Author Archives: Carol Edwards

Do you smell the scent of buttered popcorn and pumpkin spice in the air? That means fall movie season is officially upon us.

Both theaters and streaming services will be flush with flashy titles that are aiming to awe audiences with outlandish spectacle, shocking twists, Oscar-worthy drama, side-splitting comedy, or an intoxicating mix of all this and more!

Whether you’re raring to trek to the cinemas with friends or cuddle up on the couch, we’ve got the must-sees of the season and where to watch them.

1. If you’re in the holiday spirit: Halloween Kills

Co-writers Danny McBride and David Gordon Green (who also helms) reunite for this direct sequel to 2018’s Halloween. Plus, the classic scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis, returns once more as the tormented but resilient Laurie Strode. Teaming with her daughter (Judy Greer) and her granddaughter (Andi Matichak), this Final Girl braces for a definitive and grisly showdown with the iconic slasher.

How to watch: Halloween Kills opens in theaters and is available on Peacock Oct. 15.

2. If you’re tired of waiting (for spice): Dune

This ambitious adaptation of Frank Herbert’s adored sci-fi novel has been delayed by the pandemic for so long that it made last year’s Fall Movie Preview. The time for director Denis Villeneuve’s daring interpretation has finally come. Not only does it have a big budget, jaw-dropping special effects, and potential for a sequel, but also a cast exploding with stars, including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

How to watch: Dune opens in select theaters (2D, 3D, and IMAX) and on HBO Max Oct. 22.

3. If you’re craving whimsy: The French Dispatch

From Rushmore to The Royal Tenenbaums to The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson has unfurled darling worlds people with oddball characters. Full with familiar faces (like Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, and Timothée Chalamet), his latest adventure whisks audiences around the globe by bringing to life the travelogues from the titular (and fictional) magazine. Bursting with the color, wry humor, and the twee quirks that are Anderson’s signature, The French Dispatch promises to be a jaunty gem.

How to watch: The French Dispatch opens in theaters Oct. 22.

4. If you’re shooting for badass: The Harder They Fall

When a merciless outlaw breaks free from his bonds, he and his posse set out for a showdown against a vengeance-seeking cowboy. The premise of this film might sound familiar, but you’ve never seen a Western quite like this. Co-writer/director Jeymes Samuel brings swaggering style and outrageous star power, boasting an ensemble that includes Idris Elba, Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo. This west is sure to get wild.

How to watch: The Harder They Fall opens in select theaters Oct. 22 and on Netflix Nov. 3.

5. If you’re yearning to (time) travel: Last Night in Soho

Writer/director Edgar Wright has given audiences the goofy pleasures of Shawn of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Baby Driver. But this time he’s ditching jokes and hijinks to dive into a swanky and swinging thriller. Thomasin McKenzie stars as an aspiring fashion designer who miraculously tumbles back into 1960s London, where she swiftly becomes enchanted by a sultry singer (Anya Taylor-Joy). What begins as a sexy escapade slips into a murder mystery that she must solve before times run out.

How to watch: Last Night in Soho opens in theaters Oct. 29.

6. If you want a blockbuster with prestige cred: Eternals

Earlier this year, writer/director Chloé Zhao won two Academy Awards for her intimate yet rousing drama, Nomadland. Now, she’s bringing her acclaimed style and skill for drama to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a new team of superheroes. Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, Ma Dong-seok, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie bring fresh star power to the epic adventure of the Eternals, an immortal alien race dedicated to saving mankind from the vicious Deviants.

How to watch: Eternals opens in theaters Nov. 5.

7. If you’d follow Tom Hanks to the end of the world: Finch

We didn’t know “dystopian dad movie” was something we wanted. Then director Miguel Sapochnik teamed America’s dad up with an adorable dog and a charming robot in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Now, all we want to do is ride shotgun on this dangerous — yet seemingly heartwarming — road trip. Well, that and to give that good boy many belly rubs.

How to watch: Finch premieres on Apple TV+ Nov. 5.

8. If you’re a Broadway baby: Tick, Tick…Boom!

Hamilton creator/star Lin-Manuel Miranda directs the Broadway musical adaptation/biopic about Jonathan Larson, who created the Broadway smash hit Rent. Dear Evan Hansen book-writer Steven Levenson wrote the adapted screenplay. Andrew Garfield, who trod the boards of the Great White Way in Death of a Salesman and Angels in America, takes the lead as a wannabe composer who is on the brink of his make-it-or-break-it moment. Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Mj Rodriguez, Bradley Whitford, and Vanessa Hudgens co-star.

How to watch: Tick, Tick…Boom! opens in select theaters Nov. 12 and on Netflix Nov. 19.

9. If you want a head start on Oscar season: The Power of the Dog

Riding through a range of prestigious film festivals, Jane Campion’s period-drama has wrangled critical acclaim with every step. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as a charismatic but cruel rancher, who relishes any chance to bully his genteel brother (Jesse Plemons), newly minted sister-in-law (Kirsten Dunst), and her sensitive son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). As she did with The Piano‘s rustic setting, Campion brews a heady blend of chills, sexual tension, and shrewd laughs, so much so that calling it a “drama” feels woefully insufficient.

How to watch: The Power of the Dog opens in select theaters Nov. 17 and on Netflix Dec. 1.

10. If you’re hankering for slow-burn horror: The Feast

This brilliant Welsh movie has been gathering raves through the film festival circuit for its uniquely eerie brand of terror. Director Lee Haven Jones invites audiences to a posh dinner party, where a politician and his socialite wife are so caught up in the details that they overlook an uninvited guest — to disastrous results. Tapping into folk horror traditions, The Feast delivers chills, thrills, and a generous portion of blood. Be warned: this one is for those with strong stomachs.

How to watch: The Feast opens in theaters and on digital/VOD Nov. 19.

11. Because you ain’t afraid of no ghosts: Ghostbusters: Afterlife

The fourth film in this spirited franchise is leaving New York City and the Ghostbusters’ landmark firehouse behind to scare up a new chapter, which has more of a Stranger Things vibe (and not just because it co-stars Finn Wolfhard). In a remote, decaying farmhouse in Oklahoma, the grandchildren of the late Egon Spengler uncover his paranormal investigator past, then go on a spooky adventure of their own. Director Jason Reitman follows in the footsteps of his father Ivan Reitman, who helmed the 1984 original. Along for the ride, he’s brought some old friends, including Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts.

How to watch: Ghostbusters: Afterlife opens in theaters Nov. 19.

12. If you love a gamble: House of Gucci

Despite casting heavy hitters like Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, and Adam Driver, director Ridley Scott is taking some wild risks with this film. First, he plunks wild card Jared Leto into a blob of prosthetic make-up for the role of an elderly rapscallion. Then, he urges Lady Gaga toward camp in her ferocious femme fatale role. Based on an outrageous true-crime case that involved obscene wealth, intense glamor, ravenous greed, and murder, this drama could be gripping or outrageously over the top. Either way, we’re sold.

How to watch: House of Gucci opens in theaters Nov. 24.

13. If you pray for the outrageously irreverent: Benedetta

From Paul Verhoeven, the director of Starship Troopers and Showgirls, comes a religious biopic that’s not remotely fit for Sunday School. The beatific Virginie Efira stars as Benedetta Carlini, a 16th-century Italian nun, who reportedly performed miracles between trysts with her lesbian lover, Sister Bartolemea (Daphne Patakia). Ever the provocateur, Verhoeven leans into the romance and illicit sex within these convent walls. Yet beyond these scintillating — and surprisingly sweet — scenes, he has slyly created a joltingly hilarious satire about faith and abuse of power.

How to watch: Benedetta opens in theaters and On Demand Dec. 3.

14. If you think love is a savage thing: Wolf

Imagine Romeo & Juliet, but instead of the star-crossed lovers coming from warring families, they’re kept apart because he’s a wolf and she’s a wildcat. At least, that’s what they think. In Nathalie Biancheri’s snarling romance, George MacKay and Lily-Rose Depp star as young lovers who believe they’re animals trapped in human form. They meet at a clinic that claims it can cure them, but what if that’s not what they truly want?

How to watch: Wolf opens in theaters Dec. 3.

15. If you’re prepared to laugh at the abyss: Don’t Look Up

Writer/director Adam McKay, who broke down the 2007 financial crisis with the star-stuffed comedy The Big Short, is back with a new pet issue and another ultra-famous ensemble. Imagine — if you will — the future of Earth itself is at risk, and the people in power are resolutely committing to ignoring the fast-approaching threat. Seemingly satirizing the climate change crisis, this dark comedy follows two astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence), who try to spread the word that a potentially world-shattering comet is headed our way. Joining these Oscar-winning A-listers are Timothée Chalamet, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Ariana Grande, Himesh Patel, and many, many more.

How to watch: Don’t Look Up opens in select theaters Dec. 10 and on Netflix Dec. 24.

16. If you swoon for song: West Side Story

Closing out a year of musical hits and misses (from In The Heights to Dear Evan Hansen) is Steven Spielberg’s glossy re-imagining of the classic 1957 Broadway musical, West Side Story. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler star as two New York City teens who fall in love across gang lines. Loyalties will be tested. Blood will be shed. And, of course, there will be dancing in the streets.

How to watch: West Side Story opens in theaters Dec. 10.

17. If you demand a dark thrill ride: Nightmare Alley

For his much-anticipated follow-up to his Oscar-winning monster-romance The Shape of Water, writer/director Guillermo del Toro has adapted William Lindsay Gresham’s noir novel, Nightmare Alley. Bradley Cooper stars as a conniving carny always on the lookout for an easy mark. But he meets his match in a ravishing and brilliant psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett in full femme fatale mode). Expect lurid deception, twisted turns, and an all-star cast dripping in the decadent colors and deranged settings that only del Toro dare dream up.

How to watch: Nightmare Alley opens in theaters Dec. 17.

18. If you’re wishing for something Strange: Spider-Man No Way Home

Doctor Stephen Strange returns from oblivion, and he’s mixing up some magic for plucky Peter Parker. Director Jon Watts has delivered two sensational Spidey adventures within the MCU (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-man: Far From Home). His third looks like it could be full of dimension-bending action, quirky comedy, and wild cameos. Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, and Zendaya star in a superhero movie fit for the whole family to thrill over.

How to watch: Spider-Man No Way Home opens in theaters Dec. 17

19. If you need a terrific tearjerker: A Journal for Jordan

Following much acclaim for Fences, Denzel Washington returns to the director’s chair with a true story of love, family, and sacrifice. Michael B. Jordan stars as Army First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, a charismatic soldier who served overseas in the Iraq War and kept a journal of life lessons intended for his young son, Jordan. Washington brings that journal to life, rapturously recounting the romance between King and fiance Dana Canedy (played by newcomer Chanté Adams). Be warned: you’ll want to bring tissues with you for this one.

How to watch: A Journal For Jordan opens in theaters this Christmas.

20. If you choose the red pill: The Matrix Resurrections

The action sci-fi franchise that raised the bar and blew our minds is back with a long-awaited fourth feature film. Director Lana Wachowski reunites with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss with a mysterious new adventure set twenty years after Neo and Trinity last battled against tyrannical AI that imprisoned humanity in a banal simulation. But these heroic lovers don’t remember each other? Whoa.

How to watch: The Matrix Resurrections opens in theaters and on HBO Max Dec. 22.

21. If you’re still pining for Tyrion Lannister: Cyrano

Peter Dinklage is back as a hopeless romantic in a musical adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac. The Game of Thrones star teams with Haley Bennett, reprising the roles of the besotted poet and his beloved Roxanne, which they first played in Erica Schmidt’s daring 2018 stage musical. Helmed by Joe Wright, the director of such rapturous adaptions as Pride & Prejudice and Anna Karenina, this period romance not only promises swoons and songs but also bold performances and scads of sumptuous style.

How to watch: Cyrano opens in select theaters Dec. 31.

Sometimes you want vintage vibes, but the ease of modern tech. As a classic analog camera with instant print photos that can also pull off advanced creative tricks while connected to an app, Polaroid’s new Now+ is the best of both worlds — even if Polaroid has already released most of its features before.

The Now+ made me feel like the artistic director of a 90s shoot and a spontaneous VSCO girl enjoying an afternoon in the park at the same time. The artistic inspiration came from the creative capabilities of the Bluetooth-paired app, while the carefree teenage dream came courtesy of the simple pleasure of an instant photo. There’s really nothing that beats holding a photo you just took seconds ago in your hand, and the Now+ lets you take that photo in tons of new ways.

The camera itself

The Now+ is the upgraded version of the Polaroid OneStep+. This latest version comes with some of the creative app modes from the OneStep+, and adds two new modes and physical lens filters. Ultimately, the Now+ is not hugely different from the OneStep+, but the price jump isn’t so astronomical that the extra goodies aren’t worth it. It comes in white, black, and blue-gray, which is an admittedly limited color range.

The physical design of the Now+ is identical to the Polaroid Now, and I found myself both enjoying the classic look and wishing for slight adjustments. It features the typical photo printing slot, a button to control flash, a screen to display the amount of film you have left, a button to capture your photo, and the tripod mount on the bottom. The camera packs two lenses that automatically switch depending on subject matter: portrait or standard. Inside the box, you also get a USB charging cord and a neck strap.

I really appreciated the screen telling me how many photos I had left to take. It can feel like a dangerous guessing game when you take an instant camera to a shoot location or on a trip, assuming it has a full film cartridge inside – only to get there and realize you have no film left at all. Turning on the camera activates the screen, so it was a quick way to get my bearings and decide if I needed more film.

The buttons function as you would expect them to, and the printing slot worked perfectly. When you take a photo, it prints with an automatic screen that unrolls on top of your picture. This protects your photo from harsh light that may affect how it develops, and is super handy when you’re taking pics outdoors. The new tripod mount is compatible with classic, screw-on tripods of any height, so you can use it with any you may already have. Polaroid doesn’t offer tripods at this time.

My only gripe with the overall design is with the size and shape. Don’t get me wrong – I do like the look of it. It’s classic and sleek, but I happen to have pretty small hands. With the size, shape, and location of the buttons, I found it a little difficult to hold the camera and easily maneuver it between my fingers. I will say that this problem is largely solved by placing the camera on a tripod via the tripod mount – an extremely handy addition, but not always practical if you want to literally be able to point and shoot. The remote modes on the app also help avoid the issue of fumbling with the capture button’s awkward placement, but again, that does take away from the novelty of the camera itself.

The accessories

However, the novelty is slightly restored with the included physical filters. The camera comes with five filters: red vignette, blue, yellow, orange, and starburst, plus a protective lens cap for the camera when there’s no filter in use.

The filters snap over the camera’s lens super easily, so putting them to good just takes creativity. The colored lenses apply an even tint to the photo and are the easiest to work with. The red vignette applies a red tint that is more intense around the edges, and the starburst filter turns light sources into starburst shapes. The latter is the most complicated to figure out, but still not difficult – it just requires being mindful of your light sources, and learning how to work with the camera in darker settings.

In terms of film, the Now+ works with Polaroid’s Color i-Type or B&W i-Type film, which costs $15.99 per pack of eight shots. While the film develops nicely enough, it is a little painful to remember each instant photo costs about $2 a pop. It leaves much less room to experiment with the creative modes if you’re trying not to waste film or are on a budget, which is such a shame when some of the modes are so impressive but may require a bit of practice.

Using the app and each creative mode

Now here’s where all the magic happens. Polaroid launched its app abilities with the OneStep+ camera, but the Now+ allows for the additions of Aperture and Tripod modes. It also has Remote, Self-Timer, Light Painting, Double Exposure, Portrait, and Manual modes, which all also worked with its predecessor.

Pairing the app and camera was as simple as it gets. All I had to do was turn the camera on, make sure my Bluetooth was on, and launch the app. The first time I did this, the camera paired pretty instantly – it was much faster pairing than I’ve experienced with gadgets like Bluetooth speakers or headphones, and I was honestly wowed.

Every time I’ve used it since the initial pairing, the app has found the camera without any issues. But in case there are issues, the app interface includes a function that relocates your device. And if you happen to have multiple cameras for whatever reason, the app can distinguish between each one.

Using the creative modes varied in difficulty, but the app also has a brief explanation for each one. Some were pretty self-explanatory, like Remote and Self-Timer. While these two modes are pretty similar, I appreciated having both. Remote let me set up my shot to my liking and immediately take the shot without having to wait for a timer, while Self-Timer lets you set up selfies and put your phone down before the shutter clicks.

Portrait mode was also familiar, but the Now+’s version uses the paired camera and app to tell you the optimal distance you should be from your subject. The app displays a “too far,” “too close” or “perfect” message as you adjust your distance.

This is super helpful in theory, but in practice, I found the messages to be pretty temperamental. I would move about an inch, and it would flash between “too far” and “perfect,” and it would be hard for me to find that perfect spot and take the photo immediately. My photo subject was stuck smiling at the camera for quite a while as I fidgeted with it, and even when i thought I found the optimal spot, the photo didn’t come out quite as crisp as I’d have liked.

This is where the new Aperture mode is an improvement. The mode lets you set the camera’s f-stop anywhere from f-11 to f-64, letting in more or less light as the situation depends on it. Lower f-stops gave photos a blurrier background, while higher f-stops pulled more of the photo into focus. The ability to change this lets you customize the bokeh effect in a shot like a portrait, and its up to you how crisp it turns out. The mode does limit how high of an f-stop you can set, depending on the light the camera is sensing.

Tripod mode, the other newbie, has a slightly misleading name. Yes, it’s recommended that you attach the camera to a tripod while using this mode, but you can also use a tripod with any of the other modes. This mode primarily holds the shutter open longer, aimed to be used in low light scenes at night and to help capture cool light effects, like blurred headlights or lasers.

While it can create visually stunning effects in dark situations, this seems accomplishable with Aperture mode, too. Tripod mode essentially takes one of Aperture mode’s abilities, and makes it a preset. It’s useful if you’re trying to access the effect quickly and don’t want to waste film by testing the correct aperture in low light.

Light Painting and Double Exposure are the most abstract modes, and consequently, the most fun to play with. I attempted to use Light Painting in daylight, and let me tell you: that simply does not work. Trying to draw with light must be done at night or in a sufficiently dark room. The shutter is held open and lets in too much light in the daytime, leading to an overexposed photo. But the app’s interface builds in a button to turn on your phone’s flashlight to use as the light source, which makes the whole process very accessible. No sparklers or physical lights needed, but you could use those too!

Double Exposure takes two photos and interlays them in one print, which allows for really beautiful or just goofy shots. I went with goofy, and posed my subject in a back-to-back position with himself. But you could also take a photo of something like flowers and a closeup of someone’s face, creating a floral pattern over the skin. All you have to do is hit the shutter button on the app twice as each photo is ready to be taken, and the camera does the rest of the work for you.

Of course, Manual mode lets you personalize tons of separate components. Photographers can adjust aperture, shutter speed, flash strength, and exposure levels. The mode also lets you switch between the camera’s portrait and standard lenses, and you can decide when to eject the film. In theory, you could overlay multiple exposures in one photo before ejecting.

And to top it all off, the app also has a photo scanner. Once you’ve taken your physical prints, you can digitize them for the ‘gram or to send to others by scanning them in the app, which saves automatically to your camera roll. The scanner is handy for removing the background that the physical photo is laying against – but of course, if you want to capture a hand holding the photo, you can always take a regular shot for the vibes.

SEE ALSO: How to learn photoshop

But is all of this really that new?

The Polaroid Now+ certainly isn’t one of a kind. While Polaroid is the OG brand in instant photography, several others have produced instant print cameras over the years, at various price points and with unique features. But while there are others out there, the Now+ is one of the most versatile – it lets both beginners and seasoned photographers explore their creative sides with its easy-to-use modes, which fosters experimentation. No other brand seems to have as many modes to play with. As I mentioned though, this creativity does come at a pretty high cost, what with the camera itself and the necessary film. But if you’re willing to pay the price, the Now+ really lets you push the boundaries of analog photography.

The Polaroid OneStep+ ($139.99) is the Now+’s most serious competition. With most of the modes that come with the Now+ at a slightly smaller price, it’s a very comparable experience. However, the additions of the Tripod mode, Aperture mode, and lens filters do add a considerable usage factor, so the more serious photographer might find the Now+ more worth the slight upcharge.

But like I said, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Other instant cameras may offer more budget-friendly options, or can pair with smartphones to also print any pictures you may have in your camera roll. To start exploring those, check out:

• Fujifilm Instax Mini 11, $69

• Kodak Mini Shot 2, $109

• Canon IVY CLIQ Instant Camera Printer, $114.99

Ten years ago Ty Cullen uploaded the original “Hey You! What Song are you Listening to? NEW YORK” video to YouTube. Today we are once again asking, what are you listening to?

When Cullen’s video was first posted, it inspired filmmakers all over the world to take to the streets to ask strangers what they are listening to.

With more people back on the street, it’s only fitting that what are you listening to videos are more popular than ever before.

Three months ago Cullen’s video popped up in 22-year-old YouTuber Shan Rizman’s YouTube recommendations. Inspired by Cullen, Rizman filmed his own “what song are you listening to video” and posted it to YouTube. In mid-September he sliced up his YouTube video and repurposed the content on his TikTok where it went viral. His what song are you listening to New York edition TikTok now has over 10 million views and almost two million likes.

The tag #whatsongareyoulisteningto has roughly 96 million views as of Wednesday and #whatareyoulisteningto has 67 million.

Every what are you listening to videos follow the same structure. The interviewer approaches an unassuming stranger and asks them what they are listening to. Then there is an awkward moment where the stranger registers what the interviewer has asked and takes out their headphone to answer. After they answer, a snippet of the song they’re listening to plays for the viewer, so you get an idea of the song’s vibe.

Different creators make these videos in different cities. Rizman has made what are you listening videos in NYC and at college campuses like Harvard and UC Berkeley.

The most popular location for these videos is overwhelmingly NYC. Creator @harry.carlisle has made 12 videos walking around NYC asking what people are listening to.

“It’s sort of a guessing game. You look at them and before they answer you have a preconceived notion of what they are listening to and once you hear what they say, it’s interesting to compare. This guy was wearing this and I didn’t expect him to listen to this genre,” said Rizman.

In the 10 years since Cullen posted his YouTube video, the way we consume and share music has changed in big ways. Long gone are the days of loading up tunes to an iPod. Five months after Cullen posted his video, Spotify became available in the US. It now has 365 million active users.

Because Spotify is both a streaming and social media platform, what people are listening to is more accessible than ever before. Not only can you follow your friends on Spotify and see what they are listening to in real time, but speaking from experience you can easily find most people you meet on Spotify and see their public playlists.

You might think the social media side of Spotify would scratch the same itch as what are you listening to videos, but alas these videos are as popular as ever.

“I think everyone wonders what other people are listening to, but it’s a bold question to ask. Most people don’t go up to strangers and ask what they are listening to,” said Rizman on these videos’ popularity.

People love to share and talk about the music they listen to, so these videos are also incredibly joyful and leave you with a smile on your face.

“For the most part people take me asking what they are listening to as a compliment. It’s a good way to make someone’s day,” concluded Rizman.

These videos are also a way to discover new music that is more personal than the algorithm fueled playlists on Spotify.

“I get a comments saying things like you put me onto this song,” said Rizman.

After so much time inside isolated from strangers, maybe what are you listening to videos are exactly what are stranger deprived brains need.

In case you weren’t aware, things on Twitter can get a little, well, intense.

So cautioned the social media platform in a limited test it started rolling out Wednesday to iOS and Android users. The new prompts, according to one example provided by the company, will appear below certain tweets and warn any user considering diving into the replies.

“Ever want to know the vibe of a conversation before you join in?” asked the company in a tweet announcing the test. “We’re testing prompts on Android and iOS that give you a heads up if the convo you’re about to enter could get heated or intense.”

Tweet may have been deleted

The prompts appear relatively straightforward. “Heads up,” reads one example. “Conversations like this can be intense.”

The test appears to be the latest effort in a long line of tweaks aimed at improving “conversational health” on the platform. It follows various Twitter conversation health initiatives — some deemed more successful than others — such as the ability to limit replies, so-called humanization prompts, and quote-tweet prompts.

We reached out to Twitter with a host of questions about the test, including how many users will see the prompts, what types of tweets will receive the warning labels, and by what metrics Twitter will consider this effort a success.

In response, the company explained that the example it provided is the only one currently being tested, and that while the experiment is small, there will be more (presumably) like it.

Twitter users, as one might expect, are already responding to the announced vibe check.

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

The resulting conversation, it seems, has yet to get intense. But because this is Twitter, after all, Twitter’s latest test makes clear that there’s still time.

Google this week introduced several ways for individuals to make sustainable choices, whether lowering their carbon footprint, supporting clean energy, or taking eco-friendly actions.

“When people come to Google Search with questions about climate change, we’ll show authoritative information from sources like the United Nations,” Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in a blog announcement. “It’s all part of our goal to help 1 billion people make more sustainable choices by 2022.”

Travel and Shopping

Just in time for the travel-heavy holiday season, Google is bringing carbon emissions information to its online flight booking service. Enter your trip details and find out which flights offer the best emissions per route; lower CO2-pumping options are highlighted in green.

And, when searching for accommodations, you can find data on hotels’ sustainability efforts—from waste reduction and water-conservation measures to whether they’re Green Key- or EarthCheck-certified. Unlike the Flights page, though, you’ll have to dig a bit deeper: click “Learn more,” tap “Overview,” and scroll down. Not all hotels provide such details.

“We’re also helping people make more sustainable choices when they shop, starting with home appliances,” Pichai says. “When you search for energy-intensive products like furnaces, dishwashers, or water heaters, suggestions in the Shopping tab will help narrow your search to cost-effective and sustainable options.”

Clean Home Energy 

The electricity powering our homes comes from different sources based on the time of day —typically a mix of clean (solar and wind farms) and fossil fuel-based (gas and coal) energy.

Nest thermostat users, however, can take advantage of Google’s new Nest Renew feature, Energy Shift, which automatically converts heating and cooling electricity usage to times when energy is cleaner or less expensive. It can also adjust your thermostat’s schedule to run more efficiently in summer and winter.

The basic Nest Renew plan is available for free across the continental U.S. Eco warriors can pay $10 a month for a Renew Premium subscription, which matches your estimated fossil fuel electricity use at home with renewable energy credits from solar and wind plants.

Navigation

Starting today (and in Europe next year), Google Maps will let you choose the most fuel-efficient driving route — if it isn’t already the fastest one. The company estimates this could save more than one million tons of annual carbon emissions — “the equivalent of removing over 200,000 cars from the road,” according to Pichai. It would also save drivers money by reducing fuel consumption.

“Of course, the most sustainable choice often doesn’t involve a car at all,” he adds. So a new “lite navigation” cycling option allows riders to quickly see important details about their route without being glued to their screen.

Traffic Efficiency

At the same time, Google is looking for ways to make routes more efficient across an entire city—using artificial intelligence. The company is currently piloting AI predictions to optimize the efficiency of traffic lights in Israel, and plans to expand tests to Rio de Janeiro “and beyond” in the future.

“In all these efforts, our goal is to make the sustainable choice an easier choice,” Pichai explains. “At the individual level, these choices may seem small, but when people have the tools to make them at scale, they equal big improvements. We’ll need nothing less to avert the worst consequences of climate change, and we’ll continue to find ways our products can help.”

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) demonstrated a functional prototype of an artificial kidney that could replace the need for dialysis machines.

The iPhone 13 Pro’s cameras are too good to be true — but does that alone make the phone worth it?

There’s one thing fans of The Office repeatedly hear from people who’ve worked on the show: Steve Carell is freakin’ great.

Carell’s former colleagues have gushed about his talent, professionalism, and respectful nature many times before — both on the Office Ladies podcast and in The Office (The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History) book — and we have another positive anecdote to add to the collection.

On the latest episode of Office Ladies, former co-stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey chatted all about the Season 5 episode, “Blood Drive.” They also spoke with Katie Aselton who played “Glove Girl” aka the woman who had a meet cute with Michael during the blood drive. In addition to sharing thoughts on her character and time the show, Aselton gave listeners an utterly delightful Carell anecdote.

“I didn’t do any research for this role, but I didn’t need to because my character was just nervous and pleasant, and I didn’t have to dig super deep to access those emotions,” Aselton said. “I do have a very funny anecdote about being nervous — or my character being nervous. It’s that my first line was me just laughing nervously and saying, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so nervous.’ And Steve kept cutting, and he would be like, ‘Oh no, it’s OK. We’ll go again. We’ll go again.’ And finally, I was just like, ‘I think it’s my line. I think that’s what I’m supposed to say.’ But that has always made me laugh.”

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“I love that story about Steve,” Fischer said,
“because he was such a caretaker like that. He would want our guest actors to feel really comfortable.”

Aselton also shared she was “over the moon” because she got to work with Steve, though she wishes her character had the chance to return for additional episodes.

“Oh, man, you guys. So here is the thing about my experience is that when I auditioned, it was with the caveat that it was a possible recurring character,” Aselton explained. “And so all I wanted was to perform well and to impress and to be asked back. And it didn’t happen. It didn’t happen. And I’m sure they had their creative reasons, but oh boy, I wanted nothing more. But I’m happy with the time I got, that’s for sure.”

Fischer and Kinsey discussed how fans of the show were very excited by the possibility of a Michael and Glove Girl romance after the episode aired, but ultimately the writers decided to keep Michael single a bit longer.

“It was not because we were not completely charmed by Katie and her performance,” Fischer said. “…They were toying with this idea. But really, it was just for Michael to feel like he could connect with someone again. But ultimately, they’re going to keep him on this trajectory toward Holly.”

Because of Glove Girl, however, Fischer said she thinks Michael felt a little less broken. :’)

Be sure to listen to the full podcast to learn more delightful behind-the-scenes stories from filming “Blood Drive.”

You can stream episodes of The Office on Peacock and follow along with the podcast every week on Earwolf, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher.

Fall has begun and the chatter around “hot vax summer” — as disappointing as it may have been — has finally quieted down. This can only mean one thing: Cuffing season is here.

Originally an AAVE (African American Vernacular English) term, cuffing season is what Dr. Justin Lehmiller calls a “biopsychosocial phenomenon.”

Lehmiller, a scientific fellow at the Kinsey Institute and author of Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire, told Mashable this means there are biological, psychological, and social reasons behind us coupling up in the fall and winter months.

That goes for any cuffing season, but this one is especially interesting. Many Americans are vaccinated against COVID, but people in other parts of the world aren’t. While U.S. cases are declining, there’s still uncertainty about what the future holds.

According to a survey done with Kinsey and Lovehoney, a sex toy retailer where Lehmiller is a scientific advisor, people have two distinct desires going into post-vax life: kink or relationships — or, for some, both.

“What we want and need right now in our intimate life is a little different from what we did before,” said Lehmiller, who has a PhD in social psychology.

Why you want to be “cuffed”

In the Kinsey/Lovehoney sample of 2,000 American adults surveyed between May and June of 2021, 71 percent said they’re more interested in long-term relationships now compared to pre-pandemic.

Other data supports this as well. Dating app Hinge found that 75 percent of users (out of 2,000 surveyed in May 2021) wanted a relationship this summer. Then there’s Mashable’s own post-vax dating survey, which concluded that more young people desired a serious relationship over a casual one.

Not only do more people want to go steady, they also want to go slower: 36 percent of people said first date sex is a dealbreaker, according to Kinsey/Lovehoney, while a third of Hinge users said they’re waiting longer to have sex.

Lehmiller said that there are many reasons for this slowdown, including and beyond the biopsychosocial cuffing phenomenon.

In the colder months, the difference in our sun exposure affects the production of neurotransmitters that are involved in mood regulation (which is one reason behind Seasonal Affective Disorder) — that’s the biological component.

On the psychological and social side, there’s the pressure to have a partner for holiday socializing. Because it gets colder in some parts of the country, we’re also inclined to go out less and thus interact with fewer people. There’s an incentive to have someone to come home to during that time.

This biopsychosocial event plays out year after year, Lehmiller said. Data on “in a relationship” Facebook statuses and dating app usage classically show a spike in the winter months, for example.

Then there’s the pandemic-fueled explanations, such as lingering concerns about health and safety and uncertainty over what this fall and winter will bring. The latter could act as an “accelerator” for people to take dating seriously now.

Now that we can date in person again, daters want to get intimacy “right.”

But people don’t just want a relationship. After the brunt of pandemic loneliness and stress, people want deep connections.

“They don’t want the superficial relationships they had before,” noted Lehmiller. “They want that deeper, more meaningful connection.”

Related video: Pre-COVID cringe dating trends we don’t want coming back

Not only did more people online date during the pandemic, the nature of it was (obviously) different. Singles ended up having vulnerable conversations over text or video more quickly because our intimacy needs weren’t met in other ways.

Now that we can date in person again, daters want to get intimacy “right.” There’s heightened interest in finding the right person as opposed to jumping into a relationship for the sake of being in a relationship.

This may account for why people are taking their relationships slower — and why over half, 52 percent, are less interested in casual sex, according to Kinsey/Lovehoney.

Casual hookups, said Hinge’s director of relationship science, Logan Ury, were anything but casual pre-vaccination. You had to figure out “pod” mates and have frank conversations about safety. This intentionality translates into having fewer sexual partners now.

Some of us want literal handcuffs

In conjunction with wanting a relationship, people also want to explore sexually now. In the Kinsey/Lovehoney survey, 51 percent said their sexual interests changed during the pandemic. Of those, 73 percent said they became kinkier.

Hinge saw a similar shift: 45 percent of more than 3,000 users surveyed in August 2021 said they want to try new things in the bedroom with a new partner this fall. A whopping 80 percent said it’s important to them that a partner is sexually open and adventurous.

Hinge calls cuffing season 2021 a period of “sexploration.” Singles “have spent a lot of time alone over the last 18 months, looking inward and tapping into their imagination,” explained Ury. “With new mental freedom, the unlocked new sexual fantasies are ready to be unleashed — with the right partner.”

Lehmiller identified several reasons for this. For those who experimented during the pandemic, kink could’ve been a novelty that broke up the monotony of lockdown.

Further, when we try new sexual things, we’re more immersed in the experience. We’re more present, so not only are you entertained, but you’re also not thinking about day-to-day COVID news.

The pandemic also brought people’s mortality to the forefront. In that, Lehmiller identified a “need to make up for lost time,” and the desire to hit one’s “sexual bucket list.” COVID made some of us realize how short life is…so we might as well be kinky today.

“COVID has brought into stark relief the reality that each day isn’t a given,” said Sofiya Alexandra, co-founder and co-host of Private Parts Unknown, a podcast exploring love and sexuality around the world, “and that if you want to experience life at its fullest, you better start now.”

The desires for relationship and kink are different psychological needs (the former for intimacy and the latter for sex), but they’re both rooted in our pandemic experience.

Some people, actually, desire both: Among singles in the Kinsey/Lovehoney survey who are more interested in long-term relationships, 31 percent said they’re kinkier now than pre-pandemic.

Are we really done with one-night stands?

These statistics don’t mean that everyone is looking for kinky sex or a relationship moving out of the pandemic. “It’s not the case that everybody is more experimental,” said Lehmiller. “It’s not the case that everybody is less interested in casual sex.”

As there are a lot of human beings in the world, there’s a lot of variability in desire; not everyone wants to get cuffed. Tinder, for example, said earlier this year that the future of dating is fluid and that people may be more open to different kinds of connections.

Others, meanwhile, are adding thirds (or more) to the mix. The sexual exploration app Feeld saw a 670-percent jump in singles listing threesomes as their top desire from 2020 to 2021. There’s an increase in folks calling themselves ethically non-monogamous and polyamorous, as well.

As life shifts into a new normal, there’s also the question of whether these newfound desires will stay put. Will people go back to old habits?

Lehmiller hypothesizes that yes, eventually, people will revert to one-night stands and casual sex — but it won’t be quick. “There’s still so much lingering uncertainty, and I think it’s gonna take a while before we see that happen,” he said.

How to survive this (kinky) cuffing season

Maybe you’ve been out of the dating game the past 18 months — or maybe you’ve had a disappointing “vaxxed and waxed” summer and are looking for something a bit more serious now. Either way, you may be navigating lingering pandemic feelings of hesitation, not to mention grief and trauma.

Ury said to give yourself compassion and realize you’re not alone in these feelings. Instead of hiding them on a date, you can be vulnerable; it may encourage your date to express themselves freely, as well.

“You can skip the small talk and have a really interesting conversation,” said Ury.

For those looking to cuff this fall and winter, Lehmiller suggests starting early. Online dating produces a lot of options; you may need to talk to a lot of people to find someone you truly have a connection with.

“You can skip the small talk and have a really interesting conversation.”

Courtney Kocak, fellow co-founder and co-host of Private Parts Unknown, said that you want a partner who’s equally invested. That means being up front with potential suitors about what you want this cuffing season (and potentially beyond), and being willing to walk away if it’s not a good fit.

Lehmiller encouraged talking about sex early. Among vaccinated singles in the Kinsey/Lovehoney survey, 52 percent said they’re more likely to communicate about safe sex practices moving forward. That number dips down to 30 percent for unvaccinated singles, but it’s clear that communication styles have changed for some over the past year and a half.

See Also: Best sex toys for couples looking to switch things up between the sheets

There’s even more evidence on this front: 40 percent of Hinge users feel comfortable sharing a sexual fantasy with a partner after a few dates.

Embracing sexual communication early on can set the stage for a more fulfilling sexual relationship in the future, said Lehmiller.

If you’re looking to explore kink with a new partner, Ury suggests getting to know your own body first. Before you can ask for what you want in bed, you need to figure out what you want yourself.

Lehmiller, meanwhile, said to look for said partner in the right places. An app like Feeld caters to users looking for kinky and other explorative sexual situations; you may have an easier time finding a kinky partner there than with other apps.

When you do find a partner, Lehmiller says to start low and go slow. Start by sharing fantasies and desires. Vulnerability is the fastest way to build intimacy, and you do that by being open about your wants.

You don’t have to reveal the most adventurous activity right away. Instead, take some time and build intimacy together. Even do some research on best practices for the kinks you want to explore.

The key, said Lehmiller, is a lot of communication. Make sure everyone is doing what they want and is following safety precautions.

Hot vax summer may have been a bust, but there’s plenty of possibilities for love and “sexploration” this cuffing season.

Tesla has been ordered to shell out $136.9 million in a racial discrimination lawsuit, an enormous judgement that may be the biggest of its kind in the U.S. The electric car company has a few things to say about that.

The suit was brought by former Tesla contractor Owen Diaz, who began working with the company in 2015. Hired as an elevator operator in a factory in Fremont, California, Diaz claimed he was subjected to anti-Black racial discrimination during his time there — hostility that a San Francisco court determined Tesla ignored.

Diaz told the court he experienced offensive racial taunts, use of the N-word, and that Tesla employees drew derogatory racist caricatures around the workplace. These incidents took such a psychological toll on him that he was unable to sleep and lost his appetite, causing him to shed weight.

This week a federal jury ruled in Diaz’s favour, finding that Tesla subjected him to a racially hostile work environment, failed to take reasonable steps to prevent him from being subjected to racial harassment, and was negligent in overseeing the employees who harmed him. Diaz was thus granted a substantial $136.9 million judgement, comprised of $6.9 million for emotional distress and $130 million in punitive damages.

$136.9 million is still a relative drop in the bucket for Tesla, which was valued at over $800 billion for the first time this January. However Diaz’ lawyer Larry Organ told NPR he believes it’s the largest ever award in a racial harassment case involving a single plaintiff in the U.S., and should encourage companies to take racism in the workplace more seriously.

“Owen and I both hope that this sends a message to corporate America to look at your workplace and, if there are problems there, take proactive measures to protect employees against racist conduct,” said Organ.

Of course, Tesla isn’t about to take the jury’s official finding of racism lying down. The company has since distributed a note to its employees stressing its belief in its own innocence, which it posted on its official blog on Monday.

Noting that Diaz was a contractor rather than an employee, as if it matters, Tesla implied a belief that he was mainly claiming discrimination in retaliation for being denied work.

“Mr. Diaz made written complaints to his non-Tesla supervisors. Those were well-documented in the nine months he worked at our factory,” wrote Tesla’s vice president of people Valerie Capers Workman, almost acknowledging at least some racism. “But he didn’t make any complaints about the N-word until after he was not hired full-time by Tesla — and after he hired an attorney.”

Of course, promptly reporting every single instance of racism can be utterly exhausting for the people affected, particularly when it is rampant. This expectation also unreasonably suggests it’s the victim’s responsibility to constantly right the situation, rather than the company’s responsibility to build a better environment.

Tesla also noted that Diaz suggested his children work at the company, however this still doesn’t prove it was a good place to work. If Squid Game has taught us anything, it’s that people will endure horrific things when desperate for money.

Attempting to do damage control on its image, Tesla further stressed that it’s changed since Diaz left in 2016, it swears. The company highlighted that it now has more comprehensive HR structures to deal with these issues, such as an Employee Relations team and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team.

“We’re still not perfect. But we have come a long way from 5 years ago. We continue to grow and improve in how we address employee concerns. Occasionally, we’ll get it wrong, and when that happens we should be held accountable,” said Workman, while still trying to dodge accountability.

Mashable has reached out to Tesla for comment.

Diaz’s case is an outlier in that Tesla typically employs mandatory arbitration to deal with situations of racial discrimination. This policy has come under fire in the past, as it has meant issues are kept secret and employees have no right to appeal.