This week's look into the culture of young people is like Uber Eats Roulette: there's all kinds of different things to enjoy, but none of it fits together. I'm taking a look at maximalist Christmas decorations; a classroom TikTok challenge; Catly, a video game that gamers find sus; and a viral video about what happens to the millions of things that people send back to Amazon. Have yourself a maximal ChristmasMaximalism, the design aesthetic that says "more is more," is having a moment online, especially now that it's Christmastime. There is no holiday tradition more suited to maximalism than decorating for Christmas, and TikTok's maximalists are leaning into it hard, decking out their halls with ungodly amounts of tinsel, holly, angels, shiny stars, and every other decoration they can find. Here's some inspiration, if you're going for the look: This "every-branch-enhanced" tree from @tnkyla: Self-proclaimed "autistic maximalist" @candy.courn's Pokemon tree: @whilefloriansleeps' retro-Maximalist decoration: One more: @thekitchenmagpie. I'm not even sure there's a tree under that decoration. What is the "slowly leaving the classroom" challenge?Even though most schools are still in session, holiday malaise has overtaken many classrooms, leading to shenanigans like the "slowly leaving the classroom" trend that's taking off online. It's as simple as it sounds: Kids are filming each another slowly moving their desks toward the door of the class, as if they're stealthily making an escape. It looks like this: "Catly" video game raises questionsIf you're a crusty old cynic like I am, it's hard to not feel dismayed on behalf of younger people who seem to fall victim to transparent money-grab schemes from "influencers," whether it's YouTubers abusing their young fans' trust to sell junk food, or meme-stars trying to cash out as their 15 minutes of fame tick away. But there are reasons to be hopeful, too, like the reaction of the gaming community to the release of the trailer for Catly shown at the GAME awards this week. Check it out: Rather than fall all over themselves for a cat-based game endorsed by popular streamers Ninja, Felicia Day, and Pokimane, the gaming community immediately reacted with healthy skepticism, pointing out the trailers suspiciously AI-looking sheen, and digging up connections between the founder of the company behind Catly and blockchain games/NFTs. On the other hand, a PR representative for Catly developer SuperAuthenti told IGN that neither the trailer nor the game employ generative AI, and that there has been "zero blockchain technology" involved in Catly. Which might be true; it's just good that questions are being asked and research done.How to play "Uber Eats Roulette"Most food-related trends from young people are terrible, but I like the idea of Uber Eats Roulette, a party idea/game that's becoming popular in online foodie corners. It's a twist on the traditional pot luck, where the host gives guests a price point and invites everyone to order something to eat from whatever Uber Eats place they want. If you want, you can have your guests keep what they ordered secret from each other and try to guess, or just have the food delivered so everyone can have a feast and a laugh. I want to go this party: Viral video of the week: Man buys box of Amazon returns, instantly regrets it Unlike most YouTubers who are popular among young people, Danny Gonzalez is not annoying: He's sometimes funny and sometimes interesting. In this week's viral video, Gonzalez has teamed up with Climate Town for a video about what happens when you return items to Amazon. You might think Amazon put those items back on sale, but nope. Big retailers throw most of their returns into landfills. But some of the six billion pounds (per year) of returned items end up at re-sellers. These bulk item liquidators then re-sell the items, sometimes in bulk. In this video, Gonzalez picks up one of these mystery pallets and tries to flip it for a profit through Facebook marketplace. It's an amusing way to talk about the ungodly amount of crap we generate, without preaching.

The US Department of Commerce on Friday announced its awards for Samsung, Texas Instruments and Amkor Technology under the CHIPS Incentives Program, which come to more than $6.75 billion altogether. The program is meant to help expand domestic semiconductor production. Samsung was awarded up to $4.745 billion in direct funding a smaller amount than the preliminary award of up to $6.4 billion that was announced earlier this year while Texas Instruments was granted up to $1.61 billion and Amkor up to $407 million.Samsung plans to invest $37 billion over the next few years to ramp up chip development and production in the US, the DOC said. The company will expand its operations in Texas to include two new production facilities and a site for research and development. It also plans to expand an existing facility in Austin. Texas Instruments is working to build three new facilities two in Texas and one in Utah which its said it will invest over $18 billion in through 2029. Amkor is planning a $2 billion investment to create an advanced packaging and test facility in Peoria, Arizona. According to Reuters, itll be the countrys largest facility of its kind.The Commerce Department says the awards will be doled out as the companies complete certain project milestones. It expects the funding to support the creation of thousands of jobs per project.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/doc-finalizes-semiconductor-awards-totaling-nearly-7-billion-for-samsung-texas-instruments-and-amkor-235749200.html?src=rss

After announcing this week that it furloughed 82 employees, EV startup Canoo emailed remaining workers to inform them they were being placed on a mandatory unpaid break and would be locked out of the companys systems at the end of the day Friday, TechCrunch reports. The email viewed by TechCrunch reportedly said the break would last at least through the end of the year. Canoo announced on Wednesday that it was idling its Oklahoma factories while it works to finalize securing the capital necessary to move forward with its operations.Canoo has faced financial difficulties, lawsuits and the departure of multiple executives over the last year. It previously announced it was furloughing 30 employees just this fall. Canoos announcement on Wednesday said that the company is now in advanced discussions with various capital sources. In a statement about the cuts, Canoo said, We regret having to furlough our employees, especially during the holidays, but we have no choice at this point. We are hopeful that we will be able to bring them back to work soon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/canoo-put-employees-on-a-mandatory-unpaid-break-after-pausing-work-at-oklahoma-factories-this-week-221912555.html?src=rss

Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

PROS: Simple and sleek design with a pleasing camera arrangement Solid hardware performance and excellent battery life Decent triple 50MP camera output 4K HDR video recording on 32MP Front CameraCONS: No wireless charging A bit pricey with limited availabilityRATINGS:AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:Rather than going for extravagant and experimental changes, the Vivo X200 combines a familiar design with improved performance to offer a solid and reliable smartphone.Its that time of the year when people find themselves scrambling to check shopping and wish lists, trying to figure out the best gifts to give others as well as themselves for the upcoming year. Its a time when people are looking not just for the best products but also for the best value they can get for their moneys worth. That includes the latest gadgets like smartphones that will accompany their new owners to the next year and beyond.Theres no shortage of designs to choose from in this market, whether in terms of aesthetics, features, or price. Many try to appeal to brand loyalty while others resort to gimmicks and extravagant designs to stand out from the crowd. While this may work for some, not everyone is in the market for a novel smartphone that will end up quickly losing its charm after a few months. In contrast to these, the Vivo X200 looks like a familiar face that is ready to support an old friend, so we take it for a spin to see if it can really deliver that sense of confidence despite its unassuming appearance.Designer: VivoAestheticsIf youve seen the Vivo X100 that was launched late last year, you might feel a sense of deja vu. The Vivo X200 looks almost exactly like its predecessor, though there are definitely some improvements here and there, most of which you wont be able to immediately notice. Thats not to say that it looks dated, because there are definitely significant changes to the design that prove its still a step forward, small as it may be.The edges, for example, are now flat, matching the current design trends in the smartphone market. The 6.67-inch screen is somewhat flat as well, though the bezels do curve down to the midframe. This is mirrored on the fiberglass back plate whose curve is now less pronounced. In other words, the Vivo X200 exudes a modern and stylish design that keeps in touch with minimalist trends.The circular camera bump is still large, but that, too, is becoming more common. Large as it may be, it offers not only visual symmetry but also balance that prevents the phone from wobbling on tables. This symmetry is also reflected in the arrangement of the cameras that point in the cardinal directions rather than a square. One of those black circles isnt a camera, though, but its a smart design decision rather than leaving the arrangement a bit odd, literally and figuratively. The metal Sunburst Ring surrounding the camera is still there, along with a knurled surface that gives it the semblance of a luxury watch bezel or a camera lens focus ring.All in all, the Vivo X200 offers a simple yet stylish design that embodies the strengths of minimalism. There are very few unnecessary details, aside from the ZEISS branding in the center of the cameras and the triple LED flash in the corner. Rather than pushing boundaries and presenting a new but unfamiliar face, it prefers to offer something more recognizable and comforting, bucking the common business sense of changing designs every year.ErgonomicsIn a way, the Vivo X200 seems to combine the best of both design worlds. It has flat edges that some argue give a better grip, but the screen and backplate still curve a bit so they dont exactly bite into your skin. That said, the matte glass surface of the phones back might be tricky for some who find the material slippery, despite the advertised benefits of the artificially crafted texture.With a weight of around 197g (6.9oz) and an average thickness of 8mm (0.31 in), the phone isnt exactly the lightest nor the thinnest among this years flagships. It isnt the worst, either, so youre not exactly taking a loss. It has a nice balance in your hand and feels solid enough to give you confidence when you hold it. It definitely has a premium feel to it that matches its sleek and elegant appearance.PerformanceUnlike some other smartphone brands, Vivo opted to place its bets on MediaTek for its X-series flagships. This particular batch utilizes the new Dimensity 9400 5G, promising a notable jump in performance in gaming and AI. Its paired with 16GB of RAM, which you can extend up to another 16GB from storage, and 512GB of that fixed storage capacity. In other words, the Vivo X200 is quite the beast, handling any task you throw at it with finesse. Benchmarks put it head-to-head with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, though take it with a grain of salt as that is last years Qualcomm flagship.Thanks to the use of solid-state battery technology, Vivo is able to cram no less than a 5,800mAh battery inside such a compact body. With average use, it can easily last up to two days before needing a charge, and when it comes time to plug it in, just half an hour is enough to get it up to 80% with its 90W charging speed. As great as battery performance sounds, Vivo has chosen to leave out wireless charging yet again, falling behind its peers and rivals in this modern convenience.The phones 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED screen is very bright and colorful, easily the highlight of the Vivo X200s face. It has a fast 120Hz refresh rate that makes games responsive and the UI fluid, but it can only switch between 60Hz and 120Hz. It does boast a 2,160Hz PWD dimming that is touted to be as eye-friendly as you can get on screens. Theres really not much else to say about the phones display other than how great it looks even under bright outdoor light.Contrary to what the design suggests, the Vivo X200 only has three cameras, all of them boasting 50MP sensors. This addresses one of the longest-standing problems with smartphone cameras where different lenses produce widely different results. Theyre not all the same sensors, of course, but this at least narrows the gap considerably, ensuring that switching between focal lengths is no longer jarring nor disadvantageous. All three also use ZEISS T* coated lenses that reduce lens flares and reflections.Main, 23mmUltra-wide, 15mmMain, 23mmLeading the trio is a 50MP Sony IMX921 sensor with an f/1.57 lens and a focal length of 23mm. This wide camera boasts the usual PDAF and OIS features, producing vibrant, detailed, and clear photos under any lighting condition. This is joined by an ultra-wide camera with a 50MP sensor and an f/2.0 aperture lens with a 119-degree field of view. With its highly detailed output and minimal distortion, its a welcome break from smartphone cameras that often leave this particular aspect lagging behind.Main, 2xTelephoto, 3xTelephoto, 10xThe third member of the group is a 50MP Sony IMX882 with a f/2.57 aperture lens and a 70mm equivalent focal length. Its capable of 3x optical zoom, which is quite good in terms of the level of detail, and 10x hybrid zoom which is actually still decent despite the noticeable loss of quality. The camera does seem to have some difficulty with indoor lighting at 3x magnification, leading to blurry and pixelated patches of color.Telephoto, 3x, Indoor lightingThe really outstanding camera, however, is on the opposite side. In addition to a 32MP sensor, this front-facing ultra-wide camera can record in 4K at 30 or 60fps, which really upgrades the video quality of a camera thats often overlooked. Not only will it make you look good in video calls, it will also give vloggers and influencers an edge over the competition, presuming their chosen social media platform supports high-quality video in the first place.SustainabilityAs the Vivo X200s design looks familiar, so is the formula for its parts. In other words, the company hasnt yet taken any big step forward in using more sustainable materials other than the usual metal or glass youd find in any other smartphone. Instead, it focuses on making it last a little bit longer, whether because of its durability or its length of support.More than just the usual IP68 rating, the Vivo X200 also boasts an IP69 certification, which means the phone can be washed with hot water without that much fear, though youre not advised to do that anyway. The phone also runs FuntouchOS 15 thats based on Android 15, and its promised to receive up to four major OS upgrades, which means you wont have to worry about being outdated for another four years. With how fast people change their smartphones every two years or how quickly some are obsoleted, these features guarantee a long life for Vivos flagship.ValueThere are two ways to stand out in the rat race known as the smartphone market. Either you do something so radical that you turn peoples heads, or you do something so well that people cant help but take notice. The Vivo X200 is clearly in the latter camp, preferring to prioritize substance over style. Not that its lacking style, either, with an elegant minimalist aesthetic that inspires familiarity and confidence, instead of opting for novelty that will quickly wear off.The Vivo X200 delivers a solid all-rounder device that checks the right boxes without going overboard. The one box it does miss out on is its availability. Although it has recently launched in global markets, its reach is still few and far between. The price tag that goes around $700 to $800 makes it a more difficult choice to make when there are more affordable options available that offer nearly the same capabilities.VerdictSmartphones have evolved to become more than just a communication or productivity tool but also a reflection of ourselves. And just as not all of us need fancy designer items or extravagant accessories, not everyone needs a smartphone that screams for attention. Some prefer a minimalist aesthetic that extols the virtues of good design that encompasses color, material, finish, and, most importantly, user experience.The Vivo X200 is one such design, bearing a simple appearance that belies the power it holds within. It has a well-balanced and solid set of features, empowered by AI, that is ready to handle any task you throw at it. It is by no means unattractive, but it is designed to appeal to people whose tastes go beyond flashy gimmicks and short-lived features. It is, at the end of the day, a reliable companion on lifes adventures.The post Vivo X200 Review: Reliability without Fuss or Fanfare first appeared on Yanko Design.

The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized perching bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 centimetres (8 inches) long and has glossy black plumage, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts, with an unmusical but varied song. The starling has about a dozen subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and western Asia, and it has been introduced elsewhere. This bird is resident in southern and western Europe and southwestern Asia, while northeastern populations migrate south and west in winter. The starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. The species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit. The starling's gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the medieval Welsh Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare. This common starling was photographed at Bodega Head on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California.Photograph credit: Frank SchulenburgRecently featured: CholatseMarie Antoinette and Her ChildrenPapayaArchiveMore featured pictures

December 22: Yule begins; Dongzhi Festival in China (2023)Aerial view of the Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill856 An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 struck the eastern Alborz mountains in Persia, causing an estimated 200,000 deaths.1948 Chaired by Sjafruddin Prawiranegara, the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia was established to counter Dutch attempts to re-assert colonial control.1988 Brazilian unionist and environmental activist Chico Mendes was murdered at his home in Xapuri.2008 A dike ruptured at a waste containment area for a coal-fired power plant in Kingston, Tennessee, releasing 1.1billion gallons (4.2millionm3) of coal fly ash slurry (aftermath pictured) in the largest industrial spill in US history.Carl Friedrich Abel (b.1723)William Hyde Wollaston (d.1828)Meghan Trainor (b.1993)Dina Belenkaya (b.1993)More anniversaries: December 21December 22December 23ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout

In the latest version of the Files by Google app, summoning Gemini while looking at a PDF gives you the option to ask about the file, writes Android Police. Youll need to be a Gemini Advanced subscriber to use the feature though, according to Mishaal Rahman, who reported on Friday that it had started rolling out.If you have the feature, when you summon Gemini while looking at a PDF in the Files app, youll see an Ask about this PDF button appear. Tapping that lets you ask questions about the file, the same way you might ask ChatGPT about a PDF. Google first announced this screen-aware feature during its I/O developer conference in May.Rahman posted a screenshot of what it looks like in action:Other context-aware Gemini features include the ability to ask about web pages and YouTube videos. For apps or file types without Geminis context-aware support, the assistant instead offers to answer questions about your screen, using a screenshot it takes when you tap Ask about this screen.