Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 69, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, get ready for some web-slingin’, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) 

This week, I’ve been reading about Elon Musk’s gamer habits and spy satellites and how Bluesky works, trying Llamao for some offline AI-ing, organizing my photos with the Proof beta, buying more BonBon candy than I’m proud of, testing the Marginalia search engine, plotting to break into the new Dude Perfect office, and seeing if a $56 Casio can be enough smartwatch for me.

I also have for you a new place to buy and read books, the return of one of my favorite shows, a great book for anyone looking for a better online life, a couple of great Spider-Man things, and lots more. Let’s do it.

(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you into right now that everyone else should be playing / building / reading / watching / learning / writing / hanging from ceilings? Tell me everything: [email protected]. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe her …

Read the full story at The Verge.

• I took a much-needed vacation to Toronto and fell in love with the city.
• I love that older people are settling down there and that everyone is eager to help my career.
• I'm just waiting for my residency to come through, and I'll leave New York City for Canada.

Tony Bennett might have left his heart in San Francisco, but Toronto took mine as soon as I stepped off the plane.

I've traveled worldwide since I was 18, and my passport is packed with stamps from gorgeous metropolitan hubs.

I've eaten amazing dim sum in Hong Kong and been transported to heaven after seeing the beauty of Italy.

At the end of last year, I traveled to Toronto, intending to take a much-needed vacation. While I had once dreamed of living in Canada, it felt like an unrealistic fantasy. What I didn't anticipate was how deeply I would fall in love with the city — so much so that the thought of returning to the US left me in tears.

This Canadian city is beautiful, but it's not New York City — like where I live now. There are no vast halls of Rembrandt or delicious pizza intoxicating your senses. Toronto is plain. And I think that's what made this city stand out for me.

For the first time in my life, I was greeted with authentic kindness, and I didn't feel like a stranger for long. I knew this city needed to be my new home.

In Canada, I feel like I'm part of the cultural mosaic

Being in Toronto for over two months definitely gave me time to immerse myself in the culture. And let me tell you, America is nothing like Canada.

We might speak the same language, but after that, there's a huge chasm of values, perceptions, and ideas surrounding every social and political issue.

One of the biggest differences is how many viewed the influx of expats living in Toronto.

Growing up in the US, I had always heard of immigration in terms of assimilation and becoming a part of the melting pot. However, Canadians didn't see diversity in this light.

Many that I spoke with talked about Canada as a cultural mosaic — a place where all could find a home and not lose their identity in the process. I saw this lived out everywhere.

Toronto truly was a cultural mosaic. It was filled with every language, nationality, and religion, yet somehow, it managed not only to work but thrive.

For example, I attended an aqua fit class with women who were Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Atheist, and we all found community among one another. There was no "other" or outsider.

Everyone was welcomed with a sense of belonging without strings attached — a feeling I had never experienced in America.

Older people are settling down in Toronto, not fleeing the city like New Yorkers

The idea of settling down in the city is an obscure concept for many Americans.

After all, the majority of our concrete hubs are bustling with 20-somethings and young adults right out of college. But you don't find many over 40 or 50 still-haling cabs in midtown.

I loved Manhattan, but after years of seeing friends pack up and leave for the suburbs, the bright city lights felt like the most isolating island around. Everyone I knew was leaving the city, getting married, and abandoning their condos for white picket fences.

I didn't want that for myself. I hate the suburbs, but I had no idea where I could find a place filled with people who had settled in high-rises.

Toronto offered me this option.

I found tons of incredible people from all walks of life thriving downtown. In fact, my yoga group was mostly made up of men and women in their 60s and 70s. These titans of industry and innovation loved living in the city. They had friends, amenities, and social lives — and none of them were packing up their bags to live on the outskirts anytime soon.

The American dream might include two kids, a dog, and a house on a cul-de-sac. But, in Toronto, it seems you have the freedom to dream differently and find fellow dreamers who think outside the box.

Toronto has been great for my career growth

Toronto is also the best place I've found for career growth.

I can't tell you how many people reached out to me during my time in this city. I would talk to one person on a Monday, and they would connect me with three of their closest colleagues the next day.

I didn't pitch myself, give an elevator speech, or share a business card. I simply got to know people over a cup of coffee, and they did everything they could to offer support. Mere strangers became some of my loudest cheerleaders because they valued collaboration and truly went out of their way to show consideration.

No place is perfect, but finding a place that feels like home is like finding your soulmate. Toronto is mine.

I fell in love with this city and can't wait to gain my permanent residency and make it my home. I've already begun the process, and I'm putting my dream into motion.

In the meantime, I'll have to just keep dreaming of Balzac's delicious Canadian Maple Lattes and the incredible Le Beau croissants.

• The Grammy Awards are designed to honor the best and brightest artists in the music industry.
• The most coveted award is album of the year, which many legends throughout history haven't won.
• The list includes Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Madonna, Prince, David Bowie, Marvin Gaye, and more.

Plenty of superstars have won big at the Grammy Awards since the show was launched in 1959 — from Stevie Wonder, the first Black artist to win album of the year in 1974, to Taylor Swift, who recently became the first artist to prevail four times in the prestigious category.

However, some of the most-awarded people in Grammy history have failed to win the top prize, even after one or more bids. In fact, many landmark albums were never nominated in the first place.

We compiled an (incomplete) list of iconic artists who are missing an album of the year Grammy on their trophy shelves (in no particular order).

• I love planning trips and am an independent traveler who looked down on group tours.
• My perspective of group tours changed when I took one with my kids to Morocco.
• I quickly booked another group tour to India.

I've always been an independent traveler. I've traveled to five continents and over 90 countries, planning nearly every aspect of each trip on my own. For years, I was happy with having complete control over my trips and the flexibility to make changes on the fly.

Group tours never interested me much. I thought they were for people who found planning overwhelming and didn't want to do the research to make sure they created a trip that aligned with their interests.

Then, I accidentally found myself on a group tour, and my perspective changed.

I was an accidental participant in a group tour

In the winter of 2024, I had planned a bucket list trip to Egypt and Jordan for my family. I had booked a tailor-made trip with Intrepid Travel that I had to cancel suddenly when war broke out in the region. Suddenly, I was faced with seeing my long-awaited trip disappear. To ensure we had somewhere to go over the holidays, I switched gears and applied my payment to a family group tour of Morocco.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't used to ceding complete control over my trip to someone else, and I was alson't sure how my kids and I would tolerate spending more than a week with total strangers.

I was pleasantly surprised

After spending three fantastic days in Marrakesh alone, my kids and I hopped on a train to Casablanca to start our group tour. I was immediately relieved to find several kids around my kids' ages.

A couple of days in, I was hooked. I was astonished that this trip, which included an incredible night of glamping in the Saraha and hiking the Torda Gorge, took almost no effort on my part and came with built-in friends.

I enjoyed having other adults to talk to, something I often miss when traveling alone with my kids. It was also a nice change of pace for my kids to have someone else to play with, especially when they started getting on each other's nerves.

The trip changed my perspective on group travel

Not everything was perfect. Some of the hotels were farther out than I would have chosen, but they were all clean and safe. We just drove by a few places I would like to have stopped. Once or twice, I got stuck waiting for others to shop when I would have rather been exploring.

However, with a very busy schedule that sometimes makes planning trips difficult, I thought these trade-offs were worth it. After my first group trip, I also learned some lessons I could use to make future group trips better.

I booked another group trip for the following year

I quickly booked another group trip for the following year. This time, I booked a trip to India, a country I had always wanted to visit but found intimidating. I thought this was the perfect choice for my family's next group tour. After exploring Morocco with a local guide, I felt confident I could tackle India with the same kind of support and guidance.

I looked at several options but decided to book with Intrepid Travel again. I liked that their specialized family tours ensured that I would travel only with other families, so I didn't need to worry about my kids bothering other guests. The family tour to India I selected also included family-friendly activities like a Bollywood dance class and a traditional block-printing class in Jaipur that aren't included on typical tours geared toward adults. The family tour included more downtime than typical tours and no late-night activities.

My second group tour experience was even better

After taking one group tour, I knew how to improve my second experience.

Although one of my favorite things about group tours is not having to do all the planning, the second time around, I did a little more research about where we were going and deviated from the group a couple of times. One detour I took to India's famous Rat Temple was a highlight. This sacred temple is filled with thousands of well-cared-for rats believed to be reincarnations of people and gods, was a fascinating look into Hindu culture and the deep reverence many Indians have for all living creatures.

Another time, some other adults and I explored a small town alone. I was warmly invited into a Hindu ceremony in progress and quickly adorned with a bindi, a red dot between my eyes meant to open my third eye and help me see beyond the physical world. This was only possible because early on, the parents on the trip had decided to trade off watching each other's kids. I also researched restaurants I wanted to try and made suggestions when it made sense.

I had another great experience, and I'm already planning my next group tour.

Manchester United have completed the signing of full-back Patrick Dorgu from Serie A club Lecce.

United States striker Ricardo Pepi has extended his contract with PSV through to 2030.

West Ham head coach Graham Potter has described being sacked by Chelsea as the "best thing that happened to me" ahead of the Premier League clash between the two sides on Monday.

Tottenham have boosted their defensive options with the signing of defender Kevin Danso from Lens.

Carlo Ancelotti branded the decision to not send off Espanyol's Carlos Romero as "inexplicable" on Saturday.

Heerenveen boss Robin van Persie was left exasperated after match officials mistakenly allowed Fortuna Sittard to field 12 players against his side on Saturday.

Barcelona's 46 game unbeaten streak in Liga F was ended by struggling Levante on Saturday as they lost 2-1.

The dog channeled his energy into working out his snoot to get it "big and strong."

Meghan and Harry have had a rough ride from U.S. magazines recently after years spent accusing the U.K. press of a vendetta.

Chase Elliott claimed pole position for the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium after dominating qualifying and heat races.

The world's most famous groundhog has made his prediction at the annual event in Pennsylvania.

Pet owner shares a difficult experience at the vet.

"We all live together!" Tarek El Moussa joked after the moment, which occurred during an Instagram Live

“It is pulling fine dust out of our carpet that has been deep down for years”

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Whether you’re looking for moisture, shine, or both, these hair masks can help your locks look their best.