Happy New YearWarframe has added its most fantastical grind yet: kissing another humanFinally, another person who'll be impressed by my Arcane collection.Image credit: Digital Extremes News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Jan. 13, 2025 Warframe has added its most ambitious feature yet, one that offers a truly fresh and otherworldly experience. Having a new year's kiss with someone you like. Finally, a real relationship with someone who thinks my Chroma Prime melee crit build is cool. Thanks Aoi.This addition comes as a small but impactful update to the Warframe 1999 expansion. For those unaware, a major part of Warframe 1999 is getting to know a cast of colourful characters fighting back against Techrot and Scaldra in a grunge-inspired city on the edge. These characters, who start as abrasive strangers, can be won over to your side, building strong friendships and yes, even romantic relationships.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. This kiss scene acts as a sort of climactic pay off to those who've gone out of their way to take the romantic route with one of these characters, although a friendly alternative scene exists for those who wanted to keep things strictly professional. All jokes aside, it's a cool ittle bit of pay off for those who spent their New Years playing the game and farming Cyte-9 blueprints that never drop.It's also a nice little bonus for players that's a little bit off the beaten path. It's not the only example in Warframe 1999, those who solo the secret Scaldra tank using one of the featured warframes (Mag, Excalibur, etc) have earned themselves a special cosmetic for their account and hangout. This, alongside the new kiss scene, just adds layers of depth to an already intriguing update. Well worth checking out, if you've not tried the game out yet.Personally speaking, I recommend getting friendly with everyone's favourite British sniper Quinncy, giving him a kiss, then throwing him headfirst into the Helminth for that sweet, sweet subsume ability. Quinncy would surely love that. You can even buy the new Protoframe skin so it looks like Quinncy while you do it! Talk about romantic!Meanwhile, while we're all having fun here smooching people and blowing up tanks, Hunhow is still alone in the ocean. Where's his new year's kiss, huh? He's just swimming around, hitting on fish. Did you even think to invite him to your new year celebration? Did you grab him a pizza? No. Goes to show how good of a friend you really are. The Second Dream was years ago bud, fogive and forget.

0:04:21 Todd Perrys early inspirations and journey into visual effects0:08:36 Discovering computer graphics and transitioning to 3D work0:14:41 Breaking into the industry and first big projects at Imageworks0:20:06 Transitioning to supervising roles on films like Age of Ultron0:24:31 Working on Doctor Strange and insights into Black Panther0:29:51 Innovations in practical effects versus digital effects0:35:06 Todds approach to remote work and distributed VFX pipelines0:41:11 Highlights of Todds Oscar-shortlisted live-action short film0:46:31 How AI is reshaping tools and workflows in filmmaking0:54:21 Reflections on the future of mid-budget films and storytelling1:01:56 Closing thoughts and Todds current projects

It's a wild word out there.This year marks five years since the last mainline Animal Crossing game launched. Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out at the perfect time and made an absolutely huge splash worldwide. But with its fifth anniversary fast approaching, we're sure lots of fans are champing at the bit for a new game.So, if you were browsing the PlayStation Store over the weekend and thought you spotted an Animal Crossing gamer, no, your eyes weren't playing tricks on you. As our friends over at Good Vibes Gaming have pointed out, there's a game that looks an awful lot like Animal Crossing on there.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

As Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg continue to reshape the social media space, a group of international tech entrepreneurs and advocates has launched a campaign to protect social media from the control and influence of billionaires.The initiative, Free Our Feeds, aims to protect Blueskys underlying technology, the AT Protocol, and leverage it to create an open social media ecosystem that cant be controlled by a single person or company, including Bluesky itself.The goal of the initiative is to establish a public-interest foundation that would fund the creation of new interoperable social networks that can run on the AT Protocol, and build independent infrastructure to support these new platforms, even if Bluesky were to end up in the hands of billionaires.The campaign comes a week after Meta announced that it was dropping fact-checking and loosening its content moderation rules. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is publicly traded, but Mark Zuckerberg essentially controls the company through his ownership of super-voting shares, which make it hard for activist shareholders to oust him or push for changes. It also comes as Bluesky saw a recent surge in users who migrated over from X (formerly Twitter) after owner Elon Musk used the platform to promote the presidential campaign of Donald Trump and other political causes, including the right-wing AfD party in Germany.Free our Feeds launched with the support of several notable names, including actor Mark Ruffallo, director Alex Winter, writer Cory Doctorow, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Mozilla Foundation president Mark Surman, and more.Robin Berjon, an independent technologist and one of the projects nine custodians, told TechCrunch that Free Our Feeds was the result of conversations that he and other founding members were having around exploring ways to push for change in the way social media and digital infrastructure works.If you think of our road network, if all the roads were owned by one or two billionaires, and they could tax anything, decide whos allowed to go where, etc, then we would be in trouble, Berjon said. And digital infrastructure is not, as you know, obviously big and in your face as a road maybe, but it works in exactly the same way. It has the exact same dynamic, the exact same concentration of power. And so essentially, what were doing is making sure that this digital infrastructure, which is by its nature, a public good, is governed in the public interest.Although the team acknowledges that it shares the same values as Bluesky, they believe that the company is susceptible to venture capital pressure, and that if it were to end up under a billionaires control, users deserve alternative options backed by independent infrastructure. The team has been in contact with Bluesky, noting that the decentralized network is supportive of their mission to make the AT protocol billionaire-proof.Free Our Feeds wants to raise $30 million over three years, and has an immediate goal of $4 million to hire a small team and build independent infrastructure.The goal of operating infrastructure is to make sure that the AT protocol that underlies Bluesky can remain open, Berjon said. Theyve open sourced it, people can use it. But because theres only one big entity, thats Bluesky, theres no countervailing power, theres no one else to make sure it stays open. We intend to operate independent infrastructure from Bluesky thats compatible with them, that supports the entire network, so that its not only them having a major place there. The idea really is to continue raising money to become a credible actor in that space, and to use that money to essentially fund other applications.Berjon says the AT Protocol is currently mostly being used to build BlueSky, but it could also be used to build other types of social apps.Using the same infrastructure, you could build an Instagram analog, a Facebook analog, a Tiktok analog, or, you know, things that havent been invented yet, he said. And thats actually the goal. Its not just to copy things. And in inventing these new things, you dont need to reinvent user accounts or storage systems, etc. People can just use their existing accounts with your new thing, because its interoperable with the AT protocol. And so we really want to help people build these new applications.Free Our Feeds intends to have the independent foundation established and running by the end of the year. Berjon says that if the non-profit doesnt raise enough funds, it will return the money.

Breakdown & ShowreelsHere: VFX Making of by VFX Supervisor Kevin BaillieBy Vincent Frei - 13/01/2025 Go behind the scenes of Here with Production VFX Supervisor Kevin Baillie as he unveils the cutting-edge technology used to create the stunning visual effects (made by Metaphysic, DNEG, Luma Pictures and Crafty Apes) in Robert Zemeckis latest cinematic masterpiece. Discover how the team pushed the boundaries of storytelling through visual effects!WANT TO KNOW MORE?DNEG: Dedicated page about Here on DNEG website. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

Hello! Im Andrew Chen (eaacon).Ive been lurking for a while and I began my transition from a 2D artist and hobbyist programmer to a VFX artist since graduating college. For the past few months Ive been grinding at learning the craft, starting with Sirhaians Shuriken tutorials and studying Shannon Berke McSheehans amazing mini knowledge shares. After a ton of practice work (Some of which I may also post in the future), and a custom Blender addon later, I finally finished my portfolio/demo reel.Take a look! And thanks for your time.

Community organizers in Philadelphias Chinatown woke up to joyous news this morning after the Sixers announced yesterday the franchise has abandoned its plans for a new stadium in Center Citys Market East corridor. The master plan for the scrapped $1.3 billion mixed-use stadium project, dubbed 76 Place, was by Gensler. Instead of moving to Chinatown, the team will remain in the South Philadelphia stadium district. Wells Fargo Center will be demolished and a new purpose-built home for the Sixers and Flyers will be built in its place. The stadium could also be home to a future WNBA team pending a successful bid for one, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said at a press conference this morning.Parker, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, 76ers Managing Partner Josh Harris, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, and other 76 DevCo. officials such as David Adelman addressed the decision at a press conference this morning. We are still committed to revitalizing the Market East corridor, Adelman said, however what that revitalization will look like minus the stadium is to be determined. This is a curve ball none of us saw coming. Weve been talking around the clock the last 72 hours, Parker said. The Philadelphia Mayor added that a new master plan for the Market East corridor will be fast tracked, and significantly informed by community input. Parker also pointed to The Battery in Atlanta, where the Braves play, as an example of what shed like to see in South Philadelphia for the new stadium.Wanda Sykes, the comedian and actor, was also at the press conference. Sykes is helping lead the effort to bring a WNBA franchise to Philadelphia, and will help broker negotiations with the South Philadelphia stadium team.On Saturday, September 7, almost 4,000 people showed up outside Philadelphia City Hall to protest a new basketball arena by Gensler in Philadelphias Chinatown. (Courtesy Save Chinatown Coalition)The stadium proposal in Chinatown was protested heavily. More than 39,000 people signed a petition against the arena, and a survey showed that 69 percent of Philadelphians opposed the project. The development team behind 76 Place countered this petition by starting their own petition, which garnered over 30,000 names who supported the arena. Groups like No Arena in the Heart of Our City Coalition partnered with anti-gentrification organizations across Philadelphia to stop 76 Place from happening. Were relieved to hear that the nightmare of a Center City Sixers arena will not haunt our city any more, the No Arena Coalition said in a statement.To every Philadelphian who called, marched, testified, and warned City Hall that this was a raw deal: This win belongs to you, and the lesson for politicians is to trust the people, No Arena added. To the five Councilmembers who stood on the right side of this fight: We will not forget.(Courtesy Save Chinatown Coalition)The No Arena Coalition continued: We were clear from day one that it was dangerous to play in the viper pit with billionaires, but City Hall toyed with the snakes, and they got bit. 12 of 17 Councilmembers turned their backs on decades of research on the false promise of stadium developments, common sense, their voters, and the 70% of Philadelphians who opposed this arena.The activist group also expressed discontent with how the stadium planning process unfolded. This sham of a process laid bare what Philadelphians have long known, the group elaborated.Anti-stadium activists rented an airplane to send the development team behind 76 Place a message. (Courtesy Save Chinatown Coalition)Decisions about the future of neighborhoods are not being made by the people of those communities nor with their best interest in mind, but by a select few who represent their own benefits and bank accounts and a City Hall thats bought and paid for, No Arena said. As planning for the future of Center City continues, lessons must be learned, and the city needs a new class of politicians who respond to peoples needs instead of corporate greed.The new stadium in South Philadelphia is slated to open in 2031.Gensler had no comment for this story.

Fluffy-Tailed Ticked Dog (2022), hand-hooked mostly-wool yarn on linen. All images courtesy of Emily OLeary, shared with permissionLifelike Canines Lounge in Emily OLeary Uncanny Hooked RugsJanuary 13, 2025ArtCraftKate MothesMost dogs spend at least half of their day asleepsome getting zs for upwards of 18 hours. Whether curled up on the floor or enjoying a long-legged stretch, the subjects of Emily OLearys rugs evoke our beloved pets.Based on photographs of actual dogs, she focuses mostly on animals the artist doesnt know. I like to hook dogs that are pretty mutty looking, that dont look like yard-bound Golden Retrievers or Doodles, she tells Colossal. Im attracted to the shared history of humans and dogshow the bulk of their domestication may have happened somewhat inadvertently.Injured Elbow Dog (2020), hand-hooked wool yarn on linenEmploying a carpet-making technique called rug hooking, the earliest form of which can be traced to Northern England in the early 19th century, OLeary spends several months on a single piece. Compared to tufting, Its a slower, more traditional process, she says, but the process allows each individual loop to be applied at a different height, giving her the ability to create three-dimensional reliefs.OLeary learned to make rugs after predominantly focusing on embroidery. When some friends organized an exhibition themed around dogs, she had the idea to make a work in the shape of a life-size canine. Im lucky that the rugs sort of do inspire tender feelings in the people who see them, but that theyre also a bit uncanny, she says.The pieces weight and realistic details engender an intimate connection as they come to life, so to speak. I really feel like Ive built a relationship with the object, she says, adding: Sometimes the dogs I hook have wounds or scars. The dog rug Im working on right now is missing a little chunk of her ear. I want to depict them as they are, not stuffed animal versions.Find more on OLearys website and Instagram.Brown and Black Dog (2021), hand-hooked wool yarn on linenDetail of Mottled-leg Dog (2024), hand-hooked wool yarn on linenSandy Reddish Dog (2023), hand-hooked mostly-wool yarn on linenPhoto by Bucky MillerPhoto by Bucky MillerNext article

The UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has joined forces with its Five Eyes partners and other agencies from the European Union (EU) to publish a new guide designed help critical national infrastructure (CNI) bodies and others that rely on operational technology (OT) demand improved security in products when making buying decisions.With operators of CNI under near-constant threat from malicious actors many of them working at the behest of hostile intelligence agencies the NCSC said it was aiming to provide clear guidance on choosing products and manufacturers that adhere to secure-by-design principles, giving their own systems a resilient foundation and minimising the risks posed by cyber attacks.Historically, such components have not been developed with security as a priority or in many cases at all giving threat actors an open window to access their tech estates, one that is becoming much wider as more and more OT components connects into wider IT systems.Moreover, such components are often heavily targeted because a successful compromise can be easily replicated across multiple victims.As cyber attackers increasingly target operational technology around the world, it has never been more vital for critical infrastructure operators to ensure security is baked into the systems they use, said NCSC director of national resilience and future technology, Jonathan Ellison.This new guide gives organisations practical advice on how to prioritise OT products that are secure by design when making purchasing decisions, helping to mitigate the very real cyber threats they face.I strongly advise UK operators of OT systems to follow this guidance to help set a strong foundation for their cyber resilience and to send a signal to manufacturers that security is more than just an extra feature for products but a requirement in demand.The guidance, which is officially available to download from the website of the NCSCs American counterpart CISA, lays down 12 security considerations that OT users should integrate into their procurement process, both to help defend themselves, and to force manufacturers to do better.The considerations buyers should look to and the answer to these questions should always be yes are as follows:Does the product support controlling and tracking modifications to configuration settings and engineering logic?Does the baseline product support logging of all actions, including changes to configuration, security and safety events, using open standard formats?Does the product use open standards to support secure functionality and services, and to migrate configuration settings and engineering logic?Does the product give owners and operators full autonomy over it, including the ability to conduct maintenance and make other changes, and minimise dependence on the supplier?Does the product protect the integrity and confidentiality of data, services and functions, including configuration settings and engineering logic, both at rest and in transit?Does the product arrive secure out-of-the-box, reducing attack surfaces and removing the burden on owners by including all security features in all versions, eliminating default passwords and allowing for complex ones, with older protocols disabled by default, not exposing external interfaces, and giving users the ability to reset them to their original state?Does the product support secure authenticated communications that fail loudly but let critical processes continue, and that do not require significant cyber skills to achieve?Does the product come with secure controls that guard it against threat actors sending malicious commands, protect the availability of essential functions, and minimise the impact of an incident on wider systems?Does the baseline version of the product appropriately protect against unauthorised access through measures such as multifactor authentication or role-based access control?Does the product have a full, detailed threat model that lays out how it might be compromised, and measures to reduce such scenarios?Does the product manufacturer have a vulnerability disclosure and management programme in place, including testing, support and management, and free patching?Does the product have a well-documented and straightforward patching and upgrade process that enables users to move to a supported operating system gratis if the original can no longer be supported?CISA director Jen Easterly, writing today, compared the current situation to the period just before public pressure forced car manufacturers to start to build in safety features such as seatbelts, anti-lock breaks and so on as standard. In the US, outrage over sky-high road fatalities was driven by the publication 60 years ago of a landmark text, Unsafe At Any Speed, by consumer advocate and politician Ralph Nader.We dont have a cyber security problem; we have a software quality problem, said Easterly. We are now at a tipping point with foreign adversaries rampantly exploiting defective software where this recognition is leading to a concerted demandfor better security.Just as automobile safety reforms only succeeded when the public demanded safer cars as a basic standard, the software industry will only prioritise secure design when wedemand it as the baseline for a functioning, secure, digital ecosystem.The secure-by-design initiative supports this demand by equipping customers with key questions to ask vendors about their software just as public safety campaigns taught the nation how to evaluate the safety features of their cars. By empowering users, we aim to create a seismic shift in software security.Read more about OT securityMore companies are tasking CISOs with operational technology security. But this oversight means a new strategy for those unfamiliar with building an effective OT security programme.Securing operational technology is particularly critical but also especially challenging. Consider these top OT threats and how to manage them.Keeping operational technology secure requires vigilance and effort, especially as OT increasingly converges with IT. These cyber security best practices can help.

Google searches on removing Instagram and Threads accounts also rose in the wake of Mark Zuckerberg's announcement last week.