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This website offers uncensored, unfiltered sexual health education

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 13:00

The phrase, "There's a censorship problem in the United States," is a homing beacon for political and social division — instantly casting a sense of wariness about who is uttering it and for what aim. But it's also true. From continued legislative attacks on inclusive education to digital "shadowbanning" of accounts in social media algorithms, content is often gate-kept from the masses. 

Frida Uncensored, a new website launched alongside the cult favorite maternity brand's new fertility products, addresses this ongoing issue from a different perspective: One that hopes to circumvent the censorship around conception, pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding product education.  

Frida Uncensored provides Frida customers completely uncensored, anatomical tutorials for the use of their fertility and postpartum products — like a real-life version of the wholly unhelpful cartoons seen in the comically accordion-folded instruction packets for things like tampons and menstrual cups. The first set of videos, available today, feature adult entertainment actress and mom Asa Akira using tools like the at-home insemination kit and the Frida Mom peri bottle. Future videos will feature other real-life customers who can now apply to be a part of the Uncensored campaign. 

"Traditional and social media outlets are really effective tools to drive awareness that sites like this exist," Frida founder and CEO Chelsea Hirschhorn told Mashable. "That being said, we have a hard time even advertising using the word 'fertility.' We're at the whim of the algorithm, so to speak, and the algorithm needs a more human touch. The algorithm is not set up equitably." Recent reports have surveyed a consistently hostile advertising and content landscape for women's health brands, with social media algorithms routinely picking up words like sex, vagina, vulva, and period and flagging them as explicit content.

SEE ALSO: Instagram is limiting political content. Here's how to get around it.

The videos were created on an all-women set and shot on an iPhone without scripts or specific direction in an intentional move to create a sense of reality and candidness. "We deliberately picked women who are mothers, who have gone through the physical experience themselves, to... speak authentically and candidly about their experience," she said. "We prepped them with the products. We shot it on an iPhone. We wanted to make as little post production filtering and editing as possible. We wanted it to feel like several women getting together to chat about what to expect."

Frida Uncensored isn't for everyone, literally and metaphorically. The opt-in "stripped-down resource" is age-gated, but not age-restricted, and Frida expects pushback from its usual trolls. 

Credit: Abbey Drucker / Frida

"More than a third of women say that they feel unprepared physically for the experience that they just had when it comes to pregnancy, labor delivery, and postpartum recovery. If we can help a large majority of those women eliminate that fear and anxiety in anticipation of that experience, the platform should and could speak for itself," said Hirschhorn.

The website is supported by nonprofit advocacy group the Center for Intimacy Justice, a collaboration that Hirschhorn explained is bolstering their own calls for change. In 2022, the Center for Intimacy Justice released a report detailing Meta's systemic rejection of reproductive and women's health advertisements — the company later revised their content policies, which had considered the ads explicit. Despite the change, the center found continued rejection of women's health content. In 2023, it filed a complaint and accompanying petition to the FTC asking the federal organization to take action, backed by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Mazie Hirono, and Congressman Adam Schiff.

"Frida’s Uncensored campaign confronts alarming gaps in access to accurate health information online that leave women and people of underrepresented genders uninformed and underprepared in profound aspects of their lives," wrote the center's founder, Jackie Rotman, in the website's announcement.

To be clear, it's not just Meta blocking this kind of educational and advertising content. Last year, TikTok was accused of removing educational posts about medical abortion. Last month, both Meta and Google were found to be suppressing abortion information in global majority countries. According to a 2024 survey by the social media-based CensHERship Campaign, 90 percent of organizations sharing women's health education online had experienced censorship of their posts. These restrictions exist despite growing concern about sexually explicit (often plain pornographic) advertising on the same sites. 

"My hope is that there's an opportunity for effective, appropriate content and advertising that is applied equitably — in furtherance of women's health and, in particular, the reproductive experience," said Hirschhorn. "None of this is sexual in nature."

Just this month, Instagram removed a Frida post advertising lactation pads which featured the image of a nipple. Another rejected ad for Frida insemination kits showed no overt nudity but rather the seemingly controversial phrase, "Just add sperm!" 

Credit: Instagram screengrab / Frida Credit: Frida

As a decade-old brand, Frida has approached this environment head-on. "We're battle-tested," said Hirschhorn. They've campaigned for uncensored images of lactating, postpartum breasts. They've created campaigns to share real birth stories publicly — literally posting them on the sides of buildings. Tales of the brand being banned from using the word "vagina" on billboards and being blocked from advertising their products during the Academy Awards are part of company lore.

But even with years of experience and effort, Frida is still fighting the digital advertising Goliath. If just an illustrated outline of a breast is enough for Amazon to flag and remove a product listing, an example Hirschhorn gave with incredulity, the environment for informative, anatomically forward tutorials is suspicious at best, and outright antagonistic at worst. 

Amazon's algorithm flagged these cartoonishly pink breasts as sexually explicit content. Credit: Frida

Frida Uncensored skirts around traditional and social media, offering a new site unwedded to the restrictions of advertising algorithms and content curation.

"Censorship is such a polarizing word," said Hirschhorn. "But if we can allow the 'Girls Gone Wild' content, there has to be a way to filter age-appropriate, relevant content for women. We've been on a crusade to prepare women authentically and candidly, for many, many years. This is just sort of the next frontier for us: Taking matters into our own hands."

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 10

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 12:05

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 10 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 10

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, April 10, 2024:

AcrossWhat a little bird told me?
  • The answer is tweet.

Bird that's also a term in golf
  • The answer is eagle.

Made a mistake
  • The answer is erred.

Square thing that won't fit in a round hole
  • The answer is peg.

Pig's home
  • The answer is sty.

DownBad shirt choice for a fancy restaurant

The answer is tee.

Becomes damaged, like wood
  • The answer is warps.

Bird that's the symbol of the National Audubon Society
  • The answer is egret.

Mournful poem
  • The answer is elegy.

___ Mosby, main character on "How I Met Your Mother"
  • The answer is Ted.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eBay introduces AI-powered 'shop the look' features

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:49

eBay is adding an AI-powered feature to its iOS app to help shoppers discover personalized fashion suggestions.

The platform's new "shop the look" feature will appear as an interactive carousel of curated looks, and will base recommendations on customers' shopping history, providing "similar items and outfit inspirations". These suggestions will evolve based on an individual's buying habits and preferences.

SEE ALSO: Should we trust Amazon's AI-generated review summaries?

"Shop the look" will be available on the iOS app in the U.S. and UK, with Android support arriving later this year. The feature will appear to eBay shoppers who have viewed at least 10 fashion-based items over the course of 180 days. So if you're one of those enthusiast shoppers, the tool will be displayed on your eBay homepage and on the site's fashion landing page.

The e-commerce platform is powering its new tool with eBay.ai, also responsible for the introduction of AI-generated product listings that eBay launched in September 2023. The company is looking to explore expansion of the tool in other categories, too, aside from fashion.

eBay is one of many, in the slew of shopping-forward platforms, to add AI-based tools in the last few months alone. Meta just recently launched a set of AI features for both brands and sellers on Facebook and Instagram, while Amazon launched an AI shopping assistant back in February, offering product recommendations and comparisons across the Amazon catalogue.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Conan O'Brien angrily reacting to his old studio is peak late night

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:27

Conan O'Brien has many mixed emotions upon returning to his old building to appear on The Tonight Show — but chief among them is his trademark, explosive rage.

"I was here for 16 years doing the late night show," O'Brien tells Jimmy Fallon in the clip above. "When someone else is in your studio it feels weird. So I walked in and said, 'Who's in my old studio?' And they said 'Kelly Clarkson'. And I love Kelly Clarkson, who doesn't love Kelly Clarkson? But still I felt like, IT'S NOT RIGHT! BLASPHEMY! THEY SHOULD HAVE BURNED IT TO THE GROUND!"

"And then Kelly came out to say hi and I said, DON'T TALK TO ME! YOU MAKE ME SICK!!"

Credit where credit's due, O'Brien really commits to those outbursts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best advice I got for witnessing the amazing solar eclipse

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

In a world of hype, a total solar eclipse cannot be overhyped.

"On a scale of one to ten, a partial eclipse is a seven," Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut who experienced his first total eclipse (from down on Earth) in 2017, told Mashable. "And a total eclipse is a million." (A partial eclipse is when just a portion of the sun is blocked by the moon — an interesting experience, but nothing like totality.)

On April 8, 2024, millions like myself experienced the marvel of totality, when the moon completely blocked the sun. Leading up to the event, I received some invaluable advice from space and eclipse experts.

SEE ALSO: Solar eclipses were once extremely terrifying events, experts say

A total solar eclipse won't return to the Lower 48 states for another 20 years. But such an event does happen, somewhere on our planet, every one or two years. Whenever you happen to go to see one in the years or decades ahead, I'd suggest taking these bits of eclipse-wisdom.

Don't try to take pictures on your phone.

Three minutes goes by awfully fast.

Rather than waste a second taking a likely subpar photo, embrace the eerie darkness, the strange animal behaviors, the planets, the sun's corona, and beyond.

"Use those precious few minutes to observe all around you." 

"Don't worry about trying to get great photos of it," Richard Fienberg, an astronomer and senior advisor at the American Astronomical Society, told Mashable. "Use those precious few minutes to observe all around you." 

A particularly vivid solar prominence seen on the bottom of the moon-covered sun on April 8, 2024. Credit: NASA / Joel Kowsky Strive to watch the total eclipse with friends or family.

Most people can't describe their total eclipse experience to me. It's all at once thrilling, disquieting, reflective, and beyond. It's the perfect event to share.

"It's most fun to experience with other people, because of the surprise, and the awe."

"It's most fun to experience with other people, because of the surprise, and the awe," Melissa Barden Dowling, a Roman historian at Southern Methodist University, told Mashable.

Don't fret about weather predictions.

Climatologically, one of the regions with the worst odds for clear skies in early April is Vermont: It's often overcast or rainy in the spring. Yet much of the Green Mountain State had largely clear weather on April 8, 2024, making for an excellent eclipse experience. Weather, as you know, is terribly fickle.

"Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get," Fienberg told Mashable.

"Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get."

Of course, it's fine to chase the best weather as the prediction (about five to seven days out) becomes clearer. But many places with great odds for open skies didn't see much of the eclipsed sun, and vice versa. Sometimes, it's best to let the whims of weather be what they may, drop the atmospheric anxiety, and embrace what we're given along the rare path of totality.

Tweet may have been deleted Make sure your eclipse glasses are on this list.

In the modern day — rife with scams and devious claims on the internet — purchasing approved solar-viewing glasses can be a murky undertaking. For example, many sellers claim their products are "NASA-approved," but NASA doesn't endorse or promote any such products.

Problem solved: Use the American Astronomical Society's (AAS) carefully vetted list: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters.

"We're not going to link to anybody who is making false claims," Fienberg told Mashable. "Not only are we convinced the products are safe, we feel comfortable linking to these companies because they're following good business practices."

You simply don't want to miss a total solar eclipse.

Find a way to get in the path of totality. You won't regret it.

"If it is possible, make the effort and go see this thing."

"If it is possible, make the effort and go see this thing," the former astronaut Virts told Mashable.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Find out how to build a ChatGPT bot for $23.99

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 16, if you want to learn how to use ChatGPT for programming and even build your own ChatGPT bot, enroll in the Complete ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence OpenAI training bundle for $23.99 with code ENJOY20

ChatGPT may be fun to fiddle with, but it takes a little learning before you know how to really unlock the full potential of generative AI. You may not be a coding expert, but you don't necessarily have to be if you want to learn how to create your own AI bots, and you can learn how in the Complete ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence OpenAI Training Bundle. 

This four-course AI training bundle breaks down the basics of AI tools like ChatGPT and shows you how to write, code, and more. 

How ChatGPT codes for you

You don't need to be a pro programmer or an AI extraordinaire to study this bundle. No experience is required, and it even starts at the very beginning with the basics of how to use ChatGPT, including basic prompts and the types of things you can learn from the AI. 

Later courses introduce you to the basics of using ChatGPT to write longer content like blog posts before exploring more technical applications. You could learn how to use ChatGPT to create keywords to optimize your content or see how you can use AI to help you code. 

The latter half of this bundle focuses on programming your own AI chatbot, but you don't have to learn Python from nothing to do it. The final course shows you how to ask ChatGPT to code with you in Python, so it's almost like teaming up with your own AI tech worker. 

Only available for a few more days

You don't have to be a coding expert if you can learn to let AI do the legwork for you. 

Until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the Complete ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence OpenAI training bundle for $23.99 with code ENJOY20.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Mike Wheeler The Complete ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence OpenAI Training Bundle $23.99 at the Mashable Shop
$52.00 Save $28.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Pile on the pics with this $40 collage maker app

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: As of April 10, you can add a new look to your old photos by pulling them together into one of 400 collage templates using Pic Stitch Pro for only $39.99 for life. 

Pic Stitch Pro is built to be a versatile collage maker for iOS and Android devices. With hundreds of layouts,  filters, and dozens of different borders, it can help bring your creations to life. Whether you want to show off your fun family vacation or throw together a cheery visual for a company landing page, this collage app could be a great tool for anyone from students to families to professionals. Plus, it's on sale with a lifetime subscription that's only $39.99 (reg. $149). That's a better price than what you'd find on the App Store. 

Make collages for social media or fun

Pic Stitch Pro has over 400 collage layouts you can pop your pics and videos into, but that's not all it's designed to do. You can also edit and refine your photos in the app. Take advantage of editing tools for changing the lighting, contrast, color saturation, and more. For portraits, try out the tools for removing blemishes, or try others like blur, whiten, and even a redeye remover for those old-school photos. 

Other fun options to check out include the drawing editor which lets you add a hand-drawn creative flair. The meme editor is designed to let you turn photos or collages into meme text templates, and you can claim your work with the watermark editor. All of this is accessible through a user-friendly interface that also allows you to upload directly to your social media. 

Bring your memories together

Want to relive your university days? Throw together a cool college collage in a matter of moments with this intuitive app. 

For a limited time, you can get a lifetime subscription to Pic Stitch Pro Collage Editor for $39.99

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Maple Media Pic Stitch Pro Collage Editor: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at the Mashable Shop
$149.97 Save $109.98 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Pick up a near-mint iPad Air plus accessories for $140

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Until April 16, if you need a budget-friendly tablet, this near-mint condition iPad Air Gen 2 also comes with a stylus, screen protector, case, charger, and Beats Flex headphones for only $139.99. 

Finding a good gift for an Apple lover when you're on a budget isn't easy. Whether you're shopping for a treat for yourself or a gift for a loved one, an iPad might not be the first place you look for less expensive options. 

However, if you go for an older refurbished device, you could still see good performance and quality for a fraction of the price. This 2nd Gen iPad Air is in near-mint condition with a Grade "A" refurbished rating, but it's still on sale for just $139.99, and it comes with some cool accessories, too. 

A useful gift for Apple lovers

It may be refurbished, but this iPad Air 2nd Gen doesn't look it. The A rating means it's in near-mint condition, with minimal to no signs of wear, but the hardware does reflect the 2014 original manufacturing date. 

Still, with 16GB RAM and an A8X 1.5GHz processor, this tablet could be a reliable device for browsing, streaming, or FaceTiming. The 9.7-inch screen doesn't have any marks on it, and the 8MP iSight camera could still capture photos in excellent clarity. 

Looks great, works great, comes with extras

In addition to the iPad, this bundle includes some goodies that you might have ended up buying separately anyway. Those extras include renewed Beats Flex headphones promising premium sound, with a magnetic design that should keep them in place and tangle-free.

You'll also get a case, stylus, cable, adapter, and screen protector. Keep in mind that the color of the case and stylus may vary, but that just means you get a little surprise when you unbox all your gear.  

If you don't need the latest hardware, then you don't necessarily need to pay the high price for the latest iPad. 

Instead, you can opt for refurbished and get the near-mint iPad Air 2nd Gen with Beats Flex headphones and other accessories for only $139.99 (reg. $229). 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air 2nd Gen (2014) Space Gray (Refurbished: Wi-Fi Only) + Beats Flex Headphones Bundle $139.99 at the Mashable Shop
$229.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Put a new edge on your knives with this sharpener for only $55.99

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 16, this easy-to-use knife sharpener is only $55.99 with code ENJOY20

There's a time and place for shredded beef, and it's not when you're trying to slice into your steak with a knife too dull to get the job done. Dull knives are a frustration and a hazard, but taking them to a professional sharpener is expensive, and using the honing rod in your knife block only does so much. 

If you want to put the edge back on your knives, try a tool that's designed to make the process much more clean cut. The Angle Pro Knife Sharpener is a pro-quality tool to hone, sharpen, or put an all-new edge on your favorite knives. Normally, it'd be $199, but you can get it for $55.99 with code ENJOY20 at checkout through April 16. That's the best price online, too. 

A cut above the rest

It may look simple, but this kitchen essential has a sharp design. If one of your knives feels dull, this sharpener has different slots for different levels of blade maintenance. There are three spots for different angles of honing, sharpening, or putting an all-new edge on your blade. And you find out which slot to use with the included angle gauge that measures the angle of your knife edge. 

The ceramic wheels are built for straightening and realigning the blade, the diamond wheels for sharpening to a keen razor edge, and the tungsten rods to pull old knives back from the edge. 

Make your old knives feel new

No need to pay for professional sharpening or get new knives when your old ones get dull. 

Check out the Angle Pro knife sharpener and angle gauge for $55.99 with code ENJOY20 until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Angle Pro Sharpener Angle Pro Knife Sharpener with Angle Gauge $59.99 at the Mashable Shop
$199.00 Save $139.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Want more '3 Body Problem?' Here's how to watch the Chinese adaptation 'Three-Body'

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00
How to watch '3 Body Problem' and 'Three-Body' at a glance: MOST AFFORDABLE WAY TO WATCH '3 BODY PROBLEM' Netflix Standard with ads $6.99 per month Get Deal MOST AFFORDABLE WAY TO WATCH 'THREE-BODY' Peacock Premium with ads $5.99 per month Get Deal BEST AD-FREE WAY TO WATCH '3 BODY PROBLEM' Netflix Standard $15.49 per month Get Deal BEST AD-FREE WAY TO WATCH 'THREE-BODY' Peacock Premium Plus $11.99 per month Get Deal BEST LONG-TERM PEACOCK DEAL Peacock Premium annual plan $59.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST PRIME VIDEO DEAL Prime Video (as a standalone service) $8.99 per month Get Deal

Captivated by the mind-bending series that is Netflix's 3 Body Problem? Sad that you have to wait for a second season? Don't have time to read the books the series is based on, the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy by author Liu Cixin? Then allow us to turn your attention to the Chinese adaptation that came before it. If you want to consume more of the larger-than-life sci-fi story, here's what you need to know.

When will Season 2 come out?

While Netflix's 3 Body Problem hasn't officially been given the green light for a Season 2, the showrunner team of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are optimistic. "Honestly, the ending of the third book is one of my favorite endings of any giant saga of all time, so we want to get there," Benioff said in an interview. "The hardest thing is always the first season. Can we justify the big investment from Netflix? I feel like this will grow as it grows. I’m hopeful."

Season 1 has earned some mixed reviews (check out our full review of the series), but one thing is certain: audiences are intrigued. It may not follow the book as much as people had hoped, but it still sits at a 79% rating (both critics and audiences) on Rotten Tomatoes. Will that be enough for Netflix to take the gamble?

In the meantime, you can consume all 30 (yes, you read that right) episodes of the Chinese version.

Wait...there's another adaptation of The Three-Body Problem?

Yep! A Chinese adaptation from Tencent, dubbed Three-Body, aired in China last year. Conveniently, per The Hollywood Reporter, Peacock acquired the rights to it in early February. Like the new Netflix series, Three-Body is adapted from The Three-Body Problem, the first novel in Liu's trilogy, and offers a different perspective on the story. A presser from NBCUniversal stated, “With all the buzz surrounding Netflix’s English adaptation, we’re excited about the opportunity for sci-fi and Chinese drama fans to watch the Chinese-language original (with English subtitles) ahead of the Hollywood adaptation.”

Here's a trailer for the Chinese adaptation:

What's the difference between Netflix's 3 Body Problem and Tencent's Three-Body?

The most obvious difference is that one is in English and the other is in Chinese with English subtitles. Netflix's 3 Body Problem is also just eight episodes, while Tencent's Three-Body is a whopping 30 episodes. Obviously, with 30 episodes, the Chinese adaptation is able to stay more true to the content of the book, while the English adaptation takes a few more liberties in order to condense the plot and still remain comprehensible. Each has its perks and its criticisms, of course. You'll have to watch them both for yourself in order to choose which adaptation is better.

How to watch 3 Body Problem

In case you're late to the game, 3 Body Problem is a Netflix Original Series. That means the only way to watch it is with a Netflix subscription. Currently, there are three different Netflix tiers: Standard with ads, Standard, and Premium. If you don't mind watching a few ads here and there, the Standard with ads plan is by far the most affordable at just $6.99 per month. To remove the ads, you'll have to fork over $15.49 per month or $22.99 per month for the Standard or Premium plans, respectively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Starting at $6.99 per month Watch Now How to watch Three-Body: Is it streaming?

If you've already made it through all eight episodes of 3 Body Problem and you're patiently awaiting Season 2, Three-Body will make for a good binge-watch while you wait. As of Feb. 10, NBC released the complete 30-episode English-subtitled version of Three-Body on Peacock. It's also streaming on Prime Video, so you have a couple different options for watching. Peacock is the more affordable option, with plans starting at just $5.99 per month, while Prime Video will run you $8.99 per month (as a standalone service) or $14.99 per month as part of a Prime membership.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium or Premium Plus $5.99 per month or $11.99 per month Watch Now Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime Video $8.99 per month as a standalone service Watch Now Best Peacock streaming deals

Before you sign up for Peacock to watch Three-Body, do yourself a favor and check out the deals below to see if you're eligible for a discounted subscription. You may even qualify for a free account.

Best long-term Peacock deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Starting at $59.99 per year (save $11.89) Get Deal

You can get more bang for your buck if you choose to subscribe to an annual Peacock plan as opposed to a monthly plan. It'll cost you either $59.99 per year (Premium) with ads or $119.99 per year without (Premium Plus) — that's 12 months of streaming for the price of 10, or about 17% in savings total. If you're not interested in sticking around long-term, however, you're better off just signing up for $5.99 per month, then cancelling.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Get Deal

Xfinity customers: check your Peacock Premium eligibility through your account. You might be able to stream for free. Here are the deets:

  • Xfinity Internet users on the Gigabit or Gigabit+ plans can score free Peacock Premium for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025).

  • Xfinity Internet customers that are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can also score Peacock Premium for free as a reward. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then wait for your email (it may take a couple hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

  • NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

  • New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock Deal for students Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $1.99 per month for one year Get Deal

Students can sign up for Peacock Premium for only $1.99 per month for an entire year. The only requirement is that you can prove you're actually a student via SheerID. Once you pass the verification process, you'll get a unique promo code to secure the discount. Just note that the code can only be used once — no sharing!

Best Peacock deal for first responders Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders $1.99 per month for one year Get Deal

Likewise, if you're a first responder, you can score Peacock Premium for only $1.99 per month instead of $5.99 per month. You'll have to verify your first responder status through SheerID and sign up using the unique promo code sent to you. Each year you continue to meet verification qualifications, you can renew the deal. Just note that you'll have to go through the process and receive a new promo code each time. Learn more about eligibility terms and requirements.

Best for Instacart users Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $59.99/year) Get Deal

As 2023 was wrapping up, Instacart announced a new partnership with Peacock: New and existing Instacart+ members ($99.99/year) now get Peacock Premium included for free with their subscription. That's a $59.99 per year value. If you're an Instacart+ member, be sure to take advantage of this freebie if you haven't yet. Instacart+ membership costs $99.99 per year and includes free grocery delivery on orders over $35, lower fees, credit back on eligible pickup orders, and more. Not to mention, your first two weeks are free, so you could potentially watch all 30 episodes of Three-Body without paying a cent.

Best for JetBlue members Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / JetBlue Peacock Premium Free for one year for Mosaic status members Get Deal

Last but not least, JetBlue TrueBlue members with Mosaic status can get an entire year of Peacock Premium for free ($59.99 value) through July 2025. The offer is only valid for new Peacock subscribers, though. If you're not a Mosaic status member, you can still earn 1,000 free TrueBlue points when you sign up for Peacock on your own. Learn more about eligibility and terms over on Peacock's special offer page.

Prime Video streaming dealsBest Prime Video deal for students Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime Student subscription Free 6-month trial, then $69 per year (save 50%) Watch Now

Like Peacock, Amazon offers students a discounted Prime subscription. Kick things off with a six-month free trial, then enjoy all the Prime perks, including Prime Video, for only $69 per year — that's 50% off a typical annual Prime membership. You'll just have to prove you're a student through SheerID. Note that the free trial period is only available to new members.

Best for everyone else Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime Video only $8.99 per month (save $6 per month) Watch Now

You can save some money — $6 per month, to be exact — by subscribing to Prime Video as a standalone service, rather than paying for a full Prime account. A full Prime membership will run you $14.99 per month (or $139 per year, which breaks down to $11.58 per month). Meanwhile, Prime Video on its own is just $8.99 per month. That's not as cheap as Peacock, but you will save $6 per month overall.

Naturally, Amazon wants you to sign up for a full Prime membership. Therefore, signing up for Prime Video only can be pretty tricky. When you go to sign up for a subscription, be sure to select the option to "see more plans" or "change plan" and navigate to the Prime Video only option for $8.99 per month. You can cancel whenever you please — no strings attached.

Best long-term value Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Prime annual membership $139 per year (save 22%) Watch Now

If you want all the Prime perks, you can also choose to sign up for an annual membership for $139 and save about 22%. That drops the monthly cost to just $11.58 instead of the usual $14.99. You'll enjoy access to Prime Video to watch Three-Body (and plenty of other shows and films), plus fast and free shipping, free Grubhub+, access to Amazon Music, and exclusive shopping deals for an entire year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

18 essential movies about the fight for women's equality

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

The modern feminist movement isn’t an ambiguous, shapeless mist that has acted of its own volition over decades. It’s made up of people. Women and their allies, whose courage, determination, and will to resist, organise, research, demonstrate, and outright demand the right to equality and justice can’t truly be captured in a couple of hours.

But directors give it a shot anyway.

There’s a notably limited amount of mainstream feature films that depict those who have stood at the forefront of the fight for women’s equality, but there are some truly excellent ones among those that have been made. From a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg taking sex discrimination to court to the factory workers strike that changed UK labour laws, to the women who shook up NASA, the fight for women’s equality is full of cinematic moments that deserve to be honoured onscreen in every detail.

SEE ALSO: Mashable's podcast 'History Becomes Her' examines the trailblazing women inspiring those making history right now

Though these films depict or are inspired by key real figures and moments from history, the fight is ongoing, and the movement toward equality for all women under the law remains rife with blind spots. There's serious work to do on intersectional representation, for instance, and that goes for which stories Hollywood has historically chosen to tell. It’s undeniable that the large majority of films about those pioneers who have paved the way for women’s equality centre the narrative around white cis women, often marginalising or excluding the roles women of colour and trans women and non-binary people played in the same movement. It’s left mostly up to documentaries to tell these stories, of which there are many excellent ones, but c’mon, Hollywood.

Nonetheless, these strong, history-based films (and a couple of really good documentaries) — presented in no particular order — shine an interpretive light on the stories of real women: mothers, daughters, sisters, everyday revolutionaries, who often paid immense personal costs fighting for our right to live equally under the law. Taking a couple of hours to learn their stories, to appreciate their struggle, triumph, and sacrifice is the very least we can do.

1. Hidden Figures Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan, leading the West Area Computing Unit. Credit: Hopper Stone / Levantine / Kobal / Shutterstock

Based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s book, Hidden Figures shines long-delayed light on three Black women who worked in crucial roles at NASA during the Space Race in the '60s. The film stars Taraji P. Henson as mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the success of the Mercury-Atlas 6 orbital mission, marking a turning point in the race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It also features Janelle Monáe as Mary Jackson, NASA's first female Black aeronautical engineer; and Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan, a mathematician and NASA's first Black supervisor.

All three women achieved their positions amid blatant sexism and racism while segregation was still legal (though the film downplays the racism significantly in the actions of the white lead characters). They also used their platforms to help other women get a leg up, even when targeted by white female colleagues during the process.

SEE ALSO: What is white feminism and how does it harm women of colour?

As Johnson concludes in a graceful retort in the film to a sexist comment about her job, “So yes, they let women do some things at NASA, Mr. Johnson, and it’s not because we wear skirts. It’s because we wear glasses. Have a good day.” —Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: Hidden Figures is now streaming on Disney+ and fuboTV in the U.S., on Disney+ in the UK and Australia.

2. On the Basis of Sex Felicity Jones stars as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in  'On the Basis of Sex'. Credit: J Wenk / Focus Features / Kobal / Shutterstock

Based on the early life and career of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, On the Basis of Sex focuses on the landmark case that would set a precedent for sex discrimination and set Ginsburg on a path to become the leading gender rights lawyer of her generation.

Set in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, decades before she would become the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, the film follows Ginsburg as a determined lawyer, as she and her husband Marty take on Moritz v. Commissioner, the first federal case to declare discrimination on the basis of sex unconstitutional. Felicity Jones is fiercely brilliant as the young RBG, tearing down the system by the book amid rampant, institutionalised sexism everywhere from the Harvard Law School lecture halls to the U.S. Court of Appeals. —S.C.

How to watch: On The Basis of Sex is available to rent/buy on Amazon or Apple TV+ in the U.S. and the UK, and is streaming on Netflix in Australia.

3. Suffragette Anne-Marie Duff, Carey Mulligan, and Helena Bonham Carter in  'Suffragette'. Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Set in 1912, Suffragette (a term itself more common in the UK versus the U.S., where "suffragists" is more acceptable) recounts a group of working women who joined, organised, and fought for the women’s suffrage movement in the UK, and who were arrested, fired, beaten, and died for it. Movement leader Emmeline Pankhurst (played with ferocity by Meryl Streep), has called for a national campaign of civil disobedience after decades of peaceful protest for the right to vote has gone ignored. We gain insight into the fight through laundress and mother Maud Watts (a fictional character played by Carey Mulligan), who endures brutal working conditions and finds her way into the local movement. The film represents real activists as well as characters based on them — for one, Maud meets activist Emily Davison (Natalie Press) in jail, whose sacrifice for the movement made global headlines and history.

SEE ALSO: The bold suffragists you likely didn’t learn about in school

Written by Abi Morgan and directed by Sarah Gavron, Suffragette gives a glimpse into the means by which women covertly organised and seized attention for their rights after campaigning peacefully for 50 years, from hunger strikes to bombing pillar boxes. One thing the film does with significance is present the cruelty and harassment experienced by suffragettes not just by law enforcement but their families, husbands, neighbours, and colleagues. And it must be noted the film’s marketing campaign received criticism, reopening conversations about racism against women of colour in the movement and the exclusion of women of colour from the film. —S.C.

How to watch: Suffragette is streaming on Kanopy and is available to rent/buy on Amazon in the U.S., Disney+ in the UK, and Stan in Australia.

4. The Glorias Lorraine Toussaint and Julianne Moore as Flo Kennedy and Gloria Steinem. Credit: Dan McFadden - Courtesy of LD Entertainmet and Roadside Attractions.

Four actors — Julianne Moore, Alicia Vikander, Lulu Wilson, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong — take on different incarnations of feminist icon, journalist, and activist Gloria Steinem in Julie Taymor’s surreal biopic The Glorias. Based on Steinem’s own iconic memoir My Life on the Road, the film traces her journey through a wildly eventful life as a champion for women’s liberation and a leading figure in the feminist movement in the ‘60s, ‘70s and beyond.

Steinem’s work was shaped by iconic feminist leaders driving an intersectional movement, many of whom are featured in the film. There's activist and Ms. magazine co-founder Dorothy Pitman Hughes (Janelle Monáe); lawyer, activist, and speaking partner Florynce “Flo” Kennedy (Lorraine Toussaint); first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation and activist Wilma Mankiller (Kimberly Guerrero); labor activist Dolores Huerta (Monica Sanchez); and congresswoman and lawyer Bella Abzug (Bette Midler) among others. — S.C.

How to watch: The Glorias is now streaming on Freevee (with ads) in the U.S., on NOW in the UK, and SBS On Demand in Australia.

5. Made in Dagenham 'Made in Dagenham' depicts the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968. Credit: Bbc / Kobal / Shutterstock

In 1968, 187 female factory workers at the Ford Motor Company’s Dagenham plant in London led a law-reforming strike, demanding the eradication of sexual discrimination in the workplace. After walking out of their sewing machinist jobs due to a "regrading" of their job skill level (and pay) compared to their male co-workers, car production ground to a halt. The strike garnered the kind of public attention that eventually led to the passing of the Equal Pay Act in 1970.

In Nigel Cole’s 2010 film, The Shape of Water’s Sally Hawkins brilliantly leads the charge as the fictional Rita O’Grady, a protagonist inspired by the real women whose fight for equal compensation for their labour would change history for working women in the UK. The stacked cast includes Rosamund Pike, Andrea Riseborough, Miranda Richardson, and Bob Hoskins. —S.C.

How to watch: Made in Dagenham is available to rent/buy on Amazon and Apple TV+ in the U.S., and is streaming on Binge in Australia. It's not currently available to watch online in the UK (weirdly).

6. Battle of the Sexes Do not mess with tennis players. Credit: Ms th Century Fox / Kobal / Shutterstock

Emma Stone is ace as tennis legend and gender equality activist Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes. Written by Simon Beaufoy and co-directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, this 2017 film centers around the famous 1973 tennis match between King and the overtly sexist Bobby Riggs (played perhaps with too much charm by Steve Carell). If you can get through this film's dialogue without punching a wall, good for you.

The crux of the film is the constantly reiterated sexist idea that women and men players are unequal in tennis ability or audience interest, an unfounded claim by top dogs at the U.S. Tennis Association. Riggs echoes this attitude with his boasts that he can beat any woman on the court, even at age 55. King eventually agrees to take on Riggs to disprove his claims in the iconic “Battle of the Sexes” match. — S.C.

How to watch: Battle of the Sexes is available to rent/buy on Amazon and Apple TV+ in the U.S., and is streaming on Disney+ in the UK and Australia.

7. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson Trans rights activist and icon Marsha P. Johnson. Credit: Netflix

The fact that no one has yet made a feature film about Marsha P. Johnson is outrageous, so here’s one of a few documentaries we’ve snuck into this list. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson follows the relentless pursuit of justice by activist Victoria Cruz as she investigates the suspicious death of the transgender icon in 1992 amid a broader look at the LGBTQ+ rights movement in New York City.

Directed by David France, the documentary examines the defining roles Johnson and iconic activist Sylvia Rivera played in the campaign for trans rights, including the formation of STAR (Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries) in 1970. Cruz's tireless work bringing to light discarded or half-investigated cases of violence against trans women forms the core of this film, and it’s a battle that’s not yet won.

It is worth noting that author, filmmaker, and activist Tourmaline alleged that director David France appropriated her research for his film. Her short film, Happy Birthday, Martha! is available to rent or buy on Amazon. It stars Mya Taylor as Johnson and Eve Lindley as Rivera. —S.C.

How to watch: The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Selma Tessa Thompson as Diane Nash. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima / Paramount / Pathe / Harpo / Kobal / Shutterstock

Selma focuses on the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, which were organized and led by Martin Luther King Jr., James Bevel, John Lewis, and Hosea Williams, and those icons — played by David Oyelowo, Common, Stephan James, and Wendell Pierce — are fully given their due. However, it's earned a place on this particular list because of the way writer/director Ava DuVernay significantly recentres the trailblazing women who stood alongside them and laid the groundwork for this pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.

There’s Tessa Thompson as Diane Nash, Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper, Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King, Lorraine Toussaint as Amelia Boynton, and many more peacefully protesting, strategising, and demanding the right to vote in the face of fearsome, violent, institutionalised racism. —S.C.

How to watch: Selma is now streaming on Paramount+, MGM+, and Amazon Prime in the U.S., on BBC iPlayer in the UK, and is rentable on Fetch in Australia.

9. North Country Frances McDormand and Charlize Theron in 'North Country'. Credit: Richard Foreman / Warner Brothers / Kobal / Shutterstock

Based on the true story of miner Lois Jenson and the landmark case that changed sexual harassment law in America, Niki Caro's North Country is a brutal, inspiring journey of resilience. In 1998, Jenson and her coworkers filed a lawsuit against their employer Eveleth Mines after enduring decades of unchecked abuse and harassment; it was the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit to be tried in a Federal court and set a precedent for others to follow.

With a script inspired by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy Gansler’s 2002 book about the case, North Country stars Charlize Theron as a fictionalized version of Jenson named Josey Aimes, who changes history for women in the workplace in America at an immense personal cost. The impressive cast includes Frances McDormand, Sean Bean, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson, and Sissy Spacek. It also snagged nominations for Theron (fresh off her 2003 Monster win) and McDormand. — S.C.

How to watch: North Country is available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ in the U.S. and UK and Australia.

10. The Janes 'The Janes' tells us about a fearless group of women determined to do something about access to legal reproductive healthcare. Credit: Courtesy of HBO

As has been proved time and time again, the legality of abortion does not affect the existence or frequency of abortions, only the safety of them. Without access to legal reproductive healthcare, desperate women in 1960s Chicago turned to back alley medical care so often that hospitals had separate, designated septic abortion wards to address the aftermath. Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes' poignant documentary The Janes tells us about a fearless group of women determined to do something about this egregious health crisis.

With minimalist ads in underground newspapers, the Jane Collective was able to provide over 11,000 illegal and completely safe abortions to women in need throughout the city from 1968 until Roe v. Wade in 1973. Through interviews with the Janes, former abortion providers, and even the cops who arrested them, we get a firsthand account of a world that just a few years ago would have seemed so far away. Prepare to be moved by the Janes' radical empathy for their clients, their high standard of emotional and physical care, and the massive humanitarian undertaking they launched at their own personal risk. A superb film whose message is especially resonant today, when women in many states have had their hard-won reproductive rights senselessly revoked. —Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: The Janes is now streaming on Max in the U.S., NOW in the UK, and Binge in Australia.

11. He Named Me Malala Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. Credit: Imagenation Abu Dhabi / Parkes+Macdonald / Participant Media / Kobal / Shutterstock

While this list focuses on feature films, we've included a few documentaries because overlooking the women at their center would be an egregious oversight — and that goes double for Nobel laureate, Oxford graduate, activist, author, and fierce champion for girls' education Malala Yousafzai.

SEE ALSO: Malala Yousafzai has a book club and yes, you can join

Directed by An Inconvenient Truth's David Guggenheim, He Named Me Malala takes a look at the life of the fearless young Pakistani activist who, at 15, was shot by the Taliban for speaking up for girls and their right to an education. In addition, the film interviews young women and girls about Yousafzai's impact and features stunning animations. —S.C. & K.G.

How to watch: He Named Me Malala is now streaming on Hoopla in the U.S. and available to rent/buy on Amazon, Apple TV+, and Google Play in the U.S., UK, and Australia.

12. Dolores United Farm Workers leader Dolores Huerta organizing marchers on the second day of March in Coachella, 1969. Credit: George Ballis / Take Stock / The Image Works

Dolores Huerta was a force of nature. Co-founder of the labor union United Farm Workers of America, along with Cesar Chavez, Huerta was a fiery champion of justice. And after experiencing sexism and discrimination within her own organization, she became dedicated to ensuring that this justice extended to everyone, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality.

Dolores is an exceptionally engaging documentary about a pivotal figure in the history of the American worker, and one who too often gets left out of the conversation. What’s more, Huerta understood, intimately, that women’s rights are labor rights. They go hand-in-hand; you can’t lobby for one without supporting the other. She was out there, fighting the good fight with a uniquely intersectional lens, years before the word “intersectional” had entered the zeitgeist. — K.G.

How to watch: Dolores is available to buy/rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime, in the U.S., UK and Australia, and is streaming on PBS in the U.S.

13. Iron Jawed Angels Hilary Swank plays American suffrage movement leader Alice Paul. Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Driven by an anachronistic early 2000s soundtrack as a significantly lighter take on history than Suffragette, Katja von Garnier’s 2004 film Iron Jawed Angels examines the U.S. women’s suffrage movement in the 1910s, through World War I.

Hilary Swank and Frances O’Connor take on the role of suffrage leaders Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, who joined the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) at a time when there was rising tension between established members like Carrie Chapman Catt (the inimitable Anjelica Huston) and the newer blood on strategy. Paul and Burns were championing the demand for a constitutional amendment to guarantee women the franchise with press-grabbing demonstrations, like the organisation of the first women's suffrage parade in Washington in 1913. The old guard, however, aimed to continue campaigning on a state-by-state basis.

SEE ALSO: Zing Tsjeng on pirate queens, resistance heroines, and history's forgotten women

The film seems slightly dated in 2020, and there’s an unnecessarily cringey romantic narrative, but it’s still an important story. Notably, the suffrage movement was not inclusive to all women, and racism was rife within it. Despite the lighter take on the era, thanks to an anachronistic early '00s soundtrack, Angels does address this lack of intersectionality with a dramatised scene featuring women’s rights campaigner and early civil rights leader Ida B. Wells (Adilah Barnes). In this scene, Paul has instructed Black women to march at the back of the segregated parade to pander to southern suffrage groups. Wells refuses this instruction, challenging Paul and Burns’ commitment to equality for only some women. We later see Wells marching with her state delegation. “I will march with my peers or not at all,” she says. —S.C.

How to watch: Iron Jawed Angels is now streaming on Max and Hulu in the U.S.

14. Confirmation Kerry Washington as Anita Hill in 'Confirmation'. Credit: HBO

In 1991, Anita Hill testified in Congress, accusing would-be Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, her former supervisor, of sexual harassment. She made history. “Many people viewing the hearings didn’t even realize that sexual harassment was something that was actionable, that they could file a complaint about. They had no idea what the concept was about," Hill told the New York Times during the #MeToo movement, decades later. "So we were at a very different point. In the decades following the hearings, that changed."

Confirmation recreates this hearing and the events surrounding it, with Kerry Washington delivering a strong performance as Hill alongside Wendell Pierce as Thomas. As the Times reports, in the year after Hill’s testimony, complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about sexual harassment went up 73 percent. The courage it took for Hill come forward is unimaginable, but the impact her actions had on others is immeasurable. — S.C.

How to watch: Confirmation is now streaming on Max in the U.S., on NOW in the UK, and Binge in Australia.

15. The Divine Order 'The Divine Order' follows the suffrage movement in Switzerland in the '70s. Credit: Pascal Mora / Zodiac / Kobal / Shutterstock

Women in Switzerland only got the vote in 1971. Why the delay? Switzerland’s direct democracy system made sure that a referendum was required for constitutional change — and only men could vote in a referendum. Petra Volpe'sThe Divine Order examines the Swiss suffragist movement through fictional housewife and local town leader Nora (played by Marie Leuenberger). It’s a lighter, even comedic look at the campaign for equality, and the power of small acts that make up a revolution. —S.C.

How to watch: The Divine Order is available to rent/buy on Prime Video in the U.S. and Australia.

16. I Am Woman Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Helen Reddy/ Credit: Goalpost Pictures

This lovely, crowd-pleasing biopic tells the story of Australian singer/songwriter Helen Reddy, whose chart-topping “I Am Woman” became the unofficial anthem of the Women’s Liberation Movement in the ‘70s.

Written by Emma Jensen, directed by Unjoo Moon, and starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Danielle Macdonald, and Evan Peters, I Am Woman deftly depicts Reddy's career rise in tandem with major historical moments in the women’s movement of the era. It is impossible to understate the effect her song, a groundbreaking celebration of womanhood, had on listeners of the day. In a sea of feminist movies that focus on female trauma, I Am Woman is a feel-good charmer that will leave you inspired and maybe wondering how you, too, can lend your own specific skill set to the women’s movement of today. — K.G.

How to watch: I Am Woman is now streaming on Netflix and Freevee (with ads) in the U.S., Prime Video in the UK, and Stan in Australia.

17. She Said Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan star in "She Said," a docudrama about the journalists who broke the Harvey Weinstein story. Credit: Universal Studios

Though it was released far too soon (the Weinstein trials were still going on and audiences were exhausted), there's no denying that the subject matter of She Said represents a pivotal moment in modern women's history. Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan play Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the Pulitzer prize-winning journalists whose groundbreaking New York Times story directly led to Harvey Weinstein's downfall. With sensitivity, respect, and a focus on the survivors, She Said tracks Kantor and Twohey's investigation into one of Hollywood's most powerful and predatory  men. 

Thankfully, the film correctly keeps its narrative centered on the brave women who made the choice to speak or go public about their experiences, preventing She Said from collapsing under the weight of its own harrowing content. While She Said might be a little too glossy at times, it's still a stirring entry about a singular moment in the recent fight for women's equality. Now that Weinstein is safely rotting in jail, it might finally be time to give it a watch.*K.G.

How to watch: She Said is now streaming on Peacock and is available to buy/rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ in the U.S. It's also streaming on NOW in the UK and Netflix in Australia.

18. She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry 'She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry' is fantastic primer on the Women’s Liberation Movement. Credit: Diana Davies

If you love women’s rights but can't keep your first, second, and third wave feminisms straight, then you need She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry. A fantastic primer on the Women’s Liberation Movement, this moving and informative documentary features archival footage and interviews from all the heavy hitters of the ‘60s and ‘70s. From The Feminine Mystique to Our Bodies, Ourselves, the National Organization for Women to the Women’s Strike for Equality, you’ll finish this film with a comprehensive knowledge of the turbulent era that fundamentally changed the American woman’s place in society. Directed by Mary Dore, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry will surely leave you in awe of the bravery of these social pioneers and inspired to keep up the fight for gender equality today. — K.G.

How to watch: She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry is available to buy/rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ in the U.S., UK, and Australia.

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.

Want more incredible stories of history-making women who inspire the women making history today? Check out Mashable's podcast History Becomes Her, hosted by features editor Rachel Thompson.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The new MacBook Air is the star of this week's best Apple deals

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

UPDATE: Apr. 10, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT Check out the latest Apple deals from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and more.

Best Apple deals this week: Best MacBook deal 2024 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,149.99 at Amazon (Save $149.01 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best iPad deal iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) $449 at Amazon and Walmart (Save $150) Get Deal Best iPhone deal iPhone 15 at Verizon $0 on a new line with select unlimited plans (Save $829.99) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) $189 at Walmart (Save $60) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple USB-C AirPods Pro $189 at Amazon and Walmart (Save $60) Get Deal

Apple may have an iron grasp on the general population, but when it comes down to it, their products look good, work well, and stay cutting-edge — so of course, people love 'em. Whether you build your calendar around Apple events or just want solid tech no matter the brand, Apple's got you covered. Sure, they're a little notorious for their high prices, but we've rounded up the best deals on iPads, AirPods, MacBooks, and more to help you save where you can.

iMac and MacBook deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: 2024 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,149.99 at Amazon
$1,299.00 Save $149.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air.

Thanks to an on-page coupon from Amazon, Apple's latest MacBook Air has dropped to a new low price. Considering that this laptop just hit the market in March, we're surprised to see it get a $150 markdown for seemingly no reason in particular. Of course, we're not complaining, as the larger screen makes the new Air a great choice for folks who need more space to work, especially for creative tasks like video or photo editing. The M3 chip will give you plenty of power for you workflow, and with the price drop, this Air is a more affordable alternative to the 14-inch MacBook Pro. And if you're looking for a bit more built-in storage, the 512GB model is also on sale for $149 off, too.

More iMac and MacBook deals

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

iMac

SEE ALSO: M3 MacBook Air vs. M2 MacBook Air: What’s the difference? iPad deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) $449.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review for the 2022 iPad Air.

The new iPad Air is rumored to drop in early May, but if you don't want to wait (or pay full price), the 2022 iPad Air is down to a record-low price. At $149 off, this deal beats its Black Friday price by about $50. Even though this tablet is a few years old, it still comes equipped with an M1 chip, a 10.9-inch display, and excellent battery life. Mashable's Stan Schroeder called this iPad the "sweet spot" for anyone who wants something a little more than the standard iPad but doesn't want to pay Pro-level prices. At the time of writing, it's on sale in multiple colors at both Amazon and Walmart.

More iPad deals

iPad (10th gen)

iPad (9th gen)

iPad Air

iPhone deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: iPhone 15 at Verizon $0 on a new line with select Unlimited plans (save $829.99) Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the iPhone 15.

The iPhone 15 hasn't really received the "get it free" deals treatment since it's been on the market. Although this particular deal comes with the standard caveats of requiring a new line and particular cell phone plan, it's still one of the best we've seen on this phone. With its USB-C charging port, Dynamic Island, and 48-megapixel camera, it is, as Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder calls it in his review, one of "the best new iPhones for most people."

More iPhone deals SEE ALSO: iOS 18: Everything we know about the next big iPhone update Apple Watch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple Watch Series SE (40mm, GPS) $189.00 at Walmart
$249.00 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If we're recommending a budget-friendly Apple Watch, we actually want it to be a budget-friendly. That's why we're fans of this 40mm Apple Watch SE deal, which knocks $60 off the price at Walmart, saving you 24% off the full price (at the time of writing, this watch is sold out at Amazon). Though you won't get a ECG app or always-on display like you would with the Series 9, you're paying a good $140 less. Plus, the Series 9 no longer comes with a functioning blood oxygen sensor, so it has even less of an edge.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 9

SE

More Apple Watch deals

AirPods and Apple accessories deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple USB-C AirPods $189.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review for the USB-C AirPods Pro.

Sadly, the AirPods Pro are no longer at the $180-low they dipped to during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Still, this $60 off discount isn't bad at all — and it certainly beats full price. We love these earbuds for their easy pairing to Apple devices and exceptional noise-cancellation, and we recommend them for travelers in particular. At the time of writing, you can grab them on sale at Amazon and Walmart, or for 99 cents more at Best Buy and Target (if you're a Target Circle member).

More deals on AirPods and Apple accessories
Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Buy Drops this week: Here are the upcoming products dropping through Best Buy's app hack

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

UPDATE: Apr. 9, 2024, 12:30 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with details on upcoming Drops between April 10 and April 12, including a custom Corsair SCUF Instinct Pro controller and the Samsung Music Frame.

When it comes to shopping, a scarcity mindset is just as convincing as that one friend who always enables you to buy something you don't need. It's why there's often a timer breathing down your neck from the corner of the screen during a sitewide sale. It's exactly why Amazon's invite-only Prime Day deals and Black Friday deals popped off, and why Walmart lets Walmart+ members get their hands on new groups of big shopping event deals hours before the general public can.

And it's probably why Best Buy conveniently announced Best Buy Drops just ahead of the holiday shopping season. We're pleasantly surprised that Drops turned out to not just be a holiday treat, though — it has solidified its spot as the middle tab of the Best Buy app, and we'll certainly be taking advantage of this unique shopping hack as long as Best Buy will let us.

SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV deals

Best Buy Drops is a shopping hack dedicated to giving shoppers a heads-up about upcoming high-profile items and deals in categories like gaming, cheap TVs, fan-favorite toys and merch, high-profile hair tools, kitchen gadgets, and more dropping at Best Buy in the next week. As long as you have the Best Buy mobile app, you can preview what's coming on what day so that you're ready to click "add to cart" when the item or deal goes live.

If a Drop is currently live while you're on the app, a status bar showing the percentage of inventory that has been claimed can give an idea of how fast you need to act. Once inventory for a certain Drop is gone, it's gone.

Drops can include a huge price slash on a popular item or availability of product that wasn't up for grabs before. Credit: Screenshot / Mashable

The Drops tab also keeps a list of past Drops, which have included a limited-edition PlayStation 5 Marvel's Spider-Man bundle, Pokémon Squishmallows, a super cheap 50-inch TV, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Even if you missed these, you at least have an idea of what similar items could pop up in the coming weeks. To look ahead, check the upcoming tab.

For extra cushion, you can opt-in to Drop Alerts for an extra reminder right before the drop of a product you care about goes live. Joining My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total will unlock even better discounts on Drops than what the general public is getting.

What's dropping at Best Buy April 10 through April 12

Best Buy is only revealing the names of the upcoming products — not their actual Drop prices — in the Drop preview tab, so any prices listed below are the current price of the said product as it is on Best Buy's site pre-Drop. Drops go live around 11 a.m. ET on the specified day (usually a string of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in any given week), and inventory is typically fully claimed by 5 p.m. that day.

Dropping: April 10 Opens in a new window Credit: Corsair Corsair SCUF Instinct Pro Black Tiger Custom wireless controller $239.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now

Serious Xbox-ers who have been eyeing the pricey SCUF Instinct Pro controller have another chance to get it into their hands for less than $200. To avoid a friend accidentally stealing yours, the one featured in this Drop is the custom Black Tiger model.

Opting for the Pro over the regular Instinct secures adjustable Instant Triggers that can eliminate the trigger pull (if you want) to activate action immediately with a single tap. Both Instinct controllers also feature SCUF's beloved four-paddle system that can be programmed to replicate the ABXY buttons. Unlike the competing Elite Series 2 controller from Microsoft, you can also personalize your Instinct Pro's physical look with interchangeable faceplates, D-pads, and thumbsticks.

Dropping: April 11 Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech MX Brio Ultra HD 4K Webcam $199.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal

Twitch streamers and YouTubers have a chance to seriously level up with this Drop. A 4K webcam is crucial for content creation, and Logitech's MX Brio is one of the best. It can stream in 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps, both featuring better face visibility than Logitech's older webcams through AI-enhanced image quality. Show Mode can flip the video to display what's on your desk, while rotating the cam can quickly shut it off completely.

The regular $199.99 price tag on the MX Brio was already decent, but we expect its Drop discount to shave at least $50 off.

Dropping: April 12 Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Music Frame $399.99 at Best Buy
Get Deal

Samsung released a slew of new products in March 2024, which included a unique new take on its beloved Frame products: a Music Frame. It's a smart speaker that, you guessed it, will look like a classic picture frame displayed on the walls of your home. But rather than rummaging for your Bluetooth speaker when you need some background tunes for a party or solo cooking night, the Music Frame will be right there with Dolby Atmos audio. It can also sync to your Samsung TV's speakers.

You can already get a free $100 Best Buy gift card when you snag the Music Frame at full price, so we're hoping for a direct discount with this Drop.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Single and over 40? Here are the best dating sites for finding your match

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 11:00

Deciding to get back into the dating game can be nerve-wracking, regardless of age. But it may feel like the stakes are a little higher if you're in your 40s (or older).

You may assume that people in your age bracket either aren't interested in dating or are already settled into long-term relationships. However, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data, as of 2021, nearly 25 percent of 40-somethings in the U.S. have never been married. Additionally, only 22 percent of unmarried adults ages 40 to 44 were cohabiting couples. While not everyone is single, this means means the majority of singles in that age range are truly flying solo.

So, have people in their 40s given up on finding love? Not at all. But unlike people in their 20s and 30s, they know what they want and aren't afraid to wait a little longer to find the right person. In fact, according to the analysis, approximately one in four 40-year-olds who weren't married in 2001 had tied the knot by age 60. So, if this trend continues, there's still hope for finding a long-term partner, even if you're starting later in life.

How to start dating again at 40

Now, after that speech and spew of statistics, you're probably wondering what our grand plan is to get you back on your feet and out on the dance floor. The answer? Online dating. Before you scoff, hear us out.

Online dating is a great way to meet new people in a low-pressure environment. It gives you a quick and easy way to connect with potential partners, filter through profiles, and find matches who share your interests and values. Imagine if you could do that when scanning the room at a bar or attending social events — it would save you a lot of time and effort.

But before you start swiping left and right, check in with yourself. Be honest about what you're looking for in a partner and what you bring to the table, including any emotional baggage you might carry (which we all have to some extent).

Once you've touched base with your emotions, you should do the same with your dating profile. Are you interested in a serious relationship, a casual encounter, or a friendship that could evolve into something more? Whatever it is, be upfront. You don't want to fall for someone only to realize they aren't looking for the same thing.

My mom’s 60-something friend was set up with a 67-year-old guy who is “not looking for anything serious” in case you think that ever ends

— Sara K. Runnels (@omgskr) January 8, 2023 What are the best dating apps for over 40 singles?

The best dating app depends on what you're looking for. But because we're data nerds, we've done a little research (and hands-on testing) to give you some options.

Match and eharmony have a large over-40 user base and comprehensive profiles and algorithms that match you with compatible partners based on your preferences and personality traits. Additionally, Elite Singles is a popular dating site for mature professionals looking for a serious relationship.

Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble are more popular among younger users, but it's not impossible to find success on these apps if you're over 40. OkCupid has a slightly higher number of older singles than Bumble and Hinge, and it caters to the liberal and LGBTQ+ communities, offering a space to be your most authentic self sans judgment.

Keep reading for a more in-depth look at each of these dating apps and what they have to offer for daters over 40. We considered affordability, accessibility (including user-friendly interfaces and availability on Google Play and the App Store), and overall success rate in helping users find meaningful connections.

Pro tip: Based on our in-depth reviews, we recommend steering clear of Zoosk and Our Time for singles over 40. (Full details on our testing methodology are in the "How We Tested" section.)

Categories: IT General, Technology

Streamers rejoice: TikTok Live is now integrated with Streamlabs

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 09:01

TikTok Live is now integrated with Streamlabs.

While previously it was still possible to go live on TikTok using the livestreaming software, this integration simplifies the experience. Creators once had to retrieve and enter their stream key along with a streaming URL. They also needed to go live on both TikTok and Streamlabs. Integration radically streamlines creators' workflows, and simplifies the use of Streamlabs' engagement and monetization tools.

SEE ALSO: TikTok's Instagram competitor may have leaked its own name

TikTok joins its competitors Twitch and YouTube with this integration. The collaboration also allows creators to effortlessly utilize its Multistream and Dual Output features on TikTok, where creators can go live on multiple platforms and choose between a horizontal or vertical stream. Ashray Urs, Head of Product at Streamlabs, told Mashable he sees the integration resonating with creators as they continue to grow more cross-platform.

TikTok launched TikTok Live in 2019 and it remains a way for creators to make money directly on the platform, but it's a convoluted process. Viewers can buy coins through the app and use them to buy creators "gifts" to send during livestreams. Coins cost 74 cents per 70 coins and gifts range from one coin for a flower sticker to 29,999 coins for a lion sticker. Creators convert these gifts back into coins with TikTok reportedly taking 50 percent of the revenue. Creators can then convert these gifts into "diamonds" and once they accumulate 100 diamonds they can be exchanged for actual money.

The ability to seamlessly multi-stream will likely make a huge difference among creators mining for diamonds on TikTok.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Build a Thriving Employee Alumni Program

Havard Management Tip of the Day - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 06:01

Great employees will leave your organization from time to time—but they don’t have to become total strangers. Employee alumni programs can help you foster continuing relationships with former colleagues, which can be a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic labor market environment. When setting up your program, keep these strategies in mind. Build a digital community. Most […]

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Categories: Management

16 of the best Cambridge University courses you can take for free

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from Cambridge University are available to take for free on edX.

Have you ever heard of Cambridge University? Of course you have. It's one of the most famous educational institutions in the world. How could you not?

You might think that your opportunity to become a Cambridge University student has been and gone, but there is still time. A wide range of online courses delivered by Cambridge University can be found on edX. And better yet, these online courses are available to take for free.

We have checked out everything on offer from Cambridge University and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started. This list includes lessons on subjects like finance, comedy writing, psychology, and much more.

These are the best Cambridge University courses you can take for free this month.

There is always a catch, but in this case it's not a very big one. The only thing with these free online courses is that you don't get a certificate of completion, but that's it. You can still learn at your own pace with unlimited access to all the resources, so the lack of a certificate shouldn't hold you back.

Find the best free online courses from Cambridge University at edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cambridge University Cambridge University Courses Free at edX Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Secure the best deal on lifetime access to Rosetta Stone plus over 1,000 skill courses

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: The Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle with Rosetta Stone is on sale for £120 with the code ENJOY20.

You never have to stop learning if you don’t want to, but there are more ways to do it than at a desk in school. There will always be new hobbies to try or skills to acquire. You might even find a new career opportunity along the way. If you want a giant menu of new things to learn, including 24 different languages and over 1,000 courses, check out the Unlimited Lifetime Learning Bundle.

This two-pack of learning resources contains lifetime subscriptions to Rosetta Stone and StackSkills Unlimited for just £120 with the code ENJOY20.

Rosetta Stone is a legendary language-learning app that gives you 24 languages to learn one at a time. Study German, Korean, Arabic, Dutch, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Viatmense, and so much more. 

Rosetta Stone doesn’t just give you a wide selection of popular languages. There are different types of lessons to try depending on the skill you want to refine. Practice your pronunciation with help from TruAccent™, Rosetta Stone’s smart speech-recognition technology. Need to give your voice a break? Practice reading, writing, and building up your vocabulary. The next thing to do is make your travel plans to visit somewhere you can take your new language for a spin. 

There’s another kind of language you could learn from this bundle. Check out the selection at StackSkills for courses in coding languages like Python and HTML. Or you could go for something completely different. There are over a thousand courses with 50+ more added every month. Learn about Cybersecurity, chess, photography, or project management. Track your progress as you work through courses and earn certifications proving your new expertise. Your new skills might even land you a cool new career one day. 

Learn new languages and skills from the comfort of your home. Get the Unlimited Lifetime Learning Bundle featuring Rosetta Stone on sale for £120 with the code ENJOY20. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle ft. Rosetta Stone £120 with the code ENJOY20 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 10

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 04:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 10's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Savory liquid in soups.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1026 is...

BROTH.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Joker: Folie à Deux' trailer shows Lady Gaga in action as Harley Quinn

Mashable - Wed, 04/10/2024 - 03:52

The official teaser trailer for musical Joker: Folie à Deux is here, and it looks like the Clown Prince of Crime has found his queen.

The sequel to the 2019 supervillain origin story, Joker: Folie à Deux catches up with clown-themed criminal Arthur Dent (Joaquin Phoenix), whose life doesn't appear to have gotten much better since we last saw him. Now a patient at Arkham State Hospital, Arthur dreary existence is changed when he finds a kindred soul in fellow patient Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga).

Of course, their mad love can't be kept to the confines of a hospital. The pair soon begin wrecking havoc as a dangerous duo, set to a cover of "What the World Needs Now is Love."

Joker: Folie à Deux arrives in theatres Oct. 14.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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