Technology

After so many years as the world's most popular operating system, Windows doesn't really need you to go very far beneath the surface to accomplish most things. If you can find your way around the Settings app, Task Manager and Windows Explorer, you're pretty much set.

You have put off your homelab journey for too long, and now it’s time to get your foot in the door. The good news is that it’s never been easier. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on racks and enterprise-grade equipment; you can start small for next to nothing and scale up from there.

It's hard to miss the giants of coding because they show up everywhere in college courses, dominate job postings, and run huge, enterprise-level systems. However, there are more options than just the big names, and they deserve a lot of attention too.

The dinner reservation is just the preamble. Valentine’s Day is the one night of the year you have a calendar-official excuse to shut the door and focus entirely on each other. But true romance shouldn't mean buying cheap novelty gags or uncomfortable lingerie you only wear once. There are much more impactful spicy gift ideas out there, and we narrowed down a list of the best sexy Valentine's Day gifts for your boyfriend, girlfriend, someone more permanent, or someone more casual.

We're talking about lubes that won't ruin your sheets, toys that do the heavy lifting, and games that help you skip the small talk. If they get turned on by the real sentimental stuff, just know that these DIY photo gift ideas aren't as innocent as they appear. Whether you're looking to break out of a routine or just want to see what happens when you introduce a projector to the bedroom, these are the gifts that pay off long after February.

Ways to watch Daytona 500 at a glance: Fox One free 7-day trial, then $19.99/month Get Deal Fox One (Prime Video add-on) free 7-day trial, then $19.99/month Get Deal YouTube TV free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months Get Deal Best Buy Essentials Ultra-Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna $24.99 Get Deal

The biggest annual event in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Daytona 500, kick-starts the auto-racing calendar this weekend. This year marks the 68th year of The Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway. This year, 41 drivers will compete in the 200-lap (500-mile) race. So far, 37 are locked and loaded and eight drivers must compete for the final four spots.

Want to tune in live? Here's what you need to know about the 2026 race and how to watch it for free.

When is the Daytona 500?

The 68th Daytona 500 will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET and will run through 6:30 p.m. ET.

The final four spots have yet to be decided. Two will lock in through single-car qualifying on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 8:15 p.m. ET and the final two will get in through the duels on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. ET.

What channel is the Daytona 500 on?

The kickoff of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, a.k.a The Great American Race, will be aired live on Fox for those with cable or an over-the-air antenna. To watch the qualifying and duels on Wednesday and Thursday, you'll need FS1.

How to watch the Daytona 500 without cable

Lucky for NASCAR fans (and other sports fans for that matter), Fox finally launched its own direct-to-consumer streaming service in 2025. Previously, cord-cutters would need a pay TV provider like YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling to watch live Fox channels, but the new streaming service Fox One offers a more affordable option. And if you only want to watch the Daytona 500, you can get it for free with a seven-day trial.

Fox One is essentially a one-stop shop for the entirety of the Fox TV portfolio, giving subscribers access to live local Fox stations, as well as Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, Fox News, Fox Business, Fox Weather, Fox Deportes, and Fox Network. It costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year and you can choose between subscribing directly through Fox or signing up as a Prime Video add-on. Plus, as mentioned above, you'll get your first week free if you're a new subscriber. That means you can watch Sunday's race for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One free 7-day trial, then $19.99/month Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (Prime Video add-on) free 7-day trial, then $19.99/month Get Deal

If you've already exhausted your free trial for Fox One and are looking for another way to watch Daytona 500 for free, you could sign up for a free trial of cable replacement services like YouTube TV (10-day trial), Fubo (3-day trial), or Hulu + Live TV (3-day trial). Just be sure to cancel before the trial is up or you'll be hit with a hefty monthly subscription cost.

Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube YouTube TV free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months Get Deal

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention digital antennas as an alternative way to watch. Digital antennas give you access to your local Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC stations for free. As long as you live decently close to your local TV station broadcast towers, you'll be able to watch for free — just be sure to check the distance and range before making a purchase. Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) have a few recommendations, including this basic one from Best Buy that retails for just $24.99. It's reversible to match your decor, multidirectional, and has a range of 50 miles.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Best Buy Essentials Ultra-Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna $24.99
  Get Deal

U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi faced questions from Democrats about her department's handling of the Epstein files on Wednesday, and things quickly escalated into shouting and chaos.

In the clip above Jimmy Kimmel commentates on clips from the hearing, from Bondi clashing with various lawmakers to avidly defending Donald Trump and describing him as "the most transparent president in the nation's history."

"That's right. He's so transparent you had to black out his name like a thousand times," says Kimmel.

"Seriously, there's nothing to defend here. This Department of Justice is hiding the names of people who are not victims. Why are they doing that? If they have nothing to hide, why are they hiding names? That's the only question anybody needs to ask. It's maddening."

I'm here to bring you news. You probably didn't know, but not only do SSDs have firmware, they actually get updated every so often.

TL;DR: The Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 curved gaming monitor is currently on sale for $749.99 at Amazon, down from its usual $1,199.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 Curved Gaming Monitor $749.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $450 Get Deal

Samsung is one of the best premium gaming monitor brands, and this latest deal on a curved model might be what you need to finally upgrade. As of Feb. 12, the 40-inch Odyssey G7 model has fallen to $749.99 at Amazon, cutting nearly 40% off its list price for $450 off. 

This monitor has a massive 21:9 WUHD panel that’s designed to wrap around your field of vision thanks to its aggressive 1,000R curve, making it ideal for sim racing games like Assetto Corsa Competizione, RPGs along the lines of Baldur’s Gate 3, or multitasking across multiple windows while working or streaming on key platforms like Twitch.

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When you consider that this model also promises a 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, any game you play will give you ultra-smooth performance. The boosts from VESA DisplayHDR 600 contrast with brighter highlights and deeper shadows, while the ultrawide resolution offers plenty of workspace for your editing, streaming, or running side-by-side apps using picture-by-picture modes. 

Samsung isn’t the only brand with solid deals on gaming monitors. The 27-inch Asus ROG Strix is currently on sale. As for LG, you can grab the 300Hz UltraGear monitor for only $226.99.

Save $250: As of Feb. 12, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum is on sale for $449.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum $449.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $250   Get Deal

The Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum is back on sale at Amazon, and this time it's down to its lowest-ever price. As of Feb. 12, it is priced at $449.99, down from $699.99. That's a saving of $250, and the perfect excuse to treat yourself to some low maintenance cleaning.

And this model isn't just a robot vacuum, it's a mop too. It has mop pads that self-wash with fresh water and dry with 45°C heated air, so your floors will stay spotless. The 2.5 liter dust bag only needs replacing every two months. It also has a Pro-Detangling roller brush, so it's ideal for homes with pets. The 8,000 Pa suction power lifts even the toughest dirt.

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This vacuum handles its own navigation, with the AI.Map 3.0 letting you set No-Go Zones and virtual boundaries. The AI.See obstacle avoidance tool can detect over 100 objects it needs to avoid (shoes, wires, anything that you don't want vacuumed up).

Get this robot vacuum deal at Amazon.

SAVE $70: As of Feb. 12, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite $279.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $70   Get Deal

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is back on sale, and right now you can save $70 on the list price. As of Feb. 12, this impressive tablet has been reduced from $349.99 to $279.99. This price is for the 128GB option in the color gray. This model also comes with the S Pen which you can use for writing and drawing.

This Samsung tablet has a 10.9-inch display with Vision Booster adjusting brightness to suit your environment. The screen quality is impressive, making everything you do look bright and colorful. And if you plan to use it a lot, especially on the go, this is an excellent choice. Its battery will last up to 16 hours, and the Super Fast Charging feature means it can fully recharge in around two hours.

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And don't worry about laggy or slow performance. This device is powered by the Exynos 1380 processor, so it can handle everything from streaming to a workload that sees you multitasking with several apps. It also comes packed with various intelligent features to help you complete tasks more easily. Things like Circle to Search, organizing notes, and the AI Hot Key will all improve your experience.

Get this tablet deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $70: As of Feb. 12, Beats Studio Buds+ are on sale for $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 41% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds+ $99.95 at Amazon
$169.95 Save $70.00   Get Deal

If you've been hoping to snag a great deals on earbuds, head to Amazon because as of Feb. 12, there's a top discount on the Beats Studio Buds+.

Right now you can save $70 on Beats Studio Buds+, with the price down from $169.95 to $99.95. You can get them in three different colors, including black, transparent, and ivory.

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These Beats earbuds are an excellent choice for many reasons, including noise cancellation. In fact, they offer two listening modes: personalized Active Noise Cancelling to block out distractions and Transparency mode to let outside sound in when needed.

The battery life is impressive too, and provides up to 36 hours of listening time with the charging case. They also benefit from one-touch pairing with both Apple and Android devices. For comfort and correct sizing you'll get four silicone ear tips, so you'll be sure to have a secure and comfortable fit. And if you want to use these for workouts or rainy runs, they are IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance.

This Beats deal is a limited-time discount at Amazon, so don't delay.

SAVE $100: As of Feb. 12, the Apple Watch Series 11 is on sale for $329 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal

The Apple Watch Series 11 is back on sale at Amazon. As of Feb. 12, it's down to its lowest-ever price of $329 at Amazon. That's a $100 discount on its list price.

The Apple Watch Series 11 is the perfect companion for anyone who wants to track their health and wellbeing. It can detect signs of chronic high blood pressure and send hypertension notifications, helping you keep on top of your health. It's also great as a fitness tracker, with stats that include heart rate zones, training load, Pacer, and Workout Buddy, along with three months of Apple Fitness+ included.

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It has advanced sleep tracking, giving you a sleep score to help you better understand your rest, and includes features like on-demand ECG readings, high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notifications, sleep apnea alerts, blood oxygen readings, and overnight health metrics in the Vitals app.

The battery life lasts up to 24 hours with normal use, and fast charging provides up to eight hours of use in around 15 minutes, so your set for all lengths of activities, even marathon training.

Get this Apple Watch deal from Amazon now.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Aetherdrift Bundle is now down to $39.99 at Amazon, knocking $14 off its $53.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Aetherdrift Bundle $39.99 at Amazon
$53.99 Save $14 Get Deal

Bundles have been a surprising category for Magic: The Gathering discounts, and the Aetherdraft Bundle is no exception. As of Feb. 12, the collection has dropped to $39.99 at Amazon — a solid discount that makes it easier to jump into one of the game’s more action-focused expansions without committing to a full booster box.

Unlike traditional fantasy-leaning sets, Aetherdrift leans into a multiversal ‘death race’ theme, built around speed, vehicles, and adrenaline-fueled gameplay. The set’s particular vibe makes it an interesting pick for players who want something a little different from classic Magic aesthetics, while still offering plenty of deck-building potential for casual sessions or returning players looking to refresh their collections.

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Inside the bundle, you’ll get nine Play Boosters, a Bundle-exclusive alternate-art foil promo card, and 40 land cards split between foil and nonfoil versions. There’s also a spindown life counter, storage box, and reference cards — extras that help make this a beginner-friendly pickup or an easy gift for longtime fans. Each Play Booster contains 14 trading cards with at least one Traditional Foil and the chance at multiple rares, adding a bit of unpredictability to every pack. 

For more MTG bargains, the Bloomburrow Play Box has hit its lowest price for 2026 on Amazon.  Alternatively, you can still save $25 off the Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest (Fall 2025) has dropped to $39.85 at Amazon — $18 off its $57.99 list price and edging closer to current market value.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest Fall 2025 $39.85 at Amazon
$57.99 Save $18.14 Get Deal

As has been the case for a while, Pokémon TCG products rarely stay affordable for long, especially when sealed collections offer a mix of packs and exclusive extras. As of Feb. 12, the Pokémon TCG’s Fall 2025 Collector Chest has dropped to $39.85 at Amazon, taking $18 off its standard retail price. That’s a notable dip for a bundle that’s typically hovered above market value during recent restocks.

Inside the metal case is a spread of Pokémon TCG must-haves aimed at both casual collectors and regular pack-pullers, including:

• Six Pokémon TCG booster packs (three Mega Evolution, two of Journey Together, and one Destined Rivals)

• Three foil promo cards featuring Ralts, Kirlia, and Riolu

• A Mega Lucario Pokémon coin

• Four colorful sticker sheets

• A mini portfolio for storing cards

The sturdy lunchbox-style tin also doubles as storage, which adds some practical value beyond the packs themselves. 

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Considering that six-pack bundles alone can creep towards the $50-$60 range in today’s market (equal to around the price of $10 per pack), this drop puts the Collector Chest closer to what many collectors consider a fair buy. You’re still getting a mix of trading card expansions rather than a single set, but for anyone chasing promos or simply looking to open packs without paying inflated prices, it’s one of the more balanced Pokémon TCG deals available right now.

For saving more on Pokémon TCG packs, the Mega Evolution — Ascended Heroes Tech Sticker Collections are on sale at Amazon. Meanwhile, you can also save $10 on the Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames 3-Pack Blisters. 

TL;DR: Live stream Czechia vs. Canada in men's ice hockey for free on CBC Gem. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's a lot of top international ice hockey taking place right now, but Canada always get a lot of attention. The men's ice hockey schedule has officially started, and Canada face off against Czechia in their opening game. We're expecting an exciting battle between two talented sides.

If you want to watch Czechia vs. Canada in men's ice hockey for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Czechia vs. Canada?

Czechia vs. Canada in men's ice hockey takes place at 10:40 a.m. ET on Feb. 12. This fixture takes place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

How to watch Czechia vs. Canada for free

Czechia vs. Canada in men's ice hockey is available to live stream for free on CBC Gem.

CBC Gem is geo-restricted to Canada, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 winter sports ice hockey from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Czechia vs. Canada in men's ice hockey for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada

4. Visit CBC Gem

5. Watch Czechia vs. Canada for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the ice hockey before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for CBC Gem?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Czechia vs. Canada in men's ice hockey for free with ExpressVPN.

The internet is mourning Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, who died on Wednesday, Feb. 11. He was 48 years old.

"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," the actor's wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, wrote on Instagram. "There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

Van Der Beek announced in late 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer.

View this post on Instagram

Van Der Beek's Dawson's Creek co-star Katie Holmes, who played Joey Potter alongside his Dawson Leery, posted a handwritten letter on Instagram.

"James, Thank you," she wrote. "To share space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each others' hearts are safe in their expression...These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs — adventures of a unique youth…"

Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson in "Dawson's Creek." Credit: Warner Bros. / Getty Images

Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Dawson's mother Gail on the show, also posted a tribute on Instagram.

"Rarely am I at a loss for words … today would be the exception. James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity. I will always love and admire you for that. Our last conversations … merely a few days ago … are forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping."

The internet has also reacted to the untimely passing of the beloved actor, who epitomized late '90s teen angst in his role on the WB drama. Van Der Beek also starred in the football film Varsity Blues, the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' The Rules of Attraction, and the cult sitcom favorite Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23.

both quarterbacks from the 1999 west canaan coyotes gone too soon. damn.

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— nick pants (@nickpants.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 3:01 PM

In the last few years we lost Luke Perry, Shannen Doherty, Michelle Trachtenberg, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, now James Van Der Beek. I’m sure I forgot someone but it hurts seeing so many names I grew up with leave us at such a young age.

— Wikipedia Brown (@theycallhimbfg.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 2:51 PM

Yes, Dawson was iconic, but James Van Der Beek was so so so so funny on Don't Trust the B

— Esther Zuckerman (@ezwrites.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 2:50 PM

The first film James Van Der Beek ever appeared in was the criminally underrated ANGUS (1995). Time for a rewatch.

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— Matinee Mode (@matineemode.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 3:32 PM

RIP James Van Der Beek, whose greatest role was, of course, himself. Not for him the cheeky cameo: on Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23" the man turned self-ridicule into a full-time occupation, and did so magnificently.

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— Eddie Robson (@eddierobson.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 3:14 PM

The fact that James Van Der Beek had to auction off memorabilia from his movies just broke me. It shouldn't be like this, not for beloved stars, not for anyone.

— gwen howerton (@kissphoria.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 4:06 PM

James Van Der Beek was one of the last young adult star actors whose prominence came about primarily because...he was a good actor. Being from Toledo-ish Dawson's Creek was a Very Big Deal & he carried what was a unique role for the time & probably still is today, flawlessly. A terrible loss.

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog.xyz) February 11, 2026 at 3:20 PM

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife and six children.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026:

AcrossTequila cocktail that often comes in a salt-rimmed glass, casually

• The answer is Marg.

Signature export of Cuba

• The answer is Cigar.

Bowl over

• The answer is Amaze.

Flood regulator

• The answer is Levee.

Classroom station

• The answer is Desk.

DownActed without saying anything

• The answer is Mimed.

Desert plant used in tequila production

• The answer is Agave.

Demolishes

• The answer is Razes.

Language from which we get "cosmos" and "democracy"

• The answer is Greek.

Berkeley campus, for short

• The answer is Cal.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Live stream Switzerland vs. France in men's ice hockey for free on CBC Gem. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Men's international ice hockey started with a couple of entertaining games from Group B. Slovakia vs. Finland and Sweden vs. Italy got things going, and now the remaining teams are prepared to take things up a notch. The next batch of games starts with Switzerland vs. France. It's not got the same level of interest as the games involving USA and Canada, but there are plenty of star players on show here.

If you want to watch Switzerland vs. France in men's ice hockey for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Switzerland vs. France?

Switzerland vs. France in men's ice hockey takes place at 6:10 a.m. ET on Feb. 12. This fixture takes place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

How to watch Switzerland vs. France for free

Switzerland vs. France in men's ice hockey is available to live stream for free on CBC Gem.

CBC Gem is geo-restricted to Canada, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 winter sports ice hockey from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Switzerland vs. France in men's ice hockey for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada

4. Visit CBC Gem

5. Watch Switzerland vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the ice hockey before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for CBC Gem?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Switzerland vs. France in men's ice hockey for free with ExpressVPN.

The steady beam of a star twice the size of the sun played a trick on astronomers about a year ago: It vanished. 

Then some nine months later, it reappeared in the constellation Monoceros, about 3,200 light-years away in space.

Now researchers think they've solved the mystery of one of the longest star-dimming events ever recorded. The star, called ASASSN-24fw, may have disappeared behind a giant planet with an enormous system of rings, according to new research, blocking most of its light from reaching Earth for nine months. 

The study, which appears in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, serves as a reminder that worlds around other stars can have ring systems far larger and more complex than anything in our own solar system.

"Long-lasting dimming events like this are exceptionally uncommon as they require very perfect line-ups," said Sarang Shah, lead author at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in India, in a statement. "The dimming began gradually because the outer parts of the rings are thin, and only became obvious when the denser regions passed in front of the star."

SEE ALSO: These 'avatars' will fly around the moon with NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts

Near the end of 2024, astronomers noticed the star suddenly grew faint. Rather than brighten in days or weeks like most dimming events, ASASSN-24fw faded for nearly 200 days. The star's cheeky name comes from the All Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae, a robotic telescope based in Hawaii nicknamed "Assassin." 

After trying various computer models to explain the event, the team concluded the culprit was either a brown dwarf or a super-Jupiter planet, both large objects that are smaller than stars but bigger than most worlds. Experts sometimes refer to brown dwarfs as failed stars because they're not quite massive enough to generate their own nuclear power. 

Researchers believe a brown dwarf or super-Jupiter blocking ASASSN-24fw formed a nearly opaque saucer covering the star, through which only a tiny amount of its light could escape. Credit: S. Shah et al. / DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staf2251 illustration

The team's top explanation involves a brown dwarf surrounded by humongous rings, similar in shape to Saturn's but vastly larger, eclipsing the star. In this case, the rings are estimated to stretch about 15.8 million miles from the brown dwarf, about half the distance between the sun and Mercury.

As the ring system moved in front of the star, it blocked about 97 percent of ASASSN-24fw's light. By studying changes in the star's brightness and light patterns — methods astronomers use to infer mass and motion — the team estimates the hidden object weighs more than three times as much as Jupiter.

The data also suggest the star itself has leftover material close by, possibly debris from past or ongoing planetary collisions. That is unusual for a star believed to be more than a billion years old.

Researchers think the brown dwarf or giant planet that eclipsed the star had a ring system similar to Saturn's, seen here, though vastly larger. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute

"Large ring systems are expected around massive objects, but they are very difficult to observe directly to determine their characteristics," said Jonathan Marshall, a coauthor affiliated with Academia Sinica in Taiwan, in a statement. 

The researchers now want to measure the star's temperature, makeup, age, and life stage. They plan to gather more data using powerful observatories, including the Very Large Telescope in Chile and the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's leading infrared observatory.

They expect the star to dim again in roughly 42 years, when the ringed object returns, offering another chance to study this unusual system, said Marshall, whose expertise is in circumstellar material and debris disks.

"This rare event allows us to study such a complex system in remarkable detail," he said. "In fact, while studying this dimming, we also serendipitously discovered that ASASSN-24fw also has a red dwarf star in its vicinity."

For my money, Bart Layton is among the most exciting true crime documentarians out there. The English filmmaker first caught my attention in 2012 with The Imposter. This stranger-than-fiction documentary follows a Texas family who took in a French con artist who claimed to be their missing son. Interviews with both the family and the con artist mean the movie turns into a battle over their respective narratives, leaving the audience to answer for themselves what's true. 

In 2018, Layton tackled another true crime case, but with elements of a narrative feature. To unfurl the bizarre and fascinating story of the Transylvania University book heist, he cast hot young actors like Evan Peters and Barry Keoghan to portray privileged college boys who fantasize about being Tarantino-style criminals. Rather than classic re-enactments, Layton folded in interviews with the real thieves, sometimes having them appear alongside the actors. Together, they'd regard the moment, recreated and so less real, interrogating as we watch where the truth lies and what lies exist to preserve their visions of themselves. 

Now Layton takes his big Hollywood swing with Crime 101, an adaptation of the Don Winslow crime novel, starring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, and Barry Keoghan (again). Departing from true crime, Layton translates a novel into a cinematic tale of high stakes and heartaches. 

Hemsworth stars as a mysterious jewel thief who targets Los Angeles's 101 freeway for his strikes. However, he's careful to steal from those who can afford it (or are insured), and though he carries a gun, never enacts violence against his victims. This intrigues the detective on his tail (Ruffalo), and tempts a frustrated insurance broker (Berry) to go in with him on one last job. However, a mercurial rival thief (Keoghan) might ruin all of the above's carefully laid plans. 

 So how does he feel his latest film compares to his previous stunners? In an interview for Crime 101, I sat down with Layton to ask exactly that. 

What attracts Bart Layton to crime stories?  Bart Layton, Halle Berry, and Chris Hemsworth at the "Crime 101" World Premiere in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images

For Layton, it's less about the crime and more about how it allows for a structure to enthrall an audience. "You're always looking for a way to smuggle in the layers," he explained. "Crime capers or especially the structure of a heist film is great because you're kind of positing a question at the beginning that an audience knows they're not getting the answer to until like the third act. So within that, you've got a framework that you can hopefully try to hang other ideas or more complicated things on."

He continued, "I'm looking for something that delivers the thing that we all want from a night out at the movies: the roller-coaster ride. I'm looking at how some of those stories will allow this opportunity for exploring. Like in this, there's a lot about the wealth divide and that chasm that is growing. There's also a lot about other things, the gray area of who's really the criminal? Is it the insurance industry? Is it the institutions? Is it the jewel thief? I suppose I'm more drawn to the idea of human beings who live outside the norms or cross a line that they probably shouldn't or never expected to cross than I am specifically in just crime or true crime. We get to vicariously look at what happens when we step outside of those conventions."

Bart Layton on the pressure of going mainstream.  Corey Hawkins and Mark Ruffalo in "Crime 101." Credit: Merrick Morton / Amazon MGM

True crime fans and critics cheered his previous films, but Crime 101 is undoubtedly his biggest movie yet, aiming to appeal to a broad audience. Layton spoke to the challenge of expectations there. "As you get into bigger Hollywood [movies]," he explained, "There's more pressure to deliver what a big, mainstream audience wants. That said, I do feel like maybe we've got a little less respectful of audiences in recent times. Because most audiences are really smart, and they do want a full meal, not like a bit of junk food or candy floss that's then disappeared."

For Crime 101, that meal involves the characters' motivations. Whether cop or criminal, each of them is striving for the same thing on some level. "It's not unique to L.A. but the pressure to have a certain image of success and status drives a lot of behavior," Layton said, "So a lot of what I was trying to think about was how these characters have got to a place where almost all of what they've done up until this point has been driven by that status anxiety. 'If I just get to here, if I have this, then maybe other people will see me as a success, and then I'll see myself that way.'" It's that desire that pushes Crime 101's curious cadre of characters to cross those lines of social propriety or legality. And the audience gets the vicarious thrill of watching those lines trampled.

"With American Animals," Layton said, "the motivation was, like, the promise of a special life." He notes one of the gang in that story did just want the money. But the others, who idolized movies like Reservoir Dogs and Fight Club, dreamed of being special in this hyper-masculine and antisocial way. "There was this other thing of, like, 'Oh, here I am. I'm a privileged, white, upper-middle-class kid. I got all of this opportunity, and yet, wasn't I supposed to be like a somebody?' And if you're not a somebody, you're a nobody."

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Layton tied this back to Crime 101, saying, "I think there is a connection to that, what's happening in some of these characters' lives. Which is the thing of, if you get to that number or that car or that apartment, you'll feel like you're a value in the world. And maybe you get there and you realize maybe it's not going to be that."

Asked if the English filmmaker felt that such status-chasing was distinctly American — as all of his movies have been largely set in the U.S. — he said it's not "limited to" this nation. But he admitted that in L.A., he feels the pressure to posture, specifically through car culture. 

"I've never thought twice about [cars] — like if I'm hiring a car, I could not give a shit what car it is," he said. "But when I go to L.A., I'm like, 'Oh, maybe I need to think about [this]. Like I need to arrive in a car that makes me look, at least like I'm not a joker. So I definitely don't think it's limited, but it may be primarily an American experience, which is definitely spreading." 

Crime 101 opens in theaters on Feb. 13.