, so it is impossible to guess the direction your ship will be.Depending upon winds, tide, and other ships in port, the same ship could change sides within the same port from trip to trip.

In general, I do not think it is worth worrying about which side of the ship your room happens to be on, and instead consider the other factors, such as proximity to elevators and what is above or below your room.

As you go through the booking process, you will run across an option to let Royal Caribbean pick your specific cabin, which is known as a guarantee cabin.

This means Royal Caribbean will charge you less money for booking a particular category in exchange forgiving up the ability to choose your specific stateroom.

This means once you book, you do not know the exact room assignment. At some point in the weeks leading up to the cruise, Royal Caribbean will assign your stateroom.

If you are not picky about your exact room location, you could opt into a guarantee room to potentially save hundreds of dollars.

There is no objective answer to the "best" location on any ship. Your room selection is a combination of availability and personal preference.

In general, the cabin location and cost are the major considerations when you book a cruise.

You have to weigh the considerations outlined in this post and decide which is most important for you.

More stateroom booking articles:

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Is there a bad cruise ship room to book? - Royal Caribbean Blog

Cyberpunk 2077 releases a song that rhymes ‘Keanu Reeves’ with ‘Sleeve’ – PC Gamer

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"Even in the dystopian future, hard rap lives on." So says EI-P, one half of hiphop group Run the Jewels, and he somehow manages to do so with a straight face. When Cyberpunk 2077 definitely releases on December 10, it will do so with an all-star OST including Grimes, A$AP Rocky, and Gazelle Twin (a stagename that sounds like an unused Metal Gear Solid boss.)

Today CDPR released Run the Jewels' composition, which Killer Mike quaintly describes thus: "we wanna provide you with the soundtrack to fucking shit up."

Those of us with ears will note the Keanu reference. "Cyberpunk holding a pump, Keanu Reeves, cyberarm under my sleeve. I'll blast 'em all, watch 'em fall like Autumn leaves." Well, quite.

I've listened a few times now, it's alright. Other opinions include 'lit', 'banger', and a series of fire emojis.

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Cyberpunk 2077 releases a song that rhymes 'Keanu Reeves' with 'Sleeve' - PC Gamer

Cyberpunk 2077 release date: Everything you need to know – ClutchPoints

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CD Projekt Red first revealed Cyberpunk 2077 in 2012. They first announced its release date to be April 2020. However, its been delayed over and over again. So what is the actual release date?

CD Projekt Red started working on Cyberpunk 2077 when they finished Witcher 3s final expansion. While Witcher 3 has been the teams biggest project until then, they decided to put in more people and resources to work on this new game.

Theyre using a new game engine to construct the game. Dubbed the REDengine 4, its a new iteration of the one they used for Witcher 3. The team received incentives from the Polish government to work on this game, amounting $7 million. All of these details point to Cyberpunk 2077 being this really big, gigantic project, increasing fan interest about the game.

Cyberpunk 2077 will also usher in the new generation of graphical fidelity. CD Projekt Red partnered with Nvidia to achieve real-time ray-tracing in the game.

Content for the game were nearly complete by mid-2019. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, staff developers were forced to work from home starting March 2020. At this point, they were only polishing the game and performing quality testing and assurance. The unexpected shift from office to work from home forced the developers to still enter crunch time, in spite of vowing not to a year prior.

CD Projekt Red initially announced that the game will be released on April 16, 2020. However, the coronavirus pandemic slowed down the production cycle, leading to an announcement that the game will have to be delayed to September 17. That date has come and gone, and CD Projekt Red yet again moves the release date to November 19.

Just last week, CD Projekt Red once again announced a delay to the game, citing quality issues.

The multiple delays have led to some to disbelieve the December 10 release date.

The rumor was denied by CD Projekt Red, claiming that they are just finalizing assets to reflect the December 10 release date.

So there we go, folks. Until further notice, Cyberpunk 2077 releases on December 10, 2020 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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Cyberpunk 2077 release date: Everything you need to know - ClutchPoints

Cyberpunk RED Review: Jack-in to your new favourite tabletop RPG – Express

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Cyberpunk RED retains its far-flung, bombastic future where cybernetic limbs are common, and gangs rule the streets - but the world-changing event has altered almost everything players might remember from Cyberpunk 2020.

A distinct feeling of poverty now runs through the streets of Night City, and a player might struggle to get their hands on a new weapon, or Agent (a sentient cell phone/PDA in your pocket), or some clean vegetables.

This, really, is a fantastic starting point for players, as they are forced to build their characters from the ground up, with a massive focus on creating what their identity is, and what they want to achieve in the forthcoming game.

The original line-up of Cyberpunk 2020's Roles (classes) is still present - however Cops have now changed to Lawmen.

The Roles function, fundamentally, the same as they did in Cyberpunk 2020. Each one has a massive pool of abilities they can put skill point in to, with a special Role Ability which differentiates them from one another.

The Role Abilities listed in the book are detailed, and well thought out, but some stand out more than others.

While Medias can create rumours and news to change the landscape of the game, Lawmen can call for backup from their local police force.

The biggest difference about these special abilities is that they can now be upgraded, creating opportunities in which an Exec can call forth a team of underlings to fight their battles for them, while relaxing in their skyline penthouse.

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Cyberpunk RED Review: Jack-in to your new favourite tabletop RPG - Express

Cyberpunk 2077 is just one part of a massive cyberpunk game boom that’s ‘speaking truth to power’ – SYFY WIRE

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In Night City you can become anyone, anything, if your body can pay the price, says Keanu Reeves, talking straight to camera. So seize the day...and set it on fire, he adds, climbing into a sleek sports car.

This short ad for action-RPG Cyberpunk 2077 is part of a huge promotional campaign that almost exclusively teases the violent and salacious pleasures of the games imagined future. Sure, developer CD Projekt Red has also mentioned the deprivation and exploitation players will encounter in Night City, but the overriding tone of its buildup is a celebration of the criminal opportunity and hedonistic heights enabled by cybernetic modification. Dystopia is an entrepreneurs playground, and cyberpunk the genre that lends the game its name is the ultimate venue.

In these ads, todays cyberpunk looks like a glossy reprint of its 1980s heyday, luring us to party in neon sights and synth sounds while barely recalling that they once framed terrifying alternate realities. But cyberpunk isnt one thing. Its also about the moment exploring how classic themes have renewed relevance in the political present, marshaling the prophetic power of dystopian dreams in new directions. Cyberpunk is caught between past and future.

Sherryl Vint, Professor of Science Fiction Media Studies at the University of California, Riverside, explains that defining cyberpunk is not straightforward. It can be a setting, a set of iconic images, an aesthetic style, or a group of typical themes. Like film noir, also easy to recognize but difficult to define, it is all of these things in shifting combinations, a fuzzy set that changes with time and context, Vint tells SYFY WIRE.

Nowhere is this clearer than in video games, which right now are embracing cyberpunk more than ever. In Cyberpunk 2077s long shadow are dozens of recent and forthcoming titles spanning all kinds of play experiences. Many dont merely touch on cyberpunk themes, they explicitly refer to themselves as cyberpunk, have evocative names like Cloudpunk and Neon Abyss, or recreate classic cyberpunk imagery.

Like 2077, much of this new wave of cyberpunk games departs from familiar touchstones, referencing Blade Runner, Neuromancer, or The Matrix, and focusing on shady corporations, street gangs, and hackers, body modifications, and outlandish '80s fashions. While their narratives return to common issues related to social degradation and extreme technologies.

Take the recently released Ghostrunner, a slick, first-person-perspective action game set in a grim cyberpunk setting. Polish developer One More Levels narrative designer, Jan Gsior, tells us that the game exemplifies many of cyberpunks definitive features. A metropolis illuminated by neons, omnipresent augmentations, and implants, the oppressed rebelling against authority, incomprehensible virtual reality, transhumanism its all there, he says.

The two essential cyberpunk themes in the game he says are defiance, or the struggle of the underdog, and this transhumanism, which asks existential questions about the nature of consciousness and the ontological status of AI. For Gsior, its crucial that cyberpunk asks these questionswithout providing clear answers.

Other cyberpunk games approach similar ideas through very different play experiences. The forthcoming Chinatown Detective Agency, for example, is a story-led investigative drama with intertwining subplots, characters, and events. Mark Fillon, creative director of Singapore-based General Interactive Co., tells us that they dont refer to the game as cyberpunk themselves, but its hard to escape the label.

The game is set in a future where advancements in AI and automation play heavily into its storyline and backdrop, he says. He adds that hes especially interested in the social themes of cyberpunk, such as the unbridgeable and expanding rift between the social classes, the commodification of human lives, the emergence of an Epicurean and hedonistic lifestyle amid a crumbling world all these occurring in a time of technological renaissance.

These social themes and the concept of defiance recur in Solace State, a 3D visual novel about a young hacker named Chloe living in a biotech surveillance society. Solace States city looks less typically cyberpunk, at least initially, but the subject matter around it is familiar. Tanya Kan, director of Torontos Vivid Foundry studio, tells us that the game focuses on entrenched power structures, including a conglomerate, looking to seize control over a biotech revolution. Its narrative then considers the possibility of overcoming such structures from the below.

Cyberpunk centralizes speaking truth to power and finding alternative ways of finding humanity again in the underclasses, Kan explains. Many cyberpunk protagonists start off as outsiders, or in transit, or are siloed off from society in some way, and Solace States Chloe and other characters fit these subjectivities.

Many of these themes are cyberpunk staples, of course, and the danger even when deep-diving into battles against oppressive corporate power, or the intersections between humanity and technology, is one of retreading old ground. Especially when these games employ the romanticized 1980s and 1990s aesthetics of rain-soaked, near-future cities, could the motivation behind these contemporary cyberpunk fictions be primarily nostalgic?

Interest in cyberpunk now, Vint explains, like a lot of popular culture, is nostalgic in a commonplace way. People who were in their teens in the 1980s have now aged such that many occupy positions of power in creative industries. It is unsurprising that this generation would be drawn to make culture that looks back on the formative years of their own lives and experiences. So, she continues, the cyberpunk aesthetic in some recent popular culture seems to me to be about style more than content, about the cool vibe associated with the genre rather than a return to the themes pursued by original cyberpunk authors.

Some theorists of cyberpunk have also noted that the "retrofuturism"of backward-looking sci-fi worlds is inherently conservative. It creates a sense of stasis, as if the aim were to return to a time when things were more simple, rather than imagine anything genuinely new. In particular, cyberpunk can seem in-tune with a 1980s culture of neoliberal individualism and hyper-competitiveness, in which hackers and gangs seek personal enrichment and accept that no social alternative is possible. As Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Cyberpunk tabletop RPG series and co-creator of Cyberpunk 2077 has said, Cyberpunk isnt about saving humanity, its about saving yourself.

But nostalgia doesnt fully explain the current cyberpunk explosion in games, and it would be unreasonable to assume that these titles cant equally resonate with the present, in more progressive ways. Indeed, referring back to '80s cyberpunk can also reveal a continuity between current and historical problems, not least the continuing inequality and corporate dominance in neoliberal orders.

Neoliberalism was becoming mainstream in the 1980s, due to [Margaret] Thatcher and [Ronald] Reagan, predominantly, Vintsays.Original cyberpunk authors saw this and reacted to it. Now we live in a world where neoliberalism is hegemonic and so the playbook put into use in the 1980s is largely responsible for the world we live in today.

Both in terms of todays digital technology and social composition, theres an increasing sense, in fact, that cyberpunk is now actually the way things are. We are living in a cyberpunk reality, Fillon says. Technology is advancing at an incredible (and some would say alarming) rate, but through the lens of humanity, we arent making much progress.

Kan shares similar concerns and aims to address them through her game. Without a doubt, she says, with the increasing subversion of rights and untrammeled despotism experienced today, Solace States cyberpunk has relevance in highlighting not merely guns and trade, but also in politicking, the role of the media, and the power of the citizens.

Current technologies also send cyberpunk in directions that werent foreseeable. So, Vint explains, cyberpunk in the past never really predicted the monetization of online communities and the algorithm-driven polarization of online culture. For example, she says, although cyberpunk imaged elements of the bleak future associated with imagery of corporate rule and embodied precarity, it missed thinking about how some parts of online gaming culture have fostered the misogyny we saw emerge with Gamergate. She adds that this is not cyberpunks fault: its just the inevitable result of material culture unfolding in ways that were not anticipated.

The insights of todays cyberpunk are thus bound to be different because they emerge from changing social states. Cyberpunk game developers interested in more than nostalgia reconfigure what cyberpunk means as they revive it, touching on issues that matter right now. And that flexibility is as much a part of cyberpunk as any neon-lit urban sprawl or cybernetic implant.

Solace States contemporary political message, for instance, builds on a feminist cyberpunk tradition. Another sci-fi scholar, Lisa Yaszek, has written that waves of feminist cyberpunk have tended to reject the alienation, isolation, and nihilism typically associated with masculinist cyberpunk and replace it with an emphasis on creative self-expression, community, and sociopolitical change. They focus more on activism, in relation to issues of class disparity, technological exploitation, and ecological preservation.

What sets Solace State apart from other cyberpunk titles is focusing on the counter-cultural intimacy of relationship-building and community-building arising against influential powers that are trying to dismantle rights, governance, and humanity without consultation," Kan says.

She explains that Solace States story has involved consultation with activists, politicians, cultural consultants, and academics, and notes that immigrant voices are crucial for their unique vantage points on failing institutions and alternative social visions. This is why a truly diverse cyberpunk story is especially relevant in our increasingly divisive world, she tells us.

Chinatown Detective Agency offers something different with its future Singapore setting, rather than the usual American, Japanese, or fictional metropolises we see in cyberpunk. But its also interested in current global politics and social issues in a state of high-tech chaos.

The geopolitical turmoil and the reimagining of the self has caused great disunity, Fillon says, but in the background, we see technology totally changing our lives. There are still countless people dying of hunger in a world of plenty, wars, rampant corruption, and the continuing segregation of civilization into social classes. These inequalities and uncertainties feed into the game.

Ghostrunner takes a slightly different approach to its social setup, in that in its world mega-corporations have given way to an authoritarian state regime, leaving everyone fighting for survival. According to Gsior, this isnt meant as a statement about the present political situation. Instead, he says, the story and the setting illustrate aspects of the human condition that are present in the contemporary political narrative, but the fact is they have been around forever. Greed, lust for power, inequality, oppression, have always been relevant problems, no matter the level of technological advancement.

Yet Ghostrunner is still, as Gsior says, a game about defying an oppressive power, and its hard to ignore its parallels with existing political realities. We live in a time when capitalism is increasingly supported by hardline state powers, which do everything they can to turn economic or class struggles into culture wars. In this sense at least, Ghostrunners premise feels intriguingly relevant.

Perhaps more than anything, these games and many others embody the schism within cyberpunk itself. Its nostalgic reveries intertwine with unrealized promises of changing technology and the inescapable influence of existing social injustices. Like a cyborg melding of nature and computerized modifications, its a combination of contrasts that can pull in different directions, or combine into a powerful whole.

Some modern cyberpunk is living in the past, then, but its current popularity in games says as much about the importance of cyberpunk themes to understanding the present. And as digital technologies evolve further, there will be many more cyberpunk tales for games to tell, especially by indie developers experimenting with more left-field ideas. Hopefully, the industrys own corporate behemoth, Cyberpunk 2077, will expand from the history of the genre in fascinating new ways, not merely seize it (or set it on fire).

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Cyberpunk 2077 is just one part of a massive cyberpunk game boom that's 'speaking truth to power' - SYFY WIRE

If a thing exists, you can probably buy a Cyberpunk 2077 themed version of it now – PC Gamer

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For a game that isn't out yet, Cyberpunk 2077 sure has a lot of merchandise. As well as the usual stuff like headphones and apparel, we're also seeing big companies like OnePlus and Adidas teaming up with CDPR to get a slice of this lucrative cyberpie. Here are just a few examples of objects churned out by this relentless merchandising machine. I'm not saying you should buy this stuff. In almost every case you probably shouldn't. But it's interesting to see the cultural reach this game has developed over the years.

Disclaimer: Some of these products are not real. I made them up. But can you guess which ones? CAN YOU?

Adidas is the latest megacorp to jump into bed with CDPR. They've collaborated on a shoe, the X9000L4, whichas far as videogame themed sneakers goisn't completely hideous. But with limited availability outside of select Asian countries, they won't be easy to come by. This isn't Adidas's first videogame rodeo. Back in 2007 it collaborated with Microsoft on a Halo 3 shoe and the results were, uh well, see for yourself.

This special Cyberpunk edition of the OnePlus 8T has a unique futuristic design and, dare I say it, actually looks pretty cool. The yellow accents are tasteful, and the giant camera module has an almost retro-fitted look to it, reminding me of the design of some of the game's cars. It's a decent phone, with a 120Hz display and, based on reviews I've read, really fast charging. But pre-orders are currently only available in China, so getting your hands on one might be tricky.

Encompassing the latest in brick technology, this limited edition Cyberpunk 2077 house brick will give a futuristic edge to any construction project. Imagine it: a semi-detached suburban house built entirely from these stylish bricks. Visitors will marvel at the Cyberpunk 2077 logo repeated across the exterior of your house. Neighbours will tremble with envy. And everyone will know just how much you love dystopian open-world RPGs.

You can't actually buy this, so it's not really merch, but I'm including it anyway. In the game, the car of choice for Johnny 'Keanu Reeves' Silverhand is a modified 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo, which has been recreated in real life. It's painted in silver (obviously) and has the Samurai logo slapped on the back, as well as other subtle futuristic touches. It's currently on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, but I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being sold at some point. Then maybe it can be yours.

Picture the scene: you're a cool cyberpunk with a mohawk, using a neural implant to hack into a megacorporation's mainframe. But damn! You screw up and the alarm sounds. You run away, guns blazing, chased by evil cyberbastardsand then your trousers fall down. Avoid this embarrassing situation by investing in this official Cyberpunk 2077 belt, which features the emblem of the 'chrome rock' band Samurai.

Cyberpunks don't sit down much, what with all the car chases, hacking, infiltration, and stabbing people with retractable arm-blades. But if they ever did sit down, they'd probably sit down on something like this. I know people love these chairs, and this is probably a high quality product, but man, I would never have one in my house. I think a chair should blend into its surroundings, not constantly alert you to its presence.

No.

Even jigsaw makers are getting in on the Cyberpunk 2077 action. This officially licensed puzzle has 1000 pieces, and comes bundled with a tote bag and a poster. I don't really have anything clever to say about this. If you're into puzzles, it seems like a good one, and I dig the image of V chilling out on a futuristic subway train. I also like the slightly weird contrast of a cutting edge videogame like Cyberpunk 2077 with a form of entertainment, the humble jigsaw, that has been around since at least 1760.

Even cyberpunks need hot water. When you're chilling back at your stylish Night City penthouse after a mission, you'll probably want to relax with a hot mug of cybertea. And that's where this Cyberpunk 2077 kettle comes in. Quite simply, it boils water. But thanks to the Samurai emblem badly Photosho I mean, printed on the side, it boils water with style. You can imagine Johnny Silverhand himself heating up water in this, brewing up a lovely mug of tea before skidding off on his motorcycle.

If you're really, really besotted with Cyberpunk 2077, and you have $300 burning a hole in your neon parachute pants, you could always spend it on this hand-painted model. It depicts the game's Trauma Teamemergency medics who operate like a SWAT squadand there's a nice amount of detail on it. But $300 worth of detail? I'm not so sure. However, figures and models, like sneakers, are some of the most inexplicably expensive items on the planet, so the price of this isn't that surprising really.

Peripheral manufacturers have been slapping videogame logos on headphones for years, so it was inevitable they would get in on the Cyberpunk action too. These ones are by SteelSeries and feature a design inspired by the game's netrunner ability. I like how they've incorporated the distinctive blue and yellow from the game's logo on the mic attachment, and SteelSeries' Arctis headsets are generally pretty good.

This ain't no ordinary egg. This is a Cyberpunk 2077 egg. Based on one Johnny Silverhand once used to cook an omelette, this egg takes breakfast to the next level. Fried eggs. Scrambled eggs. Poached eggs. Boiled eggs. You name it, you can make it with the Cyberpunk 2077 eggas long as it contains egg and nothing else. But act fast, because only a dozen were laid, and once they're gone, they're gone.

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If a thing exists, you can probably buy a Cyberpunk 2077 themed version of it now - PC Gamer

Elon Musk Comments on ‘Cyberpunk 2077’s’ Delay Hoping it Won’t Affect the Game – Tech Times

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"Cyberpunk 2077's" delay was not taken kindly by fans as the game's promotion has launched it to one of the most awaited games this 2020. Since the initial trailer came out starring Keanu Reeves and showing players a glimpse of exactly what to expect, those expectations have since then been rising through the roof.

"Cyberpunk 2077" has promoted itself through the use of merch and other marketing tactics throughout the year. An article written by PCgamer begs to ask the question, just how much merch would result in too much merch? The article's title suggests that if a certain thing exists, there is already probably a "Cyberpunk 2077" theme backed up by the many merchandise all following the game.

The article then elaborates that for a particular game that has not even been released and has been delayed countless times, "Cyberpunk 2077" pretty much has quite a lot of merch. These merch revolve around certain typical things like headphones as well as apparel. Even big companies like Adidas and OnePlus have already teamed up with CDPR in order to get a chunk of this lucrative cyberpie.

There could also be a connection with regards to the backfire from fans when the game was pushed yet again and only announced on the supposed release date paired up with massive marketing that "Cyberpunk 2077" has been able to accomplish this 2020. Although nobody expected COVID-19, the news that "Cyberpunk 2077" has been delayed countless times over could possibly be a little too much for fans and many of them could even lose interest.

According to Elon Musk's reply to a Tweet saying that the existing "Cyberpunk 2077" merch is definitely going out of control, the Tesla CEO stated that he even hopes that the game does not eventually twist itself to tedium due to the fear of eventually being canceled. This could be interpreted as Elon Musk being one of the many gamers awaiting the final release of the game which although a final release date has been announced, has still been deemed as skeptical for some fans.

Read Also: Cyberpunk 2077 x OnePlus 8T Collaboration Review: Can This Phone Save the CD Projekt RED from Hatred?

"Cyberpunk 2077's" popularity and uneasy fans have put a lot of pressure on the game to make up for the constant delays. The pressure grows even bigger as Elon Musk himself is also hoping that the delay does not affect the game in any way.

The only particular way to know if the game is worth it would be to try it out upon release which, however, might still take a little bit more time. Would fans still buy more "Cyberpunk 2077" merch before the launch despite the delay?

Related Article: Rockstar Games' 'Grand Theft Auto 6' Could Have Two Separate Branches: Single-player and Multiplayer

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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Elon Musk Comments on 'Cyberpunk 2077's' Delay Hoping it Won't Affect the Game - Tech Times

Run the Jewels’ new song ‘No Save Point’ to feature in ‘Cyberpunk 2077’, fans say it is ‘perfect for the game’ – MEAWW

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Run the Jewels have taken to their social media to make a huge announcement. If you're a fan of the hip-hop duo and the sci-fi video game epic 'Cyberpunk 2077', mark your calendars for November 12, as Run the Jewels are set to release a new single.

Titled 'No Save Point', the song will feature on the highly-anticipated video game 'Cyberpunk 2077' by CD Projekt Red, the team behind 'The Witcher' popular game series.

"Tomorrow RTJ enters Night City with 'No Save Point' @cyberpunkgame," Run the Jewels wrote on Instagram on November 11, along with colorful cover art. In the artwork, the rappers are seen guns blazing from their BuickGrand National and racing through a dense market location in Night City, the fictional city in the game based on the Free State of Northern California.

The artwork was designed by Toronto-based illustrator Mad Dog Jones. Run the Jewels also made the announcement on Twitter. Check out their post below.

Fans went into a frenzy and have been quick to share their excitement. "Perfect fit for that game," said a fan on Instagram while another wrote, "I can hear it right now." One fan said of the cover art, "Please make this a shirt!"

Mad Dog Jones also dropped a comment to share his excitement, saying, "So hyped, such an honor to get to create with RTJ!."Over on Twitter, a fan wrote, "Hell yes," and another added, "holy f**k yes."

Hell yes

One fan said, "Yalls music is literally perfect for this game. SO hyped. From album of the year to music for the game of the year!"

Yalls music is literally perfect for this game. SO hyped. From album of the year to music for the game of the year!

'No Save Point' will follow the duo's single 'JU$T' which features Pharrell Williams and Zack de la Rocha and appears on their latest studio album 'RTJ4'. Run the Jewels surprise-released the album back in July and have still been making headlines since its release.

If you haven't been introduced to the game by now, it's time to get on the news, as 'Cyberpunk 2077' is expected to be the biggest video game release in the past decade, if not all time. It will feature a starring role by Keanu Reeves and is created large-scale in a massive and immersive open-world action RPG environment.

Several gaming companies have had to adjust their new projects' release dates according to that of the upcoming CD Project Red AAA title. Although, its release date has been pushed back several times and its latest delay has left fans frustrated.Nevertheless, it's refreshing to see the game's latest news update is a new Run the Jewels song and we can't wait to hear it.

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Run the Jewels' new song 'No Save Point' to feature in 'Cyberpunk 2077', fans say it is 'perfect for the game' - MEAWW

BMW’s Cyberpunk Motorrad Definition CE 04 Concept Is Here to Drag Scooters Into the Future – The Drive

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Unless you're into retro-cool Vespas, scooter design can be a bit lacking. Let's face it, the ride-sharing Revels are really just things city folks tip over because we have no cows. Finally, BMW wants to bring urban two-wheelin' into the future with an electric concept that looks like it's straight out of a cyberpunk anime: the Motorrad Definition CE 04.

It's everything most electric scooters aren't: angular, long and low. The rear of the scooter was left uncovered to both show off the machinery powering it and give off serious sci-fi vibes. The pearly white exterior is a nice contrast with the matte black mechanical bits, too.

Most importantly, the Motorrad Definition CE 04 sounds like a delightfully functional vehicle. The drivetrain is very compact and the flat battery is mounted in the bottom of the scooter, allowing for a low center of gravity that should be easier to ride and tons of storage up top. Its illuminated under-seat storage area has a door that opens up horizontally and enough room to stash a helmet.

Details are scarce as it's not a production vehicle, but it was designed first and foremost for city commuters, who BMW says ride about 7.5 miles a day or less. The "floating" bench seat was designed for more leg room even for taller riders, and it features a 10.25-inch screen that's designed to be connected to a smartphone. That screen would be the biggest ever on a scooter if the Motorrad Definition CE 04 ever goes into production.

BMW even designed a trick new parka to go with the Motorrad Definition CE 04 with light guides on the sleeves and hood for better visibilty and an inside pocket with an inductive charging field for a smartphone. The wearer can turn on and even change the color of the parka's lights from inside its sleeve.

All we have to say is...build it. As The Verge notes, the Motorrad Definition CE 04 looks to be a futuristic step up from its 2014 C Evolution electric scooter, which featured a top speed of 80 mph and an impressive 99 miles of range. It was a pricey scooter then, though, and didn't look as cool. If there was ever a time where we need a more affordable electric scooter that matches the dystopian mood in the room, it's now.

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BMW's Cyberpunk Motorrad Definition CE 04 Concept Is Here to Drag Scooters Into the Future - The Drive