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Understand the Numbers Game to Win – Fat Tail Daily

In today’s Fat Tail Daily, I’ll talk about something that is brewing in rural NSW and Victoria. Something called the ‘Riverina State’ concept may give you insights into how the price of gold is set. It’s an analogy, with a takeaway. Read on to find out more!

I just spent my weekend in Albury attending The Triple Conference.

What’s that?

It’s a conference that brought together Australians from all walks of life. The theme of this conference was ‘Big Ideas for a Better Australia’.

Those who attended are largely concerned about the overreach of government, a loss of our cultural heritage and those wanting to preserve their liberty and autonomy from what some may feel is a ‘nanny state in the making’.

Those presenting hailed from a diverse background from politics, medical and healthcare, social welfare, church leaders, media personalities and business professionals. They covered specific issues including:

The need to curb government power.

Improve due process for government bureaucracies, especially since the global virus outbreak in 2020–22.

Dealing with wealth inequality.

Fostering representation of different people in the country’s governance system, and…

Combating the decline of societal mores.

Now I’m not going to explore all these issues in any great detail today.
What I do want to explore further is something interesting that links to the price of gold.

So, let me explain.

Improving rural representation — The Riverina
State concept

One of the most interesting topics from the conference related to something called ‘The Riverina State’.

Those looking for the full details can find out in this site, particularly this document.

Most of you are aware that our country’s electorate system divides regions so each electorate has around the same population.

For several decades, urbanisation gained traction thanks to businesses and commercial enterprises flourishing. This led to more people moving to the bigger cities. As a result, the city folks gained more electorates and parliamentary representatives.

Therefore, residents across rural New South Wales and Victoria have lost their representation and a voice in the parliament.

Here’s some figures to give it context. The state has 93 electorates, with the vast majority coming from the Greater Sydney region that encompasses the Central Coast, the Illawarra, Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands. There are only 22 rural electorates in the New South Wales State Parliament, comprising around 550,000 voters.

Similarly, Victoria has 21 rural electorates out of 88 in the State Parliament. Rural voters number around 420,000 voters.

The sheer imbalance of representation is made worse given almost as many city voters in both states support policies that may work to harm the interest of the rural voters.

Without going too deep into this, the fate of rural NSW and Victoria appears to be in dire straits. Many who live in these areas feel this way.

No doubt, that’s having an impact on social inequalities and things like suicide rates which are higher across rural areas versus cities, especially among teenagers and adult males.

The Riverina State concept has a movement that proposes starting a new state to exclusively represent these people. Their aim is to have its own state government elected by their people without the city dwellers cancelling out their voice.

Now this is just a concept. It may take some time before it could happen, should there be sufficient momentum to move this forward. But I thought I’d bring it up as it’s relevant to what I’m going to talk about next.

The parallel with the gold and commodities markets

In a sense, there is a parallel between the plight that rural NSW and Victorian residents face and that of gold investors in the market.

Some of you are aware that the price of gold is set by the market in a counterintuitive manner.

By that I mean the amount of gold bars or coins that is physically exchanged in the market doesn’t drive the price of gold.

For those who aren’t familiar, I’ll quickly explain how it works.

Based on Gold.org, the daily trading volume for gold in 2021 was around US$120 billion (note that it’s since increased to around US$160 billion as of late last year). The figure below shows the breakdown of where they’re traded:

As you can see, over 80% of the gold trading volume occurs in London and the New York and Chicago Commodities Exchanges. And the vast majority of the exchanges’ transactions were digital contracts rather than physical contracts.

In other words, these trades are merely notional. That is, these trades don’t involve an exchange of gold bars. They comprise contracts used for risk management and speculation.

So, institutions seeking profits at the margin have an undue influence in moving the price of gold. The supply and demand of the metals hardly move the dial.
(is that correct because supply and demand are two things rather than being one?)

You may conclude therefore that relentless destruction of fiat currency is pushing gold higher.

But it isn’t THAT simple.

Let me show you the price of gold in US dollars, adjusted by the intrinsic value of the US dollar as represented by the US Dollar Index [DXY]:

The figure shows that the rise and rise of the price of gold in the long-term points to the decline of the petrodollar system.

But you can see that the price of gold can fluctuate in the short-term. These are from day-to-day trading of the gold contracts and physical metals, with the former comprising the vast majority of trades.

The short-term price movements don’t reflect the state of the financial system or the actual physical supply. They’re the result of institutional trading for profits.

Put simply, the activity in the western gold exchanges has muddied the waters.

The Achilles heel of the Western market manipulators

And that goes back to my point of the Riverina State concept.

Like the rural NSW and Victorian voters, gold enthusiasts and the sceptics of the petrodollar system are looking to gold as their champion in shifting away from a crooked system.

But those wishing to see an end to the petrodollar are fighting an uphill battle.

There’s some good news in this. Those who run the system are slowly destroying themselves by their own machinations.

Keep in mind that they manipulate the price of gold (and other commodities and even the broader market, for that matter) using a system driven by debt.

Their fiat currency thrives on the growth of debt. Their aim is to make it ‘just right’ to perpetuate this game.

However, they’re painting themselves into a corner. After all, keeping this game going requires unlimited capital.

And that capital comes from…you guessed it, debt. They’re drowning in that already, with more to come.

And we know they want high interest rates to retain the value of the US dollar (because the dollar pays interest to its bearer). At the same time, debt and high rates squeeze the system starving it of productive capital.

This is a self-destructive system and is doomed to fail.

The only question remains… When will this happen?

I don’t want to play the mug’s game of guessing when the system crumbles in a heap.

However, make no mistake that is inevitable.

Now gold has enjoyed a good jump since the start of the year. It could pull back to around US$2,100 an ounce to form a base before it continues the rally.

My point is, don’t let price deter you from accumulating gold or gold stocks, the latter requiring you to shoulder significant risk. The rising price of gold reflects declining purchasing power of the dollar, rather than gold becoming more expensive intrinsically.

To find out more on how you can prepare for this, please check out my gold investment newsletter, The Australian Gold Fund.

You can learn more about what I have to offer in this newsletter with this video where I explain the market conditions positioning for a favourable setup for gold and gold stock investors.

God bless,

Brian Chu Signature

Brian Chu,
Editor, Gold Stock Pro and The Australian Gold Report

Brian Chu is one of Australia’s foremost independent authorities on gold and gold stocks, with a unique strategy for valuing big producers and highly speculative explorers. He established a private family fund that only invests in ASX-listed gold mining companies, possibly the only such fund in Australia, putting his strategy and research skills to the test under public scrutiny. He currently writes two gold-focused investment advisories.

In his Australian Gold Report, Brian shows you a strategy for building long-term wealth in physical gold, along with a select portfolio of hand-picked stocks, mainly producers with proven revenue streams, chosen for their balance of risk and reward.

In his more specialised Gold Stock Pro service, Brian helps readers trade some of the most exciting, speculative gold mining plays on the ASX. He uses his proprietary system — based on the famous Lassonde Curve model, which tracks the life cycle of mining stocks. His aim is to help you get ready to trade the next phase of gold and silver’s anticipated longer-term bull market for opportunities to benefit.

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Trump unable to pay $464m bond in New York fraud case, his lawyers say

Donald Trump’s lawyers told a New York appellate court Monday that it’s impossible for him to post a bond covering the full amount of a $454 million civil fraud judgment while he appeals, suggesting the former president’s legal losses have put him in a serious cash crunch.

Trump‘s lawyers wrote in a court filing that “obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount” of the judgment “is not possible under the circumstances presented.” Trump claimed last year that he has “fairly substantially over $400 million in cash,” but back-to-back courtroom defeats have pushed his legal debt north of a half-billion dollars.

Citing rejections from more than 30 bond underwriters, Trump’s lawyers asked the state’s intermediate appeals court to reverse a prior ruling requiring that he post a bond covering the full amount in order to halt enforcement while he appeals the judgment in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit.

Trump’s financial constraints are being laid bare as he appeals Judge Arthur Engoron’s Feb. 16 ruling that he and his co-defendants schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers by inflating his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals.

If the appeals court does not intervene, James can seek to enforce the judgment starting March 25. James, a Democrat, has said she will seek to seize some of Trump’s assets if he is unable to pay.

With interest, Trump owes the state $456.8 million. That amount is increasing nearly $112,000 each day. In all, he and co-defendants, including his company, sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. and other executives, owe $467.3 million. To obtain a bond, they would be required to post collateral covering 120% of the judgment, or about $557.5 million, Trump’s lawyers said.

Trump maintains that he is worth several billion dollars, but much of his wealth is tied up in his skyscrapers, golf courses and other properties. Few underwriters were willing to issue such a large bond and none would accept Trump’s real estate assets as collateral, instead requiring cash or cash equivalents, such as stocks or bonds, his lawyers said.

Trump’s lawyers said freeing up cash by offloading some of Trump’s properties in a “fire sale” would be impractical because such cut-rate deals would result in massive, irrecoverable losses.

Not mentioned in Trump’s court filings Monday was the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s potential financial windfall from a looming deal to put his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group, on the stock market under the ticker symbol DJT.

A shareholder meeting is scheduled for Friday. If the deal is approved, Trump would own at least 58% of shares in the company, which runs his Truth Social platform. Depending on share price, that could be worth several billion dollars.

Trump is asking a full panel of the intermediate appeals court, the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court, to stay the Engoron judgment while he appeals. His lawyers previously proposed a $100 million bond, but Appellate Division Judge Anil C. Singh rejected that after an emergency hearing on Feb. 28. A stay is a legal mechanism pausing collection of a judgment during an appeal.

In a court filing last week, Senior Assistant Solicitor General Dennis Fan urged the full appellate panel to reject what he dubbed the defense’s “trust us” argument, contending that without a bond to secure the judgment Trump may attempt to evade enforcement at a later date and force the state to “expend substantial public resources” to collect the money owed.

A full bond is necessary, Fan wrote, in part because Trump’s lawyers “have never demonstrated that Mr. Trump’s liquid assets — which may fluctuate over time — will be enough to satisfy the full amount of this judgment following appeal.”

Trump’s lawyers asked the Appellate Division panel to consider oral arguments on its request, and preemptively sought permission to appeal a losing result to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.

Singh did grant some of Trump’s requests, including pausing a three-year ban on him seeking loans from New York banks. In their court filing Monday, Trump’s lawyers did not address whether they have sought a bank loan to cover the cost of the judgment or obtain cash for use as bond collateral.

Trump appealed on Feb. 26, a few days after Engoron’s judgment was made official. His lawyers have asked the Appellate Division to decide whether Engoron “committed errors of law and/or fact” and whether he abused his discretion or “acted in excess” of his jurisdiction.

Trump wasn’t required to pay his penalty or post a bond in order to appeal, and filing the appeal did not automatically halt enforcement of the judgment. Trump would receive an automatic stay if he were to put up money, assets or an appeal bond covering what he owes.

Gary Giulietti, an insurance broker friend enlisted by Trump to help obtain an appeal bond, wrote in an affidavit Monday: “A bond of this size is rarely, if ever, seen. In the unusual circumstance that a bond of this size is issued, it is provided to the largest public companies in the world, not to individuals or privately held businesses.”

Giulietti, who acts as an insurance broker for Trump’s company, testified at the civil fraud trial as an expert witness called by Trump’s lawyers. In his ruling, Engoron observed that some of Giulietti’s testimony was contradicted by other witnesses, including a different defense expert. He noted that Giulietti’s company collected $1.2 million in commissions on its Trump accounts in 2022.

In all, Trump has more than $543 million in personal legal liabilities from three civil court judgments in the past year. Bonding requirements could add at least $100 million to that total.

In January, a jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Earlier this month, after his lawyers made similar arguments that he be excused from posting a bond, Trump did secure a $91.6 million bond to cover 110% of the Carroll judgment while he appeals.

Last year, a jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million in a related trial. In that case, rather than post a bond, Trump put more than $5.5 million in cash in an escrow account while he appeals.

(REUTERS)

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Trump’s ‘Bloodbath’ Comment – FactCheck.org

Para leer en español, vea esta traducción de Google Translate.

While speaking about the potential loss of U.S. auto manufacturing jobs to foreign countries, former President Donald Trump said if he isn’t elected, “it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.”

President Joe Biden’s campaign quickly accused Trump of fomenting “political violence.” The Trump campaign said Trump was clearly using the term in the context of an economic bloodbath.

“If you actually watch and listen to the section, he was talking about the auto industry and tariffs,” Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, told the Washington Post, adding that “Biden’s policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and autoworkers.”

That explanation seems the most plausible, given the context of Trump’s comments.

Speaking at a rally on the grounds of the Dayton International Airport in Ohio, Trump said that over the last three decades, Mexico has siphoned off U.S. auto manufacturing jobs, and he accused China of building car manufacturing plants in Mexico that will cost U.S. autoworkers their jobs.

Trump, March 16: China now is building a couple of massive plants where they’re going to build the cars in Mexico and think, they think, that they’re going to sell those cars into the United States with no tax at the border. Let me tell you something to China, if you’re listening President Xi, and you and I are friends, but he understands the way I deal. Those big monster car manufacturing plants that you’re building in Mexico right now, and you think you’re going to get that, you’re going to not hire Americans, and you’re going to sell the cars to us? No. We’re going to put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you’re not going to be able to sell those cars. If I get elected. Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath, for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it. But they’re not going to sell those cars.

The Chinese electric vehicle company BYD says it is planning to build an EV plant in Mexico. But the company says it intends to sell the cars locally to consumers in Mexico and has no plans to sell any across the border in the U.S.

On Truth Social on March 18, Trump wrote that his words were being purposely misconstrued.

“The Fake News Media, and their Democrat Partners in the destruction of our Nation, pretended to be shocked at my use of the word BLOODBATH, even though they fully understood that I was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry,” Trump wrote, promising that if elected U.S. auto manufacturing “WILL THRIVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE.”

(An aside: When Trump was president, auto manufacturing jobs rose about 5.8% to 1,012,500 in his first two years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but dipped in his third year, and then again sharply during the pandemic. There were 949,300 auto manufacturing jobs in the U.S. when Trump left office. Under Biden, the number of auto manufacturing jobs has increased about 12.2% to 1,065,100 in February, the most recent data available.)

The Trump campaign also noted — rightly — that one of the definitions of “bloodbath,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a major economic disaster.” We did a Nexis search of TV news transcripts and found numerous instances of bloodbath being used in that way.

Another definition provided by Merriam-Webster is “a notably fierce, violent, or destructive contest or struggle,” which is how Biden, his campaign and others viewed the former president’s “bloodbath” comment.

In a post on X, Biden posted a clip of Trump saying, “Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath, for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it.” Biden commented, “It’s clear this guy wants another January 6.”

At the start of his speech in Ohio, Trump saluted as the sound system played a recording of the so-called J6 Prison Choir singing its song “Justice for All.” The song is a mashup of the choir — featuring people incarcerated for their role in the attack on the Capitol — singing the “Star Spangled Banner” as Trump recites the Pledge of Allegiance.

After the song finished, Trump praised the “spirit” of the “hostages,” a word he has repeatedly used to describe those convicted of various crimes for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot.

“They’ve been treated terribly and very unfairly, and you know that and everybody knows that,” Trump said, vowing that once elected, he would work on their behalf to free them.

“And we’re going to be working on that, soon as — the first day we get into office,” Trump said. “We’re going to save our country, and we’re going to work with the people to treat those unbelievable patriots, and they were unbelievable patriots, and are. You see the spirit, this cheering. They’re cheering while they’re doing that, and they did that in prison. And it’s a disgrace, in my opinion.”

Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on March 17 about Trump’s “bloodbath” comments, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said Trump’s rhetoric often “walks up to the edge,” allowing people on both sides of the political aisle to interpret his meaning.

“That kind of rhetoric, it’s always on the edge, maybe doesn’t cross, maybe does, depending upon your perspective,” Cassidy said. “I also think, though, that the mainstream media contributes to it. If you take the one about the bloodbath, which arguably could be about an economic bloodbath not about kind of street violence related to the election, then it gives his defenders something to focus on, something – which was distorted. So, yes, he always walks up to the edge on that rhetoric. And again, that’s why people are concerned. But sometimes the mainstream media, whether they want to or not, can’t resist, and they go just a little bit too far, which distracts from what could be the impact.”

Cassidy noted that the definition of bloodbath includes an economic disaster.

“And so if he’s speaking about the auto industry in particular in Ohio, then you can take it with a little bit more context,” Cassidy said. “That’s why I say you walk up to the line. Depending upon the perspective, somebody is going to interpret it. He’s running against Biden, so Biden’s going to say it’s about political violence. His defenders want to defend him, and so they’re going to say it’s about economic disaster. There’s always just that little bit of tension there, which allows the dispute about the interpretation as opposed to the kind of general sort of, ‘Is this a person we want to have in office?’”


Editor’s note: FactCheck.org does not accept advertising. We rely on grants and individual donations from people like you. Please consider a donation. Credit card donations may be made through our “Donate” page. If you prefer to give by check, send to: FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 202 S. 36th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104. 



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The Best Xbox 360 Games | Wealth of Geeks

The Xbox 360 launched in 2005 and helped establish Microsoft as a force to be reckoned with in the gaming space. Despite its strange name, the console delivered non-stop hits like Halo, Gears of War, and Mass Effect

The best Xbox 360 games of all time include genres for everyone, from RPGs to first-person shooters to sprawling open-world experiences. These titles showcase the full breadth of Microsoft’s first HD video game console with its impressive graphics, unique gameplay, and phenomenal online multiplayer capabilities. 

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks.

No other game on the Xbox 360 contains a sense of freedom and wonder like the Elder Scrolls series, and Skyrim was the pinnacle of that experience. Players have the option to create whoever they want, play however they want, and go wherever they want.

Its endless hours of quests, player-crafted stories, and limitless options make this high fantasy RPG the biggest and best game players will find on the 360. 

2. Halo 3

Halo 3
Image Credit: Xbox Game Studios.

Bungie went all out for the grand finale of the first trilogy of Master Chief’s misadventures in space. It features a massive campaign with exciting levels and locations that almost come close to the quality of the previous title.

Meanwhile, its multiplayer feels better than ever with its various weapons, options, and unforgettable maps. 

3. Mass Effect 2

Garrus Vakarian, Mass Effect 2
Image Credit: Electronic Arts.

BioWare traded the immense exploration of the first game in this series for a tighter experience with sharper gameplay and even more player-driven choices.

This title introduced some of the best characters in all of gaming and showed how players could influence how a game’s story turns out. 

4. Fable 2

Fable II (2008)
Image Credit: Microsoft Game Studios.

This epic fantasy RPG follows an orphan who rises from nothing to become a hero.

The second entry in the series represents the peak of the Microsoft franchise with the funniest writing, the most beautiful fantasy world, and immense freedom in quests, housing, ruling, and more. 

5. Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins Video Game (2010)
Image Credit: Electronic Arts.

BioWare reaffirmed itself as a leader in the fantasy space with its original game, Dragon Age: Origins. The developer’s fabled writing and lore fill this title, but its value comes from the magical party members you gather along the way.

Its mix of impactful choices and origin stories gives players a reason to keep coming back for more. 

6. Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout New Vegas
Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks.

Obsidian outshined Bethesda in every way with this spin-off open-world RPG.

Players head into the desert around Las Vegas after a nuclear war for a game anchored by its fantastic and goofy cast of characters and thrilling first and third-person action. 

7. Halo 4

Halo 4
Image Credit: Microsoft Studios.

343 Industries had a lot to prove with its entry into this series after developer Bungie moved on. The fourth game features some of the best visuals and environments on the 360, plus an exhilarating campaign with emotional moments between Master Chief and Cortana.

Plus, its multiplayer feels great with new weapons and maps. 

8. BioShock

BioShock
Image Credit: 2K.

BioShock captures immersion and settings more than any other game on the Xbox 360.

The cinematic underwater city of Rapture still looks great even today, and its brilliant mix of first-person gameplay and cutscenes filled with lore makes it feel like an interactive movie. 

9. Gears of War 2

Gears of War Lancer
Image Credit: Xbox Game Studios.

Third-person shooters felt bland and forgettable until the arrival of the Gears of War series. The 360 experienced several games in the franchise, but its second title remains the best of the bunch.

It has a surprisingly big campaign with shocking moments and fluid movement, which worked well in the expansive multiplayer and its various modes. 

10. Lost Odyssey

Lost Odyssey
Image Credit: Microsoft Game Studios.

The crown jewel JRPG of the Xbox 360 remains the exclusive Lost Odyssey. This game stands on the level of a Final Fantasy game, especially with the series’ creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, behind the story, with its thrilling turn-based combat and powerful storyline.

Lost Odyssey has some of the most heartbreaking and emotional scenes in gaming with its intelligent plot about an amnesiac immortal. 

11. Batman: Arkham City

Arkham City
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Licensed games based on superheroes often received a poor reputation prior to the launch of this Batman game. It made playing as the Caped Crusader fun and faithful to his gadgets and style.

The recreation of a portion of Gotham City looks grim and detailed, with excellent content and boss battles against villains like Mr. Freeze and Joker. 

12. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) Video Game
Image Credit: Activision.

Infinity Ward took the Call of Duty series to the global success it has now with this fourth game. It took the FPS title to the modern day with stunning graphics at the time and fast-paced combat and movement.

Its brilliant mix of meaningful single-player story campaigns and engrossing online multiplayer set the stage for the popularity of this blockbuster series. 

13. Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V - Trevor Philips
Image Credit: Rockstar Games.

Xbox 360 may not be the best place to experience Grand Theft Auto V, but it remains a masterful experience nonetheless. The gorgeous and expansive open world of Los Santos recreates parts of California with faithful adherence.

The hilarious single-player campaign contains action-packed moments, while the no-longer-available online multiplayer provides endless hours of fun. Note that you can still enjoy GTA Online on more modern consoles like the Xbox Series X and PS5.

14. Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3
Image Credit: Electronic Arts.

First-person shooter games changed forever with the launch of this title in 2011. Its massive open maps and large counts of players make it feel like an actual war.

The beautiful locations and intense amount of customization with player load-outs and weaponry give this game an impact few other FPS titles have. 

15. The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series

The Walking Dead The Telltale Definitive Series
Image Credit: Skybound Games.

The Xbox 360’s best storytelling comes from this surprising and award-winning Telltale title. Its take on the popular zombie horror comic book and TV show series, The Walking Dead, gives players their own chance to shape the story.

People live and die because of the player’s choices, and it contains unforgettable characters like leads Lee and Clementine, who rival the cast of the source material. 

16. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks.

Bethesda followed up the fantastic Morrowind with a brighter and more varied world. The Land of Cyrodil looked great as one of the earliest Xbox 360 titles. The freedom to go wherever and do whatever still feels better here than most games.

The various skills and magic give so much customization to players as they navigate wonderful storylines like the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild. 

17. Mass Effect

Mass Effect
Image Credit: Microsoft Game Studios.

BioWare crafted its own sci-fi universe that somehow rivals Star Wars in the level of depth, lore, and history it has. Players explore a vast galaxy with numerous planets to drive around on and cities to lose themselves in.

The award-winning writing, memorable characters, and solid third-person combat help this title land as one of the best games of all time. 

18. Dark Souls

Dark Souls Video Game (2011)
Image Credit: Bandai Namco.

FromSoftware rose to the fame it enjoys today with the incredible success of Dark Souls. This dark fantasy action RPG sees players pick their class and explore a lore-rich setting full of challenging enemies and bosses.

Players often perish because of the intense and brutal fights, but the engaging cycle of losing, learning from mistakes, and then winning has such a powerful payoff.

19. Portal 2

Portal (2007)
Image Credit: Valve.

Valve took the experimental idea of its original first-person puzzle game and expanded it into the strongest puzzle title among Xbox 360 games. Players have a Portal gun, which they use to create portals to teleport through.

This lets players complete puzzles involving moving themselves and even other objects. The cooperative multiplayer only made this experience better. 

20. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag video Game
Image Credit: Ubisoft.

The fourth numbered entry in this Ubisoft series takes the assassinations and stealth to the open seas. The massive open world centered around pirates lets players engage in excellent ship-to-ship combat.

The solid story and colorful graphics make this one of the best games in the entire series. 

21. Nier

Nier
Image Credit: Square Enix.

This Japanese RPG features a far future where a man wants nothing more than to cure his daughter of a fatal disease. It has an open world with varied landscapes and challenging monsters to fight.

Its memorable boss battles and flashy combat help keep players interested throughout its different endings. 

22. Dead Space

Dead Space Video Game (2023) horror games
Image Credit: Electronic Arts.

The Xbox 360 has plenty of survival horror games, but among the best of the bunch is Dead Space. The sci-fi title takes players to a stranded ship in space with mysterious zombie-like monsters aboard and dead people everywhere.

Its Metroid-style exploration, puzzles, and horrifying jump scares keep players on their toes. 

23. Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011) Video Game
Image Credit: Square Enix.

This prequel to the beloved cyberpunk RPG features some of the most stunning graphics on the 360. The futuristic versions of places like Detroit and Hengsha, China, look terrific.

The open freedom to explore places, complete quests, and choose between stealth or lethal combat makes it a one-of-a-kind action game.

24. Minecraft

Minecraft
Image Credit: Mojang Studios.

Mojang’s monumental global phenomenon began dominating the Xbox 360. Players have the option to survive in a blocky world against zombies and spiders or build whatever castle, city, or landmark they want in the Creative mode.

Its endless amounts of fun and multiplayer options worked well on the 360. 

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The Best 2010s Female Wrestlers To Make Fans Fall in Love | Wealth of Geeks

The 2010s marked a pivotal moment in the development of women’s wrestling. Rather than showcasing female wrestlers in a marginalized role as they had in the 2000s, wrestling promotions began to bill their female competitors as legitimate athletes instead of scantily-clad supermodels.

As a result, fans began to view female-centric wrestling with renewed appreciation, giving rise to numerous 2010s female wrestlers whose popularity rivaled their male counterparts in WWE, Impact, and NXT. Get to know them here.

Becky Lynch

Image Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment.

A woman doesn’t earn the nickname “The Man” without good reason. Demonstrating consistent resilience, toughness, and an undying drive to win, Becky Lynch experienced one of the most inspirational professional rises in WWE history.

Overcoming constant injuries in the 2000s, Lynch became a formidable member of the NXT 2010s female wrestlers roster, eventually earning the respect of the crowd through her ascension to primetime television. Never one to back down from a match, Lynch’s successful track record made her a superstar on par with her male colleagues, matching the avid acclaim of Seth Rollins or Roman Reigns.

Charlotte

Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley WrestleMania 39
Image Credit: WWE.

As the daughter of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, it seemed safe to assume that Charlotte Flair might enjoy an extraordinary career at some point or another. Debuting to NXT in 2012, Charlotte drew on her father’s theatrical persona to some degree in her character.

Yet even then, the Queen managed to forge her own respected reputation in WWE throughout the remainder of the decade, becoming one of the first breakout 2010s female wrestlers from NXT.

Alexa Bliss

WWE performer Alexa Bliss participates in the 14th Annual Tribute to the Troops Event at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Dec. 13, 2016.
Image Credit: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from Washington D.C. – CCA 2.0/WikiCommons.

Like all the best wrestlers, Alexa Bliss has shown herself capable of adapting to any on-screen role imaginable, from a charismatic host to a Harley Quinn-esque female competitor.

Appearing first in NXT before transitioning to WWE’s main roster, Bliss’s astounding character work made her an instantaneous sensation among mainstream viewers, leading to her lengthy reigns as SmackDown and Raw Women’s Champion.

AJ Lee

AJ Lee in the ring.
Image Credit: Miguel Discart – CCA SA 2.0/WikiCommons.

In the grand scheme of things, without AJ Lee, one can wonder if WWE might ever have treated 2010s female wrestlers with the same distinction as their male counterparts. Rising to new heights in the early 2010s, AJ Lee won over fans with her impressive promo skills, figuring into prominent storylines opposite Daniel Bryan and CM Punk.

An impressive enough wrestler in her own right, Lee’s unstable character work won instant praise from viewers, helping her become a modern icon in the process.

Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair (WrestleMania 37)
Image Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment.

Yet another future star-in-the-making to exit out of NXT, WWE had already established Sasha Banks as a genuine force upon her main roster debut in 2015. Strutting around with her vivid ring gear and dubbing herself “The Boss,” Banks’ larger-than-life personality outshined even the most skilled performers in NXT.

Excelling in her flamboyant character work, Banks became one of WWE’s premiere female athletes for close to a decade, even if her tenure with the company ended on less than amicable circumstances in 2022.

Bayley

WWE RAW Women's Title Match between Bayley and Alexa Bliss.
Image Credit: Shared Account – CCA SA 2.0/WikiCommons.

Few wrestlers have proven themselves capable of undergoing one innovative transformation after another quite like Bayley. Whether dancing along to her inflatable Bayley Buddies or portraying a darker character, Bayley’s dedicated commitment to each and every one of her gimmicks defines her exquisite in-ring career.

A fantastic wrestler on NXT and upon her main roster debut in 2016, Bayley only continues to grow better and more inventive with each new year.

Paige

Paige at the WWE House Show at Garrett Coliseum in 2015.
Image Credit: Anton – CCA SA 2.0/WikiCommons.

The stylistic successor to AJ Lee, Paige ranked as the most exciting female competitor in WWE, if only for a short time. Rising through the ranks of NXT, Paige made waves on WWE’s main roster, displaying her prodigious skills in the ring on a week-in, week-out basis.

Though her career came to a temporary halt after several serious neck injuries, Paige’s tenure in WWE no doubt played a part in the promotion shifting towards a more athletic brand of women’s wrestling in lieu of superficial Divas matches.

Asuka

Asuka at a WWE Live Event House Show in Omaha, Nebraska, USA on Sunday, February 4, 2018.
Image Credit: InFlamester20 – CCA SA 4.0/WikiCommons.

A pre-established star in Japan by the time she signed with WWE in 2015, Asuka’s run in WWE has fluctuated over the years, alternating between momentous highs and more underwhelming lows.

At her very best, though, WWE has treated Asuka with the respect the Empress of Tomorrow deserves, as evidenced by her two-and-a-half-year long undefeated streak and her record-breaking reign as NXT Women’s Champion.

Nikki Bella

Nikki Bella of WWE
Image Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment.

In the 2000s and early 2010s, the Bella Twins appeared as little more than average midcard wrestlers in WWE’s Divas division, best known for their novelty “Twin Magic” routine that saw one twin switch places with the other mid-match. In 2014, however, Nikki Bella broke out as a respectable singles competitor in her own right, leading to her record-breaking reign as Divas Champion.

Taking the time to improve her wrestling abilities, Nikki helped lay the groundwork for the Women’s Revolution of the mid-2010s, gauging audiences’ interest in female-oriented wrestling at a pivotal moment in sports entertainment.

Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey at Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, May 10, 2020. UFC in Rio de Janeiro.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Departing the UFC for WWE in 2018, Ronda Rousey used her extensive experience in mixed martial arts to forge an indelible place for herself on the WWE women’s roster. Taking advantage of her critical popularity in the UFC ring, WWE also booked her as a legitimate athlete rather than a mere theatrical wrestler.

Known for her vicious technical offense, one might describe her as the female equivalent to Brock Lesnar or “Rowdy” Roddy Piper–two competitors Rousey took plenty of inspiration from.

Io Shirai

Io Shirai at an NXT Live Event in Omaha, Nebraska, USA on Thursday, April 25, 2019.
Image Credit: InFlamester20 – CCA SA 4.0/WikiCommons.

One of the most accomplished female wrestlers in the world, Io Shirai (AKA Iyo Sky) makes a habit out of defying the laws of gravity. Utilizing a rapid, high-flying wrestling style, Shirai could leap off the ropes with the ease of Will Ospreay or Rey Mysterio (the latter she cites as her foremost influence).

Competing the world over, Shirai has enjoyed decorated tenures in Japan, Mexico, and WWE, feuding with every major star in NXT (Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Toni Storm, etc.)

Gail Kim

Wrestler Gail Kim throws Army Sgt. First Class Cam Mitchell offstage as part of a performace during the Chairman’s USO Holiday Tour at Al Dhafra Air Base Dec. 22, 2017.
Image Credit: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – CCA 2.0/WikiCommons.

With WWE failing to utilize her talents in the late 2000s, TNA legend Gail Kim made the wise decision to return to her roots in Impact Wrestling near the start of the decade.

Making her way back to the company in 2011, Kim reasserted her place as one of the promotion’s best female athletes, winning the Knockouts Championship six more times until her semi-retirement at the end of the 2010s.

Shayna Baszler

Shayna Beszler of NXT WWE
Image Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment.

Like her close friend Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler departed from a successful career in UFC for a chance to make it big as a WWE superstar in the middle of the 2010s.

Drawing on her foundational MMA moveset, Baszler became a formidable opponent in the ring, decimating her rivals with her raw offense and remarkable technical maneuvers.

Mickie James

Mickie James WWE
Image Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment.

A wrestler destined to one day enter the WWE Hall of Fame, Mickie James has accomplished everything one could ever hope to achieve in the wrestling industry. One of the foremost stars of WWE’s Ruthless Aggression Era in the 2000s, James eventually embarked on a successful stint in TNA and GFW before returning to WWE in 2016.

An enjoyable talent in whatever company she appears in, James has the rare ability to elevate any rival she appears alongside, as seen from her immaculate feuds with Madison Rayne, Tara, and Alexa Bliss, among others.

Jordynne Grace

Pro Wrestlers Rosemary and Jordynne Grace in the ring.
Image Credit: Brandon Oliver – CCA 2.0/WikiCommons.

The breakout female star in TNA’s Knockout Division right now, Jordynne Grace seemed to have a bright future ahead of her the moment she debuted in 2009. Working across various independent promotions, Grace drew on her more unique physical appearance as her greatest in-ring asset, priding herself on her raw strength.

Climbing through the ranks of Impact Wrestling, the Juggernaut seems able to out-wrestle any one of her competitors–whether they’re male or female.

Taya Valkyrie

Taya Valkyrie entering the ring with her crown.
Image Credit: Mike Kalasnik – CCA SA 2.0/WikiCommons.

One of the most underrated female wrestlers in recent memory, Taya Valkyrie has shown herself capable of hanging with the most accomplished competitors imaginable.

Earning renown for her appearances in AAA, Impact Wrestling, and Lucha Underground, Valkyrie never backed down from a fight, facing down everyone from Tessa Blanchard to Brian Cage in the ring.

Rhea Ripley

Rhea Ripley of World Wrestling Entertainment with championship belt Top WWE Women and Divas Championship Reigns
Image Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment.

Yet another female competitor whose popularity has only improved since the advent of the 2020s, Rhea Ripley first entered WWE as a background player in the 2017 Mae Young Classic.

Though she didn’t advance very far in the tournament, Ripley managed to eke out a formidable place for herself on NXT’s roster in the months that followed, rounding out the decade as a future star destined for great things in WWE.

Angelina Love

Angelina Love as the TNA Knockouts Champion, wearing an anti-Beautiful People T-shirt
By KnightNephrite – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wiki Commons.

One of the prototypical TNA Knockouts, Angelina Love maintained her elite position as one of the promotion’s most talented in-ring competitors from the 2000s into the 2010s. Returning to TNA at the start of the decade, Love found herself the center of numerous enticing storylines, including her feud/reunion with The Beautiful People, her enigmatic partnership with Winter, and her role in the breakup of The Wolves.

Like all the best wrestlers, Love dedicates herself to each and every role she finds herself in, regardless of how much time seems to pass.

Toni Storm

Toni Storm at Forbidden Door @ the United Center, 6/26/2022.
Image Credit: Carter Sterling – CCA SA 2.0/WikiCommons.

More so than most of her contemporaries, Toni Storm has gone on to achieve widespread acclaim for her recent run in AEW, thanks in large part to ham-fisted character work under the “Timeless” Toni Storm gimmick.

Even in the 2010s, however, Storm demonstrated keen ability in the ring, alternating between various gimmicks while also showing off a more grizzled offensive moveset.

Deonna Purrazzo

Deonna Purazzo entering the ring in 2019.
Image Credit: John Manard – CCA SA 2.0/WikiCommons.

Like her close friend/recurring rival Toni Storm, Deonna Purrazzo only seems to get better with time, as evidenced by her more recent tenure in Impact Wrestling and AEW.

Yet even in the late 2010s, the Virtuosa demonstrated unrivaled prowess when it came to her technical wrestling abilities, despite WWE never giving her a fair chance on mainstream television.

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#2010s #Female #Wrestlers #Fans #Fall #Love #Wealth #Geeks

How can Oilers reverse fortunes against Avalanche?

EDMONTON — As the Edmonton Oilers players walked towards the family lounge, where their loved ones awaited them after that razor-thin loss to Colorado on Saturday, they stepped to the right as the dollies carrying the Montreal Canadiens’ equipment rolled past on the left.

It was a metaphor for the seven-month grind that constitutes a National Hockey League season: You’d better be able to move on from one game or opponent, because the next one is just around the corner — sometimes even arriving at your rink before the last one has even departed.

But with a pair of NHL minnows — the 26th-place Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres (23rd) — on the Oilers’ schedule this week, this city has not moved on. Not at all.

On Monday the topic was still fresh, after that 3-2 overtime loss to the Avalanche.

Why doesn’t Edmonton win that game? At this stage of their arc, why do they still lose it?

“I’ve only been here for one game against (Colorado), so I don’t really know the whole backstory,” began Corey Perry, a new-ish Oiler who certainly knows a thing or two about winning. “But you can see these teams have played against each other many times, and you can see that we have that next gear to get to.

“It’s right there, and once we find it, that’s going to take over for us.”

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That “gear” isn’t what you might think it is, however.

“In a series you’re going to need that momentum shift, whatever it is,” explained Perry. “It could come from anything: a hit can, a goal. It can be a big blocked shot or a save — whatever. There’s a momentum shift at some point in the series that, hopefully, goes in your favour. That’s where I think we could really look at that game and pick it apart.”

In a game played at lightning pace, Edmonton trailed 1-0 after 40 minutes, had a third-period goal called back, and still managed to hold a 2-1 lead with six minutes to play. That the lead got away — and the Avs scored at 4:59 of the overtime session to snag the second point — was more vexing than downright concerning.

It was the fifth consecutive overtime game between Colorado and Edmonton, which tells us there isn’t much to choose between the two. But Edmonton has won only one of those games, and folks around here are wondering when the time arrives that the Oilers stop simply playing with the big boys, and actually start beating them.

“You’ve got to beat them. That’s the only way,” said Connor McDavid. “They’ve been tight-checking games. They’ve been close games. Five consecutive overtime games …

“It was a good game, a playoff-like game. Tight checking. I thought we did a good job of wrestling a lead, up 2-1 with five minutes left. You’ve got to find a way to close it out, and obviously we didn’t do that,” he said. “We look back at that (2022 Western Conference Final), and they win. It’s a sweep and they go on to win the Cup.”

It’s pretty simple math, once McDavid lays it out:

“If you want to be considered better than them, you’ve got to beat them. That’s just the way it is.”

In the latest instalment of Edmonton-Colorado, the goaltending was a wash. Stuart Skinner (who stopped a Jonathan Drouin penalty shot when it was scoreless) was as good as Alexandar Georgiev, who stopped a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins breakaway in OT.

The stars cancelled each other out, with none of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Cale Makar or Nathan MacKinnon notching a single point until the OT winner at the 64:59 mark of the evening. The Avalanche depth forwards appear to have more speed, though they were outscored 2-0 by Edmonton’s depth forwards, with 4C Sam Carrick scoring the 2-1 goal and Warren Foegele opening the scoring for the Oilers.

Meanwhile, Colorado defenceman Sean Walker had the first two-goal game of his career to account for the Avs scoring, a depth feature that can not be overlooked.

What did Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch see?

“Our defensive-zone coverage can be still a little bit tighter, something that’s always going to be an emphasis. And the other one was, we didn’t have as much time in the offensive zone — just because I don’t think we’ve broken the puck out as well,” he observed.

“They had a lot of hard forechecks, and they are disciplined with their systems. But if we cleaned that up and get out of our zone a little bit cleaner, it’ll help our defensive play because we won’t be spend as much time there.”

Each of Zach Hyman, Cody Ceci and McDavid had a shot at clearing the zone on Colorado’s tying goal late in the third, a sequence that the coach is referencing here.

But if you think the Avalanche didn’t botch a clear or two, you weren’t watching.

Whatever it is that the Oilers have yet to overcome to be a Stanley Cup winner — and not just a contender — it is measured with ruler, not a tape measure.

But whatever that intangible is, it’s like a secret key in a video game.

You won’t get to where you’re going if you don’t find it, whatever it is.

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#Oilers #reverse #fortunes #Avalanche

Telecom execs insist wireless prices going down as MPs voice concern over costs | CBC News

The chief executives of Canada’s three largest telecom companies stressed that phone and internet prices are coming down during an appearance before MPs on Monday, noting that increased data usage and high spectrum costs may be some reasons Canadians feel otherwise.

The three CEOs — Rogers Communications Inc.’s Tony Staffieri, BCE Inc.’s Mirko Bibic and Telus Corp.’s Darren Entwistle — appeared virtually at the House of Commons’ industry committee meeting.

Committee members voted unanimously last month to summon the trio to testify after a previous invitation to the chief executives resulted in other corporate representatives showing up instead.

The committee is studying the accessibility and affordability of wireless and broadband services — an issue that came to the forefront in January when Rogers confirmed it was raising prices by an average of $5 for some wireless customers not on contract.

Staffieri was pressed on the matter Monday, with Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara suggesting the move was “tone deaf.”

“Would you not admit that the timing was not great?” he asked.

WATCH | Do Canadians spend too much on cellphone bills?: 

Do Canadians pay too much for internet and cellphone service?

Consumer advocate and wireless bill expert Mohammed Halabi helps explain why Canadian internet and cellphone bills are so high — and what consumers can do to negotiate lower prices.

Staffieri replied that the price hike only affected customers on legacy plans.

“It was important to us to make sure that these customers had choice,” he said.

“With two clicks, they could get onto a plan that was in market and give them the best value for money for their circumstance.”

Conservative MP Ryan Williams questioned Bibic and Entwistle on whether Bell and Telus would raise their prices in response to the Rogers increase.

Bibic would not say whether Bell plans to follow suit, insisting the company’s focus is on lowering costs, while Entwistle said he remained confident Canadians would see price declines but was “not going to talk about price setting in a forum with my two competitors sitting right here.”

CEOs say wireless prices have dropped

Some members of the committee have said they are concerned about cellphone and internet prices in Canada, arguing Canadians pay too much for those services.

But the CEOs cited recent Statistics Canada data showing wireless prices have declined 16 per cent in the past year and 47 per cent over the past five years.

“If you just compare in Canada, 2019 to 2024 alone, we’re offering in some cases 10 times more data for $40 less a month,” said Bibic.

“You can see the massive drop.”

WATCH | Why you’re still getting spam calls after a crackdown was promised: 

Why you’re still getting spam calls, 2 years after a promised crackdown

Telephone fraudsters are finding new ways to continue bilking Canadians for millions, almost two years after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and the major telecoms promised change.

Entwistle said that “massive increase in data consumption” partly explains why some Canadians may hold the perception that their telecom service prices have gone up. He said Canadians are “amongst the highest data consumers in the world,” which is why the major companies are offering them bigger plans than before.

“If you mathematically cut the cost in half, but the user uses twice as much data as what they did, historically, the cost is going to look the same to the user,” he said.

Entwistle added the “missing” element of the conversation pertains to the cost of the physical cellphone itself, which he said can make up nearly half of an overall mobile bill.

“That’s an area where we do not control the economics,” he said.

“At the end of the day, those economics are determined by the device manufacturers.”

The three chief executives also each told the committee that the cost they pay in Canada for wireless spectrum — the electromagnetic frequencies that enable smartphone communications — are among the highest in the world and make it more expensive to operate.

Average revenue per user going up, says MP

Last November, Canadian wireless companies collectively spent about $2.1 billion on chunks of 5G bandwidth in the federal government’s most recent spectrum auction. At the time, experts said the cost of spectrum incurred by the carriers could lead to higher mobile prices as companies recoup their investments.

Entwistle said that, in 2021, spectrum fees accounted for $100 on the annual wireless phone bill of every Canadian.

“That fee reflects the fact that Canadian wireless operators have historically paid the highest prices for spectrum through successive spectrum auctions in the world,” he said.

“That is a significant part of our cost base and I would argue it’s inconsistent with a policy of trying to improve affordability.”

LISTEN | How Canada’s telecom industry is being reshaped: 

The Sunday Magazine22:22How Canada’s telecom industry is being reshaped

The Canadian telecommunications industry is going through some big changes. This past week, Bell’s parent company announced it is cutting nine per cent of its workforce and selling off dozens of regional radio stations. Meanwhile, the dramatic battle for control of Canada’s largest wireless carrier, Rogers, has finally settled – but not everyone involved is satisfied. The Globe and Mail telecom reporter and author of Rogers v. Rogers, Alexandra Posadzki, joins Piya Chattopadhyay to outline the family feud that has rocked the Rogers empire for years and paint a broader picture of how cutthroat the telecom industry really is.

Bibic added that if government-imposed spectrum prices in Canada followed the global average, “every Canadian’s wireless bill would be $5 per month lower.”

But Conservative MP Rick Perkins suggested the blame also falls on the companies themselves. He said Rogers’s quarterly earnings reports frequently “brag about your average revenue per user going up every year.”

“That’s why Canadians feel they’re paying more, because you’re charging them more,” he said during an exchange with Staffieri.

“Average revenue per user does not equal price,” Staffieri replied, noting it is “an accounting metric … and it includes services that the customer can choose to add on.”

“And yours has gone up from $50.75 in 2020, to almost $60 now, in only four years,” said Perkins.

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#Telecom #execs #insist #wireless #prices #MPs #voice #concern #costs #CBC #News

The Best Green Lantern Comics in the Universe | Wealth of Geeks

Since the Green Lantern debuted in 1940, hundreds of characters have used the moniker, ranging from human beings to countless alien variations. No matter who bore the name, however, every Green Lantern shared one key characteristic: an emerald power ring that channeled the user’s willpower into amazing glowing constructs.

Although the specifics change from time to time, most of those members served within the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force sanctioned by the wise and powerful Guardians of the Universe. Thanks to that concept, Green Lantern comics have survived multiple cancelations and a dull Hollywood movie to remain one of the most popular series in the DC Comics universe.

1. Green Lantern Corps #222 – 224 (1988)

Image Credit: DC Comics.

Of all the great villains in the Green Lantern rogues gallery, none outdo Sinestro. A former Green Lantern who lost his position after using it to enslave an entire planet, Sinestro uses his yellow power ring to establish order in the universe.

Writer Steve Englehart and artist Joe Staton finish out their amazing run on Green Lantern with a storyline that begins with the execution of Sinestro. Sentenced to death by the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro leaves this mortal coil with a bitter parting gift — a trap that destroys the central power battery and depowers almost every ring, destroying the Corps. The story closes out the ongoing Green Lantern comics series until the next volume begins three years later, forever changing the face of the DC Universe and cementing Sinestro as one of the best villains in the entire franchise.

2. Green Lantern #195-198 (1986)

Green_Lantern_Vol_2_196
Image Credit: DC Comics.

Any DC Comics fan worth his salt knows about Crisis on Infinite Earths, the company-wide crossover that saw the reboot of the entire comics universe. Given the story’s multiversal stakes, it’s no surprise that the Green Lantern Corps would get involved. But the event came at a troubled time in the group’s existence.

The Guardians of the Universe, the wizened aliens who give the Corps their power, had split into contentious splinters, each with their own different Lantern chosen as their leader — the honorable rookie John Stewart or the more experienced but far more volatile Guy Gardner. Worse, the most experienced and capable Lantern, Hal Jordan, has abandoned his position, all while a cabal of villains seek to recruit him to fight off the coming cataclysm.

Green Lantern #195 – 198 — written by Steve Englehart, penciled by Joe Staton, inked by Bruce D. Patterson, colored by Anthony Tollin, and lettered by Lois Buhalis — does giant crossover comics right, working ongoing storylines from the book into the big story.

3. Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn (1989 – 1990)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

As great as Green Lantern comics of the 1980s were, they did leave the franchise in a tough spot. A large roster sometimes watered down the character work, and the Englehart/Staton run ended with most of the Corps depowered and dissolved.

Created by writers Keith Giffen and Gerard Jones, with the first issue written by Jim Owsley aka Christopher Priest, the six-part miniseries Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn seeks to refocus and ground the franchise. Penciled by Mark D. Bright, inked by Romeo Tanghal, colored by Anthony Tollin, and lettered by Albert DeGuzman, Emerald Dawn retells the first days of Hal Jordan’s entrance into the Green Lantern Corps, in which he gets trained by future arch-enemy Sinestro and battles a threat called Legion.

The storyline gives Jordan some clay feet in the form of a drinking problem while still retaining the sense of adventure that makes him the most popular Green Lantern.

4. Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #3 (1987)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

With a roster of thousands made up of beings from all across the cosmos, the Green Lantern Corps includes far more than just humanoids.

In Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #3, the legendary Alan Moore and artist Bill Willingham give readers one of the most unique members of the Corps, the Lantern Rot Lop Fan. Rot Lop Fan hails from the lightless sector of Obsidia Deeps, where color and images do not exist.

Because of his environment, Rot Lop Fan cannot use his ring like other Lanterns, and instead creates constructs of sound, allowing Moore to take the Green Lantern concept into new directions.

5. Sinestro Corps War (2007 – 2008)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

As he had already done with the Justice Society and The Flash, Geoff Johns revitalized Green Lantern comics at a bit of a fallow period. Despite interesting story twists, such as turning Hal Jordan into a villain and replacing him with compelling new Lantern Kyle Rayner, the series’s popularity had waned.

Johns established his run first by returning to basics — restoring Jordan and finding new roles for the previous Lanterns, such as Rayner, John Stewart, and Guy Gardner — while bringing back old baddies. But Johns’s masterstroke came when he gave former Lantern and arch-enemy Sinestro a corps of his own, a mob of monsters bearing yellow rings designed to induce fear, who attacked the heroes during the Sinestro Corps War.

The storyline ran across all of the Green Lantern books at the time and set a new status quo, not just for the Lantern Corps but for the entire DC Universe.

6. Green Lantern: Mosaic (1992 – 1993)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

First introduced as a rebellious young man granted a power ring in the absence of Hal Jordan, John Stewart had the most tumultuous career of any Lantern, as when a moment of arrogance led to the destruction of the planet Xanshi.

Stewart’s first solo series, Green Lantern: Mosiac, assigned him to the planet Maltus, which consists of cities from other worlds. As the various denizens try to figure out a way to live together, Stewart wrestles with questions about his identity and mission.

Working around the high concepts by writer Gerard Jones, artist Cully Hamner, and later Luke McDonnell, depicts the fantastic possibilities of the power ring, giving the deepest parts of Stewart’s imagination form as a series of green constructs, all presented in dynamic splash pages.

7. Far Sector (2020 – 2021)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

When acclaimed sci-fi author N.K. Jemisin came on to write a book for DC’s Young Animal imprint she did not want the burden of previous continuity and rules. Thus, she, artist Jamal Campbell, and letterer Deron Bennett created a new spin on the Green Lantern mythos with Far Sector.

As its name suggests, Far Sector takes place on a planet in deep space, never before visited by a Lantern. What’s more, Jemisin and Campbell equip their character Jo Mullein with an experimental power ring, one that gives her different abilities. Throughout twelve issues, Far Sector serves as both a compelling Green Lantern story and a murder mystery that fleshes out the back story of one of DC’s most compelling new characters.

8. Green Lantern #142 – 150 (2001 – 2002)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Introduced as an attempt to reboot the Green Lantern franchise, Kyle Rayner not only replaced Hal Jordan — who turned heel and destroyed the rest of the Green Lantern Corps — but also received a major power upgrade, as he possessed the sole remaining ring.

The “Power of Ion” storyline explored the ramifications of that power boost, in which Rayner gains the ability to remake reality and takes the codename moniker. Written by Judd Winick, drawn by Dale Eaglesham, inked by Rodney Ramos, and colored by Moose Baumann and Chris Eliopoulos, the storyline tests Kyle’s principles and resolve as a hero with an unanswerable question: what good can one do when one can do anything?

9. Green Lantern #87 (1972)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Hal Jordan didn’t become a proper villain until the 1990s, but the acclaimed Green Lantern/Green Arrow, run by writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams, didn’t do him any favors either.

Multiple times throughout the story, Jordan gets called out fosr reactionary politics and bigotry, as in Green Lantern #87, inked by D. Giordano and lettered by John Costanza. The story finds the Guardians concerned about Jordan sticking to the U.S. with Green Arrow and appointing a new Green Lantern for the sector in the form of John Stewart.

Jordan takes exception to the discontent of the young new recruit, but the Guardians dismiss his concerns as prejudice. And a good thing, as Stewart became the first major Black hero in the DC Universe (almost four decades after the universe began…) and also one of the most exciting characters in comics.

10. Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 (2023)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

When Martin Nodell introduced Green Lantern in 1940, he gave his hero Alan Scott little in the way of personality. Over the following decades, other creators have fleshed him out, marrying him to former villain Harlequin (not the Joker’s girlfriend) and letting him father two children, the heroes Jade and Obsidian. However, the most interesting development came in 2021’s Infinite Frontier #0, in which Scott comes out to his children.

The new series Alan Scott: The Green Lantern — written by Tim Sheridan, drawn by Cian Tormey, colored by Matt Herms, and lettered by Lucas Gattoni — explores Scott’s first adventures through this lens. As a closeted man in the 1940s, Scott struggles to defend a nation that will not accept him while looking for a place of safety.

11. Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1-3 (1981)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

For most of the title’s history, Green Lantern comics focused on a single hero, in most cases the Silver Age Green Lantern Hal Jordan. However, that single character is almost always part of a larger group of intergalactic law enforcers called the Green Lantern Corps.

The best stories took advantage of the variety offered by these characters, especially the three-part mini-series Tales of the Green Lantern Corps, written by Len Wein and Mike Baron, with pencils by Joe Staton and inks by Frank McLaughlin. The story introduces some important new Lanterns, including the very problematic Arisia, while telling a galaxy-spanning tale that takes full advantage of the character’s intergalactic stakes.

12. Green Lantern #90 (1976)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Despite the buzz it garnered, teaming Green Lantern and Green Arrow didn’t result in high sales, and the comic ended with Green Lantern #89 in 1972.

Four years later, the book returned, still as a Green Lantern/Green Arrow team-up and still with Dennis O’Neil writing, but this time with more of an emphasis on sci-fi elements that better suit Green Lantern. With Mike Grell replacing Neal Adams as artist, Green Lantern #90 puts the twosome in the middle of a civil war on a distant planet.

The complexities of the war drive the two apart, allowing O’Neil to do political explorations that interest him while still telling a cracking sci-fi adventure.

13. Showcase Comics #22 (1959)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

The Silver Age of comics began in 1954, when DC editor Julius Schwartz reimagined the Golden Age character the Flash as a more science-fiction-based hero in 1954’s Showcase Comics #4. That success drove him to do the same with the Green Lantern in Showcase Comics #22, written by John Broome, penciled by Gil Kane, inked by Joe Giella, and lettered by Gaspar Saladino.

Where Schwartz more or less kept the same concept for the Flash, he overhauls Green Lantern, ditching Alan Scott’s magic-based powers and replacing them with sci-fi powers for Hal Jordan. Drawing from the Lensmen series from author E.E. Smith, Schwartz made the Green Lanterns into a space-faring police force, a revision that continues drawing more fans every day.

14. Green Lantern #76 (1970)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Both Green Lantern and Green Arrow have always had their fans, but the two characters could not always carry their own books. So when DC Comics paired the two emerald heroes together in 1970, they hoped only that the two fan bases would result in massive sales.

However, the company got more than it bargained for when it chose Dennis O’Neil as writer and Neal Adams as artist. The two worked their left-wing politics into the book, using stories about viridian adventurers to address issues such as racism and rampant capitalism.

The first issue of the team-up Green Lantern #76 often used Hal Jordan as a wet blanket for Green Arrow to lecture, but Adams’s fluid character work — embellished by Frank Giacoia’s inks, Cory Adams’s colors, and John Costanza’s letters — never disappoint.

15. Green Lantern #40 (1965)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Like all of the other rebooted heroes from the Silver Age, Hal Jordan met his Golden Age counterpart, Alan Scott, as a hero in the alternate reality of Earth-2. But more than a mere team-up, Green Lantern #40 — written by John Broome, penciled by Gil Kane, inked by Sid Greene, and lettered by Gaspar Saladino — fleshes out the newer hero’s world by tracing the origins of the Guardians of the Universe.

The issue explains the motivations of the benevolent, if sometimes controlling, alien leaders and introduces one of the most important villains in the DC Universe, Krona. From Green Lantern #40 come the seeds of Crisis on Infinite Earths and other major DC events.

16. Green Lantern #188 (1985)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

In his first few appearances, political activism defined John Stewart. When he joined the larger Green Lantern Corps and found a wife in fellow Lantern Katma Tui, Stewart developed into a more complex figure.

Green Lantern #188 doesn’t feature any large revelations or changes in the lore, but it further develops Stewart as a character. Writer Englehart and artist Staton — along with inker Paterson, colorist Anthony Tollin, and letterer Helen Vesik — establish Stewart as a hero of the people.

Even better, the backup story “Mogo Doesn’t Socialize” from writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons introduces one of the most unique characters in the Corps, the sentient planet Mogo, the largest Green Lantern who ever lived.

17. Green Lanterns #25 – 26 (2017)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Fans didn’t shout for joy when Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz were added to the Green Lantern mythos in the 2010s. Most felt the franchise needed fewer, not more, human Lanterns and fewer Lanterns working on Earth.

However, when the main Green Lantern book became Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, sending all the other Lanterns into deep space, writer Sam Humphries, penciler Robson Rocha, inker Daniel Henriques, colorist Alex Sollazzo, and Dave Sharpe had room to flesh out the new recruits.

Green Lanterns #25-26 highlights the buddy energy between the sweet Cruz and inflexible Baz, putting the two against powerful space-traveler Volthoom.

18. The Green Lantern #1 (2019)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Writer Grant Morrison made their name writing over-the-top and high-concept stories with the X-Men and Superman, so it made sense that they would take on Green Lantern.

Debuting with The Green Lantern #1, Morrison and artist Liam Sharp — working with colorist Steve Oliff and letterer Tom Orzechowski — emphasize the police procedural parts of the Green Lantern story. Under Morrison’s tenure, Hal Jordan arrests God, goes undercover with a rival police force the Blackstars, and oversees the recreation of the universe. No one before or since has better explored the book’s space cop ideas.

19. Green Lantern #48-50 (1994)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

On one hand, the “Emerald Twilight” storyline from Green Lantern #48 – 50 isn’t the best Green Lantern story ever written, as the decision for Hal Jordan to go mad and become the villainous Parallax comes from editorial more than character choices.

Furthermore, the climactic fistfight between Jordan and Sinestro makes no sense for either person. On the other hand, no one can deny that Parallax makes for an interesting turn for the well-established hero. Furthermore, the storyline takes out the Green Lantern Corps and makes way for Kyle Rayner as the last Lantern, one of the most compelling characters of the past thirty years.

20. All-American Comics #16 (1940)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Although most readers associate Green Lantern with space police, the first version drew inspiration from the myth of Aladdin. Artist Martin Nodell imagined Alan Scott’s ring as a modern-day version of Aladdin’s lamp, granting any wish he might conjure.

All-American Comics #16 introduces Alan Scott in a story drawn by Nodell and written by Batman co-creator Bill Finger. Together, the duo brings a level of menace to the proceedings, a darkness that includes a threat as much as it does power.

21. Green Lantern #13 (1962)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

When it comes to creative Silver Age comics, most readers think of The Flash, Superman, or Fantastic Four. However, Green Lantern had its share of over-the-top craziness, as seen in 1962’s Green Lantern #13, written by John Broome, drawn by Gil Kane, inked by Joe Giella, and lettered by Gaspar Saladino.

In a story guest-starring the Flash, “The Duel of the Super-Heroes!” pits the two heroes against one another, forced into a mind-bending battle by the alien invaders, the Spectrans. While the clash allows Kane to draw some bizarre versions of the central character, it also cements the two as best friends, more than just Justice League colleagues.

22. Green Lantern #59 (1968)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

These days, the Green Lantern Corps features many human members. But that wasn’t the case in the 1960s when Hal Jordan was the one Earthman in the Corps.

Although Broome and Kane, working with inker Sid Greene, do introduce the new Lantern Guy Gardner in Green Lantern #59, the issue tells an imaginary tale, in which Gardner gets the nod because he’s closer than Hal Jordan to the ring. The Gardner of this story is more of a straight-laced hero, as he doesn’t become the crass smart-alec that readers now know until the 80s, but it still sets the stage for a backup Lantern on Earth, something that would make for a rich storytelling vein in the future.

23. Justice League International #10 (1988)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Most ring-wielders joined the Corps because of their honesty and bravery, competent do-gooders who earned the respect of the entire cosmos. That’s not the case with G’Nort of G’Newt, the dog-like Lantern who first got his ring from false Guardians, who empowered buffoons to discredit the Green Lantern Corps.

G’Nort made his ignoble debut in Justice League International #10, during the beloved run by writers Kieth Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis and penciler Kevin MacGuire. As the Justice League searches for the home planet of the killer robots called Manhunters, they discover a stranded and lost G’Nort, who had been ordered to protect “the john” on the planet. G’Nort would go on to win the hearts of fans and get a proper ring. But his first appearance in Justice League International #10 — inked by Al Gordon, colored by Gene D’Angelo, and lettered by Bob Lappan — remains a delight.

24. Ganthet’s Tale (1992)

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Image Credit: DC Comics.

Artist and writer John Byrne helped revitalize the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and Superman. Writer Larry Niven has won numerous Hugo and Nebula awards for his novels, including his 1970 masterpiece Ringworld. So when the two of them came together for a Green Lantern story, fans knew something special would follow.

Niven and Byrne tell the origin of the Guardians via one of their oldest citizens, Ganthet, who seeks the help of Lantern Hal Jordan. Ganthet’s Tale does have its sillier aspects, such as the reveal that leprechauns of Earth descend from Guardians, but that just makes the story all the more special. And even if that doesn’t work for everyone, no one can deny the power of Byrne’s artwork, enhanced by the rich tones from colorist Matt Webb.

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