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TL;DR: Make any device Bluetooth-compatible with the EVE II Bluetooth Transmitter & Receiver, now just $42.97 through Feb. 23.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adam Elements EVE ll Bluetooth Transmitter & Receiver $42.97 at Mashable Shop
$59.00 Save $16.03 Get Deal

Get the EVE II Bluetooth Transmitter & Receiver, now just $42.97 through Feb. 23, and make any device Bluetooth-compatible.

What you get with your EVE II Bluetooth Transmitter & Receiver:

• Two-way Bluetooth transmission lets you send and receive audio for total flexibility

• Bluetooth 5.3 technology delivers a stable connection with up to a 10-meter range

• Dual 3.5mm AUX plug makes it perfect for airline entertainment systems, so you can use your own earbuds instead of shared headphones

• Pair up to two sets of earbuds to share music or movies with a friend

• Long battery life with up to 20 hours of use in TX mode and 15 hours in RX mode

• Compact and travel-friendly design fits easily in your pocket or carry-on

• Includes a storage bag, charging cable, and audio cable for easy setup and portability

Stream wirelessly from anywhere with the EVE ll Bluetooth Transmitter & Receiver, on sale for $42.97 (reg. $59) until February 23.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $755: As of Feb. 3, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is available for $1,044.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual $1,799.99 price. That’s a massive $755 discount, but it’s only available for 24 hours as a Deal of the Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra $1,044.99 at Best Buy
$1,799.99 Save $755.00 Shop Now

If you're sick of vacuuming like me, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is here to take the task off your hands. Today, Best Buy has slashed $755 off the price, dropping it to $1,044.99 — but only until midnight. This premium robot vacuum and mop combo comes with a self-cleaning, self-emptying docking station, an AI-powered navigation system, and an insane 10,000Pa suction power to make sure your floors stay spotless with zero effort from you.

This isn't just a regular robot vacuum — it's one of the smartest and most advanced models on the market. The 8-in-1 RockDock Ultra station does everything for you, from auto-emptying dust bins to hot water mop washing, intelligent dirt detection, and even heated air drying, so you never have to deal with gross, soggy mops again. The FlexiArm side brush and extra edge mopping system are designed to reach into every corner and along edges, ensuring no dust or debris gets left behind.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Thanks to Reactive AI 2.0 obstacle recognition, the S8 MaxV Ultra navigates your home precisely. It identifies cords, pet waste, shoes, and furniture in real-time. You don't have to worry about getting stuck or smearing something unfortunate across your floors. Speaking of pets, it even takes pictures of your furry friends while cleaning (yes, really).

The Carpet Boost+ System ensures deeper cleaning by automatically adjusting suction power if you have carpets. Meanwhile, the DuoRoller riser brush cuts down on tangled hair, and the VibraRise 3.0 mopping system lifts itself when detecting carpets so it won't soak them.

With PreciSense LiDAR mapping, off-peak charging to save on energy costs, and even a built-in "Hello Rocky" voice assistant, the S8 MaxV Ultra is about as hands-free as it gets. Normally, this convenience comes with a steep price tag. Stiltoday'sy's $755 discount makes it a no-brainer upgrade for anyone tired of cleaning manually.

This Deal of the Day ends at midnight, and with such a steep discount, stock could sell out fast. If you want effortless, AI-powered cleaning, grab this deal now before it's gone.

SAVE $80: As of Feb. 3, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169.99 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $249. That’s a 32% discount and one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for Apple’s best wireless earbuds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $79.01 Shop Now

If you've been waiting for the perfect time to upgrade to Apple's best wireless earbuds, AirPods Pro 2 just dropped to $169.99 at Amazon, which is $80 off the regular $249 price tag. These earbuds offer industry-leading noise cancellation, superb sound quality, and seamless integration with all Apple devices.

The H2 chip inside the AirPods Pro 2 gives them a massive edge over standard AirPods, boosting sound clarity, active noise cancellation, and battery efficiency. Apple's Adaptive Transparency mode intelligently reduces harsh environmental noise while keeping important sounds audible, so you won't have to remove them when crossing the street or having a quick chat. And with Personalized Spatial Audio, these earbuds deliver an immersive, cinema-like experience for music, movies, and games.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Comfort is also a priority. Apple includes four sizes of silicone ear tips to ensure the best fit, improving both comfort and passive noise isolation. Plus, they're IP54-rated, meaning they can handle sweat, dust, and light rain, making them perfect for workouts or travel.

Battery life is another win. You get up to six hours of listening time on a single charge (with Active Noise Cancellation enabled) and up to 30 hours with the USB-C charging case. Speaking of the case, it now has a built-in speaker for Find My alerts, so you'll never lose it in couch cushions again.

For Apple users, the AirPods Pro 2 is an easy recommendation. They connect instantly to iPhones, iPads, and Macs, and features like automatic switching, audio sharing, and "Hey Siri" support makes them incredibly intuitive to use.

At $169.99, this is one of the best prices we've seen on the AirPods Pro 2, and it might not last long on Amazon. Stock tends to sell out fast when discounts hit this level, so if you want top-tier noise cancellation and premium audio at a discount, grab them now before the price goes back up.

SAVE $30: As of Feb. 3, Apple AirPods 4 are on sale for $99.99 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $129. That’s a 22% discount and the lowest price in the past 30 days.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 (Without ANC) $99.99 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $29.01 Shop Now

If you’ve been searching for a solid deal on wireless earbuds, Apple AirPods 4 just hit $99.99 at Amazon, marking a fresh price drop that makes them one of the best-value wireless earbuds for iPhone users. With a 22% discount off the usual $129 price tag, this deal is as good as it gets for Apple’s latest AirPods. The updated H2 chip improved Personalized Spatial Audio and USB-C charging case make them a worthy upgrade, even if you already own an older pair.

The AirPods 4 may not come with Active Noise Cancellation, but they still deliver solid sound quality with Apple’s fine-tuned audio processing. The H2 chip enhances sound clarity and voice isolation, making them a great choice for calls in noisy environments. If you frequently hop on FaceTime, take work calls on the go, or want your podcasts to sound crystal clear, this is a solid pick. Battery life is also a strong suit, with up to 30 hours of listening time when using the USB-C charging case.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Durability has also been improved, with an IP54 rating, making the AirPods 4 resistant to dust, sweat, and light rain. Hit the gym, take them on a jog, or just want peace of mind in unpredictable weather; they’re built to last. The redesigned shape also means a more comfortable fit for longer listening sessions, which is always a plus if you wear earbuds for hours.

Setup is as effortless as ever; open the case near your iPhone, and they’re ready to go. They also work seamlessly across iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, letting you switch between devices without hassle. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, these earbuds make sense.

For casual listeners, commuters, or anyone who wants wireless earbuds that work flawlessly, the AirPods 4 at $99.99 are an absolute steal. This deal won’t last forever, though. If history is anything to go by, stock could start disappearing fast. If you’re thinking about upgrading, now’s the time to grab a pair before the price jumps back up.

As the teaser puts it, "this bitch is back."

On Sunday, Universal Pictures dropped the teaser for Gerard Johnstone's M3GAN 2.0, a follow-up to the massively popular original about the dancing AI doll going on a murderous rampage. This time, per the description, M3GAN's creator Gemma (Allison Williams) is forced to resurrect M3GAN after there's a new AI threat in town.

The teaser itself doesn't give too much away, but it does brings back the doll's viral dance, this time to the lyrics of Chappell Roan's iconic "Femininomenon".

M3GAN 2.0 is in theatres from June 27.

Last chance to enter our yearly awards and for a chance to win big from our $20,000+ prize pot.

Hosted by The Data Visualisation Society, a professional home and community for those working in this discipline.

If you create in this field, you may wish to submit your work.

Entries of any type are welcome: infographics, data journalism, maps, interactives, information art, video, animation, app, site, sculpture, or artwork. Pieces can be created in any software, platform, or medium, using any type of materials.

Categories:

» Arts, Entertainment & Culture
» Business Analytics
» Current Affairs & Politics
» Humanitarian
» Leisure, Games & Sport
» People, Language & Identity
» Places, Spaces & Environment
» Science, Technology & Health
» Unusual

Entries are currently open and will close on 3rd Feb 2025.
Any work created between Sep 1st 2023 and Dec 31st 2024 is eligible.

» See more criteria for entry

You can see previous years’ winners and entries on the Information is Beautiful Awards Showcase.

Chappell Roan won her first ever Grammy Award on Sunday night, beating out formidable artists such as Sabrina Carpenter and Doechii to take the title of Best New Artist. She also took the opportunity to call for record labels to provide artists with health insurance and a livable wage.

Taking the stage in a conical hennin hat befitting her flamboyant style (though she quickly lost it), Roan began her acceptance speech in the standard manner, thanking her supporters, collaborators, and family. The "Good Luck, Babe!" singer had no intention of squandering her platform though, seizing the opportunity to direct attention toward working conditions in the music industry.

SEE ALSO: The complete list of winners at the 2025 Grammy Awards main ceremony

"I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a liveable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists," Roan said to cheers and applause, with fellow nominee Benson Boone even getting to his feet. A few others such as Taylor Swift were already on their feet in response to Roan's win, but remained standing during her statements.

Reading from pre-prepared remarks, Roan recounted being signed to a label as a minor, then being dropped and having to search for employment while having "zero job experience."

"Like most people, I had a difficult time finding a job in the [COVID-19] pandemic, and could not afford health insurance," said Roan. "It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art, and feel so betrayed by the system, and so dehumanised to not have health [insurance]. And if my label would have prioritised artists' health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to."

"So record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection," Roan continued. "Labels, we got you, but do you got us?"

Roan's comments were widely applauded both in the room and on social media, where many praised the singer for raising the issue.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Chappell just won Best New Artist and is reading for filth her former label & the entire music industry for exploiting developing musicians, not providing a sustainable living and healthcare, and all the artists are standing up with her. My wife says she just Luiigi Mangion’d the record industry.

— Aaron Stewart-Ahn (@badideas.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM

Chappell Roan dedicating her accepting speech to the fight for fair treatment, healthcare, and accountability from big labels to protect the next generation of new artists is why I’m so happy for her. She’s not only talented, but a great person.

— Aly CHIEFS THREEPEAT ❤️ 💛 (@catastrophicblues.swifties.social) February 3, 2025 at 2:03 PM

Chappell taking her moment to call out the industry's and her own label's mistreatment of artists and crew & asking them to consider livable wages and healthcare - that's how you use it.

— Abbey Simmons (@abbeysimmons.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM

Though Roan was nominated for six Grammy Awards, she only ended up taking home the trophy for Best New Artist. Yet as always, she was sure to make the most of her time on stage.

You can see the full list of winners at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards here.

TL;DR: Live stream Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Every Monday, you can watch NHL games for free on Prime Video.

February kicks off with a matchup between the Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators. The Senators, part of the Atlantic Division, are having an average season. The Predators are near the bottom of the Central Division. Both teams have a solid chance of winning this game.

If you want to watch the Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators for free from anywhere in the world, here is everything you need to know.

When is Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators?

Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 3. This fixture will be played at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

How to watch Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators for free

Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators is available to live stream on Prime Video in Canada, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this game. Fans in Canada can watch Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators (plus more Monday Night Hockey fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the NHL for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

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

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

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

5. Watch Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This is obviously only a short-term solution, but this gives you enough time to watch select NHL fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the NHL?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. This deal includes a bonus of three months of coverage, a year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Giving constructive feedback can be awkward, but avoiding it doesn’t just hurt performance—it deprives employees of a sense of purpose. Once basic job needs are met, people crave meaning. Your feedback can provide it by reinforcing growth, impact, and recognition. Here’s how. Focus on mastery. People find meaning in the process of getting better at […]

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TL;DR: Tackle creative and professional tasks faster with 1minAI’s lifetime Business Plan subscription for just £48.38 (reg. £290.30).

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription £48.38 at the Mashable Shop
£290.30 Save £241.92 Get Deal

If your goal this year is to work smarter, not harder, you’re not alone. Between juggling creative tasks, content creation, and never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. That’s where 1minAI steps can assist. Instead of piecing together AI tools from every corner of the internet, this all-in-one AI platform brings everything you need under one roof — from writing and editing to image creation and audio/video processing.

Whether you’re a small business owner, content creator, freelancer, or uni student, 1minAI has everything in one place. You can chat with AI assistants powered by GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and other models for smart, interactive problem-solving.

For just £48.38 (down from £290.30), you get a lifetime subscription to an ever-improving suite of AI tools designed to supercharge productivity and spark creativity. No ongoing subscriptions. No juggling multiple apps. Just streamlined efficiency whenever you need it.

At its core, 1minAI uses cutting-edge AI models to assist you with time-consuming tasks. Imagine overcoming writer’s block with AI-powered blog post generators or whipping up polished visuals with advanced image editing.

Need to summarise a lengthy PDF? 1minAI’s tools can handle that, too. The platform even offers AI-driven audio and video processing tools, so you can easily edit, transcribe, or translate media.

The beauty of 1minAI is its all-in-one convenience. Instead of paying separate subscriptions for writing tools, image generators, and PDF editors, you get everything bundled into one user-friendly platform. Need a blog post? Done. Want to upscale an image or remove its background? Easy. Need to translate an audio file? No problem.

Though it doesn't replace human creativity or judgment, it can enhance your work, handle repetitive tasks, and help spark new ideas. You’re still the creative genius.

Take this opportunity to get a lifetime subscription to the 1minAI Business Plan for just £48.38 (reg. £290.30).

1minAI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription - £48.38 | Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

There's a lot going on in the U.S. right now. Still, the show is continuing on, with the 67th Annual Grammy Awards offering some brief distraction on Sunday night.

Hosted by comedian Trevor Noah for the fifth year in a row, the 2025 Grammy Awards' main ceremony was once again held at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena. Appropriately, the night included several reminders of the devastation left by the recent L.A. wildfires, with Noah presenting footage of the disaster in a more serious moment of the ceremony. Nominees Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga also gave a performance in tribute to L.A. and those impacted by the fires, covering The Mamas and the Papas' iconic "California Dreamin'."

SEE ALSO: Watch Beyoncé's Grammy acceptance speech, finally winning Album of the Year

As usual, the vast majority of the Grammy Awards' 94 categories were announced during the Premiere Ceremony prior to the main telecast. However, the biggest awards were saved for the main broadcast ceremony, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

Here is the full list of nominees and winners at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards' main ceremony. This article is being updated live, with winners bolded as they are announced.

Best Rap Album

• Might Delete Later by J. Cole

• The Auditorium, Vol. 1 by Common and Pete Rock

• Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii

• The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) by Eminem

• We Don't Trust You by Future and Metro Boomin

Best Pop Vocal Album

• Short n' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

• HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish

• eternal sunshine by Ariana Grande

• Chappell Roan: The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan

• THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT by Taylor Swift

Best Country Album

• COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé

• F-1 Trillion by Post Malone

• Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves

• Higher by Chris Stapleton

• Whirlwind by Lainey Wilson

Best New Artist

• Benson Boone

• Sabrina Carpenter

• Doechii

• Khruangbin

• Raye

• Chappell Roan

• Shaboozey

• Teddy Swims

SEE ALSO: Watch Chappell Roan's Grammy acceptance speech demanding healthcare for artists Best Latin Pop Album

• Funk Generation by Anitta

• El Viaje by Luis Fonsi

• GARCÍA by Kany García

• Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran by Shakira

• ORQUÍDEAS by Kali Uchis

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

• "us." by Gracie Abrams featuring Taylor Swift

• "LEVII'S JEANS" by Beyoncé featuring Post Malone

• "Guess" by Charli xcx and Billie Eilish

• "the boy is mine" by Ariana Grande, Brandy, and Monica

• "Die With A Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars

SEE ALSO: Lady Gaga sends a message to trans people during Grammys acceptance speech Record of the Year

• "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" by Beyoncé

• "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter

• "360" by Charli xcx

• "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" by Billie Eilish

• "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar

• "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan

• "Fortnight" by Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone

Song of the Year

• "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey (songwriters Sean Cook, Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, Chibueze Collins Obinna, Nevin Sastry, and Mark Williams)

• "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" by Billie Eilish (songwriters Billie Eilish O'Connell and Finneas O'Connell)

• "Die With A Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars (songwriters Dernst Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Andrew Watt)

• "Fortnight" by Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone (songwriters Jack Antonoff, Austin Post, and Taylor Swift)

• "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan (Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Daniel Nigro, and Justin Tranter)

• "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar (songwriter Kendrick Lamar)

• "Please Please Please" by Sabrina Carpenter (songwriters Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff, and Sabrina Carpenter)

• "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" by Beyoncé (songwriters Brian Bates, Atia Boggs, Beyoncé, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro, and Raphael Saadiq)

Album of the Year

• New Blue Sun by André 3000

• COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé

• Short n' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

• BRAT by Charli xcx

• Djesse Vol. 4 by Jacob Collier

• HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish

• Chappell Roan: The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan

• THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT by Taylor Swift

A new WIRED report has pulled back the curtain on the inner workings of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the picture it paints is… troubling. According to the report, the department is being staffed by a crew of fresh-out-of-college hires — many with zero prior government experience. In fact, at least one of them is still in college.

These Musk loyalists, including newly appointed Office of Personnel Management Chief of Staff Amanda Scales, have played a key role in his ongoing efforts to expand influence across multiple federal agencies.

The investigation also found a common thread linking a few of these young recruits: billionaire Peter Thiel. Some of them have connections to the tech mogul's fellowship program, with his influence in the libertarian-leaning tech and political world having grown in recent years.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's DOGE team attempt takeover of USAID

While the DOGE executive order signed by Donald Trump technically limits Musk’s authority to the U.S. Digital Service, several of his allies — among them these young, inexperienced software engineers — have secured pivotal roles within the OPM and the General Services Administration. The latter is responsible for the construction, management, and preservation of federal buildings.

The WIRED report identified six young men, aged 19 to 24, who have been listed in internal OPM documents as either "experts" or "special advisors" to the agency's director. The engineers — Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran — previously served as interns for Musk or big tech companies like Meta before being fast-tracked unvetted into government roles.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on Meta's submission to Trump

Despite their limited experience, documents obtained by WIRED reveal that these individuals have been granted official U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) emails and A-suite level clearance. This access not only allows them to work on the top floor of the GSA but also grants them entry to the agency’s sensitive information and IT systems.

According to anonymous sources who spoke with WIRED, Edward Coristine — who only recently graduated high school and is now a freshman at Northeastern University — has already been sitting in on calls where GSA employees had to "go over code they had written and justify their jobs."

This latest revelation adds to the growing concerns surrounding Musk’s so-called "budget cuts," which increasingly look more like a power grab. The X and Tesla CEO has recently made moves to take control of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees billions in foreign aid. Even more alarming, the unelected billionaire has now secured influence over the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems — the infrastructure responsible for managing the disbursement of the federal government’s massive $6 trillion budget.

While Musk and his allies insist they only have "read-only" access to the Treasury’s payment systems, the reality is unprecedented: an unelected group of unvetted tech operatives now wields direct influence over the U.S. government’s financial arteries.

Notification summaries might be a useful feature for AI to tackle, but the true star of Apple Intelligence is Genmoji. Creating your own emoji pictures on the fly is fun and could even be helpful in communication. However, its speed is its major flaw.

If you’re a Linux gamer, you’re probably used to all your more graphics-intensive games needing to “process Vulkan shaders.” There’s a button right there, though, that allows you to skip, should you hit that and skip this tedious process?

Did you just buy a new Windows device and want to transfer data from your old computer? Or perhaps you have multiple laptops or PCs and want to share files between them? You have plenty of options to get the job done.

FreeBSD has a reputation as a great server OS, but also as a difficult-to-install desktop. I decided to put that theory to the test with a modern version of FreeBSD in 2025. What is it like to install and use?

Love Linux? You'll want to get a laptop built with the open-source operating system in mind, instead of settling for a Windows laptop and having to do the installation yourself. These five picks work with Linux right out of the box.

Even if you grew up around computers, you may have no idea what the Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys actually do. I used to think of them as relics of the past rarely used today, like Pause/Break and Sys Rq. Not anymore.

Severance fans, if you've ever wanted to read the wise words of Dr. Ricken Hale (Michael Chernus) for yourself, you're in luck. On Jan. 31, Apple Books released the first eight chapters of The You You Are: A Spiritual Biography of You, Ricken's self-help book that spurred Lumon Industries' Innies to action in Severance Season 1.

These are available in ebook format, or in audiobook format, with Chernus himself narrating.

The You You Are is the second Severance companion book to be released, with the first being 2022's The Lexington Letter. While The Lexington Letter is an epistolary thriller diving deep into Lumon's secrets, The You You Are is a mix of self-improvement advice and cringe comedy. What else would you expect from Ricken, who famously hosted a dinnerless dinner party?

SEE ALSO: 4 fascinating things we learned from the 'Severance' companion book

Apple Books' excerpt features several memorable lines from The You You Are that we heard in Season 1, like "they cannot crucify you if your hand is in a fist" and "a society with festering workers cannot flourish, just as a man with rotting toes cannot skip." Even "Destiny, An Acrostic Poem Experience" makes an appearance.

But the first eight chapters of The You You Are also flesh out our understanding of the often-infuriating Ricken, as well as give us more clues about the broader world of Severance. From Ricken's backstory to Lumon's interference in his work, here are four fascinating things we learned from The You You Are.

Lumon doesn't want people reading The You You Are. Zach Cherry, Adam Scott, and John Turturro in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

In Season 2, episode 3 of Severance, Ricken tells his wife Devon (Jen Tullock) that he is working with Lumon to write a version of The You You Are specifically for Innies. Of course, that version will completely undermine the original book's themes, but for Ricken, this is too big an opportunity to pass up.

Apple's released version of The You You Are goes one step further, implying that Lumon has completely derailed the publication of Ricken's work. In an introductory note, Ricken writes, "As you know, the book was meant to release nationwide this week, and I was deeply eager to share its splendors with you. Unfortunately, events beyond my control have led to a brief delay as I liaise with several corporate parties as to precisely where and in what form the book should be released."

SEE ALSO: I went to the 'Severance' pop-up in Grand Central. It was wild.

Sounds like this is Lumon in crisis management mode following the events of the Season 1 finale.

Ricken goes on to say that he negotiated for the release of the first eight chapters. (According to Season 1, there are at least 29 chapters.) That means we miss out on the context for such banger lines from Season 1 like "bullies are just bull and lies" or "it was not me who was wrong, but literature itself." Here's hoping we'll get the last chapters by the end of Season 2 — or perhaps tied to a future season?

Ricken has a truly wild backstory. Patricia Arquette, Michael Chernus, and Jen Tullock in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

The You You Are is required reading for anyone who has ever wondered, "why is Ricken so insufferable?" (I know I have.)

The answer began at birth, the circumstances of which make for such a bizarre passage I simply have to include it in its entirety:

Readers of my previous books know that both my conception and birth took place in a small theatre behind a defunct perfumery in Western Oregon, as part of a nine-month performance art piece originated by my parents titled "Smells Like Afterbirth, F**ker." It was noteworthy in that I was the first child sired exclusively for theatrical purposes, and critics at the time hailed it as "a baroque deconstruction of the increasingly perverse human urge to procreate."

SEE ALSO: The cast of 'Severance' on getting lost in the ever-expanding hallways of Lumon

Ricken writes that his parents (whose performance group is called HumpDumpster) held a Boston bar hostage at gunpoint as one of their next pieces, resulting in a prison sentence and in Ricken spending much of his youth alone. The information, equal parts tragic and hilarious, proves enlightening. No wonder Ricken seeks connection with others in pretentious artsy circles.

The You You Are is full of other Ricken stories, including way too much information about his sex life, as well as some tidbits about Mark (Adam Scott) and Gemma's (Dichen Lachman) lives before Gemma's death and entrapment in Lumon.

Mark and Gemma show up in The You You Are — kind of. Michael Chernus and Adam Scott in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

Ricken explores his relationship with Mark and Gemma throughout The You You Are. He refers to them under the pseudonyms of Flip and Nan, because they wanted their real names left out of his book. (Can you blame them?)

In one anecdote, Ricken writes about him, Devon, Mark, and Gemma going on a hike — a story he brings up to Innie Mark in the Season 1 finale, asking him, "you remember the funny bees?"

The "funny bees," we learn in The You You Are, came from a wild beehive that Ricken found both hilarious and a commentary on human society. But perhaps the most intriguing detail from the hiking story is what we hear about Gemma from Ricken. From the sound of it, they had far more of a bond than he currently has with Mark. He says the two of them read Doctor Zhivago during a lunch break on the hike, and that she entertained his bee theory while Devon and Mark mocked it.

These instances could simply be Ricken projecting kindness onto Gemma, something we see in a later story about her texting him that she is enjoying a "self-produced Tuvan throat singing album" he gave her for her birthday. (What a gift!) After Gemma's death, a grieving Mark tells Ricken that he and Gemma laughed at it. But, Ricken ponders, was the laughter playful or cruel? Either way, it colors what he thought of his interactions with Gemma in life, making for a surprisingly sad scene in a book that is otherwise full of Ricken's nonsense.

The fact that Mark plays such a large role in The You You Are adds a new layer to his Innie finding so much meaning in it. There's no way he could have known the "Flip" passages were about his Outie, but it's surreal to think of him learning about memories only one part of him knows. Plus, it adds more weight to Ricken's sadness at Outie Mark not having read the book. The You You Are isn't just an exercise in Ricken's ego — it's also partly an exploration of his grief about Gemma, and perhaps his own strange way of extending an olive branch to Mark.

The You You Are has a Lexington Letter Easter egg. Jen Tullock and Michael Chernus in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it passage, The You You Are mentions "the Dorner truck explosion" as the reason Devon and Ricken finally moved away from the city. The Dorner truck explosion plays a key role in The Lexington Letter, with Dorner referring to Lumon competitor Dorner Therapeutics.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2: What is Cold Harbor?

The Lexington Letter follows former severed Lumon employee Peggy Kincaid, who finds a way past to bypass Lumon's code detectors and communicate with her Innie. From their written conversations, Peggy learns that she completed a file just two minutes before a Dorner truck blew up in New York City. Was this just a coincidence, or had the Lumon file triggered the explosion?

The You You Are doesn't offer any further information on the subject, but its brief mention here highlights the impact the Dorner truck explosion had on the wider world of Severance. Perhaps it's only a matter of time before it's announced on the show itself.

The You You Are is free and available for download on Apple Books. Severance Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+, with a new episode every Friday.