• WWW.CNET.COM
    Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Jan. 10
    Looking forthe most recentMini Crossword answer?Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.OK, I knew I was going to enjoy today's New York Times Mini Crossword when the very first clue made me laugh. I'll try not to give away the answer, but it's the funniest utensil that exists -- and darn handy, too. Need some help with today's Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini CrosswordLet's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Jan. 10, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini across clues and answers1A clue: Hybrid utensil popularized by Kentucky Fried Chicken in the 1970sAnswer: SPORK6A clue: Cassowary's clawAnswer: TALON7A clue: Genre with a "subs vs. dubs" debate (subtitles vs. dubbed dialogue)Answer: ANIME8A clue: OpponentAnswer: RIVAL9A clue: Feature of a scratch-and-sniff stickerAnswer: SCENTMini down clues and answers1D clue: There are seven in the Big DipperAnswer: STARS2D clue: Freak outAnswer: PANIC3D clue: Sliced, black pizza toppingAnswer: OLIVE4D clue: Times New ___ (typeface)Answer: ROMAN5D clue: Prepared to propose, perhapsAnswer: KNELTHow to play more Mini CrosswordsThe New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
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  • WWW.CNET.COM
    Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 10, #313
    Looking for the most recent Strands answer?Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.Today'sStrandspuzzle is fairly simple, because each of the answers is paired with another answer. So if you find one, think about what word it usually is associated with and you'll find another. Read on for hints and the answers.Also, I go into depth about therules for Strands in this story.If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more:NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So FarHint for today's Strands puzzleToday's Strands theme is:They're inseparableIf that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Match them upClue words to unlock in-game hintsYour goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:HARK, MARK, MART, STAR, TARTS, MARTS, SEAL, SEER, RULE, RULER, RULERS, BRAT, RATS, BLUE, CRAB, STEAL, STIM.Answers for today's Strands puzzleThese are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:ARTS, CRAFTS, MILK, CEREAL, RHYTHM, BLUES, SOAP, WATERToday's Strands spangramToday's Strands spangram isTOGETHER.To find it, start with the T that's five letters down on the far left, and wind across. The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Jan. 10, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNET
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  • WWW.CNET.COM
    Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Jan. 10, #109
    Looking for the most recentregular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.Connections: Sports Editionhas some very region-specific clues today. If you're not up on teams and athletes from those areas, this might be a tough one.Read on for hints and answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.For now, the game is in beta, which means the Times is testing it out to see if it's popular before adding it to the site's Games app. You can play it daily for now for free and then we'll have to see if it sticks around.Read more: NYT Has a Connections Game for Sports Fans. I Tried ItHints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: Direct.Green group hint: Lone Star State athletesBlue group hint: Buckeyes.Purple group hint:Like president George.Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsYellow group: LeadGreen group: Texas college teamsBlue group: Ohio State football alumniPurple group:Washington ____Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers? The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 10, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is lead. The four answers are captain, guide, helm and steer.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is Texas college teams. The four answers are Aggies, Horned Frogs, Longhorns and Owls.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is Ohio State football alumni. The four answers are Fields, Harrison, McLaurin and Stroud.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is Washington ____. The four answers are Capitals, Huskies, Mystics and Spirit.
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  • WWW.SCIENTIFICAMERICAN.COM
    2024 Is Officially the Hottest Year on Record
    January 9, 20253 min readEarth Surpasses 1.5 Degrees C in Hottest Year on Record2024 was the hottest year on record and the first to top 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. All 10 of the hottest years have been in the last decadeBy Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Amanda Montaez; Source: Copernicus Climate Change Service (data)Its official: 2024 is the hottest year on recordand the first to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial temperatures. Its another milestone that underscores how far the present climate has shifted from that of the past because of the continued burning of fossil fuels."All of the internationally produced global temperature datasets show that 2024 was the hottest year since records began in 1850, said Carlo Buontempo, director of the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), in a news release.Last year, which C3S measured at 1.6 degrees C (2.9 degrees F) above preindustrial temperatures, surpassed the record that was just set in 2023. That year had set the record by a wide margin in global temperature terms, registering 0.17 degree C (0.31 degree F) above the previous record holder, 2016, according to C3S. All of the 10 hottest years on record occurred in the past decade, according to C3S data.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Under the Paris climate accord, countries agreed to try to limit warming to under 1.5 degrees C and well under two degrees C (3.6 degrees F). That threshold hasnt yet been breached; the accord considers the average over many years. But we are now teetering on the edge of passing the 1.5C level defined in the Paris Agreement and the average of the last two years is already above this level, said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, C3Ss parent organization, in the recent news release.Amanda Montaez; Source: Copernicus Climate Change Service (data)Some of the superlative heat levels of the last two years were linked to the emergence of an El Niopart of a natural climate phenomenon that features warmer than normal waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean. That warm water releases heat into the atmosphere, slightly raising global temperatures compared with a normal year and creating a cascade of effects on the worlds weather.But the overwhelming majority of the current temperature rise from preindustrial times has been caused by the excess heat trapped by ever rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Last October the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that globally averaged levels of carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) had reached a record high of 420 parts per million (ppm) in 2023. CO2 levels in the preindustrial period were around 280 ppm.Reining in temperature riseand mitigating climate-change-fueled disasters such as the recent fires in the Los Angeles areawill require substantial and rapid reduction of emissions around the entire planet. The future is in our hands, Buontempo said in the news release. Swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate.Renewable energy use has grown quickly in recent years, but rising power demand has blunted efforts to reduce emissions. And political winds in the U.S. are not favorable for continuing the progress made under the Biden-Harris administration: President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to increase U.S. fossil-fuel production and to weaken federal rules that limit the emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases.Experts dont expect 2025 to top last years record, in part because El Nios flip side, La Nia, has begun. La Nia features cooler than normal Pacific Ocean waters and tends to slightly cool global temperatures. But that cooling effect is relative, and this La Nia is expected to be a weak one. The U.K.s Met Office predicts that 2025 will be among the three hottest years on record, just behind 2024 and 2023.The year 2016 was an El Nio year and at the time it was the warmest year on record for global temperature, said Adam Scaife of the Met Office in a news release issued by the agency last December. In comparison to our forecast for 2025 though, 2016 is now looking decidedly cool.
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  • WWW.NINTENDOLIFE.COM
    So, Have You Pre-Ordered Donkey Kong Country Returns HD For Switch?
    DK and Diddy are back next week.Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are back next week in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch.All this time after the 2010 Wii release, we're now getting the 'HD' version - which also includes the bonus levels from the 2013 3DS version. Along with this, everything you know and love about the Retro Studios' platfomer is returning including the local co-op.Read the full article on nintendolife.com
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  • WWW.NINTENDOLIFE.COM
    Nintendo Breaks Silence On 'Switch 2' Image And Video Leaks
    The "official" announcement will take place this fiscal year.Nintendo has responded to a question about the 'Switch 2' leaks popping up at CES 2025 this week.Speaking to Japanese outlet Sankei, a company representative mentioned how the spread of images and videos at the US consumer electronics trade fair was "not official" - here's the machine translation, which is open to interpretation:Read the full article on nintendolife.com
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  • TECHCRUNCH.COM
    Indias payment push is cutting out Visa and Mastercard
    As global regulators increase their scrutiny on Visa and Mastercard over merchant fees, India has chosen a different path: creating rival payment networks that are increasingly sidelining international card networks.The strategy builds on Indias Unified Payments Interface, known as UPI, a nine-year-old system that now processes more than 13 billion real-time transactions monthly, or about 71% of all transactions in the worlds most populous nation.This payment system, which lets consumers and merchants bypass traditional card networks by connecting bank accounts directly through QR codes and mobile phones, now represents 36% of consumer spending in India, up from negligible levels five years ago, according to an analysis by Bernstein.India is now leveraging UPIs success to reshape its credit card market through RuPay, its homegrown card network. RuPay enjoys a crucial advantage: its the only payment system allowed to process credit card transactions through UPI. This exclusivity, granted only in 2022, is proving transformative.In the first seven months of fiscal year 2025, RuPay processed 638 billion rupees ($7.43 billion) in UPI credit card transactions, nearly double the previous fiscal years total. These transactions now represent 28% of all credit card volume in India, up from 10% last year, according to Bernstein.Indian authorities are aggressively putting pieces together to further popularize the adoption of RuPay credit cards something that many banks initially resisted as they expressed concerns about losing interconnect charges.The strategy involves careful calibration of fees. RuPay credit cards on UPI only charge merchant fees on transactions above 2,000 rupees ($23.3). This structure has particular appeal for small businesses that have historically resisted accepting credit cards due to fees. The average UPI credit transaction currently runs below 1,000 rupees.Furthermore, Indias central bank last year ordered lenders to let consumers choose their card network when taking or renewing credit cards, prohibiting exclusive agreements with global networks. In August, the National Payments Corporation of India, which oversees both UPI and RuPay, directed banks to ensure RuPay cardholders receive the same rewards as other networks.The push is working: RuPay accounted for half of all new credit cards issued in India in the month of June 2024, according to a recent disclosure by a lawmaker in the parliament.Assuming UPI linkage remains exclusive for RuPay cards, RuPay is likely to emerge as the dominant network for credit cards, a Bernstein report led by Pranav Gundlapalle wrote Friday.Once the QR code based payments become dominant for credit based payments too, credit accounts of banks could be directly linked to the UPI network bypassing the cards, the firm wrote.As digital payments increasingly become strategic assets, Indias step is offering a template for other nations seeking to reduce dependence on Western payment networks.
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  • TECHCRUNCH.COM
    X says it is rolling out labels for parody accounts
    Elon Musk-owned social network X said today that it is rolling out labels for parody or satire accounts to differentiate them from other accounts. In the past, users, including news presenters, have mistaken posts from parody accounts as authentic statements made by real people or entities.The companys safety account on the platform said that the label would be visible on both accounts and posts.Were rolling out profile labels for parody accounts to clearly distinguish these types of accounts and their content on our platform. We designed these labels to increase transparency and to ensure that users are not deceived into thinking such accounts belong to the entity being parodied, it said in a post.What Parody Label Looks like On X Image Credits: Screenshot by TechCrunchIn November, a couple of app reverse engineers pointed out that X was working on introducing such labels.Right now, accounts have to apply the label themselves. They can do that by going to Settings and Privacy > Your account > Account information and selecting the Parody, commentary and fan account option.Parody, Fan, and Commentary (PCF) labels are selected by people on X to indicate that the account depicts another person, group, or organization in their profile to discuss, satirize, or share information about that entity. This label distinguishes these accounts to ensure they do not cause confusion for others or incorrectly imply any affiliation, the description of the parody label reads. The social network added that it would soon share details for when these labels become mandatory for parody accounts to include. This would be a key detail because if parody accounts dont comply with these new rules and apply labels, the confusion amongst users to identify the autnethic source of information will still exist.The companys authenticity policy notes that impersonation of accounts is not allowed, but the platform allows parody, commentary, and fan accounts if they are compliant with the platforms rules.
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  • WWW.FXGUIDE.COM
    The VFX of Alex Garlands Civil War
    Civil War takes audiences into a fractured America, exploring themes of division and unity against a reimagined Washington, D.C. The VFX approach focused on photorealism and narrative integration. Framestores David Simpson, as Production VFX Supervisor, collaborated closely with director Alex Garland, DOP Rob Hardy, and Production Designer Caty Maxey to achieve the films gritty, documentary-style aesthetic. The challenge went beyond the scale of the VFXit was about crafting a city that felt alive and in conflict. Framestores ability to push technical boundaries while preserving emotional depth makes Civil War a standout in this years VFX-driven films.Everything had to feel grounded and lived in, says Simpson. Anything remotely Hollywood was immediately kicked into touch, and we focused instead on news and documentary footage. It made the research and reference-gathering stage pretty heavy going at times, but the aim was to create a realistic and utterly unsanitized view of war unfolding. Framestores key aim was to augment and extend the real-life action while enhancing those aspects that would not be safe or practical to accomplish on set or out on location. The first rule was that, wherever possible, everything should be captured in camera, says Simpson.Framestore digitally build Washington DCThe visual effects for Civil War were a monumental achievement, delivered by a dedicated team of 175 artists at Framestore over the course of 406 days. The scope of their work was staggering, involving the meticulous digital recreation of Washington, D.C., for the films intricate and immersive storytelling.Washington DC: Street by streetGarland, Simpson and Hardy conducted recces of Washington DC to gauge the city and inform plans to find locations in Atlanta that might double for the US capital. With no suitable stand-ins found, partial sets were constructed and the VFX team were charged with building out the environments. In those scenes involving close-quarters clashes, youre seeing a blend of CG and practical sets, says Simpson. Everything above the ground floor of those buildings has been built in CG.The team brought to life 13 miles of the city, complete with 75 iconic landmarks, such as the Capitol and Washington Monument, to provide an authentic and recognizable backdrop. This ambitious endeavor required not only a deep understanding of the citys geography but also an exceptional level of detail to ensure the audience felt fully immersed in the environment. In addition to its landmarks, the digital cityscape included 887 miles of road, 3,736 buildings, and a host of smaller yet essential details. The artists modelled 64,191 street lamps, 1,160 traffic lights, and 17,851 trees to populate the urban environment, making it vibrant and believable. The interiors were just as meticulously crafted, with over half a million pieces of office furniture (519,066 to be precise) designed to add depth to the films narrative settings. This level of detail exemplifies Framestores commitment to crafting visual effects that serve the story while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in digital artistry. The sheer scale and precision of their work set a new benchmark in VFX, showcasing the power of technology and creativity to transport audiences into a meticulously crafted world. In keeping with the brief to create a living, breathing, immersive world for Civil Wars action, the Framestore team went into incredible detail for these environment builds. I was walking home through London one evening, and the citys sheer lack of uniformity struck me, says Simpson. You notice how the offices are lit differently, the fractional changes in design from road to road and individual architectural quirks that break up any given street scene. This is what we sought to tap into: the fractional changes in lighting, building out the interiors of the offices so they werent just hollow CG shells but dotted with desk clutter, pot plants and air conditioning units. Your eye doesnt necessarily register all this detail, but your mind does, and it heightens both the believability of the VFX work and the storytelling itself since you get a sense of the citys sudden, Mary Celeste-esque abandonment. War on the streetsThe success of these showcase moments was such that the VFX work expanded ambitiously outwards to the point where Framestore had effectively built a fully CG Washington DC. The city was then dotted with gunfire, digital crowds, flames and columns of smoke to highlight the skirmishes and clashes happening at points around the city. This work helped give a sense of scope and expanse, amplifying the story by highlighting how the drama extended far beyond what was happening to the films main cast. Rendering the whole city in CG also had some more practical creative benefits, as Simpson explains: building Washington ourselves meant we could achieve shots that simply wouldnt be possible or practical in real life, he says. The US Secret Service are obviously somewhat cagey about people flying helicopters close to the White House, for example if we wanted to do that, wed need an armed agent onboard, and theres no way we could have gotten as close as we did. Theres also the issue of the Lincoln Memorial, which, for practical and ethical reasons, we couldnt blow up!If the photoreal cityscapes and internal design of office blocks added to the worldbuilding, so, too, did the finer details. Everything was based on real-life footage, explains Simpson. We had de facto casting sessions for our explosions, using newsreels, citizen journalism and footage from weapons tests. We also needed to know what kind of damage these explosions would do, to streets, to buildings and, most harrowingly, to people. The aim was to strip away any sense of showiness, rendering the reality of war in all its stark, horrifying detail. Debuting at SXSW, Civil War was hailed as one of the years most startling and visceral films. Framestore was an early collaborator, identifying and deploying the best techniques, technologies and methodologies to achieve Director Alex Garlands distinctive and uncompromising vision and delivering some 1,000 VFX shots via its studios in London and Mumbai.
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  • WWW.ARCHITECTURAL-REVIEW.COM
    Cartoon: Well-appointed rooms
    The Architectural ReviewCartoon: Well-appointed roomsZosia DzierawskaThe post Cartoon: Well-appointed rooms appeared first on The Architectural Review.Reuben J Brown
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