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HBO's Max has shared a behind-the-scenes for "House of the Dragon" Season 2's prosthetics workshop.

"The Daily Show" host Michael Kosta has reacted to Kamala Harris' VP pick, Tim Walz.

Disney has announced another price hike across all of its streaming services.

The company buried the announcement at the end of an unrelated blog post on Tuesday, with price increases across the board from Oct. 17.

SEE ALSO: Disney, Fox, Warner sports streaming service Venu announces price and launch date

The new monthly pricing for streaming services Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ is as follows:

• Disney+ With Ads: $9.99 (up from $7.99)

• Disney+: $15.99 (up from $13.99)

• Hulu With Ads: $9.99 (up from $7.99)

• Hulu: $18.99 (up from $17.99)

• ESPN+ With Ads: $11.99 (up from $10.99)

• Hulu+ Live TV With Ads: $82.99 (up from $76.99)

• Hulu+ Live TV: $95.99 (up from $89.99)

Disney's Duo Basic bundle has also gotten pricier, going up to $10.99 per month (up from $9.99). However, the Duo Premium still has the same price: $19.99 per month.

Disney's increased prices were tacked on to the end of the blog post, which sported an inconspicuous headline about "continuous playlists" — and yes, continuous playlists are indeed coming on Sept. 4. Disney detailed four streaming playlist themes in its post: Seasonal Content, Epic Stories, Throwbacks, and Real Life.

While unfortunate for subscribers, the price hikes are expected as they follow similar price increases from other streaming services including Max, Peacock, and Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Disney hacked, apparently by angry Club Penguin fans

What's concerning is that this is Disney's third price hike in less than two years. The company increased pricing in Dec. 2022, followed by another price hike in August 2023. And if we're counting from 2019, when Disney first introduced Disney+, the prices have more than doubled.

TL;DR: Use code CONNECT to get this VPN router for $169 with free shipping (save $50), and browse securely with no monthly payments or ads.

Being emotionally attached to your VPN is so real (especially if it brought Friends back to your Netflix account), but does it treat you right? You might be paying a fortune in monthly fees for mediocre features and security when this router would treat you like royalty. Just don’t go all Joaquin Phoenix in Her on us.

It’s like your VPN, but better. Well, we think so, but we’ll let you be the judge of that. Instead of monthly payments, you can use this router’s VPN servers forever for $169 (reg. $219) with code CONNECT. You’ll even get free shipping for a limited time.

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This router is even easier to set up than your current VPN. Plug it into a USB-C device for power and connect your devices to it like you would Wi-Fi. You’re allowed five connections at once, like your phone, laptop, and smart TV.

Emphasis on the latter because it also blocks ads on your connected devices. The manufacturer claims the router stops all ads, even those on YouTube or your streaming services, so now you can watch Friends on Netflix and skip the ads all at once. Okay, now we can see why Joaquin fell in love in that movie.  

Let’s talk security. Since this router is a physical device compared to virtual networks, your data isn’t stored on external servers. This decentralized aspect, along with military-grade encryption on its 150,000+ available servers, means you’ll likely be far more protected from cyber threats than you were with your VPN. 

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Network Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $169.00 at The Mashable Shop
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Let's talk about sex — more specifically, about the fact that some of us are opting not to have it. Celibacy is a hot topic in pop culture, evidenced by the return of the Netflix series Too Hot To Handle, where contestants attempt to abstain from sex for prize money. Beyond Netflix, people — women in particular — are opening up about their decision to be celibate online and coining terms about it like "boy sober." 

Between 2007 and 2017, the number of young men and women having casual sex both dropped, according to a 2021 paper in the sociological research journal Socius. The paper's authors stated that this decline is consistent with the general decrease in sex young adults are experiencing.

SEE ALSO: I got stood up. I refuse to let dating app culture break my spirit.

But is the way we talk about celibacy helpful, or does it reinforce unhelpful stigma and stereotypes? 

Why are so many women choosing to be celibate?

Choosing to be celibate could stem from a range of personal reasons, from experiences of sexual violence to looking inward and figuring out what one actually wants.

Gabrielle, 26, decided to go celibate after getting hurt too many times in the dating scene and wanting to reevaluate her priorities. "Being celibate has been a game-changer for me," she tells Mashable. Gabrielle and others are referred to by their first names only for privacy reasons.

"It's not about punishing myself or depriving myself of pleasure. It's about taking control of my own life, my own body, and my own happiness," she continues. "It's about saying, 'You know what, I'm worth something, even if it's just to myself.' And that's a powerful feeling." 

Sexologist and relationship therapist Madalaine Munro explains that there are many benefits to opting for celibacy, temporarily or otherwise. These include finding "a more intentional approach to how you get your needs met in life" as well celibacy being a chance to "reflect on your relationship patterns and what you really need from dating and relationships." You're able to explore where you may source your self-worth and external validation, and focus on other important areas of your life.

It seems that celibacy is being discussed by and large by women. For example, the term "boy sober" is trending on TikTok (with over 29 million posts at time of writing), referring to elected celibacy predominantly by women — and the subsequent benefits for their own wellbeing. The 4B movement — the supporters of which reject traditional heteronormative values and refuse to be sexually or romantically involved with men, or have children — may have started in South Korea, but has gained traction and fascination all over the internet.

"Women experience both hyper-sexualisation, objectification and slutshaming, so it can be confusing to have such extremes projected onto them and their choices," Munro explains.

And, of course, asexuality exists on a spectrum. Some people may not desire sex at all, or are repulsed by the idea of sex.

For allosexuals (people who do feel sexual desire and attraction), is this trend most dominant with heterosexual women? Munro says so, and explains that from her viewpoint this happens because "they realise that their emotional needs may not have been met in the sex they are experiencing." But, she says she has also noticed celibate trends within the queer community as well, in terms of making "empowered choices around sex and relationships."

Bumble's celibacy fumble

The online conversation around celibacy became more heated when dating app Bumble released adverts making fun at celibacy at best, and shaming it at worst. One billboard read: "You know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer." Another stated, "Thou shalt not give up on dating and become a nun." 

The fact that a company so deeply entrenched in how we date can make such tone deaf comments about a healthy and valid lifestyle choice is concerning.

Critics of Bumble's adverts took to the internet, with one posting on TikTok: "Imagine pretending to be a Dating App FOR WOMEN and launching a million dollar ad campaign BLAMING WOMEN for a very normal reaction [to] men's violence." Another posted: "Stay away from companies that try to ridicule women for their personal choices."

Model and journalist Jordan Emanuel posted on X (formally known as Twitter): "In a world fighting for respect and autonomy over our bodies, it's appalling to see a dating platform undermine women's choices. Wasn't this app supposed to empower women to date on their terms?"

Bumble apologised in a statement over social media. "For years, Bumble has passionately stood up for women and marginalised communities, and their right to fully exercise personal choice," it reads. "We didn't live up to these values with this campaign and we apologise for the harm it caused." 

One of the ironies from this outrage and apology is that many women are opting for celibacy because they are frustrated by modern dating, the state of which Bumble helped shape. One of the most popular dating apps ridiculing this choice says a lot about the stigma surrounding celibacy.

Actress and model Julia Fox even weighed in on her own experience of being celibate, responding to a viral TikTok criticising Bumble's campaign. She wrote: "2.5 years of celibacy and never been better." When asked more about this during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen, Fox divulged a very political and personal reason for her celibacy.

"I think with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and you know, our rights being stripped away from us, this is a way that I can take back control," she said. "And it just sucks that it has to be that way, but I just don't feel comfortable until things change." (Fox has since come out as a lesbian.)

The stigma around celibacy

So with the increasing popularity of celibacy and the harsh backlash Bumble faced, why are societal attitudes often leaning towards stigmatising and shaming it? What is the larger impact of controversies like Bumble's "fumble"?

Munro explains that this stigma exists because celibacy "goes against the hyper-fixation and glorification of romantic relationships by pop culture." 

"It receives stigmatisation in society because people aren't taught that it may be an empowered choice growing up," Munro says.

SEE ALSO: Predictions for sex in the future that some will love — and some will hate

It's also not in the best interest of dating app companies for people to be opting out of dating and sex, explaining why many may not initially encourage celibacy as a choice for their users. "A movement in celibacy directly impacts dating app subscriptions," Munro explains. It doesn't help that users are increasingly sick of dating apps for other reasons, and starting to choose other options like IRL dating events.

Feeling any shame or stigma around celibacy may make modern dating and relationships even harder to navigate. "Stigmatising celibacy creates shame around dating and intimacy choices, which can lead to people feeling that something they are doing is somehow wrong or that they should be doing something differently," Munro says. "It makes it seem that celibacy could be a wrong choice when actually it may be the first time someone is looking inwards around their relationship needs." 

Pros and cons of celibacy

"Celibacy often helps women create their own relationship to pleasure and sex without unhealthy narratives of society," Munro says.

You may choose to continue to masturbate during a celibate period, which can help you experience your own sexual pleasure directly. Munro explains that in a sexual relationship with a partner, you may experience indirect pleasure, from someone else's pleasure, instead of your own. "Celibacy gives you the opportunity to get clear on what feels good in your body, what turns you on, what you like and don't like without the interference of how somebody else may respond," she says, adding that the gender orgasm gap "may contribute towards women's choice to go celibate as they may not be experiencing the pleasure they truly want in relationships and intimacy." 

Patience, 31, tells Mashable that masturbation is a central part of being celibate for her. "I still masturbate, and it's been a big part of why I chose celibacy," she says. "By focusing on self-pleasure, I've learned more about my body, sexuality — knowing what I like and strengthening intimacy on all levels within myself. This has made me feel more confident and in control of my own pleasure without needing someone else."

Finding intimacy and alignment with yourself through celibacy could help you find better and deeper intimacy with others, should you choose to in the future. It's important to remember that a choice to be celibate doesn't have to be permanent.

"Often women share that their dating standards increase after celibacy, because they are so much clearer on what they will and won't accept in dating," Munro explains.

However, she warns that while we should champion celibacy as a valid choice and source of empowerment, we must also be aware of drawbacks. She advises anyone partaking in celibacy to beware of feelings of inner peace and safety leading to "hyper-independence" or "an avoidant attachment strategy," and advises seeking support in maintaining intimacy and connection if they notice this happening. 

She also explains that celibacy can lead to shame around sexual choices as well as harmful purity thinking. "It's important to be flexible and open around your choices for celibacy, and be open that you may have different needs at different times in your life," Munro says. 

Above all, she says that celibacy shouldn't cut off your connection to your sexuality altogether, but give you space to reprioritise or reorient your relationship to your body and self.

While the fight against celibacy stigma and shame continues, it's important to focus on the wins. For example, dating app Feeld recently added celibacy as a "desire style" for user profiles, and an increasing amount of women are finding peace and empowerment through exploring celibacy. And there's nothing shameful about that.

Tilman Singer's Cuckoo is a fun midnight genre romp that works despite its goofiest elements. A mountainous horror film reminiscent of The Shining — albeit with far more overt body horror — it follows the travails of a family of four as they take up residence near a fancy lodge in an isolated corner of the German Alps.

When strange sounds emanating from nearby forests begin to have bizarre bodily effects on some of the guests, moody 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer of Euphoria) ends up stumbling upon an ongoing investigation into something both silly and sinister. With its tightly wound atmosphere and an impeccable ensemble that throws everything at the wall, Cuckoo emerges as a largely unique work despite its many familiar elements, thanks in part to its increasingly twisted implications surrounding gender and biology. It's incredibly strange and deviously fun.

SEE ALSO: New 'Cuckoo' trailer teases Hunter Schafer trapped in an eerie mountain nightmare What is Cuckoo about? Greta Fernández plays Trixie in "Cuckoo." Credit: NEON

Before introducing its central characters, Cuckoo's mysterious prologue orients the viewer in a realm of familial and bodily dysfunction. In a rural cottage in the dead of night, silhouettes of an unhappily married husband and wife yelling at one another dovetail into shots of a teenage girl — presumably their daughter — waking up in her bedroom and stepping outside to avoid the unpleasantries. Suddenly, a prolonged screeching somewhere in the distance begins to take hold of her, as she writhes and seemingly begins moving against her will.

For any explanations for these oddities, you'll have to wait well over an hour into the film's mere 102 minutes. In the meantime, Singer crafts an alluring character drama the moment he introduces his central cast. As Luis (Marton Csókás), his wife Beth (Jessica Henwick), and their selectively silent daughter Alma (Mila Lieu) drive their family car up the hillside to their new home on a lush resort, Gretchen — Luis's daughter from a previous marriage — rides behind them in the moving van. This dynamic conveys an immediate sense of disillusionment with the family unit. Where Luis, Beth, and Alma dress in fancy, earthy sweaters and put on polite fronts, Gretchen's loose, baggy clothing and flailing, irritable body language set her apart. She feels like an outsider, rejected by her own clan, and she wants nothing more than to return to her mother's home in the U.S.

SEE ALSO: How Dan Stevens developed his wild character in 'Cuckoo'

Once the family arrives, they're greeted by the resort's owner, Mr. König (Dan Stevens), a cartoonishly seedy sort clearly hiding something twisted beneath his welcoming demeanor. It's as though Stevens had been directed to play Victor Frankenstein by way of Christoph Waltz. His vibes are immediately rancid and uncanny, lacing every exchange between him and Gretchen's family — especially his interest in young Alma — with a sense of leery possibility. It feels like anything can happen in Cuckoo, even before anything actually does.

König eventually finds Gretchen a receptionist job at the lodge nearby, though he gives her strict instructions not to stay too long after dark. Gretchen, being a snotty, unhappy teenager, does exactly as she pleases. But when she bicycles home late one night, she ends up being chased by a shadowy figures only seen in glimpses. Gretchen's pursuer inexplicably appears to be a well-dressed mid-century starlet, "normal" in every way except for her ferocity and her glowing red eyes.

No one seems to believe Gretchen, despite her scars and injuries from the encounter. That is, no one except for local police detective Henry (Jan Bluthardt), who not only takes it upon himself to protect Gretchen, but inexplicably enlists her help in what appears to be an ongoing investigation. Before long, Cuckoo becomes a bizarre buddy-cop movie of sorts, with each scene resulting in a more ghastly injury for Gretchen, akin to Homer Simpson plummeting off a cliff and hitting every branch on the way down. It's a treat to watch, even before the film offers any indication whatsoever about what's going on.

Cuckoo's eerie filmmaking is incredibly effective. Dan Stevens as Herr Konig in "Cuckoo." Credit: NEON

A nestling rejected by her own family, Gretchen becomes the center of a distinctly avian-themed work of sci-fi horror. Not only does König have an affinity for discussing the biology and sociology of specific birds, but the peculiar screeching that seems to rattle Gretchen and her half-sister has a bird-like quality, too. Its arrival is also usually marked by dim, disconnected close-ups of a woman's vibrating chest, as though it were a kind of mating call.

However, even when the film isn't directly confronting this animalistic theme — and its eventual implications about "natural order," which comes up plenty in the dialogue — Singer's roving camera never stops searching empty spaces for a place to land and perch itself. Its slow zooms and push-ins feel mischievous. The film has few (if any) traditional jump scares, because it depends largely on inducing a creeping dread, both visually and thematically, as its tale of conspiracies and experiments unfolds.

Much of the tension Singer builds springs from the doubts and reflections he carefully seeds into his script. From the familial rejection and personal isolation felt by Gretchen to her brief, liberating respite when she meets and secretly falls for a boyishly dressed older lesbian at the resort (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey's magnetic Ed), the specter of conformity and the confines of nuclear family loom large over every scene. Even Cuckoo's monstrous, red-eyed woman has a distinctly and traditionally feminine appearance, adding to the sense that deep-seated notions of gender are forever biting at Gretchen's heels. Eventually, when the plot's specifics come into view — via some rather clunky exposition — these notions are not only further centered, but become perverted in delightful ways. You've never seen a film make vaginal discharge seem this sinister.

That Schafer is a trans woman only enhances this subtext, even though her character’s identity in this regard goes unmentioned. However, what she brings to the role is much more exceptional than nominal representation, given the amount of emotional legwork involved.

Hunter Schafer delivers an incredible performance. Hunter Schafer stars as Gretchen in "Cuckoo." Credit: NEON

Cuckoo doesn't always work. It's rife with jagged edges and thuddingly obvious metaphors about the long-standing, deep-seated nature of gendered expectations.. However, what's practically indisputable is Hunter Schafer's arrival as a major movie presence, writing entire treatises on the body and the way it keeps the score, even in her stillness.

Take, for instance, the positioning of her hands at her sides, stiff and motionless except for a few twitchy movements of her fingers. At first glance, it's textbook teenage "awkward," a choice that flirts with self-parody, until its function becomes clear. Gretchen happens to carry a switchblade for her protection, and when she finally swishes it around, the motion of her fingers suddenly makes perfect sense. These movements are mirror images of one another, as though Gretchen were always on guard, always at the ready to defend herself from bodily harm. Schafer brings a sense of paranoia to every frame, as if Gretchen had previously been a victim of some sort of targeted harassment — once again, enhancing the film's queer subtext without uttering it out loud.

Equally noteworthy is the way Schafer navigates the emotions of simple domestic scenes, accepting her father's rejection — and his seeming preference for Alma, his more traditionally feminine daughter — with a sense of resignation, as though it were her lot in life. Her teenage jadedness is always rooted in something deeply, fundamentally human that lives just beneath the surface of her body language, like she's telling the story with her arms, her shoulders, her eyes.

That she goes to some difficult emotional places in addition to this, places that require enormous on-screen vulnerability, is just the cherry on top. It's also what prevents Cuckoo from flying entirely off the rails when it gets too caught up in its own ridiculous lore (which, unfortunately, never reaches the freakish apotheosis it seems to promise). Whatever the film's more overt horrors, whether its chilling atmosphere or its attempts at amusing moral and visceral obscenities, they're all bound by Schafer's increasing physical and emotional despondency. She doesn't just save the movie. She is the movie, making it all the more remarkable to watch.

Cuckoo opens in theaters Aug. 9.

UPDATE: Aug. 5, 2024, 1:24 p.m. EDT "Cuckoo" was originally reviewed out of the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.

No matter how fun and exciting travel can be, being away from home always causes some discomfort. Whether it's digging in your suitcase for that shirt you definitely packed, or finding a place to store the mountain of coins you've gathered in change, travelling has a way of surfacing issues you'd never considered until you stepped onto a plane.

Fortunately, having the right items in your luggage can go a long way toward offsetting such irritations — and sometimes even make travel feel downright luxurious. 

SEE ALSO: 6 overlooked and underrated road trip essentials

In no particular order, here are seven overlooked and underrated travel essentials. Not all of them are obvious picks at first glance, but they just might make your next trip that much smoother. Even if you have your packing list down to a science, there's always room for improvement.

1. Belkin's Boostcharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K + Travel Adapter Kit Credit: Belkin

Travel adapters are a necessary evil when visiting overseas destinations. Between these adaptors, power banks, and chargers, international trips frequently involve rummaging through disorganised jumbles of cables whenever you need to recharge your device.

Belkin's Boostcharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K + Travel Adapter Kit takes care of three needs in one, lightening your load and streamlining your tech. Weighing just 185 grams with a regional power plug attached, this palm-sized device has both a USB-A and USB-C charging port, enabling you to charge two devices at once — or three, if you count the power bank itself.

The lack of a magnetic charger does make Belkin's combined wall charger, power bank, and travel adapter less seamless to use than the Boostcharge Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 5K + Stand when charging your phone on the go. However, the wall charger and travel adapter functions add significant versatility. 

Which device best suits you will depend on your priorities and where you're heading. If you're staying domestic, the magnetic power bank should suit your needs. Though if you intend to roam abroad, the Boostcharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K + Travel Adapter Kit will help keep the hassle to a minimum.

Opens in a new window Credit: Belkin Belkin's Boostcharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K + Travel Adapter Kit at Amazon
Shop Now 2. LEVEL8's 28" Voyageur checked suitcase Credit: LEVEL8

Though not necessarily a gadget, your luggage is arguably your most important travel essential. A baggage mishap is one of the quickest ways to transform an eagerly anticipated vacation into a stressful ordeal. While you can't stop an airline from losing your luggage, you can minimise the potential for other things to go wrong by investing in a good, sturdy suitcase.

LEVEL8's 28" checked Voyageur suitcase protects your belongings with a hard Makrolon polycarbonate casing — a tough, durable, yet relatively light material that can withstand the rigours of baggage handling. Offering 99 litres of space, LEVEL8's Voyageur is on the heavier side at 12.4 pounds (5.7 kiolgrams). However it feels great to use, featuring four delightfully smooth wheels with 360-degree manoeuvrability, an inbuilt TSA-approved combination lock for securing its zip closure, and zipped interior compartments to organise and compress your belongings (including two sleeves for smaller items, one of which doubles as a wet bag).

SEE ALSO: How to change your Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge location while traveling

A unique feature of the Voyageur is its wide adjustable handle, which runs the entire length of the suitcase. Not only does this make these suitcases feel more sophisticated and thoughtfully designed than some other options, it also makes them easier to control and manoeuvre. It also means you don't have two hard metal bars running through the middle of your packing space. The result is a suitcase that can make you seem like an organised, experienced frequent flyer, even to yourself.

One caveat is that the uncharacteristic broadness of the Voyageur's handles means that bags with luggage pass-through features will likely not fit over them. But you can always just rest your bag on top of your suitcase and lash its straps around the handle instead.

Opens in a new window Credit: LEVEL8 LEVEL8's 28" Voyageur checked suitcase at LEVEL8
Shop Now 3. Twelve South's AirFly wireless adapter Credit: Twelve South

There are some elements of air travel that we've all just learnt to deal with. The chairs will be cramped, the food will be lacklustre, and somewhere in your vicinity there will be a child with the lung capacity of a WWE announcer. Fortunately, uncomfortable airline-issued earphones don't have to be among these annoyances.

Twelve South's AirFly Bluetooth transmitter allows you to use your own wireless headphones with any inflight entertainment system. Simply sync your earphones or headphones with the AirFly, plug it into the plane, and comfortably enjoy your audio without getting tangled up in wires.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list)

The AirFly shines on aeroplanes, however the AirFly Pro is useful on road trips as well. The Pro works both as a sender and receiver, so while you can still use it on a flight, you can also plug it into a car and send audio from your phone to the stereo system. This means passengers in the back can control the AUX without having to run a wire through the vehicle, and nobody has to spend time connecting their phone to the rental car's Bluetooth.

Opens in a new window Credit: Twelve South Twelve South's AirFly Pro
Shop Now 4. July's Packing Cells Credit: July

Packing cubes are invaluable for keeping your suitcase neat and organised, as well as helping to fit more items in their bag — a particularly useful feature when you're packing up your vacation shopping.

However, not all packing cubes are created equal. There are a ton of different options out there, offering various levels of compression, waterproofing, and even padding for delicate electronics. Fortunately, unless you have specialist needs, the average traveller will primarily look at two main issues: whether the cubes are polyester or nylon, and the quality of the zips and seams.

If you only go on very infrequent, short jaunts, picking up a cheap polyester set from Amazon might be enough for your purposes (provided you don't strain its seams too much). But if you're an avid traveller who wants a quality set that will last, look for stronger nylon packing cubes with sturdy zips, such as July's Packing Cells. These cells come in packs of four, which should be more than enough for a couple to share, and have net fronts to help identify their contents and ensure clothes don't get musty.

July also offers a structured Shoe Bag, which takes up quite a bit of luggage space but may be useful if you're worried about your shoes getting crushed. And if you have tiny size 36 feet like me, you can even squeeze in two pairs.

Opens in a new window Credit: July July's Packing Cells at July
Shop Now 5. Sunnystep's Elevate Sneakers Credit: Sunnystep

Unless you've visited Singapore, you've probably never heard of Sunnystep shoes. That's a shame, because their Elevate Sneakers are an attractive, well-designed option for anyone seeking a durable pair of travel shoes that both look and feel good.

Launched in 2019, Sunnystep's biggest selling point is their shoes' wide fit and bumpy acupressure insoles. The company's footwear is designed in consultation with Singaporean podiatrists, taking into account factors such as muscle movement and anatomy to minimise stress on the body and make long days on your feet more comfortable.

Unlike some other shoes that focus on comfort, Sunnystep's Elevate Sneakers are stylish and fashionable, bearing few prominent logos that might disrupt your aesthetic. The lightweight footwear is also made from microfibre vegan leather, which requires no treatment or maintenance. This also makes these shoes a good choice for anyone who's sick of having to dress like a gremlin whenever they're travelling. 

Fortunately Sunnystep ships globally, so you can still grab a pair without travelling all the way to Southeast Asia (size up if you're between sizes). The acupressure insoles will take some getting used to, but it shouldn't take much longer than adjusting to any other new pair of shoes — and will likely feel very worth it after a long day walking around.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sunnystep Sunnystep's Elevate Sneaker at Sunnystep
Shop Now SEE ALSO: How to make sure your phone works when you travel internationally 6. Insta360's GO 3S Action Camera Credit: Insta360

A vital part of the travel experience is taking approximately 50 million photos and videos. Most people do that with their phone, collecting their holiday memories without having to lug around a camera. However, if you want to upgrade your videos and perhaps even get a little creative, the Insta360 GO 3S will let you do so while not adding too much bulk.

The Insta360 GO 3S is a tiny, thumb-sized action camera that can sit inside the more traditionally-sized Action Pod that comes with it, or you can use it independently. Weighing just 39 grams, the GO 3S can be mounted to your hat, bag strap, lapel, or even hung around your neck, allowing you to film hands-free point-of-view shots while you explore. It's waterproof as well, so you don't have to worry about getting rained on — or going for a swim.

The GO 3S is also compatible with Insta360's robust app, which allows you to edit videos as well as control the camera. This is useful for helping solo travellers set up their shots, and offers a less obtrusive way of capturing your vacation photos than holding up your phone like an obvious tourist. A 4K upgrade to the previous GO 3, the GO 3S is available in both 64GB and 128GB models for $399.99 and $429.99 respectively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insta360 Insta360's GO 3S
Shop Now 7. Bellroy's Zip Wallet Credit: Bellroy

Your wallet may serve you well in your everyday life, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for travelling. Bellroy's Zip Wallet can do both, offering day to day functionality alongside a few features that make it ideal for being on the move.

As its name implies, the compact leather Zip Wallet zips closed around three of its edges, offering extra peace of mind to anyone concerned about their cash falling out somewhere on the Appalachian Trail. It also has a magnetically closed coin pouch for the foreign coins you'll inevitably accumulate on your travels. But what further sets it apart is its internal slots for storing both a SIM card and tray ejector tool (not included), providing a safe place to keep them while you're traipsing around with your travel SIM.

As a bonus, the Zip Wallet is also RFID protected. While you're much more likely to fall victim to a mugging than an RFID attack, it's a little extra peace of mind for anyone who has a propensity for paranoia when travelling.

The Zip Wallet is a decent pick, but those who like to indulge in outdoor activities might prefer Bellroy's All-Conditions Phone Pocket. Though this water-resistant pocket is technically designed to protect your phone, it's also large enough to fit a passport. You'll have to find another solution for your SIM card, and the key and coin pocket at the top doesn't close, but the zip running along two sides of the pocket should help keep your change secure.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bellroy Bellroy's Zip Wallet at Amazon
Shop Now

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

Moving to a new area or working at a new job where you don't know anybody can be seriously depressing, especially if you're already introverted as it is. What are you supposed to do? Go sit at the bar by yourself? And talk to strangers? No thanks.

Then comes the lightbulb idea: You can make friends online. If online dating is so popular and successful, there's no way that there aren't a few legit sites where you can make adult friends in your area with similar interests. After a quick search, AdultFriendFinder sounds like a good place to start.

So you're on your lunch break at work, type in the URL, and the next thing you know, you're frantically closing the tab and hoping nobody walked behind you for that split second. AdultFriendFinder is not what it sounds like.

What is AdultFriendFinder?

AdultFriendFinder is one of the most well-known sites for finding quick sexual encounters, regular hookups, and literally anything else even remotely related to sex. The rowdy feed of matches, jumble of explicit photos, and stimulating calls-to-action offering all types of sex makes it heaven for anyone looking for a good time with no filter — and hell for someone who wouldn't be caught dead clicking on a "There are hot singles in your area" ad.

Even if you're not using it for real sex, it's always nice to have spank bank material in your back pocket. During the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, sexting, nudes, and Pornhub searches all saw a spike thanks to the vast number of people who started social distancing at home. Those who didn't want to risk quarantine sex or weren't finding people on their level of horniness on Tinder were pretty much guaranteed to get their rocks off somehow via AdultFriendFinder.

On AFF, you can find someone to sext via messaging or video (and plan to get it on IRL, if that's what you're looking for), watch live streams, or join niche group chats. Is it worth £15-something per month? Depends on how much fishy content you're willing to overlook for a juicy sexting session.

We reached out to Kalyn Sanders, a business development executive at Friend Finder Networks, for updated AFF demographics. Right up there with Tinder's monthly flock, AdultFriendFinder snags the attention of over 55 million visits around the world per month, on average. To whet your appetite upon signup, the main landing page flashes a few statistics, including "98,897,765 hot photos" and "3,375,049 connections," but we're not exactly sure what that means. Most traffic originates from the United States, followed by visitors from the United Kingdom and Canada.

Specifics on the demographic that most people care about — the gender ratio — can be hard to track down. Sanders told us that "there's a two to one ratio of single men versus categories like single women, couples, and groups." The split between men and women is an expected one for a lot of hookup-centric sites. At the end of the day, it's a paradise for straight men, hit-or-miss for straight women and LGBTQ men, and likely an actual hellscape for LGBTQ women.

AFF lets you identify as and search for a man, woman, a couple, or trans. Despite trying to be a sex-positive site with blog posts, groups, a sex academy, and more, its language for the LGBTQ community has historically been anything but inclusive or positive. Previously, the AFF sign-up page listed "TG/TV/TS" as the "trans" gender selection — we'll let you infer what those stand for. Though, we will admit, this language has improved recently with more gender options that are appropriately labeled.

Can you find a serious relationship on AdultFriendFinder?

If you're 100% over being grilled with relationship questions on traditional dating sites like EliteSingles and eharmony, AdultFriendFinder is your golden ticket to instant communication. Registering takes literally 30 seconds — they require nothing from you aside from an email address, a username, a password, and an introduction. Though they don't require a bio or a picture, it's probably best to add a few to up your chances for messages and flirtation, especially if you're looking for something super specific, as you're more likely to be contacted by people looking for the same thing.

After you register, you'll see that there are loads of options to completely personalise your account (way more than we expected from a hookup site, to be honest). The more you fill out, the more attractive your profile will be to new viewers. There are the basic physical appearance questions about eye and hair colour, plus more intimate details.

There's also a personality test that seemed pretty close to something you'd see on Match or eharmony, and we guess it's comforting to know that some people on here care about what's on the inside as well.

One of the funniest forms was the "Purity Test," featuring 100 hilariously-worded questions about how far you're willing to go sexually. It felt like the sexy 20 questions game that you'd play with your middle school crush when neither of you knew how to flirt, but we guess this information is pertinent when you're on a site that's all about sex.

There's no real matching strategy other than the basic info on physical appearances, so don't get your hopes up when it comes to finding a lasting connection or kindred soul — but hey, if you're on the site for the same reasons most other people are, that stuff won't really matter anyway.

How do you find a match on AdultFriendFinder?

Like a traditional dating site, AdultFriendFinder gives you a collage of potential matches at the top of your personal home page. These will be random right after you sign up, but you can opt to update your preferences to refine your results: Choose your preferred gender(s), age range, location and mile radius, race, sexual orientation, body type, and marital status. They'll let you know who's online when you are, which matches are closest to you, new people who liked or messaged you, and all of that good stuff.

AdultFriendFinder is basically like a PornHub that you can interact with. We probably don't have to say this, but AdultFriendFinder is NSFW and not safe to be on while kids are in the room. Some videos will be blurred out and read "Naughty video" until you upgrade to a Gold Membership.

The message section is set up similarly to a Gmail account, and you can mark things as read or important just as you would on a real email. How professional. You'll also receive messages instantly, which is definitely a confidence boost even though you know they're probably just looking for one thing.

You can tell who took the time to look at your profile and who is sending the same thing to everyone, but it's nice to see that there is a range. Unlike more traditional dating sites, these people don't need to talk and get to know you for months before meeting. If you're tired of things moving too slowly or need a change of pace, it's pretty awesome to know you can immediately make plans for each night of the week.

What does AdultFriendFinder get right?

Once you get past the in-your-face sexplosion of naked profile pictures, horny AIM-era profile names, and explicit videos, there are actually an impressive number of resources to help make your experience as satisfying as possible. Some will cost money even outside of the paid subscription, which is kinda dumb.

Aside from the NSFW content, the website is relatively straightforward (albeit ugly). Every feature is advertised in big letters, notifications are displayed clearly with labels, and you don't really have to click around to find anything. This makes it super accessible for users of all ages, even those who aren't tech-savvy and can't even figure out Facebook. Buttons are all over the place, but you figure it out after messing around for a few minutes.

Activities range from direct messaging, sending virtual gifts, watching live videos of people in your feed, joining adult chat rooms that can get very niche, or entering photo contests.

Think of AdultFriendFinder as the dating site version of New York City — it never sleeps. You'll find people who work the regular 9-5, people who work the night shift, and people in other time zones, so it's nearly impossible to log on and not have a lot of people to talk to. You know, like that booty call who's always awake when you text them.

Or at least that used to be the case... 10 years ago. What was once a hot site that a few Reddit users were quick to hype up is now one of the dating sites that Reddit users can't help but diss — in the few instances that AFF is even being discussed at all. The Reddit community is diverse and open-minded, and if a dating site exists, someone on Reddit has used it and has an opinion on it. It's notable that, on a site where online dating is such a mammoth topic of discussion, that AdultFriendFinder has rarely been mentioned since the early 2010s. When an innocent soul does ask if it's legit, AFF usually gets dragged for sketchy pricing and being ridden with bots.

Is AdultFriendFinder free?

As previously mentioned, you can do a lot on the site without paying a penny: You can message people, reply to emails, and visit most profiles and chat rooms. You know, all of the basic stuff. But with just a few clicks AdultFriendFinder can send you deep down the rabbit hole, and a lot of that juicier hidden content can only be unlocked with a paid membership (called the Gold membership) or by earning points.

Points are AdultFriendFinder's non-monetary currency. If you're a free member, you'll have to earn points through on-site activity to unlock stuff that's exclusive to paying members. It's kind of like a game, with points acting like money at the strip club. You can "tip" updates, photos, or videos from a member that you like, buy "bling" (which is basically a badge that makes you look cooler), watch racy videos that are usually blurred out or access other exclusive site content, or "buy" a Gold membership for a month. The more points you have, the more you get out of the site.

But all of that stuff takes a really long time, and is honestly just a hassle. If you want access to all those features, just pay for a Gold membership and upgrade.

If you're a guy looking for girls, we might suggest getting a Gold membership as the standard. While researching on Reddit, we found a few girls who said they won't meet a guy unless he's a Gold member. A Gold membership puts a little bit more credibility behind someone's profile and makes the entire encounter a little less threatening. It's easier to believe that someone's a real person if they're a paying, active member of the site, and it's nice to know that they're taking it slightly seriously. Plus, if you see a picture or profile that looks like it's five years old, it really might be — there are a ton of non-active profiles from old members and escorts still lingering on the site.

If you find yourself spending more quality time on the site than you expected, becoming a paid member is definitely something to consider. Once you're paying, you basically become royalty on the site: Your profile will appear way higher in searches, you can use the most advanced searches, and you can read emails and message to your heart's content (messages and emails are limited with a free account).

A Gold membership can unlock everything that the site has to offer, including unlimited messaging, profiles with private photo albums, and video profiles that are only available for Gold members as well. A general rule is that increased involvement and payment on your end generally equals more success on the website, as your constant activity and heightened search-ability makes it way easier for others to find you. Plus, you'll just get bored with the free features after a while.

Like every other dating site, prices for a Gold membership get cheaper the longer your subscription is: one month is £25.08/month, three months is £16.71/month, and one year is £11.27/month.

Who should try AdultFriendFinder?

This is pretty obvious, but AdultFriendFinder is ace for people who want a quick hookup, people who are in a sexual rut, people who are tired of porn, and people who find sites like eharmony to be lame. Those long compatibility tests can be exhausting, and sometimes you just wanna skip the small talk and have sex. It's gonna get kinky out there, and that's great for those who are dying to blow off steam and are in need of someone who will respond well to a sexy message. It also might be a good place for people who are freshly out of a breakup and in need of attention.

Did we mention it's also a huge confidence boost? People are so active on this site, it's impossible not to feel adored. Just seeing the notifications of users wanting to talk to you will make your heart flutter, and you'll start to loosen up. Even if you're rejected a few times, you'll learn which opening lines and flirty comments work and which don't, making you a smoother operator.

AdultFriendFinder's pro-sex, judgment-free environment means it's open to everyone and highly inclusive, no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation. The variety of people on this thing is so massive that it's nearly impossible to not to meet someone.

As with all dating sites, catfishing is a big buzzkill. Your chances of being pursued are way higher if you have a lot of pictures of the same person (AKA you), videos, and a genuine profile that lets people know they're not dealing with something sketchy. Even if you've had bad luck with online dating in the past, AdultFriendFinder is the place to 100% be yourself.

The site may look like an ad for a strip club, but don't judge a dating site by its cover. If you're willing to look past the questionable design choices, AdultFriendFinder can seriously expand your sexual horizons and introduce you to individuals you never would have met otherwise.

Who should avoid AdultFriendFinder?

You know those warnings that thrill rides at amusement parks are required to put up that tell people who get dizzy easily or have heart problems to not get on the ride? AdultFriendFinder could use something like that. This site is not for the faint of heart — if you're a cynic, conservative by any means, or get sketched out easily, you're probably going to hate it. If you appreciate a well-crafted, aesthetically pleasing website that feels safe — no matter how badly you want to have sex — then this dating site is probably not for you. Nothing is left to the imagination here, and it's definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea. You have got to be open minded.

AdultFriendFinder is not the place to be if you're trying to make friends, unless "with benefits" is tacked onto the end. Every inch of the site screams "this website is used to have sex," and you should really listen to that. You might get a date out of it, but don't expect the person to introduce you to their parents.

But this isn't to say that meaningful connections or finding a genuine adult friend (get it?) is impossible. There is always the chance of a pure friendship, particularly between two like-minded individuals.

What could AdultFriendFinder do better?

The entire website looks like an ad about hot MILFs that pops up when you're illegally streaming a movie. Seriously, it's bad. Even though the website is technically legit, the pictures, word choice, and exclamation points everywhere scream "scam." No, AdultFriendFinder, "98,897,765 Hot Photos" is not the way to make potential new users trust you.

We're not knocking a quick hookup or no-strings-attached relations. This isn't about morals. Genitals are quite literally in your face from the moment you make an account, and that's just not cute. There are chiller ways to go about insinuating that this is a hookup website without feeling like you're trapped in a sex dungeon with strangers.

It's difficult to get past the fact that the entire site looks like it's about to invite five viruses to your computer. We're talking terrible graphics that look like they were made on Microsoft Paint and pictures of women who look like they're from Pornhub in 2007. Reddit user Snoo53279 summed it up in a comment from July 2020: "The people on AFF are definitely real, but there is a huge smattering of bots that also get in the way so it can be a bit of a PITA to use." If they're not bots, they could be men posing as a couple to seem less threatening.

The parade of women on the landing page is questionable for two reasons. This shouldn't even need to be clarified, but not everyone is looking for a woman. At the least, the advertising just isn't inclusive — but this crosses into fetishisation territory. The cherry on top is that the women in the photos (unsurprisingly) probably aren't even members on the site, according to a disclaimer at the bottom of the landing page.

AdultFriendFinder's overall outdated vibe goes past an aesthetic annoyance — it's downright problematic at times. The "TS/TV/TGs" part of sign-up is nearly unforgivable, and we'd be scared to see some of the related rhetoric that AFF users feel comfortable spewing. Without even a dash of social awareness, it's hard to see how anyone who's not an out-of-touch straight cis man would feel comfortable on this site.

Attempting to navigate the shoddy design might just be enough to smother your horniness. Three main issues can make the site borderline unusable: It looks shady as hell, an alarming portion of the user base is made up of bots and spam accounts, and the user interface itself is outdated and rife with bugs.

Other Reddit users mention that the desktop web version won't even load for them at random times — an especially frustrating roadblock for people who want to end their membership and stop monthly charges. A solution to the laggy web version might be to clear your cache or use the smartphone app instead, but your experience probably won't get better there. AFF's mobile page doesn't even mention an Android app, and the link to the iPhone app brings up a "not available" pop-up in the App Store. For a site that claims to have over 50 million visitors each month, the lack of accessibility to a smartphone app is just plain odd — especially in 2021.

Adding to the sketchiness, a network hack in 2016 exposed around 412 million accounts, including "deleted" accounts that weren't actually deleted from the database. If this is enough reason for you to fall back on Tinder for finding a friend with benefits, we don't blame you. Signing up with a burner email and avoiding using your real name as a username are wise moves (just pick a naughty word and add 69 to the end, maybe), though keeping your personal information private is hard when credit cards are involved.

In 2007, AFF was involved in a lawsuit with the FTC over allegations that the site used malware to send explicit pop-up ads to computers owned by people who hadn't signed up for the service. Though we haven't seen reports like this recently, so we're hoping those ridiculous ads you see are at least confined to people who actually use the site.

What is the best alternative to AdultFriendFinder?

Surprisingly, AdultFriendFinder is one of the more tame hookup sites out there. While other hookup sites have names like Swing Towns and Instabang.com, AdultFriendFinder is probably the safest in terms of your Google search history. Most have the same general idea, which is to find sexual partners, have cyber sex, etc, but with names like those, you do start to question the authenticity. AdultFriendFinder is one of the biggest players in the world of legitimate adult dating/hookup sites and boasts a way larger and more diverse audience than a lot of these newer sites.

Horny Matches is one newer dating site that could be starting to slide in, but it hasn't stolen AdultFriendFinder's thunder just yet, perhaps due to its dodgy name. It does have its advantages, though. Horny Matches' first advantage is just that it's more modern and looks cleaner. The title is more obvious, but the main page encourages "taking the first step" rather than mentioning the words "horny" and "sex" multiple times. The audience isn't nearly as large as AdultFriendFinder, though, and most people will take more options and a less over an aesthetically pleasing app.

Is AdultFriendFinder right for you?

AdultFriendFinder is possibly the easiest, most low pressure way to find a friends-with-benefits situation without insulting anyone. Everyone is pretty much there for the same reason — and though it'll feel pretty unorthodox if you've only ever used to Tinder to scope this type of thing out, AFF's blunt advertising at least means you won't have to explain that you're not looking for a relationship. It's niche-friendly, well-populated, and has a lot of interactive outlets to indulge your primal urges.

But that freedom comes with a price — the price being feeling like one of those people who falls for the ads that pop up before a free Pornhub video. It's not that a site dedicated to sex and sexting is inherently scammy — it's that AdultFriendFinder drowns you with explicit photos on profiles who might not even be real people while asking you to pay for a subscription with every click. Unfortunately, no matter how in the mood you are, some people aren't cut out for the nothing-left-to-the-imagination approach with grammar mistakes all over the place. It wants to be sex-positive so badly, but the way sign-up talks about the trans community is the furthest thing from that.

The functionality and safety of the site and the mobile app aren't where they need to be in 2021. If security measures were tightened, graphics and photos were cleaned up to feel more relevant, and decision-makers behind the scenes were given a lesson in inclusivity and pronouns/identities, AdultFriendFinder could be a handy tool to find attachment-free hookups and connect with a community that's down for anything.

If you're brave enough to jump into the action, you can register for AdultFriendFinder. Good luck out there — and don't try this at work.

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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 August 7 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 7

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, August 7, 2024:

AcrossThe tip of a sippy cup, essentially

• The answer is straw.

It's considered to be both a percussion and stringed instrument

• The answer is piano.

Knight's attire

• The answer is armor.

More than just wants

• The answer is needs.

Circus safety feature

• The answer is net.

DownLength of a bridge

• The answer is span.

"Flat" or "spare" item

• The answer is tire.

Noodles eaten with chashu pork

• The answer is ramen.

One end of a battery

• The answer is anode.

Superlative seen on a Razzie Award

• The answer is worst.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.