Touring After the Apocalypse ‒ Episode 12
Dec. 22nd, 2025 01:30 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
animenewsnetwork_feedThe lush, verdant landscapes of this empty, crumbling future Japan will remain in my memory for a long time.
animenewsnetwork_feedFullmetal Alchemist, One Piece Voice Actress Juli Erickson Dies
Dec. 22nd, 2025 01:10 pmanimenewsnetwork_feedErickson played Pinako in Fullmetal Alchemist, Tsuru & Kokoro in One Piece
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Game Adds NiGHTS on December 24
Dec. 22nd, 2025 12:36 pmanimenewsnetwork_feedGame adds Nights into Dreams character, Dream Sleeper vehicle on Wednesday
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K With HDR Is Half Off Right Now
Dec. 22nd, 2025 07:00 pmlifehacker_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Roku Sticks have useful features that can make your dumb TV smarter (or replace the interface on your smart TV), and they are seeing great discounts right now. In particular, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision is $24.99, the lowest price it has ever been after a 50% discount, according to price tracking tools. It's also my personal favorite option, and the one I would recommend to most people.
Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025
$15.99
at Amazon
$29.99
Save $14.00
$15.99
at Amazon
$29.99
Save $14.00
Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025
$19.00
at Amazon
$39.99
Save $20.99
$19.00
at Amazon
$39.99
Save $20.99
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
$24.99
at Amazon
$49.99
Save $25.00
$24.99
at Amazon
$49.99
Save $25.00
Roku Ultra - Ultimate Streaming Player
$75.00
at Amazon
$99.99
Save $24.99
$75.00
at Amazon
$99.99
Save $24.99
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<p class="syndicationauthor">Posted by Daniel Oropeza</p><p class="ljsyndicationlink"><a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/roku-streaming-stick-4k-with-hdr-is-50-off-december-2025?utm_medium=RSS">https://lifehacker.com/tech/roku-streaming-stick-4k-with-hdr-is-50-off-december-2025?utm_medium=RSS</a></p><p>We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.</p><p>Roku Sticks have useful features that can make your dumb TV smarter (or replace the interface on your smart TV), and they are <a href="https://zdcs.link/QOg8PE?pageview_type=RSS&template=content&module=content_body&element=offer&item=text-link&element_label=seeing%20great%20discounts%20right%20now&short_url=QOg8PE&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window">seeing great discounts right now</a>. In particular, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/zJrvPn?pageview_type=RSS&template=content&module=content_body&element=offer&item=text-link&element_label=Roku%20Streaming%20Stick%204K%20with%20HDR%20and%20Dolby%20Vision&short_url=zJrvPn&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window">Roku Streaming Stick 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision</a> is <strong>$24.99</strong>, the lowest price it has ever been after a 50% discount, according to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/best-price-tracking-tools-1692745053" target="_blank">price tracking tools</a>. It's also my personal favorite option, and the one I would recommend to most people. </p><div class="shadow-b-2 mb-12 mt-10 rounded-md border-2 border-[#F0F0F0] px-6 py-2 shadow-lg md:px-12" role="region" aria-label="Products List" x-data="{ showMore: false }">
<a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DXXYS4BJ&template=Deals&module=product-list&element=offer&item=offer-btn&position=1&element_label=Roku+Streaming+Stick+HD+2025+&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&product_uuid=07oytCiS940Q6XF9YzBQPYY&offer_uuid=00RQrlfOc1lNIVrAwu7rMWA&pageview_type=RSS&object_type=00RQrlfOc1lNIVrAwu7rMWA&object_uuid=07oytCiS940Q6XF9YzBQPYY&data-aps-asin=B0DXXYS4BJ&data-aps-asc-tag=lifehack088-20&data-aps-asc-subtag=00RQrlfOc1lNIVrAwu7rMWA" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="flex flex-col py-8 gap-5 border-dotted border-[#CFCFCE] cursor-default no-underline md:flex-row md:gap-y-2 md:py-7 border-b-2" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-module="product-list" data-ga-element="offer" data-ga-item="offer-btn" data-ga-label="Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025" data-ga-position="1" aria-label="Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025 Product Card" x-cloak="x-cloak" x-show="showMore || 0 < 3">
<div class="flex w-full gap-x-5">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col flex-nowrap justify-center gap-2 text-black no-underline md:order-2 md:gap-y-6">
<div class="flex flex-col justify-between gap-y-2 md:w-full md:gap-y-1">
<div class="block w-fit cursor-pointer font-akshar text-lg font-medium leading-5 text-brand-green duration-200 ease-in-out hover:text-brand-green-700 md:text-xl md:leading-6">
Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025
</div>
</div>
<div class="hidden md:flex md:justify-between md:gap-x-4">
<div class="w-full mb-0 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$15.99
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$29.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $14.00</span>
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm hidden self-end h-12 max-w-[10rem] duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:flex md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
</div>
</div>
<div class="flex aspect-video h-[90px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center md:order-1">
<img class="m-0 max-h-full max-w-full rounded-md" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01KD3PP1Q15NTXS6X357R7ESQV/images-2.fill.size_autoxauto.v1766429755.jpg" alt="Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025" width="auto" height="auto" loading="lazy">
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm w-full h-12 duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:hidden md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
<div class="flex flex-col items-center w-full md:hidden font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$15.99
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$29.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $14.00</span>
</div>
</div>
</a> <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DXY833HV&template=Deals&module=product-list&element=offer&item=offer-btn&position=2&element_label=Roku+Streaming+Stick+Plus+2025&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&product_uuid=07xiCPlmCdFuvDEsRW91v6x&offer_uuid=07iQljFG0xpn8vRFVgxD0rN&pageview_type=RSS&object_type=07iQljFG0xpn8vRFVgxD0rN&object_uuid=07xiCPlmCdFuvDEsRW91v6x&data-aps-asin=B0DXY833HV&data-aps-asc-tag=lifehack088-20&data-aps-asc-subtag=07iQljFG0xpn8vRFVgxD0rN" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="flex flex-col py-8 gap-5 border-dotted border-[#CFCFCE] cursor-default no-underline md:flex-row md:gap-y-2 md:py-7 border-b-2" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-module="product-list" data-ga-element="offer" data-ga-item="offer-btn" data-ga-label="Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025" data-ga-position="2" aria-label="Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025 Product Card" x-cloak="x-cloak" x-show="showMore || 1 < 3">
<div class="flex w-full gap-x-5">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col flex-nowrap justify-center gap-2 text-black no-underline md:order-2 md:gap-y-6">
<div class="flex flex-col justify-between gap-y-2 md:w-full md:gap-y-1">
<div class="block w-fit cursor-pointer font-akshar text-lg font-medium leading-5 text-brand-green duration-200 ease-in-out hover:text-brand-green-700 md:text-xl md:leading-6">
Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025
</div>
</div>
<div class="hidden md:flex md:justify-between md:gap-x-4">
<div class="w-full mb-0 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$19.00
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$39.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $20.99</span>
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm hidden self-end h-12 max-w-[10rem] duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:flex md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
</div>
</div>
<div class="flex aspect-video h-[90px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center md:order-1">
<img class="m-0 max-h-full max-w-full rounded-md" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01KD3PP1Q15NTXS6X357R7ESQV/images-1.fill.size_autoxauto.v1766429755.jpg" alt="Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025" width="auto" height="auto" loading="lazy">
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm w-full h-12 duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:hidden md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
<div class="flex flex-col items-center w-full md:hidden font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$19.00
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$39.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $20.99</span>
</div>
</div>
</a> <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB09BKCDXZC%2Fref%3Dox_sc_act_title_1%3Fsmid%3DATVPDKIKX0DER%26th%3D1&template=Deals&module=product-list&element=offer&item=offer-btn&position=3&element_label=Roku+Streaming+Stick+4K&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&product_uuid=01JfTj93smVWw3heeX6nNSE&offer_uuid=03W7DeMhkADIXMWArG6uNbS&pageview_type=RSS&object_type=03W7DeMhkADIXMWArG6uNbS&object_uuid=01JfTj93smVWw3heeX6nNSE&data-aps-asin=B09BKCDXZC&data-aps-asc-tag=lifehack088-20&data-aps-asc-subtag=03W7DeMhkADIXMWArG6uNbS" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="flex flex-col py-8 gap-5 border-dotted border-[#CFCFCE] cursor-default no-underline md:flex-row md:gap-y-2 md:py-7 border-b-2" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-module="product-list" data-ga-element="offer" data-ga-item="offer-btn" data-ga-label="Roku Streaming Stick 4K" data-ga-position="3" aria-label="Roku Streaming Stick 4K Product Card" x-cloak="x-cloak" x-show="showMore || 2 < 3">
<div class="flex w-full gap-x-5">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col flex-nowrap justify-center gap-2 text-black no-underline md:order-2 md:gap-y-6">
<div class="flex flex-col justify-between gap-y-2 md:w-full md:gap-y-1">
<div class="block w-fit cursor-pointer font-akshar text-lg font-medium leading-5 text-brand-green duration-200 ease-in-out hover:text-brand-green-700 md:text-xl md:leading-6">
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
</div>
</div>
<div class="hidden md:flex md:justify-between md:gap-x-4">
<div class="w-full mb-0 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$24.99
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$49.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $25.00</span>
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm hidden self-end h-12 max-w-[10rem] duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:flex md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
</div>
</div>
<div class="flex aspect-video h-[90px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center md:order-1">
<img class="m-0 max-h-full max-w-full rounded-md" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01JfTj93smVWw3heeX6nNSE/hero-image.fill.size_autoxauto.v1762335066.webp" alt="Roku Streaming Stick 4K" width="auto" height="auto" loading="lazy">
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm w-full h-12 duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:hidden md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
<div class="flex flex-col items-center w-full md:hidden font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$24.99
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$49.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $25.00</span>
</div>
</div>
</a> <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DF44RTTP%2Fref%3Dox_sc_act_title_1%3Fsmid%3DATVPDKIKX0DER%26th%3D1&template=Deals&module=product-list&element=offer&item=offer-btn&position=4&element_label=Roku+Ultra+-+Ultimate+Streaming+Player&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&product_uuid=05gHhBNVcra9y4DN8qO1QJB&offer_uuid=01Ib1wN4vJu4EpJ4MldjguM&pageview_type=RSS&object_type=01Ib1wN4vJu4EpJ4MldjguM&object_uuid=05gHhBNVcra9y4DN8qO1QJB&data-aps-asin=B0DF44RTTP&data-aps-asc-tag=lifehack088-20&data-aps-asc-subtag=01Ib1wN4vJu4EpJ4MldjguM" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="flex flex-col py-8 gap-5 border-dotted border-[#CFCFCE] cursor-default no-underline md:flex-row md:gap-y-2 md:py-7" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-module="product-list" data-ga-element="offer" data-ga-item="offer-btn" data-ga-label="Roku Ultra - Ultimate Streaming Player" data-ga-position="4" aria-label="Roku Ultra - Ultimate Streaming Player Product Card" x-cloak="x-cloak" x-show="showMore || 3 < 3">
<div class="flex w-full gap-x-5">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col flex-nowrap justify-center gap-2 text-black no-underline md:order-2 md:gap-y-6">
<div class="flex flex-col justify-between gap-y-2 md:w-full md:gap-y-1">
<div class="block w-fit cursor-pointer font-akshar text-lg font-medium leading-5 text-brand-green duration-200 ease-in-out hover:text-brand-green-700 md:text-xl md:leading-6">
Roku Ultra - Ultimate Streaming Player
</div>
</div>
<div class="hidden md:flex md:justify-between md:gap-x-4">
<div class="w-full mb-0 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$75.00
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$99.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $24.99</span>
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm hidden self-end h-12 max-w-[10rem] duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:flex md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
</div>
</div>
<div class="flex aspect-video h-[90px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center md:order-1">
<img class="m-0 max-h-full max-w-full rounded-md" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01KD3PP1Q15NTXS6X357R7ESQV/images-3.fill.size_autoxauto.v1766429755.jpg" alt="Roku Ultra - Ultimate Streaming Player" width="auto" height="auto" loading="lazy">
</div>
</div>
<button class="flex justify-center items-center w-full bg-brand-green text-white text-base font-sans font-medium rounded-md hover:bg-brand-green-700 hover:cursor-pointer md:text-sm w-full h-12 duration-200 ease-in-out hover:bg-brand-green-700 md:hidden md:h-10">
Get Deal
</button>
<div class="flex flex-col items-center w-full md:hidden font-sans leading-4 text-black">
<div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1 md:justify-start">
<span class="font-bold">
$75.00
<span class="font-medium">at Amazon</span>
</span>
</div>
<div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-x-1 font-bold md:justify-start">
<span class="text-sm line-through">$99.99</span>
<span class="text-sm text-brand-green">Save $24.99</span>
</div>
</div>
</a> <button class="mb-4 mt-6 pr-4 font-akshar text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 hover:cursor-pointer hover:text-brand-green md:pr-8" x-cloak="x-cloak" x-show="!showMore && 4 > 3" x-on:click="showMore = !showMore" x-on:keydown.enter.prevent.stop="showMore = !showMore">
SEE 1 MORE
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<p>There's a lot to consider when <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-choose-a-streaming-device" target="_blank">choosing a streaming device</a> for your TV. I've tried many, and Roku is one of the best. It's user-friendly, responsive, organized, simple to navigate, and affordable. Out of all the Roku options, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/zJrvPn?pageview_type=RSS&template=content&module=content_body&element=offer&item=text-link&element_label=Roku%20Streaming%20Stick%204K%20with%20HDR%20and%20Dolby%20Vision&short_url=zJrvPn&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window">Roku Streaming Stick 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision</a> is the best bang for your buck—for just $5 more than the <a href="https://zdcs.link/z6DOWZ?pageview_type=RSS&template=content&module=content_body&element=offer&item=text-link&element_label=Roku%20Streaming%20Stick%20Plus&short_url=z6DOWZ&u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window">Roku Streaming Stick Plus</a>, you'll get support for <a href="https://www.dolby.com/technologies/dolby-vision/" target="_blank" title="open in a new window" rel="noopener">Dolby Vision</a>, which will deliver more dynamic <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-hdr-high-dynamic-range" target="_blank" title="open in a new window" rel="noopener">HDR</a>. It's also much cheaper than the Roku Ultra, which offers WiFi 6, an Ethernet port, and Dolby Atmos for $50 more.</p><p>The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is compatible with Alexa smart devices, Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, Google Home, and with Roku Smart Home, meaning you can mirror your devices, use voice commands, or control them from these respective smart apps. If you have Bluetooth headphones, you can pair them with the Roku so you can watch your shows in silence, and the voice activated remote is a game-changer if you lose your clicker as often as I do.</p><p class="ljsyndicationlink"><a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/roku-streaming-stick-4k-with-hdr-is-50-off-december-2025?utm_medium=RSS">https://lifehacker.com/tech/roku-streaming-stick-4k-with-hdr-is-50-off-december-2025?utm_medium=RSS</a></p>
Check-In Post - Dec 22nd 2025
Dec. 22nd, 2025 07:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knitted posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
get_knittedHello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.
Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?
There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.
This Week's Question: Does anyone have any plans for making Christmas gifts or cards?
If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.
I now declare this Check-In OPEN!
Russia Wants To Recycle Its Crumbling Half Of The ISS For New Space Station
Dec. 22nd, 2025 06:36 pmjalopnik_feedThe Russian half of the ISS isn't in the best of shape. Cosmonauts spend roughly half of their time on the ISS performing maintenance.
Meme Cat
Dec. 22nd, 2025 10:57 amhalfshellvenusI can't believe it. SIX cats have managed to co-exist with a Christmas tree, and the worst we've had is one who kept drinking the tree water and another who fanged the curly ribbons on presents.
But here we are:
We've only ever had a table tree with this cat before, and who knows what he encountered in the years before he was ours. But now that we have a full-sized tree... it might as well be covered with toys. :(
But here we are:
We've only ever had a table tree with this cat before, and who knows what he encountered in the years before he was ours. But now that we have a full-sized tree... it might as well be covered with toys. :(
Press Release – December 22, 2025
Dec. 22nd, 2025 06:02 pmsfwa_feed
Apology and Next Steps from SFWA’s Board of Directors
Dear Members of SFWA and the SFF community,
The growing presence and use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in our industry raises difficult and complex questions. In our effort to create Nebula rules that would inform voters of the many forms of LLM that now influence writing processes across SFF mediums, we actually made things worse.
Our approach and wording was wrong and we apologize for the distress and distrust we caused.
The Nebula Awards, along with the many talented writers and works that underpin all of the pride and excitement of the Nebulas, did not deserve to be overshadowed by our actions last week.
We are going to learn from our mistakes, and we invite members of our organization and the greater SFF community to send us feedback on what you are seeing in terms of LLM use in creative writing across mediums.
Please use this survey to share your experiences. We will use the information to guide our upcoming discussions and decisions for the Nebula Awards and beyond.
SFWA does not accept works created by generative LLMs for membership qualification or in the Nebulas. The Complete Nebula Awards Rules are available here.
Thank you for helping us navigate these difficult issues and find a better path forward. We have work to do, and we will continue to do so in the service of SFWA and its members.
If you are interested in supporting our Emerging Tech committee to further investigate and navigate these issues and themes, please contact office@sfwa.org.
Thank you for your help in making SFWA stronger.
Sincerely,
Kate, Anthony, Steven, Curtis, Jonathan, Christine, Day
The post Press Release – December 22, 2025 appeared first on SFWA - The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association.
A Cordless Blower Is the Overlooked Tool You Definitely Need
Dec. 22nd, 2025 06:30 pmlifehacker_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
Once you start down the path of DIY, you'll soon realize that any time you find yourself wishing someone had created a tool to serve a specific purpose, someone probably has—no matter how narrow the use case. Case in point: The cordless blower/inflator.
This tool is exactly what it sounds like. Shaped like a power drill, it simply...blows air (though sort of like a handheld leaf blower, these tools typically come with an array of nozzles to give you a bit of precision with the flow of your forced air). You might think this sounds like a tool you’ll never actually need, because you have lungs. But I'm here to convince you that you're wrong: A cordless blower will absolutely be one of the most useful tools you ever acquire.
One tool, many uses
Handheld blowers have a lot of uses that make every DIY job you do a little bit easier and faster:
Cleaning. Probably the most common use case for a blower is to quickly clean a work area by blowing away dust, sawdust, clippings, shavings, and other small debris. You can use a blower to quickly clear off a workbench, blow dust out of keyboards, engines, or anywhere else. This is also really useful if you have a tight spot where you can’t fit a tool—the blower can clean it out in a jiffy. It’s also useful for a quick cleanup on outdoor furniture or even my deck—while you might want an actual leaf blower for full-scale yard cleanup, a handheld blower can do an adequate, quickie cleanup on demand.
Shortening drying times. If you’re waiting on something to dry out before you can move on to the next stage of your project, a blower can speed up that drying time considerably.
Cooling other tools down. There’s nothing more irritating than an overheating tool that forces you to stop and wait for it to return to a safe operating temperature. A blower can speed up that process, acting as a high-powered fan with a very precise, narrow blast of air to cool down hot components.
Redirecting dust and debris. When working inside, you often want to use a vacuum to collect dust as you work, but outside, a small, handheld blower can be more convenient. Using it to redirect dust and debris away from you as you work can keep grit out of your eyes and your workspace clean as you go.
Inflating stuff. These blowers come with attachments that not only allow you to be as narrow or wide with your airstream as needed, but also fit into standard nozzles. Need to inflate an air mattress, pool ball, or anything else? The blower will make short work of it.
Once I started using a blower while I worked, I found myself reaching for it constantly just to keep my workspace clear of dust, and then I started grabbing it literally any time a blast of air seemed helpful. You might not think you need a blower in your tool chest, but you probably do.
Choosing a blower
Most cordless blowers are similar in terms of shape and function. The two from major brands you’ll come across most are Milwaukee’s M18 18V Brushless Cordless Precision Blower and Makita’s 18V LXT Brushless Cordless High Speed Blower/Inflator. They’re both solid tools, but I prefer the Makita because, in my experience, its battery life is much better (the Milwaukee has a bit more power, but I’ve never had a scenario where I needed more power). The Makita tends to last 45 minutes to an hour on a single charge, but when I borrowed a Milwaukee it died about a half hour into the job. Obviously, this will depend on a lot of variables, including what you’re using it for, but the Makita wins for me because every time I grabbed it there was enough charge left to finish the job.
5 Toyotas With The Longest Production Runs
Dec. 22nd, 2025 06:25 pmjalopnik_feedToyota is known for its reliable vehicles, and many models have been in production for decades. Here are the Toyotas that have been in production the longest.
Series Rec: ClaireBell (2025)
Dec. 22nd, 2025 01:27 pmaurumcalendula
(8 × ~45 minutes (TV version) or ~60 minutes (uncut version))
Claire and Bell meet in a place no one enters by choice: prison. Wrongly convicted of drug possession, Bell begins her fifteen-month sentence only to find herself targeted by a powerful group within the grounds. Even the warden turns a blind eye to their actions. Her only path to safety is to go to Claire, a violent inmate no one dares mess with. Nothing is as easy as she'd hoped. As their bond deepens, their path reaches a crossroads and they must choose between life and love. (MyDramaList)
( Read more... )
10 Shows Like 'Boots' You Should Watch Next
Dec. 22nd, 2025 06:00 pmlifehacker_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
Who knew that, here in the mid 2020s, a show involving gays in the military (even a relatively pro-army one) would prove its own relevance by drawing a fierce, angry denunciation from the current administration—a response strong enough that it maybe, just maybe, got the show cancelled in spite of high viewership and buzz.
But then again, given the precariousness of the streaming landscape, it's best to treat everything like a miniseries these days. Based on a memoir from Greg Cope White, the Netflix series stars Miles Heizer as Cameron Cope, a closeted gay teen who follows his bestie into the Army in the era before "Don't ask, don't tell," and well before serving in the open was a possibility.
With no second season coming, it might be tough to figure out what to watch next. I have some suggestions—though given that there aren't a ton of "gay kid joins the army" shows out there, I'm focusing on queer coming-of-age stories in general, not strictly ones that are military-themed. (Growing up queer is kinda like a boot camp all its own.)
We Are Who We Are (2020)
Director Luca Guadagnino (Challengers, Queer) created this series about two American teenagers, Fraser (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Caitlin (Jordan Kristine Seamón), living with their families on a U.S. military base in Chioggia, Italy. Fraser's two moms are both in the army (something that would have been impossible in the 1990 of Boots, and may be again before long), but he's new to base life. Caitlin, on the other hand, has lived in Chioggia for years with her conservative father. Over the course of a summer, the two gradually bond over their mutual feelings of isolation, as well as their explorations of gender and sexuality. Stream We Are Who We Are on HBO Max.
Overcompensating (2025 – )
Comedian Benito Skinner plays himself, sort of, in this buzzy comedy that sees a former high school jock facing his freshman year in college while desperately trying to convince himself and everyone else that he's as straight as they come (relatable, except for the jock part). Much of the appeal is in its deft blending of tones: It's a frequently raunchy college comedy, but it's simultaneously a sweet coming-of-age story about accepting yourself without worrying about what everyone else thinks. The cast includes Adam DiMarco (The White Lotus) and Rish Shah (Ms. Marvel) and, just as impressively, it's a streaming show with queer characters that's actually been renewed. Stream Overcompensating on Prime Video.
Heated Rivalry (2025 – )
Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are professional ice hockey players who compete on rival teams, the Montreal Metros and the Boston Raiders. Even as their public relationship remains contentious over a period of years, the two develop a casual (at least at first) sexual relationship that grows increasingly sweaty, ice notwithstanding. Not to be outdone, this buzzy show also traces the similarly complicated relationship between an American team captain and a smoothie barista. Tonally, its sex-filled fun isn't much of a match for Boots, but it's of the increasingly few shows with gay lead characters to succeed on streaming. Oh, and it's also been renewed for a second season. Stream Heated Rivalry on HBO Max.
Blood & Water (2020 – )
This top-tier teen drama stars Ama Qamata as Puleng Khumalo, a teenage girl who’s lived her entire life in the shadow of a sister that was taken as a baby by human traffickers; Puleng’s parents even hold a birthday celebration for the sister each year. When invited to a party by popular Fikile Bhele (Khosi Ngema), a student at an elite school in Cape Town, Puleng can’t help noticing their similarities. Steeped in the story of her sister, Puleng transfers to the school to get to the bottom of things. There’s plenty of juicy high school drama and family secrets, but the show is elevated by its unexpected dramatic heft and a multitude of queer characters and storylines. Stream Blood & Water on Netflix.
Young Royals (2021 – 2024)
Steamy soap Young Royals follows Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding), the fictional prince of Sweden, as he embarks on a romance with another student, Simon Eriksson (Omar Rudberg), at their elite boarding school (it's not exactly boot camp, but it's all relative). While possessed of all the addictive qualities of the teen drama genre, Young Royals takes itself a bit more seriously than some, and feels remarkably fresh in its commitment to casting age-appropriate actors in all the key roles. Stream Young Royals on Netflix.
Fellow Travelers (2023)
Though it's about middle-aged men (Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey) in the 1950s, I'm comfortable calling this one a loose match since, like Boots, it's a period piece set a against a backdrop of era-specific brands of queer existence, beginning amid the McCarthy-inspired Lavender Panic and runs through to the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Bomer and Bailey generate real sparks (and offer up intense, if not particularly graphic, sex scenes) as they portray decades in the lives of a closeted couple—one a State Department official and the other an idealistic congressional staffer. Stream Fellow Travelers on Paramount+.
Elite (2018 – 2024)
Elite follows a group of working-class friends who wind up with scholarships to Las Encinas, a fictional private school that is, in the show’s universe, the most exclusive in Spain (again, not exactly boot camp, but here we are). What they find there is snobbery, for sure, but also mystery, murder, and lots and lots of sex (among character of various sexual orientations and numerical groupings). The smart but wonderfully trashy show ran for an impressive eight seasons, with Indian and South African variations (Class and Blood & Water, mentioned above) also streaming. Stream Elite on Netflix.
Heartstopper (2022 – )
The repressed, closeted yearning of Boots is all well and good, but Heartstopper is the affirming coming-of-age/queer teen love story that we all kinda need right about now. While it never soft-peddles the dangers of homophobia, it likewise doesn’t wallow in tragedy. Kit Connor and Joe Locke deliver sensitive (and often very funny) performances in a show that’s nearly all smiles without feeling treacly. Stream Heartstopper on Netflix.
First Day (2020 – 2022)
This Australian import stars Evie Macdonald as Hannah Bradford, a generally confident 12-year-old whose interests include school politics and taekwondo. She's also, as the series begins, getting a fresh start at a new school while transitioning, presenting herself as female for the first time. She immediately makes new friends, but also faces a bully from her old school who holds her secret over her head just as Hannah is starting to come into her own identity. And if that doesn't sound like a boot camp of its own. First Day skews quite a bit younger than other shows on this list, but it's nevertheless a solid coming-of-age drama about finding meaning and identity. Stream First Day on Hulu.
It's a Sin (2021)
Another period drama set within relatively recent memory, Russell T. Davies' It's a Sin revisits the 1980s through the story of a group of friends living in London during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The miniseries brings an impressive cast to bear on a story that tracks them through the early days of queer liberation through the developing menace of a disease that no one in the broader world was willing to talk about, much less do anything about. Davies (Queer as Folk, Doctor Who) has told queer stories before, but none quite so powerful or affecting. Stream It's a Sin.
San Francisco Power Outage Stopped Waymos Dead In Intersections
Dec. 22nd, 2025 05:39 pmjalopnik_feedHumans may not be great at intersections that are suddenly without stop lights, but at least we know to treat the situation as a four-way stop.
Ford 427 Vs 427 SOHC: How The Cammer Became A Totally Different Machine
Dec. 22nd, 2025 05:25 pmjalopnik_feedThe 427 SOHC was Ford's response to Chrysler's Hemi engines, which dominated NASCAR in the 1960s. But the Cammer's story didn't unfold the way Ford had planned.
Uganda's Only Tesla Cybertruck Already Rolled And The Video Is Hilarious
Dec. 22nd, 2025 04:53 pmjalopnik_feedDiva down!
To Your Eternity Season 3 ‒ Episode 12
Dec. 22nd, 2025 12:30 pmanimenewsnetwork_feedFor as much as I am enjoying this third season of To Your Eternity, I fear the story may be falling into a pacing trap
All You Need Is Kill Anime's English Trailer Reveals Dub Cast
Dec. 22nd, 2025 12:14 pmanimenewsnetwork_feedDub stars Stephanie Sheh as Rita, Jadon Muniz as Keiji
This Wallet-Sized E-Reader Is My Tech 'Upgrade of the Year'
Dec. 22nd, 2025 05:30 pmlifehacker_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
One of the often unspoken truths of being a tech reviewer is you get to test out, recommend—and sometimes even keep!—gadgets that you would never buy for yourself, because you can't justify what they cost. This is why I tend to spend large portions of my reviews talking about price. I love a cutting edge device as much as the next nerd, but I have two kids and I live in the most expensive city in America; as much as I admire the Boox Palma 2 Pro, my budget doesn't really have room for a niche $400 e-reader.
That's why the Xteink X4, a minimalist 4.3-inch e-reader, is my tech upgrade of 2025: Here's a device that has no delusions of grandeur. It doesn't want to replace your phone. It doesn't want to serve up the smoothest screen tech. It doesn't want to run games or apps or seamlessly sync with you phone. It just wants to be a tiny, inexpensive e-reader that works just well enough, and is small enough to carry with you anywhere.
The simplicity is the point
As I make clear in my review, the Xteink X4 can in no way compete with the Palma 2 Pro (or your average Kindle, for that matter). It has an underpowered processor and no screen light. Due to digital rights management, you probably won't be able to use it to read all the Kindle books you already own (though that's really Amazon's fault). It's kind of a pain to load it up with e-books, and once you get them on there, they might not look great, as the current software can't even display paragraph indents or italics.
But it also costs less than $70 (as little as $45 if you order from AliExpress, a sort of Chinese answer to Amazon Marketplace), and once it's all set up, it fulfills the exact same function as a pricier device: It allows me to easily carry my library around with me so I can read a book instead of staring at my phone. But because it's so very tiny—around 25% smaller and thinner than my iPhone 14—it does this better than any other device I've tried.
A great community
More than just functional, though, the Xteink X4 is fun—though admittedly, a lot of that comes from the vibrant community that has sprung up around it online. It has only been available for a few months, but it already has its own active subreddit, filled with geeky users helping each other out with FAQs, troubleshooting, and crowd-sourced galleries of screensaver images. They've developed tools and shortcuts to get around the device's limited functionality, from a Calibre plugin that will optimize your EPUB files for the Xteink X4, to an online tool that will automatically convert them into much prettier image files. A few different folks are even working on entirely new firmware to replace the merely functional native software.
You don't have to tinker with the Xteink X4—it's perfectly usable out of the box, once you get used to quirks like navigating its slightly confusing menus with its slightly unintuitive physical buttons—but it's fun to be engaged with a bunch of other people who are excited about making it work better. In their outsized devotion to a niche device, these folks are bringing back the spirit of the old internet, powered by a sense of excitement and community rather than an all-knowing algorithm. Like the current retro appeal of cassette tapes, the Xteink X4 makes everything better by being a little bit worse.
Rec-cember Day 19: Harry Potter
Dec. 22nd, 2025 06:36 pmfalenaI don't think I'm going to be able to keep up with this meme, heh. Biting more than I can chew is the story of my life, basically. I'll just make a post whenever I can, my perfectionist tendencies be damned.
With this out of the way, this is surely another fandom that needs no introduction. I also know it's problematic for many thanks to JKR turning out to be a horrible, horrible human being. I totally can understand if you decide to give this a pass. I can still enjoy fic about this universe, though. I'm sure that my recs are familiar to anyone reading in this fandom, but they are big favourites for a reason, I guess. As usual, the stories I like the most are those that have little to do with canon, in terms of plot. I prefer fic set after the end of the war, preferably ignoring the blasted epilogue, with all our heroes grown-up (and fucked-up). I also was never into the Marauders, like at all.
To start you off, you could pick any of astolat's HP stories at random and be blown away by her talent. Most are Harry/Draco, but she just posted a Draco/Hermione fic only the other day. My favourite is House Proud, Harry/Draco, 23K, His house liked Draco Malfoy more than him. The snark, the fun, the romance. They slay me. The podfic by
Lazulus is sublime.
Hermione Granger's Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run by waspabi. 93 K. AU for the Deathly Hallows, also huge canon divergence, Harry grew up as a muggle and never went to Hogwarts. It's also Harry/Draco eventually but the shipping is not the selling point. 'You're a wizard, Harry' is easier to hear from a half-giant when you're eleven, rather than from some kids on a tube platform when you're seventeen and late for work. Luckily for me
Lazulus podficced this too. What a masterpiece.
What we Pretend We Can't See by gyzym. 131 K. Draco/Harry Seven years out from the war, Harry learns the hard truth of old history: it’s never quite as far behind you as you thought. I've only ever consumed this as a podfic, which was made by the amazing
FayJay.
I must say back in the day I read a lot of Hermione/Snape, but most of it is no longer accessible or err, a bit crap, when I was able to re-read it with more adult eyes. Still, I wanted to rec at least one story, which is really not quite romance (no HEA) but it has the big plus of having an IC Snape (so a complete dickhead): Chaos is Come Again by Aashby. There's some iffy consent, this was written well before content warnings were a thing. The story can only be downloaded from here, AFAIK. I'm also quoting the summary from that review because I'm lazy: "A decade or more after the defeat of Voldemort, Severus Snape and Hermione Granger work together to stop the Ministry from grossly misusing its power to solve wizarding Britain’s genetic problems. Starts with Marriage Law, and approaches near dystopian levels of corruption." There's a lot of plot in this fic. Lots of politics. Some spying/intrigue. Could have benefited from an editor helping the author with the pacing...Still, totally worth reading.
I also enjoyed Harry/Luna quite a lot, but unfortunately my pre-Ao3 bookmarks for the few good stories I'd found are all broken. It's so sad when we lose pieces of fandom history. :(
The Pitt
I don't need to rec avocadomoon to anyone who's into Mel/Frank. There's a reason her stories are the ones with the highest number of hits on the Ao3. My favourite of hers is Confidence Game. 72K. "Everything's fucking falling apart," Abby croaked, her voice thick with snot. "And you're - of course you're like this, you're fucking nice. Oh my God." "I'm not that nice!" Mel said frantically. I stole your husband, she thought. For example. How Mel and Frank could have got together after the end of S1. Meg has written several iterations of this, all wonderful. She gets how messy these two would be, how complicated everything would be...and she makes it work. In this one Abby is an antagonist. And yet so human you can't help sympathising.
Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord Volume 1-3 Manga Review
Dec. 22nd, 2025 12:00 pmanimenewsnetwork_feedFor this reincarnated salaryman, a life as an unwanted noble’s son is a ticket to a new beginning, but an easygoing life is a long way off.
Capcom, GungHo's Teppen Smartphone Game Ends Service, Gets Offline Version
Dec. 22nd, 2025 11:50 amanimenewsnetwork_feedGame ends service on March 30 with offline version update available until April 29
Mechanical Marie ‒ Episode 12
Dec. 22nd, 2025 11:30 amanimenewsnetwork_feedMechanical Marie has always looked cheap and cheerful, with bargain-basement animation carried merely by its sheer innocent charm.
Digimon Story Time Stranger Game's Trailer Reveals 2nd DLC Pack's January 2026 Release
Dec. 22nd, 2025 11:25 amanimenewsnetwork_feed"Additional Digimon & Episode Pack 2: GAKU-RAN" introduces new Digivolution routes, Hiroko questline
Hiroshi Takahashi Reveals Dustland Title for Direct Sequel to Crows/Worst Manga
Dec. 22nd, 2025 10:48 amanimenewsnetwork_feedManga launches on January 13
My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The First Generation Amazon Kindle Scribe
Dec. 22nd, 2025 05:00 pmlifehacker_feedWe may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Though the Kindle Scribe is already on its third generation, the first-generation model still has a place for anyone looking to nab one of these note-taking e-readers for less. Released in 2022, the original Kindle Scribe is still relevant in 2025 simply for its price.
Right now, the 16GB version of the 2022 Scribe with the Premium Pen is discounted to $221.99 (originally $369.99), the lowest price this reader has seen since its release, according to price-tracking tools, and a great opportunity to snatch one for a bargain. The newer 2024 version is also seeing a decent discount, with the 32GB version of the 2024 Scribe going for $279.99 (originally $419.99).
That said, if you are considering the 2024 version, there's not much reason to upgrade—the main difference is that the 2024 version tablet itself is shorter, narrower, and slimmer, but not by much (you can even still use the same case). The 2024 version's new screen also has texture, which will add some resistance when you're writing on it for a more natural feel. The gap between the screen and the outer casing is also smaller. But that's where the differences end.
Otherwise, you'll get the same book format compatibility, the same 15.3 oz weight, the same glare-free 300 ppi front-lit display screen, and the same 12-week battery life. Both tablets run the same software. Still, if you don't own a Scribe at all and are considering getting one, the 2022 version is the most affordable option at the current price point—it's over 50% cheaper than the new 2025 model.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds
—
$199.00
(List Price $249.00)
Sony WH-1000XM5
—
$248.00
(List Price $399.99)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite)
—
$139.99
(List Price $219.99)
Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant
—
$329.00
(List Price $429.00)
Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 3-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core
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$74.99
(List Price $189.99)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
—
$29.99
(List Price $49.99)
Meta Quest 3 512GB Mixed Reality VR Headset with Controllers
—
$499.00
(List Price $499.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team