The Lotus gives you Jedi powers, sort of.

All change for GmailNurPhoto via Getty ImagesRepublished on January 9 with a new report into the rapidly expanding threat landscape for email users. You are not ready for the threat landscape in 2025. None of us are. This new world is one in which attackers can scrape social media and target us with the familiar tone and content from those we know in ways we cant detect. And it can do so on an industrial scale, automatically and instantly, all through AI. There is one thing you can do to secure your account before its too late.Google is advancing its own AI defenses to combat these threats but it cant succeed, not entirely. And while the company says it now detects more than 99.9% of spam, phishing and malware in Gmail blocking unwanted and potentially dangerous messages before they even reached inboxes, much of this relies on what we have seen beforepatterns and trends. This new world changes everything, AI can tweak every email, polish copy, clinically match imagery, and even adapt on the fly.Gmail is the worlds largest email platform, with some 2.5 billion users it says. As such its the worlds biggest email threat. Successfully attack Gmail and you open a world of opportunity. As McAfee warns for 2025, the risks to trust and safety online have never been greater Thats why its more important than ever for consumers to stay informed about these emerging threats.But as sophisticated as these advances might be, to succeed they rely on each of us making a mistake within our own ecosystems. Downloading and opening an attachment, clicking a link, entering information into a malicious website not checking carefully and letting our guards down. And the one mistake we have all already made is being much too casual in providing our personal contact details.MORE FOR YOUSlashNexts 2024 State of Phishing report painted exactly this picture, with an unprecedented surge in attack volume, the research team detected a 202% increase in phishing messages in the second half of 2024, and credential phishing attacks rising 703% in the same period.In practical terms this means every inbox attacked every week, with novel threats coming constantly. Our analysis shows that 80% of malicious links in attacks are previously unknown zero-day threats, demonstrating that traditional threat intelligence and signature-based detection methods are increasingly ineffective against modern, AI-powered attack campaigns.And just as McAfee, Check Point and others now warn, the prospects for 2025 are much worse. We expect this rapid evolution to accelerate, with AI-generated attacks becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect, SlashNext says.The state of the problem has been perfectly illustrated this week in Netskopes latest report, which warns that over the past year, the number of users clicking on phishing links has increased by nearly triple, from 2.9 in 2023 to 8.4 out of every 1,000 users in the average organization clicking on a phishing link each month. This increase comes despite most organizations requiring users to undergo security awareness training to avoid phishing attacks.There are two types of attacks you need to worry about. The first is highly targeted, and will usually hit you at work. This is where the really powerful AI is being deployed, with attackers mapping organizations and conducting sophisticated operations to steal money or data or both. Successful detection requires user training, strict adherence to rules and IT security. But as The Financial TimesNetskope also flags cognitive fatigue as a major factor driving the worsening threat landscape, with users constantly being bombarded with phishing attempts) as well as the the creativity and adaptability of the attackers in delivering harder-to-detect baits. And while Google account credentials are prized, the consistently top target for credential theft is Microsoft. This is understandable given the enterprise honeypots its credentials open and the drag we have seen in MFA compliance cross the ecosystem. Netskope warns that attackers are targeting [both] Microsoft Live and 365 credentials... As a result, the percentage of users clicking on links targeting Microsoft credentials is closer to 75%. Microsofts popularity as a phishing target is unsurprising because Microsoft 365 is the most popular productivity suite by a large margin.Its little surprise, then, that Microsoft is on a mission to to fully eradicate passwords as an entry mechanism into its ecosystem. It has now stated publicly that its intent is not only to push its entire user base (if it can) to passkeys or other hardware-linked login systems, but also to delete the passwords even as a secondary means of account access.The good news for Gmail users if one can put it that way is that attackers are now finding that other means of pushing phishing links have become more effective than email. We have seen this trend coming for some time, not only is it easier to trick a user into clicking a link in a social media message or post, but its also easier to make it seem that the message or post has come from a trusted source is also more likely to be opened on a mobile device, where the small screen makes it much easier to hide the usual telltale signs of a fake message that are more apparent in email.Beyond messaging, the other new trend is compromised search results, either directly targeting search engine optiimization or by pushing out targeted attacks through specialist sites and forums. The top referrer was search engines, Netskope says, where attackers run malicious ads or use SEO poisoning techniques to get the phishing pages listed at the top of the search engine results for specific terms. Other top referrers included shopping, technology, business, and entertainment sites, where the referrals come from comments, malicious ads, and infected sites. The variety of phishing sources illustrates some creative social engineering by attackers. They know their victims may be wary of inbound emails (where they are repeatedly taught not to click on links) but will much more freely click on links in search engine results.I have reported on this SEO poisoning before, and it was a major theme as attacks surged during the holidays season from Black Friday through Cyber Monday and into the end-of-year holiday break.The second type of attack is more hit and hope, but its where AI will have a wider impact. Mass attacks targeting thousands of even hundreds of thousands of addresses at a time will change. Most of the fraudulent or malicious emails hooked by Google or hitting your Gmail inbox still remain detectable. Enhancing the quality and the look and feel of such phishing lures, and even combining them with calls or other messages from seemingly trusted sources will trick millions of users.But outside of work, those attackers need an address to target. Your Gmail addresses will be found on countless lists and in multiple leaks. You can be certain of that. This is why Googles new shielded email addresses are so critical. Expected to come in a 2025 upgrade, these will enable you to stop giving out your real Gmail address to people or companies that ask for them. You can use aliases linking back to your real address, and then switch those off if you find theyre being targeted. Apples similar system is a sure fire way of drastically reducing phishing mails.Gmail didnt get off to a good start on the security and privacy front, but its much better now and its new upgrades make it an account worth keeping. But only if you use the new security upgrades and common sense to ensure you dont lose your Gmail account (and those it leads to) to hackers or simply through lack of use.Last month, I advised Apple users to run a Safety Check on their accounts, available through iPhones Security & Privacy settings. Google users should do the same. This will show you who youre sharing data with, the apps accessing your information, devices linked to your account and which can access your phone.Google says that to protect your Google Account, it strongly recommends using its account security checkup regularly. Its very easy to do so. Just sign into your Google Account, tap or click on your profile picture, and then select recommended actions. The results are even color-coded. Blue for security tips, yellow for important steps and red for urgent ones. A green shield with a check mark means your account is healthy and no immediate action is needed.All that said, its still much easier for an attacker to get hold of your email address than your cell number, and the simplicity of email phishing outplays all other options. The question for 2025 is whether the new optionality provided by AI enhancement changes any of these trends, as attacks land on target more often.And just to keep minds fully focused, the stats are already alarming per StationXs most recent data:Phishing is the single most common form of cyber crime. An estimated 3.4 billion emails a day are sent by cyber criminals, designed to look like they come from trusted senders; this is over a trillion phishing emails per year.Email impersonation accounts for an estimated 1.2% of all email traffic globally.Around 36% of all data breaches involve phishing.3% of employees will click on a malicious link within a phishing email.Remote workers may be more likely to be targeted than office-based employees. 80% of infosec professionals say theyve seen increased security threats since the shift to remote working. 62% said that phishing attacks had increased more than any other type of threat.Google does offer a big red button to better secure your accountits Advanced Protection Program. But just as I advised Apple users, this is not for you unless youre a journalist, activist, or someone else at risk of targeted online attacks. Dont be lulled into opting in, thinking you need the ultimate level of protection if you dont. It will stop many of your devices and services working as youd expect them to.Adhering to Googles critical recommendations around passwords and MFA, the use of passkeys, and safe browsing will go a long way to keeping you safe. But none of that replaces the need to adhere to basic rules. No apps from outside official stores, no links, no attachments, and no sharing your primary email address when shielded email becomes available. You might also consider a new account and address if yours has been around a while and is already a honeypot for spam and phishing.The other thing you must do to ensure you dont lose your account is to keep using it of course. Its a bit obvious, but if you allow accounts to run stale through lack of use, then Google will delete them. If you do have accounts you dont use but want to keep, just make sure you log into them once in a while. Details here but currently the timeline is set at two-years, so little chance of a surprise.

AI in TelecommunicationsgettyWhen you use your mobile phone, the Internet at your house or anywhere at your business, your work, or consume music, video, image, and text content,you're interacting with telecommunication systems. Telecommunication is core to driving value in todays information economy. To further that value, the use of AI in telecom is driving significant advancements in the telecommunications industry, improving network management, customer service, and operational efficiency.Keeping Telecommunication Infrastructure HummingAs telecommunication and data usage continues to skyrocket, managing the infrastructure that carries those vital bits is critical. AI systems are increasingly keeping an eye on the continued operation of telecommunication infrastructure. These AI-enhanced systems are helping to ensure telecommunication systems dont go down unexpectedly. Beyond simply keeping existing infrastructure running, these AI systems are also assisting with managing and planning telecommunication system capacity as well.AI is able to optimize network performance by analyzing vast amounts of data in real time and then using that data to help predict and resolve network issues before they affect users. In this way, telecom operators can catch issues before they become a big problem. AI-driven solutions optimize bandwidth allocation, manage traffic, and ensure seamless connectivity, enhancing overall network reliability and efficiency. These AI systems also automate routine network management tasks, such as configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of network configuration changes, reducing the need for manual intervention, speeding up network operations, and minimizing human errors, leading to more efficient network management.AI helps telecom companies optimize capacity planning by predicting future demand and allocating resources accordingly. AI models can analyze historical usage data, market trends, and customer behavior to ensure that network resources are efficiently distributed, preventing congestion and improving service quality.These AI models can look at historical data to predict spikes or changes in anticipated usage, and can also be used to plan for big regional events coming up that might impact overall systems. These data-powered systems look at market trends and customer behavior to help make sure that network resources are being effectively distributed and prevent congestion.MORE FOR YOUAnytime you have physical equipment that requires maintenance to avoid unexpected downtime, AI is applied for predictive maintenance. AI is able to help predict when there might be network equipment failures, encouraging proactive maintenance to prevent outages. These AI-powered systems analyze historical data, environmental conditions, equipment usage, and upcoming storms or other factors, in order to forecast potential failures or needs for proactive maintenance.AI in Telecom Improves Customer ExperienceMoving from the back-end operations to the front-end of dealing with customers, telecommunication companies have made big strides in improving their previously often lackluster customer experiences with AI. Almost every telecom provider today uses AI-powered chatbots, messaging assistants, and AI-enhanced email responders to speed up and improve responses to the most common customer service needs.AI systems are handling customers daily needs from upgrading and downgrading accounts, requests for new devices or plan changes, troubleshooting and providing guidance on using telecommunication systems and devices, and handling routine billing or customer change needs.While this is all table-stakes now in the telecommunication industry, where AI really shines is when there are network issues or outages, as less common as they should be with AI in the loop. When theres a network issue, theres a very large volume of customer interaction and inquiries. Human-based support would quickly be deluged and unable to respond with customer wait times of many hours. AI-powered customer interaction is jumping in to provide instant response and support.These AI-powered systems with their 24/7 availability and fast responses have significantly reduced wait times for service, increased problem resolution, and allowed human support to focus on the more difficult or time-intensive needs. that people have had for service. While AI systems are far from perfect, by and large, these chatbots are doing a pretty good job at handling the vast majority of the typical inquiries that telecom operators get.Pricing for telecommunication services is really highly variable. Different plans have different prices at different times with different incentives. People often get many upgrade offers with different bonus structures as well as incentives from competitors to switch carriers.Pricing is remarkably complicated in telecommunications. AI-driven dynamic pricing models adjust pricing for telecom services based on demand, competition, and customer usage patterns. By analyzing real-time data, AI helps telecom companies optimize pricing strategies, maximize revenue, and make competitive offers.Likewise, telecom firms are swimming in data. Its no surprise that they are leveraging this data to improve their sales and marketing. The telecom industry, probably even second to the finance industry, is the most data intensive of all industries. Telecom operators are making a lot more use of AI to analyze customer data and create very personalized marketing campaigns and offers that are targeted to individual customers taking into account their individual preferences and usage patterns. Telecom companies use AI-driven insights to enhance customer engagement, reduce churn, and increase loyalty by delivering more relevant and personalized experiences.Protecting Telecommunication Systems with AIKeeping telecommunications systems running requires continuously keeping telecom infrastructure and systems safe and secure. AI-based systems are increasingly being put to use spotting security threats, cyber attacks, and fraudulent activities from customers and outsiders.AI detects and prevents fraudulent activities, such as identity theft and unauthorized access to telecom services. Machine learning models analyze user behavior, call patterns, and transaction data to identify suspicious activities in real-time, allowing telecom providers to mitigate fraud risks quickly.AI also enhances network security by looking at the patterns in usage data to detect and respond to cyber threats in real time. AI-enhanced systems analyze network traffic, identify anomalies, and block potential attacks before they cause harm.So as you use your devices, check your phone, cruise the internet, and watch streaming videos every day, think about how AI in telecom ensure you get the digital delivery and telecommunications you need.

Forward-looking: An official Nintendo Switch 2 announcement is coming soon, before the end of March. Assuming the handheld does launch in the first half of 2025, an analyst expects that it will sell 4.3 million units in the US by the end of the year. However, he also believes that the country's best-selling console over the next 12 months will be the PlayStation 5. Mat Piscatella, the executive director of video games at market research firm Circana, posted his Switch 2 predictions on social network Bluesky.Piscatella writes that selling 4.3 million Switch 2 units in the US this year is based on it launching in the first half of 2025. If that figure proves accurate, Nintendo's upcoming machine will have accounted for around one-third of all video game console hardware units sold in the US, excluding PC portables.Initial demand for the Switch 2 will of course be enormous. Piscatella writes that this will lead to supply constraints for several months following the early sales surge, adding that the number of sold units will depend on manufacturing capabilities.Piscatella followed up with, "supply constraints coinciding with/driven by initial demand boom. But this is just an assumption, I don't know anything about [manufacturing] resources being put to this thing."Massive demand for any item means it usually ends up on eBay as scalpers try to take advantage of people's desperation. In July, Nintendo said it hopes to avoid this situation simply by manufacturing enough consoles to satisfy customer demand, which might be easier said than done. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa also said that the company was considering whether it could implement other scalping countermeasures. // Related StoriesWhile 4.3 million units is no small number, Piscatella believes that the best-selling console of 2025 will be the PlayStation 5. Sony's machine topped both the unit and dollar sales charts in January, February, April, May, September, and November 2024.While the PlayStation is entering the latter stages of its life-cycle, falling prices and the arrival of the PS5 Pro are expected to aid sales. Don't be surprised if the latter becomes more popular as we approach the launch of GTA VI, which still isn't confirmed to have a PC version.There have been numerous Nintendo Switch 2 leaks recently, including a patent confirming its use of a DLSS-like tech.

LifeIn the centenary of naturalist Gerald Durrells birth, a new memoir adds rich new layers to what we know about the man 8 January 2025 Gerald Durrell covered in lemursVictor Watts/ShutterstockMyself & Other AnimalsGerald Durrell (Viking)The conservationist Gerald Durrells first dog, Simon, was a coward. To the honey-coloured cocker spaniel, a garden hose was as deadly as a spitting cobra, and he once went into a nervous decline lasting several days after unexpectedly encountering a snowman.It is nuggets like this that make Durrells writings so appealing. Anthropomorphised as his descriptions of animals often are, they combine keen observation with humour in a way that shows just how well he could understand what made animals tick and how to bring them to life on the page.

Wall Street newcomers are often highly successful.But Morgan Stanley's Mike Wilson says a key to success is learning to accept failures.Always being ready to up your game as you get promoted is also crucial, he said.If you're just getting started in your career on Wall Street, Morgan Stanley chief investment officer Mike Wilson has some tough love to share with you: life's only going to get harder.In an interview with Business Insider in December, Wilson listed a couple pieces of advice he gives to his new hires, interns, and even his kids.Number one: you're not going to be as successful as you're used to being. Landing a job at an investment bank or research firm is an achievement, with a stellar academic record often being a prerequisite. So many youngsters entering banking are accustomed to outperforming. But failing is a fact of life in banking, Wilson said."A lot of people coming to Wall Street are overachievers," Wilson said. "I say, 'My guess is your historical report card has very few Bs on it. Maybe none. And definitely no Cs. And so what you're going to have to get used to coming to Wall Street is you're going to get a bunch of Fs, and you can't even fathom what that feels like."How you adjust to that feeling will be one factor in how successful you become, he said."You picked the stock, it went to zero, everybody knows you made a mistake. How are you going to deal with that?" Wilson said."The best investors generally get 55% of their calls correct," he continued. "There are a lot of dynamics that play into being a good investor, a good analyst, a good strategist. But I think the hardest one is learning how to accept failure, learning how to be wrong, admit it, and move on. Acknowledge your mistakes."Wilson, who is also Morgan Stanley's chief US equity strategist, has put his advice to use in recent years. He was one of the most accurate market forecasters in 2022 amid a market sell-off, but his ongoing bearishness caught up with him in 2023 when the market turned around. He issued a mea culpa, offering more bullish price targets since then alongside the ongoing stock-market rally.As for his second piece of advice, Wilson said to be ready to continually up your game as you become more successful."I have two sons in their 20s, and I always kid around with them. When they're successful at work, I say, 'Congratulations, you're gonna make it to the next level. Guess what: It's going to be harder,'" Wilson said.But that's not necessarily a bad thing, he said."That's life. Every rung is harder, and that's the thrill of it, too, because you're competing at a higher level," he said. "If you're successful, you just understand that dynamic, and that's something I think young people need to know what exactly they're signing up for."In the interview, Wilson also shared more general career advice that can apply to people outside of the financial industry as well: stand up for ideas that you have high conviction in. In his role, that means sometimes issuing calls against consensus. He called this taking personal risk."You've got to be willing to go take a stand on stuff, whether it's in a meeting, with people you report to, pointing out things that you don't agree with, kind of making a firm stance," Wilson said.

After his first two semesters of college, my son is on academic suspension.Right now, he's working in a bakery while he decides what he want to do next.We're not sure if he'll return to school, but I'll support him in his decision.My darling son's college career has been on hiatus for a year, and his GPA is at the bottom of a deep well. What's a caring parent to do?The heavy words "academic suspension" are nothing any parent or student wants to see on their record. But after two disastrous semesters, he was suspended for a semester and he hasn't shown any inclination to return. Since he's lost his scholarship, probably for good, it will be an expensive return to campus.Here's what I'm doing to support my son better as he takes charge of his life.I didn't see there could be another path for himMy generation was taught that going to college is the best way to ensure a secure, well-paying job. I also learned that a college education is a way to become more well-rounded. I thought it was a given that he would go to college and then have a career.I passed these ideas along to my son. He was enrolled in college preparatory courses, and in middle and high school, the teachers also emphasized how important a college education would be to his future. But there was a discrepancy between what he was being told and what he saw in real life.My son watched as his parents, both journalists with college degrees, struggled with temporary furloughs, weird hours, beau coups of stress, a relocation, and my recent layoff. Our jobs were neither secure nor particularly well-paying.The YouTubers whose videogame playthroughs he watched didn't necessarily need a college degree to do what they did, either though some of them do have them and they were making a decent living doing something they enjoy.I wanted my son to be able to live safely, comfortably, and independently in an indifferent, cold world. But now, looking back, I worry I pushed him too hard in the direction I wanted him to go when he hesitated because I didn't see that there was another path for him.I'm finally listening to my sonHe gave lip service during his senior year of high school about wanting to go to college but was noncommittal on many of the details. That should have been my first clue he may not be sure, yet I still dragged him to various college tours, thinking it would get him excited about going. What my son remembered the most about those trips was the heat of southern Georgia in August and being appalled the campus tour guide hadn't tried crepes until college.When his indifference continued, I told him to sign up for a local community college and suggested a major based on his love of food and nutrition: chemistry. He complied. Naturally, chemistry is one of the courses he failed in his first semester. Basically, I contributed to the situation we now find ourselves in I'm no "Mother of the Year" candidate.During the school year, he told me that things were fine, even when they weren't. I took it as truth, because it's what I wanted to hear. But now, I'm really listening. It seems like an obvious step, doesn't it? Our communication had suffered because my son was telling me what he thought I wanted to hear instead of the truth. He'd gone to college because he didn't want to disappoint me.He's learning by doing what he enjoysPlenty of well-known people have hit pause on college and gone on trips overseas to "find themselves." My son is having to find his place in the world while working at a bakery.He seems to be enjoying most of it. In his free time after work, he cooks banana nut bread, muffins, and cookies. Cooking is both an art and a science, something he's enjoyed since taking culinary classes in high school before the pandemic brought those courses to an end.I suggested he enroll in culinary classes, but he seems content to just work for now. So, I'm staying out of the way as he concocts the recipe of his life while also providing support and encouragement.I still think college while he is still young is the best option for his future. But what's more important is what he thinks, and it's apparent that despite all the sales pitches, he hasn't been sold on the idea of college.

Danielle-Ann Kealohilani Rugg moved back to Hawaii to care for her family during the pandemic.She balances event work, a tax business, and family life amid Hawaii's high living costs.Despite the challenges, she finds beauty in Hawaii but would return to Oregon for lower living costs.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Danielle-Ann Kealohilani Rugg, a 39-year-old entrepreneur and event staff professional who relocated from Oregon to Hawaii. It's been edited for length and clarity.I have an ever-evolving career. I balance my event work with Aloha HP, running a successful tax practice, and caring for my family on Oahu in Hawaii.My path has been a mix of culinary aspirations, entrepreneurial ventures, and family-driven decisions. I was born and raised on Oahu. In 2005, when my twin daughters were 1, I moved to California, where I lived for six years before settling in Oregon. Oregon became home for most of my children's lives, spanning the last decade.I've been back on Oahu since the pandemic, and while it's gorgeous, the high cost of living is challenging.My professional life began with a passion for foodI moved to Oregon after a divorce to help care for my grandparents, and I fell in love with everything about the state. I had always seen the different seasons in movies and TV shows and longed to experience them, and that dream finally came true. The other amazing thing about the state was the absence of sales tax.I enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland to pursue my passion for baking and ptisserie. After completing the two-year associate degree program, I worked in various roles, from baker to cashier to server.Each position taught me invaluable lessons about customer service, multitasking, and time management, especially when catering large events. It wasn't just about bread and coffee cups but about creating memorable client experiences.My family always came first. Wanting to be closer to my children, I became a lunch lady at their high school. Surprisingly, this was one of the most fulfilling roles I've had.I continued my side hustle while in OregonI shift gears every February and dive into tax season with my mother. We've been running a tax prep business since my early 20s. We realized the hard work we put in for someone else's business could be channeled into something of our own.The time zone difference was challenging while I was in Oregon, but we made it work. Depending on our clientele for the year, we make $50,000 to $75,000 annually.My mother and I get along very well. Our relationship is not perfect, but we've found a good balance between our professional and personal lives.The only downside I experienced in Oregon was the limited places to swimThe ocean was about an hour and a half away, but the water was always freezing. Although it was beautiful, going to a beach and being unable to jump in dampened the experience.There were lakes, but they were freezing because all the freshwater came from the mountains. We also had a few facilities we could go to, but that would involve getting a membership, and not all of them were indoors.When the pandemic hit, my family had to make a changeIn 2020, as the world was grappling with the onset of COVID-19, my mother suffered an injury, and she needed help. She lived in Honolulu, and despite the comfortable life my children and I had built in Oregon, I needed to return home.It wasn't an easy decision, especially during my kids' junior year in high school, but sometimes life demands hard choices. The transition was tough, but ultimately, it was the right move for my mother's well-being. We also moved my grandmother back with us, who has dementia.Back on Oahu, I found a job with Aloha HP, a Hawaiian staffing company. Aloha HP allowed me to keep up with my business while maintaining an open schedule to care for my family, which was a relief.I'm primarily involved with event staff workI do anything from setting up for weddings and banquets to serving guests. These gigs can last four to nine hours.I average about 80 hours of work a month and earn between $1,350 and $1,900. It's a dynamic way to work, and I enjoy its variety and challenges.I've learned my self-care cannot be an afterthought. I always carve out two days during my hectic workweek just for myself.Now that I'm back in Hawaii, the downsides are clearThe cost of living is one of Hawaii's biggest downsides. When I lived in Oregon, my rent for my three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage home with a yard was $1,500. Electricity was, on average, $250, and my water bill was around $80. Car registration for both of my cars totaled $275 for two years. Groceries cost us around $500 a month.Now, my rent, which my family helps with, is $3,550 for a slightly larger home than I had in Oregon. Our electricity is almost three times the amount I paid in Oregon, running on average $660 and up. Water is around $220, and car registration is $445, but only valid for one year.The grocery stores here also have inflated prices. I may earn more money in Hawaii, but it's offset by the cost of living in Hawaii being much greater than in Oregon.It's still paradiseLiving in paradise is amazing; don't get me wrong. I'm close to my family, the ocean is nearby, the sun almost always shines, and even when it doesn't, the rain is a nice, cool temperature not freezing cold.Still, if I had to choose between the two places, I would move back to Oregon, only because the cost of living here is so high.I've realized, though, that Hawaii is and always will be home. Despite the changes in times and technological advancements, living on an island still offers so much beauty. Just being here is a gift in itself.Even though I once said I'd never move back, life has a way of leading you where you need to be.

Tirana Reimagined: Architectural Projects Transforming Albania's Capital through Public EngagementSave this picture!College of Europe's Tirana Campus . Image Courtesy of MIR, Designed by Oppenheim ArchitectsTirana, the capital of Albania, is undergoing a remarkable transformation fueled by an ambitious vision for the future outlined in the Tirana 2030 (TR030) Master Plan. This plan, devised by renowned Italian architect Stefano Boeri, aims to reshape the city into a sustainable, green, and inclusive urban hub, with a focus on increasing density while enhancing the quality of life for its residents. Central to this vision are projects such as the creation of an "orbital forest" with two million trees, the revitalization of rivers with green corridors, and the redesign of public spaces like Skanderbeg Square, which has become the largest pedestrian area in the Balkans. According to The Guardian, these initiatives aim to reverse the sprawling urban chaos that followed the fall of communism and accommodate a population that has quadrupled since 1992, while prioritizing quality of life and accessibility. At the heart of Tirana's transformation is a renewed focus on architecture as a tool for connection, combining cultural identity with contemporary design to create spaces that invite public interaction and engagement. Recent projects announced by renowned architects and international firms including Coldefy, OODA, Oppenheim Architecture, and CHYBIK + KRISTOF showcase a common thread of reimagining the rejuvinated city for the public. These designs emphasize social sustainability, cultural references, and accessible public spaces, redefining how residents and visitors experience Tirana's urban fabric. From mixed-use vertical villages and pedestrian-friendly streets to eco-conscious campuses and civic hubs, these new developments collectively highlight the city's ambition to position itself as a progressive model for urban renewal in the Balkans.Read on to discover how Tirana's transformation is being shaped by architectural projects that use Related Article Exploring the Projects Shaping NEOM City in Saudi Arabia Public Administration Hub in Albania / Coldefy Save this picture!The Tirana Public Administration Cluster, designed by Coldefy in partnership with Atelier 4, represents an attempt to reimagine the relationship between government and citizens by centralizing over 20 government institutions in a single complex. The design incorporates features aimed at encouraging public interaction, such as a transparent ground floor with retail spaces, open plazas, and landscaped courtyards. These elements are intended to create a welcoming environment that blurs the boundaries between public and institutional spaces. However, the project's success in achieving meaningful public engagement remains uncertain, as it faces the challenge of balancing its dual role as a functional administrative hub and an open, accessible public space. Its ability to integrate into Tirana's evolving urban fabric will depend on how these spaces are utilized and maintained over time, as well as the public's willingness to embrace the new model of accessibility within a government facility. Ndjara Building / OODA Save this picture!The Ndarja Building by OODA attempts to engage the public within Tirana's urban core by incorporating a central square at the heart of its mixed-use design. This square, positioned between two distinct building volumes, acts as a gathering space that contrasts with the city's busy streets, while features such as integrated greenery and a transparent water mirror aim to enhance the public experience. Although the project aspires to create a functional and inviting urban retreat, its effectiveness in fostering meaningful public interaction will rely on how the space is managed and activated over time. College of Europe Campus / Oppenheim Architecture Save this picture!The College of Europe's new campus in Tirana, designed by Oppenheim Architecture, represents an experiment in creating a space that fosters academic, social, and diplomatic engagement while connecting with Albania's cultural and historical context. At its core is a central circular "agora," a multifunctional space inspired by Greco-Roman theaters and topped with a concrete dome referencing Albania's iconic bunkers. The agora serves as a symbolic and physical hub for lectures, performances, and dialogue, reflecting ideals of openness and democracy. Surrounding the agora are buildings dedicated to public programs, education, and diplomacy, designed to balance functionality with public accessibility through features like a library, museum, and loggias that promote openness. Hora Vertikale / OODA Save this picture!The Hora Vertikale Towers, designed by OODA, present an experimental approach to public engagement in Tirana through the integration of green public spaces and community-focused design. Envisioned as a "vertical village," the project includes a surrounding park and accessible green spaces intended to serve both residents and the wider public. By blending residential and public realms, the development aims to foster a sense of community and interaction within an urban environment. The challenge of this conceptual scheme lies in ensuring that the project remains accessible and inclusive, avoiding exclusivity or underuse, while contributing meaningfully to Tirana's public life and broader urban transformation. Multifunctional Tower / CHYBIK + KRISTOF Save this picture!The Multifunctional Tower by CHYBIK + KRISTOF seeks to contribute to Tirana's public realm by creating pedestrian-friendly spaces that connect key cultural landmarks, such as the New Boulevard and River Park, with the city's broader urban fabric. With its lower floors dedicated to retail and public use, the tower aspires to engage the community and enhance the vibrancy of the surrounding Cultural Hub. Ultimately, its ability to serve as a public asset will depend on how effectively these spaces are designed to invite and encourage daily public activity, rather than functioning solely as transitional or commercial zones. This article is part of an ArchDaily curated series that focuses on built projects from our own database grouped under specific themes related to cities, typologies, materials, or programs. Every month, we will highlight a collection of structures that find a common thread between previously uncommon contexts, unpacking the depths of influence on our built environments. As always, at ArchDaily, we highly appreciate the input of our readers. If you think we should mention specific ideas, please submit your suggestions.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorNour FakharanyAuthorCite: Nour Fakharany. "Tirana Reimagined: Architectural Projects Transforming Albania's Capital through Public Engagement" 09 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025419/tirana-reimagined-how-architecture-is-transforming-albanias-capital-for-the-public&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

Project Files: https://www.patreon.com/posts/119623164 .In this episodes of the top down shooter series, I am going to implement zoom in zoom out for the top down camera. So the player will be able to move closer to or further from player character using mouse wheel. This system will work on both orthographic/isometric or perspective projection modes of the top down shooter we have implemented. CodeLikeMe Top Down shooter series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou4pEFizUOVzcM5roBFYa1oN CodeLikeMe Third-Person shooter series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou4HL7SAyIQoCqJRJ5QeQAl8 // ! https://www.patreon.com/codelikeme Patrons will have access to project files of all the stuff I do in the channel and other extra benefitsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6Jh9EBV7a_Nm52Ipll_Q/join Like my facebook page for more content : https://www.facebook.com/gamedevelopersclub/ Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/CodeLikeMe2 Follow me on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/user/codelikeme #CodeLikeMe #unrealengine #ue5 #indiegamedev