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During a pivotal scene in Strange Way of Life, Pedro Pascal's outlaw Silva reminds Ethan Hawke's Sheriff Jake of a conversation they had 25 years prior: "Years ago, you asked me what two men could do living together on a ranch," Silva whispers. This is both the story crux of Pedro Almodóvar's queer Western short — a tale of former lovers reuniting and reminiscing on the eve of inevitable conflict — as much as it is the film's raison d'être.

A little over two decades ago, Almodóvar had the opportunity to direct Brokeback Mountain — the iconic, tragic drama about two ranchers in love, which was eventually helmed by Ang Lee. But the Spanish maestro declined the project, citing fears that Hollywood wouldn't grant him the freedom necessary to capture two men enraptured by love and "animalistic" lust. His 30-minute cinematic answer, releasing in theaters on Oct. 4, doesn't quite reach the emotional highs of either Lee's Oscar-winning landmark or his own filmography. Often, it seems torn between a hastily truncated feature and an overlong concept short. But despite its unpolished structure and its unwieldy dialogue that tries to bridge dramatic gaps, Almodóvar’s passion for the project is on full display, as is the aforementioned carnality he had once hoped to bring to Brokeback.

What truly sells the film — as a drama in its own right, and as a meta-textual tale of regret — is Hawke's thoughtful, deeply layered performance. His portrayal of Jake proves him once again to be the rare American actor whose career kisses the Hollywood mainstream but who also feels like he belongs to the world of elevated arthouse cinema several oceans away. In Strange Way of Life, which is a Spanish production in the guise of a classic Western, he’s granted the stylistic balance he deserves. This may very well be a career-defining performance, even if the film in question is riddled with imperfections.

SEE ALSO: 'Drive-Away Dolls' cast on working with Pedro Pascal's 'head' Almodóvar sets the mood for his cowboy romance. Credit: Photo by Nico Bustos. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

It's hard to avoid the sense that Strange Way of Life leaves much of its story untold. It introduces us to Jake just as he begins to investigate a murder, which occurs off-screen. It’s here that the lone rider Silva intrudes upon his small town, in the hopes of sharing a drink with him. Stilted spoken exchanges fill in the gaps of who and why, awkwardly revealing both men's connection to the case, but these details quickly (if inelegantly) build emotional walls between them. Despite coming face to face for the first time in decades, they barely see eye to eye. Before long, the movie's quiet moments take control, letting its exposition temporarily fade into the backdrop.

With emotional efficiency, Almodóvar weaves an entire world around Jake and Silva, even though the film is confined to a handful of rooms. The frame lingers on details and objects. Jake's bed, his drawer of undergarments that Silva curiously inspects, an old handkerchief of Silva's that Jake held onto as a keepsake are introduced both through isolated shots that highlight their vital importance to the former couple, as well as through fleeting dialogue that hints at why this relationship must remain behind closed doors.

However, Strange Way of Life doesn't harp on the illicit nature of Jake and Silva's romance. That they must remain closeted in the Old West is simply a tragic given — a concrete, unchanging backdrop that introduces new complications for the duo when they find themselves on opposite sides of the law. In the process, the items that Jake and Silva gaze at longingly become physical reminders of the intangible, of a love that may have once been true but can never be fully real.

SEE ALSO: 25 best movies of 2023, and where to watch them Ethan Hawke outshines Pedro Pascal in Strange Way of Life. Credit: El Deseo. Photo by Iglesias Más. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Strange Way of Life has no qualms about the Wild West being a rough-and-tumble realm of outlaws. Therefore, the physical gentleness shared by Jake and Silva feels like a precious gem, peeking out from the harsh and unforgiving desert sand. Though their confrontations are verbose, both men reveal longing and a sense of unspoken regret through their silences — not only when their gazes meet, but also when they quickly divert their eyes, as if dancing around the specifics of their past is the only way to keep their long-buried heartbreak at bay.

At just 30 minutes long, the short film never has the time to show us what it looks like when all that pain comes rushing to the fore, except for a few moments when Hawke tries to bury it but briefly loses control. Almodóvar's melodrama — with its signature telenovela artifice  — builds but never fully explodes here. Yet Hawke spends all of his screen time approaching that point of irrepressible anger and guilt, letting it guide both Jake’s actions as well as his inactions. His voice grows increasingly hoarse, and increasingly pained, as if Silva's very presence, as a walking reminder of the past, were too much for him to bear. Hawke's work is stunning to behold.

Pascal is by no means a minor player, but sadly, Silva is saddled with the lion's share of the "Hey, remember that time—" dialogue, while Jake is afforded practically all the remembering. Silva's motives are, unfortunately, only clarified in retrospect, so it can be hard to read him the first time around. However, upon revisiting Strange Way of Life a second time, it reveals layers to Pascal's performance that might be unclear upon initial watch. It's a film that obfuscates much of its drama before haphazardly scattering it across the floor like stray LEGO blocks, owing to its limited runtime. But once Pascal begins to pick up the pieces, the film’s emotional mysteries begin clicking into place. 

Despite the truncated length, Hawke and Pascal weave an entire history together through their interactions, their hesitant body language, and their brief but passionate physical rendezvous. Almodóvar and cinematographer José Luis Alcaine's camera captures them unabashedly as aged men attempting to live out both the violent and romantic fantasies of the young. Closeups of heavy eyes tell of life lived, and the wrinkles around them hint at laughs laughed — both together and apart. However, what helps solidify this idea is a peek into the past, in a brief flashback scene that further synthesizes this theme and allows it to be truly felt, rather than merely spoken. 

Strange Way of Life idealizes the past in a haunting way.   Credit: El Deseo. Photo by Nico Bustos. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

While Hawke and Pascal play broken men beset by regret, a minor scene set decades in the past sees Jake and Silva played by Jason Fernández and José Condessa. These are young, beautiful men who feel as though they belong on a contemporary catwalk rather than in a Western — a fitting flourish, since the short was co-financed by fashion house Saint Laurent — though the exuberant sheen of this flashback is more than just eye candy.

The scene, which involves the two men, a trio of women, and pistols and wine, is rife with the kind of unbridled sexual passion Almodóvar spoke of when justifying his decision to leave Brokeback Mountain. It's less explicit than Lee's eventual film, but it's arguably more impassioned and intoxicating. It's practically bacchanalian, and it breathes life into Jake and Silva's past in a way their words in the present don't seem to.

This disconnect, between the way words and images paint a picture of the past, does rob the film of its power on occasion — the flashback only takes up a fraction of the half-hour runtime — but this dynamic speaks to the dissonance between how Jake and Silva see their past selves and their lovelorn romance, and the people they have now become. Strange Way of Life is by no means in the same league as Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory, which treads similar territory about regret but with much more poetry and emotional heft. Jake and Silva's words, on the other hand, are clunky, grasping at meaning that never fully coalesces. But the images that depict this past are pristine, making their present predicament all the more melancholy.

In fact, the film's visual language draws us in and out of these flashbacks using both men's close-ups, as if we were witnessing not the subjective memory of either character but a shared fantasy. Here plays a depiction of emotions and physical sensations that they may never be able to recapture. Rather than the memory of any one person, it's the memory of the film itself, harkening back to echoes of what Almodovar might have conceived of years ago, had he made Brokeback Mountain in 2005. This peculiar editing approach frames these images as idealizations of a film that never was and could never be. They exist now only as the fantasies of an older and wiser man — one who perhaps lives with artistic regrets, even if the film doesn’t have the time or bandwidth to fully explore this instinct. 

Strange Way of Life may be slight in its runtime and overall scope, but it features undeniably powerful moments courtesy of its daring performances, as well as its eye toward a likely imperfect past depicted with a sense of impossible perfection. It's the kind of luxuriant filmmaking at which Almodóvar excels, and the kind that makes his brief Western foray so watchable and alluring.

Strange Way of Life is now streaming on Netflix.

UPDATE: Apr. 12, 2024, 9:00 a.m. EDT Strange Way of Life was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival. This review has been rerun for its Netflix debut.

Whether you've just purchased your first vibrator or you're a seasoned dildo user, it's important to learn how to properly care for it. One major safety precaution you need to take — before both solo and partner play — is to clean your sex toy.

While it may not sound sexy, cleaning your toys is essential. "Pleasure products can help you embrace confidence, help navigate intimate desires and boundaries and boost self-love," said Kristin Fretz, co-founder and CMO of Emojibator. "But having an experience like getting a UTI from a vibrator is not just uncomfortable and can be extremely painful if left untreated, but it perpetuates the shame around masturbation and can create individual resistance to self-pleasure."

SEE ALSO: Own your pleasure: A guide to the best sex toys for women

If the pandemic taught us anything, it's that we should all try to be more mindful about sanitization — especially when it comes to the most sensitive areas of your body. While it may not seem sexy, cleaning your sex toys can just be another (perhaps the last) step when you masturbate or play with a partner. Just as you wash your body after sex and rigorously wash your hands after…well, touching anything, cleaning sex toys is crucial to being as safe and healthy as possible.

Furthermore, you'll want to find a clean space to store your clean sex toy. Not doing so would basically make washing them useless. It'd be like washing your hands only to cough into them seconds later; you'd have to rewash them. Many toys come with their own pouch, which is useful, but there are many other options available too.

To help you avoid getting into an unpleasant or even downright dangerous situation, Mashable spoke with three experts, including Fretz, about how to clean sex toys in the safest and most thorough way.

What sex toy material can you clean?

You can, and probably should, think about how you're going to clean a new toy even before purchasing one. Look for nonporous material, such as silicone, because a porous sex toy is more likely to hold harmful bacteria according to Laurie Mintz. Mintz is a Ph.D., author of Becoming Cliterate and A Tired Woman’s Guide to Passionate Sex as well as the "sexpert" for sex toy brand LELO.

Here are a few examples of what kind of porous material you might find in a sex toy: hard plastic, elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer (TPR), or jelly rubber. Since these materials can hold bacteria even after they've been cleaned, Mintz recommends toys using medical-grade materials such as medical-grade silicone. If your toy doesn't come with instructions on how best to clean it, you can ask the merchant who sold it to you for advice about what will work best.

SEE ALSO: I tried Poco, MysteryVibe's new smart, bendable vibrator

That being said, there are some precautions you can take if you do choose to use a porous toy. Lisa Finn, a sex educator for the sex toy shop Babeland, has a few recommendations. If you properly clean your toy with a mild soap and water and store it safely — in a clean toy bag or box, kept away from other porous toys — porous sex toys can be kept safe for solo use. When using them with a partner, as an anal toy, or if you are particularly prone to developing a yeast infection, Finn suggests using a condom on your porous toy. If your toy changes color or starts to smell, it's time to retire it.

Finn said that shopping at a trusted retailer can ensure that your toys are high quality and not made out of "novelty" materials like jelly rubber.

Shopping at a trusted retailer can ensure that your toys are high quality. Can I wash sex toys with soap and water?

All of the experts agreed that most sex toys can be cleaned with mild antibacterial soap and warm water. (Be sure to wash them for at least 20 seconds, just like washing your hands! And remember to dry them with a clean towel.) Mintz recommends this for both a motorized or non-motorized silicone, stainless steel, or glass toy. Finn said this technique will usually do the trick for nonporous toys.

What about sex toy cleaners?

While a soapy washcloth and water works in many cases, you can also buy specialized sex toy cleaner. This is Mintz's preferred method, and she advises people to look for a water-based cleaner that's both alcohol and paraben-free. She recommends — and uses herself — LELO's Toy Cleaning Spray. For those looking to compare options, Babeland has a toy cleaner as well.

"READ. THE. INGREDIENTS of any toy cleaner," said Fretz, who compared cleaning an adult toy to eating anything delicious: You want to know exactly what's going in your body.

SEE ALSO: We're in a sex toy revolution. Here's how you can join.

"If you can’t pronounce most of the words listed, you should double check the liquid you’re using to clean your toys that go inside your body are not harmful. Also make sure your cleaner is compatible with the material of your sex toy," she said. This information is usually available on the toy company or merchant's website.

Also, do not put toy cleaners directly on genitals. Avoid bleaches and toxic cleaners. Remember, the vulva is extremely absorbent and you don't want bleach anywhere near there.

Cleaning your sex toys is essential. Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable Can I wash toys in the dishwasher? What about boiling water?

"Just like in Broad City, you’ll want to avoid putting anything in the dishwasher that isn’t dishwasher safe, which is all vibrators and many plastics," said Fretz. "Same goes for boiling toys, which can melt and warm most materials."

Some nonporous material, like a pure silicone toy, can be boiled — as long as it's a waterproof toy and there's not a motor inside that can be destroyed by the heat, according to Finn. "Boil these toys for 1-3 minutes, making sure that they’re completely submerged and you’re keeping an eye on 'em."

If you're considering washing your toys in the dishwasher, know that dish soap can leave a residue — which is why Finn doesn't recommend it. Non-motorized toys made of silicone, glass, or stainless steel can be placed in the dishwasher without soap for 5 to 10 minutes, according to Mintz.

What about cleaning sex toys with UV light?

If you're looking for a gadget to help you with your cleaning process, there are two UV sterilizers on the market: UVee and b-Vibe UV Sterilizer Pouch. Finn calls both products amazing, but here's a caveat: While they disinfect, they don't clean.

Finn recommends you still wash or wipe down your toy with a damp cloth after use, because while UV light kills bacteria, it won't get rid of, say, bodily fluids or dust.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a sex toy Can I clean sex toys with wipes?

Yes, you can, but they're really best used in combination with other methods. "Post play wipes are great intermediate cleaning if you don’t have a cleaner or running water on hand," said Fretz, "but you’ll want to fully disinfect it with an anti-bacterial cleaner or soap and water as soon as you can."

How often should I clean my sex toys?

After every use, without question. If you don't do this, bacteria left behind can multiply exponentially, said Fretz. Since genital tissue is sensitive (and for those with a vulva and vagina, extremely absorbent), not routinely cleaning sex toys after every use could result in yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and bacterial vaginosis flareups.

How should I store my sex toys?

How you store your sex toys is arguably just as important as how you clean them. If you clean your toy, but then stick it in a drawer with other dirty sex toys, it's just going to pick up bacteria again. So it's key to store your toy in a case, if it came with one. If it didn't, you can use a clean container with a closure like a makeup bag with a zipper or Velcro closure works, according to Mintz. Store your sex toys with the same care you do other sensitive items, such as a menstrual cup.

While you may not have been taught about sex toy cleaning — or sex toys, period — in sex ed, it's a crucial step to protect yourself and your partners. "Like any consumer product, you need to take care of it," said Fretz. "You oil your cast iron pots and cutting boards. You wind your watches. Part of the care of a sex toy, ensuring that it's the same quality product you received in the sanitary seal, in addition to charging or changing the batteries, is regular cleaning."

This article was first published in 2020 and republished in 2024.

Humane Ai Pin reviews are in.

Critiques poured in on Thursday, with journalists voicing their harsh opinions on a device touted as the next "smartphone killer."

Humane boasts that the Ai Pin, a display-less wearable that can project virtual information onto your palms and take voice-activated commands, is a revolutionary device that can potentially jumpstart a "screenless" future.

But the question is, is Humane blowing hot air — or is the Humane Ai Pin truly a future smartphone disruptor?

Reviewers bluntly answered this question with harsh critiques. But first, here's a quick refresh on what, exactly, the Humane Ai Pin is.

What is the Humane Ai Pin?

Mashable's Chance Townsend had a chance to have some hands-on experience with Humane Ai Pin at SXSW. But you may be wondering, what is it and why is it setting the internet abuzz?

Credit: Humane

The Humane Ai Pin, as its name suggests, is a pin with AI capabilities you can wear on your clothing. It doesn't have a screen. As Mashable's Cecily Mauran explained, it can do the following futuristic things:

• Instead of relying on a display, it projects green virtual imagery onto your palm

• It handles tasks, search, and commands via your voice. It can also answer questions by tapping into the AI that underpins it.

• It can translate languages in real time.

• It can identify objects and tell you about them (e.g., telling you how much protein is in a handful of almonds)

• It can take photos and videos with a double-tap for the former and a long press with the latter

But of course, that just scratches the surface of its capabilities. Let's dive into this review roundup so you can get a proper overview of the Human Ai Pin's purpose.

Humane Ai Pin: 5 things critics disliked about it

This overview comes from a handful of reviews, from The Washington Post to The Verge. Here are the five most common complaints:

1. Humane Ai Pin's on-palm projection is a fail

As mentioned, the Humane Ai Pin can project visual artifacts on your palm via the device's laser projector display.

Credit: Humane

It's a cool idea in theory, however, the execution has been poor, according to critics.

"I'm going to say it now: Humane's laser projector display is never going to take off as a viable method of interacting with a gadget. It's overly sensitive and slow to navigate." - Wired

"The projector’s 720p resolution is crap, and it only projects green light, but it does a good-enough job of projecting text onto your hand unless you’re in bright light, and then it’s just about invisible." -The Verge

"The projector is basically unreadable when you’re in the sun. Summer’s just around the corner, and it’s sure to offer plenty of warm days I don’t want my phone to get in the way of, but the Pin is much less useful in broad daylight." -The Washington Post

On top of that, as you'll find in the next section, interacting with this green projection has been challenging, too.

2. Humane Ai Pin gestures are frustrating

Because the Humane Ai Pin doesn't have a screen, it heavily relies on users' hand gestures (e.g., pinching and tilting one's hand) to navigate the UI.

Unfortunately, many critics say that the gestures are too complex to use. In some cases, reviewers found that the Ai Pin failed to "understand" their intended selections.

"Even after two weeks, I still find myself struggling to select just the right menu options" -The Washington Post

"I swear to you, I never once managed to select the correct icon on the first time. It's way too many interaction systems to memorize, especially when none of them work very well." -The Verge

"Tilt too much and it moves past the icon you want, landing on the thing next to it. It's just plain annoying. Using the projected interface to run through old text messages is also a chore." -Wired

"Pinching can feel a bit awkward especially when keeping your palm open. Tilting and moving my hand farther out or closer to select numbers, to enter my passcode for unlocking the Humane AI Pin every time I attach it to my clothes, is a hassle." -CNET

Humane's co-founders are former Apple employees, but unfortunately, they haven't been able to secure the Vision Pro's beloved hand-gesture magic.

3. You must pay $24 a month to use it

The Humane Ai Pin absolutely requires you to pay $24 for a monthly subscription to T-Mobile's network. On the plus side, you'll get three months for free to start. But if that expires, and you fail to pay the data fee, the Ai Pin will become inoperable, Wired said.

Credit: Humane

The Washington Post remarked that this is "annoying," particularly because you need an additional cellular connection that's not connected to your existing number. Without it, it won't answer your questions nor execute commands.

4. Sound is an issue, especially music

WaPo noted that while phone calls sounded good on the Ai Pin's built-in speaker, if you're standing in a crowd, it's easy for that sound to get drowned out (though you can rectify this by connecting it to a pair of Bluetooth headphones like Apple AirPods).

Credit: Humane

The Verge took it one step further and tested music on the Humane Ai Pin. To its dismay, it only supports the Tidal music app (for now). Unfortunately, however, the reviewer discovered that the "connection is as broken as anything else on the AI Pin."

After trying to play Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album, the reviewer found that the Ai Pin failed to play the tunes they were seeking.

"Bongiorno [one of the co-founders of Humane] says this particular bug has been fixed, but I still can’t get Tidal to play Cowboy Carter consistently. It’s just broken," The Verge said.

5. Overheating issues

Several critics noticed that the Humane Ai Pin would get warm — too warm.

Credit: Humane

"The Pin starts to overheat pretty quickly when you’re making back-to-back requests or using the Pin’s projector for too long [...]. When that happens, don’t be surprised when the Pin cuts off contact for a while as it cools off." -The Washington Post

"It’s pretty much constantly warm. In my testing, it never got truly painfully hot, but after even a few minutes of using it, I could feel the battery like a hand warmer against my skin." -The Verge

"It emanates this light warmth that is still hard to ignore, especially if you're wearing a light hoodie or a T-shirt. It just makes my body feel a bit warmer in that one specific area" -Wired

It's worth noting that Bongiorno told The Verge that the warmth comes from overuse or issues with a poor connection. In these cases, the device is "aggressive" about shutting down when it gets too warm.

Is the Humane Ai Pin worth it?

On the plus side, some critics praised the Humane Ai Pin for its ability to translate languages, with Wired calling its real-time translation feature "solid." Others praised its design in that it can be pinned in a location that is convenient (on your chest).

A few appreciated the Humane Center, a hub where you can find your photos and videos after taking them via the Pin. Keep in mind, though, according to Wired, you can only access it "when the Pin is on Wi-Fi and charging."

Another cool feature some highlighted is the Ai Pin's ability to identify objects in one's environment before telling them some information about them (although some critics noted that the AI's response was sometimes inaccurate).

However, when it comes to recommending the Ai Pin, all said no.

"Should you buy this thing? That one’s easy. Nope. Nuh-uh. No way," The Verge concluded.

As the weather warms up, the late April light show that is the Lyrid meteor shower is many people's opportunity to dust off their stargazing blankets (not to mention their favorite hot beverage containers) and get back to looking up at the night sky in 2024. Renewed fascination in the heavenly spheres stimulated by the total solar eclipse earlier this month is probably also goosing interest in the Lyrids. 

But the almost full moon has other plans. Its brightness will be less than optimal. However, that doesn't have to completely ruin this opportunity to look up. 

SEE ALSO: The best telescopes for gazing at stars and solar eclipses in 2024 When to watch the Lyrids in 2024

Either stay up super late the night of April 21, or wake up in the pre-dawn hours of April 22, because peak activity is expected at 5:23 a.m. ET. That moment of peak activity is really where you should direct your effort, because the Lyrids come fast and furious within a compressed time window — sometimes at a rate of 100 meteor sightings per hour. You won't really get the flexibility you get with a longer show like the Perseids, which stick around for weeks. On the plus side, the focused intensity of the Lyrids can include fireballs, according to the American Meteor Society. 

How do I see the Lyrids when the moon is bright?

A bright waxing gibbous moon ahead of the full moon arriving on April 23 will undoubtedly add to your meteor-spotting difficulty level. That doesn't mean it won't be possible to see the shower, but it does mean extra effort will be rewarded. For instance, getting a nice view of any meteor shower usually requires you to minimize light pollution by putting about forty miles between yourself and the nearest city. That's even truer in these lunar conditions.

So the moon will be a buzzkill, and it's not always possible to take a drive out into nature, but think of it this way: when visibility is ideal, you can usually see four to eight meteors per hour even when there's no meteor shower. That means during the Lyrids, even if you just watch the sky from suburbia for an hour and you glimpse ten meteors, you got a pretty good show on the whole.

Oh, and your night vision will work better if you don't acclimate your eyes to a glowing screen, so keep your phone in your pocket. 

What are the Lyrids anyway? 

Most meteor showers owe their existence to the debris left by passing comets orbiting our sun, and the Lyrids are no different. They're a streak of dust left by Comet Thatcher, which last appeared in 1861 (and won't be back until 2278). When our orbit carries us through the trail each year, the result is a show of pyrotechnics as the grain-of-rice-sized chunks burn up in our atmosphere. 

Meteors streak across the entire sky, but if you're having trouble seeing the action, it can help a bit to look for the radiant point, the spot in the sky where the glowing meteors can be seen. We generally map radiant points with the stars or constellations they overlap, which can create the false impression that meteors originate from many light-years away, when they're actually colliding with our planet. In North America, the radiant point of the Lyrids overlaps more or less with the star Vega in the constellation Lyra, which will rise just a little before midnight, and be at its highest just before dawn. 

So bring patience, hot drinks, and — if you're feeling utterly lost — a stargazing app will direct your attention to the radiant point. But given the brightness of the moon, the problem might not be your sense of direction. This just might not be your year to see the Lyrids.

If you've been dabbling in digital assets, you may be tempted to skip telling the Internal Revenue Service about crypto-related transactions on your annual tax filing.

But that could be a costly omission, says Lisa Zarlenga, who advises clients on cryptocurrency tax issues as tax partner at the law firm Steptoe. The IRS has been "cracking down" on taxpayers who don't disclose their taxable digital asset transactions as required by law, according to Zarlenga.

Though the agency must take certain steps to obtain the information, Zarlenga says the IRS can track down your digital asset transactions. That means you could be subject to penalties if you fail to report digital assets.

SEE ALSO: When is the last day to file taxes?

"Some people might think, 'Oh, well, they're never going to find out about me…' I wouldn't necessarily assume that," says Zarlenga.

With that in mind, here are four basic things to know about when and how to report digital assets in your tax return:

1. When you need to report digital assets

Zarlenga says that the IRS treats digital assets as property, like a car, for tax purposes. If you buy, sell, or trade property, you may be subject to taxes. The same is true of digital assets like cryptocurrency.

A taxpayer must answer yes or no to the following question on the front of the IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return: "At any time during 2023, did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award, or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)?"

If you owned digital assets but had no transactions, the IRS says you can check no in response to this question. You may also check no if you only had certain nontaxable activities, such as purchasing and holding digital assets or transferring them from one wallet to another wallet, both of which are in your control.

2. How to report digital assets

If you have reportable digital asset transactions, they must be disclosed on Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, and on Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses.

The good news is that centralized digital asset platforms can help with reporting digital asset transactions if they provide monthly or yearly statements. Use this information to report all income from any digital asset transactions.

If your transactions did not take place on a centralized platform, Zarlenga says you can buy crypto tax software that is geared toward tracking that activity. (In 2026, for transactions occurring in 2025, taxpayers should begin receiving Forms 1099-DA from their digital asset brokers, similar to the Form 1099-B received from their stock brokers.)

SEE ALSO: Best last-minute tax software deals: Make the April 15 deadline and save big

When transactions are more complex, like lending tokens or providing liquidity to a decentralized exchange, they may fall into a gray area for reporting related income, because the IRS has not provided guidance, Zarlenga says. If you are at all confused about what to report or you're an active trader with frequent transactions, Zarlenga recommends working with a certified public accountant who knows how to report digital asset income to the IRS.

The agency also maintains a frequently asked questions page that you can consult to learn more about reporting digital asset income.

3. What happens if you fail to report digital assets

With its summons power, the IRS can seek and obtain account information on the more significant transactions that take place on platforms like Coinbase and Kraken. If your activity shows up in these reports but not on your return, the IRS would likely send you a letter of inquiry, which could become a full-fledged audit, says Zarlenga.

If the IRS learns that you have not reported digital asset income, it can assess the new tax owed, plus interest, and will likely impose a penalty. Zarlenga says that penalty could be for negligence or disregard of the rules, substantial understatement, or even fraud, depending on the IRS' findings.

In general, penalties for these violations are 20 percent of the underpayment, or in the case of fraud, 75 percent of the underpayment. The IRS may also choose to refer a case for criminal investigation.

4. How to fix your return if you failed to report digital assets

If you've already submitted a return but want to change how you reported digital asset transactions, Zarlenga says you can file a superseding return until the tax return is due, on April 15, 2024. Be sure to file the new return prior to the due date or file an extension if you expect to miss that deadline.

If Tax Day has come and gone, you'll need to file an amended return.

Zarlenga says taxpayers shouldn't worry that proactively correcting their mistake will land them in hot water with the IRS.

Instead, the riskier thing to do is play the audit lottery, says Zarlenga: "Generally, if they find you on an audit, your chances of having a higher penalty are greater."

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 12 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 12

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

Across___ Cline, first solo female artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

• The answer is Patsy.

Show one's feelings

• The answer is emote.

Put on the wall, as a poster

• The answer is pinup.

Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire

• The answer is gin.

Part of a play

• The answer is act.

DownEnthusiastic energy

The answer is pep.

Female friend, in Spanish

• The answer is amiga.

Common mixer for 8-Across

• The answer is tonic.

Double feature in the movies?

• The answer is stunt.

"Mm-hmm"

• The answer is yep.

It's not the sexiest part of vibrator ownership, but properly cleaning and storing your vibrator is an important thing you should do for your own sexual health.

Dirty vibrators aren't just gross, they can be dangerous too — germs from dirty toys can cause yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis or worse.

Fortunately, cleaning a vibrator is just about as easy as washing your hands, and certainly you've had plenty of practice at the latter by now!

How to clean your vibrator

Truly, cleaning a vibrator is extremely easy. The best thing to use is a mild soap that you'd use on your body, like liquid or foaming hand soap, a clear body wash (avoid using body washes that contain microbeads or moisturizers), or bar soap.

Wet the vibrator and a cloth with warm water, apply soap to the damp cloth, and gently wash the toy with the soapy washcloth for 20 seconds. Then simply rinse it under warm running water and dry thoroughly with a clean towel. That's all!

SEE ALSO: The best sex toy deals to shop this week

It's worth noting that specialized foaming or spray sex toy cleaners are available, and they are a perfectly good, if slightly more expensive, choice. One benefit that a toy cleaner offers over soap and water is transportability, i.e., you can toss a small bottle of sex toy cleaner in a purse or overnight bag and rest well knowing you'll be able to clean your toy even in circumstances where you may not have access to soap and running water.

To use a toy cleaner, apply the spray or foaming cleaner directly to the vibrator, leave the product on the surface of the toy for the length of time specified by the manufacturer (usually 5-10 seconds), and then wipe or rinse the vibrator clean.

Should you use vibrator cleaning wipes?

Sex toy cleaning wipes are a very good thing to know about when it comes to caring for your vibrator. They're an incredibly convenient — stash a pack in a bedside table drawer, or toss a package in a Dopp kit for use when traveling. They also can double as personal wipes to remove bodily fluids, lube, sweat, etc. from your body after sex, both solo or coupled.

But while sex toy cleaning wipes are perfect for cleaning a vibrator in between uses, there are some drawbacks: They can leave behind fluids and bacteria, so they shouldn't entirely replace a deeper cleaning with mild soap and water, but instead be used as a quick cleaning solution.

Related Video: 5 ways to safely clean your sex toys Mistakes to avoid when cleaning your vibrator

Given that it's the most important rule of sex toy cleaning, this bears repeating: Clean a vibrator after each use, and never, ever store a dirty toy. Keeping sex toys clean and dry will help to prevent infections that are caused when bacteria is left to linger after use.

Another rule to live by when cleaning sex toys of any kind or material, including but not limited to vibrators, is to avoid using any cleaning products that you wouldn't put in your body. So: Don't soak your vibrators in bleach, don't spray your dildos with Windex, and don't use Soft Scrub on your butt plugs. If it doesn't go in your vagina or anus, it shouldn't go on your vibrator. Antibacterial soap that is designed for use on skin is fine to use, but not necessary.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best dating apps for lasting connections or casual fun

And one last thing: Even if they're waterproof, motorized toys shouldn't be cleaned in the dishwasher. The heating element on dishwashers is too hot, and it can cause damage to a vibrator's motor. Non-motorized toys can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher, provided they are waterproof.

How to store your sex toys

An important, and easy-to-overlook, part of keeping a vibrator (or any sex toy) clean, is how and where it's stored while not in use. Improper storage will leave a vibrator exposed to bacteria and airborne pollutants, and using a dirty toy can lead to infections. Before putting a vibrator away, it must be clean and dry, and it should be stored in a bag or box of its own to keep it from getting dirty while not in use.

This article was first published in 2020 and republished in 2024.

Love comes in many forms — be it romantic, platonic, familial. And each of those forms of love deserve to be celebrated.

National Girlfriend Day is a day for celebrating female friendship. So, if you didn't get a chance to show your gal pals any love on Galentine's Day (Feb. 13), then mark your calendars for the chance to spoil them.

While the day was originally set up to honour the women in our lives, there's no one preventing couples from taking part too. Valentine's Day only happens once a year, so why not seize this opportunity to make your partner feel extra-special?

SEE ALSO: Our favorite tech gifts: Treat yourself to a new toy with that tax return money When it National Girlfriend Day?

National Girlfriend Day is celebrated each year on August 1.

What is National Girlfriend Day?

Established in 2004, National Girlfriend Day was created by lifestyle blogger Mistress Susan as a way for gal pals to show love for one another.

All that remains to be done is decide how you're going to celebrate. Need gift inspo? Try out Mashable's Gift Lab to find the perfect gift.

Another day, another bit of drama on X.

This time, yet again, it's the old blue check marks in the spotlight. In the pre-Elon Musk era these had to be applied for, before the platform's new owner swept in and started charging people $8 for them. Then everyone began making fun of people who paid, and finally X allowed those people to get the same Premium benefits but keep the blue check hidden to avoid ridicule.

And now? Yep, X is backtracking on that.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X pushed a fake headline about Iran attacking Israel. X's AI chatbot Grok made it up.

"The hide your checkmark feature of X Premium is going away soon," reads a notification screenshotted by Premium users. "Tap to manage your X premium features."

Tweet may have been deleted

Given that X recently starting handing out blue check marks to certain influential accounts for free (whether they wanted it or not) again, the timing of this update seems deliberate.

All in all, it hasn't been a good couple of weeks for the social media platform. X recently began forcibly changing "Twitter" to "X" in URLs people were posting, which resulted in a number of those same URLs breaking. A study was also released that showed a rise in anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate speech on the platform. And a couple of weeks back, a report showed that use of X/Twitter is down by almost a quarter since Musk took charge.

There are many very good episodes of Hot Ones out there, but we may just have found a new spicy wing king.

In the Season 23 finale, legendary talk show host Conan O'Brien claims upfront that he's "terrible with hot food" before proceeding to laugh in the face of every wing placed in front of him — even going so far as to douse Da Bomb with extra source from the bottle, some of which he licks directly from the wing itself.

"I'm fine!" screams O'Brien at the end, with sauce covering his shirt and chin. "I'm perfectly fucking fine! You didn't come up with one wing that had an effect on Conan, 'cuz he's here to stay."

Hot Ones perfection.

TL;DR: Stream The Masters 2024 for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Golf fans are a seriously dedicated bunch, so the wait for the first major championship of the year will have been tough to handle. But that wait is almost over, because The Masters is here to save the day.

The Augusta National brings together the very best players from around the world in a battle for the iconic green jacket. It really doesn't get much bigger or better for players and fans alike. All eyes will be on the Augusta National Golf Club, and you can watch this year's event without spending anything.

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

What is The Masters?

The Masters is one of the four men's major championships in professional golf. The tournament is scheduled for the first full week in April, making The Masters is the first major golf tournament of the year.

The Masters is always held at the Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in the city of Augusta, Georgia.

When is The Masters 2024?

The Masters 2024 takes place from April 11 to April 14.

How to watch The Masters 2024 for free

Australia’s Channel 9 has free-to-air broadcasting rights for The Masters in 2024, with free live streaming available on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to 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 Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now to stream The Masters 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Stream The Masters 2024 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) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch The Masters live streams without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream The Masters 2024 before recovering your investment.

If you want permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for The Masters?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking free streaming sites like 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is 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.

Stream The Masters 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

Knowing how to reset your iPhone is crucial.

If you're trading in an old phone, or giving it to someone as a hand-me-down, the main thing you'll want to do ahead of time is reset the device to its factory default settings (i.e., the way it was when you initially bought it).

The good news is that, on iPhone, this is very easy to do. Here's how to reset your iPhone.

First, make a backup

Before resetting your phone, it's paramount that you create a device backup first. That way, when you get a new iPhone, you can load up all your old apps and settings onto the new device.

Unless you're not getting a new phone and going wilderness-survival mode, in which case that's cool too.

Anyway, the easiest way to back up an iPhone is via iCloud. Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the page, then tap iCloud. From there, tap iCloud Backup and hit the button that says "Back Up Now." You can also turn on automatic backups from this menu if you want, but as long as you remember to do it manually, that's fine too.

Suffice it to say, make sure you remember your Apple ID and password so you can, you know, access the backup when it's time to do that.

SEE ALSO: Apple says Palestinian flag emoji recommendation when 'Jerusalem' is typed on iPhone will be fixed How to reset iPhone

Now that we've made a backup, the real fun begins. Here's a step-by-step process on how to reset your iPhone:

This is what you want to see. Dark mode optional. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

1. Open the Settings app

2. Tap "General"

3. Tap "Transfer or Reset"

4. Tap "Erase All Content and Settings"

5. Enter your Apple login information, if prompted

6. When ready, confirm that you want to reset the device

It's really that easy. Keep in mind that the actual process of erasing everything on your iPhone might take a few minutes, so don't worry if it doesn't happen instantly. Once you're done, enjoy your new iPhone.

Alex Garland has become one of genre film's most prominent voices, having written and directed modern science-fiction classics like Ex Machina and Annihilation. But how do all his films stack up against each other?

SEE ALSO: 'Civil War' review: Alex Garland's latest is more 'Men,' less 'Ex Machina'

For the sake of this ranking, I've included films that Garland has written and directed, as well as films for which he wrote the screenplay but did not direct, such as 28 Days Later. However, when possible, I've tried to rank the films for which he pulled double duty higher than others.

With that in mind, let's dive into Garland's work. Brace yourself for high-concept science fiction, polarizing choices, and heaps and heaps of existential dread. Here are Alex Garland's films, ranked.

8. Never Let Me Go Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield in "Never Let Me Go." Credit: Fox Searchlight / Dna / Kobal / Shutterstock

Look, I don't hate any movie on this list. I don't even really dislike any of them. But I do feel most indifferent about Never Let Me Go, which is why it's clocking in last.

Garland wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel of the same name, about three friends who grow up at Hailsham boarding school. The school's idyllic appearance disguises a sinister truth: All its students were born to be organ donors, and they won't live long into adulthood. With the threat of mortality constantly looming above them, Never Let Me Go's central trio — played by Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley — struggle to come to terms with what little is left of their lives. 

Prepare yourself for soft sci-fi elements and existential questions about souls, both of which figure into Ishiguro's original novel; they're also in keeping with the rest of Garland's films. However, the success of Never Let Me Go depends on the strength of the love triangle at its core, and it falls flat at almost every opportunity.

How to watch: Never Let Me Go is now streaming on Starz.

7. Dredd Karl Urban in "Dredd." Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

According to Dredd actor Karl Urban, this 2012 sci-fi action flick is Garland's true directorial debut. In a 2018 JoBlo interview, Urban revealed that Garland, who wrote Dredd's screenplay, helped shape the movie after Lionsgate ousted director Pete Travis from post-production due to disagreements. And honestly, Dredd's not at all a bad film to start out with!

SEE ALSO: The best sci-fi movies on Netflix to escape reality

Based on the Judge Dredd comics, Dredd takes us into a dystopian megacity where violence reigns supreme. Here, steely law enforcement officer Judge Dredd (Urban) and rookie Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) will fight their way through a massive high-rise complex in order to bring drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) to justice. It's a simple conceit that benefits from tight execution, kick-ass action, and just all-around fun. Urban rocks a gravelly voice! Thirlby is a psychic! Headey once again excels in full villain mode! Good times.

How to watch: Dredd is now streaming on Peacock.

6. Men Jessie Buckley in "Dredd." Credit: A24

One of Garland's most polarizing films, Men is really a mixed bag.

On the one hand, you've got an atmospheric piece of folk horror, where lush green forests and quiet villages hide unspeakable monsters. You've also got a great leading performance from Jessie Buckley, as well as uncanny supporting work from Rory Kinnear (in several spooky roles) and an underused Paapa Essiedu. Add in some genuine frights and an especially gnarly final act, and you're looking at a solid scarefest.

SEE ALSO: 'Men' review: A horror movie about misogyny should have something more to say

Still, how much does all of that matter when you're faced with Men's obvious (and not particularly new) messaging? The film's portrayals of misogyny sure are bone-chilling, as are its physical representations of how men perpetuate cycles of sexism — but Men doesn't have much more to say beyond that. Men may be an enthralling cinematic experience, yet it still feels bafflingly hollow.

How to watch: Men is now streaming on Paramount+.

5. Civil War Kirsten Dunst in "Civil War." Credit: A24

Hey, it's Garland's other most polarizing film — so polarizing it had people fighting in the internet trenches before its release. The debate comes down to Garland's "apolitical" approach to the film's U.S.-based conflict. Is Civil War's lack of explanation of its titular war a stroke of genius, or an ineffective cop out? At the risk of (ironically) "both sides-ing" the issue here, I honestly feel drawn to each argument at once, making for a film that is thorny, fascinating, and frustrating.

At its core, Civil War is a dystopian thought experiment. What happens if you take images of war that American audiences associate with far-off global conflicts and put them in an American context? The result is part cautionary tale, part harrowing travelogue through a war-torn America, and Garland certainly isn't pulling any punches. Each gunshot and explosion rings in your bones, and each encounter between our central group of journalists and other civilians leaves you shaken in different ways. You're left thinking less about the logistics of the war and more about the sensations of it, the experience of it.

SEE ALSO: Alex Garland and Wagner Moura on creating an anti-war war film with 'Civil War'

Yet the more distance I have from watching Civil War in theaters — where I was totally locked in — the more miffed I get. Yes, the film's scenes of war are especially troubling, but so much of that comes down to current ideological divisions that Garland barely acknowledges. Civil War feels so much like a warning because of outside context, not in spite of it. If anything, it's relying on our own political worries to sow seeds of dread so it doesn't have to provide any specificity itself. Civil War may be a great war movie, but it's a lousy movie about America. And when you're making a war movie about America, it's difficult to reconcile the two.

How to watch: Civil War is now in theaters.

4. Sunshine Cliff Curtis in "Sunshine." Credit: Fox Searchlight / Kobal / Shutterstock

Garland's collaborations with director Danny Boyle have given us two of the most exciting sci-fi films of the 21st century, so it's only fitting that they're both high up on this list. Let's kick things off with Sunshine, a 2007 thriller about a group of scientists on a last-ditch mission to restart our sun with a nuclear bomb. After an unplanned change in course, the scientists find themselves encountering disaster after disaster, each of which further whittles down the crew. Every obstacle the crew faces feels like a blow to the gut, as we feel not only the loss of each crew member, but also humanity's waning chances of survival. 

SEE ALSO: A stunning phenomenon appeared on the sun during the solar eclipse

Sunshine is both claustrophobic and infinite in scope, taking us from the tight quarters of the spacecraft Icarus II to the unfathomable brightness of the sun. A third-act twist brings us more into horror territory, but the focus is always on that sun — the magnetic pull of it, and the emerging reality that this mission was never really going to have a return. In addition to its aching existential dread and sci-fi stylings, Sunshine boasts an incredible ensemble cast that only gets better with time: Cillian Murphy! Michelle Yeoh! Hiroyuki Sanada! Chris Evans! Benedict Wong! Between them and the sun, this is a movie bursting with literal star power.

How to watch: Sunshine is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, or Apple TV+.

3. 28 Days Later Cillian Murphy in "28 Days Later." Credit: Peter Mountain / Dna / 20th Century Fox / Kobal / Shutterstock

Boyle and Garland revitalized the zombie genre with 2002's 28 Days Later, a film that throws us headfirst into a brutal world that's just 28 days into the apocalypse.

The apocalyptic culprits here are humans infected with the "rage virus," which turns its victims into mindlessly violent — and scarily speedy — attackers. (Though not the first film to feature fast zombies, 28 Days Later is certainly the movie that popularized them.) While the nameless Infected hordes provide many terrifying scares and some effective body horror, especially in the film's "turning" scenes, it's 28 Days Later's human drama that invokes the most fear. 

From the moment bike courier Jim (Cillian Murphy) wanders across a deserted Westminster Bridge, we're forced to consider how we'd react in the face of the apocalypse. Some of the survivors Jim encounters offer him kindness, while others, like army officers in the film's stomach-churning third act, have far more sinister, self-serving plans for the future. Blurring the lines between human and monster, and boasting some of the zombie genre's most iconic imagery, there's no doubt 28 Days Later is among Garland's best work. 

How to watch: 28 Days Later is currently unavailable on streaming.

2. Annihilation Natalie Portman in "Annihilation." Credit: Paramount / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Ever since I first watched the trailer for Annihilation and heard that foreboding horn-like sound, I knew this movie would stick with me. I just didn't realize how much.

Loosely based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation is the captivating story of a team of scientists investigating a phenomenon known as the Shimmer. Named after its psychedelic, bubble-like boundaries, the Shimmer is a slowly expanding zone of strangeness originating from a meteor strike. Biologist Lena's (Natalie Portman) husband Kane (Oscar Isaac) is the only person to return from the many expeditions already sent into the Shimmer, but he's a shell of his former self. Now it's up to Lena and her own survey team (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, and Tuva Novotny) to try to get answers.

SEE ALSO: If you liked the 'Annihilation' movie, you absolutely NEED to read the book

What they find in the Shimmer is less a series of answers and more a parade of mutated wildlife. A bear that utters human screams! An alligator with shark teeth! Humanoid figures made up of flowers! But that's just the start of Annihilation's cosmic horror, which pushes Lena to a brilliant, brutal breaking point. There, Annihilation forces her to reckon with the vastness of the unknown and her past mistakes, making for a film that is both unfathomably strange and still surprisingly personal.

How to watch: Annihilation is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, or Apple TV+.

1. Ex Machina Alicia Vikander in "Ex Machina." Credit: Dna / Film4 / Kobal / Shutterstock

This is it. This is the big one. And what else could it be but Ex Machina?

Garland's directorial debut is a perfect storm of sci-fi, a dark technological fairy tale, and a taut chamber piece all rolled into one. In it, we meet programmer Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), who's won a contest to spend a week with reclusive tech genius Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Nathan reveals that this is no ordinary vacation: Caleb will be performing the Turing test on Nathan's latest humanoid AI, Ava (Alicia Vikander), in an attempt to determine whether she is capable of human thought, even with the knowledge that she is an artificial intelligence.

What follows is a maze of a movie, one where Caleb comes to question his own reality — and the audience along with him. Between ever-relevant conversations about AI, consciousness, and the ways in which humans take advantage of each other and our own creations, Ex Machina also proves to be a visual treat. The glassy corridors of Nathan's house ensnare us in his isolated web, while Ava's stunningly realized robotic inner workings earned the film an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. As if all that wasn't enough, that pivotal dance scene between Nathan and Kyoko (Sonoya Mizuno) is so funky and so unsettling that it would shoot Ex Machina straight to the top of this ranking even if the rest of the film was just fine. Luckily, it's excellent (and yes, so are Isaac and Mizuno's dance moves).

How to watch: Ex Machina is now streaming on Max.

TL;DR: Through April 16, this All-in-One Dog and Puppy Training bundle is price dropped to $23.20 (reg. $390) with code ENJOY20.

The thought of training a new dog or puppy can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. The 2023 All-in-One Dog and Puppy Training bundle offers 10 courses and over 10 hours of content and gives you a step-by-step guide to training a canine of any age. The lectures offer tools from basic to advanced commands, so you can go at your furry friend's pace. Through April 16, you can get this course bundle for $23.20 (reg. $390) with code ENJOY20.

Lessons are taught by a variety of professionals including veterinarians, animal behaviorists, nutritionists, groomers, and wildlife experts. All courses are accredited by the International Council for Online Educational Standards (ICOES) and are designed to support pet owners, pet care workers, pet sitters, and more. 

Included in this bundle are the following courses:  

• Puppy and New Dog Training

• Accredited Dog Walking Course

• Dog Commands for Beginners

• Dog Training Essentials

• Moderating Dog Behavior

• Become a Doggy Dessert Chef [Recipes Only]

• Dog Socialization & Obedience Master Class [Modules Only]

• Dog Walking Basics [Modules Only]

• Reward-Based Dog Training [Modules Only]

• Ultimate Guide to Dog Grooming [Modules Only]

Just like humans, most pets crave routine and discipline, and the 2023 All-In-One Dog and Puppy Training bundle is a good place to start. This training program is designed to help you and your dog better understand one another. 

Get the 2023 All-in-One Dog and Puppy training bundle for only $23.20 (reg. $390) with code ENJOY20 through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Holly & Hugo The 2023 All-In-One Dog & Puppy Training Bundle $23.20 at the Mashable Shop
$390.00 Save $366.80 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

 

TL;DR: Through April 16, grab this top-rated GOLFBUDDY W10 golf watch on sale for $119.99 with the code ENJOY20.

At long last, spring has finally arrived, ushering in a much-anticipated golf season. It also means that the Masters Tournament is right around the corner. If you haven't dusted off your clubs in a while, you may want to consider upgrading your gear, too.

Instead of a brand-new pair of golf shoes, have a look at the GOLFBUDDY Aim W10 GPS golf watch. Through April 16, coinciding with Masters week, you can grab one on sale for an extra 20% off with the code ENJOY20 at checkout.

The W10 by GOLFBUDDY is designed to help you bring your A-game each time you hit the fairways. Touted for its ease of use and precision, it's designed to deliver accurate distance measurements, with its 1.3-inch LCD color touchscreen display that doles out distance calculations to the front, center, and back of the green, along with how far you are from targets and hazards.

The GPS allows this watch to recognize your current hole, but on the off chance that it doesn't, you can perform manual placement. It also features a zoom-in and zoom-out function built to offer a more comprehensive view of the green, a digital scorecard, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 13 hours on a single charge.

The watch comes pre-loaded with 40,000 golf courses across 170 countries, which can be updated via the accompanying GOLFBUDDY app. It also includes slope technology and offers the ability to cast yardage on your mobile device.

The W10 by GOLFBUDDY watch normally retails for $209, but you can grab it for only $119.99 through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT with code ENJOY20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Golf Buddy GOLFBUDDY Aim W10 GPS Golf Watch $119.99 at the Mashable Shop
$209.99 Save $90.00 with the code ENJOY20 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 16, you can get your hands on this alternative Apple TV remote on sale for an extra 20% off with the code ENJOY20.

The Apple TV is arguably one of the best streaming devices on the market, but quite a few users feel the accompanying remote leaves a lot to be desired. In pursuit of minimalism, Apple has done away with traditional buttons in favor of a singular one that might be hard to know what to do with.

If you want the tactile feel of a traditional remote, or at least an alternative option for when your current Apple TV remote slips between the couch cushions, consider the Function101 Button Remote, on sale for an extra 20% off through April 16 with the code ENJOY20.

We'll preface this by pointing out that this remote doesn't have the Siri function and cannot carry out voice commands, but its buttons let you operate your Apple TV. Whether you have the Apple TV 4K or the older versions, it's designed to work all the same. The buttons include navigation arrows, mute, fast forward, rewind, pause/play, stop, menu, and everyone's favorite, OK.

Check it out: With support for infrared technology, you can synchronize the remote control not just with your TV, but with your soundbar and receiver as well. It also has a range of up to 12 meters (that's nearly 40 feet). And it comes with a one-year warranty.

Get an Apple TV remote alternative. The Function101 button remote usually goes for $29, but it's on sale for $23.99 with the code ENJOY20 through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fuction101 Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV/Apple TV 4K $23.99 at the Mashable Shop
$29.99 Save $6.00 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 16, you can grab this smokeless Aroma indoor electric grill and griddle for $50.39 with the code ENJOY20.

Maximizing the sunshine and getting outside as often as possible is a no-brainer for most of us now that spring is here, but sometimes, having back-to-back BBQs can get pretty old. If you want to lay low for a while but still want the unique flavors grilling produces, consider this a sign to make an indoor grill your next culinary investment.

The Aroma indoor grill and griddle is designed to replicate the outdoor grilling experience inside your home. Through April 16, you can score it on sale for nearly $80 off with the code ENJOY20.

This grill comes equipped with a removable tempered glass lid to promote even cooking and heat retention, a non-stick dual-surface grill and griddle plate for grilling and griddling simultaneously, and an adjustable temperature control dial that reaches up to 425 degrees in temperature. On the flip side, you can turn it to the lowest temperature when cooking is finished so you can keep the dish warm.

The 2-in-1 design allows you to grill and griddle food at the same time, and if you're worried about making a mess, there's an included removable XL grease tray that fits underneath. And all of the non-electric parts are made dishwasher safe.

Bring the grilling flavors indoors with this indoor electric grill and griddle from Aroma. It usually retails for $129, but you can score it on sale for only $50.39 through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT with the code ENJOY20 at checkout.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Aroma Housewares Aroma Housewares Smokeless Indoor Use Electric Grill/Griddle $50.39 at the Mashable Shop
$129.99 Save $79.60 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

"What you tripping for? We got no supervision for months. We finna live like white kids," says one of the teens in BET+'s Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. 

This Tyra Banks–produced remake of the 1991 cult classic of the same name offers a Black cast repositioning of the suburban coming-of-age teenage comedy that has prototypically been the domain of precocious white characters. Though director Wade Allain-Marcus (Grown-ish) dutifully attempts to keep the beats of the original narrative intact, he is also retooling parts of the film through a contemporary racial sociopolitical lens. It's an admirable attempt not to take the easy route, but the film ultimately needed to be more radically different than its predecessor.   

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is the kind of remake that wants to have its cake and eat it too, leaving the viewer terribly malnourished. 

What's Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead about? June Squibb plays the heinous and hilarious Mrs. Shrak. Credit: BET+

High-school senior and the oldest of four siblings, Tanya Crandell (Bel-Air's Simone Joy Jones) is planning to travel to Valencia, Spain, with her friends for the summer before beginning her fashion education at Howard University. Her dreams are dashed when her burned-out mother (Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams) departs for a mandated yoga retreat in Thailand. The determined Tanya believes she'll be left to care for her oddball siblings: her eldest, stoner brother, Kenny (Donielle Tremaine Hansley); her nerdy younger brother, Zach (Carter Young); and her goth younger sister, Melissa (Ayaamii Sledge). But much to her dismay, an elderly babysitter — Ms. Shrak (Thelma's June Squibb) — is hired. 

Squibb is a burst of energy as the racist grandmotherly figure, spouting outlandish quips like "Makeup is for geisha whores," "Surprises are for kids’ parties and the Japanese," and "Hip-hop ruined the Blacks." Squibb is so good in this role, you're left wishing the film won’t follow the promise of its premise. Unfortunately, it does. The morning after a late-night party thrown by Tanya and Kenny, the kids discover Ms. Shrak's lifeless body. They dispose of her without much trouble. Their bigger task becomes figuring out how to earn enough money for food. Initially, Tanya takes a rideshare job, leading to a meet-cute with hopeful architecture student Bryan (Bottoms' Miles Fowler). 

Of course, rideshare alone isn't going to pay the bills (it's one of the many winking nods the film makes to the ills of the modern economy). Using a résumé ginned up by Melissa, 17-year-old Tanya applies to be a receptionist at Libra — a monochromatic clothing line that values a balance between pretty and practical. Tanya's exceptional, made-up job history is enough to catch the eye of the company's executive Rose Lindsey (Nicole Richie). Tanya becomes her assistant, forcing the teen to abruptly navigate the demands of adulthood.      

The kids are alright in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Simone Joy Jones and Donielle Tremaine Hansley as Tanya and Kenny. Credit: BET+

Unlike the 1991 version, Allain-Marcus isn't wholly interested in corporate workplace dynamics. Rose's boyfriend, Gus (The Blackening's Jermaine Fowler), for instance, a lecherous fiend who preyed on Christina Applegate's underaged character in the previous film, doesn't have the same carnal desires for Tanya. In this version, he's merely a hapless philandering dweeb. Caroline (This is Us's Iantha Richardson), the office rival to Tanya, isn't an imposing threat, either. 

Screenwriter Chuck Hayward's script shuns any interest in examining the power imbalance in Gus and Rose’s interracial relationship. Likewise, he ignores the fact that Caroline, a Black woman, is often characterized by Rose as too aggressive. These under-developments are odd swerves for a comedy intent on making joking reference to sweatshops, OnlyFans, and other disparities in the gig economy. 

Instead, Allain-Marcus is far more interested in this family's frigid interpersonal dynamics. Kenny, for instance, isn't a total stoner, as he was in the original. Before their father died, he was on the lacrosse team. Now, he smokes weed and wears grills. But there is a talented, thoughtful kid there. Falling into the trap of the desire to broadly represent Black Excellence, Allain-Marcus isn't content to characterize Kenny as a ne'er-do-well. Rather, Kenny's arc depicts a rebellious kid returning to normalcy and respectability. Through accepting responsibility, he and Tanya grow closer as brother and sister. That angle diverts attention from the film's many other threads, making them feel thin. And while Jones and Hansley perform admirably — working through an easygoing dynamic that engenders some laughs — Allain-Marcus doesn't do enough to make them characters in their own right; instead, they're ciphers standing in for his focus on aspects of style, post-soul cool, and Black excellence.

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead requires supervision.  Nicole Richie as Rose. Credit: BET+

The coming-of-age comedy ends up just so-so, mostly because the narrative beats of the first film are so inherently strong. We want to see Tanya succeeding in her career. We want to see her pull one over on these nefarious adults. We want to see her find love. 

This version tries to keep those components while adding new beats, like Tanya learning to be a better sister to her siblings. In trying to balance both aims, the themes are stretched woefully thin. Even the relationship between Bryan and Tanya is underwritten. The economic tension of the earlier film — with Applegate as an executive and an aimless Josh Charles working at the fast food joint Clown Dog — evaporates, as Bryan is now a driven architecture student. The same goes for the strain of Bryan being Caroline's younger brother, which is rendered lax due to Caroline and Tanya's now-toothless rivalry. 

There is simply a more efficient way to tell this story that already exists, and it was done in 1991. The new version's added wrinkles do little to bring this cult classic to a younger audience, to the point you wish Allain-Marcus showed even less fidelity to the original and cut the characters he never really intended to use, like Gus and Caroline. Considering how strong Squibb is here, you also wish she stayed around longer so the film could play with the third-rail comedy she was providing. 

In the end, this cult comedy remake feels all too safe. From its macabre yet madcap inciting incident to its fashion-show finale, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead feels firmly fitted for nostalgic adults rather than defiant teens.    

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead opens in theaters April 12.

Let's face it: geeks wear their hearts on their sleeves. We have no problem diving headfirst into our passions and expressing ourselves wholeheartedly. But when it comes to dating, finding someone who respects that enthusiasm can feel like cracking an impossible code.

For women, it can involve a lot of creepy guys who are chasing their manic pixie dream girl. For men, it's a constant dance to avoid being labeled "that guy." And if you're in the majority of geeks who are a little bit introverted, dating can be more than a little intimidating.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best dating apps for lasting connections or casual fun Are there dating sites for geeks?

Yes, there are a handful of niche dating sites designed specifically for nerds, but you may not need them.

We compared the internet's top dating sites, trendy swiping apps, and geek-specific platforms to find the ones where proud nerds can express themselves and find that twin flame. Hidden among millions and millions of users, you could find someone who shares your most obscure passions and interests, whether it's an endless debate about whether there will ever be a Pokémon game as good as Pokémon Emerald or the perfect couple's cosplay inspired by your favorite Star Trek characters. Bonus: they're all readily accessible via the App Store and the Google Play Store.

Just remember this: Even if a potential match doesn't share your specific hobby or interest, they could still be the right partner for you. Don't fall for this common geek relationship fallacy. What's more important is that they respect your most nerdy obsessions, and vice versa.

You'll notice that we no longer include any geek-specific sites (e.g., Soul Geek, Gamer Dating, Dating for Muggles) in our recommendations because we found these niche dating sites to be out-of-date — you can find more info on this decision in our 'How we tested' section below.

Here are our top picks for the best dating sites for geeks, nerds, and anyone passionate about their niche hobbies:

Activate those Pip-Boys, Vault Dwellers!

The beloved post-apocalyptic game franchise Fallout has received the TV treatment from Prime Video, and the series wisely integrates tons of game details along the way.

Co-showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, alongside executive producers Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan (Westworld), have successfully translated the aesthetic, narrative, and sprawling gadget inventory of the Fallout games into a "wild nuclear Western," as Mashable's Belen Edwards dubs it. Wastelanders who've spent time in the Fallout universe might recognise the minute game details embedded in the show itself, but Vault Dwellers who haven't played the games (yet) might need a little help sorting their stimpaks from their Sugar Bombs. 

SEE ALSO: The best 'Fallout' games to play after watching Prime Video's TV series

Of course, as a modern TV game adaptation, it's inevitable viewers may compare the series to HBO's The Last of Us, arguably one of the best game adaptations of all time, and how elements of the Naughty Dog game shone through every frame. Luckily, Fallout doesn't scrimp on the details. From its "Please stand by" screens to its Nuka-Cola vending machines, Fallout finds its own way to bring the signature characteristics of the games to TV. It embraces the games' post-apocalyptic retro-futurism and wonderfully incorporates all those weird weapons, mammoth armor, crucial companions, irradiated enemies, and of course, swingin' tunes. 

Here's a handy guide to the more niche bits and pieces the Fallout show emulates from the games, which began way back in 1997 at Interplay Entertainment.

Fallout includes a handful of specific game locations. This image is from the "Fallout" series, but it very well could be from a game. Credit: Prime Video

The Fallout TV series covers a lot of ground within the so-called New California Republic (NCR), a post-apocalyptic land featured in multiple Fallout games. Within this map, there's plenty of locations visited by Lucy (Ella Purnell), Maximus (Aaron Moten), and Cooper Howard/The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) that aren't the show's main settings.

Across the series, the characters come across the games' famous Red Rocket gas stations and crumbling Super Duper Marts, Vault-Tec's Hawthorne Medical Laboratories, and a ramshackle town that could be found in pretty much any of the Fallout games — Megaton, Rivet City, New Reno, Diamond City, take your pick. Shady Sands itself, a neighbourhood featured in the very first Fallout game, plays a massive role in the TV series.

You'll spot a Red Rocket in the series, seen here in "Fallout 4." Credit: Bethesda Game Studios

In the final episode, there's also a nod to the games' obsession with pirate radio stations, with a rogue broadcaster (Fred Armisen, in a delightful cameo) paying homage to Fallout stations like Galaxy News Radio (GNR), hosted by the legendary Three Dog (Fallout 3), Diamond City Radio (Fallout 4), and Mojave Music Radio (Fallout: New Vegas).

Fallout brings the weapons, armor, and gadgets of the game to life. It's reeeeal. Credit: JoJo Whilden / Prime Video

If there's one thing the Fallout series really attempts to stick like glue to, it's the weapons and armor of the games. Of course, your weapons often get pretty banged up in Fallout games and repairing them is a constant necessity, as well as a way to level up and use all of the junk you've been collecting. In the series, Maximus needs to have his suit repaired in the marketplace for caps in episode 3, which he gets for selling his own teeth. In the game, you do not have to do this.

While the series doesn't use the games' signature V.A.T.S. system — Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, which allows players to maximise their aim — it does right by the core components, including Pip-Boys and power armor.

Pip-Boys Lucy's brother Norm (Moisés Arias) has a Pip-Boy, just like the rest of Vault 33. Credit: JoJo Whilden / Prime Video

First, you'll find the franchise's signature Pip-Boy on the wrist of every Vault Dweller, which is a handy wearable computer that the show replicates in extreme detail. The device shows a wearer's statistics, inventory, data, map, and the radio; it can also scan for "rads" or radiation levels, and it enables navigation. Lucy's Pip-Boy is invaluable to her as a map; she punches in coordinates from Ma June (Dale Dickey) in episode 2 and uses it to track down a certain item, much as you would in the game. Every time you hear the sound of a Geiger counter in the show, that's her Pip-Boy scanning for rads. Plus, it's a handy torch in episode 6. Additionally, Lucy's brother Norm (Moisés Arias) looks at photos on his Pip-Boy, just as you can store notes on them in the game. Neat!

If you look closely, the show's Pip-Boys also feature the game's ubiquitous Vault Boy, the overtly chipper animated figure devised as a branding mascot by Vault-Tec.

T-60 armor Aaron Moten as Maximus in "Fallout" beside his soon-to-be power armor. Credit: JoJo Whilden / Prime Video

That super chonky armor favoured by the Brotherhood of Steel? That's right out of Fallout 4; it's an evolution of the T-45 power armor. You'll first get up close with the armor in episode 1, as Maximus (Aaron Moten) and his Brotherhood recruit pal take a peek when a group of knights, who are allowed to wear and operate these massive suits, visit the barracks. Recruited as a squire to assist Knight Titus (Michael Rapaport), Maximus learns, "You earn the suit for an act of bravery." In game, you can buy them, steal them, or earn them by joining the Brotherhood. In the series, you can see the health of the armor appearing in Maximus' vision, and the show also makes several narrative moments out of the suits being powered by a fusion core, which you need to procure in the games.

Most effectively, the show really captures the lumbering weight and limited mobility of the armor; in both the games and the show, it's awful in hand-to-hand combat but great for battling mutant beasts. A cool Easter egg? Twice, characters remark on the "tempered lining" of the armor, which is a type of mod in the games.

The T-60 power armor ready to go in the game "Fallout 4." Credit: Bethesda Game Studios Junk Jets

There's a fair few weapons used throughout the Fallout TV series, from automatic turrets to miniguns. One of the more novelty weapons, the Junk Jet from Fallout 4, uses just about anything as ammunition; it's similar to Fallout 3's Rock-It Launcher. In episode 1, you'll see a raider fire a plastic baby doll's arm through a man's chest using one, and Lucy sees one for sale in Ma June's shop in episode 2. Horrific, but practical.

Fallout relies on aid just as much as you do in the game. Stock up on aid supplies at shop's like Ma June's. Credit: JoJo Whilden / Prime Video

If there's one thing that has quite the prominence in the Fallout series, it's aid items — both organic and chemical. You literally cannot get enough of them (if you play games as badly as me), and the characters in the series constantly need to patch themselves up and fuel their hunger with pre-blast canned goods. Here's what's in the show:

Food

The Fallout franchise's love of an Atomic Age food item made for nuclear blast vaults is on constant display throughout the series. Mysterious scientist Siggi Wilzig (Michael Emerson) eats a can of Cram in episode 2; Lucy eats YumYum Deviled Eggs in episode 3; and there's many a scene filled with Sugar Bombs, Insta-Mash, and of course, the omnipresent Nuka-Cola. All of these are health items from the game.

Purified water, which is a valuable means of aid in the game, means just as much in the series. Lucy is tempted by radiation-filled water in episode 3, after Cooper doesn't give her any of his clean water to drink; she gets radiation poisoning that's only curable by the drug RadAway, which is also a crucial in-game item. Luckily, Maximus offers her some in episode 5.

But pre-blast, pre-packaged food isn't the only thing on offer in Fallout — you'll spot a market hawker selling crispy iguana sticks in episode 2, a Wasteland delicacy from the games.

Drugs

Across the series, you'll notice characters keep injecting all kinds of shit into themselves, which is exactly what you do in the Fallout games. A raider uses Jet, a chemical stimulant, in episode 1, and characters constantly use injections called "stimpaks" to nurse others back to health across the episodes. Having experienced extreme radiation effects, Cooper takes a serious amount of Jet through inhalers, including the series' only scene that emulates the game's constant looting action; in episode 4, after the ordeal in the Super Duper Mart, Cooper goes to absolute town on the various aid items left lying around. If you've ever played Fallout, watching this scene is deeply relatable, but it would absolutely result in addiction. (Yes, you can get addicted to chems in the games!)

Fallout includes a cute nod to the game's skill tree and character customisation. You can't tell me that's not the "Domestic Goddess" hairstyle. Credit: JoJo Whilden / Prime Video

In the Fallout games, you build up your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) attributes across a huge array of skills depending on how you want to play the game. In the opening of episode 1, there's a sweet nod to this skill tree system, when Lucy details her skills — repair, science, speech, gymnastics, fencing, and riflery — to the board, some of which Fallout players will recognise as skills to earn in the games.

In another cute nod to the game's signature character-builder, the Fallout series hair and makeup team have included one of the most recognisable hairstyles you can pick for your character in the game: the terribly named "Domestic Goddess." A '50s-style bob, it's worn by Vault 33 resident Stephanie Harper (Annabel O’Hagan). And in episode 2, when Lucy arrives at the marketplace that resembles many a town in the Fallout series, you can spy various businesses — one of which is a barber. In the game, this is where you can change up your appearance.

Fallout appreciates the value of a companion. It's no fun traversing the Wasteland alone. Credit: JoJo Whilden / Prime Video

In the Fallout games, you're often presented with opportunities to recruit companions to join you on your travels across the Wasteland. They're always a good idea, as you'll often find yourself outnumbered. Each one offers different perks, adventures, and special items to unlock.

In the TV series, companions are equally important. One of the very best from the game is a dog named CX404, a title which has been changed from the game's Dogmeat. (There's a few references to Dogmeat in the show, including a terrible hawker stall and Cooper referring to the dog as such in a later episode).

Another companion from the games comes in the form of a Mister Handy robot butler, who is voiced to perfection by Matt Berry in the series. There are plenty of generic Mister Handy robots across the game series, but in Fallout 4, you can invite a Mister Handy robot named Codsworth along as a companion. In the series finale, we find out that Berry's human character is named Bartholomew Cogsworth, a fun nod to the game.

Fallout's enemies are straight out of the game. There are Ghouls, and then there are Feral Ghouls. Credit: JoJo Whilden / Prime Video

If there's one thing Fallout isn't short of in either medium, it's enemies. Whether it be Raiders (gangs of outlaws), Fiends (cannibals), or mutant bears, Lucy, Maximus, and Cooper have their work cut out for them.

Creature-wise, there's plenty of threatening animals throughout the episodes. In episode 2, you'll spy a Radroach (an irradiated cockroach), and Maximus battles a mutant bear known as a Yao Guai. In episode 3, Cooper uses Lucy as bait to lure what appears to be a pink and spiky type of anglerfish. Plus, not all Ghouls are chill gunslingers like Cooper; in episode 4, Lucy comes face to face with what's known in the games as "Feral Ghouls" — basically, zombie versions of the mutated humans.

One type of common foe missing from the Fallout TV series? The game's fierce Super Mutants, which are difficult to fight but nearly everywhere in the game franchise; you can spot one for a second on a "Wanted!" poster in episode 6. Perhaps Lucy, Maximus, and Cooper might come across these tough opponents in Season 2?

Super Mutants in "Fallout 3" — nowhere in the series though. Credit: Bethesda Game Studios

Wastelanders, I hope all of this gives you more of a brutally chewed-up leg to stand on while you're watching the series. Now you know your Pip-Boys from your Junk Jets, your Fiends from your Yao Guai. Including this level of detail is what we've come to expect from video game screen adaptations these days, with fans like myself spending every frame searching for Easter eggs and references that bolster the authenticity of the show. And if anything, it's this level of detail that makes me want to play the games all over again.

All episodes of Fallout are now streaming on Prime Video.