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SAVE $60: As of Feb. 21, PlayStation owners can snag a 12-month PS Plus Premium membership for $60 off the usual price. That's just $99.99 for a whole year of the Game Pass-esque subscription service, rather than $159.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation Plus Premium membership (12 months) $99.99 at PlayStation
$159.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

If you're into gaming at all, it's kind of becoming a necessity to have some sort of subscription service to supplement your hobby. Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online — basically, it's the streaming service boom all over again. And like streaming services, membership rates aren't exactly cheap.

So when one is on sale, it's probably a good idea to jump on the opportunity. Case in point: PlayStation Plus Premium annual memberships are $60 off the usual price until Feb. 25. Only $99.99 for a year rather than $159.99? We'll take it.

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer

What makes PlayStation Plus Premium so great (and worth $100)? It's the perks. With your membership, you'll not only be able to play online with your gaming pals, get free monthly games, and have the opportunity to take advantage of special deals and discounts. You'll also gain access to the PS Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog — two massive, Game Pass-esque game libraries that you can download from and play at your leisure. Better yet, you'll be able to use the Cloud Storage and Share Play features, download game trials, stream certain games, and be able to watch movies from the Sony Pictures Catalog. That's a whole lot, we know.

So, if any of that sounds good to you, act fast — annual PlayStation Plus Premium memberships are $60 off (just $99.99) until Feb. 25.

SAVE $30: As of Feb. 21, you can score the Anker Prime Power Bank for $149.99, down from $179.99, at Amazon. That's a $30 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Prime Power Bank $149.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

We've all been there: a dying phone battery when you need it most. Whether you're a traveler, a heavy phone user, or just have an older device, a portable power bank is the smartest way to stay connected on the go.

As of Feb. 21, you can get the Anker Prime Power Bank for $149.99, down from $179.99, at Amazon. That’s a 17% discount and a $30 price cut on a top-notch charger that’ll keep your devices powered up no matter where you are.

SEE ALSO: Get an adapter that works in 190+ countries with USB-C charging for just $50

The Anker Prime Power Bank is compatible with the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPhones 16, 15, 14, and 13. It’s also compatible with Samsung and Dell devices. It has a 27,650mAh capacity, which Anker says can charge a 13-inch MacBook Air (M2) 1.28 times or an iPhone 14 4.67 times.

There are dual USB-C ports for fast charging, plus it comes with a two-foot charging cable and travel pouch. The power bank itself charges via USB-C and can fully recharge in about 37 minutes.

Twitch is imposing a storage restriction on certain types of content.

The Amazon-owned streaming platform, which is largely dedicated to video games but also sometimes eating food, announced on its support website that anything under the "Highlights" and "Uploads" banner now counts towards a 100-hour storage limit, per profile. It should be noted that this does not apply to the temporarily saved VODs of livestreams or shorter, streamer-uploaded Clips.

Highlights and Uploads are generally longer than Clips, so only they count towards this new limit, which goes into place on April 19.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Feb. 21, 2025)

Yes, it's a little confusing that there are like five different types of videos that can appear on a Twitch user's profile, and only two of them count towards this limit.

According to Twitch, less than half a percent of all users currently exceed the 100-hour limit for Highlights and Uploads. Those people will be notified directly, and if they don't correct their ways before April 19, their Highlights and Uploads could get automatically deleted. After that, it won't even be possible to exceed the limit in the first place, so automatic deletion isn't something people will have to worry about moving forward.

If you're part of that half-percent of users, you better fix your situation now.

In Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight's Hulu/Disney+ show, A Thousand Blows, there are more than a few characters based on historical figures. Set in the grime and crime of 1880s East London, the most overt action takes place in the boxing ring, with real-life Jamaican immigrant Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) taking on the best fighter on the Thames, Henry "Sugar" Goodson (Stephen Graham).

But beyond these matches, a band of stealthy, organised thieves are seizing their own piece of the action — and they're all women. They're the Forty Elephants, a real gang led by the charismatic Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), who pilfer the prized possessions of the upper classes by the pocketful.

Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow and Erin Doherty as Mary Carr in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

"I wanted for a long time to do the story of the Forty Elephants, which is a true story of a gang of female-only criminals who were led by someone called Mary Carr," Knight said onstage at A Thousand Blows' premiere at the London Film Festival (LFF) in October, fittingly shown at the BFI around the corner from the Embankment pub named for the gang. He referred to the story as "working class history...that is just remarkable, astonishing, and needed to be told."

SEE ALSO: How the world got hooked on the sneaky allure of 'Peaky Blinders'

But who were the Forty Elephants and Mary Carr, and how are they portrayed in Knight's TV series? Let's dig into the history books.

Who were the Forty Elephants? The Forty Elephants in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

As the first organised, all-female shoplifting gang in London, operational from the 1870s to the 1950s, the Forty Elephants (also called the Forty Thieves) might instantly enliven modern feminist imaginations. They're simply made for the screen. A city-wide, highly organised syndicate of women without the right to vote but seizing the right to everyone's coin and luxury goods? It's the stuff of legend, and it makes them deeply compelling characters in A Thousand Blows, cutting the pockets of the aristocracy in both covert, theatrical, and sometimes literal ways.

"The Forty Thieves is the most successful shoplifting gang that Britain's ever seen," says historian, author, and BBC journalist Lucy Worsley in a riveting Lady Swindlers podcast episode on the Forty Elephants. "It has a mirror image of itself in the form of the male Elephant and Castle gang, which includes relative, lovers, and husbands. But the Forty Thieves are proud of their financial independence from the men, and they certainly don't share their proceeds with them."

Organised gangs need a formidable leader; the Forty Elephants had a queen.

The Forty Elephants deployed creative means of stealing money, clothes, jewels, and anything else of value, as detailed in author and journalist Brian McDonald's book Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants — he dug through police detective reports, court transcripts, and newspaper coverage from the time. From blackmail to breaking and entering and assault, their targets reportedly ranged from gentlemen on the street to London's newly opened department stores and high-end jewellery shops — we see the Elephants' brazen raid of Harrods in A Thousand Blows' second episode.

The gang's emergence came from a place of "combatting unfairness," McDonald writes — they were women in the lower echelons of society fighting to survive, not just to vote: "The suffragist movement sought equality with men; shoplifters, jewel thieves and fences sought escape from ritual drudgery." In fact, according to the Museum of London, shoplifters and suffragettes would have served sentences at Islington's notorious Holloway Prison around the same time in the early 1900s.

Historian Rosalind Crone explained on Lady Swindlers that professional shoplifting "provided an option for women who were failing or struggling to benefit from the new opportunities opening up in the early 20th century to have some of the luxury, to have a career and to have economic independence from men. So in other words, this was an alternative route to become a modern woman."

Most important of all, organised gangs need a formidable leader; the Forty Elephants had a queen.

Who was Mary Carr of the Forty Elephants? Erin Doherty as Mary Carr and Hannah Walters as Eliza Moody in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

"One of the most dangerous women in the metropolis," according to a 1900 police report described in McDonald's book, Mary Carr was the 'queen' of the Forty Elephants gang in Victorian London, recruiting girls and women to her shoplifting syndicate.

According to historian, journalist and author Caitlin Davies in her book Queens of the Underworld (Davies also trawled through police transcripts, court reports, and more from the National Archives), Carr was born in 1862 in the central London district of Holborn, and quickly ran afoul of the law by her teens, landing in a Church of England-run penitentiary for "fallen women." By the 1890s, the author says, Carr was not only an artist's model but was suspected of crimes ranging from pickpocketing to fencing stolen goods to child kidnapping (really). But she'd be most famous for running the Forty Elephants, teaching young women how to take what they didn't have.

"As Queen of the Elephants, I travel 'round this city offering poor, lost souls opportunities," says Carr in A Thousand Blows, played by The Crown's Erin Doherty.

Erin Doherty as Mary Carr in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

Finding her own version of the fearless and strategic leader in the show, Doherty views her brazen character with utter respect. "I just wanted to be just a morsel of the reason why people get to find out about these women. I was genuinely just really inspired by what they did, and I just wanted to be a part of Mary. Embracing her and embodying her, really, has been a gift for me," said the actor onstage at LFF.

"I just really respected that they took these missions with complete seriousness, and they took it with pride," Doherty added. "This was the only opportunity that they were given, so they were going to do it to the best of their ability."

A Thousand Blows also features Carr's arguably more famous successor Alice Diamond (played by The Irregulars' Darci Shaw), who was the gang's notorious queen in the 1920s. In a fictionalised scene in A Thousand Blows, Mary and Alice meet during a Harrods raid, and she's recruited into the gang through a series of trials — it's a real treat to watch these hypothesised conversations between the two queens throughout the series. In A Thousand Blows, the Forty Elephants are Hannah Walters as Eliza Moody, Nadia Albina as Verity Ross, Morgan Hilaire as Esme Long, Jemma Carlton as Belle Downer and Caoilfhionn Dunne as Anne Glover.

Shirley Pitts, who followed Diamond as the gang's last queen, isn't represented in the show, but you should read Dr. Lorraine Gamman's book Gone Shopping about her.

The theatrical gambits of the Forty Elephants The Forty Elephants in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

One of the most compelling elements of the Forty Elephants is how organised the operation was — McDonald writes that the gang adhered to a strict code of conduct and worked with a city-wide network of specialist fences, pawnbrokers, and couriers (you'll see them all in A Thousand Blows). The author quotes the gang's manifesto during Diamond's time as queen: "Discipline is expected, no drinking before a raid, and early hours to bed. Proceeds from a job are equally shared by the group members involved no matter what their role members must not steal from each other. Families must be looked after when a member is in prison."

But as organised as they were, the gang was also creative.

In the opening scene of A Thousand Blows, we first meet Mary Carr pulling a diabolical heist by pretending to go into labour in the middle of the street, while her gang members pickpocket the crowd. It works like a charm, and it's the perfect homage to the real gang's techniques. McDonald writes of the Forty Elephants' "practice of putting their arm in an affectionate embrace around the necks of their victims, in this case sailors, while rifling their pockets with the other hand. In Lady Swindlers, Worsley talks about Diamond using a type of trouser referred to as "grafters bloomers" with extremely deep pockets to rob Selfridges, and she quotes a detective from the Metropolitan Police describing how the gang would rob department stores "with military precision":

"Dressed to kill, these girls would descend on a West End store like a swarm of locusts. They'd roll up in taxis and chauffeur-driven limousines and practically clean the place out inside an hour. In 1914, there were 15 arrests in Selfridges alone in one single day, but most of the time, Alice and the gang got away with it."

"Dressed to kill, these girls would descend on a West End store like a swarm of locusts."

The Harrods scene in episode 2 of A Thousand Blows sees Mary Carr and her gang swan into the palatial store, knives out, smashing and grabbing silver hairbrushes, Chinese silk, hats, furs, and feather boas, and strolling back out the door.

There are great anecdotes in McDonald and Davies' books about Carr's gambits, including one in which McDonald says she was sentenced to four months hard labour for stealing a gold watch by pretending to have lost her purse, asking for a bus fare, then snatching the goods. "Mary Carr used her youthful looks to full advantage by dressing in exquisite clothes, her golden locks hanging over her shoulders, and acting the part of a teenage girl who could not find her way to her lodgings," McDonald writes. "This was for the benefit of prosperous-looking gentlemen who offered directions to guide her and when she was too upset to comprehend the instructions consented to walk with her. Carr would then turn from demure damsel to forceful harridan when her gang of girls responded to her cries for help."

This technique the author describes involves the gang members often framing men for assault, then blackmailing them for their valuables "to avoid the embarrassment of a prosecution." Davies says this technique evolved from a ruse by Ann Duck in the 1740s. Other stories McDonald and Davies write of are Carr swooning in the street, being escorted home by a passing man, then having her aunt burst in on their being unaccompanied, and blackmailing him. While fabricating such claims for blackmail purposes is obviously completely terrible, it’s actually quite surprising this female gang felt confident enough in a judicial system’s possibility of believing women that they used it as a weapon. That might be a modern read, but I'm intrigued.

So, what did they do with all that loot? As well as making ends meet and putting food on the table, the Museum of London has a great answer: "The gang were known for their extravagant style, but you wouldn’t catch them wearing most of the items they’d nicked. Instead, they’d flog them to their network of specialist ‘fencers’, people who buy stolen goods to sell at a profit. The Forties would get money on a commission basis. They spent their money on high fashion and fun. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the clan gathered in London entertainment venues like music halls."

Despite the drama, these were genuinely risky plays by the Forty Elephants. A Thousand Blows director Nick Murphy told the LFF audience that the show's events are underpinned by the brutality of everyday life in Victorian London, and the very real risks facing the Forty Elephants. "Like Mary says, 'One slip, London will kill you.' That's it. There's no social security. There's no backup. Everybody knows that one slip and it's done…These women get caught, they'll fucking hang. That's it, and it's serious."

The portrayal of Mary Carr and the Forty Elephants in A Thousand Blows might be the first you hear of this formidable gang — it certainly was for me. For women at the bottom rung of society to climb their way up through theatrical ruses and violence is not a story we've heard a lot, and it's one that deserves its time onscreen.

If you decide to use their shoplifting techniques, we were never here.

A Thousand Blows is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

SAVE $160.27: As of Feb. 21, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE for $289.72 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $449.99. That's a discount of 36%.

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$449.99 Save $160.27 Get Deal

Tablets are versatile pieces of tech that make just about anything easier when you're out and about. If you don't have the space to work on a laptop, or you just want a bigger screen to enjoy your favorite shows, movies, and games on, they're a no-brainer. And you can get an excellent tablet right now for a great price without having to break a sweat.

As of Feb. 21, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE for $289.72 at Amazon, down from its normal price of $449.99. That's a discount of 36%.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets in 2025

This tablet can be considered mid-level, but it still packs every bit of a punch. Powered by the Samsung Exynos 1390 chip, it features a 10.9-inch screen with dual speakers and Dolby Atmos support, a slim and lightweight frame, and 128GB of storage. It also comes with an S Pen stylus, which means you can use it to jot down notes, doodle, or just navigate the tablet with it.

You get an 18-hour battery life with fast charging that nets you another full charge in just an hour and a half, and it's also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance.

If you need a reliable tablet that'll get the job done without having to shell out for the price of an iPad or even one of Samsung's other heavy-hitters, this is a great choice. Snag one before the price goes up again, or a couple, and stop squinting to see what's on your phone screen.

Clone Robotics just brought the very essence of your worst nightmares to life in gleaming, astonishing, graphic detail.

The Polish startup posted a video on X of Protoclone, a faceless, anatomically accurate synthetic human hanging from strings in the ceiling.

"Protoclone, the world's first bipedal, musculoskeletal android," Clone Robotics introduced in the video that has now been seen by more than 33 million people on the platform. It has over "200 degrees of freedom, over 1,000 Myofibers, and 500 sensors." It has synthetic organ systems. You can "stab it with a fork and it will bleed out."

Tweet may have been deleted

The video shows the robot twitching, and there's ominous music playing in the background. It is like they specifically created the video to look like a scene in a horror film — and that's pretty much the take the internet responded with.

SEE ALSO: Meta is diving into AI-powered humanoid robots Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

No matter your personal thoughts about the evolution of robotics — be them problematic, life-altering, boring, terrifying, or an exploration of the new frontier — it is clear that this specific video perhaps wasn't intended to lull us into a sense of calm.

The company said a Chinese operation had built the tool to identify anti-Chinese posts on social media services in Western countries.

Questlove's Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) asks the question "Is there a burden on Black Genius?" The film's producer Joseph Patel gives us a deep look into the film, Sly Stone's legacy, and the burden that comes with success for Black artists.

The end of a court fight with the largest U.S. crypto company would be a big win for an industry that financially backed President Trump.

“Elon Musk is willing to spend a phenomenal amount of money and basically do everything he can to stay with the head of the pack on A.I. progress.”

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 21, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) is on sale at Amazon for $199. That's 20% off its list price of $249.

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$249.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Smartwatches aren't just for very active individuals. If you want something a bit more simple that can just keep up with your day-to-day activities, there are plenty of options to choose from. For Apple users, the Apple Watch SE is a great pick that covers all of the basics. It's currently on sale at Amazon as well, so you can add it to your Apple ecosystem at a cheaper price.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is currently marked down to $199 at Amazon. This is 20% off its list price of $249, allowing you to keep $50, which is a very nice discount. This smartwatch boasts plenty of features that make it well worth that price tag, too.

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wrist

Alongside a variety of fitness features that can help you stay on top of your goals and track your activity for the day, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) also includes a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS. Not to mention, you can also answer calls and send texts from the watch.

In our comparison of Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE 2, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon notes that, "If you're more fitness-focused, and you don't mind the thicker bezels and lack of always-on display, the Watch SE is a solid choice."

Don't miss out on 20% off the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) at Amazon.

This isn't the only Apple deal worth jumping on right now, though. At Best Buy you can save on the iPad Pro right now as well and the Apple Studio Display has also gotten a very nice discount at Amazon.

SAVE OVER $350: As of Feb. 21, the LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV is on sale for $499.99 at Walmart. You’re saving $350 off the regular price of $849.99.

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$849.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

The LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV is an absolute steal right now at $499.99 (down from $849.99) from Walmart. That's a $350 discount and a no-brainer for what you get in terms of picture quality and smart features. I've always been a fan of LG's picture quality.

With QNED Contrast technology, this TV delivers sharp, colorful images with deep contrast — even in bright rooms. Binge-watching your favorite series or gaming? Colors pop on this bad boy; you don't have to deal with washed-out visuals.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

One of the standout features for me is the α8 AI Processor. It uses artificial intelligence to analyze the picture and sound, adjusting it to ensure you get the best viewing experience every time. The sound is clear and immersive, and the picture is crisp, with vibrant detail across all content. Plus, with the 120Hz refresh rate, everything from sports to fast-action movies looks buttery smooth. I love how this TV keeps up with fast-paced scenes, making every moment feel sharp and fluid.

The webOS 24 is another reason this TV is such a great deal. It's easy to navigate and connects you to all your favorite streaming apps. Plus, with LG Channels, you can access over 300 free channels. You'll be covered for years to come with up to five years of software updates, keeping your TV up-to-date with the latest features and improvements. Into streaming, gaming, or just watching live TV? This TV has you covered. I really appreciate that it'll keep improving over time.

For a TV with such stunning picture quality, top-tier processing power, and a solid smart platform, this LG 55-inch QNED Smart TV at Walmart is definitely worth considering. It's a huge upgrade at a price that's hard to beat.

SAVE OVER $500: The Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV is $828.15 at Walmart, saving you $569.84 from its original price of $1,397.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV $828.12 at Walmart
$1,397.99 Save $569.87 Get Deal

I’ve been hunting for a great TV deal, and the Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV at $828.15 (down from $1,397.99) at Walmart has everything I’ve been looking for. The color quality is jaw-dropping thanks to Quantum Dot technology, and the Quantum HDR feature makes everything pop with deep blacks and outstanding contrast. Whether you're watching movies or gaming, this TV offers vivid details and stunning visuals that truly elevate the experience.

What really sold me on this TV is the Quantum Processor Lite that enhances everything I watch. It works in real-time to upscale content to 4K, so even if I'm watching something not in 4K, it still looks crisp and clear. Add in Motion Xcelerator, and the TV ensures smooth, blur-free motion during fast-paced action scenes. This is a total game-changer, especially when watching sports or playing games where every frame counts.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

The Object Tracking Sound Lite feature also caught my attention. It creates a 3D surround sound experience that syncs with whatever’s happening on screen. So, when there’s a car chase or a big explosion, the sound moves with it, immersing me even more in the action. I’m all about that cinematic feeling at home, and the Q-Symphony 3.0 feature lets you pair the TV with a Samsung soundbar to take the audio experience up a notch. The sound and visuals work together perfectly.

This TV isn’t just about picture and sound — it’s also designed with gamers in mind. The Samsung Gaming Hub allows you to stream games directly to your TV, no console required, just a fast internet connection. The AirSlim Design keeps the TV ultra-thin and sleek, blending seamlessly into any room. Plus, with the SolarCell Remote, I never have to worry about constantly replacing batteries, since it’s solar-powered. It's just another smart feature that makes this TV feel ahead of its time.

If you're looking to upgrade your home entertainment setup, this Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV deal at Walmart is too good to pass up. With $569 off, the picture quality, sound, and smart features you get here are unbeatable for the price. Trust me, this is the TV you’ll want to show off.

SAVE OVER $20: The Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $69.99 at Best Buy, saving you $29.01 off the regular price of $99.

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$99.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal

I've been using Apple AirTags for a while now, and I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to know I can find all of my important stuff with a tap of my iPhone. If you misplace things like I do, you'll appreciate how simple and effective these little devices are.

And right now, Best Buy has a four-pack of Apple AirTags on sale for $69.99, saving you $29 off the regular price of $99. This is such a good deal, especially since I've gotten so much use out of mine. You can tag your keys, bag, or anything else you tend to misplace, and the Find My app takes care of the rest.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

The setup is super easy. Just pop the AirTag out of the box, tap it on your iPhone or iPad, and it's connected. I was able to set up all four AirTags in no time, and they've already saved me a lot of frustration. The Precision Finding feature is one of the best parts, especially if you have an iPhone 11 or newer. It uses Ultra-Wideband technology, and if your AirTag is nearby, it leads you right to it. It's like a little personal tracker that helps you find things fast, so I no longer have to waste time searching for my keys.

I can put it into Lost Mode right through the Find My app if I ever lose something. I get notified whenever the item is found by another device in the Find My network, which is huge. It's like having hundreds of millions of Apple devices out there helping you track your stuff. I've also used the built-in speaker on the AirTag to help me find my keys when they're buried in my bag. Just press a button in the app, and the AirTag will play a sound until you locate it. It's incredibly convenient.

These AirTags are small but tough, with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, which means they can handle some rough conditions. I'm not worried about it getting damaged while I'm out. And the best part? The battery lasts over a year, and when it's time for a new one, you can replace it yourself. There's no need for recharging; just pop in a new battery, and you're good to go.

This is a must-have accessory for someone who always forgets where they put their wallet, phone, or keys. The four-pack at $69.99 is an amazing deal that will give you peace of mind. Whether it's your keys, luggage, or anything else, you'll be able to find it in seconds with the AirTags. I honestly don't know how I managed without them before. This deal is perfect if you're ready to stop wasting time looking for your stuff. You can get it now at Best Buy and make sure nothing goes missing again.

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 21, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale at Amazon for $199. That's 20% off their list price of $249.

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$249.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're an Apple user, the AirPods Pro 2 are an excellent investment. Offering great sound quality and noise-cancelation, these earbuds are a perfect pairing for those who frequently listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. I'm a very big fan and think they're worth every cent.

Amazon currently has the AirPods Pro 2 marked down to $199 from their $249 list price, saving you $50 overall. While not as low as they were during the Presidents' Day sale event, this is still a great discount to take advantage of if you're looking for high-quality earbuds at a decent price.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones for flying make air travel suck a little less

These earbuds have earned a place in our roundups of the best earbuds to buy in 2025 and the best headphones of 2025. In the latter, we said that, "For portability, active noise cancellation, and balanced sound, your search ends with the AirPods Pro."

I really love these earbuds. They're not only great for listening to my favorite music, but I frequently use the noise-canceling features while working to stay focused. And for when I'm out and about, I've loved using the Transparency mode that lets me stay a bit more aware of what's going on around me.

This deal may not stick around for long, so don't miss out on 20% off the AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon.

Looking to save on even more Apple devices? You can also score a discount on the Apple Studio Display at Amazon right now and the iPad Pro is on sale at the moment at Best Buy.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Feb. 21, the Sony ULT WEAR headphones are on sale for $148 at Amazon. This is 26% off their list price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT WEAR Headphones $148.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $51.99 Get Deal

If you've been on the hunt for new headphones, look no further than Amazon. The retailer has had some great deals lately, even after the Presidents' Day sale event. One of our favorite deals we've spotted is on the Sony ULT WEAR headphones, which we consider to be the best picks for bass lovers in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. If you've been looking for an audio boost, these are definitely worth a look.

The Sony ULT WEAR headphones have had a 26% discount at Amazon, dropping them from their list price of $199.99 to $148. This allows you to pocket over $50, which is a very nice deal. They're currently marked as a limited-time deal, so if they've caught your eye you'll want to act fast to get them at this price.

SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2025

As mentioned before, we consider these headphones to be the best for bass lovers in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. This is because, "In addition to the equalizer in the app, the headphones have a dedicated ULT button that lets you bump up the bass on demand. The 40-millimeter driver keeps it sounding clear and not crispy, making these headphones a worthy competitor to the WH-1000XM5s, our top pick for the best-sounding noise-cancelling headphones."

Our review even had high praise for them, with Mashable's Miller Kern saying, "The Sony ULT Wear headphones prioritize bass and provide punchy sound without sacrificing quality at a relatively affordable price."

With a comfortable design, noice-canceling features, and excellent sound quality, the Sony ULT WEAR headphones are worth every cent. Don't miss out on this limited-time deal at Amazon.

There are a couple more headphone deals worth checking out right now alongside these. Also on sale at Amazon are the Sennheiser Accentum headphones, which have dropped to their lowest-ever price, and the Sonos Ace headphones are discounted there as well.

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: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, February 21, 2025:

AcrossElevator alternative

• The answer is Steps.

Evil corporation on Apple TV+'s Severance

• The answer is Lumon.

Ring-shaped coral reef

• The answer is Atoll.

Aura of confidence

• The answer is Mojo.

___ Lanka

• The answer is Sri.

DownSeverely criticizes

• The answer is Slam.

One-on-one academic coach

• The answer is Tutor.

A head of our time?

• The answer is Emoji.

Preppy shirt

• The answer is Polo.

Show with a recently aired 50th anniversary special

• The answer is SNL.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $60: As of Feb. 21, this Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle is on sale for $479.97 at Amazon. That's a saving of 11% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $479.97 at Amazon
$539.97 Save $60.00 Get Deal

The Kindle Scribe is the latest product to take book lovers by storm. Released in 2024, this new Kindle model combines reading and note-taking in one handy device. And if you're one of many who have been eyeing this product, Amazon has a great deal on an essentials bundle that you won't want to miss.

As of Feb. 21, you can save $60 on this Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle, now just $479.97.

SEE ALSO: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is live. How to get free books during this enchanting event.

This deal comes with the Premium Pen so you can jot down notes and convert them to text as easily as writing in a notebook. Unlike the basic pen, this model comes with an eraser at the top so you can quickly remove mistakes just by flipping the pen. It is also battery-free and works through a special power source embedded in the Kindle Scribe, so there is no need to charge it.

It also comes with a 9W power adapter and a plant-based leather folio to store it away. According to Amazon, the plant-based leather is made from 76% renewable bio-materials (non-GMO corn, and viscose fiber from Forest Stewardship Council-certified sources) and 24% polyurethane.

This deal is specific to the 64GB model, but you can choose between tungsten and metallic jade.

Besides its note-taking abilities, the Kindle Scribe has a 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite display, glare and ink-free. Like the original Kindle model, it's perfect for sitting outside in the sun or in harsh lighting. And if you're someone who reads on the go a lot, the Scribe has the best battery life of any model, promising to last months on a single charge.

In October, 24-year-old Cait Camelia posted screenshots of her Hinge dating app bio on X. She chose cute, casual, and sexy photos of herself, par the course of a standout bio, but the prompts read, "The way to win me over is to get me a creative marketing job" and, "I want someone who can get me a creative marketing job." She included one corporate stock photo, a close-up of a handshake between two men in suits captioned, "This could be us." 

She's not looking for a partner — she's looking for a job.

SEE ALSO: Can AI save dating apps?

The job market is dismal for many, with job growth as of January 2025 falling short of analysts' expectations. Despite unemployment being slightly down from the latter half of last year (four percent as of January 2025, down from 4.2 percent in September 2024), it's become the norm for people to apply for hundreds of jobs for months on end. And, it isn't unheard of for people to land a job or make life-changing money from going viral, which is what Camelia sought. 

"A lot of people thought that I expected to land a serious job from Hinge, but my intention was always to post it on social media," Camelia, a graphic designer who wants to work in a different field, said. "I figured that it would do well, and at the very least, get some visibility for my work." 

Fresh out of a relationship that started on Hinge, she's not ready to return to the app for dating, so she turned to it for more eyes on her skill set. (Hinge didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment.)

Camelia knew it would garner a substantial amount of negative attention from men, which would, in turn, push it further on the algorithm. (She experienced this when she shared her graduation photos in a dress and heels, and it went viral in 2021. An incel comedian had a lot to say about what she was wearing when she graduated early with two majors.)

Although she muted the X thread as soon as it gained traction, she read some of the comments. "I saw some people be like, 'Oh, you're wasting people's time being on this app,'" she said. "I think a lot of men waste a lot of women's time being on the app without intention. So, I don't feel guilty." 

One might think Camelia should try LinkedIn, a site meant for professional networking. Although Camelia found success searching for a job there in the past, particularly by finding the hiring manager or founder's profile on the platform and reaching out directly, she said she doesn't think the platform has innovated much since she graduated in 2021. "It's not a great thing, especially because the job field feels very competitive right now, and it's really hard to find jobs where it doesn't seem like they just throw your resumé into a stack of hundreds."

At their core, both LinkedIn and dating apps aim to connect people, but they seem to have fallen behind as how we do that evolves. 

Job searchers and daters run into the same challenges

A recent survey from MyPerfectResume found that 81 percent of recruiters admit to posting a fake or already-filled job online. Employers do this to maintain a presence and to keep tabs on available talent. 

Knowing this is the norm can be discouraging. "Even during the application process, I'm telling myself, 'This is pointless. You're wasting your time, and can better use your time to try to find work you actually want,'" Dylan*, a 29-year-old in Brooklyn who works in hospitality, said. 

Unfortunately, it's become commonplace to put yourself out there and receive no response. Fortune even reported that LinkedIn's "Open To Work" tag could hurt job seekers more than it helps because they look "overeager."

Some dating apps, like Hinge, Bumble, or Feeld, allow users to see who liked them before matching. There could be hundreds to sift through, and others have an infinite swipe. "My basic feeling is that the vast increase in the number of options we have in all parts of our lives — not just dating and job seeking — has actually changed the way we approach making choices," JD Giovanni, a 33-year-old who was laid off from his magazine job earlier last year, said. 

This can look like always looking for the next best thing or presenting what psychologist Barry Schwartz refers to as decision paralysis, where people make decisions based on what's easiest to evaluate rather than most important to them. 

First impressions undoubtedly carry a lot of weight, but crafting custom cover letters and first messages on a dating app can feel like a colossal waste of time. "If I post a role for something generic, like an account executive job, it could end up with 300 applications in a day," Braxton Brown III, a senior recruiter at Prove, said. It's just not possible to efficiently read all of them and respond at that rate. 

When job candidates do finally land an interview, and when daters connect with someone, both groups share a very common experience: ghosting. A small study from 2021 stated that 85 percent of dating app users have been ghosted. 

"In the age of LinkedIn, you can trace the companies you apply to and the people you speak with," Max Coyne, a 36-year-old in New York who's been on the job hunt since July, said. After being ghosted, he checked the company's job listing. "I found that the role I was interviewing for was moved from remote in Brooklyn to remote in Ohio for $30k less salary after they reposted the job the same week they dropped off." In another interview process, he saw the would-be supervisor got an internal promotion and presumably moved into it without reaching out. 

Seemingly, employers and daters do not know what they want. "Often, hiring managers have a really hard job defining what they actually need in the role," Brown said. "I think a lot of people on the dating side also have a really hard time defining what they want in a person or what they want in a relationship." He said both groups seem to conflate "nice to haves" with critical needs.  

"People get the 'ick' for something that should not at all be a deal breaker, and they might be missing out on someone that meets 98 percent of their other qualifications. That is such a parallel that I see in my job every day," he said. "If a hiring manager sees that this person didn't go to this school or that school, they might be totally uninterested." 

The viral call for men who are 6'5" with blue eyes, work in finance, and have a trust fund illustrates some people's superficial wants in dating, but Brown said employers tend to get caught up in details of a resumé that mean nothing to the role. They typically end up with an employee who can't fulfill the responsibilities of the job. 

Failing to match

Dating apps as a subscription service is a flawed business model. Users want to be on them temporarily until they find someone (or multiple partners). On its face, making users pay for "better" matches is the quick route to lose them, especially among younger demographics widely reporting dating app fatigue. But given that major dating apps are part of a public conglomerate, their incentive is to increase shareholder value.

LinkedIn's Premium claims to offer four times more profile views and 14 times more connections — it's quantity over quality. While those leveraging the platform for thought leadership and content creation may benefit from it, those looking for jobs are left to bleed $29.99 a month (or more) to blindly trust an algorithm to expose their profiles to more matches, especially given how long unemployment lasts for so many people. 

A LinkedIn spokesperson didn't address this in a statement to Mashable but said romantic advances and harassment of any form violate its rules.

SEE ALSO: The Relationship Experience dating trend: like a situationship but so much worse

Plus, artificial intelligence has picked up greatly in both spaces. On the dating front, people can use AI to create a bio, message someone first, and flirt back. Realistically, it could just be two AIs talking to each other at this point.  

And, you can barely escape it off the apps. Apple introduced Apple Intelligence to read emails and even summarize texts, both commonly used in dating. (Picture this: you'll be able to read incoming break-up texts more efficiently or those rejection letters that pop up in your Gmail seven months later.)

In the job market, employers are using AI to screen resumés and make hiring decisions. As you'd expect, job seekers are writing resumés and cover letters with ChatGPT. The rise of AI in both the job market and dating may dull the skill sets required for both, from establishing wants and needs and communicating to negotiating and discernment. 

It's clear the platforms are favoring shiny, new-ish innovation versus listening to their users and catering to their needs, but that would require looking at the larger sociological shifts rendering both the old ways irrelevant and their new plans inadequate. 

In this harsh job market, Camelia is leveraging every platform she can. That is why she took to X with her mock dating app bio job application. She ended up hearing from a couple of women who attempted the same. One is a graphic designer who filled her bio with her artwork and landed freelance work, as did Camelia. Although she has yet to get a full-time job, she's been commissioned for freelance work and leads from a bunch of startup CEOs and independent content creators. She's also in the interview process with a major record label weeks later, all according to the plan. 

* Name changed to preserve privacy.

Alaska, largely unspoiled wilderness, looks like something out of The Lord of the Rings.

Researchers with the Alaska Volcano Observatory — which monitors the state's dynamic volcanoes — recently flew over Mount Spurr, a steep-sided volcano that has shown signs of unrest as quakes shake the mountain. The agency posted a video of its February swoop above towering Mount Spurr, showing vigorous plumes of vapor coming from the summit's fumaroles, or vents.

"Enjoy this spectacular video of the summit crater of Mt. Spurr, taken by AVO staff during fieldwork Feb 7," AVO posted on X, formerly Twitter. "The lake, which formed [in] summer 2024, is mostly covered in ice w/ some turquoise water visible. The fumaroles (steam/gas vents) are the source of the white vapor plumes."

SEE ALSO: What will happen when the next supervolcano erupts, according to NASA

As the plane approaches Spurr, you can spy the extensive snow-blanketed mountains in this geologically vibrant part of the world, an area on Earth's "Ring of Fire," where some of the colossal tectonic plates of our planet's crust meet and stoke volcanism. Then, you can look down into the cavernous, streaming summit crater.

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An eruption, however, is far from certain. Previous Mount Spurr eruptions have been accompanied by more quaking activity, ground deformation, and beyond as magma (molten rock) oozed up closer to the surface and amassed great pressure beneath the volcano.

Earth's "Ring of Fire," a region home to expansive volcanic arcs and ocean trenches. Credit: USGS

"Therefore, it is very likely that if an eruption were to occur it would be preceded by additional signals that would allow advance warning," the Alaska Volcano Observatory — an association of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys — explained on its website.

Mount Spurr, located about 80 miles from Anchorage, Alaska, is currently labeled at an "Advisory" level, just one notch above "Normal," and below "Watch" and "Warning." A significant eruption could blow a considerable amount of ash into the atmosphere, impacting and altering air travel in transpacific commercial routes; it's dangerous for jet engines to ingest volcanic ash, which is actually comprised of tiny volcanic rock.