Following our Oscar-winning work on Dune: Part One, Denis Villeneuve came back to us once again to help bring his ambitious vision to life for the most hotly-anticipated sequel of 2024!We were so proud to return to Arrakis once again as lead VFX partner on Dune: Part Two, helping to bring to life the films most breathtaking moments. Our work spanned the entire film, including large FX sequences with complex sand and pyro sims, large-scale CG environments, massive crowds, and detailed creature animation from the giant sandworms down to the tiny desert mice!Not only did we receive an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects for our work on this visionary sequel, our talented Dune: Part Two crew also scored a BAFTA nomination for Special Visual Effects and 6 VES nominations in the following categories:Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal FeatureOutstanding Environment in a Photoreal FeatureOutstanding CG CinematographyOutstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated ProjectOutstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal FeatureOutstanding Compositing & Lighting in a FeatureOur work onDune: Part Twois also nominated for both Critics Choice and Saturn Awards, and has already won the Hollywood Creative Alliance Astra Award for Best Visual Effects and has been honoured at American Cinematheques Tribute to the Crafts in the visual effects category!In a series of recent interviews, Production VFX Supervisor Paul Lambert and DNEG VFX Supervisors Stephen James and Rhys Salcombe have been sharing detailed behind-the-scenes insights into the work our incredible global crews delivered for this very special film.Read on for a closer look at our work!Sandworm RidingOne of the films most breathtaking moments is when Paul first rides a sandworm, a scene brought to life through a beautiful collaboration between practical effects and our teams VFX!The first challenge of this sequence was accurately communicating the immense scale and speed of the sandworm, which was partially done through the wakes left behind by the worm. Stephen James explained, To create these worm-wakes, we used incredibly complex sand simulations that were hundreds of metres long. The crew came up with what we called the ball pit render, which we used to conduct simulations with larger sized sand particles first, allowing us to create faster iterations to find the best look for the effect as efficiently as possible.Production VFX Supervisor Paul Lambert shared with befores & afters, DNEG came up with a great way in which they could visualize it and show myself and Denis as to what they were thinking by basically using particles the size of beach balls first as a quick and cheap render to be able to show what this is going to do, says Lambert. I then talked Denis through how the beach balls then became tennis balls and then became little grains of sand. It was a great way to have the director involved.After working out how the sandworms moved through the dunes, the next challenge was to show how Paul actually gets on the sandworm. This scene starts with the character running along the top of the dune, before it collapses with the worm going through underneath. The team used photography from the set as a base, allowing them to precisely match the crest of the real dune from the shoot. From the plates, our compositing team would paint back the footfalls and dust kick-ups, then the effects crew could precisely match these foot kickups and the collapse, extending them into the wider simulation. Stephen told befores & afters, There was a lot of really challenging work, from effects to lighting to comp, to really precisely hit those blends, because it was so important that we did keep that magic that was in those plates. There is that energy that is in a lot of these plates that we just had to keep or we would lose something that was just too important.The shots of Paul standing on the worm were built from plates filmed on-set, which were captured using motion bases and several tons of sand and dust. Stephen shared with befores & afters, I think that was probably the most challenging portion because we had a lot of dust and sand on set being blown across the surface of the worm, that we had to make sense of at a much larger scale. So if there was sand blowing on the surface on set, maybe thats sand that we would add on top of our CG worm that was from previous sections where it was under the sand and that would be cascading through down the back of the worm.The wormskin Paul stands on was mostly replaced by our CG worm, with the first films asset used as the starting point and enhanced for these closer shots. Rhys Salcombe shared, The CG sandworm was newly built to extremely high fidelity wherever riders cling to its surface. Each scab was meticulously sculpted to match practical on-set scabs, ensuring they could withstand close scrutiny from surface-level cameras.Attack at the Harkonnen HarvesterOur team also brought to life the Harkonnen Harvester attack scene, which follows Paul, Chani and a small group of Fremen as they ambush a Harkonnen spice mining operation. To represent the Harvester while shooting, dark grey screens and SFX leg tips on excavators provided real light and shadow.Speaking with AWN, Paul Lambert shared, One of the main rules I had with Denis was, To try to keep things believable I never want to change the lighting on a character. If we shoot in the daylight and I try to make Paul look as if hes in shadow, it will look wrong. Theres nothing I can do to make that look correct. Using the grey screens and an iPad with custom software provided by the DNEG team, the on-set team could visualize the spice harvester and set up the screens to cast accurate shadows, so that later, when our team added in the CG model, the lighting on the characters was natural.When the Fremen attack, a mixture of in-camera and digi-double Fremen fight the Harkonnen ground troops, while a new Ornithopter variant based on a real Blackhawk helicopter attacks from above. Eventually, Chani shoots down the Ornithopter with a rocket launcher. It took a lot of time to get that to feel right and to make sure it didnt feel comedic, Paul shared with VFX Voice. Every explosion that you see is digital. The guys and girls at DNEG did a fantastic job creating the simulation.Rhys elaborated, After Chani fires an RPG at its vulnerable point, we created a pyro simulation showing the Ornithopter exploding inside its shield before the explosion rapidly expands. The fiery remnants, including wings still beating, crash into the desert, creating a secondary impact explosion with fire, debris, and sand.The scene ends in another fiery explosion, as the 120 metre tall harvester finally succumbs to the laser-gun hits from the Fremen.Geidi PrimeThe Harkonnen homeworld of Giedi Prime is rendered in a stark monochrome palette, shot in infrared to create high contrast images in direct sunlight and an eerie ambience when overcast.Our team brought to life the large CG arena environment for Feyd-Rauthas fight scene, which tiers upward in a series of triangular terraces filled with tens of thousands of baying onlookers, adjusting shadows and exposures in post-production to maintain visual consistency with the on-set lighting. It was challenging, as materials behave unpredictably in these conditions. Skin became pearlescent, and costumes differed in appearance, Rhys explained. The crowds reactions ranging from excitement to synchronized motion during a haka were based on motion capture, efficiently rendered using a point instance system.An exciting challenge of this world was transitioning from indoors to the stark outdoor lighting. Rhys elaborated, It was as if Giedi Primes sun subtracts colour from light. To achieve this effect, two cameras one infrared and one RGB were mounted on a stereo camera rig. With one camera placed vertically, the second shot horizontally through a mirror or across the mirror, allowing them to film the exact same image, with one in infrared and the other in RGB. We then used these shots to create transitional blends from one look to the other as the characters move in and out of direct sunlight.The Battle of ArrakisAnother large sequence our team helped bring to life was the final battle, where the Fremen take on the Emperors military, called the Sardaukar. Stephen shared, Digital cinematography captured this sequence as a documentary-style event, with careful lens choices and camera movements.This historic battle kicks off with a large explosion, as Paul launches atomic missiles over the basin. Rhys told us, Villeneuve avoided a traditional mushroom cloud effect, opting for an over-scale gasoline type explosion. This required multiple intricate FX simulations from our team, including pyro, debris, layers of smoke and sand, a ground shockwave, an air burst, and a compression wave into the sandstorm behind the mountains.Multiple sandworms also make an appearance during the battle, animated to plough through structures, vehicles and armies.Harkonnen Ornithopters begin bombing the worms, and one of the Ornithopters is shot down, creating a dramatic explosion within the sandstorm. Rhys shared, For this scene, background crowds were created through point-instance mocap and close-up crowds fully simulated for more detailed actions.A large challenge of this sequence was what the team called the Chani-oner, a 30-second one-take near-full-CG action shot that follows Chani fighting through the Sardaukar ranks. Rhys shared, The choreography for this oner was performed on a massive mocap stage, mixing performances from Zendaya and stunt actors. This required extensive hand-animation to blend mocap actions, which were then adjusted with virtual camera work to create a handheld documentary feel.The action was then expanded by adding hero Sardaukar and large crowd simulations, including dust effects from flying Ornithopters. He added, This sequence became one of the most challenging VFX shots in the film.The battle lasts into the night, where we see vast areas of Arrakis aflame, Ornithopters bombing battlefields, and the city in ruins.The scene ends with Gurney Rabban on the steps of the residency. Stephen shared, The exterior courtyard was built with practical fuel bars and a full-scale ornithopter body. Ornithopter debris and FX fires were scattered across the courtyard to suggest a previous crash, and we ensured that each CG element directly supported the on-set fire and smoke.Huge congratulations again to our talented global crews for their phenomenal work on Dune: Part Two! Stay up to date with this years awards season here.

Amazon has made a big splash in the streaming world with its Fire TV devices, ranging from the straightforward Fire TV Stick Lite to the feature-packed Fire TV Cube. Weve tested these options (and everything in between) alongside offerings from Roku, Google and Apple. While Roku often wins us over with its easy-to-navigate, neutral platform, Amazons Fire TV Sticks shine for Alexa fans and those deep into the Amazon ecosystem. Choosing the right model might seem daunting, but weve got you covered. Whether you need something basic or a device that does it all, our guide to the best Fire TV Stick will help you pinpoint exactly what suits your streaming style and needs. Our Picks Best Fire TV Stick overall Fire TV Stick 4K Max View details $35 at Amazon View details Second-best Fire TV Stick Fire TV Stick 4K View details $43 at Best Buy View details Best budget streamer Fire TV Stick Lite View details $30 at Amazon View details Best for hands-free Alexa, smart home control Fire TV Cube View details $110 at Amazon View details Best non-4K runner-up to the Lite Fire TV Stick View details $30 at Amazon View details Table of Contents This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas. What's the best Fire TV Stick? When looking at all the great options offered by the variety of Fire TV Sticks on the market, we have given our top spot to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It launches apps quickly, and navigating around feels fast and smooth, thanks to its robust processor. It also comes with Dolby Vision support and Wi-Fi 6 for faster streaming. Best Fire TV Sticks of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 $35 at Amazon Pros Ambient mode is useful Excellent picture and sound Loading times are zippy Cons Slightly more expensive Interface is more crowded than ever Roku and Google offer better values Size 4.25 x 1.18 x 0.55 inchesResolution 4KHDR Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+Dolby Atmos Yes Full Review Read full review 8.4 $35 at Amazon If you're looking for the best Fire Stick on the market, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is it. The Max is speedy and loads apps almost immediately, and navigating around the system is swift and smooth. Even better, the Max supports Wi-Fi 6 and nearly all the latest playback standards, including Dolby Vision. The downside to the Max is its Fire TV platform with ads featured prominently throughout. We just don't appreciate the TV becoming a giant rotating billboard for content or ads when in screensaver mode. But this is a good choice for those looking for the best and fastest Amazon Fire TV stick. CNET Score Breakdown 8.4 /10 SCORE Features 8 Value 8 Design 7 Ecosystem 10 Performance 9 $43 at Best Buy The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K debuted in 2018 and is still around today. While we generally think it's worth it to upgrade to the Max, the original Fire TV Stick 4K is still a good choice for those who want 4K streaming without paying for the latest bells and whistles, namely Wi-Fi 6 and blazing-fast speed. The voice features are impressive and Echo and Dot owners can control it with Alexa. Its app and game selection is superb and responses are still fast, though not as fast as on the Max. The remote can control volume and power on TVs and soundbars. Ultimately, if the price of the Fire TV Stick 4K is close to the Max, we recommend passing on this and getting the newer and faster Max. $30 at Amazon The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is our favorite budget streaming device, besting the

Our Experts Written by Ty Pendlebury Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement How we test What to consider Channels If youre looking for a Dolby Atmos receiver, the minimum number of channels is seven -- which is written as either 7.1 or 5.1.2 channels). Power specs are mostly made up, but anything over 100 watts per channel in stereo is good. HDMI inputs All modern components use the universal HDMI standard and so you should choose a receiver that has as many of these inputs as possible. If youre a gamer choose one which has HDMI 2.1 so it can transmit 4K/120Hz to a TV as well. Dolby Atmos capability Most receivers over $500 include Dolby Atmos capability, but you dont need to buy height speakers straight away. You can always add them later. Wi-Fi music streaming Alongside Bluetooth, many models have onboard Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless music streaming. Standards to look for include Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast built-in. Table of Contents If youre serious about bringing theater-like sound into your home then an AV receiver is the best choice. A modem receiver is a sophisticated device which fulfills two roles -- it acts as a TV video switch between components like a streaming box or gaming console, and it decodes and amplifies audio signals so you can hear them on your speakers. The best receivers offer excellent sound quality and come equipped with 8K video, Dolby Atmos and music streaming capabilities, and they connect to your TV via HDMI. You can start with as little as a pair of stereo speakers and add new speakers and a subwoofer as your budget allows. Our Picks Best AV receiver overall Onkyo TX-NR6100 View details $799 at Best Buy View details Best receiver for gaming Sony STR-AN1000 View details $898 at Amazon View details Best receiver under $1,600 Onkyo TX-RZ50 View details $1,600 at Best Buy View details Best receiver for movies Yamaha RX-A4A View details $814 at Amazon View details Table of Contents What is the best AV receiver overall?If you divide your time between watching TV and listening to music, there are several models that can do both well, including two excellent Onkyo receivers in the TX-NR6100 and TX-RZ50. The recently reviewed Sony STR-AN1000 is also a strong performer under $1,000, although it isn't quite as well specified as its competitors.Which is the best AV receiver for you? I've tested the most popular models between $500 and $2,000 to help you find the best AV receivers 2025 has to offer.Best AV receivers of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 $799 at Best Buy Pros One of the best music streaming suites Excellent home theater performance Fun to use Compatible with Xbox Series X/4K 120Hz signals Cons Not as dynamic with music Number of Channels 7Power in Stereo 100 wattsNumber of HDMI Inputs 6HDMI Version 2.1 Full Review Read full review 8.3 $799 at Best Buy The TX-NR6100 is the follow-up to my favorite receiver of the past few years, the Onkyo TX-NR696. Like its predecessor, the NR6100 offers great sound and a wealth of connectivity (including 4K/120Hz support for gaming consoles). Streaming options include Chromecast built-in, DTS Play-Fi, Spotify Connect, Sonos, AirPlay and Bluetooth. With a bit more power than the Sony STR-AN1000 and a keener price than any competitor, the Onkyo TX-NR6100 is the best receiver value under $1,000. CNET Score Breakdown 8.3 /10 SCORE 8.3 8.2 Sony went away for a couple of years but came back better than ever with the STR-AN1000. This model offers all of the latest features including HDMI 2.1 (4K/120Hz) support. It includes "works with Sonos" certification, but the reason to buy it is that it's a solid performer, especially with video games. It also has one of the most sophisticated setup routines yet, so dialing in great sound is even easier. CNET Score Breakdown 8.2 /10 SCORE 8.2

January 24, 20252 min readLos Angeles Fires Delay Release of New Fire Risk MapsClimate disasters such as the recent Los Angelesarea fires are making it harder to prepare for more climate disastersBy Camille von Kaenel & E&E News In this long exposure photo, fire smolders on a hillside during the Lilac fire in unincorporated San Diego County, California on January 21, 2025. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | SACRAMENTO, California The Los Angeles fires are delaying California's rollout of new fire hazard maps that broadly detail more danger than previous versions, the state's fire marshal said Wednesday.What happenedCal Fire is already behind schedule in putting out new statewide recommendations for local agencies detailing which areas are at very high fire hazard, down to the parcel level. LA's wildfires will delay the agency further, State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant told POLITICO in an interview.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.He said Cal Fire is now planning to release the new map recommendations for Northern California first, sometime in the next few weeks, and Southern California second, sometime in the months to follow, so as not to overwhelm local officials in LA, who are required by law to review and adopt the maps within three months.Why this mattersThe fire hazard severity zones in Cal Fires maps determine where the state government enforces certain wildfire prevention regulations, like fire-resistant building codes and fire risk disclosure requirements for home sales. The maps, which are supposed to be updated every five years by state law, were last updated in 2007.While Cal Fire finalized its new fire hazard zones for areas under state firefighting jurisdiction in April 2024, including much of rural fire-prone California, it hasnt yet released the new fire hazard zone recommendations for areas under local jurisdiction, including most urban areas.Since Cal Fire last updated the zones in 2007, it has developed a new scientific model to reflect the risk of extreme wind-fueled wildfires, like the ones that tore through Pacific Palisades and Altadena.The result: Even more areas, especially at the edges of current fire hazard zones, will be categorized as very high fire hazard in the coming update, Berlant said.There's going to be some tough conversations, Berlant said. There's going to be a lot more cities and even some counties that would get a fire hazard level that they don't currently have.Whats nextOnce Cal Fire publishes the new maps, cities and counties must review the recommendations, make any changes and formally adopt the zones.Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and the Legislature were in talks late last year to reform and streamline the fire hazard maps, but those talks stalled amid opposition from environmental groups who feared the changes would put more people in the line of danger. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D), who authored the bill, SB 610, said earlier this month it was too soon to decide whether he would reintroduce the proposal this year.Rachel Bluth contributed to this report.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereFortnites frequent updates include weekly hotfixes, which aim to improve the games balance, keep players engaged, fix issues, add new features, and change the meta by making certain weapons and items stronger or weaker. To keep everything in the game interesting and up-to-date, this strategy has been most noticeable in Chapter 6, when major adjustments have been implemented.Epic Games has been hard at work improving the games weapons and gameplay in Chapter 6 Season 1 through a series of upgrades. One of the major hotfixes this week was a buff in the Godzilla event where the spawn rate of the kaiju has been increased from 40% to 100%, where every match is now potentially a kaiju showdown.In addition, the update brings several weapon tweaks, which balance out the existing meta by making some choices less powerful and strengthening others. Here are all the buffs and nerfs made with the January 24 update.Fortnite January 24 hotfix buffs and nerfs Chapter 6 weapons majorlyFortnite deployed a hotfix on January 24, 2025, where Epic introduced weapon adjustments just in time to enable players to battle Godzilla with more confidence. These adjustments have been made to weapons like the Typhoon Blade, Holo Twister AR, Oni Shotgun, Twinfire Auto Shogun, Veiled Precision SMG, and Fury Assault Rifle.Several weapons have undergone changes with the update. Image credit Epic Games.In the X post, Epic mentioned, Weve made some balance adjustments to Battle Royale and Zero Build! Oni Shotguns will now fire shots slightly faster. Typhoon Blades now deal slightly less damage to both players and structures. Holo-Twister Assault Rifles shoot slightly slower and reload takes slightly longer. Twinfire Auto Shotguns, Fury Assault Rifles, and Veiled Precision SMGs now all reload quicker.To help you understand the fixes better, heres a full breakdown of each weapon buffed and nerfed alongside its past and new stats.Typhoon Blade has been nerfedNormal Slash Damage to players: 30 -> 28Normal Slash Damage to the environment: 50 -> 44Holo Twister AR has been nerfedFire rate decreased by 6%Reload time increased by 4%Oni Shotgun has been buffedFire rate increased by 8%Twinfire Auto Shotgun has been buffedReload time decreased by 4%Veiled Precision SMG has been buffedReload Time decreased by 4.5%Fury Assault Rifle has been buffedReload Time decreased by 1.8%These changes have significantly shifted the current weapons meta in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1. If youre wondering about the best weapons in the game as of yet, check out our full-tier list right here. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerRelated TopicsFortnite Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereEpic Games Godzilla collaboration in Fortnite is going harder than ever before with the King of Monsters now a guaranteed addition to the battle royale game. If you thought avoiding Tohos iconic kaiju was difficult before, hold onto your rear, because the Big-G has just received a monumental new buff.Fortnite Godzilla always spawnsRevealed by reknowned leaker Loolo, Fortnite developer Epic Games has significantly buffed Godzillas spawn rate inside the standard battle royale matches. On release, the G-Man only had a spawn rate of 20% which was later increased to 40%, but now players will encounter the horrifying metaphor for nuclear destruction in 100% of Fortnite matches.With players wondering how to play the Godzilla event in Fortnite, Epic Games has now made the monsters appearance unavoidable. While you wont have to defeat Godzilla in every match, the iconic monster will now be present no matter what you do.Alongside the increase spawn rate, Epic has also increased G-Mans overall stats. Via FN_Assist, the world boss Weak Spot Health has been buffed by 88% up to 1500 points and the creatures Damage Multiplier when max damage taken has been decreased by 27%.Of course, Epic has not changed the rewards for killing the monster, although it would be cool if players now needed to find an Oxygen Destroyer for the ultimate Kaiju experience. This means that youll still be able to nab the Godzilla Medallion, giving you a recharging dash ability, as well as the Burst Quad Launcher.Additionally, anyone who picks up the Godzilla Medallion will still be snitched out by the game and have their location shown to every other looter in the map. Good stuff.For more Fortnite coverage, read about the massive leak that reveals an awesome new theme and read about the best new landing spot in the game.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

In early January I watched in horror as beloved communities in Los Angeles burned in the Palisades and Eaton fires. While I live two hours east of LA, near Joshua Tree, witnessing the lives of friends and strangers splinter in an instant felt all too familiar: In April of 2019 I lost my apartment in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, to a five-alarm fire started by a careless neighbor who left a candle burning by a curtain on a windy day. In minutes the conflagration tore through the roof, leaving our 56-unit, six-floor, pre-war building uninhabitable.Now, watching thousands of Angelinos try to make sense of their loss, I remember how I rebuilt my life and the surprising lessons I learned about accepting community support, mourning, and moving on.The loss of a future is as painful as the physical and financial lossId lived in Sunset Park, a working- and middle-class neighborhood in southwest Brooklyn thats home to generations of immigrants from Scandinavia, Latin America, and China, for 17 years and owned my one-bedroom condo for 10. I planned to make it my forever home. I was at work when the fire began, so I only had the belongings in my purse and gym bag, and I had no chance to rescue my cat, Crackers.Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where the author previously lived.Photo: Bus Photography/Getty ImagesIt took time to understand how to grieve. I could mourn Crackerss passing, but I was physically safe, and no people died. Unlike some of my neighbors, I had personal property insurance and could stay with my boyfriend at the time. Its just stuff, well-meaning acquaintances told me, but my loss was a dark hole that had been kicked through my life. Trauma studies professor Sandra Stark Shields recently noted on KCRW that losing a home is similar to the sudden death of a family member, and this short sentence helped articulate the grief I tumbled into.When the ash settled, the damage assessed, and repairs estimated, it became clear that the condo board lacked sufficient insurance coverage and could not afford to rebuild. We would not get our homes, or their equivalent value, back. As reality sunk in, I grieved the future I once dreamed of: Growing old in Sunset Park, a predictable routine of summer park picnics and swims in the public pool and stunning winter sunsets observed from my fifth-floor fire escape. I was experiencing ambiguous loss, a term coined by Pauline Boss in the 1970s, to describe loss without true closure. More than the undoing of financial or physical security, losing my imagined future has been the hardest to reconcile.I had to be specific about what I neededIn the dizzying aftermath of the fire, support from our neighbors through donation drives, fundraisers, and skill sharing enabled me and other building residents to get our immediate bearings. However, securing what I would need to move forward was overwhelming. After a few weeks, I had a rental apartment, but little furniture; a refrigerator, but no desire to cook; blank walls, and empty bookshelves. I learned to ask for the specific help I needed in order to establish some kind of normalcy. My friends set up a gift registry of necessary household items, from baking dishes and spatulas to pillows and a pressure cooker. Others dropped off homemade lentil soup and kitchen staples like fresh spices and Maldon salt. A fellow writer arranged for book lovers to send me my favorites to rebuild my library. These generous acts grounded me, and these objects serve as a daily reminder of the community support I received.Solidarity is energizing, but only goes so farThough I had scarcely known many of my immediate neighbors before the fire, in the aftermath the solidarity between owners and tenants, and English, Chinese, and Spanish speakers was energizing. We shared resources, attended community meetings in search of solutions, and checked in regularly to support each other in person and over text. However, our unity was fragile, and within a year fractured along the lines of class and language. While I quickly moved into a nearby rental, paid by my personal insurance for one year, others had to move out of the city, and later the country, because they did not have sufficient support. The disintegration of our community as residents attempted to move on was a deep, and unavoidable, loss.

Being named to the AD100ADs list of the worlds leading talentis a professional milestone that can make a designers career, opening the doors to new, high profile clients, brand and licensing deals, and a closer relationship with one of the worlds top magazines. In this one-hour virtual event, AD100 designers open up about the path that got them into the pages of AD, share the lessons and surprises they encountered along the way, and offer up their best advice for others.On January 22, Alison Levasseur, ADs Global Interiors & Garden Director, caught up with three AD100 2025 debuts, Heidi Caillier, Little Wing Lee, and Ross Cassidy, to glean their lessons learned in navigating client projects, product deals, building a brand, and more. Watch the full video recap below.Meet the Panelists

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Don't Be GloomyHelldivers 2's latest mission is about collecting samples, but it could have a much more interesting payoff: using the Gloom to zip about faster than lightGimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme the extra FTL travel I desire.Image credit: VG247/Arrowhead News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 24, 2025 Helldivers 2 just got a fresh Major Order and no matter whether you're still reeling from failing the last one, or have just discovered that you can access the game via Steam for the first time in ages, you might want to pay attention not just to your latest task, but what it could lead to.After the last MO brought the freshly-updated Democracy Space Station back into play to help battle the Illuminate, now you're back off to the bug front. Not that you necessarily weren't there last order, if you're a hardcore bugdiver.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. At a glance, this latest MO looks like nothing special. Extract 22 million common samples from Erata Prime, 15 million rare ones from Gacrux, and make sure Super Earth's in control of Fenrir III by the end of the order in about four days' time.It's what this is in aid of that's a bit more interesting. You'll be helping develop tech to aid the divers in dealing with "The Gloom" - that's the weird spore cloud that's long filled a bunch of Terminid-controlled sectors. As it turns out, it might be useful for more than just making your ship need foglights. To see this content please enable targeting cookies."Recent experimentation on Terminids using collected Gloom spores indicate that Gloom-induced mutations may dramatically increase Element 710-yield," reads Arrowhead's full briefing, adding that tests have suggested that yield can go up to as much as ten times the norm."The implications of this result are monumental," it continues, "The Gloom may represent a vast, untapped source of new energy. Its exploitation could enable FTL travel beyond military and colony settlement operations - expanding to trade and research sectors, as well as to more military and colony settlement operations."So, maybe it'll help add some new elements to the stuff Super Earth has at its disposal, beyond just the DSS. Or, maybe it do exactly what a lot of players think - go totally wrong and have a consequence like making a bunch of even tougher bugs, possibly escaped Gloom mutation test subijects or something like that.We'll just have to wait and see, but this is Helldivers 2 - it'll probably be both.