As I took my seat at a women’s networking luncheon, it quickly became apparent that the guests at my table more than matched the cost of the event.

There was the corporate lawyer in a sharply tailored suit; the top bank manager with a scary haircut; the woman who ran a recruiting firm and placed people in six-figure salary jobs, and another who did something inexplicably complex in the tech sector: a formidable group of women making great strides in their professional lives.

So, given the origins of my fellow diners, you might imagine that the possibilities for absorbing conversations about, say, politics, work, travel or books would be limitless. But when the waiters poured glasses of crisp Chablis and offered hors d’oeuvres with round smoked salmon, it quickly became clear that there would be no side dish to accompany a lively conversation.

Not because these women didn’t have a lot to say. Quite the opposite. In fact, they didn’t keep their mouths shut. The problem was that all these well-groomed, accomplished career women were all focused on one topic: their children.

The barrister to my right gave a particularly bleak account of her daughter’s problems choosing GCSE subjects.

Meanwhile, the tech guru to my left was blabbering on about how her son – ‘he’s very smart’ – was preparing for a Duke of Edinburgh Award.

They just kept going, no detail was too nonsensical or boring to remove from their monologues, so any idea of ​​making new business contacts (my whole reason for attending) was shot to pieces. All I left with was a steaming pile of parental anecdotes.

Not that this was an isolated incident by any means. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve found myself among groups of women—at dinner parties, work dates, or social gatherings—who have found themselves unable to talk about anything other than their children.

They are self-absorbed and puffed up by the certainty that their children’s every breath is making headlines, and they have no idea how to take their conversation beyond the confines of their children’s lives. Don’t they worry about the cost of living, the Oscars or the upcoming elections in the US and Britain?

Now I have nothing against children; I am truly blessed to have four of my own children. I adore their bones, and as their mother, I am absolutely captivated by their daily lives.

Yet I am acutely aware that while all this is a source of endless fascination and pride for me, the outside world is not equally fascinated. Unfortunately, many women do not understand this.

In this age of groundbreaking female achievement, how did it get to this point? Have we forgotten that we had to break the glass ceiling, fight for elections and fight for equal pay?

Do you really imagine men indulging in introspective conversations about their children while strolling the golf course or networking over a beer? Of course not. They enjoy the freedom of their child-free free time.

One woman, high up in the financial world, has the gift of always directing conversations back to her children. She recently managed to hijack an impassioned group chat about whether Trump could become US president for a second time into an exhausting monologue about her son’s first trip to New York. Who cares?

Is there a way to capitalize on these often brain-numbing scenarios? Believe me, I tried it. I remember at a birthday lunch, encouraged by a G&T on an empty stomach, declaring that all talk of children should be banned.

“It’s boring, boring, boring,” I stormed. “Do you really think that when our children get together, they waste time talking about their parents? So why on earth are we doing the same thing?’

It worked – for a while. By the time dessert arrived, like dieters, they fell off the wagon and back into the world of school uniforms, exams and college applications.

On another occasion, in almost absolute desperation from boredom, I found myself declaring, “Is anyone else using the bobbin here?” I’m sure it’s time for mine to come out.” Getting the other women away from the obsessive, child-oriented chatter was the first thing I could think of.

So if you’re one of those women who thinks everyone is fascinated by your child, take it from me: they’re not. A good conversation between intelligent, committed women should be as simple as child’s play, and not about it.

NETFLIX users are threatening to cancel their subscriptions on a popular Reddit forum.

The page is called r/netflix and recently there were complaints about rumors of plans for more price increases.

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Wall Street analysts have said they expect Netflix prices to rise again this year Variety.

“We expect to see rate hikes this year,” UBS analyst John Hodulik said of Netflix.

This has not been confirmed and the streaming giant only raised its prices a few months ago.

Despite this, Netflix users are expressing concerns about the app and other streaming platforms.

“I also canceled my Netflix. I have had a Netflix account for at least 15 years.

“I’m tired of services constantly raising prices. IMO, Hulu is the superior streaming choice.

“I’ll probably pick up Netflix again in about six months and see what I missed,” said one Reddit user wrote.

“I think Netflix should give regular subscribers some sort of discount,” she added.

The disgruntled subscriber was not alone in this thought process.

“I just canceled too. $24 a month is absurd right now. Much better services for cheaper,” wrote another Netflix user.

“Good choice. I canceled my subscription years ago because Netflix doesn’t have enough quality content to justify the subscription every month.

“Maybe if they release season 3 of Kingdom I’ll reconsider it,” said another.

Other Reddit users took to the forum to stand up for Netflix.

“Since you feel the need to announce your cancellation, I would like to announce that I am not canceling Netflix. Thank you,” one person wrote.

Q: How do you know someone? r/Netflix canceled their membership?

“A: Don’t worry, they’ll tell you,” another user joked.

AMAZON Prime users are so frustrated with the latest changes to the app that they have resorted to canceling their accounts.

Since Amazon added ads to its video platform in January, users haven’t been happy.

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Besides the fact that ads are incredibly inconvenient, users also have to pay an extra $2.99 ​​per month if they want to go ad-free.

Amazon said the ads would allow them to continue investing in engaging content.

However, this new change is not going down well with members who are taking to social media to share their thoughts.

“I canceled two days before the ads started at the end of January,” one person commented Reddit.

“The chat and calling options were difficult to get through, and they had me put on hold,” she added.

Ultimately, the user said the agents were refunded a year of their membership.

“My argument was always that if Amazon had disclosed that ads would be shown at renewal time, I would never have renewed,” they said.

Since going live, the post has been clicked hundreds of times and received more than 400 responses.

“The Prime Video selection hasn’t been great lately. I’m probably not getting my money’s worth,” said another Reddit user.

“I absolutely hate ads so I won’t be using the service,” said a third Prime subscriber.

“To me, ads are an imposition that should not be placed on a paid platform. Where will it end if we accept this?” they added.

Another user argued that when Amazon Prime cost $79.99 in 2017, it offered better benefits for a lower price compared to the current service.

“It offered Prime Videos ad-free, Prime Music basic (on-demand), unlimited music cloud storage, unlimited photo and video cloud storage,” they said.

“It now costs $140, and those are all gone. Prime Video charges extra for ad-free. Prime Music Basic is a radio-style playlist instead of on-demand. You have to pay extra for cloud storage,” they added to.

Prime Video on Monday became the latest streaming service to introduce ads.

The service now joins the other four most popular streaming sites in the US: Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+ and Max.

AMAZON Video subscribers have condemned a recent change to the app, saying they are even “refusing to watch” their TV.

Movie and TV fans are even threatening to cancel their Amazon Prime memberships over the controversial adaptation.

Just a few weeks ago, Amazon started showing ads on Amazon Prime Video.

And the only way to remove these ad breaks is to pay an additional monthly fee of $2.99 ​​/ £2.99.

An Amazon Prime member has said in a Reddit thread with dozens of upvotes that they “refuse to watch commercials” and even threatened to cancel their subscription.

“Now that Amazon Prime has commercials, I mute the commercials and look away,” the user said wrote.

“I’m considering canceling. I’ve been trying to read more anyway. These streaming services are turning back into cable TV and I’m kind of over it. Corporate greed = never enough.”

Another said: “I just stopped watching Amazon video content completely and will eventually cancel Prime.”

And one person added: “I canceled my Prime. I’d been thinking about it for a while because I didn’t think the value was there outside of Prime Video, so when commercials came along I ditched it.”

DON’T LOOK AWAY

But other Amazon users mocked the original post.

“Amazon doesn’t care if you passive aggressively look away. Andy Jassy knows Amazon is making money from ad revenue or $3 additional cost from subscribers,” wrote one.

Another said: “Amazon doesn’t care if you don’t watch. They only care if having ads isn’t as profitable as not having them.”

And someone added: “This is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. Amazon doesn’t care if you look away, and they’d probably prefer it to you canceling.

“All they care about is subscriber and viewer numbers so they can sell more ads.”

THAT’S NOT ALL

Amazon Video owners are also disappointed with the new benefit that has been removed from the regular subscription.

Regular members previously had access to Dolby Vision HDR (for improved contrast and colors) and Dolby Atmos surround sound for Amazon Video content.

But both of these functions are also locked behind the monthly ad-free paywall.

Fans recently reacted furiously to the decision, calling it “petty.”

And someone wrote: “Amazon was already the worst streaming platform. Now they’re digging their grave even deeper.”

A POPULAR brand of chocolate eggs has disappeared from shelves, leaving fans to moan that Easter has been “ruined”.

Galaxy Enchanted Eggs were launched in 2019 with creamy milk chocolate, crunchy caramel pieces and a rose gold coating.

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But shoppers looking for them this year were left disappointed after they were withdrawn without warning.

It’s not clear why they’re gone, but creator Mars recommended fans try Galaxy’s Creamy Truffle mini eggs instead.

Disappointed customers mourned their absence, with one asking Mars on Twitter, formerly known as X: “@GalaxyChocolate have your enchanted eggs been discontinued? I’m missing my solution for the Easter system.”

Another said: “I’m not sure if they’re gone for good but it’s not good that they’re gone.”

“One of the creamiest egg selections ever and the portion size was always good.”

“It’s Easter, but they’re missing in action.”

A third said: “@GalaxyChocolate where have the enchanted eggs gone? Seriously disappointed that you ruined Easter.”

And a fourth added: “Absolutely baffled that I haven’t seen any Enchanted Eggs in the shops yet. I have been waiting specifically for that all year.”

Among fans, the chocolate treat is labeled as ‘great’ and ‘more’.

A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley UK told The Sun: “We can confirm that we have currently discontinued our Galaxy Enchanted eggs, but for those Galaxy fans missing the treat, our Galaxy Creamy Truffle Mini Eggs in milk chocolate or hazelnut available.”

Galaxy Creamy Truffle Mini Eggs are delicate little milk Galaxy chocolates filled with a creamy truffle center.

They’re larger than Galaxy Enchanted Eggs and don’t contain caramel pieces, but you can get a hazelnut-flavored version.

You can buy a 74g in Tesco or Morrisons for 1.35.

But it looks like Waitrose has them the cheapest at £1.25. They are currently sold out, but keep an eye out for them to come back in stock.

It is not the only Easter disappointment this year.

Mars announced last week that the iconic Bounty dark chocolate bar would not be included in its range this year.

Many fans are still mourning the loss of another Mars treat, the discontinued Milky Way Crispy Rolls.

Mars confirmed that the chocolate bar was being discontinued in 2022, but they only hit store shelves this month.

Last week we revealed how angry Cadbury fans just realized that the Dairy Milk Egg ‘n’ Spoon boxes have been discontinued.

The company said the move reflected “changing taste buds”.

Dispute tons of chocolate bars leaving the store shelves, there’s still plenty of supply this Easter.

There’s still plenty of time to buy everything you need and we’ve put together a list of the cheapest places to buy Cadbury chocolate Easter eggs.

If you love Lindt, we’ve rounded up some of the cheapest places where you can buy Lindt chocolate eggs.

We also tested mini supermarket egg dupes with the original Cadbury products.

It’s worth heading to Morrisons if you’re looking for cheap Easter eggs, as the supermarket is currently running a promotion that sees some eggs scanned for just 75p at the checkout.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

Dirty bathrooms, a lack of comfortable seating and confusing terminal maps – these are just a few of the complaints when it comes to the worst airports in the US.  

Aviation review site Skytrax has gone about rating America’s airports, and 19 of the country’s biggest and most used airports only score three stars, which signals they aren’t consistently providing a good overall service. 

Not one American airport gets a five star ranking, compared to three in Europe and nine in Asia. Here, DailyMail.com reveals why the airports are falling short and where they score the least points.

The experts at Skytrax gave ratings for various factors each airport, with the main categories comprising Ground Transportation, Security Screening, Immigration Service, Wayfinding & Signage, Arrival, Departure, Transfer, Terminal Comfort, Terminal Facilities, Shopping Facilities, and Food & Beverage. 

Take a flight down to see which American hubs could do with some improvements. 

Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport 

The experts note that Atlanta is ‘undergoing a number of passenger experience improvements – however, is let down by inefficient and insufficient immigration and security staffing levels.’ 

In the rating analysis, it scores just one star (meaning ‘totally unacceptable’) for its shower facilities, while it also only gets two stars (meaning ‘poor’) for access to quiet or relaxation areas. 

Its other lowest mark is for wait times in security, with just a 2.5. The selection of shops landside get the same rating.

On the flip side, the Skytrax team say the airport has ‘an excellent range of fast-food options as well as motivated and engaging Information staff at key points in the airport.’

Boston Logan Airport

On the rating side of things, Boston Logan Airport score lowest (2.5) for its choice of luxury stores, fast food choices landslide, the terminal seating, signage to transfer areas, its seating near check in and its ‘ease of wayfinding’ for transfers.

However, the panel highlighted some of the airport’s plus points, starting with its ‘convenient location’ and ‘good connections to the city.’

They continued: ‘Despite a small check-in space and limited landside facilities, the terminal is well organized and progress is being made to expand security screening capacities. 

‘The range of local food choices and live entertainment initiatives in the airside spaces is commendable.’ 

Charlotte Douglas International Airport

As it a ‘large hub facility,’ the experts say that walking distances at Charlotte Airport  ‘can be very long.’

However, they highlight that the airport’s ‘Minute Suites’ offer hourly room rates and shower facilities for transfer passengers.

Another gripe which they have is that the ‘signage is rather inconsistent but is helped by an effective airport app with good wayfinding feature and information.’

On the rating side of things, it scored lowest (two stars) for its terminal maps, baggage delivery times,  premium check in facility, PRM (passengers with restricted mobility) bathrooms, children’s play area, and selection of stores and fast food outlets landside.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport

While the experts appreciate that Chicago is ‘conveniently connected to the city’s mass transport system,’ they say that the failure to appropriately renovate the internal terminal connector transit has meant a high degree of inconvenience and delays for passengers.’

They also add: ‘Terminal interiors are relatively dated and the range of seating and integrated power supply is considered poor.’ 

The airport scored just two stars for its terminal maps, and selection of shops landslide. 

The pointers which ranked slightly higher (2.5) included waiting times at security, the premium check in facility, access to charging points, comfort of seats, cleanliness of washrooms and the food and beverage choices landside.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport ‘acts as an efficient hub airport in Texas,’ the experts say, with terminal layouts which are ‘designed to reduce excessive walking distances with transit connectivity.’ 

It was also applauded for its ‘efficient’ immigration services and ‘positive’ staff experience. 

However, a few negatives surfaced, with these including limited landside facilities and poorly rated business class lounges.  

When it came to the rating analysis, the airport scored lowest (two stars) for its signage to transfer areas, its access to quiet or relaxation areas, its selection of shops landside along with its food and beverage choices in the same area.

Denver International Airport

To start, the experts highlight Denver Airport’s architectural prowess, noting: ‘[It] is renowned for its unique tented roof structure and architecturally impressive Jeppesen Terminal.

‘Throughout the airport, customers will find many distinctive artworks and sculptures.’

Another perk of the place is that, ‘in recent years, transport to the airport has been enhanced with the A-Line rail service to downtown Denver, in addition to RTD bus services, taxis, and rideshare.’ 

However, they add: ‘TSA processing is often a slow pinchpoint in the departure process, and it is important to remember that access to the B and C concourses is via the people mover train only.’ 

In the ranking analysis, the children’s play area scored just one star, while the accessibility to quiet areas came in at a 2.5. All of the other features scored three stars or more.

Detroit Metro Airport

Overall, the experts seem fairly satisfied with the Detroit Metro Airport’s offerings, stating: ‘Detroit Metro terminals are spacious, bright and appealing. 

‘The design enhancements offer a lot of features throughout the airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport functions particularly well when transiting. 

‘Customer service is good, and shuttle services and moving walkways reduce travel times here.’ 

In terms of where the airport falls short, it scores just 2.5 for its terminal maps in the McNamara Terminal.

Meanwhile, a mediocre three stars were given for a number of pointers in both airport terminals including staff language skills at both security and immigration, baggage carts, premium check in facility, cleanliness of seats, cleanliness of washrooms, PRM (passengers with restricted mobility) bathrooms, and selection of shops and food landside.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Fort Lauderdale features four terminals and the experts say that one of the issues is that ‘there is no airside link for connections.’

They note: ‘This can make transfer inconvenient as shuttle bus services do not always operate efficiently. 

‘Terminal interiors and facilities are weak.’

Out of all of the terminals, they recommend number three as it has ‘been refurbished and offers a more appealing experience.’ 

The airport has more one and two-star rankings compared to other airports across all of its terminals, with some of the complaints being long walking distances to transfer, cleanliness of the bathrooms, congestion around check-in and lack of stores landside.  

Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

While Honolulu airport has ‘an appealing curbside and terminal environment which is open plan in many areas,’ the Skytrax team say it can ‘be very crowded’ and the international arrivals process is often ‘chaotic.’

Other complaints include ‘dated’ terminal finishes, limited family facilities, long walking distances and ‘lack of efficiency’ in the transfer process.

In the airport rating analysis, it scores just one star for its terminal maps and children’s play area. 

A number of features also only get two stars, including the FastTrack immigration services, clarity of signs, signage language choices, availability of toilets, baggage hall facilities, access to charging points, and baby changing rooms.

Las Vegas McCarran Airport

Detailing the airport offering in Las Vegas, the experts say: ‘Las Vegas Airport serves in excess of 50 million passengers per year using two terminal buildings and a satellite concourse. 

‘The primary concentration of shopping and dining is found in the gate areas, and there is the usual range of national coffee shops and fast-food outlets and some full-service choices.’

However, the travel pros highlight that ‘depending on the gate position, walking distances can be long for departure and arrival, and inconsistent TSA staffing levels means that security queues can be lengthy.’ 

In the rating analysis, problems in the security department were highlighted, with just three stars awarded for screening guide signage, service efficiency, staff attitude, and staff language skills.

The arrivals area could also do with some improvements, the experts say, with three stars given for availability of toilets, baggage carts and the meet and greet facilities. 

Los Angeles International Airport

The Skytrax team say of Los Angeles’ main airport: ‘Tom Bradley International Terminal provides the highest standard of passenger experience at LAX. 

‘This area has excellent natural light, appealing design features and a good range of food and beverage and airline lounge standards.’

However, they note that the airport’s biggest weakness is access and ‘drop-off roadways are often congested.’ 

Security and immigration standards are also ‘frequently slow and inefficient.’ 

Despite these complaints, Los Angeles airport fared better than most in the analysis, with all features given three stars or more. 

It also scored four stars (a good quality level) for several services including walking distances in arrivals, terminal air temperature, quality of airport announcements, and choice of luxury brands, while free time allowance on the airport Wi-Fi got an impressive five stars (meeting global best practice).

Mexico City International Airport

Mexico City International Airport did not leave a good impression with the experts. 

They said of the transportation hub: ‘Mexico City Airport comprises two terminals and offers an inconsistent experience, and is a borderline three-star airport. 

‘Cleanliness, condition and maintenance of facilities are poor in many areas. Wayfinding and signage lack logic, and there are no maps available. 

‘The staff attitude at passenger touch-points could be improved.’

After outlining the negatives, the Skytrax team did note that ‘the choice of shopping and dining options is quite good in the gate areas.’ 

In the rating analysis, the airport scored two stars for many features including car rental services, FastTrack immigration, queuing systems in departures, overall décor, air temperature, cleanliness of washrooms, and cleanliness of seats.

Miami International Airport

As Miami International Airport is a ‘gateway’ to Latin America and the Caribbean, the experts say the ‘high number of international flights means that immigration and customs are often congested.’

They continue: ‘Connections can be subject to long walking distances, and TSA processing is frequently inefficient. 

‘Shopping and dining choices are good, but service standards are inconsistent. 

‘There is a good choice of transportation but aside from taxis, all options are accessed from a centralized facility three minutes away from the terminal via train.’ 

On the rating side of things, the airport scored lowest for the cleanliness of its washrooms, with 2.5 stars. 

The same score also applied to getting help at the information kiosks, waiting times in immigration for arrivals, along with service efficiency and waiting times in security.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

Minneapolis-St Paul ‘offers a positive experience, underpinned by good customer service,’ the experts report. 

Other plus points include a mix of local and international food choices airside, ‘excellent’ public transport connections and the ‘proximity of the Mall of America increases the amenity value for passengers.’

However, they highlight that the check-in space is limited and this can ‘lead to poor queue management and long waits for security.’ 

The airport terminal maps were awarded just 1.5 stars in the analysis. 

Other poorly rated features included the terminal seats, choice of luxury stores and food choices landside, with these all getting just two stars. 

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport

New York’s JFK airport was blasted by the travel pros for offering an inconsistent experience. 

Explaining their reasoning, they said: ‘JFK has six terminals managed by different operators/airlines and the customer experience is inconsistent for the look and feel of the décor, and the extent of services and facilities per area. 

‘Currently, the terminal infrastructure is incompatible with the passenger numbers and service expectations, often with a low degree of customer service and high F&B charges.’

Offering a glimmer of hope, they note that the new Terminal 1 which is in the works, ‘looks to target a truly world-class facility.’

Despite outlining the downsides, the airport did get serval four stars in the analysis for features including rental services, the ease of getting around in departures and arrivals, the terminal air temperature, ATM availability. 

The airport’s very Instagrammable retro-styled TWA Hotel also got an impressive 4.5 score. 

Newark Liberty International Airport

A number of complaints around Newark airport were put forward by the experts.

They said: ‘The transfer process for international passengers at Newark is arduous and inconvenient. 

‘There has been a slow adoption of automatic kiosks here which can result in extensive immigration waits and slow security processing for connecting flights. 

‘The infrastructure for the airport is dated, and post-security the facilities are limited for passengers.’ 

The airport only got two stars for a number of its features, including the choice of luxury brands in the stores, selection of stores airside, internet kiosk facilities, children’s play area, relaxation area, cleanliness of washrooms, ease of transfer process, waiting times in immigration for arrivals, staff attitude in security and baggage carts in arrivals. 

Orlando International Airport

Giving Orlando Airport their verdict, the experts said: ‘[It] has a central terminal space from which passengers travel to the appropriate satellite terminal. 

‘This results in a good volume of landside facilities, including a hotel, food courts and a mall. 

‘However, after security, the facilities are limited in scope. The terminal interiors are dated and security is often slow here.’ 

In the rating analysis, a number of poor two-star ratings were dished out for features including efficiency in security, waiting times in arrivals, terminal maps, congestion around check-in, queuing systems in the departure area, premium check-in facilities and walking distances to transfers.

It also scored poorly in terms of Terminal Comfort with only two stars given for congestion around the terminal, décor, seat availability, seat types and comfort, and cleanliness of washrooms.

San Francisco International Airport

The experts acknowledge that there are ‘a number of improvements ongoing at San Francisco Airport, including the new Harvey Milk Terminal.’ 

However, they say, ‘for the majority of passengers, the experience remains poor, with transfer convenience and staff attitude being rated as particularly poor.’

The ‘inadequate staffing of immigration, customs and security’ increases the chances of missing connections, they add. 

On the rating side of things, the airport gets just two stars for a spread of factors including terminal maps, airport ‘help’ staff, baggage carts, children’s play area and relaxation areas. 

Washington Dulles International Airport 

While the experts say Dulles International ‘suffers from weak public transport connections,’ they highlight that ‘this should be improved in the near term.’ 

Other negatives include an ‘onerous arrivals process and disorganized departure security screening.’

These pointers aside, the Skytrax team say the airport generally ‘offers a reasonable experience for travelers’ and ‘on-site day-rooms, retro architecture features and the nearby Smithsonian add to the appeal.’ 

In the ratings analysis, the lowest ratings (two stars) were given for service efficiency in security and the terminal maps. 

AMAZON Fire TV owners vow to ditch their gadgets after controversial changes to the app.

Customers have flocked to Reddit to complain about the quality of their Amazon Fire TVs and Sticks.

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The gadgets promise a smarter TV experience, but some owners aren't happy with how well the devices are performing lately — or how easy it is to find content.

In a Reddit thread with dozens of upvotes, one poster wrote, “What happened to Fire TV? I just bought a new one, so that's not it.

“You have to scroll through layers upon layers to get what you want to see. You can't escape the previews, it's slow, it kicks itself out of the show or doesn't go there at all.”

A separate user replying in the comments added: “I used to recommend them but not anymore. It's a total mess now.”

Another said: “Funny you should say that. I'm in the process of removing all Amazon devices (Fire TV and Echo) from my ecosystem. Trust is gone!”

And someone commented: “Yes, things are going downhill fast. I left the ecosystem a few months ago”

Another user said they traded their Fire TV devices for an Apple TV.

They wrote: “Yes, it's more expensive, but after years of having Fire Sticks on all my TVs, I'm slowly phasing them out.

“It was absolutely the best decision I ever made. Set it to open the home screen (instead of the default Apple TV+ app) and you have no clutter or nonsense.

“Only the apps you use. No slow and clumsy navigation and no bulls***.”

The complaints come despite a recent advertisement on Amazon Fire TV YouTube that promises users can “scroll less, watch more.”

One user suggested a solution to disable autoplay videos to alleviate some of the problem.

Just go to Settings > Preferences > Featured Content and then look for Allow Audio Autoplay and Allow Video Autoplay.

Turn both off and that should alleviate most of the autoplay issues you may be experiencing.

One replied: “Get out of bed so I don't forget this,” while another simply added: “THIS.”

But it wasn't enough for the original poster who wrote that they had already tried it: “Yes, I did, but thanks for the suggestion.”

Another said: “I did it too but some things still autoplay.”

BAD ADS

Amazon has been under fire lately for adding ads to its streaming service.

Last year, Amazon announced it would start showing “limited ads” on Prime Video.

And the change went live on January 29 this year, impacting paying users of the service.

To remove ads, subscribers must pay an additional $2.99 ​​on top of their existing subscription.

But Amazon noted: “We aim to have significantly fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers.”

Amazon Video subscribers have since revealed that they have canceled their memberships entirely.

One user on the Reddit thread said they ditched the Fire TV in their bedroom and started using an Xbox instead: “As a bonus, everything loads MUCH faster.

“I'd rather just use my Fire TV, but I absolutely hate ads and pay for an ad-free experience on literally everything I subscribe to.”

The Sun has reached out to Amazon for comment and will update this article if there is any response.

By Chloe Louise for Mailonline

Published: 06:28 EST, February 16, 2024 | Updated: 6:30 AM EST, February 16, 2024

RESIDENTS have rejected plans to close 12 landfills, saying it will turn their area into a dumping ground.

Locals in Hampshire could lose a dozen rubbish centers in their area as the council tries to save money.

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The county council has put forward plans to close five household waste recycling centers to plug a £132 million budget gap.

It says a further seven centers need investment if they are to survive.

Smoking residents are up in arms over the proposed closures, saying their area will become a hotspot for flying chickens.

One person wrote on Facebook: “So Hampshire County Council is thinking of closing landfill sites including Marchwood Tip to save money?

“What a short-sighted and silly idea, all of this will encourage people to tip which will then cost the council more money to clean up.”

Another fumed: “It's rubbish. They will have to pay a lot more for tip cleanup, which will increase significantly if people can't throw out their trash and recycle items.”

Councilor Caroline Rackham said she is also concerned this would lead to an increase in tipping.

She told the BBC: “Ponies come to the waste where the flies end up and look for food, so they can hurt or suffocate themselves if there is plastic in it. It contains harmful substances that people can fly around and that can end up in rivers or affect birds. .

“It's such a concern in this biodiverse area.”

A flycatcher can be fined up to £50,000, or even more if the case goes to the Crown Court, an offender can even be sent to prison.

Municipalities can take action against people suspected or caught of chicken tipping, including impounding vehicles suspected of dumping waste in a way that causes pollution to the environment, and prosecuting, which could result in a criminal record if found guilty in court.

You could be fined up to €400 by the local authority and have to pay the clean-up costs

The council says it is considering alternatives, including changing the types of waste accepted at the centers and limiting opening hours.

Council leader Rob Humby said: “We currently have 24 HWRCs and we believe this is more than any other province.

'We have very clear criteria from the government about the tonnage they can take and how far people can be expected to drive.

'That helped us determine which ones would not be viable if we had to cut back on services due to our financial pressures.

“We truly believe that most Hampshire residents are law abiding and will not tip.”

LAWS FOR FLY CHIPPING

Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offense for which you can be prosecuted.

The courts have a range of powers at their disposal to tackle tipping, including prison sentences, unlimited fines and an order to disqualify the rights to any vehicle used to commit the offence.

Fly-tipping is defined as the “illegal dumping of waste on land that is not licensed to accept it”.

Dumping a mattress, electrical appliances or a garbage bag full of waste on the street causes local nuisance and makes a neighborhood look ugly and dilapidated.

At the larger end of the scale, landfilling can involve dumping several truckloads of construction and demolition waste onto different types of soil.

Uncontrolled illegal waste disposal can be dangerous to the public, especially if it contains toxic material or asbestos.

There is a risk of damage to watercourses and soil quality due to the dumped waste.

More than a million cases of fly-tipping were dealt with in England every year.

The 34 million tonnes of rubbish left on the streets and countryside every year would fill 30 Wembley stadiums to the brim.

By 2021 this would cost the economy £1 billion per year – 55 per cent more than in 2015.

Organized crime gangs and repeat offenders are behind the devastating mess, an Environment Agency report has found.

Charles Barkel thinks NFL fans who complain Taylor Swift shouldn't have nice things.

“When you yell at Taylor Swift that she's ruined [football]“You're just a loser,” Barkley, 60, declared during the Thursday, February 1, episode of his King Charles show. “You're just a loser or an asshole. You are A or B. You are one of the two.'

Barkley's costar, Gayle Kingagreed with the NBA all-star, arguing that Swift, 34, claims the singer has brought a new demographic to the NFL since she started dating the Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce in the summer of 2023.

“You see young teenage girls watching football for the first time,” she argued, while their guest host, the American sports commentator, was Bob CostasTheorized that Swift's politics — in addition to her relationship with Kelce, 34 — could be contributing to the recent hate.

“Because they don't like something about Taylor Swift — they don't like the Chiefs or they've concluded that maybe Taylor Swift isn't a Trumper — then they're annoyed by Taylor Swift,” he claimed. “I can guarantee that all this news wouldn't be happening on Fox News if she were wearing a MAGA hat. They would love it.”

Swift began speaking out about politics in 2018 when she publicly endorsed the Democratic Senate candidate for Tennessee Phil Bredesen and criticized his Republican opponent, Marsha Blackbrand, for her stance on LGBTQIA+ issues and women's rights. She also openly endorsed this Joe Biden for president in 2020. When she urged people to vote via one Instagram Story in September 2023, it resulted in more than 35,000 new registered voters.

Since 2024 is an election year, the question of how Swift could impact the upcoming presidential campaign has been a topic of conversation. Last month the cohosts of The view defended the pop star after a montage of Fox News reporters criticizing Swift for her political views went viral on social media.

“When you yell at Taylor Swift that she's ruined [football], you're just a loser. You're just a loser or an asshole.” – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/fhah8fjCjz

— Terrible announcement (@awfulannouncing) February 1, 2024

“Why is [Taylor] trigger everyone?” panelist Whoopi Goldberg said on the January 30 episode of the talk show. “They are panicking.”

While many have enjoyed watching Swift and Kelce's love story unfold, some have pushed back, claiming the NFL was too focused on her attendance at Chiefs games. However, Swift clapped back during her performance TIME Person of the Year interview where she says she has no control over how much screen time the cameras give her.

“I'm just here to support Travis,” she told the outlet in December 2023. “I'm not sure if I'm showing too much and pissing off some dads, Brads and Chads.”

Now that the Chiefs have secured the AFC Championship, Swift is expected to appear at Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11, despite her Tokyo status. Eras tour stint is completed just one day earlier. Costas believes her presence can only have positive effects.

“When it comes to the Super Bowl, where many people who don't watch football year-round double the crowds even at the conference championship games, part of that is the halftime entertainment and part of that is the commercials “, he says. explained. “It's hard to believe that the Super Bowl could even get a higher rating, but in a small percentage it could actually go up.”

Costas also credited Swift for the recent increase in NFL merchandise. “Travis Kelce jerseys and all his peace and quiet and the focus on regular season games? The NFL ruled not just sports, but all American entertainment,” he said. “You would think they couldn't improve on that, but now they have taken advantage of it [a new] demographic.”