Monday, 31 October 2022

Another Big Fed Rate Hike Is Expected This Week. Then What? - CNET

October 31, 2022 , No comments :
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise rates for the sixth time this week as inflation continues to defy expectations.

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Calm, cool, collected: The benefits of adopting a slow-work mindset

October 31, 2022 , No comments :
people at work illustration

From TV shows like Succession to billionaire executives bragging about their 100-hour workweeks, the always-on, must-succeed-at-all-cost attitude is celebrated everywhere you look. Luckily (and maybe inevitably), the tide is turning. Employees and companies are putting more of an emphasis on working mindfully and expending energy at a sustainable level. At Slack, we’re encouraging both our employees and end users to work efficiently while also prioritizing a healthy headspace. Here are some ways to slow down and level up.

No-meeting Fridays and Maker Weeks

We all know the feeling when a day is so full of meetings that you need an entire extra workday to get anything done. At Slack, we’ve implemented new, digital-first ways of working, to allow for more freedom to focus and fit non-traditional obligations into the workday. These include Maker Weeks, when teams cancel all internal recurring meetings to focus on “making” things, and reset and assess the meetings on their calendars to decide if they serve a purpose. We also have Focus Fridays, when teams cancel all internal meetings for the week or day and turn off notifications to achieve flow and work uninterrupted. 

These programs are intended to shift mindsets around the purpose of meetings; to explore new ways to achieve the same goals, like asynchronous work; and to give employees more autonomy over how they use their single most valuable asset: time, and time when they want it. 

Embracing flexibility in the digital HQ  

Operating from a digital HQ, companies can discover more flexible ways to work with all their people, apps and partners in one space. Using Slack as the command center of the workday means that no matter where you physically are — in the office, at home or somewhere in between — you’re equipped to be efficient and productive, on your own schedule. 

No more hustling to jam everything into 9 to 5. That flexibility makes space for new ways to work smarter, not harder. Ashley Kramer, the chief marketing and strategy officer at GitLab, champions workplace flexibility for her employees. Whether hitting the slopes or working from another city, she has made flexible work at her all-remote company fit any lifestyle. During a Frontiers 2022 “Crack the Code on Remote Work” session, Kramer shared, “The digital headquarters means remote and real, and all it takes to create that collaborative and creative environment is having the right toolkit, living your values and thriving together as a company.” In short: your digital HQ is a way to work, not a place to work.

Teams working across various time zones can schedule messages so their colleagues get them when they are online and active. Defining when and how teams are expected to be available simultaneously shows trust in employees while giving them the space they need to thrive. 

Tap into the power of your status emoji

Most people know that the green dot in Slack means active. But your status can also speak volumes, thanks to custom statuses. You can quickly indicate that you’re busy making lunch, taking your child to sports practice or engaging in a moment of meditation during a self-care break. 

Additionally, Do Not Disturb (DND) settings can turn off notifications, giving your brain a break and some much-needed focus time. By customizing your Slack settings, you can control when and how colleagues reach out to you.

Jump in a huddle to reduce meetings 

For true collaboration, employees can use Slack huddles for quick, lightweight and informal audio-first conversations or for deeper co-working sessions, with multi-person screen sharing and video as an option.

Slack is deeply ingrained at T-Mobile, with over 170,000 active channels, 45,000 workflows and 9 million emoji reactions used per month. But its employees’ favorite feature to unlock efficiency? Huddles. Tamara Jensen, a principal technical product manager at T-Mobile, who recently spoke at Dreamforce 2022, focuses on driving efficiency across the entire organization with a major strategy encouraging teams to cut down on meetings. 

Instead of waiting days or even weeks for an open calendar slot, teammates can jump into a spontaneous huddle to discuss blockers, brainstorm ideas, and resolve escalated issues right away. “If you need to have a conversation, you’re not going to schedule it with a calendar; you’re going to stay in Slack,” says Jensen. “With huddles, we can look at each other on video. We can thread the conversation. We can share screens with our colleagues. Huddles keeps teams moving, with work in one place.”

Find your voice with clips

At Slack, we avoid unnecessary meetings with the help of clips. Employees can record and send videos of themselves and their screens to share important updates and developments — there’s no need to find a time when everyone is free for a call. With accessible tools like this, teams across time zones can speed up how they operate and collaborate more asynchronously.

Build workflows to automate tasks

Today, employees don’t need to rely on developers or a designated IT team to design complex workflows. Anyone has the power to use no-code or low-code features in Slack to automate admin work and repetitive tasks, freeing up valuable chunks of time to work on more strategic and meaningful work. 

The 2022 Slack Spotlight Award for Digital HQ Excellence winner, IBM, is building a digital headquarters where teams directly impact how the company automates work. During the Frontiers 2022 keynote, Jenn Booth, IBM’s global Salesforce partner for consulting sales strategy and products, said that the company’s thriving culture comes from asking employees what they need and giving them the tools to get work done. “With a digital headquarters, it’s for them to build for themselves,” she said.

Access to simple and convenient tools enables people to create workflows that automate time-consuming processes — all without code and without ever having to leave Slack. 




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The best early Black Friday fitness deals

October 31, 2022 , No comments :
Woman doing yoga in front of a mirror

UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2022, 1:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the best early deals on fitness gear for Black Friday 2022.

  • BEST FITNESS MIRROR DEAL: The Lululemon Studio Mirror (fka Mirror) is a user-friendly classic, and this is one of the lowest prices we've seen for it — $795 $1495 (save $700 with code LLSTUDIO700)

  • BEST STATIONARY BIKE DEAL: The SoulCycle At-Home Bike is a solid Peloton alternative, and it's currently sitting at last year's Black Friday Price — $1,900 $2,500 (save $600)

  • BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL: The Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS) is back down to its previous lowest price in two colors— $309 $379 (save $70)

Wondering how to shop for fitness gear this Black Friday? We have you covered.

After the great Peloton craze and dumbbell shortage of 2020, we know firsthand that popular fitness gear can go out of stock fast. Considering this year's continuing supply chain backups, buying all your fitness gear early will be the name of the game this holiday season — especially for large exercise machines that require separate delivery and installation. Our advice to you this year (much like last year) is to buy early.

Many brands, including Peloton, Lululemon Studio, Tonal, and Tempo, have their own delivery and installation times that buyers select upon purchase. We expect these delivery times will get more and more booked up as we get closer to the holidays, so buying ASAP and setting a time for your exercise machine or smart home gym to be delivered will ensure you can get it before Christmas, Hanukkah, or the gift-giving holiday of your choice.

If you want that Echelon treadmill, the Lululemon Studio Mirror, or even a Fitbit, it's best to buy one as early as possible. Over the last few years, fitness brands have had a tendency to run monthlong sales during the shopping holidays, so waiting until Black Friday doesn't necessarily guarantee the best price. You'll likely be saving the same amount of money purchasing early rather than waiting until the actual shopping holiday, when you run the risk of products being unavailable.

Fitness deals to expect for Black Friday 2022

Last year brought us a $500 Mirror discount with free shipping and installation, tons of discounted indoor cycling bikes (including Peloton), and fitness trackers for cheap. The good news for shoppers is that this holiday shopping season is already shaping up to be on par with (or better than) last year in terms of fitness products.

A few quick examples: Mirror (now known as Lululemon Studio) hasn't officially launched a Black Friday deal, but the rebranding discount has already brought the fitness mirror down to $795 — one of the lowest prices we've seen. We also spotted the SoulCycle At-home Bike sitting at last year's Black Friday price.

While there's already a good amount of fitness tracker deals live, we're expecting that there will be bigger discounts on Fitbits and Apple Watches as we get closer to Black Friday. We're also hoping to see sales on the higher-end Echelon bikes, the Hydrow rowing machine, and of course, all things Peloton.

If you have a fitness fanatic on your gift list, we've rounded up the best deals on workout mirrors, indoor cycling bikes, treadmills, and fitness trackers. Bookmark this page and check back weekly — it'll be continuously updated with the latest sales.

Fitness mirror deals

Mirror leaning against wall
Credit: Lululemon
Our pick: Lululemon Studio Mirror (opens in a new tab)
$795 at Lululemon Studio (save $700 with code LLSTUDIO700)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

Powered by Lululemon, the Lululemon Studio Mirror (formerly known as the Mirror) is a sleek minimal home gym that's ideal for yoga, pilates, stretching, strength training, and more. Aside from looking great in any space, Lululemon's Studio Mirror offers studio-style classes led by pro trainers, real-time optimization based on your workout preferences, custom playlists, and Apple Music integration. While this isn't technically the fitness mirror brand's official Black Friday deal, this discount already beats last year's Black Friday deal by $200.

More fitness mirror deals

  • Check back here later for more Black Friday fitness mirror deals.

Exercise bike deals

Grey SoulCycle at-home bike
Credit: SoulCycle
Our pick: SoulCycle At-Home Bike (opens in a new tab)
$1,900 at Equinox Plus (save $600)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

This $600 discount on the SoulCycle at-home bike matches the discount we saw last Black Friday — and it's available now. We wouldn't be surprised if SoulCycle dropped the price on this bike a bit more leading into the end-of-year shopping holidays, but $1,900 is still a solid price for this model.

More exercise bike deals

Treadmill deals

Treadmill with a small screen
Credit: NordicTrack
Our pick: NordicTrack C 1100i treadmill (opens in a new tab)
$1,199 at NordicTrack (save $100)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

NordicTrack is teasing a few pre-Black Friday deals — including one on the C 1100i treadmill — during their Fall Sale. Score $100 off a treadmill that has everything you need and nothing you don't, with features like a 10-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in workout fan, and more.

More treadmill deals

Fitness tracker deals

Silver apple watch with tan band
Credit: Apple
Our pick: Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS) (opens in a new tab)
$309 at Walmart (save $70)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

This $309 pricing on the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 is this model's all-time low price, available at Walmart in the blue and midnight colorways. Score an always-on watch face, blood oxygen, ECG, and advanced heart rate monitoring, plus tons of activity and workout features.

More fitness tracker deals

Massage gun deals

Black and blue massage gun
Credit: Theragun
Our pick: Theragun Pro Handheld Percussive Massage Device (opens in a new tab)
$499.99 at Best Buy (save $100)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

For folks who need a strong massage gun, the Theragun Pro comes fully equipped with 60 pounds of force, so you can give yourself some serious deep muscle therapy. It also features Bluetooth connectivity to sync to the Therabody app, so you can follow massage guidance from professionals to speed up your workout recovery and get rid of some of that muscle tension.

More massage gun deals

Deals on rowing machines, ellipticals, and more

Silcer and black elliptical
Credit: NordicTrack
Our pick: NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE7i (opens in a new tab)
$1,199 at NordicTrack (save $100)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

Also included in NordicTrack's pre-Black Friday Fall sale is a $100 discount on the SpaceSaver SE7i elliptical. It features a 10-inch touchscreen, 22 digital resistance levels, a folding design, and a free 30 day iFit membership.

More rowing machine and elliptical deals



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The 10 scariest horror movies on Shudder to keep you up at night

October 31, 2022 , No comments :
A film reel shows a range of scary images from horror films.

Horror movies come in all shapes and sizes.

You've got your comedy horrors, your psychological horrors, your tense thriller-y horrors — and, of course, your genuinely scary horrors.

I'm not just talking about your run-of-the-mill, yikes-that's-a-bit-creepy kind of films, here, either. I'm talking about the truly terror-inducing — the type of movies you wake in the dead of night thinking about, and which stay with you for a long, long time after the credits have rolled. The horribly twitchy, sleep-with-the-lights-on-and-avoid-all-mirrors kind of movies.

Streaming platform Shudder has a lot to offer in this regard.

SEE ALSO: The best movies on Shudder that you can't stream anywhere else

We've combed through the archives of the service (which is chock-full of horror, sci-fi and thrillers of all kinds) to track down the most terrifying films we could — from jumpy classics like The Descent to Demian Rugna's aptly named Terrified. If you're unable to deal with jump-scares, these are not for you.

Cushions to hide behind at the ready...

1. Satan's Slaves

What's it about?

After the strange death of their mother, a family begins to suspect that her presence may not have entirely left the house.

Why's it so scary?

Indonesian director Joko Anwar knows how to make a creepy film. It's apparent during the opening scenes in Satan's Slaves, when Rini (Tara Basro) makes a grim discovery in her mother's bedroom, and it only gets clearer from there on out. The movie has a solid mixture of slow build, bumps-in-the-night style tension, and outright jump-scares, putting you on edge early and offering little by way of reprieve.

For fans of Ring (which features further down on this list), there's even a very creepy well...

2. Still/Born

What's it about?

After one of her twins dies during childbirth, a new mother grows increasingly fearful that something is coming after her surviving baby.

Why's it so scary?

Fair warning: If you're expecting a child, have recently had a child, or are considering having a child at any point in the near future, this may be one to avoid. Brandon Christensen's film very effectively plays on fears of motherhood and mental health, bringing together pretty much every worst nightmare scenario imaginable for a new parent.

Like Christensen's other film on this list (see Z, further down), Still/Born thrives on its jump-scares — and there are plenty of those to be had, often delivered via the medium of fuzzy-screened baby monitors and late-night security camera footage.

SEE ALSO: The best women-centric and feminist horror movies

3. Ring

Two people look serious while staring at a television.
Stay away from those unmarked video tapes. Credit: Omega/Kadokawa/Kobal/Shutterstock

What's it about?

A journalist attempts to get to the bottom of a cursed video tape, which supposedly kills the viewer a week after they've watched it.

Why's it so scary?

Hideo Nakata's 1998 horror classic not only kick-started a global franchise, but it also proved you don't necessarily need high-tech special effects and intense music to generate scares. By today's standards, Ring may not provide as many jump-scares as some as the other films on this list, but there are still plenty of nightmare-inducing scenes and images (and you probably won't ever look at a well, or a grainy TV set, in quite the same way again).

4. The Dark and the Wicked

What's it about?

A brother and sister return to their parents' farmhouse to help their mother care for their dying father. But after things take a sudden, tragic turn, they realise something more sinister is going on.

Why’s it so scary?

Creaky old remote farmhouses are already the ideal setting for jumps, but Bryan Bertino's chiller is extra effective because of its use of sound — whether it's jangling horseshoes placed to ward off evil, a jagged background score or simply yawning, empty silence. The jumps in this one are unexpected and genuinely terrifying, and the story is unremittingly bleak.

5. Host

What's it about?

Unable to meet in person due to the coronavirus lockdown, a group of friends decide to try out a seance over Zoom.

Why's it so scary?

One word: realism. The premise of the story, its Zoom setting, and the very natural dialogue all conspire to make Host feel horribly realistic. It's like you're watching the recording of an actual Zoom call between friends, and that makes it all the more unnerving when things begin to go really, really wrong.

Oh, and if you're worried that the movie's set-up might be limiting in terms of scares, don't be: the jumps in this one are frequent, and — thanks to the creativity of director Rob Savage — always inventive.

SEE ALSO: How 'Host' director Rob Savage went from viral tweet to 3-movie deal

6. Terrified

What's it about?

A group of paranormal investigators examines some disturbing goings-on in a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Why's it so scary?

Rather than just having one scary monster or theme, Demián Rugna's Terrified has a whole bunch of them — from IT-style voices gurgling away in the drain to the unmoving corpse of a dead child, returned home from the grave to sit stiffly at the dinner table.

Basically, the film is a trick box full of scares, and if one thing doesn't get to you, chances are something else certainly will.

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7. Hell House LLC

What's it about?

After the opening of a haunted house tourist attraction results in death, a fictional documentary crew tries to uncover what really happened.

Why's it so scary?

Like all the best found-footage horror movies, Stephen Cognetti's Hell House LLC uses realism to amp up its fear factor, splicing shaky camera shots with moving mannequins and half-glimpsed figures in the night. The tourist attraction setting could easily have come across as cheesy in this one, but luckily the movie's prop department sourced some genuinely creepy-looking clowns for the occasion (one of which provides more than a few nasty jumps).

8. Z

What's it about?

A mother grows increasingly worried about her eight-year-old son after he gets a new imaginary friend called "Z."

Why's it so scary?

If the likes of The Babadook and Hide and Seek have taught us anything, it's that children having imaginary friends (at least in the context of a horror movie) is never a great thing. Brandon Christensen's Z takes this concept and gives it a fresh twist, putting us in the shoes of Beth (Keegan Connor Tracy) as she grows increasingly disturbed by her son's behaviour.

The thing that makes Z so unnerving isn't so much the creepy child aspect as it is the unknowable monster — the lingering idea of "Z," this unseen creature that dominates every scene with its absence. The fear of seeing something is often more disturbing than the thing itself, and this is an idea that the movie understands perfectly well — and uses to nail-biting effect.

9. The Wailing

What's it about?

A policeman investigates a village rampant with a mysterious disease linked to murderous rages.

Why's it so scary?

Na Hong-jin's 2016 South Korean horror film The Wailing is an offbeat and low-simmering horror that'll unsettle you to your core. Less of a belligerent shock-riding horror and more of an atmospheric long game, the film is still frankly terrifying. As Vox points out, the film does include some xenophobic elements, which the director has dismissed. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

10. The Descent

What’s it about?

A group of women go spelunking in North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains. After they become trapped in an unexplored part of the cave system, though, it becomes clear they’re not alone.

Why’s it so scary?

Wriggling through horrendously narrow underground tunnels is already bad enough, but when you throw cave-dwelling zombie creatures into the mix things really ramp up. Neil Marshall’s movie is very jumpy, and one to steer well clear of if you suffer from claustrophobia.



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The internet has turned self-care into a scam

October 31, 2022 , No comments :
Woman meditating on yoga mat holds laptop and flower in hand.

"But I have to," he groaned through the cracks of my iPhone 4. "It’s in the name of self-care." I was sitting on the edge of my bed, staring fixated at the black mould splattering the ceiling of my third-year university house share. I’d just returned from my then-boyfriend’s house, where we were celebrating his return to our university city after spending some time in his hometown. Everything was fine in the time we spent together, but during the half-an-hour bus ride to reach my home, he had suddenly experienced an epiphany where he determined that the right thing to do was to immediately call time on our relationship — but it’s okay, he isn’t the bad guy, because it was all done in the name of "self-care."

Sure, he could’ve communicated his concerns earlier, but under this definition of self-care, you don’t "owe" people anything. Suddenly, every relationship in your life becomes transactional, as you hyperfocus on how the people in your life are serving you, and cutting them off or shutting them down the minute they seem to desire anything in return. 

When did self-care become…something else?

Once upon a time, self-care was about striving to be the best version of yourself, because ultimately, how can you look after others if you aren’t looking after yourself?

The history of self-care goes way back — all the way back to Socrates. Self-care also has roots in Black history. As Black feminist writer and civil rights activist Audre Lorde wrote in her 1988 essay collection A Burst of Light: "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." Lorde defines self-care as a radical act of resistance and a means of survival. Self-care is also all about compassion and community, and as Mashable journalist Chris Taylor puts it, "Self-care isn't performative self-coddling. It's doing the hard work of examining and improving yourself in order to better serve the world."

SEE ALSO: An honest self-help guide: Stuff that works for me

The problem is, wellness and internet culture have essentially stolen the term, which has led to the original definition of self-care to become co-opted. Thanks to Twitter discourse, the creator economy, and wellness culture colliding, this nonsensical version of "self-care" has grown a life of its own, and from there has amassed a self-indulgent cult of devoted followers.

Google Trends data shows that in the last five years, searches for "self-care" have almost tripled, while over 66 million Instagram posts include the #selfcare hashtag. Meanwhile, the #SelfCare tag on TikTok has racked up a cumulative 30 billion views, as the app encourages users to "show us how you prioritise yourself." Prioritising yourself is important, but should this come at the expense of others?

The version of self-care that I'd learned about from social media felt like a golden ticket to do all the destructive things I wanted to do.

Like a lot of scams, this co-opted version of self-care preys on vulnerable people. In my case, I was experiencing a particularly bad patch with my OCD and was angry at the world. The version of self-care that I'd learned about from social media felt like a golden ticket to do all the destructive things I wanted to do — neglecting staying in touch with my family, blocking people whenever they mildly irritating me, and trauma-dumping on my friends for hours on end but then refusing to let them lean on me for support because their burdens were detrimental to my mental health. 

SEE ALSO: What it really means to 'give yourself grace'

Integrative psychotherapist Caroline Plumer, who runs her own therapy and coaching practice CPCC London, told Mashable that "self care is a crucial part of preserving our mental health and building resilience. But like most things in life, the term can be misused, or taken as an excuse to refuse to compromise even where perhaps we should."

Online spaces have co-opted the meaning of 'self care'

The language of self-care — which aims to give words to coping strategies, boundary setting techniques and non-violent communication styles — has entered mainstream internet discourse. The only problem is: these words are often used incorrectly. Phrases like "toxic," "love-bombing," "narcissist," and "trauma-dumping" are thrown around far too liberally and applied inaccurately. In online spaces, where our hot takes are largely limited to 280 characters, these deeply important and complex psychological terms and definitions are stripped of all their nuance and turned into trendy buzzwords. A friend disagreeing with you about where to meet becomes "toxic." A roommate who asks you to wash your dishes becomes a "narcissist." A person on a dating app opening with a cheesy pick-up line becomes a "love-bomber." 

SEE ALSO: What we can all learn from 'trauma dumping' online

All of these terms exist for a reason — they help people understand and recognise when they’re being mistreated — to put a name to often-traumatic experiences and feelings they’ve had — but in our pursuit to look holier-than-thou 24/7 online, these terms have become an extremely diluted version of their original meaning. 

As Plumer explains: "Whilst self care done right can often lead to us having more patience and emotional generosity towards others, there are some that see self care as the practice of consistently prioritising their own wants and needs above everyone else's, including the greater good." She adds: "While getting our needs met is important, we do need to do this with respect for others and a willingness to meet in the middle where appropriate."

When self-care is just a euphemism for selfish 

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, white activists spoke about how they were suffering with "allyship fatigue" — lamenting about how posting a black square and attending a march or two had wreaked havoc on their mental health, and how for the sake of their wellbeing, they could no longer show their solidarity with Black people.

Earlier this year, amid the onslaught of news about the war in Ukraine, people began sharing infographics and articles about how we can practise "self-care" in the wake of distressing news. Of course, for some people with existing mental health issues and those who have lived in active war zones,, this kind of news cycle can obviously be deeply upsetting, triggering, and traumatising — and in those cases, self-care is important. But when it comes  people were centring themselves and taking attention/focus away from the people experiencing systemic racism and losing family members in a war — but because it was underpinned in this idea of "self-care," we were meant to think it was ok. 

SEE ALSO: How to be an effective ally online, at protests, and moving forward

Even earlier, in 2019, a Twitter thread focussed on a text conversation between friends, which included a copy and paste template for how you can tell someone via text that you don’t have the capacity listen to them vent, went viral. In the thread, the OP discussed how they used this interaction with their friend to "set boundaries" in terms of venting, but was subsequently meme’d because, like other clinical terms under social media’s version of self-care’s umbrella, its meaning had become co-opted. The user’s text message, which she offered up as a template for others wishing to "set boundaries," read: "Hey! I'm so glad you reached out! I'm actually at capacity right now and I don't think I can hold appropriate space for you. Could we connect [later date] instead? Do you have someone else you can reach out to?" Of course, setting valid boundaries is not the problem here, but as many responses to this thread pointed out, this type of self-involved mindset was "exhausting."

"Wellness culture has debased real self-care."

"Friendships shouldn't be transactional," one user wrote. "This is weird." Another described the thread as a "fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be human," adding that "being of service to others is what relives us from the bondage of hyper individualistic "self" under capitalism." Underpinning both these examples is a very-online attempt at mental gymnastics, as people strive to justify the lack of reciprocity inherent in this version of self-care as a spiritual journey as opposed to plain old selfishness. 

Trauma, sex, and relationship therapist Sally Baker tells Mashable that "wellness culture has debased real self-care," describing it as a "narcissistic call to arms." In trying to differentiate self-care from selfishness, she explained, "when it’s all about what an individual needs there’s no context; no responsibility and little or no opportunity for personal growth." Meanwhile, Sally defines "real" self-care as "intuitive," and insists that at its core, it's centred around "establishing healthy boundaries as well as respecting what is your stuff versus what is other people’s responsibility."

Villain era? Or just setting boundaries? 

What’s especially interesting about the tail-end of the self-care movement is the directly-opposing counter-culture that seems to have arisen due to it. All over Twitter, we’re seeing people declare that they’re in their Fleabag and villain era, when all they’re actually doing is setting healthy boundaries with people, like not getting back with an abusive ex or refusing to let someone with sinister intentions take advantage of their good nature. 

You might think the rise of the villain era further supports the need for a self-care culture: with the fact that people are struggling to even communicate their most basic needs to others being a surefire sign that more of an emphasis on self-care is the very thing we need right now.

SEE ALSO: How to set boundaries in the early stages of dating

But that’s not the truth. The problem is, people are recognising that when it comes to self-care, a lot of us are really taking that term and running with it. They're using it to excuse all kinds of actions and behaviour which, as I’ve explained, are objectively shitty things to do. This means that, contrary to promoting actions that are good for our mental health, self-care has become a dirty word, as people have learned to see the phrase as synonymous with not just selfishness, but even villainy. 

So, that leaves us with this Catch-22 where people who really do need to practise self-care are anxious about doing so because they don’t want to be seen as a "villain," while those who arguably need to practise less ‘self-care’ and more care toward others feel emboldened to continue toxic patterns of behaviour.

Perhaps at the root of all of this is a need for better emotional education so that we are all able to communicate our boundaries and needs in a healthy way, but the question is, at what point does self-care become selfishness? When do we know where to draw the line? 

Of course, after a tough couple of years, looking after ourselves is going to be more important than ever. The key is making sure that we don’t fall into the scam of narcissism packaged up in a pretty Instagram infographic. Maybe we can all agree on one principle: Don’t be a dick. 



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Switch Cloud Streaming: How to Play Resident Evil Village, Plague Tale: Requiem and More - CNET

October 31, 2022 , No comments :
Nintendo's hardware punches above its weight with new cloud-enabled games.

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Sunday, 30 October 2022

'Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi' Represents Branch of George Lucas' Original Vision, Actors Say - CNET

October 30, 2022 , No comments :
Actors Ashley Eckstein and Corey Burton share the joy of diving deeper into Ahsoka Tano and Dooku in the Disney Plus shorts.

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Social Security Disability Insurance: When Will You Get Your November Check? - CNET

October 30, 2022 , No comments :
SSDI recipients don't all receive payments the same day. Find out why and when to expect your money.

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Commanders vs. Colts Livestream: How to Watch NFL Week 8 From Anywhere Online Today - CNET

October 30, 2022 , No comments :
Want to watch the Washington Commanders play the Indianapolis Colts? Here's everything you need to catch Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET game on Fox.

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Is Cable or Streaming Cheaper? The Answer Isn't Clear-Cut - CNET

October 30, 2022 , No comments :
It depends on where you live and what you watch. We do the math to find out how you can best save money.

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Behold, adorable dogs in Halloween costumes

October 30, 2022 , No comments :
Dog dressed as a bodega cat

The Halloween dog parade is one of those things that always lives up to the hype. Who can resist the appeal of a dog as the vehicle for their owner's creative costume expression? Whether the dogs are thrilled by the adoring attention, blissfully unaware of their participation in the joke, or begrudgingly humoring their owner with a grumpy look, it's all delightful.

While the one in Tompkins Square Park in New York City is the most famous, Halloween dog parades now take place all over. They're technically contests, but every dog in costume is a winner in our book. Here are some of our favorites, even if they didn't take home the prize.

Apparently, you're supposed to kill invasive lanternflies if you see one. This puts a whole new spin on the horror movie villain trope.

The bodega cat is iconic in New York City for keeping rats out of convenience stores (aka bodegas). This little dog doesn't look thrilled to be dressed up as a cat, but they really nailed the assignment.

SEE ALSO: The best pet insurance companies of 2022

Let's just hope this princess is secure on her tower of mattresses.

How can you not find this dog's costume "a-peel-ing"?

Even the Mar-a-Lago documents look cute in this context.

Call me crazy, but this pup seems to be acting the part of the doomed little boy in It.

The friendliest killer doll you've ever seen.

This little guy is raising hell and stealing hearts at the same time.

SEE ALSO: The real MVPs to follow are the pets of these 10 pro athletes

A masterclass in playing to one's strengths, this dog already looks like a lion and needed only one accessory to nail the costume.

Pugs are already kind of like of aliens, so this one works on multiple levels.

This is a furry spider we wouldn't mind petting.



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Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix Livestream: How to Watch the Race Live - CNET

October 30, 2022 , No comments :
Max Verstappen has won the 2022 F1 Drivers' Championship, but there's still plenty to race for as F1 heads to Mexico.

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Saturday, 29 October 2022

'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II' continues the franchise's long history of courting controversy

October 29, 2022 , No comments :
solider wearing nightvision googles looks out to the distance as the field around him is in flames

The Call of Duty game franchise is no stranger to controversy. In fact, controversy is as normal as the gunfights in the series. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is the latest installment in the series to take real-world geopolitical events and use them to manufacture controversy. Whether it's the player unemotionally gunning down civilians in an airport or the re-framing of an American war crime as Russian, the series has a long history of shocking moments. Modern Warfare II is no different.

Without getting too detailed, the plot of Modern Warfare 2 is a globe-trotting adventure from Mexico to Amsterdam to Chicago that involves chasing terrorists and uncovering a secret plot by a rogue American general and his private military faction.

But instead of the plot, the internet is abuzz over the game's interpretation of recent geopolitics, and many have called out the series for its not-so-subtle — and perhaps superficial — use of real-world headlines for campaign content. And it all harkens back to an interview with gameplay director Jacob Minkoff, around the release of the first in this Modern Warfare series in 2019, in which Minkoff said "I don't think it's a political game."

Is any of this political? Does Call of Duty even believe in anything?

The new Call of Duty starts with an assassination similar to that of Qassem Soleimani

In the opening seconds of the campaign, the player is tasked with visually confirming that Iranian Quds Force General "Ghorbrani" is in attendance for a Russian paramilitary arms deal. The player then takes control of a drone-guided missile that is used to destroy everyone in the vicinity. Just from the name and white beard alone, Twitter was quick to point out the disturbing similarity of the mission to the Trump-authorized assassination of Iranian Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

If you haven't played the game, it may seem like Modern Warfare II would then engage in some introspection about the ethics of the American military playing judge, jury, and executioner in foreign countries. "There's no time for that," the game seemed to say as we were immediately pushed onto the next mission.

The missile strike is the catalyst of the game's plot, which sees the leadership void left by "Ghorbrani's" assassination filled by Major Hassan, the game's main antagonist, who teams with a Mexican cartel to smuggle ballistic missiles into the United States. It's not the first time that Call of Duty has used fictional stand-ins for real-life figures. 2008's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's Khaled Al-Asad was a not-so-subtle 1:1 of Saddam Hussein, but unlike the real like man, his in-game doppelganger actually had nuclear weapons (also another point of introspection that doesn't linger long).

Hold right-click to de-escalate civilians

The second major controversy to come from Modern Warfare II happens literally minutes after the assassination of the totally-not-Soleimani Iranian general. In the mission "Borderline," antagonist Major Hassan is being smuggled into the States by the Mexican Cartel with the player assuming the role of Mexican Special Forces rapidly on his trail. The player quite literally jumps over the U.S-Mexico border wall in pursuit of Hassan (illegally, I might add, as the game's CIA Station Operator states).

The problem arises when the player has to sneak through a trailer park and "de-escalate" the civilians whose homes you break into. You do this by pointing a gun at them. Somehow, this actually works, encouraging the civilians to turn around and head in the other direction.

Near the end of the mission, a cop in a cowboy hat profiles the Mexican Special Forces and says "it’s hard to tell you boys apart from the cartel." Are these sequences of events saying maybe something about disproportionate police violence or racial prejudice? Hmmm, maybe, but before I could put on my critical thinking cap and ponder, the cartel blew up the cops, and the gameplay resumed as normal.

It's just a game, why does it matter?

As Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz pointed out, politics is a major source of stress for young people. Regardless of where any given gamer falls on the political spectrum, border security and the killing of a military leader of a country with which the U.S. is not at war are heady, multifaceted topics. While the events in these missions might just be edgy window-dressing for a military shooter, the pattern of driving headlines to market these games is clear. And since you're reading this it obviously worked.



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Tree Rings Unlock Evidence of Mysterious Cosmic Radiation 'Storms' - CNET

October 29, 2022 , No comments :
Astronomical data hidden in cedars and pines reflects a handful of potentially devastating events, and suggests we may be overdue for the next one.

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NASA's Webb may have just seen 2 galaxies merging in the early universe

October 29, 2022 , No comments :
Early galaxies merging

A long time ago, astronomer Dan Coe discovered a galaxy far, far away… so far, it was considered to be perhaps the most distant in the universe.

Little did he know that what he saw with the Hubble Space Telescope then, MACS0647-JD, might actually be two galaxies instead of one.

Cue a cymbal crash and a John Williams musical score. Crawl, crawl, crawl…

SEE ALSO: Webb telescope's Pillars of Creation shows us things Hubble couldn't

The revelation that Coe's space object might actually be two galaxies merging together is yet another new finding in the James Webb Space Telescope saga, Hubble's infrared successor. In a new blog post from NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Space Telescope Science Institute, Coe describes the difference the new observatory has made: What appeared as a pale red dot 10 years ago — a tiny galaxy a fraction of the size of the Milky Way in the first 400 million years after the big bang — has a little blue companion. Now scientists are discussing what it means.

"If this is the most distant merger, I will be really ecstatic!" said Tiger Yu-Yang Hsiao, an astronomer at Johns Hopkins University, in the NASA blog.

"If this is the most distant merger, I will be really ecstatic!"
Hubble seeing distant galaxy
Astronomer Dan Coe uses NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and a cosmic zoom lens to uncover a candidate for the farthest known galaxy in the universe. Credit: NASA / ESA / STScI

The purpose of the $10 billion Webb telescope is to help scientists understand how the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe, estimated to be 13.8 billion years old. In astronomy, looking farther translates into observing the past because light and other forms of radiation must travel incredible distances to reach us. Light gets stretched into the infrared, which human eyes can't see but Webb's highly sensitive mirrors can detect. Scientists then translate the data into colors.

A phenomenon known as gravitational lensing helped Webb reveal more information about MACS0647-JD. The massive gravity of a cluster of galaxies in the foreground acted as a cosmic lens, bending and magnifying light from the distant system. Not only did this effect make MACS0647-JD more visible, but it scattered copies of the system at different scales in three parts of the image, according to NASA.

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Prior to Webb, scientists only knew of a handful of galaxies in the early period of the universe, said Rebecca Larson, an astronomer at the University of Texas in Austin who is part of the research team.

But "Studying them can help us understand how they evolved into the ones like the galaxy we live in today," she said in the blog.

Researchers said the blue gas in the image indicates very young star formation and little dust, while the red is dustier and older. Scientists plan to probe deeper to determine whether these are two galaxies or two clumps of stars within one galaxy.

"This is not a long exposure," Larson said. "We haven’t even really tried to use this telescope to look at one spot for a long time."



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Netflix: The 45 Absolute Best Movies to Watch - CNET

October 29, 2022 , No comments :
This weekend, catch The Good Nurse, starring Eddie Redmayne, or family comedy Wendell & Wild.

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A colossal meteorite struck Mars. Then NASA made an even bigger discovery.

October 29, 2022 , No comments :
Martian crater exposing underground ice

It wasn't the average marsquake that the Insight Mars lander heard rip-roaring through the red planet's ground last Christmas Eve.

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter apparently found the source of the rumble a couple of months later from its vantage point in space: a spectacular meteor strike over 2,000 miles away near Mars' equator, estimated to be one of the largest impacts observed on the neighboring planet.

But what's thrilled scientists perhaps as much as or more than the recorded seismic activity is what the meteor uncovered when it slammed into Mars — huge, boulder-size chunks of ice blasted out of the crater. Up until now, underground ice hadn't been found in this region, the warmest part of the planet.

"This is really an exciting result," said Lori Glaze, NASA's director of planetary science, during a news conference Thursday. "We know, of course, that there's water ice near the poles on Mars. But in planning for future human exploration of Mars, we'd want to land the astronauts as near to the equator as possible, and having access to ice at these lower latitudes, that ice can be converted into water, oxygen, or hydrogen. That could be really useful."

SEE ALSO: NASA just showed us why its Mars lander will soon run out of power

The discovery, recently published in two related studies in the journal Science, is something of a grand finale for NASA's Insight lander, which is losing power rapidly. Scientists have estimated they have about four to eight weeks remaining before they lose contact with the lander. At that point, the mission will end.

For the past four years, Insight has studied upward of 1,000 marsquakes and collected daily weather reports. It has detected the planet's large liquid core and helped map Mars' inner geology.

Program leaders have prepared the public for this outcome for some time. While the spacecraft has sat on the surface of Mars, dust has accumulated on its solar panels. The layers of grit from the red desert planet have blocked out the rays it needs to convert into power. The team has cut back on Insight's operations to squeeze out as much science as possible before the hardware goes kaput.

Insight lander gathering dust
While the Insight lander has sat on the surface of Mars, dust has accumulated on its solar panels Credit: NASA

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Then, the team got a bit more bad news last month. A brutal dust storm swept over a large portion of Mar's southern hemisphere. Insight went from having about 400 watt-hours per Martian day to less than 300.

"Unfortunately, since this is such a large dust storm, it's actually put a lot of dust up into the atmosphere, and it has cut down the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panels by quite a bit," said Bruce Banerdt, Insight's principal investigator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

But NASA believes scientists will continue to learn a lot about the past climate conditions on Mars and when and how ice was buried there from the fresh crater, which spans 500 feet wide and just shy of 70 feet deep.

They are confident the ice came from Mars and not the meteor, said Ingrid Daubar, a planetary scientist at Brown University who leads InSight’s impact science working group.

"An impact of this size would actually destroy the meteorite that came in to hit the surface," she said. "We wouldn't expect much, if any, of the original impactor to survive this high energy explosion."



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2023 Kia Sorento Debuts With More Standard Features, Small Price Hike - CNET

October 29, 2022 , No comments :
Everything is more expensive these days, even the 2023 Kia Sorento. Thankfully, this small SUV now comes with more for the money.

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Friday, 28 October 2022

Apple Warns It Could Be Hard to Buy an iPhone 14 Pro This Holiday - CNET

October 28, 2022 , No comments :
The tech giant says it hasn't met demand for the more expensive version of its latest iPhones.

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NASA's won't be the only moon launch in November. Here's what you should know.

October 28, 2022 , No comments :
New Space Race

After NASA waived-off two launch attempts in late August and early September — followed by a delay courtesy of Hurricane Ian — the U.S. space agency will try again to send up its first Artemis mission on Nov. 14, with backup dates of Nov. 16 and 19. That period overlaps with that of another mission lesser-known in the United States, but also slated to leave from its soil. A Japanese commercial company focused on building moon landers, called ispace, plans to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket between Nov. 9 and 15. This first mission of the Hakuto-R program would carry cargo from several customers and put two rovers from the Emirati and Japanese space programs on the moon.



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Here's How Much Bigger Your Social Security Check Will Be in 2023 - CNET

October 28, 2022 , No comments :
The cost-of-living increase to Social Security benefits is the largest in more than four decades.

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NASA Picks Perfect Spot for Historic Mars Rock Sample Drop - CNET

October 28, 2022 , No comments :
The Perseverance rover will unload some of its rock-filled tubes at "the first sample depot on Mars."

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All the best gaming deals as of Oct. 28: Almost 50% off 'The Quarry,' discounts on 'Elden Ring,' and more

October 28, 2022 , No comments :
'The Quarry' cover art

UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2022, 2:30 p.m. EDT This list has been updated to reflect pricing and availability as of Oct. 28.

  • BEST PLAYSTATION DEAL: The Quarry is the latest playable slasher film from the developers of Until Dawn, and it's the perfect way to spend your Hallo-weekend — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

  • BEST XBOX DEAL: Elden Ring is considered by many to be 2022's game of the year from Dark Souls developer FromSoftware — $49.50 $59.99 (save $10.45)

  • BEST NINTENDO DEAL: Splatoon 3 is the latest entry in the zany multiplayer franchise, and has garnered highly positive reviews since its release — $55.45 $59.99 (save $4.54)

  • BEST PC DEAL: The Samsung Odyssey G5 is a fantastic place to start for those wanting to give a curved monitor a try — $319.91 $379.99 (save $60.08)

Gaming is a hard hobby to keep up with. Not only do a staggering number of must-play titles release each year, but they're also expensive (yes, games cost $70 now). If you like to stay in the know about all the hot new releases, it's going to take a hefty toll on your wallet — that's why each week we're bringing you the best gaming deals we can find, so you can play in peace without stressing over video game-induced debt. Whether you're looking to catch up on your backlog with discounted titles or hoping to freshen up your setup with some new hardware, we've got you covered.

SEE ALSO: 'God of War Ragnarok' sticks to a winning formula and that's OK

PlayStation deals

'The Quarry' box art
Credit: 2K
'The Quarry' for PlayStation 5 (opens in a new tab)
$39.99 at Amazon (save $30)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

The Quarry is the latest game from Until Dawn and Dark Pictures developer Supermassive Games, and further expands the playable-slasher-film style that its predecessors paved the way for. You'll play as a group of nine teenage counselors who are trying to make it through their last night at the Hackett's Quarry summer camp, making choices that will either lead to their survival or untimely demise at the hands of...well, you'll have to see.

Games

Hardware and accessories

Xbox deals

'Elden Ring' box art
Credit: FromSoftware
'Elden Ring' for Xbox Seris X/S (opens in a new tab)
$49.50 at Amazon (save $10.45)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

If you've ever enjoyed a FromSoftware game (Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro), Elden Ring is probably going to be your favorite one. Explore The Lands Between as your created character (called a "Tarnished"), discovering hidden areas, battling dangerous creatures, and working towards the ultimate goal of repairing the shattered Elden Ring and becoming the new Elden Lord. It's a grand adventure, and one you shouldn't miss out on in 2022.

Games

Hardware and accessories

Nintendo deals

'Splatoon 3' box art
Credit: Nintendo
'Splatoon 3' for Nintendo Switch (opens in a new tab)
$55.45 at Amazon (save $4.54)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

Fans of multiplayer and party games should have Splatoon 3 in their library. This four-on-four unconventional shooter pits two teams against each other (the Inklings and Octolings) and tasks them with covering the map in as much paint as possible before the timer runs out. In the end, whichever team has painted the most turf will emerge victorious.

Games

Hardware and accessories

PC gaming deals

Samsung Odyssey G5 monitor
Credit: Samsung
Samsung Odyssey 32-inch G5 gaming monitor (opens in a new tab)
$319.91 at Amazon (save $60.08)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we like it

Curved gaming monitors may not seem like game-changers right away, but they certainly can be. Samsung's curved 100R panel attempts to replicate the curvature of the human eye to cut down on strain and increase immersion, which just makes playing feel better. The monitor also features a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response times, AMD FreeSync Premium support, WQHD resolution, and HDR10 compatibility.

Gaming monitors

Gaming headsets

Gaming mice

Gaming keyboards



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