(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCThe UFC and Alex Pereira are making good use of the downtime at the end of 2024. With the promotion on a three-week break from events, the conversation around many of the UFCs top stars hasnt stopped.Pereira is arguably the biggest active star, and hes launched himself into the forefront of the conversation during the UFCs downtime. Pereira ignited the MMA community earlier in the week with a simple post that indicated his next fight would not be against No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev.No one is entirely sure that was the point of Pereiras post, but the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion didnt give an effort to convince a legion of critics otherwise. On Friday, Pereira kept the intrigue going with a video.According to Pereira, hed just left a meeting in Las Vegas, and he has big news on the way. Here is a look at the video which was posted by Full Send MMA.MORE FOR YOUPereira was smiling from ear to ear in the video and even asked one of his compatriots if he should reveal the news that has him so happy. Continuing the tease, Pereira left the cliffhanger that has me and others in the MMA community speculating about his next move.You have to love and appreciate the champions understanding of the game and how it benefits him to generate intrigue around his next moves.Everyone knows the most appropriate fight Pereira could have is a scrap against Ankalaev. As I mentioned in another story, Ankalaev is the only No. 1 contender in the UFC who hasnt had a shot at the current champion or doesnt have a fight scheduled against the reigning titleholder.Even still, rumors have begun to circulate about a potential fight between Pereira and middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev. Some were surprised when former champion Sean Strickland was given the opportunity to rematch current champion Dricus du Plessis over Chimaev, following his dominant submission win over Robert Whittaker.The UFC seems very interested in having Chimaev get a title shot.Chimaev is a naturally big guy who could probably make light heavyweight with very little problem. Stylistically, he would appear to be someone suited to give Pereira a tough time because of his wrestling prowess.However, we havent seen how Chimaev will perform at 205 pounds, especially not against arguably the most dangerous striker in mixed martial arts. Perhaps thats all just a collaborative tease from the UFC and Pereira, and the plan is as simple and straightforward as the champion defending against Ankalaev.Maybe the huge surprise UFC President Dana White teased on December 14 is some sort of crossover fight between Pereira and someone like Jake Paul in boxing? That would potentially qualify as something no one saw comingbesides me, of course.We may find out the truth soon.

Beware of getting snowed by someone participating in the snowmanning dating trend. (Photo: Getty)gettyIf you find a new sexual partner this Winter Holiday season, take appropriate precautions. Beware of getting snowed by someone participating in the snowmanning dating trend. Otherwise, you may be left feeling out in the cold or, worse yet, left with something that you definitely dont want: a sexually transmitted infection.The Definition Of SnowmanningNow, snowmanning is not about hooking up with a real snowman or sporting a corncob pipe and a broomstick in your hand while in the bedroom with someone. Instead, snowmanning is when someone new quickly gets all hot and heavy with you during the Winter season only to have all of his or her interest suddenly melt away soon thereafter. In the extreme case, you could go from hardly knowing a person to roasting chestnuts on the open fire with him or her, so to speak, to then getting the frosty treatment, all within the course of 24 hours. In fact, snowmanning could lead to the other person completely disappearing as in ghosting or even cloaking you.Casual Sex May Increase During The Winter Holiday SeasonPeople may be more likely to engage in casual sex during the Winter Holiday season. (Photo: Getty)gettyFolks at eHarmony first popularized this not-so-harmonious term back in 2019. This was based in part on a casual observation: that people may be more likely to engage in casual sex during the Winter Holiday season. That observation has been supported by results from the Hometown Holiday Hook-Up Survey conducted by Everlywell, a health-testing company based in Austin, Texas. You could say that this survey of 850 singles, ranging from 18 to 44 years of age caught the eyes of the casual viewer. Nearly 60% of the respondents indicated that they plan to have casual sex when home for the holidays this year, and 43% reported having more casual sex when home for the Holidays than the rest of the year.There are a number of reasons why casual sex encounters may increase during the Winter Holidays:The cold weather: You know how that Winter Wonderland song goes, Later on we'll conspire as we dream by the fire? Well, cuddling for warmth by the fire can lead to other stuff.The Holidays can be stressful: Ive covered for Forbes previously the different ways that the Holiday Season can be stressful. Being up in arms against your family members, the year-end crunch in your job or shopping pressures can send you running into the arms of someone else.The Holidays can be a lonely time: There are plenty of Holiday songs about loneliness, ranging from Christmas is the Saddest Day of the Year to that classic Blue Christmas. Being single when couples around you are whooping it up for the Holidays can be tough. Even having a relationship going into the Holiday season doesnt guarantee that you wont be lonely or even still in a relationship due to the whole Scrooging trend that Ive described.Being in a different location: Traveling for the Holidays may put you temporarily in a different less familiar location, which you may leave you feeling a bit alienated but also at the same time among new people in a place where may feel you have less accountability.Alcohol: Guess what? Holidays parties can have lots of alcohol. And were not talking about rubbing alcohol. Heres another shocker, alcohol can lower your inhibition and impair your judgement. Who would have thunk it?Holiday celebrations: Even without the alcohol, Holiday Parties themselves can bring new people together in different configurations. An innocent game of Twister, for example, can bring some interesting twists, so to speak.The Emotional Risks of SnowmanningCasual sex may be perfectly fine if all parties involved know the deal and have matched shared expectations. As has been said, happiness can equal reality minus expectations. Problems arise, though, when one side is expecting more than the other. For example, if you think youve met someone potentially for the long haul but to that person you are nothing but a truck stop, there could be emotional fallout on your part, ranging from disappointment to maybe even anxiety or depression.Casual sex may be perfectly fine if all parties know the deal and have matched shared expectations. ... [+] Problems arise when one side is expecting more than the other. (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesMORE FOR YOUThe Physical Risks of SnowmanningBesides your head and your heart, snowmanning could put other parts of your body at risk, including the body parts that got you in trouble in the first place: your genitals. Casual sex can put you at greater risk for a range of different sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhoa, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, viral hepatitis, herpes, HIV and human papillomavirus infections. These are gifts that unfortunately may keep giving. You can also find yourself in physical danger if the other person is prone to violence or different types of risky behavior.Take The Proper PrecautionsSo, even if you are down with someone who may say, Let's run and we'll have some fun now, before I melt away," you may want to take the following precautions before opening yourself up to snowmanning or any kind of casual sex for that matter:Get to know the person and his or her history as much as possible first: Knowing the other persons real name will certainly help. For example, that will give you a name to shout should you somehow be inclined to do so at some point during the night. But its usually better to know much more than that, such as the persons background and sexual risk history.Be clear about expectations: Make sure you have frank conversations about what you want, what you really, really want. And in this case, frank dont mean discussing hot dogs.Think before you act: Lets face it. Your genitals are not always great at long-term thinking. When considering casual sex, realize what you are getting yourself into and be cognizant of the risks. Also, ask yourself whether the anticipated momentary pleasure is worth the potential risk.Use barrier protection like condoms: Birth control pills and other contraceptive approaches that do not provide a physical barrier between both of your naughty bits will not protect you against STIs.Share STI test results: Dont rely on appearances. Theres no such thing as looks like he or she doesnt have an STI. The only way to tell with any certainty is to get yourselves tested for the different possible STIs before any sexual contact.Tell friends about where you are going: You may not be comfortable letting others know that you are hopping into bed with some random person you met at Costco. But things could get even more uncomfortable if something were to go wrong and no one knew where you were.Finally, keep the big picture and long game in mind. Dont put yourself at unnecessary risk for snowmanning or STIs just because you are feeling lonely, bored, anxious or stressed momentarily during the Holiday season. Instead, keep the big picture and long game in mind and your head clear. Dont allow your judgment to get impaired with too much wine, spirits, bourbon-filled fruitcake or any other substances without proper safety nets, such as having your friends around protecting you. This way you may be able to better tell whether the person you are sidling up with is up to snow good.

Google on Friday proposed possible remedies to resolve an antitrust case over its search business.Last month, the DOJ suggested that the judge force Google to sell its Chrome browser.Judge Amit Mehta is expected to rule on the final remedies by August 2025.Google on Friday proposed limitations to its search partnerships as a potential remedy to resolve antitrust violations in its search business.The proposal would allow Google to continue partnering with third-party companies like Apple in revenue-sharing deals that make Google the default search engine on their devices, unlike the Justice Department's proposal. However, Google's proposal would make the deals non-exclusive, the company said in its filing."We don't propose these changes lightly," Google said in a blog post about the proposal. "They would come at a cost to our partners by regulating how they must go about picking the best search engine for their customers. And they would impose burdensome restrictions and oversight over contracts that have reduced prices for devices and supported innovation in rival browsers, both of which have been good for consumers."Last month, the Justice Department and a group of states asked Judge Amit Mehta to force Google to sell its Chrome browser to resolve the case. They also asked that Google be stopped from entering default search agreements with Apple and other companies and that Google should open its search engine results to competitors.Industry experts previously told Business Insider that selling Chrome off would open up the browser market and would likely be cheered on by search rivals and advertisers, though it remains unclear how a possible Chrome spinoff might work.Both sides will present arguments for their proposals at a hearing scheduled for April. The judge is expected to rule on the final remedies by August.Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs, previously said the company intends to appeal the judge's ruling, potentially delaying a final decision by several years.Representatives for the Justice Department's antitrust division did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Genshin Impact immerses you in the vast world of Teyvat, where you embark on a journey to explore its seven nations: Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, Natlan, and Snezhnaya. Each nation features multiple sub-regions and side areas to explore, offering breathtaking scenery and numerous treasure-filled chests.

Netflix has been on a roll releasing shows based on popular video game franchises, producing excellent shows such as Castlevania, The Witcher, Tomb Raider, and even Arcane, based on the long-enduring MOBA League of Legends. With the source material being a multiplayer with little story to be found while playing, its production came as a shock to fans, but most shocking of all was the sheer quality of the show.

Sega COO and recently appointed president Shuji Utsumi has said that the publisher is considering a Netflix-esque gaming subscription service for its games. The gaming industry has been transitioning to a more streaming-esque service, and Sega appears to be considering the same thing. Many gaming companies have also transitioned to providing games via a subscription service, as seen with Microsoft and Sony's own services.

Pokmon Go is hosting its yearly December Community Weekend event, allowing any players who missed out on previous Community Days throughout 2024 to catch up and get another chance at finding any shines they may have missed.The event features every Pokmon that was part of a 2024 Community Day and Community Day Classic. There are even 2023 Community Day Pokmon up for grabs as part of 2 km eggs.The event takes place on Sunday, Dec. 21, and Saturday, Dec. 22, and the spawns will go on throughout both days from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., but from 2-5 p.m. each day, there will be set featured Pokmon available at a higher rate, allowing you to try hunting specific ones easier.Below, we list all the available spawns for the Pokmon Go December 2024 Community Weekend event, along with the available bonuses.Pokmon Go December 2024 Community Day Pokmon listThe following Pokmon will be available during the Community Day weekend. All have the chance to be shiny and you can see what they all look like throughout the rest of this guide.PokmonDayBellsproutSaturdayChanseySaturdayGoomySaturdayRowletSaturdayLittenSaturdayBounsweetSaturdayMankeySundayPonytaSundayGalarian PonytaSundaySewaddleSundayTynamoSundayPopplioSundayPorygonBoth days (rare spawn)CyndaquilBoth days (rare spawn)BagonBoth days (rare spawn)BeldrumBoth days (rare spawn)SlowpokeBoth days (2 km eggs)Galarian SlowpokeBoth days (2 km eggs)PoliwagBoth days (2 km eggs)TogepiBoth days (2 km eggs)WooperBoth days (2 km eggs)Paldean WooperBoth days (2 km eggs)TimburrBoth days (2 km eggs)AxewBoth days (2 km eggs)ChespinBoth days (2 km eggs)FennekinBoth days (2 km eggs)FroakieBoth days (2 km eggs)GrubbinBoth days (2 km eggs)NoibatBoth days (2 km eggs)Saturday Community Day Pokmon spawnsThe following Pokmon will be the focused spawns from 2-5 p.m. in your local time on Saturday, Dec. 21:BellsproutChanseyGoomyRowletLittenBounsweetSunday Community Day Pokmon spawnsThe following Pokmon will be the focused spawns from 2-5 p.m. in your local time on Sunday, Dec. 22:MankeyPonytaGalarian PonytaSewaddleTynamoPopplioCommunity Day Classic Pokmon spawnsThese Pokmon will spawn on either day, with a heightened chance to find them in the last ten minutes of each hour between 2-5 p.m. in your local time:PorygonCyndaquilBagonBeldum2023 Community Day 2 km egg PokmonPokmon from the 2023 Community Days will be available from 2 km eggs:SlowpokeGalarian SlowpokePoliwagTogepiWooperPaldean WooperTimburrAxewChespinFennekinFroakieGrubbinNoibatDecember 2024 Community Weekend special movesEvolving any of these Pokmon from Saturday, Dec. 21, at 9 a.m. until Sunday, Dec. 22, at 9 p.m. in your local time will give them the following special moves:Poliwhirl Poliwrath: CounterPoliwhirl Politoed: Ice BeamWeepinbell Victreebel: Magical LeafPonyta Rapidash: Wild ChargeGalarian Ponyta Galarian Rapidash: Wild ChargeSlowpoke Slowbro or Slowking: SurfGalarian Slowpoke Galarian Slowbro or Galarian Slowking: SurfQuilava Typhlosion: Blast BurnChansey Blissey: Wild ChargeTogetic Togekiss: Aura SphereWooper Quagsire: Aqua TailShelgon Salamence: OutrageMetang Metagross: Meteor MashPorygon2 Porygon-Z: Tri AttackGurdurr Conkeldurr: Brutal SwingSwadloon Leavanny: Shadow ClawEeletrik Eelektross: Volt SwitchFraxure Haxorus: Breaking SwipeQuilladin Chesnaught: Frenzy PlantDelphox Braixen: Blast BurnFrogadier Greninja: Hydro CannonSliggoo Goodra: Thunder PunchNoibat Noivern: BoomburstDartrix Decidueye: Frenzy PlantTorracat Incineroar: Blast BurnBrionne Primarina: Hydro CannonGrubbin Charjabug: Volt SwitchCharjabug Vikavolt: Volt SwitchSteenee Tsareena: High Jump KickMankey Primeape: Rage FistPrimeape Annihilape: Rage FistPaldean Wooper Clodsire: Mega HornDont forget to evolve your Pokmon featured in 2023 and 2024 Community Days during December #PokemonGOCommunityDay! pic.twitter.com/VGPJs4bYB1 Pokmon GO (@PokemonGoApp) December 16, 2024December 2024 Community Day bonuses and perksAlmost all of these bonuses will be available from 2-5 p.m. in your local time on both days:Doubled Stardust for catching PokmonDoubled XP for catching Pokmon1/2 hatch distance for eggs placed into Incubators during the eventDoubled candy for catching PokmonDoubled chance for level 31+ trainers to get XL candy from catching PokmonIncense lasts three hoursLure Modules lasts three hoursOne additional special tradeStardust cost halved for tradingThe trade-based bonuses will be active from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in your local time.

If you're reading this article, chances are you've lost your iPhone and googled in search of help. I feel your pain. You don't know whether you left it at the restaurant after dinner, whether it was stolen, or whether it's hiding between your couch cushions. Worse yet, if your iPhone is set to silent, you can't even call it to find it. There is a way to force it to make noise, though, no matter what settings are enabled: You just need to ping it. What does it mean to "ping" an iPhone?Depending on how involved you are with iPhones and Apple products, you may or may not be familiar with pinging. It's not Apples failed attempt to turn iTunes into a social media platform (yes, that really happened)I'm talking about making your iPhone play a high-pitched tone, no matter where it happens to be. Pinging is the preferred method for finding a missing iPhone in your immediate area because it doesnt matter if the phone is on silent or not. Plus, we dont always have access to another phone to call ours in these types of emergencies. Unless youre with a friend, or you have the nerve to ask a stranger to use theirs, you cant call your phone without your phone. So, pinging it is. Apple makes it easy for those in the Apple ecosystem to ping their iPhones. In fact, it offers three different methods for doing so. Check out all three below, and pick one the next time your iPhone goes missing. How to ping an iPhone using Find MyThe Find My app isnt just good for pinging iPhones. Since it tracks the location of many of your Apple products, you can likely see the phone on the map as well. After jumping into Find My, you might be able to tell where the phone is without needing to ping it at all. However, if you already know your iPhone is in your house, you just dont know where, thats where pinging comes in handy. If you have an Apple device connected to the same Apple ID as your iPhone, you can launch Find My there. Just search for "Find My" on either your Mac or iPad to open the app. If you don't have a connected Apple device with you, you can log in to icloud.com and choose Find My from here. Either way, choose your iPhone from the list, and tap Play Sound to ping it. (If you're using the Find My app on Mac, you'll need to right-click your iPhone or click the (i) that appears on map in order to find this option.) At first, your iPhone will simply vibrate. After a few seconds, however, it will begin to play a high-pitched sound. This sound will continue to play until your iPhone is foundor you stop the sound through Find Myso keep that in mind.Note: If you're a part of a "Family Sharing" group, one of your family members can actually ping your iPhone for you. Family members can see the connected devices of all other members of the groupeven if they don't have the device's location. Following the same steps, they can select your iPhone from the list, then choose Play Sound. How to ping an iPhone with your Apple WatchIf you have an Apple Watch, you can use it to ping your iPhone. Its certainly much faster to tap a button on your watch instead of reaching for Find My, so, if you have one of Apples wearables, I recommend you use it first. The option to ping your iPhone lives in your Apple Watchs Control Center. To access it, press the side button on your watch. (If running an older version of watchOS, swipe up from the bottom of your watch face). Either way, tap the button that features an iPhone with sound waves. This will ping the iPhone, but only for a few seconds, unlike Find Mys never-ending ping. Theres a hidden feature to this Apple Watch button, though. If you hold it down instead of tapping it, your iPhones LED will flash, as well. That way, if its speaker is a bit muffled, you can also rely on the flash to help locate your phone. How to ping an iPhone using SiriIf you dont have an Apple Watch, Siri is another quick way to find a lost iPhone (or anything, really). Just fire up Siri on one of your connected Apple devices, and ask it to find the device youre looking for. For example, you could ask Siri on your Mac to ping your iPhone, or you could ask your iPad to ping your Mac.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.If you walk into an Apple Store today, an employee will happily sell you a new pair of AirPods Max for $549. That's a big ask for any consumer-grade wireless headphones, even with the "Apple tax" that comes with the AirPods name. What's most egregious to me, however, is that money you spend today gets you an arguably worse overall experience than Apple's previous AirPods Max generation. New does not mean betterThere are actually two different models of AirPods Max, although it's quite difficult to tell them apart. The latest model, which Apple released in September, hardly changes a thing from the originals, which dropped at the end of 2020. The only advertised differences are a few new color options, and, more importantly, the addition of USB-C, replacing the Lightning port on the original models. That's a much-needed change that comes as Apple ditches its proprietary Lightning port for USB-C on its suite of products. Other than that, however, these headphones are effectively the same: They pair the same way, have the same (excellent) sound quality, and are compatible with the same Spatial Audio features. If you're a wireless-first person, you won't notice a difference, unless you go to charge the headphones.That changes if you're someone who likes to use their AirPods Max to their devices via wired connection, though. As reported by 9to5Mac, you cannot connect your USB-C AirPods Max to your iPhone, Mac, iPad, or any other device of your choosing. It appears that, for these headphones, when Apple says wireless, they mean wireless. It's not so shocking if you're coming from another wireless-only pair of headphones, but it is jarring for those of us with a first-gen AirPods Max. (I know it is for me.) These models do support a wired connection, so long as you use a Lighting to 3.5mm audio cable. Wires still have a place in 2024Again, you might not see the big deal if you're a wireless-only person. But, to me, it's the principle: The "new" AirPods Max loses a featurea useful featurefrom the original AirPods Max, for seemingly no reason. That Lighting to 3.5mm audio cable means you can use your AirPods Max with devices that require a wired connection, like a record player or a live audio interface. It's also required if you want to listen to lossless music in Apple Music, since Bluetooth has a limit to the quality you can transmit over. (That said, Apple says the Lightning to 3.5mm cable can't be truly lossless, so you still need a dedicated wired headphone for true lossless.) What's more, the original AirPods Max are usually much cheaper than the newest option. As of this article, you can get the Lightning AirPods Max in blue for $399 on Amazon. The blue AirPods Max with USB-C are $130 more. Look, I love the dream of USB-C, where you can charge all your devices with one cable. But is it worth $130 to leave your Lightning cable at home? I don't think so.

I am constantly battling dust: I live in an old home in a city with less-than-stellar outdoor air quality, and I have a dog who sheds a lot. Dusting feels like a constant chore that I can never get ahead ofand not only is a layer of dust visually unappealing, it can also exacerbate asthma and allergies for some people. Unfortunately, minimizing dust in your house requires both prevention and regular maintenance. But staying on top of the problem ultimately leads to less work and fewer impacts on both cleanliness and health down the line. Regularly maintain your filters and ventsOne of the best ways to mitigate indoor dust is to stay on top of the systems that allow dust to enter and move around your home. You should change your HVAC filter every three months at a minimumevery one to two months if you have pets, live in an area that is dry and dusty, or are affected by wildfire smokefor both the efficiency of your system and the effectiveness at filtering out air particles. Check your filter's Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating: a lower rating will catch less debris and may need to be changed more frequently, while a higher rating will collect smaller particles (but may reduce performance). While you're at it, clean any fans, vents, and filters that move air in and out of (and around) your home, such as your dryer vent, bathroom exhaust fans, and HVAC vents and grills. You can give these a quick surface vacuum on a regular basis for maintenance, but if you haven't cleaned them in awhile (or ever), you may need to remove vent covers and deep clean the motors or ducts. Run an air purifierAir purifiers suck air in, filter out particulates like dust and pollen, and blow the clean air back outand you don't have to do anything except plug it in. You can get an air purifier with the main goal of reducing dust in your house, though these devices may also help people who have allergies and asthma. Make sure you get an air purifier with a pre filter and a HEPA filter plus a carbon filter for odors and gases. We've tested a number of smart air purifiers (some of which also have other functions like heating and cooling) that we recommend. Vacuum frequently and thoroughlyVacuuming your floors regularly (every few days) can cut down on dust buildup throughout your house. If you have a lot of space or limited time, a good robot vacuum can do this work for you. However, you should also be vacuuming furnitureboth hard and soft surfacesas well as curtains and blinds, where pet dander and dust can quickly accumulate. Don't forget to vacuum or dust less visible areas, such as baseboards, ceiling fans, door frames, shelf corners, under beds and other furniture, and the space behind appliances. Use our favorite hacks to level up your dusting, and consider using a dust-repelling spray on hard surfaces once the dust is gone. Your regular cleaning should also include washing sheets and towels, which collect dead skin, bacteria, and dust mites. Launder everything at least every two weeksmore often if you sweat a lot or allow pets on your bed. Keep windows closedThis is most important if the outdoor air quality is poor, such as during wildfire season or high-pollution days. But keeping your windows closed in general can help minimize dust, pollen, and other particles from easily floating into your home. Leave shoes at the doorShoes are the quickest way to track mud, dirt, and dust into and through your house, even if it's not visible. Set up a bin or shelf at the door to collect and store shoesyou could even leave them outside if you have a covered area where they'll be safe from the elements.