Many of us have a game franchise that, despite liking everything we hear about it, we have never actually played any of the games. I have a few, but one notable blind spot in my gaming resume was Yakuza, or as it's called now, Like A Dragon.I'd been told by many friends that the series has something for everyone, from heavy action scenes to lighthearted goofiness, all with real emotion at the center and yet I still never found the time. This year saw the release of Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and for a while I thought it would be just another game to add to my backlog. However, thanks to a freelance opportunity, I finally found my excuse to play a Like A Dragon game for the first time.Listening to Orlando's story.Through the first few chapters, I was enjoying myself, but I wasn't yet seeing what others had told me about the series all these years. That changed in Chapter 4, when I approached a shaved-ice shop on the streets of Hawaii, and Substory 24: Let It Snow began.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The superhero genre has long been a dominant force in Hollywood, delivering massive box office numbers and capturing the imaginations of audiences worldwide. However, 2024 marked a year of reckoning for Marvel, DC and comic book movies in general. As the once-reliable formula for success began to show significant cracks. With only one film, MarvelsDeadpool and Wolverineachieving a Rotten Tomatoes score above 50%, the genre finds itself at a critical juncture. The tepid reception of this year's offerings has sparked conversations among fans, critics, and industry insiders alike about the future of superhero cinema.

Helldivers 2 has entered a big period of change, and it's paying off in some big ways. The Illuminate faction, long teased by leakers, has finally arrived to threaten Super Earth, and it comes with a new urban terrain type for players to navigate. Perhaps most exciting is the new tool players can use to explore that terrain: the Fast Recon Vehicle, or FRV. A car has been at the top of player wish lists for months, so it's a relief to finally get a proper mode of transportation. It might get reckless Helldivers killed once in a while, but it's well worth it in the name of managed democracy.

One Pokemon fan has decorated their Christmas tree with ornaments based on the pocket monsters from the popular franchise. Gamers show off their love for the holiday season in various ways, and these Christmas decorations reveal the immense amount of Pokemon merchandise this dedicated fan has collected.

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.

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

I dislike leaving the house with wet, drippy hair, especially in winter because I catch a cold as easily as a toddler. Hair dryers are a great invention to prevent such things but with time being the most valuable resource today, do I really want to spend 10-20 minutes drying my thick mane? I think not. Most men and women would agree with me but what else can you do? Fortunately, a visionary thought of modern hair dryers being inefficient in the same manner and designed a concept for a hands-free model that doubles as a lamp too.Korean industrial designer ByeongKyu Park has conceptualized Pillar hands-free hair dryer that lets the user make most of the precious time. Now this is an invention I could get behind. Pillar not only saves you time but space as well, which is a luxury in modern households. The column-like design keeps your precious drawer and vanity space clutter-free to place other essentials. It sits in a corner of the room until the need arises or can be used as a floor lamp.Designer: ByeongKyu ParkYou get a laid-back start to your day with this hair dryer that frees up your hands to do a handful of morning chores. It comes with a steel frame where you can magnetically attach the appliance at a desired angle to better facilitate multitasking or leisure. There are two cuboid contraptions: One is the hair dryer and the other is a lamp.Pillar hair dryer has an adjustable knob to regulate the airflow direction to carry out the same functionality as manual hair drying. You can also choose between three airflow settings: strong wind, light warm wind and strong warm wind. Simply plug in the device and go about your tasks whether reading a book or in my case, enjoying my favorite game. Fifa, anyone?Dont think me lethargic for vouching such a device. Pillar will save me time and let me work on other things, especially in the morning. But it will also help the elderly or people with limited mobility or disabilities who cannot manually dry their hair with a traditional hair dryer.The appliance can be adjusted to align with the body shape of the column-like frame after use for sleeker appurtenance. When not in use, you can turn on the lamp and illuminate the space in style.The post Floor-Standing Hairdryer Gives You Hands-Free Usage While Doubling As A Floor Lamp first appeared on Yanko Design.

Amphipoea oculea, the ear moth, is a moth in the family Noctuidae, with a wingspan of 29 to 34 millimetres (1.1 to 1.3 inches). Its range includes southern England, where it is widespread and common, as well as Ireland and continental Europe, with the exception of Albania, Greece and Turkey. Adults are found from June to September depending on the location, with one generation occurring per year. At night the moths come to light and flowers, seeking honeydew and sugar. During the day they feed at the flowers of thistles and ragwort. This female A.oculea moth was photographed feeding on field scabious in Keila, Estonia. The photograph was focus-stacked from 22 separate images.Photograph credit: Ivar LeidusRecently featured: Kefermarkt altarpiece20,000 Leagues Under the SeaGeorge N. BarnardArchiveMore featured pictures

December 26: Saint Stephen's Day (Western Christianity); Boxing Day in the Commonwealth; Wren Day in Ireland and the Isle of Man; Kwanzaa begins (African diaspora in the Americas)Flannan Isles Lighthouse1862 American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou began with Confederate defenders engaging Union forces who were attempting to capture the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.1871 Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London.1900 A relief crew arrived at the Flannan Isles Lighthouse (pictured) in Scotland and discovered that the previous crew had disappeared.1943 Second World War: The German battleship Scharnhorst was sunk at the Battle of the North Cape during an attempt to attack Arctic convoys.2004 A major earthquake and tsunami devastated communities around the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.Willy Corsari (b.1897)Elizabeth David (b.1913)Milagros Benet de Mewton (d.1948)Stanisaw Kot (d.1975)More anniversaries: December 25December 26December 27ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout