Mashable

Following Spencer and Jackie — biopic melodramas about Princess Diana and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy — Chilean director Pablo Larraín rounds out his informal trilogy with Maria, another film about a world-famous woman in close proximity to death. His subject this time is the iconic Greek-American opera soprano Maria Callas, and though the film doesn't come together as neatly (or completely) as either of its predecessors, its most powerful moments stand head and shoulders above them, thanks to towering, transcendent work from Angelina Jolie in the leading role. 

Maria is set during the final week of Callas' life, at a time when she lived in isolation, far from the spotlight. As Larraín and Spencer screenwriter Steven Knight imagine these pivotal days, the resulting film is, unfortunately, lesser than the sum of its parts. However, each of those elements is so individually exquisite as to yield material that not only proves incredibly moving, but also provides Jolie with a platform to craft what is perhaps the most complex performance of her illustrious career. 

What is Maria about?

Set in 1977, Maria opens on the day of Callas' death from a sudden heart attack, after her body is discovered in her Paris penthouse. It presents this scene from a distinctly ghostly vantage. As Larraín's hand-held camera peers in on the scene from an adjoining room, it takes on a spectral presence, framing the rest of the film — set during the preceding week — as though it were some kind of desperate letter from Callas sent from beyond the grave.

To put words in a dead figure's mouth can be risky business, especially when so little is known about her final years. But as with with Spencer and Jackie, Larraín's focus is the intersection of private and public lives. His biopics are, therefore, speculative by nature. His last film, the satire El Conde, re-imagined Augusto Pinochet as a vampire, and while Maria certainly doesn't go that far — Larraín understandably has more respect for Callas than for the Chilean dictator — it exists in a similar vein: as a stylized examination of 20th-century history.

In the week preceding her demise, Callas wrestles with trying to regain her voice, which hasn't been at its full power for some time. However, her withdrawal from the public eye has also led her to self-medicate with largely unregulated drug cocktails. The film tips its hands about their effects early on; Callas claims, to her diligent butler Feruccio (Pierfrancesco Favino) and her housemaid Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher) — her key confidants in the film — that she has a TV interview scheduled with a journalist named Mandrax (Kodi Smit-McPhee), the same name as one of her sedatives. When he arrives, he's never in the same room (or same shot) as anyone but Callas.

Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's "Maria." Credit: Netflix

That Mandrax is a hallucination is hardly a surprise. In fact, Callas is hyper-aware of her increasing break from reality, though it can't help but read as if it may have been intended as a plot twist in some earlier draft. It takes a number of scenes before Callas' interview with the phantom reporter begins yielding any worthwhile material — which is to say, personal revelations about Callas' past, and ruminations on her fame, which begin to gradually alter the movie's tone and appearance.

Maria tells its story through shifting textures and timelines.

Hollywood biopics — especially their oft-parodied musical variety — tend to follow a standard structure, beginning on the precipice of a pivotal, late-career performance before the film unfolds in flashback. Maria upends this trend with distinct narrative purpose, stretching that aforementioned late-in-life moment across the entire film, while condensing Callas' life story to brief flashes of memory.

While the singer's music is central (and ever-present; her actual voice appears just as much as Jolie's), the specifics of her career, and her rise to fame, are of little interest to Larraín. He reduces them to an introductory montage burnt onto grainy celluloid stock, as though these moments from her performances had all been captured in great detail, and therefore didn't need to be the movie's focus. Rather than re-creating public performances, much of the film shifts rhythmically between Callas' past and present, often impulsively, as though it were depicting a haphazard stream of consciousness. This approach certainly has its strengths — the film is in constant motion, so at the very least, it's never boring — but it doesn't always move with purpose, and tends to repeat itself without finding new dimensions to its story.

On the plus side, Ed Lachman's dazzling cinematography makes the movie's present feel wistful. In its 1970s scenes, Maria either reminisces while wandering Paris — scenes which yield moments of musical splendor, where the real world collides with her imagined, operatic  one — or she visits an opera pianist to help her rehearse and re-capture her lost glory. These are painted with the warm tones of a perpetual sunset. The movie may be anchored by these scenes (its numerous flashbacks emanate from her conversations, both real and otherwise), but they're imbued with a sense of finality, and of time running out, as though Callas were keenly aware that she's nearing the end.

Her flashbacks tend to take two specific forms. Like the aforementioned, grainy film footage, moments of public performance — of Callas silhouetted by spotlight — appear as brief, nostalgic recollections as she attempts to sing once again and recapture her lost glory. However, the movie's more complete flashback scenes play out in pristine black-and-white, as though these moments had been more perfectly preserved. This canvas is reserved for a handful of flashbacks to Callas' tumultuous youth (where she's played by Aggelina Papadopoulou), but their crux is the time she spent with the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer), with whom she had a lengthy affair before his marriage to Jackie Kennedy.

The film presents the aged Onassis as a risible, rankled character, and Bilginer plays him with venomous charisma. However, his frequent presence in Callas' memories never quite feels justified. It's speculated, in dialogue, that they may have been each other's greatest loves, and the film even imagines a wonderful moment of private confession between them, but Onassis only ever feels like an obligatory inclusion, rather than a character whose impact on Callas is deeply felt instead of simply mentioned in passing. However, this and any other flaws the film may have are eventually hand-waved away by its central performances.

Angelina Jolie leads a phenomenal cast.

A film like Maria doesn't work without its central performances. Apart from Callas, the two characters with the lion's share of the screen time are Bruna and Feruccio, and though their prescribed roles are set in stone, they offer an intimate, loving perspective on the iconic vocalist.

As Bruna, a woman trained by Callas to be reverential, Rohrwacher allows the character's true feelings (and true concerns) to slip past her fealty. Feruccio, meanwhile, is far more forthcoming about his objections to Callas' drug use, and while he's often rebuked — sternly, yet calmy — Favino maintains a heart-wrenching adoration for Callas. The real Feruccio never sold Callas' private stories, even after her death, so while the movie draws on fantastical interpretations of her twilight years, it still does justice to Feruccio's loyalty, especially in moments when real reporters try to cruelly invade her privacy.

However, all this would be for nought had the role of Callas not been perfectly cast and performed. Larraín has tackled real figures before — his historical-fiction Neruda was about poet and politician Pablo Neruda — but his triumvirate of Hollywood biopics have all confronted the impact and allure of fame. Kristen Stewart was a fitting vessel for Larraín's Spencer, a story about a highly misunderstood woman upon whom aspersions were constantly cast. Jolie is a similarly flawless choice, given the degree to which Maria is about the dueling pain and allure of living in the spotlight.

Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's "Maria." Credit: Netflix

Not just a famous actress, but arguably one of the world's most famous people in the mid-2000s, Jolie has achieved a level of global stardom of which few can even dream. However, her celebrity has been marked by everything from homewrecking accusations to a harrowing public separation involving alleged domestic abuse (her battle with breast cancer has also been a tabloid topic, though she first publicized it herself). In a recent press junket for the movie's Venice Film Festival premiere, Jolie was asked about the degree to which she drew on her personal life for her performance, though she refused to elaborate. However, seeing the degree to which she places her most vulnerable self on screen in Maria, it's clear she doesn't need to. Everything she has to say on the subject is contained within the four corners of the frame.

Jolie plays Callas at a physical and emotional low point, and she carries herself as though attempting to juggle the grace and poise of an opera legend with the burdened posture of someone who's given up. She is completely sure of herself when she speaks to other people, but lost in a sea of self-doubt behind closed doors — a duality that Jolie displays not only in different scenes, but within single conversations, as she turns away from and toward her castmates.

Callas is a mess of paradoxes. She's a woman both plagued by yet constantly in search of adulation. She's haunted by her past, but her past is what fuels her music, and accessing the most agonizing parts of her story is of the utmost importance if she's to find herself again. Jolie's performance feels similarly in tune with the actress' own history. The further Callas reaches into her soul, the more the curtain slips; you can practically see Jolie and her character becoming one, crying out in unison for some kind of respite from simply being themselves, and living at their level of constant visibility, no matter how much they love the spotlight. It's heart-wrenching to witness.

However, Jolie goes even further in creating this semi-fictional version of Callas, not just as a real woman, but as a figure practically destined — perhaps even cursed — to be immortalized on screen. The real Callas spoke rather conversationally, and with a more distinctly Greek intonation than Jolie does here. But rather than impersonating her, Jolie instead takes on a classically Hollywood, Transatlantic tone. 

This accent is easy enough to access, but Jolie's masterstroke is what she does with her voice. Not just her singing voice — though she sounds magnificent to this critic's untrained ear — but her speaking voice, which sounds pitched-up, as though it were emanating at a higher frequency through a microphone from the 1940s or '50s. The film may be set in 1977, but the '40s and '50s were Callas' professional peak; what better way to translate her idealized version of herself in cinematic terms?

Callas struggles to stand upright in Maria. Not just literally, because of her drug-dulled sense, but spiritually. The film as a whole may feel scattered, and might lose its way in the middle, but all the while, Jolie is locked in a constant battle to hold her head high — to live (and die) with dignity, while experiencing all the fears and convictions that come with a woman slowly accepting that she may be at the end of her life.

Usually, Larraín loves to show off his production design (with sets this lavish, who wouldn't?), and he loves to make his camera dance, but the smartest thing he does in Maria is get out of Jolie's way at just the right time. During more intimate or subtle scenes, he pulls back on his flourishes so that her performance can dictate the story at its most potent, painful moments. However, on the rare occasions the film's operatic formalism and Jolie's performance align — moments when Callas inches closer to finding herself during her musical search — the result is completely shattering.

Maria was reviewed out of its world premiere at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival. 

Brazil just gave Elon Musk's X the boot.

On Friday, Brazil's top court ordered that Musk's social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, be banned in the country.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X is the 'home of social media piracy,' sports leagues say

The move comes after Musk has feuded with Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has previously ordered that X remove content that spread fake news and misinformation. Musk and company classified the judge's requests as "censorship orders."

Musk himself has recently attacked the judge on X, calling Moraes an "evil dictator."

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Earlier this month, X closed its operations in Brazil, alleging that the judge threatened X representative Rachel Nova Conceicao with arrest if the company did not comply with the content removal orders.

While X the company exited Brazil, the platform still remained available and accessible to users in the country. On Wednesday, Brazil's Supreme Court ordered X to appoint a legal representative in the country within 24 hours. Failing to do so, X shared a statement on Thursday night anticipating a potential ban.

"Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in Brazil – simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents," the statement reads.

Losing its user base in Brazil will likely hurt X. The platform is popular in the country, with Brazilian users accounting for tens of millions of X's monthly active user base.

As the New York Times reports, many of the accounts that Judge Moraes ordered suspended belonged to supporters of Brazil's former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro. Some of the accounts that were ordered to be removed questioned the results of Brazil's 2022 election, which Bolosonaro lost.

Brazil requires that tech companies have a legal representative located within the country in order to operate there. The country has previously banned platforms, such as Telegram in 2022, for failing to comply with local laws. (Telegram has since resumed operating in Brazil.)

On Thursday, one of Elon Musk's other companies, the SpaceX-affiliated Starlink, shared that Brazil's Supreme Court had frozen the company's finances. Starlink's statement claims that the judge did so after he had determined that Starlink should be responsible for fines against Musk's X.

If you looked at the Facebook app on your phone today and saw that the colors had changed, you're not alone. Don't worry, though; you won't be stuck with it.

Users on X reported the change early on Friday, noting that the Facebook app's logo on their mobile devices — typically a white F on a blue background — had changed to a blue F on a black background.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Of course, everyone hated it.

Do not fear, though. A Meta spokesperson told Mashable that the change "was caused by a technical issue and has been resolved."

Everything will go back to normal if you update your app.

Spotify users on iPhone who listen to music and podcasts via Spotify Connect will have to take a few extra steps in order to control the volume on their audio devices — Spotify seems unhappy about it.

According to Spotify, Apple has "discontinued" the technology that let Spotify users control their volume via the physical iPhone buttons when streaming to speakers, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other devices via Spotify Connect.

SEE ALSO: Apple Sports app will give real-time NFL and CFB updates on your iPhone and Apple Watch

Users who try to use the physical iPhone buttons to turn the volume up and down will be served with a notification from Spotify letting users know they will need to use the volume slider within the Spotify app. Clicking on this "Want to change the volume?" notification will take Spotify users to the slider in the app.

This change will officially roll out on September 3, but some users are reporting that they are already being sent the notification when trying to change their volume.

An example of the Spotify notification when trying to use the physical iPhone buttons and what the Spotify app volume slider looks like. Credit: Spotify Spotify and Apple continue their feud

In its update, Spotify makes it clear that Apple is responsible for making things a bit more difficult for its iPhone-owning users.

"Apple has discontinued the technology that enables Spotify to control volume for connected devices using the volume buttons on the device," Spotify says on its support page for Spotify Connect. "While we work with them on a solution, you can use the Spotify app to easily adjust the volume on your connected device."

Mashable reached out to Apple for comment and will update this piece when we hear back.

As The Verge points out, Apple's changes have resulted in random volume spikes as well as other bugs for Spotify users, which led to Spotify altering how users can control the volume. The Sonos app made a similar change earlier this year after its users experienced similar problems.

"We’ve made requests to Apple to introduce a similar solution to what they offer users on HomePod and Apple TV for app developers who control non-Apple media devices," the Verge reports Spotify saying. "Apple has told us that they require apps to integrate into HomePod in order to access the technology that controls volume on iPhones."

While this specific volume control issue between these two industry behemoths may seem minor overall, it's actually just one more issue between Spotify and Apple in a larger ongoing feud.

Earlier this year, Apple was hit with a $2 billion fine in the EU after Spotify filed a complaint against the iPhone-maker over its policies prohibiting app makers from sending users outside of Apple's official App Store in order to sign up for subscription services.

In response, Apple published a public statement criticizing Spotify for using all of Apple's tools to run the iPhone app without paying the company.

In the statement, Apple pointed out that the company works with Spotify to ensure that its app works with "Siri, CarPlay, Apple Watch, AirPlay, Widgets, and more." But it now appears that Spotify volume controls via the iPhone's physical buttons are no longer included on that list.

Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Charles Edwards, Benjamin Walker, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Daniel Weyman, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sam Hazeldine are joined by Showrunner Patrick McKay and Executive Producer Lindsey Webber

TL;DR: Get unlimited podcasts for life when you get a lifetime subscription to Podurama for just $39.99 (reg. $99). 

Opens in a new window Credit: Podurama Podurama Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
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If you’re into podcasts, you know the struggle: so many shows, so little time. With millions of episodes out there, how do you keep track of your favorites and discover new gems? Podurama is your answer (and your new podcast BFF).

This AI-powered podcast app isn’t just another podcast player; it’s a whole experience designed to make your podcasting life way easier and more fun. And right now you can get a lifetime subscription to Podurama for just $39.99 (reg. $99.99). No need to hunt for a better price around the internet — there isn't one. 

Pay once for a lifetime of listening

Podurama gives you access to over 30 million podcasts, so whether you’re into true crime, comedy, or niche hobbies, you’ll find something you love without needing you scour all your go-to apps.

Looking for something new to dive into? The app’s AI chatbot is like your personal guide, suggesting podcasts based on what you’re into, so you always have something fresh on the menu. If your library is getting a bit out of hand, Podurama lets you organize everything into neat folders or playlists, so there’s no more endless scrolling to find that one episode.

You can even search within episodes and set up alerts for specific topics, so you never miss a beat. Plus, if you’re on the fence about a new show, you can listen to a snippet before committing to the whole episode.

And for those who like to add a personal touch, Podurama lets you add custom RSS feeds or upload your private audio files, whether you’re on your phone or desktop. With Podurama, all your favorite podcasts are under one roof, and you can enjoy them for free. It’s basically the ultimate podcast app.

And it's on sale, too

Listen without limits. Get a Podurama Lifetime Subscription on sale for $39.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Apple wants to be the hub for all your football updates. With Twitter's slow degradation as X and an overwhelming number of competing sports apps, it doesn't seem like the worst idea.

The tech giant announced new features in its free Apple Sports app to help users access real-time updates to their favorite teams and games. This announcement comes as the all-important NFL and college football seasons kick off next week.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Apple Sports is intended to serve as a hub for checking scores, stats, and basic info about the games. The app features a play-by-play for each game, live score updates, and a new drive tracker that shows where the ball is. Because it's 2024 and everyone is now gambling on sports, betting odds are also displayed.

Credit: Apple

With iOS 18 and watchOS 11, you can now get live updates straight to your Apple Watch — that's clutch if you want to follow the play-by-play while not looking rude at an event during NFL season.

Credit: Apple

The Apple Sports app will let you follow your favorite teams and conferences. That way, you'll get all the updates you won't, but not the scores of games that don't matter to you.

Apple also said in a press release that it's planning a new drop-down menu that'll allow users to switch between different teams and leagues to check scores easily. Of course, the app has more than just football in it.

While the Apple Sports app has been around since February, this marks its first full football season. It also dropped at a time when X, FKA Twitter, doesn't work as well as it once did. As a sports fan, I used to use Twitter's Sports tab to follow scores and conversations around a game.

However, since Elon Musk bought the platform, that experience has degraded. Speaking from personal experience, it is no longer a reliable way to check a score. Apple Sports might not have funny tweets, but it could fill that void as a reliable, one-stop-shop for scores and updates.

GET UP TO $300 OFF: Dyson is offering up to $300 off this Labor Day. Shop now for deals on vacuums, hair care, air purifiers, and more.

Our top picks: Best cordless vacuum deal Dyson V8 Absolute $299.99 at Dyson (save $220) Get Deal Best hair care tool deal Dyson Supersonic Origin $299.99 at Dyson (save $100 ) Get Deal Best upright vacuum deal Dyson Ball Animal 3 $299.99 at Dyson (save $100) Get Deal

Almost every online retailer is pushing a big Labor Day sale, but Dyson’s been a bit more low-key about its offerings. Even though the brand isn’t blasting deals all over the internet, you can score up to $300 off select Dyson products right now.

SEE ALSO: A running list of the best Labor Day 2024 deals already live

The sale isn’t as extensive as what we’ve seen from other retailers, but the deals are just as solid. Some of the best offers include $220 off the Dyson V8 Absolute and $100 off the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. But you’d better act fast — we’re not sure how long these discounts will stick around.

Here are more details on some of the best Dyson deals we've found:

Best cordless vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson V8 Absolute $299.99 at Dyson
$519.99 Save $220.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Dyson V8 Absolute is a lightweight, cordless vacuum with a HEPA filtration system that captures allergens and expels cleaner air. It has a motorbar cleaner head designed to pick up pet hair and in-ground dirt (the specialized fluffy cleaner head is for hard floors). It also comes with a hair screw tool with a conical brush bar and crevice tool so you can really get into the crevices and corners (think: couch cushions, dog bed, etc.).

Right now, you can get the Dyson V8 Absolute for $299.99 via the Dyson website and at other retailers, including Macy's, Walmart, and Bloomingdale's. It's surprisingly not on sale at Amazon or Best Buy.

Best hair care tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson Supersonic Origin $299.99 at Dyson
$399.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Dyson Supersonic Origin (black/nickel) hair dryer is currently $100 off on the Dyson website. We’re not seeing this discount anywhere else, and the product isn’t available at most retailers. (Note: We’re specifically talking about the black/nickel Supersonic Origin.) It comes with a styling concentrator, has three speed settings, four heat settings, and a cool shot button to set your hair after styling.

According to Mashable’s Bethany Allard, the Dyson Supersonic is a quick and effective option for people who dry their hair often (read: every day) but is expensive at full price. With this discount, though, the Supersonic could be worth considering if you want a high-powered hair dryer that's gentler on your hair than some other models.

Best upright vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson Ball Animal 3 $299.99 at Dyson
$399.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Our last pick is a budget pick for those who don't need or want a cordless vacuum. The Dyson Ball Animal 3 upright vacuum is currently $299.99 on the Dyson website and at competing retailers, including Best Buy and Amazon. It’s built for pet parents and features a detangling motor bar cleaner head and an advanced filtration system. It can clean multiple surfaces, comes with a combination and stair tool, and has 15 feet of hose stretch, so you can go from the living room to the stairs without unplugging it.

Shop our best picks from Best Buy's Labor Day sale:

Best Buy Labor Day Sale Deals Best tech deal 2021 Apple iPad (A13 Bionic chip, 64GB SSD, WiFi) $199 at Best Buy (Save $130) Get Deal Best TV deal Sony 2024 77-inch Class Bravia 8 OLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV $2,899.99 at Best Buy (Save $1,000) Get Deal Best appliance deal LG Side-by-Side Refrigerator $1,299.99 at Best Buy (Save $422) Get Deal

Labor Day weekend is here, and it's time to rack up the savings. You've likely already spied some of the best Labor Day sales at the retailers that have already kicked their deal events into overdrive. Now, Best Buy has joined in on the festivities, and that means even more chances to save.

From now through Monday, September 2, you can shop deals on tech like tablets and laptops as well as TVs, home appliances, and much more. That means if you find something you like, you should go ahead and jump on it before it's gone. But sifting through everything Best Buy has to offer can be a bit of a chore. That's why we've gone ahead and taken care of all that for you.

Below, find some of our favorite picks from the Best Buy Labor Day Sale. There's no promo code required. All you need to do is add to cart and save hundreds. You can thank us later.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Our pick: 2021 Apple iPad (A13 Bionic chip, 64GB SSD, WiFi) $199.00 at Best Buy
$329.00 Save $130.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the market for a new tablet, you can't go wrong with a vanilla iPad, especially a 9th generation model. This one is paired with 64GB of storage, and you can get it for less than $200, which is almost unheard of when it comes to iPads. It can handle streaming, gaming, browsing, video calls and just about anything else you might demand of it, all in a fun, slim package. It also includes Touch ID and a powerful A13 Bionic chip, so it can multitask with the best of them. For the price, you're getting a robust tablet that works fantastically with the iOS ecosystem, if you've already got one established at home.

More tech deals:

• LG Gram Laptop — $2,099.99 $249 (save $900)

• HP Envy 2-in-1 14-inch Laptop — $599.99 $1,049.99 (save $450)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Our pick: Sony 2024 77-inch Class Bravia 8 OLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV $3,899.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal Why we like it

This gorgeous Sony Bravia TV is one of the most crisp displays you'll find in this price range, and this big discount makes it worth splurging on. Thanks to its over 8 million self-lit pixels, it serves up an eye-popping array of bright whites and deep, darker shades as well as Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X audio support. There's a lot to like about this newly-released model, and that's not even accounting for its massive 77-inch size. It's the perfect option for football season and everything else you want to watch in your living room.

More TV deals:

• Samsung 55-inch Class S90D OLED TV — $1,399.99 $1,899.99 (save $900)

• Samsung 65-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal 4K TV — $469.99 $529.99 (save $60)

Best appliance deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy LG Side-by-Side Refrigerator $1,299.99 at Best Buy
$1,721.99 Save $422.00 27.2 cubic feet Get Deal Why we like it

This side-by-side Samsung fridge is an attractive, modern-looking appliance with a stainless steel finish that resists fingerprints. It has plenty of room for your groceries thanks to its 27.2-cubic foot capacity, and it comes with an ice maker so you can even enjoy chilled drinks and water any time you want. If you've been rocking with a traditional fridge and have been looking for a significant upgrade, this is an excellent choice that has a spacious interior. Plus, it should go with everything in your kitchen, as it avoids the "black or white" appliance design trap.

More appliance deals:

• GE 4.5 Cubic Foot High-Efficiency Top Load Washer — $559.99 $799.99 (save $240)

• Samsung 31 cubic foot 3-Door French Door Smart Refrigerator — $1,699.99 $2,339.99 (save $640)

• LG - 24-inch Front Control Built-In Stainless Steel Tub Dishwasher — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

OpenAI and rival company Anthropic have signed agreements with the U.S. government to have new models tested before public release.

On Thursday the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that its AI Safety Institute will oversee "AI safety research, testing and evaluation" with both companies. "These agreements are just the start, but they are an important milestone as we work to help responsibly steward the future of AI," said Elizabeth Kelly, director of the AI Safety Institute in the announcement.

SEE ALSO: Sam Altman just teased 'Project Strawberry' on X: Everything we know about the secret AI tool

It's no secret that generative AI poses safety risks. Its tendency to produce inaccuracies and misinformation, enable harmful or illegal behavior, and entrench discrimination and biases is well documented at this point. OpenAI has its own internal safety testing, but has been secretive about how its models work and what they're trained on. This is the first instance of OpenAI opening up access to third party scrutiny and accountability. Altman and OpenAI have been vocal about the need for AI regulation and standardization. But critics say the willingness to work with the government is a strategy to ensure OpenAI is regulated favorably and stamps out competition.

"For many reasons, we think it's important that this happens at the national level. US needs to continue to lead!" posted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on X.

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The formal collaboration with NIST builds on the Biden Administrations AI executive order that was signed last October. Amongst other mandates that tapped several federal agencies to ensure the safe and responsible deployment of AI, the order directed requires AI companies to grant access to NIST for red-teaming before an AI model is released to the public.

The announcement also said that it would share findings and feedback in partnership with the UK AI Safety Institute.

Check out the best Labor Day weekend sales on outdoor gear from retailers like REI, Amazon, and Home Depot.

These are the best Labor Day sale outdor deals: Best camping deal REI Co-op Magma 30 Sleeping Bag $265.29 at REI (save $113.71) Get Deal Best emergency preparedness deal Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets $6.99 at Amazon (save $6) Get Deal Best backyard deal Traeger Pro 575 Wifi Pellet Grill and Smoker $599 at Home Depot (save $200) Get Deal

Labor Day weekend is finally upon us. Before you clock off and hit the road for whatever adventure awaits you, you'll want to check out some of the biggest outdoor gear sales. Whether you need to stock up on essentials or score that major piece of gear you've been missing, this weekend is a great time to shop everything you need to support you in the pursuit of the great outdoors from retailers like REI, Amazon, and Home Depot.

While there are plenty of outdoor deals on Amazon leading up to the long weekend, retailers are also running official savings events to celebrate the long weekend. At REI, you can save up to 40% on Labor Day sale items (and clearance). Meanwhile, at Home Depot, the sale features seriously slashed prices on grills, appliances, outdoor furniture, and more.

Check out some of the best finds from these sales.

Best camping deal Opens in a new window Credit: REI Our pick: REI Co-op Magma 30 Sleeping Bag $265.29 at REI
$379.00 Save $113.71 Get Deal Why we like it

A good quality sleeping bag that will keep you comfortably warm even in low temperatures can be pretty expensive. That's why REI's Labor Day sale is a great time to buy. Normally almost $400, the REI Co-op Magma 30 Sleeping Bag is on sale this weekend for $265.29, making the investment much more tolerable. Weighing under 2 pounds and designed to fit inside a small stuff sack, this is the ultimate sleeping back for backpacking trips where every square inch saved in your pack counts.

More camping deals

• Siesta Hooded 20 Sleeping Bag — $97.29 $139 (save $41.71)

• GO Hydration Water Jug - 11 Liters/2.9 Gal — $55.89 $70 (save $14.11)

• Skyward 6 Tent — $223.83 $449 (save $225.17)

• Compressible Pillow — $22.09 $36.95 (save $14.86)

• Go Travel Coffee Press — $37.39 $49.95 (save $12.56)

• Flexlite Print Camp Chair — $55.89 $79.95 (save $24.06)

• DeepSleep 7.5 Sleeping Pad — $113.89 $189.95 (save $76.06)

• Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp — $48.69 $64.95 (save $16.26)

Best emergency preparedness deal Opens in a new window Credit: QIO CHUANG Our pick: Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets $6.99 at Amazon
$12.99 Save $6.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're trekking out into the woods, some emergency preparedness items are simply a must-have, including Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets. Mylar Thermal Blankets help you conserve body heat in emergency situations, and they can also be used for ground cover, shade, or shelter thanks to their waterproof and windproof composition. These blankets are reusable and sold in packs of four. This weekend, they're 46% off, taking the price down to $6.99, or just $1.75 per blanket. It's a good time to stock up!

More emergency preparedness deals

• Survival Kit — $32.89 $79.99 (save $47.10)

• LifeStraw Personal Water Filter — $13.30 $19.95 (save $6.65)

• Woolly Mammoth Merino Wool Blanket — $54.99 $89.99 (save $35)

• Solar Charger — $19.54 $29.99 (save $10.45)

• Two-Way Radios for Adults — $23.99 $42.99 (save $19)

• NOAA Emergency Weather Radio — $25.99 $33.99 (save $9)

• PREPARED4X Emergency Rain Poncho with Mylar Blanket Liner — $19.99 $24.99 (save $5)

Best backyard deal Opens in a new window Credit: Traeger Our pick: Traeger Pro 575 Wifi Pellet Grill and Smoker $599.00 at Home Depot
$799.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Home Depot's Labor Day sale is one of the best times to score big-ticket items for less - especially grills. While there's no shortage of grills on sale, Traeger Pro 575 stands out for its versatility. Not only is it a pellet grill, but it doubles as a smoker. If you love real wood-smoked flavor, then there's no better addition to your backyard. Plus, it's WiFi-enabled for more precise temperature control. Normally $799, the Labor Day sale saves you $200.

More backyard deals

• Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill — $499 $699.95 (save $200.95)

• Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill — $519 $569 (save $50)

• LOCO 26 in. 2-Burner Classic SmartTemp Propane Flat Top Grill/Griddle — $269 $299.99 (save $30.99)

• Nexgrill Daytona 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill 36 in. Flat Top Griddle — $299 $449 (save $150)

• Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill — $608.49 $658.49 (save $50)

• Crossridge 30 in. 50,000 BTU Antique Bronze Gas Fire Pit — $149 $219 (save $70)

• Nuu Garden 2-Piece Swivel Steel Sling Outdoor Patio Dining Chairs — $172 $257 (save $85)

• Nuu Garden Black Square Metal Outdoor Patio Dining Table with Umbrella Hole — $93 $116.10 (save $23.10)

• 9 ft. Aluminum Outdoor Market Patio Umbrella with Hand Crank Lift in Sand — $39 $52.99 (save $13.99)

More outdoor Labor Day sales:

• The North Face — 30% off select items, ends Sept 2

• DICK'S Sporting Goods — up to 50% off, ends Sept 2

• Patagonia — up to 50% off sale styles

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Aug. 30: OUR TOP PICK Apple AirTags 4-pack $74.99 at Amazon (save $24.01) Get Deal BEST MONITOR DEAL Samsung 27-inch ViewFinity S9 Series 5K monitor $800.60 at Amazon (save $799.39) Get Deal BEST SMARTHOME DEAL Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) $99.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal BEST PHONE DEAL Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (256GB) $499.99 at Amazon (save $160) Get Deal

Congrats on making it through another month of 2024. Your reward, besides a three-day weekend, is a bunch of awesome deals at Amazon. Some of our favorite brands like Apple and Samsung have discounted their devices in honor of Labor Day weekend. And lucky for you, we've rounded up the best of the best.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Aug. 30. If none of these speak to you, be sure to check back at our deal picks from Aug. 28 and Aug. 29. Many of those are still live — including an Apple iPad mini back at its Prime Day price and a $90 price drop on one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags 4-pack $74.99 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $24.01 Get Deal

A single AirTag would typically cost you $29, which means it would run you about $116 to buy four separately. This four-pack deal is just $74.99 instead — essentially getting you one and a half for free. Investing in this set of Bluetooth trackers can help you keep track of your luggage, keys, bike, tools, and anything else you'd rather not lose. As long as there's an Apple device with Find My nearby, you can track their location, rather than relying on Bluetooth alone. Save 24% this Labor Day weekend and snag an AirTags four-pack at just $2 shy of its record-low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch ViewFinity S9 Series 5K monitor $800.60 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $799.39 Get Deal

Upgrade and extend your workspace with Samsung's ViewFinity S9 Series monitor while it's half price. With 27 inches of 5K resolution, 600 nits of brightness, HDR 600 support, a 4K Slimfit webcam, versatile compatibility, smart TV apps, and a tilt and height-adjustable stand, it not only outshines Apple's Studio Display, but also doubles as a gorgeous mini TV replacement. Usually an eyebrow-raising $1,599.99, you can grab this 5K monitor for only $800.60 as of Aug. 30. That's 50% in savings and its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) $99.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

See who (or what) is at your front door, no matter where you are, with Google's Nest Doorbell. It packs built-in intelligence that will notify you if a person, package, animal, or vehicle is approaching and send alerts directly to your phone. Download the Google Home app, and you can check in from anywhere and see what happened in the last three hours. Unlock even more video history when you subscribe to Nest Aware, which starts at just $8 per month. As of Aug. 30, you can grab the battery-powered version for only $99.99 at Amazon — that's a savings of 44% and the lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (256GB) $499.99 at Amazon
$659.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

If you're not one to pay full price for the latest iteration of a Galaxy phone, this deal on the Galaxy S23 FE might be more your speed. It's essentially a more basic version of the flagship phone at a more budget-friendly price. Its specs are still pretty solid, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chip (the same that powers the Galaxy S22 phones), tri-camera system, 6.4-inch matte aluminum build, and 4,500mAh battery. Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) called it "one of the best midrange Android phones on the market." As of Aug. 30, you can grab the 256GB option for only $499.99 instead of the usual $659.99. That's its lowest price on record.

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

GET 35% OFF: Shop Solawave's Labor Day sale and get 35% off select products with the code LABORDAY35. The sale ends Sept 4 at midnight.

Opens in a new window Credit: Solawave Solawave Labor Day Sale Get 35% off select products Shop Now

If the summer heat's making your skin feel lackluster or you’re just really into your self-care routine, you’ll be happy to know that Solawave (the brand behind that celeb-favorite skincare wand) is offering 35% off during its Labor Day sale.

SEE ALSO: We tried the celeb-favorite Solawave skincare wand

As of Aug 30, you can get your hands on the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand & Activating Serum Kit for $66 less than its usual price, making it just $122 — a steal, considering the kit typically retails for $189. Or, if you prefer to purchase the wand by itself, you can snag the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand for $109 (originally $169). The promo code is LABORDAY35, but the savings will auto-direct to your cart, so you don't actually have to type in a code.

The sale runs through Sept 4, so you have a few days to decide what to get. There are a few exclusions, though, including the Radiant Renewal 2-in-1 Skincare Mini, Youthful Glow Skincare Kit with Red Light Therapy, and Radiant Renewal Eye Recovery Pro, so you'll want to double-check the product details before you check out.

Apple Intelligence is upon us, but not every company that owns a major website is a fan of Apple scraping its data to train AI.

A new report by Wired found that several widely recognizable online brands have chosen to opt out of training Apple's AI bot. Among those who have deliberately turned it off are Facebook, Instagram, the New York Times, Craigslist, and Condé Nast. If the opt-out request is truly honored, Apple Intelligence cannot and will not get any data from those sites until, or unless, any of them enter into official business agreements with Apple for the use of their data.

SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly investing in OpenAI — Microsoft’s rival wants in on the ChatGPT maker, too

Wired's report goes into the nitty gritty technical details of how these data scraping bots work, but the main thing to know is that it's similar to how Apple has trained things like Siri over the years, but now with an extra layer of possible copyright infringement that has made companies wary. Apple, to its credit, started offering a tool to opt out of data scraping months ago, so it's not like these companies had to figure out a way to do it themselves.

Considering so many major companies are turned off by the proposition of feeding data to Apple's AI, and the fact that Apple needs to give its AI literal pep talks to stop it from making things up, one could reasonably wonder if maybe we jumped into this lake a little too early.

A smarter version of Amazon's Alexa is coming — but it might not be powered by Amazon's tech.

According to a new report by Reuters, the new version of Alexa will "primarily" be powered by Anthropic's Claude AI models, instead of Amazon's own AI.

Anthropic is an AI company founded by ex-OpenAI employees, which claimed that Claude 3's Opus model, which launched in March this year, was in some ways more powerful than comparable models from OpenAI and Google. Amazon is a big investor in Anthropic, having invested $4 billion into the company (Google is another investor, having thrown at least $2 billion into Anthropic itself).

The new, AI-powered Alexa is internally referred to as "Remarkable," and it will cost between $5 and $10 when it launches in October, Reuters reported in June. Classic Alexa – the one that can perform basic tasks but cannot chat with you nearly as well as OpenAI's ChatGPT can – will remain free.

When asked about this, Amazon gave Reuters a canned response, saying it "uses many different technologies to power Alexa," though it did say it will continue to use its own Titan model, future Amazon models, "as well as those from partners."

The report sounds quite a bit more damning than that, with Reuters' sources claiming that Amazon's attempts to build the new Alexa with in-house software had it "struggling for words," and that it was painfully slow, sometimes taking "six or seven seconds to acknowledge a prompt and reply." Ouch.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Alexa can tell you about Prime Day deals before they go live

Alexa is a very important part of Amazon's ecosystem, given that it powers the vast number of smart devices in Amazon's lineup. And yeah, with Google making its things smarter via Gemini and Appel preparing to supercharge Siri, Amazon's Alexa could probably use some AI-based sprucing up.

Google's AI arm is reportedly tapping into "bioacoustics" — a field that blends a combination of biology and sounds that, in part, help researchers gain insights on how pathogen presence affects human sound. As it turns out, our sounds convey tell-tale information about our well-being.

According to a Bloomberg report, the search-engine giant built an AI model that uses sound signals to "predict early signs of disease." In places where there is difficulty accessing quality healthcare, this technology can step in as an alternative where users need nothing but their smartphone's microphone.

How does Google's bioacoustics AI work?

Google's bioacoustics-based AI model is called HeAR (Heath Acoustic Representations). It was trained on 300 million, two-second audio samples that include coughs, sniffles, sneezes, and breathing patterns. These audio clips were pulled from non-copyrighted, publicly available content from platforms like YouTube.

One example of such content is a video that recorded sounds of patients in a Zambia-based hospital where sick individuals came in for tuberculosis screenings. In fact, HeAR has been trained on 100 million cough sounds that help detect tuberculosis.

According to Bloomberg, bioacoustics can offer "near-imperceptible clues" that can reveal subtle signs of illness that can help health professionals diagnose patients. Plus, the AI model can detect minute differences in patients' cough patterns, allowing it to spot early signs of a sickness' amelioration or deterioration.

Google is partnering with Salcit Technologies, an AI healthcare startup based in India. Salcit has its own AI model called Swaasa (which means "breath" in Sanskrit) — and the Indian collaborator is using Swaasa to help HeAR improve its accuracy for tuberculosis and lung health screening.

Swaasa offers a mobile app that allows users to submit a 10-second cough sample. According to Salcit’s co-founder, Manmohan Jain, the app can identify whether an individual has a disease with an accuracy rate of 94 percent

The auditory-based test costs $2.40. This is much cheaper than a spirometry test, which costs about $35 in an India-based clinic.

HeAR doesn't come without challenges, though. For example, Google and Salcit are still trying to navigate problems with users submitting audio samples with too much background noise.

Google's bioacoustics-based AI model is nowhere near the "ready-for-market" stage, but you've got to admit, the concept of using AI in the medical field, combined with sound, is arguably innovative and promising.

If you see a video ad of Tom Hanks promising you a miracle cure for something, the man himself wants you to know it's a fake.

On Thursday night, the actor took to Instagram to issue a PSA about AI-generated videos popping up on social media that are using his image.

SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly investing in OpenAI — Microsoft’s rival wants in on the ChatGPT maker, too

"There are multiple ads over the internet falsely using my name, likeness, and voice promoting miracles cures and wonder drugs," reads Hanks' post. "These ads have been created without my consent, fraudulently and through AI."

View this post on Instagram

"I have nothing to do with these posts or the products and treatments, or the spokespeople touting these cures," Hanks continues. "I have type 2 diabetes, and I ONLY work with my board certified doctor regarding my treatment. DO NOT BE FOOLED. DO NOT BE SWINDLED. DO NOT LOSE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY."

This isn't the first time Hanks has issued a warning like this. Last October he shared a screenshot of an AI-generated video of himself "promoting some dental plan" (for some reason Hanks appears to be a go-to for medical-themed AI hoaxes) along with a warning that he has "nothing to do with it".

AI misinformation is already a growing issue. It seems likely that as the technology becomes more advanced, widespread and accessible, the problem is only going to get worse.

Online privacy is in short supply, but that doesn't make it any less important. Your data is seriously valuable stuff, and you should be doing everything you can to protect it when navigating the online world. And if you watch porn, you should be even more vigilant.

We're going to take a wild guess that you'd prefer to be protected from the prying eyes of advertisers, your internet service provider (ISP), and your roommates when you're visiting porn sites. If that is indeed the case, you should consider investing in a VPN. These cybersecurity services provide everything you need to unblock porn sites and stream anonymously.

What is a VPN?

VPNs provide powerful protection for your data and identity when you're online. VPNs offer this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location), making all of your activity untraceable and secure.

SEE ALSO: AdultFriendFinder is basically a porn hookup site that needs a refresh

This concept can be difficult to grasp, so it can be helpful to think of VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware. It's all about anonymity and cybersecurity, and that's particularly important if you're watching porn.

Do you need a VPN for porn?

There are two key reasons to consider a VPN for porn: anonymity and access.

The first reason is perhaps the most important. If you're concerned about your ISP, housemates, landlord, or someone totally random accessing your data, you could probably benefit from using a VPN. Any sort of activity on an unsecured WiFi network leaves your private information and browsing habits exposed to the world, unless you're using a VPN. Even porn sites can track your activity if you're unprotected. Pornhub tracks IP addresses for example, which means it has the potential to collect information about your site usage. But with a VPN, your IP address will always remain hidden.

Remaining private and anonymous is the key argument for using a VPN for porn, but there's another point to consider concerning access to your favourite sites. If you're in a location that has a firewall up to block access to porn sites, you'll need to use a VPN to bypass these restrictions. VPNs hide your real IP address and connect you to a server in another location, meaning you can bypass firewalls to stream on your favourite sites from anywhere in the world.

What features should you consider when selecting a VPN?

There are a number of things you should consider before selecting a VPN for porn. We have highlighted a selection of the most important VPN features to help you make a decision:

• Connection speed — VPNs generally produce a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept anything significant. Make sure you opt for a VPN that doesn't negatively impact your connection speed to the point that you can'tstream porn without disruption.

• Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and whilst it's important to take note of the grade provided by your VPN, the best services will all offer powerful protection for your data. This is obviously vital when navigating porn sites because you need to know that your data is secure.

• Number of connections — Leading VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices with the same account, whilst others limit you to just a single device. Prioritise services that offer multiple simultaneous connections so you can stay secure on all your devices at the same time. You might stream porn on a number of devices, so it's best to secure everything with the same account.

• Privacy policy — This is something that some users might take for granted, but you need to pay special attention to the data-handling, storage, and usage practices of a VPN. These practices should be clearly laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't, you should not subscribe. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions, and browsing history, plus your personal details when you sign up. Your favourite VPN should not store these details under any circumstances, as that would make the whole anonymity thing redundant.

• Server network — The best VPNs provide access to literally thousands of geographically diverse servers. This is useful because you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming porn.

You also need to consider things like price and subscription plans, but these features are a good place to start with your selection process. Once you've picked a favourite option, you can consider the wide range of subscription plans on offer from leading services. There should be something that suits everyone.

Should you use free VPNs?

The big question when it comes to watching porn securely is whether you need to pay for a VPN. The bad news is that, just as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with these cybersecurity services.

There are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs, and free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. The catch is that free versions usually come with limited data usage, meaning you can't really do any streaming or downloading. Free trials come with everything you get in a paid plan, but they obviously don't last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

Considering all of this, the best option for unblocking porn sites and streaming anonymously is with a paid subscription to a VPN. To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you will need to cough up the cash.

What is the best VPN for porn?

There are a lot of services out there offering similar packages, making it difficult to find the best VPN for you. We have tried to make your life a little bit easier by tracking down everything on offer and lining up a selection of the very best VPNs for porn. We have tried to find something for everyone and every budget, and you can find popular services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN in this list.

These are the best VPNs for porn in 2024.

If you've actually read The Iliad, Metamorphoses, The Aeneid, or The Odyssey; devour myth-inspired fiction like Circe; played every minute of Assassin's Creed: Odyssey and Hades; and regularly quote Disney's Hercules, you'll watch Netflix's Kaos with serious knowledge (and probably alone, like me). But if you've been elsewhere doing other things, don't worry. As ill-fated narrator Prometheus (Stephen Dillane) says at the beginning of the show, "Some of you may have heard of me. Don't worry if you haven't." 

In Charlie Covell's Greek mythology-based series, Prometheus gives you a one-liner introduction to each figure and location, but the show's not Greek Mythology 101 by any means — there's narrative progression afoot and whatnot. So if you'd like a little more context to get the most out of Kaos, here's a basic (and I mean it) guide, from the mighty gods to the Earthly human heroes. 

SEE ALSO: 'Kaos' review: Can Netflix’s Greek myth series go the distance?

For the record, my sources here are Edith Hamilton's Mythology, Barry B. Powell's Classical Myth, Stephen Fry's Mythos, Mary Beard's Women and Power, Emily Wilson's translation of Homer's The Iliad, Charlotte Higgins' Greek Myths, Robert Graves' The Greek Myths, Liv Albert's Greek Mythology, and David Raeburn's translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Yeah, I dug out my uni textbooks for this. 

Reader beware, there are SPOILERS in here for Kaos.

The gods and mythical beingsZeus (Jeff Goldblum) King of the gods. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

The king of the gods and big cheese of the weather. The series constantly incorporates Zeus' signature weapon, the lightning bolt, it's sewn into his clothing and linens, and you'll spy a giant bolt under glass in one of the palace rooms on Olympus. Kaos also makes more than a few references to Zeus' infidelity and constant impregnating of human women, notably leaving out the constant assault element for the show (same goes for Poseidon and Hades).

Hera (Janet McTeer) Queen of the gods. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

The queen of the gods; goddess of women's sexuality, fertility, and marriage; and Zeus' wife (and sister, as Kaos reminds us). Hera holds a grudge and will often seek brutal vengeance against Zeus' lovers, but she contains multitudes. As Fry writes, "It is easy to dismiss Hera as a tyrant and a bore — jealous and suspicious, storming and ranting like the very picture of a scorned harridan wife (one imagines her hurling china ornaments at feckless minions)…" Luckily, McTeer gives Hera more to do than throw decorations at staff.

But what's with the bees? In Mythos, Fry also writes of the Greek myth about how the bee got its sting: At Zeus and Hera's wedding, a competition for "the best and most original wedding dish" saw a small, buzzing, winged attendee, Melissa, present them with honey. For her efforts, Zeus bestowed her with a cruel sting that would kill her if used. Lovely wedding.

Poseidon (Cliff Curtis) God of the sea. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

God of the sea and earthquakes, Zeus' brother, also Hera's brother. Rules the oceans, often depicted in art with a trident. In Kaos, Hera and Poseidon are lovers, but I believe this is a creative addition to their stories separate from the myths; in myth, he's married to sea nymph Amphitrite. Perhaps she'll turn up in Season 2.

Hades and Persephone (David Thewlis and Rakie Ayola) King and queen of the Underworld. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

The king and queen of the Underworld. Zeus' brother Hades was assigned to run Hell after the Olympians won a major battle over the Titans (Zeus got the sky, Poseidon the sea, Hades the Underworld). Powell writes of Hades: "He commanded legions of demons. A pitiless master, he never willingly allowed any who came to him to return to the land of the living." Persephone, in myth, was kidnapped by Hades and tricked into being trapped there with a tempting offer of six pomegranate seeds — so she must spend six months of the year in the Underworld, six months on Earth. In Kaos, Covell rewrites this situation as a tale of actual love between Hades and Persephone, and the myth as one of bad PR spread by Hera. "Every kid on Earth, when they learn about the Underworld, they think I'm there against my will," Ayola's Persephone says in Kaos. 

Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan) God of wine. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

The party fiend of Olympus, Dionysus is the god of wine, hedonism, pleasure, and madness. The name "Dennis" apparently derives from what you call a follower of Dionysus, and it's notably the name of the kitten the god adopts in Kaos.

As Prometheus mentions in the series, Dionysus' mother was mortal, a Theban princess named Semele whose fate was pretty awful in Greek myth. Powell writes that she slept with Zeus appearing "in all his glory, burning Semele to a crisp, Hermes saved the fetus and carried it to Zeus, who sewed it into his thigh. Three months later he removed the stitches, and Dionysus was born again." (Stay with me?) In Kaos, Semele was turned into a bee offscreen by Hera (the fate of all Zeus' human mistresses in the show,) but Semele is indeed burned by an angry Zeus in the Season 1 finale.

In Greek mythology, Dionysus is also the husband of Ariadne — and in the final episode of Kaos, it becomes clear Dionysus has spotted his future mortal love. We leave him standing outside the palace of Knossos. So, maybe Season 2? 

Prometheus (Stephen Dillane) Our guy! Credit: Daniel Escale / Netflix

Our humble narrator, a bearded Titan suspended in shackles from a cliff face, is Prometheus (played by Stephen Dillane). He and Zeus made humans out of clay, then he pissed off his stormy pal by giving them fire, so he's doomed to have his liver pecked out by an eagle every day. Though it's a legendary move by Covell, Prometheus' love for Charon is only in the show.

Medusa (Debi Mazar) Justice for Medusa. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Despite appearances, Medusa has a tragic tale in Greek myth. Known as a Gorgon with snake hair, her story is best told by Mary Beard in Women and Power: "There are many ancient variations in Medusa's story. One famous version has her as a beautiful woman raped by Poseidon in a temple of Athena, who promptly transformed her, as punishment for the sacrilege (punishment to her, note), into a monstrous creature with a deadly capacity to turn to stone anyone who looked at her face. It later became the task of the hero Perseus to kill this woman, and he cut her head off using his shiny shield so as to avoid having to look directly at her."

In Kaos, she's middle management in the Underworld. Justice for Medusa. 

Charon (Ramon Tikaram)  Ferryman of the Underworld. Credit: Netflix

Charon is the ferryman to the Underworld, bringing the spirits of the dead across the River Styx (named for "Hate") and Acheron (or "Woe). Fry writes, "There the grim and silent Charon held out his hand to receive his payment for ferrying the souls across the Styx. If the dead had no payment to offer they would have to wait on the bank a hundred years before the disobliging Charon consented to take them." Folks like Eurydice and Caeneus in Kaos haven’t money to pay Charon (their loved ones stole the coins they were buried with), so they’re sent to the Centre for the Unresolved.

Charon's crew in Kaos has regular-sized sniffer dog versions of the great three-headed dog of the Underworld, Cerberus. Plus, Charon speaks of the Scylla in the series, a sea creature that chomps on Orpheus' fellow Underworld adventurer. In myth, the Scylla is a beast who was once a sea deity — but pissed off the sorceress Circe. Also, Charon's parents are Erebus (personification of darkness) and Nyx (goddess of night), so his emo tendencies are hereditary. 

The Furies (Natalie Klamar, Cathy Tyson, and Donna Banya) If you've done nothing wrong, you'll never see them. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

The trio known as The Furies (also called The Erinyes) exist to punish evildoers. Called Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto, they cruise around in Kaos exacting justice, though it might not appear that way. Hamilton writes, "The Greek poets thought of them chiefly as pursuing sinners on the Earth. They were inexorable, but just." Kaos thankfully leaves out The Furies origin story: They're said to have sprung from the blood on the floor after the primordial god of the sky Ouranos was castrated by his own son Cronos. Yikes.

The Fates (Sam Buttery, Suzy Eddie Izzard, and Ché) Your fate is in their hands. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, the three prophecy-makers of Kaos, are known collectively as The Fates. They're a key trio in Greek mythology, writing prophecies and declaring that "knowing is our whole thing." As Graves writes, Clotho is the "spinner," Lachesis (or Lachy in Kaos) is the "measurer," and Atropos is one "who cannot be turned or avoided" — yeah, they wield the badass scissors of fate. As we see in Kaos, Zeus' relationship with The Fates is tempestuous. Graves writes, "Zeus, who weighs the lives of men and informs the Fates can, it is said, change his mind and intervene to save whom he pleases, when the thread of life, spun on Clotho’s spindle, and measured by the rod of Lachesis, is about to be snipped by Atropos’s shears." But he also writes that "Zeus himself is subject to the Fates."

Polyphemus (Joe McGann)

The cyclops Polyphemus comes in the form of an eye-patched bar owner called Poly in Kaos. Polyphemus is the son of Poseidon and the Oceanid Thoosa, and his big role comes in The Odyssey, when he captures Odysseus' crew in his Sicilian cave when they find it full of sheep. In Metamorphoses, Ovid describes him as an "inhuman host, who made his bloody feasts / On mangl’d members of his butcher’d guests." Yeah, he eats some of them, then falls asleep (but not before blocking the exit with a boulder). Odysseus outwits Polyphemus by getting him pissed and blinding him, and the crew tie themselves to the bellies of the sheep in the cave, who then walk on outta there. None of this happens in Kaos, which is a real shame.

The humansEurydice and Orpheus (Aurora Perrineau and Killian Scott) Eurydice's death in myth is awful. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Preferring "Riddy" in the series, Eurydice is the leading lady of the artist-beloved Greek myth in which she dies on her wedding day. As the story goes, minor god Aristaeus attempted to assault Eurydice; she ran, stepped on a poisonous snake who bit her, and died. It's awful. Her grieving husband Orpheus (a guy with musical superpowers and/or a really good lyre from sun god Apollo) travels to the Underworld to get her back. Graves writes that Orpheus "not only charmed the ferryman Charon, the Dog Cerberus, and the three Judges of the Dead with his plaintive music, but temporarily soothed the tortures of the damned." This guy must be good.

No lyre in "Kaos" for Orpheus. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Having won over Hell with his tunes, Orpheus makes a deal with Hades (Higgins writes that it was Persephone's idea) to play her out of there as long as he doesn't look back. Spoiler: he does. Eurydice is a passive soul lost forever in the myth, unlike in the series, where she's given her own agency in the Underworld and allowed to return to Earth (thanks to Persephone).

Caeneus (Misia Butler) Look at the liiiiitttlle Cerrrrrberuuuuus eeeeee. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

In Kaos, Caeneus is a trans man who had to leave his home with the female warrior group the Amazons, but was then murdered by them, declared a "traitor" to their tribe. It’s an awful, TERF-driven story of hate. In myth, Caeneus is indeed a trans man, but not of the Amazons. Graves writes that Caeneus, a nymph, requested to have his sex changed by his lover Poseidon. 

Ariadne and Theseus (Leila Farzad and Daniel Lawrence Taylor) Just wait for Ariadne to meet Dionysus. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Two figures inherently interlinked in Greek mythology, Ariadne and Theseus are most famously associated with the tale of the Minotaur — the same goes for them in Kaos. The daughter of King (not President) Minos, Ariadne doesn't have a twin in Greek mythology, but her half-brother is the Minotaur — more on that below. (Kaos names her brother Glaucus, for a sea god.) Theseus, sometimes referred to as the son of Poseidon, is recruited to slay the Minotaur in the labyrinth beneath Minos' palace at Knossos. 

In Kaos, Ariadne has a crush on Theseus, but he's in love with Nax. In Greek mythology, Theseus abandons Ariadne on an island called Naxos after she helps him slay the Minotaur (rude). In the myth, Ariadne eventually marries Dionysus — which the show indicates in the final episode is where next season might head. 

Pasiphaë (Shila Ommi) Pas has a secret... Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Known as Pas in Kaos, the First Lady of Krete is King Minos' wife in myth. Pasiphaë is actually the mother of the Minotaur — something Covell cleverly adapts for Kaos. Hamilton describes the Minotaur as “half bull, half human, the offspring of Minos’ wife Pasiphaë and a wonderfully beautiful bull. Poseidon had given this bull to Minos in order that he should sacrifice it to him, but Minos could not bear to slay it and had kept it for himself. To punish him, Poseidon had made Pasiphaë fall madly in love with it." Bing, bang, boom, you've got a Minotaur — and a king set to imprison the beast with the help of an inventor…

Daedalus (Mat Fraser)

The great inventor, designer, and architect, Daedalus is at the beck and call of King Minos. Hamilton writes about the labyrinth he was commissioned to build to contain the Minotaur as “a place of confinement for him from which escape was impossible." Sadly, when Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned in the labyrinth, Daedalus' escape plan of constructed wings went awry when Icarus flew too close to the sun. This is mentioned in Kaos, but in the show, Daedelus says Icarus built the wings to escape the palace after realising his father's role with helping Minos imprison the Minotaur. In the myth, a group of young Athenians were sacrificed to the Minotaur in the maze on the regular, so Theseus is called in to kill the Minotaur (Ariadne helps him, with Daedalus’ assistance). In Kaos, it's Minos who kills the Minotaur, his own son in an effort to thwart his own prophecy.

Hecuba and Andromache (Gilian Cally and Amanda Douge)

The two women summoned to President Minos' palace in episode 3 are Hecuba and Andromache. They're the most powerful women of the Trojans, both enslaved after the Trojan War — in Kaos, they're living in the same abysmal conditions without rights as the rest of the Trojan refugees. Andromache is a Theban princess married to the Trojan prince Hector, who dies by Achilles. Their son, Astyanax, features in Kaos as a Trojan rebel and Theseus' lover. In myth, he's thrown from the walls of Troy as a baby (in Kaos, though he makes it to adulthood, he's executed and hung from the Knossos palace wall). Hecuba is the Queen of Troy, married to King Priam, and Hector's mother.

Nax (Daniel Monks)

As well as Hecuba and Andromache, there's a lot of Trojans in Kaos, reeling from the events of the Trojan War. They're branded by the line on their nose in the series and viciously persecuted by the Kretians. Astyanax, a Trojan prince and son of Andromache and Hector, is called Nax in the series, forced to live with the Trojans in the crumbling refugee suburb of Krete called "Troytown," with no citizens rights. He's Theseus' lover in Kaos and responsible for the literal shit pile on the gods' statue. He's the leader of the Trojan Seven, as they're called in the series, a vigilante group demonstrating against oppression by the Kretians — and they're publicly executed by the president. It's a callback to the children thrown from the walls of Troy by the Greek army during the sacking of the city.

Cassandra (Billie Piper) No one listens to Cassandra. They should. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

A prophet and princess of Troy, Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy by a thirsty Apollo — including visions of the whole Trojan War and horse deal (Billie Piper's character mentions this in episode 1). Cassandra wouldn't go on a date with the god or something (ugh, entitled men), so Apollo made sure no one would believe her premonitions. "She shrieked and shouted out through all the city," Homer writes in The Iliad of Cassandra warning the Trojans about the coming violence. Turns out the Ancient Greeks already knew the agony of women not being believed.

Hippolyta and Crixus (Selina Jones and Slavko Sobin)

In Kaos, Ariadne and Theseus attend the Munis, a Mad Max-style cage fight to the death. The fighters are named Carl Crixus of Sparta (named for the gladiator from Gaul) and Hippolyta (named for the Queen of the female warriors known as the Amazons, and daughter of Ares' god of war, who is associated with the story of the 12 Labors of Heracles). In Kaos, Hippolyta's also the one who murdered Caeneus.

The locationsMount Olympus Family barbecue, anyone? Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Home of the gods. That's all you need.

The Underworld Hadestown, one might call it. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

There's a lot of geography covered in Kaos when it comes to the Underworld. When Eurydice first arrives, she's put on the large ferry across the River Styx (se Charon for more on that). Then, the Asphodel port in Kaos is named for the Asphodel Fields, meadows of ghostly flowers in the first area of the Underworld, as Graves describes, “where souls of heroes stay without purpose among the throngs of less distinguished dead that twitter like bats." 

Then there's the River Lethe, which also appears in Kaos as the body of water people swim across to get to The Frame. In myth, the Lethe (named for "forgetfulness") is a river in the Underworld in which people can quite literally wipe their memories. Hades and Persephone's palace is another region of the Underworld, and in Kaos, it's a mid-century modern testament to middle management. 

One thing Kaos doesn't mention is that the Underworld has a Good Place and a Bad Place: Elysium and Tartarus. Maybe Season 2?

Krete and the Palace of Minos at Knossos King/president same diff. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

In myth, King Minos' great palace at Knossos on Krete was home to a subterranean labyrinth where a Minotaur roamed — and it's where most of the action in Kaos is set. See above for the story of Ariadne and Theseus.

Villa Thrace

Eurydice and Orpheus' home in Krete in Kaos is named for Thrace, a region north of ancient Greece associated with Orpheus.

Panopeus

The nightclub we meet Dionysus in, seen in episode 1, is named Panopeus. According to Fry, Panopeus could have been the place where Zeus and Prometheus decided to source the clay to build humans: "History does not agree on exactly where Prometheus and Zeus went to find the best clay for realising the plan. Early sources, like the traveller Pausanias in the second century AD, claimed that Panopeus in Phonics was the place."

The Cave Poly's cave, but make it a dive bar. Credit: Justin Downing / Netflix

Though it's said that the entrance to the Underworld was, in fact, a cave, in Kaos, the biggest correlation between Greek mythology and this dive bar venue is its owner. Check the Polyphemus section above for the story of Odysseus and Poly.

Tyndareus Gasoline

In Kaos, you'll see a petrol station called Tyndareus Gasoline. It's named for the king of Lacedaemon who married Aetolian princess Leda, who was impregnated by Zeus in the form of a swan, resulting in Helen of Troy (artists love Leda). Tyndareus and Leda also had Clytemnestra, who married King Agamemnon, the big Greek commander in the Trojan War. A lot of Trojan connections here. 

Notable mention: The cereal aisle

Shout-out to the set designers of Kaos, who've stocked an entire cereal aisle full of Greek mythology references:

• Gaea's Granola: a wholegrain cereal named after the goddess of Earth.

• Achilles' Heels: foot-shaped cereal for the Greek hero whose mother missed a spot when she dipped him in immortality.

• Spartan Crunch: Made with 10-percent Olympus honey, a cereal named for the ancient enemy of Athens.

How to watch: Kaos is now streaming on Netflix.

Bluesky is finally about to add video.

The decentralised social media platform flagged the coming update on Friday in a post. Bluesky first announced it would be adding video in May, along with DMs.

Now might be a good time to announce that our next major app update will have video. 👀 More details soon!

— Bluesky (@bsky.app) Aug 29, 2024 at 22:23

Bluesky didn't specify exactly when the video feature will roll out or what it will look like, promising "more details soon," but in May, the company said "it’s looking like the v1 of video integration on Bluesky will be 90-second clips that you can share on your posts."

SEE ALSO: 5 of the best — and worst — social media apps in 2024 (so far)

Bluesky also announced some "anti-toxicity" features this week, including the ability to detach quote posts, hide replies, and the ability to filter your notifications to only receive updates from people you follow.

Earlier this year, Bluesky added a "stackable approach" for content moderation, which lets users essentially run their own independent moderation services.

In its most recent report, Bluesky says it's sitting at 5.8 million users, offering an alternative for users on competitor X (formerly Twitter). The platform, which was invite-only for its launch, already had 3 million sign-ups before opening up to everyone in February. Meta-owned competitor Threads said at the beginning of August it crossed the 200 million user mark.