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It's a story of girl meets boy, but with a bloody bite. Director Luca Guadagnino's critically heralded coming-of-age romance Bones and All adapts author Camille DeAngelis's young adult cannibal novel of the same name. Along the journey to translate the story from the page to the screen, some major changes were made. Mashable spoke to Guadagnino and screenwriter David Kajganich over Zoom to break down the differences between how cannibalism impacts the central relationship, the film's title, and its devastating yet hopeful ending. At the root of it all, both versions of Bones and All follow Maren (Taylor Russell), a lonely young woman who is a compulsive cannibal, also known as an "eater." Traveling alone across the United States, she meets fellow outcast eaters, like the young and intriguing Lee (Timothée Chalamet) and the old and unnerving Sully (Mark Rylance). In novel and film alike, Maren's journey is one of self-discovery and learning to live with her cravings. However, that journey manifests in distinctive ways across these versions. SEE ALSO: 'Bones and All' review: The next great queer horror movie has arrived How does Bones and All change from book to movie?Many of the differences between the book and the film involve Maren and Lee's relationship to family. In the book, Maren's mother abandons her, urging the young cannibal to search for her long lost father to find more answers about who she is. In the film, it's actually Maren's father (André Holland) who leaves, so Maren looks for her mother (Chloë Sevigny) instead. The movie also changes Maren's connection to Sully. In both book and film, he's a frightening and antagonistic mentor of sorts. But in DeAngelis's novel, it's revealed that he is actually Maren's grandfather — something that was omitted entirely from the film. Finally, Guadagnino's take on Bones and All changes Lee's backstory. In the novel, he does share a story of how eating people has negatively impacted his home life with his mom and sister. But in the film, he discusses killing his father, who was also an eater. While there are other subtle plot shifts between DeAngelis and Guadagnino's work, the biggest changes in this adaptation revolve around how the story's cannibalism operates. How do romance and cannibalism collide in Bones and All? Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet as Maren and Lee. Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures DeAngelis uses cannibalism as a tool to explore how Maren reacts to love and intimacy. When someone — be they a summer camp crush or a cuddly babysitter — gets too close to her, she eats them. However, in Guadagnino's film, Maren's eating is less linked to others being attracted to her and is instead a compulsive hunger that all eaters share. As Mashable's Kristy Puchko pointed out in her review of Bones and All, cannibalism in the film "serves as a metaphor for queerness." Both Maren and Lee are presented as sexually fluid, and the film's Reagan-era setting calls to mind the homophobia around the AIDS crisis and how that informs Maren's self-loathing as an eater. The shift in how cannibalism functions in Bones and All also means that Maren and Lee's romance changes. In the novel, Maren and Lee have an undeniable connection, but no physical relationship until the very end of the book, at which point Maren eats Lee. The film sees Maren and Lee pursue a romantic relationship way earlier, all without the side effects of Maren being compelled to eat him. "I was more interested in the possibility of love within the nature of these people." - Luca Guadagnino Discussing the role of cannibalism in the film, Guadagnino said, "The novel has a different task and a different medium to work with. I understand Camille DeAngelis's idea with Maren that the impossibility relied on the fact that she wouldn't be able to love without the consequences of destruction. For me, as a filmmaker and for the movie, I was more interested in the possibility of love within the nature of these people." Exploring Maren and Lee's relationship opened up a world of possibility for Guadagnino, not just for an on-screen romance but for a deep dive into how two eaters can be together after all the trauma they've endured. "Maren and Lee love each other so deeply, but...they are almost brutalized by their lives, that they cannot find that possibility [for love]," said Guadagnino. "For me, that resonates very much with everything. That happens to every one of us." SEE ALSO: 'Bones and All's latest trailer kicks things off with a fun bite and new cannibal friends What does "bones and all" mean? Taylor Russell as Maren. Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Another major change in the film adaptation of Bones and All is the logistics of cannibalism. In DeAngelis's novel, eaters eat every part of their victims: bones and all. However, DeAngelis largely skips the scenes of actual eating, focusing on the yearning before and the emotions in the aftermath. But since film is a visual medium, Guadagnino leans into body horror with grisly sequences of eaters ripping into flesh with their teeth, tearing it right off the bone. Cannibalism is a messy affair, and the film's eaters most definitely do not ingest every part of their victims. For Maren and Lee, total consumption of a body is an impossibility. However, an eerie encounter with feral fellow eater Jake (Michael Stuhlbarg) teases new possibilities. Jake asks them if they've ever eaten someone "bones and all," positioning the act as a kind of rite of passage with near-spiritual connotations for eaters. This direct reference to the title is a completely new addition to the story, and it comes courtesy of screenwriter David Kajganich. Kajganich felt that the fairy tale tone of DeAngelis's book makes its scenes of total consumption more believable to readers than it would to an audience watching the cannibalism play out on screen in a grounded drama. However, he loved her concept of eating someone "bones and all," so he decided to transform it. "We sort of evolved it to mean something that is more like when people talk about true love to a teenager," said Kajganich. "It's such an abstract concept. It is a promising concept, but it also seems unlikely that there is one person in the world for you, or that there is some level at which you can be totally seen and accepted and loved. It just felt like we could use this concept of 'bones and all' in the same way that when Maren and Lee are told about this idea, they don't believe it could be real." We sort of evolved [the title] to mean something that is more like when people talk about true love to a teenager. - David Kajganich He continued: "It's up to the audience to decide by the end of the film if... [Maren and Lee's] relationship has evolved that far, but it seems like a beautiful way to use the title differently." The "bones and all" scene is so important to the heart of the film that it's hard to believe it isn't originally in the book. Jake and his companion Brad (David Gordon Green) are new additions. But Guadagnino pointed out how this pivotal chance encounter complements the film's road trip feel. "When you are in a travelogue," he said. "You have a lot of false starts where you sit and meet people, and you think that maybe the dynamic of the journey is changing because of that meeting. Then maybe that meeting becomes an episode and nothing else happens." He added: "And of course, when you have someone like Michael Stuhlbarg performing that moment, you are in heaven." How do the endings of Bones and All differ? Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet in "Bones and All." Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures All these shifts in how cannibalism works in Bones and All culminate in the biggest change of all: Lee's death. Yes, Lee dies in both. In DeAngelis's book, it's because Maren eats him after he makes physical advances on her. In the film, Lee is on the brink of death because of a savage attack from Sully. In his last moments, Lee begs Maren to eat him, bones and all, essentially making him a part of her. It's the bloody, tragic culmination of both their love story and the biggest adaptation change Kajganich and Gudagnino made. "It was really hard to write that scene, and it was hard to watch it," said Kajganich. "One wants to believe they're OK." After Lee's death, the novel ends with Maren making a new life for herself and later chowing down on another man who insists on getting too close to her. Guadagnino and Kajganich take the story in a different direction, ending on a shot of Maren and Lee together in a field — perhaps a reference to Lee always being with Maren now that she's eaten him in his entirety. Originally, Kajganich added a coda to the script, where we follow Maren in her new life a year or two after Lee's death. However, that sequence ended up being cut. "We decided while we were filming that we didn't need it," said Kajganich. "It was felt strong enough by the end that Maren has really evolved as a person who can have both an emotional life and the life of an eater. Those two things don't necessarily have to be enemies in her soul." While the ending of the film may be more tragic than that of the novel, Kajganich still finds hope in it. "The consolation I get from the ending of the film is that I think we've made it clear that Maren is OK," Kajganich said. "She's not going to be destroyed by the last events of the film." Bones and All is now in theaters. View the full article

Horror movies have been having a killer year at the box office. From huge smashes like Smile and Halloween Ends to indie successes like Terrifier 2 and Pearl, the genre has dragged audiences to the theaters despite all those real-world anxieties out there, offering us an escape via people on-screen who are almost always having a way worse time than we are in the audience. But as we head into the annual glad-handing-fest known as awards season, money is one thing, respect something else. So, can a horror movie — specifically the gory, cannibal-centric Bones and All — catch Oscar's eye? SEE ALSO: 'Bones and All' review: The next great queer horror movie has arrived Giving love to horror movies has always been a big ask from the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences and their Oscars. For every Kathy Bates in Misery, there are thousands of Toni Collettes in Hereditary that go unacknowledged. Heading into their 94th year, having passed out hundreds upon hundreds of statues, only 18 horror films have won any prizes in any category in their entire history. It’s shameful! Makes you wanna bang your head into the wall (or in Collette's case, slowly decapitate yourself while somehow clinging to the wall). Enter Luca Guadagnino's cannibal-romance Bones and All. Starring Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell as teenage runaways who eat people, the film's an atmospheric and surprisingly tender love story that tackles themes of Americana and queerness with an understated beauty and intelligence. Ever the Euro-auteur even as he courts Hollywood's graces, Guadagnino has cited as primary influences the legendary photographer William Eggleston's photos of sparse parking lots at twilight and Agnes Varda's 1985 film Vagabond. An adaptation of a 2015 YA novel by author Camille DeAngelis, Bones and All, in its stillness and seriousness, is about as far away from Twilight tonally as one could wander. It’s My Own Private Idaho with mutilation. Want more about the latest in entertainment? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today. And yet the subject of awards attention is very much on the filmmaker’s mind. In an interview with Variety, he brought up the granddaddy of Cannibal/Oscar Overlap, Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs, which took home Oscars for Best Leading Actor and Actress, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. Perhaps overstating his case a wee bit, he said, “In the history of the Oscars, cannibalism has been a gigantic plus. There's a very tough novel, the talented script, and Sir Anthony Hopkins as the unforgettable cannibal… I'm not comparing myself or us to that masterpiece, but that was a love story like Bones and All." Despite critical acclaim, Luca Guadagnino’s Oscar history is deceptively sparse. Luca Guadagnino on the set of "Bones and All." Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures The last time Guadagnino headed to the Oscars was also the last time he worked with Chalamet, for 2017's Call Me By Your Name. That modern masterpiece was nominated for four awards, including Best Picture, and won a statue for James Ivory's script. Before that, Guadagnino's sumptuous drama I Am Love garnered only a Best Costumes nomination. And that's all. No deserved nominations came for Tilda Swinton in her multiple collaborations with the director; nothing for the criminally under-appreciated Suspiria remake in 2018. And perhaps most egregious of all, no Best Supporting Actor nomination for Ralph Fiennes's epic work in 2015's A Bigger Splash. Mark Rylance could be Bones and All's best bet for Oscar glory. Mark Rylance as Sully in "Bones and All." Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Coincidentally enough, the actor who took home that 2015 Best Supporting Actor could be Bones and All’s best chance at an Oscar nomination in 2023. Mark Rylance, who won for his performance in Bridge of Spies, steals his every scene in Bones and All. He plays Sully, an elderly, squeaky-voiced cannibal who refers to himself in the third person and has a penchant for ponytails. A enigmatic figure, he crosses paths early and often with the movies' doomed young lovers Lee and Maren, played by Chalamet and Russell. At the two screenings of the film I've attended, the audiences have enthusiastically lapped up Rylance's colorfully bizarre and terrifying turn, which is topped off with a literal feather in his cap. SEE ALSO: Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell are flesh-feasting, fervent lovers in 'Bones and All' trailer Rylance, a stage legend with three Tonys to his name, definitely has a taste for the theatrical. There doesn't seem to be an ounce of fear in him that it might seem ridiculous, going this big and this weird. On occasion, those play-to-the-back-row instincts have bitten him in the bum when it's come to his on-screen turns. Look no further than the big-toothed tech billionaire that he played in Adam McKay's polarizing satire Don't Look Up last year. That performance became a meme to those who thought that movie was a mess (this writer included). And, superficially at least, his work as Sully in Bones and All does play around in the same heightened register. But Sully stays on the exact right-side of the ridiculous. Meant as a big blinking warning sign to Maren specifically about what this outsider's lifestyle can turn you into, he's a curdled well of loneliness and rage — a black hole of neediness that will never let go. After years of solo living, his idiosyncrasies have multiplied like cancer cells, and his desperation for connection, once awoken, becomes all-encompassing. An outcast from society, Sully is the wrong path personified; he's the dangerous weirdo the world can twist us into if we let it. And he’s scarily unforgettable. Oscar sometimes loves itself a dangerous ham. Taylor Russell as Maren and Mark Rylance as Sully in "Bones and All." Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures It's not like the Academy hasn't embraced this sort of over-the-top work before. Guadagnino brings up Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lecter for a reason. The iconic actor won his first Academy Award for that boldly bizarre performance. But this captivating creep is a recognizable type for which AMPAS has fallen for before in the Supporting Actor category. I will do Rylance the favor of not comparing him to Stanley Tucci's Oscar-nominated child killer in The Lovely Bones (even though it's apt). Instead, let's focus on deserving nominees like Al Pacino in Dick Tracy or Willem Dafoe in Shadow of the Vampire, as well as deserving winners like Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men and Martin Landau in Ed Wood. Hell, Christoph Waltz's two Best Supporting wins – for Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds and Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained – make the flesh-slurping Sully seem downright pedestrian. If I had my way, Bones and All would be competitive across the board, from David Kajganich's gorgeous script to the mournful score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, to the stunning cinematography from relative newcomer Arseni Khachaturan. (Go see his previous work on Dea Kulumbegashvili's 2020 film Beginning, and you'll see we have ourselves a legend in the making). But, with all my apologies to Guadagnino and company, I rarely have my way. And given Oscar's spotty history with the genre, I wouldn’t be shocked if a nomination for Rylance is the best we can hope for. Yet even that might be one pile of innards too much of a reach. I'd say I'm crossing my fingers for it, but, well, after seeing what this movie has in store for fingers, I'm keeping all of those safely hidden behind my back. Bones and All is now playing in theaters. View the full article

Who doesn’t love a good ol’ cliffhanger? Wednesday’s feast of mystery leaves viewers with a perfect aftertaste thanks to its lovely little garnish in the show’s final moments. The suspense of it all is very much killing me. The dizzying whodunit sees Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) solving a monster mystery plaguing her school, Nevermore Academy, with the season neatly wrapping up with a somewhat happy ending. Although her more pressing antagonists, Ms. Thornhill (Christina Ricci) and Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), have been caught, a third player is still lurking in the shadows, with the show’s finale revealing that Wednesday has her own personal stalker. Delightful news for a potential Season 2, but horrible news for all of us who have to wait until then. In the meantime, let’s take a look at who this foreboding stalker could be (the show's already given us some sneak peeks into their potential identity). What we know so far Credit: Netflix Wednesday’s mystery involves a monster hunting down its students and a secret overseer controlling said monster. Throughout the show, we learn that the monster is actually Tyler, Wednesday’s first-ever crush, who possesses the ability to turn into a ravenous beast on demand. We also learn that the person behind all that ferocity is Wednesday’s teacher, Ms. Thornhill, a conniving manipulator orchestrating the defeat of Nevermore to satisfy her family’s lifelong dream of ending the school once and for all. While Wednesday manages to thwart the duo's plans and save the day, the show’s finale reveals she may have one final foe to beat before securing Nevermore’s (and her own) safety. The scene plays out with Wednesday receiving her first iPhone, a gift from her classmate Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White), who’s very much in love with her and who should very much be her boyfriend next season (argue with the wall). And while it’s all very cute, the teenage romance is cut short when she receives an ominous text from an unknown sender declaring that they’re watching her, adding a sneaky eye emoji for some extra pizazz. Wednesday’s texts are then flooded with photos the stalker took of her, hinting that they may be closer than she thinks. Keen-eyed viewers will notice that the photos are exact replicas of the photographs she found of herself in Ms. Thornhill’s home, suggesting that the stalker was helping Thornhill and Tyler all along, and may be planning to see their thwarted mission through. Who could the stalker be? Credit: Netflix By the looks of it so far, the stalker could very likely be another Nevermore student. That route explains why the stalker was able to get photos of Wednesday in such close quarters, knew where she was all the time, and even had access to the phone Xavier bought her. We know Xavier lives alone in his dorm, and we also know, based on standard iPhone setups, that he unlocked her phone and already plugged in his number, going so far as to customize the phone with nice black wallpaper for our goth princess. Which means it would have been very easy for a student stalker to sneak into Xavier’s room, check out Wednesday’s phone, and get her number. The student theory also answers some of Ms. Thornhill’s unexplainable insights, like how she knew the location of Nevermore’s secret society room (easy, with someone from the inside giving her all the details on how to get in). Ms. Thornhill and Tyler always seemed to be one step ahead of Wednesday, so a student stalker lurking in the corner and watching her every move explains how they knew where Wednesday was at all times and where she was on her mystery-solving track. There are definitely some students in the mix we can rule out: We know Wednesday’s trusted confidants include her roommate Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers), Xavier, and Nevermore’s own Regina George, Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday), with her clique of sirens who ultimately all become Wednesday’s friends. But with a student body encompassing werewolves, gorgons, sirens, and telekinetic kids, the options are pretty much endless. My bets are on the gorgons or sirens, two creatures notoriously known for manipulation, omnipresent watching, and a thirst for revenge. Other suspects to ruminate over Credit: Vlad Cioplea / Netflix While a student stalker seems the more likely route, we know from this season that Wednesday relishes in the unexpected. Our stalker could be someone outside the school. Another likely contender is someone from the Gates family, aka Ms. Thornhill’s family, who were all believed to have died. Ms. Thornhill’s “survival” could suggest that the other reported deaths were also a farce. This theory may be farfetched, but the Gates family being the ultimate puppet masters does make sense in Wednesday’s grander scheme, with the final showdown a family feud between the Addams and the Gates. I also have my eyes on Nathaniel Faulkner, the mysterious Nevermore student who attended the academy during Gomez (Luis Guzmán) and Morticia’s (Catherine Zeta-Jones) time there, and who was the first person to document the existence of hydes, the monster species Tyler belongs to. Why was Faulkner so interested in hydes? Was there an ulterior motive to him studying them? Wednesday casually name-drops him and brushes past his pivotal involvement in the show’s big mystery, which beckons a greater question surrounding his character’s arc. We know that Tyler is still alive by the show’s finale; although he’s strapped down and being monitored 24/7, his hyde self is there and coming out whenever he wants it to. Maybe Faulkner (if he isn’t the stalker) will be a key to figuring out how to stop Tyler, and will play a larger role next season. It’s clear that Wednesday is setting up a boisterous Season 2 with its stalker cliffhanger, but with no announcements being made on its renewal (so far), our questions have a long way to go before finally being answered. But Season 1 was an Easter–egg fest of clues and hints, so maybe our stalker’s already been discretely revealed. After all, they are hiding in plain sight. Wednesday is now streaming on Netflix. View the full article

"Rob Zombie named a song after it; how bad could it be?" I joked as my boyfriend selected Jean Rollin's The Living Dead Girl from Criterion's menu for that evening's delectation. I was mostly joking — I'm a cinephile after all, so I knew we were in for at least some tasteful French bosoms, if not full-on bush given Rollin's oeuvre — but also not, because if there is one artist whose output I can't get enough of, it’s Robert Bartleh Cummings, aka Rob Zombie. Or Robert Zombert, as he's colloquially known among my friends. I don't know when his music, both with his first band White Zombie and as a solo artist, came to dominate my iTunes, but I'm sure that I encountered his work casually while watching Beavis and Butthead with my metalhead boyfriend in high school. Before Beavis and Butthead "changed everything" for Zombie, he was kicking around NYC as a bike messenger, living in the East Village (where I moved in 1998, decades before it became an extension of NYU's campus) and eventually working on Pee-wee's Playhouse. It's funny to think that he was subsisting on pea soup from Kiev a decade or so before I'd stomp around these same streets. I guess it's embarrassing to be enraptured with the artistic output of a man who still has spiritual, if no longer physical, dreadlocks, but life is too short to feel shame about everything, dammit. Given the effect that Hellbilly Deluxe has on my synapses when "Superbeast'' kicks in with a driving beat, I figure I started with that album back when I primarily wrote about video games and inhabited a pretty dude-centric universe, in the waning days of the dot-com bubble, and then worked backwards to love his older stuff. But, really, it's not just about Rob Zombie's musical output. And although I have fond memories of craving a Silkwood shower after seeing The Devil's Rejects with friends, it's not even about his movies, which bounce between grim grindhouse homages and supersaturated, clowny nightmares. I also adore how he casts so many actors from classic grindhouse and cult flicks; a perfect example of this is the late, great Sid Haig, who enjoyed a major late-in-life career resurgence when Zombie tapped him to play the unforgettable Captain Spaulding in House of 1,000 Corpses. It's about the vibe, man — the aesthetic! It's about capturing the giggly-screamy feeling I had as a tween trick-or-treating on a street full of old Victorian houses decorated to hell and back. It's about Rob Zombie's meticulous attention to the details of his obsessions across various mediums, like all of the old movies and shows he's sampled or the references he jams into other art and movies. Though it took me 20 or 30 minutes to really click into The Munsters because of the weird pacing, I fell in love with its sweetness, and how jam-packed it is with all of Zombie's key obsessions, so much so that I wanted to pause and examine each frame: B movies, monsters, daytime television shows, off-kilter humor, his cast of regulars (including weird-hot Jeff Daniel Phillips, who was the caveman from the GEICO commercials, so now I have to talk to my therapist about that), cameos from storied veterans, and of course Sheri Moon Zombie! Sorry, but this is cool as hell. Credit: Alliance Films / Kobal / Shutterstock Because I also love Sheri Moon Zombie, and I love their love. They make art together and rescue goats and just want some peace and quiet, you know? Her most famous role is that of Baby Firefly in House of 1,000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, and 3 From Hell, where she says things in a terrifyingly squeaky haunted doll voice like, "We like to get fucked up and do fucked up shit!" (You can buy a T-shirt with this quote, though I prefer my purple booty shorts that read "I Slam in the Back of my Dragula!" across the bum.) Her biggest role to date, and her most straightforward performance, is in 2012's wildly witchy flick The Lords of Salem, wherein she plays a DJ at a radio station in Salem who is haunted by eldritch visions and supernatural happenings after dropping the needle on a creepy LP late one night. There’s a lid for every pot, I always say, and the Zombies prove it. I have tried to interview Mr. Zombert twice now, to no avail; once for 31's Sundance Midnight Madness premiere, and once for The Munsters, two rather beleaguered projects he probably wasn't super eager to chat about. In general, I get the feeling he's not a super huge fan of talking to entertainment press (as opposed to music press or, uh, Larry King). After his experience with Halloween and its sequel, I can imagine why. Squeezing in 5- or 10-minute soundbytes with a random assortment of junket press folks is not most people's idea of a good time, and if you grew up among carnies, dropped out of art school, and hung out on the edges of NYC’s burgeoning noise scene only to go "mainstream" and become a rich and successful multi-hyphenate artist, you'd probably talk to fewer people, too. And sometimes it's for the best to not meet your heroes. I've learned the hard way that interviewing the people who make art you love can change your relationship to that art. Instead, it's more fun to share your enthusiasm with strangers — and maybe take some interior decor tips from Zombie's episode of Cribs. View the full article

SAVE OVER £280: The De'Longhi Specialista Prestigio is on sale for £508.99 this Black Friday, saving you 35% on list price. If you like your coffee black, and your prices Black Friday-flavoured, there are definitely some tasty deals for you on Amazon this week. Take the De'Longhi Specialista Prestigio, a barista pump espresso machine, which has been discounted by over £280 — a sensational saving on a seriously good coffee machine for serious coffee lovers. The De'Longhi Specialista Prestigio is on sale for £508.99, a saving of 35% on list price. This machine is geared towards perfect, customised flavour. It does that with grinding technology, with a sensor-equipped grinder that adapts to different types of coffee beans. It also has temperature control, which perfects the flavour extraction and maintains a stable, optimal heat. Pre-infusion technology adapts to the density of the coffee dose, once again delivering the very best flavour. Also included are a My LatteArt steam wand, an easy-to-use control panel, and a smart tamping station. Indeed, ignore the above gag about black coffee, because this makes all kinds of espresso — however you like it. The deal is available for a few days, ending on Nov. 29, but don’t delay like you might without your morning coffee, because hot Black Friday deals are already selling out. Opens in a new tab Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine (opens in a new tab) £508.99 at Amazon Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

It's Thanksgiving this week, which means it's time to gather with family, eat a ridiculously large bird, and enjoy another update from unlikely viral friends Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench. This is the seventh Thanksgiving the pair have spent together, after first meeting in 2016 thanks to a mistaken text message that went viral. Dench, a then 59-year-old grandmother, had intended to text her grandson to invite him over for Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending upon your point of view — said grandson had recently changed his number. The invitation was instead delivered to then 17-year-old Hinton, who quickly figured out the mixup. Hinton jokingly asked for a plate anyway, Dench earnestly invited him along, and the exchange was subsequently posted online. The rest is Thanksgiving history. SEE ALSO: Thanksgiving grandma and accidental dinner invitee spend sixth holiday together The unlikely duo have become sincere friends, starting an annual tradition of spending Thanksgiving together. This year they also took the opportunity to announce a new joint venture, having started a business selling alkaline water together. While Hinton teased their reunion a few days ago, the two don't just hang out during the holidays. Earlier this year Hinton accompanied Dench when she went to get her first tattoo — three stars in remembrance of her husband Lonnie Dench, her mother, and her father. Dench also tweeted congratulations to Hinton for starting his own car detailing business. And it seems as though both of them are fans of the Los Angeles Rams. Though already well-chronicled, Hinton and Dench's friendship will soon be further immortalised in film. Last year Netflix announced it will be making a movie based on their story, to be written by The Bobby Brown Story's Abdul Williams. "We are excited to share our story with the world," the duo said in a joint statement to Variety at the time. "We hope it inspires more people to reach out and make connections that they wouldn’t ordinarily make." Getting an update on Hinton and Dench has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition for many, almost as important as Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's heartwarming to see they're both doing well, and that their friendship is going strong. View the full article

If Twitter seems like a garbage fire right now, just wait. CEO Elon Musk has announced a blanket pardon for almost all suspended accounts next week, allowing countless banned users to return to the maligned platform. Unsurprisingly, he abdicated the final decision to a Twitter poll. In a tweet posted on Wednesday, Musk asked the general public, "Should Twitter offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, provided that they have not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam?" Previously, Twitter users could be banned for various transgressions such as abuse and harassment, posting gore or sexual violence, promoting self-harm, threatening violence, or harassing others due to their race or gender. Accounts that spread mass shooters' manifestos or other such content created by violent offenders were also suspended. Now all of that could come roaring back to Twitter in a few days, after 72.4 percent of the 3.1 million respondents to Musk's poll agreed to let currently suspended accounts return. "The people have spoken," Musk tweeted after the poll's result was revealed on Thursday. "Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei." SEE ALSO: Elon Musk is reinstating banned Twitter accounts. Here's who's back. The Latin phrase "Vox Populi, Vox Dei" translates to "the voice of the people [is] the voice of God," and appears to be becoming a watchword for Musk. The billionaire also used the phrase when announcing his decision to reinstate fellow billionaire Donald Trump's Twitter account, which was also determined by a Twitter poll. Interestingly, one of the earliest uses of the phrase can be traced back to medieval scholar Alcuin of York, and means the complete opposite of what Musk has been using it to say. The full quote reads, "Nec audiendi qui solent dicere, Vox populi, vox Dei, quum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit." Translated, this means, "And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness." Exactly how Twitter's amnesty will be implemented is unclear, as the clearest messaging issued about this change so far has been Musk's few tweets. The only exemptions the CEO has outlined for this mass pardon are for spam and breaches of law, which leaves significant room for a lot of unsavoury behaviour. This also means it's possible that Twitter accounts that were suspended for impersonation will be allowed to return. Impersonation recently became a significant issue for Twitter, after Musk made verification badges available for purchase without requiring any actual identity verification. This led to a deluge of users pretending to be various high profile figures, which in turn led to absolute chaos. Twitter has since suspended issuing verification badges indefinitely. Mashable has reached out to Twitter for clarification and comment, where our inquiry will no doubt join a mountain of unread emails clogging unattended inboxes. Twitter has cut over half of its employees since Musk took over the company at the end of last month, including people who would usually answer press inquiries. View the full article

TL;DR: The Premium Microsoft Office training bundle and lifetime license of MS Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 bundle is on sale for £67.15, saving you 94% on list price. Increasingly, software that was once available for a one-time license fee is becoming subscription-based. The individual subscriptions may not cost much each month, but that’s still a payment you’re making every month you want to keep your software, and it adds up if you need a lot of different apps. If you want to skip subscription fees for one of the most downloaded software sets in the world, then grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office. For a limited time, Mac users can get six MS Office Home and Business 2021 programs on their computer for life for just £67.15, and they come with online classes to show you how to unlock the advanced features of each program. This two-part bundle comes with lifetime licenses to six Microsoft Office programs and a corresponding course teaching you how to master each of them. Get unlimited access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, the basic version of Teams, and OneNote. If you’ve only touched on the superficial functions of each program, you might be surprised by how much each of them can do. Learn to integrate detailed charts and graphs into your Word documents, create engaging animations in PowerPoint, manage your life and communication with Outlook, and more. Building a budget for the family? Craft it in Excel, then share it with your partner using Teams. You can even take detailed notes using all the smart tools in OneNote. It’s a lot to learn, but the courses are taught by professionals from organisations like Intellezi. They specialise in tech education, so you’re in good hands. For a limited time, get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 and the Premium Microsoft Office training bundle all for £67.15. Opens in a new tab Credit: Microsoft The Premium Microsoft Office Training Bundle + Lifetime License of MS Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 (opens in a new tab) £67.15 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

SAVE 49%: Access ITVX from anywhere in the world with a VPN. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £87.08 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. The good news is that every World Cup fixture is being shown for free in the UK on ITV or BBC, and if you can't get in front of a TV, you can stream all the action on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. That's nice, but what about the rest of the world? The situation is not so straightforward for dedicated fans in the U.S. Every game is going to be shown on the FOX Sports family of networks, and live streaming is available on FuboTV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. That's a lot of options, but everything does require payment. When is England vs USA?England and the USA will go head-to-head on Friday, Nov. 25: England vs USA — 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT The game will be shown live on ITV1 in the UK. You can also live stream all the action on ITVX. How can you watch the World Cup for free in the U.S.?If you're looking for a way to watch every USA World Cup game for free this year, you should consider signing up to a streaming-friendly VPN. With the help of a service like ExpressVPN, and you can stream every game from the World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. The process is actually really simple. Once you have signed up to ExpressVPN and downloaded the app, you can connect to a secure server in the UK. This process tricks sites like ITVX and BBC iPlayer into thinking you are based in the UK, meaning you can watch online for free. There is of course a price to pay for ExpressVPN. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £87.08 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This discounted plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You could sign up to watch every game from the World Cup, and then recover your investment with the guarantee. This is sneaky, but it does mean you can watch everything for free. What is the best VPN for the World Cup?There are plenty of VPNs out there that can unblock BBC iPlayer and ITVX, but few can compete with ExpressVPN. This high-speed service provides powerful levels of encryption, apps for all operating systems, up to five mutli-logins, and reliable unblocking of leading streaming sites. Watch the World Cup for free with the best deal on ExpressVPN. Opens in a new tab Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) (opens in a new tab) £87.08 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

SAVE 49%: ExpressVPN can reliably unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £87.08 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. It's important to not get carried away, but after England's convincing win in their opening game of this year's World Cup, we can safely say that it's coming home. England are set to continue their campaign against the USA, with expectations high. When is England vs USA?England and the USA will face off on Friday, Nov. 25: England vs USA — 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT The game will be shown live on ITV1, and if you can't get in front of a TV, you can also live stream the action on ITVX. How can you watch England vs USA from abroad?If you're abroad during the World Cup, you'll find that your access to ITVX (and BBC iPlayer) is blocked. The only way to get around this blockade is with a streaming-friendly VPN. It is possible to access BBC iPlayer and ITVX from anywhere in the world with a VPN. These cybersecurity services can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in the UK. The process is quick and easy. You simply need to sign up to the service of your choice, download the app, and connect to a server in the UK. This makes streaming sites think you are based back home, meaning you can watch whatever you want without hassle. ITV has the rights to show England and the USA on Nov. 25, so you'll need to follow these steps to unblock ITVX. What is the best VPN for ITVX?There are a lot of top VPNs that can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world, but ExpressVPN might be the best. This popular service offers strong connection speeds, powerful levels of encryption, apps for all operating systems, up to five mutli-logins, and reliable unblocking of all leading streaming sites. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £87.08 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This discounted plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You could even sign up to watch the World Cup and then recoup your investment with the money-back guarantee. We know this is a little sketchy, but it does mean you can watch everything for free from abroad. Watch the World Cup from abroad with the best deal on ExpressVPN. Opens in a new tab Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) (opens in a new tab) £87.08 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need. What is Quordle?Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. Is Quordle harder than Wordle?Yes, though not diabolically so. Where did Quordle come from?Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer's creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running. How is Quordle pronounced?“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like "curdle.” Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?Yes and no. Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you. After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle. What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can't afford to waste guesses unless you're eliminating as many letters as possible at all times. Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn't the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it's a normal part of the player's strategic toolset. Is there a way to get the answer faster?In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses: Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We've had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.” Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses. If strategy isn't helping, and you're still stumped, here are some hints: Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?One word has letters occurring twice. Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?Y. What do today’s Quordle words start with?T, U, H, and T. What are the answers for today’s Quordle?Are you sure you want to know? There’s still time to turn back. OK, you asked for it. The answers are: TROOP UMBRA HOTLY TURBO View the full article

It's that time again, word nerds! A new Wordle puzzle is here to give your brain a workout, and so are we to offer some tips and tricks to help you. Our first tip to remember: The New York Times recently added a new word list and updated the rules, so now plurals ending in S or ES will never be the solution. If you'd rather have the answer to today's Wordle delivered straight, skip to the end of this article for November 25's solution revealed. Alternatively, if you prefer to do the work yourself, keep scrolling for tips, clues, and strategies to offer you a helping hand. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for November 24 Where did Wordle come from?Wordle was originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, but soon spread internationally. Thousands of people around the globe now play this game each day, and fans have even created alternate Wordle versions inspired by the original. This includes battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. In fact, the word puzzle game has proved so popular that the New York Times eventually bought it, and TikTok creators livestream themselves playing. What's the best Wordle starting word?Unlike a maths equation, there is no single correct answer to what the best Wordle starting word is. However, there are more strategic options, and we have plenty of ideas that can help you choose. For example, try picking a word that includes at least two different vowels, as well as some common consonants such as 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 when they had some spare time and no pressing responsibilities. Unfortunately it has since been taken down, which was done at the request of the New York Times according to the website's creator. SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Is Wordle getting harder?If you've been finding Wordle too easy, there is a Hard Mode you can enable to give yourself more of a challenge. But unless you activate this mode, we can assure you that Wordle isn't getting harder. Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?Usually, Wordle solutions are like Highlander: There can be only one. However occasionally the puzzle game will accept two different correct solutions on the same day, in apparent defiance of Wordle law. This aberration is due to changes the New York Times made after it acquired Wordle. The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle. Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:To figure out today's Wordle, think discomfort. It is also the name of one of the dual protagonists in a fictional cartoon within a popular cartoon. Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There aren't any double letters in today's Wordle answer, so that's one less complication to worry about! Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter I, as in "Insomnia" by Stray Kids. What's the answer to Wordle today?It's your last chance to guess today's Wordle! We're finally about to reveal the solution. Are you ready? The answer to Wordle #524 is... ITCHY. When something is itchy it either has or is causing an itch. Itchy is also the name of the violent mouse in The Itchy & Scratchy Show, a fictional cartoon within The Simpsons. Don't feel down if you didn't get it this time! There's always another day, and with it another Wordle. Come back tomorrow for more helpful clues and hints! View the full article

In a country where more than 770 burglaries go unsolved every day, it’s no surprise that some people consider free Sky streams the least of the UK’s worries. If the topic was switched to fraud, opinions would likely be quite different, and herein lies the problem. In 2022, piracy might form the basis of an investigation, but more often than not, fraud, money laundering, and other serious charges are the outcome. Sky Backed By Organized Crime Unit Not everyone can afford Sky TV, so it’s no surprise that pirate set-top boxes are so popular. It’s a trend Sky is determined to reverse in partnership with the police. The company doesn’t seem ready to tackle the public just yet, but it’s a completely different story for those involved in the pirate IPTV market. A statement issued today reveals that a “large-scale” TV piracy operation is under police investigation in the north of England. The private/public initiative involves Sky, South Yorkshire Police, and the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YH ROCU). During Tuesday morning this week, YH ROCU and South Yorkshire officers partnered with Sky to execute an unknown number of warrants in Doncaster and Barnsley. Police arrested a 43-year-old man who appears to have been involved in the supply of illegal TV streams, almost certainly including those owned by Sky. “Providing the means to watch premium television content without a subscription is illegal. By taking action in this way we hope to make a significant impact on this kind of criminal activity,” says Ramona Senior, Head of the YH ROCU Regional Economic Crime Unit. Much More Than Piracy The suspect’s role in the illegal streaming operation hasn’t been revealed but police have plenty of potential charges lined up. Alleged offenses under the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act lay the groundwork before a significant escalation into conspiracy to defraud. Specifics are yet to be released, but similar cases have featured offenses related to the possession or supply of articles for use in fraud – a pirate box or subscription, for example. Since streams tend to be sold as part of a subscription package, any revenue is illegal according to the Proceeds of Crimes Act 2002. Police say the man arrested Tuesday is suspected of money laundering, which includes possession or handling of criminal property, or facilitation of the same. Police also mention an offense under the ‘Serious Offences Act’ but probably meant to write Serious Crime Act instead. Charges under this legislation have succeeded against sellers of pirate TV boxes (1,2) and have also appeared in IPTV provider cases. Police describe the arrest as “an excellent example of our officers working with private partners to enforce the law,” adding that the suspect is now free pending further inquiries. How the case will progress is unknown, but the arrest itself doesn’t come as a complete surprise. Rumors that the police were planning something like this have been circulating since the start of the World Cup, but where and against whom remained a mystery. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

Check out these Le Creuset Black Friday deals, available as of Nov. 24: BEST DUTCH OVEN DEAL: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Deep Round Oven, 5.25 quart — $199.95 $249.95 (save $50) BEST COOKWARE DEAL: Le Creuset Buffet Casserole With Glass Lid, 3.5 quart — $199.96 $339.95 (save $139.99) Black Friday is the best time of the year to shop for splurge-worthy kitchen goods. Our favorite? A classic Le Creuset Dutch oven. SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday kitchen deals include air fryers, a bunch of Le Creuset, and Ninja Foodis galore Whether you have a serious foodie on your gift list, or you're just buying a little early holiday present for yourself, check out these top deals on Le Creuset Dutch ovens, cookware, enamelware, and more. Our top pick Opens in a new tab Credit: Le Creuset Our pick: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Deep Round Oven, 5.25 quart (opens in a new tab) $199.95 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal (opens in a new tab) Why we like itSure, Le Creuset Dutch ovens are pricey, but they're truly heirloom quality. There's a reason why all the grandmas of the world still have Le Creuset cookware from decades past — they literally last for generations. This deep Dutch oven is perfect for soup and stew season, and it's on sale in over 10 different colors. More Le Creuset Black Friday dealsLe Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Sauteuse Oven, 3.5 quart — $239.95 $300 (save $60.05) Le Creuset Buffet Casserole With Glass Lid, 3.5 quart — $199.96 $339.95 (save $139.99) Le Creuset Bistro Grill, 12.5" — $119.96 $134.95 (save $14.99) Le Creuset Classic Skillet, 9" — $119.96 $174.95 (save $54.99) Le Creuset Square Bakers, set of two — $57.96 $74.95 (save $16.99) Le Creuset Stoneware Set of 4 Soup Bowls — $54.36 $67.95 (save $13.59) Le Creuset Stoneware Pie Dish, 9"— $44.75 $55.95 (save $11.20) Le Creuset Stoneware Batter Bowl, two quart — $44.75 $55.95 (save $11.20) Le Creuset Stoneware Butter Crock, 6 oz — $35.16 $43.95 (save $8.79) Le Creuset Stoneware Utensil Crock — $27.96 $34.95 (save $6.99) Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte, eight ounce — $18.50 $21.95 (save $3.45) View the full article

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 24, Walmart has the Nintendo Switch bundle with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and 3 months of Nintendo online membership for $299.99. That's a savings of 25%. Nintendo's perennially popular Switch console and Mario Kart are a perfect match, and just like in 1998, nothing is more exciting for a kid than to open up a brand new Nintendo console on Christmas. That's why this Walmart deal is hard to pass up: you'll get a Switch with neon blue and red JoyCon controls, a full game download of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and 3 months of Nintendo Switch Online, all for $299.99. That's $100 off its regular price. Let's-a go! Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brings more of what everyone loves: more tracks (48 more in total), more characters, more gameplay modes, and perhaps most importantly, more nostalgia. With remakes of all of your favorites from Nintendo 64, 3DS, Game Boy Advance, and Wii, this one includes all the Booster Course Pass packs. And Nintendo Switch Online unlocks the e-store to download 100+ classic Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Nintendo 64 games — as well as the ability to earn Gold Points on DLCs, save to the cloud, play with friends, and relive your childhood. This is bound to sell out. Check out the bundle for $100 off while it's still around. Opens in a new tab Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle (opens in a new tab) $299.99 at Walmart (Save $100) Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

Save $200: This refurbished/open box Apple MacBook Pro is down to $399 from its $599 MSRP on Walmart on Nov. 24, thanks to Black Friday. That's a discount of 33% Buying refurbished is good for the environment and your wallet. But a discount on a refurbished MacBook Pro is even better. This refurbished Apple MacBook Pro is being offered by Walmart as a part of Black Friday for $399, which is $200 lower than its MSRP. Since it is refurbished, it comes with some mild cosmetic blemishes and a few scratches, but nothing that will affect its working capacity. And with rigorous testing and cleaning of this restored product, apart from a 90-day replacement policy, this deal has us jumping off our seats. This 13.3-inch MacBook Pro has an LED-backlit Retina display with a decent 2560*1000 resolution. The 8GB RAM is great for switching between apps seamlessly, and the 128GB space should be enough for storing your important documents, photos, and other digital memories. With a full-size backlit keyboard, you can avoid the strain on your eyes from hours of laptop work. And with 10 hours of web usage on a single charge available and a lithium-polymer battery to save the day before your device crashes, you can use your device for a full workday without keeping it plugged in. If you're not sold on this deal yet, do note that it comes with a black case for storage, a wireless mouse, and a Bluetooth headset for free. While this MacBook may not be equipped with more powerful chips such as the M1 or M2, or with more storage, you may be as likely to be struck by lightning than to find a MacBook Pro at a similar price. Opens in a new tab Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-inch Intel Core i5 8GB RAM (opens in a new tab) Save $200 at Walmart Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

Save $60: As of Nov. 24, the Lenovo Chromebook 3 is on sale for $79 at Best Buy. That's a savings of 43%. The winter lull is a great time to assess your accomplishments, plan for the next year, and upgrade any gadgets that will help you optimize your work or school setup. A dependable Chromebook can help you work, play, and study at a price that won't shock your bank account — especially if you're a parent. As of Nov. 24., the Lenovo Chromebook 3 is on sale for just $79 at Best Buy. Normally sold for $139, Best Buy added a slew of Chromebooks to its Black Friday sale inventory just in time for the new semester. This particular deal is 43% off, or almost half the regular price you'd expect to pay on a regular day. The Lenovo Chromebook 3 includes free virus protection and multiple apps that run seamlessly with Chrome OS. It includes 4 GB of RAM to help you do basic multitasking and 64GB of disk space. Additionally, it's powered by an Intel Celeron Processor and an Intel UHD Graphics 600 card. This allows gamers to look at high-resolution images without having to buy a separate graphics card. While not the fanciest features, this is a great budget Chromebook for kids, teens, and many working adults. You'll be able to surf the web, take work or personal calls, and write all the emails you need. At such a low price, check this deal out while it lasts. Opens in a new tab Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Chromebook 3 (opens in a new tab) Save $60 at Best Buy Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

The 2022 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off this week in Qatar, has been ridden with controversy and criticism — long before the event even started. This year's host country is under scrutiny for its history of human rights abuses and alleged bribery and corruption in connection with FIFA, in addition to the conditions surrounding the event itself, such as the injustices faced by migrant workers (including unexplained deaths) responsible for building the World Cup stadium and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Qatar's laws regarding homosexuality — same-sex relationships are illegal in the country, and punishable by up to three years in prison — have led to further condemnation. SEE ALSO: The Qatar World Cup is already going viral for all the wrong reasons These circumstances have simultaneously placed in question the integrity of the global extravaganza, along with its ambassadors and stakeholders. Qatar has been accused of sportswashing, or the practice of countries hosting major events for the sake of cultivating influence, improving reputation, and distracting from a country's condemned humanitarian or environmental practices. Notably, discourse surrounding Western hypocrisy has simultaneously emerged, and not only from FIFA President Gianni Infantino (who used his hour-long speech on the eve of the World Cup to declare European critics of the tournament hypocritical in their demand for human rights). Others have written of the complexities of engaging with the cup regardless of handing out criticism, as well as football's documented history of priotising money over human rights. This ongoing back-and-forth, however, has not eclipsed the crux of the issue for many. FIFA itself adopted the U.N.'s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 2016, which codifies its responsibility to uphold human rights. The criticisms towards both Qatar and the governing body of football have resulted in various protests, both on the pitch and off. Here's an ongoing list of protests being staged against this year's World Cup. Germany players send a message Germany players cover their mouths during the Qatar World Cup match between Germany and Japan. Credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images On Nov. 23, Germany players covered their mouths with their hands during a team photo before their World Cup opener, a match against Japan at Khalifa International Stadium. "It was a sign, a message that we wanted to send out. We wanted to convey the message that FIFA is silencing us," said head coach Hansi Flick. The team's action came days after FIFA banned players from wearing rainbow armbands in Qatar. The bands are a component of the OneLove campaign, which was started by the Dutch Football Association to campaign against all forms of discrimination while emphasising unity and a shared love for football amongst fans. The band has no directly worded mention of LGBTQ advocacy, but is covered with an array of colors — like a rainbow — and a heart, akin to symbols associated with LGBTQ rights. In Qatar, many teams sought to wear the band as a message of solidarity with the LGBTQ community, while playing in a country that criminalises same-sex relationships. However, FIFA clamped down on it, citing the organisation's regulation on equipment such as armbands: "No item (of playing kit or other clothing or equipment or otherwise) may be worn or used in any controlled area if FIFA considers that it is dangerous, offensive or indecent, includes political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images, or otherwise does not comply in full with the laws of the game." This apparently includes OneLove bands. FIFA asked team captains to instead opt for bands created as a part of its own "social campaign". These bands feature slogans such as "Football unites the world", "SaveThePlanet," and "NoDiscrimination". SEE ALSO: John Oliver takes a deep dive into the Qatar World Cup, slams FIFA "We wanted to use our captain's armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect," wrote the German team in a Twitter thread. "Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position." Germany, alongside England, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, and other European nations, backed down from wearing the bands but have expressed displeasure. The German Football Association is planning to take legal action against FIFA. Meanwhile, OneLove armbands have sold out according to their manufacturers. Wales puts rainbow flag on display A rainbow flag with the Wales' blazon at the Al Saad SC in Doha during the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Credit: NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images In a similar vein, Wales displayed rainbow flags at their training base in Qatar on Nov. 23, as a message of solidarity with the LGBTQ community. The team was also planning on sporting OneLove bands but were prevented from doing so. Backlash against David Beckham David Beckham during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium. Credit: Richard Sellers / Getty Images Former England captain David Beckham is serving as ambassador for the Qatar World Cup — a role drawing criticism from human rights activists, fans, and celebrities alike. The backlash stems from Beckham's decision to be sponsored by Qatar for an allegedly whopping fee. In protest, British comedian Joe Lycett promised to shred £10,000 (or USD $11,000) if Beckham didn't stand down from his role before the World Cup. The ex-footballer didn't take any such action — and Lycett appeared to shred the sum in a video posted online. In fact, the money was not shredded, as Lycett later revealed, but instead donated to LGBTQ charities. Lycett originally praised Beckham for being a "gay icon": a reputation he held since the early 2000s, largely thanks to gracing a cover of gay lifestyle magazine Attitude — the first professional footballer to be featured on the title's cover — and sprouting conversations about sexuality and football. "The fall of David Beckham's star has been fast and heavy," Attitude editor-in-chief Cliff Joannou wrote in a statement on Twitter. "It’s a reminder that being an advocate for not just LGBTQ+ rights, but women’s rights, immigrant worker’s rights...and any human rights should not be lip service. "It’s not a trend to boost a person’s profile. Human rights are not a fashion statement to be made to generate coverage in the style pages of tomorrow’s magazines." Iran players decline to sing national anthem Iranian fans hold signs of solidarity for those protesting. Credit: Evrim Aydin / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images While not a protest against Qatar or FIFA, the political messaging on the pitch continued with Iran's team declining to sing their national anthem before their match with England. The action was in solidarity with anti-government protests in their home country; a string of protests have swept through the country after the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody in September. Amini was detained by Iran's "morality police" in Tehran for supposedly not covering her hair adequately. Protesters have been met with brutal force in the country, leading to an imminent investigation by the United Nations' top human rights body. In the stadium, Iran's football team was met with cheers and fans holding signs with the words "Woman, Life, Freedom". The team captain, Ehsan Hajsafi, told reporters before the game, "We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy." This article will continue to be updated during the course of the World Cup. View the full article

SAVE £80: The Apple Watch Series 7 is on sale for £389 this Black Friday, saving you 17% on list price. Black Friday is your chance to get unexpected discounts on the biggest and best tech — the sorts of deals that would just be unimaginable at any other time of year. Apple lovers will be rejoicing this time around, because this year’s Black Friday Amazon sale has slashed a not inconsiderable £80 from the Apple Watch Series 7. Thanks to Black Friday, the Apple Watch Series 7 is on sale for £389 — that's a discount of 17% on list price. It’s not the latest generation of Apple Watch, but honestly? It’s not far off — just one generation removed. It’s still one of the very best pieces of wearable tech — particularly if you’re deeply embedded with Apple's well-synced ecosystem of devices and clouds. Indeed, Apple users will get a lot out of this impressive device. The Apple Watch Series 7 comes in a variety of colours (so if you’re buying as a gift, there’s something for every style and taste). It has all the tech and spec you’d want: health and fitness monitoring, maps and GPS, and a wealth of music, podcasts, and audio content — not to mention texts, calls, and emails. The Apple Watch Series 7 will keep you fit, connected, and entertained. The deal lasts until Nov. 29, but don’t miss out. Some of the hottest Black Friday Amazon deals have sold out already, and this one is sure to be popular. Whether you’re buying for yourself, or for a gift, a discount of £80 is not to be missed. Opens in a new tab Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 7 (opens in a new tab) £389 at Amazon Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

SAVE OVER £100: The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is on sale for £89.78 this Black Friday, saving you 55% on list price. One of the great pleasures of Black Friday is the opportunity to stock your home and kitchen with all-new, upgraded appliances and gadgets. And for coffee lovers, there are few appliances as important as the coffee machine. It’s not just an appliance, it’s a state of mind — the only way to kick yourself into gear every morning (and several other times throughout the day, no doubt). Thank the coffee gods for Black Friday then, because you’re almost certain to find a good coffee machine at a more than reasonable price. Just take the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, a hugely popular coffee machine with an amazing £100-plus discount. The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is now on sale for just £89.78 — an overall saving of 55%. Much like the coffee, it’s a very tasty deal. As the name suggests, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus uses Vertuo capsules. They come in 30-plus varieties, while the machine itself makes coffee for various cup sizes. It’s fast and extremely easy to use. You’ll get barista-quality espresso with the push of a button. This machine is actually made by Krups, one of the top brands making Nespresso-compatible machines. This Black Friday deal isn’t just a good price. It’s a good price on a seriously good model. Capsules are super easy to order online and there’s a complimentary recycling service for the empty capsules, which should alleviate any concerns over the capsules’ environmental impact. Opens in a new tab Credit: Krups Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee Machine (opens in a new tab) £89.78 at Amazon Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

SAVE $1,303: As of Nov. 24, LG's C1 Series 65-inch OLED television is on sale at $1,196.99 at Amazon. That's a 52% discount. Black Friday is always the best time to get a splashy, big-ticket item like a television. And it doesn't get any more big-ticket than the LG C1 65-inch size OLED TV, which is over 50% off of its $2,499 list price at Amazon. That's a lot of television for the memory: 4K resolution's worth. That's also $300 cheaper than the last time we saw this on sale, during the Prime Early Access Sale. This C1 Series television isn't just ultra-thin (less than two inches at its base), it's also sleek enough to be wall-mounted anywhere. LG's self-lit OLED technology brings intense color and higher-contrast images across every one of its eight million pixels that can apparently support a billion colors. (But you'd have to be a mantis shrimp to tell them apart.) SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday TV deals include a 55-inch QLED under $200 For gamers, HDMI 2.1 (with four HDMI ports!) and compatibility with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync display tech means smooth, responsive gaming. There's Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are seamlessly built-in, and the LG Magic Remote includes Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime integration. It's a lot of television for the money. But you'll only have four more days to snag this deal from Amazon, 'til Cyber Monday. And with free delivery — whether you're a Prime member or not — you won't have to wait in line. Opens in a new tab Credit: LG LG C1 Series 65-inch OLED TV (opens in a new tab) $1,303 at Amazon (Save $1,303) Get Deal (opens in a new tab) Explore more Black Friday TV deals: 55" LG UQA Series NanoCell 4K HDR Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $496.90 (List Price $799.99) 85" Hisense A7H Series 4K HDR Google TV (2022 Model) (Opens in a new window) — $1,199.99 (List Price $1,699.99) 55" onn. 4K HDR Roku Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $268.00 (List Price $379) 75" Samsung TU690T 4K UltraHD HDR Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $579.99 (List Price $849.99) 50" Insignia F30 Series 4K LED Smart Fire TV (Opens in a new window) — $249.99 (List Price $399.99) 65-Inch Amazon Omni QLED Series Smart Fire TV (Opens in a new window) — $549.99 (List Price $799.99) 48" LG Class A2 Series OLED 4K Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $569.99 (List Price $1,299.99) 65" Hisense U7H Series 4K QLED 120Hz Full Array TV (Opens in a new window) — $698.00 (List Price $1,049.99) 55" Sony Bravia XR X90J Series 4K 120Hz Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $849.99 (List Price $1,299.99) 50" Vizio V505-J09 4K HDR Full Array LED Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $298.00 (List Price $1,024.61) 65" Vizio Class V-Series 4K UHD LED Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $448.00 (List Price $1,275.08) 58" Hisense Class R6 Series 4K Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $298.00 (List Price $338) 55" LG B2 Series OLED 4K HDR Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $996.99 (List Price $1,599.99) 55" Hisense U8H 4K HDR Mini-LED QLED Google Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $599.99 (List Price $1,149.99) 75" Amazon Omni Series 4K HDR Smart Fire TV (Opens in a new window) — $749.99 (List Price $1,049.99) 65" LG OLED C1 Series 4K HDR 120Hz Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $1,196.99 (List Price $2,499.99) 65" Samsung QN90B 4K Neo QLED 120Hz Mini-LED TV (Opens in a new window) — $1,597.99 (List Price $2,297.99) 48" LG C2 Evo OLED 4K HDR 120Hz Native TV (2022 Model) (Opens in a new window) — $1,046.99 (List Price $1,146.99) View the full article

SAVE $99: As of Nov. 24, the Echo 5 and Echo Auto smart device bundle are $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 74% discount. What can Amazon's latest Echo Show 5 do for you? What can't it do? This multitalented device can wake you up with an artificial sunrise, call your friends, turn up or down the lights, check on your furry friends, meditate, watch Red Bull TV, or play music when you make an entrance. All that functionality is now available on the go with Echo Auto, which brings the voice-activated Alexa into your car. Both are usually sold separately: the Echo Show 5 is listed at $84.99, and the Echo Auto is $49.99 (for a total of $134.98). But this Black Friday, you can get the whole bundle for $34.99 — saving you $99. SEE ALSO: Amazon's Black Friday deals are here and they're not to be missed If you're looking to bring your home into the 21st century, then the Echo Show 5 is a "no-brainer," as Mashable's reviewer said in October 2022. Redesigned this year for its second generation, it's not as feature-laden as the Echo Show 8, with less features for video calling. But we liked its usefulness as a WFH office assistant, helping with hands-free multitasking. (There's even a Kids edition with additional parental controls and a bevy of fun colors.) Alexa isn't even a voice command away anymore: with new motion activation, Alexa can detect when you're about to wake up and automatically turn on your lights, start your coffee maker, and anything else you can program into your morning routine. Ray Bradbury could never. Echo Auto brings voice-activated Alexa into your car, via a little black box that sits on your dashboard. Connecting to your smartphone via Bluetooth, you can ask for navigation, music, or hands-free calling via eight microphones tuned to ignore road noise. The last time Echo Auto was close to this price was when it was introduced in 2018; then, it was $24.99, but it's $49.99 on its own — which is why this two-device bundle is worth considering. Check out this deal at Amazon. Opens in a new tab Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Show 5 and Echo Auto (opens in a new tab) $34.99 at Amazon (Save $99) Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

SAVE OVER £70: The Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a three-month online membership bundle is on sale for £259 this Black Friday, saving you 23% on list price. Black Friday is fantastic as an event in itself, but we know what it means for most of us: It's the day to start Christmas shopping — to get those early bargains and take the overall sting out of the cost of the festive season. It’s the time to start buying those usually pricey gifts. Nothing says a Christmas gift like a Nintendo Switch bundle. It’s the ultimate must-have, much-requested Christmas present. And nothing says a Black Friday deal like a whopping £70 off the regular price. This year you can get a Nintendo Switch bundle for £259 — that’s a discount of 23% on list price. For that money you’ll get a Nintendo Switch console with red and blue controllers, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and a three-month membership for Nintendo Switch Online. The Nintendo Switch might seem like a gift that’s strictly for kids or gamers, but the brilliance of it is that the multiplayer design makes it a gift for the whole household, whether that means a family or a bunch of flatmates. Indeed, if you are buying this as a Christmas gift, there are worse ways to spend the festive season than battling against friends and family in a highly competitive game of Mario Kart. The Nintendo Switch Online membership will allow you to play against friends online too, not to mention access tons of classic Nintendo games. A treat for fans of both modern and retro gaming. Opens in a new tab Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Mario Kart Bundle (opens in a new tab) £259 at Amazon Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

SAVE £16: The Roku Express is on sale for £13.99 this Black Friday, saving you 33% on list price. You don’t need to splash out on a mega-sized smart TV this Black Friday. All the entertainment you can imagine comes packed into the Roku Express HD streaming media player. And hey, there’s a reason we go crazy for entertainment system and TV deals around Black Friday. It marks the start of the Christmas season, which is the optimum time for huddling around the TV for some essential festive film and TV watching. The Roku Express has dropped to just £13.99 for Black Friday, although the deal ends on Nov. 29 — so don’t let this one pass you by. That's a discount of 33% on the regular price. But what is Roku Express? It’s essentially an all-in-one entertainment device. It plugs into your TV via an HDMI cable and gives you access to all the top streaming platforms — including Netflix, Disney, Apple TV, BBC iPlayer, and more — and streams it all in glorious HD. Accompanying the Roku Express is an easy-to-use remote control. But there’s another cool option: You can use the Roku app to transform your phone into a remote. It allows you to use voice commands and other cool features. Aside from the Roku app option, what sets the Roku Express apart from similar devices is its price. Especially now it’s been marked down for Black Friday — £13.99 is an impressively low price for an impressive amount of content. Opens in a new tab Credit: Roku Roku Express (opens in a new tab) £13.99 at Amazon Get Deal (opens in a new tab) View the full article

BEST ECOVACS ROBOT VACUUM DEALS ECOVACS DEEBOT N8+ 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum – A$699 (was $1,499, 53% off) ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 Robot Vacuum Cleaner – A$399 (was $999, 60% off) BEST IROBOT ROBOT VACUUM DEALS iRobot Roomba j7 Robot Vacuum – A$995 (was $1,299, 23% off) iRobot Roomba i3+ Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal – A$985.59 (was $1,399, 30% off) iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum – A$336 (was $499, 33% off) iRobot Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum – A$2,299 (was $2,899, 21% off) BEST OTHER ROBOT VACUUM DEALS yeedi vac 2 pro Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo – A$389 (was $699, 30% off + $100 Prime Voucher) What is Black Friday?Black Friday was originally a U.S. tradition, but has become bigger and bigger in Australia over the past few years. Since the 1950s, shops in the U.S. have offered big discounts on their stock the day after Thanksgiving, and people would often get ahead of all their holiday shopping on this weekend. That tradition has gone global in the past decade, and now Black Friday is a global shopping event. Cyber Monday is a recent addition to the holiday weekend, as online retailers sought to offer their own take on the Black Friday goodness. But as the lines blur between commerce and e-commerce these days, Black Friday/Cyber Monday has become one connected week of deals. When is Black Friday in 2022?Black Friday 2022 technically takes place on Friday, Nov. 25, and Cyber Monday takes place on Monday, Nov. 28. However, the whole week prior has now become informally known as 'Black Friday Week', and early deals begin to pop up throughout this week and even earlier. Amazon, for example, kicked their sale off on Nov. 21, and are running deals all the way up to Nov. 30. What are the best items to buy on Black Friday/Cyber Monday?You should expect huge discounts on big-ticket items like laptops, Hi-Fi, consoles and TVs. There also seems to be a slant towards gadgets and gift items, which makes sense with the holidays around the corner. Online retailers like Amazon, Kogan and Ebay will have strong deals in all categories. However, keep an eye out specifically for the following products: Appliances: Retailers like The Good Guys and Bing Lee always go big on Black Friday, dropping prices on pretty much everything they stock. You can expect deals on washing machines, fridges, freezers, kettles, toasters, and much more. If you're looking to stock up on appliances for your home, these sites should be your first stop. Games consoles: Finding console availability has been a total over the last couple of years, but things are definitely improving in Australia, with PS5 bundles being readily available on Amazon. That means there should be opportunities to pick up deals games and accessories for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PS5 this year. Smartphones: Amazon always offers plenty of impressive deals on all sorts of smartphones. Toys: Black Friday is probably the best time of the year to shop for toys. The most in-demand toys will sell out fast in the run-up to Christmas, so this is a great opportunity to get in early. We recommend checking out Amazon for the best deals on Lego, especially for the massively popular Star Wars and Harry Potter sets. TVs: Black Friday is all about big deals on the biggest products, and that means TVs. We expect pretty much all of the leading retailers to offer fantastic deals on TVs of all sizes from top brands like Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic. It's best to shop around for the best TV deals, because there are going to be so many, but you can't go wrong with The Good Guys, Bing Lee or Kogan. VPNs: Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are a fairly new addition to the Black Friday shopping scene, but there are some good deals available, especially by Cyber Monday. Cybersecurity is increasingly important, and VPNs offer online protection for your identity and data. All the leading services are likely to offer discounted rates over the week, and you should be able to find good deals on the likes of NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and CyberGhost VPN. Be sure to also be on the look out for deals on travel, subscription services, and laptops, because these are likely to feature heavily throughout this shopping season. View the full article