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Tag: Take

  • Founder of Sacramento dog training service that uses rattlesnakes fights to keep business going

    In a park just east of Sacramento, Jake Molieri guided us through his service Snakeout where he trains dogs and dog owners how to avoid rattlesnakes on hiking trails and parks. “They are obviously an animal that are dangerous if you get into an altercation and provoking them,” Molieri said. “They are never going to chase you or go after you.”Molieri currently uses his albino rattlesnake called Mr. Cheese for training. However, that snake is not the most ideal one to use for his business. “The only reason we are able to continue operating and continue doing the service is because we use these albino, which is not ideal because they are really hard to acquire,” he said. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife told Molieri he is not allowed to operate if he uses regular rattlesnakes that are found in Northern California. The state claims he violated regulations that protect those animals from being used for profit. “They told me the classes you’re doing are like illegal, you’re illegally commercializing these animals,” Molieri said. However, Molieri claims there is a gray area that needs to be changed. “The regulations they are citing were written back in the day with the idea of like, hey you can’t go out into the woods and catch a bunch of snakes and sell them into the pet trade and the skin industry,” he said. “They’re taking that idea and applying it to this dog class and saying that we’re basically selling the snakes. The snakes are not changing hands. The snakes are my snakes.”He filed a lawsuit to try to get the regulations changed. CDFW said in a statement: “Current regulations prohibit the take or possession of any native species unless specifically permitted by regulation for commercial purposes, as it presents a financial gain to motivate take. That commercial motivation can have negative impacts on native populations.”The lawsuit is still going through the court system. He hopes they can reach an agreement to change regulations that benefit his business and keep snakes safe. “We want to see more snakes being alive, less dogs getting bit and everyone having an understanding that nobody wants to get into an altercation with each other, but the state’s making it really hard,” he said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    In a park just east of Sacramento, Jake Molieri guided us through his service Snakeout where he trains dogs and dog owners how to avoid rattlesnakes on hiking trails and parks.

    “They are obviously an animal that are dangerous if you get into an altercation and provoking them,” Molieri said. “They are never going to chase you or go after you.”

    Molieri currently uses his albino rattlesnake called Mr. Cheese for training. However, that snake is not the most ideal one to use for his business.

    “The only reason we are able to continue operating and continue doing the service is because we use these albino, which is not ideal because they are really hard to acquire,” he said.

    The State Department of Fish and Wildlife told Molieri he is not allowed to operate if he uses regular rattlesnakes that are found in Northern California. The state claims he violated regulations that protect those animals from being used for profit.

    “They told me the classes you’re doing are like illegal, you’re illegally commercializing these animals,” Molieri said.

    However, Molieri claims there is a gray area that needs to be changed.

    “The regulations they are citing were written back in the day with the idea of like, hey you can’t go out into the woods and catch a bunch of snakes and sell them into the pet trade and the skin industry,” he said. “They’re taking that idea and applying it to this dog class and saying that we’re basically selling the snakes. The snakes are not changing hands. The snakes are my snakes.”

    He filed a lawsuit to try to get the regulations changed.

    CDFW said in a statement: “Current regulations prohibit the take or possession of any native species unless specifically permitted by regulation for commercial purposes, as it presents a financial gain to motivate take. That commercial motivation can have negative impacts on native populations.”

    The lawsuit is still going through the court system. He hopes they can reach an agreement to change regulations that benefit his business and keep snakes safe.

    “We want to see more snakes being alive, less dogs getting bit and everyone having an understanding that nobody wants to get into an altercation with each other, but the state’s making it really hard,” he said.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Dooming

    Dooming

    Burned the **** out, girl is stressing me the **** out and blaming me for everything, unable to take personal accountability unsurprisingly.
    So I’m taking off for the middle of nowhere without cell service to sleep in my hammock and float in the river and get **** faced for a while. Might just not come back and become one with the trees.

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  • Colorado state senator violated ethics rules by appearing intoxicated at public meeting, committee finds

    Colorado state senator violated ethics rules by appearing intoxicated at public meeting, committee finds

    Sen. Faith Winter violated Colorado Senate ethics rules when she appeared to be intoxicated at an April public meeting, a legislative committee ruled Monday.

    On a bipartisan 4-1 vote, the Senate Ethics Committee found that Winter failed to uphold the public’s trust in the legislature when she drank alcohol before taking part in a contentious community meeting in Northglenn. Winter, a Broomfield Democrat and the Senate’s assistant majority leader, previously apologized for her conduct at the meeting, where her speech appeared slurred. After it ended, police intervened to help her find a ride home.

    Democratic Sens. Julie Gonzales and Dylan Roberts and Republican Sens. Paul Lundeen and Bob Gardner agreed that Winter violated ethics rules. Democratic Sen. James Coleman was the lone no vote.

    Before the vote, Gonzales said it was up to the committee to decide what was acceptable conduct by a legislator and that holding office is an honor.

    “That’s what each one of us is expected to uphold,” she said.

    The committee recommended that Senate leadership issue a letter to Winter addressing her conduct at the Northglenn meeting and her substance use. She should be invited to address the full Senate when the chamber reconvenes in January, the members said. They also recommended that, should Winter’s conduct again raise ethics concerns because of substance use, she should face immediate action from the full Senate instead of another ethics committee process.

    Winter, who voluntarily resigned a committee chair position and entered substance-use treatment in the days after the April meeting, attended Monday’s hearing at the state Capitol but was not invited to speak.

    She did not immediately return a request for comment as the hearing concluded. In a letter to the committee last month, Winter apologized again and acknowledged that she had a drink before the Northglenn meeting.

    But she asked that the complaint be dismissed and noted the culture of alcohol use in the Capitol. Gardner, a Colorado Springs Republican who previously appeared conflicted about what actions to take in response to Winter’s behavior, said he was particularly troubled by Winter’s reference to the Senate’s culture as “justification” for her actions.

    Seth Klamann

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  • Japanese Pastries Take Center Stage in West Town

    Japanese Pastries Take Center Stage in West Town

    As business names go, it doesn’t get more on the nose than Puffy Cakes. Recently opened in West Town, the bakery and coffee shop specializes in Japanese cheesecake, which features a fluffy texture that’s a cross between a souffle and brioche French toast.

    Chicago, like other major cities, has been experiencing a major bakery renaissance. From favorites like Mindy’s Bakery, Kasama, Publican Quality Bread, Good Ambler, Justice of the Pies, and Loaf Lounge to upstarts like Swadesi, Umaga Bakehouse, Sugar Moon, and Loba Pastry, satisfying a sweet tooth in Chicago has never been easier or more delicious. And the trend shows no signs of slowing down.

    When Julian Coltea and his Puffy Cakes partners began delving into a dessert-focused business, they knew they had to do something different.

    “There are so many places in Chicago that make great cookies, pies, and classic American desserts,” says Coltea. “We wanted to go beyond that and expand to something else.”

    Hokkaido cheese tarts
    Fluffy Cakes

    A matcha drip.
    Fluffy Cakes

    That something else turned out to be Japanese cheesecake, which is lighter and less sweet than its American counterpart. “We really wanted to make it our primary focus and bring the dessert, which I think is delicious, to the masses,” he adds.

    Prior to opening in June, the Puffy Cakes baking team went through rounds of experiments to perfect the recipe and achieve the desired jiggly texture. (Turns out, folding in the egg white meringue by hand is crucial, says Coltea.) The airy cream cheese batter is placed in ramekins that are then baked low and slow in a water bath.

    Available in three flavors — traditional, matcha, and ube — the 4-inch cheesecakes are designed for one to two people. Additionally, 6- and 8-inch versions are available via advance ordering. Housemade sauces are available for those who want to add a touch more sweetness. Signature sauces include caramel drizzle, dark chocolate, matcha, Nutella, and strawberry with additional flavors in the works. Look for candy toppings to be offered soon.

    Japanese-style cheesecake
    Fluffy Cakes

    Cakes in different flavors.
    Fluffy Cakes

    Beyond the Japanese cheesecakes, which are baked fresh daily, Puffy Cakes also features a handful of other desserts. Petite Japanese cheese tarts include a mixture of three cheeses (cream cheese, mascarpone, and Parmesan), housemade seasonal fruit jams, and fresh fruit toppings. The menu also features traditional baked tarts, including a recent lemon blackberry meringue tart with a bruléed Italian meringue dome. A curated list of macarons will soon be joined by a selection of Asian-inspired cookies.

    To ensure none of its leftover cheesecakes goes to waste, Puffy Cakes crafted a bread pudding. Cut-up pieces of a mix of their cakes are baked like a traditional bread pudding before being topped with different garnishes that might include pecans, white chocolate, and walnuts.

    A partnership with La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Puffy Cakes offers specialty coffee drinks, including cold brew on tap.

    The interior design of Puffy Cakes includes a few couches, round tables, and a banquette on one side of the cozy 950-square-foot space, accented with hues of red, yellow, and black. Lantern-like light fixtures hang overhead. A fireplace will keep things toasty when winter arrives.

    “We’re a dessert shop first,” says Coltea, “but from the beginning, we knew we wanted to serve high-quality coffee and make this a really warm, inviting place for people to come and hang out or work.”

    Puffy Cakes, 1651 W Chicago Avenue, open 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Mondays.

    Lisa Shames

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  • Embracer has sold Gearbox — and Borderlands — to Take-Two for $460M

    Embracer has sold Gearbox — and Borderlands — to Take-Two for $460M

    Troubled gaming conglomerate Embracer announced Thursday that it has agreed to sell Gearbox Entertainment, the studio behind the Borderlands games, to Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two for $460 million.

    The deal makes a lot of sense; Take-Two has been the publisher for Borderlands through its 2K Games label since long before Gearbox was acquired by Embracer in 2021. In its press release, 2K said the next Borderlands game was in active development at Gearbox.

    As part of the deal, Take-Two acquires the Borderlands franchise and its spinoff series Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, as well as the Homeworld, Risk of Rain, Brothers in Arms, and Duke Nukem series. The studios acquired by Take-Two are the Gearbox Software mothership in Frisco, Texas, as well as Gearbox Montréal and Gearbox Studio Quebec.

    “As a significant long-term Embracer Group shareholder, I believe in the strategy for the Embracer Group going forward and am completely convinced that this transaction is the best possible scenario and an obvious net positive arrangement for Embracer Group, for Take-Two and, of course, for Gearbox Entertainment,” said Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford. “My primary interest is always Gearbox, including our talent and our customers. I want to personally ensure fans of our games that this arrangement will ensure that the experiences we have in development at Gearbox will be the best it can possibly be.”

    Embracer is hanging on to a few parts of the Gearbox empire: Gearbox Publishing San Francisco (which well be renamed), including the publishing rights to the Remnant games and Hyper Light Breaker; Cryptic Studios, the massively multiplayer specialist, with its games Neverwinter Online and Star Trek Online; and support studios Lost Boys Interactive and Captured Dimensions.

    Though Gearbox Publishing San Francisco is still under Embracer, the company confirmed to Polygon that it has laid off an unspecified number of employees “not tied to the development” of Gearbox games. The layoffs appear to impact marketing, communications, and other portions of the company.

    “The Embracer Group will continue to report on their restructuring program that impacted some parts of Gearbox today that are not tied to the development of Gearbox Software games,” a spokesperson told Polygon. “Thank you for granting us the space to remain focused on our people and in our handling of the situation with compassion and manage the process, balancing between our present duty and a commitment to our future.”

    For Embracer, the sale of Gearbox — one of its most prized assets — is the next step in a deep cost-cutting and restructuring process the company began last year after a reported $2 billion deal fell through. As part of its restructuring, Embracer laid off at least 900 people. Prior to its financial difficulties, the Swedish group, which began life as Nordic Games, had been on a wild acquisition spree that included the purchase of board game giant Asmodee, Square Enix’s Western studios and franchises including Tomb Raider, and the media rights for The Lord of the Rings.

    Embracer also announced Thursday that it had completed the sale of another of its biggest studio groups, Saber Interactive, which it acquired in 2020. Saber’s founder Matthew Karch bought back the main Saber Interactive studio and several subsidiaries for $247 million, while Embracer retained Metro developer 4A Games, Aspyr, and others. Saber has the right to acquire 4A and pinball specialist Zen Studios within a certain time period, although publishing rights for the Metro games will stay with Embracer’s subsidiary Plaion. Saber is reportedly still collaborating with Embracer on the troubled remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

    Update: This story has been updated to include news concerning layoffs at Gearbox Publishing, along with a statement from the company.

    Oli Welsh

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  • A hot take

    A hot take

    Madame Web was actually a cool character and the whole Secret Wars storyline was great. I did not see the new movie (and I wont), but based on the memes, its trash. Im sad that the new generation wont know the OG character, and that she will probably end up as Nimrod (who was a famous hunter, but loonytunes changed the meaning).

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  • Xbox Expected A Red Dead Redemption 2 Next-Gen Update, Wanted It On Game Pass

    Xbox Expected A Red Dead Redemption 2 Next-Gen Update, Wanted It On Game Pass

    Fans have long wanted Rockstar Games to release a next-gen patch or updated version of Red Dead Redemption 2 that would let the large game take advantage of the more powerful PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. That’s not happened yet, even though many have speculated about it. And new documents reveal that even Microsoft was expecting a next-gen RDR 2 to be out by now.

    Thank You, PS Plus, For Making My Backlog Even Bigger

    Released in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive open-world western and a prequel to the original, critically acclaimed Red Dead Redemption. When RDR 2 was first launched, there weren’t any next-gen machines out yet, so the game only came out on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. However, after Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online received fancy next-gen upgrades in 2022, many assumed RDR 2 would get similarly improved ports. Five years after its initial launch, it still hasn’t happened, leaving many fans disappointed and frustrated.

    In newly leaked documents and emails, it turns out the folks at Xbox were, like so many Rockstar fans, also expecting a next-gen update. In a document showing Summer 2022 emails between Xbox boss Phil Spencer and other execs about acquiring more games for the company’s subscription service, Game Pass, we see a chart that is basically a wishlist of potential games to add. And listed in that chart is an entry for RDR 2’s “gen 9” release.

    Screenshot: Kotaku

    According to Microsoft, the company expected Rockstar Games to launch this “gen 9” version of RDR2 in FY23Q2 aka between October and November of 2022. In the doc, Microsoft suggests that Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive will want around $5 million a month to bring the next-gen version of RDR2 to Game Pass on day one. Further, it estimated around 10 million hours of the game would be played each month.

    Based on the chart, Microsoft considered its chances to secure RDR2’s next-gen port as a day one Game Pass launch “very low” and listed its “Wow Factor” at medium. It also wasn’t sure if it would be able to get RDR2’s 2 PC port as part of the deal.

    Of course, all of this planning and preparation was for nothing, as Red Dead Redemption 2 still doesn’t have a next-gen update or port. It’s a shame, as the game would look wonderful on the more powerful machines and would likely be able to run at 60fps, a big upgrade over the 30fps the game is currently locked to. Alas, it seems Rockstar is focused on the future and is busy developing the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, which we know quite a bit about thanks to a separate, different leak from last year.

    .

    Zack Zwiezen

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