Members of Congress were set to make a few thousand extra bucks under a government funding bill.Then, Elon Musk helped tank it.That's despite growing concern that it's becoming unaffordable to serve in Congress.One of the most controversial pieces of the short-term government funding bill that Elon Musk helped tank last week was a provision that would have allowed members of Congress to receive a modest salary increase.As Musk argued against the so-called "continuing resolution" in a stream of posts on X, he said that lawmakers were set to receive a 40% salary increase if the bill passed.In reality, it would have at most been a $6,600 pay bump for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate, or 3.8% of their $174,000 annual salary, according to the Congressional Research Service.Nonetheless, that provision wasn't included in the bill that emerged and was signed into law after two days of chaos on Capitol Hill.That's despite growing sentiment from lawmakers in both parties that increasing the congressional salary is necessary to ensure that less wealthy people are able to serve and aren't lured away by higher salaries in the private sector, even if the optics are poor.Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican and staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, told reporters last week that the demands and responsibilities of the job made serving in Congress "not affordable" for those who weren't already wealthy like him."If we're not careful, you're only going to get the individuals that are millionaires-plus that's able to serve in Congress, and that's not what it's supposed to be," Mullin said. "It's supposed to be the people's house."$174,000 is far more than the average household income, but that salary hasn't budged since 2009. Accounting for inflation, that means lawmakers' salaries have essentially decreased by more than 30% in the last 15 years.Members of Congress also face unique demands, including the need to maintain two residences one in Washington, DC, the other in their home district and those who can't afford it often opt to sleep in their offices. Experts have also said it's simply a matter of good governance: If lawmakers are paid well, they're less incentivized to cash out by becoming lobbyists after their tenure."I tell people, the worst financial decision I ever made was running for Congress," Mullin said jokingly.The provision tucked into the original funding bill technically was not a raise, but rather allowed an automatic cost-of-living increase that was originally established by the 1989 Ethics Reform Act. Those annual adjustments, which are typically single-digit percentage salary increases, are designed to avoid the optics of lawmakers voting to increase their own pay.Rep. Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, sought to downplay the notion that members were even receiving a raise. "It just complies with existing law," Morelle told BI last week. "There's nothing extraordinary about it."Congress has nonetheless chosen to block those adjustments every year since 2009, owing to both inertia and the political unpopularity of increasing lawmakers' salaries. Earlier this year, a cohort of current and former lawmakers filed a class action lawsuit over those denials, arguing their wages had been "unconstitutionally suppressed."The politics of raising wages on Capitol remains toxic, however. As word spread on Wednesday about the cost of living adjustment in the ball, lawmakers in both parties came out against it."I cannot and will not vote to give myself more money when my constituents are feeling unbelievable financial pressure," Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat who represents a New York swing seat, said in a statement that day. "Congress should be focused on lowering costs for the American people, not giving ourselves a raise. If this provision isn't removed, I will be voting against the continuing resolution."Ultimately, the cost of living adjustment was blocked once more.Elon Musk did not respond to a request for comment.

After living in the city where "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York" was shot, it quickly became my favorite film from the series.McCallister escapes the bad guys in a horse-drawn carriage in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is a John Hughes and Chris Columbus collaboration following the first "Home Alone" movie, which took place in the Chicago suburbs.In "Home Alone 2," Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, is heading out for the holidays with his family. After a series of mistakes, McCallister ends up on the wrong plane it's flying to NYC instead of Miami, where the rest of his family is headed.Once he lands, McCallister explores the city solo and eventually runs into Harry and Marv, the same bad guys from the first movie, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.The movie was released in 1992. More than 30 years later, many of the scenes look similar to NYC today. I enjoyed reliving scenes and touring some of the real-life locations from the film while living in NYC.The author poses with friends in Times Square. Monica Humphries/Business Insider "Home Alone 2" is filled with plenty of famous and not so famous New York destinations.I rewatched the classic Christmas movie to see how the film holds up to reality. The opening plot involves McCallister landing in an unfamiliar airport with views of New York.McCallister arrives at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, in "Home Alone 2". 20th Century Fox After mistaking a man in a tan jacket for his father, McCallister arrives in NYC with the cityscape on full display in the background.Initially feeling defeated, McCallister quickly realizes that a solo trip to New York City could be a fun adventure.Let's just say I haven't seen views like that in real life at LaGuardia Airport.LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Maybe it's because I'm always in a frantic rush to get to the airport on time, but the views from LaGuardia Airport's windows have yet to impress me as they did in the movie. McCallister then catches a taxi and heads into Manhattan on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.McCallister rides a taxi across the Queensboro Bridge in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox After the shock and worry of what just happened, McCallister decides to make the most of his stay in NYC.Fortunately, he has his father's carry-on bag, complete with his dad's credit card, cash, and a Polaroid camera.He hails a cab and crosses into Manhattan, where his adventure begins. The bridge is the same one that similarly marked the start or end of any adventure of mine in New York, and it looks like not much has changed since 1992.The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge in NYC. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images In the movie, McCallister rides in a now-outdated taxi. Today, most taxis are modern cars, although they'vekept their iconic yellow color.When it comes to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, it hasn't changed. The only difference I spotted is that in 2010, "Ed Koch" was added to the front of the bridge's title after former Mayor Edward I. Koch. Once he arrives in Manhattan, McCallister goes on a grand tour. A couple of quick shots feature him across the city. The first destination is Radio City Music Hall.McCallister at Radio City Music Hall in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox These scenes go by quickly as McCallister visits neighborhoods and iconic spots sprinkled across the entire island. While the exterior of the music hall hasn't changed much since the film, it's missing the hordes of people I see swarming the destination.Radio City Music Hall. Monica Humphries/Insider The movie takes place during the holiday season. I was surprised there weren't more people in the background of this scene, which takes place in Midtown Manhattan, a neighborhood that is typically bustling with tourist activity.Come wintertime, Radio City Music Hall typically teems with people eager to spot a Rockettes performance. Viewers also spot McCallister in front of Empire Diner, a classic, all-American establishment.McCallister crosses paths with Santa in front of Empire Diner in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The short scene features McCallister crossing paths with a Santa on stilts outside the Empire Diner. Today, the diner has a fresh look with a mural called "Mount Rushmore of Art."A picture of Empire Diner after the mural was painted. Tom G./Yelp The diner at 210 10th Avenue in New York's Chelsea neighborhood opened in 1976.Since then, the diner has closed and reopened a few times with new owners. Today, it's led by executive chef Jestin Feggan.The diner looks the same as it did in the movie, but behind it is a colorful mural painted by Eduardo Kobra. The mural features Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. After passing the diner, McCallister stops at Quong Yuen Shing & Co in Chinatown, which closed in 2003.McCallister leaving Quong Yuen Shing & Co. in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox QIn the "Home Alone 2" script, it also sold firecrackers, which McCallister stuffs into his backpack as he exits the store.In the mid-1980s, the store received a new name, 32 Mott Street General Store, and in 2003, it closed in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, The New York Times reported.While visitors can no longer stop at this specific spot, they can head to Chinatown in Lower Manhattan to explore its history and discover delicious eats.Next, McCallister treks to the bottom of Manhattan for a view of the Statue of Liberty through coin-operated binoculars.McCallister in Battery Park in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox McCallister looks out into the water and spots the Statue of Liberty. Surprisingly, this will be the only time we see this iconic landmark in the two-hour movie. The binoculars are no longer there, but the park is still the best place in Manhattan to spot Lady Liberty.No binoculars in sight at The Battery. Ivan Peralta Santana/Getty Images The Battery, a 22-acre public park, is one of my favorite parks in Manhattan thanks to its water and greenery.For the most part, I think the movie gets it right. By that, I mean that the Statue of Liberty is far enough to need binoculars for a close-up view. However, you'll have to bring your own since the coin-operated ones no longer exist in the park. McCallister manages to make his way to the top of one of the Twin Towers next.McCallister at the top of one of the Twin Towers in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The World Trade Center was comprised of seven buildings. McCallister makes his way up 110 stories to view the city from one of the Twin Towers. While you can't head to the same observation deck, the One World Observatory offers a similar bird's-eye view of the city.A view from One World Observatory. Monica Humphries/Insider On September 11, 2001, both Twin Towers collapsed in a terrorist attack, destroying the observation deck McCallister visits.The closest thing to McCallister's view today is the One World Observatory.The experience is 102 stories high, compared to McCallister's 110 stories. It's also enclosed, unlike the Twin Towers' outdoor observation deck. We spot McCallister at the Fulton Fish Market. He barely misses some familiar faces we haven't seen in "Home Alone 2" yet, Harry and Marv.McCallister at the Fulton Fish Market in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox This scene is Harry and Marv's entrance to the movie. The two have escaped from prison and are spotted in New York in the back of a fish delivery truck. They've traveled to NYC to steal money.The fish market is portrayed as a bustling place in the movie. Visitors won't find the Fulton Fish Market at the same location anymore. In 2005, the fish market moved to Hunt's Point in the Bronx.The New Fulton Fish Market. Jim B./Yelp Today, the fish market is entirely different than the one pictured in "Home Alone 2."Opened in 1822, the market existed at South Street Seaport for over a hundred years. In 2005, it moved to an enclosed space in the Bronx.Tourists and buyers arrive early the market opens at 2 a.m. on most days.While it might look drastically different from the movie, I can guarantee it has the same smell. After walking through the fish market, McCallister heads to Central Park. There, he sees The Plaza Hotel and has a run-in with the Pigeon Lady.The Plaza Hotel in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The Pigeon Lady will become an essential character later in the movie, but upon their first encounter, she scares McCallister.McCallister runs away and heads to The Plaza Hotel, aka "New York's most exciting hotel experience," which is how McCallister refers to it while reciting a commercial he watched in the movie. While I can't say if the hotel is New York City's most exciting from its exterior, it is real, and I've admired it from the same location McCallister did in this scene.A view of the Plaza Hotel. fotog/Getty Images Standing in the southeast corner of Central Park, visitors can get a complete picture of the famous building.Its exterior hasn't changed much. The iconic hotel is still one of New York's most famous hotels. It was built in 1907, and in 1969, it was designated an official landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.On the way to the Plaza, he runs past a statue of Argentine general Jos de San Martn.A statue of Argentine general Jos de San Martn in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox The statue points McCallister in the direction of the hotel. The statue can be spotted in Central Park South.The statue can be seen in Central Park South. Ira L. Black/Corbis/Getty Images/Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket/Getty Images The general is known for helping Argentina, Chile, and Peru gain independence from the Spanish, according to NYC Parks.Today, it looks the same as it did in the movie and can be spotted at Central Park South and Avenue of the Americas. When McCallister finally makes it inside The Plaza Hotel, he has the guts to stage a fake hotel reservation and meets a famous face.McCallister runs into Donald Trump in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox Once McCallister finally makes it to the hotel, he explores the extravagant lobby.It's decorated for the holiday season, and pots are filled with poinsettias.In the lobby, McCallister runs into Donald Trump, who is playing himself the owner of The Plaza Hotel. As Business Insider previously reported, Trump, who no longer owns the hotel, insisted on having a cameo in the film.Later in the scene, McCallister uses a fake voice to call and make a reservation for a suite. While I haven't stayed in The Plaza Hotel, present-day images from the inside depict the same luxury created in the film.The Plaza Hotel decorated for Christmas in 2021. Benno Schwinghammer/picture alliance/Getty Images McCallister enjoys the hotel's pool and orders an ultimate room service experience.Since 1992, the hotel has updated some of its interior and offerings, but the essence and luxury of the experience remain the same.My guess is that it's much more expensive compared to when McCallister would've stayed. According to the hotel's website, rooms are priced between $1,000 and $33,000 for a night this January.While McCallister enjoys the hotel's pool, Marv is ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park.Marv and Harry at Wollman Rink in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox This scene is where the duo gets the idea to rob a toy store. Wollman Rink is a real ice skating rink and hasn't changed much since the 1990s.The author poses with a friend in front of Wollman Rink. Monica Humphries/Insider/RBL/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images I've watched plenty of children and adults take a tumble at Wollman Rink.The ice skating rink opened in 1950. Each November, it opens to the public for skating. In the summer, the area is a popular pickball court location.Later, McCallister is ready to explore the city again, but this time, he hires a limousine to take him to Duncan's Toy Chest.Duncan's Toy Chest in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox Here, McCallister sets foot into a store brimming with stuffed animals, musical instruments, and toys for all ages. Duncan's Toy Chest doesn't exist in real life, but it is based on the actual toy store, FAO Schwarz.A doorman stands outside FAO Schwarz in Rockefeller Center on November 15, 2021. Noam Galai/Getty Images Lonely Planet said that Duncan's Toy Chest is based on the real New York City toy store, FAO Schwarz.The actual store wasn't used for filming. Instead, filming took place in Chicago, with exterior shots from Chicago's historic The Rookery and interior scenes filmed in The Uptown Theater, The Sun reported.I've stopped at FAO Schwarz once or twice and spotted the same joy and excitement depicted in the film.However, many physical elements have changed. The store temporarily closed in 2015 and moved locations, and in 2018, it reopened at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.In the time since the movie came out, many of the store's current toys are different from the ones seen in the movie. McCallister runs into Harry and Marv at the toy store and quickly darts into Central Park for his getaway.McCallister stows away in a carriage to escape in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox As McCallister hops into the back of a horse-drawn carriage to escape Harry and Marv, the audience learns that this isn't the first, and likely won't be the last time McCallister visits the famous park.In fact, McCallister wanders through Central Park a handful of times throughout the film. It's where McCallister spots the Plaza Hotel, stows away in a horse-drawn carriage, and befriends the Pigeon Lady. Central Park pops up in a few places throughout the movie, and I think it looks the same.The author poses with friends in Central Park. Monica Humphries/Insider Throughout the film, McCallister is spotted across Manhattan's largest park.Yes, people still feed pigeons, and horse-drawn carriages still exist.As with any film shot decades ago, things will look different, but the crowds, and lack thereof, remain true.I've explored areas of the 840-acre park that are both eerily quiet and swarmed with people. Overall, the film's depiction of the park is pretty accurate, based on my experience.No movie set in New York would be complete without a stop at Times Square.Times Square in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox McCallister makes his way to Times Square, which has some of the heaviest foot traffic in all of NYC. The movie depicts Times Square as being relatively spacious and empty, which isn't the case today.Times Square. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images I find Times Square to typically be pure chaos with crowds of tourists, business people, and performers filling the streets.I was surprised to see it so empty in the movie. One of the final scenes in the city features McCallister admiring the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza.McCallister in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree in "Home Alone 2." 20th Century Fox At the end of the movie, McCallister reunites with his mother in the plaza, who flew to New York to search for her son.In the movie, the plaza is entirely empty. In reality, Rockefeller Plaza would never be that empty during the holidays.Rockefeller Plaza. Monica Humphries/Insider During my first winter in New York, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the holiday season by admiring the city's lights, window displays, and music, but I instantly regretted visiting Rockefeller Plaza.The plaza was packed, and I remember having to push my way through the crowds to catch a glimpse of the tree.In fact, I doubt the plaza is ever as empty as it is in "Home Alone 2."While I'm glad I checked it off my bucket list, I have no desire to go back. There are plenty of places I cherish from "Home Alone 2," and I'm happy to report that the movie's depiction of NYC still rings true today.The author poses with a friend on Brooklyn Bridge. Monica Humphries/Insider There's no place like NYC, especially during the holidays.Watching "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is still a reminder of the magic the city has each winter, no matter how much has changed since the movie came out.

Like every year, 2024 was full of highs and lows. Some of the worst (well, nerdiest) lows came from the fictional losses we endured: a TV show coming to an end, or a dead character or three. Join us in looking back on those who wont be joining us in 2025 and beyondand prepare for some spoilers ahead, but you already knew that. Scavengers Reign Green Street/Netflix Scavengers Reign is a show that Ill forever be mad about not getting another season. Not only is it one of the most refreshing animated stories Ive experienced this year, its also one that truly lived up to its alien premise. There was a lot of copium on my and many fans behalf assuming the show would receive a second chance at life on Netflix. But I think we all forgot that streamer has a knack for being the place where season two hopes go to die. *Shakes fist in the sky at David Zaslav* Isaiah Colbert Outer Range Prime Videos sci-fi Western about a rancher (Josh Brolin) hiding a time-travel portal in one of his pastures was almost too weird when it premiered in 2022but its mish-mash of genres still managed to fascinate, using a cosmic mystery to examine rival families sharing an intertwined crisis. That Outer Range got a second season at all was a TV miracle, and were grateful we got to spend a little more time exploring its oddities. Cheryl EddyStar Trek: Lower Decks One of the crown jewels ofStar Treks streaming age just wrapped up with a brilliant season, reflecting how far its young heroes had come while still earnestly celebrating the joy ofStar Trek, whether that joy was found in the connective history of the franchise or simply in a show about geeks who just love to be a part of that history themselves. Funny and charming to the last, its finale may have left an open-ended promise of more adventures to come for these characters, but were still going to miss seeing them on the regular. James Whitbrook Sonys Spider-Man Universe On one hand, Sonys very weird approach to its Spider-Man-free Marvel movies led to some charmingly weird work like Venom and Madame Web (debatable). On the other hand, it was really clear Sony didnt know what it was doing other than filling release slots. After watching Venom 3 or Kraven, it wont be any mystery as to why audiences got sick of that runaround. Ah well, at least theres Spider-Verse 3, eventually. Justin Carter The Acolyte Lucasfilm Say what you want about The Acolyte, and many, many Star Wars fans have. But we thought it was a dynamite show that both acted as a great entry point to Star Wars, while also enriching the lore for longtime fans. So to see the show get canceled after its first season, with so many fascinating stories left untold, was one of the biggest bummers of the year. Germain LussierEvil Evil premiered in 2019 on CBS, then after one season shifted to Paramount+. Streaming made more sense for the series adventurous toneit could be terrifying and funny all in one scene, let alone one episode, not to mention provocative, heartfelt, timely, and deeply insightful. Not bad for a show about a team of investigators hired by the Catholic Church to look into possessions and other weird phenomena, while also uncovering corruption and giving us characters we genuinely loved (or loved to hate) along the way. We wish it had gotten 666 more seasons. Cheryl Eddy Attack on Titan Whether or not you watched Attack on Titan, you probably knew it lasted for quite a while, particularly toward the end. Its final season famously concluded in four parts, and then concluded again with a film version of the second half. With luck, that was the series true end, and Mappa isnt cooking up some remake or enhanced edition to put out in a few years. Justin Carter The Umbrella Academy Umbrella Academys shortened fourth season wasnt the most triumphant way to end the Netflix show based (very loosely) on the Dark Horse Comics series, but well always have the first three seasonspacked with all the apocalyptic drama its pack of misfit superhero siblings could bring to the table, not to mention quirky comedy, clever plot twists, killer fight scenes, and even a few dance numbers. Cheryl Eddy Chucky USA/Syfy While therell be no more seasons of Don Mancinis Syfy/USA TV seriesa delightful expansion of theChilds Play world, equal parts gory and campy, as the killer doll sets his sights variously on world domination and revengefear not. Chuckys been around since 1988, and hewillslay again, hopefully in a new feature film. Still, well miss the shows chaotic yet heartfelt spirit, which made equal time for queer teens in love, Jennifer Tillys multi-layered but always deranged take on Tiffany Valentine, and some very creative Chucky kills. Cheryl Eddy DC/CW Universe Part of why superheroes have been so popular on screen in the past 20 years has to be owed to the CW. From Smallville all the way back in the day to Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and the recently ended Superman & Lois, the network kept DCs heroes around in the public eye through show after show of fluctuating quality. They werent all perfect, and some of them ran a bit too long, but they made many strides and kept the genre alive, and that aint nothing. Justin CarterWhat We Do in the Shadows We refuse to believe this outrageously funny comedy about Staten Islands most adorably inept vampire roommates is really over. We refuse! But even if no new episodes are coming (sigh), well always have the cultural impact its wonders left behind, including Jackie Daytona, Bat!, New York Citaaaay! and those are just the Matt Berry contributions. What We Do in the Shadows will never be dead to us, but itll always be out of this world. Cheryl Eddy Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth) Square Enix The death of Aerith is one of the most famous of all in video games, andRebirth, the middle-chapter of Square Enixs ambitious re-imagining ofFinal Fantasy VIIs legendary legacy, is very keenly aware of the expectation players have around that moment for all of its vast runtime. Not content with simply recreating that fateful climax, Rebirthcarries on inRemakes footsteps of being a story about what itmeansto remakeFinal Fantasy VIIby constantly playing with this meta-awareness around Aerith, as it centers her more and more in the games twinned stories of echoing the original game while also preparing to subvert it. So when existence splits on the steps of the City of the Ancients inRebirths final hoursone timeline where Aerith dies at Sephiroths hands, another where she lives on and helps push him back, simultaneously co-existing in the mind of CloudRebirth has its cake and eats it too, giving us the hope of a rebirth that players have longed for for almost 30 years while also still getting to sit in the tragedy of her passing all over again. Well be waiting a few more years just to see what really happens, but theres still a sense of loss in this limbo Rebirth leaves us and Aerith alike in. James Whitbrook Victor Aguilar (The Penguin) Vic was Oswalds last redeeming tether before the future crime lord sold his soul so nothing could stand in his way. A part of me hopes Vic isnt dead, just left very near-death for Batman to find and take under his (night) wing. He was the heart of the marginalized people of Gothamsquashed before our eyes, hoping hell be the hope for their revenge too. Sabina Graves Claudia de Lioncourt (Interview With the Vampire) Delainey Hayles should be nominated for awards for her tour-de-force performance as Claudia de Lioncourt. The agency and tenacity with which she was written in Interview with the Vampires TV adaptation should be studied, because it gave the books doll-like child characters multitudes. Aging her up a bit gave us a girl trapped forever on the verge of womanhood. As a fan, I knew she was destined to die, but Hayles performance made me wish that if creative liberty was allowed, then maybe, just maybe, she wouldnt burn. My heart broke in the scene where Armand sold her out completely. She was the best of Louis and the worse of Lestat all rolled into one, but that combination gave her a power that that shone right until her very last moment. I want her to have haunted every face in that theater that let her die. Sabina GravesVarric Tethras(Dragon Age: The Veilguard) The Veilguardtakes Varric out of the action pretty early, but youre set up to spend most of the game with him recuperating in your home base as a trusted advisor for Rook to turn to whenever they falter in their belief theyre worthy of saving the world. That would be sad enough, that one of the franchises best characters is left to sit on the sidelines, butVeilguards final act twistthat Varric was actually dead, and what Rook was seeing for much of the game was a magical, manipulative deception by Solashits you like a ton of bricks, even if you started getting the feeling something was off earlier than that moment of revelation. RIP to Thedas finest storyteller-slash-crossbow- James Whitbrook Gambit (X-Men 97) There comes a time when every A-list X-Man has to take one for the team and die. For X-Men 97, that duty fell to ol Remy LeBeau, who proceeded to do the damn thing and take out the Master Mold that made an already crummy night even worse. He may be gone (for now), but that sacrifice is a reminder of how much of a hero Gambit is. Justin Carter Arthur Fleck (Joker: Folie Deux) Warner Bros Like most of us, I didnt love Joker 2. I didnt really even love Joker. But I did love the huge swing for the fences Joaquin Phoenix took with the DC character, earning him an Oscar the first time around. So to see the character kind of give up on his struggle, and then be killed, was really disappointing. You wanted more for this character. You wanted to see him really impact some change. Heck, maybe you even wanted to see him on screen with Batman. Alas, now none of that will happen. Germain Lussier Delia Deetz (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) One ofBeetlejuice Beetlejuices biggest strengths was the Deetz women being centered in the film. Catherine OHara, the woman she is, slipped so comfortably back into her eccentric vain kooky stepmother character without missing a beat. Barbara may have been more of a mother in the first film, but Delia became the best friend Lydia needed when Astrid became a rebellious teen. Delia and Astrids team up to call out the men in Lydias life and even sync up for a new poltergeist party song moment made me want more of them in future movies. Alas, dear Delia got got by some asps. In the Netherworld, she rejoins with her headless husband, but they dont board the soul train, so heres hoping if a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice gets greenlit, well see her running the place. Sabina Graves Kwon (Cobra Kai) One of the issues with recent seasons of Cobra Kai is there hasnt been a good young villain. That changed recently with Kwon, played by Brandon H. Lee. The evil Cobra Kai captain was not just incredibly intimidating, he looked incredibly cool doing it. The kind of bad guy you love to hate. You probably wouldve watched a whole Kwon showbut alas, because he was so beloved, the character had to die at the end of the second series of episodes. His death, while brutal and sad, really raised the stakes going into the final episodes. Germain LussierAgathas Coven (Agatha All Along) We kind of knew coming into Marvels witchy seasons that not all of Agathas ragtag new coven would make it down, down the Witches Road alive, but the show did such a good job of connecting us to these characters it still stung to lose them (yes, even Sharon Davis, dragged along for the ride). Both Alice and Lilias deaths were bittersweet for different reasonsAlices coming from an act of kindness and so soon after the emotional catharsis of her own standout episode of the season, and Lilias at the climax of what remains one of the best episodes of TV Marvels ever made. But all that goodness just made the knife twist a little deeper in our hearts. James Whitbrook Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Vention Office / Ivy StudioSave this picture! ALEX LESAGEOffices Interiors, DetailMontreal, CanadaArchitects: Ivy StudioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:14000 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2020 PhotographsPhotographs:ALEX LESAGEMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Vention is a Montreal based technology company that developed system of customized aluminium extrusions that simply industrial automatization for manufacturers. The company being in constant evolution, their need for bigger offices quickly emerged. It was last year that their team decided to transform their current 14 000 square foot Saint-Henri warehouses into work spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!From the start, the design intention was to create a simple environment that put forward the identity of the company and of their product. The esthetic of their pieces, their perforations and their signature "Vention blue" colour were determining factors in the conception of the space. The offices are separated into two distinct rooms in the same industrial building. All of the walls, ceilings, structural and mechanical systems were entirely painted white, and the existing concrete floor was covered with an epoxy coat of the same colour. The majority of the square footage consists of open space offices with all white furniture.Save this picture!Save this picture!At the center of this light neutral background can be found these blue monoliths covered in perforated metal sheets, mimicking large Vention machines placed in an assembly line. These objects consist of all of the closed collaborative spaces for the team, such as conference rooms, informal brainstorming rooms and call rooms. On the inside, the entire material palette brings back the "Vention blue", from the carpet to the painted walls. A series of glazed walls open up these isolated spaces, making them more comfortable for longer periods. Ceiling high blue sheer curtains can be closed for the times when more privacy is required.Save this picture!Save this picture!In several areas, neon lights are hidden behind the perforated steel sheets, creating unique visuals and putting a spotlight on some feature elements of the project. At the entrance, for example, they are displayed behind the central counter made of white extrusions manufactured specifically for the occasion. In the kitchen, a structure lit up from the inside hangs above the island and acts as a division between the functional and the gathering areas.Save this picture!Save this picture!All of the tables in the space were custom designed in collaboration with the Vention team with the use of their blue aluminum extrusions. The tops consist of navy blue smoked glass panels that showcase the unique structures that hold them. Vention's specific extrusion assembly techniques served to create furniture pieces that truly represent them. The project in its entirety was greatly inspired by the Vention's signature products and exceptional company culture.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Montreal, CanadaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeIvy StudioOfficePublished on December 24, 2024Cite: "Vention Office / Ivy Studio" 24 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023900/vention-office-ivy-studio&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

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In the third part of this step-by-step game modeling series I'll show you how to bake a normal map for the knife using Blender. Whether you want to use this knife inside Blender or export it for a game engine like Unity or Unreal, I'll show you how to make sure your model and its normal map look right in all other software.I'll also be showing you the steps for baking the normal map in 32-bit to avoid the color banding that the default 8-bit bakes produce. Then we'll save the normal map as a 16-bit png file. This avoids color banding and gives you high quality normal map files. These files can then be converted to 8-bit in software like photoshop and instead of color banding the final result will have dithering instead, which looks much nicer than the banding.Stay tuned for more parts in this game modeling series! Check out part 1 of the series on modeling here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcCXM5zCuc0 Check out part 2 on UV unwrapping here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJooKRnXiLk Download the final blend file here:https://www.cgmasters.com/tutorials/knife_asset_part_3_final.zip Check out the add-on TexTools here(not necessary for the tutorial, but cool stuff):http://renderhjs.net/textools/blender/ Check out HDRI Haven for high quality free HDR images:https://hdrihaven.com Check out https://cgmasters.com for more courses and tutorials.Like the tutorial and want to leave a tip?PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/cgmasterscom Bitcoin - bc1qh2cx8kz4wjj855cruk2sfwftl69vmmuau94w9vEthereum - 0xfb2D6886347434Eb2DACde22C6b96889dDAE6255XRP - r4A4bxQ5wK8R1rEhecgvTy1wSXoCfoE42bDogecoin - DLDZ8fngi4KJkNnHQafV4vxDwaPzZ7e92W

Horror movie sequel 28 Years Later had a $75 million production budget and filmed the entire movie on an iPhone 15 by an Oscar Winning cinematographer! Why did they do this... what were the reasons? Let's find out in this podcast.- CoPilot Co. is a global, tech-driven production studio that specializes in XR virtual production, film production, and AI tool development. We are committed to helping people realize their boldest ideas through sharing our expertise, consulting on virtual production studio builds, and creating AI tools for XR environment building. CONNECT: copilotco.iocollabs@copilotco.iohttps://www.instagram.com/copilotco/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/copilotxr/ https://www.tiktok.com/@copilotco

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt has earned its place in the list of most impressive and immersive fantasy RPGs. The Witcher 3's success was based not only on its characters' depth and stellar storytelling, but on the meticulous world building and reactivity that was crafted into it. CD Projekt Red's incredibly detailed and realized experience wowed gamers and critics in 2015, creating a precedent and standard that other games since have been held up to, while naturally setting high expectations for the upcoming fourth entry in the series.

Need For Speed has produced stand-out games for decades now. One aspect that many of them have in common is their vast open-worlds that players can explore. Today, we're taking a look at which of those games does the open-world setting the best.

The following contains major spoilers for BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, Episode 12, "friEND", available on Hulu and Disney+.