HGTV star Erin Napier is adding to our list of 2025 kitchen trends to watch. In a recent episode of Home Town, entitled Intervention, she and husband Ben turned out another charming kitchen in a historic fixer-upper home in Laurel, Mississippi. Just a few features we loved: open shelving, blue cabinets (painted Blueridge Fir by Valspar), a secret pantry with a family heirloom cupboard, an old-school pendant light from Ben and Erins collection with Shades of Light, and in lieu of wallpaper, a whimsical cherry-themed tile backsplash by Mary Engelbreit (with a special guest appearance by the famous illustrator herself!).And for the countertops, a natural material that Erin says is making a comebackView full post on InstagramIn an Instagram post featuring a photo carousel of the finished project, Erin wrote, I was second guessing constantly, but I think she liked it all! Also, did you know were seeing a big return of butcher block countertops? Walnut is huge right now, and oak was the prettiest in this kitchen from @scotsmanusa.Fans of the show loved this makeover, and quite a few comments came in from folks who have butcher-block countertops and vouch for their awesomeness: We have had butcher block countertops for a few years now and we love them! And how exciting that the one and only Mary Engelbreit was on your show and made beautiful tiles .But some had questions: How does Butcher Block hold up? Anyone know?Heres Everything You Need to KnowA classic choice in farmhouse kitchens, butcher-block countertops have pros and cons like anything else. Theyre affordable, beautiful, and easy on knives, but they also need proper cleaning and maintenance and can be susceptible to scratches and dings, albeit easily repairable ones. As long as you maintain it properly, butcher block might just be your perfect countertop material. More Ben and Erin Napier NewsTerri RobertsonTerri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques.

"The average person does not want to live the life I live."For some people, the world is not enough.At least that's how Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson feels, a YouTuber whose content empire is worth a cool $85 million. He's recently gone on record lamenting the stress and anguish of the centimillionaire media lifestyle, complaining that the "average person does not want to live the life I live, or be in my head.""They would be miserable because they're just working all the time," Donaldson complained on "The Diary of a CEO" Podcast, a show where personal finance scolding meets hustle-and-grind propaganda.That might sound off-color in a country where 52 percent of full-time workers spend over 40 hours a week toiling to get by, but let's cut Donaldson some slack he does have a tough gig.At 370 million followers, MrBeast is the most popular channel on YouTube by far. Once an unsung video game streamer, MrBeast became a household name thanks to a clever blend of algorithm manipulation and feel-good slop content.His bread and butter? A horrifyingly dystopian series of giveaway videos, where the millionaire uses the vast wealth accumulated via YouTube ad revenue to cajole the poors into increasingly fraught Squid Games-style prison experiments.It's a lot to coordinate for one YouTuber, which is why Donaldson has courted a small empire of underlings to help him plan his stunts. Even still, the pressure on Donaldson is immense, which probably explains why his business triggereda three-month investigation of workplace harassment and misconduct.Donaldson's most watched videos range from feel-good bait to borderline torture rituals. There was the time he lavished Lamborghini on a homeless man pushing the guy to walk into a dealership and pick out the model, which Donaldson then paid for, all on camera of course or the 100-day circle challenge, where a random subscriber was dared not to leave a grass circle for 100 days in order to win $500,000.The trick to Donaldson's success isn't some clever marketing or flashy thumbnails, though those don't hurt. Rather, it's the existential threat hanging over every American: the anxiety of life under capitalism.By playing to the fantasy of breaking free from the daily grind most of us face as wage earners imagine how much you could do with $500,000! Donaldson's managed to amass a huge fortune for himself. Sure, he gives part of that back through random handouts, but those giveaways are part of the content mill, which ultimately lines his pockets.Luckily, as Donaldson's whining implies, the "average person" has it much easier than him, giving him a choice: if the MrBeast lifestyle is getting the better of him, he could always donate his millions and come enjoy the easy life like the rest of us. Why hasn't he?More on YouTube: Man Builds Robot to Force-Feed Him AlcoholShare This Article

A charismatic leader comes to power on a wave of populist rage against elites, dismissive of pesky ideas about civil liberties and free speech, and supported by a cadre of yes-men who rally around bright-red imagery.Sound familiar?As the New York Times reports, Chinese people inside and outside the communist country are comparing the beginning of Donald Trump's second administration to the so-called Cultural Revolution, the decade-long period of unrest that ushered longtime chairman of the Chinese Communist Party Mao Zedong into power nearly 60 years ago."Coming from an authoritarian state, we know that dictatorship is not just a system it is, at its core, the pursuit of power," Wang Jian, a Chinese journalist based in Japan, wrote in a since-deleted X post cited by the newspaper. "We also know that the Cultural Revolution was about dismantling institutions to expand control."Zhang Wenmin, another Chinese reporter, now lives in exile in the US after being forced to flee China in 2023 amid a years-long crackdown on investigative journalism. In an interview with the NYT, Wenmin who also goes by Jiang Xue, her pen name said she feels like she got "out of the frying pan and into the fire.""Im overwhelmed with a sense of familiarity," the journalist said. "It feels so much like China."Though the two countries have major differences China is under the single-party rule of the Chinese Communist Party, while the US still has a two-party system and remains democratic,at least for now the similarities have become so jarring that one detractor jokingly suggested that Trump is outdoing the country's current leader, Xi Jinping."To be honest, the media of the Chinese Communist Partys embassies abroad, which have been deeply rooted in peoples minds and hearts, do not go out of their way to praise Xi Jinping every day," opined Deng Haiyan, an ex-cop who later became critical of the government and eventually left for the US, in a Chinese language X post. "But the US Embassy in China really does praise President Trump every day and in every article."Perhaps most biting, however, was a joking comparison to Mao made in response to the unveiling of the US president's hats that read "Trump was right about everything.""Mao Zedong of America has been born!" the account, which has fewer than 600 followers, tweeted. "Long live the great leader Chairman Trump long live, long live, long long live!"More on Trump: Trump Cuts Elon's Power as Disaster DeepensShare This Article

New videos from Alef Aeronautics show the company's flying car initially driving like a road vehicle, then taking off into a flight that takes it over another vehicle in a simulation of a blocked traffic scenario.The model shown in the demos is the Alef Model Zero Ultralight which, as the name suggests, is a lighter prototype used for research and development. It has some key differences from the company's first production vehicle, the Alef Model A. Alef's Model Zero Ultralight takes flight over a stopped car. Alef AeronauticsWhile the Model Zero Ultralight has a smaller battery to keep its weight down, the larger battery in Alef's Model A is expected to have a flight range of 110 miles or a driving range of 200 miles. Those numbers may increase if the company adopts new battery technology.Thinner and smaller wheels than a traditional car also help reduce the vehicle's weight while allowing it to drive in various conditions. The flying car can drive like a normal car on the ground, but the fun part is when it gets airborne. Alef AeronauticsWhile the Model Zero Ultralight requires an experienced test pilot right now, Alef CEO and co-founder Jim Dukhovny says the Model A will be much easier for an average person to fly.The optimal cruise speed in the air for the Model A is expected to be about 100mph, with the top speed predicted to be about 225mph. On the ground, the car is currently registered as a low-speed vehicle for research and development purposes, which means it is limited to about 25mph top speed. Dukhovny says higher ground speed is possible and the eventual goal; it just requires crash testing and regulatory approval. Until then, the company is not yet ready to crash its prototype. Alef flying over a stopped car on a road, simulating a traffic blockage Alef AeronauticsAlef is accepting preorders for its Model A, which is expected to cost around $300,000. Like most startups, the price will likely decrease as production scales up.To see this flying car in action, check out the video in this article.

There are tons of new releases arriving to all the major streaming platforms this week, including one of the most anticipated movies of the year, The Electric State, which drops on Netflix this Friday. The sci-fi adventure, loosely based on the graphic novel by Simon Stlenhag, stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt and was directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The platform is also debuting John Mulaney's new weekly talk show Everybody's Live with John Mulaney, and a reboot of Temptation Island, too.Meanwhile on Prime Video, the third season of The Wheel of Time is arriving this week, Max has the new star-studded horror comedy The Parenting, and you can (finally) stream the final half of Yellowstone season 5 on Peacock, too. There's plenty to keep you busy all week.These titles and many more are arriving on streaming soon. Here's all the info you need to tune in this week.Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2025Best new TV shows and movies to stream (March 10 to 16)NetflixSee at Netflix Netflix Everybody's Live with John Mulaney (March 12) When John Mulaney completed his six-episode run of John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA, the experimental live talk show he hosted last year, it was clear that he had created something special. And weird. But special! Filled with an odd assortment of celebrity guests, LA personalities and a recurring bit featuring a delivery robot named Saymo, the show seemed intentionally haphazard, but it worked. And now, he's bringing that format back to Netflix as a live, weekly series called Everybody's Live with John Mulaney, with the premiere episode dropping Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET. Netflix Temptation Island (March 12) Temptation Island was a controversial hit when it first aired on Fox back in 2001 (it was a more innocent time back then!). The show featured couples whose relationships were on the rocks and agreed to live separately and see if they could stay faithful to their partners while living with other singles. In the new reboot on Netflix, four couples will test their commitment to one another to find out whether their foundation is solid or not. The premise is the same, but we're living in the Love Is Blind/Too Hot to Handle era of reality dating shows, so we expect this version to be a little more risqu and raucous. Paul Abell/Netflix The Electric State (March 14) Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown star in a movie that's reported to be one of the most expensive films Netflix has ever made. The Electric State, directed by the Russo Brothers, takes place in a dystopian version of the 1990s, after a war between humans and robots has left the world in shambles. Brown stars as Michelle, a young woman traveling across what's left of the United States, joined by a smuggler (Pratt) and a robot to locate her missing brother. The film co-stars Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito and many others. It arrives on the platform March 14. Prime VideoSee at Prime Video Prime Video The Wheel of Time (March 13) Speaking of expensive productions, Prime Video's The Wheel of Time, which was reported to be one of the platform's most expensive shows to make, is returning for season 3 this week. Three new episodes will premiere on March 13, with the remaining five episodes arriving weekly after that. Joining the show's cast this season are Olivia Williams, Shohreh Agdashloo, Nuno Lopes, Callum Kerr and Luke Fetherston. HuluSee at Hulu Hulu Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna (March 11) Alec Baldwin's reality show, The Baldwins, is now airing on TLC and offering a look at his life in the aftermath of the fatal Rust shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. It's a small comfort that this week on Hulu, a documentary about Hutchins herself will be premiering to offer a glimpse into a meaningful life cut short. Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna features candid conversations with Rust director Joel Souza and several other crew members, as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the film set and information about the investigation into the shooting. The documentary lands on Hulu on March 11. Hulu Control Freak (March 13) It's the year of the brain worm, apparently. Control Freak is a Hulu original horror movie starring Kelly Marie Tran as a woman whose brain is infested by a demonic parasite. Miles Robbins and Toan Le co-star in the film that premieres exclusively on Hulu on March 13. PeacockSee at Peacock Peacock Long Bright River (March 13) Amanda Seyfried stars in the new Peacock series Long Bright River, based on the book by Liz Moore. In the show, Seyfried plays Mickey, a Philadelphia cop grappling with the disappearance of her younger sister. As she patrols a Philly neighborhood hard-hit by opioids and a series of murders, Mickey starts to realize that her sister's disappearance might actually be connected. The eight-episode series will drop all at once on March 13 so you can binge all weekend. Paramount Network Yellowstone (March 16) The final episodes of Yellowstone are arriving on Peacock! Season 5 Part 2 of the Taylor Sheridan series will drop on the streamer March 16, at which point fans can find the entirety of the series starring Kevin Costner, Wes Bentley and Kelly Reilly. MaxSee at Max Max The Parenting (March 13) Parents can be terrifying. That's the premise of the Max original horror comedy The Parenting, written by SNL co-head writer Kent Sublette. The Parenting follows a couple, Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn), who have planned a weekend getaway in the country so their parents can meet. Parker Posey stars as Brenda, the oddball owner of their rental house that turns out to be haunted, and Edie Falco, Brian Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Dean Norris play the two sets of parents who can't seem to get along.

National Sleep Awareness Week (or simply, Sleep Week, for us at AD) is officially here, which means a flurry of the best mattress and bedding sales of the year are dropping as retailers find ways to celebrate in their own style. Between today and March 15, there will be lots of markdowns up for grabs, and weve corralled some of the most generous deals weve spotted, from savings on ultra-cooling sheets to luxurious foam mattresses made by our all-time list of the best mattress brands (were talking everyone from Beautyrest to Saatva). If youre not in the market for an entirely new sleep setup, start smaller with a new set of sheetsweve spotted markdowns on some AD-recommended best-sellers from Coyuchi, Brooklinen, Parachute, and beyond. Sleep Week is just a week after all, so take advantage of these discounts while you can. Below, the fine print on all the best mattress and bedding sales happening now.A Shortlist of the Best Mattress and Bedding Sales:Best Mattress Deal Overall: Saatva Classic Mattress, $2,099 $1,799Best Hybrid Mattress Deal: Beautyrest Harmony Lux Mattress, $1,399 $1,199Best Foam Mattress Deal: Tuft & Needle Original Mattress, $895Best Linen Sheets Deal: Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheet Set, $319 $255Best Cotton Sheets Deal: Parachute Brushed Cotton Top Sheet, $100 $80Best Cooling Sheets Deal: Buffy The Cooling Set, $538 $379Browse According to Category:Sleep Week 2025 Mattress Sales | Sleep Week 2025 Bedding SalesSleep Week 2025 Mattress SalesSaatvaSaatva is known for making high-quality, well-designed innerspring mattresses, and with their current markdown$300 off mattress orders over $1,000you can score a deal on a mattress. Who doesnt want to sleep on the Classic innerspring or Loom & Leaf mattress at a more affordable price point? AD contributor Bailey Berg tested the Loom & Leaf and hailed it as the perfect mattress for virtually any type of sleeper. We specifically ordered it because it was supposed to be firm, she says of her Saatva experience. Theres little to no sag. My partner and I joke about feeling like were floating on a sea of comfort.Saatva Classic MattressSaatva Loom & Leaf MattressBeautyrestBeautyrest is a legacy brand you can expect to deliver on comfort and quality construction. While their current sale isnt branded for Sleep Week in particular, theyre currently offering $200 off across select mattresses, including their quilted Harmony mattresses, which are made from recycled plastic bottles.Beautyrest Harmony LuxBeautyrest Harmony Lux HybridTuft & NeedleWhile there technically arent any mattresses on sale at the moment at Tuft & Needle, you can save by bundling your mattress purchase with a mattress protector and down alternative pillow, then adding the promo code MATTRESS15 at checkout. Contributor Elise Portale was particularly impressed by the Original mattress, which she says made her a believer in foam mattresses. My T&N mattress is the perfect blend of a firm foam core that gives me that strong support I prefer and a softer foam exterior that feels delightful, she notes.Tuft & Needle Original MattressNectarAt Nectar, you can stock up on a mattress, bed frame, and bedding for up to 66% off when you purchase one of their discounted bundles. For a coastal-inspired set, consider the Bamboo Bundle, or the classic Mornington Bundle with a button-tufted headboard. These bundle items are included with your purchase of any mattress, but AD staffers and contributors Katie Henwood and Nick Mafi have praised the brands best-selling memory foam mattress for its supportive yet cloudlike surface.Bamboo Bed and Mattress BundleBed Frame with Headboard BundleAvocadoAvocado Greens Sleep Week celebration is already underway between now and March 24, including 10% off the award-winning Green Mattress, Vegan Mattress, adjustable bases, and pillows, plus up to 50% off select bedding. Theres plenty to celebrate about Avocado year-round, as contributor Kat Kovac previously noted about her Avocado Eco mattress: Finding a mattress that is 100% organic is genuinely a feat in these modern manufacturing days, but Avocados has come to the rescue.Avocado Green MattressAvocado Eco OrganicCasperThis month, AD editor-approved Caspers savings are all about bundles, including the brands best-selling set. After choosing your preferred mattress type (the One or Dream), select a foundation and waterproof mattress protector to complete your purchase. The One and Dream were both part of Caspers innovative new lineup back in February 2024, and they continue to rank among the best mattresses.Casper Best-Selling BundleCasper Adjustable BundlePurplePurples latex mattresses strike an ideal balance between firm and cozy. Even though I thought I was Team Firm Mattress for life, Purple may be my new fave, with its body adjustability combined with springs underneath, says global content strategy and operations director Diane Dragan. Right now, you can snag one for $100 less. To fully outfit your sleep sanctuary, pillows, bedding, and bundles are discounted, too.PurpleRenew MattressPurple Rejuvenate MattressHelixEverything is 25% off during the March Madness Saleincluding the beloved Helix Midnight Luxe Mattresswhen you use the code MARCH25 at checkout. The Helix Midnight Luxe allows me to dance between sleeping on a mattress that's actually supportive and one that mimics the feeling of a warm hug, all thanks to the zoning technology that offers a softer feel under your shoulders and a firmer one under your hips, contributor Gabriela Ulloa writes in her review of the mattress.Helix Midnight Luxe MattressHelix Plus LuxeWayfairThough Wayfair isnt a dedicated mattress brand, the retailer is offering discounts on a slew of sleep products from Casper, Purple, Sealy, Serta, Leesa, Tempur-Pedic, and beyond. The retailer also sells an in-house line of affordable mattresses and bedding in its Wayfair Sleep collection.Sealy Cool Memory Foam Mattress with CopperChill TechnologyWayfair Gel Memory Foam MattressMy Green MattressDuring the Go Green Sale, you can save 10% on organic beds from My Green Mattress, along with the brands mattress protectors, bed frames, and more. The family-owned business started out making cribs, and yes, their pint-sized bestseller, the Emily Organic Crib Mattress, is also included in the sale.My Green Mattress Natural EscapeMy Green Mattress Emily Organic Crib MattressMattress FirmMattress Firm is such a believer in beauty rest that they are offering an additional 15% off right now on select mattresses and more with the code SLEEPWEEK, including deals on some selects from Beautyrest, Serta, and Sealy.Beautyrest BR800 Plush Pillow Top MattressSleepy's By Sealy Slumber Cushion Firm MattressSleep Week 2025 Bedding SalesBrooklinenIf youre new here, you might not know how obsessed we are with all things Brooklinen. Their linen sheets rank among our editors all-time favorites, and former senior design editor Madeleine Luckel dubbed the Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheet Set her year-round staple. The nature of the fiber is versatile and temperature regulating, she says. For now, the popular set and plenty of other bundles are up to 30% off.Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheet SetBrooklinen Luxe Sateen Hardcore Sheet BundleBrooklyn BeddingThe End of Winter Sale is going on now, and you can save 25% sitewide with the code WINTER25 at checkout. And yes, that means the well-reviewed bamboo sheets are marked down for a limited time. Bamboo-cotton is so soft, and its also moisture-wicking, so I stay cool throughout the night, says contributor Terri Williams. The sheets also stay in place, so I never have to worry about them sliding up the sides of the mattress.Deep Pocket Rayon from Bamboo Sheets by Brooklyn BeddingDeep Pocket Tencel Sheets by Brooklyn BeddingCozy EarthCozy Earths Semi-Annual Sale is underway, meaning you can save up to 25% off some of our favorite cooling sheets plus get free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Or, if you want us to let you in on a tip (our little secret), you can use the code ARCHITECTURALDIGEST at checkout for 30% off your order. If we could only recommend one item, it would be the Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set, which contributor Megan Wahn called out for their silky smooth surface that creates a sense comfy coziness that she says is unlike anything youd find in a typical set of cotton sheets.

Few home upgrades are as satisfyingor impactfulas refreshing the linen closet. And now that Sleep Week is here, you can shop the best bed and bath sales on everything from luxurious sheets to premium bath towels at a discount.For us at AD, elevated linens can do more than just optimize your nighttime routine. A plush robe can help you capture that hotel spa experience year-round, while a lightweight, soft-to-the-touch duvet cover and insert can genuinely transform your sleep in warmer months.Because we always welcome a good deal, we also delighted in seeing so many of our favorite brandsfrom Saatva to Naturepedicoffering promotions this week that include piles of sheets, bath mats, and everything in between (many that weve tested before). Here, a curated list of the top bed and bath sales happening now, from breathable comforters to ultrasoft towels. Prepare to snuggle upthese deals have you covered.A Shortlist of the Best Bed and Bath Sales During Sleep Week:A Luxe Bed Bundle: Saatva Sateen Sheet Set, Latex Pillows, and Mattress Pad Bundle, $870 $740Best Bath Towel Set: Coyuchi Temescal Organic Towels, $198 $145Earth-Friendly Pillowcases: Cozy Earth Bamboo Pillowcases, $84 $67A Mattress Pad for Hot Sleepers: Sijo TempTun Cooling Mattress Pad, $175 $149A Cool Duvet Set: Brooklinen Classic Percale Duvet Set, $308 $277Beautyrest: Up to $200 OffWhile Beautyrest is known for its plush pillows for your bedscape, wed be remiss if we didnt mention its luxury mattress. Right now, you can take up to $200 off its Harmony Lux and Harmony Lux Hybrid Mattresses that balance supportive coils and pressure-relieving foam.Beautyrest Harmony LuxBeautyrest Harmony Lux HybridSaatva: Up to $600 OffMade from eco-friendly, high-quality materials like long-staple cotton and sateen weave, Saatvas sheets feel indulgenttheyre designed to complement their renowned mattresses for a better nights sleep. While the retailers current promotion focuses on their line of bedroom furniture (up to $600 off adjustable bases and upholstered bed frames), there are a handful of bedding sets on sale too, like this sateen sheet set and memory foam pillows bundle.Saatva Sateen Sheet Set, Latex Pillows & Mattress Pad BundleSaatva Classic MattressCoyuchi: Up to 60% OffAll of Coyuchis bath and bedding bundles are on deep discount in the brands sale section. If you love the lived-in, slightly wrinkled look, AD global features director Sam Cochran recommends the sturdy yet soft combo of Coyuchis organic relaxed linen sheets. Right now, theyre 35% off in the clearance section. Better yet, the matching duvet cover is marked down by 45%. Select other bath sets, duvets, and organic throw blankets, and bedspreads are also up to 57% off.Coyuchi Organic Relaxed Linen SheetsCoyuchi Temescal Organic Towels (Set of 6)The Company Store: Up to 20% OffGet up to 30% off bedding at The Company Store during their Friends and Family sale and 25% off everything else sitewide. Commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher loves the brands duvet cover for its cooling yet soft feel. Id recommend this duvet cover to anyone who sleeps hot but still wants to be as snug as a bug in a rug under the covers, she says.Plus, you can use the promo code TCSSLEEPWK to get 20% off their quilted, hand-tufted mattress through March 15.The Company Store Classic Cool Cotton Percale Duvet CoverThe Company Store MattressNaturepedic: Up to 15% OffNaturepedic makes some of our favorite mattresses but doesnt skimp on earth-friendly sleep essentials across any of its categories. Now through March 24, score 15% off sitewide plus a free waterproof mattress pad with any twin-size (or larger) mattress purchase with code SPRING15 at checkout.Naturepedic EOS Classic Organic MattressNaturepedic Organic Cotton Percale Duvet Cover SetPiglet in Bed: Up to 40% OffPiglet in Bed is one of our favorite brands for all things cottagecore-inspired. And while many brands are hosting Sleep Week sales, the brand is kicking it up a notch with an entire months worth of sales. Take 40% off gingham pajamas and sleepwear and bathroom accessories. Or, go big with a 15% off linen bundle of three or more items. Our senior digital design editor Zo Sessums says the brands heritage linen sheet bundle is not only beautiful, but durable: The quality is unmatched and I predict Ill use these for as long as theyll last (seemingly incredibly long!).Piglet Heritage 100% Linen BundlePiglet Pine Green Pembroke Stripe Cotton TowelsCozy Earth: Up to 25% OffCozy Earth is redefining luxury bedding with its ultrasoft, sustainable fabrics that are belovedby AD staffers. Cozy Earth makes the best bamboo sheets, and their OG bedding is superlight and airy, says commerce editor Audrey Lee. Beyond sheets, Cozy Earth offers a slew of quilts, comforters, and even baby blankets that feel like a warm hugall 25% off right now.

Im old enough to remember when age verification bills were pitched as a way to save the kids from porn and shield them from other vague dangers lurking in the digital world (likethe transgender). We have long cautioned about the dangers of these laws, and pointed out why they are likely to fail. While they may be well-intentioned, the growing proliferation of age verification schemes poses serious risks to all of our digital freedoms.Fast forward a few years, and these laws have morphed into something else entirelyunfortunately, something we expected. What started as a misguided attempt to protect minors from "explicit" content online has spiraled into a tangled mess of privacy-invasive surveillance schemes affecting skincare products, dating apps, and even diet pills, threatening everyones right to privacy.Age Verification Laws: A Backdoor to SurveillanceAge verification laws do far more than protect children onlinethey require the creation of a system that collects vast amounts of personal information from everyone. Instead of making the internet safer for children, these laws force all usersregardless of ageto verify their identity just to access basic content or products. This isn't a mistake; it's a deliberate strategy. As one sponsor of age verification bills in Alabama admitted, "I knew the tough nut to crack that social media would be, so I said, Take first one bite at it through pornography, and the next session, once that got passed, then go and work on the social media issue. In other words, they recognized that targeting porn would be an easier way to introduce these age verification systems, knowing it would be more emotionally charged and easier to pass. This is just the beginning of a broader surveillance system disguised as a safety measure.This alarming trend is already clear, with the growing creep of age verification bills filed in the first month of the 2025-2026 state legislative session. Consider these three bills:Skincare: AB-728 in CaliforniaAge verification just hit the skincare aisle! Californias AB-728 mandates age verification for anyone purchasing skin care products or cosmetics that contain certain chemicals like Vitamin A or alpha hydroxy acids. On the surface, this may seem harmlesswho doesn't want to ensure that minors are safe from harmful chemicals? But the real issue lies in the invasive surveillance it mandates. A person simply trying to buy face cream could be forced to submit sensitive personal data through an age verification system, creating a system of constant tracking and data collection for a product that should be innocuous.Dating Apps: A3323 in New YorkMatch made in heaven? Not without your government-issued ID. New Yorks A3323 bill mandates that online dating services verify users age, identity, and location before allowing access to their platforms. The bill's sweeping requirements introduce serious privacy concerns for all users. By forcing users to provide sensitive personal informationsuch as government-issued IDs and location datathe bill creates significant risks that this data could be misused, sold, or exposed through data breaches.Dieting products: SB 5622 in Washington StateShed your privacy before you shed those pounds! Washington States SB 5622 takes aim at diet pills and dietary supplements by restricting their sale to anyone under 18. While the bills intention is to protect young people from potentially harmful dieting products, it misses the mark by overlooking the massive privacy risks associated with the age verification process for everyone else. To enforce this restriction, the bill requires intrusive personal data collection for purchasing diet pills in person or online, opening the door for sensitive information to be exploited.The Problem with Age Verification: No Solution Is SafeLets be clear: no method of age verification is both privacy-protective and entirely accurate. The methods also dont fall on a neat spectrum of more safe to less safe. Instead, every form of age verification is better described as dangerous in one way or dangerous in a different way. These systems are inherently flawed, and none come without trade-offs. Additionally, they continue to burden adults who just want to browse the internet or buy everyday items without being subjected to mass data collection.For example, when an age verification system requires users to submit government-issued identification or a scan of their face, it collects a staggering amount of sensitive, often immutable, biometric or other personal datajeopardizing internet users privacy and security. Systems that rely on credit card information, phone numbers, or other third-party material similarly amass troves of personal data. This data is just as susceptible to being misused as any other data, creating vulnerabilities for identity theft and data breaches. These issues are not just theoretical: age verification companies can beand already have beenhacked. These are real, ongoing concerns for anyone who values their privacy.We must push back against age verification bills that create surveillance systems and undermine our civil liberties, and we must be clear-eyed about the dangers posed by these expanding age verification laws. While the intent to protect children makes sense, the unintended consequence is a massive erosion of privacy, security, and free expression online for everyone. Rather than focusing on restrictive age verification systems, lawmakers should explorebetter, less invasive ways to protect everyone onlinemethods that dont place the entire burden of risk on individuals or threaten their fundamental rights.EFF will continue to advocate for digital privacy, security, and free expression. We urge legislators to prioritize solutions that uphold these essential values, ensuring that the internet remains a space for learning, connecting, and creatingwithout the constant threat of surveillance or censorship. Whether youre buying a face cream, swiping on a dating app, or browsing for a bottle of diet pills, age verification laws undermine that vision, and we must do better.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube798kLast November, the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for the Switch was bumped up to Version 2.0.0 and now Digital Foundry has taken another look at the current state of the game on Nintendo's platform.Focusing on MGS2 and 3, the Switch version has notably "improved" since the launch build. In its current state, it still runs at a native 720p resolution but has "practically no anti-aliasing" and lacks texture filtering, resulting in an "all-round noisier, flicker-prone image" when docked. Some features available on other platforms are also missing, like upscaling.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube798kWatch on YouTube The main change is framerate performance - with Konami addressing the "lurches in Switch's frame-rate in MGS2 especially" in the 2.0 patch, and while some drops remain, it's a step in the right direction:"Compared to the launch build, in-engine cut-scenes featuring a long view of the Big Shell gets a boost by 2-5fps on the new update. Sub-30fps drops sadly remain, even on the latest patch, but it is progress - plus we're seeing a reduction in the frame-time fluctuations of the launch build. It's worth noting that some cut-scenes use an intentional 15fps caps for effect, which is true on all platforms, and these stay exactly the same on the new patch on Switch regardless."While this is all "good news" for Nintendo's system, the collection still struggles to "lock at 30fps per second in MGS2", and there are some odd rises to 60 when opening and closing doors. The PS2 original ran at 60FPS in comparison. As for Switch MGS3 performance, it remains at 30FPS (which is in line with the PS2 original) and supposedly has "fewer drops than MGS2".Overall though, the Master Collection is in a "much better place with patch 2.0 installed, but the fundamental shortcomings are still frustrating". You can get the full rundown in the video above. La-li-lu-le-lower resolution"We just have to ask for everyone to give us time"A legend returns"It should have been so much more"How are you finding the current state of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection on Switch? Let us know inthe comments.[source youtu.be, via eurogamer.net]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Confirms Removal Of Switch Online SNES GameSuper Soccer will "no longer be available"Pokmon Scarlet & Violet: Mystery Gift Codes ListAll the current Pokmon Scarlet and Violet Mystery Gift codesNintendo Discounts Several Games On Switch For MAR10 Day (North America)"I'm a slasher... of prices!"

The NexTool E1 is a rugged, pocket-sized multitool with 10 functions. After testing them all, I was impressed by how well they held up, staying sharp even with heavy use.