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Looking for leaky memory, and possibly revenge

The Chinese government has opened an investigation into US memory vendor Micron citing national security risks.…

If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is

Ukrainian cops have arrested two suspects and detained 10 others for their alleged roles in a cybercrime gang that used phishing scams and phony online marketplaces to steal more than $4.3 million from over 1,000 victims across Europe.…

Manifest V2 will die another day

Back in December, Google postponed its Chrome Extensions shakeup because the project was unfinished and beset by bugs, after a previous schedule setback three months earlier.…

Surprising feelings may surface as the moon in Leo squares off with Uranus in Taurus at 4:30 AM. The moon squares off with Venus in Taurus at 8:06 AM, inspiring us to indulge in sweet pleasures! We’re in a flirtatious mood. The moon connects with lucky Jupiter in Aries at 9:25 AM, inspiring an expansive, easygoing atmosphere! New opportunities may arise.

All times ET.

Read your monthly horoscope for March!

Stay in the cosmic loop with the VICE horoscopes newsletter. Get horoscopes straight to your inbox when you sign up here!

Aries: March 20, 2023 - April 20, 2023

The moon in Leo aligns with Jupiter in your sign, Aries, inspiring a fun, romantic atmosphere! You could flirt with a crush or deepen your connection with an established partner. A creative breakthrough may unfold. An exciting celebration could take place. 

Taurus: April 20, 2023 - May 21, 2023

The moon in Leo squares off with Uranus, which is in your sign, Taurus, perhaps finding you making changes at home… which might surprise your housemates or loved ones. But sometimes you have to try something new!

Gemini: May 21, 2023 - June 21, 2023

The moon in Leo squares off with sweet Venus in Taurus, encouraging you to slow down and rest. Let yourself zone out! Unplug from social media, texts, and emails. Luxuriate in peace and quiet.

Cancer: June 21, 2023 - July 22, 2023

The moon in Leo makes a harmonious alignment with lucky Jupiter in Aries, which can bode well for your finances and career! Rewards and recognition may come your way.

Leo: July 22, 2023 - August 23, 2023

The moon is in your zodiac sign today, Leo! This is a wonderful time to focus on self care: You may be surprised by what feels healing as the moon squares off with Uranus in Taurus. The moon mingles with Jupiter in Aries, which could bring you an exciting opportunity.

Virgo: August 23, 2023 - September 23, 2023

The moon in Leo mingles with Jupiter in Aries today, inspiring an emotionally expansive energy. You may find yourself feeling at peace with something that’s been on your mind. This could be a powerful time for letting go.

Libra: September 23, 2023 - October 23, 2023

The moon in Leo squares off with your ruling planet Venus, currently in Taurus, inspiring some excitement in your social life! It could also be an especially exciting time to network as the moon connects with Jupiter in Aries.    

Scorpio: October 23, 2023 - November 22, 2023

The moon in Leo squares off with Venus in Taurus, which can find you and a partner enjoying the spotlight in some way. The moon connects with Jupiter in Aries, boding well for productivity!

Sagittarius: November 22, 2023 - December 21, 2023

The moon in Leo connects with your ruling planet Jupiter in Aries today, inspiring a fun, flirtatious atmosphere! An exciting adventure could begin. Your love life may be on fire!

Capricorn: December 21, 2023 - January 20, 2024

The moon in Leo squares off with Venus in fellow earth sign Taurus, which can find your love life or your creative process reaching an important turning point. The moon connects with Jupiter in Aries, too, inspiring an emotionally liberating atmosphere.

Aquarius: January 20, 2023 - February 18, 2023

The moon in Leo squares off with your ruling planet Uranus in Taurus, which could find you making important changes at home and within your close relationships. You’re ready to try something new!

Pisces:  February 18, 2023 - March 20, 2023

The moon in Leo aligns with your ruling planet Jupiter in Aries, which can bode well for your finances! A special gift could be exchanged. You may be feeling very productive today, too.

CEO on industry shifts that allow open source and smaller players to gain a footing

Interview  In December, MariaDB floated on the New York Stock Exchange via the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Angel Pond Holdings. With the move came $104 million in funding and $18 million through private investment in public equity.…

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images)

Hackers are actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in a widely used WordPress plugin that gives them the ability to take complete control of millions of sites, researchers said.

The vulnerability, which carries a severity rating of 8.8 out of a possible 10, is present in Elementor Pro, a premium plugin running on more than 12 million sites powered by the WordPress content management system. Elementor Pro allows users to create high-quality websites using a wide range of tools, one of which is WooCommerce, a separate WordPress plugin. When those conditions are met, anyone with an account on the site—say a subscriber or customer—can create new accounts that have full administrator privileges.

The vulnerability was discovered by Jerome Bruandet, a researcher with security firm NinTechNet. Last week, Elementor, the developer of the Elementor Pro plugin, released version 3.11.7, which patched the flaw. In a post published on Tuesday, Bruandet wrote:

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Enlarge / Twitter has posted what it states is the code used by its algorithm to recommend tweets to its users.

Twitter has made good on one of CEO Elon Musk's many promises, posting on a Friday afternoon what it claims is the code for its tweet recommendation algorithm on GitHub.

The code, posted under a GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, contains numerous insights as to what factors make a tweet more or less likely to show up in users' timelines.

In a blog post accompanying the code release, Twitter's engineering team (under no particular byline) notes that the system for determining which "top Tweets that ultimately show up on your device's For You timeline" is "composed of many interconnected services and jobs." Each time a Twitter home screen is refreshed, Twitter pulls "the best 1,500 Tweets from a pool of hundreds of millions," the post states.

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Earning that nickname all over again

Capita, a major business and IT services provider that has scored multi-million-dollar contracts with several UK government agencies, confirmed some of its systems went down today due to "an IT issue."…

Enlarge / Use your freedom of choice. (credit: Apple)

A long while back, Toyota told me it didn't want to give up interior real estate to Apple’s CarPlay. The automaker felt that losing that space to the tech company would be a huge mistake. Fast forward a few years, and after what I assume were some internal struggles, it caved and now you can get CarPlay and Android Auto on your fancy new Highlander, Prius, Tacoma, or Camry. It seemed like a silly decision had been reversed. Now it’s GM’s turn to go down the same path.

Today, news dropped that GM would be phasing out CarPlay support in future EVs. In its partnership with Google, it hopes that all the features you get from mirroring your iPhone can be replaced with an Android Automotive feature. GM, like Toyota before it, wants to control the digital real estate in its vehicles. It’s a revenue-based and walled-garden (ironically against Apple) decision that will cost them.

Software-driven vehicles should be about choice. Instead, GM is making a short-sighted decision based on a trickle of revenue under the guise of better integration. Owning all the data that a vehicle generates while driving around could be a great source of cash. The problem is potential customers have become accustomed to choosing which device they use to navigate, chat, text, and rock out within their vehicle. They’ve grown weary of being mined for data at the expense of their choice and they’re really not all that keen on in-car subscription services.

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Enlarge (credit: Sean Gallup | Getty Images)

Google Bard is getting a little smarter today with the addition of math and logic capabilities. Google employee Jack Krawczyk announced the change on Twitter, saying, "Now Bard will better understand and respond to your prompts for multi-step word and math problems, with coding coming soon."

Logic questions were a big flaw when Bard arrived tens of days ago, and some answers made Bard seem particularly dumb to early testers. In one example from last week, Bard repeatedly asserted that one plus two equaled four. Today, Google's state-of-the-art AI chatbot models can now correctly say that the answer is three. So there has been at least some change. It can also correctly list the months in a year instead of making up names like "Maruary."

Bard still gets tripped up by really basic logic questions, though. HowToGeek's Chris Hoffman posed the question to Bard on day one, "What's heavier, five pounds of feathers or a one pound dumbbell?" Google Bard responded with the ridiculous claim that "There's no such thing as 5 pounds of feathers." In the replies, ChatGPT didn't do any better, saying that five pounds of feathers and a one pound dumbbells "weigh the same amount, which is five pounds."

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Enlarge / This micrograph shows the presence of the fungal agent Blastomyces dermatitidis, 1978. (credit: Getty | CDC/Dr. Libero Ajello)

Toxic fungal spores wafting around a Wisconsin neighborhood—possibly spread by recent construction in the area—sparked an outbreak of rare infections that left one person dead, state health officials reported Friday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In all, the outbreak cluster included five pet dogs and four people, with the onset of symptoms spanning from October 2021 to February 2022. While two of the cases in people were mild, the other two required hospitalization, including the fatal case. The five dogs were reported to have mild to moderate cases.

The outbreak was caused by the poorly understood fungus Blastomyces (B. dermatitidis and B. gilchristii), which lurks in moist soil and decomposing organic matter, such as wood and leaves, often near water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the fungus could exist throughout the eastern US, but its distribution is uneven. It's often found around the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and the Great Lakes. Parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota are considered hotspots.

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Fresh installation image for the rolling-release edition of OpenMandriva

The project known as OpenMandriva has released new installation images for its rolling-release edition, with the latest kernel and the latest KDE Plasma – among many other choices.…

It’s a blessed day in the running community. If you’re not in the loop, let us be the first ones to let the cat outta the bag: Hoka just dropped a new unisex running shoe, the Rocket X 2.

If you’re someone training for a race, these are what we would like to call the one. They were designed for road racing and are geared towards elite runners—though we consider all of you *master* runners, even if you can only manage to run one mile at a 10-minute pace. We give you a gold star for effort, always.

The Rocket X 2 has a remastered carbon fiber plate; crammed between two layers of foam, it’s modern-day running technology that’s designed to propel you forward and offer an ultra-responsive landing and keep momentum with each stride Its synthetic mesh upper material delivers a snug fit to lock down your feet and deliver neutral stability, because the thought of rolling an ankle—or worse yet, your shoes flying off while running—gives us anxiety we didn’t ask for. It also is constructed with ProFly-X, which is a cushioning system that combines soft and firm foams for a pillow-soft landing and a speedy lift-off.

The Rocket X 2 is primed to be preserved for race days, and in terms of Hokas for training or just strolling about daily life, the Bondi 8 and Clifton 9 are excellent options for everyone on this planet (trust us). One of our writers is a tried and true Hoka stan and can’t get enough of Hoka sneakers’ support, whether it’s for injury prevention, training, or walking.

We’ll see you at the finish line…in a pair of Hoka’s Rocket X 2, of course.

The Hoka Rocket X 2 is now available on Hoka’s website.

The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.

Man, WTF happened in March? No, literally, can you tell us? We don’t remember. Uh… Everything Everywhere All at Once won every film award on the planet, and John Wick 4 finally came out, putting an end to next spring’s Oscars race. There was some kind of basketball tournament—is that still going on? Anyway, the month is behind us now, so let's dig in to the March edition of Backed Hard, where VICE’s product-obsessed editors and writers share their fave personal scores from the past month. Naturally, it’s full of dope tunes, killer kitchen gear, relaxing pillows—oh, just remembered that Sleep Week happened—and a perfect doormat.

Some of us whittled away March snorkeling in bathtubs full of Kewpie mayonnaise, while others were just listening to “Mayonaise” and making dishes out of Ina Garten cookbooks. We were mainlining espresso from Breville’s gorgeous Nespresso Creatista Pro, stompin’ through town in a cozy sweater drinking prebiotic banana cream soda, having sex to Sade vinyls, and zoning out with fidget spinners. All things considered, it was a pretty good month (what we remember of it, at least). Read on, and find out how we got through it.

I love this mayonnaise more than I love my grandmother

We don’t get to pick our blood relatives, but we do get to pick the mayonnaise that makes it into our sandwiches, on our fries, and drizzled over our poke bowls. Kewpie is to mayo what Maldon is to salt; a gateway into Flavortown that makes you realize how great a staple can be when it’s done right (and how hard it is to go back to anything else). Kewpie’s Japanese mayo is made from egg yolk instead of whole egg, which is why it has the kind of rich, umami taste I can only describe as mayo in high def. —Mary Frances “Francky” Knapp

These affordable ceramic plates that have Heath shaking in its boots

As someone in my [mumbles] mid-thirties, I recently decided that I needed to adultify my kitchen objets, including upgrading my plate situation (previously a visionless mishmash of various white and patterned dishware accumulated from the last six or so places I’ve lived). Yes, a unified ceramic aesthetic seemed like just the ticket to curing my existentialist ennui. Anyway, it turns out that the really nice stuff is pretty pricey—like, $50 per plate for the fancy brands like Heath. But this is capitalism, baby; we’ve got options. These suuuper handsome ceramic Mora plates from Amazon are only $54.99 for a set of six, and have that covetable shape (flat with a perpendicular rim) that opera-sings “garnished with microgreens” and elevates every meal you enjoy on them, even if it’s just a microwaved quesadilla. The very first night I unboxed them and served them to a visitor, I got a compliment. —Hilary Pollack

Do ostriches get good sleep? Because I sure did.

I constantly have an achy neck, whether it be from hunching over my laptop or accidentally sleeping in a strange position all night. This means any products that can tackle my neck pain are warmly welcomed. Needless to say, I hit a goldmine with this memory foam pillow. Not only was I able to fall asleep faster with my comfortable head position literally… well, memorized in the memory foam, but I was also able to go through my day with no neck pain. To be sure it was not a fluke, I went back to sleeping with my normal pillows, and, much to my chagrin, the neck pain resumed. Buy this, and don’t go back. —Becca Sax

A super inexpensive pack of fidget spinners

When the fidget spinner craze happened, I had exactly zero interest in it. Why would I play with a toy when I feel anxious or bored? I thought. I’ll just drink wine like everybody else. Not too long ago, though, I heard that a friend of mine (who I deeply respect) used fidget spinners to focus during meetings and conversations at work. I recalled how, during meetings and phone calls at my desk, I’m usually just touching everything and opening and closing a wine key that’s sitting in front of me. So, I decided to check out this package of fidget spinners that’s literally $10. Now, I use this MF thing every goddamn day. —Adam Rothbarth

The best condoms (that feel like you’re wearing nothing)

LELO is the luxury Swedish sexual wellness brand that makes some of VICE editors’ favorite vibrators, and its ultra-strong, ultra-smooth condoms 1) don’t smell like balloons 2) are super comfortable (so I hear from partners) and thin. A must for the nightstand/Jansport. —Mary Frances “Francky” Knapp

The Carhartt stays on

My furry bundle of joy just grew out of his puppy collar (weeps thinking about the thought of him ever dying), but I cheered us me up by procuring the swaggiest new accessory for him to flaunt on the streets of Brooklyn— a Carhartt RealTree camo dog collar, natch. It’s a breeze to clip on and off, not to mention it’s available on Amazon so it will only take a day or two to land in your mailbox. —Becca Blasdel

The best record for making out

I stopped collecting records when I moved to [rips some Gauloises] Europe in my twenties, so my LP collection is a 2013 time capsule—which would be fine if giving a decent blow job to Neutral Milk Hotel was possible. That’s why I made a promise to myself to start bringing more classic, sultry records into the mix, such as this (double LP) The Best of Sade vinyl. Not only is it wildly affordable and extensive, but it’s a guaranteed smooth operator for your evenings of easy listening, making out, or hosting friends for drinks. —Mary Frances “Francky” Knapp

This Nespresso machine makes me feel like a pro barista

I’m just not meant for complicated coffee setups that require measuring, grinding, and knowing, like, ratios of water and stuff, but I am meant for enjoying oat milk lattes at home. As a result, I’ve been reveling in the wonder of the Breville Nespresso Creatista Pro, a magical appliance that combines the ease of use of Nespresso machines with the many beverage options that an automated espresso machine provides, from flat whites to lattes. Surprisingly simple to use and clean, it has provided me with a never-ending supply of perfect cappuccinos for the last couple of months all at the press of a button and wipe of a milk-frothing wand. I’ve been meaning to write a full and proper review of this machine for a while—and I will—but it has so many incredible features that it’s taking time to properly document each and every one. This espresso machine is truly straight out of The Jetsons. —Hilary Pollack

I (and my mug) are ti-ta-ni-um

After wrapping an homage to cult-fave Japanese outerwear label Snow Peak, I realized I was lacking one of the brand’s smallest (and most affordable) investment pieces: a Ti-Single 450 mug. For those unfamiliar, Snow Peak is well-known for its use of Titanium in a suite of products; the metal is incredibly lightweight and durable, making it the perfect medium to craft camping gear, cookware and tools. The Ti-Single 450 is, at its core, just a supremely lightweight mug with a handle that can fold into its body. That said, given that the mug can handle high temps and even be placed directly over an open flame, it’s quickly becoming my mug for just about anything. Whether it’s holding my fourth cup of coffee or that day’s ramen noodles for lunch, the TI-Single 450 now holds permanent real estate on my desk (right next to my lucky block of wood; it’s a long story—don’t ask). —Gregory Babcock

This toothpaste that tastes like a creamsicle

Don’t ask me about toothpaste chemistry, but do ask me about flavors, because I’m really tired of mint. I’m a huge proponent of fancy toothpaste (shoutout to Marvis, my primary) but recently have been enjoying the creamsicle-like taste of Boka’s Orange Cream Space Paste, which, yes, is for children, but so what? If it’s good enough for baby Avalon or Ryder, it’s good enough for me. Plus, it’s a natural toothpaste made with nano-hydroxyapatite, a popular ingredient in Japanese toothpastes that restores enamel, reduces sensitivity, and is 100% non-toxic. But hey, did I mention that this stuff tastes good? —Angel Kilmister

A lost art

Nowadays, no one writes handwritten letters, but they should. I remember my mother forcing me to write thank-you notes to each one of the guests who attended my bat mitzvah at my coming of age. There was unbearable hand cramping, but I learned the value in a thoughtful, handwritten note. Now that I’m older and wiser, I write thank you notes for all occasions, including finishing things off with a fancy wax seal to spice things up. Everyone deserves the excitement that comes with seeing a letter addressed to them in the mail. —Becca Sax

This washable silk weighted eye mask

Falling asleep is easy for me; staying asleep is trickier. It took me an embarrassingly long time to get proper curtains in my bedroom, but some light still sneaks in, often at the time when you least want it to (an hour and a half before your alarm goes off; can the birds please shut up?). A silk sleep mask can totally change the game, providing not just an air of luxury, but a genuinely practical solution to reminding your body that it’s snooze time. Lunya makes an array of amazing sleep and loungewear products (my beau practically lives in the Cotton Silk Joggers), but the new weighted washable silk eye mask is truly a revelation—it’s filled with tiny glass beads that gently cradle and massage your face and keep the mask in place. And yes, you can put it in the fridge and wear it when you have a hangover for a refreshing, spa-like recovery session. —Angel Kilmister

Soda that tastes like bananas???

I love diet soda, but have been trying to find healthier alternatives to fulfill my guilty pleasure. I was in the bodega one day and found soda that tastes like a literal banana cream pie from Olipop. This isn’t just any ordinary soda though—it a) was originally concocted to promote the last Minions movie, but was so popular the brand decided to keep it and b) supports digestive health with prebiotics and a whopping nine grams of fiber. Who said soda couldn’t be good for your health? —Nicolette Accardi

A glass rinser, like the one they have in bars—but in your kitchen sink

As a person who enjoys drinking at bars, I’ve often marveled at those little spray gadgets they have built into the well that allows bartenders to clean glasses in just a couple of seconds. So when my kitchen was recently being remodeled, I was like… I wonder if you can just put one of those in your house, and folks, the answer is yes. For just $57 ($42 if you use the currently available coupon), you, too, can simply press your glass down on one of these suckers and have it sprayed to sparkling perfection in less time than it takes to say “I’ll have another Negroni.” —Hilary Pollack

Fattening up my pooch the healthy way

Contrary to popular belief, there are picky dogs out there, and I happen to own one. In addition to being allergic to chicken, which is in practically everything they make for pets, my rescue mutt is also fairly discerning. I have wasted plenty of money on food and treats that he turns his nose up at, but much to my surprise, the dude absolutely loves Petaluma’s sweet potato jerky and dog food. Which is truly a blessing, because I can spoil him with as many treats I deem “reasonable” without worrying about his health. —Becca Blasdel

The simple doormat of my dreams

I swear to you: It was a challenge finding a simple jute doormat that satisfied my picky taste. This option from Revival Rugs is sub-$50, high-quality, works for indoor or outdoor use, and honestly just makes me happy when I come home each day. —Kate Spencer

Enter the Ina-verse

I recently bought a bunch of Ina Garten cookbooks and tried to figure out what people love so much about her. I reported my findings here, but the spell these books have over me lingers. All I want to do is make truffled mac and cheese and Campari orange spritzers. If you want a good entry point, start with Modern Comfort Food; but the romantic Cooking for Jeffrey, which honors Ina’s relationship with her husband, might be my favorite. —Adam Rothbarth

Get a load of this garbage

T-minus one day until Earth Month, people—hurry up and look responsible. One incredibly easy step you can take to a happier planet is making the switch to these sustainable plant-based trash, recycling, and zip-top storage bags. Not only are they much cuter than your regular-degular black Hefty’s, they also break down cleanly, without producing microplastics or toxic residue. —Becca Blasdel

See you next month.

The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.

Enlarge / Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez star as Elgin (a bard) and Holga (a barbarian) in D&D: Honor Among Thieves. (credit: Paramount Pictures)

Of all the films due for release this spring, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was one of my most anticipated premieres, solely on the strength of those killer trailers. The film does not disappoint. It's a fresh, good-humored, energetic, and vastly entertaining fantasy/action/comedy, boasting a stellar cast and solid emotional core that serves as a worthy homage to the famous RPG that inspired it.

(Some spoilers below, but no major reveals.)

Honor Among Thieves is set in the hugely popular Forgotten Realms campaign setting. The film's official premise is short and sweet: "A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people."

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Dabbling downstairs with your fingertips may be the au natural way to third base, but adding a sex toy to your erotic treasure chest doesn’t hurt. It’s time to slide the edible undies to the side and make room for bigger and better things. Not that undergarments that taste like Fruit Roll-Ups don’t deserve a standing ovation, but will they make you cum? Our verdict says no, which is why we stan this cult-fave clitoral vibrator that will make you orgasm no problem: the Satisfyer Pro 2. Besides taking you to O-Town and being the best-selling vibrator for VICE readers (!!!), it’s currently 53% off, which is its steepest discount in 30 days, according to Amazon.

The iconic Satisfyer Pro 2 uses air-pulse stimulation to radiate feelings of suction and pulsations similar to oral sex on le bean, and comes in three different colorways—including an icy blue, lavender, and rose pink. Its 11 different pulsing intensities should make it no problem to find one that satisfies your (highly) personal preferences. Different strokes for different folks, but the silicone head is big enough to surround the entire clitoris, gentle enough for even the lightest touch, and powerful enough to throttle you into orgasmic space, so we have high hopes.

One of our writers claimed it will have her “yodeling for many spank sessions to come,” which has made us already put in our orders. With a 4.2 star average and over 57,000 reviews on Amazon, that statement holds truth for a whole lot of happy buyers. “The bad thing about this device is the fact that you may have a heart attack using this because it will blow your MIND!!!!,” one reviewer almost fooled us with their clever way of words.

The motor on the Pro 2 is also stronger than its previous model, all while being quieter for a lovely, discreet night in even if you’re dealing with roommates the next room over (or worse yet, parents). It’s also rechargeable and waterproof, so feel free to bring it in the shower for some *water fun*.

The Satisfyer Pro 2’s 53% off discount might poof away before your clit-sucking dreams can be fulfilled, so equip yourself with this truly perfect suction vibrator while the opportunity is there.

The Satisfyer Pro 2 is available on sale on Amazon.

The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.

Is it us, or is time flying? We blinked and it went from getting dark at 4 p.m. to the blissful post-daylight-savings dream of it still being light outside when leaving work. Let’s all let out a resounding huzzah as we thank the powers that be for lessening our seasonal depression and bestowing upon us the same glory and mercy that Gwyneth Paltrow is also currently enjoying post-trial-win. March is turning out to be a truly heavenly month. On top of celebrating Everything Everywhere All At Once stealing every Oscar with our own hot dog hands, we also explored how to achieve maximum resting potential during Sleep Week, and we’re gearing up for music festival season. It’s time for our March 2023 installment of What VICE Readers Bought This Month, so let’s delve into the stuff you guys went cuckoo-bananas over this month, before it’s April and we’re all stoned out of our minds.

It cums comes as no surprise that clit-sucking vibrators and Hoka Bondi 7s topped the list of things that VICE readers bought this month, because if there’s two things we know for sure, it’s that you guys love running and orgasms—keep up the good work. The rest of March’s best-sellers include pheromone perfume (for keeping things horny), a Japanese chef's knife for mastering absolutely everything from Ina Garten’s bibliography, and nipple covers for… covering nipples. Read on for more of the top products VICE readers bought in March 2023.

Reach your climax

In the words of Rec Room’s senior writer and resident sexpert Mary Frances Knapp, who reviewed Rosie, the rose-shaped clit-sucker from Tracy’s Dog, “it made my clit swoon.” On top of being, like, totally aesthetically pleasing and clit-charming, this pretty suction toy is also super lightweight, made from body-safe silicone, and incredibly travel-friendly (it fits in the palm of your hand).

If you’d rather hump your toys, no sweat—readers also went ham for the Ruby Glow massager from Rocks-Off, which offers 10 speeds for you to ride along with. While it’s not the most discreet toy, “this vibrator wants to be full-on straddled and have you just go at it,” writes Knapp.

Speaking of sex….dust

Maybe you’re familiar with Moon Juice and the lore of founder Amanda Chantal Bacon, Father John Misty, and a stolen crystal, but have you actually tried its popular wellness products? It turns out that Sex Dust actually slaps. After ingesting Sex Dust every day for a month, senior writer Mary Frances Knapp “went into this experiment feeling skeptical, but I found myself feeling not only hornier from the adaptogen blend, but more creative and even open-minded.” Her only caveat: The dust is quite earthy, so “it begets a banana and date smoothie, or some hot chocolate.” Noted.

Run like the wind

It’s no secret that you freaks LOVE sneaker brand Hoka—us too, mateys. There’s just something about those chunky, pillowy soles that fulfill both our aesthetic and physical needs. “When it comes to Hokas, the Bondi 7s are god’s gift to the running world,” writes Nicolette Accardi in her review of the Bondi 7s—which are (luckily) currently on sale.

Do you want that TOGO?

We love our readers. Y’all have exceptional taste in decor, even if you don’t have a Logan Roy-level budget. We’re with you, babes—we’re also squirreling away our tax return for our next big purchase, which will either be a glorious Togo sofa or Wassily chair dupe. VICE readers have been buying this sick Togo armchair lookalike like hotcakes, and we don’t blame you—it’s plush velvet, highly rated, and only around $1,000, a steal compared to a real Togo sofa’s price tag.

I love the way you smell

And so will every other hot single hottie at the bar, hardcore show, and famer’s market. Baddies everywhere will be coming up to you in droves because of that je ne sais quoi. Pssst…. It’s this TikTok-famous pheromone oil that comes in a convenient roll-on that you can stash in your purse, gym bag, or back pocket  whenever you need a little extra confidence boost. One of our staff writers took it for a test run, and the results were interesting to say the least.

You need to cut it

Fancy knives can get really pricey, but as most professional chefs and avid home cooks know, all you really need is one good knife to tackle everything from fileting fish to julienning vegetables—just make sure you keep it nice and sharp, and clean and dry it after each use. This tried-and-true Imarku knife is one of our top picks under $100, and apparently, one of yours, too.

No more nippin’ out

God, don’t you hate it when the A/C flicks on mid-meeting and you find yourself peeking through your shirt? Us, too, which is why comfortable, trusty-worthy nipple covers (a.k.a. pasties) are truly a god-send. Writer Becca Blasdel reviewed a bunch last summer in hopes of having a carefree, braless season, and it turns out pasties make it possible. The two brands that are still flying off the shelves? Bare Necessities Nippies and Bonamona nipple covers. ​

See you next month, and thanks for shopping [rips bong].

The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.

Enlarge / Deployment of LSPM junction box 1. (credit: IN2P3/CNRS)

In 1962, one of the world's first underwater research laboratories and human habitats was established off the coast of Marseilles, France, at a depth of 10 meters. The Conshelf 1 project consisted of a steel structure that hosted two men for a week.

Now, more than 60 years later, another underwater laboratory is being set up not far from Marseilles, this time to study both the sea and sky. Unlike the Conshelf habitat, the Laboratoire Sous-marin Provence Méditerranée (LSPM) won't be manned by humans. Located 40 km off the coast of Toulon at a depth of 2,450 meters, it is Europe’s first remotely operated underwater laboratory.

Physics under the sea

Currently, three junction boxes capable of powering several instruments and retrieving data are at the heart of LSPM. The boxes, each measuring 6 meters long and 2 meters high, are connected to a power system on land via a 42-kilometer-long electro-optical cable. The optical portion of this cable is used to collect data from the junction boxes.

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Braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, and boil—there’s only one suave piece of cookware that comes to mind when we think of a single piece of cookware that can perform all those verbs: the cult-fave Always Pan from Our Place. You may be pondering why we’re kicking things off by describing all the wonderful things it can do in the kitchen. Well, first of all, we’ve tried (and loved) it, and furthermore, this eight-in-one kitchen workhorse (did we mention it also stores food?) is now 20% off for its Last Chance Sale.

This sale is sizzling, as there are only three colors left of this glorious 10-inch pan: the terracotta-pink Spice, handsome Blue Salt, and earthy Sage green. If you’re asking us, we’ll take one of each. Besides saving a whole $30 (grocery money!) off the original retail price, you can finally make yourself some eggs that won’t stick to your decade-old, crusty pan from Dad. Exciting!

One of our editors claims the cult-fave pan to be “the cookware Eames chair of the 2020s,” which should be enough to convince you that this is a must-have when it comes to functional design. Maybe the 4.6 star average and over 32,000 reviews on its website say it all. “I just told my wife yesterday (as I was cleaning our pan) that I never thought I could LOVE a pan,” one reviewer wrote. That's the only kind of emotional cheating we condone.

If you’ve never thought of yourself as a cook, perhaps the spruce steamer attachment will convince you to make tender xiao long bao that have the potential to be better than your secret dumpling spot in Chinatown (believe in yourself, young grasshopper). Super-long reusable chopsticks are even included—what more can you ask for???

You can also find other kitchen necessities on sale at Our Place, such as this gorg Walnut Cutting Board, this colorful glassware for sippin’ in mid-century-adjacent colorways, plates, and bowls for up to 28% off.

Our Place is being sneaky during its Last Chance Sale, since we have no idea when it ends. The Always Pan will only be 20% off for so long, so throw it in your virtual shopping cart fast if you want to do your kitchen some good.

Shop the entire Our Place Last Chance Sale here.

The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.

Who watches the watchmen? The Office of the Inspector General

Back in July 2020, then New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act into law, which required the New York Police Department to reveal how it uses surveillance technology and to formulate surveillance policies.…