Latest news with #JimLee
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
This Is The Best ‘Fortnite' Skin Ever Made, Here's How To Get It
Fortnite Epic While I have been collecting Fortnite skins on and off for years now, I have not been this impressed with a new offering…ever, really. Fortnite has just revealed a new style for Superman, the key figure in this themed season, and a very obvious marketing connection to the upcoming Superman DCU film on July 8. The original skin is very much modeled on actor David Corenswet, as opposed to a more generic Superman that arrived in the game a long time ago. But this new style? It's the best skin I've ever seen, both an evolution of Fortnite's recent 'pen and ink' skin concept and one that appears to have been drawn for the game by the comic legend himself, Jim Lee, as his signature appears next to the skin. The pen and ink skin harkens back to the original 'Action Comics' days of the first appearance of Superman, which is why the 'S' looks like that. We have seen other pen and ink variants of skins somewhat recently, like Deadpool and Wolverine, and Bucky and Yelena from Thunderbolts. It's always been an awesome style, but this Jim Lee version is easily the best I've seen. I would declare it the best Fortnite skin in the game, personally. Fortnite Epic The catch here is how to get it. You will need to own the battle pass for this season to get all the way to the Superman bonus skin zone. Then, you have to wait until July 11 (three days after the movie premieres) when it and its challenges unlock. Then you will have to get all the way through that mini pass to reach pen and ink Superman in the final spot. So now, he's not simply in the store right now for you to snatch up for a certain amount of V-bucks. In some ways I guess 'earning' him is good, but I mean, you're still paying for the battle pass up front. While Fortnite has become a frequent marketing tool for all manner of projects these days, this Superman-led season, which includes narrative components and genuinely fun super-additions to combat in the game, is going better than most. Add on this all-time great skin, and yes, I think I'm going to have to hop in at least by the time July 11 hits to earn it for myself. Hopefully, I'm up to the task. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainers Jim and Greg Lee dare to dream of another Group 1 staying classic with emerging Convergent
The trainer's hut at the mile start of Royal Randwick is laden with history. If only the walls could talk. Most mornings, you find Jim and Greg Lee watching trackwork from the hut, right alongside Hall of Famer Les Bridge. The trio are the longest serving trainers at the famous racetrack. There's nearly 200 years of experience between them. Bridge started training at Randwick in 1964. Three years later, Jim and Greg were apprenticed to him. 'When we went to the track each morning to ride work, the 'boss' would say 'here comes the Kray brothers','' Greg Lee said. 'Jim and 'me' didn't know who the Kray brothers were, we thought he had us mixed up with someone else. We still laugh about it to this day.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! For those who may not know, Ronnie and Reggie Kray were identical twins and infamous English crime figures before their arrest in 1968. The Lees were often mistaken as twins, particularly in their youth, but they are 'clean skins' and about as far removed from the Kray brothers as you can get. They are old school and to this day still refer to Bridge rather quaintly as 'boss' or 'Mr Bridge''. The Lees started training in 1981. Training partnerships weren't in vogue back so Jim Lee was the registered trainer but the brothers share everything. It's always been this way. Bridge turns 87 next month, Jim Lee is 71 and a year older than his brother. But the three men share two traits that will never leave them – their love for the thoroughbred and a desire to find the next good horse. In recent years, Bridge has won The Everest with Classique Legend and a Doncaster Mile with Celestial Legend. Both horses are now retired so their trainer is searching again. Classique Legend takes out the 2020 #TABEverest! Gun ride from @KPMcEvoy to take it home again! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 17, 2020 But for the Lees, maybe their search could soon be over. There is something about the relatively unknown and inexperienced Convergent that excites the brothers. 'He's a strong stayer and he can run time,'' Greg Lee said. 'In his work, he runs times that others horses can't. He's a very promising horse.'' Convergent puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Midway Handicap (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. He is rated a $15 chance in early TAB Fixed Odds betting behind the $4.60 favourite Engine Room. A rising five-year-old gelding, Convergent has o nly been to the races once, making his debut at Kensington on Anzac Day and swooping from last in a small field to win comfortably. Convergent wins on debut for Jim & Greg Lee with @Reganbayliss in the saddle ðŸ'° @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 25, 2025 • Lee only had Convergent in his stable for a few weeks prior to the horse's winning debut. The trainer had given Convergent two very different barrier trial hit-outs leading into his debut race to learn more about the gelding. In the first trial Convergent led most of the way to win his heat comfortably, then he was ridden more conservatively in his next trial and finished at the rear of the field behind boom English import Sir Delius. 'I wanted him ridden on the pace in his first trial to see how much speed he had,'' Lee said. 'Then in his second trial, he was ridden quietly to teach him to relax. He got back in the field and was inside runners so he was sort of 'buried' away there. 'But by this stage we knew he could gallop and we were confident he could win his first start.'' Interesting trial. 1st - Convergent (4g Impending x Victoria Heights) for Jim & Greg Lee. Unraced 4yo having his 8th trial. 2nd - Klondike (5g Galileo x Koora). New import into the @JohnOSheaRacing team. Winter and Melbourne Cup aspirations. 3 wins from 9 to G3 level. @larneuk — Breednet (@BreednetNews) March 28, 2025 • Convergent's backstory is interesting. The modestly-bred gelding was passed in when he failed to meet his $15,000 reserve at the 2022 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale before finding his way into the Anthony Cummings stable. Cummings gave Convergent plenty of time and the four-year-old gelding had not made it to the racetrack when the trainer's licence was revoked in March. He then approached the Lee brothers to see if they were interested in buying the unraced horse. 'Anthony kept telling me he reckons Convergent was a Melbourne Cup hope,'' Greg Lee said. 'He showed me the times the horse was running on the track and I believed him. 'Anthony gave us the horse for a month to trial him which was a very fair thing for him to do. 'When the horse won his first trial, I could see he was running the times Anthony was telling us he could run.'' Lee's long-time stable client Fred Khedoori agreed to purchase Convergent for an undisclosed sum. The owner has had a lot of success with the Lee stable over the years with the likes of Fouardee, winner of five stakes races including the Group 3 Concorde Stakes, Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap and two Listed Satellite Stakes, and Keepin' The Dream, winner of the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup, Group 3 Newmarket Handicap, Listed Gosford Gold Cup and Listed Scone Cup. But Convergent is something else again. It has the Lee brothers thinking of the heady days with their best horse, outstanding stayer Hayai who won the 1983-84 Metropolitan Handicaps, 1983 Caulfield Cup and Tancred Stakes, and 1984-85 Craven Plates. • Bargain basement buy knocks off $3m filly More than 40 years since Hayai, the Lee brothers are daring to dream again. 'After Convergent runs on Saturday, we are going to give him a short break then bring him back for races like the Wyong Cup and Newcastle Cup,'' Lee said. 'If he is as good as we think he is, we are hoping he gets to The Metropolitan and who knows where he might end up after that.' But what makes the Lee brothers believe Convergent could be their next good horse given his lack of race exposure? Well, when you have been working with horses as long as the Lee brothers have, you just know. 'The good horses are different, you can tell. They have a great set of lungs and a will-to-win,'' Greg Lee said. 'Convergent has those qualities. He will run 2400m no worries at all, and he shows every sign he will get over further, too. 'He jumps out, puts his head over his chest, goes to 'sleep' and doesn't move unless his rider asks him. We like the horse a lot.'' The Lee brothers only have 10 horses in training and whatever they are doing, it's working. They have had five winners from their past 10 starters – Convergent, Power Smash, Valiant Bomb and My Shalom (twice). My Shalom gets the best of the rest in a tight finish at Kembla Grange! ðŸ'¥ @HeavelonVan — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 3, 2025 They also have a very promising three-year-old Glorious Moments that won a barrier trial by nearly 10 lengths last week, and an unnamed two-year-old by sire sensation Wootton Bassett that Greg says can really gallop. Even though Jim Lee stays at home more often than not these days, it was like old times at Randwick trackwork for Greg Lee this week. Giving Greg a helping hand at the stables was Neville Voigt, who rode Hayai to most of his wins, Hall of Fame jockey Jim Cassidy, three-time Sydney premier rider Kevin Moses and trainer Bobby Pearse. And Bridge is right next to Lee in the trainer's hut at the mile start, both men sitting on the same chairs that have been for decades. 'They all have their own ideas and you never stop learning from them,'' Greg Lee said. 'With all these great horsemen around you, it's hard to make a mistake.''
Miami Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Target profits boosted by $593M payout in antitrust credit card settlements
Target's latest quarterly profits would have been much worse if it had not received $593 million in settlements from an antitrust lawsuit against Visa and MasterCard that was filed a dozen years ago. "When you look at the numbers, the profits don't look too bad," said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail. "If you take [the settlement money] out, operating income is down by about a third, and net income is down by over half. That shows you the true picture of the real slide in profitability at Target, and that's a real issue for them." The Minneapolis-based retailer disclosed the settlements, which were reached in March and April, in its first quarter earnings report last week. Target and several large retailers, including Kohl's and Macy's, sued Visa and MasterCard in 2013, claiming anticompetitive practices drove up the cost of fees that merchants pay when customers use credit or debit cards. Most of the more than 30 retailers have now settled the lawsuits, which were an effort by large retailers to break the control Visa and MasterCard exerted over card-based payments. The plaintiffs argued in the lawsuit that true competition among banks would result in lower swipe fees and fairer merchant agreements. Bolstered by the $593 million settlement, Target's first quarter earnings grew 10% to $1 billion, or $2.27 a share. However, comparable sales fell 4% and, not counting the one-time boost, adjusted earnings were $1.30 a share when Wall Street analysts were expecting $1.65. Target's Chief Financial Officer Jim Lee acknowledged the settlement's impact on the company's first quarter performance, noting the operating margin rate of 6.2% included about 250 basis points of benefit from the settlement. With the settlement money in hand, analysts say Target needs to shift focus back to the sales floor, where lingering economic uncertainty, rising costs and weakened discretionary spending continue to challenge profitability. Target declined to comment on the specifics of the settlements it reached in March and April, respectively, with Visa and MasterCard. The federal judge sealed details of Target's settlement, but court documents from March 27 and April 17 say the retailer "fully settled all of its claims" against MasterCard and Visa. The lawsuits were filed after big retailers rejected a $7.25 billion class-action settlement in 2013, which was the biggest of its kind at the time. Target and other major companies then filed their own separate lawsuits. The rejected settlement said merchants in 2012 had paid $30 billion in interchange fees, also known as swipe or merchant fees. The original class-action lawsuit was brought in 2003, challenging the "honor all cards" rule, which forced merchants to accept debit cards, which carried high signature-based fees, if they accepted credit cards. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was then amended in 2010 to rein in debit card interchange fees charged by large banks. But the amendment applied only to debit cards, not credit cards, and didn't prohibit Visa or MasterCard from continuing non-price-related rules that restrict competition. However, the 2013 Target lawsuit argues interchange fees actually increased after this settlement. American Signature, Chico's, and Premium Brands Services and Lane Bryant all reached settlements with Visa following Target's settlement. Other companies including Macy's, Gap and Marathon Petroleum are continuing to push forward with a trial set for October. Visa says it has not done anything wrong, arguing the retailers contract with companies that collect the fees and then pay credit card companies. Therefore the retailers don't directly pay the fees to Visa, it says. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bear of the Day: Target (TGT)
Target TGT has evolved from just being a pure brick-and-mortar retailer to an omnichannel entity, modernizing its supply chain to compete with pure e-commerce players. Analysts have taken a bearish stance on the company's outlook, with the stock presently sporting an unfavorable Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Let's take a closer look at what's been affecting the popular retailer. Target TGT shares have continued to struggle in 2025, down nearly 30% and widely underperforming not only the S&P 500 but many other peer retailers as well. Quarterly results have regularly brought post-earnings pressure over recent periods, with the company's more 'discretionary' inventory being a major thorn in the side. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Target's product mix is much less exposed to the grocery side relative to Walmart, for example, carrying a much less 'staply' nature. The company benefited massively during the pandemic era, when consumers were rapidly spending on discretionary items, but that theme has long subsided. The weak inventory mix has been the driving force behind the stock's plunge over recent years, down nearly 40% over the last two years. Nonetheless, the company is on deck to reveal its next set of quarterly results soon, which could turn the tide entirely. Analysts have been bearish for the quarter to be reported, with the current $1.72 Zacks Consensus EPS estimate down more than 15% since the end of February. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Jim Lee, CFO, had this comment following the release of its Q1 results in early March – 'During February, we saw record performance around Valentines Day. However, our topline performance for the month was soft, as uncharacteristically cold weather across the U.S. affected apparel sales, and declining consumer confidence impacted our discretionary assortment overall,' He continued – 'Looking ahead, we expect to see a moderation in this trend as apparel sales respond to warmer weather around the country, and consumers turn to Target for upcoming seasonal moments such as the Easter holiday. We will continue to monitor these trends and will remain appropriately cautious with our expectations for the year ahead.' Bottom Line Negative earnings estimate revisions, resulting from soft quarterly results and an unfavorable inventory mix, paint a challenging picture for the company's shares in the near term. Target TGT is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that analysts have taken a bearish stance on the company's earnings outlook. For those seeking strong stocks, a great idea would be to focus on stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) – these stocks sport a notably stronger earnings outlook paired with the potential to deliver explosive gains in the near term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Target Corporation (TGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Analyzing Donald Trump's first 100 days: This Week in Pennsylvania
(WHTM) – On This Week in Pennsylvania, we're taking a deep dive into President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. Jim Lee, President & CEO of Susquehanna Polling and Research, walks us through polling showing Trump underperforming compared to his election victory amid inflation and tariffs. Dennis Owens also gives us a recap of the top stories in Pennsylvania from the last week. PennDOT is reminding Pennsylvanians of the timeline to have a REAL ID to board domestic flights. If you do not have a REAL ID after May 7, you will need a passport or military ID. Around 3 million Pennsylvanians have their REAL ID ahead of the deadline. Pennsylvania House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R) says PennDOT has not done enough, pointing to long lines at PennDOT facilities. A state budget is also due in less than two months, with Republicans saying Governor Josh Shapiro wants to spend more than the state is taking in. Shapiro has proposed taxing games of skill and legalized marijuana, however, Topper says those 'have a long way to go.' Every week, This Week in Pennsylvania gives a comprehensive look at the week's biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Check your local listings for weekly air times. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
