"A Christmas Story" is based on two books written by Jean Shepherd.Jean Shepherd in 1975. Donaldson Collection/Getty Images Shepherd was a well-known radio personality, comedian, writer, and storyteller by the time "A Christmas Story" was released. The film is based on a set of short stories that were first published in Playboy before he compiled them into the collection "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" in 1966, per CBS.Other elements of the film were taken from his 1971 collection "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters." Shepherd and his wife, Leigh Brown, who also cowrote the film, have cameos in the movie.Jean Shepherd and Leigh Brown in "A Christmas Story." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Besides narrating the film, Shepherd also cowrote "A Christmas Story" with his wife, Leigh Brown, and the film's director, Bob Clark.Shepherd and Brown appear in the scene where Ralphie and his brother Randy meet Santa at the department store Higbee's. Director Bob Clark also has a cameo.Bob Clark in "A Christmas Carol." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Clark plays one of Ralphie's neighbors who questions the Old Man about the famous Leg Lamp.This wasn't the first holiday film Clark worked on he directed the Christmas-themed slasher "Black Christmas" in 1974. Clark got Shepherd barred from the set after he made too many suggestions to the actors.Bob Clark in 2003. Mike Guastella/WireImage/Getty Images Vanity Fair reported there was friction between Clark and Shepherd. Shepherd, for his part, was protective of his characters, while Clark was concerned with finishing the project on time and under budget so he barred Shepherd from the set."Shepherd was a perfectionist with his own material, but Bob Clark had a budget and a schedule that he had to meet, and he already figured out how this all should be done, and he couldn't have Shepherd constantly interrupting," Shepherd's biographer Eugene Bergman told the publication. There have been three sequels across 28 years.Star Peter Billingsley at a screening of "A Christmas Story Christmas" in 2022. Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images The first theatrical sequel, "My Summer Story," was released in 1994, and was once again directed by Bob Clark. However, almost no one from the original cast reprised their roles.Ralphie originally portrayed by Peter Billingsley was played by none other than Kieran Culkin, while his parents were played by Charles Grodin and Mary Steenburgen in roles that were originated by Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon.The only returning actor was Tedde Moore as Ralphie's teacher.In 2012, "A Christmas Story 2" was released. It ignored the events of "My Summer Story" and once again starred an entirely new cast.Ten years later, most of the surviving cast reunited for "A Christmas Story Christmas," which is a direct sequel to the original, and follows 42-year-old Ralphie as he comes home for Christmas after the death of his father. "A Christmas Story" inspired the creation of the '80s classic sitcom "The Wonder Years."Danica McKellar and Fred Savage during the first season of "The Wonder Years." ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images It's easy to see the connections "A Christmas Story" is told mainly from the point of view of 9-year-old Ralphie, who deals with an annoying brother, a somewhat strict mother, and a distant but loving father. It's also narrated by an older version of Ralphie.That's basically the setup of "The Wonder Years," down to the older version of the main character narrating. It premiered in 1988, five years after "A Christmas Story" was released.The connection was so strong that Billingsley himself had a cameo in the final two episodes of the show as a friend of main character Kevin (Fred Savage). Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton were considered for the role of Ralphie.Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton in 2018. Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage/Getty Images Astin and Wheaton were two of the biggest child stars of the '80s.But in 1983, neither was that well-known. Wheaton's big break came in 1986's "Stand By Me" before he was cast in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1987.For his part, Astin starred in the 1985 adventure classic "The Goonies" before appearing in films such as "Toy Soldiers" (also starring Wheaton!) and, most famously, "The Lord of the Rings."Wheaton wrote about his experience seeing Astin and Billingsley at auditions on his blog in 2001."I sort of knew Peter [Billingsley] because we'd been on so many auditions together, but I was always a little star-struck when I saw him," he wrote. The specific BB gun Ralphie so desperately wants never existed in real life."A Christmas Story." Metro-Goldwin-Mayer Throughout the film, all Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle.But this gun never actually existed. The Red Ryder model didn't have the sundial (the "thing that tells time") or a compass that Ralphie's ideal gun had, but a different model manufactured by Daisy Outdoor Products did. So, the gun had to be constructed specifically for the film.In 2020, Daisy finally released an official replica of the "Christmas Story" rifle, aptly titled the Christmas Dream. Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of the Old Man, aka Ralphie's dad.Jack Nicholson in 1983. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images Clark said he "loved" Nicholson, but was glad he didn't get the part "because Darren [McGavin] is the Old Man," according to Vanity Fair.For context, this movie came out the same year as "Terms of Endearment," and just three years after "The Shining" it might have been difficult to see Nicholson as a wholesome father figure. In Ralphie's dream sequence, Billingsley is chewing real tobacco."A Christmas Story." Metro-Goldwin-Mayer In the beginning of the film, Ralphie has a dream sequence where he saves his family from a gang of outlaws, and you can clearly see he's got a hunk of what's supposed to be chewing tobacco in his bottom lip.You might think that a kid wouldn't be given real dip, but you'd be wrong. Billingsley told Vanity Fair that a propman on the set gave him some chewing tobacco, and within a few minutes he was profusely sweating and the entire set had to be shut down."We shut down for an hour or so, when I just had to lie down on the couch. This was long before they knew what to do with kid actors," he said.For the rest of the shoot, the kids were given ground-up raisins. Ralphie's hometown Hohman, Indiana, is based on the real Indiana city of Hammond, but the film was mainly shot in Cleveland."A Christmas Story." Archive Photos/Getty Images Shepherd's hometown was Hammond, the only city in Indiana to border Chicago. The film uses a real street in Hammond, Hohman Avenue, as the inspiration for its name. It was not seen as a classic upon its release.One of the most iconic scenes from "A Christmas Story." Metro-Goldwin-Mayer "A Christmas Story" was originally released on November 18, 1983, a full month before Christmas. It never topped the box office and was out of theaters by the middle of December, which meant people couldn't even see the movie during the peak of the holiday season.But the legacy of "A Christmas Story" was just getting started. It became a true cable classic so much so that TNT and TBS each play the film for 24 hours straight on Christmas Day, and at various other times during December, meaning that millions more people have seen it on TV than ever did at the cinema. The film was turned into a musical in 2012.Dan Lauria and Peter Billingsley in 2013. Rob Kim/Getty Images "A Christmas Story: The Musical" had two limited runs on Broadway for the 2012 and 2013 holiday seasons.Funnily enough, strengthening the connection between "A Christmas Story" and "The Wonder Years," Dan Lauria best known as Kevin's father on "The Wonder Years" originated the role of Jean Shepherd on Broadway. You can stay in the Parkers' home for real.The home has been restored to look just like the film. Kiesha Jenkins-Duffy/Getty Images The house, which is located in Cleveland, has been turned into a museum. It's been restored to look exactly like it did during the production of the movie and houses authentic props and costumes from the movie.Super-fans are also able to spend a night in the Parkers' home.Of course, there's also an online gift shop if you want to purchase your own leg lamp. Jon Favreau cited "A Christmas Story" as an inspiration for "Elf" Billingsley even has a cameo in it."Elf." New Line Cinema Favreau and Billingsley are frequent collaborators. Billingsley has been credited as a producer or executive producer on six movies that Favreau has directed or starred in: "Made," "Elf," "Zathura," "The Break-Up," "Iron Man," and "Four Christmases."Billingsley's 2009 directorial debut, "Couples Retreat," was cowritten by Favreau, who also stars in the film.

Starbucks' largest workers' union announced that it would strike in three major cities on Friday.The Starbucks Workers United union said that stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle would participate.The union said it was protesting Starbucks' labor practices and wages.Starbucks' largest workers union announced that it would go on strike in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, where it is headquartered, just days ahead of Christmas.On Wednesday, the union told BI that it would strike to protest what it described as the company's failure to negotiate a sufficiently comprehensive pay package and hundreds of unresolved cases related to labor disputes."Starbucks baristas are going on five days of escalating ULP strikes in response to the company backtracking on our promised path forward, starting tomorrow in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle," Starbucks Workers United said in Thursday statements.It added that the strikes would soon be "coast-to-coast."The union said the strikes could reach hundreds of stores unless the company works to achieve collective bargaining agreements.The company has 11,161 self-operated stores and 7,263 licensed stores in North America. As of October, about 500 or about 4.5% of all stores were unionized.In a Thursday post on Instagram, the union said, "Since February, Starbucks has repeatedly pledged publicly that they intended to reach contracts by the end of the year - but they've yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal."Starbucks said in a public statement that the union delegates "prematurely ended" the bargaining session this week, and that it was "disappointing they didn't return to the table given the progress we've made to date.""We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements," the company wrote. "We need the union to return to the table."The union, which represents more than 10,000 baristas, said on Tuesday that 98% of its member baristas had voted to authorize the strike.News of the strike came just days after CEO Brian Niccol announced a change in the company's parental leave policy for US store employees.Starting in March, Starbucks will offer up to 18 weeks of paid leave for birth parents and up to 12 weeks for nonbirth parents. The company currently offers US store employees six weeks of paid parental leave and up to 12 weeks unpaid. The increased benefit will apply to employees averaging at least 20 hours of work a week.

If you're looking to give the gift of gaming this Christmas, there's one major thing you can do to ensure things run smoothly on the big day get everything updatedTech15:20, 20 Dec 2024Avoid disappointment and update your console nowIf you're giving the gift of gaming this Christmas, we hope you've been using our gift guides to select the perfect gift but more on those shortly.This time around we've got our top tip for parents, family, or partners picking up a console for that special someone, something that keeps the fun coming and doesn't hit pause for players.Here's what you need to do this Christmas if you haven't already.Plug it in, update, and then wrap it upIf you've picked up a console for a lucky loved one this year, there's one thing you need to ensure you do plug it in before the big day, and download any updates the console requires.Sadly, these days consoles struggle without an internet connection, meaning your shiny new gift is as useful as a paperweight until you've downloaded assorted updates.All consoles (and PCs) need them, but on particularly busy days like Christmas, servers can grind to a halt with all new players logging in, essentially causing a traffic jam for the updates.Getting your new console purchase updated nice and early, before wrapping it up, is a great way to avoid that and it saves on having to find the Wi-Fi password on the big day, too.The good news is that whichever console you pick up, 2025 is shaping up nicely. While Nintendo Switch 2 is expected, the console will be backward compatible with current Switch titles, so you can start building a library.Meanwhile PlayStation owners can look forward to Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2, and Marvel's Wolverine, while Xbox players will be able to enjoy South of Midnight, Avowed, and the return of Fable.Third-party titles include Monster Hunter Wilds, and, if reports are to be believed, Grand Theft Auto 6 but we're still waiting for the next trailer.For more of our recommendations for Christmas, check out our gaming guides for:Be sure to check out our rundown of the biggest gaming Christmas wants over the last decade, too.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

GTA 6's second trailer is still nowhere to be found but fans are returning to the old "waning gibbous" theory as they hunt for clues on its whereabouts after a year of silenceTech13:48, 20 Dec 2024Every day people ask when is GTA 6 coming out(Image: Rockstar Games/AFP via Getty Ima)GTA 6 fans are starting to get restless in the wait for trailer 2, but they're back on a classic theory to find fresh details.While the moon theory has been wrong before, Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two's CEO talking up the game as 'extraordinary' has fans heading back to that well.The idea is that fans are looking into images Rockstar's social accounts have shared about GTA Online and are tracking three moon phases from that date.Content cannot be displayed without consentAs shared by GTA 6 Countdown, the "moon theory" brought the game's first trailer after three waning gibbous moon cycles.Fans have plotted the phases of the moon, and are expecting another waning gibbous today, December 20 the second in a cycle.That means, if the theory is correct (and we've got a fistful of salt here), the next waning gibbous after today's will signal the arrival of the trailer.While you're likely as dubious as we are, this follows a voice actor discussing a Rockstar Games project, and a new trademark which revealed a new logo this week.Article continues belowIt's also an indication that fans are growing increasingly desperate as the wait breaks Rockstar's own records and demands are made of the studio.Still, one former developer explained last week that the Rockstar team would be "geeking out" over fan demand and theories, suggesting they're happy watching the fervor play out for now.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

No room for both PlayStation and Xbox in next gen console race says reportAdam StarkeyPublished December 20, 2024 2:25pmUpdated December 20, 2024 2:25pm Who is going to fall? (Metro/Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo)A prominent research firm believes therell only be space for two major consoles next generation, and Nintendo is the only guaranteed winner.While it feels like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S generation has barely left an imprint so far, Sony and Microsoft already have eyes on the next console race.Nintendo is expected to kick it off with the successor to the Switch next year, but Sony and Microsoft have both teased plans for its next generation consoles with the next Xbox rumoured to arrive potentially as early as 2026.What exactly Sony and Microsoft can offer players is the big mystery, especially as both companies are struggling to get people to invest in the current generation, now that the graphical arms race has seemingly peaked.According to market research firm DFC Intelligence, the next generation race will be pivotal in shaping the future of the console space posing a significant risk for one of the three major console manufacturers.It predicts Nintendo will be the clear winner among the next generation of consoles, due to its earlier launch and lack of competition, leaving either Sony or Microsoft to struggle mightily in third place.There isnt room for more than two major console systems, the report states. Sony or Microsoft will struggle mightily in a distant third place largely depending on which of those companies can gain early momentum.Based on the size of the current player-base for the PlayStation 5, Sonys next system is described as having an advantage, but it notes that Microsoft will be the largest gaming publisher heading into the next generation.A new Sony system (PlayStation 6?) should have an advantage because of loyal base and strong Sony IP, the report adds.Microsoft failed with Xbox Series X/S but has made major acquisitions to become the worlds largest software publisher. Microsoft has the option of focusing on software and distribution models over hardware.However, its unclear how buying Activision Blizzard is going to do anything for Microsofts console sales, since almost all of the games will also be on PlayStation especially given the dire sales results this year.Although theyre somewhat mincing their words, DFC Intelligence is clearly implying that Xbox is most at risk even if its software publishing business is more robust than ever.Microsoft is working on another Xbox console, including a handheld, but the brand has made moves towards becoming a publisher untethered to a specific platform with its Game Pass subscription service available through PCs, phones and Amazon TV devices.While Microsoft can probably afford many losses considering the size of the company, theres little reason for them to exist in the hardware space if they have another failure like the Xbox Series X/S. While Microsoft hasnt released official sales figures, reports suggest it has been dwarfed 3-1 by Sonys PlayStation 5. Could Xbox find more success with a handheld? (Microsoft)Beyond these predictions, DFC estimates the games industry will see record growth in 2025, thanks to new Nintendo hardware and GTA 6. The firm also believes the number of people worldwide who play video games will exceed 4 billion by 2027 nearly half of the global population. Although the majority of that will be free mobile and web-based games.David Cole, DFC Intelligence founder and CEO, said: Over the past three decades, the video game industry has grown more than 20x, and after two years of slumping hardware and software sales, its poised to resume growing at a healthy rate through the end of the decade.More TrendingWhile 2025 will mark the beginning of that upward trajectory, some huge questions remain, including who will lose the next-gen console war and who will win the game software distribution battle. And with the large publishers focused on live services around evergreen franchises, opportunities for smaller studios will be plentiful. Sony launched the PS5 Pro in November (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.GameCentralExclusive 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

Black Friday and Cyber Week are an excellent time of the year to save on a number of new tech accessories for yourself. Its too bad those ended several weeks ago. The good news is that even those these sales events have come to a close, you can still find some great deals and discounts on consumer tech if you look hard enough. Take for instance this HP monitor. This 27 FHD display is normally priced at $230, but right now it is part of a limited time deal. This major discount brings the price down by 46% to a measly $125saving you $105.See at AmazonMeasuring in at 27 with a Full HD resolution, this is a perfectly serviceable monitor. It has a refresh rate of 75 Hz. For gamers, you wont be getting ridiculously high detail and frame rates, but what you are getting is a size-able display that does its job for just over $100. It does have AMD FreeSync which can allows for smooth and consistent frame rates at least.Everyday ProductivityFor non-gamers, this is a great option for someone who deals in spreadsheets that just needs a larger screen than theyre laptop has so they can view more at onceor someone who likes to have multiple windows in view at once.Something nice for anyone who is building their desk space from scratch, a nice little feature here are the built-in dual 2W speakers. That means you dont need to spend anything on speakers if you find the ones here adequate enough.As far as ports, on the back youll find the AC power along with a DisplayPort 1.2, an HDMI 1.4, as well as a VGA portso you have options when it comes to how you connect. The Joypod OSD button on the back allows you to easily configure settings such as brightness, sharpness, contrast, black levels, and more. The monitor itself has 100mm height-adjustable stand which can also be tilted to your ideal viewing angle from -5 degrees to 20 degrees.The monitor itself is designed with sustainability in mind, being both EPEAT Gold rated and Energy Star certified. It contains 85% recycled plastics solely from ITE plastics and it comes shipped in 100% recyclable packaging.This 27 Full HD monitor from HP is down to its lowest price ever at the moment. Going for nearly 50% off, the price has been shaved down from $230 to just $125 for a limited time over at Amazon as we lead into the holidays.See at Amazon

By Matthew Gault Published December 20, 2024 | Comments (0) | An inflatable rat is on display as workers picketing in front of an Amazon Logistic Station on December 19, 2024 in Skokie Illinois. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Amazon workers are striking across the country. The strike began at seven delivery hubs on Thursday and was organized by the Teamsters union. The Union says that it started the strike because Amazon has refused to negotiate with them. The cops were on hand at several locations to bust up the picket lines, arrest striking drivers, and generally make sure that Christmas runs on Amazons schedule. In New York City the police came out in force to break up the picket lines, arrest people, and keep Amazons business running. The heart of the issue is how Amazon treats its drivers. Being a delivery driver for Amazon sucks. The drivers every move is monitored by cameras and cataloged by draconian performance metrics. Its so demanding that drivers often dont have time to stop for a bathroom break and resort to pissing and shitting in bags.Worse, Amazon driverswho work in Amazon-branded trucks and wear Amazon-branded outfitsarent considered employees by the company. Amazons stance has long been that the people who make Amazons delivery empire work are just contractors working for third-party companies that happen to do business with Amazon. https://x.com/alexnpress/status/1869748144483054057Conditions are bad and the strikes have been building for a while. The Teamsters have been working with drivers at several of the third-party contracting companies to organize a union for a while, and Amazon has severed ties with the contractors in retaliation. In October, the National Labor Relations Board in Los Angeles issued a formal complaint against Amazon over how it handles drivers. Today, Teamsters from coast to coast launched the largest strike against Amazon in American history. Momentum continues to mount as more workers fight for fair treatment from this $2 trillion corporation, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said in a post on X on Thursday. The Amazon Teamsters movement grows bigger and stronger every day and will not be stopped.In NYC, the cops locked arms to disrupt the picket lines and allow Amazons delivery trucks to leave the warehouse. They also arrested a driver and a teamster organizer during the protest. The charge? Disrupting traffic. Strikes in other cities, including Dallas, Fall River, Massachusetts, and Imperial, Pennsylvania were more sedate. Amazon Teamsters are launching what they call the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history, including at the Johnston and Fall River sites. They say the nationwide strike started at 6 a.m. this morning. Well have more details on @NBC10 at noon. pic.twitter.com/J9bdeEcAfO Temi-Tope Adeleye (@TemiTopereports) December 19, 2024 Local union workers have blocked @amazon trucks from entering Imperial, PA facility. Local 249 head also tells me w/ them striking here, delivery drivers for a variety of shipping companies will not be crossing the picket line, so they could be impacted by this strike@KDKA pic.twitter.com/MdduZP6Zv0 Lauren Linder (@lauren_linder) December 19, 2024 Amazon seems confident that this will all amount to nothing. It also claims that the Teamsters are outside agitators and doubled down on the claim that its drivers arent employees at all.Thankfully, the vast majority of our employees and the drivers who deliver on our behalf came to work today to do what they do every day, Amazons Kelly Nantel, director of Global Corporate Issues and Media Relations, told ABC News. Theyre doing a great job of working for their customers and their communities and as a result of their hard work. It doesnt feel like a job that should be legal, Riley Holzworth, an Amazon delivery driver in Illinois told Labornotes. Ive had a lot of different jobs in this industry, and this one by far feels like my employer is really getting away with a lot.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Cheryl Eddy Published December 19, 2024 By Matt Novak Published December 18, 2024 By Lucas Ropek Published December 17, 2024 By AJ Dellinger Published December 10, 2024 By James Whitbrook Published December 10, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 9, 2024

By Passant Rabie Published December 20, 2024 | Comments (0) | An illustration of the Blue Ghost mission on the surface of the Moon. Firefly Aerospace The Moon is the place to be right now. Commercial spacecraft are gearing up to land on the lunar surface, unboxing an array of tools and instruments to explore different regions of the Moon. Two of those robotic explorers are hitching a ride to the Moon, each taking a unique path to uncover its history and evolution while also paving the way for future human missions. Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost lander and ispaces Resilience lander are set to journey to the Moon aboard SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket will launch during a six-day window in mid-January. The pair of landers herald a new era for lunar exploration as the commercial space industry ramps up its efforts toward delivering payloads to the Moon on a regular basis. Both landers are targeting different lunar maresflat, dark plains formed through ancient impacts on the Moon and later filled with lava and other material over the years. Fireflys Blue Ghost mission is bringing along 10 science instruments as part of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The lander is targeting Mare Crisium, the site of an ancient asteroid impact site once filled with basaltic lava. The basalts in Mare Crisium are between 2.5 to 3.3 billion years old, according to NASA. After landing in Mare Crisium, Blue Ghost will operate for a full lunar day (the equivalent of 14 days on Earth), capture images of a lunar sunset, and collect data on how regolith on the Moon reacts to solar influences during lunar dusk, according to Texas-based Firefly. The lander will operate for about seven hours into the night on the Moon.Blue Ghosts payloads are designed to test lunar regolith sampling, radiation tolerance, a Moon-based global navigation system, and other technologies to inform future missions. Tokyo-based startup ispace is preparing for its own mission to the Moon. The Resilience lander is set to carry a small rover, named Tenacious, to a region called Mare Frigoris located in Moons far northern regions. Its also packed with science instruments, mainly from commercial space ventures in Japan, designed to explore the lunar surface.This marks ispaces second attempt to land on the lunar surface, following a less-than-successful first try. In April 2023, the Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1) Lunar Lander plummeted towards the Moon and crashed on its surface. Hakuto-R M1 was carrying both commercial and government-owned payloads, including a tiny, two-wheeled transformable robot from the Japanese space agency. Although the two missions will launch on the same rocket, they will each follow a different route to the Moon. Fireflys Blue Ghost will remain in Earth orbit for around 25 days before entering lunar orbit, where it will spend 16 days before attempting to touch down on the surface of the Moon, according to SpaceNews. Resilience, on the other hand, will follow a much longer road to the Moon, first operating in an elliptical transfer orbit before using a lunar flyby to move into a low-energy transfer trajectory that will then enable it to attempt a soft landing. The Japanese startups first mission to the Moon took around four and a half months to reach the surface.It may not be a race to get to the Moon, but the lunar surface is expected to see more visitors drop off payloads across its dusty terrain within the next few years as NASA and other space agencies plan for a sustainable human presence on Earths satellite.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By AJ Dellinger Published December 19, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 18, 2024 By Isaac Schultz Published December 18, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 18, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 17, 2024 By Margherita Bassi Published December 13, 2024

Apartment inside a Medieval Tower / CMTarchitettiSave this picture! Vito CorvasceSiena, ItalyArchitects: CMTarchitettiAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:140 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Vito CorvasceManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Natevo, Antonio Lupi, Cesar Flooring, Desalto, Ditre Italia, FLOS, HD Surface, La Falegnami, Lasaidea, Maraffon Serramenti, OLIVARI, Poltrona FrauMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The apartment subject to restoration and interior design is located within Palazzo Rinuccini in the historic center of Siena. The building consists of the original core of a medieval towerhouse built between the 11th and 13th centuries, to which, in the early 13th century, an adjacent structure with residential use was added. The apartment is located on the second floor and consists of a living/dining area, a spacious kitchen with a central island, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a storage room.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The living room is entirely carved out within the rectangularshaped medieval tower, and the tower walls, which had been plastered and hidden over the years, were brought back to light through a careful restoration process. The monophore windows, which once served as the only external windows of the tower, have been exposed again. The walls feature alternating layers of two materials: cavernous limestone with "filaretto" masonry and brick. This twotone effect was not only a constructive solution but also a genuine aesthetic detail.Save this picture!To enhance the masonry of the space, we chose to keep the other elements as minimal as possible. Thus, the floor is made of satinfinish resin in a nonreflective light beige color, produced by Hd Surface, while the ceiling, with beams of elm wood and terracotta tiles, was treated with lime to desaturate the colors. The living room also leads, through a flushmounted door plastered with natural lime, to a guest bathroom created within the thickness of the tower's masonry. The old, brickedup monophore window is now an illuminated mirror by Antonio Lupi, and the freestanding orange glass sink with a cork base and floormounted faucet is also by Antonio Lupi.Save this picture!The kitchen is located in an extension built in the 12th century, adjacent to the medieval tower house. The stone masonry inside represents what was once the external facade of the tower. The design includes a large central island, measuring 360x120, with a beige ceramic top and dark Tuscan elm wood side elements. Similarly, the kitchen floor is made of resin, and the ceiling is the original medieval one, with ancient elm beams and terracotta tiles treated with natural lime. The sleeping area consists of two bedrooms, one double and one single, and a bathroom located between the two rooms. The master bedroom has a natural oak plank parquet floor, walls in natural lime-colored paste, and a ceiling with wooden beams and terracotta tiles, also treated with lime. The single bedroom has the same finishes as the master bedroom but features a stone wall beside the bed, which was once one of the external walls of the medieval tower house.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Siena, ItalyLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeCMTarchitettiOfficeMaterialStoneMaterials and TagsPublished on December 20, 2024Cite: "Apartment inside a Medieval Tower / CMTarchitetti" 20 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024694/apartment-inside-a-medieval-tower-cmtarchitetti&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

Throughout the year, we've seen fascinating games that put novel twists on genres, but sometimes, you just want to sit back and enjoy some action. Shooters remain a popular choice for blowing off some steam, and in 2024, we got a healthy mix of new first- and third-person shooter games entering the scene.According to GameSpot sister site Metacritic, new IPs were plentiful in this genre. Sure, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was a shoe-in, but according to the list below, we also got brand-new titles like I Am Your Beast, Anger Foot, and Children of the Sun to introduce some gung-go gunplay to their audiences. We've gathered up all of the best-reviewed games that feature shooting as a key mechanic (as of December 5) and listed them below, and you can scroll down to see which games filled that primal urge to go loud in these action-packed adventures.More Best Of 2024:Our Favorite Games That Didn't Make The Top 10Best PS5-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best Switch-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best PC-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best Xbox Games Of 2024Best-Reviewed Games Of 2024Best Of 2024 hub Kill KnightKill Knight is one of the purest action games of the year, an old-school journey into hell that is unrelenting and incredibly challenging to play. Its core gameplay loop isn't for the faint of heart as it seldom takes its foot off the gas pedal, throwing hordes of demons at you in your quest to reduce the underworld population to single-digit numbers. With its Brutalist art style, pulse-pounding soundtrack, and an arsenal of weapons that adds to its replayability, you can bank on having a hell of a good time.Metascore: 88 Destiny 2: The Final ShapeThe culmination of a decade's worth of storytelling, fine-tuning, and experimentation, Destiny 2: The Final Shape made players feel like apex predators as they brought the Light and Darkness Saga to a close. Mechanically, Destiny 2 has never felt better as its slick gunplay was enhanced by a suite of new powers and abilities that turned players into sci-fi gunslingers who could topple would-be gods. It's that marriage of traditional first-person action with a polished power fantasy, challenging showdowns, and some of the best weapons around that made for a fitting finale to one of gaming's longest-running storylines.Metascore: 89 | Read our Destiny 2: The Final Shape review Mullet MadjackA gauntlet of corridor shootouts, robotic overlords leeching dopamine from a captive audience, and a countdown to carnage makes for a memorable blast of fun in Mullet Madjack. The kind of game that's at its best when you soak up its stylish and dystopian destruction in short bursts, Mullet Madjack keeps you on your toes with its premise of only having a few seconds to live between kills and its satirical take on streamer culture.Metascore: 88 Minishoot AdventuresWhat happens when you mix the 360-degree firepower of Geometry Wars with Zelda-like exploration? You get Minishoot Adventures, a charming adventure that feels consistently satisfying to play. It's not a complex game, but there's beauty in simplicity with this twin-stick shooter, elements that feel amplified by its polished gameplay, and fast-paced action.Metascore: 87 Forgive Me Father 2Like the best boomer-shooters, Forgive Me Father 2 offers everything that fans expect from this growing genre: hordes of enemies to mow down with brutally satisfying gunplay, a relentless pace that'll leave your armpits soaked with concentration-perspiration, and challenging foes that'll require you to evolve your tactics. A Lovecraftian horror experience brought to life with a beautifully illustrated sense of style, it's also got one of the best soundtracks of the year that you can headbang to while you take on Cthulu's minions.Metascore: 83 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Call of Duty's gunplay evolved this year, as the new omnimovement system gave every player the potential to unleash their inner John Wick. Combined with a single-player campaign that channels Cold War-era energy into an action-flick experience, a multiplayer mode that makes the usual refinements, and a Zombies campaign that feels more exciting than ever, and there's enough gung-ho content here to keep you entertained for hours on end.Metascore: 83: Read our Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies reviews. See at Amazon V RisingThere's a caveat here with V Rising, as the open-world vampire game doesn't explicitly focus on shooting. Instead, it's an option that you can choose to invest in, a possible path that is surprisingly fun if you choose it, making the survival-focused gameplay feel great as you specialize in long-distance offense. The rest of the game is bloody good as well, especially if you're looking to become a vampire lord of legend now that V Rising is out of early access.Metascore: 83 Sorry We're ClosedSorry We're Closed has solid arcade-influenced shooting, but the main draw with this adventure is its story. It has a delightfully nostalgic aesthetic that harkens back to PlayStation-era survival-horror games, a fascinating storyline with multiple entries, and unsettling monsters to try out some cool demonic weapons on.Metascore: 82 Helldivers 2Imagine Starship Troopers meets Warhammer 40K, and you'd have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Helldivers 2. One of the biggest surprises of 2024, Helldivers 2 has been an adrenaline rush of chaotic co-op fun and gung-ho action. Best experienced with friends, the Arrowhead-developed game has been praised for its consistent cadence of content and over-the-top firepower that turns every battle into a highlight reel of memes and explosions.Metascore: 82 | Read our Helldivers 2 review See at Amazon Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2From the opening level, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 lets you know exactly what you've signed up for: unrelenting and brutally satisfying action featuring the burliest of Ultramarines as they send heretical scum back to the foul warp that spawned them. It's a game that doesn't try to rewrite the grimdark book on action, instead focusing on what made the original Space Marine game so beloved in the first place. Not only does it nail the fundamentals of in-your-face action and enhance it with some delicious ultraviolence and indulgent finishers, but it looks amazing and feels consistently satisfying to play across its meaty campaign.Metascore: 82 | Read our Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 review See at Amazon RobobeatWe've seen quite a few games mix bullets and beats, and this little gem is a fine example of EDM: electronic dance murder. A killer soundtrack coupled with a rich variety of guns and a core gameplay loop that offers solid gunplay makes Robobeat a rhythmic thrill, although the game can be unforgiving until you find your groove.Metascore: 82 Children of the SunThe best sniper games build up to the moment where you squeeze a trigger and deposit a bullet into a poor sap's cranium, but Children of the Sun takes that idea further by turning that pivotal moment into a violent puzzle game. It's a stylish puzzle-shooter that shoots to thrill with its supernatural themes and digestible runtime.Metascore: 81 | Read our Children of the Sun review Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2It turns out that Helldivers 2 isn't the only game with solid gameplay and legions of insect-themed enemies to use for target practice, as Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is a fun--and weird--new entry in the series. The spin-off is EDF at a more approachable level, while also reveling in its absurd premise by giving you strange characters to play as, a bug-filled toybox to play in, and plenty of cool weapons to keep things entertaining.Metascore: 81 See at Amazon DeadlinkThe roguelike and first-person shooter genres aren't strangers to each other, and while we've seen a fair number of fusions between these two over the years, Deadlink puts a clever spin on this formula. While it nails the roguelike fundamentals within its FPS design, the emphasis on player skill within meat-grinder levels and harmonizing that frantic action with special skills that complement the Doom-inspired gunplay makes for a thrilling game.Metascore: 81 Zero SievertAnother novel fusion of genres, Zero Sievert blends the sweat-inducing tension of an extraction shooter with roguelike themes and a top-down perspective. Death is a constant companion in this game as you attempt to complete quests and make it home with some sweet loot, and don't be too surprised if this humble-looking indie game keeps you awake until the early hours of the morning thanks to its engaging and deep design.Metascore: 81 Vertigo 2The PlayStation VR 2 library has been steadily increasing with quality first-person shooters lately, and you can add Vertigo 2 to that list. It's surprisingly big, the gunplay feels fulfilling, and it has a wonderfully cheeky sense of humor. Throw in secret-filled levels that you'll want to revisit so that you can sharpen your skills, and you've got a terrific VR game to spend a few afternoons with.Metascore: 80 I Am Your BeastSpeed, reflexes, and on-the-fly improvisation are the highlights of I Am Your Beast, a fast-paced revenge-thriller from the makers of El Paso, Nowhere. The cel-shaded action game is delightfully violent, giving players well-crafted gauntlets to work their merciless magic through. Powered by one of the best soundtracks of the year, it's a short and rewarding game to spend an afternoon with.Metascore: 79 MechWarrior 5: ClansNot to be confused with the other MechWarrior 5 game that released several years ago, MechWarrior 5: Clans is a nostalgic back-to-basics return for the series. There's a strong single-player campaign on offer, hulking mechs to master, and a vast selection of customization options that you can easily spend hours playing around with in this new highpoint for the franchise.Metascore: 79 Anger FootViolently putting a boot to the ass of crime, Anger Foot doesn't mess around as it throws you into a world of cartoonish carnage. Essentially the danger of Hotline Miami mixed with the exhilarating speed and first-person perspective of Neon White, Anger Foot is brutally challenging but also incredibly satisfying when you nail a perfect run through its well-constructed levels. With a solid grasp of the fundamentals and a chunky arsenal of weapons to master, you'll get a kick out of this game.Metascore: 79 Megaton Musashi W: WiredMechwarrior 5: Clans isn't the only shooter game featuring mechs, as Megaton Musashi W: Wired is another dive into giant robot fun. The difference here? An anime-inspired approach, full of flashy attacks, imaginative mecha designs, and big boss fights. Throw in a few guest appearances from classic mecha anime like Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, Combattler V, and Voltes V, and you've got a stylish action game to enjoy.Metascore: 78 Splatoon 3: Side OrderA massive departure from Splatoon 3's PvP-focused fun, Side Order is an experimental detour into roguelike territory for the series. While there's room for improvement, this single-player DLC is still a ton of fun thanks to its imaginative new enemy designs and exciting abilities as you work to bring color back to the Splatlands.Metascore: 78 | Read our Splatoon 3 review See at Amazon Star Wars: Dark Forces RemasterA long, long time ago, Star Wars: Dark Forces was all the rage thanks to its Doom-inspired gunplay and an original story that took you behind the scenes of the Original Trilogy. Nightdive has done a fine job in giving this 1995 classic the glow-up it deserves and working in multiple nuanced tweaks under the hood of this aging shooter, while also adding revamped cutscenes and plenty of extra content to resurrect this classic Star Wars game for new audiences.Metascore: 78 Arizona Sunshine RemakeThe original Arizona Sunshine was a very good excuse to invest in a virtual-reality headset almost a decade ago, and this remake is a reminder of just how magical the original zombie-shooting experience was. You've got the original game, enhanced by all the improvements of its sequel and finished off with a combo of grotesquely gorgeous graphics and several gameplay updates, making one of the best VR games around even better.Metascore: 77 RedactedOpinions might vary on whether or not The Callisto Protocol managed to recapture the essence of Dead Space when it was first released, but that game did manage to create a fascinating new galaxy of terror to explore. Redacted also does just that, as developer Striking Distance Studios puts a fresh new spin on the IP with a twin-stick shooter that takes a lot of inspiration from Supergiant's roguelike masterpiece Hades. The end result is a colorful and challenging game, full of gruesome enemies, intense action, and several interesting twists on the roguelike formula.Metascore: 77 | Read our Redacted review