Can I Wear a Sheath Dress Without Looking Like a MAGA Woman?
Can I Wear a Sheath Dress Without Looking Like a MAGA Woman?
My style can be described as modern minimalist meets classic. I own several sheath dresses that fit and flatter, but when I put them on now, they echo what I see as MAGA style. How can I restyle them without sacrificing my aesthetic? — Miriam, Whidbey Island, Wash.
There is a very specific look associated with women who subscribe to the Trump worldview, one that is sort of a cross between a Fox newscaster and Miss Universe. It generally involves flowing tresses that are at least shoulder length, false eyelashes, plumped-up cheeks and lips, high heels and, as you say, a sheath dress. The effect underscores an almost cartoonish femininity that speaks to a relatively old-fashioned gender stereotype; the counterpart to this woman is the square-jawed, besuited guy with a side part.
Simply consider the women of the Trump family, who embody the standard: Melania, Ivanka, Lara and Tiffany, as well as Don Jr.’s new girlfriend, Bettina Anderson, and his former fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle. Also Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, and the former Trump defense lawyer Alina Habba. Indeed, I think one reason people are so fascinated by Usha Vance is that, with her willingness to let her hair go gray and her seeming aversion to makeup, she has become the exception that proves the rule.
In any case, the Trump-approved lady look has stayed so consistent that it has effectively infiltrated everyone’s cerebellum, and we now have an almost Pavlovian reaction to seeing anyone with flowing hair and false eyelashes and lip plumper in a sheath dress.
But here’s the thing: Of all the visual cues on that list, the sheath dress is the least important.
The look of Trump world is increasingly about the beauty choices, more than the clothes. You can see this with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who favors pantsuits, and the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who seems to vacillate between suits and sheath dresses. No matter what they wear, however, they are never anything but a Trump woman, even before they get to policy. There is actually a name for how they look: “Mar-a-Lago face,” after the Trump golf club that is home to so many of those sporting the look. Which also involves “conservative girl makeup.”
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Can I Wear a Sheath Dress Without Looking Like a MAGA Woman?
Can I Wear a Sheath Dress Without Looking Like a MAGA Woman?
My style can be described as modern minimalist meets classic. I own several sheath dresses that fit and flatter, but when I put them on now, they echo what I see as MAGA style. How can I restyle them without sacrificing my aesthetic? — Miriam, Whidbey Island, Wash.
There is a very specific look associated with women who subscribe to the Trump worldview, one that is sort of a cross between a Fox newscaster and Miss Universe. It generally involves flowing tresses that are at least shoulder length, false eyelashes, plumped-up cheeks and lips, high heels and, as you say, a sheath dress. The effect underscores an almost cartoonish femininity that speaks to a relatively old-fashioned gender stereotype; the counterpart to this woman is the square-jawed, besuited guy with a side part.
Simply consider the women of the Trump family, who embody the standard: Melania, Ivanka, Lara and Tiffany, as well as Don Jr.’s new girlfriend, Bettina Anderson, and his former fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle. Also Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, and the former Trump defense lawyer Alina Habba. Indeed, I think one reason people are so fascinated by Usha Vance is that, with her willingness to let her hair go gray and her seeming aversion to makeup, she has become the exception that proves the rule.
In any case, the Trump-approved lady look has stayed so consistent that it has effectively infiltrated everyone’s cerebellum, and we now have an almost Pavlovian reaction to seeing anyone with flowing hair and false eyelashes and lip plumper in a sheath dress.
But here’s the thing: Of all the visual cues on that list, the sheath dress is the least important.
The look of Trump world is increasingly about the beauty choices, more than the clothes. You can see this with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who favors pantsuits, and the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who seems to vacillate between suits and sheath dresses. No matter what they wear, however, they are never anything but a Trump woman, even before they get to policy. There is actually a name for how they look: “Mar-a-Lago face,” after the Trump golf club that is home to so many of those sporting the look. Which also involves “conservative girl makeup.”
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#Wear #Sheath #Dress #MAGA #Woman
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Dow gains 1,000 points, while S&P 500, Nasdaq surge as US-China deal spurs a rush into stocks
Dow gains 1,000 points, while S&P 500, Nasdaq surge as US-China deal spurs a rush into stocks
Investors worldwide are assessing the US-China deal to reduce their hefty rates of reciprocal tariffs, slashed by 115 percentage points to 10% on both sides.
Aaron Hill, FP Markets’ chief analyst
This “marks a pivotal moment in global trade dynamics. However, the 90-day timeframe indicates these tariff cuts are a negotiation tactic rather than a permanent resolution, creating uncertainty about long-term trade policies.”
Kenneth Broux, Societe Generale senior FX and rates strategist
“There is a de-escalation between China and U.S. resulting in a reduction of tariff on ******** goods to 30% and ******** tariffs on US goods to 10%. It’s a clear vote by the market in favour of riskier assets. It’s a step in the right direction and a positive of U.S. assets and U.S. economy.”
Jane Foley, Rabobank head of FX strategy
“That doesn’t mean that we’re back to where we were before the Trump inauguration, the 10% baseline tariff still exists everywhere, the 90 pause is there and the clock is starting to tick. The overall scenario is not as bad as it could have been, but we still have a fair amount of uncertainty about where these tariffs will settle, their impact on world growth and central bank policy.”
Read more from Reuters here.
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Trump says he could go to Turkey to join Russia, Ukraine – Reuters
Trump says he could go to Turkey to join Russia, Ukraine – Reuters
Trump says he could go to Turkey to join Russia, Ukraine ReutersTrump Says He Could Join Putin and Zelensky for Peace Talks Thursday in Turkey NewsweekTrump suggests he could join Putin and Zelenskyy for Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey on Thursday – as it happened The GuardianTrump floats traveling to Turkey this week for Russia-Ukraine peace talks PoliticoTrump to Turkey? President mulls joining Russia-Ukraine peace talks, expects ceasefire USA Today
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Rachael Blackmore: How pioneering Grand National-winning jockey changed horse racing
Rachael Blackmore: How pioneering Grand National-winning jockey changed horse racing
While Blackmore has not outlined the reasons for her retirement, Walsh and Carberry stopped at similar ages before starting families.
They ended their careers with winners at Ireland’s showpiece Punchestown Festival and maybe Blackmore intended to do the same, but she unusually ended the recent meeting without a victory.
She suffered a bad neck injury in a fall earlier this season and only returned to action in December after three months out.
Blackmore took success for women to another level, competing for a historic Irish champion jockey title before twice finishing runner-up to Paul Townend.
Her achievements transcended racing. Victory in the National, watched by an estimated 500 million people worldwide, made headlines around the globe, and she was voted World Sport Star at the 2021 BBC Sports Personality awards.
“The support has been incredible. I got such a kick out of being on that list of nominees,” she said.
Those nominees included tennis star Novak Djokovic, boxing great Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and American football quarterback Tom Brady.
Blackmore, whose partner Brian Hayes is also a jockey, did not revel in the limelight – she preferred to get on with the business of riding winners – but spoke thoughtfully when interviewed.
De Bromhead said she was a great support after his 13-year-old son Jack died in a riding accident in September 2022.
The pair’s victory with Honeysuckle in the horse’s swansong in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2023 sparked jubilant and emotional scenes.
Spectators grabbed every vantage point to cheer the winner into the paddock. The roars were for the trainer and horse, but the rider too. Just mention the name ‘Rachael’ at the races, and everyone knew who you meant.
With Honeysuckle in the winner’s enclosure, a rainbow appeared on the horizon.
“We all wish a very special kid could be here today but he’s watching down on us,” said Blackmore.
Her partnership with Honeysuckle was a great match. Seventeen wins from 19 races, including four at the Cheltenham Festival. All with the same jockey on board.
Blackmore will be remembered for a series of firsts, and potentially paving the way for others.
“Ah, look, it’s brilliant, but I won’t be the last. I’m delighted for myself anyway,” she said after winning the National.
“I just hope it shows it doesn’t matter, male or female. Plenty of people have gone before me and done that – Katie Walsh was third here on Seabass. All those things help girls coming along, but I don’t think it’s a major talking point any more.”
When Blackmore won the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard, she earned praise from the Cheltenham Festival’s all-time leading rider Ruby Walsh.
“She’s inspiring kids everywhere. It’s incredible the interest she’s driving in the sport. You need role models like that for the sport and the industry, she’s box office,” he said.
While the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign, launched 10 years ago, encouraged more women to be active, Rachael Blackmore wanted to realise a dream of being at the summit of her sport. This girl did.
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Israeli-American hostage released by ****** in ‘good faith’ gesture – National
Israeli-American hostage released by ****** in ‘good faith’ gesture – National
An Israeli-American soldier held hostage for more than 19 months in the Gaza Strip was released Monday by ****** in a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel.
The Israeli military confirmed that 21-year-old ***** Alexander was turned over to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces, and had crossed into Israeli territory.
Wearing shirts emblazoned with his name, Alexander’s extended family gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the release. They cheered and chanted his name when the military said he was free. His grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, beamed. In Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, hundreds of people broke out into cheers.
In Alexander’s hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, hundreds of supporters packed the streets, holding signs with his image and listening to speakers blasting Israeli music. As they watched the news of his release on a large screen, the crowd hugged and waved Israeli flags. Since he was taken hostage, supporters there gathered every Friday to march for the hostages’ release.
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Alexander was 19 when he was taken from his military base in southern Israel during ******’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which set off the war in Gaza. His release was the first since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with ****** in March, unleashing fierce strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds.
Israel has promised to intensify its offensive, including by seizing the territory and displacing much of its population again. Days before the ceasefire ended, Israel blocked all imports from entering the ************ enclave, deepening a humanitarian crisis and sparking warnings about the risk of famine if the blockade isn’t lifted. Israel says the steps are meant to pressure ****** to accept a ceasefire agreement on Israel’s terms.
1:42
Israel approves plan to occupy Gaza indefinitely
Israel says 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about 23 of them said to be alive. Many of the 250 hostages taken by ******-led militants in the 2023 attack were freed in ceasefire deals.
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Television footage showed Alexander’s mother, Yael Alexander, arriving at the Reim military base in southern Israel, where her son was expected to be taken first.
Trump calls expected release ‘hopefully’ a step toward ending war
****** on Sunday announced its intention to release Alexander, shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to arrive Tuesday in the Middle East on the first official foreign trip of his second term.
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Trump on Sunday called the planned release “a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”
“Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!” Trump said on social media.
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Trump, who is traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, is not scheduled to stop in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday with the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff and the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and discussed efforts to release the remaining hostages, his office said.
“To this end, Prime Minister Netanyahu directed that a negotiations team leave for Doha tomorrow,” the prime minister’s office said, adding that Netanyahu had “made it clear that the negotiations would only take place under fire.”
1:53
Strikes across Gaza kill at least 92 people as Israel prepares to ramp up offensive
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing relatives of hostages, welcomed the news that an Israeli delegation was headed to Doha for talks.
“While ***** Alexander’s release gives us hope, all 58 of our loved ones must come home. Time is running out. These negotiations must bring everyone back,” the group said in a statement. “Trump’s plan offers a real path to freeing all hostages immediately. Every passing day puts their lives at greater risk. We cannot wait any longer.”
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Israel says it still plans to escalate its offensive
On Monday, a statement from Netanyahu’s office said Israel was not granting any concessions for Alexander’s release.
The statement said Israel did not commit to a ceasefire or the freeing of ************ prisoners as part of the release and that it had only agreed to create a “safe corridor” to allow for Alexander to be returned.
The statement said Israel would carry on with plans to ramp up its offensive in Gaza. Israel says it won’t launch that plan until after Trump’s visit to the Middle East, to allow for a potential new ceasefire deal to emerge.
A statement by the office on Sunday said the U.S. had told Israel that Alexander’s release could lead to a new deal with ****** to free more hostages.
2:53
Thousands protest in Israel after Netanyahu’s order to resume fighting in Gaza
Netanyahu faces criticism for not freeing all hostages
Israel’s involvement in Alexander’s expected release wasn’t immediately clear. But it created a backlash against Netanyahu, with critics accusing him of having to rely on a foreign leader to help free the remaining hostages.
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At the opening of his trial for alleged corruption, where he is giving testimony, a woman in the courtroom asked whether he was “ashamed that the president of the United States is saving his citizens, and he is leaving them to die there in captivity.”
Critics assert that Netanyahu’s insistence on keeping up the war in Gaza is politically motivated. Netanyahu says he aims to achieve Israel’s goals of freeing the hostages and dismantling ******.
******-led militants killed 1,200 people in the 2023 attack. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants or civilians.
Israel’s offensive has obliterated vast swaths of Gaza’s urban landscape and displaced 90% of the population, often multiple times.
Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
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Best Moments on Country: Photo exhibition celebrates culture and community for National Reconciliation Week
Best Moments on Country: Photo exhibition celebrates culture and community for National Reconciliation Week
A powerful new exhibition titled Best Moments on Country has opened at the Museum of Geraldton, showcasing cultural pride and community creativity through stunning photography.
Featuring 40 standout images from local photographers, the exhibition highlights meaningful moments on Country, capturing the connection to land, culture, and identity.
The display is part of National Reconciliation Week, commemorated from May 27 to June 3, with this year’s theme being Bridging Now to Next.
City of Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune praised the quality of all submissions.
“This photographic display is a fantastic depiction of our local culture through the lens of our community members,” he said.
“We received nearly 100 submissions which celebrate the uniqueness of our land and people, and it’s great to see the creativity of our photographers shine through.
“Reconciliation is extremely important and we’re proud to welcome this event as part of National Reconciliation Week.”
The exhibition opened on Friday May 9 and will be on display until Monday June 9.
First and second place will be chosen by a judging panel, with winners to be announced by the city’s social media throughout National Reconciliation Week.
Also celebrating local voices is the Geraldton Regional Library, who will host a poetry display by author Nola Gregory from May 21 to June 4.
A full calendar of National Reconciliation Week events is available on the city’s website.
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***** Alexander, Last American Hostage FREED after 583 days, ******: ‘Goodwill Gesture’ to Trump
***** Alexander, Last American Hostage FREED after 583 days, ******: ‘Goodwill Gesture’ to Trump
It’s a homecoming more than a year and a half in the making as the final living American hostage held by ****** is released. The terrorist group releasing American-Israeli soldier ***** Alexander on Monday after 583 days in captivity. The 21-year-old New Jersey native was taken from his military base in Israel during ******’ attack on October 7, 2023. Read More: Follow The Hill on Instagram and X @thehill
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Expect China to help Trump on fentanyl, TikTok, midterm elections: Evercore ISI
Expect China to help Trump on fentanyl, TikTok, midterm elections: Evercore ISI
U.S. President Donald Trump could have the upper hand in subsequent trade talks with China as the nations hammer out further negotiations, according to Neo Wang, lead China economist and strategist at Evercore ISI. The U.S. negotiated a long-awaited deal this weekend with China, resulting in both trade partners suspending most tariffs on each other’s goods. The trade agreement negotiated after key representatives from both sides met in Switzerland over the weekend entails that total U.S. tariffs on China stand at 30%, while Beijing’s duties on U.S. imports are at 10%. Both parties said in a statement on Monday they would suspend 24% of additional ad-valorem tariffs, or taxes on the value of imported goods, from the other country for an initial ******* of 90 days. “U.S.-China joint statement was a positive surprise and win-win outcome,” Wang said in a Monday note to clients. “Beijing’s hardball may have borne fruit, especially the export control on rare-earths, and/or Trump couldn’t endure the self-inflicted economic pain.” Both the U.S. and China could be back at the negotiation table again soon to hash out further details, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “I would imagine in the next few weeks we will be meeting again to get rolling on a more fulsome agreement,” Bessent said Monday on CNBC’s ” Squawk Box .” Such upcoming talks would be high stakes for Beijing, Evercore’s Wang said. That’s because China has more to lose by comparison if the 24% pause expires, he said. The strategist pointed to pressure tied to China’s upcoming Politburo meeting and concessions the U.S. will seek out from Beijing. ******** policymakers last month already promised to ease monetary policy and ramp up support for firms and employees amid trade war escalations. “To make the 24% suspension permanent, a trade deal is likely needed,” Wang said. “We expect Beijing to please Trump in a way that benefits the Republican party in midterm election, whether via purchases or investment.” A possibility of no trade deal would particularly increase the urgency for Beijing to resolve the U.S.′ 20% duties on ******** imports related to fentanyl , as well as raise the stakes for concessions related to TikTok, the latter of which is Trump’s “real target,” Wang said. Trump in April extended a deadline that would have required China-based ByteDance to sell the U.S. operations of TikTok or face an effective ban in the U.S., as required by a national security law signed by former President Joe Biden in April 2024 . This extension moves the deadline to mid-June. Trump said in a Truth Social post last month that the TikTok deal “proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security! We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark.'”
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Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad review: it may be costly but it’s also darned frosty
Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad review: it may be costly but it’s also darned frosty
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad review
The Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad is a premium laptop cooling pad. Its huge 5.5-inch (140mm) fan is capable of spinning at up to dizzying 2,800rpm, meaning it should be perfect for chilling your CPU during heavy workloads. Cheap it certainly isn’t, though: costing a cool $119.99 / £129.99 (around AU$190), it’s an expensive cooling pad.
However, in return for this princely sum, you get some glacial cooling. I ran a 3DMark Stress Test using our Acer Predator Helios 300 testing laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. Before the test, the laptop’s ambient temperature sat at 82F / 28C; after running the stress test for 15 minutes with the Llano in place at 2800rpm, the laptop had warmed to only 97F / 36C. That 15F / 8C rise is one of the most impressive results I’ve seen in my time testing laptop cooling pads, and should definitely mean that your laptop will be remain nice and frosty during long gaming sessions.
So, on the plus side, the Llano is more frigid than a blizzard; the downside is it sounds like one, too, with its fans kicking out some gale-force noise. Ten minutes into my benchmarking tests, I used a noise level meter to gauge the sound kicked out by the laptop and the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad set to maximum – it recorded 64dB from head height and 79dB from only a few inches away. This is much louder than many of the best laptop cooling pads, and, according to the Center for Hearing and Communication, it’s roughly the same volume as a small blender, so you likely won’t be popular using this in an office environment.
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Overall, the design of the Llano is tastefully done – there are no aggressively sharp angles of the type often seen on gaming accessories, and the RGB lighting is restricted to a single, modest bar around the cooling pad’s edge; there are four lighting modes you can cycle through. Note that I did find the power cable a little on the short side: my power socket is just to the left of my desk, but the cable plugs in on the right-hand side of the device, which was more of a stretch.
Ergonomically, the Llano Cooling Pad is well thought-out, too: its slope ensure wrists are held at the perfect angle, and its three different height settings should make it easy for you to find the optimum slope for your needs. Be aware that the laptop rests do come very close to sitting exactly where you’ll want to lay your wrists, though – I’m not sure why so many brands think right below the WASD keys is the perfect place for a jutting piece of plastic; but it’s a common problem with laptop cooling pads.
Despite this, the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad is a fantastic piece of kit, capable of delivering pretty extreme cooling – and looking good while it does it. Yes, it sounds like an idling jet engine, and getting such performance will cost you a pretty penny. However, it will do an astounding job of keeping your laptop cool during demanding tasks, so if you have the money spare, you really can’t go wrong with it.
(Image credit: Future)
llano V12 RGB Laptop Cooling Pad with Turbofan 2023 (******) at Amazon for $119.99
Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad review: price & availability
Released July 30, 2023
List price of $119.99 / £129.99 (around AU$190)
Originally released on July 30, 2023, the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad retails for $119.99 / £129.99 (around AU$190) on Amazon. However, it’s occasionally available for less: at the time of writing, it was reduced to $92.79 in the US – its lowest ever price. It also dropped down to £103.99 in October in the ***, so it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for potential discounts.
At its full price, the Llano definitely comes in at the premium end of the market, dwarfing the price of affordable cooling pads such as the $19.99 / £20.99 Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad. But on the flip side, it offers far better cooling – some budget options saw our testing laptop temperatures rise by over 68F / 20C, while it was just 46F / 8C with the Llano. For high-intensity gaming or creative work, you may well find that extra spend is well worth it.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
(Image credit: Future)
Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider
How I tested the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad
Tested the cooling pad over several days
Measured the device’s cooling during a stress test on a gaming laptop
Used a sound level meter to assess how much noise it made
When testing the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad, I ran it through TechRadar’s standard benchmarking tests. First, I used a thermal camera to record the temperature of the hottest point of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop as a baseline. I then ran a 3DMark Stress Test for 15 minutes with the Llano dialled up to its maximum cooling, before recording its new temperature.
I also used a sound level meter to check how much noise the device kicks out while running. Once our stress test had been underway for 10 minutes, I checked the volume of the combined noise of the laptop and cooling pad from a few inches away and from head height. I then compared this to the noise generated by the laptop’s fans alone, when it wasn’t being cooled.
On top of all of this benchmarking data, I made sure I got plenty of experience using the laptop cooler, to assess factors such as comfort, stability and ergonomics. Here I was helped by many years of experience reviewing gadgets and several decades spent gaming on laptops.
llano V12 RGB Laptop Cooling Pad with Turbofan 2023: Price Comparison
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Defaulted student loan borrowers and wage garnishment: What to know
Defaulted student loan borrowers and wage garnishment: What to know
U.S. President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter during a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik | Getty Images
Why are borrowers now at risk of wage garnishment?
How much of my wages can the government take?
The U.S. Department of Education can garnish up to 15% of your disposable, or after-tax, pay, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.
By law, you must be left with at least 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage ($7.25) a week, which is $217.50, Kantrowitz said.
When could the wage garnishments start?
The Treasury Department will send notices to 5.3 million defaulted borrowers about the collection activity of their wages “later this summer,” the Education Department wrote in a recent press release.
As soon as June, the Trump administration says it will begin seizing portions of defaulted student loan borrowers’ federal benefits when applicable, including their Social Security retirement checks. (Social Security recipients can typically see up to 15% of their monthly benefit reduced to pay back their defaulted student debt, but beneficiaries need to be left with at least $750 a month.)
What if I’m self-employed, or a gig worker?
It is more difficult for the federal government to garnish the wages of someone who receives 1099 income, Kantrowitz said.
“If there is no employer, wage garnishment can’t happen,” he said.
Can I challenge the wage garnishment?
Yes.
Borrowers in default will receive a 30-day notice before their wages are garnished, a spokesperson for the Education Department told CNBC.
During that *******, you should have the option to have a hearing before an administrative law judge, Kantrowitz said. The Education Department notice is supposed to include information on how you request that, he said.
Your wages may be protected if you’ve recently been unemployed, or if you’ve recently filed for bankruptcy, Kantrowitz said.
Borrowers can also challenge the wage garnishment if it will result in financial hardship, he added.
What should I tell my employer?
Most employers will already be familiar with the wage garnishment process, Kantrowitz said, “since this occurs for a variety of reasons, such as child support, alimony and unpaid taxes — not just student loans.”
Your boss is not allowed to terminate you because of the wage garnishment, Kantrowitz said.
How do I get out of default?
You can contact the government’s Default Resolution Group and pursue a number of different avenues to get current on your loans, including enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan or signing up for loan rehabilitation.
Some borrowers may also be eligible for deferments or a forbearance, which are different ways to pause your payments, said Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York, in an earlier interview with CNBC.
“We’re advising clients to request a retroactive forbearance to cover missed payments, and a temporary forbearance until they can get enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan,” she said.
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House GOP propose more modest Medicaid cuts than conservatives wanted – The Washington Post
House GOP propose more modest Medicaid cuts than conservatives wanted – The Washington Post
House GOP propose more modest Medicaid cuts than conservatives wanted The Washington PostHouse Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care AP NewsHawley Urges Republicans Not to Cut Medicaid as House Debates Reductions The New York TimesHouse GOP Medicaid proposal sets work requirements and a showdown with fiscal hawks USA TodayCBO: House GOP plan exceeds $880B savings target The Hill
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Scepticism and cautious hope as PKK takes historic step to disband
Scepticism and cautious hope as PKK takes historic step to disband
Orla Guerin
Senior international correspondent
Reuters
Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK, called on the group to disarm in February.
After 40 years, with 40,000 people killed, and without securing a Kurdish homeland, the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, is ending its war against the Turkish state.
This signals the end of one of the longest conflicts in the world – a historic moment for Turkey, its Kurdish *********, and neighbouring countries into which the conflict has spilled over.
A spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party said it was an important step towards a country free of terror.
But what will the PKK get for disarming and disbanding? So far the government has made no promises – publicly at least.
Sheltering inside a tea shop from a sudden violent hail storm that battered the ancient city of Diyabakir, Necmettin Bilmez, 65, a driver, was sceptical about what might follow.
“They [the government] have been tricking us for thousands of years,” he said.
“When I get an ID card in my pocket saying I am Kurdish, I will believe everything will be solved. Otherwise, I don’t believe in this.”
Sitting nearby on a small woven stool, Mehmet, Ek, 80, had a different view.
“This has come late,” he said.
“I wish it had happened ten years ago. But still anyone from any side who will stop this bloodshed, I salute them,” he said, tipping the top of his flat cap.
“This conflict is brother on brother. The one who dies in the mountains [PKK] is ours and the soldier [from the government] is ours.
“We are all losing, Turks and Kurds.”
He wants an amnesty for PKK fighters – like many here – and the release of jailed Kurdish politicians.
“If all that happens it will be a beautiful peace,” he said.
In this majority Kurdish city in south-eastern Turkey – the de facto Kurdish capital – we found a muted response to PKK’s announcement.
The city has been scarred and reshaped by the conflict.
Turkish forces and the PKK battled in the heart of Diyarbakir in 2015. You can still see the rubble of buildings flattened by the Turkish army.
Many local people told us they welcomed peace, or the idea of it, and wanted no more deaths – Turkish or Kurdish.
“No one has achieved anything,” said Ibrahim Nazlican, 63, drinking tea in the shade of the towering city walls, which have guarded Diyarbakir since Roman times.
“There is nothing but harm and loss, on this side and on that side. There are no winners.”
The conflict has ranged from the mountains of northern Iraq – which became PKK headquarters in recent years – to Turkey’s biggest cities.
Outside an Istanbul football stadium in 2016, a PKK affiliate carried out a double bombing killing 38 police officers and 8 civilians. Many Kurds and Turks are hoping this is the end of a dark chapter, which has claimed 40,000 lives
Getty Images
Some have called for the release of PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan who is currently imprisoned on an island off of Istanbul.
The PKK decision lay down its arms followed a call in February by its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who said there was “no alternative to democracy”.
For now, the 76-year-old remains in his cell in an island prison off of Istanbul, where he has been held since 1999.
To his supporters, he remains a heroic figure who has put their cause on a global agenda. They want him released.
Menice, 47, is among them. She insisted his release was the key to a new dawn for the Kurds, who account for up to 20% of the Turkish population.
“We want peace, but if our leader is not free, we will never be free,” she said.
“If he is free, we will all be free and the Kurdish problem will be solved.”
BBC/Ozgur Arslan
Menice lost her eldest son during a Turkish airstrike after he joined the PKK.
She is surrounded by family photos of loved ones who have died fighting for the PKK – which is classed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the ***, the US and the EU.
She has lost five relatives including her brother and her oldest son Zindan.
He joined the PKK at 17, and was dead at 25, killed in a Turkish airstrike three years ago.
Menice’s eyes fill with tears as she tells us how he used to help her with the housework.
His path may have been mapped out from birth.
“We named him Zindan [meaning cell] because his father was in prison when he was born,” she told us.
One large photograph hangs on the wall shows Zindan alongside his brother, Berxwendan, who followed his footsteps “up the mountain” to the PKK, when he reached the age of 17.
Berxwenden is now 23. His mother did not know if he was alive or dead until he sent his family a photo of himself during Ramadan in March.
Menice is hoping her surviving son may now come back.
“I hope Berxwendan and his friends will come home. As a mother, I want peace. Let there be no killings. Hasn’t there been enough suffering for everyone?”
But does she believe that there can be peace between Turkey and the Kurds?
“I believe in us, in Ocalan, and our nation [the Kurds],” she said firmly.
“The enemy [the Turkish authorities] has forced us not to believe in them.”
However, pro-Kurdish political parties have some leverage.
Erdogan needs their support to enable him to run for a third term as president in elections due in 2028.
For its part, the PKK has been hit hard by the Turkish military in recent years with leaders and fighters hunted down in drone warfare.
And regional change, in Iran and Syria, means the militant group and its affiliates have less freedom to operate.
Both sides have their reasons for doing a deal now. That may be grounds for hope.
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The Office Lego Set Is Retired, But One Retailer Still Has It In Stock
The Office Lego Set Is Retired, But One Retailer Still Has It In Stock
Peacock has revealed that its upcoming follow-up to The Office is called The Paper. The upcoming mockumentary takes place in Toledo, Ohio, and is slated to premiere in September. If you’re looking forward to The Paper and like Lego sets, you may want to snag the brick-built display model based on The Office while you can. Officially retired by Lego at the end of 2024, this charming kit lets fans build Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch and comes with 15 minifigures. Walmart is the only retailer that still has Lego Ideas: The Office for normal price ($120); all other major retailers and the Lego Store are sold out and aren’t expected to receive additional units.
It’s normal for there to be increased interest in official merch when a TV show or movie receives a sequel. And as mentioned, Lego’s 1,164-piece The Office building set is already in short supply due to its discontinuation. As of May 12, Walmart’s store page defaults to a third-party seller. To ensure your order is shipped and sold by Walmart, click “Compare all sellers” under “More seller options” and choose the one that reads “Sold and shipped by Walmart.com.”
For comparison, resellers at Amazon are selling the kit for $140. Despite the higher price, Amazon says it has sold over 300 units over the past month. Do yourself a favor and save $20 by opting for Lego The Office at Walmart instead. You could put the extra cash toward The Office: Complete Series on DVD, which is on ***** for $52 (was $75) at Amazon, or a Peacock subscription to watch The Paper.
$120
Lego Ideas: The Office
Part of the Lego Ideas line, The Office is a recreation of the Dunder Mifflin office in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The 1,164-piece set builds a segmented model, complete with all of the departments and workstations seen in the show. Lego created minifigures for 15 Dunder Mifflin Scranton employees and a bunch of accessories. The accessories can be used to recreate memorable moments from the iconic workplace comedy series, including Kevin’s chili pot fiasco, Michael’s screenplay for Threat Level Midnight, Dwight’s stash of weapons, and a stapler suspended in gelatin–one of Jim’s many superb pranks on Dwight.
Michael Scott’s office can be removed from the rest of the build to display separately, which could come in handy if you need a breather from his antics after a meeting. Speaking of meetings, the Scranton branch’s conference room includes a recreation of the dry erase board and enough space for all the minifigures to watch as minifigure Michael makes a fool of himself again.
Here’s the list of all 15 minifigures included with Lego Ideas: The Office. You also get a Lego figure of Garbage the Cat.
Michael
Dwight
Jim
Pam
Ryan
Angela
Oscar
Kevin
Stanley
Kelly
Phyllis
Meredith
Creed
Toby
Darryl
Kevin dropped the chili again.
Amazon may not have Lego The Office in stock, but the retailer recently restocked two other sets that have been very hard to find over the past six months or so. The awesome 1,508-piece Transformers 2-in-1 Optimus Prime Lego set–it converts into a truck–is back in stock and on ***** for a big discount. Meanwhile, the recently retired 1,545-piece Indiana Jones: Temple of the Golden Idol Lego set is available once again for its normal $150 price.
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Power failure knocks out Tubes, Overground and Elizabeth line
Power failure knocks out Tubes, Overground and Elizabeth line
Harry Low, Alex Loftus & James W Kelly
BBC News
The power failure has caused disruption at Paddington station
A power failure has caused major disruption to the London Underground network, London Overground and the Elizabeth line.
The Bakerloo and Weaver lines are currently suspended, as is part of the Mildmay line, while there are severe delays on the Elizabeth, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines.
Earlier, sections of the Northern, Jubilee, Waterloo & City and Elizabeth lines were also shut.
Transport for London (TfL) said the issues had been caused by a short power outage which happened at about 14:30 BST. Power has since been restored, but delays and line suspensions are ongoing.
Gates to the Bakerloo line have been shut at Oxford Circus
Waterloo is one of the worst affected stations
The Mildmay line is currently suspended between Highbury & Islington and Stratford, while there are severe delays on the rest of the line.
Minor delays are currently being reported on the Northern and Waterloo & City lines.
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “Due to a brief interruption of the power supply to our network, several lines lost power for a short ******* earlier this afternoon.
“We apologise to customers whose journeys will have been affected. We are working to get the whole network up and running again as quickly as possible.”
Separately, the entire Suffragette line on London Overground is suspended due to a fire alert.
Embankment station in central London is also closed
Among those caught up in the disruption was Michèle, a 71-year-old retiree, who said she had been sent from station to station while trying to reach Uxbridge.
“It’s just a shame that the staff aren’t kept up to date with which stations are open,” she told BBC London outside Covent Garden station.
“I started at Tottenham Court Road which was shut so I went to Leicester Square to get the Piccadilly line.”
“That was shut, the staff said Covent Garden was probably open by now, but it’s still shut. Here they’re telling me to go to Holborn. Hopefully that’s open.”
Covent Garden station is now open, according to TfL’s website.
Michèle was among those caught up in the disruption
Justine, 53 and Benny, 20, who had travelled to London from the Warwickshire town of Leamington Spa to renew the latter’s passport.
Speaking outside a closed Embankment station, their frustration at being unable to take a normally simple journey to Marylebone station was clear.
“It’s going to be really annoying, I don’t know how to get home,” Justine said.
“We weren’t even able to renew his passport. It was just one of those days.”
National Grid said the problems were a result of a “fault” on its transmission network in central London.
Apologising for the inconvenience caused, a spokesperson said: “The fault was resolved within seconds and did not interrupt supply from our network, but a consequent voltage dip may have briefly affected power supplies on the low voltage distribution network in the area.”
PA Media
Paddington is one of several station being affected by the suspensions
Others stories about London’s Tube network
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#Power #failure #knocks #Tubes #Overground #Elizabeth #line
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South West Slammers women’s side fall short of second win of season despite brilliant Cayla King performance
South West Slammers women’s side fall short of second win of season despite brilliant Cayla King performance
A standout performance from import Cayla King was not enough to see the South West Slammers women’s side to their second win of the NBL1 West season, coming in a six-point overtime loss to Joondalup Wolves.
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The Pope’s One-Word Message To The United States Is Going Viral
The Pope’s One-Word Message To The United States Is Going Viral
The internet is still not *quite* over the fact that there is an American Pope.
Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
Personally, I can’t get it out of my mind that the literal Pope has been to Walmart.
Like, he has 100% used a self-checkout machine.
Artran / Getty Images
Related: Justin Trudeau’s Shady Comment Toward Donald Trump Is Going Super Viral
Sooo, NewsNation asked Pope Leo XIV if he has a message for the United States:
@newsnationnow/tiktok.com
He said one word: “Many.”
He also said “God bless you all” after that but the “many” is very funny.
Related: Republican Voters Are Finally Tearing Into Trump Over One Issue, But It’s Not The Issue You’d Expect
The comments are very good on this one.
“He really said ‘where do I begin,'” one person said.
Another person said he was giving, “Don’t get me started.”
We have, “We gotta circle back on that one.”
And a bunch of people are saying something like, “Did we just called to the principal’s office.”
It really was “I’ll see you after class” coded message.
Also in In the News: “We Went From ‘Lower The Price Of Eggs’ To ‘Lower Your Standard Of Living'”: 39 Of The Best, Most Brutal, And Very Relatable Political Tweets Of The Month
Also in In the News: “We Don’t Import Food”: 31 Americans Who Are Just So, So Confused About Tariffs And US Trade
Also in In the News: Donald Trump Just Shared A Very Ominous Post, And People Are Calling It “One Of The Worst Statements Ever Made By A Sitting US President”
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#Popes #OneWord #Message #United #States #Viral
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PS5 Now Offers A New Way To Pay For Things
PS5 Now Offers A New Way To Pay For Things
It’s been a long time coming, but PlayStation 5 players can finally use Apple Pay natively when purchasing games.
As first reported by 9to5Mac, the most recent PS5 update has finally taken advantage of iOS 18, allowing for direct purchases using Apple Pay. PS5 owners have previously been able to use Apple Pay via the PlayStation App or the PS5 browser, but it’s taken over four years to get native support for the popular payment method on the console.
Now, rather than having to take any extra steps, customers can simply select Apple Pay during the checkout process on their PS5s. They will then be greeted by a QR code they can scan using their iPhone or iPad to complete the transaction.
Continue Reading at GameSpot
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#PS5 #Offers #Pay
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White South Africans arrive in U.S. after Trump administration grants refugee status
White South Africans arrive in U.S. after Trump administration grants refugee status
Trump cuts financial aid to South Africa
Trump cuts financial aid to South Africa
01:45
A plane carrying dozens of White South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport on Monday, a State Department official said, after the Trump administration granted them refugee status in the United States.
The group — which includes families with children — was expected to be greeted by U.S. officials at the northern Virginia airport, documents obtained by CBS News show.
Earlier this year, President Trump directed officials to allow South Africans of European descent to be resettled through the U.S. refugee program, alleging they have faced discrimination by South Africa’s post-apartheid government. The South African government has strongly denied the allegation.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston.
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#White #South #Africans #arrive #U.S #Trump #administration #grants #refugee #status
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White South Africans Granted Refugee Status by Trump Arrive in the U.S. – The New York Times
White South Africans Granted Refugee Status by Trump Arrive in the U.S. – The New York Times
White South Africans Granted Refugee Status by Trump Arrive in the U.S. The New York TimesTrump Live Updates: China Tariff Pause, Drug Prices and More The New York TimesTrump defends move to grant refugee status to Afrikaners PoliticoFirst white South Africans flying to US under Trump refugee plan BBCEpiscopal Church says it won’t help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status in US AP News
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#White #South #Africans #Granted #Refugee #Status #Trump #Arrive #U.S #York #Times
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Remedy’s Control spin-off FBC: Firebreak enters closed technical test this weekend
Remedy’s Control spin-off FBC: Firebreak enters closed technical test this weekend
Remedy is set to hold a closed technical test this weekend for its Control co-op shooter, FBC: Firebreak.
“We’re testing the matchmaking and balancing of FBC: Firebreak in our CLOSED Technical Test, running from May 15th until May 19th,” the developer said.
PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S owners can sign up for a chance to participate in the closed technical test on the Remedy website.
The Alan Wake studio’s upcoming three-player co-op first-person shooter set in the Control universe will be released on June 17.
The game will be available on PC (on both Steam and the Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, and will cost $39.99 / €39.99 / £32.99.
On its day of release, it will also be available on PC Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and the Extra and Premium tiers of PlayStation Plus.
Following a recent hands-off demo of FBC: Firebreak, we said the game gave us “cautious optimism”.
“The gameplay looks compelling from what we were shown, but its real strength lies in how much license the Control universe gives the team,” we wrote.
“Realistically, due to the nature of The Oldest House and the Control lore, there’s no limit on how creative the team can get with map design, enemy design and more. And if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that there are few studios with more creativity flowing through them than Remedy.”
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#Remedys #Control #spinoff #FBC #Firebreak #enters #closed #technical #test #weekend
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MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review: a high-performing TMR keyboard that’s all the more impressive given its low price
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review: a high-performing TMR keyboard that’s all the more impressive given its low price
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra: one-minute review
The MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra is a compact wireless gaming keyboard with TMR switches, which claim to have greater precision than other analog varieties. It certainly makes a good first impression, with its sleek yet minimal looks, which are accentuated in the white colorway, and makes the RGB appear even more vibrant.
The build quality is also excellent. This is quite a heavy board for the size, which may be a positive or a negative depending on your preferences. But the overall construction is hard to fault.
Thankfully, the FUN60 Ultra isn’t too thick, which makes it more comfortable to use – although, as with most keyboards I’ve tried, some wrist support still would’ve been welcomed for extended sessions.
You may like
The PBT keycaps are similarly premium, and feel just as satisfying as you could wish for from any of the best gaming keyboards around, thanks to their smooth texture that offers just enough grip.
However, perhaps the worst aspect of the FUN60 Ultra’s design is the switch for toggling between Windows, Mac, and wired modes. It’s located underneath the Caps Lock, which means removing this keycap every time you want to change modes. What’s more, this switch isn’t labelled and has a different orientation to the manual illustrations, all of which makes knowing which position to select harder than it should be.
The FUN60 Ultra can be customized using the MonsGeek Driver, which offers all the usual gaming keyboard adjustments, alongside plenty of analog-related tweaks. It’s very versatile in this regard, but there are a few issues with it, such as the cumbersome actuation adjustment process, and the uninformative visualizer that accompanies it.
When it comes to performance, however, I found little wrong with the FUN60 Ultra. The keys are snappy and very satisfying to use, with plenty of bounce but enough dampening for enhanced tactility, which is a boon for typing as well as gaming.
Connecting the FUN60 Ultra via the 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth proved easy enough, with no discernible dips in performance over wired play. Switching between wireless and wired modes, though, was more hassle than it should have been.
Battery life seems quite good, with the RGB indicator staying green after a couple of days of varied use. Unfortunately, the software doesn’t provide a percentage, so I wasn’t able to get a precise read on how much remained.
When you consider its relatively low price, the FUN60 Ultra represents great value for those after a high-end analog keyboard experience, as it punches far above its class in terms of performance. It’s slightly cheaper than the Gamakay TK75HE V2, which is one of its closest rivals, although this has a slightly larger layout and is wired only.
For a more luxurious alternative, the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is one of the best analog keyboards around, but is considerably more expensive than the FUN60 Ultra, and doesn’t outstrip its performance by as much as the price difference might lead you to believe. So if you’re looking to get into the analog gaming keyboard world, the FUN60 Ultra is a great place to start.
(Image credit: Future)
Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra deals
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review: price and availability
$89.99 / £75.59 / AU$142.54
Available now in ****** and white
Very well priced
The FUN60 Ultra costs $89.99 / £75.59 / AU$142.54 and is available now in white and ****** finishes. It comes with a keycap puller, a switch puller, a 2.4GHz USB-A dongle, and a USB-A-to-C cable. You can also configure it with PBT or PBT-SP keycaps. Wired and Hall effect variants are available as well, with cheaper price tags.
This makes the FUN60 Ultra one of the cheapest analog keyboards you can buy, and has the potential to be one of the best cheap gaming keyboards around. Other budget-friendly examples include the Gamakay TK75HE, which is slightly more expensive and is wired only but has a larger 75% layout. It performs similarly to the FUN60 Ultra, although the keys don’t feel quite as bouncy and therefore satisfying in my view.
If you want something more premium, the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is one of the best analog keyboards I’ve experienced, offering very responsive and accurate presses. This also has a larger layout, but is considerably more expensive than the FUN60 Ultra, and the difference in performance isn’t as great as you might expect. However, the FUN60 Ultra is probably the easier board to live with, and the software, while not featuring quite as many tweaks, is still better to use.
Value: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review: specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Layout
60%
Switch
Analog (TMR)
Programmable keys
Yes
Dimensions
Not stated
RGB or backlighting
Yes (customizable)
(Image credit: Future)
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review: design and features
Great build quality
Bizarre selector switch placement
Software isn’t the best engineered
The FUN60 Ultra has a neat and minimalist design, with a few design quirks that hint at its intended audience, such as the (rather pointless) side hook and diagonally cut corners. It looks sleek, and in its white finish, quite vibrant, which is emphasized further by the RGB backlighting.
The overall build quality is excellent, with the chassis feeling reassuringly solid, although it’s quite heavy despite its compact size. There isn’t much tilt angle, and the lack of feet means you won’t be able to adjust this.
Thankfully, though, the body isn’t too thick, so I found it comfortable to use, even without wrist support – although for longer sessions I would benefit from using a rest, and I suspect others would too.
The keycaps feel very premium, as you would expect from their PBT construction. It’s a shame, though, that they’re not labelled with their Fn shortcuts, so you’ll have to keep the manual close by.
One very annoying aspect of the FUN60 Ultra is the fact that the switch for toggling between Windows, Mac, and wired connectivity is located under the Caps Lock, which means you have to remove this keycap every time you want to switch between them.
Why MonsGeek chose this location is beyond me. What’s more, the switch isn’t labelled, and runs vertically rather than horizontally as pictured in the manual, so there’s no way of knowing which side is Windows and which is Mac (for your information, down is Windows, up is Mac).
The FUN60 Ultra can be customized using the MonsGeek Driver. Here you’ll find the typical gaming keyboard features, including a macro creator, a section for altering the RGB backlighting, and key remapping.
(Image credit: Future)
The latter offers a reasonable selection of media and system shortcuts, although these aren’t as copious as some gaming keyboards provide. You can bind mouse movements to keys, though, which isn’t a function that’s always present in customization software.
As you’d expect given its analog switches, there are also plenty of actuation adjustments available. You can set the actuation and reset points independently, with a range between 0.1mm and 3.4mm, and there are various modes and features you can use too.
These include a non-stop rapid trigger, continuous trigger and snap tap modes, as well as the ability to bind up to four inputs to a single key, depending on its actuation point and direction of travel. There’s also a rapid trigger stabilizer setting, which prevents unintended inputs when setting very short actuation points.
This makes it a versatile piece of software, with more actuation tweaks than some other software provides. However, the tool isn’t the easiest to use, and I experienced a number of issues with it.
The window can’t be resized, and there are relatively long loading times after making certain changes. I also experienced an issue where the drop-down menus wouldn’t work, requiring a full restart of my PC to rectify – although admittedly, this might’ve been an issue with my particular system rather than with the software itself.
What’s more, while there’s a visualizer to simulate key actuation in real time, this can lag at times, and the color-coded bar representing presses and releases fails to change with the actuation points you set, so its usefulness is somewhat limited. More frustration comes in the form of having to hit a confirm button every time you make these tweaks – and doing so when multiple keys are selected deselects them all (bar one), which only makes the process more cumbersome.
Design & features: 3.5 / 5
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review: performance
Bouncy keys
Short yet controlled travel
Great for typing and gaming
The overall performance of the FUN60 Ultra is very good. The TMR magnetic switches I had in my review unit promise a lot, claiming to be even more accurate than Hall effect ones.
In practice, I can’t say I noticed a huge improvement in this regard, but that’s certainly not to disparage them. They are very snappy and tactile, with just enough dampening to make them very satisfying to hammer away on. In terms of feel, they come close to giving some of the best mechanical keyboards a run for their money. And despite the short travel of the keys, there’s enough resistance to make for controlled presses.
The typing performance is also excellent, largely thanks to the fast rebound of the keys. And while it has a clicky sound, it’s not as loud as some other analog keyboards. I would label the FUN60 Ultra as a great keyboard for productivity, if it wasn’t for the compromised layout, which doesn’t even include arrow keys or a dedicated F row.
(Image credit: Future)
Connectivity is mostly great, with no dropouts of noticeable lag when using wireless modes. Switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes on the fly using the relevant Fn shortcuts also proved responsive enough.
However, switching between wireless and wired modes isn’t the easiest, due to the aforementioned location of the selector switch under the Caps Lock. Worse still was the fact that on occasion, the FUN60 Ultra wouldn’t connect to my wired device even with the selector in the right position, requiring me to remove the 2.4GHz dongle from my other device before it would, which only adds to the inconvenience of switching between devices.
Battery life on the FUN60 Ultra seems quite good. After using it for a couple of days, the backlight indicator remained green, which means it at least remained above 90%. However, I can’t be more accurate than this, since there’s no percentage readout in the software.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Should I buy the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra?
Swipe to scroll horizontally
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
There aren’t many cheaper analog keyboards than this, especially those with TMR sensors.
4 / 5
Design and features
The FUN60 Ultra is solid and premium feeling, although the decision to place the connectivity toggle under the Caps Lock key is baffling. The software offers plenty of tweaks, but it’s not the easiest to use.
3.5 / 5
Performance
The FUN60 Ultra is snappy and with plenty of bounce, with just enough dampening to make it satisfying. Great for gaming and typing.
4.5 / 5
Overall rating
The FUN60 Ultra offers a very compelling package, with top-tier analog switches and build quality at a relatively low price. A few usability issues aside, it’s a great value gaming keyboard all the same.
4 / 5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review: also consider
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell – Column 0
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra
Gamakay TK75HE V2
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Layout
60%
75%
TKL
Switch
Analog (TMR magnetic)
Analog (Hall-effect magnetic)
Analog (Hall-effect magnetic)
Programmable keys
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dimensions
Not stated
12.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches / 325 x 136 x 28mm
14 x 5 x 1.7 inches / 355 x 129 x 42mm
RGB or backlighting
Yes (customizable)
Yes (customizable)
Yes (customizable)
How I tested the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra
Tested for a few days
Used for gaming and typing
Plentiful PC gaming experience
I tested the FUN60 Ultra for a few days, during which time I used it for gaming and typing. I also made use of its various connectivity modes, and used it on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines.
I played Counter-Strike 2, which is a great test for peripherals given its need for fast and accurate inputs. It’s also ideal for putting analog switches through their paces, with counter-strafing and other player movements revealing the effectiveness of rapid trigger modes.
I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and I’ve experienced plenty of keyboards in that time. I’ve also reviewed a number of them, ranging in manufacturer, switch type, and price.
Monsgeek FUN60 Ultra: Price Comparison
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Americanswers… on 5 Live! Has China won its trade war with Trump?
Americanswers… on 5 Live! Has China won its trade war with Trump?
And why are Gen Z obsessed with the new American pope?
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