La PalmaNetflixAs we head into the week of Christmas, the only big show with an actual Christmas setting, Black Doves, has now fallen far from #1 on Netflixs Top 10 list, replaced by other, non-Christmas-y productions.For a little while now, tidal wave disaster series La Palma has been on top of the chart, even in the US, which is pretty unusual for a foreign language, in this case Norwegian, series. But now that has been usurped by the return of Virgin River, one of Netflixs biggest sleeper hits that is returning for a sixth season, and I think you know how often that happens on Netflix. And it is not very often a series lives that long on the service.Thankfully, Netflix appears to be easing up on its split-in-half seasonal idea as all episodes of Virgin River season 6 are live now. I do wonder if they realized that a significant drop-off in viewership was happening between parts in the shows that did this, and given that a huge metric for them is how many people actually finish a series, that may have outweighed the desire to keep people subscribed for more than a single month to watch a show they like. Im sure they have data on all this, though I dont think the practice is fully dead yet.Top 10NetflixLa Palma is listed as a limited series as I mean, how many tidal waves you can be struck by. Its a bit of a bizarre situation as this was the most-watched TV series in the country for a spell and it does not even have enough reviews in for a Rotten Tomatoes score, with only two critics reviewing it (both positive reviews, at least). Fans are less on board as the show only has a 30% audience score.MORE FOR YOUAs for Virgin River, Netflix already announced it would get a season 7 before season 6 even aired, as its a hit for them and theyll probably just keep making it forever, given the low cost and high viewership. Again, season 1 has literally one critic review in and not even enough audience reviews for a score there either. But generally speaking, the show reviews well, and it has an 81% critic score across the past 5 seasons. This is also a show so many critics ignore. All of season 5 only had 5 scored critic reviews in. And it really is a widely-watched show, so its pretty weird. I guess entertainment journalism is underfunded.We will see how long Virgin River can stay on top, but my guess is at least a few days. Squid Game season 2 is coming on December 26, however, and that will rule the list well through the new year, no doubt.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

The big picture: Apple introduced AirPods eight years ago this month. Comparing a Bloomberg analysis with financial results from other companies reveals how staggeringly successful Apple's wireless earbuds have become. A testament to the scale of the world's most valuable company, the accessory takes in more revenue each year than several prominent tech companies. Bloomberg estimates that AirPods sales have exceeded $18 billion yearly since 2021. To put that number in perspective, it surpasses Nintendo's reported total net sales for 2023 (roughly $10 billion).Furthermore, PCMag recently calculated that AirPods generated more revenue than total annual earnings for companies like Spotify, eBay, Airbnb, DoorDash, and OpenAI. Although the numbers only represent revenue and don't reflect net profit, they indicate the rising importance of AirPods within the Cupertino giant's product lineup.Bloomberg projects that AirPods will likely begin outselling iPads before the decade's end, becoming Apple's third most lucrative product behind iPhones and Macs. Price is the primary factor, as AirPods are far cheaper than iPads and Macs.However, the high attachment rate of AirPods among iPhone owners also has a significant impact. Approximately 40 percent of iPhone users also used AirPods in 2022. Since there are about 1.5 billion active iPhones, that's 600 million Airpods users.The proportion could increase to 52 percent by 2027 and 60 percent by 2030, signifying a 12 percent yearly sales increase for the earbuds, assuming iPhone sales increase by 5 percent in that timeframe. AirPods ownership skews toward teenagers and young adults, as around 62 percent of Gen-Z customers between ages 18 and 24 own them. // Related StoriesInvestigating the frequency with which users lose and damage AirPods reveals another shocking statistic. According to CBS, customers spend over half a billion dollars each year replacing them. TechSpot staff can attest that the tiny buds are squirrelly, especially when the case hits a hard surface. The buds eject from the housing like bullets.AirPods initially launched as a pair of slightly above-average wireless earbuds seamlessly connecting to users' iPhones. Later models gained significantly expanded functionality. Apple released its fourth-generation AirPods in September, which include voice isolation and noise cancellation features. Furthermore, the second-generation AirPods Pro recently received FDA certification for use as over-the-counter hearing aids. At $249, they are more expensive than most earbuds but cheaper than most traditional hearing aids.Apple plans to release the third-generation AirPods Pro in 2025. Rumored features include a new design and improved noise management. Additional health-related functionality might come to subsequent models in 2026 and beyond.Image credit: Airpods Pro, AirPods Trusted Reviews

In a nutshell: A Los Angeles startup is making waves by claiming it can simultaneously address two major climate challenges: removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and storing it in the ocean, while also producing emissions-free hydrogen fuel. The concept sounds promising, but not everyone is on board with it. Equatic says its novel technology can strip CO2 directly from the atmosphere and lock it away in the depths of the sea for millennia. At the same time, it generates green hydrogen that could one day replace fossil fuels in sectors like shipping, aviation, and heavy manufacturing.The company is part of a growing number of startups exploring ocean-based carbon removal as an alternative to underground storage methods like carbon capture and sequestration. But Equatic says it's the only one producing hydrogen in the process.The company has a unique approach: a proprietary electrochemical system running on clean electricity first converts seawater into hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, an acid stream, and an alkaline slurry. The slurry absorbs CO2 when exposed to air. The captured CO2 is discharged back into the ocean as stable mineral compounds meant to lock it up for 10,000 years or more.With global emissions continuing to soar, many scientists believe technological intervention will be needed to actively strip CO2 back out of the atmosphere to meet climate goals. That's where startups like this come in. Equatic initially experimented with small pilot barges off the coasts of Singapore and Los Angeles. Since then, it's been scaling up rapidly.The BBC reports that a major new plant in Singapore, said to be the world's largest ocean carbon removal facility, is currently under construction. It will have over 100 times the capacity of the prototypes, capturing an expected 4,000 tons of CO2 and churning out around 100 tons of hydrogen annually. // Related StoriesThen there's a much bigger commercial plant planned for Quebec, Canada, which could start operating as soon as 2026. This will boast a capacity to remove over 100,000 tons of CO2 and generate 3,600 tons of hydrogen each year.As for how Equatic plans to make money, well, the goal is to sell the CO2 it captures as carbon offset "credits" to companies aiming to achieve net-zero emissions. These companies would essentially pay Equatic to remove CO2 from the atmosphere on their behalf as a way to offset their own emissions.However, the concept of ocean carbon removal is stoking concerns from environmental groups. Last year, over 400 scientists signed a letter warning that large-scale tampering with ocean chemistry could have unpredictable and potentially devastating impacts on marine ecosystems.Last year, over 400 scientists signed a letter warning that large-scale tampering with ocean chemistry could have unpredictable and potentially devastating impacts on marine ecosystems.Critics also argue that banking on future carbon removal could undermine urgently needed cuts to greenhouse gas pollution today. And carbon offset programs in general have been plagued by credibility issues and doubts about their real climate impacts.Equatic acknowledges the measurement challenges and has revamped its technology to keep the CO2 capture process in a closed-loop system that it says will make accounting and verification easier. The company also insists its method is designed to comply with regulations and operate within existing environmental permits.Edward Sanders, the CEO of Equatic, argues scalability is key. He told the BBC that the company's approach could theoretically remove up to 20% of current global CO2 emissions if around 1,200 large facilities were deployed by the mid-2040s.

Between Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and even Nintendo Switch Online, it feels like every company has its own subscription. Throw in Ubisoft+, EA Play, and multiple other companies and you have a veritable free-for-all. Now Segas new president Shuji Utsumi says the beloved company is considering a similar offer, although he remained tight lipped on details.In an interview with the BBC, Utsumi said, Were thinking something and discussing something we cannot disclose right now, he said. The statement followed Utsumi saying the subscription services were very interesting.Recommended VideosOf course, the community response to the news has been mixed. Many gamers already chafe at the number of subscription services and the ever-rising costs of each. With Sega titles on nearly every platform, it raises the question: if Sega opens its own service, would Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and other streamers lose access to those games?Guinness World RecordsThe answer isnt clear. However, during the interview, Utsumi said I want to make Sega really shiny again, referencing the so-called golden days of the company in the 90s. Sega has focused more heavily on its domestic market than an international market, and to break out of that rut and raise the companys standing, he wants to bring a rock and roll mindset back to gaming.Please enable Javascript to view this contentAnyone who lived through the 90s will remember the bitter rivalry between Nintendo and Sega, when Sonic the Hedgehog was positioned as an edgy, cool character versus the mustachioed plumber.RelatedIf Sega launches a streaming service, the company certainly has a lot to pull from. Recent releases like Sonic X Shadow Generations,Shin Megami Tensei V, and theLike a Dragon series all bring their own appeal to the table. If those are yanked from other platforms and isolated into a Sega-only subscription, it would drive customers to it but perhaps at the cost of community goodwill.Utsumi disclosed next to no details in the interview, often saying that he couldnt say more. It isnt clear what direction Sega will choose to go in, but if the company plans to enter the already-crowded streaming market, it will need to stand out from the crowd.Editors Recommendations

After a less-than-exciting launch with the OnePlus Watch 2, its time for a change and hopefully a wearable that more closely matches modern devices. We expect the OnePlus Watch 3 to release on January 7, but now new details suggest it might come with a rotating crown.This update is a big win for OnePlus Watch fans. The crown has been a long-requested feature that will make it easier to navigate through the interface, and improved sensors give access to ECGs and other features that were missing in the previous generation, according to Yogesh Brar.Recommended VideosThe OnePlus Watch 3 might also come with the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1. Although an older model chip, the W5 series is touted to extend battery life and provide fast performance. The OnePlus Watch 3 is also tipped to come with Googles Wear OS, making it easy to connect your new smartwatch to existing Android devices.Please enable Javascript to view this contentYour first look at the OnePlus Watch 3, due to launch early next year. It now has a rotary dial to navigate the UI. An updated HR sensor suite with ECG Smaller bezels Snapdragon W5 chip Wear OS + RTOSThoughts?via: SmartPrix pic.twitter.com/YFKCrwIYaX Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) December 20, 2024RelatedThe wearable is also expected to land with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, alongside a 500mAh+ battery.Unfortunately, the OnePlus Watch 3 isnt compatible with iPhones. If youre an Apple user, your main option is the Apple Watch; the OnePlus Watch will only work with standard Android devices.The given launch date of the OnePlus Watch 3 lines up with the release of the OnePlus 13, the companys latest entry in its lineup. Thats an exciting combination, especially when you consider how powerful the OnePlus 13 is on its own. With incredible durability, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, this phone is a powerhouse. Its also launching alongside the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, too.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Verdict (1982)A Time to Kill (1996)My Cousin Vinny (1992)There is nobody like Clint Eastwood. The 94-year-old legend is still working, and his latest film, Juror #2, might be his best in 15 years. The Orders Nicholas Hoult stars as Justin Kemp, a Georgia resident called for jury duty on a high-profile murder case. Kemp holds a dark secret: he may have unknowingly played a hand in the murder. Kemps moral dilemma eats at him, as it could influence the decision of the trial.The release rollout from Warner Bros. forJuror #2 has beenextremely baffling.Juror #2was originally supposed to hit streaming. However, the studio gave the movie a limited theatrical release with no plans to expand nationwide. Now, Juror #2is finally streaming on Max, so do yourself a favor and watch it. Afterward, keep the courtroom theme going and watch one of these three excellent movies.Recommended Videos20th Century FoxSidney Lumet could have stopped making courtroom dramas after 12 Angry Men, and no one would blame him. How can you follow up on a masterpiece? Twenty-five years later, Lumet returned to the courtroom with 1982s The Verdict, a legal drama featuring David Mamets rapid-fire dialogue and a tour-de-force performance from Paul Newman.RelatedBoston lawyer Frank Galvin (Newman) used to care about the law. Now, hes an ambulance chaser who spends more time drinking than defending clients. Franks former partner, Mickey Morrissey (Jack Warden), sends him a medical malpractice case involving a Catholic hospital. It should be an easy settlement, but Frank elects to bring the case to court after feeling sympathy toward the victim. The Verdictplays like an invigorating sports movie in the courtroom, with Newman as the underdog who must overcome numerous obstacles to do the impossible.Buy or rent Verdict on Prime Video, Apple, YouTube, and Google.Warner Bros.John Grisham knows a thing or two about crafting legal thrillers. One of Grishams novels,A Time to Kill, was adapted into a 1996 feature film by Joel Schumacher. In Mississippi, an African American father named Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) takes the law into his own hands and kills the two rapists who assaulted his young daughter. Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), an inexperienced white lawyer, agrees to defend Carl.Jake faces an uphill battle in this segregated town. This predominantly white town is full of racists, with several members of the Ku Klux Klan trying to sabotage the trial. Still, Jake prepares his defense, knowing that if he fails, Carl Lee will likely receive the death penalty. While the movie has received criticism for its white savior complex, A Time to Killremains a stimulating drama backed by strong performances from McConaughey, Jackson, and Sandra Bullock.Buy or rent A Time to Kill on Pluto TV.20th Century FoxMy Cousin Vinnyis one of the rare comedies to be set inside a courtroom. Joe Pesci stars as Vinny Gambini, a Brooklyn personal injury lawyer who has never won a case. Vinnys cousin Bill (Ralph Macchio) and his friend Stan (Mitchell Whitfield) are charged with first-degree murder in Alabama. With little money to his name, Bill asks Vinny to defend him in court.Despite his lack of experience, Vinny accepts and drives to Alabama with fiance Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei). Its an immediate culture shock for Gambini, as the Italian American clashes with the Southern way of living. Vinny might not be a good lawyer, but his charisma is a sight to see. The lasting memory belongs to Tomei, whose magnetic monologue about cars probably won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.Stream My Cousin Vinny on Hulu.Editors Recommendations

I had a crush on my coworker and decided to tell him when my contract was up.He told me he was flattered but that he had a girlfriend.I wonder if the timing was off, but I'm glad I put myself out there.I remember noticing him early on at my former job. He was funny and had a sunny smile, but he also struck me as confident and competent. A wave of excitement filled my heart every time he was around me, and I felt like a teenager with her first crush even though I was in my mid-20s.Maybe you don't like spoilers, but I do, so I will tell the truth right now. This is not a love story. This is a story of rejection after declaring my feelings to my former coworker when my contract ended.I waited until my last day of work to finally confess my feelings for him, but I'm not sure it was the best decision.I finally asked my coworker outI didn't take the decision to tell him lightly. I debated with myself for a long time if I should tell him while we still worked together.On one hand, I thought it would be heartbreaking for me if he politely declined and I had to see him every day. On the other hand, if he accepted my invitations and we began going out together, an awkward situation would arise. Even if we were working in different departments, being in a small company where we met every day surely didn't help my dilemma.So, ultimately, I decided to come clean when my contract was finally up. When my six months ran out, I said goodbye to all my coworkers and devised a plan. I decided to finally confess my feelings as he stepped out of the office. Unfortunately, he didn't leave the office alone, so my plan was foiled. But I couldn't keep my romantic feelings to myself anymore.When I got home, I wrote him a message, finally revealing that I had a crush on him and wanted to tell him in person, but there hadn't been an appropriate occasion. A few minutes afterward, I added that we could have a coffee together one day if he wanted to.My hands were sweating as I stared at the three dreaded bubbles showing he was typing. A long text message appeared; he was incredibly kind, even when rejecting me.He said that he knows how difficult it is to declare your feelings, so he thanked me. Still, he was already seeing another girl.Being rejected is painful. It can easily affect our self-worth and make us feel like failures. Even though I expected this rejection, I wasn't prepared for that intrusive emptiness that left me feeling lost and thinking that no one would ever want me.Telling my friend what happened made things slightly more tolerable, but I needed a way to cleanse this intoxicating mixture of emotions from my body and mind.Summer meant a lot of exercise classes in parks and on the beach. I decided to trade emotional pain for physical strain, and I went to a total-body class in July's heat. Moving my body and sweating felt amazing. It made me temporarily forget this situation.I'm ultimately proud of myselfOne question kept nagging me: Was it even worth telling him the truth?But now that some months have passed, I don't have any regrets about how things went. Sometimes, I think if I had told him earlier, things could have gone differently, but anguishing over how something could have been is never sensible.Regardless of the timing, I am proud of stepping out of my comfort zone and declaring my feelings. As an introvert, this can be incredibly challenging.Even if it was painful at the moment, being rejected was better than remaining in doubt about his feelings. Rejection is like a period at the end of a sentence. It can feel like an abrupt close, but endings often turn into new beginnings.

Martha Stewart shared the three holiday recipes she thinks everyone should make.Stewart said her eggnog recipe, which she makes every year, is one of the best"you'll ever taste."She also recommends whipping up her homemade cheese straws.If you're searching for inspiration for your holiday menu, look no further Martha Stewart is here to help.We asked the queen of hosting to share the recipes she thinks everyone should learn how to make for the holidays.Whether you're planning a holiday menu or just want to bring an impressive dish to your next party, Stewart's recipes will have you covered.Martha Stewart thinks everyone should whip up her eggnog during the holidaysStewart told Business Insider that her eggnog recipe, which she makes every year for her annual holiday party, is "one of the best eggnogs you'll ever taste." @marthastewart Serve my classic eggnog for an intimate gathering or double the recipe for a crowd! Full recipe at the link in bio. _________ My Original Eggnog Recipe: 12 large eggs, separated 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar 1 1/2 quarts heavy cream 1 quart whole milk 3 cups bourbon 1/2 cup dark rum 2 cups cognac Freshly grated nutmeg original sound - Martha Stewart The recipe, which can be found on Stewart's official website, packs a boozy punch with three types of liquor bourbon, cognac, and dark rum.If you want something sweet, Stewart recommends making her sugar cookies"My sugar cookies are a really, really good cookie," Stewart said. "Make them in the shapes of Christmas trees and little glass balls and decorate them."Stewart's website features a variety of sugar cookie recipes. You can findcinnamon sugar cookiesandgingered sugar cookies, as well as aclassic sugar cookie recipe "for decorating and cutting into any shape you desire."You'll also find a recipe for royal icing on Stewart's website to help with the decorating.Stewart loves making homemade cheese straws for her holiday parties"I'm having a party for everyone who works on my farm, and I'm definitely going to have my cheese straws," Stewart said. "I love making my puff-pastry cheese straws during the holidays.""They're nice with a glass of wine, and when people come by, it's nice to have those instead of store-bought crackers," she added.Stewart recommends using all-butter puff pastry "for the best flavor and texture" with her cheese straws recipe. Stewart also shared her holiday hosting tips with Business Insider. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images We also asked Stewart to share her tips for bringing a gift to holiday parties, and she revealed that she always picks something that's personal or homemade."I oftentimes take a cake or cookies that I've made," she told BI. "I often take a panettone, or something that's especially delicious, something I found."But Stewart never gifts scented candles."I hate scented candles, so I would never give anybody a scented candle, I just don't like them," Stewart said."I know they're so popular," she added. "But some houses have a different scented candle burning in each room, and it's so annoying."

By AJ Dellinger Published December 21, 2024 | Comments (0) | A man takes a picture of a module being assembled at the international nuclear fusion project NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a startup that was spun out of a project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys research labs, announced plans this week to break ground on what it calls the worlds first grid-scale fusion power plant. The plant which is expected to come online sometime in the early 2030s, according to the company, will be built in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The plan is certainly an ambitious one, starting with how the energy will be generated. Nuclear fusion is a notoriously difficult process that involves fusing together two light atomic nuclei into a single heavier one, resulting in the release of a massive amount of energyits estimated to produce four times as much energy as nuclear fission reactions. The reaction that nuclear fusion generates is the same kind of reaction that powers the sun. Its not hard to imagine why one would want to be able to harness the energy of the sun. It is hard to actually, ya know, do that, though. To date, nuclear fusion has proven elusiveat least in a way that would produce usable energy. In 2022, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California reached nuclear fusion ignition for the first time, meaning they successfully produced an excess of energy from the reactions. Prior to that breakthrough, which has since been replicated, it took more energy to produce the reaction than energy that came from it. Commonwealth Fusion Systems has not yet accomplished the feat of producing excess energy, per Futurism. In fact, the company has yet to finish construction on its smaller reactor which was designed to serve as a proof of concept for a larger future plant. That project will continue, but it seems that the startup has decided to start working ahead under the assumption that everything will work out rather than check the boxes first.The company is promising that once this larger reactor goes online in Virginia, it will produce 400 megawatts of electricityenough to power about 150,000 homes. That would be great! It also seems a bit ambitious based on the 0 megawatts currently generated from the process. There is a reason nuclear fusion has proven so elusive thus far, but maybe now that the seal has been broken on ignition, the developments in space will come in fast and steady. With a reported $2 billion in funding behind it already, Commonwealth Fusion Systems has as good a shot as anyone of figuring it out. And if it cant, maybe it can figure out a way to harness energy from burning through all that cash.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Matthew Gault Published October 30, 2024 By Adam Kovac Published September 18, 2024 By Matt Novak Published September 13, 2024 By Isaac Schultz Published August 9, 2024 By Matt Novak Published July 28, 2024 By Isaac Schultz Published July 18, 2024

Its only been two days sinceSupermansfirst trailer dropped, and its safe to say it made a big impression. How big? According to James Gunn, its already hit some massive milestones. According to director-writer and DC boss James Gunn,Supermans trailer had over 250 million views in its first day, and there were over one million social media posts about it. Its also the most viewed and the most talked about trailer in the history of both DC and Warner Bros. [] Thank you! Were incredibly grateful and, most of all, excited to share this movie with you in July. For some comparison, Variety reports the initial trailer for Joker: Folie Deuxin April had 167 million views in its first 24 hours, and Inside Out 2strailer had 157 million views across a similar timeframe back in November 2023. However, all threemovies were beaten out by the 365 million views of Deadpool & Wolverinesdebut trailer this past February. So its safe to say folks are ready to watch a Superman movieor at the very least, theyre interestedin one. Discounting the 2021 Snyder Cut, 2017sJustice Leagueis the last time the Man of Steel headlined a DC movie, and by the time this film drops, itll have been three years since Henry Cavill seemed poised to come back and then didnt. Once it became clear WB and Gunn were serious about doing a new DC movie universe with Superman at the front of the pack, theres been a lot of attention on this new film. From leading man David Corenswet and his costume to the films other heroes and where it could all be going, the world is watching to see how Superman does when it hits theaters July 11, 2025. If youve watched the trailer and feel some kind of way about its music, good news: WBs released it as a single track, which you can hear below. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.