A power point party where all the presenters are seasoned comedians and comedy writers is not a hard sell but Dropouts Smartypants goes above and beyond its mandate, and looks to continue doing so, based on this teaser for its sophomore season. The shows first go-round featured informative presentations, like the origin of the fruits and vegetables divide; surreal ones, like how human sexual experience would improve if it was just one big sperm; media criticism, like arguing which cartoon characters are welcome at the cookout; and a man whose opinions on charcuterie were so poorly received by his audience that I became worried for his life.While we only get a glimpse of this new seasons controversial topics, like kissing the homies, the shows made a big expansion on star power, with new guests including Hank Green, Vinny Thomas, Cameron Esposito, Alexis Nikole Nelson, and more. Smartypants season 2 will hit the Dropout streaming service on March 6.

Grasshopper Manufacture, the Japanese developer behind games like No More Heroes and Killer7, recently publicized its ongoing struggle with fans randomly showing up at its Tokyo studio and asked everyone to, uh, stop doing that.Weve had a lot of fans showing up at the studio unannounced, which has actually started to become a bit of an issue, a Grasshopper rep posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Feb 6. While we are obviously extremely happy and appreciative to have such fans and truly wish that we could accommodate those who care enough to want to come visit our studio, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that it simply isnt possible for us to receive sudden visitors during work so often, and we also dont want anyone to feel as though theyre being treated unfairly.The company has apparently become so conscious of the issue that it canceled an upcoming installment of The Dev Room, its long-running series of behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube, because employees felt the episode could inadvertently end up encouraging even more people to suddenly show up at the studio.All of us at Grasshopper Manufacture would like to offer our sincerest apologies and appreciation to those of you who were looking forward to the episode, to everyone involved in its production, and to everyone who was hoping to come and visit the studio at some point, and we hope you understand the reasoning behind said decision, the X post adds. Thank you all so much for all your continued and invaluable support.Grasshopper most recently released Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered on Oct. 31 and is currently deep in the development of a brand new game. The studio may pride itself on its punk rock ethos, but its still running a business, folks. Stop being weird.

Its not just eggsall the basics we need to live our lives are getting more expensive, including the energy we use to run our appliances, heat our homes, and do just about everything else. The average monthly cost for electricity and gas is already over $200, so when your utility bill spikes, its often a cause for panic. After all, you can only do so much to cut down on your usage.If youre looking for ways to manage your utility bills, there is one option worth investigating. Check with your local utility company to see if it offers whats known as a Time of Use (TOU) plan. While these plans require some adjustment and a healthy dose of personal discipline, they also the possibility of saving real money on your utility bills.Whats a Time of Use utility plan?Although a typical utility bill presents a flat rate for your usage, electricity demand varies greatly depending on the time of day. When demand is high (usually between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., when people are getting home from work, firing up all their appliances, and warming up/cooling down the house) its more challenging for your utility company to provide sufficient energy. When demand is lower, its easier to generate enough energy to meet demand, so a TOU plan is designed to encourage customers to migrate their usage to off-peak hours by charging them a lower rate during those times. Electricity will cost more during peak hoursIt's critical to not e that most TOU plans will charge you a higher rate during peak hourshigher, that is, than the regular rate you'd pay without a TOU plan. If you go with a TOU plan, you'll not only not save money unless you commit to using less energy when demand is high, you'll potentially lose money.The savings can be significantIf your utility company offers a TOU plan (not all do), this can lead to significant savings; although the exact amount you can shave off your utility bill will vary depending on the actual rates and your usage, you can potentially save up to 40% off your energy bill. But it will take some effort.How to save with a Time of Use utility planThe key thing about opting into a TOU plan is that you have to shift much of your energy use to those off-peak hours to see any benefit. The off peak hours that are cheaper under a TOU plan are set by the utilityyou cant pick and choose when you get the lower rate. You'll have to adapt your lifestyle to fit the plan in order to save money. That means running appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and vacuums late at night. If you own an electric vehicle, youll have to charge it after peak hours. And youll need to adjust your thermostat so your HVAC system doesnt run full-blast during peak hours.While it might seem totally do-able to start doing laundry and vacuuming the house at 10 p.m., keep in mind you have to maintain this schedule shift for the long haul. If you lose your motivation after a few weeks and go back to a more convenient one, you wont get the cheaper rateas noted, you might even pay more than you would have if you hadnt opted into a TOU plan in the first place. Consider also the fact that you will be using at least some electricity during peak hours, and youll likely be paying a higher rate for it. You have to be able to shift enough of your usage into the off-peak periods to really save money, which means it's probably not going to work out if you work remotely or are a big homebody.How to find a Time of Use utility planIf you think a TOU plan might work for you, you can contact your current energy supplier to find out if they offer one. You can also check the U.S. Department of Energys website, which maintains a listing of utilities that offer some version of TOU on a state by state basis. Just because a program is listed, however, doesnt mean its active: Some utilities have designated opt-in periods, and some are temporary and may not be accepting new customers, so youll have to contact the listed utility directly to discuss your options.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Valentine's Day is tomorrow. By this point, you should've already ordered your love a dozen roses. And of course, there are plenty of non-floral gift ideas that are perfect for the day of love, which I've rounded up for you here.But don't panic if you haven't found the perfect gift yetor if you forgot about the holiday entirely. I've curated a selection of thoughtful, budget-friendly presents that prove you don't need to break the bank to show someone you care. Personalized photo gifts Transform your favorite memories into meaningful presents using same-day printing services at a local drugstore or big-box retailer. Create custom photo magnets, prints, or small photo books featuring your favorite moments together. Many stores offer same-day pickup, making this an ideal last-minute option that feels anything but rushed.Gourmet chocolate experience Skip the traditional heart-shaped box and create a unique chocolate tasting experience. Visit a local specialty shop or gourmet market to select four or five high-end chocolate bars in different flavors and percentages. Arrange them on a simple plate or in a decorative bag with handwritten tasting notes for an educational and delicious adventure you can enjoy together. Or buy a fancy box on Amazon. L'Atelier Artisan Inspired Chocolates Gift Box, Variety Pack, 14 oz $29.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $29.99 at Amazon Handcrafted self-care package Assemble a spa day in a box using affordable but luxurious items: a scented candle, bath bomb, face mask, and small bottle of essential oil. Package everything in a decorative box or basket from a dollar store, adding a personal touch with handwritten self-care "recipes" for relaxation.Custom music box Create a digital playlist of songs that tell your story together. Write heartfelt notes about why each song is meaningful and present them in a decorated box or envelope. While the playlist itself is free, you can add small treats or trinkets that relate to specific songs while staying under budget.Cooking adventure kitEven if you don't have it in you to secure a, say, complete sushi-making kit, you can still get creative. Build a themed cooking kit around your beloved's favorite food. For Italian night, include pasta, a special sauce ingredient, herbs, and a handwritten recipe. For movie night, compile unique popcorn seasonings, candy, and hot chocolate mix. The key is packaging it beautifully with suggestions for how to use everything. Alas Complete 20 Piece Sushi Making Set $25.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $14.00 Shop Now Shop Now $25.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $14.00 Plant parent starter kitVisit a garden center (or click one-day shipping for an Amazon version here) for a small, low-maintenance plant (like a succulent or pothos), pair it with a decorative pot, and include basic care instructions. This gift keeps growing long after Valentine's Day and shows thoughtful consideration of their interests. Local experience vouchersCreate handmade "tickets" for future dates based on local free or low-cost activities. Include a coffee shop gift card, passes to a museum's free day, or a picnic plan with a small bottle of wine or sparkling cider. The focus here is on quality time together rather than material items.Crafted memory journalSnag a blank journal and fill the first few pages with your favorite memories, photos, ticket stubs, and personal notes. Leave the rest blank with prompts for future memories you'll create together. This combines sentimentality with the promise of future adventures. If you have time, you can buy a journal that already has loving prompts inside. Relationship Journal for Couples $11.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $11.99 at Amazon Tips for last-minute successMany of these gifts can be assembled in under an hour using items from local stores. When you're in a pinch, focus on presentation: Simple ribbon, craft paper, or even newspaper can create beautiful wrapping. And most important of all is to include a heartfelt card explaining the thought behind your gift. Remember, Valentine's Day is about expressing your feelings, not emptying your wallet.The best Valentine's gifts show you've put thought into what would make your partner happy. These budget-friendly options prove that meaningful presents don't require advance planning or expensive price tagsjust a little creativity and understanding of what matters to your Valentine.

The next major expansion for Diablo IV wont come out until 2026, according to remarks made by franchise general manager Rod Fergusson at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas on Wednesday. This isnt too surprising, given that the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, didnt release until the game had been out for 17 months.Fergusson announced that Blizzard will drop a 2025 roadmap just ahead of Season 8, but that it wont include any details on the next major expansion. Additionally, he didnt say when in 2026 it was likely to drop, nor did he provide any details. Blizzards original plan was to put out a new expansion every year, similar to how Destiny 2 handled things in its early run. That idea went out the window when Vessel of Hatred missed the release window by nearly six months. There were bugs that needed to be fixed and community feedback to incorporate. Its tough maintaining a live-service game.In any event, I would prefer a polished expansion with plenty of new gameplay mechanics instead of a rushed effort to meet a yearly release quota. The next season of Diablo IV is currently set to go live in April, so we can expect that 2025 roadmap sometime ahead of that. Its also highly likely well start to get teases for the next expansion later in the year. The hype machine surrounding Vessel of Hatred started up in 2023.We called Diablo IV one of the best games that Blizzard had released in a decade in our official review. The dungeon-crawling mechanics are just about perfect, though we thought the world-building felt a little flat. Vessel of Hatred added a new class and a new area to explore.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/diablo-iv-wont-get-another-expansion-until-2026-194245537.html?src=rss

Those who are in the market for a new game controller that works with pretty much any device outside of a PlayStation or Xbox could do a lot worse than consider the options from 8BitDo. The brand's Pro 2 controller is certainly worth your attention, not least because it's on sale. The black version of the peripheral has dropped from $50 to $38.39. That's a record low price. The other two colorways G Classic and Gray have been discounted as well, but the deals aren't quite as generous there. Those versions have each dropped by $10 to $40, which is still a solid offer. These discounts are for variants of the Pro 2 with Hall Effect thumbsticks. These should prevent stick drift (an issue that had emerged with Nintendo's own Joy-Con controllers for the Switch) and help you to aim more precisely. In fact, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is among our picks for the best Switch controllers. Along with the Switch, the Pro 2 controller is compatible with Apple devices (i.e. those running iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and macOS), Android devices, Windows PC, Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi. The controller is deeply programmable, thanks to 8BitDo's Ultimate software, which you can even use to set up macros for the controller. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/8bitdos-pro-2-controller-with-hall-effect-thumbsticks-drops-to-38-193028015.html?src=rss

The method could be used to invisibly watermark content, experts have warned.

Apple Maps has supported bike directions in the UK for a long while, although the areas covered were very limited but not anymore.

Arm shares rose 5% after a Thursday report that it was developing its own chip and that it had secured Meta as one of its first customers.

DennysCorporation (NASDAQ: DENN) told investors it is closing another 30 restaurants, for a total of 180 closures combined in 2024 and 2025, while reporting fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday. (It had previously said it would close a total of 150 locations.) The move is part of the restaurant chains plan to jumpstart its waning growth. Dennys, like many fast-food and casual-dining chains, has been struggling in recent years due to inflation, changing customer habits, and skyrocketing food prices. Its just one of many major chains to announce store closures recently, a list that includes TGI Fridays, Shake Shack, and Wendys as well. But Dennys told Fast Company that, regarding the restaurants that will be closing, it is unable to provide specific location information at this time. Shares of Dennys were down nearly 2% in midday trading Thursday and closed nearly 25% lower yesterday after it missed earnings expectations. Dennys reported operating revenue of $114.7 million, down from $115.4 million last quarter; $52.4 million in sales, down from $54.0 million last quarter, and a net income of $6.8 million. Overall, Dennys stock is down about 50% since a year ago.In its fourth-quarter-earnings release, the Spartanburg, South Carolina-based company said it closed 88 locations in 2024 and will shut another 70 to 90 locations in 2025. According to the company, many of the locations marked for closure are less profitable, have leases that are expiring, or are too old to be remodeled. However, some good news: Dennys opened 14 franchised restaurants and renovated 23 locations last year.We have made significant progress in our strategy to enhance the overall health of our flagship brand by accelerating the closure of lower-volume restaurants and completing 23 remodels, and also opened a record number of Kekes Cafes while expanding into six new states, CEO Kelli Valade said in an earnings statement. Looking ahead to 2025, there is still work to be done within our brands, particularly as we navigate near-term-consumer sentiment that has been affected by macroeconomic factors.