Thank your own personaly deity—possibly Jin Dahaad—it's Friday. It's also time to tuck into some wallet-friendly wonders, with digital delights across Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, PS5 and PC all copping hefty discounts. Until Monday, do stay safe and save often!This Day in Gaming 🎂In retro news, I'm celebrating the 28th birthday of Suikoden, an all-timer PS One classic. In case you're not familiar with it, you control the son of a general destined to seek out 108 warriors to defeat a corrupt government and bring peace to the land. Not only did it feature duels and large turn based battles, but also packed a large amount of depth into its magic and combat system. The HD remaster is well worth smashing.Aussie bdays for notable games- Suikoden (PS) 1997. Get- Dino Crisis 2 (PC) 2003. eBay- Defiance (PC, PS3, X360) 2013. eBay- Ninja Gaiden 3: RE (PS3, X360) 2013. GetContentsNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchPreorders openNintendo Switch 2 ConsoleRequires a free to make / cancel First Membership that provides free shipping.Kicking things off on Switch, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom slices 47% off its price—perfect time to dive back into Hyrule’s floating islands. Fun tidbit: the game’s physics engine was originally designed to let players solve puzzles in a multitude of unpredictable ways; much to the surprise of even the developers, who’ve admitted being stumped by some player creations.Expiring Recent DealsOr gift a Nintendo eShop Card.Switch Console PricesHow much to Switch it up?Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $̶5̶3̶9̶ $499 | Switch Original: $̶4̶9̶9̶ $448 | Switch OLED Black: $̶5̶3̶9̶ $448 | Switch OLED White: $̶5̶3̶9̶ $445 ♥ | Switch Lite: $̶3̶2̶9̶ $294 | Switch Lite Hyrule: $̶3̶3̶9̶ $335See itBack to topExciting Bargains for XboxOver on Xbox Series X, Star Wars Outlaws lands at $49—a galaxy-sized steal. This open-world adventure is the first to fully let players explore the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe, and its lead character Kay Vess was designed as an homage to Han Solo, but with a street-rat twist. Also worth snagging: Monster Hunter Wilds at half price.Xbox OneLego 2K Drive (-24%) - A$41The Crew Motorfest (-52%) - A$48Monopoly 2024 (-51%) - A$24Expiring Recent DealsSpace Marine 2 (-27%) - A$80Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-24%) - A$84Grand Theft Auto V (-60%) - A$25Suicide Squad: KTJL (-83%) - A$20Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (-23%) - A$90Call of Duty: MW2 (-35%) - A$44F1 24 (-48%) - A$36FC 25 (-65%) - A$39Or just invest in an Xbox Card.Xbox Console PricesHow many bucks for a 'Box? Series X: $̶7̶9̶9̶ $749 👑| Series S Black: $̶5̶4̶9̶ $545 | Series S White:$̶4̶9̶9̶ $498 | Series S Starter: N/ASee itBack to topPure Scores for PlayStationPlayStation’s haul is equally tasty. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth crashes in at $49, cheekily continuing the saga’s tradition of emotional drama and karaoke minigames.PS4Dragon Quest XI S (-50%) - A$27What Remains of Edith Finch (-75%) - A$6Moving Out (-80%) - A$6Torchlight II (-80%) - A$5Expiring Recent DealsPS+ Monthly FreebiesYours to keep from Apr 1 with this subscriptionRoboCop: Rogue City | PS5The Texas Chain Saw Massacre | PS4/5Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth HM | PS4Or purchase a PS Store Card.What you'll pay to 'Station.PS5 + Astro Bot:$̶7̶9̶9̶ $679👑 | PS5 Slim Disc:$̶7̶9̶9̶ $798 | PS5 Slim Digital:6̶7̶9̶ $678 | PS5 Pro $1,199 | PS VR2: $649.95 | PS VR2 + Horizon: $1,099 | PS Portal: $329See itBack to topPurchase Cheap for PCAnd finally, PC players can grab Dave the Diver for just $13, a game whose sushi-restaurant-management-meets-deep-sea-diving premise started as an internal meme before becoming a breakout indie hit.Dave the Diver (-55%) - A$13TLoU 2 Remastered (-12%) - A$65River City Girls (-100%) - FREEBatman: Arkham Col. (-85%) - A$12DmC 5 + Vergil (-75%) - A$11Expiring Recent DealsOr just get a Steam Wallet CardPC Hardware PricesSlay your pile of shame.Official launch in NovSteam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 | Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 | Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049See it at SteamLaptop DealsApple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch (-12%) – A$2,197Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 (-36%) - A$879Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen7 (-27%) - A$1,018Desktop DealsHP OMEN 35L Gaming (-10%) – A$2,799Lenovo ThinkCentre neo Ultra (-25%) - A$2,249Lenovo ThinkCentre neo 50q (-35%) – A$629Monitor DealsLG 24MR400-B, 24" (-30%) - A$97Z-Edge 27" 240Hz (-15%) - A$279Samsung 57" Odyssey Neo Curved (-22%) – A$2,499Component DealsStorage DealsBack to topLegit LEGO DealsBotanicals Daffodils (-48%) - A$12Disney Celebration Train (-47%) - A$32Wicked Shiz University (-42%) - A$29TIE Fighter & X-Wing (-40%) - A$107Expiring Recent DealsBack to topHot Headphones DealsAudiophilia for lessSamsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (-49%) – A$179Sony WH-CH520 Wireless (-27%) - A$73SoundPEATS Space (-25%) - A$56.99Technics Premium (-36%) - A$349Back to topTerrific TV DealsDo right by your console, upgrade your tellySamsung S95D 77" OLED 4K (-19%) - A$6,499LG 43" UT80 4K (-23%) - A$693Kogan 65" QLED (-50%) – A$699Back to top Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

This article contains spoilers for Hacks season 4 episode 1 and 2. The first two episodes of Hacks season 4 can be neatly summarized through one brilliant scene at the end of episode 2 “Cover Girls.” Standing outside of a comedy club after Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) walk out of a standup routine that doubles as a tryout for a writer position on their new late night program, the fiery duo spar over Ava’s job on the set. We’re treated to the actresses’ typical electric chemistry and a fair amount of barbs and retorts, but most of all we get to see the authenticity that kindles bright underneath the surface of their relationship.  Deborah grapples with admitting how she would never have gotten to her dream job as a late night host without Ava’s brilliant joke writing, but her paranoia over the demographic that will be watching her now forces her to turn her back on her young protege. “Late night is for housewives and mechanics.” Once again, Deborah is shrouding her pride with envy. Ava forces her to see comedy in a way she didn’t before. Ava propels her to grow into a better version of herself both on and off stage. Through this process she usually buries her genuine appreciation for Ava and uses practical jokes and other gags to undermine her pseudo daughter. Even though both women know they need each other, the journey they take to get there is riddled with fighting and jealousy.  The complex, fine line separating love and hate between Deborah and Ava is featured as strongly as it ever has in the premiere episodes of the fourth season. The nightclub scene is the encapsulation of the evolving, yet still stagnant dynamic between the two. You’d think after three previous seasons of conquering various obstacles in the comedy minefield of Las Vegas that these ladies would choose adoration instead of vitriol, but what kind of show would that present for the audience?  Deborah and Ava have to keep fighting not just for the audience’s sake, but because bickering is what brings out the best in both of them. Both women are feisty, determined, and intractable. Ava decides the only way to defeat Deborah’s ego is to play her own game when she blackmails Deborah over an affair with the network executive. That season 3 cliffhanger results in some of the most intense tug-of-wars of the series so far at the dawn of the fourth season.  Deborah’s childish forms of payback aim low and always deliver shock and laughs. One prank even sees Deborah sending Ava’s underwear to a network colleague’s desk in hopes it will get Ava in trouble with human resources. The irony of Deborah framing Ava for an HR blunder when she’s currently being held hostage by her own sexual misdoings with higher ups is a great example of the writing that keeps Hacks atop the sitcom game as one of the series that understands its characters on a deeper level while also poking fun at the inner workings of the Hollywood machine they’re apart of.  Deborah and Ava’s situation may be the main one that keeps this show humming at a high level, but the increased screen time for both Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla (Megan Stalter) is a welcomed sight. Any time the high intensity of the Deborah and Ava feud starts to become a little too overwhelming, Jimmy and Kayla serve as the calmer frenemy alternative. Jimmy and Kayla are trying to get their management business off the ground that they decided to start together at the end of the third season. The growing pains between the two are a lot more respectful than between Deborah and Ava. In many ways, this duo symbolizes where Deborah and Ava could and should eventually arrive at by the end of the show. Two mismatched personalities that bicker, but they still love each other.  The last scene of the second episode exquisitely sets up the more heartfelt half of the Deborah and Ava dynamic that we root for. They call a truce after they’re warned that the show is in danger of failing before even getting off the ground. Rooted in their common goal of conquering comedy again, Deborah shows up at Ava’s doorstep ready to work in good faith and promising that no more sabotage will occur. This is where it feels like the season is really about to begin.  These episodes are akin to first biting into a Sour Patch Kid on a nice spring afternoon after school. The bitterness of Deborah and Ava hit the taste buds with shocking intensity. Now the sweetness of the pairing will round out the drama and remind us why Hacks’ two equally compelling tones make it one of the best dramedies of the decade so far. The first two episodes of Hacks season 4 are available to stream on Max now.

Age DE Team April 10, 2025 We are thrilled to announce the next DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – The Three Kingdoms, a riveting and holistic expansion, coming May 6th! Dive into China’s epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where history and legend collide in a battle for supremacy. The Three Kingdoms introduces five fascinating new civilizations, each with their own unique units and technologies: the Shu, Wei, and Wu, who represent the legendary Three Kingdoms; and the Jurchens and Khitans, who exemplify the struggle for power in northern China beyond the Three Kingdoms period. Challenge your friends in skirmish matches or battle your way across China with three new campaigns, commanding the forces of fabled heroes such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and the Sun Clan. These campaigns feature unprecedented features such as devastating special hero abilities, an interactive decision system allowing you to blaze your own trail, and more! We have been delighted to work with Forgotten Empires to bring you The Three Kingdoms. Whether you are a passionate historian, an admirer of compelling narratives, a longtime fan of the Age of Empires franchise, or all of the above – The Three Kingdoms will bring you endless hours of joy and fun! The Three Kingdoms is now available for pre-order with a 15% discount on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox- releasing May 6th! What is The Three Kingdoms?  “The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Thus it has ever been.  In the dying days of the Han dynasty, the empire was like a precious vase knocked off its pedestal. As it fell towards the ground, some refused to accept the inevitable and imagined that the worst had passed.  The more far-sighted positioned themselves to pick up the pieces.”  Created by Forgotten Empires, the passionate team bringing you Age of Empires content for over a decade, The Three Kingdoms is a DLC set in China primarily during the early medieval period, but also featuring two civilizations who rose and fell hundreds of years later. China’s Three Kingdoms, extremely advanced for their time, offer AoE II: DE players the game’s core unit roster along with several unique and region-specific units highlighting the iconic features of each kingdom. Veterans and newcomers alike will enjoy approachable, powerful, and immersive new civilizations! The story of The Three Kingdoms opens with three intertwining narratives spanning roughly 25 years. Totaling 15 missions across 3 campaigns with branching narratives and dynamic, far-reaching decisions that offer a level of replay value never before seen in Age of Empires, The Three Kingdoms offers a tour par excellence through China’s most fabled and beloved period of history from the viewpoints of all three kingdoms’ founders. Experience storied battles such as Guandu, Changban, and Red Cliffs, and relive the dashing exploits of the honorable and benevolent Liu Bei, the conniving yet brilliant Cao Cao, and the resilient, vengeful Sun Clan! Included in this DLC 5 New Civilizations Shu Take the reins of the Kingdom of Shu and fulfill Liu Bei’s dream of restoring the Han dynasty. The Shu unique units are the White Feather Guard, an infantryman that slows down units it attacks, and the War Chariot, a vehicle that fires barrages of bolts from a large repeating crossbow. Wei Step into the shoes of Cao Cao and dominate China with massive cavalry armies and nefarious schemes. The Wei unique units are the Tiger Cavalry, a horseman that levels up as it kills units, and the Xianbei Raider, a cavalry archer that fires storms of arrows into the enemy ranks. Wu Lead the Sun Clan to glory through infantry and naval prowess. The Wu unique units are the Fire Archer, a ranged soldier that fires incendiary arrows, and the Jian Swordsman, a heavy infantry unit whose shield offers immense protection – until it breaks. Jurchens Dominate the rugged terrain of northeast China with the skilled hunters, armored cavalry, and gunpowder weaponry of the Great Jin dynasty. The Jurchen unique units are the Iron Pagoda, a cavalryman that occasionally blocks melee attacks, and the Grenadier, a foot soldier who hurls deadly incendiary bombs at his enemies. Khitans Relive the glory of the Liao dynasty and Kara-Khitai, terrorizing your enemies with mobile hordes and diabolical weapons. The Khitan unique units are the Liao Dao, an infantryman whose lethal sword slashes cause lasting damage, and the Mounted Trebuchet, a powerful siege engine carried around by camels. Additionally, instead of farming, the Khitans gather food from Pastures, which can be tended by two Villagers instead of just one. Several new units and unit-lines for increased immersion in Chinese history: Hei Guang Cavalry — a heavily armored horseman. Regular and Elite Hei Guang Cavalry replace Knights, Cavaliers, and Paladins for the Shu, Wei, and Wu. Traction Trebuchets — deadly, mobile engines that provide the Shu, Wei, and Wu an excellent long-ranged siege option on land in the Imperial Age. Lou Chuans — literal floating fortresses that excel against other warships and buildings alike. Available to the Chinese, Jurchens, Shu, Wei, and Wu. Fire Lancers — spear-wielding infantry who occasionally use an explosive ranged attack. Available to the Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans, and Vietnamese. Rocket Carts — this siege engine replaces Mangonels, and instead fires a volley of incendiary rockets at enemies. Available to the Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, and Koreans. Dragon Ships — the deadliest Fire Ship in the game, exclusive to the Chinese! 3 New Campaigns: Liu Bei (Shu) — In the midst of a bloody civil war, the sandal maker Liu Bei and his sworn brothers fight to restore the ailing Han dynasty. Can this honorable commoner save the empire, or will it fall into the hands of the ruthless warlord Cao Cao? Cao Cao (Wei) — The greatest warlord of his time, Cao Cao rises from a mere cavalry commander to the true power behind the throne of China. Will his ambitious schemes and tactical skill be enough to place his own dynasty on the throne of the Middle Kingdom? The Sun Clan (Wu) — After their father is murdered, the sons of the Sun Clan fight for revenge while building themselves up to be the rulers of southern China. Will their struggle make them worthy of the Mandate of Heaven, or are they doomed to become footnotes in history? As you venture through these campaigns, you will:  Relive fabled events: like the Oath of the Peach Garden, the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and the Battle of Red Cliffs – from up to three different perspectives! Encounter legendary characters: such as the notorious Lü Bu, the wise Zhuge Liang, and the exalted Guan Yu. Unleash their deadly heroic abilities: like Green Dragon Strike, Superhuman Aim, and Exploding Bolt. Train your favorite heroes: from the Three Kingdoms era in the new Hall of Heroes building. Experience unprecedented gameplay and narrative value: as you use an interactive system to make key decisions that shape each campaign. Choose from two new difficulty levels: Easiest offers a leisurely cruise through the story, while Legendary could test the mettle of Cao Cao himself! Marvel at an array of new flora, fauna, and other atmospheric visuals: that will fully immerse you in China’s Three Kingdoms era. All 5 New Civilizations Available in Ranked Play! While The Three Kingdoms era sits on the edge of AoE II: DE traditional timeframe, Forgotten Empires was committed to delivering a product with content for everyone at all levels, styles, spheres, and preferences of the Age of Empires experience. Research and design exploration quickly showed that Three Kingdoms China was extremely advanced for its time, making it an easy fit into the AoE II: DE technology tree and design mould. With this in mind, we committed ourselves to the goal of making this DLC fully available in ranked gameplay. With an instantly recognizable Age of Empires II-feel, plenty of flavor to satisfy the appetites of avid Romance of the Three Kingdoms fans, and the innovative features that AoE II: DE fans have come to expect from each new addition to our beloved game, The Three Kingdoms has something for everyone. A Message from Forgotten Empires The Three Kingdoms represents something a little different than we’ve done in our prior work on Age of Empires II. Although authenticity, fun, and innovation have always been hallmarks of the Forgotten Empires brand, The Three Kingdoms pushes each of these farther than our past Age of Empires II releases. Our goal for The Three Kingdoms is to inspire new and longtime players alike to revel in the Age of Empires experience, and we hope it does justice to the game we all know and love – as well as to each and every one of its fans! Whenever we at Forgotten Empires set ourselves to creating Age of Empires content, we ask ourselves two fundamental questions: “What got you started playing Age of Empires?”, and “What kept you playing Age of Empires?”, which are part of the navigational toolset we use to guide us on that quest. While there can be as many answers to those questions as there are grains of sand in an hourglass, one is that China’s Three Kingdoms era lends itself particularly well to is a compelling campaign experience. While we’ve told many compelling stories through our historical campaigns over the past decade, we’ve also always asked ourselves the question: “How do we raise the bar further still?” With an epic, detailed, riveting, and thoroughly renowned narrative that is to China as Shakespeare is to the western world, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms offered us an ideal setting to tackle that challenge. With entertaining new civilizations, stunning new visuals, innovative concepts, fun and varied mission designs, and a gripping narrative with unprecedented depth, all brought to you in the time-proven Age of Empires II gameplay experience, we welcome you to the incredible world of Three Kingdoms China. We hope you enjoy playing The Three Kingdoms as much as we delighted in creating it, and as always, we appreciate your continued passion for this incredible franchise! Pre-Order The Three Kingdoms Now! Dive into the epic history and legends of China with The Three Kingdoms! Lead five new civilizations – Shu, Wei, Wu, Jurchens, and Khitans – through an era where history and legend collide in a battle for supremacy. Fight your way across China with three new campaigns, commanding the forces of Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and the Sun Clan, each with their unique units, technologies, and heroes with devastating abilities! The Three Kingdoms is now available for pre-order with a 15% discount on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox – releasing May 6th!

There are myriad factors to consider when determining where you should live. Work commutes, school districts, and the community vibe can vary drastically, even within the same zip code. But while you may have your heart set on a certain state or city, it’s time to get more specific when you’re looking to buy a new home. The neighborhood you choose to call home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the entire moving process. You don’t want to accidentally settle into a tourist hub or on a street you’ll soon realize is full of college party houses. There’s a reason why some neighborhoods are more popular than others. Just look at New York City, for example—Times Square is a renter's dead zone, while the West Village has people placing above asking bids just to secure an apartment. Not all neighborhoods are created equal, and it’s important to know what areas match your family’s lifestyle. According to recent data by real estate company Redfin, five of the 10 hottest neighborhoods (areas with much higher home sales than this time last year) are located on the outskirts of Midwestern metros, with buyers seeking affordability and an easy commute. Read on as we break down the 10 hottest neighborhoods in the country right now—from suburban oases to budding urban zip codes. Related StoriesProspect Heights and Clinton Hill, New YorkAuseklis//Getty ImagesWith their historic charm, good schools, and easy access to multiple transit lines, the Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill neighborhoods in Brooklyn, New York, are Park Slope’s more affordable cousins. Boasting a mix of new builds and old brownstones, there’s an ideal apartment for all family sizes in this area. New York Redfin Premier agent Ian Rubinstein explains that the boost in home sales is largely due to widespread return-to-office mandates. “Many companies now require workers to be in the office at least two to three days a week—so people are coming back. In my opinion, Brooklyn has become even more popular than Manhattan.” This area has the highest increase in sales, up a whopping 150 percent since last year. Taxes and mortgages are high in New York, but due to the higher-than-average incomes in this area, interest rates are less of a concern than in the Midwest.Jenison, Michigan A suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jenison is just 15 minutes from downtown. Here, home sales have risen 11 percent year-over-year, while time on the market has been cut by eight days. This indicates that demand is high and buyers are looking to move fast. Local Redfin Premier agent Christine Kooiker says, “Taxes are low, land is affordable, and the broader Georgetown Township is very open to new development. Every time I drive by, I see a new subdivision that’s half-finished.”Related StoryCampton Hills and St. Charles, IllinoisDawid S Swierczek//Getty ImagesFifty miles from downtown Chicago, the Campton Hills and St. Charles neighborhoods of Illinois have seen a 38 percent boost in home sales. Not only that, the budding cultural hub has also seen over 30 percent of homes sell for above the asking price. Homes here have an average price of $615,000. Great for families, this area has award-winning schools and beautiful parks, as well as access to nature. Fairpoint, New York Fairport, New York, is a small town just east of Rochester. With a population of merely 5,000, this area encompasses small-town charm with the convenience of being near a mid-sized city. Rochester is a booming area for those in the manufacturing, engineering, and healthcare industries. Home sales here have increased 48 percent since last year, with an astounding 81 percent of homes selling for above asking.Polk Gulch and Russian Hill, CaliforniaAlexander Spatari//Getty ImagesSan Francisco, CaliforniaLocated in the heart of San Francisco, the neighborhoods of Polk Gulch (also known as Nob Hill) and Russian Hill are drawing tech locals and families alike. “Many wealthy local and international tech workers—especially those in the booming AI sector—are looking to buy in these neighborhoods,” said local Redfin Premier agent Ali Mafi. “People keep saying ‘San Francisco’s back.’ The truth is: it never left.” Russian Hill is slightly slower-paced than the bustling Polk Gulch. The home sales may be down six percent, but views per listing are up 129 percent, indicating a newfound demand and interest in the area. Related StoryFranklin, WisconsinFranklin, Wisconsin, offers a family-oriented neighborhood to commuters or those working in the metro area a few days a week. This Milwaukee suburb is also close enough to Chicago to warrant a less frequent commute. Home sales here are up 29 percent with 40 percent of listings selling above average. “Franklin is not fully developed yet, so new construction is attracting buyers to the area. Many people are purchasing new builds because they can’t find a home for the right price closer to central Milwaukee. One of the defining characteristics of homes in Franklin is really big lots—a perk for buyers who are tired of living on top of their neighbors,” says local Redfin Premier agent Ben Ambroch. Great Kills, New YorkJaysonPhotography//Getty ImagesLocated on the Eastern coast of Staten Island, the Great Kills neighborhood has seen a 19 percent increase in home sales, with 35 percent of listings selling above asking. With direct beach access and a friendly community, this area is great for young families. This area is largely walkable, with everything you need within a few blocks, negating the need for a car. You also benefit from New York City’s robust public transportation system.Lakeville, Minnesota With beautiful natural views and an easy commute to Minneapolis, the neighborhood of Lakeville, Minnesota, is a popular locale for growing families. The school districts here are strong, as is the community. Again, home sales are down (a mere seven percent), and the time homes spend on the market is also down, indicating a high demand for properties in the area. “There aren’t enough homes for sale here in Lakeville, and that makes it really competitive—around 70 percent of sellers get multiple offers,” said Emily Olson, another local Redfin Premier agent. “We had clients put in an offer of $50,000 over asking recently, with a significant escalation clause, and they still lost out. Homes that are move-in ready get snapped up immediately.”Related StoryPrairie Village and Mission Hills, KansasTriggerPhoto//Getty ImagesPrairie Village and Mission Hills are two neighborhoods just 15 minutes away from downtown Kansas City—they are right on the Kansas-Missouri border. Here, home sales are down 19 percent, but similar to the San Francisco neighborhoods, median views per listing are way up (132 percent!), indicating a resurgence in interest and demand. These neighborhoods see a wide variety in home prices, from the mid-$300,000 to the millions. So when there is an affordable home here, consumers jump on it quickly—the average time on the market is just 21 days.Bowie, MarylandBowie, Maryland is an ideal neighborhood for commuters because both Annapolis, Maryland, and Washington D.C. are within a 30 to 40 minute drive from this suburb. Home sales in the area have seen a 31 percent increase since this time last year. According to the Redfin experts, Bowie may be the last district suburb that still has good housing deals, with the average home price being just above $512,000. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

US biotech startup Colossal Biosciences has resurrected the dire wolf — or at least that’s what the company would like you to believe. Social media is abuzz with viral videos, memes, and images of fluffy white puppies. The Game of Thrones references are — predictably — omnipresent. The news even made it to Time magazine’s latest cover.  But behind the hype lies a dangerous de-extinction delusion that could distract from proven solutions to the biodiversity crisis. The Trump administration is already using Colossal’s claims as an excuse to slash endangered species protections. First, let’s set something straight — Colossal didn’t bring back the dire wolf. It took DNA from ancient dire wolves’ remains and then edited a handful of those genes into the genomes of modern grey wolves to give them larger bodies, broader skulls, and specific coat colours. It’s an impressive feat of tech-wizardry, but these fluffy white cubs are, at best, mutations. Register here Colossal claims it has “successfully restored a once-eradicated species through the science of de-extinction” for the “first time in human history”. That’s factually incorrect, as many scientists have already pointed out. As University of Maine paleoecologist Jacquelyn Gill wrote on Bluesky on Monday, “To see this work being done with such a casual disregard not only for the truth but for life itself is genuinely abhorrent to me.” But Colossal shows no signs of slowing down. Last month, the $10bn company used a similar technique to create a wooly mouse — a rodent genetically engineered to have mammoth-like pelts. In the future, Colossal plans to “resurrect” other extinct creatures, including the dodo, Tasmanian tiger, and the giant mammoth. The company says that these projects serve as proof of concepts for de-extinction technologies, which could aid in bringing back lost species and restoring ecological balance. It’s the flagbearer of a growing de-extinction movement in the US, joined by organisations like Revive & Restore and Re:Wild. Europe, in contrast, has focused its rewilding efforts more on bringing back existing species, like bison, wolves, and beavers, to regions where they were hunted to extinction.  While genetically engineered “dire wolves” are going viral, the extant Iberian wolf is endangered. Credit: Animal Record/Creative Commons Meanwhile, an emerging cohort of biodiversity-focused startups is tapping tech to restore nature in more sane ways. For instance, Stream Ocean from Switzerland has developed a face recognition technology for fish that helps scientists monitor species numbers. Germany’s Soilytix tracks soil health using environmental DNA, while UK startup Pivotal Earth connects corporate funding to credited conservation projects.   This is where technology can find its use in biodiversity restoration, not in Frankensteinian conservation attempts, which aren’t just over-hyped but present a dangerous distraction from proven measures.  Colossal has broadcast the message that extinction is reversible — but it is not. While the public fawns over adorable mutated “dire wolves” on Instagram, biodiversity loss is snowballing. One million (known) species are threatened with extinction, with extinction rates now occurring up to 1,000 times the rate in pre-humanity.  We need to mobilise resources to protect the species that we still have left, like the Iberian wolf. Once widespread, the canid is now confined to mountainous regions of Portugal and Spain. Only around 2,200 individuals remain.  Humanity’s top priority should be to safeguard existing biodiversity and restore what’s been damaged. Instead of playing God with long-extinct creatures, we must fight for the endangered species we still have left. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Siôn is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Siôn has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

If I could snap my fingers and make AirPods in any color, we’d have AirPods in black by now. My second choice? Translucent AirPods. Apple sells a version of “Transparent” colored Beats Studio Buds + that I should probably own just to support the clear product cause. AirPods, of course, only come in white with the exception of the AirPods Max line. Here’s how the “Transparent” Beats earbuds look: Beats, which Apple owns, always hits it out of the park when it comes to color. There’s even a “Transparent Red” version of their $59 Beats Solo Buds! A few years ago, we saw a version of prototype AirPods earbuds that had a white and transparent dark blue design: Make a version of AirPods Pro 2 in that color, Apple, and I’ll buy what would probably be my fifth set by now. Note to self: apply whatever that coating is on Nintendo Switch game cartridges that makes kids not want to eat them to my next pair of AirPods. My dog Nova is a lovely girl, but AirPods get chewed up around her when I fall asleep with one in my ear. Maybe she just wants to see what’s inside like the rest of us transparent fans. Where were we? Oh yeah, the latest transparent prototype AirPods. The X account @LusiRoy8 posted these shots of an alleged EVT (engineering validation test) prototype AirPods charging case with a transparent style. Insert drooling face emoji… and heart eyes emoji… but also crying face emoji over the fact that these don’t exist outside of the lab. All too relatable, @Krishell1985, all too relatable. Would you fork over your hard earned Apple Pay Cash for a pair of transparent AirPods as fast as I would? Petition Apple for colors, transparent included, below in the comments. Best Apple accessories Follow Zac Hall: X | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Senior Trump administration officials have reportedly had enough of billionaire Elon Musk's abrasive humor.With the help of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has plundered a growing number of government agencies, overseeing brutal budget cuts and mass layoffs, actions deemed by many to be unlawful and unconstitutional.And his grating personal behavior, frequently punctuated by memes and dad jokes, is starting to get to Trump officials, Rolling Stone reports.As a result, according to the magazine's sources, Musk has been given the nickname "Crazy Uncle Elon" by State Department officials."I have been in the same room with Elon, and he always tries to be funny," a senior Trump administration official told Rolling Stone. "And he’s not funny. Like, at all.""He makes these jokes and little asides and smiles and then looks almost hurt if you don’t lap up his humor," they added. "I keep using the word ‘annoying’; a lot of people who have to deal with him do. But the word doesn’t do the situation justice."Other officials were left wondering after leaving a meeting attended by Musk whether the billionaire was high. Musk's drug use, particularly ketamine, has been the subject of plenty of speculation."Talking to the guy is sometimes like listening to really rusty nails on a chalkboard," the official said. "He’s just the most irritating person I’ve ever had to deal with, and that is saying something."The comments highlight how patience for Musk's chaotic behavior is wearing thin inside the White House and beyond. Musk has sparked plenty of controversy, especially following Trump's inauguration in January, around the time he made two Nazi salutes and joked about the Holocaust.Meanwhile, the billionaire has regularly lashed out at his critics and called them slurs, while making unsubstantiated and misleading claims about the amount of money DOGE is cutting from government budgets.According to Rolling Stone, Musk has sent "very rude" and crass responses, including graphic sexual images, to federal employees.To Musk, most of this childish behavior is funny."I’m living the meme," he told a crowd at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference in February. "You know, it’s like, there’s living the dream, and there’s living the meme, and that’s pretty much what’s happening."His DOGE army of teenage and early-2o-something operatives — most of whom are woefully underqualified and have questionable backgrounds — have even been threatening officials by saying they'll send Musk after them.And they've been given highly classified information, shocking even Pentagon officials."Why do these fucking kids know this?" one source told Rolling Stone after DOGE asked incredibly specific questions.In short, it's no wonder that anti-Musk sentiment has skyrocketed as of late, with an entire movement, dubbed "Tesla Takedown," organizing largely peaceful demonstrations outside of showrooms of Musk's EV maker. Now, even Trump officials are getting the ick.It remains unclear when Musk will leave his post at DOGE. The president suggested earlier this month that he'd depart in the upcoming months. That would roughly coincide with the end of his tenure as a "special government employee," a designation for government workers who are only supposed to serve for 130 days a year and aren't subject to the Senate confirmation process.And, it seems, that day couldn't come soon enough for many Trump officials.Share This Article

The new sensor — expected to launch in the second half of 2025 — will provide easier diabetes management for eligible users.

April 10, 20258 min readU.S. Bird Flu Response Suffers as Farm Workers Fear DeportationAs the bird flu outbreak continues, public health outreach to farm workers is meeting fear and resistance amid Trump’s attacks on immigrantsBy Amy Maxmen & KFF Health News U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents walk down a street during a multi-agency targeted enforcement operation. Fear of immigration raids has terrorized many dairy and poultry workers, complicating public health efforts to protect them from the bird flu and detect cases. Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAggressive deportation tactics have terrorized farmworkers at the center of the nation’s bird flu strategy, public health workers say.Dairy and poultry workers have accounted for most cases of the bird flu in the U.S. — and preventing and detecting cases among them is key to averting a pandemic. But public health specialists say they’re struggling to reach farmworkers because many are terrified to talk with strangers or to leave home.“People are very scared to go out, even to get groceries,” said Rosa Yanez, an outreach worker at Strangers No Longer, a Detroit-based Catholic organization that supports immigrants and refugees in Michigan with legal and health problems, including the bird flu. “People are worried about losing their kids, or about their kids losing their parents.”On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.“I used to tell people about the bird flu, and workers were happy to have that information,” Yanez said. “But now people just want to know their rights.”Outreach workers who teach farmworkers about the bird flu, provide protective gear, and connect them with tests say they noticed a dramatic shift — first in California, the state hit hardest by the bird flu — after immigration raids beginning on Jan. 7, the day after Congress certified President Donald Trump’s election victory. That’s when Border Patrol agents indiscriminately stopped about 200 Latino farmworkers and day laborers in California’s Central Valley, according to local reports cited in a lawsuit subsequently filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the United Farm Workers union and several people who were stopped and detained.“Border Patrol agents went on a fishing expedition” in a three-day raid called “Operation Return to Sender” that “tore families apart and terrorized the community,” the lawsuit alleges.Among those stopped was Yolanda Aguilera Martinez, a farmworker and grandmother who lives legally in the U.S. and has no criminal record. She was driving at the speed limit on her way to a doctor’s appointment when plainclothes agents in unmarked vehicles pulled her over, ordered her out of the car, pushed her to the ground, and handcuffed her, the lawsuit says. Agents eventually released Aguilera Martinez, but the lawsuit says others who faced deportation were detained for days in “cold, windowless cells” before they were transported to Mexico and abandoned.They weren’t told why they had been arrested, given an opportunity to defend themselves, or allowed to call a lawyer or their families, the lawsuit alleges. It says that the four children of one deported father, who had no criminal record, “have become quiet and scared” and that his epileptic son’s “seizures have worsened.”News of the raid spread quickly in California, where an estimated 880,000 mainly Latino farmworkers live. Dairies that employ immigrant labor produce nearly 80% of the U.S. milk supply, according to a 2014 survey.“After Operation Return to Sender, dairy workers became even less willing to speak about the lack of protection on dairy farms and the lack of sick pay when they’re infected — even anonymously,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust, a spokesperson for the United Farm Workers.Outreach workers in other states report a similar chilling effect from raids and immigration policies passed after Trump took office. He repeatedly degraded immigrants and pledged mass deportations on the campaign trail. “They’re not humans, they’re animals,” he said of immigrants illegally in the U.S. last April.Trump’s first legislative action was to sign the Laken Riley Act into law, mandating federal detention for immigrants accused of any crime, regardless of whether they’re convicted. On Jan. 20, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded the “protected areas” policy, allowing agents to arrest people who don’t have legal status while they’re in schools, churches, or hospitals. Last month, the Trump administration deported more than 100 Venezuelans and others without a hearing, ignoring a court order to turn around planes flying the men to El Salvador.The public health ramifications of farmworkers shrinking from view are potentially massive: Infectious disease scientists say that preventing people from getting bird flu and detecting cases are critical to warding off a bird flu pandemic. That’s why the government has funded efforts to protect farmworkers and monitor them for signs of bird flu, like red eyes or flu-like symptoms.“Every time a worker gets sick, you’re rolling the die, so it’s in everyone’s interest to protect them,” De Loera-Brust said. “The virus doesn’t care what your immigration papers say.”Pandemic PotentialAbout 65 dairy and poultry workers have tested positive for the bird flu since March 2024, but the true number of infections is higher. A KFF Health News investigation found that patchy surveillance resulted in cases going undetected on farms last year, and studies have revealed signs of prior infections in farmworkers who hadn’t been tested.State and local health departments were beginning to overcome last year’s barriers to bird flu testing, said Salvador Sandoval, a doctor who retired recently from the Merced County health department in California. Now, he said, “people see a mobile testing unit and think it’s Border Patrol.”Last year, outreach organizations connected with farmworkers at places where they gathered, like at food distribution events, but those are no longer well attended, Sandoval and others said.“Regardless of immigration status, people who look like immigrants are feeling a lot of fear right now,” said Hunter Knapp, the development director at Project Protect Food Systems Workers, a farmworker advocacy organization in Colorado that does bird flu outreach. He said some Latino community health workers have scaled back their outreach efforts because they worry about being harassed by the authorities or members of the public.A Latina outreach worker in Michigan, speaking on the condition of anonymity because she’s worried about retaliation against her family, said, “Many people don’t go to the doctor right now, because of the immigration situation.”“They prefer to stay at home and let the pain or redness in the eye or whatever it is go away,” she said. “Things have really intensified this year, and people are very, very scared.”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported far fewer human cases since Trump took office. During the three months before Jan. 20, the agency confirmed two dozen cases. Since then, it’s detected only three, including two people with cases severe enough to be hospitalized.The CDC has said it continues to track the bird flu, but Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, said the slowdown in cases might be due to a lack of testing. “I am concerned that we are seeing a contraction in surveillance and not necessarily a contraction in the spread of the virus.”Undetected infections pose a threat to farmworkers and to the public at large. Because viruses evolve by mutating within bodies, each infection is like a pull of a slot machine lever. A person who died of the bird flu in Louisiana in December illustrates that point: Scientific evidence suggests that bird flu viruses evolved inside the patient, gaining mutations that may make the viruses more capable of spreading between humans. However, because the patient was isolated in a hospital, the more dangerous viruses didn’t transmit to others.That might not happen if sick farmworkers don’t receive treatment and live in crowded households or windowless detention centers where they might infect others, said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. Although the bird flu doesn’t yet have the ability to spread easily between people through the air, like the seasonal flu, it might occasionally spread when people are in close quarters — and evolve to do so more efficiently.“I worry that we might not figure out that this is happening until some people get severely sick,” Rasmussen said. “At that point, the numbers would be so large it could go off the rails.”The virus might never evolve to spread easily, but it could. Rasmussen said that outcome would be “catastrophic.” Based on what’s known about human infections, she and her colleagues predict in a new report that an H5N1 bird flu pandemic “would overwhelm healthcare systems” and “cause millions more deaths” than the covid-19 pandemic.Vaccinations Drop OffLate last year, the CDC rolled out a seasonal flu vaccine campaign targeted at more than 200,000 livestock workers. The hope was that flu vaccinations would lessen the chance of a farmworker being infected by seasonal flu and bird flu viruses simultaneously. Co-infection gives the two flu viruses a chance to swap genes, potentially creating a bird flu virus that spreads as easily as the seasonal variety.Yet Sandoval said flu vaccine uptake dropped immediately after the January operation in California.U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said in a statement that they arrested 78 immigrants “unlawfully present in the U.S.” during the three-day operation. They included a convicted sex offender and others with criminal histories including vandalism and petty theft, the statement said. The agency did not name allegations against each person and did not say whether all had been charged.Former officials with the Biden administration, which was in its waning days as the arrests occurred, distanced itself from the operation in interviews with the Los Angeles Times.Mayra Joachin, an attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, said the operation was unlike others under the Biden administration in that these were indiscriminate arrests by Border Patrol in the interior of the country. “It fits with the Trump administration’s broader campaign of instilling fear in immigrant communities,” she said, “as seen in the election campaign and in subsequent actions attacking anyone perceived to be a noncitizen in the country.”In March, an assistant chief in the Border Patrol unit that conducted the operation, David Kim, called the operation a “proof of concept.”“We know we can push beyond that limit now as far as distance goes,” he told the Southern California news outlet Inewsource.The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. In an email, White House spokesperson Kush Desai wrote, “Despite what the ‘experts’ believe, combatting the Avian flu epidemic and enforcing our immigration laws are not mutually exclusive.”Anna Hill Galendez, a managing attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, which is involved in bird flu outreach, said unusually aggressive tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deterred sick dairy workers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from leaving their homes for care in late January. They contacted the center for help.“They wanted medical care. They wanted flu vaccines. They wanted [personal protective equipment]. They wanted to get tested,” Hill Galendez said. “But they were afraid to go anywhere because of immigration enforcement.”Lynn Sutfin, a public information officer at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, responded to queries about the situation in the peninsula in an email to KFF Health News, saying, “The farmworkers did not take the local health department and MDHHS up on the testing offer.”The CDC declined to comment on the impact of immigration actions on farmworker outreach.To adapt to the new reality, Yanez now draws attention to her advice on the bird flu in Michigan by pairing it with information on immigrant rights. Knapp, in Colorado, said his organization is shifting its approach away from bird flu outreach at events where farmworkers congregate, because that could be perceived as a setup — and could inadvertently become one if ICE agents targeted such an event.Outreach workers who live among farmworkers are withdrawing a little, too. “Being Latinos, we are always identified,” said the outreach worker who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I have a visa that protects me, but things are changing very quickly under the Trump administration, and the truth is, nothing is certain.”KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Clone survival game The Alters lands summer release date Self sufficient. Image credit: 11 bit News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on April 10, 2025 The Alters - the upcoming survival game from the This War of Mine team 11 bit Studios - has landed itself a release date. Described as an "emotional" sci-fi game featuring plenty of cloning action, The Alters plops players into the shoes of simple worker Jan Dolski. However, while on a space mission, things don't exactly go to plan for Jan (poet and didn't know it), and soon this once simple man discovers his very survival depends on clones of himself. These versions of Jan are identical in form and they share some memories, however this clone crew possess different skills and emotions to others. This includes, 11 bit Studios says, emotional baggage. As to when you can get your hands on The Alters' very personal journey of survival, well that will be 13th June across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Xbox currently has more first-party games coming to PlayStation 5 this year than Sony.Watch on YouTube Along with this release date news, The Alters team has also shared a new release date trailer, which gives us a look at the game's "unique" biomes and deadly anomalies. "Levitating rocks and eerie distortions of reality catch your attention immediately, while other singularities remain invisible to the naked eye and require special tools to uncover. In every case, without a careful approach, you risk instant death, radiation-induced injuries, or even the disintegration of time and space itself," reads the blurb, adding the "heightened radioactivity" at nighttime "can eat right through your suit", which doesn't sound pleasant. "These dangers add yet another layer to the survival experience, turning every expedition into a high-stakes puzzle," the developer states. You can check out The Alters' release date trailer below. The Alters - Release Date Trailer. Watch on YouTube Our Bertie has already had some time with The Alters. "It's a glimpse of a game that intrigues me but also leaves me slightly confused," he wrote in Eurogamer's The Alters preview from 2023. "This War of Mine had a much clearer idea - living as a civilian through war - whereas The Alters seems more speculative and fragmented. Is it a mining game? Is it a survival game? Is it a game about clones? I think it's trying to be all three, but I'm not yet convinced it's managed. But like I say, I've only seen a glimpse, and if it turns out to be anything like This War of Mine, I'll be happy."