Church in Dresden, Germany | © Darya Jum via Unsplash The origins of embroidery on sacred vestments can be traced back to the early centuries of Christianity, when Christian communities began to use precious fabrics and elaborate decorations to honor God and celebrate the sacraments. Initially, embroidery was an activity carried out predominantly within monasteries and convents, where monks and nuns dedicated their time and skill to creating unique and valuable sacred vestments. These early examples of liturgical embroidery were characterized by simple and symbolic motifs, such as crosses, lambs, doves, and other Christian symbols, made with linen threads, silk, and sometimes gold and silver. Embroidery was a decorative activity and an act of devotion and prayer, a way to express one’s faith and love for God through beauty and art. Embroidery operated as a visual language of faith, like the sacred architecture in which these vestments were worn. The motifs and materials echoed the iconography carved in stone and stained into glass, reinforcing a symbolic environment where every element had theological and spatial meaning. In this sense, liturgical embroidery functioned as a mobile extension of ecclesiastical architecture—carried by clergy through the nave, chancel, and altar, it activated the architecture through ritual movement and ornamental resonance. Techniques and Materials: The Art of Hand Embroidery In the following centuries, embroidery on sacred vestments developed further, with the introduction of new techniques and materials. Hand embroidery remained the predominant technique but was perfected with more complex and refined stitches, such as cross-stitch, satin stitch, chain stitch, and stem stitch. The materials used became more precious, using colored silk threads, gold and silver threads, pearls, precious stones, and applications of different fabrics. The decorative motifs became more elaborate, adding biblical scenes, figures of saints, coats of arms, and heraldic symbols. Hand embroidery required great skill, patience, and precision, and the hand-embroidered sacred vestments became true masterpieces of art, a testament to the craftsmanship of the artisans and the richness of the Christian tradition. This craftsmanship parallels architectural detailing, where precision, symbolism, and material interplay define aesthetic value and spiritual significance. As architecture elevates space, embroidery elevates presence, transforming garments into architectural artifacts that carry spatial and theological weight within the ritual framework. Embroidery in the Middle Ages and Renaissance: Splendor and Pomp The Middle Ages and the Renaissance were periods of great splendor for embroidery on sacred vestments. Royal courts and noble families commissioned richly decorated vestments for their private chapels and the most important churches. Sacred vestments became symbols of power and prestige, and embroidery reached unprecedented levels of excellence. During this period, essential centers of liturgical embroidery production developed, such as Florence, Venice, Paris, and London, where skilled artisans created vestments of extraordinary beauty and value. The decorative motifs were inspired by the art and architecture of the time, adding classical, Renaissance, and Baroque elements. Hand-embroidered sacred vestments became luxury items, reserved for social and religious elites. The dialogue between architectural forms and vestment embroidery became particularly evident during this time. Columns, arches, and decorative patterns from churches were translated into thread, showing the deep visual and symbolic alignment between liturgical spaces and their garments. The celebrant’s body, wrapped in embroidery, mirrored the sacred space in which they officiated—a human-scale architecture in motion. Industrial Embroidery: A Revolution in the Production of Sacred Vestments The advent of the industrial revolution in the 19th century led to a radical transformation in the production of sacred vestments. The introduction of industrial embroidery machines made it possible to produce series vestments at lower costs and faster times. Hand embroidery, while maintaining its prestige and artistic value, became less widespread, and industrial embroidery became established as the predominant technique in producing sacred vestments. Industrial embroidery machines made it possible to create complex and detailed motifs with precision and speed that were unthinkable for hand embroidery. However, industrial embroidery also had limitations, such as the lower quality of the materials used and the loss of the unique and personalized character of hand-embroidered sacred vestments. This industrial shift paralleled changes in ecclesiastical architecture—mass production met religious expression, prompting questions about authenticity, ornamentation, and the balance between efficiency and artistry. Computerized Embroidery: Innovation and Personalization Image Courtesy of HaftinaUSA Image Courtesy of HaftinaUSA In recent decades, computerized embroidery has further revolutionized the production of sacred vestments. Thanks to specialized software and computer-controlled embroidery machines, creating custom and complex motifs with unprecedented precision and speed is possible. Computerized embroidery offers excellent flexibility and allows for creating unique and original sacred vestments, tailored to the needs and tastes of each customer. Furthermore, computerized embroidery enables the use of a wide range of materials, from silk and cotton threads to metallic threads and synthetic fabrics. Computerized embroidery represents a perfect synthesis of tradition and innovation, a way to preserve the art of embroidery on sacred vestments while harnessing the potential offered by modern technology. As in contemporary architecture, digital tools have enabled a new level of personalization and complexity. Just as parametric design allows architects to craft forms based on input variables, computerized embroidery translates symbolic input into precise, expressive textile forms—both mediums merging tradition with innovation in the service of sacred experience. The Importance of Embroidery in Sacred Vestments Today Today, embroidery on sacred vestments remains a fundamental element for embellishing and ennobling liturgical garments. Whether it is hand embroidery, industrial embroidery, or computerized embroidery, the embroidery confers on sacred vestments an added value, a symbolic meaning, and an aesthetic beauty that makes them unique and special. Embroidery on sacred vestments is a decorative activity and a way to express one’s faith, honor God, and celebrate the sacraments with dignity and respect. Embroidered sacred vestments are a testament to the rich history of the Church, the craftsmanship of the artisans, and the beauty of Christian art. These garments are not separate from architecture but participants in the spatial drama of the liturgy. Like the altar, the apse, and the vaulted ceiling, their presence contributes to the sensory and symbolic richness of sacred space, affirming embroidery as an architectural element in its own right. HaftinaUSA: Your Source for High-Quality Embroidered Sacred Vestments HaftinaUSA offers a wide range of high-quality embroidered sacred vestments, crafted with care and attention to detail. Their collection includes: Ornate Vestments: Wide selection of vestments for every liturgical occasion, from classic models to contemporary designs. Albs: Simple and elegant albs, made with high-quality fabrics. Chasubles: Richly decorated chasubles, perfect for the most solemn celebrations. Stoles: Stoles of various shapes and colors, suitable for every minister of worship. Liturgical Accessories: Wide selection of liturgical accessories, such as stoles, maniples, corporal bags, and chalice veils. HaftinaUSA’s sacred vestments are made with precious materials and advanced embroidery techniques to ensure exceptional quality and durability. The company also offers customization options, allowing clients to personalize sacred vestments with coats of arms, initials, or decorative motifs of their choice. For more information and to view their collection, visit HaftinaUSA. Sacred Spaces by ArchEyes Team Leave a comment

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Table of Contents Table of Contents Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland (2016) Draft Day (2014) Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) For Love of the Game (1999) Unsurprisingly, Netflix has gotten off to a strong start in television in 2025. The British drama seriesAdolescence has shattered viewership records on its way to becoming the No. 4 most popular English-language TV show. This month, Black Mirror season 7 and Pulse season 1 will sit in the weekly top 10 for the foreseeable future. April does have one noteworthy movie, Havoc, premiering at the end of the month. It stars Tom Hardy as a detective who fights to stay alive and protect a corrupt politician’s son. While Havoc is a premier offering, Netflix has thousands of movies to stream, many of them hidden on their respective genre pages. Luckily, we picked out five to watch this month. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Related Lionsgate Alan Ritchson is one of the most recognizable action heroes on television thanks to his starring role in Reacher. 15 years ago, Ritchson broke out for his comedic work in the TV show Blue Mountain State. The raunchy comedy about a college football team became a cult favorite. Five years after the show ended, the show’s creators crowdfunded a movie, Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland. Quarterback Alex Moran (Darin Brooks) has one thing on his mind for senior year: partying. However, a new dean on campus threatens to upend Alex’s plans when he threatens to buy the Goat House, the football team’s off-campus headquarters. Needing money to save the house, Alex calls Thad Castle (Ritchson), a former Blue Mountain State player who moved on to the NFL. Thad agrees to buy the house if Aled throws the party of the century. Be careful what you wish for, Alex. Stream Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland on Netflix. Lionsgate To some football fans, the draft brings them more excitement than the games. Every player, employee, and fan of a team believes their franchise can change with one good draft. Ivan Reitman’s Draft Day attempted to dramatize a day in the life of an NFL general manager during the NFL Draft. Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) is the general manager of the Cleveland Browns. With the No. 7 pick in the first round, the organization wants Sonny to make a splash and trade up to No. 1. After following orders and trading for the top pick, Sonny immediately has second thoughts and tries to offset his mistake with a series of risky decisions. Draft Day is a bit too melodramatic for a football movie, but it’s still an entertaining, safe sports drama. Stream Draft Day on Netflix. Sony Pictures Comparing Sicario to Sicario: Day of the Soldado is an unfair fight. Denis Villeneuve’s masterful thriller is on a different playing field. However, take Stefano Sollima’s sequel at face value, and it’s a gritty, tense thriller with an effective leading performance by Benicio del Toro. After a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, the government enlists the CIA’s Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and assassin Alejandro Gillick (del Toro) to ignite a drug war between the Mexican drug cartels to flush out the group that smuggled the terrorists across the border. The plan backfires after the government orders the CIA to kill a top kingpin’s daughter (Isabel Merced), whom they kidnapped. Refusing to take an innocent life, Gillick goes rogue and protects the girl as he fights his way back into the United States. Stream Sicario: Day of the Soldado on Netflix. Focus Features Derek Cianfrance makes movies for the sad boys. The Place Beyond the Pines forces you to examine the personal relationship with your father, which won’t be easy for some. The film is split into three parts. The first follows Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling), a motorcycle stuntman who begins committing robberies to provide for his ex-lover Romina Gutierrez (Eva Mendes) and child. Part two explores Avery (Bradley Cooper), a cop whose life-changing decision affects Luke. Finally, the third part investigates Luke’s son (Dane DeHaan) and Avery’s son (Emory Cohen), who must live with the repercussions of their fathers’ actions. Cianfrance takes a family drama and injects it with ambition and scope in this moving crime film. Stream The Place Beyond The Pines on Netflix. Universal Pictures The start of April means baseball has begun. In Hollywood, one actor is most associated with baseball: Kevin Costner. From Field of Dreams to Bull Durham, Costner knows his way around a diamond. The Oscar winner spent most of his time at the pitcher’s mound in For Love of the Game. Veteran pitcher Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) is on his final run as a ballplayer with the Detroit Tigers. On the field, Chapel has one more start before he’s forced out of the game. At home, Chapel’s girlfriend, Jane Aubrey (Kelly Preston), might leave him. As he faces the Yankees, Billy has flashbacks to his tumultuous relationship. This distraction leads Billy to pitch freely, so much so that he has a perfect game heading into the final innings. Stream For Love of the Game on Netflix. Editors’ Recommendations

Rally Revolt brews against RFK Jr. as experts pen rally cries in top medical journal "If our usual approaches are not effective, other strategies must be used." Beth Mole – Apr 9, 2025 5:10 pm | 69 US Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2025. Credit: Getty | Jim Watson US Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2025. Credit: Getty | Jim Watson Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Health experts took to one of the country's leading medical journals to pen searing rebukes of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s first weeks as the country's top health official—and they called upon their colleagues to rise up to fight the misinformation and distrust they allege Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine advocate, is fomenting. From gutting federal health agencies and knee-capping critical local public health programs, to delaying a significant vaccine advisory meeting, hiring a discredited anti-vaccine advocate to conduct a vaccine study, ousting the country's top vaccine regulator, and undermining the response to the mushrooming measles outbreak in Texas that stands to threaten the country's measles elimination status—the researchers had no shortage of complaints. In one article, pediatric infectious disease expert Kathryn Edwards of Vanderbilt University recounted the timeline of the measles outbreak, noting the missteps, missed opportunities, and controversial comments Kennedy made along the way. The rundown included his trivialization of the outbreak, failure to strongly advocate for vaccination, promotion of unproven treatments, like cod liver oil, and delayed responses from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which Kennedy controls. The debacle indicates that researchers and health officials may no longer be able to rely on the CDC for timely guidance and evidence-based recommendations, she wrote. And if so, the medical and science communities need to step up and fill the void. "The measles outbreak must be approached with scientifically based recommendations for immunization and infection control," Edwards concluded. "If the usual government sources of information cannot be relied on, medical journals and specialty societies must fill that gap. If our usual approaches are not effective, other strategies must be used." “Courage and clarity” In a more acerbic article, Vanderbilt researchers Jeremy Jacobs and Garrett Booth blasted Kennedy's appointment of infamous anti-vaccine advocate David Geier to lead a federal study on immunizations and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Geier and his father, Mark Geier, were named in 2010 by Nature magazine to be among the top science deniers. The duo is known for endlessly promoting the exhaustively debunked false claim that vaccines cause autism, which Kennedy also promotes. Mark Geier was stripped of his medical license over accusations he mistreated children with autism, and David Geier, who has no medical background, was fined for practicing medicine without a license. Jacobs and Booth argued that hiring David Geier compromises the integrity of the scientific process, erodes public trust, and provides a platform for unreliable information. It's a "dangerous concession to pseudoscience," they wrote. "Elevating figures known for spreading unreliable information threatens not only the integrity of individual research efforts but also the broader public confidence in science," they wrote. "It sends a message that fringe views deserve equal standing with evidence-based consensus." The moves from Kennedy highlight escalating threats to science and medicine, the researchers wrote. Like Edwards, they called for researchers and health experts to stand up to defend evidence-based medicine. "At this critical juncture, public institutions and academic leaders must demonstrate courage and clarity," they wrote. "If science is to remain a trusted foundation for public health, its stewards must be selected not for their ability to generate controversy, but for their commitment to truth. That requires rejecting the normalization of unreliable information and reaffirming our collective responsibility to safeguard the integrity of public health." Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 69 Comments

United Launch Alliance is due to send 27 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit as Amazon begins a full-scale deployment of its satellite internet networkAmazon Amazon’s satellite internet division, Kuiper, is set to launch 27 satellites into orbit today – the first step in building a network that it hopes will soon rival Starlink, but does it have a shot? We dig into the situation. What is Kuiper? In short, Kuiper is – or will be – a network of thousands of satellites that beam internet traffic around the world. This would allow people in remote regions to access the internet even without local infrastructure. Advertisement The idea is exactly the same as Starlink, the SpaceX-owned company that already provides such a service under the leadership of Elon Musk. Project Kuiper is a subsidiary of Amazon that was established in 2019 and is owned by a different billionaire: Jeff Bezos. Amazon didn’t respond to New Scientist’s request for an interview, but the company has previously said that its satellites will travel at more than 27,000 kilometres per hour and circle Earth approximately every 90 minutes. To connect to the internet, customers will need to buy a small terminal and install it on a building’s roof. When will it launch? And how can I watch it? Kuiper is calling this first mission KA-01, for Kuiper Atlas 1, and it is scheduled for 7pm EDT on 9 April. The latest science news delivered to your inbox, every day. Sign up to newsletter The satellites will be carried to orbit by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Amazon says it will be the heaviest payload ever launched on that craft. United Launch Alliance plans to livestream the flight on its website, starting 20 minutes before launch. Is this Kuiper’s first launch? Kuiper put two prototype satellites into orbit in October 2023, but this is the first launch of the final version, which the company says is “a significant upgrade”. It has better solar panels, propulsion systems and communications equipment, but astronomers will be thankful that another new feature is a dielectric mirror film coating designed to scatter reflected sunlight. Other companies have launched reflective satellites that severely affect imaging, which astronomers have said “truly is an existential problem for astronomy”. Who is ahead, Starlink or Kuiper? Starlink. By quite some way. Kuiper has been granted permission from the US Federal Communications Commission to operate 3236 satellites, and the company has said it would only start renting internet connections to users once 578 satellites were launched. So if today’s launch is successful, the company will still have 551 more satellites to send into space before it can begin to generate revenue. The company says it has secured more than 80 launches with a range of companies to deploy additional satellites. Ironically, some launches will be handled by SpaceX. Meanwhile, SpaceX started launching satellites in 2019, and says it has more than 6750 satellites in orbit, serving millions of customers. The company is also developing a military satellite network called Starshield, which reportedly has contracts with the US government. Can Kuiper catch up? It certainly has lots of ground to make up. Starlink’s lead is large and it has the obvious benefit of being owned by a rocket launch company. Although it isn’t owned by Amazon, Bezos does have space company Blue Origin at his disposal, which is playing a similar game of catch-up with SpaceX in the world of reusable rockets. That could help to close the gap. In other areas, Amazon may have the advantage. It already has hundreds of millions of users who regularly shop and stream on the site, and who may be tempted to add satellite internet via various deals or enticements. In addition, hundreds of millions of people worldwide lack a reliable internet connection, so there is a market. Only time will tell if it is large enough to sustain two major competing satellite operators, not to mention smaller players like the partly UK-owned OneWeb. Some companies are also working on unpiloted, solar-powered aircraft that can loiter in the high atmosphere for months at a time, which could potentially undercut satellites on cost. One thing is clear, however: it will certainly be a boon for consumers to have a competitor in the market. Topics:

Elon Musk and Sam Altman [NEED BETTER CAPTION] Getty Images 2025-04-10T04:31:02Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? In a Wednesday court filing, Sam Altman's lawyers didn't pull their punches against Elon Musk. The filing may be the most detailed account by Altman's side of the breakup between the tech titans. Musk "has tried every tool available to harm OpenAI" in his personal vendetta against the company, it reads. If you let Sam Altman's lawyers tell it, Elon Musk's ongoing battle against OpenAI stems from his personal vendetta against Altman and OpenAI — a company that has seen its business boom since it refused to cede control to Musk in 2018.In a Wednesday filing related to Musk's August 2024 lawsuit against OpenAI, lawyers for Altman and the company laid out Altman's version of events that led to the breakup between the two tech titans. It has been the most detailed account thus far of Altman's side of what went down in his fight with Musk. "Musk could not tolerate seeing such success for an enterprise he had abandoned and declared doomed," the filing read. "He made it his project to take down OpenAI, and to build a direct competitor that would seize the technological lead—not for humanity but for Elon Musk."The filing continued: "The ensuing campaign has been relentless. Through press attacks, malicious campaigns broadcast to Musk's more than 200 million followers on the social media platform he controls, a pretextual demand for corporate records, harassing legal claims, and a sham bid for OpenAI's assets, Musk has tried every tool available to harm OpenAI."OpenAI's filing on Wednesday came the same day the judge in the case set a March 2026 trial date in this clash of titans lawsuit. The company's lawyers did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.OpenAI said it was counter-suing Musk in a scathing series of X posts published on Wednesday. The ChatGPT maker also pointed to older blog posts it had published on their pivot from a nonprofit approach as well as their email exchanges with Musk."Elon's nonstop actions against us are just bad-faith tactics to slow down OpenAI and seize control of the leading AI innovations for his personal benefit," OpenAI wrote on X on Wednesday."Elon's never been about the mission. He's always had his own agenda. He tried to seize control of OpenAI and merge it with Tesla as a for-profit — his own emails prove it. When he didn't get his way, he stormed off," the company added.Representatives for OpenAI referred BI to its recent X posts and the Wednesday filing when contacted for comment.Musk cofounded OpenAI with Altman in 2015 but left the company's board in 2018. Musk said in 2019 that he left because Tesla was competing for the same talent as OpenAI. Musk said he also "didn't agree with some of what the OpenAI team wanted to do. Musk did not specify what those differences were.Since then, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has been a vocal critic of Altman's leadership of OpenAI. Musk had initially filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in February 2024 but withdrew it in June. He later refiled the lawsuit in August.In his lawsuit, Musk accused OpenAI of violating its nonprofit mission by partnering with Microsoft. Musk's lawyers argued that OpenAI's executives "deceived" him into cofounding the company by playing on his fears about AI's existential risks.In February, an Elon-Musk-led investor group made a $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI. Altman dismissed Musk's unsolicited takeover bid."The company is not for sale, neither is the mission," Altman said of Musk's bid in an interview with Sky News in February.Musk did not respond to a request for comment from BI. Recommended video

The arrest of Rex Heuermann, allegedly the infamous Long Island serial killer, makes for riveting drama in Netflix’s latest true crime docuseries Gone Girls — but while the series focuses on the victims and sheds light on Heuermann himself, viewers may find themselves more fascinated by another important facet of the investigation: just how close the case came to never being solved at all.The new series from Liz Garbus spends time on LISK’s first four located victims and the long search for justice their families undertook. These women — Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and Megan Waterman — were originally known as the “Gilgo Four” because they were all found along the same stretch of Long Island’s Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in 2010 and 2011 during a search for another missing woman, Shannan Gilbert. In 2023, Heuermann was arrested for the murders of the Gilgo Four. Since Gone Girls wrapped, he’s been charged with three additional murders — those of Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, and one woman, Sandra Costilla, who’d long been thought to be the victim of an entirely different serial killer. Because these arrests happened after or near the end of Gone Girls filming, the documentary doesn’t spend much time at all on these three women. It spends even less time on LISK’s four other probable victims, three of whom are currently still unidentified. With the investigations into the first seven murders wrapping up, it’s uncertain what will happen to these final four cases.Here’s a look at the main new details we learned from the docuseries and more about what we didn’t.For years, the Suffolk County Police, under the leadership of longtime Chief James Burke, fielded criticism for botching the LISK case, even as the case became national news, an infamous true crime mystery, and a frequent topic of true crime docuseries— even a previous Netflix docudrama. But just how badly they botched it didn’t become clear until the investigation was in new hands.Once the old guard was no longer in the picture, the new investigation ramped up with remarkable speed. In 2018, a new police chief took over and promptly restarted the investigation. In 2020, authorities released the most famous piece of evidence in the case — the belt buckle found at the Brainard-Barnes crime scene. Then, in 2021, came yet another new police chief, Rodney Harrison. Shortly after assuming office, he announced a new task force dedicated to solving the crime. Harrison’s task force, working from an abundance of phone records tied to the suspect’s trove of burner phones, identified Heuermann within just six weeks of starting to look for him.Why, under Burke’s tenure, in one of the highest-profile serial killer cases in American history, wouldn’t police have done the bare minimum and traced the phone records of a suspect?Gone Girls makes clear that the answer boils down to hubris and corruption. Between May 2010 and December 2011, the time between when Shannan Gilbert went missing and was ultimately found, authorities had actively investigated the case, repeatedly searching the marshlands along the shore and eventually locating the remains of 11 victims, including Gilbert. Yet progress stalled when Burke, a longtime protégé of the county prosecutor Thomas Spota, took office in 2012. Burke spent years refusing to work with the FBI, which, according to the documentary, had initially taken the lead on investigating the phone records. When communication between the feds and the cops broke down, so, too, it seemed, did the investigation itself. But Burke had bigger problems. He spent most of his tenure as police chief attempting to cover up the brutal beating of a suspect after a bizarre 2012 incident. The suspect, Christopher Loeb, allegedly stole a gym bag full of sex toys and porn from Burke’s SUV, not realizing it belonged to the police chief. Burke reacted by sending a horde of officers to Loeb’s residence to arrest him and locking him up for the next 48 hours. Burke visited Loeb’s house himself and removed a litany of items, including sex toys. He and other officers physically assaulted Loeb repeatedly, denied him access to his attorney, threatened to arrest and sexually assault Loeb’s mother, and choked him to unconsciousness, all while falsifying police reports about the arrest, according to court records. Burke’s efforts to obstruct the FBI’s investigation into the beating ultimately led to criminal convictions for himself, longtime county prosecutor Thomas Spota, and the former anti-corruption bureau chief. Multiple members of the Suffolk police force were forced to resign and faced charges over the scandal.The LISK investigation was clearly a casualty of Burke’s corruption and the war between the police and FBI. After the investigation finally re-righted itself, however, results came fairly swiftly. Prosecutors are moving forward with the charges concerning the murders of seven of Heuermann’s alleged victims, and the triumphant task force has recently expanded to tackle other unsolved cases.Who were the LISK victims not examined closely in Gone Girls? Gone Girls conducts interviews with the families and friends of many of LISK’s known victims, but it mainly focuses on those of the Gilgo Four. Three additional women have been formally tied to Rex Heuermann: Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, and Sandra Costilla, although currently no court date has been set. Also found in the Long Island marshes that Heuermann used as a dumping ground were four more people — all of whom haven’t, as of yet, been served a chance for justice: “Peaches” Doe and her daughter, “Ocean Parkway Doe” (sometimes called “Asian Doe”), and Karen Vergata. Here’s what’s known about these victims.Jessica Taylor Jessica Taylor. Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook pageA vibrant 20-year-old who loved singing, bike-riding, and working with inner-city children, Jessica Taylor went missing while working near Port Authority in Manhattan in July 2003. Because her partial remains were found in Manorville, Long Island, later that same month, she was long thought to be a possible victim of another area serial killer, John Bittrolff. It wasn’t until 2011, when more of her remains were found near other LISK victims along Ocean Parkway, that police tied her to LISK.Valerie MackValerie Mack. Find a Grave page for Valerie Mack24-year-old Valerie Mack lived and worked in Philadelphia before she went missing in October 2000, only for her remains to be found in Manorville a month later. Known for years as “Jane Doe No. 6,” Mack, who also went by Melissa Taylor, spent time in the foster care system and bounced around homes in her teens. She eventually received her identification in 2020 via forensic genealogy. She had never been reported missing. It’s unclear where Mack was when she encountered LISK; at the least, her connection to Philadelphia suggests the possibility that he may have sought victims over a much wider geographic region than previously understood.Sandra CostillaSandra Costilla. Remembering Sandra Costilla Facebook pageOriginally from Trinidad and Tobago, Costilla was 28 and living in New York City at the time of her murder in 1993. Her remains were discovered in Southampton that same year. In a reflection of an era when marginalized victims were treated with much less sensitivity than they are now, authorities described her as a “drifter.” Costilla was thought to be one of Bittrolff’s victims, so much so that in 2014, after his arrest, press reported him as a suspect in her case — but DNA and trace evidence eventually matched her to Heuermann.Prior to Costilla being tied to LISK, the earliest known LISK murder was in 1996. Costilla’s murder raises the possibility of more victims over a longer period.“Peaches” and “Baby Doe”A tattoo of a bitten peach, from an unidentified woman. Peaches Doe and Baby Doe Facebook pageIt’s not known when “Peaches,” named for the tattoo she sported, went missing. Her remains were initially located in Hempstead Lake State Park in 1997. During the search for more LISK victims along Ocean Parkway in April 2011, more of her remains were found, along with those of her daughter, an unidentified toddler known as “Baby Doe.” The relatives were matched through DNA evidence, and both mother and daughter are believed to be LISK victims. Authorities have recently traced Peaches’ possible roots to Alabama; she also may have ties to Forestville, Connecticut, via her tattoo.Ocean Parkway DoeFacial reconstruction of “Ocean Parkway Doe” as they might have looked at the time of their disappearance. Courtesy Gilgo Homicide Task ForceThe fifth victim to be discovered, in April 2011, is an Asian person in their late teens or early 20s who was found wearing women’s clothes and is believed by many people to have been trans. (Heuermann’s internet searches revealed an interest in men as well as women, and in “Asian twinks.”) They’re frequently referred to in information about the case as an Asian male, though more recently they’ve been referred to as “Gilgo Beach Doe” or “Ocean Parkway Doe.” Authorities believe this victim is likely from Southern China, of Han descent, had a height of between 5’3 to 5’9, and was between 17 and 23 years old. They are believed to have been killed around 2006 or later by a blow to the head. Like most of the other LISK victims, they are believed to have been a sex worker. In 2024, authorities finally produced an updated reconstruction of this victim that represented her as she seemed to be presenting herself when she went missing: as a woman.Karen VergataKaren Vergata. Remembering Karen Vergata FB pageThirty-four-year-old Karen Vergata last spoke to her family on Valentine’s Day 1996. Though her partial remains were discovered later that year on Fire Island, her family ran into repeated roadblocks in their quest to find her, even as “Fire Island Jane Doe” remained unidentified. Like several of the other victims, it wasn’t until more of her remains were discovered in April 2011 as part of the Gilgo Beach investigation that she was tied to LISK. She was eventually correctly identified. Authorities announced her identification in 2023, after using new DNA sampling.Until Costilla was tied to LISK, Vergata was considered to be LISK’s earliest known victim. Now, with more potential victims still to be identified as belonging to LISK or another killer, the possibility of these murders going unsolved seems to have increased. We don’t know whether enough evidence will be found to tie Vergata to Heuermann or perhaps to another killer altogether.The current phase of the LISK investigation has closed. From here, it may get harder.At a March 12 press conference, Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney stated that the current phase of the LISK investigation, involving the first seven LISK victims, has closed. What happens to the remaining four associated victims now becomes uncertain.“We’ll continue to look at those other murders, but we’re not going to ascribe them to one person or the other until we can prove it, and we’re not at the point of charging anyone yet,” Tierney said. He also declined to say whether investigators had identified the other “Doe” victims.A spokesperson for the Suffolk County prosecutor’s office clarified to Vox that even if a victim has been identified, prosecutors typically will not make an identification public before officials have notified family members. Timing is also a consideration; officials held off on announcing the identification of one LISK victim, Karen Vergata, previously known as “Fire Island Jane Doe,” until after Heuermann’s arrest because they didn’t want to alert him to their activity in the case.The task force responsible for identifying Heuermann has recently expanded to tackle other unsolved cases, including the remaining cases connected to LISK. However, as the spokesperson noted, older cases often have less evidence. Investigation is harder, too, when the victims are transient and/or vulnerable, as many of LISK’s victims were. A spokesperson for the Suffolk County prosecutor reiterated to Vox that they don’t identify anyone as a possible perpetrator until they’re ready to charge them. When, or if, prosecutors will ever be ready to charge Heuermann in these other murders remains unclear.See More:

With the release of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 I’m having an existential crisis about facing my Animal Crossing friends. Yes, like most people who needed an escape during lockdown, I found comfort and community through playing New Horizons. I was able to hang out with my best friend who lives in Japan and so many others through late night hours of anxiety as we all went through it. The squabbles with my fellow villagers and doing capitalism lite thanks to one island czar by way of Tom Nook, who with his Jimmy Buffett tropical vacation vibes made it easier to want to earn and spend bells. Did I need an brick pizza oven and a flatscreen in my Venetian maximalist cottage? Yes, obviously. I developed surprisingly endearing friendships with my villagers. Pashmina was my first neighbor; initially, we hated each other but over time warmed up after months of sabotaging each others’ homes. We recruited some rare friends on our orange grove little plot of land in the sea, and made so many wishes on stars with the astrology girly owl Celeste. And of course learning the meaning of the lucky raccoon Tanuki’s… sack was delightful. But over time as the world opened up again, I stopped letting myself relax while playing on my island. I stopped collecting art and rare fish, and let the weeds get out of control. It really got to the point where I would open up the game and then spend so much time weeding that I’d be too tired to play after. And then of course my villagers started noticing my extended periods of absence—some even moved away, like goth mom Mathilda and her baby. I now fear logging on and finding out my beloved Lucky, the mummy dog, has moved on. © io9/Gizmodo The thought of returning to my cluttered holiday cottage also fills me with dread. If I could I’d recreate the Doechii TikTok dance with my Animal Crossing Mrs. Nesbitt (yes, named after Buzz Lightyear’s trauma-induced split personality) and dance with my anxiety in that world. The upkeep of things that kept piling on became too much as the imaginary world became like my real world and I didn’t have enough bells to fix it. I went back for a spell to work off-island at Animal Crossing‘s vacation resort, which was very White Lotus and I worked as a Belinda type. But even that didn’t hold my attention for long. So while the Nintendo Switch is offering the capability to move your island to the next system, I’m not sure what the appeal is. Will there be a big event on-island? It doesn’t appear that the Animal Crossing franchise is getting a new installment by the Switch’s June release. Honestly, I remain avoidant and trapped between disappointing my villagers after years away and their intense line of questioning as to why I have left them in a purgatory of my own creation. Then there’s the daunting decision that looms over me. Maybe I should delete the life and memories my virtual neighbors and I built together? I don’t think I have the heart to do that to them so for now they wait, suspended in the between until I turn the game on again. Or maybe they’ll stay that way for good and I’ll tell myself they can think I moved away. Perhaps I can even wait till a new game arrives and hope there’s a way to visit my old island and visit my old friends—and that I too can resettle like they do. Wouldn’t that be nice? Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Element Store / atelier tao+cSave this picture!© Wen Studio•Shanghai, China Architects: atelier tao+c Area Area of this architecture project Area:  225 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:Wen Studio Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  GUBI, Gyro, Muller van Severen, Norman, ziinlifeMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. Design Statement. No. 1381-1 Yuyuan Road, stands set back 30 meters from the bustling main street, leaving a modest forecourt that separates it from the urban hustle. Home to Element - a fashion boutique in Shanghai that has attracted much attention in recent years, the modest three-story building is surrounded by rows of houses and commercial buildings, presenting only a front façade to passersby. It appears quiet and restraint amidst the lively neighborhood, whilst could be easily overlooked. Through meticulous observations of the urban interface and detailed investigations of the building's inherent qualities, Atelier tao+c has reimagined a community-oriented renovation of Element's store.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Extraction of Architectural Elements. The building, with its simple rectangular form and low ceilings, mirrors the utilitarian architecture of 1980s. Given the challenging economic climate, the design avoids radical transformation to the structure, opting instead for a budget-conscious, "self-renewing" regeneration.Save this picture!Save this picture!The approach was to confront the banality of the building, observe and extract its common architectural elements. Previous modifications - steel beams, emergency exit doors, air conditioning units, and fire hydrants are highlighted through chromatic coding. Sealed windows are reopened and clad with operable metal shutters, reasserting the building's character while revealing its traces of time. The original rusty steel staircase is preserved and revealed, painted forest green, and refined with new railings. The original elements of the building are marked and emphasized.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The messy vitality and order. Within each floor's rigid shell, precisely controlled diagonal interventions formed with solid wood frames or metal sheds, break the monotony of the single form and strengthen the sense of instability of the space. The timber framework bypasses the green staircase, and concealing functional spaces - the changing room and storage room and cashier behind angular folds, while the front side presenting modular display systems. This system of adaptable racks and panels contrasts with the slender stainless steel clothes rods on the opposite wall.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Vertical circulation becomes a dynamic journey: the green staircase threads through cantilevered platforms, framing fragmented views across floors. Wooden frameworks act as permeable screens, revealing layered scenes of a combination of architectural elements with multiple materials and color markers, and the walking is full of dynamics.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Capturing Life in Urban Interstices. Around the buildings, houses and shops are intermingled; A jumble of laundry hangers, air conditioners and awnings protruding like architectural parasites, epitomizes Shanghai's idiosyncratic streetscape. The façade intervention responds to this urban collage. A steel exoskeleton climbs the exterior from the ground floor to the third floor, integrating doors, windows, and signage mounts, allowing maximum daylight and views. It supports awnings and a café counter, while functioning as a scaffold for seasonal banners—a contemporary nod to neighboring laundry poles, forms a recognizable facade feature, which blends into the residential buildings and reflects each other.Save this picture!Save this picture!Internally generated program extends outward: the cafe counter spills beneath the awning to create outdoor seating flanking a pocket lawn. The treatment of internal space and urban Interstice space will affect the interaction between people and shops. The goal of the design is to transform the store into a space with a breath of life, while maintaining a quiet and ordinary state of the building to integrate and refresh the atmosphere of the neighborhood.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Yuyuan Load, Shanghai, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeatelier tao+cOffice••• MaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on April 10, 2025Cite: "Element Store / atelier tao+c" 10 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028552/element-store-atelier-tao-plus-c&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save想阅读文章的中文版本吗?Element 愚园路 / atelier tao+c 西涛设计工作室是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream