Goosebumps: The Vanishing streams on Disney+ beginning Friday, January 10.R.L. Stine is not a character on Goosebumps, the latest hit TV series based on his hit book series. While co-creator Rob Letterman previously cast a bug-eyed Jack Black as Stine in the first of the Goosebumps movies, he arranged only a vocal cameo for the kid-lit author in the first season of the Disney+ adaptation of the same wildly successful source material. All the same, there is a certain sly meta dimension to the new small-screen Goosebumps, now entering its second season. In following both modern kids and their fortysomething parents, in splitting the action between present day and the 1990s (a.k.a. the decade when Stine began churning out his pre-teen paperbacks at a monthly clip), the series winks at its own attempts to court multiple demographics, to appeal to the young and the nostalgic alike.Of course, a lot has changed over the past 30 years, including in the world of adolescent programming. While Goosebumps continues in season 2 to make intergenerational tension a focus, the real tension of the show is between one eras definition of YA anthology and anothers. Once again, the creators have crammed the square peg of Stines preteen paperback yarns his one-off, quick-read campfire tales of small-town spookiness into the round hole of a serialized teen soap opera. It remains an imperfect fit.Goosebumps: The Vanishing GallerySeason 1 ended in what seemed like a cliffhanger but appears to have turned out to be a classic, inconclusive Stine twist instead: No, we wont be picking up with the plucky young heroes of Port Lawrence High, or seeing how they manage to once more vanquish the authors most popular villain, the malevolent marionette Slappy the Dummy. Season 2, subtitled The Vanishing, tells a new story in a new locale, following a group of Brooklyn teens as they become tangled in a missing-person investigation involving an abandoned research facility. All the same, the dual-decade formula of this Goosebumps incarnation remains intact, as the kids uncover the events that have haunted their parents since 1994, when a classmate went missing during a trespassing incident.In present day, the vanished boys younger brother has become a botanist and single father played by David Schwimmer, who fills the veritable cast chaperone role occupied by Justin Long in season 1. (Talk about a lateral move in the matter of dweeby grown-up star power!) Dont go in the basement, this not-quite-mad scientist repeatedly warns his twin offspring one a type-A overachiever (YouTube star Jayden Bartels), the other a shiftless underachiever (Sam McCarthy) when they come to stay with him for the summer in Gravesend. Though hes technically a little old to portray a guy who was a teenager in 1994 (the year Friends premiered!), Schwimmer has some fun with the character: He summons the dorkiness that delivered him to primetime fame, and then like Long before him puts a more sinister spin on this seemingly harmless authority figure.Around the sitcom veteran, Goosebumps assembles another Scooby Gang of wholesome high-schoolers, including the misunderstood bad girl (Francesca Noel) who Bartels debate champ ends up romancing, and the congenial delivery driver (Elijah M. Cooper) the others hit up for rides. The kids are all right maybe too much so. Even the requisite love triangle reaches an amicable impasse, as if the showrunners were afraid to make anyone unlikable for long. After surviving a brief transformation into a plant-like monster, the most ornery and hostile of the young characters awakes all nice and enlightened, which makes you wonder about the therapeutic benefits of a stint as a pod person.No one has quite enough personality a problem that extends to the show itself, which remains a polished and sometimes generic streaming melodrama. Has Goosebumps itself been bodysnatched? While Stine focused mainly on middle-school-aged kids (they were proxies for his target readership), this new TV version smooths out older teenage life for the presumed audience of sheltered Disney+ viewers. Rarely has Brooklyn looked so nondescript, so suburban. And though the show has secured directors as varied as Gillian Robespierre (Obvious Child) and Oz Rodriguez (Vampires vs. the Bronx), theres little recognizing their specific contributions. (Only Eduardo Sanchez, one of the filmmakers behind The Blair Witch Project, puts his mark on the material mainly because his episode contains long stretches of faux home-video footage.)What we said about Goosebumps season 1After a faithful '90s anthology series and a less-faithful pair of Jack Black movies, Goosebumps returns to the screen in the form of a teen soap that pulls some of the supernatural mumbo jumbo of R.L. Stine's bestselling kid-lit series into the story of high-schoolers haunted by a vengeful Gen X ghost. The performances are endearing (especially Justin Longs), and there's some fun in how creators Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller repurpose the various haunted masks and cursed cameras. But Stine's work isn't the most natural fit for a Stranger Things-style streaming melodrama; the adolescent fun of the books gets a little lost in translation. A.A. DowdRead the complete Goosebumps season 1 review.Goosebumps comes alive most when it resembles, well, Goosebumps. Between scenes of chaste romance, the kids narrowly escape various Roger Corman-grade monsters lifted, loosely, from Stines Scholastic pageturners: a seeping blob, some hungry flora, a training-wheels Christine that blares System of a Downs Chop Suey! while its zigzagging madly down city streets. Theres a surprising amount of gore around the edges of the series, as when Schwimmer digs a hungry bulb out of his arm or turns to reveal a nasty ocular surprise. This stuff is very much in the spirit of the books, which left young readers emboldened by their own courage to keep reading, and feeling like they were getting something past Mom and Dad.But the monsters that are Stines bread and butter have become almost secondary to the shows equation. Theyre basically accents on its aspirations to a tamer Riverdale or Stranger Things a few Halloween thrills wedged between its stock teen drama and the kind of overarching mythology thats frequently mistaken for a foolproof shortcut to bingeability. If you liked the first season of the show, theres no reason to think you wont like the second: Despite the all new cast and story, its more of the same. But regardless of your generation or your familiarity with Stines massive library of colorful titles and covers, you deserve more goosebumps than this Goosebumps provides.

Colin Farrells portrayal of Oz Cobb a.k.a. The Penguin in Matt Reeves The Batman universe is quite distinct. Farrell is nearly unrecognizable in this role, a plethora of prosthetics transforming him from a suave actor into the weaselly mobster we love to hate. Farrell has done such an impeccable job of embodying this character and bringing him to life in The Penguin, that the actor recently took home a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series for his role in the show. But hes not the first Batman villain to win this prestigious award.Unsurprisingly, Heath Ledger was the first actor to win a Golden Globe for playing a Batman villain. Though the actor won the award posthumously after his tragic death, his turn as the Joker in Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight is still lauded as one of, if not the best portrayal of this character to this day. More recently, Joaquin Phoenix also took home a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the Joker in Todd Phillips Joker. Both Phoenix and Ledger would go on to win Academy Awards as well, something that Farrell wont be eligible for due to The Penguin being a TV series.When asked about his award and what it was like to join Ledger and Phoenix as the best of Batmans villains, Farrell was honored above all else. Speaking at a press conference after his big win, Farrell said I mean you mentioned two actors who are, I think, for my money, two of the most extraordinary, talented, gifted, and just brilliant artists in film that Ive ever had the fortune to observe and be affected by, you know.What Heath did in Chris Nolans Dark Knight was extraordinary and will live on for future generations, he continued. To have your name thrown into it, just uttered in the same sentence as those performances and stuff, honestly, its lovely.But even though he appreciates the comparisons, Farrell doesnt necessarily consider himself a member of that winners circle. I dont feel like Im part of that pantheon, he said. I wont be going home tonight going, Im part of that pantheon.' Farrell may not see himself as part of this legendary group, but that doesnt mean his win is any less extraordinary.Farrell is the third actor to win a Golden Globe for playing a Batman villain. Cristin Milioti was also nominated this year for her performance as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin, though she unfortunately didnt win. However her nomination and Farrells win further prove that Batmans Rogues Gallery is full of some incredible characters.Superhero projects are still a long way away from sweeping awards shows, and yet if we look across the board, Batman villains have come the closest. These wins may all be for different projects in different superhero universes, but no other hero has come close to having this many of their villains (and their actors) win such a prestigious award. Batmans villains have inspired a plethora of performances over the decades, from zany to compelling to downright terrifying, so its nice to see at least a few of these actors get the industry recognition they deserve.

Its a new era for World Wrestling Entertainment, as Monday Night Raw has left the world of cable TV to jump exclusively to Netflix. Initially a replacement for WWFs Prime Time Wrestling (at the time a roundtable discussion sprinkled with house show matches) made in response to the gradual death of NBCs Saturday Nights Main Event, Raw redefined the company and became its flagship show. For over 30 years, over 1,500 episodes, and a phone book of in-ring talent, a whole lot has gone down and many shoulders have been counted to the mat.In-between Yokozuna vs. Koko B. Ware and Lyra Valkyria vs. IYO SKY, there have been countless wrestling matches on Raw. Here are 10 that truly stick out as the very best ever in terms of in-ring quality and general importance in the grand scheme of things. Before you ask, no, none of these matches include The Great Khali. I know, Im just as surprised as you are.Mr. Perfect vs. Ric Flair (1/25/93)It only took the third episode of Raw for a great match to happen. Built out of the companys sudden loss of The Ultimate Warrior, WWF used an episode of Prime Time Wrestling to build up a feud between Mr. Perfect and Ric Flair. Perfects realization that Ric Flair and Bobby Heenan were keeping him under their thumb made for possibly the best face turn in wrestling history. Their hatred reached a level where there wasnt enough room in the company for the both of them. Hence, a match where the loser would have to leave the promotion. With Perfect refreshing his in-ring career and Flair being a recent WWF Champion, the winner didnt seem so obvious.It helped that in his brief WWF run, Flair didnt do too many major singles matches on TV or even PPV. Having him go out with one of these, against someone on Perfects level no less, felt like a real treat and way bigger than something wed expect to see from WWF Superstars or WWF Wrestling Challenge. With Flair out the door so early into this new show, it really felt like big changes were happening. Though funny enough, because this episode was taped in advance, Flair still wrestled a handful of matches for the company before leaving, including a Royal Rumble match that was shown live the night before this aired. It gets a little confusing.Bret Hart vs. 1-2-3 Kid (7/11/94)Bret Hart and The 1-2-3 Kid are two names who really helped define Raw in its early days. The Kids jump from nameless jobber to popular midcard act really established how unpredictable the show could get, while Bret Harts time as WWF Champion really changed the game. No longer was it Hulk Hogan only defending the belt for special events or house shows. Now it was The Hitman being a fighting champion and taking on everyone from the likes of Skinner to Papa Shango.Putting the honorable champion against the ultimate underdog was a masterclass in great wrestling. The two had fantastic chemistry to begin with, but then that was seemingly dashed with an early pinfall where The Kid had his foot on the rope and the ref didnt see it. Rather than move on, Bret insisted on restarting the match and things kicked into gear. The Kid surprised Bret again and again with some slick moves and nearfalls, causing Bret to get noticeably frustrated. By the time it came to an end, you could see Randy Savage getting up to give it a standing ovation.Mankind vs. The Rock (1/4/99)It was the night when WCW shot itself in the foot so badly that they never recovered. Shortly after they ended Goldbergs undefeated streak and championship run, they did a bait-and-switch main event on Nitro that had Hollywood Hogan become the new champ while reprising the New World Order and pissing off practically everyone. Meanwhile, as Raw was taped that night, WCW commentator Tony Schiavone infamously told fans not to change the channel by spoiling that Mankind was set to win the WWF Championship off The Rock. Many viewers heard this warning and responded, Dont threaten me with a good time!Mankind winning the world title was merely a detour towards a Steve Austin vs. Rock main event at WrestleMania XV, but it was still a huge deal. Mick Foley was beloved by the fans and the locker room, so seeing his hard work pay off in such a way felt beyond cathartic. Arguably the greatest fan reaction in all wrestling is when D-Generation X are brawling with Vinces Corporation goons, only for the glass shattering sound from Steve Austins theme song to kick in out of nowhere. Schiavone joked about how that would put butts in seats, and he wasnt wrong. Everyone in that arena excitedly stood up for that one.The Rock, Cactus Jack, Rikishi, and Too Cool vs. Triple H, X-Pac, and The Radicalz (2/7/00)People talk up what a disaster WCWs freefall was in 2000, and for good reason, but on the other side of the coin, WWF was absolutely thriving. Not only were they bringing in some of the best WCW castoffs they could ask for, but they were hitting on all cylinders, even with Steve Austins lengthy absence due to injury. There was no better showcase of this than this 10-man tag that closed out this Raw on the road to No Way Out. Just dont expect WWE to promote its existence, considering it was won by Chris Benoit.The rivalry between Triple H and Cactus Jack expanded into their various allies gathering for this big tag match, giving us a big chunk of the roster from Nintendo 64s No Mercy in action. The match isnt a long one, but it doesnt let up. Everyone gets to have their moment in the sun while the crowd remains electric throughout. The ending is a mere formality, as the brawling continues after the bell. The only thing that can put the carnage to bed? The surprise appearance of Kane to help the faces clear the ring. The Attitude Era wasnt always as fantastic as people try to remember it, but times like this really show why the promotion was so unstoppable at the time.Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy (7/1/02)In the early 2000s, The Undertaker dropped the undead gimmick to be a big, mean biker guy, and it wasnt his best work. It got worse when he turned heel, as he just felt like a worse copy of Steve Austin who would stop selling two seconds after taking any kind of damage. He was still a few years away from really hitting his stride as the maestro of the big time match, and it didnt help that he won the Undisputed Championship in a terrible match against an over-the-hill Hulk Hogan. That said, when he faced Jeff Hardy in his one and only ladder match, things really clicked.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!As part of an aborted attempt to split up the Hardy Boyz, Undertaker terrorized Team Xtreme for the sake of being a bully. He put his title on the line against Jeff Hardy, who was always on the cusp of being a singles star. The two played off of each other extremely well with enough hope in there to almost make you think Jeff was going to pull it off. It even gave us an all-timer Jim Ross call of, Climb that ladder, kid! Make yourself famous! while the camera work really did a great job of hiding Undertakers presence before his fateful comeback. Hardy looked tough in defeat, to the point that Undertaker gave him props, steering himself towards a much-needed face turn.John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels (4/23/07)There were plenty of reasons to hate the never-ending stretch of John Cena on top. The frustration of seeing all the eggs in one basket, the burying of talent, the way someone could point out that he was in the wrong and hed deflect it by saying nice speech, the way commentators would obnoxiously cheer him above all else, and so on. That said, when push came to shove, the guy could go. Look no further than his matches with Shawn Michaels, a guy who the fans really wanted to win the title off of Cena, even though Michaels was adamant about not wanting the real-life pressures that came with it.After Cena retained the WWE Championship against Michaels at WrestleMania 23, a four-way was set up for Backlash featuring Cena, Michaels, Randy Orton, and Edge. The go-home episode of Raw was meant to have a Cena vs. Michaels non-title rematch, as well as Orton vs. Edge, but they ran into a snag. Orton was punished for some unprofessional conduct behind the scenes, and was sent home, meaning Cena and Michaels were told to stretch their match out to nearly an hour. And the madmen did it, having an absolute killer exhibition that would be Cenas best match yet. Not bad for a last-minute change in plans.The whole rivalry between John Cena and CM Punk is full of awesome matches, but it all represents the desires of the fanbase vs. the stubbornness of Vince McMahon. While, yes, Cena was never going to budge as the man on top, it still meant a lot in terms of the kind of wrestler CM Punk represented. After years of WWEs love for bulky former football players over smaller indie wrestling darlings, guys like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and later AJ Styles were able to endure the wrath of a company that absolutely did not want them to succeed. That Punk was able to get a few high-profile wins over Cena, and even have a lengthy world title run, was a miracle, even if he was still never truly the companys headliner.When The Rock returned, it was only a matter of time before he entered the title picture and won the belt off Punk. Cena won that years Royal Rumble, meaning that WrestleMania main event was written in stone. Still, they dangled the possibility of an alternative to the viewers by having one last Cena vs. Punk match for the #1 contender spot. Knowing it was going to be their last go, the two left it all in the ring, creating a grand finale to their feud. They even made waves by throwing in a piledriver, which apparently got them in hot water backstage.The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family (3/3/14)There was a truly magical time when you could turn on just about any episode of Raw or SmackDown and be treated to a six-man tag featuring The Shield. It was a glorious time with every single one being the match of the night. Then one day, WWE pitted the two big heel trios against each other as Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns found themselves facing Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan. Their first match was at Extreme Rules 2014, which was a true contender for the match of the year.And so, they did a handful of rematches. The first rematch didnt quite hit the heights of Extreme Rules, but damn was it a fantastic showcase. As their first match was ultimately decided by which team had stronger bonds and The Shield was starting to show cracks, the Raw match built on that by having Rollins lose his patience with his partners bickering and reluctantly abandon them mid-match. Rather than completely fall apart from this loss, The Shield rebounded stronger than ever, and proved it by beating the Wyatt crew on the inaugural episode of Main Event. Good times.Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair (7/25/16)There was no greater uphill battle in WWE history than the womens division. Once a section of the show dedicated to sexual humiliation at worst or three-minute distractions at best, it took a long time for the promotion to finally treat its female talent with respect. Much of that came with NXT putting in the groundwork with acts like Paige and the Four Horsewomen. Even when those women came to the main roster, it took a lot of time and effort for them to overtake the likes of the Bella Twins and Eva Marie.Even though there were still so few who got that spotlight, these superstars really proved themselves when given the opportunity. This especially goes for the rivalry between Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks, who kept trading the Raw Womens Championship back and forth. One of their best bouts was on this 2016 Raw (itself a kickass show overall), where Sasha was quickly able to use her Eddie Guerrero fangirl trickster skills to get Charlottes lackey Dana Brooke ejected from ringside. From there, the two kicked it up a notch with some excellent ringwork, earning the fans adoration, and ending with both a series of false-finishes, and Charlotte making the funniest angry face while incorrectly screaming that Sasha would never beat her.Gunther vs. Chad Gable (9/4/23)For years, WWE couldnt quite figure out how to transition up and coming stars from NXT to the main roster. NXT was Triple Hs dog and pony show, and Vince never seemed to pay much attention to it. That meant that when a successful NXT wrestler jumped to Raw or SmackDown, Vince made his own uninformed decisions on what they were about. To many, graduating from NXT was a career death sentence. Just look at Bearcat Keith Lee, EC3, or Ember Moon. Chad Gable felt like the second coming of Kurt Angle, but due to his height, he got shoved into a comedy loser gimmick where he was Shorty G. The nigh-unbeatable and highly protected Gunther was eliminated from a Survivor Series tag match with little fanfare because Vince just didnt get his deal. How can you build the future when so much of it was undermined by the whims of an old man who doesnt give a damn?As time went on and Triple H had more say on the main roster, this became less of an issue. Great wrestlers could be great wrestlers and not be punished out of spite and indifference. Gunther became the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion, and it extended into a sweet trilogy that reestablished what Chad Gable was capable of. The hard-hitting Ring General took it to the best grappler in the company, and they absolutely rocked it. Some of the best chemistry that had people biting down on it so hard that upon Gunthers win, the first thing they showed was a little girl crying. And thats what this is all about, isnt it?What are your favorite Raw matches? Let us know in the comments!

Theres nothing quite as exciting as the prospect of totally remodeling a spaceespecially a bathroom. Daunting, yes, but exciting nonetheless. Whether youre just looking to refresh your bathroom with a new coat of paint or going all-in on a complete renovation (were talking new tile, fixtures, lighting, etc.), weve got ideas below to make 2025 the year your bathroom becomes a place you actually want to spend time. We even have easy decorating ideas to give your space a quick facelift to hold you over while you build your budget and figure out what else you may want to do. Regardless if you have a large or small bathroom, or what your budget is, theres guaranteed to be some ideas below that will have you ready to break out the toolbox before the clock strikes midnight! Ready to get renovating? Check out more of our favorite bathroom design ideas!1Enhance Your EntranceSara Ligorria-TrampSet a relaxing, welcoming tone with a prettied-up bathroom entrance. In this wet room, designed by Richard and Anne De Wolf, an arched stained glass doorway creates a stunning spa-like effect. RELATED: Stained Glass is Trending Again! See What Other Vintage Decor Ideas are Making a Comeback.2Convert a Small BedroomDane Tashima for Country LivingIn a small home where space is at a premium, you might have to make a few sacrifices to get the bathroom you desire. In their Cape Cod cottage, homeowners Steve Ballerini and Colin Bohrer chose to enclose a small bedroom off their guest bedroom and transform it into this en suite bathroom. Get the Look: Floor Paint Color: Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & BallTOUR THIS HOUSERELATED: 20 Best Small Bathroom Ideas to Spruce Up Your SpaceAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Go All-In on PersonalityAnnie Schlechter for Country LivingTheres no such thing as too much in a bathroom; the space begs for personality! In this farmhouse makeover, serial renovator Holly Williams layered in loads of pattern and color through wallpaper, patterned tile, and a painted ceiling. Get the Look:Wallpaper: Country Living Toile on SpoonflowerFloor Tile: Cluny by Granada TileCeiling Paint Color: Black Blue by Farrow & BallTOUR THIS HOUSE4Rethink Your Awkward VanityBrie Williams for Country LivingIf your bathroom proportions are slightly off, leaving you with that annoying wasted space between your wall and vanity, then its time to rethink your layout. While you could opt for an expensive built-in, you can also do what homeowners Victoria and Marcus Ford did in their bathroom and choose two petite vanities to stand side-by-side. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Update a Vintage Sink with New HardwareBecky Luigart-Stayner for Country LivingWere never going to tell you to get rid of beautiful, still-functioning pieces in your bathroom for the sake of modernization. Heritage pieces, such as this vintage sink in Landon McAfees cabin bathroom, can take on new life with a shiny new faucet.TOUR THIS HOUSE6Lean Into Rustic CharmRikki Snyder for Country LivingIf you want to do a full gut reno but dont want to strip your space of classic farmhouse charm, then look to rustic finishes that will complement your sleeker designs. In her upstate New York farmhouse, designer Christina Salway picked a perfectly patinaed clawfoot bathtub to bring aged character to her freshly tiled bathroom. RELATED: Our Favorite Claw-foot Tub Ideas That Will Elevate Any BathroomAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Paint Your FloorsErin ConwayOn a budget and up for some quick geometry? Then you are ready to paint your bathroom floors! A checkered pattern is classic, but feel free to get creative. Check out our guide below for all the tips youll need on picking proper paint and finishes for floors.RELATED: Heres Everything You Wanted to Know About Painting Your Floors8Use Space CreativelyDavid Tsay for Country LivingLooking to expand your bathrooms footprint? Dont overlook oddly shaped spaces, such as this farmhouse attic alcove. It makes the perfect cozy spot to tuck in a shower! Go for all-white finishes to keep low ceilings and small spaces from feeling too cramped. RELATED: These Are the Only Shades of White Paint Youll Ever NeedAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Pick Vintage FixturesAli Harper for Country LivingIf your house wasnt blessed with chic vintage fixtures, you can still bring them in to add back classic country charm. In this Alabama river cottage, designer Jensen Killen found this small cast iron sink on Etsy. Your local architectural salvage yard should also have a good selection if you prefer to shop in person. Get the Look: : Wall Paint ColorLondon Clay by Farrow & BallTOUR THIS HOUSE10Opt for a Beadboard BacksplashRikki Snyder for Country LivingSure, tile is the standard choice for bathroom walls, but we just love the charm wood beadboard paneling adds. In this bathroom, a creamy sage color pairs nicely with the warm wood vanity. Get the Look:Wall Paint Color: Quiet Moments by Benjamin MooreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Keep It Simple With Statement PiecesReid RollsSometimes, you dont need to overcomplicate a space. For this Texas farmhouse makeover, helmed by design stars and real-life friends Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell, a stunning antique double-sink vanity steals the scene, leaving little need for much else in the bathroom. Get the Look:Wall Paint Color: Lime White by Farrow & Ball12Make Your Existing Vanity Pop with PaintDiana Paulson for Country LivingHappy paint colors can do a lot to change the look and feel of a bathroom. If youre looking for a one-and-done weekend project, start with paint. And, you dont have to commit to changing your wallswe love how this sunny yellow vanity pops against the white backdrop.RELATED: These Are The Best Paint Colors for Small BathroomsAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Choose Checkerboard Kate S JordanRelying on classic patterns ensures your renovation will feel timeless through the coming years. In this farmhouse bathroom renovation, the duo behind the Jersey Ice Cream Co. design firm chose to upgrade their shower space with a simple checkered tile pattern. RELATED: Here Are Our 50+ Best Bathroom Tile Ideas14Take Wallpaper Up the CeilingAlpha Smoot for Country LivingLooking to add an expert-level look to your bathroom? Wallpaper the ceiling! In small bathrooms such as this attic space, it may actually make the room feel larger! TOUR THIS HOUSERELATED: These Bathroom Wallpaper Ideas Will Have You Pulling Out Your Paper PasteAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below15Embrace Existing ElementsBecky Luigart-Stayner for Country LivingWhen Country Living Editor-in-Chief Rachel Hardage Barrett renovated her Mississippi home, she kept the original black and white subway tile and previously installed green-and-white toile wallpaper. To enhance the vintage feel while still giving the small bath a fresh update, she painted the trim a delightful coordinating green shade. Get the Look:Trim Paint Color: Oakmoss by Sherwin-WilliamsTOUR THIS HOUSE16Just Add Artwork Ali Harper for Country LivingLooking for a quick way to refresh your space that can be done in just one afternoon? Try hanging new art! Go all in on a collection to fill your walls, like homeowner Anthony Brewington did here in his Alabama cottage, or hang just a piece or two to keep things simple. RELATED:Get Inspired With These Gallery Wall Ideas Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Make Moody Paint WorkSara Ligorria-Tramp2025 is going to be the year of moody paint colors. (Dont believe us? Check out our paint color trend report for 2025!) If youre ready to embrace a more sumptuous look in your bathroom, start with paint. The homeowners of this cabin bathroom went with a daring shade of inky black milk paint, but left the wood ceiling exposed to bring in a little warmth. RELATED: The Best Dark Blue Paint Colors for Any Room in the House18Pick a Dramatic BacksplashZIO AND SONSIf you love the look of tile, go for a dramatic tile backsplash behind your sink, as designer Anthony DArgenzio did here in his upstate New York bathroom. The powdery gray-and-white tile extends from the floor up behind the sink, creating an interesting backdrop for the vintage cabinet vanity. For even more visual interest, he bumped the lower part of the wall out slightly to create a display ledge. TOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below19Pay Homage to the OriginalAnson Smart for Country LivingA bathroom refresh doesnt have to be all-encompassing! In this humble bathroom, the homeowners installed new beadboard meant to reference what may have been there originally. Simply painting it the same white as the walls and trim keep it feeling fresh. TOUR THIS HOUSE20Reveal Your WoodAnnie Schlechter for Country LivingIf youre really lucky, when you strip away that drywall and popcorn ceiling, you just might reveal some stunning original wood. If that happens, our best advice is to leave it exposed so you can revel in its natural texture and beauty. Just be sure to check with your contractor and get their approval first! TOUR THIS HOUSERELATED: Heres Everything You Need to Know About Reclaimed WoodAnna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isnt working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

Theres no shortage of 3-in-1 chargers, but the EnergyCell 3-in-1 charging stationdelivers what matters for a MsagSafe dock: reliable performance, fast charging speeds, and a clean design that fits anywhere.MagSafe Monday:Every Monday, Bradley Chambers looks at the latest and greatest in the MagSafe and wireless charging industry to help you get the most out of your Apple devices that support wireless charging.Qi2 certification checks the box for fast-chargingWhat sets the EnergyCell 3-in-1 charging station apart from other MagSafe docks isQi2 certification, which ensures actual 15W fast charging for your iPhone. With the backing of the Wireless Power Consortium, its as close as youll get to Apples official Apple products. Its also capable of handling AirPods (5W charging speed) and Apple Watch (2.5W charging speed), letting you charge all your devices simultaneously.The spacing of the magnets is even, so your devices line up neatly. The magnetic hold is strong enough to keep your phone in place. The footprint is small, making it easy to fit on a nightstand or desk. One small but helpful feature is the soft LED light on the base. Its nightstand-friendly, with the option to dim or turn it off completely.The EnergyCell 3-in-1 charging station comes with a30W adapterand a USB-C to USB-C cable, so you wont have to hunt for extra chargers to ensure it has enough power for 15W fast charging. Combine that with built-in safety features like overcurrent protection and foreign object detection, and youre getting a solid charging station for your Apple devices.Whats in the EnergyCell 3-in-1 charging station box, and what youre getting15W for your iPhone (MagSafe keeps it securely in place)5W for your AirPods2.5W for your Apple Watch30W wall adaptorUSB-C cableThe EnergyCell 3-in-1 charging stationWrap up on EnergyCell 3-in-1 charging stationOverall, I have no complaints about the charging station. It comes with everything youd need in the box. I love that it includes the wall adapter, but the killer feature is Qi2. It also lets you turn the light off and on. There are way too many charging products that fail to remember that people might want it to be completely off at night.You can buy the EnergyCell 3-in-1 charging station from Amazon.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple One launched in 2019 as a bundle for Apples various services. Fresh content is always being added to the likes of TV+, Arcade, and Music, but actual service upgrades or changes are rare. Recently though, Apple introduced three new benefits among the various Apple One services. Heres whats new.Advance access to Apple TV+ original podcastsId bet the majority of readers have no idea that Apple produces original podcasts, and that Apple TV+ subscribers get advance access to them.Apple has experimented with podcast production in the past, like with companion shows for TV+ series. But in the second half of 2024, the company started branching out.Apple now releases podcasts branded Apple TV+ that actually have nothing to do with the TV service. Its confusing, I know. Examples include:Scamtown, a true crime seriesMy Divo, a dual-language podcastand moreApples original podcasts are released weekly, with fresh drops every week even to non-subscribers.But Apple TV+ subscribers get a special perk: the full set of episodes are made available immediately on day one.So while non-subscribers can only hear the first one or two episodes of a show, TV+ (and Apple One) subscribers get to binge-listen right from the start.Sudoku puzzles in Apple News appiOS 18.2 debuted last month with some big upgrades for iPhone users, including Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and a Mail app redesign.Also introduced in iOS 18.2 was a new benefit for Apple News+ (and Apple One Premier) subscribers: daily Sudoku puzzles.Apple has been regularly expanding its collection of puzzles inside the Apple News app, and all of them are exclusive to News+ subscribers.Daily Sudoku joins the existing roster of Crossword, Quartiles, and Mini Crossword puzzles available with an active News+ subscription. Basically, Apples following a big competitors playbook by hooking news readers with fun.Fitness+ upgradesPerfect for any 2025 health goals youve set, Apple Fitness+ has just launched a Strava integration plus several new curated programs:Both of these additions make Fitness+ a more compelling option heading into the year ahead.Apple One new benefits: wrap-upApple One doesnt upgrade its offerings very often, but its great to see continued investment from Apple. Providing more value at the same subscription price is always a win with customers, and Im eager to see how the company might expand Apple One in the futureperhaps with more Home-focused efforts soon.What changes do you hope to see from Apple One in the future? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The M4 Mac mini has easily been one of, if not, the most popular new Apple release among readers this year, and what is arguably the best upcoming accessory for it is arriving soon. Satechi already quickly teased its next-generation Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure, but it is serving up all of the details for CES 2025 alongside the upcoming pre-order date.The best M4 Mac mini accessory Satechis new Stand & Hub with SSDThe Satechi Stand & Hub is still one of the best accessories for the previous-generation M2 Mac mini, delivering perfectly form-fitted hub of sorts that rests perfectly on the bottom of your mini headless Mac. Mac mini sits right on top, mostly retaining the overall look and feel of Apples design while significantly expanding the machines I/O and storage capabilities the new model does all of this and then some specifically for the new M4 Mac mini.The new model was first announced back in November, mostly shrouded by the onslaught of Black Friday offers elsewhere, but details were thin anyway and we have the full rundown today.Introducing the newMac Mini M4 Stand & Hub the next generation of desktop innovation.Crafted in the USA,thispatented designIt once again features an aluminum form-factor made specifically for the new Mac mini, complete with dedicated accessibility to the power button, notable transfer speeds up to 10Gbps, an onboard SD card reader, and front-facing connectivity with USB-A 3.2 and 2.0 ports. The unit features bottom heat-dissipating vents and a recessed top area the brand says makes for optimal cooling.Powered by Gen 2 USB-C tech, the USB-A 3.2 ports deliver 10Gbps speeds while the built-in SD card reader offers speeds up to 312MB/s, but it also features an onboard SSD enclosure offering what is about as close to expandable internal storage as youll get without ripping apart the Mac mini itself.Storage expansion leaps forward with the upgraded SSD enclosure, supporting up to 4TB of NVMe storage and compatible with multiple SSD sizes. Whether managing extensive projects, photo libraries, or backing up critical data, this extra storage ensures you never run out of space. With efficient and quick Time Machine backups, valuable data stays secure and accessible.As far as Im concerned, the previous model was the best Mac mini accessory out there, and this one likely will be as well.Features at a glance:First of Its Kind:One of the only hubs on the market designed specifically for the 2024 Mac Mini.Unmatched Storage Expansion: Supports up to 4TB and most SSD sizes (M.2 2230/2242/2260/2280) with blazing 10Gbps speeds for all your files and media.Legacy Port Compatibility: Reintroduces USB-A ports to seamlessly connect your favorite peripherals.Patented Technology:Ensures perfect airflow, wireless signal integrity, and unmatched reliability.Streamlined Access: Front-facing ports make connectivity a breeze.Premium Build Quality: Sleek aluminum construction with a slim profile and heat-dissipating vents for optimal airflow and performance.The new Satechi Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure will be available for $99.99 with limited availability starting February 17, 2025. However, the brand is offering up an early run for folks who sign up now on the site youll receive receive exclusive updates and a 20% discount before its availability. But if you dont get a chance to score one on the 17th, it will be fully available in March (no specific dates have been given as of yet).In other words, if you really want one, go sign up now.FTC: 9to5Toys is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is calling for NASA to ditch its Artemis program, arguing that the "Moon is a distraction" and that "we're going straight to Mars" instead in a recent tweet and directly contradicting the agency's long-established plans.In a separate tweet on Christmas Day, Musk accused the space agency's Moon program of being "extremely inefficient as it is a jobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing program."The broadsides once again highlight the mercurial entrepreneur's obsession with establishing a city on Mars, a starry-eyed vision he wants to see facilitated by his space company's next-generation heavy-lift rockets.And while the idea of ditching the Artemis program which was officially formed by Musk's new ally, president-elect Donald Trump, in 2017 seems bafflingly counterintuitive and shortsighted, his emboldened calls to skip the Moon can't be dismissed given his immense new influence.Musk now holds huge sway not only over the fate of his many businesses, but the political landscape as well, most recently helping Trump win the electionand even playing a major role in the torpedoing of a US Congress funding bill last month.Consequently, the South African billionaire has been put in charge of a so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" to excise $2 trillion from the national budget. Whether this advisory group will be able to take aim at the Artemis program remains to be seen.Nonetheless, now that Musk has a significant foothold in Washington, DC, NASA's efforts to land the first astronauts on the surface of the Moon before the end of this decade could be in serious trouble or at least look dramatically different after some high-powered meddling.What's perhaps most likely, at least in the short term, is that instead of scrapping NASA's plan,the Trump-Musk alliance could make significant adjustments instead, perhaps by ditching the agency's expensive and inefficient Space Launch System in favor of SpaceX's reusable Starship or Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, as Ars Technica's Eric Berger suggests.One unknown is NASA's incoming administrator Jared Isaacman, a billionaire and private astronaut who has been to space twice with the help of SpaceX but who so far has expressed support for NASA's existing lunar gameplan.In a statement Isaacman tweeted following his nomination, the billionaire proclaimed that "Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth."That vision directly contradicts Musk's desire to aim our sights exclusively at Mars, a striking difference in tune that will be fascinating to watch play out.Will Trump's administration and Isaacman bend the knee, calling off upcoming Artemis missions or will it be a matter of appeasing Musk's plans while simultaneously pursuing American boots on the Moon?Chances are, we'll have to wait quite some time until we get a definitive answer. The Artemis program has formed an intricate web between NASA and its private contractors, SpaceX included, which likely can't be ripped apart or burned down overnight.More on Artemis: NASA's Moon Landing Gets Pushed Back Yet AgainShare This Article

"They came right at me."Orbstacle CourseFormer NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao says he had a baffling encounter when he was flying his private four-seat airplane in 2023.At an altitude of 9,000 feet over Houston, Texas, the former Space Shuttle commander had two "perfectly smooth" and "shiny" spheres, each roughly three feet in diameter, rip by him a mere 20 feet away. He first detailed the unusual encounter in an interview with NewsNation in December, and recently elaborated on the sighting in a follow-up with the New York Post claims from a highly accomplished pilot and space traveler that add fuel to the fire of debates over unidentified objects in the skies."There was nothing around me other than the panhandle of Texas at nine thousand feet on this instrument flight plan and just suddenly these things appeared," he told the publication."They came right at me," he added.Alien Bird StrikeIntriguingly, the Pentagon released a declassified video of a UFO soaring over a military base in the Middle East in April 2023, roughly four months before Chiao's encounter. (Some experts have since suggested it could've simply been an ordinary party balloon.)As the New York Post points out, the object visible in the footage roughly aligns with Chiao's own description."Thats what it made me think of," he told the publication. "I wonder, 'Gosh, I wonder if this is the same thing.'"Officials from the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office also revealed in 2023 that "metallic orbs" are the most prevalent type of UFOs in the sightings the office was studying. However, the panel stressed at the time that there was no evidence that they represented encounters with extraterrestrial technology.A crash with the objects could've ended in disaster, Chiao claimed."Obviously if I collided with them it would have been really bad," he said. "No one wouldve known what happened to me."Chiao could only guess as to what may have been behind the two mysterious orbs, suggesting it could've been "some secret military program."It's hard to make of Chiao's account, especially without any hard evidence. His claims that the two orbs didn't even disturb the "air around my airplane" as they zipped by in complete silence, and that they showed "no visible means of propulsion," are particularly eyebrow-raising.It's certainly not the first account of its kind. A number of former military pilots have come forward over the years, claiming to have made similar sightings. Claims by David Grusch, an Air Force veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, catapulted the topic into the mainstream in mid-2023, sparking sensational claims of an alleged government cover-up of the recovery of alien spacecraft.Universal CoverageAs a NASA veteran, though, Chiao is keeping it real."I firmly believe there is other intelligence in the universe," he told thePost. "I think its the height of arrogance to think that were the only intelligent life in this entire universe."But the "flip side of that is that well never find each other because the universe is so vast," he added. "So I have trouble believing that aliens have visited us."Share This Article

In a freewheeling interview with Bloomberg, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman unloaded on the company's board members who abruptly sacked him in November 2023 new perspective on the coup that fleshes out both the history of the company and Altman's chaotic character as a leading figure in the explosive AI industry.At the time, the board said it no longer had the "confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI," accusing him of not being "consistently candid in his communications."After being asked if he was "traumatized" by being booted from the company and the chaos that followed, Altman had some choice words for the former board members, many of whom stepped downfollowing his reinstatement just over a week later."And all those people that I feel like really fucked me and fucked the company were gone, and now I had to clean up their mess," adding that he was "fucking depressed and tired.""And it felt so unfair," the billionaire told Bloomberg. "It was just a crazy thing to have to go through and then have no time to recover, because the house was on fire."OpenAI quickly churned throughseveral short-lived CEOs before rehiring Altman shortly afterward, a messy custody battle that shook the company and its public perception to its core.The company's board went through a major game of musical chairs, with esoteric chief scientist Ilya Sutskever who was one of the orchestrators of the coup and was quickly removed from the board as a result quitting in May 2024 in a fit of rage.At the time of Altman's dismissal, the company's board consisted of six people. Four of them voted to remove the CEO, and only one of them, Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, stayed on the board following Altman's reinstatement.Meanwhile, many signs have suggested that Altman has been attempting to consolidate power at the top of the company's ranks after news emerged last year that the company was moving to restructure its core business into a "for-profit benefit corporation."After Bloomberg insinuated that he was being "sneaky" to turn the company into a competitive for-profit, Altman dismissed the turn of phrase, dismissing 2024 as a "crazy year.""Its a company thats moving a million miles an hour in a lot of different ways," he told the publication. "I would encourage you to talk to any current board member 12 and ask if they feel like Ive ever done anything sneaky, because I make it a point not to do that."Altman, however, did appear more lucid about the chaos following his dismissal in late 2023."The one thing Im more aware of is, I had had issues with various board members on what I viewed as conflicts or otherwise problematic behavior, and they were not happy with the way that I tried to get them off the board," Altman admitted in his interview with Bloomberg. "Lesson learned on that."Just over a year later, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Altman holds more power over OpenAI than ever before. Case in point, weeks after Sutskever left, OpenAI dissolved the safety-oriented Superalignment team he was once in charge of.Less than ten days later, OpenAI announced the creation of a new "safety and security committee" with Altman at the helm.Share This Article