Mashable

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If you like porn but want to make things a bit more interactive, these are some popular dating sites that will help you achieve that. There’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re looking to explore your kinky fantasies, make a lasting romantic connection, search for senior love, hook up, or want to keep things safely socially distanced and just chat.

And if free videos with easy-to-search categories like Pornhub offers are what do it for you, there’s options out there for you. While these sites are by no means perfect and some of them are pretty raunchy, here's the scoop on what you're getting yourself into.

What do you need to know about dating on NSFW sites?

Keep in mind that “dating” on NSFW sites like Grindr and GetItOn is about as subtle as the names of the platforms: Users are there to find a connection for a night, a threesome, or an ongoing sex buddy situation — not a long-term partner.

Also, sites like this don’t operate without mutual consent and boundary-setting (and respecting). When you’re building out your profile, be specific and honest about what you’re looking for and wanting so you can find people who genuinely match up with you and your interests or fetishes.

Should you use a NSFW site for dating?

If you’re looking for no-strings-attached sex, or just a sexting or Skype-sexing buddy for the evening, NSFW sites can be ideal for getting your needs met and getting straight to the point. “Dating” here is a very loose term — think of these as sites and apps for hooking up.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Users on these apps tend to be fairly direct — don’t expect a dinner invitation before you get asked over to their flat. If that’s not your cup of tea and you need a little more of the getting-to-know-someone before jumping into bed with them, these might not be the right sites for you.

What precautions should you take when using a NSFW dating site?

If you’re on a site where you need to share personal information or choose a username, be careful about the information you’re giving out — and about what kind of information it is. Things like credit card numbers are vulnerable to hackers, and using your real name on platforms like these can compromise your safety if you happen to stumble upon the wrong sort of people on the sites.

Always choose a username that doesn’t have a relationship to your first name, and be careful about the personal information you share (like where you live, etc.).

What else is important to know when using a NSFW dating site?

Besides not giving away any personal information, especially for things like anonymous encounters on cam or sexting sites, know the risks when it comes to sending nude or partially nude photos containing identifying details like your face or tattoos. While it’s against the law in many places to circulate private sexual images, that doesn’t stop people from doing it.

What is the best NSFW dating site?

There are plenty of raunchy dating sites out there that should suit just about everyone, but we get that you probably don't want to spend all day perusing the options (or maybe you do). To help you find the best NSFW dating site for you, we have lined up a standout selection.

We've tried to find something for every type of dater, with popular sites like AdultFriendFinder and GetItOn making the cut. You just need to pick a favourite.

These are the best dating site alternatives to Pornhub in 2024.

Prime Video is the seriously popular on-demand streaming service that hosts literally thousands of movies, shows, and award-winning Prime Originals. Amazon Prime offers one-day delivery, unlimited music, and includes this impressive streaming service.

Amazon Prime Video works out at a similar rate to other streaming video services like Netflix. However, you don't get a delivery service, music streaming, and access to the Kindle library with Netflix. It's for this reason that so many people continue to sign up to Amazon's video streaming service. Amazon Prime Video is available to stream on all the Kindle Fire tablets and more than 600 other devices, including pretty much every computer, smartphone, console, and smart TV you can imagine.

This all sounds great, but imagine for a moment that not everything is perfect. Imagine that everything is not well with the world, because you have signed up to Amazon Prime Video to specifically watch one programme, and it's only shown on the U.S. version of the service. It's a troubling thought and it seems to happen fairly regularly.

Fortunately, there is something you can do to avoid this annoying issue. You can use a VPN to gain access to all of the best American content from the UK.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public internet connection. VPNs hide your real IP address so all of your online activity is untraceable and secure.

Does this make sense? We understand that this sort of technology can be confusing, so it can help to think of a VPN as a tunnel through which all of your online traffic passes. This tunnel is encrypted, meaning that nobody can see into it, and everything inside is protected against online threats like hackers, viruses, and malware.

What are the benefits of using a VPN?

VPNs are used to provide protection for your sensitive information, and this is obviously important. These services are vital for improving you cybersecurity, there is another reason that VPNs are so popular.

These tools can also be used to watch content that is normally blocked in your location by hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another country. This simple process tricks leading streaming sites into thinking you are based in another country, meaning you can watch all of the extra content from global libraries.

VPNs are keys to the online world, granting you access to more of the shows and films you love by bypassing geo-restrictions.

How do you unblock U.S. Prime Video with a VPN?

The process of accessing the American version of Prime Video with a VPN is actually really simple. All you need to do is open up your preferred VPN, select an American server in order to spoof your IP to a U.S. address, and then head to Prime Video.

There is a bit of a cat and mouse situation with streaming sites and VPNs, as sites like Prime Video and Netflix look to detect VPN usage and block servers. This is why you should always try and pick a VPN with a large and diverse network of servers, so you always have plenty of options to bypass restrictions.

You will still need to be subscribed to Prime Video for this trick to work. A VPN is not going to grant access to the streaming site for free. Instead, a VPN provides access to more libraries from around the world, once you're subscribed.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

There are plenty of VPNs out there that can bypass online restrictions to unblock Prime Video, which is good and bad. It's great to have options, but with so many VPNs to consider, it can be tough to pick the best option for you. This is where we come in.

We have outlined the best VPNs for the job. If you're looking to unlock more content from anywhere in the world, we recommend checking out ExpressVPN, PureVPN, NordVPN, and the other names in this list. There should be something for everyone and every budget. You just need to weigh up each VPN against your own set of preferences, and pick a favourite.

These are the best VPNs for Prime Video in 2024.

You've probably come across VPNs. These security services protect your data and identity when you're navigating the online world. They are increasingly important in today's world, as the fight against cyberthreats becomes more serious every day. Of course, not everyone uses these services for boosting cybersecurity.

A lot of subscribers sign up to unlock more content from around the world or give themselves an advantage when gaming.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is an essential service that secures your internet connection, giving you greater control over how your online activity can be tracked, and providing a combination of security (keeping your computer and data protected) and privacy (keeping your identity protected).

So how does a VPN accomplish this? By creating an encrypted connection between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service, that’s how. When you’re connected to the VPN server, all of your network traffic passes through a safe, protected tunnel that no one else should be able to monitor. That's the theory anyway.

Even the very best VPNs will likely have an impact on your connectivity, though, sometimes to the point where lag gets in the way of your gaming — which is unacceptable, particularly if you’re a first-person shooter fan.

Do you need a VPN for gaming?

First and foremost, VPNs should be used to protect your personal information when you're online, and that doesn't change if you're gaming. It's important to remain anonymous as hackers and other online threats can still access your personal details when you're playing your favourite titles. The best way to ensure that you're data is private is with a VPN.

There is an argument that using VPNs can also increase your chances of success when gaming. With games that use skill-based matchmaking, VPNs can help you find easier lobbies. By connecting to a VPN, you can hide your real IP address and connect to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks the game into thinking you are based elsewhere. Why is this useful when it comes to games like Call of Duty: Warzone? You can connect to a country with fewer gamers, or connect to a country at a less busy time of the day. This reduces your chances of meeting skilled players.

What is the best VPN for gaming?

So how do you select a VPN when both security and gaming are priorities. You need a VPN that ticks three boxes — speed, ping, and protection — so that when you’re in a virtual life and death situation, lag doesn’t deliver the killer blow.

These are the best VPNs for gaming in 2024.

The chilly period between the beginning of autumn and the start of spring, in which anyone not coupled up finds themselves seeking to be tied down by a serious relationship, is known as cuffing season. It's that time once again.

We might like to think that we are all deeply complex individuals, but we're actually pretty simple creatures. In the summer, when the sun is shining and temperatures soar, we are more content to remain single. We socialise more, meet new people, and enjoy the feeling of being untethered. However, as we enter the colder months, we yearn for companionship. It’s a fact. It’s science. It’s instinct.

Much like the bear, we naturally want to bunker down and protect ourselves against the oncoming freeze. That means movie marathons, duvet days, and ideally someone to hold. As the cold weather bites, you owe it to yourself to find that special someone, even if what you are really searching for is a human-sized hot water bottle. Either is fine.

Do you actually need to use a dating site?

Dating sites and apps can make finding a compatible potential partner easier, but it's still dating. Not everyone is going to be a match. While apps like Bumble let you display what kind of relationship you're looking for, others don't, so you might end up going out with someone only to realise you're not looking for the same thing.

Having said that, there will be people on dating sites who are looking for the same thing as you. And using a dating app to find them is a lot easier than going up to strangers on the street or in bars and asking if they're looking for a relationship. Apps and dating websites expand your dating pool and allow you to meet people with similar interests you might not run into naturally in your everyday life.

Should you use free dating apps?

There are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are seriously popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. There are levels to this game though, and sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

This won't be a surprise to hear, but you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps. For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up the cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap.

Why should you consider upgrading to a paid site when there are free services? It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What is the best dating site for cuffing season?

We have compared the best dating sites and apps to help you in your journey, so you can make the most of cuffing season this year. We have lined up a selection of your best options for cuffing season, including popular sites like AdultFriendFinder, Match, and eharmony. The choice is all yours.

These are the best dating sites in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

The online world isn't always the friendliest of places for women, particularly when it comes to trolling and misogyny on social media. From Twitter reply guys, to other forms of online harassment, to straight up cyberstalking, letting women exist in peace seems to be a hard concept to grasp.

When it comes to dating apps specifically — where others often assume that a dating app profile means that one is willfully subjecting themselves to creepy comments — the chance of women enduring such unsettling experiences feels doubled. The onslaught of men grasping at straws for attention with messages saying "think they saw you somewhere" or requesting nudes in their opening line is an online dating specialty.

Is it easier to shoot your shot by simply using a hot selfie on your Instagram story as bait for your crush? That's a classic tactic that'll never die. But unless you and said crush are already in some sort of flirtationship and already follow each other on social media, finding love, a hookup, or someone to grab a drink with could happen a lot faster with the right dating app (as opposed to waiting to meet someone at work or agreeing to a blind date).

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites to help you find a connection

This means not deleting and re-downloading Tinder after every breakup or every time you ghost (or get ghosted by) your current entanglement. Tinder can truly be a great place to meet genuine people who are open to getting serious, to find a reliable friend with benefits, or to get a good-old-fashioned confidence boost from a mutual right swipe. But if you're frustrated with horny users disguising themselves as relationship seekers or relationship seekers who can't handle it when you say you're just looking for a hookup, opting for a dating site more finely-tuned to what you're looking for means you'll spend less time dealing with people who aren't looking for the same thing. 

Maybe you can't stand starting every conversation from scratch. Maybe your biggest fear is ending up on a date with someone who doesn't care about cats. Instead of a lazy bio, dating apps that delve into someone's hobbies, favourite movies, career goals, or political views before even talking to them opens up a wealth of clever ice breakers, and ensures that you aren't going into things blindly. 

What are dating apps doing to make dating safer?

Meeting someone from the internet in person for the first time is nerve-wracking for anyone. But for women, it can dredge up the same fear that occurs when walking alone past a big group of men. 

Match Group is making strides toward a safer dating experience: Tinder was the first to unveil new features coming out of its partnership with Noonlight, a safety app that tracks the location of users and notifies authorities if there are concerns. Before heading out on a date, Tinder users can log info about where they're going and who they're meeting, as well as hit a panic button to alert authorities if there's an emergency.

Match Group plans to roll out the same features for its other apps, like Hinge and OkCupid, later. In March 2021, Tinder announced plans to let users run a background check on their matches.

Should you use free dating apps?

There are plenty of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. You can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything, but you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are probably going to need to cough up some cash. The best dating sites don't come cheap, and whilst you can still find a hookup with a free app, you should upgrade is you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control.

What are the best dating sites for women?

Whether you're looking for a fun time or your next long-term relationship, we have picked out a wide range of apps and sites for different types of daters. So whatever you're looking for, we have you covered with this guide.

We have done the tough stuff, looked at all the facts and figures, and worked out which sites are the best options for every single type of woman out there. We have narrowed it down to the best sites, and reviewed the likes of eharmony, Match, Lumen, and AdultFriendFinder for your consideration.

These are the best dating sites for women in 2024.

Historically, sustainability and tech have not gone hand in hand. The precious metals required to make our electronics often come from conflict areas, with environmental and humanitarian repercussions. However, the tech industry is making strides forward, with Apple pushing toward all its products being carbon-neutral and exclusively using recycled cobalt batteries.

So, for those concerned with being sustainable shoppers, things are getting easier, but they aren't perfect. The most sustainable practice is to use your electronics until their dying breaths, which unfortunately come much sooner than you'd hope, thanks to planned obsolescence. So when you do need to buy a new laptop, what should you do?

Acer is answering the desire of sustainability-minded shoppers with the Aspire Vero 16. This eco-conscious laptop is crafted from paint-free surfaces and uses recycled and ocean-bound plastics, not to mention it ships in 100 percent recyclable packaging. That's a lot of good, but the biggest question remains: How does it actually perform? Well, it does just fine, but it could be better. Here's the full rundown on the Acer Aspire Vero 16.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 specs and price The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is designed like any other laptop but with a thick plastic shell. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is a classic laptop with a clamshell design. It currently costs $749.99 at Acer. Its specs run as follows:

• Intel Core Ultra 5

• Intel Arc graphics

• 16GB of RAM

• 512GB SSD

• 16-inch, 1920 x 1200 resolution display in a 16:10 aspect ratio with a 60 Hz refresh rate

• Two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, a Kensington security slot, and a headphone jack

Other Acer Aspire Vero 16 models include 8GB RAM with 512GB SSD or 16GB RAM with 1TB SSD.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 design My MacBook-using self was in heaven with all these ports. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Design plays a massive role in the Acer Aspire Vero 16, as it's the heart of the laptop's sustainability. The build is a departure from classic metal frames, instead built from PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastics. Plus, the exterior is VOC- and paint-free to further its sustainability, with a touchpad made from ocean-bound plastics.

The exterior instead feels like thick, smooth plastic that reminds me of other recycled plastic materials with its speckled gray color. It is meant to be cement-inspired, which... yeah, that's what it's giving. With the plastic structure, it's highly durable with a MIL-STD-810H military-grade rating. It's a rugged laptop designed to withstand shock from drops or temperatures. So, while it is technically plastic, this isn't a crumbling, cheap Chromebook.

While one might expect the Aspire Vero 16 to weigh less being made from plastic, it's heavier than its metal counterparts. It weighs 3.97 pounds compared to the 15-inch MacBook Air's 3.3 pounds. Even though the difference is slight, it still feels substantial. I felt that weight when carrying it with one hand like I would my 15-inch MacBook Air. The Acer Aspire Vero 16 was far more difficult to carry with a top-heavy, unbalanced feel.

A snapshot of my love hate relationship with the laptop's touchpad. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The biggest design drawback is the recycled plastic touchpad. It was consistently unresponsive as I guided the mouse around the screen. Clicking right and left takes so much pressure that I often felt like I had to slam my hand down to get a response. After my first hour with the laptop, I gave up and plugged in a USB mouse to feel like I could actually use it successfully.

Luckily, the laptop has an abundance of ports. Maybe it's because I'm usually a MacBook user, but I felt spoiled to have access to multiple USB-A and USB-C ports and an HDMI. When I first saw the plethora, I took a sigh of relief, knowing I wouldn't need the usual adaptors.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 performance and battery The keyboard works just fine on the Acer Aspire Vero 16, but the touchpad was constantly finnicky. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Using the Acer Aspire Vero 16 wasn't the most thrilling experience. It's a solid performer that lives up to daily tasks; however, it never blew me away. Initially, I thought it was a slow mover, taking a while and several clicks to open apps and windows. However, most of that problem was a result of the touchpad. Once I moved over to using a USB mouse, things went faster, sparking the realization that the computer isn't a slow processor; the touchpad is just poorly designed.

It balances multiple tasks well; I was able to move between various programs while working, juggling word processing, email, Slack, and Spotify. Streaming was mostly seamless. The graphics were disappointing while I was watching YouTube videos or streaming episodes of Survivor. I found the video to look grainier and more pixelated compared to the stellar resolution I'm used to with my MacBook. However, if I weren't so picky, I'd think it looks fine, just a little dull.

Running Geekbench 6, its multi-core test came in at 6,274, middling in range, which I felt occasionally in its performance. After streaming for several hours, I could feel the laptop working harder as it would stall between apps, needing some buffering time to load windows.

Despite the lackluster graphics, I was surprised at the webcam's resolution. When I tuned into a regular video call, I was pleased with how clear my picture was. However, I was alarmed by how orange I looked, finding quite a bit of color distortion. So, while the 1440p QHD webcam will have your picture sharp, you lose color accuracy.

Sure my summer tan was in full swing, but I'm certainly not that orange IRL. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

On the sound front, both the mic and speakers worked as expected. I could listen to music clearly without a busted, tinny sound.

The Acer Aspire Vero 16 struggles the most with its performance in terms of battery life. With daily use, I didn't notice how short the battery life was, as I was primarily using it at my desk with close access to the charger. Since it was so bulky, I didn't really want to haul it around.

I ran a video run-down test to assess the battery, playing Tears of Steel at 1080p on a loop until the battery ran out. The battery life came in at 5 hours 52 minutes, which is outrun by many other laptops we've tested. It won't get you through an entire workday, but that might not be an issue. Its size and heft make it a reasonably stationary laptop, so you may always be close to your charger anyway.

Is the Acer Aspire Vero 16 worth it?

Answering if the Acer Aspire Vero 16 is worth it is a game of priorities. If sustainability and purchasing products with responsibly sourced materials is what you care about most, then the Acer Aspire Vero 16 is certainly a good option. With its thick recycled plastic frame, you can feel good about what it's made of and enjoy the added durability benefits. With its army-grade durability rating, it will take a tumble and not sustain damage. Plus, at $749.99 with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, it's a decent value for the specs.

However, if you're just looking for a good, budget-friendly, solid-performing Windows laptop, I would look elsewhere. The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is weak in processing, scoring just 6,274 on the Geekbench 6, and lacks battery life, lasting just under six hours. For about $150 more, you could go for the Lenovo Yoga 7i, which has superior battery life and processing, plus it doubles as a tablet.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 $749.99 at Acer
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2024 is proving a sensational year for the revival of the music biopic. Sure, it started off weak with the bog-standard One Love and the infuriating Back to Black. But summer brought the brazen rebellion of Kneecap, which played like an early Guy Ritchie crime romp. And the Toronto International Film Festival brought the wowing double act of Better Man, which reimagines British pop star Robbie Williams as a literal dancing monkey, and Piece by Piece, in which American rapper/songwriter/producer/fashion designer Pharrell Williams spins his life story into a Lego movie. 

Even when the stories hit familiar beats of a rags-to-riches arc, both of these remarkable reinventions make their material stand out through style. But where Better Man embraces a warts-and-all approach, Pharrell Williams — with the collaboration of heralded documentarian Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Won't You Be My Neighbor?) delivers an inspirational animated biopic for all ages. 

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall

Glossing over the low points of Williams' journey earned the film mixed reviews out of its debut at Telluride Film Festival. But the more I mulled over what this movie does offer, the more I was won over by its playful, glossy approach. 

Piece By Piece turns America's biggest hip-hop stars into mini-figs.  Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani in "Piece by Piece." Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

To find the arc of Williams' story, Neville interviewed the multi-hyphenate star, his wife Helen Lasichanh, and a dazzling array of collaborators and colleagues, including Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, The Neptunes' Chad Hugo, Gwen Stefani, and many more. In an interview with Mashable, Williams revealed many of these interviewees had no idea their contribution would be filtered through a Lego lens, and only discovered they'd been transformed into mini-figs when the first trailer hit. 

Neville's visual translation of these interviews includes amusing flourishes, like turning Snoop Dog into a Lego Doberman, and making metaphors about bakeries literal, with Lego Pharrell selling sweet treats the way he sold hit beats. In one instance, the idea of blowing one's mind with a sick bit of music is illustrated by having a smiling mini-fig’s head pop right off its base in amazement. These choices bring a playfulness into the film that not only is sure to delight fans of The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie, but also reflects the tone of Williams' hits, like "Happy" and "Get Lucky." 

More than this however, by turning himself into a plaything, Piece by Piece gives Williams a creative distance to reflect on his own life as if it is one of his many media projects. Through warm narration, he opens up about his childhood in the Atlantis Apartments in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The colorful blocks not only reconstruct his humble home but also a more fantastical version of Atlantis, where an Afro-wearing baby Pharrell swims about with a giant goldfish as Poseidon looks on. This charming spectacle showcases Pharrell's imagination manifesting big, surreal scenarios, which becomes a recurring theme — down to dreaming up a Lego music biopic. 

Piece by Piece is a Little Engine That Could tale that kids will relish. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

After this whimsical dip into brick-made oceans, Williams admits he was considered an oddball by others, confessing, "It broke my spirit." But weird kids out there (or the weird adults they became) might find solace as little Pharrell finds his crew, each of whom also revels in making music. From there, Piece by Piece becomes a story of succeeding by staying true to yourself and putting in the work to build your dream, brick by brick. Along the way, Neville laces various hits that Pharrell has contributed to, from "Hot in Herre" and "Shake Ya Ass" to "Hollaback Girl" and "Blurred Lines." (Parents, don't fret. Some of the racier lyrics have been delicately plucked out.) 

While it's initially fun to indulge in the nostalgia as Neville recreates iconic music videos with mini-figs, this device begins to get old as the story of his rise makes for a lot of name- and track-dropping. Pardon the pun, but things get a bit one-note. Then when it comes to a low point — a necessity for any biopic or story for that matter — Williams pulls back. 

Piece by Piece can't commit to its big swing.  Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

Rosy memories of childhood troubles is one thing, but sharing why his career took a dip is a Lego bridge too far. Instead of probing questions, Neville paves a path with platitudes about how his subject's greatest weakness is he has too many ideas. Colleagues speak vaguely about some business missteps or shameless yes-men who gave Williams bad advice, and these unnamed negative influences are imagined as a trio of gray-skinned ghouls wearing smiles and business suits. 

Here the film suffers. Even with the mask of the mini-fig, Williams can't let his audience into the dark moments. (On the other hand, this is where Better Man positively thrives.) Swiftly, Williams has reconnected with his pure inspiration, and the third act becomes a rousing celebration of song, dance, and Lego bits humorous and heartfelt. But this fumbled beat undercuts the movie's message. Being true to yourself isn't a one-time battle; it's ongoing. But with a community — like the mini-fig friends and family in Piece by Piece — one might get their block knocked off and still rebuild. 

Even with help from an on-screen avatar, can Williams not admit the ugly truths of his own story? Or did he and Neville fear self-doubt in anything but the briefest mention might bring down the joy of their movie? To that, I'd point to the other Lego movies, where the Lego universe and Lego Gotham are brought to the brink of utter destruction without us losing faith in their mini-fig heroes. Heck, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part even made the dark side of its happy hero the mini-fig villain! 

This wobble aside, Piece by Piece is a winsome reinvention of the music biopic. Animation is enthusiastically employed to bring the audience into the experience of being Pharrell Williams. The colorful blocks not only allow the construction of musical beats to become a physical act rather than an abstract idea, but also give a Ratatouille-like understanding of how this art form affects its hero. His synesthesia is showcased in waves of color as the beat bounces. 

While this colorful concept means Piece by Piece can be a hit with kids, it's easy to wish the movie dared to delve a bit more into the problems of being a grown-up. But all in all, Piece by Piece is a delight that could well have audiences dancing in the aisles. 

Piece by Piece was reviewed out of its International Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will hit theaters Oct. 11.

SAVE $60: The Shark Pet cordless stick vacuum is on sale for just $199.99 instead of $259.99 at Target for Circle members. That's 23% in savings through Sept. 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Pet cordless stick vacuum $199.99 at Target
$259.99 Save $60.00 with Target Circle Get Deal

Light enough to control with one hand, yet powerful enough to crush pet hair, stick vacuums untether you from the outlets of yesteryear. And when it comes to cordless vacuums, Shark is one of the best brands you can reach for.

Through Sept. 14, the Shark Pet IX141H cordless stick vacuum is on sale for just $199 at Target for Circle members — that's $60 off its MSRP and a 23% discount overall. It may not be the lowest price we've ever seen on this model, but it's currently the best discount across retailers besides Shark itself where it's sitting at the same price (it's currently $229.99 at Amazon and full price at Best Buy).

Not yet a Target Circle member? It's super easy — and free — to sign up. Just enter your name, email, and other basic information to become a member. Once you're officially part of the Target Circle club, head over to the deal page for the Shark Pet stick vacuum and the savings should be reflected. The deal will then auto-apply when you add it to your cart.

The Shark Pet IX141H is a mid-level stick vacuum with an anti-allergen complete seal, which makes it a great choice for pet parents. It's also super maneuverable, has a large 0.83-quart dust bin, runs for up to 40 minutes on a full charge, and comes with a crevice tool to tackle tough corners and cracks. Plus, it has built-in LED headlights to illuminate all that dust and debris your naked eye misses.

The race in artificial intelligence has many lanes, with chatbots being among the most recognizable. However, experts have found these familiar AI models often have significant flaws, including biases. One pervasive issue is racial bias, where AI systems struggle to address questions related to communities of color accurately. Enter ChatBlackGPT, a culturally informed chatbot designed to challenge and address AI bias.

Launched on June 19, widely known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S., ChatBlackGPT aims to create a more inclusive AI experience.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate AI glossary to help you navigate our changing world

Nearly three months after launching the culturally inclusive chatbot, CEO and founder Erin Reddick, 30, spoke with Mashable about the platform and her journey in the tech world.

Mashable: What is ChatBlackGPT?

Erin Reddick: ChatBlackGPT is a culturally informed AI. It's [a] generative AI that's rooted in the acknowledgment of social, economic, and systemic racism — and the diaspora of Black and brown people in America. It's an opportunity for people of color to have relatable conversations with AI.

What was your experience with AI and tech prior to founding ChatBlackGPT?

[It's been] all together, about five years. Between Amazon, Microsoft, and AWS...it's been an amazing journey. It's always been inspiring to work around the most brilliant people out there, and it's true that it can be quite isolating. You need to have thick skin and know who you are to succeed in the space. But it's built me into the person I am today, who can own their own narrative in the technology space and feel confident doing so.

Why did you decide to make ChatBlackGPT, and how did you go about creating it?

I always like to say one word: racism. Honestly. Because if it didn't exist, there wouldn't be a need for what I do, and it wouldn't be celebrated and appreciated the way that it is.

For example, if you ask prominent leaders today how they feel about the technology, a lot of them say that it's low risk. But it's not low risk, in reality, for Black and brown people because the biases that persist are affecting our daily lives, inside and outside of the work environment. It is a high-risk technology for us, and I want to build something so that we don't get stuck waiting for a policy to force companies to mitigate risk and have to suffer in the meantime.

Can you unpack the role of bias in AI?

Bias is everywhere, and it's impossible to fully be rid of it. If you were to ask a usual chatbot, and I have, "What is a Black job?" It answered that it was under-the-table work, drug trafficking un-taxed, with no benefits. But when you ask, "What is a white job?" It says, usually educated, insured, legal, tax-paying. While that might not outwardly appear as a bias, what it does is, it reaffirms a bias that a lot of people who hold racist or superiority complexes, and views — it confirms their bias against Black people. It is offensive because we are Black people who work any job that there is, not just the jobs that AI describes. 

What is "responsible AI?"

I would describe it as having a clean diverse data set. Something that helps mitigate risk or is responsible in the way that it functions without hurting people, and is fair and doesn't produce the ability to be destructive.

It is developed with red teaming and bad actors in mind so that you can make sure that people who are going to take advantage of it in a negative way aren't able to. Building it responsibly to have an inclusive design. Using it responsibly is, first of all, not taking it at face value and trusting it right away. Also, make sure that you check what you're looking at, and then do not put your personal information into these systems just to understand how powerful it is, and also ask, "How many shortcomings can it have?"  

How has ChatBlackGPT performed since its launch on Juneteenth?

It's done great. We have our beta on Open AI's Customizable store, and we've gone from 1,000 users to 5,000 since the launch. We have a 4.6 rating, which I think is great for having no customizable proprietary data within. Our standalone app is also doing well — we have about 2,000 people who have access to the tool, and we are currently developing it with proprietary information, working with historians and other experts to make sure that it reflects correctly in our society today and in a useful way.

What are the benefits of having a personalized AI experience, or at least one more specific to one's culture?

When people learn about a culture, it's really important that it's not diluted and told from the perspective of a fragile mindset or the erasure of the realities of true history in any culture. It's so important to respect that history lives on in how our systems play out, in how people are treated in society, and [shows] why things are the way that they are. Things like critical race theory exist for a reason.

So you can imagine that having an AI that acknowledges the state of today in relation with culture and history is really important. A lot of the feedback that I get is that people had in the past prompted AI over and over and over again to get a response that actually fit what they were looking for. Even if they were just generating content for diverse audiences, like diversity doesn't just mean LGBTQ, and deaf [people], or something like that. It also just means that when I'm looking to create advertising on this hair product, it understands porosities and curl patterns, and all of that relevant [information] being automatically built into an AI creates psychological safety within the technology.

How is ChatBlackGPT different from other culturally sensitive or aware AI products?

Firstly, there aren't very many out there. But what makes us different is that we're not just focused on the history being told. We're also capturing the current-day, modern, Black history so that we aren't leaving it up to God knows who to write a book and rewrite history. However, we're looking to solidify history now with our voices to influence policy, influence risk, mitigation and the degradation of Black and brown people in AI.

We also want to ensure that it represents the community [with a] true, inclusive design. We don't just have a bunch of people working in the background that you never meet, and you never see unless they're stealthy. But we actually invite people to contribute, and they can see themselves reflected in what we're doing.

Why did you choose to name your product ChatBlackGPT?

It's like chatting with a group of black people instead of the Eurocentric, typical GPT that you run into most commonly. It's obvious what it is, and nobody gets confused. 

When did the idea for ChatBlackGPT come about and how has it evolved since launch?

The idea came about after I got laid off; I was looking to take charge of my relationship with technology. I really wanted not to let whether or not I had a job at a big fancy tech company determine whether or not I was a Black woman in tech. So, I reclaimed my identity by studying AI and placing myself around some of the best people who are experts in it. 

But before that I had just done my regular research and noticed a lot of articles popping up about AI erasing Black history. Then I delved into the fact that AI has been in a lot of products and producing and creating a lot of harm for the Black community for a long time, and that was so saddening for me. And then the third part that got me into it was Black people, realizing how bad it's been, and how bad it is. So I wrote a really strong algorithm that reflects and is able to produce answers with the relevant context for our community.

Why did you think it was important to focus solely on the Black community versus, more broadly, communities of color?

Because I'm a subject matter expert. That's the only lived experience that I can personally validate, and in order to test a product, I think you need experts dedicated to doing that. So for me, that is what I felt most confident I could make the most impact doing. We are expanding to other cultures and looking to involve different communities and culture consensus committees to build that representation out for as many cultures as possible.

How do you train this AI for ChatBlackGPT?

You can't claim to represent a community you don't talk to. 

Do you have any partnerships for ChatBlackGPT? 

We partner with anybody willing to learn more about why this work is important. For example, 11 Labs is sponsoring our AI voiceover content. I am a responsible AI lecturer at the University of Washington, as well as Emerson.

Why is it important to partner with HBCUs? And what do those partnerships consist of? 

I'm currently scheduled to speak at the White House National HBCU conference. And we're looking to get interns who are hopefully sponsored to come in and help us develop this product. I would love for them to produce a white paper just on the experience, and how they can use it on their resume is endless. They can use it to get into jobs or work in AI. But [I want] to give people a chance to contribute to something that they can't easily get their hands on but can see the effects of their contribution immediately.

What are some of the next steps for ChatBlackGPT?

We're continuing to have in-person activations where we can listen to the community and make sure that our voices are heard. We'll continue showing up at different conferences and spreading the word as well as working to make sure the product can stay in the hands of people that need it.

Is there anything else you want to add? 

People should try it! ChatBlackGPT beta is available on the Open AI customizable store, you just search GPTs and then our tool is ChatBlackGPT.ai. So you can use both, but the point is that it's made for us — and it's by us. I want them to use it to their advantage and enjoy it.

Jay Buckey flew to space as a NASA astronaut in 1998. Decades later, he watched one of his experiments leave Earth on a SpaceX rocket.

The space company's Polaris Dawn endeavor — a private venture funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman — is a five-day mission around Earth featuring an ambitious attempt at a spacewalk. The mission also carries dozens of science experiments, including one designed by Buckey, today a professor of medicine and director of Dartmouth College's Space Medicine Innovations Lab, and Mimi Lan, a Dartmouth PhD candidate and engineer.

Specifically, it's a device to collect the SpaceX travelers' urine. It's part of the scientists' aim to track bone loss in astronauts — particularly in future deep space journeys — and to monitor whether a space traveler is at risk for developing kidney stones. That's because, in space, calcium leaves our bones, enters the bloodstream, and exits in the urine.

"If you remove gravity, the bone starts to break down," Buckey told Mashable after the mission successfully launched on Sept. 10.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Buckey and Lan want to prove that the "first morning void" — the first pee in the morning and usually the most concentrated one of the day — can reliably track bone loss and show if astronauts are at a higher risk for developing kidney stones. (Kidney stones are created when substances like calcium become too concentrated in urine.) If this were to happen in en route to, say Mars, an alerted astronaut could start drinking plenty more water, or if needed, take medication. No one wants to pass a kidney stone ever; particularly in a tiny space capsule.

"If you remove gravity, the bone starts to break down."

The SpaceX passengers will use the device similar to the one shown below, held by Lan, to collect their concentrated first morning urine. In outer space, urinary calcium goes up briskly, so the researchers suspect that just one a.m. void on this condensed mission will be enough to show they can reliably capture a usable sample. For this experiment, the samples won't be analyzed in space, but will be taken to a lab on Earth. (For comparison, the SpaceX passengers provided urine samples before launch.)

Mimi Lan holding a urine collection device, similar to the one aboard SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. Credit: David Haley / Dartmouth College Tweet may have been deleted

NASA is intensively investigating bone loss in astronauts, and how to prevent it — so such a tracking device could be hugely relevant as the agency endeavors to build a lunar-orbiting space station and send people to deeper space.

"For every month in space, astronauts’ weight-bearing bones become roughly 1 percent less dense if they don’t take precautions to counter this loss," the agency explains. "Much research focuses on determining the right combination of diet, exercise, and medication to keep astronauts healthy during missions and when they return to Earth or set foot on the Moon or Mars."

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Alexander Gerst exercising on the space station to combat loss of bone density and muscle. Credit: NASA

While orbiting the moon, or on a long voyage to Mars or an asteroid, Buckey envisions an astronaut collecting their first morning void for three days in a row every couple weeks or so. That seems like an achievable option in cramped quarters, amid days filled with spacecraft operations, attempting to exercise, run experiments, and survive. Many of the next expeditions to the moon and Mars won't be aboard a spacious space shuttle (which was large enough to carry eight astronauts).

"The future is smaller flights in small capsules," Buckey said.

TL;DR: Grab the Luminar Neo lifetime bundle with lifetime access for $149.97 through September 29, including add-ons like overlays, LUTs, and professional tutorials.

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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 Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, September 12, 2024:

AcrossHair with mascara on it

• The answer is Lash.

Emotion in "Inside Out 2" who opens up a "sar-chasm" in Riley's mind

• The answer is Ennui.

One finding work for an actor or author

• The answer is Agent.

Looks behind couches and curtains, say

• The answer is Seeks.

Makes a mistake

• The answer is Errs.

DownRenter's agreement

• The answer is Lease.

Emotion in "Inside Out" who blows flames out of his head

• The answer is Anger.

Mocking smile

• The answer is Sneer.

Beefcakes

• The answer is Hunks.

"___ all I ask …"

• The answer is Its.

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 Games

Are 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.

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 Mashable

By 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: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 11 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: This could be right up your alley

These words are as much about the journey as the destination.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to types of paths.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Thoroughfare.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 12

• Lane

• Street

• Road

• Avenue

• Highway

• Boulevard

• Thoroughfare

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.

If you’ve spent any time on Instagram lately, you’ve probably heard of gua sha. The traditional Chinese practice, which involves using a tool to scrape across the skin to treat various illnesses or pain, has exploded in popularity over the past few years with celebrities, influencers, and skincare fans raving about the beauty benefits. As countless gua sha tools have emerged claiming to deliver incredible results, it can be hard to tell which tools are worth the investment versus those that are jumping on the beauty bandwagon.

SEE ALSO: Slugging, gua sha, rice water, and more: How stolen cultural beauty practices feed viral videos

Enter the ProSculpt Gua Sha by YouthLab. Marketed as a “next generation” tool, this device pairs the form factor of traditional gua sha with added heat, vibration, and red light therapy, making it the ultimate all-in-one beauty tool for those looking to make the most out of their gua sha practice. But is it actually effective? 

First impressions of the ProSculpt Gua Sha

Straight out of the box, I wasn’t super impressed with the ProSculpt Gua Sha. The lightweight device features a plastic casing, with a removable lid over the stainless steel massage tool. With a single button to toggle between four different settings and a covered USB charging port, it’s shaped like many of the stone or metal gua sha tools available today, but the light plastic exterior makes it feel a little cheap. 

This probably isn't something you want to display prominently on your vanity. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

The device itself is easy to use — just press the power button, and it comes roaring to life in the vibration and red light mode, and it’s a simple click to toggle between the other three modes: heat and red light; heat and vibration; and heat, vibration, and red light. I tried each of the different modes, but I mostly stuck with the last one since it was so different from my trusty rose quartz gua sha tool, and I wanted to see if the added features would be worth the upgrade. 

From there, the device works like any other gua sha tool. I followed the brief instructions in the manual, applying my favorite facial oil to my skin before starting the process, and gently scraping the device across my face, neck, and jawline with light to medium pressure. 

What I liked about it: Heat and battery life

First, I was surprised by how much I liked the added heat benefit of the gua sha tool. It took a few seconds to warm up, but it felt amazing on my skin — especially after a long day. One of my favorite ways to use the tool was to massage the area between my eyebrows, where I tend to carry a lot of facial tension, and the heat made the massage feel even better. 

The heated massage did feel nice — until it got too hot. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable

The device also held its charge pretty well, so I didn’t need to charge it very often. Plus, I liked having the little plastic lid so I could store it without worrying about getting it dirty. Unfortunately, what I liked about the device pretty much stopped there.

What I didn’t like: Poor design and questionable benefits

There are countless skincare devices on the market claiming to different technologies to boost your skin’s health and appearance, and — while some are effective — others feel more like gimmicks. And, as much as I liked the added heat provided by the ProSculpt Gua Sha, it fell into the latter category for me. 

The longer I used the tool, the hotter the device got — uncomfortably so — until I was worried it might damage my skin. The vibration feature which claims to use 8,000 rpm micro-vibrations to “shake up sluggish skin cells”, didn’t really feel good or bad — nor did I feel like it was doing anything. And, while red light therapy is certainly a popular skincare technique that boasts potential benefits like treating wrinkles, acne, scarring, and more, the built-in red light was incredibly dim. It also sat behind the metal plate, pointing outward more than downward, so the light was further away and didn’t really feel like it was penetrating my skin. 

Plus, the device was incredibly hard to keep clean. Because I was using facial oil to help the device glide over my skin, the oil ended up all over the device — not just the metal massage plate — and it ended up sticky and covered in grime even after wiping it clean. 

Is the ProSculpt Gua Sha worth it? 

Honestly, this device is a hard pass for me. I love gua sha, and I think it’s an incredibly effective technique — in the past, it’s helped depuff my face, reduce facial tension, and improve my skin’s overall appearance — but those benefits happened with just a simple rose quartz gua sha. And if I want the benefits of red light therapy, I'll reach for my Solawave wand over this tool.

Yes, technically, the ProSculpt Gua Sha “worked” when it comes to the benefits of gua sha. My face was less puffy, my neck and facial tension were reduced, and it was a great way to relax at the end of the day…but it didn’t feel much different from a traditional gua sha tool. The heat felt nice, but none of the other features felt like they did anything. I didn’t notice any improvements that were better than any other gua sha tool, so it didn’t feel worth the $45 price tag.

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SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission finally launched on Tuesday, after a series of delays pushed back its commencement date. Now the crew of the private spaceflight are scheduled to take the first ever commercial spacewalk — and the entire thing will be livestreamed so we can watch it here from Earth.

Launched via a Falcon 9 rocket on Sept. 10, the Crew Dragon Resilience reached its highest point of around 1,400km (870 miles) above Earth on the second day of its five-day mission. Today's spacewalk will take place a little closer to home though, with crewmembers scheduled to attempt the world's first all-civilian spacewalk on day three at approximately 700km (435 miles) up.

SEE ALSO: Japanese billionaire cancels private SpaceX moon mission, crew devastated How to watch SpaceX's Polaris Dawn spacewalk

If all goes to plan, two members of Polaris Dawn's all-civilian crew will attempt the first commercial spacewalk on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 5:58 a.m. EDT / 2:58 a.m. PDT. The livestream will begin approximately one hour prior to this at 4:55 a.m. EDT / 1:55 a.m. PDT.

You'll be able to watch the spacewalk on the SpaceX website, SpaceX's X account, and on the recently launched X TV app if you actually installed it. Space.com will also host a livestream on YouTube (embedded below).

If all doesn't go to plan and today's spacewalk is cancelled, Polaris Dawn's crew will try again tomorrow.

What are the objectives of Polaris Dawn's spacewalk? Credit: SpaceX

Though the thrill of being in space is undoubtedly enough for Polaris Dawn's crew, today's spacewalk does have a purpose. Polaris Dawn's spacewalk will be the first outing of SpaceX's Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit, with the civilian crew putting it to the test. 

Unveiled this May, the EVA suits build on the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suits previously worn by those aboard Crew Dragon spaceflights. The EVA's 3D-printed helmet includes an updated visor designed to reduce glare, as well as a new heads-up display and camera. This can show wearers information on their suit's pressure, temperature, and relative humidity.

"Developed with mobility in mind, SpaceX teams incorporated new materials, fabrication processes, and novel joint designs to provide greater flexibility to astronauts in pressurized scenarios while retaining comfort for unpressurized scenarios," SpaceX wrote in May. "The suit also incorporates enhancements for reliability and redundancy during a spacewalk, adding seals and pressure valves to help ensure the suit remains pressurized and the crew remains safe."

The EVA's design is also intended to be scalable in order to allow people of different sizes and body types to venture into space. According to SpaceX, this is a step toward creating thousands of spacesuits to establish "a base on the Moon and a city on Mars."

Tweet may have been deleted

Today's civilian spacewalk is just one of several mission objectives for Polaris Dawn. Yesterday the Resilience's 1,400km apogee achieved Polaris Dawn's goal of reaching the highest Earth orbit since the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Apollo program. Polaris Dawn's crew also intends to conduct 36 studies and experiments, researching human health as well as testing Starlink's laser-based communications in space. 

Who is on Polaris Dawn's spacewalk? The crew of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. From left to right: Mission Commander Jared Isaacman, Mission Pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon. Credit: SpaceX

Polaris Dawn has a crew of four, led by Mission Commander Jared Isaacman. The billionaire CEO of payment processing company Shift4, Isaacman was previously commander of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission, the world's first all-civilian spaceflight.

Accompanying Isaacman is Mission Pilot and retired U.S. Air Force member Scott "Kidd" Poteet. SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon are also on board as Mission Specialists, with the latter also serving as the mission's Medical Officer. Both Gillis and Menon are Lead Space Operations Engineers at SpaceX.

Not all of the Resilence's crew will exit the spacecraft during the spacewalk. Isaacman and Gillis are currently the only people scheduled to emerge from the Crew Dragon today, doing so one after the other rather than simultaneously. However, all four crew members will still don SpaceX's EVA suits and be exposed to the vacuum of space. This is because the Crew Dragon lacks an airlock, so opening it up to let Isaacman and Gillis out will require the entire spacecraft to be depressurised.

The spacewalk is scheduled to last for two hours, from the initial venting of the Resilience to its repressurisation. Isaacman and Gillis' actual external spacewalk is expected to last around 20 minutes per person.

Among the most polarizing of the movies shown at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival was The End, a two-and-a-half-hour musical about humanity's last days on Earth. 

Far from the show-stopping spectacle of apocalyptic action movies like The Day After Tomorrow or even the razzmatazz of modern American movie musicals like The Greatest Showman, director Joshua Oppenheimer embeds his audience in a bizarre bunker a half-mile underground. There lives a wealthy industrialist family who has turned a blind eye to the dying world above them. That is, until a survivor finds her way to their doorstep. Will her unexpected arrival upset their delicate psychological equilibrium? You bet.

SEE ALSO: TIFF 2024 preview: 15 movies you ought to know about

What follows is certainly not for everyone. Some critics I spoke with at TIFF complained that Oppenheimer's musical is indulgent in its runtime, ugly in its relentless blue-gray palette, and even infuriating in its plotting. Others see the length, the dismal colors, and that frustrating plot to be precisely the point, and embrace it as such. I am in the latter camp, finding this mournful and fanciful musical utterly captivating, jarringly funny, and savagely profound. 

The End is doomsday prepping by way of Downton Abbey.

Forget what you think you know about bunkers. Deep, deep underground this family — whose names are never uttered — has built something not metal and cold but very old-money. Housed within a cavernous salt mine with spiraling walls and noisy ventilation systems lies their home away from apocalypse. It contains crown molding, classic works of art in gilded frames, a wood-paneled library, a grand dining room, a complicated model train set-up, an inexplicably endless food supply, and above all, pristine order down to the paper-flower bouquets arranged in delicate vases.

Here, a 25-year-old man born in the bunker (George MacKay) has only ever known his doting mother (Tilda Swinton), his chummy father (Michael Shanon), their devoted butler (Tim McInnerny), a cheeky chef (Bronagh Gallagher), and a dour doctor (Lennie James). And despite possibly being the last people on Earth, they seem happy enough, singing songs of gratitude for their circumstances. Well, when they're not conducting dramatic emergency drills, that is. (You can never be too careful.)

Featured Video For You Why 'Problemista' star Tilda Swinton will never do SNL

The absurdity of their profound privilege is made all the clearer when an above-ground survivor (Moses Ingram) stumbles upon them. Understandably, she is utterly bewildered by all they possess while people on the surface scrape and starve. The political commentary only gets more overt as this young Black woman hears the selective history the white son's been taught, like how the oil industry that made its fortune definitely didn't contribute to the climate crisis that forced the family underground as they left everyone else to burn! With a cocked eyebrow and a patient tone, she not only pushes back on this propaganda but also brings a dry humor to the household. 

The End offers a bleak view with winsome song and dance.

While the son is in awe of the stranger, who speaks openly about her own regrets and urges the others to do the same, a raw tension emerges between her and the mother, who would rather the family's skeletons stay neatly tucked away in the closet, thank you very much. Anxieties rise as a romance blooms between the son and the stranger. Happily for us, this leads to a charming duet and a dance number where salt is kicked about the mines, which sit cold and unimpressed by the pair's passion. Such energy surrounded by the towering, uncaring setting echoes West Side Story. But with nowhere to escape but a dying world above, where can this story go? 

Oppenheimer and co-writer Rasmus Heisterberg mire the audience in the push-and-pull between the mother's strategic repression and the stranger's emotional outbursts. Reflecting her character's emotional strain, Swinton sings in a shrill falsetto, as if her mother might crack at any moment. MacKay has a Broadway-bright performance style, while Ingram delivers soulful ballads of loss and hope. Shannon and McInnerny join in with vaguely vaudevillian numbers of tap and banter, but the jocularity of this bit is undercut by the father cruelly reminding his butler buddy of his rank.

'The End' traps us in a ruthless loop, where its core family risks change or growth, only to deny it.

Trapped in this beautiful bunker under unblinking blue light, they are all specimens trapped under glass. Here are the last people on Earth, preserved but without purpose, objects in a museum of their own making. Still, there are moments where it seems these characters might just break out — not of the bunker but from the pretty molds they've built to survive in the guise of civility. A brutal verbal battle in the parents' bathroom gives Shannon's signature intensity a place to explode. Swinton's eyes, bright and on the brink of tears, show the deep hurt hiding behind this mother's practiced smile. MacKay, with a frantic enthusiasm that trembles into nerve-rattling, seems often on the brink of breaking this cycle of deranged self-mythologizing. But then Oppenheimer will quick-cut to some time later, when the drama has passed and routine has reasserted itself. The tension is bled out, and we bleed with it.

The End traps us in a ruthless loop, where its core family risks change or growth, only to deny it. Both those who liked and loathed the film agree this cycle makes for a very frustrating viewing experience. But this feels intentional. As he did in his two Oscar–nominated documentaries, The Look of Silence and The Act of Killing, Oppenheimer is itching his way under our skin with incredible artistry to expose the revolting reality of human capabilities — not just what horrors we can do to each other, but also what we can ignore to maintain even a fragile sense of civility. 

In The End, even as the director presents us with people who have done horrible things, Oppenheimer doesn't lose empathy for them. While their lies are abundant, this incredible cast makes their pain feel real, so even in spite of our vexations or political opinions, you might well ache for the mother who fears she's losing her son. And yet — as absurd as this sounds — the most devastating line in the whole movie is about cake. Literal cake. 

Defying expectations of genre, both musical and apocalypse narrative, The End is a challenge thrown down to audiences. The songs and dances are not glistening perfection, but occasionally clunky or tinny. But this works because each instance is a reflection of that character, and where they fall short of their projection of perfection and happiness. The suffocatingly dull colors bleach the rosiness out of flushed cheeks, making everything feel vaguely dead, or maybe even embalmed. The film's plot leads to a place that is well earned and yet hard to bear. Yet it's thrilling to see a musical take so many risks, especially when movie studios seem afraid to even promote that a movie is a musical. (See trailers for Mean Girls, Wonka, and Wicked, all of which hide the actual singing.) Frankly, it was refreshing to be this surprised and emotionally wrecked by a new musical. 

All in all, The End is a gutsy film that is thrillingly unnerving, raw, and original. 

The End was reviewed out of its Canadian premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It opens in limited release Dec. 6.

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TL;DR: Live stream Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Miami Dolphins are taking on the Buffalo Bills in the next round of Thursday Night Football, and you can watch all the action without spending anything. That's great news for fans, because this matchup could go either way. Both sides won their first game of the new season, and will be looking to build some momentum with a midweek victory.

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