Hey man, I don't know what message you're trying to send by plastering extremely realistic-looking billionaire faces onto robot dogs — that's between you and your higher power, or lack thereof — but no thanks. I'm good, actually, thanks for offering.
I actually do not need to witness Elon Musk's smirking visage attached to a robot that then defecates AI-generated Polaroids to the audience. I've got errands to run.
Look at these damn things.
The exhibit at Art Basel Miami Beach is called “Regular Animals.” Created by digital designer and artist Mike Winkelmann, who goes by Beeple, it features robot dog versions of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso, according to Storyful.
“Regular Animals”, an art installation by Beeple 🤮 at Art Basel in Miami, features billionaire-faced robodogs that take photos of spectators & then “defecate” the so called “artistic impressions”, some of which link to NFTs. Printed “Excrement Samples” sell for $100k. Creepy af innit?
The art installation I'm referring to is called Regular Animals, located in Miami during Art Basel. It's a creation by Mike Winkelmann, aka Beeple, the artist who sold his NFT art for $69 million during the 2021 NFT boom.
The penned-up billionaire dogs include Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, as well as art-world figures like Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and Beeple himself. It's unnerving and weird to see the hyper-realistic faces wandering around on the picture-pooping dogs. Some folks might be tempted to draw some meaning from the installation. Not me, I've got laundry to do. No thanks.
SAVE $189: As of Dec. 6th, this Pre-Lit Dunhill Fir artificial Christmas tree is 66% percent off, coming in at $99. This is down from the National Tree Company’s list price of $289.99 on Amazon.
It's Dec. 6th, which means that Thanksgiving has come and gone, Black Friday and Cyber Monday spun in like the Tasmanian Devil and spun back out, and now we're more than one-fifth of the way through 25 days of Christmas. It's that time of the holiday season when many windows are filling up with the lights of beautifully decorated trees and/or menorahs. If you don't have a tree quite yet or if you've been on the fence, this weekend, the National Tree Company has a deal you might be interested in. The NTC has its Pre-Lit DunHill Fir artificial Christmas tree on sale for 66% off.
This particular Pre-Lit artificial tree measures 7.5 ft in height with a 55-inch diameter at its base. When it comes to being "Pre-Lit", that means that the tree is wrapped with lights before packaging, offering you a stress-free setup. The tree comes replete with 700 white light bulbs for sparkling holiday-season ambiance, on full-bodied branches designed to look as real as possible. The tree also features attached drop-down branches, allowing you to set it up quickly once you take it out of the box.
The instructions indicate that one should spend about 45-60 minutes fluffing and pulling apart the branches so they look extra real.
Google's Pixel watches are rolling out an improved always-on display.
Tech site 9to5Google spotted that with Wear OS 6, the Pixel Watch has added always-on capabilities for media controls (such as controlling your music) as well as the timer app. Previously, these sorts of tools would blur after a certain amount of time. Now, they remain on the screen, with the display having been slightly changed from its previous iteration.
That could mark a major improvement for people who use their watch to, say, time a workout or track what they're cooking. Mashable named the Google Pixel Watch 4 the best Android smartwatch of 2025 — so it's an improvement on an already good product. Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth wrote it was "elegant enough to wear to the office, but comfortable and smart enough to monitor workouts." Senior reporter Christianna Silva, meanwhile, wrote in their review that the "Pixel Watch 4 is a true runners' watch, and it's gorgeous too."
So now, if you're a serious runner doing sprints on a track, you won't need to fiddle with the display to check your times. That's a small change that could have a big impact.
Buying gifts for the special woman in your life can be tricky. What do you buy a person who has everything? What should you gift to someone who's picky about their products? Our advice is to curate a gift according to her interests and personality.
A gift for the lady in your life should be just that: A gift for her. Part of our bigger series on the Best Gifts For Everyone, we’ve put together this comprehensive list to guide you on your important mission. And if it happens to be a teen girl you're shopping for, then we have a list for that, too.
So whether she's a techie, runner, or pet owner, these are the best gifts for her.
Octopath Traveler 0 had every excuse to be half-assed. It could have been smaller, leaner, and less compelling than its predecessors, just by virtue of where it came from. It is a minor miracle that it’s none of those things.
The latest throwback-style turn-based RPG from Square Enix, in case you don’t know, is a $50 console and PC adaptation of a free-to-play mobile game from 2020. The developers took a bunch of existing characters, enemies, storylines, mechanics, and music, and reconstituted them into an entirely different and wholly welcome new format. Given that mobile games are inherently fleeting, as they rely on storefronts, servers, and payment processes that will cease to exist someday, I think this is kind of incredible.
It also helps that the end result is just a real, real good RPG. Octopath Traveler 0 takes a foundation that could’ve produced something awkward and rickety and turns it into a game that keeps expanding and becoming more compelling the more time you invest into it. It might not feel as premium as the other console games in the series, but that doesn’t stop Octopath Traveler 0 from being one of the best RPGs of 2025, and a worthy addition to what is quickly becoming a very good series.
Making your own dude is cool.Credit: Square Enix/Steam
Octopath Traveler 0 is different from the first two console entries in the series in a number of ways, largely owing to the fact that it’s reformed from components of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, a free-to-play phone spin-off. That means the very design fabric that made those first two games stand out is gone here.
Specifically, you no longer choose from one of eight pre-designed characters and spend the rest of your journey recruiting the other seven. That format produced games that felt more like short story collections than grand adventures, as each character had their own distinct arcs that largely didn’t involve the other characters. In Octopath 0, you instead create your own character, choose a starting class, and set off into the same prologue that every other player will see.
Soon enough, your humble hometown gets burnt down by some nefarious evildoers, and it’s up to you and a handful of other survivors to rebuild and seek revenge. There are several bespoke story arcs that rarely touch each other here, as in previous Octopath games, but they’re centered around heroes rather than villains. You can do them in whatever order you want, but you’ll have to do them all eventually.
Your party starts out small and gets much, much bigger later.Credit: Square Enix/Steam
Perhaps the biggest change, which comes directly from the mobile game, is that there are multiple dozens of playable party members in Octopath 0, as opposed to just eight in each of the previous two games. You don’t have to pay money to participate in slot machine pulls to unlock them anymore, as they’re now doled out at a reasonable pace over the course of the story, and many of them are optional to recruit.
Structurally, Octopath 0 is substantially more appealing to me than Champions of the Continent could ever hope to be. I don’t like free-to-play gacha games, but I like narrative RPGs. I think it is an act of near-genius to adapt a mobile game to a console game in the way the developers have here. While Octopath 0 feels different from its brethren, it rarely feels lesser than those other games. There are fewer combat animations for each character, to be sure, and it’s noticeable to fans of the other games that much of the music is reused. But Octopath 0 does not cut corners. This is, for all intents and purposes, a big, new, fully-featured RPG built using the bones of a mobile game. In a world where new games take forever to get made and budgets are ballooning, I can’t help but applaud this novel approach to filling the gap between 2023’s Octopath Traveler II and whatever comes next.
Octopath Traveler 0 takes a while to get going
You'll do plenty of this, at least for a while.Credit: Square Enix/Steam
As a non-full-priced game with such a strange origin story, it would be reasonable to expect a game with less going on than its higher-budget counterparts in the same series. That expectation could not be farther off the mark, though.
I’ll just state it bluntly: This game took me about 80 hours to finish. It’s a massive investment, and it’s an investment that requires a degree of patience. Many of the early first 20 hours or so are spent setting the table for what comes later. You will spend a lot of that time recruiting a full party and starting the process of rebuilding your hometown, which is done in a fairly substantial town-building minigame. There are essential, game-changing battle mechanics that are hidden behind building certain structures that don’t unlock until you hit that 20-hour mark, approximately.
Do not misunderstand me; I am not saying Octopath Traveler 0 takes 20 hours to get good. I am saying, however, that it saves its best for later. Like I said, it’s an investment, and I think it’s a rewarding one to make.
But once it starts rolling, it becomes unstoppable
Fights with a full party are thrilling.Credit: Square Enix/Steam
That reward takes a few different forms. One of them is excellent turn-based combat, which is some of the most fun in any game released this year.
Unlike previous Octopath games, in which you had four party members on screen at once, Octopath 0 lets you work with eight homies on the field at any given time. They’re arranged into a front row and back row. Those in the front can attack and take damage, while those in the back are guarded from hits and slowly recover resources with each passing turn. You can instantly switch between one character and another character who is in the same horizontal slot as them on the formation screen, and figuring out who plays second fiddle to whom is a huge part of build-crafting in this game.
This works exceptionally well with the main battle conceit of every Octopath game, which is the Boost system. At the start of each turn, every character earns one Boost Point, and they can hold up to five at a time. You can use as many as three in one turn to power up whatever you’re about to do, whether it’s a big attack or a healing spell. In previous games, you had to be a little stingy with Boost Points, but not here. Having a whole backup crew gradually building up points means you’re incentivized to use more of them more often, and the combat is balanced accordingly. It’s an exciting and different challenge from something like Octopath II.
Building up your hometown is plugged into your progression, as well. As I said earlier, you have to build certain structures and house them with certain recruitable NPCs to unlock many key features of the battle system. Building requires resources, but collecting them is generally painless as long as you’re observant and make sure to pick things up on the road. Perhaps a bit annoyingly, there are also important quality-of-life features like fast travel that are locked behind building and upgrading structures.
I do have one complaint about town-building, which is that you can essentially “finish” your town (that is, build every essential gameplay structure) halfway through the main story, at which point there’s no longer much need to think about it. I would have preferred more hooks for the endgame, but I suppose there’s also something to like about just focusing on exploring and fighting as the game winds towards its conclusion.
The story gets better later
This dude is the best character in the game.Credit: Square Enix/Steam
Speaking of which, the other main vector of satisfaction if you choose to invest your time in Octopath Traveler 0 is the narrative. This game is all about how greed is bad, and each villain represents a different kind of greed. Some want fame, some want wealth, some want power, but they all want, and that is where they end up harming those around them.
At first, it feels very heavy-handed and predictable. Stick with the story long enough, however, and you’ll find that the early predictability gives way to later twists that actually have weight to them. Octopath Traveler 0 is an exceptionally earnest game, never trying to trick or outsmart the player. It just wants you to care about this world and these people, and I think it does a fine job of extracting those feelings from the player by the time it’s done.
Part of that is a lengthy finale chapter, which amounts to maybe a quarter of the game by itself. This is where every other previously-disconnected storyline comes together, and all the characters you’ve met up to that point start interacting with each other for the first time. The game’s biggest narrative swings all happen in the finale, including a villain reveal for the ages. This is easily the best antagonist of any Octopath game, but to say any more would ruin the fun for you.
Just sit with it for a while
Before we’re done here, I’d be remiss not to mention that Square Enix’s “HD-2D” art style that started with the first Octopath game is still great here. I really dig the intentionally low-fidelity look of the sprites and 3D assets, combined with modern lighting and depth-of-field effects. It doesn’t really look like an old game, but it looks awesome, nonetheless. Yasunori Nishiki’s music is also a standout element of Octopath 0, as he has become one of the finest RPG composers working right now. One of the boss fight themes is such a smoking hot banger that I’ve been listening to it for a week straight in my free time.
Unfortunately, performance in the Nintendo Switch 2 version (which is what I played) isn’t great. It targets and comes close to hitting 60 frames per second most of the time, but there's a noticeable stutter that seems most prevalent during the first few seconds after entering a new area. Not unplayable by any means, but certainly a little disappointing.
Still, Octopath Traveler 0 is a remarkably long and generally worth-the-effort experience, especially for anyone who vibes with the other games in the series. This is the kind of game that you’d yearn for as a teenager on summer break with nothing else to do. You can sink into it for dozens of hours, and it just keeps getting better the more you play it, thanks to excellent combat and a story that finds its best self in its later stages.
I understand not everyone has time for that kind of thing in their adult lives, but if you can create a window in your life for Octopath Traveler 0, your patience will largely be rewarded.
Octobpath Traveler 0 is available for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5 for $49.99.
Christmas stocking stuffers have long been the afterthoughts of gift-giving, mere "Let's just get this out of the way" or "Oh no, I forgot again" presents. Think: tacky socks, bulk chocolate candy from the clearance aisle, and Chapstick. (And do not get us started on wh*skey st*nes.) Most of these last-minute gift ideas are just begging to be tossed in a junk drawer or the donation pile, never to see the light of day again. Granted, it's a fate they probably deserve.
That's a shame, because unpacking your stocking should be the perfect start to the happiest day of the year. So, we consulted our deep bench of shopping reporters, deal hunters, and product reviewers to gather the very best stocking stuffers of the season.
We've gathered our favorite tiny-but-impressive gift ideas that can work for everyone on your list. So, whether you're searching for stocking stuffer ideas under $25 or something fancier that will catch them by surprise on Christmas morning, we have more than 60 unique gifts to inspire you.
The QC Ultra (Gen 2) have category-leading noise cancellation. Bose upgraded its ANC algorithm and microphone system to be more dynamic and responsive to low-frequency sounds. These technologies adaptively remove about 95 percent of external fracas. Anything that comes through will sound like background effects on songs and movies. Aware mode (aka transparency) is just as rewarding for keeping tabs on surroundings. Another brand hallmark that remains undefeated is Immersive Audio. This feature creates amazing surround sound for all stereo content. It isn’t confined to any specific technology (*cough* Dolby Atmos cough) and is the most realistic sounding of all other spatial audio formats on headphones.
ANC on the WH-1000xM6 is right below the QC Ultra (Gen 2), which is a huge compliment. These headphones do a terrific job of eliminating most unwanted noises and minimizing high-frequency sounds. Transparency mode is superb for increasing ambient awareness. There are 20 adjustable levels to control the amount of noise you want to hear. Listening at max level captures every peep in your vicinity with precision. Still, we prefer the QC Ultra’s more powerful ANC since it eliminates high-frequency sounds better. We also favor Immersive Audio over Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. The latter is fine for watching movies, but it doesn’t sound as natural. Not to mention, 360 Reality Audio only works with a very limited number of streaming services, which also have limited content.
Sony has practicality and sound quality in the bag
Much like the WH-1000xM5, the Mark Series VI headphones have a versatile control scheme consisting of motion, physical, touch, and voice functions. All of them work exceptionally well. Voice controls are most impressive. Siri and Google Assistant commands are accurately registered and executed. Intelligible features like Speak-to-Chat are on point to automatically mute sound when detecting your voice. The QC Ultra (Gen 2) boast their own responsive control scheme, but they lack the WH-1000xM6’s smart voice functionality.
Audio performance is where the WH-1000xM6 shine brightest. Sony’s suite of proprietary technologies gives them unbeatable wireless sound. The 30mm drivers dish out detailed and dynamic audio. Frequencies are nicely balanced, and being able to tweak them via customizable EQ simplifies sound personalization. Our favorite Sony feature, DSEE, upscales clarity, depth, and fidelity on all tracks, no matter the file or streaming service. LDAC codec support boosts bitrate transmission on Android devices to reveal more depth and nuance in songs.
The QC Ultra (Gen 2) “pick up details well across the spectrum of lows to highs,” as described in our full review. You get an awesome mix of crisp mids and deep bass on contemporary tracks. Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive and Lossless codecs result in CD-like quality over Bluetooth (Android only). There’s an adjustable EQ in the Bose app. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near as advanced as Sony’s EQ. Again, Immersive Audio is magnificent for 3D sound, but the all-new Cinematic Mode is underwhelming; all it does is make background effects louder.
Researchers have discovered a large, orderly spiral galaxy that formed soon after the Big Bang, when space was only about 1.5 billion years old.
The galaxy, named Alaknanda, appears in observations made by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope as part of major sky surveys. Because the Milky Way lookalike is seen at an extreme distance, its light has traveled for more than 12 billion years to reach Earth. Only recently has telescope technology become powerful enough to spot galaxies with this level of detail from such an early time.
For decades, astronomers believed galaxies in the early universe were too turbulent to settle into neat spiral shapes. Young stars and gas were thought to move chaotically, producing irregular clumps instead of smooth disks and arms. Hubble Space Telescope observations supported this view, as spiral galaxies seemed more scarce beyond about 11 billion years in look-back time.
The discovery raises new questions about how such structures formed so early.
"Alaknanda reveals that the early universe was capable of far more rapid galaxy assembly than we anticipated," said Yogesh Wadadekar, the study's co-author, in a statement. "Somehow, this galaxy managed to pull together 10 billion solar masses of stars and organise them into a beautiful spiral disk in just a few hundred million years. That's extraordinarily fast by cosmic standards, and it compels astronomers to rethink how galaxies form."
Webb’s sharper vision has revealed many disk-shaped galaxies from the early universe, and now, a small but growing number of true spiral galaxies — including Alaknanda — far earlier than predicted by older models. The telescope found CEERS-2112 and REBELS-25, two spiral galaxies, in the early universe in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The discovery of Alaknanda, made by scientists at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India, has been published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
The research team was able to see immense detail in Alaknanda with the help of a natural phenomenon known as gravitational lensing.Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / I. Labbe / R. Bezanson / Alyssa Pagan / Rashi Jain / Yogesh Wadadekar
"The physical processes driving galaxy formation — gas accretion, disk settling, and possibly the development of spiral density waves — can operate far more efficiently than current models predict," said Rashi Jain, the lead author, in a statement. "It's forcing us to rethink our theoretical framework."
Alaknanda — named after the Himalayan river that is a twin headstream of the Ganga — spans roughly 32,000 light-years across, comparable to large modern spiral galaxies. It also contains a huge number of stars.
Images show that the galaxy already has a flat, rotating disk with two clear spiral arms with the classic pinwheel shape. These arms appear smooth and symmetrical, earning Alaknanda the label of a "grand-design" spiral galaxy, meaning it has defined arms rather than patchy or broken ones.
Along the spiral arms, scientists observed chains of bright clumps of newborn stars. These clumps look like a string of beads, marking areas where gas has collapsed into dense pockets that ignite new stars. In other views, each string appears as part of a larger spiral arm.
The research team was able to see immense detail in the distant galaxy with the help of a natural phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. A massive galaxy cluster's gravity acts like a giant magnifying glass in the sky, bending and enhancing the light of Alaknanda to appear twice as bright.
Observing Alaknanda across different wavelengths of light allowed scientists to estimate the age of the galaxy's stellar population and found the stars average only about 200 million years old.Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustration
To understand Alaknanda’s history, researchers compared its brightness across 21 different wavelengths of light, spanning ultraviolet to infrared. By matching those measurements to computer models of stellar populations, they estimated that the galaxy’s stars average only about 200 million years old. That means roughly half formed in a rapid burst after the universe was already more than 1 billion years old.
Alaknanda continues to grow quickly. It forms new stars at a rate equal to about 63 suns per year — dozens of times faster than the Milky Way does today. Certain colors of light shine brighter than expected because glowing gas around new stars gives off strong signals, confirming the galaxy’s intense star-forming activity.
Scientists still do not know how spiral arms formed so quickly in these ancient systems. Some theories suggest they arise from slow-moving density patterns inside disks, while others point to gravitational disturbances from nearby galaxies or large clumps of gas. Alaknanda even appears to have a small neighboring galaxy that could have helped trigger its spiral structure, but more evidence is needed to draw that conclusion.
Future observations using Webb’s instruments for measuring motions inside galaxies, along with radio telescopes, could map how Alaknanda’s stars and gas orbit its center. Those data could help determine whether its disk has settled into its final configuration or whether the spiral arms represent a mere phase in its development.
Sometimes a piece of art comes to you right when you need of it.
That's what "Hope N' Mic Night" was for me. The sixth episode of Bob's Burgers Season 15 aired on November 10, 2024. On its surface, it was a silly episode about the Belcher kids putting together an open mic night at the family's burger joint — because the school's talent show was cancelled for lack of talent. However, when fan favorite Marshmallow (now voiced by Jari Jones) got on the makeshift stage and sang a slowed-down version of "Seabird" while playing the guitar, the episode became about more than musical shenanigans and Tina's love of butts. It was a beacon of hope and reminder of the power of community when I needed both.
I picked the episode as one of the best of 2024. So, when Bob's Burgers creator Loren Bouchard joined me for a Say More interview, I knew I wanted to touch on this episode, and how it displays the cartoon show's evolution — and Marshmallow's too. In the virtual interview, Bouchard shared how the episode came about, and what it meant for Marshmallow.
How Marshmallow went from a one-joke line to a fan favorite on Bob's Burgers.
Originally voiced by David Herman, Marshmallow first appeared in Season 1's "Sheesh! Cab, Bob?" as an unexpected guest at Tina's birthday party. There, she made a grand entrance and delivered a solid punchline about how she got her name. ("'Cause if you show me a sweet potato pie, I am on top of it.") Since then, Marshmallow has popped up again and again, cracking Bob's back, supporting the kids' basement casino, and attending every party, from Tina's birthday, to the Bog to Beach parade, and that secret subterranean Christmas rave.
Fans loved her, but also they began to question the casting choice to have a white cis man provide a deep voice for character that's a trans Black woman. Ahead of Season 15, the role of Marshmallow was recast, bringing in Jones, who made her debut in "Hope N' Mic Night."
Bouchard spoke of Marshmallow's development over the seasons, saying, "I don't want to oversimplify and make it sound pat, but we're evolving. As somewhat oblivious cis white males, speaking for myself — we certainly have lots of not-cis-white males working on the show — but we're all evolving and learning. Marshmallow was never, ever intended to be mean [in terms of trans representation].... It was never like, 'Get it? That person is other and different and stupid' or whatever. It was always intended to be loving. But it was a short, sharp introduction of a character."
"Whatever was implied by Marshmallow's incredible life," Bouchard continued, "was not clear [at the start]. It was just a knockout entrance and a great line for how she got her name. And I loved that character. I loved that voice [by Herman] because I'm a dumbass, and I thought it was funny to hear a low voice. And, you know, that has to evolve as we learn and understand more about trans people and just the rich tapestry of human existence."
Alluding to fans' concerns over Marshmallow's original voice casting, he said, "I love that. When we were reminded about representation in casting in general, especially as it pertains to race, then we recast. And then I love that we then found Jari. Jari was the right person. It was so obvious. And then I could have conversations with Jari [about Marshmallow and her voice]... It was a such a reasonable thing to bring to my attention and to help me see that [the deep voice is] not what this character is about. And it's still going to be a funny character when we need it. You know, there's comedy. You don't need to have the low voice. That's not the joke."
As to why Bouchard thinks Marshmallow caught on with fans, he said, "When you add a character, you're theoretically not just adding the character who's gonna be 'funny.' You're adding a chemical reaction between one of your existing characters and this new character. So it's always the space between the characters. And in Marshmallow's case, Marshmallow was fantastic, but it was Bob's reaction to Marshmallow that made that work on the show."
As Bob puts it, she "comes and goes as she pleases, answers to no one, and is truly free."
Loren Bouchard on the real-world roots of "Hope N' Mic Night."
In this Season 15 episode, Louise, Tina, and Gene beg Bob and Linda to let them throw an open mic night. While the kids start promoting the idea around the Wharf, their parents learn how expensive and complicated the planning is for such an event. But before they can balk, Marshmallow stops by the restaurant to sign up. Marshmallow is the reason Bob carries on with the event. And that night, when a pesky fire marshal threatens to shut them down for being over capacity, it's Marshmallow's intervention that saves the show (again) — and the Belchers.
On open mic night, Bob's Burgers is packed, with lots of recurring characters performing kooky cover songs. Then, Marshmallow changes the tone of the episode by singing "Seabird" while playing guitar. She soulfully performs before her parents and her friends, and it's a rendition so beautiful I tear up thinking of it now.
Then, of course, the kids close out the night with a rousing song about butts. Because at its core, Bob's Burgers is always about learning to love yourself, as freaky or quirky as you are.
After confessing that this episode is a favorite of mine because of how it moves me, I asked Bouchard how the episode came about. He responded, "That one is near and dear to me as well. I wrote it with this sort of sandbox approach, like, 'Oh, won't it be fun to have an open mic night?' Like, we just get to have so many musical numbers, and we're going to license all these songs. It'll be our big spend for our music budget."
From there, Bouchard recalled the inspiration for "Hope N' Mic Night" — a humble open mic he attended on vacation with his family. "I had been to one over the summer at this little coffee shop in Cape Cod, and I just was so charmed — so fucking charmed — by these people, putting themselves out there and that urge," he said. "I'm sort of shy. I wish I were that guy who would get up and sing off-key at an open mic night, or this woman who played her flute to a backing track. I'm not even sure if she was possibly in the wrong key, but like, it was still so charming. I was excited to try and give that to Bob's and our kids, and then these side characters."
At this point in Season 15's development, Jones had been cast to take up the mantle of Marshmallow. Bouchard explained, "And it was one text to Jari Jones… We'd been looking for Marshmallow opportunities. And I said, 'Can you sing?' And she said, 'Yes.' And I was like, 'How would you like to do a cover of something?'"
Bouchard hadn't yet figured out what the song would be, but he knew it had to be a "big moment." He continued, "We started looking for the song, and that was another whole journey... We looked at a lot of stuff, but when we really were at the deadline, 'Seabird' emerged. It's been on my radar since I saw it in the end credits of Hunt for the Wilderpeople. And it blew me away.
"I didn't know if it was a current song, if it was an old song, which it turns out it is. I had never heard it before, and I just found it so charming. The Alessi Brothers, I had never heard of them. But then ['Seabird'] became part of regular rotation in my house, my wife and I singing it to the point where our kids wanted to actually ban it. They said we weren't allowed to play it anymore because we had, like, worn it out, I guess.
"Anyway, then it was like, 'Oh my God, yes.' 'Seabird' slowed down. Guitar and voice. Chris Maxwell, who's one of our composers, played that guitar lick. And I just love it so much. And Jari killed it, just crushed it. It was one of those vocal sessions where you're crying. You can't believe your luck that you get to record a performance like that. I think we did two takes. That's it. It was perfect."
At this point, I teared up recounting how this episode made me feel the hope that comes from community. Bouchard replied, "Me too. I mean, that's what it was intended to do. And then Marshmallow delivered, you know, just delivered as a character. Jari as a performer, Chris as a guitarist, that song, everything came together. And that's why we do this."
He concluded, "You live for those moments doing a show like this, when it all comes together like that. We've had a few of them and boy, oh boy, it means everything to hear you say that, because it's why we do this."
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It’s been a big couple of days for college football. Indeed, Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers this evening — played concurrently with Virginia vs. Duke — rounds off two days of conference championship action. But Ohio State vs. Indiana, the Big Ten Conference Championship Game, is the toughest game to call.
Ohio State and Indiana are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, and both teams are undefeated this season with a record of 12-0. This isn’t just a battle for the Big Ten title, it’s also a battle for the College Football Playoff's top seed.
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Ohio State are last year’s CFP champions and have a marginal edge. But whatever happens, it’s another can’t miss game.
If you want to watch Ohio State vs. Indiana for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Ohio State vs. Indiana?
Ohio State vs. Indiana takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 6. This game takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Ohio State vs. Indiana is broadcast on FOX.
How to watch college football in 2025/26
Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended platforms, some of which include free trials, allowing you to follow the action without actually spending anything.
Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you will find live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will cost you $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can also secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs just $19.99 per month, and you can also save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can kickoff with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, which we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to Fubo's Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV certainly isn't cheap, but it does offer plenty of bang for your buck. You'll have to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a wide range of benefits, but you will need to be careful when selecting your plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually want.
7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV gives you access to more than 100 live channels. That's a whole lotta content. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch Ohio State vs. Indiana from anywhere in the world
If you're outside the U.S. for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., allowing you to unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Ohio State vs. Indiana from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch Ohio State vs. Indiana from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free. That means 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (which includes a money-back guarantee).
5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months(save $99)
The conference championship action continues with today’s college football. And this one’s a particularly intriguing encounter, as the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide battle it out in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
The odds are in Georgia’s favour. At 11-1 overall this season, they sit third in the rankings. That means win or lose in this SEC Championship game, they’ll get an automatic bid to the College Football Playoffs. In other words, the pressure is somewhat off — though they still won’t want to lose this game.
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That said, Alabama has a strong record against Georgia and will do everything they can to secure a win here. A loss would almost certainly see Alabama miss out on the playoffs. And with major history between these programs, this promises to be an electric showdown. And don’t forget there’s more action later today with Virginia vs. Duke and Ohio State vs. Indiana.
If you want to watch Georgia vs. Alabama for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Georgia vs. Alabama?
Georgia vs. Alabama takes place at 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 6. This game takes place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Georgia vs. Alabama is broadcast on ABC.
How to watch college football in 2025/26
Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended platforms, some of which include free trials, allowing you to follow the action without actually spending anything.
Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you will find live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will cost you $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can also secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs just $19.99 per month, and you can also save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can kickoff with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, which we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to Fubo's Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV certainly isn't cheap, but it does offer plenty of bang for your buck. You'll have to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a wide range of benefits, but you will need to be careful when selecting your plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually want.
7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV gives you access to more than 100 live channels. That's a whole lotta content. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch Georgia vs. Alabama from anywhere in the world
If you're outside the U.S. for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., allowing you to unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Georgia vs. Alabama from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch Georgia vs. Alabama from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free. That means 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (which includes a money-back guarantee).
5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months(save $99)
The pressure is on the BYU Cougars as they face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in this week’s college football championship action.
Texas Tech look like the favorites to win this Big 12 Conference Championship Game, with an overall record of 11-1 and a five-match winning streak. They’re currently ranked at No. 4, which would mean an automatic bid for the College Football Playoffs if they can beat the Cougars at the AT&T Stadium. BYU are also 11-1 but their form isn’t quite as good thanks to a heavy loss to Texas Tech already this season. It’s up to BYU to defy expectations and beat Texas Tech to secure that automatic bid — otherwise they’ll likely miss out on the CFP.
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They’ll be looking to join fellow Power Four team Virginia Cavaliers in the CFP, should Virginia win their championship game against the Duke Blue Devils later today.
If you want to watch BYU vs. Texas Tech for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is BYU vs. Texas Tech?
BYU vs. Texas Tech takes place at 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 6. This game takes place at AT&T Stadium.
BYU vs. Texas Tech is broadcast on ABC.
How to watch college football in 2025/26
Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended platforms, some of which include free trials, allowing you to follow the action without actually spending anything.
Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you will find live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will cost you $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can also secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs just $19.99 per month, and you can also save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can kickoff with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, which we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to Fubo's Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV certainly isn't cheap, but it does offer plenty of bang for your buck. You'll have to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a wide range of benefits, but you will need to be careful when selecting your plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually want.
7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV gives you access to more than 100 live channels. That's a whole lotta content. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch BYU vs. Texas Tech from anywhere in the world
If you're outside the U.S. for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., allowing you to unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream BYU vs. Texas Tech from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch BYU vs. Texas Tech from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free. That means 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (which includes a money-back guarantee).
Not every laptop needs to be the latest, flashiest, top-spec machine on the market. Sometimes, what you really want is something that simply works — smoothly, quietly, and reliably — for the everyday tasks that make up most of your digital life.
That’s exactly where the like-new Apple MacBook Air with M1 chip shines. If your needs revolve around writing, email, streaming shows, video calls, browsing, light photo editing, office work, or remote meetings, this MacBook Air still feels incredibly capable.
It’s the ideal choice for anyone looking for a dependable everyday laptop, a secondary home computer, or a travel-friendly device they don’t have to stress over bringing on the go.
Powered by Apple’s M1 chip, this 2020 model marked a major leap forward in performance compared to older Intel-based MacBooks. The 8-core CPU powers through multitasking with ease, while the 8-core GPU delivers smooth visuals for creative apps and casual gaming.
The 13.3-inch Retina display offers sharp, vibrant visuals that make everything from spreadsheets to streaming look polished and crisp. Its fanless design keeps the laptop completely silent, even when you’re running multiple apps, and the SSD storage ensures quick load times and everyday performance.
Battery life is another strong suit, offering up to 18 hours on a single charge, meaning full workdays, long trips, or marathon study can go on smoothly.
This refurbished unit carries a Grade A rating, meaning it arrives in near-mint condition with minimal to no visible wear — a reassuring detail for anyone hesitant about going the refurbished route.
5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months(save $99)
College football promises major drama across the conference championship games this weekend. One to keep an eye on is Duke Blues Devils vs. Virginia Cavaliers for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.
This game guarantees a first-time ACC Championship Game winner no matter who wins. Neither program has won the Championship Game since it was introduced almost 20 years ago — but there's also a CFP automatic bid up for grabs if Virginia get the win. Virginia has already beaten Duke this season but don't count the Blue Devils out just yet — they're coming off a two-game winning streak.
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There's been a lot of talk around the implications for the ACC following yesterday's Sun Belt Championship contest. However it plays out, this is a game not to miss.
If you want to watch Duke vs. Virginia for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Duke vs. Virginia?
Duke vs. Virginia takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 6. This game takes place at the Bank of America Stadium.
Duke vs. Virginia is broadcast on ABC.
How to watch college football in 2025/26
Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.
Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.
7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch Duke vs. Virginia from anywhere in the world
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Duke vs. Virginia from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch Duke vs. Virginia from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
The need to render the nude form has dominated human expression for centuries. In Western art history, one of the oldest known interpretations of a naked body is the Venus of Willendorf, possibly dating back to around 24,000 BCE. Later, we saw the mosaic art of Narcissus, enamored by his own member in a second-century latrine. Centuries down the line, in the early Renaissance, Italy's obsession with nudes included Michelangelo's Davidand Manet's controversial Olympia, featuring a real woman and not a mythical figure.
As time moved onto Snapchatting genitals to a possible love interest you swiped right on, our fascination with the human body remains a constant drumbeat of society. It has also become more accessible, particularly over the last few decades, with the rise of smartphones and social media. As many as eight out of 10 adults share intimate content, including nudes, with each other, 2024 research shows.
We've collected the history of the nude, from sculpture to oil paintings, and from cam-chat to Snapchat. But more importantly, we're diving into why, through history, we're prepared to send nudes in whatever form we can.
The first nudes sent
Nudes are often not sent in isolation. Nowadays, at least, they're accompanied by an explicit text or as a result of an exchange on our phones or in person.
"People faced similar issues when sending nudes in the medieval period, because you would need someone to paint or draw you nude, which would be massively expensive," says Janega.
"Moreover, at the time nudes are, in general, formulaic. People expect a nude to look a particular way, reflecting an idealised form, rather than to be a theoretical 'realistic' portrayal of a person." This, likely being due to the nude form being interpreted as the imperfect and mortal form of humanity, a sentiment that has been felt through time, however not one equally felt across genders — with Ancient Greek sculptures and art more often than not featuring a nude male form, but not female — and if art did feature women, it was likely a depiction of a god and treated demurely, associated with shame rather than a heroic figure.
Nudes in the modern era
The "modern" sending of nudes, as in the conveying of a visual form of our own body, can date back around 200 years to American portrait artist Sarah Goodridge. As Goodridge worked on a commission for a new member of the United States House of Representatives, Daniel Webster, the two began exchanging romantic letters — some of which remain to this day.
In 1828, Goodridge painted her bare breasts surrounded by white cloth on a small canvas, only 2.6 by 3.1 inches. Intended for Webster's eyes only, as many miniature portraits were, it remained in his family until the 1980s. Little fanfare was made of the discovery of this piece after Webster's death, with scholars noting it was likely kept out of sight and off of inventories due to being deemed inappropriate for public viewing. Now, Goodridge's seemingly untitled work, now known as Beauty Revealed, is now owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Goodridge's private revolutionary act can now be seen as an innovative moment in human sexuality, experts note. By this point, society began to see, as Janega says, "a bunch of rich people with time on their hands who can paint, which means it is only a matter of time before they begin sending nudes as a form of flirtation. You cannot teach generations of people to paint artistic nudes and expect them to use these abilities solely for depicting the rape of Leda," referencing the famed myth of a Spartan queen assaulted by Zeus, King of Gods, bearing his twins.
Beyond this, taking part in the arts institutionally was restricted to men. For instance, the Royal Academy admitted its first woman, Laura Herford, in 1860, and only because her initials were submitted.
Self-portraiture allowed Goodridge to take control of her presentation of nudity, as it has enabled women to control their presentation to the world, and the narrative placed onto women and femininity. Like Goodridge's radical act, many artists have changed the way women are viewed through their artwork, which was celebrated by the National Portrait Gallery in London in a 2024 exhibition.
Goodridge's romantic gesture lives on, though it required significantly more time and effort to create than a photograph taken on a phone. Still, the importance of this moment can't be underestimated: a visual form of nude form was becoming more accessible than it had been before.
The photographed nude
With the innovation of photography in 1839, our approach to the nude form began to shift, with a pioneer of photography, Hippolyte Bayard, taking a naked self-portrait in 1840. As photography boomed, so did nudes.
Other 19th-century nude photography remains famed, including those taken by Nadar between 1860 and 1861, often used as studies for paintings. One of his models, Marie-Christine Leroux, went on to pose for many famed artists.
Later, after World War I, nude photography came into its own, with less imitation of paintings and sculptures and more stylized pieces, such as Edward Weston's Nude taken in 1936. Others used photography as a means of insight into hidden lives, such as in Diane Arbus' Retired man and his wife at home in a nudist camp one morning, N.J or to recapture idealized moments of youth, like in Larry Clark's Teenage Lust series, taken in the early 1970s.
Smart devices and the ability to instant message revolutionised our approach to sexuality, beginning the era of sexting and cam chats. Sending nudes and explicit messages may have spelled the death of previous forms of interaction. Namely, this means of the love letter, a loss Vogue lamented, along with phone calls, back in 2014, with many seeing the new digital frontier of sexuality as less romantic, and more explicit (not necessarily true, especially if we remember curse-laden love letters written by James Joyce), and intimidating.
When does art become pornography?
Galleries around the world host pieces showcasing the naked form — but at which point does this transform from being something considered worthy of value, of public importance, to something considered explicit?
"Boundaries between art and pornography have become increasingly blurred," says Freya Gowrley, art historian at the University of Bristol. She points to Pornhub's Classic Nude project, an interactive online experience, launched in 2021 when access to galleries was still limited. The exhibition offered a virtual tour of 30 famous nude artworks through history, from Paul Cézanne's Bathers to Gustave Courbet's L’Origine du Monde, with pornographic videos inspired by these pieces.
"Unsurprisingly, several of the big museums objected to their work being used in this context," Gowrley says, with some, like the Louvre, threatening legal action for unauthorised usage of these artworks. However, others noted that the use of various artworks is often left unchallenged, including on sites such as Etsy, which similarly offers a commercial benefit to the redistributor, indicating that moral concerns may have been the root of the concern.
The project also raised interesting questions about the line between art and porn, Gowrley says. "Why is Sarah Goodridge's 'selfie' painting any more artistic than something snapped on an iPhone, or produced in a studio?"
Gowrley compares these to artist Jeff Koons' Made in Heaven series in the late '80s, early '90s, depicting his naked form engaging in sexual acts with his then-wife Ilona Staller, famed for her work in pornography.
"Moving these images into the gallery space transformed them into art, but does that mean that they are no longer illicit images?" she says.
Why is Sarah Goodridge's "selfie" painting any more artistic than something snapped on an iPhone, or produced in a studio?
This question has also been the subject of online debate, following the establishment of FOSTA/SESTA in the U.S. in 2018. The laws, in theory, were meant to curb online sex trafficking, but in practice, large social media sites began deplatforming online sex workers. (Multiple studies show this made sex workersless safe.) Beyond that, artists, including erotic and LGBTQ artists, sometimes find themselves banned or shadowbanned (unable to be discovered) from platforms like Instagram, even though their posts are artistic and not pornographic. Then again, that line is different depending on who you ask.
Advancements in technology rapidly increased our access to the nude form — and sharing our own.
Why do we love to send nudes?
With smartphones, pretty much everyone with an internet connection has the ability to take, send, and receive nude photographs across various apps and platforms. Many people take advantage. Sending nudes on the gay hookup app Grindr, for instance, has become commonplace for queer men. There are even features baked in to protect photographs now, and blogs on Grindr's site referring to the app as a "digital dark room."
Meanwhile, intimate photos make the rounds on Reddit in various 'gone wild' subreddits, leading to other explicit exchanges. Research shows that people who perceive their own attractiveness are more likely to post nudes on Reddit, although they are unlikely to feel high self-esteem at the same time.
Another study shows that sending nude content often takes place in the context of committed relationships, as a form of expressing and experiencing sexual desires.
But why do we want to?
We send nudes "because it's basically a form of foreplay, that kind of is a sexual act in itself," says Gigi Engle, author of Kink Curious and resident kink and sex expert for sex-positive community JOYclub.
"I think we play sex on this hierarchy [that] penetrative sex is the most legitimate form, and that's just not really true. Sending sexy pictures is very titillating. It gets us excited."
"I think that sending nudes can be like writing a modern love letter; intimate, exciting, and affirming. But it only works if it's something you want to do, the other person wants to receive it, and both of you understand the risks," says Impola.
"People like to see those kinds of sexy pictures, that's why we're sending them up. I think there's also an element of people sending them in the heat of the moment without really thinking through some of the repercussions that could happen," Engle suggests.
The risks of digital intimacy
A 2022 survey shows that 80 percent of participants who have sent an intimate photo of themselves to another worry that it will be acquired by someone else, with 86 percent of men who have received an intimate photo saving it to their device, and 79 percent of women. The famed 2014 leak of celebrity nudes left a lasting legacy; our phones aren't as secure as we had been led to believe. (Mashable has a guide on safely storing nude images.)
Cyberflashing, a form of indecent exposure taking place digitally, became a crime in the UK in 2024. Despite this, many people have experienced receiving explicit images nonconsensually. YouGov research in the UK released last year revealed that 55 percent of women under-40 surveyed who can recall the first time they received an unsolicited sexual image say they were under 16 when this occurred.
Where are we now?
This year, the UK's age verification law, requiring proof of age to visit websites containing explicit content (and in some cases, non-explicit sites like YouTube) came into effect. Reactions have been mixed, as requiring verification can be seen as infringing upon privacy, or simply dodged with a VPN (or images from a video game).
Political divides are opening up between young men and women in the UK and U.S., and it's possible these changing attitudes could impact sexual behaviour in the digital landscape. It's hard to know what's to come next, but looking back over history? It's clear that we all find ourselves longing to be with, see, or interact with another.
Our digital lives are only expanding, so we'll likely be sending nudes for the foreseeable future, even if our attitudes toward it change.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
Have you noticed the moon looking a little smaller lately? That's because of where we are in the lunar cycle, a series of the moon's different phases. Right now, we're heading towards the New Moon. Keep reading to find out what this means.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Saturday, Dec. 6, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 96% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
If you're looking up with just your naked eye, there's lots to see, in particular the Oceanus Procellarum and the Kepler Crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to spy the Posidonius and Alphonsus craters, as well at the Grimaldi Basin. And with a telescope, you can catch a glimpse of the Apollo 11 and 12 landing spots and the Linne Crater.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.
What are moon phases?
NASA explains that the lunar cycle (which is about 29.5 days long) is made up of the Moon’s phases, which describe how the Moon looks from Earth as it travels around us. We view the same side of the Moon at all times, but the sunlight hitting its surface shifts as it moves through its orbit. That changing illumination is what makes the Moon appear full, half-lit, or not visible at all. The cycle includes eight distinct phases:
New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love animated films.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #909 is...
What is the answer to Connections today
Norm: AVERAGE, MEAN, PAR, STANDARD
Mollify: COOL, MODERATE, SETTLE, TEMPER
Member of a titular group in an animation franchise: CAR, INCREDIBLE, MINION, MONSTER
Starting with herpetofauna: ADDERALL, MONITORSHIP, NEWTON, TOADY
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love fantasy books.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play Pips
If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
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