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The best ways to watch 'Self Reliance' at a glance: BEST OVERALL Hulu monthly subscription Free one-month trial, then $7.99/month Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Disney Duo Basic Bundle (Hulu and Disney+ With Ads) $9.99/month (save $5.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR T-MOBILE/SPRINT CUSTOMERS Hulu Basic (with ads) free with select plans as of Jan. 24 (save $7.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu free one-month trial, then $5.99/month (save up to $12.99/month) Get Deal BEST LONG-TERM DEAL Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $79.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal

Originally set to hit Hulu back in September, then pushed back to November, Jake Johnson's feature-length directorial debut Self Reliance is finally gracing us with its streaming presence this month.

The film, which originally premiered back in March 2023 at the SXSW Film Festival, centers around Tommy (Johnson), a middle-aged man stuck in a bit of a rut. Recently dumped by his girlfriend and living with his mom, Tommy is propositioned with an adventure that'll change his life by none other than Andy Samberg. "From its hook, it is outlandish, hilarious, and mind-bending," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review of the film.

It took awhile, but Self Reliance is finally available to watch at home on Jan. 12. Here's what you need to know to tune in.

Is Self Reliance worth watching?

"One of the delights out of SXSW 2023," per Mashable's film editor Kristy Puchko, Self Reliance was written and directed by lovable New Girl actor Jake Johnson. He's also the star of the film. Ambitious much?

As it turns out, Johnson's pretty good at pulling triple duty. The film isn't perfect — it loses its footing in the third act, as Puchko politely put it — but it's still "an enthralling and wildly fun directorial debut." Audiences seem to largely agree, considering it's earned an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes as of the time of writing. Sure, the end could be sharpened a bit. But overall, "it's undeniable that Self Reliance still hits its mark."

Check out the official trailer below to get a glimpse at the twisted tale:

What streaming service is Self Reliance on?

Self Reliance makes its streaming debut exclusively on Hulu on Jan. 12, after quite a few delays and pushbacks. If you're already a Hulu subscriber, you're good to go. Just sign into your account on Jan. 12 (or anytime after) and Self Reliance will be waiting for you to click play. Not a subscriber? Read on to find out the best ways to sign up for free.

Can you watch Self Reliance for free?

Hulu still offers a generous one-month free trial, which is now a rarity in the streaming world. The bad news is you can only access that free trial if you've never subscribed to Hulu before or if you're a returning customer who hasn't recently subscribed (check eligibility and terms to see if you qualify). If you do qualify for the free trial, you'll have plenty of time to watch Self Reliance and other Hulu exclusives for free. If not, there are still a few other ways to score a free or discounted subscription. Here's what you need to know.

Best for most people: Hulu 30-day free trial Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (With Ads) Free 30-day trial, then $7.99/month Get Deal

An entire month of free streaming? In 2024, it seems almost impossible to come across. But thankfully, Hulu is still keeping its trial period for newbies alive. As the streamer puts it, "You wouldn’t buy a new car without test driving it first, so that’s why Hulu offers free trials to new and eligible returning subscribers." Bless you, Hulu. If you're new to Hulu or coming back after a long break, you can take advantage of a 30-day free trial (which is valid for both the No Ads and With Ads plans) around the time of the Self Reliance release date. That will allow you to watch Jake Johnson's feature-length directorial debut and plenty more on Hulu.

Once your trial is up, you'll have to dish out either $7.99/month for the With Ads plan or $17.99/month for the No Ads plan to keep your subscription going. Otherwise, cancel before your trial ends to call it quits.

Best for T-Mobile customers: Hulu (With Ads) monthly subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Sprint / T-Mobile Hulu (With Ads) Free with Sprint Unlimited plans (save $7.99/month) Get Deal

Former Sprint Unlimited customers (now T-Mobile) can unlock free access to Hulu's With Ads plan — so long as your account remains active and in good standing. (If you choose to switch plans or cancel, your subscription will be suspended.) T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan can also enjoy free access to Hulu as of Jan. 24. Sure, you'll have to wait a bit longer to watch Self Reliance, but it'll be worth the $7.99/month in savings.

Best for students: Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu Opens in a new window Credit: Spotify / Hulu Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu Free one-month trial, then $5.99/month (save up to $12.99/month) Get Deal

Students hoping to watch their favorite grouchy-yet-adorable New Girl character conquer the film world have a couple great options. Our personal pick is signing up for Spotify Premium for Students. Not only can you kick things off with a free one-month trial, but you'll also unlock access to Hulu with ads for no cost. In other words, you can watch Self Reliance and other Hulu exclusives, plus listen to all your favorite tunes ad-free for an entire month without spending a dime. Even better, following the trial period, you'll only have to pay $5.99/month for both Spotify Premium and Hulu with ads. The only requirement is a .edu email address that can be verified through SheerID.

Another option is to open a Hulu student account on its own, which doesn't offer a free trial, but only costs $1.99/month. The same .edu email address rules apply.

Other ways to watch Self Reliance

If you're ineligible for any of the free options, you can still save some money a couple of ways. You could commit to a full year and save about 16%, rather than paying monthly. Or you could bundle your Disney+ account with Hulu and ESPN+ and save over 40%. These options certainly aren't as good as the free ones, but they'll still help you keep more of your hard-earned cash.

Best for long-term viewing: Hulu (With Ads) annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) Annual Subscription $79.99/year (save 16%) Get Deal

Hulu will knock 16% off your subscription cost if you sign up for a year of streaming upfront, rather than paying monthly. That drops the $7.99/month cost down to $6.67/month for a total of $79.99 for the year. The good news is you'll have plenty of time to watch Self Reliance, plus re-watch Jake Johnson in every episode of New Girl. Win-win.

Best bundle deal: Disney Duo Basic or Trio Basic Bundle (With Ads) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Hulu + Disney+ (with ads) $9.99/month or $14.99/month (save up to 44%) Get Deal

The Disney Bundle remains one of the best streaming deals you can get your hands on. For just $9.99/month, you can unlock access to all of the content on Disney+ and Hulu — just $2 more than paying for Hulu on its own. If you're a sports fan as well, you can add ESPN+ into the mix and pay just $14.99/month, which saves you over 40% each month. If you're just looking to watch Self Reliance and be on your way, it's probably not your best option. But for those looking to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to streaming, this is your best bet.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 12 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 12

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Jan. 12, 2024:

AcrossSpelling competition

• The answer is bee.

Soccer highlight

• The answer is goal.

A gift ...

• The answer is knack.

... and a curse

• The answer is oath.

The "I" in F.W.I.W.

• The answer is its.

DownPier group?

• The answer is boats.

Per person

• The answer is each.

Yellowstone National Park is known for having herds of this animal

• The answer is elk.

Pesky insect

• The answer is gnat.

Decorative pond fish

• The answer is koi.

You know when a movie features a line like "What's a shark doing on a plane?" it's destined to be a banger, and Claudio Fäh's No Way Up seems destined to fit the watery bill.

The story follows – wait for it – a group of passengers who are trapped in a plane that's crash-landed underwater, on the edge of a ravine, with sharks circling.

Does it sound absolutely ridiculous? Yes. Do we want to watch it ASAP? Also yes.

No Way Up is in theatres from Feb. 16.

WhatsApp stickers are about to get more fun – and personal. The Meta-owned messaging app is rolling out a new feature on iOS that will let users create, edit and share their own stickers.

Previously, stickers were discovered and shared via third-party providers or a person's phone gallery. Now, users can create stickers within the app or edit existing stickers, with the help of a suite of editing tools. The tools include text, drawing, and the ability to overlay other stickers. Custom-made stickers are automatically saved in a user's sticker tray once sent.

SEE ALSO: WhatsApp adds cute lil' button that lets you chat with Meta AI

The feature is already available on WhatsApp Web and will be rolling out on iOS 17+ in the coming days. On older versions of iOS, WhatsApp users can edit existing stickers but won't be able to make new ones.

Here's how to do it.

Total Time

• 3-5 minutes.

What You Need

• iPhone
• WhatsApp app.

Step 1: Open your sticker tray on WhatsApp, by clicking on the sticker icon on the right of the text box.

Step 2: Select "Create Sticker" and choose an image from your gallery.

Step 3: Customize your sticker.

You can choose a cutout, add text, draw, or overlay other stickers to create your custom design.

Tesla is reportedly giving all workers in its US factories a pay rise. This is undoubtedly good news for said workers, though it's unlikely the company is doing this out of the goodness of its heart.

Bloomberg reports that Tesla announced a "market adjustment pay increase" for its US workers via a flyer posted in its Fremont, California factory. It isn't clear exactly how much the pay bump will be, however it will impact production associates, material handlers, and quality inspectors. 

Tesla shares fell by over 3 percent apparently in response to the news, though the electric vehicle company had already been on a downswing. Shares were also impacted by car rental company Hertz announcing on the same day that it would sell around one third of its electric vehicles, opting for combustion engines instead. 

SEE ALSO: SpaceX responds to unfair dismissal charges, calls watchdog unconstitutional

This unexpected pay raise for Tesla workers comes only a few months after the United Auto Workers (UAW) union successfully negotiated agreements with leading auto manufacturers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. The three companies agreed to a 25 percent increase in workers' wages after a six week strike — the longest US auto strike in over two decades.  

With that situation resolved, the UAW has turned its attention toward getting Tesla workers unionised as well. While there have been previous attempts to organise Tesla workers in the US, the company remains the only car manufacturer in the country to not have a union. The success of the UAW strike may inspire some Tesla workers to revisit the idea of collective bargaining — or at least explore job opportunities at unionised competitors.

Tesla's "market adjustment" is likely a response to this, aimed at bringing its salaries more in line with its competitors while attempting to convince workers that they don't need their own union in order to get a better deal. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Both Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk don't have the greatest history with unions. In 2018, the billionaire implied that Tesla workers would lose their stock option benefits if they unionised, and accused the UAW of wanting to divide people into a "2 class 'lords & commoners' system." These statements caused reasonable concern regarding union busting at Tesla, compelling the company to explicitly deny that Musk was threatening to take away employee stock options if workers organised.

"He was simply recognizing the fact that no UAW-represented automakers provide stock as compensation, which has particular relevance given that UAW organizers have consistently dismissed the value of Tesla equity as part of our compensation package," claimed Alexandra Veitch, Tesla's senior director of government relations and policy at the time.

Interestingly, Tesla skipped its formerly annual distribution of merit-based stock options to employees last December. It's unclear whether this was an aberration or a permanent change in how Tesla compensates its workers. Either way, it doesn't look great in light of the company's previous emphasis on the importance of its workers' stock options.

Over 30 Tesla workers were reportedly fired last February after attempting to unionise, though their complaint to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was later dismissed. The NLRB also recently ruled that Tesla's clothing policy was unlawful because it implicitly prohibited workers from wearing union apparel.

TL;DR: Stream Bristol City vs. West Ham United in the FA Cup third round replay for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We were treated to some pretty special FA Cup third round fixtures, but not every score was settled. A few matches were too close to call, so a replay is required to decide who makes it through to the fourth round. That's good news for fans, because it means more games are available to watch for free.

If you want to watch Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bristol City vs. West Ham United in the FA Cup?

Bristol City and West Ham United will kick off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on Jan. 16 at Ashton Gate.

How to watch Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free

You can watch the FA Cup replay between Bristol City and West Ham United live on BBC One, with coverage starting from 7:30 p.m. GMT on Jan. 16. You can also live stream this fixture for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can connect to BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Steam Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream games like Bristol City vs. West Ham United before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch Bristol City vs. West Ham United for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Access U.S. Netflix from anywhere in the world with a streaming-friendly VPN. The best VPN for Netflix is ExpressVPN.

We're about to share some troubling information with you, so brace yourself.

Netflix only provides access to the movies and shows from your location's content library. That means subscribers are missing out on a massive range of movies and shows purely because of their location on a map. That seems totally unfair, so we're providing you with the tools you need to bypass these geo-restrictions.

If you want to unblock and watch U.S. Netflix from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch U.S. Netflix for free

U.S. Netflix offers one of the biggest and best content libraries in the world, and you can access everything with the help of a VPN.

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. This simple process makes it look like you're connecting from the country, so you get access to all the movies and shows from the U.S. Netflix library when you next connect.

Access U.S Netflix by following these steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Sign in to Netflix

5. Watch U.S. Netflix from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most leading services do offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock U.S. Netflix without committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term strategy, but it does give you enough time to watch everything on your list before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Netflix?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking extra libraries on Netflix, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including the U.S.

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast streaming speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 with an extra three months of coverage for free, saving you 49% on list price. This plan includes a year of free Backblaze cloud backup and that all-important 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock U.S. Netflix for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Pixilio is on sale for £19.62, saving you 93% on list price.

The process of finding the perfect stock photos for your webpage, social media posts, or presentations can be long and, many times, unsuccessful. To find exactly what you're looking for — no matter how far-fetched you might think it is — you could harness the power of artificial intelligence to generate images for you.

That's where an innovative tool like Pixilio comes in. This helpful app creates AI images for you within seconds, ready to download and use anywhere. For a limited time, a lifetime subscription is on sale for just £19.62.

You don't need any design experience to use Pixilio. It's made to be an intuitive and easy-to-use creative space. Simply enter your specifications such as colors schemes, style, and aesthetics, and watch the app go to work for you. Unlike sourcing from stock websites, the images you generate will be 100% original and owned by you — so you don't have to credit anyone but yourself when sharing or posting. 

Using advanced machine learning algorithms, Pixilio has the ability to create exactly what your brand or website needs. This could be useful for business owners, social media influencers, bloggers, and much more. Plus, this deal gives you access for life, so you can keep on generating as long as you need — no annoying subscription fees to deal with.

Save yourself the headache of searching for a stock photo or graphic that works for you. Take advantage of this sale on a lifetime subscription to Pixilio AI image generator for just £19.62.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pixilio Pixilio AI Image Generator (Lifetime Subscription) £19.62 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 12's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Jan. 10.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A path.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #937 is...

ROUTE.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 12's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Conversation

• Green: Arcs in a story

• Blue: Car lingo

• Purple: Colors

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Topic of Discussion

• Green: Section of One's Life

• Blue: Parts of a Car, Informally

• Purple: Color Homophones

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 28

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #215 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Topic of Discussion: ISSUE, MATTER, POINT, SUBJECT

• Section of One's Life: CHAPTER, PERIOD, PHASE, STAGE

• Parts of a Car, Informally: DASH, SHOCK, TANK, WHEEL

• Color Homophones: BLEW, CHORAL, READ, ROWS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

The Biden administration and U.S. Department of Transportation announced a new investment in the country's push for greater electric vehicle adoption and usage, pledging $623 million in EV charging station grants intended to build out community charging networks around the U.S.

The large investment is part of President Joe Biden's goal of building 500,000 publicly available chargers by the year 2030.

"America led the arrival of the automotive era, and now we have a chance to lead the world in the EV revolution—securing jobs, savings, and benefits for Americans in the process. This funding will help ensure that EV chargers are accessible, reliable, and convenient for American drivers, while creating jobs in charger manufacturing, installation, and maintenance for American workers," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

SEE ALSO: Too much TV screen time for kids: 5 things to know about the risks

The Federal Transit Authority is also awarding $311 million to 36 community projects, including indigenous-led projects in Alaska and Arizona.

According to the announcement, the grants are funded through a $2.5 billion EV allocation wedged into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law also authorizes up to $108 billion in public transit infrastructure projects designed to improve transit safety, modernize existing systems, improve access for underserved communities, and transition services into climate-friendly options.

For example, the administration announced a $1.7 billion grant program for zero-emission and reduced-cost buses around the country.

EV charging stations along the country's highway system have previously been funded through the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

In an effort to create an even stronger EV "backbone," as the administration calls it, the Biden administration's new grant program will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, and construct 7,500 EV charging ports.

"From my time working at the local level, I know that finding electric vehicle charging in a community is different from finding charging along highways,'" added Buttigeig. "USDOT is proud to make an investment that will provide Americans with convenient, straightforward charging options in their communities."

It seems that every January after the festivities of the holidays begin to fade and the winter chill settles in, tech companies begin their rounds of layoffs.

Google said on Wednesday that it laid off a few hundred people from its central engineering team, a few hundred people in the Google Assistant team, and a few hundred people from its AR and DSPA teams. If you follow my math (or the Verge's ) that's probably about a thousand people who lost their jobs on Wednesday.

Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman are leaving the company as well, according to Reuters.

SEE ALSO: Google Assistant is losing 17 features: See the list

"As we’ve said, we’re responsibly investing in our company's biggest priorities and the significant opportunities ahead," a Google spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Mashable. "To best position us for these opportunities, throughout the second half of 2023, a number of our teams made changes to become more efficient and work better, and to align their resources to their biggest product priorities. Some teams are continuing to make these kinds of organizational changes, which include some role eliminations globally. We’re continuing to support any impacted employees as they look for new roles here at Google and beyond."

This isn't the first time a large round of layoffs hit Google in the month of January. In January of 2023, Google laid off approximately 12,000 employees. At the time, U.S. employees received a severance package starting at 16 weeks' salary plus two weeks for every additional year at Google. It's unclear how fat the severance package is for the employees laid off today.

Yes, the Sony car that can be controlled with a DualSense controller is pretty sick — but wait 'til you hear about the Razer car.

We already gushed about the Razer car earlier this week, but after careful deliberation, Mashable has deemed it the best car of CES 2024.

For the unintiated, Razer is known for rolling out badass, sleek gaming laptops that are stamped with a three-headed snake insignia that can emanate electric-green lighting. Razer adopted the same design language for its car — and you won't believe what's in it.

SEE ALSO: The best of CES 2024 Best car CES 2024: Razer Lexus TX

Razer's decked-out gaming car was stationed on the LinQ Promenade in Las Vegas. It caught the Mashable team's eye, so we decided to check it out. Turns out, the gaming-focused company modified a 2024 Lexus TX, swapping out the original seats for four ultra-comfy Razer Iskur gaming chairs, which retail for about $500 each.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Razr Iskur Gaming Chair $499 Get Deal

The two back seats are tricked out with two 27-inch Razer monitors. Both feature a keyboard and a mouse from the brand, delivering a gamer's paradise for passengers.

This car wouldn't be complete without monitors in the back seats. Credit: Razer

Pop open the trunk and you'll find four Razer Blade gaming laptops, fueled by the Razer Core X Chroma eGPUs, charging on docking stations.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Razer Core X Chroma $499 Get Deal

Oh, and you'll find an Xbox Series X, too.

It's a gamer's dream. Credit: Amazon

Is this street legal? Probably not. But this eye-catching collaboration between Lexus and Razer, a striking mélange of luxury and gaming, gets Mashable's award for best car of CES 2024 due to its innovative charm and nod to a better future of high-level entertainment inside consumer vehicles.

OpenAI has a mobile app for its generative AI tool ChatGPT. Here's how to use it.

I'm not usually a fan of tech products that claim to be able to make homemade versions of customers' favorite store-bought foods. Sorry to companies like SodaStream, but the end products just never come out tasting right.

But then I came across ColdSnap at CES 2024.

ColdSnap, the countertop ice cream maker at CES 2024. Credit: Mashable

ColdSnap is a countertop ice cream maker that claims to make the "creamiest, best tasting ice cream available anywhere." You simply insert a "pod," which looks like a slim can of Coca-Cola, containing one of an assortment of available ice cream flavors into the machine and shortly after, soft-serve ice cream is yours for the eating.

When I first saw ColdSnap, I did not get it. There was a huge line of people around the company's booth because, of course, free food will always attract a crowd. But I've been there and done that when it comes to ice cream makers. 

SEE ALSO: We tried the potato ice cream from Van Leeuwen. We have some thoughts.

My mom has a "Ninja CREAMi" at her home, a different countertop ice cream maker, which costs less than $200. On visits, I've had Ninja CREAMi soft-serve and it's good, but it's no replacement for real soft-serve like you get at Carvel or Mr. Softee. It's just not "soft" enough. In my experience, Ninja CREAMi ice cream comes out too icy and not creamy enough. I expected ColdSnap to be a bit like that.

I decided to see what the hubbub surrounding ColdSnap was about. And, of course, yeah, the free food.

I was wrong. ColdSnap ice cream actually had the consistency of real soft-serve like you'd get straight from your favorite ice cream truck or soft-serve shop. The ice cream was creamy soft-serve and it was delicious. It seems like its actually possible to replicate store-bought food exactly how it was intended to taste using a homemade ice cream machine.

You can't taste it, but I assure you that ColdSnap's ice cream is very good. Credit: Mashable

ColdSnap does come with some issues and unanswered questions. Storing the coke can-sized pods will be less than ideal, and when it comes to disposal, will cities add them to recycling programs for other, similar pods? But the biggest question is: when will it actually be available to buy? ColdSnap actually debuted way back at CES 2021 and stole the show-related headlines then. But the company seemingly disappeared without ever releasing a commercial product.

At CES 2024, ColdSnap was all the rage once again. But the company was showing off a larger machine that they said they don't want to sell to customers. A ColdSnap representative told me they're looking to create a smaller version within the next year to put on the market.

Personally, I don't think the current ColdSnap product is that big. It's a kitchen countertop food maker. These products can be rather large and consumers usually don't mind. And then there's the question of will this smaller ColdSnap device still be able to make creamy soft-serve ice cream? Or will downsizing the product mean the output quality is icier in consistency, putting ColdSnap more in line with the previously mentioned Ninja CREAMi? That would certainly be a huge disappointment.

But, I guess we're closer to finding out than we were when ColdSnap debuted at CES three years ago. 

George Carlin has dropped a new comedy special. And if that seems weird — because, you know, he died in 2008 — well, it's because it isn't actually Carlin.

The special is from Dudesy, a comedy AI, that co-opted Carlin's persona for a YouTube "special" called George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead.

To be clear, the hour-long video from the AI goes out of its way to say the special is not actually Carlin.

"I just want to let you know very clearly that what you're about to hear is not George Carlin. It's my impersonation of George Carlin that I developed in the exact same way a human impressionist would," it says in the video. "I listened to all of George Carlin's material and did my best to imitate his voice, cadence, and attitude as well as the subject matter I think would have interested him today. So think of it like Andy Kaufman impersonating Elvis or like Will Ferrell impersonating George W. Bush."

But frankly, the impression is not like that at all. Ferrell and Kaufman were human beings, accentuating certain qualities of powerful people in order to create comedy and social commentary. The Dudesy special is a voice-accurate copy of Carlin, not adding context but rather trying to resurrect a ghost. It's a weird, less funny version of Carlin.

I watched a bit of the video and my takeaway was that, yes, it seemed like an AI impression of Carlin. It talked about some of the topics you'd expect from a modern Carlin: billionaires, the class system in America, and social media. But, from the little bit I saw, it felt like an impression. It didn't have much to say.

The great comedian had a point of view because he was...a great comedian. Dudesy has amalgamated its idea of Carlin into something resembling the genuine article. It's weird, unsettling, and capitalistic nonsense nobody asked for and nobody needs. In other words: The AI version of Carlin sure seems like something Carlin would've hated.

At one point the AI even jokes about replacing stand-up comedians and news anchors because it could stream forever and ever. Ah yes, endless flotsam, the perfect version of art. For what it's worth, Carlin's family seems to agree that the AI special was a bad idea.

"My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius," Carlin's daughter Kelly Carlin wrote on Twitter/X. "These AI generated products are clever attempts at trying to recreate a mind that will never exist again. Let's let the artist’s work speak for itself. Humans are so afraid of the void that we can't let what has fallen into it stay there. Here's an idea, how about we give some actual living human comedians a listen to? But if you want to listen to the genuine George Carlin, he has 14 specials that you can find anywhere."

SAVE $50: Pre-order the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for just $449.99, down from its regular price of $499.99. That's a 10% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Segway Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro preorder $449.99 at Segway (save $50 with pre-order) Get Deal

If you're tired of hopping on the metro for your morning commute or no longer find enjoyment with your rideshare companions, it might be time to find a new way to get into the office. Thanks to today's deal, you can pre-order one of Segway's best commuting scooters and kick off your year with savings.

As of Jan. 11, you can pre-order the new Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for $449.99, a $50 discount off the MSRP of $499.99. Segway estimates shipments will begin on Jan. 25.

The Segway Ninebot E2 Pro is built for daily commuting, running errands, or enjoying an adventure. With a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour, the E2 Pro features Segway's RideyLONG technology which adds 20% to the scooter's range without needing an extra battery. At max speed, the E2 Pro gets 16.8 miles of distance on a single charge. There's an anti-skid traction control system should you face precipitation and you get front and rear turning indicators for a safer ride. Plus, the braking system has a front drum brake and a rear electronic brake.

SEE ALSO: The biggest assistive technology and accessibility triumphs of 2023

Glide your way up hills with the E2 Pro's ability to head up slopes with up to an 18% incline thanks to the combination of rear-wheel drive and the 750 W motor. It takes about five-and-a-half hours to recharge the scooter for your next ride.

If you're looking for a new way to get around, the new Segway Ninebot E2 Pro scooter could be your dream mode of transportation. Pre-order the scooter today to save $50.

SAVE $70: As of Jan. 11, the Oh! vibrator is available for preorder from Ohdoki for $74.95. That's 50% off its normal price of $149.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Okidoki Oh! vibrator $74.95 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

Looking to spice things up in the bedroom? Norwegian tech company Ohdoki just debuted one very interesting piece of sextech at CES 2024, and it looks like a very interesting proposition for people with vulvas. The same company, which introduced the automated penis stroker The Handy at last year's tech expo, wants you to meet The Oh!, a new vibrator that looks more like a remote control than something that could rock your world. But despite its looks, it promises some serious sensations.

If you're in the market to try something new beyond your go-to toys, now's a great time to get in on the Oh! craze before it even starts. The newly-announced toy is available for preorder from Ohdoki right now for 50% off its MSRP. That means if you lock in your purchase as of Jan. 11, you can get it for just $74.95, which is down from its suggested price of $149.95.

The Oh! doesn't rely on motors to create those satisfying vibrations you expect from this kind of toy. Instead, according to Ohdoki, it uses sound wave-based "ResoTouch technology" to help users "create their own vibrational patterns." What that means, exactly, is a bit up in the air right now. But it probably translates to you or a partner having a great time.

You can sync up the Oh! with your favorite audio or video through Bluetooth as you take in the vibrations. And there's the opportunity to try it out with a partner using the brand's Handy toy as well, so there's an interesting type of synergy here that could bring you and someone else together while you enjoy content with a little something-something physical in the background.

The Oh! is set to debut this spring, so if you want to get it at its lower price now, be sure to pre-order early.

If you didn't think you could Moneyball dating, Netflix's latest film has a sporting strategy to change your mind.

The streaming service has dropped the trailer for Players, director Trish Sie's romantic comedy following a group of friends who run "plays" to help each other meet people for casual flings. In their dating rulebook, there's only one proviso: You can't start a relationship from a play. Seems somewhat ethical, I guess.

When Mack (Gina Rodriguez) falls for someone she has her eye on, a war correspondent named Nick (Tom Ellis), she goes to the group to help her run a play for something bigger. Her best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) and the rest of her pals decide to help her out and create a game plan to rival their usual scenarios. But the trailer hints at something else going on closer to home.

Netfix is releasing this one on Valentine's Day, so it's going to be the streaming service's big mushy romance play — and the latest addition to Netflix's existing romantic movie lineup.

Players debuts on Netflix Feb. 14

After writing surreal, existential dread-inducing movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anomalisa, and I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Charlie Kaufman makes a foray into films for younger audiences with the animated adventure Orion and the Dark.

Directed by Sean Charmatz and based on the book by Emma Yarlett, Orion and the Dark tells the story of elementary schooler Orion (voiced by Jacob Tremblay). He's overcome with fear of almost everything — but especially the dark. But when the embodiment of darkness itself (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser) pays him a visit, he'll embark on a magical adventure to try to overcome his fears.

The film's first trailer teases Orion and the Dark's fantastic journey and introduces some of Dark's friends: Dreams (voiced by Angela Bassett), Sleep (voiced by Natasia Demetriou), Unexplained Noises (voiced by Golda Rosheuvel), and more.

Orion and the Dark hits Netflix Feb. 2.