diff --git a/Blacklight/Binaries.php b/Blacklight/Binaries.php
index 2dd9e9921..a71c6d51f 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Binaries.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Binaries.php
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ class Binaries
      */
     public function logIndexerStart(): void
     {
-        Settings::query()->where('setting', '=', 'last_run_time')->update(['value' => Carbon::now()]);
+        Settings::query()->where('setting', '=', 'last_run_time')->update(['value' => now()]);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ class Binaries
                             [
                                 'last_record' => $scanSummary['lastArticleNumber'],
                                 'last_record_postdate' => Carbon::createFromTimestamp($scanSummary['lastArticleDate']),
-                                'last_updated' => Carbon::now(),
+                                'last_updated' => now(),
                             ]
                         );
                 } else {
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ class Binaries
                         ->update(
                             [
                                 'last_record' => $last,
-                                'last_updated' => Carbon::now(),
+                                'last_updated' => now(),
                             ]
                         );
                 }
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ class Binaries
                     $this->header['Date'] = (is_numeric($this->header['Date']) ? $this->header['Date'] : strtotime($this->header['Date']));
 
                     // Get the current unixtime from PHP.
-                    $now = Carbon::now()->timestamp;
+                    $now = now()->timestamp;
 
                     $xref = ($this->multiGroup === true ? sprintf('xref = CONCAT(xref, "\\n"%s ),', $this->_pdo->escapeString(substr($this->header['Xref'], 2, 255))) : '');
                     $date = $this->header['Date'] > $now ? $now : $this->header['Date'];
@@ -1032,7 +1032,7 @@ class Binaries
      */
     protected function updateBlacklistUsage(): void
     {
-        BinaryBlacklist::query()->whereIn('id', $this->_binaryBlacklistIdsToUpdate)->update(['last_activity' => Carbon::now()]);
+        BinaryBlacklist::query()->whereIn('id', $this->_binaryBlacklistIdsToUpdate)->update(['last_activity' => now()]);
         $this->_binaryBlacklistIdsToUpdate = [];
     }
 
@@ -1330,7 +1330,7 @@ class Binaries
      */
     public function daytopost($days, $data): string
     {
-        $goalTime = Carbon::now()->subDays($days)->timestamp;
+        $goalTime = now()->subDays($days)->timestamp;
         // The time we want = current unix time (ex. 1395699114) - minus 86400 (seconds in a day)
         // times days wanted. (ie 1395699114 - 2592000 (30days)) = 1393107114
 
@@ -1714,7 +1714,7 @@ class Binaries
         }
 
         $poster = MultigroupPoster::query()->get(['poster'])->toArray();
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_short'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_short'));
         Cache::put('mgrposter', $poster, $expiresAt);
 
         return $poster;
diff --git a/Blacklight/Books.php b/Blacklight/Books.php
index 92ccb872f..74d24ee8f 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Books.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Books.php
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ use App\Models\BookInfo;
 use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Settings;
 use ApaiIO\Operations\Search;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use ApaiIO\Configuration\Country;
 use ApaiIO\Request\GuzzleRequest;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
@@ -183,7 +182,7 @@ class Books
             $order[1],
             ($start === false ? '' : ' LIMIT '.$num.' OFFSET '.$start)
         );
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $bookscache = Cache::get(md5($booksql.$page));
         if ($bookscache !== null) {
             $books = $bookscache;
@@ -636,8 +635,8 @@ class Books
                     'overview' =>$book['overview'],
                     'genre' => $book['genre'],
                     'cover' => $book['cover'],
-                    'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                    'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'created_at' => now(),
+                    'updated_at' => now(),
                 ]
             );
         } else {
diff --git a/Blacklight/Console.php b/Blacklight/Console.php
index 63e8333c2..e4c4cce47 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Console.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Console.php
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Settings;
 use App\Models\ConsoleInfo;
 use ApaiIO\Operations\Search;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use ApaiIO\Configuration\Country;
 use ApaiIO\Request\GuzzleRequest;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
@@ -196,7 +195,7 @@ class Console
         } else {
             $data = DB::select($calcSql);
             $consoles = ['total' => DB::select('SELECT FOUND_ROWS() AS total'), 'result' => $data];
-            $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+            $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
             Cache::put(md5($calcSql.$page), $consoles, $expiresAt);
         }
         $consoleIDs = $releaseIDs = false;
@@ -240,7 +239,7 @@ class Console
         if (\count($return) > 0) {
             $return[0]->_totalcount = $consoles[0]->total ?? 0;
         }
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_long'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_long'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql.$page), $return, $expiresAt);
 
         return $return;
@@ -701,8 +700,8 @@ class Console
                         'esrb' => $con['esrb'],
                         'releasedate' => $con['releasedate'] !== '' ? $con['releasedate'] : 'null',
                         'review' => substr($con['review'], 0, 3000),
-                        'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                        'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                        'created_at' => now(),
+                        'updated_at' => now(),
                     ]
                 );
             if ($con['cover'] === 1) {
diff --git a/Blacklight/Games.php b/Blacklight/Games.php
index ee755f10a..de5510dba 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Games.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Games.php
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ class Games
                 $order[1],
                 ($start === false ? '' : ' LIMIT '.$num.' OFFSET '.$start)
             );
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $gamesCache = Cache::get(md5($gamesSql.$page));
         if ($gamesCache !== null) {
             $games = $gamesCache;
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ class Games
 
                         if ($this->_gameResults->original_release_date !== '') {
                             $dateReleased = $this->_gameResults->original_release_date;
-                            $date = $dateReleased !== null ? Carbon::createFromFormat('Y-m-d H:i:s', $dateReleased) : Carbon::now();
+                            $date = $dateReleased !== null ? Carbon::createFromFormat('Y-m-d H:i:s', $dateReleased) : now();
                             if ($date instanceof \DateTime) {
                                 $game['releasedate'] = (string) $date->format('Y-m-d');
                             }
@@ -640,8 +640,8 @@ class Games
                             'backdrop' => $game['backdrop'],
                             'trailer' => $game['trailer'],
                             'classused' => $game['classused'],
-                            'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                            'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                            'created_at' => now(),
+                            'updated_at' => now(),
                         ]
                     );
             } else {
diff --git a/Blacklight/Genres.php b/Blacklight/Genres.php
index fa6b5f29b..9878366b2 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Genres.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Genres.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ namespace Blacklight;
 use App\Models\Genre;
 use Blacklight\db\DB;
 use App\Models\Category;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
 
 class Genres
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ class Genres
             return $genres;
         }
         $genres = $this->pdo->query($sql);
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_long'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_long'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql), $genres, $expiresAt);
 
         return $genres;
@@ -186,7 +185,7 @@ class Genres
             $disabled = $cats;
         } else {
             $disabled = Genre::query()->where('disabled', '=', 1)->get(['id']);
-            $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_long'));
+            $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_long'));
             Cache::put('disabledcats', $disabled, $expiresAt);
         }
 
diff --git a/Blacklight/Movie.php b/Blacklight/Movie.php
index 793a7e4bb..189cd3936 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Movie.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Movie.php
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class Movie
             $catsrch = Category::getCategorySearch($cat);
         }
         $order = $this->getMovieOrder($orderBy);
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addSeconds(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addSeconds(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $moviesSql =
             sprintf(
                 "
diff --git a/Blacklight/Music.php b/Blacklight/Music.php
index c6ed525b8..eb432f1b0 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Music.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Music.php
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Settings;
 use App\Models\MusicInfo;
 use ApaiIO\Operations\Search;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use ApaiIO\Request\GuzzleRequest;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ class Music
             $exccatlist = ' AND r.categories_id NOT IN ('.implode(',', $excludedcats).')';
         }
         $order = $this->getMusicOrder($orderby);
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $musicSql =
             sprintf(
                 "
@@ -481,8 +480,8 @@ class Music
                     'genres_id' => (int) $mus['musicgenres_id'] === -1 ? 'null' : $mus['musicgenres_id'],
                     'tracks' => $mus['tracks'],
                     'cover' => $mus['cover'],
-                    'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                    'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'created_at' => now(),
+                    'updated_at' => now(),
                 ]
             );
         } else {
diff --git a/Blacklight/NameFixer.php b/Blacklight/NameFixer.php
index 6b0bbb89f..557d12114 100755
--- a/Blacklight/NameFixer.php
+++ b/Blacklight/NameFixer.php
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ use App\Models\Predb;
 use Blacklight\db\DB;
 use App\Models\Release;
 use App\Models\Category;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Blacklight\utility\Utility;
 use Blacklight\processing\PostProcess;
 
@@ -1153,7 +1152,7 @@ class NameFixer
             $limit = 'LIMIT 1000000';
         }
 
-        ColorCLI::doEcho(ColorCLI::header(PHP_EOL.'Match PreFiles '.$args[1].' Started at '.Carbon::now()->format('Y-m-d')), true);
+        ColorCLI::doEcho(ColorCLI::header(PHP_EOL.'Match PreFiles '.$args[1].' Started at '.now()->format('Y-m-d')), true);
         ColorCLI::doEcho(ColorCLI::primary('Matching predb filename to cleaned release_files.name.'), true);
 
         $counter = $counted = 0;
diff --git a/Blacklight/Releases.php b/Blacklight/Releases.php
index bcecd1121..c694169d8 100755
--- a/Blacklight/Releases.php
+++ b/Blacklight/Releases.php
@@ -3,11 +3,9 @@
 namespace Blacklight;
 
 use App\Models\Group;
-use App\Models\Video;
 use App\Models\Release;
 use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Settings;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Blacklight\utility\Utility;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
@@ -132,7 +130,7 @@ class Releases
             $possibleRows = $this->getBrowseCount($cat, $maxAge, $excludedCats, $groupName);
             $sql[0]->_totalcount = $sql[0]->_totalrows = $possibleRows;
         }
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         Cache::put(md5($qry.$page), $sql, $expiresAt);
 
         return $sql;
@@ -170,7 +168,7 @@ class Releases
             return $count;
         }
         $count = DB::select($sql);
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_short'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_short'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql), $count[0]->count, $expiresAt);
 
         return $count[0]->count ?? 0;
@@ -448,7 +446,7 @@ class Releases
                 ($offset === false ? '' : (' LIMIT '.$limit.' OFFSET '.$offset))
         );
 
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $result = Cache::get(md5($sql));
         if ($result !== null) {
             return $result;
@@ -718,7 +716,7 @@ class Releases
         if (! empty($releases) && \count($releases) > 0) {
             $releases[0]->_totalrows = $this->getPagerCount($baseSql);
         }
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql), $releases, $expiresAt);
 
         return $releases;
@@ -856,7 +854,7 @@ class Releases
             );
         }
 
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql), $releases, $expiresAt);
 
         return $releases;
@@ -920,7 +918,7 @@ class Releases
         if (! empty($releases) && \count($releases) > 0) {
             $releases[0]->_totalrows = $this->getPagerCount($baseSql);
         }
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql), $releases, $expiresAt);
 
         return $releases;
@@ -985,7 +983,7 @@ class Releases
         if (! empty($releases) && \count($releases) > 0) {
             $releases[0]->_totalrows = $this->getPagerCount($baseSql);
         }
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql), $releases, $expiresAt);
 
         return $releases;
@@ -1089,7 +1087,7 @@ class Releases
             return $count;
         }
         $count = DB::select($sql);
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_short'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_short'));
         Cache::put(md5($sql), $count[0]->count, $expiresAt);
 
         return $count[0]->count ?? 0;
diff --git a/Blacklight/SABnzbd.php b/Blacklight/SABnzbd.php
index 889e59f70..6608b637e 100755
--- a/Blacklight/SABnzbd.php
+++ b/Blacklight/SABnzbd.php
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ namespace Blacklight;
 
 use GuzzleHttp\Client;
 use App\Models\Settings;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 
 /**
  * Class SABnzbd.
@@ -319,10 +318,10 @@ class SABnzbd
      */
     public function setCookie($host, $apikey, $priority, $apitype)
     {
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__host', $host, Carbon::now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apikey', $apikey, Carbon::now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__priority', $priority, Carbon::now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apitype', $apitype, Carbon::now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__host', $host, now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apikey', $apikey, now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__priority', $priority, now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apitype', $apitype, now()->addDays(30)->timestamp);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -330,9 +329,9 @@ class SABnzbd
      */
     public function unsetCookie()
     {
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__host', '', Carbon::now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apikey', '', Carbon::now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__priority', '', Carbon::now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
-        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apitype', '', Carbon::now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__host', '', now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apikey', '', now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__priority', '', now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
+        setcookie('sabnzbd_'.$this->uid.'__apitype', '', now()->subDays(30)->timestamp);
     }
 }
diff --git a/Blacklight/XXX.php b/Blacklight/XXX.php
index c03f8fc43..255ef02e0 100755
--- a/Blacklight/XXX.php
+++ b/Blacklight/XXX.php
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ use App\Models\Release;
 use App\Models\XxxInfo;
 use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Settings;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Blacklight\processing\adult\ADE;
 use Blacklight\processing\adult\ADM;
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ class XXX
             $catsrch = Category::getCategorySearch($cat);
         }
         $order = $this->getXXXOrder($orderBy);
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $xxxmoviesSql =
             sprintf(
                 "
@@ -598,8 +597,8 @@ class XXX
                     'trailers' => $mov['trailers'],
                     'directurl' => $mov['directurl'],
                     'classused' => $mov['classused'],
-                    'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                    'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'created_at' => now(),
+                    'updated_at' => now(),
                 ]
             );
             // Update BoxCover.
diff --git a/Blacklight/db/populate/AniDB.php b/Blacklight/db/populate/AniDB.php
index 9116bc4d0..396abc1ce 100755
--- a/Blacklight/db/populate/AniDB.php
+++ b/Blacklight/db/populate/AniDB.php
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class AniDB
                     'picture' => $AniDBInfoArray['picture'],
                     'categories' => $AniDBInfoArray['categories'],
                     'characters' => $AniDBInfoArray['characters'],
-                    'updated' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'updated' => now(),
                 ]
             );
         if (! empty($AniDBInfoArray['epsarr'])) {
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ class AniDB
     private function populateMainTable()
     {
         $lastUpdate = Carbon::createFromTimestamp($this->lastUpdate);
-        $current = Carbon::now();
+        $current = now();
 
         if ($current->diff($lastUpdate)->format('%d') > $this->updateInterval) {
             if ($this->echooutput) {
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ class AniDB
                     'picture' => $AniDBInfoArray['picture'],
                     'categories' => $AniDBInfoArray['categories'],
                     'characters' => $AniDBInfoArray['characters'],
-                    'updated' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'updated' => now(),
                 ]
             );
         if (! empty($AniDBInfoArray['epsarr'])) {
diff --git a/Blacklight/http/RSS.php b/Blacklight/http/RSS.php
index bfa445b04..c0b06fef9 100755
--- a/Blacklight/http/RSS.php
+++ b/Blacklight/http/RSS.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ namespace Blacklight\http;
 use Blacklight\NZB;
 use App\Models\Category;
 use Blacklight\Releases;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
 
@@ -105,7 +104,7 @@ class RSS extends Capabilities
                 ' LIMIT 0,'.($offset > 100 ? 100 : $offset)
             );
 
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $result = Cache::get(md5($sql));
         if ($result !== null) {
             return $result;
@@ -167,7 +166,7 @@ class RSS extends Capabilities
             ' LIMIT '.($limit > 100 ? 100 : $limit).' OFFSET 0'
         );
 
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $result = Cache::get(md5($sql));
         if ($result !== null) {
             return $result;
@@ -229,7 +228,7 @@ class RSS extends Capabilities
             ' LIMIT '.($limit > 100 ? 100 : $limit).' OFFSET 0'
         );
 
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
         $result = Cache::get(md5($sql));
         if ($result !== null) {
             return $result;
diff --git a/Blacklight/libraries/Forking.php b/Blacklight/libraries/Forking.php
index e5bc8a533..a78f4501c 100755
--- a/Blacklight/libraries/Forking.php
+++ b/Blacklight/libraries/Forking.php
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use Blacklight\NNTP;
 use Blacklight\db\DB;
 use App\Models\Settings;
 use Blacklight\ColorCLI;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Blacklight\processing\PostProcess;
 
 /**
@@ -433,7 +432,7 @@ class Forking extends \fork_daemon
         $backfilldays = '';
         if ((int) $backfill_days === 1) {
             $days = 'backfill_target';
-            $backfilldays = Carbon::now()->subDays((int) $days);
+            $backfilldays = now()->subDays((int) $days);
         } elseif ((int) $backfill_days === 2) {
             $backfilldays = Settings::settingValue('..safebackfilldate');
         }
diff --git a/Blacklight/processing/PostProcess.php b/Blacklight/processing/PostProcess.php
index 952636c2e..25ed76756 100755
--- a/Blacklight/processing/PostProcess.php
+++ b/Blacklight/processing/PostProcess.php
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ class PostProcess
                     if ($filesAdded < 11 && ReleaseFile::query()->where(['releases_id' => $relID, 'name' => $file['name']])->first() === null) {
 
                         // Try to add the files to the DB.
-                        if (ReleaseFile::addReleaseFiles($relID, $file['name'], $file['hash_16K'], $file['size'], $query['postdate'] !== null ? Carbon::createFromFormat('Y-m-d H:i:s', $query['postdate']) : Carbon::now(), 0)) {
+                        if (ReleaseFile::addReleaseFiles($relID, $file['name'], $file['hash_16K'], $file['size'], $query['postdate'] !== null ? Carbon::createFromFormat('Y-m-d H:i:s', $query['postdate']) : now(), 0)) {
                             $filesAdded++;
                         }
                     }
diff --git a/Blacklight/processing/Videos.php b/Blacklight/processing/Videos.php
index 1f1812d51..468821d41 100755
--- a/Blacklight/processing/Videos.php
+++ b/Blacklight/processing/Videos.php
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ use App\Models\Video;
 use Blacklight\db\DB;
 use App\Models\TvInfo;
 use App\Models\VideoAlias;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
 
 /**
@@ -306,7 +305,7 @@ abstract class Videos
     public function getAliases($videoId, $alias = '')
     {
         $return = false;
-        $expiresAt = Carbon::now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_medium'));
 
         if ($videoId > 0 || $alias !== '') {
             $aliasCache = Cache::get(md5($videoId.$alias));
diff --git a/Changelog b/Changelog
index 1e4001306..c702d2e7a 100755
--- a/Changelog
+++ b/Changelog
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 2018-05-31 DariusIII
+	* Chg: Use now() helper in place of Carbon::now()
 	* Chg: Users can be logged in on 1 device at a time
 2018-05-30 DariusIII
 	* Chg: Update kevinlebrun/colors.php to version 1.0.3
diff --git a/app/Console/Commands/InstallNntmux.php b/app/Console/Commands/InstallNntmux.php
index 64e9e1eeb..a220fdbf5 100644
--- a/app/Console/Commands/InstallNntmux.php
+++ b/app/Console/Commands/InstallNntmux.php
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ namespace App\Console\Commands;
 
 use App\Models\User;
 use App\Models\Settings;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Console\Command;
 use App\Extensions\util\Versions;
 use Symfony\Component\Process\Process;
@@ -124,7 +123,7 @@ class InstallNntmux extends Command
                 }
 
                 if (! $error && $this->addAdminUser()) {
-                    @file_put_contents(base_path().'/_install/install.lock', 'application install locked on '.Carbon::now());
+                    @file_put_contents(base_path().'/_install/install.lock', 'application install locked on '.now());
                     $this->info('Generating application key');
                     $process = new Process('php artisan key:generate --force');
                     $process->setTimeout(600);
diff --git a/app/Console/Commands/NntmuxResetDb.php b/app/Console/Commands/NntmuxResetDb.php
index d630b4cd4..08ea6b138 100644
--- a/app/Console/Commands/NntmuxResetDb.php
+++ b/app/Console/Commands/NntmuxResetDb.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ namespace App\Console\Commands;
 use App\Models\Group;
 use App\Models\Settings;
 use Blacklight\SphinxSearch;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Console\Command;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\File;
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ class NntmuxResetDb extends Command
     public function handle()
     {
         if ($this->confirm('This script removes all releases, nzb files, samples, previews , nfos, truncates all article tables and resets all groups. Are you sure you want reset the DB?')) {
-            $timestart = Carbon::now();
+            $timestart = now();
 
             DB::unprepared('SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS = 0;');
             DB::commit();
@@ -108,7 +107,7 @@ class NntmuxResetDb extends Command
                 }
             }
 
-            $this->info('Deleted all releases, images, previews and samples. This script finished '.Carbon::now()->diffForHumans($timestart).' start');
+            $this->info('Deleted all releases, images, previews and samples. This script finished '.now()->diffForHumans($timestart).' start');
             DB::unprepared('SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS = 1;');
             DB::commit();
         } else {
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/BtcPaymentController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/BtcPaymentController.php
index cb42da5c5..ea6fb8d88 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/BtcPaymentController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/BtcPaymentController.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ namespace App\Http\Controllers;
 use App\Models\User;
 use App\Models\UserRole;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Blacklight\libraries\Geary;
 
 class BtcPaymentController extends BasePageController
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ class BtcPaymentController extends BasePageController
             // If order was paid in full (2) or overpaid (4)
             if ((int) $order['status'] === 2 || (int) $order['status'] === 4) {
                 User::updateUserRole($callback_data['user_id'], $newRole);
-                User::updateUserRoleChangeDate($callback_data['user_id'], Carbon::now()->addYears($addYear));
+                User::updateUserRoleChangeDate($callback_data['user_id'], now()->addYears($addYear));
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/GetNzbController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/GetNzbController.php
index 73ae7ac11..11ad97331 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/GetNzbController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/GetNzbController.php
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ use Blacklight\Releases;
 use App\Models\UserDownload;
 use App\Models\UsersRelease;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Blacklight\utility\Utility;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\File;
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ class GetNzbController extends BasePageController
 
                 return response()->streamDownload(function () use ($zip) {
                     echo $zip;
-                }, Carbon::now()->format('Ymdhis').'.nzb.zip', ['Content-type:' => 'application/octet-stream']);
+                }, now()->format('Ymdhis').'.nzb.zip', ['Content-type:' => 'application/octet-stream']);
             }
 
             $this->show404();
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ class GetNzbController extends BasePageController
 
         $headers = [
             'Content-Type:' => 'application/x-nzb',
-            'Expires:' => date('r', Carbon::now()->addDays(365)->timestamp),
+            'Expires:' => date('r', now()->addDays(365)->timestamp),
             'X-DNZB-Failure:' => $this->serverurl.'failed'.'?guid='.$request->input('id').'&userid='.$uid.'&rsstoken='.$rssToken,
             'X-DNZB-Category:' => $relData['category_name'],
             'X-DNZB-Details:' => $this->serverurl.'details/'.$request->input('id'),
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/MovieController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/MovieController.php
index 73b76c572..ed68af185 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/MovieController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/MovieController.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ namespace App\Http\Controllers;
 use Blacklight\Movie;
 use App\Models\Category;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 
 class MovieController extends BasePageController
 {
@@ -138,7 +137,7 @@ class MovieController extends BasePageController
         $this->smarty->assign('genres', $genres);
         $this->smarty->assign('genre', $genre);
 
-        $years = range(1903, Carbon::now()->addYear()->year);
+        $years = range(1903, now()->addYear()->year);
         rsort($years);
         $year = ($request->has('year') && \in_array($request->input('year'), $years, false)) ? $request->input('year') : '';
         $this->smarty->assign('years', $years);
diff --git a/app/Models/Category.php b/app/Models/Category.php
index 54e755fd6..849de5ea0 100644
--- a/app/Models/Category.php
+++ b/app/Models/Category.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Watson\Rememberable\Rememberable;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
@@ -199,7 +198,7 @@ class Category extends Model
     {
         return self::query()
             ->remember(config('nntmux.cache_expiry_long'))
-            ->where('r.adddate', '>', Carbon::now()->subWeek())
+            ->where('r.adddate', '>', now()->subWeek())
             ->selectRaw('CONCAT(cp.title, " > ", categories.title) as title')
             ->selectRaw('COUNT(r.id) as count')
             ->join('categories as cp', 'cp.id', '=', 'categories.parentid')
diff --git a/app/Models/Forumpost.php b/app/Models/Forumpost.php
index 031818980..a576d70c3 100644
--- a/app/Models/Forumpost.php
+++ b/app/Models/Forumpost.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ class Forumpost extends Model
                 return -1;
             }
 
-            self::query()->where('id', $parentId)->increment('replies', 1, ['updated_at' => Carbon::now()]);
+            self::query()->where('id', $parentId)->increment('replies', 1, ['updated_at' => now()]);
         }
 
         return self::create(
diff --git a/app/Models/Group.php b/app/Models/Group.php
index 8c30a1c58..226e5397b 100644
--- a/app/Models/Group.php
+++ b/app/Models/Group.php
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ use Blacklight\NNTP;
 use Blacklight\ColorCLI;
 use Blacklight\Releases;
 use Blacklight\ReleaseImage;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
@@ -269,7 +268,7 @@ class Group extends Model
                 'backfill_target' => $group['backfill_target'],
                 'first_record' => $group['first_record'],
                 'last_record' => $group['last_record'],
-                'last_updated' => Carbon::now(),
+                'last_updated' => now(),
                 'active' => $group['active'],
                 'backfill' => $group['backfill'],
                 'minsizetoformrelease' => $group['minsizetoformrelease'] === '' ? null : $group['minsizetoformrelease'],
diff --git a/app/Models/Invitation.php b/app/Models/Invitation.php
index 785d822a9..209b3a61b 100644
--- a/app/Models/Invitation.php
+++ b/app/Models/Invitation.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ class Invitation extends Model
         //
         // Tidy any old invites sent greater than DEFAULT_INVITE_EXPIRY_DAYS days ago.
         //
-        self::query()->where('created_at', '<', Carbon::now()->subDays(self::DEFAULT_INVITE_EXPIRY_DAYS));
+        self::query()->where('created_at', '<', now()->subDays(self::DEFAULT_INVITE_EXPIRY_DAYS));
 
         return self::query()->where('guid', $inviteToken)->first();
     }
diff --git a/app/Models/Predb.php b/app/Models/Predb.php
index c5fd15d64..ce0db6e17 100644
--- a/app/Models/Predb.php
+++ b/app/Models/Predb.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ namespace App\Models;
 use Blacklight\ColorCLI;
 use Blacklight\ConsoleTools;
 use Laravel\Scout\Searchable;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Watson\Rememberable\Rememberable;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
@@ -107,7 +106,7 @@ class Predb extends Model
             ->join('releases', 'predb.title', '=', 'releases.searchname')
             ->select(['predb.id as predb_id', 'releases.id as releases_id']);
         if ($dateLimit !== false && is_numeric($dateLimit)) {
-            $query->where('adddate', '>', Carbon::now()->subDays($dateLimit));
+            $query->where('adddate', '>', now()->subDays($dateLimit));
         }
 
         $res = $query->get();
diff --git a/app/Models/Release.php b/app/Models/Release.php
index 62df8d318..a1a7c96ee 100644
--- a/app/Models/Release.php
+++ b/app/Models/Release.php
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ namespace App\Models;
 
 use Blacklight\NZB;
 use Blacklight\SphinxSearch;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Watson\Rememberable\Rememberable;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
@@ -265,7 +264,7 @@ class Release extends Model
                     'searchname' => $parameters['searchname'],
                     'totalpart' => $parameters['totalpart'],
                     'groups_id' => $parameters['groups_id'],
-                    'adddate' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'adddate' => now(),
                     'guid' => $parameters['guid'],
                     'leftguid' => $parameters['guid'][0],
                     'postdate' => $parameters['postdate'],
diff --git a/app/Models/ReleaseComment.php b/app/Models/ReleaseComment.php
index 4c22e62b6..13d28bde2 100644
--- a/app/Models/ReleaseComment.php
+++ b/app/Models/ReleaseComment.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -147,8 +146,8 @@ class ReleaseComment extends Model
                     'gid' => $gid,
                     'text' => $text,
                     'users_id' => $userid,
-                    'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                    'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'created_at' => now(),
+                    'updated_at' => now(),
                     'host' => $host,
                     'username' => $username,
                 ]
diff --git a/app/Models/User.php b/app/Models/User.php
index e5cd1469b..ce05c3b5e 100644
--- a/app/Models/User.php
+++ b/app/Models/User.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ namespace App\Models;
 use App\Mail\SendInvite;
 use App\Mail\AccountChange;
 use Illuminate\Support\Str;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Blacklight\utility\Utility;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Hash;
@@ -455,7 +454,7 @@ class User extends Authenticatable
      */
     public static function updateExpiredRoles(): int
     {
-        $data = self::query()->whereDate('rolechangedate', '<', Carbon::now())->get();
+        $data = self::query()->whereDate('rolechangedate', '<', now())->get();
 
         foreach ($data as $u) {
             Mail::to($u['email'])->send(new AccountChange($u['id']));
@@ -921,7 +920,7 @@ class User extends Authenticatable
     {
         self::query()->where('id', $userID)->update(
             [
-                'lastlogin' => Carbon::now(),
+                'lastlogin' => now(),
                 'host' => $host,
             ]
         );
@@ -1060,7 +1059,7 @@ class User extends Authenticatable
             UserDownload::query()->update(['releases_id' => null]);
         }
 
-        UserRequest::query()->where('timestamp', '<', Carbon::now()->subDays($days))->delete();
-        UserDownload::query()->where('timestamp', '<', Carbon::now()->subDays($days))->delete();
+        UserRequest::query()->where('timestamp', '<', now()->subDays($days))->delete();
+        UserDownload::query()->where('timestamp', '<', now()->subDays($days))->delete();
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Models/UserDownload.php b/app/Models/UserDownload.php
index 46066d7fa..d31681364 100644
--- a/app/Models/UserDownload.php
+++ b/app/Models/UserDownload.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Carbon\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -59,8 +58,8 @@ class UserDownload extends Model
     public static function getDownloadRequests($userID): int
     {
         // Clear old requests.
-        self::query()->where('users_id', $userID)->where('timestamp', '<', Carbon::now()->subDay())->delete();
-        $value = self::query()->where('users_id', $userID)->where('timestamp', '>', Carbon::now()->subDay())->count('id');
+        self::query()->where('users_id', $userID)->where('timestamp', '<', now()->subDay())->delete();
+        $value = self::query()->where('users_id', $userID)->where('timestamp', '>', now()->subDay())->count('id');
 
         return $value === false ? 0 : $value;
     }
@@ -90,7 +89,7 @@ class UserDownload extends Model
                 [
                     'users_id' => $userID,
                     'releases_id' => $releaseID,
-                    'timestamp' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'timestamp' => now(),
                 ]
             );
     }
diff --git a/app/Models/UserMovie.php b/app/Models/UserMovie.php
index fecc899da..7e990df32 100644
--- a/app/Models/UserMovie.php
+++ b/app/Models/UserMovie.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ class UserMovie extends Model
                     'users_id' => $uid,
                     'imdbid' => $imdbid,
                     'categories' => ! empty($catID) ? implode('|', $catID) : 'NULL',
-                    'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'created_at' => now(),
                 ]
             );
     }
diff --git a/app/Models/UserRequest.php b/app/Models/UserRequest.php
index 738c1a14c..2570081ba 100644
--- a/app/Models/UserRequest.php
+++ b/app/Models/UserRequest.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Carbon\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ class UserRequest extends Model
      */
     public static function addApiRequest($userID, $request): void
     {
-        self::query()->insert(['users_id' => $userID, 'request' => $request, 'timestamp'=> Carbon::now()]);
+        self::query()->insert(['users_id' => $userID, 'request' => $request, 'timestamp'=> now()]);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -100,9 +99,9 @@ class UserRequest extends Model
     public static function clearApiRequests($userID): void
     {
         if ($userID === false) {
-            self::query()->where('timestamp', '<', Carbon::now()->subDay())->delete();
+            self::query()->where('timestamp', '<', now()->subDay())->delete();
         } else {
-            self::query()->where('users_id', $userID)->where('timestamp', '<', Carbon::now()->subDay())->delete();
+            self::query()->where('users_id', $userID)->where('timestamp', '<', now()->subDay())->delete();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Models/UserSerie.php b/app/Models/UserSerie.php
index 9be422565..658a9f97c 100644
--- a/app/Models/UserSerie.php
+++ b/app/Models/UserSerie.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -60,8 +59,8 @@ class UserSerie extends Model
                     'users_id' => $userId,
                     'videos_id' => $videoId,
                     'categories' => ! empty($catID) ? implode('|', $catID) : 'NULL',
-                    'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                    'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                    'created_at' => now(),
+                    'updated_at' => now(),
                 ]
             );
     }
diff --git a/app/Models/UsersRelease.php b/app/Models/UsersRelease.php
index 5fa47c5ac..8c776252d 100644
--- a/app/Models/UsersRelease.php
+++ b/app/Models/UsersRelease.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -64,8 +63,8 @@ class UsersRelease extends Model
             [
                 'users_id' => $uid,
                 'releases_id' => $releaseid,
-                'created_at' => Carbon::now(),
-                'updated_at' => Carbon::now(),
+                'created_at' => now(),
+                'updated_at' => now(),
             ]
         );
     }
diff --git a/app/Models/Video.php b/app/Models/Video.php
index 01c41d00f..be5da8bab 100644
--- a/app/Models/Video.php
+++ b/app/Models/Video.php
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 
 /**
@@ -160,7 +159,7 @@ class Video extends Model
                 $join->on('videos.id', '=', 'us.videos_id')->where('us.users_id', '=', $uid);
             })
             ->whereBetween('r.categories_id', [Category::TV_ROOT, Category::TV_OTHER])
-            ->where('tve.firstaired', '<', Carbon::now())
+            ->where('tve.firstaired', '<', now())
             ->leftJoin('releases as r', 'r.videos_id', '=', 'videos.id')
             ->orderBy('videos.title')
             ->orderByDesc('tve.firstaired')
diff --git a/misc/update/tmux/bin/groupfixrelnames.php b/misc/update/tmux/bin/groupfixrelnames.php
index c15861797..3a8ecaa88 100644
--- a/misc/update/tmux/bin/groupfixrelnames.php
+++ b/misc/update/tmux/bin/groupfixrelnames.php
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ use App\Models\Settings;
 use Blacklight\ColorCLI;
 use Blacklight\NameFixer;
 use Blacklight\NZBContents;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Blacklight\processing\PostProcess;
 
@@ -224,7 +223,7 @@ switch (true) {
         $pres = Predb::query()
             ->whereRaw('LENGTH(title) >= 15 AND title NOT REGEXP "[\"\<\> ]"')
             ->where('searched', '=', 0)
-            ->where('predate', '<', Carbon::now()->subDay())
+            ->where('predate', '<', now()->subDay())
             ->select(['id as predb_id', 'title', 'source', 'searched'])
             ->orderBy('predate')
             ->limit($maxPerRun)
diff --git a/misc/update/tmux/bin/update_groups.php b/misc/update/tmux/bin/update_groups.php
index 48d325b15..c7e68893d 100644
--- a/misc/update/tmux/bin/update_groups.php
+++ b/misc/update/tmux/bin/update_groups.php
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ use App\Models\Group;
 use Blacklight\ColorCLI;
 use App\Models\ShortGroup;
 use Blacklight\ConsoleTools;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 
 $start = time();
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ foreach ($data as $newgroup) {
                 'name' => $newgroup['group'],
                 'first_record' => $newgroup['first'],
                 'last_record' => $newgroup['last'],
-                'updated' => Carbon::now(),
+                'updated' => now(),
             ]
         );
         ColorCLI::doEcho(ColorCLI::primary('Updated '.$newgroup['group']));