World of Warcraft continues to pay tribute to Mats "Ibelin" Steen, the subject of the recent Netflix documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, this time transforming Steen's character into a full-fledged NPC.As spotted by Wowhead, dataminers have discovered an NPC by the name of Lord Ibelin Redmoore on the public test realm for the MMORPG's upcoming 11.1 update. The NPC's appearance matches Ibelin's look in the documentary, though it's currently unclear where players will be able to find Ibelin in-game or what he might have to say should players interact with him.Steen suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and played WoW as a means of socializing and connecting with others. His character Ibelin, who he often roleplayed as, labeled himself as a private investigator and would use his in-game job title as a means to strike up conversation.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Anime has its distinct feel, and if theres anything that makes anime more special, it has to be music. Starting with action-packed intro songs to sad insert songs that play at the end of the episodes, anime songs are not just any song or there to just fill in the rest of the time until the episode reaches its running timeanime songs are a feeling. Theyre the catchy songs you sing to while taking a shower or the songs you crank up when you feel dramatic about doing your laundry. But in point, these less-than-two-minute tracks are highly valuable in defining the anime's whole plot and, contrary to popular belief, its success.

To prepare players for the hellish grind that is the endgame of Path of Exile 2, the developers have left easy-to-miss encounters in the main campaign that provide permanent buffs, additional passive skill points, and weapon set skill points to characters.

There are only a handful of customizable weapons in Metro Exodus. However, each weapon can be set up with hundreds of different attachment combinations and upgrades. This means that there are dozens of viable setups for each gun in-game. When attempting to rank the best weapons in the game, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Critical Role, the ongoing Dungeons & Dragons campaign played by a group of popular voice actors, is on pause until next week due to the ongoing, devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The group announced the delay on its social media on Wednesday: As the evolving fires in Los Angeles are directly impacting our cast and crew, were taking a break from streaming this week with the intention of returning to Exandria next Thursday, January 16th. The Critical Role series is typically broadcast on Twitch and YouTube on Thursdays. It stars voice actors including Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam OBrien, and more many of whom are located in Los Angeles alongside production staff and support crew.IMPORTANT UPDATE As the evolving fires in Los Angeles are directly impacting our cast and crew, we're taking a break from streaming this week with the intention of returning to Exandria next Thursday, January 16th. Critical Role (@criticalrole.bsky.social) 2025-01-08T22:32:20.700ZAs of this exact moment, the two largest fires burning throughout the Los Angeles area are 0% contained, Critical Role senior vice president of marketing Rachel Romero told Polygon in a statement. I heard on the local news this morning that the fire thats burning in the Palisades is the most destructive fire in Los Angeless history. Some of our family, friends, colleagues, co-workers have lost their houses, businesses, and other places that feel like home to them. We are absolutely heartbroken to see so much destruction and loss in our own backyard and encourage everyone to take a moment and think through how they can best support whether that is through a monetary donation, food or supplies donations here locally, or just sharing resources within your own network, whether it be online or offline.Critical Role Foundation has donated $30,000 to the California Community Foundations Wildlife Recovery Fund, according to a post on BlueSky. This is largely in part due to the Critical Role Foundation, an organization that accepts donations from the passionate Critical Role fan community.We are inexplicably grateful to the Critical Role community, who has allowed us the opportunity to create meaningful change through the Critical Role Foundation, said Romero, who is a board member for the Critical Role Foundation. CRF allocates 10% of every donation to an emergency fund, which allows us to be able to send aid quickly in the event that something tragic like this unfolds. We are keeping our community in Los Angeles, as well as all of the incredible people working to put the fires out (and the support staff around them!), in our hearts.Five major fires are currently burning in Los Angeles Country, the largest of which is the Pacific Palisades fire, which has spread to 17,000 acres as of Thursday morning. More than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate while heavy winds pushed the fire erratically around the city and its surrounding areas. Five people have died due to the fires, and thousands of buildings including schools, homes, and businesses have been damaged or destroyed. Combined with the Palisades fire, the Eaton fire, Hurst fire, Lidia fire, and Sunset fire account for 28,896 acres burned.California residents and others aresharing resources to help their communities; Planet Fitness gyms in Los Angeles Country are open to non-members, and others are handing out quality masks to protect residents from dangerous wildfire smoke. There are tons of regional and grassroots organizations accepting donations,including the LAFD Wildfire Emergency Fund,Mutual Aid LA,Our Big Kitchen, and more.Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Sam Riegels name, as well as to clarify and include further details about CRFs donations.

Currently Los Angeles County suffers from apocalyptic scenes of deadly, uncontained wildfires. Unfortunately, insurance doesn't function like a gas or electric company; even in the face of disaster, insurers aren't obligated to service your home. Instead, these companies can choose which properties they're willing to insure based on their risk assessment models. This selective coverage has become increasingly common in areas prone to natural disasters, particularly in regions facing heightened wildfire or flood risks. While getting a cancelation or nonrenewal notice can be stressful, there are a few steps you should take before you accept force-placed insurance. Here's what you can do.Immediate steps after receiving a cancelation notice from your insurance companyMake sure you review your notice carefully. Document both the date you received the notice as well as the effective date of cancelation/nonrenewal. Identify the specific reason(s) given for the coverage change, and then check if the notice complies with state notification requirements.From here, contact your insurance company:Request a detailed written explanation if not provided.Ask about specific risks or issues that led to their decision.Inquire if any property improvements could change their decision.As always, get all communications in writing for your records. And make sure you understandand fight foryour rights here. You could be entitled to a grace period, or your state may require insurers to help you find new coverage. If they don't do these things, document any violations of state insurance laws.Another place to turn is your mortgage agreement's insurance requirements. Contact your lender to discuss the situation, and request additional time if needed to secure new coverage.State-based insurance optionsIn the face of your coverage dropping you, look into these national and state-based insurance programs:California FAIR PlanCoverage up to $3 million for structuresMust be combined with a "difference in conditions" policyRequires inspection of propertyAvailable to all California property ownersNew York FAIR PlanCoverage for hard-to-insure propertiesBasic fire and extended coverageMust apply through licensed insurance agentFlorida Citizens Property InsuranceLast-resort coverage for Florida residentsMust prove inability to find private coverageSpecial assessment risks during major disastersTexas FAIR PlanBasic coverage for qualified propertiesAvailable after two private market rejectionsRequires property maintenance complianceNational Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)Building coverage up to $250,000Contents coverage up to $100,000Available in participating communitiesCovers direct physical flood damageProperty must be in NFIP-participating communityCoverage effective after 30-day waiting periodMust meet minimum floodplain management standardsAnnual premium based on flood zone and coverageYou can also look into private flood insurance options, which often provide shorter waiting periodsat a higher cost, unfortunately. Whenever you're looking to buy insurance, you can look into policy bundling, aka combining multiple policies for better rates. In this case, do some research to work with insurers specializing in high-risk properties.What else to do if you live in a high-risk areaThe risk of losing your physical home makes your community, and the people in it, all the more important. Join local disaster preparedness groups and engage in local emergency planning. You could join or start building neighborhood insurance pools, community-based catastrophe insurance, and other sorts of DIY safety nets for when insurance companies fail you.In terms of your own finances, natural disasters are one of the top reasons to maintain a robust emergency fund. Remember that while losing insurance coverage can be alarming, there are usually multiple options available. The key is to act quickly, understand your rights, and explore all possible alternatives before accepting more expensive or limited coverage options.If you're looking to help the tens of thousands have fled their homes in California this week, you can visit redcross.org, donate to support United Way's efforts here, or the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund here.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.January is one of my favorite times of year as a spin teacher because I see so many new faces in my classes, and I love helping people set up their bikes, develop a routine, and make the most of their new membership. Even though you go to the gym to use equipment you don't have at home, part of maximizing the benefits does include bringing some personal items along with you, so I always make sure to offer recommendations for what the ideal gym bag should look like, too. Whether you're a complete newbie, a seasoned gym rat, a solo trainer, a group fitness enthusiast, or some combination of those, here's what you should pack, according to instructors and pros.First: The gym bag itselfI want to start by talking about your gym bag. There are a lot of benefits to having a designated gym bag. First, it's a motivational push. I'm the kind of person who sets an outfit out before bed every night to make the next morning smoother. Doing that relieves a bunch of stress because I'm not tired and rushed, fumbling through my closet to find something presentable. I feel the same way about setting out my gym bag. When I see it packed and ready to go by the door, I know a big chunk of work is already taken care of so I should just follow through and head out to the gym. "I like having a backpack ready with my shoes and gym essentials so I dont have to think of what to pack before a gym session," says Christina Phipps, a certified group fitness instructor in Bismarck, N.D. "Same thing for early morning workouts: I prep the night before to make the mornings easier." Madison Bailey, a NASM-certified personal trainer in New York City, says one of the most important things you can "bring" to the gymespecially if you're new to working out in publicis some confidence. Even though I have been going to the gym as a member for all of my adult life and as an instructor for the past four years, I still occasionally need to hype myself up. It's intimidating to see someone you perceive as farther along in their fitness journey than you are or approach an unfamiliar machine for the first time, so whatever you can do to get some confidence and fake it 'til you make it is key. For me, that involves looking and feeling my best, so I use a bag I consider extra cute and actually enjoy bringing with me: A fleece belt bag from Lululemon (currently on sale for $39). That's not very big, I know, so if you're looking for something that can hold all your equipment, accessories, and even clothes and shoes, try the all-time favorite of Lifehacker Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki, the Adidas Defender. Spacious and durable, this thing will hold it all, so you'll feel prepared the second you enter the gym. adidas Unisex Adult Defender 4 Medium Duffel Bag, Black/White, One Size $31.42 at Amazon $45.00 Save $13.58 Learn More Learn More $31.42 at Amazon $45.00 Save $13.58 Drinks are next on your gym listEven if you've never gone to the gym a single time in your life (yet!), you know hydration is a key part of any workout, but if you need to hear it from an expert, here's what Teddy Savage, National Lead Trainer at Planet Fitness, has to say: "Hydration is the single most important thing you should think about before, during, and after your workout. Your muscles, heart, and mind need that cool refreshing H20 to stay at peak performance and help prevent you from getting sluggish when you need that energy."Obviously, you need a water bottle and I'm just going to go ahead and tell you right now that my gold-standard pick is the Owala FreeSip. In the same way I use my little Lululemon pouch for a boost of cuteness that makes me want to take it to the gym, Savage suggests choosing a bottle that is "a bold and colorful representation of you," one that makes you want to carry it proudly. The FreeSip comes in a variety of colors, so no problem there. Owala FreeSip insulated water bottle, 24 ounces $27.94 at Amazon $29.99 Save $2.05 Learn More Learn More $27.94 at Amazon $29.99 Save $2.05 I am obsessed with mine at all times of the day, but especially at the gym, where the 24-ounce version fits in the cupholder of every machine, keeps my drinks super cold, and comes in handy with its dual spout, which can function as a standard sipper or by using the attached straw. It opens with the push of a button, so I don't have to fiddle with fidgety screw tops and can easily get some water down between shouted cues for my classes. If you're cruising on a cardio machine, you don't want to waste time or compromise your safety by fumbling with a bottle. Feel free to put a protein shake or some pre-workout powder in there, too, though it'll take you some time to figure out the exact ones you like and want to pack. Bailey says that in some fitness spaces, you may hear chatter about the value of fasting before a workout, but you can ignore that if you're a beginner and focus on eating before the gym and making sure you have plenty of water and electrolytes on hand during your session. Phipps and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to the importance of an oft-overlooked beverage to pack in addition to your water bottle: the humble treat. If you see me in the gym early in the morning, you see a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee next to me. In the evening, you'll catch me with an overpriced, decadent smoothie. Spin class attendees occasionally ask me why I'm dual-wielding beveragesespecially when one of them has, God forbid, some sugarand I'll tell you the same thing I tell them: Because it's OK to enjoy yourself at the gym. In fact, it's imperative. Rewarding yourself for hard work is a huge motivator, especially if you're doing it while you do the hard work. If you start to look at the gym as something you must do without enjoyment and tasty treats as something you can't have on your wellness journey, you won't keep going, no matter how well you pack your bag. What gym pros recommend you pack in your bagOther than that, what you pack has a lot to do with what your goals are. Bailey advises you should never forget your headphones, which is definitely true: A good playlist can get you through anything, which is why I keep an old pair of earbuds in my bag at all times.What else I bring depends on my game plan for the day. I almost always have some one-pound ankle or wrist weights in my bag to increase the intensity of whatever I get up to in the cardio room. I also pack my own cable machine attachments, which might seem finicky, but gives me a little peace of mind that I'm not strapping someone else's sweat directly onto my body. On leg day, this means I bring my own ankle straps for kickbacks, while days set aside for arms or back muscles call for little handles. Another thing I like about bringing my own attachments is that they're always the same, so I never have to adjust to a new one and change my routine. I've also heard stories from friends whose gyms make them rent cable machine attachments or who workout in spaces where the attachments routinely go missing, leaving the machine unusable for everybody. You don't have to buy a whole set of attachmentsalthough you can for as low as about $40but having a few of your own for under $20 solves a lot of problems in one go."Something that I find to be helpful with people is lifting straps," adds Bailey, who has been training people one-on-one for four years. "I prefer figure eight straps, but thats just me. You cant just drop weight with them, though; you have to control the weight all the way to the ground. I like them because most people are stronger than their grip allows them to realize." In that same vein, don't forget a stretching band, Phipps says. You can use a resistance band for stretching, then keep using it throughout your workout as designed. Sure, your gym likely has thesebut I've been to plenty of places where they're in high demand and almost impossible to access during peak hours. It's small and folds up into your bag, so again, just consider bringing your own. (I also use mine for hip thrusts, placing it over my hips and hanging two dumbbells from the side. It works just as well as putting a full bar over your hips and cuts down the time you may spend waiting for someone else to finish with the bigger bar.) Also toss a multi-device charger into your bag. We've already been over how important it is to remember your headphones, but it's just as important to keep them charged so they work when you need them, and the same goes for your phone, which plays your music, and your fitness tracker. When I work out without my Apple Watch on, I get really annoyed with myself. As Savage says, "In your mind, its almost as if none of that sweat-inducing work even happened," and even though that's not really true, it's still annoying and a setback in its own way, especially if you're committed to tracking your progress. I keep a three-in-one charger for my AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone with me. It's better to charge for a few minutes in the locker room and start late than to be without the tech you need to enhance your workout.Finally, Phipps says you should pack your own sweat towel, and I agree. My secret is that I use a Makeup Eraser, which is super soft so it isn't abrasive, sucks up all moisture immediately, and costs about $14, so it's comparable to any of the gym-specific towels on the market. It also folds up teeny-tiny into my bag or the cupholder of a cardio machine, which I appreciate.

This week, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced it is scaling back its fact-checking program in favor of "Community Notes" and either strengthening free speech on the platforms (if you ask Mark Zuckerberg) or loosening protections against hate speech (if you're someone who doesn't think it should be OK to suggest being a member of the LGBTQ community is a mental illness). Instagram and Threads will also soon be tossing more political content into your feeds whether you want it or not, a change that is not going over well with some users. Whether you're troubled by these policy changes, or you're just trying to live up to your New Years resolution to stay off Isocial media, there are a few ways to make a break from Meta's offerings. The most obvious is the nuclear option: account deletion. If that sounds too permanent to you, you can also simply deactivate your account, giving you the option to return to it later. Here is what to consider before making the choice, as well as instructions for each option.Before you delete or deactivate your Instagram, download your dataBefore I get into how to deactivate or delete an Instagram, heres some free advice: Download your Instagram data before you do either. You can do this by going to your profile and hitting the three-line menu in the top right (on mobile) or bottom left (on desktop). From there, choose Your activity, scroll all the way to the bottom, and select Download your information. On the next pages, you'll be prompted to select exactly what Meta accounts you want to download from. If you have Facebook or Threads in addition to Instagram, for example, you'll see all of those options. Credit: Screenshot by Joel Cunningham On the next screen, you can choose to download "All available information" (all of your images, comments, etc., but not pictures on other accounts in which you have been tagged), or choose "Some of your information," which will allow you to check off a list of items you want to save. Credit: Screenshot by Joel Cunningham On the next screen, you can choose a date range for your download. (If you want everything, select "All time.") Select "Notify" to choose where you'll receive a download link when your information is ready (you'll have to choose from the addresses previously associated with your account). You can also choose the "Format" for your dataHTML, which will let you view your pictures, posts, etc. offline as they appear on the web version of Instagram; or JSON, which will make it easier to upload the data to a different site.Even if you're just deactivating, it's always good to have a copy of your data, just in case something goes wrong with your accountplus you might want to look back on it while your account is offline (or especially if you delete it). How to deactivate InstagramNow, onto the deactivation. From that same three-line menu you tapped before, choose Accounts Center. Next, youll hit Personal details, then Account ownership and control. Youll see a button for Deactivation or deletion. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson/Meta Depending how many other accounts you have linked under your main one, you may see a few options here, just as you did when downloading your data. I, for instance, see my personal Facebook, one of my anon Instagram accounts, and my primary Instagram account. Select the one you want to deactivate. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson/Meta Deactivating means that your profile will basically disappear from public view. I know people who do this all the time, only to reinstate their accounts when theyre ready to reengage. When you deactivate, everyone who follows you will have their following count go down by one, but no one will be directly notified that you're the one who deactivated. Once deactivated, your account will no longer be searchable. To everyone else, it will be like you dont existbut you'll be able to log back in at any time and reinstate your account, along with all of your previous posts. If you just want a little break from the app or youre not really sure you want to delete it, this is your best option.How to delete your Instagram accountThe steps for deletion are the same as the steps for deactivation. From that same three-line menu you tapped to download your data, choose Accounts Center. Next, youll hit Personal details, then Account ownership and control. Youll see a button for Deactivation or deletion. It looks like this: Credit: Lindsey Ellefson/Meta Only select "Delete account" from this screen if you are sure you want to zero out the whole account forever. Once you've deleted your account, you can't recover it. Your username will be freed up for someone else to use. Your photos, videos, DMs, saved posts, archived posts, and highlights will all be wiped. There's no coming back. Adios. Farewell. Goodbye to all that, and best wishes for improved mental health (or at least more free time) going forward.

At CES last year, Sony teased an AR/VR headset prototype focused on spatial content creation. And at the same time, Siemens announced it was working with Sony to use that same hardware, including the two new controllers it developed, for something it was calling the industrial metaverse. Thats a lot of buzzwords, but at CES 2025 both Siemens and Sony showed the headsets and associated software in action which helped clear up a lot of what the companies are trying to do here.During Sonys CES press conference, it announced its XYN brand of software and hardware solutions, with the headset being a key part of the equation. The XYN spatial capture solution uses mirrorless cameras to scan and make photorealistic 3D objects. Using the XYN headset, you can see those objects in 3D production software for animation, video games and other potential uses.I got a chance to try the XYN headset on, as well as see some samples of the 3D objects that were scanned and manipulated. The demo itself was a little rocky, as so many VR demos can be, but essentially I was placed inside an animated world that had already been constructed. From there, I was able to import a geode / crystal-like object that had been scanned using the spatial capture tools. I could move it all around the virtual space, scaling it up to massive size or shrinking it down to a tiny pebble.SonyThe headset itself felt well-constructed and sturdy for a prototype the display flips up so you can get back into the real world quickly, and the headband was pretty comfortable and secure. As usual, though, its hard to evaluate how itll feel after an hour or two around your noggin. The controller wand felt a little fiddly to me its somewhat unusual shape makes it well-suited to pointing, but figuring out how to grab down on things took me a bit. I cant say how steep the learning curve is, but at least everything felt responsive and well-made.While the demo itself wasnt ground-breaking, it was a good example of showing the whole XYN pipeline, from capturing a 3D object to manipulating and using it to build out a virtual environment. Sony says the XYN headset and its controllers are still in the prototype phase, but it wouldnt surprise me if we find out more about public availability sooner than later.Nathan Ingraham for EngadgetThats because Siemens announced this week that what appears to be the exact same headset and controllers are now on sale, albeit with a very different focus. Siemens coined the industrial metaverse phrase last year, and I got a chance to learn more about just what that means. It turns out that Sony originally built the headset for internal use for designers and engineers to build things in 3D space. They were already using Siemens software, so the companies started working together to optimize both sides of the experience and now Siemens thinks theyre at a point where they can sell the headset and software bundles to enterprise customers.Siemens highlighted its AR capabilities a bit more, showing off how you could pin its NX Immersive Designer and use the headset as a virtual workspace but one that lets you enlarge and manipulate the 3D objects youre designing. You can also jump into VR mode and see the objects at full size and move around them using the headsets controller. In this demo, I got to fly around massive 3D reproductions of a few airplanes, and while they werent the most detailed objects, the utility was clear.SonyI also used the second controller Sony developed in the Siemens demo. In addition to the pointer-style device, I had a ring over my index finger on my left hand. I used that to move around the virtual space; holding and turning my hand a specific direction moved me forwards and backwards or up and down. As always, it took a minute to get my bearings, but I was getting right up close to the virtual planes and flying up to check out their details before long.Siemens is definitely further along in the quest to bring this product to end users: the XR HMD is up for pre-order now for $4,750, and the company says itll begin shipping next month. So the hardware is definitely beyond the prototype phase in Sonys case, its probably more a matter of making sure the whole pipeline of XYN software and hardware works together before making it widely available.Sony and Siemens definitely face a challenge showing people how these tools can be useful a four-minute demo doesnt really do the trick, and Im neither an engineer nor a content creator who might use the XYN tools. But what I find most intriguing about this strategy is that Sony is recognizing that its headset isnt a broad consumer product; instead, theyre finding different places and industries where it might be useful. At this point, thats probably a smart strategy, given that consumer-grade AR and VR remains very niche outside of the gaming sphere. But assuming Sonys headset hardware is up to snuff, it wouldnt surprise me to see other companies adopt it for their specific needs.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/sonys-xyn-xr-headset-is-being-used-in-very-different-ways-at-ces-2025-204020872.html?src=rss

TripAdvisor has entered into a partnership with Perplexity to offer a human touch to the AI company's hotel information. Through this deal, listings for hotel searches on Perplexity will now include summaries of information from TripAdvisor explaining why they were included in the results. Ratings, perks and images from TripAdvisor will also appear on Perplexity."From the Tripadvisor side, they provide an up-to-date trustworthy source of information that we sync regularly," Perplexity cofounder Johnny Ho told The Verge. "On the fly, well index and retrieve the right results depending on the user intent of the query."The results of this partnership are live now on Perplexity's website and will roll out soon to the company's mobile apps. According to the press release, the pair of businesses will continue to make improvements to their collaboration over the next three years. A lot of money probably changed hands for this deal, but no financial details were shared.Last summer, Perplexity announced plans to add an ad revenue program to its AI-powered search engine. The company has drawn accusations of plagiarism and copyright infringement from several publishers, including The New York Times, Cond Nast, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/perplexity-will-now-show-hotel-information-from-tripadvisor-202923788.html?src=rss