A top analyst said Ukraine's decision to create new brigades instead of bolstering existing ones isn't working.Many of the new units are now being divided up and sent to existing brigades that need replenishment.It's turning out to be "one of the more puzzling force management choices" Kyiv has made, the analyst said.Ukraine's 2024 strategy for solving a shortage of soldiers its biggest challenge thus far by forming new brigades instead of reinforcing old ones is performing poorly, said a top analyst on the war.Michael Kofman, a senior fellow for the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote in a social media thread on Saturday that Kyiv's decision was "one of the more puzzling force management choices" it has made."Expanding the force with new brigades, when men are desperately needed to replace losses among experienced formations deployed on the front lines, had visible tradeoffs," Kofman wrote.With little experience, the new units have been "generally combat ineffective," he added.'"As was seen in 2023, new formations perform poorly in offensive and defensive roles. Requiring considerable time to gain experience, cohesion, confidence, etc.," Kofman wrote.The result is that the strategy has at least partially disintegrated, with battalions from the new brigades eventually sent to shore up losses in units that were already fighting, Kofman wrote.Ukrainian leadership said in May that it aimed to create 10 new brigades, each of which typically consists of several thousand men. In doing so, its leaders hoped to provide fresh units that could rotate into combat or fill gaps on the front line."There is simply no other effective way to counteract the overwhelming enemy," a spokesperson for Ukraine's armed forces said in November. "After all, today we have a 1,300 km-long front with active combat clashes."Some elements of these brigades were aided by training from Western forces, such as the 155th Mechanized Brigade. About half of its recruits drilled in France.But the 155th's debut late last year created a crisis for Ukraine as reports emerged that it suffered from high rates of desertion and was being picked apart to siphon resources to other brigades.Local journalist Yuriy Butusov reported just before the New Year that the new brigade, often finding itself whittled down, had to juggle specialists such as drone jamming operators into infantry roles. The backlash to the news was severe, with Ukrainian figures voicing questions about the new strategy as a whole."Perhaps it's sheer idiocy to create new brigades and equip them with new technology while existing ones are undermanned," wrote Lt. Col. Bohdan Krotevych, who serves as chief of staff in the Azov Brigade. The 155th is supplied with dozens of French-made armored vehicles, howitzers, and personnel carriers.Kofman wrote that the 155th's scandal was "just the most egregious case" of Ukraine's force management problems.Divvying up new units has led to a "steady fragmentation of the defensive effort and loss of cohesion," he said."This patchwork groupings of forces must hold the front," he added.Ukraine has, over the last year, faced a slow but persistent Russian assault in the eastern regions of the Donbas, where Moscow has been throwing a steady supply of men and equipment at Kyiv's outnumbered and exhausted defensive lines. Russia's gains have been incremental and its reported losses are staggering, but it is advancing nonetheless.Another pain point has been a lack of Western military aid to go around. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in September that Kyiv had sought to arm 14 of its brigades with Western weapons, but that arms packages in 2024 couldn't even supply four of them.It's turned to domestic production to fill some of its needs, and Zelenskyy said on New Year's Eve that 30% of the weapons Ukraine used in 2024 were created locally.Amid the manpower and equipment shortages, Ukrainian units have also been developing new drones at breakneck speed, often cobbled together from commercial parts.Kofman said these drones have proven to be "force multipliers," letting troops lay mines safely and harassing Russian units before they can reach the front."However, tech innovation, tactical adaptation, and better integration are insufficient to compensate for failure to address the fundamentals," Kofman added. "Russian gains may appear unimpressive, but UA needs to address manpower, training, and force management issues to sustain this fight."Kofman and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.The last year has increasingly turned the war into a conflict of attrition, not just in manpower but also in resources. Russia is now entering a third year of sustaining its economy in the face of the West's sweeping sanctions, relying heavily on defense manufacturing and offering large bonuses to new recruits.Some in Ukraine hope that if it can solve its manpower issues and maintain its defensive lines, it will eventually exhaust Russia's ability to funnel money and men into the war.

It always seems like everyone wins and no one really loses at the Golden Globes. The event has historically been known as more of a boozy party than a serious awards show, a casual hangout with Hollywoods most charming celebrities rather than a cutthroat winner-takes-all situation even if its had its fair share of controversy. There were no bad Barbie jokes this year, nor were there any corruption scandals. Celebrities drank a little, ate a little, and politely laughed a little at the very few innocuous barbs that host Nikki Glaser threw their way. For those counting, films Emilia Prez and The Brutalist took home the most major award wins. And prestige TV darling Shgun and comedic category favorite Hacks won big too. Here are the three biggest takeaways from Hollywoods biggest shindig: Nikki Glaser was a great host, especially compared to last yearAt the 2024 Golden Globes, comedian Jo Koy bombed in a mystifying way: he made boob jokes about Barbie, launched quips about how many cameras were on Taylor Swift, and got booed during his monologue. Koy severely miscalculated the tone of the night, leaving viewers and celebrities in the audience miffed to the point where Koy publicly blamed his writers. Yikes! For 2025 host Nikki Glaser, there was nowhere to go but up. She could have said virtually anything and it still would be seen as an upgrade from Koys performance, but the comedian did more than that, expertly ribbing the celebrities at the Beverly Hilton while keeping things light. She teased about the appearance of Timothee Chalamets facial hair and Adrien Brodys penchant for starring in acclaimed Holocaust movies, and told the stars of Wicked that she didnt know anything about the musical because she had friends in high school. Glaser understood the assignment of being a self-deprecating clown while, at the same time, tastefully punching up. She told Variety as much earlier this week, explaining that to prepare for hosting this year she more or less had to learn why Koy bombed so hard. It taught me the importance of contextualizing yourself to the room as a comedian, Glaser told the trade publication. Comedians, we would love to be thought of in the same light as these A-listers, but we just arent Im going the other way and not assuming anyone knows who I am, and making sure theyre introduced to me before I start making jokes about them.The studying paid off and Glasers strategy worked. Netflix won bigThe wall between TV and movies has virtually dissolved as award-winning actors star in more and more shows its now commonplace to see big stars like Eddie Redmayne and Nicole Kidman on the small screen and more and more streaming services produce feature-length films, including with theatrical releases. It makes sense then that the largest streamer of them all, Netflix, would be primed to have a big night at the one awards show that celebrates both mediums. On Sunday night, Netflix took home several major awards. Emilia Prez won for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Best Motion Picture Non-English Language, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Zoe Saldana), and Best Original Song (El Mal). Despite its regressive premise and concerns from LGBTQ critics, the film is poised to continue its winning streak at the Oscars, where Netflix has yet to take home a Best Picture award. Emilia Prez could be its hottest contender yet.On the TV front, Baby Reindeer won Best Television Limited Series, while actress Jessica Gunning snagged the win for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series for the same show.The Globes have become a very pleasant, maybe forgettable show (this is a compliment!) It wasnt that long ago that the Golden Globes were taken off the air. In 2021, a blockbuster Los Angeles Times investigation found rampant corruption and ethical lapses within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association which ultimately led to NBC dropping the Globes in 2022.That created an existential crisis for the show, mainly because the Globes exist to be fun, and major scandal and controversy are the absolute opposite of that. Since the show returned in 2023, the question of whether or not the Globes matter at all has hung in the air. This year, it seems like the answer to why the Globes exist is clearer than ever: to be an entertaining, unserious party where everyone wants to have a good time. Zendaya looked fantastic and sparked engagement rumors with a curious ring! (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)The speeches were funny enough, heartwarming at times, and mostly apolitical; the actors and actresses were charming and mostly well-behaved (there was minimal censoring of an occasional F-bomb); and the whole event only ran 15 or so minutes late. Zendaya looked fantastic and sparked engagement rumors, Timothe Chalamet was in attendance with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner.CBS even employed a graphic overlay to show viewers where the nominees were sitting and how close to each other they all were. Its all designed to make you feel like being in the Beverly Hilton on Golden Globes night would be as fun as it looks on TV. The fact that the 2025 installment was slightly unremarkable though still fairly entertaining should be considered a significant win, because at the end of the day, having a boring awards show is better than having no show at all! Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: Culture

via1719 Wu Liangcai New Vision Field / Dayuan DesignSave this picture! YUUUUNSTUDIORetail InteriorsShanghai, ChinaArchitects: Dayuan DesignAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:800 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:YUUUUNSTUDIO Lead Architects: She Wanting More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. When a building becomes a collective memory of a city, the meaning it carries is unique. Whenever people mention it, they always share stories of their interactions with the building, recalling its most striking transformations from that era. The Qichongtian Building on Nanjing Road is such a building, rich in emotion and history. Today, Dayuan has partnered with Liangcai Wu, a time-honored brand with over 300 years of craftsmanship and tradition, to create a new collective memory for the 2024 generationone that belongs to Nanjing Road.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The Revival of Historic Architecture - The Qichongtian Building, built in 1922, is a historic structure that blends modernist and Art Deco styles. Once a social hub for the elite, it has transformed into a symbol of Shanghai's culture, exuding a distinct charm. Drawing inspiration from the mechanical eyeglasses with a traditional Chinese flair, Dayuan has infused this venerable "elder" with a touch of modernity, allowing it to joyfully gaze upon the busy street corner like a playful child. This not only marks a brilliant debut for Liangcai Wu's new retail space but also represents a bold attempt to merge trendy culture with historic architecture. In this building steeped in history, Liangcai Wu has shed its traditional image and reshaped itself as a vibrant "Liangcai Factory." This tangible scene of new productive power merges seamlessly with the brand's deep-rooted Chinese aesthetic, showcasing a vitality that's uniquely its own. This curatorial retail space has brought new opportunities and energy to Liangcai Wu. Along with a rich array of eyewear-related art installations, the space also incorporates flexible display cabinets and furniture, breaking through spatial constraints and opening up possibilities for future diverse transformations.Save this picture!Save this picture!The Brand Story - Upon entering the building, the air shower art installation at the entrance activates, gently blowing away any dust and creating the feeling of stepping into a sterile factory environment. To the right, the 'Thousand Mirrors' installation, made from optical lenses, uses dynamic light and shadow refraction to craft a captivating, flowing visual experience, subtly guiding visitors toward the beginning of their 'Factory Journey.' In the atrium area, Dayuan uses a slowly moving conveyor belt to weave together the brand story of LiangcaiWuwith history. Walking clockwise along the conveyor belt, visitors encounter the brand's innovative products and pop-up events, symbolizing technological progress and innovation. Walking counterclockwise, they are taken on a journey through ancient grinding tools and antique eyewear displays, tracing a rich history and showcasing the craftsmanship and traditional wisdom of the past.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Curated Exhibition Display - The "Factory Journey" begins with a specially designed "Grinding Tool" installation, inspired by the jade workshops of the Yangshao culture, dating back over 5,000 years. This is not only a recreation of ancient craftsmanship but also a tribute to the founder of the brand, Mr. Wu Liangcai, and his dedication to the art of craftsmanshipfrom carving jade to crafting fine eyewear, a 300-year legacy continues here. The exhibition design combines Chinese aesthetics with modern factory elements, using a variety of materials such as fabric, wood, perforated metal, and scaffolding to create a layered, adjustable space that offers greater flexibility for the display.Save this picture!Save this picture!Modularity and Multi-functionality - The layout of the multifunctional area is also highly flexible. Whether for daily tea breaks, brand pop-up events, or lecture salons, the space can be quickly adjusted to accommodate diverse needs. The art installation 'Project 1719' in the multifunctional area is inspired by the blurred vision experienced by those with myopia. A fog-like film is applied to the surface of the glass to simulate the visual effects of nearsightedness. The internal design features movable components, with programming controlling the fogged glass to gradually become clear, allowing viewers to experience the transformation from blur to clarity.Save this picture!Save this picture!Industrial-Style Window Display - In this project, the street-facing window displays and the entrance design are also highlights. To complement the building's overall style and its industrial interior aesthetic, Dayuan uses industrial pipes as light fixtures, with light flowing through the pipes to convey a dynamic sense of factory production. The lights, like electric currents, flow from outside into the entrance, drawing attention. At night, six uniquely styled window displays, combined with music and lighting, present a dazzling light show every hour, captivating pedestrians along Nanjing Road. Through the planning and design of this curated retail space, Dayuan aims to break the boundaries of traditional retail "via1719 Wuliangcai New Vision," transforming customers from passive observers into active participants. The open and interactive concept guides consumers to deeply explore the brand story through multi-dimensional experiences. Liangcai Wu is not just a symbol of products but also carries the power of history, craftsmanship, and innovation, reminding people to cherish and pass on profound cultural heritage while continuously seeking a balance between tradition and the future in modern life.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Shanghai, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeDayuan DesignOfficeMaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on January 06, 2025Cite: "via1719 Wu Liangcai New Vision Field / Dayuan Design" 06 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025211/via-star-1719-wu-liangcai-new-vision-field-dayuan-design&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save?via1719 / 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

Another update for Random Flow GE. Finally an add-on!Get these tools here:https://gumroad.com/blenderguppy https://blendermarket.com/creators/blenderguppy Become my Patron:https://patreon.com/blenderguppy Follow me:https://facebook.com/blenderguppy https://instagram.com/blenderguppy https://twitter.com/blenderguppy #b3d #3d #3dmodeling #3dtexturing #blendermarket #conceptart #spaceship

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New Lego Sets Over 100 new Lego sets released on January 1 Check them out at Amazon Five new Lego Minecraft sets are available for purchase at Amazon, the Lego Store, and other major retailers. The fresh additions to the large Minecraft Lego series are smaller-scale playsets ranging from the $10 Nether Lava Battle to the $50 Mooshroom House.New Lego Minecraft SetsLego Minecraft - The Mooshroom House (500 pieces) -- $50Lego Minecraft - The Baby Pig House (238 pieces) -- $20Lego Minecraft - The Armadillo Mine Expedition (247 pieces) -- $30Lego Minecraft - The Illager Desert Patrol (105 pieces) -- $15Lego Minecraft - The Nether Lava Battle (99 pieces) -- $10 Shop Lego Minecraft at Amazon Older Minecraft fans looking for a more complex building set should check out Lego's Crafting Table display model. Released last August to celebrate Minecraft's 15th anniversary, the 1,195-piece Crafting Table was the first and only Minecraft Lego set designed specifically with adults in mind. Lego Minecraft - The Crafting Table (1,195 Pieces) $90 See at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Lego Store All five Minecraft sets launched on January 1 alongside over 100 other Lego building sets themed around a wide assortment of gaming and entertainment franchises, including Mario Kart, Sonic the Hedgehog, Animal Crossing, Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Harry Potter, and more. In addition to the brand-new sets, a bunch of products that initially launched as Lego Store exclusives are now up for grabs at major retailers, including The Legend of Zelda: Great Deku Tree display model and all four Fortnite Lego sets.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Some upgrade materials in NieR: Automata are much more difficult to find than others. While many of them are dropped from defeated enemies, some are only found through drops that naturally appear in the overworld. These naturally spawning items won't always be the same thing, so there is always an element of RNG when farming these items.

The hit strategy remake Age Of Mythology Retold has brought players back who loved the original Age Of Empires spin-off game. However, players who are new to this world of mythical creatures and different Gods to worship, or players returning after a long time away, will need to get to grips with the many different unit choices available to them.

Peg-Es Sticker Drop went live yesterday in Monopoly GO and, surprisingly, the top prize is a Wild Sticker. Since were nearing the end of the Jingle Joy album, this Wild Sticker is a neat way to get those rare Gold stickers and complete sets. Its also the start of a new week, which means the Quick Wins bar has reset, and if you actively play, you can grab another Holiday Chest this week. To help you out, this guide covers Monopoly GO's schedule for January 06, 2025, and the best strategy to progress through the Sticker Drop today.

It's been ten years since LG introduced its Gram line of ultra thin and light laptops, and despite my early skepticism about its longevity and build quality, the company continues to make new models regularly. It's expanded the portfolio to offer pro variants, clamshells and 2-in-1s, and in keeping with every laptop maker in recent years, LG is now infusing the Gram Pros with more of its own... you guessed it... AI.We already learned about this year's LG Gram Pro lineup when they company unveiled the details last week. From the announcement, we found out that four new models are available. Here at CES 2025, I was able to check out the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 in person to see what I was able to learn beyond the press release. The short answer is: not much.In the six days or so since LG shared the 2025 Gram lineup with the world, the company has yet to disclose pricing and availability. That's pretty common for many CES launches, so I wouldn't chalk that up as a warning sign.Besides the fact that it has new Intel Arrow Lake processors and displays with variable refresh rates that go up to 144Hz, though that's reserved for the LCD panel option. For models with OLED, you can only go up to 120Hz. There's also improved treatment to deal with glare, which was surprisingly effective at mitigating the overhead fluorescent lights on the show floor. I could still see the floating glowing orbs reflected on the display, but for the most part I was able to view the YouTube video playing on the demo unit just fine.As is becoming tradition for me at CES by now, I tried to bicep curl the Gram Pro 2-in-1 and frankly, the laptop remains unsatisfying for serious gym rats looking for heavy weights. Those wanting a truly portable system that fits into the thinnest of pockets without dragging on your shoulders will appreciate the Gram Pro. But, its 16-inch screen means it's fairly hefty and won't fit into many purses.I also appreciate the sturdy hinges LG has used in the Gram lineup. The Gram Pro 2-in-1's case hasn't been tweaked since last year's model, and I was mildly concerned when the lid started to flex a bit when a rep at the LG booth was flipping it over. But the device remained intact, and frankly all Gram laptops have always exhibited some level of flex because of how thin they are.The other main update to the Gram Pro 2-in-1 is the addition of LG's Gram AI suite of services. These include "Gram chat," which is available in on-device and cloud-based versions. The former uses LG's own EXAONE large language model, while the latter taps OpenAI's GPT-4o. Gram Chat Cloud can also integrate with your calendar and inboxes to help manage your schedules and "send and receive emails more efficiently," according to LG.There are also features like Time Travel, which is LG's take on Microsoft's Recall, helping users find what they're looking for by feeding parameters like date viewed or inline text to the AI system. When I asked an LG rep how the service would avoid the security concerns that Microsoft's Recall was criticized over, they said that people would have to grant permission before continuing to use their laptops.Like I mentioned, LG has yet to share details on price or when these Grams will be available, but with last year's Gram Pro 2-in-1 going for about $1,300 on Amazon right now, I'd imagine this year's models won't be too far off.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lg-gram-pro-2-in-1-2025-hands-on-of-course-a-thin-and-light-laptop-gets-ai-at-ces-2025-023252332.html?src=rss