America’s next trip to the moon may suddenly be delayed bit thanks to…PDFs?

A U.S. federal judge has granted the Department of Justice a week-long extension in its lawsuit with Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin. The reason? Large PDF files.

The Amazon founder’s space company sued the U.S. government over a lucrative $2.9 billion moon lander project contract that NASA awarded to a competitor, Elon Musk’s SpaceX. SpaceX is also named in the suit.

According to Blue Origin, there are “fundamental issues” with NASA’s decision. The company also claims that the agency was supposed to provide multiple awards.

However, the process has been delayed due to PDF problems. PDFs are a proprietary file format created by Adobe used primarily for documents. Attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice say there have been a myriad of issues related to the PDF format.

According to the DOJ, there is more than 7 GB of data related to the case. However, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims’ online system allows for only files of up to 50 MB in size to be uploaded. This all amounts to “several hundred” PDFs, including other file formats that would be converted to PDFs.

The DOJ says it also sought to convert multiple separate documents into individual PDF batches but explained that those larger files could cause the upload system to crash. “We have tried several different ways to create 50-megabyte files for more efficient filing, all without success thus far,” the DOJ said.

Instead of using the online file system, the U.S. government will transfer the documents for the case to DVDs.

Both Blue Origin and SpaceX agreed to the extension. NASA’s contact with SpaceX is currently on pause until Nov. 1 due to the lawsuit. This latest development would seemingly extend that for another week.

Space exploration is currently on hold thanks to a lawsuit and a slew of pesky PDF files.

Something magical happened on Thursday night. A beautiful, heartwarming relationship that sparked during the worst days of the pandemic so far led to a real-life meet-up and an epic performance in front of thousands of people.

Yup, Dave Grohl finally played with Nandi Bushell.

It started in mid-August of 2020, as a pandemic-weary, pre-vaccine world looked anxiously toward the end of summer and the expected spike in COVID-19 cases the fall season would bring. Then, all of a sudden, people across the internet were captivated by the drumming skills of Bushell, a then-10-year-old girl in England. She absolutely destroyed a version of the Foo Fighters hit “Everlong” in a video, but not before challenging Grohl himself to a “drum-off.”

A couple weeks later, Grohl gamely responded with an on-camera performance of his own, and the drum-off was underway. In the weeks that followed, the two traded increasingly impressively displays of drumming talent. All of us were winners, for getting to witness this beautifully pure and wholesome blossoming of an against-all-odds friendship.

Which brings us to Aug. 26. At a Foo Fighters performance in California, a group of stage techs rolled out a temporary riser adorned with a pint-sized pink drum kit as Grohl addressed the crowd. He talked about 2020 and the unlikely friendship that formed online, across a physical distance spanning thousands of miles. He laid out the whole story of his back-and-forth with Bushell, detailing how she “whoop[ed] my fucking ass” multiple times.

“But of course, this person inspired me last year so much, and I’ll tell you why,” he added. “Because in a time when you would pick up your phone or turn on a computer all you had was bad news. For that one day, you could pick up your phone and see this connection between two people that have never met making music together and spreading joy and love all across the world.”

“So ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome the most badass drummer in the world, my new friend, Nandi.”

Cue the music. A killer performance of “Everlong,” captured above by a fan in the audience. Grohl didn’t dare test his mettle against Bushell, now 11, this time. He just played right along with her as she brought the house down.

The easiest way to get in a workout routine and stick with it? Make the workout come to you.

With these 15 exercise machines and accessories on sale as of Aug. 29 for a limited time, you can save on the workout machine of your dreams. When you don’t have to get yourself out the door and to the gym, it’s a lot easier to stick to working out for even just 30 minutes per day. 

Bonus: When you spend $50 or more, you’ll automatically get $10 credited back to your account within 14 days for future use.

Vortex VX3 Fluid Assist® AR Water Rower

You don’t have to live near the water to go rowing. With the Vortex AR water rower machine, you can build muscles in your arms, back, legs, and more. Get this machine on sale for $2,100 (regularly $3,195) when you use the code VORTEX18 at checkout.

LifePro FlexCycle Under Desk Exercise Bike

Why not burn a few extra calories while you sit at your desk? With this LIfePro under-the-desk exercise bike, you can easily get moving while you’re on conference calls, writing up reports, etc. Slash 20% off and take this bike home for just $149.99 (regularly $187) for a limited time.

Goplus Workout Cardio Fitness Bicycle

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on fancy stationary bikes (looking at you, Peloton). This one is on sale for 26% off and tracks calories burned, has inclined speeds, and more. Get it for just $369.99 (normally $499).

FlexStride Pedal Exerciser

You can take your workout anywhere with the FlexStride Pedaler since it folds up and easily transports with the built-in handle. Sit down and work your legs with this easy-to-use pedal exerciser that rests on the floor. Save 49% for a limited time and snag it for just $152.99 (normally $299).

SuperFit 2.25HP Folding Electric Motorized Treadmill w/ Bluetooth Speaker

Many people hesitate to get a treadmill because of all the space it takes up, but this one folds right up and into a closet or under the bed when you’re not using it. Plus, it features built-in Bluetooth speakers, so you don’t have to run with headphones. Save 56% for a limited time and take it home for just $549.99 (normally $1,269).

Goplus 2.25HP Folding Treadmill Running Machine LED Touch Display

Easily choose your incline, speed, and track how many calories you’ve burned with this treadmill that features an LED touch display. Plus, it folds up for storage. Get it on sale for just $769.99 (normally $999) for a limited time.

Costway Magnetic Foldable Rowing Machine

The magnetic tension system in this rowing machine allows for automatic adjustments, increased difficulty, and more. See your progress clearly on the LCD monitor display system and easily fold it up when it’s not in use. Snag it for just $489.99 (normally $689) for a limited time.

Goplus Magnetic Foldable Rowing Machine

This no-frills machine gets the job done with magnetic tension resistance and folds away easily when you’re done working out. Slash 25% off for a limited time and take it home for just $299.99 (normally $399).

Costway Indoor Exercise Bike

Everyone in your house can use this indoor exercise bike since it’s fully adjustable and can be set to different inclines, tensions, and more. Save 37% off of the retail price and get it for just $249.99 (normally $399).

GoRowinGo Water Rower Rowing Machine

This rowing machine features a built-in iPhone holder, cushioned seats, and ergonomic foot pedals, so you won’t stress out your body more just by working out. Plus, the backlit LED display even lets you track and monitor your goals. Take it home for just $599.99 (normally $849) for a limited time.

Apollo Pro V Reserve Indoor Rower

This Apollo Pro V Rower will help you achieve the best workout possible — and challenge yourself as you get better. Take it home for just $1,599 (normally $1,899).

E-350 Fluid Indoor Rower

This indoor rower has everything you need for a solid workout and nothing you don’t. It’s perfect for anyone who needs to put the machine away after use to save space, since it’s easy to roll away and maneuver. Get it for $1,999 (normally $2,695) for a limited time.

Neon Pro V Reserve with Smart Connectivity

If you find yourself too tall for normal rowers, this machine is perfect for you, since it has an elevated height. Plus, it lets you track your progress, choose different color plates, and more. Slash 15% off and get it for $1,699 (normally $1,999) for a limited time.

PRO 6 Arcadia Air Runner Non-Motorized Treadmill

This interesting treadmill has no on/off buttons and doesn’t run on a motor. It uses the natural incline of the floor and your speed to adjust automatically and keep going. Get it for $4,599 (normally $5,495) for a limited time.

PRO 6 Aspen Stairmill Stair Climber

Get the exercise benefits of stairs, even if you live in a small apartment, with this stair climber. Build strong legs, glutes, and more from the comfort of your own home. Snag it on sale for just $2,899 (normally $3,495).

TL;DR: Brush up on your coding skills with this Wheelson AI Self-Driving Car Kit, on sale for 10% off. As of Aug. 29, bring one home for only $107.99.

Self-driving cars are (very gradually) transforming the way we live — creating safer and more efficient roads. Although we’re still not quite to the point where we can fully multi-task while our cars take us places, autopilot features offer a lot more freedom on the road. These autonomous vehicles rely on things like sensors, actuators, complex algorithms, machine learning systems, and powerful processors in order to execute their software. It’s fascinating, truly. 

If you’ve ever been interested in how these robot cars run, you can actually build and code your own model with the Wheelson AI Self-Driving Car. Weighing in at 17 pounds and about the length of a remote-control toy, the Wheelson kit has all you need to build your own AI car.

Equipped with a camera and microcomputer, the car can help you learn about electromotors, camera calibration, computer vision, and more. As you follow the instructions to assemble your robot car, you’ll also get a better understanding of how autonomous cars work and how you can make yours navigate a road on its own. Once built, you’ll be able to code it to drive on its own using the camera, make it recognize QR codes on the floor and flash the built-in RGB LED accordingly, play with built-in line tracking and object recognition algorithms, and make custom programs in CircuitBlocks.

Get the kids involved and away from their screens for a few. This technology will only become more prominent in the coming years, so consider this DIY self-driving car their first lesson for a potential future career.

From the same creator as the Nibble DIY game console and the Jay-D DJ mixtable kit, the Wheelson offers another fun and educational way to get hip to today’s tech. For a limited time, you can grab it for $107.99 (regularly $119). Plus, when you spend $50 or more, you’ll also get $10 in credit added to your account within 14 days (so long as any returns made don’t dip your spend below $50). Use it on more DIY kits for you and the fam or on practically anything else your heart desires.

TL;DR: Bring a little spice to your outlets with this GlamSocket Decorative Multi-Outlet, on sale for 20% off. As of Aug. 29, grab one for only $27.99.

The GlamSocket Decorative Multi-Outlet not only helps protect your electrical outlets, but also extends them so they can power up more gadgets. It even acts as a phone holder, so you can keep your phone in place as it charges.

Plugging in this extender into your regular home outlet will give you three grounded A/C outlets, so you can plug in three devices at one time. There are also two 1A USB ports at the bottom, so you won’t need to purchase extra wall bricks to charge USB-powered devices.

The GlamSocket also features a surge protector built right in. If you’re ever worried about your devices overheating, it even has an indicator light to let you know it’s functioning the way it should.

Take a closer look:

Normally, the GlamSocket Decorative Multi-Outlet Protector, Phone Holder, and Extender retails for $34. For a limited time, however, you can save 20% off of the total retail price and take it home for just $27.99. There are five different decorative designs to choose from so you can get the one that best suits your home’s aesthetic.

TL;DR: As of Aug. 29, you can make your grocery shopping more green and grab the Lotus Trolley Bags four-pack for only $37.99, a 36% savings.

If you’re still grocery shopping using the store’s single-use plastic bags, what are you even doing? Not only do reusable bags offer an easy way to cut your carbon footprint, but they can also hold more groceries at once, making them much more convenient for an everyday trip to the store. 

If you still haven’t made this essential switch, there’s no time like the present — especially since a four-pack of Lotus Trolley Bags are on sale for only $37.99.

You might recognize the Lotus Trolley Bags from their feature on Good Morning America, but in case you don’t, here’s what you should know. Each of these durable double-stitched bags is made of polypropylene and can hold up to 50 pounds of groceries. They fit seamlessly inside of standard U.S. grocery carts and include support rods to hang on the sides and line your cart with an organization system. One of the heavy-duty bags is insulated for your cold items, while the other three have enough space for everything else. They even feature specialty pockets for eggs, wine, and other essentials.

See the system in action:

If you don’t need all four, they can be separated for individual use. And if you’re only making a quick trip, you can easily remove the support rod and just carry a bag on your shoulder. In between grocery trips, the entire Trolley Bag system rolls up into a compact, lightweight carrier to store until next time.

These bags even feature mold-resistant mesh bottoms to prevent unhealthy fungi and bacteria from brewing. Plus, they’re machine-washable. 

With scientists estimating 8 million tons of plastic trash washing into the oceans each year, it’s up to each of us to do our part in reducing single-use plastics. Snag the Lotus Trolley Bags for an easy way to help the environment. For a limited time, you can get a four-pack of reusable bags for only $37.99 (regularly $59). A percentage of every sale goes to high-impact non-profits that protect our oceans.

The city of Chicago is taking food delivery services Grubhub and DoorDash to court.

The lawsuit, described in an Aug. 27 news release from Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office, alleges that the two companies have been “engaging in deceptive and unfair business practices that harm restaurants and mislead consumers.” The city is seeking changes to the way each business operates (in the form of greater transparency), restitution for restaurants and customers, and fines.

A statement attributed to Lightfoot reads:

As we stared down a global pandemic that shuttered businesses and drove people indoors, the defendants’ meal delivery service apps became a primary way for people to feed themselves and their families, as well as support local restaurants. It is deeply concerning and unfortunate that these companies broke the law during these incredibly difficult times, using unfair and deceptive tactics to take advantage of restaurants and consumers who were struggling to stay afloat.

The release from the mayor’s office lays out allegations that apply to each individually, as well as a number that apply to both. The city’s lawyers claim that Grubhub and DoorDash both engaged in the practice of advertising their order and delivery services for restaurants that had no connection to the platforms.

The city also claims that both companies used “bait-and-switch” tactics that highlighted small delivery fees up front, only to lump in additional fees at the end of the order. “This increases the total cost of delivery by as much as six times the amount initially advertised,” the news release states. Menu prices on both platforms were also allegedly “significantly” higher than the same items would be when ordering from the restaurant directly.

In terms of specific alleged offenses, Chicago’s case notes that Grubhub: used “routing” telephone numbers that were misrepresented as direct lines to a restaurant, and even “regularly” charged said restaurant commission fees when such calls didn’t end in an order; created fake “impostor websites” for restaurants that would send customers to Grubhub; employed “deceptive, promotional campaigns to ‘save restaurants'” while passing the costs of those campaigns to the restaurants; and violated Chicago’s 15 percent “emergency cap” on restaurant commissions (i.e. the company allegedly took a greater cut that was legally allowed under Chicago’s pandemic relief rules).

Separately, the statement alleges that DoorDash: misled customers about tips going to drivers “when in fact the customer ‘tip’ was used to subsidize DoorDash’s own payment to its drivers”; added a “misleading ‘Chicago fee’ of $1.50 on every order in the city, deceptively implying the fee was required by, or paid to, Chicago” when in fact that money went to DoorDash.

A DoorDash spokeswoman offered this statement in response to the lawsuit: “This lawsuit is baseless. It is a waste of taxpayer resources, and Chicagoans should be outraged. DoorDash has stood with the City of Chicago throughout the pandemic, waiving fees for restaurants, providing $500,000 in direct grants, creating strong earning opportunities, and delivering food and other necessities to communities in need. This lawsuit will cost taxpayers and deliver nothing.”

The company also refutes several of the claims made in the lawsuit and associated statement from the city. It maintains that “Dashers” — the name used for its delivery workers — have always received 100 percent of their tips. DoorDash also notes that while new restaurants not partnered with the company haven’t been added to the site since Nov. 2020, those that were added prior didn’t face any fees and they all had the ability to opt out, after which they would be removed within 48 hours.

Mashable also reached out to Grubhub for a statement, but none was provided as of publish. The company had this to say in a statement provided to The Verge: “We are deeply disappointed by Mayor Lightfoot’s decision to file this baseless lawsuit. Every single allegation is categorically wrong and we will aggressively defend our business practices. We look forward to responding in court and are confident we will prevail.”

It’s worth mentioning that Chicago’s lawsuit didn’t exactly materialize in a vacuum. In one example, a 2020 report detailed the Grubhub practice of listing non-partner restaurants on its ordering site. In another example, one which undercuts DoorDash’s claim that Dashers have “always” received their full tips, the company was forced to change its tipping model in 2019 and paid a $2.5 million settlement a year later after it came out that tips were being used to subsidize payments to delivery workers.

All of which is to say: There’s a lengthy history here that leads to Chicago’s lawsuit. DoorDash and Grubhub both may claim things are a certain way, but that doesn’t mean every claim is true. That’s what the legal process is for. So stay tuned.

Nearly a year and a half into the COVID-19 crisis, the pandemic of clueless celebrity asshattery continues to ravage our globe. In fact, the latest viral video capturing yet another celebrity crime against an unwilling public might be the worst one to date.

For some ungodly reason, the cast of the upcoming Cinderella movie musical decided to promote it by flash mobbing innocent Los Angeles drivers. And this being the world we all know, that flash mob quickly moved beyond the hell of LA traffic and into a social media pile-on.

With all the tone-deafness of a Gal Gadot “Imagine” video, the viral clip shows Camilla Cabello, James Corden, Billy Porter, and Idina Menzel seemingly dressed in Target costumes while inflicting a high school theater-caliber rendition of Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud” on unsuspecting civilians.

Yes, you heard that right. They even somehow managed to drag J. Lo into this cursed mess, in what I sincerely hope is grounds for a cease and desist letter. The onslaught of violations didn’t stop there, either. In what one can only be described as the “climax” of this cringe-horror short film, a rat suit-clad James Corden begins vigorously dry humping the air near the driver’s window.

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A Twitter user who originally posted one of the videos (and presumably witnessed the event) had a positive takeaway. I’m happy for them, but cannot help but project some exhaustion into their uttered response to Corden’s antics: “Oh, wow.”

Everyone on planet Earth seems to have picked up on the fact that celebrity culture as we once knew it died somewhere back when the pandemic first hit in 2020. Everyone except for the most clueless celebrities, that is.

As these wealthy millionaires continue to spread their chronic Not Reading The Room-itis on the public, we find ourselves too busy dealing with unprecedented economic free fall, climate-related disasters, class inequality, housing and eviction crises, emotional trauma, burnout, and oh, also: an ongoing global pandemic that’s claimed millions of lives so far.

Jokes aside, cringe-y pandemic-era videos from celebs aren’t doing any real harm, other than perhaps to the public goodwill for said celebrities. But the vitriol antics like these summon in so many on the internet is one sign of a shift from the rich and fabulous being celebrated as an aspiration, and more towards seeing their existence as an insult to our everyday struggles.

I mean, god almighty, the last thing anyone attempting to survive a commute to work in Los Angeles needs is a bunch of celebrities — all of whom likely got a ride to this intersection from a personal driver — stopping traffic so they can sing at you about starring in yet another soulless million dollar-budget Hollywood remake nostalgia cash grab. Not to mention the fact that they’re doing it unmasked, while interacting with total strangers.

Luckily, though, Twitter was quick as ever to remind these celebrities that, Kim, there’s people that are dying.

A good chunk of the clip’s viral spread originates in a re-share, below. It’s since been ratio-ed to hell, with more than 22,000 (and counting) quote tweets, accompanied by a comment section that reads like group therapy.

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One man pondered the impossible question of what he would have done in such an unthinkable situation.

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But a ton of other Twitter users just came right out and said what a lot of us are thinking.

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Some began sharing the clip with something akin to a trigger warning, hoping to spare the blissfully unaware of witnessing what the rest of us cannot unsee.

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Another turned tragedy into opportunity, with an edit that spares Jennifer Lopez from any unwilling participation by replacing “Let’s Get Loud” with a more tonally appropriate soundtrack.

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Or maybe a Bible quote from the Book of Revelations is what we need to get us through this unspeakable horror.

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There’s Los Angeles slander being flung around, too. But please, as a resident of the city in question, I beg you to not blame the innocents who suffer most from celebrity tyranny.

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A few other LA residents put it into perspective, asking for the internet’s sympathy when you imagine us enduring not only our city’s notoriously bad traffic, but this goddamn bullshit too.

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Indian entertainment is so much more than Bollywood’s world-famous musicals. There are regional productions in languages from all over the country, phenomenal short films, and lately some really excellent television — but before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s start small.

Amazon has an impressive collection of Hindi movies — the most mainstream language for Indian movies, but with a variety of genres. Want to check out a Bollywood classic and see what all the fuss is about? Look no further! Want an underrated gem with an unhappy ending? We’ve got that too. A few titles even overlapped with Netflix’s library, so be sure to check out both!

Here are the 11 best Hindi movies available on Amazon Prime in the U.S.

1. Raazi (“Compliant”)

Alia Bhatt plays a married woman spying on her family in “Raazi.”
Credit: aa films / zee studios international

One of the best mainstream Indian films of the 2010s is this one, written and directed by Meghna Gulzar. Alia Bhatt stars as Sehmat Khan, a young woman recruited to spy for India during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Sehmat is married into a Pakistani family and tasked with spying on them by her father, who dies shortly after the wedding.

Raazi contains familiar sequences from any spy movie; the training montage, tense surveillance, and brushes with death — but Bhatt’s performance grounds the toll of espionage in a way that few films do. Sehmat often breaks down after a high-stress encounter or upon seeing the consequences of her actions, the body count of a war purportedly greater than any of the individuals caught in its crossfire. Many Indian films succumb to blind nationalism, but it feels different through the eyes of a younger India and Pakistan, and through characters like Sehmat’s husband Iqbal (Vicky Kaushal) who are never villainized but made real and relatable.

How to watch: Raazi is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

2. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (“Sometimes joy, sometimes sadness”)

Karan Johar directs a stacked cast of popular stars in “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.”
Credit: yash raj films

Better known as K3G, Karan Johar’s three-and-a-half hour epic is the family drama of the 2000s, and it’s basically two movies: First, the story of Rahul (Shahrukh Khan), eldest son of the wealthy Raichand family, who falls in love with quirky village girl Anjali (Kajol) and is subsequently disowned by father Yash (Amitabh Bachchan). The second half finds Rahul’s now-grown brother Rohan (Hrithik Roshan) traveling to London to reunite the family, almost Parent Trap-style, while also courting Anjali’s queen-bee sister Pooja (Kareena Kapoor).

While ostensibly made just to bring together the hottest romantic pairings in three generations of actors (Bachchan’s real-life wife Jaya plays the Raichand matriarch), Johar’s tonally chaotic film is Bollywood to a T. Khan and Kajol’s iconic chemistry ignites the first half, while the second gets downright goofy (but so, so fun) with Rohan and Pooja. Kapoor and Roshan were hot commodities at the time, but the former often got typecast as a sex symbol and romantic lead without the kind of depth of which she’s clearly capable. K3G allows her to flex that range, and the “Poo” scenes are now so iconic that hardcore Bollywood fans quote her with the ubiquity of Mean Girls.

Come for the sexual tension, stay for the surprising feminist icon, and then cry your freaking eyes out for like 40 mins at the end. Hey — the title warned you.

How to watch: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

3. Gully Boy (“Street boy”)

Ranveer Singh does some of his best work in Zoya Akhtar’s “Gully Boy.”
Credit: zee studios international

Ranveer Singh plays Murad, a college student in the Mumbai slums who finds solace in rap music. As he learns more about the genre, he tries his hand at lyrics and performance, exhibiting a natural talent that quickly sweeps him up in local stardom — and then some. Singh, Alia Bhatt, and director Zoya Akhtar are three titans in the current age of Indian cinema, and their collaboration is as powerful as you’d expect. The soundtrack features dozens of Indian rappers and musicians from all over the country, including a track with executive producer Nas.

How to watch: Gully Boy is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

4. Dil To Pagal Hai (“The heart is crazy”)

“Dil To Pagal Hai” still slaps after over 30 years.
Credit: yash raj films

This 1997 Bollywood classic stars Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, and Karisma Kapoor in a romantic musical dramedy. Khan plays Rahul, the director of a dance theater company, frequently supported, teased, and very much adored by his lead dancer Nisha (Kapoor). When Nisha injures her ankle, the company finds a new lead in Pooja (Dixit), who blows everyone away with her raw talent while she and Rahul fall inevitably in love.

Dil To Pagal Hai holds up after over 30 years due to a perfect storm of Bollywood talent, including veteran writer and director Yash Chopra, ’90s musical powerhouses Jatin-Lalit, and the feature film debut of choreographer Shiamak Davar, who would reign for years to come. Khan, Kapoor, and Dixit give grounded and magnetic performances, breathing life into Chopra’s irresistible script. As easy as it is to dismiss the film as a love triangle, Chopra’s script gives both Nisha and Pooja room to breathe, grow, love, and hurt — never pitting them against each other (except in one banger of a dance number) but reinforcing their emotional depth.

How to watch: Dil to Pagal Hai is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

5. Pataakha (“Firecracker”)

Two sisters fight viciously, much to the amusement of their nosy neighbor, in “Pataakha.”
Credit: b4u motion pictures

Sisters Badki (Radhika Madan) and Chutki (Sanya Malhotra) don’t just not get along; they scream, scrap, and fight with the ferocity of wild animals or dueling nation-states. Their beleaguered father (Vijay Raaz) does his best to quell the quarreling siblings, to no avail. Madan and Malhotra are fantastic in writer-director Vishal Bhardwaj’s best work since Omkara, holding nothing back as they screech and claw at one another in front of friends, husbands, children, and local villagers throughout their lives.

How to watch: Pataakha is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

6. Chak De! India (“Let’s go India!”)

Kabir Khan (Shahrukh Khan) coaches India’s women’s national field hockey team to victory in the 2011 film “Chak De! India.”
Credit: yash raj films

Who doesn’t love a poignant sports movie? Shimit Amin’s 2007 film follows on India’s national field hockey team, a ragtag group of women from vastly different religious and cultural backgrounds which illustrate India’s internal diversity and tension. It’s up to former men’s team captain Kabir Khan (Shahrukh Khan) to inspire his athletes like any fictitious coach worth his salt, not only to create a cohesive group of athletes but to redeem his own prior losses.

There’s a cocky star player (Sagarika Ghatge), a misguided loose cannon (Chitrashi Rawat), class conflicts between those from villages and cities, and judgment between players about everyone’s motivation for being and staying on the team. Khan does what he can, but this is a movie about India’s endlessly enduring yet constantly underestimated women. It’s them you’ll cheer for from start to finish.

How to watch: Chak De! India is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

7. Band Baaja Baraat (“Band music, wedding festivities”)

“Band Baaja Baaraat” follows the unlikely wedding planning duo of Bittoo (Ranveer Singh) and Shruti (Anoushka Sharma). The tagline translates to “Your wedding. Our tension” (our problem).
Credit: yash raj films

Despite early clashes as at a wedding he gate crashes, Bittoo (Ranveer Singh) and Shruthi (Anoushka Sharma) go into business together as wedding planners. After some early stumbling, business is booming — but it also leads, as Shruthi feared it would, to one or both of them catching feelings. Band Baaja Baraat is irresistibly charming, much like Sharma, who was fairly new at the time, and Singh in his dazzling film debut. First-time feature director Maneesh Sharma and writer Habib Faisal’s script keeps this from blending into countless Indian films and series about weddings, wedding planning, and love that forms amidst the revels of a shaadi.

How to watch: Band Baaja Baraat is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

8. Sherni (“Tigress”)

Vidya Balan in the 2021 action-thriller “Sherni.”
Credit: amazon

Forest officer Vidya Vincent (Vidya Balan) is sent to track an errant tiger in this film by Amit Masurkar. As a government official, Vidya deals with pushback from corrupt and powerful figures who either disregard the sanctity of Indian wildlife, or dismiss her because she’s a woman (strong women are sometimes referred to as sherni also).

Writer Aastha Tiku keeps the conflict understated yet simmering, always hinting at something greater like the tiger just out-of-sight. Balan is a known commodity for indelible performances, surrounded here by a supporting cast so authentic and superb that they feel impossibly real.

How to watch: Sherni is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

9. Hum Tum (“Me/You”)

Rani Mukherji and Saif Ali Khan star in “Hum Tum,” a Hindi remake of “When Harry Met Sally.”
Credit: yash raj films

This fun-filled remake of When Harry Met Sally follows Rhea (Rani Mukherji) and Karan (Saif Ali Khan) through over a decade of knowing each other. At first he annoys the hell out of her, both of them spouting cringey stereotypes about the other gender, but over time both characters mature, developing a firm friendship that grows into romantic love.

I revisited Hum Tum fearfully in 2018, certain that it would fall apart in the face of contemporary criticism, but it holds up surprisingly well. Khan and Mukherji’s chemistry is strong enough that they enjoyed a string of costarring features; together with writer-director Kunal Kohli they develop two characters who feels truer to to what many of us witness in our lives than any allegedly perfect representation. Forgive some very 2005 editing (and wardrobe) and you’ll enjoy the ride.

How to watch: Hum Tum is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

10. Thappad (“Slap”)

Ami (Taapsee Pannu) experiences her whole world shattered by one action in “Thappad.”
Credit: aa FILMS

The supposedly idyllic marriage of Ami (Taapsee Pannu) and Vikram (Pavail Gulati) shatters when he slaps her in front of dozens of witnesses at a party. It’s not a premise that just any cast and director could nail, but Anubhav Sinha makes the expert choice to follow Ami and Vikram’s crumbling domesticity through the voices and experience of everyone around them.

Domestic abuse is a huge problem in India, where even low percentages account for millions of women. The maid brushes off Ami’s experience and uses it to justify her own domestic abuse, while their single neighbor judges Vikram for even wanting to put the whole episode behind him. Ami’s brother has his own opinion, which in turn clashes with his wife’s. The slap is deliberately depicted at times as trivial and others as pivotal, actively gaslighting and challenging the viewer to find and hold onto their own viewpoint. This could so easily be a Bollywood Movie With A Message, and while Ami does deliver at least one tearful monologue, the rest of the film is far more provocative and interesting than many with more action.

How watch: Thappad is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

11. Dawaat-e-Ishq (“Feast of love”)

Credit: yash raj films

Gullu (Parineeti Chopra) and her father (Anupam Kher) hatch a scheme to meet prospective husbands for her and then eventually sue whomever asks for a dowry — money and goods paid for by the bride’s family as a gift to the groom’s.

The scheme is fun and interesting, but what puts Dawaat-e-Ishq on this list is three words: Aditya Roy Kapoor. Not only is Kapoor criminally charismatic as potential suitor Tariq, but he and Chopra sustain the film trough one-too-many musical montages and a slow climax with their insane chemistry. Come for the food, stay for the flavor.

How to watch: Dawaat-e-Ishq is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Months after hopping on the Clubhouse bandwagon, Twitter found a way to monetize it.

Twitter announced Friday that some users on iOS would be able to charge money for Spaces audio chats. That’s the feature Twitter launched back in May in response to the Clubhouse zeitgeist — a moment that now feels like ancient history.

Spaces live at the top of the timeline where Fleets used to be before their incredibly horny demise, and they allow people to listen in on live audio broadcasts hosted by people they follow. The paid version of the feature is known as “Ticketed Spaces.” Hi, monetization.

While it’s limited to select users on iOS for now, Twitter’s announcement said in no uncertain terms Ticketed Spaces will come to everyone at some point.

Tweet may have been deleted

Twitter opened applications for Ticketed Spaces back in June, as it started outlining a slew of ways for users to get paid for their posting efforts. It doesn’t seem like the company is placing extreme limits on what can happen in Ticketed Spaces, but the application page mentioned workshops and meet & greets with fans as possible uses for the feature.

For Twitter-based influencers, it could be an easy way to earn some cash for the mere act of engaging with an audience they may have spent a decade or more building without much monetary return until now. Though they may face a tough sell in an online space where users often say outright, with mock incredulity: “This website is free.”

As someone who has posted incessantly for years purely for the love of the game, I won’t judge anyone who choose to use, or ignore, this feature.