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Whether you meticulously scan the night sky for constellations or look up occasionally to see if you can catch a shooting star, a total solar eclipse is an event you won't want to miss. It's a rare event that finds the moon passing between Earth and our sun, which makes for a dynamite viewing experience whether you're a casual observer or an aspiring astronomer.

The highly-anticipated celestial event, which is estimated to reach three to four minutes of totality where the moon has completely blocked out the sun, is set to occur on April 8, 2024. And being just a few days out from the event, it's crucial that you prepare for safe viewing if you plan on stepping outside and taking in all its awe-inspiring glory. That means buying a pair of eclipse glasses that can make the experience safe, so you don't end up injuring your eyes permanently.

This eclipse is going to be a very big deal, and if you plan on checking it out, eclipse glasses are an absolute must-have. But even though there are a wide variety of glasses available on Amazon from a variety of sellers, this isn't a one-size-fits-all situation. You shouldn't head to Amazon and buy the first pair of eclipse glasses you see.

Mashable Science Editor Mark Kaufman explains why this is important, but if you don't have time to sift through the list of approved eclipse glasses from sellers vetted by the American Astronomical Society (AAS), we're here to do it for you.

Everything featured here is available on Amazon, meets the standards set forth by the AAS, and is listed by an approved seller. Since the eclipse is just days away, make sure you opt for one- or two-day shipping.

Below, check out our picks for some of the best eclipse glasses you can buy now, on sale or otherwise. (Note: All deals are live as of the time of writing. We'll make our best effort to keep updating this story as inventory moves around.)

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Kesseph Kesseph Solar Eclipse Glasses 6-pack with Smartphone Photo Filter $18.99 at Amazon
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With scratch-proof lenses and sturdy cardboard frames, these solar eclipse glasses give you the peace of mind you need to safely view the eclipse. With two crease lines on the frame's sides, these glasses can fit children and adults alike. With five extra pairs, you'll be able to share with friends and family who might not have planned ahead to grab their own.

The kit also includes a special photo filter with technology that allows you to take video and photos of the eclipse with your phone or camera.

More eclipse glasses available at full price:

• Healthoholic Solar Eclipse Glasses (2-pack) — $14.99 on Amazon

• Kesseph Eclipse Glasses (2-pack) — $14.99 on Amazon

• SEIC Solar Eclipse Glasses (3-pack) — $15.99 on Amazon

• Kesseph Eclipse Glasses (5-pack) — $19.99 on Amazon

• Helioclipse Solar Eclipse Glasses (12-pack)— $29.95 on Amazon

• American Paper Optics Solar Eclipse Glasses (4-pack) — $10.99

Eclipse glasses on sale:

• Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses — $14.99 $19.99 (save $5)

• Eclipse Glasses USA Eclipse Glasses (5-pack) — $16.02 $17.80 (save $1.78)

• Eclipsee Solar Eclipse Glasses (2-pack) — $16.97 $18.97 (save $2)

It's going to be an expensive streaming summer for Disney+ users sharing passwords.

Though Disney's streaming service has already started rolling out its crackdown on password sharing in the U.S., it's now clear when the company will make people pay for anyone outside their household to use their account: June.

Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC the company will be "launching our first real foray into password sharing" in June, lightly detailing plans to launch in "just a few countries" before expanding to all paying subscribers by September.

SEE ALSO: Disney+ is now restricting password sharing in the U.S.

Iger's interview comes after Disney announced a similar summer timeframe for the crackdown in February, during Disney's Q1 earnings call.

"Beginning this summer, Disney+ accounts suspected of improper sharing will be presented with new capabilities to allow their borrowers to start their own subscriptions," CFO Hugh Johnston said during the call, as reported by CNET.

"Later this calendar year, account holders who want to allow access to individuals from outside their household will be able to add them to their accounts for an additional fee."

Featured Video For You Meet Disney's rollerblading robot prototype

First announced for the U.S. in August 2023, then confirmed in February, Disney+ is about to go hard on these account sharing restrictions. If you've been a new subscriber since January 25, you're already under these rules, and they were rolled out to existing members on March 14.

Disney's current Subscriber Agreement, updated in September 2023, says, “Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Plan, you may not share your subscription outside of your Household. “Household” means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein." Disney's agreement also says "additional usage rules may apply for certain Service Plans," but the current Disney+ pricing page doesn't have any further details on how much users might have to pay to add extra users outside the household.

Disney's agreement also reads, "We may analyse the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement. If we determine that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access."

Disney+'s crackdown follows Netflix's crackdown on password sharing last April, and similar moves by Hulu, ESPN, and Max. If you want to share streaming accounts nowadays, you've got to pay.

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 5 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 5

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, April 5, 2024:

Across"How cute!"

• The answer is aww.

Candy beside a Butterfinger, perhaps

• The answer is Twix.

Sentimental sort

• The answer is softy.

Butterfingers

• The answer is Klutz.

Friend in war

• The answer is ally.

DownTerrible ... or pretty

The answer is awful.

Quick with the one-liners

• The answer is witty.

Final four?

• The answer is wxyz.

Turnpike expense

• The answer is toll.

Genre for Sublime and No Doubt

• The answer is ska.

TL;DR: Stream the 2024 British Swimming Championships for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Everyone wants to book their place on the plane to Paris, but the Olympic dream is not easy to achieve. Places are up for grabs in the British Swimming Championships, but the depth of talent is incredible. It's sink or swim for these impressive athletes.

If you're interested in watching the 2024 British Swimming Championships for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the British Swimming Championships?

The British Swimming Championships are an annual event organised by British Swimming. The event is usually held in March or April each year in a 50-metre swimming pool, with the results usually acting as selection trials for upcoming international level competitions.

When is the 2024 British Swimming Championships?

2024 British Swimming Championships will take place at the London Aquatics Centre from April 2 to April 7. This event will be used to select members for the British Paralympic and Olympic pool swimming teams.

How to watch the 2024 British Swimming Championships for free

BBC Sport will be broadcasting all the action live from every finals session of the British Swimming Championships, with free live streaming available on BBC iPlayer. The full streaming schedule is as follows:

• Day One — 6:45 to 9 p.m. BST on BBC iPlayer (April 2)

• Day Two — 6:45 to 9 p.m. BST on BBC iPlayer (April 3)

• Day Three — 6:45 to 9 p.m. BST on BBC iPlayer (April 4)

• Day Four — 6:45 to 9 p.m. BST on BBC iPlayer (April 5)

• Day Five — 6:45 to 9 p.m. BST on BBC iPlayer (April 6)

• Day Six — 6:45 to 9 p.m. BST on BBC iPlayer (April 7)

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream the 2024 British Swimming Championships for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free streaming sites without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 British Swimming Championships before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 British Swimming Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. We all make them — particularly when it comes to getting our fitness back on track. But it's never too late. And excuses aside, there's never a bad time to focus on your health. As far as we're concerned, finding the right bit of smart tech is a good start. That's where Garmin comes in.

Indeed, hiring a personal trainer is excellent, of course, but the technology exists now to put a mini PT in your pocket. Or even better, on your wrist.

Garmin is one of the very best brands in health and fitness-based wearable tech. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fitness newbie or hardened triathlete, there’s a Garmin smartwatch for you. But how to choose? Admittedly, it’s not as easy as it sounds. There are dozens of Garmin watches available, all geared towards different types of sport or fitness goals. But fear not: We can help you choose the right Garmin watch for your sporty needs with this need-to-know guide on all things Garmin.

What is Garmin?

Anyone who knows anything about wearable smart tech knows the name Garmin. The brand makes wearables for an impressive range of activities and even makes smartwatches for kids, which are all decorated with popular comic characters that encourage and reward activities.​​ Whatever it takes to get 'em moving.

What sports do Garmin watches track?

When we say the words “fitness tracker” you almost certainly think of watches for running, which is the go-to option for exercise and tracking. But Garmin watches track running, cycling, and swimming. Some high performing models combine the three and have specialist features for triathlon training. It doesn’t stop there. Garmin smartwatches also include features for rowing, diving, indoor activities, weight training, open sea swimming, climbing, golf, and HIIT. Phew. Have we missed anything? Almost certainly. Because the range of options is huge. And top models will cover lots of activities at once, making them perfect for multi-sport enthusiasts.

What features do Garmin smartwatches offer?

First and foremost, Garmin prides itself on excellent GPS, which is of course crucial for mapping and tracking running, cycling, and swimming activities. Garmin watches also monitor your heart rate (even underwater on some watches, which puts them a few strokes ahead of other brands). Depending on the model, you’ll also find features than track recovery, sleep, energy, hydration, respiration, and other health-based stats.

Also impressive are the coaching features, which guide you through training programmes and suggest workouts based on recent activities. Garmin smartwatches can guide you to specific achievements and fitness goals. In some Garmin smartwatches you’ll also find plenty of sports apps and storage space for music. 

What is the best Garmin watch?

Like a fitness plan, it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. It depends on the specifics of your preferred activities and fitness goals. If you’re a runner, Garmin has a watch for you. If you’re a golfer, Garmin has a watch for you. If you’re a diver… well, you get the idea. And we’ve done the work of researching the very best Garmin for you.

These are the best Garmin watches in 2024.

Is getting in shape long overdue? Or are you looking to upgrade your workout routine? Sounds like you need a fitness tracker. And when it comes to fitness trackers, one name stands above all others: Fitbit.

The name "Fitbit" is now common parlance for any kind of step-counter. Fitbits come in a lot of shapes and sizes (and prices) and have multiple functions. There's a Fitbit out there for you, whether you’re looking for something that truly just measures your steps or something more advanced with a heart monitor, GPS, and other built-in features. There are even Fitbits for kids.

Read on for the best Fitbit models, from the most basic bands to trackers that are akin to having a personal trainer right on your wrist.

What do Fitbits do?

At their most basic level, Fitbits were invented as a sort of wearable pedometer, originally existing just to track your steps. Of course they’ve become more tech-savvy (and more complicated) since then. These days, they come in a range of models, each of which offers its own unique combination of Fitbit’s technology and sensors. They can stand in as phones, push app notifications to you, and even pay for your Starbucks latte — plus, keep an eye on more important matters, like heart health and sleep tracking.

What features do Fitbits offer?

The most expensive Fitbit models offer a slew of features, mostly available through sensors. These involve keeping an eye on your heart beat variability, measuring your temperature around the clock, and even monitoring your stress levels as the company begins what will surely be a longer foray into the mindfulness aspect of health. A lot of the running and swimming Fitbits — yes, you can wear some of them in the pool and shower — also advise you when to take a recovery day.

How many exercise modes do Fitbits have?

You won't be starved of variety, let's put it that way. Fitbits have stacks of exercise modes, usually starting at 20. So whether you're a runner, cyclist, swimmer, yogi, weight lifter, boxer, or whatever else, the Fitbit will likely have you covered. They can automatically detect when you start working out, too.

What do Fitbits look like?

Fitbits have sleek, minimalist aesthetics, with bands that you can swap in and out and clock faces that you can customise for a display that suits your mood. Some are slimmer while others have a more Apple Watch-like, square display. Ultimately, they're designed to blend in with everyday life. There are no hefty runner-style watches or wrist-based eyesores.

How long does the battery last on a Fitbit?

It's a key point — especially if you need the convenience of something that will just run and run and doesn't require the hassle of daily charging. Fitbits tend to run for about a week — between six and eight days is fairly standard. Bear in mind that some features, like GPS, can run it down sooner.

How much do Fitbits cost?

There are a wide range of Fitbits out there that begin at under £100 and go up to a significant chunk of change. How much you want to spend might depend on why you’re using it (as a workout buddy versus an all-day companion) and what kind of features you want to be sure are included.

What is the best Fitbit?

There is a Fitbit out there that's perfect for you and your lifestyle. To help you find it, we have lined up a selection of the best models for every type of task.

These are the best Fitbit fitness trackers in 2024.

The best VPNs aren't necessarily the most expensive. Some leading VPNs are actually really affordable, which is great news for anyone looking to secure cheap online security, data protection, and increased streaming options.

You have come to the right place if you're looking for a premium VPN with advanced features, without the big price tag. We've lined up some great value options for absolutely everyone, and there is no need to compromise on security, connection speed, customer support, or anything else.

But first, there are a few things we need to cover.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide valuable protection for your data and identity when you're navigating the online world. How do they do this? VPNs offer online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address and makes all of your information unreadable.

All of your activity is untraceable and secure, because your online traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel. Everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware. VPNs are primarily designed to provide online security, but there is another reason that millions of people use these services.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for your iPhone

VPNs can also be used to stream movies and shows from around the world, and the process is actually really simple. We've already mentioned how VPNs provide anonymity by hiding your real IP address. Well, this technique can also be used to manipulate the streaming market. By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another location, you can trick your favourite streaming sites into thinking that you are based in a different country. This provides access to all the extra content that would normally be restricted in your location.

Should you use free VPNs?

The question that everyone wants an answer to is whether you actually need to pay for a VPN. There are plenty of free VPNs out there, but do these offer the features you need to browse, shop, and stream securely? Unfortunately, there is often a catch with free versions (usually in the form of a limitation on your data usage or connection speed).

Occasional users will probably be satisfied with a free VPN, but if you're going to be streaming or downloading on a regular basis, you should look elsewhere. The only exception to this rule is a free trial. These come without limitations, but obviously don't tend to last for a long time.

The conclusion is that the best option for securing your data and streaming more content from around the world is with a paid subscription. The sad fact is that you'll have to pay to gain access to advanced security features without limitations on your usage. It's not all bad news though, because there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you're willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What should you consider before subscribing to a VPN?

The process of actually selecting a VPN can be seriously tricky, especially if you don't know what to consider. Most of the best VPNs offer many of the same features with similar packages, so it's important to know what matters.

To make your life a little bit easier, we have shortlisted a few things to consider before making any sort of decision:

• Customer support — VPNs can be difficult to understand if you're not an experienced user, and even if you are, problems can occur. Whether you're a total beginner or not, customer support is key for dealing with any potential issues that might arise. You should also consider whether customer support is offered by phone, email, or web chat.

• Jurisdiction — It's a good idea to look for VPNs based in the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Switzerland, and other privacy-friendly countries. VPNs based in countries that fall under the jurisdiction of the intelligence-sharing alliances should be avoided: the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Spain. VPNs in these countries can be forced by authorities to collect and hand over user data.

• Network size and location — The best VPNs offer a large network of geographically diverse servers. The more servers (and server locations) offered by a VPN, the more likely you are to find a reliable and fast connection. This is also particularly important for streaming, as you should always be able to connect to a server in the country with the content you want to watch.

• Trustworthiness — We recommend finding an experienced provider with a strong track record and a clear privacy policy. It's important that your VPN of choice guarantees your data won't be logged or collected. If it isn't obvious what happens to your data, you should steer clear.

Make sure you carefully consider these features before deciding on the VPN that suits you and your lifestyle. Once you have narrowed down your options, you can begin the process of finding the best deals.

What is the best VPN?

We're sorry to burst your bubble, but there isn't one VPN that stands above all the rest. The best VPN for you really comes down to your own set of personal preferences. Once you find a few options that tick your boxes, you need to consider the best deals.

We have reached out to partners in order to provide you with market-leading prices on VPN subscriptions, with performance and security in mind. All of these VPN services have been handpicked not only because of the prices and deals on offer, but because they all offer the most important features to protect your online data and identity.

There are also plenty of services to consider on this list if your priority is unlocking streaming sites like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Online security should always be the priority, but we know that many subscribers use these services to unlock more content from around the world. We get it, and we're here to help.

These are the best deals on cheap VPNs in 2024.

Which is the best wireless car charger for iPhone? I now have the answer because I went through several awful car chargers from Amazon — and I finally found a good one.

Filtering Amazon results to "Avg. Customer Review," which implies that the top listings feature the highest-rated products, I purchased two car chargers that ended up being duds.

One had an adjustable arm that, within weeks of purchase, disassembled itself beyond repair. One day, it clutched my iPhone 14 Plus too tightly, and while trying to free my device from its grasp, it broke apart.

I also purchased a car charger with a "sticky pad." After a month, the stickiness wore off and the car charger fell off the dashboard, taking my iPhone 14 Plus with it. Mind you, these were top-rated car chargers from Amazon. However, a stroke of luck hit me and I was asked to review the Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger — my prayers have been answered.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best charging stations for every possible combination of devices iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger: price and specs

You can find the Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger for $49 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger
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It delivers charging speeds of up to 15W for Qi2-compatible devices. For non-Qi2 devices, expect charging speeds of up to 7.5W.

So what, exactly, does Qi2 (pronounced chee-two) mean? Well, before we dive into Qi2, let's discuss the Qi standard first.

What is Qi2?

Qi debuted in 2010, as iOttie explains it. This wireless charging standard allowed people to charge their phones on Qi charging pads (as opposed to shoving USB and Lightning connectors into ports).

iOttie Velox Qi2 Mini Wireless Car Charger attached to an air vent slat Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In 2020, Apple said "Hold my beer" and introduced MagSafe, a charging tech that makes it easy for users to properly align their iPhones, packed with built-in magnets, with wireless charging pads. This proper alignment means less energy loss and improved charging speeds.

This is all great and dandy for iPhone users, but because MagSafe is an Apple-exclusive technology, Android users were left out of the fun.

However, in 2022, the Wireless Power Consortium (the folks behind Qi) collaborated with Apple for the new Qi2 standard, a technology that basically merges MagSafe and Qi into one.

In other words, you can now get wireless charging and magnetic alignment with Qi2 via third-party sellers.

Which phones are compatible with the iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger?

According to an iOttie rep, the Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger is compatible with the following phones:

• iPhone 13 mini

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• IPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

This means that, with these phones, you can get the max speed of up to 15W via the Velox Mini Qi2 car charger.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

And as it turns out, Qi2 is coming to the iPhone 12 series, too (e.g., iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max), thanks to a new iOS 17 software update. As such, you should get up to 15W with this series, too.

You may be wondering, "What about Android?" Android devices with Qi2 support aren't out yet, but they're expected to hit store shelves this fall. In the meantime, if you insist on using an Android device, you can make it work by using a MagSafe case (like this one I purchased for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra). Keep in mind, though, that charging speeds will be slower.

iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger: What I like

As mentioned at the outset, I've already gone through two car chargers this year, and both of them ended up being unusable within a month.

However, I've hit the 30-day mark and the iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 is still holding strong.

Easy attachment

There are several ways you can set up a car charger. Some use suction cups, others use sticky pads. In my experience, these have proven to be unsuccessful methods.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The iOttie Velox Mini Qi2, on the other hand, is designed to be attached to the air vents. It has a lip that can be inserted into one of the slats, and voila, your car charger is ready to host your iPhone.

No assembly required

I want to simply take the car charger out of the box and attach it to the air vents — that's it.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I don't want to attach part A to part B nor twist things into place. I want easy installation, and fortunately for me, this iOttie wireless car charger was an exemplar of that. I removed it from the box, installed it into one of my air vent slats, and plugged the charging cable (which has a USB-C connector) to the appropriate port — and it was ready to rock and roll in seconds.

It rotates and swivels

The iOttie Velix Mini Qi2 wireless car charger comes equipped with a versatile ball joint, allowing me rotate, swivel and tilt my iPhone 14 Plus.

iOttie Velox Qi2 Mini Wireless Car Charger in landscape mode Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can also rotate it landscape-wise, too, if it tickles your fancy.

Strong grip

Even after hitting bumps in the road and making sudden turns, my iPhone 14 Plus didn't budge on the iOttie wireless car charger.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Keep in mind that my iPhone 14 Plus doesn't have a case, so I have no experience with how well it handles protected devices.

iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger: What I don't like

After penny pinching for my first two failed car chargers (they were between $20 to $30), perhaps this isn't truly a con, but iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 isn't competitively priced.

Pricey

You can certainly find competitors that are cheaper than the iOttie Velox Mini Qi2. Shelling out nearly $50 feels steep. I mean, come on, it's just a wireless car charger, right?

However, I did skimp a bit on previous car chargers, refusing to pay more than $30. And as you already know, that didn't work out well for me.

iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car battery charging

To test this wireless car charger, with my iPhone 14 Plus at 0%, I placed it on the Velox Mini Qi2 at 3:12 p.m.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

At 3:48 p.m., I was blown away to see that it was already at 90% just 30 minutes later.

At 4:16 p.m., it reached 100%.

In other words, this iOttie Qi2 wireless car charger took 64 minutes to fully charge my iPhone 14 Plus. Not bad at all!

Is the iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger worth it?

I don't love the price, but knowing that I have a sturdy, durable car charger that won't fall apart in a few weeks is always worth the splurge.

Plus, the magnets on this bad boy are damn-near herculean. Even with anxiety-inducing bumps and serves, the iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 isn't going anywhere. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who wants a wireless car charger that won't give out on them in just a few weeks.

So yes, the iOttie Velox Mini Qi2 wireless car charger is definitely worth it.

Get your glasses ready and brush up on those viewing tips, people. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will pass over North America — here's exactly where — in an incredible turn of luck for us.

Wherever you're watching it, it's not going to the terrifying event it apparently used to be, and will not only see the moon pass in front of the sun but bring some other neat planets into view — a comet might even photobomb it.

It'll be different from the last solar eclipse in 2017, and you can expect a "full-body experience". No, you shouldn't take photos of it with your phone and yes, there's a right time to put your glasses on.

As it's the biggest science moment of the year, it's also one of the biggest headline makers, something The Daily Show dug into on Thursday. Host Desi Lydic led a segment on the solar eclipse (skip to 4:30) and all that sweet, sweet eclipse capitalism underway — including the Delta flight — before throwing to Daily Show favs Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper reporting "on the ground".

The segment quickly turns into a playground-style battle between Chieng and Klepper over who is the real star of the solar eclipse: the sun, a literal star, or the moon, the leading actor? Cue Klepper going in hard on the moon as a "cultural touchstone" and Chieng throwing its weaker gravitational pull right back in Klepper's face. If you're looking for sweet space burns, take notes.

Meanwhile, if you want to know everything there is to know about the solar eclipse, Mashable's science team is treating this moment like a national holiday, so we've got you covered.

WrestleMania is quite possibly the biggest event in professional wrestling. It's the "Showcase of the Immortals," "The Granddaddy of Them All," "The Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment" – you get the point.

This is a big deal for professional wrestling fans across the world, but even if you've never heard of WrestleMania, or watched a WWE event, this is a great time to start, as many of the programming's biggest storylines will culminate this weekend. And during the event itself, new feuds and stories will also begin for the rest of the year ahead.

If you've found yourself forced by a friend or loved one to watch this weekend's proceeding — live on Peacock for just $4.99 — below you'll find a guide to WrestleMania 40's 13 matches — explained so you don't have to watch years' worth of WWE programming to "get it."

Yes, we know, pro wrestling is "fake," but if you allow yourself to be immersed in the experience and art, you'll find that can be just as good as your favorite season of Grey's Anatomy or Succession.

What is WrestleMania?

WrestleMania is WWE's biggest, longest-running, and most successful pay-per-view/live-streaming event since its conception by the now-ousted executive chairman Vince McMahon in 1985. Like we mentioned, it's basically the Super Bowl for many fans and wrestlers. It's March Madness, the Masters, the NBA Championship, and the World Series. It's the be-all, end-all of professional wrestling. As such, WWE puts a lot of investment and spectacle into making each WrestleMania more memorable than the last.

Every year, WrestleMania's card gets bigger and bigger, and since 2020, the biggest pro wrestling event of the year has become a two-night event.

With 13 matches split between the two nights, there's plenty to get you emotionally invested. Below, you'll find our best attempt at giving you a sense of the marquee matchups that will dominate social media in the days to come.

Read on for an idea of what's happening, so you're not clueless in front of your wrestling friends.

The story so far...The Main Event: Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns

If you read last year's non-fans guide, then rest assured, you're not having déjà vu. For the second year in a row, the blonde-haired, good guy wrestler "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes will face the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship "Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns, the WWE's top heel or bad guy, once again, in the main event for the title.

This is the big one, the final match of the weekend on WrestleMania's second night this Sunday. When these two battled it out last year, Rhodes came within reach of winning the title before interference from Reigns' group, The Bloodline, gave Reigns the win. Rhodes has struggled throughout the year to get back to the top, earning himself a rematch for the title. He finally did so in January, when he won the WWE Royal Rumble, a 30-man event where the winner is guaranteed to the main event WrestleMania.

Rhodes and Reigns are both second-generation wrestlers and their fathers – the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and Sika of The Wild Samoans – are both WWE Hall of Famers. Unlike Reigns, however, Rhodes has never held the WWE title.

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For an added bit of context, Vince McMahon hired Cody's father Dusty Rhodes in 1989 after Dusty already has a successful career and established name with WWE's (then WWF) competitors.

Given the nickname "The American Dream," Rhodes was outfitted in yellow polka-dot ring attire by McMahon in an attempt to humiliate a wrestler closely associated with a rival competition. While Rhodes was never given a chance to shine as a main event star in WWE, he ran with the character and became a legendary talent in the company. However, he fell short of ever holding the WWE championship. Dusty Rhodes passed away in 2015 as a WWE employee, working at their developmental league, NXT, training new talent.

At last year's WrestleMania, Rhodes was meant to "finish the story" – a rallying cry of sorts for Rhodes and his fans that references how he will achieve the goal of his years-long journey and become the first in his family to win a World Championship in WWE. (Rhodes' stepbrother, Dustin Rhodes, is also a wrestler and was best known in the WWE as Goldust. He is currently signed with WWE's biggest competitor, AEW.)

As for Roman Reigns, he's is multi-time champion. His current title reign has lasted since August 2020 and he has yet to be defeated for the championship or lose a single's match since then. Reigns is the leader of a group, known in wrestling as a "stable," called The Bloodline. The members of the group are actual family members in real life and include Reigns' cousins Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa as well as Reigns' manager Paul Heyman.

However, this year there's a new factor that wasn't in play during Rhodes and Reigns' first battle last year: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

The Rock and Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins

The Rock is a member of the infamous Samoan wrestling family tree, making him Reigns' cousin in real life, too.

Shortly after Rhodes won the Royal Rumble, The Rock made a dramatic return to WWE, in which he challenged Roman Reigns for his title with Cody’s blessing. In a bizarre moment scripted by the WWE, Rhodes decided to give his earned-title shot to the returning superstar.

This move created a massive unexpected backlash from fans. WWE quickly pivoted from this decision and rewrote the storyline, giving Rhodes his WrestleMania title match back. In doing so, WWE also turned The Rock from a "good guy" into a bad guy. During a scripted WrestleMania press conference, The Rock slapped Rhodes on stage in front of Reigns and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

These events led to an allegiance being formed between Rhodes and Rollins. The Rock would also go on to officially join the Reigns lead group, The Bloodline.

In the storyline, Rollins and Reigns were good friends in a group called The Shield, which broke up in 2014 after Rollins attacked his former teammate. There's also a good chance we'll see Jey Uso, a former member of The Bloodline, and real life cousin of Reigns gets involved in this at some point during WrestleMania. Jey Uso has allied himself with Rhodes and Reigns, whereas his brother Jimmy Uso has stayed with The Bloodline.

With these two teams set, WWE is bringing us a tag team match for the main event of WrestleMania's first night featuring The Rock and Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. There's an added stipulation here to spice things up, too. If Rhodes and Rollins win, the Bloodline is banned from ringside from the Rhodes and Reigns rematch for the WWE title the following night, ensuring there won't be a repeat of interference costing Rhodes the match. However, if The Rock and Reigns win, then the Rhodes vs. Reigns match becomes a "Bloodline Rules" match, meaning anything goes and the Bloodline can help Reigns defeat Rhodes once again.

There's some other things bubbling in the background, too. The WWE has been teasing some jealousy between The Rock and a paranoid Roman Reigns over who really leads The Bloodline. Will this family feud cost Reigns his title?

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In addition, this year's WrestleMania marks the 25th anniversary of The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's first WrestleMania main event against each other. With the odds stacked against Cody Rhodes if he faces down the entire Bloodline, will the "American Nightmare" find some unexpected support from Austin? Rumors have been running rampant about a potential appearance from Stone Cold this year — and the WWE loves its surprise appearances at WrestleMania, so it's surely a possibility.

Best of the rest of the card

Now that the big storyline of WrestleMania 40 is out of the way, what about the other matches on the card? These matches may not represent the main storyline of the year, but there's some intense feuds and rivalries that will come to ahead in these matches.

For starters, the two WWE women's world championship matches are grudge matches involving two of the Four Horsewomen (named because of their pivotal role for ushering in the current high-quality state of WWE's women's wrestling), albeit they'll be in separate matches.

After outlasting 30 women to win the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble, former champion Bayley will challenge her former friend and teammate WWE Women's Champion Iyo Sky for the title. The two were members of the group Damage CTRL, which Bayley led. However, after Bayley won the chance to face Sky for the title, the latter conspired with the rest of the faction (i.e., Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) to oust Bayley from the group she created.

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Bayley utilized the Damage CTRL in order to bully half the women's roster, but is now seeking redemption. This has led Baley to allying with Naomi, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Bayley's new friends will face her former Damage CTRL teammates Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane in a six-woman tag match. Cargill just recently debuted in the WWE and Belair has been skeptical of the whole situation with Bayley, so it'll be interesting to see if that plays into the matchup.

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The WWE Women's Heavyweight Championship match will see former champion Becky Lynch challenge Rhea Ripley. This feud has been built around a battle of what it means to truly be a women's wrestler and has gotten rather personal. Ripley has invoked Lynch's newly born daughter and Lynch's late father who passed in 2021. Lynch has knocked Ripley for being an unworthy role model for young WWE fans.

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Like Rhodes and Reigns, Seth Rollins will also be pulling double duty at WrestleMania, wrestling on both nights of the event. After his tag team match on night one, he will defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre. And this feud has been kind of weird.

Pro wrestling superstar CM Punk returned to the WWE late last year for the first time since walking out of the company (in real life, not a storyline) nine years ago. At the WWE Royal Rumble in January, Punk sustained an injury, tearing his triceps during the 30-man Royal Rumble match, which forced WWE to write him out of the WrestleMania storylines that they had planned for him.

While we don't know what those plans are, it appears they would have involved a title match against Rollins.

WWE has seemingly rewrote the storyline with McIntyre going on to win the Elimination Chamber match at WWE's Australia event, earning him a title match against Rollins that likely was supposed to go to Punk. McIntyre has also since taken credit for being the person who injured Punk in the Rumble match, trolling Punk for months over stealing his spot at WrestleMania.

So, Rollins has had his hands full with the previously covered Rhodes vs. Reigns feud and McIntyre has been busy mocking Punk. And the two haven't been all that focused on each other. We'll get a CM Punk appearance during this one, as he'll be providing commentary during the match. But, it's also likely Punk being there will prove to be distraction for the competitors too.

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Over the years, the WWE has been a big fan of booking "brother vs. brother" matches. This one takes it a step further. "Twin vs. twin." Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso are real-life twins and second-generation stars, the sons of WWE legend Rikishi. At this year's WrestleMania, they will face off for the first time.

Last year, as part of The Bloodline, Jimmy and Jey Uso lost the WWE Undisputed Tag Team championships to Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The loss resulted in the two rebelling against Roman Reigns and leaving The Bloodline. In a subsequent title mach between Jey Uso and Reigns, Jimmy Uso rejoined The Bloodline and turned on his brother, costing him the match.

Basically, Jimmy was jealous of the success that his brother Jey had achieved immediately after leaving the Bloodline, as Jimmy himself was unable to forge his own path and had to grovel his way back to Reigns and The Bloodline.

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WrestleMania has more than just one family feud for fans. Dominik Mysterio, the son of the iconic luchador Rey Mysterio, is set to face his father yet again after months of disrespecting his father. This won't be the first time these two battle. However, this time Rey Mysterio is teaming up with Dragon Lee, a member of the Latino World Order group. Mysterio's son Dominik has joined up with Santos Escobar, a former Latino World Order member himself.

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It isn't WrestleMania without a special stipulation match. And this year, the WWE has booked a "6-pack ladder match" for the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships. This means that 6 tag teams – a total of 12 competitors – will be involved in a match where the winning team needs to climb up a ladder and grab the championships hanging overhead above the middle of the ring. Expect some truly shocking stunts during this one.

It should be noted that Damian Priest, one-half of the current tag team champions alongside his "Judgement Day" tag team partner Finn Balor, also holds the Money in the Bank briefcase. This briefcase, which he previously won last year, grants him a title shot anytime, anywhere, and against any champion of his choosing.

Current WWE world title holder Seth Rollins is rather famous for his own WrestleMania cash-in years ago, where he used the briefcase to insert himself at the very end of a title match, defeated his tired opponents, and walked away with the championship. Time is a flat circle, or whatever the saying is, so even if Priest loses this tag team ladder match, don't be surprised to see him later in the show walking out with a single's title.

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Continuing on with this stacked card, two fan favorites LA Knight and AJ Styles will face each other in a grudge match. The two started feuding earlier this year during the Elimination Chamber in Australia, where Styles cost Knight a chance to be the No. 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. However, Styles' frustration with Knight stems from the former's belief that Knight took his place in the feud against the Bloodline in the lead-up to Crown Jewel in November.

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Finally, to finish the guide, we've got two mid-card championships. First is the match between Sami Zayn and WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther, "The Ring General," who has become one of the longest-reigning title holders in the modern era. It's looking like he will retain the title against Zayn. However, there's a wildcard involved here: Gunter's arch-rival, Chad Gable, who came closer than anyone before defeating Gunter.

Zayn had to defeat Gable to become the number one contender for the title. While frustrated with the loss, Gable offered to help Zayn train against Gunther. Will Gable get involved with the match, too?

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Lastly, there's the triple-threat match as YouTuber-turned-WWE-superstar Logan Paul defends his U.S. Championship against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Despite catching a lot of heat from the internet for not being a wrestler until recently, Paul has fully embraced the WWE and has held the U.S. title for a surprisingly 150 long days.

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If you loved Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, there's a new six-episode, animated anthology coming, of course, to bring you over to the dark side.

With a new trailer out this week, the Dave Filoni-created Star Wars: Tales of the Empire serves up a look at two storylines involving former Jedi Barriss Offee (voiced by Meredith Salenger) and warrior Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) and how they find their way to the Galactic Empire — vengeance, it's always vengeance.

The series also features the formidable General Grievous (Matthew Wood), Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) Lyn aka Fourth Sister (Rya Kihlstedt), Wing (Wing T. Chao), and Grand Inquisitor (Jason Isaacs).

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire premieres on May 4 (of course) on Disney+.

As Mashable's Kristy Puchko points out, Babes, a forthcoming film by Better Things' Pamela Adlon, is helmed by "a trio of badass comediennes." Adlon, who makes her feature directorial debut, enlisted Survival of the Thickest's Michelle Buteau and Broad City's Ilana Glazer for her film about childhood best friends navigating adulthood and motherhood.

The comedy, co-written by Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, is the latest in the female friendship genre, and seems poised to entertain. Dawn (Buteau) and Eden (Glazer) have been with each other through it all: career ups-and-downs, marriage, babies, the works. When Eden discovers that she's pregnant after a one-night-stand, their friendship becomes more important than ever.

Babes opens in theaters May 17.

If you've been on X, the Elon Musk-owned platform formerly known as Twitter, over the past day or so, you've likely seen at least one influential account you follow share their shock (and dismay) over receiving a blue checkmark on their profile.

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As previously reported, Musk changed the verification rules on X – once again. Now, any user who has at least 2,500 followers who pay for the $8 per month X Premium subscription service will get a free X Premium subscription of their own. And one of the "perks" of the subscription service is the blue checkmark badge.

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Apparently, though, not too many noticed Musk's new policy before the blue checkmarks began forcing their way on to their accounts.

Well, if you received a blue checkmark on the house courtesy of Elon Musk...welcome to the club!

Last April, I became one of the first recipients of a "spite" blue checkmark, as some have come to see these badges, because I was a member of a small group including @dril who covered the Block the Blue campaign — an effort from some of the platform's power users to block any paying blue checkmark user on the site.

Here's what it's like

Many users have asked me about it over the past year, inquiring just how "paid" X looks for a user that is, well, not paying.

I can confirm that involuntarily badged users not only get the blue checkmark badge for free, but the entire suite of paid features. It is basically the same as the paid subscription service, X Premium. 

These newly blue checkmarked users can now edit their posts, create tweets longer than 280 characters, and upload videos that are up to 3 hours long. And, of course, they get the verification badge, as well as a few other smaller X Premium features.

What features don't they get? X's AI chatbot Grok and the longform Articles feature are currently paywalled for Premium+ subscribers who pay $16 per month. (If a user has more than 5,000 followers who pay for X Premium, Musk says they will be moved to a complimentary Premium+ subscription and get those too.)

The only noticeable difference between a paid X Premium subscription and the free ones that Musk gives out is the managed subscription option. Users with a free X Premium plan have no real subscription to manage, so there are no options on the relevant tab, just a message letting them know they have a complimentary subscription.

How to hide the blue check

One of the problems with having a blue check on the Musk version of the platform is that it's no longer a sign of actual ID verification (If anyone can buy one, then what purpose does it serve?). Plus, some users still utilize web browser plugins and extensions that automatically block blue checkmark accounts. Your account may be caught by one of those blockers inadvertently!

If you hate your new blue check, don't worry. You can hide it. Here's how:

• Go to the left-hand sidebar menu on X when you're logged into your account and click on the X Premium tab.

• Scroll down to the Customization section on the Premium page and click Profile Customization.

• From there, just tap on the option to hide your blue checkmark. 

The only thing that changes is the visible checkmark next to your name on X. All the other Premium features remain.

Millions of people are about to have the rare opportunity to look directly at the sun.

Those within the corridor created by the moon's shadow — aka the "path of totality" — will get up to 4.5 minutes to take a gander with the naked eye during the total solar eclipse on April 8.

If that statement raises your hackles, you're not alone. Parents have scolded children likely for centuries — long before NASA — on the dangers of staring at the sun. And it's so ingrained in humans not to look, the natural instinct is to squint and wince when confronted with bright light, said Dr. Ralph Chou, a retired optometry professor from the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

"Your body has all sorts of things going on to prevent you from getting hurt," Chou told Mashable. "We have what's called the aversion reflex."

For the most part, those warnings hold true, but total solar eclipses are the one exception. During this astronomical event, the moon comes between the sun and Earth in space. When they align, the sun is entirely hidden, and the sky darkens to twilight.

That's when people can look in the direction of the sun, except instead of seeing that bright saucer of light, they'll view the sun's corona, a hazy glow around it. The corona is the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, normally blown out by the much brighter solar surface.

SEE ALSO: A comet could photobomb the solar eclipse. Here's where to look. Tweet may have been deleted

But knowing when it's safe to remove protective eclipse glasses during the event may not be so obvious to the layperson. It's important to keep those shades with special eclipse-viewing filters on until the right moment, said Chou, who led the group that developed the international standard for solar eclipse viewers, known as ISO 12312-2.

When it's safe to remove eclipse glasses

The key time is known as Baily's beads, when sunlight pokes through the valleys on the edge of the moon. The effect looks like the discrete beads of a necklace. When the last of the beads is disappearing, then it's safe to remove the protective glasses, he said.

"It may be fairly bright still with those beads, but it won't harm your eyes," said Chou, who was a professional astronomer before becoming an optometrist. "It only lasts a few seconds, and then they're extinguished, and you get the total eclipse."

The safe time to remove solar eclipse glasses is known as Baily's beads, when sunlight pokes through the valleys on the edge of the moon. Credit: Jamie Cooper / SSPL / Getty Images

The length of time the sun is completely covered will vary depending on a spectator's location. It's time to put the glasses or solar viewer back on when the first flash of white light breaks free.

"It's unmistakable because, all of a sudden, the world just turns so bright," Chou said. "You've got enough time to get the glasses back in front of your eyes."

At no time during a partial eclipse is it OK to look at the sun without protective glasses, so experts say it's important for people to know if they are indeed in the path of totality. Seeing even a tiny crescent of sun is enough to cause irreversible damage.

At no time during a partial eclipse is it OK to look at the sun without protective glasses. Credit: Carlos Tischler / Eyepix Group / Future Publishing via Getty Images What happens to eyes while looking at the sun

The risk is solar retinopathy, a type of blindness caused by burns in the retina at the back of the eye. The retina's job is to convert light into electrical signals to the brain through the optic nerve.

Without special protective eyeglasses, the retinas start to absorb the light that's coming in from the sun. Once those light receptors are flooded, the overrun passes the retina and instead gets absorbed by the dark pigment lining the eyeballs. That's when the cells start to suffer chemical attacks, Chou explained.

"The big danger about that is that when the pigment absorbs the excess radiation, it turns it into heat and raises the temperature inside the cells to the point where you actually start cooking the tissue," he said. "That leaves you with a permanent scar at that point that cannot be repaired."

Without special protective eyeglasses, the retinas start to absorb the light that's coming in from the sun. Credit: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

The extent of the damage depends on how much exposure a person gets of that direct sunlight. It's not necessarily one long stare that causes irreparable damage; several glances add up, causing the same effect.

Despite being warned about these dangers, some people believe as long as their eyes don't hurt, they're fine. But because retinas don't have pain receptors, a person would not feel the damage as it's happening. People with retinal burns often don't notice vision impairment until a few hours later.

Why you can't wear sunglasses to look at the sun

Doctors also emphasize that everyday sunglasses are not strong enough to protect people while sun-gazing. The sun would still be roughly 10,000 times too bright, Chou said. Not only would sunglasses not reduce visible light to a safe level, but the materials in the glasses aren't capable of blocking harmful infrared light.

"All of a sudden, the world just turns so bright."

Eclipse glasses and viewers that meet international safety standards are so dark, people can't even see their feet in front of them. If a person can, that's a red flag they aren't the right glasses, said Kelly Korreck, NASA's program manager for the eclipse.

"You also want to be careful walking in these," she told Mashable. "Make sure you're standing in the place you want to look while you have them on."

Experts also warn of a common user error with eclipse glasses: People tend to put them on, then try to take a picture with their phone or gaze through an unfiltered camera or telescope. The intense solar rays coming through those devices could damage the filters of the eclipse glasses — and, in turn, a person's eyes.

Michael Zeiler, an eclipse cartographer, said even experienced eclipse chasers can get hurt if they're not careful.

"I have a friend who caught a brief glimpse of a very thin partial eclipse through binoculars," he said. "He definitely had a short-term visual impact. But after some time, after a few days, his vision was restored."

Doctors also emphasize that everyday sunglasses are not strong enough to protect people while sun-gazing. Credit: MARK RALSTON / AFP via Getty Images

The international standards for solar eclipse glasses, established in 2015 by the Swiss-based International Organization for Standardization, sets the maximum and minimum limits for the darkness of the shades. That recommended range stems from the 1950s, when human studies were performed prior to modern bioethics.

While the United States developed atomic warheads, the military conducted experiments on servicemen in the Nevada desert to determine the impact of flashblindness. Troops were instructed to watch the fireball of a detonated nuclear bomb from about 10 miles away. Some of the participants suffered permanent eye damage.

In about half of retinal burn cases, cells regenerate and vision is restored. For the others, the damage is done.

"It's very rare that you see a person who has fried their eyes so badly that they can be classified as legally blind," Chou said. "But there are some who do."

This story originally published on Feb. 7, 2024 and has been updated.

Few farming simulators start by obliterating hundreds of people via giant meteor. However, that number is not zero. Introducing: Immortal Life.

Immortal Life cultivates more than a pastoral fantasy

Developed by YiFang Studio, Immortal Life initially stands out from other farming simulators due to its unique xianxia setting. Fortunately, while C-drama fans will have fun spotting common tropes, you don't have to be familiar with the Chinese fantasy genre to enjoy this game. Once you've jumped in, all the much loved farming sim activities such as fishing, mining, foraging, and planting crops quickly present themselves, albeit infused with supernatural Chinese elements.

Where Immortal Life truly distinguishes itself is by immediately trauma bonding you to the local townsfolk.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: Immortal Life

Immortal Life begins the same way as Story of Seasons, Stardew Valley, and indeed most other games in the farming sim genre: You moving to a small, abandoned farm with the intent to revive it. In that respect, it seems fairly standard. What isn't standard is the freak disaster that completely destroys the local Taoist sect mere moments after you arrive, killing almost everyone in it.

This surprise smiting quickly establishes a sense of community and camaraderie, directing your focus toward helping your fellow survivors. Then after the initial crisis, the destruction gives your agricultural efforts a clear purpose. At first it's simply to feed your new companions, as all of the sect's resources were pulverised in the disaster. Then it's to earn enough to rebuild.

SEE ALSO: 'Cult of the Lamb' turned me into a single parent of 20

Rather than simply selling enough bok choy to become a billionaire, Immortal Life offers you a greater objective. You aren't merely running a business — you're building a home. 

Farming is important, but so are friends and feasts Credit: Mashable screenshot: Immortal Life

Pastoral fantasies aren't just about growing vegetables. A quiet life watering potatoes and keeping bees does have its appeal, particularly when contemplated in the blue-light glow of a company-issued laptop. Still, man cannot live by freshly baked sourdough bread alone. For many, the cottagecore daydream is also about sharing your homemade meals with others.

Fortunately, Immortal Life has a mechanic for throwing dinner parties.

Immortal Life is populated by friendly, beautifully illustrated characters with distinct personalities, most of whom will quickly endear themselves to you as you fill up their friendship hearts. (Not all, though. I've had more than enough of self-proclaimed genius inventor Wei Hong's shenanigans.) This bonding is significantly helped by the fact that, unlike your followers in Cult of the Lamb, your newfound companions are actually useful.

Featured Video For You Resilient farm robot uses lasers and algorithms to destroy evil weed empires

In a welcome contrast to the average farming sim local, who is happy to wait for a hero while their town languishes, Immortal Life's sect members won't leave the work of reviving it all to you. They also utilise their own unique skills to help, whether that's by establishing a workshop to coordinate reconstruction, journeying to find new trade routes, or opening a shop to improve the sect's financial position. There's a sense that you're all on the same team, working together towards a common goal. 

The sect even gives you a generous stipend at the beginning of every season to assist your efforts. It's just the right amount of communism.

You can't hide on your farm forever, and you won't want to Credit: Mashable screenshot: Immortal Life

Immortal Life further integrates you into the local community through its gameplay. I was initially nonplussed by the absence of a shipping container on my farm, a farming sim stalwart which players typically use to sell their crops. However, I soon realised that having to offload my produce at a store meant I was forced to actually go into town, preventing me from becoming a complete farm hermit.

In doing so, I began to notice people's routines and stumble upon side quests, whether selected from those pinned to the town bulletin board or picked up from townsfolk sporting exclamation marks above their heads. This made me feel more connected to the town, as though I was becoming part of the community. 

Another ingenious element are Immortal Life's paper cranes. This being ancient fantasy China, mobile phones aren't around quite yet. Instead, one of your fellow cultivators develops magical paper cranes that are capable of flying messages to others. It's a small thing, but receiving letters and gifts wherever you are throughout the day makes the world seem more alive, and contributes to the feeling that it's a living community that cares for each other. 

Immortal Life upgrades the farming sim experience Credit: Immortal Life

Immortal Life has a significant main plotline, one which I've still not completed despite having racked up almost 100 hours in-game. The game cleverly spreads out the introduction of new areas and gameplay elements across this questline, constantly luring players back with the promise of new discoveries to unlock and explore. This, the xianxia setting, and trauma bonding would already be more than enough to distinguish Immortal Life from its peers. 

However, the farming simulator also identifies and addresses a plethora of genre tropes that frequently cause irritation in other such games.

Immortal Life doesn't make you pass out if you stay up too late or run out of stamina, eliminating the daily race back to your bed. Your watering gourd never needs to be refilled, and allows you to briefly summon an efficient rain cloud. Rather than dotting your farm with dozens of storage chests, you can construct one large warehouse with upgradable storage capacity. The game even allows you to access your storage from floating crystals dotted throughout the world, so you don't need to run all the way home whenever you forget an item.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: Immortal Life

Cooking is also more involved than farming sim fans may expect, requiring you to rush around a kitchen in a minigame similar to a single-player Overcooked. It feels much more satisfying than simply selecting a recipe in a menu, and certainly had me pondering how to make these dishes in real life. It doesn't get too repetitive either, as you can choose to bypass the minigame once you've three-starred a recipe.

There's a focus on education as well, fitting the theme of personal cultivation. Taking classes at the rebuilt Lecture Hall can increase your stats and improve your combat skills, with mining in Immortal Life's dungeons secondary to firing spells at lizards, bats, and spitting plants. The game's combat system is a relatively rudimentary top-down shooter that is ridiculously easy to cheese, a fact which I love and consider a feature rather than a bug. Even so, it's still a reasonably advanced combat system by farming sim standards, complete with an elemental spell system.

I do wish Immortal Life would let you raise animals, as buying meat and eggs from the local grocer is not in line with my self-sustainable goals. Their exclusion is understandable considering that dairy isn't terribly prevalent in Chinese cooking, and rearing animals for slaughter would decidedly shatter the game's friendly atmosphere. Still, I'd at least like to be able to collect my own eggs so I don't have to buy fresh ones simply to preserve them.

Returning to the roots of why we farm Credit: Mashable screenshot: Immortal Life

Farming simulators are tried and true cosy game stalwarts. From Story of Seasons to Stardew Valley to Coral Island, these games allow players to indulge their pastoral fantasies of owning a farm, befriending their neighbours, and finally escaping the corporate rat race. Yet despite their comforting vibes, farming sims are often unable to escape the trappings of capitalism. 

Immortal Life isn't necessarily a complete exception, still requiring you to sell your crops for spirit stones and partake in general commerce. Still, capitalism's cold steel grip feels a bit looser in the mountains of China. Rather than gathering wealth for its own sake there's a wider goal to aim for, one that others are working toward with you.

Usually farming sims have me primarily focused on tending my field and upgrading my tools which, while engaging, can begin to feel cyclic and rote by the first winter. Immortal Life has me just as invested in helping my sect and nurturing friendships alongside my crops. The game emphasises the importance of community, luring the player into town and reminding them that there's a rich world outside crop cycling. 

Though it's different from so many other farming sims, at its heart Immortal Life takes us back to the root of the pastoral fantasy. While cultivating the land is a significant draw, Immortal Life understands that the appeal of absconding to the countryside isn't just in growing vegetables. It's equally important to cultivate relationships, a community, and yourself.

Immortal Life is currently available on PC.

Buddy, we've all been there before. I cannot tell you how many times I've forgotten a password — especially the password for my Apple ID. If you're in the same boat, don't worry: It's pretty easy to reset your Apple ID password.

An Apple ID password is relatively easy to forget because it's not necessarily something you'd need to remember every day. Luckily, Apple has a comprehensive page on its website for resetting your Apple ID password.

Here are the simple steps you'll need for a basic reset of your Apple ID password.

Total Time

• 5 minutes.

What You Need

• iPhone

Step 1: Go to settings on your iPhone

It's the icon that looks like a gear. Excuse the tie and half a suit behind the icon in that screenshot.

Credit: Screenshot: iPhone

Step 2: Select your name > Sign-In & Security > Change Password.

This will take you to the built-in program for resetting your Apple ID password.

Credit: Apple

Step 3: Enter your phone's passcode

When using your iPhone to reset your Apple ID password, Apple may require you to enter your phone's passcode to make the change.

Credit: Screenshot: iPhone

Step 4: Change your password.

You'll have to enter a new password and verify it. Then bam, you have a new Apple ID password.

Credit: Screenshot: iPhone

So that's it! That's how simple it is to change your Apple ID password. Now, if you want to change your Apple ID on a Mac, that is possible as well. As Apple notes on its website the steps are very similar. The site reads:

"Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences) > Sign in with your Apple ID (or Apple ID). Then click Password & Security, Change Password, and follow the onscreen instructions."

So if you forgot your Apple ID password, do not worry. In just about five minutes you'll be all reset and ready to go.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the latest iteration of the company's top-of-the-line "Ultra" phones, maintains the series' tradition: be the most powerful camera phone you can buy.

Note that I didn't write "the best" — I said "most powerful." While Xiaomi's top phones often have incredibly versatile camera systems, if you just want to point and shoot, you'll typically get more polished results from a Pixel, a Samsung Galaxy, or an iPhone.

Xiaomi sent me the Xiaomi 14 Ultra — the most powerful cameraphone it has ever launched — for review. The company also sent me a neat set of accessories that make this phone even more similar to a standalone camera. It's an impressive kit, but like previous Xiaomi Ultras, although it's mighty and versatile, it can also be a bit too much.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra price and specs

Globally, Xiaomi is selling one configuration of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. It costs €1,500 for the E.U. and £1,299 for U.K. — and comes with the following specs:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip

• Qualcomm Adreno GPU

• 16GB of RAM

• 512GB of storage

• 6.73-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display

I'm not even going to pretend that this is not a large sum of money, especially when you can buy a top Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy device for less. Xiaomi does bring some interesting features to the table, but I'm afraid the price tag will make it more of a niche device than it should be.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Xiaomi 14 Ultra £1,299.00
Get Deal Xiaomi 14 Ultra: What I like about it

With this phone, Xiaomi wants to make absolutely clear that you're also carrying a powerful camera in your pocket. From the massive rear camera bump to the camera-focused accessories, it's obvious that this is a camera that can also make phone calls — and I like Xiaomi's dedication to this idea.

Funky, unique design

It's not for everyone, but the aesthetics works and I've had several people ask me something along the lines of "What kind of monster camera phone is this?"

The grip has a shutter release button and a zoom dial. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Design-wise, you get faux leather on the back (my unit was black, making the leather part a lot less noticeable), an aluminum frame, and a slightly curved display (with the same curvature on all sides and in corners, something Xiaomi is very proud of).

It really starts to shine once you add the (optional) case, the grip, and decoration rings for the camera bump, but it suffers from some rookie mistakes on Xiaomi's part. For example, the case is too difficult to get off the phone.

I also like the power and versatility of the camera system (more on that below).

What's 'eh' about Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Xiaomi's HyperOS isn't bad; it's like the "best of both worlds" combo between iOS and Android. Still, I occasionally struggle with finding certain items from the menu.

OS could be better

The icons have change a bit since Xiaomi rebranded the OS from MIUI to HyperOS, but frankly, the overall design of the user interface could still use some more character. I'm also not a fan of Xiaomi's habit of shipping the phone with pre-installed, third-party apps. If I happen to need Booking.com, I'll install it myself, thank you.

Despite the large battery, Xiaomi 14 Ultra's battery life is just OK; check our detailed impressions below.

What I dislike about Xiaomi 14 Ultra

The phone is top-heavy, with the part where the humongous camera bump resides being noticeably heavier than the rest of the phone. I've noticed this on previous Xiaomi Ultra devices, and it can get annoying, especially during those long, scrolling sessions on planes and waiting rooms.

A bit unwieldy From the front, it looks like any other phone. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The camera bump protrudes so much that I was constantly concerned about damaging the phone when putting it on its back. When I had the decorative rings installed around the camera bump, I actually did damage it in normal use, as the color started to wear out on the ring's edges.

I've also had a chance to try out the Xiaomi 14 as well, and while its camera system is slightly less powerful, it has none of the drawbacks described above. It has a far smaller camera bump and otherwise very similar specs to the Ultra. Plus it's a lot cheaper at €999 ($1,076), making it a better choice for most users.

That camera!

First, it's important to note that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra can be had with a set of camera-focused accessories, sold for €200 ($217) under the name "Xiaomi 14 Ultra Photography Kit." It consists of a leather case, a detachable grip with camera control buttons that doubles as an extra 1,500 mAh battery, and two decoration rings to place around the phone's massive camera bump on the back.

None of it is essential, but it will definitely make you feel more like a "pro" while taking photos with your Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The camera is powerful, but it does make the phone top-heavy. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Equipped with all these extras, I set out to snap some pro-looking photos. I've discovered very soon, though, that with this phone, it's not just a matter of pointing and shooting. The very first photo I took (i.e., my son in a messy room against the bright backdrop of the balcony doors) was an oversaturated mess due to the camera's overzealous HDR.

In some cases, the HDR did a good job of evening out brighter and darker portions of the image, but it was a hit or miss affair.

The Xiaomi takes great photos in daylight, but HDR is hit or miss. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

In fact, that was my experience throughout my use of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. I took some wonderful night photos of some historic buildings in the town of Rab, Croatia, but after examining them later, I found out that more than half were way too blurry for my taste. I've compared my results with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which produced much more even results.

Zooming in at night can be done, but it'll be even harder to get a sharp photo. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Night photos, in general, were a bit too warm; worryingly, they were sometimes also muddy, with severe loss of detail. Again, I felt like I could achieve a great photo with several takes and some tinkering with the settings, but when I just pointed at something and took a photo at night, I got way better results with the iPhone.

Slightly blurry and too warm - fairly typical for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Now, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra's camera is a technological marvel, with four 50-megapixel sensors and two periscope lenses working together to produce a crisp photo — even at 5x magnification or in near dark scenarios.

The main sensor is a Leica Vario-Summilux, providing a variable aperture, thanks to incredibly thin carbo-coated blades that allow varying degrees of light into the lens. You can get a natural bokeh effect with this camera, which is better than the artificial bokeh (portrait mode) that most smartphone cameras do.

You can get a pretty good bokeh effect with this phone. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

And yes, you can always go to the camera's Pro mode and fine-tune the exposure, white balance and other settings to get the best photo. Sometimes, you'll get a better photo than you would on an iPhone.

Need a closer shot? Switch to the 5x periscope telephoto camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But just pointing and shooting without thinking won't be nearly as consistent. So unless you're already a pro, know that this phone will require some work to produce that perfect photo.

Thanks to the 32-megapixel camera on the front, selfies were nice and detailed (with enough light). Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Selfie camera was a similar story. In daylight, I effortlessly took some great-looking selfies. Expecting decent performance at night, I snapped a selfie, only to find it unusably dark. And once again I had the feeling that the Xiaomi could do way better, but its software isn't fine-tuned well enough to automatically use the best settings in various scenarios.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra battery life

It's not as great as it looks on paper. Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a massive 5,000 mAh battery, but the phone seems to run through the juice quite fast, sometimes even when idle.

Unfortunately, it wasn't possible to test the battery with our standard benchmark, in which we run loops of one TikTok video until the phone runs out of battery. That's because Xiaomi phones don't let you leave the display on indefinitely — the longest you can go until it goes back to sleep is 10 minutes (what gives, Xiaomi?).

It's just not the same without the extras. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

My (imperfect) daily usage impressions are that the phone will last you a day and a half at most. It's not bad, but you'd expect more from a phone with such a massive battery.

Charging speed, on the other hand, is excellent. You'll get from zero to 100% in a little over half an hour if you use the included 90W wired charger.

Is Xiaomi 14 Ultra worth it?

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a powerful camera and stands out with some neat additional features such as the optional Photography Kit.

Even aside for the camera system, it's a powerful phone, though we'd like it to have more battery life and better weight distribution. But the price tag makes it very hard to recommend over its chief competitors. Consider it if you really need some of its unique camera features.

It seems like Apple is making some big design changes to the new iPhone 16 this year.

Based on some of the reporting that's already out there, that's not exactly news, but now we have some compelling new photographic evidence to give us an idea of what those changes look like.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 rumors: Release date, price, specs, features, and more

Sonny Dickson shared some photos of alleged dummy iPhone 16 units on X, and if these photos are to be believed, Apple has gone button-wild this year.

SEE ALSO: iPad 2024: 2 new models tipped to drop soon — and may come with this iPhone feature Tweet may have been deleted Which buttons may appear on iPhone 16?

Aside from the usual power button and volume rockers, Apple has given every iPhone 16 model a programmable action button on the left side, something that was reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro models last year.

On the right side is a new "Capture" button, which will supposedly be used for zooming and snapping photos in a more intuitive way than is currently possible on iPhones.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16: This rumored design change could mean more screen real estate

Aside from those buttons, it looks like the iPhone 16 Pro models will both be 0.2-inches larger than last year. The iPhone 16 Pro will be 6.3-inches and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be 6.9-inches, per 9to5Mac.

I'm just sad they aren't bringing the physical home button back à la the iPhone SE series, but that's life.

Chicken For Linda! is an immaculate snowball of a movie, as what begins as a young girl's wish to eat a chicken dinner quickly spirals into an unexpected adventure.

SEE ALSO: 'Ripley' review: Andrew Scott is a stone cold marvel in exquisite Highsmith adaptation

Here, stolen poultry, pantless cops, and madcap chases through Paris await, along with some of 2024's most unforgettable animation. Between pops of color and slapstick comedy, directors Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach craft a touching mother-daughter story about how even the simplest things can unearth long-buried memories — and all the emotions that come with them.

Chicken For Linda! understands how "small" stories can still have huge stakes. Credit: GKIDS

As its title suggests, Chicken For Linda! (Linda veut du poulet! in the original French) is all about getting eight-year-old Linda (voiced by Mélinée Leclerc) some chicken. It's her one wish when her mother Paulette (Clotilde Hesme) wants to make amends after an unfair punishment: She just wants to eat chicken with peppers, a dish her late father Giulio (voiced by Pietro Sermonti) used to make. All Paulette needs to do is secure the ingredients and cook the meal.

On the surface, Chicken For Linda!'s premise seems fairly straightforward, even when you throw a general strike into the mix that makes it impossible for Paulette to go shopping. Yet Malta and Laudenbach add layer after layer of emotional depth to Paulette and Linda's journey, to the point that even an everyday act like buying chicken becomes a quest surprisingly rooted in love and grief.

That emotional depth all starts with the film's opening shot: A wedding ring ensconced in a green bubble twirls into view while Giulio delivers a voiceover about memory. The depths of our memory, he says, are like a black night, where forgotten moments wait to be rediscovered. Other colorful bubbles pop into view: memories of Paulette teaching baby Linda the names of each of her fingers, of Linda entranced by the shiny beauty of Paulette's wedding ring, of Giulio serving chicken with peppers to his family. Suddenly, Giulio's bubble shrinks, then disappears altogether. The other follow suit, until all we're left with is a bubble of a crying baby Linda against a backdrop as black as night.

SEE ALSO: 'The First Omen' review: Can this nun-centered prequel hold a candle to the original?

Years later, Paulette's wedding ring becomes a point of contention between her and Linda, as she believes Linda has traded it at school for a new beret. Her anger at the loss prompts a hard slap and a punishing visit to Linda's annoyed Aunt Astrid (voiced by Laetitia Dosch), but none of that compares to the guilt Paulette feels when she realizes she was wrong. (The family cat Gazza was the culprit all along!) Linda's request for chicken and peppers becomes not just a way for her to connect with the father she barely remembers, but a way for Paulette to atone for the pain she caused her child as well. Even as Linda begins to lose herself in the joy of her and her mother's hunt for chicken throughout Paris, Paulette remains dogged in her determination to cook this meal and salvage her relationship with her daughter.

Of course, the meal itself brings its own share of baggage with it. Chicken and peppers was the last meal Giulio ever cooked for Linda and Paulette, who now mostly cooks up microwave meals. In one heartbreaking scene, Paulette pores over Giulio's recipe book — making sure to blow the dust off its cover first — and struggles to contain her emotions when she comes across the instructions she needs. It's just one of many moments of empathy Chicken For Linda! has for Paulette, proving that even though Linda's name is in the title, it's just as much her mother's story as it is hers.

Chicken For Linda! is nonstop fun. Credit: GKIDS

With all these stakes in place, Malta and Laudenbach keep even Chicken For Linda!'s most absurd escapades rooted in Paulette's attempts to reconnect with Linda, and in Linda's hopes to reconnect with Giulio through her faint memory of the last meal they shared. If anything, these emotions make the film's absurdity reach even higher comedic heights, a feat helped along even more by Chicken For Linda!'s (literally) colorful ensemble.

SEE ALSO: 'La Chimera' review: Josh O'Connor goes tomb raiding in this magical film

Each of Chicken For Linda!'s adult characters are a charming bundle of contradictions. Paulette berates Linda for being a thief, only to steal a chicken from a farm minutes later. Aunt Astrid is a yoga instructor who encourages her class to remain peaceful, even as she scarfs down candy to placate the unbridled rage she feels whenever Paulette asks her for something. Truck driver Jean-Michel (voiced by Patrick Pineau) becomes immediately smitten with Paulette after she and Linda stow away in his truck. He's so smitten that he offers to help them prepare their chicken dinner — even though he's allergic to chicken.

Rounding out the cast are Linda and her group of friends, whose childlike wonder in the face of this grand hunt for chicken and peppers marks a stark contrast from the mostly stressed adults. They're a delightful bunch, especially since Chicken For Linda! allows them to be grubby and silly and even a tad morbid. I don't know what made me laugh more: Children shaking down a car to hinder a police investigation, or Linda debating how best to kill a chicken. Sure, it's dark, but it feels exactly like the kind of excitement a wild child would have when making chicken and peppers from scratch.

Chicken For Linda! is a hand-painted marvel. Credit: GKIDS

Part of why the children in Chicken For Linda! are so much fun stems from the film's animation, which places us in a childlike point of view thanks to its hand-painted, almost doodle-esque animation. Vibrant blocks of color build environments, light, and shadow, while each character gets a color of their own. Black lines trace out features on each character's face and body, but Chicken For Linda! shuns over-detailing in favor of more impressionistic work. If you ever tire of Disney and Pixar's recent CG work that strives for realism, one watch of Chicken For Linda! will remind you of the versatility of animation.

Chicken For Linda!'s animation especially shines during the film's musical sequences. These aren't big song-and-dance numbers, but rather fantasies that bring us deep into characters' minds. One near-lullaby details how hard it can be for parents to sleep, while an Astrid-centric song brings us on a candy-coated walk through the stars. Elsewhere, a key number smartly uses color blocking to evoke everything from spotlights to film projection, all in the service of examining memory.

Each song takes Chicken For Linda!'s animated playfulness to the extreme, but the whole film is full of moments that reaffirm the power of 2D, hand-painted films. Take the memory bubbles that open the film. They're a simple concept, but Chicken For Linda! executes them in a way that is at once visually engaging and impossibly moving. Really, they're just a small-scale representation of the film's overall goal: Taking a simple story about dinner and elevating it to delightful and unexpected places, more than earning that exclamation point at the end of its title along the way.

Chicken For Linda! opens in New York April 5, in Los Angeles April 12, and in select U.S. theaters starting April 15.

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Opens in a new window Credit: StackSocial The CISSP Security & Risk Management Training Bundle $31.99 at the Mashable Shop
$424.00 Save $392.01 with coupon code SECURE20 Get Deal