There are tons of reasons to pick up a portable power station, whether that's because you're worried about power outages or you just like to enjoy the great outdoors. Power station deals allow you to pick up a portable power boost at a price that suits you, but they don't always hang around for long. Right now Amazon's early Black Friday deals have the DJI Power 1000 portable power station down to just $419 -- a new all-time low. Just be sure to clip the on-page coupon and enter the discount code G5DLD9AQ to get in on the full $380 savings. See at AmazonThe backup charging device has four-in-one charging with 2,220-watt continuous output. It's extremely quiet too, at 23 decibels. A grid recharge will get the DJI Power 1000 back up to 80% in 50 minutes and 100% in 70 minutes.Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.During his hands-on testing, CNET's Steve Conaway noted that if you also own a DJI drone, the Power 1000's superfast-charge function would be "one of the best selling points for this particular unit." He also liked that it has two 140-watt USB C ports and does indeed charge fast. Want to check what else is on the market? We've rounded up plenty of power station deals to help you save on whatever best fits your needs. And for further recommendations, see our list of the best solar generators of 2024, which includes brands like Bluetti, Jackery and EcoFlow.Read more: Unique Gifts for People Who Have EverythingWill the DJI 1000 power station go on sale for less than this during Black Friday?Given this is a new all-time low, and the proximity to Black Friday, we'd wager that this is the best price we'll see on this power station this holiday season. We'll know for certain in a couple of weeks, of course, but we saw this device drop below $500 for the first time during last month's Prime Day sale so a drop much lower than the price available today would be surprising.

There are quite a few good internet provider options for residents of Modesto, California. Here are CNET's top picks, including the overall best, fastest and cheapest ISPs.

November 18, 20246 min readClimate Change Is Altering Animals' ColorsLizards in France have grown lighter in color and so are many insects and birds across the globe. The effects of a changing climate are plainly visible throughout the animal kingdomBy Marta ZaraskaBrown-lipped snail (Cepaea nemoralis). Blickwinkel/Alamy Stock Photo.Zebras, a childrens tale goes, became striped after standing half in the shade and half out of it. While the author, Rudyard Kipling, wasnt a biologist, his story may hold some truth: research shows that when temperatures rise, animals become lighter in color, resembling the sun-exposed parts of the storybook zebra. In the humid shadows, meanwhile, darker hues prevail.As our planet warms up and rain patterns shift, the feathers and skin of many species are changing colors, often getting lighter. Snails in the Netherlands are going from brown to yellow. In a species of tropical bee in Costa Rica, the proportion of orange to blue individuals is increasing. Lizards in France are turning lighter, and so are many insects and birds across the globe. Under global warming one would expect that the darker species, and darker individuals, might decline, says Stefan Pinkert, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist at Yale University.There are two main ways in which animal skin, fur and feathers are colored. Some of the hues we perceive are from the interaction of light with the microstructure of feathers or scalesthink of a hummingbird that changes color depending on the angle at which you spot it. Others are caused by pigments, molecules that absorb light, such as carotenoids, which produce yellow, red and orange colors, and melanins, responsible for black, gray, brown and rustlike hues.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.Melanins, the most common pigments in birds and mammals, may be affected by rising temperatures and changing rain patterns. If you have more melanin in your skin or your fur or feathers, then it tends to absorb more heat, says Matthew Shawkey, an evolutionary biologist at Ghent University in Belgium. This may be a disadvantage as the temperature soars, he says, because it can cause animals to overheat. On the flip side, if it rains more, pathogens tend to thrive. In such conditions, dark melanins can be protective because they toughen up tissues, Shawkey says.A rule proposed by Charles Bogert, an American herpetologist, in a 1949 paper, predicts that hotter climates should have a higher presence of ectotherms, or so-called cold-blooded animals, that are lighter in color and therefore less likely to overheat. (These animals, such as reptiles and insects, cant regulate their own body temperature, and they rely on external heat sources.)In recent years, science has not only confirmed Bogerts rule but also extended it to endothermic, or warm-blooded, species. Its not just frogs, toads, snakes and midges that are lighter in warmer regions; birds get lighter as well. A 2024 analysis of more than 10,000 species of birds showed that in hot places, white and yellow feathers win over blue and black ones.With global warming, some animal populations are becoming even lighter. Between 1967 and 2010, as temperatures in the Netherlands rose by 1.5 to two degrees Celsius, brown land snails gave way to yellow ones. Between 1990 and 2020 in the U.K., dragonflies and damselflies got progressively lighter, tooas Pinkert and his colleagues found in a 2023 paper. And if youve looked closely at some dragonflies, you may have noticed that they now have fewer dark ornaments on their wings.In one recent study conducted in North America, male dragonflies from 10 different species had the smallest melanin-based color patches on their wings in the warmest years between 2005 and 2019. In this same time period, pretty spots also seemed to pale on Mediterranean Blue Titstiny birds with yellow chests and azure, hatlike markings on their head. Between 2015 and 2019, the blue head patches of tit populations around Montpellier, France, have gotten lighter by approximately 23 percenta change related to the rise in local temperatures.Experiments confirm the observational data: hot temperatures make animals turn lighter. In some cases, an individual may simply produce more or less pigment depending on temperature. Vivid dancer damselflies, for instance, can change their colors from dark to light and back to dark as mercury fluctuates throughout the day. Male chameleon grasshoppers go from black at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees C) to turquoise at more than 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). If you raise many different species of insects in cold temperatures, they develop darker, and if you raise them in warmer temperatures, they get lighter, says Kaspar Delhey, an evolutionary biologist at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Seewiesen, Germany.Such effects are not limited to insects. Field experiments conducted in Spain showed that vultures that hatch in nests exposed to more sunlight have paler feathers than those that grow in more sheltered sites. It wasnt simply that the birds were sun-bleachedthe melanin in their plumage wasnt degraded, as it would be if destroyed by sunshine. There was simply less of it to begin with.Besides individual ability to adjust color based on temperature, animal populations living in warming regions may become lighter simply because paler animals move into new areas. There may be genetic changes at play, too, Pinkert says, but we still have a critical knowledge gap about how such evolution may be playing out.While Bogerts rule appears straightforward in regions that heat up yet remain dry, such as the Mediterranean, if rainfall increases alongside temperatures, species may turn dark instead of light. In 1833 Constantin Gloger, a German ornithologist, suggested that in humid places feathers are more likely to be black than white. One reason may be camouflage. In wet habitats, there is more vegetation; the backgrounds are darker, and so a darker animal might be more camouflaged, Delhey says. Another explanation for Glogers rule may be protection against pathogens, which often flourish in humid climates. A 2020 study of 16 bird species showed that feathers containing more melanin are better at resisting damage by nest bacteria. The goal of this molecule is to protect the organism against various sources of stress. For instance, the feathers which are black are stronger, says Alexandre Roulin, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, who was not involved with the study. Research suggests that melanin molecules may not only inhibit parasites but also reinforce cells, creating a barrier against pathogens.When Delhey tested what happens when both temperatures and precipitation increase with climate change, he found that, at least in birds, the effects of humidity are generally much, much stronger, he says. Delhey and his colleagues mapped the plumage colors of all species of passerine birds, of which there are more than 5,000, to climates in which they live. They found that the animals were lighter where warm and dry but darker where warm and humid. Roulin and his colleagues found something similar in a 2024 study of thousands of museum specimens of barn owls collected across the globe between 1901 and 2018. The researchers showed that over time, plumage colors became lighter where the climate got warmer and drier but darker where both temperature and precipitation increased. Where the climate change was stronger, the change in color was stronger, Roulin says.Yet changes in precipitation patterns caused by global warming are less straightforward than a future increase in temperatures. This is why, Delhey says, if he were to predict a general trend across animals, based on the effects of temperature, they should get lighter. Cold-blooded animals, such as insects, may also respond more strongly to heat rather than humidity, he says, yet research on this is still lacking.Overall, shifts in animal coloration are expected to be subtle. We are not going to see such a dramatic change that were not going to recognize species, Delhey says. From a biological perspective, however, that small difference may mean whether a species can survive, he says. Meanwhile the animals that do adapt by changing their colors can serve as a visual reminder of humanitys giant environmental footprint that has unsettled the entire planet. You can track with your eyes what is the impact of climate change, Roulin says.

November 18, 2024An Off Day in BrooklynAnd on UranusA serious bird flu infection in Canada, a troubling projection of future plastic waste and dispatches from a global climate convention. Anaissa Ruiz Tejada/Scientific AmericanSUBSCRIBE TO Science QuicklyApple | Spotify | RSS[CLIP: Theme music]Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific Americans Science Quickly, Im Rachel Feltman. Lets get the week started by catching up on a few science stories you might have missed.First, you might remember that last week I mentioned that an unprecedented number of U.S. states were experiencing drought. Those dry conditions have helped wildfires take hold, including in surprising spots like Brooklyns Prospect Park. Here to tell us a little bit more about that situation is Andrea Thompson, a Scientific American associate editor who covers the environment, energy and Earth sciences.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.[CLIP: "It Doesn't End Here (Instrumental)," by Nehemiah Pratt]Andrea Thompson: So a lot of us are used to wildfires out West, especially in places like California in recent years, but theres been more than 500 fires since October 1 in New Jersey. Theres been about 200 brushfires in Massachusetts in October, which is a [roughly] 1,200 percent increase over the average. So, you know, its clear that this is really unusual.And the reason its happening is because of the drought conditions there and actually in a large part of the country. In terms of population, its actually about half of the country, about 149 million people.The reason were seeing the drought in the East right now is because weve just had a prolonged period where we havent really gotten much rain. Thats been particularly true in the Northeast. We have recently seen some rain hit in a few places, particularly from Louisiana up into the Ohio River Valley.Parts of the Southeast have gotten a decent drenching and have seen some improvement in the drought, but it takes repeated, you know, rainfalls like that to really fully dig out. And in some areas like New York City or Washington, D.C., recently had a very light rain, which doesnt hurt, but its not really helping. Its sort of just making it so that the drought doesnt keep getting worse.As to when well actually see the drought conditions ease, thats going to be different for different parts of the country. Its very hard to do any kind of detailed forecast out weeks or months in advance. But there are forecasts that can be sort of done to say whether the odds are going to favor warmer or cooler conditions, wetter or drier. So for some parts of the U.S., you know, we are seeing possibly wetter conditions coming whereas in the Northeast right now, were still kind of looking warmer than average, drier for at least the next few weeks. But, you know, how that continues into the winters a little hard to say right now.Feltman: In other troubling planetary news a study out last Thursday in Science warns that global mismanaged plastic waste could almost double from 2020 levels by 2050 if we stay on our current trajectory. Researchers used machine learning to analyze data on plastic production and waste management along with info on socioeconomic trends to estimate how our plastic problem might evolve over the next few decades. While the findings are very troublingand suggest the annual greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic system could grow by more than a third if nothing changesthe authors did also game out some potential solutions. The researchers simulated the results of eight interventions currently being considered in the United Nations plastic pollution treaty draft. The good news is the authors found that four of these policies, if implemented together, could reduce plastic-related greenhouse gas emissions by a third by 2050. Unfortunately those policies are likely to be a pretty tough sell: to start wed have to cap virgin plastic production at 2020 levels. Wed also need to mandate that new products contain at least 40 percent recycled plastic. Plus wed also have to set a high tax on plastic packaging. Then a $50 billion investment into global waste management would be the cherry on top. So wed better get cracking. And by we I mean the U.N.Unfortunately we also have a sobering update on H5N1, which is one of the viruses that causes bird flu. This year the strain of avian influenza has been spreading among cattle and other animals and has infected at least 46 humans in the U.S. So far cases have generally been described as quite mild. But last week health officials in British Columbia, Canada, announced that a previously healthy teen who has H5N1 was in critical condition. Their initial symptoms of conjunctivitis, fever and a cough progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, which is a life-threatening condition. Health officials are still working to track down the source of the teens infection and confirm they didnt pass the virus on to anyone else. But this is a reminder that H5N1 does have the potential to cause serious illness and that our efforts to keep it from circulating should reflect that.[CLIP: "Let There Be Rain," by Silver Maple]But weve got some uplifting public health news, too. Last week we saw the release of federal data from 2023 on sexually transmitted infections. STIs have been on the rise in recent years, but the 2023 data shows a roughly 10 percent drop in early stage syphilis, which is when its most contagious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thats the first substantial drop weve seen in more than 20 years. Gonorrhea cases also fell for the second year in a row. Theres still a lot of work to be doneespecially on congenital syphilis, which is an STI passed to newborns during delivery. That continued to rise in 2023. Now, we saw a lower rise in cases of congenital syphilis in 2023 than in previous years, which is great. But since this potentially deadly illness is entirely preventablepregnant people just need to be screened for syphilis and receive antibiotics before they give birthweve really got no excuse not to eliminate it entirely. So basically, these numbers should motivate the government to put even more money into sex ed, STI screening and treatment, and public awareness because we're finally moving in the right direction.Now we have a quick update to share on the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, better known as the much more concise COP29. The meeting started in Azerbaijan last Monday. Scientific American has a reporter there on the ground, so here he is with some key takeaways from the meetings as of Friday.Alec Luhn: My name is Alec Luhn. Im a Pulitzer Center reporting fellow covering the COP29 climate summit. The goal of this years summit is to increase international climate finance from $100 billion per year to $1 trillion per year or more. But its been ill-fated from the very start.At first countries couldnt agree which country to hold it in. National leaders didnt show up. France has boycotted the summit. Argentina has left early. And of course, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, promising to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement.Now, Bidens climate envoy, the secretary of energy, a congressional delegationtheyve all come to COP29 promising that the energy transition will continue in the U.S. despite Trump. But the fact remains that the finance goal has to be agreed [to] now without any real guarantees from the U.S., which is traditionally one of the biggest voices here, along with the European Union and China. So that climate tricycle is missing one wheel, and it reflects an uncertain time for climate in general because while the energy transition is underway [and] wind and solar have overtaken other sources of energy, were not moving fast enough.We just found out that emissions continued to rise this year. They havent started to come down yet despite almost 30 years of these climate summits. And a stark reminder of that is another report that came out, which I covered for Scientific American, which found that even if we stopped emitting carbon tomorrow, a certain amount of sea level rise is probably already locked in from the melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet.So the climate crisis is more urgent than ever, and yet our international mechanisms for dealing with it are weaker than everto the point that a number of former diplomats, including the former president of the U.N. climate body, wrote a letter saying that COP is no longer fit for purpose and needs to be reformed if its to have any real chance of solving this problem.Feltman: Lets wrap up with a quick pit stop over on Uranuswhich is, as ever, full of surprises. When NASAs Voyager 2 spacecraft zipped by the ice giant back in 1986, it picked up some perplexing data about the planets magnetosphere. Those are the bubbles dominated by a planet's magnetic field that help protect the celestial body from the destructive force of charged particles from the sun and other cosmic sources.[CLIP: "Without Further Ado," by Jon Bjrk]So heres what Voyager 2 saw back in the 1980s: the spacecraft detected belts of electron radiation that, at least in our solar system, were rivaled only by the super intense ones found around Jupiter. But things didnt quite add up. In Uranuss magnetosphere, scientists expected to see a whole bunch of plasmaionized particles that help feed the radiation beltsbut it seemed like the belts themselves were the only action in town, so to speak. Scientists didnt even find any of the water ions theyd hoped to see from Uranuss moons.In a study published last Monday researchers report that a new look at the Voyager 2 data reveals a novel explanation: we just caught Uranus on an off daylike, a really weird one. The researchers think a massive solar wind event happened to hit Uranuss magnetosphere just before Voyager 2 flew by, which they hypothesize knocked all that missing plasma out of the way and temporarily juiced up the radiation belts. The scientists suspect that Uranus experiences these conditions just 4 percent of the time. That means its possible the ice giants moonswhich were written off as geologically inactive after those findings in the 1980smight actually be producing water ions that were temporarily displaced by the bout of nasty space weather. In other words, secret subsurface oceans are back on the table for the moons Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon.[CLIP: Theme music]Thats all for this weeks science news roundup. Well be back on Wednesday.Science Quickly is produced by me, Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Subscribe to Scientific American for more up-to-date and in-depth science news.For Scientific American, this is Rachel Feltman. Have a great week!

Physical Lego Horizon Adventures set sees Aloy taking on a bricky Shell-Walker and SawtoothBlock stock and Varl.Image credit: Lego News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Nov. 18, 2024 If you want to expand your Lego collection with some more Horizon-themed pieces, you are in luck.Following on from the majestic Tallneck model, Lego and Guerrilla are once again joining forces and releasing a set inspired by Lego Horizon Adventures. As teased last week, this set is known as Aloy and Varl vs. Shell-Walker and Sawtooth, and it comprises much of what you would expect given the name.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Lego Horizon Adventures Review. Watch on YouTubeConsisting of 768 pieces, this set features Horizon's leading lady Aloy and her trusty pal Varl taking on bricky renditions of a Shell-Walker and a Sawtooth. Aloy has her bow and Varl has his spear, with options to switch bits up to allow for fire, shock or chill 'attacks'.As for those hostile machines, both have joints which allow for different poses. The Shell-Walker has posable legs and arms, as well as opening claws. This chap also has a detachable cargo pod and energy shield. The Sawtooth, meanwhile, has jaws which open for a good bite, as well as a swivelling torso along with a posable neck, head and legs.To give you a sense of scale, Lego said the Sawtooth measures over seven inches high. Image credit: Lego"We're delighted to bring one of gaming's most beloved franchises to life in both physical and digital Lego brick form," said Kate Bryant, Product Lead, Branded Games at the Lego Group, reflecting on both this set and Lego Horizon Adventures itself. "We hope this latest set continues to fulfil our commitment to seamless play and empowers our fans to expand on their favourite games in their own, unique way.""Lego Horizon Adventures has brought Aloy and the acclaimed Horizon universe to a new audience and we've been very pleased with the title's launch," added Guerrilla art director Roy Postma. "This new set adds to that momentum by enabling players to build on the excitement of the adventures they experience in the game in true Lego fashion."Those interested in purchasing the Aloy and Varl vs. Shell-Walker and Sawtooth set are able to pre-order it now via Lego. It will be available on shelves from 1st March, next year, retailing at 39.99. Image credit: LegoAs for Lego Horizon Adventures the video game, we recently awarded it two out of five stars."It's a decidedly joyless kind of game, the sort that's better to look at than actually play with, and one that does little to bridge the gap between its two main subjects," our Katharine wrote in Eurogamer's Lego Horizon Adventures review. "I still don't know why it exists or who it's for, and there's little evidence to suggest that Guerrilla or Gobo know the answer either."

Roblox adding further parental controls, as its belated push to improve child safety continues"We know there's always more to be done."Image credit: Roblox News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Nov. 18, 2024 Roblox has today announced further tools designed to improve the safety of its young audience, including the ability for parents to remotely manage their child's account, view their child's friends list and limit the amount of time made available to play.In the coming months, further changes will be made to stop children under 13 from directly messaging others outside of games, and limit interactions within games to public messages only. Starting today, Roblox is also simplifying its content labels and limiting the games and experiences children under nine can see on the platform by default.Today's announcements mark yet a third set of changes detailed by Roblox in the past month. Previously-announced policy tweaks were revealed to now require parental access to be given for children to access some in-game chat features. This was followed by the announcement of a ban on social hangout experiences for kids under 13 due to "user behaviour that can potentially pose a risk". Roblox has long been criticised for not doing enough to ensure the safety of its enormous audience, the majority of which are kids. This summer, a Bloomberg report revealed that Roblox itself had reported 13,316 instances of child exploitation in 2023, and that more than two dozen people had been arrested for abusing minors following contact in-game.All of the above announced changes by Roblox follow the publication of a damning report last month that again highlighted examples of inappropriate - and allegedly, illegal - content being shared on the platform, and that also claimed Roblox had not been transparent around its user activity metrics (a claim Roblox said it "rejected").Despite the recent flurry of changes, Roblox says today's announcements were decided upon and would be implemented following "multiple rounds of internal research, including interviews, usability studies, international surveys with parents and children, and consultation with experts from child safety and media literacy organisations". A Roblox spokesperson claimed these updates, announced today, had already been "praised by partners, including the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) and the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)"."We've spent nearly two decades building strong safety systems, but we know there's always more to be done," Roblox chief safety officer Matt Kaufman said in a statement. "Last quarter saw a record average for daily active users on Roblox - over 88 million - and as our platform has grown in scale, we have always recognised that our approach to safety must evolve with it. Today's launch represents the next stage in that evolution."Last month, Roblox hit Dress To Impress removed a hotdog outfit after players used it to dress up like male genitalia.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereNexon recently shared their plans for The First Descendant Season 2 in a thorough developer commentary. Players have a new Ultimate to anticipate, two new characters, a new boss, and a host of new skins. While players are head over heels in love with the revealed new outfits already, the unfortunate news is that Nexon will not be changing prices for The First Descendant Season 2 skins.We only have to wait until December 5th for The First Descendant Season 2 release date to arrive. Again, theres two new characters for players to look forward to, and the new Ultimate is Sharen. Aside from what was announced in the developer commentary, Nexon has also revealed a new feature previously kept secret, and the developer is looking to add jiggle physics in the future with appropriate options.In addition, there are big improvements on the way for skins involving body diversity and them no longer being seasonal. While players are happy with the appearance of the costumes, a lot of fans would still like to see price changes for skins.Nexon is not changing the price for skins in The First Descendant Season 2Since the launch of The First Descendant, there has been regular complaints online that skins are overpriced. Not only skins, but there have also been complaints about the way Nexon has handled selling cosmetic dyes.There is good and bad news for TFD Season 2. The good news is that you will be able to buy attachments and components of skins individually, meanwhile, the bad news is that Nexon is not considering a price change to skins overall.On Discord, TFD_PD_Lee was told The new skins for season 2 look awesome but I want to see price changes soon, I really enjoy the game and I want this game a great success but please fix the prices so you can have more players spending and getting player retention. The player ultimately argued in favor of a price decrease by stating Its not the same spending for a 50 dlls skin for 10 people instead of a 15 dlls skin for 50 people.While a lot of players would like to see a price decrease, however minor, the unfortunate news is that a change is not being considered. TFD_PD_Lee explained We [Nexon] currently have no plans to adjust skin prices. Even when skins are converted to universal skins, their prices will remain the same. While some have suggested that a price increase might be acceptable when skins become universal, weve all agreed to maintain the existing prices.The good news is that we wont be getting any price increases, but the bad is that there wont be a decrease. However, in further good news, Nexon plan to continue expanding the availability of skins as rewards (through events, battle passes, boss clears, etc.) rather than purely as paid content.Image credit: The First Descendant DiscordFor more The First Descendant, we have a guide to thebest skills and loadout for Viessa, along with thebest skills, gear, and mods for the hugely popular Bunny. We also have a guide forFreynaalong with fundamentaltips for beginners.The First DescendantPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, RPG5VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereFortnite players are always on the lookout for the next collaboration that Epic will bring into the game since there already have been so many in the game in the past few years. Right from TV, movies, and comic books to musical artists have been added to the looped island bringing numerous icons as in-game cosmetic outfits.At the same time, several popular game franchises have also collaborated with Fortnite to bring their characters into the game such as God of War and Metal Gear Solid. Another popular collab that didnt get enough limelight at the time was with Alan Wake 2 which brought the protagonist of that game to Fortnite as an Item Shop skin.However, now the director of Alan Wake 2, Sam Lake has shown interest in numerous Fortnite collabs in the future, one of which is as iconic as it gets and has been something that fans want in the game.Sam Lake wants iconic Alan Wake 2 dance to become a Fortnite emoteIn a conversation with IGN, Alan Wake 2 director Sam Lake was asked if he would like to see Max Payne become a Fortnite skin someday, the character he wrote for Rockstar in the early 2000s. To the question, Sam replied, Yeah maybe, I dont know. Maybe, if we pick through the Remedy Connected Universe, I would certainly love to see Alex Casey in Fortnite.Sam Lake wants Herald of Darkness as a Fortnite emote. Image by IGN.To those unaware, Alex is an officer for the FBI in Alan Wake 2 and is modeled after Lake and written by Alan Wake in his novels. Alex is a quite vital character in both Alan Wake games since whatever Wake faces in the games is through his experiences while writing Alex.Moving on, Sam Lake also told IGN, But if there is another thing about Fortnite that I still feel should have been there, I think that the dance choreography of Herald of Darkness definitely should be in Fortnite.Herald of Darkness was one of the most popular dance moments in video game history as it became a viral sensation even to those who werent acquainted with Alan Wake before its sequel. During the release of the game numerous fans had requested Epic to add the dance as an emote in Fortnite, but now that Sam has expressed interest, fans believe it could become a reality soon.One such fan said, Sam Lake really knows what the people want. One of the best people in the gaming industry. Another wrote, Put Casey in Fortnite and I will play the game again. A third user commented, They did it once they can do it again, I need this please, while referring to the requests made by fans for adding the Bye Bye Bye emote. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

The pressure was on when Claire Staszak and Sara Gubin spotted the cobalt velvet padding of a pristine Guillerme et Chambron armchair on one of their last stops at Round Top, the Texas antiques fair. It was one of those moments when you see something from a mile away, and it seems like youre running in slow motion to get to it, says Staszak, owner of Chicago-based interiors firm and AD PRO Directory member Centered by Design. We were dealing with bad reception and sending images to our client that wouldnt go through. Though some might find that kind of thing stressful, Staszak and Gubin, her lead designer, were exhilarated. I joked that our trip to Round Top was more fun than my bachelorette party, she laughs.A graphic Oscar Isberian rug anchors the custom Centered by Design cocktail table and Verellen sectional and accent chairs in the family room. The throw pillows are from Pat McGann Gallery and Treko.Shop out the look of the house hereStaszak and Gubin were fortunate to have a client who shares their love of the hunt. She lit up when we would look at vintage items, the designer says of the homeowner, who tasked her with converting a 5,400-square-foot house built in 2003 into something more in keeping with a classic Chicago greystone. These pieces would often become the starting point or inspiration for a room. An old French cataloging bureau dictated the palette and mix of materials in the formal living room, where a pair of leather-clad Nielaus and Jeki Mobler chairs sit with a live-edge walnut cocktail table. In the primary bathroom, vintage Barovier Rostrato sconces inspired the aqua-green veining in the Calacatta turquoise Antico marble that adorns the walls and vanity.The beauty of these pieces is that we werent just choosing something that was pretty or perfect, says Gubin, noting the clients preference for fashion-forward interiors that also exude West Coast calm and sophistication. Each piece that we chose was extremely intentional in that it had a strong silhouette or a statement pattern or a patina that added a lot of depth and character. Our client wanted that graphic element that you find in New York brownstones, but there are also a lot of the neutrals that you see in California interiors.In the formal living room, an Armadillo rug sets a neutral base for a Rowe sofa upholstered in Dedar velvet, a live-edge Skylar Morgan cocktail table, and vintage leather-clad Nielaus and Jeki Mobler chairs. The midcentury floor lamp was sourced from 1stDibs, and the antique French catalog cabinet was found at Schwung. The Gommaar Gilliams artwork was purchased with help from art consultant Laura Lester of Lester Fine Art.Jennifer Shorto fabric covers the Doorman bar stools in the kitchen, where lanterns by Visual Comfort hang above the marble-clad island. A second sink (there is another larger one on the perimeter of the room) proves especially useful when the family is hosting friends and loved ones.Calacatta viola countertops, Classic Brass hardware, flushmounts from the Urban Electric Co., and custom cabinetry covered in Benjamin Moores Cole Stone elevate the butlers pantry.Seagrass-backed Noir chairs make a subtle textural statement in the breakfast nook, a quiet space of that kitchen thats embellished with a vintage Gio Ponti mirror, Club Cu French oak console, Ravenhill Studio chandelier, and McLaurin & Piercy striped Roman shades.Take the wallpaper in the dining room, a contemporary print by Calico that reads more historical thanks to its juxtaposition against a stately oak refectory table and an antique French store counter turned credenza. A palette of earthy browns, olives, and burnt redsand materials taken from the natural worldground the spaces, a series of airy rooms that get lots of natural light thanks to the houses unusual (for Chicago) horizontal rather than vertical footprint on a double-wide lot. Theres probably more wood than we ever use, says Staszak, also noting the mix of stone tiles, hand-dyed linens, and brass finishes, but thats where the California energy comes in. Adds Gubin, Theres an organic quality to the rooms, which makes it very comfortable.Most PopularMagazineTaking a Trip to Kenny Scharf's Ecstatic LA AbodeBy Mayer RusArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla AD-it-Yourself31 Charming Farmhouse Living Room Ideas to Gather RoundBy Sarah LyonA botanical print by Calico adds a dose of elegant romance to the custom Centered by Design refectory table, Highland House chairs, and an antique French store counter turned credenza in the formal dining room. Above, a chandelier by the Urban Electric Co. mirrors the tables long lines.Comfort was key given that the homeownerss three children are often running laps up and down the front and back staircases with their friends. Because the family is enthusiastic about entertaining, Staszak and Gubin designed the rooms for multiple functions: The library becomes a spot for afterschool homework and study sessions, and the kitchen opens up to a large family room and breakfast area to accommodate overnight guests.Pierre Freys Ziggy fabric adds playful energy to an intimate private den off the primary bedroom, where the family often gathers on the Osborne & Littleupholstered Chaddock sofa for movie nights. A Wo & We wall lamp adds moody ambiance.Most PopularMagazineTaking a Trip to Kenny Scharf's Ecstatic LA AbodeBy Mayer RusArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla AD-it-Yourself31 Charming Farmhouse Living Room Ideas to Gather RoundBy Sarah LyonYet there are also intimate spaces for quieter times. The family often retreats to the private media room off the primary bedroom, and Staszak installed a cozy reading nook in a closet under the basement stairs, a surprise move-in present designed to make the family feel instantly at home, complete with a mural of a tree carved with the kidss names into the trunk. That was so rewarding, says Gubin of the childrens excitement. You realize that were not just creating designs, were creating a home.The librarys subdued palette and style was informed by the homeowners collection of Roseville and Van Briggle potteryfamily heirlooms that belonged to her late mother. A Pinch pendant light hangs above a reclaimed table and chairs and a vintage Moroccan rug. The walls are clad in Benjamin Moores Vineland.A brass-and-alabaster chandelier by Visual Comfort highlights the stately barrel vault ceiling in the primary bedroom, where an Eastern Accents bed is flanked by Noir nightstands and a vintage bench from Jayson Home. Custom drapery in a Commune Design for Kufri fabric, a Loloi rug, and a Guy Goodfellow throw pillow imbue the space with patterned depth and dimension.Most PopularMagazineTaking a Trip to Kenny Scharf's Ecstatic LA AbodeBy Mayer RusArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla AD-it-Yourself31 Charming Farmhouse Living Room Ideas to Gather RoundBy Sarah LyonIt took a bit of convincing for the homeowner to agree to the Calacatta Turquoise Antico marble that adorns the walls and vanity in the primary bath, which took its inspiration from vintage Barovier Rostrato sconces. The rooms focal point lies in the cast-iron Penhaglion tub, which features a Waterworks filler.Boucl upholstery and grasscloth paneling in the Lulu and Georgia bed and nightstands ground the primary bedroom in cozy elegance, while a botanical William Morris & Co. wallpaper gives the room an expansive feel. The rug is by Loloi, the lamp is from Room & Board, and the custom Roman shade brightens with a Chelsea Textiles cotton-linen fabric.Most PopularMagazineTaking a Trip to Kenny Scharf's Ecstatic LA AbodeBy Mayer RusArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla AD-it-Yourself31 Charming Farmhouse Living Room Ideas to Gather RoundBy Sarah LyonIn the powder room, the burgundy hues in Fromentals archived Rockface wallpaper relate to the color on display in the kitchen island. The alabaster pendant lights from Lucent Light Shop, Calacatta Viola marble countertop, and etched mirror from Eloquence impart earthy elegance.A vintage Guillerme et Chambron armchair found at Round Top was the inspirational starting point for the bunk room, which remains sophisticated despite its playful exuberance thanks to Roman shades in a Kate Loudon Shand stripe and kantha quilt bedding by Aloka Home. The bunk bed is from Pottery Barn Kids, the rug is by Loloi, and the play table chairs are from Oyoy.Shop it out:Ocean Stripe Chocolate Wool & Tussar Silk PillowTRIANGLE RUFFLE VASELarge Orb Lamp in Mottled IvoryFlocca Linen Duvet Cover - PetraSolene Platform BedSuzette NightstandUpholstered Walnut Crescent Bar StoolEloquence Louis Philippe Mirror in Etched Gold FinishBeni Pistachio PillowMonarch LampBelden Twin-Over-Full Stair Bunk BedRainbow Mini Chair - Nature

architectureHow the UN Popularized Modernism in NYCToday Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects joins AD in New York for an in-depth walking tour of the United Nations. Founded in 1945, the UN now comprises 193 member states, all of whom assemble at their modernist headquarters on the bank of the East River in NYC. The birthplace of international diplomacy, the United Nations became the first major building in New York to represent International Style architecture.celebritiesTouring the 'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place' Set With David HenrieToday, AD joins David Henrie to tour the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place set. After over a decade, Henrie and Selena Gomez are returning as The Russos for a magical new chapter. From recreating the original wizards lair to designing Justin Russos new home, take an exclusive look at the sets for the highly anticipated Wizards of Waverly Place reboot.Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premieres October 29 on Disney Channel and next day on Disney+Shopping27 Best Christmas Ornaments of 2024Shop merry and bright picks to add to your holiday collectionBy Kristi KelloggcelebritiesInside SNL Star Heidi Gardners Midcentury Kansas City HomeToday, AD is welcomed by SNL star Heidi Gardner to tour her midcentury home in Kansas City. When shes not making us laugh on Saturday Night Live, Gardner leaves NYC behind, heading back to the Midwest for a slower pace of life. The actor and comedian moved into a midcentury-modern home that soon became a disco-era fantasy with the help of Tara Davis of Cicada Company and Brooklyn-based interior designer Madelynn Hudson. From terrazzo floors to a disco ball stove hood, Gardners home is full of fun finishes inspired by memories of her youth and her all-time favorite movie Boogie Nights. Having a glamorous and gregarious mom and a fashion-forward dad, their whole lives were their primebut in the 70s they were especially killing it, she says. My dream was to make the house a sexy-chic time capsule.celebritiesInside Famous Homes at ChristmasFrom Kris Jenner to the Vice President of the United States, decorating for the holiday season is a big affair. Today, AD steps inside some famous homes to see how they prepare for Christmas.architectureFrancis Ford Coppola Breaks Down The Design of MegalopolisToday, AD is joined by legendary director Francis Ford Coppola to break down the architectural details of Megalopolis. Modeling the fall of Rome in an alternate version of New York City, Megalopolis has been The Godfather directors passion project for over 40 years. Join Coppola as he discusses the metaphors behind his movies design and how he brought his long-awaited dream to life.MEGALOPOLIS is now available On Demand.Architecture + DesignThis Furniture Maker Built His Germantown House and Filled It With His Own CreationsMichael Robbinss New York abode is a longtime dream realizedBy Morgan GoldbergArchitecture + DesignNew York Skyline: Everything You Need to Know About the Big Apples Big BuildingsThe skyline is among the worlds most recognizable, from One World Trade Center to Empire State Building and moreBy Elizabeth FazzareOutdoors18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb AppealWhether you go for classic white or a more daring hue, these colors will help your house make a great first impressionBy Elizabeth StampArchitecture + DesignTour a Designers 100-Year-Old LA RetreatThe Manola Studio founders enchanting house and art studio offers a grounding escapeBy Vaishnavi Nayel TalawadekarMagazineTaking a Trip to Kenny Scharf's Ecstatic LA AbodeThe singular, fractured fairy tale vision of the artist comes alive in his home and gardenBy Mayer RusArchitecture + DesignTour a Ray Kappe Home With a Japanese-Inspired RebootThe founders of OWIU Design created their own serene world in a 1970s house in the foothills of LABy John Wogan