But wait a second...Young WhippercrackerMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced sweeping layoffs of what he refers to as "low-performers"at his empire.According to a company-wide memo obtained by Bloomberg, the Facebook owner is cutting around five percent of its staff. And interestingly, the directive is already in tension with what Zuckerberg told podcaster Joe Roganlast weekabout how the company was looking to replace "midlevel engineers" with AI. Instead in a likely concession to AI just not quite being up to snuff yet he says employees "who aren't meeting expectations" will be replaced in order to "bring new people in" (emphasis on the "people," for any AI zealots.)"Ive decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster," he wrote in the message, adding that terminated employees would be provided with "generous severance."Zuckerberg wrote that 2025 will be an "intense year" that will require the "strongest talent." But what exactly he means by that remains unclear as the billionaire makes sweeping changes to the company's operations.The CEO appears to be taking yet another page out of the playbook of X-former-Twitter owner Elon Musk, who has long led his companies with an iron fist demanding in 2022 that Twitter staff be "extremely hardcore" or risk immediate termination, for instance.Race to the BottomZuckerberg already raised eyebrows this month by giving up the pretense of serious content moderation on his sites. Earlier this month, he introduced new measures that would allow hate speech and misinformation to proliferate unchecked on the company's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.The straightforward reading is that it was a thinly veiled attempt by Zuckerberg to get in the good graces of president-elect Donald Trump, who has formed a tight relationship with Musk and will be sworn in next week (Trump previously threatened to imprison Zuckerberg, which may also be weighing on the founder's mind.)How exactly Meta's latest efforts to weed out "low-performers" fits into the ongoing groveling remains to be seen. It's not just Meta,either; tech companies across the board are looking to tighten up their operations. Microsoft is also targeting underperforming employees as part of major headcount reductions across the company.During his chat with Rogan last week, Zuckerberg also whined that companies were being "culturally neutered" by purportedly distancing themselves from "masculine energy."Could his latest attempt to push out "low-performers" be symptomatic of his deranged desire to inject some machismo into Meta? Judging by the company's willingness to throw out the rulebook and double down on Musk-inspired meritocracy, anything seems possible.Share This Article

There are two types of people in this world: Those who like crispy french fries and those who like squishy ones and you cant please everyone.Chick-Fil-A is finding this out currently as they tried to sneak one past the goalie and change their fry recipe, hoping not too many people would notice. They did.According to USA Today, the highly-coveted fast food chain has made a slight adjustment to its original waffle potato fries recipe that offers the same great taste and will not contain any of the nine major allergens.The simple change is adding pea starch to the recipe,which apparently enables the crunch to stick around a little longer.This change is said tohelp yougetthose golden friesall the way home and chomp down on them and still get some crisp on the front of the bite.YouTuber Daym Drops took a bite out of the new recipe waffle fry and immediately got heated. He left a scathing review of them.Weve been here before, Im talking about dumb basic. Im talking about old Ugg boots, leaning to the side, making their way to Starbucks basic. This right here is take all the makeup off basic.Others are cautiously optimistic, offering to trythe new fry recipe, but warning Chick-Fil-A that they dont want to be let down because they already loved the previous waffle fries.Some users also are dumbfounded as to why Chick-Fil-A would break the old If it ain't broke, don't fix it rule.Meanwhile, somecustomers are commenting how they are open to trying the fries, but are really hoping to not be able to taste peas when they bite into them.Then, there aresupporters those who plant their crispy flag into the ketchup and stand by the new recipe change.When you are constantly one of the most popular fast food chains in America, making a change can seem kind of extreme.Only time will tell if Chick-Fil-A made the right choice forits customers and their brand.Get our free mobile appREAD MORE: Beloved 80s Foods That No Longer ExistThe Craziest Fast Food Menu Items EverFiled Under: Fast FoodCategories: Original Features

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Data Coordinator to join our team. This role plays a crucial part in managing and maintaining accurate and up-to-date account information across a large portfolio.Key Responsibilities:Manage a comprehensive list of accounts, ensuring their data is reviewed and updated regularly.Communicate with account contacts via email to gather updates, confirm details, and ensure accuracy.Maintain organized records of account interactions and updates.Utilize HubSpot to manage and track account information efficiently.Collaborate with the team to identify and address any data inconsistencies or issues.Draft clear and professional communications for outreach and updates.Qualifications:Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a high volume of accounts and emails effectively.Proficiency in HubSpot or similar CRM platforms is preferred.Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to craft professional and engaging messages.Detail-oriented mindset and commitment to maintaining high standards of accuracy.Prior experience in account management, data coordination, or a similar role is a plus. Related Jobs See more Sales and Marketing jobs

Our Experts Written by Ty Pendlebury David Katzmaier Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement How we test What to consider Channel lineup Live TV streaming services may offer different packages and add-ons for viewers, but you want to ensure you can watch your local channels along with cable networks and on-demand videos. Not every service provides access to local programming (like PBS, ABC or NBC), sports or channels you'd typically find on cable and satellite TV. Compare channel lineups before choosing. Price You can choose a streaming service subscription that aligns with your budget, and there are multiple services available. Prices range from $25 to over $100 per month, depending on what you want. When considering costs, review the channel selection, cloud DVR abilities, price of premium add-ons, and how many devices you can stream on simultaneously. Simultaneous streams Take note of how many screens you can watch at a time. For example, YouTube TV allows you to stream on three devices at once, while Hulu grants you two, with the option to pay extra for more screens. Look for platform offerings that fit your household's needs. Table of Contents If you're looking to cut the cable cord this year, then live TV streaming services offer a convenient way to watch live TV without a contract. These are cable TV replacements and, unlike typical on-demand services like Netflix, are designed to let you easily channel surf and access a live channel lineup. You can watch sports, news broadcasts, primetime TV shows and more, or opt to record it all and watch later. All you need is a phone, streaming device or a smart TV. Our Picks Best budget live TV service Sling TV Blue View details $40 at Sling TV View details Best live service with premium bundle Hulu Plus Live TV View details $83 at Hulu View details Best channel selection YouTube TV View details $83 at YouTube TV View details Best for channel flippers, sports fans DirecTV Stream View details $87 at DirecTV View details Table of Contents What's the best live TV streaming service overall?Our two top choices in this category are Hulu Plus Live TV and the budget-friendly Sling TV. Sling's Blue package carries a large variety of basic channels at an affordable price, and Hulu's live offerings include a Disney streaming bundle. Each service provides a user-friendly layout along with a blend of live channels with unlimited DVR and on-demand content. Beyond those two, all of the cancel-anytime live TV bundles we've evaluated on this list give you the ability to watch local and national news as well aslive sportsand events. Whichever you choose, you can stream live channels such as CNN, NBC, ESPN and Fox on a host of different devices. It's easy to get started. You don't even need a technician to stop by your home.Best live TV streaming services of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 $40 at Sling TV

OpinionJanuary 14, 20255 min readThe Curious History of Venn DiagramsA look at the curious history of Venn diagrams and how they blend logic with geometryBy Jack Murtagh edited by Jeanna Bryner Amanda MontaezIn his book The Mathematical Universe, mathematician William Dunham wrote of John Venns namesake legacy, the Venn diagram, No one in the long history of mathematics ever became better known for less. While Venn diagrams may not have solved any long-standing open problems, surely these interlocking rings deserve more credit. Their compact representation of group relationships explains their enduring appeal in classrooms, infographics and Internet memes.Not merely visual aids, Venn diagrams can help us solve everyday logic problems, and they give rise to surprising geometric questions. Have you ever seen a proper Venn diagram with four overlapping circles? No, because its impossible. Venn himself discovered this and came up with a clever fix, but this only begot deeper geometric puzzles that mathematicians still study today.Venn debuted his diagrams in 1880 as a method for visualizing contemporary advances in logic. They then found application in the closely related branch of math called set theory, which focuses on collections of objects. Venn diagrams typically consist of overlapping circles, with each representing some set of elements, (e.g., things that are cuddly or Broadway shows). The overlapping region between two circles contains elements that belong to both sets (e.g., cats). Much like in using scatter plots in statistics or drawing shapes in geometry, seeing ones problem often clarifies it.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Imagine youre planning a dinner party and navigating your friends fickle preferences. If Wilma attends, then so will Fred. If Barney attends, then so will somebody else. Barney wont come if Wilma comes, but he will if she doesnt. If Fred and Barney both attend, then so will Wilma. Who should you expect to show up? This poser is hard to work through when we are only given the text. A Venn diagram provides a systematic way to visualize and solve it. Each statement precludes some possible outcomes, which we indicate by shading the corresponding regions of the Venn diagram.Amanda MontaezMost Venn diagrams you encounter depict either two or three overlapping circles, but what if you have four or more sets to consider?Amanda MontaezDid you spot the problem? There is no region where only A and C overlap that doesnt also include another region, and likewise for B and D. A proper Venn diagram depicts every combination of intersections. Rejiggering the layout wont help. Every four-circle drawing suffers the same flaw.To see why, start with a single circle and note that it establishes two regionsinterior and exterior. When we add a second set of elements (a new circle), we double the possibilities, so we need to double the number of regions (first set, second set, both sets and neither set). The only way to do this is to have the second circle intersect the first at two points (touching at only one point would result in only three regions: first set, second set or neither). This trend continues, where each new circle must double the number of regions if we want to represent all logical possibilities. But the number of new regions cannot exceed the number of new intersections, and a new circle can intersect the existing circles at only two points each. This works fine when adding a third circle because we need to add four regions, and the new circle can intersect the two existing circles at two points each for four total new intersection points. But it breaks down with a fourth circle, where we need eight new regions but can only muster six new points of intersection.Amanda MontaezOf course, we dont need to restrict ourselves to circles. We could easily trace a wiggly loop through a three-circle diagram so that it carves out the necessary number of regions, but we would lose the elegance in the diagram. Four intersecting spheres can also represent the right number of regions, but three-dimensional visuals are hard to parse. John Venn knew of the shortcoming with circles, so he proposed ellipses to represent four sets.Amanda Montaez; Source: Venn Diagrams and Independent Families of Sets, by Branko Grnbaum in Mathematics Magazine, Vol. 48, No. 1; January 1975(reference)Unlike circles, two ellipses can intersect at four points. This overcomes the limitations with circles but only temporarily. Ellipses work for four and five sets before failing in the same way that circles did. As the number of sets grows, we need more and more exotic shapes to portray them.One could reasonably argue that beyond four sets of elements, Venn diagrams lose their utility. The four-ellipse image is already pretty chaotic. Maybe for five-plus sets we should abandon visual representations. But utility does not animate the mathematician so much as beauty and curiosity. Although Venn diagrams initially applied to logic and set theory, the four-circle conundrum raised an interesting geometry question. That seed has blossomed into a fascinating investigation into the geometry of Venn diagrams that continues today.Venn and his successors believed that ellipses couldnt portray all 32 regions required for a five-set diagram. Not until 1975 did mathematician Branko Grnbaum prove them wrong by example:Amanda Montaez; Source: Venn Diagrams and Independent Families of Sets, by Branko Grnbaum in Mathematics Magazine, Vol. 48, No. 1; January 1975 (reference)Notice also that Grnbaums diagram displays a pleasing rotational symmetry. Spinning it one fifth of a full rotation lands it back on itself, leaving the original shape unchanged. Typical two- and three-circle Venn diagrams share this property. Rotate a two-circle Venn diagram by 180 degrees (or a three-circle one by 120 degrees), and it looks the same. But the four-ellipse diagram doesnt have rotational symmetry. Can that be fixed? What do two, three and five have in common that four doesnt?In 1960 a then undergraduate student at Swarthmore College, David W. Henderson, answered this question with a surprising discovery (Stan Wagon and Peter Webb filled in some gaps later): Rotationally symmetric Venn diagrams are possible only when the number of sets is a prime numbera number divisible only by 1 and itself, such as 2, 3 and 5 but not 4. Henderson only showed that a prime number of sets is necessary, not that you can always design a symmetric Venn diagram for every prime number. Thus began a contest to find larger and larger examples. Heres a wild-looking 11-set Venn diagram from Peter Hamburger.Mathematicians at the University of South Carolina settled the question in 2004 by showing that rotationally symmetric Venn diagrams exist for every prime number of sets. If you think this caused mathematicians to pack up their pencils and lay the study of Venn diagrams to rest, then you havent been following along. Instead the community has raised their aesthetic standards, seeking figures with even more refined properties.Our opening quote contended that Venn diagrams are overrated. Even those who agree must admit that they have a curious allure. Take the sets of interesting topics in logic, in geometry and in visualization, and youll find Venn diagrams at the intersection.

Larian gives Baldur's Gate 3's Withers a pair of "big naturals" to celebrate 100m mod downloadsBreast in class.Image credit: MaybeAdam/Larian Studios News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 14, 2025 We already knew Baldur's Gate 3 players loved mods, thanks to developer Larian's previous announcements on the matter, but it turns out Baldur's Gate 3 players really love mods - with the studio now revealing over 100m mods have been downloaded for the acclaimed RPG. And what better way to celebrate that impressive milestone, you might be asking yourself, than by giving PC, Mac, and console players an officially curated set of Withers boobs?That, obviously, is something we'll probably need to circle back to imminently, but first a recap on those mod downloads. Larian last shared a figure back in October, confirming over 50m downloads since mod support was officially introduced on PC and consoles last year.Skip ahead three and a bit months and that number has now skyrocketed to 100m downloads across all platforms. "You are modding naturals", Larian proclaimed in a social media post celebrating the milestone - appending an image in which the two zeroes in "100" had been conspicuously placed across beloved undead NPC Withers' suddenly more ample chest.Larian explains how it curates Baldur's Gate 3 mods on consoles.Watch on YouTubeAnd that, it turns out, was just a prelude for things to come, with Larian following up its initial post by announcing it was celebrating Baldur's Gate 3's latest milestone by adding something new to its curated list of mods officially available across PC, Mac, and consoles. That mod in question is MaybeAdam's "Withers Big Naturals", giving everybody's favourite companion-resurrecting pal the opportunity to breast boobily, if players so desire.As to why Larian has decided to single out this particular mod, that's not entirely clear - but given the studio previously revealed over 10,000 people had downloaded a mod renaming Withers to Bone Daddy, this is evidently becoming something of a theme.News of Baldur's Gate 3's 100m mod downloads arrives ahead of the massively acclaimed RPG's eighth and final major post-launch patch. It doesn't have a release date yet - although stress testing is confirmed to begin this month - but it's promising to be a biggy, introducing 12 new subclasses, cross-play, fancy new photo mode features, and more.After patch eight's arrival, it'll be time for Larian to wave goodbye to Baldur's Gate 3 once and for all, fully shifting its resources over to its unannounced next project. Previously, the studio revealed it had two games in the works - both based on its own IPs - and it recently confirmed the majority of the team's "full attention is [now] focused on crafting [its] next title", and that'll be moving to a "media blackout" for the foreseeable future.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide The First Descendant is set to introduce the second half of Season 2 very soon. TFDs future is looking bright with the promise of photo mode and a new hot character in Season 3, but, before then, we are set to get some new drip and the arrival of Ines Raya. Here you will find an early look at The First Descendant update 1.2.4 patch notes, along with the official maintenance downtime details shared by Nexon. Early The First Descendant update 1.2.4 patch notes Nexon are yet to share The First Descendant update 1.2.4 patch notes, but we do know a lot of components set to be introduced thanks to the developers recent livestream preview. Of course, the biggest addition is the release of Ines Raya, and below are her confirmed skills:Plasma Oscilliation (Passive): Deals greater damage to enemies inflicted with Conductor. Chain Lightning: Strikes enemies with a chain of lightning. Lightning Conductor: Inflicts an electric shock through current coils on enemies within range. Discharge: Ines consumes plasma and gathers the converted electrical current in her first, releasing it powerfully in front of her. Snare Hunter: Throws a plasma acceleration coil forward. Ines Raya will also be accompanied by a new skin, and update 1.2.4 will see the release of Lunar new year skins, too. Below is everything confirmed for the incoming patch so far: Ines Raya release and skin Lunar New Year skins Void Erosion Purge:20 waves of enemies, must defeat enemies before time-limit ends each wave Solo or party only, matchmaking planned for MarchWeapon Core Unlocking Unlockable after MR18More core effects planned for February 6thVoid Abyss Defiler boss:Toxic attacks, high-toxic resistance Get vouchers upon beating boss, useable for Infernal Walker or Defiler rewardsValby, Jayber, Luna rework Mission support request Advanced Shape Stabilizer ResearchModule Loadout Copy & PasteNew Launcher Range Module Limited Weapon Comeback Image credit: NexonNot all of the fixes have been revealed, but Nexon previously said that update 1.2.4 will fix Valbys Tidal Wave skill dealing an abnormally high amount of damage when passing through Colossus. Check out the developer livestream below for more information about the imminent patch:TFD update 1.2.4 maintenance downtime Nexon has confirmed on X that maintenance downtime for The First Descendant update 1.2.4 will start at 9PM PT on January 15th, and 12AM ET/5AM GMT on January 16th. Once maintenance begins, TFD will be unplayable. Assuming everything goes to plan and there are no delays, maintenance will end at 4AM PT/7AM ET/12PM GMT. You can find Nexons maintenance guide below: Image credit: @FirstDescendant on XFor more The First Descendant, make sure to check out the 2025 roadmap to see everything Nexon has announced for Season 3 and beyond. The First DescendantPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, RPG5VideoGamerRelated TopicsThe First Descendant Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Mandy Moore is one of the thousands of residents displaced by the historically destructive Los Angeles wildfires. After her Altadena home was deemed not livable as a result of the Eaton blaze, Moore, her husband Taylor Goldsmith of the indie rock band Dawes, and their three children have moved into Hilary Duffs Beverly Hills abode, per Moores brother-in-law Griffin Goldsmith.Griffin revealed in a recent Instagram post that Duff and her husband Matthew Koma opened their home to Moores family in their time of need. Duff and Koma also helped launch a GoFundMe campaign for Griffins own family since they, too, lost their home to the flames.Our dear friends [Matthew Koma] and [Hilary Duff] thought it [was] wise to set up a gofundme for us to help with everything moving forward, Griffin wrote. Not to mention they are currently housing my brothers family. Theyve taken care of my entire family from the moment this began. I will never be able to thank them adequatelyThis is the kindest act any human could do for another, he added. They are the most beautiful, selfless people weve ever known.When the wildfires broke out last Wednesday, the This Is Us star shared on Instagram that her family evacuated the property before it was too late. Roughly a 40-minute drive away is Duffs Beverly Hills home, a 5,260-square-foot Georgianstyle sanctuary that the How I Met Your Father actor has lived in for nearly a decade.Moore and Duffs friendship is over two decades in the making. In the early 2000s, the two kicked off their acting and singing careers around the same time, cementing themselves as beloved teen sensations through major Disney projects (Duff in Lizzie McGuire and Moore in The Princess Diaries). These days, the pair bond over parenthood.Join NowNew Year's Sale: Become an AD PRO member for only $20 $12 per monthArrowIn a December 2024 interview with People, Duff spoke highly of her celebrity mom friend group, which includes Moore, Meghan Trainor, and Ashley Tisdale. I feel like our big connection to one another, even though were pop stars or on TV, is [that] we love our kids, Duff told the outlet. They were little baby worms when we all first got together and started music class at my house. Now, were in art class together, and were in gymnastics class together, and were just, like, moms.

Meta will soon lay off more low-performers across the company, according to an internal memo from CEO Mark Zuckerberg that was shared by a source at the company.Ive decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster, Zuckerberg says in the memo, which you can read in full below. We typically manage out people who arent meeting expectations over the course of a year, but now were going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle with the intention of backfilling these roles in 2025.While the exact number of job cuts is unclear, managers at Meta have been told that about 5 percent of employees will be let go starting February 10th. Bloomberg first reported on Zuckerbergs memo and the planned layoffs. Meta last laid off employees in October after cutting 21,000 workers between 2022 and 2023.Heres Zuckerbergs full memo to employees:Meta is working on building some of the most important technologies in the world Al, glasses as the next computing platform, and the future of social media. This is going to be an intense year, and I want to make sure we have the best people on our teams.Ive decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster. We typically manage out people who arent meeting expectations over the course of a year, but now were going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle with the intention of backfilling these roles in 2025. We wont manage out everyone who didnt meet expectations for the last period if were optimistic about their future performance, and for those we do let go well provide generous severance in line with what weve provided with previous cuts.Well follow up with more guidance for managers ahead of calibrations. People who are impacted will be notified on February 10 or later for those outside the US.Letting people go is never easy. But Im confident this will strengthen our teams and help us build leading technology to enable the future of human connection.

Vamp TimeThe Blood of Dawnwalker - a new action RPG from former Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 devs - just got a slick cinematic reveal trailerVampires doing vampire stuff. You love to see it.Image credit: Rebel Wolves News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Jan. 14, 2025 If you've been curious as to what the crew of former CD Projekt Red staff who left to form Rebel Wolves has been up to, you don't need to wait any longer. The Blood of Dawnwalker has been officially shown off properly, with a cinematic trailer as well as a a brief deep dive into what the game will actually play like during an official Twitch stream.You can watch the new trailer for yourself below. But in short, it establishes a cast of various vampires, all with different vampiric powers (it seems) murking soldiers who're about to kill a sick child. Proper grim dark fantasy stuff here. It seems that these vampires, though not exactly the nicest of people, are taking a more protagonisty role than you might assume. Indeed, the main character himself appears to be an undead menace. Exciting stuff. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Further details revealed in the livestream include the fact that this game will include an interesting 30-day "narrative sandbox". What this means is that as you complete quests, time will pass in-game and as such you'll have to carefully choose which tasks to complete. It'll also in theory add to replayability, though past research on other titles has shown that a fraction of total players actually finish games once. Maybe the team at Rebel Wolves is cooking up a special way to encourage more completionistic behavior.Rebel Wolves was founded back in February 2022, and as mentioned above it was founded by several former CD Projekt Red staff who worked on games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3. Since then, they've of course hired a lot of other devs from other studios as well as fresh newcomers to bring the studio's ambitions to life.There's still no release date for Blood of the Dawnwalker, but are you excited with what you've seen so far? Let us know below!