Aventon Soltera 2: $999 Save $200 $999 at Aventon HappyRun G100 Pro: $2,399 Save $600 $2,399 at HappyRun Lectric XP 3.0: $999 Save $454 $999 at Lectric eBikes Jetson Bolt Pro e-bike: $440 Save $110 $440 at Amazon GoTrax Z4 Lite: $499 Save $300 $499 at GoTrax Looking for an easier way to get around town? If you're on a tight budget, an e-bike is one of the best affordable alternatives to a car or truck. Their compact sizes makes them seriously convenient, and they're much more environmentally friendly as well. And while some high-end models can get pretty pricey, there are quite a few deals out there that can help you get your hands on one for less.Hey, did you know?CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.Below, we've rounded up some of the best bargains out there for every budget and every type of rider. So whether you're looking for something small and affordable or need a bike with some serious kick to transport cargo, you'll find it for less on this list. And we'll continue to update the page as offers come and go, so be sure to check back often. Best e-bike deals Aventon/CNET Thanks to its simple design, seven-speed cassette and detailed LCD display, we named the Aventon Soltera 2 the overall best e-bike of 2024. It features a 350-watt motor, a top speed of 20 mph and a maximum range of up to 46 miles. It's also equipped with integrated lights and turn signals and has four levels of pedal assistance. $999 at Aventon HappyRun/CNET If you want to go fast and look good doing it, this is the e-bike for you. It has five modes, with the highest reaching up to 50 mph. On top of that, it's got a 3,000-watt motor that gives it a decent amount of torque, even in hilly locations. As for range, you can get more than 40 miles from this if you're moving at 28 mph. Use the promo code XMAS200 at checkout to get the full discount. $2,399 at HappyRun Lectric/CNET In his roundup of the best e-bikes of 2024, Kaminski called the Lectric XP 3.0 the best e-bike for heavy cargo. "It's robust and versatile, with a total payload capacity of 330 pounds, including a rear rack that supports up to 150 pounds," he says. So if you're in the market for a bike with a long range that has big carrying capacity, this one will do the trick.Plus, this offer comes with tons of free accessories, including a lock, seat, headlight and more. $999 at Lectric eBikes Jeston / CNET One of the cheaper ways to get an e-bike is this Jetson model with a 30-mile range and max speed of 15mph. It weighs 41 pounds, has a 15.5 mph top speed and you can currently snag one for over $100 off. $440 at Amazon A folding e-bike with a 25-mile range, 44-pound weight, 20 mph max speed and 350-watt motor power. With those specs, this GoTrax model is a solid value at just $499. $499 at GoTrax These Impulse Buys Under $25 Actually Make Great Gifts See all photos

Looking for a great travel backpack that costs less than one extra baggage fee? As a food and travel writer, I fly more than 50 times a year and I say this with as much conviction as I can muster: This $36 Dinictis backpackis the single best travel accessory I've ever owned.Some carry-on bagsmay be sleeker and some are available in more colors, but I argue none are sturdier, more efficient and or better priced than this under-$40 travel bag. If you have travel planned in 20205, here's why I love this backpack and recommend it, full stop.Hey, did you know?CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.See at AmazonWhen a backpack is required It's available in four colors: gray, dark gray, blue and black. Pamela Vachon/CNETTo be clear, my backpacking days were over before they started. Without the means for serious travel before the age of 25, my life as a traveler didn't kick off in earnest until I was equipped solely with roller-bag sensibilities. As an [age redacted]-year-old, when I scheduled myself for a bus trip along the coast of Peru, with overnight stays in modest accommodations, suddenly a roller bag felt kind of well, prissy. Roller bags are decidedly inconvenient when it comes to unpaved or nontiled surfaces, plus, it's just not a good look when the vibe is more low-brow than luxury. This wasn't a backpacking trip by any means, but a backpack was definitely called for. One that could accommodate a week's worth of clothing, amenities and a laptop but still potentially fit in a locker.The Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack came into my life for this particular trip, and it exceeded my expectations. It's come with me on every trip since, backpack-appropriate occasion or otherwise.Pack it like a suitcase It's a backpack that packs like a suitcase. DinictusMany travel backpacks are spacious and compartmentalized, but the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack operates like a suitcase. It opens along three sides, so you can flip it open like a suitcase and pack accordingly, with straps for holding your clothing in place. This makes finding what you need much easier than shoving your belongings from the top down like a typical backpack. A side handle even allows you to carry it like a suitcase.When full it can easily hold up to 10 kg, or 22 pounds, the weight restriction of carry-on baggage for many of the discount airlines. Since it's a backpack, nobody has ever even asked to weigh it for compliance. It will always look lighter than it is. 11 Essential Accessories Your iPhone Wants for the Holidays See all photos Store your laptop with confidenceAs a writer, I always travel with a laptop, so I'm concerned not only with its portability but also its safety. That said, I hate having it pressed right up against my back, which can be stiff and, depending on where you're going, sweaty. The laptop sleeve on this model is ideally situated near the (sweat-free) front of the pack but isn't the most outward-facing compartment. Honestly, protected by a foam divider, the laptop feels hidden, even when packed to the gills.Outside pockets are a must A side handle is key for navigating public transportation. DinictusI am team-soft-body even when it comes to roller-bags, for two reasons. First, it's much easier to shove last-minute items into an already zipped suitcase without the clamshell action of a hard case, and second: outside pockets. Who can travel without these? (No, I really want to know) This backpack has two outer pocket compartments for miscellany, arguably three when you consider the extra space located in front of the laptop sleeve -- and four if you include the handy water bottle holder. There are even compartments within the compartments. These are the sorts of details that separate the high-functioning from the holding-up-the-line travelers, in my opinion.A personal item that can masquerade as checked luggage Safe laptop storage is crucial for a travel writer and this bag has a dedicated sleeve. VaultzMany travel backpacks have an infrastructure that keeps them in a certain shape even when empty. The Dinictis model has enough structure to keep its sides afloat while you pack it, but its essence is still as a lightweight, fabric backpack. If you've ever been asked to prove that your carry-on actually qualifies as carry-on, you will understand that "smushability" is an important factor. I have packed this backpack for a weekend away and brought it on board as a personal item. (I will fly Spirit Airlines, but I will only do it while giving them as little of my money as possible.) It can totally fit under the seat in front of you when necessary.The beauty of this travel backpack is that it is also suitable as checked baggage, with heavy-duty fabric that can withstand the journey. The straps can be unclipped and tucked away, and the body cinched by additional clips, for a tidy package that doesn't make you feel panicky when you watch it being whisked away on the baggage conveyor.I've had many trips where it leaves with me as carry-on, and returns as checked luggage. Even in the lighter gray color, its durable material doesn't reveal that it has ever seen the tread of a baggage carousel. It was the function I didn't even know I needed, but now I never travel without it for this purpose.Read more: Best Laptop Backpack for 2024 Watch this: How to Shop Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Like a Pro 02:36 4.7 average rating on AmazonYou don't even need to take it from me. As someone who reviews various products, I understand that this kind of rating is a rarity: with over 1,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, and selling for only $36 after Cyber Monday, the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack is one of the safest bets you can place this season.See it at AmazonFor more, here are the best tech gifts under $100and our favorite travel headphones.

December 30, 20245 min readHow Frazzled Parents Can Be More Present with Kids during the HolidaysFuture-oriented thinking, rather than careening from moment to moment, can help parents have more meaningful moments with their children Miodrag Ignjatovic/Getty ImagesThe following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.Holidays are often depicted as picture-perfect moments: families blissfully united around a table filled with seasonal food favorites against an immaculate backdrop. For many parents, attempting to meet such unrealistic expectations can undermine their self-worth and their sanity.In the real world, parents are juggling more activities than there are candles on the menorah after eight nights of Hanukkah. Its all too easy to fall into survival parenting, an approach where the focus is on simply getting through the day. When those holiday cookies need baking, theres no time to teach a child how to crack an egg.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.As mothers ourselves, we understand that these occasions can feel like anything but a holiday. We are both child psychologists and mental health experts who work with kids, adolescents and their families to support realistic and healthy approaches to parenting. We know whats on parents lists, and, fortunately, this wish list is easier to fulfill than many moms and dads realize.The current state of parentingU.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory in August 2024 calling for a rapid resuscitation of parental well-being. Murthy along with scientists and parents sees that the current stress of parenting is seriously affecting the physical and mental health of caregivers.Dr. Vivek Murthy states his concern over reports that most days, nearly half of all parents feel overwhelmed by stress.Mothers and fathers today are busier and more isolated than ever. According to a report released in April 2024 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, both parents are employed in nearly 2 in 3 U.S. households led by married couples. For single-parent households, the number of employed parents rises to just over 3 in 4 families led by mothers and over 4 in 5 families led by fathers.Additionally, data from a 2022 Household Pulse Survey found that the majority of parents including 35% with children under 5 and 54% with children between 5 and 11 have no formal child care support. This is undoubtedly driven, at least in part, by the rising costs and increasing scarcity of day care options.Our experience as both clinicians and moms is that kids are similarly busier than ever between school and extracurricular activities. Its no wonder parents move into survival mode, simply trying to get through all that needs to be done and requiring their kids and others to do the same.The science behind survival parentingOur research shows that focusing only on getting through the day with your kids is linked to more stress and harsher parenting behaviors.When a mom or dad is in survival mode, they tend to be more prone to yelling demands and criticizing their childrens behavior, as opposed to thinking through the impacts of these behaviors. Stressed-out parents are quicker to criticize little things that get in the way of accomplishing immediate goals, such as spilling flour on the floor. And they are slower to notice and acknowledge their childs strengths, such as their interest in helping in the kitchen.The result is more stress and less joy in their parenting.As good research ideas often do, this one came from our own experiences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we noticed that even the most well-meaning fathers and mothers ourselves included struggled to stay out of the survival parenting trap amid the isolation, overscheduled time and life stresses. We found ourselves frantically trying to get everything done in our day without any support, so we pushed our children to hurry up, stop dawdling, not make mistakes. We were living moment to moment rather than thinking through the potential long-term impacts of our behavior.Recent epidemiological studies show that we were not alone parents with children at home were, and continue to be, depressed, anxious and burned out. These challenges negatively affect their relationships with their children and the childrens mental health.In fact, research from one of our teams suggests that when parents have strong reactions to stress and experience symptoms of depression, their kids are more likely to struggle with managing their strong emotions and with depression.Ironically, this is the very opposite outcome of what parents are working so hard for.Strategies for enjoying the holidays with your childrenFortunately, bringing joy back to parenting this holiday season and any time of the year is more straightforward than most recipes on Pinterest.In our research and in our clinical practices, we have found some strategies that can help parents slow down, rest more and tend to their own needs. If you find yourself moving into survival mode, its time to step back from the to-do list and try the following:Shift your thinking from reacting to what is going on in the moment to focusing on the larger experiences and future youre trying to create for yourself and your family. For example, if your goal is to enjoy time with your child, try including them in the holiday preparations. If you remind yourself of what youre really trying to get out of each activity, then the fact that the cookies are burned doesnt really matter as long as you burned them together.Reconnect with your friends and relatives who are also in the parenting trenches to lighten each others loads, both physically and emotionally. This might mean batch cooking, carpooling or delivering coffee to a friend. Interacting with people you genuinely enjoy for the purpose of laughter, joy and connectedness goes a long way in supporting overall wellness. Build time into your day not week or month to connect with your social support system. Even better, allow it to replace an unnecessary to-do list task that drains you.Notice if youve become beholden to the dreaded shoulds I should be able to get all of this cooking done myself, or I should be able to finish this task in an hour with two kids in tow. Shoulds can motivate, but they give way to a sense of parenting failure if you dont meet the standards youve set. Instead, replace should with am trying or would like to, as in, I am trying to finish wrapping gifts today, or I would like to play with my child for 10 uninterrupted minutes.Envision what you want your holidays and specifically your relationship with your child to look like five, 10, even 20 years from now. What do you see and hear? Whos there? How do people feel about each other and interact? Forthcoming research from our team suggests that broadening the time horizon and considering how current actions shape the future improves parenting behaviors.In five years, its unlikely that your kids will remember the cleanliness of the floor, but they may remember the emotions of the moment.Memories of cookies accidentally baked with salt instead of sugar age better when they are accompanied by laughter and love, rather than frenzied rebaking.The secret is taking the pressure off surviving the moment and refocusing on the future you want to create.This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Please wrap it up.Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. This article was originally published in September. Enjoy!Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Jim's reliving Splatoon 3's epic climax...Read the full article on nintendolife.com

In BriefPosted:12:24 PM PST December 30, 2024Volkswagen leak exposed precise location data on thousands of vehicles across Europe for monthsVolkswagen Groups troubled automotive software unit Cariad left terabytes of customer data on around 800,000 electric Audi, Seat, Skoda, and Volkswagen vehicles exposed to the internet for months, reports Der Spiegel [in German], citing security researchers who learned about the data spill from an unnamed whistleblower.The researchers, who gave their talk at the Chaos Computer Club in Hamburg, Germany this week, said the exposed data also contained the precise location coordinates on more than half of the listed vehicles, around 460,000 cars. Some of the location data was accurate to a few centimeters, they said, with the data showing most of the vehicles found across Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom (in descending order), among others.Cariad fixed the bug that led to the exposure, and said that it has no evidence to suggest anyone other than the security researchers had access to the exposed data. Cariad has struggled in recent years, plagued by delays to major software launches and a restructuring that has eliminated hundreds of jobs.Topics

What can Dutch architects teach us about design for aging populations? Such was the point of departure for Zeidler Architecture, a Canadian office, for a new elderly residential community in Calgary, Alberta. The forthcoming 307,000-square-foot building will specifically cater to seniors and adults with disabilities. Construction broke ground recently on the new 420-bed residence backed by Bethany Care Society, a local nonprofit. Its all happening in Calgarys Hounsfield Heights-Briar Hill neighborhood, which is just northwest of downtown. Jennifer McCue, President and CEO of Bethany Care Society, said that the new building will replace an existing one from 1945.Over 20 years ago, we began planning for the eventual replacement of Bethany Calgary as models of care evolved and as costs and risks associated with aging infrastructure increased, McCue said in a statement. This new development will ensure we can continue serving Alberta seniors in a modern, welcoming environment that truly reflects our mission to create caring communities.The building will comprise 307,000 square feet. (Courtesy Zeidler Architecture)Zeidler Architecture added that the project is inspired by a well-known community in the Netherlands, Hogeweyk Dementia Village, designed by Buro Kade. Zeidler Architectures Bill Mitchell visited Hogeweyk Village to see how it works and what his office could learn from it. The design consists of three long bar buildings that are connected with a volume that runs perpendicular to them. The masses, Zeidler Architecture said, are broken up into small homes. Each small home will have 14 rooms for patients, and shared dining and living spaces.The masses have light and dark cladding, distinguished by curtain walls. The facades are broken up by dynamic compositional planes. The ground floor is expressed in darker cladding, while the upper floors are soft gray.Patients will enjoy a number of shared facilities, including courtyards. (Courtesy Zeidler Architecture)This gesture is meant to contrast with the typical, rather monotonous spaces patients with disabilities typically endure. There will also be themed community spaces on every floor, garden areas where residents can grow flowers, a bistro, and lush courtyards.Such elements can help normalize the experience of aging, Zeidler Architecture said, as well as reduce the alienation and loneliness patients with disabilities often experience.The project is slated for completion in 2027.

On game day, places like AT&T Stadium in Dallas and New Yorks Madison Square Garden draw tens of thousands of rowdy fans into their stands and on television the plays inside the venues delight millions of viewers at-home. The infatuation with stadiums was loud and clear in 2024, as one of ANs most-read news stories centered the controversial development underway at the Cleveland Brownss home turf. The op-ed penned by Ryan Scavnicky was just one headline in an active year that saw creative, temporary stadiums staged around Paris for the Olympics and a global cricket tournament on U.S. soil. Here are the biggest sports stories AN covered in 2024.The temporary stadium was built for the beach volleyball and blind football events. (Courtesy Paris 2024)Paris hosted the 2024 Summer OlympicsIn the years leading up to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, city officials did much to prep the City of Lights for the world affair. At the Palace of Versailles, equestrian sport returned to the palace built by Louis XIV.Less bourgeoise, but equally spectacular, a stadium by Anatole Kopp, Pierre Chazanoff, and Lucien Metrich was restored by Chatillon Architectes to serve as a training facility. Purpose-built facilities unfolded at several other Paris landmarks, with a temporary skatepark at Place de la Concorde and a beach volleyball court sited adjacent to the Eiffel Tower. Populous designed cricket stadium in New YorkCricket, anyone? One of the worlds most popular past times came to the U.S. this year when New York hosted the International Cricket Councils T20 World Cup, a biannual tournament. The action took place inside a modular stadium designed by Populous.Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced plans to leave Lake Erie for a new domed stadium in nearby suburban Brook Park close to the regional airport. (Courtesy HKS Architects)A stadium proposal by HKS Architects and Jimmy Haslam in Cleveland sparked debateCleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam came under fire this year when he floated plans to uproot his teams stadium from the Lake Erie waterfront to an airport parking lot. AN contributor Ryan Scavnicky dug into the proposal designed by HKS Architects.In his tirade, Scavnicky lambasted Haslams poor managerial decisions, but also the current visitor experience more broadly, where beers cost more than $15 and lousy pop music interrupts every down. Generator Studio designed one of the first purpose-built sports arenas for female athletesKansas City made history this year when one of the worlds first purpose-built stadiums for female athletes opened its doors. CPKC Stadium was designed by Generator Studio. Its shape takes cues from the nearby Missouri River. Team owners say the stadium will boost revenue and television sponsorships for Kansas Citys womens soccer team, the Kansas City Current.The Kansas City stadium opened around the same time a new womens soccer stadium approaches construction in Boston, designed by Stantec. Meanwhile, New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft is eying a brownfield in Everett, Massachusetts, for a new home for the New England Revolution, Bostons mens soccer team.Exterior view of the Superdomes newly renovated domed white roofa city landmark. (Tim Hursley)Trahan Architects restored SuperdomeIts been twenty years since Hurricane Katrine ripped through New Orleans taking the illustrious Superdome, home to the Saints, with it. This year, Trahan Architects completed its renovation of the massive venue. AN contributor Page Comeaux reviewed the refurbished Leviathan and ruminated on what its restoration means for Louisiana more broadly.Tropicana Field partially wrecked by Hurricane MiltonWhile one stadium destroyed by a hurricane was renewed, another was tattered. In early October, surfaced photographs and videos from local news stations revealed Tropicana Field, the enclosedstadium completed by HOK in 1990 for the Tampa Bay Rays, and its roof ripped to shreds. In St. Petersburg there is much debate over the cost of the roof repairs since the Rays were already eyeing a new venue to play ball. Gas Plant Stadiumis slated for completion in 2028. BIG and HNTB unveiled Oakland As future Las Vegas stadiumA spherical armadillothis is how architects at BIG and HNTB described their joint proposal for a new Major League Baseball stadium in Las Vegas for the Oakland As. While designers touted the projects animal-like qualities, other keen observers said it was a coy copy of Sydney Opera House.The Athletics hope to throw the first pitch from their new Las Vegas home in spring 2028.Sails by Glenn Kaino (Iwan Baan)Six installations by L.A. artists built at Intuit DomeInstallationsby sixLos Angeles artists were unveiled in July outside Intuit Dome, the L.A. Clippersnew home in Inglewooddesigned by AECOM. Artworks byRefik Anadol,Glenn Kaino,Patrick Martinez,Michael Massenburg,Kyungmi Shin, and Jennifer Steinkamp take center court at the new campus by Hood Design Studio.A seventh piece byCharles Gaineswill also soon be released.

If you've been curious about Apple+, you can test drive it for free on Jan. 4 and 5. See for yourself!

OpenMandriva is a sensible operating system that's not based on the top four most popular Linux distros, but just as easy to use.

The Marshall Woburn 3 is a premium Bluetooth speaker that looks and sounds more like a pro-grade amp. But there are some considerations to take into account.