Table of ContentsTable of ContentsUnleash the power of searchHidden playback featuresPlaylist masteryEnhance your discoveriesDo you think you know everything there is to know about the top music streaming service on the planet? Think again! While many Spotify users are familiar with creating playlists and using the shuffle feature, there is much more to discover. Spotify has hidden features and clever tips that can significantly enhance your music experience.Are you ready to explore everything Spotify offers and take your listening enjoyment to the next level? Lets get started!Recommended VideosBryan M. Wolfe / Digital TrendsSearch is one of the most important features of Spotify. However, it is more than just a tool to find songs and albums you enjoy; its also a fantastic way to discover new content.RelatedSearch by genreAre you on a quest to discover new sounds? Enhance your listening experience by typing genre:[genre name] (e.g., genre:indie folk) into the search bar. This simple command opens up a treasure trove of tunes, allowing you to dive deep into the genres that resonate with you, whether its the soulful strumming of acoustic guitar or the upbeat energy of pop.While this might not be the sexist way to use Spotifys search feature, its worthwhile.Search by moodMusic has a fantastic ability to reflect our emotions. Whether youre feeling elated, introspective, or energized, you can harness the power of the search feature using mood:[mood] (for example, mood:chill) to find tracks that perfectly match your vibe. Its like having a personal DJ who understands precisely how you feel!Search by yearEmbark on a nostalgic journey through the hits of the past! Use the format year:[year] (e.g., year:1998) to transport yourself back to the music of a specific era. Relive the sounds that shaped your youth or explore the anthems that defined each decade!Bryan M. Wolfe / DIgital TrendsMusic playback isnt just about going from song to song and using general tools like shuffle and pause. Much more, in fact.Ultimate control with playback speedTake charge of your listening experience by adjusting the playback speed. Whether you want to speed through a podcast episode or slow down intricate musical passages for better understanding, this feature can be found by choosing 1x from the podcast or audiobook page you are currently playing.Fade outSay goodbye to jarring song endings! You can create smooth transitions between tracks by enabling Crossfade in the settings, ensuring your listening experience flows effortlessly like a well-curated mixtape.To set up crossfade on the Spotify app, go to Settings. Move down and select Playback. Finally, choose the slide to adjust the crossfade duration. The longer the duration, the more overlap between songs.Queue like a proKeep the music going without interruption by managing your upcoming tracks seamlessly. With just a tap on the three dots next to a song, you can select Add to Queue, letting you curate the perfect list of songs to play next all while youre still vibing to your current jam.Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital TrendsYou can do many things with playlists on Spotify; some might be familiar to you, while others may not.Collaborative playlistsElevate your social gatherings, even from afar! Create a collaborative playlist and invite your friends to contribute their favorite tracks. This way, everyone can enjoy a shared music experience, making your next virtual party feel more connected and interactive.You can create a new playlist on mobile by choosing Your Library and then Playlists. From there, select the playlist you wish to share. Select the Add User button in the playlist header, then follow the directions.To use this feature, you must be the playlists creator. Anyone with the link can add, delete, and rearrange songs.AI Playlist toolSpotify has embraced AI to revolutionize playlist creation and music discovery. Their newest tool, AI Playlist, lets you generate a playlist simply by describing what you want, like songs for a rainy night walk or music for coding. The AI considers your listening history and the prompt to create a personalized playlist, which you can refine by adding more descriptions.Another AI-powered feature, AI DJ, acts like a personalized radio station with an AI voice that curates songs based on your taste, provides commentary, and adapts to your feedback.AI Playlist is a choice on the playlist add button (+), while AI DJ is available from the main Music screen.Playlist foldersTame your growing collection of playlists by utilizing playlist folders. You can streamline your music library management by grouping similar playlists such as workout tunes, relaxing sounds, or even themed playlists for special occasions. For example, within the workout folder, you might include sub-playlists for different types of exercise, like high-energy cardio tracks, strength training mixes, and calming cool-down songs. Similarly, in the relaxing sounds folder, you could categorize playlists by mood or setting, such as ambient sounds for studying, nature sounds for meditation, or jazz for unwinding after a long day.To create playlist folders, you need to use Spotify on the web. Choose Your Library, then select the + button. From there, choose Create a playlist folder.Blend itThis feature allows you to merge your musical tastes with a friend to create a shared playlist. Spotifys algorithm identifies common interests and adds surprises that both of you might enjoy. Its a fun way to discover new music and bond over shared favorites. You can find the Blend feature by searching for it in the app.To activate Blend, go into Your Library and choose the + at the top right. From the menu, select Blend.Smart ShuffleFinally, be sure to check out Smart Shuffle. This new feature keeps your listening sessions fresh by providing personalized recommendations that align perfectly with the vibe of your original playlists. It revitalizes your carefully curated playlists by shuffling tracks and incorporating new, custom-tailored suggestions.You must be on the main screen of a playlist you created to get started. From there, choose the Smart Shuffle icon next to the Play button.Bryan M. Wolfe / DIgital TrendsAre you searching for new music or tunes similar to your favorites? Spotify provides many tools to help you discover them with just a tap.Enhance your Discover WeeklyYour interaction is the key to a perfectly curated Discover Weekly playlist. The more you listen, like, and hide tracks that dont resonate with you, the better it gets! This feedback loop helps Spotify refine its recommendations, turning even casual listeners into music aficionados.Discover Weekly is available on the Music page in the Spotify app.Explore Daily MixesRecharge your daily soundtrack with personalized mixes curated from your listening habits. With Daily Mixes, you can enjoy a continuous stream of fresh tunes tailored just for you, ensuring that every beat resonates with your unique tastes. Whether working on a project, unwinding after a long day, or vibing with friends at a gathering, the mixes adapt to your activities, creating the perfect ambiance.Each Daily Mix features a blend of familiar favorites and exciting new tracks you might not have discovered yet, all selected based on your listening history. You can customize your experience by giving a thumbs up or down to songs, helping refine the recommendations further.Dive into your musical journey and explore different genres, from upbeat pop anthems to smooth jazz or energizing electronic beats. Daily Mixes makes every moment a soundtrack crafted just for you, making each day more musical and enjoyable. Dont forget to check back often as your mixes evolve with your tastes and new releases!Like Discovery Weekly, you can find the various Daily Mixes from the main Music page.Go deep with radioLaunch a radio station inspired by a specific song, album, or artist that resonates with you. This feature allows Spotify to introduce you to similar music, guiding you on a sonic adventure to discover hidden gems you might not have found otherwise.To use this tool, start a song on the Spotify app. Then, choose the *** next to the title of the playing music. From the menu, select Go to Radio. Yes, its that simple.Editors Recommendations

The Chinese internet company is in discussions with United Arab Emirates authorities to bring its driverless ride-hailing service to the Middle Eastern country, people familiar with the matter said.

Roscosmos shakeup After Putin sacked Russias space chief, the rumor mill is running red-hot The Ukraine war has exacerbated Russia's decline in space. Eric Berger Feb 12, 2025 8:36 am | 21 Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Roscosmos Space Corporation Chief Yuri Borisov peruse an exhibit while visiting the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia in October 2023. Credit: Contributor/Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Roscosmos Space Corporation Chief Yuri Borisov peruse an exhibit while visiting the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia in October 2023. Credit: Contributor/Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreAfter a relatively short period of just two and a half years, the chief of the Russian space corporation Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, was dismissed from his position last week. The Kremlin announced he would be replaced by 39-year-old former Deputy Minister of Transport Dmitry Bakanov.An economist by training, Bakanov has worked in the past for a satellite communications company named Gonets. However, he is largely an unknown entity to NASA as the US space agency continues to partner with Russia on the operation of the International Space Station.NASA had developed a reasonably good relationship with Borisov, who brought a much more stable presence to the NASA-Roscosmos relationship after his pugnacious predecessor, Dmitry Rogozin, was sacked in 2022.In the wake of Borisov's seemingly sudden removalthere was no readily apparent public controversy, and he was still fairly early into his tenurethe real question is why Borisov was dismissed. Ars, working with a translator named Rob Mitchell, has been combing through Russian news reports and Telegram channels to try to determine what happened. Although we don't have absolute answers, there is plenty of intrigue.Why was Borisov terminated?One of the most common theories is that Borisov was fired after a recent test of the Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile failed. This missile, which is strategically important to Russia, was first demonstrated in the country's war against Ukraine in November 2024. There were reports that Russia launched a second Oreshnik missile at Kyiv last week, but that it accidentally exploded over Russian soil. However, this seems unlikely to be the cause of Borisov's termination, because no Oreshnik missile was actually fired last week.A wilder theory involves Borisov's son. There is unverified information floating around Telegram channels that suggest Borisov's son had begun selling off the family-owned business (NTTs-Module), which made space components for the Russian government, to move funds abroad. But then, last August, Konstantin Borisov died under mysterious circumstances. He was 43 years old. This Radio Liberty program has more information on this unexpected death. Now his father has been removed from a senior state position.None of this can be confirmed, of course.It is also possible that Borisov was simply fired because of the generally poor state of affairs at Roscosmos, which is saddled with myriad problems, including: corruption, a lack of investment, low wages and poor employee morale, Russia's war against Ukraine draining talent, a reliance on technology half a century old, and shrinking commercial markets.The bottom line is that Russia simply does not have the state budget to support significant investments in its space programs, and the country's technical efforts are bent on weapons rather than spaceflight. It also has virtually no commercial space market, as everything is controlled by Roscosmos or its state-owned subsidiaries.The Ukraine war has exacerbated Russia's decline in space. The country's space program survived the breakup of the Soviet Union a quarter of a century ago by partnering with the West. It formed the coalition of nations that built the International Space Station, with NASA providing significant financial support. European companies bought launches on the Soyuz rocket. American launch companies bought Russian rocket engines. But most of that is over now, and the future looks fairly bleak, with Europe closing off its markets to Russian markets and NASA and Roscosmos likely ending their space station partnership by 2030.Cows on MarsIn the meantime, Putin appears to be shuffling chairs at Roscosmos and daydreaming about missions to Mars.During a rally with college students in the city of Yaroslavl, Putin was speaking about how Russia would advance into the future. As part of this he awarded the "Presidential Prize" to several young scientists, including an aerospace engineer named Natalia Cherkashina. She won an award for an anti-radiation composite material."Natalia Igorevna, can you please tell me if today's modern radiation-protective composites will allow, say, cows to fly to Mars and return? Or bunnies? Or cats? Or dogs?" Putin asked."Why not? Of course they will," she replied.Later on, Putin said he was just kidding around. "I was joking about cows, we need cows here to make cheese and milk," he said. Under his watch, Russia's space program has become something of a joke, too.Eric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 21 Comments

It is time to get real about scarcity of trained AI pros, priciness of technology and data, and the potential for plans to stall before grand AI strategies can launch.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Robots are bringing new life to extinct species In the last few years, paleontologists have developed a new trick for turning back time and studying prehistoric animals: building experimental robotic models of them. In the absence of a living specimen, scientists say, an ambling, flying, swimming, or slithering automaton is the next best thing for studying the behavior of extinct organisms.Here are four examples of robots that are shedding light on creatures of yore. Shi En Kim This subscriber-only story is from an upcoming edition of our print magazine.Subscribe nowto get a copy when it lands on February 26! AI crawler wars threaten to make the web more closed for everyone Shayne Longpre is a PhD Candidate at MIT, where his research focuses on the intersection of AI and policy. He leads the Data Provenance Initiative. We often take the internet for granted. Its an ocean of information at our fingertipsand it simply works. But this system relies on swarms of crawlersbots that roam the web, visit millions of websites every day, and report what they see. Crawlers are endemic. Now representing half of all internet traffic, they will soon outpace human traffic. This unseen subway of the web ferries information from site to site, day and night. And as of late, they serve one more purpose: Companies such as OpenAI use web-crawled data to train their artificial intelligence systems, like ChatGPT. Understandably, websites are now fighting back for fear that this invasive speciesAI crawlerswill help displace them. But theres a problem: This pushback is also threatening the transparency and open borders of the web. Read the full story. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 The US is not experiencing an AI energy crisis yet We dont know how much energy AI will end up needing. Wedoknow fossil fuels are destroying our planet. (The Atlantic$)+AI is an energy hog. This is what it means for climate change.(MIT Technology Review)2 The US and UK refused to sign an international AI declaration Despite its name, the AI Action Summit seems to have been a lot of talk and not much action. (BBC)+Anthropics CEO decried it as a missed opportunity.(TechCrunch)+JD Vance used his speech at the summit to rail against Europes excessive AI regulations. (AP)+It seems to have workedthe EUs already scrapping some proposed new rules. (Sifted)+And its committing to plow over $200 billion into AI development in a bid to try and compete.(Engadget)3 DOGEs latest target is the Consumer Financial Protection BureauThe fact it was about to start regulating X is inconsequential, apparently. (NPR)+How Musks companies stand to benefit from his position leading DOGE.(NYT$)+Trump is expanding DOGEs power to cut the federal workforce. (WP$)+Privacy advocates and labor unions have filed a lawsuit to try to block DOGEs data access.(The Verge)+What if Trump justrefuses to comply with the law?(New Yorker$)4 Apple is partnering with Alibaba to launch AI features in ChinaIt decided against DeepSeek, citing a lack of experience. (The Information$)+Alibabas Qwen powers the worlds top ten open source large language models. (South China Morning Post)+Four Chinese AI startups to watch beyond DeepSeek.(MIT Technology Review)5 A dairy worker in Nevada has been infected with a new strain of bird fluThis marks the first time this new strain is known to have jumped from birds to cows to a person. (Ars Technica)+How the US is preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic.(MIT Technology Review)6 Wikipedia is increasingly having to defend its US editors from attacksThis is what the erosion of free speech really looks like, by the way. (404 Media)7 Some Temu sellers are using the US Postal Service for freeCounterfeit postage labels are being openly promoted on Chinese social media. (Rest of World)8 How Meta ended up cancelling its commitment to diversity Pretty easily, as Zuckerberg never really saw it as a priority to begin with. (The Guardian)9 The Earths inner core is changing shape Pretty wild! And its possible that its linked to changes in the magnetic field. (Scientific American$) 10 Pakistans rickshaws are at the forefront of its EV revolution This makes so much sense, if they can overcome the cost barrier. (Rest of World)Quote of the day "So far, what we are seeing is a lot of cost and a lot of chaos. Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, bemoans the early impact of Trumps tariffs at a conference in New York this week,Business Insiderreports. The big story The quest to build wildfire-resistant homes DON BARTLETTI/LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES April 2023 With each devastating wildfire in the US West, officials consider new methods or regulations that might save homes or lives the next time. In the parts of California where the hillsides meet human development, and where the state has suffered recurring seasonal fire tragedies, that search for new means of survival has especially high stakes. Many of these methods are low cost and low tech, but no less innovative. In fact, the hardest part to tackle may not be materials engineering, but social change.Read the full story. Susie Cagle We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.)+ Thisroundupof Victorian-era content made me giggle. Im going to start using the morbs. + How to feel more alive. (NYT$)+ Despite what society tells us, all the evidence shows that successdoes not have an age limit.+ Why does Hokusais Great Wavehave such enduring mass appeal?

Fiber is crucial for gut health, but most Americans don't eat enough.Those who follow the Mediterranean Diet, packed with veggies and beans, eat twice as much fiber.Christina Soteriou's tips for adding fiber to dishes include using blended beans.Eating a diet packed with fiber is second nature to Christina Soteriou, a plant-based chef who spent most of her childhood in Cyprus.Fiber, found in plants such as vegetables, beans, and nuts, is crucial for our digestive health. It feeds "good" bacteria in the gut microbiome, or the microbes that line the colon. A diverse gut microbiome is associated with better overall health and a lower risk of chronic diseases, including colon cancer.In the US, where the Western diet is common, over 90% of women and 97% of men don't eat the recommended 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories each day, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans state. People who follow a Mediterranean-style diet, however, eat double the amount of fiber each day, according to a 2021 literature review published in the journal Nutrients.Soteriou, the author of "Big Veg Energy," told Business Insider it's easy to add fiber to meals without compromising flavor, using the whole foods that are a staple of the Mediterranean diet.Nichola Ludlam-Raine, a dietitian and the author of "How Not to Eat Ultra-Processed," said Soteriou's tips are an excellent way to consume more fiber to support digestion, gut health, and energy levels.1) Add blended beans to sauce to make it creamierSoteriou likes to think about what she can add to a meal versus what to restrict.One of her favorite high-fiber additions is blended beans, as they also add a creamy flavor to a dish. "Instead of somewhere you might put cream in, you can blend beans," she told Business Insider.She often mixes blended lima beans into pasta sauces."The flavors could be something like harissa and roasted red peppers, or you could just literally throw some pesto into the blender with some beans, and that makes a creamy sauce," she said.Another favorite is fresh herbs, spinach, half a can of beans, lemon juice, and a tablespoon of tahini."If you love pasta, you're eating pasta, but also getting all of these yummy nutrients and protein and fiber," she said.2) Sprinkle mixed seeds on meals Sprinkling mixed seeds over a dish is a quick way to add some fiber, Soteriou said. fcafotodigital/Getty Images Seeds are high in both fiber and healthy fats and contain plant-based protein. They're also easy to add to any meal or snack, Soteriou said.She buys packs of mixed seeds to help her reach her goal of eating 30 plants a week, a number experts believe helps promote gut microbiome diversity."If you have a seed mix that has 10 different seeds in it, that's 10 points already," she said.She sprinkles them over oats, salads, and roasted vegetables.3) Try different whole grainsWhole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and bulgar wheat are an essential part of the Mediterranean diet, and they tend to be high in fiber.To eat more fiber, Soteriou changes the whole grains she uses and tries new ones."If you think, 'Okay, I've had rice, what other grain can I eat with this thing?' There's so many different grains," she said. "Experiment with different grains where you can."You could try using pearl barely instead of Arborio rice in a risotto, for example, or millet instead of couscous, she said.4) Top dishes with fermented foodsDashing some fermented vegetables, such as pickles, kimchi, and sauerkraut, into a grain bowl or on top of a salad is quick and easy and will up the fiber content and flavor profile, Soteriou said.These foods also introduce live bacteria into the gut, which research suggests boosts gut health.Fermented foods tend to last for ages, so you don't have to worry about them going bad like fresh vegetables, she said.

11. "It's Pat" (1994)"It's Pat." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution Rotten Tomatoes score:"It's Pat" is based on a series of sketches starring Julia Sweeney as Pat, one of the most annoying people on the planet, but the whole joke is that nobody can figure out what gender Pat is.In the film, Pat falls in love with Chris, another androgynous person (played by Dave Foley). The two deal with a stalker, Kyle (fellow "SNL" star Charles Rocket), who becomes obsessed with figuring out their genders. That's the whole film."Ever hear the one about the pic that was too bad to be released, so it escaped? Well, that old joke now has a new punchline: 'It's Pat,' a shockingly unfunny 'Saturday Night Live' spinoff," wrote Joe Leydon for Variety.10 (tie). "A Night at the Roxbury" (1998)"A Night at the Roxbury." Paramount Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score:"A Night at the Roxbury" is based on "The Roxbury Guys" sketches, which starred Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell as two oblivious club rats with a talent for jerking their necks to the beat of "What Is Love" by Haddaway.The film stretches out this premise across 82 minutes. Kattan and Ferrell star as the Butabi brothers, two aspiring womanizers who dream of getting into the famed Roxbury nightclub one day."Let's look at the bright side. America is still the land of opportunity if Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan can make a movie," wrote Mick LaSalle for the San Francisco Chronicle.10 (tie). "The Ladies Man" (2000)"The Ladies Man." Paramount Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score:Tim Meadows appeared in multiple sketches as Leon Phelps, a sex therapist and radio host. In "The Ladies Man," Leon is fired from his job but hope is not lost since a former flame has offered to support him financially. He just has to figure out who she is."When Meadows's three-minute sketch persona is stretched out to cover a whole movie, the cracks soon start to show," wrote The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw.8. "Stuart Saves His Family" (1995)"Stuart Saves His Family." Paramount Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score:Al Franken created the character of Stuart Smalley during his tenure on the show in the '90s. He's a spoof of self-help gurus, and in his various appearances, he led meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, and other support groups.In the film, Stuart is dedicated to saving his troubled family while dealing with losing his public access TV show.Peter Rainer wrote for the Los Angeles Times, "It was much funnier when we didn't see Stuart's family. And, if we have to see them, it would have been much funnier if they were strait-laced '50s sitcom types."7. "Superstar" (1999)"Superstar." Paramount Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 32%One of Molly Shannon's most famous "SNL" characters is Mary Katherine Gallagher, a Catholic school student with a talent for pratfalls, accidentally exposing her underwear, sniffing her armpits, and saying her catchphrase: "Superstar!"In the film, Mary Katherine is determined to become a star and win the affection of her crush, Sky (Will Ferrell), against all odds."Contrasting the erotic with the disgusting is usually provocative and can be funny, but not in this underdog comedy," wrote Lisa Alspector for Chicago Reader.6. "Coneheads" (1993)"Coneheads." Paramount Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score:The Conehead family a family of aliens with cone-shaped heads first appeared on "SNL" in 1977, in the show's second season.Sixteen years later, original actors Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin united with '90s "SNL" stars Chris Farley, Michael McKean, David Spade, Adam Sandler, and Phil Hartman; stars from other "SNL" eras like Jon Lovitz and Jan Hooks; and more to bring the Coneheads to the big screen."'Coneheads' falls flat about as often as it turns funny, and displays more amiability than style," wrote The New York Times' Janet Maslin.5. "Blues Brothers 2000" (1998)"Blues Brothers 2000." Universal Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%After the death of original Blues Brother John Belushi in 1982, it seemed unlikely that viewers would ever see the suit-wearing, sunglasses-rocking, blues-loving brothers again.Instead, in 1998, the Blues Brothers returned, replacing Belushi with John Goodman as Mack McTeer, another vocalist."The sequel offers more of the same, only less," wrote Joe Leydon for Variety.4. "MacGruber" (2010)"MacGruber." Universal Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%"MacGruber" is a pretty direct spoof of the '80s TV show "MacGyver," in which Richard Dean Anderson played Angus MacGyver, a secret agent who can build anything with even the sparsest of tools.On the flip side, Will Forte plays MacGruber, a secret agent who always attempts to disarm a bomb but gets distracted and lets the bomb go off every time. The film is much of the same, but it didn't get great reviews at the time of its release.However, Forte brought the character back in 2021 for a Peacock miniseries of the same name and while critics may not have gotten MacGruber's appeal in 2010, the 2021 series has an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, which would make it the best-reviewed project on this list."Any fans of satire who haven't checked out 'MacGruber' yet, prepare to be converted into believers like the man himself when he finally uses a gun for the first time," wrote Joe Berkowitz for Vulture.3. "Wayne's World 2" (1993)"Wayne's World 2." Paramount Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score:This sequel to "Wayne's World" was seen by some as a disappointment, but it's never a bad time to hang out with best friends Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) as they try to create their own music festival, aptly titled "Waynestock.""The sequel to last year's breakaway hit offers more of the same, but it's somehow fresher, funnier, and more endearing than the airheaded original," wrote The Washington Post's Joe Brown.2. "The Blues Brothers" (1980)"The Blues Brothers." Universal Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score:"The Blues Brothers" wasn't your typical "SNL" sketch in fact, it wasn't really a sketch at all. It was just an excuse for friends and blues lovers Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi to get onstage and play the blues together. They didn't even have character names or backgrounds until the first Blues Brothers album was released in 1978.The film expands upon the backstory created for the 1978 album and stars Aykroyd and Belushi as Elwood Blues and Jake Blues, respectively. The two are "blood brothers" united by their love of blues and the orphanage where they grew up.Victoria Luxford of theBBCcalled the film "one of the great American comedy films" and said, "It's just a joy to watch even 43 years on. John Belushi was never better as the lead. He's funny just standing there."1. "Wayne's World" (1992)"Wayne's World." Paramount Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score:According to critics, the best movie based on an "SNL" sketch is "Wayne's World. " The film is based on the sketches of the same name, starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth, two rock 'n' roll lovers who host a public access TV show from their basement in Aurora, Illinois.In the film, Wayne and Garth's show catches the eye of a ruthless producer, Benjamin (Rob Lowe), who forces the two to sell out and go corporate. Of course, this doesn't go well."Amazingly, the patched-together and padded screen version manages to amuse, if only through the sheer brazenness of its stupidity," wrote Jim Farber for the New York Daily News.

In the initial days of the Trump administration, officials scoured federal websites for any mention of what they deemed DEI keywords terms as generic as diverse and historically and even women. They soon identified reams of some of the countrys most valuable public health data containing some of the targeted words, including language about LGBTQ+ people, and quickly took down much of it from surveys on obesity and suicide rates to real-time reports on immediate infectious disease threats like bird flu.The removal elicited a swift response from public health experts who warned that without this data, the country risked being in the dark about important health trends that shape life-and-death public health decisions made in communities across the country.Some of this data was restored in a matter of days, but much of it was incomplete. In some cases, the raw data sheets were posted again, but the reference documents that would allow most people to decipher them were not. Meanwhile, health data continues to be taken down: The New York Times reported last week that data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on bird flu transmission between humans and cats had been posted and then promptly removed.This story was first featured in the Future Perfect newsletter.Sign up here to explore the big, complicated problems the world faces and the most efficient ways to solve them. Sent twice a week.Luckily, non-government groups had rapidly started downloading the existing data when rumors of a broad data purge started to circulate in Washington. Cynthia Cox, vice president of the health policy nonprofit KFF, told me the organization had saved the entire archive of the Department of Health and Human Services pages, as did other groups. Health analyst Charles Gaba has also said he grabbed all of the CDCs data before it was swiped.Thanks to the efforts of these groups, the effects of the purge will be blunted but its an ominous harbinger for Trump and his top adviser Elon Musks approach to transparency and their willingness to take the health of marginalized groups seriously. It remains to be seen whether Trump officials will fully restore the data and its supplementary materials; on Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the administration to do so. After speaking with several public health experts, whats become clear to me is that these surveys will only continue to be valuable if they are continually updated and that is no longer assured. The danger lies in what happens next: What public health data is the federal government going to collect now? How easily available will it be?The reason these surveys are updated is because they are used for health surveillance, new disease trends, access to care, risky behaviors, Cox told me. This is basic health information people take for granted.We dont know what happens next, though the signals are troubling. What we do know is that for years, researchers have relied on this data to quantify and characterize the defining public health problems of our time, like the teen mental health crisis. They offer essential snapshots of some of our most urgent ongoing health threats.In the age of the internet, when the government started publishing this data for anybody to access with ease, that transparency has facilitated more thorough research on marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people, and tracked the successes or failures of new policy interventions. But now experts fear the window may be slammed shut. And we simply cant have effective health care policy without knowing precisely what were facing, even if the results are politically uncomfortable for some.What all of this public health data gets used forIt is difficult to capture the sheer breadth and importance of the public health data that has been affected. Here are a few illustrative examples of reports that have either been tampered with or removed completely, as compiled by KFF.The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which is one of the most widely used national health surveys and has been ongoing for about 40 years, per KFF, is an annual survey that contacts 400,000 Americans to ask people about everything from their own perception of their general health to exercise, diet, sexual activity, and alcohol and drug use. That in turn allows experts to track important health trends, like the fluctuations in teen vaping use. One recent study that relied on BRFSS data warned that a recent ban on flavored e-cigarettes (also known as vapes) may be driving more young people to conventional smoking, five years after an earlier Yale study based on the same survey led to the ban being proposed in the first place. The Supreme Court and the Trump administration are currently revisiting the flavored vape ban, and the Yale study was cited in at least one amicus brief for the case.This survey has also been of particular use in identifying health disparities among LGBTQ+ people, such as higher rates of uninsurance and reported poor health compared to the general population. Those findings have motivated policymakers at the federal, state and local levels to launch new initiatives aimed specifically at that at-risk population.As of now, most of the BRFSS data has been restored, but the supplemental materials that make it legible to lay people still has not.The Youth Risk Behavior Survey: This report, published since 1990, has been particularly important in revealing and documenting the increase in unhappiness among Americas teens. It is particularly important because the questions are asked directly of the teens, rather than their parents.Its results have informed research and debate about not only teen mental health, but also substance abuse, sexual activity, and domestic violence. Last year, CDC researchers used its data to try to quantify the correlation between social media and phone use and teens mental health, an ongoing, urgent area of concern and a growing focus for education officials, some of whom have cited the data to justify cell phone bans at schools. Like the BRFSS survey, much of the raw data has since been restored, but the reference books have not.The Social Vulnerability Index: a less well-known but no less important data set that breaks down the US into hyperlocal tracts and uses each regions socioeconomic demographics, disability rates, and more to measure their vulnerability to natural disasters. Local, state and federal offices use it to plan for or respond to those emergencies.Researchers can also use the data to evaluate disaster response after the fact: One group of scholars relied on the Social Vulnerability Index when examining how different communities had fared during Hurricane Helene and how much damage they sustained.Can public health survive a data purge?With all of these data sets, the question for the future is what data will get collected. Are they still going to be collecting all the variables? Jen Kates, who leads HIV policy at KFF, told me. If questions on sexual activity or orientation or gender identity are removed or altered, it may become harder for public health officials to track some of our most daunting health challenges. US HIV policy, an area of particular concern for the LGBTQ+ community, would be undermined if the federal data is no longer broken down at a more granular level.Under federal law, the Trump administration could scale back on how much public health information is made available to the public its not required to collect all of the data that has been collected by administrations past. Historically, the CDC and its sister agencies have been trusted to be good stewards of public health for all Americans something that can no longer be taken for granted. As the New York Times editorial board pointed out this week, the Trump administrations early actions have aggressively attempted to erase transgender Americans from the public record and the public discourse. We are what we measure. Recent decades have seen government officials and academic researchers more readily recognizing and cataloging the unique challenges of marginalized Americans, particularly LGBTQ+ people, and devising targeted ideas to help them. Now there is an unprecedented government effort underway to eradicate that information.But no matter what, these health challenges will still exist. You can erase government data sources, but you cannot erase people. And all of us not just the people directly targeted by the Trump administration are at risk of being collateral damage in this crusade against DEI. The impetus will now be on the scientists, researchers, and policymakers to find a way forward against a federal government that is actively working against them. Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Alan Wake 2 hits sale milestone as Remedy give Max Payne remake updateAdam StarkeyPublished February 12, 2025 1:56pmUpdated February 12, 2025 1:57pm Alan Wake 2 is in the green (Remedy)The developer behind Alan Wake and Control has shared updates on all of its upcoming games, including the Max Payne remake.Alan Wake 2 may have been developer Remedys fastest-selling game ever, but it didnt generate any actual profit in the year following its launch.As confirmed in Remedys latest financial report however, that has now changed, with the sequel having surpassed two million copies sold. The budget of Alan Wake 2, which launched digitally in October 2023 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, is estimated to have been around 70 million (58m), making it reportedly one of the most expensive cultural products to come out of Finland.According to Remedy, Alan Wake 2 had recouped its development fees and marketing investments by the end of 2024, meaning the developer has now started to accrue royalties from the title, although it remains to be seen if this will make Alan Wake 3 a possibility. Remedys best-selling game is Control, which reach 4.5 million sales in November 2024. On the face of it, it seems unlikely Alan Wake 2 will match it but that may be possible if the game is brought to Steam, and gets a boost that way.Remedy credits the launch of DLC expansions Night Springs and The Lake House for Alan Wake 2s long-term sales, alongside a PS5 Pro update patch and the release of a physical version. However, no other major additions are currently planned.Elsewhere in the report, Remedy confirmed Control 2 has entered full production as of this month. Max Payne 1&2 Remake, which is being entirely financed by Rockstar, is also making steady progress in full production, although its unclear when it will be released.More TrendingThe studios next project is FBC: Firebreak, which is slated for 2025. The three-player cooperative first person shooter was showcased during an Xbox Partner Preview last year, and is set in the same location as Control.Remedy is no doubt hoping to boost sales of of both Alan Wake and Control with its planned TV and film adaptations, which are being developed in partnership with Annapurna. The media company is also co-producing and co-financing the Control 2 game.Speaking about the partnership when it was announced last year, Annapurna Interactive president Hector Sanchez said: We know from experience that Remedy is a first-class games development partner, and were excited to share their work with an even wider audience by bringing the Control and Alan Wake universes to film, television and beyond. A sequel to Control is in the oven (Remedy)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

A newly announced Congressional task force will seek to declassify documents on a host of topics that have long been hotbeds for conspiracy theory. The so-called House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets will be helmed by notable MAGA acolyte Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and promises to disclose previously unknown information about a variety of controversial issues, including 9/11, UFOs, the origins of Covid-19, dead pedophile and former-Donald-Trump-pal Jeffrey Epstein, and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. For too long, the federal government has kept information of public interest classified and the American people are demanding greater transparency, said Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.). This secrecy has sowed distrust in our institutions. The Task Force will build on the Trump Administrations efforts to declassify records of national importance and ensure Americans get the answers they deserve. Representative Luna is committed to shining a light on the truth and ending the era of secrecy. The federal government has been hiding information from Americans for decades, said Luna. We have spent years seeking information on the assassinations of President Kennedy, Senator Kennedy, Reverend King, and other government secrets without success. It is time to give Americans the answers they deserve, which is why I am honored to lead this bipartisan task force that seeks truth and transparency. During a press conference announcing the task force, Luna leveraged her valley girl drawl to announce that she personally felt that there were two shooters involved in the JFK assassination. Its unclear what Luna is talking about when she says shes spent years seeking information about the Kennedys and King. A Google search involving Lunas name and JFK returns no visible hits prior to Jan. 23rd, when Trump signed an executive order mandating the release of new files on the assassinations. A similar search for Luna and MLK and assassination leads to one of Googles notoriously vexing rebuttals: It looks like there arent many great matches for your search. When it comes to UFOs, however, obviously Luna has more experience. In 2023, she helped host a hearing that, among other things, investigated whether UFOs are time-traveling entities from another dimension. Its unclear whether the new task force will offer more of the same dopey bullshit or actually provide Americans with something substantial and interesting. Ironically, the investigations into the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK, have long been the domain of leftwing activists and journalists, many of whom fought for years to get the government to disclose information about the notorious tragedies. Now, it would appear that the movement for government transparency has been co-opted by right-wing libertarians who hate leftists, hate journalists, and hate the federal government, and who want to use the governments old secrets to justify its contemporary destruction.Delving into the governments old controversies also offers an obvious opportunity for the current administration to weaponize those controversies against its political enemies. An investigation into the likes of Jeffrey Epstein, Covid-19s origins, and the assassinations, deserves an open and bipartisan commission, replete with outside investigators and access for the public and journalists. Yet it will be difficult to trust the political neutrality of the information produced by Lunas task force, given the fact that she recently introduced legislation to add Donald Trumps face to Mount Rushmore.