The United Nations (UN) latest take on technology is that the distinctive feature of artificial intelligence (AI) is its ability to amplify human intelligence. Intelligent machines allow for more effective human and robot collaboration that may spark a fifth industrial revolution. However, there is a risk this could lead to job losses.The UNs Technology and innovation report 2025 predicts that a new wave of technological transformation will reshape the economy and society. The report warns there is a risk that the use of AI will replace many workers while not creating enough new jobs, and may also widen job polarisation and increase income inequality.It points out that developed countries are more likely than developing countries to face more immediate labour market adjustments and an increase in wage inequality. The report cites the UK as an example of a country where a significant share of employment is in professional and managerial occupations, which are highly exposed to AI augmentation. It notes that job losses may also occur in clerical support and technician occupations due to AI-related automation.The report highlights that nearly half of the occupations that could benefit from augmentation face digital barriers. It also notes a significant gender-related imbalance in automation, largely because women are more likely to perform the most exposed jobs.The proportion of women-held jobs that are exposed to automation can be up to twice that of men, it warned, adding that the gender divide in digital skills and access to IT skills may limit the benefits of AI adoption for women, potentially widening existing inequalities.Since AI can augment or displace labour, the UN notes that productivity gains depend on long-term structural adjustments in the labour market. Citing Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) findings from 2024, the report said: If AI is designed and used primarily as a labour-substituting technology, in the long term, the declining employment share in sectors that are more AI intensive can diminish the overall economic effect of productivity gains.It stated that workers who lose their jobs to AI may be hired in sectors with lower productivity, which could result in job polarisation and widening income inequality.The UN warned that while productivity may increase in AI-intensive sectors, the aggregate productivity impact could be limited by slower productivity growth in labour-intensive sectors.The report recommended that governments promote human-complementary AI technologies through increased research and development funding, strategic public procurement and targeted tax incentives. Improving labour market opportunities and establishing clear career development pathways can mitigate the risk of brain drain, it stated.The UN also looked at where AI developments are taking place. The report notes that most of the leading semiconductor companies are from the US and other developed economies, with the US having around one-third of the top 500 supercomputers and more than half of overall computational performance, based on the TOP500 2024 supercomputer performance benchmarks. China is ranked second, with 80 of the top 500 supercomputers, although its total computational performance is less than one-tenth that of the US.The UN warned that most developing countries have limited capacities in AI hardware and infrastructure, which hinders their adoption and development of AI. It said this should raise concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities and the interest of governments to achieve autonomy in the development of technologies that are crucial for advancing national developmental goals.Read more stories about AI policyTechnology is changing and so should the civil service: The government has promised that AI will change policymaking but that means policymakers in the civil service will need to change too.Google and OpenAI target state laws in AI action plan: The federal government is developing plans for AI policy in the US. Stakeholders want a federal policy pre-empting state laws as a top strategic priority.

Valeriia Mitriakova/Getty ImagesLooking for advice on how to protect your home and office from cyberattacks? A good place to start is with the people who do this work every day on behalf of the US government.The folks at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a simple Cybersecurity Basics page that boils down the technical information in its four-volume Digital Identity Guidelines to a set of clear guidelines for small business owners and managers. The most recent guidelines were published in August 2024, and the agency is currently sifting through thousands of comments from security-minded professionals offering suggestions for the next edition. Also: I clicked on four sneaky online scams on purpose - to show you how they work(For those who are willing to dive into the full report, you'll find some good advice for IT pros and service providers in the "Passwords" section of Appendix A. This content will be especially helpful if you are trying to convince your IT department to stop forcing regular password changes.)For a simpler, more practical collection of guidelines, try the Secure Our World website, run by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). It's targeted at an audience of consumers without a technical background, which makes it a solid source of information you can share with friends and family to help them deal with common threats. Also: Stop paying for antivirus software. Here's why you don't need itI've gone through the latest versions of all these documents and compiled a list of seven rules to follow when it comes to passwords. 1. Make sure all your passwords are strong enough What makes a password strong? It's long enough a minimum of 15 characters, using the latest NIST guidelines, with 64 characters as a reasonable maximum password length.It's random, with a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols that are not found in a dictionary and don't include any part of your name or the name of the service they unlock.It's not easy to guess.Of all those factors, experts agree that length is the most important. In fact, the experts at NIST say that recent analyses of breached password databases show that having a longer password is far more important than trying to make it complex. Passphrases made up of three or more unrelated words separated by symbols and numbers can be effective as well. 2. Use a password manager The average person has dozens of passwords. If you have an active online life, you might have hundreds of credentials. No human can memorize even a handful of long, random, unique passwords. Nor should they have to! Install a password manager on every device and let it handle the work of creating long, unique, impossible-to-guess passwords and saving them in a secure, encrypted enclave. Also: The best password managers: Expert testedTechnically, a pen-and-paper notebook can do part of that job, albeit with a lot more friction. A software-based password manager, however, does so much more: it instantly creates truly random passwords, saves your credentials in an encrypted database, and syncs everything across multiple devices. The most important layer of protection, though, is one that isn't immediately obvious. Your password manager knows which domains are associated with a saved set of credentials and won't enter a password on a domain that isn't authorized. So if a skilled attacker crafts a phishing email that fools you into thinking it's from your bank or broker, and you click a link that goes to a fake domain, the password manager will refuse to enter your credentials. That one step will force you to stop and look more carefully at the message, which is the single most important anti-phishing step of all. 3. Never reuse a password It's a natural human instinct to have a favorite set of credentials (username and password) that you reuse on multiple sites. Yes, that makes things easier to remember, but it also ensures that a data breach at one site will give attackers access to that set of credentials, which they will in turn try on other sites that weren't affected by the breach. A good password manager should flag reused passwords and offer to create strong, unique replacements.Please note: Simply tacking an exclamation point or a number on the end of your old password doesn't qualify as creating a new password. Neither does creating a new variation of one of your commonly used passwords. 4. Avoid password hints The whole idea of a password hint is that it's made up of some word or name or date that is meaningful to you. By definition, that kind of password is easy to guess, and adding a password hint makes the job even easier for someone who wants to break into your accounts. The experts at NIST are adamant in their advice: People who manage secure online services absolutely should not use knowledge-based authentication hints (e.g., "What was the name of your first pet?") or security questions.The best password hint is four words: "Check your password manager." 5. Change default passwords One of the most insidious ways for attackers to break into a home or business network is to go through a device on that network, using vulnerabilities in its management interface. That could be your Wi-Fi router, for example, with its default password that's often just password. IP-based cameras and doorbells you install as part of a home security system are also possible entry points. If you have any of those devices on your network, replace those default passwords with more robust credentials. 6. Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible No matter how strong you make your passwords and how carefully you try to protect them from being compromised, stuff happens. In many cases, it's not even your fault if a firm managing an online service gets hacked and gives up your credentials. Also: What are passkeys? Experience the life-changing magic of going passwordlessThe most effective protection, by far, is to ensure that no one can sign in to your accounts on a new device unless they can provide a second form of identification, ideally using an authenticator app on a device you own. (Codes sent to your phone using SMS are an acceptable option, but they are at greater risk of being taken over by a determined attacker through a technique called SIM-jacking.) You don't have to 2FA all the things, but you should insist on a second factor for high-value services such as email and messaging, social media, bank accounts, and brokers. 7. Don't change your passwords unless you have to Experts agree that changing passwords regularly isn't necessary. In fact, organizations that require users to change their passwords for no reason are actually making their networks less secure. Why? Because people who are forced to change passwords regularly are likely to choose weak, easy-to-guess passwords. If you've done a solid job of choosing a strong and unique password, there's no need to change it under normal circumstances. Also:The best malware removal software: Expert tested and reviewedSo, when should you change your password?Obviously, you should replace a password if it's unacceptably weak or if it's a duplicate of one you use elsewhere. You should also change any password at the first hint that it's been compromised due to a data breach. That said, if your IT department or an online service insists on forcing a password change, you should do as they say. Just let your password manager create the longest, strongest password that meets their demands. This article was originally published on July 24, 2024, and last updated on April 1, 2025.Featured

Draining batteries too much can shorten their lifespan. Here's why - and what you should do about it.

On Saturday, April 5 the deadline for TikTok to be sold or be banned is due to come into force. Will the app close down again? And what will it mean?

Everyone on the internet has an opinion about how your "body count" affects your relationships. But ... More what does science have to say on the subject?gettyThe topic of sexual partners is something that sparks extremely heated debates in most social circles. Harsh opposing views can be heard on every side of the argument, and it does not seem like either side is going to change their mind any time soon.On one side, people with a more conservative view believe that keeping your body count as low as possible if youre not in a committed relationship ultimately improves the quality of your future relationship. Other people feel like they should be allowed to have as many partners as they choose without being judged by society.The number of sexual partners you have in your lifetime is one of the most personal aspects of your life. Ultimately, only you can decide what feels right for you. However, popular media and social discourse have turned this topic into a moral battleground, perpetuating myths that reinforce shame, fear and outdated stereotypes.Here are three common myths about how body count affects relationships.Myth 1: A High Body Count Damages RelationshipsIf youve gone down the dark rabbit hole of this topic, youve probably heard one or more podcast hosts refer to people, especially women, as somehow tainted if they have a high body count. The rhetoric pushed here is that someone with a high body count has less value and will either make a terrible partner or no one will want them in the first place.This belief is often fueled by cultural and religious norms rather than scientific evidence. While some people personally prefer partners with less sexual experience, there is no research proving that a high body count makes someone a bad partner. In fact, research suggests a much more nuanced relationship between premarital sexual experience and divorce rates.Women with very few or many partners before marriage face a higher risk of divorce, while those with moderate experience (3-9 partners) have the lowest risk. And while virgins do have the lowest risk overall, this number has declined significantly over time.This suggests that marrying a partner with a low body count does not guarantee a long-lasting relationship. More importantly, it challenges the idea that sexual experience alone determines relationship success. What matters far more are qualities like emotional intelligence, communication skills, compatibility and the ability to work through conflict.Myth 2: People With High Body Counts Dont Value IntimacyJust because someone comes into a relationship with significant sexual experience does not mean they view intimacy as unimportant. Someone with multiple prior partners is no less capable than others of forming deep connections in a committed relationship.At its core, intimacy is about emotional closeness, trust and vulnerability. A person with a high body count may, in fact, have developed a deeper understanding of intimacy through their experiences, learning what creates connection and what doesnt. They may have gained valuable insights into emotional availability, communication and mutual pleasure, which can enhance their ability to nurture a meaningful bond.This is not to say that having multiple partners might not affect your relationship with your future partner at all. The more people you experience a sexual relationship with, the more comparisons you might be inclined to make.If youve had former partners who excelled in certain areas of intimacy, you may be more likely to notice where your spouse falls short. A 2023 report from the Wheatley Institute found that individuals who had only ever been with their spouse reported higher sexual satisfaction and longer-lasting marriages. This may be because they have no basis for comparison, leading to greater contentment and appreciation within the relationship.However, when either or both partners do have experience to compare to, it also equips them to understand what works best for them, and gives them a chance to show their partners how to meet their needs. This creates an opportunity for healthy communication and can bring partners closer, rather than expecting the other person to just know what they like.Moreover, the idea that a person with a high body count is incapable of deep connection is rooted in outdated assumptions about sexuality and morality. People have different reasons for engaging in sex some may seek connection, others may explore their own desires and some may simply enjoy the experience. None of these motivations inherently diminish a persons capacity for love, emotional depth or long-term commitment.Myth 3: People With A High Body Count Cannot CommitA popular argument against having multiple partners before tying the knot is that your sense of commitment will be warped. People who push this viewpoint are under the assumption that having a large number of sexual partners renders you incapable of commitment.However, research does not support this claim. A 2023 study in Social Science Research found that while having multiple non-marital sexual partners is linked to lower short-term odds of marriage, this effect diminishes over time and has little impact on long-term commitment.In other words, early sexual experiences may influence when someone chooses to settle down, but they do not dictate whether they will be capable of maintaining a committed relationship in the future.Commitment is determined by a mindset, not a number. People with extensive sexual experience can be just as devoted and faithful as those with little or no experience.At its core, the idea that body count determines commitment, relationship success or personal worth is deeply flawed. People are not defined by the number of partners theyve had but by the way they approach love, trust and connection in their relationships.A persons ability to commit is shaped by their emotional readiness, communication skills and shared values with their partner not by a past tally of experiences.Moreover, the term body count itself carries a strong undercurrent of shame, particularly toward women. It reduces human relationships to a mere statistic and often reinforces outdated, sexist double standards.While men are frequently praised for their sexual experience, women with the same history are more likely to be judged or deemed less valuable. This language reflects a broader cultural issue of objectification one that equates a womans worth with her sexual past while ignoring the far more important qualities that make someone a loving, loyal and committed partner.Instead of focusing on arbitrary numbers, we should shift the conversation to what truly matters in relationships mutual respect, trust, emotional security and the ability to grow together. Whether someone enters a partnership with extensive experience or none at all, their past should not overshadow their present ability to build something meaningful.Is body count discourse a point of contention in your relationship? Take the Relationship Satisfaction Scale to learn how it could be affecting your bond.

What just happened? Intel has unveiled a new chapter in its branding journey, reintroducing the iconic "Intel Inside" slogan with a twist that reflects its evolving role in the global tech landscape. At the Intel Vision 2025 event in Las Vegas, the company launched its refreshed brand identity under the tagline, "That's the power of Intel Inside," signaling a return to its roots while embracing the impact of its technologies on individuals, businesses, and communities. The revival of "Intel Inside" is more than a nostalgic nod to the past; it is an effort to underscore Intel's presence in today's interconnected world.Brett Hannath, Intel's chief marketing officer, explained that the new branding encapsulates the company's belief in unlocking potential across all levels whether it be employees, customers, or partners. Hannath emphasized how Intel's innovations bridge personal empowerment with global influence.The original "Intel Inside" campaign, launched in 1991, was revolutionary for its time. It marked a turning point in tech marketing by shifting focus from targeting system designers to directly engaging consumers. While companies like Apple and Microsoft communicated with end-users about their software and hardware offerings, suppliers like Intel traditionally operated behind the scenes.The "Intel Inside" campaign changed that dynamic by making the processor a component previously invisible to most consumers a central selling point for PCs. With memorable advertising, a ubiquitous sticker on devices, and a catchy five-note jingle, Intel transformed itself into a household name.This co-branding strategy elevated Intel's visibility and fostered trust among consumers. PC makers prominently displayed the "Intel Inside" logo on their products, reassuring buyers of quality and reliability. As the PC market boomed throughout the 1990s, this campaign helped Intel solidify its dominance over competitors like AMD and Cyrix. // Related StoriesAlthough some argue that AMD has gained stronger brand recognition in recent years, Intel's legacy as a leader in PC processors remains firmly intact.Over time, "Intel Inside" evolved alongside technological advancements and shifting market priorities. In its early days, the campaign promoted Pentium and Celeron CPUs, which defined user experiences during the 1990s. By the early 2000s, Intel introduced its Centrino platform a combination of CPU, chipset, and wireless network adapter designed to enhance user experience through seamless integration.This move not only boosted Intel's financial performance but also marginalized smaller rivals. Later iterations of the campaign focused on performance tiers with products like Core i3, i5, and i7 processors, transitioning "Intel Inside" into more of a supporting role within Intel's broader branding ecosystem.Despite its continued presence on devices worldwide, "Intel Inside" gradually became overshadowed by other aspects of Intel's brand strategy that emphasized user experience over corporate identity. The launch of "That's the power of Intel Inside" seeks to restore focus on Intel's brand while tying it directly to modern ICT ubiquity.

In brief: AMD is continuing to see its fortunes rise in the consumer processor market as Intel struggles. According to a report on Amazon CPU sales for March 2025 in the United States, almost 8 out of every 10 units sold on the platform were from Team Red. Amazon's CPU sales figures for March, provided by TechEpiphany, reveal that AMD sold 31,600 processors last month, while Intel managed just 7,500. That translates to a 78% market share for AMD versus 21% for Intel.AMD's dominance is also reflected in revenue: it generated $7.8 million on the platform approximately 420% more than Intel's $1.5 million.AMD had a higher average selling price (ASP) as well, at $247, compared to Intel's $209. One key factor behind this was the $479 Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which was the best-selling processor of the month with over 6,000 units sold helping boost AMD's average significantly.It's noted that a few hundred Ryzen 9XX0X3D units are missing from the report, so AMD's dominance could have been even more convincing. // Related StoriesLooking at individual unit sales, the Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen 7 7800X3D took the second and third spots, respectively, with over 3,000 sales. Intel's highest CPU, the core i5-12400F, is in fourth.CPU ModelManufacturerCores/ThreadsPricePurchases (Last Month)AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3DAMD8C/16T$479.006k+AMD Ryzen 5 5500AMD6C/12T$83.103k+AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3DAMD8C/16T$399.003k+Intel Core i5-12400FIntel6C/12T$116.003k+AMD Ryzen 5 5600XAMD6C/12T$149.002k+AMD Ryzen 5 7500XAMD8C/16T$159.992k+AMD Ryzen 5 7600XAMD6C/12T$229.002k+AMD Ryzen 7 5800XAMD8C/16T$172.992k+AMD Ryzen 9 9900XAMD12C/24T$414.232k+Intel Core i7-12700KIntel12C/20T$234.001k+Intel Core i9-14900KIntel24C/32T$432.991k+AMD Ryzen 9 9950XAMD16C/32T$549.001k+AMD Ryzen 7 7700XAMD8C/16T$329.001k+Intel Core i9-12900KIntel16C/24T$319.001k+AMD Ryzen 9 7900XAMD12C/24T$357.541k+AMD Ryzen 7 5700GAMD8C/16T$171.991k+Intel Core i5-12600KFIntel10C/16T$157.00500+Intel Core i9-12900KFIntel16C/24T$269.99500+AMD Ryzen 5 8500GAMD6C/12T$143.00500+Intel Core Ultra 7 265KIntel20C/28T$336.58500+AMD Ryzen 5 5600GTAMD6C/12T$129.99500+AMD Ryzen 5 4500AMD6C/12T$79.00500+Intel Core i5-13600KFIntel14C/20T$199.00200+AMD Ryzen 5 8600GAMD6C/12T$188.96200+Intel Core i3-12100FIntel4C/8T$84.99200+AMD Ryzen 7 7700AMD8C/16T$309.00200+Intel Core i7-13700KFIntel16C/24T$299.00200+AMD Ryzen 9 7950XAMD16C/32T$548.99500+AMD Ryzen 9 5900XTAMD16C/32T$323.99500+AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAMD4C/8T$109.00200+Intel Core i3-14100FIntel4C/8T$90.0750+Intel Core i5-10400Intel6C/12T$129.9950+Intel Core i9-9900KFIntel8C/16T$295.0050+Intel Core i7-13700Intel16C/24T$319.9550+Intel Core i9-12900KSIntel16C/24T$404.4350+AMD will likely be pleased to see the Ryzen 7 9800X3D topping the chart as the best-selling CPU. There have been over 100 cases of the chip failing unexpectedly since it launched, mostly on Asrock motherboards and sometimes with signs of burn or electrical damage.AMD responded to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D issues this week. It said the problems were down to memory compatibility issues for processors failing to complete POST, even though most of the affected chips did initially boot and ran for anywhere from half an hour to several months before dying. There was also the physical damage, which isn't a typical symptom of memory compatibility issues.March was also a good month for AMD in terms of Steam survey CPU results. The company's share in the processor section jumped 6.5% as Intel fell by the same margin. This means 37.6% of participants in Valve's survey now use an AMD CPU, marking a record high.

With the release of iOS 18.4, CarPlay users were set to experience new features to improve the in-car experience. Unfortunately, according to AutoEvolution, many users face a series of frustrating bugs following the software release.A recent Reddit thread highlights several issues. Many iPhone users report various CarPlay connectivity problems following the update to iOS 18.4. One of the most common issues involves the integration with the instrument cluster, where CarPlay no longer displays Now Playing information on the cars gear cluster.Recommended VideosConnectivity problems are significant, with some users stating that their iPhones are connecting and disconnecting repeatedly when using wireless CarPlay. Others have mentioned that it often requires multiple attemptsplugs and unplugs or even car restartingbefore CarPlay successfully connects.RelatedNumerous vehicle models have reported these issues, including those from Honda, Mazda, Volkswagen, Audi, and Nissan. Some users noted that Volkswagen customer service has acknowledged the problems associated with iOS 18.4 but pointed out that Apple needs to fix them.Standard troubleshooting steps such as device reboots and system resets have not resolved the problems for many users. These issues appear to be directly linked to the iOS 18.4 update, as affected users have indicated that everything functioned properly prior to installing this version.Ironically, iOS 18.4 was meant to introduce several improvements to CarPlay, including support for a third row of app icons on vehicles with larger displays, integration of sports apps, and the ability to select a default navigation app other than Apple Maps for EU users.Apple has not officially acknowledged these problems or announced when a fix might be available.Apple released iOS 18.4 earlier this week. In addition to the new CarPlay features mentioned above, this update allows users in the European Union to change their default navigation app. Because of this, Siri voice commands can work seamlessly with third-party apps like Google Maps. This change was made to comply with the EUs Digital Markets Act.The iOS update also includes new emojis and various other improvements.Editors Recommendations

Love crossword puzzles but dont have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? Thats what The Mini is for!A bite-sized version of the New York Times well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isnt always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt.Recommended VideosJust like ourWordle hints and Connections hints, were here to help with The Mini today if youre stuck and need a little help.RelatedBelow are the answers for the NYT Mini crossword today.New York TimesAcrossElphabas broom in Wicked or Aladdins lamp in Aladdin PROPThorough investigation PROBEMetaphor for an unquestioning rule-follower ROBOTHarvard and Yale, for two IVIES___ Wearhouse (department store chain) MENSDownDefinitively determine PROVEHerald of spring ROBINOrchestral reeds OBOESKibble nibblers PETSFastidiously proper PRIMEditors Recommendations

Andrew Cunningham and Lee Hutchinson have spent decades of their lives with Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Wheel of Time books, and they previously brought that knowledge to bear as they recapped each first season episode and second season episode of Amazon's WoT TV series. Now we're back in the saddle for season 3along with insights, jokes, and the occasional wild theory.These recaps won't cover every element of every episode, but they will contain major spoilers for the show and the book series. We'll do our best to not spoil major future events from the books, but there's always the danger that something might slip out. If you want to stay completely unspoiled and haven't read the books, these recaps aren't for you.New episodes of The Wheel of Time season 3 will be posted for Amazon Prime subscribers every Thursday. This write-up covers episode six, "The Shadow in the Night," which was released on April 3.Lee: Welcome to Tanchico! In Tanchico, everyone wears veils almost all of the time, except when theyre flirting in bars. Mat gets the most fabulous veil of all because hes Mat and he deserves it. Even Nynaeve has a good time! And I guess now we know all about the hills of Tanchico. Like alllllllllllllllllll about them.Andrew: Credit to Robert Jordan for mostly resisting one of the bizarre tics of post-Tolkien fantasy fiction: I'm not going to say the books never take a break to give us the full text of an in-universe song. But it does so pretty sparingly, if memory serves. But there are plenty of songs referenced, often with a strong implication that they are too lewd or horny to reprint in full.Not so in the show! Where Elayne sings a song about "The Hills of Tanchico," bringing the house down for what appears to be... several hours (they're breasts, the hills are breasts). I don't mind this scene, actually, but it does go on.But more important than the song is who is accompanying Elayne, a book character who has been gone so long that we weren't actually sure he was coming back. Who makes their long-awaited return in Tanchico, Lee? Thom Merrilin finally shows back up. Nice hat. Wonder who else might end up wearing it. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Thom Merrilin finally shows back up. Nice hat. Wonder who else might end up wearing it. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Lee: Thats right, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, stomp your feet and bring your hands together for everybodys favorite gleeman, seemingly back from the dead and rocking a strangely familiar hat: Its Thom Merrilin! (Applause roars.)Viewers who havent read the books can be forgiven for not immediately falling out of their chairs when Thom shows back up, but to book readers, his absence has been keenly felt. Believe it or not, Merrilin is an A-string player in the books, spending a tremendous amount of time front and center interacting with the main POV characters. He vanishes for a bit just as he does in the show, but he doesnt stay gone nearly as long as hes been gone here.Im glad hes back, and it bodes well for our Tanchico crewunlike them, Thom is an actual-for-real adult, whos been places and knows things. He also provides fantastic accompaniment to Elaynes karaoke adventure. Elayne wins the crowd by singing about tittays. Thom accompanies because it's a subject in which he is apparently well-versed. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Elayne wins the crowd by singing about tittays. Thom accompanies because it's a subject in which he is apparently well-versed. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: The entire Tanchico crew is pretty strong right nowMat and Min are pals again, show-Nynaeve is a version of the character who other characters in the story are allowed to like, and now Thom is back! It'd be a rollicking good time, if it weren't for these sadistic Black Ajah Aes Sedai and the Forsaken psychopath Moghedien stalking around, mind-controlling people, leaving holes in heads, and trying to find a Seanchan-esque collar that can subdue and control Rand.We're entering a stretch of the story where the Forsaken spend as much time fighting with each other as they do with Rand and our heroes, which explains why the powerful villains don't simply kill our heroes the minute they find each other. Moghedien is in full creep mode through this whole episode, and I gotta say, she is unsettling. Moghedien, doing her thing. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Moghedien, doing her thing. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Lee: Yeah, watching Moghedien screw with the Black sisters food and stuff was particularly disturbing. The lady has no filterand fantastic powers of persuasion. We get another clear look at just how ludicrously overpowered the Forsaken are compared to our present-day channelers when Moggy straight-up runs "sudo give me the bracelet" on Nynaeves and Elaynes brainsmuch like Rhavins Im-your-favorite-uncle routine, her Power-backed trickery is devastating and completely inescapable (though Nynaeve apparently does resist just a teeny tiny bit.)And although there are still more doings to discuss in Tanchicothe quest to discover the bracelets-n-collars is heating up!the fact that all of these episodes are an hour long means there are so many other things to discuss. Like, for example, the return of another familiar face, in the form of our long-absent whistling super-darkfriend Padan Fain. Dark doings are afoot in the Two Rivers!Andrew: Fain in the books never quite rises to the level of Big Bad so much as he lurks around the periphery of the story practically the whole entire time, popping up to cause trouble whenever it's the least convenient for our heroes. The show does a good job of visually representing how he's begun to corrupt the regiment of Whitecloaks he has embedded himself in, without ever actually mentioning it or drawing much attention to it. You know you're a bad guy when even Eamon Valda is like "uh is this guy ok?" (As in the books, the show distinguishes between Whitecloaks who are antagonists because they genuinely believe what they say they believe about Aes Sedai "witches," and ones who are simply straight-up Darkfriends. Funny how often they end up working toward the same goals, though.)Meanwhile, Perrin, Alanna, and friends recover from last week's raid of the Whitecloak camp. I keep needing to recalibrate my expectations for what Plot Armor looks like on this show, because our main characters get grievously wounded pretty regularly, but the standards are different on a show where everyone can apparently cast Cure Wounds as a cantrip. Alanna walks the Cauthon sisters through some rudimentary Healing, and Alanna (with barely disguised glee and/or interest) accidentally interrupts an escalation in Perrin and Falie's relationship when she goes to Heal him later.Are we still finding show-Faile charming? I did think it was funny when that goofy county-fair caricature of Mat holding the Horn of Valere made another appearance. Still not hating Faile, which feels surprising. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Still not hating Faile, which feels surprising. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Lee: I am definitely still finding show-Faile charming, which continually surprises me because shes possibly the worst character in the entire series. In the books, Jordan writes Faile as an emotionally abused emotional abuser who doesnt believe Perrin loves her if hes not screaming at her and/or hitting her; in the show, shes a much more whole individual with much more grown-up and sane ideas about how relationships work. Perrin and Faile have something going on that is, dare I say it, actually sweet and romantic!I never thought Id be on any team other than Team Throw-Faile-Down-The-Well, but here we are. Im rooting for her and Perrin.When it comes to Alannas healing at the hands of the Cauthon sisters, I had to sit with that one for a moment and make a conscious decision. The books make it clear that Healingeven the abbreviated first-aid version the current-day Aes Sedai practice, to say nothing of the much fancier version from the Age of Legendsis complicated. Doing it wrong can have horrific consequences (in fact, doing healing wrong on purpose is the basis for many of the Yellow-turned-Black sisters attacks with the One Power). And these wildlings (to borrow a book term) are able to just intuit their way into making it happen?We know that new channelers frequently have uncontrolled bouts of blasting out the One Power in response to moments of stress or great needin fact, weve seen that happen many times in the show, including at the beginning of this episode when Lil Liandrin force-blasts her rapist-husband into the wall. So the groundwork is there for the Cauthon girls to do what theyre doing. Its just a question of how much one is willing to let the show get away with.I decided Im good with itits the necessary thing to move the story forward, and so Im not gonna complain about it. Where did you land? Fain returns, bringing with him the expected pile of Trollocs. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Fain returns, bringing with him the expected pile of Trollocs. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: Yeah, I made essentially the same decision. Conscious use of the One Power at all, even the ability to access it consistently, is something that requires patience and training, and normally you couldn't talk a 12-year-old through Healing as Alanna does here any more than you could talk a 12-year-old through performing successful field surgery. But training takes time, and showing it takes time, and time is one thing the show never has much of. The show also really likes to dramatically injure characters without killing them! So here we are, speed-running some things.This leaves us with two big threads left to address: Rand's and Egwene's. Egwene is still trying to learn about the World of Dreams from the Aiel Wise Ones (I was wrong, by the wayshe admits to lying about being Aes Sedai here and it passes almost without comment), and is still reeling from realizing that Rand and Lanfear are Involved. And Rand, well. He's not going mad, yet, probably, but he spends most of the episode less-than-fully-in-control of his powers and his actions.Lee: It comes to a head when Rand and Egwene have long, difficult conversation over exactly whos been sleeping with whom, and whyand then that conversation is interrupted when Sammael kicks the door down and starts swinging his big fancy One Power Hammer.Theres a bit of channeling by Aviendha and Egwene, but then Rand grasps the Source and Sammael just kind of stops being a factor. Entranced by the Powerand by the black corruption pulsing through itRand straight-up destroys Sammael without apparent thought or effort, borrowing a bit of the method from the way Rand pulls off a similar feat in book 3, with a ludicrous amount of lightning and ceiling-collapsing.Its one of the few times so far that Rand has actually cut loose with the One Power, and I like it when we get to actually see (rather than just hear about) the enormity of Rands strength as a channeler. But this casual exercise of extreme power is not without a cost. Rand does a 360 no-scope lightning hit. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Rand does a 360 no-scope lightning hit. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: We've observed a couple of times that Rand and Egwene in the books had long since given up on romantic involvement by this point in the story, and here we see why the show held back on thatthis confrontation is more exciting than a quiet drift, and it puts a cap on several "Rand is not the simple lad you once knew" moments sprinkled throughout the episode.And, yes, one of them is Rand's inadvertent (if sadly predictable) killing of an Aiel girl he had forged a bond with, and his desperate, fruitless, unsavory attempt to force her back to life. Rand is simultaneously coming to grips with his destiny and with the extent to which he has no idea what he is doing, and both things are already causing pain to the people around him. And as you and I both know, book-Rand has counterproductive and harmful reactions to hurting people he cares about.The attack here is partly an invention of the show and partly a synthesis of a few different book events, but Forsaken coming at Rand directly like this is generally not a thing that happens much. They usually prefer to take up positions of power in the world's various kingdoms and only fight when cornered. All of this is to say, I doubt this is the last we see of Sammael or his Thor-looking One Power hammer, but the show is more than willing to go its own way when it wants to.Lee: Yeah, Rand doing saidin-CPR on Rhuarcs poor little too-cute-not-to-be-inevitably-killed granddaughter is disturbing as helland as you say, its terrifying not just because Rand is forcing a corpse to breathe with dark magic, but also because of the place Rand seems to go in his head when hes doing it. Its been an oft-repeated axiom that male channelers inevitably go madis this it? (Fortunately, nonot yet, at least. Or is it? No! Maybe.)We close the episode out on the place where I think were going to probably be spending a lot of time very soon (especially based on the title of next weeks episode, which I wont spoil but which anyone can look up if they wish): back at the Two Rivers, with the power-trio of Bain and Chiad and Faile scouting out the old Waygate just outside of town, and watching Trollocs swarm out of it. This is not a great sign for Perrin and friends.So weve got two episodes left, all of our chess pieces seem to have been set down more or less into the right places for a couple of major climactic events. I think were going out with a bangor with a couple of them. What are you thinking as we jump into the final couple of episodes? Alsera fell victim to one of the classic child character blunders: being too precociously adorable to live. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Alsera fell victim to one of the classic child character blunders: being too precociously adorable to live. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: I am going to reiterate our annual complaint that 10-episode seasons would be better for this show's storytelling than the 8-episode seasons we're getting, but because the show's pace is always so breathless and leaves room for just a few weird character-illuminating diversions like "The Hills of Tanchico," or quiet heart-to-hearts like we get between Rand and Moiraine, or between Perrin and Faile. The show's good enough at these that I wish we had time to pump the brakes more often.But I will say, if we end up roughly where book 4 does, the show doesn't feel as rushed as the first two seasons did. Not that its pacing has settled down at allyou and I benefit immensely from being book readers, and always being rooted in some sense of what is happening and who the characters are that the show can't always convey with perfect clarity. But I am thinking about what still needs to happen, and how much time there is left, and thinking "yeah, they're going to be able to get there" instead of "how the hell are they going to get there??"How are you feeling? Is season 3 hitting for you like it is for me? I know I'm searching around every week to see if there's been a renewal announcement for season 4 (not yet).Lee: I think its the best season so far, and any doubts I had during seasons one and two are at this point long gone. Im all in on this particular turning of the Wheel, and the show finally feels like it's found itself. To not renew it at this point would be criminal. You listening, Bezos? May the Shadow take you if you yank the rug out from under us now!Andrew: Yeah, Jeffrey. I know for a fact you've spent money on worse things than this. Credit: WoT Wiki