Sakamoto Days faces an uphill battle as it premieres on Netflix. How can the animated exploits of Taro Sakamoto possibly improve upon the uncommonly detailed and choreographed action that swirls around the titular retired hitman in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump? The answer, based on the series premiere, at least, is that they cant: While the episode finds some excitement in Sakamotos particular brand of violence, other action sequences are hampered by a lack of imagination. Just as troublesome: It can be hard to tell when this Sakamoto Days is trying to crack wise, and when its putting on a straight face. But while it doesnt exactly get out of the starting blocks as a remarkable anime adaptation, Sakamoto Days does lay the foundation for what could one day be a must-watch show.Rather than follow its protagonists escapades as an equally feared and revered assassin, Sakamoto Days wisely goes the way of John Wick by fast-forwarding straight to his retirement, a life of domestic bliss alongside the love of his life, Aoi, and their daughter, Hana. To further cement that Sakamotos days of contract killing are behind him, hes put on some weight and runs a quaint convenience store in a quiet neighborhood. Unfortunately, this abrupt retreat doesnt go unanswered, and now he must protect his family from other hitmen and former colleagues like the clairvoyant assassin Shin.In contrast to shonen series that take themselves too seriously (like, in my opinion, Jujutsu Kaisen and Solo Leveling), Sakamoto Days strikes a visual balance between the physical comedy of Jackie Chans output in the 1980s and the grittiness of more conventional crime dramas. Similar to how placing Chan in an amusement park funhouse might stoke our anticipation for how hell use the objects around him nailed down or otherwise to dispatch his foes, the premiere of Sakamoto Days primes us to expect Sakamoto to make novel use of his surroundings. It best threads the action-comedy needle in two thrilling scenes: One where Sakamoto swiftly mows down a group of gangsters in a smoky, dimly lit warehouse, and the other where he blocks a bullet by spitting a gumdrop at it. But theres a hit-or-miss quality to this balancing act, sometimes resulting in tedious, uninspired hand-to-hand combat where Sakamoto haphazardly teleports around the screen and effortlessly defeats his opponents with lackluster punches. The tension between the two sides of Sakamoto Days personality isnt helped by stiff, monotone performances that make it hard to tell when the show is trying to be serious and when it's making a joke. This is especially true of Sakamoto, whether hes portrayed by Matt Mercer (in the English dub) or Tomokazu Sugita (in the Japanese dub). Much of this stems from the character not having much to say in the premiere; outside of subtle behaviors primarily played for laughs and a heavy supply of expository narration, Sakamoto mostly speaks in half-committal utterances that we only hear because Shin is reading his mind. This dims the star power of Mercer and Sugitas performances. Granted, this is the very first episode, the character theyre playing ought to still have some mystique to him at this point, and the series is based on a manga that burns slowly in its early chapters. But theres almost no variation between their delivery in comedic and dramatic scenes. The lines are less blurry when it comes to the dynamic between Shin and the Sakamotos. Throughout the episode, Shin turns from a cold, calculating assassin to an adopted member of his former mentors carefree family, who are hilariously unvexed by either mans past life as a hitman.Sakamoto Days GalleryConsidering Sakamoto Days is slated to be released in parts with part one comprising 11 episodes and part two slated to debut in July time will tell if the anime will hit its stride in later episodes or if they'll be more the same from whats showcased in its premiere. Regardless, theres the seeds of something extraordinary here thanks to the endearing chemistry of the characters. Hopefully, the anime will flesh out the contours of its lead before the punchline of him being an overweight ex-hitman becomes stale.

For a limited time, Apple is offering (at least) two new sign up bonuses for Apple Card. Apple Card typically comes with no sign up bonus, unlike most rewards credit cards. If youre interested in Apple Card, this could be worth jumping on!Apple ran two similar limited time offers back in August, and the offers are the same this time around. Both offers are running until January 13th, so you only have 2 days left to think about it.Offer 1: $100 after $500Apple is advertising this first offer across social media, requiring new customers to spend $500 in the first 60 days of account opening. Afterwards, you earn $100 in Daily Cash, which can be deposited to your Apple Cash account, or your Apple Card Savings account which currently earns 3.9% APY. Unlike some other credit cards, this offer is not a statement credit, so youre technically free to spend this $100 as you please.If interested, you can sign up at this link before January 13th, to lock in this special offer.Offer 2: $300 after $1500This second offer is a targeted email, sent to customers with the subject Preview your new Apple Card credit limit offer.With this offer, you earn $300 Daily Cash after spending $1500 on your new Apple Card in your the 60 days of opening. Similar to the last offer, you can use this Daily Cash as you please, it isnt a statement credit.Its worth checking your email to see if Apple targeted you for this offer. If not, you can try checking this link, though its unlikely to show anything special for you. Once again, users have until January 13th to consider.If youve been looking to get Apple Card, now would be a good time to do so!My favorite iPhone accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 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

Feeling old yet?Fossil Out BoyTwo "Punk" and "Emo" fossils and we don't mean elder members of the music circles that once enjoyed greater cultural cachet are challenging scientists' understanding of the evolution of mollusks. The scene, folks, is not dead.As detailed in a study published in the journal Nature, the researchers created 3D models of the 430 million year old specimens, revealing strikingly complex features that suggest an early group of mollusks called aculifera weren't as primitive as once believed.To their modern human eyes, however, the scientists saw a superficial resemblance to the hallmarks of certain outsider subcultures."Punk in particular, with its spiky appearance, clearly resembles a rebellious punk rocker and we thought Emo complemented it well," said lead author Mark Sutton, a paleontologist at Imperial College London, in a statement about the work. If you squint hard enough, you might see "emo" looking bangs.Petrified KennedysThere are over 100,000 species of mollusks, making it one of the most diverse groups in biologyas it comprises everything from octopusesto squids to snails to clams. It follows that we still don't have a perfect picture of its family tree and its hundreds of millions of years of evolution.Officially named Punk ferox and Emo vorticaudum, these latest mollusk remains were recovered from a notable fossil site located on the England-Wales border, home to many ancient specimens that once dotted the seafloor.Finding them, especially in such good condition that details of their soft tissue could be gleaned, was a godsend. "We don't know much about aculiferans, and it's unusual to find out we've suddenly got two," Sutton told The New York Times.Sutton and his team created 3D models of Punk and Emo through a combination of x-ray scans and photographs. The x-rays revealed the internal structures, while the photographs were taken as the researchers carefully shaved off external layers of the fossils, documenting each step of the way."We grind away a slice at a time, take a photo, repeat at 20-micron intervals or so, and basically destroy but digitize the fossil as we go," Sutton told the NYT.Funeral for a FriendWith the breathtaking accuracy of the digital models, the researchers discovered that both fossils possessed smooth undersides strong evidence that they were seafloor dwellers.In particular, Punk possesses a ridge-like "foot" a trait shared by no other extant mollusks. It also has long, Liberty-spike-looking spines, and gills similar to those of another class of mollusks called chiton.Likewise, Emo has long spines that resemble worm-like mollusks, too, but it also boasts shells and a top-to-down flattened body similar to chitons. Because it was found in a folded posture, the researchers believed that Emo moved like an inchworm. How Punk traversed the seafloor, though, is unclear."This is really giving us an almost unprecedented window into the sorts of things that were actually around when mollusks were getting going," Sutton told the NYT. "It's just this little weird, unexpected, really clear view of what was going on in the early history of one of the most important groups of animals."Share This Article

Image by Warner Bros.While we're not quite living in "The Matrix" at least in a falsifiable sense it seems that something comparable to the film's legendary slowed-down "bullet time"sequencecan, under the right circumstances, happen in real life.In an essay for The Conversation, psychology lecturer Steve Taylor of England's Leeds Beckett University argues that these so-called "time expansion experiences," or TEEs for short, could well be an "evolutionary adaptation" meant to help us survive during extreme experiences.During his research into the phenomenon, the English psychologist has spoken with dozens of people who've experienced TEEs. He believes that 85 percent of all people have had at least one, and that most of us experience them either during accidents, when playing sports or exercising, or in altered states of consciousness brought on by meditation or hallucinogens.As Taylor explains in a post on the Leeds Beckett website, his interest in the phenomenon began after a 2014 car accident he was in with his wife when, as his vehicle was hit by a large truck, "everything went into slow motion.""I looked behind, and the other cars seemed to be moving incredibly slowly, almost as if they were frozen," he wrote. "I felt as though I had a lot of time to observe the whole scene and to try to regain control of the car."That sense of slowed, detailed perception of one's surroundings and the clarity of mind that accompanies the decisions made within those split-second moments seem to characterize TEEs. As the psychologist explains in The Conversation, he was surprised to be so calm at the time and that calmness, which others report feeling during TEEs, suggests that they aren't mere adrenaline responses.During his research, which Taylor documents in his new book "Time Expansion Experiences," the scientist encountered a theory suggesting that this time-slowing effect is simply a trick of memory. Because people become hyper-aware during emergency situations, that theory posits, their perception becomes acute, and that acuteness is then "encoded in our memories"as they recollect the incident.Taylor and the majority of other people who have had TEEs, however, feel certain that they had "extra time to think and act"in the moment, as things were happening, and not just in retrospect."Time expansion allowed complex series of thoughts and actions that would have been impossible if time had been passing at a normal speed," he wrote inThe Conversation.As with so much of human perception, TEEs remain somewhat inexplicable but for those who have ever experienced "Matrix"-style bullet time know that it feels very real regardless.Share This Article

Come on.Not a SexbotRobotics company Realbotix has shown off what CEO Andrew Kiguel claims to be a "social" robot designed to "tackle the staggering loneliness epidemic," as Forbes reports.But we can't shake the feeling that the true pitch is more lurid. The life-sized robot, dubbed Aria, made the rounds at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, catching the eyes of conventiongoers with hypersexualized features and an unsettlingly dazed expression in her eyes. CNET's Corinne Reichert recalled that she "came across as a weird blend of attentive and mildly inebriated (not uncommon for CES attendees)."Without beating around the bush, Aria appears to share a lot of qualities with the kind of AI-powered sex robots we've seen being rushed to market as of late. That's despite Realbotix being adamant that she isn't one, and that she's instead destined for hospitals and theme parks, of all places, instead.The robot told Reichert that she was "designed specifically for companionship and intimacy," carefully avoiding the mention of sex acts. But Kiguel also winkingly told Forbes that she can have "what I would say, conversations of a more intimate nature."Reddit users were quick to read between the lines and point out the company's unusually PG marketing tactic."Sir, I assure you the giant honkers and absolutely juicy ass are only there for branding and marketing purposes," one user joked.Blank StareA question looms: do these alluring robots have genitals? Earlier generations did, when Realbotix was more explicitly framing them as sex robots; since none of our colleagues in the media appear to have inquired, we reached out to the company to ask, and we'll update if they get back to us.Realbotix's robots can be configured to either be male or female. Kiguel told Forbes that it can even replicate historical figures or celebrities.Aria, a $175,000 robotic companion, is as tall as an adult woman and can move somewhat, but can't walk just yet. Kiguel said that the company is doubling down on facial expressions instead so that its robots "can create emotion, show what they're feeling."While Kiguel went as far as to claim that the company has "the most realistic robots in the world in terms of their appearance," the illusion leaves a lot to be desired. In videos taken on the CES show floor, Aria appears more like a spooky Halloween mask that's powered by ChatGPT. Her movements are jerky and she also takes a considerable amount of time to respond to queries.Whether those are the kind of qualities consumers look for in a sex robot remains to be seen. She certainly would stand out like a sore thumb behind the front desk at a hospital, either way.More on sex robots: Powerful New AI-Enhanced Talking Sexbots Are Going on Sale This SummerShare This Article

Yellowstoneseason 5 has concluded, but another show co-created by Taylor Sheridan is still in the midst of releasing new episodes.Landman, the latest addition to Sheridan's Paramount Plus slate, premiered on the streaming service in November. Describedby Paramount Plusas "a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking in the world of oil rigs," the West Texasset series stars big names like Demi Moore and Jon Hamm. Billy Bob Thornton plays the lead -- Tommy Norris, an oil company crisis manager. The show is based on the podcast Boomtown, from Texas Monthly magazine and Imperative Entertainment, and is co-created by Boomtownhost and writer Christian Wallace.Though it doesn't carry the hit Paramount Network series Yellowstone, Paramount Plus is the place to find the following shows that involve Sheridan: 1923, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Special Ops: Lioness and Tulsa King. If you're excited about Landman, the next series to join that list, here's a full episode release schedule.Read more: Taylor Sheridan's Big Oil Drama 'Landman' Is Fueled by Humor and HeartbreakHow to watch Taylor Sheridan's LandmanYou can watch the first nine episodeson Paramount Plusnow. In the US, one new installment arrives every Sunday through Jan. 12 and will be available to stream by 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT.See below for dates.Episode 10, The Crumbs of Hope: Jan. 12Paramount Plus'summer price hike brought the monthly price of Essential from $6 to $8 (for new subscribers -- the price didn't rise for existing subscribers). New and existing subscribers now pay more for Paramount Plus With Showtime, which is $13 a month instead of $12. The streamer's annual plans didn't increase. Sarah Tew/CNET Apart from the addition of Showtime programming, there are a few key differences between Paramount Plus Essential and Paramount Plus with Showtime. You won't see as many ads if you have the Showtime plan, and the offering also lets you stream your local live CBS station and download titles for offline viewing. Read our Paramount Plus review. See at Paramount Plus

AC Future debuted award-winning smart home designs at CES 2024, picking up an Honorary Mention in Fast Company's Design by Innovation Awards and two Good Design awards in the Transportation and Graphic design categories. Now the company has returned to CES 2025 with a more grounded vision: Collaborating with Italian design firm Pininfarina, AC Future has arrived with complete models for several different kinds of mini smart homes -- and you can preorder one now. The living solutions are (currently) named AI-THu, AI-THt and AI-THd. Each offers a look at what advanced smart home living could be as the prospect of affording a traditional house becomes out of reach for many folks. Our favorite is the flagship AITHu, a complete and sustainable 400-square-foot smart home starting at $98,000. This modular smart home has built-in speakers, home security, Wi-Fi and more. AC FutureThe AI-THu features a base platform complemented by a 40-square-foot outdoor patio. The highly modular design begins with an all-purpose main living area that can be turned into an office space or additional bedroom as needed. The home can then be expanded on multiple sides to add a primary bedroom and other spaces. Add-ons from barbecue setups to under-floor storage let buyers choose what they want, creating up to 1,200 square feet of home planning. AC Future's mini home is designed to be expandable on every side, including patio add-ons and more. AC FutureThe AI-THu comes with smartAI technologythat helps control lighting, heating, cooling and appliances, among other things.Solar panels(which can contribute to water heating), a water recycling system and atmospheric water generation are built-in too. Smart options such as a multi-zone sound system and home security with optional monitoring round off the tiny, do-everything future home.This complete home setup allows the AI-THu to go off-grid when necessary -- but the particularly independent may want to check out AC Future's other offerings, including a 24-foot home trailer and the AI-THd drivable home for those who want a high-tech van life. AC Future's design also includes solar panels, water harvesting, water recycling, solar water heater and other sustainable features. AC FutureInitial deliveries on the mini smart home are expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2026, so eager buyers will have a bit of a wait. There's also another catch -- AC Future is partnering with crypto firm Biomatrix at CES, and you're strongly encouraged to download the Biomatrix app and use its tokens to secure your preorder for any AC Future home. That said, sub-$100,000 mini homes sound like a pretty good deal when they're packed with this kind of technology, and we have recommended tiny homes as a great way to live well on smaller budgets (or go on the road). It's also nice to see so many energy and water-saving features built right in. The drivable home design is more compact to fit into a large smart van. AC FutureHowever, you may want to wait until the included smart technology and sustainability features are thoroughly tested before making the final call. For now, it's a lot of mock-ups and design promises, and we want to see real-world performance. CES 2025: See the 35 Coolest Tech Products We Can't Shake See all photos Follow our CES coverage to learn more about the newest, most innovative tech we've found and what we could choose for the final winners!

Most states in the US impose a state income tax, which you pay in addition to federal income tax. But if you live in one of a handful of those states, you might be lucky enough to see your tax rate decrease in 2025.Tax rates vary from state to state, but they always involve collecting a portion of your income from each paycheck. The percentage collected can vary significantly depending on where you live and how much you make. The highest rate in the US is the 13.3% collected in California from those making over $1 million a year, while states including Alaska, Florida and Nevada collect no income tax at all.If you live in one of nine specific states, however, you're likely to see your take-home pay increase a bit, after lawmakers in those states cut their income tax rates as of Jan. 1. Some of these cuts are minimal, while others are a bit more substantial.Read on for all the details about which states have lowered their income tax rates and by how much. For more on tax season, find out if you're eligible to claim a child tax credit and see what the future might hold for the credit and its value.Which states have lowered their income tax rates?As of Jan. 1, income tax rate cuts went into effect in the following nine states:IndianaIowaLouisianaMississippiMissouriNebraskaNew MexicoNorth CarolinaWest VirginiaHow much have income tax rates decreased in these states?Indiana has seen one of the more minimal cuts, with its income tax rate decreasing from 3.05% to 3% in 2025.Iowa is dropping to a flat income tax rate of 3.8% in 2025, down from a top rate of 5.7% last year.Louisiana is also moving to a flat rate from a graduated income tax system, with a flat rate of 3% this year, down from a top rate of 4.25% in 2024. Those in the state's largest income bracket, $30,000-$40,000, will pay only $338 a year in income taxes.Mississippi's tax rate saw a minimal cut for 2025, down to 4.4% from 4.7% last year. Officials there have also put forward a goal of eventually eliminating income taxes in the state altogether.Missouri is another state with a smaller cut this year, down to 4.7% from 4.8%.Nebraska's income tax rate was cut to 5.2%, down from 5.84% last year.New Mexico will retain its graduated income tax rate, with two of its six income brackets seeing a decrease in 2025. Those making less than $5,500 a year have seen their rate cut to 1.5% from 1.7%, while those making between $16,500 and $33,500 have seen theirs cut to 4.3% from 4.7%.North Carolina's rate dropped to 4.5%, down from 4.75% last year. The state also plans to cut the rate to 3.99% in 2026.In West Virginia, residents can expect to pay 4% less in overall income taxes in 2025, though specific rates have not been reported. The state is another where lawmakers have also put forward the goal of eventually doing away with income taxes altogether.For more, find out if you're eligible for the saver's credit.

Devil May Cry crossover is coming to Fortnite "soon", leakers teaseDante's Peak.Image credit: Capcom News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 11, 2025 Devil May Cry is coming to Fortnite.That's according to Fortnite leakers Loolo_Wrld and Wensoing, both of whom say the long-running rumours of a Dante-flavoured crossover - which first bubbled up in 2023 - are indeed correct, and there is one in the works. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Whilst both are fairly established leakers in their own rights, their news was picked up and shared by noted Fortnite leaker ShiinaBR, adding credence - if not quite a cast-iron guarantee - to the claims.When pressed for more information - such as well the collaboration may arrive - Loolo was coy, saying, "I cant specify anything about that for now", appending the statement with a zipped-mouth emoji.Wensoing similarly will only commit to "coming soon", but acknowledges that both leakers "have heard about [the Devil May Cry crossover] several times via [their] insiders". To see this content please enable targeting cookies.As for the details? Well, that's all still very much up for speculation. There's no doubting that Devil May Cry boasts several iconic outfits and weapons, though, so there's plenty to pick from.ICYMI, Fortnite Festival, the concert-themed rhythm-action portion of Epic Games' free-to-play jack-of-all-trades juggernaut, is getting local co-op support next month - conjuring nostalgic memories of countless evenings spent twanging away in Rock Band with pals.As Matt reminded us yesterday, Fortnite Festival is the work of Rock Band developer Harmonix - which Epic Games acquired back in 2021 - and is extremely reminiscent of the studio's beloved earlier titles, right down to its support for guitar-shaped plastic peripherals.

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