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Geeky gadget gift ideas for Christmas!

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Exciting times for the all the “techheads” out there as the silly season approaches, many are embracing the trend of gaming.

The festive season has arrived! And online orders, video games and streaming services continue to thrive in a pandemic world.

With Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X shortages set to continue, there are still plenty of options available. So let’s consider what’s on offer from top tier tech through to those fun little secret Santa gifts.

Content creator and tech reviewer Emily Dalton (1upEmily) jumps in to provide some ideas on ticker gaming this week!

LEGO MEETS NINTENDO

A recent partnership between a couple of toy giants saw the creation of one of this years hottest toys, The Super Mario LEGO collection! A clever take on the adventure game characters merged with the imaginative play that LEGO offers.

The Mario and Luigi starter sets are your first stop. The characters come complete with their iconic sounds and colours in charming LEGO brick bodies.

One of the most impressive things about the series is the integrated lights and sounds that change depending on where the toys are placed and what they jump on.

LIGHT UP YOUR HOME SETUP!

Working from home gave some the opportunity to understand just how unprepared our home office spaces were for a comfortable and well lit experience.

For gamers, getting the perfect set up is part of the process. Decent lighting and themed backgrounds are a must for streamers and content creators looking to stand out and the Nanoleaf breed of lighting options are as fun as they are stylish!

STOCKING FILLERS AND SECRET SANTA

Most workplaces will try to inject at a bit of festive fun into the team, no matter how many employees actually want to participate there’s usually a kris kringle of some sort.

Rushed and ill-prepared gifts are never fun to receive. But! there are some great little pieces out there that won’t break the bank.

Fun ideas that might help put a smile on that one colleagues face, you know the one who you’ve matched with but have no idea what to get them.

FOR THE BIG KIDS AND COLLECTORS

A good game room celebrates the beloved characters and video games that originate from. Posters are quite common but there are some incredibly detailed statues and artwork available.

From big names in anime through to the gaming characters we all know and love. Collectors are always on the lookout for the next limited edition piece to decorate their home and office so keep an eye open if you’re happy to splash out.

Hopefully some ideas have been generated from our geeky gift guide and be sure to tune in and check out more from Ticker gaming and of course be sure to see what Emily Dalton and Team Retro are up to right here!

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Tech

Elon Musk defends ketamine use as ‘beneficial for investors’

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In a candid interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, Tesla CEO Elon Musk defended his use of ketamine, asserting that it was beneficial for Tesla’s investors.

The video interview, posted online on Monday, delved into various topics, including politics, content moderation on Musk’s social media platform, X, and the operations of Tesla.

Musk, who later canceled a partnership with Lemon, cited the drug’s role in managing a “negative chemical state” akin to depression. He emphasized that consistent performance and execution were paramount for investors, regardless of personal methods employed to maintain productivity.

“For investors, if there’s something I’m taking, I should keep taking it,” Musk remarked, highlighting the significance of maintaining stability and focus in the business realm.

Drug use

The interview comes amidst reports from The Wall Street Journal earlier this year, which alleged Musk’s past use of drugs such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms, sparking concerns among executives and board members of his companies.

These revelations raised worries about potential violations of federal policies that could endanger SpaceX’s government contracts.

Responding to the Journal’s report, Musk stated that he had consented to three years of random drug testing at the behest of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SpaceX’s partner.

No drugs or alcohol

He affirmed that no traces of drugs or alcohol were found in the tests.

Regarding his ketamine use, Musk disclosed that he possessed a doctor’s prescription for the drug and estimated consuming “a small amount every other week.”

Lemon questioned the purpose of Musk’s ketamine prescription and whether it might affect his government contracts and Wall Street standing. Musk’s assertion of its benefits for managing his mental state served as his response.

The interview, initially intended for Lemon’s show on Musk’s social media platform, X, was later posted on YouTube and X after Musk terminated the exclusive partnership.

Musk justified the cancellation by expressing dissatisfaction with Lemon’s approach, likening it to traditional CNN programming.

Despite requests for comment, Musk remained silent on the matter, leaving his remarks in the interview to speak for themselves.

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Tech

Stores make big changes to self-checkout as theft soars

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They were meant to be the future of shopping, as thousands of stores spent millions installing self-checkouts. But then people started stealing.

Target in the U.S. has announced plans to limit self-checkout transactions to 10 items or fewer across its nearly 2,000 stores nationwide.

The move, set to take effect this Sunday, aims to enhance the overall customer experience and streamline the checkout process, according to the Minneapolis-based retailer.

Big Brother tech being used by supermarkets

This decision aligns Target with numerous other retail chains, including competitor Walmart, which have either restricted or eliminated self-checkout kiosks due to technological issues and escalating concerns about theft.

Target will expand the availability of traditional checkout lanes in its stores. The company tested the revised self-checkout policy at 200 locations last autumn before rolling it out nationwide.

Quick trips

According to Target, customer feedback indicated that having the option to choose between self-checkout for quick trips or staffed lanes for larger purchases resulted in an improved checkout experience overall.

The company also attributed the shift to changing consumer behavior, noting that self-checkout gained popularity during the peak of the pandemic when shoppers sought minimal contact with others.

However, the self-checkout overhaul comes amidst a backdrop of rising organized retail crime affecting Target stores nationwide.

Last fall, the retailer closed nine locations in cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and Harlem, citing concerns for employee safety amid escalating incidents of violence.

A report revealed that organized shoplifting rings cost New York retailers an estimated $4.4 billion in losses in 2022.

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Tiktok dance – Can a Chinese algorithm conquer Congress?

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US Congress took a significant step towards curbing the influence of TikTok, as legislators voted overwhelmingly to compel its sale.

Amid mounting concerns over national security and the app’s role in disseminating information, the House of Representatives passed a bill with a decisive 362-65 vote, demanding ByteDance to divest TikTok within 180 days to avoid app stores distributing it.

While TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed bewilderment over the move, citing a lack of clarity on the company’s alleged wrongdoing, lawmakers have long voiced apprehensions about a Chinese-owned platform gaining prominence among American youth, with fears ranging from data privacy to electoral interference.

The bill’s passage marks a significant bipartisan effort, highlighting widespread concerns about TikTok’s influence and ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government.

Despite TikTok’s assertions of independence and claims of implementing safeguards to protect user data, critics argue that the app’s growing role as a news source and its algorithmic biases raise serious questions about its operations.

Legal challenges

TikTok’s efforts to mobilise users in lobbying against the bill and its history of legal challenges, reminiscent of past clashes with the Trump administration, underscore the company’s determination to defend its position in the US market.

However, the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer yet to indicate the chamber’s stance.

While several senators have expressed support for the measure, including key figures from both parties such as Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, the threshold for its passage remains unclear.

TikTok’s executives, skeptical of the bill’s prospects, anticipate a tough battle in the Senate, with potential legal challenges looming should the legislation advance. Moreover, former President Donald Trump’s recent opposition to the bill, citing concerns over its impact on rival social media platforms, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate.

Negotiate a deal

For TikTok, the stakes are high, with potential ramifications extending beyond the US market.

Past attempts to negotiate deals, including discussions with Microsoft and Oracle, have faltered, and ByteDance’s reluctance to divest TikTok further complicates the situation.

As investors grapple with uncertainty and internal frustrations mount, TikTok’s future hangs in the balance, with global bans and regulatory challenges posing additional hurdles to its operations.

Amidst mounting pressure and dwindling morale among employees, TikTok finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the prospect of a forced sale and navigating a turbulent regulatory landscape.

While TikTok’s fate remains uncertain, the battle for its future underscores broader geopolitical tensions and concerns surrounding tech platforms’ influence, raising fundamental questions about data privacy, national security, and corporate governance in the digital age.

As legislators weigh the implications of their actions and TikTok confronts existential challenges, the outcome of this high-stakes standoff will shape the future of social media regulation.

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