Feed aggregator

Rabbit R1 has a major security flaw in its code

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 11:50

"All [Rabbit] R1 responses ever given can be downloaded," according to an R1 research group called Rabbitude.

Rabbit and its R1 AI device has already been dunked on for being nothing more than an Android app wrapped up in a hardware gadget, but something much more alarming is afoot.

SEE ALSO: I tested Rabbit R1 vs. Meta AI: The winning AI assistant will surprise you

The report (via The Verge) said Rabbitude gained access to the codebase and discovered API keys were hardwired into its code. That means anyone with these keys could "read every response every r1 has ever given, including ones containing personal information, brick all r1s, alter the responses of all r1s [and] replace every r1’s voice." The investigation discovered that these API keys are what provided access to ElevenLabs and Azure for text-to-speech generation, Yelp for reviews, and Google Maps for location data.

What's worse, Rabbitude said it identified the security flaw on May 16 and that Rabbit was aware of the issue. But "the API keys continue to be valid as of writing," on June 25. Continued access to the API keys means bad actors could potentially access sensitive data, crash the entire rabbitOS system, and add custom text.

The following day (June 26) Rabbit issued a statement on its Discord server saying that the four API keys Rabbitude identified have been revoked. "As of right now, we are not aware of any customer data being leaked or any compromise to our systems," said the company.

But the plot thickens. Rabbitude also found a fifth API key that was hardwired in the code, but not publicly disclosed in its investigation. This one is called sendgrid, which provides access to all emails to the r1.rabbit.tech subdomain. At the time Rabbitude published its follow-up report, the sendgrid API key was still active. Access to this API key meant Rabbitude could access additional user information within the R1's spreadsheet functions and even send emails from rabbit.tech email addresses.

If you were already skeptical of the R1's half-baked capabilities that Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon blamed on "rushed innovation, disillusionment, and impetuousness" in her review, this might be your sign that Rabbit is at best, not worth the money, and at worst, incapable of keeping your data private.

Just in time for Prime Day, Target's Circle Week is back July 7 through 13

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 11:43

Prime Day 2024 finally released its July dates, and with them come an avalanche of competing sales. Target is among the rival retailers to launch their summer sales with the return of Circle Week, coming July 7 through 13. While other retailers require a paid membership to shop the deals, Target's Circle membership is free and gains you full access to all the deals. Target claims this is their "biggest sale of the season", so we're locked in to see if that's actually true, especially when it's competing against the behemoth of Amazon.

Ahead of the sale, Target has released some sneak peak deals. The focus of Circle Week is deals for the whole family with markdowns on toys, kitchen, home, and food and beverage. Here's what we know so far.

When is Target Circle Week?

Target Circle Week kicks off July 7 at 2 a.m. CT and runs through July 13 on Target.com. While most of the deals will arrive on July 7, Target is bringing back deals of the day — some of which you can shop in-person, including a Starbucks Buy a Beverage, Get One 50% off.

If you like to compare prices like us, these deals fall inconveniently right before Prime Day, which runs July 16th and 17th.

Can you shop Target Circle Week without being a Target Circle member?

As the name implies, Circle Week is for Circle members. The good news? Unlike Prime or Walmart+ membership, Circle Membership is totally free. It's more of a rewards program than a paid service, however, members get to enjoy daily Circle deals and cash back bonuses. So if you're not a member of any retailers membership program, Target Circle is the one to join — it quite literally costs nothing.

In addition to the base membership program, Target also offers Target Circle 360, a paid membership program that gets your orders to you faster. 360 members enjoy unlimited same day delivery and free two-day shipping, similar to the delivery benefits of Amazon Prime.

Best deal to shop during Target Circle week?

Prime Day deals span every category, and we expect to see the same during Target Circle Week. However, according to the company's press release, there will be a focus on toys, kitchen, and back-to-school items.

Plus, there are opportunities to spend and save. When Circle members spend $50 on home care products, they'll receive a $15 Target gift card, and when they spend $40 on select products from Ulta Beauty at Target, they'll receive a $10 gift card.

Additionally, expect to see 50% off toys and up to 40% on kitchen and floor care tools. While the deals aren't officially coming until July 7, here are the deals you can start shopping now.

Tech dealsGaming dealsKitchen dealsHome dealsToy deals

Amazon deal of the day: Score the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle for an all-time low price ahead of Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 11:29
Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Kindle Scribe (32GB) Essentials Bundle $314.97 at Amazon (save $175) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Amazon 50-inch Omni Series Fire TV $299.99 at Amazon (save $180 with Prime-exclusive coupon) Get Deal BEST ROBOT VACUUM DEAL Roborock Q7 Max robot vacuum and mop $279.99 at Amazon (save $320) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet $109.99 at Amazon (save $80 as a Prime member) Get Deal

Prime Day is mere weeks away, which means Amazon's already ramping up the deals. Add in July 4th sales, and you've got a recipe for record-low prices on devices you've had your eye on. There's no need to wait until Prime Day to score big savings.

We've rounded up the best deals we could find at Amazon on June 27. Here are our top picks. Be sure to check out our selections from June 25 and June 26 as well — many of those are still live and worth adding to your cart.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Scribe (32GB) Essentials Bundle $314.97 at Amazon
$489.97 Save $175.00 Get Deal

Ahead of Prime Day, Amazon has dropped the price on the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle by 38% — that knocks it down to a record-low $314.97. The bundle includes the Kindle Scribe (32GB), premium pen, black leather folio cover, and a power adapter. While it's not a perfect device, we do appreciate the Scribe's ability to bridge the gap between traditional reading and e-reading by including a stylus to mark up whatever you're reading. The premium pen's virtual eraser on the back and customizable shortcut button on the side make it easy to scribble notes, doodle, or mark up books to your heart's content.

Read our full review of the Kindle Scribe.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch Omni Series Fire TV $299.99 at Amazon
$479.99 Save $180.00 with Prime-exclusive on-page coupon Get Deal

In the market for a new TV? Prime members can snag a 50-inch Omni Series Fire TV for just under $300 with an on-page coupon. That's about 38% in savings and only $20 away from its record-low. Not to mention, it's currently only $10 more than the 43-inch version and you get seven extra inches of screen real estate. The Omni Fire TV is the second-best TV in Amazon's lineup. It offers 4K everyday entertainment, hand-free Alexa control, Dolby Digital Plus, and a slimmer bezel for the ultimate home theater experience. For non-Prime members, it's on sale for $349.99, which is still a decent deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q7 Max robot vacuum and mop $279.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $320.00 Get Deal

If you want a robot that can tackle two different tasks for you — vacuuming and mopping — on a budget, check out this deal on the Roborock Q7 Max. It features powerful 4200 Pa suction and an electronic pump with 30 water flow levels, plus precise home mapping, a 180-minute runtime, and support for the Auto Empty Dock Pure (sold separately). As of June 27, it's on sale for only $279.99 instead of the usual $599.99. That's 53% in savings and $20 cheaper than last month, resulting in a new record-low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet $109.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $80.00 Prime-exclusive deal Get Deal

Our favorite tablet for kids, the Amazon Fire 10 Kids is geared towards little ones ages 3 to 7 years old. The 2023 version bumps up the processing speed, offers a better front-facing camera, and improves on the battery life of its predecessor. It still features the built-in intuitive parental controls that make Amazon's kids tablets a top pick, plus a durable case, a year's worth of access to Amazon Kids+, and a two-year worry-free guarantee. Regularly $189.99, Prime members can snag it on sale for only $109.99. That's a record-low for this model.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Valve launched a native game recorder app for Steam Deck

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 11:25

It's kind of a dire time for social clip sharing features on game consoles, but the Steam Deck soldiers on.

Valve revealed on Wednesday that Steam is getting a native app called Steam Game Recording, which does exactly what you think it does: records videos of your gameplay and allows you to edit and share them online. It's available on Steam on PC, of course, but Valve clarified it's also verified to work on Steam Deck.

SEE ALSO: MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a new handheld gaming PC: 3 ways it may beat Steam Deck Tweet may have been deleted

To be perfectly clear, this feature is in beta at the moment. You'll have to go to the Settings menu, find the Interface section, and go to Beta Participation to opt into the Game Recording beta. Once you do, though, you should be good to go.

Valve's take on game recording on Steam Deck seems like a solid effort, at least if the website advertising all the features is to be believed. You can set it to record when you press a hotkey or constantly record in the background while you play. Clips can be exported to a PC or the Steam mobile app for sharing purposes, and a replay feature will let you watch what just happened to you in a game so you can hopefully avoid it a second time.

The Steam Deck is already one of the best gaming devices out there, and Valve just keeps making it a little better.

Save up to 50% on Coleman camping gear, Kindles, Keurig coffee makers, and more during the Amazon 4th of July sale

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 11:18

The countdown to 4th of July is on and if you're looking for some stellar summer deals, we're seeing plenty of offers. Here are some of the best deals to shop during Amazon's 4th of July sale:

Best deals at Amazon's 4th of July sale Best tech deal Kindle Scribe essentials bundle (16GB, basic pen) $271.97 at Amazon (save $168) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Shark AI Ultra $299.99 at Amazon (save $299.01) Get Deal Best camping deal Coleman Skydome XL family camping tent (8-person) $142.79 at Amazon (save $87.20) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Keurig K-Classic coffee maker $79.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

Fireworks, barbecues, and flags might be in your future as we celebrate the 4th of July next week, but there's more in store than a fun day off of work. Amazon's 4th of July sale is packed with deals on tech, home goods, kitchen appliances, and camping gear that's sure to be useful this summer. Of course, Amazon Prime Day follows soon after, taking place on July 16 and 17 this year. But if you're searching for early July deals, look no further. These are some of the best deals to shop during the Amazon 4th of July sale.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe essentials bundle (16GB, basic pen) $271.97 at Amazon
$439.97 Save $168.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Summer is a wonderful time to catch up on reading or focus on artistic hobbies. Thanks to Amazon's 4th of July sale, you can grab the Kindle Scribe bundle for just $271.97, down from the usual price of $439.97, which works out to a 38% discount. In Mashable's review of every Kindle e-reader, the team found the Scribe to the best option for taking notes. The Scribe gets bragging rights as the largest Kindle, with a 10.2-inch screen with Amazon's Paperwhite display which is designed to look similar to an actual book page. More than that, the Scribe allows you to take notes in the margins of books, mark up documents, or doodle to your desire. The bundle package includes the Basic Pen, a leather cover, and a power adapter, so you'll be set on accessories.

Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AI Ultra $299.99 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $299.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Summer is no time to dote on household chores. Pass of the task of vacuuming to the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum which is on sale at Amazon for just $299.99. That's a 50% discount off the usual price of $599. The Shark AI Ultra comes with a charging dock that also serves as a self-emptying base, holing up to 60 days worth of debris. That means you can schedule the robot to vacuum the entire house everyday, and you won't have to think about it for two months. This model uses Shark's Matrix Clean Navigation technology which takes several passes over areas that need deeper cleaning, instead of just a single pass that happens with most robot vacuums. Thanks to its suction power and self-cleaning brush roll, this could be a great robot vacuum for homes with pets.

Best camping deal Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Skydome XL family camping tent (8-person) $142.79 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $87.20 Get Deal Why we like it

Instead of squishing into a tiny tent like last summer, spread out in the Coleman Skydome XL family camping tent with room to sleep eight people. With a weather-proof liner material and an included rain fly, you'll be able to camp in whatever summer weather comes your way. The pre-attached poles make set-up an easy task, and the rain fly comes with red corner hooks to help out, too. Measuring six feet tall in the center with walls that are close to vertical, this summer's camping trips can be the most comfortable and spacious yet.

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Classic coffee maker $79.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For those fueled by coffee, having a way to make a quick cup in the morning is second to none. Thanks to the Amazon 4th of July sale, coffee-lovers can grab a Keurig K-Classic coffee maker for just $79.99 which works out to a 47% discount compared to the usual price of $149.99. Taking less than a minute to brew, you have your choice of three cup sizes and the machine can also accommodate taller travel mugs thanks to the removable drip tray. The 48-ounce water reservoir also means you'll need to re-fill less often. Plus, the machine's descaling button makes keeping the machine in tip-top shape easy.

Aubrey Plaza brings wit and wisdom in 'My Old Ass' trailer

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 11:00
Imagine if you could go back and give younger you some snarky advice — that's Aubrey Plaza in this trailer for "My Old Ass."

Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Which Amazon device is right for you?

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 10:07
Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Specs Credit: Chart: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable Design: We like color options

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop are nearly the same size, but while the Echo Dot is round the Echo Pop has a flat face. It basically looks like a cross-section of the Dot.

The Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) — as you can see, the Echo Dot has been graced with toddler spaghetti fingers. Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

The Echo Dot also comes in three fairly muted colors (gray, white, and blue), but the Echo Pop is available in some, well, poppier colors (lavender and teal in addition to gray and white).

Overall, I like the appearance of the Echo Pop a little better. The brighter colors can add a cute splash of color to a corner shelf, or the Pop can serve as a more discreet Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is fairly universally recognized as a smart home device).

Both have a modern, sleek appearance that can easily complement or blend into any style of decor.

Winner: Echo Pop

Setup and ease of use

Amazon has made setting up these devices extremely easy. You’ll need the Alexa app on your phone, and it walks you through setup step-by-step. The app is also where you’ll connect other apps like Spotify or Audible to stream them on your Echo devices using Alexa voice commands.

SEE ALSO: Echo vs. Echo Dot: Which Amazon device should you buy?

The devices themselves are also very straightforward. The physical buttons on them allow you to mute and unmute the microphone and adjust the volume. Everything else is done through voice commands or through the Alexa app. I had no problems setting up either device and both were highly responsive to my “Hey, Alexa’s.”

Winner: Tie

Sound quality is almost identical

Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s sound as a “full sound” that’s a good fit for bedrooms and small spaces and the Echo Dot’s sound as a “bigger vibrant sound” for any room.

In my side-by-side comparisons of the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop, I couldn’t detect a difference in sound quality between the two devices. Both devices were excellent for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while doing housework, providing fuller, clearer sound and increased volume compared to my smartphone.

SEE ALSO: The best portable Bluetooth speakers for 2024

The Echo Pop does have an ever-so-slightly larger speaker. However, the Dot’s round shape can help it to fill a space with sound no matter where it’s placed.

Winner: Echo Dot

Alexa integration and smart home connectivity

Both the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop integrate with Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app. You can use Alexa to ask questions, check the weather, set timers and alarms, and open connected apps (like music or streaming apps including Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music). 

Personally, I have always found Alexa devices most handy in the office and in the kitchen. They provide a hands-free, screen-free way to set timers (for productivity or pizza) or to stream audio. A centrally-located Echo device is also a great way to free up space in your brain. I’ve used Alexa to remind me to water my plants, put birthday cards in the mail, and check the water level in the pool at regular intervals when filling it up for the season.

However, the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop here in two key ways: temperature sensing and motion detection. So your Echo Dot can execute Alexa Routines that involve temperature or motion, while the Echo Pop can’t. Some examples: 

  • The Echo Dot can adjust your smart thermostat settings when it reaches a certain temperature

  • The Echo Dot can turn on smart lightbulbs when it senses motion in a room

Winner: Echo Dot

Considering additional features

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop can both serve as WiFi extenders if you have an existing Amazon Eero network, adding up to 1,000 square feet of additional WiFi coverage.

However, once again the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop in terms of extra features. As mentioned above, the Dot comes equipped with motion and temperature detection capabilities. 

Also, the Echo Dot with Clock ($59.99) comes with all the features of the 5th gen Echo Dot and a simple LED display that can show the time, temperature, and timer countdowns. The Echo Dot With Clock served me well for a time as my alarm clock, but it wouldn’t have earned that spot on my nightstand without the LED display so I could glance at the time.

Winner: Echo Dot

Click to Spark

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 10:02
.editor-content .raw-embed{max-width:100% !important} header.max-w-8xl.text-center.px-4.mt-8.text-primary-400.font-sans.mx-auto { display: none; } main.px-4.mx-auto.w-full.\32 xl\:px-0.full-width { padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; } main.px-4.mx-auto.w-full.\32 xl\:px-0.full-width.pogoPgWrap { padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; } .wp-block-audio figcaption{color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-audio figcaption{color:#ffffffa6}.wp-block-audio{margin:0 0 1em}.wp-block-code{border:1px solid #ccc;border-radius:4px;font-family:Menlo,Consolas,monaco,monospace;padding:.8em 1em}.wp-block-embed figcaption{color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-embed figcaption{color:#ffffffa6}.wp-block-embed{margin:0 0 1em}.blocks-gallery-caption{color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center}.is-dark-theme .blocks-gallery-caption{color:#ffffffa6}.wp-block-image figcaption{color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-image figcaption{color:#ffffffa6}.wp-block-image{margin:0 0 1em}.wp-block-pullquote{border-bottom:4px solid;border-top:4px solid;color:currentColor;margin-bottom:1.75em}.wp-block-pullquote cite,.wp-block-pullquote footer,.wp-block-pullquote__citation{color:currentColor;font-size:.8125em;font-style:normal;text-transform:uppercase}.wp-block-quote{border-left:.25em solid;margin:0 0 1.75em;padding-left:1em}.wp-block-quote cite,.wp-block-quote footer{color:currentColor;font-size:.8125em;font-style:normal;position:relative}.wp-block-quote.has-text-align-right{border-left:none;border-right:.25em solid;padding-left:0;padding-right:1em}.wp-block-quote.has-text-align-center{border:none;padding-left:0}.wp-block-quote.is-large,.wp-block-quote.is-style-large,.wp-block-quote.is-style-plain{border:none}.wp-block-search .wp-block-search__label{font-weight:700}.wp-block-search__button{border:1px solid #ccc;padding:.375em .625em}:where(.wp-block-group.has-background){padding:1.25em 2.375em}.wp-block-separator.has-css-opacity{opacity:.4}.wp-block-separator{border:none;border-bottom:2px solid;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}.wp-block-separator.has-alpha-channel-opacity{opacity:1}.wp-block-separator:not(.is-style-wide):not(.is-style-dots){width:100px}.wp-block-separator.has-background:not(.is-style-dots){border-bottom:none;height:1px}.wp-block-separator.has-background:not(.is-style-wide):not(.is-style-dots){height:2px}.wp-block-table{margin:0 0 1em}.wp-block-table td,.wp-block-table th{word-break:normal}.wp-block-table figcaption{color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-table figcaption{color:#ffffffa6}.wp-block-video figcaption{color:#555;font-size:13px;text-align:center}.is-dark-theme .wp-block-video figcaption{color:#ffffffa6}.wp-block-video{margin:0 0 1em}.wp-block-template-part.has-background{margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding:1.25em 2.375em} body{--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}body { margin: 0;--wp--style--global--content-size: 823px;--wp--style--global--wide-size: 1080px; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignleft { float: left; margin-right: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignright { float: right; margin-left: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .aligncenter { justify-content: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}body .is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}body .is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width: var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width: var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}body .is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}body .is-layout-flex > *{margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}body .is-layout-grid > *{margin: 0;}body{padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){text-decoration: underline;}.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link{background-color: #32373c;border-width: 0;color: #fff;font-family: inherit;font-size: inherit;line-height: inherit;padding: calc(0.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);text-decoration: none;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} .wp-block-navigation a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color: inherit;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} .wp-block-pullquote{font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} a,abbr,acronym,address,applet,b,big,blockquote,body,center,cite,code,dd,del,dfn,div,dl,dt,em,fieldset,font,form,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,html,i,iframe,img,ins,kbd,label,legend,li,object,ol,p,pre,q,s,samp,small,span,strike,strong,sub,sup,tt,u,ul,var{margin:0;padding:0;border:0;outline:0;font-size:100%;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent}body{line-height:1}ol,ul{list-style:none}blockquote,q{quotes:none}blockquote:after,blockquote:before,q:after,q:before{content:"";content:none}blockquote{margin:20px 0 30px;border-left:5px solid;padding-left:20px}:focus{outline:0}del{text-decoration:line-through}pre{overflow:auto;padding:10px}figure{margin:0}table{border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0}article,aside,footer,header,hgroup,nav,section{display:block}body{/*font-family:Open Sans,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#666;background-color:#fff;line-height:1.7em;font-weight:500;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale*/}body.page-template-page-template-blank-php #page-container{padding-top:0!important}body.et_cover_background{background-size:cover!important;background-position:top!important;background-repeat:no-repeat!important;background-attachment:fixed}a{/*color:#2ea3f2*/}a,a:hover{text-decoration:none}p{padding-bottom:1em}p:not(.has-background):last-of-type{padding-bottom:0}p.et_normal_padding{padding-bottom:1em}strong{font-weight:700}cite,em,i{font-style:italic}code,pre{font-family:Courier New,monospace;margin-bottom:10px}ins{text-decoration:none}sub,sup{height:0;line-height:1;position:relative;vertical-align:baseline}sup{bottom:.8em}sub{top:.3em}dl{margin:0 0 1.5em}dl dt{font-weight:700}dd{margin-left:1.5em}blockquote p{padding-bottom:0}embed,iframe,object,video{max-width:100%}h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{color:#333;padding-bottom:10px;line-height:1em;font-weight:500}h1 a,h2 a,h3 a,h4 a,h5 a,h6 a{color:inherit}h1{font-size:30px}h2{font-size:26px}h3{font-size:22px}h4{font-size:18px}h5{font-size:16px}h6{font-size:14px}input{-webkit-appearance:none}input[type=checkbox]{-webkit-appearance:checkbox}input[type=radio]{-webkit-appearance:radio}input.text,input.title,input[type=email],input[type=password],input[type=tel],input[type=text],select,textarea{background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #bbb;padding:2px;color:#4e4e4e}input.text:focus,input.title:focus,input[type=text]:focus,select:focus,textarea:focus{border-color:#2d3940;color:#3e3e3e}input.text,input.title,input[type=text],select,textarea{margin:0}textarea{padding:4px}button,input,select,textarea{font-family:inherit}img{max-width:100%;height:auto}.clear{clear:both}br.clear{margin:0;padding:0}.pagination{clear:both}#et_search_icon:hover,.et-social-icon a:hover,.et_password_protected_form .et_submit_button,.form-submit .et_pb_buttontton.alt.disabled,.nav-single a,.posted_in a{/*color:#2ea3f2*/}.et-search-form,blockquote{/*border-color:#2ea3f2*/}#main-content{background-color:#fff}.container{width:100%;max-width:1080px;margin:auto;position:relative}body:not(.et-tb) #main-content .container,body:not(.et-tb-has-header) #main-content .container{padding-top:58px}.et_full_width_page #main-content .container:before{display:none}.main_title{margin-bottom:20px}.et_password_protected_form .et_submit_button:hover,.form-submit .et_pb_button:hover{background:rgba(0,0,0,.05)}.et_button_icon_visible .et_pb_button{padding-right:2em;padding-left:.7em}.et_button_icon_visible .et_pb_button:after{opacity:1;margin-left:0}.et_button_left .et_pb_button:hover:after{left:.15em}.et_button_left .et_pb_button:after{margin-left:0;left:1em}.et_button_icon_visible.et_button_left .et_pb_button,.et_button_left .et_pb_button:hover,.et_button_left .et_pb_module .et_pb_button:hover{padding-left:2em;padding-right:.7em}.et_button_icon_visible.et_button_left .et_pb_button:after,.et_button_left .et_pb_button:hover:after{left:.15em}.et_password_protected_form .et_submit_button:hover,.form-submit .et_pb_button:hover{padding:.3em 1em}.et_button_no_icon .et_pb_button:after{display:none}.et_button_no_icon.et_button_icon_visible.et_button_left .et_pb_button,.et_button_no_icon.et_button_left .et_pb_button:hover,.et_button_no_icon .et_pb_button,.et_button_no_icon .et_pb_button:hover{padding:.3em 1em!important}.et_button_custom_icon .et_pb_button:after{line-height:1.7em}.et_button_custom_icon.et_button_icon_visible .et_pb_button:after,.et_button_custom_icon .et_pb_button:hover:after{margin-left:.3em}#left-area .post_format-post-format-gallery .wp-block-gallery:first-of-type{padding:0;margin-bottom:-16px}.entry-content table:not(.variations){border:1px solid #eee;margin:0 0 15px;text-align:left;width:100%}.entry-content thead th,.entry-content tr th{color:#555;font-weight:700;padding:9px 24px}.entry-content tr td{border-top:1px solid #eee;padding:6px 24px}#left-area ul,.entry-content ul,.et-l--body ul,.et-l--footer ul,.et-l--header ul{list-style-type:disc;padding:0 0 23px 1em;line-height:26px}#left-area ol,.entry-content ol,.et-l--body ol,.et-l--footer ol,.et-l--header ol{list-style-type:decimal;list-style-position:inside;padding:0 0 23px;line-height:26px}#left-area ul li ul,.entry-content ul li ol{padding:2px 0 2px 20px}#left-area ol li ul,.entry-content ol li ol,.et-l--body ol li ol,.et-l--footer ol li ol,.et-l--header ol li ol{padding:2px 0 2px 35px}#left-area ul.wp-block-gallery{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;list-style-type:none;padding:0}#left-area ul.products{padding:0!important;line-height:1.7!important;list-style:none!important}.gallery-item a{display:block}.gallery-caption,.gallery-item a{width:90%}#wpadminbar{z-index:100001}#left-area .post-meta{font-size:14px;padding-bottom:15px}#left-area .post-meta a{text-decoration:none;color:#666}#left-area .et_featured_image{padding-bottom:7px}.single .post{padding-bottom:25px}body.single .et_audio_content{margin-bottom:-6px}.nav-single a{text-decoration:none;/*color:#2ea3f2*/;font-size:14px;font-weight:400}.nav-previous{float:left}.nav-next{float:right}.et_password_protected_form p input{background-color:#eee;border:none!important;width:100%!important;border-radius:0!important;font-size:14px;color:#999!important;padding:16px!important;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}.et_password_protected_form label{display:none}.et_password_protected_form .et_submit_button{font-family:inherit;display:block;float:right;margin:8px auto 0;cursor:pointer}.post-password-required p.nocomments.container{max-width:100%}.post-password-required p.nocomments.container:before{display:none}.aligncenter,div.post .new-post .aligncenter{display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}.wp-caption{border:1px solid #ddd;text-align:center;background-color:#f3f3f3;margin-bottom:10px;max-width:96%;padding:8px}.wp-caption.alignleft{margin:0 30px 20px 0}.wp-caption.alignright{margin:0 0 20px 30px}.wp-caption img{margin:0;padding:0;border:0}.wp-caption p.wp-caption-text{font-size:12px;padding:0 4px 5px;margin:0}.alignright{float:right}.alignleft{float:left}img.alignleft{display:inline;float:left;margin-right:15px}img.alignright{display:inline;float:right;margin-left:15px}.page.et_pb_pagebuilder_layout #main-content{background-color:transparent}body #main-content .et_builder_inner_content>h1,body #main-content .et_builder_inner_content>h2,body #main-content .et_builder_inner_content>h3,body #main-content .et_builder_inner_content>h4,body #main-content .et_builder_inner_content>h5,body #main-content .et_builder_inner_content>h6{line-height:1.4em}body #main-content .et_builder_inner_content>p{line-height:1.7em}.wp-block-pullquote{margin:20px 0 30px}.wp-block-pullquote.has-background blockquote{border-left:none}.wp-block-group.has-background{padding:1.5em 1.5em .5em}@media (min-width:981px){#left-area{width:79.125%;padding-bottom:23px}#main-content .container:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:0;height:100%;width:1px;background-color:#e2e2e2}.et_full_width_page #left-area,.et_no_sidebar #left-area{float:none;width:100%!important}.et_full_width_page #left-area{padding-bottom:0}.et_no_sidebar #main-content .container:before{display:none}}@media (max-width:980px){#page-container{padding-top:80px}.et-tb #page-container,.et-tb-has-header #page-container{padding-top:0!important}#left-area,#sidebar{width:100%!important}#main-content .container:before{display:none!important}.et_full_width_page .et_gallery_item:nth-child(4n+1){clear:none}}@media print{#page-container{padding-top:0!important}}#wp-admin-bar-et-use-visual-builder a:before{font-family:ETmodules!important;content:"\e625";font-size:30px!important;width:28px;margin-top:-3px;color:#974df3!important}#wp-admin-bar-et-use-visual-builder:hover a:before{color:#fff!important}#wp-admin-bar-et-use-visual-builder:hover a,#wp-admin-bar-et-use-visual-builder a:hover{transition:background-color .5s ease;-webkit-transition:background-color .5s ease;-moz-transition:background-color .5s ease;background-color:#7e3bd0!important;color:#fff!important}* html .clearfix,:first-child+html .clearfix{zoom:1}.iphone .et_pb_section_video_bg video::-webkit-media-controls-start-playback-button{display:none!important;-webkit-appearance:none}.et_mobile_device .et_pb_section_parallax .et_pb_parallax_css{background-attachment:scroll}.et-social-facebook a.icon:before{content:"\e093"}.et-social-twitter a.icon:before{content:"\e094"}.et-social-google-plus a.icon:before{content:"\e096"}.et-social-instagram a.icon:before{content:"\e09a"}.et-social-rss a.icon:before{content:"\e09e"}.ai1ec-single-event:after{content:" ";display:table;clear:both}.evcal_event_details .evcal_evdata_cell .eventon_details_shading_bot.eventon_details_shading_bot{z-index:3}.wp-block-divi-layout{margin-bottom:1em}*{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}#et-info-email:before,#et-info-phone:before,#et_search_icon:before,.comment-reply-link:after,.et-cart-info span:before,.et-pb-arrow-next:before,.et-pb-arrow-prev:before,.et-social-icon a:before,.et_audio_container .mejs-playpause-button button:before,.et_audio_container .mejs-volume-button button:before,.et_overlay:before,.et_password_protected_form .et_submit_button:after,.et_pb_button:after,.et_pb_contact_reset:after,.et_pb_contact_submit:after,.et_pb_font_icon:before,.et_pb_newsletter_button:after,.et_pb_pricing_table_button:after,.et_pb_promo_button:after,.et_pb_testimonial:before,.et_pb_toggle_title:before,.form-submit .et_pb_button:after,.mobile_menu_bar:before,a.et_pb_more_button:after{font-family:ETmodules!important;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;-webkit-font-feature-settings:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;text-shadow:0 0;direction:ltr}.et-pb-icon,.et_pb_custom_button_icon.et_pb_button:after,.et_pb_login .et_pb_custom_button_icon.et_pb_button:after,.et_pb_woo_custom_button_icon .button.et_pb_custom_button_icon.et_pb_button:after,.et_pb_woo_custom_button_icon .button.et_pb_custom_button_icon.et_pb_button:hover:after{content:attr(data-icon)}.et-pb-icon{font-family:ETmodules;speak:none;font-weight:400;-webkit-font-feature-settings:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;font-size:96px;font-style:normal;display:inline-block;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;direction:ltr}#et-ajax-saving{display:none;-webkit-transition:background .3s,-webkit-box-shadow .3s;transition:background .3s,-webkit-box-shadow .3s;transition:background .3s,box-shadow .3s;transition:background .3s,box-shadow .3s,-webkit-box-shadow .3s;-webkit-box-shadow:rgba(0,139,219,.247059) 0 0 60px;box-shadow:0 0 60px rgba(0,139,219,.247059);position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;width:50px;height:50px;background:#fff;border-radius:50px;margin:-25px 0 0 -25px;z-index:999999;text-align:center}#et-ajax-saving img{margin:9px}.et-safe-mode-indicator,.et-safe-mode-indicator:focus,.et-safe-mode-indicator:hover{-webkit-box-shadow:0 5px 10px rgba(41,196,169,.15);box-shadow:0 5px 10px rgba(41,196,169,.15);background:#29c4a9;color:#fff;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;padding:12px;line-height:16px;border-radius:3px;position:fixed;bottom:30px;right:30px;z-index:999999;text-decoration:none;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale}.et_pb_button{font-size:20px;font-weight:500;padding:.3em 1em;line-height:1.7em!important;background-color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:2px solid;border-radius:3px;-webkit-transition-duration:.2s;transition-duration:.2s;-webkit-transition-property:all!important;transition-property:all!important}.et_pb_button,.et_pb_button_inner{position:relative}.et_pb_button:hover,.et_pb_module .et_pb_button:hover{border:2px solid transparent;padding:.3em 2em .3em .7em}.et_pb_button:hover{background-color:hsla(0,0%,100%,.2)}.et_pb_bg_layout_light.et_pb_button:hover,.et_pb_bg_layout_light .et_pb_button:hover{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,.05)}.et_pb_button:after,.et_pb_button:before{font-size:32px;line-height:1em;content:"\35";opacity:0;position:absolute;margin-left:-1em;-webkit-transition:all .2s;transition:all .2s;text-transform:none;-webkit-font-feature-settings:"kern" off;font-feature-settings:"kern" off;font-variant:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;text-shadow:none}.et_pb_button.et_hover_enabled:hover:after,.et_pb_button.et_pb_hovered:hover:after{-webkit-transition:none!important;transition:none!important}.et_pb_button:before{display:none}.et_pb_button:hover:after{opacity:1;margin-left:0}.et_pb_column_1_3 h1,.et_pb_column_1_4 h1,.et_pb_column_1_5 h1,.et_pb_column_1_6 h1,.et_pb_column_2_5 h1{font-size:26px}.et_pb_column_1_3 h2,.et_pb_column_1_4 h2,.et_pb_column_1_5 h2,.et_pb_column_1_6 h2,.et_pb_column_2_5 h2{font-size:23px}.et_pb_column_1_3 h3,.et_pb_column_1_4 h3,.et_pb_column_1_5 h3,.et_pb_column_1_6 h3,.et_pb_column_2_5 h3{font-size:20px}.et_pb_column_1_3 h4,.et_pb_column_1_4 h4,.et_pb_column_1_5 h4,.et_pb_column_1_6 h4,.et_pb_column_2_5 h4{font-size:18px}.et_pb_column_1_3 h5,.et_pb_column_1_4 h5,.et_pb_column_1_5 h5,.et_pb_column_1_6 h5,.et_pb_column_2_5 h5{font-size:16px}.et_pb_column_1_3 h6,.et_pb_column_1_4 h6,.et_pb_column_1_5 h6,.et_pb_column_1_6 h6,.et_pb_column_2_5 h6{font-size:15px}.et_pb_bg_layout_dark,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark h1,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark h2,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark h3,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark h4,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark h5,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark h6{color:#fff!important}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_left{text-align:left}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_center{text-align:center}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_right{text-align:right}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_justified{text-align:justify}.clearfix:after{visibility:hidden;display:block;font-size:0;content:" ";clear:both;height:0}.et_pb_bg_layout_light .et_pb_more_button{/*color:#2ea3f2*/}.et_builder_inner_content{position:relative;z-index:1}header .et_builder_inner_content{z-index:2}.et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough{mix-blend-mode:unset!important}.et_pb_image_container{margin:-20px -20px 29px}.et_pb_module_inner{position:relative}.et_hover_enabled_preview{z-index:2}.et_hover_enabled:hover{position:relative;z-index:2}.et_pb_all_tabs,.et_pb_module,.et_pb_posts_nav a,.et_pb_tab,.et_pb_with_background{position:relative;background-size:cover;background-position:50%;background-repeat:no-repeat}.et_pb_background_mask,.et_pb_background_pattern{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0}.et_pb_background_mask{background-size:calc(100% + 2px) calc(100% + 2px);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:50%;overflow:hidden}.et_pb_background_pattern{background-position:0 0;background-repeat:repeat}.et_pb_with_border{position:relative;border:0 solid #333}.post-password-required .et_pb_row{padding:0;width:100%}.post-password-required .et_password_protected_form{min-height:0}body.et_pb_pagebuilder_layout.et_pb_show_title .post-password-required .et_password_protected_form h1,body:not(.et_pb_pagebuilder_layout) .post-password-required .et_password_protected_form h1{display:none}.et_pb_no_bg{padding:0!important}.et_overlay.et_pb_inline_icon:before,.et_pb_inline_icon:before{content:attr(data-icon)}.et_pb_more_button{color:inherit;text-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block;margin-top:20px}.et_parallax_bg_wrap{overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}.et_parallax_bg{background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:top;background-size:cover;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;display:block}.et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg__hover,.et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg_phone,.et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg_tablet,.et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient__hover,.et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient_phone,.et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient_tablet,.et_pb_section_parallax_hover:hover .et_parallax_bg:not(.et_parallax_bg__hover),.et_pb_section_parallax_hover:hover .et_parallax_gradient:not(.et_parallax_gradient__hover){display:none}.et_pb_section_parallax_hover:hover .et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg__hover,.et_pb_section_parallax_hover:hover .et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient__hover{display:block}.et_parallax_gradient{bottom:0;display:block;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0}.et_pb_module.et_pb_section_parallax,.et_pb_posts_nav a.et_pb_section_parallax,.et_pb_tab.et_pb_section_parallax{position:relative}.et_pb_section_parallax .et_pb_parallax_css,.et_pb_slides .et_parallax_bg.et_pb_parallax_css{background-attachment:fixed}body.et-bfb .et_pb_section_parallax .et_pb_parallax_css,body.et-bfb .et_pb_slides .et_parallax_bg.et_pb_parallax_css{background-attachment:scroll;bottom:auto}.et_pb_section_parallax.et_pb_column .et_pb_module,.et_pb_section_parallax.et_pb_row .et_pb_column,.et_pb_section_parallax.et_pb_row .et_pb_module{z-index:9;position:relative}.et_pb_more_button:hover:after{opacity:1;margin-left:0}.et_pb_preload .et_pb_section_video_bg,.et_pb_preload>div{visibility:hidden}.et_pb_preload,.et_pb_section.et_pb_section_video.et_pb_preload{position:relative;background:#464646!important}.et_pb_preload:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:50%;left:50%;background:url(https://immersive.mashable.com/immersive/mashable/click-to-spark/v06/wp-content/themes/Divi/includes/builder/styles/images/preloader.gif) no-repeat;border-radius:32px;width:32px;height:32px;margin:-16px 0 0 -16px}.box-shadow-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;z-index:10;pointer-events:none}.et_pb_section>.box-shadow-overlay~.et_pb_row{z-index:11}body.safari .section_has_divider{will-change:transform}.et_pb_row>.box-shadow-overlay{z-index:8}.has-box-shadow-overlay{position:relative}.et_clickable{cursor:pointer}.screen-reader-text{border:0;clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);-webkit-clip-path:inset(50%);clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute!important;width:1px;word-wrap:normal!important}.et_multi_view_hidden,.et_multi_view_hidden_image{display:none!important}@keyframes multi-view-image-fade{0%{opacity:0}10%{opacity:.1}20%{opacity:.2}30%{opacity:.3}40%{opacity:.4}50%{opacity:.5}60%{opacity:.6}70%{opacity:.7}80%{opacity:.8}90%{opacity:.9}to{opacity:1}}.et_multi_view_image__loading{visibility:hidden}.et_multi_view_image__loaded{-webkit-animation:multi-view-image-fade .5s;animation:multi-view-image-fade .5s}#et-pb-motion-effects-offset-tracker{visibility:hidden!important;opacity:0;position:absolute;top:0;left:0}.et-pb-before-scroll-animation{opacity:0}header.et-l.et-l--header:after{clear:both;display:block;content:""}.et_pb_module{-webkit-animation-timing-function:linear;animation-timing-function:linear;-webkit-animation-duration:.2s;animation-duration:.2s}@-webkit-keyframes fadeBottom{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateY(10%);transform:translateY(10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateY(0);transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes fadeBottom{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateY(10%);transform:translateY(10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateY(0);transform:translateY(0)}}@-webkit-keyframes fadeLeft{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateX(-10%);transform:translateX(-10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateX(0);transform:translateX(0)}}@keyframes fadeLeft{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateX(-10%);transform:translateX(-10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateX(0);transform:translateX(0)}}@-webkit-keyframes fadeRight{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateX(10%);transform:translateX(10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateX(0);transform:translateX(0)}}@keyframes fadeRight{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateX(10%);transform:translateX(10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateX(0);transform:translateX(0)}}@-webkit-keyframes fadeTop{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateY(-10%);transform:translateY(-10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateX(0);transform:translateX(0)}}@keyframes fadeTop{0%{opacity:0;-webkit-transform:translateY(-10%);transform:translateY(-10%)}to{opacity:1;-webkit-transform:translateX(0);transform:translateX(0)}}@-webkit-keyframes fadeIn{0%{opacity:0}to{opacity:1}}@keyframes fadeIn{0%{opacity:0}to{opacity:1}}.et-waypoint:not(.et_pb_counters){opacity:0}@media (min-width:981px){.et_pb_section.et_section_specialty div.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_column .et_pb_module.et-last-child,.et_pb_section.et_section_specialty div.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_column .et_pb_module:last-child,.et_pb_section.et_section_specialty div.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_row_inner .et_pb_column .et_pb_module.et-last-child,.et_pb_section.et_section_specialty div.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_row_inner .et_pb_column .et_pb_module:last-child,.et_pb_section div.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_module.et-last-child,.et_pb_section div.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_module:last-child{margin-bottom:0}}@media (max-width:980px){.et_overlay.et_pb_inline_icon_tablet:before,.et_pb_inline_icon_tablet:before{content:attr(data-icon-tablet)}.et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg_tablet_exist,.et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient_tablet_exist{display:none}.et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg_tablet,.et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient_tablet{display:block}.et_pb_column .et_pb_module{margin-bottom:30px}.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_module.et-last-child,.et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_module:last-child,.et_section_specialty .et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_module.et-last-child,.et_section_specialty .et_pb_row .et_pb_column .et_pb_module:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.et_pb_more_button{display:inline-block!important}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet.et_pb_module.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet .et_pb_more_button{/*color:#2ea3f2*/}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet .et_pb_forgot_password a{color:#666}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet h1,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet h2,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet h3,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet h4,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet h5,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet h6{color:#333!important}.et_pb_module .et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet.et_pb_button{/*color:#2ea3f2!important*/}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_tablet{color:#666!important}.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet h1,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet h2,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet h3,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet h4,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet h5,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet h6{color:#fff!important}.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet.et_pb_module.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet .et_pb_more_button{color:inherit}.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_tablet .et_pb_forgot_password a{color:#fff}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_left-tablet{text-align:left}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_center-tablet{text-align:center}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_right-tablet{text-align:right}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_justified-tablet{text-align:justify}}@media (max-width:767px){.et_pb_more_button{display:inline-block!important}.et_overlay.et_pb_inline_icon_phone:before,.et_pb_inline_icon_phone:before{content:attr(data-icon-phone)}.et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg_phone_exist,.et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient_phone_exist{display:none}.et_parallax_bg.et_parallax_bg_phone,.et_parallax_gradient.et_parallax_gradient_phone{display:block}.et-hide-mobile{display:none!important}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone.et_pb_module.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone .et_pb_more_button{/*color:#2ea3f2*/}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone .et_pb_forgot_password a{color:#666}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone h1,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone h2,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone h3,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone h4,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone h5,.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone h6{color:#333!important}.et_pb_module .et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone.et_pb_button{/*color:#2ea3f2!important*/}.et_pb_bg_layout_light_phone{color:#666!important}.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone h1,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone h2,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone h3,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone h4,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone h5,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone h6{color:#fff!important}.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone.et_pb_module.et_pb_button,.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone .et_pb_more_button{color:inherit}.et_pb_module .et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone.et_pb_button{color:#fff!important}.et_pb_bg_layout_dark_phone .et_pb_forgot_password a{color:#fff}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_left-phone{text-align:left}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_center-phone{text-align:center}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_right-phone{text-align:right}.et_pb_module.et_pb_text_align_justified-phone{text-align:justify}}@media (max-width:479px){a.et_pb_more_button{display:block}}@media (min-width:768px) and (max-width:980px){[data-et-multi-view-load-tablet-hidden=true]:not(.et_multi_view_swapped){display:none!important}}@media (max-width:767px){[data-et-multi-view-load-phone-hidden=true]:not(.et_multi_view_swapped){display:none!important}}.et_pb_menu.et_pb_menu--style-inline_centered_logo .et_pb_menu__menu nav ul{-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center}@-webkit-keyframes multi-view-image-fade{0%{-webkit-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);opacity:1}50%{-webkit-transform:scale(1.01);transform:scale(1.01);opacity:1}to{-webkit-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);opacity:1}}

Great tech makes human potential nearly limitless. Join us as we explore how the latest Copilot+ PCs can activate smarter, more efficient, and ultra-productive ways to find your rhythm.

Click to Spark is a joint initiative by:

Presented by

-- Swipe to navigate -- Copilot+ PCs can accelerate your productivity and creativity

MASHABLE Everything AI allows you to do in Windows 11 that saves you time Copilot can help. PCMAG Get exactly what you want from generative AI with these simple prompting tips The quality of what you get from AI text and image generators is directly influenced by the quality of your prompts. Here's how to write awesome ones every time. LIFEHACKER These free LinkedIn courses will teach you how to use AI It's time to enroll in AI summer school. Features

5 Copilot AI features that are on by default in Microsoft products

By Christian de Looper at Mashable

4 ways AI can help you land your dream job

By David Paiz Torres at PCMag

The most important differences between Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Pro

By Jake Peterson at Lifehacker

TURBOCHARGED NPU Optimized for AI COPILOT+ PC FEATURES Your new superpower SECURITY Powered up.
Locked down. SHOP Explore Copilot+ PCs Learn more from Microsoft Welcome to a new era of AI Featured videos

Get the full scoop on everything announced at Microsoft Build 2024, including exciting new Cocreator and Recall features.

Read more

Curious about the latest Copilot+ PCs tech innovations?

Read more

With an AI companion, what you dream is what you can do.

With your new everyday AI companion, if you can think it, you can do it. Explore how Copilot+ PCs can help you make the most of your every day.

Check out Copilot+ PCs arrow_forward Explore Solutions → Read more Mashable AI and Windows 11 coverage

AI @ Play

By Mashable

How generative AI will affect the creator economy

By Christianna Silva at Mashable

How to get the most out of Copilot while protecting your data

By Christian de Looper at Mashable

The ultimate AI glossary to help you navigate our changing world

By Cecily Mauran at Mashable

Read more PCMag AI and Windows 11 coverage

Refresh Your Tech: Windows Edition

By PCMag

All About AI

By PCMag

5 ways Copilot+ PCs solve the biggest problems with AI PCs

By Chris Hoffman at PCMag

It's Copilot+ PC and Snapdragon X launch day: here's how it looks at Best Buy

By John Burek at PCMag

Read more Lifehacker AI and Windows 11 coverage

Living With AI

By Lifehacker

Your next Windows PC will have this brand-new key

By Joshua Hawkins at Lifehacker

The best ways to use the new Microsoft Copilot AI app

By David Nield at Lifehacker

A beginner’s guide to Copilot plugins

By Jake Peterson at Lifehacker

549 #rev_slider_94_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows{cursor:pointer;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);width:60px;height:60px;position:absolute;display:block;z-index:1000; border-radius:50%}#rev_slider_94_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows.rs-touchhover{background:#000000}#rev_slider_94_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows:before{font-family:'revicons';font-size:30px;color:#ffffff;display:block;line-height:60px;text-align:center}#rev_slider_94_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows.tp-leftarrow:before{content:'\e82c'; margin-left:-3px}#rev_slider_94_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows.tp-rightarrow:before{content:'\e82d'; margin-right:-3px} .rs-layer.tp-linkmod:hover{text-decoration:underline !important} #spotlight_wrapper .uranus.tparrows{width:50px; height:50px; background:rgba(12,12,12,0.74)}#spotlight_wrapper .uranus.tparrows:before{width:50px; height:50px; line-height:50px; font-size:40px; transition:all 0.3s;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s}#spotlight_wrapper .uranus.tparrows.rs-touchhover:before{opacity:0.75}#spotlight_wrapper .hermes.tp-bullets{}#spotlight_wrapper .hermes .tp-bullet{overflow:hidden; border-radius:50%; width:16px; height:16px; background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0); box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 2px #ffffff; -webkit-transition:background 0.3s ease; transition:background 0.3s ease; position:absolute}#spotlight_wrapper .hermes .tp-bullet.rs-touchhover{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.21)}#spotlight_wrapper .hermes .tp-bullet:after{content:' '; position:absolute; bottom:0; height:0; left:0; width:100%; background-color:#ffffff; box-shadow:0 0 1px #ffffff; -webkit-transition:height 0.3s ease; transition:height 0.3s ease}#spotlight_wrapper .hermes .tp-bullet.selected:after{height:100%} #spotlight_wrapper rs-loader.spinner3 div{background-color:#FFFFFF !important} @font-face{font-family:'Material Icons'; font-style:normal; font-weight:400; src:url(//fonts.gstatic.com/s/materialicons/v41/flUhRq6tzZclQEJ-Vdg-IuiaDsNcIhQ8tQ.woff2) format('woff2')}rs-module .material-icons{font-family:'Material Icons'; font-weight:normal; font-style:normal;font-size:inherit; display:inline-block; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:normal; word-wrap:normal; white-space:nowrap; direction:ltr; vertical-align:top; line-height:inherit; font-feature-settings:'liga'; -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased; text-rendering:optimizeLegibility; -moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale} .tiny_bullet_slider .tp-bullet:before{content:" "; position:absolute; width:100%; height:25px; top:-12px; left:0px; background:transparent}.rs-layer.tp-linkmod:hover{text-decoration:underline !important} .new-bullet-bar.tp-bullets{}.new-bullet-bar.tp-bullets:before{content:" ";position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;background:transparent;padding:10px;margin-left:-10px;margin-top:-10px;box-sizing:content-box}.new-bullet-bar .tp-bullet{width:60px;height:3px;position:absolute;background:#aaa; background:rgba(45,48,50,0.2);cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box}.new-bullet-bar .tp-bullet.rs-touchhover,.new-bullet-bar .tp-bullet.selected{background:rgba(45,48,50,0.65)}.new-bullet-bar .tp-bullet-image{}.new-bullet-bar .tp-bullet-title{} #archives_wrapper rs-loader.spinner3 div{background-color:#FFFFFF !important}

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm online for free

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 09:02

TL;DR: Watch Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Interest in the WNBA has exploded this season, and that has a lot to do with the emergence of Caitlin Clark. The young star dominated college hoops in recent years, and everyone has been desperate to see whether that influence will transfer to the professional game. It's still early days, but it doesn't look like Caitlin Clark will have too much trouble making the adjustment.

If you want to watch Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm?

Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm for free

Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but you don't need to be subscriber to watch this fixture. Anyone can watch the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video in the U.S.

Fans from outside the U.S. will need to use a VPN to watch the WNBA for free on Prime Video. The process is straightforward:

  1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

  2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  5. Watch Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most leading services do offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the WNBA on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm before recovering your investment.

And if you do choose to continue using a VPN, you'll retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WNBA on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Reneé Rapp and Rachel Sennott talk finstas and flirting on Instagram's 'Close Friends Only' podcast

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 09:00

Internet 'It' girls Rachel Sennott and Reneé Rapp sat down together for Instagram's new Close Friends Only video podcast.

SEE ALSO: Instagram teens are regularly recommended sexual and explicit videos, new report finds

In addition to dishing on their upcoming projects, the Bottoms actor/co-writer and Mean Girls star talk about their friendship and flirting techniques with their characteristic wit and chaos. In the preview for the episode below, Sennott asks Rapp, "What about me are you most intrigued by?" (you'll have to watch to find out), and Rapp shares her favorite of her lyrics.

Close Friends Only is Instagram's first podcast, which centers guests' conversations around the platform. In this ep, Sennott brings up her finsta and the duo share that they first connected on the app. The podcast is produced by the women-led creative agency SUN-NY SIDE UP and The Unwell Network, the Gen Z media network founded by Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper.

Sennott and Rapp are only the second guests on the podcast. The first episode featured Doja Cat and Ice Spice. Their episode was roughly 22 minutes long, so you can expect a similar length from Sennott and Rapp.

Instagram's podcast venture makes us wonder what pie it will stick its fingers in next.

'A Quiet Place: Day One' review: Lupita Nyong'o deserves better

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 09:00

Enough. Clearly someone must say it. So for good measure I’ll say it twice: Enough. 

Not every successful horror conceit merits a sequel and prequel. Not every monster is unendingly scary. Not every doomed world is rich with stories. To prove this look no further than A Quiet Place: Day One, a prequel so far from its origins that even its title is a stretch. 

Aside from Djimon Hounsou, who is was credited as "man on island" in A Quiet Place Part II, none of the previous cast returns. Neither does director John Krasinski or screenwriting team Bryan Woods and Scott Beck, who departed to make If and Heretic respectively. Instead, writer/director Michael Sarnoski takes the reins. Now, his last film, Pig, was a harrowing character drama studded with sharp humor and gnarly twists, which suggests he’d be a solid fit for this horror helm.

SEE ALSO: This scene in 'A Quiet Place' looks like it's straight from 'The Office'

Alas, Sarnoski gets lost amid the demands of disaster carnage and franchise lore. So the tender odd couple narrative he constructs with stars Lupita Nyong'o and Stranger Things' Joseph Quinn feels uneven at best and gnawingly hollow at worst.

How does A Quiet Place: Day One connect to the earlier films? Credit: Paramount Pictures

It barely does. Far, far from the Abbott family farm of the first two films is a bustling Manhattan, where an isolated hospice patient named Sam (Nyong'o) realizes she’s not ready to die as the movie's monsters crash into skyscrapers, churches, and city streets with thundering force and outpouring rampaging. 

Determined to live long enough to get one last New York slice from her favorite Harlem haunt (seriously), she soldiers through ruins, flooded subways, and the trembling feelings of a lost law student named Eric (Quinn) all while ducking the sound-chasing beasts. In this dogged journey uptown pursued by extraterrestrial predators, A Quiet Place: Day One has more in common with 2008's Cloverfield than it does the franchise for which it's named. 

A Quiet Place: Day One swerves from monster horror to cutesy NYC love story Credit: Paramount Pictures

This collision is clunky at best. Sarnoski introduces a hardened heroine, mired in rage and self pity, who finds a new lease on life in protecting a wide-eyed baby lawyer from the big bad city overrun by literal man-eaters. Their dynamic is reminiscent of gender-swapped film-noir, with Nyong'o as the world-weary anti-hero roped into rescuing a dude-in-distress, who is so fragile he is constantly on the verge of hysterics. Yet at times, this sequel veers into the plucky sweetness of a Pixar short. 

Because of the "stay quiet, stay alive" conceit, Sam and Eric rarely speak. And so playful pantomime evolves between them that is at times charming. Their relationship feels at best slapped together. As characters they are haphazardly constructed through scraps of personal details like far-flung parents and bits of actual poetry. But that's because this is not a movie sold on its sentimental human drama, but on the promised scare cycle of quietly creeping, accidentally making a noise, and running for your lives as monsters barrel down after you.

Featured Video For You Pam Grier and the cast of 'Them: The Scare' on breaking down the stigma of mental health in "Black Horror"

In the first two films, the Abbotts weren't all keenly developed characters, but they found definition through their interplay as a family and their fine-tuned team defence protocols. We were invested in them collectively, rather than individually. Here, incredibly Sarnoski chooses to set a film in New York City, a place made up of a myriad of communities, neighborhoods, and found families, and manages to center his story on two loners with no ties of note. Any interest in establishing characters who feel true to the city is non-existent, and the film's disinterest in New York as anything other than a different backdrop for the franchise is obvious.

The heroes' journey uptown plays fast and loose with geography, which was also true of Cloverfield, where subway tunnels seemed to act like warp whistles. And most unnerving of all is the garish use of imagery that recalls 9/11. Downtown Manhattan thick with white dust from collapsed buildings; smoke and debris turning the familiar streets into a nightmarish haze flecked with fleeing people. Sure. Such imagery makes Day One scary, but not because of Sarnoski's skill at setting a scene. It's because he used a crass cheat code to real-life horror. 

Lupita Nyong'o is more than this movie deserves and yet she can’t save it Credit: Paramount Pictures

Almost immediately after the monsters overrun Manhattan, everyone in the city just knows you can’t talk. So most of the film is a bunch of characters who don’t happen to know sign language, struggling to communicate through gestures, pleading eyes, and occasionally writing something down.

It’s a shame to see the communication on these films get so sloppy as soon his Krasinski and his co-writers have left it behind. Admittedly, the miming is at times suitably menacing. Hounsou excels at communicating through his hard gaze and harder grip around a desperate-to-scream mouth. But it's Nyong'o who carries this film on her strong shoulders. While Quinn's eyes quiver with tears, his lips agape in horror, Sarnoski leans hard on Nyong'o's sublime profile and dark, soulful eyes to communicate fear and hope, giving depth where his screenplay does not. Still, it's not enough to keep the emotional life of this film afloat. Perhaps that explains the cat. 

Through their whole horror-studded journey, Sam and Eric carry her cat, a black-and-white wanderer named Frodo (yes, Sam and Frodo). The cat meanders through this world of monsters with an unearned confidence. At times, he seems at risk — though the monsters seem to ignore New York's resident rats and squirrels — but mostly Frodo is cut to for reaction shots. I'm not a cat person. But the audience I saw this prequel with did audibly coo over this fearless feline's every close-up.

All this to say, parts of A Quiet Place: Day One are enchanting. Hounsou and Alex Wolff, who plays a gentle, man-bunned hospice nurse, are gripping in painfully brief appearances. Nyong'o and Quinn are performers with a captivating screen presence that pulls us in steadily — when they're given something to play beyond run and hide. The action sequences here lack the impact of the first film. Perhaps because at this point there's nothing new to learn about these creatures really. Or maybe it's that Sarnoski didn't learn the lesson of Jaws and gives us too many chances to look up close until these creatures are too familiar to be feel alarmingly alien. 

In the end, A Quiet Place: Day One doesn't equal the sum of its parts. The love story at its core can't shine amid the required carnage and urban devastation demanded by the prequel's promise. The performances — while earnest — can't find footing in the crude plotting. The scares, which once were grounded in character and uncertainty, lose their luster without either. With all this movie tries to wedge in, it's just not enough. 

A Quiet Place: Day One opens in theaters only June 27.

How to watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky online for free

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 08:47

TL;DR: Watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Last season's champs meet Chicago Sky in the next WNBA fixture on the schedule. The Las Vegas Aces have not blown away the competition this year, but they are still stacked with stars including A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum. On the other side of the court, Angel Reese will be doing everything she can to upset the odds.

If you want to watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky?

Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

How to watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky for free

Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but you don't need to be subscribed to tune in. Anyone can watch the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video in the U.S.

Fans from outside the U.S. will need to use a VPN to watch the WNBA for free on Prime Video. The process is straightforward:

  1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

  2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

  5. Watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the WNBA on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Google Translate has learned 110 new languages with the help of AI

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 08:17

Google Translate has gotten much faster when it comes to learning new languages, and it's thanks to generative AI.

On Thursday, Google announced its Translate tool now knows 110 new languages, thanks to the company's PaLM 2 large language model.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Google thinks AI should be regulated

For the full list of new languages that are supported, check out Google's help page Highlights include Cantonese, which Google says was one of the most requested languages for Translate, as well as Balinese, Fijian, Portuguese (Portugal), Tahitian, and Tibetan.

Google also pointed out that this is the largest expansion of Translate into African languages to date, as it includes Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda and Wolof.

All in all, Google plans to ultimately support 1,000 most spoken languages around the world, which now seems attainable thanks to AI. Google says that PaLM 2 was "a key piece to the puzzle, helping Translate more efficiently learn languages that are closely related to each other."

For an idea of just how much faster Google Translate is at learning new languages, the company last posted an update like this in May 2022, when Translate learned 24 new languages, also with the help of AI. All in all, it took the company roughly 16 years to get to 133 languages.

YouTube is reportedly talking to major labels for AI music deals

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 08:13

YouTube is reportedly holding licensing talks with major record labels for permission to use more songs to create AI-generated clones, according to the Financial Times.

The publisher, which cited "three people familiar with the matter", said YouTube "offered lump sums of cash" to Universal, Sony, and Warner, in order to persuade more artists to hand over their music for AI training. According to the FT, these would be one-off, case-by-case licensing payments, not blanket use deals.

Mashable has reached out to YouTube for comment.

The report notably comes just days after Universal, Warner, and Sony filed separate lawsuits with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against AI music generators Udio and Suno for alleged copyright infringement.

SEE ALSO: Is AI-generated music the future of K-pop? HYBE chairman Bang Si-Hyuk thinks so

Last year, YouTube tested a tool called "Dream Tracks" for Shorts, which let a selection of creators generate unique songs in the style of several artists including Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Charlie Puth, Papoose, Sia, T-Pain, and Alec Benjamin, all with the agreement of the artists themselves. According to the FT, YouTube reportedly wants to expand its collection of artists and songs, but not for Dream Track.

YouTube's focus on AI-generated music comes under Google's broader strategy to compete with rivals in the space, from OpenAI's music generator Jukebox and video generator Sora, to Meta's dabbling in AudioCraft, an open-source AI music generator. In August 2023, Google announced its Music AI Incubator, a partnership with Universal — the label, which pulled its music from TikTok over "appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI," has called for streaming services to crack down on AI-generated music due to copyright concerns. Google also published YouTube's AI music principles, in which the company promises to "embrace it responsibly together with our music partners."

YouTube requires creators to label whether a video was made with generative AI, or risk receiving fines, having their content removed, or being suspended from the YouTube Partner Program — and artists can request the removal of AI-generated music uploaded without their consent.

Musicians have been vocal about the threats AI poses to human creativity and compensation, with 200 artists including Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj, Pearl Jam, Katy Perry, the estates of Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra, and more signing an open letter in April denouncing AI in music. The letter specifically called out companies that were "employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders," and especially those training AI models with music without the consent of the artist.

The report also comes at a time when licensing deals with AI companies is big business, including with online news and media sites — here's all the media companies that have licensing deals with OpenAI (so far).

Power your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and more with a $22 multi-port cable

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 08:00

TL;DR: Through July 21, get an InCharge X Max 100W 6-in-1 ultra-fast charging cable on sale for just $21.99 (reg. $39.99).

In our digital world, staying connected has become essential. Whether it’s for work, entertainment, or keeping in touch with loved ones, our portable devices are indispensable. However, our devices all eventually run out of battery power, which is why having a reliable, versatile, and ultra-fast charging solution is more important than ever.

The InCharge X Max 6-in-1 charging cable could be a game-changer in the world of device charging. And for a limited time, you can grab this all-in-one powerhouse for just $21.99, a significant drop from its usual price of $39.99. 

The 6-in-1 design allows you to meet nearly all your charging needs with a single cable. Whether you’re charging your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any other device, this cable has you covered. It combines multiple connectors in one sleek, five-foot-long cable, making it quite possibly the only charging accessory you’ll need.

It features USB to Lightning, USB to USB-C, and USB to micro-USB, as well as USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to Lightning, and USB-C to micro-USB. It can charge and sync (480Mbps of transfer speed), with USB-C to USB-C ultra-fast charging and iPhone fast charging up to 18W.

The sleek design is made possible by multiple connector ends, which allow you to switch from different device types and brands with just one cable. This means you can keep it in your bag when traveling to have powerful charging capabilities for almost all of your devices.

Because it has a rugged five-foot-long design, including aramid fiber, braided copper wires, cable guards, and nylon reinforcement, it should have no trouble keeping up with even the busiest on-the-go lifestyles.

Get an InCharge X Max 100W 6-in-1 ultra-fast charging cable on sale for just $21.99 (reg. $39.99) until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rolling Square InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable $21.99 at The Mashable Shop
$39.00 Save $17.01 Get Deal

Selena Gomez does Martin Short's makeup in delightful 'Kimmel Live!' interview

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 06:34
"Only Murders in the Building" stars Selena Gomez and Martin Short played with makeup on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Watch.

AI version of sportscaster Al Michaels will deliver custom Olympic recaps

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 06:03

Ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, NBC has announced that an AI version of sportscaster Al Michaels will deliver personalized recaps to Peacock users.

These 10-minute daily updates, conducted in Michaels' voice, require just a few details for customization: on Peacock, users need to submit their names and select up to three types of sports they want to hear more about.

SEE ALSO: Google is working on generative AI soundtracks and dialogue for videos

The voice was trained based on Michaels' extensive repertoire of work while at NBC, and the AI experience was built in-house by Peacock's "team of engineers, product managers and data scientists." NBCUniversal’s John Jelley said the team developed a process to "integrate, optimize and validate state-of-the-art large language model and voice synthesis technology."

The product will be available on Peacock's website, iOS, and iPad apps. Peacock has vowed that a team of editors "will review all content, including audio and clips, for quality assurance and accuracy before recaps are made available to users." Nearly 7 million clips can be created over the course of the Olympics, says NBC.

Media outlets caught an early demo of the product. According to Vulture, "The performance of Michaels’s synthezoid voice left much to be desired." Defector, meanwhile, says, "The resulting technology seems ... pretty fucking AI, honestly. It sounds strikingly like Al Michaels without really quite seeming like Al Michaels; it is accurate, but not right."

Michaels said he was initially "very skeptical" of the proposal, but was ultimately blown away by the technology: "Frankly, it was astonishing. It was amazing," he told Vanity Fair. "And it was a little bit frightening. It was not only close, it was almost 2 percent off perfect. I’m thinking, Whoa."

NASA's 3D tour of a famous cosmic masterpiece is exquisite

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 05:30

It's hard to pick a favorite view of space, but many astronomers hold dear the Pillars of Creation, a stunning cloud of interstellar gas and dust that resembles a human hand. 

Now NASA scientists have created a narrated 3D tour of this cosmic marvel, a small portion of the enormous Eagle Nebula about 6,500 light-years away in the Milky Way.

Rather than an artistic rendering, the movie (shown below) is based on actual scientific data acquired from a host of observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope, which took its first pictures of the famous pillars in 1995, and the James Webb Space Telescope, which views the universe in infrared light. The movie also incorporates data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the retired Spitzer Space Telescope. 

The video is intended to help people understand how different telescopes provide different kinds of information, while also giving the audience a general appreciation for how star formation occurs, said principal visualization scientist Frank Summers of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. Summers will present it at the International Planetarium Society Conference in Berlin next month.

"Stars help create the dust pillars that actually are creating stars," Summers said in a statement. "Stars are forming inside the Eagle Nebula, which is a giant dust cloud."

SEE ALSO: Webb telescope's Pillars of Creation shows us things Hubble couldn't

The Pillars of Creation are mostly made of small dust grains of carbon and hydrogen, weathered by the ultraviolet radiation of nearby hot, young stars. The fingerlike pillars are gigantic, with the tallest among them stretching farther than the width of our own solar system — more than three light-years.

New stars, only a few hundred thousand years old, poke out around the edges of the cloud as rubies, courtesy of Webb's infrared view. The reddish fingertips, the result of energetic hydrogen, are coming from young stars that sometimes shoot out wavy jets. 

NASA has previously described the pillars as "practically pulsing with their activity." This new perspective gives scientists a better feel for how baby stars shed their dust cocoons over millions of years.

Researchers used the same NASA data presented in the 3D video to make this 3D-printed model of the Pillars of Creation. Credit: NASA / STScI / R. Crawford / L. Hustak

The video begins with a zoom from the Milky Way down to the Pillars of Creation, which is more than a 10,000-fold magnification. Like a gnat, the virtual camera flies in, around, and among the fingers, revealing four separate dust clouds with gas streaming away from each.

Without the 3D view, one of the pillars could go unseen. 

While the Webb telescope offers researchers a diaphanous view, piercing through dense dust, Hubble sees the cosmos in visible light, glowing at thousands of degrees. Astronomers say both views combined provide a more complete picture. 

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for June 27

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 05:08

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for June 27 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for June 27

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, June 27, 2024:

AcrossNot at work today

  • The answer is off.

Sushi order

  • The answer is roll.

With 8-Across, what might have your family hanging by a thread?

  • The answer is group.

See 6-Across

  • The answer is text.

Maritime setting

  • The answer is sea.

DownThe "O" of NATO: Abbr.

  • The answer is Org.

___ Worth, Tex.

  • The answer is Fort.

Drifting sheets of ice

  • The answer is floes.

Expensive and high-quality

  • The answer is luxe.

School grp. for moms and dads

  • The answer is pta.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Remembering 'The Paperboy': The Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron team-up that shocked the world

Mashable - Thu, 06/27/2024 - 05:00

This weekend, Netflix is teaming up Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman for A Family Affair, a cute new rom-com directed by Richard LaGravenese (Living Out Loud). The film is about a young woman named Zara (Joey King) whose boss, a former teen heartthrob actor (Zac Efron), starts sleeping with her mother (Nicole Kidman), much to Zara's horror. And yes, that is a story that could very much be the basis for an erotic thriller, but here it's instead being played for broad slapstick laughs. 

The thing is, Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman already did the erotic thriller thing 12 years ago. And while the internet likes to pretend that everything old never existed, we can never forget. 

How could we, when that movie was writer-director and camp maestro Lee Daniels' The Paperboy, and it involved the Oscar-winning actress of The Hours excitedly urinating all over the beautiful young star of the High School Musical movies while loudly and proudly proclaiming, "If anyone's gonna piss on him, it's going to be me!" 

That's not the sort of thing one easily forgets. 

This is Daniels' specialty — searing outrageousness into our brains with one wildly over-the-top moment after another. Like so many queer filmmakers who came before him, Daniels speaks camp fluently. For his second film, Precious, in 2009, Monique won an Oscar for — among other things — throwing a TV at Gabourey Sidibe. And after The Paperboy came the six seasons of his hip-hop extravaganza Empire, which… well, the moments of outrageousness there are far, far, far too many to count. (Bless you, Taraji P. Henson.)

Still, nothing Daniels has made brought out the knives of the critics quite like The Paperboy did. Loathed by the press and audiences alike in 2012, this movie was a great big bomb on basically every front. But the world was wrong! And we're here to reclaim this explosion of bonkers queer camp as iconic entertainment worthy of nothing but our most profound love and affection.

Who is The Paperboy?

Taking on his first "adult" role post Disney musicals, Zac Efron plays Jack, a college dropout who's returned home with his hot tail between his legs, quite lost as to what he'll do next. But despite a dreaminess that Efron makes indistinguishable from slack-jawed dullness, Jack seems content just lounging around his parents' house in his tighty-whities (a sight Daniels spends no shortage of film stock lingering upon) while occasionally delivering the local newspaper for some cash.

Credit: Millennium / Everett / Shutterstock

That is, until his older brother Ward (Matthew McConaughey) also sweeps back into their swampy Florida hometown, but for business, not pleasure. Ward is a muckraking newsman sniffing around the case of a corrupt local sheriff who got murdered. A gator-wrestling redneck named Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack, giving what can only be described as a truly grotesque performance) is sitting on death row for the crime. But Ward thinks Hillary might be innocent. Or at least railroaded via insufficient evidence. And he got these ideas via pleading correspondences sent to him by Hillary's long-distance beloved, an Alabamian hot house who goes by the name of Charlotte Bless (Kidman). 

There's big, and then there's "Nicole Kidman in The Paperboy" big.

In a career full of bold moves, Charlotte Bless just might be Kidman's boldest. As if imported straight from the nearest John Waters joint, Charlotte is a capital-F floozy. Hair bleached to a blonde crisp ("Straight hair gives me class," she opines) and spilling out of her skin-tight dresses, Kidman plays the role to the parking lot beyond the back row of the bleachers. Her Charlotte is a vulgar, broken, black hole of braying narcissism and want. She's a toxic spill of sex and dissolution. And yet she's also kind of sweet at the same time? 

Naturally, the second Jack sees her, he is fully and completely lost under her spell. And so are we. And so is every single character on-screen. Well, Ward might not take much notice since he's a closested homosexual with his own reams of damage. But every other man who gets sucked into Charlotte's off-axis orbit seems to be immediately struck dopey-eyed inarticulate by her. 

Heck, Hillary didn't even have to meet her in the flesh — theirs has, up to this moment, been a romance conducted entirely via letter. Until the film's big central showcase of salacious spectacle, that is, where Kidman and Cusack bark sex sounds back and forth at one another from across the prison's meeting room, as everyone else (including us in the audience) watches on in disbelief and horror. 

If there's been a more bizarre and perverse sex scene committed to film in the 12 years since this one, I'm not sure I could name it. And is that not something worth exclaiming from the mountaintops? Now that's entertainment!

The Paperboy was a bomb as big as Zac Efron's glutes.

But most people who saw The Paperboy in 2012 didn't see the glory in all this. When the film premiered at Cannes, it was excoriated by critics (IndieWire dubbed it "a disastrous flop" right out of the gate). When the film got released in theaters that fall, it couldn't even crack $4 million (on a $12 million budget) worldwide.

The one exception to the air of ire was Kidman, who got sound praise for her "bravery." In nearly every interview she gave at the time, she was asked why the hell she took this role. She kept coming back to the same word — "raw." She liked the role's rawness. And Charlotte is certainly that. If eyeballs can feel chafed from watching a movie, The Paperboy accomplishes it. And for her raw, brave work, Kidman ultimately got nominated for both a SAG award and a Golden Globe. The world seemed to clock that Kidman understood the task at hand, even if nobody else, in their eyes, did. 

Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Long before the AMC ads, Kidman had an eye on queer sensibilities and camp. The list of queer filmmakers Kidman has worked with over the years is very long. 

By the time The Paperboy had mainstream audiences' jaws dropped, we'd already seen Kidman go ultra with the sultry showgirl in Moulin Rouge!, the ball-busting suburbanite in The Stepford Wives, and the dream-analyzing damsel-in-distress in Batman Forever. But the role that convinced most of us she was a genuine talent to be reckoned with in the first place was that of wannabe femme fatale newswoman Suzanne Stone in Gus Van Sant's To Die For. (It must be said that if you can find any echo of Charlotte among Kidman's other roles, it's very much there in stupid, manipulative Suzanne.) 

The Paperboy embraces outlandishness, top to bottom. 

Still, to chalk this film up to just Kidman knowing what was going on and making the best of it seems, to put it mildly, a discredit to the Black gay man at the center of its making. Lee Daniels' outré work has been steeped in audacious ingenuity every step of the way. Camp is the language, the essence, of his filmmaking. It's the engine driving (one might even say pummeling away at) everything. 

Like a Tennessee Williams play mixed up with vermouth and methamphetamines, The Straights are not OK in Lee Daniels' world. The sloppily rouged divas and gator-wrestling dudes of The Paperboy are spinning and bucking wildly out of control, and dammit, it's funny. It's scathing. It's a glorious mess, sticky to the touch. If you walked out of this movie not desiring a shower, then Daniels wouldn't have done his job. 

Nowadays, once-controversial queer filmmakers like John Waters and Todd Haynes get their films — which work at this exact same over-the-top register — put into the Criterion Collection. They are feted with major exhibits at the Academy Museum. Why Daniels' work — and specifically, the aria of sleaze-ploitation that he summons with The Paperboy — hasn't been afforded that same celebratory lens, one can only conjecture. 

Credit: Gorassini Giancarlo / ABACA / Shutterstock

Because how can you watch the ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise squat over Mr. High School Musical and not consider it every bit as hilariously punk about smashing up the heteronormative mainstream as it was for Mink Stole to stick a rosary up Divine's ass in Multiple Maniacs back in the day? It seems fairly clear to me that this was Daniels' intention. That scene, and the many examples surrounding it, didn't just slip in there by mistake. Lee Daniels did that!

With all its swampy outlandishness, The Paperboy represented a huge swing by Daniels to wield melodrama and camp with purpose, spinning it in invigorating and wild new directions. And with a cast of great big top-shelf movie stars no less. We've managed to come around on other misunderstood satires, like John McNaughton's sleazy threesome thriller Wild Things and Paul Verhoeven's alien-squashing epic Starship Troopers — even Verhoeven's Showgirls, the topless pinnacle of modern camp. The movies proudly speak in the vernacular of excess. 

So now, with its two central stars reunited for this week's cute little Netflix rom-com, it ought to be The Paperboy's turn to shine. It has more than earned its spot in the pantheon of legendary camp. Make like Kidman and Efron did once upon that time, and tune your frequency straight into this spectacle of overheated lust and betrayal and the hottest of pink hot pants. The Paperboy will piss on your leg and tell you it's raining, and you should love every mad minute of it.

How to watch: The Paperboy is now streaming on Prime Video.

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator