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The crypto investor’s survival guide: How to protect your portfolio in a bear market

Bear markets are a natural part of every financial cycle, and crypto is no exception. They can feel brutal, especially if it’s your first time experiencing one, but they can also be a time to cultivate resilience, sharpen your strategy, and prepare for the next opportunity.

Surviving a bear market is about protecting your portfolio, but it’s also about protecting your mindset. If bitcoin price is negative in the short term, you may start to panic and make decisions that cause more damage than the market downturn itself. Volatility is temporary, but fear-based selling can lead to devastating losses. This is why it’s important to ignore the noise, reframe the situation, and stick to the plan. If you can make it through the cold of the bear market, you  can build a resilient portfolio that grows in time, regardless of market conditions. But we know you’re not here for the motivational speech: you want the strategies that will actually help you survive a bear market ( and hopefully thrive). So, without further ado, let’s dive into them.

Manage your emotions before your portfolio

The reality is that your brain isn’t wired for 80% drawdowns in the market, so it will naturally want to sell the bottom and FOMO the next pump. Obviously, doing that will only hurt your portfolio (and your mental health), so what you should do is fight that instinct. There are several things that can help to this end, including deleting the chart apps, setting screen time limits, and touch grass (no, really, that will help more than you think).

Vitalik Buterin once said that your portfolio might recover after a bear market, but that’s not the case for your mental health if you don’t take steps to protect it. So, worry about your emotions before you worry about your portfolio, and remember that bear markets punish hyperactivity and reward patience. This is the time to zoom out, extend your time horizon, and focus on quality above all else.

Use stablecoins

You don’t have to be 100% in crypto always. Holding stablecoins is a great way to protect your portfolio, and it also gives you peace of mind. They are, in fact, indispensable in a disciplined bear market playbook, acting as dry powder that you can deploy when profitable opportunities arise.

Fortunately, in today’s market, there are plenty of stablecoins to choose from, which offer a unique alternative solution to traditional digital assets. So, pick your flavor (USDT, USDC, DAI, and so on), but be sure to spread your risk rather than relying on a single stablecoin.

Make the most of dollar-cost averaging

The concept of dollar-cost averaging first appeared in the book “The Intelligent Investor”, written by Benjamin Graham, who defines it as a strategy in which “ the practitioner invests in common stocks the same number of dollars each month or quarter”. The purpose of using this strategy is to reduce risk (and emotional stress) by investing a fixed amount at regular intervals, which builds discipline and eliminates the need to guess the perfect time to buy.

In a bear market, DCA is your friend and will help take emotions out of investing. To get started with it, decide first how much you want to invest, select the assets you want to accumulate, and make small purchases regularly based on a schedule. If that makes sense for you, consider activating the “recurring buy” feature in your favorite exchange app, because it’s easy and quick.

Focus on education

Bear markets are ideal for learning and sharpening your research skills. During this time, you should take the time to evaluate the fundamentals of a project, including tokenomics, team strength, use cases, and liquidity, as well as community support. If you dedicate this time to research, you will be better equipped to spot real opportunities when the market recovers.

It may be tempting to act during a bear market, but just think about what you’d do if you encountered a grizzly bear in the woods that’s ready to attack. Fighting back and running away can both be life-threatening. Still, you get one chance at survival if you play dead, because the bear could lose interest and move on. It’s the same in the market. There’s no need to trade back your losses, as it will be as futile as fighting a bear (and your portfolio will be mercilessly eaten by it as well).  Instead, stay calm, and shift your mindset to learning: understand technical analysis, use educational platforms for updated content, and consider even exploring courses about crypto to deepen your knowledge. Sharpening your skills always pays off.

Keep showing up  

A lot of people enter the crypto space chasing something dramatic. A life-changing breakout. A perfect entry that proves they “get it”. A spectacular win that makes all the pain worth it in the end. But in reality, those who last in this market aren’t powered by boldness or brilliance, but rather by something which is more boring: consistency. In a space where chaos is the norm, such as crypto, consistency is your superpower. It beats intensity and sets you for success in the long run. It may not feel like progress or momentum a lot of the time, but more like restraint; however, it’s exactly what you need so you won’t mess things up.

Grinding 24/7 is unnecessary and can, in fact, be harmful. All you have to do is keep showing up, and staying engaged, as it will put you ahead of most individuals who tap out.

The bottom line

Bear markets in crypto are painful; there’s no doubt about it. But they’re also temporary, and if you survive them, you’re ready to capitalize on the opportunities that will come ( because they will eventually). So, do your best to keep your head clear and your portfolio safe. Be patient, be disciplined, and keep learning. That’s the only way to make it to the other side gracefully and enjoy the sunshine when it returns.

How to Find and Buy Your Dream Car from the Movie You Love

The engine hums. Sunlight glints off bright red paint. For a fleeting second, you’re not in your driveway – you’re in Ferris Bueller’s Chicago adventure, racing down streets with the city at your fingertips. That’s the magic of movie cars – they don’t just move, they transport you. They carry the nostalgia of the scenes that made you laugh, cheer, or dream a little bigger.

And yes, with a little planning, you can bring that magic home.

Owning a car made famous on the big screen might sound like a fantasy reserved for Hollywood collectors, but for many enthusiasts, it’s surprisingly achievable. Whether you’re drawn to a sleek sports car, a rugged action-movie vehicle, or a quirky cult-classic ride, tracking down your cinematic dream car can be part treasure hunt, part passion project.

Start With the Car of Your Dreams

Every cinematic car has a personality. Maybe it’s the sleek Ferrari from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, or the quirky, time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future. Your first job is to pick one. For others, it might be the dusty muscle cars from classic action films or the elegant vintage vehicles that glide through historical dramas.

Your first job is to get specific. Many movie cars are custom builds or rare models, so identifying the exact year, make, and edition matters. Sometimes filmmakers modify cars with special paint jobs, props, or interior details to create the on-screen look.

Fan forums, social media groups, and collector communities can be incredibly helpful at this stage. Enthusiasts often document the original vehicles used in film and share information about replicas or surviving models. Think of these communities as treasure maps – they help you separate reality from Hollywood magic and point you toward the vehicles that are actually available.

Budget Like a Pro (Without Losing the Fun)

Owning a movie car feels like stepping into a fantasy, but your wallet still matters. The good news is that there’s a surprisingly wide range of prices in the collector car world.

In 2025, nearly 28,000 collectible cars sold for under $50,000 in the first half alone. That means many enthusiasts are entering the market without spending a fortune.

Of course, prices vary dramatically, depending on rarity, condition, and whether the vehicle is a genuine screen-used model. Authentic movie cars can command huge prices at auction, while replicas or standard production models from the same era are often more affordable.

Setting a budget early helps you enjoy the search instead of feeling overwhelmed by it. The process should feel exciting – like following clues in a story, rather than stressful.

Hunt in the Right Places

You probably won’t stumble across a movie car in the local classifieds. Instead, the search often leads to classic car auctions, specialist websites, and enthusiast networks.

Online marketplaces dedicated to vintage and collector vehicles are often the best place to start. Auction houses occasionally feature famous film cars, while private collectors list replicas or restored versions of iconic models.

Patience is key. The right car might not appear immediately, but part of the thrill is watching the listings and seeing what surfaces. Many collectors say the hunt itself becomes just as enjoyable as finally owning the vehicle.

Check Authenticity (or Quality Replicas)

Before handing over a single dollar, it’s worth confirming the car is legitimate – or at least a high-quality replica.

If a seller claims the car appeared in a film, ask for documentation. Production records, ownership history, and authentication from film studios or collectors can help verify those claims. For replicas, pay attention to the build quality and how closely the car matches the on-screen version.

Online communities are invaluable here. Experienced collectors can often spot inconsistencies quickly and offer guidance about whether a vehicle is worth pursuing.

Get It Home Safely

Transporting a movie car is a story in itself. In 2025, the US vehicle shipping industry, including services for collectors’ prized vehicles, generated $10.5 billion in revenue.

That reflects just how many enthusiasts rely on professional transport to move their cars safely across states or even continents. Comparing affordable car shipping quotes helps buyers understand costs and choose a reliable service.

For rare or valuable vehicles, enclosed carriers are usually the safest option. These protect the car from weather, road debris, and long-distance wear during transit. Proper insurance coverage is also essential for peace of mind.

Love It Like It’s Part of the Family

Once the car arrives, the relationship really begins.

Classic and collectible cars thrive on attention. Climate-controlled storage, regular maintenance, and occasional specialist servicing help keep them in top condition. Many owners also enjoy joining car clubs or attending enthusiast events where they can share their vehicles and meet others who appreciate the same films and designs.

There’s something special about watching people recognize the car from a favorite movie scene. It becomes more than a vehicle – it becomes a conversation starter and shared piece of pop culture.

The Joy of the Drive

At the end of the day, owning a movie car is about joy.

You’re not just buying metal and rubber – you’re claiming a piece of imagination. The car that once lived only on screen suddenly exists in the real world, ready for weekend drives, car shows, or simply sitting proudly in your driveway.

With a little research and the right timing, the car that once lived only on screen can become part of everyday life – a small piece of cinematic magic parked right outside.

6 simple exercise activities that don’t cost a cent

There are increasing occasions when a person is single or bringing up a family, and they look at their bank accounts once their salary has gone in and wonder where the cash goes. It might be utility bills, shopping, subscriptions, or the cost at the fuel pumps that goes up that causes a shortfall, which means that there is a little less to spend on the more enjoyable things in life.

In such cases, it can be a wise idea to start to look at where savings might be made. Quality adult toys offer excellent value for money and many hours of fun, which is important not to be neglected. However, there are other ways to help the bank balance and feel healthier too, such as preparing meals at home so that the ingredients can be controlled, leading to increased health, while the following exercises can also be taken without costing any cash, which might otherwise go on a gym membership.

  1. Walking is one of the easiest and most accessible forms of exercise, with all that’s required being a park, the beach, or a quiet street. It helps improve heart health, strengthens muscles in the legs, and boosts endurance, leading to greater levels of productivity. It is gentle on the joints, beginning with a short walk, gradually increasing the time as fitness begins to improve.
  2. Jogging or running is a natural progression for some from walking, requiring no equipment and can be done almost anywhere. Jogging helps burn calories, strengthen the heart, and improve stamina, while many people enjoy running because it also helps reduce stress and clear the mind. Starting with a slow jog and taking breaks when needed is recommended for beginners.
  3. Some exercises improve the condition of the torso without the need to use equipment. It includes push-ups, squats, lunges, and planks. Push-ups strengthen the arms and chest, while squats and lunges help build stronger legs. Planks help improve core strength and posture, and can be done at home, even in confined spaces, so that they are convenient and free.
  4. Stretching maintains flexibility and prevents injuries by loosening tight muscles and improving mobility. Anyone can stretch their arms, legs, back, and neck after waking up or before going to bed, which is as simple as it sounds, yet is often neglected.
  5. A home workout circuit is easy to put together and combines several exercises performed one after another with short breaks in between. It might include 10 push-ups, 15 squats, 20 jumps, and a 30-second plank, with the cycle being repeated.
  6. Anyone with access to stairs at home, school, or in a public area will find that stair climbing can be a great workout. Walking or running up and down stairs strengthens the legs and improves cardiovascular fitness, and it is also a good way to improve health in a short amount of time.

Exercising does not have to cost money, with simple activities like walking, jogging, bodyweight exercises, stretching, workout circuits, and stair climbing providing effective workouts.

AI isn’t replacing jobs in 2026

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Every few weeks, a new AI headline drops that makes it seem like robots are about to walk into every office and factory on earth. “Millions of jobs will be eliminated due to AI.” “Your career will be at risk because of AI.” This is sensational, this gets clicks, and I have to say – it’s also not the full story.

The truth is much less cinematic than that. AI is indeed a powerful tool, it does indeed change the way we work according to this AI consultant. However, the notion that it is going to replace entire professions tomorrow morning? That’s a long shot, and here’s why.

The Chasm Between a Demo and Reality

I think many of us have seen an AI demo where we’re thinking “Wow, accountants, bye-bye.” We’ve all been there. These demos are created to amaze. They showcase the very best case scenario in a perfectly controlled environment using cherry picked examples. What they never showed you is the messiness of deploying that exact same application within the walls of an actual business.

Real-world workplaces are chaotic. Systems never communicate with one another. Data is either missing, inconsistent or trapped in a poorly maintained 2014 Excel sheet that nobody wants to touch. To deploy AI as reliably as possible in such an environment, takes time, money, integration effort, and lots of patience. Most organizations are still trying to get their act together.

Humans Are Not Plug-and-Play Either

Many people assume that most jobs are simply repetitive tasks that can be easily automated with machines. While this may be true for some aspects of certain jobs, the vast majority of jobs involve so much more complexity than that.

A nurse does not simply take vitals and give medication. She is reading the room, calming a nervous patient, identifying non-verbal cues indicating that the patient is getting anxious or uncomfortable, and making decisions in real-time.

A project manager does not simply update his/her Gantt charts. He/she is navigating office politics, motivating a team during a difficult sprint, determining whether or not to push back against unrealistic deadlines, etc.

These human aspects (empathy, intuition, creativity, relationship-building) are not something that AI systems handle particularly well. Moreover, they are built-in to virtually every job in ways that are easy to overlook until you attempt to automate them.

This Panic Cycle Has Been Around Before

We’ve gone through this panic cycle before. People said that ATM’s would replace bank tellers. People said spreadsheets would replace accountants. People said the Internet would replace retail clerks, travel agents, and journalists.

What ultimately happened? Those industries changed. Yes, some jobs disappeared, but others appeared. Because of ATM’s, it became cheaper to open bank branches and hire more employees in an advisory role. Because of spreadsheets, accountants were no longer required to spend their days performing routine accounting functions, thus freeing them up to focus on high level analytical activities. E-commerce did not eliminate retail, it caused retail to evolve.

Likewise, AI is likely to follow the same course. AI will not replace millions of jobs. Instead, it will transform those jobs, automate the mundane portions of the job, and create a need for skills that we have not even considered yet.

Adoption Takes Longer Than You Think

Even after the technology is available, adoption of that technology does not occur immediately. There are numerous barriers to adoption including regulatory issues, budgetary constraints, organizational resistance, and the general caution of most decision makers. No one wants to be the organization that bets the farm on an AI tool that creates a fictionalized version of its quarterly report.

Enterprise organizations move slowly. Small organizations lack the financial resources to implement large-scale AI technologies. Finally, there is a gap of trust that must be overcome before AI can become an integral part of the day-to-day operations of most organizations.

What Is Currently Happening?

What we are currently witnessing is not replacement — it is enhancement. AI is beginning to emerge as a tool that enables humans to perform their jobs faster and better. Writers are using AI to generate ideas. Designers are using AI to generate initial design concepts. Developers are using AI to test code. Customer Service Teams are using AI to generate drafts of customer responses that a human then reviews and sends.

Ultimately, the human is still in the loop. The job is still there. The job is simply being performed differently.

Some Thoughts

AI is impressive. AI is useful. AI is here to stay. That’s what AI expert Moddy states. However, the dire predictions regarding mass unemployment are vastly ahead of the reality on the ground. The technology still has significant limitations, and the rate of adoption is gradual. In addition, human judgment is irreplaceable in virtually every professional context.

Therefore, if you are concerned about robots replacing your job next Tuesday – take a deep breath. You have more time than the headlines would lead you to believe. The smartest thing to do is not to panic. It is to remain curious, learn how these tools work, and determine how you can utilize them to your advantage.

Inspiration in Boston’s Master Series Showcase

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As the world looks ahead to a new year of possibilities, the music community found inspiration in a year-end celebration of excellence in Boston. On December 20, 2025, the historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts resonated with world-class music as violinist Peiwen Su took the stage at the 3rd Australia International Music Festival (North American Division). This prestigious festival – an event that unites eminent musicians and educators from top institutions worldwide in a shared dedication to musical excellence – offered a fitting finale to the year and a forward-looking beacon for 2026. In a program rich with talent, Su’s featured appearance in the festival’s Master Series set a tone of inspiration for musicians and audiences alike, encouraging all to strive for new heights in the coming year.

The Australia International Music Festival (North American Division), held in the Boston area for its third iteration, is no ordinary competition. Spanning multiple countries and regions, the festival’s North America program is renowned for its Master Series Concert, an internationally curated showcase reserved for distinguished performers. Participation in this Master Series is by invitation only – a hallmark that underscores the event’s elite caliber. In fact, Peiwen Su was formally invited to appear as a featured artist in the Master Series, reflecting the festival’s recognition of her distinguished reputation as a violinist and cultural leader. This honor placed Su among a select group of artists handpicked to present their work alongside internationally active composers and performers, truly exemplifying the festival’s ethos of artistic innovation.

Peiwen Su’s performance in Boston was marked by both virtuosity and vision. Taking on a leadership role, she served as concertmaster of the ensemble and guided the musical narrative with poise. In a highlight of the evening, she collaborated with Tianci Lu – a composer and pianist – to bring one of Lu’s original compositions to life. The piece, featured prominently in the Master Series program, added a contemporary spark to the concert and showcased the fruitful synergy between performer and composer. Su’s violin sang with a glowing tone, weaving seamlessly with Lu’s piano and compositional voice. Audience members were treated to a world premiere spirit, experiencing new music imbued with tradition and personal expression. The collaboration not only exemplified Su’s commitment to innovative repertoire, but also illustrated the festival’s support for living composers. It was a moment where leadership on stage met creative partnership, encapsulating what the Master Series is about: celebrating artistry at the highest level.

For Peiwen Su, being invited into this Master Series was a milestone that built upon years of dedication and achievement. A laureate of the Oberlin Conservatory Concerto Competition (2020), she holds advanced degrees in violin performance from the Oberlin Conservatory and the USC Thornton School of Music. Her academic pedigree under renowned mentors laid a strong foundation for her artistry. Yet Su’s impact extends far beyond her own studies. She emerged as a young cultural entrepreneur, founding and directing the Ascend.CYMC International Music Festival and the California Youth Music Competition, where she connects the next generation of musicians with top-tier mentors on a global stage. Under her leadership, these programs feature world-class juries and have built a “global-caliber platform” for musical youth. In the professional realm, Su has graced some of America’s most iconic venues – from the Richard Nixon Presidential Library to Hollywood’s famed scoring stages. She even bridged classical and pop culture as a featured violinist in a 2023 Hollywood crossover production alongside Grammy-winner Zedd and cast members of Stranger Things. Her multifaceted career, which blends performance, production, education, and artistic direction, has not gone unnoticed: her work has been spotlighted in publications like Musictimes, New York Weekly, and TimesLA, underscoring her growing influence in the arts. This rich background culminated in Boston, where all facets of her talent and leadership converged in the Master Series spotlight. Festival organizers’ decision to feature Su – without audition and on an international stage – speaks to how highly regarded she has become as a “modern and complete musician”.

The concert setting itself added to the magic of the occasion. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, with its stained-glass warmth and resonant acoustics, provided an intimate yet majestic backdrop for the festival’s closing concerts. The pews were filled with an audience spanning local music lovers and international festival participants, all brought together by a holiday-season celebration of music. Many in attendance noted the special energy in the air – a mix of year-end reflection and hopeful anticipation for the future. As the final notes of the Master Series concert drifted upward into the church’s vaulted ceilings, there was a palpable sense that this was more than just a performance; it was a symbol of cross-cultural musical fellowship at the dawn of a new year.

In an era when the arts continue to bridge communities across the globe, Peiwen Su’s featured appearance at the Australia International Music Festival’s North American Master Series stood out as a great inspiration. It demonstrated how a dedicated artist’s journey — from rigorous training to entrepreneurial leadership — can lead to singular moments on the world stage. For readers and fellow musicians, Su’s story is a stirring reminder of what can be achieved through passion and perseverance. As the New Year unfolds, the echoes of that Cambridge concert invite aspiring artists everywhere to dream bigger, work harder, and embrace opportunities to share their art. In the glowing example set by Peiwen Su and her peers at this festival, we find encouragement to make 2026 a year filled with creativity, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of musical brilliance.

beabadoobee Enlists the Marías for New Single ‘All I Did Was Dream of You’

beabadoobee has joined forces with the Marías for a new single called ‘All I Did Was Dream Of You’. It comes paired with a music video directed by longtime collaborator Jake Erland and Lithuanian director AboveGround. Check it out below.

‘All I Did Was Dream Of You’ marks beabadoobee’s first new music since 2024’s This Is How Tomorrow Moves, though she recently contributed a cover of Elliott Smith’s ‘Say Yes’ War Child’s benefit album HELP (2).

Talking about the new song in an interview with Dazed, Bea Kristi said:

I recently watched Bugonia by Yorgos Lanthimos – my boyfriend and I are fucking obsessed with Yorgos – and that last scene inspired the video… I made ‘All I Did Was Dream of You’ with María Zardoya from The Marías. She couldn’t be in the video, but she sang beautifully on the song and was really encouraging.

I made [the video] with my boyfriend and one of his good friends, Lucas, who is from Lithuania. It was −17C there – I could have died! I was singing on this frozen lake; it was fucking crazy but it looks so beautiful. It’s a nice bridge to the next thing I want to release.

I literally can’t wait to release something, honestly – I’m fucking dying. Since stepping back from everything, living in real life and seeing friends, I look at my music with way more integrity. Like, if I don’t think a song is perfect, I’m not going to put it out. And I know the discourse: what if a song you don’t like is someone’s favourite, but it needs to matter to me. I need to stop caring about what other people think. I’ve spent my whole life doing that.

Bill Orcutt and Mabe Fratti Announce New Album ‘Almost Waking’, Share Songs

American guitarist Bill Orcutt and Guatemalan cellist/vocalist Mabe Fratti have teamed up for a new album. Almost Waking is set to arrive on May 22 via Tin Angel. The striking title track and ‘El inicio es cuestión de suerte’ are out today. Take a listen below.

“I had known about Bill’s music for a while: since his 2017 release under his own name,” Fratti said in a press release. “I connected a lot with his music and I had no idea that years later we would be collaborating! It was a total surprise that we started chatting on the internet of collaborating! — we bounced ideas back and forth, all starting with a series of guitar solo stuff that Bill sent me. I had a great time with the pieces and in some of them had the honor to collaborate with I. La Catolica in the studio here in Mexico as well where we were trying to decipher the harmonic possibilities of Bill’s ideas and very carefully develop some good melodies that followed correctly the guitar. The vocal melodies followed also the same principle of trying to get tight with Bill’s iniciatives. The idea was to leave a lot of space but in only one of the tracks I just went on with the idea of harmonizing shamelessly the vocals. The album ended up having this nostalgic vibe to it. I am so happy on how it turned out and grateful with the crazy coincidence that made it happen!”

This Friday, Orcutt will release a new album called Music in Continuous Motion. Along with I. la Católica, Fratti released the excellent LP Hagen as Titanic last year. Revisit our Artist Spotlight interview with Mabe Fratti.

Pokémon Pokopia: How to Find and Unlock Every Emote

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Emotes are common in multiplayer games, but Pokémon Pokopia takes them to a whole new level. Unlike most games, many of Pokopia’s emotes aren’t handed to you and are instead unlocked by exploring the world and finding hidden Human Records. These records basically are lost papers, journals, letters, and photos scattered across every region, and each record you collect gives you another way to interact with friends or your Pokémon. So, to help you track down every hidden emote and complete your collection, here’s where you can find and unlock all the emotes in Pokémon Pokopia.

Pokémon Pokopia: How to Find and Unlock Every Emote

Since Pokémon Pokopia doesn’t have in-game text chat, emotes are your main way to communicate with friends, react to moments, or add personality to your photos. You begin with a few basic emotes, but as you explore the world, you can unlock many more. In Pokémon Pokopia, the following emotes are available from the get-go:

  • Celebrate
  • Cry
  • Shocked
  • Beckon
  • Bow
  • Sleepy

Most emotes in Pokémon Pokopia, however, are unlocked by finding Human Records, which are lost papers, journals, letters, and photos scattered across every region, including Dream Islands. Each record you collect grants a new emote as soon as you interact with it. Here are all the Pokémon Pokopia emotes that can be unlocked through Human Records and where to find them:

Greetings – You can find the Greetings emote in Withered Wasteland, just northwest of the Pokémon Center by the dried-up river and fountain.

Point Here – To get the Point Here emote, head east of the Pokémon Center in Withered Wasteland. It’s on the ground outside a fenced picnic area, but you’ll need to break down a wall to access it.

Goodbye – The Goodbye emote is located in Bleak Beach, north of the Pokémon Center, next to a dried-up grass habitat and a tree.

Smile – Look for the Smile emote in Rocky Ridges, right by the North Area Gate that leads into the region.

Tracking down all Human Records can take some effort, but the more you explore, the more emotes you’ll unlock. Keep an eye on every hidden corner and check each region carefully. Moreover, some emotes in Pokémon Pokopiacan also be unlocked by interacting with Pokémon.

Although completely random, when a Pokémon displays a speech bubble, it has something to say, and talking to it anywhere in the game can reward you with emotes such as Angry, Proud, or Despair. Once you’ve unlocked an emote, you can easily use it by pressing Down on the D-Pad to open your emote wheel.

Then scroll through the options with the Left Joystick and select the one you want with A. You can also customize your wheel by pressing Y to remove emotes and X to add new ones, creating up to three different sets for various occasions. In Photo Mode, you can press Left or Right on the D-Pad to use emotes while taking screenshots, though they won’t work if you’re holding the tripod.

 And that does it for our Pokémon Pokopia emotes guide. For more gaming news and guides, be sure to check out our gaming page!

MX LONELY: “You don’t have to torture yourself to get to somewhere better”

“It’s a really dangerous time for trans people in America,” says Rae Haas, co-lead singer of the alt-pop shoegazers MX LONELY. “A lot of health care is being cut for trans kids, even in New York. It’s a terrifying thing to grapple with,” they say. “It’s a dangerous time for immigrants in America too – we’re all fighting this tyranny together.” Haas, in a punkish green jumper and black pixie crop, is calling in from the band’s tour bus, as the band zip across the USA promoting their debut All Monsters (tonight they’re en route to play a free show in Chicago). The album wrestles with deeply personal topics through layers of sonic gauze, quiet/loud dynamics and gothic undercurrents. Its unifying concept is the inner demons inside all of us. “All Monsters came from a deep depression,” explains Haas from the passenger seat, their distinctive hexagon neck tattoo popping into view occasionally. “Trying to understand the evilness in the world and also the darkness inside yourself.”

Through curious open chords and a cracked nursery rhyme harmony (between Haas and vocalist/guitarist Jake Harms, channelling The Pixies Kim Deal and Black Francis), the title track hits hard with its lyrics “war and violence” and “all the bad shit you did.” “All monsters,” Haas sings, “go to heaven.” “It’s a little bit about killing your monsters, rather than killing yourself,” explains Haas. “The implication of ‘all monsters go to heaven’ is that your monster can die and you don’t have to torture yourself to get to somewhere better.”

The trio of Haas, Harms and bassist Gabriel Garman met in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, just before the pandemic hit, with drummer Andrew Rapp joining a few years later. And the concept of addiction and reconciling your current self with your past monstrous self hangs over All Monsters with half the songs on the album implicitly or explicitly tackling it. “It’s like people say: recovery is forever, it’s something you deal with your whole life,” says Haas. “The same can be said of addiction.”

“I’m in love with Adderall and validation,” Haas sings on the Silvers Pickups-esque ‘Shape of Angel’, which is about their addiction to their ADHD medicine. “I struggle a lot with feeling like I’m functioning at the level Capitalism demands,”  Haas explains. “Adderall is something that really helped me function: I could send emails! But I fell into an addiction with it.” They laugh: “(The lyrics) are also not that deep: I am in love with Adderall and validation! Sometimes I love things that are toxic for me.”

Meanwhile the atmospheric five-minute-plus slow burner, ‘Blue Ridge Mtns’, tackles Harms’ tempestuous drive to rehab (“In the back seat, freaking out with my family/Blue Ridge Mountains, clear as cocaine”). The narrator dips in and out of consciousness, toggling between timelines. As a child version of Harms recalls the song his family would sing as they were doing the dishes (“You can’t get to heaven on a pair of skates”). It plays like a piece of impressionistic cinema, articulating the way memories fall into each other and timelines merge together. “It’s an adaptation of a song I wrote in High School that my parents liked,” says the shaggy-haired Harms. “It’s sort of revisiting this idea of what happens years later.”

The spectre of childhood trauma is knitted into All Monsters‘ lyrics. On the anthemic single ‘Big Hips’ (with its chorus “Big Hips! For A Boy!”), Haas looks back at the horrors of puberty from their trans perspective. “I try to make my younger self proud,” they say. “It’s about having trans boy swag – it’s also challenging but musically it just hits.”

With a setlist full of songs that hit, MX LONELY are getting a kick out of playing the new songs live. “It’s gratifying seeing people knowing the words to the songs,” Haas says. “As a writer it’s like, ‘Oh people are reading my diary out loud.’ It’s great!”


MX LONELY’s All Monsters is out now via Julia’s War.

Pieter Mulier Takes His Final Bow at Alaia During Paris Fashion Week – and It’s Pretty Chill

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Once the invitation to Pieter Mulier’s final Alaïa show landed on guests’ doorsteps, the excitement started building, stitched together with brown leather pieces that would later button up into what looked like an Alaïa bustier, something that could belong either to a fairy’s waist or, frankly, someone’s living room décor. Normally, a finale suggests something a little extra, yet there was a feeling Mulier might be resisting the urge. Versace probably needs the drama more.

Alaia show at Paris fashion week Fall 2026
@maisonalaia via Instagram

“It’s just really clothes for real people, not for an image. That’s what I told my team. Not to ‘impress, to reduce, reduce. No bags, no jewelry. Only beauty and clothes and a naked shoe. Because that’s what Azzedine was,” Mulier told Vogue. He’s not wrong. The man would spend endless nights in his atelier perfecting the same garments over and over again. Mulier admitted he wasn’t entirely sure the fashion world would tolerate something this restrained. For a while, he hesitated before committing to a show reduced so firmly to its essentials. If it made his heart beat, he figured the fashion world could deal.

Alaia show at Paris fashion week Fall 2026
@maisonalaia via Instagram

“I want to show what I learned also from the house. Basically, that’s it in a very humble way. I learned precision, I learned editing, and I learned that real luxury is not what we all think. Real luxury is the perfect cut jacket,” he painted the picture for Vogue. Every once in a while, a closing insists on going back to its roots. Picture loden, viscose, cotton velvet, latex, and raw-cut wool walking down the runway as A-lines, bodycon dresses, tailored coats, light drapes, a few puffy skirts, and glossy croc panels casually interrupting light dresses’ fronts here and there. The color palette stuck to Mulier’s restrained plan, and with accessories completely missing, your eyes had no choice but to land solely on the clothes. When the show ended, it was the clarity of cut and the thought in each seam that stayed with you, and the simple garments that could’ve been worn right then and there, catching the Parisian metro back to the hotel.