Since his breakthrough role in Final Fantasy XVI, fans can't get enough of Ben Starr. Neither can he, as in a video for GameSpot, the voice actor decided to play through Date Everything by only dating his own character.The surreal and comedic sandbox dating sim lets you literally date everything, thanks to a pair of magical glasses called Dateviators, which transform everyday household objects into dateable characters with their own stories. Each one is brought to by a huge roster of voice actors, including Ashly Burch, Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, Felicia Day, Steve Blum, Ashley Johnson, as well as the game's lead designer and veteran voice actor Ray Chase of Final Fantasy XV fame. Despite more than 100 dateable objects, "resident video game narcissist" Starr has opted to only date himself. Starr actually voices multiple characters as he plays a personified door called Dorian and there are 17 variations of Dorian throughout the house. There's Front Dorian who wears a little hat, Back Dorian, which the actor said he recorded "facing away from the microphone with my hand over my mouth", as well as Trap Dorian, who happens to wear a lot less clothes than the rest.Continue Reading at GameSpot

As President Donald Trump kicked off a birthday military parade on the streets of Washington, DC, what’s estimated as roughly 2,000 events were held across the US and beyond — protesting Trump and Elon Musk’s evisceration of government services, an unprecedented crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and countless other actions from the administration in its first five months. Held under the title “No Kings” (with, as you’ll see, one conspicuous exception), they’re the latest in several mass protests, following April’s Hands Off events and a wave of Tesla Takedown demonstrations in March.As The Verge’s Tina Nguyen went to downtown DC, we also sent reporters to No Kings demonstrations spanning the country, plus a “No Tyrants” event in the UK. How would they unfold after promises of “very heavy force” against protesters in the capital, after the deployment of thousands of military troops in a move a judge has bluntly called illegal, and after promises to “liberate” the city of Los Angeles from its “burdensome leadership” by local elected officials? What about the overnight killing of a Minnesota Democratic state representative and her husband, and the shooting of a Democratic state senator and his wife?The answer, at the events we attended, was fairly calmly — even against a backdrop of chaos.Downtown Los Angeles, CaliforniaAn inflatable baby Donald Trump, dressed in a diaper, hovered over throngs of people rallying outside of Los Angeles City Hall. Demonstrators outnumbered clumps of California National Guard members in fatigues posted up along sidewalks. “Go home to your families, we don’t need you in our streets,” one young person wearing a long braid down her back tells them while marching past. “Trump come catch these hands foo!” the back of her sign reads. I can’t see what the front says, but I can tell there’s an empty bag of Cheetos pasted to it.The big baby joins the march, floating through the streets of Downtown LA over demonstrators. A flatbed truck rolls ahead of it, the band — maybe LA’s own Ozomatli? — singing “We don’t like Trump” to the tune of “We Want The Funk.” Ducking inside Grand Central Market from the march, I talk to Puck and Twinkle Toes — two demonstrators in line for the public restrooms. Twinkle Toes tells me she’s part of an activist clown collective called Imp and Circumstance, wearing pink and white clown makeup and a striped pink and white bow wrapped around a loose hair bun atop her head. She’s here exercising her right to free speech, she says. Demonstrators in Los Angeles marched alongside an inflatable Donald Trump baby dressed in a diaper.“The more people that are out here, the more we know that this is not okay. That we don’t want an autocrat. We want democracy,” Puck tells me, adding that the Pride March in Hollywood last weekend was “nothing but love and sunshine” despite protests and burning driverless cars making headlines in downtown. “The news tries to make you think all of LA is rioting. It’s not.” Puck says.Back out on the streets, a young man quickly writes “Fuck ICE” on a black wall with white spray paint before a group of older demonstrators wearing floppy hats shushes him away — warning him that tagging will only attract more law enforcement.Further along, another older man with tufts of white hair sticking out under his Lakers cap walks stiffly and slowly along under the summer sun. A Mexican flag draped across his shoulders, he crosses Hope Street. A young man wearing a Nike cap makes his way over to ask if he wants water; the old man accepts a bottle and keeps walking without stopping. The march has looped around downtown, and is coming to an end back at City Hall. As I make my way to my bus stop, a line of police vehicles — sirens blasting — whizzes past me, back toward the crowd still gathering around City Hall.The Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order for parts of downtown Los Angeles later in the afternoon, citing people “throwing rocks, bricks, bottles and other objects.” Law enforcement reportedly cleared crowds using gas, and the LAPD authorized the use of “less lethal” force.— Justine CalmaPortland, OregonFour different “No Kings” protests in the greater Portland area on Saturday drew massive crowds of tens of thousands across the city. Various activists, government officials, and representatives for politicians spoke at the rallies, which also featured music and live performances. (One advertised free drag shows.) Protesters of all ages came with dogs, strollers, flags, banners, and hand-made signs. At the downtown waterfront, some tourist boats appeared to still be departing, but the bike rental stand (which also sells ice cream) was closed for the day with a hand-lettered explanation reading “No crowns, no thrones, no kings” and “Americans against oligarchy.” Women appearing to be organizers passed out free American flags; many attendees came with their own American flags modified to fly upside down. Most protesters brought signs expressing a wide range of sentiments on the theme of “No Kings.” Some signs were surprisingly verbose (“If the founders wanted a unitary executive (a king) we’d all still be British”) while others were more succinct (“Sic semper tyrannis”). Others opted for simple images, such as a picture of a crown crossed out, or — less frequently — a guillotine. Image: Sarah JeongThe waterfront park area was filled with people from the shoreline to the curb of the nearest street, where protesters held up signs to passing cars that honked in approval. The honking of a passing fire truck sent the crowd into an uproarious cheer. Portland is about a thousand miles from the border with Mexico, but the flag of its distant neighbor nation has emerged as protest iconography in solidarity with Los Angeles. The rainbow pride flag was flown as often as the Mexican flag. Military veterans were scattered throughout the crowd, some identifying themselves as having seen action in conflicts spanning from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Emanuel, an Air Force veteran, told me that he had turned out in defense of the constitution and due process, saying, “Nobody has any rights if one person doesn’t have any rights.” Image: Sarah JeongAnger was directed at ICE and the mass deportations all throughout the day, in signage, in chants, and in rally speeches. The previous night, about 150 people protested at a local ICE facility — coincidentally located by the Tesla dealership — a mile south of downtown, near a highway exit. The ICE facility protests, which have been continuous for some days, have been steadily building up. A couple of “No Kings” signs were present on Friday. (The following day, a handful of “Chinga la migra” signs would show up at the “No Kings” protests). Demonstrators stood on the curb urging passing cars to “Honk if you hate fascists,” successfully eliciting car horns every few seconds, including some from a pristine white Tesla. Federal law enforcement in camo and helmets, their faces obscured, maced and shot at protesters with pepper balls, targeting them through the gates and sniping at them from the rooftop of the building. A handful of protesters — many wearing gas masks and respirators — formed phalanx formations in the driveway, wielding umbrellas and handmade shields. On Saturday, a speaker at one of the “No Kings” rallies advertised the occupation of the ICE facility, saying, “We’re a sanctuary city.” The crowd — replete with American flags both upside down and right side up — cheered. — Sarah JeongNew Port Richey, FloridaNearly every intersection on Pasco County’s State Road 54 looks the same: a cross-section of strip malls, each anchored by a Walmart or Target or Publix, surrounded by a mix of restaurants, nail salons, and gas stations. It’s not an environment that is particularly conducive to protests, but hundreds of people turned out in humid, 90-plus degree weather anyway. The overall size of the crowd is hard to determine, but it’s larger than I — and other attendees — anticipated, given the local demographics. (Trump won 61 percent of the vote in Pasco County in 2024.) New Port Richey, FL. Image: Gaby Del ValleEveryone is on the sidewalk; an organizer with a megaphone tells people to use crosswalks if they’re going to attempt to brave the six-lane highway. Two days earlier, Governor Ron DeSantis said Floridians could legally run over protesters on the street if they feel “threatened.” New Port Richey, FL. Image: Gaby Del ValleSo far, most drivers seem friendly. There are lots of supportive honks. One woman rolls down her window and thanks the protesters. “I love you! I wish I could be with you, but I have to work today!” she yells as she drives away. Not everyone is amenable. A man in a MAGA hat marches through the crowd waving a “thin green line” flag and yelling “long live the king!” as people in the crowd call him a traitor. A pickup truck drives by blasting “Ice Ice Baby,” waving another pro-law enforcement flag. The protesters have flags, too: American flags large and small, some upside down; Mexican; Ukrainian; Palestinian; Canadian; different configurations of pride and trans flags. Their signs, like their flags, illustrate their diverse reasons for attending: opposition to Trump’s “big beautiful” funding bill, DOGE’s budget cuts, and ICE arrests; support for immigrants, government workers, and Palestinians. One woman wears an inflatable chicken suit. Her friend pulls an effigy of Trump — dressed to look both like an eighteenth-century monarch, a taco, and a chicken — alongside her.New Port Richey, FL. Image: Gaby Del ValleMost of the demonstrators are on the older side, but there are people of all ages in attendance. “I thought it was going to be maybe 20 people with a couple of signs,” Abby, 24, says, adding that she’s pleasantly surprised at both the turnout and the fact that most of the protesters are of retirement age. Abe, 20, tells me this is his first protest. Holding a sign that says “ICE = GESTAPO,” he tells me he came out to support a friend who is Mexican. Three teenagers walk by with signs expressing support for immigrants: “While Trump destroys America, we built it.” “Trump: 3 felonies. My parents: 0.” As I drive away, I notice nine counter-protesters off to the side, around the corner from the main event. They wave their own flags, but the demonstrators seemingly pay them no mind.— Gaby Del ValleHistoric Filipinotown, Los AngelesWearing a camo baseball cap — “Desert Storm Veteran” emblazoned on the front — Joe Arciaga greets a crowd of about 100 people in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown around 9:00AM.“Good morning everyone, are you ready for some beautiful trouble?” Arciaga says into the megaphone, an American flag bandana wrapped around his wrist. The faces of Filipino labor leaders Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong, who organized farm workers alongside Cesar Chavez, peer over his shoulders from a mural that lines the length of Unidad Park where Arciaga and a group called Lakas Collective helped organize this neighborhood No Kings rally. “I’m a Desert Storm veteran, and I’m a father of three and a grandfather of three, and I want to work for a future where democracy is upheld, due process, civil rights, the preservation of the rule of law — That’s all I want. I’m not a billionaire, I’m just a regular Joe, right?”, he tells The Verge.Joe Arciaga speaks to people at a rally in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles. Image: Justine Calma“I am mad as hell,” he says, when I ask him about the Army 250th anniversary parade Donald Trump has organized in Washington, DC coinciding with the president’s birthday. “The guy does not deserve to be honored, he’s a draft dodger, right?” Arciaga says. He’s “livid” that the President and DOGE have fired veterans working for federal agencies and slashed VA staff.Arciaga organizes the crowd into two lines that file out of the park to stand along Beverly Blvd., one of the main drags through LA. Arciaga has deputized a handful of attendees with security or medical experience with whistles to serve as “marshals” tasked with flagging and de-escalating any potentially risky situation that might arise. Johneric Concordia, one of the co-founders of the popular The Park’s Finest barbecue joint in the neighborhood, is MCing out on Beverly Blvd. He and Arciaga direct people onto the sidewalks and off the asphalt as honking cars zip by. In between chants of “No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here!” and rap songs from LA artist Bambu that Concordia plays from a speaker, Concordia hypes up the organizers. “Who’s cool? Joe’s cool?” He spits into the microphone connected to his speaker. “Who’s streets? Our streets!” the crowd cheers. An hour later, a man sitting at a red light in a black Prius rolls down his window. “Go home!” he yells from the intersection. “Take your Mexican flag and go home!”The crowd mostly ignores him. One attendee on the corner holds up his “No Kings” sign to the Prius without turning his head to look at him. A few minutes later, a jogger in a blue t-shirt raises his fist as he passes the crowd. “Fuck yeah guys,” he says to cheers.By 10AM, the neighborhood event is coming to a close. Demonstrators start to trickle away, some fanning out to other rallies planned across LA today. Concordia is heading out too, microphone and speaker still in hand, “If you’re headed to downtown, watch out for suspicious crew cuts!” — Justine CalmaSan Francisco, California1/10Most of the crowd trickled out after 2pm, which was the scheduled end time of the protest, but hundreds stayed in the area. Image: Vjeran PavicLondon, UKLondon’s protest was a little different than most: it was almost entirely bereft of “No Kings” signs, thanks to the fact that about two miles away much larger crowds were gathered to celebrate the official birthday of one King Charles III. “We don’t have anything against King Charles,” Alyssa, a member of organizers Indivisible London, told me. And so, “out of respect for our host country as immigrants,” they instead set up shop in front of the US embassy with a tweaked message: “No kings, no crowns” became “no tyrants, no clowns.” London, UK. Image: Dominic PrestonOf the hundreds gathered, not everyone got the memo, with a few painted signs decrying kings and crowns regardless, and one brave Brit brandishing a bit of cardboard with a simple message: “Our king is better than yours!”London, UK. Image: Dominic PrestonStill, most of the crowd were on board, with red noses, clown suits, and Pennywise masks dotted throughout, plus costumes ranging from tacos to Roman emperors. “I think tyrants is the better word, and that’s why I dressed up as Caesar, because he was the original,” says Anna, a Long Island native who’s lived in London for three years. “Nobody likes a tyrant. Nobody. And they don’t do well, historically, but they destroy a lot.”For 90 minutes or so the crowd — predominantly American, judging by the accents around me — leaned into the circus theme. Speakers shared the stage with performers, from a comic singalong of anti-Trump protest songs to a protracted pantomime in which a woman in a banana costume exhorted the crowd to pelt a Donald Trump impersonator with fresh peels. London, UK. Image: Dominic PrestonDuring a break in festivities, Alyssa told the crowd, “The most threatening sound to an oligarch is laughter.”— Dominic PrestonProspect Park, Brooklyn, New YorkThe No Kings protest at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza was a calmer affair. Instead of gathering under the picturesque memorial arch, protesters were largely sequestered to a corner right outside Prospect Park, with some streets blocked off by police. The weekly farmers market was in full swing, meaning people cradling bundles of rhubarb were swerving in and out of protest signs that read things like, “Hating Donald Trump is Brat” and “Is it time to get out the pitch forks?” Like during the Hands Off protest in April, New York got rain on Saturday.Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Image: Mia SatoThe area where protesters were gathered made it difficult to count the crowd, but there were hundreds — perhaps a few thousand — people that streamed in and out. At one point, some protesters began marching down the street alongside Prospect Park, while others stayed at Grand Army Plaza to chant, cheer, and hold signs up at oncoming vehicles. With its proximity to the public library, the park, and densely populated neighborhoods, the massive intersection is a high-foot traffic area. Cars blared their horns as they passed, American flags waving in the chilly afternoon breeze.Jane, a Brooklyn resident who stood on the curb opposite the protesters, said she isn’t typically someone who comes out to actions like this: before the No Kings event, she had only ever been to one protest, the Women’s March. (Jane asked that The Verge use her first name only.) Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Image: Mia Sato“I’m deeply concerned about our country,” Jane said, pausing as a long stream of trucks and cars honked continuously in support of the protesters in the background. “I think Trump is behaving as an authoritarian. We’ve seen in Russia, in Hungary, in Hong Kong, that the slide from freedom to not freedom is very fast and very quick if people do not make their voices heard,” Jane said. “I’m concerned that that’s what’s happening in the United States.” Jane also cited cuts to Medicaid and funding for academic research as well as tariffs as being “unacceptable.”Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Image: Mia SatoThe event was peaceful — there were lots of kids present — and people were in good spirits despite the rain. Protest signs ran the gamut from general anti-Trump slogans (“I trust light tampons more than this administration”) to New York City-specific causes like “Andrew Cuomo can’t read” (there is a contenious mayoral election this month). One sign read, “Fix your hearts or die,” an iconic line from the late director, David Lynch’s, Twin Peaks: The Return. And of course, amid nationwide immigration raids that have been escalated by the involvement of the federal government, ICE was top of mind: one sign simply read, “Melt ICE,” and another protester held a large “NO ICE IN NYC” sign. Though it was smaller and more contained than other events, the protest didn’t lack conviction: attendees of all ages stood in the cold rain, chanting and blowing into vuvuzela, banging the lids of pots and pans. At one point a man stood on the median on the street, leading the group in chants of “No justice, no peace.” Cars laid on the horn as they drove by.— Mia SatoAkron, OhioIt’s been raining pretty hard the last few days in Akron, OH, so much that I didn’t think there’d be a large turnout for our chapter of the No Kings protest. But I was emphatically proven wrong as the crowds I saw dwarfed the Tesla Takedown protests last month. Officially, the protest was to take place in front of the John F. Seiberling Federal Building on Main Street in Downtown Akron. But the concentration of people spilled over from that small space down Main Street and up Market Street. All told, though there were no official counts, I estimate somewhere between 500 to 900 people in this blue enclave in Northeast Ohio.The mood was exuberant, buoyed by supporters who honked their horns as they passed. The chorus of horns was nonstop, and when a sanitation truck honked as it went by, cheers got louder. The chants the crowds were singing took on a local flare. Ohio is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes and anywhere you go, shout “O-H” and you’ll invariably get an “I-O” response. The crowds used that convention to make their own chant, “OH-IO, Donald Trump has got to go.”There was no police presence here and the crowd was very good at policing itself. Ostensibly out of concern for the incidents where people have rammed their cars into protestor crowds, the people here have taken up crossing guard duties, aiding folks who wish to cross Main or Market Streets. Toward the end of my time at the protest, I saw an older gentleman wearing Kent State gear and holding a sign that read, “Remember another time the National Guard was called in?” His sign featured a drawing of the famous photo from the event in which four Kent State students during a protest of the Vietnam War were killed by National Guard troops. I caught up with him to ask him some questions and he told me his name was Chuck Ayers, a professional cartoonist, and was present at the shooting. Akron, OH. Image: Ash Parrish“When I saw the National Guard in front of the federal building in LA,” he told me, “It was just another flashback.”He did not tell me this at the time, but Ayers is a nationally recognized cartoonist, noted for co-creating the comic strip Crankshaft. He’s lived in Ohio his entire life and of course, drew that sign himself. As he was telling me about how seeing news of the National Guard being deployed in LA, I could see him strain to hold back his emotions. He said it still hurts to see this 55 years later, but that he was heartened to see so many people standing here in community and solidarity. He also said that given his pain and trauma he almost didn’t come. When I asked why he showed up when it so obviously causes him pain he said simply, “Because I have to.”— Ash ParrishOneonta, New YorkOn a northward drive to Oneonta — population roughly 15,000, the largest city in New York’s mainly rural Otsego County — one of the most prominent landmarks is a sprawling barn splashed in huge, painted block letters with TRUMP 2024. (The final digits have been faithfully updated every election since 2016.) It’s Trump country, but not uniformly Trumpy country, as evidenced by what I estimated as a hundreds-strong crowd gathered in a field just below Main Street that came together with a friendly county-fair atmosphere. Kids sat on their parents’ shoulders; American flags fluttered next to signs with slogans like SHADE NEVER MADE ANYONE LESS GAY, and attendees grumbled persistently about the event’s feeble sound system, set up on the bed of a pickup truck. It was the kind of conspicuously patriotic, far-from-urban protest that the Trump administration has all but insisted doesn’t exist.Image: Adi RobertsonBeyond a general condemnation of Trump, protest signs repped the same issues being denounced across the country. The wars in Gaza and Ukraine made an appearance, as did Elon Musk and Tesla. A couple of people called out funding cuts for organizations like NPR, one neatly lettered sign reminded us that WEATHER FORECASTING SAVES LIVES, another warned “Keep your nasty little hands off Social Security,” and a lot — unsurprisingly, given the past week’s events — attacked mass deportations and ICE. An attendee who identified himself as Bill, standing behind a placard that blocked most of him from sight, laid out his anger at the administration’s gutting of the Environmental Protection Agency. “I think if it was not for protests, there would be no change,” he told me.The event itself, supported by a coalition including the local chapter of Indivisible, highlighted topics like reproductive justice and LGBTQ rights alongside issues for groups often stereotyped as Republican blocs — there was a speech about Department of Veterans Affairs cuts and a representative from the local Office for the Aging (whose words were mostly lost to the sound system’s whims). Rules for a march around the modest downtown were laid out: no blocking pedestrians or vehicles, and for the sake of families doing weekend shopping, watch the language. “Fuck!” one person yelled indistinctly from the audience. “No, no,” the event’s emcee chided gently. The philosophy, as she put it, was one of persuasion. “We want to build the resistance, not make people angry at us.”Image: Adi RobertsonBut even in a place that will almost certainly never see a National Guard deployment or the ire of a Truth Social post, the Trump administration’s brutal deportation program had just hit close to home. Only hours before the protest commenced, ICE agents were recorded handcuffing a man and removing him in an unmarked black car — detaining what was reportedly a legal resident seeking asylum from Venezuela. The mayor of Oneonta, Mark Drnek, relayed the news to the crowd. “ICE! We see you!” boomed Drnek from the truckbed. “We recognize you for what you are, and we understand, and we reject your vile purpose.”The crowd cheered furiously. The stars and stripes waved.- Adi RobertsonSee More: Policy

Pictured Above: Designer Amber Lewis balances New England charm with old-world sophistication with a half Calacatta Vagli marble backsplash in the kitchen of this Martha's Vineyard home. To backsplash or not to backsplash? That is the question. Or is it? Because if anyone’s ever told you “you shouldn’t do anything halfway,” they clearly haven’t heard of the half backsplash. This twist on a design mainstay makes a compelling case for stopping short. So maybe the real question is: to backsplash or to half backsplash?Lately, we’ve seen more and more designers going for the latter. “A trend these days is to use 1/2 or 2/3 stone backsplashes with a six- to nine-inch ledge,” says designer Jennifer Gilmer. “This is typically used behind a range and adds interest as well as softening the overall look.” It’s not just aesthetic—it’s strategic functionality. “The ledge is useful for salt and pepper shakers, olive oil, and other items,” she adds. Ahead, we break down everything to know about half backsplashes and why this kitchen trend is gaining traction in the design world.Related StoriesWhat Is a Half Backsplash?Lisa PetroleMagnolia’s director of styling, Ashley Maddox, enlisted the help of designer Hilary Walker to create her midcentury-modern dream home in Waco, Texas. Complete with walnut kitchen cabinetry topped with a Topzstone countertop continued into a partial backsplash.“A half backsplash or 1/3 backsplash is when the material stops at a point on the wall determined by the design,” explains designer Isabella Patrick. This makes it distinct from a “built-out or existing element, such as upper cabinets, a ceiling, soffit, or some other inherent element of the space.” In other words, it’s intentional, not just the result of running out of tile.Courtesy of JN Interior SpacesTaking the ceiling height into consideration, JN Interior Spaces decided a half backsplash would be suitable for this sleek, modern kitchen.While traditional backsplashes typically reach the bottom of upper cabinetry or span the entire wall, partial backsplashes usually stop somewhere around four to 25 inches up, depending on the look you’re going for.And while it may sound like a design compromise, it’s actually quite the opposite.Related StoryWhy Designers Are Loving the Half-Height LookOpting for a half backsplash is a clever way to balance proportion, budget, and visual interest. “If the design does not have upper cabinets, we would opt for a half backsplash to create visual interest,” Patrick says. “A full wall of the same tile or stone could overwhelm the space and seem like an afterthought.”Shannon Dupre/DD RepsIsabella Patrick experimented with this concept in her own kitchen, mixing materials for a more layered half backsplash look.Instead, Patrick often mixes materials—like running Cambria quartzite up from the counter to a ledge, then switching to Fireclay tile above. “This is a great example of how a singular material would have overwhelmed the space but also may have felt like an afterthought,” she explains. “Mixing materials and adding in details and personal touches is what good design is.”Another bonus? It lets the rest of the kitchen sing. “In another design, we eliminated the upper cabinets in favor of a more open and airy look so that the windows were not blocked—and so you were not walking right into a side view of cabinetry,” Patrick says. “No upper cabinets also makes the kitchen feel more of a transitional space and decorative, especially since it opens right into a dining room.”krafty_photos
copyright 2021This kitchen from JN Interior Spaces proves that a partial backsplash can still make a big impact. They chose to use an iridescent, almost-patina tile in this Wyoming kitchen.For Jill Najinigier of JN Interior Spaces, the choice is just as much about form as it is function. “It's all about how the backsplash interacts with the architecture,” she explains. “Wall height, windows, the shape of the hood, upper cabinets, or open shelves—where do they start and terminate?”In one standout project, Najinigier used a luminous tile just tall enough to tuck under a tapered plaster hood, topped with a narrow stone ledge carved from the same slab as the counter. The result? “Clean lines that make a stunning statement.”Mixing materials and adding in details and personal touches is what good design is.It’s Decorative and FunctionalHeather TalbertDesigner Kate Pearce installed a statement-making marble backsplash. Bringing it only halfway up allows its beauty to be appreciated while giving the other aesthetic elements in the space room to breathe.Don’t underestimate what that ledge can do. Designer Kate Pearce swears by hers: “I love my little five-inch-deep marble shelf that allows me to style some vintage kitchenware in the space,” she says. “And I think the shelf (and the pieces styled on it) is exactly what gives the kitchen an approachable feel—versus having a full backsplash of marble, which would have given the space a more serious vibe.”Stylish ProductionsPrioritizing visually continuity, Italian designer Federica Asack of Masseria Chic used the same leathered sandstone, a natural material that will develop a wonderful patina, for both the counters and the backsplash.Designer Federica Asack of Masseria Chic used a leathered sandstone for both her countertop and half backsplash, adding a ledge that’s just deep enough to style. “It allows for a splash-free decorating opportunity to layer artwork and favorite objects,” she says.Designer Molly Watson agrees: “The simple shelf is just deep enough for some special items to be on display,” she notes of a project where carrying the countertop stone up the wall helped keep things visually calm and scaled to the space. Related StoryThe Verdict on Half BacksplashesErin Kelly"Keeping materials simple in this kitchen was important for scale," says designer Molly Watson. "Carrying the countertop up the wall as a backsplash allowed the space to feel larger."Half backsplashes are having a major design moment, but not just because they’re practical. They’re a blank canvas for creativity. From floating ledges and mixed materials to budget-conscious decisions that don’t skimp on style, they’re a smart (and stylish) way to make your kitchen feel lighter, livelier, and totally considered.So, go ahead—do it halfway.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Brooklinen is one of our favorite brands for quality bedding designed to last. Making it in our lists for pillows, duvets, and even robes, the best Brooklinen sheets are also staples in many of our editors’ bedrooms for this very reason. Founded in 2014 by a pair of millennials with a passion for high-end textiles on a tight budget , this retailer made a splash on the market by offering direct-to-consumer bedding that merged thoughtfully designed linens at affordable price points—complete with 200-plus thread counts for ultimate durability and Oeko-Tex-certified backing to ensure the fabrics are free of harsh chemicals. While they also became well-known for the ubiquity of their subway ads, they caught our eye at AD Shopping for delivering breathability and sturdy sheets in modern colorways that made a bedroom feel anything but stuffy.That being said: the brand’s catalog is big, so if you know you want Brooklinen sheets but don’t know where to start, we’ve assembled a list of our tried-and-true favorites. Available in sizes ranging from twin XL to California king, we note our go-to percale, sateen, and linen sets in this lineup.Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet SetBrooklinen’s Luxe Core Sheet Set is beloved by multiple AD staffers—commerce director Rachel Fletcher says this sateen set is “super classic, smooth, and has a crisp feel,” and contributor Erika Owen loves “the deep design of the fitted sheet pocket” and how easy it is to get it over her mattress and mattress topper. Owen also says it has great temperature regulation. As a self-proclaimed hot sleeper, she says the fabric maintains an even sleep temperature, including during a New York City heat wave. This set of sheets also comes in 21 colorways to bring your inspo pics to life, but move fast, these sell out quickly. Machine wash these on cold, tumble dry low, and you’ll see no signs of fading or wear, but an increase in softness, according to Fletcher.Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheet SetAs for Brooklinen’s linen sheets, their original core set recently got an upgrade. Our team members have tested their first iteration for years, including contributor Madeleine Luckel. While she confessed in our best sheets roundup that they felt a “bit thin,” she said the bedding lived up to her expectations. Plus, she would recommend them to other shoppers, so long as you weren’t “picturing a superdense weave.” After debuting the washed European linen sheets this spring, our team got our hands on them and found them to be soft and lightweight. Ranking in our best-of-linen sheets story, the washed material European linen brings a softer but stronger fabric to the beloved set, meaning it wears less with wash and continues to get softer with routine care Perhaps the best part of this sheet set—aesthetically, anyway—is its many colorways: the recent collaboration with Brooklyn-based textile artist Caroline Z Hurley offers warm, neutral stripe options, a white-and-blue stripe lends itself to a nautical-inspired coastal bedding set, and chambray and moss give the linen a particularly welcoming wash, appearing earthy and grounded for year-round use. Contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert says, “There is natural texture because of slubs (teeny bumps) in the weave, but I think this adds to the softness.” “Think of your favorite linen shirt, but in the form of a sheet.” They’re extremely light, “If you hold it up, you can see through it,” Alpert adds. Our editors recommend machine washing these on cold without any other items on the first cycle to help prevent color bleeding. These should get softer and look a bit more worn with each wash, which gives linen its coveted slouchy, worn look.Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set“The texture of these is unreal,” says contributor Yelena Alpert, who recently tested this. “It feels buttery soft like a sateen, but still crisp as percale cotton should be.” Brooklinen promises these classic percale sheets feel like sleeping in your worn-in button-down shirt—sans buttons, of course. And after thorough testing, we agree. Besides the silky-soft feel, Alpert loves these sheets for lingering at an accessible price point for high-quality cooling sheets. While this set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases, the hard-core sheet bundle includes a duvet cover and two more pillowcases to completely flesh out your new bedding set. Percale only improves with wash, as a few turns in the washing machine help loosen its fibers to create a softer texture. Alpert adds that this percale is also durable and pilling-resistant, though you can expect a bit more of a wrinkle if you’re not on top of the dry cycle.Like the linen sheets noted above, the percale sets are available in designs by Caroline Z Hurley. Commerce writer Julia Harrison attests these are not only cooling, comfortable, and soft, but they are also “so damn cute.” In a gray-beige, blue, and coral floral print, they bring a welcome dose of whimsy to your bedding without becoming twee about it.Between their designs and fabrics, and with a focus on temperature regulation and non-toxic materials, Brooklinen hits the sweet spot for budget-friendly, sturdy sheets that’ll last for the long haul. Few AD staffers haven’t tried a pair of sheets from them and loved their new drops, colorways, and ever-improving textures. Brooklinen offers free shipping with no minimum, as well as a 365-day warranty in case you’d like to return the items. However, we stand behind them for some of the best sheets out there. “It’s sort of a no-brainer,” Harrison says. “They’re the first brand I recommend when people ask me where to start for bedding, because they’re luxurious, affordable, and come in every pattern and colorway a person could want.”

LEGO has released a ton of new Harry Potter sets for June, but perhaps the most quirky and delightful build in the bunch is the Chomping Monster Book of Monsters set. It's a recreation of the iconic book we first see in the third Harry Potter film (The Prisoner of Azkaban) and it absolutely looks the part. More importantly, though, it actually chomps.Out June 1Chomping Monster Book of Monsters$59.99 at LEGOThe new Monster Book of Monsters set has a lot of cool details on the outside that made it fun to put together, but it's what on the inside that makes it fun to play with after. LEGO provided IGN with a copy of the set for a test build and I got the chance to put it together myself. At only 518 pieces, I was able to build the whole thing in one evening before I went to bed and had my nephews playing with it the next morning.We Build the LEGO Harry Potter Monster Book of MonstersSet #76449 is actually the second iteration of the LEGO Monster Book of Monsters. The first rendition was a Gift with Purchase (set #30628), called The Monster Book of Monsters, released back in 2020 with a lot fewer pieces and a more simplistic style. The newer Chomping Monster Book of Monsters looks a lot more realistic and includes actual chomping action. It also includes a Neville Longbottom minifigure that is holding a much smaller version of the book. It's a fairly easy build, but it was fun to put together and the chomping action was a nice touch.The build is split up into four sections and you get one bag of LEGO bricks for each part. You start by putting together your little Neville Longbottom minifigure. He has two different face options to chooose from, so you can make him either smiley or terrified. I decided to go with smiley and placed him near the pieces as I put together everything else. The first part of the build is basically putting together the framework for the book.This is the longest step in the whole process and it admittedly takes quite a bit of time until it really starts looking like something. You're building what will later become the chassis that your little chomping motor and wheels will later sit in, so it's important you get everything facing the right direction. It really helped me that you use red bricks to indicate the back and blue bricks for the front or I definitely would have made a mistake along the way.It doesn't actually resemble anything like a monster book until you start adding some of the exterior pieces. There are light brown panels with a ridge that will look like pages once you're finished putting them together. The dark brown pointy pieces you add on the front and sides are what really start making it look like what you see on the box. You'll also add smooth panels on the back of each rectangle that will eventually fit together to form the entire base of the book.The one thing I didn't particularly enjoy about this build was how repetitive it felt to build both sides of the book itself. There were some small differences between the top and the bottom of the book, but for the most part the build felt exactly the same. So it ended up being a bit repetitive to have to do basically the same step twice. That being said, it was extremely satisfying when I finally got to be able to connect the two halves at the spine. You thread a few long pieces through the back hinge and suddenly you've got what looks to be a hollowed out book.The next portion of this build is where it really started to become fun. Once you're done with the overall structure, you move on to building the cover of the book. You start out with a series of large flat brown pieces that form the base of your cover. These are held together by two long flat pieces that are also thankfully color coordinated to indicate which side is up. Once you have the base assembled, you start adding all of the cool little details that bring the set to life. This includes the actual title of the book as well as the beady little eyes and spikey little feelers.Once you snap the cover onto the top of your book frame, it starts looking like a legit Monster Book of Monsters. And while the cover is really the turning point, it's all of the additional details you add on after this that start to give it an air of life. As you build the frame and the cover of the book you will have added a bunch of what appear to be little LEGO arms near the front pages. These will become the holders for the book's spiny little teeth. There are twelve of these in total and once they're snapped in you can articulate them in whatever direction feels right.The larger teeth get added after that, which is when it starts to look like it could actually chomp you. The instructions tell you to add one set of teeth at a time, but I decided to build them both first and add them all at once for dramatic effect. When all of the teeth are attached, you'll have what looks to be a Monster Book of Monsters that's actually capable of doing some chomping.The final step of this set is the most interesting part. At this point you've built a fairly realistic monster book, but it's still an empty shell waiting for some internal components to get it running. Now you essentially have to build a working pull-back car that you place inside so it can get to chomping on its own.The motorized aspect of this build is pretty straightforward, but it's a nice break from all of the detail work I had just done to be suddenly building a little wheeled car. It was also really fun to see how well the little car I'd just built snapped into place on the inside of the book itself.After I fully put everything together, I immediately tried out the rolling chomping action. It's a neat trick that turns what looks like a display set into an actual toy you can play with. The roll-back mechanism only goes so far back, so it doesn't actually roll that far, but the chomping action makes up for the lack of distance. As it moves forward you can actually hear the teeth clacking together. I had both of my younger nephews play with the set afterwards and they enjoyed playing with it almost as much as l did. The gimmick wears off fairly quickly after you've done it a few times, but afterwards you still have a really cool looking set you can display somewhere.The price of the set is fairly reasonable at $60, placing it well below some of the most expensive sets on the market right now. Any of the franchise-specific sets that come out are always going to be more expensive than a non-franchise set with a similar number of pieces, and this has consistently remained true for all LEGO Harry Potter sets. All-in-all, it's a set I'd recommend to any fan of Harry Potter and LEGO. It's a fun and simple build you can knock out in an afternoon, and the finished product would make for a great Harry Potter gift you can display on a shelf or your desk.LEGO Harry Potter Chomping Book of Monsters, Set #76449, retails for $59.99, and it is composed of 518 pieces. It is available at the LEGO Store beginning on June 1, 2025.

Because the Verganis love color, Menino used a lot of it, carefully, so as never to overwhelm the Harlem-meets-Milan aesthetic. A deep orange paints an accent wall in the primary bedroom, color-matched by a painterly wallcovering opposite it. The sleek muted green-and-blue kitchen is Menino’s homage to Carlo Scarpa, while the jewel box guest bedroom-cum-library sports a more verdant forest hue on its bespoke Murphy bed with a desk and built-in bookcases. An ombré teal powder room with a sculptural sink is another moment of joyful experiment but the living room—decorated with a custom sectional and vintage seating around a tiered marble cocktail table by Menino—is largely neutral.A vintage kilim rug is underfoot in the serene living room where the custom Italian-made sofa gathers with a custom marble cocktail table and vintage chairs by Jorge Zalszupin and Carlos Motta in front of new bespoke steel-framed doors to the terraced garden. The living room’s relaxed and sun-filled vibe makes it one of the most-used rooms in the house as well as the perfect space for a striking tree branch sculpture by local artist Jannette Jwahir Hawkins, says Miriam, who worked with art advisor Aurore Vullierme to source such contemporary pieces. With Miriam’s plans to grow the family’s collection over time, Menino left a few walls blank here and chose their subtle gray hue specifically to be an optimal background to future artwork.Though the brownstone is certainly a family abode, it is also a natural venue for the Verganis’ love of entertaining, whether a soiree that extends indoors and out across the garden level or an intimate gathering at the dining table with Miriam’s “unbelievable tiramisu,” as Menino describes it. Flowing, relaxing, and luxurious rooms facilitate daily life and such occasions with equal ease. “We were excited to work with someone who would understand our design vision and had a deep knowledge of our culture,” says Miriam of Menino. “But we also wanted this house to reflect our story: how we moved here at a young age and made our life in New York.”A sculpture by Jannette Jwahir Hawkins stands adjacent the existing fireplace mantel, decorated with an artwork by Faustine Badrichani and a ceramic vase by Marion Naufal. Menino Design Studio specified Tiger Onyx for the home’s statement-making custom bar and matching wall cladding behind it. A custom Affreschi & Affreschi wallcovering adds color and texture to the primary bedroom, where the bespoke bed wears Parachute linens. Vintage Giuseppe Scapinelli armchair. A painting by Ernest Crichlow hangs on a Benjamin Moore orange–painted brick wall in the primary bedroom, which features an existing fireplace mantel with vases by Marion Naufal. Sculpture (on side table) by Victoire d’Harcourt. Vintage Giuseppe Scapinelli armchair. Menino Design Studio created a floating Azul Cielo marble sink for the Roman clay–clad primary bath, where the tub is by Produits Neptune with Hotbath fixtures. The office is decorated with a desk by Hugo Besnier, chair by Cultivation Objects, pendant by Pablo Designs, and a vintage Gregori Warchavchik magazine rack. The mural-like wallpaper is by Affreschi & Affreschi, made with a custom blue. Photograph by Coreen Simpson.

A typical episode of Rick and Morty is larger-than-life pandemonium. If Rick isn’t using laser swords to slice up hordes of insectoid aliens, he’s whisking his nephew Morty through multi-dimensional portals that make the stargate from 2001 look like an airport people-mover. But underneath that flurry of animation is still a family sitcom about life’s minor gripes. In the season 8 premiere, that includes the annoyance of someone stealing your phone charger. [Ed. note: Setup spoilers ahead for Rick and Morty season 8, episode 1.] “Summer of All Fears” opens in a future where a grown Summer (Spencer Grammer) is the technocratic overlord of a society devoted to phone chargers. Morty is living off the grid after a life of prison time, military service, and cell-phone-related horrors. Turns out, the brother-sister duo are actually stuck in a world simulation à la The Matrix, conceived as punishment by uncle Rick after they used his phone charger. It isn’t surprising that the Rick and Morty writers found a fresh spin for a simulation-theory gag. The twist is that it’s built on the infuriating inconvenience of your phone charger going missing. Creator Dan Harmon tells Polygon he thinks he’s to blame for that plot point.  “I have tried to hoard them,” he says with despair, while recounting the origins of the premiere episode. “I’ve tried to lock them in boxes. They just disappear. They’re the new ‘sock in the dryer.’” Showrunner Scott Marder says the Rick and Morty writers are always on the hunt for relatable problems as cores for their absurdist parodies. Harmon’s gripes were felt in the room. “Every year, there’s a different hookup to the phone!” he says. “So you’ve got a bunch of them that don’t even mean anything anymore. You’re always chasing for one that works.”  While phone charger fury might be relatable, Harmon admits his relationship with the dongles goes a bit deeper. They were once the centerpiece of a notorious Valentine’s Day present he gifted his ex-wife: a “beautiful bouquet” of iPhone chargers. Harmon swears the gift actually went over really well, and he “was proud of giving it,” because unlike most disposable Valentine’s Day gifts, the phone charger bouquet could charge a phone.  Even so, Harmon says, he thought of it as a present that was probably going to have a short shelf life: “Phone chargers, like flowers, feel like you’re just giving them to someone and they’re just going to vanish.” 

doops. Member Jun 3, 2020 5,141 Many thanks to MoonlitSeer for the more accurate screenshots taken from Twitter. You can cross-reference these with his account on there for yourself. I won't be linking to it here, since it's (rightfully so) a banned source. Apparently also, Twitter now only shows a selection of follows, so the original screenshot from Reddit may well still be accurate, but this one is at least more verifiable currently.   Savinowned Member Oct 25, 2017 1,493 Nashville, TN That's a bummer. Do we have any history of him saying sketchy stuff? I loved the last rematch beta and was excited to play the upcoming one next weekend   MoonlitSeer Fallen Guardian Member Jun 9, 2023 1,977 I'll just add that I was in the process of cross-referencing these with the prior post when the topic was locked. I personally checked all of the ones listed here and can verify they are accurate as of about 30 minutes prior from the time of this post.   Rosebud Two Pieces Member Apr 16, 2018 51,258 .   OP OP doops. Member Jun 3, 2020 5,141 MoonlitSeer said: I'll just add that I was in the process of cross-referencing these with the prior post when the topic was locked. I personally checked all of the ones listed here and can verify they are accurate as of about 30 minutes from the time of this post. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Appreciate you! ❤️  CaptainFreud Banned Aug 19, 2022 8 User banned (permanent): Troll account Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests.   skillzilla81 "This guy are sick" The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 11,316 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Good for you.  Nocturne Member Oct 25, 2017 2,217 thanks for the heads-up. know a couple people who sounded interested in this game who'd probably wanna know about something like this.   Firmus_Anguis AVALANCHE Member Oct 30, 2017 8,491 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... That's all you got? Ya'll are getting so incredibly predictable. Just report and move on, people. Incoming permaban.  Qwark Member Oct 27, 2017 10,251 Incredibly disappointing. Another one to avoid.   DanDanderson Member May 7, 2024 298 As a general note, this is not only the creative director but also a co-founder of the studio. MoonlitSeer said: I'll just add that I was in the process of cross-referencing these with the prior post when the topic was locked. I personally checked all of the ones listed here and can verify they are accurate as of about 30 minutes prior from the time of this post. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Same. The original screenshot is accurate. You don't see all followers on Twitter, and the ones you do see change - it's not a static list. He does follow all the people in the original screenshot including RadioGenoa and Grummz.  Bricks "This guy are sick" Member Nov 6, 2017 746 Well, I got Sifu for free from the Epic Games Store, so... that's fine, I guess? Who am I kidding, I'll never have time to play it anyway.   JoeInky Member Oct 25, 2017 4,075 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Ok and? There are 100s of games released every day, why are people like you constantly so bothered about the idea that people might skip one of those games for ideological reasons?  Eevea Member Sep 23, 2022 485 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's not a "purity test", it's a decency test. When it comes to the matter of real people's lives, it's not an "opinion", it's not "politics". Just because you can overlook shitty people doesn't mean everyone has that luxury.  Buttonbasher Member Dec 4, 2017 5,752 Thanks for the heads up. Will avoid.   GTOAkira Member Sep 1, 2018 13,401 Not afraid to defend my country lmao Following that first account is enough to show what kind of person he is.  DrScruffleton Member Oct 26, 2017 14,889 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Messages: 8 Joined: 2022  OP OP doops. Member Jun 3, 2020 5,141 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... the irony of having your pronouns under your name and saying dumb shit like this. go back to r/reseterainaction you rat  Sande Member Oct 25, 2017 7,176 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Congrats for not caring...? Like yeah, there's all kinds of people working in games but not all of them broadcast where they stand like this. And this is in a leadership position.  Zigludo Member Aug 17, 2020 59 CaptainFreud said: Unless he's actively reposting and sharing anti-trans or genocidal rhetoric, I really don't care. News flash: the people that make the games you play have a variety of backgrounds and won't always ace your purity tests. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nice alt account you got there.   METAL GEAR REX Member Jun 11, 2023 2,550 Edit: I regret ever asking questions on here.   Last edited: 10 minutes ago TheCat Member Dec 20, 2023 917 Eevea said: It's not a "purity test", it's a decency test. When it comes to the matter of real people's lives, it's not an "opinion", it's not "politics". Just because you can overlook shitty people doesn't mean everyone has that luxury. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Aren't you literally playing the new Doom Game? You know who sees your money, right?  Fat4all Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot Member Oct 25, 2017 107,533 here turns out Twitter is a shit website that doesn't accurately show followers, who knew   JoeInky Member Oct 25, 2017 4,075 doops. said: the irony of having your pronouns under your name and saying dumb shit like this. go back to r/reseterainaction you rat Click to expand... Click to shrink... I genuinely believe some people set up their pronouns just to mock the concept and not because they want people to respect their identity, like that guy who got banned in one of the offtopic threads with an LGBT flag avatar spouting a bunch of bigoted shit  Kudo Member Oct 25, 2017 4,300 Wait, following? Am I missing something here?   RomanceDawn Teacher of Superheroines Member Oct 29, 2017 1,240 Los Angeles I know some of the martial artists who worked on this game. Good people who completely align themselves with much of this board. The world isn't so black and white. In all that you love you will find something you hate, and in all that you hate you will find something you love.  Fat4all Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot Member Oct 25, 2017 107,533 here love all the folks coming out of the woodwork to defend following anti-trans bigots very organized  Eevea Member Sep 23, 2022 485 TheCat said: Aren't you literally playing the new Doom Game? You know who sees your money, right? Click to expand... Click to shrink... As far as I know, Hugo Martin is not a bigot.  MoonlitSeer Fallen Guardian Member Jun 9, 2023 1,977 DanDanderson said: As a general note, this is not only the creative director but also a co-founder of the studio. Same. The original screenshot is accurate. You don't see all followers on Twitter, and the ones you do see change - it's not a static list. He does follow all the people in the original screenshot including RadioGenoa and Grummz. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yea, and you can also follow the account to verify who they follow by visiting, since it will show on those pages. For example: You can see here he follows Grummz (taken just now).  Ultrapop Member Aug 19, 2022 206 R’lyeh Fat4all said: love all the folks coming out of the woodwork to defend following anti-trans bigots very organized Click to expand... Click to shrink... Funny how bigots always get the benefit of the doubt, huh?  Kyuuji The Favonius Fox Member Nov 8, 2017 38,393 Rowling's twitter feed is just wall to wall the vilest transphobia, and has been for years. If you didn't want to see it, you wouldn't be following her.   JoeInky Member Oct 25, 2017 4,075 The three genres of dismissive posts in these types of threads: "And yet you participate in society" "What about the poor workers at the studio who aren't bigots? It's not fair on them to skip the game just because of a little thing like this!" "The game looks great! Anyone else looking forward to it too?"  sillyGecko Member Mar 14, 2025 1,551 DanDanderson said: Same. The original screenshot is accurate. You don't see all followers on Twitter, and the ones you do see change - it's not a static list. He does follow all the people in the original screenshot including RadioGenoa and Grummz. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Are you sure? I refreshed it multiple times and it was always the same, didn't see grummz and what not. Either way the current list are people I saw and aren't great of course Edit: Saw the picture up above, very strange how the following list doesn't show everyone  Last edited: 5 minutes ago Fat4all Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot Member Oct 25, 2017 107,533 here Kyuuji said: Rowling's twitter feed is just wall to wall the vilest transphobia, and has been for years. If you didn't want to see it, you wouldn't be following her. Click to expand... Click to shrink... 💯   Fat4all Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot Member Oct 25, 2017 107,533 here sillyGecko said: Are you sure? I refreshed it multiple times and it was always the same, didn't see grummz and what not. Either way the current list are people I saw and aren't great of course Click to expand... Click to shrink... scroll up   EvilBoris Prophet of Truth - HDTVtest Verified Oct 29, 2017 18,082 Is it possible to follow these people just so you can see what dumb shit they are saying and be involved in refuting their awful views? Lots of people follow Elon Mush and Donald Trump and hate them. Personally I wouldn't , I'd rather not see it, but I know other people feel more strongly about that. Or is this person agreeing with them in public?  thirtypercent Member Oct 18, 2018 746 Rosebud said: I draw the line at Thomas Mahler Click to expand... Click to shrink... When not even the worst person on a list already makes you instabarf all over the place ....  Friendly Bear Member Jan 11, 2019 3,955 I Don’t Care Where (Just Far) That's really disappointing. Really disappointing. I'm not surprised anymore when someone is revealed as Chud or Chud adjacent, but it still disappoints me. I don't expect everyone to share my opinions, but I think it's reasonable to be critical of someone who is a fan of omega bigots. EvilBoris said: Is it possible to follow these people just so you can see what dumb shit they are saying and be involved in refuting their awful views? Lots of people follow Elon Mush and Donald Trump and hate them. Personally I wouldn't , I'd rather not see it, but I know other people feel more strongly about that. Or is this person agreeing with them in public? Click to expand... Click to shrink... I mean, it's possible. But that list seems pretty deliberate.  sillyGecko Member Mar 14, 2025 1,551 EvilBoris said: Is it possible to follow these people just so you can see what dumb shit they are saying and be involved in refuting their awful views? Lots of people follow Elon Mush and Donald Trump and hate them. Personally I wouldn't , I'd rather not see it, but I know other people feel more strongly about that. Or is this person agreeing with them in public? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Also possible, it's why a lot of people used to have "likes arent an endorsement" in their bio when they would like something to bookmark it for later. Hard to say   Kudo Member Oct 25, 2017 4,300 I guess it is suspicious, following Trump etc. I'd understand for "news" but Grummz and Rowling tweets are wild.   Fat4all Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot Member Oct 25, 2017 107,533 here Ultrapop said: Funny how bigots always get the benefit of the doubt, huh? Click to expand... Click to shrink... gotta bend over backwards so far their heads touch the ground   BabyDontHurtMe Member Dec 9, 2018 30,854 New Jersey There are plenty of games that aren't made by dipshits so it's good to know which games that are. It's not that complicated why these threads exist, especially in this day and age. If you don't care then more power to you, but that's not the point of these threads lol   Gotchaforce Member Oct 31, 2017 6,634 I really want to play Sifu (I love martial arts games) but I'm also happy to not support shitheads.   CandySTX Member Mar 17, 2018 1,988 Scotland Can't un-buy Sifu years ago, but can certainly avoid them in the future. Thanks for the heads up.  niccoolnic Member Nov 20, 2020 1,240 Salt Lake City, UT We're still doing "is a follow an endorsement" deflections in 2025 huh? Yeah fuck this guy.  Adulfzen Member Oct 29, 2017 3,955 Eevea said: As far as I know, Hugo Martin is not a bigot. Click to expand... Click to shrink... ID Tech is owned by Microsoft and Microsoft (which includes Xbox) is officially part of the BDS list https://bdsmovement.net/microsoft Microsoft is perhaps the most complicit tech company in Israel's illegal apartheid regime and ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza. Microsoft's complicity in Israel's apartheid and genocide is well documented, exposing its strong ties to the Israeli military, its collaboration with Israeli government ministries, and its involvement in the Israeli prison system, which is notorious for systematic torture and abuse of Palestinians. Microsoft knowingly provides Israel with technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), that is deployed to facilitate grave human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity (including apartheid), as well as genocide. In light of the International Court of Justice's legally-binding rulings to prevent Israel's plausible genocide in Gaza, as well as its July 19 Advisory Opinion affirming Israel's illegal occupation and apartheid system, Microsoft has failed its corporate obligation to prevent genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Microsoft, as well as its boards of directors and executives, may face criminal liability for this complicity. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Hugo Martin being a bigot would be irrelevant in this case if you care about the genocide.  OP OP doops. Member Jun 3, 2020 5,141 EvilBoris said: Is it possible to follow these people just so you can see what dumb shit they are saying and be involved in refuting their awful views? Lots of people follow Elon Mush and Donald Trump and hate them. Personally I wouldn't , I'd rather not see it, but I know other people feel more strongly about that. Or is this person agreeing with them in public? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Given that several of these accounts post offensive shit to stir up hate and bigotry for the sake of it (Radio Genoa, JK Rowling), you can't really give Jordan the benefit of the doubt here. I mean following JK Rowling alone negates this take either way. Who the FUCK wants to hear what she has to say with all the shit she's said and done?? You only do that if you already agree with her.  ALXJ REFANTAZIO SWEEP Uncle Works at Nintendo Member Feb 16, 2021 1,212 yikes... i was looking forward to consider this because some friends will play, now i'll honestly try to change their minds. there's no reason to follow that amount of trash...   EvilBoris Prophet of Truth - HDTVtest Verified Oct 29, 2017 18,082 doops. said: Given that several of these accounts post offensive shit to stir up hate and bigotry for the sake of it (Radio Genoa, JK Rowling), you can't really give Jordan the benefit of the doubt here. I mean following JK Rowling alone negates this take either way. Who the FUCK wants to hear what she has to say with all the shit she's said and done?? Click to expand... Click to shrink... I can't say I understand it , it's all horrid and hateful. I deleted my twitter account because it's all so upsetting.  HellofaMouse Member Oct 27, 2017 8,412 i mean its too late for sifu, that game sold 99% of the copies its gonna sell. but noted for the soccer game, not that i was planning to buy it.. 

With so many AAA big-budget games and countless indie games across genres, it’s increasingly rare to see a AA game with a modest budget and scope break through and make waves in the industry. It’s even less common for that game to confidently and consistently emulate a series with the caliber of The Elder Scrolls. With Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, though, developer Questlinehas built a tight, satisfying “Scrolls-like” that effectively captures so much of what makes its influences so great in the context of the dark fantasy Arthurian world of Tainted Grail. While it doesn’t always stray from its influences and is littered with technical issues big and small that frequently took me out of the experience, The Fall of Avalon brings its perilous world to life beautifully, with an impactful story and an expansive open world that show incredible potential for this world and genre. "The main campaign consists of a dozen or so missions, but it encourages you to explore and get stronger on your own between missions, both explicitly and by the fact that you will likely get pummeled by the first enemy you see in the next mission." But while the franchise is new to games, its systems are heavily inspired by existing, successful games, and it wears its influences squarely on its sleeve. The most notable is The Elder Scrolls, as the opening sequence could have been picked directly from a Scrolls game. You awaken as an unnamed prisoner in a jail cell you meet a mysterious figure who helps you escape and find out that you are a chosen one. In this case, you happen to house part of the soul of the long-dead King Arthur, and it’s your quest to collect the remainder of his soul from across the world of Avalon. It’s from here that you’re sent out into the open world to continue along that quest while finding tons of side quests, bounties, and errands to complete in the meantime. Narratively, The Fall of Avalon’s biggest strength is its characters, all of whom are well-written and well-acted. Your ability to talk to King Arthur and hear his perspectives gives a unique spin on a relatively familiar story, and most other characters, from Merlin to a generic shopkeep, will leave you with a memorable one-liner or story. The cast brings you deeper into the world and makes you want to learn more about what’s familiar in this version of the story and what’s changed, and even with the traditional deadpan stares these NPCs can have, they bring key moments to life. The visuals are less enticing and look somewhat dated, although cutscenes are "From a gameplay perspective, The Fall of Avalon is an unbridled western RPG that’s most similar to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. " There are a few shocking moments that were direct results of my decisions, and it’s clear where you can have a major impact on the outcome of the world and its characters, such as a moment where I had to decide whether or not to carry about an assassination. By the end, the campaign isn’t revolutionary, especially for a game in this genre, but there are some exciting moments and a lot of potential replayability that I’m excited to explore. From a gameplay perspective, The Fall of Avalon is an unbridled western RPG that’s most similar to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. You allocate points to various attributes, such as Strength, Endurance, and Dexterity, and your playstyle determines progress for the underlying stats, such as one-handed and two-handed weapons, light and heavy armor, and agility. There’s a ton to explore and find across the maps, particularly with caves and other dungeons scattered around the world, which give you better weapons, stronger magic, and new quests. You have a full suite of swords, bows, armor, magic, and other equipment, as well as your special abilities from King Arthur, and the game offers decent flexibility in making each different weapon feel satisfying and throwing different types of enemies at you that test your skills in different ways. both in the story and in the game. It features a full day-night cycle, and some nights become what’s called the Wyrdnight, meaning that a dangerous fog known as the Wyrd comes over the town and summons strong demons that you can either fight or avoid. Combat feels mostly satisfying, though it’s not always intuitive how to defeat certain enemies, and there are definitely moments where the game’s inherent wonkiness makes it more difficult to tell when an enemy is attacking. I always felt rewarded for exploring or going off the beaten path, though, and the game’s more forgiving encumbrance system and economy made it so that I always felt able to find new and improved gear. With all of this, this game often feels like a tighter version of a western RPG, but it takes influences elsewhere as well. Primarily, The Fall of Avalon may isn’t impossibly long at 25 hours or so to finish, but its structure gives you much more freedom in your progression. The main campaign consists of a dozen or so missions, but it encourages you to explore and get stronger on your own between missions, both explicitly and by the fact that you will likely get pummeled by the first enemy you see in the next mission. The difficulty spikes can be sudden, but the fact that there aren’t too many main quests means that they encourage you to explore and see the world at your own pace in order to level up through side quests or dungeons. The overall difficulty ramps up as you approach the end as well, and particular fights can be frustrating, but I never felt like any part of gameplay was unfair. "Unfortunately, what did mar my experience, and what matched the Elder Scrolls tradition, was the slew of technical issues I encountered playing on PS5." A day-one patch reportedly has smoothed out some of these issues, but it’s disappointing to see a game in Early Access for so long come out with these types of issues. Technical issues aside, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon puts the AA spin on the classic formula of The Elder Scrolls, with its own twists and unique aspects. There is so much to do across the world of Avalon to learn about the dark history of King Arthur and everyone that surrounded him, and the overall narrative is surprisingly engaging for this setting. The freedom offered in gameplay is a refreshing touch that allows you freedom to see and explore the world and fight some terrifying enemies. While technical issues plague the experience, what’s underneath is an incredibly ambitious and generally well-executed transition into games for the Tainted Grail franchise, and it’s an exciting vision for what this franchise and genre can be.  This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

It looks like a machine built in the background of a Nine Inch Nails video – blunt, dirty, furious. The Droog X Volcon Grunt doesn’t care about looking sleek. It’s industrial as hell and twice as aggressive. You don’t ride it, you strap in for the kind of electric street brawl that leaves burn marks on the asphalt and a vibration in your teeth. Based on the Volcon Grunt EVO, Droog Moto’s latest creation wears its attitude like armor. The frame looks sculpted with a sledgehammer and finished by a welder who ran out of patience but had plenty of talent. Up front, a thin horizontal LED headlight slices through the night like a katana caught mid-swing. The fat tires – massive 8-inch-wide slabs of rubber – promise grip on anything short of lava. Gravel, sand, pothole-ridden backstreets? It’s game on. Designer: Droog What makes this brute tick is a dual 60V battery configuration, delivering a top speed of 60 mph with a torque curve that feels immediate and unforgiving. It’s powered by a 10.6 kW Gates carbon belt drive system, which means you’re getting that sweet, near-silent thrust that only a torquey electric drivetrain can give. It’ll cover up to 60 miles on a single charge – plenty of time to stir up trouble or head off-grid without breaking a sweat. But here’s the trick: while it looks like something that belongs in a post-apocalyptic scrapyard drag race, there’s precision in the chaos. Droog’s aesthetic might scream Mad Max, but the execution is meticulous. Custom LED lighting, a brutally minimalist saddle, and a stance that looks like it’s always mid-pounce. This is where off-road DNA meets streetfighter brawn… and the result isn’t subtle. Only two of these beasts exist… and one’s already spoken for. That’s less of a production run and more of a clarion call. If you see one in the wild, you’re either at an elite underground race meet or you’ve stumbled into Bruce Wayne’s mansion.The post The Droog X Volcon Grunt Is a Street-Legal Post-Apocalyptic Electric Monster first appeared on Yanko Design.