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Bitcoin has just hit $100,000.
Buoyed by Donald Trump's reelection and the promise of a pro-cryptocurrency administration, crypto investors are going all in on the digital currency. With the price of Bitcoin rising high, cryptocurrency is seemingly seeping back into the public consciousness after the crypto crashes of 2022.
And, it appears the memecoin fad is having a resurgence right now too. On the same day Bitcoin hit its new six-figure record high, the viral "Hawk Tuah" girl Hailey Welch launched her own cryptocurrency token $HAWK.
SEE ALSO: Who is the 'Hawk Tuah' girl, and what does it mean?Upon launch, $HAWK jumped to a market cap of $500 million. Within minutes, the token crashed. Its current market cap is around $36 million. Hawk Tuah fans quickly took to social media to share how they lost thousands of dollars.
Things are starting to look a lot like 2021 all over again.
Celebrity crypto is a scamDuring the last crypto rush of 2021, some celebrities and online influencers quickly saw that there was money to be made. Some musicians, reality TV stars, and e-sports names endorsed altcoins or even went ahead and made their own branded memecoins.
Cryptocurrency is a risky investment to begin with. Crypto tokens are a highly volatile speculative asset. There is currently very little governmental oversight or regulation when it comes to the crypto market. Even Bitcoin, seen as the most "safe" bet in the crypto world, has had major ebbs and flows. If you have to sell during one of the down periods, you might lose a chunk of change.
Furthermore, now anyone can create a crypto token. Over the past few years, there have been platforms that have helped make the process very easy. Dogecoin, easily the most popular memecoin, set a standard of success that no other memecoin has been able to replicate.
Yet, the allure of making easy money and getting rich quick through crypto tokens and memecoins have drawn in lots of money from people.
Back in 2021, memecoins created by celebrities and influencers were all the rage. As Mashable reported then, many turned out to be a scam.
Rug pulls are quite common with memecoins, especially those created by influencers and celebrities.
Here's what often happens: A famous or notable individual launches a memecoin. Their fans are encouraged to purchase to support their favorite creator while also making money for themselves. However, before the memecoin is officially launched, the memecoin creator puts aside a certain amount of tokens for themselves or their friends. They either give these out freely or provide an unadvertised pre-launch sale at well below the price that the token will go for at launch. When the token does go on sale, the public buys, pushing the value of the memecoin up. But, as soon as that happens, those who received coins at pre-launch dump their holdings for profit, plummeting its value and eventually crashing the memecoin. The celebrity or influencer's fans are often then left holding the bag, their money tied up in a now-worthless token that they will never be able to sell.
It may seem obvious that one should not accept financial advice from celebrities. Way back in 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a stark warning about the speculative machinations of public figures. "Investors should be skeptical of investment advice posted to social media platforms, and should not make decisions based on celebrity endorsements," Enforcement Division Co-Director Steven Peikin wrote in the same statement announcing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and DJ Khaled were charged with illegally touting initial coin offerings. "Social media influencers are often paid promoters, not investment professionals, and the securities they’re touting, regardless of whether they are issued using traditional certificates or on the blockchain, could be frauds."
However, in an age or parasocial relationships, many fans feel like they can trust their favorite influencers. There's a feeling that "they wouldn't scam me." But, time and time again, celebrity memecoins have failed, with insiders making money off of the influencer's fans.
Tweet may have been deletedTake the aforementioned and recently launched $HAWK. In a X Spaces stream, YouTuber Coffeezilla who investigates cryptocurrency scams, confronts Welch and the developers behind her crypto token about how things played out after the launch. Its a tale we've heard before. The vast majority of the tokens were held by just a few crypto wallets before the public launch. After it launched, according to Coffeezilla, those insiders dumped the token. $HAWK's value plummeted and all of those buyers who got in at launch are left with a significant financial loss.
There is no recourse for those memecoin buyers. There are no refunds, no way for them to get their money back. Most memecoins have zero utility, so there's no use case for the tokens either. The only way they're getting back what they put in is if Welch and her team can somehow convince another group of suckers to put their money into this worthless token.
Hopefully, after reading this, you won't be one of those suckers.
OpenAI has entered into its first major defense partnership, a deal that could see the AI giant making its way into the Pentagon.
The joint venture was recently announced by billion-dollar Anduril Industries, a defense startup owned by Oculus VR co-founder Palmer Lucky that sells sentry towers, communications jammers, military drones, and autonomous submarines. The "strategic partnership" will incorporate OpenAI's AI models into Anduril systems to "rapidly synthesize time-sensitive data, reduce the burden on human operators, and improve situational awareness." Anduril already supplies anti-drone tech to the U.S. government. It was recently chosen to develop and test unmanned fighter jets and awarded a $100 million contract with the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and AI Office.
SEE ALSO: Sora reportedly shipping as part of '12 Days of OpenAI' livestream marathonOpenAI clarified to the Washington Post that the partnership will only cover systems that "defend against pilotless aerial threats" (read: detect and shoot down drones), notably avoiding the explicit association of its technology with human-casualty military applications. Both OpenAI and Anduril say the partnership will keep the U.S. on par with China's AI advancements— a repeated goal that's echoed in the U.S. government's "Manhattan Project"-style investments in AI and "government efficiency."
"OpenAI builds AI to benefit as many people as possible, and supports U.S.-led efforts to ensure the technology upholds democratic values," wrote OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. "Our partnership with Anduril will help ensure OpenAI technology protects U.S. military personnel, and will help the national security community understand and responsibly use this technology to keep our citizens safe and free."
In January, OpenAI quietly removed policy language that banned applications of its technologies that pose high risk of physical harm, including "military and warfare." An OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable at the time: "Our policy does not allow our tools to be used to harm people, develop weapons, for communications surveillance, or to injure others or destroy property. There are, however, national security use cases that align with our mission. For example, we are already working with DARPA to spur the creation of new cybersecurity tools to secure open source software that critical infrastructure and industry depend on. It was not clear whether these beneficial use cases would have been allowed under 'military' in our previous policies."
Over the last year, the company has reportedly been pitching its services in various capacities to the U.S. military and national security offices, backed by a former security officer at software company and government contractor Palantir. And OpenAI isn't the only AI innovator pivoting to military applications. Tech companies Anthropic, makers of Claude, and Palantir recently announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services to sell Anthropic’s AI models to defense and intelligence agencies, advertised as "decision advantage" tools for "classified environments."
Recent rumors suggest President-elect Donald Trump is eyeing Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Shankir to take over the lead engineering and research spot in the Pentagon. Shankir has previously been critical of the Department of Defense's technology acquisition process, arguing that the government should rely less on major defense contractors and purchase more "commercially available technology."
There are some things that I don't need to know, like how much money I've spent on iced oat milk lattes or the sheer number of pens I’ve purchased this year — and how many of them are already lost. (Where do they all go?) And yet, apps keep finding new ways to quantify our lives, presenting us with data we never asked for.
Enter "Your Year in Asana," a feature that turns your 2024 work habits into a highlight reel — complete with task tallies, collaboration stats, and a subtle reminder that you're either crushing it or teetering on the edge of burnout.
SEE ALSO: Don't fall for the productivity aesthetic. It's a scam.Imagine my surprise when I opened Asana today (Dec. 5), only to be greeted by this stark reminder of our capitalistic times.
Credit: Asana"Congrats!" the app says, proudly informing me how many tasks I completed this year (1,914 and counting), how much time I saved (what does that even mean?), and my most frequent collaborators. It felt less like a celebration and more like the kind of progress report you didn’t ask for but can’t ignore—complete with the subtle pressure to do even more next year.
Because, really, do I need a virtual round of applause for checking things off a to-do list? Or a reminder that my "most active day" is Wednesday, as if I need another reason to dread that day of the week? This isn't the first time Asana has launched a year-in-review product, but this year's version looks more like Spotify Wrapped, with sleeker visuals, personalized stats, and a sprinkling of celebratory flair. And the end result feels more like a work report than a playlist of greatest hits.
Credit: AsanaAsana joins apps like Spotify and YouTube that quantify our lives into shareable summaries. But while Spotify Wrapped reminds you of your favorite songs and YouTube tracks your video binges, Your Year in Asana takes a different approach — it turns your work habits into a performance review you didn’t sign up for.
It’s less about what brought you joy and more about what kept you busy, complete with stats that feel maybe a little too revealing.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedI didn’t ask for a glowing pat on the back from an algorithm for simply doing my job, but here it is — turning my work life into something shareable, whether I want it to be or not.
There's no real way to predict TikTok trends. If you could, you'd be both fabulously wealthy and an out-of-touch, IRL social pariah incapable of integrating into polite society. It'd be impossible to foresee, for instance, that an emo song I enjoyed in 2016 would resurface on my TikTok FYP in 2024. And yet that's exactly what's been happening with Mom Jeans and their nearly decade-old song "Scott Pilgrim vs. My GPA."
Now if you're unfamiliar with Mom Jeans — the band, not the style of denim slacks — they're an indie, Midwest emo band out of California. I enjoy their music, so my FYP might be a little biased, and I think "Scott Pilgrim vs. My GPA" is a really good song. Here's the studio version of the track, off of the 2016 album Best Buds.
So, yes, the song is good, but why are people covering an eight-year-old track on TikTok? The best reason I can decipher begins with the fact that the song has a quite nostalgic feel to it. It starts primarily with an acoustic guitar and heartfelt lyrics, then layers in a trombone and loud drums. The song also has great sing-along moments and a distinctive style, all while addressing the ideas of moving on and being content with that. Those facts in mind, the song's been used in a number of TikTok edits made to elicit nostalgia like — randomly enough — a compilation of highlights from former NFL star Todd Gurley.
I've covered the trend of indie rock soundtracking sports highlights — it's not a new trend — but the Gurley clip racked up 2.5 million views, which is an unusually high figure. And a number of recent similarly nostalgic viral videos have used "Scott Pilgrim vs. My GPA," so much so that there are videos reacting to the very idea of Mom Jeans being viral. I know, I know, it's all very confusing and snake-eating-its-tail, but such is the internet.
So, with the song on lots of folks' FYPs, it tracks that suddenly there'd be lots of people covering the song. And that's how we got the trend of covering a relatively obscure indie rock song from 2016. But the covers rule. My personal favorite comes from the account @pattakerhasnopats, a kid seemingly playing the song during gym class or at a sporting event while sitting in the bleachers. The background din of other teens really adds a nostalgic haze to what's already a great cover.
That cover from @pattakerhasnopats — who has just over 2,000 followers on TikTok — has racked up nearly half a million views, which is effectively an identical number to the views on Mom Jeans' most popular live version of the song on YouTube. In other words, that cover of the song has become as popular as the song itself. And it's far from the only "Scott Pilgrim vs. My GPA" cover racking up hundreds of thousands of views.
Every TikTok in this article is from the last month or so, and it feels as if the viral moment for the song is hitting its crescendo — basically, the moment the horns come in on "Scott Pilgrim vs. My GPA."
So if you enjoy this kind of music, you might see covers on your FYP for a bit longer. But soon enough, it stands to reason, you'll be looking back on this moment fondly. If only there were a song for that.
SAVE UP TO 32%: Espresso machine, coffee grinders, and coffee makers are all on sale at Amazon this week that'll save you up to 32% on premium brands like Breville and OXO.
Best coffee deals at Amazon Best espresso machine deal Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine (BES880BSS, Stainless Steel) $693.15 at Amazon (save $306.80) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer (40-ounce, Black) $237.30 at Amazon (save $101.70) Get Deal Best coffee grinder deal OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (Silver) $67.99 at Amazon (save $31.96) Get DealMy love for coffee began in college. Not only did caffeine fuel my studies, I started working as a barista during my sophomore year. I learned a ton about coffee during my time there because not only did we pull creamy espresso shots all day long, we roasted our own coffee beans. Coffee roasting is pretty magical (and precise) art that led me deep into the world of coffee, flavors, and what makes it taste so good.
While I no longer work at a coffee shop, the lessons remain: good coffee requires good equipment. (You'll also need good beans but that's an entire TED talk). Coffee is a particular thing, and while it might seem that all coffee makers and espresso machines could do the job just fine, that's not really the case. If you're looking to make coffee-house quality drinks at home, these are the deals I recommend buying at Amazon this week.
Best espresso machine deal Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine (BES880BSS, Stainless Steel) $693.15 at AmazonThe perfect coffee equation has several important elements with two of the top being water temperature at extraction and pressure at extraction. That's where the expertise and reliability of the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine come into play to help take the pressure off you as an at-home barista. The Breville comes with a simple touch-screen interface so you can select your ideal drink like an Americano, latte, flat white, cappuccino, or espresso. The integrated steam wand works to create perfectly foamed milk which Breville says measures a least a million bubbles per milliliter, but we haven't been able to count that ourselves.
The Breville is currently 31% off at Amazon in the stainless steel finish, coming in at $693.15 which is the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon by a long shot.
Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Moccamaster Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer (40-ounce, Black) $237.30 at AmazonCoffee is very picky about water temperature which is why many drip coffee makers don't do the beans justice. If you're in the mood for some drip coffee that's full of flavor and neither under or over brewed, Moccamaster makes some of the most impressive machines. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, the Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer with a 40-ounce thermal carafe is on sale for $237.30, down from the typical price of $339. That's a 30% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon on this model.
With an impressive 40-ounce brewing capacity, the Moccamaster takes as little as four minutes to brew into the thermal stainless steel carafe. That means if you wake up an hour after someone brewed coffee, you'll still be treated to a hot cup.
The Moccamaster excels when it comes to precise water temperature, using a copper boiling element that heats water to a temperature between 196 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, it automatically shuts off once the water reservoir is empty.
Moccamaster also uses a unique method of coffee extraction that's similar to what you'd get with a pour-over coffee method, which includes an initial blooming of the ground coffee for a better flavor.
Best coffee grinder deal Opens in a new window Credit: OXO OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (Silver) $67.99 at AmazonGreat coffee beans call for using a great coffee grinder. It's likely the one in your grocery store's coffee aisle isn't all that great. Instead, you'll want a reliable burr grinder which is where the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder comes in handy. While the grinder usually costs $99.95, it's on sale at Amazon for just $67.99 which comes within $3 of the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. To get this sale price, select the silver colorway.
With 15 grind settings and additional micro-settings, the OXO burr grinder is capable of giving you perfectly ground fresh coffee each day. Go super fine for pulling espresso shots or opt for a coarse grind for the French press. Whichever route you go, the OXO has a large-capacity hopper that can hold 16 ounces of beans. The hopper's UV-blocking tint is also designed to help keep your coffee beans fresh because light is an enemy of roasted coffee beans.
Inside, stainless steel conical burrs work hard to give you a perfect grind that's uniform in size. The one-touch timer ranges from 1 to 30 seconds, which means you can grind the exact amount you'll need.
More coffee deals that are worth your money at Amazon:OXO Brew Single Serve Pour-Over Coffee Maker — $14.39 $17.95 (save $3.56)
AeroPress Original Coffee Maker — $29.95 $39.95 (save $10)
Instant Pot Milk Frother — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)
OXO Brew Rapid Brewer — $31.99 $39.95 (save $7.96)
Bialetti Moka Express (6 cups) — $37.13 $50 (save $12.87)
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker — $41.59 $51.95 (save $10.36)
Nespresso Vertuo Next — $104.99 $179.95 (save $74.96)
KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)
On the first day of launches, OpenAI gave to thee: ChatGPT Pro for hefty fees.
The new ChatGPT Pro subscription tier, available now, costs $200 a month.
On Thursday, OpenAI announced the new subscription tier as part of its "12 Days of OpenAI" extravaganza. ChatGPT Pro comes with unlimited access to its models, 4o, Advanced Voice Mode, and the full version of o1 also released today.
OpenAI also unveiled o1 Pro Mode, which is a special feature for ChatGPT Pro that can handle more compute for complex math, programming, and writing problem. ChatGPT Pro is built for "power users," said CEO Sam Altman.
As previously mentioned, o1 also got a full release today. The reasoning model was available as o1 preview for free users and o1 mini for ChatGPT Plus users. Now, ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro will have full access to o1.
OpenAI says the o1 model is 50 percent faster than o1 preview and supports multimodal input.
GET $20 OFF: As of Dec. 5, you can get a PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller for just $54.99. That's 27% off the original price or $20 off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Playstation PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller $54.99 at Best BuySkill at console gaming is all about controller mastery: When you know your controller you succeed, when you don't you fail. The PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller is advanced in every way. Right now you can get it for $20 off at this late Cyber Week Best Buy deal.
No matter if you're a PlayStation fan shopping for yourself, or you're looking for a present for a loved one who's a little game-obsessed, this is a deal you won't want to miss.
SEE ALSO: Give the gift of gaming with three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for under $50PlayStation is a storied system that's home to great unique games like the modern classic AstroBot, as well as cross platform hits. Whether you're into absolute immersion in the most sprawling of RPGs, or you're the teammate always reviving a fallen buddy in twitchy co-op shooters, PlayStation has games for you.
The PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller can handle it all. With two joy pads, adaptive triggers that alter their tension based on in-game actions, and advanced haptics including a gyroscope and accelerometer, this controller bridges the gap between you and the gameplay.
A new exhibition at London's Tate Modern, titled "Electric Dreams", looks at the period between WWII and the invention of the internet to explore the relationship between digital art and technology.
In this Mashable Original, we speak to assistant curator Odessa Warren about how artists in 20th century played with the new, cutting-edge tools that society at the time often feared.
Internet browsing is a "lonely experience," says Microsoft. Copilot Vision is your AI companion that can visually process what you're browsing and help you out along the way.
On Thursday, Microsoft announced a preview version of Copilot Vision for Copilot Pro subscribers. Microsoft introduced Vision in October as a solution to the problem that users have to explain what they're seeing to Copilot.
SEE ALSO: Microsoft Copilot can talk now: 3 new features that make it more like ChatGPT and Google GeminiVision sits on the bottom of your Microsoft Edge browser and, when enabled, "it sees the page you're on, it reads along with you, and you can talk through the problem you're facing together."
Vision is one of the first features to debut in Copilot Labs, its testing ground for AI projects. Labs, which has a noticeably softer and warmer look is Microsoft's way of sharing "works-in-progress" geared towards helping users with everyday tasks.
One demo shows Copilot Vision helping a user find the right place to stay, another helps a user make sense of photos of their grandmother's handwritten recipes. It can also help you out in a Minecraft game or with holiday shopping by pointing out the right products on the page.
How Copilot Vision handles privacyIf Copilot Vision reminds you of Windows Recall, Microsoft's "privacy nightmare" tool that consistently takes screenshots of your computer screen, there are several key differences. First, Vision is opt-in, so you can choose if you want to use it. Second, as soon as you end the session, you Copilot conversation is deleted. That said, "only Copilot’s responses are logged to improve our safety systems," read the announcement.
Microsoft has also thought through some of the sticky issues of web browsing when it comes to paywalled and sensitive information. Vision only works with a select set of websites for now, and it is programmed to "to not provide responses based on paywalled content," according to its FAQs page.
Crucially, Microsoft says Copilot Vision does not store or use any publisher content to train its models. Microsoft also says Vision "honors website controls for usage of their content by Copilot," which presumably means sites with robots.txt code that block web crawlers. Mashable has reached out to Microsoft for further clarification of Vision's data controls and will update this story with a response.
Starting today, Copilot Vision is rolling out to a limited set of Copilot Pro subscribers. A Copilot Pro subscription costs $20 a month.
GET $50 OFF: As of Dec. 5th, you can get an Xbox Series X 1TB All-digital console for $399.99. That's 12% off the original price, or $50 off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Series X 1TB All-digital Console $399.99 at Best BuyCyber Monday might be coming to a close, but its not too late to blast some digital cyborgs on your dream console. The Xbox Series X 1TB All-digital is still on sale. Order now and get it for $50 off.
The Xbox Series X offers some of the best game experiences out now. Through the Xbox Store you'll be able to load up on modern classics like Cyberpunk 2077, or subscribe to Xbox Game Pass and run through unlimited titles with your friends online.
SEE ALSO: My favorite LG TV is still on sale after Cyber MondayWhether you're into deep single-player RPGs from studios like Bethesda or online co-op titles like Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Xbox Series X is packed with content for all ages and play styles.
The All-digital edition downloads titles over your internet connection, however, the 1TB edition should have more than enough space to get started building a game library. If you need more space there are plenty of options for adding storage.
Cyber Weekend may be gone, but many of the deals remain — especially if you're shopping at Amazon. Don't fret if you missed out on the biggest sale of the season. We've rounded up a few of the best deals still sticking around on Dec. 5.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Check out our picks from yesterday, Dec. 4, as well. Many of those are still live, including a record-low price on the excellent Sony ULT Wear headphones.
Our top pick: Lego Icons Poinsettia building set Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Poinsettia building kit $34.99 at AmazonWe're huge fans of the Lego Icons Botanical collection, but like most Lego sets, they can get pretty expensive. In other words, when we see a good deal, it's always worth highlighting. As of Dec. 5, the Lego Icons Poinsettia building kit is down to just $34.99 from $49.99. That's 30% in savings and a new low price. The 608-piece set builds out into a realistic Lego interpretation of a Grande Italia poinsettia plant inside a woven basket flowerpot. You can pose the flowers however you desire and use the finished product as a centerpiece for your holiday celebrations. No maintenance required.
Shark SmoothStyle Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SmoothStyle $69.00 at AmazonEssentially a fancier version of Revlon's One-Step, the Shark SmoothStyle serves as a round hot air brush that can take your hair from wet to styled without frying it. Starting with your hair wet, you can use the three preset air temperatures to dry and style. Once it's dry, use it like a thermal brush, with one preset heated smoothing comb setting. The comb itself has ceramic-coated plates to prevent damage to your locks. It's typically $100, but you can still get it for $69 at Amazon post-Cyber Monday. That's 31% in savings and its best price ever. Plus, you'll get a $2.60 Amazon credit with your purchase.
Bose SoundLink Flex Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd gen) $119.00 at AmazonThe small-but-mighty SoundLink Flex got an upgrade earlier this fall, making the go anywhere portable speaker even better. It features the same rugged texture, waterproof and UV light resistant build, up to 12-hour battery life, and bold sound as its predecessor. However, the latest generation streamlined the controls and offers customizable EQ in the Bose app. It's usually $149, but you can snag it on sale for $119 at Amazon as of Dec. 5. That's a 20% price drop — its first discount since its September release.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $74.99 at AmazonIf you're looking for a no frills tablet to browse the web, watch your favorite shows, answer some emails, or read on the go, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is still sitting at its best-ever Black Friday price. Mashable reviewer SaVanna Shoemaker says it's "lighter and faster than its predecessors, with a long battery life and vivid picture that makes it great for on-the-go entertainment." It's regularly pretty affordable at $139.99, but as of Dec. 5, you can slash the cost by 46% and pick it up for only $74.99.
Check out our full review of the Amazon Fire HD 10.
AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 Opens in a new window Credit: AeroGarden AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 $45.00 at AmazonWant to try growing your own herbs and veggies? The AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 is down to only $45 at Amazon, its lowest price on record, making it 50% more affordable for the curious home gardener. It's just 10.6 inches wide and 16.4 inches tall (including the adjustable light height), so it doesn't demand a ton of counter space. However, it has enough room to grow six different plants using its hydroponic system. You don't need to buy soil or nutrients; it comes with liquid plant food and otherwise just requires water. The second-generation Harvest model also features a one-button control nutrient reminder and a detachable 15W grow light.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
It’s Thursday, Dec. 5th, and Cyber Monday is in the rear-view mirror... reflecting off our bank statements. However, if you’re thinking of booking travel, rejoice, because a few deals on hotels and cruises like Wyndham and Royal Caribbean are still live until the end of Friday.
Book quick! Because a few of these deals end today.
Best hotel dealWyndham
Opens in a new window Credit: Wyndham Wyndham Hotels Take up to 30% off hotel bookings of two+ nights and more Get Deal Why we like it:Hotels are expensive worldwide, but Wyndham’s Cyber Week sale drops the price significantly, especially on longer stays. Wyndham members get 30% off on bookings for two or more nights, or 20% off for one-nighters, including stays at vacation clubs. Non-members get something too, with 20% off on two night trips.
Stay in lavish hotels between the United States, Asia, The Middle East, and Europe; just take advantage of the savings before Friday, December 6 comes to a close.
More hotel dealsHilton: Take 20% off through April 21, 2025. Book by Jan. 5 to get the deal.
Hyatt: Get 20% off on hotels in the Americas until April 20, 2025. Book before Dec. 9 and use the code SAVENOW.
A cruise vacation is a vacation for the books, and it’s easy enough to take the whole family. Whether you’re booking a romantic getaway for two, or treating two generations of kids and grandkids to a tour of the seas, cruises are full of excitement and fun.
Book the Royal Caribbean Cyber Week sale now and take up to $750 off on your vacation, with options including Liberty of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and more.
More cruise dealsAtlas Voyages: Take 20% off and get a $600 credit for use onboard.
Disney Cruises: Get 20% off on select cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Lines: Take 50% off on cruises. Book airfare for one and get the second ticket free. Use code CRUISEFIRST for $250.
GET TWO FREE KINDLE TITLES: Amazon Prime members who are signed up for the free Amazon First Reads program can select two free Kindle titles during the month of December.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Two free Kindle titles with Prime membership Non-Prime members can purchase one title for $1.99 Get DealEven if you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, we're still seeing some great deals stick around. One of our favorite robot vacuums is still at a great discount, and Amazon still has some awesome sale prices sticking around. If you happen to be a Prime member and love reading, you'll also want to check out this completely free deal.
Until Dec. 31, Prime members can score one free Kindle title from the editor's selections at Amazon First Reads. Non-Prime members are eligible to snag one title for just $1.99. After that, you'll be eligible to score an additional free title from a selection of Kindle favorites. To snag this deal, you'll need to be signed up for the completely free Amazon First Reads program.
SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: Snag the Sony ULT Wear headphones while they're still at Cyber Monday pricingEach month, Prime members can browse the selected titles in the First Reads program and select one for free. Non-prime members aren't totally left out through because they can purchase one title for the low price of $1.99. Typically, Amazon tosses in an additional bonus title for free, like a short story.
For the Amazon First Reads program in the month of December, Amazon has eight Kindle titles available to choose from. Bitter Passage by Colin Mills is perfect for any historical fiction fan, taking us along on a survival adventure through the Northwest Passage. Or for those who prefer thrillers, The Drowning Game by Barbara Nickless dives into the world of mega money on superyachts and the dangers that can lurk deep within.
After you choose from one of the eight First Reads titles, Amazon is treating all of us to additional free title through Dec. 31. The extra free options include 15 titles that range from a Christmas-themed short story to science fiction to a story of espionage.
Since we're not well into cozy season, it's a great time to take advantage of these free Kindle titles from the Amazon First Reads program. Not only does this month offer Prime members a free title, Amazon is tossing in another great read, too, for the low price of totally free.
Babes, can you handle this collision of supreme talent? Nicola Coughlan, who won our hearts on Derry Girls and Bridgerton, is joining Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa for the latest Doctor Who Christmas Special, titled "Joy to the World."
Written and executive produced by former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, this holiday special stars Coughlan as the title character, a single woman named Joy, whose quiet Christmas break in London is interrupted by a "top secret mission" with a certain wildly charismatic Time Lord (Gatwa).
SEE ALSO: 'Doctor Who' Christmas specials ranked, and where to watch themWhat else is in store? Well, double Doctors, self-reflecting drama, and....dinosaurs! Joy to the world indeed.
How to watch: Doctor Who "Joy to the World" will premiere on Disney+ Dec. 25 9:10 a.m. PST / 12:10 p.m. EST.
"Wrapped season" might be coming for cuffing season's lunch. The popularity of Spotify Wrapped has caused other apps — from sex toy orgasm tracking to banking — to come up with their own year-end stats. The latest to join wrapped season is Grindr with "Grindr Unwrapped 2024."
SEE ALSO: Grindr is testing an AI 'wingman' bot, CEO saysIn 2024, Grindr users sent over 130 billion chats and almost 10 billion taps, according to the app's data. Grindr also surveyed 10,000 worldwide users on questions ranging from sex position of the year to mother of the year, and here's what it found:
Missionary won sex position of the year, with backshots (from behind), 69, side, and spooning rounding out the top five. Kissing was Grindr users' favorite foreplay activity of 2024, followed by oral (if you count oral sex as foreplay...), rimming, "hand stuff," and frotting (penis-to-penis rubbing).
As for mother of the year, Charli XCX won over Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Celine Dion, and Chappell Roan. Charli also won ally of the year and "BRAT" was Grindr users' album of the year — there must be a lot of 365 party girls on the app. Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!" was Grindr users' top song of the year, though, proving the newcomer's star power.
Check out all of the app's findings at Grindr Unwrapped.
Writer Richard Curtis shares the journey of adapting his children’s books into the intertwined holiday stories that make up That Christmas. He reflects on his personal Christmas traditions and how they inspired the heartfelt themes of family, community, and love in the film.
TL;DR: Live stream Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions for free with a 30-day free trial of Prime Video.
Thursday Night Football returns with Week 14 action, which kicks off with an NFC North showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. The Packers are 9-3, which puts them in third place in their division. The Lions are leading the entire NFC, not just the NFC North, at 11-1. The two teams are separated by the 10-3 Minnesota Vikings.
Detroit has not lost since Week 2, giving them all the momentum, on top of being the home team, where the Lions are 5-1. Green Bay has won four of their last five games, including the last three straight. The Packers are also 4-1 on the road. The odds currently favor Detroit.
When is Packers vs. Lions?Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 5. The two teams will face off at Ford Field in Detroit.
Al Michaels is expected to do the play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit will join him in the booth as the analyst.
How to stream Packers vs. Lions for freeGreen Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but anyone can watch this game for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (not to mention other Thursday Night Football fixtures).
If you're already a member, or have already used the 30-day trial, Prime Video subscriptions start at $8.99 per month.
Best streaming services for Packers vs. LionsCincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens will be aired locally in both Green Bay and Milwaukee. It may be available in some other markets, but NFL games are subject to local blackouts.
If you do not have a cable package in those markets, you have options. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Packers vs. Lions on local networks.
Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.
Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
Again, Bengals vs. Ravens is subject to local blackouts. It is available nationally on Prime Video.
How to watch Packers vs. Lions from anywhere in the worldIf you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Packers vs. Lions from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch Packers vs. Lions from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 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 connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get DealCuffing season is in full swing and 2025 is within kissing distance. But, what will the new year bring for our love lives?
Dating app Hinge is encouraging daters to adopt a concept they're calling "Dating Forward". The concept essentially centres around being intentional and thoughtful in your dating behaviour, avoiding amassing dating matches without talking to them, and instead taking time to read people's profiles and engage with the content.
SEE ALSO: Cuffing for love? Here are the best dating apps for serious relationshipsSo, how exactly do we "date forward"? Hinge's director of relationship science Logan Ury says it's all about prioritising quality over quantity.
According to a new survey by the company, 47 percent of Hinge daters say that going on more dates is their top dating goal for 2025. But, as anyone who's been on a dating app lately will know, the real challenge lies in turning matches into conversations, then converting those chats into real-life dates. That's not even mentioning the journey that ensues once you've connected IRL.
Hinge's five tips for dating forward in 2025Focus on the present73 percent of Hinge daters admit to overthinking past dating experiences. Hinge wants daters to refocus their attention to present and future dating experiences.
Set yourself dating goalsWhen you're spending a decent chunk of time on the apps, it's useful to think about what you want to get out of that. 42 percent of Hinge daters say they need to set clearer intentions for what they're looking for.
Prioritise quality matches over quantityStop racking up matches with no intention of talking to people. Instead, try slowing things down and evaluating each match before turning back to scrolling through profiles. Hinge introduced Your Turn Limits in 2024 to cap the number of unanswered messages in a bid to beat dating fatigue. If you have too many pending replies, the feature will ask you to respond to or end those conversations before connecting with new people.
SEE ALSO: Tinder's top dating trends and predictions for 2025 Meet ASAPMany of us know how it feels to get stuck in a pen pal situationship with someone who has no intention of meeting you in person. Chat to someone too long and you can quickly lose interest in meeting up. Hinge research has found that three days of chatting is the "sweet spot to ask someone out."
Plan activity-based datesGone are the days of boring dates that feel like job interviews. Why not plan a date around an activity you find fulfilling? If the date goes well: great. But if it doesn't: you still had fun and got to do an enjoyable activity. 31 percent of Hinge daters think that planning dates that centre around activities they like would help them stay focused on dating. You could try going to museums, art classes, or an event where you try your hand at a new skill.
Go forth and date forward.
Haliey Welch, the girl behind the viral "Hawk Tuah" video that was everywhere over the summer, has gone from strength to strength since, growing a huge social media following before launching her own podcast. But it seems like her luck in the public sphere may have run out.
SEE ALSO: 50 Cent got hacked by someone shilling memecoinsOn Wednesday, Welch followed in the footsteps of celebrities like Iggy Azalea and Cardi B when she launched her own memecoin, $HAWK. Within minutes of the launch, though, things started going wrong. Here's how it all played out.
Tweet may have been deleted What is Haliey Welch's $HAWK token?In short, it's another of the many memecoins on the Solana blockchain. Welch teased the launch in late November, mentioning possibly launching a memecoin on her podcast when interviewing businessman Mark Cuban, and sharing a thread on X (formerly Twitter) from a company called overHere, who said it was launching the token on her behalf.
Tweet may have been deleted"$HAWK isn’t just a Meme Coin, it’s a part of the culture," reads the token's description on overHere's site. "Haliey is using her meme to unite her entire community. From: TikTok, Talk Tuah podcast listeners, merchandise buyers, and even her charity supporters. Hundreds of thousands of non-crypto users will be onboarded by $HAWK because Haliey is making it easy, fun, and engaging. If you love Haliey, you love memes. And $HAWK is where it all comes together."
overHere's original X thread also stated that $HAWK "isn't just another token launch," arguing that it would help onboard non-crypto users while putting transparency first.
So where did it all go wrong?
What happened with the $HAWK launch? That chart...doesn't look great. Credit: dexscreener.comShortly after $HAWK launched, Welch's X post was quickly hit with a Community Note warning that 96 percent of the token's supply appeared to be owned by just 10 connected wallets. Wallets are anonymous (at least to an extent), but when such a large percentage of one token is owned by so few, the risks are obvious — if these people start selling, the token's value can plummet.
Tweet may have been deletedAs you can see from the chart above by blockchain data analytics visualiser Bubblemaps, $HAWK spiked to a market cap of almost $500 million just minutes after its launch, before dumping down just as quickly again. At the time of writing the coin has a market cap of $36.6 million. In short, most people who bought the coin in those opening hours have lost money on it.
What has Haliey Welch said about $HAWK?Welch and the overHere team attempted damage control in the hours after the launch, saying that "Haliey's team has sold absolutely no tokens whatsoever" and trying to place the blame on snipers (people who use bots to quickly buy tokens at the cheapest price possible). They released "Hawkanomics" which appear to show that Welch's tokens (10 percent of the supply) are locked for 12 months.
Tweet may have been deletedThey all eventually joined an X Spaces to talk about the launch, which Welch left after an hour saying she was "gonna go to bed." The overHere team promised that they'll "come back tomorrow" and that they're not going anywhere.
For the people who may have bought the token shortly after it launched, though, only to find its value quickly melting away as others sold it, that might not be much comfort.
SAVE $150: As of Dec. 5, the Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale at Best Buy for $199.99. This is $150 off their original price of $349.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $199.99 at Best BuyHeadphones with noise-canceling are a must for people who frequently listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. There's truly nothing better than being able to tune in to just what you're listening to and not be bothered by outside noises. Unfortunately these headphones can often come with hefty price tags, but thankfully a few are still on sale after Cyber Monday, including the Beats Studio Pro.
The Beats Studio Pro headphones are currently down to $199.99 at Best Buy, a whopping $150 off their original price of $349.99. All colors are discounted as well, so you can choose between the black and gold headphones, standard black, navy, deep brown, and sandstone. As a bonus, you also get two free items with your purchase: Apple Fitness+ for free for three months and up to three months free of Apple Music.
SEE ALSO: My favorite LG TV is still on sale after Cyber MondayNoise-canceling headphones like these ones are worth every penny. In our review, writer Alex Perry said "the Beats Studio Pro headphones are excellent on most of the levels that matter. They sound fantastic, last a long time, and support multiple playback styles. Most importantly, Android users don’t get the shaft, with near-parity between iOS and Google’s mobile platform."
These headphones may not stay at this sale price for long, so take advantage of this Beats Studio Pro headphones deal at Best Buy before it's gone.
There are still some great deals to check out right now, even with Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us. In our roundup of the best Cyber Monday deals still live, you can have a look through our selection to see if any items that caught your eye are still discounted right now.