We need to talk about ‘They Cloned Tyrone’s ending

John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx in

John Boyega does a bang-up job in They Cloned Tyrone — Juel Taylor’s combination Blaxploitation throwback/conspiracy comedy-drama — but he’s also the on-screen avatar for its most indulgent flaws. The more Boyega’s drug dealer character Fontaine pulls back the curtain, along with the delightful duo of Teyonah Parris’s Yo-Yo and Jamie Foxx’s Slick Charles, the more the film feels the need to explain itself. And, unfortunately, the answers to its questions aren’t always satisfying.

SEE ALSO:

Despite half-baked twists, ‘They Cloned Tyrone’ is a worthwhile comedy-thriller

That being said, They Cloned Tyrone makes for both a fitting dramatic showcase for all involved and a wildly fun time for anyone watching, so its shortcomings don’t always matter in the moment. However, whether as a result of post-J.J. Abrams puzzle-box movie viewing, or because filmmakers like Jordan Peele have trained Hollywood audiences to spot deeper social metaphors, the movie always feels like it’s charging towards some grand unifying vision that never fully emerges when you think back on it.

So, what is exactly They Cloned Tyrone hiding, and why does its big reveal falter? Let’s dive in.

What’s really going on in (and under) The Glen?

Teyonah Parris, John Boyega, and Jamie Foxx in "They Cloned Tyrone."


Credit: Netflix

The film’s fictitious neighborhood, once overrun by crime and drug dealing, turns out to be the site of mysterious government experiments involving cloning. This much is clear from the trailer. However, the film’s earliest twist sees Boyega’s protagonist being shot and killed within the first 15 minutes, only to wake up with no memory of the event. From there on out, it isn’t hard to put two and two together — for the audience anyway, since we know the movie’s title. This recently awakened version of Fontaine is a clone, but the reasons why remain a mystery for now.

After the lead trio investigates a secret scientific bunker, they interrogate and accidentally kill a lab tech, who they note looks like a white man with a distinctly Black afro. Here, they also discover a white, powdery substance that makes them affable and docile. It’s not unlike an actual recreational drug (sometimes it even acts like laughing gas), but they soon discover that this chemical is being pumped into several products heavily marketed and consumed throughout The Glen: fried chicken, grape soda, even hair straightener. This, coupled with specific music tracks that seem to put people under hypnosis, leads to the further discovery of Pavlovian mind-control experiments, in which residents are forcefully conditioned to respond to these various stimuli with near-total obedience. One of those obedient residents includes yet another Fontaine clone; this one appears as a silent, unquestioning security guard working for Kiefer Sutherland’s ruthless government enforcer, Nixon.

After finding out the full extent of the experiment (or so it would seem), the trio goes back to their regular lives, now believing their roles in society to have been programmed and pre-ordained by mysterious suits for an unknown length of time. Fontaine in particular is troubled by this, since it means his purpose as a dope dealer is to drown his hometown in drugs and violence so that the rest of the country will ignore it, and so the men in black beneath it can keep conducting their obedience experiments undeterred. This would be a fine enough premise had the reveals ended there, but there’s one more big twist to come, and it unfortunately sucks the air out of the room.

Wait… Who’s the real villain? And why?

John Boyega in "They Cloned Tyrone."


Credit: Netflix

When the trio enlist the help of friends and enemies alike to mount a raid on the underground facility, they discover an untold number of clones of everyone they know (including themselves). Fontaine ends up face to face with the local mastermind of the operation, albeit one who claims to answer to other people himself. It turns out to be a much older version of Fontaine, and ignoring the cartoonish old-man makeup job, it’s not an altogether terrible twist in concept.

However, while the “what” may be surprising, the “why” is rather convoluted, and works against the movie’s own themes. This is partially because the film spends practically no time exploring what made the older Fontaine this way, or what pushed him to run these experiments on not just his own neighborhood but on clones of himself. He claims it’s because no one should have had to suffer the pain he did when his younger brother was gunned down — a backstory hinted at but seldom explored for the Fontaine we’ve been following — but the jump from this origin story to mad scientist is a leap too far for the film to reconcile.

It turns out that, over several generations, the older Fontaine has been trying to breed out Blackness itself, slowly but surely isolating genes and creating a significantly white race of people (as evidenced by the aforementioned lab tech, and a handful of other white characters with Black hair). It’s in part a realistic depiction of the way genocides have sometimes functioned — the goal of the North Carolina Eugenics Board was to “breed out” African Americans through both sterilization and selective breeding — but to make a Black man the ostensible face of this operation, as well as the scientist who apparently devised the entire scheme, touches on a deep, dark element of racial self-hatred the film isn’t nearly ready to unpack.

It also doesn’t help that while the action is unfolding elsewhere, thanks to some of Yo-Yo and Slick Charles’ propulsive comedic shenanigans, the film keeps cutting to a sterile boardroom setting so the older Fontaine can explain this plan in a lengthy monologue to his younger self. It’s an uninteresting reveal presented in an equally uninteresting manner, adding little to what was already a loaded-enough saga of self-worth and forced circumstance. Plus, its quickfire resolution never affords the younger Fontaine the opportunity to reflect on this brand-new dimension of his own potential. If the older version of some other character were revealed to be in charge — or some other, unrelated person entirely — little about the movie would change. However, despite dropping the ball in this regard, They Cloned Tyrone does wrap up in a fun way that potentially opens the door to a follow-up film.

How does They Cloned Tyrone end, and will it get a sequel?

Teyonah Parris, John Boyega, and Jamie Foxx in "They Cloned Tyrone."


Credit: Netflix

Plans haven’t yet been announced for any sequels or spin-offs, but the film’s ultimate conclusion hints at the potential for all sorts of new iterations of this very story. After the trio frees the numerous clones being kept in hibernation, they decide to set off to Memphis (and elsewhere) to potentially free more clones wherever they might find them, since this operation appears to be nationwide. Reporters also flock to The Glen to report on the bizarre story of naked doppelgängers suddenly roaming the streets, and the film briefly cuts to its closing titles, before cutting suddenly back to a scene resembling Fontaine’s repetitive mornings. This time, however, the specifics are slightly different.

Far away, in a crumbling Los Angeles neighborhood, yet another clone played by Boyega goes about his familiar routine, which mirrors that of Fontaine. He ends up watching the news with several of his friends, who note that one of the clones roaming The Glen resembles him, and they refer to him as Tyrone. The film cuts to credits again, playing a version of Erykah Badu’s live performance of “Tyrone,” only with the lyrics like “You need to call Tyrone” cheekily changed to “Somebody cloned Tyrone” — an uncanny clone of the song itself.

With Fontaine, Yo-Yo, and Slick Charles setting out on a mission of sorts, and with other potential clones like Tyrone discovering the conspiracy for themselves, the movie’s final scenes offer up all sorts of possibilities for future installments. However, even as a self-contained story, these mere hints at how widespread the experiments may be are a fine enough exclamation point on a story that weaves numerous metaphors about oppression and poverty in modern America, albeit to mixed results. Either way, it’s great to see Boyega getting to flex his dramatic muscles while playing numerous characters, and we certainly wouldn’t say no to more of that.

They Cloned Tyrone is currently in theaters, and it premieres on Netflix July 21.

The best antivirus software deals for July 2023

Person sitting at desk with laptop

UPDATE: Jul. 21, 2023, 5:00 p.m. EDT This list has been updated with the latest and greatest antivirus software deals across the web.

Featured picks:

Best antivirus deal for Macs

Norton Antivirus Plus (one year, one device)

$19.99
(save $40)

Norton AntiVirus Plus


Best antivirus deal for PCs

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus (one year, one device)

$14.99
(save $25)

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus

Having a great antivirus software package is a necessary investment to keep yourself protected from online threats. Viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing are all potential dangers while you surf the web, even if you think you’re being as careful as you can possibly be. New threats are emerging every day, so take our advice: Get your computer set up with antivirus software ASAP. Here are the best antivirus software deals we found this week.

SEE ALSO:

Your Mac *does* need antivirus software. Here are your best bets.

Best antivirus deal for Macs

Norton AntiVirus Plus

Credit: Norton

Norton Antivirus Plus (one year, one device)

$19.99 at Norton (save $40)

Why we like it

Norton Antivirus Plus provides all the basics you need from a well-rounded antivirus software package, and it’s super affordable at just $19.99 (for your first year, at least). With it, you’ll get full malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, 2GB of cloud backup, as well as a password manager. There are other Norton packages that include VPNs, identity theft protection, and more, but this is a great option for Macs, which don’t usually require a top-of-the-line security package.

Best antivirus deal for PCs

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus

Credit: Bitdefender

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus (one year, one device)

$14.99 at Bitdefender (save $25)

Why we like it

Bitdefender’s one-year Antivirus Plus plan not only protects you in real-time from malware, ransomware, spyware, and adware, but it also sets you up with a secure VPN for safer internet browsing, as well as phishing and online fraud protection while you shop. At only $14.99 for your first year, its one-device tier is a steal.

More antivirus software deals:

  • Avast Premium Security (one device) — $4.19/month $6.50/month (save $2.31/month)

  • Avira Prime (one year, five devices) — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

  • Intego Mac Security (one-year, one device) — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

  • Kaspersky Premium Security (one year, 10 devices) — $81.99 $149.99 (save $68)

  • McAfee Total Protection Advanced (one year, five devices) — $89.99 $199.99 (save $110)

  • Sophos Home Premium (one year, unlimited devices) — $44.99 $59.99 (save $15)

  • Total AV Antivirus Pro — $19 $119 (save $100)

  • Trend Micro Antivirus+ (one year, one device) — $19.95 $39.95 (save $20)

  • Webroot Antivirus (one year, one device) — $23.99 $39.99 (save $17)

How to watch TVNZ+ for free

Couple on bed with laptop

SAVE 49%: Unblock TVNZ+ for free with ExpressVPN. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan comes with a money-back guarantee.


TVNZ is a free channel from New Zealand. Its online streaming platform, TVNZ+, offers a wide range of content from New Zealand, Australia, and beyond, including reality TV shows, dramas, and movies. You can access all of this top-quality content from anywhere in the world with a VPN.

If you’re looking for the best way to unblock and watch TVNZ+ from outside New Zealand, we have all the information you need.

How to watch TVNZ+ for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a server in another country. This quick and easy process tricks streaming sites like TVNZ+ into providing you with access from anywhere in the world. VPNs offer loads of cybersecurity benefits, but they really shine when it comes to streaming.

To unblock and watch TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world, follow these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN

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

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

  4. Sign up for TVNZ+

  5. Watch TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN logo

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)

£82.82 only at ExpressVPN (money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By using these offers, you can unblock and watch TVNZ+ without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you time to watch everything on your list for free.

What is the best VPN for TVNZ+?

There are plenty of VPNs that can reliably unblock streaming sites. The likes of CyberGhost VPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are all popular options, but ExpressVPN is tough to beat. This high-speed service is the top choice for unblocking streaming sites for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 94 countries including New Zealand

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

  • No-logging policy to protect your data and identity

  • Fast streaming speeds

  • Up to five simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82, saving you 49% on list price. This discounted plan includes an extra three months of coverage and a year of unlimited cloud backup for free. Subscribers also get a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can unblock and stream TVNZ+, and then recover your investment without hassle.

Watch TVNZ+ for free with ExpressVPN.

‘Quordle’ today: Here are the answers and hints for July 21

A woman's hands holding a mobile phone playing 'Quordle'

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you’ve come to the right place for hints. There aren’t just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you’ll get what you need.

What is Quordle?

Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.

Is Quordle harder than Wordle?

Yes, though not diabolically so.

Where did Quordle come from?

Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer’s creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running. 

How is Quordle pronounced?

“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like “curdle.”

Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?

Yes and no.

Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.

After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.

What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?

Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can’t afford to waste guesses unless you’re eliminating as many letters as possible at all times. 

Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn’t the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it’s a normal part of the player’s strategic toolset.

Is there a way to get the answer faster?

In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:

Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We’ve had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”

Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.

If strategy isn’t helping, and you’re still stumped, here are some hints:

Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?

No.

Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?

No.

What do today’s Quordle words start with?

R, T, L, and I.

What are the answers for today’s Quordle?

Are you sure you want to know?

There’s still time to turn back.

OK, you asked for it. The answers are:

  1. ROUND

  2. TEPID

  3. LIVER

  4. IRATE

Reddit relaunched r/Place public art canvas. Redditors immediately protest on it.

The reddit logo displayed on a smartphone screen.

Reddit has been on the receiving end of massive online protests from its own users over the past few weeks, with swaths of the platform being completely unusable by visitors at times.

So, the company has seemingly decided that now would be the perfect time to once again roll out r/Place, a big blank canvas where users can display pixel art on an online public space.

Naturally, Redditors have taken this opportunity to voice their opinions on Reddit in pixelated art form.

For example, “Fuck Spez” has been scrawled all over the r/Place canvas for all of Reddit’s visitors to see. Spez is the Reddit username used by the company’s CEO Steve Hoffman, who the platform’s users have blamed for many recent unpopular decisions made on the platform.

A screenshot of r/place on Reddit.


Credit: Screenshot: Reddit

Reddit announced the return of r/Place on Wednesday. The company launched previous versions in 2017 and again in 2022. Reddit explained that the 2023 version was originally planned for April, but various setbacks (and the blackout protests) pushed this year’s r/Place to launch on Thursday, July 20. 

“Better late than never?” reads the r/Place announcement post from Reddit. The comments section quickly filled up with users posting “API” in the comments. This is a reference to the main issue users have with Reddit: the new exorbitantly priced API. Many popular third-party developers were forced to shut down their Reddit-based apps earlier this month after the company started charging a per-usage subscription fee for an API which was once free. 

The developer behind Apollo for Reddit, a popular Reddit client app, shared that he’d be forced to pay $20 million per year for API access under these new terms. Redditors quickly rallied together and planned a days-long blackout protest, turning many popular subreddit communities private, which blocked visitors from accessing them. The days-long protests turned into weeks before Reddit started making veiled threats to remove moderators who didn’t reopen these online communities. While many subreddits subsequently reopened, Redditors found new ways to protest such as filling some of these re-opened communities with nothing but photos of comedian John Oliver.

In an effort to utilize Reddit’s recently relaunched r/Place for their new protest actions, some Redditors have started a new subreddit called r/PlaceAPI where users can strategize on messaging for their pixelated art takeover.

Regardless of these massive user blowback, Reddit has not budged on its API pricing. In fact, the company has made new, more recent decisions that have upset its user base. Last week, Mashable reported that Reddit has removed years of chats and message archives from users’ accounts while transitioning to a new chat system. Soon after that, Reddit also announced that it was sunsetting its popular Reddit Gold reward system, which further angered users.

Apple threatens to remove FaceTime and iMessage in the UK over surveillance bill

iphones messages app on screen

Apple is so perturbed by a United Kingdom surveillance bill that its threatening to flat-out remove iMessage and FaceTime in the U.K. instead of complying with the proposed legislation.

The U.K. government is looking to update the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, the law that governs how security agencies can interfere with privacy to obtain investigatory information. BBC News reported that Apple has said it would remove some services — such as uber-popular communication features like iMessage and FaceTime — if the proposal becomes law, rather than weaken the security of their offerings.

Apple has said that it opposes other provisions of the proposed legislation, including having to the tell the U.K,’s Home Office of any product security features before they’re released and having to comply with changes like providing a backdoor to end-to-end encryption. Such provisions, Apple argued, purposefully weaken security for its customers.

In a submission to the government, The Guardian reported, Apple wrote that the bill would “make the Home Office the de facto global arbiter of what level of data security and encryption are permissible.” The Home Office is the part of the United Kingdom’s government responsible for security, immigration, and other policies.

The promise to cut FaceTime and iMessage is a big threat, setting up the possibility of a major battle between the government and the tech giant. Apple is sending a clear message that it is unwilling to stop end-to-end encryption at the request of a government.

The Home Office told the BBC the legislation was designed to “protect the public from criminals, child sex abusers and terrorists” but also added, “we keep all legislation under review to ensure it is as strong as it can be and this consultation is part of that process – no decisions have yet been made.”

If Apple follows through with their threat, it’ll almost certainly anger U.K. iPhone users. Imagine having an iPhone without Facetime or iMessage. It’s like not having an iPhone at all.

The proposed legislation is still under an eight-week consultation period, so nothing is official yet. Other tech companies, such as the encrypted messaging app Signal, have also threatened to walk should these news rules be approved.

So if you live in the U.K. you can still FaceTime your friends, at least for the time being.

Slash up to $137 off a cordless Samsung Jet vacuum

samsung jet vacuums with gradient background

SAVE UP TO 34%: As of July 20, both the Samsung Jet 60 Flex and Jet 75 Pet are just a few bucks more than their Prime Day all-time low prices, sitting at $208.99 and $261.49, respectively. That’s up to 34% in savings.

Quick links:

MOST AFFORDABLE

Samsung Jet 60 Flex

$208.99 at Amazon
(save $91)

Samsung Jet 60 Flex with accessories


BEST FOR PET OWNERS

Samsung Jet 75 Pet

$261.49 at Amazon
(save $137.51)

Samsung Jet 75 Pet with accessories


Jealous of your friend’s fancy Dyson stick vacuum? You can get yourself a similar style device for a whole lot cheaper if you opt for a Samsung instead.

The Samsung Jet 60 Flex and Jet 75 Pet both offer that sleek, slim aesthetic you’re looking for, plus an impressive amount of power. And as of July 20, they’re both on sale for up to 34% off. The Jet 60 Flex is on sale for just $208.99, down from the usual $299.99, while the Jet 75 Pet is on sale for just $261.49, down from $399. Both hit slightly lower prices for Prime Day ($199.99 and $249), but are still excellent deals. Before Prime Day, the Jet 60’s lowest price to date was $262.90, for comparison.

If you’re a pet owner, the Jet 75 Pet has an edge over the 60 Flex, with slightly higher air watts (200 vs. 150) and a mini motorized tool that removes fine particles and pet hair on furniture, rugs, and other surfaces. It also lasts up to an hour on a single charge, while the 60 Flex lasts about 40 minutes.

Where the Jet 60 Flex shines is its build — it’s nearly a pound lighter than the Jet 75 Pet (and one of our top picks for that reason) and comes in an eye-catching rose gold finish. Both, however, offer an easy breezy cleaning experience that allows you to maneuver from the stairs to beneath the couch and even above the cabinets in one fell swoop. You’re in for an enjoyable clean no matter which one you pick.

Planning a trip? Check out the best travel deals this week on flights, hotels, and more

Blue Samsonite hardside suitcase with flower pot in background

UPDATE: Jul. 20, 2023, 11:30 a.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest travel deals on flights, trains, luggage, and more.

Our top picks this week:

Best flight deal

GoWild! All You Can Fly summer pass

Unlimited flights through Sept. 30 for a one-time purchase of $499

Frontier Airlines logo on white background


Best cruise deal

Norwegian Cruise Line

35% off all cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line logo on white background


Best hotel deal

Red Roof

Save 15% all summer when you join RediRewards for free

Red Roof logo on white background


Best luggage deal

American Tourister

Save 20% sitewide

American Tourister logo on white background


Best experience deal

Universal Orlando

Buy two 2-Park 2-Day tickets, get the next three days for free

Blue Universal Orlando logo on white background


We all follow those people on Instagram who are somehow always on vacation. We don’t know their life story, but we’d be willing to bet they didn’t pay full price for that excursion — they just planned strategically. We’re keeping track of the best flight, train, luggage, and hotel deals below to help you do the same. Now get outta here.

SEE ALSO:

The best early Prime Day luggage deals: Shop before your summer vacation

Flights

Frontier Airlines logo on white background

Credit: Frontier

Frontier Airlines

GoWild! All You Can Fly summer pass

Why we like it

The warm weather version of Frontier’s already-existing annual pass unlocks unlimited flights to both domestic and international Frontier destinations between May 2 and September 30 for a one-time fee of $499. Frontier serves more than 100 airports across the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America, with new locations frequently being added to the lineup. (It’s not the $399 that it debuted at in February, but it is $200 cheaper than the $699 price point we’ve seen in recent weeks.)

Frontier also dropped a fall and winter version of the GoWild! pass at the end of May, which covers all flights between Sept. 2 and Feb. 29, 2024 for $299. Be sure to read the fine print before snagging the ticket for either season.

More flight deals

  • Southwest Airlines — fall fares as low as $59

Trains, cruises, and rental cars

Norwegian Cruise Line logo on white background

Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line

35% off all cruises

Why we like it

If you need a sign to finally book that cruise you’ve been thinking about taking since last year, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 35% price slash on all cruises is it. The Greek Islands, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Greenland and Iceland, and Northern Europe are all options available between seven and 10 days, plus trips to Alaska and Hawaii. You’ll also save with an unlimited open bar, plus discounted meals and WiFi. If you want to bring a friend, they’ll receive free airfare.

More train, cruise, and rental car deals

  • American Airlines — save up to 35% on rental car base rates

  • Amtrak — save up to 15% on Pacific Surfliner trips and X Games admission, up to 50% on Northeast trips, up to 15% on California trips, and more

  • Holland America — get included gratuities for two guests plus up to $150 to spend on board

  • Priceline — save up to 20% with Avis and Budget rental cars and 10% on rental car express deals with code RDTRIPPIN

Experiences

Blue Universal Orlando logo on white background

Credit: Universal Studios

Universal Orlando

Buy two 2-Park 2-Day tickets and get the next three days for free

Why we like it

Vacation doesn’t feel like vacation when you’re trying to cram a theme park’s full glory into a few short days. You can add three full days at Universal to your trip for free when you purchase tickets for two days (as long as they’re all consecutive). That’s five days for the price of two, so you can really take your time between Universal and Islands of Adventure — or even devote a whole day to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Regulars (or future regulars) at Universal Orlando can also get three months for free with the purchase or renewal of any annual pass.

More experience deals

  • Busch Gardens — save up to 50% on tickets, fun cards, and memberships at Williamsburg or Tampa

Hotels

Red Roof logo on white background

Credit: Red Roof

Red Roof Inn

Join RediRewards for free for 15% off your stay

Why we like it

Joining Red Roof’s free RediRewards program can make your lodging arrangements for any summer trip a whole lot cheaper. Members save an extra 15% on their stay when booked before Sept. 22, and can earn a free night’s worth of points just for completing two separate stays. Pets also stay for free at all Red Roof locations.

More hotel deals

  • Andaz Mexico City Condeza by Hyatt — 20% off select stays through August 31

  • B Hotels and Resorts Orlando — save up to 25% on stays of three or more nights when booked by August 22 and completed before Sept. 25 with code BSUMMER

  • Extended Stay America — save up to 45% on stays longer than 30 nights

  • Hampton Inn — save up to 17% on the Best Available Rate when you book at least seven days in advance

  • Hotels.com — save up to 25% when you book through the app

  • Kimpton — save between 15% and 20% when you book three or more nights by Sept. 4

  • Marriott — save up to 20% on hotel and flight bundles to select destinations

  • Sonesta — save up to 30% on stays through Sept. 15 when you stay two or more consecutive nights with code SUM2023

  • Wyndham — Wyndham Rewards members can save 15% or more on stays of two or more consecutive nights or 10% on one night

Luggage

American Tourister logo on white background

Credit: American Tourister

American Tourister

20% off sitewide

Why we like it

Still putting up with your suitcase’s busted wheel? Longstanding luggage icon American Tourister’s current sitewide sale is your excuse to finally replace it. Save 30% on hardside and softside spinners, carry-ons, luggage tags, and more, including Star Wars and Disney kids’ options that you’ll want to buy for yourself.

More luggage deals

  • Away — save up to $100 on luggage sets

  • Calpak — save up to 45% on sale luggage and travel bags

  • Dagne Dover — save up to 30% on cargo totes, shoulder bags, and more during the Bye Winter sale

  • Hartmann — save 15% on select styles with code VIP15

  • Herschel — save 30% on Forever Classics

  • Kohl’s — save up to 50% on suitcases from Delsey, London Fog, Rockland, and more

  • Macy’s — save up to 60% on Bric’s Milano, DKNY, Jansport, and more

  • Mark & Graham — save up to 70% on select styles plus free shipping on orders over $99 with code SHIPFREE

  • Monos — save up to 20% sitewide with code SUMMER

  • Samsonite — save 20% sitewide

  • TravelPro — save 15% sitewide

  • Tumi — save up to 25% on hardside luggage and carry-ons, totes, backpacks, and more at the semi-annual sale

Luscious locks on a budget: Grab a renewed Dyson Corrale straightener for nearly half off

vertical dyson corrale hair straightener against pink background

SAVE $207.61: As of July 20, the Dyson Corrale hair straightener (renewed) is on sale at Amazon for $242.38. That’s a discount of 46%.


dyson corrale hair straightener with pink accents

Credit: Dyson

Dyson Corrale hair straightener (renewed)

$242.38 at Amazon (save $207.61)

With summer in full swing, it’s understandable that you want to look your best. If you’ve been looking for a reliable hair straightener to help you achieve the perfect 00s-era straight hair — and other styles — this deal might interest you.

As of July 20, the Dyson Corrale straightener (renewed) is on sale for only $242.38 at Amazon. This saves you 46% off the regular asking price of $449.99. Renewed Dyson Corrale straighteners haven’t been available at this price since February.

SEE ALSO:

These professional hair dryers gave us a salon-quality blow-out

If you’re not familiar with the Dyson Corrale, its main draw is its flexing plates which bend around your hair, providing more styling control with a lighter grip. “Intelligent heat control” reads your hair type and applies even heat distribution and thus, less hair damage. Dyson designed the Corrale with a copper body and three heat temperatures that accommodate all hair types and lengths.

Love to travel? The Dyson Corrale includes a flight-ready feature and universal voltage so you can look fantastic as you explore the world. Plus, it’s battery-powered and thus cordless, which means you don’t need to stand next to a wall awkwardly as you get ready for a night out.

Renewed items are pre-owned and fully refurbished to work as if completely new. It’s backed by the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee, which gives you plenty of time to assess how it works and potentially get a refund or exchange. Plus, secondhand purchases are both eco- and budget-friendly.

With such cool features and a discount of almost 50%, this like-new Dyson Corrale is worth a look before this deal’s gone.

Netflix password-sharing restrictions are now global

Netflix logo on building

Now the entire world has to deal with Netflix’s most controversial policy.

Per TechCrunch, Netflix has expanded its crackdown on password sharing to places like India and Croatia, blanketing the entire planet (or at least the parts of it that get Netflix) with a rule change that’s been ruffling feathers ever since it was announced late last year. Anyone who is using another person’s account in one of those countries will now have to create their own account and pony up some cash every month to keep watching Netflix.

SEE ALSO:

Netflix is cracking down on password sharing, but you can get around it

Netflix tested this policy in select markets in late 2022 before expanding it to the U.S. (among others) in May. In the U.S., subscribers can pay an extra fee each month to add profiles for people outside the account holder’s home. In these new markets like India, those extra users will have to create their own accounts instead, which Netflix attributes to low existing penetration in those places, according to TechCrunch.

As annoying as the new policy might be, Netflix has seen positive returns after its implementation. The company added nearly six million new subscribers in the last three months, at least some of which were presumably using a friend’s account beforehand. Whether or not those people choose to stay long-term remains to be seen.

Maybe Netflix can give writers and actors the residuals they deserve with all that extra money.