Ahead of its premiere on Jan. 11, Netflix released the final trailer for Sakamoto Days, the upcoming anime adaptation of the hit Weekly Shnen Jump manga. The series revolves around Taro Sakamoto, a former hitman once notorious throughout the criminal underworld. But after getting married and settling into retirement, Taro started a new life as a kindly convenience store owner. After Taros cover is blown, hes forced to enlist the aid of Shin Asakura, a former assassin gifted with telepathy, to help him run his shop and protect his family from harm. The trailer does a terrific job of selling the premise and offbeat humor of Sakamoto Days, with Taro being semi-forced out of retirement to fend off the slew of assassins dispatched to collect the bounty on his head. The real draw of the trailer, however, is the voice talent attached to the series. Matt Mercer of Critical Role fame will voice Taro Sakamoto in the English language dubbed version of the anime, with Dallas Liu (Netflixs Avatar: The Last Airbender) cast to voice Shin. Other actors attached to the anime include SungWon Cho (Delicious in Dungeon), WWE superstar Alexa Lexi Cabrera Bliss, and Xolo Mariduea (Cobra Kai).Sakamoto Days premieres on Netflix on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Nintendo made a console announcement Thursday, but not the one everyones been expecting: Lego and Nintendo are teaming up once again, this time to remake the classic Game Boy console in Lego form. The kit is expected to be released in October.Build the classic Nintendo system in LEGO form. Coming October 2025. pic.twitter.com/XEyhbARqXq Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 9, 2025Nintendo posted a 15-second teaser clip on social media on Thursday, featuring close-up beauty shots of different Lego pieces, including the Game Boys iconic purple controller buttons and a Lego brick D-pad. Game Boy music accompanies the clip.Naturally, the comments section and quote posts on X are both a mix of excitement and bafflement that Nintendo would announce a Lego console right when hype for its next-generation console, likely called the Switch 2, is at its highest. The past few weeks, in particular, have been stuffed full of leaks, including full on 3D mock-ups of the console. Nintendo has confirmed that it is making another console, expected out this year, but has said very little else about whats to come.The Nintendo Game Boy Lego kit is part of Legos larger offering of Nintendo-themed kits, which includes a remake of the Nintendo Entertainment System and a retro television, a $300 Lego Great Deku Tree, and a bevvy of Mario kits.How much will the Lego Game Boy kit cost? The short video teaser doesnt say. With the kit being nearly 10 months from the noted release date, it might be a while until theres more information.

Pink Ribbon Eels are a special fish that can only be caught during Infinity Nikkis Take the Bait, Pink Ribbon Eel! event.Youre told that Pink Ribbon Eels can be found in the waters from the Leisureely Anglers to the Swan Gazebo, but even with that information it can be a little difficult to find the eels. On top of that, the event is only available for a limited time, so more weight is being added to your shoulders.But, dont fret as were here to help! Heres how to get Pink Ribbon Eels, along with where you can find them and all of the rewards you receive from Mitcheli.How to get Pink Ribbon Eels in Infinity NikkiPink Ribbon Eels arent guaranteed to spawn at their fishing spots, but there is an indicator that tells you when theyve spawned. Keep an eye out for fish blowing pink bubbles at any of fishing spots between the Leisureely Anglers and the Swan Gazebo as only Pink Ribbon Eels are the only fish to blow pink bubbles.To get a Pink Ribbon Eel, send out your line towards the pink bubble-blowing fish and catch them as you would any other fish!Keep in mind, Pink Ribbon Eels take one real world day to respawn, so if youve already caught some and youre not spotting anymore pink bubbles, you may need to wait until the next day. Luckily, as the event goes on, more Pink Ribbon Eels will spawn, so stay patient! The event ends on Thursday, Jan. 23, so make sure to get all of your surprise gifts before then.All Pink Ribbon Eel locations in Infinity NikkiPink Ribbon Eels have a chance to spawn at the one of the nine fishing spots marked on the map above.Some of the fishing spots are a little harder to reach than the others. To get to the circled locations, youll need to hop on the lily pad near the northern location and speak with Croaker Boatman. Theyll drive their lilypad boat towards the middle of the lake and show you two fishing locations.All Pink Ribbon Eels rewards in Infinity NikkiTo turn in your Pink Ribbon Eels, interact with Mitcheli at the marked location on the image above. After you interact with her, shell give you a special gift as long as you provide her with a Pink Ribbon Eel that matches the desired weight.Heres a list of all the special gifts we received from Mitcheli:2 kg 100 Diamonds3 kg Only the Willing title3 kg 55,000 bling3 kg 80 shining particles3 kg 55,000 bling3 kg 80 shining particles5 kg 55,000 bling5 kg 80 shining particles5 kg 55,000 bling5 kg 80 shining particles5 kg 55,000 bling1 kg 100 blingThe last Pink Ribbon Eel can be any size, and Mitcheli will provide you with bling that is equal to 100 times the weight. From this point on, Mitcheli will provide you with some bling as long as you turn in more Pink Ribbon Eels, but the reward will not be anything close to the 55,000 bling that she previously provided.If youre looking for more info about Infinity Nikki, we have a beginners guide, a gameplay explainer, and a guide noting where to unlock more clothes.

Of the several pristine, beach-ladened islands that extend from New England and New York, Nantucket is perhaps the most remote. Jotting off Cape Cod, this smaller and quainter outcrop has a strong seafaring character and maritime tradition, fishing and whaling in previous centuries. Though it counts among some of the costliest vacation and second home destinations in the United States, it remains less glitzy and more authentic than nearby Marthas Vineyard or The Hamptons. During the 1960s and 70s, Nantucket was home to a thriving art and craft scene; creatives seeking out respite and renewed inspiration in a serene if sometimes rugged waterfront setting.When tasked with the complete retrofit of the 1960-built Beachside Hotel, multidisciplinary New York practice Parts and Labor Design (PLD) chose to honor that history by introducing a sophisticated and cohesive scheme, all while ensuring it would still draw in a wide range of guests.The Beachside Hotel is a design-forward, family-friendly lifestyle hotel, appealing to everyone, not just folks with children but its very welcoming to them, which is unique for Nantucket, PLD co-founder Jeremy Levitt says. We wanted families, children, and parents to have an equally great experience.Preserving and even restoring much of the original white cedar shingle facade the vernacular architectural style here the firm also maintained the original layout of the multi-structure property, which centers on a courtyard lawn reimagined by Miroslava Ahern Landscape Design Studio. Theres also a pool and various seating areas with choice views. PLD mostly set its sights on carefully revamping common spaces and guest room interiors. The use of locally sourced materials, quality finishes, and art from talents based nearby made all the difference.The overall intervention renders in a warm earth-tone palette with hints of salmon-like orange and sea-foam green; a slightly Art Deco-esque articulation popular at the moment. Rattan, as well as mid-toned wood wall and ceiling paneling, brings in a beachy vide. Custom amoebic-shaped furnishings nod to the late mid-century modern period referenced. This comprehensive, leaning residential, approach is perhaps best evidenced in the lobby.Its the main gathering point, almost like a living room for the hotel, Levitt describes. We designed a beautiful tile-clad fireplace that guests can congregate around as well as the main bar, which straddles the exterior wall, making it easy to access whether youre inside or out.He, his partner Danu Kennedy, and their team outfitted the space with original art by Rhode Island-based talent Sean Spellman and Gayle Fitzpatrick. Brown-toned velvet seating is accentuated by Schumacher pillows. A one-off tiled coffee table developed under the auspices of PLDs collectible design franchise Known Work is joined by custom seagrass-woven pendant lamps, mosaic vases by Maxine Metbo, and terracotta vessels by Diego Olivero Studio.The checker-pattern terracotta tile floor continues outdoors as it interplays with wild grasses before enclosing the pool. Other common spaces include a game room; as well as areas that double as intimate dining rooms, yoga studios, and cinemas. Some of this offering caters to children while being in ear and eye shot of their parents sitting and enjoying a cocktail at the pool, Kennedy explains. Each is outfitted with an eclectic mix of vintage and new artworks.A particular emphasis on textiles, celebrating the re-emergence of American craft in the 1960s and 70s, carries through the mid-century modern beach house inspired guest rooms, each with individual access outdoors and facing the courtyard. Patchwork quilts cover beds with headboards upholstered in plush linen. Context-referential tapestries, paintings, and drawings by the likes of Ron Abedra, Frank Wallace, and Alexandra Merker add to the domestic atmosphere. What were looking to bring to this area is really a place that can accommodate families without compromising on design or experience, Kennedy concludes.What: The Beachside HotelWhere: Nantucket, MassachusettsHow much: Guest rooms starting from $360Design draw: A reimagined getaway on highly desirably yet remote Nantucket island that is both family-friendly and style-forward. Multidisciplinary New York firm Parts and Labor Design imbued the hotel with a sophisticated site-responsive outfit nodding at the locales history as a creative haven.Book it: The Beachside HotelGo virtually on vacation withmore design destinations right here.Photography byMatt Kisiday.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.The Couch to 5K program has gotten tons of people started with running. It starts off with just small amounts of running, has a structure thats easy to stick to, and you graduate with the ability to finish a common race distance. But the plan also has its drawbacks, and its not the only way to become a runner. Heres what you should know before you give it a tryespecially if youve already started and feel like its not working for you. What is Couch to 5K?Originally published on now-defunct website coolrunning.com, the best place to read about Couch to 5K now is here, from the UK's National Health Service. You can download an app from that page, or look for any of the Couch to 5K apps or podcasts that break it down for you. There's also a written version here. Some of the apps you might find have slight differences in their schedules, so check that you've found a nine-week version if you want the original timeline.Basically, there are nine weeks of walk-run workouts. The run segments get longer every week, and the walking breaks shorter. For example, heres the first workout of week 1: "...you will begin with a brisk 5-minute walk. After this, you will alternate 1 minute of running and 1-and-a-half minutes of walking, for a total of 20 minutes." By week 4, some of your running stints are five minutes. By week 6, youre doing 25 minutes of running without any walk breaks. In the last week, you get a 30-minute run. Some faster beginners may be able to run five kilometers in 30 minutes, but that's not required. If you can run 30 minutes, you are definitely enough of a runner to complete the 5K distance. Some people choose to "graduate" by running a 5K race, however long that might actually take.The good parts of Couch to 5KRun/walk programs like Couch to 5K have a lot going for them. Many lifelong runners (including myself!) got into the hobby through this program or one that was similar. Before we talk about the downsides, here are the reasons why it does work for the people who find success with it. Its easy to get startedThe best thing about Couch to 5K is that its approachable. If youve tried to run before, and pooped out within a minute or two, no worries! The first weeks workouts only ask you to run for one minute at a time. You can do that.The short rests teach you to pace yourself (in theory, anyway)The timed rest intervals help, too. Youll quickly find out that you cant push yourself all-out for a minute and be ready to go again after just a minute and a half of walking. So youll learn to tone down the speed. Ideally, this program will teach you proper pacing. When you get to that week 6 workout that asks you to jog for 25 minutes straight, youll think well, I just did 10 minutes twice in my last run, with only a short break in between. If I just slow down a smidge, Ill be able to do this no problem. (Thats not always what happens, but well save that critique for the next section.)The gradual ramp-up gets your body used to runningRunning is harder on your body than walking or cycling, and beginning runners often get achy shins or knees if they ramp up their mileage too quickly. A run/walk plan is a reasonable way to increase running volume while building the habit of running consistently (every session is 30 minutes or so, three times a week).Couch to 5K teaches you to follow a programAnother big plus is that using a program switches your focus from How fast am I? or Am I really a runner? to OK, just gotta get through this next run. You have to trust the process if you want to progress in anything, and any good program gives you a concrete way to do that. Why Couch to 5K often doesnt workCouch to 5K is meant as an on-ramp to running. After nine weeks, you should be able to leave the program behind. But too many people find themselves stuck in the program, believing they are unable to move on and finish it.This is what I mean by the program not working. The goal of Couch to 5K is not to get you to run a 5K race, although thats a great way to celebrate finishing the program. Rather, the point of Couch to 5K (or any other run-walk beginner program) is to teach you to be a runner. And it often fails at this task.People often finish this program still unable to run at an easy jogging pace, and think theres something wrong with them. Its also common to simply never finish it; Ive seen people repeat week four over and over because theyre afraid of that continuous 20-minute run in week five.All this is why I don't always recommend Couch to 5K for new runners. It often ends up teaching you the opposite of what you need to learn as a beginner. Only do it if you think you can resist the pitfalls, which I'll explain below:It tempts you to turn the runs into interval trainingWhen you have to run and then walk, its natural to sprint the runs and recover on the walks. People often assume that the program is about increasing your cardio fitness so that your sprint pace on the first day becomes your long run pace at the end. But thats not how it works! Your cardiovascular system doesnt adapt that quickly. The way you make it through the 30-minute run at the end is by running slower than you did for those one-minute bursts. And if you dont learn to slow down (almost every beginning runner needs to slow the fuck down), youll just be beating your head against the metaphorical wall. Browse any C25K forum and youll find people talking about how they "had to" repeat certain weeks, or how they couldnt do all the running intervals of a given week, even week one. This is what happens when you dont learn to slow down. If you truly sprinted your first one-minute run on W1D1, you wont be able to recover in time to do the next one. Its not that you cant run that second intervals, its just that you weren't prepared for it. And maybe you made it through the first three or four weeks by running intervals, but that strategy stops working when the runs get longer. If you keep failing or dropping out of C25K, this is likely why.Couch to 5K makes you think of walking as failureSince C25K aims to get you running more and walking less, people start paying attention to whether and how much theyre walking during a run. And judging themselves for it. In real life, nobody stops people as they cross the finish line of a marathon to ask how many minutes of it they walked. If you covered the distance at a running or jogging pace, you ran the distance, even if you needed to walk when you got to a big hill or when you were taking a sip of water. The last thing you need, as a beginner, is the idea that adjusting your pace to save energy is somehow a failure. You don't want to finish that big 5K race and feel like you didn't do it right because you walked a little. Walk breaks are a useful tool. It's better to keep the perspective that as long as you're moving, you haven't taken a "break" at all. Couch to 5K doesnt distinguish between a race and a training runSo the program gets you from completely untrainedsitting on the couchto running a 5K, or about three miles. Cool. But a concept thats lost on many of C25Ks devotees is that when runners speak about a 5K, they mean a race. And a race is different from a training run. Lets say youre a casual runner. You can do an easy five-kilometer (3.1 mile) training run any time you like. Lets say that usually takes you about 35 minutes. After doing a bunch of those you might sign up for a local race at the 5K distance. You pay an entry fee, get a T-shirt, maybe raise money for charity. You line up at the start, and since its a race and not a training day, you push yourself to go faster than your usual training run. Your heart rate soars. Youre huffing and puffing. Your legs are burning as you pick up the pace to surge over the finish line. Time: 30 minutes. Hell yeah! What a good race you had. That is running a 5K. That is what a runner means when they say they run a 30-minute 5K. They do not mean that they routinely cover five kilometers in 30 minutes every time they head out for a training run. But C25K runners (and many beginners, to be honest) often focus on the 5K distance, and their time for a 5K distance, as a measure of their training. You should not treat your training runs like races. That would be like trying to get a better grade on a test just by taking tests over and over. Students need to crack open a book and study; runners need to run training runs at training paces.If you didnt like Couch to 5K, youll think you dont like runningThis is probably my biggest beef with the popularity of C25K: Its become synonymous with learning to run, and even with running. Many C25K runners sense of progress is tied to the app rather than to running in general. If you tried C25K and couldnt get past a certain week, or if you graduated and are sad that youre still a slow runner, you may think that you just hate running or that you arent destined to be good at it.But C25K is just one of many running programs out there. You can get started another way. (More on that in a sec.) Furthermore, when youre finished, you can ditch it. I see too many people finish C25K and then figure that the next step is to run C25K again but faster, or to look for a similar run-walk program that gets them up to a 10K. But that's missing the point! The whole idea of C25K is to be an on-ramp. Once you can run 30 minutes continuously, you can just go out and run a few miles a few times a week. And you can start bumping up the length of those runs or the number of them that you do, because after all, you are a runner now! Go and run!You can now pick up a training program for any goal you want. That might be running a 10Khere's a good beginner program that starts with two- to three-mile runs three times a weekbut it could also be an intermediate-level plan to train for a faster 5K time. There are plenty of runners, including collegiate and professional runners, who specialize in short and middle distances. They dont run C25K over and over; they use other training programs that are a better fit for their goals.Alternatives to Couch to 5KOK, so what else can you do? First of all, while programs are great, its OK not to be on one at first. You may absolutely just head out for half an hour (or whatever timeframe feels good to you) and run and walk as the mood strikes you. We have a post here explaining this as intuitive running, but plenty of runners got started with something like this without ever giving it a name. You can run on your own, and read up a bit about running, and decide what youd like to do next. Hopefully youll encounter the idea that the key to running sustainably is to slow down enough that you dont get out of breath constantly. Remember how I said I got started on a C25K-like program? After a month or soand I assure you I was not fit and not athletic at this point in my lifeI realized I was running slower and slower as the intervals got longer, and I wondered if I might be able to make it down my usual running route without stopping to walk if I jogged slow enough. I did, and shocked myself by running for 20 or 30 minutes straight when I had never previously gone more than five minutes or so. Once you unlock that little epiphany, you can run on any schedule you please. And if you need a walk break every now and again, just take one. My first race was a 10K, and I had a ton of little 30-second walk breaks in there, just to catch my breath when I realized Id been going too fast. I still finished with a respectable (to me) time. All right, are you ready for a program? Good news: There are a ton out there, and you can choose the ones that make sense for your schedule and goals. Hal Higdons plans are free (or available on an app with free and subscription tiers, if you prefer). Heres his Novice Base Building plan, which would make a great alternative to C25K. The first week has two runs of 1.5 miles, one 30-minute walk, and two three-mile runs. This is what our managing editor Meghan Walbert started with when she wanted to learn to like running. You can add as many walk breaks as you need to the runs. Or maybe youve graduated from C25K and want the next step. This intermediate 5K plan adds some speed work (fast laps on a track, with rest breaks in between), while keeping most of the runs short and easy, and lengthening one run on the weekend (it gets as long as 7 miles by the end). There are countless other programs out there. If you have a fitness tracker like a Garmin or Coros watch, it probably has customizable running plans you can follow. Apps like Runkeeper and Nike Run Club also have virtual coaches to guide you, and one-off workouts to mix things up if you're creating your own plan. COROS PACE 3 Sport Watch GPS, Lightweight and Comfort, 17 Days Battery Life, Dual-Frequency GPS, Heart Rate, Navigation, Sleep Track, Training Plan, Run, Bike, and Ski (White Nylon) $229.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $229.00 at Amazon And dont forget about local running clubs. Your local Road Runners club or running store probably has a group that trains together. They may be able to hook you up with a coach or provide you with a written program you can follow. Spending time with other runners is also a fantastic way to learn the ins and outs of training as a runner, rather than having to figure everything out yourself when youre starting from scratch.

What a month for healthcare news. This week the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule that will prevent medical debt from impacting consumer credit scores. The policy, set to take effect in mid-March, represents a hopeful shift in how medical debt is treated in the financial system.The CFPB estimates that approximately 15 million Americans will benefit from this change, with credit scores expected to increase by an average of 20 points. This adjustment could have far-reaching implications for consumers' ability to secure loans, rent apartments, and even obtain employment, as many employers consider credit scores during the hiring process.Understanding the new ruleThe policy specifically prohibits lenders and credit reporting companies from incorporating medical debt information into their lending and credit reporting decisions. This change acknowledges the unique nature of medical debt, which often results from unexpected health emergencies rather than poor financial management.Naturally, with last month's UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, the cruelties of the American healthcare system have been top of mind. This new rule addresses a persistent challenge in the American healthcare system, where medical debt has become one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy. Unlike other forms of debt, medical expenses are often:Unexpected and unavoidableNot reflective of a person's willingness or ability to pay other billsSubject to complex insurance processes and billing disputesPotentially inaccurate due to billing errors or insurance coverage issues"People who get sick shouldn't have their financial future upended," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a press release, highlighting the bureau's commitment to protecting consumers from the long-lasting financial consequences of medical expenses.What this means for youFor individuals currently struggling with medical debt, this policy change could provide several benefits:Improved access to credit at better interest ratesEnhanced ability to secure housingBetter employment prospects with companies that review credit historiesReduced stress about the long-term impact of medical bills on financial healthThe rule is scheduled to take effect in mid-March, and it's not clear how President Trump will handle it. Assuming the rule goes forward unimpeded, consumers still may not see immediate changes to their credit scores. Credit reporting agencies will need time to implement these changes, and the impact may be gradual as the new policy is rolled out.However, it's important to note that while this rule prevents medical debt from affecting credit scores, it doesn't eliminate the debt itself. You should still work with healthcare providers and insurance companies to manage and resolve medical bills.The CFPB's decision reflects a growing recognition that medical debt should be treated differently from other forms of consumer debt, potentially paving the way for further reforms in how healthcare costs impact Americans' financial well-being. Hopefully, we can keep separating healthcare needs from financial consequences.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Youve finally invested in a few high quality knives. You wont regret it. Not only will a good knife make cutting easier, but the materials used will ensure your knives stay sharper for longer. (Unlike the set of knives in the molded plastic box that cut like spoons after six months.) But like any important tool, youll get more life out of those knives with periodic maintenance. There are two things you should do to take care of your knives: honing and sharpening.What is honing? Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Honing your knife should be part of your casual, frequent knife care. Its like updating your phonethere are routine bugs to fix. Chefs in professional kitchens who use their knives for hours, cutting a range of ingredients, will hone their knives every day, maybe even a couple times a shift. If youre cooking one or two meals a day, your knife will need to be honed one or two times a week.Honing a knife is different from sharpening. When you use a knife, the metal on the edge of the blade gets dinged-up, especially when you run it along tough surfaces, into a cutting board, or through bone or cartilage. Thats just fine, but if this happens repeatedly (like in daily use), the blade becomes less sharp. Honing realigns the microscoping metal teeth on the blades edge so they all face the same direction, for more precise cuts and less required force. Sharpening is a completely different action that actually removes metal from the blade (more on that later). Ive written out the steps, but to see honing in action, you can watch a video where I show you how to do it.How to hone a knifeHoning is simple, but it takes a little practice because it feels weird at first. Though, if you make it a regular habit, you will be rewarded with clean and easy cutting.Know your knifeYoull need a honing steel, and the average one will run you 15 to 30 bucks. In a nutshell, youll be running the length of the blade against the steel at a specific angle. Depending on your knife, youll do this on one side or both sides of the blade. Most Western knives are sharpened at a 16- to 24-degree angle and beveled on both sides. You can look up the specs on your knife to find out these details. The bevel is visible to the naked eye; just take a gander at the blade and you can see if both sides slope toward the edge, or if one side is flat.Find your angleSet a cutting board securely on a countertop. Hold the steel perpendicular to the cutting board, with the tip pressing against the board, and the handle in your non-dominant hand. Hold the knife in your dominant hand and find the angle. The easiest way to find the angle without a protractor is to hold the knife at a 90-degree angle to the rod, as if you were about to cut the honing steel in half. Then move the spine of the knife upward to split that angle in half to 45 degrees. Split that angle and youre at roughly a 22.5 degree angle (adjust as needed to find the angle specified by your knife manufacturer). Youre also a human, so this angle is an estimate, and thats okay. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Hone both sides of the blade equallyOnce youve found the angle, run the blade down the rod, dragging the blade toward you as you bring it down to the cutting board, from heel to point, with gentle pressure. Repeat this on the other side of the blade. Alternate honing the two sides of the knifes blade until youve honed each side eight to 10 times. If your knife has a single bevel then you would only hone that one side.Do this as often as youd like, aiming to hone at least a few times a week if you cook a lot. Be sure to wash your blade after honing to remove any tiny pieces of metal. Your knife should maintain an optimal sharp edge. Here are some good honing steels for reasonable prices:Henckels 10-inch Classic Precision Honing SteelWsthof 9-inch Honing SteelThree ways to sharpen kitchen knives Sharpening a knife is a little more involved than honing, but you dont need to do it as frequently. If you use your knife a lot, you may want to sharpen it every six months; if you use it now and then, you can sharpen it maybe once every other year. I use some of my knives daily, and with frequent honing, they only need to be sharpened every eight months or so.You have a few options when it comes to sharpening. You can bring your knives in to a professional, or mail them out to be professionally sharpened. You could also do it yourself with either a pull-through sharpener, automatic electric sharpener, or a whetstone.How to use a pull-through knife sharpenerPull-through sharpeners are rather small, with one or multiple v-shaped cut outs. Theyre attractive to beginners because they dont require any skill. Simply stick the blade in at the heel and pull toward yourself to end at the point. Some sharpeners will have a coarse grit to start and fine grit to finish.The trouble with pull-throughs is they can remove more material than is necessary off the knifes edge, possibly weakening the blade and shortening the knifes lifespan. They also have set angles, which can be good if youre unsteady on your own, but bad if your knifes edge needs to be sharpened at an angle that is different from the one set by your sharpener. If youre on an extremely strict budget, or refuse to learn how to sharpen any other way, this might be the best option for you.Pull-through sharpeners are affordable and take up little space in the kitchen:Zwilling Pull-through Knife Sharpener with Asian or Western anglesHenckels Knife SharpenerHow to use an electric knife sharpenerInstead of a coarse, static edge peeling off layers of metal, electric knife sharpeners have a series of rotating wheels with different grit counts that steadily buff the metal off your knifes edge. The mechanism pushes the knife along, which can help if youre not sure how fast or slow to pull the knife through. Starting on the coarse end, and moving incrementally to the finer grits, simply place the knife blade into one of the slots, starting at the heel end, and steadily glide the blade through to the point.Like a pull-through sharpener, the electric sharpeners have set angles, but newer models are said to be less aggressive when it comes to stripping excess material off the knifes edge. Note that some user complaints center around inconsistent sharpening from the blades heel to point. Since the shape of the sharpening notches doesnt accommodate a knifes bolster, its easy for the sharpener to skip past that part closest to the heel. However, if you need to sharpen your knives quickly and frequently, or arent comfortable with a the idea of a whetstone, this might be the option for you.An electric sharpener can have the biggest footprint and a wide price range:Presto EverSharp Electric Knife SharpenerChefs Choice Electric Sharpener with Diamond Abrasives Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann How to sharpen a knife with a whetstoneThe whetstone method is the traditional way to sharpen a knife. It takes a little longer than the other two methods, but you get to control how much metal comes off, and the angle isnt locked in by a machine. For a beginner whetstone, any of these will do the trick:Sharp Pebble Premium WhetstoneRoyal Craft Wood WhetstoneWhetstone Cutlery WhetstoneA whetstone is a rectangular stone with two sides. One side has a coarse grit. Flip it over, and youll see the other has a finer grit. (Its not like touching the sidewalk though, both sides will feel smooth to your fingertips.) The sides are labeled by their grit count, and they can range from as coarse as 400 to a smooth 8000-grit polishing stone. For starters, one whetstone with a coarse and fine side is plenty. Ill go over the steps to sharpening next, but if youre a visual learner, check out my video on the topic. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 1. Soak the stone in waterTo sharpen a knife with a whetstone, youll first soak the stone in water to saturate it. I usually plop it in a loaf pan filled with water and go do something else for an hour, but 20 minutes is fine. Set up the stone, with the lower grit count facing up, on a dish towel (this will prevent water from drenching your table and stabilize the stone), with the pan of water within arms reach. Splash a handful of water on the stone to make it slippery.2. Find your angle and pullPlace the blade toward the top of the stone (farther away from you), with the blade facing away from you. Holding the knifes handle in your dominant hand, find your angle. Use the same method as mentioned in the honing sectionplace the knife at a 90 degree angle and then reduce it. Start with the knifes heel on the stone. Using your non-dominant hand to apply pressure to the edge of the blade, draw the blade back toward you at an angle so all parts of the edge eventually drag against the stone. The knife will never come toward your body, it will move toward your hip on your dominant hands side.3. Even out the sides of the bladeRepeat this a few times, splashing water on the stone periodically to keep it slippery. Flip the knife over and sharpen the other side of the blade the same way for the same number of passes. If I havent sharpened a knife in a year, Ill usually do 10 passes on each side of my knife. If your knife has never seen a whetstone during its time on this earth, you should do the count-down method to ensure a sharp edge: Start with 10 passes per side, then do nine per side, then eight, seven, and so on.4. Switch to the finer grit sideOnce youve finished both sides, flip the whetstone to the fine grit side and do it all over again. This side will smooth out the sharpening you did with the coarser side. When youre finished, wash your knife off and youre ready to chop.These sharpening methods only address your straight edged knives, serrated ones have a special shape and should not be sharpened with any of these tools, including the whetstone. Each mountain and valley of a serrated edge needs to be specifically sharpened, or youll lose those teeth. In this case, and with any knife that has an unusual edge, bring it to a professional, make sure your knife gets sharpened to its specifications. Part of being an adult is knowing when to outsource.

CES 2025 is nearly over and the Engadget team has tried out a plethora of new gadgets and experienced innovative tech over the past few days. CES is known for setting the stage for the forthcoming year in tech, with lots of prototypes on display and always a few pieces of vaporware that never materialize. The gear you can actually buy immediately is typically few and far between, but this year there are a number of gadgets on sale (or available for pre-order) right now. Those range from a smart baby bouncer and bassinet to smart glasses and Wi-Fi 7 routers. If youre keen on becoming an early adopter, these are the CES gadgets you can buy right now. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/17-ces-gadgets-you-can-actually-buy-right-now-170544033.html?src=rss

The worlds biggest tech show is approaching its end, and its been hard. Mostly. But its not without its perks. Perhaps you got to sit in and experience the first CES press event inside the fully screened Sphere, or maybe youre getting a lovely facial treatment that combines cooling plates with LED light therapy, creating photos that will haunt you for the rest of your professional career? Or perhaps youre fleeing the violence and fungi of The Last of Us universe in an immersive experience. (Work hard, play harder.)Deputy Editor Cherlynn Low at CES. Oh wait, no.EngadgetIts not just upgraded laptops and TVs even if plenty of those have broken cover. And stay tuned: Were selecting our nominees for the Best of CES what is your pick? (And why isnt it this solar beach umbrella?) Mat SmithGet this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest tech stories you missedThis spinning VR chair at CES 2025 somehow didnt make me feel like throwing upLGs OLED evo TVs for 2025 come with AI and a 165Hz refresh rateFaraday Future pitches a fresh start with a minivan prototype at CES 2025This is a battery-powered plug-in induction ovenDelta changed the game for CES press conferencesWhere are your indoor fireworks, Samsung?EngadgetThis week, Delta was the first company to host a CES press conference, or as the emcee called it, a show, at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Youve likely heard about the high-tech venue, which usually hosts immersive concerts rather than trade show events. The multi-sensory experience has interior and exterior surfaces draped in LED displays and offering 4D effects like wind and smells. And Delta put all of those to use. Apple, Google, Sony and the rest of you, its time to up your game.Continue reading.The best CES gadgets you can actually buy right nowGot money to burn?While a lot of the most significant announcements at CES arent going to land until later in 2025, there are a few cool things you can already order. Like Ankers rebalanced four-port charger, which can output 140W and has its ports on the top/bottom, making it less likely to fall out of your power outlet. Segways first e-bikes are also available to pre-order if youre feeling spendier, although specific pricing remains a mystery.Continue reading.This mechanical keyboard is built for pure, unadulterated writingThe latest Freewrite has some quirky features and a bright red joystick.EngadgetAstrohaus has been making its distraction-free writing tools under the Freewrite name for about a decade. Until now, they were standalone single-purpose devices simply for drafting text, but the Freewrite Wordrunner is a keyboard designed specifically with writers in mind. The function row has been replaced by a custom set of keys, which includes find and replace, undo and redo, paragraph up and down as well as back, forward and reload keys. The device will launch with early bird pricing on Kickstarter in February, but we dont know the price yet.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121554301.html?src=rss

RollAway combines the luxuries of a high-end hotel with the freedom of camping, all in a drivable, eco-friendly package. RollAway is a camper-van rental service that offers an on-demand concierge who can plan your trip, direct you along the way, provide tips about the best spots to visit, and keep your space equipped with five-star amenities. The van has a seating area that transforms into a queen bed, a kitchen with a sink and dual-burner stovetop, a shower, toilet, lots of storage, and a panoramic roof. When the vans rear rolling door is pulled down, it acts as a screen for the included projector. But thats just all the built-in stuff. RollAway also comes with a lineup of top-tier amenities, including Yeti coolers and cups, Starlink satellite Wi-Fi, locally sourced breakfast packages, Malin+Goetz toiletries, fresh linens, and a tablet loaded with hospitality services. The tablet gives you access to a live virtual concierge and the Hospitality On-Demand app, which houses your itinerary, room service and housekeeping requests. In the future, RollAway will offer a full housekeeping service, but that feature isnt live quite yet. RollAway Best of all, RollAway is a sustainability-focused, zero-emissions endeavor. The vans are fully electric, courtesy of GMs EV subsidiary BrightDrop, and they have a single-charge range of more than 270 miles. They also have a fast charging option. The vans have solar panels, a waterless toilet, and low-waste water systems for serious off-grid trips, or they can be fully hooked up at RV sites. We took a quick tour of a RollAway van at CES 2025 and found it to be as luxurious as advertised. The kitchen table slides into the seating area when its not in use, creating a fairly open hangout space at the very back of the van. The kitchen felt plenty large for camping purposes, and the most cramped space was the bathroom, which held a toilet and a sliver of a hand-washing sink. All of the finishing touches seemed sturdy and looked sleek. We were deeply tempted to drive right off the show floor in the thing. Engadget RollAway just started booking trips in late 2024, and the service is almost fully reserved throughout 2025. Reservations cost around $400 a night. Its available only in the San Francisco Bay Area for now, but more cities are coming soon. RollAway had a successful funding round on Indiegogo in 2023, raising more than $47,000 of a $20,000 goal. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/rollaway-is-a-rentable-ev-camper-van-with-a-concierge-service-and-luxury-amenities-130025021.html?src=rss