Mashable

Honor's Magic V2, the super-thin foldable smartphone that launched in July 2023 in China, is now available in Europe.

While the wait has been a long one, the Magic V2 still has the honor (no pun intended) of being the world's thinnest inward-folding smartphone, at just 4.7 millimeters of thickness when unfolded and 9.9 millimeters of thickness when folded. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 measures 6.1 millimeters when unfolded, and 13.4 millimeters when folded.

Honor was able to achieve this feat by using a new generation silicon-carbon-dual-battery, which holds a capacity of 5,000mAh in a body that's just 2.72 millimeters thick, on average.

Honor Magic V2 will initially be available in Europe in two colors: Purple and Black. Credit: Honor

The rest of the specs are top notch as well. On the back, there's a triple camera system with a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 20-megapixel telephoto camera. There's also a dual, 16-megapixel camera setup on the front.

The display is a 7.92-inch OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1600 nits of brightness, and a 2,156x2,344 pixel resolution. It's coupled with a 6.43-inch, OLED cover display with 2500 nits of brightness and a 2,060x2,376 pixel resolution.

Honor was able to make the Magic V2 very slim by using a new generation, super-thin battery. Credit: Honor

The Magic V2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, coupled with 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage.

Other notable specs include a stereo speaker system, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and 66W wired charging.

The price matches the specs, unfortunately. The Honor Magic V2 will be available starting today through Honor's website, in Purple and Black colors, for €1,999.

SEE ALSO: Apple takes the smartphone market crown for the first time

There will also be a more luxurious, Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR variant. We don't have the pricing for that one yet, but will update this article when we do.

Another day, another recall for Tesla, but it's also another one of those recalls which don't really require the customers to do anything besides update their car's software.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla is recalling up to 199,575 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles. In particular, these are 2023 models equipped with Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) 4.0 system, and running software versions 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk confirms: Tesla to build new, cheap model in 2025

The culprit is a software instability that could prevent the rearview camera image from displaying, which can be quite an inconvenience. "If the condition is present, the rearview camera display will appear blank when the vehicle is shifted to Reverse," the NHTSA's Safety Recall Report says. "Unavailability of the rearview camera display upon starting a backing event may affect the driver’s rear visibility and increase the risk of a collision."

The NHTSA says, however, that Tesla has already released a free software update that fixes the issue. Affected customers will get a notification by mail starting March 22. Yes, that's two months from now. No, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

According to NHTSA's document, Tesla users started sending complaints about the issue in December 2023, and the company decided to do a recall on Jan. 12, 2023. Per the report, Tesla claims it is not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related to this particular bug.

Tesla recalls happen quite often; the last big one we remember was the company recalling more than 2 million cars in December over autopilot issues. Most of these, however, were due to software issues which Tesla was able to fix remotely, with an over-the-air software update.

Being a woman online is scary. In the digital world, as in the real world, harassment and abuse affects women and people of marginalised genders every day.

What happened to Taylor Swift this week is a prime — and terrifying — example. AI-generated, pornographic images of Swift went viral on X (formerly Twitter), with one such post garnering over than 45 million views. Outraged fans quickly intervened, flooding the platform with positive posts and images of the singer attached to search terms like "Taylor Swift AI" and "Taylor Swift deepfake". Swift's dedicated fanbase also got the hashtag #ProtectTaylorSwift trending, with thousands of posts condemning the nonconsensual images.

Tweet may have been deleted

The incident certainly isn't an isolated one. Swift, one of the most recognizable figures on the planet, is the latest to have deepfakes weaponized against her. This has happened to K-pop stars, TikTok creators, journalists, and high school girls.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez deepfakes used in Le Creuset giveaway scam What is deepfake porn?

Deepfake porn is artificially-created images or videos generated by a specific kind of machine learning. These synthetic visuals depict people's likenesses superimposed into sexual acts without their consent. The act of sharing it is a form of image-based sexual abuse, and has been criminalized in some countries. Much like revenge porn, deepfake porn has caused harm for those it depicts, whether psychologically, personally, or professionally.

A 2023 study from Home Security Heroes, a research firm focusing on identity theft and digital harm, found that deepfake porn makes up 98 percent of all deepfake videos online. Further, 99 percent of deepfake targets are women.

Where does the law stand on deepfake porn?

When it comes to nonconsensual sharing of explicit images, some countries worldwide have or are implementing laws to protect survivors.

In England and Wales, sharing deepfake porn has been criminalized since June 2023, with the UK government announcing a crackdown on "abusers, predators and bitter ex-partners who share intimate images online without consent of those depicted."

In the U.S., 48 states and the District of Columbia currently have anti-revenge porn laws. Some states have been working to update their language to include deepfake porn under this umbrella, including Illinois, Virginia, New York, and California. However, regulations vary by state and, as some have pointed out, certain laws don't include the pressing issue of technology's role in the creation and proliferation of such images and videos.

However, many governments are failing to tackle the problem. "Most governments aren’t taking action. Most don’t have laws, or their laws are full of loopholes," according to #MyImageMyChoice, a campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of those who have encountered image-based sexual abuse. "Most countries don’t have a framework around who is responsible for policing online spaces."

How has Big Tech approached this problem?

X, where the pictures of Swift have been distributed widely, explicitly forbids sharing "synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media." This includes content that deliberately intends to "deceive people" or those that falsely claim to depict reality. The company says it has a "a zero-tolerance policy towards such content", according to a post from its official safety account.

Tweet may have been deleted

Other platforms, like Reddit, also have policies preventing the sharing of intimate or sexually-explicit media without a person's consent.

Social media platforms and Big Tech have been put to the test when it comes to detecting and preventing deepfakes, despite policies. In 2021, Meta implemented a new tool to do so, partnering with the UK Revenge Porn Helpline's platform StopNCII.org. More recently, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram announced that any digitally-altered images pertaining to social, electoral, and political issues must be labelled — a policy intended to protect upcoming elections that some of the world's biggest democracies are gearing up towards.

SEE ALSO: Google's new AI video generator is great — but what about deepfakes?

Many platforms struggle to contain such content. The images of Swift, notably, were created and spread on a Telegram group chat, as discovered by 404Media. Telegram has failed to prevent this kind of content in the past. Others have too: just this month, NBC News found that nonconsensual deepfake porn featuring the likeness of female celebrities appears at the top of search engines like Google and Microsoft’s Bing.

Here's the real question: how does this keep happening? The alarming reality is that AI-generated images are becoming more pervasive, and presenting new dangers to those they depict. Exacerbating this issue is murky legal ground, social media platforms that have failed to foster effective safeguards, and the ongoing rise of artificial intelligence. International women's rights organization Equality Now detailed these factors in a January 2024 report, calling for "urgent and comprehensive responses from technological innovation, legal reform, and societal awareness" to tackle the undeniable rise of deepfake porn.

The circumstances surrounding Swift's case highlights the reality that this can happen to just about anyone – and before this kind of digital crisis worsens, it's time for a change.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, if you are based in the U.S., call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org. If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

If you are based in the UK and have experienced intimate image abuse (aka revenge porn), you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline on 0345 6000 459. If you have experienced sexual violence and are based in the UK, call the Rape Crisis helpline 0808 802 9999.

The estate of late comedian George Carlin is suing the creators of a comedy "special" that used AI to recreate his persona.

Posted on YouTube in early January, the AI-generated George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead was scripted and presented by comedy AI Dudesy, steered by humans Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen. The hour-long video doesn't actually feature the real comedian, who died in 2008. Instead, it's an AI-generated impersonation of Carlin talking about "the topics I think the comedy legend would be talking about today." Currently, the video has over half a million views.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in federal court in Los Angeles, accuses the video's creators of copyright infringement, saying they didn't have permission to use Carlin's likeness or material, including his albums and comedy standup specials, which the AI was trained on. The lawsuit describes the video as "computer-generated click-bait which detracts from the value of Carlin’s comedic works and harms his reputation."

"It is a casual theft of a great American artist’s work," it reads.

SEE ALSO: AI George Carlin releases comedy special that real George Carlin would've despised

In the filing, Carlin's estate also said the AI-generated video "may also deter younger audiences, who are unfamiliar with George Carlin, from engaging with his real work that is his legacy," and that the creators also infringed on copyright in their promotion of the "special" on the Dudesy podcast and its social media accounts.

The estate is suing for damages and demands the creators take down the video from all platforms and destroy any copies.

"The Dudesy Special is a bastardization of Carlin’s real work and his legacy," reads the filing. "George Carlin, if he were alive today, may well have commented upon the topics discussed in the Dudesy Special, but he would have had control over what those comments were."

"The Dudesy Special is a bastardization of Carlin’s real work and his legacy."

In the video in question, the AI claims the impersonation is "developed in the exact same way a human impressionist would...I listened to all of George Carlin's material and did my best to imitate his voice, cadence, and attitude as well as the subject matter I think would have interested him today." As Mashable's Tim Marcin writes, "The Dudesy special is a voice-accurate copy of Carlin, not adding context but rather trying to resurrect a ghost. It's a weird, less funny version of Carlin."

Carlin's daughter, Kelly, posted a thread on Twitter/X following the video's release. "My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius," she wrote.

Tweet may have been deleted

The lawsuit is just the latest fiasco in AI and copyright and follows the major conversations around AI and writers sitting at the heart of the recent Hollywood strikes.

Sydney Sweeney has taken on intense high school drama, intense vacation drama, and intense convent drama — so it's really no surprise that isn't too phased by a few spicy wings.

Appearing on First We Feast's Hot Ones, the actor munches through increasingly spicy wings while casually chatting about everything from the outfits in Euphoria to her favourite books.

Admittedly she does hit a bit of a wall with Da Bomb, but this only proves that she's human after all.

A photo of Japan's robotic moon lander shows that though the spacecraft did make the quarter-million-mile journey to the lunar surface, it landed upside down.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency — NASA's Japanese space counterpart known as JAXA — released the image Jan. 25, five days after it descended onto the moon. Shortly after touchdown, the mission team for SLIM — short for Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon — realized the spacecraft's solar panels weren't making electricity.

Seeing the golden ship in such a precarious position, yet somehow not shattered into pieces, comes as perhaps a startling reminder of just how difficult it is to get on the lunar surface, even 60 years after the first uncrewed moon landings.

SEE ALSO: Here are the 2024 space moments you won't want to miss Tweet may have been deleted

Face-planting on the moon wasn't part of the plan, but the JAXA team said data confirms the spacecraft achieved its main goal of a so-called "pinpoint landing" — that is, a landing with an accuracy of less than 100 meters, or under 100 yards. Given that most landing targets are many square-miles in scope, this demonstrates an unprecedented level of precision. The lander was at most 10 meters off its mark, according to space agency officials, which is comparable to 11 yards or less.

"The pinpoint landing performance was evaluated to be at approximately 10m or less, possibly about 3 - 4m," according to JAXA in a statement.

Japan is the fifth nation to land on the moon, following the former Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India. But JAXA controllers soon realized after the landing that their mission was in peril, with the spacecraft quickly losing battery life.

The SLIM spacecraft's navigation camera snaps a photo of the terrain. JAXA rotated the image so that it would appear right side up. Credit: JAXA

Because of the lander's now-apparent inverted position, its solar panels weren't oriented correctly to generate power, according to the space agency. The team elected to conserve power by shutting down the spacecraft about 2.5 hours after landing.

What's perhaps as surprising as the photo of the lander is how it was taken. Two small rovers separated from the crewless mothership just prior to touchdown. It was one of these baseball-sized robots that was able to snap the image of the spacecraft with its head in the moondust.

The rover, built with the help of Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy, is a sphere that splits in half to expose a pair of cameras that point front and back. The two hemispheres also become the rover wheels.

An onboard rover camera scans the lunar surface. Credit: JAXA / RITSUMEIKAN UNIVERSITY / THE UNIVERSITY OF AIZU

"The company is perhaps most famous for originally creating the Transformers, the alien robots that can disguise themselves as machines," said Elizabeth Tasker, who provided commentary on the moon landing in English on Jan. 20.

The space agency still isn't entirely sure what went wrong. At about 55 yards above the ground, the spacecraft performed an obstacle avoidance maneuver, part of the pinpoint-landing demonstration. Just prior to this step, one of the two main engines stopped thrusting, throwing the lander's orientation off. JAXA is continuing to investigate what caused the engine problem.

Landing on the moon remains onerous, with less than half of attempts succeeding. The moon's exosphere — an extremely thin atmosphere of gasses barely held by the moon's gravity — provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot.

In a close-up view of lunar ground, rocks are labeled with names, including "Bulldog" and "Toy Poodle," to help differentiate them. Credit: JAXA

For the pinpoint landing, the SLIM spacecraft was outfitted with photo-matching technology to determine its location. The matching algorithm only requires a few seconds to figure out where the spacecraft is and whether it needs to correct its course.

Despite the fact that the spacecraft is now sleeping, the SLIM team hasn't lost hope for a recovery. With solar panels facing west, the lander still has a chance of catching some rays and generating power. If the angle of sunlight changes, SLIM could still be awakened, mission officials said.

That would have to happen soon, though. Night will fall on the moon on Feb. 1, bringing about freezing temperatures. The spacecraft was not built to withstand those conditions.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

We love a good party as much as anyone, but the logistics of trying to get to know someone in a packed basement over thumping tunes while everyone is doing shots in the corner are a bit challenging. It's not exactly the prime environment for romance.

Dating apps are the saving grace of university students everywhere. Whether you’re serious about finding someone, or just looking for a quick hookup, you may just need the right app.

After all, everyone’s doing it. 

Why should you consider using dating sites?

Yes, you can still find love in the real world, because meeting in bars, clubs, parks, and other romantic locations still happens every day. By subscribing to a dating site, you're simply shortening your odds of finding someone special.

Dating sites and apps let you put your information out there to a massive network of potential dates. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting in real life.

Do you need to pay for the best dating apps?

The good news is that are absolutely loads of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are seriously popular options with students. Most of the biggest and best dating sites also have free versions with limitations on certain features. So you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps. For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, the best option is probably not a free app. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap. Of course you can still find a date with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What should you consider before using a dating app?

It probably seems obvious, but the first rule of online dating is to just be yourself. It's all too easy to pretend to be someone you're not online, but that kind of catfishing game won't garner you a true connection. By being yourself and presenting yourself accurately and honestly, you open yourself up to the possibility of a great relationship with someone who likes you just the way you are. And isn't that the whole point of dating?

Don't be afraid to make the first move. Forget all those outdated rules that say a man is supposed to make the first move or that a woman can't pay on a first date. Instead, focus on finding an equal partner who helps support your goals, wants to see you succeed, and has dreams of their own.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Get a bit more creative with your messaging than the standard "Hey." If you're looking to connect with someone on campus, then open up the conversation with a question about them and a little bit about yourself. Messaging someone is more discussion group than lecture hall — it's about passing the conversation back and forth. 

Once you decide to meet up — which is the entire point, after all — stay open. We often come up with an idea for how someone will be after meeting them online, and it's rare that your expectations sync up with reality. Allow yourself to really get to know this person for who they are rather than who you thought they would be before you make up your mind.

That said, it's crucial that you're honest. If you really don't feel a connection, then do the right thing and tell them. A good line to use is something like, "I've really enjoyed meeting you but I think there are probably better people out there for both of us." Not only will they appreciate your direct approach, but it will alleviate that post-date awkwardness of wondering where you stand. Ghosting sucks for everyone. Just be up front and save each of you a lot of discomfort.

On the other hand, what if you really do like them after finally meeting in person? Then what? Set up your next date while you're still hanging out. That old rule about waiting three days to call? It's dead. RIP outdated dating rules. Make plans to do something low-key, and for the first few dates make sure the plans are to meet in a public place. The benefits of making a date to do an activity cannot be overstated. It provides you with ample conversation starters and gives you an opportunity to get a little competitive and joke around. Some playful teasing goes a long way. And remember: It's all about having fun.

What is the best dating app for university students?

At this point there are dating apps for every niche you can think of, whether you're into gaming, geek culture, or focusing on your career — there are people seeking the same things you are. As a university student, you have specific needs and probably don't want to wade through all the older people trying to get married. You need dating apps that are specifically good for uni-aged people.

To help you find the perfect dating app, we’ve tracked down the best options for whatever kind of university experience you want, including leading sites like eharmony, Match, and AdultFriendFinder.

These are the best dating apps for students in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

There are three realisations you come to once you enter the real world as a working adult: 

1. A 9 to 5 job is rarely ever just 9 to 5.

2. Your free time is pretty limited.

3. Dating kinda sucks.

The social freedoms you enjoyed before joining the rat race take a hit once you're a working professional. Unfortunately for singles, this can be hazardous for your dating life. 

There is no need to despair though, because you can have the best of both worlds with the help of a dating site.

Should working professionals consider dating sites?

For busy professionals, the idea of "finding someone" might seem like a daunting task. With deadlines, work dinners, and meetings galore, trying to meet someone often falls to the very end of your to do list. If you're an introvert as it is, your social meter is way too drained from small talk with colleagues to even think about introducing yourself to a cute random. This is why dating apps were invented though: to make online dating way easier, enabling you to use your free time wisely. 

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Being a single, working professional is actually kind of a weird time: Somehow, you can have the career and money part of your life so together while the love part is a flaming pile of garbage. While the gist of online dating is easy, finding someone who's also goal-oriented and will understand your lifestyle can be tricky. Not every dating app will make sense for career-focused folks, but looking at things like user base, requirements to sign up, and overall vibe of the app can up your chances of finding what you're looking for. Most dating apps have a section to write in your job or career, which makes it easier to weed out people who don't quite match your goals or lifestyle.

Do you need to pay for the best dating apps?

There are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are seriously popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. There are levels to this game though, and sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

This won't be a surprise to hear, but you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps. For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up the cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap.

What is the best dating site for working professionals?

Whether it's something casual or a long-term relationship that you want, there's an app that will make your search a whole lot easier. We found that with sites like EliteSingles, eharmony, and Match, the initial output (such as the lengthy sign up and/or membership fee) is worth it for the return. After all, those who are willing to pay the price for love are clearly serious, unlike some swipe-based free apps where the likelihood of even meeting up in real life can be slim to none.

The good news is that there are plenty of other options out there for working professionals, so you should always be able to find something that ticks your boxes. We've lined up a selection of dating sites to suit every dater and budget. You just need to pick a favourite from the bunch.

These are the best dating sites for working professionals in 2024.

You can't have Percy Jackson and the Olympians without monsters from Greek mythology, and you can't have monsters from Greek mythology without Medusa.

The iconic, snake-headed figure of Medusa (Jessica Parker Kennedy) appears in the third episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Like every monster in the series, from the Minotaur to Cerberus, she presented a unique set of challenges for the show's team.

"How do you take something that has a history of interpretations back to clay pots and find something new to do with it that doesn't break it?" asked executive producer Jon Steinberg on a video call with Mashable.

SEE ALSO: How is 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' different from the books?

Guidance came from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books. "The voice that the Percy Jackson universe has helps point you in the right direction," Steinberg continued. "Everything feels scary and grounded and real, but it also has a bit of a wink through it. That was always the target with all of the monsters, to try to figure out where their humanity was."

That emphasis on humanity comes through even in the pilot episode, when Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) tells a young Percy (Azriel Dalman) that not everyone who looks like a monster is a monster. It's that thinking that leads Percy (Walker Scobell) to initially give Medusa a chance.

She presents herself as an ally to him, Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), and Grover (Aryan Simhadri), as opposed to outright trying to petrify them like she does in the books. She even shares her side of her transformation myth, revealing that she was a victim of Poseidon's advances. "There's a turn that happens there, where the more you invest in her story at the beginning as a victim, the more complicated it gets for Percy to kill her," Steinberg said.

Jessica Parker Kennedy in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

All the complication and realistic humanity of Medusa as a character also had to come through visually — even in the nest of snakes coiled around her head. "We never really wanted the snakes to give a performance. They weren't going to stare at Percy and hiss in unison; that started to feel like you're in a cartoon," Steinberg said. "There was something interesting about the idea that part of the immortal torture of Medusa is that it's really annoying to have snakes on your head. You want to feel the sense of how uncomfortable that must be. So that requires them to be messy and to feel real."

From there, the visual effects team at Industrial Light and Magic, including visual effects supervisors Erik Henry and Jeff White, set about creating and animating the snakes. This wasn't Henry's first time working with snakes: He worked as a visual effects supervisor on 2006's Snakes on a Plane.

SEE ALSO: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review: The upgrade is worth the money

"He had deep, deep experience with what it takes to make a snake look real," Steinberg said. "And I think from the get-go that [Medusa] was probably the effect that kept him up at night, because a snake moves strangely: the way its muscles move, the way gravity applies to all those mechanics. It's really easy for that illusion to break down, so a lot of effort went into every snake on her head."

"It took a lot of time," added executive producer Dan Shotz. "Not only the specifics of each snake, but how they interact with each other, how they connect. You're also helped by doing it in the dark. A lot of that scene takes place in the dark, but it also makes it a lot more challenging to pull the details out so that you can really, really feel it and see it."

As with every visual effect, the process of creating Medusa's snakes went through several stages. Check out an exclusive clip of the animatic process for our first up-close look at Medusa's hair, as well as a look at concept art for Medusa's lair below:

Concept art for Medusa's lair. Credit: Disney+

As for the monsters a potential Season 2 might hold, what are Shotz and Steinberg most excited or worried about?

"I feel the same way about Tyson the Cyclops that I did about Medusa, which is that that's a hard man to make feel real," Steinberg said of Percy's half-brother, who first appears in The Sea of Monsters. "And not just to make real as a creature, but so much of the emotional weight of that story rests on Tyson shoulders. So if every time you look at him you're not fully immersed in his humanity, it won't work."

"When I think about the potential of making Season 2, I think about never sleeping," Shotz said. "We tease Rick all the time like, 'You didn't make this easy, man!' Every season is doubling down on the season that came before.

"But I think what's also so exciting about the story is all of the worlds," Shotz continued. "Being able to go to these different places, it never gets stale."

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is now streaming on Disney+.

No matter the cleanliness of the user, MacBooks are prone to occasional fingerprints. Whether they're on the screen, keyboard, trackpad or the outer chassis, there are ways to clean a MacBook and make it look as good as new.

Apple itself provides tips on cleaning a MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. Take a look at Apple’s support page if you’re interested. Apple appears to be more cognizant of how smudges affect the user experience. So much so that its latest 'Space Black' MacBook Pro features an anodization seal to resist fingerprints.

While cleaning your MacBook, make sure to indirectly use water and/or a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution. The latter can usually be found by searching on Amazon, Best Buy, or a local tech shop.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dealmed Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70% USP, First Aid Antiseptic $9.99 Get Deal
How to clean your MacBook

Step 1: Turn off your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and unplug it from its power source.

Credit: MacBook Pro

Step 2: Use a soft, damp lint-free cloth and go over the device’s exterior shell. During this process, try to remove any built-up debris on the chassis. 

Avoid getting moisture in any openings and creases.

Step 3: To clean the MacBook’s display, use a lint-free cloth. Only use water to dampen it beforehand. Avoid getting water directly on the screen. Gently use the cloth to get rid of smudges and streaks.

Step 4: Go over the exterior and MacBook screen with a lint-free cloth moistened by your 70-percent IPA solution if smudges persist. Again, gently wipe the MacBook.

Credit: Oscar Wong/Getty Images

Step 5: Finally, to clean the keyboard, use the 70-percent IPA solution or a traditional Clorox wipe. Due to the openings surrounding each keycap, ensure the cloth is damp and does not have excess liquid. 

For MacBook Pro units with the Touch Bar and Touch ID button, treat both as you would the main display. Indirectly use water and the 70-percent IPA solution if need be.

If excess liquid finds its way inside your MacBook, keep it turned off. You can then seek assistance from an Apple Authorized Service provider or Apple Store. Note that liquid damage isn’t covered under a warranty nor AppleCare.

Following the cleaning process, your MacBook should look good as new and can be powered on. 

Note: Do not clean your MacBook with an all-purpose cleaner (e.g., cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide, bleach, aerosols, etc.) Doing so may result in irreparable damage to the MacBook’s finish as well as internal components.

TL;DR: Through January 28, you can get lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) for $169.97 — that's 72% off the regular price of $599.

The hardest part of learning a new language? Arguably, it’s simply sticking with it. Too many take a class or download an app with high hopes, but not all cross the finish line of fluency. But, you might have better odds if you choose a method that adapts to your schedule, needs, and goals.

Meet Babbel, a language-learning app with engaging, challenging lessons and games that keep you motivated. They offer a lifetime subscription, which is currently discounted to $169.97 (reg. $599) through January 28.

Babbel: The starting line for a new language

Start your journey by choosing a language from 14 options, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Polish. Then, you’ll take a short quiz to assess your current skill level, whether you’re a total beginner or actually remember something from high school Spanish.

Babbel will also help you create weekly lesson goals — a few if you’re a casual learner or more if you’re aiming for quick fluency — and optional notifications that remind you when it’s time to come back for a lesson.

Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint

Each Babbel lesson is designed to take around 10 to 15 minutes, so you could do one each morning, over your lunch break, or during your commute. You’ll also have the option for review sessions where you choose the method from listening, flashcards, or playing skill-building mini-games. You can even practice your speaking skills with AI-powered tech that listens to your pronunciation and accent.

While the makers of Babbel think you could be speaking conversationally in as little as one month, it may take far longer to become fluent. However, there are tips and tricks to accelerate the process, like consuming immersive content or finding a learning buddy.

Get serious about language learning with Babbel lifetime access on sale for $169.97 (reg. $599) until January 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT, no coupon needed.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $169.97 in the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Have you ever had the hots for your therapist? Or, if not a crush on your actual therapist, maybe you've just thought it would be kind of sexy to bang a therapist theoretically? If you're reading this and thinking, "Yeah, been there," you're definitely not alone. 

The 2023 instalment of Pornhub's Year In Review — their annual report telling us what porn watchers were enjoying the most throughout the year — states that therapists are essentially the new teachers when it comes to people's pornography habits.  

SEE ALSO: Porn site names the 2024 fetish of the year

Worldwide, "therapy" searches grew throughout last year on Pornhub, up a whopping 344 percent since 2022. In some Western countries, it was even a top trending search, including in Canada where therapy searches were up 566 percent, and Australia, where they were up 541 percent. 

Clearly, a lot of people are into the fantasy of therapist-patient sex, or at least interested in watching it. So, we spoke to sex therapists to understand why this kink exists and how you can play around with it in your own bedroom, if you fancy it. 

Why are so many people watching therapy porn? 

There are myriad reasons why so many people may be turning to therapy porn at the moment. Lyndsey Murray, sex therapist at Relationship Matters Therapy and co-host of the podcast Sex Positivity: Unfiltered, thinks it's partly down to the therapist-client relationship in real life. 

"It's extremely ethical and trusting. The therapist is an authority figure in a way (whether they try to be or not), and there's a given power imbalance; the therapist knows many intimate details about the client whereas the client doesn't know intimate details about their therapist," she explains to Mashable. 

"Given how the relationship is supposed to be, it can be taboo and like a fantasy to imagine having sex with your therapist, who is supposed to support you, emotionally, not have a sexual relationship with you." 

We see this a lot in the more common porn scenarios of sleeping with bosses or teachers. Almost everyone can relate to having a boss or teacher at some point, and it's a uniquely power-imbalanced relationship where sex would be forbidden. That's the perfect recipe for fantasy.

This is exactly why 30-year-old digital marketer Layla watches therapist porn. Layla and other therapy porn watchers are going by their first names only for privacy reasons. "I don't watch therapy porn all the time but I occasionally find myself searching for it and it's so hot. Just the fact that it's so wrong makes it such a turn on to think about," she tells Mashable.

27-year-old office manager Chris tells Mashable he's also into the power dynamic aspect of therapist porn.  "I've been watching therapist porn for about two years but I'd love to explore it outside of porn somehow, not with my therapist though," he says. "I just find the idea of sex with a therapist so hot — pretty much because I'm not allowed to do it!" 

This is sometimes referred to as the "forbidden fruit effect," which psychologists describe as an innate impulse for wanting things we're not allowed. In a world that can often feel full of routines and rules, the wonder of danger can feel like a fresh change, which can turn into allure. 

More therapists = more therapy porn 

Murray notes that therapy is becoming more common and less taboo. More people have a therapist today than in the past. It's hard to say exactly how many people have therapists as this isn't always recorded public information, but in 2020 and 2021, 1.46 million referrals to talking therapies were made on the National Health Service in the UK, up 24 percent from 2018. In the U.S., around 42 million people received therapy treatment in 2021 and one in five has recently received some kind of mental-health care, an increase of almost 15 million people in treatment since 2002.

That's a whole lot of people taking action and accessing the right services to help their mental health. So, we might be able to relate to having a therapist as much as we do with teachers and bosses now, and could unlock a new kink in the process. 

Layla adds that she has found herself watching therapy porn since she started going to therapy herself, but could never look at her own therapist like that. "I see him more like a parent half the time, which is maybe problematic in itself," she laughs. "I definitely couldn't look at him sexually. For me, it's definitely just a porn fantasy — not something to take seriously in real life." 

Since experiences from our daily lives can influence our kinks (and porn history), it makes sense that the more normalised therapy is, the more we might develop sexual fantasies about therapy. So, it's likely we'll see more and more love for therapists on porn sites as the years go on. 

What about real-life therapist fantasies?

People may experience an attraction to therapists offline as well. Murray explains that this is common. "In real life, clients can [develop] feelings for their therapist or even feel like they are falling in love with them; they are in a vulnerable state, and their therapist is someone who is there for them sometimes more than anyone else ever has been," she explains. "This can definitely turn into sexual thoughts." 

Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey, a clinical psychologist, sex/intimacy coach, author, speaker and podcast host, explains that this feeling is referred to as transference. "This is when the feelings you have about someone in your life or past are redirected (or transferred) to the therapist. This is one reason for sexual thoughts about actual therapists," she explains.

If you are in this situation, it's important to know that having sex with your actual therapist is, to put it bluntly, an awful idea. 

"There's an inherent power dynamic and if a therapist has sex with their client, I view it as taking advantage of someone who is in a really vulnerable state. There's never a situation, ever, where that would be okay," Murray says, adding that sleeping with a client would warrant a loss of license for therapists.

Of course, it's that dangerous power dynamic that makes the idea of sex with a therapist so sexy in the first place, but there are safer ways to explore the fantasy. 

SEE ALSO: Should I use a VPN to watch porn? How to explore a therapist kink 

Instead of trying to shag your therapist, you can watch some of the endless therapy porn that's on offer across explicit platforms, now that it's proving to be a popular genre. Watching porn is a brilliant way to explore sexual fantasies on your own, removing the pressure of working out the kinks (pun not intended) with another person's pleasure and expectations. 

You might find that therapy kink isn't something you actually want to bring into your partnered sex life, and is just something you like to imagine on your own. In this case, watching a bit of therapy porn is the right way to go. Alternatively, you can listen to audio porn or read erotica featuring stories with therapists. Taking away the visual element of porn can help stimulate your imagination! 

Bisbey also recommends trying role play to satisfy a therapist kink. This is a particularly good idea if you do want to play with doctor/patient power dynamics in the bedroom. This is something 32-year-old copyeditor Toni does with her partner, telling Mashable, "We love playing with the idea that I'm his helpless patient and once he's helped me, I have sex with him to thank him. It creates such a sexy divide of dominance and submission in the bedroom, and we get to dress up as our characters too!"

If you're into therapists, or it sounds like something you could get down with, there are plenty of ways to indulge in the fantasy while keeping things safe and ethical. 

Expats kicks off with a wave of tragedies. A doctor falls asleep at the wheel, killing three pedestrians. Pilots of a small aircraft get too close to a ski lift, their plane wing cutting the cable and sending skiers plunging to their deaths. A friendly tussle between two twin brothers results in one being paralyzed for life. All accidents, all shattering the lives of victims and perpetrators alike.

Recounting these stories in a matter-of-fact tone is Mercy (Ji-young Yoo), a young woman who positions herself as the perpetrator of an unknown tragedy and who bears the burden of it every day. "People like me," she wonders, "are they forgiven?"

SEE ALSO: 38 TV shows we can't wait to see in 2024

That question is one of many Expats creator Lulu Wang (The Farewell) seeks to untangle over this six-episode miniseries. Also joining the fray are ideations on motherhood, marriage, and sense of place, all of which connect a web of Hong Kong-based expatriates like Mercy. Wang spins this web deftly for the most part, even as the latter episodes begin to flag.

What is Expats about? Brian Tee and Nicole Kidman in "Expats." Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video

Along with its opening stories of doctors and pilots and twins, Expats, adapted from Janice Y.K. Lee's 2016 novel The Expatriates, centers on a tragedy of its own — one that forever changes the lives of three American women living in Hong Kong.

Our initial gateway into their lives is former architect Margaret (Nicole Kidman). Her greatest frustration used to be the housewife status that came with her husband Clarke's (Brian Tee) relocation to Hong Kong for work. However, that's been overshadowed by the disappearance of her youngest son, Gus (Connor James). Her grief is ever-present, clouding her actions and her relationships to everyone around her, including the rest of her family.

SEE ALSO: Prime perk: Grab two free Kindle books this month

Margaret lives in the same luxury apartment complex as businesswoman Hilary (Sarayu Blue), whose marriage to David (Jack Huston) is fast approaching the breaking point due to issues of infertility and infidelity. Making matters worse is David's behavior on the night Gus went missing, which has increased the rift between him and Hilary and created further tension with Margaret.

Rounding out the trio is Mercy. A recent Columbia graduate, Mercy struggles to find a clear direction, flitting on the edges of friend groups and the fancy events she works at as a caterer. Her disconnect from her surroundings stems not from general apathy but from a bone-deep sense of guilt about her role in Margaret's loss.

Wang peels apart exactly how all these women are related by moving backward and forward in time, showing us the build-up to Gus's disappearance and the aftermath. Everyone and everything in this series orbits around this one event, and the consequences — from blowout fights to affairs — are as varied as they are painful.

Expats presents three fascinating leads. Bonde Sham and Ji-young Yoo in "Expats." Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video

There's a lot to love about Expats, especially how Wang mines the deep emotional stakes of even the most mundane moments. In her hands, and thanks to the performances of Kidman, Blue, and Yoo, a walk to an elevator or a simple car ride can speak volumes.

Kidman does an admirable job shouldering Margaret's grief, but it's Blue and Yoo who steal the show. Blue's Hilary is often outwardly restrained, her rehearsed smiles at business dinners barely hinting at personal turmoil beneath. Yet as that restraint crumbles over the show's run, Blue unveils Hilary's vulnerabilities with quiet, deliberate care. By contrast, Yoo's Mercy feels wilder, masking her guilt with dark jokes until the pain overwhelms her and she lashes out. It's a staggering performance, especially when coupled with Mercy's navigation of her outsider status in Hong Kong.

SEE ALSO: 'In the Know' review: Stop-motion satire from Mike Judge and Zach Woods

Yes, all three women are outsiders, yet Hilary and Margaret keep themselves in a bubble of wealth and fellow expats. Meanwhile, Mercy often finds herself explaining to Hong Kong citizens that she's actually Korean American and doesn't speak Cantonese. Her relationship to her own identity as she navigates her time in Hong Kong makes for Expats' most meaningful exploration of the impacts of displacement.

Expats has its fair share of frustrations. Amelyn Pardenilla and Sarayu Blue in "Expats." Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video

Despite the entire show taking place in Hong Kong, with Wang employing a number of gorgeous shots of its high rises and crowded streets, the city and its inhabitants can sometimes fade into the background. That seems to mimic how Hilary and especially Margaret experience Hong Kong: They spend most of their time in their bubble, and very little time trying to embed themselves in the city.

Expats spends most of its run in that bubble as well, only truly breaking out for its fifth episode, "Central." Over its hour-and-a-half runtime, "Central" dives deeper into the lives of side characters like Essie (Ruby Ruiz) and Puri (Amelyn Pardenilla), Margaret and Hilary's housekeepers. Originally from the Philippines, Essie and Puri are expats too, and we get a glimpse into their own communities and the families they may have left at home. Particularly fascinating is Hilary and Puri's relationship, which toggles between employer and employee to confidants, depending on Hilary's emotional state.

Also highlighted in "Central" is political turmoil in Hong Kong, specifically the 2014 Umbrella Movement. Notably, Expats garnered controversy while shooting in Hong Kong, in part because of worries it would ignore valuable political context in favor of focusing on privileged foreigners, and in part because of an easing of COVID-19 restrictions for stars while filming. The spotlight on the Umbrella Movement, as well as references to the "old Hong Kong" dying, seem like responses to that criticism. Unfortunately, shoehorning them into a supersized episode towards the end of the series is an inelegant solution. Any political sentiment fails to get the space it needs to breathe. The same goes for Puri and Essie's stories, which still feel sandwiched between their employers' angst.

This isn't to say that Margaret, Hilary, and Mercy's stories aren't worth watching: They are, and they are bristling with moving musings on what it means to try to process pain when you're so far from home. But they work so much better when they consider the city where they take place. For example, in one standout sequence, a trip to a night market goes from an enchanting evening to a nightmare in the span of seconds. Later, Wang zooms out, showing the market's daily routine in full, and you become aware of just how small (but no less heartbreaking) these stories are in the context of the larger city of Hong Kong. It's an absolute gut punch of a moment — one Expats, while compelling, could use even more of.

Expats is now streaming on Prime Video.

TL;DR: As of January 26, get a lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club Premium for $39.97 or Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus for $59.97.

There's a lot of planning to go from sitting on your couch to reclining on the beach. Planning a vacation may not be the most fun part of your trip, but it might not have to be as frustrating as it is. If you're spending all your time scouring the internet for cheap flights, that's time you aren't fantasizing about how soft your hotel pillows will be. 

Save some time and let Dollar Flight Club find cheap flights for you. This flight finder service searches a few departing airports and sends notifications to your inbox about cheap flights. There are two lifetime subscription plans: Dollar Flight Club is $39.97 and Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ is only $59.97. Both of these extra low prices won't last much longer. 

How to find flights with Dollar Flight Club Credit: Dollar Flight Club

Both DFC subscriptions allow you to select up to four departing airports for Dollar Flight Club to scan. The Premium membership will look out for international and domestic flights, but it's limited to economy class. The Premium Plus+ membership expands its search to economy, premium economy, and business class along with priority support directly from DFC. 

Once Dollar Flight Club finds a flight deal, it goes straight to your inbox so you can decide if it's the vacation of your dreams. This flight finder model might be ideal for spontaneous vacationers, frequent flyers, business travelers, or young adults looking for a quick, low-cost adventure for a weekend. And once you've bought your subscription, it's yours for life and available on unlimited devices. 

Automate your vacation planning

Let the robot find cheap flights for you. 

Until January 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT, take advantage of these deals on Dollar Flight Club:

• Lifetime subscription to a Dollar Flight Club Premium plan, on sale for $39.97

• Lifetime subscription to a Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ plan, on sale for $59.97

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dollar Flight Club Lifetime subscription to a Dollar Flight Club Premium plan $39.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dollar Flight Club Lifetime subscription to a Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ plan $59.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 26, get this refurbished MacBook Pro for just $245.99 — that's 29% off.

If you don't need a brand-new computer, but do need access to basic productivity apps like Microsoft Office, you could opt for a refurbished machine with good specs that only shows light signs of use. 

This refurbished MacBook has a grade "B" refurbished rating, so you might notice some light scuffs or scrapes on the case, but it's still ready to work. Plus, the price has been seriously reduced all the way to $245.99. 

Shop refurbished tech

This MacBook Pro may be a good fit if you're looking for a lightweight machine for tasks like managing your email, streaming, keeping up with homework, or just browsing. It has an Intel Core i5 processor with a 2.5GHz base speed, capable of turbo-boosting up to 3.1GHz. This refurbished MacBook Pro has a 1366 x 768 retina display and 4GB of RAM. The 500GB HDD is a great way to keep bulk files on hand without needing to go online and connect to cloud storage, and you can always use Bluetooth to transfer files too. 

One of the other benefits of getting an older computer is that it still has all the ports that MacBooks have streamlined out since then. This one has a MagSafe power port, Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, USB 3 ports, a Thunderbolt port, a place to plug in your headphones, and a SDXC card slot. There's even a place to connect a Kensington lock. 

Refurbished and ready to work

Instead of paying full price for a brand-new computer with more power than you need, go for a cheaper alternative suited to the work you'll actually be doing. 

For a limited time, get a refurbished MacBook Pro on sale for $245.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" Intel Core i5 (2012) 4GB 500GB HDD - Silver (Refurbished) $245.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 26, get this Complete Godot Stack Development Bundle of game development courses for just $24.99 — a 93% discount.

If you've ever played Animal Crossing or Call of Duty and thought it would be great to create your own game, it's now more possible than ever thanks to modern technology and open-source (aka free) programs like Godot. With some time and this 16-course online learning bundle for $24.99 (reg. $399), you could learn Godot and develop your own games.

From beginner to developer

No coding experience? No problem. ZENVA has used self-paced courses to prepare more than one million developers for successful coding careers or hobby ventures, even when learners start as a total beginner. Just download Godot for free and buy these online courses to start building your game.

Create your dream video game

Begin with an introduction to game development and design, and get some hands-on experience with Godot through mini-projects. You’ll learn how to create and customize a 3D player and other assets, animate models with realistic flow, construct loops for repeated code, and more.

Now, let’s talk about how you can bring your game idea to life. This 16-course bundle covers the following types:

• Platformers: players jump and navigate through levels, like Super Mario Bros.

• Role-playing games (RPGs): players take on the role of a character while following a story (for example, Final Fantasy).

• Strategy games: players make tactical decisions, like in StarCraft.

• First-person shooter (FPS), where players use a first-person perspective in action-packed environments, such as Call of Duty.

If your idea fits into one of the above categories, these courses cover the steps of game development and creation to help you turn your dream into a 2D or 3D reality.

Learn how to create your own game with this 16-course 2024 Complete Godot Stack Development Bundle, currently $24.99 (reg. $399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: ZENVA 2024 Complete Godot Stack Development Bundle $24.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 26, get this bundle of SEO and marketing courses from Education Cloud for only $39.99 — an 89% discount.

While some aspects of marketing rely on tried-and-true methods, it's an industry that is always growing and implementing new ways of working, as well as new tech. If you're in the marketing field, you should be following suit and growing alongside the industry. One way to stay refreshed and in the know is to continue learning. And since we live in the digital age, there are some robust online learning options out there. 

For instance, this offer from Education Cloud by Squirrly gets you over 40 marketing and SEO courses. And right now, it's just $39.99 (reg. $399). These courses are run by industry experts and cover things like using SEO, marketing on social media, content marketing, and more to help you reach your career goals and become a more confident marketer. You'll even be educated on hacks and given real-world examples.

Peruse over 504 learning materials that are ready whenever, wherever. And if you want a more personalized experience, you can even take quizzes to get custom course suggestions via short quizzes or get course recommendations from others in the marketing world. Save your favorites to turn to time and again and track the progress of your learning plan.

If you're a content creator, entrepreneur, or marketing professional who is tired of spending hours online looking for marketing strategies that will help you succeed, this is a low-commitment option that puts a variety of skills at your fingertips. You can filter by media type (audio or video) and use this learning platform across your different devices.

To top it off, you'll have access to this marketing learning platform's future courses as well.

Get lifetime access to over 40 premium digital marketing courses with Education Cloud Plus by Squirrly while it's on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $399).

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Familiarity in horror isn’t always a bad thing.

The genre is filled with so many tropes that some of them act as a handy shortcut for terror. Gloomy basements, ancient curses, and ways to contact the dead are just a few of these, and they all crop up in Alberto Corredor's Baghead. There’s plenty in the film that feels creepily familiar. The problem is the other stuff in the movie — all the things that wrap around those old tropes — aren’t nearly compelling enough. Instead of using those foundational horror blocks to tell a tense new story, the whole thing just feels stale and unexciting.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best horror movies of 2023, and where to watch them What's Baghead about?

The starting idea isn’t a bad one.

After the sudden death of her estranged father (Peter Mullan), unemployed Iris (Freya Allan) discovers she's inherited his old pub: a dusty and dilapidated property that just so happens to come with a permanent basement-dwelling tenant. The bad news? As her dad's pre-death VHS tape informs her, Iris will now be bound to this subterranean creature forever and must follow a set of rules in order to stop it escaping. The good news? It's got some cool abilities that she might be able to profit from!

Iris' father's estate comes with certain...conditions. Credit: Studio Canal

If you're thinking that story sounds original enough, just wait until you hear what the monster — a lurching human-shaped figure (Anne Müller) with the titular sack over its head — can do: when it comes face-to-face with someone, it can embody their dead loved one in order to have a conversation from beyond the grave. You just have to set a timer for two minutes, or things start to go wrong.

It's very reminiscent of Danny and Michael Philippou's Talk to Me – one of Mashable's favourite horror movies of 2023 – but unfortunately it doesn't have the tension, stakes, or shock-factor that made that movie hold you in its grip.

The stakes in Baghead aren't high enough.

The characters are a big part of the problem. Although the acting in the film is solid all-round, it's hard to care about Iris, her friend Katie (Ruby Barker), or Neil (Jeremy Irvine), the stranger who turns up desperate to speak to his dead wife. The movie is 94 minutes of mainly plot, and aside from having a strained relationship with her dad, we don't really learn too much else about Iris. She's hard up for money, which is her motivation for staying in the property and trying to profit from Baghead, but that's about it. Katie is a dependable friend for Iris but little else, meanwhile, and Iris' dad is a fairly two-dimensional recluse.

The characters are all in a life-or-death situation, but it's hard to get too emotionally invested in people we don't know, and aren't given the chance to know.

The acting is solid, but it's difficult to care about these characters. Credit: Studio Canal Is Baghead all bad?

Despite the lack of tension, Baghead does still manage an effective jump scare or two. Corredor's direction is solid, utilising a few unexpected tricks to keep us on our toes and making the most of the material at hand. Christina Pamies and Bryce McGuire's script, despite the movie's overall deficiencies, comes with a few twists and turns to catch us off guard.

Unfortunately it's not enough to rescue Baghead. The story feels mostly flat, and the modern-day setting clashes awkwardly with the gothic atmosphere the film is shooting for. (Iris uses a smartphone, for instance, but the characters talk to each other as if they're living in the Victorian era. It's likely this is intentional — in going back to her dad's pub, Iris is setting foot into something that's so old it almost stands outside of time — but the result is still a little jarring.) The final nail in the coffin is the movie's ending, which trips over itself by trying to throw in one too many twists. There's some kind of revelation in there, but it's bogged down in layers of convolution.

Ultimately Baghead has a few promising threads, but the end result is misshapen sack. Watch Talk To Me instead.

How to watch: Baghead is coming to theatres in the UK and Ireland on Jan. 26.

Remember: The best gifts for men should make the guy you're buying for feel seen. They should make him feel like you truly get him.

No two guys are the same, and not every man spends their days dreaming of whiskey stones. (In fact, we'd guess that very few of them do.) Traditional male stereotypes are a thing of the past, y'all, and it's time we started embracing that fact when we're looking for gifts.

Before you click “buy” on something that will definitely require a gift receipt, let us take the wheel and show you some gifts for him that are sure to make an impression on your lucky guy. And if you need more specific gift ideas, check out this gift guide for the father figure in your life, or this one if you’re shopping for your boyfriend.

Whether he’s into kitchen accessories, fashion-forward athleisure, self-care products, or something more eccentric, we’re confident that he'll love the picks on this list. For Valentine's Day, birthdays, holidays, and any random occasion, we've got you covered.

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: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 26 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 26

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Jan. 26, 2024:

AcrossSudden desire

• The answer is whim.

Painter's stand

• The answer is easel.

It can precede Joel and goat

• The answer is billy.

Ecosystem that rivals only the rainforest in biodiversity

• The answer is reef.

Unit for a comedian or weightlifter

• The answer is set.

DownInternet, with "the"

• The answer is web.

___ and makeup

• The answer is hair.

Parts of an archipelago

• The answer is isles.

All-out brawl

• The answer is melee.

Uber alternative

• The answer is Lyft.