February 26, 20255 min readMaking a Pledge Can Encourage Honest BehaviorIf the Wording Is RightCan taking a simple oath make you more trustworthy? That depends a lot on its exact wordingBy Simon Makin edited by Gary Stix Malerapaso/Getty ImagesAn old but still-common method of encouraging honesty is the venerable oath: an explicit promise to be honest. People have used oaths since ancient times, says Janis Zickfeld, a social psychologist at Aarhus University in Denmark. If youre a witness in court, you have to swear an oath to tell the truth, for example, he says, or in the Netherlands they have this Dutch bankers oath for people working in the financial industry concerning moral work practices.Researchers believe oaths have the power to increase honest behavior, but they often come with penalties for transgressions, so the power of the promise itself is unclear. Can merely making a promise to be honest lead people to behave more honestly, even when theres reason to lie?A study led by Zickfeld that was published in last months issue of Nature Human Behaviour suggests that it can, but the wording of the oath matters. The way in which the oath is made, and its timing, also make a difference. The findings suggest that oaths could be low-cost tools to curb dishonesty, but to confirm this assumption, these results need to be replicated in real-world settings.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.In their study, Zickfeld and his colleagues recruited 21,506 people from the U.S. and the U.K. on an online platform to play a game that simulated paying taxes. Participants performed a sorting task in which they earned money based on how quickly they finished. They then reported how much they had made, which was taxed at 35 percent. Participants could lie without consequence but were also told the collected tax would go to the British or American Red Cross.The researchers generated 21 honesty oaths, including a baseline oath: I hereby declare that I will provide honest information in this study. Two oaths had phrasing that was either more severeI hereby swear upon my honor ...or more specific: ... that I will provide honest informationA quarter of participants were dishonest to some degree; 7 percent falsely reported zero income from the task. We have 75 percent of people being fully honest, which is nice, Zickfeld says. Even if theres no consequence, people still prefer to be honest. This meant that 14 percent of the potential tax revenue, totaling about $930, was lost. The researchers also calculated a tax compliance score, the percentage of income honestly declared. A completely honest participant scored 100 percent, those who reported no income scored 0 percent, and everyone else fell somewhere in between. This tax compliance figure averaged 82.3 percent for participants in the control group, compared with 86.2 percent averaged across all the groups that made oaths. Overall, including an oath increased compliance by 3.9 percent. This might not seem like much, but note that most people in the study were completely honest to begin with, so this was driven by changing the behavior of a minority of participants.The oaths were far from equal in preserving honest behavior. Only 10 were effective, and some were much more effective than others. Ten were statistically significant and increased tax compliance from between 4.5 to 8.5 percentage points, Zickfeld says.In the control group, 31.3 percent of people were dishonest, and 22 percent of tax revenue was lost as a result. In the group that took the most effective oath, 18.5 percent of people were dishonest, which reduced tax losses to 11.6 percent. The most effective pledge nearly cut cheating in half, Zickfeld says.This approach involved making the baseline oath more specific.Almost everyone thinks of themselves as honest, and we behave in ways that allow us to maintain this positive self-image, so it is surprising that appeals to self-image were not effective. But oaths that explicitly reference the targeted behavior and spell out the rules of how to behave may make it harder to wriggle out of being honest without damaging ones self-image. One takeaway is that subtle hints are not sufficient, says Shaul Shalvi, a behavioral economist at the University of Amsterdam, who was not involved with the research but wrote an accompanying commentary on the work. It seems that when you want people to follow their promises, its good to be clear.The team also found that the timing of when the oaths were made mattered. Placing it right at the start of the experiment, before participants performed the sorting task, was less effective than placing it after the task, immediately before they reported income.The researchers also tested whether retyping the oaths produced a better result than ticking a checkbox. Typing was more effective for some [formulations], especially the more effective ones, but not on average, Zickfeld says. Retyping an oath forces people to think about it more, so this might amplify effective oaths. I think thats exactly what youre seeing there, he says.In the study, men were more dishonest than women on average, particularly if they were younger, and scored low on a personality dimension called honesty-humility. On average, men are more likely to cheat [in these types of studies], Zickfeld says. Some say its due to being higher in risk-taking. Participants from the U.S. were more dishonest than those from the U.K., which may indicate cultural differences, but the study used the British pound, so it could be that foreign currencies seemed more abstract, or less real, to the American participants.Previous research on the effectiveness of honesty oaths returned mixed findings, so the new study provides much-needed data on what works and what doesnt. Researchers now need to replicate these results for the effective oaths and assess how robust each is across different cultures, settings and in the field, Shalvi says.Zickfeld and his colleagues are talking to their local hospital about assessing whether oaths can improve rates at which loaned medical equipment is returned. Thats the current plan, Zickfeld says.Honesty oaths could ultimately be a useful tool. The beauty of these interventions is: theyre very cheap, Shalvi says. But this study is only a first step. Once we know what effects are robust, we can go to policymakers and suggest randomized controlled trials in target populations, Shalvi says. Then, if that works, we can look at changing tax forms or whatever.

OpinionFebruary 26, 20255 min readThe U.S. Military Will Be Less Prepared to Fight if Climate Cuts ProceedThe U.S. Department of Defense suddenly pretending that climate change isnt real is penny-wise and pound foolishBy Dan Vergano edited by Megha SatyanarayanaA military police officer walks near a destroyed gate in Tyndall Air Force Base, in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael on October 12, 2018. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesA dark horse has entered the Trump administrations backward-running race to botch humanitys response to climate change: the Pentagon. And the agency might just win simply by decreeing climate change unreal and woke. This would almost be amusing if it werent so wrongheaded and dangerous to U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and other service members.In a February 19 statement, the Department of Defenses acting deputy secretary Robert Salesses called for a $50 billion cut to the U.S. military, causing some consternation in Congress. Buried in its strange call to revive the warrior ethos of the DOD, the statement pointed to so-called climate change and other woke programs, to garner its savings. The DODs 2024 budget request for climate adaptation was $3.7 billion, worth noting, less than 8 percent of what Salesses wants to cut.But more importantly, the DOD pretending that climate change isnt real is, of course, penny-wise and pound foolish. A 2018 hurricane leveled buildings and F-35 hangars at Tyndall Air Force Base, costing $3.7 billion to rebuild. Flash flooding at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2023 cost $200 million to repair. In the U.S. alone, weather- and climate-related disasters caused $746.7 billion in damages in the last five years, almost enough cash to float the Pentagon for a year.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 statements sloppy languagewhat even is woke climate change?points to a dangerous politicization of Pentagon thinking under the new Trump administration, and not just about climate. That trend promises nothing good for U.S. national security.The DODs budget statement, which seems to promise another widespread culling of probationary employees along with climate and diversity cuts, accompanies climate cuts at EPA and the National Weather Service, and the withdrawal of U.S. scientists from the United Nations Intergovernmental Program on Climate Change assessments. I asked the DOD press office to explain what is so-called about climate change, and how is it woke. But I didnt receive an answer.Instead I asked former deputy undersecretary of defense Sherri Goodman, who in 2008 first spurred the Pentagon to speed up its climate planning, what she thought of the call to cut military climate spending.Americas military must be able to defend and deter all threats to Americas interests and to ensure our force is lethal and can operate under changing conditions, including changing climate conditions, said Goodman, who is now chair of the board at the Council on Strategic Risks in Washington D.C. Service members face a litany of threats from higher temperatures, extreme weather and disasters. Typhoons threatening Guam hamper a U.S. Navy facing an aggressive China. A melting Arctic opens approaches to the U.S., and prolonged droughts across Africa and Latin America, combined with more frequent and intense extreme weather events, threaten America's strategic interests, Goodman said. For these reasons and more, climate change is now widely recognized as a threat multiplier.There is nothing so-called about climate change, of course. Its very real, documented in the scientific record, and analyzed down to the level of its quantum mechanics. This is well understood in military circles and has been for decades. The U.S Geological Survey possesses ice cores that detail the climate history of Greenland thanks to Camp Century, a military base built, and abandoned, there in the 1960s. The debate over nuclear winter in the 1980s triggered climate studies across the defense establishment from scientists like the Energy Departments Michael MacCrackenmany of whom later became leading figures in climate science. In 2009 a U.S. Navy Arctic Roadmap planned for an ice-free Arctic summers in the 2030s, now well on their way. Salesses is simply wrong and pandering to his ultimate boss, consequences be damned.But what about using wokewhich means alert to injustice in society, especially racism, per the Oxford English Dictionaryto characterize the agencys efforts to adapt to climate change? Perhaps the Pentagons new brain trust simply made a grammar error, lumping atmospheric physics in with its vendetta against ending workplace discrimination. This is not impossible to imagine, as a few days after Salessess statement, Trump fired General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The newly named DOD chief, Fox TV personality Pete Hegseth, had previously derided Brown, a decorated Black fighter pilot, as woke.A 2022 Public Administration Review study offers a more scholarly answer, detailing how the term has traveled left-to-right across the political spectrum, from denoting awareness of racism to serving as a simulacrum without a connection to reality; it becomes a cognitive shortcut that paints anyone perceived as too woke as anti-American, socialist, and pro-social justice. This semantic broadening, the Columbia University linguist John McWhorter has argued, simply reflects that English vocabulary is in a kind of hypercharge of late, and this is why woke has seemed to be such a slippery shape-shifter.Less charitably, this is simply another case of what Humpty Dumpty told Alice in Through the Looking Glass. When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean, said the anthropomorphic egg. The question is which is to be masterthats all.Thats the answer. Instead of meaning something, woke is doing something for the Defense Department, sociologist Todd Madigan of Coastal Carolina University told Scientific American in an e-mail. When a [DOD] policy is deemed woke, many more people will understand that we must be against it (without, of course, ever really understanding why, precisely, the policy is woke to begin with, because of course, woke doesnt mean anything).So there you have it, a phrase mangled to slur antiracist activism now somehow is supposed to discourage raising sea walls and insulating buildings. Septembers Department of Defense Climate Adaptation Plan, not exactly a social justice handbook, was a litany of such adaptations. Common sense, such as warning soldiers about heat stroke in a climate literacy education plan, is now suspect. This is the kind of wishful thinking that has lost U.S. wars for the last half century.The DOD official credited with the budget-cut statement, Salesses, is not a scientist. But he holds a masters from the U.S. Naval War College, which in 1990 published an early report warning about the effects of climate change for the U.S. Navy. They werent predicting anything beneficial.He should probably give it a read, given that its hard to promote a warrior ethos in warriors who are prostrate from heat stroke or defending places about to disappear into the sea. He might even gain the awareness of the 61 percent of the American public already worried some or a great deal about climate change. If not, reality in the coming years will be sufficient to wake even the willfully blind.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Pokmon Go's next season will be named Might and Mastery, and focus on the Legendary kung fu bear Kubfu. Read more

Sonic Rumble, Sega's mobile party game from Angry Birds studio, delayed into springNew modes revealed.Image credit: Sega News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Feb. 26, 2025 Sonic Rumble, Sega's forthcoming party game for mobile and PC, has been delayed into the spring.The game is currently available in pre-launch in 44 countries, with a global launch (including UK and US) originally planned for winter.Now, in a new update from developer Rovio (known for the Angry Birds games), the global launch has been pushed back to spring, with its 1.2.0 update.Sonic Rumble - Pre-Registration TrailerWatch on YouTubeSonic Rumble will be a free-to-play battle royale game where 32 players collect rings in Fall Guys-esque competitive rounds.Rovio has revealed the 1.2.0 version will also include a ranked competitive mode, a "Crews" feature to allow players to join up together, and the inclusion of character-specific abilities.Before that, a 1.1.2 update for those in pre-launch will add a Quick Rumble mode for players to enter a single round challenge. Image credit: Sega"We would like to extend a huge thank you to our players and Sonic fans for their patience in waiting for the global launch of Sonic Rumble," wrote the developer in an update. "The team is committed to delivering a memorable experience for Sonic fans with even more new game mechanics, new features, and more exciting content to look forward to."Known predominantly for its Angry Birds games, Sonic Rumble will be Rovio's first brand new game since the studio was acquired by Sega in 2023 for 625m.Sonic Rumble is also notable for its lack of gacha mechanic, due to its lack of popularity in the west.Said Sonic franchise lead Takashi Iizuka: "In the Japanese and Asian markets, it's common to have to spend tens of thousands of yen [in a game] until you draw a rare character and finally get to move on. But this is not the case in the global market, especially for an action game like Sonic Rumble, where players should be able to enjoy the game on an equal footing. The starting point of this project itself was to make it a mobile game that would sell globally. Therefore, the monetisation model was designed from the beginning based on global standards."The game will feature a season pass instead.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereFebruary has been an excellent month for video game releases, and the month is set to end perfectly with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. While Capcoms newest instalment looks fantastic, PC and Steam Deck gamers can also look forward to a new batch of freebies via Amazon Prime. These free games for Steam Deck and PC include the beloved sci-fi masterpiece, Deus Ex Human Revolution, and a few other worthwhile experiences.How to get free games on Steam DeckAmazon Prime Gaming is giving away more free games on February 27th. These free games are as follows:Deus Ex: Human Revolution Directors Cut[GOG Code]Night Reverie[Amazon Games App]Sine Mora EX[Amazon Games App]Redemption Reapers[Epic Games Store]Yes, Your Grace[GOG Code]To get the above, you will need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber. A prime subscription is 8.99 a month, but there is a free 30-day trial if you have never signed up before.The above freebies can be played on Steam Deck via the Heroic Games Launcher. This is a free launcher that supports GOG, Epic Games, and Amazon Gaming.Deus Ex Human Revolution is obviously the big name amongst the above list, and its an incredible sci-fi RPG with masterful music, a gripping story, and excellent boss fights.Night Reverie is a fun puzzle game with a beautiful pixelated art style and very positive reception on Steam, meanwhile, Yes, Your Grace is an excellent Kingdom Management game.Below is a list of some of the other free games Amazon Prime Gaming has added during February 2025:BioShock Infinite Complete Edition[GOG Code]Surf World Series[Amazon Games App]AK-xolotl: Together[Epic Games Store]Sands of Aura[Epic Games Store]The Talos Principle: Gold Edition[GOG Code]Stunt Kite Party[Amazon Games App]The Smurfs 2 The Prisoner of the Green Stone[GOG Code]Hardspace: Shipbreaker[Epic Games Store]Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior[Epic Games Store]Dark Sky[GOG Code]Wolfenstein: Youngblood[Xbox and PC via Microsoft Store Code]El Hijo A Wild West Tale[Epic Games Store]Colt Canyon[GOG Code]Republic of Jungle[Epic Games Store]Royal Romances: Cursed Hearts Collectors Edition[Legacy Games Code]In other gaming news, Fortnite will disable zero build mode next month. Must-Listen: VideoGamer Podcast #10 - Cracking Atomfall w/ Ben Fisher Related TopicsSteam Deck Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereIn the 1980s, Richard Garriotts Ultima RPG series was the de-facto RPG for the time. In 2025, Larian Studios brilliant D&D adaptation Baldurs Gate 3 is now the go-to role-playing game with a massive amount of freedom.In the last decade-plus, there have been two Ultima gamesthe now-dead, short-lived free-to-play Ultima Forever (thats funny) and the diabolically bad 2018 first-person Underworld Ascendant. Now, 44 years after the original, it seems Garriott is ready to return.Richard Garriott calls for LarianIn a post on Twitter, Garriott simply and concisely called out Larian Studios, potentially to work on a new Ultima RPG for modern gamers. The ever-online Lord British took to the social media platform to grab the attention of the now-legendary RPG studio.Larian Studios, the iconic RPG developer posted online. Lets Chat!Of course, its not actually known what Garriott wants from his chat with Larian Studios, but fans have already called for a collaboration to work on an eventual return to the Ultima series.Ultima XI, bring it, one fan responded. Ultima: More Good Guy Stuff, when?! asked another.LMK (let me know) when this happens so I can quit my job say bye to my family and buy a cabin in the woods with excellent internet, yet another fan replied.Right now, Larian Studios is deep at work on a new project as the studio closes the book on Baldurs Gate 3 with the release of Patch 8. With key technical improvements already made for the studios next game and a large number of the team already working on it, Larian isnt going to drop everything for Ultima. Must-Listen: VideoGamer Podcast #10 - Cracking Atomfall w/ Ben Fisher Larian Studios next game isnt expected to release until 2028 at the absolute earliest, so its a very long rest until we can play a new RPG from the studio.Ultima OnlinePlatform(s):PCGenre(s):Massively Multiplayer, RPGRelated TopicsUltima Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

More on the oldest buildings in the US and around the worldWhat is the oldest building still standing in the United States?As mentioned above, two adobe buildings in Taos PuebloHlauuma (North House) and Hlaukwima (South House)may be the oldest buildings still standing in the US. The structures were built around the same time and date back to between 1000 and 1450 AD. But because its not known exactly when they were built within that range, its possible that the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings, constructed around 1190 AD, are the oldest buildings.What is the oldest human-made structure in the United States?While not necessarily buildings, the Cahokia Mounds in southwestern Illinois are some of the oldest human-made structures in the country. The earthen mounds date from the ninth century and once served as the foundations for public buildings. In its heyday, around 1100, the area was a bustling city with a population of over 20,000larger than London at the time. These days, 72 mounds are preserved as a state historic site.What is the oldest building still operating in the world?Romes Theatre of Marcellus, initially commissioned by Julius Caesar and completed by Augustus in 13 BC, is still standing and in use. It has, however, moved on from its original use as an open-air theater. Today, portions of the upper building are used as residential apartments.What is the oldest city in the world that still exists?Damascus, Syria, is widely considered the oldest continuously occupied city in the world. It was inhabited as early as 10,000 BC and founded in the 3rd millennium BC. Situated on the Silk Road, the ancient city was both culturally and commercially important. Today, Damascus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vijay and Lauren Manthripragada believe in silver linings, for there is, they insist, no better explanation for how their home in Concord, Massachusetts, came to be. We fell in love with a house in the area but failed to snatch it up, says Lauren, a retired commercial architect turned stay-at-home mom. Thats when we reached out to the builder to create one specifically for us. It would work out better anyway, they reasoned: They could tailor-make the home to their needs, and still rest assured that theyd achieve something that appeared natural to the surrounding habitat, yet still stood apart from the traditional houses there.If there was anyone who could make it happen, it was AD PRO Directory member Greg Tankersley of design-build firm McAlpine. He was such a joy to work with, says Lauren of the architect, who developed the nearly 14,000-square-foot home as a reflection of the inhabitants, the property, and the context. Its about crafting a portrait of the people, harmonizing with the land, and respecting the surroundings, opines Tankersley, who collaborated with Peter Fallon of Fallon Custom Homes & Renovations for the build. We dont want to barrel into town and design the one odd house that everyone hates. If youve been invited to a dinner party, know the dress code before you go. As for the interior design, the couple entrusted interior designer Susana Simonpietri of the New York Citybased multidisciplinary studio and AD PRO Directory firm Chango, whose work they had followed for years.There isnt a corner in the living room that isnt touched by light, a quality that Chango amplified with finishes the color of sunshine. Benjamin Moores Simply White lightens the walls, ceding the spotlight to the B&B Italia sofa, Patrick Bonneau paintings, and custom rug and coffee tables. The Ross Gardam ceiling light doubles as a dazzling sun catcher. The side table is a Zanat design, purchased through Garde.Its the crown jewel, says Simonpietri of the family room, color-drenched in deep emerald paint, a bespoke banquette in Misias mohair velvet, and a DesignForMacha ceiling light. It took Lauren some convincing, but the final result blew everyones mind. The ALT for Living rug serves as a calming base for the Atelier Arking coffee tables. The sconces are Atelier de Troupe designs.Concords woody, grassy terrain acts as the backdrop of the family room, mirrored in turn by the Roman clay plaster walls. The Atelier Arking chairs and gaming table by Reeves Art + Design become an animated spot on game nights.The dress code, it turned out, was come as you areapproachable and cozy, and something that reflected both our personalities while giving us enough space to entertain and host family and friends, shares Lauren, who was born and raised in Concord. It would have been a simple enough brief, if hers and Vijays personalities were anything alike. He leans traditional while I favor the modern. He and I also approach decision-making very differently. He is quick to decide and charge forward, whereas I like to sketch out all the options, discuss the possibilities, eventually make a decision and perhaps rethink that decision hours later, she says of herself and her husband, who heads an environmental company.The kitchen is where the family is most often together, vacillating between cooking and eating, or teetering on the brink of mayhem in the mornings as the kids get ready to leave for school, Lauren says. To dial up the drama, Chango delivered an object lesson in opposites, darkening the cabinets in Benjamin Moores Onyx and lightening the island with a slab of honed Statuario marble. A monochrome Asaf Weinbroom luminaire haloes the setting, while tan woven stools by Thomas Hayes Studio lend a pop of color.Vijays family moved around a lot when he was younger. He grew up in India, Nigeria, and Switzerland before coming back to North Carolina at age 11. On the other hand, my family roots in Concord are strong; I have four younger sisters who have all moved back home over the years, so our home is often a gathering place for our beloved family and friends, says Lauren, alluding to the moody kitchen breakfast nook, featuring Cl tiles and millwork in Benjamin Moores Onyx. A circular table by Michael Finizio Fine Woodworking and stools by Thomas Hayes Studio take center stage, crowned by a chandelier by Lawson Fenning.The dining room is a palimpsest of the owners scintillating art collectiona combination of commissioned art, mementoes from the couples life and travels, and family heirlooms. A Kenny Nguyen painting reigns over the room, above a Crump & Kwash credenza and a custom dining table and ABI chairs by Van Rossum. The Ross Gardam ceiling fixture mirrors the design in the living room.One thing they did agree upon was keeping things classic, but not too classic. If the architecture reflected Vijay, the interior design held a mirror to Laurentimeless, edgy, and a little unexpecteda brief she entrusted Chango to bring alive. With the architecture already in motion, we aimed to honor its essence while giving the interior design a distinct, independent narrative, avers Simonpietri. And so she did, lending each space a distinct expression: a stone slab sink in the black foyer, a green family room color-drenched with a jewel-toned wraparound sofa, and a kitchen darkened in black. She paid equal attention to the kids bedrooms, connecting them with lofts for stowing away toys and encouraging joint or individual play.Most mornings, the study masquerades as a meditation room. Since its often so peaceful and serene, it naturally became the familys gathering spotwhere the quiet is lovingly interrupted, making way for beautiful memories shared together, says Vijay.Chango designed the kids sitting room in keeping with their spirited personalities. Theyre some of the most amazing little humans Ive met, Simonpietri says, so it was necessary to bring that out in the design. Judging by the resulta cocoon of calm painted in Benjamin Moores Tranquility, featuring a colorful Six N. Five sofa, a custom ottoman in Scions Cerro fabric, and a ceiling adorned with The Pattern Collective wallpapershe certainly achieved her goal. An Etsy rug warms the floor, while a pendant from Kartell adds a cooling touch overhead.The powder room is bold and brooding, cocooned by walls painted in Benjamin Moores Deep River. The floor, emblazoned in Cl tile, cuts a calm contrast to the custom sink in honed Brindle Crystal Quartzite.While deeply grateful for the collaboration, the couple admits theyre still growing into their abode. Neither Vijay nor I grew up in large spaces, though our homes were always filled with love, Lauren says. Our first apartment together in New York City was 500 square feet, which is smaller than the mudroom of our house, and every apartment since has not exceeded 1,500 square feet, she reflects. The scale of their new home isnt lost on them, but it works beautifully given how often they host large family gatherings. We are still finding our groove, she muses. The loves the same but there's a lot more room for it to go around.While the front entrance is subdued, the rear garden is a magnificent work of art completed by Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design. Its a house of paradoxesclean like a starched white shirt yet relaxed and wrinkled at the same time, says architect Greg Tankersley of McAlpine, who incorporated elements of Vastu, an ancient Vedic architectural science, into the blueprint as a nod to Vijays Indian heritage. Sunny days are best enjoyed on the porch on sofas and lounge chairs by Sutherland Furniture.The primary bedroom is a pastel dreamscape, with walls colored in Benjamin Moores Winds Breath and whispery Bruder & Co drapes. The headboard, outfitted in Adamo & Eva velvet by Dedar, rouges the wall, while a Studio Four rug offers a calming counterpoint. The pendants are by Rory Pots.To step into the primary bathroom is to step into another realm, one where the elements take pride of place on either side of the threshold. A Waterworks tub acts as a resplendent centerpiece, underpinned by limestone flooring and overarched by a Blueprint Lighting chandelier. Shades from Bruder gauzily dress the windows.Chango was intentional about color, showcasing the rumpus room in an electrifying orange. The idea was to create an indoor adventure habitat for the frigid Massachusetts winters, Simonpietri says of the couples kids, Owen, Mira, and Rhys. She included a built-in nook painted in Benjamin Moores Sharkskin, starring a custom cushion in Erica Shamrock Textiles fabric and sconces by Charlotte Perriand. The rugs are by Pieces Homes, and the hanging chairs are from Etsy.The daughters bedroom is a whimsical kaleidoscope of color, with a vibrant Nicolette Mayer wallpaper, a glass bubble chandelier from the Light Factory, and a custom headboard covered in a Temple Studio fabric. Nightstands from Bludot flank the custom bed. The rug is by Anthropologie.The sons bedroom gets a quirky spin, courtesy of a custom Chasing Paper wallpaper and a scarlet light fixture. The bed is no less ordinary, covered in a custom Peter Dunham fabric. The Bludot nightstands and Beni Rugs carpet offset the indigo palooza.Chango gave the kids bathroom a leitmotif of monochrome arches. We kept that as the theme, Simonpietri says. Youll find arches and semicircles playing peekaboo in their bedrooms as well. She sourced the wall tile from Tess Tile, the shower tile from Tempest Tileworks, and the sconces from Schoolhouse. As for the vanity, she had it custom-made.The basement family room, comprising a Sixpenny sofa and Blu Dot coffee table, is a mellow oasis that seldom remains mellow. Our movie nights are cozy, but when the kids have friends over, it can get pretty raucous, Lauren laughs. Ceiling lights from Richard Clarkson Studios Constellation series glitter overhead.What is now the bunkhouse was originally the screened-in porch. However, when the clients saw it, something about its placement felt off. They had the contractor move it to its current location; it was pretty crazy seeing the whole structure being lifted up and moved like that, says Simonpietri of the poolside guest suite.The bunkhouse is a relaxing poolside haven and, as Lauren confirms, a guest favorite. An earthy RH rug sets the tone for the minimalist interior, defined by little more than a chair by Muller Van Severen and a Maiden Home coffee table. Sconces by RBW illuminate the walls.Shop it out:Nera Cut Stool by Monica Forser for ZanatThe TK Bar Stool (Set of 3) by Thomas Hayes StudioThe Strap Counter Stool (Set of 4) by Thomas Hayes StudioFl/y Lamp by Ferruccio LavianiLuigi Crassevig Italian Bentwood Rocking ChairBlu Dot Peek NightstandSchoolhouse Cylinder Double SconceBlu Dot Circula Large Coffee TableSixpenny Aria Leather SofaThe Morro Tables by Maiden HomeLoom Decor Velvet Bolster Pillow Cover & InsertAnthropologie Hand-Tufted Leighton RugOrb Table Lamp by In Common WithSolid Herringbone Throw Blanket by Lands DownunderJulie Nelson Ivory Budding OrbWest Elm Marble Donut Trinket TrayRH Aspari RugChenille Knitted Chenille Throw by Donna Sharp

Donald Trump is facing a backlash on his Truth Social platform after sharing an AI-created video of him sipping cocktails with a topless Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza, in a future imagining of the Palestinian territory devastated by Israels war.The video presented a computer-generated vision of Trumps property development plan for Gaza, under which he said he wants to clean out the population of about 2 million people. Named the Riviera of the Middle East plan, the proposal has been criticised as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.Footage shows the strip transformed into a Dubai-style resort with skyscrapers and luxury yachts. Children play on the beach as money rains down and bearded bellydancers gyrate on the sand.Trump, who says he wants the US to own Gaza, is presented as a revered icon in the footage. A boy walks along holding a golden balloon of the presidents head and a towering, dictator-style statue of Trump overlooks a city street.Elon Musk, Trumps billionaire backer, appears several times, eating flatbread and later dancing as dollar bills fall from the sky. Musks Tesla electric cars cruise through the glossy streets.After the 78-year-old president shared the footage which includes the caption Gaza 2025 whats next? he faced a backlash on his social media platform.One Truth Social user wrote: I could not be a bigger supporter of President Trump but this particular video is in very poor taste. Very poor taste, indeed!Another wrote: I hate this. I love our president, but this is horrible.The video might have gone down particularly badly with Trumps Christian supporters, with several comments referencing the idolatry of the golden statue, and others lamenting a scene showing Trump in a nightclub alone with a woman dressed as a bellydancer as a crowd looks on.Only one deserves the glory and the honor, Mr President, wrote another user. The statue is a symbol of the antichrist, please humble yourself to God. Jesus is king and only Him. Other users described the video as sick and filth.One account, with the name Kainoa P, wrote: Youre doing great Mr President. But dont let it get to your head. God put you in that position for His glory, not yours.It was not immediately clear who made the video, although it had been shared online previously by other accounts unrelated to the White House. Trump posted the footage without comment.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Headlines USFree newsletterGet the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morningPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionWhat appeared to be AI-generated lyrics accompanied the images: Donalds coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gazas finally here.Trump Gazas shining bright, golden future, a brand new life. Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.Israel is fighting allegations of genocide in Gaza, where it has killed nearly 50,000 people, mostly civilians, in the war that began with an attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023. The international criminal court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, Netanyahu, and Hamass military leader, Mohammed Deif, on allegations of war crimes. Netanyahu denies war crimes, while Deif might already be dead.Previous economic plans for Gaza failed after they were stifled by Israel, which blockaded the strip for years, and Hamas militants, who were widely accused of corruption.Palestinian leaders were not consulted on Trumps latest plan, while influential Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have rejected it outright.

Luigi Mangione pleads with fans to stop sending him so many photosThe fan mail for the murder suspect doesnt appeared to have slowed in the two months since his arrestKelly Rissmanin New YorkTuesday 25 February 2025 20:44 GMTLuigi Mangione arrives at court to face charges over healthcare CEO murderThe latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read ourprivacy policyLuigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is urging his fans to stop sending him so many photos. New York prosecutors have charged Mangione with murder and other crimes in connection with the death of the insurance executive, who was fatally shot outside of a hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4. He has pleaded not guilty. Americas divisions over the state of health care came to light in the wake of Thompsons death, with some people calling for sweeping changes to the industry while others sent Mangione fan mail and contributed to his legal defense fund. Two months since Magnione was accused, the fan mail shows no sign of letting up, and hes even had to ask for fewer photos to be sent to him behind bars.Luigi is allowed to receive photos via Shutterfly and FreePrints in accordance with mail procedures while in custody, reads a statement on the FAQ page of his legal defense information website. Due to the volume of photos, they could take longer than usual to be screened and shared. Luigi appreciates the photos that are sent and kindly asks that people send no more than five photos at a time. Please note that every photo that is received is screened and reviewed by law enforcement.Luigi Mangione asks his fans to stop sending him so many photos, days after he appeared in New York criminal court for a pretrial hearing. (AP)Last Friday, the Ivy League graduate appeared for a pretrial hearing in New York Criminal Court, where dozens of his supporters gathered across from the courthouse, with some calling for health care reform, holding up Luigi Mario plush toys, and hoping to get a glimpse of the murder suspect.His request comes weeks after the murder suspect released his first public statement since his December arrest, highlighting the abundance of letters hes received from behind bars and his inability to reply to all of them."I am overwhelmed by - and grateful for - everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe, Mangiones statement said. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future."Luigi Mangione supporters stand outside the Supreme Court in New York this month. (AP)As of Tuesday afternoon, his legal defense fund, launched by the December 4 Legal Committee, has garnered more than $615,000 in donations. His attorneys announced they would be accepting the cash. "Luigi is aware of the fund and very much appreciates the outpouring of support. My client plans on utilizing it to fight all three of the unprecedented cases against him, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, his attorney, said in a February 4 statement.The 26-year-old also faces murder and stalking charges at the federal level and firearm violations and other charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested in a McDonalds after a six-day manhunt. He has yet to make pleas in those venues.At last weeks hearing Agnifilo argued that her client is being treated differently than other defendants, pointing to the fact that hes being held in federal custody rather than state custody, even though the state case is coming first. Hes being held at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.Most PopularPopular videosSponsored Features