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Thinking of working for Amazon but not sure how much the job pays? Wages will obviously vary per the position, but one thing is for sure: You will make no less than $20 per hour.

On Wednesday, Amazon announced that it was raising the minimum wage for full-time operations workers in the U.S. by $1. The move raises their lowest hourly wage from $19 to $20.

According to Amazon, average total compensation for these workers is now more than $32 per hour when its benefits package is included. The company provides healthcare coverage starting at $5 per week, as well as perks such as a free Amazon Prime membership and prepaid education programs.

Amazon also announced a new benefit that gives qualified employees and their families access to low-cost financial services through First Tech Federal Credit Union. The benefit is called "Day 1 Financial."

As Reuters points out, Amazon’s hourly wages now match Costco’s, after Costco raised its entry-level hourly pay to $20 last year. Amazon’s minimum wage is also higher than Walmart’s and Target’s, which start workers at $14 and $15 per hour, respectively.

Amazon raising wages for its workers is certainly a good thing. However, this pay raise strictly applies only to those directly employed by Amazon, a company that outsources a number of crucial positions to subcontractors.

For example, Amazon is currently fighting a New York City bill called the "Delivery Protection Act". The bill would force Amazon to directly hire its last-mile delivery and warehouse workers, jobs usually filled by third-party subcontractors.

According to Amazon, the company’s annual revenue rose 12 percent, from $638 billion in 2024 to $716.9 billion in 2025.

A while back, I repurposed an old Motorola phone as a kind of mini-tablet. I use it as a bedside display, a media center, and for gaming with a controller. I keep the display locked in landscape mode, since that's how I use it, but there's one problem. It doesn't let me rotate the home screen. To fix the problem, I installed the free and open-source Discreet Launcher.

The holiday shopping season will be here before you know it. This week, Amazon announced the return of Prime Big Deal Days for 2026, its fall savings event for Prime members (aka "October Prime Day"). The sale will run for 48 hours from Oct. 6 to 7 and compete with concurrent festivities at Target and Walmart.

Prime Big Deal Days will be an opportunity to get a head start on your Black Friday wishlist — and to get some relief from the RAMageddon price hikes impacting the tech industry this year. For its part, Amazon increased the prices of nearly two dozen Kindles, Fire TV Sticks, Echo smart speakers, and eero routers this summer because of rising component costs. Its upcoming seasonal deals should cancel out some of those markups.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

As we gear up for fall, Amazon has already started dropping some early October Prime Day deals, and we've rounded up the best ones below. (Spoiler: So far, they're all going to Amazon's own devices and services.) We'll keep updating our picks in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days, so check back often.

Best free deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Unlimited (3 months free) $0 at Amazon
$35.97 Save $35.97   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's e-book subscription service gets you access to a library of more than 5 million digital titles. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can try it for free for three months — even if you don't have a Prime membership. Think of it as a Stuff Your Kindle Day that never ends and costs you nothing.

More free (or almost-free) deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited (4 months free with Prime) $0 at Amazon
$47.96 Save $47.96 The retail giant's music streaming service offers ad-free listening to over 100 million songs. You can get a free four-month trial with a Prime membership or a three-month trial without. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible Standard (4 months with Prime) $3.96 at Amazon
$35.96 Save $32 Right now, Prime members can save 80% on four months' worth of Amazon's audiobook service. Your membership lets you download one title per month. including classics, new releases, and BookTok faves like the ACOTAR series. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Grubhub / Amazon Save $20 on your next Grubhub+ order (with Prime) One of Amazon's Prime benefits is a free Grubhub+ membership. Through Oct. 5, you can take $20 off your next order over $30 just by entering the code DEALS20 at checkout. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Buy a new car, get a free $1,500 gift card (with Prime) Did you know Amazon sells cars? If you buy or lease a new vehicle through its Amazon Autos program by Oct. 7, you'll receive a free Amazon gift card worth a grand and a half. Get Deal Best Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $76.99 at Amazon
$154.99 Save $78.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can grab this HD tablet with 32GB of storage for 50% off. In the midst of a global memory crisis, a $77 tablet sounds pretty appealing. This 10-inch tablet has a lightweight design, a decently long battery life, and a crisp, colorful display. According to the Amazon price-tracking site camelcamelcamel, it's never been this cheap before.

More Fire tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (64GB) $94.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $75.00 Amazon makes two 8-inch tablets for kids, both of which come with a durable case, built-in parental controls, two-year guarantee, and a free trial of Amazon Kids+. This model has preset filters for little tykes ages 3 to 7. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (64GB) $94.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $75.00 The "Pro" version is the same tablet, just geared toward ages 6 to 12. Both of them are sitting at record-low prices. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 (64GB) $84.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $45.00 Amazon's cheapest Fire tablet is also marked down to an all-time low ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. Our reviewer liked its compact size and speedy performance. Get Deal Best Fire TV Stick deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $19.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's cheapest 4K media player faced a $10 price bump in August. Amazon's pre-Prime Big Deal Days price of $19.99 erases that and then some, saving you 60%. If you want to catch up on all of this year's Emmy award winners, then this is one of the best October Prime Day deals so far.

More Fire TV Stick deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 The retailer's entry-level media player is only $2 away from its record-low price from Prime Day in July. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $39.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $30.00 Compared to the regular Fire TV Stick 4K Select, this "Plus" model adds Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $49.99 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $35.00 Out of all of Amazon's 4K streamers, the "Max" version has the most storage, the peppiest processor, and the fastest WiFi connection. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $109.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $90.00 Why get a Fire TV Cube instead of a Stick? This little streaming box works hands-free with Alexa, Amazon's smart assistant, and can be connected to other devices like your gaming console(s). Get Deal More early October Prime Day deals

These products aren't part of Amazon's official early Prime Big Deal Days discounts, but they are worth a closer look. For instance, the Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale kicked off this week, and it will be gone by the time October Prime Day begins.

So, check out these deals while you wait for the holiday shopping season to begin on Oct. 6.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Pro Controller $55.97 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $24.02   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon is undercutting Nintendo, Walmart, and Best Buy by a whopping $0.02 cents with this sale, but we're not complaining. This wireless controller provides better controls for many types of games (both on the Switch 1 and Switch 2) compared to the standard Nintendo Joy-Con controllers, and this is your chance to grab it for its lowest-ever price.

More early October Prime Day deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 2-in-1 Oil Sprayer for Cooking $3.44 at Amazon
$5.93 Save $2.49 Amazon is hosting a $2 Hauls sales event in advance of Prime Big Deal Days, with hundreds of everyday essentials. Not all of the products are under $2, but they're all priced to move. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kasa Kasa Multicolor Dimmable Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, A19 $8.99 at Amazon
$11.99 Save $3 Need to replace a burnt-out bulb? This smart bulb lets you choose from 16 million colors so you can find exactly the right tone of light. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Joy-Con (single) $31.49 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $13.50 If you need an extra Joy-Con for your Switch, both single and dual Joy-Con controllers are on sale for a limited time. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Metroid Dread Nintendo Switch (Digital Code) $41.97 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $18.02 In this title for the original Switch console, gamers rejoined Samus Aran for the first new 2D Metroid story in almost two decades. If you missed this one the first time around, then you'll love experiencing it for the Switch 2. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Classic Creative Suitcase 10713 $11.80 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $8.19 We're expecting a lot more Lego deals as we approach Oct. 6. For now, this is the perfect Lego starter kit for young kids — or anyone who loves brick building. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Succulents 10309 $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15 We love the Lego Botanicals line here at Mashable, and this popular cactus-themed building kit is at an all-time low price. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Vivoactive 5 Smartwatch $181.97 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $118.02 Garmin's popular fitness watch is at its best price since May, and you can add this smart tracker to your wrist for under $200 thanks to a 39% discount. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249.99 at Amazon
$299 Save $49.01 Bose's second-generation QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the most comfortable buds we've ever tested. Nothing else really comes close. You can save $50 on these earbuds, and we don't expect the price to drop any lower when October Prime Day begins. Get Deal

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Microsoft Project Professional 2021 is on sale for $12.97 (reg. $249.99) through September 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with tools for automated scheduling, task management, timesheets, timelines, and project planning.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Project 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $12.97
$249.99 Save $237.02   Get Deal

Keeping a project on schedule can involve a lot of tedious updating, especially as tasks shift and dependencies change. Microsoft Project Professional 2021 is designed to take some of that work off your plate, and a lifetime Windows license is now $12.97 (reg. $249.99), with the offer ending on Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

This software includes pre-built templates to help get projects started, while dependencies can automatically populate task start and end dates. Built-in multiple timelines also give you a visual way to keep track of complex schedules without manually piecing everything together.

Project Professional 2021 also gives you tools for handling the details that can otherwise eat into your workday. Timesheets can capture time spent on project and non-project work, while what-if scenarios let you see how different task assignments could affect a project before making changes.

That combination makes the software useful for project managers and teams meeting several deadlines, resources, and moving parts. It can also work for business owners and individuals who need a more structured way to manage project-based work. The software can sync with Project Online and Project Server, and it supports Office LTSC and Office 2021.

The lifetime license is a one-time purchase for installation on a Windows PC, whether at home or at work. Software license keys and download links are delivered instantly, and customer support is included.

Get Microsoft Project Professional 2021 for $12.97 (reg. $249.99) and put automated scheduling, timelines, timesheets, and planning tools to work. The promo ends Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT, no coupon required.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Whenever you start reading about the best Linux distros for beginners, two distros tend to dominate the lists: Linux Mint and Ubuntu. There are good reasons for that—they're solid operating systems with large communities, which means there is a lot of support available.

Most people probably assume that the latest 4K Blu-ray release of a movie is the definitive version with the highest quality. It's the version that you should buy to preserve that title for yourself at the highest quality. Right?

Last week, Nintendo gave us our first real look at the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2, and announced a special Switch 2 console to go along with it. The initial run of pre-orders ran out faster than you can say, "Ganon," but you're not out of luck yet.

As spotted by Nintendo Life, Nintendo has quietly confirmed that restocks are on the way. If you check Nintendo's store page in the UK, you'll be treated to a short message that says restocks will be announced via the Nintendo Store app, which you can install on iOS or Android. The text is a little less specific in the United States, but it does say to "check back soon." We would also recommend following Wario64 on X, as that account is always on the ball when it comes to Nintendo deals and restocks.

SEE ALSO: 'Ocarina of Time' remake preorders are live — save $10 at Amazon and Walmart

If you haven't seen it yet, the console has some nice gold decorative decals themed around the Zelda series. Interestingly, the $519.99 console doesn't actually come with the Ocarina of Time remake. You'll have to buy it separately. That's a huge bummer, actually, but it's also a very Nintendo thing to do.

To be clear, this is still a special release, meaning it won't be around indefinitely. Don't count on more than one wave of restocks. Good luck and godspeed.

The Legend of Zelda Switch 2 console is out of stock at all of the retailers below, but you can bookmark the listings so you're ready to go when it's finally restocked.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 - The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 - The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Best Buy
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 - The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Walmart
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 - The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at GameStop
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 - The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Nintendo
  Get Deal

Like most people, I've printed mostly decorative items and novelties since starting this hobby. I like an articulated dragon or a cool figure as much as the next person, but I honestly haven't unlocked that much true utility from these machines.

Microsoft is addressing more security flaws than ever before thanks to AI, but that might come at the expense of reliability. The company has released an emergency fix for Windows 11 after a record-setting "Patch Tuesday" broke multiple features.

My phone plays many roles. It's a source of entertainment, a useful tool for work, a way to communicate with people, and more. These different uses don't always play nicely together. When I'm working, I don't want to be distracted by unnecessary calls, messages, and notifications, so I built a one-tap system to stop my phone from stealing my attention.

Your "Sunday scaries" are now in the dictionary. So are "crashout," "vibe-coding," "Promposal," "cuffing season," and the "Mandela Effect."

Merriam-Webster announced Tuesday that it has added 1,400 words and definitions to its dictionary. The update spans social media, technology, food, relationships, and pop culture. If a group chat has ever sent you looking up a term mid-conversation, this batch may help.

Several additions will be familiar to anyone who spends time online. "Looksmaxxing" describes "the practice of taking one or more sometimes extreme or dangerous measures intended to increase one's physical attractiveness." "Parasocial" refers to a one-sided emotional connection with a person you don't know, usually a celebrity or fictional character (for example, I have a parasocial relationship with Taylor Swift).

There's also a "Rickroll," a bait-and-switch prank when someone sends you a link promising one thing, but it leads to Rick Astley’s "Never Gonna Give You Up." And a "meme coin" is typically a cryptocurrency created as a joke or tribute to an internet meme or celebrity, with very little practical use.

SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subculture

Tech gets its own cluster of entries. Merriam-Webster defines "vibe-coding" as "the act or practice of using an artificial intelligence system to generate computer code." It also highlighted "AGI" — short for artificial general intelligence — and "uncanny valley," the unsettling effect of something artificial looking almost, but not quite, human. The dictionary added a noun sense of "compute" for the processing resources needed to run a computer system.

Other additions sound like they came straight from your group chat. "Sunday scaries" describes the anxiety that creeps in as the weekend ends, while "cuffing season" refers to the colder months when people seek a short-term relationship. The update also makes room for food terms like "superfood," "cake pop," "bao bun," and "chili crisp." Music fans get "yacht rock," too.

Despite Merriam-Webster calling the update a "glow-up," inclusion doesn’t mean these terms were invented recently. The publisher says its editors examine evidence that words and meanings have been used widely over time.

"The English language is changing rapidly," Merriam-Webster president Gregory Barlow said in the announcement. "It’s our mission today—as it has been for almost 200 years—to chronicle those changes." This update captures some of them, from how people build software to what they feel on a Sunday evening. And if seeing "Rickroll" in the dictionary makes you feel old, at least you can now point anyone who missed the joke to a definition.

Telecommunications company Ooma announced a partnership this week with Elon Musk’s satellite-based Starlink internet service, which Ooma claims will make affordable home phone service available in "rural and remote locations."

Called Ooma StarDial, the service will let Starlink users add landline service to their internet connection, enabling phone calls in places where cell service is unreliable. 

Users will pay $129.99 for a base station and handset, but no monthly service charges. Ooma’s website does indicate that StarDial customers will be on the hook for taxes and fees, though it’s unclear what those would amount to for the average user. 

StarDial allows unlimited nationwide calling, 911 service, caller ID, call waiting, and voicemail, and most customers can keep their existing phone number, according to Ooma. 

"Millions of consumers now rely on Starlink to stay connected in places that can be difficult to reach with traditional internet and cellular service, and they deserve a simple and affordable home phone option," Jim Gustke, senior vice president of marketing at Ooma, said in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: Trump administration detonates expansion of rural broadband access

Ooma claims StarDial can provide phone service to cabins, RVs, campers, vans, and boats on which people reside.

Residents in rural, remote areas of states like Hawaii, Vermont, and Maine struggle with cell service, according to PC Mag. Even those in more urbanized areas like Cincinnati, Ohio, and Boulder, Colorado, log hundreds of dead zone complaints per million people, according to research.

For anyone used to stepping outside and searching for a bar of cell service, a home phone could be a welcome throwback.

Boox makes the buzziest e-readers on BookTok, and the brand just released three new devices. As of Sept. 15, 2026, Boox unveiled three new E Ink electronics: the Note Air6 C, Note Mini C, and Palma 3. The latter is the brand's upgraded palm-sized e-reader, which we've been eagerly awaiting since the Palma 2 was discontinued.

All three devices come with an upgraded octa-core processor for better performance and now run on Android 16. As always, the new Boox devices have access to the Google Play Store, plus they'll have Bluetooth 6.0, and Boox's BSR refresh technology for a smooth display with decreased ghosting.

Here's what we know about the three new devices.

New Boox device pricing

The Boox Note Air6 C is available now, while the Mini C and Palma 3 are coming soon. All devices will be available for purchase from Boox and Amazon.

• Boox Note Air6 C E Ink notebook — $579.99

• Boox Note Mini C E Ink notebook — $579.99

• Boox Palma 3 e-reader — $339.99

About the Boox Palma 3 e-reader The Boox Palma 3 now comes with an aluminum frame. Credit: Boox

While there's been lots of noise around Boox's tiny Picco e-reader, the brand already had a small e-reader. The Palma 3 is the next generation of Boox's palm-sized tablet. With access to the Google Play Store, the Palma 3 isn't quite distraction-free like a Kindle or Kobo. However, Boox embraces the "Quiet Tech" philosophy to make the Palma 3 a low-stimulation second screen.

The Palma 3 has a new design featuring an aluminum frame to replace the Palma 2's plastic frame. It also has a paper-textured fiberglass backplate. It comes with 128GB of storage and even has a camera with an LED flash that processes document scanning. It also has dual microphones so you can create voice memos and do speech-to-text.

The mini e-reader now comes with Boox InkSense Plus handwriting support, which can be utilized with an optional stylus.

The Boox Palma 3 comes with a 6.13-inch screen with 300 ppi resolution and a dual-tone front light. It has an octa-core processor and is supported by 6GB of RAM. It will be available in both black and white.

It costs $339.99 and Boox says it will be released soon.

About the Note Air6 C and Note Mini C Boox announced two new color E Ink notebooks, the Air6 C and Mini C. Credit: Boox

In addition to the Palma 3 e-reader, Boox also dropped two new E Ink notebooks.

The Note Air6 C is a color E Ink notebook with upgraded firmware. Now, users can annotate two documents side by side and use enhanced Calendar Memo, a Lasso tool, and Talk Insights. It offers real-time transcription and AI document summary. Its high refresh technology also delivers 40 percent faster page turning.

It runs on a 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 color display, and the Boox Pen3 stylus is included. It also has an integrated keyboard folio so you can type in addition to hand-write on the device. The device has a purple-tinted black finish and a magnetic folio in umber and graphite. It has a 300 ppi black and white resolution, 6GB RAM, and 64GB of storage. It costs $579.99 and is available for purchase now.

For a smaller, more portable notebook, there's the Note Mini C. This 8.52-inch notebook also has a Kaleido 3 E Ink display. It comes with a flat cover-lens glass and 300 ppi black and white resolution. With access to the Google Play Store, you can download all your work apps, including Teams, Outlook, Slack, and OneDrive. It's just 6 millimeters thin and weighs 300 grams, as Boox designed it to be used one-handed.

It comes with a Boox InSight magnetic active stylus and an orange magnetic folio case. It costs $579.99 and will be available soon.

Boox Note Air6 C $579.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Onyx Boox

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for the consumer, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: Shoppers can buy one, get 15% off from Casetify using the exclusive promo code IMPACT2026 at checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify: Buy One, Get 15% off Use the exclusive promo code IMPACT2026 at checkout. Shop Now

Buying any new device is a pricey endeavor, which is why it's so important to find a sturdy case to protect your investment.

Casetify makes it easy to find something, and the retailer really shines for its abundance of fun designs. It's an excellent way to personalize your favorite devices, and right now you can even take advantage of a special BOGO offer from Casetify if you need multiple cases.

As of Sept. 15, shoppers can buy one, get 15% off with code IMPACT2026 at checkout. Casetify offers a wide range of cases for your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook, and more.

There are a few exclusions to keep in mind for this offer, including Co-lab, Sales, Ripple case, Cloud case, and the iPhone 18 collection.

SEE ALSO: The new AirPods 5 are available for pre-order at Amazon and Apple

If none of those exclusions apply to you, then you're in for a real treat with Casetify. They offer everything from floral patterns to animal patterns, fun cartoons, and fine art prints, so you can find the style that best suits your personal taste. You can use the filter menu to narrow cases by the type of device you're searching for, or by case type, depending on how sturdy you want the build to be.

An offer like this may not last long, so don't miss out on this great chance to buy one, get 15% off at Casetify with code IMPACT2026 at checkout.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Had a crap day at work? Again? We’ve all been there. But instead of glazing at your computer screen into the wee hours trying to write that reply email you’re never going to send, turn your work brain off, settle down, and let yourself get taken away for a while.

Netflix's spirited cartoon Haunted Hotel is returning for a second season next month. And the new trailer teases that a question fans have been asking online might finally be answered.

With Season 1, Haunted Hotel introduced audiences to the Freeling family, made up of young Esther (Natalie Palamides), her 13-year-old brother Ben (Skyler Gisondo), their mom Katherine (Eliza Coupe), her brother's ghost Nathan (Will Forte), and Abaddon (Jimmi Simpson), a mischievous demon trapped in an 18th-century boy.

Together, they live in the Undervale, a haunted hotel stuffed with spirits and creepy creatures. On top of all this, show creator Matt Roller and his team have been working in allusions to horror classics like The Shining, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Babadook.

SEE ALSO: 'Haunted Hotel' review: 'The Shining' meets 'Bob's Burgers' in Netflix's charming animated comedy

But there's one ghost lurking around the Undervale that viewers haven't been able to figure out. Fans have dubbed her the "attic ghost." She has dark hair cut into a bob and wears a red jacket with a T-shirt emblazoned with a yellow "Z" underneath—and a knife protruding from its back. She's had no lines, but appears in the attic in the episode titled "How to Train Your Demon" and is spotted among the auditioning ghosts in "Ghost Hunters!"

A scene from Netflix's "Haunted Hotel" episode "How to Train Your Demon." Credit: Netflix / screenshot

Where several of the ghosts in Haunted Hotel feel like references to the likes of Freddy Krueger or Charles Manson, the attic ghost is harder to pin down. Her look is so specific that it feels like she could be an allusion, but to what?

Well, in the Season 2 trailer, Katherine announces the family business has turned around, doing so well that they'll need to hire some help. Enter a mysterious new figure who looks a lot like the Attic Ghost.

Netflix's Haunted Hotel Season 2 trailer Left: Credit: Netflix / Screenshot Right: Scene from Netflix's "Haunted Hotel" episode "How to Train Your Demon." Credit: Netflix / screenshot

Could this mean fans weren't wrong to wonder about this curious ghost girl? Will her identity finally be revealed? Will the new Undervale employee be her sister? Mom? Daughter? There's only one way to find out.

Haunted Hotel Season 2 comes to Netflix with 8 new episodes on Oct. 9.

The average person now has several monthly cloud subscriptions, and the situation only gets worse when you look at households. You have cloud storage, a handful of apps, a photo subscription of some sort, not to mention Microsoft Office. Each one individually won't break the budget, but cumulatively, subscription costs can easily run into the hundreds of dollars per month.

By now, you've likely heard about the push to stop new data centers from being built in the United States. Data centers aren't very popular right now, and a New York Times/Sienna survey just found that 61 percent of Americans oppose new construction. It certainly doesn't help that AI companies are overtly talking about doomsday-like scenarios and widespread AI-driven job loss. On top of that, many people have seen videos on social media showing the noise pollution and other environmental effects that can come with AI data centers.

Despite the discourse surrounding AI data centers, you might be surprised to hear that as of Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, there are no bans on data centers in any of the 50 states.

While some local municipalities and governments have successfully introduced pauses on new data centers, New York is the first and only state to enact a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers statewide. So, if you're wondering how many U.S. states have data center bans, it's either a list of zero or one, depending on whether you count New York's moratorium.

However, state legislation to ban or temporarily pause the construction of data centers has been introduced in 16 states so far, from Democratic strongholds like Delaware and Maine to deep-red states like South Dakota and South Carolina.

Delaware

SB 353 would enact a moratorium on permits for large-scale data centers in Delaware until January 2027. The bill was introduced in June and is currently awaiting consideration in committee.

Georgia

HB 1059 would forbid local governments in Georgia from permitting data centers until December 2028. The bill was introduced earlier this year.

Maine

LD 307 was introduced this year, and it would have put a moratorium on large-scale data centers until November 2027.

Despite bipartisan support in both chambers of the Maine legislature, Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed the bill because it did not provide an exemption for a specific project.

Maryland

HB 120 sought to enact a moratorium on data center permitting and construction. The bill failed in committee earlier this year.

Michigan

HB 5594 / HB 5595 were introduced in Michigan in February. The legislation would stop local governments and public service commissions from issuing permits and approvals for new data centers until April 2027.

Minnesota

HB 4888 / SB 4298 sought to ban new data center permits until at least July 2027 or until the Public Utility Commission submits a comprehensive report on data center development in Minnesota. The bills failed to pass during session, however.

New Hampshire

HB 1265 would've enacted a one-year moratorium on all data center construction in New Hampshire. The bill failed.

New Jersey

AB 5482 was introduced earlier this year in New Jersey. It would put a 6-month moratorium on all data center approval, construction, or tax incentives.

New York

AB 10141 / SB 9144 were passed in June. The legislation enacted a one-year permit freeze and imposed strict energy efficiency standards on data centers with peak demands of 1 megawatt (MW) or more.

Furthermore, in July, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order that paused new hyperscale data center developments for one year in the state. It's the first and only moratorium of its kind in the United States.

However, the Trump administration has warned that "anti-innovation states" like New York lack the legal authority to enact some types of AI regulations.

Oklahoma

SB 1488 sought to enact a moratorium on data center construction in Oklahoma until November 2029. The bill failed.

Pennsylvania

SB 1359 / HB 2533 were introduced in Pennsylvania, seeking a 3-year moratorium on new data centers along with impact studies. The bill would also provide municipalities with the ability to prohibit data centers.

South Carolina

H 5526 was introduced in South Carolina and would forbid any local approval of data centers until the state legislature adopts a “comprehensive oversight and approval process” in the state.

South Dakota

SB 232 sought a moratorium through June 2027 on data center construction or expansion in South Dakota. The bill failed.

Vermont

S 205 was introduced in Vermont and seeks a moratorium on data centers until 2030. The bill also requires an impact study on data centers.

Virginia

HB 1515 in Virginia looks to put a moratorium on final approval of new data centers, permits, or rezoning from local governments until grid interconnection requests are fulfilled or until July 2028.

The House Rules subcommittee voted to carry over the legislation into the 2027 legislative session.

Wisconsin

SB 1061 / AB 1099 in Wisconsin sought to prohibit data centers in the state until 14 conditions were met. These conditions included "the establishment of a statewide data center planning authority" and "a prohibition on shifting data center energy and water costs to residential customers." The bill failed to pass.

Anyone who listens to podcasts on a long drive has probably run into a situation where Google Maps calls out a turn and the audio volume will lower, but never come back up. I've seen this cause multiple issues, especially when you try to fix it on the road. It feels random, but it happens so often that it's hard to blame anything but Android Auto, wireless or not.