Okay,Star Wars is not ruined. The classic movies are still fantastic. Well watchTheEmpire Strikes Backforever. BUT. There was a time whenStar Wars felt like something bigger than a couple of sci-fi movies made by a dude from Modesto. When they felt like an epic saga of stories told across centuries.That all changed with one single line of dialogue just a handful of words, which arguably destroyed that illusion forever. And no, it wasnt Somehow, Palpatine returned. That was a very silly line, but it wasntthat bad.In our latest video, welldiscuss this line (okay, yes, it isalsofromStar Wars:The Rise of Skywalker), explore why it was so damaging toStar Warsas a franchise, and debatehow the series could potentially recover from this brutal moment. Watch our full breakdown below...If you liked that video about the one sentence that ruined Star Wars, check out more of our videos below, including one on Daisy RidleysStar Wars movie and the state ofStar Warscinema in 2024, one onDarth Plagueis cameo in Star Wars: The Acolyte and why it is maybe the single most important event in the entire season, and one on Season 1 of The Acolyte and whether this show deserves a second season. Plus, theres tons more over at ScreenCrushs YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to catch all our future episodes.The new Star Wars TV show, Skeleton Crew premieres tomorrow on Disney+.Sign up for Disney+ here.10 TV Show Flops That Turned Out to Be Huge HitsUniversally beloved TV shows aren't always universally beloved from episode one.Gallery Credit: Emma Stefansky

Wicked actress Marissa Bode shut down ableist and cruel comments about harassment she received regarding her disability for good.On Friday (Nov. 29), Bode, who made her big screen debut in the first part of the two-part musical films, addressed the vile comments from viewers via TikTok. At the time of this articles posting, the 5-minute video received over half a million favorites and over three million views. Some of the comments on the internet regarding her character range from jokes about being unable to stand or walk to even calling her a vegetable.Representation is important but thats not the only thing that will save the disabled community. I need a lot of yall (non-disabled people) to do the work. To dissect and unlearn your own ableism, she wrote alongside the clip. Listen to disabled people. Follow other disabled people outside of just me. Read up on the disability rights movement/watch the documentary Crip Camp! I understand no one likes feeling like theyre being scolded. But true progress never comes with comfort. And thats ok.WICKEDUniversalloading...Read More:Is Elphaba the Villain in 'Wicked' Movie?Bode, who uses a wheelchair in real life and in the film, portrays the character of Nessarose, the sister of Elphaba, portrayed by Cynthia Erivo. Her character plays a critical role in the musical, which leads into the story of The Wizard of Oz. Bode shared that she has witnessed and read several deplorable and ableist conversations surrounding not only her character, but people with disabilities in general.Bode clarified that it is quite acceptable to dislike her character and make jokes or memes about Nessas questionable decisions. However, she has no acceptance for people who made aggressive comments and jokes about Nessa's disability itself as disability is not fictional. She added, At the end of the day, me, Marissa, is the person that is still disabled and in a wheelchair. And so it is simply a low-hanging fruit that too many of you are comfortable taking.Prior to even being cast in the films, Bode, herself, dealt with crude jokes such as, stand up for yourself. She explained, These comments arent original, and when these jokes are being made by non-disabled strangers with a punchline of not being able to walk, it very much feels like laughing at rather than laughing with.Bode confessed that she was scared of speaking out about her unacceptable experiences with others harmful rhetoric. The most frustrating part about all of this is how scared I am to even post/talk about this, which is also the bigger reason as to why Im making this video in the first place,she continued. This goes so far beyond me, Marissa, just needing to avoid comments on the internet. These comments do not exist in a vacuum. Aggressive comments of wanting to cause harm and push Nessa out of her wheelchair or that she deserves her disability are two really gross and harmful comments that real disabled people, including myself, have heard before.Bode requested that Wicked fans listen to the people or to the person that [the joke] is affecting and how it makes them feel, rather than dismissing a person and claiming that an experience can't be true because you personally don't feel that way about a joke that wouldn't have affected your demographic.Please be kind. And lastly, I want to say one of the major themes within Wicked is having the ability to listen and understand one another, and I truly hope that is something a lot of you can practice more and take with you, she concluded.Get our free mobile appThe Differences Between the Wicked Movie and ShowThe Wicked movie is faithful to the long-running Broadway show but it does make a few significant changes to its source material.Filed Under: WickedCategories: Movie News

Role Description:Were hiring a junior to mid-level PHP/Laravel engineer to work on our web applications.These web applications are the way that thousands of creative people around the world findinspiring content for use in their projects and campaigns.As part of the Engineering team, your time will be spent collaborating with other back endengineers, front end engineers, product managers and designers to help create the bestexperience for our customers. The ideal candidate loves tinkering with cutting edgetechnology and has at least 2 years experience working on Laravel applications. You will beable to code out features in Laravel, create quality pull requests and help our back end teamstay current with best industry practices.Here are some example projects that we have worked on recently:Enhance the purchase flow with additional payment options and a seamless checkout.Create an API to integrate with our mobile application.Integrate with AI to add functionality to our search algorithmThe engineering team has a remote-first culture. As such, you will be comfortable workingremotely, possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to manageyour own time.Were after individuals that are curious about the possibility of technology, are eager to learn,and are diligent and kind. You should be able to work as a team member, take ownership ofyour work, and contribute to team discussions. Our teams work well because we place trustin them to succeed. We believe in healthy debate and that great ideas can come fromanybody. Youll have plenty of opportunities to add your own input in our software.A great candidate will have:2+ years developing back end applications with the Laravel framework.Enjoys taking a technical spec and building the functional parts to make it work.Experience with Git version control.Experience with Unit, Functional, or Integration Testing using tools like PHPUnit, Pest or Laravel Dusk.Experience with relational databases.Worked with integrating existing REST APIs and building new REST APIs.

Time zones: JST (UTC +9), CST (UTC +8), WIB (UTC +7), CHAST (UTC +12:45), LHST (UTC +10:30), AEST (UTC +10), ACST (UTC +9:30), ACWST (UTC +8:45)About Us:At Loop Support, we specialize in connecting businesses with exceptional customer support specialists. We believe in smart, kind-hearted professionals who love to learn and grow. If you have a passion for helping others and a strong technical background, we want to hear from you!Responsibilities:Interact with a diverse range of customers, including enterprises, startups, and SMBs, troubleshooting technical issues via phone, email, and chat, while helping them maximize the use of the product.Gather and analyze customer feedback to contribute directly to product improvements.Create informative content based on common user needs, such as guides, FAQs, and best practice documentation.Maintain a positive and professional attitude with all customer interactions.Collaborate across teams, including product, engineering, and data, to ensure a stellar customer experience.Qualifications:Based in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, or New Zealand. (Required)Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. (Required)Stable internet connection and a reliable computer setup. (Required)Previous experience doing technical support. (Required)Previous experience in a startup environment or software company. (Preferred)Ability to work independently in a distraction-free home office.A positive and professional attitude with a customer-first mindset.Strong problem-solving skills and ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.Salary:$50K-$80K depending on location and experience.

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Generative AI has taken off. Since the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022, businesses have flocked to large language models (LLMs) and generative AI models looking for solutions to their mostcomplex and labor-intensive problems. The promise that customer service could be turned over to highly trained chat platforms that could recognize a customers problem and present user-friendly technical feedback, for example, or that companies could break down and analyze their troves of unstructured data, from videos to PDFs, has fueled massive enterprise interest in the technology. This hype is moving into production. The share of businesses that use generative AI in at least one business function nearly doubled this year to 65%, according to McKinsey. The vast majority of organizations (91%) expect generative AI applications to increase their productivity, with IT, cybersecurity, marketing, customer service, and product development among the most impacted areas, according to Deloitte. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT Yet, difficulty successfully deploying generative AI continues to hamper progress. Companies know that generative AI could transform their businessesand that failing to adopt will leave them behindbut they are faced with hurdles during implementation. This leaves two-thirds of business leaders dissatisfied with progress on their AI deployments. And while, in Q3 2023,79% of companies said they planned to deploy generative AI projects in the next year, only 5% reported having use cases in production in May 2024. Were just at the beginning of figuring out how to productize AI deployment and make it cost effective, says Rowan Trollope, CEO of Redis, a maker of real-time data platforms and AI accelerators. The cost and complexity of implementing these systems is not straightforward. Estimates of the eventual GDP impact of generative AI range from just under $1 trillion to a staggering $4.4 trillion annually, with projected productivity impacts comparable to those of the Internet, robotic automation, and the steam engine. Yet, while the promise of accelerated revenue growth and cost reductions remains, the path to get to these goals is complex and often costly. Companies need to find ways to efficiently build and deploy AI projects with well-understood components at scale, says Trollope. Download the full report. This content was produced by Insights, the custom content arm of MIT Technology Review. It was not written by MIT Technology Reviews editorial staff.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. What the departing White House chief tech advisor has to say on AI President Bidens administration will end within two months, and likely to depart with him is Arati Prabhakar, the top mind for science and technology in his cabinet. She has served as Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy since 2022 and was the first to demonstrate ChatGPT to the president in the Oval Office. Prabhakar was instrumental in passing the presidents executive order on AI in 2023, which sets guidelines for tech companies to make AI safer and more transparent (though it relies on voluntary participation). As she prepares for the end of the administration, MIT Technology Review sat down with Prabhakar and asked her to reflect on President Bidens AI accomplishments, and how the approach to AI risks, immigration policies, the CHIPS Act and more could change under Trump. Read the full story. James ODonnell This manga publisher is using Anthropics AI to translate Japanese comics into English A Japanese publishing startup is using Anthropics flagship large language model Claude to help translate manga into English, allowing the company to churn out a new title for a Western audience in just a few days rather than the 2-3 months it would take a team of humans. But not everyone is happy about it. The firm has angered a number of manga fans who see the use of AI to translate a celebrated and traditional art-form as one more front in the ongoing battle between tech companies and artists. Read the full story. Will Douglas Heaven The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 The US has announced more restrictions on chip exports to China Its the third round of crackdowns on the industry in as many years. (Reuters)+ Its not just China-based companies that could suffer, either. (WP $)+ The delayed announcement gave China the chance to stockpile affected chips. (WSJ $)+ Meanwhile, computer scientists in the West are trying to make peace. (Economist $)+ Whats next in chips. (MIT Technology Review)2 Donald Trumps administration is full of pseudo-influencersTheyre capitalizing on their fame to make big bucks ahead of the inauguration. (WP $) + A lot of his cabinet also happen to be billionaires. (NY Mag $)3 Were not prepared for a clean energy futureIt seems energy authorities keep underestimating how much clean power the world really wants. (Vox)+ Why artificial intelligence and clean energy need each other. (MIT Technology Review)4 Ads could start cropping up in ChatGPT OpenAI is on a revenue drive, and advertising is an obvious cash source. (FT $)+ Elon Musk is doing all he can to prevent it becoming a for-profit business. (Bloomberg $)5 Chemistry students in Mexico are being lured into making fentanyl Cartels are offering young chemists large sums to make the drug even more potent. (NYT $)+ Deaths from fentanyl are fallingand it looks its because of supply changes.(FT $)+ Anti-opioid groups are cautiously optimistic about Trumps new tariffs. (The Guardian) 6 BYD isnt just a EV company these daysIts carved out an unlikely side gig assembling Apples iPads. (WSJ $) + BYD has also experimented with shipping for its colossal car consignments. (MIT Technology Review)7 Our organs age at different ratesAnd AI is giving us a window into understanding why. (New Scientist $) + Aging hits us in our 40s and 60s. But well-being doesnt have to fall off a cliff. (MIT Technology Review)8 The unbearable mundanity of home DNA testsThe likelihood of them revealing anything interesting is actually pretty low. (The Guardian) + How to delete your 23andMe data. (MIT Technology Review)9 This website is full of random, barely-watched home videos Which one youll be served is anyones guess. (WP $)10 Brain rot is the Oxford University dictionary word of the year Specifically in the context of spending too long looking at nonsense online. (BBC)Quote of the day Its like trying to prevent a fisherman from catching bigger fish simply by denying him bigger fishing poles. Hell get there in the end. Meghan Harris, an export control expert at consultancy Beacon Global Strategies, explains the limits of the US governments plans to curb Chinas chipmaking to the Financial Times. The big story The quest to build wildfire-resistant homes April 2023 With each devastating wildfire in the US West, officials consider new methods or regulations that might save homes or lives the next time. In the parts of California where the hillsides meet human development, and where the state has suffered recurring seasonal fire tragedies, that search for new means of survival has especially high stakes. Many of these methods are low cost and low tech, but no less truly innovative. In fact, the hardest part to tackle may not be materials engineering, but social change. Read the full story. Susie Cagle We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet 'em at me.) + This Instagram account is a treasure trove of bygone mobile phones.+ The newly renovated Notre Dame cathedral is really quite something.+ Bad news: were probably not going to find alien life any time soon + Think you know grilled cheese? This recipe might make you question everything you know and hold dear.

Submitted by WA ContentsNOA and Atelier4 design new Tirana tower with a stack of archetypal village house pieces Albania Architecture News - Dec 02, 2024 - 15:47 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Italian architecture studios Network of Architecture (NOA) and Atelier4 have designed a new high-rise that incorporates the elements of an archetypal village house with a gabled roof on its faade.Named Puzzle Tirana, the tower features a striking faade showcasing various sizes, colors, and shapes of traditional village houses. In a densely populated area, where ten-story buildings alternate with two-or three-story residencesa typical scenario in Tirana.The mixed-use tower is situated on a rectangular 75 by 25 meters plot.Theexistingstructurewillbereplacedbyanewmixed-usebuildingthatwillhouse160apartmentsofvaryingsizes(between70and130 square meters), apartments, penthouses,ahotel,andasizablecommercialspace."In Tirana, a new tower designed by NOA reflects the rapid transformations of the Albanian capital," said NOA."The archetypal village house with a gabled roof is multiplied and stacked in a dizzying vertical composition, resembling a puzzle that awaits its final piececapturing both the citys past and its future yet to be written," the studio added.As the studio explained, Tirana has undergone rapid urban change in the last century. The city's architecture has frequently been used as a political propaganda tool since it was named the capital in 1920. Urban growth accelerated after the communist regime collapsed in 1991, frequently without any planning.A wave of famous architects was drawn to Tirana and Albania when Edi Rama was elected mayor in 2000 and prime minister in 2013, ushering in a period of major urban renewal and international openness. In this regard, NOA was hired to design a new structure on Rruga Medar Shtylla, near the city lake in the southwest section of the city."Walking through Tirana, I experienced a city with a rich yet turbulent past, visible in the diverse architectural fragments scattered around the urban landscape. It seemed like a kind of puzzle where the old and new worlds coexist in a fascinating interplay of contrasts," said Lukas Rungger, architect and NOA founder.The idea behind the concept was to symbolize the city's rapid growth by showing the shift from rural homes to urban apartments. The project forms a distinctive metropolitan village as it rises vertically."In our design, we aimed to portray the encounter/clash between rural and urban life, drawing on elements of both," said Lukas Rungger."We created an extremely rational and optimized core, capable of housing diverse types of spaces, while the facade is driven by extreme dynamisman apparent chaos in which, however, every piece is in its place," Rungger added.Constructing a puzzle, Tirana is designed like a tower, featuring four facades that project between 0.5 and 3 meters. These facades comprise a dynamic and varied composition of house-shaped modules with gabled roofs. These modules differ in form, roof orientation, number and size of openings, and color."The houses work as puzzle pieces," explained Lukas Rungger. "They fit into each other, rotating until they click into the structure."Each module in this vertical village represents additional space for residences and business spaces, making it more than just a formal feature. It's a multipurpose indoor-outdoor area that can accommodate a variety of uses, including loggias, swimming pools, saunas, barbecuing areas, open-air movie theaters, and hanging gardens.The tower's harmonious interaction with the surrounding urban context is made possible by the equal architectural value of the building's four facades. The shopping center on Rruga Medar Shtylla has a triangular entrance."The facade elements extend into the buildings interior," added Andrea Dal Negro, architect on the project."The inner courtyard fronts, spanning the first two floors dedicated to commercial spaces, are also inverted houses that define the circulation areas," Dal Negro continued.Grafting native plants and shrubs onto the modules' projecting sections enhances the facades even more. Sculptures complement this hanging garden on the first two floors, forming an artistic walkway along the facade."Between the 8th and 11th floors, a large void, shaped like a rotated house, cuts across the facade from side to side, adding an unexpected elementa volumetric void, as though it were the missing piece of the puzzle," concluded Andrea Dal Negro.The functional distribution is vertical, with underground parking, a commercial area on the first two floors, a mix of hotels and apartments from the second to the sixth floors, and only apartments (158 units total) from the seventh to the sixteenth floors.ConceptConcept diagramConceptConcept1st floor plan8th floor plan17th floor planLongitudinal sectionCross sectionAt 58 meters above the rooftops of Tirana, the tower's three floors are devoted to five penthouses, each in a single volume and encircled by a vast, verdant garden. The project is now in the executive design phase after receiving approval for its preliminary design.NOA designed a new hotel composed of self-contained tree suites raised on 3-metre high stilts to reduce the footprint of the building on this natural terrain in Siusi, South Tyrol, Italy. In addition, the firm renovated and extended a historic family resort in the Pustertal valley with a large wave roof that acts as a kind of hill and a kind of playground for the little guests.Project factsProject name: Puzzle TiranaArchitects:NOACo-Author: Atelier4Location:Rruga Medar Shtylla, Tirana, AlbaniaSurface:32,700m2All renderings Atelier4, NOA.> via NOA

Submitted by WA ContentsStudio Dashline crafts Terra Casa with meticulous details to escape from the chaos of urban life India Architecture News - Dec 02, 2024 - 15:24 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Indian architecture practice Studio Dashline has crafted a house with meticulous details to escape from the chaos of urban life in Gwalior, India. Named Terra Casa, the creation of the house was more than just a project, as the studio explained. It was a labor of love and a painstaking effort to provide a haven where their clients could find comfort in the middle of the bustle of the city.Imagine yourself in the middle of Gwalior's busy streets, where Terra Casa stands out as a haven of peace and quiet, providing a second home to people in need of some resttime.As soon as one steps onto the expansive 10,000 square foot (929 square meters) plot, a feeling of peace descends upon them, as though nature is gently embracing them.Here, amidst verdant foliage and gentle breezes, Terra Casa tells its tale, expertly interwoven into the terrain to blend in perfectly with its surroundings.Terra Casa becomes an oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle, a place where the urban setting disappears as tall trees and lush foliage cover the surrounding buildings.Terra Casa's architectural wonder, however, is what really makes it stand out and is evidence of the studio's love for delicately and carefully fusing form and function.The design honors the land from which it originates by embracing earthy tones and locally sourced materials, which are inspired by the rustic charm of farmhouse living.The restroom's skylights provide a gentle, natural light, and the wicker furniture and wooden windows exude warmth and friendliness, dreamy visitors to stay and relax.Terra Casa is more than just a building; it's a haven created out of extreme need and desire. The clients were craving a place to connect with nature, a place to get away from the city and enjoy the great outdoors during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the architects.They sought out Terra Casa, a home away from home where they could make enduring memories with their expanding family, after realizing that their current house lacked the space and tranquility they desired as they approached the next stage of parenthood.The house invites users to leave their worries at the door and enjoy the small pleasures of outdoor living as solitude envelops they like a warm embrace.Every element, from the architecture's soft yet straight lines to the thoughtfully chosen landscaping, demonstrates the studio's dedication to establishing a place of peace and connection.A 15-foot-tall (4,5-meter) bamboo pergola outside provides shade from the intense sun and makes a dramatic silhouette against the blue sky.The retreat is reinvigorated by the kitchen garden, and a glamping area invites visitors to spend the night outside. Perhaps Terra Casa's most impressive feature is its training pool, which is illuminated by a central elliptical skylight that casts a gentle, dreamy glow over the water. Children's laughter can be heard in the nearby sand pit, and energetic football games can be played outside.The spirit of connection thrives throughout Terra Casa, creating a fabric of enduring memories. Families can find a break from the bustle of the city here, where architecture and nature coexist, and where the basic pleasures of outdoor living are embraced.The house serves as a sanctuary, a haven, and a second home for the soul in addition to being a place to retreat.Ground floor planFirst floor planSectionSectionSectionProject factsProject name: Terra Casa Architects:Studio DashlineLocation:Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, IndiaCompletion Year:April 2024Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2):278 sqm / 3000 sqftTotal Land Area (m2/ ft2):930 sqm / 10,000 sqftFounder & Lead Architect:Dheeraj BajajCo-Founder & Lead Designer:Pranav DakoriaCo-Founder & Lead Architects:Shriya SohiAll images Yash R Jain.All drawings Studio Dashline.> viaStudio Dashline