Fifty years ago, Marina Bulgaris exquisite Rome apartment graced the pages of House Beautiful. The third-generation member of the famous Italian jewelry family lived in a triplex thats as impressive now as it was then. This historic residence dates back to the 13th century: It occupies the top of a once-neglected watchtower that was part of the Italian capitals defense system during the Middle Ages. Thanks to a renovation led by Gae Aulentione of a handful of well-known female architects in Italy during the postwar periodits a lesson in the beauty of simplicity with minimal furnishings that allow the exposed brick walls, barrel vaulted ceilings, and panoramic views to shine.Explore the original story from House Beautifuls January 1975 issue below. Related StoriesHigh in a TowerBy Susan Grant LewinSurrounded by a spectacular historic landscape, the recently completed Rome triplex apartment of Marina Bulgari, daughter of the internationally known antique jewelry dealer, is a sleek yet sober testament to the 20th century. The apartment occupies the top three floors of a long-neglected 13th-century watchtower, part of the Italian capitals defense system during the Middle Ages, that has now been restored by architects from the Passarelli firm in Rome. A stunning contrast to its ancient neighbors, the absolute simplicity of the Bulgari apartment was designed by one of Italys leading architects, Gae Aulenti. It reflects a philosophy of today, expressed here in the living room in rough exposed-brick walls, textured sisal carpets, simple white linen seating pieces and opal globe lamps. She purposely left the long window wall uncovered and omitted any superfluous decoration and paintings so as not to compete with the panoramic views of the Colosseum, the terraced garden of the palace of Tiberius on Palatine Hill, the Forum, the Capitol, and the baroque dome of San Luca and Martino created by Pietro da Cortone.The Bulgari apartment is connected to the terrace of the next house, with the living room on the lowest level in a new addition added to the original watchtower structure. A glass skylight in the ceiling runs along the length of one exposed brick wall of this addition to illuminate the room and also provide its inhabitants with an ever-changing spectacle of the wonderful and changeable light quality of the Roman skies.The same elegant simplicity that permeates the living room of the Bulgari apartment is reflected throughout the dining area, which is situated on the intermediate level, and the bedroom, which occupies the top level. Similarly, the same geometric counterpoint of rounds against squares is seen on all three floors, contributing to the serene unity of the spaces. Strong square shapes are utilized in the wood dining room table, the folding armchairs, the black steel frames on the windows, and even the cantilevered wood stair treads on the fireplace wall. The rounds come into play in the globe lamps, curved niches, the sweeping curve of the free-standing wardrobe in the bedroom, and the sculptured vaults. This purity of form underlies and accentuates the pristine quality of the former military function of the architecture. Here, one really does feel shielded by the visible thickness of the walls. Yet there is a strong feeling of the outdoors as well; the natural brick masonry and coarse mortar used for the restoration work are very much the materials of the street. Against these, the white-laminated surfaces of the free-standing wardrobe, dresser and the bookcase that furnish the bedroom are a perfect contrast. The narrow door in the unit leads to a tiny bathroom. The bed is nothing more than a foam rubber mattress covered with a fine linen spread, resting on a polished walnut base that contains drawers for extra storage. A sleek book box sits to one side. And because this space was once the main observation room in the tower, it has four windows and four views of Rome, each toward a cardinal direction of the compass. In this renovation, architect Aulenti proves herself once again the master strategist of 20th-century design.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Pixelmators suite of photo editing apps have just been updated today, two weeks after Apple officially confirmed it had taken ownership. Heres what to expect.New Pixelmator updates bring no business model changes, focus on bug fixesApples acquisition of Pixelmator was first announced back in November. The announcement indicated, however, that it was subject to regulatory approval.On February 11, that approval had seemingly been granted, as the full suite of Pixelmator apps were updated with an important announcement. That announcement took the form of an in-app splash screen saying that the Pixelmator was officially part of Apple now.Those app updates brought no other changes, just the in-app ownership announcement.But now, two weeks later, the first true Pixelmator updates under Apple have arrived for all three Pixelmator apps:After the acquisition was announced, some wondered if Apple might make Pixelmators apps free to download. Currently they all involve some form of payment model, whether paid up front or through In-App Purchase.As of these first updates, however, nothing has changed on that front. Instead, heres what the release notes say for each app:This update contains bug fixes and improvements.Funnily enough, these notes offer a stark difference from Pixelmators updates pre-acquisition.As seen above, historically the companys app updates have provided more detail, not just when they have new features, but also in outlining specific bug fixes.It seems that for now at least, Pixelmator users may need to get used to the generic bug fixes and improvements language for releases.What changes do you expect Apple to bring to Pixelmator? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 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

Apple just shipped a firmware update for AirPods Max users who have the original Lightning model, the first such update since all the way back in October. Heres what you should know.Latest firmware likely brings bug fixes to the original AirPods MaxFirmware updates for Apples various AirPods products dont typically follow the standard iOS release cycle. Occasionally they do, but usually Apple will ship firmware updates on a completely different scheduleoften to provide bug fixes and performance improvements.The latest AirPods Max (Lightning) firmware released today is build 6F25. This new release replaces the 6F21 firmware released in October.Release notes for that prior update were short and simple:Bug fixes and other improvementsApple has yet to provide release notes for the new 6F25 build, but its likely well see more of the same language for this update.Occasionally bug fixes include tweaks to features like Active Noise Cancellation, so it will be interesting to see if there are any noticeable differences implemented for users.One reason why new features are unlikely for this release is that there is no big iOS software version expected soon that this update could be providing new features for. iOS 18.4 is now available in beta, but its full public launch wont come until early April. So bug fixes are likely the main change here.How to update your AirPods Max firmwareTo update your AirPods Max firmware, follow these steps from Apple:Make sure that your AirPods Max are in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac thats connected to Wi-Fi.Plug the charging cable into the bottom-right earphone, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port.Wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.Reconnect your AirPods Max to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Check the firmware version again.If you still cant update your firmware,reset your AirPods Max, then try to update your firmware again.Have you installed the new AirPods firmware? Noticed any changes? Let us know in the comments.Best AirPods deals and accessoriesAdd 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

Immortality-obsessed tech mogul Bryan Johnson, who's gone to extreme and sometimes comical lengths to turn back the clock on the aging of his 47-year-old body, is trying to get ahead of what he's claiming to be an upcoming "hit piece" by the New York Times.In a lengthy tweeting spree, Johnson who was an early investor in Futurism, but hasn't had any involvement for years attempted to discredit what sounds like a forthcoming story by accusing the newspaper of sensationalism and "trying construct a narrative about me."According to Johnson's tweet thread, an NYT reporter sent him a fact-checking emailthat suggests the paper is working on a story about allegations of the entrepreneur using non-disclosure agreements to "cover up business failings," "drug use, including acid, Ibogain, and DMT," and even the "use of prostitutes."The reporter said she talked to "at least more than two dozen people over the last ten years."We'll have to wait until we see the NYT's story, but Johnson's thin-on-the-details thread feels a lot like he's trying to get ahead of an embarrassing story, perhaps focusing on the weakest details of a fact-checking email instead of grappling with the substance of the allegations.It's striking what Johnson doesn't quite deny, instead alleging that the reporter was using a "classic guilt-by-association tactic designed to make any response seem like an admission.""By framing the question this way, she forces a no-win scenario where denying, engaging, or refusing to comment all reinforce the narrative shes trying to construct," Johnson tweeted. "Once allegations are made, it is very hard to defend ones reputation," he continued.According to Johnson's thread, the NYT reporter alleged that employees at his anti-aging company Blueprint were forced to sign an "opt-in" disclosure agreement to "attest that they are okay with a wide range of unusual workplace behavior."But in Johnson's telling, that was actually an effort at transparency."I post nudes on social media," Johnson wrote in response. "I track my nighttime erections. My team openly discusses my semen health. We make dank memes.""Rather than letting people walk in blind," he added, "we disclose this upfront, in writing, so there are no surprises."Apart from agreeing to publicly discuss Johnson's "semen health," his employees also reportedly had to sign "agreements" to "hide details" of his "personal life."The latest claims dovetail with Johnson's years-long legal battle with his former fiance, Taryn Southern, who accused him of leaving her after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in a 2021 lawsuit.Southern had signed an employment contract with one of Johnson's companies, Kernel, which greatly complicated legal proceedings. As a result, the case ended up in arbitration, with an arbitrator ruling in Johnson's favor, and holding Southern responsible for paying his half-a-million-dollar legal bill.In his latest tweet thread, Johnson suggested it was suspicious that he had received the email from the NYT reporter "within hours" of Southern posting "her new and improved story on social media."In a video posted by Southern last week, she recalled her experience of being diagnosed and recovering from breast cancer, including how she was "let go from my only source of income" eight weeks after "COVID hit" and how she was in the "middle of chemotherapy" while planning her wedding with Johnson."There is more to this story, so much more," Southern wrote in the caption. "But the details almost dont even matter anymore."However, it's unclear if Johnson was referring to this particular video.Hinting at a strange worldview, Johnson also argued in his tweet thread that it's natural for people to "use illegitimate tactics to extract money"from wealthy people like himself."Human nature is what it is," he wrote. "This is why retailers build theft into their bottom line."Along that paranoid line of reasoning, Johnson accused Southern of "using her true story of cancer to somehow justify her efforts to extract money from me."Johnson also said it was "standard and normal" to use confidentiality agreements in one's personal life."On a personal level, my life is under constant scrutiny," he argued. "These agreements try to create clear boundaries and expectations, so that trust isnt left to chance."But considering Johnson has continuously made headlines for eyebrow-raising stunts like using his teenage son as a "blood boy" while measuring his nighttime erections, injecting his face with a "fat-derived extracellular matrix," and most recently swapping his own blood with a plasma-infused alternative much of that scrutiny appears to be the direct result of his own actions.In short, while we have yet to read the NYT's reporting about Johnson's unusual use of confidentiality agreements, his rebuttal leaves plenty of questions unanswered.One thing's for sure: we'll be watching for that story to drop.Share This Article

Elon Musk may be "saving" money for the federal government, however questionably but it'll take a minor miracle for him to salvage his automaker's situation across the pond.According to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), sales of new Tesla cars in the continent have plummeted to just 9,945 vehicles in January, down from 18,161 in the same period last year, . That's a whopping 45 percent decrease.As sales collapse, the automaker's usually stellar stock position has also taken a ding, despite soaring to an all-time high in the wake of Donald Trump's election victory. As of Tuesday morning, Tesla shares dropped by more than 8 percent, for a cumulative decline of 23 percent in the last month of trading.While other major stocks are trending downwards, "Tesla shares are now by far the biggest decliner among the mega-cap technology stocks, weighing heavily on the group's overall performance," .The uninspiring numbers almost certainly indicate that Musk's controversial role in the Trump administration, his dalliance with far-right forces at home and abroad, as well as his polarizing personal behavior like his thinly-veiled Nazi salute are all blowing back on his businesses.It also coincides with Musk wading deeper into European politics. In the past months, the world's richest man threw his support behind Germany's far-right AfD party whom he told to get over their Nazi guilt and incurred the ire of leaders such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron, who have accused Musk of spreading misinformation.The public has also voiced their dissent. Tesla dealerships in Europe have been targeted with vandalism, ranging from being defaced by spray paint with anti-Nazi slogans to getting smashed up, such as the Tesla showroom in the Hague. Even Tesla owners, infamously immune to feelings of embarrassment, are expressing their buyer's regret with anti-Elon stickers.What's really telling is that Tesla's poor showing comes during what is otherwise a promising period for electric cars, with the European market for new EVs growing by 34 percent in January to 124,341 units, despite overall new vehicle registrations declining by 3 percent, according to ACEA data cited by the Guardian. A rising tide, it seems, doesn't always lift all boats.This also follows a dismal year for Tesla sales in Europe. In 2024, sales in the continent dropped by 13 percent, with even famously EV-eager nations like Norway, where 88.9 percent of all new cars sold are electric, seeing a 37.9 percent dip. At this point, it doesn't seem poised for a rebound.Beyond Musk's unpopular antics, Tesla is also facing steeper competition. In the UK this January, its Chinese rival BYD recorded more vehicle registrations than Musk's automaker for the first time, the Guardian noted, while its overall European market share has fallen from 1.8 percent to 1 percent.Maybe the hype is finally starting to even out. Tesla has long enjoyed an exorbitant valuation and stock price despite its relatively small share in the US auto market, nevermind its repeated failure to deliver on key promises like fully autonomous vehicles. Last year was the first time that it suffered an annual decline in its sales. Now it may be well on its way to an unwanted repeat.More on Tesla: Body Panels Flying Off Cybertrucks on Highway, Drivers ReportShare This Article

The 90s way of life would likely have today's youth scratching their heads. Continue reading

All jobs Senior Full Stack Engineer (Ruby on Rails/React) Posted 2 hours ago About Learning TapestryHi! We're Learning Tapestry. We're a 25+ person all-remote, global organization dedicated to making digital learning "just work" for educators and learners alike. We solve hard problems in complex education technology environments. Were a triple bottom line company: we make a profit like any good business; our work makes the world better (social impact); and we create a healthy internal work environment for everyone who works here. For our staff we believe in flexible work locations and working arrangements. We empower all of our team members to manage their schedules and adjust as necessary. We're focused on results and impact, not locations and hours. We hire people with great technical ability, but we also expect everyone at Learning Tapestry to have strong character and solid communication skills. Apply now **About Learning Tapestry**Hi! We're Learning Tapestry. We're a 25+ person all-remote, global organization dedicated to making digital learning "just work" for educators and learners alike. We solve hard problems in complex education technology environments. Were a triple bottom line company: we make a profit like any good business; our work makes the world better (social impact); and we strive to create a healthy internal work environment for everyone who works here. For our staff we believe in flexible work locations and working arrangements. We empower all of our team members to manage their schedules and adjust as necessary. We're focused on results and impact, not locations and hours. We hire people with great technical ability, but we also expect everyone at Learning Tapestry to have a strong personal character and solid communication skills. We highly value effective software architecture, test-driven development methods, and good project management methodology. We believe in having a strong CI and deployment pipeline that enables us to focus on writing good software.**What Were Looking For**Youre an exceptional professional software engineer with at least 8 years of software engineering experience. Youre comfortable in multiple languages, but in particular you are strong in backend coding using Ruby on Rails, and frontend engineering with React (or you are expert in an alternative frontend framework and are willing to learn/use React for some projects). Our ideal candidate is available 30-40 hours per week during US Central standard business hours. We ask everyone who works here to be fluent or highly proficient in written and spoken English, and easily understood by US-based speakers (we ask for this to allow everyone in the company to be able to communicate with each other, rather than having to go through intermediates). Please read through this entire job description before applying, as there is critical information about how to apply included. Please do not apply by reaching out to other company emails or individuals: please note that applying using other communication channels will result in your application not being considered.**Required Skills and Experience**At least eight years of Software Engineering Experience, with a minimum of five years doing senior engineering work such as solution design, architecture, code review, full stack engineering, or similar tasks.You have very good written communication skills, fluent written English, and comfortable, clear spoken English.Must be available during US Central standard business hours (UTC -6)You can write in multiple languages fluently, efficiently, and reliably, and are expert in writing in Ruby on Rails, and React (or similar modern JS framework).Help maintain professional standards for the entire organization.Have deep, substantial expertise in multiple programming environments.Capable of executing projects across multiple technical domains (full stack, data architecture, devops, etc).Have an interest and ability to learn new technical subjects when you need to solve new types of problems.Can pursue investigation and problem solving into issues to resolve them, and can also recognize when its more efficient to ask for help vs push forward to solve a problem. Believe that all technical problems are solvable with enough effort.Have humility and kindness with regards to others and their own abilities. Seek to help others; seek to share what you know; want to see your work have an impact in the world.Substantial, practical expertise in implementing:SQL-based databasesCan design complex data structure implementations.Has experience with schema and other data migrations to meet new code and feature complexity requirements.Can write SQL queries and make performance optimizations.Can implement standard connectivity to/from SQL servers.DevOpsDeployment and CI/CDHave a solid knowledge of designing and implementing devops pipelines, using tools such as docker, kubernetes, or related systems.Can develop strategies for managing cached data to optimize performance, using tools like Fastly, Cloudfront, Cloudflare, other CDNs, Varnish, or Redis.Understand basic infosec principles to design, evaluate, and operate systems securely.Solutions Design / Systems ArchitectureCan work with business analysts, product managers, and senior executives to understand the business problems and propose, adapt, and design technical solutions to meet those needs.Can translate technical concepts to non-technical audiences and simplify complex concepts without oversimplifying.Able to explain technical issues in actionable ways to non-technical people.Can design and configure/operate the technical systems required to implement a technical solution.Understand cryptography and security enough to design systems that use existing login/identity standards securely (OAuth2, JWTs, etc).Avoids overly complex technology solutions, preferring complexity levels based on the needs of specific projects.Recognize that the best technical solution is not always the best business solution, and can negotiate with stakeholders accordingly.Are not overly enamored with brand new technologies, and have the maturity and experience to evaluate new technology against existing solutions objectively.Can write clear, simple specifications to reflect how a system will be built.Testing and Reliability EngineeringUnderstand TDD vs manual QA Engineering, and where each is appropriate in developing software.Insist on building automated testing frameworks when necessary for software pipelines, and know how to implement enough testing without relying on a test everything approach.Can design functional monitoring solutions for uptime management.Capable of implementing test automation using tools such as Cypress, Postman, Swagger/OpenAPI.Can write developer docs for a project to assist a new engineer in learning to develop in a codebase. Can train and support new engineers on existing systems, to get them up and running quickly.Can create uptime failure recovery documentation: what to do when a system fails.Can debug and analyze production systems for faults.Can conduct performance testing using K6, New Relic, Skylight, JMeter, and similar tools to find performance issues, design faults and system optimizations.**Bonus skills**Experience in Ed Tech Field (Education projects)Experience with Project Management tools, such as Github boards, Trello, Asana, or Jira. (We generally use Github boards.)Can develop or integrate coding projects with cloud-based architecture such as AWS API Gateway, Route66 (and DNS generally), SSL certificates, cloud-based private network routing, etc.**To Apply**Apply with your resume and a cover letter. In order to be considered for this role, please confirm your working availability and your hourly rate (in USD) in your cover letter.**About You**Youre confident in your skills as an engineer and professional, and have humility about how you bring your expertise into the workplace with others. Youre comfortable in a remote work environment, with team members from different time zones, countries, and cultures. You manage your own time well and are a self-starter. You have a distraction-free place you can use for work that offers reliable Internet access (suitable for voice/video calls and development uses), either in your home or a local co-working facility.You are experienced and well-versed in the productivity tools we use, like Google Apps & Hangouts, Slack, and Harvest for time tracking.Youre fluent or highly proficient in written and spoken English.Please do not hesitate to apply if you do not match these requirements exactly but think you could be a good fit for this position. Just let us know why youre a good fit!**Equal Opportunity**Learning Tapestry is an equal opportunity employer and encourages individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities to apply. We are also particularly interested in individuals who have lived in or worked with underserved communities such as low-income, gender nonconforming, disabled, or indigenous peoples.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Learning Tapestry View company Jobs posted: 29 Related Jobs Remote Full-Stack Programming jobs

Ready to add a newMaxshow to your rotation?These days, it's Max -- not HBO Max -- that delivers HBO to the streaming masses. The service is home to popular shows like Succession, The White Lotus, Hacks and The Sex Lives of College Girls. There's no shortage of exceptional fare to explore.Max unites the HBO Max and Discovery Plus libraries. Here are the highly rated shows you shouldn't wait to watch, plus this month's new releases.Read more: Best Movies on Max What's new on Max in February Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. Note:These descriptions are taken from press releases and lightly edited for style.Feb. 16The White Lotus, season 3 premiere (2021- ): Anthology. The social satire is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week. Feb. 16Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, season 12 premiere (2014- ):Talk show. The series is a satirical and meticulously researched look at current events in the US and around the globe.Feb. 25Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest, premiere (2025- ):Docuseries. Eyes on the Prize III illuminates the bold stories of people and communities who continue to work for equity and racial justice in the years since the birth of the American civil rights movement. Best HBO and Max original TV seriesThis list focuses on shows that have premiered a new season since 2023 (or are currently renewed for more seasons) and have a score of at least 70 on Metacritic.Drama Warrick Page/Max The Pitt (2025- ) A lot can happen in one day on the job in a hospital's emergency department. This modern-day medical drama fills its 15-hour first season with what transpires during a single shift. Created by ER executive producer R. Scott Gemmill and starring ER's Noah Wyle as chief attendant Michael Rabinavitch, this compelling and realistic series is worth checking out. Liane Hentscher/HBO The Last of Us (2023- ) This TV adaptation of a popular video game follows hardened survivor Joel (The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal) and spunky teen Ellie (Game of Thrones' Bella Ramsey) as they face human and not-quite-human dangers in a postapocalyptic world. Warner Media House of the Dragon (2022- ) Creating a show as beloved as Game of Thrones is tough to pull off, but HBO spin-off House of the Dragon soars to impressive heights. Set hundreds of years before fantasy series GoT, the prequel depicts how infighting and tragedy consume House Targaryen. Multiple players clamor for power, including Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). Max The White Lotus (2021- ) What was initially a limited series was so good HBO renewed it for a second season. The satire about guests at a fancy resort gradually unveils the darker edges of its picture-perfect postcard. The White Lotus features an ensemble cast, including Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Steve Zahn, Molly Shannon and more hilarious people, who make this series soar. If that wasn't enough, a murder mystery with the big reveal waiting till the very end will keep you thoroughly entertained. Amanda Searle/HBO Industry (2020- ) If you're missing the competition and drama on display in Succession, you should pay attention to this HBO series. The first season follows young graduates, including Harper Stern (Myha'la from Netflix's Leave the World Behind), as they step foot into London's Pierpoint & Co. The early 20-somethings hope for permanent jobs at the leading international bank. Eddy Chen/HBO Euphoria (2019- ) Euphoria's second installment is on Max now. This visually stunning series has garnered its fair share of fans, and it's not hard to see why -- the absorbing performances, cinematography and exploration of mature topics make this show shine. If nothing else, stick around to see Dune star Zendaya, who plays teenager Rue. Seacia Pavao/Max Julia (2022-23) Following the life of television chef and cookbook writer Julia Child, this drama doles out a generous serving of humor and charm (and delicious-looking food, of course). Sarah Lancashire is endlessly watchable as the famed American cook, who paved the way for future cooking shows with her long-running series The French Chef. Two seasons are available on the streamer now. Animation Max Creature Commandos (2024- ) This engaging DC series from James Gunn examines the backstories of a ragtag team of monsters put together for dangerous missions. From Frankenstein's bride to a Nazi-targeting robot to a creature resembling both a human and a furry animal, the Creature Commandos are a motley crew worth spending violent, unhinged time with. The series is the first in Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe, and it's already renewed for season 2. Max Harley Quinn (2019- ) Harley Quinn is an adult-oriented animated series that centers on the baseball bat-wielding antihero. Kaley Cuoco voices the mayhem-prone Harley, who in the first episode breaks up with the Joker and tells him she's going to replace him as the top villain in Gotham. The hilarious, action-packed show also features characters like Poison Ivy, and four seasons are available to binge. It premiered on the DC Universe streaming service before moving to HBO Max. Max Scavengers Reign (2023) An unusual alien world and the humans stranded on it are the subject of this spectacular sci-fi series on Max. The story follows characters marooned on a peculiar planet that's home to fascinating creatures and landscapes. The world is beautiful but also poses dangers to the human guests, who seek out their ship and fellow crew members. An expansion of a 2016 animated short film, Scavengers Reign is a compelling, 12-episode saga you won't be able to quit watching. Crime Macall Polay/HBO The Penguin (2024- ) Set between Matt Reeves' 2022 film The Batman and the upcoming sequel The Batman Part II, The Penguin stars Colin Farrell as the underestimated and ambitious Gotham gangster (though you'll barely recognize the Oscar-nominated actor). The thrilling, eight-episode season chronicles Oz Cobb's rise and is enhanced by other complicated characters, such as Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone and Rhenzy Feliz's Victor Aguilar. Michele K. Short/HBO True Detective (2014-) True Detective may be best known for its first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, but the anthology series continues to release intriguing new stories. The latest, which premiered in 2024 after a five-year hiatus, follows Jodie Foster and Kali Reis' characters as they tackle a chilling mystery in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. It includes a new showrunner, Issa Lpez, who will helm an upcoming fifth edition. Kumiko Tsuchiya/Max Tokyo Vice (2022-24) Season 2 of Tokyo Vice, a crime drama based on a book by journalist Jake Adelstein, has slickly stepped on to Max. Set in Japan in the late 1990s, this noir follows an American journalist (Ansel Elgort) who nabs a job at a major Japanese newspaper. A world of grisly murders, neon nightclubs and powerful crime bosses awaits. Documentary HBO Telemarketers (2023) This docuseries provides an intriguing look at the world of telemarketing, starting the story in the early 2000s, when Sam Lipman-Stern began working at a New Jersey call center. Over the course of three hour-long episodes, Lipman-Stern and office buddy Pat Pespas learn the murky truth about the work they were doing and set out to uncover more about the industry -- a quest that eventually leads them to the halls of Congress. It's worth tuning into these amateur sleuth's unhinged, thought-provoking 20-year journey. Comedy Atsushi Nishijima/HBO Fantasmas (2024- ) Viewers have former Saturday Night Live writer Julio Torres to thank for this quirky and captivating HBO comedy. In episode 1 of the surreal series, an Alf-like sitcom takes a turn for the awkward and the letter "Q" gets a life story. Torres, also known for the HBO show Los Espookys and A24 film Problemista, stars as a version of himself, and guest actors include Steve Buscemi, Julia Fox, Emma Stone, Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang. HBO The Rehearsal (2022- ) Nathan Fielder, best known for his Comedy Central show, Nathan For You (and cringe comedy), writes, directs and stars in this new HBO series. In the show, the comedian goes to extraordinary lengths to let people rehearse moments before they happen. In the first episode, Fielder helps a man prepare for a confession to a friend, and builds an exact replica of the bar they're planning to meet at (the attention to detail is incredible). After planning for any outlandish thing that might happen, we see how the real exchange between the two friends plays out. Bizarre and truly fascinating, The Rehearsal should get some time on your screen. Max Peacemaker (2022- ) Following the events of 2021's The Suicide Squad, this DC spinoff catches up with Peacemaker (John Cena), our towering, costume-clad protagonist who's just been released from the hospital. Peacemaker believes he's a superhero, but with his oft-repeated phrase about attaining "peace, no matter how many people I have to kill to get it," the title doesn't really suit him. The show establishes Peacemaker's next steps -- he isn't returning to prison, but instead taking part in a black ops mission that will (again) get his hands dirty. The show often lands its jokes, and you'll especially enjoy its entertaining supporting cast. Max The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021- ) Mindy Kaling co-created this dramedy about four 18-year-old girls who start their freshman year of college together in Vermont. With distinct personalities, the college newcomers navigate love and sex in their own ways. The show is funny, easily bingeable and bolstered by the chemistry between its female leads. A contemporary teen comedy showcasing messy experiences, relatable characters and raunchy jokes. Max Hacks (2021- ) The great Jean Smart rightfully takes the spotlight in this acclaimed comedy-drama series. Throwing iPads into swimming pools and delivering withering looks, Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedy diva who must face the prospect of appealing to a younger audience or disappearing into obscurity. She's partnered with Ava (Hannah Einbinder), a young and equally snarky comedy writer, to freshen up her material. Perfectly balancing its biting insight into how the comedy business treats women, with the warmth of an odd couple buddy comedy, Hacks is one of the best original series to come out of HBO Max. Ryan Green/HBO The Righteous Gemstones (2019- ) This outrageous series highlights a highly dysfunctional family of famous televangelists called the Gemstones. In the show's first season, a member of the family is blackmailed and ridiculous antics ensue. John Goodman stars as the family patriarch, Eli, and Danny McBride, Edi Patterson and Adam Devine also commit to the bit, pulling off an absurd and addictive black comedy. The third season of the show is out now, and HBO has renewed the series for a fourth. HBO Somebody Somewhere (2022-24) Like feel-good shows? Somebody Somewhere is a great option you may have skipped over. In the first episode, 40-something Sam, living in her Kansas hometown and dealing with a recent loss, strikes up a friendship with a co-worker. Authentic, funny, with glowing performances, the half-hour series is the perfect thing to wind down to. Max Rap Sh!t (2022-23) A half-hour comedy series from Issa Rae (the star and creator of HBO's acclaimed series Insecure), Rap Sh!t introduces two former friends from high school. Shawna is an aspiring, socially conscious rapper, and Mia is a make-up artist and single mother who works multiple jobs. By the end of the first episode, the young women (now in their 20s) have reconnected and filmed a mesmerizing rap video that takes off on the internet. The show's protagonists are phone-obsessed, constantly checking up on social media and recording videos, and it impacts the viewing experience in interesting ways. Jake Giles Netter/Max Our Flag Means Death (2022-23) In this comedy set on the high seas, Rhys Darby plays Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his cushy life and family to become the captain of a pirate ship. Spoiler: He hilariously bumbles through the gig. Game of Thrones fans may spot Hodor actor Kristian Nairn hanging out among the crew, and the series also stars Taika Waititi as Blackbeard.

I saw Marvel's Captain America: Brave New World and was all-in on Harrison Ford's Red Hulk -- including the monster's chest hair. I'll save my thoughts on how good the film was (or perhaps how tedious) for later. But there was one moment that made me chuckle, and then made me think. Don't worry, this doesn't spoil anything.Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, at one point pulls out his phone to show another character some information (see, no spoils). Captain America's choice of phone? A Microsoft Surface Duo.At first I thought this was an odd choice. Sam seems to have all the superhero tech he could want, aside from a super serum (which is in part what makes him so wonderful as Captain America). He's got Wakanda-ified wings, cool flight googles, Redwing and a Surface Duo phone. Three of the four of these make perfect sense for Captain America. Nothing like a little motion blur: here's Sam holding his Microsoft Surface Duo. Screenshot by Patrick Holland/CNETAs a phone reviewer for CNET, a Surface Duo cameo was an unexpected delight. I let out a small laugh when I saw it, and judging by the silence in the theater, I'd say no one else enjoyed the mobile phone Easter egg. But was this clever product placement or a prop guy who gave Mackie a cool phone worthy of an Avenger? Or was the Duo's appearance something else?The Surface Duo isn't the first niche phone to get screen time. The Red Hydrogen One phone ended up on Dominic Toretto's dashboard in F9 and Leonard DiCaprio used the same phone in Don't Look Up, although neither Leo nor Vin Diesel took advantage of the phone's 3D lenticular screen. So an out-of-place phone in a movie or TV show isn't entirely unexpected for me.But Sam's phone isn't a Hydrogen One, it's a Microsoft Surface Duo that came in 2020 and didn't sell well. A second version, the Surface Duo 2, came out in 2021, also didn't sell well and subsequently became the last version. It was hard to tell which model Sam had I was looking for the Duo 2's Glance Bar, but there wasn't a good shot of the phone closed. (Sam would totally use the Glance Bar.) Microsoft Surface Duo, hands-on with an intriguing double-screened foldable See all photos The Surface Duo comprises two 5.6-inch screens connected by a pair of stainless steel hinges (one at the top, one at the bottom). It's genuinely one of the most striking phones ever made. All of this leads to the question: Why does Captain America have a Surface Duo?This is the part that I couldn't stop thinking about. There is a fictional galaxy where Sam bought the phone in 2020, and because he is such a meticulous technician when it comes to taking care of his gear, he's just kept it in perfect condition for five years (or seven years, remember Captain America: Brave New World is set in 2027). Though he'd definitely had to swap out the battery at some point.Then there's another scenario where Sam read about how amazing the Surface Duo's hardware was (despite some major software issues) and bought it just for Microsoft's brilliant folio design. And just like the way he tinkers around with his EXO-7 Falcon jetpack, I can envision Sam hacking and uploading his own software to run on the Duo and using it ever since. Watch this: Surface Duo 2: Microsoft's two-screen wonder gets another shot at premium phone fame 05:45 Or this just Sam using the Duo as a burner phone? If that's the case, this would be a big flex when it comes to burner phones in TV and movies.I go back to the Red Hydrogen One example, as this might really tell us why the Duo is in a Captain America movie. Years ago I interviewed Adam McKay, the director behind Don't Look Out, The Big Short and Anchorman. He explained to me that the discontinued Hydrogen One was in Don't Look Out because a prop guy recommended it. McKay wanted a unique phone and that didn't look like a standard phone onscreen."And then he [the prop guy] comes back with that phone. He goes, 'This is a whole cellphone that Red cam made. They never released it. Check it out,'" explained McKay. "And I started playing with it. I was like, 'Why didn't they release this? This is incredible.' But apparently it's technically not consumer-friendly."So why does Captain America have a Surface Duo? We may never know. All of this to say, the movie could have been better.

February 25, 20254 min readTrump Orders U.S. Scientists to Skip Key Climate MeetingThe U.S. is skipping a meeting for the next IPCC report, a sweeping science assessment on the current state of climate change, raising concerns about delays chuchart duangdaw/Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | The Trump administrations abrupt retreat from global climate action is threatening to delay a pivotal scientific report that can be used by countries to shape their responses to rising temperatures.Delegates from more than 190 countries are meeting in Hangzhou, China, this week to make decisions related to the content and timing of the seventh assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.N. body that evaluates the science behind climate change.The conclusions of the assessments which are released every five to seven years help inform governments about the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the pollution's effects on the planet and the risks of not acting to curb it. The comprehensive reports are also integral to ascertaining whether countries are doing enough to reduce emissions a process under the Paris climate agreement known as a stocktake.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The U.S. delegation was prevented from attending the IPCC meeting by the Trump administration, said a government official who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation. The move follows President Donald Trumps announcement last month that he would immediately withdraw from the Paris deal.Among the delegates who were blocked from attending the meeting is a federal scientist, Katherine Calvin, who was co-chairing one of three working groups that help assemble the next assessment. The Trump administration also halted a technical support unit that was backing that working group, according to two other government officials.Losing that unit would ensure delays at the working group level of the assessment's preparation, said one of those officials.The State Department declined to comment.Flouting the IPCC meeting is another signal that the Trump administration is pulling back from global climate engagement. U.S. officials did not attend a board meeting last week of the Green Climate Fund, the primary vehicle for helping poorer countries fund climate efforts. Thats been coupled with a complete assault on climate science at home, the shuttering of climate programs administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development and a broad freeze on foreign assistance.There were already concerns among delegates and advocates about delays related to the IPCC's seventh assessment following disagreements last year over some key elements of the reports timeline. The main synthesis report is due in late 2029, but only after reports from the three working groups are completed. The idea is some of those would be published before the next stocktake in 2028.The Paris Agreement process must be informed by the best and latest available science, a group of countries known as the High-Ambition Coalition urged in a statement Friday. Signatories include the United Kingdom, Germany, the European Unions climate commissioner and several small island nations.Katherine Calvin, NASA chief scientist and senior climate advisor, answers a question during a news conference to discuss the latest global temperature data at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14, 2023. A NASA spokesperson confirmed that Calvin will not attend the IPCC meeting.Joel Kowsky/NASA/Handout via Xinhua/Alamy Stock PhotoA European official said the statement was in response to growing concerns that the IPCC will delay its seventh assessment cycle as a result of U.S. funding cuts to climate research, as well as pushback from petrostates like Saudi Arabia.Please, as policymakers, we cannot afford to keep ignoring science, Spains ecological transition minister, Sara Aagesen, said in a statement.The U.S. contributes money and expertise to the IPCC process. Calvin, NASAs chief scientist and senior climate adviser, is currently co-chair of Working Group III, which focuses on methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing them from the atmosphere.A NASA spokesperson confirmed that Calvin will not attend the IPCC meeting.Technical support units are the core machinery of the working group, said a longtime IPCC contributor who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid retribution. They often do the administrative, technical and editorial work needed to deliver reports.If U.S. support disappears and not just the co-chair is not showing up but equally the technical support disappears that is a hole that needs to be filled, the person said.Despite the importance of those technical units, the current disruption doesnt necessarily mean the assessment will be delayed, said Jesse Keenan, an author of the IPCCs sixth assessment report, segments of which were released over several years, with the final synthesis report being published in 2023. The consulting firm ICF International is on the technical support contract for the seventh assessment, and another country could pay the firm to continue its work, he noted.Yet Keenan said the Trump administration could throw up obstacles for U.S. scientists who are participating in the IPCC process. He said its unclear whether the State Department will withdraw nominations to the IPCC. The administration could also break with tradition by refusing to cover travel expenses for nongovernmental scientists to attend IPCC meetings.During Trumps first term, the U.S. participated in international climate meetings but with a lower profile. That suited some experts.They didnt have strong positions. They are really good diplomats. They were helpful and constructive, said the IPCC contributor.Some advocates said it might be beneficial if U.S. delegates skip this weeks IPCC meeting, especially if the U.S. takes a hard line against synchronizing the assessment's timing with the global stocktake, which is essentially a report card on countries' progress to slow climate change.The meeting could also offer an indication of how other countries might try and fill the void created by America's departure.This is the first opportunity to see how China may react to the absence of the U.S. in international climate processes, said Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute.Some scientists said the long-term implications are more troubling. Keenan said Trump's effort to downsize the federal government which has led to the culling of staffers who work on climate and energy programs is being sold as a transformation in favor of fiscal stewardship.But really, its a nihilist fantasy to abolish government, he said.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.