A new report may contain fresh clues about the apparent partnership between Ubisoft and Tencent, Ubisoft's fortunes continue to slide and the company looks for a way forward.Bloomberg reported that Ubisoft and Tencent are considering, among other options, "creating a new venture" that could include "certain Ubisoft assets." The overall aim is to improve the company's value, sources said. The two companies are now "evaluating which assets to include in a new entity and their valuation," the report said, citing anonymous sources.Should a deal come together, Tencent could "gain more control over" some of Ubisoft's franchises, the report said, adding that Tencent would also benefit from improving its own business results outside of China.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Resident Evil series is known for its catalog of terrifying monsters and iconic villains. The Tyrant was one of the first to be both. This towering hyper-intelligent bioweapon appears in a great deal of Resident Evil games, as well as movies and other related fiction in the expansive RE universe, and it is also one of the strongest, smartest, and most grotesque enemies in the games.

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Linger in the world of miniatures painting long enough and youll soon learn of the majesty, the precision, and the exotic allure of brushes made from 100% pure Kolinsky sable hair. From the animal also known as the Siberian weasel, or Mustela sibirica, Kolinsky sable hair is world-renowned for its ability to hold lots of paint in its bristles and shed that paint elegantly and smoothly during use, all while maintaining a crisp, sharp tip. Its an elegant brush from a more civilized age, perfect for detail work like freehand and edge highlighting, and boy howdy is it hard to find those brushes in stores here in the United States.I had always thought that was because of the popularity of brushes made from this unique kind of hair. But as it turns out, the story is much more complicated than that. Earlier this month I started calling around to experts in the brush-making industry, and thats when I learned about an international agreement known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, better known as CITES (commonly pronounced site-eez).CITES is an international treaty signed in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1973 that became effective in 1975. That makes it a long-standing fixture in the world of international trade. Its used to both regulate and monitor the exchange of endangered species and materials derived from endangered species all around the world. But the document has three different sections, which list tens of thousands of species, and each of those sections serves a very different purpose.Appendix I includes species that are threatened with extinction, full stop. This includes animals like the black rhino (Diceros bicornis), which is classified as critically endangered. According to the International Rhino Foundation, there are slightly more than 6,000 individuals alive in the wild, and CITES is one of the mechanisms that helps protect them by strictly prohibiting their international trade. Appendix II, on the other hand, includes species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction at this time, but whose populations are nonetheless fragile. Trade in species on Appendix II isnt completely banned, but it is heavily monitored and regulated.Finally, Appendix III lists those species that are considered protected in at least one country for any number of reasons. By adding species to Appendix III, signatories are requesting assistance from their international peers in monitoring or otherwise regulating their trade but the species in Appendix III arent necessarily endangered.For the right reasons, said Howard Kaufman, founder of Princeton Artist Brush Company, we dont want elephant tusks [to be harvested]; animals [to be] slaughtered for their skins; [or] for collectors to hang on their wall. [However], CITES, as it pertains to Kolinsky hair, is not correct.Kaufman believes that India, one of the CITES signatories, added the Kolinsky sable to CITES Appendix III in order to protect its native species of mongoose, which it considers a protected animal within that country. He believes that smugglers were, at least at one time in the past, passing off Kolinsky sable hair as if it were mongoose hair and thereby artificially increasing the international demand for mongoose. Therefore, in the eyes of the Indian government, the best way to protect the mongoose is to closely monitor trade of the Kolinsky sable as well, and CITES is one of the mechanisms used to do that.Thing is, the Kolinsky sable isnt endangered. Its quite numerous in the wild throughout Russia and China. But its inclusion in CITES makes trading Kolinsky sable extraordinarily difficult not impossible, like the trade in black rhino, but time-consuming and administratively cost prohibitive. Thats because importers and exporters are each responsible for the provenance of their Kolinsky sable hair, down to the individual gram, and for documenting the materials chain of custody as it moves around the world.Kaufman has had personal experience with what can go wrong when that documentation gets messed up.I got called in [by customs] one time because the German government did not fill in one of the boxes on the CITES certificate, Kaufman recalled. When the shipment got here, U.S. Customs and Fish and Wildlife said, The form isnt properly filled out. [] The German government I swear on my life sent an email to Fish and Wildlife in Washington, D.C., apologizing for their clerical error [] and the U.S. government still wouldnt release the shipment to me.Faced with the potential of an expensive, possibly yearslong battle in the courts over a pile of weasel hair, Kaufman instead left his shipment with officials, who most likely destroyed it rather than hold it in storage. Its for this reason that Kolinsky sable-hair brushes are so hard to come by here in the U.S. Yes, you can find them from time to time on Amazon, as I have. You can occasionally find them also in art supply stores. Even Kaufmans Princeton, now owned by Dixon Ticonderoga, still makes them on occasion. But the commercial future of the material is bleak, he said, mainly because of the required level of administrative oversight and the financial risks when things go wrong.Kaufman isnt alone in that analysis of the situation from a commercial perspective, but other experts disagree. A study published in 2021, for instance, actually found that the current levels of European trade in Kolinsky sable hair may represent a risk to the species as a whole. Given the large number of Siberian weasels that are killed and traded each year, wrote the authors, further analysis into this trade is urgently needed to clarify whether the trade is sustainable or not, and how it is impacting their populations. The authors even argue that trade in Mustela sibirica hair could stand to be restricted even more, moving the species fully into Appendix II in the future.Thankfully, synthetic materials that is, manufactured hair made through industrial processes are currently available on the market, and Kaufman says those materials are better than ever before.Synthetics have become really good quality, Kaufman said. Its not impossible, but its challenging to see the difference [between them and Kolinsky sable hair]. The synthetics are so much like natural hair, [especially with] how the hair is treated and whats done to it, that Ive had people at trade shows, artists, pick up our brushes and say to me [], This must be pure squirrel or pure sable. And Ill go, No, its synthetic.Its for those reasons, Kaufman said, that the sale of Kolinsky sable-hair brushes is in such a precipitous decline here in the U.S. If the end user cant tell the difference, why go through the hassle of importing hair from an animal that may be at risk? Worse still is how one infraction can lead to more rigorous oversight in the future at the border.If the U.S. government catches you importing without a CITES certificate, Kaufman reiterated, as a manufacturer as Princeton or Dixon if you bring something in and it doesnt get by them, youre dead. Youre going to get on their you-know-what list.And, especially with the heavy-handed methods of the incoming Trump administration, thats likely a list that no one wants to be on.For myself, Ill keep on using the Kolinsky sable-hair brushes that I already have, but only for extremely detailed work. For everyday paint slingin, synthetics seem to be the most reasonable way to go.

Professional-grade speakers dont have to be low tech or oversized. Theres an idea that professional-quality speakers have to be wired and connected to a receiver or amplifier of some kind. Kanto Audio, however, is changing that with the new Kanto Audio ORA4 desktop speakers, which are built for a small footprint, high-quality audio, and modern connectivity.The speakers may be small, but theyre built to deliver plenty of oomph. Theyre designed specifically to push the boundaries of bass extension in a small form factor while maintaining the same great reference-quality sound.Each speaker has two 1/4-20 threaded inserts at the bottom to allow them to be mounted to compatible speaker mounts or brackets. This will help ensure that you can place them exactly where you want them on your desk.To be clear, Kanto Audio cant get around physics; the smaller speakers wont be able to push out certain low frequencies that simply require larger drivers. As speakers designed for professional settings, they feature a sub out port that allows you to connect them to a subwoofer while still maintaining the small footprint on your actual desktop. That should help the speakers deliver a fuller frequency response overall, and the speakers have an automatic 80Hz crossover that helps them work with a subwoofer with minimal fuss. And, of course, Kanto sells its own sub in the form of the Kanto Audio Sub8.Each speaker offers a 20W tweeter and a 23W woofer, making for a combined output of 70W when using two speakers. Sure, thats not huge, but these speakers are designed for smaller spaces, which is important to keep in mind.The speakers have other touches that help them integrate into a modern environment, unlike most studio monitors. Notably, they have Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for wireless audio and a USB-C input that supports audio at up to 24-bit/96kHz.The Kanto Audio ORA4 desktop speakers are now available in matte white or matte black for $399 for a stereo pair via kantoaudio.com.

Of ideas that cant cease toexist.Sidebars Public announcement back in June2024The news that Sidebar.io was taking a break felt a bit like a heartbreak. Sidebar has been one of my favorite sources to keep up with design, and with content that would make me a better, smarter, more informed designer.No noise, no endless scrolling, just the goodstuff.5 links a day. Thatsit.Sacha Greif has been doing an incredible job for the last twelve years of curating and maintaining Sidebarwithout skipping a beat. Thats dedication. Its easy to start something, much harder to stick with it. Thats a massive achievement and something that needs to be celebrated. As someone who also dedicates personal time to editing and curating content, I know the grind. You pour your heart into it, hoping it resonates, that it provides value. Its endless work. It feels pretty rewarding, but it is not always rewarded.When I saw the news, I felt I needed to act. Sidebarnot just the website, but the idea itselfcouldnt simply fadeaway.Sidebar has always felt different. It has advocated for a healthier web ecosystem and has always prioritized links pointing to small, curated digital gardens around the web. Links that come from the makers and doers out there. Sidebar was a signal boost for the kind of web I think many of us miss. A web built by individuals, not algorithms. It championed the small, the curated, the personal. Ive always seen Sidebar as a force of resistance or sorts. Built for people who still believe in the web as a platform for knowledge sharing, long-form writing, and community.Starting today, Im taking over the daily curation of Sidebar, as well as its management duties and operational costs. Its a big responsibility but also an honorand I cant thank Sacha enough for trusting me on this mission. Im bringing Sidebar back to basics: 5 links a day, published on the website and sent via our email newsletter. All the other features will be archived for now. As usual, folks can submit their own links. If you know of great websites that often publish great content, please drop me a note so I can add them to my watchlist.Can I keep this vision alive for a few moreyears?I dont know. I hope so. I genuinely hopeso.What I do know is that certain ideas cant just cease toexist.How you canhelp:Spread the word that Sidebar is back by sharing this post or the site (https://sidebar.io/) with your networks.Follow our RSS feed, our newsletter, our Twitter, or simply add sidebar.io to your daily browser bookmarks.If you work at or know any company that might benefit from talking to an audience of designers and makers, reach out to them about sponsoring Sidebar. Or tweet at them. This can help cover the initial costs or revamping the projectincluding hosting, database, emails, andothers.Sidebar is back from its break was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.The people in them may be pretty, sure, but cinematic sex scenes of today are often downright sterile. Even in the conservative 1980s, mainstream movies were happy to explore adult sexuality, while the modern four-quadrant blockbuster world leaves us dry (so to speak) for fear of excluding any youngster who might be in the audience. Even the superhero movie couples of ages pastSuperman (Christopher Reeve) and Lois (Margot Kidder), or Batman (Michael Keaton) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer)generated real heat compared to our modern, Disney-fied view of cinematic romance. While there have been some promising developments on this front over the past year (Challengers, Babygirl), on the whole, movies just don't seem as horny as they used to.So let's celebrate all the films that are just aching for it. Movies in which every scene seems fueled by pent-up desire, roiling with need, drenched in straight-up horniness. Echoing real life, these movies are positively lousy with people who desperately want to fuck. None of the horniest movies qualify as pornsome dont even have any traditional sex scenesbut every one of them is DTF from the first frame to the end credits.Poor Things (2023) What if Frankenstein, but sexy? Yorgos Lanthimos adapts the 1992 Alasdair Gray novel with Emma Stone in the lead role as a reanimated corpse with the mind of a child, gradually discovering the Victorian world around her. Simple-minded at first, she appears monstrous before discovering something like free will which leads, perhaps inevitably, to the joys of masturbation. She becomes hungryravenous, evento experience the world, and lacks the inhibitions imposed on other women of her era. And, honestly: get it. You can stream Poor Things on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Poor Things (2023) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Bram Stokers Dracula (1992) Though its an element largely absent from the source material, cinemas reigning prince of darkness has been depicted as one horny motherfucker since at least 1931, when Bela Lugosi brought an eastern European regality and seductiveness to the role. The Hammer Horror updates of the 1960s introduced an even more overtly charming Dracula, and the vampires-equal-sexy ethos has since spread out to encompass the entire vampire genre, from Interview With the Vampire to Twilight (two exceptionally horny films well discuss later). The lurid Francis Ford Coppola take, though, is something else entirely, particularly in the films first half: Draculas sumptuous (if rotting) castle is dressed for Roman-style orgies, full of bare-chested, man-hungry brides; Keanu Reeves wanders its halls in a psychedelic haze, and with an obvious, all-but-visible movie-length boner. Things dont let up much once the actions shifts to London, and a now more-human-looking Gary Oldman begins his pursuit of Winona Ryders Mina, who is significantly younger than he is. Every frame drips red with desire. You can rent Bram Stoker's Dracula from Prime Video. Bram Stokers Dracula (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Favorite (2018) Sex, power, and insecurity are all knotted up together in this Oscar-winning dark comedy involving a love triangle between a mercurial Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) and two women (Emma Stone and Rechel Weisz) who are perfectly happy to make use of the queens need for emotional and sexual validation as a ladder as they move their way up in the court of the British monarchy. You can rent The Favourite from Prime Video. The Favorite (2018) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Love and Basketball (2000) Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps play next-door neighbors who, over the course of several years, struggle with their growing attraction to each other, even while their career goals (their each pursuing careers in professional basketball) pull them apart. Though the movie didnt do great business on its initial release, its become a cult classic, and thats largely down to the chemistry between these two. You can rent Love & Basketball from Prime Video. Love and Basketball (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Rear Window (1954) All Hitchcock movies are horny, its really just a matter of degrees. What sets Rear Window apart is an especially glamorous Grace Kelly, playing Lisa Fremont, who commands every scene that shes in, while also radiating a sexuality that her dumbass boyfriend (James Stewart) has no idea what to do with. You can stream Rear Window on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Rear Window (1954) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Idea of You (2024) After Prime adapted the bestselling gay romance Red, White, and Royal Blue (to which we'll return), the streamer called up one of that movie's stars, Nicholas Galitzine, for a take on Robinne Lee's bestseller about a divorced art gallery owner (played by Anne Hathaway) turning 40 who begins an affair with the member of a boy band (he's in his mid-twenties, so it's not that icky). It's essentially a rom-com, but the leads generate genuine horny tension, while the age gap adds enough scandal to make it all feel a bit naughty. You can stream The Idea of You on Prime Video. The Idea of You (2024) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Disobedience (2017) Given the title and the topic at hand, you might think this is a BDSM drama frominstead, it's a poignant (but still hot) romantic drama following Ronit, a woman (Rachel Weisz) who returns to the heart of her Orthodox Jewish community in North London for the funeral of her father. She'd previously been banished in part due to her romantic relationship with Esti (Rachel McAdams) when she was younger. Esti is still there, and that the old passion between the two is quickly reignited, even in the face of a great deal of disapproval. You can stream Disobedience on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Disobedience (2017) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Mulholland Drive (2001) Ostensibly it's the story of an aspiring actress (Naomi Watts), new to Los Angeles, who finds her life entangled with that of a woman with amnesia (Laura Harring) recovering from a car accident. Though things ultimately take a dark and surrealist turn (we're in a David Lynch movie, after all), the sexual and romantic chemistry between the two is searing, and even more impressive given the minimal mainstream representations of queerness circa 2001. You can stream Mulholland Drive on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Mulholland Drive (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Saltburn (2023) Barry Keoghan stars as Oliver Quick, a scholarship kid at Oxford who immediately sets out to ingratiate himself with rich golden boy Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). In fact, the clever Oliver will do just about anything to further his aims but, with shades of Tom Ripley, he wants to be inside Felix nearly as much as he wants to be in his world. Oliver goes quite a bit further than Ripley, though, including by getting up close and very personal with the remains of Felix's bath water. You can stream Saltburn on Prime Video. Saltburn (2023) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Brad and Janet are just a gee whiz/aw shucks couple until the find their way to the home of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a sweet transvestite building his perfect man from spare parts in the basement. While initially horrified, the two slowly come to explore their own repressed sexual needs with a little help from the very willing creatures of the night. First Janet, then Brad, decide that they want nothing more than to be dirty. Join them, won't you? You can rent The Rocky Horror Picture Show from Prime Video. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) at Prime Video Get Deal Get Deal at Prime Video Paris 05:59: Tho & Hugo (2016)Tho & Hugo begins, as more films should, with an 20-minute (impressively explicit) orgy in a gay sex club. The two leads (Geoffrey Cout and Franois Nambot) circle each other, for a time, before their mutual attraction breaks through the tangle of sweaty bodies and they connect over more than just fucking (but also, fucking). The film follows them over the next hour or so, exploring how much, and how little, two men can connect over the course of a couple of hours. You can stream Paris 05:59 on Tubi. Paris 05:59: Tho & Hugo (2016) at Tubi Learn More Learn More at Tubi Def by Temptation (1990)It's bad news when K (Kadeem Hardison) meets a seductive woman (Cynthia Bond) at a barbecause she's a literal succubus, luring in men who disrespect women and killing them, or at least maneuvering them into being killed. K begs off, but he's visited by his friend Joel (the movie's writer and director, James Bond III, no relation), a minister who's become increasingly disenchanted with his faith and is very open to the idea of making time with Temptress. You can stream Def by Temptation on Prime Video, Tubi, Shudder, AMC+, Freevee, and Peacock. Def by Temptation (1990) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock The Doom Generation (1995) New Queer Cinema auteur Gregg Araki referred to this as his "heterosexual" movie, but that only works in the sense that it centers a cis male-female couple (James Duval and Rose McGowan) at the outset. Their dynamic is quickly upended by the arrival of a drifter the call X (Johnathon Schaech). Though jealousy and clashing personalities complicate matters, the three have sex in a variety of configurations as they travel a blasted Los Angeles, becoming involved in increasingly (and intentionally) absurd violent incidents. You can stream The Doom Generation on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Doom Generation (1995) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video In the Realm of the Senses (1976) The stunningly sensuous and deeply disturbing film tells a fictionalized version of the story of Sada Abe, who murdered her lover in a scandalous case from the 1930s. Accounts paint her as either a monster, or a proto-feminist heroine (of sorts), depending on who is telling the story. She's played here by Eiko Matsuda, a former sex worker now making a living as a maid in the hotel where she begins an intense affair with the married owner, Kichiz Ishida (Tatsuya Fuji). The passion between them grows in intensity until it becomes mutual obsession, and the sexually explicit film draws us in to their doomed affair. You can stream In the Realm of the Senses on The Criterion Channel. In the Realm of the Senses (1976) at The Criterion Channel Learn More Learn More at The Criterion Channel Body Heat (1980) Taking a page from Double Indemnity, Kathleen Turner makes her mark in this neo-noir as the femme fatale of the 1980s. William Hurt plays the lawyer who is eventually willing to throw it all away for herand you can't entirely blame him. You can rent Body Heat from Prime Video. Body Heat (1980) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Atonement (2007) A WWII-era love story gone rather horribly wrong, the films central relationship (between Keira Knightley and James McAvoy) is wildly passionate for a time, but becomes one of lifelong yearning. At least theres that mega-hot library hook-up, during which hopefully no books were harmed. You can rent Atonement from Prime Video. Atonement (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Secretary (2002) A far more effective introduction to light-BDSM than those Fifty Shades movies, theres genuine heat here between Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spaderbut also a sense of humor that makes the passionate intensity of their relationship that much more titilating. You can stream Secretary on Tubi and Freevee. Secretary (2002) at Freevee Learn More Learn More at Freevee The Phantom Thread (2017) The two are never in bed together, but the slow-burn passion between Daniel Day-Lewis fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock (cough) and Vicky Krieps as his muse makes this Paul Thomas Andersons sexiest movie, even more so than his porno epic Boogie Nights. Woodcocks fastidious and obsessive attention to detail in his interactions with Keieps Alma build an atmosphere of tamped-down lust that only grows as the film progresses. You can stream The Phantom Thread on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. The Phantom Thread (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Y tu mam tambin (2001) Theres some actual sex in Alfonso Cuarns coming-of-age masterpiece, but its really a movie about adolescent yearning: between two teenage boys, and between them and the slightly older (and married) woman with whom they set out on an impromptu road trip. Their more typical teenage horniness (and repressed longing) is complicated by the presence of a more mature sexuality, and a medical condition that might make this her last fling. You can stream Y tu mam tambin on Netflix and Hulu. Y tu mam tambin (2001) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) The always great Angela Bassett sets out to break up her middle-aged routine with a trip to Jamaica, where she meets much younger (then-newcomer) Taye Diggs. Their (very hot) relationship cools considerably when she returns to her own life, at least until she decides that she can bring some of that new passion into her day-to-day. You can rent How Stella Got Her Groove Back from Prime Video. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Brown Sugar (2002) Catching up with Taye Diggs just a few years later after Stella, and Sanaa Lathan after Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar sees the two as personal and professional friends, and sometimes rivals, in the music industry who gradually come to recognize their mutual attraction. Its all a slow build to that moment when friends become lovers. You can rent Brown Sugar from Prime Video. Brown Sugar (2002) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Last Picture Show (1971) Roger Ebert astutely described The Last Picture Show as being about ...a town with no reason to exist, and people with no reason to live there. Aside from the pool hall and the titular movie theater, theres nothing to do there but have sex (which also happens in the pool hall and the movie theater). The teenagers are horny, naturally, but so are the adultsparticularly Cloris Leachmans bored and neglected housewife, Ruth Popper, who begins an affair with high school senior Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) thats partly torrid, and partly rote. You can rent The Last Picture Show from Prime Video. The Last Picture Show (1971) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Purple Noon (1960) The first of many cinematic adaptations of Patricia Highsmiths Tom Ripley novels, and one of the best. Alain Delon brings Ripley to life in all his sociopathic glory. Though the love triangle between the three main characters doesnt play out quite as explicitly here as it does in later adaptations, the film deals with mutual obsession in the glistening Mediterranean. You can stream Purple Noon on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Purple Noon (1960) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Speaking of, the 1999 adaptation of the eponymous Highsmith novel comes a hair closer than Purple Noon to capturing Tom Ripleys guiltless amorality (hes more fun in the books than in any of the films, honestly), but goes much further in bringing the subtext of Toms obsession with Dickie Greenleaf to the surface, capturing the extreme and conflicted feeling of wanting to sleep with someone and wanting to be them at the same time. You can stream The Talented Mr. Ripley on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Crimson Peak (2015) Guillermo del Toros stylized, under-appreciated gothic romance stars Mia Wasikowska as a young woman in a highly ill-conceived marriage to Tom Hiddleston who finds herself drawn to Charlie Hunnam (sure), even as Hiddlestons character seemed too distracted by his sister (Jessica Chastain) to notice. The upper-crust Edwardian costumes and settings all contribute to the air of repressed longing. Plus, theres the incest. You can rent Crimson Peak from Prime Video. Crimson Peak (2015) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Orlando (1992) Tilda Swinton fucks across centuries in this gorgeous, crackling adaptation of the Virginia Woolf novel, so horny she even swaps genders halfway through so she can bang as the opposite sex. You can rent Orlando from Prime Video. Orlando (1992) Learn More Learn More The Shape of Water (2017) Guillermo del Toros film was only the second fantasy to take home the top prize at the Oscars, but certainly the first (for now!) to involve a surprisingly hot, and impressively romantic, interspecies romance.Well, OK, Return of the King technically also had an interspecies romance, but that one was significantly less horny, elves and humans have all the same basic parts, and that one didnt require a visual description of a fish-persons cloaca. You can rent The Shape of Water from Prime Video. The Shape of Water (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Lighthouse (2019) Theres an unnerving sexual chemistry between Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe on display in this nightmarish throwback to silent-era filmmaking, but, in fairness, theyre cold and very lonely. It only becomes a problem when the hot mermaid swims by. You can stream The Lighthouse on Max or rent it from Prime Video. The Lighthouse (2019) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) In opulent 18th-century France, Marianne is assigned to paint a portrait of aristocrat Hlose. The resulting image will be used to advertise Hlose to a potential suitor in far-off Milan. The forbidden (for several reasons) romance that develops between them is as steamy as it is necessarily short-lived. You can stream Portrait of a Lady on Fire on Hulu. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Moonstruck (1987) Its as unlikely as cinematic chemistry gets (I would never have signed off on the casting of Nicholas Cage and Cher as romantic leads), but whats here is very realLoretta Castorini is a middle-aged widow whod given up on passion, while Ronny Cammareri is the sweaty, manic baker who reminds her that shes not really ready to give up on good sex. You can stream Moonstruck on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Moonstruck (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Booty Call (1997) A better-than-decent sex farce and buddy comedy, Booty Call sees Jamie Foxx and Tommy Davidson on a particularly promising double-date with Vivica A. Fox, and Tamala Jones...only to discover that they cant find condoms anywhere. The two men go on a hunt for those essentials before their dates get bored and give up. You can stream Booty Call on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Booty Call (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Beau Travail (1999) Claire Denis sweaty story of the French Foreign Legion in Djibouti, Beau Travailis full of sumptuous imagery and camerawork. On one level, its a deconstruction of cinematic masculinity; on another, its a story of closeted sexual obsession. You can stream Beau Travail on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Beau Travail (1999) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max LAtalante (1934) Jealousy and passion are all over Jean Vigos story of newlyweds on a boat. Husband Jean quickly becomes jealous of his new wife Juliette, who understandably has interests that go beyond hanging out on a canal barge all the time. Everything she does triggers his jealousy, pushing her away until he becomes so desperate that he, rather memorably, dives into the canal hoping for just a look at her face. You can stream LAtalante on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. LAtalante (1934) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Addams Family (1991) If theres a hotter, healthier take on adult married sexuality in cinema, Ive yet to see it. Even with two kids and a houseful of relatives, Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Angelica Huston) remain unreasonably hot for one another. You can stream The Addams Family on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Addams Family (1991) Learn More Learn More Batman Returns (1992) The chemistry here between Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer is intense (particularly in the ballroom scene), and all the more so for being the last gasp in superhero-movie sexuality (good luck finding anything even remotely horny about the MCU). But Pfeiffers Catwoman is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, so much so that the character represented a sexual awakening for both straight and queer kids of the 90s. You can rent Batman Returns from Prime Video. Batman Returns (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddys Revenge (1985) The only movie in the series with a male lead, the Nightmare sequel plays out as Freddys seduction of Jesse Walsh (Mark Patton), all while Jesse is dodging his girlfriend in favor of his best friend, Ron. Its a teenage slasher movie, so of course everyones horny, but most films in the genre dont make quite so many pitstops at leather bars and gym showers. You can rent Freddy's Revenge from Prime Video. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddys Revenge (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stud Life (2012) JJ (TNia Miller), a butch lesbian and her twink best friend, Seb (Kyle Treslove) are each both on the hunt for sex and romance, but their comfort with each other has become a crutch. They each enter into passionate relationships that force them to choose between friendship and love. You can stream Stud Life on Fandor. Stud Life (2012) at Fandor Learn More Learn More at Fandor The Twilight franchise (20082012) Basically four movies worth of weirdly moralistic teenage foreplay, raising big questions like: Ought we be hornier for werewolves? Or vampires? You can stream the Twilight movies on Hulu and Tubi or rent them from Prime Video. Twilight (2008) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Ghost (1990) Ghost may not be particularly horny for most of its runtime, but earns extra points for its pottery-wheel love scene, which set many a middle-American heart aflutter. Its more memorably constructed and titillating than the vast majority of actual sex scenes in movies, selling the core relationship in a way that makes the entire film work. You can stream Ghost on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Ghost (1990) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Un Chant DAmour (1950) Long banned for its homosexual content, the two men at the heart of Jean Genets A Song of Love never share a room, except in a brief, chaste, fantasy sequence. Two prisoners in adjacent cells share a palpable passion for each other, violently discouraged by a guard. The short films key moment involves a bit of cigarette smoke shared through a straw, one of cinemas most surprisingly erotic sequences. You can stream Un Chant DAmour (aka Song of Love) on Kanopy. Un Chant DAmour (1950) at Kanopy Learn More Learn More at Kanopy Before Sunset (2004) It was the slowest of slow burns for Jesse and Cline (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy), but here the tension is off-the-charts: they havent seen each other in years, and neither was expecting their fierce attraction to reignite so quickly. Hes married and shes in a relationship, but, by the end, none of it matters. You can rent Before Sunset from Prime Video. Before Sunset (2004) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Interview with the Vampire (1994) The new TV series adaptation makes what was necessarily subtext in 1994 into text, but viewers didnt have to go too far in seeing the mutual attraction between Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in steamy New Orleans. You can rent Interview with the Vampire from Prime Video. Interview with the Vampire (1994) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mississippi Masala (1991) Denzel Washington has played surprisingly few romantic lead roles in his long career, but brings some heat to this charming and sultry story of a romance between the his character and the child of Ugandan Indian immigrants (Sarita Choudhury) in the American deep south. The movie deals the issues that each of their communities has with the relationship, but what stands out is the near-forbidden passion between the lead characters. You can stream Mississippi Masala on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Mississippi Masala (1991) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Call Me By Your Name (2017) A coming-of-age story involving young, mercurial Elio (Timothe Chalamet) and older Oliver (Armie Hammer),Call Me By Your Nametakes place mostly during one sweaty, sun-baked summer in northern Italy. For Elio, it's a time of increasing sexual frustrationto the point that he sneaks off to smell Oliver's clothes. Sex with childhood friend Marzia doesn't quite scratch the itch and, before long, Elio and Oliver are engaged in a clandestine affairand partaking of the local produce. You can stream Call Me By Your Name on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Call Me By Your Name (2017) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Cruel Intentions (1999) This was a gateway movie for an entire generation of budding your hornballs for more than one sexual orientation. Reorienting the 18th century novel Dangerous Liaisons to a 1990s prep school, the film deals with sex, desirability, and power, while also serving as a reminder that the idle rich are never to be trusted. Everyone here is looking for sex, and almost everyone here is using their sexuality as a means to an end. One of the key scenes, and one of the film's best, involves Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) teaches Cecile (Selma Blair) how to french kiss. You can rent Cruel Intentions from Prime Video. Cruel Intentions (1999) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Red, White, and Royal Blue (2023) From the Casey McQuiston bestseller, Red, White, and Royal Blue finds the spare heir (or is it heir spare?) to the British throne falling out with the son of the President of the United Statesa minor diplomatic problem that the two are strongly encouraged to rectify. Of course, in the process of pretending not to hate each other, the two come to really not hate each other. So much so that they're sneaking off whenever they get the chance. The premise is rom-com to the hilt, but the leads (Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine) generate real sparks. You can stream Red, White, and Royal Blue on Prime Video. Red, White, and Royal Blue (2023) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video God's Own Country (2017) Josh OConnor (The Crowns Prince Charles) and Alec Secreanu play Yorkshire farmer Johnny and Romanian migrant worker Gheorghe. Johnny's largely content to bang any man who'll give him the time of day in the remote village, at least until he's joined by Gheorghe. Their initiallyverytempestuous relationship develops into something much more romantic, and not without a few literal rolls in the hay. You can rent God's Own Country from Prime Video. God's Own Country (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stranger by the Lake (2013) Thoroughly sexually explicit, and also an incredibly effective thriller (it made a bunch of top 10 lists in its year), writer/director Alain Guiraudie's drama takes place in and around a gay cruising spot at a nude beach and the nearby woods. Franck (Pierre Deladonchamps) falls in lust, and maybe love, with Michel (Christophe Paou)who he later observes drowning another man in the lake. Franck isn't sure he's willing to let that stop him from getting what is clearlysome excellent, if dangerous, D. You can rent Stranger by the Lake from Prime Video. Stranger by the Lake (2013) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Monster's Ball (2001) Halle Berry won an Academy Award for her performance as Leticia Musgrove, wife of a convicted murderer whose death has been overseen by Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton), the deputy warden. They're both deeply damaged and broken people, lashing out at everyone around them in ways that are frequently abusive. They also develop an intense, and passionate, connection that can't fix either of them, but that can cut through all the people and things telling them to stay apart. You can rent Monster's Ball from Prime Video. Monster's Ball (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video She's Gotta Have It (1986) Spike Lee's first feature film follows the instantly iconic Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) juggling three very different men, and finding that only together do they have all the qualities she's looking for. The movie's legacy is complicated by a rape scene that's handled pretty atrociously (Spike Lee agrees), but the movie nonetheless takes seriously the idea that (*gasp*) a woman might have sexual needs and wants that deserve to be taken seriously. You can stream She's Gotta Have It on Netflix. She's Gotta Have It (1986) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix

The United States, Japan and South Korea have issued a warning against North Korean threat actors, who are actively and aggressively targeting the cryptocurrency industry. In their joint advisory, the countries said threat actor groups affiliated with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continue to stage numerous cybercrime campaigns to steal cryptocurrency. Those bad actors including the Lazarus hacking group, which the US believes has been deploying cyber attacks all over the world since 2009 target "exchanges, digital asset custodians and individual users." And apparently, they stole $659 million in crypto assets in 2024 alone.North Korean hackers have been using "well-disguised social engineering attacks" to infiltrate their targets' systems, the countries said. They also warned that the actors could get access to systems owned by the private sector by posing as freelance IT workers. Back in 2022, the US issued guidelines on how to identify potential workers from North Korea, such as how they'd typically log in from multiple IP addresses, transfer money to accounts based in the People's Republic of China, ask for crypto payments, have inconsistencies with their background information and be unreachable at times during their supposed business hours.Once the bad actors are in, they then usually deploy malware, such as keyloggers and remote access tools, to be able to steal login credentials and, ultimately, virtual currency they can control and sell. As for where the stolen funds go: The UN issued a report in 2022, revealing its investigators' discovery that North Korea uses money stolen by affiliated threat actors for its missile programs. "Our three governments strive together to prevent thefts, including from private industry, by the DPRK and to recover stolen funds with the ultimate goal of denying the DPRK illicit revenue for its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," the US, Japan and South Korea said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/north-korea-stole-659-million-in-crypto-assets-last-year-the-us-says-133029741.html?src=rss

All Microsoft 365 users in your business will be able to access Copilot, at no extra cost.

Millions of Southern Californians were on edge as a final round of dangerous fire weather was forecast for the region on Wednesday, along with a rare warning of a Particularly Dangerous Situation for an area near where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes.Firefighters got a reprieve Tuesday when winds were unexpectedly light and they were able to make progress battling the two huge Los Angeles area fires and quickly snuff out several new fires.The Eaton Fire burning just north of Los Angeles and the Palisades Fire that destroyed much of the seaside LA neighborhood of Pacific Palisades broke out Jan. 7 in conditions similar to whats expected Wednesday. High winds last week pushed flames at remarkable speed and carried fire-sparking embers sometimes miles away.The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings done when temperatures are warm, humidity is low and strong winds are expected from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the Central Coast 275 miles (443 kilometers) south to the border with Mexico. The Particularly Dangerous Situation was in effect for an area that includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.Key message: We are not out of the woods yet, the weather service said in a post late Tuesday. The winds underperformed today, but one more enhancement could happen tonight-tomorrow.More than 77,000 households were without electricity as utilities shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes.A state of alertWeary and anxious residents were told to be ready to flee at a moments notice. They remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the skies and on each other: Police announced roughly 50 arrests, for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes.Of those, three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen setting small fires that were immediately extinguished, LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. One was using a barbecue lighter, another ignited brush and a third tried to light a trash can, he said. All were far outside the disaster zones. Authorities have not determined a cause for any of the major fires.Among nine people charged with looting was a group that stole an Emmy award from an evacuated house, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.The biggest worry remained the threat from intense winds. Now backed by firefighters from other states, Canada and Mexico, crews were deployed to attack flareups or new blazes. The firefighting force was much bigger than a week ago, when the first wave of fires began destroying thousands of homes in what could become the nations costliest fire disaster.Kaylin Johnson and her family planned to spend the night at their home, one of the few left standing in Altadena, near Pasadena. They intended to keep watch to ward off looting and to hose down the house and her neighbors properties to prevent flareups.Our lives have been put on hold indefinitely, Johnson said via text message, adding that they cannot freely come and go because of restrictions on entering the burn areas. But I would rather be here and not leave than to not be allowed back at all.Packed and ready to goResidents said they were ready to make a hasty escape.Javier Vega, who said he feels like he has been sleeping with one eye open, and his girlfriend have planned out how they can quickly pack up their two cats, eight fish and leopard gecko if they get orders to evacuate.Typically on any other night, hearing helicopters flying overhead from midnight to 4:00 in the morning, that would drive anyone crazy, Vega said. But figuring they were helping firefighters to keep the flames from threatening their neighborhood, he explained, it was actually soothing for me to go to sleep.Preparing for another outbreakPlanes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials who were criticized over their initial response expressed confidence that the region is ready to face the new threat. The mayor said she was able to fly over the disaster areas, which she described as resembling the aftermath of a dry hurricane.Winds this time were not expected to reach the same fierce speeds seen last week but they could ground firefighting aircraft, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.He urged homeless people to avoid starting fires for warmth and to seek shelter.Wildfires on the rise across LAWith almost no rain in more than eight months, the brush-filled region has had more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area.Firefighters have jumped on small blazes that popped up, quickly smothering several in Los Angeles county, including a blaze Tuesday evening in the Angeles National Forest.The four largest fires around the nations second-biggest city have scorched more than 63 square miles (163 square kilometers), roughly three times the size of Manhattan. Of these, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena was roughly one-third contained, while the largest blaze, in Pacific Palisades on the coast, was far less contained.Searching for victimsThe death toll is likely to rise, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Nearly 30 people were still missing, he said Tuesday. Some people reported as missing earlier have been found.Just under 90,000 people in the county remained under evacuation orders, half the number from last week.Hollywood on holdHollywoods awards season has been put on hiatus because of the crisis. The Oscar nominations have been delayed twice, and some organizations postponed their awards shows and announcements without rescheduling.Watson reported from San Diego, and Seewer from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press journalists Christopher Weber and Lindsey Bahr in Los Angeles, Lisa Baumann and Hallie Golden in Seattle and Julie Walker in New York contributed.Jaimie Ding, Julie Watson and John Seewer, Associated Press