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HBO's The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, greets us with an epigraph. It reads, "All wars are fought twice. The first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory."

It's fitting, then, that memory becomes its own kind of battlefield throughout the limited series. Our narrator, simply known as "the Captain" (Hoa Xuande), struggles under duress to recall the events of his life as clearly as possible. The purpose of this recollection? A confession he's writing in a Vietnamese reeducation camp, where any lapse in memory or particularly clear detail could mean the difference between life and death.

SEE ALSO: How to watch 'The Sympathizer': When is Robert Downey Jr.'s new show streaming?

The Sympathizer's co-creators Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, Oldboy) and Don McKellar (Last Night) make a meal out of the Captain's memories — and the act of remembering itself. In an ever-present voiceover, the Captain will rewind his own thoughts to give us further context for information he's already provided, apologize for missing any details, and even question (then promptly explain) why he's narrating certain scenes. It's a bold tactic, one that captures the slippery, interjection-filled style of Nguyen's novel. It's a fun tactic, too, introducing us to the Captain's contemplative, often darkly funny inner monologue and affording the series major opportunities for stylistic flair.

Still, given the confession's context, The Sympathizer is never far from a brutal reminder of the stakes at play. Tragedy haunts its blend of satire and espionage thriller throughout, resulting in challenging, can't-miss TV magic.

What's The Sympathizer about? Hoa Xuande in "The Sympathizer." Credit: Hopper Stone / HBO

Before the Captain was stuck in a reeducation camp, he was a valuable member of the American-backed South Vietnamese secret police — and a mole for the Communist North Vietnamese forces. The double life of a spy is just one of many contradictions the Captain claims make him "a man with two faces." He's the child of a Vietnamese mother and a French father, and therefore feels constantly torn between two worlds, two cultures, two identities. The Captain is even torn between his childhood best friends: communist revolutionary Man (Duy Nguyen), who doubles as his handler; and staunch Southern supporter Bon (Fred Nguyen Khan), who doesn't suspect the secret dealings of either of his fellow self-proclaimed "Three Musketeers."

In the days leading up to the fall of Saigon, the three make plans to escape to America with the Captain's employer, the influential General (Toan Le). Of course, Man really plans on staying behind and enjoying Northern Vietnam's victory. So does the Captain, until Man reveals his next mission: Go to America and continue to report on the General's activities.

SEE ALSO: Get up to 42% off a Max annual subscription when you prepay for one year

One harrowing escape later, the Captain and Bon are refugees living in America. For the Captain, this journey marks a return, as he studied there in his youth. Yet the United States presents new challenges for his revolutionary activities, including the simple question of whether he's equipped to balance his dual lives much longer.

The Sympathizer explores the impact of the Vietnam War through a specifically Vietnamese lens. Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, and Duy Nguyen in "The Sympathizer." Credit: Hopper Stone / HBO

Another challenge the Captain faces in America is the greater amount of American influence on him — something he's clearly been feeling all his life but which escalates now thanks to his arrival back on American soil. The forces of colonialism he encounters are many, but they all share one face: that of Robert Downey Jr. Fresh off his Oppenheimer Oscar win, Downey Jr. plays four figures intertwined with the American establishment: a CIA agent, a professor of "Oriental Studies," a congressman, and a movie director.

Said director is working on an Apocalypse Now-esque film titled The Hamlet. The Captain agrees to be the film's cultural consultant, fighting behind the camera to create an onscreen version of Vietnam that isn't so Americanized and flattened. While his own attempts are not always successful, The Sympathizer's are decidedly more so. The series centers Vietnam throughout, reminding us in that same opening epigraph about memory that while Americans call the conflict in Vietnam the "Vietnam War," the Vietnamese call it the "American War."

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout' review: Video game adaptation is a wild nuclear Western

Given that we're in the Captain's head for the entire series, it's his perspective that defines The Sympathizer most. We see him question how "Vietnamese" he is — and how Vietnamese other people think he is. We see him devote his life to the communist cause, yet still find common ground with friends like Bon, who is ostensibly his enemy. What we don't see is him giving any grace to the Americans who treat him as a pawn, or who spout racist rhetoric disguised as academic discussion at him.

Robert Downey Jr. goes big in The Sympathizer, but Hoa Xuande steals the show. Robert Downey Jr. and Hoa Xuande in "The Sympathizer." Credit: Hopper Stone / HBO

Downey Jr.'s work in this space often borders on the cartoonish side, with his professor character falling fully into caricature. The heightened performances do occasionally break the immersion of the show, and I often swung between loathing them and loving them. However, this over-the-top-ness fully discredits anything these Americans throw at the Captain, in keeping with the show's Vietnamese focus.

Xuande's work is marvelously grounded in the face of this gallery of buffoons: While he may play along with them, there's always a hint of disgust, or horror, bubbling just below the surface. Some of the show's best scenes are those in which the Captain finds a way to snipe back at Downey Jr.'s quartet, or when he gets to poke fun at them when they're not around. One such standout comes when he discusses the professor of Oriental Studies along with the department's secretary, Ms. Mori (a sharp, if underutilized, Sandra Oh). What starts as a takedown of the professor's fetishization of Mori's Japanese heritage morphs into a frank conversation about everything from masturbation to murder. The scene and Xuande's performance run the gamut from hilarious to serious to seductive in the blink of an eye — an excellent snapshot of his range and of the show's tonal variety.

Park Chan-wook makes The Sympathizer the most stylized show on TV. Hoa Xuande in "The Sympathizer." Credit: Hopper Stone / HBO

The Sympathizer dances from hilarious satire to pulse-pounding thriller at the drop of the hat, and nothing captures that quite like Park's direction of the show's first three episodes. There is an inescapable dynamism to each beat of these episodes, thanks to sharp zooms, whip pans, and transitions that can really only be described as bangers. (Just wait until you see what Park does with a hard-boiled egg, or a hubcap.)

The Sympathizer does lose some of that dynamism once Park leaves the director's chair, but the remaining four episodes aren't without their fair share of inventive (and occasionally surreal) filmmaking decisions from Marc Munden and Fernando Meirelles. And the more The Sympathizer embraces its surrealism, the more we feel drawn into the Captain's memories, where we're lucky enough to witness the horrors and wonders of life on that strange, funny, and terrifying battlefield.

The Sympathizer premieres April 14 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

TL;DR: Through April 16, get a better handle on your investments with a premium lifetime subscription to Tykr Stock Screener, with an extra 20% off the sale price by using code ENJOY20. You won’t find this exclusive deal anywhere else. 

The world of stocks, investments, and trading is an ever-evolving beast. This lifetime subscription to Tykr Stock Screener's Premium Plan offers you a tool to help navigate your financial journey with a sense of control.

Whether you're a seasoned investor or just getting started, Tykr offers detailed financial statements, stock charts, and ratios to assist you in making educated decisions. Tykr gives you access to over 30,000 U.S. and international stocks, and it provides real-time stock alerts and updates.  

Tykr was designed to screen stocks diligently so you can see which are low-risk and high-risk. This intuitive platform gives you transparent calculations as it analyzes stocks, and provides you with a more in-depth knowledge of risk management. 

This one-time purchase gives you access to Tykr Stock Screener for life on unlimited devices. Getting started with investing may seem overwhelming, but with the right tips and education, you can go forth more confidently with your purchases and sells. This app also covers over 1,600 ETFs and over 1,800 cryptocurrencies.

Get a lifetime subscription to Tykr Stock Screener's premium plan ​​for 20% off the sale price of 119.99 (reg. $900) with code ENJOY20 through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Tykr Tykr Stock Screener: Premium Plan Lifetime Subscription $119.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Through April 16, add some light in your corner with this Lamp Depot Minimalist LED Corner Floor Lamp that shines bright with 300 multi-color effects and over 16 million solid-color options for only $55.99 with code ENJOY20.

Changing how your home feels doesn't have to require a whole change in your furniture, floor plan, or design. In fact, all it may take is a little adjustment to the ambiance to help you see your home in an all-new light. 

The Lamp Depot Minimalist LED Corner Floor Lamp may look simple before you turn it on, but hit the remote to cycle through literally millions of color options, including multi-color effects. Normally, this vibrant lamp would be $149, but you can get it for $55.99 for a little while longer. 

Millions of color options

Blend practicality with panache when you get a lamp with a simple look and an exciting vibe. This LED floor lamp can be used to light an area with soft-white LEDs, but you can also use it to add a splash of color by cycling through the on-remote color wheel with over 16 million colors. 

Can't decide on just one? No problem. There are also 200 multi-color effects that could make you feel like you're basking in the blue light of an aquarium or resting under a green forest canopy. 

As fun as this lamp is, it's also super functional. The thin design means you could slide it right up against the wall, and the wide base is also low enough to fit under some furniture. You might not even notice it until it's bringing the reds and oranges of sunrise to your bedroom in the morning. 

A delightful piece of furniture

Don't miss your chance to get one lamp that could totally change how your home feels. 

Until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the Lamp Depot Minimalist LED Corner Floor Lamp on sale for $55.99 with code ENJOY20. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Lamp Depot Lamp Depot Minimalist LED Corner Floor Lamp $55.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Through April 16, new users can get a lifetime of ​​iBrave cloud web hosting, on sale for $79.99 (reg. $899) with code ENJOY20. You won’t find this exclusive deal anywhere else. 

Finding an affordable web host can be daunting, but there is a solution. This lifetime subscription to ​​iBrave cloud web hosting provides a one-stop shop for hosting unlimited websites, bandwidth, SSD storage, subdomains, MySQL databases, and custom email addresses.

Though this deal is for new users only, you'll get load-balanced unlimited cloud hosting that promises high-performance speeds to ensure your site's performance and stability. It comes equipped with antivirus and antispam protection designed to keep your website secure. Daily backups are included with the subscription to help keep your valuable data protected. 

iBrave web hosting has unlimited SSD storage and monthly bandwidth, so you should have ample space for your data. The user-friendly control panel has 80+ one-click install apps, including WordPress, Magento, Joomla, etc., offering a seamless hosting experience.

A one-time purchase gives you lifetime access to cloud-based web hosting. Unlimited domain names are not included, but you can use a domain that you already have or purchase a new one to activate your subscription. If you need assistance, iBrave has 24/7 customer support. 

For many, a website is representative of services offered and is often a direct link to one’s livelihood. So if you're looking for cloud web hosting, consider this deal on iBrave.

Get a lifetime subscription to ​​iBrave cloud web hosting for only $79.99 (reg. $899) with code ENJOY20 through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: iBrave Hosting iBrave Cloud Web Hosting: Lifetime Subscription $79.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Through April 16, turn your TV into an art gallery with Dreamscreens, a USB drive that displays famous paintings, on sale for $31.99 with the code ENJOY20.

Hanging art on your walls is perhaps the easiest way to spruce up a room, next to slabbing on a fresh coat of paint. But the thing about art is, barring prints you can buy from Etsy or Target, you can't exactly get them for cheap.

But if you insist on having a Van Gogh piece sitting pretty in your living room, you can have your 4K TV display it for you. Dreamscreens is a physical art collection drive you can connect to your TV, and it will display over 500 of the most iconic paintings of all time. Through April 16, you can grab it on sale for $31.99 with the code ENJOY20.

Dreamscreens easily transform your television into a digital art frame. Plug the drive into your TV, and the paintings will be displayed via either a straightforward slideshow or a video complete with ambient background music, great for when you have guests around. Featured paintings in the Dream Art Collection include The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, and The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo.

You can also select from two different picture quality options for presenting paintings. The standard screen version displays them in their original size, with the unused space filled in with black bars. Alternatively, there's also the wide-screen version, which expands the artwork to fill the entire screen. Either way, the paintings are showcased in ultra-high definition, up to 4K resolution, provided your television supports it.

Dreamscreens works on virtually any smart TV and any other digital frame. And thanks to the plug-and-play design, setting it up is a breeze. You only have to insert the USB drive into the TV, and you're good to go.

Turn your space into an art gallery with Dreamscreens. It usually goes for $49, but you can grab it on sale for $31.99 with the code ENJOY20 through April 16.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Dreamscreens Dreamscreens: Turn Your TV into a 4K Digital Art Gallery $31.99 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: The Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle is on sale for £40.98 with the code ENJOY20.

If you want to enter the world of coding, you need to start somewhere. Online learning is a great option because it allows you to learn on your own time, whether it be on weekends or your lunch break. This Learn to Code bundle includes 15 multi-lesson courses on the most in-demand coding languages. It also comes with a lifetime license to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022. And it's on sale for just £40.98 with the code ENJOY20.

Many professional coders are self-taught. This bundle gives you the tools to teach yourself more efficiently and easily from the comfort of your home. 

The Learn to Code bundle dives into the most popular programs. This includes beginner-friendly courses such as Learn to Code with Python 3. Python 3 is used to develop websites and software, automate tasks, and more. The bundle also features a course that gives you a more complex understanding and focuses on learning Python by doing. You'll also be able to roll up your sleeves and learn from the ground up in C++ for Absolute Beginners 2024.

Other courses cover ChatGPT, MySQL, SQL, JavaScript, Vuex, Ruby on Rails, Salesforce, Google Assistant, and more. It's a comprehensive set of courses that will help you on your journey to coding excellence.

The other part of this bundle includes a lifetime license to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022. This development environment allows you to practice all you learned in the coding bundle, as it supports those languages. This software is designed to make it easy for beginners to flex their coding muscles and gives pros a place to code more efficiently, so it should always be very useful, even as you get better at coding.

Get the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and Learn to Code Bundle for just £40.98 with the code ENJOY20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shutterstock/Stack Commerce Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle £40.98 with the code ENJOY20 Get Deal

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 14's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Airship.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1030 is...

BLIMP.

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

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. 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 April 14's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 categories

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

• Yellow: "Pull" synonym

• Green: Fitness training

• Blue: Planes

• Purple: Words that are also days

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

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

• Yellow: Pull Using Force

• Green: Bit of Repetitive Training

• Blue: US-based Airlines

• Purple: Beginning with Day Abbreviations

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 Connections #307 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Pull Using Force: RIP, TEAR, WRENCH, YANK

• Bit of Repetitive Training: DRILL, EXERCISE, PRACTICE, ROUTINE

• US-based Airlines: AMERICAN, FRONTIER, SPIRIT, UNITED

• Beginning with Day Abbreviations: FRIAR, MONKEY, SUNDRY, WEDDING

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

As if the Windows 11 experience wasn't commodified enough, Microsoft has begun testing ads within the Start menu of Windows 11, a change rolling out to users within its Beta Channel in the US.

SEE ALSO: Windows 11 update fixes record number 147 flaws. This is why I switched to macOS.

Specifically, these ads will promote apps available in the Microsoft Store and appear in the Start menu's "Recommended" section. According to Microsoft's blog post, these targeted ads are only available to Windows Insiders and exclude commercially-managed devices.

While Microsoft has these ads enabled by default, users have the option to disable them via the Settings menu. And since the features are only being tested, user feedback could go a long way in influencing its future inclusion in official Windows 11 releases.

Embedding ads within the operating system is not new for Microsoft. Previous instances in Windows 10 included promotional content on the lock screen and the Start menu. Within Windows 11 specifically, Microsoft experimented with ads in File Explorer, which was later discontinued in beta versions thanks to less-than-favorable feedback.

Thus, this latest test serves as a continuation of Microsoft's exploration into integrating advertisements within its platform, indicating a potential shift towards a more ad-inclusive strategy in future iterations of Windows.

Does anyone want this? No. Is this the future we're headed toward? Probably!

The twinkling sounds of Hollywood won't be replaced by AI just yet.

SAG-AFTRA and major record labels Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, Disney Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment have reached a tentative agreement on the use of AI to create imitations, or clones, of Hollywood artists. The deal is a successor to the previous SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Sound Recordings.

SEE ALSO: Humane Ai Pin reviews: Top 5 common complaints about the 'smartphone killer'

According to a statement from the union, the deal mandates that digital replicas of member artists must receive "clear and conspicuous" consent before their release, as well as offer a minimum compensation to the artist and publicize the specific details of the AI sound's use.

Retroactively covering a five-year period from 2021 to 2026, the union also won increased salary minimums, improvements to health and retirement benefits, and an increase in the percentage of streaming revenue covered by contributions.

Part of its larger contract campaign, SAG-AFTRA previously negotiated AI protections with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), winning similar rules for consent and compensation as "AI acting" becomes an ever more threatening reality. At the time of the contract vote, some SAG-AFTRA members were worried the protections didn't go far enough. The union has also backed California legislation intended to protect actors from digital replicas made without their consent.

Members will vote on ratifying the new music protections later this month.

"This agreement ensures that our members are protected," wrote Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA National executive director and chief negotiator. "SAG-AFTRA stands firm in the belief that while technology can enhance the creative process, the essence of music must always be rooted in genuine human expression and experience."

Elon Musk's AI chatbot can now "understand" images, including information-riddled diagrams and charts. Sorry, doesn't everyone use the platform once known as Twitter for multi-disciplinary research and optimizing their work flows??

Introduced as Grok-1.5V — Or Grok 1.5 "Vision," the company's "first-generation multimodal model" — the bot will be able to not only respond to your uploaded pictures and screenshots but also reason through complex documents, science diagrams, charts, screenshots, and photographs, the company says. Additionally, Grok-1.5V will gain "real-world spatial understanding" to better understand the physical world depicted in the images uploaded by its users.

"Advancing both our multimodal understanding and generation capabilities are important steps in building beneficial AGI that can understand the universe," the company wrote in its' announcement. "In the coming months, we anticipate to make significant improvements in both capabilities, across various modalities such as images, audio, and video."

SEE ALSO: If you're a paying X user, Elon Musk wants his Grok AI to write your posts for you, report says

Example use cases include translating a diagram into Python code, turning a child's drawing into a bedroom story, pinpointing the largest object among a group of many, and telling a driver if they have enough space to drive around an obstacle.

Grok-1.5V is released along with xAI's RealWorldQA, an image and prompt dataset designed to test other GenAI models against Grok's real world reasoning.

Tweet may have been deleted

Competition is the least of Grok's worries, however. Despite xAI's continued investment, Grok has yet to stick with early users and staff — a new report alleges its own developers struggle to use the slow xAI API. That same report, published by Fortune this week, highlighted X employee concerns about Musk suggesting Grok write paid user's posts for them, despite warnings from developers and staff. Last week, Grok came under fire for generating fake news headlines from an alternate reality where Iran had assailed Tel Aviv with a military arsenal — not its first time.

While GenAI chatbots hallucinating realities and generating fake news is par for the course, Grok's gaffe is indicative of yet another site wide issue. The bot, a par for the course response to ChatGPT from Musk, is integrating into a platform that has slowly whittled away at its defenses against AI gone bad. Combined with X's all around poor reputation for moderation and the CEO's own refusal to address misinformation in aid of the site's "citizen journalists," Grok occupies a precarious spot in the platform's besieged information ecosystem.

Grok-1.5V will be available to early testers and select users soon.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 13 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 13

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, April 12, 2024:

Across"Wow, what are the ___?"

• The answer is Odds.

Trippy fungus, informally

• The answer is Shroom.

Kind of comedy at a comedy club

• The answer is Standup.

Continuously remind

• The answer is Nag.

The Diamondbacks, on scoreboards

• The answer is Ari.

White covering on a mountain

• The answer is Snowcap.

Yoga teacher's instruction

• The answer is Inhale.

Roughly half of babies, to their parents

• The answer is Sons.

DownShohei ___, baseball player who signed the biggest contract in pro sports history (10 years, $700 million)

The answer is Ohtani.

Creatures symbolized on mah-jongg tiles

• The answer is Dragons.

Actor Cheadle

• The answer is Don.

Coca-Cola container

• The answer is Soda can.

Tax form IDs, for short

• The answer is SNSS.

Paintings on city buildings

• The answer is Murals.

Plumber's tube

• The answer is Pipe.

One of journalism's "five W's"

• The answer is Who.

Next year, NASA will blast astronauts back to the moon. This is their 21st-century ride.

The European Space Agency — which helped build the Orion spacecraft that will carry four passengers — just posted an image of the tall vehicle before it was transferred to a test chamber for exposure to extreme, space-like environs.

"At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, the Orion vehicle that will be used for Artemis II is getting ready for this first mission to bring humans around the Moon and back in over 50 years," ESA wrote.

SEE ALSO: The U.S. is exploring a railroad for the moon. It has a good reason.

The forthcoming Artemis II mission will see astronauts launch into space attached to NASA's towering Space Launch System rocket, or SLS — a rocket more powerful than the Saturn V that first took astronauts to the moon. They'll loop around the moon, but won't land on it, before burning engines back to Earth and making a 5,000-degree plummet through the atmosphere. If the mission succeeds, it will pave the way for Artemis III in September 2026, which will touch down on the dusty lunar surface. They'll stay for about a week.

The Orion craft below comprises four parts stacked together:

- Crew module: Up top is the crew module, where astronauts will live on their space flight.

- Crew module adapter: This segment connects the crew module to the crucial component below, the European Service Module.

- Service Module: ESA calls this the "powerhouse of Orion." It provides electricity, propulsion, thermal control, air, and water, the agency explained.

- Spacecraft adaptor: At bottom, this conical segment connects Orion to the powerful SLS rocket.

The stacked Orion vehicle. At bottom are engineers, for size reference. Credit: NASA / A. Stevenson Tweet may have been deleted

NASA had previously expected Artemis II to launch in later 2024, but moved the flight back to September 2025 to address a few problems. Because there is life aboard, the agency — which knows all too well how a flight mishap can result in tragedy — values safety over expediency.

"Crew safety is and will remain our number one priority," Amit Kshatriya, NASA's deputy associate administrator of Exploration Systems Development, said in an agency statement earlier this year.

Of particular concern is the unexpected damage to Orion's heat shield that occurred during the uncrewed Artemis I flight. Amid the hot descent through Earth's atmosphere, some small pieces of the shield came off, as opposed to normal erosion from the intense friction and heat. "Teams have taken a methodical approach to understand the issue, including extensive sampling of the heat shield, testing, and review of data from sensors and imagery," NASA explained.

As looming Artemis missions aboard Orion take flight, NASA's aims are distinctly different than that of the legendary Apollo missions of over 50 years ago. This time, NASA will establish a permanent presence on and around the moon. And for the first time, astronauts will venture into the lunar south pole, a place scientists think contains bounties of water ice — a critical resource for fuel and water in any moon colony.

Many people associate NASA with exploring new worlds in space, but few know it's also finding new microscopic ecosystems right here.

Years ago, Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a scientist who decontaminates spacecraft bound for Mars, found a curious microorganism on the end of his swab. The bacteria, which he named bacillus pumilus, was so resilient, the usual cleaning solutions — ultraviolet light and peroxide — wouldn't kill it.

That discovery led to sending a specimen to the International Space Station, where astronauts hung it outside the laboratory 250 miles above Earth to see what would happen. When the sample came back, many of the spores were still alive, even after 18 months of exposure to cosmic radiation.

The research was shelved, and a sample of the microbe literally went into a freezer. But 25 years after its first detection, a Massachusetts-based company is using it to make a new ingredient for sunscreen, leveraging its UV resistance.

SEE ALSO: Your next skin cream may come from NASA's outer space science Tweet may have been deleted

The story of spaceship to skincare has twists and turns and an unusual cast of characters. It starts with Kyle Landry, who began his career in food science. Landry developed an expertise in extremophiles — organisms that can live in the harshest Earth environments — and even discovered a new species of fungus.

Landry had been focused on finding new and unique enzymes from certain funguses that grow at high temperatures. When added to foods, these ingredients help produce umami flavors.

David Sinclair, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School, took notice of Landry's work and offered him a postdoctoral position at his lab. Sinclair, whose research centers on why humans age and how to slow its effects, was interested in understanding how extremophiles can live such long lives and repair themselves in hostile environments.

From there, Landry started working for Liberty Biosecurity, a company in the biodefense sector co-founded by Sinclair, trying to neutralize anthrax and the Black Plague with extremophile enzymes that are good at breaking down organic material.

Kasthuri Venkateswaran discovered bacillus pumilus on a spacecraft in a NASA cleanroom in 1999. Credit: NASA

The contractor eventually started working with NASA to develop compounds that could protect the human genome from the harmful effects of cosmic radiation.

"It's not the rockets that are limiting us from going to Mars," Landry said. "It's our own biology to withstand nonstop radiation for six months."

The partnership put Landry at the right place at the right time to learn about NASA's treasure trove of extremophiles, ripe for more research and commercialization. At the space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, scientists have discovered hundreds of these hardy little lifeforms while trying to clean spacecraft before the hardware leaves the planet. The United States has signed an international treaty to avoid introducing contaminants to extraterrestrial environments.

At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, scientists have discovered hundreds of these hardy little lifeforms while trying to clean spacecraft before the hardware goes to other worlds. Credit: NASA

To comply, NASA has sought to sanitize Mars rovers at a threshold of no more than 300,000 bacterial spores on any surface area exposed to the Martian environment. That process has revealed plenty of microbes that can survive high temperatures, low nutrients, and a lack of moisture.

Venkateswaran has been collecting the specimens to have a record of the types of so-called "dead bug bodies" that could remain on NASA equipment. That way, if a rover shovel digs up some Martian dirt and puts it in a test tube, scientists have an idea of whether potential evidence of a primitive organism is an alien or just a hitchhiker from Earth. Regardless of NASA's best efforts, there's no full-proof way to make a spacecraft spotless, a point John Grunsfeld, NASA's former chief scientist, drove home in 2015.

"We know there’s life on Mars already because we sent it there,” he said then.

Twenty-five years after the first detection of a strain of bacteria, a Massachusetts-based company is using it to make a new ingredient for sunscreen, leveraging its UV resistance. Credit: Delavie Sciences

Venkateswaran's other reason for saving extremophile samples is to learn how to improve cleaning methods. The strain of bacillus pumilus, for example, was used as a final witness for the eradication of everything else in that cleanroom, said Dan Lockney, executive of NASA’s technology transfer program.

"If that bacteria was eliminated," he said, "they determined that that cleanroom was as sanitized as possible."

"If that bacteria was eliminated they determined that that cleanroom was as sanitized as possible."

Now for how the bacteria ended up in the sunscreen business.

Delavie Sciences has launched its own brand of skincare products, Aeonia, using its version of bacillus lysate. Credit: Delavie Sciences

NASA urged Landry to take a look at its catalog of patented organisms. When he saw this one's potential for absorbing UV radiation, he licensed it, then spent the next two years figuring out how to make an extract from the bacteria. (The proprietary product itself, known as bacillus lysate, doesn't contain any live bacteria.)

"We endeavor to make sure all the things that we develop for these space missions also find their way into consumer goods and industrial applications and manufacturing processes and into hospitals and grocery stores," Lockney said.

Seeing that a biodefense company doesn't have a place in cosmetics, Landry formed a spinoff company, called Delavie Sciences, which now makes the SPF booster in 15,000 liter reactors and sells it in bulk quantities to sunscreen manufacturers.

By now it's pretty much common knowledge that sunscreen is the best way to reduce skin damage from the sun. Too much UV exposure can cause cancer and age-related skin problems, like wrinkles and spots.

Delavie Sciences CEO Kyle Landry goes on oil rigs and in abandoned gold mines to find new biology that could become the next big thing in extremophiles. Credit: Kyle Landry

Sunscreens are rated with SPF, short for Solar Protection Factor, which measures how much UV radiation is necessary to penetrate the barrier to burn. The use of Delavie Sciences' bacillus lysate, which absorbs UV, increased an SPF 30 sunscreen by 22 to 33 percent, a range based on different amounts tested, according to a study published in the journal Cosmetics in October 2023.

Delavie Sciences has also launched its own brand of skincare products, called Aeonia, using its version of bacillus lysate for another application. The ingredient seems to activate skin cells' own production of hyaluronic acid, which has been shown to help grow collagen and elastin.

Like Willy Wonka looking for the next exotic chocolate flavor, Landry now goes on oil rigs and in abandoned gold mines hunting for new biology that could become the next big thing in extremophiles. But he emphasizes that his business wouldn't have been possible without NASA.

"People think NASA is just rockets and satellites and freeze-dried ice cream," he said. "There's so much more that comes to us from NASA that goes under the radar."

I'll be the first person to tell someone to just grow up and buy a Dyson rather than settle for a cheaper cordless vacuum. Yes, the Dyson purchase probably requires extra saving up, and yes, I acknowledge that a vacuum costing the same or more than a month's rent puts it in the "overpriced" category. But if you can swing it, I think a Dyson stick vacuum is worth it.

And this is simply because my Dyson does such a good job that it makes me prefer doing the chore manually. If a robot vacuum does a crappy job of cleaning a hard floor, my Dyson V12 Detect Slim will snitch immediately, using its green laser to highlight any leftover hairs or specks that a robot vacuum missed. It's still clutch to be able to rely on a robot vacuum for surface-level jobs in a pinch, but for better or for worse, my ultimate robot vacuum test is how it stands up against my Dyson.

So what better robot vacuum to compete with my beloved Dyson stick vacuum than a Dyson robot vacuum? I went into my experience with Dyson's new 360 Vis Nav with high expectations, despite already knowing about Dyson's odd choice to omit crucial features like mopping and self-emptying. Here's how it went.

Dyson rarely releases robot vacuums, so this was huge

The 360 Vis Nav initially sold out at Dyson's website within hours of release on March 19. Stock subsequently dwindled completely at other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy within the following days. That's not surprising — demand for a Dyson robot vacuum has been bubbling since 2016, which is the last time Dyson released a robot vacuum in the U.S. And it was a flop.

Eight years later, the premise of a Dyson robot vacuum feels much more auspicious. Dyson has perfected its cyclonic suction power in the realm of upright cordless vacuums, so it should have no problem converting that expertise to robot form, right?

SEE ALSO: We tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300 — including the Shark FlexStyle

The 360 Vis Nav came out with the promise of being the world's most powerful robot vacuum, aided by a flat edge and a genius extending side duct for better corner cleaning than what a round robot vacuum can manage. A D-shaped robot vacuum is unique, but isn't something we've never seen before. And it's definitely not the most... interesting choice Dyson made with this physical design. Let's start there.

This physical design will clash with a lot of home decor

You can tell a Dyson vacuum is a Dyson vacuum just by looking at it. The metallic gray bodies, bold pops of color, and chunky industrial details are pretty recognizable to anyone who has shopped for a vacuum before.

And I've never minded that boldness. My V12 Detect Slim, which is gray with a weird orange tentacle-looking piece on the dust bin and a purple filter cap, is a flex mounted on the wall in my kitchen.

That being said, Dyson should have reined in its signature design with the 360 Vis Nav, because it's kind of an eyesore. Rather than sticking to graphite, the entire body is bright indigo. That is topped off with an exterior circular dustbin that was probably meant to give cool exposed gear vibes, but more so resembles a curled-up centipede.

Something about the 360 Vis Nav and the Fleetwood Mac record just don't vibe. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable You can choose a cleaning mode on the touchscreen, but that's about it. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I guess the polarizing design choice might be appealing to ultra-modern maximalists, but given my guests' puzzled reactions when they see the 360 Vis Nav in my living room, it's not exactly screaming practical.

Despite the fact that robot vacuums are becoming increasingly common, they can still feel a bit out of place — maybe too futuristic — in a lot of homes. Other brands have caught onto the consumer's preference for chicness and subtly, with iRobot going as far as to make its Roomba Combo j9+ dock double as a wooden top side table.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The 2024 guide to deciding which Roomba to buy

So the dust bin isn't concealed on the underside or back like it traditionally is on standalone robot vacuums. Yes, this means that the wad of gray dust will be facing outward until it's time to empty. You'd be off the hook from that for weeks and weeks had Dyson included a self-empty dock, but at least the 360 Vis Nav's 0.15-gallon dust bin is larger than most.

You hold the dustbin like a purse and click it open via the handle. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

And granted, if a robot vacuum is going to require manual emptying, Dyson's system is definitely the mildest pain in the ass. Just pull up the handle and un-click the bin while the vac is charging, hold it over a trash can, and push the red button. The door swings open downward and everything falls directly in the trash.

Speaking of questionable design choices, not even the religious RuPaul's Drag Race stan in me can justify the black and white checkered flags stuck to the 360 Vis Nav's dock. This thin panel needs to be attached in order for the vac to map correctly and find its way back. Without it, the 360 Vis Nav looks like me trying to parallel park. No other premium robot vacuums I've tested require obnoxious stickers to drive themselves. Just saying.

Smart mapping is accurate, but customizing zones is frustrating

A small LCD touchscreen and a small transparent sphere known as the Eye sit atop the 360 Vis Nav. You use the touchscreen during setup when connecting to the WiFi, and I appreciate that all of the steps are laid out in very simple terms. You can also use the touchscreen to select from four cleaning modes (which you can also do on the app): auto, boost, quiet, and quick. They're pretty self-explanatory.

The other piece of tech on top, the Dyson Eye, replaces the circular LiDAR tower that is seen on a lot of competing robot vacuums. The Eye has a 360-degree view of its surroundings and, with the help of 26 different sensors, is said to analyze up to 10,000 data points a second, allowing it to remember your home's layout and navigate around large obstacles like furniture and walls.

Tight-knit table legs or kitchen chair legs did not trip the 360 Vis Nav up once. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The 360 Vis Nav knew to not use its side suction around these defenseless blanket tassels. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The 360 Vis Nav's mapping run proved to be quite accurate the first time around, at least when assessing the general perimeter of the floor plan. (Dividing rooms in the app wasn't as seamless.) After each cleaning session, the MyDyson app offers what looks like a heat map version of its smart map, showing where it found the most dust. It'll work harder in those areas the next time you start a full home cleaning.

Navigation-wise, the 360 Vis Nav is nimble when dealing with tricky furniture. It never got stuck once in my apartment, and was able to carve tightly around our acorn-shaped coffee table. I'm not over the lack of small obstacle avoidance technology, though. And I elaborate on these gripes in the downsides section of this review.

Suction power: Great on carpet, rough around the edges (literally)

Dyson alleges that the 360 Vis Nav has double the suction power of any robot vacuum. That's honestly not totally unbelievable coming from a longstanding powerhouse like Dyson, but it is tricky to compare suction power on paper when other robot vacuums measure that in Pascals (Pa) while Dyson measures in Air Watts (AW).

SEE ALSO: Spring cleaning starter kit: 8 products to cover all your bases

Dyson does scale its robot vacuum's motor the same way it does its cordless vacuums, making contextualizing suction power a little more tangible. The 360 Vis Nav houses a proprietary Hyperdymium motor that spins at up 110,000 RPM — faster than all cordless Dyson vacuums that retail for more than $649.99. However, that motor only creates suction up to 65 AW of suction power, which is nearly half of the suction power pumped out by Dyson's cheapest cordless vacuum, the V8, which can often be found on sale between $300 and $350. As a reminder, the 360 Vis Nav costs $1,119.99.

Success stories first: The Dyson 360 Vis Nav is pretty stellar on carpet and rugs. It aced any debris test I threw at it, audibly boosting suction (in auto mode) when it came across a mess. These three piles of crushed tortilla chips, soil, and cat fur were totally cleared before the 360 Vis Nav went back to its dock, even when I was skeptical after it missed some pieces on the first pass.

Crumbs, dirt, pet hair — the usual. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The 360 Vis Nav sensed that debris was left and went back to get these pieces. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The effectiveness is probably a combination of sheer suction power and the triple-action brush roll. It's basically a spitting image of the one on Dyson's Digital Motorbar cleaning head for its cordless vacuums, combining soft nylon, stiff bristles, and anti-static carbon fiber strands that dig into carpet pile, attract debris like velcro, and suck it out.

In terms of battery life, Dyson alleges that the 360 Vis Nav can run for 65 minutes. I was able to send the Dyson out to cover two rooms that took just under half an hour each, and it had enough juice for both on one charge. However, I can see this run time dwindling significantly if more of the floor is carpet or needs to be cleaned in boost mode.

Hard floors were more of a struggle than carpet, which is surprising because it's usually the other way around for robot vacuums.

My bathroom is one place where I need a robot vacuum to reliably clean on a daily basis. It's where one of my cats' litter boxes is, and is where my hair sheds the most — and is the only place in the apartment where I always walk barefoot. So tell me why, on multiple occasions, I walked in there after a 360 Vis Nav run to see the back third of the floor still scattered with kitty litter and long hairs. Either the 360 Vis Nav's suction did virtually nothing, or it didn't attempt to go back there at all. Considering a $299 Shark robot vacuum successfully came to the rescue afterwards, neither of those excuses will fly.

Similarly, the laser on my Dyson V12 Detect Slim showed a decent amount of dust still remaining in front of the litter box in the kitchen after the 360 Vis Nav cleaned there.

Yes, this is *after* the 360 Vis Nav came through. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Dyson's hyped edge cleaning was a huge letdown

Aside from rocking a flat edge to scoot into 90-degree angles better than a round vacuum, the 360 Vis Nav is equipped with side ducts that extend when cleaning along a wall. These target suction power to the side of the vacuum that the wall is on, replacing the traditional flimsy spinning side brushes that operate on mere hope. This was going to be huge if true: Robot vacuums universally struggle to grab the dust bunnies that blew into the corner behind the couch or the crumbs pushed up against cabinets or appliances.

I thought this was a first pass blunder, but no, it was left like this. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Once again, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim saved the day. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Unfortunately, the 360 Vis Nav fell short of edge-pectations. During my spill-rice-on-purpose challenge, the vac did an OK (just OK) job at clearing the middle of the floor, but hardly grabbed any of the rice hanging out under the lip of the cabinets.

Downsides: Dyson skipped crucial features, then charged too much

My list of cons of the 360 Vis Nav will be pretty straightforward — not because Dyson got very few things wrong, but because there's actually not a ton of features to evaluate. No self-emptying, no mopping, no small obstacle avoidance. I'll cover those in the section exploring the competition, but first, I want to touch on the features that are present, but disappointing.

There's a lot of misplaced innovation going on here. Rather than ensuring some basic features that every high-end robot vacuum should have, Dyson put its energy into things like a touchscreen. That would have been cool if you could do anything more proactive than select the cleaning mode through it.

Similarly, I've already gone off about how the 360 Vis Nav doesn't even reliably clean edges — the one thing it was supposed to excel at.

Spot cleaning is another huge miss. Sometimes, scheduling a cleaning for one room in particular isn't specific enough. Sometimes, you just need to directly tackle the few feet surrounding the kitchen counter, or the front door, or the litter box. If the ability to physically pick the vacuum up, plop it in the spot that needs attention, and press a button on the top to make it go isn't an option, I'll settle for drawing a zone in the app.

JUST LET ME PINCH THE DIVIDER EASILY, I BEG YOU. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The MyDyson app doesn't differentiate between rooms and zones, despite referring to the entire room-labeling process as "zoning." The most intuitive robot vacuum apps allow you to drag a rectangle onto whatever area of the map you desire for a one-time cleaning, no questions asked.

But if you want to spot clean with the 360 Vis Nav, you have to put dividers up just like you would when separating a bedroom from the hallway. That'd be fine if the dividers were easy to set up with your finger. But they barely respond to pinching or dragging, and then get mad at you for not being arranged correctly. This once again had me sending a $299 robot vacuum to cover those spontaneous spots.

The competition

Dyson's choice to simply omit features like self-emptying and mopping is unforgivable at this price point. These "advanced" autonomy features may have been considered premium in 2020, but have become accessible at any price point in the past two years. You can easily score a robot vacuum that empties itself and mops for less than $500 even without a sale.

The competing robot vacuums in the same $1,000+ pricing tier are actually going far past just automatic emptying or just mopping, too. The theme of the robot vacuums announced at CES 2024 was fully self-sufficient mopping, including automatic washing and drying of the mopping pads. Considering Dyson just released a mopping version of one of its best cordless vacuums in Sept. 2024, it's surprising that its robot vacuum ignores mopping completely.

SEE ALSO: The Roomba Combo j7+ is pretty good at cleaning and really good at not eating phone chargers

It's also impossible not to compare the 360 Vis Nav to Dyson's own stick vacuum lineup, especially when the 360 Vis Nav costs more than the most expensive cordless Dyson, the $1,049 Gen5 Outsize. That vac more than doubles the suction power and dustbin capacity of the 360 Vis Nav, plus can be trusted to get into corners. Yes, you'll be the one doing the work, but it's actually fun when you're guided by a game-changing laser that highlights exactly where dust and debris are. You already know I back the V12 Detect Slim, which can often be snagged for less than $500.

Is the Dyson 360 Vis Nav worth it?

Nope. And that's not an "unless you have the budget to spend over $1,000 on a robot vacuum" nope. It's just a hard nope.

Similarly-priced competitors empty themselves, mop, wash and dry their own mopping pads, and can detect small obstacles like cords, pet waste, and socks. The 360 Vis Nav doesn't do any of that, and doesn't even ace edges, the main thing it claimed to be good at.

And even if the 360 Vis Nav wasn't drowning in competition from other robot vacuums, it would still lose to its number one enemy: its own cordless stick vacuums.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson 360 Vis Nav $1,199.99 at Dyson
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If you want to get in sync with your partner or belong to a highly organized friend group, and wondering how to share your Google Calendar, you've come to the right place.

Sharing your Google Calendar with someone means they can see your schedule without any tedious back-and-forth, which is a lifesaver for busy people. Before you enter into this intimate step in a relationship, make sure you know the different levels of access.

If you give someone full access to your calendar, they can respond to invitations, create and edit events shared with you, and even share your calendar with someone else or delete events. If this sounds like giving someone way too much trust, you can set different access permissions for specific people.

With that out of the way, let's dive in.

Total Time

• Less than 5 minutes

What You Need

• Your computer and internet access

Step 1: Go to Google Calendar on your computer

This isn't possible on the mobile Google Calendar app, so make sure you're using Google Calendar on desktop.

Step 2: Go to "My calendars"

You can find this section on the lefthand side of the page. Expand your calendars by clicking the down arrow to find the calendar you want to share.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 3: Hover over the calendar you want to share

When you hover over the calendar you want to share, you'll see the three vertical dots icon next to the name of the calendar. Click on this icon and select "Settings and sharing."

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 4: Find the "Share with specific people" section

Scroll to the bottom of the settings page that says "Share with specific people or groups." Then click "Add people."

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 5: Add the person's email address

When you click "Add people" a pop-up will prompt you to add who you want to share your calendar with. Start typing their name if they're already within your contacts or enter their email address manually. Either way this box will populate with their email address. Note: This is the part where you can customize access permissions. The list goes from most restricted to least restricted, so the last permissions choice gives the users full access (creating, deleting, editing events, etc.)

Credit: Screenshot: Google / Mashable

Step 6: Hit send

Once you've chosen your access permissions, hit "Send." The user will receive an email with a link to confirm access to your calendar.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 7: Make your Google Calendar public or delete access

To make your Google Calendar accessible to anyone with the link, check the box "Make available to public" under the "Access permissions for events." From here, you can copy the link to your calendar on your clipboard. To remove access, go back to the "Share with specific people or groups" section and click the "X" next to the user.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

TL;DR: Through April 16, upgrade your laptop’s OS with Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, price-dropped to $31.99 with code ENJOY20.

If your current laptop is starting to lag or underperform, it may be time to update your OS. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro was designed to help you increase productivity and provide advanced management tools for remote work.

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Windows 11 automatically receives updates and exclusive features, including Windows Copilot, an AI assistant to help with tasks like changing settings, launching playlists, summarizing documents, and more. Check out snap layouts, improved voice typing, and the advanced search engine for making everyday assignments easier to execute.

Creatives will love the updated Paint app in Windows 11 with improved zooming, enhanced imaging capabilities, support for layers, AI-powered background removal, generative content creation, and transparent PNG support. Take your art to the next level, there are no limitations to the magic you can create.

Whether you’re a business professional, student, or at-home user, this versatile OS offers features that can benefit everyone. You’ll love the enhanced security, BitLocker encryption, improved performance, and customizable options this software has to offer.

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TL;DR: Through April 16, save on Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 along with courses on Python, C++, and ChatGPT, all for $51.99 with code ENJOY20. 

There's more to learning to code than picking a language and running with it. You may also have to find an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that helps you work on your projects. It's the place where you actually write your code, and some of them have tools built in to streamline the process. 

Beginner programmers can get lifetime access to a comprehensive IDE and thorough courses training you on coding basics when you get the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and Learn to Code bundle on sale for $51.99. That sale only lasts until April 16 though. 

What is Visual Studio Pro?

Visual Studio Professional 2022 is a development environment that could help to enhance your productivity while you're working on large, complex, or collaborative projects. This 64-bit IDE lets developers write code for mobile or desktop apps with .NET MAUI, craft responsive web UIs in C# using Blazor, and debug and test their code using .NET and C++ apps in Linux.

One of the major highlights of Visual Studio Pro is IntelliCode, which is like contextual auto-complete for developers. That means your IDE is constantly analyzing your code, making suggestions, and offering insights to help you complete single lines or whole blocks. Make sure to check the CodeLens to see recent changes, authors, tests, and commit history if you're working in a group. 

And if you're just learning how to program, make sure to check out the intro coding courses included in this bundle. Get the basics of Python 3, C++, and more taught by industry pros like John Purcell, a full-time private software trainer based out of Hungary. 

Learn to code

Don't lose your chance to learn how to code and get a place to do it. 

Get the Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 and Premium Learn to Code bundle for $51.99 until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT when you use code ENJOY20. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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TL;DR: Through April 16, a lifetime subscription to 1TB of cloud storage with Koofr is on sale for $127.99 (reg. $810) with code ENJOY20.

Nowadays, it seems we never have quite enough storage for all of our data. Through April 16, this lifetime subscription to Koofr Cloud Storage with 1TB of space is just $127.99 with code ENJOY20, so you can store documents, photos, media, etc.  

Koofr is designed to be user-friendly and can be accessed from multiple devices. It allows you to pull files from tablets, phones, or computers. The advanced file management feature gives users more control and flexibility in organizing files and a simple tool to clear duplicates.

Koofr cloud storage services promise to encrypt your data during rest and transfer, and won't track you or expose your personal information. The extra security measures allow for smooth integration with external cloud accounts like Dropbox, Amazon, Google Drive, and OneDrive, while making it seamless to access files across multiple platforms.

Make a one-time purchase and the Koofr lifetime subscription service is accessible for life. If you can’t wrap your head around the enormity of this deal, 1TB can store 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million document pages such as PDFs. 

Get a lifetime subscription to 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage for only $127.99 (reg. $810) with code ENJOY20 until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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TL;DR: Through April 16, make spring cleaning manageable with the JASHEN V18 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for only $135.99 with code ENJOY20. 

Spring cleaning isn't just a single day where you suddenly make your home feel fresh and clean. It's a process that keeps going because spring is messy. Between tracked-in dirt, lunchtime spills, pet messes, and kitchen catastrophes, there's a lot of cleaning to do, but you might only need one tool to do it. 

The JASHEN V18 Vacuum Cleaner is a powerful, efficient cleaning device that works on hard floors or carpets, and it's totally wireless. This powerful cordless vacuum is also super quiet and on sale but not for long. For a few days more through April 16, you can get the JASHEN V18 for only $135.99 with code ENJOY20. 

Includes accessories and a wall-mounted charger

This versatile vacuum doesn't just stick to the carpet. Roll from the soft floor of the living room into the cool tile of the kitchen without skipping a beat when you're using this lightweight whole-house cleaner. Like any cordless vacuum, the V18 has limited battery life, but the 2,500mAh battery capacity means it could run for up to 40 minutes of uninterrupted cleaning. That's a lot of time to cover some real distance, especially when there's no cable to trip over. Plus, this one comes with all sorts of useful accessories like the upholstery tool, crevice nozzle, two-in-1 dusting brush, and more. 

When it's time to recharge, just pop it on the wall-mounted charger. That keeps it out of the way and ready to go next time a mess needs a quick cleanup. 

Clean up springtime messes

Whether it's mud in the kitchen or grass on the carpet, you could turn a messy season into your own spring dreams if you get the right cleaning tools. 

Until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get the JASHEN V18 350W Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $135.99 (reg. $336) with code ENJOY20. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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$336.00 Save $200.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal