We may earn a commission from links on this page.Every year around this time, folks in my online gardening groups start discussing whether its a good time to plant tulips. And while planting bulbs in the dead of winter may seem like bizarre behavior, theres a reason to consider it: Gardeners are suckers for an off-season bulb sale, and if the ground is soft enough, winter is actually a great time to plant bulbs. Bulbs come in sets, so you'll get them in bags, for each variety. Credit: Amanda Blum The rain makes soil pliableIts simple: Until the ground freezes in winter, its ideal to plant in. (I recognize that for some parts of the country, especially areas with below-freezing temperatures, it may already be too late.) The dirt is soft from the rain; all the plants are dormant, so planting is less traumatic; and throwing bulbs in the ground is a way to satisfy your gardening habit in winter. Plus, you are likely being assaulted, daily, by emails proclaiming impossibly deep sales at bulb houses. Remember, bulbs dont survive well out of the ground year to year, so houses are desperate to empty their stores before spring.Consider all the fall bulbsIts not only tulips, either. Consider ranunculus, which looks like small poppies; liatris, a tall, spiky flower; alliums, which send up a single shoot, with a gigantic puffball at the end, sometimes as large as twelve inches across; crocus, the first sign of spring; poppies, iris, peony and more. They arrive looking much like garlic bulbs, and they grow in the same manner. Planted beneath the soil in fall and winter, they get a much-needed chill from the weather and shoot up in the spring. They arrive in a very specific order, with the crocuses first, and then tulips, ranunculus, iris, and peonies, followed by alliums and finally, liatris in mid-summer. They come in different forms, too: bulbs and corms, which look like tiny spiders. Peonies and poppies arrive as bare roots, and irises arrive as tubers. Each gets planted slightly differently.Places to get great end-of-season deals of bulbs: Holland Bulb Farm, up to 85% off. Tulip World, up to 80% offEden Brothers, 40% offDutch Bulbs, up to 60% offHow to plant bulbs in winterAs soon as the box arrives with your purchases, you should open the box and let it get air, but not sun. You want to plant as close to arrival as possible at this point. Some of the bulbsmight have a little mold. If it's only a little, that's okay, but expect a few bulbs to be goners (theyll be desiccated and papery).To plant bulbs, you will need a hole, and that hold should be three times deeper than the size of the bulb. The bigger the bulb, the deeper the hole. Alliums, which are big, require deeper holes than crocuses, which are quite tiny.You'll need a bulb planterDigging these holes is best done with special equipment, and you have some options. If youre comfortable getting up close to the space youll be planting in, you can use a bulb planter, which is a hand tool. This is the most ideal, so you can see what else is in the area. There are also standing versions, which are a little less precise, since youre farther away and might miss something in the space. But standing planters have the advantage of saving your back, and letting you use more leverage from your body. The last option I often see recommended is an auger, which attaches to your power drill, but I dont recommend it for this job. Augers are fantastic for digging deep holes, but they are the least precise of the tools, and most likely to disturb nearby plants. Bulb planters give you tidy holes to toss the bulb right into. Augers tend to throw a lot of dirt around, and mostly loosen the soil so it is easier to dig in.Think about color and bloom time when arranging I have the bags laid out in order so I can determine spacing and then lay out individual bulbs. Credit: Amanda Blum Regardless of the tool, the next step is to decide where the bulbs will go. I choose bulbs purposefully, picking colors and bloom times with care, so I can create sweeping color waves across my yard. Once the bulbs arrive, I often create a spreadsheet of the order the bulbs should be planted in, so that I can reference it in the garden.I unload all the bags of bulbs and roughly lay them, in order, in the space theyll go. This allows me to figure out spacing and make adjustments. Next, I open the bags and start arranging the individual bulbs, working one section at a time. I prefer a naturalized look, so I simply toss the bulbs on the ground and plant them where they land.How to use your bulb planter A hole from a bulb planter, with a bulb inside. Credit: Amanda Blum Take your bulb planter, and begin by pushing it into the ground and twisting it left and right at the same time. The planter has teeth that will cut through whatever is in the soil or on top of it grass, chips, etc. Once the planter is solidly in the ground, rocking it back and forth will cause it to dig in deeper, to the depth you need. This works for the standing or handheld version. Remove the planter, and you have a perfect hole for your bulb. Place the bulb in, turn the planter upside down, knock it against the ground to loosen the plug of dirt, re-place it, and move on.Much is written about how bulbs should be placed pointy side up in the hole, as this is how they grow. In recent years, this has been debunked by flower farmersplants know what theyre doing, and will right themselves under the dirt.If you know the soil is poor, you can consider adding bulb food to the hole when you place the bulb in; once the bulbs are planted, you want to feed them with fertilizer yearly.How to plant tubers, corms, and bare rootsWhen planting tubers, you should do little more than scratch up the ground, and take up an inch or two of dirt. Tubers like to have their roots in the ground, but they, themselves, sit exposed on the surface. Tubers also spread easily, so make sure to plant them with enough space to grow.Bare roots should be planted below the soil line. Find the top of the plant, so all the roots are hanging down. Fan the plant out on the ground, and now dig a hole about that size, and at least as deep. In that hole, form a hill in the middle, and lay the plant on the hill, so the roots fan out around the hill, with the top of the plant just below the soil line. Now backfill the hole.Corms should be soaked overnight before you plant them. Theyre curious-looking little roots, but the little arms of the spider all face in one direction. Thats the bottom. After soaking, those roots will plump up, and now you can plant them. You want the soil you plant into to be loose. You can push the corm into it, only enough that the top of the corm is still visible, but the rest of the plant is under the soil. Theyre quite small, so this isnt difficult.

The disappearance and reappearance of social media platform TikTok is the biggest story in tech, but another popular app from TikTok parent company, CapCut, is also in a state of limbo. At the time of this writing, users who try to download this popular video editing tool will be met with this message: Credit: Stephen Johnson - Apple If you already have the app on your phone, it appears service has been restoredfor now. But seeing as ByteDance's status in the U.S. is very much tenuous at this time, it's possible CapCut will go away again. Whether you're worried about losing service in the future, or you are unable to download the app at all, let's take a look at five of at the alternatives to CapCut.Adobe Premiere Rush Credit: Stephen Johnson - Adobe The big advantage of Adobe's entry into the "social media video editing" field is that it's available on both your PC and mobile device. Videos are saved in the cloud, so you can start something on your phone then pick it up later on your PC, or work on the same edit on both iOS and Android devices. Plus, the basic functions are free. Adobe Premiere Rush lets you drag and drop files and photos into timelines, and create custom titles easily and quickly. To fully unlock Rush, the monthly cost is $9.99. You can access Rush on iOS and Android.Inshot Credit: Stephen Johnson - InShot Inshot provides users with a ton of free features and it's extremely easy to use, so if you're looking for no-hassle way to add music, text, transitions, video collages and more, this might be the app for you. The free version lets you create and export your videos for the price of dealing with a few ads on the top of the editor, and a watermark on your final video. If you want all that stuff gone, the pricing is reasonable: A monthly subscription is $4, yearly is $15, and lifetime use is $40. Inshot is rated 4.9 with over two million reviews on the Apple store, so it's a popular alternative to CapCut. Download Inshot on iOS or Android.Filmora Credit: Stephen Johnson Filmora's clean, easy-to-understand interface is a lot like CapCut's, and it leans heavily on AI: Filmora offers Image to Video, which lets you upload an image and let the AI create a video from it; AI Auto Cut, which uses AI to make cuts for you; AI Object Remover, which paints out unwanted objects in the frame with AI (like Magic Eraser); AI Voice Cloning, which replicates your voice with AI; among other features. It allows quick video editing even if you're a total beginner, but a deeper dive reveals more advanced features, so both neophytes and pros will be able to get down with Filmora. There's a free version of Filmora, but your videos will have a watermark and there are a ton of features locked behind a paywall. A yearly Filmora subscription costs $39.99 or you can pay $12.99 a month. You can download Filmora on iOS or Android.LumaFusion Credit: Stephen Johnson - LumaFusion There is no free version of LumaFusion, but $29.99 will get you a professional-level video editing program on your mobile device that includes color correction, speed ramping, key-framing, green screen, and way more. The basic features are a lot, but if you want to take it even further, another $20 will add Multicam Studio, letting you switch between up to six video sources on the fly, all from your phone or tablet. Download LumaFusion on iOS or Android.YouCut Credit: Stephen Johnson - YouCut YouCut is a straightforward, free video editing program for mobile devices that lets you join, trim, and split clips, and add effects, filters, transitions, background music, and more, for free, without adding a watermark to your creations. Of course, there is a pay tier: You can drop $7.99 per year or $19.99 for a lifetime membership for more filter, effects, and features, but that's a reasonable price. You can download YouCut on iOS or Android.

Last year Samsung embraced artificial intelligence with its suite of Galaxy AI features. And while the new S25 Ultra is a bit faster, a little curvier and has a slightly bigger display than before, its clear the companys primary focus was upgrading the software and machine learning capabilities of its top-spec flagship phone. But is that enough? Design: A curvier titanium frame with a handful of quirks Similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra features a titanium frame. However, for 2025, Samsung wanted to buck tradition by making the phone a bit less boxy. So instead of a totally angular chassis, Samsung rounded off its corners. This gives the Ultra a bit more of a familial resemblance to its less expensive siblings (both the S25 and S25+). That said, the Ultra still has flat edges that are a touch sharper than on last years phone, so it's more of a remix than a full revamp. For its front and back glass, Samsung moved to Cornings new Gorilla Armor 2, which features a "next-gen" anti-reflective coating that helps eliminate more glare than before. But perhaps the best new hardware upgrade is a larger 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display (up from 6.8 inches) with 15 percent smaller bezels, allowing for more screen space without increasing the phones overall dimensions (6.41 x 3.05 x 0.32 inches). On the flip side, the S25 Ultras included S Pen is actually getting a tiny downgrade as Samsung is removing Bluetooth Low Energy support from the stylus. This might seem like a bit of a headscratcher, but Samsung claims only a tiny percentage of owners were using Air Actions (which was the only S Pen feature that required BT LE) and that by getting rid of it, the stylus is more durable than before because theres no need worry about equipping it with tiny radios. The company also says the only gesture that saw significant use was the one for remotely triggering the phones camera, which can be accomplished in a variety of other ways (e.g. holding up your palm or using a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring). Here's a quick design comparison between the new Galaxy S25 Ultra (left) and last year's Galaxy S24 Ultra (right). Notice the smaller bezels and more rounded corners on the S25U. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Another design quirk is that while the S25 family (including the Ultra) supports wireless charging at up to 15 watts, its not technically fully Qi2 compliant. Instead, Samsung says the phone is Qi2 ready which means it will work with compatible chargers, but because there arent any alignment magnets inside of the handset, users will need to rely on aftermarket cases to provide a proper mounting point for magnetic accessories. The final noteworthy hardware addition is a new 50-megapixel sensor for the ultra-wide camera, which joins the three that return from last years phone: 200MP main, 10MP telephoto and 50MP telephoto cameras (with the latter two offering 3x and 5x optical zoom respectively). Samsung says there should be some general photo and image processing improvements thanks to the S25 Ultras new chip, such as improved noise reduction and a better spatial-temporal filter that can more accurately tell the difference between moving and stationary objects. But were going to wait until we can review the phone to say what these features can really do. Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite in every country Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Inside, the S25 Ultra is powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip along with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. For buyers outside North America, Samsung says its using the same SoC across the globe instead of opting for its own Exynos chips in certain regions as it has in the past. The company claims general CPU performance is up 37 percent year-over-year. Meanwhile, GPU speeds are up 30 percent while the S25 Ultras NPU has gotten the biggest boost of around 40 percent. And to help provide improved sustained performance for things like gaming, Samsung claims the S25 Ultras vapor chamber is 40 percent larger than before. In real life, the phone felt expectedly responsive, though it was hard to tell if that was all thanks to the phones new chip or if it was due in part to the snappier animations in One UI 7, which will come pre-installed on the Galaxy S25 family. And as before, Samsung is continuing to offer seven years of OS updates and regular security patches. AI agents and more Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Of course, as with so many other recent gadgets, the S25s main focus is on expanded AI functionality and after introducing its first set of features on the S24 line last year, it feels like Samsung's goal was to make everything a bit more powerful and easier to use. For example, existing tools like Smart Select have been renamed to AI Select and transformed into what the company is calling AI agents. Generally, this means a single feature will support a wider range of abilities and improved contextual awareness. Now when you tap the AI Select icon after pulling up Samsung's side bar, the phone will analyze whatever youre looking at and provide an assortment of suggestions like taking a screenshot, performing a visual search, summarizing an article or even capturing a video clip and turning it into a GIF. Its a similar situation for Samsungs Sketch to Image tool which has been renamed to Drawing Assist, which not only provides more realistic results, it also allows you to add AI-generated art to photos by roughly sketching something with the S Pen or simply using text prompts. Even Googles Circle to Search feature has gotten a small upgrade as it now supports song identification either by listening to music or someone humming a tune. Alternatively, in order to surface information in a more timely manner, Samsung has created a Now Brief tool and Now Bar. The Now Brief is designed to provide a customized feed that appears periodically throughout the day (generally in the morning, afternoon and evening) populated by news and events relevant to you. This includes everything from appointments in your calendar to the weather and traffic. Meanwhile, the Now Bar is an offshoot of this functionality that will pop up on your lock screen or in your notifications so you can keep tabs on apps you may already have open or the score for your favorite sports teams. It's very similar in spirit to Apple's Live Activities. Samsung says it has also designed the phone to observe your habits and notice patterns so it can provide helpful shortcuts in the future. One example would be if you regularly turn on Bluetooth before getting in your car and then turn it off when you get home, which is a process the phone may be able to handle automatically. Theres also a new Audio Eraser tool in the camera app which functions a lot like what weve seen in recent Pixel phones. It uses AI to identify six different types of noise like wind or speech and then creates a custom EQ allowing you to turn down distracting ambient sounds or boost the volume of whoever is talking. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget But, at least for me, the S25 lines most powerful new AI-based ability is improved natural voice recognition, which allows the phone to perform complex tasks that may involve more than one app at a time. During my brief hands-on time, I asked the phone to add the next Detroit Lions game to my calendar. That might sound like a simple request, but if you break it down, the AI first needs to figure out which game Im talking about based on a web search, when its being played, and then create an appointment inside the Samsung Calendar app. And the AI did add the relevant match to the calendar in the demo S25 Ultra I was using. Granted, weve sort of seen this before, but this implementation feels much more streamlined and cohesive. You can also search for images in the Samsung Gallery app with your voice, while the enhanced natural language recognition applies to generally controlling the device as well. This means you can ask the phone to adjust specific settings like changing screen resolution, which is nice for anyone who doesnt feel like scrolling through a seemingly endless list of options. Other features Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Lastly, some more niche improvements include support for logarithmic video capture (Galaxy Log) with exclusive look-up-tables. When watching movies or clips, Samsung is also borrowing some tech from its TV division to automatically upscale lower-res content. And for its Wallet app, the company is adding the ability to Buy now, pay later even when shopping at brick-and-mortar retailers or wirelessly transferring money to someone else just by tapping two devices together. However, the new Wallet features wont be available at launch (theyre coming sometime later) and they will only be available when using debit cards from Visa and Mastercard. After my short time with the S25 UItra, I came away with mixed feelings. Samsungs general approach to AI tools feels much more cohesive and easier to get into. But I still wonder how much value they really add and how much of a benefit they will provide on a day-to-day basis. The slightly curvier chassis makes the S25 Ultra fit in more with the rest of the lines design, but that feels like a minor change. I appreciate the new anti-reflective coating from Cornings Gorilla Armor 2 and Im happy to see a new sensor for the phones ultra-wide camera. But even so, Im left feeling like there are a handful of features Samsung could have given a little more attention to. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget How about a bigger battery like the 6,000mAh pack in OnePlus 13 instead of the same 5,000mAh cell weve seen for several generations? Or what about something for the S Pen? And then theres Samsungs half-baked solution for supporting Qi2, which just seems a bit lazy. Dont get me wrong, the S25 Ultra still looks like a good phone and I like that Samsung hasnt bumped up its price for 2025. But at the same time, it seems like the biggest phone maker in the world could be doing more for its most expensive non-folding phone. Pre-orders for the Galaxy S25 Ultra are live now starting at $1,300 with official sales slated for February 7. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-hands-on-faster-curvier-and-way-more-ai-ier-180054396.html?src=rss

Samsung unveiled a bunch of new gadgets at its Unpacked event, but the baddest of the bunch were likely those Galaxy S25 smartphones. Smartphones are only as good as the chips that power them, and the S25 series features a custom version of Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite system-on-a-chip (SoC.)Qualcomm is calling it the worlds fastest mobile system-on-a-chip and it powers every Galaxy S25 version across the world, from the standard release to the Plus and the Ultra. This is the first time the same chipset has been used to power Galaxy S-series handsets globally since the S13. Typically, North America gets a Qualcomm SoC and the rest of the world gets Samsung's proprietary Exynos system.This SoC features the second-gen custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU, along with the Adreno GPU and the Hexagon NPU for AI tasks. The system includes a Snapdragon X80 5G modem and the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Mobile Connectivity System. The company promises ultra-fast cellular and Wi-Fi 7 speeds. The system also allows users to send and receive messages via satellite, via the Snapdragon Satellite service.The two companies worked closely together to create this custom version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite to reduce power consumption on Galaxy devices. Galaxy S25 handsets can even access Qualcomms Spatio-Temporal Filter (STF.)This allows for sharper-than-ever low light video capture capabilities, even at 8K 30fps, all while maintaining world-class power consumption efficiency. Of course, the SoC was also customized to take full advantage of Samsungs Gemini suite of AI tools.The Galaxy S25 isnt the only smartphone to use Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Xiaomi 15, Honor Magic 7 Pro, Asus ROG Phone 9 and Realme GT 7 Pro are expected to utilize the SoC, albeit not the custom version co-designed by Samsung.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-smartphones-are-powered-by-a-custom-snapdragon-8-elite-soc-180050277.html?src=rss

The first Samsung Galaxy Unpacked of 2025 will see the launch of the Galaxy S25 range and new AI features.

Meta is reportedly working on Oakley smart glasses, and plenty others.

SPINVFX Showreel for 2025. This is a testament to the artistry and dedication of its talented VFX team. The reel showcases breathtaking visuals, highlights Studio Kogis expertise in creating immersive worlds complex creature designs and dynamic sequence. From conceptual design to final execution SPINVFX reflects a commitment towards pushing creative boundaries and elevating cinematic storytelling.The show also celebrates the studios strong partnerships with clients whose trust inspired groundbreaking work. Each project reflects a seamless collaboration. Each work combines visionary ideas with technical expertise. We have created hundreds of original and innovative worlds and projects with stunning aesthetics that continuously captivate audiences around the globe.This years accomplishment is a tribute to the relentless passion of their supervisors, producers and artists who continue to redefine what is possible in the world of VFX. SpinVFX looks forward with excitement and is ready to move ahead with a new year of cinematic iconography that inspires and awes.The post SPINVFX Showreel 2025 appeared first on Vfxexpress.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Johnson & Johnsons nasal spray, Spravato (esketamine), to treat major depressive disorder.Oral antidepressants are the most common treatment for depression, but they dont work for everyone. Those who have tried at least two treatment options and have seen little improvement, or sometimes worsening mental health, are classified as having treatment-resistant depression. Around 21 million American adults have depression symptoms, and some estimates say of those, about a third (30.9%) dont respond to treatment.Treatment-resistant depression can be very complicated, especially for patients who do not respond to oral antidepressants or cannot tolerate them, said Bill Martin, Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Neuroscience, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine in Tuesdays announcement. For too long, healthcare providers have had few options to offer patients much-needed symptom improvement. Spravato is now available as a stand-alone treatment, meaning patients may experience improvements in depressive symptoms as early as 24 hours and at 28 dayswithout the need for daily oral antidepressants.Spravato, which is derived from ketamine, is not a new drugit first came on the market in 2019. The spray was previously approved as a companion treatment to an oral antidepressant, as well as a treatment for those experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm. But Tuesdays clearance makes the spray the first stand-alone therapy for treatment-resistant depression.The spray works differently than oral antidepressants. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, while oral antidepressants can take weeks to take effect, Spravato patients can feel the drugs impact within hours. Because the treatment can come with side effects, including sedation, drowsiness, and disassociation, patients need to be treated in a doctors office or hospital setting and remain in the clinic until the side effects have passed.The nasal spray has been administered to more than 140,000 patients to date, and researchers say the results have been overwhelmingly positive. For more than six years, Ive seen firsthand the real-world impact Spravato can have on patients lives, said Gregory Mattingly, M.D., President, Midwest Research Group and Founding Partner, St. Charles Psychiatric Associates in the announcement.In 2023, the FDA warned of potential risks associated with ketamine treatments. Known safety concerns associated with the use of ketamine products include abuse and misuse, psychiatric events, increases in blood pressure, respiratory depression (slowed breathing), and lower urinary tract and bladder symptoms, it said at the time.Despite the approval, Johnson & Johnsons stock (JNJ) dipped Wednesday after the companys quarterly earnings release. Johnson & Johnson beat analyst expectations for revenue by $70 million, but highlighted possible negative impacts in its outlook from an ongoing talc lawsuit and slower medical device sales.

President Donald Trumps goodwill in the cryptocurrency industry has taken a hit after he and his wife launched meme coins a move critics say looks like an unseemly cash grab that undermines an effort to legitimize digital assets.The industry, which felt unfairly targeted by the Biden administration and spent heavily to help Trump win, is eager for the new presidents help to make crypto a bigger part of mainstream financial systems. Trump has promised a lighter regulatory touch and picked pro-crypto officials for key government positions.The price of bitcoin and other digital assets has soared since Trump won. A lavish Crypto Ball Friday ahead of Trumps inauguration sold tickets for thousands of dollars and featured a performance by the rapper Snoop Dogg.But as that party was ongoing, Trump announced on social media he was offering his very own cryptocurrency in the form of a meme coin. The move dampened the mood for many in the crypto community.I really was kind of bummed out when I saw it, said Tom Schmidt, a partner at a crypto venture capital firm Dragonfly. It just felt very grifty and cheap.Some crypto fans even joked on social media they missed Gary Gensler, the recently departed chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission who was viewed as the Biden administrations chief crypto antagonist thanks to the SECs aggressive enforcement actions against crypto companies.Meme coins are among the wilder and more unregulated corners of the crypto universe. They often start as a joke with no real value but can surge in price if enough people are willing to buy them. Popular meme coins include Dogecoin, whose mascot is a dog, and Fartcoin. Scammers have tried to pump up the price of certain meme coins before dumping them on unsavvy investors.Some crypto enthusiasts hailed the Trump meme coins release and eager buyers drove up the price of the coin to above $70 each. The price fell dramatically on Sunday after First Lady Melania Trump announced the launch of her own meme coin, which also saw an initial price spike followed by a large fall. As of Tuesday afternoon, Trumps meme coin was trading at about $45 while the Melania meme coin was at about $4.Trump named SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda as the agencys acting chief Tuesday and Uyeda quickly announced he was launching a new crypto task force to set the SEC on a sensible regulatory path. Trump has promised to create a U.S. bitcoin stockpile and enact industry-friendly rules that make it easier for crypto companies to access the broader financial market.But by associating himself so closely with meme coins, some crypto fans worry that Trump hurts his ability to enact reforms.Now, on the cusp of getting some liberalization of crypto regulations in this country, the main thing people are thinking about crypto is, Oh, its just a casino for these meme coins,' said Nic Carter, a Trump supporter and partner at the crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures. It does the opposite of validating us, it makes it look completely unserious.The sale of Trump meme coins was organized by CIC Digital, an affiliate of the Trump Organization. In promoting the meme coin, Trump told supporters to Have Fun! The website selling the tokens says they are meant as expressions of support and not an investment opportunity. The coins website said 200 million Trump meme coins are currently available, with plans to issue 1 billion over the next three years.The Trump family business recently released an ethics agreement that prohibits Trump from day-to-day decision making at the Trump Organization when hes president and limits financial information about the business shared with him.The president and first lady were not the only ones promoting new cryptocurrencies around the inauguration. Lorenzo Sewell, the Michigan pastor who gave a spirited inaugural invocation Monday, announced the launch of a new coin named after him, which he said would be used to benefit his church.I need you to do me a favor right now, I need to you to go buy the official Lorenzo Sewell coin, Sewell said in a video post on social media.Alan Suderman, AP Business Writer

The American Institute of Architects has denounced an executive order signed by president Donald Trump that aims to promote classical architecture, saying it would "stifle innovation".The American Institute of Architects (AIA) issued a press release decrying the president's Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture executive order, which aims to make federal buildings "respect regional, traditional and classical architectural heritage"."AIA is extremely concerned about any revisions that remove control from local communities; mandate official federal design preferences, or otherwise hinder design freedom; and add bureaucratic hurdles for federal buildings," said the AIA."We support freedom in design," it continued. "AIA's members believe the design of federal buildings must first be responsive to the people and communities who will use those buildings."Read: Trump signs executive order to promote "beautiful federal civic architecture"Released among dozens of orders, memoranda and rescissions issued in the president's first 24 hours in office, the Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture executive order is a resumption of a policy Trump put forward near the end of his first term.The previous order stipulated that federal buildings should be "beautiful", with priority given to classical and traditional styles that are "visual embodiment[s] of America's ideals". It was later rescinded by former president Biden.In the recent executive order, a provision mandates agency heads come up with recommendations within 60 days to make changes to the 1962 guiding principles for federal architecture.Strong concerns from AIAThe AIA believes that any federally issues measures to limit choice would be detrimental to regional architecture, and innovation and that it would harm locals who directly use these buildings."Our federal buildings across the country must reflect America's wealth of culture, rich traditions, and unique geographic regions," said the AIA."AIA has strong concerns that mandating architecture styles stifles innovation and harms local communities."According to the AIA, the current General Services Administration (GSA) Design Excellence Program, which guides federal construction, should not be revised.Doubt from preservationistsThis comes at a time when the GSA has announced plans to offload underutilized federal buildings due to falling capacity, though it's unclear how this will be affected by Trump's other mandate requiring federal employees to return to the office full-time.Preservationists have cast doubt on how effective the orders will be."The Moynihan provision that guides the General Service Administration calls for a diversity of building types across the federal government spectrum," archival organisation USModernist founder George Smart told Dezeen."That's a standard that has been used for going on 65 years or so now. It's been very effective."Read: Biden revokes Trump's "beautiful" architecture executive orderSmart noted that the lobby group National Civic Art Society, led by architecture critic Justin Shubow,has been very vocal in pushing forward this agenda.He conceded that there are "very practical" reasons why people could take issue with some modernist and brutalist federal buildings, citing insulation and circulation."However, the arguments put forth by Justin Shubo and others are about the philosophy that America should be the things that are just old," said Smart, adding that he would be happy to see some neo-classical buildings akin to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in DC."I don't think we should necessarily enact policy that says all of it should be classical."Shubow led the agency that guides aesthetics in Washington DC, the US Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), during Trump's first term, and was the first person ever to be released from the position when Biden dismissed him in 2021.The CFA is currently led by American architect Billie Tsien.The post AIA "extremely concerned" about Trump classical architecture executive order appeared first on Dezeen.