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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

What one might call a baby or small animal.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CUTIE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A way to clean a floor.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SWEEP

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Remarkable.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SUPER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A way to describe a beach.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 20 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SANDY

Final Hurdle hint

A type of wood.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

CEDAR

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

The decision affects relatively few vehicles because the vast majority that General Motors sells there are made in that country.

The Take It Down Act, a controversial bipartisan bill recently hailed by First Lady Melania Trump as a tool to build a safer internet, is officially law, as President Donald Trump took to the White House Rose Garden today to put ink to legislative paper. It's the first high-profile tech legislation to pass under the new administration.

"With the rise of AI image generation, countless women have been harassed with deepfakes and other explicit images distributed against their will. This is wrong, so horribly wrong, and it’s a very abusive situation,” said Trump at the time of signing. "This will be the first ever federal law to combat the distribution of explicit, imaginary, posted without subject's consent... We've all heard about deepfakes. I have them all the time, but nobody does anything. I ask Pam [Bondi], 'Can you help me Pam?' She says, 'No I'm too busy doing other things. Don't worry you'll survive.' But a lot of people don't survive, that's true and so horrible... Today, we're making it totally illegal."

SEE ALSO: Caring for ourselves amid the Diddy trial and collective trauma exposure

The bill, which criminalizes publishing or threatening to publish nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes and pornography, was passed by the House of Representatives in April, following a successful run through the Senate. It requires social media platforms to remove offending content within 48 hours and prevent users from posting duplicates, and allows the Federal Trade Commission to sue non-compliant platforms. The law also adds protections for victims and clarifies prosecution guidelines for police, according to CNN.

Victims of nonconsensual intimate imagery previously had little legal recourse against perpetrators, and lawmakers have been slow to agree on how to address revenge porn broadly, even as it is increasingly exacerbated by advancing tech like AI — previous attempts to create criminal or civil pathways for victims, like the DEFIANCE Act, have failed.

Digital rights organizations have been extremely critical of the new legislation, warning lawmakers that the act's broad takedown provisions and tight timeline may lead online service providers to more actively monitor users' speech and fuel censorship of legal content.

According to the AI overlords, this is the year of agentic AI.

You may have seen Google announce its "agentic era" with a web browsing research assistant and an AI bot that calls nail salons and mechanics for you. OpenAI leadership talked about agentic AI being a "big theme in 2025" and has already introduced a research preview of Operator, an agent that can perform tasks on your behalf, and Deep Research, which "conducts multi-step research on the internet for complex tasks." Microsoft just unveiled Microsoft Discover, an enterprise agentic AI tool for scientists. And your next smartphone could have agentic features that can send custom messages, create calendar events, or pull together information from across different apps.

If you've been nodding and smiling every time one of your tech friends mentions agentic AI, don't be embarrassed. This is a new entry in the AI glossary, but one that can no longer be ignored.

So what exactly is agentic AI?

"Agentic AI refers to a class of artificial intelligence systems designed to operate autonomously, perceive their environment, set goals, plan actions to achieve those goals, and execute those plans without continuous human intervention. These systems can learn and adapt over time based on feedback and new information."

That's according to — what else? — Google's AI chatbot Gemini.

Unlike generative AI, which is essentially a tool for creating some kind of output — code, text, audio, images, videos — agentic AI can autonomously perform tasks on a user's behalf. This is a step up from the standard AI chatbot experience. Instead of generating a response based on its training material, agentic AI can take additional steps, such as conducting internet searches and analyzing the results, consulting additional sources, or completing a task in another app or software.

You may have heard this term used interchangeably with AI agents, but agentic AI is a broader term that encompasses technology that may not be fully autonomous but has some agent-like capabilities. 

So, OpenAI considers Operator an AI agent because it has contextual awareness and can perform tasks for you like sending text messages. And its Deep Research tool is agentic AI because it can autonomously crawl the web and compile a report for the user, though its capabilities pretty much stop there for now.

Agentic AI is powered by more advanced reasoning models like ChatGPT o3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview, which can break down complex tasks and make inferences. This brings large-language models like ChatGPT one step closer to mimicking how the human brain works. Unless you constantly retrain a generative AI model with new information, it can't learn new things, said Karen Panetta, IEEE Fellow and professor of engineering at Tufts University. "This other kind of AI can learn from seeing other examples, and it can be more autonomous in breaking down tasks and helping you with more goal-driven types of activities, versus more exploratory or giving back information."

When combined with computer vision, which is what allows a model to "see" a user's computer screen, we get the agentic AI everyone is so excited about.

Why is everyone talking about agentic AI? Google's new AI shopping experience could utilize agentic AI to make purchases on your behalf. Credit: Google

Agentic AI is not entirely new. Self-driving cars and robot vacuums could both be considered early examples of agentic AI. They're technologies with autonomous properties that rely on advanced sensors and cameras to make sense of their environment and react accordingly.

But agentic AI is having its moment now for a few reasons. Crucially, the latest models have gotten better and more user-friendly (although sometimes too friendly). And as people begin to rely on AI chatbots like ChatGPT, there's a growing interest in using these tools to automate daily tasks like responding to emails. With agentic AI, you don't need to be a computer programmer to use ChatGPT for automation. You can simply tell the chatbot what to do in plain English and have it carry out your instructions. At least, that's the idea.

Companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are banking on agentic AI because it has the potential to move the technology beyond the novelty chatbot experience. With agentic AI, tools like ChatGPT could become truly indispensable for businesses and individuals alike. Agentic AI tools could order groceries online, browse and buy the best-reviewed espresso machine for you, or even research and book vacations. In fact, Google is already taking steps in this direction with its new AI shopping experience.

In the business world, companies are looking to agentic AI to resolve customer service inquiries and adjust stock trading strategies in real-time.

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Are there risks involved with unleashing autonomous bots in the wild? Why, yes.

With an agent operating on your behalf, there's always a risk of it sending a sensitive email to the wrong person or accidentally making a huge purchase. And then there's the question of liability. "Am I going to be sued because I went and had my agent do something?" Panetta wondered. "Say I'm working as an officer of something, and I use an AI agent to make a decision, to help us do our planning, and then you lose that organization money." 

The major AI players have put safeguards in place to prevent AI agents from going rogue, such as requiring human supervision or approval for sensitive tasks. OpenAI says Operator won't take screenshots when it's in human override mode, and it doesn't currently allow its agent to make banking transactions.

But what about when the technology becomes more commonplace? As we become more comfortable with agentic AI, will we become more passive and lax about oversight? Earlier in this article, we used Google Gemini to help define agentic AI. If we become dependent on AI tools for even simple learning, will human beings get dumber?

Then there's the extensive data access we have to give agents. Sure, it would be convenient for ChatGPT to automatically filter, sort, or even delete emails. But do you want to give an AI company full access to every email you've ever sent or received?

And what about bad actors that don't have such safeguards in place? Panetta warns of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks utilizing agentic AI. 

"Because the access to powerful computing now is so cheap, that means that the bad actors have access to it," she said. "They can be running simulations and being able to come up with sophisticated schemes to break into your systems or connive you into taking out this equity loan." 

AI has always been a double-edged sword, with equally potent harms and benefits. And with agentic AI getting ready for primetime deployment, the stakes are getting higher.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, which means barbecues, extended vacations, and lots of time outside. Get in gear with our top picks for everything you need to have the best time ever. Think of these as your summertime essentials: All the best tools, gadgets, and seasonal upgrades for your home, yard, and beyond.

23andMe had all the signs of a success story. The unicorn brand became synonymous with consumer-facing genetic testing, went public, and was once valued at $6 billion.

But then, it all came tumbling down. Sales for 23AndMe kits began to fall, attempts to raise new funds hit a wall, the company struggled to find a product that would bring in recurring revenue, and it was still dealing with the fallout from a major data breach.

23andMe filed for bankruptcy and put its assets up for sale in March 2025. But, more concerning than the success or failure of a particular company, was this question: What would happen to 23andMe's vast trove of highly personal customer data? We aren't just talking about usernames and birthdays. 23andMe has DNA profiles for millions of users.

Well, now we know who bought 23andMe and, most importantly, now owns all the DNA data from the company's customers.

Meet Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

On Monday, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced that it would acquire most of 23andMe's assets for $256 million. According to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the acquisition includes 23andMe's Personal Genome Service, Total Health and Research Services business lines, and the trove of customers' DNA samples and genetic data. 

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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will not, however, be acquiring 23andMe's online doctor and telehealth service known as Lemonaid Health, which will be shuttered.

Based in Tarrytown, NY, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that researches and develops medicines for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases. The company is currently valued at more than $64 billion.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals placed a bid for 23andMe as part of a court-supervised sales process. The bid requires Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to comply with the company's existing privacy policies and applicable laws.

Conspiracy-minded consumers might revolt at the idea of a big pharma brand acquiring their DNA profile. However, in a press release, Regeneron has promised "to comply with the Company’s privacy policies" and "process all customer personal data in accordance with the consents, privacy policies and statements, terms of service, and notices currently in effect." Further, the company assured customers it has "a proven track record of safeguarding personal genetic data, and we assure 23andMe customers that we will apply our high standards for safety and integrity to their data." A court-appointed expert will also submit a report about potential privacy and security impacts to the court by June 10.

If the name "Regeneron" sounds familiar, it may be because the company received mainstream attention in 2020 after the company created an experimental treatment for COVID-19 called REGN-COV2. President Donald Trump was treated with the drug when he was infected with COVID-19 in October of that year.

While 23andMe's demise is certainly notable, a most lasting debate will undoubtedly be had regarding the sale of 15 million customers' genetic data.

“Your DNA and your family health history should not be a corporate asset,"  said J.B. Branch, Big Tech accountability advocate for the consumer rights advocacy group Public Citizen, in a statement. "Of course, Regeneron will promise to ‘respect consent’ and ‘uphold privacy policies.’ Those are bare minimal legal requirements. But time and again these companies fail consumers."

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: To show off

• Green: Areas to watch the game

• Blue: They wear blue and orange jerseys

  Purple: They share the second half of the word

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

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

• Yellow: Boast

• Green: Stadium seating sections

• Blue: New York Knicks

• Purple: ___Stop

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #238 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Boast - CROW, GLOAT, GRANDSTAND, SHOWBOAT

• Stadium seating sections - BLEACHER, LOGE, SUITES, UPPER DESK

• New York Knicks - BRIDGES, HART, MCBRIDE, TOWNS

• ___Stop - BACK, JUMP, PIT, SHORT

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

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

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

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

Apple's new and AI-improved Siri that was showcased at last year's WWDC still isn't ready, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

"Significant upgrades to Siri—including the ones promised nearly a year ago—are unlikely to be discussed much and are still months away from shipping," said Gurman in an-depth report that detailed Apple leadership's reported failures to recognize the significance of generative AI for consumer tech products and subsequent issues in rolling out a smarter Siri driven by powerful LLMs and onscreen awareness.

SEE ALSO: iOS 19 rumors: Every feature we've heard of so far

At Apple's WWDC 2025, which is less than a month away on June 9, the event will reportedly instead highlight "various non-AI software upgrades" like the reported interface design overhauls to make the operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac more in the style of the Vision Pro, said Gurman.

Reports of Siri trouble have been brewing for a while now. Apple's promise of a more personalized and context-aware version of the voice assistant hasn't yet come to fruition, and instead we've seen minor updates like the ability to type to Siri and even examples of Siri getting worse. Apple even pulled a commercial with actor Bella Ramsey, featuring Siri being able answer who they had had lunch with by pulling up relevant calendar details, over accusations of false advertising.

Gurman reports that Apple is working on a Siri-specific LLM, internally dubbed "LLM Siri" which will reportedly resolve many of the underlying infrastructure issues. Until then, don't expect much from Siri at this year's WWDC.

TL;DR: Create anything, even NSFW art, with a lifetime subscription to Imagiyo for only A$62.

Digital creativity has never been more accessible, yet many of us remember the days when crafting a single image meant wrestling with layers and plugins for hours on end. Now there’s a way to generate stunning visuals in seconds simply by typing a description of what you have in mind.

Imagiyo uses Stable Diffusion AI alongside FLUX AI to turn text prompts into high-quality images ready for commercial use, and there aren’t many limits to what you can create. Here’s what that means.

What art can you make with Imagiyo

What do you want to make first? It only takes a brief description to put Imagiyo’s advanced algorithms to work, and unlike other image generators, Imagiyo actually lets you really follow your creativity. Craft stunning landscapes, visualize characters from books, or go for something a little more daring. Imagiyo supports NSFW content creation. Just set your prompts to private and let your mind run wild.

Imagiyo’s commercial-use license means you can take some of the images you generate and incorporate them into client projects, social media campaigns, or personal portfolios without fear of copyright issues.

Each month, you receive 500 image-generation credits and can submit up to two prompts at once. Unused credits roll over, so you never lose access to your creative potential. Best of all, Imagiyo delivers your purchased engine updates and feature improvements automatically, ensuring you always work with the latest AI models.

You have until June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Imagiyo AI Image Generator lifetime subscription for A$62 (reg. A$772).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Imagiyo Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription (Standard Plan) AU$62
AU$772 Save AU$710 Get Deal

Somehow, we've already reached the unofficial start of summer: the Memorial Day 2025 deals are here.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Memorial Day Sale has already started — shop tech, home goods, and more

Though Memorial Day isn't technically until May 26, plenty of brands kicked off their sales early. Leading the way are mattress deals, followed by home and kitchen deals. Below, we've gathered up all the best deals so far ahead of Memorial Day, and will be adding to this list as more deals go live.

Best Memorial Day mattress deals

• Amerisleep: Save up to $1,000 on mattresses

• Avocado: Take 10% off sitewide

• Bear: Save 35% on mattresses and get two free pillows

• Big Fig: Take 25% off sitewide with code MEMDAY

• Birch: Save 25% sitewide and get two free pillows with a new mattress with code MEMDAY25

• Brooklyn Bedding: Take 25% off sitewide

• Casper: Take up to 30% off on mattresses

• DreamCloud: Save up to 60% on mattresses

• Helix: Take 25% sitewide and get two free products with Helix Luxe or Elite mattress

• Leesa: Save 30% on mattresses and get a free sleep bundle

• Layla: Get free pillows with ever mattress and take up to $1,018 off bundles

• Mattress Firm: Take up to 60% off and get a free adjustable base with select mattresses

• Naturepedic: Take up to 20% off organic mattresses

• Nectar: Save up to 50% on mattresses and 65% on bundles

• Nest: Save up to $1,321 on new mattresses and get a free bundle

• Puffy: Take up to $1,350 off with code MEMORIALDAY

• Purple: Take up to $700 off on a mattress and base, plus 20% off bedding and pillows, now through June 3

• Saatva: Save up to $600 on mattresses

• Sleep Number: Save up to 50% on smart beds

• Tuft & Needle: Save 20% on select mattresses

• Viscosoft: Take 25% off all mattress toppers

• WinkBeds: Save $300 on all mattresses

Bedding

• Brooklinen: Take up to 78% off sheets and pillowcase sets

• Citizenry: Save 20% sitewide

• Coyuchi: Take 20% off sitewide

• Double Stitch: Save up to 50% with code CS50

• Eli & Elm: Save up to 40%

• Naturepedic: Take up to 20% off organic bedding

• Nest: Take up to 60% off bedding

• Parachute: Save 30% sitewide

• Puffy: Save 15% on all mattress accessories including sheets and pillows

• Silk & Snow: Save up to 32% on bedding bundles

• Tuft & Needle: Take 30% off on select bedding

Best Memorial Day home deals

• Branch: Take up to 15% off home office furniture

• Dyson: Save on cordless vacuums and beauty products, including the Supersonic Nural hair dryer

• Home Depot: Save up to 25% on gardening supplies, 30% on outdoor furniture, and 35% on select appliances through May 28

• Overstock: Save up to 60% off patio furniture

• Revival: Spend $250 to $499 to take 10% off, $500 to $749 for 15% off, $750 to $!499 for 20% off, and $1500 and more for 25% off

• Ruggable: Take 20% off sitewide with code MEMDAY, excluding select pillows, pet beds, spot cleaners, gift cards, and swatches

• Simplisafe: Get any new system for 60% off, plus a free outdoor camera ($199 value) when you sign up for professional monitoring

• Tumble: Save 30% on all washable rugs

• Windmill: Save up to 25% on the Windmill air conditioner

Best Memorial Day tech deals

• Anker Soundcore: Save 15% on speakers with code OUTDOOR15

• Best Buy: Save on laptops, OLED TVs, smart watches, and more

• HP: Save up to 55% on select laptops, PCs, printers, and other HP tech

• Lenovo: Save up to 50% off on ThinkBooks, desktops, chromebooks, monitors, and the X1 Carbon Gen 12

• Ultimate Ears: Save $30 off $150, $70 off $250, and $150 off $450

Best Memorial Day kitchen deals

• HydroFlask: Save up to 25% on best sellers, including tumblers, lunch boxes, and accessories

• Made In: Save up to 25% on cookware

• Ninja: Select outdoor grills are 15% off with code OUTDOOR15

• Ooni: Save up to 20% on pizza ovens, oven accessories, and cookware

• Owala: Take 30% off 24-ounce and 40-ounce tumblers through May 26

• Sodastream: Save 25% sitewide

Miscellaneous Memorial Day deals

• Eyebyedirect: Take 30% off lenses and 20% off frames with code MDWDEAL through May 25 and take 30% off designer brand glasses with code DB30 through May 26

• Shark: Save up to $300 off select products, plus 20% off select hair care with code BEAUTY20

• Solawave: Take 35% off kits

Best REI Anniversary Sale deals Best camping deal REI Base Camp 4 Tent $331.79 (save $142.21) Get Deal Best water sports deal Bote Wulf Aero inflatable paddle board $475.09 (save $83.91) Get Deal

Memorial Day is just a few days away, which means it's time to think about every amazing outdoor adventure you have planned for summer of 2025. If last year's gear got put away wet and dirty, it's time to consider some upgrades. Instead of doing this the Thursday night before leaving for a weekend adventure on Friday, spend Memorial Day weekend sorting through your gear and deciding what needs a refresh.

Coincidentally, the REI Anniversary Sale is on now through May 26 and has thousands of deals that take up to 30% off outdoor gear. Snag a new paddle board, replace the cooler, finally keep in touch with a Garmin inReach, or get a cozier sleeping bag.

Plus, if you happen to be an REI member and you see something that's not on sale, use code ANNIV2025 to take 20% off. A lifetime membership to the REI Co-op costs just $30 which means joining to apply to 20% coupon could mean the membership has already paid for itself.

In terms of what's on sale during the REI Anniversary Sale expect to see 30% off tons of REI Co-op brand gear, 20% off REI bicycles, and up to 25% off tons of camping gear from Nemo, Kelty, Therm-a-Rest and more. Below are some of our favorite deals or you can spend hours browsing the entire sale selection.

Best camping deal Opens in a new window Credit: REI REI Base Camp 4 Tent $331.79 at REI
$474 Save $142.21 Get Deal Why we like it

The outdoors is a wonderful place to spend sunny weekends but it's no time to skip out on sleeping. You'll want to head out with a cozy sleeping set-up which relies on a functional tent, and that's where the REI Base Camp 4 Tent comes into play. It's part of the brand's Anniversary Sale which means you'll be saving 30% on the tent, scoring it for $331.79 instead of the normal price of $474.

In terms of function, the Base Camp 4 Tent is ready to sleep you and three friends with its durable materials that are also water repellent. The wide two door means no sleeper is trapped inside and everyone will have easy access for that inevitable 1 a.m. latrine trip. Of course, the pockets and hang loops make camp organization much easier.

More camping deals

• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag (3 pack) — $52.39 $69.95 (save $17.56)

• GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Base Camper Cookset — $67.39 $89.95 (save $22.56)

• Kelty Low Loveseat — $97.39 $129.95 (save $32.56)

• Helinox Chair Zero — $104.89 $139.95 (save $35.06)

• Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket (two person) — $149.19 $199 (save $49.81)

• Sea to Summit Traveller 45F Down Sleeping Bag — $149.19 $199 (save $49.81)

• Coleman Cascade 222 2-Burner Camp Stove — $164.99 $220 (save $55.01)

• NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P Tent — $374.89 $499.95 (save $125.06)

Best water sports deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bote Bote Wulf Aero inflatable paddle board $475.09 at REI
$559 Save $83.91 Get Deal Why we like it

You've tried out the paddle boards from the local rental shop and decided it's a great way to get out on the water, but have you tried your own? Bote makes some impressively designed paddle boards and the Bote Wulf Aero is on sale during the REI Anniversary Sale for $475.09, down from the usual price of $559. At 10 feet 4 inches in length, the Bote Wulf means you can spend the day out on the water instead of on the crowded shoreline and the included travel bag means everything is so much easier to carry to the lake. You'll also get a three-piece adjustable SUP paddle, a hand pump, a coiled leash, and a removeable Aero center fin, and an Aero repair kit.

More outdoor gear sales at REI

• NRS Ninja PFD — $119.89 $149.95(save $30.06)

• Garmin inReach Mini 2 — $299.99 $400 (save $100.01)

• Cannondale Topstone 3 Bike — $1,119.93 $1,400 (save $280.07)

• Salsa Journeyer Sora 700c Bike — $1,169.09 $1,299 (save $129.91)

Watch all the biggest announcements from Nvidia's keynote address at Computex 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan.

In an era where most YouTubers chase growth at all costs, Outdoor Boys creator Luke Nichols is walking away at the height of his channel’s explosive rise.

In just the past 18 months, the channel has gained around 12 million subscribers. But instead of capitalizing on that momentum, Nichols is stepping back, citing the toll it's taking on his family.

"Because of people stealing my content and posting it on other platforms, my family and I have been viewed about 4 billion times, in addition to the 2.8 billion views on YouTube," Nichols says in his goodbye video. "The sheer volume of fans trying to contact me, trying to take pictures with me, or just trying to come up and talk to me in public, it can be a bit overwhelming at times."

What makes Nichols’ decision so unusual is how sharply it runs against the current of influencer culture, where visibility and virality are everything. A study from the Interactive Advertising Bureau found that creator jobs have grown 7.5 times in four years, making the sector the fastest-growing driver of U.S. GDP, now valued at $4.9 trillion.

However, for Nichols and his wife, the costs of that attention are becoming too high.

"My wife and I — we both have real concerns about what this will do to our family if I keep growing my YouTube channel at this pace," he explains. "And the time to stop is before this problem gets so out of hand that my family and I can’t live normal lives."

He won’t be uploading to the channel for a while, though he mentioned the possibility of "one big dump" of videos featuring unfinished projects if he finishes them. In the meantime, though, Nichols says it’s time for him to move on so he can help his kids achieve their dreams.

The fan response on social media has been overwhelming, filled with both support for his decision and sadness over his departure.

Rip outdoor boys

[image or embed]

— Adrian Campos (@friendadev.bsky.social) May 17, 2025 at 1:22 PM

Outdoor Boys is one of the goats on the platform for all time. There’s so much you can learn from the way that channel is run, the way the videos are made, and the way he approaches success. Big loss— there’s nobody else like him.

[image or embed]

— Any Austin (@anyaustin.bsky.social) May 17, 2025 at 9:56 AM This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Best Memorial Day deals to shop now: Best tech deal Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet $174.99 (save $55) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum cleaner $149.97 (save $50.02) Get Deal Best outdoor deal Char-Broil Patio Bistro TRU-Infrared Electric Grill $131.93 (save $118.06) Get Deal

Memorial Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means: Sales galore. As usual, Amazon is ahead of the game with up to 55% off select items from Amazon devices, kitchen items, home goods, electronics, and more, so shoppers can start prepping for summer. The sale started on May 16 and runs through Monday, May 26.

SEE ALSO: Best Memorial Day mattress deals in 2025 that are already live: Shop Nectar, Brooklyn Bedding, Purple, and more

Of course, these deals might get even better as the holiday gets closer. (We’ll be keeping an eye on prices and updating this story regularly.) But there’s no harm in snatching up a few discounts now, especially for high-demand items with limited availability.

Here are some of the best Amazon Memorial Day sales you can shop now.

Best tech deal Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB 11" 2000x1200 Tablet $174.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $55 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is currently on sale for $174.99, down from $229.99. This isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen for this tablet (around $139.99 in November), but it’s still a pretty good deal for a newish tablet (it’s a 13th-gen, released in 2023).

The Fire Max 11 has an 11-inch display, 64GB of storage (you can expand it to up to 1 TB with a micro-SD card), and 14 hours of battery life. It’s ideal for streaming your favorite shows or reading e-books on the go. (You can game on it, too.) It’s also equipped with Alexa and compatible with the Amazon Stylus Pen.

More tech deals

• Blink Mini 2 — $19.99 $39.99 (Save $20)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — $29.99 $49.99 (Save $20)

• Apple Pencil (2nd gen) — $99 $129 (Save $30)

• Amazon Fire TV Cube — $99.99 $139.99 (Save $40)

• Amazon eero 6+ mesh WiFi system — $224.99 $299.99 (Save $75)

Best vacuum deal LEVOIT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Stick Vac with Tangle-Resistant Design, Up to 50 Minutes, Powerful Suction, Rechargeable, Lightweight, and Versatile for Carpet, Hard Floor, Pet Hair, Black & White $149.97 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50.02 Get Deal Why we like it

Right now, you can get the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum cleaner for just $149.97, down from $199.99. That’s 25% off and only $10 away from its lowest price ever.

This isn’t a Dyson, but it’s still a good vacuum if you want something that’s lightweight and cordless. The Levoit LVAC-200 has a suction power of 70 AW and a run time of up to 50 minutes with the Crevice or Pet Tool in Eco mode. You can also really get into those tight spots with the LED lights and 180-degree rotation.

More vacuum deals

• Shark HV371 Rocket Pro DLX — $139.99 $199.99 (Save $60)

• Shark Pet IX141 — $179.99 $259.99 (Save $80)

• iRobot Roomba (Q0120) — $199.99 $249.99 (Save $70)

• Dyson V8 Plus — $349.99 $469.99 (Save $120)

• Shark AI Ultra — $349.99 $599.99 (Save $250)

Best outdoor deal Char-Broil Patio Bistro TRU-Infrared Electric Grill Black $131.93 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $118.06 Get Deal Why we like it

The Char-Broil Patio Bistro TRU-Infrared Electric Grill is currently on sale for $131.93, down from $249.99. That’s a 47% discount and a whopping $118.06 in savings. Again, it’s not the lowest we’ve seen on this grill (the lowest was $125.99), but it’s still a solid deal.

This is a great option for those who don’t have a lot of outdoor space or don’t want to deal with propane or charcoal. (Just be sure to read your lease! Some apartments don’t allow grills on balconies.) The TRU-Infrared technology cooks up to 50% juicier food (according to the manufacturer), and the grill has 320 square inches of cooking space, so you can still grill up plenty of food for friends and family.

More outdoor deals

• Cuisinart indoor/outdoor electric grill — $129.99 $149.99 (Save $20)

• Blackstone 28-inch flat top gas grill — $223.78 $249.99 (Save $26.21)

• Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 — $279.99 $344.99 (Save $65)

GET 50% OFF: As of May 19th, the JBL Quantum 200 Wired Over-ear Gaming Headset is currently on sale for $29.95, down from $59.95, for a savings of 50%, or $29.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Quantum 200 Wired Over-ear Gaming Headset $29.95 at Amazon
$59.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal

This is a deal that your teammates will appreciate. If your co-op gaming buddies are always complaining about fans running in the background of the voice feed, or your dog snoring on the floor during Horde Night, a good gaming headset with a voice-focused mic will make all the difference. There's also the over-ear immersion element that comes with excellent sounding headphones — yeah that's a nice perk for you.

Right now, the JBL Quantum 200 Wired Over-ear Gaming Headset is on sale for $29.95. Get it now and save 50%.

SEE ALSO: Get $70 off a Corsair keyboard that's made to game. The best audio deals available now

• Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds — $19.99 (List Price $39.99)

• Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones — $38.00 (List Price $59.99)

• JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $129.95)

• Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker — $148.00 (List Price $149.00)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $298.00 (List Price $348.00)

• JBL Bar 300 5.0ch Compact Soundbar — $299.00 (List Price $399.95)

This JBL headset is meant to envelop. The headphones rock 50mm audio drivers with 20Hz - 20kHZ response and spatial audio. Wired with a PC splitter, they'll connect to PC, Xbox, or anything that has a standard 3.5mm audio jack.

These aren't just headphones. The headset features a responsive, flip-up boom mic. The mic is directionally oriented and tuned to your voice, so it cuts background audio that would otherwise get picked up by a computer mic. This means it will emit traffic sounds from outside your apartment, or your partner knocking around in another room.

Right now, May 19th, the JBL Quantum 200 Wired Over-ear Gaming Headset is on sale for $29.95, for a savings of 50%.

Memory foam cups your ears and envelops them, insulating you from the outside world, and staying comfortable even during long gaming sessions.

If you're on haircare TikTok, there's a good chance you've heard of head spas. Popular in Japan, these relaxing treatments not only involve massaging and cleaning your scalp, but can also involve a scalp analysis to provide personalised tips on caring for your hair.

Now French haircare brand Kérastase has launched the K-SCAN, an AI-powered scalp and hair analysis tool helping professionals provide such insights during your regular hair appointment. 

K-SCAN results measuring dandruff, hair diameter diversity, and dirty pores. Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Offered as a complimentary add-on to any service in participating Kérastase-affiliated salons, a K-SCAN scalp analysis simply requires a hairdresser to snap a photo of your scalp using the handheld device. Taken with a microscopic camera under white LED light, cross-polarised white light, and UV light, the picture is then analysed by Kérastase's AI algorithm with results immediately displayed on a tablet. 

SEE ALSO: I tried 6 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are actually worth the hype

Kérastase states that the K-SCAN was developed by L'Oréal Groupe researchers in Paris, who tested it on hundreds of people from China, France, and Mauritius Island ranging from 18 to 60 years old. Of these trial participants, 79 percent were female and 21 percent were male. Kérastase's in-house AI algorithm was subsequently validated by training it on over 12,000 images.

Mashable checked out the K-SCAN during its trial launch, the tool being released in Spain and Australia in advance of its rollout in the U.S. and globally. There are still a few kinks to smooth out, but considering the usefulness of its insights plus the fact that an analysis costs zero dollars, I'd certainly ask for a K-SCAN the next time I visit the salon.

Kérastase's K-SCAN AI analysis vs a Japanese head spa K-SCAN results showing a scalp microbiome indicator, hair diameter, and hair density. Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Going in, I was curious as to how the K-SCAN would compare to a normal, non-AI scalp analysis. I'd previously paid for a scalp assessment at a Tokyo head spa a few years ago, relying heavily on Google Translate to communicate with the very patient attendant in charge of my consultation. Taking several photos of my scalp with a microscopic camera, she informed me that my scalp was dry (I'd erroneously believed it to be oily) and that my fears of hairfall were unfounded (I remained unconvinced).

SEE ALSO: The Shark FlexStyle is still better than the Dyson Airwrap

While this was undeniably useful information, I left the session without a clear action plan. With the exception of cutting out shampoos designed for oily scalps, I largely continued my lacklustre hair care routine as usual, unsure of what to change or how. Though they told me I should be moisturising my scalp, I'd never heard of a scalp moisturiser before, and I wasn't sure what to get or how to apply it.

K-SCAN results showing a person's scalp and hair profile as well as personalised Kérastase product recommendations. Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

My K-SCAN analysis was both more and less thorough, being more of a quick, practical assessment than a relaxation experience. While the Japanese service took several photos of different areas of my scalp, the K-SCAN was satisfied with working off just one image. 

However, the hairdresser operating the device did ask me a few quick questions before we began, such as how often I wash my hair; whether I've coloured or permed it; if my scalp gets itchy; and whether I wear a lot of headbands or hats. Kérastase told Mashable that hairdressers are trained in how to use the K-SCAN and decipher its results.

Once we got to the actual scan, the hairdresser used a tablet to show me the photo of my scalp under different lights and applied filters. For example, one image drew little green boxes around every follicle to calculate my hair density, while another used UV light to assess my scalp microbiome. Kérastase's AI analysed the photo to detect such information, comparing it to the scalp images it had been trained in order to evaluate what it meant.

K-SCAN results showing a live scalp view under white light, cross polarised light, and UV light. Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

The K-SCAN then gave me a scalp and hair profile, which quickly confirmed the Japanese head spa's assessment. Yes, my scalp is dry, and yes, my concerns about hair loss are more based in paranoia than reality. It also indicated that my scalp's microbiome is healthy — according to the hairdresser, the UV image should be "lit up like a Christmas tree." 

Having my previous analysis corroborated was a reassuring signal regarding the K-SCAN's accuracy. It was also gratifying to see the results clearly conveyed visually, which helped me understand the analysis. The hairdresser then used the results of my K-SCAN assessment to recommend a personalised Kérastase Fusio-Dose hair treatment, choosing a concentrate and booster that would address my specific issues (Sahara-grade dryness in my case). Following the treatment they did a second K-SCAN to compare my before and after, though the only real difference was that my scalp was slightly irritated from the massage.

SEE ALSO: Is the Dyson Supersonic still worth it?

Even so, Rome wasn't built in a day, and years of frizzy hair takes more than one salon session to truly address. The real test would be whether following the K-SCAN's advice yielded noticeable results in the long term.

K-SCAN results showing before and after photos following a hair treatment under white light, cross polarised light, and UV light. Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

While the Tokyo head spa gave me information about my scalp health, I wasn't sure what to do with it. In contrast, the K-SCAN recommended three specific Kérastase products for my dry hair: the Nutritive Bain Satin Riche shampoo, Nutritive Nutri-Supplement Scalp Serum, and Chronologiste Intense Regenerating Mask. The hairdresser even helpfully walked me through how to apply the serum.

Of course, these are fairly pricey products and the recommendations are contained to Kérastase's range. Yet even if you have no intention of investing in Kérastase haircare, getting the K-SCAN's recommendations is still useful in helping formulate a routine, as well as guide your search for more affordable alternatives.

K-SCAN hair analysis results sent right to your inbox An email from Kérastase showing the results of a K-SCAN. Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

I was assured that the K-SCAN's results would be emailed to me after my salon appointment. However, while the information I ultimately received was still useful, I was disappointed to find it comparatively sparse. 

Though the pictures of my scalp were the most interesting part of my K-SCAN analysis, none were included in Kérastase's email. Instead, it merely consisted of several sliding scale graphs, the veracity of which was questionable. For example, while my in-salon results said that my scalp microbiome was high, the email told me it was low. The hair density slider also sat near the middle of the graph yet erroneously gave me a score of 54/200 instead of out of 100.

Further, while the email did provide the list of Kérastase products the K-SCAN recommended, it consisted only of photos and names without context. At the salon the K-SCAN had shown me the order in which they'd be applied, as well as what each one did. It's simple enough to look the products up online for a more complete picture, but I would have appreciated it if this information were provided in the email. Having a clear plan laid out would have been reassuring, especially for hair care novices.

Kérastase's K-SCAN is a small, handheld device. Credit: Kérastase

I would also have liked to have the images of my scalp for comparison if I were to return for another K-SCAN in the future. The hairdresser told me that the K-SCAN's scalp pictures are wiped at the end of each day, so it isn't as though your regular salon will keep a database documenting your hair's health.

It's a win for scalp privacy, but it does mean that repeat customers won't get to enjoy the satisfaction of tracking months of progress. If you do go to a K-SCAN, I'd recommend taking photos of the tablet screen for your own records.

Since my K-SCAN, I've certainly felt less confused and directionless when it comes to haircare. It's difficult to tell whether Kérastase's products specifically have made a difference, or whether it's my new K-SCAN-informed focus on moisturising my dry hair and scalp which has played the bigger part. Whichever the case, Kérastase's K-SCAN was invaluable in informing my new routine, which has my scalp feeling more comfortable and hydrated, and my hair slowly looking softer, healthier, and less frizzy.

You can find a participating K-SCAN salon near you via the Kérastase website.

It turns out Apple's upcoming ultra-thin iPhone will probably be pretty light, too.

The latest leak about the rumored iPhone 17 Air comes courtesy of user "yeux1122" on the Korean Naver blog, as spotted by MacRumors. According to the blog, which has been correct about these sorts of things in the past, the new thin iPhone will weigh just 145g. Per MacRumors, that would put it somewhere between the 2020 iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 Mini in terms of weight.

SEE ALSO: The battle of the mid-range phones: Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e

In other words, it's pretty light. That would be almost 20g lighter than the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which is the most notable competitor to the iPhone 17 Air that exists right now.

The Naver post also indicates that the iPhone 17 Air has a 2,800mAh battery inside of it. That pales in comparison to a lot of other modern smartphones, like the budget Google Pixel 9a, which has a 5,100mAh battery. However, battery capacity isn't necessarily a "the bigger number is always better" situation, and making an ultra-thin phone requires some compromises. The leak also suggests Apple could use a high density battery, which would increase its capacity to an extent.

Most expect the iPhone 17 Air to be announced in September of this year, along with the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup.

Starting on Monday, May 19, you can watch live as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella kicks off the company's annual developers conference, Microsoft Build 2025.

This year, Microsoft Build is being hosted in Seattle, and Nadella will join other Microsoft leaders for a series of livestreamed events. The opening keynote is scheduled to take place on May 19 from 12:05 to 2:00 p.m. EST. Nadella will be joined by Microsoft Chieft Technology Officer Kevin Scott for the opening session. According to the official description from Microsoft, "Satya Nadella and Microsoft leaders share how Microsoft is creating new opportunity across our platforms in this era of AI."

How to watch

You can register to participate in Microsoft Build virtually at the Microsoft website. But the easiest way to watch the event is to catch it live on YouTube.

We expect Microsoft Build to include new announcements about Microsoft's ChatGPT-powered AI tool, Copilot. You can also look for "the latest in Copilot, Azure, GitHub, and Windows AI innovations."

The event lineup features several highlights, including the keynote with Nadella, a Day 1 deep dive session titled "Unpacking the Tech," and a live recording of Scott and Mark Learn To...— a podcast that will explore key coding insights and takeaways from the Build event.

On the topic of code, it's worth noting that during his last public appearance, Nadella revealed that AI is now responsible for writing 30% of Microsoft’s code.

Here’s the thing about grief: it never goes away. As much as our culture would lead us to think, I’ve learned that it’s not a problem that needs solving with stages. Stages imply that you’ll eventually reach an endpoint, a resolution of some sort. Grief doesn’t allow for that. But you should allow yourself to feel all the emotions that come with grief as you learn to live with it. 

I lost both of my parents within three years  —  my father in Sept. 2021 and my mother in Aug. 2024. As an only child raised in a tight-knit family, I knew what it meant to feel a deep, undivided love (we were just the three of us). So this combined grief of losing them both close together has been devastating and cracked open a childhood fear I’ve carried for as long as I can remember.

Since then, I’ve had to navigate the chaos, numbness, and quiet revelations of grief. I’ve heard this journey described in all kinds of ways  —  and honestly, they’ve all had a point. I’ve read the books. I’ve tuned into the podcasts. I’ve gone through counseling. Each voice added something — and yet, nothing can fully capture the experience. 

Now more than ever, I find myself traveling back to relive what I thought were happier times - a period of my life when I had fewer concerns and my glasses were more rose-colored. With the tap of a button, I can stream the TV shows that defined my childhood, listen to an AI-generated playlist of songs I once put on mixtapes in high school, and rediscover the rare paperback novels I enjoyed during my bookworm days. 

I can now find a different kind of comfort in the media I consumed when I was younger. I can enjoy these pieces of pop culture through a different lens as they provide new insights into what I’ve been experiencing lately. I can appreciate them in a new way as they help me process the anxiety, sadness, anger, exhaustion, loneliness, gratitude, and every other complicated emotion that comes with grieving. 

These are my favorites:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 5, “The Body”

BTVS skillfully explored the initial moments following the (natural) death of Buffy’s mom. “Mommy,” Buffy whimpers before rushing to her, reverting to a child-like vulnerability I now know all too well. Series creator Joss Whedon captured the isolation and dullness in the minutiae of such a life-changing event, describing it on the DVD commentary as "the black-ashes-in-your-mouth numbness of death” that develops while trying to comprehend the incomprehensible. 

When I had to say my final goodbye to my mother in the hospital, my mind flashed through all the alternatives to this outcome while I was suddenly faced with a list of seemingly mundane tasks in the aftermath. Not unlike the titular heroine from one of my all-time favorite shows. 

“Mary Jane” by Alanis Morissette

This deep cut from 1995’s Jagged Little Pill, the definitive album of my adolescence, was once a seemingly wistful ballad about a friend in trouble. Now, thirty years later, it cuts even deeper, speaking to the all-consuming despair that can dominate one’s mental health. Mary Jane represents anyone who’s ever felt lost in a world that keeps moving while you remain paralyzed with your racing thoughts, stuck in an emotional state you think will never end.  

The Golden Girls, Season 6, “Ebbtide’s Revenge” 

Losing my mom was like losing a buffer that once protected me from the realities of certain family dynamics. Having no siblings, I can’t quite relate to Dorothy’s loss of her brother Phil, but this capsule episode from the iconic sitcom allowed me to recognize how the loss of my mom affected members of my extended family. 

Sophia, having lost her only son, remains stoic throughout, finally breaking down in the final scene after she realizes her disdain for Phil’s wife, Angela, was really a cover for the shame, doubt, and guilt she held onto for a child she never understood.

Other People 

Anticipatory grief is beautifully conveyed in Chris Kelly’s feature directorial debut that stars Jesse Plemons as David, a writer who returns home to care for his dying mother (an astonishing Molly Shannon). The movie eerily reflects my own relationship with this sense of dread, chronicling a year in David’s life as he learns more about his family and his issues with loneliness while coming to terms with the inevitable. The dramedy also features a running gag involving Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” as an inescapable tune popping up during inopportune times, including a scene where David breaks down in a supermarket while shopping for laxatives. Not too long ago, I had a similar experience with Sabrina Carpenter’s “Feather” inside a Dollar Tree in Florida while shopping for antacids.

Sex and the City, Season 4, “My Motherboard, My Self”

Miranda mourns the loss of her mom in Philadelphia, a hundred miles away from her friends, in this episode that taps into the isolating loneliness of grief (this was me in Florida, thousands of miles away from my friends in L.A.). This episode also demonstrates the importance of found family during times of crisis when Carrie, Charlotte, and Samantha demonstrate their sisterly love by traveling to the City of Brotherly Love for their grieving friend. Though Miranda was surrounded by her family, there was nothing like the solace she found in her friends, particularly when Carrie joins a solo Miranda in the funeral procession and grabs her hand – a small moment that resonates with me more than it did twenty years ago.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Klune’s novel was published just two weeks after my father passed away. Still, it wasn’t until three years later and after my mother’s death that I read it and re-examined my relationship with death. Much like the main character in the book, a lawyer named Wallace who dies and finds himself tethered to a quaint tea shop that acts as a rest stop for souls before they enter the afterlife, I found myself confronting what it means to let go.

While Wallace reevaluates his life and finds an unexpected romance with the “ferryman” who runs the shop, reintroducing him to the concepts of kindness and empathy, I found myself doing the same (while also finding my own romance IRL). 

Klune’s mysterious and fascinating world may enchant anyone who’s dealing with loss, but for me, it has helped me accept grief as a silent passenger riding alongside me on this journey.

“Hold On” by Wilson Phillips

While this mid-tempo pop classic from 1990 was memorably used to comedic effect in the finale to 2011’s Bridesmaids, it also holds a special place in my heart. I have always associated it with my first international trip as a child. My parents and I traveled to Japan to visit my father’s homeland, and the long flight from New York felt like an eternity to a kid like me. Keeping me occupied, besides my tattered copy of John Bellairs’s The Curse of the Blue Figurine, was the airline’s rotation of songs, which included “Hold On.” I knew the lyrics by heart by the time we landed in Tokyo, but now those lyrics work as a mantra, encouraging me to embrace my grief journey, to take care of myself, and to stay present.

Nostalgia is always an alluring trip to take, and sometimes it’s difficult to leave its comforts behind and return to present-day reality. But after revisiting these particular pieces, I can feel a renewed sense of purpose, of gratitude, just like Wallace feels at the end of Under the Whispering Door. I know I will keep honoring and recognizing my grief as the state of unexpressed love that it is — because I still have so much more of it to give.

I’ve worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, and have seen firsthand how technological advances in equipment, software, and AI can impact the creative process. Throughout my career, I’ve been behind the camera, in the edit bay, and in writers’ rooms. I’ve seen how this industry works and how it’s always changing, often because of technology.

When I went to NYU for film school, I experienced firsthand how deeply tech is intertwined with the creative process. I learned to edit 16mm film on a Steenbeck, then later edited tape-to-tape on a VCR (might be aging myself with those references). These days, however, I edit TV series with powerful computers and apps, like AVID and Adobe Premiere.

Through all of it, I’ve seen how technology continues to reshape the way we create content, making the production process faster, smarter, and more accessible. I’ve always kept up with the latest innovations in gear, apps, and workflows, not just because they’re cool, but because they show us what’s possible and help us maximize our creative potential. Technology can't replace the human touch, but it might be able to help us better express ourselves to one another.

Whether it’s new, AI-driven functions in software that help to speed up post-production, or apps that let you control your whole lighting setup from your phone when creating your own content, these tools are changing the way we tell stories by helping us bring ideas to life in more efficient and inventive ways.

Maybe we should give these new technologies a try for ourselves. And if we don't like 'em, at least we now know that through firsthand experience, rather than hearsay. It's all part of cultivating your craft as a creative, because when you know how to wield skills and tools well, you can tell engaging stories and share them with the world.