Atomfall is a unique experience from Rebellion Developments of Sniper Elite fame a post-nuclear survival action game with extensive freedom of choice. Between the lack of traditional quests and investigating leads, your experience is very much shaped by feeling around and seeing what happens.That seemingly extends to the development process, with lead designer Ben Fisher promising some experimental stuff you wont find anywhere else. On VideoGamers upcoming podcast episode, Fisher said, We took the creative pillars we were aiming for and just ran with them, so theres some experimental stuff you wouldnt try somewhere else because you cant guarantee a result.Such is the experimentation that Fisher isnt even sure it will pan out. Theres some bonkers choices in Atomfall. There are events the player can trigger or completely miss that can have a huge influence on the enemy population in the game world and stuff like thatIt might work, it might notIm looking forward to finding out.That part about influencing the enemy population is interesting, especially since games like Bethesdas Fallout 4 let you destroy almost all the factions. How much further Rebellion will go remains to be seen, but its an exciting proposition, especially with all the iterations it went through during development.Atomfall launches on March 27th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC. Check out this trailer outlining the gameplay, world, and enemies.

The ambition to accelerate scientific discovery through AI has been longstanding, with early efforts such as the Oak Ridge Applied AI Project dating back to 1979. More recent advancements in foundation models have demonstrated the feasibility of fully automated research pipelines, enabling AI systems to autonomously conduct literature reviews, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, analyze results, and even generate scientific papers. Additionally, they can streamline scientific workflows by automating repetitive tasks, allowing researchers to focus on higher-level conceptual work. However, despite these promising developments, the evaluation of AI-driven research remains challenging due to the lack of standardized benchmarks that can comprehensively assess their capabilities across different scientific domains.Recent studies have addressed this gap by introducing benchmarks that evaluate AI agents on various software engineering and machine learning tasks. While frameworks exist to test AI agents on well-defined problems like code generation and model optimization, most current benchmarks do not fully support open-ended research challenges, where multiple solutions could emerge. Furthermore, these frameworks often lack flexibility in assessing diverse research outputs, such as novel algorithms, model architectures, or predictions. To advance AI-driven research, there is a need for evaluation systems that incorporate broader scientific tasks, facilitate experimentation with different learning algorithms, and accommodate various forms of research contributions. By establishing such comprehensive frameworks, the field can move closer to realizing AI systems capable of independently driving meaningful scientific progress.Researchers from the University College London, University of WisconsinMadison, University of Oxford, Meta, and other institutes have introduced a new framework and benchmark for evaluating and developing LLM agents in AI research. This system, the first Gym environment for ML tasks, facilitates the study of RL techniques for training AI agents. The benchmark, MLGym-Bench, includes 13 open-ended tasks spanning computer vision, NLP, RL, and game theory, requiring real-world research skills. A six-level framework categorizes AI research agent capabilities, with MLGym-Bench focusing on Level 1: Baseline Improvement, where LLMs optimize models but lack scientific contributions.MLGym is a framework designed to evaluate and develop LLM agents for ML research tasks by enabling interaction with a shell environment through sequential commands. It comprises four key components: Agents, Environment, Datasets, and Tasks. Agents execute bash commands, manage history, and integrate external models. The environment provides a secure Docker-based workspace with controlled access. Datasets are defined separately from tasks, allowing reuse across experiments. Tasks include evaluation scripts and configurations for diverse ML challenges. Additionally, MLGym offers tools for literature search, memory storage, and iterative validation, ensuring efficient experimentation and adaptability in long-term AI research workflows.The study employs a SWE-Agent model designed for the MLGYM environment, following a ReAct-style decision-making loop. Five state-of-the-art modelsOpenAI O1-preview, Gemini 1.5 Pro, Claude-3.5-Sonnet, Llama-3-405b-Instruct, and GPT-4oare evaluated under standardized settings. Performance is assessed using AUP scores and performance profiles, comparing models based on Best Attempt and Best Submission metrics. OpenAI O1-preview achieves the highest overall performance, with Gemini 1.5 Pro and Claude-3.5-Sonnet closely following. The study highlights performance profiles as an effective evaluation method, demonstrating that OpenAI O1-preview consistently ranks among the top models across various tasks.In conclusion, the study highlights the potential and challenges of using LLMs as scientific workflow agents. MLGym and MLGymBench demonstrate adaptability across various quantitative tasks but reveal improvement gaps. Expanding beyond ML, testing interdisciplinary generalization, and assessing scientific novelty are key areas for growth. The study emphasizes the importance of data openness to enhance collaboration and discovery. As AI research progresses, advancements in reasoning, agent architectures, and evaluation methods will be crucial. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration can ensure that AI-driven agents accelerate scientific discovery while maintaining reproducibility, verifiability, and integrity.Check outthePaper and GitHub Page.All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,feel free to follow us onTwitterand dont forget to join our80k+ ML SubReddit. Sana HassanSana Hassan, a consulting intern at Marktechpost and dual-degree student at IIT Madras, is passionate about applying technology and AI to address real-world challenges. With a keen interest in solving practical problems, he brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of AI and real-life solutions.Sana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/Meta AI Releases the Video Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture (V-JEPA) Model: A Crucial Step inAdvancing Machine IntelligenceSana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/Meet Baichuan-M1: A New Series of Large Language Models Trained on 20T Tokens with a Dedicated Focus on Enhancing Medical CapabilitiesSana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/xAI Releases Grok 3 Beta: A Super Advanced AI Model Blending Strong Reasoning with Extensive Pretraining KnowledgeSana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/Learning Intuitive Physics: Advancing AI Through Predictive Representation Models

Click to enlargeCheshire Architects Lucy Hayes-Stevenson at Cape Evans. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 1 of 8Scotts Discovery Hut at Hut Point, Ross Island. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 2 of 8Outside the Borchgrevinks Hut at Cape Adare, the eight explorers (from left): Calum Turner, Maia Ingoe, Louise Piggin, Lucy Hayes-Stevenson, Daniel Bornstein, Ngawai Clendon, Kitiona Pelasio and Jake Bailey with Al Fastier of Trusts Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 3 of 8The Inspiring Explorers team at Scotts Terra Nova Hut, Cape Evans. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 4 of 8Louise Piggin (left) with Lucy Hayes-Stevenson (right) at Cape Adare. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 5 of 8Artefacts in Scotts Discovery Hut. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 6 of 8The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, returned to Scotts Discovery Hut. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 7 of 8Cheshire Architects heritage architect Lucy Hayes-Stevenson. Image: Antarctic Heritage Trust 8 of 8Heritage architect Lucy Hayes-Stevenson is one of eight young Kiwi and Australian explorers who have recently returned from the Antarctic Heritage Trusts (AHT) Inspiring Explorers Expedition to the Ross Sea home of the expedition bases of legendary Antarctic explorers Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Carsten Borchgrevink and Sir Edmund Hillary. Artefacts in Scotts Discovery Hut.Image: Antarctic Heritage TrustOne of three conservation experts on the crew, Hayes-Stevensons primary goal on the expedition was to develop a deep understanding of the conservation of the historic huts and to form a personal connection with theplace.Each hut feels like a unique time capsule, filled with the echoes of the past, saysHayes-Stevenson. The low light levels, the smell, the creaks of the floorboards are all preserved with attention to the minute details and add to the sense of history, loss, isolation and camaraderie that you feel inside. They have been preserved so well, it feelsuntouched.Hayes-Stevensonsays the huts stand as monuments to human resilience, determination and best practiceconservation.We work on many heritage projects where the building lives on with a new purpose. What I love about these sites is the pure preservation of the story itself. Its truly inspiring to be moved by a place that conveys its history without words. I wish more people could experience it its life-changing in a way. Im excited to see how this shapes my work movingforward.Over the month-long expedition,Hayes-Stevenson and the crew worked with Al Fastier, who led theTrusts Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project for 18years.Outside the Borchgrevinks Hut at Cape Adare, the eight explorers (from left): Calum Turner, Maia Ingoe, Louise Piggin, Lucy Hayes-Stevenson, Daniel Bornstein, Ngawai Clendon, Kitiona Pelasio and Jake Bailey with Al Fastier of Trusts Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project.Image: Antarctic Heritage TrustTalking with Al and learning from his experience was invaluable. The detail that has gone into the conservation work byAHT is incredible, so seamless that you instantly feel like the heroic explorers have just stepped out, fully immersing you in their world,Hayes-Stevenson says. Ive always been passionate about heritage buildings and protecting historical fabric, and its been amazing to see such incredible conservation work inaction.Prior to their departure, the team was involved in the conservation of a unique artefact a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and had the honour of returning the book to Scotts Discovery Hut at Hut Point, RossIsland.Cheshire Architects heritage architect Lucy Hayes-Stevenson.Image: Antarctic Heritage TrustOn the first attempt we made to return the book, the ice blocked our way and we had to turn back. Reality in Antarctica is dictated by the movement of the ice and it changes in a second. Finally, on the second to last day, the ice had fully cleared and we were finally able to return it to its home in Scotts hut. We were all so invested in its return, because we got to be a part of thatstory.Hayes-Stevenson says she feels grateful to be part of this project and proud thatCheshire Architects has worked alongside AHT for years to help conserve these historicsites.Asshe returns to work, she says she remains committed to protecting and sharing the stories of our heritage buildings, adding her experience in Antarctica has given her a renewed sense of purpose and connection to herwork.She hopes that through the efforts of dedicated conservators and organisations like Antarctic Heritage Trust, the legacy of the Antarctic explorers will continue to inspire futuregenerations.

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Gmail to ditch SMS authentication.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesIt is certainly no secret that using SMS text messages for security codes used to authenticate your identity is far from ideal. Just as the tech industry is slowly moving away from passwords to passkeys that take a more secure biometric approach to logins, the use of code-generating apps and even app-less approaches to two-factor authentication have increasingly become the norm in recent years. But SMS has always been said to be better than no authentication at all, which is hard to argue with. Now, following a privileged conversation with Google insiders, I can exclusively reveal that Gmail is finally looking to ditch SMS codes for authentication. Heres everything you need to know.Gmail Spokesperson: We Want To Move Away From Sending SMS Messages For AuthenticationJust like we want to move past passwords with the use of things like passkeys, Gmail spokesperson Ross Richendrfer told me, we want to move away from sending SMS messages for authentication. So began an email conversation with Google that revealed, for the first time, SMS codes are to be ditched when it comes to authentication and replaced with QR codes to reduce the impact of rampant, global SMS abuse.Google currently uses SMS verification primarily for two distinct purposes: security and abuse control. The former, Richendrfer explained, is to verify that were dealing with the same user as before, while the latter ensures fraudsters dont abuse Googles services. An example of this, as provided by Google, was when criminals create thousands of Gmail accounts in order to distribute spam and malware.Why Gmail Is Getting Rid Of SMS CodesSMS codes present numerous security challenges, according to Richendrfer and his colleague at Google, Kimberly Samra. They can be phished, people dont always have access to the device the codes are sent to, and they are reliant on the security practices of the users carrier. If a fraudster can easily trick a carrier into getting hold of someones phone number, Richendrfer said, any security value of SMS goes away.Then theres the fact that SMS verification codes are also often at the very heart of many criminal operations. One relatively new scam that Google has observed across the last couple of years is what it refers to as traffic pumping. Ive also heard this called artificial traffic inflation and toll fraud, but the methodology is always the same. Over to Richendrfer and Samra to explain: Its where fraudsters try to get online service providers to originate large numbers of SMS messages to numbers they control, thereby getting paid every time one of these messages is delivered."From SMS To QR Codes For Gmail AuthenticationOver the next few months, we will be reimagining how we verify phone numbers, Richendrfer told me; Specifically, instead of entering your number and receiving a 6-digit code, youll see a QR code being displayed, which you need to scan with the camera app on your phone.Im not the worlds greatest fan of QR codes as many of my articles can attest to, but this remains a momentous security moment for Google and Gmail users.The benefits that QR codes for authentication can offer are twofold, according to Google:Reducing the phishing risk of Gmail users being tricked into sharing their security codes with a threat actor. Primarily, and rather obviously, since theres no such code to share in the first place.Removing reliance, in most cases at least, of Google users on their phone carrier for anti-abuse protections.SMS codes are a source of heightened risk for users, Richendrfer concluded, were pleased to introduce an innovative new approach to shrink the surface area for attackers and keep users safer from malicious activity. Signing off with an intriguing look for more from us on this in the near future, but without an actual date for implementing the changes for Google account holders and Gmail users, its something Im sure we can all agree cannot come soon enough.

Mini CrosswordNYTIn case you missed Sundays NYT Mini, you can find the answers here:The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.Unlike its larger sibling, the NYT Mini crossword is free to play on the New York Times website or NYT Games app. However, youll need an NYT Games subscription to access previous puzzles in the archives.The NYT Mini is a fun daily distraction that usually takes no time at all. I try to beat the standard weekday grid in less than a minute. But sometimes I can't quite figure out one or two clues and need to reveal the answer.To help you avoid doing that, here are the NYT Mini Crossword answers (spoilers lie ahead, of course):NYT Mini Crossword Clues And AnswersACROSS1) "Over here!" - HEY 4) Words after a defeat - ILOST 7) Dwarf planet thats only about half the width of the United States - PLUTO 8) 1995 thriller whose title is stylized with a digit - SEVEN 9) "This just in ..." program - NEWSDOWN1) Joints at the meeting of the thigh bone and pelvis - HIPS 2) Astronaut Ochoa - ELLEN 3) "___ got mail" - YOUVE 5) Gumbo or goulash - STEW 6) Lots and lots - TONSMiniNYTWell, this started off well considering I do not know any other dwarf planets, as I am sure is the case for most of you. Similarly, Youve Got Mail should be familiar to anyone born before 1995, most likely. At least anyone with an AIM screen name. Speaking of 1995, thats when Se7en came out which seems like a stupid way to write it now, but trust me it was very cool at the time.Follow me , and .Pick up my sci-fi novels the and

The White LotusCredit: HBODaylight robbery, gossip girls, tense breakfast chats and plenty of new revelations all make up this weeks episode of The White Lotus. One thing this show does very well is combine a slow burn with a constant sense of rising tension. Mix that with plenty of awkward moments and some ribald humor, and this is already shaping up to be yet another terrific season of one of HBOs best shows. Spoilers ahead.Guns BlazingSeason 3 is doing one thing differently than the past two seasons: Playing with guns. Sure, guns were drawn in the finale of Season 2, but weve already had two episodes with guns in Season 3. The season premiere opened with a shooting at the Thailand White Lotus. This weeks episode introduces an armed robbery at the swanky White Lotus gift shop. Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and her new friend Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) are there shopping when the crime takes place, though Chloe is in the dressing room. That may not be a coincidence.There will be lots and lots of theories as to who the masked man and his accomplice(s) are after this episode drops. The masked man could just be a criminal hiding his identity, someone we havent seen yet. But I have a feeling its someone we know, because this reeks of an inside job. We only get a glimpse of the driver when the first opens the drop down barrier and is confronted by security. We dont get enough of a look at this second thief, but I have some theories.My first instinct is Greg (Jon Gries) who we learn is going by the name Gary this time around. Greg is the only character to show up in all three seasons. In Season 2 he was married to Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) and was very obviously involved in the attempt to kill her and steal her money. It seems likely that he inherited her fortune, but its just as likely that hes spent the bulk of it already.When he and Chloe meet with Chelsea and Rick (Walton Goggins) for a very awkward dinner, Gary tells him that hes retired. When Rick asks what he did before, he says this and that. Rick says thats what he does, too. A very lucrative line of work. Something many people around here are involved in, Gary says. Wink wink, nudge nudge.Theres little doubt that Garys up to no good, whether or not hes part of the pack of thieves. Ive paused the episode on the moment the driver gets out of the vehicle and I just I cant tell if this bald mans pate matches Garys. Is the ear shape right? Is Greg/Garys hair a little too long on the sides? Would he be reckless enough to show his face?The White LotusCredit: HBOWhich brings us to our third accomplice. This isnt a two-man job, its a three-man job at the very least, and its very obvious at this point that the third man is Valentin (Arnas Fedaraviius) the wellness coach assigned to the Gossip Girls: Kate (Leslie Bib), Laurie (Carrie Coon) and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan). For one thing, Valentin is clearly not a trustworthy person. He tells both Kate and Jaclyn that their body-scan numbers are superb, and feeds them the same line that they have the numbers of a woman half their age. The more glaring reason hes a suspect is that Valentin tricks the affable security guard, Gaitok (Tayme Thaphimthong) into leaving the security dropdown bar open so that the thieves can drive through without inspection. He distracts Gaitok with the promise of tickets to a fight as he drives out of the lot and the black SUV zips in.This leaves us with the masked gunman. Hes clearly younger and more physically fit than Greg/Gary (or whatever his real name is) because he quite easily overpowers Gaitok, who was clearly not prepared for such a brazen assault. Ive paused the episode on the moment he enters the building where you get a little glimpse of his forehead, brow and eyes but its just impossible to tell if hes white or Asian or if its someone weve already met this season or not. Its entirely possible this is a new character. My theory is that were dealing with at least four thieves: Greg/Gary, Chloe, Valentin and the masked gunman, though if the driver wasnt Greg/Gary that means there could be more. And its also entirely possible that Im wrong about Chloe. If so, we only know Valentin is dirty for sure, though even that could be a red herring.I should note at this point that Julian Kostov has been cast this season, though we dont know who his character is yet. He plays arch-villain Vladimir Makarov in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and comparing his eyes and eyebrows with a still image of the masked gunman . . . well, I think its a safe bet its him. And it makes sense that the Russian wellness coach, Valentin, would have a Russian accomplice (we know the Bulgarian Kostov plays a Russian character but not much else).To review the timeline: Chloe enters the gift shop, gets the lay of the land, goes into the dressing room and texts Greg/Gary that theres no security. Greg/Gary then contacts Valentin who hops on his bike and leaves, stopping at the gate to chat up Gaitok so that the thieves can drive through unmolested. Chloe exits the dressing room when the masked man is gone, acting shocked and dismayed. Valentin has already left the premises and cant be pinned to the theft since he has an alibi. Notice that Greg/Gary is not in the lobby when Rick comes down to console Chelsea. But enough of the robbery. Theres plenty more to discuss. Or gossip about.The Gossip GirlsThe White LotusCredit: HBOThe episode opens on two of the three Gossip Girls (as Ive come to call them) doing what they do best: Gossiping about whoever isnt in the room. This begins with gossiping about Laurie and her troubles with work and her daughter, but is interrupted when she bangs loudly on the glass, scaring both her friends and probably some viewers in the process.Later, they talk about their body-scan results, comparing notes in the cringiest way imaginable. Jaclyn mentions her hot, younger husband and his rockin bod, and tries to console Kate over her average results by telling her that Austin, TX probably doesnt have that many healthy food options, to which Kate replies that she eats lots of healthy food. Chicken, she says, and beans. Oh my.Later, they watch Sritala (Lek Patravadi) and the staff of the White Lotus perform an upbeat song, replete with dancers and a full band. This follows a hilariously awkward conversation with Fabian (Christian Friedel), the hotels general manager, about the upcoming performance and his own foray into songwriting and piano playing. You should play! they tell him, and he demurs. Im the boss, he says. And then: Maybe. Someday. He scuttles off, but later we see him mouthing the words to the song, a little smile on his face.When the ladies return to their suite, Jaclyn heads to her room, and the moment shes out the door, Laurie turns to Kate and the gossip kicks back up. Its always some combination of compliments ("Shes so funny, I love her so much") and backstabbing ("Shes so competitive! Whats with the husband?") We have yet to get Laurie and Jaclyn alone, but no doubt theyll dish on Kate until they slake their bloodlust.The Family RatliffThe White LotusCredit: HBOThe family this season is an interesting mirror image of Season 1s family. The Mossbachers included a high-powered businesswoman and her perpetually anxious husband (in a state of constant existential crisis) along with their kids and their daughters friend. This was a more outwardly liberal family from the West Coast, whereas the Ratcliffs are southern and conservative. Timothy (Jason Isaacs) is the high-powered businessman and Victoria (Parker Posey) is his pill-popping country club wife. She is not in any sort of existential crisis, mind you, but she sure is something. When Kate introduces herself to them at breakfast and says she met Victoria at a mutual friends baby shower, Victorias reaction is bizarre. She smiles a bit, barely responds to anything Kate says, and then sits there in awkward silence until Kate makes her exit.The youngest, Lochlan (Sam Nivola) asks her why she acted so rude, and Victoria waves it away. She doesnt really know this person, she tells him, and theyre on vacation, so who cares? Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) points out that Kates friend Jaclyn is a celebrity actress. Am I supposed to be impressed? Victoria says, picking at her food. Actresses are all just prostitutes. If theyre lucky. The Ratcliffs laugh. Am I wrong? Victoria asks, and Timothy smiles, shrugging. Only Piper (the Ratcliffs black sheep) seems put out by any of this.Victoria goes on a long speech later at dinner about family and the importance of family, but she hardly comes across as a family values mother. If anything, she enables all of Saxons worst traits. When he complains that his massage didnt end in a happy ending she laughs along with him, while Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) frowns in disbelief. (This follows a super awkward massage scene where Saxon is clearly aroused by his massage therapist). Saxon is clearly the apple of Victorias eye and no matter how disgustingly he behaves, she just chortles along with him. Lochlan is mostly just a puppy dog, not really joining in but not really bothered by his familys excesses, either. Hes yet to be molded. Will he follow Saxons example or his sisters?When Victoria warns her children about scammers coming after their money, the camera cuts to Greg, sitting at dinner with Chloe, Chelsea and Rick.Meanwhile, Timothy has bigger fish to fry.Only $10 MillionThe White LotusCredit: HBODuring last weeks episode, Timothy Ratcliffe was contacted by a Wall Street Journal reporter digging into some shady past business dealings. Hes been waiting for a phone call from someone named Kenny Nguyen ever since. He learns this week that a very aggressive Washington Post reporter is also trying to get hold of him.When he finally gets a call from Kenny (voiced by Ke Huy Quan of The Goonies and Everything Everywhere All At Once fame), his business partner is not happy. Hes rambling about 20 agents raiding his office, about how hes going to kill himself, about a whistleblower employee going to the press. Timothy is angry. You told me this would never happen!" he says. Now hes caught up in some kind of money laundering / bribery scheme that they were involved in years ago. I only made $10 million from the scam Timothy seethes.Am I implicated? he asks, and Kenny confirms that yes, hes very much implicated. Theyve taken all of Kennys computers, gotten hold of all the emails. Things are not looking good for Mr. Ratcliffe. He makes another call, this time to his lawyer.Theres only been one character with a gun so far, so its a safe assumption that said gun and gunman will be the one firing the bullets from the season premiere, but Id say its just as likely that Timothy will snap. Hes the only person so far to threaten to kill someone. Then again, it could be anybody at this point, at least anybody not shown in the opening scene. Speaking of which . . . .Nothing ManThe White LotusCredit: HBOI have a few favorite characters so far this season. I really like Mook and Gaitok. Theyre adorable and their scenes this episode were adorable. Gaitok tells her that he likes her, that their families know one another, and implies heavily that they should get hitched. Mook reminds him that theyve never even been on a date to which he replies, lets go one tonight. Lets go on one every night. She tells him to stop being stupid, but shes smiling. Later, after hes assaulted by the thief, she visits him. Hes holding an icepack to his head where he was hit with the gun. She tells him she was worried, which makes him happy, and that she thinks hes very brave, which makes him nod happily. Being assaulted could be the best thing thats ever happend to Gaitok. Love is in the air.I also like Amrita (Shalini Peiris) the Indian meditation guide who we first met during the opening of the season premiere, as she and Belindas son, Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) first heard the gunshots. Here, she meets with Rick, who Im also starting to like more and more, though he doesnt want to meditate or get help of any kind. Chelsea made the appointment, and he went grudgingly.Its a fascinating scene. Rick tells her that hes pretty much at an 8 out of 10 on the stress scale all the time. Weed helps, he says, but I dont like to travel with it. She asks him to think about a time when he was totally stress-free, but he struggles to, so she asks him about his childhood. He tells her that his mom overdosed when he was ten, and he never knew his father. His dad, it turns out, was murdered before he was born.This could be a really important detail. We know Rick is trying to find Sritalas husband, Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn) but we dont know why. We know its very, very important to him. So important that he tells Chelsea hes going to Bangkok after overhearing Sritala tell the Gossip Girls that shes headed their to visit her husband, who was just in the hospital. Its possible that Jim is, in fact, Ricks father. Perhaps a long-absent father who Rick now lies about, telling strangers that his dad was murdered. Or perhaps someone involved with is fathers death. Scott Glenn certainly is about the right age and look to be Walton Goggins dad.Amrita tells Rick that meditation can help by loosening ones grip on the identity theyve created for themselves, thus easing the suffering of such an attachment. But Rick says he has no identity. Amrita counters that even that can be an identity. He disagrees. When the gas tank is empty, the car wont run, he tells her. And nothing comes from nothing. She seems, if anything, intrigued by this.I like Rick also because he feels authentic in a sea of frauds despite his many mysteries and secrets. And despite their age gap, his relationship with Chelsea feels authentic, too. After the robbery, he shows up to comfort her in the lobby and he seems genuinely concerned. Later, in their room, they make love and hes tender and gentle with her. He is rude and crabby and prickly most of the time, but hes not cruel. Hes nothing like Greg/Gary, thats for sure. He and Chelsea both have moved up to the top of my Characters Who I Actually Like list.Piper is up there also. She may be a spoiled, privileged girl from a rich family, but shes the only one of the Ratcliffs (with the possible exception of Lochlan) who seems like a genuinely good person. She calls the White Lotus Disneyland for rich bohemians in Lululemon pants which is both funny and accurate. Shes annoyed when Lochlan reveals Saxons discussion of her virginity, and perturbed when an LBH at her yoga class wont stop ogling her. Maybe shes just a new-age phony herself, but she seems to actually care. Then again, this show has a way of stripping people down to their core in less than flattering ways.The White LotusCredit: HBOI also like Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) and her new wellness mentor/colleague, Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) who trade wellness specialty sessions this episode. When its Belindas turn to work on Pornchai, he walks out in nothing but boxers, and shes clearly impressed and distracted by his physique, so much so that she trips all over herself when he asks how shed like him. On my back or on my stomach? he adds. On my stomach, she blurts out. Oops.Of course, Belinda is the second recurring character this season, and when shes at dinner she sees the other: Greg. Its clear that she recognizes him but she shakes her head, as though she either cant place him or simply isnt sure. Its been a couple years since she would have run into him when he snatched up Tanya at the Maui White Lotus, dashing Belindas dreams in the process. Ive no doubt shell have her memory jogged soon enough. And then what?Its time to wrap things up. Ive spilled more than enough ink on this episode. But what a terrific episode it was! I had to watch it twice before writing my review and Ive still left out plenty, Im sure. Not much happens in an hour, but so much happens . . . if you know what I mean. So much character development. So many little infiltrations into each of these peoples lives and relationships. Its fascinating. And my goodness, the shots are all so beautiful. There are times when monkeys and beetles move through the flora, or were treated to a sunset over the beach, or waves lapping in the night as lights flicker in the jungle, or the black-green fronds of palm trees sway gently in the breeze, that it feels almost as though were in a nature documentary. I half-expect David Attenborough to start narrating over the top of it all. People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure, hed say, as we fade from a shot of baboons to Saxon walking past bikini sunbathers on the beach.Or perhaps, instead: We are a plague on the Earth.Read my Season 1 premiere review right here. Check out my weekend streaming guide here.What did you think of The Meaning Of Dreams" and of this season so far? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.

Despite the death of her character, Debra Morgan, in the original Dexter, Jennifer Carpenter didnt let that stop her from reprising her role in Dexter: New Blood. That series allowed Deb to return as a recurring hallucination for her adoptive brother and titular serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall). While Hall has signed on to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel series, Dexter: Resurrection, Carpenter has indicated that she will not be coming back this time.I am pretty focused where I am, and I feel like Ive completed that box, Carpenter told People Magazine. Im proud of it I hope that [the cast is] having a wonderful time And Im so happy for the fans to have more to chew on.Recommended VideosCarpenter played Debra in all eight seasons of Dexter, and she was a key character in the show, especially after she discovered her brothers secret life as serial killer who preys on evil people. More recently, Carpenter signed on to co-star in the second and final season of the Yellowstoneprequel series, 1923.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe present-day scenes in the prequel series Dexter: Original Sin revealed that Dexter survived his near-fatal wounds from the last episode of Dexter: New Blood. Dexter told his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott), to shoot him in the hope that Harrison could have a normal life free of Dexters darkness. Alcott will reprise his role in Resurrection alongside original Dexter stars David Zayas and James Remar. Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage have also signed on to appear in the new show.Dexter: Resurrection doesnt currently have a premiere date, but it may arrive on Paramount+ with Showtime later this year.Editors Recommendations

Amazon offers a large library of movies, but it can be exceedingly difficult to find the best family movies on Amazon Prime Video. Amazons interface is clunky, and the family-friendly library is decidedly sparse. There are a bunch of very kid-focused originals, but finding something the whole family can agree on can often be a struggle.Weve attempted to make it easier for you by curating the list each month and identifying the best options. Read on for the best family movies on Amazon Prime Video right now.Recommended VideosLooking for even more family films? Weve also put together lists of the best family movies on Netflix, the best family movies on Hulu, and the best family movies on Disney+.Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.Recently added to Amazon Prime VideoThe Super Mario Bros. Moviepg2023Puss in Boots: The Last Wishpg2022RelatedEditors RecommendationsMovie images and data from:Topics Michael BizzacoAV ContributorMichael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, hes still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.When hes not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend. Nick PerryNick Perry is a freelance writer who bounced from Hollywood to Silicon Beach to pajama pants. His work has been featured on Digital Trends, Good Morning America, Entrepreneur, Mashable, and more media outlets. When it comes to the best streaming services around, Hulu is near the top of the list. You get tons of great content, including library titles and shows offered in conjunction with others like FX and Disney+. But there's a solid selection of healthy Hulu originals as well. These range from fan-favorite shows like Only Murders in the BuildingandRamyto hot new titles likeParadise.If you're looking for the best Hulu original series right now, we have you covered. Some of these titles are technically joint productions with networks like FX or Disney+. But they qualify as Hulu originals, and you'll find them worthwhile additions to your watch list.Need more recommendations? Then check out thebest new shows to stream this week, as well as thebest shows on Netflix, thebest shows on Hulu, thebest shows on Amazon Prime Video, thebest shows on Max, and thebest shows on Disney+. Read more In a political landscape that is fully intent on otherizing the Black experience, it's more important than ever to listen to Black voices and experience Black stories. Netflix's Black Stories collection makes celebrating Black cinema a bit easier. However, like most of the platform's categories, it's a crowded collection, and you only have so much time to watch a movie. We curate this list every month to help you find the best Black movies on Netflix.This month is a very small update, with just the cult hitQueen & Slim joining the list, but there are plenty more good existing options. Read onfor the full list of the best Black movies on Netflix right now.Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.Recently added to Netflix Read more Saturated as the steaming arena can be, Disney+ remains a great platform for watching movies with broad appeal. Even though Disney is understandably known for its animated family fare, there's plenty of variety elsewhere. From Marvel Studios' superhero adventures to Lucasfilm's Star Wars sci-fi sagas and even National Geographic's thought-provoking documentaries, subscribers are spoiled for choice in content.Still, the streamer's movie catalog can make it tough to settle on a title for movie night. Thankfully, every type of fan will have options, and this monthly guide takes care of the hard part by highlighting some of the best movies on Disney+ right now. Read more

The Pentagon is telling employees to "pause any response" to DOGE's request for a work report.Federal employees were told this weekend to list five tasks they achieved last week by Monday night.But the Defense Department has instead said it would be the authority to review its employees.The Pentagon is the first major federal agency to publicly tell employees to hold off on responding to an instruction from the White House DOGE office to list their work accomplishments."For now, please pause any response to the OPM email titled 'What did you do last week,'" the Defense Department wrote in a statement to civilian employees that was posted online on Sunday."The Department of Defense is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel and it will conduct any review in accordance with its own procedures," said the statement, posted on behalf of Darin S. Selnick, the acting defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness.It added that the Pentagon would handle responses to the email request.Selnick was referring to an email sent through the Office of Personnel Management, which asked federal employees to respond by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday with five tasks or accomplishments that they achieved over the last week."Please do not send any classified information, links, or attachments," said the DOGE email, which was sent to employees in federal agencies across the US.It came just after President Donald Trump publicly wrote on Saturday that he wanted Elon Musk to "get more aggressive" in cutting workers and expenses from the federal bureaucracy.Musk, who oversees the DOGE team, also announced the email on social media and said that a "failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."The Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular business hours.Representatives for the State Department and the FBI declined to comment on the DOGE emails.