In the wake of Monolith Productions' closure, CD Projekt's GOG has moved up its timeline for preserving one of Monolith's classics. F.E.A.R. Platinum will join the GOG Preservation Program by next month, and may also be the first of more Monolith games to hit the program.The inflential 2005 first-person shooter is getting moved up on GOG's timeline for the Preservation Program to "properly recognize Monolith's contributions to gaming." The Preservation Program is GOG's initiative to keep classic games playable on modern systems, maintaining the titles in DRM-free form and with dedicated tech support.GOG has previously featured everything from Heroes of Might and Magic 3: Complete, to the original Resident Evil trilogy, to I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream. It's an eclectic spotlight of games preserved in playable form, available on GOG's storefront, and F.E.A.R. Platinum which includes the base F.E.A.R. and both expansions will soon join the lineup.It may not be the last Monolith game there, either. GOG said that other Monolith icons will "join eventually as well." The storefront also teased more news to come about the Preservation Program tomorrow, February 27.The preservation effort is a nice recognition of Monolith Productions' legacy in the wake of its sudden closure. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier broke the news yesterday that Warner Bros. had canceled its planned Wonder Woman game and shuttered three studios: Monolith, Player First Games, and WB San Diego.Warner Bros.' games division has been in a difficult spot for some time. While Hogwarts Legacy chalked up a commercial win for the publisher, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League spurred a double-digit decline in revenue, and the financial failure of Smash-alike MultiVersus piled on the misery.Furthermore, David Haddad is set to leave the company after 12 years of helming Warner Bros. Games, and the division is rumored to be considered for-sale.Monolith had a legacy dating back decades, with games like Blood, Condemned: Criminal Origins, No One Lives Forever, and The Matrix Online on its resume. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor became an instant hit, spurred on by its inventive "Nemesis System," which Warner Bros. held in a vice-grip with its patent.Though Monolith may be closed, it's nice to see other companies acknowledge the effect one studio has had on the medium. Hopefully we see more of Monolith's classics preserved for years to come.Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

Heres a deal for fans of easy-to-learn card games. Target is running a sale on Uno and all kinds of Uno variations, including Show Em No Mercy, Giant Uno, and more. You save 20% off the whole mess of Uno card games, so scroll through and pick up any that look appealing.Save 20% on UNO at TargetUNO Show em No MercyUNOUNO AttackGiant UNOUNO PartyUNO All WildUNO - Retro EditionUNO TeamsSkip-BoPhase 10Uno is a family friendly game, but it has enough light strategy to appeal to people of all ages. The rules are so simple as to be nearly self-explanatory. But once youve mastered them, you can pick up one of the many Uno variations that are also on sale right now at Target.Uno: Show Em No Mercy is probably the hottest one at the moment; its on sale for $7.99, down from $9.99 at Target though, if you want to buy it at Amazon, youll have to drop $14.99 because it comes in a tin, apparently. So this Target deal is a good one on a particularly nasty (in a fun way!) variation of the formula. Show Em No Mercy adds new cards that deal out extra damage beyond whats available in the base game.New cards make you (or your victims) have to draw up to 10 cards from the discard pile. Theres also a new Skip Everyone card thats particularly fun to play. New rules make players swap hands with another player any time a 0 or 7 is played. Another rule that prevents the game from lasting forever is the Mercy Rule: if a player ever has more than 25 cards in their hand, theyre out of the game. Its like Uno, but meaner.Additionally, other more pleasant variations are also on sale, like a retro-style one, a party game one, an all Wild Card edition, and more. Plus, the similarly engaging card games Skip-Bo and Phase 10 are also on sale. Check them out and pick up whatever ones you want before the sale ends. Which could happen at any time.More Family-Friendly Card GamesPhase 10See it at AmazonTaco Cat Goat Cheese PizzaSee it at AmazonExploding KittensSee it at AmazonMonopoly DealSee it at AmazonWhat Do You Meme? [Family Edition]See it at AmazonCover Your AssetsSee it at AmazonChris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.

This February, let the ID@Xbox team set the vibe. In this, the month of Valentines Day, indie game developers are competing to be your next love but dont stress, because our team of wingmen and wingwomen have handpicked six Indie Selects that can meet what anyones heart desires. If youre looking for some tasty food for the soul, satisfying beats that really pop, dangerous exploits to get the heart pumping, and unbelievable deliveries that really soar, February Selects had you at hello. Heres what weve got for you this month (in no particular order):CuisineerThis game answers the question, What if you had to earn your meal by engaging it in a fight to the death?. Cuisineer is the first food-focused action roguelite that Ive ever played and I am very much obsessed. Ive spent an embarrassing amount of time bashing cute (but hostile) creatures in its dungeons to restock my fridge back in my characters hometown. The demand for more wood, more types of stone, and various grades of meat never ends and the loop of spend a day cooking for fussy customers, then return to a dungeon, then come back and upgrade your tools, etc. is constant. Its a hustle that Im hooked on, to be honest, and Cuisineer delivers up this cycle in a way thats both cozy and challenging.Those monsters in the various dungeons arent joking around and youll be battling through multiple floors and bosses to get to the end of each gauntlet (though there are options to exit early). Youll also be plunking down hard-earned gold (from your restaurants till) to upgrade your backpack and eatery capacity to continue growing and progressing through the game. Its a soothing, dopamine-hit formula that Cuisineer does incredibly (and adorably) well, but its not absent of difficulty and learning curve. So, think of it as equipping cutesy cat ears while prepping for a lengthy workout. Give yourself some time to onboard and youll be harvesting fuzzy little fluffballs for fatty meat in no time. CuisineerXSEED Games25$29.99Get it nowUpon receiving a startling letter from her parents, the independent adventurer Pom swiftly returns home to Paell, only to find her parents gone and their beloved restaurant abandoned. Now left with mounting debts and a village in dire need of some fine cooking, Pom will have to delve into the deepest dungeons for the scarcest spices, rarest meats, and the most valuable vegetables she can find to keep her parents dream alive.Dive into dungeons and cook up a storm as Pom, an adventurer-turned-restaurateur! Cuisineers food-focused action challenges you to build your dinner the hard way: by dungeon-diving for materials and ingredients. Wield your cooking utensils against giant chickens, artillery shrimps, fire-breathing peppers, and other pesky perils, sipping boba tea along the way. Work with local artisans to customize your kitchen, and tailor your dining hall to the needs of loyal patrons eager to experience the rare recipes youve cooked up. The Xbox Series X/S and Windows Store release of Cuisineer plates its enticing gameplay with fresh ingredients like new weapons, year-round festivals, a wardrobe feature, and more tasty inclusions that are sure to spice things up.A Smorgasbord of DungeonsExplore procedurally generated biomes such as the Green Ruins, Frozen Fjord, and Konpeito Swamps that change their size, shape, and resources every time you visit.Craft Your Own Culinary Experience Cook over 100 different recipes from around the world, from crunchy Popiah rolls to rich Kaya jam, from double-fried crispy chicken with zesty lemon, to sweet treats piled high with berries. Get the right dishes to the right customers and customize your kitchen and dining hall with the help of local artisans.Master the Flavors of FightingKnock out monsters and rivals with Salty, Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Umami, Frosty and Toasty powers that unleash flame, poison, chain lightning, and other fantastic effects. You can also fight with unique utensils and gourmet gear, like Spatula, Smackerel, Swordfish, and the newly added Konpeito Fist weapons! Take Quests to GoFrom Naicha the Bubble Tea seller to Alder the big friendly carpenter, Paell is full of sweet and spicy townsfolk to befriend. While youre dungeon diving, be on the lookout for items the townsfolk need. Youll be rewarded with gold, new items, and even more recipes to take your cooking and adventuring to new heights.Turbo OverkillTurbo Overkill is an FPS game that invokes the spirit of 80s cyberpunk media and classic shooters such as Quake& Doom. By modern definition, you might categorize it as a boomer shooter a game that either IS a retro FPS or a newer title thats designed to create a similar feeling. Yes, this is a real thing, and no, we didnt make it up, but we can agree that its fitting! As much as I love modern FPS games, Im a huge fan of the classics, and Turbo Overkill does this subgenre justice in as many ways that it can.Taking place in a futuristic, cyberpunk city called Paradise, players control a cybernetic bounty hunter by the name of Johnny Turbo who, paired with his trusty chainsaw leg and large arsenal of weapons, is set to take down rogue AI, Syn, and their augmented minions. The gameplay revolves around fighting various enemies and bosses, exploration, puzzle solving, upgrading Johnny and his weapons, and platforming. But what I love most is its pacing and combat flow. Players can leverage Johnnys chainsaw leg by crouch sliding (a staple in most modern FPS games) to not only maneuver but also take down most enemies in one hit. Pairing this movement with jumps, air dashes and cycling through the various familiar weapons, makes the game feel like a classic arena shooter on top of its retro heritage.In homage to the classics, Turbo Overkill features a single player campaign with several difficulties to choose from, secret levels to find, and unlockables to keep you busy. Theres also two additional modes, Endless Mode and Arcade Mode, both of which add a medal and scoring system for additional replayability. If youre a fan of FPS games, whether modern or classic, then you must check this one out!Turbo OverkillApogee Entertainment45$19.99Get it nowTurbo Overkill is the most savage FPS ever released by Apogee. You play as Johnny Turbo, augmented with hidden arm rockets and a chainsaw that extends from your lower leg allowing you to slide-slice enemies wide open.Johnny returns to his hometown of Paradise and finds its entire population possessed by Syn, a rogue AI, and its army of augmented minions. Desperate for enough money to outrun his past mistakes, Johnny takes on the impossible job of destroying the greatest AI ever created. Rival bounty hunters want to claim the prize first. Nothing is easy in paradise.TURBO TIME, WALL-RUNNING, DASHING AND GRAPPLING HOOKS, OH MYTurbo Overkill takes over-the-top to never-before-reached heights. Activate Turbo Time(), a new form of slow motion with a twist. Build incredible speed by wall-running and dashing. Slide on your chainsaw leg, eviscerating foes and opening up bosses for critical damage, and go car-surfing on the hoods of flying cars. Blast away with the Twin Magnums, which lock-on and instagib several foes, the Boomer Shotgun and its attached grenade launcher, or the Telefragger sniper rifle, which teleports Johnny inside an enemy before they explode from within.Race through two dozen stages packed with secrets, bonus arena stages, and white-knuckle combat puzzles. Find game-changing collectibles to unlock punishing modifiers like triple-monster-speed and insta-kill. Combine all of Johnnys weapons and powers to outsmart, outgun and outrun the corrupted legions.Tails of Iron 2 is a gritty and challenging 2D action-RPG that mixes Soulslike combat with Metroidvania elements. Ive been interested in this series since the first entry, but I never picked it up my backlog is infinite! After playing this one though, I feel like I owe it to myself to try it out! It helps that, while the new story shares the same world, the sequel features a new protagonist, Arlo meaning you dont need to play its predecessor to catch up. As the heir to the Warden of the Wastes, Arlo must avenge his fathers death, taking on threats like the merciless Dark Wing Bats and other creatures as he fights to restore his homeland. Oh and Arlos a rat.I wont get too deep into the gore, but all Ill say is, dont let this games storybook-like appearance fool you the themes in this game are grim. The hand-drawn visuals remind me of a hidden gem youd find digging through the Xbox Live Arcade library, in all the best ways. It has that nostalgic charm that makes it feel familiar, yet ultimately fresh and unique. And the world? Absolutely awesome. Viking themes arent new, but Viking rats? Theyre adorable, and at the same time, so metal.After spending hours fighting bosses, I can confirm this game is challenging. Youll have to backtrack, platform, upgrade your gear, and parry and roll a lot. Youll need patience, and if youre anything like me, youll probably die more than you surviveunless you switch to Fairy Tale mode, where enemies have less health and do less damage.If youre a fan of Metroidvanias, Soulslikes, or just really love the idea of rats in Viking armor, I recommend giving this a shot. Oh, and they got Doug Cockle (Geralt from The Witcher game series) to narrate the story, which only adds to the appeal.Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of WinterUnited Label74$24.99Get it nowJust as the Rats of the South start to piece their lives together, following the great war between Rodent and Frog, an old and unspeakable evil stirs in the North; wings black as death; fangs sharp as steel; and a thirst for blood rivalled only by their insatiable hunger for vengeance. As Arlo, young heir to the Warden of the Wastes, journey through the vast, snow-ravaged lands of the North in an epic quest to overcome the Dark Wings once and for all. Hunt down giant beasts. Unite disparate clans. Upgrade your settlement. And discover a terrible secret of blood and crown The time for heroes is over. For the Kingdom needs a warrior; forged of the North and as cold as the snow that shrouds these lands. A rat carved from iron. And so, a new tail begins.Explore a Vast, Wintry KingdomFully narrated by RPG-legend, Doug Cockle, prepare to embark on an epic adventure across the northern realms of the Ratdom; an expansive, frost-bitten land on the brink of all-out war. Hunt down Giant BeastsTrack down and defeat the legendary monsters of this realm, and be rewarded with rare resources with which to craft devastating equipment. But be warned, these colossal creatures wont go down without a fight and then some. Master Brutal CombatThe lands of the North are a perilous place, so youll need to master the fast, challenging combat for any chance of survival. Evade attacks with a dodge roll, nail split-second parry bashes, and unleash an array of gruesome executions.Customise your AttackCraft your own extensive arsenal of upgradeable weaponry, ready to fight as you see fit; strike quick with a spear, afar with a bow, or go claw-to-claw with a heavy-hitting mace. Alternativity, gain a tactical advantage with a range of new, deadly trapsUpgrade your SettlementAs Warden of the Wastes, defending your lands is only half the battle. Construct and upgrade your settlement with hard-earned gold to gain access to more powerful items from the Smithy, tastier meals at the Kitchen, a wider range of powerful traps from the shoppe, and more!Unleash All-New SorceriesUnlock the devastating Elementa sorceries of Electric, Poison, Fire, and Ice in an all-new magic system. Bestowed upon you by the gods themselves, these arena-devastating powers can quickly turn the tides in battles.RobobeatRhythm games are back, baby! Robobeat is (deep breath) an innovative, fast-paced, futuristic, roguelite rhythm boomer shooter. To say this game is in a league of its own is putting it mildly. There are not many games that combine slick combat mechanics with music-centric gameplay in procedurally generated environments, and I would say even fewer that do it well. You play as Ace, a famous bounty hunter, chasing after an eccentric cyborg named Frazzer. However, in order to stop Frazzer in his tracks, youll have to make your way through his distorted techno playground, which is comprised of five randomly generated pathways where you will need to shoot, wall-run, slide and bunny hop, all in sync with the beat of the soundtrack.The most unique part of Robobeat, and probably my favorite part, is the ability to change songs as you play. Switching between energetic metal, jazz-like grooves, and frantic EDM allows you to set the pace of your run. Sometimes a slower pace is needed in order to get the hang of the next stage. The enemies become tougher and the hordes become more intense the further you go, and throughout your runs youll collect blueprints that can be unlocked using currency however if you die before cashing in your blueprints, youll have to reacquire them. Once a weapon or ability is unlocked, it can appear in any future run.The tunes are great, the gunplay is manically intense, and roguelite mechanics set Robobeat apart from its peers across several genres. This was a bold bet that paid off.ROBOBEATKwalee7$19.99Get it nowBeat. The. Bot. You're Ace a famous bounty hunter after your latest target, the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer. To find your way through his twisted techno-playground, youll have to master the art of shooting, wall-running, sliding, and bunny hopping, all in sync with the beat! Get ready to dance till you're dead and then suit up for the remix in rogue-like rhythm shooter ROBOBEAT.Move to the MusicYoull want some slick moves to go with those slick new weapons. Your enemies arent going to wait around for you to take a dance break, so youve got to keep moving if you want to survive.Wall run, slide, double jump, bunny hop, and grapple hook your way through technicolour levels to give your enemies the runaround. Keep it fluid, keep it funky, and keep it moving.Rewind, Remix, ReplayROBOBEAT is a rogue-like remix.Fast forward through procedurally generated levels, equip an arsenal of finely-tuned weapons, and accompany your arsenal with a symphony of modifications. Your playstyle is on continuous shuffle, so you never know what each new run is going to bring!Will you have what it takes to break the infinite loop and stop Frazzer in his tracks?Mexico, 1921: A Deep SlumberMexico, 1921: A Deep Slumber is a narrative adventure game inspired by true events. Youll step into the shoes of Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist in post-revolutionary Mexico City. The game not only entertains but educates players by involving historians and cultural institutions in its creation. This collaboration transforms the game into an interactive archive of Mexican history. I was absolutely fascinated as the game transported me to a tumultuous period in Mexican history, allowing me to uncover the truth behind President lvaro Obregns assassination.Youll navigate through Mexico City, interviewing and photographing subjects, which I found created a deep feeling of involvement in the storyline and historical events. Its a layer of authenticity only added to by the photography mechanic, which requires you to master early 20th Century photographic techniques. The game follows a classic point-and-click adventure style, where you examine objects, gather clues, and engage in conversations with various characters, and I was deeply captivated by the connection to the historical events and cultural aspects of post-revolutionary Mexico. Mexico,1921: A Deep SlumberMcula Interactive 4$19.99Get it nowMexico, 1921. A deep slumber is an intriguing narrative adventure where you try to solve a hundred-year-old mystery: who planned the assassination of President lvaro Obregn? You play as Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist who will interview and photograph subjects, collect historical data and report the news that will shape Mexican history. Join Juan in post-revolutionary Mexico City to discover why Mexico ain't no place for the weak. Developed hand in hand with the National Newspaper Library and the Popular Arts Museum, this game will be an interactive archive of Mexican post-revolutionary history.Mika and the Witchs MountainMika and the Witchs Mountain is a charming E-rated adventure game. You play the role of aspiring young witch Mika, who is declined admittance to witch school and has to take a job delivering packages to fund her broom repairs. The game takes place in a small open world, the Island of Winds, asking you to fly from point to point by way of broomstick opening more of the world as you unlock additional traversal abilities for your broom.With a Studio Ghibli-inspired art style, the charm of this island location and its many inhabitants is infectious. There are dozens of residents that you get to know and help on your journey to ascend the mountain to witch school. The main story does not overstay its welcome, but there are additional puzzles, races, and secrets to extend your time on the island. The simplified control scheme and cute aesthetic means this is suitable for all ages and skill levels of gamers. The art style, the characters and the music elevate a game that is almost exclusively a series of fetch quests into an endearing, relaxing and memorable adventure.Mika and The Witch's MountainChibig10$19.99Get it nowMika and the Witchs Mountain is a fantasy adventure about an aspiring witch who delivers packages to the townspeople of a small island. Explore every cranny and soar through the sky with your magic broom.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.If your front yard needs an extra spruce for spring, consider adding a Japanese painted fern to your landscaping design. Even if you don't have a green thumb, you've probably spotted these ferns before: Known for their silvery, pointed leaves and deep burgundy stems, these outdoor plants are a great pest-resistant variety to grow in your backyard. The best part? Just like philodendrons or air plants, Japanese painted ferns are surprisingly easy to grow, making them a great beginner-friendly option.When should you plant a Japanese painted fern?Japanese painted ferns should be planted in the spring, after the last frost, when the soil has started to warm up. This allows the ferns to establish themselves in the garden before the heat of summer. They thrive in partial to full shade, making them ideal for shaded borders, woodland gardens, or as ground cover under trees. Well-drained, rich, and consistently moist soil is crucial for their growth. Planting in early spring gives the fern time to settle in and develop a strong root system, ensuring its lush, silvery foliage will emerge beautifully throughout the growing season. How much light do Japanese painted ferns need?If you have a backyard that doesn't get much light, don't worry. Japanese painted ferns prefer shady environments, and in the wild often grow beneath larger trees that offer them protection from scorching sunlight. That makes them great contenders for cooler environments. However, they still should get some sunlight, so make sure they're not kept in complete shade.jun xu//Getty ImagesA backyard japanese painted fern.How often should you water Japanese painted ferns?Japanese painted ferns prefer moist environments. If you water your outdoor plants, make sure that the soil is damp but not water-logged. In their natural environments, these plants prefer more humid conditions, so the occasional mist wouldn't go amiss. If you live in a hot, dry environment, a Japanese painted fern might not be the best choice for you. If you notice the leaves becoming yellow, your fern may be getting too much water.How big do Japanese painted ferns get?Japanese painted ferns typically grow to a moderate size, reaching about 12 to 18 inches in height and spreading 18 to 24 inches wide. Their compact, arching fronds give them an elegant, layered appearance, with silvery-gray leaves accented by deep burgundy or purple stems. While they may stay small in the first year or two, once established, they can gradually expand to form lush clumps, creating an attractive ground cover. These ferns' graceful size makes them perfect for small gardens, container planting, or as companions to other shade-loving plants. Can you keep Japanese painted ferns indoors?Yes, you can keep Japanese painted ferns indoors, but they require specific conditions to thrive. Since they are native to shaded forest floors, they prefer low to medium indirect light, making them well-suited for indoor environments with minimal sunlight. However, it's important to maintain high humidity levels and provide consistently moist, well-draining soil to mimic their natural habitat. Placing them near a humidifier or misting them regularly can help prevent the leaves from drying out. While Japanese painted ferns can adapt to indoor conditions, they tend to grow more vibrantly outdoors in shaded gardens. What are common pests for Japanese painted ferns?In the wild, Japanese painted ferns have an excellent defense against deer who may want to take a bite. That being said, rabbits and snails are more common pests. You can deter them with natural remedies such as neem oil, or by protecting them with some clever landscaping. MR.WUTTISAK PROMCHOO//Getty ImagesFerns in pots on a porch.Can you propagate Japanese painted ferns? Yes, you can propagate a Japanese painted fern through division, which is the most effective method. The best time to do this is in early spring, just as new growth begins to emerge. To propagate, gently dig up an established fern and carefully separate the root clump into smaller sections, ensuring that each division has healthy roots and a few fronds attached. Replant these divisions in well-draining, moist soil, either in a garden or in pots. Keep them well-watered until they are fully established. Propagating by division is not only a great way to increase your fern collection but also helps revitalize older plants by encouraging fresh growth. Should you prune Japanese painted ferns?Yes, you should prune Japanese painted ferns, but only as part of routine maintenance to keep the plant healthy and looking its best. In early spring, before new growth emerges, you can trim away any old, damaged, or browned fronds from the previous year. This helps make room for fresh, vibrant foliage to grow and keeps the plant looking tidy. Throughout the growing season, you can remove any spent or discolored fronds to maintain the ferns appearance. Pruning is minimal with Japanese painted ferns, but it encourages healthier growth and enhances their ornamental beauty.Are Japanese painted ferns pet-safe?Japanese painted ferns are not toxic to dogs or cats, so you don't need to worry if your pet ingests a small amount. Still, you should do your best to keep them from eating a large amount of this plant, as it could temporarily upset their stomachs.Tatjana FreundFashion & Luxury Commerce EditorTatjana Freund is Hearst's Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She's a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zo Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.

When arctic air grips New York City, artist Karyn Lyons bundles up and rests her feet on a heater as she paints nostalgic scenes of teenage longing in her unheated studio on West 137th Street. Lyons, who is in her forties, has been working in the 450-square-foot ground-floor space for six years. It has what she needs: ample wall space, a slop sink, and privacy. The setup would be perfect were it not for the lack of a creative community nearby. But she figures thats a small price to pay for having a studio in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. I wouldnt be happy working anywhere else, says Lyons, who shows with Turn Gallery. It is worth the cramped studios, the occasional rat, and the lack of heat.Courtesy Karyn LyonsKaryn Lyons 2023 paintingThe Tennis Lesson.Elisabet DavidsdottirLyons in her unheated studio on West 137th Street in Harlem.From West Harlem to Ridgewood, from the South Bronx to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, artists set up studios wherever they can find a good deal. Theres no longer one area with dirt cheap rents and huge spaceslike Soho in the early 1970s or Williamsburg in the late 90s. Some flock to studio buildings in Brooklyn because they have built-in community and amenities. Others venture farther afield, into isolated industrial areas in Queens and the Bronx. Some are leaving the city altogether, settling in upstate New York or rural Connecticut. Its like a game of survival, says Michael Nevin, owner of the Journal Gallery. There is no blueprint for an artist on how to have a studio in New York. You have to find your own way.Art star Rashid Johnson, whose career retrospective at the Guggenheim opens in April, set up a studio in a former Luhring Augustine Gallery outpost in Bushwick, Brooklyn, which he bought for $8 million, according to property records. Acclaimed painter Amy Sherald, who has an upcoming solo show at the Whitney, works at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City. Laurie Simmons and Carroll Dunham moved their studios to Cornwall, Connecticut, while Peter and Sally Saul are in Germantown, New York."It was not fashionable. It was not clean, it was cheap, and it had big spaces."Affordable studios have been key in making New York the epicenter of the art world, but for decades artists have discovered obscure neighborhoods only to be priced out of them when developers follow. New York became the crucible for progressive, amazing art in the 1950s and 60s because artists could rent very reasonably spaces no one else wanted, says Michael Findlay, whose memoir, Portrait of the Art Dealer as a Young Man: New York in the Sixties, traces the revitalization of downtown. It was not fashionable. It was not clean, Findlay says. It was cheap, and it had big spaceswhich is what artists always want.After artists arrive, bars, restaurants, and luxury brands follow, and eventually rents rise. It happened in Soho, then Chelsea, then Williamsburg, then Dumbo. This is a narrative as old as time, says sculptor Tony Matelli, 54, who set up in a small garage in Williamsburg in 1995, initially renting for $1.50 a square foot. (These days ground-floor retail spaces in prime Williamsburg locations lease for as much as $300 a square foot.)Williamsburg is the most dramatic version of an artist enclave becoming a completely gentrified, radically changed environment, Matelli says. For the better in many ways, but then artists have to move. He went to Greenpoint and later Long Island City, where he has a 5,000-square-foot studio on an industrial stretch by the Midtown Tunnel. There isnt a restaurant or bar in sight.Zach CollinsArtist Mitchell Charbonneau.Courtesy Mitchell CharbonneauCharbonneaus cornerof a shared studio in Queens.Lots of younger artists look for studios farther out along the L train line. Ridgewood became a popular destination after luxury condos displaced affordable commercial spaces in Greenpoint and Bushwick. Sculptor Mitchell Charbonneau, 30, moved into a studio building in Ridgewood in 2017, soon after graduating from Pratt Institute. Its run by friends, and its a 10-minute walk from his apartment. Rentals range from $600 to $2,100 a month, according to Wyatt Burns, a co-founder. There are 32 artists on the premises, some sharing studios, which have amenities like ventilation and compressed air. Artists have access to four shops: metal, wood, ceramics, and jewelry.Courtesy Mitchell Charbonneau and Off Paradise New YorkSenseless, a 2023 sculpture by Charbonneau.Charbonneau considers himself lucky. New York is really difficult for an artist in my age bracket, he says. For many people it takes years of grind to define your studio practice before the sales can provide for that. A lot of people dont follow through.Grace Roselli / Pandora's Boxx ProjectPainter Mie Yim.Courtesy Mie YimYims studio is in a former warehouse in Mott Haven, a neighborhood in the South Bronx.Painter Mie Yim, 61, is convinced her Bronx studio is the most affordable in New York. She got priced out of Chelsea and Industry City in Brooklyn, so she rented a 6,000-square-foot floor of a warehouse in Mott Haven with a partner, divided it into eight studios, and leased them below market rate to other artists. The area can be desolate, and there have been occasional shootings at night. What are you going to do? I need a studio thats affordable, Yim says. We have a toilet. We have light and heat. What more do you need?Our floor is always full. Its so great to have happy tenants and happy artists. This story originally appeared in the March 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE

Earlier this month, Apple added the M4 Mac mini and MacBook Pro to its refurbished store. But the M4 iMacwhich launched at the same timewas mysteriously absent. Now, however, the full M4 Mac lineup is available.Refurbished M4 iMacs offered in all colors and various configsThe M4 iMac is now available on Apples refurbished store (via MacRumors) in a variety of colors, configurations, and with some decent discounts.Apples base model starts at $1,299 new, but you can find it for just $1,099 refurbished. All color-matched accessories are included too.Since all M4 Macs now start at 16GB of RAM, the base model is a better option than it used to be.However, perhaps most buyers top upgrade option is storage, and Apple offers various expanded SSD configurations too. Be sure to pay attention to discounts though, as they may vary based on the storage tier you choose.If youre in the market for an M4 iMac, you should probably also check out Amazon, where youll find brand new models that are currently discounted close to Apples refurbished rates.For example, a new base model M4 iMac is currently $1,149, only $50 more than Apples refurbished equivalent.Have you bought refurbished from Apple before? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments.Best Mac 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

No, Friday didnt come early and you didnt get fired. Slack and a bunch of other online services are just going in and out for everyone.Downdetector has reported spikes in outages across Slack, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Amazon over the last few hours. We can probably blame Amazon Web Services as AWS has also charted reports of outages today.In the meantime, enjoy the outage and know its not just your flaky internet connection. Its the entire internets flaky internet connection this time.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 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

Keep the Shots ComingFeb 26, 11:36 AM EST/byVictor TangermannNow That Trump Has Banished the Woke From Science, These Truth-Telling New Scientific Papers Reveal What COVID Vaccines Actually Do to ChildrenFinally, the truth is revealed.Feb 26, 11:36 AM EST/Victor TangermannImage by Getty ImagesTreatmentsThe Trump administration has declared war on "woke" science, installing a prominent vaccine skeptic as the new head of the Department of Health and Human Services, banning a long list of research terminology from government websites, and sacking huge number of researchers at the National Science Foundation.After expunging all that liberal bias, a pair of new scientific papers flagged by Ars Technica one of them by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, another agency targeted by Trump has revealed what COVID-19 vaccinations actually do to children and teens.Shockingly, they both show that annual shots not only greatly lower the risk of developing long COVID,but that they aren't linked to sudden cardiac death in young people, as many conspiracy theories have claimed. In short, it's even more evidence demonstrating the importance of COVID vaccines, not just for adults, but for kids as well.It's an extremely important topic now that the Trump administration is systematically trying to defund scientific research abizarre change of tune, considering Trump was behind a concerted effort called Operation Warp Speed in the early days of the pandemic to speed up the development of COVID vaccines.As detailed in one of the two studies, published this week in the journal JAMA Network Open, a team of US-based pediatricians and CDC researchers found that COVID-19 vaccinations were associated with a 57 percent drop in the odds of developing one or more post-COVID condition symptoms.In other words, the mRNA-based vaccines that have become commonplace since the global pandemic are highly effective at warding off long COVID in children aged five to 17 years.And that effectiveness is as relevant as it was during the pandemic."Our findings suggest that children should stay up to date with current COVID-19 vaccination recommendations as vaccination not only protects against severe COVID-19 illness but also protects against [long COVID]," the researchers wrote in their paper.A separate cohort study, also published this week in the same journal, found that "concerns that young athletes with COVID-19 would be at increased risk of myocarditis and sudden cardiac arrest" were unfounded.The international team of researchers compared instances of cardiac deaths that occurred before and during the pandemic, and found "no increase" in either of these conditions after it struck.The study builds on existing evidence that there's no link between the disease and cardiac death in young people. In early 2023, the media was awash with reports of young athletes reportedly suffering cardiac arrest as a result of a COVID infection, lingering rumors that persisted despite sustained efforts to debunk them.It's an especially pertinent topic now that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken over as Trump's health secretary. Kennedy has previously questioned the scientific consensus that childhood vaccines don't cause autism and has denied that COVID vaccines have saved millions of lives.As the Guardian reported last month, Kennedy's non-profit, the Children's Health Defense, reportedly tried to block new COVID vaccinations from being rolled out during the height of the pandemic.Where his staunchly anti-vaccine stance will leave the future role of vaccinations in the United States remains unclear at best. His appointment has already proven highly controversial. Kennedy clashed with Democrats during his Senate confirmation hearing in January after making contradictory statements regarding the effectiveness of vaccines.Meanwhile, Trump has announced a new so-called "Make America Healthy Again" Commission, to be led by Kennedy. The new body is set to take aim at the alleged overprescription of drugs for the treatment of ADHD and the prevalence of autism and asthma in children.Experts have also warned that Kennedy's vaccine cynicism could greatly undermine US efforts to eradicate polio.It's an unfortunate prognosis for the future of public health. With the Trump administration declaring war on lifesaving scientific research and Kennedy vowing to probe the safety of childhood vaccines, very few, if any, lessons appear to have been learned following the COVID-19 pandemic.More on COVID vaccines: Trump Threatens to Ban VaccinesShare This ArticleImage by Getty ImagesRead This Next

Image by Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesDevelopmentsSeptuagenarian president Donald Trump isn't the strong, virile world leader the White House likes to portray him as.That's just a fact. During a visit by French president Emmanuel Macron at the White House this week, a large, greenish-blue bruise appeared on the back of the 78-year-old's hand, as seen in photographsWhite House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered an eyebrow-raising explanation, telling reporters that Trump is a "man of the people" and "has bruises on his hand because hes constantly working and shaking hands all day every day," as quoted by NBC.It's not the first time we've seen similar bruises show up on Trump's hand. The broadcaster pointed out at least two other occasions last year when a similar bruise appeared.In its Person of the Year writeup about Trump last year, Time magazine quoted him as saying that the bruising on his right hand was from "shaking hands with thousands of people."But instead of that extremely self-serving explanation, doctors say there's likely a medical cause."Its almost definitely from an IV or blood draw," University of Texas public health PhD and paramedic Claire Zagorski argued on Bluesky. "Which is a weird thing to lie about, people get bloodwork done all the time.""A man his age getting periodic bloodwork is very normal, and your skin gets thin as you age, making the bruises look obvious and especially big," she wrote in a follow-up.Others used the opportunity to take potshots."The president suffers from weak ass hand syndrome for which there is no cure," one Bluesky user wrote in a mocking post."And the scratch on my arm is from the time I protected orphans from a rabid wolf, and definitely not from when my cat had the zoomies last night," Zagorski joked.While it remains unclear what exactly caused the bruise to appear on Trump's right hand, the explanation that "shaking hands" was to blame isn't just unusual, but would hint at far more serious medical implications than simply getting an IV.Apart from strange bruises, health experts have also called into question Trump's cognitive abilities. Trump's unusual speech patterns at his debate against Kamala Harris in September, in particular, led to some suggesting he was suffering from a possible cognitive illness.In December, Trump told NBC that he would release his full medical report. But months later, it has yet to surface.Share This Article

A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in a virtual tour framework has been weaponized by malicious actors to inject malicious scripts across hundreds of websites with the goal of manipulating search results and fueling a spam ads campaign at scale.Security researcher Oleg Zaytsev, in a report shared with The Hacker News, said the campaign dubbed 360XSS affected over 350 websites, including government portals, U.S. state government sites, American universities, major hotel chains, news outlets, car dealerships, and several Fortune 500 companies."This wasn't just a spam operation," the researcher said. "It was an industrial-scale abuse of trusted domains."All these websites have one thing in common: A popular framework called Krpano that's used to embed 360 images and videos to facilitate interactive virtual tours and VR experiences. Zaytsev said he stumbled upon the campaign after coming across a pornography-related ad listed on Google Search but with a domain associated with Yale University ("virtualtour.quantuminstitute.yale[.]edu").A notable aspect of these URLs is an XML parameter that's designed to redirect the site visitor to a second URL that belongs to another legitimate website, which is then used to execute a Base64-encoded payload via an XML document. The decoded payload, for its part, fetches the target URL (i.e., the ad) from yet another legitimate site.The XML parameter passed in the original URL served in the search results is part of a broader configuration setting named "passQueryParameters" that's used when embedding a Krpano panorama viewer into an HTML page. It's specifically designed to pass HTTP parameters from the URL to the viewer.The security issue here is that if the option is enabled, it opens the door to a scenario where an attacker could use a specially crafted URL to execute a malicious script in a victim's web browser when the vulnerable site is visited.Indeed, a reflected XSS flaw arising as a result of this behavior was disclosed in Krpano in late 2020 (CVE-2020-24901, CVSS score: 6.1), indicating that the potential for abuse has been publicly known for over four years.While an update introduced in version 1.20.10 restricted "passQueryParameters" to an allowlist in an attempt to prevent such XSS attacks from taking place, Zaytsev found that explicitly adding the XML parameter to the allowlist reintroduced the XSS risk."Since version 1.20.10, Krpano's default installation was not vulnerable," the researcher told The Hacker News via email. "However, configuring passQueryParameter in combination with the XML parameter allowed external XML configuration via the URL, leading to an XSS risk.""The exploited versions I've come across were primarily older ones, predating version 1.20.10."The campaign, per Zaytsev, has leveraged this weakness to hijack over 350 sites to serve sketchy ads related to pornography, diet supplements, online casinos, and fake news sites. What's more, some of these pages have been weaponized to boost YouTube video views.The campaign is noteworthy, not least because it abuses the trust and credibility of legitimate domains to show up prominently in search results, a technique called search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning, which, in turn, is accomplished by abusing the XSS flaw."A reflected XSS is a fun vulnerability but on its own requires user interaction, and one of the biggest challenges is to make people click your reflected XSS link," Zaytsev said. "So using search engines as a distribution platform for your XSS is a very creative and cool way to do it."Following responsible disclosure, the latest release of Krpano eliminates support for external configuration via the XML parameter, thereby mitigating the risk of XSS attacks even when the setting is used."Improved embedpano() passQueryParameters security: data-urls and external URLs are generally not allowed as parameter values anymore and URLs for the XML parameter are limited to be within the current folder structure," according to the release notes for version 1.22.4 released this week.It's currently not known who is behind the massive operation, although the abuse of an XSS flaw to serve just redirects, as opposed to carrying out more nefarious attacks like credential or cookie theft, raises the possibility of an ad firm with questionable practices that's serving these ads as a monetization strategy.Users of Krpano are advised to update their installations to the latest version and set the "passQueryParameters" setting to false. Affected website owners are recommended to find and remove infected pages via Google Search Console.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.