Twogether is a stunning love story that bursts out of the indie scene to capture your heart with its raw emotion and authenticity. Unlike your typical Hollywood romance, Twogether offers a gritty, real-world narrative featuring characters who think deeply and feel profoundly. This gem, crafted by writer-director Andrew Chiaramonte after nearly a decade of dedication, stars the incredible duo Nick Cassavetes and Brenda Bakke, who bring remarkable depth to their roles.
Cassavetes shines as John Madler, a passionate and unpredictable Venice-based painter. He’s the kind of guy who leverages his good looks and the enigmatic allure of being an artist to live life on his terms. At a gallery event supporting a Greenpeace-esque cause, he locks eyes with volunteer Allison McKenzie, played by Bakke. The chemistry is instant and electric, leading to a wild night in Vegas that ends with an unexpected marriage.
Determined to part ways like “mature, intelligent adults”—in Allison’s words—they plan a quick divorce. However, when Allison visits John’s Venice hideaway to finalize the papers, they find themselves in bed once again, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. They initially agree on an abortion but are ultimately unable to follow through, setting the stage for an intense journey of mutual discovery.
Chiaramonte masterfully propels the story forward with sharp montages and a keen sense of what to leave out, ensuring the film never drags. We join John and Allison as they navigate their evolving relationship, a strategy that draws us in completely.
Allison emerges as the film’s standout revelation. Behind her confident exterior lies a woman haunted by a painful past, the neglected daughter of a rigidly conservative Bel-Air family. As John falls for her, she moves in during her pregnancy, but his pride and fierce independence keep him from admitting his true feelings, even to himself.
At its core, Twogether is about the universal struggles of making choices, setting priorities, and the harsh realities of relationships. It highlights the challenges of responsibility, the pitfalls of immaturity and self-absorption, and the journey toward self-awareness and growth, regardless of age.
Chiaramonte elicits deeply honest performances from Cassavetes and Bakke, who expose their souls and bodies on screen. If there’s any justice in the world, Twogether will catapult their careers to new heights. The supporting cast is equally strong, with Damian London standing out as the tough-minded art gallery owner.
Twogether is a heartfelt indie film that wears its emotions proudly and has the potential to break into the mainstream.
Twogether Cast: Nick Cassavetes: John Madler Brenda Bakke: Allison McKenzie Damian London: Mark Saffron Jeremy Piven: Arnie
Twogether is currently being distributed by Freestyle Digital Media and available to watch for free or on-demand. Writer-director Andrew Chiaramonte. Producers Emett Alston, Chiaramonte. Co-producer Todd Fisher. Cinematographer Eugene Shlugleit. Editors Fisher, Chiaramonte. Costumes Jacqueline Johnson. Music Nigel Holton. Production designer Phil Brandes. Art director Phil Zarling. Sound Kip Gynn. Running time: 2 hours, 2 minutes.
‘Young & Cursed’, a Chiaramonte Films, Inc. production, is a new horror movie / psychological thriller which is set to be released in early 2024.
LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, November 1, 2023 — Audiences are excited about this new cinematic experience as the talented team of Andrew Chiaramonte and Emmett Alston unites to present their gripping horror / psychological thriller film, “Young & Cursed,” scheduled for release in 2024.
Beneath the eerie canopy of an impending Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse, “Young & Cursed” unveils a harrowing tale that will grip the souls of horror enthusiasts. The narrative unravels around five young souls from diverse backgrounds, drawn unknowingly to a desolate and enigmatic cabin in the wilderness.
Maria (Jennifer Rosas), tormented by the ghostly specter that haunts her every waking moment, and Jason (Stevarion Allen), a gifted musician stalked by a nightmarish demonic version of himself, are drawn together by forces beyond their comprehension.
Trudy (Morgan Franz) harbors her own unspeakable terrors, besieged by a grotesque demon that mercilessly torments her during the dark hours. Tahoma (Reda Fassi-Fihri) finds himself pursued by a evil Skinwalker, while Donny (CJ Malone), a tech prodigy with a conflicted past, grapples with a demonic possession that has finally reached its terrifying zenith.
Their lives intertwine with that of Kyra (Madison Hubler), a spellbinding enigma residing within the cabin, who appears to be simultaneously oblivious and all-knowing. Within her, lurks one of the most sinister demons to ever haunt mankind, Lilith (Britt Crisp), a malevolent entity that has endured since time’s inception, serving a nefarious purpose that will send shivers down the viewer’s spine.
Leading the charge in this thrilling cinematic endeavor are the brilliant director and producer duo, Andrew Chiaramonte and Emmett Alston, who have combined their creative prowess and extensive experience to produce, “Young & Cursed”, a movie that will enthrall audiences worldwide.
When asked about the inspiration behind “Young & Cursed,” Chiaramonte and Alston cited their fascination with the enigmatic Blood Moon, a celestial phenomenon steeped in mystery and superstition. This rare lunar event offered the ideal canvas for weaving a narrative that seamlessly merges elements of horror, suspense, and psychological drama.
“Young & Cursed” boasts an ensemble cast of exceptional actors who bring their characters to life with unwavering incisive understanding and depth, immersing the audience further into the haunting world of the film.
More than just a run-of-the-mill thriller, “Young & Cursed” is a meticulously crafted masterpiece that plays with the audience’s emotions, ensuring they remain on the edge of their seats throughout. The film’s atmospheric cinematography by Gary Ahmed, and haunting score by composer Patrick O’Malley, in perfect harmony to create an immersive experience that indelibly impacts the viewers world.
Months prior to its release, “Young & Cursed” has already generated substantial buzz within the film industry and among eager movie fans. With its unique storyline, impeccable direction, and exceptional performances, the film is poised to become a breakout hit. “Young & Cursed” is an exciting cinematic venture that promises to be a standout addition to the horror thriller genre. With its talented creative team, bewitching plotline, and stellar cast, the film is primed to dominate the box office and capture the hearts of audiences worldwide.
For more information, please visit the official website of “Young & Cursed” at youngandcursed.com.
About Chiaramonte Films, Inc.
Chiaramonte Films, Inc. is a renowned film production company known for delivering captivating and groundbreaking cinematic experiences. With a commitment to pushing creative boundaries, Chiaramonte Films, Inc. has consistently delivered critically acclaimed films that leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide. For more information, visit chiaramontefilms.com .
Nearly nine in 10 U.S. adults reported feeling some kind of financial stress at the start of 2026, with more than three in four saying they experienced a financial setback last year, according to a new survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education.
NEFE, in conjunction with the market research firm Verasight, polled U.S. adults on their overall financial well-being at the end of 2025 and their expectations for 2026. Among the findings:
Eighty-eight percent felt some form of financial stress as they began the new year and 77% said they experienced a financial setback in 2025.
The largest anticipated expenses in 2026, excluding mortgage and rent, are “paying down debt” (40%), “home-related expenses” (36%) and “transportation expenses” (32%).
When asked about their confidence in handling an unexpected $2,000 expense, 36% are “certain they could,” 19% “probably could,” 13% “probably could not” and 26% are “certain they could not.”
If faced with an unexpected expense, most respondents would use some combination of “credit cards” (35%), “emergency savings” (25%) or “cash” (24%), followed by “borrowing money from family or friends” (20%), “selling something they own” (18%) and “using a ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ offer to free up funds” (17%).
Respondents were most likely to view the quality of their current financial life as “about what they expected” (41%), followed by “worse than they expected” (38%) and then “better than they expected” (16%).
Respondents said the frequency they had a month-end surplus of money is “every month” (20%), “most months” (19%), “only some months” (22%), “rarely” (24%) and “never” (14%).
“While these findings are startling, there is growing momentum to address these challenges through youth financial education graduation requirements,” said Billy Hensley, president and CEO of NEFE. “Many of the issues highlighted in this poll are already among the core topics states are considering for their curricula. Financial topics and the choices surrounding them shouldn’t be a mystery. By normalizing conversations about money and strengthening young people’s confidence, we increase the likelihood that they can align their financial lives with their personal values and decisions.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo remained with the Milwaukee Bucks while plenty of other players changed addresses as the NBA trade deadline passed Thursday.
Antetokounmpo had been the center of attention heading into the trade deadline amid reports that the Milwaukee Bucks started listening to offers for the two-time MVP and nine-time all-NBA selection. But when the deadline arrived at 3 p.m. ET, Antetokounmpo remained in Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t played since straining his right calf on Jan. 23, has spent his entire 13-year career with Milwaukee and led the Bucks to a title in 2021.
Antetokounmpo repeatedly has said that he loves playing in Milwaukee, but he also has emphasized that he wants to continue playing for a team that’s committed to competing for championships. The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last three seasons and are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Memphis’ Ja Morant also hadn’t been traded as of the deadline, even though his future had been the subject of much speculation over the last few weeks.
Morant has spent his entire career in Memphis, but the Grizzlies are 11th in the Western Conference standings and already dealt two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz this week as part of a roster overhaul.
Although he’s a two-time All-Star in his own right, Morant has seen his stock fall lately because of injuries and off-court issues as well as a drop in production.
There were some notable trades to take place Thursday, but none of them involved anyone with Antetokounmpo’s star power.
Former Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., left, former Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis, center, and former Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, right.
AP Photos/Brandon Dill/Julio Cortez/Anna Fuder
Indiana acquired 7-footer Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. Minnesota added some potential bench scoring by getting Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls. New York gained some backcourt depth by landing Jose Alvarado from New Orleans.
Most of the biggest names to change teams did so in trades that were reported earlier in the week. That list of players included 2018 MVP and 11-time All-Star James Harden as well as five-time all-NBA selection Anthony Davis.
Pacers acquire Zubac
The Indiana Pacers paid a big price to get a big man. The Pacers sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and up to three draft picks to the Los Angeles Clippers, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.
Zubac, who turns 29 next month, has averaged 14.4 points and 11 rebounds this season. The 7-footer gives Indiana a reliable center that could help the defending Eastern Conference champions contend again when Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury next season.
Mathurin, 23, was averaging 17.8 points for Indiana.
Dosunmu goes from Bulls to Wolves
As the deadline approached, the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade hadn’t been finalized.
Minnesota agreed to send guard Rob Dillingham, forward Leonard Miller and four second-round draft picks to the Bulls for Dosunmu and forward Julian Phillips.
Dosunmu is making about $7.5 million in the final season of his current contract. The 26-year-old is averaging a career-high 15 points per game and shooting a career-best 45.1% from 3-point range. He will fill an obvious need for the Timberwolves for more offense off the bench.
Chris Paul’s trade situation
Toronto added a future Hall of Famer in Chris Paul, who will likely never play for the Raptors, to get below the luxury tax threshold.
The Raptors traded with the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul, at least on paper. Toronto also sent forward Ochai Agbaji, a future second-round pick and cash to the Nets, the Raptors announced.
Paul – who is expected to retire after this season – was sent home by the Clippers in November but remained on their payroll.
Cavs trade Ball to Jazz
The Cleveland Cavaliers sent guard Lonzo Ball to the Utah Jazz for a pair of second-round draft picks.
Ball appeared in 35 games, including three starts, and averaged 4.6 points, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes. The Jazz will be the fifth team for Ball in his seven-year career.
Knicks get Alvarado
The Knicks and Pelicans made a last-hour deal Thursday to send Jose Alvarado to New York for two second-round picks and Dalen Terry, who they acquired in a separate deal with Chicago, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade hadn’t been announced publicly.
Harden, Davis, and other notable trades
The Clippers sent Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for two-time All-Star Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. The 26-year-old Garland is 10 years younger than Harden.
Davis is going from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards as part of an eight-player trade. The Wizards are receiving Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum in exchange for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks and three second-round selections.
The Wizards eventually can pair Davis with four-time All-Star guard Trae Young, who came to Washington last month in a trade with Atlanta. Davis and Young are both currently injured.
Dallas then sent Branham to Charlotte in exchange for point guard Tyus Jones, a person familiar with the situation told the AP. Charlotte had acquired Jones from Orlando earlier in the week.
The Hawks acquired Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Lakers for shooting guard Luke Kennard, a person with knowledge of the move told the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet received the required league approval. Atlanta also received Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield from the Golden State Warriors for Kristaps Porzingis.
Each of the conference leaders also has made a move this week.
The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2026 first-round draft pick and three second-round selections. The Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons got Kevin Huerter from the Chicago Bulls as part of a four-team trade.
AP Pro Basketball Writers Tim Reynolds and Brian Mahoney, and AP Sports Writers Dave Campbell, Schuyler Dixon, Joe Reedy, Charles Odum and Michael Marot contributed to this report.
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York State is offering six days of free fishing in 2026. The requirement for a freshwater fishing license is waived on: February 14–15, June 27–28, September 26 (National Hunting and Fishing Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day). The Free Fishing Days program began in 1991 to introduce people to the […]
According to a new KFF Health tracking poll, two-thirds of those surveyed say they worry about not being able to afford health coverage and more than half say costs have gone up in the past year. Renuka Rayasam, senior correspondent at KFF Health News, joins CBS News to discuss.
After the unexpected closure of Kyuu-juu in December, which by all outward appearances was wowing diners with its contemporary izakaya fare, now comes the other shoe. Management today announced that the Sushi Kuwahata, the exclusive eight-seat omakase-style sushi den, will follow suit after service on February 28. Since opening in June, the Michelin-caliber sushi counter […]
The ruling is part of a yearslong dispute over public records surrounding the 2023 shooting that likely is not over yet. The shooter left behind documents that include journals, a suicide note and a memoir, according to court filings. A group of Covenant parents has been fighting to keep them from being released out of fear that the writings will further traumatize their children and could inspire copycat attacks.
A lower court ruling in 2024 sided with the parents. The Wednesday ruling overturns much of that opinion.
The court battle could set a precedent for how similar records will be treated in cases involving school shootings. But it might not change what the public knows about this particular case. Many of the documents have already been made public, either through leaks or by the FBI through a separate public records request and lawsuit. However, the full investigative report from Nashville police remains sealed.
Quoting from earlier court rulings, the appeals court on Wednesday explicitly noted the importance of the Tennessee Public Records Act as “a tool to hold government officials and agencies accountable to the citizens of Tennessee through oversight in government activities.”
The lower court’s 2024 ruling found that the Covenant shooting records fall under an exception to the Public Records Act because they are related to school safety. In the Wednesday ruling, the appeals court said that interpretation of the school safety exception was overly broad.
“We are asked to accept at face value the trial court’s finding that every single item compiled or created by the shooter, for many years before the event at issue, relates to the Covenant School’s security. This conclusion strains credulity,” the appeals court wrote.
The 2024 ruling also found that any writings or other works created by the shooter could not be released because they were protected by federal copyright law. As part of the effort to keep the records closed, the shooter’s parents transferred ownership of the documents to the Covenant families in 2024. The parents then argued in court that they should be allowed to determine who has access to them.
In Wednesday’s ruling, the appeals court opined that even if some of the records are protected by copyright law, Metro Nashville Police could still allow the public to inspect them without running afoul of the law.
“The trial court and the Parents, however, conflate the concept of access for inspection with reproduction and display,” the appeals court wrote.
The appeals court sent the case back to the lower court to amend the 2024 ruling. The Covenant parents have 60 days to appeal, and their attorney, Eric Osborne, said in an email Thursday that they have not yet decided what they will do.
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A century-old movie palace in Highland Park will avoid permanent closure thanks to Hollywood actor Kristen Stewart.
The “Twilight” star and native Angeleno purchased the Highland Theatre at 5604 North Figueroa Street for an undisclosed amount, Architectural Digest and the Los Angeles Times reported. The movie house went dark in 2024 and faced permanent closure before Stewart stepped in.
The venue will need a lot of love before it can reopen to moviegoers. The three-story building has a partially intact mezzanine and stage, but significant renovation and rehabilitation efforts will be needed to bring it back to its former glory.
“There are so many beautiful details that need to be restored,” Stewart told Architectural Digest. “I think there’s a way to bring the building back to life in a way that embraces its history but also brings something new to the neighborhood and something new to the whole L.A. film community. That’s the point — new ideas.”
Architect Lewis Arthur Smith, known for envisioning other local theaters like the Vista Theatre in Los Feliz and the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, designed the Highland Theatre. Coincidentally, another actor-turned-director, Quentin Tarantino, purchased the Vista in 2021 and reopened it two years later, while a group of filmmakers led by director Jason Reitman acquired the nearly 100-year-old Village Theatre in Westwood in 2024.
“I didn’t realize I was looking for a theater until this place came to my attention. Then it was like a gunshot went off and the race was on. I ran toward it with everything I had,” Stewart told Architectural Digest, saying she’s “fascinated by broken-down old theaters” and “always want[s] to see what mysteries they hold.”
Stewart moved to buy the theater after seeing local theaters in her home city being replaced with retail stores. The actor is hopeful for the future of art in an entertainment industry increasingly dominated by reboots, revivals and the rising presence of artificial intelligence. “When people are desperate, they start doing desperate things,” Stewart said. “I think buying this theater feels a little desperate in, like, the most beautiful way.”
The actor’s restoration endeavor is “not just for pretentious Hollywood cinephiles,” she added. “I see it as an antidote to all the corporate bullsh*t, a place that takes movie culture away from just buying and selling. I think there’s a huge desire and craving for what this kind of space can offer.”
NEW YORK — By age 2, most kids know how to play pretend. They turn their bedrooms into faraway castles and hold make-believe tea parties.
The ability to make something out of nothing may seem uniquely human — a bedrock of creativity that’s led to new kinds of art, music and more.
Now, for the first time, an experiment hints that an ape in captivity can have an imagination.
“What’s really exciting about this work is that it suggests that the roots of this capacity for imagination are not unique to our species,” said study co-author Christopher Krupenye with Johns Hopkins University.
Enter Kanzi, a bonobo who was raised in a lab and became a whiz at communicating with humans using graphic symbols. He combined different symbols to make them mean new things and learned how to create simple stone tools.
Scientists wondered whether Kanzi had the capacity to play pretend — that is, act like something is real while knowing it’s not. They’d heard reports of female chimpanzees in the wild holding sticks as though they were babies and chimps in captivity dragging imaginary blocks on the ground after playing with real ones.
But imagination is abstract, so it’s hard to know what’s going on in the apes’ heads. They could just be imitating researchers or mistaking imaginary objects for the real thing.
Researchers adapted the playbook for studying young children to stage a juice party for Kanzi. They poured imaginary juice from a pitcher into two cups, then pretended to empty just one. They asked Kanzi which cup he wanted and he pointed to the cup still containing pretend juice 68% of the time.
To make sure Kanzi wasn’t confusing real with fake, they also ran a test with actual juice. Kanzi chose the real juice over the pretend almost 80% of the time, “which suggests that he really can tell the difference between real juice and imaginary juice,” said Amalia Bastos, a study co-author from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
A third experiment placing fake grapes into two jars had similar positive results.
But not all scientists are convinced that Kanzi is playing pretend like humans do. There’s a difference between envisioning juice being poured into a cup and maintaining the pretense that it’s real, said Duke University comparative psychologist Michael Tomasello.
“To be convinced of that I would need to see Kanzi actually pretend to pour water into a container himself,” Tomasello wrote in an email. He had no role in the study, which was published Thursday in the journal Science.
Kanzi grew up among humans, so it’s hard to say whether his abilities extend to all apes or are because of his special upbringing. He died last year at the age of 44.
Many great ape species in the wild are critically endangered and it’ll take more research to understand what their minds are capable of.
“Kanzi opened this path for a lot of future studies,” Bastos said.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
(FOX40.COM) — The Sutter County Board of Supervisors wants a new date for the special election to replace late Rep. Doug LaMalfa. The Sutter County leaders called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to expedite the election in a letter sent earlier this week by Chairman Mike Ziegenmeyer. The board approved the letter during a meeting on […]
U.S. markets edged lower Thursday as a sharp selloff in cryptocurrencies spilled into software and commodity names, with Bitcoin sliding 9% to around $66,000—its lowest level since October 2024.
Summary
21-week EMA is weakening, signaling loss of bullish trend structure
200-week EMA is being tested, a critical long-term support level
$60,000–$54,000 zone is key, with Fibonacci and daily support converging
Crypto-exposed stocks led decliners, with Strategy, Mara Holdings, and CleanSpark each falling about 12%, while silver plunged 13% and gold slipped 2% in a broad risk-off move.
The Nasdaq 100 headed for a third straight day of losses as investors weighed sustained selling pressure in Bitcoin (BTC), which is testing key long-term technical support and raising concerns of a deeper correction toward the $60,000 level.
Bitcoin price action has entered a clearly corrective phase over the past several weeks, with bearish momentum intensifying across higher timeframes.
After failing to sustain upside continuation, BTC has rotated lower and is now testing a critical cluster of long-term technical support levels.
Most notably, price is approaching major weekly EMA support, placing the market at an important inflection point where the next directional move is likely to be determined.
While Bitcoin has historically responded strongly to this area, current market structure suggests that downside risk remains elevated.
If key moving average support fails on a closing basis, the probability of a capitulation-style move increases, potentially dragging price below the psychological $60,000 level.
Bitcoin price key technical points
21-week EMA is weakening, signaling loss of bullish trend support
200-week EMA is being tested, acting as a last major structural defense
$60,000–$54,000 zone holds key confluence, including Fibonacci and daily support
From a higher-timeframe perspective, Bitcoin’s structure has shifted decisively bearish. Consecutive lower highs and expanding downside candles reflect aggressive selling pressure, with buyers struggling to regain control.
The loss of the 21-week EMA has historically marked a transition from bullish continuation into deeper corrective phases, and current price behavior aligns with that pattern.
Bitcoin is now trading near the 200-week EMA, a level that has only been tested during periods of extreme market stress.
The last meaningful interaction with this EMA occurred around the $27,000 region, highlighting the importance of this support in the broader market cycle. A sustained loss of this level would signal that bearish momentum remains dominant and that the market is seeking lower value.
$60,000 Support Faces Increasing Pressure
As price continues to weaken, the $60,000 level has emerged as a critical psychological and technical threshold.
A breakdown below this area would likely accelerate downside momentum, particularly if it coincides with confirmed EMA losses on the weekly timeframe.
Below $60,000, attention turns toward the $57,000 region, followed by a deeper confluence zone near $54,000. This area aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement of the broader move, as well as a key daily support region. Together, these levels form a high-probability downside target should current EMA support fail.
One of the most notable characteristics of the current market is the strength and persistence of bearish momentum.
Unlike shallow pullbacks seen during strong uptrends, this correction has unfolded with speed and conviction, suggesting forced selling rather than healthy consolidation.
Historically, aggressive bearish structures often resolve with capitulation once major support levels are lost.
In Bitcoin’s case, a weekly close below the 200-week EMA could trigger panic-driven selling, flushing remaining weak hands from the market. While such moves are typically violent, they also tend to precede meaningful local bottoms.
What to expect in the coming price action
From a technical, price-action, and market-structure perspective, Bitcoin is at a pivotal moment. The current EMA support zone represents a critical line in the sand for bulls. Holding above this region could allow for stabilization and a corrective bounce, though any recovery would remain vulnerable unless key resistance levels are reclaimed.
Conversely, failure to hold weekly EMA support would significantly increase the probability of a capitulation move toward the $60,000–$54,000 region. Traders should closely monitor weekly closes and volume behavior for confirmation. Until bullish structure returns, downside risk remains elevated, and volatility is likely to persist.
Hiring a professional to swing a hammer or twist a wrench has never been more expensive.
Recent data shows that the average handyman service visit now typically falls between $175 and $680, depending on your location. By the time the actual repair is finished, you’re often looking at a bill north of $400 for tasks that require no specialized degree and very few tools.
Inflation in the service sector has remained sticky, and as labor costs rise, the gap between the price of parts and the price of expertise continues to widen. However, most common household headaches don’t require a master plumber or a licensed contractor.
If you can follow a few minutes of video instruction, you can keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket by mastering home repairs you can do in minutes.
Here are five basic home repairs you should stop outsourcing immediately.
1. Replacing a leaky toilet flapper
If you hear your toilet “ghost flushing” or running constantly, the culprit is almost always a worn-out rubber flapper. It’s a job that sounds intimidating to the uninitiated but actually requires zero tools and about 10 minutes of your time.
A new flapper costs less than $20 at any hardware store. Meanwhile, a plumber or handyman will likely charge you $150 to $200 for the same 10-minute fix. To do it yourself, you simply turn off the water valve behind the toilet, flush to empty the tank, and swap the old rubber piece for the new one. This is one of many DIY skills that save you money over the life of your home.
2. Clearing a clogged P-trap
When a bathroom sink starts draining slowly, most people reach for a bottle of caustic chemicals or the phone. Chemical cleaners often fail to move heavy clogs and can damage your pipes over time. The better solution is to manually clear the P-trap — the U-shaped pipe directly under your sink.
The P-trap is designed to be removed by hand. You simply place a bucket underneath, loosen the two slip nuts by turning them counterclockwise, and dump the debris into the bucket. Once it’s rinsed out and tightened back into place, your sink will drain like new. You’ve just saved a $150 plumbing service fee for the price of a little soap and water.
3. Swapping a dated showerhead
Upgrading your showerhead is one of the easiest ways to improve your daily routine, yet some homeowners pay for installation when buying a new unit. Unless you are moving plumbing lines behind the wall, this is a simple screw-on, screw-off task.
All you need is a pair of pliers and some thread seal tape, which usually costs about $2. You wrap the tape around the threads of the shower arm to ensure a water-tight seal and hand-tighten the new head into place. It takes less than five minutes and avoids the $150 minimum fee many handymen charge for small install jobs.
4. Patching small drywall holes
Small holes from door handles, nails, or wayward furniture don’t require a professional to mud and sand for hours. For holes under two inches, a self-adhesive mesh patch and a small tub of lightweight spackle are all you need.
You apply the patch, spread a thin layer of spackle over it with a putty knife, let it dry, and lightly sand it smooth. While a professional might charge $75 to $250 for minor drywall repairs, staying on top of easy five-minute fixes keeps your walls pristine for the cost of a few lattes.
5. Replacing the furnace filter
This is the ultimate maintenance task that HVAC companies love to charge for during annual inspections. While the filter itself may only cost $15 to $30, having a technician do it can easily double or triple that cost when factored into a service call.
Locating your filter slot is usually as simple as looking at the return air duct or the side of the furnace cabinet. You slide the old one out, check the airflow arrow on the side of the new one, and slide it in. Forgetting this step is one of the most common home maintenance mistakes to avoid, as a clean filter prevents the $1,000+ repair bills that come from a choked system.
Ben Stokes has suffered a significant facial injury after being struck by a cricket ball.
The England Test captain posted a picture on Instagram showing his right eye heavily swollen and bruised, a graze on his cheek and lip, and a bandage stuffed in his nose.
He captioned the picture: “You should see the state of the cricket ball.”
The 34-year-old is back in England following the dismal Ashes tour, which ended with a 4-1 defeat last month, with question marks still hanging over his position, amid an ECB review.
Image: Stokes revealed the extent of his injury on social media.
The post-mortem is still continuing with England coach Brendan McCullum claiming some of the fall-out has been “out of order”.
Stokes next could feature for Durham in the early County Championship rounds before England kick off their Test summer against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4.
WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) – White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said President Donald Trump is willing to negotiate with top congressional Democrats on immigration enforcement reforms, but added that some of the Democrats’ requests were non-starters.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Bo Erickson; Editing by Katharine Jackson)
If you haven’t yet played Alan Wake 2, here’s your chance to immerse yourself in its terrors for free. Prime members can play it this month on Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service at no additional charge.
The “fantastic” Alan Wake 2 oozes “psychedelic terror,” as Engadget’s Jessica Conditt put it in our review. The 2023 horror-survival game uses a dual-protagonist motif, alternating between the lost author Wake and the stoic FBI agent Saga Anderson. It “tells a twisted, serpentine story of paranormal murder, shifting realities and demonic possession, with two brooding investigators at its core.” Not a bad way to sublimate the all-too-real horrors of life in 2026.
The Order of Giants DLC for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also arrives on Luna this month. Ditto for Disney Universe, a knockoff of the Lego game franchise starring the Mouse’s IP.
Setting Luna aside, Amazon also has downloadable PC games that Prime members can claim for free this month. Starting today, you can snag the Borderlands spinoff Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands from the Epic Store. Later this month, you can also claim the highly rated strategy title Total War: Attila (Epic Store, Feb. 26).
Instacart ended yesterday their discount for choosing a slower delivery option. For a long time, they’ve offered $2 off when choosing the scheduled delivery option.
People who use Instacart a lot will find this a meaningful cost increase. For many of us, it’s an extra $2 each month when using up the Chase $10/$20 credits. I always mentally ‘used’ that $2 to offset the $2.49 service fee. Bummer.
