On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance did not sound like guys likely to support foreign aid spending.Vance would rail against Kamala Harris, who he alleged taxed money from the American taxpayer, sent it off to China and to foreign regimes all over the world. (Its not clear what exactly he meant by this.) Trump blasted US aid to Ukraine, joking that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is maybe the greatest salesman of any politician thats ever lived. Every time he comes to our country, he walks away with $60 billion.Sure enough, this skepticism applies to more traditional foreign aid spending as well, through vehicles like the US Agency for International Development (USAID). All four budget proposals during Trumps first term included major cuts to foreign aid; the last one proposed a 34 percent cut to global health programs, including an over 50 percent cut to the Global Fund, the main international body coordinating donor funds to fight malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS.Project 2025, the notorious Heritage Foundation project outlining policy for a second Trump term, commissioned Max Primorac, who served in USAID during Trumps first term, to outline a plan for aid. His focus was on fighting DEI and reproductive health initiatives, combating Chinese influence, returning support to fossil fuels in developing countries, and enacting deep cuts to the aid budget.All of that reads like a case that foreign aid advocates should be freaking out right now, the same way abortion rights and immigrant advocates are. But the truth is more nuanced.The president does not control the foreign aid budget directly, and during Trumps first term, a bipartisan coalition in Congress ensured that none of the cuts were adopted. While his budgets proposed cuts to institutions like the Global Fund, the US also made large pledges of increased support during his term, albeit largely at Congresss instigation. Mark Green, the former Congress member who Trump tapped to head USAID last time, is widely respected in the aid world and pursued reform policies that honestly dont look very different from those of Bidens administrator, Samantha Power, or Obamas Raj Shah and Gayle Smith.Experts and advocates I spoke with emphasized that no one really knows what Trump II will bring, or how similar/different it will be from his first term. Some of his Cabinet picks, like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio or North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, seem like people any Republican couldve chosen. Others, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or Matt Gaetz, seem wildly unqualified and bizarre. But while little is certain, aid experts emphasized that we should not assume big cuts or other major damage to the US foreign aid system.I have every expectation that we will see an attempt to cut funds for these areas, and those proposed cuts are profoundly dangerous, Colin Puzo Smith, director of global policy at the antipoverty group RESULTS, told me. But its so, so, so important for the global health advocacy community to remember, for the public to remember, and for other country leaders to remember, that those decisions dont sit with the White House. They fall to Congress.The case for optimism on foreign aid under TrumpThe best case that foreign aid will survive the Trump years without major damage is the record of Trump I.If you look at total foreign assistance spending for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (the two years after Trump took over but before Covid-19), foreign aid funding was basically the same in dollar terms, only declining slightly due to inflation. When you account for military aid declining as the fight against ISIS in countries like Iraq and Jordan wound down, the picture looks even better.The basic reason that funding remained high despite budget requests from Trump proposing deep cuts is that members of Congress, in particular Republicans who were chairing relevant subcommittees in the Senate and House for Trumps first two years, were adamant that funding stay high. They were not shy about denouncing his proposed cuts, even very early in his term.The most important institutions on aid funding in Congress are the State and Foreign Operations subcommittees of the appropriations committees for each chamber. Appropriations is in charge of all funding that has to be regularly authorized; that excludes things like Social Security or Medicare but includes the entire foreign aid budget. The Republicans chairing the subcommittees during Trumps first term were furious at the prospect of foreign aid reductions. The proposed cuts to U.S. diplomacy and assistance are sweeping and potentially counterproductive to our national security goals, Hal Rogers, the Kentucky Republican in charge of the House subcommittee, said in a 2017 statement. The Senate chair was Lindsey Graham, a former Trump critic who had by this point become a major booster. All the same, Graham pronounced the foreign aid cuts dead on arrival, and argued Trumps cuts to the State Department could lead to a lot of Benghazis.The health research group KFF has a useful tool allowing you to compare global health funding each year in the Presidents budget, both in House- and Senate-proposed spending bills and in actuality. In almost every case, you see Congress pushing for more spending than Trump did, and winning. Trump wanted to provide $1.125 billion to the Global Fund, the anti-malaria/TB/HIV group. The final bill provided $225 million more than that. Trump wanted $424 million for USAID efforts against malaria. The House upped that to $505 million, the Senate to $655 million, and the final passed version was $755 million, plus another $202 million for the National Institutes of Health to research malaria.That reflects a deep bipartisan commitment to global health funding, one that persists to this day. Graham is currently the ranking member on the funding subcommittee, and likely will be chair again come January. Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who has succeeded Rogers as chair of the House subcommittee, is also known as an enthusiastic supporter of global health funding. In late 2022, under President Joe Biden, a bipartisan deal was cut involving these players enacting major increases in a number of global health funding streams. Those same actors could do that again.There remain a lot of people in key positions in Congress who are very supportive of global health, Chris Collins, head of Friends of the Global Fight, which pushes for increased global health support from Congress, told me. Global health has always been bipartisan.The foreign aid team that Trump put in place last time also gets high marks from observers in the field. His USAID pick Mark Green sought to reorient the agency toward emphasizing evidence-based interventions and programs run by locally rooted organizations, as opposed to US-based contractors. His program in that vein, the New Partnership Initiative, was quite similar to the Local Solutions program under Obama and the pledge by Power to increase the share of aid running through local groups to 25 percent.Thanks to the able leadership of Administrator Mark Green, USAID has avoided much of the harm many feared could befall it under an administration that has so often positioned itself at odds with a development agenda, the Center for Global Developments Sarah Rose and Erin Collinson wrote when he stepped down in 2020. When Green steps down from the job today, he will leave behind an agency that has largely continued to champion development.The basic bull case for Trump II is that his second USAID administrator will be a broadly liked technocrat like Green, focused on improving efficiency rather than pursuing a partisan agenda focused on gender or reproductive health issues. That, plus a Congress willing to fund aid programs generously, could result in basically decent outcomes, if not spectacular ones.The case that this time will be differentThe first Trump term was not an unqualified success from a foreign aid standpoint. While his cuts did not make it through Congress, the fact that he proposed them put aid agencies under pressure and added uncertainty that theyd be able to continue programs.He also engaged in some classic Republican policies that global health experts disdain, like reviving the Mexico City Policy, a Reagan-era measure that bars aid to organizations that provide abortions. This is an example of Trump being a standard Republican president every Republican since Reagan has adopted that policy, and every Democrat in office has then rescinded it. Its more or less an American tradition at this point. But the policy is also associated with worse maternal health outcomes in recipient countries. Meanwhile, other Trump appointees pushed for abstinence-only sex education programs to combat HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, an approach that most research suggests is ineffective.More to the point, Trump II is by no means guaranteed to be like Trump I. His appointments so far have indicated hes willing to depart from normal US policy more drastically; compare, for instance, his first-term choice of respected former Sen. Dan Coats to be director of national intelligence to his choice this time of Tulsi Gabbard, who is incredibly close to the Russian government.When it comes to global health, two big changes stand out. One is that Trump II will be a post-Covid administration, and thus will reflect the deep skepticism of multilateral health institutions that has developed on the right as a result of the pandemic. A few months into the pandemic, Trump announced he was withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing its failure to contain the virus and arguing it was excessively close to the Chinese government.While the Biden administration reversed course on that decision, GOP anger toward the WHO in particular has lingered. The most recent Republican appropriations bill in the House zeroed out funding for that agency as well as the UN Population Fund, UNESCO, and the UN Environment Fund, among others. Diaz-Balart, the chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, crafted that bill and is known as a moderate who resisted deeper cuts in Trumps first term. If he wants to zero out WHO funding, its a fair bet itll be zeroed out.The multilateral space is one where youre going to see a shift, Elizabeth Hoffman, executive director for North America at the ONE Campaign and a veteran foreign aid staffer in Republican congressional offices, told me. Theres going to be a shift from trying to do things through multilateral mechanisms and looking at a more bilateral framework.Its not clear that this skepticism will extend to multilateral funding mechanisms like the Global Fund or Gavi. But theres another factor in Trump II of potential concern for Gavi, especially: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Since Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Trump, the latter has repeatedly suggested that RFK will have a role as a kind of public health czar. He made it official by naming Kennedy as his pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services.Kennedy is perhaps the most influential anti-vaccine activist not only in the US, but the world. A few months after he visited the nation of Samoa in 2019 and campaigned with anti-vaccine advocates there, a massive measles outbreak, driven by declining vaccination rates, broke out, killing some 83 people, mostly children, in a country of 217,000. The US population equivalent would be over 136,000 deaths.Its not clear how much power Kennedy will have to repeat his Samoa performance in the US. He told NPR the morning after the election, Were not going to take vaccines away from anybody. But he used the same appearance to emphasize that he thinks the science on vaccine safety particularly has huge deficits, suggesting he maintains his belief that theyre unsafe.How much power Kennedy will have to reduce vaccinations in the US is unclear, and how much power or interest hell have in reducing them abroad is even less clear. But whereas the last Trump administration declined to propose funding cuts for the vaccine funding group Gavi, even as it sought to cut almost every other kind of foreign aid, its not hard to imagine Kennedys presence pushing them to include Gavi and other vaccination programs in their budget slashing agenda.Such cuts, if enacted, would be tragic. Economic research suggests that Gavis support for national vaccination programs can save a life for a few thousand dollars, or even less. Its one of the most cost-effective things the US government does, in any domain. If anti-vaxxers in Trumps orbit target it, and if Congress goes along with them, the ramifications would be devastating.Perhaps the most disturbing omen for Trumps foreign aid policy is the report from the Washington Post that he wants to revive impoundment, a practice Congress banned after Watergate in which the president simply refuses to spend money thats been allocated by Congress. Trump publicly flirted with using a related tool, called rescission, to unilaterally cut foreign aid in 2019. This time he seems more serious.If Trump fully usurps the power of the purse from Congress, then any hope for foreign aid premised on the bipartisan congressional coalition behind foreign aid spending becomes hollow. Trump could simply overrule the Lindsey Grahams and Mario Diaz-Balarts of the world. Then wed be in an incredibly dark reality indeed.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Alex Jordan has starred in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Cyberpunk 2077 and more, but used his talents at school to avoid being bullied with Little Britain impressions

One Call of Duty player has taken the Pacifist way of playing right to the top, hitting Prestige in Black Ops 6 without getting a kill, and here's how they did it

Dark Souls 3 remaster is coming claims insider still no BloodborneAdam StarkeyAdam Starkey Published November 18, 2024 1:42pmUpdated November 18, 2024 1:42pm Threes a crowd (Bandai Namco)Despite all the cries for a Bloodborne remaster or remake, Dark Souls 3 is said to be the next FromSoftware title getting the upgrade treatment.Bloodborne might be regarded as one of developer FromSoftwares best games indeed, wed say its one of the best video games of all time but it is also the the most neglected.Despite fan outcry since the game launched on PlayStation 4 in 2015, there hasnt ever been a major visual or performance patch, or even a PC port, for the title. The closest has been some recent enhancements via the ultra-expensive PS5 Pro console, but theyre just general improvements applied to all games.While FromSoftware has acknowledged the thirst for an upgraded version in the past, it seems another game from the studio may have jumped the queue for the remaster treatment.Speaking on the Xbox Era podcast, insider Nick Baker claims a remaster of Dark Souls 3 is in development.While theres no indication of when it could be released, Baker, who has accurately leaked game announcements in the past, claims he has more information but he isnt allowed to pass that on.Based on his wording, it sounds like itll be in the same vein as 2018s Dark Souls: Remastered, which included a 60 frames per second boost, among other improvements.Dark Souls 3 already runs at 60fps on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, so its unclear what a remaster could offer beyond a bump in resolution. The game, however, is not available on the Switch, so this might be a port to coincide with Nintendos new console next year. Dark Souls: Remastered was developed by Polish studio QLOC and not FromSoftware, so its possible a reworked third entry could be by the same team.If this rumour is true, its perhaps surprising that publisher Bandai Namco would skip over Dark Souls 2 which is more in need of a remaster. However, the first sequel, while still popular, is the odd duck of the series, as its the only one not directed by original creator Hidetaka Miyazaki (because he was working on Bloodborne at the time).As for why this would be prioritised over Bloodborne, that is probably because Sony published Bloodborne and not Bandai Namco. The latter also published the studios biggest hit, Elden Ring.Dark Souls 3 originally launched in 2016 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Its the final entry in the series and received two DLC expansions: Ashes Of Ariandel and The Ringed City.Its unclear what FromSoftware is currently working on, but parent company Kadokawa recently announced it has 26 new games in development.More TrendingNot all of those will be FromSoftware titles (Kadokawa also owns Spike Chunsoft, amongst others) but it does suggest they have multiple games underway at the moment as is the norm for them. Will Bloodborne ever get any TLC? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.Game CentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

What a weird idea (Pizza Hut)It seems fake at first, but Pizza Hut has genuinely made a pizza warmer you can stick on top of your PS5, but its not exactly easy to get.April Fools Day is typically awful when it comes to video games, either because companies announce fake stuff people would actually want, or the pranks are simply not funny.Take Pizza Huts attempt, which is so obviously fake you cant even laugh at it: a PlayStation 5 accessory that uses the console to warm up pizzas.Except its not April Fools Day and this is actually real, although getting hold of one is pretty tricky and requires some additional hardware.How to get the PS5 Pizza Hut warmer accessoryTo be clear, this isnt some device you attach to the PlayStation 5. The warmer is a plastic box you simply sit on top of the console while its lying horizontally.You then pop your cold pizza in, and the heat generated from your PlayStation 5 (while its on, obviously) warms it up. Were not sure who was demanding such a niche product but, to Pizza Huts credit, it doesnt cost a penny and is available for free worldwide.However, you need to make it yourself using a 3D printer, after downloading the schematics from the Pizza Hut Canada website. Thats fine for anyone who already owns a 3D printer, but theyre not exactly cheap and typically cost hundreds of pounds.At the end of the day, this is a marketing stunt, but wed be interested to know how effective its actually been. Maybe it made more of a splash in Canada, but this thing came out over a month ago and it seems people are only now hearing about it.More TrendingIn fact, the official YouTube trailer for it remains unlisted, meaning its not publicly available on the Pizza Hut Canada YouTube channel. So maybe Sony complained and they quietly brushed it all under the carpet.Even so, this pizza warmer is somehow not the strangest gaming related product a fast food chain has made. Lets not forget how, in 2020, KFC made an honest to goodness console that could reheat chicken while you were playing games on it.What next? A Starbucks branded coffee holder for your Nintendo Switch? A McDonalds burger grill you can stick on top of the Xbox Series X?Maybe thats what Microsoft is planning for its future hardware. Given how nebulous the state of the next generation of gaming consoles is, frankly anything seems plausible. How many people actually bought this thing? (KFC)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.Game CentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Theres currently a GoPro HERO13 Black bundle on sale at Amazon which is a great opportunity for adventure seekers and content creators: Priced at just $349, this bundle offers a massive 22% discount off its regular price of $449. This offer is not just about savings: its a great way to document all your adventures, whether they are scaling mountains, surfing the waves or simply enjoying a day out with friends.See at AmazonThe HERO13 Black was launched in September and showcases GoPros commitment to innovation and quality. With its impressive 5.3K video capture resolution and advanced CMOS sensor technology, this camera delivers breathtakingly clear footage that brings every moment to life. Its robust design ensures it can withstand the rigors of outdoor activities and makes it the perfect companion for adventurers, athletes and anyone who leads an active lifestyle. The HERO13 is particularly well-suited for extreme sports enthusiasts, travelers, and vloggers for instance.The HERO13 Black introduces several new features that enhance its usability and performance: With improved stabilization technology and better low-light capabilities, this camera excels in capturing smooth footage even in challenging conditions. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible for beginners while providing advanced features that seasoned users will appreciate.All-You-Need BundleThis bundle on sale for early Black Friday comes complete with essential accessories that enhance the overall experience: It also includes two Enduro batteries, which provide extended recording timeideal for those long days of exploration when access to charging may be limited. The two curved adhesive mounts allow users to securely attach the camera to various surfaces, ensuring that every thrilling moment can be captured from unique angles. Additionally, the included 64GB SanDisk MicroSD card offers ample storage for high-resolution videos and photos, while the carrying case provides protection and convenience for transport. In the bundle, youll also get a handler and a carrying case for your GoPro HERO13.One of the reasons why you should buy it on Amazon is the extended return policy: Customers can return items until January 31, 2025 which offers a significant advantage over the standard 30-day return window. This flexibility allows you to purchase the GoPro HERO13 Black as a holiday gift with confidence, knowing youll have plenty of time to evaluate its suitability after the festive season.Whether you are an adventurer seeking to document your exploits or a content creator aiming to produce high-quality videos, this bundle equips you with everything needed to start capturing your experiences right away. Dont miss this deal, it might run out of stock very soon.See at Amazon

The AirPods Pro 2 are currently enjoying a great promotion on Amazon as part of the early Black Friday deals: Priced at $189, this offer reflects a 24% discount from the original list price of $249. Over the past month, these earbuds have sold over 10,000 units, placing them currently in the top three most popular electronic products on Amazon.See AirPods Pro 2 at AmazonThese wireless earbuds are equipped with advanced technology that enhances the listening experience: The AirPods Pro 2 feature Active Noise Cancellation which effectively blocks out external sounds and allows users to immerse themselves in their music or podcasts without distractions. This is complemented by a Transparency mode which enables users to hear their surroundings when necessary.H2 Apple ChipOne of the standout features of the AirPods Pro 2 is the H2 chip which provides improved audio quality and efficiency: it supports Personalized Spatial Audio which guarantees a surround sound experience that adjusts based on the users head movements and creates an immersive listening environment. The earbuds also boast a high-fidelity sound profile thanks to a custom-designed high-excursion driver and a high-fidelity amplifier that deliver rich bass and crisp highs.Battery life is another strong point for these earbuds: you can enjoy up to 6 hours of listening time on a single charge which can extend even further with the charging case. The case itself is equipped with USB-C charging capabilities. Additionally, just 5 minutes of charging in the case gives approximately 1 hour of listening time so that youre never left without your favorite tunes for long.In terms of comfort and fit, Apple has included silicone ear tips in four sizes (XS, S, M, L) to ensure that users can find their perfect fit. This is crucial for both sound quality and comfort during extended wear. Furthermore, they are rated IP54 for dust and water resistance.Good news: Amazon has extended its return policy for these earbuds until January 31, 2025 to allow you to purchase them as gifts with peace of mind during the holiday season. This extended return window is particularly advantageous for those looking to buy Christmas presents without the usual 30-day limitation.See AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon

Utopia vs. Public Reality: Lessons from 20th Century Urban PlanningSave this picture!Semaphore: an Ecological Utopia Proposed by Vincent Callebaut. Image Vincent Callebaut ArchitecturesKenzo Tange's 1960 Tokyo Bay Plan reflected the zeitgeist of a society enamored by rapid technological advancement and post-war optimism. Buckminster Fuller's 1959 dome concept over Manhattan was developed on a belief in humanity's ability to shape its environment on an unprecedented scale. All throughout the mid-20th century, utopian urban planning ideas sprouted in various parts of the world, driven by a unique combination of societal factors and psychological motivations. While these visions were often marked by hope and ambition, they also reflected the broader economic growth and technological innovation of the timefactors that contributed to the bold fantasies of architects and urban designers eager to transform the urban landscape. Many saw an opportunity to redesign cities from the ground up, often bypassing the complexities of existing urban fabrics in favor of futuristic ideals. However, while these visions provoked forward-thinking practices, they often surprised the public and seemed distant or unattainable. How might these concepts have evolved if shaped by today's participatory planning, which prioritizes public engagement and community input?Save this picture!The disconnect between these grand visions and public acceptance brings to light a fundamental challenge in urban planning - bridging the gap between architectural ambition and community needs. The mid-20th century's top-down approach to urban planning, while producing bold theories, often failed to consider the human scale of city life. Le Corbusier's Ville Radieuse, for instance, proposed a "reorganized urban life" that is argued to have ignored the organic nature of community development and social interaction that makes cities vibrant. Related Article 6 Urban Design Projects With Nature-Based Solutions Buckminster Fuller's proposal for a giant dome over Manhattan is a popular depiction of the era's elaborate ambitions. The project promised benefits of "mild winters, cool summers, no need for any buildings in the dome to run heating or cooling." More than just an architectural fancy, the dome reflected the psychological landscape of post-war America a time of "deep paranoia, of reds under the bed, of the Cuban Missile Crisis." The dome symbolized safety, playing with ideas of inclusion and exclusion, However, the immense cost and practical challenges of entering and exiting the dome proved insuperable, with the concept seen as both fascinating and fundamentally impractical.Save this picture!Kenz Tange's 1960 Tokyo Bay Plan captured both the dreams and anxieties of post-war Japan. His vision of Tokyo expanding onto the bay complete with floating platforms and a water-bound Champs-lyses spoke to a public eager to prove their nation's technological prowess yet wary of such radical transformation. While many Japanese citizens admired the ambition, they questioned the decision to abandon centuries of traditional urban planning for a city on stilts. When Kansai built its artificial island airport decades later, many saw it as a more practical evolution of Tange's original vision. The Tokyo Bay Plan's journey from a controversial mega-project to an inspirational reference shows how radical ideas can be gradually digested and transformed by public sentiment over time.Save this picture!Berlin's post-war planning also shows how public perception influenced ambitious designs. The Smithsons' 1957 plan for West Berlin proposed a multi-level city connected by escalators a vision that never came to fruition. Despite being technically possible, the project's alien presence in a city still nursing its war wounds ultimately relegated it to fiction and architectural history. The future can arrive too fast, even for a city known for its forward-thinking spirit.These ambitious projects often faced resistance not because they lacked merit, but because they failed to engage with the very communities they aimed to serve. The public's skepticism stemmed from a natural desire to preserve familiar urban patterns and social connections that gave their neighborhoods identity and meaning. While architects and planners saw blank canvases for innovation, residents saw their homes, their histories, and their communities at stake.Save this picture!The evolution of public input in urban planning is particularly evident in historical examples like Robert Bruce's 1945 Glasgow plan, where planners "did not ask anyone living there what they wanted" an approach that would be unthinkable today. Glasgow's ultimate development provides a compromise, achieving a balance between preserving historical elements and introducing modern developments. The evolution of public participation in urban planning has created new opportunities for innovation that better align with community needs. Modern projects often incorporate elements of both visionary thinking and practical implementation, guided by extensive public feedback and iterative design processes.Save this picture!Looking back at mid-century urban proposals through a contemporary lens raises questions about how these projects might have evolved differently with modern approaches to public engagement. Would Tange's Tokyo Bay Plan have incorporated more elements of traditional Japanese urban patterns if shaped by community input? Might Fuller's Manhattan dome concept have evolved into more feasible interventions that still achieved his goals of environmental control?Save this picture!The legacy of mid-century urban planning reminds us that while bold visions can inspire progress, their success ultimately depends on public acceptance and engagement. As architects reimagine cities for the future, the balance between visionary thinking and community participation will remain crucial to creating urban environments that are both innovative and viable. The question is no longer just what can be built, but how cities be built together.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorAnkitha GattupalliAuthorCite: Ankitha Gattupalli. "Utopia vs. Public Reality: Lessons from 20th Century Urban Planning" 18 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023648/utopia-vs-public-reality-lessons-from-20th-century-urban-planning&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?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

Kings Road House / Matthew Giles ArchitectsSave this picture! French + TyeArchitects: Matthew Giles ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:299 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:French + TyeManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Wienerberger, L2iMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Overlooking the South Park Gardens in Wimbledon, south London, this Edwardian house has been transformed in every possible way. Through a tactile and warm approach to massing and architectural detailing, this bold yet quietly resolving family home now enhances the character of the street and is a contemporary equivalent to the traditional brick homes along Kings Road. The client is a family of four with two young children who approached Matthew Giles Architects to develop designs to extend, remodel and refurbish their home. Having recently purchased a dilapidated building in a part of London they wanted to live in, the client saw an opportunity to create a truly bespoke family home. A schedule of spaces required was provided, and they expressed an interest in modifying the appearance of the building externally while improving the thermal efficiency of their detached home.Save this picture!Save this picture!Following a study of local Victorian buildings, the architects developed a modern interpretation of the traditional brick homes along Kings Road, re-establishing the design principles of the South Park Gardens Conservation area by reinstating brickwork to all faades in place of white renderings. Replacing the previously unkept garage and half turret is a bold new series of front, side and rear extensions, alongside a new sheltered front porch and a bay window. At the rear, a full-width dormer has drastically expanded the internal living spaces, together with an inset dormer/balcony to the front roof slope which opens out the surrounding park.Save this picture!A new masonry canopy unifies the front elevation and was designed to emulate traditional brick banding across surrounding Victorian houses. A new sheltered front porch is carefully articulated using heavy masonry elements and poured in-situ concrete, leading the visitor towards the front door. Chamfered edges are a consistent form throughout the home and entice views while reducing the impact on neighbours. A textured limewash process known in Scandinavia as 'Skkeskuring' was used over the face of the brick to add to the now monolithic appearance. To establish a continuity of language, the rear faade and side elevation treatment feature the same limewashed brick finish while gutters are concealed behind parapets and deep reveals to create a sense of robust solidity. A first-floor rear bay window is angled away from overlooking neighbouring extensions, enhancing views and privacy, while beneath this within the punctured extension, an internal planted lightwell is positioned between the study and garden-facing seating area to separate work, dining, and lounge while supporting cross ventilation.Save this picture!Save this picture!The L-shaped rear extensions make the most of the sunlight throughout the day, and the complete overhaul has resulted in the now warm and bright living space, which centres around connection, quality and texture. Fun is had with a playful kite-shaped roof light and a sculptural, turned oak handrail that signals the passage upstairs. The front chimney breast has been retained, providing a memory of the original house, drawing the eye up through the building. Exposed elements contrast the new building fabric, with a simple interior material palette providing a strong focus on quality and texture including bespoke joinery throughout designed by Matthew Giles Architects, maintaining a consistency of language internally.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Parts of the front and rear walls have also been retained, along with the first-floor floor structure and as many internal partitions as possible. Moreover, the entire house has been insulated on the outside of the existing solid brickwork walls with an insulated brick slip system, Eurobrick, which offers significantly better thermal efficiency than insulating on the inside with insulated plasterboard. The new EPC score is now 'C' rated - the highest possible rating without renewable energy systems: a radical increase on the previous 'F' rated EPC before the works.Save this picture!The remodelled Kings Road House is a world away from the building the clients purchased designed to exacting requirements providing generous living spaces full of warmth and life. The top floor roof space now houses 3 bedrooms and a bathroom with an open mezzanine accessed via the birch ply-lined hallway. The new house does not feel grand, but rather an exemplar of natural, sustainable materials that stands as an ornament for the area. Matthew Giles, Founder & Architect at Matthew Giles Architects, said, "The success of Kings Road is a result of a client who had the vision to support a bold architectural solution to the site constraints. Our whole house retrofit has not only repurposed the best parts of the home and radically boosted environmental performance, but it has also delivered a large new family home full of warmth and life, which sits contextually within the South Park Gardens Conservation area and enhances the local area."Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:London, United KingdomLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialBrickMaterials and TagsPublished on November 18, 2024Cite: "Kings Road House / Matthew Giles Architects" 18 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023615/kings-road-house-matthew-giles-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?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

Microsoft Ignite is on this week. Its the companys massive event focused on IT professionals. While you can attend this event remotely, you should consider attending in person this year because I still see far more AI failures than successes. When AI is deployed successfully, it has a significant positive impact on productivity, yet quality appears to be going in the wrong direction. But not for everyone.Shows like Microsoft Ignite are full of information on products and services. The event is attended by many IT professionals in different industries, with varying levels of AI deployment and very different paths to success.With the intense focus on all things AI, and Microsoft Copilot being one of the most widely spread AI tools, being able to talk to the people who have been successful with this tool, which vendors they worked with to deploy it successfully, and what practices helped their success become golden knowledge.Lets talk about why this years Ignite is important not only to attend but to attend in person. Well close with my Product of the Week: Bluesky, the social media platform I hear people are having the best success with as they move from Twitter/X.The Value of RelationshipsBuilding strong vendor and peer relationships is essential for AI success, especially when navigating the complexities of new technology like Microsoft Copilot, which appears to be the most successful AI offering in the market so far. It has enormous productivity-improving value to every product it enhances.Because Microsoft is a platform, tools, and cloud company, its tools tend to be relatively unfocused in terms of industry or geography. This broad applicability doesnt preclude tuning; it indicates the tools can be useful to almost every company, from enterprises to small businesses. While smaller companies will likely use AI as a service, enterprises are increasingly likely to use tools hosted on their own hardware or in a hybrid approach where sensitive information is retained, AI is accessed on-premises, and less secure information and implementation that dont require low latency can be cloud-deployed.The issue to address is that service providers, OEMs, and most companies trying to ramp up AI dont know enough about it to succeed. However, the people who understand AI and have had successful AI deployments (particularly the early adopters Microsoft assisted) will be at Ignite. Meeting these experts could make a difference in whether you overspend on these tools and help avoid common mistakes by learning from the mistakes of others and being able to delineate the hype from reality.Genuine Value vs. Exaggerated ClaimsI learned this lesson a few decades ago when Microsoft held an event arguing that its Windows NT servers could replace mainframes. When I had a chance to talk to two of Microsofts reference accounts, it became clear that Windows NT wasnt ready to replace mainframes for most organizations.The first indicated that it was working very well and had effectively replaced their mainframe, but also that had Microsoft not paid for the deployment, theyd never have been able to afford it.The second account didnt have a lot of time to talk to me because their NT servers had gone down, and the CEO was pissed. The poor guy likely thought his job wouldnt survive the result.Vendors tend to overpromise and underdeliver. Microsoft is better than many, but it has had this problem in the past. When it comes to AI, while Copilot is performant, it appears to have a significant adverse impact on quality, which is only a dealbreaker if you cant mitigate it.At Ignite, you can learn from the early adopters where the hype matches reality and where it doesnt and how to mitigate the damage from the latter. You dont want to be that poor guy who was an early adopter and likely lost his job as a result. These people can help ensure that your initial AI implementations with Copilot are something you can be proud of, not something youll be hiding from.Microsoft PartnersAt Ignite, there are always a lot of Microsoft partners, and every one of them will tell you that they are the partners for you. But along with these vendors are their customers who have used their services and deployment teams. Even if an OEM or service provider has a successful process, given how rapidly theyve had to ramp up, some teams know what they are doing, and some are learning on the job.Given that large language models (LLMs) cost around $100 million to develop, learning on the job can be incredibly expensive and embarrassing for the individuals or organizations that hire the teams tasked with training these models. Asking about not only the vendors IT professionals used successfully but also the specific teams they used can inform you which vendors are better than others and which vendor teams are better than others. I once met with an executive who correctly identified the best vendor for a specific task only to find that the team was unavailable. So, they passed and went with a different vendor who could provide their most successful team for the deployment. The efforts result was successful, but it might not have been if he had not looked under the covers to ensure the competency of the vendor and the team that provided the critical service.Wrapping UpAI is in the midst of a significant feeding frenzy. Most failed deployments appear to be primarily due to the immaturity of the tools, the inexperience of the vendors and customers, an excessive focus on productivity, and an inadequate focus on quality. This doesnt mean that AI is crap. It isnt, and it is working for an increasing number of companies.The problem is the inability to delineate between those products, tools, and vendors that are competent for your industry and company and those that are not. Because of Microsofts leadership in AI, Ignite is one of the few places to get the critical information you need to make better choices and ensure your expensive AI deployment is successful.BlueskySince Elon Musk took over Twitter and renamed it X, many users have been looking for an alternative service. Mastodon and Metas Threads initially looked like good alternatives, but both products had issues.While capable, Mastodon was somewhat difficult to use and hasnt lived up to being a Twitter replacement. Threads got a huge initial bump, but it fell off quickly because it lacked many of the features people relied on with Twitter. People still use both platforms, but they dont seem to be the go-to replacement for Twitter/X.(Image by Author / Gemini)Bluesky, at least for now, has gained traction as a viable replacement. It is relatively easy to use, and more feature-rich than Threads initially was. Im getting inquiries from all over the world on that platform this week as more and more people globally abandon or cut back on their use of Twitter to use Bluesky instead.Social media is a thing, and while it might be healthier not to spend as much time on it, Bluesky continues to be a much more balanced platform, one I and others feel safe using. It reminds me of the early days of Twitter when the tool was fun to use, and you didnt end up wasting time in online arguments with people who seemed outright crazy.For me, Bluesky is safer, more fun to use, and less full of misinformation than Twitter. It appears to be the best Twitter alternative for now, so its my Product of the Week.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.