Mashable

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

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

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

2. Your free time is pretty limited.

3. Dating kinda sucks.

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

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

Should working professionals consider dating sites?

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

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

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

Do you need to pay for the best dating apps?

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

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

What is the best dating site for working professionals?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As Generation X and elder millennials are tramping into middle age, we look back on our youth achingly aware of how fast some things change. This is particularly true for queer folks in these groups. All of Us Strangers uniquely speaks to this experience through a ghost story that offers humor, heartbreak, and an unapologetic horniness in leading men Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott. But beyond their tear-jerking romance, writer/director Andrew Haigh's adaptation of Taichi Yamada's novel Strangers offers a gift to generations of queer people who grew up in the shadow of the AIDS crisis and so found coming out to our parents difficult, if not impossible.

Set in modern-day England, All of Us Strangers stars Andrew Scott as Adam, a screenwriter who is looking back at his youth for inspiration. Specifically, he focuses on the days before his parents died in a car accident when he was 11 years old. His research includes a journey to his childhood home, which seems to resurrect the ghosts of his parents preserved in that house like mosquitoes in amber.

From there, he gets to know Mum (Claire Foy) and Dad (Jamie Bell) as grown-ups, and they get to know him. And a major part of this exchange is his parents — who remain as they were in the 1980s — realizing that their son is "homosexual."

It's a journey studded with hurt, but its destination is a place many of us aspire to reach. 

How does All of Us Strangers handle coming out? Claire Foy and Andrew Scott in "All of Us Strangers" tackle coming out. Credit: Searchlight Pictures

As Mum and Dad died before Adam's 12th birthday, this child of the '80s didn't come out to them while they lived — yet there's a sense they know. Upon the family's initial supernatural reunion, queer audiences will recognize some code words in their reminiscing. Mum notes, "You've always been a sensitive boy," evoking the phrase so many parents of that time used to avoid using words like "gay." But when Adam returns later and talks to her alone, she brightly asks if he has a girlfriend. The conversation quickly goes downhill from there.

Adam takes the opportunity to say it outright: "I don't have a girlfriend because I'm not into girls, into women…I'm gay." His mother, previously full of warmth and smiles, is now fidgety and perturbed. She utters phrases that sting queer ears with their familiarity, asking for how long he's been that way and insisting, "You don't look gay." (Adam replies kindly, "I don’t know what that means.") With a sharp tone, she asks if he wants to be married and then huffs over the very idea, "Isn’t that like having your cake and eating it?" She also trots out the age-old fear tactic: "They say it's a very lonely kind of life."  

"They don't say that anymore," Adam says, visibly annoyed but trying to comfort her as she practically shrieks over AIDs without even saying the word, referring to "this awful ghastly disease." Adam gently but firmly defends himself, but he's wounded. Especially when he asks if she'd ever suspected, and she answers, "What parent wants to think that about their child? No parent I know." 

It's not the last thing she'll say, but it's among the most cutting. He’s visibly shaken by his mother's fear. Then, she practically kicks him out of the house, but not before offering him some flapjacks to go. She is still his Mum after all, can't let him go hungry.

Dad jokes and gender norms trip up Adam.  Jamie Bell plays Dad in "All of Us Strangers." Credit: Searchlight Pictures

Next comes Dad, who’s already been told by Mum. So when Adam visits again, his father is ready, offering dad jokes about how he always knew the boy was "a bit tooty fruity" because he "couldn't throw a ball for shit."

But their heart-to-heart gets serious when Dad admits he figured Adam was being bullied because he could hear the boy cry in his room after school. After 30 years, Adam tells his father about the abuse he endured in school for being the "sensitive" boy. And he challenges Dad, "Why didn’t you come into my room if you heard me crying?" 

Andrew Scott's delivery of this line is edged with anger, though his voice is soft. There's a raw need just below his calm surface, begging to understand and to be understood by the father who made him self-conscious about his masculinity, chiding him to not "cross his legs like a lady" when he sits down. 

Enforcing such gender norms may have seemed minor or helpful to our parents, but many LGBTQ people can recall the jolt of crossing a line they didn't know existed. The confusion it sparked could fester into shame and self-loathing for failing to fit in the box our parents put before us. And in this conversation, the surge of those feelings comes back for Adam and for us.

Then comes a moment shocking in its simplicity. Dad drops the jokes that are his shield against emotional honesty and says, "I didn’t want to think of you as the kind of boy that other lads picked on. I knew that if I was at your school, I’d have probably picked on you too."

It's a shocking revelation. Yet Jamie Bell delivers these lines not with disgust or scorn but a casual resignation, as if this father is realizing the truth as he says it. As their conversation continues, the recognition of how he failed his son weighs on him, literally dragging him down into the pose of The Thinker. Adam tries to comfort him, by recalling "good memories too." But Dad tears up, offering, "I’m sorry I never came into your room when I heard you crying." 

How many of us get to experience this moment in real life? This emotional honesty from a parent, recognizing where they failed us? Some parents may take years to reach such an epiphany. Some die first. Dad did. And yet Adam is gifted solace, which he shares with us. When Dad asks for a hug — the same man who earlier chided affection between father and son as "poofy" — we can practically feel the warmth of that embrace.

All of Us Strangers offers forgiveness.  Jamie Bell, Andrew Scott, and Claire Foy play a family in "All of Us Strangers." Credit: Searchlight Pictures

Mum's apology will come on their next visit, when the family decorates the Christmas tree like they did on their last night living together. They listen to the Pet Shop Boys' cover of "Always on My Mind," and Mum sings along, looking meaningfully at Adam. 

"And maybe I didn't hold you / All those lonely, lonely times / And I guess I never told you / I’m so happy that you're mine / If I made you feel second best / I’m so sorry I was blind..." 

Without a word, he forgives her. That night, he will curl into their bed as if he is 11 again, adored and accepted. But this time, they know who he is. Not just gay, but grown and lonely and creative and sensitive and forgiving. And through these visits, he knows them not just as Dad and Mum but as grown-ups just as complicated and confused and flawed as he is. But this is not their ending.

All of Us Strangers offers a farewell to remember.  Jamie Bell, Andrew Scott, and Claire Foy say goodbye in "All of Us Strangers." Credit: Searchlight Pictures

Realizing their time together is coming to a close, Andrew’s parents say the things we yearn to hear. In their final visit, they urge him to pursue love. But moreover, Dad proclaims, "I will say that getting to know you has made us very proud...You've got through it, some very tough times, I'm sure. And you're still here. That’s what we're proud of."

Adam is not a massive success in his career. He doesn't have a spouse and kids and a big house in the suburbs. He hasn't achieved the perfect picture his suburban parents had in mind for him. But he's still standing. His parents see him now, and they love him in his imperfection, in his incompleteness, in his figuring it out. This might be the kind of proclamation some straight dads can only have on their deathbed. Here, it's had in a tacky America-themed restaurant. And yet it is perfectly cathartic. We cry with Adam as his parents fade away, not only because they're gone but because we got to know them and see them know him. It's a treasure that feels like it is ours too. 

Admittedly, this is only half of the story in All of Us Strangers. The other half is the electrifying love story between Adam and his younger, lusty neighbor Harry (a scorching Paul Mescal). But one informs the other. Now able to believe his parents know and love him, he is ready to open himself to the love of another without reservation. But no love is perfect; all relationships are messy. I could go on for another thousand words about the thrills of this particular gay love story. ("I found you!") But maybe even more than queer audiences yearn for a sexy romance between Mescal and Scott, we year for the catharsis this film's bittersweet final act offers. 

Director Andrew Haigh on the set of "All of Us Strangers." Credit: Searchlight Pictures

All of Us Strangers feels deeply personal in every moment. Scott plays the part of Adam shorn of the cocky bravado he had as Fleabag's Hot Priest or as Sherlock's menacing Moriarty. He's so nakedly vulnerable onscreen that it feels almost rude to watch him here. Haigh's own experiences not only breathe life into the domestic dialogue, but he even shot the film in his actual childhood home. Perhaps that adds to the magic of those scenes with Dad and Mum.  

Overall, the arc from queer-coded words to coming out to hurt and healing is extraordinary in All of Us Strangers. Andrew Scott and Andrew Haigh take us by the hand and guide us through the hard moments, the cutting dad jokes, and beyond — to a parent recognizing their own fallibility. The apologies that follow may seem insufficient if you explained it to a friend over brunch. But in that moment, in that song, in that hug, you know you're speaking the same language. It's as real and undeniable as the blood you share. 

Some of us don't get this far with our parents, or if we do, it takes years or even decades. All of Us Strangers gives us this journey through a handful of visits and under two hours. The agony and ecstasy of it hits with equal measure. So, even though its ending may not be straightforwardly happy, it feels like a glorious queer victory. 

All of Us Strangers is now in theaters.

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

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

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

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

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

Credit: MacBook Pro

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

Avoid getting moisture in any openings and creases.

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

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

Credit: Oscar Wong/Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Babbel: The starting line for a new language

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

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

Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint

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

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

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why are so many people watching therapy porn? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More therapists = more therapy porn 

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

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

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

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

What about real-life therapist fantasies?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expats is now streaming on Prime Video.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Automate your vacation planning

Let the robot find cheap flights for you. 

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

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

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

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

Shop refurbished tech

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

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

Refurbished and ready to work

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

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

From beginner to developer

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

Create your dream video game

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Squirrly Limited 40+ SEO & Digital Marketing Lifetime Courses $39.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

You may have heard that a really cool total solar eclipse is happening soon — and that you shouldn't miss it, because they're rare.

But just how rare?

A total solar eclipse — when the moon passes in between the sun and Earth and completely blocks the sun for a few minutes or so — is on average visible somewhere on our planet every 18 months. But over 70 percent of our planet's surface is ocean, so being in an accessible viewing place (on land) is much rarer. And rarer yet is living in a place where this event is happening — meaning you don't need to travel hundreds of miles or perhaps even to another continent to see it.

"It's rare for it to come to you."

"It's rare for it to come to you," Richard Fienberg, an astronomer and senior advisor at the American Astronomical Society, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: NASA will land daring spacecraft on a world 800 million miles away How often does a total solar eclipse happen?

When the moon completely blocks out the sun, it casts a shadow on Earth. As this shadow moves, it creates a "path of totality," which is a relatively narrow band that sweeps across the surface. Anyone standing inside this path will see a total solar eclipse (weather and clouds permitting). On April 8, 2024, this eclipse band will be 115 miles wide.

Crucially, it's rare for any specific location on Earth to experience a total solar eclipse.

"On the average, about 375 years elapse between the appearance of two total eclipses from the same place. But the interval can sometimes be much longer!" NASA explains.

(There are other types of solar eclipses that happen, like a partial or an annular eclipse, but these are nothing like a total solar eclipse, wherein the sun's ghostly corona is revealed. "Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him," the author Annie Dillard wrote in her essay "Total Eclipse," a poignant tale about experiencing totality in Washington state.)

The path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Credit: NASA Science Visualization Studio A total solar eclipse seen from the International Space Station. Credit: CNES

For this reason, avid eclipse viewers (sometimes called "eclipse chasers") chase total eclipse shadows wherever they may fall, which is often at sea. Total solar eclipses happen somewhere around every year or two.

"That's why most of the eclipses I have seen have been on cruise ships," Fienberg, whose journey to see the imminent eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be his 15th experience.

So if there's one on land, and in an accessible place, it's an exciting opportunity. It's almost certainly the only chance millions will have to experience totality from home. For example, after the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 — which crosses a long northeastern path across the U.S. — the lower 48 states won't experience another such eclipse for over 20 years, until Aug. 23, 2044. And that event will sweep just across a small portion of the U.S. before crossing north through Canada and into the Arctic. (But another one will sweep across a wide expanse of the nation in 2045.)

"It's not just something you see. It's something that you feel."

Experiencing totality, when you can see the sun's corona, the world darkens, and animals begin to act strange, is a poignant experience. That's why Fienberg certainly encourages anyone living in the path or near it to see it. And from personal experience, if you have the opportunity, it's also worth even traveling longer distances for the unique space spectacle. Make it a trip.

"It's not just something you see. It's something that you feel," Fienberg said.

Familiarity in horror isn’t always a bad thing.

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

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

The starting idea isn’t a bad one.

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

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

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

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

The stakes in Baghead aren't high enough.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AcrossSudden desire

• The answer is whim.

Painter's stand

• The answer is easel.

It can precede Joel and goat

• The answer is billy.

Ecosystem that rivals only the rainforest in biodiversity

• The answer is reef.

Unit for a comedian or weightlifter

• The answer is set.

DownInternet, with "the"

• The answer is web.

___ and makeup

• The answer is hair.

Parts of an archipelago

• The answer is isles.

All-out brawl

• The answer is melee.

Uber alternative

• The answer is Lyft.

TL;DR: Stream Senegal vs. Ivory Coast in AFCON for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The knockout rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations are set to deliver quality, energy, and moments of drama. There are some massive matchups in this first round of knockout games, but it doesn't get any bigger than Senegal vs. Ivory Coast.

If you want to watch Senegal vs. Ivory Coast for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Senegal vs. Ivory Coast?

Senegal vs. Ivory Coast kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 29. This fixture takes place at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.

How to watch Senegal vs. Ivory Coast for free

The match between Senegal and Ivory Coast will be broadcast live on BBC Three, with coverage starting from 7:50 p.m. GMT on Jan. 29. 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 service with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access BBC iPlayer to stream AFCON 2023 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. Stream Senegal vs. Ivory Coast 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 do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch key AFCON knockout games before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 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 always 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 Senegal vs. Ivory Coast for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

When you're sheltering alone in your creepy cabin during a massive storm, there's only one thing to do when a knock comes at the door: ignore it. Unfortunately the man in the trailer for You'll Never Find Me, Patrick (Brendan Rock), picks the other option — and everything goes downhill from there.

Written by Indianna Bell and directed by Bell and Josiah Allen, Shudder's latest horror follows a strange woman (Jordan Cowan) who asks to shelter inside Patrick's cabin during the storm. But have they met each other before? And what's she really doing there?

How to watch: You'll Never Find Me is streaming on Shudder from March 22.

TL;DR: Stream Newport Country vs. Manchester United in the FA Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The fourth-round of the FA Cup is delivering a lot of matchups between Premier League sides and smaller clubs with big dreams and nothing to lose. It's what makes the competition so special. The chance of a giant killing is always exciting, and there aren't many bigger giants than Manchester United.

If you want to watch Newport Country vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Newport Country vs. Manchester United?

Newport Country and Manchester United will kick off at 4:30 p.m. GMT on Jan. 28 at Rodney Parade.

How to watch Newport Country vs. Manchester United for free

The FA Cup fixture between Newport Country and Manchester United is live on BBC One, with coverage starting from 4 p.m. GMT on Jan. 28. 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. Stream Newport Country vs. Manchester 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 Newport Country vs. Manchester 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 Newport Country vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Liverpool vs. Norwich City in the FA Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The FA Cup is at its best when the biggest clubs in the country take on sides from outside the Premier League. Everyone wants to see a surprise result. Everyone except Liverpool fans that is, because Liverpool are hosting Norwich City in the fourth round of the competition.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Norwich City for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Norwich City?

Liverpool and Norwich City will kick off at 2:30 p.m. GMT on Jan. 28 at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Norwich City for free

You can watch the FA Cup fixture between Liverpool and Norwich City live on ITV1, with coverage starting from 1:55 p.m. GMT on Jan. 28. You can also live stream this fixture for free on ITVX.

ITVX 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 ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ITVX 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 ITVX

5. Stream Liverpool vs. Norwich City 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 capitalising on these offers, you can gain access to ITVX without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream Liverpool vs. Norwich City for free.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, 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 Liverpool vs. Norwich City for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Write Bot AI Content Creation is on sale for £31.42, saving you 92% on list price.

Writing may sound easy on paper, but chipping away at writer's block one word at a time can be tough and time-consuming. When you have a ton of other things you need to get done, you might not have time to do the job justice. 

Generative AI writing tools may be able to speed things up. While its no replacement for your own human brain, an AI content generator could help you quickly get the bulk of the work done so you can focus on fine-tuning. With Write Bot, that means you can use AI to quickly come up with ideas, outlines, drafts, and more, and a lifetime subscription is £31.42 for a limited time.

Write Bot is an AI-powered content generator that could help you craft quality content magnitudes faster. This Generative AI lets you choose from various use cases like blog ideas, business proposals, social media ads, product descriptions, and more when you're ready to craft a new text. Then you just fill in some information and let the AI do the rest. It may only take seconds for the AI to generate what could have taken hours otherwise. You can even edit and polish the final document right there. 

The Premium plan lets you generate up to 1,000,000 words per month across 12+ use cases. You also get access to priority email and chat support. Plus, you can access Write Bot from all your devices, so you can use it at work, at home, or on the go. It's accessible through any modern browser on desktop or mobile devices. This subscription is only available to new users. 

Don't miss your chance to get your own AI writer for life for a limited-time low price. Get a lifetime subscription to Write Bot for £31.42. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Write Bot Write Bot AI Content Creation (Lifetime Subscription) £31.42 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Question: Is there anything better than a chilled, fresh, relaxing, tasty, proper pint of beer in the pub? Answer (as if we actually need an answer): Absolutely not.  

We all like a beer at home too — a bag of cans or a few bottles are all well and good — but it’s not the same as a pub-pulled pint. That’s why home dispensers are increasingly popular. For beer enthusiasts, a dispenser should go alongside the coffee machine or kettle — an essential appliance that every kitchen needs.

But where to start? Different drinks for different needs, and that’s also true of beer dispensers. So we’ve rounded up a selection of machines to suit all kinds of beer lovers.

How does a beer dispenser work?

This really depends on the beer dispenser you buy. Some take kegs, some use their own technology, and others allow you to pour the beer straight in. We’ve even included one dispenser that sucks the beer straight from the can and turns into it a draught-style pint. Most models use kegs, or a variation on the keg.

How much beer does a beer dispenser hold?

While it would be easier for brands to list keg and dispenser capacities in pints — that’s how we like to drink it, after all — they’re measured in litres. Most dispensers hold kegs of around 5 litres (and there’s 1.76 pints in a litre), though some will hold a little more or less.

What types of beer do dispensers use?

Being limited to kegs doesn’t mean you’re limited with choice of beer brands. There’s actually a wide, ever-growing range of kegs available, with brands that include Budweiser, Stella Artois, Beck’s, Brewdog, Leffe, Goose Island, Corona, and Camden Hells. The Krups machine we’ve included in this roundup uses its own style kegs — oversized cans called “torps” — which include some alternative breweries and brands. That range includes the likes of Amstel, Moretti, Tiger, Lagunitas, and Brixton. Or you can get a home-brewing dispenser that allows you to brew all kinds of beer.

How much does a beer dispenser cost?

Luckily, this roundup of home beer dispensers includes a range of prices, from well under £100 to almost £400. There are cheaper options available, but if you want good quality, be prepared to spend at least a few hundred pounds. Remember there are ongoing costs with kegs, too. A 6 litre keg will cost somewhere between £30 and £45, depending on which brand you like to drink.

What is the best home beer dispenser?

Much like the beer itself, it all comes down to personal taste. Maybe you need something to keep the beer flowing at a party, or maybe you’re a serious beer connoisseur who wants the absolute best machine and best-tasting tipple that money can buy. Either way, there’s something for you on this list. We’ve taste-tested the reviews and scoured the internet for a good selection to suit every kind of beer lover.

There are the best beer dispensers in 2024.