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Pantone Color of the Year 2026: Call It White, It Dares You

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Predicting what a new year will look and feel like is not exactly easy, you’d think there’d be a manual for decoding the cultural mood, honestly. But since there isn’t, the Pantone Color Institute has made it their annual mission to analyze what people are craving, rejecting, and responding to. And for 2026, that’s apparently a shade of white. Meet Cloud Dancer (11-4201).

If Mocha Mousse, Color of the Year 2025, was a grounding return to simplicity, 2026’s Cloud Dancer must be simplicity on steroids, it kind of made me question all the other neutrals in my closet with a raised eyebrow. It’s equally warm and cold, exactly like laundry in those fabric softener commercials. It reminds me of seashells, pumice, feathers, blank canvases, cotton sheets, and Kim Kardashian’s minimalistic home, she really was onto something.

Screenshot of Pantone's Instagram Post of Color Of The Year
@pantone via Instagram

It’s “a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection. A billowy white imbued with serenity, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation… In a world where colour has become synonymous with personal expression, this is a shade that can adapt, harmonise, and create contrast, bringing a feeling of airy lightness to all product applications and environments, whether making a standalone statement or combined with other hues.” the Institute said.

Looking at the shade I can’t help but feel my brain relax, and my wardrobe suddenly judged, I think my neon green Le City bag has developed some serious self-esteem issues. There’s something about this color that makes everything else feel a little messy. But don’t let it intimidate you, just because it looks like it won’t play nice with anything else doesn’t mean it won’t. It manages to pair with pretty much everything, don’t go for pastels just because of its moodiness. I’ll make it apologize to my neon bag in my next outfit, the beauty of contrast is coexistence.

How RedQuill Became a Subculture Hit for AI-Fueled Erotic Storytelling

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Subcultures form around shared interests that mainstream culture ignores, marginalizes, or stigmatizes, creating communities where enthusiasts explore passions without judgment. Erotic fiction has maintained vibrant subcultures for decades through platforms like Literotica, Archive of Our Own, and countless independent forums where writers and readers gather around intimate storytelling. The emergence of AI-assisted creation tools transforms these subcultures by democratizing creation—no longer requiring writing expertise to participate as creator rather than mere consumer. RedQuill’s position within these evolving communities reveals how technology reshapes creative subcultures while amplifying their fundamental values.

The Pre-AI Erotic Fiction Subculture

Before AI assistance, erotic fiction subcultures divided sharply between creators and consumers. Writing quality intimate fiction required substantial skill—narrative structure, pacing, descriptive language, dialogue, characterization—creating high barriers to creator participation. Most community members consumed published content by the minority possessing writing abilities, creating passive relationship with intimate storytelling.

RedQuill disrupts this dynamic by enabling anyone to create personalized intimate fiction regardless of writing skill. This democratization fundamentally reshapes subculture participation models, potentially transitioning communities from consumer-dominated to creation-dominated as technology removes barriers preventing most people from expressing creativity. The implications extend beyond convenience to transforming how subcultures function and what participation means.

From Readers to Creators: The Democratization Effect

The AI erotica writer enables millions of people who’ve consumed erotic fiction for years to become creators themselves, exploring personal fantasies through custom storytelling rather than searching published content for approximations of desired scenarios. This shift from consumption to creation proves psychologically meaningful beyond practical convenience, as creating personal content delivers satisfaction passive consumption cannot match.

Subculture discussions increasingly center on creation rather than pure criticism or recommendation of published content. Community members share generation techniques, prompt strategies, customization approaches, and creative workflows enabling others to improve their creation capabilities. This knowledge sharing around creation tools represents new subculture pattern beyond the traditional fan discussion, critical analysis, and recommendation exchange that dominated pre-AI communities.

Niche Fantasy Exploration Without Commercial Viability Barriers

Traditional publishing economics require content serving sufficiently large audiences to justify production costs, creating underserved niches for fantasies too specific or uncommon to support commercial publication. These gaps frustrate enthusiasts seeking content matching precise preferences but unable to find published material addressing their particular interests.

RedQuill solves this through personalization enabling truly niche content creation without commercial viability concerns. The erotic story generator creates content for audiences of one, serving interests too specific to support traditional publishing. This capability transforms subculture dynamics by eliminating the frustration of underserved niches—every preference becomes servable regardless of popularity or commercial potential.

Community Formation Around AI Creation Tools

New subcultures emerge specifically around AI-assisted erotic creation, with communities forming to share techniques, compare results, troubleshoot challenges, and push platform capabilities through creative experimentation. These communities blend traditional creative writing culture with technical exploration of AI capabilities, creating hybrid spaces where storytelling expertise meets technological experimentation.

Discussion in these communities covers prompt engineering techniques for better output, strategies for maintaining character consistency across long narratives, methods for achieving specific tones or styles, and creative uses of customization features pushing beyond obvious applications. This technical creativity represents new cultural pattern blending technological experimentation with literary creativity in ways pre-AI writing communities rarely exhibited.

The Ethics Debate Within the Subculture

AI-assisted creation sparks ethical debates within erotic fiction subcultures around authenticity, creative legitimacy, and whether AI-generated content deserves equal status with human-authored fiction. Traditionalists argue that AI assistance diminishes creative authenticity, while proponents counter that AI functions as tool no different from word processors, grammar checkers, or other writing aids that don’t disqualify human creativity.

These debates mirror broader discussions about AI in creative fields but carry particular intensity in intimate storytelling where personal authenticity and emotional genuineness hold special significance. The subculture wrestles with questions about what makes intimate creative expression meaningful—the creation process itself, the personal relevance of finished content, or some combination requiring human creative contribution that pure AI generation might lack.

Cross-Pollination with Other Creative Subcultures

RedQuill users increasingly come from adjacent creative subcultures including fanfiction communities, role-playing game enthusiasts, relationship education advocates, and sexual wellness movements. This cross-pollination brings diverse perspectives and usage patterns, enriching the emerging AI erotic storytelling subculture through synthesis of different creative traditions and community norms.

Fanfiction writers use the AI smut generator to explore intimate scenarios with established characters, RPG enthusiasts create erotic companion content for gaming narratives, relationship educators develop scenario-based teaching materials, and wellness advocates create therapeutic exploration content. This diversity expands creative possibilities while building bridges between previously separate communities.

The Role of Anonymity in Subculture Participation

Anonymity enables subculture participation that public identification would prevent, particularly in stigmatized domains like erotic content. Many RedQuill users active in creation and community discussion maintain complete anonymity, participating freely specifically because their involvement carries no exposure to professional networks, family, or social circles that might judge intimate creative interests.

This anonymity-enabled participation creates more diverse, authentic subcultures including members who would never publicly identify with erotic fiction but participate enthusiastically under anonymous pseudonyms. The resulting communities represent broader demographic diversity than public creative communities typically achieve, as anonymity removes social consequences that limit public participation to those comfortable being openly identified with stigmatized interests.

Subcultural Values Around Consent and Boundaries

Erotic fiction subcultures maintain strong norms around consent, content warnings, and respect for personal boundaries—values reflecting consciousness that intimate content affects people differently based on personal history and preferences. These values manifest in detailed tagging systems, trigger warnings, and community expectations that creators clearly label content enabling informed consumption choices.

RedQuill embeds these subcultural values through extensive customization and boundary-setting features enabling users to specify hard limits the AI should never cross. This technological embodiment of community values demonstrates how platforms serving subcultures can reinforce rather than undermine cultural norms through thoughtful feature design respecting community priorities.

The Economics of Subculture Technology

Traditional erotic fiction subcultures operated primarily on free amateur content with some commercial publishing mixing. AI tools introduce new economic models where users pay for creation capabilities rather than finished content, fundamentally shifting economic relationships within subcultures from content purchase to tool subscription.

This economic shift democratizes creation by making tools more affordable than commissioning custom content from human writers while providing sustainability for platform development through predictable subscription revenue. The sex story generator model proves more economically accessible than traditional custom erotica commissioning, expanding who can afford personalized content creation.

Resistance and Adaptation in Established Communities

Established erotic fiction communities exhibit mixed reactions to AI assistance, with some enthusiastically adopting tools while others resist as threats to human creativity and community values around craft development. This tension mirrors resistance AI faces in other creative domains but carries particular complexity in intimate expression where authenticity and emotional genuineness hold special cultural weight.

Communities adapt through developing hybrid norms where AI assistance becomes accepted for certain applications while human authorship remains valued for others. The emerging consensus suggests that AI-assisted personal exploration deserves acceptance while pure AI-generated content shared as human-authored faces criticism for deceptiveness. These evolving norms demonstrate community adaptation to technological change while preserving core values around authenticity.

Future Evolution of the Subculture

The AI erotic storytelling subculture will likely continue evolving toward multimedia integration as technologies advance beyond pure text generation. Communities already discuss potential illustration integration, voice narration, and eventually video generation creating comprehensive intimate fantasy experiences beyond text alone.

This multimedia future suggests subculture evolution beyond literary roots toward broader intimate experience design encompassing multiple sensory modalities. The resulting communities might blend literary tradition with visual art, sound design, and interactive experience creation, producing genuinely new cultural forms beyond simple evolution of existing erotic fiction traditions.

Conclusion

RedQuill’s emergence as subculture phenomenon demonstrates how technology doesn’t replace creative communities but rather transforms participation models and cultural practices around shared interests. By democratizing erotic story creation through AI assistance, the platform enables transition from consumption-dominated to creation-dominated subcultures where most members actively create personalized content rather than passively consuming published fiction. This transformation preserves core subcultural values around intimate expression, consent, and boundary respect while introducing new patterns around technical experimentation, personalization, and multimedia integration. The result represents genuine cultural evolution where technology amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it, producing richer, more participatory subcultures than existed before AI assistance became accessible.

The Soundtracks That Make Casino Games Feel Like a Night Out

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Ever stepped into a casino and felt the whole place just wake up around you? You hear that soft jingle of slot machines somewhere in the distance, people talking in low voices, and then, right through all of that, the music. That steady beat has a way of drawing you in completely. It turns what could have been just another night out into something full of energy, like a scene from a movie. Here’s what’s interesting: online casino games have figured out how to bottle that same feeling. They use clever music to mimic the energy of a night on the town. How exactly?

The Psychology of Sound in Casino Gaming

It’s no secret that music in casinos is there for a reason. It’s all rooted in how our brains work. Take fast tracks: they can get your pulse going, nudging you to place bets a bit quicker than you might otherwise. Some studies even suggest that whether the tempo is high or low, it can push people toward bolder choices, though it varies by situation. Things like volume, rhythm, and style all factor into how we feel and act while playing. Casinos tweak these elements to match their crowd, aiming to keep everyone engaged a little longer.

Upbeat stuff tends to steer clear of anything too downbeat or slow, just to maintain that positive buzz and avoid killing the mood. You know what makes online gaming so immersive? The music. Those soundtracks crank up the excitement and really pull you into the action. Here’s a neat way to think about it: Psychology Today says music becomes part of the gaming environment. It’s almost like having a subtle guide that helps shape your whole experience. Energetic rhythms might lead to faster, gutsier wagers, whereas calmer ones fit better with strategic games like poker or blackjack. But really, it’s less about fooling anyone and more about amplifying the fun. Those perfect notes? They can make the minutes melt away. You know the feeling when a song hits just right, and suddenly you’re lost in it?

From Casino Floors to Digital Screens

Remember the energy of a real casino? All those sounds coming together? Trying to recreate that online was a challenge. Physical casinos have their own natural soundtrack, like conversations, card shuffling, and that general buzz of activity. Online casinos take a different approach. They use background music to give you that same ‘crowded room’ feeling, even if you’re playing solo. The trick is finding the right balance. Go overboard with sounds, and it gets annoying. But when they get it just right? It makes the whole experience more enjoyable.

It all stems from those early mechanical machines, growing into today’s smart setups where the music changes based on what’s happening in the game. Borrowing scores from famous films helps close the distance, making each turn of the reel feel like a scene from a hit movie. Rooted in classic Vegas chimes, now it’s evolved with fresh twists, giving players privacy and endless choices while holding onto the core excitement. Big wins blast with fanfare; quieter stretches build that edge-of-your-seat suspense. It’s like recreating the real deal, but with a few smart upgrades thrown in.

If this has you wanting to jump in, starting with trusted spots makes sense. They’ve got premium live dealer games, including special Vegas-style tables that capture the live sounds. For a broader look, check out this top UK casino sites list by Videogamer, which breaks down the best for 2025 by things like game selection, bonuses such as free spins on hits like Big Bass Bonanza, and extras like interactive live sessions that tie right into the musical atmospheres we’ve been talking about. It’s a straightforward guide to places that nail the evening-out feel, with solid security, high-return games, and fun add-ons like quick-win crashes or group bingo vibes.

Iconic Soundtracks That Transport You

Some games stand out because of their sound design. Take Gonzo’s Quest, for instance. Its tribal drums build suspense as symbols fall, making you feel like you’re on an expedition. Winning brings an audio surge, increasing the thrill.

Starburst has space-like synth sounds that place you in a club. Each win includes a musical flourish. Book of Dead uses echoes and strings to create an Egyptian atmosphere. The sounds are inspired by different environments. Mega Moolah uses animal calls and horns, turning the chase for prizes into a narrative. The Jimi Hendrix slot uses his guitar work to refer to the rock era. These games try to recreate the feeling of a night out. Sometimes, the music takes over.

Music-Themed Games: Where Songs Steal the Show

Then there are games that make music the main event. The Michael Jackson: King of Pop slot weaves in classics like “Billie Jean,” timing the reels to his beats so it feels like you’re at a show. The Jimi Hendrix one dives into psychedelia, pairing his songs with retro looks. Guns N’ Roses cranks out their hits, making playtime feel like a rock concert in full swing.

Tributes to bands like Motörhead or KISS bring gritty guitars and bold styles into the mix. Far from extras, these sync up the beats with your actions, creating that zoned-in state where everything flows like blasting your favorite song on a long drive. Elvis games throw in old clips and prize pools for a touch of history. Mixing old-school charm with new tech shows how music keeps things fresh and sticky. It’s basically a party on your device

Conclusion

At the end of the day, casino game soundtracks aren’t just filler; they’re what shape the whole ride, turning screen time into real escapism. Be it the daring rhythms in Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst’s cosmic pulses, or the full-on band vibes in themed slots, the audio adds that sparkle and pull. It plays with your feelings, ramps up the involvement, and captures what makes a night out special. As tech keeps pushing forward, look for even smarter sounds that mix real and virtual even more seamlessly. So go ahead, next time you’re in, bump up the volume. Who knows, you might get swept up in the groove.

Liebedates Explained: Everything You Should Know in One Place

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Curious about what all the buzz around Liebedates really means? Let’s dive into a Liebedates review that covers everything in one neat place. Online dating isn’t just a fad anymore: meaning around 42% of U.S. adults say that going online has made the search for a long‑term partner easier.

That means if you are wondering “Will this kind of site ever work for me?”, you are definitely not alone. Before you sign up and start swiping, this guide will take you through how Liebedates works, what makes it different, and whether it might actually match your vibe. Think of it as your go‑to cheat sheet for deciding if this platform is worth your time.

What Is Liebedates and Why Does the Name Matter?

Let’s start with the basics. What is Liebedates, and does the name tell you anything about the platform? Liebedates is a site where you can find new people and build relationships online. You browse profiles, send messages, share photos, and engage with a community of users. You can also access it through your web browser on your computer or phone. Just like that, no app needed.

The name “liebe” comes from German and means “love” or “affection.” It basically hints at the platform’s philosophy: strong relationships from connection over superficial chat. The name suggests Liebedates wants people to seek emotional depth and engagement instead of just quick, surface-level encounters. Whether it deliver on that philosophy? That’s what you’ll find out by using it.

What Is Liebedates Used For?

People use Liebedates for different reasons:

  • Connecting with potential partners who share their values.
  • Expanding their social networks beyond their usual circles.
  • Having warm conversations with interesting people.
  • Exploring different types of relationships without pressure.
  • Building friendships based on shared interests.

The platform accommodates various goals instead of boxing users into one narrow purpose.

Is Liebedates Legit And What Does “Legitimate” Actually Mean?

When people ask “is Liebedates legit?” they are really asking just a few questions. Let’s break down what legitimacy means and whether Liebedates meets those standards.

A legitimate platform should operate transparently with clear information about its features and costs. The tools should work as advertised. There should also be real users, no deceptive tactics or hidden charges, and basic security protections should also exist.

Does Liebedates meet these standards? Based on what we have found, the answer is yes. During the Liebedates login setup process, you have to verify your email. The features here also work. Basically, you can browse profiles, send messages, use search filters, and engage with the newsfeed. Liebedates also has a pretty clear explanation on their website about free and paid features. Finally, they also implement privacy protections like keeping profiles hidden from search engines.

How Does the Liebedates Login Process Work Step by Step?

Let’s walk through exactly how the Liebedates login and account creation work so you know what to expect. Before you start, have a valid email address ready because you’ll need to verify it. You will also need basic info like your name, birthday, gender, and what type of people you want to meet. Having 2-3 photos ready helps, too, though you can add them later.

First, you go to the Liebedates website and find the sign-up button on the homepage. Here, look for the button called either “Join” or “Sign Up” and click on it. Then you should fill out a form with your name, email, birthday, gender, and who you want to meet. It often takes just a few minutes. Next, you check your email for a verification link. You have to click this link before you can access the platform (if you don’t see the email, check your spam folder).

Once that’s done, you can finally access the platform and start building your profile. Here you can add photos (find non-blurry ones), write a bio with specific details about yourself, and list your interests (generally it is good to write 3-5 things you like. Or more. Everything is in your hands). There are optional sections you can fill out, too, but they are not required.

Is Liebedates Safe And What Security Measures Actually Exist?

Safety concerns are completely legitimate when you consider any online platform. So is Liebedates safe, and what protections does it have?

  • Your profile won’t show up on Google or other search engines, which keeps your activity private. It matters a lot, especially if you don’t want coworkers or family to stumble across your profile.
  • You can block anyone who makes you uncomfortable, which gives you direct control over who contacts you. There’s also a report system if you spot sketchy behavior or inappropriate content.

What Features Make Liebedates Worth Considering?

Every Liebedates review should explain what the platform actually offers. So what’s actually in the toolbox?

  • Communication features. You get direct messaging (for premium users), likes to say “hey, I see you,” and photo sharing to keep conversations visual. There’s also a draft-saving feature so you don’t have to send off half-finished messages when your brain isn’t cooperating.
  • Discovery tools. Search filters let you narrow things down by age, location, and gender. The people page shows you suggested profiles one at a time instead of bombarding you with dozens.
  • Community vibes. The newsfeed is where people share updates and thoughts, which gives you way better conversation starters than “hey, what’s up?” You can like posts, follow interesting people, and get a real sense of personality before you even message anyone.

Final Thoughts: Is Liebedates Worth Your Time?

After looking at everything about Liebedates, what’s the verdict? This Liebedates review shows the platform is legitimate and delivers what it promises: tools to find new people and chat online.

So, who is this platform for? People who are willing to invest time in quality profiles and active engagement. Those who will like the community features alongside messaging. Anyone who wants privacy protections and is comfortable with gradual relationship-building instead of instant results.

Complete the Liebedates login and use several features for 2-3 weeks. Build a profile, participate in the newsfeed, and see if it clicks. The platform provides the tools but what you do with them is up to you.

Provided by Liebedates. The information provided is for general insight and guidance, not professional advice.

2026 Oscars Shortlist for Best Original Song Includes Nine Inch Nails, Nick Cave, and More

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announces its shortlists for 12 categories, including Best Original Song and Best Original Score. Nine Inch Nails, Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, Nick Cave, and a KPop Demon Hunters cut are among the 15 potential Song nominees. For the second year in a row, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are shortlisted for both Best Original Song and Best Original Score, appearing in the latter category alongside selections from composers Jerskin Fendrix (Bugonia), Jonny Greenwood for (One Battle After Another), Alexandre Desplat (Frankenstein), Oneohtrix Point Never’s Daniel Lopatin (Marty Supreme), and 17 additional picks. Check out the music selections below; the full shortlist can be found here.

The final nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be revealed on Thursday, January 2. The ceremony itself will take place on March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien returning as host.

Music (Original Score)

Avatar: Fire and Ash
Bugonia
Captain America: Brave New World
Diane Warren: Relentless
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Hedda
A House of Dynamite
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
Nuremberg
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Sirât
Train Dreams
Tron: Ares
Truth and Treason
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Wicked: For Good

Music (Original Song)

‘As Alive As You Need Me To Be’ from Tron: Ares (Nine Inch Nails)
‘Dear Me’ from Diane Warren: Relentless (Kesha)
‘Dream As One’ from Avatar: Fire and Ash (Miley Cyrus)
‘Drive’ from F1 (Ed Sheeran)
‘Dying To Live’ from Billy Idol Should Be Dead (Billy Idol)
‘The Girl In The Bubble’ from Wicked: For Good (Ariana Grande)
‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami)
‘Highest 2 Lowest’ from Highest 2 Lowest (Aiyana-Lee)
‘I Lied To You’ from Sinners (Miles Caton)
‘Last Time (I Seen The Sun)’ from Sinners (Miles Caton and Alice Smith)
‘No Place Like Home’ from Wicked: For Good (Cynthia Erivo)
‘Our Love’ from The Ballad of Wallis Island (Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan)
‘Salt Then Sour Then Sweet’ from Come See Me in the Good Light (Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile)
‘Sweet Dreams Of Joy’ from Viva Verdi! (Ana María Martínez)
‘Train Dreams’ from Train Dreams (Nick Cave)

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: All Missile Expansion Locations Explained

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Missile Expansion locations in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are scattered all over Viewros; however, not every one of them can be collected right away. Missile Expansions are basically in-game collectibles that increase Samus’s missile capacity, and they work the same way they always have. You start the game with a capacity of 10 Missiles and there are a total of 48 Missile Expansions for you to find and collect. Each one increases your carrying capacity by five and finding them all lets Samus carry a whopping 250 Missiles at once. So, if you want to avoid running dry during more intense encounters, here are all the Missile Expansion locations in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and how to get them.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: All Missile Expansion Locations Explained

You unlock the Missile Launcher in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond during your first encounter with Mackenzie in Fury Green and from there, Missile Expansions can be found in every major region.

While the game does offer a handful of them as you progress through the main story, a vast majority of Missile Expansions are tucked away behind optional paths, puzzles, and upgrades that are not available until later in the game, so you’ll need to grind through areas to collect them all. So, with all that out of the way, here’s the list of all Missile Expansion locations in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, as well as how to collect them:

Region

Area

How to Collect/Location

1

Fury Green

Grove of the Sacred Tree

After getting the Missile Launcher, destroy the amber obstruction blocking the side path. Then, enter the opening to reach the expansion

2

Fury Green

Broken Hall

After you defeat Carvex, drop a Morph Ball Bomb beside the root cluster to open the path

3

Fury Green

Resin Creek

Go back over the bridge to the far side of Fury Green after you’ve unlocked the Psychic Boots. Near the Save Station, jump up to the large growth beside the waterfall and bomb it with a Morph Bomb to destroy the growth and reveal the Missile Expansion

4

Fury Green

Cliffside Gate

Return to Cliffside Gate with Psychic Boots, materialise the platform and jump across to reach the Missile Expansion

5

Fury Green

Cargo Launcher

Use Psychic Boots to climb the platforms leading up to the container

6

Fury Green

Reflection Chamber

Return to the Reflection Chamber after obtaining Super Missiles and destroy the reinforced container to collect the expansion

7

Volt Forge

Facility Approach

Turn around at the region entrance and enter the open-backed container on the left

8

Volt Forge

Speed Tunnel C

Enter the tunnel that connects Towers 1 and 3 on the Tower 1 side. Turn around and launch a controlled beam into the tube above you as the tunnel opens to the sky. To open the door and access the Missile Expansion, guide the beam past the robots inside and strike the pressure plate at the back of the structure.

9

Volt Forge

Tower 2 Receiving Lobby Archives

Return to the lobby and enter Morph Ball form after restoring power to Tower 2. Roll over the ball hologram to trigger the elevator beneath the floor, navigate the rotating path while avoiding electricity, and grab the Missile Expansion at the centre.

10

Volt Forge

Tower 3 Certification — End

Fire a missile to clear debris, scan and trace the psychic lock, then open the container

11

Volt Forge

Loading Airlock

Use Boost Ball on the spinner to swing cargo containers until one at the end drops. Then, simply open it and collect the Missile Expansion

12

Volt Forge

Tower 1 Processing

Activate the spinner device with Boost Ball, raise the floor fully, then grab the expansion

13

Volt Forge

Tower 1 Irradiation Room

Enter Morph Ball form and Boost Ball up the half-pipe to the top of the chamber

14

Volt Forge

Tower 3 Certification — Lobby

Use Thunder Shot on the generator repeatedly until the container opens

15

Flare Pool

Volcano Entrance

At the entrance, scan the Psychic Platforms above the lava pool on the right. Jump across the platforms to reach the ledge and collect the Missile Expansion

16

Flare Pool

Shoreline Access

Freeze the lava pillar with Ice Shot, then enter Morph Ball form and jump behind it to collect the expansion

17

Flare Pool

Overseer Room

Use your Scan Visor to mark the panel and pull it off with the Psychic Lasso. Activate the switch, then guide a controlled shot through all three psychic switches before they disappear to reveal the Missile Expansion.

18

Flare Pool

Ventilation Works

You must have both the Boost Ball and Spider Ball. Use the Boost Ball to build speed and roll up the left side of the pipe. While moving upward, latch onto the magnetic rail, then follow the rail to the end to collect the Missile Expansion.

19

Flare Pool

Energy Extraction

Use Spider Ball to climb magnetic tracks and bomb-jump between rails

20

Flare Pool

Cooling Room

Unlock the room with Thunder Shot, destroy the turret to collect the expansion

21

Flare Pool

Pressure Room

Lasso the cover plate, activate the generator with Thunder Shot, and wait for the expansion

22

Flare Pool

Subobservation Room

Defeat all robot waves, destroy the brittle wall, then bomb-jump up to the expansion

23

Flare Pool

Volcano Heart

After defeating Phenoros, ride the Vi-O-La across lava and hug the right wall

24

Ice Belt

Loading Crane

Drop a Morph Ball bomb into the bomb slot beside the cage

25

Ice Belt

Medical Bays Staging Corridor

Enter the side room, roll through the Morph Ball tunnel, and collect it

26

Ice Belt

Bio-Labs Access

Use the lasso to pull debris aside after clearing the TK Code lock

27

Ice Belt

Surgery Corridor

Lasso the Morph Ball hatch, roll through the tunnel, and grab the expansion

28

Ice Belt

Ancient Temple

Look behind the broken pillar near the Lamorn statue

29

Ice Belt

Bio-Labs Lobby Circuit

Swing across nodules, bomb the red nodes quickly, and open the covering

30

Ice Belt

Storage Bay

Take the elevator down, Spider Ball along tracks, then bomb-jump up to it

31

Ice Belt

Elevator Landing

Unlock the door with Thunder Shot and clear the enemies inside

32

Great Mines

Level 1 Mine Shaft Elevator

Move around to the back of the elevator and use the Spider Ball to climb along the track, working your way upward until it leads directly to the Missile Expansion.

33

Great Mines

Level 2 Narrow Crevice

Jump across the gap, then turn around and grapple across the nodes behind you

34

Great Mines

Level 3 Transit Tunnel E

Using the Psychic Lasso, open the hatch across from the save point. Then, enter Ball form, roll through the tube, and grab the Missile Expansion.

35

Great Mines

Level 2 Blast Mining

Fire a Super Missile at the cracked wall after obtaining the upgrade

36

Great Mines

Level 1 Transit Tunnel A

Destroy the red nodes with a Super Missile to open the door

37

Great Mines

Level 2 Transit Tunnel B

Fire a Super Missile at the red node cluster atop the rubble

38

Great Mines

Level 2 Easing Tunnel

Use a Power Bomb to raise the mine cart, then Super Missile the rubble

39

Sol Valley

Expansion 1

Use the lasso to pull the expansion out of the sand southwest of the Great Mines Entrance

40

Sol Valley

Expansion 2

Lower the spire in the Federation ruins southeast of the Fury Green with a controlled shot, then Grapple Beam across to the container with the Missile Expansion.

41

Sol Valley

Expansion 3

Lasso the hidden Missile Expansion from the sand northeast of the Volt Forge entrance, west of the Lamorn shrine.

42

Sol Valley

Expansion 4

Use a Vi-O-La speed boost to reach the midair expansion

43

Sol Valley

Expansion 5

Fire a missile at the panel, then roll through it to collect the expansion

44

Sol Valley

Expansion 6

Use the Thunder Shot to access the Source of the Spring shrine, which is located north of Flare Pool. Shoot the crystals in the main chamber to reveal a Morph Ball passage, then roll through to collect the Missile Expansion.

45

Sol Valley

Expansion 7

Lasso the buried expansion near the Ice Belt entrance

46

Sol Valley

Expansion 8

Exit Ice Belt using the Grapple Beam to land on a platform with a Boost Ball rail. Scan the rail to activate it, then boost through the portal to reach the Missile Expansion

47

Sol Valley

Expansion 9

Destroy the wreckage inside the ruined building with a missile

48

Sol Valley

Expansion 10

Speak to Tokabi after you complete Great Mines and listen to his full story

 

And that’s every Missile Expansion location in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. For more gaming news and guides, be sure to check out our gaming page!

How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Protects Your Rights

Richmond, Virginia, is a city where people walk with purpose: through busy downtown blocks, along historic corridors, and across intersections that connect work, school, and daily life. But in a place built on movement, a single moment can disrupt everything. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the aftermath often brings pain, uncertainty, and a sudden shift in routine. Many people juggle medical concerns while trying to understand what comes next. Questions about rights, responsibilities, and compensation surface quickly, yet the answers rarely feel straightforward. That is why guidance matters. 

When victims feel overwhelmed by the legal process or unsure how to navigate insurance conversations, having clear direction can steady the situation. Legal support offers structure at a time when life feels unsettled, which helps clients grasp the steps ahead rather than navigate them alone. That same sense of clarity is what you might expect from a Richmond bicycle accident lawyer helping you navigate a tough moment. They offer support that gives space to focus on healing while your rights remain protected.

Clarifying Legal Rights

Pedestrian accidents raise questions about fault and whether there is even legal protection. After a personal injury, an attorney guides victims through the legal process and helps them understand what constitutes their legal rights. They tell you which laws apply and what claims you can make to maximize compensation. Armed with this clarity, people can understand what their next move needs to be. Lawyers also dispel myths and confusion often attributed to these matters.

Investigating the Incident

Every matter that is the subject of a lawsuit begins with a detailed investigation. Lawyers gather key evidence, such as witness testimonies and surveillance photographs. They may hire experts in accident reconstruction to make a better case. These efforts reveal facts favorable to the injured party’s account. Legal advocates gather information early to prevent the loss or forgetting of important details.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

After a crash, insurance adjusters usually get in touch quickly. They hope to settle claims, often for less than victims deserve. A pedestrian accident lawyer relieves clients of these communications and discussions, thus helping ensure they will not accept an unfair settlement. They examine settlement offers and negotiate for better terms. This, in turn, prevents individuals from settling for less than they deserve.

Calculating Full Compensation

Calculating the actual worth of an accident claim can be very misleading. Attorneys estimate all elements of loss, including medical bills, lost income, and future medical needs. They also consider pain, suffering, and loss of normal life. A byproduct of this approach is adding up as much as possible so that attorneys can assist their clients in pursuing fair personal injury settlements. This approach allows you to cover all financial and emotional costs.

Handling Legal Paperwork

Legal action requires extensive paperwork and must adhere to strict deadlines. A missed filing date or incomplete forms can hamper a case. Lawyers handle numerous documents to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. This approach ensures compliance and mitigates the risk of expensive mistakes by recording key dates and submitting required documentation. This level of attention to detail means injured pedestrians can focus on healing rather than filing paperwork.

Representing Clients in Court

Should negotiations not yield a viable settlement, the case will then progress through the court system. A pedestrian accident lawyer will review the proof and then recover for clients. They know how to anticipate courtroom difficulties and potential reactions (from the judges and opposing counsel). Attorneys advocate for just results by representing injured parties at hearings or trials. Having this representation reassures a person going through a stressful process.

Protecting Against Blame

Some defendants and their insurance companies try to blame the pedestrian instead. Legal citations of evidence and defenses counter these strategies aimed at decreasing or mitigating compensation. Lawyers stand between the client and an unfair accusation and help ensure the client reserves the right to recover. They help to protect the interests of injured parties throughout.

Offering Emotional Support

Legal cases can be stressful for an accident victim and their loved ones. Lawyers advise and comfort clients through difficult times. Clients feel more confident knowing an advocate is on their side. Emotional support plays an important role in a victim’s recovery process.

Conclusion

A pedestrian accident lawyer is ‌pivotal to securing a favorable outcome. Their work protects victims, from educating about legal rights to advocacy in the courts. Legal professionals help ensure fair treatment by overseeing all investigations, negotiating with insurers, and providing emotional support to the injured and their loved ones. By getting the help you need, you can focus on recovering and getting back to your life. For those affected by pedestrian accidents, the right legal guidance is a valuable form of relief.

Monster Rally and Jordana Team Up on New Song ‘Own It’

Monster Rally’s first non-instrumental album is on the way. Producer Ted Feighan’s follow-up to 2022’s Botanica Dream is called Echoes of the Emerald Sands, and its collaborators include TV Girl, TOLEDO, Mei Semones, X-Cetra, Leisure, Sessa, Nella, Benét, Jordann, Munya, and the Allah-Las’ Miles Michaud. On the lush, breezy new single ‘Own It’, Feighan lends the spotlight to Jordana. Check it out below.

“The instrumental for ‘Own It’ started with the idea of taking a sunset cruise with someone that you love,” Feighan explained in a press release. “No destination in mind, nowhere to be, just that feeling of being in your own world. I’ve been a fan of Jordana’s music for years. I really love her songwriting and her voice really pulls you into her music. Her style and vocals are the perfect fit for the track and truly make the song what it is, in my opinion. Working with Jordana on this song has been a really special experience, she’s as kind and welcoming a person as she is an artist.”

Jordana added: “’Own It’ is about giving someone a second chance to prove their love to you. It’s a second chance after being hurt by this person, trying to get them to recognize what pushed you away in the first place.”

more eaze Announces New Album ‘sentence structure in the country’, Shares New Single ‘bad friend’

more eaze has announced a new album titled sentence structure in the country. It’s set for release on March 20 via Thrill Jockey, and its bleary, stunning lead single, ‘bad friend’, is out now. Check it out below.

sentence structure in the country features Wendy Eisenberg on electric guitar, piano, and vocals, as well as guitarists Henry Earnest and Jade Guterman, cellist Alice Gerlach, and drummer Ryan Sawyer. In a statement about ‘bad friend’, mari rubio said:

Like a lot of the songs on this album, this has sat with me for years and taken many different shapes. I couldn’t really leave this one alone. It just kept coming back in my head. I hadn’t played it in years, and then when I played Chicago with Alan Sparhawke, I made a last-minute decision to come back to this song as a sort of comfort, and that opened me up to reconsidering the arrangement and form. The key for unlocking it was the pedal steel: it’s kind of about playing it in a non-traditional way, strumming it more like a normal guitar rather than using traditional pedal steel moves, but the main riff of the song is built largely about idiomatic idiosyncrasies/quirks with my pedal steel and electronics setup.

To some extent, this song lyrically is about knowing you shouldn’t have romantic feelings for a friend, but it’s also about not doing a very good job hanging out with people and generally feeling like an alien. Sort of about having trouble in Texas dealing with my social circles, especially the last few years I was there.

sentence structure in the country Cover Artwork:

bad friend more eaze

sentence structure in the country Tracklist:

1. leave (again)
2. distance
3. bad friend
4. crunch the numbers
5. biters
6. the producer
7. a chorale
8. healing attempt
9. sentence structure in the country
10. move

Emerging Designers You’ll Want To Brag About Knowing Back In 2025

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2025 was the year for designers, with creative directors jumping from brand to brand and emerging, maybe even breakout, talent somehow getting a piece of the industry’s overstimulated attention, fashion got interesting again. Learn the names we’ve been obsessing over now, by 2026 your friends will pretend they discovered them first and you’ll just nod, perhaps with a touch of suffering.

Screenshot of zoegustaviannawhalen's Instagram post
@zoegustaviannawhalen via Instagram

Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen

You might know her from glossy magazine pages, a sculptural NYFW debut, Rosalia’s open admiration, Julia Fox’s napkin dress, or Suki Waterhouse’s granny core florals. Either way, Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen is a Brooklyn-based designer that has played visual tricks on me before. At first glance her work feels like it came straight out of a grandma’s closet, in the best way possible, maybe a Victorian grandma so stylish her old-world wardrobe lives in a museum, then you take a second look and realize it’s doing things no antique ever could.

Whalen creates preindustrial, historically informed pieces from her studio since 2022, using deadstock textiles, vintage linens, and found fabrics, turning what most would call leftovers, into collections that still manage to exist between sculpture and wearability. Everything is an atmospheric moment, think candlelit East Village performances, corsets draping like armor, and shadowed studio settings. Whalen doesn’t just make me screenshot her intimate designs, I half-considered slapping a vignette filter on them. There’s something about that freshly-old effect that sneaks up on you.

Screenshot of Zomer's Instagram post
@zomer.official via Instagram

Danial Aitouganov & Imruh Asha for Zomer

Zomer is a very young label, officially founded in 2023 by designer Danial Aitouganov and stylist Imruh Asha. Aitouganov had been stacking up résumé points at Louis Vuitton, Chloé and Burberry before feeling the urge to do something less predictable, while Asha built a reputation as a stylist and fashion director at Dazed long before they ever called a studio their own. They met in Amsterdam, flirted with the idea of a brand for entirely too long, and eventually landed in Paris with a name that conveniently means “summer”.

To be honest, Zomer isn’t a brand I was looking for, until I very much was. Under this duo the label clearly knows its way around contemporary art and culture, always playing with the big three, color, texture and silhouette, in a measured, dare I say, subtly avant-garde way, mocking anyone still thinking fashion should behave. The result is clothing that borrows childlike audacity, with just enough adult supervision to keep you from rolling your eyes.

Screenshot of hoda_kova's Instagram post
@hoda_kova via Instagram

Ellen Hodakova Larsson for Hodakova

Just when you’re sure you’ve seen what “upcycled couture” can do, Hodakova comes along and flips it on its head to humiliate your definition. The label started from a very simple philosophy in 2021 Ellen Hodakova Larsson knew too well, take discarded materials and make them into something people can gasp at again. Larsson grew up watching her mother rescuing old garments, and that resourceful instinct is now the backbone of the brand. Every piece feels like a makeover of the overlooked, where belts become skirts, antique buttons become dresses, and even spoons and guitars have their moment on the red carpet, next to avant-garde and conceptual aesthetics.

Few labels come along and make you question why you ever cared about “new.” Hodakova does it in Stockholm, digging through scraps and deadstock your favorite names would ditch, Larsson would like a word though. Sure, she scored the 2024 LVMH Prize, cash and mentorship included, but you can keep the trophy, the clothes do the convincing. Proof that a mix of fashion rejects and fresh vision can be more interesting than anything in a boutique peddling. A boutique that somehow manages to sell you brand-new pieces with an old, worn-in since-the-90s kind of charm. Might as well skip the act and support someone who actually makes clothing that’s worth noticing from the first stitch.

Screenshot of phanhuy's Instagram post
@phanhuy.official via Instagram

Steve Doan & Phan Huy for Phan Huy

Guess what love for artisanal craftsmanship and Vietnamese heritage can get you? Phan Huy. A couture house led by yet another duo, of stylist Steve Doan and… well, Phan Huy, no plot twist here. Think intricate embroidery, silk weaving, natural plant-based dyeing, hand-draping, and Vietnam’s rich textiles, the weapons of choice. Huy is a touch different from your average breakout-designer, a touch more fairytail-ish if you will, with sculptural folds that befriend asymmetry, silhouettes that make you rethink what “fitted” even means, and contemporary tailoring built on old-school technical mastery. Talk about respecting tradition.

If Jhené Aiko trusted them, I know I do. The brand was only born in 2023, but it has already warmed-up to the fashion world. SS26 really did the trick, popping up on every established-name lover’s feed, reminding us exactly what this atelier isn’t all about. I never thought I’d be excited about sparkle again, but here I am with half the couture industry, kind of fun, not going to lie. Add in sculptural silhouettes and intriguing textures, and you’ve got a new kid on the couture block teaching runway fossils a thing or two.

Somewhere between this year’s endless office-swapping and recycled aesthetics, a few designers kept their heads down and let the work carry the weight. Call them emerging, breakout, or whatever label helps you feel organized for a minute. The point is paying attention while they’re still building, not once they’re busy playing the industry’s same musical chairs everyone swore they’d never touch.