The bucolic splendor of Waitsfield, Vermont, is the obvious muse behind one of the ski town’s recent new builds. A getaway for a family of skiers and art collectors roosting between New York and Providence, the project by Carter Design draws inspiration from the many barns punctuating the idyllic landscape. “It was a literal, modern barn raising,” says cofounder Cy Carter. “We wanted to use a lot of wood and a lot of warmth so that you felt held as you looked out over all these views.”White oak reigns in the main room, where cabinets flank a central wood stove set against a wall of red Heath tiles that echo the house’s oxblood doors. The oak finish also complements the subtle stain of wide-plank floors that span all but the mudroom, where speckled terrazzo defends against all of Vermont’s five seasons. “It’s winter, mud season, spring, summer, and fall,” Carter explains.The bucolic Waitsfield house, which was designed by Desai Chia Architecture, reinterprets forms of the many regional numerous barns with shou sugi ban siding. The fecund design by Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture highlights the handiwork of Norris Landscaping & Nursery. Locally sourced leather soapstone countertops were chosen for durability in the adjacent kitchen, imbuing an organic accent to cabinetry as well as the scenery framed by glass doors along the opposite wall. “The soapstone has an undertone of blue-ish green, so we felt good about exploring that and just bringing in little bits of color,” Carter adds. “You have this big giant kitchen on [one] side and then you have all of Vermont on the other.”With skylights and expansive vistas comes abundant daylight, necessitating a gentler lighting scheme after sunset. To compose intimacy, recessed lights were substituted with a medley of lamps, sconces, and a sleek but unassuming chandelier in the dining area that lets the painterly surroundings remain the daytime focal point. As the moon rises, rippling shades descend with a layer of architectural texture. “It keeps the windows from being just these big giant black voids,” Carter says.

A hot potato: Although Nvidia has caught the most flak for continuing to sell mid-range $400+ graphics cards with just 8GB of VRAM, AMD has also persisted with this approach in the budget-performance segment. Although independent benchmark data reveals the ongoing quality and performance sacrifices associated with smaller VRAM pools, Team Red continues to defend its lower-tier products with statements that, while technically accurate, obscure the true value propositions of modern GPUs. AMD's Frank Azor recently defended the company's decision to sell an 8GB variant of the Radeon RX 9060 XT amid growing criticism of mid-range and mainstream graphics cards featuring limited VRAM. While Nvidia is more frequently guilty of this trend and AMD cards often offer more memory, the most affordable and popular products from both companies suffer from the same issue. Following a Computex unveiling of the RX 9060 XT, which offers 8GB and 16GB configurations, Azor responded to a question regarding the cheaper version by claiming 8GB of VRAM is sufficient for 1080p, the most popular PC gaming resolution. Our reviews of similar GPUs like Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti 8GB and 5060 reveal that, while this is true, low VRAM significantly handicaps cards compared to similar hardware with more memory. While virtually any title in 2025 is playable with 8GB of VRAM at the right graphics settings, the size of the VRAM pool can still significantly impact the user experience. Comparing the 8GB and 16GB versions of the RTX 5060 Ti reveals that while average frame rates are often similar, running out of memory can dramatically worsen one-percent lows, leading to noticeable stuttering. Some games perform worse overall on the 8GB model, and others – like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – crash at settings where the 16GB GPU runs smoothly. // Related Stories Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 highlights a different issue. Both cards deliver nearly identical frame rates at ultra settings with the 4K texture pack enabled, but the 8GB version struggles to render high-resolution textures. In another benchmark, the 8GB RTX 5060 Ti even falls behind Intel's Arc B580 – a 12GB card that costs over $100 less and targets a lower performance tier. These issues can arise even at 1080p, a resolution still used by 55% of surveyed Steam users. Azor also noted that the mainstream GPU market is aimed largely at esports players, who likely represent the largest segment of users. Steam's most popular games – esports titles like Counter-Strike 2, Marvel Rivals, Dota 2, and Apex Legends – can still achieve high frame rates on 8GB cards. Related reading: 4GB vs. 8GB: How Have VRAM Requirements Evolved? However, as GPUs become more expensive, many users are turning to budget hardware for playing demanding AAA titles, which benchmarks show they can handle surprisingly well. With sufficient VRAM and upscaling technology, mainstream GPUs are perfectly capable of 4K gaming. Nvidia's approach to reviews of 8GB GPUs also suggests manufacturers are aware of the shortcomings. The company withheld 8GB RTX 5060 Ti review units from independent outlets and restricted access to RTX 5060 drivers for reviewers unwilling to benchmark the card under favorable conditions. One such condition was enabling quadruple frame generation, a feature that distorts raw performance metrics and consumes additional VRAM. Meanwhile, ray tracing – a feature Nvidia frequently markets as a core benefit – is notably memory-intensive. AMD's first 8GB card, the Radeon RX 480, launched nearly nine years ago at $229. It's remarkable that manufacturers still sell GPUs with the same VRAM capacity for over $300. Outside of esports, these products are likely to age poorly, especially if next-generation consoles, which are expected to feature more than 20GB of memory, launch within these cards' life spans. How much VRAM do you have?

We test a lot of smart home devices, most of which are meant to work indoors. But there are also plenty of great gadgets that work outside, whether it's to balance the pH content of your pool, mow your lawn, or keep an eye on your property when you're out of town.Here, we've gathered some of the best backyard-friendly gadgets we've tested. It's a diverse selection, from beach-friendly speakers to robotic pool cleaners. There's even a TV you can keep out in a thunderstorm. So, if you're looking to bring the technological comforts of home to the great outdoors, look no further. Best Floodlight Camera Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 4.5 Excellent Keep your driveway or yard fully illuminated and secure with the Eufy E340 floodlight camera. It isn't solar-powered like the S340 below it and so you'll have to wire it, but it has a 2,000-lumen floodlight and mechanical pan-and-tilt so you can cover every inch of your property in its range. Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 review Best Battery-Powered Projector Anker Nebula Mars 3 4.0 Excellent The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a capable 1080p projector that's ideal for use in the backyard or at a vacation rental thanks to its water-resistant design and its battery that can last up to five hours (in Eco Mode, or two hours at full-blast). It features Android 11, so you can stream from plenty of services without plugging in another device. Plus, it has a useful handle so you can lug it anywhere. Anker Nebula Mars 3 review Best Budget Outdoor Security Camera TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120 4.5 Excellent If you want to monitor the outside of your home without spending much money, the TP-Link Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor is worth looking into. For just $40, it's loaded with features usually only found on more expensive models, including 2K resolution (2,560 by 1,440 pixels), color night vision, and local video storage. The camera records video when it detects motion and offers free intelligent alerts that differentiate between people, pets, vehicles, and other motion events, a feature many competitors charge extra for. It requires a nearby GFCI outlet for power but saves you a lot of money compared with wireless 2K alternatives. TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120 review Best Affordable Bluetooth Speaker Anker Soundcore Motion 300 4.0 Excellent The Anker Soundcore Motion 300 is a deceptively small, cheap outdoor speaker, considering the sound it can produce. It offers robust sound with high-res LDAC Bluetooth codec support and is also completely waterproof. Best of all, it's well under $100 and easy to slip into a bag. Anker Soundcore Motion 300 review Best Portable Speaker JBL Charge 5 4.0 Excellent JBL’s portable, outdoor-friendly Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker is an excellent choice for parties. It has a dust-tight build for the beach, with powerful drivers and dual passive radiators to deliver an impressive amount of sound for its size. You don't get a speakerphone function or an adjustable EQ in the companion app, but those are relatively minor drawbacks. For less than $200, you can't do much better. Best Robot Lawn Mower Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD 4.0 Excellent As with every robot lawn mower we've reviewed, the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD doesn't come cheap, but it does an excellent job of mowing and trimming your lawn. It features both GPS and cellular radios, plus it connects to a slick companion app that enables remote controls, mowing schedules, and IFTTT integrations. Best of all (depending on your yard), it won't struggle to handle hilly terrain. Best Outdoor Smart Plug TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A 4.0 Excellent TP-Link’s dual-outlet Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A ($29.99) doesn't care what smart home system(s) you use: It works with all the major platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. That broad compatibility and an IP64 weatherproof rating make it a good choice for bringing smart features to your backyard appliances. TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A review Best Robot Pool Cleaner Polaris Freedom Plus Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner 4.0 Excellent Polaris robotic pool cleaners have long been among our favorites because of their sturdy build and superb cleaning performance, and the cordless Freedom Plus continues the streak. It's battery-operated, which means it can clean the pool without a cable for power. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to activate it in its charging station and a light-based remote for controlling it underwater. Otherwise, you can simply let it roam around until it comes back up to charge and empty. Polaris Freedom Plus Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner review Best Smart Sprinkler System Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller 4.5 Excellent If you love your lawn enough to install a sprinkler system, you need a good sprinkler controller. The Rachio 3 is one of the best: It supports up to eight separate sprinkler zones with automatic weather-based or custom app-controlled watering schedules. You can even control it with Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands and IFTTT applets. Best Smart Hose Timer Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer With Wi-Fi Hub 4.0 Excellent You don't need a full sprinkler system to automate watering your lawn. The Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer turns your ordinary garden hose into a smart watering system that you control from your phone, complete with programmed watering schedules and smart weather-based watering. It's a breeze to install and program, and it works with Amazon Alexa voice commands. Best Pool Water Monitor Crystal Water Monitor 4.0 Excellent The Crystal Water Monitor keeps track of your pool's health, with plenty of water analysis features beyond simple pH levels including oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and total alkalinity. It's a bit pricey and requires a subscription after the first year, but the subscription includes a continuous warranty and replacement sensors when needed. Crystal Water Monitor review Best Wireless Outdoor Security Camera Eufy SoloCam S340 4.0 Excellent The Eufy SoloCam S340 is one of the most feature-filled wireless outdoor security cameras available, starting with a built-in solar panel for keeping its battery charged. It also features dual lenses, 3K video, color night vision, mechanical pan and tilt, a built-in spotlight, and local video storage. That's a lot packed into a single camera, and it easily justifies its high price if you want to keep a close eye on your home. Eufy SoloCam S340 review Best Smart Lock Ultraloq Bolt Smart WiFi Deadbolt Fingerprint Edition 4.5 Excellent The Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint is one of the most flexible smart locks we've seen for securing your front door. You can use an app, your fingerprint, a key, or a PIN code to unlock it. It also works with every major smart home standard except Matter. Ultraloq Bolt Smart WiFi Deadbolt Fingerprint Edition review Best Speaker for Outdoor Parties Sony ULT Field 7 4.0 Excellent If you really want to drive an outdoor party, the big and booming Sony ULT Field 7 is the speaker to get. It's a chunky, completely weatherproof cylinder with stereo woofer/tweeter pairs that can easily fill your backyard with music. It also has colored lighting effects and a mic input for karaoke. Sony ULT Field 7 review Best Smart Bird Feeder Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro 4.5 Excellent The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro sends highly shareable snapshots and video postcards of the local bird population to your phone, while its companion app is smart enough to call out their species. Overall, the Bird Buddy is a charming piece of tech for naturalists and an Editors' Choice winner—if you're going to get a smart feeder, get this one. Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro review Best Video Doorbell Tapo D225 Video Doorbell 4.0 Excellent Besides a good front door lock, you probably want to be able to see who's knocking or who might be stealing your packages. The TP-Link Tapo D225 video doorbell offers sharp video, both local and cloud storage, and plenty of smart home integration options, and it's surprisingly affordable. Tapo D225 Video Doorbell review Best for Roku-Centric Households Roku Outdoor Smart Plug 4.0 Excellent Roku's Outdoor Smart Plug SE features an IP64 weatherproof build, and makes it easy to control appliances and other electronics with your phone or voice and conveniently tracks how much power they use. It's appealing if you also use Roku devices since you don't need to set up anything else to control the plug from your couch. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, but the TP-Link EP40A offers offers better third-party device support. Roku Outdoor Smart Plug review Best Outdoor TV SunBriteTV 55-Inch Veranda 3 Series (SB-V3-55-4KHDR-BL) 4.0 Excellent Most TVs aren’t built to survive the elements, let alone pouring rain, blowing snow, flying sand, or scorching heat, but SunBriteTV’s Veranda Series 3 is up to the task. It offers a few key advantages over previous Veranda models, including a brighter and much more colorful picture with support for Dolby Vision, as well as a full suite of Android TV features such as streaming media services, Google Assistant voice controls, and the ability to mirror your phone. Best Outdoor Party Lights Govee Lynx Dream Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Outdoor String Lights 4.0 Excellent Light strips are ideal for subtle effects, but if you want a more festive way to illuminate your patio, porch, or any other outdoor space, you're better off with smart string lights like the Govee Lynx Dream. Available in lengths of 48 or 96 feet, each string has dimmable multicolor LED bulbs that you can control with your voice or phone. They also support IFTTT applets, and you get a generous selection of preset lighting scenes and a fun Music Sync mode that's great for parties. Best Smart Door Feather River Doors Smart Glass 4.0 Excellent Smart locks and doorbell cameras might make your front door safe but don't add much to the aesthetic appeal. If you want to give your front door a real high-tech makeover, the Feather River Doors Smart Glass is a unique, expensive option. It's a door with a smart glass window that lets you flip between frosted opaque and completely transparent with the push of a button, a voice command, or an app. Feather River Doors Smart Glass review Protect Your Packages Yale Smart Delivery Box 4.0 Excellent Packages get purloined from porches pretty often, so protect those parcels with the Yale Smart Delivery Box. It's a large drop box you can secure to your porch so delivery drivers can safely set anything that will fit inside. Share an access code in the delivery details section of your orders from Amazon and other services, the driver will enter it into a keypad, the box will open, you'll get a notification, and the lid will automatically lock. Yale Smart Delivery Box review Best Smart Padlock Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 and Bridge 4.0 Excellent Smart locks are good for homes, but what about sheds and backyards? The Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 has you covered. It's a solid, waterproof padlock you can control via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It supports unlocking directly through the app, or you can control who can unlock it and at what times by issuing one-time or scheduled PINs and Bluetooth keys. Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 and Bridge review Best Smart Mosquito Repellent System Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System 4.0 Excellent Pesky mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise enjoyable evening in your backyard, but traditional bug sprays are usually unpleasant to use. The Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System is a high-tech alternative that relies on heat-activated repellent cartridges to create 20-foot barriers of protection. The system worked well in testing and we didn't see any vapors or smell any chemicals. You get three repellers in the basic kit, but keep in mind that the system specifically defends against mosquitoes, which means other types of bugs might continue to buzz about. Regardless, it supports both app and voice controls for maximum convenience. Best Wood-Fired Smart Grill Brisk It Origin 940 4.5 Excellent The Brisk It Origin 940 works like any other wood pellet grill, giving you the ability to roast, smoke, bake, and barbecue without having to deal with the mess of charcoal grilling or the taste of lighter fluid. Moreover, it uses generative AI to offer up countless recipes that you can send directly to the grill. In testing, its AI supplied foolproof recipes for pulled pork and whole bass and the grill delivered mouthwatering results. Brisk It Origin 940 review Best Smart Charcoal Grill and Smoker Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker 4.0 Excellent The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker helps you cook charcoal-fired food to perfection every time. This tank-like kamado grill is simple to use and clean, offers precise temperature control, and works with lots of high-quality accessories. The app is intuitive and has hundreds of recipes you can follow. Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker review Best Smart Gas Grill Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill 4.0 Excellent The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill is built to last and has plenty of smart tech features to enhance the cooking experience. It features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, an illuminated cooking chamber, a user-friendly mobile app, and hundreds of programmable recipes. Moreover, there’s plenty of built-in storage for utensils, cooking racks, and cleaning accessories. Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill review

Image: 2KGearbox Software's Randy Pitchford found himself in hot water recently after making a fairly tone deaf comment regarding the potential price of Borderlands 4. In response to concerns that the game may well be priced at $80, Pitchford simply stated that "if you're a real fan, you'll find a way". It's not a totally egregious comment in some respects, but the insinuation that those who perhaps can't afford the game aren't so-called "real fans" definitely rubbed folks the wrong way. Now, as spotted by Eurogamer, Pitchford has attempted to defend and justify his comment with another post on social media; this time consisting of a video in which he answers a question regarding how much Borderlands 4 will ultimately cost. He states that Borderlands 4 has "more than twice" the budget of Borderlands 3, which may well contribute to the final price of the game. Though he says that "as artists, we want everybody to have it", there are factors which have to be considered, including "tariffs for the retail packaging" and more. Pitchford says that pre-orders will be opening "soon", and that the price will be set at that time. He's keen to stress, however, that he doesn't know whether publisher 2K will follow the lead of Nintendo and Microsoft and price it at $80, or whether it will remain on the cheaper side. His comments here seem fair, and it just goes to show how some rogue social media post can have such a detrimental effect on one's reputation. Hopefully he'll think twice next time and perhaps show a bit more tact. "We don't feel like we're fighting the system" Do you think Randy Pitchford has adequately justified his comments here? Let us know. [source x.com, via eurogamer.net] Related Games See Also Share:0 0 Nintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles 27 Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Games We're Excited For In 2025 The very best Switch 2 games coming soon The First Review For Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Is In A fantasy score? Nintendo Switch 2 Final Tech Specs Have Been Confirmed GameChat has a "significant impact on system resources" Nintendo Apologises For "Error" With Mention Of Switch 2 VRR TV Support "The incorrect information was initially published" 12 Switch Games Are Getting Free Switch 2 Upgrades, Here's What You Can Expect Nintendo's free updates arrive next month

Crossing Eden Member Oct 26, 2017 58,491 Doug Cockle had some words to say to people who think Ciri being the protag of the Witcher is some "woke" sin or affront to the material of the Witcher. The Witcher 4 was officially announced at the 2024 Game Awards, and it kicked the hornet's nest by daring to have Ciri star as its protagonist. Geralt's voice actor, Doug Cockle, strongly defends the choice. "It's a cool character from the Witcher, and they're gonna focus on that character," he says during a Fall Damage video, responding to a post regarding people calling Ciri's newfound spotlight "woke." "I think that's awesome. You can't just have Geralt for every single game for The Witcher ad nauseam through eternity." Click to expand... Click to shrink... To avoid any doubt on where he stands, he continues: "Celebrate Ciri, I celebrate her being the protagonist. So all you people who think it's 'woke' [blows raspberry]... If you read the books, then you understand why CD Projekt went down this avenue. Click to expand... Click to shrink... As the years have gone by, the books have become more about Ciri. Geralt may be a witcher, but he's getting old, so passing the torch was inevitable. It's either that, or no more Witcher. Click to expand... Click to shrink... More at the source. "You can't just have Geralt for every single game" says his voice actor, and if you think The Witcher 4 making Ciri the protagonist is "woke," then "read the damn books" The story was always going in this direction www.gamesradar.com Highkey tho, And yes that applies to the people who wrote entire essays about how women can't be witchers because A)that's fucking stupid B)CDPR already reinforced that retcon by including the School of The Cat in TW3  Last edited: 17 minutes ago closer Member Oct 25, 2017 5,592 Asking ppl who call it woke to read is sort of a large ask   Zukkoyaki Member Oct 25, 2017 14,290 Jokes on him because reading is woke   Catchphrase Member Nov 28, 2023 2,329 if those chuds could read they'd be very upset   MarcosBrXD Member Aug 28, 2024 1,701 9/11 for chuds   Kadzork Has got mad skills!! Member Oct 27, 2017 24,158   Jedi2016 Member Oct 27, 2017 20,058 Just got my lynx medallion a few days ago, it's hanging right next to my wolf medallion. I'll be there day one.   SomeOneInaHat Member Nov 9, 2017 1,135 Edit: Beaten by better version  Xterrian Member Apr 20, 2018 3,552 Any female protagonist is "woke" to these people. It's just that some were too engrained in pop culture/their franchises before the whole chud movement got started, so they're seen as "female protags done right." If Lord of the Rings was done today, there'd be endless rage over Eowyn being the one to kill the Witch King. Same with Leia's role in Star Wars.  OP OP Crossing Eden Member Oct 26, 2017 58,491 Xterrian said: Any female protagonist is "woke" to these people. It's just that some were too engrained in pop culture/their franchises before the whole chud movement got started, so they're seen as "female protags done right." If Lord of the Rings was done today, there'd be endless rage over Eowyn being the one to kill the Witch King. Same with Leia's role in Star Wars. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Hard ditto on Leia, this shit would break people's minds if only because so many characters who're inspired by Leia break their minds.   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 124,050   bitcloudrzr Member May 31, 2018 20,757 MarcosBrXD said: 9/11 for chuds Click to expand... Click to shrink... That was KCD2.   ClickyCal' Member Oct 25, 2017 65,480 Xterrian said: Any female protagonist is "woke" to these people. It's just that some were too engrained in pop culture/their franchises before the whole chud movement got started, so they're seen as "female protags done right." If Lord of the Rings was done today, there'd be endless rage over Eowyn being the one to kill the Witch King. Same with Leia's role in Star Wars. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah. Like to them, Jill Valentine, Samus, Lara Croft and some others are grandfathered in, but would break them.   jmood88 Member Oct 28, 2017 1,726 It's not going to change much, but it's always nice to see someone explicitly push back against the disingenuous conservative bullshit.   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 124,050 bitcloudrzr said: That was KCD2. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Or Stellar Blade  DoradoWinston Member Apr 9, 2019 8,387 idk how you play witcher 3 and not think Ciri (who everyone also LOVED btw) wasnt going to be the protag for 4 lol   Yerffej Prophet of Regret Member Oct 25, 2017 29,455 I just wish every answer about these creeps and their likes and dislikes was met with "who fucking cares about them or what they want?" Every time. And that's all. Because they do not matter.   Dark Fairy Princess Member Feb 5, 2025 338 Dracula’s Castle Hate these sexist losers that calls everything woke. I tried not to pay attention to them but it's frustrating to see how stupid and hateful some people could be. Hope Witcher 4 becomes even more successful than 3 just to piss them off more. Witcher 3 is one of the best games I've played. Most of the characters were well made. I like Geralt but always liked Ciri more and wanted more parts with her so I'm glad they went with her as the main character.  OP OP Crossing Eden Member Oct 26, 2017 58,491 ClickyCal' said: Yeah. Like to them, Jill Valentine, Samus, Lara Croft and some others are grandfathered in, but would break them. Click to expand... Click to shrink... They unironically argued that these are woke ugly versions of Jill and Lara, so yes they did get broken by them.   NHarmonic. ▲ Legend ▲ The Fallen Oct 27, 2017 10,778 Catchphrase said: if those chuds could read they'd be very upset Click to expand... Click to shrink... Instant reminder of that "reading is gay" tweet from mastermind turd Tate. 

Are teenagers at risk of harm from smartphones? Experts disagreeDrazen Zigic/Getty Images An attempt to reach a scientific consensus on the potential harms posed by smartphones and social media use in young people has descended into an argument among researchers. This failed consensus suggests it will be difficult for policy-makers to lean on existing evidence when deciding how to regulate such technologies. Valerio Capraro at the University of Milan-Bicocca in Italy and more than 100 colleagues, drawn from 11 different disciplines, have published a “consensus statement” on the potential negative effects of smartphone use on adolescents. “We’ve been following the discussion about the debate, and we thought that maybe we could try to find a common ground between different viewpoints,” says Capraro. Advertisement The researchers analysed 26 detailed claims about the use of smartphones’ impact on teenagers’ mental health, such as that heavy use of phones can cause sleep deprivation or behavioural addiction. These claims were drawn from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt at New York University, a book that has been influential in the debate over smartphones, but also heavily criticised by some researchers. Haidt himself is also a co-author of the statement. Each researcher then individually rated whether they agreed with each claim, as well as the strength of evidence supporting the claims. There was broad agreement on several critical points; 99 per cent agreed that adolescent mental health had declined notably in the US, with similar trends in other Western nations. And 98 per cent concurred that heavy smartphone use correlates strongly with sleep disturbances. More than 94 per cent of experts surveyed agreed that young girls encountered particular issues, including unduly comparing themselves to peers, feeling the need to look perfect and being exposed to online sexual harassment. However, the experts also agreed in similarly high proportions that the evidence for these claims is only correlational, not causal. More rigorous research, including longitudinal studies tracking smartphone users over time, would be needed to prove a correlation, many agreed. Overall, while more than 90 per cent agreed something was wrong with young people, only 52 per cent supported policy actions like age restrictions and phone bans in schools. The latest science news delivered to your inbox, every day. Sign up to newsletter Despite that caveat, the researchers suggest that shouldn’t be an excuse for inaction by policy-makers. “Obtaining high-quality causal evidence of the effectiveness of policy decisions often takes years, whereas policymakers often have to make decisions in rapidly changing environments with limited data,” they wrote. But researchers who weren’t involved with the consensus statement have disputed its findings, and it has also drawn criticism on social media. For example, Pete Etchells at Bath Spa University, UK, points out that only around 120 of the 288 invited experts from across various disciplines took part in the process. He suggests that those who believe smartphones have a negative impact on adolescents would be more likely to opt in to a survey like this – thus skewing the outcomes. “I’d like to see them account for potential expert biases in their dataset,” he says. “I don’t think they do this.” Etchells, who has also written a book on the subject, wonders how those 288 initially invited experts were selected: “I know I wasn’t contacted about this at any point.” Sonia Livingstone at the London School of Economics also disagrees with the researchers selected to form a consensus. “The long list is meant to provide a sense of balance, but it mainly lists those on one side of the argument. If science is not balanced, it is nothing,” she says. Capraro defends the diversity of the panel, saying that “thousands of people are working on these topics around the world”, and that “it’s not feasible to contact them all”. Questions of who took part aside, Livingstone also takes issue with the claims examined. “The problem is that it’s a biased set of questions. They don’t ask, ‘is there also evidence [that] social media can improve mental health or friendships or a sense of belonging?’ There is also evidence for those,” she says. Capraro says the aim of the research was to “represent as many viewpoints as possible” on a “very hotly debated topic”. Reference:PsyArXiv DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/b94dy_v1 Topics:

The renter of Nvidia-powered AI servers said it expects capex of $20 billion to $23 billion for the year.

OpinionMay 14, 20254 min readScience Tells Us the U.S. Is Heading toward a DictatorshipThe red flags abound—political research tells us the U.S. is becoming an autocracyBy Dan Vergano President Donald Trump delivers address to a joint session of Congress, split image seen from watching television, March 4, 2025. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty ImagesAs president, Donald Trump pretty much checks all the warning boxes for an autocrat. Last September Scientific American warned of Trump’s “nonsensical conspiracy fantasies,” that he “ignores the climate crisis” and has fondness for “unqualified ideologues,” whom he would appoint should he become president again. It’s now May and sadly, that all checks out.The U.S. is in a bad place, and scholars warn, looks to be headed for worse.Worse even than Trump’s relentless attacks on science have been his administration’s assaults on the law. His officials have illegally fired federal workers, impounded congressional appropriations and seized people off the street for deportations to foreign prisons, threatening the same for all U.S. citizens. “The depth and breadth of this administration’s disregard for civil liberties, political pluralism, the separation of powers and legal constraints of all kinds mark it as an authoritarian regime,” law professor David Pozen of the Columbia University School of Law told the New York Times in April.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.We should all be worried that the U.S. is headed toward an autocracy—government by one person—even without political science offering a warning. But scholarship on how nations descend into this unfortunate state, seen in places like Turkey and Hungary, might not surprise you with what it suggests about the U.S.“Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, the country has embarked on the slippery slope toward autocracy,” concludes political scientist Daniel Stockemer of the University of Ottawa, in a May report in Politics & Policy. Rather than a coup, Trump’s attacks on law firms, universities, immigrants and others constitute “a more incremental form of democratic erosion,” he writes, one that follows a six-step theory of incremental autocratization based on research on the democratic backsliding seen worldwide in recent decades. The model arose in major part from the work of political scientist Marianne Kneuer of TU Dresden. She looked at the last quarter-century’s collapse in Venezuela, examining how states turn from democratic to autocratic in stages, as opposed to a sudden coup.The U.S. has already breached the first three steps of Stockemer’s theory. The first step is one of social turmoil; this originated with the Tea Party movement during the Obama administration. Marked by angry politics, backlash against minorities and immigrants, and distrust in institutions, the U.S. has in the last two decades changed from a “full” to a “flawed” democracy, according to the Economist’s global democracy index.The second step requires a “project of radical change,” like the populist movement of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez in the 1990s, or in the U.S. case Trump’s MAGA movement, which defends white, male privileges and holds prime loyalty for many Republicans.The third step is a “decisive electoral victory,” applicable to Chavez in 1999 or Trump in 2024, the latter a vote that also brought Trump control of a subservient Congress.That leaves us at the edge of the fourth step, the dismantling of checks and balances on executive power.“If my theory is correct, the U.S. is still in this transition phase between democracy and autocracy,” says Stockemer, by e-mail. “If they move more in the direction of autocracy, we would see that the administration tries to defy more court orders.” One key part of the fourth step is the declaration of fabricated emergencies, such as the “red scare” of the McCarthy era, to trample checks and balances, such as the judiciary’s control of the legal system. In May, for example, the White House deputy chief of staff suggested Trump could unilaterally suspend habeas corpus, a legal remedy for unlawful detention that dates at least to the Magna Carta and is in the U.S. Constitution, to summarily round up immigrants. He cited an imaginary “invasion”—even though border crossings are at their lowest point in U.S, history, according to Trump’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency—as a reason. The courts would likely resist such a move, as the Supreme Court did under the Bush administration in 2008, and whether the Trump administration abides by judicial decisions will determine whether the fourth step has occurred.Warnings of the fifth step on the road to autocracy, securing long-term power, come in Trump’s musing of seeking an unconstitutional third term as president. The final step, the infringement of basic rights and freedoms, also is flashing warning signs, says Stockemer. These are already evident in executive orders that disengage the U.S. from the United Nations Human Rights Council, remove transgender service members from the military and privilege Christianity. He predicts that attacks on minority voting rights in 2026 and 2028 would be an expected outcome of this step.A simpler “competitive authoritarianism” yardstick for measuring democratic collapse comes from political scientists Steven Levitsky, Lucan Way and Daniel Ziblatt earlier this month. “We propose a simple metric: the cost of opposing the government,” they write in the New York Times. By that measure, they add, the U.S. has already crossed that line, ordering Department of Justice investigations into perceived political enemies, donors to the Democratic Party and news outlets ranging from CBS News to the Des Moines Register. “The administration’s authoritarian offensive has had a clear impact. It has changed how Americans behave, forcing them to think twice,” they added.The good news is that the slide into autocracy isn’t inevitable for the U.S. The courts may hold, Congress may start listening to protestors as Trump’s approval rating slides, and the Republican coalition, described as “Big Tech on one side, white nationalists on the other,” in the Boston Review, may fracture.Even so, the damage already done is real: “It is very easy to destroy something such as USAID, but it takes a long time to rebuild it both physically and also in a trust sense, both in America and abroad,” says Stockemer, noting the rapid plummet of Canadian attitudes toward the U.S., from positive to sharply negative. “I can tear down a house in a day, but it will take a year or longer to rebuild it.”This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Image: Square EnixSquare Enix has released its financial results for FY2025, detailing a rather middling performance for the company with a distinct lack of major releases. The good news is that its HD Digital Entertainment sub-segment (i.e. the big games we're all interested in) turned a profit, but only because a combination of lower development and marketing costs mixed with higher-than-expected sales of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake effectively outweighed the higher net sales from the previous year. So, in short, Dragon Quest saved the day. Here's a look at the key figures from Square Enix itself: "Net sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 totaled ¥324,506 million (a decrease of 8.9％ from the prior fiscal year), operating income amounted to ¥40,580 million (an increase of 24.6％ from the prior fiscal year), ordinary income amounted to ¥40,939 million (a decrease of 1.4％ from the prior fiscal year), and profit attributable to owners of the parent amounted to ¥24,414 million (an increase of 63.7% from the prior fiscal year)." In a separate document, Square Enix details its mid-term plan to 'Reboot and Awaken' its business operations, which focuses on four core initiatives: Enhance productivity by optimizing the development footprint in the Digital Entertainment (DE) segment Diversify earnings opportunities by strengthening customer contact points Roll out initiatives to create additional foundational stability Allocate capital giving consideration to the balance between growth investment and shareholder returns The biggest takeaway in terms of games is that Square Enix is once again reinforcing its plan to focus on multi-platform titles and optimise its development structure to significantly reduce costs; we know, of course, that it's planning to release Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2 later this year, which was previously exclusive to PS4/PS5 and PC. It's also keen to focus more on quality over quantity, with a view to release major titles in key franchises on a steady basis. Unfortunately, this likely means that smaller, more experimental titles may fall by the wayside in the years to come. Elsewhere, Square Enix notes that it plans to improve productivity within its Japanese studios via the use of AI, but it does not elaborate on exactly what this entails. It's also implementing new HR initiatives, including the introduction of bonus funds directly linked to company performance. Finally, it's looking to optimise its overseas operations and promote more intra-group collaboration. As a result of these changes, the company is looking to achieve a consolidated operating profit margin of 15% in the fiscal year ending 31st March 2027. Going back to Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, a recent Creator's Voice video implied that both Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the as-yet-untitled third entry would also come to the Switch 2. Square Enix's 'reboot and awaken' plan only goes toward reinforcing this possibility. While mobile games seemingly tank Along with whatever the third game will be called What do you make of Square Enix's plan going forward? Which of its games would you like to see come to Switch 2? Let us know with a comment. [source hd.square-enix.com, via hd.square-enix.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 0 Nintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked Here's A Look At The Back Of Mario Kart World's Switch 2 Box Art The race begins next month Nintendo Defends Switch 2's Perceived Lack Of Innovation "we feel that it is a very Nintendo-like product" Xbox Branded Handheld Photos Leak, And It's Not Quite As Slick As The Switch 2 Those fingerprints don't help

Image: Sandfall InteractiveThe RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by French studio Sandfall Interactive is already the surprise hit of 2025 and it's of course led to many questions about a possible port to the Switch 2. So, will something like this happen in the future? Speaking to the YouTube channel 'mistermv' recently, Sandfall's CEO Guillaume Broche apparently explained how the success of the game had "kind of" changed everything and while it's still too early to say, there are now a lot more opportunities showing up for the developer - with the team open to the idea of it: "Yeah, it’s definitely something that could be interesting.” Although it's not a confirmation or anything like that, it's nice to see the studio at least acknowledge the Switch 2 and how a port could be something that happens eventually if everything pans out. A lot of the success so far appears to have been word-of-mouth and Xbox's Game Pass service has also added to its exposure. Our pals at Push Square called it a daring and quirky RPG that's an absolute must-play - awarding it nine out of ten stars: "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most refreshing and original RPGs in years, even if it’s not immediately obvious from the outside looking in. The intriguing setup expands to provide an engrossing, excellent narrative with lovable and charismatic characters. The exemplary combat goes above and beyond its turn-based traditions with flashy fights and new ways to damage. This is the kind of experience that proves there’s still so much potential and creativity in the bigger-budget video game space — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is simply sublime." Push SquarePaint by numbers QTE in the place to be Have you had the chance to play this breakout hit yet? Would you be interested in a Switch 2 port? Tell us in the comments. [source mp1st.com] See Also Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer across Hookshot Media. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of many iconic video game characters. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked Here's A Look At The Back Of Mario Kart World's Switch 2 Box Art The race begins next month Nintendo Defends Switch 2's Perceived Lack Of Innovation "we feel that it is a very Nintendo-like product" Cyberpunk 2077 Dev Tells Studios "Do Not Underestimate The Physical Edition" "The right thing to do was to have it out on the cartridge." Xbox Branded Handheld Photos Leak, And It's Not Quite As Slick As The Switch 2 Those fingerprints don't help