Marvel Rivals, the Overwatch 2-lunch-eating multiplayer shooter that boasted 20 million players within days of its December 2024 launch, has laid off an unspecified number of employees in its US operations, according to separate posts by recently laid off employees on LinkedIn.Welp, just got laid off from my job working on Marvel Rivals with NetEase, wrote level designer Jack Burrows. My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games and were just laid off! wrote Thaddeus Sasser, a game director at NetEase.The Verge has reached out to NetEase for comment on the scope and reason for the layoffs.One way players have reacted to the news by lodging complaints via user reviews on Steam, voicing their anger that NetEase would lay off the team responsible for a game so evidently popular. Out of the roughly 1,000 reviews posted today, more than 300 have been negative.Along with Palworld and Helldivers 2, Marvel Rivals has proved one of the standouts in a series of live-service flops in the face of stiff competition from entrenched live-service games like Call of Duty and Fortnite. Its in the top 5 games based on weekly active users across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam and its currently sitting at number three on Steams most-played games chart. And yet, apparently, that wild success wasnt enough to insulate its US team from layoffs.Sasser vocalized the disconnect in his LinkedIn post, writing, This is such a weird industry

Facebook will start deleting users live broadcast recordings after 30 days starting on February 19th. Users who go live after that date must download the videos to save them from getting deleted before their 30-day expiration period ends. Alternatively, you could share the recordings to your profile as Reels, although that means fitting clips into that formats 90-second time limit.Meta says its making the change because most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting and to align our storage policies with industry standards and help ensure we are providing the most up-to-date live video experiences for everyone on Facebook.All previously recorded live videos that are older than 30 days will also be removed. However, there will be email and app notifications that go out before your archive is completely deleted. Once you get the notice, youll have 90 days to download or transfer the videos. Facebook plans to delete old broadcast recordings in waves over the coming months.Facebook also has several download tools to help you save your videos, either individually or all at once. Once you get the notification, you can request a bulk download of all your videos within a custom date range. You could also choose to transfer the videos directly to a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive.How to request a download for all of your live broadcasts. GIF: MetaYou can save individual videos that matter to you by going to your Activity Log, filtering for Your live videos, and then selecting the dates to see the videos you can download. Alternatively, you can go to the Videos tab or Live tab on your profile, Page, or in Meta Business Suite, select the video youd like, play it in fullscreen, then choose download video from the three-dot menu.Finally, if you dont have time to execute any of these, there will also be a postpone request option, giving you six months to save your videos. Do that by opening the notification, tapping learn more, and then selecting postpone.See More:

In this tutorial, we will do an in-depth, interactive exploration of NVIDIAs StyleGAN2ADA PyTorch model, showcasing its powerful capabilities for generating photorealistic images. Leveraging a pretrained FFHQ model, users can generate high-quality synthetic face images from a single latent seed or visualize smooth transitions through latent space interpolation between different seeds. With an intuitive interface powered by interactive widgets, this tutorial is a valuable resource for researchers, artists, and enthusiasts looking to understand and experiment with advanced generative adversarial networks.!git clone https://github.com/NVlabs/stylegan2-ada-pytorch.gitFirst, we clone the NVIDIA StyleGAN2ADA PyTorch repository from GitHub into your current Colab workspace.!mkdir -p stylegan2-ada-pytorch/pretrained!wget https://nvlabs-fi-cdn.nvidia.com/stylegan2-ada-pytorch/pretrained/ffhq.pkl -O stylegan2-ada-pytorch/pretrained/ffhq.pklIn this code part, the first command creates the necessary directory (if it doesnt already exist) for storing pretrained models. The second command downloads the FFHQ pretrained model and saves it in that directory for use with the StyleGAN2ADA model.import syssys.path.append('stylegan2-ada-pytorch')In this code, we add the stylegan2-ada-pytorch directory to Pythons module search path, ensuring that modules from the repository can be easily imported and used.import torchimport numpy as npimport PIL.Imageimport matplotlib.pyplot as pltimport ipywidgets as widgetsfrom IPython.display import displayHere, we import statements and load essential libraries for deep learning, numerical operations, image processing, visualization, and interactive controls into your code. These libraries ensure you have the tools to build, manipulate, and display generated images interactively.import legacyimport dnnlibdef generate_image(seed=42, truncation=1.0, network_pkl='stylegan2-ada-pytorch/pretrained/ffhq.pkl'): print(f'Generating image with seed {seed} and truncation {truncation}') device = torch.device('cuda' if torch.cuda.is_available() else 'cpu') with dnnlib.util.open_url(network_pkl) as f: # Load the pretrained generator network G = legacy.load_network_pkl(f)['G_ema'].to(device) z = torch.from_numpy(np.random.RandomState(seed).randn(1, G.z_dim)).to(device) # Create a latent vector using the provided seed label = None # FFHQ is unconditional with torch.no_grad(): # Generate image img = G(z, label, truncation_psi=truncation, noise_mode='const') # Convert image tensor to uint8 and format for display img = (img + 1) * (255/2) img = img.clamp(0,255).to(torch.uint8) img = img[0].permute(1,2,0).cpu().numpy() plt.figure(figsize=(4,4)) plt.imshow(img) plt.axis('off') plt.show()In this part, we define a function called generate_image that Loads the pretrained StyleGAN2ADA generator network from a given URL. Creates a latent vector based on a seed, generates an image with a specified truncation parameter, and then processes and displays the resulting image using matplotlib.def interpolate_images(seed1=42, seed2=123, steps=10, truncation=1.0, network_pkl='stylegan2-ada-pytorch/pretrained/ffhq.pkl'): print(f'Interpolating between seeds {seed1} and {seed2} with {steps} steps and truncation {truncation}') device = torch.device('cuda' if torch.cuda.is_available() else 'cpu') with dnnlib.util.open_url(network_pkl) as f: # Load the pretrained generator network G = legacy.load_network_pkl(f)['G_ema'].to(device) # Generate latent vectors for the two seeds z1 = torch.from_numpy(np.random.RandomState(seed1).randn(1, G.z_dim)).to(device) z2 = torch.from_numpy(np.random.RandomState(seed2).randn(1, G.z_dim)).to(device) # Create interpolation latent vectors alphas = np.linspace(0, 1, steps) z_interp = [] for a in alphas: z_interp.append((1 - a) * z1 + a * z2) z_interp = torch.cat(z_interp, dim=0) label = None # Generate images for each interpolated latent vector with torch.no_grad(): imgs = G(z_interp, label, truncation_psi=truncation, noise_mode='const') imgs = (imgs + 1) * (255/2) imgs = imgs.clamp(0,255).to(torch.uint8).cpu().numpy() plt.figure(figsize=(steps * 2, 2)) # Plot images in a row to visualize the interpolation for i in range(steps): plt.subplot(1, steps, i+1) img = np.transpose(imgs[i], (1,2,0)) plt.imshow(img) plt.axis('off') plt.show()Here, we define interpolate_images, which generates images by interpolating between latent vectors derived from two seeds. It loads the pretrained StyleGAN2ADA generator, computes a smooth transition between the latent codes of the two seeds over a specified number of steps, and then displays the resulting images in a row to visualize the interpolation.Sample Generated ImageIn conclusion, we demonstrated a versatile and hands-on approach using NVIDIAs StyleGAN2ADA model for static image generation and dynamic latent space interpolation. By allowing users to adjust parameters such as seed values and truncation levels interactively, this notebook provides insight into the intricacies of GAN-based image synthesis and fosters creativity and innovation.Here is the Colab Notebook for the above project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitterand join ourTelegram ChannelandLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our75k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/OpenAI introduces SWE-Lancer: A Benchmark for Evaluating Model Performance on Real-World Freelance Software Engineering WorkAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Scale AI Research Introduces J2 Attackers: Leveraging Human Expertise to Transform Advanced LLMs into Effective Red TeamersAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a Custom BPE Tokenizer with Tiktoken for Advanced NLP Applications in PythonAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/LG AI Research Releases NEXUS: An Advanced System Integrating Agent AI System and Data Compliance Standards to Address Legal Concerns in AI Datasets

The AI Growth Playbook: How Startups Are Quietly 10X-ing with AI (And How You Can Too) 0 like February 18, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Mukundan Sankar Originally published on Towards AI. The startup game isnt about great ideas anymore its about execution. Learn how AI-powered startups are scaling faster, smarter, and more profitably.This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Image generated by ChatGPT by the authorThe startup game is no longer about who has the best idea its about who executes fastest, scales efficiently, and outsmarts the competition. And in 2025, that means one thing: AI.From stealth automation to hyper-personalized customer experiences, startups are quietly using AI to dominate their industries. The secret? Companies are not just treating AI as a simple tool; they are making it a key part of their overall plans. Heres an overview of how they are doing this and how you can apply it in your own work. I am a big advocate of startups as the rate of innovation in startups far outpaces a big company which led me to my research in this topic.Startups dont have the luxury of large teams. The smartest ones are leveraging AI-powered automation to get rid of tasks that take up a lot of time, so they can concentrate on more important things.innovation and customer acquisition. Case Study: Scale AI Scale AI built an empire by using artificial intelligence to automate data labeling for machine learning. Their emphasis on automation changed a process that Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Mickey 17 opens in theaters Friday, March 7. This review is based on a screening at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival.The uniquely bleak Mickey 17 has chosen its cultural moment with precision (and a little bit of serendipity). After numerous delays it was originally set to open in March 2024 Bong Joon-hos follow-up to Parasite debuts as the first proper Trump Era 2.0 movie. It's a jet-black, mean-as-hell sci-fi comedy about a near future in which life itself has been corporatized and reduced in value by a foppish upper class that hides its totalitarian aims behind supposed religious values. (And to really underline the parallels to real life circa 2025, the followers of this movement don some distinctive, scarlet headwear branded with political slogans.) To escape his debts on Earth, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) has signed up to be an Expendable on a lengthy space mission, meaning he could be endlessly given risky, potentially fatal jobs and even experimented upon with viruses and radiation, dying multiple painful deaths that he remembers each and every time hes reborn from a jittery 3D bioprinter. Pattinson stars as several different versions of the infinitely replicable worker drone, a premise that, though it eventually takes a bit of a backseat, sets the stage for a wild-eyed, farcical adaptation of Edward Ashtons 2022 novel, Mickey7.While its philosophical musings on immortality and self are discarded, most of the books plot basics remain, including its acerbic opening scene in which we meet our point-of-view Mickey as he tumbles down an icy crevasse filled with extra-terrestrial worm-creatures on the alien colony Niflheim. His best friend and co-explorer, the hotshot pilot Timo (Steven Yeun), gladly leaves him to die since therell be a whole new Mickey spat out tomorrow. How we got here is something the movie covers in extended flashbacks, though Bongs rhythmic approach to montage results in a worldbuilding speedrun. Nothing no individual piece of backstory or information really seems to matter, but this is part of the movies ugly, nihilistic charm, from which a few embers of humanity eventually spark (though youll have to wait two hours and change for this; the movie makes you work for it). When Mickey 17 is presumed dead after his plummet, his superiors at the colony are quick to replace him with an 18th copy, only for Mickey 17 to escape his icy fate and return to base. For reasons both pragmatic and religious, two copies of the same person existing simultaneously is a major no-go, leading to complications between Mickeys 17 and 18, as they try to figure out how to survive together in secret.While they remain under constant threat of permanent deletion, solutions to their conundrum present themselves with astounding ease, but all this means is that Mickey 17 takes its expected turns early on before swerving in surprising directions. The primary danger to their lives is the colonys leader, a fanatical politician with exaggerated veneers named Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) who, along with his gourmet-obsessed wife Ylfa (Toni Collette), towers over his underlings with promises of future greatness as they colonize Niflheim. Marshalls methods come wrapped in thinly veiled white supremacy and compulsory, patriarchal heterosexuality. Every so often, he chooses one constituent at a time to wine and dine with steak (in lieu of their daily protein slop) to make them feel special, while convincing them with shudder-inducing frankness that their genetic purity is vital to populating the colony by way of breeding. Whats more, he carries out his methods courtesy of an organization thats part ruthless conglomerate and part zealous church, a concentrated look at who holds the most power and influence in the modern United States. This political element originates in Bongs screenplay. So do the signature red hats worn by Marshalls supporters, a purposefully Trumpian metaphor accompanied by several accidental ones that could not possibly have been planned like a failed assassination attempt in which a bullet grazes Marshalls cheek. That the film arrives amid the wreckage caused by the second Trump administration and the wannabe space-colonizer serving as its loudest cheerleader/biggest battering ram makes it all the more poignant, and all the more disheartening. Its villains exhibit stupidity and destructive evil in equal measure, resulting in a tale in which the very notion of checks and balances is the ultimate rebellion. That something so bare-minimum arises as heroic is both aspirational and punishingly depressing, in a political moment where the United States and its institutions feel like theyre being stripped for parts.Mickey 17 GalleryThat this symbolism comes at the cost of a more character-driven story is occasionally irksome, but the time spent with each cast member is nothing if not enjoyable. Pattinsons conception of Mickey 17 is strange and nasal, a gremlin-like wuss who can barely stand up straight. Hes the ultimate pushover and he kind of sucks as a person, too. An early reveal about the planets native inhabitants depends on our easy interpretation of signs he refuses to see, given how much his self-loathing feeds his lack of empathy. Mickey 18 is even worse. It turns out that expendable clones can vary greatly in personality; this results in 17 being usurped and outsmarted by a more violent, more cartoonishly cunning iteration of himself, with the question of his (and humanitys) redemption looming over the story. The more time we spend even with the films ostensible heroes like the narcissistic Timo, or Mickeys delightfully unhinged security guard girlfriend Nasha (Naomi Ackie) the more it seems like living under the thumb of economic oppression, and being made physically disposable in service of productivity, has driven each of these people entirely mad.Mickey 17 is a deeply depressing comedic experience.It's a film in which chaotic gesticulation, cacophonous argument, and slapstick flailing often stand in for rigorous drama for better or worse leading to some of the most ludicrously feel-bad comedy this side of the recent U.S. election. Rather than presenting mealy-mouthed pablum about resistance, Mickey 17 is confrontational by virtue of its pessimism, transforming a mostly straightforward novel into a stark reflection of how the current political moment came to be albeit without letting anyone (least of all, those of us at the mercy of these larger forces) off the hook for our own transgressions. If humanity is whats at stake, then being robbed of it and shedding it willingly are two sides to the same dangerous coin, separated by a margin as razor-thin as the difference between 17 and 18.

Check out the best deals for Tuesday, February 18. The big news today is the Final Fantasy x Magic the Gathering collab. The commander decks, starter decks, and booster packs are up for preorder today. On a related note, The Witcher Gwent card game is also up for preorder at the IGN Store. In other deal news, the Asus ROG Ally is down to the lowest price ever, save $300 off an LG OLED TV, a whopping $1,500 off a zero gravity massage chair, and more below.MTG: Final Fantasy Cards up for PreorderRead more about this dealOut on June 13Preorder Magic The Gathering: Final Fantasy Cards and PacksSee it at AmazonMagic the Gathering's new Final Fantasy Commander series cards are now up for preorder at Amazon and Best Buy. They'll ship out starting June 13, and you won't be charged until they do. 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That's the lowest price I've seen for a brand-new unit, even during Black Friday. In addition, you get a free official ROG Ally travel case, one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and two months of a Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription. The ROG Ally This is one of the best gaming handhelds currently available, especially if you don't want to be tied to Steam's ecosystem. 65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED Smart TV for $1197Read more about this deal65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED Smart TVYou don't have to wait for the new 2025 LG TVs to drop to score a great deal on an older generation model. Right now as part of Amazon's Presidents' Day Sale, you can pick up a 2023 65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED TV for just $1,196.99 with free shipping on Amazon. This is a better deal than what I saw during Black Friday. The LG Evo C-series of TVs have consistently been our favorite high-end 4K TVs, especially for 4K HDR movies and gaming.Today Only: $1,500 Off Insignia Zero Gravity Massage ChairRead more about this dealInsignia 2D Zero Gravity Full Body Massage ChairIf you're been in the market for a massage chair, Best Buy's deal of the day is not one you should pass on. For today only, its Insignia 2D Zero Gravity Full Body Massage Chair is on sale for just $999.99, a hefty $1,500 discount from its original $2,500 list price. This is Best Buy's most popular massage chair and this deal comes around only a few times per year. It has all the features you'd want including full body massaging, infrared heat therapy, and zero gravity reclining.30% Off Panther Vision Hand Warmers and Lighted BeaniesPanther Vision Powercap 3.0 Lighted Headlamp BeaniePanther Vision Powerpaw 602R Electric Hand Warmer and Power BankIf you're looking for a practical Valentine's Day gift idea, Panther Vision is offering a big 30% coupon code that works sitewide. If you suffer from cold appendages, the Panther Vision 602R rechargeable hand warmer is small enough to fit in your jacket pocket. It offers three different heat settings depending on how numb your fingers are, boasts an IP67 waterproof rating, and can even double up as a 5,000mAh USB Type-C power bank for emergencies.Pair it with the Panther Vision lighted beanie, which will keep your noggin warm while lighting up the way with a built-in LED headlamp rated for up to 150 lumens at max output. 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Unfortunately, new releases like the Titan Evo Nanogen chair and the recliner add-on are exempt from this sale. 28% Off Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Sport HeadphonesShokz OpenRun Pro 2 Open-Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Sport HeadphonesAs part of its Presidents' Day Sale, Woot! is offering the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Open-Ear Wireless Sport Headphones for only $129.99, a savings of 28% off the $180 list price. The OpenRun Pro is the best non-earbuds headphones for running. The 2nd generation model offers cleaner bass and replaces the proprietary connector with a universal USB Type-C charging port. Instead of the traditional method of sending sound vibrations to your eardrums, the OpenRun Pro uses bone conduction technology to send vibrations through your cheekbones directly to your inner ear.Preorder Elden Ring: Nightreign at Best Buy, Get $10 Gift CardRead more about this dealBonus $10 Best Buy Gift CardElden Ring: Nightreign (PS5, Xbox)$39.99 at Best BuyElden Ring Nightreign is set to release for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on May 30. A new standalone game set in the world of Elden Ring, Nightreign lets you team up with two other players to slice your way through an oppressive fantasy world. Its kind of like a faster-paced remix of the original game. Its available for preorder in a number of editions, so read on for the details about what comes in each one.Preorder the HP Omen 45L RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PCRead more about this dealFirst Configurable HP Omen 45L RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PC$4,729.99 at HPHP just added the option to add the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU as an upgrade to one of its flagship HP Omen 45L prebuilt gaming PCs and, fortunately, it is very reasonably priced for a prebuilt RTX 5090 desktop relative to what we've seen from other brands. Put your order in sooner than later because, unless HP has readily available 5090 GPUs in its inventory (unlikely), these prebuilts will probably have a bit of a lead time before they ship out.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Once someone becomes a part of the Saturday Night Live family, it takes a lot to get excommunicated.The most infamous example of a creative not being invited back to NBCs long-running comedic institution is, of course, Sinad OConnor. In a 1992 episode of SNL, the Irish singer, songwriter, and activist concluded a cover of Bob Marleys War by tearing a photograph of then-Pope John Paul II to pieces. Though OConnors stated intention of protesting the Catholic Churchs history ofphysical, sexual and emotional abuse of young parishioners was well reasoned, it was perhaps too ahead of its time. She would go on to be condemned by many organizations and was ultimately banned from ever returning to SNL.Following OConnors death in 2023, SNL began to soften its stance towards her controversial performance. The ultimate mea culpa arrived on February 16, 2025, during the shows sprawling, three-hour-long broadcast SNL50: The Anniversary Special, in which Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard covered OConnors classic Nothing Compares 2 U. While that was perhaps the biggest moment of reconciliation in SNL50, there was another, far stranger, example of a banished performer getting a shout near the end of the special.Adrien Brody was on top of the world back in May 2003 when he hosted Saturday Night Live for the first and only time. Having just won a Best Actor Oscar for his remarkable turn in The Pianist two months prior, Brody was ready and game for anything SNL could throw his way. Unfortunately, he was too ready and too game as the committed SNL creator Lorne Michaels cardinal sin: he went off script.When the time came to introduce musical guest Sean Paul usually a simple, perfunctory task for the host Brody elected to spice things up a bit. He took the stage in a dreadlocked wig and vamped extensively in an offensive Jamaican patois aboutpeople named Sean? And said respeck mah neck a couple of times? It was at least a little bit racist, a lot of bit incomprehensible, and most damningly for the live show, completely unplanned.In recent interviews to promote The Brutalist (for which he will likely win another Oscar), Brody has pushed back against the characterization that he was banned from SNL, telling Vulture that I think Lorne wasnt happy with me embellishing a bit, but they allowed me to. Ban or no ban, Brody joined the ranks of folks like OConnor who were pointedly never invited back to Studio 8H.Of course, important dates like anniversaries have a way of healing old wounds. Because, while Brody didnt receive as touching a shoutout as OConnor did in SNL50, his inexplicable Rastaman improv did make an appearance in a hilarious compilation. Introduced by Tom Hanks, SNL50: The Anniversary Special took some time out for a special In Memorium segment of canceled SNL characters and moments that were no longer appropriate for the modern world.The reasoning for many of these canceled artifacts were clear from ethnic stereotypes to body shaming to sexual harassment. Adrien Brodys rasta moment, however, was accompanied by a simple woah. All these years later, there seems no better way to describe whatever it was that was than woah.

As a parent of teenagers, I often worry about the ramifications of raising my kids in a world filled with influencers, social media, and extreme oversharing. Gabby Petito, who was just 22 when killed by her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, in 2021, was among the first generations to grow up watching YouTube and counting likes on social posts, but I didnt know that part of her story when news first broke of her disappearance and, later, murder, several years ago.Netflixs latest iteration of its American Murder docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito, breaks down the entire story of Petitos death, which began with a vlogging road trip. According to the three-episode Netflix series, Petito and Laundrie had a sometimes-troubled relationship, but quit their jobs at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to drive cross-country in a Ford Transit Connect van-turned-camper and share the trip on social media.Petito was missing for several weeks in late August and early September 2021, before her body was found at a camping area in Wyoming. In the early days of Petitos disappearance, Laundrie returned home alone to Florida with the camper van and made national news headlines due to both his and his parents unwillingness to speak with police or help with the search for Petito. Laundrie was later reported missing by his parents in September 2021, and his body was found in October 2021 at a Florida nature reserve. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.As was the case with American Murder: Laci Peterson, the Petito docuseries is eye-opening, shining a light on aspects that many observers missed in news reports in 2021 or simply forgot over the years. Its a heartbreaking watch that reveals lots of interesting facts about the tragic murder of a 22-year-old girl, what could have been handled differently, and the impact Petito still has on young women today. Here are five things we learned (or were reminded of) while watching the latest American Murder docuseries.Petito and Laundrie left for their cross-country trip on July 2, 2021, visiting destinations like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park along their route. On August 12, 2021 in Moab, Utah, a 9-1-1 call was made by a witness to report a man hitting a woman several times before they drove off together. Soon after, the Moab City Police Department spotted the couples van driving erratically and performed a traffic stop. One officers body-cam footage recorded Petito explaining to officers that she was just frustrated and in a bad mood due to having OCD. Weve just been fighting all morning and he wouldnt let me in the car before, she says while crying and breathing heavily in the video footage.Since neither Petito or Laundrie wanted to press charges and both asked not to be separated, police called the incident a mental breakdown and not domestic violence. Officers arranged for Laundrie to spend the night in a hotel while Petito spent the night in the van. The last time Petito was seen alive was 10 days later, on August 27, leaving many to speculate as to whether if the police had handled the incident as domestic violence, which would have required an arrest, the couples course would have been changed and Petito would still be alive today.YouTubers helped police hone in on where to look for Petitos bodyAs police searched for Petito, narrowing down the last known location of the van was critical. Many who had seen news of the disappearance shared stories of seeing the couple or just Laundrie in the the Jackson, Wyoming area contacted police, including Jenn and Kyle Bethune, van-life vloggers, who slept for a night at Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area on the night of August 27, 2021.I was editing our YouTube video from the Spread Creek timeline of August 27, Jenn Bethune says in the docuseries, and I was sitting next to my phone and I got this notification from one of our RV friends and they said, Check any footage you have, the timeline has changed. I read the National Parks Service post and it said August 27 or 28. All the color and life drained from my body because I was like, I have it.What Bethune had was video footage of Petito and Laundries van pulled to the side of the road on the campgrounds. She posted the clip to YouTube where it quickly soared to over a million views. Police used the Bethune footage to hone in on the search area, which led to them locating Petitos remains on September 19, 2021, not far from where the van was observed.After Laundrie was reported missing by his family on September 17, 2021, police searched the familys Florida home for potential evidence and found a note written to Laundrie by his mother, Roberta Laundrie. The letter, titled Burn After Reading, contained statements like, You are my boy, nothing can make me stop loving you. Nothing will, or could ever, divide us, no matter what we do. If youre in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags.Later, it was Laundries parents who found his body, as they knew areas where he liked to hike at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Sarasota, Florida. Laundries skeletal remains were found on October 20, 2021, and in November 2021, it was released that a forensic anthropologist had determined Laundrie died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Later, Laundries diary was released, in which he claimed he killed Petito after she had fallen and injured herself. Experts, however, say this account does not match investigators findings.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Petitos parents later sued Laundries parents and their attorney and were awarded $3 million for wrongful death. A suit was also filed by Petitos parents against the Moab police department for their handling of the domestic dispute call regarding Petito and Laundrie, but the charges were dismissed by a judge who cited governmental immunity.Petitos death has helped other domestic abuse victims find the strength to leaveAs the docuseries closes, Petitos stepfather, Jim Schmidt, shares the impact his daughters death has even today. Although we lost Gabby, many other people have been saved because of her.We get messages saying, Hey, Gabbys story is what made me leave my boyfriend. I got help and Im doing what I can, Petitos best friend Rose Davis shares. And it is beautiful and heartwarming.In Petitos honor, her friends and family started the Gabby Petito Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the searches of organizations working to locate missing persons and assists victims of domestic violence. We wanted to bring attention to the dangers and signs of domestic violence, Petitos mother, Nicole Schmidt, says in the series. There is a literal help button on that page you can click on it and it will guide you to the right resources.Petitos death also brought awareness to how the disappearances of non-white women are handledLoretta Bush, an FBI special agent based in Tampa, Florida, starts an important conversation toward the close of American Murder: Gabby Petito. This story is unique, says an emotional Bush, but I will tell you there are so many other people out there missing and they are important, too.A news clip shown in the series reminds viewers, Petitos story has renewed debate about which cases get attention and the medias seeming infatuation with missing white women. And, on a CNN appearance shown in the final episode, Mara Schiavocampo, host of the Run Tell This podcast, says, Imagine the men, women, and children in the community where Gabby Petito went missing who know that, for the last 10 years, more than 700 Indigenous people have gone missing and nobody has said a word and one missing white woman turns up in their backyard and the world pays attention.This isnt saying that Gabby Petito isnt important, Schiavocampo goes on, what it is saying is that theres an overrepresentation in media when white women go missing and an underrepresentation in media when Black, brown, and Indigenous women go missing.Petitos father, Joe Petito, admits sentiments like these offended him initially, but when he started to look into the situation, his opinion changed. Now, he uses his platform to advocate for greater attention to missing persons cases that involve marginalized groups, including working with the Gabby Petito Foundation and helping produce a television series that highlights missing persons cases called Faces of the Missing.All three episodes of American Murder: Gabby Petito are available to stream on Netflix now.

Im going to let you in on a little secret: Those of us behind the screen, the writers and editors of Country Living, are self-admitted hoarders. Whether its a unique vintage or antique piece that was destined to be decommissioned from our photo studios prop closet or the latest Amazon find, we obsess over and immerse ourselves in all the things that make a home and fill a life. Its a hazard of the job, but one we see as a perk! Over the years, our love of stuff got a new (fancier) name: Maximalism. This designer-favored style is a no-holds-barred explosion of pattern, color, and, yes, stuff. (But, there is a distinct difference between maximalism and cluttercore.) Here, we walk you through exactly what maximalism is, where the style originated, and how to do it well thanks to expert tips from designers and stylish homeowners. Jump to:Stacy Zarin GoldbergDesigner Cameron Ruppert pairs pretty pattern with woven texture in this maximalist entryway.What Is Maximalism? Okay, lets back up. Its easy to equate maximalism with a love of stuff, but that doesnt tell the whole story. On its own, maximalist interior design principles embody the idea that leaning into the things you love is the straightest path to a house that feels like a home. Its not just about the stuff, but the stories that come along with them. More is more of what brings you joy, says Texas-based designer Katie Davis. Read More Stories About Decorating:Maximalist interiors are nothing new, either. Storied decorators of yore like Dorothy Draper and Mario Buatta built their businesses by embracing color and pattern in ways rarely seen before. Today, maximalism has gained popularity once again as a response to the mid-aughts obsession with minimalism and Marie Kondo-style tidiness. (Though, many of us admittedly misunderstood the lesson the much-maligned KonMari method was trying to teach us. It was never about getting rid of everything, but instead about finding peace in the things you already have and finding joy outside of rampant consumerism. I digress.) In practical terms, maximalism is all about embracing bold choices of color, pattern, and texture, and celebrating them for what they are: joyful, deeply personal expressions of style. Nathan SchroderDesigner Katie Davis expertly mixes a variety of patterns, proving more really is more.What Is The History of Maximalism? Fanciful, over-the-top interiors have been popular throughout history, though they were typically reserved for royalty or the extremely wealthy. Todays version of maximalism has roots as far back as the early modern periodthe time between the 16th and 18th centuries. Maximalism would not be what it is without ornate Baroque (think Palace of Versailles) or Rococo interiors or the early democratization of housing, i.e. the proliferation of independent, nuclear-family dwellings on a level never before experienced, which allowed people to truly dive deep into their personal styles. In America, designers such as Elsie de Wolfe and Billy Baldwin share credit with Dorothy Draper in bringing colorful, pattern-filled interiors to the mainstream.ALUN CALLENDERTheres no such thing as too much pattern mixing in the maximalist mindset.What Are The Defining Principles of Maximalism? Maximalism is all about the mix-and-match mindset. Decorating with a maximalist point of view is a bit like cooking a really good meal. You need to taste as you go because there isnt one recipe that fits everyones personal palate. There are, however, six key components you should focus on when trying to decorate with a maximalist mindset. All of them are aimed at amping up a rooms visual texturethe real look and feel of a space. Bold Paint Colors Paint is maximalisms greatest tool. From color drenching a space in high-gloss paint to adding in fun folk art flourishes, paint can change the entire look and feel of a room with relative ease. While we all may have our favorite whites or grays, maximalism dares you to look beyond the typical paint colors and try something with personality. Using bold color in a country home is all about pulling from the surroundings and embracing saturated-but-muddy hues. Country decorators have long relied on paint to level-up even the most humble of farmhousesthink chippy painted furniture or painted floors in a classic checkered pattern. Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling by Kendra SurfaceCabinets painted with Benjamin Moores Enchanted Forest feel right at home next to soft brown gingham wallpaper in this classic farmhouse kitchen designed by Trinity Holmes.Strong PatternsYou cant have a maximalist space without pattern, and proper pattern mixing is the key to maximalism done well. One way to pick patterns that foster a layered, livable home is by focusing on smaller scales, says Katie Davis. Small ticking stripes, varying textures, tiny floralssome of these textiles might not even read as having a pattern until you get closer, she says. Some other go-to designer favorite patterns include gingham, animal prints, cabana stripes, tartans, and buffalo checks. When using patterns in your home, dont underestimate the power of a purposeful clash. Pairing gingham with animal prints or animal prints with a floral is a great way to show you have your design bonafides. Cheery WallpaperWhether its a full mural wall or a pretty paper hung above wainscoting, wallpaper is an easy entry point into maximalism. Smaller spaces such as bathrooms (especially powder rooms!) are the classic, safe choices for wallpaper, but maximalists rarely play it safe. Larger rooms with defined purposes, like the entry, library, or even the kitchen, are also great places to play with the amount of pattern and color wallpaper brings. Just dont forget the contrast trim paint job! (And, nowadays, removable wallpaper means you can also easily take it down without damaging your walls when youre ready for a change.)Max Kim-Bee for Country LivingIn this entry of what was once an old schoolhouse, designers John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon of Madcap Cottage chose four different paint colors and a happily patterned wallpaper.Statement Furniture One bold piece of furniture is typical for a house, but in a maximalist home? Add multiple! A velvet sofa in an unexpected color pairs just as easily with a patterned upholstered reading chair as it does with one covered in quiet, nubby linen. Stick to the standard decorating guidelines of complementary colors, scale, and silhouettes when mixing more than one stand-out piece. Also err on the side of doing this in large rooms only, so you dont overwhelm. Ornate Accents and Crusty Antiques A little glam never hurt anybody, right? Mixing fanciful silhouettes, such as chandeliers dripping with crystals, and humble, chippy painted pieces is another way to fast-track a maximalist space that feels layered and totally lived-in. Remember, maximalism is all about telling a story, so dont stray from pairing pieces you arent sure go together. Crossing design eras is what gives a room intrigue! If youre unsure about mixing a few pieces, look to the rest of the room and see what other eras you have or havent included. Considering your color palette also comes in handy when deciding what to mixa common color thread helps make it all work!Robert Peterson for Country LivingThis crusty craft room from the duo behind Junk Gypsy balances glam and vintage with ease. Curated Collections Maximalists and country-style decorators both share one common viewpoint: collections are cool. Styled throughout a bookshelf or arranged into a curio cabinet, these collected pieces help us tell the story of our home and of our interests, and they deserve to be celebrated. Were giving you permission to keep on collecting the ironstone, vintage lunch boxes, colored glassware, baskets, silver candlesticks... (all in the name of style, of course). Rikki Snyder for Country LivingA collection of silhouette portraits gathered over the years makes a stunning maximalist statement in this stairwell.RELATED: See how more collectors live with their favorite things. How Do You Make Maximalism Look Cohesive And Not Cluttered? Start With a Strong PaletteAll this talk of color and pattern can throw even the most practiced designer for a loop. A clear palette is the only way to accomplish a well-put-together room. Start with one or two base colors and then build off complementary accents. An easy way to do this is to start with your hero textile or paint color. Pull out things that work well with it and go from there. Pick no more than five colors to work with.RELATED: Here are our top 100 paint colors to get you started. Make It LivableWell let you in on a secret: Magazines do a bit of tidying up before we photograph a house. The clutter is tucked away, there are no dishes in the sink, and the pillows are always fluffed. In reality, thats not how these houses always look, so its important that the home youre creating works for you, and not for some higher standard you think might be attainable. Livable maximalism is about finding that nexus point between style and reality. If youve picked a palette that you can live with everyday, focus on teasing out the complementary colors through additional layers. Maximalism, for us, is about layers, but each layer doesnt have to be vying for attention, says Katie. This approach allows you to fill your home with patterns you love but arent going to grow tired of seeing every day. JACKIE GREANEY AND PAUL HAVELNautical collections add flair to this coastal living room.Know When To Edit and OrganizeThe power of maximalists (and what separates them from their cluttered friends) is their ability to edit. One quick way to edit around your house is by relying on the rule of three, something we use at the magazine all the time. The rule is pretty simple: Most objects look good in groups of three (or similar odd numbers such as five). If your collection is bigger than a group of three, try breaking it up into different locations. We know you wont always have the watchful eyes of magazine stylists to guide your decision-making, so its best to channel their styling advice. Embrace the old adage of a place for everything and everything in its place to start, according to stylist Liz Strong. Dont underestimate the power of a tray to corral things, she advises. Maximalists should strive to be organized, as a go-to organizational system will keep things from growing out of hand. RELATED: How to Declutter Your Home in One Weekend: A 9-Step GuideExamples of Maximalist Design A Boldly Painted Door Kate E. RichardsA Collectors Colorful EntryDavid TsayA Chic Country KitchenBecky Luigart-Stayner for Country LivingA Cozy, Quaint Living RoomBrie Williams for Country Living An Artful (And Art-Filled) HallwayAlpha SmootA Pattern-Forward BedroomAstrid TemplierA Bold and Beautiful BathroomHelen Norman for Country LivingTour These Country Houses That Fully Embrace Maximalism:Anna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isnt working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

Apple TV+ is currently airing Severance season 2, one of its biggest mainstream hits ever. Meanwhile, the one TV+ show that outdid it in cultural influenceTed Lassois currently preparing a new season. Heres everything we know about Ted Lasso season 4.Official, but not yet officialFirst things first: Apple TV+ has not yet officially announced the return of Ted Lasso.That said, there has been abundant evidence that the show is definitely making a return for season 4. From teases by execs, series stars, and the co-creator Bill Lawrence, to cast contract renewals, production being officially scheduled, and more.So if you ask anyone at Apple, they wont confirm Ted Lassos return yet. But a new season is absolutely on the way.Returning season 4 cast membersPer early reports, the vast majority of the Ted Lasso cast is expected to return for season 4. Which is great news, since the shows ensemble is one of its greatest strengths.One possible exception is Phil Dunster, who plays Jamie Tartt. Dunster reportedly has run into scheduling issues in trying to join the new season, though guest appearances arent out of the question.Jason Sudeikis may have a reduced roleThe man behind the mustache, Jason Sudeikis, may not have as big a presence in Ted Lassos new season.Matt Belloni on his podcast The Town said that, based on what hes heard, Sudeikis wont be present for the entirety of the new season. There will be many, many returning cast members. But Sudeikis will be minimized on the show.Overall it definitely sounds like well see plenty of Ted, just perhaps not as much as before. This wouldnt altogether be surprising, as Lasso already stepped back a little in season 3 as the strong ensemble was given more time to shine.Season 4 will feature AFC Richmonds first womens teamAccording to a report from Sigmund Judge, one major narrative thread of the new season will be the formation of AFC Richmonds womens team.It sounds like the mens team will still be a huge part of the show, but Richmond will also seek to expand its offerings by adding a womens team for the first time.When to expect season 4 on Apple TV+Originally, production on Ted Lasso season 4 was expected to kick off early this year. That didnt end up happening, and now the latest reporting pegs a production start in the spring.That said, there are still a lot of unknowns that make it difficult to pin down a tentative Apple TV+ debut date.Its looking unlikely that new Lasso episodes will arrive in 2025. However, assuming they do slip out of this year, season 4 should at least arrive some time in 2026.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking.Best Ted Lasso and Apple TV buysAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel