Author Archives: Carol Edwards

TL;DR: As of Dec. 24, you can get a pair of Open Ear Induction Headphones for just $33.99 instead of $109.95 — that’s a savings of 69%.

Winter is here, and for many, that means snow and a whole lot of cold. If you want to comfortably listen to music through the snowy season, you might want to try headphones that aren’t at risk of dying from a bit of water. These Open Ear Induction Headphones are waterproof, and they’re on sale for $33.99 (reg. $109). 

Waterproof headphones for winter 

Induction headphones are a different kind of listening experience. They transmit the sound directly to your eardrum, so you can keep playing your music, even in a loud area. 

It may look pretty, but snow is basically one big long-lasting puddle. Drop a pair of earbuds in that, and they might break if they aren’t waterproof. These induction headphones are IPX6 waterproof, so they can withstand strong jets of water. A little snow likely won’t bother them. 

There are a few unique benefits to open-ear headphones. Earmuffs may not be comfortable with earbuds in, but these open-ear headphones might work just fine. If you’re walking in a busy area, it might be a good idea to keep your situational awareness. Open-ear headphones let you listen to music without blocking the sounds around you.

On a single charge, these headphones could last for up to six hours of continuous listening. They may not come with a charging case like wireless earbuds, but that’s still a long battery life, and the charging cable is included with your purchase. 

Save on a pair of induction headphones

Enjoy the snow without worrying about getting your headphones wet or not being able to hear your surroundings at all. For a limited time, get a pair of Open Ear Induction Stereo Wireless Headphones for $33.99 (reg. $109). 

Prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Through Dec. 30, you can snag a Personalized Bamboo Cheeseboard and Knife Set for only $24.99 instead of $59.88 — that’s a savings of 58%.

If you or someone on your holiday gift list enjoys a nice glass of wine in the evening, you might also like to see what kind of cheese pairs with it. If you want to enjoy the finer things this winter, or are looking for a last-minute gift, then enhance your cheese experience with a digital voucher for a Personalized Bamboo Cheeseboard and Knife Set that’s only $24.99 before shipping, now through December 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Say cheese to a picture-perfect accessory for your wine tasting

This digital voucher can be redeemed on Personalization Hub’s website and gets you one personalized Bamboo cheeseboard and a set of knives. You or your giftee can customize the cheeseboard with a selection of fonts and text of choice.

Enjoy decadent cheeses on this swiveling cheeseboard that reveals the built-in knife storage beneath. The bottom layer holds a hard cheese knife, a chisel knife, and a cheese fork. If you’re planning a special picnic, this could be an easy way to elevate your spread. One of the key conveniences of this little cheeseboard is that you don’t have to get everything out all at once. The swiveling design can keep your cheese safe and stable on top, even if you have to open the bottom layer to get one of the cheese tools. 

After your picnic or wine and cheese pairing party, cleaning your board is a brief exercise. Hand-wash with mild soap and warm water. Remember to rinse well and wipe it down after so the wood doesn’t warp. Let your board air-dry, then it’s ready to be stored. If the wood loses its luster, just wipe it down with oil. Do not put your cheeseboard in the dishwasher. That may crack or warp the wood. 

An affordable last-minute gift for you or your cheese-loving friend

Whether you’re planning a wine tasting or need a gift for your friend with gouda taste. Get a voucher for a personalized Bamboo Cheeseboard and Knife Set for $24.99 by December 30. 

Prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: As of Dec. 24, you can get the Prinker M Mobile Digital Temporary Tattoo Printer for $229 instead of $269 — that’s a savings of 14%.

The New Year is such a good time to work on all those goals and dreams you’ve been putting off. If you want to wait to get a tattoo until you know the perfect design for you, here’s your chance to take a tattoo for a test drive. Prinker M Mobile Digital Temporary Tattoo Printer can print personalized temporary tattoos right on your body, and it’s only $229 (reg. $269). 

Custom temporary tattoos whenever you want 

Want a tattoo but can’t settle on a design or place to put it? Why not try it out for a few days knowing you can wash it off with soap and water? Prinker M is an award-winning gadget that lets you design your own tattoos that you can print with 100% skin-safe cosmetic ink. This single-cartridge tattoo printer can produce composite black or color, and there’s no staining or irritation. 

The Prinker M is even small enough that you can keep it in your bag. Planning on going out on New Year’s Eve? Customize your look with a few tattoos that’ll wash off in the shower. You can choose from 12,000+ existing tattoo designs or draw your own and have it printed on your body within minutes. Just upload it to the iOS- and Android-compatible Prinker app and get some ink done. 

Take this palm-sized tattoo printer with you to parties or concerts and give out tattoos and make some new friends. Make sure you use the skin primer before applying the tattoo. Rolling a handheld printer on an arm is a lot less painful than an hour with a needle. If you run out of ink, you can always get more on the Prinker website. 

Anything can be a temporary tattoo 

Customize your look before a night out. Whether you’re using temporary tattoos as a first draft before the real thing or as a fun customizable accent, this tattoo printer makes it easy. For a limited time, get the Prinker M Digital Temporary Tattoo Printer on sale for $229 (reg. $269). 

Prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: As of Dec. 24, you can get the World Traveler Bundle for just $170.14 ($1,784 value) with the coupon code TRAVEL20. The bundle includes lifetime subscriptions to Rosetta Stone, Matt’s Flights, and the Complete 2022 Travel Hacker Bundle.

If your New Year’s resolution is to travel more, don’t let 2023 start without a plan for how you’re going to do that. There’s a lot of world to see, and it might be easier to see it if you can score better deals on flights, speak the language of the locals, and learn some top-notch travel hacks. That’s what you could get from the World Traveler Bundle, which includes lifetime subscriptions to Rosetta Stone, Matt’s Flights, and the Complete 2022 Travel Hacker Bundle for $170.14 with coupon code TRAVEL20. 

Learn new languages, get flight deals, and travel

Choose where you want to go in the new year by picking a language you want to learn. This subscription to Rosetta Stone gives you access to all 24 languages they offer, one at a time. Rosetta Stone lessons aren’t just rote memorization. You can practice your pronunciation using Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent™ program. Learn to speak and understand another language, starting with common conversational skills you’d use when you travel like shopping, ordering food, taking a taxi, and more. Build your skills and join intermediate lessons. You might even get your accent sounding like a native speaker. 

Flight prices might be high, but you could still get a good deal if you use Matt’s Flights. This flight-finding service just requires you to enter your departing airport before it starts finding you cheap flights. Matt’s Flights says your subscription gets you access to five times more deals than free members and an unlimited number of custom search requests. You can expect more than three flight deals sent to your inbox every week on domestic or international flights. All you have to do is find your flight and pack a bag. 

Hit the ground running with your travel plans by learning from the Complete 2022 Travel Hacker Bundle. This course pack could show you how to keep your data safe and make lasting memories in the form of high-quality travel photos. Learn to travel on a budget, or even get ready to live abroad. 

Make travel plans for the new year 

Your New Year’s resolution to travel more can start to feel like a New Year’s plan when you get the World Traveler Bundle ft. Rosetta Stone Lifetime Subscription for just $170.14 with code TRAVEL20. 

Prices subject to change. 

If 2022 K-pop had a theme, it would be “historic.” This year was huge for K-pop debuts, hiatuses, and reunions, with new groups such as NMIXX making their debut, famous groups like KARA reuniting, and current groups including BTS announcing big changes going forward. And throughout all of this, K-pop artists just kept conquering the world, delivering banger after banger.

From Stray Kids’ “Charmer” to iKON’s “FOR YOU,” these past 12 months have been absolutely filled with great K-pop songs. Still, there were some K-pop performances that had a bigger impact than most in 2022. Whether they went viral, kicked off a TikTok trend, or marked an important moment for the group, this year had no shortage of significant K-pop performances that made an impression far beyond their own fandom.

In chronological order, here are some of the best, most influential K-pop performances of 2022.

1. ‘DARARI’ by TREASURE becomes an adorable TikTok trend

TREASURE underwent significant changes this year, as members Mashiho and Bang Ye-dam departed the group due to health reasons and to pursue music production, respectively. But before TREASURE’s lineup was reduced from 12 to 10, the two-year-old group went viral on TikTok with their B-side track “DARARI,” which lists Bang Ye-dam as one of its composers and lyricists.

Just days after “DARARI” was released on Feb. 15, TikTok user Aidafi3 posted a simple dance video in which she mimicked listening to a sped-up version of the bright love song through headphones. Viewed 45 million times, her cute choreography quickly became a TikTok dance trend, spreading among creators, other K-pop idols, and eventually to TREASURE themselves. The group even used Aidafi3’s unmistakable moves in the official choreography for “DARARI,” seamlessly incorporating them with added footwork.

2. ‘Tomboy’ by (G)-IDLE tops South Korea’s music charts

“Tomboy” was (G)-IDLE’s first song as five members following dancer Soojin’s departure from the group last year. Yet despite this apparent setback, it became the girl group’s most popular song yet, achieving (G)-IDLE’s first perfect all-kill by topping all South Korea’s major music charts simultaneously. “Tomboy” has also accumulated over 190 million views on its music video, exceeding (G)-IDLE’s previous frontrunner “Oh my god” by a few million.

Written by (G)-IDLE leader Soyeon, “Tomboy” is an attitude-fueled pop-punk song declaring the group’s intention to behave exactly how they want rather than submit to being model, demure girlfriends. While “Oh my god” certainly gained (G)-IDLE well-deserved attention, “Tomboy” was a breakout song that made clear this K-pop group isn’t going anywhere — and still has a lot to say.

3. BIGBANG’s ‘Still Life’ ends their four-year hiatus

BIGBANG are commonly called the Kings of K-pop, and have reigned with that title for over a decade. Having debuted 16 years ago in 2006, this celebrated K-pop boy group was instrumental in driving Korean entertainment media’s international popularity, and are highly regarded as innovative and influential trendsetters.

As such, BIGBANG’s long-awaited April release was significant both for the group and the K-pop scene as a whole. Not only did single “Still Life” mark BIGBANG’s first new song since suspending activities to complete their mandatory military service in 2018, but it was also the iconic group’s first single as four members after dancer Seungri officially left in 2019. A sentimental song that reflects BIGBANG’s maturity, “Still Life” debuted in the Billboard Global 200 chart’s top 10 and has since racked up 77 million views on its music video.

4. IVE’s ‘LOVE DIVE’ puts the rookie group in the history books

IVE only debuted in December last year, but the K-pop girl group has been making waves from the moment their debut song “Eleven” dropped. They followed up that success in 2022 with April single “LOVE DIVE,” a dark pop tune which won both the MAMA Award and Melon Music Award for Song of the Year. This was no small feat, especially considering the rookie group was up against K-pop giants such as BTS, BLACKPINK, and BIGBANG.

Both of these awards are also daesang — the most prestigious prize given at an annual award show. As such, winning these accolades made IVE one of only four K-pop girl groups to take home both a rookie award and a daesang in the same year, following in the footsteps of Miss A, 2NE1, and aespa. As of writing, the music video for “LOVE DIVE” has almost 180 million views on YouTube.

5. ‘ZOOM’ by Jessi has TikTok creators dancing

If you spend any time on TikTok, there’s a good chance you’ll recognise Jessi’s “ZOOM” within moments of hitting play. The opening of the rapper’s hip hop single became a viral dance challenge on the video sharing app this year, with thousands of creators copying Jessi’s attitude-filled choreography. Some even paired it with dynamic camerawork or outfit transitions, contributing to 4.4 million TikTok clips that have jumped on the sound.

“ZOOM” was also significant for Jessi as her last release under PSY’s record label P Nation, having opted not to renew her contract in order to pursue other endeavours. Jessi hasn’t yet revealed what said endeavours will be, but it’s looking as though 2023 will be an important year for her.

6. 2NE1 reunite to perform hit ‘I Am The Best’ at Coachella

It’s been six years since 2NE1 disbanded, which is almost as long as the four-member group had been active. Even so, half a dozen years is far from enough time to allow anyone to forget this unquestionably legendary group. 2NE1 were instrumental in the global spread of Korean media and had a massive impact on the K-pop scene, credited with expanding the scope of K-pop girl groups by eschewing cute or sexy concepts to focus on themes of women’s empowerment.

It was therefore thrilling to see 2NE1 come together for a historic surprise reunion on the second day of Coachella 2022. Closing out record label 88rising’s showcase, Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy treated a screaming audience with a performance of their assertive hit 2011 single “I Am The Best” — a song that is consistently included in lists of the best K-pop songs of all time.

7. PSY returns to the stage with ‘That That’ (feat. SUGA of BTS)

PSY’s hit song “Gangnam Style” took Western markets by storm in 2012, catapulting the solo artist and his galloping horse dance to international attention. PSY then proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder with successful singles such as “Gentleman” and “Daddy (feat. CL of 2NE1),” before taking a break in 2018 and founding entertainment company P Nation.

“That That” marked PSY’s first return to the stage in four years, which would be significant enough by itself. However the upbeat song was also a collaboration with BTS’ rapper SUGA. Though SUGA only intended to write and produce “That That,” PSY gradually roped him into featuring on it, learning the choreography, and having the time of his life hamming it up in the music video. The joyful clip has since racked over 380 million views in just seven months.

8. ‘NANANA’ leads GOT7’s first album after leaving their company 

When GOT7 left JYP Entertainment in 2021, many fans feared the boy group was disbanding. It was a fair assumption. While it isn’t unheard of for K-pop groups to continue without the entertainment companies that formed them, it’s still a relatively uncommon arrangement, and GOT7 had already been together for seven years. Fortunately the seven-member boy group were quick to assert they were sticking together, reassuring fans with single “Encore” before taking a break to focus on solo projects.

This year, GOT7 followed up on their promise with “NANANA,” the lead single of their first album without JYP Entertainment. With writing credits including leader JAY B (under the pseudonym Def.), “NANANA” was an important step forward for GOT7, demonstrating the group’s new direction and ambitions for the future while simultaneously returning them to their roots.

9. ‘POP!’ by NAYEON bubbles over to TikTok

TWICE’s vocalist NAYEON made her solo debut in June, releasing an album of bright and bubbly pop songs led by the energetic tune “POP!” This love song was addictive enough by itself, racking up almost 160 million views in five months and offering the type of bright optimism we could all do with a lot more of. 

But what really gave “POP!” an edge over the competition was its simple yet memorable choreography, which has inspired numerous dance covers and a TikTok trend. The sound has been used over 2 million times on the video sharing platform, with countless creators and celebrities copying NAYEON’s cute popping hand gestures.

10. ‘Hype Boy’ by NewJeans gets South Korea’s military dancing

NewJeans only debuted this July, but you’d never know it judging by how much attention they’ve earned in just five short months of activity. The rookie girl group’s appropriately-titled debut song “Attention” was already warmly received, but their popularity really took off with their EP’s second single “Hype Boy”. NewJeans’ fun, catchy love song won fans and impressed their seniors, while its lively choreography became a popular dance trend that was picked up by K-pop idols such as GOT7’s JAY B and Stray Kids’ Changbin.

Yet while numerous artists jumped on the trend, the most notable “Hype Boy” dance cover was by a group of idols completing their mandatory military service. The video of enlisted K-pop idols shaking it to “Hype Boy” in uniform went viral across multiple platforms, with just one copy of one video on Twitter gaining 8.2 million views alone. The widely-shared performance featured SF9’s Inseong, ONF members E-Tion and J-US, Spectrum’s Jongchan, and dancer Kim Namwook, all of whom were serving in more ways than one.

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11. Girls’ Generation marks their 15th anniversary with ‘FOREVER 1’

For some, the first K-pop song to captivate them was “Boy With Luv” by BTS (feat. Halsey). For others, it was PSY’s aforementioned “Gangnam Style”. But for countless listeners across the world, the tune that taught them to love K-pop was the 2009 bubblegum bop “Gee” by Girls’ Generation.

Girls’ Generation are record-breaking K-pop icons who have been together for as long as some other idols have been alive, even if they haven’t technically been active for the entire time. While this year marked Girls’ Generation’s 15th anniversary, the group has been on hiatus since 2017 as the members have focused on their respective solo careers.

“FOREVER 1” was Girls’ Generation’s first new release as a group in five years, offering the celebratory 2010s throwback in a return that some fans feared would never come. As such, the cheers and fanchants during the group’s first live performance of “FOREVER 1” certainly seemed sweeter than usual, finally welcoming the well-respected K-pop veterans back to the stage after their long absence.

12. ‘Pink Venom’ returns BLACKPINK to the area

BLACKPINK are undoubtedly skilled singers, rappers, and dancers, but arguably what they excel at most is making their fans crave more. Though the K-pop girl group never officially went on hiatus, BLACKPINK’s last released song together was back in 2020, which is practically an eternity in the fast-moving K-pop scene. The members kept fans fed by diverting focus to their solo careers in the interim, but it wasn’t the same as seeing all four on stage together.

“Pink Venom” was Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa’s highly awaited return as a group, once again delivering BLACKPINK’s unmistakably fierce sound to their fans. The music video gained over 480 million views in just four months, reflecting the group’s overwhelming global popularity and demonstrating that, no matter how long BLACKPINK aren’t in their area, the fans will always wait for them to come back.

13. BTS delivers the first ever live performance of ‘Run BTS’

Global superstars BTS announced in October that the group would be going on hiatus until 2025, finally ending years of speculation by enabling the members to enlist for their mandatory military service as well as pursue solo opportunities. The biggest K-pop group in the world wasn’t about to up and leave without a proper goodbye, though.

Before revealing their enlistment plans, BTS held one last big concert in Busan to support the local government’s bid to host the World Expo 2030. With free tickets offered via a lottery, eager fans gathered from all over the world to see BTS perform songs ranging from older tunes such as “Butterfly” to English hits like “Butter.” 

It was overall a fantastic night for fans, but arguably the standout was BTS’ first and to date only live performance of “Run BTS” (not to be confused with “RUN” or their reality series Run BTS). Released this year as part of BTS’ anthology album Proof, “Run BTS” departs from the group’s recent dance-pop sound to deliver a hip hop banger that reflects on the group’s journey, returns to their musical roots, and shows the world exactly why millions of people have become fans.

14. LE SSERAFIM perseveres with ‘ANTIFRAGILE’

As the first K-pop girl group to debut under BTS’ company since 2012, all eyes were already on LE SSERAFIM before they ever took the stage. Unfortunately, their May debut ended up being one of the rockiest in recent memory. Just over three weeks after LE SSERAFIM officially debuted, their vocalist Kim Ga-ram was put on hiatus before being removed from the group altogether. It seemed an inauspicious start for the new idols whose careers had only just begun. 

Nevertheless, the remaining quintet continued on to release “ANTIFRAGILE” just three months later, determined to demonstrate the resilience they sing about. The lead single of LE SSERAFIM’s second EP, “ANTIFRAGILE” boldly brought the group into a new era after their difficult start, proclaiming that, no matter how big the setback, nothing will stop these rookies from pushing forward.

Tesla once proudly boasted about a $35,000 fully electric sedan. Those days are long gone. Now the cheapest Tesla is the standard range Model 3, which starts at $43,990.

Last weekend, most Tesla models bumped up in price by $2,000. (The Model 3 standard range used to be $41,990.) And, on Wednesday, Tesla prices also went up in Germany and China.

That doesn’t mean affordable EVs are out of reach. Beyond Tesla, EVs from Chevy to Nissan can be had for under $40,000, and they offer plenty of range, power, and other features — even if there’s no Dog or Sentry Mode available.

Here are the EVs a more budget-friendly driver might consider.

1. The Nissan Leaf is among the cheapest electric cars

The OG EV
Credit: NISSAN

Range: 150 or 226 miles

Starting price: $27,400

The OG electric sedan, the Leaf is a solid EV choice. Plus, it still qualifies for the federal tax credit, which Tesla lost access to even before the pandemic. (At the time of publication, all cars listed here except the Bolt EV and EUV still qualified.)

2. The Mini SE Hardtop is one of the most affordable EVs

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Range: 110 miles

Starting price: $29,900

It’s a super-cute electric version of the classic Mini, but be forewarned: This two-door EV barely goes 100 miles on a single charge.

SEE ALSO: Best back-up cameras for your car

3. The Chevy Bolt EV is another affordable EV

The Chevrolet Bolt EV used to be a top Tesla competitor.
Credit: GENERAL MOTORS

Range: 259 miles

Starting price: $31,995

The Bolt used to be Tesla’s main competitor, at least budget-wise. But battery-fire recalls on every single Bolt ever sold has put a damper on sales and public perception.

4. Another of the cheapest electric cars is the Chevy Bolt EUV

The newer, bigger Bolt EUV
Credit: GENERAL MOTORS

Range: 247 miles

Starting price: $33,995

The EUV is a bigger version of the original Bolt, with Super Cruise hands-free driving built into the drive system. It just came out earlier this year, but fire risk literally blew up the EUV’s appeal.

5. The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is one of the more affordable electric vehicles

A more affordable electric ride
Credit: HYUNDAI

Range: 170 miles

Starting price: $34,250

Hyundai has since spun out its Ioniq line for all its electric vehicles.

6. The Hyundai Kona Electric is an EV you can afford

Electric SUV life in a Kona Electric
Credit: HYUNDAI

Range: 258 miles

Starting price: $35,225

This one’s another compact SUV from Hyundai that offers higher range than than the Ioniq — and, still, a lower price than a Tesla.

7. The Kia Niro EV is another electric car for less than $40,000

A compact SUV for less than a Tesla
Credit: KIA

Range: 239 miles

Starting price: $39,990

The Niro EV just makes it under $40,000 as Kia’s fully electric version in its Niro lineup, which also has a hybrid and plug-in hybrid.

Note: This article was originally published October 30, 2021.

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TikTok is entering a world of pain right now, having just released a damning report about its own employees obtaining the data of U.S. users. Since this report comes at a time when a key cohort of Americans wants to ban the app altogether, you should expect TikTok to become a major political talking point as the 2024 election cycle ramps up.

On Thursday, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, released the results of an internal investigation. Yes, ByteDance confirmed, four of its employees in China scooped up the data of two TikTok accounts belonging to U.S. journalists. And TikTok really, really wasn’t supposed to do that. 

The report is emboldening high-profile enemies of TikTok like Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, whose bill to ban TikTok on U.S. government devices passed in the Senate a little over a week ago. That bill still needs to pass in the House of Representatives to become law, but statewide bans of TikTok on government devices are already the law in Texas, North Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Utah, West Virginia, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, Nebraska, and Montana.

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Crucially, the report doesn’t contain similarly damning details about what was done with the data. It likely wasn’t printed out, clipped into a dossier, and handed to Xi Jinping himself, if that’s what you’re imagining. It seems instead, a handful of ByteDance employees who were on the lookout for internal leakers managed to find the user data and IP addresses of U.S. reporters in an ultimately thwarted — but demonically clever — effort to see if ByteDance employees suspected of leaking were ever physically near the journalists. That didn’t end up happening, and everyone involved in this effort was fired, supposedly.

But Hawley and his ilk have made it clear that they imagine TikTok is being used as something much scarier: a spying apparatus for the Chinese Communist Party, as spelled out in (to cite one random example) a tweet from Hawley’s fellow Republican Senator Ted Cruz, in which he notes that TikTok tends to “dodge” questions about the communists and says “it’s clear they’re spying on users.”

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It may be a stretch at this point to say there’s any evidence TikTok is part of China’s master plan to, I guess, turn Americans communist. But is simply obtaining the data a legitimate scandal in its own right? Absolutely.  

That’s because in 2019 — when TikTok was an emerging internet phenomenon, and news coverage about it consistently contained passages that raised concerns about its associations with the Chinese government  — its U.S. team rolled out some sweeping claims about data security. The most important of those claims is that U.S. user data is kept in the United States and doesn’t go to ByteDance headquarters in China. The U.S. team may have thought that when they produced that statement, but with Thursday’s revelation, the company now admits it wasn’t true. 

And prior reports have intimated that ByteDance cooperates with Chinese propaganda efforts. At least one of these reports — and for the record, ByteDance denies it — is by Emily Baker-White, one of the two journalists ByteDance now admits to having spied on.

Another luminary of the anti-TikTok crowd in the Senate is Marco Rubio, who has introduced a bill just before this latest report came out that would ban TikTok nationwide (something former president Donald Trump tried to do unilaterally in 2020, but was stopped by the courts). In his press release about the bill, Rubio is pretty over the top. “We know it answers to the People’s Republic of China. There is no more time to waste on meaningless negotiations with a CCP-puppet company.”

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Rubio glancingly alludes in his tweet about TikTok to similar practices by U.S.-based platforms. Indeed, U.S.-based social media platforms do cooperate with U.S. intelligence and help spread positive U.S. messages abroad. Moreover, U.S. intelligence gatherers — in particular, FBI agents — have openly attempted to “instantly search and monitor” social media posts, and used elaborate data-mining schemes to gather intelligence about users. And at least one study of user behavior on Facebook in particular shows that knowledge of this spying affects users’ ability to feel like they can speak freely, a phenomenon called the “spiral of silence.” If this sounds familiar, that might be because of its similarity to the well-documented self-censorship practiced by members of the Chinese media.

“Banning” TikTok, by the way, is very unlikely to result in TikTok simply disappearing. Instead, it would most likely result in ByteDance recouping its loss by selling it to an American ally like Microsoft, as almost happened in 2020.

In other words, yes, TikTok is doing sketchy things with some U.S. user data, and it may have the power to do a lot more. But banning TikTok — or selling it to the likes of Microsoft, a company with a history of cooperating with spies — would not stop any social media user from being spied on, or influenced, by intelligence agencies.

With a huge winter storm making life difficult for a good portion of North America just as the holidays begin, there may be a better than average chance you could face delays.

Thousands of flights have either been delayed or canceled due to the storm already, and even if conditions improve, airlines will still be dealing with getting passengers where they need to go.

It’s good to be prepared for whatever delays happen, whether it’s prior to your trip, or in the middle of it. Fortunately, there are plenty of apps out there to help you stay informed and ease some of the frustrations of travel delays.

FlightAware, FlightStats to check your flight status

Many major airlines have their own apps, of course, where you can check the status of your upcoming flights, including delays and cancellations. But there are also independent apps which come in very handy, especially for smaller airlines.

FlightAware tracks all flights arriving and leaving an airport, even cargo carriers like UPS or private jet charters like NetJets, so you could get an idea of how things are going overall even if your particular flight is OK right now.

FlightStats is similar, although with less frills, while FlightRadar24 is built more for checking out the at-the-moment skies and what’s landing and taking off.

Flighty is more like a personal assistant for passengers, with options such as “where’s my plane” alerts, connection information and even baggage claim details. Currently, Flighty is offering a complimentary flight for first-time users, and the annual fee is $49.99.

Stuck in an airport for a while? May as well look around

Though missing your connection due to a delayed flight is bad – real bad, as in call-your-airline bad – being stuck in a strange airport isn’t fun either. But if you do find yourself with time on your hands at an airport, there are several airport map apps out there. 

Trippie breaks down airports by where you can find food near you, along with airport maps, by accessing the airport’s websites. It also has flight tracking, and a way to check how long those pesky lines are at the TSA checkpoints.

How to check your airport lounge options

OK, you’ve got a few hours to kill, it turns out. Why not hit up one of those airport lounges your more travel-savvy friends talk about?

With LoungeBuddy, you can track down which lounges are in that airport and where they are, along with how much they cost. They also give you details about what they offer – from wifi to food and beverages. 

You can then book a pass to that lounge through the app (although eligibility requirements will apply in some cases, like if you’re a member of a frequent-flier club or a credit-card holder).

Hungry? No need to wait in line with Grab

There’s also the point when you’re about to arrive at an airport, hungry and in a rush because your layover is too short. While, yes, trail mix at an airport store is an option, is it? Really? 

At a number of airports, an app called Grab has a solution – order ahead. Using the app, you can order food, and it’ll be waiting for you by the time you arrive.

The Grab app tells you what’s available for ordering, where the restaurant is, and how long it’ll take for your food to get ready. 

Check to see if the airport you’re flying into or out of uses the Grab app. Some airports use independent ordering services, so it’s good to check ahead.

BEST ECOVACS ROBOT VACUUM DEALS

• ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 Robot Vacuum Cleaner – A$399 (was $999, 60% off)

• ECOVACS DEEBOT N8+ 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner – A$699 (was $1,499, 53% off)

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BEST IROBOT ROBOT VACUUM DEALS

• iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum – A$1,149 (was $1,899, 39% off)

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• iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum – A$358 (was $499, 28% off)

BEST OTHER ROBOT VACUUM DEALS

• Eufy RoboVac 25C – A$299 (was $399.95, 25% off)

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• Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop – A$899.25 (was $1,199, 25% off)

Want more? Be sure to check out our guide to the best Boxing Day sales deals we’ve spotted online this year, here.

What is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is the day after Christmas (December 26), and is a public holiday in Australia. Boxing Day Sales have been a thing in Australia since the 1980s. It was a chance for retailers to quickly sell off their excess inventory from the Christmas season, and traditionally involved a trip into the city, hours of queuing and navigating big crowds. Thankfully, these days you can save yourself a trip and snag a great Boxing Day deal online. 

When is Boxing Day in 2022?

Boxing Day falls on Monday, December 26, the day after Christmas (December 25). However, early deals begin to pop up throughout this week leading up to Christmas, and stay online the week following. For example, Amazon Australia’s early Boxing Day deals have already kicked off.

What are the best items to buy on Boxing Day?

The Boxing Day Sales are a great time to score sizable discounts on big-ticket items like laptops, Hi-Fi, consoles and TVs. Online tech retailers will getting rid of stock to make space for the 2023 season, so keep an eye on stores like Amazon, The Good Guys, Bing Lee and Ebay. It’s also worth keeping an eye out specifically for the following products: 

• Robot vacuums: If you’re here, now, then you’re clearly on the hunt for a good robot vac. The eyewatering deals above are some of the best we’ve seen on robot vacuums all year – especially on two top brands: Ecovacs and iRobot. You won’t find lower prices on these top devices until at least next Black Friday, so if you want robotically cleaned floors this year, it’s worth picking one up now!

But Boxing Day is also a great time to pick up a range of tech and general consumer goods for cheap. We’ve outlined some of the top items to buy below, but also be sure to check out our guide to the best Boxing Day deals we’ve spotted so far.

• Appliances: Expect tech and white good retailers like The Good Guys and Bing Lee to go big this Boxing Day, dropping prices on pretty much all stock. This means it’s a great time to find good deals on big items like fridges, freezers, washing machines, as well as the small ones like kettles, toasters and more. 

• Games consoles: Console availability in Australia has been a challenge over the past few years, but things have definitely improved the last few months with PS5s and Xbox Series Xs readily available on Amazon and in gaming retailers. Boxing Day will no doubt bring some great prices on console accessories and games, and even on consoles if we’re lucky! 

• Smartphones: Amazon offers some pretty impressive deals on smartphones the whole year around, and some of these prices should be even lower for Boxing Day.

• Toys: While many of the in-demand toys will be sold out from Christmas, any left over will be up for grabs! We recommend checking out Amazon for the best deals on Lego, especially for the massively popular Star Wars and Harry Potter sets.

• TVs: We expect all of the leading retailers to offer some hefty deals on remaining TV stock from top brands like Samsung, Hisense, Sony, LG and Panasonic. It’s worth shopping around for the best TV deals, but you’ll likely have the best chances on The Good Guys, Bing Lee or Kogan.

• Security and VPNs: Off the back of the recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, security companies will again be dropping their prices for Boxing Day – especially to Australians. If you need to renew your cybersecurity or VPN for the upcoming year, now is a great time.

It was Christmas Day night and I couldn’t sleep. Not through excitement for continued Twixmas celebrations, but because I knew I had a difficult and almost certainly heartbreaking conversation ahead of me.

My self-esteem was at an all time low and a situationship of mine had developed into an emotionally torturous interaction. Sex with a good friend meant catching unreciprocated feelings. Despite the friendship, he’d gone quiet and ghosted me during a winter lockdown. It felt terrible. Rotating all possibilities, my mind searched for answers during this period of silence. My inner critic used the situation as a stick to beat me with, evidence of all my shortcomings, proof that I was deficient in other people’s eyes (not just my own).

When he got back in touch to search for guilt absolution, to make sure his reputation remained unscathed in our friendship group, I was confused by his intentions and, I’ll admit, I hoped he’d had a change of heart. Things came to a long overdue head as I sat next to my parents’ Christmas tree sipping a gin and tonic — I knew I needed to end my misery and ask him what he wanted from me. Deep down, I realised the answer possibly wasn’t going to be what my heart wanted, but I needed to be set free from this waiting room of sorrow. My anxiety was mounting to unbearable levels and I knew I couldn’t put off the conversation any longer. So, on Boxing Day morning, I rolled over in bed and awoke to a message from him, apologising yet again for his behaviour. I sighed in recognition of what I needed to do.

After I’d sent the dreaded message, I sat in silence waiting for the inevitable. When his message arrived, the contents weren’t surprising to me — but that didn’t make it any less painful. And though I was free from the turmoil, that’s when anxiety gave way to heartbreak, a feeling that wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped to be dealing with over Christmas, a time of year I usually love. A neverending stream of tears rolled down my face as I sat watching my favourite films with my family. My mum looked at me with pity and concern, as I muffled tragic sniffs on the sofa. It was, as you can imagine, not a great time. And no amount of pigs in blankets or Terry’s Chocolate Oranges would make me feel better (though you can’t say I didn’t try!).

Heartbreak, sadly, doesn’t take a day off when it’s a special occasion.

Heartbreak, sadly, doesn’t take a day off when it’s a special occasion. And the holidays can be particularly difficult when you’re in the throes of a breakup, or the ending of a situationship. As writer Annie Lord, author of Notes On Heartbreak, tells me, “It’s pretty horrible because everyone’s so loved up during Christmas.”

“There are couples everywhere, holding hands at the Christmas markets, looking for rings in shops, and when you turn on the TV they’re still there, kissing in cozy cottages in The Holiday, declaring their love in Love Actually. I think the coldness makes people want to cozy up with someone they love,” she says.

Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you have to put up with it, though. Mashable spoke to psychotherapists for tips on coping with heartbreak during the holidays.

Limit your time on social media

If there’s anything guaranteed to make you want to throw your phone at the wall, it’s seeing endless pics of engagement rings with the caption “so, this happened!” You simply don’t need to see it right now.

Fiona Yassin, family psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, says it’s a good idea to limit your social media use so you’re not bombarded with what your friends and internet pals are up to during this period. “When we see others having fun on social media and we feel we are not, it can trigger negative emotions like loneliness and isolation,” says Yassin.

Here are some tips on how to limit your Instagram usage and TikTok usage.

Give yourself time to grieve

The holidays are a time that champions joy. And that can be particularly challenging when you feel, well, pretty rotten. Giving yourself permission to feel sad is important in validating the difficult emotions you’ll be (understandably!) feeling during this time.

“Don’t feel like you’re ruining other people’s good time.”

Dr. Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, says, “A big break up is comparable to grief, particularly if that person was very embedded in your life. Instead of rushing out to date again and trying to ‘get over it,’ be gentle with yourself and give yourself time and space to process the loss.”

Also, don’t feel bad for feeling sad. “Don’t feel like you’re ruining other people’s good time,” author Lord says. “You are not a burden. It’s an honour to be able to be there for people when they need it.”

If you’ve been ghosted, Mashable has some tips on how to move on.

Surround yourself with people you love

Heartbreak is a universal emotion and chances are, everyone around you right now will have gone through it at some point in their life. Opening up to others about what you’re going through can make you feel less alone.

“Speak to your parents or any older members of your family. Most of the time they have been through this before and they survived, knowing this can give you hope,” says Lord. “Christmas means you’re often surrounded by your family and friends. Celebrate the love you get from them, a love that is often less intense or glamorous, but a lot more enduring than romantic love.”

Going home or to safe spaces can sometimes give you an opportunity to reconnect with your younger self. “Going home can be quite grounding,” she adds. “You’re surrounded by all this stuff from when you were younger which can put things into perspective. I remember finding an old diary of mine where I was crying over a guy and though I was now upset about another one, I could still see that I was dealing with it in a much better way.”

Not everyone has access to a support network at this time of year. If your heartbreak is impacting your mental health or if you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody.

You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you’re based in the UK, contact the Samaritans (116 123). If you don’t like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

Try some grounding techniques

As a practical daily means to cope with heartbreak, Yassin recommends equipping yourself with some grounding techniques, which can be helpful for people to manage and work through emotions they wish they weren’t feeling. Grounding techniques are exercises or activities that help you refocus on what’s happening in the present moment, distracting yourself from triggers, anxious feelings, or difficult emotions.

“By using grounding techniques, we are not saying that we will not deal with or process the emotions and sensations, but we are saying that right now, at this moment, this is not going to intrude in what I’m doing,” says Yassin. “Walking can be really good to bring you back into the moment. When we walk and put one foot in front of the other we are actually stimulating both sides of the brain in a process called Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) which can feel soothing for some.” Here are six free grounding meditations to help you get started.

Repetitive activities like cross-stitch or crochet can have a soothing effect for some, while others like to keep themselves in motion. “Journaling or watching a good movie can also be effective grounding techniques,” says Yassin. Touroni also recommends journaling as it “helps get difficult thoughts and feelings down on paper so you can gain greater clarity and a new perspective.” Check out Mashable’s non-intimidating guide to journaling to get started.

Look after your physical needs

When you’re feeling low, it can be difficult to muster the energy to look after ourselves. Taking care of your immediate physical needs can be a way of making yourself feel a little better, despite not being able to shift the difficult emotions that come with heartbreak. Make sure you’re hydrated, eating, and getting plenty of rest.

“Make sure you’re doing activities that keep you both physically and mentally healthy e.g. regular exercise, eating healthy, nutritious meals etc.,” Touroni says. “Avoid turning to substances to numb any difficult thoughts and feelings. They might provide relief in the short-term but are likely to make things harder in the long run.”

Can’t sleep? Here are some tips on tangible things you can do to help you drift off.

Don’t rush into another relationship

Heartbreak can also be accompanied with feelings of panic, especially if you have been contending with anxious thoughts about “running out of time.” If you can resist some of these feelings and try to reassure that anxious voice in your head, know that you are allowed to take time to heal, and that you are enough on your own.

Yassir advises against rushing into another relationship straight away— often referred to as a “rebound”. “People that rebound tend to be those who are already struggling around interpersonal relations and relationships. Build a relationship with yourself before having a relationship with someone else. It’s unlikely a rebound relationship will be healthy if you don’t give yourself the time and space to be able to work out what you’re feeling.”

Don’t read into their texts

As the queen of reading-into-text-messages, I feel highly qualified in saying that it’s completely natural to want to search for signs of hope in any contact you might have had from the heartbreak-inflicter. But this habit can also prolong your agony and make it difficult to accept what’s really happening.

“If they message you ‘Happy Christmas’ don’t start thinking it signals anything.”

“If they message you ‘Happy Christmas’ don’t start thinking it signals anything,” says Lord. “They’re probably just trying to be polite. At the same time if you’re the one who ended the relationship don’t send a text, it will confuse your ex.”

A good rule of thumb is to assume that there is never a hidden meaning to their messages. If a person wants something badly enough, they’ll find a way to make sure their meaning and intention are fully understood. Tell yourself that if they want to communicate something important, they will likely do so in an explicit manner.

Cut yourself some slack

When you’re feeling sad, the last thing you need is another voice inside your head telling you what a misery you are. Your inner critic can rear their annoying head during this time to convince you that you’re bringing down the vibe, but most people understand that heartbreak truly is the worst.

“Be really kind to yourself,” advises Lord. “Don’t get annoyed if you don’t get off the sofa for the entire day, that’s what Christmas is for and everyone’s doing it too. It might feel like in doing these things you’re going backward, but you’re not you’re getting somewhere because stewing and feeling miserable is all part of the process.”

Talk to someone

If you’re really struggling, don’t suffer in silence. Speak to a mental health professional if you can. Shout is a 24/7 free mental health service in the UK (Text SHOUT to 85258). If you’re in the U.S., text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

“If you find yourself stuck in the same recurring relationship patterns, it could be a sign to dig a little deeper,” Touroni advises. “Negative early life experiences can sometimes impact the types of relationships we form — and choose —in later life. If you suspect there are things in your past that you haven’t dealt with, therapy is a great place to start this process.”

Lean on your support network and don’t bottle up your feelings. “If you’re struggling, reach out to friends and family,” Touroni adds. “These are the moments when we need their support the most, and the right people will want to be there for you.”

If you’re nursing a bruised or shattered heart this Christmas, know that you’re not alone. And know that it won’t be forever. Take care of yourself.