Kelly Hohla, the principal of Kelly Hohla Interiors, came across a very old image of this house that shaped her outlook on its renovation. It was the only home sitting alone on the hills of Pacific Heights, Hohla recounts, adding that the home was the first one built on its street in 1880. We realized the importance of this space and the history that it holds. She worked closely with senior designer Celeste Barnes-Bremer and architect Dale Sessions of Remick & Sessions to reimagine its layout around a brand-new staircase. They moved the kitchen to the back of the house, rebuilt the stairs, added a gym and family TV room to the bottom level, and redesigned the bathrooms and both laundry rooms. We kept the architectural bones of the house more traditional, as it is such an early example of San Francisco Victorian architecture, she says. We felt strongly about keeping that character running throughout. FAST FACTSDESIGNER:LOCATION: THE SPACE: You never get bored there admiring all of the small details, textures, colors, and the joyful art collection.EXTERIORThe historic design got a sensitive update. Roger Davies/OTTOPaint: Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore. Lanterns: Visual Comfort.The new paint scheme shows the exquisite Victorian detailing and the clients love of black and white and gold, Hohla says. The home also got a new copper roof, exterior lighting, and landscaping by Strata Landscape Architecture. ENTRYWAY AND STAIRWELLThe staircase snakes its way up four floors. We sourced this vintage sideboard [from Epoca Antiques] for the entry to give the space some warmth as you enter the home and paired it with the vibrant art and green Murano chandelier [from Danke Galerie] to add some unexpected whimsy, Hohla says. The art above the sideboard is a Birgit Jensen piece purchased from Hosfelt Gallery.The staircase had a major impact on the entire house and created an open feeling between floors all the way up to the top level where the addition of a skylight let the light flow all the way down the stairwell, Hohla says. She adds that the staircase features custom bronze pickets, light oak risers and treads, and a curved light oak railing. A vintage Murano chandelier serves as a dazzling focal point. The art on the right wall is a Christopher Brown piece purchased at Berggruen Gallery. LIVING ROOMVenetian plaster adds texture. Roger Davies/OTTOSofa: Holly Hunt. Chandelier: John Pomp. Rug: Vaheed Taheri.A custom coral combed venetian plaster with iridescent wax by Willem Rack Studio pops in the living room, while Phillip Jeffries wallpaper adorns the fifth wallthe ceiling. The plaster wall treatment with the iridescence reflects the light from the large front bay windows, and the silk wallpaper with raised rivets on the ceiling creates a calming cocoon of textures, Hohla says. Roger Davies/OTTOFireplace screen: Claire Crowe Collection. Mirror: Jean De Merry.FAMILY ROOMThis lower level room has soaring ceilings.Roger Davies/OTTOSofa: Coup Studio with fabric from Clarence House. Drink table: Mitchell Gold Bob Williams. Side table: Bernhardt.This is where the family watches movies and television, so it needed to feel snug. It was a challenge to make the room feel cozy within this giant space, Hohla says. Custom light oak cabinetry that fills one wall and thick, floor-to-ceiling drapery helps warm the space, and the fun aubergine velvet curved sofa adds a nice, luxurious texture.KITCHENThe new layout is much more open and practical. Roger Davies/OTTOPendants: Gabriel Scott. Floor tile: Tineke Triggs.Ten slabs of Arabescato marble sourced from Italy make up the kitchen island, range hood, and backsplash. We wanted something with contrasting veining to work with the black and white vision for this room, Hohla says. Roger Davies/OTTOThe walls are a simple Benjamin Moore Pure White, while the trim and ceiling are painted in Benjamin Moore Distant Gray. DINING ROOMThe bronze sideboard was the starting point. Roger Davies/OTTODining table: Gregorius Pineo. Rug: Tai Ping Carpets. Ceiling wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries.The Tuell and Reynolds sideboard, nestled into a nook in the dining room, was an instant winner. [It] was spotted by our client at De Sousa Hughes on one of our very first shopping trips with her, Hohla says. Before we had figured anything else out for the house, we purchased this unique piece. The custom wall treatment by Caroline Lizaragga infuses soft purples into the home, which nicely complement the dining chairs, covered in fabrics from Dedar and Romo. POWDER ROOMBirds, flowers, and branches add a biophilic element. Roger Davies/OTTOMirror: Tom Faulkner. Pendant: Gabriel Scott. Towel ring: Waterworks.The elegant powder room contains a silk hand-embroidered pale purple wallpaper that Hohla designed with Fromental. The texture of this wallpaper next to the black stone micro herringbone tile on the vanity wall, the brass wall mount Waterworks faucet, and the floating Arabescato marble counter and shelf results in a modern marriage of textures and materials, the designer says. PRIMARY BEDROOMThe spacious suite leads to a balcony with expansive city views. Roger Davies/OTTOBench: Marcali Designs in Stroheim fabric. Rug: Vaheed Taheri.Hohla chose to forgo blackout drapery in this sleep space; her client didnt want it, so she opted sheer Jim Thompson fabric instead. Look out the window and youll spot Alcatraz and the bay. On the wall is a chinoiserie Willem Rack Studio mural that was painstakingly designed. Hohla shares, The ground of this mural is a reflective silver leaf, which plays off of the waxed Venetian plaster ceiling that has shimmering gold dusting in it. Roger Davies/OTTOSide table: Sebastian Herkner. Ottoman: CF Modern, in Rosemary Hallgarten fabric. Chairs: Atelier Purcell, in Romo fabric.Roger Davies/OTTOChairs: LINK outdoor, in Romo fabric. Throw blanket: Sue Fisher King. Side table: Gloster.GUEST ROOMIt encourages visitors to curl up under the bay window. Roger Davies/OTTOBench: Caste. Lamps: Epoca Antiques. Chandelier: Visual Comfort. Art: Mary McCartney. Rug: Stark.This guest sleep space received a major makeover. This room was originally completely clad in heavy ornate limed wood paneling that covered every surface, and once it was removed, the room felt so open and large, Hohla says. Like the living room, its walls are coated in a Venetian plaster by Willem Rack Studio with a Phillip Jeffries paper on the ceiling. Roger Davies/OTTOChest: Four Hands. Art: Claude Lawrence, from Anthony Meier Gallery.Hohla gave a simple curved sofa from CB2 a custom touch with the addition of Pierre Frey fabric. The vintage chair from De Angelis and the bronze tiered coffee table from Refractory add a bit of whimsy, she says. ATTIC ROOMPattern drenching is at play in these cozy quarters. Hohla describes this guest room as a unique dollhouse attic space. Due to its angular shape, wallpapering the entire spaceusing an eye-catching Quadrille printmade the most sense, she explains, adding, The custom bed we designed had to be carefully built in order to fit in the window nook. The bed is upholstered in a sage green velvet by Manuel Canovas and features ebonized wood feet. CLOSETGetting dressed has never felt so luxe. Roger Davies/OTTOCarpet: Mark Nelson Designs. Ceiling wallpaper: Zoffany. Chandelier: Dlight.The primary dressing room was custom fitted and designed for the client, Hohla explains, noting that it took seven different layers of paint to bring the walls to life. She adds, Paired with the copper and gold metallic marbleized wallpaper on the ceiling, and the vintage cascading glass chandelier, this space is especially glamorous.BATHROOMThe black marble floor tile with a flower pattern spoke to Hohlas client instantly. Roger Davies/OTTOTub: Waterworks. Chandelier: Tom Kirk Lighting. Art: Crystal Liu, from Hosfelt Gallery. Side table: Miniforms.Roger Davies/OTTOVanity wall tile: Artistic Tile. Towel bars and faucets: Waterworks. Sconces: Apparatus.The marble floor tile from Artistic Tile drove the design for this bathroom, Hohla says. It was one of the first materials the client fell in love with. A wall niche makes it easy to stash away pretty perfume bottles.About the DesignerKelly Hohla is the principal of Kelly Hohla Interiors in San Francisco, which she founded in 2011. Prior to establishing her own firm, she worked for The Wisemen Group and Jeffers Design Group. SHOP THE SPACECalla Mobile Chandelier $3 at johnpomp.comJewel Mirror$2,025 at tomfaulkner.co.ukMiranda Bench$805 at marcalidesigns.comBell Table$2,012 at sebastianherkner.comRosedale Dresser$1,499 at fourhands.comFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is availableon iTunes and Apples Podcasts app,Stitcher,TuneIn,Google Play, or through ourdedicated RSS feedfor Overcast and other podcast players.Supported by Setapp: Get access to 240+ apps on your Mac for just $9.99. Sign up today for a free 7-day trial.New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as theyre available.Stories discussed in this episode:Listen & Subscribe:Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:Ad-free versions of every episodeBonus contentCatch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes!Dont miss out on our other daily podcasts:Share your thoughts!Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.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

By this point, were seeing a very consistent story emerging in terms of the iPhone 17 design for each of the four models and a new video with 3D-printed mockups helps bring those designs to life.The designs are based on CAD drawings first shared by Majin Bu and since endorsed by two other Apple leakers The iPhone 17 line-upWere expecting four models this year, with the Plus dropped in favor of a new slimline Air model:iPhone 17 (two cameras)iPhone 17 Air (slimline, with one camera)iPhone 17 Pro (three cameras)iPhone 17 Pro Max (three cameras)iPhone 17 design mockupsLeaker Majin Bu previously shared CAD drawings of all four models, and hes now partnered with YouTube channel iDeviceHelp to show 3D-printed mockups. The video shows only three models, as the design of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models is expected to be identical bar the size.Of the four, the base model iPhone 17 is the least interesting as the design appears identical to the iPhone 16.Everything is basically identical this time around with the entry level iPhone 17, from the volumes up and down to the Action button, we also have on the other side the camera controls [and] the side button for Siri [] Even the dimensions look the same.The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be notably thinner than any of the other models, and pitched at those who value sleekness over functionality, with just a single camera in a new horizontal bar.This iPhone is razor thin, guys, this is crazy! Take a look at this: the buttons are almost as thick as the actual phone [and] the USB-C port is almost as thick as the iPhone itself []We have an entirely new camera module on the back which reminds me a lot of the Google Pixel camera []Lets go ahead and measure the depth of this design and lets go ahead and place it right there and see wow right there it is 0.22 inches. This is going to be the thinnest iPhone ever. Now, one thing to note is that this iPhone phone is so thin I think MagSafe will not be available on this device.While the two Pro models have the same three-camera triangular arrangement as today, the big change were expecting is that the raised camera module area will extend across almost the full width of the phone.Dimensions are based on the CAD measurements, which suggest the two Pro models will be slightly thicker this year. This gels with a new Weibo report today which says the additional thickness is to make room for a bigger battery.One important point to make is that these crude 3D models of course lack any replication of the finish of the devices, so are only useful as a guide to the overall design not its actual appearance. Check out the video below.Screengrab: iDeviceHelp with Majin BuAdd 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

Mar 10, 2025Ravie LakshmananData Theft / CryptocurrencyThe Middle East and North Africa have become the target of a new campaign that delivers a modified version of a known malware called AsyncRAT since September 2024."The campaign, which leverages social media to distribute malware, is tied to the region's current geopolitical climate," Positive Technologies researchers Klimentiy Galkin and Stanislav Pyzhov said in an analysis published last week. "The attackers host malware in legitimate online file-sharing accounts or Telegram channels set up specially for this purpose."The campaign is estimated to have claimed approximately 900 victims since the fall 2024, the Russian cybersecurity company added, indicating its widespread nature. A majority of the victims are located in Libya, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Tunisia.The activity, attributed to a threat actor dubbed Desert Dexter, was discovered in February 2025. It chiefly involves creating temporary accounts and news channels on Facebook. These accounts are then used to publish advertisements containing links to a file-sharing service or Telegram channel.The links, in turn, redirect users to a version of the AsyncRAT malware that has been altered to include an offline keylogger; search for 16 different cryptocurrency wallet extensions and applications; and communicate with a Telegram bot.The kill chain starts with a RAR archive that either includes a batch script or a JavaScript file, which are programmed to run a PowerShell script that's responsible for triggering the second stage of the attack.Specifically, it terminates processes associated with various .NET services that could prevent the malware from starting, deletes files with the extensions BAT, PS1, and VBS from "C:\ProgramData\WindowsHost" and "C:\Users\Public" folders, and creates a new VBS file in C:\ProgramData\WindowsHost, and BAT and PS1 files in C:\Users\Public.The script then establishes persistence on the system, gathers and exfiltrates system information to a Telegram bot, takes a screenshot, and ultimately launches the AsyncRAT payload by injecting it into the "aspnet_compiler.exe" executable.It's currently not known who is behind the campaign, although Arabic language comments in the JavaScript file allude to their possible origin.Further analysis of the messages sent to the Telegram bot has revealed screenshots of the attacker's own desktop named "DEXTERMSI," featuring the PowerShell script as well as a tool named Luminosity Link RAT. Also present in the Telegram bot is a link to a Telegram channel named "dexterlyly," suggesting that the threat actor could be from Libya. The channel was created on October 5, 2024."The majority of victims are ordinary users, including employees in the following sectors: Oil production, construction, information technology, [and] agriculture," the researchers said."The tools used by Desert Dexter are not particularly sophisticated. However, the combination of Facebook ads with legitimate services and references to the geopolitical situation has led to the infection of numerous devices."The development comes as QiAnXin revealed details of a spear-phishing campaign dubbed Operation Sea Elephant that has been found targeting scientific research institutions in China with the goal of delivering a backdoor capable of harvesting sensitive information related to ocean sciences and technologies.The activity has been attributed to a cluster named UTG-Q-011, which, it said, is a subset within another adversarial collective called CNC group that shares tactical overlaps with Patchwork, a threat actor suspected to be from India.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

The man who coined the phrase Life is pain never met Nathan Caine.Nateis afflicted with an extremely rare genetic disorder called congenital insensitivity to pain analgesia that makes him incapable of feeling any sort of pain. (Yes, its real.) To a moviegoing public drowning incomic-book movies, that might sound like a superpower. To Nate, its more curse than gift.Its importantfor a person to feel pain. Pain keeps us alive. It tells us to move our hand away from a fire before we permanently damage our hand, or to go see a doctor so that an illness or an infection can be treated. Nate never gets those warnings, so to protect himself he lives a lifecovered in almost literal bubble wrap.He never eats solid foods out of fear of accidentally biting through his tongue. He tops his pencils with puddy; he has tennis balls on every door handle and desk corner,lest he puncture himself without noticing. When hes not working as an assistant bank manager in San Diego, hes avoiding danger at home, mostly playing MMORPGs with his only friend a voice in his headphones that hes never even met (the voice of Jacob Batalon).NovocaineParamountloading...READ MORE: The Funniest Episodes of Drama TV ShowsOf course, there wouldnt be much of a movie if Nate (Jack Quaid) just stayed in his house for 100 minutes. Sure enough, just a few minutes into the action comedyNovocaine, he finally says yes after a lifetime of no to a beautiful and charming new teller at his bank named Sherry (Amber Midthunder). They go out for lunch and (gasp!) he actually takes a bite of solid food. Pretty soon, Nates doing all kinds of stuff thats out of character. He meets Sherry at a bar, he takes her home,and then, when Sherry is kidnappedduring a bank robbery he sets off torescue her.Why doesntNatelet the police handle it? Im afraid youre just going to have to not askthat questionif you want to enjoy Novocaine. To appreciatethe films pluses, namely some very clever action set pieces built around Nates condition, you will also need toendure a bunch of minuses, primarily a plot full of completely implausible twists.Isuppose if you can accept that Jack Quaid cannot feel it when hes shot with an arrow, you can acceptthat a bank robber might booby trap his entire houseHome Alonestyle for basically no reason other than it makes a great placeto torture Nate.Buy the ticket, take the ride, and all of that.NovocaineParamountloading...The script, by Lars Jacobson, oscillates between eye-rollingly silly moments like that one, others that areingenious like a scene where one of the bank robbers catches Nateand tortures him for kicks, and Nate has to pretend hes in agony in order to keep his attacker from realizing that this is all part of Nates (admittedly not very good) survival plan. While I cant say it always feels like Jacobson and directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen have fully thought through the mechanics of their story,itdoesfeel like they have brainstormed every possible way they could wring comedyandbody horror out of this scenario.It also helps that they have a very game Jack Quaid as their unlikely protagonist. With his lanky physicality, he looks the part of a dude who has never left his house, and he really sells Nates head-over-heels attraction to Sherry. He also hassolid chemistry with Midthunder, although the films structure means they spend a large chunk of the movie apart.NovocaineParamountloading...I cannot justify nor explain most of the decisions Novocainescharacters make. Ultimately, I was willing to simply let them wash over me like a heavily medicated dental patient, because I got enough of a kick out the film's dark sense of humor and its surprisingly graphic violence.Novocainebelongs to the same cinemasochistic tradition as movies likeEvil Dead IIandCrank, where the audience is invited to derive twisted pleasure from watching a heroic leading man get the crap beaten out of him ininventive ways.Its not as good as those movies. But on its own terms, its painless enough. Pleasurable even.Additional Thoughts:-I mentioned the house that is inexplicably booby-trapped like its Macaulay Culkins summer cottage. One of the traps involves a mace. Like a medieval mace! Where do you even get a mace in 2025?!?-By the way, the man who said Life is pain was the Dread Pirate Roberts inThe Princess Bride.(The full line is Life is pain, your highness! Anyone who says differently is selling something.) Technically, we should credit screenwriter William Goldman for that one.RATING: 6/10Get our free mobile appThe Worst Action Movies Ever MadeWe love action movies at ScreenCrush. But not all action movies are great, or good, or even watchable. These are the worst of the worst.

James Camerons third Avatar movie will be even longer than the second.The 70-year-old filmmaker admitted he had too many great ideas packed into 2022s Avatar: The Way of Water - which clocked in at three hours and 12 minutes - but he's gone even bigger with the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash.He told EmpireMagazine: In a nutshell, we had too many great ideas packed into act one of movie two. The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we werent drilling down enough on character. So I said, Guys, weve got to split it.Movie 3 will actually be a little bit longer than movie 2.His co-writer Amanda Silver, who wrote the script with Cameron and Rick Jaffa, stressed the second and third movies are separate films because the characters needed to breathe.She said: These movies are a lot more than just propulsive plot and gorgeous spectacle. I mean, these are real characters.The director recently declared he feels "pretty good" about the third movie after giving selected people an advance screening.He told Stuff: Ive shown it to a few selected people and the feedback has been ... its definitely the most emotional and maybe the best of the three so far ... Well find out, you know, but I feel pretty good about it.20th Century Studios20th Century Studiosloading...READ MORE: Every James Cameron Movie Ranked From Worst to BestThe upcoming movie features the likes of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, and Kate Winslet, and the Titanicfilmmaker admitted to being wowed by their efforts.He said: The work is exceptional from the actors. Its pretty heart-wrenching in a good way.Cameron shot the new movie in Wellington, New Zealand, and he's hoping to encourage investors to throw their support behind the country's film industry.The Canadian filmmaker, who is in the process of getting citizenship in New Zealand, explained: Its in a bit of a low spot right now, but when I first got here there was vigor in the film community, there was vigor in the city at large. We just need to remember that we're good at that ... From my perspective, reinvigorating the film sector can mean a lot. And I don't think people here really appreciate how good they are relative to such a small population base.Avatar: Fire and Ashis scheduled to open in theaters on December 19.The Worst Action Movies Ever MadeWe love action movies at ScreenCrush. But not all action movies are great, or good, or even watchable. These are the worst of the worst.Filed Under: avatar, Avatar 3, James CameronCategories: Movie News

Junior QA Analyst (Remote)We are seeking a Junior QA Analyst to join Gymdesks growing engineering team. In this role, you will work closely with our QA lead to ensure our web and mobile applications meet the high levels of quality and reliability our users expect.The ideal candidate will have 1-2 years experience in manual testing, as well as a strong desire to learn and grow in the field of software quality assurance. If you're passionate about software quality and eager to develop your skills in QA, we hope youll consider Gymdesk.About GymdeskGymdesk offers modern, online management software to gyms, martial arts schools, yoga studios and wellness businesses. In an industry dominated by outdated and cumbersome products, we provide a seamless, intuitive user experience.Thousands of customers rely on Gymdesk every day to streamline workflows and grow their businesses. We continuously enhance our software based on user feedback and industry research, and our commitment to exceptional customer service is reflected in our 4.8-star rating on Capterra.ResponsibilitiesManual Testing: Execute detailed test plans for new features and updates, focusing on both functional and non-functional requirements.Defect Reporting: Identify, document, and report software defects with clear, concise descriptions and steps to reproduce.Test Case Management: Assist in maintaining and updating our library of test cases to reflect current software functionality.Collaboration: Work closely with software engineers, product managers, and other team members to understand requirements and ensure quality throughout the development process.Documentation: Help maintain and update product documentation as new features are added or changed.Usability Testing: Participate in usability testing sessions and provide feedback on user experience.Quality Processes: Contribute to the improvement of our QA processes and methodologies.Requirements1-2 years of experience in software testing or a related fieldStrong background in manual testing, both plan-based and exploratoryFamiliarity with bug tracking and test management toolsBasic understanding of web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)Ability to write clear, concise bug reports and test casesGood analytical and problem-solving skillsExcellent attention to detailStrong communication skills, both written and verbalEagerness to learn and grow in the field of software quality assuranceAble to work Mon-Fri, 09:00 - 17:00 UTC +/- 2hAdditionally, the following are nice to haves. If you havent had the opportunity to gain experience in these areas yet, well help you to learn on the job.Ability to write basic SQL queries for data verificationMobile app testing experienceAPI testing experienceGrow With UsWe offer a supportive environment for professional growth and the opportunity to play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of our products. In addition to in-house training, you will have the opportunity to gain industry-recognised certification via the ISTQB Certified Tester scheme.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. The cheapest way to supercharge Americas power grid Brian Deese is an innovation fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served as director of the White House National Economic Council from 2021 to 2023. Rob Gramlich is founder and president of Grid Strategies and was economic advisor to the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the George W. Bush administration. US electricity consumption is rising faster than it has in decades. Accommodating that growth will require building wind turbines, solar farms, and other power plants faster than we ever have beforeand expanding the network of wires needed to connect those facilities to the grid. But one major problem is that its expensive and slow to secure permits for new transmission lines and build them across the country. Fortunately, there are some shortcuts that could expand the capacity of the existing system without requiring completely new infrastructure: a suite of hardware and software tools known as advanced transmission technologies (ATTs), which can increase both the capacity and the efficiency of the power sector. ATTs have the potential to radically reduce timelines for grid upgrades, avoid tricky permitting issues, and yield billions in annual savings for US consumers. So why are we not seeing an explosion in ATT investment and deployment in the US?Read the full story. Interested in learning more about this topic? Read more of our stories: + Whats driving electricity demand? It isnt just AI and data centers. + That said, AIs search for energy is growing more urgent. + Why this developer wont quit fighting to connect the USs grids. + Here are four ways AI is making the power grid faster and more resilient. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 China claims to have created the worlds first fully autonomous AI agent The agent, called Manus, can allegedly operate fully free of human intervention. (Forbes)+ But its not clear if the hype can be justified at this stage. (TechCrunch)+ Two former DeepMind researchers are chasing superintelligence. (Bloomberg $)+ Four Chinese AI startups to watch beyond DeepSeek. (MIT Technology Review)2 Meta went to extreme lengths to win Chinas approval Including developing a censorship system to comply with the CCP. (WP $)+ However, its attempts to curry favor with the party did not bear fruit. (Gizmodo)3 Anonymous Chinese investors are quietly funding Elon Musks ventures Theyre happy to invest tens of millionsso long as their identities remain under wraps. (FT $)+ Despite the influx of cash, SpaceX isnt having a great year. (NYT $)+ Starlink is reaping the benefits of its founders proximity to the White House. (NBC News)4 Ukraine doesnt have minable rare earths And even if it did, it would take at least 15 years to reach them. (IEEE Spectrum)+ The country is preparing to hold negotiations with the US this week. (Economist $) 5 Farewell, the Athena lunar lander It landed sideways in a crater and has been officially written off. (The Register)+ Intuitive Machines, the company behind it, is contracted for another two landings. (AP News)+ Firefly Aerospace, another private firm, had better luck. (Economist $)6 The American public really doesnt like DOGE And Donald Trump is starting to pay attention. (The Atlantic $)+ Musk represents the problem he is claiming he wants to solve. (Wired $)+ The Trump administration is threatening scientific progress. (New Yorker $)+ Anti-Musk protestors are targeting Tesla stores and infrastructure. (WP $)7 Wikipedia is struggling to document the war in the Middle EastCertain editors have been forbidden from working on related pages. (Bloomberg $) 8 How to store the worlds dataHard discs seem the obvious choicefor now. (WSJ $) + Music labels are going after the Internet Archive for copyright infringement. (Ars Technica)+ The race to save our online lives from a digital dark age. (MIT Technology Review)9 YouTube bros are peddling Taliban tourism Inside the depressing rise of videos purporting to show another side to Afghanistan. (Insider $)10 Amazon and Googles AI calls Mein Kampf a true work of art Thats what happens when you search for positive reviews of the Nazi manifesto. (404 Media)+ Want AI that flags hateful content? Build it. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the day The US won the internet and the US should win crypto. Tyler Winklevoss, who runs crypto exchange Gemini with his twin brother Cameron, could not be happier with the outcome of Donald Trumps crypto summit, according to a post on X. The big story How this Turing Awardwinning researcher became a legendary academic advisor October 2023 Every academic field has its superstars. But a rare few achieve superstardom not just by demonstrating individual excellence but also by consistently producing future superstars.Computer science has its own such figure: Manuel Blum, who won the 1995 Turing Awardthe Nobel Prize of computer science. He is the inventor of the captchaa test designed to distinguish humans from bots online.Three of Blums students have also won Turing Awards, and many have received other high honors in theoretical computer science. More than 20 hold professorships at top computer science departments. So whats the formula to his success? Read the full story.Sheon HanWe can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Looking for some books to make you laugh out loud? Look no further.+ What cant White Lotus star Walton Goggins live without? An orange pen and 22-year old sand, apparently.+ When its time to take a break, heres how to recharge properly.+ $40 for magic yogurt? What the hell, sure.

US electricity consumption is rising faster than it has in decades, thanks in part to the boom in data center development, the resurgence in manufacturing, and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Accommodating that growth will require building wind turbines, solar farms, and other power plants faster than we ever have beforeand expanding the network of wires needed to connect those facilities to the grid. But one major problem is that its expensive and slow to secure permits for new transmission lines and build them across the country. This challenge has created one of the biggest obstacles to getting more electricity generation online, reducing investment in new power plants and stranding others in years-long interconnection queues while they wait to join the grid. Fortunately, there are some shortcuts that could expand the capacity of the existing system without requiring completely new infrastructure: a suite of hardware and software tools known as advanced transmission technologies (ATTs), which can increase both the capacity and the efficiency of the power sector. ATTs have the potential to radically reduce timelines for grid upgrades, avoid tricky permitting issues, and yield billions in annual savings for US consumers. They could help us quickly bring online a significant portion of the nearly 2,600 gigawatts of backlogged generation and storage projects awaiting pathways to connect to the electric grid. The opportunity to leverage advanced transmission technologies to update the way we deliver and consume electricity in America is as close to a $20 bill sitting on the sidewalk as policymakers may ever encounter. Promoting the development and use of these technologies should be a top priority for politicians in Washington, DC, as well as electricity market regulators around the country. That includes the new Trump administration, which has clearly stated that building greater electricity supply and keeping costs low for consumers are high priorities. In the last month, Washington has been consumed by the Trump teams efforts to test the bounds of executive power, fire civil servants, and disrupt the basic workings of the federal government. But when or if the White House and Congress get around to enacting new energy policies, they would be wise to pick up the $20 bill by enacting bipartisan measures to accelerate the rollout of these innovative grid technologies. ATTs generally fall into four categories: dynamic line ratings, which combine local weather forecasts and measurements on or near the transmission line to safely increase their capacity when conditions allow; high-performance conductors, which are advanced wires that use carbon fiber, composite cores, or superconducting materials to carry more electricity than traditional steel-core conductors; topology optimization, which uses software to model fluctuating conditions across the grid and identify the most efficient routes to distribute electricity from moment to moment; and advanced power flow control devices, which redistribute electricity to lines with available capacity. "This would allow utilities to earn a profit for saving money, not just spending it, and could save consumers billions on their electricity bills every year." Other countries from Belgium to India to the United Kingdom are already making large-scale use of these technologies. Early projects in the United States have been remarkably successful as well. One recent deployment of dynamic line ratings increased capacity by more than 50% for only $45,000 per mileroughly 1% of the price of building new transmission. So why are we not seeing an explosion in ATT investment and deployment in the US? Because despite their potential to unlock 21st-century technology, the 20th-century structure of the nations electricity markets discourages adoption of these solutions. For one thing, under the current regulatory system, utilities generally make money by passing the cost of big new developments along to customers (earning a fixed annual return on their investment). That comes in the form of higher electricity rates, which local public utility commissions often approve after power companies propose such projects. That means utilities have financial incentives to make large and expensive investments, but not to save consumers money. When ATTs are installed in place of building new transmission capacity, the smaller capital costs mean that utilities make lower profits. For example, utilities might earn $600,000 per year after building a new mile of transmission, compared with about $4,500 per mile annually after installing the equipment and software necessary for line ratings. While these state regulatory agencies are tasked with ensuring that utilities act in the best interest of consumers, they often lack the necessary information to identify the best approach for doing so. Overcoming these structural barriers will require action from both state and federal governments, and it should appeal to Democrats and Republicans alike. Weve already seen some states, including Minnesota and Montana, move in this direction, but policy interventions to date remain insufficient. In a recent paper, we propose a new approach for unlocking the potential of these technologies.First, we suggest requiring transmission providers to use ATTs in some no regrets contexts, where possible downsides are minor or nonexistent. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, for example, is already considering requiring dynamic line ratings on certain highly congested lines. Given the low cost of dynamic line ratings, and their clear benefit in cases of congestion, we believe that FERC should quickly move forward with, and strengthen, such a rule. Likewise, the Department of Energy or Congress should adopt an efficiency standard for the wires that carry electricity around the country. Every year, approximately 5% of electricity generated is lost in the transmission and distribution process. The use of high-performance conductors can reduce those losses by 30%. In addition, federal agencies and state lawmakers should require transmission providers to evaluate the potential for using ATTs on their grid, or provide support to help them do so. FERC has recently taken steps in this direction, and it should continue to strengthen those actions.Regulators should also provide financial incentives to transmission providers to encourage the installation of ATTs. The most promising approach is a shared savings incentive, such as that proposed in the recent Advancing GETS Act. This would allow utilities to earn a profit for saving money, not just spending it, and could save consumers billions on their electricity bills every year. Finally, we should invest in building digital tools so transmission owners can identify opportunities for these technologies and so regulators can hold them accountable. Developing these systems will require transmission providers to share information about electricity supply and demand as well as grid infrastructure. Ideally, with such data in hand, researchers can develop a digital twin of the current transmission system to test different configurations of ATTs and help improve the performance and efficiency of our grids. We are all too aware that the world often faces difficult policy trade-offs. But laws or regulations that facilitate the use of ATTs can quickly expand the grid and save consumers money. They should be an easy yes on both sides of the aisle. Brian Deese is an innovation fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served as director of the White House National Economic Council from 2021 to 2023. Rob Gramlich is founder and president of Grid Strategies and was economic advisor to the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the George W. Bush administration.

HGP Architects scheme will not include affordable housing following viability assessmentTown Quay Marina will include three 25-storey towersPlans by Hampshire-based practice HGP Architects for a 460-home scheme at Town Quay Marina in Southampton have been given the green light.The mixed-use scheme, which also includes a hotel, was approved by councillors at Southampton city council earlier this week.The scheme, developed by Nicholas James, will see 12,000sq m of land reclaimed from the marina and existing buildings part-demolished.The plans include three residential towers of 25 storeys and a neighbouring seven-storey block containing a combined 460 flats.The proposal does not include homes for affordable housing tenures due to viability constraints, although further viability reviews will take place as part of the section 106 agreement.A nine-storey building will also be erected on the existing pier, containing a 128-bedroom hotel and 18 serviced apartments. It also includes a helipad on the roof and a new ferry passenger terminal.The report that went before planning officers said: While failing to secure affordable housing is a weakness of the application proposal, the adopted development plan allows for viability to be considered when determining the level of affordable housing.The proposal also brings other benefits to the city, including job creation and the delivery of homes and the much-needed regeneration of this siteAs such, and in light of the advice from the councils independent viability expert, it is recommended that the development be supported on the basis of the current viability position, which does not support affordable housing.The project team includes Aecom on costs, landscape architect Fabrik, structural engineer Ramboll and RPS Group on heritage.