Spring is just around the corner, which means now is the time to prepare for the rush of seasonal home resets. And while washes of pastels and florals will always have their place, drawing inspiration from up-and-coming design moments can result in projects that feel both original and enduring.We tapped Chicago-based interior designer Tiffany Brooks for insight into the next wave of home trends, from sleek techno-futurism to a fresh take on cozy classics. As a Wayfair Professional Tastemaker, Brooks is instrumental to the Wayfair Professional 2025 Design Trends report, an essential resource for sourcing industry predictions. Each of the five trends below pushes the envelope without flirting with the danger of looking immediately dated. They respond to what Brooks calls a landscape where the lines between past and presentand between timeless and trendyare becoming increasingly blurred. They also offer a glimpse into the benefits of working with Wayfair Professional. Members can receive expert support from project management to product sourcing while also enjoying exclusive pro pricing and fast free shipping. So whether youre looking for ideas to reinvigorate a project or brushing up on the references clients will be adding to their 2025 inspo boards, use this guide as a primer on the colors, textures, and themes on the docket for the coming months. Includingyessome of-the-moment flower patterns. Wayfair ProfessionalNew Wave FuturismForget corny steampunk featuresthe future looks lustrous and sleek. Think the organic shapes of Palm Springs, modern-meets-iridescent finishes on a silver, emerald, and violet spectrum, sculptural metal objects, and of course high-tech smart home features. This evolution of futuristic style feels more refined than some of the more youthful, neon-heavy aesthetics of the past, says Brooks. With metallic tones, shimmering effects, and subtle tech details, it creates a dreamlike quality that further merges the lines between reality and sci-fi. Surrealist furniture shapes with swooping, spaceship-like curves call back to mid-century style, while the modern materials and textures place them firmly in the future. Oh, and those tech features? Rather than being a focus point that feels almost instantly dated, elements like smart lighting, sound, and temperature controls are hidden seamlessly away, Brooks says: Technology is becoming more intertwined with our lives, and New Wave Futurism is a key part of that evolution. Instead of clunky gadgets, this trend is all about creating beautiful, intuitive experiences with subtle colors, soft textures, and technology thats so well integrated, it almost disappears. Shop the Wayfair Professional collection here.Wayfair ProfessionalMoody SophisticationThis is old-world opulence, without the stuffiness. As some clients react against the stripped-down minimalism and kooky design schemes that took hold in recent years, a desire for lush colors and textures has made a resurgence. Weve seen the beginnings of this trend already with the appearance of moody, bold marbles such as swirled red Calacatta; now Wayfair Professional Tastemakers like Brooks are leaning into it further with fabrics like velvet and satin, brushed brass finishes, and leather upholstery. To keep things from getting too hotel-like, incorporate personal touches like large-scale photographs with sentimental value, and experiment with bold proportions and modern materials like Lucite and tortoiseshell-patterned glass. Velvet furniture and decorative objects by Joss & Main lend themselves particularly well to this trendand Wayfair Professional members get 10% off at Joss & Main and other specialty brands. Shop the Wayfair Professional collection here.Wayfair ProfessionalRestorative RealmsPeople will love this trendit taps into the growing desire many of us have for sustainable living and incorporating mindfulness into our everyday, says Brooks. As individuals seek refuge from fast-paced, digital-heavy lives, this fusion of sustainable design and a peaceful aesthetic offers a comforting, grounded atmosphere to support relaxation and a more eco-conscious lifestyle.While spa-like serenity has long been in demand, the current vibe is deeply rooted in earthy tones and textures, rather than the classic stark whites and cool colorsthink terra-cotta, weathered wood, and soft natural fibers that capture the natural calm of the outdoors. Poised for longevity, this trend incorporates standby textures like sisal rugs and burl-wood furniture with plush and tactile fabrics ready to be rediscovered, like shaggy fabrics and even corduroy. Its an approach thats built to last, adds Brooks: With the continued interest in sustainable design, this trend is poised to have lasting relevance in both commercial and residential design. More and more, designers are focused on creating a lifestyle for their clients rather than a fleeting spaceand this fits right in with that goal.Shop the Wayfair Professional collection here.Wayfair ProfessionalJoyful ExpressionThe 60s and 70s continue to provide innovative ideas, but this style isnt afraid to mix and match decades for an idiosyncratic yet colorfully cohesive final vision. By blending quirky elements from various eras, Joyful Expression offers a personalized aesthetic that appeals to those seeking something beyond traditional styles, says Brooks. Abstract prints and patterns grab the eye, especially in ultra-bold primary-color combinations like cobalt, rust, lavender, and grass green. Clean, curved lines on furniture and statement patterns and art that are given room to breathe keep things from veering into kitschiness. Likewise, leaning into eclectic maximalism, using large-scale art and substantial furniture in abstract patterns or stripes, rather than packing the space with lots of little things, makes for a space that feels warm and confident, not busy or cluttered. It avoids being overly nostalgic and instead focuses on how bright colors, classic shapes, and unique collectibles can come together harmoniously, says Brooks. Shop the Wayfair Professional collection here.Wayfair ProfessionalClassics RevisitedTimeless doesnt have to mean datedand pulling from the past doesnt have to feel like a retro caricature. Bridge the gap between past and present with craft details like hand-painted tiles, vintage prints, and antique objects. Pick and choose elements of cottagecore and preppy aesthetics without leaning too hard into any one angle. Pair traditionally feminine-coded details, like skirting on furniture scalloped edges, with dark woods and brass that would be right at home in an old English library, for a result that feels comforting and fresh all at once. And then there are those florals Look to prints that feature bold botanical illustrations rather than busy small-scale patterns, and layer them with wicker furniture reimagined in modern shapes, like a swooping console table. Shop the Wayfair Professional collection here.Whether you're a designer, architect, or other design professional, Wayfair Professional is your one-stop shop to stay on top of upcoming trends, take your projects to the next level, and make the most of industry pricing. Join Wayfair Professional for free.

Craft is a robust and beautiful documents app with AI integration primarily through ChatGPT. Now Craft has shipped an AI-focused update that actually shows off the power of on-device, offline AICraft includes an AI assistant that makes working with documents easier for users. The Craft AI assistant is also flexible, letting you choose between models from different providers.Over the weekend, Craft released an experimental feature to test using a local version of DeepSeeks R1 model as an option for the Craft AI assistant.Craft currently uses the smallest R1 model, which uses less than 1GB of storage, with 1.5 billion parameters. Its completely optional to use, and the user has to manually download it to start using it.Based on early feedback, Craft is preparing to release an update that includes the ability to use the more capable R1 model with 7 billion parameters. It uses about 4GB of local storage, but vastly improves accuracy. Both models work completely offline after being installed; Craft never sends your data to Chinese servers. These local models are completely separate from the cloud-based models used by the DeepSeek app and website.Experimenting with a local, offline model has led Craft in an intriguing direction. For that reason, Craft will also ship two installable models from Meta: LLaMa models with 1 billion and 3 billion parameters. These models use less than 700MB and 2GB, respectively.The Craft AI assistant can still take advantage of server-connected AI models like ChatGPT. However, these new local, offline models are likely a sign of things to come for generative AI running on our iPhones, iPads, and Macs and yes, even Apple Vision Pro, where Apple Intelligence is missing in action!More on the latest development from Crafts blog:By default, the DeepSeek model is not installed in Craft. If you choose to download and enable R1, your data stays on your device. This makes it perfect for those everyday tasks where convenience matter most like taking quick notes, organizing to-dos, or summarizing shorter pieces of text. It also allows you to use basic reasoning capabilities without an internet connection.On device AI models work a little bit like electric cars. They deliver instant acceleration, dont require regular stops at the gas station, and they are ideal for shorter commutes. For longer journeys across varied terrain, however, a traditional gas-powered engine may still be more reliable. Interestingly, some of the most high-performance cars in the world are hybrids combining electric motors with gas engines for the best of both worlds.We believe AI follows a similar path. On-device models like the smaller R1s or Apple Intelligence can handle quick, day-to-day tasks, while advanced, cloud-based models like ChatGPT are still best for heavy lifting and deep reasoning. Our vision is to offer both, letting you pick and seamlessly transition between engines within Crafts AI Assistant.Learn more about Craft here.Top 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

From the moment the M4 Mac mini was released, I knew I wanted Satechis stand hub for the Mac mini. I had theoriginal modelthat worked with the previous form factor Mac mini, and it was great. It added an abundance of ports and storage. And now, after months of waiting, Satechi recreated the hub but with a new M4 Mac mini form factor. Was it worth the wait? Here is the hands-on review.M4 Mac mini Hub specsThis hub was designed specifically to work with the M4 Mac mini form factor. Technically, if you want to use it with another device, you can, since the connection point is USB-C, but it would not sit flush with any other device. This was purpose-built to sit under your M4 Mac mini. The design was made to match the color, the material, the curves and even accounts for the power button placement with a small cutout for reachability. In the box, you get:The hubScrewdriver for SSD enclosure ThermpadSo, it brings everything needed to install and remove NVMe storage.As much as I love the new design and form factor of the M4 Mac mini, Apple removed a few ports that I miss from the old Mac mini, most importantly USB-A ports. While USB-A is a dying breed, I still use dongles to connect my peripherals. For example, my keyboard uses both Bluetooth and a 2.4 GHz dongle for connection. I prefer the dongle option because it provides fewer latency issues. These are the added ports:Host cable USB-C 3.2 Gen 2SD Card Reader up to 312 MB/s (4.0 UHS-II)2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 up to 10GbpsUSB-A 2.0 up to 480MbpsM.2 NVMe SSD enclosure up to 10Gbps2230/ 2242/ 2260/ 2280 SSDsThese ports, in addition to the HDMI, Ethernet, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the two USB-C 3.0 ports, now give me all the port variations I would need. It also supports all major NVMe SSD types, making it easy to plug and play any current SSDs you have. My thoughtsThe best thing about this device is that it is very self-explanatory and just works. All you do is place the hub under your M4 Mac mini, plug in the host cable to one of the Thunderbolt ports, and your Mac will recognize it instantly. Now, I do want to mention that if you use an NVMe SSD, it will appear as a folder in your finder or desktop, just like any other external SSD. Just wanted to make it clear that it does not integrate into your built-in storage, just a seamless physical and visual implementation. My main use cases for this hub are the NVMe SSD options and the USB-A ports for added peripherals. I dont use SD cards often, but it is nice that they are available and that they have one of the fastest speed transfer options out there. Satechi also considered heat dissipation by elevating the Mac mini just enough with the included nubs. That way, the fans can exhaust the heat normally. They even included some additional ventilation for the NVMe SSD heat to be pushed out as well. The last tidbit I wanted to mention was the cutout for the power button. Apple placed the power button underneath the Mac mini. It was an interesting choice, but it does make for a clean look. So Satechi basically created a cut-out that would still give access to the power button. It honestly makes it more accessible because you dont need to leave the Mac Mini to power off and on the device anymore. Pricing & availability The M4 Mac Mini stand and hub are available today directly from Satechi for $99. Compared to the last model, they could have easily increased the price, but it is amazing that they kept it at the same. If you do want one soon, I would suggest jumping on it now because this is a limited run for now. They plan on having much more stock, but not until March. According to Satechi, once it is sold out, you can place a pre-order with shipments expected in March.What do you think? Are you a M4 Mac mini user? Do you see a benefit in using a hub like this? Is $99 a fair price? Lets discuss below!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

Elon Musk and his gang of young interns are descending on US federal agenciesAfter a tense weekend in which Musk forced his way into the Treasury's servers gaining access to Social Security, Medicare, and possibly student loan payment information it was widely reported that Trump's broligarch has "read only access" to the department's sensitive information. Essentially, he can't gunk up any ongoing payments, at least yet, though his team theoretically has access to huge amounts of personal information about Americans the Treasury holds, inviting legal attacks for unlawful disclosure.And to hear him tell it, Musk is only getting started. Now he's signaling a radical plan to transfer the US Treasury to the blockchain."Career Treasury officials are breaking the law every hour of every day by approving payments that are fraudulent or do not match the funding laws passed by Congress," he posted on Monday.The tech mogul failed to share any evidence to back up his claim, but when asked by an acolyte if the Treasury should be put on the blockchain "so this doesn't happen," Musk replied with an enthusiastic "yes!"If it's unclear to you what that even means in practice, you're not alone.Forbeshas reported that, so far, Musk has floated using the blockchain to safeguard data, track federal spending, make payments on behalf of the federal government, and manage agency buildings things that are already done with regular payment systems using the dollar. Musk hasn't yet explained what any of his nebulous blockchain plans mean, except that theyBut the richest man in the world might be building the case against his plans on his own. Musk's Treasury takeover on Monday was met swiftly with a joint lawsuit filed by a number of activist groups and unions, which sent the crypto market into turmoil.Soon after the Treasury lawsuit was announced, Musk's favorite crypto asset, Dogecoin, saw its price tumble 15 percent. Bitcoin likewise dropped by 2.5 percent a three week low and Ethereum fell by 18 percent, its largest drop since November, likely aggravated by Trump's ongoing tariff war.Those price drops come amidst an increasingly volatile crypto market more broadly, as government actionslike Trump's executive orders and State lawmakers' plans to develop "Bitcoin Strategic Reserves" make waves in the already rocky digital currency space. Put simply, crypto is an extremely reactive asset, which doesn't make a great foundation for a massive economy like the US.Critics have long chargedthat moving Treasury assets to the blockchain could result in increased inflation, slower transaction processing times, and soaring crypto prices. While some of that might be good for deep-pocketed blockchain investors like Musk, it's a raw deal for American taxpayers, who stand to gain very little from the deal.In addition, many experts worry that the speculative market legitimated by the likes of Musk and Trump is pushing crypto toward a large and dangerous bubble, which is liable to burst at any moment. They also flag that driving full-throttle toward blockchain-as-currency serves to weaken the US dollar which America has spent decades installing as the standard throughout the world potentially crippling the actual, real-life market while the made-up fantasy one soars.With all that in mind, Musk's unprecedented plans for theTreasury sound less like a play for "transparency and accountability" and more like yet another handout from American taxpayers to the wealthy. At least we'll be able to verify it on the blockchain.More on the blockchain: Blockchains Were Supposed to Be "Unhackable." Now They're Getting Hacked.Share This Article

Google appears to have retroactively edited the YouTube video of an advertisement for Gemini, the company's core AI model, to remove an obvious error the AI made about the global popularity of gouda cheese.On January 30, the search giant released a Super Bowl ad promoting "Google Workspace with Gemini," which is described by the company as an AI-integrated "upgrade" to its workspace products like Docs, Sheets, and more. In the ad, a down-home Wisconsin cheese mart owner, explaining that the bulk of his business these days is done through e-commerce, discusses how helpful Gemini has been in writing web product descriptions about the various cheeses he sells.The video then shows Gemini being prompted with a request to generate a "description of Smoked Gouda that would appeal to cheese lovers." In response, the AI produces a short paragraph of copy that, amid glowing sentiments about gouda's creamy texture, confidently declares that gouda accounts for "50 to 60 percent of the world's cheese consumption."X-formerly-Twitter user and travel blogger Nate Hake was quick to call this gouda claim into question. After all, though gouda is certainly popular, 50 to 60 percent of total global consumption is a lot of cheese, especially considering the immense popularity of cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella. The Verge, which first reported on the initial incident over the weekend, consulteda professor of agricultural economics at Cornell University named Andrew Novakovic, who agreed that "while Gouda is likely the most common single variety in world trade, it is almost assuredly not the most widely consumed."Regardless, Google defended the AI-generated gouda assertion, with Google Cloud apps president Jerry Dischler even taking to X to insist that the error was "not a hallucination.""Gemini is grounded in the Web and users can always check the results and references. In this case, multiple sites across the web include the 50-60percent stat," Dischler wrote in response to Hake. "Gouda news: many love this cheese! Bada news: not everyone thinks it's as grate." (When the Verge reached out for comment, Google directed them to Dischler's X post.)It's unclear exactly what sites Dischler was referring to, but it's true that some including the authoritative-sounding Cheese.com do make that exact claim.But of course, that's the problem Google and other tech companies keep running into: when you automate the process of gathering information, it's easy enough to grab whatever informationlooks true and repeat it as fact, but hard to duplicate the power of a skeptical human who can evaluate a sketchy claim before putting it on their small business' website or into a multi-million dollar Super Bowl ad, for that matter.Regardless of its cutesy nothing-statement, it seems that Google recognizes the gravity of the error. As Hake first caught once again, it looks like Google quietly scrubbed the embarrassingmistake,which has now mysteriously disappeared from the YouTube version of the ad entirely.The description of the YouTube video doesn't denote any kind of update; it also still lists the original publish date of the ad, January 30. Before and after screenshots, though, clearly show the alteration.In addition to admitting that its AI still isn't ready for prime time, the quiet update also appears to be a remarkable exertion of Google's power as the owner of YouTube.Per YouTube policies, creators may retroactively alter or edit smaller details of uploaded videos, like the title, description, and title cards. But making major edits to the actual content of an uploaded video has long been forbidden; a substantive alteration, like the correction of a factual error stated mid-video, requires creators to upload a new clip entirely. Google, though, appears to have broken this rule for itself by uploading an edited video under the same URL.We reached out to Google for comment, but didn't hear back at the time of publishing.More on Google and AI: Google's AI Overview Believes Baby Elephants Can Sit in the Palm of a Human HandShare This Article

As a Senior Data Engineer on our Unified Platform team, you will play an integral role in designing and building an innovative data platform used by Traders, Quantitative Researchers, and Back-Office personnel to analyze financial markets, determine trading opportunities, establish new strategies, and ensure smooth back-office processes.Technical requirements summary:Have experience designing and building data-intensive distributed systemsHave experience working within the modern batch and streaming data ecosystemsAn expert in Java/Scala or Python and have experience with SQL and BashAble to own, organize, and steer team projectsBe able to contribute to project management and project reportingBe a leader/mentor to junior members of the team concerning engineering best-practices and code-qualityWhat you will do in this role:Help design, build, and manage DRW's Unified Data Platform and support its users.Work closely with Traders and Researchers to determine appropriate data sources and implement processes to onboard and manage new data sources for analysis to unlock future trading opportunities.Design and develop data solutions to help discover, purchase, organize, track usage, manage rights, and control quality of data sets to address the needs of various DRW trading teams and strategies.Continually monitor data ingestion pipelines and data quality to ensure stability, reliability, and quality of the data. Contribute to the monitoring and quality control software and processes.What you will need in this role:7+ years of experience working with modern data technologies and/or building data-intensive distributed systemsExpert level skills in Java/Scala or Python with a proven ability to output high-quality, maintainable, codeStrong familiarity with SQL and BashExperience leveraging and building cloud-native technologies for scalable data processing.Prior experience with both batch and streaming systems and an understanding of the limitations those paradigms imposeExperience with an array of data processing technologies (e.g. Flink, Spark, Polars, Dask, etc.)Experience with an array of data storage technologies (e.g. S3, RDBMS, NoSQL, Delta/Iceberg, Cassandra, Clickhouse, Kafka, etc.)Experience with an array of data formats and serialization systems (e.g. Arrow, Parquet, Protobuf/gRPC, Avro, Thrift, JSON, etc.)Experience managing complex data ETL Pipelines (e.g. Kubernetes, Argo Workflows, Airflow, Prefect, Dagster, etc.)Prior experience dealing with schema governance and schema evolutionPrior experience developing data quality control processes to detect data gaps or inaccuraciesA desire to mentor less experienced team-members and champion both engineering best-practices and high code-quality standards.Strong technical problem-solving skillsProven ability to work in an agile, fast-paced environment, prioritize multiple tasks and projects, and efficiently handle the demands of a trading environmentThe annual base salary range for this position is $180k to $250x, depending on the candidates experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set. The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)Job DescriptionWere seeking an experienced Product Design Manager to lead the Design function within the EPD organization at Tailscale.Design plays a critical role in making Tailscale accessible and trustworthy to a wide audience, and you will help foster a user-centered culture within the EPD team by partnering with Engineering and Product leaders to advocate for the quality and thoughtfulness of the end user experience. You will help Product Designers perform their best, and work with them to define and maintain high quality standards across our product and its features, both existing and new. You will also collaborate closely with UXR and Brand Design to ensure we carry a consistent presentation, voice, and brand image across the Tailscale experience, from our product all the way into our marketing.Key ResponsibilitiesManage a team of 4+ Product Designers, fostering an inclusive and supportive culture. Lead team rituals like crits and offsites.Support cross functional collaboration in all directions. Help our team interface with other disciplines, and help other disciplines engage effectively with our team.Advocate for the end user experience in the building of new features and the prioritization of improvements to existing workflows.Identify gaps in systems and processes that reduce Design Team efficacy, and recommend improvements.Define and champion standards for quality and consistency.Help designers on your team improve their craft and grow, by practicing coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship.What We Are Looking ForExtensive experience as both an IC Product designer and a leader of design teams.Experience working on B2B software in highly technical domains where customer problems are unfamiliar to you.Ability and willingness to lead new processes and activities by example, helping your team adopt new practices with hands-on demonstrations.As a company, we strive to maintain fair and equitable compensation practices within our team across all roles and all levels. Tailscale's compensation package includes base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The salary range displayed on each job posting represents the target range for a new hire's base salary. Individual offers may vary based on experience and skill set.US Pay Ranges$189,000 - $236,000 USDFrequently cited statistics show that people who identify with historically marginalized groups are likely to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to help us break that statistic!What We OfferAn inclusive, flexible environment where you can be your authentic self. We recognize the impact of diverse voices and backgrounds on the growth of our people, product, and company. And that flexibility in how and when you work empowers our team to integrate work and life.A competitive total compensation package. This includes a base salary, an equity incentive plan and variable commission (for quota-based roles).Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period. Take advantage of coverage for health, vision, dental, and more for you and your family!All-remote with the opportunity to work from anywhereenjoy a change of scenery wherever you can get wifi, participate in virtual and in-person social events, and leverage our corporate co-working program to visit WeWork (or other similar spaces near you).Connect with other Tailscalars IRL. Attend our annual company retreat, participate in team/department off-sites, or use your individual travel budget to meet up with team members in Canada, the US, or the UK.Support for your personal and professional development. Grow your career thoughtfully with $1500 USD annually for professional development, or take advantage of mentorship, coaching, and internal promotion opportunities.Paid time off and a healthy work-life integration. Our flexible, paid time off program supports you for any situation life throws your way, whether moving homes or travelling the world! We encourage all Tailscalars to take 4-6 weeks of vacation annually.A build-your-own home office setup. You choose your own company-owned laptop (Mac or PC), receive a monthly home internet reimbursement, and $1000 USD to customize your workstation to make it your own.Generous parental leave program from your first day. We care about your life outside of work and encourage new parents to take advantage of parental leave top-ups for up to 26 weeks.

If you haven't had your blood drawn in years, it's probably time to chat with your primary physician about getting it done. Your blood work can tell you a lot about your health, revealing the truth about everything from your kidney function to your cholesterol levels. How often you should get your blood work analyzed depends on your age, the type of blood test and your personal health.According to the Centers for Disease Control, most healthy adults only need to have their cholesterol tested every four to six years. Meanwhile, the organization says people should get their A1C tested at the age of 45 and then every year or two if they are pre-diabetic or if they have risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Some tests, like hepatitis B, are only recommended once per lifetime for adults age 18 and older unless you have symptoms or are pregnant.With all these different types of blood tests available, it can be confusing to know which you should get and when. To simplify things, we talked to two doctors who explained which blood tests the average person should consider getting and why. 1. Complete blood count Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. The complete blood count routine test provides a snapshot of your body's blood production and immunity. The test measures a variety of components in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.Dr. Soma Mandal, a board-certified internist at Summit Health in New Providence, New Jersey, says that getting a CBC test is "recommended for individuals of all ages as part of a routine health examination, or when symptoms suggest a potential health issue." Dr. Maria Knbel, medical director of Medical Cert UK, agrees that this foundational test is appropriate for many patients. She says the test is ideal for anyone undergoing a routine health check-up. Still, she advises that you may want to get it if you're "experiencing symptoms like persistent fatigue, unexplained bruising or frequent infections."A CBC blood test can indicate lots of things, including: AnemiaInfectionAllergiesLeukemiaInflammationHeart diseaseIron deficiencyCertain cancersVitamin deficiencyImmune system disordersRisk of clotting and bleedingLow platelets (can affect blood clotting)Mandal explains that each lab may have slight variations for what they consider "normal" test results. The ranges typically accepted as normal for adults are: Red blood cells: 4.5-5.9 million cells per microliter (men), 4.1-5.1 million cells per microliter (women)White blood cells: 4,500-11,000 cells per microliterHemoglobin: 13.8-17.2 grams per deciliter (men), 12.1-15.1 grams per deciliter (women)Hematocrit: 40.7%-50.3% (men), 36.1%-44.3% (women)Platelets: 150,000-450,000 platelets per microliter 2. Lipid panelLipids are fats and fatty substances in your blood. One type of lipid is cholesterol, which is used as a source of energy. Too much "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) can damage your heart.You may need to get this test if you have cardiovascular disease or other risk factors. Mandal states this test is essential for anyone "at risk of cardiovascular diseases, including those with a family history of heart disease, smokers, people with hypertension or those who are overweight."Knbel explains that a lipid panel measures total cholesterol and also breaks it down into HDL/LDL:TriglyceridesLDL (bad cholesterol)HDL (good cholesterol)She says, "Elevated LDL levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, while high HDL levels are generally protective. Elevated triglycerides can also indicate a risk for heart disease and may be associated with other conditions like diabetes." The normal parameters for a lipid panel in adults are: Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dLLDL cholesterol: Less than 100 mg/dLHDL cholesterol: 40 mg/dL or higher (men), 50 mg/dL or higher (women)Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL Lourdes Balduque/Getty Images 3. Basic metabolic panelThe basic metabolic panel measures what Knbel calls "critical aspects of your body's chemistry." This includes glucose, calcium and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and bicarbonate. The test also looks for kidney function indicators, like blood urea nitrogen and creatinine.Knbel elaborates, "Glucose levels provide insight into blood sugar control. Electrolyte imbalances can reveal issues related to dehydration, kidney disease or metabolic imbalances. Abnormal calcium levels can indicate issues with bone health or parathyroid function." BMP is often part of a routine exam. It may also be recommended for patients with diabetes or kidney disease or those at risk for these conditions.The results of your BMP could indicate:DiabetesDehydrationHypertensionKidney diseaseDeteriorating bone healthFor adults, Mandal says the normal ranges for results of this test are: Glucose: 70-99 mg/dL (fasting)Calcium: 8.5-10.2 mg/dLSodium: 135-145 mEq/LPotassium: 3.5-5.0 mEq/LBicarbonate: 23-30 mEq/LChloride: 96-106 mEq/LBlood urea nitrogen (BUN): 7-20 mg/dLCreatinine: 0.6-1.3 mg/dL 4. Hemoglobin A1CThe Hemoglobin A1C test, also called the HbA1c, is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. Mandel explains that it's primarily used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and pre-diabetes. If you're overweight, have symptoms of diabetes, have a family history of diabetes or are over the age of 45, the doctor says you may also want to get this test. A daily sugar test gives you a short-term view of your blood sugar level. On the other hand, this test is a long-term view of how well your body is managing glucose.Getting an HbA1c test could reveal a few things about your health: DiabetesPre-diabetesPoor blood sugar control (higher risk of diabetes-related complications)Normal ranges for test results are: Normal: Less than 5.7%Pre-diabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%Diabetes: 6.5% or higher 5. Thyroid function testsIf you are experiencing fatigue, weight changes, irregular heartbeat, hair loss or mood swings, you may want to get a thyroid function test. Typically prescribed only if you display symptoms such as those previously mentioned, this test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone in your blood. Your doctors can use the results to see how well your thyroid (a small, hormone-releasing gland in the front of your throat) is functioning. Mandal tells us this test is commonly included in routine health screenings, especially in women over 60.Your blood test may indicate: High TSH levels/hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid)Low TSH levels/hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid)Abnormal levels of T3 and T4 (other thyroid disorders)Doctors typically consider the following normal ranges for test results in adults: TSH levels: 0.4-4.0 mIU/LFree T4 levels: 0.8-1.8 ng/dLFree T3 levels: 2.3-4.2 pg/mL 6. 25-hydroxy vitamin D According to Mount Sinai, a hospital system in New York, some older patients can benefit from getting a 25-hydroxy test to check their vitamin D levels. People who are over the age of 65, have osteoporosis, get limited sun exposure and/or have Crohn's disease, celiac disease or ulcerative colitis may benefit from the test.Most people get ample vitamin D from the sun. Both skin production and gut absorption of the vitamins decline as we age. It's important to find out if you don't have enough vitamin D because it helps with everything from bone health to immunity and energy levels.The 25-hydroxy vitamin D will reveal two things:25 hydroxy vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)25 hydroxy vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)There is some disagreement among doctors about what a healthy range is for vitamin D, but one generally accepted range is 20 and 40 ng/mL. The bottom lineIt's always important to discuss your health and any related concerns with your doctor before requesting any type of test. Based on your personalized situation and health plan, your doctor may request blood work not on this list or say that you don't need some of the above tests.As a general rule, many people can benefit from CBC, lipid panel, BMP and hemoglobin A1C even without any symptoms. Also, thyroid function and vitamin D tests should be considered if you experience any symptoms. If you're older, you may also want to talk to your physician about your vitamin D absorption.If your labs are abnormal, you may need additional screening and more frequent repeat labs. If your labs are normal, these labs may only need to be repeated once a year while doing your annual exam with your primary doctor.

Our Experts Written by Kim Wong-Shing Written by Medically Reviewed Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement What to consider Strength Figure out what power or strength you need your reading glasses' lenses to be. Style Choose a pair of reading glasses that suit your personal style and where you plan to wear them. Policies Look at the site's shipping, warranty and returns policies to make sure you can order online worry-free. Why You Can Trust CNET How we test With 4+ years covering health and eye care products, we consider power, price, shipping and return policy to determine our roundup of the best places to buy reading glasses.Table of Contents Our Picks Best overall reading glasses GlassesUSA View details See at GlassesUSA View details Best for style selection Readers.com View details See at Readers.com View details Fun affordable reading glasses Peepers View details See at PeeperSpecs View details Swappable frames Pair Eyewear View details See at Pair Eyewear View details Best budget reading glasses Zenni View details See at Zenni View details Best shopping experience Warby Parker View details See at Warby Parker View details Table of Contents Not being able to see clearly when reading can impact your daily life and feel very frustrating. But you can get your life back in focus with a great pair of reading glasses. While there are many options for getting reading glasses, we've found a lot of great online ordering options and narrowed them down to the best so you can more easily find the pair for you.Read more: 22 of the Best Gifts Under $50 for 2025"The human lens grows like a little onion and adds layers, and right around age 40 becomes stiffer," Dr. Viola Kanevsky, a past president of the New York State Optometric Association, told CNET. "Even a person who's always had perfect vision suddenly needs reading glasses and starts to pull things out further."If presbyopia is the only issue with your vision, reading glasses can be a simple solution, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. It's important that you get a thorough eye exam to ensure you don't have any other vision issues and to determine whether your glasses have the right strength. Once you have your power figures, you can easily buy reading glasses online and get the perfect pair shipped right to your door.Plenty of online retailers sell reading glasses, but not all provide the best quality. After sifting through nearly a dozen sites, carefully considering customer reviews, product variety and shipping policies, here are our top choices to help you buy the best reading glasses for your needs. What are the best overall reading glasses?GlassesUSA is our pick for the best overall reading glasses you can buy online, thanks to its well-rounded inventory, fair policies and great customer reviews. GlassesUSA was also one of CNET's picks for the best online glasses and best prescription sunglasses.Best reading glasses for 2025Filter by Showing 6 of 6 Results Photo Gallery 1/1 See at GlassesUSA Pros Wide range of strengths Variety of styles Virtual try-on available Cons Return and exchange period is only 14 days Powers +0.25 to +4Shipping Free standard shipping; $20 for next-dayReturns and exchanges 14 daysWarranty 1 yearPrice $24 to over $100 Type High Power See at GlassesUSA GlassesUSA offers nearly 200 frames as reading glasses. You can get lens powers from +0.25 to +4 on every pair, which is one of the widest ranges out of all the brands we looked at. Even people with very weak or very strong farsightedness can get their readers here. There are many different styles to choose from, from traditional to bold. Frequent sales bring the prices down to as low as about $26 for a pair. GlassesUSA also has other policies and perks that make it a convenient vendor to buy from. These include virtual try-ons, free shipping, free returns or exchanges and a year-long warranty. See at Readers.com There's something to be said for buying a pair of reading glasses from a brand that's dedicated to that specific product. Readers.com offers little perks like an online "PowerFinder" to help you determine the best strength for your eyes, and it sells frames in +1 to +4 powers to accommodate a wide range of vision needs. The site's frames come in a range of prices and styles (over 500). You can filter your search by shape, style and more. See at PeeperSpecs Peepers, a brand you might recognize from talk shows or Oprah's Favorite Things, is ideal for people who want a bolder or more creative look at a reasonable price. The brand keeps things simple: The selection isn't huge, but it is well-curated and each pair of glasses is the exact same price: $29 (before tax and any discounts). Virtual try-on is available, and shipping is free for orders over $42. Powers range from +1 to +4.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide Everyone treats the star rating system in Football Manager like its gospel. When my scout brings me a player with a four-and-a-half-star rating, I have to sign them at all costs. And when a player dips below three stars, you immediately start thinking about the quickest way to get them off your wage bill. But what if I told you the star rating system isnt telling you the full truth?Weve all had players who perform way aboveor belowtheir star rating. That one two-and-a-half-star player who somehow ends up with the best average rating in the team, outperforming the unknown wonderkid you splashed 90 million on just because of his high rating. Just like we found out with Football Managers attributes, all of this suggests that the star rating system isnt as reliable as it seems, and it needs to be scrutinized carefully. So, lets dive into it and uncover the truth. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. What is the Football Manager Star Rating System?If youve played Football Manager for any period of time, you already know what the star rating system is. But if youre completely new, heres a quick explanation.In Football Manager, star ratings are an assessment of a players current and potential ability, ranging from half a star to five stars. These ratings are relative to your squads overall quality. That means a player might have different star ratings at various clubs, depending on the level of the team. A three-star player at Crawley Town could be a one-star player at Manchester City. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Sounds simple, right? Well, not quite.Star Ratings Dont Accurately Reflect Current AbilityPopular Football Manager YouTuber Zealand has already exposed how unreliable the star ratings are when it comes to evaluating current ability. Take this screenshot (below): as we can see Kingsley Coman and Manuel Neuer both have a current ability of 162. But their star ratings? A full star apart.In Football Manager, a full star is supposed to be a big deal. Even a half-star difference is often enough to convince someone to signor ignorea player. So, the fact that two players with the same ability have such different star ratings is a major red flag.Zealand https://www.youtube.com/@ZealandonYTIt doesnt stop there. Noussair Mazraoui and Konrad Laimer also have the same current ability, yet their star ratings differ by half a star. You could argue that factors like form and training performance influence these ratings, but Zealands screenshot was taken at the very start of the game. So, those factors shouldnt even be in play yet.If the star ratings dont accurately represent current ability, surely theyre better at predicting potential ability? Well no. In fact, it gets even worse.Potential Ability Star Ratings Are Even More InaccurateThings get even crazier when you look at youth academies and their potential star ratings. At Bayern Munich, the highest-rated youth prospect, Arijon Ibrahimovi (no relation to Zlatan), has five-star potential.Based on that rating, youd assume that if you developed him perfectly, hed reach the same level as Bayerns best playerssomeone like Harry Kane. Except, thats not the case at all: when Zealand checked his actual potential ability, it was 145.To put that into perspective, 145 is lower than the current ability of the worst player in Bayerns first-team squad, and it gets even worse.A random youth prospect further down the list, with just three-star potential, actually had a higher potential ability than the so-called five-star Ibrahimovi. Now, you might be thinking: Well, maybe the staff member rating these players just isnt very good at judging potential?Nope. Zealand changed the staff member to one with maxed-out scouting stats, and the star ratings were still a complete mess. No consistency, no logic, just chaos. The weirdness only continues when you change a players current ability. When you do this, it also changes their potential star ratingeven though their actual potential ability stays the same.In short: Star ratings are inaccurate and influenced by way too many factors to be trusted.How This Affects Your Gameand What You Should DoSo, what does this mean for how you play Football Manager?1. Stop relying on star ratings.Theyre just an opinion, not a fact.2. Focus on attributes.The only thing you can depend on 100% is a players attributes. Look at their statsdo they have high values in the areas you need? If youre looking for a winger, can they dribble and cross? If you need a centre-back, do they have good positioning and tackling?3. Consider intangibles.Scout reports can tell you important things, like whether a player is consistent or if they perform well in big games. From personal experience, players with high work rate and determination almost always outperform their star ratings.(Football Manager secretly loves a workhorse.)4. Be cautious with potential ability.For some players, you can use media descriptions like wonderkid to get an idea of their potential. But for most young players, as Zealand showed, potential star ratings are wildly inaccurate.This might seem frustrating, but it actually makes the game more realistic. In real-life football, predicting young players careers is a lottery. If Football Manager was too accurate, the game would be much easierand much less fun. Embrace the chaos.ConclusionTheres a lot of complexity within every Football Manager game, and the inconsistencies with the games Star System shows that you cant only rely on a single system to max out your team with the best possible players. You need to combine everything: stars, hidden attributes, current ability ratings. Any possible stat you see, you should be weighing up alongside another.It turns out that its quite a bit of work to make sure that your team is as primed as they should be for whatever league youre in, but thats the fun. Everyone loves a challenge, and FM has a lot. Just like a real footie manager, you have to earn your success. Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share