Two years after Michael Shroud Grzesieks father passed away from lung cancer, the popular Twitch streamer was ready to honor his dad by helping others going through the same thing. As one of the biggest streamers on the platform, its not a surprise that his first inclination was a charity stream. But one big stream wasnt enough he wanted to create a monthlong event to raise money in the most gamer fashion ever.Grzesiek told Polygon that his father used to play PC games with him when he was just 3 years old. And when he eventually started thinking about becoming an esports player, his father cheered him on. At the time, I was a teenager and honestly wasnt earning much from gaming but he would still encourage me to do it because he knew it was something I loved, he said. If it wasnt for him I wouldnt be where I am today.The Fragathon, a daily charity stream that will run for all of January raising money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, is dedicated to him. Profits from every subscription and every Bit will be donated. And because its Grzesiek, who is known for his precision aim in shooters, hes donating a dollar for every in-game kill he or his friends score during the stream, too.You can see a count of the kills, or frags, displayed in the top left of the stream. It doesnt matter if its Marvel Rivals, Valorant, or League of Legends; every elimination counts. Its called the Frag Counter, and through pixel tracking and game-specific APIs its able to update the number automatically, according to Ricky Gonzalez, executive producer at Loaded, a streamer talent agency that represents Grzesiek.After an emergency pause for the wildfires near Grzesieks home in Los Angeles on Jan. 8, the Fragathon has returned with over $200,000 raised and plenty more stream to go. Grzesiek told Polygon there isnt a set schedule, but the stream will rotate through guests and occasionally move to the gym or a tabletop for board games.The whole thing took three teams working through the holidays to complete and is running on over 15 cameras, 13 PCs and a seemingly infinite amount of RGB LEDs piped throughout the house, Gonzalez said. Most of that is tucked into a room somewhere behind Grzesieks usual setup to create a LAN center for his closest friends to join him.We discussed having this all be done in a studio but it wouldnt have felt truly Shroud if it wasnt at home, Grzesiek said. I want my friends and guests to feel at home when theyre here and we want that feeling to come through on stream, whether Im in my office, at the LAN center, on my couch, or in my kitchen.Six gaming PCs sit back to back in the blue LED-lit room, each with two monitors (one for gaming, one for reading chat) and a microphone. Where the walls arent covered up by Shroud-branded keyboards and signage, theres graffiti depicting crosshairs and the Fragathon logo. The budget is a little higher than a LAN party youd throw together with friends, but the DIY spirit is there. Grzesiek wanted it to feel like the old gamer days when you would just play a bunch of different games with all your friends around you yelling, laughing, gaming, and creating memories together.The production team and Grzesiek are already thinking about ways to improve the Fragathon should it come back in the future and it sounds like it will. Gonzalez said they tried to keep it really cozy and familiar but are ready to go bigger next time.Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/nF63TYYhn4 Michael Grzesiek (@shroud) January 3, 2025I keep saying this on stream but I just know my dad would have LOVED to see this, he said. As a full time streamer so much of my life is broadcast online. Its difficult to draw a line between personal and professional sometimes and Ive always just wanted to be exactly myself on stream, so doing something in his honor hes the one that introduced me to gaming in the first place just felt right.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Belts are useful tools for weightlifting (and I have recommendations on my favorites here), but who should be using them? And when? And how? Read on to get all your belt-related questions answered, and to figure out whether you, personally, could benefit from wearing a belt when you lift weights.How a weightlifting belt worksThe main purpose of a belt, when lifting weights, is to help you brace better. Bracing, as Ive written before, is when you contract the muscles all around your torso. It feels like what youd do if you were lying on your bed and saw your cat or toddler running in to jump on your belly. Youd tense your abs and hold your breath, trying to make your torso rigid instead of squishy.When youre about to do a heavy squat or deadlift, youll do something similar. Visually it may look like youre expanding your belly, pushing it outward in all directions.When you wear a belt, youll find that bracing your torso results in you pushing your belly against your belt. The belt helps to make your torso even more rigid, like a stone pillar standing strong. Good bracing helps you lift more than if you didnt brace; bracing against a belt helps you lift even more than bracing without one.To put this another way, when you tense those core muscles and hold your breath, youre creating intra-abdominal pressure. Think of how a pool raft can hold more weight if its fully inflated than if its got a slow leak. The belt helps you to keep a strong, solid amount of pressure in your torso.This, in turn, helps you to lift more weight, whether youre stacking that weight on top of your torso (as in a squat or an overhead press) or leaning your torso over to move the weight like a crane (as in a deadlift). In short: the purpose of a belt is to help you lift more weight. If youd like to geek out about the science behind this increased performance, Ill refer you to Greg Nuckols' Belt Bible, which details the results of several studies on belted versus beltless performance. Pioneer Cut Leather Powerlifting Prong Belt 10mm (Small) $149.80 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $149.80 at Amazon Belts (probably) do not prevent injuryBut a belt also protects me from injury, right? (I can read your mind. I know this is what youre thinking about.) Unfortunately we actually dont have evidence that a weightlifting belt will protect your back when you lift heavy.Most of the evidence we have on belts and injury risk comes from occupational studies. The CDCs National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) explains here why we shouldnt expect belts to prevent back injuries. A 2005 review article agrees that there is no conclusive evidence that belts prevent back pain.But if you believed that belts prevent injury, youre not alone! A 2003 survey of health club members found that 90% (!) of belt-wearers said they wore the belt to prevent injury.Basically, even though it makes sense that increasing intra-abdominal pressure should help to protect the spine, studies just dont tend to find that people using belts get fewer injuries than people who go without.Why you may want to wear a belt (besides lifting more weight)Even if they dont actually prevent injury, many lifters feel more secure or comfortable when lifting a belt. Youll commonly hear lifters say that:They like the feeling of something to brace against.The belt provides feedback so they know when theyre bracing well.Putting a belt on is part of their routine when they lift heavy, so it counts as mental preparation (which can help performance).Believing the belt prevents injury can increase confidence, even if its not really true.Since most people can lift more with a belt than without, putting on a belt is a way of decreasing the difficulty of a lift. For example, if you can squat 200 pounds beltless and 220 pounds with a belt, a beltless 200-pound lift is a maximal effort. But a belted 200-pound lift is just 90% of what youre capable of. In that way, putting on a belt can mean youre doing a slightly easier lift, which you could argue helps to manage the stress on your body in a way that might reduce your risk of injury in the big picture.Im not going to say it does reduce injury, since we dont have direct evidence of that. But an experienced lifter who uses a belt appropriately is probably being smart about their training in a way that may well keep them healthier and stronger in the long run.How much more can you lift with a belt than without one?As a rule of thumb, you can probably expect to lift about 10% more with a belt than you can without. (Some lifters say 5% to 15% is the expected range.) So that would bring a 200-pound lift up to 220 pounds, for example. Or to put it another way, if your best squat is 285 pounds, you can probably hit that three-plate milestone (315 pounds) just by putting a belt on and learning how to use it.And, yes, you do have to learn how to use it. If youre good at bracing, youll pick it up quickly. But coaches often recommend beginners learn to lift without a belt first, to make sure they have good habits and technique.How do I know when it's time to buy a belt?Theres no hard-and-fast rule about how many pounds your lifts need to be (or how heavy relative to your body weight) before you start belt shopping. In my opinion, if youre squatting and deadlifting regularly, and you can already brace effectively, its worth getting a belt and starting to train with it at least some of the time.Which lifts benefit from a belt?Squats and deadlifts benefit the most from using a belt. For standing lifts, like overhead press, most people find that a belt helps there as well.Olympic weightlifters often use a belt for clean and jerks, but not usually for snatches.Its less clear for bench press. Some lifters find that a belt helps; others go without. (Note that people who wear a belt for this purpose for bench press wear a normal belt, the same one they use for squats and deadlifts. Skinny bench belts are a completely different animal, used in equipped lifting to hold your shirt down, and have nothing to do with what were talking about here.)If you are not supporting a large weight on your body, you dont need a belt for that lift. People do not typically need a belt for pullups, curls, rows, or most dumbbell work. That said, you can always try a lift with and without your belt, and see if you feel stronger when you wear it.Should I always use a belt when lifting heavy, or only sometimes?This is a matter of preference and coaching philosophy. I cant give a universal answer, but I will say that a typical way of wearing a belt is to wear it for your heaviest regular squats, deadlifts, and presses.I say regular because its pretty common for a program to have a belted squat as your main type of squat, and then squat accessories (like tempo or pause squats) done beltless. You cant move as much weight without a belt, so this is a clever way to reduce the load on your body while still asking your muscles to work hard.You may also be advised to lift without a belt sometimes to strengthen your core. Its arguable whether thats true (your core is very active in bracing whether you wear a belt or not), but regardless of the reason, some coaches like to program beltless lifts. Beltless lifts can also build your confidence: if you can lift this weight now without a belt, that you could previously only lift with a belt, thats a clear sign that youre getting stronger. Definitely celebrate your beltless PRs.Finally, theres the question of which lifts in a session should be done with and without a belt. If you want a rule of thumb, many lifters put on a belt when the lift is over 85% of their max (for example, lifts over 191 pounds if their max is 225). That said, plenty of lifters will put the belt on for any heavyish lift.Is it OK to lift heavy without a belt?Yes, because the belt isnt protecting you from injury, remember? It is fine to lift heavy without a belt. Just remember that if you forgot to pack your belt in your gym bag, you wont be able to lift the same weights beltless that you do belted. So if youre used to lifting heavy with a belt, but you have to go without, remember to reduce the weight by about 10%.On the other hand, if you dont normally lift with a belt, its fine to continue going beltless. Just be aware that you would be able to lift morethus giving your muscles more workif you did start using a belt.How tight should a weightlifting belt be?A weightlifting belt should fit tightly enough that, after the lift, youll want to take it off. You dont wear a belt for your whole gym session; you tighten it, lift, then take it off or loosen it. (I like to leave mine buckled on the loosest hole between sets, just so that I dont set it down and then forget where I put it.)When the belt is buckled, it should feel snug. You should be able to shove a few fingers under the belt, but it wont be comfortable to keep it on that tight for that long.When you do your squat or deadlift, the belt should be in a place where it doesnt pinch against your skin. You may want to wear the belt higher on your torso for deadlifts than for squats; try different positions for each lift and see what works best for you.Its okay for the belt to cover your lower ribs, as long as its not uncomfortable there. Most belts made for lifting are four inches wide. Some people, especially those with shorter torsos, may prefer a three-inch belt. Speaking generally, almost everybody likes a four-inch belt for squatting, but some people prefer three inches for deadlifts.What kind of belt do I need?Youre in luckI have a whole guide to buying your first lifting belt. Most people will want to go with a belt that is either three or four inches wide (and the same width all around), either velcro or leather. If its leather, 10 millimeters is a good thickness for most people. And for a closure, if its a leather belt, youll probably want either a single-prong buckle or a lever. Read my recommendations here.

Apples excellent 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is on sale in a rare promotion that features discounts on more than just a single model. Amazon has cut the price of the 512GB version by 17 percent or $250, making it $1,249 for a limited time. With all four colors midnight, silver, space gray and starlight included in the sale, alongside the 24GB RAM variant, theres no need to settle for the base model either. Indeed, if your budget allows for it, this is a great opportunity to pick up the 24GB model for $1,449 or 15 percent off its usual price. As the proud owner of an M3 MacBook Air, I agree with everything my colleague Devindra Hardawar wrote in his review last year. The latest Air is a tremendous laptop, offering plenty of performance for all but the most demanding tasks. It also features a great keyboard and trackpad that make the laptop a joy to use. For those reasons and more, it's why Engadget recommends the M3 MacBook Air as the best MacBook for most people. Moreover, now that 16GB of RAM is standard on all of Apple's new laptops, its easier to recommend a base model without the usual caveats. My only wish is that the MacBook Air had more ports. In my mind, its an SD card slot away from being a perfect computer. Apple could also offer more reasonable pricing for SSD upgrades. Amazons current sale doesnt address those issues, but it does make a great computer more affordable. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-latest-15-inch-macbook-air-is-250-off-right-now-163029482.html?src=rss

HPE beat Supermicro and Dell to win a $1bn contract to supply Elon Musk's X with AI servers

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In the tiny community of Ilha da Jussara, at the northern tip of the Brazilian Amazon, growing acai berriesa superfood known for its nutritional benefitsis a major source of income.Production has grown around 50% in the last decade, driven by a dozen or so women in the village who fought to secure sources of credit.At first, the husbands took care of the product, of the production, said Edna dos Anjos Nascimento Siqueira, known as Bezinha, as she stripped the small dark fruit from acai palm tree branches and placed them in a basket. Then we, the women, started to move.Bezinha, now 60, grew up following her father climbing the acai berry trees of Ilha da Jussara to harvest the tart fruit, used globally in juices, cosmetics and supplements.She was the first woman to participate in meetings to discuss funding to grow the village business.According to Emater, a government sustainable development agency, the involvement of women in such small-scale businesses has grown fast in rural Brazil.In 2021, almost half of the rural credit from a federal program overseen by Emater that supports smallholder farmers benefited female producers, it said.The initial investment in projects like the acai of Ilha da Jussara is around 20,000 reais ($3,300), said Lucival Solim Chavez, an agronomist at Emater.After that, the land is financially self-sustaining, he said.More widely, acai berry production in Brazil grew 15% between 2020 and 2023, according to government statistics. Para state, where Ilha da Jussara is located, accounts for 94% of the countrys output, and is a top exporter of the fruit to food and cosmetics companies around the world.In the community around Ilha da Jussara, some 200 people are dedicated to the production of organic acai. Combined sales from communities in the area total approximately 1.37 million reais ($225,000) a yearmore than 85% of their income, according to government numbers.During the harvest, families in the village can make fourfold the regions minimum wage.Weve achieved a lot, Bezinha said. My friends that are part of it they have their own little house, their own little stove, their own bathroom. For us it has been a big thing.($1 = 6.0559 reais)By Isabel Teles, Reuters

Cast-glass sconces and amber window panes radiate a soft caramel glow across Loma bar in Providence, Rhode Island, designed by New York-based Studio Becky Carter.Loma is owned by Leishla Maldonado, who grew up in a Puerto Rican family, and brothers Osman and Yefri Cortave, who emigrated from Guatemala as children.A custom mahogany screen obscures the view on Loma from the bar's entranceThe trio's vision for the compact space was to reflect their roots and provide guests with an intimate experience."From the beginning, the three owners of Loma knew they wanted their space to have a distinct 'vintage Latin bar' feel welcoming, warm, tucked away," said Carter.Terracotta tiles cover the floor and side tables as an homage to Latin American interiors"We embraced the 450 square footprint, amplifying the intimacy by leaning into darker, more monotone hues, the entirety wrapped in warmth," she added.Lighting played a key role in setting the tone, and Carter sourced a set of 1970s Italian cast glass sconces that produce dynamic shadows across the lime-washed walls.1970s cast-glass sconces and amber window panes create a soft glow within the barThe two street-facing windows were covered with a second pane of textured amber glass to diffuse the natural light and add to the warm radiant glow.A custom mahogany partition separates the entrance from the rest of the bar, with rectangular cutouts offering peeks through before rounding the corner.A custom velvet-upholstered banquette wraps the main seating area"Upon entering the bar, guests encounter glimpses, corner-of-the-eye moments, rays of warm glowing light, objects in the periphery," Carter said. "Each detail reveals itself as part of the greater whole over time."Terracotta tiles cover the floor as an homage to Latin American interiors and also wrap cylindrical side tables for placing drinks upon.Read: Studio Becky Carter creates "distinctly New York" interiors for Cecchi's restaurantMost of the furniture pieces and objects displayed are vintage or second-hand, selected by Carter and the Loma team together.The remainder were custom designed by Carter and fabricated by locally based Transom Woodwork for the project, including a velvet-upholstered banquette that wraps the main seating area.The bar itself is designed as a cosy niche and has only four stools for easy conversationThe bar itself is designed as a cosy niche wrapped in lacquered mahogany, with only four stools so that Maldonado can easily converse with guests as she prepares drinks.Only a curated, rotating selection of liquor bottles is displayed on the back bar and a huge cube of ice is hand-chiseled for each drink.A variety of vintage and second-hand items were sourced by Carter and the Loma team for the spaceFounded in 2016, Studio Becky Carter was shortlisted for emerging interior designer of the year at the Dezeen Awards 2023.The firm's other hospitality projects include Cecchi's restaurant in Manhattan's West Village, which pulls together references from Bauhaus luncheonettes to comedic characters.The photography is by Joseph Kramm.The post Studio Becky Carter uses amber glass to cast moody light inside Providence bar appeared first on Dezeen.

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Amazon has issued limited-time 15-inch MacBook Air deals this weekend, with 512GB models falling to as low as $1,249.Amazon shaves $250 off multiple 15-inch MacBook Air models.Save $250 on two popular 15-inch MacBook Air configurations today at Amazon, with the Apple Authorized Reseller highlighting the discounts with its limited-time deals badge.The current M3/16GB/512GB spec is on sale for $1,249 after the discount, with the upgrade to 24GB of RAM priced at $1,449 after the $250 savings. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

AutoGen represents Microsofts latest attempt to address the challenges of building multi-agent systems for enterprise applications. This article explores what this means for the state of agentic AI today, and how it compares to other major frameworks like LangChain and CrewAI. This article unpacks the implications of AutoGens update, explores its standout features, and situates it within the broader landscape of AI agent frameworks, helping developers understand whats possible and where the industry is headed.Read More