Robocraft 2 developer Freejam shuts down"With the current market conditions, were simply unable to sustain development"Image credit: Freejam News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 13, 2025 Robocraft 2 developer Freejam has shut down.In a statement posted to Discord, the studio blamed "market conditions" and the costs of keeping servers going on Robocraft 2, which will now be sunsetted, along with predecessor Robocraft and Cardlife.The sequel has already been withdrawn from Steam, where it had been available as an Early Access title."Its with a heavy heart that we have to tell you all that were ceasing production on Robocraft 2 and closing Freejam as a studio," said one of the developers in a statement posted to Discord."With the current market conditions and the server costs required to keep a game like RC2 running, were simply unable to launch or sustain development. We will spend some time sunsetting both Robocraft 1 and 2, as well as Cardlife over the coming weeks."Freejam has been a family to all of us, and you have been part of that," the statement added. "Your feedback and thoughts have always driven us forward, but beyond this, the communitys passion is a massive part of what has made working at Freejam such a pleasure [...] Your time, energy, support and so, so much patience has made a world of difference. From all of us at Freejam, thank you so much for joining us on this journey."It's unclear how many will be affected by the closure, but the studio's LinkedIn page intimates it employs between 11-50 people from its headquarters in Portsmouth, UK.The news comes as Swedish games firm Enad Global 7 (EG7) also initiated the "wind down" of Toadman Interactive, which resulted in 69 job losses, and laid off 38 employees from Piranha Games.In the first two weeks of 2025 alone, over 150 developers have lost their jobs, including cuts at Splash Damage and Jar of Sparks.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorJanuary 13, 20252 Min ReadImage via Games Done Quick.At a GlanceThis year's Awesome Games Done Quick raised $2.56 million amid live concerts and Elden Ring being played via saxophone.The speedrun charity organization Games Done Quick recently ended its first event for 2025, and made $2.56 million in donations for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) ran from January 5 to January 12, and the 24/7 event saw streamers play games to raise money. Its proceeds were a slight bump up from AGDQ's $2.54 million in 2024, and a bit down from 2023's $2.6 million. To date, GDQ's biggest record remains the record-breaking $3.4 million raked in for its Summer 2022 showcase.In its announcement, the organization noted it's now raised over $54 million for charity since its start in 2010."Thank you to everyone who made this marathon possible, and to all of you for your amazing generosity & support," it wrote. Prevent Cancer gave its own love on January 11, saying players "never cease to amaze us with your generosity. Your donations make an enormous impact, THANK YOU!"This year's AGDQ had several highlights, from a live concert during the Crazy Taxi segment to Elden Ring being played with a saxophone. (Really.) Every run is freely available on the GDQ YouTube page, which also features videos from previous events.Games Done Quick will expand its fundraising efforts with a battery of events for different causes througout 2025. Joining the lineup is its first-ever Back to Black speedrunning stream, which runs from Thursday, February 6 to Sunday, February 9 to benefit the racial justice nonprofit Race Forward.Frost Fatales will also return for its fourth consecutive year, and its fifth since debuting in 2020. The all-women and femmes showcase goes from Sunday, March 9 to the following Sunday, March 16, and will give its proceeds to the National Women's Law Center.Finally, Summer Games Done Quick, AGDQ's primary companion, will raise money for Doctors Without Borders in Minneapolis beginning Sunday, July 6 and concluding on Saturday, July 12.Read more about:CultureAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Meta announced last week that it would be ditching fact-checkers in favor of X-like Community Notes, and self-described leaker Alessandro Paluzzi shared screenshots on Monday showing what the feature might look like in Threads.Based on the screenshots, it appears youll be able to start the process of writing a Community Note from the three-dots menu on a post, which is where you can already access features like muting an account or reporting a post. Another screenshot shows that when you write a Community Note, your note will be anonymous.A third screenshot appears to show an Instagram help center page about Community Notes that has a button to join a waitlist for the program. However, the layout of the page looks different from other live help center pages I can see right now.Meta didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.Meta said last week that it plans to phase in Community Notes in the US first over the next couple of months and then improve it over the course of the year, but it hasnt specified exactly when the feature might be available on Threads. My colleague Alex Heath reported Sunday that Community Notes was not on the product roadmap before this week.In addition to the move to Community Notes, Meta said its also getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration and gender, and phasing civil content back into Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri published a video today showing how to set the amount of political content you see on Threads.

I've got a much earlier edition of game deals for you today. Why? Because I have to head in to Publisher X to play several hours of Game Y. (Don't worry, you'll read all about it soon in article Z.) All that being said, let's skip the preamble, get scrolling, and dive into the best gaming deals going today!In retro news, I've cooked a bin chicken feast for the 32nd birthday of Streets of Rage 2, a seminal beat 'em up and massive personal favourite I played the cartridge pins off. Basically, you and a mate needed to go ever rightward on an ultra-violent rescue mission as one of two loose cannon cops, a spandex-clad wrestler, or the most '90s kid ever (think: backwards hat, rollerblades). Not only were this sequel's fisticuffs more technical than its rival to beat, Final Fight, Streets of Rage 2 boasted one of the most jam-pumping EDM soundtracks of its era. Seriously.Happy Bday Streets of Rage 2 This Day in Gaming Aussie birthdays for notable games.- Streets of Rage 2 (MD) 1993. Get- ESPN NBA 2K5 (PS2) 2005. eBay- Army of Two: The 40th Day (PS3/P,X360) 2010. eBayTable of ContentsNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchSuper Mario RPGSuper Mario RPG is considered a classic for a reason, and this wonderfully faithful remake makes it easy for anyone who missed it in the SNES era to see why. 8/10, great.Expiring Recent DealsOr gift a Nintendo eShop Card.Switch Console PricesHow much to Switch it up?Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $539 $499 | Switch Original: $499 $448 | Switch OLED Black: $539 $479 | Switch OLED White: $539 $479 | Switch Lite: $329 $299 | Switch Lite Hyrule: $339 $299See itBack to topPurchase Cheap for PCMeta Quest 3S + BatmanTake it from a more than happy owner of one of these. The 3S a brilliant bit of kit and Batman is more or less a killer app (although you dont actually kill as him).Dynasty Warriors Origins (-18%) - A$97.80Ready or Not (-40%) - A$44.10Far Cry 6 (-78%) - A$19.79V Rising (-30%) - A$35.66Expiring Recent DealsOr just get a Steam Wallet CardPC Hardware PricesSlay your pile of shame.Official launch in NovSteam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 | Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 | Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049See it at SteamBack to topExciting Bargains for XboxCoD BLOPS 6Multi-wise the maps are excellent, built to please almost everyone's favourite gun styles. The meat and potatoes moving quick and dishing out firepower is aces this year; it's fast without feeling too twitchy. 8/10, great.Assetto Corsa Ult. (-75%) - A$13.11LEGO The Hobbit (-90%) - A$5.49Borderlands 3 NL Ed. (-90%) - A$10.79Space Marine 2 Ultra Ed. (-33%) - A$127.46Wolfenstein Alt History Bndl (-80%) - A$19.99Expiring Recent DealsYooka-Laylee Impossible Lair (-80%) - A$8.99Star Wars Outlaws (-46%) - A$59MGS: Master Col. (-41%) - A$50.39Space Marine 2 (-27%) - A$79.95Or just invest in an Xbox Card.Xbox Console PricesHow many bucks for a 'Box? Series X: $799 $729 | Series S Black: $549 $545 | Series S White:$499 $471 | Series S Starter: N/ASee itBack to topPure Scores for PlayStationIt Takes TwoA beautiful, breakneck-paced, and bubbling over with creativity co-op platformer, where playfulness and experimentation are rewarded at every turn. 9/10, amazing.Resi Evil 4 (-50%) - A$27.47NBA 2K25 Tournament Ed. (-60%) - A$55.98Dragon's Dogma 2 (-47%) - A$57.21Hitman WoA (-70%) - A$13.48Expiring Recent DealsLost Judgment (-61%) - A$39.80LEGO DC Supervillains (-78%) - A$20Star Wars Outlaws (-46%) - A$59Astro Bot (-19%) - A$89Space Marine 2 (-37%) - A$69PS+ Monthly FreebiesYours to keep from Jan 7 with this subscriptionSuicide Squad: KTJL [PS5]NFS Hot Pursuit Remastered [PS4]The Stanley Parable: Ultra [PS4/5]Or purchase a PS Store Card.What you'll pay to 'Station.PS5 Slim Disc:$799 $759 | PS5 Slim Digital:679 $678 | PS VR2: $899 | PS VR2 + Horizon: $899 | PS5 Pro $1,199 | PS Portal: $329See itBack to topLegit LEGO DealsIcons: McLaren MP4/4 (-25%) - A$75Imperial Star Destroyer (-17%) - A$249.29Architecture Notre-Dame (-13%) - A$306Expiring Recent DealsBack to top Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

Turn back the clock 30 years and gear up for action-packed Caped Crusader adventures with the brand-new DC Comics Retro Collection from leading global childrens entertainment company Spin Master!Available exclusively at Target, this collection celebrates 30 years of Batman Forever starring Val Kilmer, with authentic movie styling plus retro designs & packaging that capture the spirit & style of the film. Uniting generations of DC fans, these toys and collectors items allow kids & kidults alike to own a piece of cinematic history perfect for proud display or bringing crime-fighting action to life during playtime.Find out more about the exciting new collection hereAn iconic Roman landmark, the Trevi Fountain, is getting the LEGO treatment in a beautiful set made of over 1,800 pieces.Engage your creativity with the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Immerse yourself in the details as you create the model using warm white, tan and pink elements, with gradient shades of blue to depict the waters depth. Build the impressive Palazzo Poli facade, complete with papal crest. Add in the various sculptures, recreated in minifigure form, and enjoy the full glory of this iconic landmark.Read more about the reveal at BricksetThe Flash director Andy Muschietti opened up about the films lack of success at the box office, blaming its flop on a lack of audience interest in the titular character.I think [The Flash] failed because it didnt appeal to all four quadrants, Muschietti said on La Baulera del Coso. When you make a 200 million dollar film, the studio expects you even to bring your grandmother to the theaters.Muschietti said that in private conversations, he was told that many people are not interested in The Flash as a character. Half of the quadrants, two are female [and] many women are not interested in The Flash as a character.'Read the full story at DeadlineYouve heard of A Bugs Life, but what about Bug Wars? Discover all you need to know about one of early 2025s most exciting upcoming comic books.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The superstar team of writer Jason Aaron (Southern Bastards, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Absolute Superman) and artist Mahmud Asrar (Conan the Barbarian, X-Men, Batman & Robin) join forces for the upcoming series, Bug Wars. The extra-length first issue of this dark fantasy, epic series is set to debut in February 2025 from Image Comics.Read more hereWe all figured this was coming, but now its official. The popular PlayStation game Horizon Zero Dawn is becoming a feature film.The critically acclaimed action role-playing game Horizon Zero Dawn is officially heading to the big screen. Originally released in 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn tells the story of Aloy, a hunter and outcast from the Nora tribe, as she discovers her origins and navigates a world ruled by mysterious robotic creatures. During Sonys CES 2025 press conference, PlayStation Studios and Columbia Pictures announced they are in the early stages of developing a feature film adaptation of Guerrilla Games beloved title. The movie is expected to explore Aloys origin story, chronicling her journey through a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world teeming with robotic beasts.Read more at HypeBeast

Whether its rolling pastoral hills or the morning mist rising off a quiet mountain lake, the country is full of stunning views, so its no wonder we love our sliding glass doors. Not only do they let in all the light and views, but theyre also a great way to incorporate a natural indoor/outdoor flow into any home. But, knowing how to style them so they arent so sterileand you can have privacy when neededcan be difficult! Have no fear, were here to help. Weve combed through our archives and checked in with our favorite designers to see how theyre finishing their sliding glass doors. From breezy curtains to layers of window treatments, below are ideas here for every budget and style. So, whether your sliding glass door leads out to your screened-in porch or the wide-open backyard, we promise youll find something to inspire your next room makeover project. Ready To Get Hanging? Check Out These Stories To Help Round Out Your Window Treatment Ideas:1Pick an Unexpected Color Combination Diana Paulson for Country LivingWhile the best decorating advice usually calls for curtains to coordinate with other fabrics in the room, you can also bravely choose to throw that advice directly out the window and still get a chic result. Take this airy cabin living room, for example. It successfully pairs oversize olive curtains with rusty reds, blues, and yellows, proving that unexpected colors can be brought in with success. RELATED: These Lake House Decorating Ideas Will Give You That Laid-Back Look2Choose Contrast HardwareRoger Davies for Country LivingIn a breezy living room, such as this beachy California bungalow, deeply saturated black iron hardware offers a pleasing pop against the simple palette. RELATED: Could There Be Any More Charm In This California Beach Cottage?Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Keep It BreezyAlec Hemer for Country LivingCurtains dont have to take up a lot of visual weight. In fact, when theyre blocking a beautiful ocean view such as this, its better if theyre simple. Here, classic white curtains with tab ties keep things feeling clean-yet-coastal. RELATED: These Beach House Decorating Ideas Will Make Waves In Any Room4Let The Light InDavid TsaySometimes, you really don't need a window treatment! We promise this isn't an easy out but practical decorating advice that most design-minded homeowners could easily overlook. If your furniture has plenty of pattern and color and your view outside is as stunning as this California winery, then you should keep your sliding glass door free of any visual infringement. Just embrace the au naturel look!RELATED: These Are The Best Designer-Approved White Paint ColorsAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Go for Gauzy INGRID WEIRThe more see-through the curtains, the better. In this she-shed-turned-guest-house, a barely-there curtain lets in loads of light. Stick to sheers when you want to prioritize both privacy and the view. RELATED: Turn Your Guest Bedroom Into The Coziest Room In The House With These Expert Tips 6Hide The HardwareBrian Woodcock for Country LivingA well placed piece of trim can hide curtain hardware with ease. In this dreamy bedroom, an under-mounted pair of breezy white curtains keeps the visual clutter to a minimum while handsome leather furniture sets a more rustic tone. RELATED: Heres How To Clean Any Kind of Leather Like a ProAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Pick Pretty WoodMax Kim-Bee for Country LivingIf you are torn about putting up curtains, start with beautiful wood sliding doors, like these barn-door style doors on a lake houses back patio, designed by Thom Filicia. You may even decide you never want curtains! RELATED: Tour More of This Dreamy Lake House Designed by Thom Filicia8Pick Complementary ColorsBrie Williams for Country LivingIf the room youre decorating has a strong visual point of view, sometimes its best not to disrupt that flow. In this North Carolina cabin, neutral tones and warm touches set a welcoming tone, which is extended to the double-height glass windows and doors. Paired with neutrally patterned curtains, the view to the stunning mountain valley below takes precedent without losing out on style. RELATED: See More of This Rustic Mountain Cabin That is Filled With an Eclectic Mix of AntiquesAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Try Out a Top FlourishHouse Beautiful/Rachel WhitingCurtains with a flop-over valance top such as pictured here add a cottage whimsy to even the starkest of living rooms. Their soft silhouettes ease the transition from outdoors to in, while acting as the perfect foil to more modern furniture. RELATED: Heres Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Cottagecore10Keep It Simple with SolidsDiana Paulson for Country LivingIn a space already full of pattern, keep your curtains simple. In this colorful lake house bedroom, bold solid red curtains liven up the white walls without distracting from the beautiful view.RELATED: Heres Why Designers Love the Add a Touch of Red TheoryAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Lean Into LinenBrie Williams for Country LivingLinen is the optimal material for curtains, in this Senior Homes Editors humble opinion. Not only does the natural texture add nice dimension, but it also lets light through without reducing privacy, something that is at a premium in this party barn, owned by country music star Thomas Rhett. RELATED: See More of Lauren Akins and Thomas Rhetts Party Barn!12Turn up the TrimBrian Woodcock for Country LivingIf youre going light and breezy on your curtain panels, paint your window and door casement something striking. Here, a moody dark brown was chosen to pop against creamy curtains. RELATED: See How a Tennessee Couple Transformed a Rickety Hayloft Into This Airy Modern HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Try Subtle Ticking StripesRachel WhitingTicking stripes have long been a country staple thanks to their prim-yet-humble disposition which allows them to work in almost every space. In this breezy oceanside bedroom, their subtle pattern adds breezy, country flair. 14Hang Above the FrameVictoria Pearson for Country LivingTo keep your curtains from getting hung up in the door, place your curtain rod at least six inches above the door frame. In fact, many designers even recommend going all the way to the ceiling. Using a rounded, wrap-around style of rod will set the curtain away from your door slightly and make opening and closing easier. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Trim Your Curtain PanelsRachel WhitingIn this coastal living room, a striped sofa sets a quiet patterned tone that is mimicked on the trim of the sliding glass doors curtain trim, as well as on the Roman shade! Pairing patterns across furniture and accessories is a quick way to elevate a rooms design. RELATED: These Are The Best Color Palettes for Beach Homes, According To Designers16Make it Pop With Pattern and PaintDavid HillegasFor a coordinated look, pick a paint color for your trim that is a close match to the curtain fabric of your choice. You can even bring your fabric to the paint store and ask them to make a custom matching shade. In this sitting area designed by Heather Chadduck Hillegas, sky blue paint paired with colorful curtains brings the dreamy space together.RELATED: These Are The 100 Best Paint Colors of All TimeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Continue a Color PaletteEric PiaseckiThe easiest way to blend curtains into their surroundings is to match them to the paint color (or pick a matching fabric-wallpaper duo). In this cozy snug accented by floor-to-ceiling glass, the designer Barbara Westbrook chose a pretty beige set of curtains to match the subdued color on the wood walls. RELATED: These Are Our Favorite Living Room Paint Colors of All Time18Liven It Up with LayersRead McKendreeNothing adds a designed feel to a room like layers. To get the look, start with woven wood shades like shown here. Then pair them with patterned curtains like designer Katie Rosenfeld did and youll have a perfectly put together living room in no-time. Tip: These woven shades can be custom made via Amazon (of all places!) for a relatively low cost. Get the Look:Woven Wood Shades: Windows and Gardens Cordless Woven Wood Roman Shades on Amazon Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Try Casual Tiebacks Nassima RothackerTiebacks are the easiest way to give your curtains dimension. In this mudroom, the tieback is crafted from the same fabric as the panel for a more harmonious look. You can also buy premade ties at most major home decor stores. RELATED: This Is The Secret to a Well-Designed and Functional Mudroom, According to Designers20Pretty It Up With PlaidAdam Albright for Country LivingWe love maximalism here at Country Living, and there exists no clearer example of just how much style a powerful pattern can lend to a space than this Wisconsin living room. Here, multicolored swaths of plaid fabric were sewn together to craft these one-of-a-kind window treatments that are hung in panels at the ends and in the middle along the glassed wall.RELATED: Tour More of This Wisconsin Cabin That Feels Like Happy HourAnna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isnt working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

A new day, a new controversy around artificial intelligence. This time, Meta has been accused of using pirated content from torrents to train its large language model (LLM) Llama, which powers Meta AI. The case was one of the first copyright lawsuits filed against a tech company for training AI.As reported by Wired, Meta was hit with a lawsuit in 2023 for allegedly training Llama, the companys LLM, with pirated content. The case became known as Kadrey et al. v. Meta Platforms and was filed by novelists Richard Kadrey and Christopher Golden, who claimed that Meta used copyrighted content without authorization.Until now, Meta had handed over documents with redacted information to the court, but Judge Vince Chhabria of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ordered that the original documents should be made public and thats what happened.The documents reveal conversations between Meta employees about Meta AI and Llama. In one of the conversations, an engineer says that torrenting from a [Meta-owned] corporate laptop doesnt feel right, which corroborates that the company used pirated content to train its AI. Another conversation suggests that MZ (Mark Zuckeberg) authorized the use of pirated material.Evidence suggests that Meta used content from LibGen, a huge library of pirated books, magazines and academic articles. LibGen was created in Russia in 2008 and has been hit by multiple copyright lawsuits since then, even though no one knows who actually operates the piracy hub. Meta also reportedly used content from other shadow libraries for AI training. The company argues that it used public materials under the legal doctrine of fair use, which allows the use of copyrighted content without permission in certain circumstances, which are analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Meta also claims that its just using text to statistically model language and generate original expression.Meta announces expansion of its AI features to 21 additional countriesThis is not the first time that big techs have been accused of training AI models with copyrighted content. Last year, an investigation revealed that the OpenELM model created by Apple included subtitles from more than 170,000 YouTube videos.Although at first this led people to believe that Apple was using copyrighted content to train Apple Intelligence, the company later explained that OpenELM was an open-source model created for research purposes and that its database is not used to power Apple Intelligence.According to Apple, its AI features available on iOS and macOS are trained on licensed data, including data selected to enhance specific features, as well as publicly available data collected by our web-crawler.Its worth noting that many large publishers such as The New York Times and The Atlantic have chosen not to share their content with Apple Intelligence training.Buy new Apple products at a discountAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

As the city takes stock of the wreckage, firefighters are still battling several wildfires in the Los Angeles region and the path of destruction is enormous.An extremely dry 2024 inextricable at this point from the consequences of human-caused climate change has made firefighting efforts even more complicated. Last week, fire hydrants started to run dry, leaving some firefighters empty-handed.Which leaves an intriguing question: why aren't they scooping up water from the nearby Pacific Ocean?As Patrick Megonigal, associate director of research at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, explains in an essay for The Conversation, dumping saltwater is conventionally only a last resort, reserved for extreme situations.The answer as to why is twofold. For one, saltwater can accelerate the corrosion of firefighting equipment substantially. Second, saltwater can have devastating effects on the ecosystems where it's dumped, a more insidious and long-term reason why firefighters avoid ocean water.As Megonigal explains, researchers are only beginning to understand the negative consequences of introducing saltwater in places that are only accustomed to fresh water a pertinent topicbeyond the fires in California,considering that sea levels are on the rise around the globe.And in fact, the devastation in Los Angeles has been so immense that firefightershave been using ocean water as a last resort.Last week, firefighters flew aircraft known as Super Scoopers across the surface of the ocean to collect thousands of gallons of water to dump on wildfires, in an extreme measure reserved for when fresh water is extremely hard to come by.That's because many local ecosystems are only accustomed to freshwater. Introducing salts could have devastating effects on trees alone; for an example, look at the remaining stumps of ghost forests, which are newly created wetlands caused by rising sea levels in coastal areas.In an experiment dubbed Terrestrial Ecosystem Manipulation to Probe the Effects of Storm Treatments (TEMPEST), Megonigal and his colleagues at the Smithsonian pumped salty water from the Chesapeake Bay into a forested test plot.Being exposed to the salty water for just 30 hours caused the test plot trees to brown in mid-August, weeks earlier than normal."These changes did not occur in a nearby plot that we treated the same way, but with freshwater rather than seawater," Megonigal explained.They also found that the soil chemistry and structure were altered, with clays and other particles being dissolved, something that generally doesn't happen without the presence of saltwater.In other words, dumping "full-strength, salty ocean water" in extremely dry areas that are not used to being soaked, like Los Angeles, could have disastrous consequences.However, there's still plenty to learn about these undesired effects."Our research group is still trying to understand all the factors that limit the forests tolerance to salty water, and how our results apply to other ecosystems such as those in the Los Angeles area," Megonigal admitted.However, as sea levels continue to rise, more of the West Coast is being routinely exposed to saltwater, which could pose "unknown risks for coastal landscapes."In short, the fact that Los Angeles firefighters are resorting to saltwater at all is just another indication of how serious the blazes have been.More on the fires: Politicians Blame Los Angeles Fires on Explosion of AI Data CentersShare This Article

Only one of the Top 14 money-making movies of 2024 wasnt a sequel. And that lone holdout was Wicked, the long-awaited big-screen adaptation of a hugely successful Broadway musical, which, guess what, is getting its own movie sequel in 2025.So yeah, sequels are where the money is at in Hollywood. Over 40 sequels, prequels, reboots or franchise films are scheduled to be released in 2025. Here's the ones you should line up for:Star Trek: Section 31 (Jan. 24th on Paramount+)Michelle Yeoh stars in the first made-for-TV Star Trek movie, a spinoff from the Star Trek: Discovery series that exists in a timeline between the original William Shatner / Leonard Nimoy Star Trek movies and the Patrick Stewart Star Trek: The Next Generation series. Looks like a blast, and we're also still hoping they get a fourth Chris Pine as Kirk movie together one of these days.Captain America: Brave New World (Feb. 14)Anthony Mackies Sam Wilson, previously known as the Falcon, has taken over for Steve Rogers as Captain America in the 35th (!!) Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. Judging by the trailer, hes about to become embroiled in a high-stakes political mystery involving Harrison Ford as the President of the United States of America, whos also an extremely pissed off Red Hulk?Paddington in Peru (Feb. 14)Paddington 2 is incredible. I cried through the entire thing, it made me want to be a better man. I fing told you." Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal know what's up. If the third movie in this series is half as good as the second itll be well worth your time.The Accountant 2 (April 25)Nine years after the first installment, Ben Affleck is back as autistic accountant / killing machine Christian Wolff, with support from Jon Bernthal and J.K. Simmons.Thunderbolts* (May 2)The misfit toys of the Marvel Universe, including Florence Pughs Yelena Belova and David Harbours Red Guardian, the scene-stealing stars of 2021sBlack Widow,are forced to work together to battle ... Julia Louis-Dreyfus?Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (May 23)I need you to trust me - one last time. We're not sure if thats Tom Cruise or Ethan Hunt talking at the end of this trailer, but 2023s Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One was an unexpected misfire, so heres hoping the eighth film in the Mission Impossible series marks a return to form.Read More: 50 Movies Turning 50 in 2025Karate Kids: Legends (May 30)The Karate Kid worlds will converge in 2025, with Ralph Macchio from the original series teaming up with Jackie Chan from the kung fu-themed 2010 reboot in a brand new adventure set three years after the conclusion of Macchios popular Cobra Kai series.From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (June 6)After delivering the most exciting 10 minutes of 2021s James Bond movie No Time to Die, Ana de Armas takes the lead role in the first big screen spin-off of the John Wick franchise, which will feature an appearance from the Baba Yaga himself, Keanu Reeves.28 Years Later (June 20)18 years after the last installment, director Danny Boyle returns to the post-apocalyptic 28 Days Later franchise, along with writer Alex Garland, for 28 Years Later, the first of a newly promised trilogy from the innovative zombie franchise.M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)You cant keep a good AI-powered doll down, and you cant resist a sequel to a horror movie that grossed $181 million in 2022. So M3GAN is back to torment the human beings who (rightfully) rejected her in the first movie. A spin-off, SOULM8TE, is already lined up for 2026.Jurassic World: Rebirth (July 2)This is such an abusive relationship. Can we be honest and admit that even the first Jurassic Park movie was only great until the last five minutes, and that every successive sequel has been more preposterous and less exciting? And yet, the idea of a fresh start remains undeniably appealing, and the recruitment of Gareth Monsters / Rogue OneSuperman (July 11)Realizing they were being badly outclassed by Marvel, DC hired Guardians of the Galaxy mastermind James Gunn to re-boot their movie franchise. Hes starting right at the top, writing and directing a new Superman movie. If the whole things as good as the trailer were in good hands, but well still die on the Superman Returns was great and they should have kept that story going hill.The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25)Will the fourth time be the charm? After the first three failed attempts to bring the popular comic book series to the big screen, Marvel has their first shot at the Fantastic Four. The '60s'-set movie is also expected to mark the debut of Robert Iron Man Downey Jr. in a new role as Doctor Doom.The Naked Gun (Aug. 1)Three decades after Leslie Nielsen last appeared as clueless detective Frank Deblin, Liam Neeson is set to take over the role in a reboot of the Naked Gun series. Pamela Anderson, fresh off her acclaimed comeback performance in The Last Showgirl, and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes are also in the cast.Freakier Friday (Aug. 8)22 years after their beloved 2003 reboot of the Freaky Friday franchise, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsey Lohan will again swap bodies and stressful lives in Freakier Friday.We couldn't have made this movie until now, Curtis told People, because Lindsey had to be old enough to have a 15 year old.Nobody 2 (Aug. 15)Bob Odenkirk was flat-out amazing in 2021s Nobody, starring as a retired but only partially domesticated assassin forced back into action against a coked-up Russian mobster. Christopher Lloyd, RZA, Connie Nielsen and Michael Ironside are all back from the original, along with new co-stars Sharon Stone and Chris Pine.Tron: Ares (Oct. 10)The third film in the comet-like Tron series flips the tables on its predecessors. Instead of humans entering the computer world, a humanoid AI-powered computer program (played by Jared Leo) who is sent into the real world on a dangerous mission.Predator: Badlands (Nov. 7) and Untitled Sequel (TBA)The Predator franchise has produced two rather underappreciated gems in the past 20 years. 2010's Predators is well worth your time, as is 2022s 1719-set Prey. (Oddly enough, the only bum note in that streak came from the usually reliable Shane Black, with his 2018 The Predator.) Prey director Dan Trachtenberg returns with Predator: Badlands AND another secretly shot Predator movie, which is expected to be released before Badlands.The Running Man (Nov. 7)Glenn Powell takes over for Arnold Schwarzenegger in director Edgar Hot Fuzz / Baby DriverWright's remake of The Running Man. Seeing as how the life or death game show at the center of the story is at most a year away from happening in real life, his timing is good.Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21)Can't say we fully understand how the already bloated three-hour musical version of Wicked had to be divided into two movies, the first half of which ran 160 minutes, but our kids would have sat still for another five hours during the first one so the filmmakers must know something we dont.Zootopia 2 (Nov. 26)Its been nine years since the clever and funny Zootopia first hit movie theaters. Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin return as the fox and rabbit buddy cops, this time trying to track down a snake played by Ke Huy Quan. Safe assumption: the sloth steals every scene hes in.Avatar: Fire and Ash (Dec. 19)Three years after James Cameron rather boringly reheated the first Avatar movie and Titanic with Avatar: The Way of Water, the worlds most successful director returns to Pandora with Avatar: Fire and Ash. Much like Jurassic World: Rebirth, we'll be seeing this one in spite of our better judgment.Anaconda (Dec. 25)17 years after Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez tangled with a giant snake in the original Anaconda, Jack Black and Paul Rudd take the reigns of the franchise just in time for Christmas 2025. Were gonna go out on a limb and guess that this chapter will play up the humor a bit more deliberately.Happy Gilmore 2 (TBA)Adam Sandler makes his long-awaited return to the role of Happy Gilmore, a failed hockey player turned golf champion who seems destined to conflict with Christopher McDonalds Shooter McGavin yet again. The film is going to be filled with golf pro and celebrity cameos, and we're betting that AEWs Maxwell Jacob Friedman leaves them all in his dust. Because he's better than you, and you know it.The Old Guard 2 (TBA)Casting Charlize Theron in any kind of role that involves ass-kicking is a foolproof plan to happily separate us from our money and time. Shes back as the (formerly?) immortal leader of a group of mercenaries in The Old Guard 2, which will also star Uma Thurman.Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (TBA)Daniel Craig is set to return as the highly idiosyncratic private investigator Benoit Blanc in the third Knives Out movie, which features yet another star-studded cast. This time around, hell match wits with Mila Kunis, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner and Glenn Close. (Bold prediction: Glenn did it.)Other Sequels and Franchise Films Arriving in 2025:Den of Thieves 2 (Jan. 10)Wolf Man (Jan. 17)The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (Feb. 11)Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Feb. 13)Snow White (March 21)Final Destination: Blood Lines (May 16)Lilo & Stitch (May 23)How to Train Your Dragon (June 13)The Smurfs Movie (July 18)Untitled I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel (July 18)The Conjuring: Last Rites (Sept. 5)Untitled Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel (Sept. 12)Saw XI (Sept. 26)The Black Phone 2 (Oct. 17)Mortal Kombat 2 (Oct. 24)Now You See Me 3 (Nov. 14)Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (Dec. 5)The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants (Dec. 19)Get our free mobile appThe 25 Best Sequel TitlesThese sequels all share one thing in common: They all have really good titles.

Accounting & Field Service System Implementation SpecialistWe're seeking an experienced Accounting System Implementation Specialist to lead customer onboarding of our accounting and field service management software. The ideal candidate has expertise beyond accounting and can speak to additional aspects of field service, such as managing inventory, dispatch, etc.Key Responsibilities- Lead implementation of new accounting/ERP systems- Guide customer discovery sessions to discern preferred system behaviors, configuration, and best practices- Provide guidance to customers on transitioning from legacy accounting and field service systems- Provide training and support for new system- Ensure data integrity during migrations- Manage multiple implementation projects simultaneouslyQualifications- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA/CMA preferred- 5+ years in accounting, 2+ years in software system implementation or project management; preferred experience in the construction and/or field service industries- Strong understanding of accounting principles related to inventory tracking, recurring revenue management, and cost/revenue recognition processes- Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)- Excellent project management and communication skills- Proficient in data analysis and management- Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilitiesBenefits- Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance- Primarily remote work- Semi-flexible work schedule- Paid time off and holidays- Professional development opportunitiesAdditional Benefits- Life insurance- Company Contribution to Health, Vision, and DentalJob Details- Job Type: Full-time- Pay: $62,715.55 - $83,485.39 per year- Work Location: RemoteRequired License/Certification- CPA (Preferred)- Four year degreeJob Type: Full-timePay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per yearBenefits:401(k)401(k) matchingDental insuranceFlexible scheduleHealth insuranceLife insuranceVision insuranceWork Location: Remote Related Jobs See more Management and Finance jobs