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lucky 777 jackpot casino slots gameplay DEVOTION Devotees gather at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu and at its Pilgrim Center in Cebu City during the first Mass to mark the start of the 456th Fiesta Señor on Jan. 8, 2021. More pilgrims are expected to visit the basilica in January as social distancing imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be required. —PHOTO COURTESY OF CALOY RAMIREZ CEBU CITY — No proper attire, no entry. Cebu’s most popular Catholic church has decided to continue strictly implementing a dress code even when multitudes are expected to visit the place in January next year to celebrate the feast of the Santo Niño or the Child Jesus. Fr. Jules Van Almerez, spokesperson of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, said they would want the churchgoers to continue practicing the dress code that was put in place since October this year. “It would be better if we will be accustomed to what has been recently implemented,” he said in a recent interview. Last Oct. 1, the Augustinian fathers, who run the basilica, started implementing a dress code, especially for tourists who enter the centuries-old basilica in attires deemed inappropriate for a church visit. They said they wanted to maintain “the solemnity of the worship space” and align with practices observed at other churches and shrines both locally and internationally. READ: Basilica denies dress code bias, but urges no cross-dressing Before the dress code was imposed, the Augustinians used to lend shawls to visitors who were not in proper church attire but had since stopped the practice to compel people to dress correctly inside the church and its compound. They said even those who would wear shawls rented from stalls outside the basilica to cover their sleeveless dressed or blouses would still be denied entry. Almerez said it would be proper to continue wearing the right attire inside the church compound even during the Fiesta Señor celebration, which will begin on Jan. 9, 2025 and will culminate with the feast of the Child Jesus on Jan. 19, 2025. The feast, held every third Sunday of January, is the basis of what is now Cebu’s famous Sinulog Festival, the secular festivity to honor the Señor Santo Niño. “We need to practice what is proper inside a sacred place,” he said. Considered improper attire are spaghetti straps, tube or tank tops, sleeveless or plunging necklines, racerbacks or barebacks, short skirts and crop tops, shorts of any kind, low-waist pants and ripped jeans, caps and hats, and sando or anything without sleeves. On the other hand, churchgoers and other visitors are encouraged to wear collared blouses with sleeves, knee-length or long dressed with sleeves, knee-length or long skirts, neckline tops with sleeves, polo shirts or collared shirts, T-shirts or long sleeves shirts, jeans or slacks, office wear or smart casual, and decent footwear. The dress code implemented at the basilica, however, has been met with criticisms from some people who considered it a “very strict policy.” “That’s too much,” said one churchgoer upon learning about the policy imposed at the basilica. Others believed many devotees could not attend Masses at the basilica, including those who do not have enough money to buy clothes and footwear that would pass the scrutiny of the guards at the entrance gates. In an earlier statement, the Augustinians appealed for understanding and cooperation among people who visited the basilica, which houses two of the country’s oldest images given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. “Together, as one Catholic Christian community, let us ensure a respectful and meaningful experience for all who come to the basilica, the home of our beloved Holy Child, Señor Santo Niño de Cebu,” their statement read. READ: Going to ‘Simbang Gabi’? Dress for Mass, not for mall Magellan, who led a Spanish expedition that arrived in Cebu in 1521, gifted Cebu’s Queen Juana with an image of the Santo Niño or the Holy Child Jesus and Rajah Humabon with the Ecce Homo or the bust of the suffering Jesus Christ during their baptism on April 14 that year. Magellan also gave the natives an image of the Madonna or the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. Both the original images of the Santo Niño and the Ecce Homo are displayed for veneration inside the basilica. The Madonna, on the other hand, has been missing for centuries now. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Devotees also visit the nearby Magellan’s Cross to offer candles and prayers before the icon that symbolizes the arrival of Christianity on Philippine soil.Boy’s death at haunted hayride ruled accidental by coronerSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks . Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn't improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. This will be the first time Purdy has missed a start because of an injury since taking over as the 49ers’ quarterback in December 2022. Brandon Allen will start in his place. The Niners (5-5) are currently in a three-way tie for second in the NFC West, a game behind first-place Arizona, and have little margin for error if they want to get back to the playoffs after making it to the Super Bowl last season. Purdy has completed 66% of his passes this season for 2,613 yards, 13 TDs, eight interceptions and a 95.9 passer rating that is down significantly from his league-leading mark of 113 in 2023. Allen has been mostly a backup since being drafted by Jacksonville in 2016. Allen last started a game in Week 18 of the 2021 season for Cincinnati and has thrown just three passes the last three seasons — including none since joining San Francisco in 2023. Joshua Dobbs will be the backup on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Joly touts ‘private’ diplomacy as Mexico criticizes Canada’s culture, tradeJones scores 22 and Fairleigh Dickinson downs Lehman 98-54

NEWS BRIEF Global insurance giant Lloyd's of London has launched a cyber insurance consortium to create a new shared risk facility for the cyber insurance market, offering qualified organizations exclusive rates, simplified insurance process, and comprehensive coverage. A shared risk facility is a network of insurance firms that agree to collaborate and share the underwriting risk of policies. The consortium brings together a global network of Moody's-recognized AA-rated insurers and is designed to scale as additional insurers join the group. Through this model, insurers can deliver enhanced and more consistent insurance products and coverage, according to HITRUST. Organizations seeking cyber insurance that have HITRUST certifications are eligible for lower insurance rates through the program, including a starting credit of 25% on premiums. The certification also allows for streamlined underwriting and a simpler application process. HITRUST said in a statement that some policies are being underwritten in "just one week." New policies under the consortium have a single-page exclusion model, and organizations that participate will have access to increased capacity as the consortium grows to make sure they have insurance products that meet their needs. "By integrating HITRUST certification into our underwriting process, we're able to offer tailored cyber insurance solutions that not only recognize but also reward organizations for their commitment to stringent security standards," said Josh Ladeau, CEO of Trium Cyber, the underwriting lead for the initiative, in a statement To enable this consortium, HITRUST developed a secure API allowing insurers access to detailed information about an organization's HITRUST r2 certification. This way, insurers receive structured, consistent assessment data to facilitate the underwriting process. There are plans to expand eligibility in 2025 to other certification types, potentially including HITRUST's AI Security Certification. Jennifer Lawinski is a writer and editor with more than 20 years experience in media, covering a wide range of topics including business, news, culture, science, technology and cybersecurity. After earning a Master's degree in Journalism from Boston University, she started her career as a beat reporter for The Daily News of Newburyport. She has since written for a variety of publications including CNN, Fox News, Tech Target, CRN, CIO Insight, MSN News and Live Science. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and two cats.For those who have a sweet tooth or a fondness for classic treats, may just be the perfect purchase today. Available on with a generous 22% discount, these iconic Danish butter cookies offer not just exceptional flavor, but also represent a delightful blend of tradition and quality. One of the major perks of choosing is the classic, easily recognizable blue tin packaging, which adds a touch of nostalgia. These cookies have been delighting families for generations, and their visually appealing container can be reused for various purposes, from storing keepsakes to organizing small household items. Additionally, stands out due to its simplicity and natural ingredients. With no preservatives or coloring added, you can enjoy these cookies without the worry of consuming artificial additives. This makes them a suitable choice for anyone looking to enjoy high-quality treats without compromising their health. Imagine opening the tin to reveal five distinct shapes of buttery cookies, each with a unique taste and texture that enhances the overall experience. Sharing these cookies, whether at gatherings or as a simple treat with your afternoon tea or coffee, showcases your appreciation for timeless quality treats. Convenience is another significant advantage of purchasing from . The platform offers fast shipping and reliable service, ensuring you receive your favorite cookies right to your doorsteps. With the current discount, it’s the perfect opportunity to stock up or gift someone special. To sum up, presents an exquisite taste wrapped in historical charm. Seize the moment, take advantage of the ongoing discount, and bring home these timeless delights today.

Trump brushes off Ontario threat to pull U.S. energy plug as booze ban pondered, /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company" or "Cousins") (NYSE:CUZ) announced today that its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP (the "Operating Partnership"), has priced an offering of aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2032 at 99.463% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on , subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Cousins intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price of 601 West 2nd Street, also known as Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot trophy lifestyle office property in (the "Sail Tower Acquisition"), and the remainder to repay borrowings under its credit facility and for general corporate purposes. In the event the Sail Tower Acquisition is not completed, Cousins will use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition and development of office properties, other opportunistic investments and the repayment of debt. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company. J.P. Morgan, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers. A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, , 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, telephone collect at 1-212-834-4533; Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 303 Peachtree Street, 30308, telephone: 800-685-4786, or e-mail: ; or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Attention: High Grade Syndicate, 214 North Tryon Street, 26th Floor, 28202, or by telephone at: (877) 558-2607. Electronic copies of these documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at . This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT"). The Company, based in and acting through the Operating Partnership, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. Certain matters contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, as itemized in Item 1A included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended and . These forward-looking statements include information about the Company's possible or assumed future results of the business and the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements regarding subjects that are forward-looking by their nature, such as: guidance and underlying assumptions; business and financial strategy; future debt financings; future acquisitions and dispositions of operating assets or joint venture interests; future acquisitions and dispositions of land, including ground leases; future acquisitions of investments in real estate debt; future development and redevelopment opportunities; future issuances and repurchases of common stock, limited partnership units, or preferred stock; future distributions; projected capital expenditures; market and industry trends; future occupancy or volume and velocity of leasing activity; entry into new markets, changes in existing market concentrations, or exits from existing markets; future changes in interest rates and liquidity of capital markets; and all statements that address operating performance, events, investments, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account information that is currently available. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of possible events or factors, not all of which are known. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements due to, but not limited to, the following: the availability and terms of capital and our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on terms favorable to us or at all; the ability to refinance or repay indebtedness as it matures; any changes to our credit rating; the failure of purchase, sale, or other contracts to ultimately close; the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from acquisitions, developments, investments, or dispositions; the effect of common stock or operating partnership unit issuances, including those undertaken on a forward basis, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock; the availability of buyers and pricing with respect to the disposition of assets; changes in national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry, and the commercial real estate markets in which we operate (including supply and demand changes), particularly in , , , , , , and , including the impact of high unemployment, volatility in the public equity and debt markets, and international economic and other conditions; threatened terrorist attacks or sociopolitical unrest such as political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities, or political activism, which may result in a disruption of day-to-day building operations; changes to our strategy in regard to our real estate assets may require impairment to be recognized; leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, the ability to lease newly-developed and/or recently acquired space, the failure of a tenant to commence or complete tenant improvements on schedule or to occupy leased space, and the risk of declining leasing rates; changes in the preferences of our tenants brought about by the desire for co-working arrangements, trends toward utilizing less office space per employee, and the effect of employees working remotely; any adverse change in the financial condition or liquidity of one or more of our tenants or borrowers under our real estate debt investments; volatility in interest rates (including the impact upon the effectiveness of forward interest rate contract arrangements) and insurance rates; inflation; competition from other developers or investors; the risks associated with real estate developments (such as zoning approval, receipt of required permits, construction delays, cost overruns, and leasing risk); supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs; risks associated with security breaches through cyberattacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology networks and related systems, which support our operations and our buildings; changes in senior management, changes in the Company's board of directors, and the loss of key personnel; the potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues; the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws or the impact of any investigation regarding the same; the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners; any failure to comply with debt covenants under debt instruments and credit agreements; any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust or meet regulatory requirements; potential changes to state, local, or federal regulations applicable to our business; material changes in dividend rates on common shares or other securities or the ability to pay those dividends; potential changes to the tax laws impacting real estate investment trusts and real estate in general; risks associated with climate change and severe weather events, as well as the regulatory efforts intended to reduce the effects of climate changes and investor and public perception of our efforts to respond to the same; the impact of newly adopted accounting principles on our accounting policies and on period-to-period comparisons of financial results; risks associated with possible federal, state, local, or property tax audits; and those additional risks and environmental or other factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Roni Imbeaux Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 404-407-1104 View original content: SOURCE Cousins Properties

Dear Eric: The last four years of my father’s life, I was a near constant caregiver. I visited him daily, did his lawn work, took him to doctor’s appointments, to the barber, occasionally to dinner or a movie. I always took care of his finances and medications. He would call me as many as 10 or 15 times a day. After he died about a year ago, I have been overcome with guilt. There were times when his constant needs overtook my life. I had no social outlet of my own. I didn’t handle this pressure well and would occasionally lash out in anger at my father. A week before he died, I made him cry. I live each day now with a regret I cannot seem to shake. I visit his grave every week and ask for forgiveness. I can tell myself that if I had not been able to help him, he would not have been able to stay in his home, something he desperately wanted to do until the end. Others have commented on my sacrifices for my father. But I still have this feeling that I was a bad son, and it weighs down on all aspects of my life now. I’ve become isolated in my guilt and grief. I don’t know what I need to do to once again find joy. — Still Grieving Dear Still Grieving: My heart aches for you. There’s no perfect caregiver; there’s no perfect son; there’s no perfect grief. With time, try to offer yourself forgiveness. Because it sounds like, even with the moments of frustration or fatigue, your father didn’t see you as a bad son. When faced with the uncontrollable — the illness of loved ones, our inability to stop death — we often hyperfocus on what we think we can control. But, by your own account, you did the best you could, and your father’s quality of life was better because of it. If you can, please work with a grief counselor to process these feelings. Keep talking to those you trust, who can listen without judgment and without trying to rush you. Dear Eric: I am a 72-year-old woman who lives alone. I live in a one-story, two-bedroom condo. The mortgage is paid off. I don’t have any family here. I am also divorced. I have cousins who live in another state, and I haven’t seen them in many years. I am the youngest cousin. So, I am thinking about my end-of-life plans. I don’t have any serious health problems, but I am not totally healthy. I have two friends who have been here for me for many years. However, I am hesitant to ask one of them to be my power of attorney. They want to help me make my end-of-life plans and decide what to do if I can no longer live alone. There is nobody else I can ask to be my POA. Any advice you can give me would be appreciated. — Plan Hesitation Dear Plan: If your friends have expressed a desire to help you, please take them up on it. Your friends have been there for you in good times and in times of need, as surely as you have been for them. Think of this as another way to affirm your bond. If you’re worried about it being an imposition, don’t be afraid to share that with your friends. This is a vulnerable ask and it’s OK to have complicated feelings about it. You may be surprised to find they don’t feel it’s an imposition at all. If you haven’t already, you may also want to talk with a lawyer about the responsibilities of power of attorney. Thinking through the specifics of what you’re asking may make it easier. Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

ROUYN-NORANDA, Quebec, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (GMX – Toronto Stock Exchange, G1MN – Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, Tradegate, Lang & Schwarz, LS Exchange, TTMzero, Düsseldorf and Quotrix Düsseldorf Stock Exch anges and GLBXF – OTCQX International in the US) is pleased to provide an update regards drilling by Cartier Resources Inc. (ECR-TSXV, 6CA-FSE) on Globex’s Nordeau West claims directly east of the Chimo Gold Mine. New assays have been reported from the VG10 and VG10 South structures on the Nordeau West Royalty claims on which Globex retains a 3% Gross Metal Royalty. Drill results include the following: For detailed information on the drill program, please click here to access Cartier’s December 3, 2024 and August 27, 2024 press releases. Globex retains a 3% Gross Metal Royalty on the Nordeau East, Nordeau West and east Bateman claims. East Cadillac Property – Cartier Resources Longitudinal Section VG9 and VG10 Gold Zones – Cartier Resources This press release was written by Jack Stoch, P. Geo., President and CEO of Globex in his capacity as a Qualified Person (Q.P.) under NI 43-101. Forward Looking Statements: Except for historical information, this news release may contain certain “forward looking statements”. These statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity and performance to be materially different from the expectations and projections of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (“Globex”). No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits Globex will derive therefrom. A more detailed discussion of the risks is available in the “Annual Information Form” filed by Globex on SEDARplus.ca . Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23f9f1ad-74e3-485b-bc69-2ddaf7c0193b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7dd2eff1-2c58-46f1-9eae-057b97a61d25

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The Louisville Cardinals host a ranked team for the second time this week when the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils pay a visit on Sunday, and the Cardinals hope for a better outcome in the teams' Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Louisville (5-3) has lost two straight, including an 86-63 thrashing at home by No. 23 Ole Miss in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday. The visiting Rebels shot 56.7 percent and dominated inside with a 48-26 edge on points in the paint. Tuesday's game was the first for coach Pat Kelsey's team without Kasean Pryor, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. The 6-foot-10 senior wing, a transfer from South Florida, was a key player early on for Louisville, averaging 12 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and blocking eight shots in seven games. Pryor is the latest Cardinals player to go down with an injury. Before the season started, the school announced center Aly Khalifa and guard Kobe Rodgers would redshirt due to injuries. Then just two games into the season, Aboubacar Traore broke his arm and Koren Johnson injured his shoulder. Traore is expected back this season, but Johnson announced earlier this week that he would also redshirt this season and undergo surgery. Besides the injuries, the Cardinals are also struggling to hit 3-point shots, a key facet to Kelsey's offense. Louisville entered Saturday 340th nationally in 3-point shooting percentage at 27.3 percent and seventh nationally averaging 31.6 attempts per game. Despite the woes, Kelsey told reporters after the Ole Miss loss that he doesn't plan to change his offense, adding that he believes in his players. "The percentages even themselves out," he said. "This has happened before. I just don't want our guys to lose confidence, because I really, really believe in them. They'll bounce back and be better on Sunday." The Blue Devils (6-2) won their SEC/ACC Challenge game on Wednesday, beating No. 2 Auburn 84-78 in Durham. Duke overcame a 13-2 deficit to get the Quadrant 1 victory on its resume. Coach Jon Scheyer's team shot 50 percent from the field and committed just four turnovers. It was just the 14th time in program history the Blue Devils had four or fewer turnovers in a game. Freshman Cooper Flagg, a preseason All-American and a contender for national player of the year awards, leads the Blue Devils in scoring (16.6 ppg), rebounding (8.6 rpg), assists (4.1 apg) and blocked shots (1.4 per game). He scored 22, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out four assists in the win against the Tigers, but it was another freshman who stole the show. Isaiah Evans came off the bench to score 18 points and hit 6 of 8 3-point shots. The guard averages 9.4 points per game but has only played in five games and has yet to play more than 17 minutes in a contest. Scheyer told reporters after the win that Evans provided a "special moment" when his team needed a lift. "To have that amazing courage to come into this game and do what he did -- I'm not sure if I've ever been a part of something like that in my years here," Scheyer said. --Field Level Media

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TEANECK, N.J. (AP) — Dylan Jones had 22 points in Fairleigh Dickinson's 98-54 victory over Lehman on Saturday. Jones shot 6 for 10 (6 for 9 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Knights (4-7). Terrence Brown added 19 points while shooting 7 for 12 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line and also had six rebounds, five assists, and six steals. Cameron Tweedy had 11 points and shot 4 of 5 from the field and 3 for 5 from the line. The Lightning were led in scoring by Kai Parris, who finished with 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NASA Invites Media to Administrator Flight in Electra Hybrid-Electric AircraftNew disability ministers will ‘champion’ inclusion and accessibility – minister

UMass men’s basketball falls to rival UMass Lowell in Kennedy Cup matchDavid Beckham pays tribute to ‘heartbeat of Manchester United’ Kath Phipps

Undercover FBI agents had no role in US Capitol attack: report

Making games “cool.” After 30 years of PlayStation , it’s sometimes tough to remember how much of a game changer the new platform was to the world at the tine. Sony, a new hardware competitor up against the already-established Sega and Nintendo, approached things with a new vision. According to a former PlayStation executive , one of the most important ways the company lapped the competition was by peddling its games and hardware with a flair for innovation. Just in time for the brand’s landmark anniversary, Sony lifer and a former chairman for PlayStation Worldwide Studios Shawn Layden spoke with Eurogamer about the unorthodox and surprisingly successful ways Sony bullied its way into the gaming market in its early days. Layden explains that without a dedicated team for marketing games and brokering conversations with publishers and developers, Sony surprisingly leaned on employees in the company’s music division to reach new partners and audiences. “When they decided they were getting into the game business, they knew they had the technology, the engineers. [Sony] said 'Let's be honest, we sell electronics'. Sony knew that without entertainment DNA, we would not be successful,” Layden explained. “So the initial stage was made a joint venture between Sony Electronics and Sony Music.” Sony’s approach to marketing the original PlayStation was a game-changer for the games industry. Leaving that responsibility to people with almost zero game experience ended up being a major boon when presenting PlayStation as something avant-garde. Layden recalled “Sony Music guys” pulling up to the offices later than the engineering team “hungover, sunglasses, cigarettes hanging out their mouths.” The team would study the Japanese stock market for an hour before pursuing leads. While the charismatic group of mysteryious employees couldn’t be more different from the prim-and-proper hardware team innovating on the technical side of the console, the music team produced major results in its new role. “Those were the guys who would go out with the people at SquareSoft [known today as today SqureEnix] and ply them with whiskey until the wee hours of the morning to finally get Final Fantasy VII off of Nintendo and onto PlayStation,” Layden said. “That was really the 'oh my god' moment. 'Sony's really serious about this now.' And that's down to the music guys, the doggedness of just trying to get a deal over the line. They were amazing.” While some of it could be considered cringe today, earlier PlayStation marketing was a massive departure from how games were advertised in the mid to late 90s. Layden had joined Sony in 1987, nine years before the launch of the PlayStation. Layden would move to the PlayStation team in 1996, just a few years after the tech company shifted its CD-drive peripheral for Nintendo’s SNES to a fully-fledged console. The former executive said that top brass within Sony wasn’t convinced that the PlayStation would be the success it would become. “Within Sony, a lot of the leadership at the time didn't take it seriously,” he told Eurogamer . “They thought: ‘Oh my god, Sega and Nintendo own this thing [the console industry]. You think Sony’s going to come in sideways and try to divvy that thing up into a three-piece pie?’ It was a fool's errand.’” But snatching a piece of that pie took a gutsy move from Sony Music’s star team of cigarette-smoking dealmakers. At the time, both Nintendo and Sega used tried-and-true contemporary gaming marketing to sell games to younger audiences. Most games would show an action-packed art asset in print ads. Television ads were more creative , with live-action elements or even the occasional dig at the competition. But they mostly boiled down to what had worked well for years. Organized efforts to appeal to older players, like Nintendo’s “Play It Loud” ad campaign, came off as weird, inauthentic, and grating. Before PlayStation shook things up, there was no mistaking a commercial for video games for something more mainstream. While PlayStation had its fair share of edgy ads making fun of the other side (it was still the 90’s after all), it was also on the cutting edge of what was actually cool to wider audiences at the time. “Gaming advertising had been really straightforward,” Layden said. “But the advertising team at PlayStation came from Sony Music, so we were marketing games like you market rock bands - with a little of the mystery, a little of the sexy.” Layden pointed out the cover of games like the first Wipeout , which looked a lot like an EDM album cover. Television ads in Japan used music from then-popular U.S. bands like Chemical Brothers and Prodigy. Ads for games like Tomb Raider , Crash Bandicoot , and Wipeout helped make gaming cool to the mainstream. Of course, it also helped that these games were genuinely impressive and pretty fun to play. Conflating Wipeout’s gameplay with the party drugs was an edgy concerted effort to find a new audience for video games. And according to Shawn Layden, it worked. “We'd be going to clubs during that time and see PlayStation 1 kiosks with Wipeout in nightclubs,” Layden said. “You've got your vodka Red Bull in one hand, and you're playing Wipeout with the other. It was the beginnings of making gaming into a lifestyle, the beginnings of making it something where gaming is more than just a distraction.” “Gaming became less something whispered about in pubs and more you overhearing someone saying, ‘oh I'm playing Tomb Raider,” he concluded. The rest is , of course, history. Sony’s cutting-edge way of marketing games was replicated by Sega and Nintendo when advertising their next consoles. Microsoft would also take a similar approach when jumping into the gaming market with the first Xbox in 2001, targeting adults almost exclusively. It’s pretty metal to show nothing by an eyeball in a jar to advertise one of the most influential survival horror games ever. The tonal change of marketing across the games industry can also be credited to the advertising world catching up to the cultural shift of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. But PlayStation was ahead of the curve in proving that the old ways of selling games had become archaic. It’s a cyclical occurrence in most of the entertainment world. Nintendo would change the game once more in the late 2000’s getting the likes of Beyoncé and Robin Williams playing its systems for TV commercials. For PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, it’s easy to overlook how revolutionary Sony’s approach to game marketing was for its time. While some of it has aged poorly, there’s no denying how pivotal it was in changing the perception of gaming and the soon-to-be billion-dollar industry forever. And in many ways, that’s just as important as the iconic games we all remember fondly three decades later. Video Games Internet Culture PlayStationIndiana aims to run its winning streak to five games Friday night when Nebraska welcomes the Hoosiers to Lincoln, Neb. Indiana (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) has lost the past three meetings with Nebraska after winning seven straight. The Hoosiers are led by center Oumar Ballo, a transfer from Arizona who averages 13.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, and forward Malik Reneau (team-best 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds). Reneau, according to Indiana, is one of five major-conference players to average at least 10 points per game with a field goal percentage of at least 60 and 80 percent from the free-throw line. Off Indiana's 82-67 home win over Minnesota on Monday, head coach Mike Woodson said there are things to work on going forward. "When you get a team down 15, 20 points, you got to remember how you got them down and continue to do the same things that got you the lead," said Woodson, "and I don't think we did that coming down the stretch." Nebraska's best win this season was over then-No. 14 Creighton in an in-state battle last month. But the Cornhuskers (6-2, 0-1) haven't played a very difficult schedule, and were blown out 89-52 by current No. 21 Michigan State on the road last weekend. The Spartans became the first team in 25 games to make more than 50 percent of their shots against Nebraska, so improved defense will be key for the Huskers. Nebraska was also outrebounded 48-19. "That hadn't been us all year, and that was the disappointing thing," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "The physicality of the game in this league ... we're going to see it every night. I've been pleased with how they've responded, but we'll see how they step up to the challenge Friday night." If Nebraska can turn things around on offense, it is 38-2 under Hoiberg when scoring at least 80 points, including 4-0 this season. Brice Williams is Nebraska's leading scorer at 17.5 points per game. Connor Essegian adds 13.0 ppg and shoots 42.6 percent from 3-point range. --Field Level Media