Bloomington isn't packed with broadband providers, but there are still plenty to choose from.

DeepSeek rocked the tech world and the financial markets when it hit the app stores a couple of weeks ago, promising to provide the same kinds of high-performing artificial intelligence models as the established players like OpenAI and Google at a fraction of the cost. But some in government and data security worry that the suddenly popular open-source AI assistant's ties to China could put American data at risk, comparing it to the social media platform TikTok, which members of Congress overwhelmingly voted to ban last year. Those concerns aren't limited to DeepSeek. They're something that everyone downloading AI chatbot apps onto their phones should bear in mind, even aside from the national security flag-waving going on in legislative halls. We'll outline some helpful tips below. On Thursday a pair of US House members announced plans to introduce legislation that would ban the app on all government devices, citing the Chinese Communist Party's ability to access data collected by DeepSeek and other Chinese-owned apps, as well as the potential for DeepSeek to be used to spread Chinese disinformation. "This is a five alarm national security fire," US Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, said in a statement, adding that the country can't risk China being able to"infiltrate" the devices of government employees and potentially put national security at risk. "We've seen China's playbook before with TikTok, and we cannot allow it to happen again," Gottheimer said. Read more: Australia last week banned the app on government devices. Some US states have done the same, with Texas being one of the first. And New York's governor on Monday issued a statewide ban of DeepSeek on state government devices and systems. DeepSeek's ties to China, as well as its wild popularity in the US and the news buzz surrounding it, make for an easy comparison to TikTok, but security experts say that while the DeepSeek's data security threats are real, they're different from those of the social media platform. And though DeepSeek may be the hot new AI assistant now, there's a plethora of new AI models and versions on the horizon, making it important to take care when using any kind of AI software. In the meantime, it's going to be a tough sell to get the average person to avoid downloading and using DeepSeek, said Dimitri Sirota, CEO of BigID, a cybersecurity company that specializes in AI security compliance. "I think it's tempting, especially for something that's been in the news so much," he said. "I think to some degree, people just need to make sure they operate within a certain set of parameters." Why are people worried about DeepSeek? Like TikTok, DeepSeek has ties to China and user data gets sent back to cloud servers in that country. Also like TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, DeepSeek is required by Chinese law to turn user data over to the government if the government asks for it. With TikTok, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle worried that US user data could be used by the Chinese Communist Party for intelligence purposes, or that the app itself could be modified to inundate American users with Chinese propaganda. Those concerns ultimately prompted Congress to pass a law last year that would ban TikTok unless it's sold to a buyer deemed fit by US officials. But getting a handle on DeepSeek, or any other AI, isn't as simple as banning an app. Unlike TikTok, which companies, governments and individuals can choose to avoid, DeepSeek is something people might end up encountering, and handing information to, without even knowing it. The average consumer probably won't even know what AI model they're interacting with, Sirota said. Many companies are already running more than one kind of AI model, and the "brain," or specific AI model powering that avatar, could even be "swapped" with another in the company's collection while the consumer interacts with it, depending on what tasks need to be done. Meanwhile the buzz surrounding AI in general isn't letting up anytime soon. More models from other companies, including some that'll be open-source like DeepSeek, are also on the way and will certainly grab the future attention of companies and consumers. As a result, focusing on DeepSeek removes only some of the data security risks, said Kelcey Morgan, Rapid7's senior manager of product management. Instead of focusing on the model currently in the spotlight, companies and consumers need to figure out how much risk they want to take in regard to all kinds of AI, and put in place practices designed to safeguard data. "That's regardless of whatever hot thing comes out next week," Morgan said. Could the Chinese Communist Party use DeepSeek data for intelligence purposes? Cybersecurity experts say China has enough people and processing power to mine the massive amounts of data collected by DeepSeek, combine it with information from other sources and potentially build profiles of American users. "I do think we've entered a new era where compute is no longer the limitation," Sirota said, pointing to the abilities of companies like Palantir Technologies, which makes software that allows US agencies to crunch vast amounts of data for intelligence purposes, and adding that China has the same kinds of capabilities. Though the people playing around with DeepSeek could be young and relatively unimportant now, as with TikTok's users, China is happy to play the long game and wait to see if any of them grow up to be someone of influence and worth potentially targeting, Sirota said. Andrew Borene, executive director at Flashpoint, the world's largest private provider of threat data and intelligence, said that's something people in Washington, regardless of political leanings, have become increasingly aware of in recent years. "We know that the policymakers are aware; we know the technology community is aware," he said. "My personal assessment is I'm not sure the American consumer is necessarily aware of what those risks are, or where that data goes and why that could be a concern." Borene emphasized that anyone working in government should exercise the "highest levels of caution" if they choose to use DeepSeek, but he also said all users should keep in mind that their data might end up in the hands of Chinese officials. "That's an important factor to consider," he said. "You didn't need to read the privacy policy to know that." Keep your private information private. Getty Images How to stay safe while using DeepSeek or other AI models Given that it can be tough much of the time to know what AI model you're actually using, experts say it's best to take care when using any of them. Here are some tips for doing that. Be smart with AI just like with everything else. The usual best practices for tech apply here, too. Set long, complicated and unique passwords, always enable two-factor authentication when you can, and keep all your devices and software updated. Keep personal info personal. Think before entering personal details about yourself into an AI chatbot. Yes, this covers obvious no-no's like Social Security numbers and banking information, but also the kinds of details that might not automatically set off alarm bells, like your address, place of employment, and friends' or coworkers' names. Be skeptical. Just like you'd be wary of information requests that come in the form of emails, texts or social media posts, you should be concerned about AI queries, too. Think of it like a first date, Sirota said. If a model asks weirdly personal questions the first time you use it, walk away. Don't rush to be an early adopter. Just because an AI or app is trending doesn't mean you have to have it right away, Morgan said. Decide for yourself how much risk you want to take when it comes to software that's new to the market. Read the terms and conditions. Yes, this is a lot to ask, but with any app or software, you should really read these statements before you start handing over data, to get an idea of where it's going, what it's being used for and who it could be shared with. Those statements could also provide insights into whether an AI or app is collecting and sharing data from other parts of your device, Borene said. If that's the case, turn those permissions off. Be aware of America's adversaries. Any app based in China should be treated with suspicion, but so should those from other adversarial or ungoverned states like Russia, Iran or North Korea, Borene said. Privacy rights you might enjoy in places like the US or European Union don't apply on those apps, regardless of what the terms and conditions say.

OpinionFebruary 12, 20255 min readReturn-to-Office Demands Dont Benefit Employees or BusinessesDonald Trump has joined big firms in demanding workers end remote work. But the evidence suggests that hurts both workers and the workBy Dan Vergano edited by Jeanna Bryner Moor Studio/Getty ImagesBack to your cubicles, you impudent pups. The boss wants you in traffic and swilling stale office coffee again. Its good for business. Except that isnt true, which poses a puzzle over the return-to-office preoccupations of some corporate chieftains.In January President Donald Trump joined the Fortune 500 fad for demanding workers resume commuting. Trump ordered federal agencies to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person, on his first day back in office.The goal of the executive order is to spur resignations from a federal workforce his administration vilifies and seeks to downsize. U.S. DOGE Service boss Elon Musk had earlier telegraphed the reasons in the Wall Street Journal, predicting in-person federal work five days a week, "would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome."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.But for some business leaders with their eyes supposedly on the bottom line, the calls for returns to the office everywhere from Amazon to IBM to JP Morgan Chase, are a bit mystifying: Return-to-office mandates at Microsoft, SpaceX and Apple led to their most talented employees, leaving to [go to] larger firms that are direct competitors, found a 2024 case study, hurting firm output, productivity, innovation, and competitiveness. A University of Pittsburgh study of Standard and Poors 500 firms last year found these mandates reduced employees job satisfaction without increasing the firms value or performance. A Cornell study of Russell 3000 firms found the policies dont even juice stock prices, which might be expected to motivate senior executives more concerned about their stock options than running a company well.So back-to-the-office demands drive away talented people, hurt performance and do nothing for a companys value. Why do them? Some jobs do have to be in person, say a plumber or a surgeon (mostly). But the largest driving force behind the return-to-work mandates, suggest the early scholarship, is CEOs feeling lonely without minions.An alternate explanation is that private industrys mandates have the same purpose as Trumps federal one: driving off workers through resignations. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, for example, cited a desire to cut managers by 15 percent in his September mandate to return full-time to the office. He has, however, denied the move was a backdoor layoff in November.Okay then. Another theory is incompetence. Thats what the University of Pittsburgh study suggested, finding return-to-office mandates happen when managers blame employees as a scapegoat for bad firm performance. In other words, people are being ordered back to their seats to cover the bosses behind, even at the cost of rankling employees.No wonder they are rankled. A return-to-work mandate is a pay cut and a time suck. The U.S. average commuter with a car pays $2,043 a year for gas, insurance and maintenance. The average commute takes nearly 28 minutes back and forth every day. For the 32 percent of U.S. workers at work five days a week, thats about 10 days of time donated to your boss every year. No wonder remote workers report more job satisfaction.The sneaking feeling in the back of your head, though, that employees are supposed to donate this time and money to the boss, hints at the real reason for return-to-work mandates. A lot of the things that employees are supposed to do, commuting, weekly meetings, punching in and punching out, were exposed as unnecessary during COVID. Some would like to pretend that never happened. If federal employees dont want to show up, American taxpayers shouldnt pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home, wrote Musk and hedge funder Vivek Ramaswamy in November, about a federal return-to-work order. The privilege here being not dying of a preventable infectious disease.In that COVID era, in June of 2020, I interviewed the anthropologist David Graeber, author of Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, a few months ahead of his untimely death. His book had suggested that many modern jobs were make-work, created out of managerial feudalism, where bosses needed minions around to feel important and signal their importance to other bosses. Graeber felt vindicated by the revolution in working life triggered by COVID, which had exposed some jobs as essentialwhile others were not. Those nonessential workers, he concluded, never needed to clog highways, or sit through meetings where, one by one, people would update the boss while everyone else stared off into space, contemplating what theyd rather be doing with their brief time drawing breath, aka office life.Managerial feudalism might well describe the finding that office rents in the firms headquarters city determine RTO policy, made in a 2024 study led by Sean Flynn of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. If office space is cheap, it found remote working more likely to end at a firm. In other words, the decision was all about filling desks, rather than increasing productivity.Amazons Jassy burbled about being better set up to invent, collaborate, and be connected enough to each other and our culture, in decreeing a five-day in-person office at that company in September. Such noises arent unusual from managers, the University of Pittsburghs Mark (Shuai) Ma told Fortune in January 2024, but his research found a desire to better control workers a better explanation for mandates. In surveys, some managers have even admitted their mandate motivation is wanting to watch workers work in person.Despite the mandates from big-name firmsand Trumps executive orderworking from home at least part of the time has become the new norm in American life, with 25 percent of workers in fully flexible and 43 percent in hybrid workplaces. Workers somehow have figured out what works best for themselves. Many CEOs may have also figured this out, with only 4 percent in a 2024 survey saying they prioritize getting employees back to their desks five days a week.Thats something for Trump to keep in mind when federal workers pile back into the office instead of quitting. The executive order does make room for exemptions they deem necessary, from agency chiefs, after all, presumably the ones who want work done.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

February 12, 20252 min readPenguins Help to Map Antarcticas Growing Mercury ThreatMolted penguin feathers record mercury infiltrating Antarcticas food webBy Gayoung Lee edited by Sarah Lewin FrasierGentoo penguins have a wide geographic range, making them good targets for follow-up research. David Merron Photography/Getty ImagesWhen Philip Sontag first visited Antarctica as a Ph.D. student, he brought back an unusual souvenir: a huge bag of penguin feathers. And now, after a decade-long analysis, Sontag and his colleagues have figured out how to use such feathers to create a living map of the mercury contamination that increasingly threatens Southern Hemisphere wildlife.Mercury is a common by-product of gold mining, a growing industry in several southern countries. The toxic metal accumulates as it moves up the food chain by binding with amino acids in animals and then infiltrating their central nervous systems, where it can inhibit neural growth. Tracking mercury exposure is crucial for monitoring an ecosystembut merely sampling rocks, ice or soil for its presence tells little about how much is actually entering the food web.Many predators, including penguins, have evolved ways to dispose of mercury. The chemical builds up in feathers that the birds regularly molt in large quantities. Sontag, now a polar researcher based at Rutgers University, and his colleagues hoped to use molted feathers to determine where penguins picked up the toxic substance. The scientists were surprised to find a very clear correlation between the feathers levels of mercury and of a carbon isotope called carbon-13; the latter varies based on geographic location and thus acts as an indicator of where the penguins are feeding or where their breeding grounds are, Sontag says. These findings, published in Science of the Total Environment, confirmed this connection in seven penguin species scattered across the Southern Oceana pattern suggesting theyre exposed to more mercury farther north, where the comparatively warmer environment leads to higher carbon-13 levels.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.These findings suggest that penguins could function as mercury bioindicators: living trackers of environmental pollutants, says the studys senior author John Reinfelder, a marine biologist at Rutgers. Rather than measuring the chemical itself in a snapshot of time and place, he says, measuring penguin feathers mercury levels tracks the substances movement through the oceanic food web. For instance, penguin species known to reside near one another had varying mercury and carbon-13 levels because of their different migration and feeding patterns. These data could be modeled into a maplike database to help guide future projects on conservation and polar science research.Scientists consider penguins promising candidates for such bioindicators, says marine scientist Mriam Gimeno Castells, a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Marine Science from the Spanish National Research Council, who was not involved in the study. The animals are midway through the food chain. They breed in colonies, so researchers can easily scoop up feathers from many different individuals. Additionally, every breeding season they undergo dramatic molts; the feathers they lose will contain the mercury that has accumulated during the nonbreeding season, Gimeno Castells says.Sontags next steps are to collect newer feathers to experiment with, across different species, and to measure mercury in penguins blood and prey to compare with levels of the substance in their feathers.And how are the penguins themselves doing with their current mercury levels? We dont believe penguins have been exposed to toxic levels as of yet, Reinfelder says. Yes, the penguins will be okay.

The release date for Elden Ring Nightreign has been announced. Read more

After eight hours with Elden Ring Nightreign, I'm convinced multiplayer Souls is an exhilarating rushAll knight long.Image credit: FromSoftware / Bandai Namco Preview by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Feb. 12, 2025 I eventually relented. After over a hundred hours in Elden Ring I wanted it over with. So I summoned help for the final boss after a long struggle. A quick bow to each other and then I stepped back and let others do the heavy lifting as I spammed spells from a distance, exhausted. As the credits rolled, the win fell flat.It happened again with Bloodborne. DLC boss Orphan of Kos had me hitting my head against a wall for hours until I eventually trundled back to the nearest lamp and summoned assistance. I expected a long, arduous battle where we'd overcome the odds together in beautiful partnership. Instead they stormed in with a bugged weapon to kill the boss in one hit. I felt cheated and deflated.I tell you this not as some humble brag that I prefer playing Souls games alone. It's just a personal preference after being burned in the past. Hey, I'm the guy who plays Final Fantasy 14 with NPCs! I like to play at my own pace, without distraction, where others prefer companionship. Both methods are valid.So when FromSoftware announced the multiplayer Elden Ring co-op spin-off Nightreign, I was intrigued but also concerned. Would this new flavour of Souls game be for me? I'm happy to report Nighreign is in fact very much for me. My eyes have been opened and I've seen the light. Playing with others is fun! Who knew?!We've Finally Played Elden Ring: Nightreign and It RulesWatch on YouTubeSo how does Nightreign play? In short, it's Elden Ring as a roguelike, with a dollop of Fortnite; or, like listening to the game's soundtrack on double speed and shuffle play. That might sound weird, but it absolutely works.In groups of three, players will battle through two day-and-night cycles before facing one of eight Nightlords - in this preview, the cerberus Gladius Beast of Night. The map feels a bit like an instanced dungeon, but with loot and enemy placements randomised in each run. And your choice of Nightlord will determine which bosses you face at the end of each day - these are taken from across the Souls games, though with tweaked movesets and mechanics (don't cut the tail off the Centipede Demon this time, trust me!).(To note, publisher Bandai Namco has since confirmed to Eurogamer that while three characters are always required online, it's possible to queue online alone, as a pair, or as a three, to be matched with others online as necessary. Further, solo players can play offline completely alone - there are no AI companions.)You fly into the map on a hawk (just like Fortnite's battle bus) and from there a day lasts around 15 minutes in which to prepare yourselves for battle: defeat enemies for runes; discover powerful weapons; collect healing flasks at churches; battle minibosses for boons; and boost weapon power. Gradually, over the course of a day, a looming, azure firestorm closes in and saps player health (again, just like Fortnite), forcing you towards a boss encounter by nighttime. Beat that boss and it's over to day two, on the same map, to continue exploring and preparing before the second night's boss. The third day - if you make it - is solely a boss fight in a separate location. Bosses are taken from across the Souls games, though we didn't get to fight Dark Souls 3's Nameless King this time | Image credit: FromSoftware / Bandai NamcoThe first consideration, then, is time management, as Nightreign really is a game about swift decision making. Should you focus on defeating smaller enemies for runes, or risk exploring subterranean dungeons where the loot is better but the encroaching storm is harder to evade? Should you make a beeline for churches to improve your healing, or focus instead on defeating minibosses for your choice of three weapons or attribute buffs? And you'll want to grab as much loot along the way: weight has been removed and, while your weapon slots are limited, sub-effects always apply. So while a greatsword may be too lumbering for your playstyle, it's still worth snapping up as it could still have a positive effect on your build.The biggest difference to Elden Ring, though, is the sense of speed. Sites of Grace automatically heal you when nearby, levelling has been streamlined to just HP, FP, and Stamina, and characters have a galloping sprint. But more importantly, fall damage has been removed and parkour abilities allow players to vault up and over obstacles. See a boss in the distance, or want to escape the incoming storm? Just leap off a cliff, jump up the other side, and sprint into the distance. That sort of behaviour was unthinkable in Elden Ring, but here the unbridled movement gives Nightreign a newfound sense of Souls freedom. No longer are you carefully and methodically infiltrating each dungeon or castle as you memorise enemy placements - there's no time for that. This is Elden Ring speedrunning, with the storm only adding to the sense of urgency, not to mention randomised events like bosses invading your game. If you're not fast enough, you won't stand a chance.Repeat play does lead to greater strategy as players coordinate their efforts and prioritise. They're also able to ping locations on the map in real time, though this is the only form of communication outside voice chat. For the most part, though, success in Nightreign is about relying on instincts, without needing to faff in menus or spend hours poring over the minutiae of builds. It's instantly knowing if a two-handed sword is better than the dagger you're holding; if a boost to your Arcane stat will actually increase your damage output; or that you absolutely need a bleed damage weapon, can someone please drop one for me if you find it? Elden Ring experts will be right at home with this quickfire exam; but newbies will need to swiftly find their feet. Death is as integral here as it's ever been in a Souls game: players are surrounded by a purple gauge and more damage taken means more hits required for resurrection | Image credit: FromSoftware / Bandai NamcoThough the final game will have eight Nightfarers to play as, this preview (and by extension, the forthcoming network test) will have four available. Yes, that means you're no longer making characters from scratch but must choose a specific hero, each with their own unique skills and variant dodge style. They do loosely fit certain archetypes - Wylder is your all-rounder sword and shield-wielder, while bird-man Guardian is a tanky, greatshield carrying sort - but this is more of a starting point for your run. Effectively using those unique skills is imperative and they're a lot of fun to use. I initially warmed to Wylder for his awesome claw shot that allowed me to pull bats from the sky and then slide into bosses before releasing his explosive Onslaught Stake for a critical hit, while Guardian's Wings of Salvation divebomb proved effective against groups.The Recluse, meanwhile, is the mage of the group and has a fiddly mechanic of sucking magic out of foes (and friends) to replenish FP - gaining three of the same element will then unleash a powerful spell. She's a glass cannon who'll take more time to master than the preview allowed, though I've no doubt the results will be worth it. Whoever said magic was easy mode was lying.Interestingly, players can select the same character if they wish. Teamwork is less about balancing skills than simply playing to your strengths as part of a group and coordinating attacks. For our last run, for instance, we went all in on The Duchess: a sort of roguish character who not only turns the party invisible to avoid aggro, but can repeat the last few seconds of combat against a ghostly apparition of the enemy for additional damage. With all three of us wielding bleed weapons, we were able to use that Restage skill to stack up the status effect while alternating invisibility to obliterate bosses. It was delicious.Teamwork is needed to assist with death, too. Reviving other players is as simple as hitting them, but in the heat of battle are you better off reviving others or focusing on the boss yourself? Death in the overworld means losing a level and reviving, with dropped runes still available to grab as in the base game - even if that means risking a sprint into the storm. So do you stick together as a group to share runes and revive each other as you explore, or wander off alone to spread your efforts across the map? If all three players die against a boss, though, it's game over and you start again from scratch, roguelike-style. With Nightreign, Elden Ring remains as punishing as ever. Relics can be swapped at your base - the Roundtable Hold | Image credit: FromSoftware / Bandai NamcoThere's something of a safety net, though, in the form of Relics. These are dished out at the end of each run to offer various stat or attribute bonuses - adding Scarlet Rot to your attacks, for instance, or improving your ability with certain weapons. Relics are coloured to match the slots on each character and some have character-specific effects, while a new currency called Murk will be used to increase the number and types of slot. It means no run is wasted and, over time, building up a bank of Relics will make runs considerably easier, as well as providing an incentive to experiment with new Relics on other characters.The only question mark I have with Nightreign is with its endgame. It's unclear if the map will change based on your selection of Nightlord to face, for instance, and once all eight have been beaten, what's your incentive to keep playing? At the least, I'm intrigued by the giants who are seemingly the source of the fire storm. Ultimately this is a spin-off game for bite-sized sessions rather than a new epic adventure, but the groundwork is so good here there's potential for FromSoftware to go full live-service model with additional maps, bosses, Nightfarers, and loot. To be clear, this is something I could fully get behind: throw in some new assets and see what the machine spits out, the possibilities are infinite. But I don't think that's FromSoftware's intention here.As it stands, though, Nightreign provides a delectable hit of Elden Ring in a repeatable microcosm. It's got the difficulty, the levelling, the boss battles, and the sense of discovery, but all at high speed for a new type of challenge, while its grim enemy selection is like a best-of Souls mixtape I'm itching to replay. Above all, it forced a solo player to swallow his pride and play with others. Souls games have always been about overcoming the odds to leave your hands shaking and your heart pounding. As it turns out, a win shared can be just as exhilarating.

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 here Contents hide Wuthering Waves 2.1 is here! Recently, Kuro Games conducted their livestream preview in which they shared new codes full of rewards for players to redeem. In this preview, they also discussed everything that will be part of the new chapter and beyond. The release date and time countdown for when Wuthering Waves 2.1 will start is nearly here, and here you will find the maintenance schedule, banners, and WuWa roadmap.Wuthering Waves 2.1 release dateThe release date for Wuthering Waves 2.1 is February 13th. This is the games second newest chapter since debuting on PS5 consoles.As per usual, Kuro Games are introducing two new playable 5-stars characters. This time they are Phoebe and Brant. Phoebe will arrive in the first half of WuWas newest chapter, meanwhile, Brant will arrive in the second. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. When does Wuthering Waves 2.1 start?The release time for when Wuthering Waves 2.1 will start is 7PM PT and 10PM ET on February 12th, as well as 3AM GMT on February 13th.This comes courtesy of Kuro Games maintenance schedule. Per Kuro, maintenance will begin at 4AM UTC+8 on February 13th, which translates to 12PM PT/3PM ET/8PM GMT on February 12th. Maintenance is then scheduled to end at the release times noted above. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Its possible delays can occur, but nothing has been announced as of writing.Wuthering Waves 2.1 start time US7PM PT on Wednesday, February 12th10PM ET on Wednesday, February 12thWuthering Waves 2.1 release time UK3AM GMT on Thursday, February 13thCountdownBelow is a visual countdown to when the new WuWa chapter will start:WuWa roadmapBelow is Kuro Games roadmap for WuWa 2.1 across February and March:Phoebe banner Feb 13th Mar 6thPhoebe weapon banner Feb 13th Mar 6thOld Man and the Whale event Feb 13th Mar 6thGifts of Blue Water event Feb 13th Mar 6thChord Cleansing event Feb 20th Feb 27thApex Ragunna event Feb 20th Mar 10thTactical Simulaera III event Feb 27th Mar 13thBrant banner Mar 6th Mar 26thBrant weapon banner Mar 6th Mar 26thChangli banner Mar 6th Mar 26thChangli weapon banner Mar 6th Mar 26thInfinite Battle Simulation II event Mar 6th Mar 27thBeyond the Waves event Mar 13th Mar 27thBeautiful Crescendo event Mar 20th Mar 27thImage credit: Kuro GamesWuWa bannersThe banners for Wuthering Waves 2.1 are as follows:February 13th March 6th:Phoebe 5-starsLumi 4-starsChixia 4-starsAalto 4-starsMarch 6th 26th:Brant 5-starsChangli 5-starsYouhu 4-starsTaoqi 4-starsMortefi 4-starsFor more Wuthering Waves, we have a guide to all of thevoice actorsin the game, and we also have a guide explaininghow to add friends.Wuthering WavesPlatform(s):UnknownGenre(s):UnknownRelated TopicsWuthering Waves 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 here Contents hide Since September 2017, Fortnite has released thousands of cosmetic items to the Item Shop. In the beginning, Epic Games designed only a few different types of cosmetics, such as skins and emotes. Later on, the game developer added new cosmetics, including skydiving contrails and back blings. In November 2024, Fortnite received Kicks, in-game shoes, and according to a new leak, they will receive a massive change.The upcoming feature will essentially grant Fortnite players free Kicks, which is certainly a step in the right direction.Fortnite players will get many free Kicks, according to this leakWhen Fortnite first released Kicks, it was met with community backlash. Many players considered them to be a waste of money since they can be barely seen on the screen. However, this has slowly changed, as more and more players adopted these new cosmetics. Soon enough, these items will become even more popular, as Epic is working on a game-changing feature. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. According to Hypex, the most popular Fortnite leaker, the game developer is working on turning built-in shoes on skins into separate cosmetics. This will work similarly to back blings, as players will receive a new pair of Kicks with a purchase of eligible skins.Kicks have become a big part of Fortnite. Image by VideoGamerThe Fortnite leak did not specify when this new feature would arrive. However, considering that its in development, we can expect it to be released sometime in 2025. There is also a chance that the feature will come with the release of Chapter 6 Season 2, which is set to arrive on February 21. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Whether or not these Kicks arrive with the new season, its safe to say that Epic Games will release new ones in the Item Shop. New seasons always bring plenty of new cosmetics, and Kicks will certainly follow suit. 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

Interior designer Sara Garza, as those who know her will attest, is a rebel with a causeespecially when that cause involves saving a home from demolition. We actually wrote them a letter asking for a chance to keep it standing, says Garza of her current family nest in Dallass Oak Cliff neighborhood, the them in question being the grandchildren of the original owners of a 1940s home, who were considering selling to developers. Garzas heartfelt appeal struck a chord, prompting the family to reconsider. Meeting the grandson was such a treat, recalls the founder and principal of Dallas-based Punch World Studio. He shared stories that made us love the place even more.Sara (left) and Rocky Garza, seated respectively on a Group Sofa by Phillipe Malouin for SCP and a vintage Herman Miller Eames chair, enjoy a laid-back morning with their kids in the living room. The room is a treasure trove of old-world finds, including an heirloom table (back left) from Garzas grandmother, a Murano glass pendant lamp from 1stDibs, and a 1960s teak coffee table. Garza deemed no detail too small, not least the fireplace. She lined its interior with Pacifica Yellow Slice concrete by Concrete Collaborative, enveloped it with Backdrops Harvest Moon, and accented it with Silo 2WC sconces from Lambert & Fils. A silver Zephyr planter by Muhly Studio adds a sleek, modern twist.Garza was captivated by its rich history. Once spanning several acres, the property originally included a greenhouse and a horse stableits only remnant now a hitching post by the back door. There was even another house behind the main one, built in the 1930s. History seemed to be tucked into every corner. We were told that the grandmother arrived in Dallas with 11 dollars and Stanley Marcuss phone number, befriended the Marcus family, and became a Neiman Marcus showroom girl. And that his grandfather worked at Frito-Lay and had a hand in inventing the Dorito. With a legacy like this, how could anyone ever tear this house down?Shop out the look of the house hereAsk her to pick favorites, and Garza doesnt hem or haw. If I had to choose, itd definitely be the living room. We spend so much time there as a family, reading and relaxing, she enthuses of the space, made even more joyful by a tufted wall rug by Sam Lao and Worns Delphina Stripe Tabouret.Garza poses in the living room on a vintage chair by Milo Baughman, reupholstered in a checkered Maharam fabric. The built-in bookshelves behind her are a labor of love, designed, built, and installed by her parents. An artwork by Samantha McCurdy from Galleri Urban, titled Zipper, echoes it in signature, if not in scale, while a Teklan Crystal Spectrum rug from Layered Interior enlivens on the floor.Built during World War II, the home didnt adhere to a specific architectural style, which gave Garza the opportunity to start with a clean slatethough, as she tells it, she never truly erased its history. What we loved most about this place was its mix of a-little-bit-fun and a-little-bit-fancy, so we really leaned into those qualities, she shares, explaining how the goal was to honor the homes past chapters while crafting new ones. The interior had the potential to go in a few different directions, but we like to think of ourselves as a fun familybold dreams and big feelingsand I wanted that to shine through in our home, says Garza, who lives with her husband, Rocky, and their two kids: nine-year-old son Ezra and six-year-old daughter Marlow.Ive always wanted a yellow kitchen, Garza gushes. I also love that it has a swing door to the dining roomits perfect for closing off when were hosting, making everything feel more intimate. The wooden cactus lamp is a rare 1970s find. The kitchen millwork was done by NKDR Builders.My favorite thing about the house is that the rooms are truly separate from each other, says Garza of the beatnik dining room, featuring a Bright Side 4 chandelier from Allied Maker, Cassinas Sengu Table from Scott and Cooner, and 1970s Rainer Daumiller solid pine chairs from Chairish. She chose a Grand Milano green rug from Nordic Knots to echo the treetops, and completed the room with her grandmothers antique Chinese bar cabinet and a theatrical hand-shaped vase by Pearce Williams.The dining area is framed by an opening in the living rooms built-ins, designed by Garzas parents using Burly hardware from Assembly Line. Curios and tchotchkes, like an antique Tiffin Coralene Poppy Art Nouveau vase from the 1920s1930s (top shelf) and a sea-green vintage vase from the local shop Dolly Python (right side, middle shelf), bring the space to life.

Skip to main contentSeaside cities have their obvious appealthe attractive open ocean and sunny beachesyet many of the most beautiful coastal cities around the world also carry long legacies of historical change and growth, with architectural monuments and styles that reflect them. Some have been centers of trade for hundredsor even thousandsof years; others have become recent hubs for artists and designers.Whether its the colorful faades decorating the coast of Camogli, Italy; the modernist escapes now nestled in Puerto Escondido, Mexico; or the historic, ancient charm of Split, Croatia; these cities invite travelers to discover their unique, storied allure. Here, AD brings you inside the history and design of the 11 most beautiful coastal cities around the world.Photo: Bobby Orlan/Getty Images1/11Camogli, ItalyCamogli, a picturesque coastal town on the Ligurian Riviera in Italy, has a rich maritime history dating back to ancient times as a fishing village and trading hub. In the late 19th century, its fleet boasted hundreds of ships, earning its name as the city of a thousand white sails. Its pastel houses, constructed tightly together along the harbor, are decorated using marcapiano paintwork, a decorative technique used to indicate different floors of the building and help sailors recognize their homes from afar.Photo: Getty Images2/11Cape Town, South AfricaCape Town was originally established as a refreshment station by the Dutch East India Company, and its architecture and landmarksincluding the historic Cape Dutch buildings and colorful Bo-Kaap districtreflect its colonial past, with influences from Dutch, British, and Cape Malay styles. The citys Company Garden, established in the 1650s, is South Africas oldest formal garden and was originally created to grow fresh produce for passing ships.Photo: Getty Images3/11Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFrom the proud peak of Sugarloaf Mountain to the emblematic, postcard-worthy Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiros landmarks are testaments to how its coastal location has shaped the citys identity. Arguably its most recognizable landmark, the iconic statue of Cristo Redentor, which sits atop a 700-meter mountain peak, is visible from nearly every place in the city.Photo: Martin Puddy/Getty Images4/11Hong Kong, ChinaLocated on the South China Sea, Hong Kong evolved from a small fishing village into a major international port and financial center following its colonization by Britain in 1842. Its architecture reflects this transformation, blending traditional Chinese temples, British colonial-era buildings like the Former Supreme Court, and a skyline dominated by modern skyscrapers. The 144-foot-tall Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, built in 1915, is one of the few remaining structures from the colonial-era Kowloon-Canton Railway station. Now, it represents the citys transition from a historical trading port to a modern cosmopolitan city.Photo: Deb Snelson/Getty Images5/11Rockport, MAPicture New Englands classic architectural style, and youll probably imagine something resembling this charming coastal town on Cape Ann, complete with quaint clapboard houses, historic fishing shacks, and artists studios. One of its most famous landmarks is Motif No. 1, a red fishing shack erected in the 1880s that was built to provide storage for fisherman. In the 1920s, plein air artists took interest in the shack, and it became the subject of many artists work, leading to its enduring nickname.Photo: Ioanna Alexa/Getty Images6/11Sharm El-Sheikh, EgyptLocated on the southern tip of Egypts Sinai Peninsula, Sharm El-Sheikh was originally a small fishing village before emerging in the mid-20th century as a strategic port, and, later, a world-renown tourist destination. Its architecture is a blend of traditional Middle Eastern design, replete with domed structures and intricate mosaics, and modern luxury resorts catering to international visitors. With crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs, its become a hot spot for diving and marine tourism.Photo: Sayan Chuenudomsavad/Getty Images7/11Kochi, IndiaA historic port city responsible for attracting traders from all over, Kochi is home to unique architecture reflecting its multicultural pastjust look to landmarks like St. Francis Church and the Dutch Palace to see the blend of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial styles with traditional Indian elements at play. Its coastline is immediately recognizable by its famed cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, introduced first by Chinese traders and used since the 14th century.Photo: Xantana/Getty Images8/11San Sebastin, SpainRenowned for its Belle poque architecture, San Sebastins most stunning landmarks were developed during its transformation into a luxurious seaside resort in the late 19th century. Landmarks like the grand Hotel Mara Cristina and expansive Miramar Palace exemplify the characteristics of Belle poque architecture, finished with cupolas, railed balconies, and lavish decoration. The city of San Sebastin also hosts the prestigious San Sebastin International Film Festival, one of the oldest film festivals in Europe.Photo: David C Tomlinson/Getty Images9/11Marseille, FranceFrances oldest city, Marseille has been a key Mediterranean port for over 2,600 years. Its architecture reflects its rich and diverse history, from ancient establishments like the Old Port to modern landmarks like the striking MUCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations). The city is also the birthplace of bouillabaisse, the famous French fish steworiginally created by local fishermen using their leftover catch.Photo: Alex Borderline/Getty Images10/11Puerto Escondido, MexicoLike others on this list, Puerto Escondido was once a small fishing village. Now a popular destination for surfers and travelers, its particularly renowned for Zicatela Beach, one of the top surf spots in the world. With a laid-back, tropical appeal, the city offers eco-friendly beach bungalows, traditional thatched palapas, and modern minimalist designs (including an ocean-front retreat designed by Tadao Ando) that blend into the natural landscape.Photo: Gonzalo Azumendi/Getty Images11/11Split, CroatiaLocated on Croatias Dalmatian Coast, Split has a history dating back to the Roman Empire. During the 4th century, Emperor Diocletian built his massive palace as a future retirement residence, and the city grew around the stately escape. Its narrow streets and grand squares teem with history, and today its ancient core, including Diocletians Palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of Diocletians Palace are still used as homes, shops, and restaurants, making it one of the worlds only living ancient monuments.