This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Thursday, February 12, to midnight on Friday, February 13 (8pm Eastern Time).
Carnival season in New Orleans is a months-long affair that officially begins on 12th Night, January 6th. Social organizations called krewes fill the streets with parades and balls, culminating in Mardi Gras, which this year will come next week, on the 17th of February. The krewes are built around a theme or style, some very specific (miniatures, dogs, red beans, canoes), while others are more for creative interpretations of a vibe. Krewe of Eris is one of the latter, basing its costumes and creations around the Greek goddess of discord and chaos.
The Eris parade, composed mainly of artists and anarchists, is typically a fun, raucous event with impressive costumes that often tower over their wearers. It’s a far cry from the glitzy big-budget productions of the feature parades; this is a small community event with a DIY-punk vibe.
I was with the Eris parade in 2011 when things turned unexpectedly dark and violent at the hands of the New Orleans Police Department. A melee exploded when the routine shunting of the parade away from the French Quarter by the NOPD from inside their cruisers suddenly turned into a swarm of officers who began arresting the band. Instruments were smashed, pepper spray and Tasers were deployed, parade members were wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. Parents grabbed their children and ran, photographers were maced, and frantic participants tried to pull their friends free from the cops.
In the end, 12 people were arrested and six officers were injured. Soon after, the NOPD raided the local bike co-op Plan B and the Iron Rail free library, evicting longstanding community resources that had a notable overlap with the Eris parade attendees.
I haven’t shared these photos in the past due to participants’ concerns about their potential use in the subsequent court cases. Now that the statute of limitations has thoroughly expired, I’d like to share both the joy and the dark side of that night.
In the intervening 15 years, I’ve witnessed countless attacks by the police on peaceful demonstrators, protesters, and partygoers. From police attacking demonstrators during Oakland’s version of Occupy Wall Street to the violent police brutality during protests in Los Angeles following the murder of George Floyd and other Black people. What I thought was extraordinary at Eris has sadly become commonplace.
Kent Osborne lives in Vermont. Jack Pendarvis lives in Mississippi. The two old friends, each sleep-deprived and noticeably loopy from traveling all day, met up at a hotel bar in Burbank, California, to discuss Kent’s role in the 1992 drama School Ties.
Episode 2: It’s All Going In
KENT: This is going to blow your mind. The desks from School Ties… we were shooting in the classroom and I lifted the top of my desk and I saw a piece of masking tape that said “K. Overstreet.” Knox Overstreet, who was one of the characters from Dead Poets Society.
JACK: Oh! That did not blow my mind because I did not remember that name.
KENT: Well, I saw it, and I said, “That’s Knox Overstreet! These are the desks from Dead Poets Society!” And all the other actors lifted their thing and they all had pieces of tape that had a character name… so the desks from School Ties were the same desks from Dead Poets Society.
JACK: We’ve blown the lid off of that!
KENT: Randall Batinkoff…
JACK: Who’s that?
KENT: He was one of the leads in School Ties…
JACK: You’re going to have to spell that for me. No, I’ll look it up later.
KENT: He was in that Molly Ringwald movie, For Keeps.
JACK: Mm! Mmm!
KENT: And he was one of the leads in School Ties. And he made me switch desks with him. ’Cause he wanted Knox Overstreet’s desk.
JACK: And I’m going to say this because I had a… I don’t want to… I don’t want to go public with the… uh… medical problem I had. Never mind.
KENT: You can cut it out.
JACK: No, I can’t cut anything out!
KENT: The part where you’re… saying… “I don’t want to come clean about my medical problem”?
JACK: Yeah. I’m keeping that in.
KENT: [Laughter.]
JACK: Because that’s what I do.
KENT: Right.
JACK: I love transcribing. Transcription, I think, is a greater art than fiction or anything else.
KENT: So, when the… when the…
JACK: Transcription is important!
KENT: When Harvey came over with the drinks, you’ll keep all that in. [See KGTC Episode 1.]
JACK: Yeah, that’s in! And yeah, everything’s in! Like when Ace started talking about ghosts [see Ace Goes to Hollywood, Episode 10], I was like, does he realize this is all going in?
KENT: [Laughter.]
JACK: Because it’s all going in! Anyway… let’s get… what I want to say, first of all, many people… because this is what I’ve discovered… is that people are dumb. [Laughter.] And many people might not know what School Ties is.
KENT: Yeah!
JACK: Would you describe School Ties?
KENT: Sure. School Ties is a period drama. It takes place in the ’50s. And it’s about a prep school in New England, and they have a big rivalry with another prep school. They play football against each other.
JACK: So it’s like Meatballs.
KENT: Yeah. [Laughter.] But they, uh, the people who run the school are really determined—the alumni, I guess—they want to win this football game. So they find a kid in Pennsylvania who’s really good at football and they give him a free ride to come to school there.
JACK: Brendan Fraser.
KENT: Brendan Fraser, who’s Jewish.
JACK: And this is a Christian prep school.
KENT: Yeah, it’s like a very WASPy… 1950’s…
JACK: They have chapel. Like, everybody has to go to chapel.
KENT: Yeah! And they kind of… they tell him, “Hey, maybe keep the fact that you’re Jewish to yourself.”
JACK: That—that’s an interesting... now, look. I don’t want to say anything bad about Jury Duty, the movie that Ace worked on with Pauly Shore, but this is a much better movie than Jury Duty.
KENT: Yeah!
JACK: I assume. I have not seen—I actually never watched Jury Duty. It might be great.
KENT: [Laughter. Peals of giddy, sleep-deprived laughter!]
JACK: But before we talk more about… [laughter]. Before we talk more about School Ties, I want to know: okay, you mentioned your mom was involved…
KENT: Well, Mom…
JACK: And she was like… she was like… in Gypsy…
KENT: [Laughter.]
JACK: She was like Gypsy Rose Lee’s mother in… She was like, “Get on the stage, Kent! Smile, baby!”
KENT: She really wanted me to come down and take this class with this casting director. [See KGTC Episode 1.]
JACK: Yeah.
KENT: And I remember…
JACK: Well, did you want to be an actor prior to that?
KENT: Yeah, yeah! I was living in New York. I had gone to acting school. I was trying to be an actor. But I do remember feeling like I… she was… I was kind of doing it to get her to stop bugging me to do it. Like, I was like, “All right, I’ll do it. Jeez!” And it turned into this job! But, yeah. The casting director really liked me and, and, uh, brought me in to audition. And then they kind of cast all the main characters… and then another round… there were all the main characters and then there were five other kids in the class that had a couple of lines here and there. And so they brought me in to audition for that. And I auditioned, and I thought I did a bad job. I remember leaving the audition…
JACK: So… describe the audition.
KENT: You would just go in, and it was in Times Square, an office. You’d go in this office and you’d wait with a bunch of actors. It’s just like you see in the movies. It’s a bunch of young actors sitting in a room, and then they call you in. You go in and there’s someone… they have a video camera. And Pat McCorkle was there, and I think one of the producers might have been there? And then there’s someone like an assistant, who’s reading with you. You’re on camera. You sort of introduce yourself and then they run the scene with you. Sometimes they ask you to do it again. Or sometimes they give you a little direction or feedback. But I think I did it once, and they were like, “Okay, thank you.” And I remember going down to the subway and just feeling like so depr—I was like, “I blew it.” And I went home and, uh… I think the next day I got a call that I got it.
JACK: Wow!
Wow, indeed. Join us next time to get the scoop on whether or not Chris O’Donnell is nice. Spoiler: he is!
AO3 Link | The Morning After (300 words) by Merfilly Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Birds of Prey Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Barbara Gordon/Dinah Lance Characters: Dinah Lance, Barbara Gordon Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, +Modern Age (1986-Present), Post-Crisis, [Birds of Prey Vol. 1 - 1999-2009] Summary:
It's the morning after, and doubt hits.
The Morning After
Dinah reached across the bed to find it empty. The transfer assist was already stowed, and the bed was cold. She sighed softly to herself, knowing she could not actually complain. Just because they had chosen to go to bed together, to take another step in their partnership didn't mean the demands on Oracle were any less.
She got up, carefully stowing her costume into the duffel bag, then slipped into her gym clothes, with a shirt that said "Certified Wildcat" on it. She wondered if that particular honorary uncle would be up in New York or working on the new gym he was opening down here today.
It would be easier to spend the morning after punching things, after all. Dinah just wasn't ready to decide if this was serious, if she was strong enough to share a hero's life again.
"You really are a piece of work, Junior. Should've thought of that before you seduced her last night," she muttered to herself.
Once she had her tennis shoes tied, she grabbed the bag and headed out of the bedroom, listening to the tap of keys as she got closer to Oracle's workspace. Really, what the hell had she been thinking? Barbara was closer to Roy in age, she was always handling some fire or other, and … Dinah didn't live a peaceful life.
"Give me five to get some vital connections made for Mr. Terrific, and we can grab breakfast," Barbara called over her shoulder, not really looking at the woman that had almost convinced herself this was a mistake.
Almost.
The offer of such a domestic moment after what they had shared hit Dinah in the pit of her stomach, before she grabbed her courage.
"I'll go see what's appetizing," Dinah said, putting the bag down to stay.
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Presidents' Day is not until Monday, but as is often the case, the sales are already here. Amazon's sale features some notable deals on tech products like smartwatches, headphones, home appliances, speakers, and more. There are plenty of other Presidents Day sales on the way, so don't fret if nothing here catches your eye. Regardless, I've gathered the best of Amazon's sale below, which features a few all-time low prices, according to price-checking tools.
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Presidents' Day is not until Monday, but as is often the case, the sales are already here. Amazon's sale features some notable deals on tech products like smartwatches, headphones, home appliances, speakers, and more. There are plenty of other Presidents Day sales on the way, so don't fret if nothing here catches your eye. Regardless, I've gathered the best of Amazon's sale below, which features a few all-time low prices, according to price-checking tools.
I am reading This is the Honey an anthology of contemporary Black poets edited by Kwame Alexander. I found 3 poems about long distance love but I couldn't find cut-and-paste versions so I had to type them and the third one was too long (distant lover #1 [my michigan bed remix--for ellen g] by Brian Gilmore).
I wish my love were here by Kurtis Lamkin
I wish my love was here She would know what to do with such a day She would wipe the sun and sea from her shoulders And rub them deep into my palms, and When the salt and sand was gone She would kiss my hands and say "there..." I wish she was here
I know she is in me Even amid the crashing and foaming around me, Her tenderest sigh. I am not alone But I miss her. I miss her so much. And I don't know what to do. She would know, my love, if she was here.
tripping by Van G. Garrett kwanasaba
one time I drove across the country to see a woman i met once and knew well in letters and photos before sleek fancy phones and fast tools when postage stamps were not a quarter and a tank of gas took you to the light arms of your dreams
Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 06 secrets from Secret Submission Post #996. Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ]. Current Secret Submissions Post:here. Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
YouTube has finally come to Apple Vision Pro. YouTube for Vision OS is a free, standalone app that lets users log into their existing YouTube accounts through their Vision headsets and stream videos like they would expect to, including standard videos, 180° videos, 360° videos, and YouTube Shorts. Vision Pro M5 users can stream 8K videos, and premium YouTube members can download videos directly to their headsets, a must for long flights.
Google, YouTube's parent company, has apparently been working on the app for a while. In 2024, a spokesperson confirmed that a standalone Vision Pro app was "on our roadmap," but until today, the only way Vision users could watch YouTube on their headsets was through the Safari web browser.
The new YouTube app is designed to fit into Vision's spatial computing environments. "Rather than just responding to different screen sizes, we needed something that responds to different spaces, volumes and use cases," YouTube's senior UX designer Brendan Polley told Apple. "We built an entirely new design system that isolated core elements—comments, the play button, 'like' and 'dislike'—to fit any layout."
Having downloaded the app, it works exactly as intended. If you're looking for something that demonstrates Vision Pro's immersive video capabilities, you should check out the just-released 360° videos from the Milano Cortina winter Olympics on NBC's channel. Immersive luge is terrifying!
Time for a lil post before the (hopeful) trip tomorrow.
So in a recent post I mentioned I was gonna try the demo of the new Star Trek Voyager game. The demo covered the first ‘mission’ of the game. It covers the basic events of Caretaker and gameplay is split into 4 parts.
1: Flying Voyager around star systems, scan planets/asteroids/ships, travelling to them and doing little missions to get materials (so far there’s things for power, building and science) 2: Ship management, which is all about building and managing various rooms in the ship. So you’re building crew quarters, workshops stuff like that (or unlocking them) 3: Missions on planets, where you sent away teams down and use their skills in events. (Ie Tuvok security skills, Torres’ resourcefulness) 4: Combat, which only was done briefly.
So far it’s pretty good! The graphics of the ship (and Deep Space Nine at the start) look great and some koh the art looks nice. The character models aren’t the best, but I didn’t expect them to be. The demo has definitely made me consider picking it up more, cause I did like what I played. It makes me curious if it’ll be following along the series or if it’ll have its own things too. Cause obviously it had to start with Caretaker but who knows if it’ll go off in other tangents, I might have to read up some more on it. It has 10% off as a launch discount so I am tempted.
Anyway!
I also finally built the Lego set I picked up when I saw Anaconda. It was Boba Fett’s Throne Room, which is meant to be from The Book Of Boba Fett (but is more from the post credits of a Mandalorian ep). Honestly I picked it up cause it was discounted (and is now discontinued so I never expected to see it) plus it had Feenec Shand and I didn’t have a figure of her. (Plus I love the Jabba’s Palace location and haven’t had a set since the original which wasn’t great.
The set is three parts, a lil alcove with seating, an entranceway (with the doorkeeper eyestalk) and the central area with the throne. It all looks pretty nice and the figure selection is really good, since it has a selection of aliens which is nice. The features ar mostly good, though it’s baffling the tower above the entrance doesn’t have a floor (it has a hole instead) and the door doesn’t have a mechanism to hold it up. I am glad I picked it up. It’s next to the Creel house now.
I also finally finished Halloween Party yay! It’s funny to me that before the story starts there’s a foreword by someone who worked on A Haunting In Venice, mentioning that the ‘adaption’ isn’t actually one. It’s an odd thing to include but yeah. Bar character names they don’t feel the same story at all. (I still love A Haunting In Venice it’s well done and creepy but it’s very much its own thing).
Overall I thought it was pretty good. It’s not my fav of the ones I’ve read (but does look the best) and I do love that it has Ariadne Oliver, she’s always fun when she appears. I’m not sure I have much in the way of actual thoughts on it. (Though I did note the use of the word lesbian, comments on technology making mistakes and Poirot thinking on a man being beautiful.)
I had intended on switching to Hawkins Horrors, which I picked up when ordering something for mum but didn’t start at the time but….
Today mums friend came so predictably I had to go to town. I could have paid the money in tomorrow but I decided it’s best to sort it today. I’m glad I did cause I had some finds. I found a bat plush that had Dustin’s cap so I had to get it (plus it was discounted when I paid for it too!), a Lego Minecraft magazine, the Minecraft Movie (it was discounted and I rememeber it being fun and silly) and Heated Rivalry! I was so surprised to see the book in Asda and I picked it up instantly, even though it had no price. I read the prologue on the bus back and ohh boy.👀
Alas though, still no sign of Stranger things stickers (well the hell are they?) but I did get an envelope I needed to send something back (the Xbox memory card which messed up around christmas) so hopefully I can send that tomorrow.
Tomorrow should be the cinema trip (weather allowing, but it’s been ok so far). The plan is to go and see Whistle, then Send Help, then post package (and find the store that’s doing record store day). That’s the hope anyway.
YouTube has finally come to Apple Vision Pro. YouTube for Vision OS is a free, standalone app that lets users log into their existing YouTube accounts through their Vision headsets and stream videos like they would expect to, including standard videos, 180° videos, 360° videos, and YouTube Shorts. Vision Pro M5 users can stream 8K videos, and premium YouTube members can download videos directly to their headsets, a must for long flights.
Google, YouTube's parent company, has apparently been working on the app for a while. In 2024, a spokesperson confirmed that a standalone Vision Pro app was "on our roadmap," but until today, the only way Vision users could watch YouTube on their headsets was through the Safari web browser.
The new YouTube app is designed to fit into Vision's spatial computing environments. "Rather than just responding to different screen sizes, we needed something that responds to different spaces, volumes and use cases," YouTube's senior UX designer Brendan Polley told Apple. "We built an entirely new design system that isolated core elements—comments, the play button, 'like' and 'dislike'—to fit any layout."
Having downloaded the app, it works exactly as intended. If you're looking for something that demonstrates Vision Pro's immersive video capabilities, you should check out the just-released 360° videos from the Milano Cortina winter Olympics on NBC's channel. Immersive luge is terrifying!
Samsung has officially revealed when its next Galaxy Unpacked event, which is where everyone's expecting the Galaxy S26 series to be announced, will take place. But before it airs on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. EST, the company's offering the chance to get ahead of the game by trading in your current phone for a little extra moolah. Right now, you can sign up on Samsung's website to trade in your phone for up to $900 while pre-ordering a Galaxy S26 phone (or, on the very unlikely chance the S26 isn't announced at the event, whatever is announced in its place).
How to get $900 on Samsung Galaxy S26 trade-in
That's $200 more than Samsung currently offers on trade-ins for its other phones, which top out at $700 when trading in a Galaxy S24 Ultra for a Galaxy S25 phone. And while you're signing up, you'll also get $30 to spend on accessories during (but not before or after) your pre-order. You can also choose to be entered in a $5,000 sweepstakes for general Samsung online store credit, if you'd like.
The catch? The pre-order window doesn't seem to be open quiet yet. Usually, that happens within a week of Galaxy Unpacked airing, but you can still get the process started now. Just head to Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked reservation website, enter your name and at least an email address (you can also toss in your phone number, if you'd like), and you'll be taken to the form you need. If you want to enter the sweepstakes, also check the box saying you want to enter.
From there, you can pick your current phone manufacturer and your phone model from a drop-down menu. Note that the manufacturer options include Samsung, Apple, Google, and "Other," so it seems like Samsung is willing to let you trade in phones it doesn't make, too. As for the model picker, you can pick models going back around five years for each of the manufacturer options, although if you don't see your model on the list, you can also pick "Other" here, too.
How much will Samsung give me for my phone?
I can't promise how much Samsung will give you for each specific phone model, although it stands to reason that newer and higher spec phones will earn you more. I'm also willing to wager that Samsung might give you more credit if you trade in one of its own phones, but that's just speculation. To get the full $900, I'm guessing you'll need to trade in a Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Once you've made your selection, hit Submit, then scroll down a bit and click what you're interested in getting offers from Samsung on. Make sure you at least select "Trade In," and then click Submit here, too.
And that's it for now. Samsung will now know what type of phone you have and that you're interested in a trade-in, and should email you with an appropriate trade-in offer once it's available. Again, this should happen closer to Unpacked, likely within a week of Feb 25.
What will the Galaxy S26 look like?
All in all, it's a good opportunity for a deal, but it does continue an unfortunate trend of Samsung's—asking you to pre-order a device before it's officially been revealed, and before you know its full specs list. Luckily, a number of rumors for the Galaxy S26 has made it easy to guess at what we're likely to see, including a similar look to the S25, no ultra thin S26 Edge model, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and a new 10MP telephoto lens on the Ultra model. For confirmation, though, we have no choice but to wait.
The Boston Licensing Board today approved Barbara Lynch's plan to hand over the liquor license of her shuttered B&G Oysters on Tremont Street to her landlord to settle her outstanding rent bill.
Through his lawyer, Dr. Simcha Weller, who owns 550 Tremont St. - and who, in addition to owning buildings is a neurosurgeon - told the board that he does not intend to operate the space as a restaurant himself but will instead use the license as an enticement to find a chef willing to open a place there.
B&G was one of the last of Lynch's restaurants to remain open as her local culinary empire collapsed in 2023 and 2024. A flood in December, 2024 shut the restaurant.
When you purchase a membership as a gift, you’ll be able to send your recipient a personalized message from you along with a link to redeem their membership. Please note, however: if you sign up for a monthly subscription, your gift is for the first month. If you gift a yearly membership, it will be for the first year only.
Want a coupon? Sure thing! You can use code VDAY26 to get 10% off your membership. Coupon expires on 17 February 2026.
With the monthly option, that’s 10% off your first month. With the yearly option, that’s 10% off the full year, which is already discounted so you’ll be getting three months free instead of two!
If you aren’t a member and you gift one, you’ll automatically create an account with us, and you’ll have a page from which you can copy the gift link, resend the gift email, or find out if the gift has been redeemed (useful for hungry email filters). And if you’re already a member and you’re signed in, you can gift memberships – as many as you want!
There’s a lot to enjoy inside After Dark. In addition to additional sales post and monthly tarot readings, we offer quarterly personalized recommendations from Amanda, tailored to your likes, dislikes, and current reading needs! If you miss vintage internet, that’s what we’re recreating inside Smart Bitches After Dark.
Our site is still open to everyone and free of external ads because of our After Dark community – and it would be lovely for you to invite more people in!
Samsung has officially revealed when its next Galaxy Unpacked event, which is where everyone's expecting the Galaxy S26 series to be announced, will take place. But before it airs on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. EST, the company's offering the chance to get ahead of the game by trading in your current phone for a little extra moolah. Right now, you can sign up on Samsung's website to trade in your phone for up to $900 while pre-ordering a Galaxy S26 phone (or, on the very unlikely chance the S26 isn't announced at the event, whatever is announced in its place).
How to get $900 on Samsung Galaxy S26 trade-in
That's $200 more than Samsung currently offers on trade-ins for its other phones, which top out at $700 when trading in a Galaxy S24 Ultra for a Galaxy S25 phone. And while you're signing up, you'll also get $30 to spend on accessories during (but not before or after) your pre-order. You can also choose to be entered in a $5,000 sweepstakes for general Samsung online store credit, if you'd like.
The catch? The pre-order window doesn't seem to be open quiet yet. Usually, that happens within a week of Galaxy Unpacked airing, but you can still get the process started now. Just head to Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked reservation website, enter your name and at least an email address (you can also toss in your phone number, if you'd like), and you'll be taken to the form you need. If you want to enter the sweepstakes, also check the box saying you want to enter.
From there, you can pick your current phone manufacturer and your phone model from a drop-down menu. Note that the manufacturer options include Samsung, Apple, Google, and "Other," so it seems like Samsung is willing to let you trade in phones it doesn't make, too. As for the model picker, you can pick models going back around five years for each of the manufacturer options, although if you don't see your model on the list, you can also pick "Other" here, too.
How much will Samsung give me for my phone?
I can't promise how much Samsung will give you for each specific phone model, although it stands to reason that newer and higher spec phones will earn you more. I'm also willing to wager that Samsung might give you more credit if you trade in one of its own phones, but that's just speculation. To get the full $900, I'm guessing you'll need to trade in a Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Once you've made your selection, hit Submit, then scroll down a bit and click what you're interested in getting offers from Samsung on. Make sure you at least select "Trade In," and then click Submit here, too.
And that's it for now. Samsung will now know what type of phone you have and that you're interested in a trade-in, and should email you with an appropriate trade-in offer once it's available. Again, this should happen closer to Unpacked, likely within a week of Feb 25.
What will the Galaxy S26 look like?
All in all, it's a good opportunity for a deal, but it does continue an unfortunate trend of Samsung's—asking you to pre-order a device before it's officially been revealed, and before you know its full specs list. Luckily, a number of rumors for the Galaxy S26 has made it easy to guess at what we're likely to see, including a similar look to the S25, no ultra thin S26 Edge model, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and a new 10MP telephoto lens on the Ultra model. For confirmation, though, we have no choice but to wait.
“Activation” exercises are often recommended at the beginnings of workouts. You might get the idea—whether from random TikToks or from a trainer you pay for their expertise—that activations are necessary to get your muscles firing correctly and able to take advantage of the workout to come. That’s not exactly true, though, so let’s dive in to what activations really do.
What does it mean to “activate” your muscles?
The explanation you’ll hear most often is that our muscles—often specifically our glutes, or butt muscles—“forget” how to fire correctly. But that isn’t really a thing that happens, as physical therapist Tyler Detmer told Lifehacker when discussing so-called gluteal amnesia. Our muscles don’t need specific exercises to be able to contract correctly.
But that doesn’t mean activation exercises are useless; it's better to think of these moves as warmups with a specific purpose. As I’ve written before, warmup exercises occupy a spectrum from general (like jogging on a treadmill before squats) to specific (doing lighter squats before doing heavier squats).
The warmups that are sometimes called “activation” exercises fall in the middle of that continuum. They can help you to get ready for your heavier exercises of the day, since they’re fairly specific to the muscles involved. If the person who designed your workout is good at their job, they're a great way to prepare for your working exercises. Unfortunately, not all activations are a good use of your time. So here are some of the cases where activation exercises are useful—and some where they aren’t.
Activation exercises help you “feel” a muscle
If you’re going to do isolation exercises, it helps to know what it feels like to work the muscle properly. Using glutes as our example again, a side-lying leg raise can be done in ways that really use the glutes (when your leg is slightly behind you) or in ways that distribute some of the load to other muscles (like when your leg is slightly in front of you). When you’re doing those leg raises, you can pay attention to whether you’re feeling your glutes—but to do that, you have to know what it feels like to work your glutes.
That’s where activation exercises come in. You do a movement that’s hard to do without using your glutes, and you get to feel the sensations that go along with using that muscle. You might feel a burning sensation as the muscle begins to fatigue, or a tight, full feeling as the muscle fills with fluid (this is what bodybuilders call a “pump”). All of this helps to direct your attention to that muscle and what it feels like. When you do your next exercise, you’ll remember that feeling.
Activation exercises are extra workouts in disguise
The more work you give a muscle, the bigger and stronger it tends to get. We often call that amount of work “volume” and measure that as the number of sets: You’ll build more muscle if you do six sets of squats at each workout than if you only do three.
Activation exercises, if they’re challenging enough, can count toward those sets. Imagine we have two people in the gym: One does three sets each of banded walks and single-leg glute bridges (both often classed as activation exercises) before doing three sets of barbell hip thrusts. The other just does the hip thrusts. That first person is giving their glutes more work than the second, regardless of how the exercises are labeled.
To use activation exercises this way, though, they have to be challenging. If you do your activations heavy enough that you’re at or near the point of failure by the end of each set, they’re adding to your total volume. But if they’re light and easy and you’re just going through the motions, they aren’t really adding anything.
Activation exercises aren’t ever necessary, but they can be helpful
I’ve described a few ways that activation exercises can help in your workouts, but that doesn’t mean that they’re unskippable. You don’t need to feel a muscle working to know that you’re giving it a good workout. And if you’d like to get more volume for a body part, you can do those extra sets before, after, or during your main workout; they don’t have to happen during the “activation” stage at the beginning.
So if you haven’t been doing activations, that’s fine. Just make sure you’re warming up in some kind of appropriate way. (If you’re not sure, read through this guide I wrote to putting together an effective warmup. A warmup is about what gets you ready to work, and it should really be personalized to your body and your workout.)
But if your trainer has given you activation exercises, or if you’ve seen a few you’d like to try online, go ahead and do them. They’ll give you extra work for the target muscle, and you might find that they help you to feel ready by the time you begin the main sets of your workout.
“Activation” exercises are often recommended at the beginnings of workouts. You might get the idea—whether from random TikToks or from a trainer you pay for their expertise—that activations are necessary to get your muscles firing correctly and able to take advantage of the workout to come. That’s not exactly true, though, so let’s dive in to what activations really do.
What does it mean to “activate” your muscles?
The explanation you’ll hear most often is that our muscles—often specifically our glutes, or butt muscles—“forget” how to fire correctly. But that isn’t really a thing that happens, as physical therapist Tyler Detmer told Lifehacker when discussing so-called gluteal amnesia. Our muscles don’t need specific exercises to be able to contract correctly.
But that doesn’t mean activation exercises are useless; it's better to think of these moves as warmups with a specific purpose. As I’ve written before, warmup exercises occupy a spectrum from general (like jogging on a treadmill before squats) to specific (doing lighter squats before doing heavier squats).
The warmups that are sometimes called “activation” exercises fall in the middle of that continuum. They can help you to get ready for your heavier exercises of the day, since they’re fairly specific to the muscles involved. If the person who designed your workout is good at their job, they're a great way to prepare for your working exercises. Unfortunately, not all activations are a good use of your time. So here are some of the cases where activation exercises are useful—and some where they aren’t.
Activation exercises help you “feel” a muscle
If you’re going to do isolation exercises, it helps to know what it feels like to work the muscle properly. Using glutes as our example again, a side-lying leg raise can be done in ways that really use the glutes (when your leg is slightly behind you) or in ways that distribute some of the load to other muscles (like when your leg is slightly in front of you). When you’re doing those leg raises, you can pay attention to whether you’re feeling your glutes—but to do that, you have to know what it feels like to work your glutes.
That’s where activation exercises come in. You do a movement that’s hard to do without using your glutes, and you get to feel the sensations that go along with using that muscle. You might feel a burning sensation as the muscle begins to fatigue, or a tight, full feeling as the muscle fills with fluid (this is what bodybuilders call a “pump”). All of this helps to direct your attention to that muscle and what it feels like. When you do your next exercise, you’ll remember that feeling.
Activation exercises are extra workouts in disguise
The more work you give a muscle, the bigger and stronger it tends to get. We often call that amount of work “volume” and measure that as the number of sets: You’ll build more muscle if you do six sets of squats at each workout than if you only do three.
Activation exercises, if they’re challenging enough, can count toward those sets. Imagine we have two people in the gym: One does three sets each of banded walks and single-leg glute bridges (both often classed as activation exercises) before doing three sets of barbell hip thrusts. The other just does the hip thrusts. That first person is giving their glutes more work than the second, regardless of how the exercises are labeled.
To use activation exercises this way, though, they have to be challenging. If you do your activations heavy enough that you’re at or near the point of failure by the end of each set, they’re adding to your total volume. But if they’re light and easy and you’re just going through the motions, they aren’t really adding anything.
Activation exercises aren’t ever necessary, but they can be helpful
I’ve described a few ways that activation exercises can help in your workouts, but that doesn’t mean that they’re unskippable. You don’t need to feel a muscle working to know that you’re giving it a good workout. And if you’d like to get more volume for a body part, you can do those extra sets before, after, or during your main workout; they don’t have to happen during the “activation” stage at the beginning.
So if you haven’t been doing activations, that’s fine. Just make sure you’re warming up in some kind of appropriate way. (If you’re not sure, read through this guide I wrote to putting together an effective warmup. A warmup is about what gets you ready to work, and it should really be personalized to your body and your workout.)
But if your trainer has given you activation exercises, or if you’ve seen a few you’d like to try online, go ahead and do them. They’ll give you extra work for the target muscle, and you might find that they help you to feel ready by the time you begin the main sets of your workout.
The Boston Licensing Board today approved plans by the operator of a small chain of Mexican/Salvadoran restaurants to buy the building and liquor license of Napper Tandy's, 4195 Washington St. in Roslindale.
La Hacienda currently has locations in East Boston, Revere and Everett. Its plans call for a 2 a.m. closing time.
La Hacienda will be Roslindale Square's third Mexican restaurant. La Finca, at Washington and Corinth, also serves pizza and subs, while Chilacates, right next door, concentrates on Mexican "street food."
Work has been pissing me off but I don't feel like going into great and glorious detail. Suffice it to say, no movement on ever getting me upgraded. Well, we'll see how that goes when I have my 25 years in come October 2027. Maybe they'll find me suddenly gone after that (gotta wait until then to get the good health plan for retirement). If I retired, I'd still find some job, just not at the University. We'll see. Anyhoo, I bring up work since tomorrow I'm involved in some Zoom bullshit as a speaker on my area to new faculty. It annoys me that they've called in the former Boss Bitch to kick things off since she's still managed to retain her Vice Provost for Research at RU. It's also tedious since we're supposed to only talk for 5-15 minutes and I crafted 3 slides with plenty I can vamp in between to hit maybe 10 minutes but Elaine is being a kiss ass again and put in TWENTY slides. Oh good god.
I don't want former Boss Bitch to think she can get to me so I'm going to change into a suit jacket and do my hair and put on jewelry. I'll plant an expression of calm professionalism on my face and give my slides in a soothing ASMR tone. After that, I'll sit with a slight bland smile and not react to ANYTHING said or done. You'll think that I've put up a photo of myself.
Speaking of ASMR, the video I put up of the roleplay has made us get close to double our followers (still ages to go) and it's past 500 views. Wow. I have these ideas for upcoming roleplays and will get props:
Asking your friend that doesn't wear makeup to do yours (I'll have plenty of funny and awkward expressions lol)
Activities Director at the Shady Pines Nursing Home. Going to get a wig and props for this which I'm hoping it'll be a series. One will have coloring books, for another, I ordered a cheap bingo set with the cage that spins.
Your irritating gossipy coworker from the cube next to you (I'll channel Elaine but I can't be TOO Elaine since her kids follow my channel lollll)
Title: From All The Spaces Between Times Chapter: Chapter 71 - Broken Jars Speak the Truth Author: elrhiarhodan / elrhiarhodan / elrhiarhodan Fandom: Star Wars, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Star Wars — Obi Wan Kenobi (TV), Star Wars — Jedi Apprentice Books Characters Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Shmi Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, The Force as a Sentient Character, Watto, Quinlan Vos, Padmé Amidala, Sabé, Darth Maul, Yoda, Mace Windu, Adi Gallia, Quinlan Vos, Professor Huyang, The Force, Plo Koon, Vokara Che, Siri Tachi, Aayla Secura, Bant Eerin, Bruck Chun, Xanatos du Crion, Sheev Palpatine | Darth Sidious, Hego Damask II | Darth Plagueis, Komari Vosa, Bail Prestor Organa, Breha Organa, Bail Antilles Prestor, Rael Averross, Nim Piana, Ahsoka Tano, Sifo-Dyas, Reva Sevander, Lene Kostana (mentioned), Savage Opress, Pong Krell, The Traitor, Original Characters, Other Characters To Be Added Pairings: Obi-Wan Kenobi & Shmi Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi & Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé Amidala/Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon Jinn (yes, we’re arrived). Bail Prestor Organa/Breha Organa Word Count: ~ 4600 this chapter Spoilers: None Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: None
Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi has never known it, but he has always been the Force’s Champion, destined to suffer infinite sadness in defense of the Light. On his last turn on the wheel, responsibility for The Chosen One, the false child of prophecy, had been thrust upon him with no warning, and Darkness held the upper hand.
But this time, the Force has marshaled its power and will protect its Champion until the time is right, no matter how long Obi-Wan has to wait and how much he has to suffer.
Or,
Obi-Wan is reborn as a twelve-year old.
He wakes up on a slavers’ ship, with all of his prior life’s memories intact, and he’s bound for Tatooine with a Force-inhibitor collar around his neck, a bomb implanted in his spine, and no way of knowing what state of the Galaxy is in.
Just another day in the life of the Force’s Champion.
Chapter Summary: Obi-Wan finally has his first solo mission, a visit to Naboo to do some research in the State Archives. He had thought this would be a simple trip, Master Yoda has even lent him his personal transport, the Tython-One.
But nothing is ever simple, not when the Force’s beloved Champion is involved.
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An ultra-wide curved gaming monitor with ridiculous specs is every gamer's dream, but they (usually) don't come cheap. The 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, one of the best ultra-wide gaming monitors on the market, is currently on sale for $1,499.99 (originally $2,499.99 at launch)—that's its best discount this year, according to price-checking tools.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Series is not a regular ultra-wide gaming monitor. It has impressive specs, but you'll need a top-notch gaming computer with specific outputs to take full advantage of its 240Hz refresh rate potential.
This monitor came out in 2023 with an "excellent" review from PCMag, mainly due to its impressive 7,680 by 2,160 4K native resolution, the ridiculous 57-inch screen size, its great color range and accuracy, the 240Hz refresh rate, and its design. The VA panel also means you get a bright 1,000-nit screen.
To make full use of its powerful 240Hz refresh rate, you'll need to use a DisplayPort 2.1, or you'll be limited to 120Hz. You'll also need a powerful modern graphics card that is able to push the frames at a native resolution to max out the monitor's potential.
Although it is pricey, this monitor is a great value for the right gamer. You'll need plenty of space to fit a 57-inch screen, as well as a powerful computer to justify using the monitor—if you're not a competitive gamer with a powerful computer, it's probably not worth the price tag. Instead, consider this Asus gaming monitor going for $337.99 (originally $499) right now.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Presidents' Day Deals Right Now
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
An ultra-wide curved gaming monitor with ridiculous specs is every gamer's dream, but they (usually) don't come cheap. The 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, one of the best ultra-wide gaming monitors on the market, is currently on sale for $1,499.99 (originally $2,499.99 at launch)—that's its best discount this year, according to price-checking tools.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Series is not a regular ultra-wide gaming monitor. It has impressive specs, but you'll need a top-notch gaming computer with specific outputs to take full advantage of its 240Hz refresh rate potential.
This monitor came out in 2023 with an "excellent" review from PCMag, mainly due to its impressive 7,680 by 2,160 4K native resolution, the ridiculous 57-inch screen size, its great color range and accuracy, the 240Hz refresh rate, and its design. The VA panel also means you get a bright 1,000-nit screen.
To make full use of its powerful 240Hz refresh rate, you'll need to use a DisplayPort 2.1, or you'll be limited to 120Hz. You'll also need a powerful modern graphics card that is able to push the frames at a native resolution to max out the monitor's potential.
Although it is pricey, this monitor is a great value for the right gamer. You'll need plenty of space to fit a 57-inch screen, as well as a powerful computer to justify using the monitor—if you're not a competitive gamer with a powerful computer, it's probably not worth the price tag. Instead, consider this Asus gaming monitor going for $337.99 (originally $499) right now.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Presidents' Day Deals Right Now
When it's time to buy a new car, you don't necessarily need to stick with the one you had before. You don't lose your cloud-based photos by switching from Toyota to Subaru, nor will your friends yell at you for ruining the group chat by buying a Kia. That's not the case with smartphones: When you buy an iPhone, it's tough to switch away from it. The same goes for Android: While it's easy enough to switch within the Android ecosystem, such as between Pixel or Galaxy, moving from Android to iPhone can also be a pain. Tech companies tend to make it tempting to stick with their platform, and introduce friction when you try to leave.
That, of course, is entirely business-based. Apple hasn't traditionally made it easy to move to Android, because, well, you might actually do it. It doesn't have to be this way, either. There's nothing inherent to smartphones that should make it so challenging to break out of any particular ecosystem. All it takes is some intentional design: If smartphones were made to be traded, you could migrate from one to another, without worrying about losing pictures, messages, or any other important data or processes.
It's now easier than ever to switch between iPhone and Android
As it happens, that intentional design is here. Apple and Google actually worked together to make it easier to transfer data between iPhone and Androids, which makes switching between the two platforms more seamless.
News first broke about this partnership back in December, and, at that time, Google released some of this progress as part of the latest Android Canary, the company's earliest pre-release software. Shortly after, Apple released the first beta for iOS 26.3, which featured the transfer tool. Now, iOS 26.3 is here, and with it, an easier way to switch from iPhone to a device made by Google, Samsung, or any other Android OEM.
How to use the new iPhone-to-Android option in iOS 26.3
The feature seems easy enough to use. Once you update your iPhone to iOS 26.3, you can head to Settings > General, then scroll down to "Transfer or Reset iPhone." Tap this option, then choose "Transfer to Android." Here, iOS will present a pop-up, telling you to place your iPhone next to your new Android device, where you can transfer photos, messages, and apps, among other data points. (That said, health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and "protected items" cannot be transferred.)
You'll need to make sure both devices are running the latest updates, are connected to wifi, and have Bluetooth enabled. However, Apple also says your Android device should be in the "setup process," which means you likely won't be able to use this feature if your Android phone is already set up. From here, your iPhone will ask you to scan a QR code that should appear on your Android device. Alternatively, you'll be able to tap "Other Options" on your iPhone to enter the Session ID and Pairing Code that should appear on your Android.
Now, you can choose the data you want to transfer, including photos, contacts, calendars, call history, and messages. Tap "Continue" once complete, then choose to transfer your eSIM, if applicable. (You'll need to double-click the side of your iPhone when prompted to complete the eSIM transfer.) This works in the other direction too, though Apple says you do still need to use the Move to iOS app on Android—at least until Google sets up a similar protocol on its end.
More flexibility from Apple and Google is better for everyone
Apple and Google might not be motivated by charity, of course, as the EU has been cracking down on restrictive practices by tech companies in recent years. But while both companies may see this as a way to lose customers, it's also a way to gain them: Sure, some iPhone users may switch to Android if it's easier to do so, but some Android users may do the reverse for the same reasons.
More choice is good for everyone—even if it doesn't guarantee exponential growth to shareholders.
If you're a PC gamer who's been looking into getting a Steam Deck to help you play your games on the go, then I've got some bad news for you: On Valve's official Steam Deck store page—the only place to buy new Steam Decks in the United States—every single model is sold out right now. That includes the discontinued LCD model, both versions of the Steam Deck OLED, and even refurbished options.
The shortage was first spotted last night by deals hunter Wario64, who at the time noted that the Steam Deck was sold out in the U.S., but still available in other countries. Unfortunately, since then, both Tom's Hardware and Windows Central have reported that the handheld isn't available in some Asian countries either. There does still seems to be some hope for gamers in Europe, as Windows Central's Adam Hales said he could still see available stock in his native U.K., including the discontinued Steam Deck LCD.
Valve has yet to comment on the sudden disappearance of the Steam Deck from its site, although I've reached out and will update this post if I hear back.
Why is the Steam Deck out of stock?
While Valve hasn't provided an official reason for the Steam Deck shortage, an obvious culprit is the ongoing RAM crisis, which has seen the cost for consumer memory components double or even triple as AI data centers eat up the available supply. It's possible this shortage is finally affecting the Steam Deck, although that's just speculation until Valve officially confirms it.
That said, the explanation would align with a post Valve made to its blog last week, in which the company said its upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame hardware are being impacted by "memory and storage shortages." While the company didn't outright announce a delay for these devices, saying it still plans to ship them "in the first half of the year," it also noted "we must revisit our exact shipping schedule and pricing."
It's possible the situation with "limited availability and growing prices of these critical components," as Valve put it it that post, is now affecting the Steam Deck too, though there are other possible explanations. The simplest, and most hopeful, is that this is simply a minor hiccup in availability, and it will be corrected by the end of the week. Alternatively, it's possible the shortage could be related to tariffs, as while whole smartphones and computers are exempt from increased tariffs, it's unclear whether that applies to gaming devices, or to any individual components Valve might purchase to construct new Steam Decks.
At any rate, we can't know for sure until we hear back from the Half-Life company itself. Perhaps slim pickings or higher prices are in the Steam Deck's future, but there's no way to know right now.
What to buy instead during the Steam Deck shortage
While we don't yet know how long the Steam Deck will stay sold out, it might be worth looking into getting a different handheld gaming PC if the situation drags on. While you can buy Steam Decks from unofficial sellers, I wouldn't advise it, as these would all be from the secondhand market. Most come with heavily marked up prices, and it's impossible to know what kind of condition your device will be in when it arrives. A more trustworthy alternative could be GameStop, as the retailer does sell its own certified refurbished Steam Decks, which are cleaned up in a separate process from Valve's. Unfortunately, these are also out of stock at the moment.
Instead, I would suggest looking at alternatives like the Lenovo Legion Go S, which starts at $600, is slightly more powerful than the Steam Deck, has a higher resolution screen, and in an official partnership with Valve, comes equipped with the same operating system as the Steam Deck. (I actually prefer the Legion Go S to the Steam Deck myself.)
If you've got cash to burn, you could look at a premium upgrade. The obvious ones here are the Lenovo Legion Go 2, which ups the power and packs a gorgeous OLED screen; and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, which may be more welcoming to console gamers. (That said, the Xbox handheld's software wasn't quite there yet, at least when I reviewed it).
Whatever your choice, you have no shortage of options for PC gaming handhelds to keep you occupied while you wait for the Steam Deck to come back in stock. Gamers will always find a way to play.
“A new feature from Ring Camera is causing a stir online. The AI-powered ‘search party’ feature helps locate lost pets, but some are questioning its impact on privacy.” — NBC News
- - -
Oh no, did Buster get out again? Because your white-picket-fence suburban dream doesn’t actually include a physical fence? That’s terrible. Hopefully, he doesn’t run in the direction of the freeway right over there. Time is of the essence to get him back—let us help you; give us access to your Ring camera. Give us access to every Ring camera in your neighborhood.
We at Ring believe dogs are part of the family. And family is more important than silly, abstract, constitutional things like a citizen’s “right to privacy.” Ring’s Search Party is a one-of-a-kind AI tool that is for finding dogs, and totally not for spying on you and your neighbors, monitoring and cataloging all of your movements and interactions twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Relax.
Here, Buster! Come on home, Buster!
Ring reunites one lost pet with a family each day. Which is not a bad batting average, considering ten million pets go missing each year. A 0.00365 percent yearly success rate is good. This is the whole point!
Side note: It’s actually pretty alarming that roughly 27,000 of y’all’s households are losing their pets left and right each day. Like what’s going on there? Keep your doors shut, and your dogs leashed, good grief.
Are there any downsides to such intricate, constant, widespread surveillance? Well, we struggle with finding cats. All cats, scientifically speaking, look the exact same. So when we say “missing pets,” we really just mean dogs. Don’t even play about rabbits and guinea pigs—rodents aren’t pets. Yes, we believe rabbits count as rodents. You can quote us on that. Also, our “we find lost dogs” pledge does not include doodles, which are barely dogs.
That being said, our amazing technology is not solely limited to dogs! We can help find your beloved toddler who toddled off your lawn and down the street. (You really should build a damn fence!) Dogs, toddlers, people of federal interest—we can find anyone we have a financial stake in finding!
Search Party is most effective when all of your neighbors participate. And while you can’t legally install a Ring camera on your neighbor’s porch without their permission (trust us, we’ve checked), you can strongly insinuate that if they don’t get a Ring camera, they want every single dog on Earth to die. To literally die right there in front of them. To die right now, horrifically. Even Cruella de Vil wanted only a couple of dozen dalmatians to bite it, not all dogs everywhere all at once. A little lighthearted neighborly ultimatum is going to go a long way in this mission—this mission to reunite all lost dogs with their owners, and nothing else!
Fans of social theorist Jeremy Bentham may be raising their hysterical red flags with buzzwords like “surveillance state” and “panopticon”—but we’re here to tell you this is really just about the dogs. We swear. (For now.) Bow wow!
We’re hearing concerns about ICE accessing and abusing this data. To that we say: Why are you making this political? It’s about DOGS. Dogs don’t vote. Yes, doodles are inherently Republican, but like we said, we can’t find those guys. They’re just a fuzzy, untrained blur on the screen.
Our connection to Palantir might raise eyebrows, but we’re more concerned about wagging tails. Our pals at Palantir only have man’s best friend on their mind. Plus, if you’re a person of interest to Palantir, you really have bigger issues at hand than a simple lost dog. You’re not seeing that dog again, buddy.
Besides, how much privacy do you really need in your front yard anyway? What are you even doing there that’s so secretive? Read your mail and your texts inside if you’re that concerned. It’s not like we’re keeping a camera in your house—that’s Roomba’s domain.
Good news: We found Buster! Bad news: You didn’t tell us he was a doodle, so it might not actually be Buster. Sorry.
When it's time to buy a new car, you don't necessarily need to stick with the one you had before. You don't lose your cloud-based photos by switching from Toyota to Subaru, nor will your friends yell at you for ruining the group chat by buying a Kia. That's not the case with smartphones: When you buy an iPhone, it's tough to switch away from it. The same goes for Android: While it's easy enough to switch within the Android ecosystem, such as between Pixel or Galaxy, moving from Android to iPhone can also be a pain. Tech companies tend to make it tempting to stick with their platform, and introduce friction when you try to leave.
That, of course, is entirely business-based. Apple hasn't traditionally made it easy to move to Android, because, well, you might actually do it. It doesn't have to be this way, either. There's nothing inherent to smartphones that should make it so challenging to break out of any particular ecosystem. All it takes is some intentional design: If smartphones were made to be traded, you could migrate from one to another, without worrying about losing pictures, messages, or any other important data or processes.
It's now easier than ever to switch between iPhone and Android
As it happens, that intentional design is here. Apple and Google actually worked together to make it easier to transfer data between iPhone and Androids, which makes switching between the two platforms more seamless.
News first broke about this partnership back in December, and, at that time, Google released some of this progress as part of the latest Android Canary, the company's earliest pre-release software. Shortly after, Apple released the first beta for iOS 26.3, which featured the transfer tool. Now, iOS 26.3 is here, and with it, an easier way to switch from iPhone to a device made by Google, Samsung, or any other Android OEM.
How to use the new iPhone-to-Android option in iOS 26.3
The feature seems easy enough to use. Once you update your iPhone to iOS 26.3, you can head to Settings > General, then scroll down to "Transfer or Reset iPhone." Tap this option, then choose "Transfer to Android." Here, iOS will present a pop-up, telling you to place your iPhone next to your new Android device, where you can transfer photos, messages, and apps, among other data points. (That said, health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and "protected items" cannot be transferred.)
You'll need to make sure both devices are running the latest updates, are connected to wifi, and have Bluetooth enabled. However, Apple also says your Android device should be in the "setup process," which means you likely won't be able to use this feature if your Android phone is already set up. From here, your iPhone will ask you to scan a QR code that should appear on your Android device. Alternatively, you'll be able to tap "Other Options" on your iPhone to enter the Session ID and Pairing Code that should appear on your Android.
Now, you can choose the data you want to transfer, including photos, contacts, calendars, call history, and messages. Tap "Continue" once complete, then choose to transfer your eSIM, if applicable. (You'll need to double-click the side of your iPhone when prompted to complete the eSIM transfer.) This works in the other direction too, though Apple says you do still need to use the Move to iOS app on Android—at least until Google sets up a similar protocol on its end.
More flexibility from Apple and Google is better for everyone
Apple and Google might not be motivated by charity, of course, as the EU has been cracking down on restrictive practices by tech companies in recent years. But while both companies may see this as a way to lose customers, it's also a way to gain them: Sure, some iPhone users may switch to Android if it's easier to do so, but some Android users may do the reverse for the same reasons.
More choice is good for everyone—even if it doesn't guarantee exponential growth to shareholders.
If you're a PC gamer who's been looking into getting a Steam Deck to help you play your games on the go, then I've got some bad news for you: On Valve's official Steam Deck store page—the only place to buy new Steam Decks in the United States—every single model is sold out right now. That includes the discontinued LCD model, both versions of the Steam Deck OLED, and even refurbished options.
The shortage was first spotted last night by deals hunter Wario64, who at the time noted that the Steam Deck was sold out in the U.S., but still available in other countries. Unfortunately, since then, both Tom's Hardware and Windows Central have reported that the handheld isn't available in some Asian countries either. There does still seems to be some hope for gamers in Europe, as Windows Central's Adam Hales said he could still see available stock in his native U.K., including the discontinued Steam Deck LCD.
Valve has yet to comment on the sudden disappearance of the Steam Deck from its site, although I've reached out and will update this post if I hear back.
Why is the Steam Deck out of stock?
While Valve hasn't provided an official reason for the Steam Deck shortage, an obvious culprit is the ongoing RAM crisis, which has seen the cost for consumer memory components double or even triple as AI data centers eat up the available supply. It's possible this shortage is finally affecting the Steam Deck, although that's just speculation until Valve officially confirms it.
That said, the explanation would align with a post Valve made to its blog last week, in which the company said its upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame hardware are being impacted by "memory and storage shortages." While the company didn't outright announce a delay for these devices, saying it still plans to ship them "in the first half of the year," it also noted "we must revisit our exact shipping schedule and pricing."
It's possible the situation with "limited availability and growing prices of these critical components," as Valve put it it that post, is now affecting the Steam Deck too, though there are other possible explanations. The simplest, and most hopeful, is that this is simply a minor hiccup in availability, and it will be corrected by the end of the week. Alternatively, it's possible the shortage could be related to tariffs, as while whole smartphones and computers are exempt from increased tariffs, it's unclear whether that applies to gaming devices, or to any individual components Valve might purchase to construct new Steam Decks.
At any rate, we can't know for sure until we hear back from the Half-Life company itself. Perhaps slim pickings or higher prices are in the Steam Deck's future, but there's no way to know right now.
What to buy instead during the Steam Deck shortage
While we don't yet know how long the Steam Deck will stay sold out, it might be worth looking into getting a different handheld gaming PC if the situation drags on. While you can buy Steam Decks from unofficial sellers, I wouldn't advise it, as these would all be from the secondhand market. Most come with heavily marked up prices, and it's impossible to know what kind of condition your device will be in when it arrives. A more trustworthy alternative could be GameStop, as the retailer does sell its own certified refurbished Steam Decks, which are cleaned up in a separate process from Valve's. Unfortunately, these are also out of stock at the moment.
Instead, I would suggest looking at alternatives like the Lenovo Legion Go S, which starts at $600, is slightly more powerful than the Steam Deck, has a higher resolution screen, and in an official partnership with Valve, comes equipped with the same operating system as the Steam Deck. (I actually prefer the Legion Go S to the Steam Deck myself.)
If you've got cash to burn, you could look at a premium upgrade. The obvious ones here are the Lenovo Legion Go 2, which ups the power and packs a gorgeous OLED screen; and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, which may be more welcoming to console gamers. (That said, the Xbox handheld's software wasn't quite there yet, at least when I reviewed it).
Whatever your choice, you have no shortage of options for PC gaming handhelds to keep you occupied while you wait for the Steam Deck to come back in stock. Gamers will always find a way to play.
London is being used as the backdrop for inaccurate viral videos that reach enormous audiences around the world by playing into the worst stereotypes about the capital.
This was an investigation into one man who was doing this thing:
Last summer, the man says, he found himself sitting in his car, analysing trends on TikTok. His day job was conducting viewings for an estate agency but he was trying to come up with an idea for a viral video account that could be run as a money-making side-hustle. “I was thinking of unique videos I can do for people,” he says on the tape. That’s when he had a brainwave: “Hate brings views.” At that time protests outside asylum hotels were spreading across the country. The man says he noticed “far-right people” were among the most engaged on TikTok. They were easy to rile up: “They hate such videos of illegal migrants. I was like, why not?” .... The TikToker appears to have no concept of the potential real-world impact of his uploads, instead considering everything in terms of view counts and pieces of content.
So he made fake videos about immigrants being housed in prime properties, to which he had access through his job.
He had originally found he could make money through posting videos on TikTok but 'TikTok immediately deleted his account because he was just stealing other people’s videos and reposting them'.
There seems to be just a total disconnect going on in the guy's mind (or he's just ethically vacuous) and generally he does not appear the sharpest blade in the drawer:
Despite fostering online hatred, the man recorded.... insists he doesn’t personally share the views expressed on his TikTok account. Instead, he suggests his fake anti-migrant house tour videos were just a way to game the algorithm, build an audience, and hopefully make money.
He's also
baffled. He can’t understand how London Centric traced his anonymous hate-filled London TikTok account back to his employer by geolocating the wheelie bins in his videos. “I thought no one’s gonna notice that,” he says. “Why would someone?”
As if people aren't doing this sort of thing all the time.
Aline Kaplan reports on the uncovering, after a seeming eternity of renovation time, of the top of the First Baptist Church's bell tower at Commonwealth and Clarendon, featuring friezes bracketed by holy beanblowers, um, angels heralding what angels herald atop Henry Hobson Richardson's first church work.
From the age of three until I went to college, I lived in the same town. We moved house once, but our telephone number stayed the same. When technology moved from rotary dial to push-button, I came to know the sound of that phone number by heart. I could "sing" it.
Even after I and my siblings left home, my parents stayed in that house and kept that number. My mother died, but my dad stayed in the house--with that number. He got a cell phone, but kept the landline too.
Now he lives elsewhere, closer to me and one of my siblings. That house has been sold, and the landline disconnected. But I still call it from my own landline from time to time just to hear the push-button tune. So far, the number hasn't been reassigned.
Reporting for Duty
Reporting for Duty is the English-language title of a Brazilian comedy cop show on Netflix, in which a gentle, laid-back guy from a sleepy district gets reassigned to be police chief in a mafia-plagued central Rio precinct. It's pretty hilarious so far. The second episode, "Good Cop, Better Cop," sees the new police chief, Suzano, and the precinct's second-in-command, Mantovani, interrogating a suspect. "Let's do good cop, bad cop," Mantovani suggests. Suzano agrees, and they go in. Mantovani offers the suspect water. Suzano follows with "Some lemonade? A soda? A cold beer?"
Mantovani is getting more and more flabbergasted. When Suzano offers a charcuterie board, Mantovani asks if she can have a word with him. Turns out he didn't recognize her good cop as good cop. "If you're more comfortable being the good cop," she begins, but he says no no no, he can do bad cop. He storms back in. "You think you're getting coffee? Well no! No coffee because the coffee machine is broken!" [established earlier in the episode]. "And no massages, either, except for maybe shiatsu for your health." --And he proceeds to massage out the guy's tensed muscles.
It's a very cute show, and the guy who plays Suzano's sidekick who's come with him from his old precinct has a style of Brazilian accent I really like and have only heard from a guy who teaches ancient Tupi on Instagram.
Diamond and Misty
One of Wakanomori's former students is married and keeps chickens now. He gave W a quartet of eggs, and the carton comes with this cute label that lets you write in what chickens laid the eggs. Ours were laid by Diamond and Misty.
I was offered a job last week, which was going to require a 2.5-hour move. I accepted as it’s a field I love and a company ownership I had worked for previously, just not at this location.
Yesterday the job fell through because the expected job salary budget didn’t come through. At all. I had been waiting on paperwork to 100% make my hiring official. I even had a start date, which had been reiterated last week when they were waiting for the national leadership to send over the papers.
I am lucky that I was able to reverse my resignation at my current job. I’m also lucky that I figure I’m only out about $100. I had applied for and been accepted for an apartment but hadn’t signed a lease or even set up a moving truck.
Since I am not out much, I am naturally going to move on and merely grouse about the experience (they only let me know with a single text that the position was canceled!). But could I have had any recourse had I been out more money?
Oh no.
As a general rule, it’s best never to give notice at your existing job until the new job is 100% official, meaning that any paperwork has been signed and all contingencies are removed. Even then, something like this can still happen, but waiting lowers the risk of it.
As for legal recourse if you had been out more money or if you had actually moved: in most states you wouldn’t have legal recourse unless you could show the employer had operated with deliberately fraudulent intent.
There is a legal concept called “detrimental reliance,” where you would argue that you had relied on their offer to your detriment. Generally, though, courts mostly haven’t sided with those claims (largely because since employment is at-will, you also could have been fired on your first day without legal resource). That said, if you ever were in a situation where you were out a significant sum of money — or if you had already moved — it could be useful to talk with an employment lawyer to get their take.
An additional option you’d have in that situation would be to tell the employer that you’d relied on their offer and start date in good faith and lost $X as a result, and ask them to make it right. Their offer might have used language that would protect them from any legal obligation to make you whole (especially if it was clear things were not yet finalized), but it would be reasonable to try.
The Boston City Council yesterday agreed to look at possible changes to the city zoning code to make it easier to build multi-family housing by easing the zoning requirements in more parts of the city - but harder for the city's two remaining strip clubs to move to new locations.
Councilor Sharon Durkan (Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Fenway, Mission Hill, West End) said developers are sometimes reluctant to go through the process required to win approval in areas where multi-family housing is now classified as "forbidden" or "conditional" - even if those areas now include zones next to housing; her proposal would look at shifting housing to being an allowed use where it's now "conditional" and "conditional" where it's now "forbidden."
She pointed to rezoning in the Bulfinch Triangle near North Station as an example. Last October, the Boston Zoning Commission approved changes to zoning maps downtown to make residential development easier there as well.
Separately, the council also approved studying changing the zoning in what's left of the Combat Zone to change stripping there from an "allowable" use to "conditional," which means that if Centerfolds on the alley known as Lagrange Street follows through on its desires to move to the far more visible Stuart Street, it would have to win Zoning Board of Appeal Approval.
City Councilor Ed Flynn (Chinatown, Downtown, South End, South Boston) said the oft ignored residents of Chinatown deserve a say in the future of their neighborhood that would come through the required zoning hearing - and abutter and neighborhood meetings before that. The October changes to downtown zoning also shrank the Combat Zone to a small area along Lagrange - where Centerfolds now sits cheek by jowl with the city's only other strip club, the Glass Slipper - and a small strip along Stuart.
Even without the change, the club would still need to hold abutter and neighborhood meetings to win permission from Boston licensing officials for its liquor and entertainment licenses.
Council President Liz Breadon sent both proposed measures to the council's Committee on Planning, Transportation and Development.
As always, the first thing that hit me was the smell of thousands of herbs and flowers, a dry, green, enticing smell that got into my lungs and soothed the world away, mortal peril forgotten. A warm light bathed the place, shining from several living octopus-like creatures tangled in the ceiling beams. Rows and rows of hundreds of little tins and jars lined the walls, all of them labeled in Laemura's spidery handwriting: Apple Mint Innocence. Lavender Regret. Smoky Cinnamon Vengeance. Doomed Foreknowledge With Toasted Walnut And Sage.
from The Last Hour Between Worlds, by Melissa Caruso
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Hey, real quick – 
