Editor's take: Canalys has released its latest predictions about the PC market. The channel-focused research company is describing a somewhat healthy technology business; however, it will likely suffer from tariffs and other harmful economic measures announced by the next US administration. Canalys recently said that PC shipments in the US grew by a significant 7 percent during the third quarter of 2024. Year-on-year results were driven by notebook systems, which experienced a 9 percent annual growth over the same period. However, the future is uncertain and American politics will likely affect market trends in a very negative way.The US PC market's recovery should continue during the next few months, Canalys said, but at a slower rate than previously anticipated. The Windows refresh cycle isn't exactly taking the market by storm, with many enterprise customers still clinging to Windows 10 despite Microsoft ending support this year.All things considered, total PC shipments in 2024 are expected to rise by 6 percent to 70 million units. Shipment growth is expected to slow down to 2 percent in both 2025 and 2026. Commercial demand remains "strong," Canalys said, and the Windows 11 refresh cycle still has a long way to go.Analyst Greg Davis said that the commercial market is now the leading growth factor for PCs sold in the US. Both large and small businesses are going through a strong refresh process for their Windows PC fleets. Meanwhile, the consumer segment has been boosted by the seasonal discounting period focused on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.Microsoft will stop providing security patches for Windows 10 on October 2025, Canalys noted. Despite the incoming deadline, the transition to Windows 11 has been going at a modest pace so far. Analysts are also worried about the anticipated policy changes announced by the next administration, which will cause significant instability issues for macroeconomic conditions in the US. // Related StoriesThe new import tariffs will likely impact the PC market in a noticeable way, with device pricing rising as much as 46 percent if everything goes according to Donald Trump's plans. Supply chain players will try to oppose the new policies by stockpiling their inventories in early 2025, which should somewhat "rebalance" the anticipated shipment issues.Other risk factors highlighted by Canalys include the proposed cuts to the US public sector budget, which could hinder PC provisioning for both federal government agencies and national education institutions. "Although 2025 budgets will remain largely intact, we anticipate future spending on technology from these areas could be reduced," Davis said.

With CES 2025 right around the corner, most of us expect the big announcements to arrive in a week but some companies are already teasing new products. In Intels case, the manufacturer plans to add more CPUs that might compete against some of the best processors. To that end, Intel has now announced preorders for new Arrow Lake CPUs, but most of us cant get our hands on them yet.As spotted by VideoCardz, Intel China announced that preorders for the Core Ultra 200 non-K CPUs are opening today, with availability planned for January 13. These CPUs will presumably just be non-overclockable versions of existing Arrow Lake chips, such as the Core Ultra 9 285K. In its announcement, Intel teases new architecture and better power consumption.Recommended VideosThis is a curious announcement, and unexpected, too. The preorders seem to only be open in the Chinese market right now Intels global accounts are staying silent on the matter. The question now is whether these Core Ultra 200 non-K processors will hit the global market at the same time, on January 13, or perhaps the launch will be reserved for China for a little while. Its hard to say, but if they are slated to appear internationally, then this is a quiet launch indeed. Intel is likely to talk more about these new CPUs during CES 2025 next week.Another interesting Intel CPU launch, also reported on by VideoCardz, appears to be taking place in China and Korea first. This one is a leak and its not coming from an official Intel account, so take it with some skepticism. According to Golden Pig Upgrade Pack on Weibo, the Arrow Lake-H series, which is a lineup of laptop CPUs based on Lion Cove and Skymont architectures, will first arrive in China and South Korea. Other regions are said to follow a month later. These will be mainstream chips that will often be paired with Nvidias next-gen RTX 50-series graphics cards. However, gamers would be more interested in the Arrow Lake HX-series, which wasnt mentioned this time around.RelatedThis leaves us with two signs of Intel CPUs potentially launching in China before hitting the global market. Well undoubtedly learn more during CES 2025.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsThe impermanence of streamingBeing the custodianAs convenient as streaming has made the consumption of media, whats available to us today might not be available to us tomorrow or maybe not in the way we remember it. We have no ownership over the content that were consuming. Instead, were paying to get access to what streaming companies want to offer us, and they can change their mind whenever they feel like it.Add to that the fact that 2024 was a hard year for physical media. Best Buy stopped selling discs in its stores and online, and by the end of the year, a Blu-ray player manufacturer discontinued production of its products. There was also news swirling that vinyl sales had plummeted by 33% in 2024 (although it turns out that was due to a change in counting methodology for vinyl sales, which are, in fact, up 6.2%). If theres declining interest in owning physical media, as the Best Buy news would seem to indicate, what are we losing by switching over solely to streaming? Should we be concerned that we have no ownership anymore over the things we watch, read, and listen to?Recommended VideosNetflix regularly culls its offerings. This could be for a variety of reasons licensing deals might end, the content isnt as popular as hoped, or a shift in strategy but the result is the same. We lose access to something we might have enjoyed.RelatedNetflix isnt alone in this. Soon after cancelingWestworld, HBO removed it from its streaming platform. Its plan was to test the waters with FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) services, eventually making it available on other services, albeit with ad breaks. But if you were subscribed to HBO at the time and had the intention of watching HBO shows like Westworld, it was a rude awakening to no longer be able to access that show.But there are potential issues beyond a show being moved from one service to another unexpectedly. When content solely lives digitally in the cloud, edits can be made to it. At the Superbowl in 2024, Alicia Keys was brought on as a guest during Ushers halftime show to perform If I Aint Got You. Those watching it live heard her voice crack slightly as she sang the first word: Some. It was a completely understandable flub it was the first thing she was singing, it was cold, and, most importantly, shes human. She went on to have a slick and polished performance singing with Usher.If you go back and watch the official performance, though, the small voice crack was replaced by a take from one of the rehearsals. Theres no evidence that anything went wrong. Is it a major issue, where corporate money has pulled oen over on the public? Certainly not. But its an example that when we dont have ownership over our media, those that do can make a change for whatever reason they choose.Lets take the alternate timeline where the originalStar Wars trilogy was only ever recorded digitally and distributed over streaming. If George Lucas had the opportunity to go back under those circumstances and make his special editions, there would have been no evidence to show who originally shot first Han or Greedo. With no physical proof, such as laser disc or VHS recording off of a TV broadcast, the original moment would have been wiped from history.As Guillermo del Toro once tweeted, Physical media is almost a Fahrenheit 451 [where people memorized entire books and thus became the book they loved] level of responsibility. If you own a great 4K HD, Blu-ray, DVD, etc., etc. of a film or films you love you are the custodian of those films for generations to come.In history, weve been through purges of recorded ideas by parties that did not agree with them. That could be the reaction of John Lennons quote about the Beatles and Jesus resulting in the destruction of Beatles records, or the book-burning Suberung by the Nazi party in the 1930s to destroy texts and literature that were deemed un-German.Much like books before vinyl, magnetic tape, or compact discs entered our homes, the streaming content we consume documents our history and how our society processes and reacts to whats happening in the world. Sure, there are Bond movies or dance tracks whose primary purpose is to entertain or act as the soundtrack for a night of fun, but for every action spectacle, theres a Paris is Burning. For every song of teenage heartbreak theres aSunday Bloody Sunday.When the ideas are held within books that live within hundreds of thousands of homes, its difficult to collect every last one and eradicate them from the Earth. But if the copies live only in the cloud, it takes but the clicking of a mouse by one bad actor to never see or hear them again.Anecdotally from conversations Ive had, it seems like the younger generation that grew up surrounded by the digital world, online relationships, and their content only in the cloud is pulling away a bit from living online. It could be as a reaction to having to always be on with social media, or a distrust of the corporate culture that wants to control as many aspects of our lives as possible. Could they be the ones that move us back toward physical media, if not wholly, as a supplement to digital?Its important that there are custodians in the world to herald existing art into the future. And its important that there are tangible versions of that art in written form, recordings, or on disc and cellulose. Plus, the disc recordings look and sound better than the streaming versions anyway.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of Contents10. Baby Reindeer9. Ripley8. Supacell7. Terminator Zero6. A Good Girls Guide to Murder5. Nobody Wants This4. Cobra Kai3. Arcane2. Black Doves1. A Man on the InsideConsidering that 2024 began on the heels of an actors and writers strike, its amazing that Netflix still put out as many originals as it did this year. Many of this years new series also dominated our picks for the 10 best Netflix shows of 2024, but there were two returning favorites that earned their place on this list. Looking ahead at 2025, with returning shows including Stranger Thingsand The Witcher, the veteran series could have a much bigger presence on this list a year from now.For now, its time to look back at the year that was. Most of the shows we picked blended comedy and drama together to the point where the series cant be easily defined. There were also two animated shows that ranked on our list because they were better than many of Netflixs live-action offerings. Among subscribers, there probably arent too many surprises here, even if our placement doesnt match up with your own. But if you want to experience the best of what Netflix had to offer in 2024, these are the shows to watch.Recommended VideosWeve also rounded up all the best new shows to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Disney+because we take our streaming seriously. Watching while traveling abroad? Use a Netflix VPN to access your countrys catalog from anywhere in the world.NetflixIn the early part of 2024, Baby Reindeer was the buzziest Netflix original of the year. It also quickly became the most overrated show on the streamer. Richard Gadd created and starred in the series, which he said was based on a real-life incident. Gadd played Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian and part-time bartender who showed some kindness to a woman, Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning). Martha subsequently becomes obsessed with Donny and relentlessly stalks him.Donny kind of brings a lot of that on himself when he initially stalks Martha in return, but she takes it to a much darker place that forces him to seek help from the law. Even at only seven episodes, Baby Reindeer wears out its welcome fast. Ironically, the success of this show reintroduced the woman who allegedly stalked Gadd back into his life as she brought a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against both the actor and Netflix itself. Now, theres a premise for a second seasonWatch Baby Reindeer on Netflix.NetflixRipley made some stylistic changes to Patricia Highsmiths The Talented Mr. Ripley, most notably by filming the entire series in black and white. Andrew Scott was also two decades older than Matt Damon was when he played Tom Ripley in the film version of The Talented Mr. Ripley. That age gap also causes the show to play differently.As in the earlier story, Tom is a con man who is hired by the wealthy father of Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) to bring his wayward son home. At first, Tom is kind of in love with Dickie, but then hed rather be Dickie than go home empty-handed or face rejection one more time. And its the steps that Tom takes to prevent anyone from knowing the truth that make him so talented and so dangerous.Watch Ripley on Netflix.NetflixSupacell came out of nowhere with a fresh take on superpowers. Its hard to call this group of characters superheroes when altruism isnt really their thing. Even the most heroic of the group, Michael Lasaki (Tosin Cole), is only motivated to save his fiance, Dionne Ofori (Adelayo Adedayo), from a dark fate in the future.The only thing that Michael, Tayo Tazer Amusan (Josh Tedeku), Sabrina Clarke (Nadine Mills), Andre Simpson (Eric Kofi-Abrefa), and Rodney (Calvin Demba) have in common is that theyre all Black and they all suffer from sickle cell disease. When this group of strangers develops superhuman powers, they find themselves being hunted by an enigmatic organization that has its own powered people. And if Michael cant convince the others to work with him, then Dionne is doomed.Watch Supacell on Netflix.NetflixTerminator Zero did something that none of the movies after Terminator 2 were able to do: give the franchise a story that wasnt a rehash of everything weve seen for decades. The animated series is set in Japan in 1997, just before Skynet attacks humanity on Judgment Day. Scientist Malcom Lee (Andr Holland) knows whats coming, almost to the minute. And hes built an advanced AI, Kokoro (Rosario Dawson), that might be able to save humanity if Malcolm can give it a reason to do so.Meanwhile, the machines have sent back a Terminator (Timothy Olyphant) to kill Malcolm, and thats the same mission that a resistance fighter, Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno), has when she arrives from the future. Instead of being able to complete her assignment, Eiko finds herself forced to protect Malcolms three children from the Terminator as the clock counts down to the end of the world as weve known it.Watch Terminator Zero on Netflix.BBCWednesdays Emma Myers came into her own by headlining the British mystery series A Good Girls Guide to Murder. Myers plays Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi, a young student who is obsessed with the disappearance of a local girl, Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies), years earlier, and the fate of her boyfriend, Sal Singh (Rahul Pattni), who was believed to have killed Andie. Thus Pip decides to solve the murder as her school project.Pip tends to alienate people when she starts asking questions about what happened, especially with Sals younger brother, Ravi Singh (Zain Iqbal). Ravi comes around when he realizes that Pip may be able to help him clear his brothers name. But there are some people in their town who would rather not drudge up the truth about Andies fate. And they may be willing to kill to keep it quiet.Watch A Good Girls Guide to Murder on Netflix.NetflixDespite the title of the show, viewers clearly did want to watch the romance play out between Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody), as it was one of Netflixs most popular shows of the year. Nobody Wants This introduces Joanne as a podcaster who doesnt really believe in God, while Noah is a rabbi who is coming out of a long-term relationship. But just because they dont see eye-to-eye about religion, it doesnt keep them from being very attracted to each other.Joanne and Noah do their best to respect each others beliefs, but they get a lot of pushback in their lives because of their relationship. Noah in particular is facing some hard choices, especially when its made clear that his career as a rabbi may be severely affected if he chooses to stay with Joanne.Watch Nobody Wants This on Netflix.NetflixCobra Kai may never die, but two-thirds of the sixth and final season debuted in 2024. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) may reign supreme in the Valley, but the former Karate Kid rivals still arent on the same page about the future of their combined dojo. Their mutual enemy John Kreese (Martin Kove) has already rebuilt a new Cobra Kai, and one of Daniel and Johnnys students is going back to the dark side to join it.Theres one more tournament for kids in the dojo: the Sekai Taikai, or the world championships of karate. New rivalries await, and Daniel is forced to face some previously unknown secrets about his late mentor, Mr. Miyagi. Theres a lot happening in each episode of the final season, but Cobra Kai remains one of the most enjoyable series on Netflix.Watch Cobra Kai on Netflix.NetflixIt took three years for Arcane season 2 to arrive on Netflix, and the incredible animation and story made it worth the wait. Although this show is based on the League of Legends video game, it explains its mythology so well that you dont need that background to watch it. Think of it as Pixar meets steampunk, with a lot more action and interesting character development.Season 2 picks up with sisters Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Fallouts Ella Purnell) as they stand on opposite sides of the war between the ivory towers of Piltover and the downtrodden city called Zaun. However, the story soon gives the sisters a chance to reconcile as some long buried secrets come to the surface, and the future of both Zaun and Piltover hang in the balance. This show came to a definitive end this season, but it was an epic ride.Watch Arcane on Netflix.NetflixBlack Doves took us by surprise late in 2024 with an intense spy action thriller that put Keira Knightley in the leading role as Helen Webb. For years, Helen has been an undercover spy for the Black Doves organization to monitor her husband, Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan) and his political activities. Helen doesnt actually love her husband, and her heart belongs to Jason Davies (Andrew Koji).When Jason is killed, Helen throws caution to the wind to find his killers and get revenge, even if it means abandoning her own family. Helens close friend, Sam Young (Ben Whishaw), returns from a self-imposed exile to watch her back. But neither Helen nor Sam are fully prepared for what theyll find as they search for answers about Jasons death.Watch Black Doves on Netflix.NetflixWhy is A Man on the Inside our No. 1 pick for the best Netflix show of 2024? Ted Danson. The actor who headlined Cheers, Becker, The Good Place, and more is the consummate sitcom pro with over 40 years in the medium. And for his latest comeback, Danson has a character that perfectly suits his comedic persona. This show plays like Netflixs answer to Only Murders in the Building, minus all of the murders. Danson mines every bit of this show for comedy, and he has a refreshing sense of empathy as well.Charles is a man who gets a new lease on life by pretending to be moving into a retirement community. But hes actually been hired by a private detective, Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada), to find a very valuable stolen necklace that she believes was taken by one of the communitys other residents. Charles jumps at the chance to play detective; he just isnt very good at it.Ted Danson Learns How to be a Spy | A Man On The Inside | NetflixThat tends to leave Charles in some very awkward spots, even as he comes to like his new neighbors and enjoy his presence in the community. This is also the best Netflix comedy series to come along in a while, and its easy to see why it was quickly renewed for a second season.Watch A Man on the Inside on Netflix.Editors Recommendations

Legacy A Cold War mystery: Why did Jimmy Carter save the space shuttle? Ars solves the mystery by going directly to a primary sourcethe president himself. Eric Berger Dec 30, 2024 8:58 am | 197 The first launch of the space shuttle finally came on April 12, 1981. Credit: NASA The first launch of the space shuttle finally came on April 12, 1981. Credit: NASA Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWith 39th President Jimmy Carter passing away at the age of 100, we are revisiting this story of how he unexpectedly saved the space shuttle.Wed been chatting for the better part of two hours when Chris Krafts eyes suddenly brightened. Hey, he said, Heres a story Ill bet you never heard. Kraft, the man who had written flight rules for NASA at the dawn of US spaceflight and supervised the Apollo program, had invited me to his home south of Houston for one of our periodic talks about space policy and space history. As we sat in recliners upstairs, in a den overlooking the Bay Oaks Country Club, Kraft told me about a time the space shuttle almost got canceled.It was the late 1970s, when Kraft directed the Johnson Space Center, the home of the space shuttle program. At the time, the winged vehicle had progressed deep into a development phase that startedin 1971. Because the program had not received enough money to cover development costs, some aspects of the vehicle (such as its thermal protective tiles) were delayed into future budget cycles. In another budget trick, NASA committed $158 million in fiscal year 1979 funds for work done during the previous fiscal year.This could not go on, and according to Kraft the situation boiled over during a 1978 meeting in a large conference floor on the 9th floor of Building 1, the Houston centers headquarters. All the program managers and other center directors gathered there along with NASAs top leadership. That meeting included Administrator Robert Frosch, a physicist President Carter had appointed a year earlier.Kraft recalls laying bare the budget jeopardy faced by the shuttle. We were totally incapable of meeting any sort of flight schedule, he said. Further postponing the vehicle would only add to the problem because the vehicles high payroll costs would just be carried forward.There were two possible solutions proposed, Kraft said. One was a large funding supplement to get development programs back on track. Absent that, senior leaders felt they would have to declare the shuttle a research vehicle, like the rocket-powered X-15, which had made 13 flights to an altitude as high as 50 miles in the 1960s. We were going to have to turn it, really, into a nothing vehicle, Kraft said. We were going to have to give up on the shuttle being a delivery vehicle into orbit. On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon, Apollo 11 crew members, Buzz Aldrin, left, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong and NASA Mission Control creator Chris Kraft, right, during their visit to the National Air and Space Museum on July 19, 2009. Credit: NASA/Getty Images On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon, Apollo 11 crew members, Buzz Aldrin, left, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong and NASA Mission Control creator Chris Kraft, right, during their visit to the National Air and Space Museum on July 19, 2009. Credit: NASA/Getty Images Armed with these bleak options, Frosch returned to Washington.Some time later he would meet with Carter, not expecting a positive response, as the president had never been a great friend to the space program. But Carter, according to Kraft, had just returned from Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) in Vienna, and he had spoken with the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, about how the United States was going to be able to fly the shuttle over Moscow continuously to ensure they were compliant with the agreements.So when Frosch went to the White House to meet with the presidentand said NASA didnt have the money to finish the space shuttle, the administratorgot a response he did not expect: How much do you need?In doing so, Jimmy Carter saved the space shuttle, Kraft believes. Without supplementals for fiscal year 1979 and 1980, the shuttle would never have flown, at least not as the iconic vehicle that would eventually fly 135 missions and 355 individual fliers into space. It took some flights as high as 400 miles above the planet before retiring five years ago this week. That was the first supplemental NASA had ever asked for, Kraft said. And we got that money from Jimmy Carter.As I walked out of Krafts house that afternoon in late spring, I recall wondering whether this could really be true. Could Jimmy Carter, of all people, be the savior of the shuttle? All because he had been bragging about the shuttles capabilities to the Soviets and, therefore, didnt want to show weakness? This Cold War mystery was now nearly 40 years in the past, but most of the protagonists still lived. So I began to ask questions.Carter's apathy toward spaceAt the root of my skepticism was this simple factJimmy Carter was no great friend to the space program or, at least initially, the shuttle. Less than five months after he became president, on the date of June 9, 1977, Carter wrote the following in his White House Diary: We continued our budget meetings. Its obvious that the space shuttle is just a contrivance to keep NASA alive, and that no real need for the space shuttle was determined before the massive construction program was initiated.On NASAs own 50th anniversary website, space historian John Logsdon described the Carter presidency in less than flattering terms. Jimmy Carter was perhaps the least supportive of US human space efforts of any president in the last half-century, Logsdon wrote. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter visited Kennedy Space Center to check on the space shuttle's progress and participate in an awards ceremony. Here he is greeted by Kennedy Space Center Director Lee Scherer. NASA In 1978 President Jimmy Carter visited Kennedy Space Center to check on the space shuttle's progress and participate in an awards ceremony. Here he is greeted by Kennedy Space Center Director Lee Scherer. NASA Carter, with wife Rosalynn and daughter Amy, listens to Center Director Lee Scherer explain a model of the crawler transporter during their tour of the Kennedy Space Center. NASA Carter, with wife Rosalynn and daughter Amy, listens to Center Director Lee Scherer explain a model of the crawler transporter during their tour of the Kennedy Space Center. NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong receives the first Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Jimmy Carter, assisted by Captain Robert Peterson, in 1978. NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong receives the first Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Jimmy Carter, assisted by Captain Robert Peterson, in 1978. NASA Carter, with wife Rosalynn and daughter Amy, listens to Center Director Lee Scherer explain a model of the crawler transporter during their tour of the Kennedy Space Center. NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong receives the first Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Jimmy Carter, assisted by Captain Robert Peterson, in 1978. NASA President Jimmy Carter presents the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Charles Conrad, John Glenn, Betty Grissom, and Alan Shepard in 1978. NASA Former President Jimmy Carter, in 1980, presents the National Space Club's Goddard Memorial Trophy to NASA Administrator Dr Robert A Frosch on behalf of the team that planned and executed the Voyager mission to Jupiter and beyond. NASA Carter returned to Kennedy Space Center in 2002. Here Center Director Roy D Bridges Jr welcomes him. Behind Carter, at right, is Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter's wife. NASA Rosalyn and Jimmy Carter talk with Bridges and the director of external affairs and business development, JoAnn H Morgan, in 2002 NASA In the Space Station Processing Facility, the Carters listen to an explanation of the station's different modules. NASA In the Space Station Processing Facility, former President Carter pauses for a photo with astronauts Scott Kelly (left) and Joseph Tanner (right). Kelly would go on to become one of NASA's most recognizable astronauts after his one-year mission in 2015. NASA Carter is shown packages of food that are used on the International Space Station. Astronaut Scott Kelly (far left) relates how the food is prepared and how it tastes. NASA Carter, Ted Turner, and Virgin Galactic's Sir Richard Branson participate in an event during the Captain Planet Foundation's benefit gala at Georgia Aquarium on December 7, 2012. Ben Rose/Getty Images Then there was Carters vice president, Walter Mondale, who in 1972 had called the space shuttle a senseless extravaganza. A senator from Minnesota at the time, Mondale had vigorously opposed early funding measures to begin development of the shuttle. His views exemplified those who believed the United States had more pressing needs for its money than chasing the stars.I believe it would be unconscionable to embark on a project of such staggering cost when many of our citizens are malnourished, when our rivers and lakes are polluted, and when our cities and rural areas are dying, Mondale argued during one debate over shuttle funding. What are our values? What do we think is more important?Now these two men were responsible for establishing priorities for the governments budget and supporting a shuttle that was already years behind schedule as itfaced cost overruns of hundreds of millions of dollars.Theywere going to keep the program afloat?The shuttle, canceled?If Kraft is to be believed, cost overruns began really catching up to the shuttle program in 1978, necessitating the big meeting at Johnson Space Center. By then the Enterprise had already made its first free flight in the atmosphere, and the test vehicle was a public relations success. However, the programs to develop the space shuttles main engines and its thermal protective tiles remained far behind schedule. It does not seem beyond the realm of possibility that the program might be canceled altogether and that program managers might have worried about this.John Logsdon, the eminent space historian who has written books about Nixons space policy and is working on one about Reagan, told Arsthat as costs mounted, the White House Office of Management and Budget suggested to Carter that he might want to cancel the program in 1978 and 1979. This set off a series of White House meetings that culminated in an influential memo to Carter from Brigadier General Robert Rosenberg, of the National Security Council. Titled Why Shuttle Is Needed, the Rosenberg memo offered an effective counterpoint to the OMB concerns about cost, according to Logsdon. Written in November 1979, it helped lead Carter to a decision to fund the vehicle. The crew of Star Trek gathers around space shuttle Enterprise in 1977. Credit: NASA The crew of Star Trek gathers around space shuttle Enterprise in 1977. Credit: NASA Strong national support and prestige is focused on Shuttle as a means for maintaining space dominance as evidenced by broad user interest and recent space policy statements, Rosenberg wrote. Significant delay or abandonment of the Shuttle and manned space capabilities at this time would be viewed as a loss of national pride and direction. The notion that we are forced for short term economic reasons to abandon a major area of endeavor in which we have achieved world leadership at great cost is simply not credible.A key player in the shuttle program at this time, Robert Thompson, pushed back on the idea that the shuttle was ever at any real risk of being canceled. Thompson and Kraft are contemporaries. They were classmates at Virginia Tech University in the early 1940s, and later both were original members of the Space Task Group that put together Project Mercury. When Kraft managed flight operations during the Apollo Program, Thompson was in charge of capsule recovery. Ultimately Thompson became the first shuttle program manager in 1970, a post he headed until 1981. Today, Thompson lives about a mile away from Kraft, and his home overlooks the same golf course.I never worried an instant about Carter cutting the funding off, he said in an interview at his dining room table. Youd have to be an idiot to get up in front of people and say, Im now going to trash $5 billion even though were that close to the finish line, and Im going to quit human spaceflight. Carter was kind of an oddball guy to be president, but he wasnt stupid.So why wasnt it canceled?Still, there seem to be valid reasons for concern about a program that would ultimately run three years behind schedule and, according to NASAs comptroller, about 30 percent over its initial $5.15 billion estimated development cost. Why did Carter remain so steadfastly behind the shuttle? Was it really because Carter valued the shuttle in his arms control discussions with the Soviet Union? The answer appears to be yes.It is conceivable that one of his arguments to Brezhnev on why there should be SALT was our ability to use the shuttle to verify the agreements, Logsdon said. Whereas the president unquestionably felt lukewarm toward spaceflight, he felt conversely strong about arms control. And to verify that the Soviet Union was complying with the treaty, the United States would need a constellation of spy satellites.Back in 1970, to win Department of Defense support at the programs outset, NASA had redesigned the shuttle to launch national security payloads. Now, that decision paid off.A book about Carters space policy, Back Down to Earth by Mark Damohn, draws this conclusion about a president who liked NASAs robotic exploration and science but didnt see the value of humans in space. The ability of the shuttle to launch arms control verification satellites is what saved it during the Carter administration," Damohn writes. His book does not recount any meetings with Brezhnev. When asked whether Carter might have discussed the shuttle with the Soviet general secretary and whether that might have influenced his decisions, Damohn replied that Krafts story is essentially correct except for the part of Carter bragging to Brezhnev. Bragging is not in Carters personality, Damohn told Ars.Another person who could verify or debunk Krafts anecdote is Frosch himself, who left NASA in 1981 and remains a senior research fellow at Harvards Kennedy School of Government. After I related Krafts story, Frosch said he didnt recall a Brezhnev connection with Carters decision to support shuttle funding. That does not mean it's not true, he added. I just don't remember any clear sequence like that. But it's certainly possible if the dates fit together correctly.The timelineDo the dates fit together? For some of the story, yes, and for other parts, no. Kraft recounted fiscal problems plaguing the space shuttle program in 1977 and 1978 that delayed development of the space shuttles main engines, thermal protection system, and other flight critical elements. According to TA Heppenheimers excellent History of the Space Shuttle, by May of 1979 the shuttles costs had already run $830 million over the initial $5.2 billion projected cost.Moreover, by the time of Krafts come-to-Jesus meeting with the shuttle program managers and Frosch at Johnson Space Center, the vehicle had already missed its original March 1978 flight date. Ultimately, the vehicle would not fly until April 12, 1981.It is also true that the White House provided additional funding when NASA needed it most. The president approved a $185 million supplemental for fiscal year 1979 to address the technical and manufacturing delays, and NASA would receive another $300 million supplemental for the fiscal year 1980 budget. The message from Carter to his OMB officials at this time regarding these supplementals was clearfind the money.What is not consistent with Krafts narrative is the notion that Carter bragged about the shuttle to Brezhnev and then felt compelled to follow through with the shuttles development for this reason. The 1979 supplemental was formally signed into law by Carter on June 4, 1979, and by then he had already greenlit another supplemental for 1980. These dates are important, because Carter did not meet with Brezhnev in Vienna to sign the SALT II Treaty until June 15. United States President Jimmy Carter, left, and Leonid Brezhnev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, welcomed journalists to the Soviet Embassy in Vienna, Austria, on June 17, 1979, on the eve of the signing of the SALT II treaty limiting strategic arms. Credit: AFP/Getty Images United States President Jimmy Carter, left, and Leonid Brezhnev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, welcomed journalists to the Soviet Embassy in Vienna, Austria, on June 17, 1979, on the eve of the signing of the SALT II treaty limiting strategic arms. Credit: AFP/Getty Images This means Carter could not have bragged about the shuttle and then have funded it. However, this does not mean the talks with Brezhnev had zeroinfluence on Carters feelings for the space shuttle during the last 18 months of his turbulent presidency.By 1980, amid double-digit inflation, spiraling gas prices, and Ayatollah Khomeinis revolution in Iran, the United States was slipping into another recession. As part of that years budget process, the president sought broad spending cuts. Administration officials told NASA to find budget cuts of $460 million to $860 million for the coming fiscal year.But ultimately, NASAs budget was spared. Heppenheimers book says this happened because Carter exempted the Pentagon from these cutbacks, which meant that the Defense Department could stand fast in the wake of Moscows invasion of Afghanistan. This exemption gave Frosch an opening, as he argued that the shuttle should also be spared from cutbacks on national security grounds. The president agreed.Effectively, then, the shuttle program received extra funding in 1980 from a president that did not support human spaceflight and a vice president that adamantly opposed it. The funds came during a recession when the rest of the federal government was undergoing significant budget cuts. That is perhaps a greater marvel than the majestic orbiters themselves.The ultimate sourceFor some perspective on all of this, Ars reached out to Carter through Steven Hochman, director of research at The Carter Center. He hadnt heard the Brezhnev-space shuttle story, but he was happy to assist our reporting by bringing some questions to the 39th president of the United States.Why did the president ultimately support funding the shuttle in its time of need? I was not enthusiastic about sending humans on missions to Mars or outer space, Carter told Ars. But I thought the shuttle was a good way to continue the good work of NASA. I didnt want to waste the money already invested.Carter also confirmed that he did, in fact, discuss the space shuttle and its capabilities with Brezhnev at the SALT II Treaty meetings in Vienna in June 1979. I did explain to the Soviets that the space shuttle was peaceful, would not carry weapons, and would always land in the US, Carter explained.Finally, Hochman reviewed Carters schedule and found that the president had met with Frosch four times, including a brief discussion on July 11, 1979 atCamp Davidwith the NASA administrator. This came shortly after the final treaty negotiations in Vienna. Hochman said it would not have been at all surprising if Carter discussed with Frosch that he mentioned the shuttle during the Brezhnev meeting.From this we can draw a few conclusionsprincipally that despite some timeline inconsistencies, Krafts story appears to be mostly true. The shuttle program was in big trouble and could have been canceled or drastically modified had Carter not stepped in. Moreover, this was not a drawn out process. By all accounts Carter acted swiftly in the shuttle's time of need. One of Carters primary motivations in doing so was enforcing the SALT II Treaty and,critically, Carter discussed the shuttle with Brezhnev during the treaty meetings. Important presidential decisions about the shuttle were made before and after the treaty meetings.Perhaps what stands out most of all is the lasting, yet almost completely forgotten impact Carter had on this countrys space legacy. Despite just a passing interest in human space exploration, Carter ultimately played a pivotal role in ensuring that the longest-flying US spacecraft in history got built. That decision was instrumental, too, in development of the International Space Station. After all, NASAs primary purpose for the shuttle was to eventually build an orbital station.As someone who championed peace during his post-presidency, Carter no doubt would welcome the stations driving idea of building an international consensus to work together in space. And ironically, after the shuttle finally stopped flying in 2011, America would come to rely on Russia to get into space. Today, we work with the very Cold War enemies with whom Carter negotiated arms treaties, contended with in Afghanistan, and vowed to watch closely from the orbital vehicle he shepherded across the finish line.Eric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 197 Comments

Brain damage When does your brain think something is worth the wait? People with brain injuries differ in their ability to figure out when waiting pays. Elizabeth Rayne Dec 30, 2024 8:15 am | 2 Credit: Yellow Dog Productions via Getty Credit: Yellow Dog Productions via Getty Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWhether its braving the long line at a trendy new restaurant or hanging on just a few minutes longer to see if theres a post-credits scene after a movie, the decision to persevere or ditch it depends on specific regions of our brains.Waiting is not always about self-control. Deciding to wait (or not to wait) also involves gauging the value of the potential reward. In an experiment that investigated wait times among people with lesions in the frontal cortex of the brain, University of Pennsylvania psychologist Joe Kable and his research team found that subjects with damage to certain regions of the prefrontal cortex were less likely to wait things out.[Our] findings suggest that regions of the frontal cortex make computationally distinct contributions to adaptive persistence, he and his team said in a study recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience.Wait for itKable looked for subjects with damage to three parts of the prefrontal cortex: the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and anterior insula. Their behavior was compared to both healthy controls and controls with lesions in the other parts of the frontal cortex.The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is involved with action control, memory, and making decisions. The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex is even more important when it comes to decision-making; it also has an integral role in regulating cognition, emotion, and action. The anterior insula regulates how subjective feelings are processed. The performance of subjects with lesions in these areas was compared not just to healthy controls, but controls with lesions in other regions of the frontal cortex.Participants sitting in front of a computer screen were told that a coin would appear on the screen. That coin was supposed to increase in value over time and change color when its value matured. It could then be sold for a 10 cent reward by pressing the space bar. Even if the coin hadnt matured yet, the space bar could still be pressed to stop the waiting period and make a new coin appear, though they missed out on the 10 cents.What nobody participating in this experiment knew was that the coins maturation followed one of two patterns. In the high-persistence pattern, the coin could mature any time during a period of 20 seconds, so waiting was the best strategy. Conversely, in the limited-persistence alternative, it was optimal to stop waiting a little after two seconds if the coin didnt mature by then, because if it didnt, it would go without maturing for the full 40 seconds The purpose of this test was to make as much money as possible in 12 minutes.When a subject decided to sell a coin, the screen would flash the word SOLD in red for one second while a countdown bar on the bottom kept track of how much time was left.Worth it?The research team found that the groups with specific lesions showed deficits in their ability to calibrate wait duration, and their behavior differed significantly from that of healthy controls, as they said in the same study.Those with lesions to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex showed that they were initially less willing to wait for a reward, regardless of whether they were being subjected to the high-persistence or low-persistence condition. While they did wait longer during the high persistence tests, their wait times were still significantly shorter than those of frontal controls and healthy controls. Kable and his team think this is because of subjectivity; they did not think waiting longer was worth it for them, even with a reward on the line.Those with lesions in the other two areas had wait times close to the healthy controls, but this was not because those parts of the brain dont factor into waiting behavior. Subjects with damage to these regions were not as sensitive to the time constraints required for a reward. Because of this, their willingness to wait did not increase or decrease much over the length of the experiment. They also had difficulty learning from the trials in which they quit: If they quit before a coin matured, they were likely to do it again.Waiting times for the control group with other frontal damage were similar to those of healthy controls.Waiting for moreWhile this study showed that lesions in certain parts of the brain affect the overall willingness to wait (vmPFC lesions) and ability to learn from quitting in the past (dmPFC and AI lesions), it could have further implications. There are many mental conditions that involve a tendency to either wait much too long or not enough. How the brain processes waiting for rewards in people with these conditions is something that Kable and his team intend to study in the near future. It will be worth the wait.Journal of Neuroscience, 2024. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0068-24.2024Elizabeth Rayne Elizabeth Rayne is a creature who writes. Her work has appeared on SYFY WIRE, Space.com, Live Science, Grunge, Den of Geek, and Forbidden Futures. She lurks right outside New York City with her parrot, Lestat. When not writing, she is either shapeshifting, drawing, or cosplaying as a character nobody has ever heard of. Follow her on Threads and Instagram @quothravenrayne. 2 Comments

A Chinese deep-sea mining vehicle during a trial in the Pacific Ocean in July 2024Credit: Shanghai Jiao Tong University/Handout via Xinhua/AlamyMining companies are hoping that 2025 will be the year they can finally start harvesting valuable minerals from the ocean floor.For over two decades, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN-affiliated body charged with regulating deep-sea mining in international waters, has been unable to finalise a code for the harvesting of minerals found on the ocean floor. With negotiations remaining deadlocked, the impasse could see states going ahead without a global agreement.

Tens of thousands of passengers are reportedly canceling flights with Jeju Air, South Korean media said.That's after one of its jets crashed on Sunday.179 people almost everyone on board died in the crash, officials said. The cause is being investigated.Passengers with the South Korean airline Jeju Air are canceling tickets after one of its aircraft crashed, killing 179 people.The airline said that 68,000 flight reservations had been canceled as of 1 p.m. on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.Most of the cancellations happened after Flight 7C2216 crashed on Sunday.Some 33,000 of the cancellations were for domestic flights, and 34,000 for international flights, the report said. Jeju is South Korea's biggest low-cost airline.The Boeing 737-800 crashed while trying to land at South Korea's Muan International Airport at 9:03 a.m. 179 of the 181 people on board were killed, local authorities said.Footage showed the plane slide on the runway before it came off, hit a barrier, and burst into flames.The CEO of the airline, Kim E-bae, issued a public apology: "Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident."At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident," he said, according to The Guardian's translation.On Monday, most of the homepage of the airline's website had been cleared. A black banner on its English-language version said: "We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident. We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused."Mass cancelations have happened before after major accidents. This includes customers canceling bookings with Malaysia Airlines after two deadly incidents in 2014.Investigations into the South Korean crash are underway and no cause has been concluded yet.A bird strike is one possible factor, with an official in South Korea's transport ministry reportedly saying the airport's control tower issued a bird strike warning before the crash.But experts are skeptical that it would likely be the only reason, as planes are designed with fail safes and with bird strikes in mind.Video footage showed the plane landing without its landing gear deployed.Why that was the case is not yet clear.

A few sandwiches short of a picnicA picnic with sandwiches. Malcolm P Chapman/Getty Images "A few sandwiches short of a picnic" means someone who lacks common sense. The phrase was first documented in the BBC's "Lenny Henry Christmas Special" in 1987."She's great fun, but she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic." AnorakNerd. Shutterstock "Anorak" refers to someone who's a little bit geeky, with strong interests or expertise in a niche area.Although it's more often used as a synonym for raincoat, an anorak is something slightly different in playground slang. This word probably originates from the "uncool" appearance of anorak coats and the people wearing them."Thomasis suchan anorak when it comes to train trivia." BagsyPeople grabbing chicken off a serving plate at a family-style dinner. EyeWolf/Getty Images "Bagsy" is the British equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car or food, is offered up to a group. School kids might call "bagsy" on items in their friends' pack lunches, like an apple or a cereal bar, that the friend isn't going to eat."Does anyone want thi""Bagsy!" Bee's kneesBeekeepers. Manuel Medir/Getty Images "Bee's knees" refers to something at the "height of cool." This phrase became mainstream in the USA in the 1920s despite its British origins, but its popularity has dwindled since the turn of the century.When first documented in the 18th century, the "bee's knees" referred to small or insignificant details. Since then, the phrase has evolved and now refers to something popular or cool."The Beatles are the bee's knees." BenderPeople drinking cocktails. HEX/Getty Images A "bender" is an extended period of drinking, usually in excess. Someone on a spree of excessive drinking and mischief is "on a bender." Benders can last over 24 hours, and so you might say that someone is on "a weekend bender," or a "three-day bender.""I bumped into him towards the end of his four-day bender. He was a wreck." BirdBirds. Taufik Ardiansyah/Shutterstock A "bird" is an informal word for a girl or young woman.While the phrase can be interpreted as misogynistic, it's still commonly used. It's usually used to describe a woman between the ages of 18 and 50, particularly one who is attractive."Look at that bird over there. She's fit." Pull a blinderPeople playing soccer. skynesher/Getty Images To "pull a blinder" involves achieving something difficult faultlessly and skillfully. The phrase is most commonly used when the individual has been lucky and the person saying it is in disbelief that the first person has managed to pull it off."And did you see that equalizing goal in the last minute of injury time? He pulled a blinder there." BloodyRon Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoner." Warner Bros "Bloody" or "bleeding" is used to add emphasis to adjectives, similar to how "wicked" is used in New England. The origins of the word are widely disputed. Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." Others believe the word is a contraction of the 17th-century phrase "by our lady," and is blasphemous.This second theory has been disproved, however, by the slang's first documentation predating the widespread use of the phrase "by our lady."Nowadays, "bloody" is used widely it's even used in children's films such as "Harry Potter" andis arguably one of the most quintessentially British words on the list."That was bloody good." Bob's your uncleSnapping fingers. Nisara Tangtrakul/EyeEm/Getty Images "Bob's your uncle" is the very British equivalent to "hey presto!" or "et voil!" This phrase is often used to describe a process that seems more difficult than it actually is."Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. Bob's your uncle you're driving!" Bog-standardEmpty dining room. Emilija Manevska/Getty Images Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons. Its origins are somewhat unclear, but a "bog" is another word for a toilet in British slang, adding to the connotations that something "bog-standard" is unglamorous and unspecial."How was the hostel?" "Oh, nothing exciting to report. Just your bog-standard dorm, really." BootCar boot. supergenijalac/Shutterstock The "boot" of a car is the trunk in American English. A popular pastime in the United Kingdom is attending or having your own "car boot sale," in which people usually sell knickknacks and old personal items out of the back of their cars."Shovethe shopping in the boot." Botch jobA broken TV on a shelf. rawf8/Shutterstock A "botch job" is a repair job that's been completed in a hurry and will probably fall apart reasonably soon. A "botch job" can also refer to anything that's been done haphazardly, like a work assignment."Sam did a botch job on these shelves they're wonky!" BrollyMeghan Markle holding an umbrella over Prince Harry. Ian Vogler/PA Images via Getty Images A "brolly" is a shortened word for an umbrella. On a rainy day in London, you would definitely want a brolly on hand."Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside." Budge upPeople sharing a park bench. Westend61/Getty Images "Budge up" is similar to "scoot over" or "move over." An informal way of asking someone to make room where they are sitting for you to sit down, too, would be asking them to "budge up.""Hey, there's loads of room on that bench. Budge up and make some room for us, too!" Builder's teaEnglish breakfast tea. Emma Fierberg/Business Insider "Builder's tea" is the name of a strongly brewed cup of English breakfast tea with milk and sugar.It's common courtesy to offer a laborer or builder working on your house a builder's tea while they're working especially if they're working out in the cold. This is probably how the term came about."A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. Now that's a proper breakfast." Butcher's hookButcher handling sausages. Westend61/Getty Images "Butcher's hook" is Cockney rhyming slang for "look." Therefore, if you're "having a butchers," you're having a look at something."Would you take a butchers at this broken bike for me?" CheekyA child with marker on his face. Catherine Delahaye/Getty Images "Cheeky" refers to an act that could be deemed impolite or shameless but, for some reason, comes across as funny or endearing to others. "Being cheeky" means being funny or humorous, but slightly mischievous at the same time."Joe's children are absolute rascals they tied my shoelaces together last week!""Those cheeky monkeys." ChinwagA couple having a conversation. Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images A "good old chinwag" is a good chat, catch-up, or gossip with someone.The action of chatting away with thejaw bobbing up and down resembles a chin "wagging" like a dog's tail."Those twoare having a proper chinwag I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour!" ChockablockBumper-to-bumper traffic. Tetra Images/Getty Images "Chockablock" could be used to describe something that's full to the brim or rammed. This is sometimes shortened to "chocka." The phrase is most often used to describe heavy road traffic."We should've taken the other route. This road is chocka!" ChuffedA happy group of people. Klaus Vedfelt/getty Images "Chuffed" means overjoyed and full of pride. If you get a promotion or meet someone special, you might describe yourself as "chuffed.""I heard you got the promotion. Congratulations! You must be chuffed." CodswallopA person taking a lie detector test. Edward Kitch/AP "Codswallop" means something untrue, often made up for dramatic effect.Although no one is completely sure of the word's origins, it could derive from thewords "cod" and "wallop," which historically meant "imitation" and "beer" respectively implying that "codswallop" is the kind of rubbish you make up when drunk."Oh, what a load of codswallop!" Cream crackeredA person tired at their desk. shapecharge/Getty Images "Cream crackered" is Cockney rhyming slang for "knackered," or incredibly tired.The term probably came about because it rhymes with "knacker." A "knacker" was the person who slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hides. So, if you're "ready for the knacker's yard," you're exhausted beyond relief."This week's done me in already, and it's only Tuesday. I'm cream crackered." DenchSpaghetti alla carbonara. Nattaphat Littlekop/Getty Images "Dench" is an adjective used to advocate something that is impressive or agreeable. Dench is also the equivalent of "solid" or "cool" when used in response to someone else.Its reported creator, British rapper Lethal Bizzle, elusively told The Guardian that the word "means anything you want.""I'm going to make us spaghetti carbonara for dinner.""Dench." DimA dim lightbulb. Oleksandr Filon/Getty Images "Dim" refers to someone who lacks common knowledge. On the other hand, someone who's intelligent might be described as "bright.""She's a bit dim." DoddleA person doing homework. NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty A "doddle" is an easy task. The word could be a variation of "toddle" like a young child's first steps."This will be a doddle." Dog's dinnerA dog making a mess. Shutterstock A "dog's dinner" is a mess or fiasco. It is also sometimes referred to as a "dog's breakfast.""You've made a dog's dinner of that paint job." FaffA person sitting on a couch on their phone. Oscar Wong/Getty Images To "faff" or "faff about" is to waste time doing very little. "Faff" comes from the 17th-century word "faffle," which means to flap about in the wind."What did you do on your day off from work?""We were just faffing about." FitZac Efron. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures "Fit" is used to describe someone physically attractive, usually referring to their physique. If you see someone you find attractive, you would call them "fit.""He's fit." FlogA woman browses a box of old books. Westend61/Getty Images To "flog" means to sell something, usually quickly and cheaply."Flogging" also refers to whipping a racehorse in order to make it move faster, so there is some speculation into whether you flog goods in order to make them shift faster, too. However, there is no proof for this theory."I'm trying to flog my old sofa. Do you know anyone who might be interested?" Full MontyBritish roast dinner. Emma Farrer/Getty Images A "full Monty" refers to pursuing something to the absolute limits.After "The Full Monty" film was released in 1997, there was some international confusion over the phrase, which was taken as a euphemism for stripping. However, "the full Monty" now usually refers to taking something as far as it can go, similar to "the whole nine yards.""The full Monty" historically refers to an old tailor called Sir Montague Burton. Going "the full Monty" meant purchasing a full three-piece suit, a shirt, and all of the trimmings."Our Christmas dinner had everything from sprouts to Yorkshire puddings. If you're going to have a roast, have the full Monty!" Full of beansSpectators at the Gay Pride Parade in Greenwich Village. DanielBendjy/Getty Images "Full of beans" can be used to describe someone who's energetic, lively, or enthusiastic. This phrase could be a reference to coffee beans, although these claims have been disputed."Goodness, you're full of beans this morning!" GaffA house with artwork and decorations. Andreas von Einsiedel/Getty Images "Gaff" is an informal word for "home." Although the origins of this phrase are largely unknown, a gaff in the 18th century was a music hall or theater, and so it's believed to derive from this."What are you up to this weekend? We've got a party at our gaff, if you fancy it?" GeezerA man in a business suit texting. Shutterstock A "geezer" is a man who could be described as "suave" or "dapper," and is often suited and booted. Men from east London are also commonly referred to as "geezers," where the term is more interchangeable with "lad."Geezer is thought to stem from the 15th century "guiser," which meant well-dressed."That guy's got suchswagger he's a proper geezer." GuttedA sad child. Ute Grabowsky / Contributor/Getty Images "Gutted" means devastated or extremely upset. If your favorite football team were to lose, you'd be "gutted.""I was absolutely gutted." InnitFriends hanging out outside. iStock "Innit" is an abbreviation of "isn't it," most commonly used among teenagers and young people. This phrase is used to confirm or agree with something that another person has just said."It's really cold today.""Innit." KipA person napping at the airport. Thomas Lohnes/Getty A "kip" is slang for a short sleep or nap. The term is usually used to refer to a nap, but it can also mean a long sleep."What a long day. When we get home, I'm going to take a quick kip." Leg itPeople run away as Kurdish animal rights activists release a bear into the wild after rescuing bears from captivity in people's homes. Ari Jalal/Reuters "Leg it" means to make a run for it, run away, or escape. It's used most commonly when you're trying to get out of a situation by physically running away."That's when all of the lights came on, and so we legged it." MiffedAn annoyed couple. Tara Moore/Getty Images "Miffed" means slightly irritated or annoyed and possibly derives from the German "muffen," meaning "to sulk.""I was a bit miffed,I can't lie." Mint

In 2024, people got carried away with gray.Too much gray can look inorganic. NelleG/Getty Images According to Vanessa Helmick, owner and interior designer at Fiore Home, more people will start replacing gray tones in 2025.The designer said the color will likely be phased out because it was being used for elements like flooring that aren't naturally gray.Additionally, since marble became trendy in kitchens and bathrooms in recent years, homeowners and builders felt they had to use gray everywhere.However, these color choices often appear inorganic and cold, so Helmick predicts more people will avoid gray in 2025. Cool colors, like slate blue and taupe, aren't as popular as they once were.Cool colors like slate blue will likely be replaced by warmer hues. LEKSTOCK 3D/Shutterstock According to Paula Kennedy, a certified architectural color consultant and the CEO of Timeless Kitchen Design LLC, colors with gray in them, like taupe, slate, and cool blues, are fading away as well.She said the move toward warmer colors is becoming stronger, especially in the Pacific Northwest, where the weather turns gray."Right now, there's just an overall theme of warming up," Kennedy told BI. Sage green is falling out of favor.Watery blues and deeper hues will likely replace sage green. Joe Hendrickson/Getty Images Shades of green have long been in vogue, but Kennedy predicts sage will fall out of favor as people shift toward richer, deeper hues.She also believes watery turquoise shades will replace basic blues and greens, as these hues have greater design flexibility and harmonize well with other colors. Stark white can look too harsh or worn.Stark-white furniture can look faded. asbe/Getty Images Color expert Amy Wax told BI that many people love white for its purity and cleanliness, but the hue can quickly look worn or tired when used on furniture especially next to other white elements."If everything is as stark as the white, it's fine," said Wax. "Otherwise, fabrics become faded-looking."Stark white can also be too harsh on the eyes, so more people are opting for hues that feel softer. Black-and-white designs don't feel cozy.Black-and-white designs aren't the best long-term color options. Joseph Hendrickson/Shutterstock Though black appears sexy and elegant at first glance, Kennedy believes people will move away from it because it isn't sustainable as a long-term color choice.She also said combining black and white in a design is becoming pass."Black and white has a clarity," said Kennedy. "It's simple and matter-of-fact, but we're not in that place psychologically anymore."The designer believes uncertainty in the world is causing more people to opt for cozy home designs and black and white shades don't fit the bill anymore. Fewer people are opting for nautical blue.Nautical blue is on its way out. Artjafara/Getty Images Nautical blue has long been a staple in Helmick's New England community, but the designer believes the color will start to become less popular in 2025.According to Helmick, nautical blue-and-white themes can feel limiting, as updating or changing such a distinctive color scheme can be difficult. "People are moving less, the real-estate market isn't moving as fast, and they want to freshen up their homes,"she told BI.She predicts more people will bring in warm tones and pair them with colors that freshen things up and add a sense of coziness. Mustard and olive hues are dated.Hues like mustard yellow will be replaced with subdued, calming colors. Vanit Janthra/Getty Images Though quirky colors like mustard yellow and olive green had a moment, 2025 may be a good time to rid your home of them."Mustard gold and olive green were attractive because they were unique," said Wax. "But people want something more easygoing."She believes 2025 will see more people gravitating toward calmer hues. Yellows and teals are on their way out.Yellows and teals will likely stay in 2024. Fiordaliso/Getty Images Yellow and teal were popular in 2024, but Wax feels their time has passed."Intensely playful colors like bright yellows and teals have a harshness that has been overplayed," the expert told BI. "People want easier colors that you can decorate around."