This week, for the respective editions of their newsletters, Kids Today and User Friendly, senior correspondents Anna North and Adam Clark Estes have a chat about something that’s occupying both of them as journalists and as parents of young kids: How AI will shape the lives of the next generation?Anna North: Hi Adam! Excited to chat about AI and kids! In addition to reporting on kids for work, I also have a 7-year-old (who is home sick today and watching Amphibia right now, so might interrupt), and a 2-year-old (who is not currently home sick, yay!).Adam Clark Estes: Hey Anna! My kid is not yet 2, but as they say, the days are long, but the years are short. I feel like I’ll be meeting her AI friends in no time. Anna: Ha! So speaking of which, should we kick this off by talking a little bit about our hopes and fears for our kids growing up in the age of AI? I do feel like there’s a lot to be hopeful about: I’m excited that my kids will grow up in a time when we can use AI to develop new drugs and decode elephant language (although maybe some of those AI tools are more properly called machine learning?). My biggest fear is that my kids won’t see the point of learning certain skills, like writing and math, because AI can do those tasks for them. I certainly worry about AI taking jobs, too, but that’s a ways away for my kids.RelatedShould schools lock up kids’ phones?Adam: I’m actually not that worried about my kid having AI friends. She probably will! I just hope that she doesn’t spend too much time with them or too much time with AI-powered technology in general. I hope we enter this new AI era together and learn how these tools can make our lives better, richer, and more interesting. It reminds me of how the internet came of age around the same time I did, but my parents seemed too afraid to figure it out at the time. I hope I can be brave. Anna: My dad was actually an internet early adopter, and so we did enter that era together, which was sweet. We used to go to Doctor Who chatrooms — I remember once listing “our” age as “43 and 12.” That was nice for me because 1) I learned to use a computer and 2) I learned to be curious and not fearful around new technologies. Except I am a little fearful around AI! Maybe I have to channel that spirit of curiosity a little more when I’m with my kids.A friend of mine was telling me her district is rolling out AI tools potentially in kindergarten, so it starts young.Adam: And I keep seeing ads for AI-equipped stuffed animals. AI is still such a buzzword, but I do think we’re starting to see how it really will take over technology as we know it. I always say that it’s just the next iteration of the software that’s already in everything. So, of course, it’s going to be in classrooms — not just for cheating purposes, either.Anna: Cheating using AI is less of an issue for little kids because they’re not doing much of their work on computers yet. The AI tools I’ve seen proposed for K-6 are like this AI-powered reading coach, which seems less vulnerable to cheating than, say, ChatGPT. I’ve definitely heard people say that AI could potentially offer more personalized tutoring one day, which could be positive since individual instruction is really beneficial, but public school classes are often too large to offer much of it. That idea doesn’t freak me out too much, although, of course, there are questions around how reliable and accurate AI tools are.My older kid is in first grade, and at his school, there’s a lot of talk about the role of AI in math. The argument I’ve heard is very similar to what we were taught about calculators, honestly: that these tools will be able to do a lot of simple operations for us, so kids should be able to think intuitively about numbers.I don’t really think we’ll return to oral exams, but we will have to reconsider what education looks like in a world that runs on AI.Adam: I’m also curious about how AI simply changes how schools work. Like, if AI makes it too easy to cheat when essay-writing, what will teachers assign instead? And what will they grade? I don’t really think we’ll return to oral exams, but we will have to reconsider what education looks like in a world that runs on AI.Anna: I do think there’s a shift to more in-class tests and assignments, which can cause its own stress. I also wonder if there’s just going to be a shift toward developing a different set of skills, if writing just becomes less important. We already see kids and young people consuming less text — I wouldn’t be shocked if there was more emphasis in the coming years on oral presentation or audio and visual production skills. That bums me out as a writer, but maybe it’s what Plato would’ve wanted? I do try to remember that people have always been skeptical of new technology (even written language), and some of the anxieties we’re experiencing now are thousands of years old.I wouldn’t be shocked if there was more emphasis in the coming years on oral presentation or audio and visual production skills.Adam: And some look like instant replays of anxieties from just a decade or two ago. Every time a new technology or medium comes along, there’s a collective freakout that it’s destroying the youth. This is just as true for social media as it was for TV, video games, comic books, and even radio. I think this will be true of AI in social settings, too. It’s already possible to have an AI friend through apps like Replika or Kindroid. I wasn’t kidding about the AI stuffed animals, either. There’s one called Grok that’s designed — by Grimes of all people — for ages 3 and up. Kids can ask it questions, and the AI will tell them things, like a futuristic Teddy Ruxpin, except Teddy Ruxpin had a cassette tape in his belly that parents could listen to and know what the stuffed bear would say. I have no idea what AI will be telling our kids!I’ve seen people call this the end of the imaginary friend. I actually think it’s just the beginning of something new. What that is, I can’t imagine. At least not yet. Anna: It’s funny to me because Teddy Ruxpin was famously creepy! The social/play aspect of AI is super-interesting. I’m not worried about AI killing imaginary friends — kids will make friends with a can of tomato paste, and I don’t think you can destroy their social creativity that easily.My biggest concern around AI friends right now is safety — there are already lawsuits alleging that chatbots nudged kids toward violence or self-harm. Do you know what guardrails there are in place? Adam: My general feeling about guardrails is that, no matter how many there are, technology finds a way to leap over them. YouTube, for instance, has long struggled with how to make sure parents can steer their children to safe, age-appropriate content, but kids inevitably find themselves sucked down a rabbit hole of uncanny algorithmically generated videos. Throwing an infinite supply of AI-generated content into the mix won’t help, so I think parents will have to be vigilant about triple-checking what their kids are watching or playing with.There was a Pew study earlier this year that said about a quarter of all teens had tried ChatGPT for schoolwork. That number had doubled in a year.So if you assume that guardrails aren’t there or won’t work and that kids are going to try some kind of AI tool eventually, where does that leave parents? To be honest, I think we should all do what your dad did with you: Hang out in the proverbial chatrooms together. Talk to the chatbots together. Play with the AI toys together. Learn about this new technology along with your kids and help them learn when to put them away.I think we should all do what your dad did with you: Hang out in the proverbial chatrooms together. Talk to the chatbots together. Play with the AI toys together.Anna: I’m sure my dad will appreciate this endorsement of his parenting! You’re not alone, though. Andrew Przybylski, an Oxford professor I think we’ve talked about who studies phones and kids, talks about introducing his children to smartphones the way you would teach a kid to ride a bike: It’s a tool. It has hazards but also uses. It can be fun, and it’s a basic part of life. Maybe the same is true of AI?This conversation is sort of making me think I need to use AI more with my kids, which is not where I expected to end up. Adam: It’s important to point out that we’re mostly talking about generative AI here, and chatbots. There are also image and video generators. These all have obvious applications for kids in schools, for cheating and learning. But we haven’t even gotten into what the next generation of AI will impact our kids’ lives — things like AI agents that can use computers themselves or the much feared artificial general intelligence that can theoretically do anything. That future is a lot harder for me to comprehend right now.Anna: Yeah, I think there’s a lot about the next 10 or 15 years, both in AI and just in our kids’ lives generally, that’s hard to wrap one’s head around. My husband and I always joke about our children going to college on the moon, but I think it’s just a way of expressing the uncertainty that’s always there when you try to project too far out.See More:

It’s a provocative idea: that empathy — that is, putting yourself in another person’s proverbial shoes, and feeling what they feel — is a sin. The Bible contains repeated invocations from Jesus to show deep empathy and compassion for others, including complete strangers. He’s very clear on this point. Moreover, Christianity is built around a fundamental act of empathy so radical — Jesus dying for our sins — that it’s difficult to spin as harmful. Yet as stunning as it may sound, “empathy is a sin” is a claim that’s been growing in recent years across the Christian right. It was first articulated six years ago by controversial pastor and theologian Joe Rigney, now author of the recently published book, The Sin of Empathy, which has drawn plenty of debate among religious commentators. In this construction, empathy is a cudgel that progressives and liberals use to berate and/or guilt-trip Christians into showing empathy to the “wrong” people. Had it stayed within the realm of far-right evangelicals, we likely wouldn’t be discussing this strange view of empathy at all. Yet we are living in an age when the Christian right has gained unprecedented power, both sociocultural and political. The increasing overlap between conservative culture and right-leaning tech spaces means that many disparate public figures are all drinking from the same well of ideas — and so a broader, secular version of the belief that empathy is a tool of manipulation has bubbled into the mainstream through influential figures like Elon Musk.What “empathy is a sin” actually meansThe proposition that too much empathy is a bad thing is far from an idea that belongs to the right. On Reddit, which tends to be relatively left-wing, one popular mantra is that you can’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm. That is, too much empathy for someone else can erode your own sense of self, leaving you codependent or open to emotional abuse and manipulation. That’s a pretty standard part of most relationship and self-help advice — even from some Christian advice authors. But in recent months, the idea that empathy is inherently destructive has not only become a major source of debate among Christians, it’s escaped containment and barreled into the mainstream by way of major media outlets, political figures, and influencers.The conversation began with an incendiary 2019 essay by Rigney, then a longtime teacher and pastor at a Baptist seminary, in which he introduced “the enticing sin of empathy” and argued that Satan manipulates people through the intense cultural pressure to feel others’ pain and suffering. Rigney’s ideas were met with ideological pushback, with one Christian blogger saying it “may be the most unwise piece of pastoral theology I’ve seen in my lifetime.” As his essay incited national debate, Rigney himself grew more controversial, facing allegations of dismissing women and telling one now-former Black congregant at his Minneapolis church that “it wouldn’t be sinful for him to own me & my family today.” (In an email to Vox, Rigney denied the congregant’s version of events.) Rigney also has a longtime affiliation with Doug Wilson, the leader of the Reformed Christian Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. In practice, what Rigney is typically decrying is any empathy for a liberal perspective or for someone who’s part of a marginalized community.Now well-known for spreading Christian nationalism, and for allegedly fostering a culture of abuse (allegations he has denied), Wilson’s infamy also comes from his co-authored 1996 essay “Southern Slavery: As It Was,” in which he claimed that “Slavery produced in the South a genuine affection between the races that we believe we can say has never existed in any nation before the War or since.” (“My defense of the South does not make me a racist,” Wilson said in 2003.) Rigney appeared on Wilson’s 2019 podcast series Man Rampant to discuss empathy; their conversation quickly devolved into decrying fake rape allegations and musing that victims of police violence might have “deserved to be shot.” In an email, Rigney told me that both he and Wilson developed their similar views on empathy from the therapist and Rabbi Edwin Friedman, whose posthumously published 1999 book, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, has influenced not only family therapy but conservative church leadership and thought. In the book, Friedman argues that American society has devalued the self, leading to an emotional regression and a “low pain threshold.” Alongside this he compares “political correctness” to the Inquisition, and frames a “chronically anxious America” as one that is “organize[d] around its most dysfunctional elements,” in which leaders have difficulty making tough decisions. This correlation of emotional weakness with societal excess paved the way for Rigney to frame empathy itself as a dangerous weapon. Despite using the incendiary generalization, “empathy is sin,” Rigney told me that it is not all empathy that is sinful, but specifically “untethered empathy.” He describes this as “empathy that is detached or unmoored from reality, from what is good and right.” (An explanation that begs definitions for “reality,” “good,” and “right.”)“Just as ‘the sin of anger’ refers to unrighteous or ungoverned anger, so the sin of empathy refers to ungoverned, excessive, and untethered empathy,” Rigney told me. This kind of unrestrained empathy, he writes, is a recipe for cultural mayhem. In theory, Rigney argues that one should be “tethered” to God’s will and not to Satan. In practice, what Rigney is typically decrying is any empathy for a liberal perspective or for someone who’s part of a marginalized community. When I asked him for a general reconciliation of his views with the Golden Rule, he sent me a response in which he brought up trans identity in order to label it a “fantasy” that contradicts “God-given biological reality,” while misgendering a hypothetical trans person. The demonization of empathy moves into the mainstreamDespite receiving firm pushback from most religious leaders (and indeed most people) who hear about it, Rigney’s argument has been spreading through the Christian right at large. Last year, conservative personality and author Allie Stuckey published Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion, in which she argues that “toxic empathy is a dangerous guide for our decisions, behavior, and public policy” while condemning queer people and feminists. “Empathy almost needs to be struck from the Christian vocabulary,” Josh McPherson, host of the Christian-centered Stronger Man Nation podcast and an adherent of Wilson and Rigney’s ideas, said in January, in a clip that garnered an outsize amount of attention relative to the podcast episode itself. That same month, Vice President JD Vance struck a nerve with a controversial appearance on Fox News in which he seemed to reference both the empathy conversation and the archaic Catholic concept of “ordo amoris,” meaning “the order of love.” As Vance put it, it’s the idea that one’s family should come before anyone else: “You love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country,” he said. “And then after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.” In a follow-up on X, he posted, “the idea that there isn’t a hierarchy of obligations violates basic common sense.” Vance’s statements received backlash from many people, including both the late Pope Francis and then-future Pope Leo XIV — but the controversy just drove the idea further into the mainstream. As part of the odd crossover between far-right religion and online reactionaries, it picked up surprising alliances along the way, including evolutionary biologist turned far-right gadfly Gad Saad. In January, Saad, applying a survival-of-the-fittest approach to our emotions, argued against “suicidal empathy,” which he described as “the inability to implement optimal decisions when our emotional system is tricked into an orgiastic hyperactive form of empathy, deployed on the wrong targets.” (Who are the wrong targets according to Saad? Trans women and immigrants.)In a February appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Elon Musk explicitly referenced Saad but went even further, stating, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy — the empathy exploit. They’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization” — the “they” here being the left wing. “I think empathy is good,” Musk added, “but you need to think it through, and not just be programmed like a robot.” By March, mainstream media had noticed the conversation. David French had observed the “strange spectacle” of the Christian turn against empathy in a column for the New York Times. In April, a deep-dive in the Guardian followed. That same month, a broad-ranging conversation in the New Yorker with Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, led to interviewer Isaac Chotiner pressing him about why empathy is bad. The discussion, of deported Venezuelan immigrants wrongfully suspected of having gang tattoos, led to Mohler saying that “there’s no reason anyone other than a gang member should have that tattoo.” (Among the tattoos wrongly flagged as gang symbols were the words “Mom” and “Dad” on the wrists of one detainee.)The pro-empathy backlash is fierce The connective tissue across all these disparate anti-empathy voices is two-fold, according to Christian scholar Karen Swallow Prior. Prior, an anti-abortion ethicist and former longtime Liberty University professor, singled out the argument’s outsize emphasis on attacking very small, very vulnerable groups — as well as the moment in which it’s all happening.“The entire discourse around empathy is backlash against those who are questioning the authority of those in power,” she told me, “not coincidentally emerging in a period where we have a rise in recognition of overly controlling and narcissistic leaders, both in and outside the church.” Those people “understand and appreciate empathy the least.”“Trump made it okay to not be okay with culture,” Peter Bell, co-creator and producer of the Sons of Patriarchy podcast, which explores longstanding allegations of emotional and sexual abuse against Doug Wilson’s Christ Church, told me. (Wilson has denied that the church has a culture of abuse or coercion.) “He made it kind of cool for Christians to be jerks,” Bell said. “He made the unspoken things spoken, the whispered things shouted out loud.”Prior believes that the argument won’t have a long shelf life because Rigney’s idea is so convoluted. Yet she added that it’s born out of toxic masculinity, in an age where stoicism, traditionally male-coded, is increasingly part of the regular cultural diet of men via figures like Jordan Peterson. That hypermasculinity goes hand in hand with evangelical culture, and with the ideas Rigney borrowed from Friedman about too many emotions being a weakness. In this framing, emotion becomes non-masculine by default — i.e., feminine.“Everybody’s supposed to have sympathy for the white male, but when you show empathy to anyone else, suddenly empathy is a sin.”— Karen Swallow Prior, Christian scholarThat leads us to the grimmest part of Rigney’s “untethered empathy” claims: the way he explicitly genders it — and demonizes it — as feminine. Throughout his book, he argues that women are more empathetic than men, and that as a result, they are more prone to giving into it as a sin. It’s an inherently misogynistic view that undermines women’s decision-making and leadership abilities. Though Rigney pushed back against this characterization in an email to me, arguing that critics have distorted what he views as merely “gendered tendencies and susceptibility to particular temptations,” he also couldn’t help reinforcing it. “[F]emale tendencies, like male tendencies, have particular dangers, temptations, and weaknesses,” he wrote. Women thus should recognize this and “take deliberate, Spirit-wrought action to resist the impulse to become a devouring HR department that wants to run the world.”As Prior explains, though, Rigney’s just fine with a mythic national human resources department, as long as it supports the status quo. “Everybody’s supposed to have sympathy for the white male,” she said, “but when you show empathy to anyone else, suddenly empathy is a sin.”What’s heartening is that, whether they realize what kind of dangerous extremism undergirds it, most people aren’t buying Rigney’s “empathy is sin” claim. Across the nation, in response to Rigney’s assertion, the catchphrase, “If empathy is a sin, then sin boldly” has arisen, as heard in pulpits, seen on church marquees, and worn on T-shirts — a reminder that it takes much more than the semantic whims of a few extremists to shake something most people hold in their hearts.See More:

Not providing enough practical experience in science classes will have a direct impact on whether children work in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) roles in the future, research suggests. EngineeringUK and The Royal Society’s Science education tracker asked hundreds of science teachers about delivering hands-on lessons and found there has been a decline in practical classes, with teachers highlighting many of the barriers standing in the way of being able to deliver this style of teaching. “We know the frequency of hands-on practical science has dropped,” said Becca Gooch, head of research at EngineeringUK. “Our Science Education Tracker research in partnership with the Royal Society highlighted this, as well as how critically vital practical science is as a motivating factor for learning science for years seven to nine. “Hands-on practicals help bring science to life for young people and boost interest in science, as well as developing important skills,” she added. “We need more young people, especially girls, choosing to continue with science and progress into engineering and technology careers. So, we need school students to have many more opportunities to get hands-on in their science lessons.” More than half of children in years seven to nine highlighted how important practical science lessons are for motivating them to learn more about the subject, especially for students who are less interested in the topic – if there are fewer practical science lessons, it actually serves to put people off of studying the subject later on in their education. With EngineeringUK and The Royal Society reporting that a diverse engineering and tech workforce in the future is directly linked to young people engaging in science and other STEM subjects, more needs to be done to maintain an interest in these subjects into further education and beyond. One of the reasons young people, and especially girls, don’t choose tech or other STEM careers is because they don’t fully understand what they involve or what the kinds of people working in those careers look like, so hands-on lessons can help in informing young people about what skills they may use in a future career. Female students are slightly more likely to engage with a subject when there is practical work involved than their male counterparts – practical elements of learning were a motivator for 54% of female students versus half of males – and having a good teacher is also more important to girls than boys. But hands-on science lessons have been on the decline over the past 10 years, with 44% of students across the UK taking part in practical work at least once every two weeks in 2016, dropping to 37% in 2019, and falling further to just over a quarter in 2023 – and now in many cases, practical demonstrations have been replaced with videos. Teachers pointed to a number of barriers in the way of delivering hands-on lessons, the biggest of which are what is required in the curriculum, and the time they have – with the amount of time it takes for teachers to develop practical sessions that relate directly to the learning goals laid out in the curriculum, teachers said in many cases they can’t feasibly work them into their teaching. Unfortunately, a child’s socio-economic background can stand between them and certain educational pathways, and the area a school is in can prevent access to certain funding and resources. What schools are able to provide can be varied depending on funding and area, and 26% of teachers said a lack of equipment stood in the way of offering more practical lessons. Some 27% said they don’t have the money to buy the equipment. Read more about STEM in schools Computer science has a persistent gender divide, but research by BCS has found more women are now being accepted on computing university courses. Speaking at the Bett Show this year, the UK’s education secretary outlined the ways in which teachers will be using technologies such as AI in the future, including planning lessons and marking work. Almost a quarter said they don’t have enough technicians with the skills available to facilitate hands-on science lessons, and almost 40% of teachers said vacancies in science departments have stopped students from receiving practical teaching. A small number of science teachers also expressed concerns about their ability to deliver practical sessions, with 3% saying they lack the training and 2% saying they lack the confidence to do so, a trend that has existed for some time. EngineeringUK and The Royal Society pointed out that practical science lessons are important for increasing student interest in STEM, fuelling the talent pipeline in the future, and gave a number of recommendations to help enable teachers to offer more hands-on lessons. The first was a call to government to take advantage of the current curriculum review to streamline it and allow science lessons to offer more practical lessons, as well as to make practical learning part of the curriculum to ensure all students are able to experience these kinds of lessons as part of their learning. Resources for schools was the third suggestion from EngineeringUK and The Royal Society. Going forward, schools need more investment to make sure they have the equipment, training and technical assistance needed to give students the opportunity for practical lessons.

While other streaming services thrive on carefully selected and endlessly curated (meaning: limited) selections of movies, Tubi's a bit different: It feels like the Wild West, with everything from originals; to popular hits; to critically acclaimed favorites; to the lowest-brow, lowest-budget movies you'll find this side of an old Blockbuster. In that spirit, here's a sampling of some of the best stuff currently streaming on Tubi, and it's a wide variety—the streamer will not be pinned down. If you're unfamiliar, Tubi is a free, ad-based service, but generally I find the ads to be less obnoxious and less frequent than on other, similar streamers. Interstellar (2014) Christopher Nolan's mind-bending, but oddly plausible, sci-fi epic takes Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain on a hunt through space and time to find a new home for humans in a near-future during which we've made Earth unlivable. You can stream Interstellar here.Color Out of Space (2019) Nicolas Cage is at his Nic Cage-iest in this H. P. Lovecraft adaptation about a family's descent into madness. A beautiful, horrifying, utterly unique sensory experience. You can stream Color Out of Space here.Friday (1995) An unquestioned classic of stoner comedy, Friday sees Ice Cube and Chris Tucker accidentally smoking weed that they were meant to sell. And who among us hasn't? The two slackers set out to borrow or make the money back during a misadventure-packed Friday. You can stream Friday here. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (alongside Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis) led Everything to Oscar glory a couple of years back, with Yeoh starring as Evelyn Quan Wang, a middle-aged immigrant running a laundromat with her husband. An IRS audit leads to a trip through a wildly outlandish, and ultimately emotional, journey through a multiverse of possibilities. You can stream Everything Everywhere here.Dune (1984) You've probably seen the recent Denis Villeneuve adaptation, but you might be less familiar with this messy and fascinating take from director David Lynch. Kyle MacLachlan leads an all-star cast in a movie that doesn't quite an achieve greatness, but nevertheless offers up a bevy of wild ideas, distinctive visuals, and Lynchian madness. You can stream Dune here. Some Like It Hot (1959) Tubi offers up a better assortment of classics than many of the other streamers, most of which have shifted to a newer-is-better focus. Hot stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as a couple of jazz-age musicians who run afoul of a mob boss, deciding to escape by posing as members of an all-female band (one that, memorably, includes Marilyn Monroe). Director Billy Wilder pitches the farce just right, at the intersection between smart and silly. You can stream Some Like It Hot here. Evil Bong (2006) No socially redeeming value here, just a goofy comedy horror movie about a bong that transports smokers to another planet, one where they're to be murdered by exotic dancers. Tommy Chong co-stars in this movie from Full Moon Features, purveyors of fine low-rent horror movies. You can stream Evil Bong here. Ghost World (2001) Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) face high school graduation, and a crush on Steve Buscemi, in Terry Zwigoff’s indie dark comedy. You can stream Ghost World here.Donnie Darko (2001) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this memorable emo mind-bender about a troubled teenager who dodges disaster thanks to a bit of sleepwalking. An instant cult classic, it's the movie all the cool kids were talking about back in the day. You can stream Donnie Darko (director's cut) here, or the theatrical version here. Hollywood Shuffle (1987) Robert Townsend directs himself as Bobby Taylor, a satire about the perils of navigating the Hollywood system for an actor simultaneously too black and not black enough for the tastes of studio bosses. Through elaborate fantasy sequences and parodies of popular movies, Townsend creates a sharp and often extremely funny sendup that’s (sadly) still relevant. You can stream Hollywood Shuffle here.Barbarian (2022) One of the more divisive horror movies of the past few years (I love it), Barbarian stars Georgina Campbell as a woman who rents an Airbnb only to have a man (Bill Skarsgård) show up claiming that he also has rented the house. He seems nice enough, so she lets him in—enough of a premise for a horror movie right there, but Barbarian has twists that you'll never see coming. You can stream Barbarian here.Showgirls (1995) As with most of Paul Verhoeven's other films, it's possible to view his notoriously trashy film as either dark satire or unintended camp. It's tremendous fun either way and, though it quickly gained a reputation as garbage, it's far more watchable than many other better-reviewed films. You can stream Showgirls here.Rec (2007) This Spanish import is top-tier found footage, involving a group of firefighters on an emergency call who wind up trapped inside a building at the center of a creeping zombie infection. That limited, specific geography is key to the movie's brisk, efficient, and nerve-jangling effectiveness. You can stream Rec here.Planet of the Apes (1968) Astronaut Charlton Heston finds himself on an unknown (wink wink) planet in the distant future where he rather quickly finds himself in the power of the world's ape overlords. From a slightly goofy premise came this dark, disturbing, and timely fable. You can stream Planet of the Apes here. The Apartment (1960) Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine star in this searing, bittersweet, but ultimately humane comedy. MacLaine's Fran Kubelik is an elevator operator having an affair with the big boss at an insurance company, while Lemmon's Bud Baxter gets ahead by loaning out his apartment to upper management for various extramarital assignations. The budding friendship between the two threatens both of their careers. You can stream The Apartment here. Whale Rider (2002) Pai is a 12-year-old Māori girl and the direct descendant of their tribe’s traditional notable ancestor, the Whale Rider—except that, traditionally, women can’t lead. Star Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest nominee for a Best Actress Oscar for her open, genuine performance. You can stream Whale Rider here. The Descent (2006) Getting lost in those caves is scary enough, even before we discover that we're not alone down there. The ultimate in spelunking horror. You can stream The Descent here.Menace II Society (1993) A searing, raw portrait of urban violence in the 1990s, the Hughes Brothers' film follows Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) and his friends as they struggle for a better life amid crime and poverty, but who find themselves drawn deeper into crime and cruelty. The performances here are all phenomenal. You can stream Menace II Society here. Beauty Shop (2005) This Barbershop spin-off follows widowed hairstylist Gina Norris starting over in Atlanta with her daughter, and opening her own shop when a job doesn't pan out. Queen Latifah is as delightful as ever, and is joined by a great cast including Alfre Woodard, Della Reese, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Kevin Bacon, and Djimon Hounsou. You can stream Beauty Shop here.Room 237 (2012) This fascinating documentary explores, without judgement, the many (and often truly wild) theories and interpretations around Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Probably not what you're after if you want a bit of film analysis, but as an exploration of conspiratorial thinking? You could do a lot worse. You can stream Room 237 here. Terrifier (2016) Damien Leone's low-budget slasher series quietly build into a queasy empire, with the most recent film being a legit box office smash. Here, literal clown-from-hell Art stalks partygoer Tara Heyes and her sister Victoria (Scaffidi) on Halloween night. You can stream Terrifier here. Return of the Living Dead (1985) This horror comedy with punk style is both a knowing parody of zombie movies while also managing to be an impressively gory thriller in its own right that moves the whole genre forward. Plus, it’s got a great death-rock soundtrack. You can stream Return of the Living Dead here.Frankenhooker (1990) A disreputable and goofy but surprisingly effective horror comedy, Frankenhooker stars former Penthouse Pet Patty Mullen as the movie's take on Mary Shelley's monster, made in the image of a med student's dead fiancée and built from sex workers. The style and special effects here are pretty great. You can stream Frankenhooker here.Ghost in the Shell (1995) One of the best anime films of all time, at least when it comes to sci-fi and cyberpunk, Ghost in the Shell boasts impeccable style in addition to the thoughtfulness and complexity of its story. Major Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg security agent hunting an enigmatic hacker known only as "the Puppet Master" in the rapidly approaching year 2029, a time when the rise of AI threatens even the idea of individual existence. You can stream Ghost in the Shell here. The Leather Boys (1964) A classic of British kitchen sink realism, a movement in the 1960s that saw hyperrealistic portraits of, often, angry teens and young people, The Leather Boys sees young couple Reggie and Dot becoming increasingly estranged when Reggie mostly wants to just hang out with his biker friends. Among those friends is Pete, who seems to be developing an attraction to Reggie that goes a bit beyond that of a typical biker bro. You can stream The Leather Boys here. North by Northwest (1959) One of Hitchcock's best (and that's saying quite a bit), North by Northwest is a nearly non-stop thrill ride, seeing Cary Grant's Roger Thornhill hunted across the country by criminals who've mistaken him for someone else. It's as funny as it is clever, and nearly impossible to stop watching once you've started. You can stream North by Northwest here.Lars and the Real Girl (2007) The sweetest, most charming movie about the romance between a man and his life-like love doll that you're likely to encounter. You can stream Lars and the Real Girl here.They Call Me Trinity (1970) A classic spaghetti western, Trinity (kicking off a trilogy, appropriately enough), stars Terence Hill and Bud Spencer as brothers Trinity and Bambino, who help defend a Mormon settlement from bandits and a land-grabbing Major (Farley Granger). It's a rare comedy to come out of Italy's obsession with westerns, and a lot of fun for it. You can stream They Call Me Trinity here. The Wiz (1978) Long before Wicked reinvented (or at least reinterpreted) L. Frank Baum, the Broadway musical on which this movie is based imagined Dorothy Gale as a Black teacher from Harlem. The joyous film version is nearly a who's who of Black talent in the 1970s: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor all play roles, while Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, and Charlie Smalls all contributed to the music. You can stream The Wiz here. Cabaret (1972) Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey star in this essential musical about the good times and extravagant style of Weimar Germany giving way to the rising tide of fascism. You can stream Cabaret here.

The Garzón School / Rosan Bosch StudioSave this picture!© Eleazar CuadrosCampus, Schools•Manantiales, Uruguay Architects: Rosan Bosch Studio Area Area of this architecture project Area:  900 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2025 Photographs Photographs:Eleazar Cuadros Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  Belgotex , Bertoni, Docol, Duratex, Formica, Novidario, Portobello, Roca, TarkettMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. Rosan Bosch Studio has designed a new nature-based campus and learning environment for TheGarzón School in Uruguay. The school is nestled within a dense eucalyptus forest, fostering a unique connection with nature. The vast and untamed environment of the new Garzón School in Uruguay is intertwined with the school's identity. In close collaboration with the school community, Rosan Bosch Studio has developed a design concept where learning seamlessly happens indoor and outdoor. The new learning landscape nurtures innate curiosity and encourages exploration, play, and self-expression.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Rosan Bosch Studio has developed the masterplan, landscape design, architecture, and interior design. The innovative concept design applies biophilic design principles to create a nature-connected campus where learning extends beyond traditional boundaries. Nature is not merely a supplement to learning but the classroom itself. Here, the students become protagonists in their own education through a custom-designed curriculum built on experimentation and inquiry-based learning. The school's philosophy considers nature not merely as a supplement to learning, but as a teacher itself.Save this picture!Save this picture!Rosan Bosch Studio's concept design places the students at the center of a differentiated learninglandscape programmed with six different learning zones (or Learning Worlds) based on six design principles: Mountain Top, Cave, Campfire, Watering Hole, Hands-on, and Movement. Designed to support different learning modalities, the six learning zones empower students with meaningful choices that foster autonomy and agency. Guided by inclusion professionals and educators, the students are encouraged to venture off on their own unique journey of discovery and questioning that goes far beyond traditional school models.Save this picture!The nature-based campus combines differentiated learning spaces, designed to support different learning styles, with a deep connection to nature. It provides students with an environment where creativity, curiosity, and collaboration thrive, fostering authentic learning experiences that prepare future change-makers. Here, "the school is the park, and the park is the school," and all spaces are integrated with the environment in a constant interplay between inside and outside. Following a winding path through a meadow and around a lake, one reaches the "village" of The Garzón School, nestled in a dense eucalyptus forest. This is where each student's learning journey begins, later expanding outward as they gain autonomy and awareness. With its meandering streams and promises of adventure, this boundless park becomes fertile ground for imagination and exploration. It represents a bold reinvention of contemporary education.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Nature guides the architectural premise and the choice of materials, which are locally sourced, sustainable, and carefully selected to blend with the surroundings. Subtle colors, natural light, and stimulating textures come together in the design concept, promoting the well-being of students and educators and fostering stronger teacher-student relationships. The landscape design around the village is key in defining areas that generate identity and a sense of belonging among students, as well as in creating spaces for gathering and play. Two brick plazas evoke vernacular Uruguayan architecture, while native vegetation and playful wooden elements enrich the natural setting. These blend harmoniously with the sustainable buildings, which are made entirely of wood and clad using a traditional Japanese charring technique (Shou Sugi Ban), giving them durability, character, and a strong bond with the surrounding landscape. The new Garzón School manifests a transformative educational model that serves as a benchmark for Latin America, demonstrating how thoughtful integration of architecture, nature, and pedagogy can create spaces where learning flourishes naturally and students develop into confident, capable change-makers ready for the challenges of tomorrow.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Manantiales, UruguayLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeRosan Bosch StudioOffice••• MaterialsWoodBrickMaterials and TagsPublished on May 22, 2025Cite: "The Garzón School / Rosan Bosch Studio " 22 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030340/the-garzon-school-rosan-bosch-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

News Former ICAEW operations chief heads up BCS BCS CEO Sharon Gunn wants to open up membership to broadest range of people to promote professional and ethical practices By Cliff Saran, Managing Editor Published: 22 May 2025 10:38 BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has appointed Sharron Gunn as its new group chief executive officer. Gunn takes over leadership from interim CEO Rob Deri, and she has been working for BCS since February to transform its learning and development and membership divisions.  She previously worked for 23 years at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). For the past three years, Gunn was the organisation’s chief operating officer where she focused on enhancing organisational efficiency and leading the redesign of the professional membership organisation’s ACA accountant qualification redesign. According to her LinkedIn profile, during her time at ICAEW, Gunn created the Academy of Professional Development and championed several equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, including the Women in Leadership programme. She also led the ICAEW’s involvement in Rise, an initiative aimed at enhancing social mobility by equipping young people with essential business skills.   She said the team at the ICAEW influenced policy in the public interest by leveraging “the deep technical insight and real-world experiences of our members”. At BCS, she has been working to transform its learning and development and membership divisions. Commenting on Gunn’s role as the new CEO, BCS president Daljit Rehal said: “Sharron brings unrivalled experience in maximising the impact and influence of professional bodies. She has a clear vision for developing the breadth of BCS’ membership and for ensuring the tech profession is seen as a trusted partner across industry and government.  My thanks on behalf of our entire community go to Rob as interim CEO for his commitment to the cause of Making IT Good for Society.”  Outgoing interim CEO Rob Deri said: “Sharron will be an outstanding CEO with the dedication to ensure BCS brings together professionals in diverse areas from cyber security to government to academia, who all share the ambition to make the voice of our profession heard where it matters.”  Gunn’s ambition is that people who work in IT will consider BCS as a core part of their profession. She said: “It is a huge privilege to be asked to lead the professional body for IT, at a time when emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing are transforming society and the economy.  “That’s why focussing on the value of professional qualifications, certifications and Chartered status, as a way of demonstrating trust in our vital profession, is more important than ever before. We are already developing our five-year strategy to ensure BCS is in the best position to respond to dynamic policy and market changes, for example the creation of Skills England.  “Even in the age of AI, technology is about the people leading and creating it. I want to make sure anyone working in a technology role can consider BCS their professional home. Joining our incredible membership community, including Fellowship, should be within reach of the broadest possible range of people, united by an aspiration to prove not just competence, but commitment to ethical practice and accountability.” In April, the BCS submitted a response to the government’s consultation on the role of computer evidence in courts. In its submission to the call for evidence, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, said: “The presumption that computer-generated evidence is inherently reliable is increasingly unfit for purpose in modern criminal prosecutions.” Read more BCS stories Government launches £8.2m plan to encourage girls into AI: The government is investing in teacher training and student support to get more girls into maths classes, ultimately leading to AI careers. BCS report shows lack of improvement in tech diversity: Research from BCS shows very slow progress when it comes to the number of women and people from under-represented groups in tech over the past five years. In The Current Issue: UK critical systems at risk from ‘digital divide’ created by AI threats UK at risk of Russian cyber and physical attacks as Ukraine seeks peace deal Standard Chartered grounds AI ambitions in data governance Download Current Issue Microsoft entices developers to build more Windows AI apps – Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog Red Hat launches llm-d community & project – Open Source Insider View All Blogs

Virtual reality (VR) is a game changer, and it’s here to stay. No longer a tech novelty or niche hobby, VR is rapidly shifting how we design, create, and share everything from cars and buildings to games and films.Around the world, industries of all sorts are realizing VR’s potential and creating exciting new career paths for tomorrow’s workforce. In fact, PWC estimates that 23 million jobs will involve AR and VR globally by 2030, augmenting the many roles already available today.As use cases expand, so does demand for VR talent. However, unequal access to equipment and educator training leaves many institutions struggling to prepare students for the VR boom’s emergent careers.This year, Unity and Meta Immersive Learning partnered to help educators and institutions overcome these challenges. Read on to learn more.Virtual reality is predicted to grow 170% globally in the next 10 years, but educators and students eager to dive into VR today can often find it hard to get started.One reason for this is the wide disparity in institutional funding. VR relies on hardware and software that can be prohibitively expensive to acquire. At a time when many secondary and post-secondary institutions are systemically underfunded, students from lower-income backgrounds who attend these schools are less likely to have access to the tools needed to develop their VR skills.Securing the right equipment is only half the battle. In order to provide high-quality VR education, instructors also need access to training and resources so they can teach with confidence. VR is a new frontier for many educators just as it is for their students, so resources need to cater to both types of learners to achieve the best outcomes.To address these barriers, Unity and Meta Immersive Learning worked together to design the Create with VR Grant program, which aims to reduce the VR learning gap by:1. Increasing access to the hardware and software needed to create and consume VR content2. Increasing educator preparation and offering resources for teaching VR creationVR headset distributionThis spring, Meta Quest 2 VR headsets were made available to secondary and post-secondary education institutions that applied to the grant program. Applications were selected based on the applicant institutions’ current and future plans for teaching VR, as well as the demographic makeup of their student bodies and their unique challenges related to accessing funding.Educator trainingIn concert with the distribution of VR headsets, the Create with VR for Educators professional development training opened for registration in April 2022, offering a crash course in technical skills and pedagogical approaches for teaching VR effectively.School representatives, educators, IT administrators, and lab leaders of all skill levels were encouraged to sign up for the training, which consists of live, online sessions supplemented by self-paced learning and virtual office hours.“The Create with VR Grant bridges the digital divide, affording meaningful interactions and experiences with VR for our students. Whether they are creators, gamers, or engaged in immersive learning, the Create with VR Grant allows us to integrate VR/AR/XR lessons across disciplines and programs. This access builds technical literacy and inspires innovation. We are excited about what is now possible.” – Jenny Hanson, Director, Film & New Media and Online and Blended Learning Pedagogies, Augsburg UniversityBy jointly addressing access to hardware and educator preparation, the grant program aims to put high-quality VR education within reach for teachers and students who might otherwise miss out.Seven months after the partnership announcement, the Create with VR Grant program has already helped thousands of learners and educators take their first steps into the exciting world of virtual reality creation – and we’re just getting started. As of November 2022, the program has:Distributed more than 5,300 Meta Quest 2 VR headsets to more than 300 education institutions across the United States, the majority of which teach real-time 3D creation and cater predominantly to underserved students.Provided more than 10,700 students with access to essential VR hardware.Welcomed more than 3,000 secondary and post-secondary educators from around the world into the Create with VR for Educators training program.“The Create with VR program made a tremendous difference in how we approach teaching VR. We used to share one headset in a class of 20 students. Now, each of our students gets to keep a headset for the duration of a semester. This means more opportunities for full immersion in VR and more time spent on creating meaningful experiences.” – Wojciech Lorenc, Chair, Mass Communication Department, Sam Houston State UniversityUnity and Meta are proud to be contributing to a VR-ready workforce. With the right combination of tools, professional development, and teaching content, educators will be able to successfully build their curricula and prepare themselves to empower tomorrow’s creators.“We’re incredibly humbled and excited to hear about the impact that the Create with VR Grant program has had on schools and communities around the country. It has always been our mission to equip educators with the tools needed to prepare students to compete in the job market of tomorrow, and we wholeheartedly believe that when given opportunities like this, we’ll see students flourish.”– Jessica Lindl, Vice President, Social Impact, Unity“My students used to be thrilled to surf on YouTube – now they make videos. They were happy to play Fruit Ninja on their laptops – now they make their own games and animations. They love VR, but never contemplated being able to create in 3D or virtual worlds until now.” – Darlene Bowman, Founder, AusomeTech IndustriesVR and AR have the potential to add $1.5 trillion to the global economy by 2030, and today’s learners deserve access to the training they’ll need to reap the benefits of the immersive technology boom. We encourage you to join Unity and Meta on our shared mission to make VR education accessible to all.Ready to get started? Sign in to Unity Learn to access on-demand Create with VR for Educators sessions that will help you prepare to teach, and dive into our community on Discord to connect with fellow educators leveraging Unity for VR around the world.

Author Wojtek: The Soldier Bear is a narrative-driven real-time strategy (RTS) game inspired by the true story of a Syrian bear adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II. Wojtek didn’t just march with the army — he helped carry artillery shells during the Battle of Monte Cassino, becoming a symbol of courage, loyalty, and the absurd humanity of war.This game combines:- Real-Time Strategy gameplay: Manage Polish II Corps across real WWII battles- Character-driven storytelling: Experience Wojtek’s life and bond with his unit- Humorous and heartfelt minigames: Wrestling, stealing food, building morale, etc.Our mission is to create an emotionally impactful, historically grounded indie game that honors Wojtek’s story while delivering a meaningful player experience.💼 TEAM STRUCTURE & ROLES NEEDEDWe are forming a focused team to build a playable MVP (Minimum Viable Product) over 8–12 months. This version will serve as the foundation for attracting publishers, securing grants, or launching a crowdfunding campaign.🧠 Core Roles to FillRole    DescriptionUnity Developer (1–2)    Build RTS systems, minigame logic, and gameplay framework3D Artist / Animator (1–2)    Model & animate Wojtek (growth stages), soldiers, props, and environmentsUI/UX Designer (1)    Create intuitive HUDs and interfaces for RTS and narrative segmentsGame Designer (1)    Co-create mechanics, systems, and minigame logicSound Designer / Composer (1)    Create ambient effects and original Polish-themed scoreNarrative Designer / Writer (1)    Script cutscenes, minigame dialogues, soldier interactionsProducer / Assistant PM (optional)    Assist in task planning and workflow (Damian leads core management)​💰 COMPENSATION MODEL: REVENUE-SHARE + PAID OPTIONSWe offer two paths for team members based on your preference and availability:🅐 Revenue-Share Model   Profit-sharing based on contribution and responsibility.   Simple, signed agreement with transparency and trust.   Revenue begins from first monetization event (sales, crowdfunding, grants).🅑 Paid Role (Upfront Fee)   For highly skilled or experienced contributors who prefer standard contract work.   Limited budget available — will prioritize candidates offering strong value to the MVP.   Pay rate and deliverables to be negotiated individually.You can even combine both — reduced rate + revenue share, if you’re open to collaboration but want some upfront compensation for stability.🛠️ TECHNICAL INFO   Engine: Unity (target MVP build).   Platform: PC (Steam-first), future console/education options.   Visual Style: Stylized realism (low-mid poly).   Scope of MVP:       1 playable battle (Monte Cassino)       2–3 minigames (wrestling, carrying supplies, camp antics).       Beginning of Wojtek’s narrative arc.🔍 WHO WE’RE LOOKING FORYou might be a great fit if you:   Are passionate about meaningful storytelling or historical themes.   Want to collaborate creatively on a tight-knit remote team.   Are looking to build a powerful portfolio piece or take on a leadership opportunity.   Can reliably commit 5–10 hours/week with transparency and communication.📬 HOW TO APPLYMessage Damian (Project Creator) with:   Your role of interest.   Portfolio, experience, or anything showing your work.   Your compensation preference (profit-share, paid, or hybrid).   Weekly availability and motivation for joining.🙌 BONUS PERKS   Be part of telling one of the most unique real WWII stories.   Build a game with real emotional and historical value.   Get credited, featured, and involved in future funding/promo efforts.   Potential to join educational or museum outreach post-release.Let’s build something real, together.🐾 Wojtek would approve.​With best regards,Damian "AZ" Andruszkiewicz Damian!What an exciting project! The world certainly needs more good RTS games!! My name is Elben Schutte, or just Ben for short, and I am the senior composer for video games at Pressure Cooker Studios. Without getting into too much of a “hard sell” , we have built a kickass, tight-knit team of music composers and sound designers ready and willing to build epic experiences with passionate people. Our studio is based in Cape Town, South Africa. We have a beautiful facility consisting of two floors, which includes around 12 composition/design suites, an atmos cinema room, 2 additional mix rooms, a beautiful live recording room, 2 vocal/voice-over booths, and a newly built foley stage with pits. I want to thank you for your very well-rounded and detailed message above! Please allow me to answer some of your application points:  Message Damian (Project Creator) with:   Your role of interest. Making things sound epic with music and sound 🙂    Portfolio, experience, or anything showing your work.Our roots are the film industry, so story-telling is in our DNA. We have recently and enthusiastically broadened our scope into the gaming sphere, and some of our projects include Manor Lords (I was lead composer), Ancient Dungeon VR and Semblance. We have quite a few portfolio pieces in the film space, and have worked with companies like Paramount, Netflix, Amazon and more!    Your compensation preference (profit-share, paid, or hybrid).We are definitely open to negotiation on this. We want to do what makes sense for the project and get to a place where everyone is transparent and happy, so we can make cool shit together 🙂    Weekly availability and motivation for joining. Our weekly availability will largely be determined by our schedule. We have a team, and we believe in pairing the right talent with the right project. I would certainly be interested in leading a project for an RTS, I'm a massive fan of the genre! Once we are in a place to lock in the project potentially, we will put it in our pipeline and make sure that whoever you need would be available, when you need them. 🙌 BONUS PERKS   Be part of telling one of the most unique real WWII stories. Well, I grew up playing red alert, and dig company of heroes! I do love a good WW11 story - and would be excited to bring such a world to life.    Build a game with real emotional and historical value.Through my experience with Manor Lords, I have learned how to sweat the details when it comes to historical accuracy and authenticity. I had a great teacher in SlavicMagic on the subject, he was extremely focused on the finer details of historical accuracy. As far as the emotional component, WW11 is such a rich area to draw from when it comes to gritty tales and heart-wrenching experiences.    Get credited, featured, and involved in future funding/promo efforts.All for it. We did a bunch for Manor Lords, including our interviews at Air studios when we recorded the orchestra (you can see me in that interview🙂). I also did a talk at Devcom last year on creating an authentic sonic world.    Potential to join educational or museum outreach post-release.I am not really sure what this means, but it sounds cool! Let’s build something real, together. Agreed!! I would really dig to open a dialogue with you and your team to explore what a possible collaboration could look like between us, and to see where our team could add value. We are open to discuss any and all audio needs you might have, including implementation and writing epic cinematics etc, along with any other needs for music and sound design. Looking forward to your response! Best RegardsBen  Advertisement Damian! What an exciting project! The world certainly needs more good RTS games!!My name is Elben Schutte, or just Ben for short, and I am the senior composer for video games at Pressure Cooker Studios. Without getting into too much of a “hard sell” , we have built a kickass, tight-knit team of music composers and sound designers ready and willing to build epic experiences with passionate people. Our studio is based in Cape Town, South Africa. We have a beautiful facility consisting of two floors, which includes around 12 composition/design suites, an atmos cinema room, 2 additional mix rooms, a beautiful live recording room, 2 vocal/voice-over booths, and a newly built foley stage with pits.I want to thank you for your very well-rounded and detailed message above! Please allow me to answer some of your application points: Your role of interest.Making things sound epic with music and sound 🙂 Portfolio, experience, or anything showing your work.Our roots are the film industry, so story-telling is in our DNA. We have recently and enthusiastically broadened our scope into the gaming sphere, and some of our projects include Manor Lords (I was lead composer), Ancient Dungeon VR and Semblance. We have quite a few portfolio pieces in the film space, and have worked with companies like Paramount, Netflix, Amazon and more!Your compensation preference (profit-share, paid, or hybrid).We are definitely open to negotiation on this. We want to do what makes sense for the project and get to a place where everyone is transparent and happy, so we can make cool shit together 🙂Weekly availability and motivation for joining.Our weekly availability will largely be determined by our schedule. We have a team, and we believe in pairing the right talent with the right project. I would certainly be interested in leading a project for an RTS, I'm a massive fan of the genre! Once we are in a place to lock in the project potentially, we will put it in our pipeline and make sure that whoever you need would be available, when you need them.BONUS PERKSBe part of telling one of the most unique real WWII stories.Well, I grew up playing red alert, and dig company of heroes! I do love a good WW11 story - and would be excited to bring such a world to life.Build a game with real emotional and historical value.Through my experience with Manor Lords, I have learned how to sweat the details when it comes to historical accuracy and authenticity. I had a great teacher in SlavicMagic on the subject, he was extremely focused on the finer details of historical accuracy. As far as the emotional component, WW11 is such a rich area to draw from when it comes to gritty tales and heart-wrenching experiences. Get credited, featured, and involved in future funding/promo efforts.All for it. We did a bunch for Manor Lords, including our interviews at Air studios when we recorded the orchestra (you can see me in that interview 🙂). I also did a talk at Devcom last year on creating an authentic sonic world. Potential to join educational or museum outreach post-release.I am not really sure what this means, but it sounds cool!Let’s build something real, together.Agreed!!I would really dig to open a dialogue with you and your team to explore what a possible collaboration could look like between us, and to see where our team could add value. We are open to discuss any and all audio needs you might have, including implementation and writing epic cinematics etc, along with any other needs for music and sound design.Looking forward to your response!Best Regards,Ben