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I was all about the wedding bells after getting engaged in June, but after seeing some of these wedding venue quotes, it’s more like alarm bells.
"Ding-dong" has been remixed to "cha-ching" – and I need help.
I don’t even know how to begin wedding planning. What are the first steps? What do I need to prioritize first? Which tasks are pressing – and which can wait a year or two?
I decided to enlist the help of an AI assistant. Taking it one step further, I thought it’d be interesting to see which chatbot – Gemini Advanced or ChatGPT Plus (i.e., ChatGPT 4o) – is the better wedding planner.
Gemini vs ChatGPT: Create a to-do listI’m planning on have my wedding in the summer of 2026 – sometime between August and September. Besides that, I don’t have anything else nailed down, so I asked both Gemini and ChatGPT to give me a to-do list based on the following prompt:
“My wedding is between August 2026 and September 2026. Give me a to-do list of things to do for the remainder of 2024, 2025, and 2026 for a 100-guest wedding.”
ChatGPT's response: ChatGPT's response Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Gemini's response: Gemini's response Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableBoth kicked off their lists accurately: setting a budget is a crucial first step. However, the problem with Gemini's response is that it recommends venue hunting before drafting a guest list. You can't search for wedding places without having a rough idea of your guest count. One of the first things venue coordinators ask is, "How many people are coming to your wedding?"
Interestingly, ChatGPT wants me to take the early-bird approach. It recommended booking my venue in 2024 and finalizing other vendors (e.g., florist, entertainment, and photographers) in 2025. Gemini, on the other hand, is OK with both being booked in 2025. ChatGPT wants me set up a registry in 2025 and obtain a marriage license in 2025; Gemini, on the other hand, is fine with me procrastinating on the former until 2026 — and mentions nothing about a marriage license.
To be fair, though, ChatGPT didn't mention anything about honeymoon planning.
Both agree that 2025 is the year I should go wedding dress shopping and send save-the dates. In 2026, both advise to send out invitations and confirm bookings with vendors.
ChatGPT offered helpful tips that I hadn't considered before, including using a folder or binder to organize quotes, contracts, and ideas in one place and creating a wedding-day timeline.
Winner: ChatGPT
Gemini vs ChatGPT: Find a cheap venueI was curious to see if Gemini Advanced and ChatGPT Plus could help me find a bang-for-your-buck venue within my budget (i.e., $20,000).
After searching the far corners of the internet, I found some venues, at less than $20,000, that offer all-inclusive packages, including the DJ and master of ceremonies, limousine service, florist, cake, and photographer.
As such, I tested Gemini Advanced and ChatGPT Plus to see if they could find these locations with the following prompt:
"Find a venue that falls within my budget of $20,000 that offers a complete wedding package. The venue should be located in Queens, Long Island, or within the Hudson River Valley area at most. My guest count is 100. My wedding is in 2026, with a preference for months between August and September. Sunday weddings are OK, as well as Saturday weddings. It doesn't matter whether it's daytime or nighttime."
ChatGPT's response ChatGPT's response Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThese are wedding venues that I've seen during my research that offer gorgeous, visually stunning weddings without demanding exorbitant expenses.
Pavilion at Sunken Meadow State Park does, indeed, have a complete wedding package, with a starting price of $18,000. I'm not sure if Bourne Mansion and Larkfield have complete wedding packages, but the latter quoted me $110 per-person for a 100-guest afternoon wedding, which comes with food and a wedding cake. Including the $1,500 ceremony fee, that comes out to a subtotal of $12,500.
Did it miss other budget-friendly venues I've discovered during my research? Yes, but it's on the right track.
Gemini, on the other hand, shocked me — and not in a good way. Gemini is a Google-owned service, so I thought it'd be able to tap into its vast treasure trove of information to beat ChatGPT. Instead, Gemini delivered a rather disappointing, lazy answer.
Gemini's response Gemini Advanced's response Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableLeonard's Palazzo is a wedding venue I've received a personalized quote for while venue hunting. They do not offer a complete wedding package, but while throwing in the food and the cake, they quoted me about $16,000 for a 100-guest ceremony and reception. Not bad!
The Manhattan-based recommendations are a head scratcher because they're not in my desired region. (At least Andaz 5th Ave is within the ballpark of my budget.)
And then, Gemini had the audacity to say, "I hope this helps!" Is it trolling me?
Winner: ChatGPT
Gemini vs ChatGPT: Calculate pricingBoth Gemini Advanced and ChatGPT Plus can "read" PDFs and screenshots, making them ideal AI assistants for making sense of confusing pricing charts (as well as the small-text taxes and gratuities within them that need to be tacked on to the base cost).
Here's an example of one of the many charts I ran into while venue shopping:
2025 pricing list for Whitby Castle Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableI decided to test Gemini and ChatGPT's ability to make calculations based on the above PDF.
"Check out this 2025 wedding price list. Based on a date between August 2025 and September 2025 on Sunday at noontime, and a guest list of 100 adults, calculate the full total. We will have the ceremony on site. Include the administrative fee, NY sales tax, suggested gratuities, and bridal attendant fee."
Gemini Advanced offered a total of $21,017 while ChatGPT Plus posted $20,568.69. Why are the totals different? The former added the bridal attendant fee of $400 in the subtotal before tacking on the 22% administration fee.
ChatGPT, on the other hand, applied the 22% administration fee only to the base cost (i.e., $130 x 100 guests) and ceremony fee — and then it added the $400 bridal attendant fee. Based on how other venues have quoted me, it seems like ChatGPT's calculation is more accurate.
Winner: ChatGPT
Gemini vs ChatGPT: Image generation of wedding conceptI asked Gemini and ChatGPT to generate an image of a wedding reception concept based on the following prompt:
"My fiancé and I are tech journalists who are, of course, obsessed with tech, including laptops, phones, VR headsets, gaming, XR glasses, etc. We also love space, and we’re leaning toward some sort of celestial vibe for our wedding. Generate an image of a wedding reception beautifully conveys this wedding theme and design."
ChatGPT's image ChatGPT's interpretation of a tech-focused, galaxy-themed wedding Credit: ChatGPT / Open AI Gemini's images Gemini's interpretation of a tech-focused, galaxy-themed wedding Credit: Gemini / Google Gemini's interpretation of a tech-focused, galaxy-themed wedding Credit: Gemini / Google Gemini's interpretation of a tech-focused, galaxy-themed wedding Credit: Gemini / GoogleChatGPT delivered one image and nailed what I'm looking for. Gemini churned out three, and only one of them, just the first one, caught my eye.
ChatGPT, however, generated the most eye-catching image.
Winner: ChatGPT
Gemini vs ChatGPT: Creativity based on wedding favor ideasFinally, we asked Gemini Advanced and ChatGPT Plus for wedding favor ideas.
"My fiancé and I want to get cheap tech-product wedding favors. Give us 10 techy wedding favor ideas that will delight our guests."
ChatGPT's listCustomized USB Drives:
Portable Phone Chargers:
LED keychains
Earbuds
Smartphone PopSockets
Mini Bluetooth Speakers
Touchscreen Gloves
Digital Photo Frames
VR Cardboard Headsets
Fitness Tracker Bracelets
Personalized USB drivers
Mini Bluetooth speakers
Phone Ring Holders
Custom Phone PopSockets
Portable Power Banks
LED Flashing Badges
Selfie Ring Lights
Miniature LED projectors
Card-Sized Multitools
Wireless Charging Pads
Portable phone chargers, earbuds, mini bluetooth speakers, and fitness tracker bracelets caught my eye on ChatGPT's list. Similarly, on Gemini's list, mini bluetooth speakers, portable power banks, and wireless charging pads grabbed my attention.
Unfortunately for Gemini, ChatGPT won this round, too.
Winner: ChatGPT
Gemini vs ChatGPT: WinnerChatGPT Plus mopped the floor with Gemini Advanced in this face-off. To my surprise, ChatGPT had more thoughtful, research-based responses compared to Gemini.
ChatGPT Plus costs $20 month; Gemini Advanced is also $20 a month.
ChatGPT $0.00 at ChatGPTIt turns out Windows 11 users won't be able to uninstall Microsoft's controversial "Recall" feature after all.
Recall is a Copilot+ feature announced in May that essentially takes constant screenshots of your behavior while using operating system, ostensibly for users to easily find previous work.
A report by Deskmodder seemed to reveal recent Windows 11 update 24H2 allows users to completely uninstall the feature. But now, in a statement to The Verge, Microsoft clarified that that the uninstall option was just a bug.
"We are aware of an issue where Recall is incorrectly listed as an option under the 'Turn Windows features on or off' dialog in Control Panel," said Windows senior product manager Brandon LeBlanc to the outlet. "This will be fixed in an upcoming update."
When Microsoft announced Recall, it was intended to be baked into Windows 11's functions. The feature tracks everything you do on compatible Windows PCs and uses an on-device generative AI model to retrieve particular information a user is looking for, by filing through a library of screenshots saved on the device. Critics of the feature immediately pointed out that it is highly susceptible to cybersecurity flaws since it indiscriminately saves sensitive information like passwords, confidential work, and personal information.
Former Microsoft security expert Kevin Beaumont described it as a cybersecurity "disaster."
"Stealing everything you’ve ever typed or viewed on your own Windows PC is now possible with two lines of code," said Beaumont.
SEE ALSO: Microsoft's new AI 'Recall' feature is like hitting 'CTRL + H' on your entire digital lifeThe public backlash to the new feature led to Microsoft just days after its May announcement following up with a new statement that the Recall feature would be opt-in and therefore switched off by default.
It is also being investigated by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for violations of user privacy. But after all the outcry and potential legal ramifications,
Recall was initially slated for release in June, but was delayed as Microsoft scrambled to address security concerns. Now, it will launch in October to Windows Insiders testers.
The Brutalist is a towering paean to the American dream, in all its force and folly. Set over several decades, Brady Corbet's post-World War II immigrant saga is — like the architectural achievements of its protagonist — constructed with meticulous consideration, resulting in a work of multifaceted technique and piercing humanity.
The film, arresting from its first frames, spends three-and-a-half engrossing hours on the tale of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictitious Jewish Hungarian architect and survivor of the Holocaust, whose arrival in America yields both rigorous struggle and tempting opportunity. It embodies the kind of American epics no longer really made by Hollywood studios. Comparisons to The Godfather have abounded since its Venice International Film Festival premiere (though as a vast immigrant saga, a more fitting analogy might be The Godfather Part II). Time will tell whether these are hyperbole, but while watching The Brutalist, it's hard not to think of the truly great American stories of the 20th century, like Once Upon a Time In America, and on occasion, even Citizen Kane.
SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fallThe latter is the loftiest possible invocation, but it's a comparison of scale and subject matter, not of technical innovation. The Brutalist, for all its splendor, is not a forward-thinking film like Orson Welles' Kane — but this is, in fact, a key piece of its aesthetic and thematic puzzle. The immediacy with which it conjures past masterpieces is part of its enormous thesis on the purpose of art, which it smuggles beneath a soul-stirring saga of survival, one that exists in conversation with, of all things, Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. The film is both a densely-packed text, filled with rich thought on the world at large, as well as an excitingly rhythmic work of cinema that moves with a fearsome passion. It's hard not to think of it as a new American masterpiece.
What is The Brutalist about?Written by Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist begins in 1947, in a time of reconstruction and uncertainty. When László arrives on Ellis Island — an intimate, disorienting scene that begins in his darkened ship bunk and moves above deck — his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) and niece Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy), from whom he was separated during the war, remain stuck in the Soviet Union.
Taken in by his cousin Attila (Alessandro Nivola) in Philadelphia and working in his furniture shop, László begins proposing unique Modernist designs, until he's commissioned to build a library for a wealthy family, the Van Burens. Over the years, these aristocratic, old-money magnates — the boastful Harrison Lee (Guy Pearce) and his slimy son Harry (Joe Alwyn) — become a vital part of László's story. The film is novelistic in its unfurling, occasionally taking the form of an epistolary, via the letters sent between László and Erzsébet, but to borrow a phrase from a fellow critic, it's also "Great American Novel-istic." László's architectural passions, and his desperation to be reunited with his family, become deeply entwined with his personal and artistic ambitions. To put it simply, money is the solution at every turn, even if it corrodes his soul — but The Brutalist isn't quite so didactic.
While it spends several hours chronicling the way László changes, and is changed by the United States, the temptations of wealth and power are a small subset of the larger forces that mold him into a much angrier and bitter person. A party scene in Harrison's mansion diverts its focus from conversations to slow-motion shots of champagne and expensive jewelry, just as László is about to sign a long-term contract with the family to construct a community center. However, at no point does Corbet cut to reaction shots of László noticing these trinkets. They represent the fabric of the world he's about to enter, though as his chat with Harrison proceeds, he continues to speak of architecture with poetic adoration. ("I always find our conversations intellectually stimulating!" Harrison rasps, disguising the knowledge that he'll never be László's intellectual equal.) Wealth may not change László’s passions, but it might change how he approaches them.
SEE ALSO: TIFF 2024 preview: 15 movies you ought to know aboutAll the while, the film also explores the fraught corners of post-World War II Jewish identity in the West. From the moment László arrives on America's shores, he's presented with questions of assimilation. His cousin Attila has married a Catholic woman, Audrey (Emma Laird), and has converted. The store he runs is called Miller and Sons, even though his last name is (or was) Molnár, the Hungarian equivalent — and as László quips, "You have no sons!" Before long, news of the infant state of Israel reaches him, leading to other Jewish characters in his vicinity wrestling with their rights and obligations.
Filming on The Brutalist was completed in May of last year, before the events of Oct. 7 led to a more widespread discussion on understanding of the colonial aspects of Israel's founding. The film doesn't get into granular detail — László himself may not be aware of the U.N.'s plans for the region, or how they might displace local Arabs — but the looming specter of this conversation imbues the movie with a tragic dilemma. László's options, as a refugee, are to bring other people harm through displacement, or to continue bringing harm to his own soul, through his immersion in American capitalism.
As the film proceeds, it centers a key question that applies to every facet of its construction: "What is strength?"László's vision for the Van Burens' building — a blocky, pyramidic structure few others seem to understand — is uncompromising to a fault, even if it means pushing other people away in the process. But as the film proceeds, it centers a key question that applies to every facet of its construction: "What is strength?" What is its nature? Is it the materials and the deep concrete foundation László builds? If so, must this come at the cost of the shakier foundation of his roots in a new country? He is always seen as an outsider, whether because of his Jewish-ness, his foreign-ness, or both. Does strength involve living with the physical and psychological pain he's endured, and the strain it puts on his marriage? Or does it involve numbing that pain at any cost?
This thematic exclamation point would mark the end of discussions on most modern American films. But in the case of The Brutalist, it's merely the beginning, thanks in large part to Corbet's multifaceted, referential, and at times reverential use of form.
Every aspect of The Brutalist is finely tunedWhat stands out first and foremost about The Brutalist is Adrien Brody's lead performance. It's funny, and stirring, and risible. However, there's not a single moment where the Hungarian-American actor isn't reaching into the depths of his soul, mining some corner of either his previous roles (such as in The Pianist) or of his mother's experience as a Hungarian woman of Jewish descent forced to flee her country in the 1950s. There's an awkwardness to László too, given the way he interacts with the world around him — which is to say, the country around him. To the untrained ear, his Hungarian dialogue (and his Hungarian accent while speaking English) seem just fine, but the Queens-born actor also purges himself of any remotely American intonation or idiosyncrasy. Whether or not he nails Hungarian specificities, he plays "foreigner" to a tee, between the way he gesticulates, to the way he enters and leaves both rooms and conversations. He is, first and foremost, an outsider.
While Brody's work is magnificently pained, let it not go unsaid: Guy Pearce is the movie's secret weapon, as the actor charged with creating the in-groups and inner circles which tacitly reject László in the first place. As Harrison, the Australian actor channels an air of arrogance that the character often smarmily re-frames as benevolence, leading to moments of shockingly casual cruelty towards László, usually played off as jokes. This dynamic is a key part of the story, and of the America in which László starts to assimilate, taking on Harrison's traits in turn.
Corbet's camera helps these performances shine, especially in the moments that The Brutalist takes dark and dour turns. Cinematographer Lol Crawley bathes certain scenes in darkness; his palette's contrasting warmth and shadow may have led to some of the Godfather comparisons, but the film isn’t interested in mere imitation, even though it conjures old-world styles as though they were forgotten spirits.
SEE ALSO: The 10 best movies of 2024 (so far!)The Brutalist was shot on VistaVision, an IMAX-like technique first developed in the 1950s, in which 35-millimeter film stock was run sideways through a camera, increasing the surface area of the frame (the movie was subsequently projected on 70-millimeter at its premiere). This results in a crisper, sharper image than results from most modern digital workflows, but The Brutalist also appears to employ older lenses with numerous flaws, and razor-thin margin for what is or isn't in focus, revealing new dimensions to spaces and even people. Between its use of era-appropriate techniques and withered tools, The Brutalist ends up existing in a liminal space between past and present; it's simultaneously of an older era, as well as a window to that era, revealing a complicated relationship to the past.
'The Brutalist' ends up existing in a liminal space between past and present; it's simultaneously of an older era, as well as a window to that era, revealing a complicated relationship to the past.For László, this relationship manifests as a pull-and-push between art and industry, and a struggle to preserve the forms his buildings take under capitalist constraints. However, the film itself takes intriguing form as well, wielding a litany of techniques owed to numerous different film movements over the years (that they even remotely gel together is something miraculous). The Brutalist is, in large part, shot with the classical composition of old Hollywood, with controlled framing and movement, but it often breaks from this norm.
On occasion, one might find the pronounced jump cuts of the French New Wave (created, ironically, as a response to the classic Hollywood studios), alongside the use of Soviet montage, accompanied — equally ironically — by voiceover and spliced footage from American propaganda newsreels about industrial innovation. The stark and careful shadows of Godfather cinematographer Gordon Willis, of New Hollywood, find themselves alongside techniques from contemporary independent movements in New York, like the freewheeling, improvisational, up-close-and-personal style of John Cassavetes. You might even find some Hungarian influence if you look closely enough (certain shots are owed to Béla Tarr, while others to László Nemes), and as the film moves forward through time, it even pulls from Lynchian surrealism, and techniques developed during the early video revolution.
Corbet's use of these contrasting techniques isn't just pronounced, but powerful and purposeful. He employs them to create jolting moments of narrative impact, but he also seems to pay homage to the history of the cinematic medium (and its development) as a means to embody the very story he's telling, about the complicated ways in which people hold on to the past. And, as a film that's as much about László's painful history as it is about America's past, it makes for an aesthetic refutation of one of its biggest influences: Ayn Rand.
The Brutalist remixes and transforms The FountainheadThe Brutalist owes much of its story and structure to Rand's The Fountainhead, from its basic premise of an uncompromising architect, to plot developments like László being plucked from toil and obscurity to create something lasting; he shovels coal for a period, the same way Rand's hero Howard Roark worked in a granite quarry. But as visualized in King Vidor's much-maligned 1949 film version of the book — which stars Gary Cooper, and for which Rand herself wrote the screenplay — Modernist and Brutalist architecture take on a fascistic tone in The Fountainhead. They become about leaving the past behind, and shaking off the influences of Graeco-Roman styles, in favor of a "form flows from function" approach. This function-first belief, though it has older origins, was notably espoused by Adolf Hitler, who abhorred "stupid imitations of the past."
Brutalism, though it has more egalitarian origins like low-income social housing, does have a stylistic and philosophical overlap with totalitarian architecture. Both come to similar aesthetic conclusions — the angular, the monochrome, the display of materials — albeit for very different reasons. Vidor's The Fountainhead, in which Roark creates in a Modernist style verging on Brutalist, arguably does a disservice to form, both as an architectural concept, and a filmic one. In Vidor’s story, the influence of the past is framed as a cloying, constraining force intent on snuffing out individuality, and the way that story is told is similarly functional (the film has its charms, but it's straightforward in its presentation, and rote in its delivery of dialogue).
Vidor's film is hardly a defining pillar of modern American politics, but Rand's Objectivist philosophies certainly are. Her rejection of collectivism both tapped into and subsequently clarified the heart of American capitalism — the very same heart Corbet puts on display, and presents as a magnetic force for László, pulling him toward more autocratic ideals. The Brutalist never expands on László’s political outlook, or that of his wife, because the movie's immigrant characters tend to tiptoe around these questions, from poor and wealthy Americans alike, at a time when foreigners (and communists) were looked upon with suspicion. However, Corbet leaves plenty by way of breadcrumbs to figure out what their beliefs might be, and how those beliefs come into immediate conflict with the ideals of their adopted home.
'The Brutalist' is, deep in its bones, a collectivist film that not only places immense emotional value on people and their history, but creates and embodies that value too.Though he puts on an uncompromising front when it comes to his designs, László is always found compromising when it comes to belief, and the way he conducts himself. These are tensions The Brutalist works into every scene, making its gargantuan runtime seem like a piece of cake. It's a film from which you cannot look away, and wouldn't want to — even when it takes dark and dour turns, whose presentation verges on the phantasmagorical.
As much as The Brutalist is a film of steel and concrete, it's a film of the spirit too, and the way the soul is built and constructed from local materials. It's about all the things that make America, and make American stories. Ultimately, when the movie reveals a previously obscured detail about László's work, it makes for a devastating cinematic mic drop that reclaims even the Randian notion that Modernism, Brutalism, and progress at large are ideals that must be cut off from the past, and from connections to other human beings.The Brutalist is, deep in its bones, a collectivist film that not only places immense emotional value on people and their history, but creates and embodies that value too.
The Brutalist was reviewed out of its world premiere at the Venice International film Festival.
After Aggro Dr1ft last year, Harmony Korine has once again made the most galaxy-brained movie of the Venice International Film Festival, Baby Invasion. A work that takes the form of a messed up livestream, the filmmaker's new video game-inspired nightmare is wildly, oppressively hypnotic, even though it eventually runs out of places to go.
The edgelords at Korine's vowel-less EDGLRD production house feel less like traditional filmmakers, more like a collective of media enthusiasts running wackadoodle experiments. Observe them from afar and you might find pretentious faux-intellectualism on the future of cinema; Korine claims that this is what movies will soon be like. It's a hard notion to take seriously.
SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fallBut should you choose to submit to the work regardless, you'll be treated to a stunning example of what movies can be right now, with a strong dose of eerie premonition about where the world at large might be headed — if it isn't already there.
What is Baby Invasion about?Baby Invasion opens with a brief interview clip with a fictitious Filipina game developer — who, for some strange reason, doesn't remove her VR headset. She explains the concept for a game she created that was unfortunately leaked on the internet: a first-person-shooter (FPS) in which assailants disguise their faces with those of babies. Furthermore, its popularity on some corners of the web inspired people to go out and re-create its core concept in real life, and broadcast their crimes via livestream.
This deeply fucked-up idea is, in its entirety, the movie's premise. It takes the form of screenlife cinema, from the point of view of someone watching and interacting with one such online stream, though given that the eponymous baby invaders wear helmet-mounted cameras, the film itself may as well be a first-person shooter movie, like Hardcore Henry. Using AI facial filters (à la TikTok and Snapchat), a cult-like group dressed in horned black hoodies obscure their appearance with the trend-requisite images of baby faces, as they collect ammunition and travel between various Florida mansions in a covert van.
The screen is filled with a Twitch-like scrolling community chat on the left-hand side (in various languages, and with its own memes and internal lingo), alongside graphics and other statistical displays. However, at very few points is the actual audio of this stream ever heard. Instead, it's overlaid with an extremely lengthy, constantly morphing rave track by producer Burial, accompanied by whispers about a rabbit-like creature. As the film's parameters become clear, so too does that of the streamers, who point their guns at wealthy hostages for fun and — it would seem — commit grisly murders just off-screen.
"Crimson towel!" numerous viewers type into the chat, referring to the blood-soaked face coverings over filmed bodies strewn about, as though this were some familiar trope or community reaction. The assailants' baby disguises may be strange, but they're hardly the most perverse part of the whole affair: that would be the casual cruelty and dehumanization on display in the stream, towards women in particular, which becomes part of the movie's self-reflexive point.
Baby Invasion taps into distinctly modern forms of violenceAs with the video game influences in Aggro Dr1ft, Korine appears fixated with the collision of gaming and real-world violence. Of course, the idea that video games are some root cause of violent outbursts has long been exaggerated, but the movie, like video games themselves, exists in a violent world that adopts the language of mass media. More tame real-world examples include video creators impersonating Grand Theft Auto, and streamers pretending to be video game characters (specifically NPCs or "non-playable characters") and accepting input via emojis.
Unfortunately, this adoption of gaming language has a darker side. For instance, NPC has become an epithet meant to imply someone is devoid of personality or humanity, which is the next logical step in an online culture intent on dehumanizing its targets. In Baby Invasion, distressed hostages immediately have their reactions screencapped and turned into memes, reducing their plight to content meant for easy consumption. The closer they are to being killed, the more filters are applied to their person, obscuring their humanity.
The more the movie lingers in this first-person perspective, the more it disturbingly places viewers in the mindset of such terrorists, and in doing so, Baby Invasion calls to mind real mass shootings and violent crimes which have been livestreamed — the Christchurch mosque shooting that was streamed live on YouTube and Facebook, and a Michigan murder that was broadcast on Facebook are just two examples.
If there's something missing from Baby Invasion, it's the actual, sickening outcomes of the crimes themselves. The victims are living, breathing people in one moment, gone the next, with the actual act of execution having been obscured. Perhaps it's a violation of the guidelines of the fictional streaming platforms of the film themselves, but this missing piece is thematically vital too. Should we, as viewers, want to see the complete picture? Without realizing it, we might be complicit in Korine's portrait of a world gone mad as soon as we realize there's more to the story, and something we're prevented from seeing.
Baby Invasion is an arresting experience — up to a pointThe film is also self-reflexive about who its audience is, and who the participants in the stream might be. A small window pops up on occasion, with teens in colorful skull masks watching the stream, as though it were from their vantage (or on their screens) that the film was playing out. Not only does the movie dictate who its audience is — in terms of their macabre desires, and how they mold themselves — but it speculates on who the shooters might be in the strangest fashion. The stream boots up with an EDGLRD logo. The shooters wear EDGLRD insignia, and the horns they wear resemble the masks worn in Aggro Dr1ft. Are they fans who might've misinterpreted that movie as a call to violence, or simply adopted its aesthetics?
Korine is just as culpable as the rest of the culture, it would seem. But this is, in a way, freeing for him as a filmmaker. It verges on offering Korine carte blanche to do, essentially, whatever he wants in the realm of cinematic debauchery. As much as the screen may be cluttered by graphics and text, there's a distinct realism to the online world we see, and how the people within it interact and operate. We don't see much of the bloodshed in the moment, though the movie does feature disturbing flashes of what appears to be separate stabbing attacks shot with a more rudimentary camera — as though this were some flashback or memory, or ghost in the machine.
However, there are times when the very reality of the film is called into question, rendering the aforementioned stabbing a potential peek into the real world from, perhaps, an unreal one. The game designer in the prologue talks about her intent to blur the virtual and real worlds, and the entrancing effect of Baby Invasion often does just that, lulling its more willing viewers into a state of arrest, to the point that even its most realistic images become mere stimuli. But then the stream takes odd turns, and the shooters find themselves in a metaverse of sorts, peeking out at the real events they perpetrate. Perhaps this is some quirk of the stream or real life "game" — we are, at the end of the day, witnessing what other viewers might see on a screen — but there are also moments where digital recreations of real environments so closely resemble the real thing that it's genuinely hard to tell the difference.
Figuring out the distinction (or even wanting to) is sort of irrelevant. Baby Invasion doesn't exactly have a plot beyond the shooters' violent depravity, and so there's only so long one can be swept up in its techno madness, despite its mere 80-minute runtime. However, that it takes these detours at all is terrifying enough, and provides just enough room for speculation. In a movie where desensitization lies at the root of everything, the notion of whether something feels real (regardless of whether it is) becomes the most pressing question. If fiction can be made to feel like reality, then so too can reality become fiction, giving way to everything from conspiracy theories to bullets and bloodshed.
Baby Invasion was reviewed out of its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.
The US Open broadcast suddenly cut out for DirecTV customers on Sunday evening due to contract dispute with Disney.
Disney blocked access to ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels for the roughly 11 million DirecTV subscribers after ongoing distribution negotiations went sour. The blackout occurred right before the college football season opener with LSU versus USC. That the hardball tactic occurred during primetime at the US Open and right before the start of the NFL season is no coincidence since it motivates both parties to reach a deal. However, that also means when negotiations fall through, millions of customers suffer the consequences.
According to a statement from DirecTV, "Disney is forcing consumers to pay for channels they don't watch," while DirecTV wants to offer customers more flexibility in terms of the channels they wish to pay for. "Disney's only magic is forcing prices to go up while simultaneously making its content disappear," said said Rob Thun, chief content officer in the press release.
SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for freeAccording to a statement from Disney, they're willing to offer flexibility of channels, but "will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs." Exactly, a year ago Disney pulled the same move with cable company Spectrum, which resulted in a 10-day blackout. So one thing is certain: during one of the biggest sports broadcasting moments of the year, customers are losing out.
Customers took to X to express their anger and willingness to cancel their account if it's not resolved.
Tweet may have been deletedWhile DirecTV is the one shouldering the blame, and by extension losing customers, users called out Disney as the "root cause" and the "villains" since it's the party that owns the channels and is holding out for more money.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedMeanwhile, amidst the ongoing battle between DirecTV and Disney, streaming platforms that don't require cable subscriptions like YouTube TV and Fubo are sitting back with popcorn.
Tweet may have been deletedI never imagined a dating app could make me feel guilty.
But there I was, sitting on my sofa, worrying if I was, to quote indie pop band London Grammar, wasting my young years.
It had been a difficult week, to say the least. I was sleep-deprived and my anxiety was running riot. What I needed most right then and there was a quiet, restorative night of doing nothing. I was hiding under a blanket on my sofa when my phone started flashing like a lighthouse on the horizon.
Four Hinge notifications appeared on my home screen in close succession. I had a new match named Jake. My eye scrolled downwards to see that Jake wasn't wasting any time: He wanted to meet up. Right now.
I really didn't want to do that. It was 9 p.m. and I was in my pyjamas watching Bridgerton. The last thing I wanted to do was leave the house for what felt like a booty call. My instinct was to put myself first on this night. But that came with a small kick of guilt that I was somehow failing at dating.
SEE ALSO: Why some people on dating apps just want to be 'pen pals'I couldn't seem to shake the feeling that I was boring and a tiny bit selfish for wanting to stay home. You'll be alone forever at this rate, whispered a small voice in my head. How had a message from a stranger had this effect on me? Truth is, Jake is one of many guys in my phone asking to meet up straight after matching.
Dating app interactions are becoming increasingly fast-paced. That palpable culture shift is a reaction against the "swiping fatigue" that began to plague the dating industry in 2018. This swiping ennui resulted in daters collecting countless matches, but having low-quality interactions that didn't lead to an actual in-person date. "Breadcrumbing" — a term for daters who have interminable chats with their matches with zero intention of meeting up — became a scourge for people genuinely looking for love, not a penpal. Daters became more and more frustrated with accumulating matches who didn't seem serious about testing the waters offline.
Now the pendulum has swung so far in the opposite direction, we may have overcorrected. But we can fix this. We can bring balance back to the online dating world by being honest about preferring to chat online before meeting up IRL. If you're in need of self-care and don't feel like explaining why, then don't. If your schedule is packed, suggest alternatives like voice-noting or FaceTime. It is 100 percent OK to say no when a match wants to meet up straight away. Spare yourself the guilt, if you can.
As for me, I had nothing against Jake. But I'd had zero conversation with him, so I had absolutely no idea whether we were even a good match personality-wise. I weighed whether I wanted to expend the mental energy of explaining the reasons why I couldn't meet up right now. But, to be frank, I just didn't feel like it. I didn't have to explain anything. I ignored the request, stowed away my phone and hit play on my TV remote.
A few days later — and feeling well-rested after several nights on the sofa — I spotted a tweet that really spoke to me. Poorna Bell, an author and journalist who writes about mental health, tweeted that if a match asks to meet up with very little notice, "don't feel guilty or like you'll miss out on 'the one' if you don't. Work to your own timeline."
Tweet may have been deleted"I know it’s not as simple as this but the right person will wait," Bell added. "The right person will understand you have a life and aren’t egotistical to assume you’d drop everything to meet with a random. And time with yourself even if that’s on the sofa with Netflix is as important."
I knew from talking to friends that I was far from alone in feeling this way. But Bell's tweet made me feel validated in the decision I'd made that night.
On-demand dating has been on the rise for some time. Couple that with the growing frustration with breadcrumbing and swiping fatigue and it makes sense that some people are trying to seal the deal and land a date straight away. This change in dating culture might explain why more and more daters are sliding into your inbox asking to meet up straight away.
Dating apps have also played a part in this gear-shift. Some popular apps are actively encouraging users to meet up sooner. Naomi Walkland, associate director for Europe and Middle East marketing at Bumble, told Mashable that "getting asked out on a date shortly after you have matched with someone online can sometimes be overwhelming."
SEE ALSO: People are using AI to date you"At Bumble, we encourage people to meet as soon as you can," Walkland added. "This is one of the reasons why we have a 24-hour window for replies so that it keeps the momentum going with you and your match." After this finite period ends, the match expires and it's no longer possible to get in touch. There is the option of extending that window, particularly if you don't have "first move privileges" (a Bumble feature which allows only one person to break the ice first).
Hinge's CMO Nathan Roth echoed these sentiments. "In today’s digital world, singles are so busy matching that they’re not actually connecting, in person, where it counts," Roth told Mashable. "As the dating app that’s 'designed to be deleted,' we’re always encouraging our users to move things offline and go on a great date," Roth continued.
While dating culture has shifted to combat swiping fatigue, not all online daters are on board with the newfound immediacy.
Adele, a home healthcare assistant who prefers to use only her first name as her surname is very recognisable, told me she feels "absolutely terrified, with a side of suspicion" when a match wants to meet up straight away.
She does not, however, feel pressured to meet up. "Especially with some of the horror stories you see, as well as my own experiences with online dating, my safety and comfort is the first thing I think of," Adele said. "If they immediately push to meet and don't even have like, a brief chat online first then I absolutely won’t go meet them."
She does a "full vetting first" and prefers to see their Facebook and Instagram profiles before meeting up. "I've been out with quite a few guys via online dating and the nice, reasonable ones have completely understood that when you’re a lone woman going to meet a stranger for a date, you want to be as safe as possible," she added. "My advice would be: If they have an issue with you saying no to meeting immediately then just steer well clear. Anyone worth seeing would understand."
Sam Espensen, a spirits producer, used to feel pressured by matches, particularly when the other person is persistently pushing to meet up. She did say yes once, but then cancelled a few hours before the date. "My Spidey Sense was tingling and it turned out to be correct — the person in question turned out to be majorly flawed," she said, clarifying that they were "aggressive and stalkery and wouldn’t take no for an answer and refused to understand why women would be nervous about meeting someone straight away."
She offered some great advice for anyone who might also be feeling pressured.
"Step back and think about why they're pressuring you," she said. "If they really like the sound of you, they'll put some leg work in and communicate online/on the phone for a while before meeting up." She said that anyone putting pressure on you at such an early stage is likely to do so in the future. "If they're being really pushy, they probably don't think you'll agree to meeting with them after speaking online for a while first. And they may have bad intentions," she added.
If you do want to meet up with this person, you could consider telling them you're bringing a friend, Sam suggested. "Their reaction will tell you everything you need to know!"
There are other ways of "meeting" without having to take the step of meeting up in person. Some daters use WhatsApp voice notes to "pre-screen" their dates before meeting up IRL. Chatting over voice notes, if you're comfortable with it, can provide the opportunity to get a sense of your match's personality ahead of arranging a date. If your schedule is jam-packed, you could also try a quick video chat on FaceTime. Bumble also has a video calling feature so you can chat face-to-face over the app without disclosing your mobile number. If you notice a spark while voicenoting or video-chatting, try moving things into an in-person date.
Dating culture is in high-gear, but you don't need to drop everything just to keep pace. There will be times in everyone's life where meeting up immediately doesn't work. Sometimes your busy work schedule won't sync up with a match's. Other times, your calendar might be free as a bird, but you're in desperate need of downtime. The right person will understand. Don't feel bad about putting yourself first.
This article was first published in 2020 and republished in 2024.
Last year, Apple ditched all of its leather accessories in favor for a new material. Called FineWoven, it was supposed to be better than leather while being environmentally friendlier.
Alas, it didn't go exactly as planned. FineWoven cases and accessories look fine new, but many users complain that they get worn out faster than leather. I've used a couple FineWoven cases and wallets for nearly a year now, and can confirm that they look pretty shoddy right now.
There's good news ahead, though. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, stock of FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands is "at all-time lows," ahead of Apple's Sept. 9 iPhone launch event.
SEE ALSO: Apple's new M4 Macs are probably coming in NovemberThis could mean that Apple is preparing to replace FineWoven accessories with something else; perhaps a new version of the material, or a new material entirely. It could also mean, however, that the company is merely looking to update the lineup with new colors, as well as support for the new devices it's about to launch.
A report in April said that Apple will ditch FineWoven for a different, non-leather material, but a later update to the report claimed that Apple will still produce another round of FineWoven accessories, only in new colors.
Personally, I'd like to see some sort of update to FineWoven. The first version of the material hasn't stood the test of time well, with several polls showing that the majority of consumers strongly dislikes it. Perhaps it's time for FineWoven 2.0?
The House of the Dragon Season 2 finale didn't go down particularly well with fans, but the show may be about to get its biggest critic yet: George R.R. Martin, the author of the book the series is based on, Fire and Blood.
On Friday, Martin posted a new "Not a Blog" entry in which he talked about Siesta in Sante Fe, during which a giant marionette called Zozobra is burned as a way of "devouring the darkness."
SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 predictions: What's next?"Believe me we need that, more than ever before," wrote the author. "The world, the country, and yes, certainly me. This has not been a good year for anyone, with war everywhere and fascism on the rise… and on a more personal level, I have had a pretty wretched year as well, one full of stress, anger, conflict, and defeat."
Featured Video For You House of the Dragon Season 1: Everything you need to remember about Season 1 in 60 secondsMartin went on to say that he plans to talk more about this in future blog entries — and that he'll also be sharing his thoughts on House of the Dragon.
"I do not look forward to other posts I need to write, about everything that’s gone wrong with HOUSE OF THE DRAGON… but I need to do that too, and I will," Martin wrote. "Not today, though."
Yikes. This is particularly notable because the language Martin uses is fairly blunt. When speaking about Game of Thrones' ending in the past he's explained that he wished it could have gone on for longer, but he's typically avoided giving his own personal opinion about the show.
If we had to guess, we'd say Martin's most likely to have some things to say about what's gone on behind the scenes of House of the Dragon — maybe some of the logistics that caused a key battle to be pushed into Season 3, leaving Season 2 on a cliffhanger, for instance.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 2 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 2 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Order in the court!These words are more commonly heard across the pond.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers all relate to noble titles.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Titles.
NYT Strands word list for September 2Viscount
Queen
Knight
Duchess
Esquire
Titles
Baron
Earl
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Apparently, Boeing's troubled spaceship isn't done giving NASA some brain teasers while it's still in space.
Starliner's commander, astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore, asked Houston mission control on Saturday why the test capsule had started emitting strange noises from a speaker. At first the sounds weren't audible, then Wilmore, 61, captured a better recording: an unnerving, perpetual blooping, similar to the pulse of a submarine's sonar ping.
"I'll let y'all scratch your heads and see if you can figure out what's going on," Wilmore said in his Southern drawl over the radio.
Flight controllers didn't seem to immediately know the cause or source of the noise. Neither NASA nor Boeing, the spacecraft's developer, responded to questions from Mashable on Sunday regarding the sounds, and it was unclear whether the issue persisted. The only unusual thing Wilmore had observed at the time of the communication was the sound transmitted over the speaker. No other problems or weird configurations were happening within the capsule, he said.
SEE ALSO: 2 women lose their ride to space in Boeing Starliner fallout Boeing's Starliner experienced propulsion problems during its crewed testflight in June 2024. Credit: NASAThough the U.S. space agency recently decided Wilmore and his crewmate, pilot Sunita "Suni" Williams, would not return on Starliner but a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, Starliner remains docked at the International Space Station some 250 miles above Earth. It is expected to stay there until departing for a robotic landing without passengers no earlier than 6:04 p.m. ET Friday, Sept. 6.
If all goes as planned, Starliner will touch down at the Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico about six hours later. A system of parachutes and air bags should cushion its drop over the desert shortly after midnight on Sept. 7.
The pulsing sounds are the latest in a series of quandaries related to Starliner, which launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in June for its first test flight carrying people. The issue was first reported by Ars Technica on Sunday, based on a posting of the International Space Station chatter in a NASASpaceflight.com forum. The authenticity of the recording, which can be found in the forum, has not been independently verified.
Boeing Starliner's test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025. Credit: NASAVeteran astronauts Wilmore and Williams were in limbo this summer while NASA leadership and Boeing managers discussed whether Starliner was safe to bring them home. During their flight to the space station, Starliner experienced propulsion issues.
What should have been an eight-day stint in space for them will now stretch for eight months. Both will be incorporated as regular crew members of Expedition 71/72 through February 2025 and will return with the agency’s Crew-9 mission. In the fallout, two female astronauts who were originally assigned to Crew-9 — Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson — lost their ride to space to free up a pair of seats for Wilmore and Williams to come home.
"I'll let y'all scratch your heads and see if you can figure out what's going on."Getting Starliner through its testing phase has been a relentless battle for Boeing, though its representatives have not always been forthcoming on why the program has suffered so many setbacks. A string of issues has spanned a decade.
After the Space Shuttle retired in 2011, NASA hitched all of its rides on Russian rockets to the space station, costing the United States tens of millions of dollars per ride. Some considered it a national embarrassment.
Tweet may have been deletedNASA hired Boeing and SpaceX to build commercial spaceships to carry astronauts to and from the station in 2014. While SpaceX's capsule went into service four years ago, Boeing's Starliner has yet to obtain certification for regular flight operations.
NASA never intended to have all its eggs in Elon Musk's basket and says Starliner is still crucial to have as a backup. Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for space operations, hinted that the agency expects Starliner to fly again.
"We’ve learned a lot about the spacecraft during its journey to the station and its docked operations," he said in a statement. "We also will continue to gather more data about Starliner during the uncrewed return and improve the system for future flights to the space station."
TL;DR: Score the Turonic GM5 massage gun for $105.99 (reg. $189.97) and get powerful deep-tissue relief anytime.
Muscle soreness can really put a damper on your day, especially if you’re pushing your limits in the gym or dealing with the stress of a long workday. But what if you could access that post-massage feeling without booking an appointment with a masseuse and spending a fortune?
The Turonic GM5 Massage Gun is available for $105.99, a 44% discount. This massager is designed to offer deep-tissue relief right at home, providing a convenient way to support your recovery and relaxation.
The Turonic GM5 is built to target sore muscles with precision, offering deep-tissue massage therapy that you can tailor to your needs with multiple attachments and adjustable speed settings. You can customize the intensity to suit your comfort level, whether you’re looking to ease post-workout discomfort, address stiff shoulders from sitting at a desk, or just find a way to relax after a long week.
Convenience is also a key feature of the GM5. Its lightweight and portable design makes it easy to take with you, whether you’re traveling or just moving from room to room. The long-lasting battery is designed to give you ample power for multiple sessions, and its quiet operation ensures you can use it without disturbing others.
On sale for $105.99, the Turonic GM5 Deep-Tissue Massage Gun offers an accessible option for anyone looking to support their well-being.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Turonic Turonic GM5 Deep Tissue Massage Gun $105.99 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Get the Treblab HD77 Bluetooth speaker for just $51.99 (reg. $79.97) and enjoy booming sound wherever life takes you.
When your playlist deserves more than just a weak smartphone speaker, you need a high-quality, durable sound system that can keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle. Whether you're hiking, biking, or just chilling at the beach, the Treblab HD77 wireless Bluetooth speaker is built to handle it all. For a limited time, you can get one in blue or black on sale for $51.99.
This rugged, water-resistant speaker is made for outdoor enthusiasts who need their music to keep pace. With 25W of stereo sound and dual subwoofers, this speaker ensures you feel every beat, even if you're deep in the woods or catching rays by the pool. It’s got a 20-hour battery life, so you won’t be tethered to a charger while your adventure continues. Plus, with its shockproof design, a few bumps or drops won’t kill your vibe.
Pair it up with your phone, and you’ve got yourself a reliable audio companion for any occasion. Need to make a call? The built-in microphone’s got you covered. And if you want to double the sound, connect a second Treblab HD77 for an even bigger audio experience. Compact yet powerful — and half the price of similar portable speakers — this party speaker is your ticket to making every moment memorable with the right soundtrack.
Regularly $79.97, grab the Treblab HD77 wireless Bluetooth speaker for $51.99 at 34% off and turn up the volume on your next adventure.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: TREBLAB TREBLAB HD77 - Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Blue) $51.99TL;DR: For just $79.99, you can score a refurbished Samsung Chromebook 4 — a computer perfect for everyday tasks or as a backup.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 11.6" Chromebook 4 - 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC (Refurbished) $79.99Why spend hundreds when you can get a solid, reliable laptop for just $80? The Samsung Chromebook 4 is a no-brainer if you’re looking for an affordable, new-to-you device that covers all the basics. Whether it’s for school projects, a backup for your travels, or just a second laptop to have around the house, this Chromebook gets the job done without making a dent in your wallet.
Mashable previously featured this Chromebook in its guide to the best cheap laptops. At the time, we said it was the perfect companion for your work laptop. It's a reliable, no-nonsense device.
This budget-friendly and refurbished Chromebook doesn’t skimp on features. It’s compact and lightweight, with an 11.6” display that’s perfect for on-the-go use. Plus, it’s built to withstand the bumps of daily life with military-grade durability. You’ll also appreciate the ultra-fast Gigabit Wi-Fi that keeps you connected no matter where you are.
When it comes to security, the Chromebook 4 offers multiple layers of built-in virus protection, so you can surf the web with confidence. And with up to 12.5 hours of battery life, you won’t be constantly searching for a charger. To top it off, this device is Google Assistant-enabled, adding an extra layer of convenience to your day.
Whether it’s your main device, a backup, or something for your kids to play with, it’s a purchase that’s easy to justify. It has a grade "B" refurbished rating, which means it may have some minor scuffs on the exterior, but it's been tested and certified to work like new.
At just $79.99, this refurbished Samsung Chromebook 4 is a steal — check out this deal for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get equipped for the school year with a refurbished 9th-Gen iPad and Beats Flex headphones for 39% off at $299.99 (reg. $499).
As the school year approaches, it’s time to gear up with the tech that will make all the difference, for you or your kid. Whether you’re handling your own coursework or ensuring your child is set up for success, this iPad and Beats Flex bundle could be a great option. Discounted to $299.99, you’ll get two must-have devices that help you stay productive in class and relax after a long day of studying.
The 9th-generation iPad is a versatile tool for students of all ages. With 64GB of storage, there’s plenty of room for textbooks, assignments, and essential apps. The 10.2-inch Retina display ensures that everything from study materials to creative projects looks sharp and vibrant, keeping you or your child engaged during those study sessions. And with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can seamlessly stay connected with online classes, research, and family.
Complementing the iPad, the Beats Flex headphones are ideal for both learning and leisure. Whether you’re listening to a lecture, attending a virtual class, or just enjoying music between study breaks, these wireless headphones deliver quality sound in a comfortable, portable package. Their flexible design means they easily fit into just about any backpack or school bag.
The refurbished status of this bundle is "A"-rated, meaning it is in near-mint condition, and that you may see minimal to no signs of exterior damage.
Make this school year a success with the right tools in your hands — and ears.
For a limited time, get this Apple iPad 9th-Gen and Beats Flex Wireless Headphones refurbished bundle on sale for $299.99 (reg. $499).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 9th Gen (2021, 64GB) + Beats Flex Wireless Headphones — Refurbished Bundle $299.99 at the Mashable ShopIf you've ever quoted comedian Brian Jordan Alvarez's web series The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo or sung along to his viral hit "Sitting," rejoice! Alvarez has brought his comedic sensibilities to FX, where he created and stars in the new show English Teacher.
Alvarez (who also wrote and directed several episodes) plays Evan Marquez, an English teacher at Austin's Morrison-Hensley high school. He's prone to taking stands for what he believes in, and even more prone to screwing up his moral crusades. These gaffes, combined with A-plus casting and a richly developed high school setting, make English Teacher the freshest, funniest sitcom of the year so far.
SEE ALSO: 40 shows we can't wait to see this fall What's English Teacher about? Sean Patton, Stephanie Koenig, and Brian Jordan Alvarez in "English Teacher." Credit: Steve Swisher/FXEnglish Teacher gets off to a foreboding start: Evan is under investigation after a homophobic parent complained about him kissing his boyfriend Malcolm (Jordan Firstman) — now ex — in front of students. That an external force is trying to govern Evan's teaching becomes a common thread throughout English Teacher, as the show addresses several serious real-world issues over the course of its season, including gun safety in schools and LGBTQ rights.
Don't let the heaviness of these topics fool you, though. English Teacher is no after-school special. Instead, the series highlights not only the ridiculousness of the problems Evan faces, but also the ridiculousness of Evan's own reactions, each of which lead to some comedically misguided escalations. An attempt to cancel a performance where football players dress up as cheerleaders leads Evan to hold a drag seminar taught by local drag queen Shazam (played by drag superstar Trixie Mattel). The rise of a school gun safety club prompts Evan to assign the world's most misguided essay on Crime and Punishment.
SEE ALSO: 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2 review: Darkness looks good on Middle-earthNothing here goes according to plan, nor does English Teacher ever take the predictable route. Look no further than a possible romance with substitute teacher Harry (Langston Kerman), which does not play out the way audiences (or Evan himself) might think. While that storyline fades away rather abruptly in the latter half of the six English Teacher episodes sent to critics for screening, it's just one example of how the series prefers to chart its own path.
English Teacher has a perfect cast. Stephanie Koenig and Sean Patton in "English Teacher." Credit: Steve Swisher/FXEnglish Teacher, like The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, sets a particular tone and pace right off the bat. There's a shorthand intimacy between these characters who have known each other for years. They talk super quickly, even over each other, enveloping us in their world with just a few lines. Quick asides, such as an "Oh, I love this song!" delivered mid-principled tirade, often tell us all we need to know about someone.
As the show's creator, Alvarez naturally excels at mastering this tone, delivering an assured lead performance that makes Evan's frustrations with and passion for teaching both believable and hilarious. His fellow castmates match him every step of the way. Stephanie Koenig shines as Evan's best friend and fellow teacher Gwen; you can tell she and Alvarez are longtime collaborators from the sheer ease and specificity of their comedic chemistry. Other standouts include Sean Patton as often inappropriate (yet surprisingly insightful) gym teacher Markie, and Enrico Colantoni as frazzled Principal Grant, who all but runs the other way when he sees Evan coming.
The charm of English Teacher's cast and characters extend to Morrison-Hensley's students, played by a large ensemble of young actors including Aliyah Bah (aka Aliyah's Interlude), Romy Mars, Ben Bondurant, and Ivy Wolk. While Morrison-Hensley's faculty may not always understand their students — "They're not into being woke anymore," Evan laments — English Teacher takes great pains to do so, building out the students beyond simple high school archetypes. Their screen time may be limited, but these students still feel like they have rich inner lives. In some cases, they could even be smarter and more well-adjusted than the adults they're meant to be learning from.
Having such a detailed ensemble grounds English Teacher in the reality of high school, even if its plotlines are mostly heightened for comedy's sake. And just like its school-set compatriot Abbott Elementary, English Teacher still has quite a bit to say about the good public school teachers do, in spite several encroaching problems that may hinder them. That messaging, and the show's breakneck pacing and killer dialogue, send English Teacher and Alvarez rocketing to the top of the sitcom class.
Film Festival Season is upon us! From Venice to Toronto to New York City to Fantastic Fest, Mashable will be hitting each one to bring you the best and brightest highlights from slates that include hundreds of contenders.
Whether you're wondering what powerful film might hook Oscar gold this winter, looking for a totally bonkers movie to thrill over with friends, or seeking a hidden gem of cinema splendor, we're here on the ground at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival to help. Last year, we reviewed such awe-inspiring offerings as Hayao Miyazaki's poetic opus The Boy and the Heron, the gonzo comedy Dicks: The Musical, and Alexander Payne's winsome holiday dramedy The Holdovers, which featured our favorite one-line wonder of the year.
This year, TIFF has us looking forward to new films from Pedro Almodóvar, Will Ferrell, Mike Flanagan, Luca Guadagnino, Marielle Heller, and Pharrell Williams. And there's even more in store we can't wait to discover.
Here are the 15 films you should know about from TIFF 2024.
Will & Harper Will Ferrell and Harper Steel go on a road trip. Credit: TIFFThe titular duo of this road trip documentary is responsible for such big-swing comedies as Casa de mi Padre, A Deadly Adoption, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. But long before all of those, they were friends building a bond, working at Saturday Night Live.
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have known each other for decades. But when, at 61, Harper came out as trans and transitioned into living openly as a woman, the time came for the two to reconnect. A 16-day road trip across America was not only a way for Will to better understand Harper, but also a chance for Harper to revisit dive bars, sports arenas, and other once-treasured spaces that might not be as welcoming now. Together, they explore friendship, privilege, and what it means to be trans in the U.S. And while the content can be heavy, under the director of Josh Greenbaum, who helmed the supremely hilarious Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, the tone is light, accessible, and ultimately resoundingly heartwarming.
Starring: Will Ferrell and Harper Steele
How to watch: Will & Harper debuts on Netflix Oct. 4.
The Substance
Out of its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, The Substance scored rave reviews and much buzz about its revolting spectacle. But we'd expect nothing less from Coralie Fargeat, the viciously brilliant writer/director behind the stylish and shattering Revenge.
Tackling Hollywood's dangerous obsession with looks, The Substance stars Demi Moore as a star forced out of the industry due to her age. When a shady scientific breakthrough promises a younger, "better" version of herself, she's quick to push the plunger. But these two halves must take turns, living one week at a time. And the beguiling go-getter Sue (Margaret Qualley) isn't much for waiting her turn.
Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Hugo Diego Garcia, Joseph Balderrama, Oscar Lesage
How to watch: The Substance hits theaters Sept. 20.
Piece by Piece
American music mogul Pharrell Williams has given audiences a barrage of hit songs, collaborated with some of the biggest artists in rap, and won 13 Grammys (so far). It's about time someone told his story. But a bog-standard bio-doc of talking heads and concert footage was never going to fully grasp the creativity of this icon. So, Academy Award–winning documentarian Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) brings a bold new angle by re-enacting this story with Lego-inspired animation.
Williams not only lends his voice, but also produces, welcoming a flood of famous friends and collaborators all re-imagined as mini-figs. It looks bonkers, and we're absolutely stoked to see it.*
Starring: Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, N.O.R.E., Pusha T., Daft Punk, and Kendrick Lamar
How to watch: Piece by Piece opens in theaters Oct. 11.
The Mountain
If you loved Hunt for the Wilderpeople, you won't want to overlook The Mountain. Rachel House, who played the Terminator-like social worker in Wilderpeople, makes her directorial debut with a charming coming-of-age adventure that also features misfit teens trekking into the New Zealand wild.
When 11-year-old Māori girl Sam (Elizabeth Atkinson) learns her cancer has returned, she escapes the children's hospital to climb Taranaki Maunga, hoping that proving herself to the mountain will cure her. Along the way, she befriends the fearful but caring new kid in town Mallory (Reuben Francis) and the passionate environmentalist Bronco (Terrence Daniel), both of whom reluctantly agree to be her sherpas. Together, they set forth on a quest that is at times silly, at times suspenseful, but always heartfelt.
Starring: Elizabeth Atkinson, Terence Daniel, and Reuben Francis
Daniella Forever Henry Golding and Beatrice Grannò play lovers in "Daniella Forever." Credit: TIFFSpanish director Nacho Vigalondo has a unique skill for blending genre with mind-bending storytelling. He broke through stateside in 2007 with the deeply gnarly horror-thriller Timecrimes. And though he's contributed to scary anthologies like The ABCs of Death and V/H/S Viral, you might know him best as the writer/helmer of Colossal, the superbly surreal comedy that starred Anne Hathaway as a woman who's accidentally manifesting a rampaging kaiju over Seoul.
Now, Vigalondo has teamed up with Henry Golding for a tale about grief and lucid dreaming. To move on after the death of his girlfriend, Nicolas (Golding) joins a sleep trial that reunites him with some version of his beloved Daniela (Beatrice Grannò). We have no idea where this could go, and that's part the appeal of Vigalondo's work. The other part is humor that is dark, blistering, and unapologetic.
Starring: Henry Golding, Beatrice Grannò, Aura Garrido, and Nathalie Poza
The Life of Chuck Tom Hiddleston stars in "The Life of Chuck." Credit: TIFFHorror auteur Mike Flanagan has made his name with harrowing movies like Doctor Sleep, Hush, and Gerald's Game, along with absolutely haunting miniseries for Netflix, including The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
For his latest, he's adapting a Stephen King novella that's not a horror story. Tom Hiddleston stars as Chuck Krantz, a seemingly ordinary accountant who has an unusual impact on those who see his smiling face. One of the more curious world premieres at TIFF, The Life of Chuck has us very intrigued.
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, and Jacob Tremblay
Queer A man snaps a photo in "Queer." Credit: TIFFDirector Luca Guadagnino has awed critics and audiences with his distinctive romances, from the gay drama Call Me By Your Name to the coming-of-age cannibal tale Bones and All and the love-triangle thriller Challengers. Now, he re-teams with Challengers scribe Justin Kuritzkes to adapt American author William S. Burroughs' 1985 novel.
Queer stars Daniel Craig as an American expat who wanders around the gay bars of postwar Mexico City seeking thrills and maybe himself. Guadagnino's past work alone is reason to line up for Queer, but the collaboration with Kuritzkes and Craig has us absolutely giddy.
Starring: Daniel Craig, Lesley Manville, and Jason Schwartzman
HereticA24 teams with A Quiet Place scribes Scott Beck and Bryan Woods for a new horror movie that's already got tongues wagging thanks to a tantalizing teaser.
When two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) go door-to-door to preach the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they seek to save souls. But can they save themselves when a welcoming home proves to be a deadly snare? If Paddington 2 taught us anything, it's not to trust a smiling Hugh Grant!
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East
How to watch: Heretic opens in theaters Nov. 15.
The Room Next DoorBoundary-pushing Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar has bestowed upon us such wonder as All About My Mother, The Skin I Live in, Talk to Her, and — most recently, the queer Western short Strange Way of Life. Now, he's tackling his first English-language feature with a cast that has us absolutely screaming in excitement.
Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore co-star as two writers who were close friends in their youth. As the decades have led them down different paths, Ingrid (Julianne Moore) drew from her life to write novels, while Martha (Tilda Swinton) became a journalist who focused on war. But when a strange situation leads them to reconnect, how will their relationship bloom or wither? We can't wait to find out. You had our attention at Pedro. At Tilda + Julianne, you have us seated.
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, and Alessandro Nivola
Mistress Dispeller Wang Zhenxi shows the insides of her work in "Mistress Dispeller." Credit: TIFFDocumentarian Elizabeth Lo (Stray) takes a thorough and judgment-free look at a curious vocation in China. As the title suggests, Mistress Dispeller focuses on Wang Zhenxi, a woman whose job is to break up affairs between married men and their mistresses. What that looks like might well spark fascination. But in practice, this titular negotiator's job is far more complex than we might imagine. A mix of therapy, manipulation, and third-wheeling makes for a journey that is joltingly intimate yet humane.
You might never look a love triangle the same way again.
Starring: Wang Zhenxi
ConclaveThe crackling cast alone is reason to look forward to this Edward Berger-directed psychological thriller, set amid one of the Catholic church's most sacred and secretive traditions.
When the pope dies, the college of cardinals convenes in private to elect who among them will ascend to lead the church and be God's voice on Earth. Ralph Fiennes stars as the dean, responsible for overseeing the process. But as whispers mount and politicking ignites, the secrets of these men of the cloth come to light in shocking ways. Based on Robert Harris's 2016 novel of the same name, Conclave brings tension along with nuanced performances that are as electrifying as they are divine.
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Carlos Diehz, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini.
How to watch: Conclave opens in theaters Nov. 1.
Space Cowboy People skydive in a car in "Space Cowboy." Credit: TIFFHave you ever watched a skydiving sequence in a movie, TV show, or commercial and wondered, how did they do that?
Space Cowboy, directed by Marah Strauch and Bryce Leavitt, explores exactly that through the incredible life story of skydiving cinematographer Joe Jennings. From Jennings' humble origins as an oddball kid who relished running around outside to his rise to become the most sought-after specialty cinematographer for sky-high stunts, this documentary tenderly charts a course of risk and reward. It's not just about the specifics and safety protocols that led to the creation of award-winning ads and blockbuster spectacle. Space Cowboy also delves into the mental health struggles that even professional thrill-seeking can't ignore.
Starring: Joe Jennings
The Order Jude Law plays an agent on the trail in "The Order." Credit: TIFFFrom director Justin Kurzel (The Snowtown Murders) comes a crime thriller unearthed from a dark corner of the United States' not-so-distant history.
Based on Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt's nonfiction book The Silent Brotherhood, The Order takes audiences into the 1983 FBI investigation of a band of white supremacists in the Pacific Northwest. Jude Law stars as a hardened agent who suspects that a spate of bank robberies and bombings are tied to a sinister conspiracy, dreamed up by a dangerously charismatic domestic terrorist named Robert Jay Mathews (Nicholas Hoult). Between the disturbing true story and sharp turns from Law and Hoult, this showdown is sure to leave audiences rattled.*
Starring: Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, and Marc Maron
How to watch: The Order opens in theaters Dec. 6.
Nightbitch Amy Adams headlines "Nightbitch." Credit: TIFFDirector Marielle Heller has earned her critically heralded career by masterfully helming a string of poignant adaptations, including the coming-of-age dramedy The Diary of a Teenage Girl, the Mr. Rogers biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and the Academy Award-nominated biographical comedy Can You Ever Forgive Me? Next, she teams with six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams for Nightbitch, the movie adaptation of Rachel Yoder's 2021 novel about a stay-at-home mom who occasionally transforms into a dog. With that premise and this pairing of talent in front of and behind the screen, Nightbitch is one of our most anticipated of the fest.
Starring: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowdon, Emmett James Snowdon, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Archana Rajan, and Jessica Harper
How to watch: Nightbitch opens in theaters Dec. 6.
Shell Kate Hudson and Elisabeth Moss co-star in "Shell." Credit: TIFFFollowing his moving 2018 coming-of-age drama Teen Spirit, actor-turned-director Max Minghella returns with a twisted dark comedy about Hollywood's obsession with looking young and fit. Elisabeth Moss stars as an actress whose age (middle though it might be) is proving an obstacle to booking jobs. So, she turns to Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson), a beauty and wellness CEO whose Shell brand promises renewed youth. But at what cost?
A midnight movie with a big star cast and a totally bonkers climax, Shell is sure to thrill a crowd who appreciates a bit of camp with their social commentary.
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson, Kaia Gerber, and Lionel Boyce
Apple's got a busy couple of months ahead.
The company is launching new iPhones, along with some other gadgets, on September 9. But a new report from MacRumors claims Apple will follow that up with another event in November, which will focus on the Mac.
We've already heard that Apple is planning to upgrade all of its Mac models to M4, with some of them coming later this year. Now we have a slightly more precise timeline, although MacRumors, which cites a reliable source familiar with the matter, says it's still possible for Apple to actually host the event in October, with Macs becoming available in November. That's what happened last year, with new Macs being announced on October 30, and becoming available on November 7.
At this year's event, we'll probably see a new, entry-level, 14-inch MacBook Pro sporting an M4 chip, as well as 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Mac chips. Apple is also reportedly planning to launch an iMac with the M4 chip, as well as a smaller, redesigned Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chips. All of the devices should now come with 16GB of RAM as standard.
SEE ALSO: M4 MacBook Pro: All the rumors and leaks about the next-gen Apple laptopMost of these devices will be similar to previous models in other aspects, but Mac mini will reportedly be far smaller, and possibly more cube-like in appearance, than the current iteration.
The M4 chip made its debut on the iPad Pro, which launched in May. It's a decent though not a massive upgrade compared to the M3 chip, but we've yet to see what the more advanced M4 Pro and M4 Max chips can do.
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: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, September 2, 2024:
AcrossProfessional in a toqueThe answer is chef.
The answer is robot.
The answer is amore.
The answer is fends.
The answer is tryst.
The answer is craft.
The answer is homer.
The answer is ebony.
The answer is fords.
The answer is test.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
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