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Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn store clashed on social media. Behind it, power dynamics loomed
NEW YORK | It was something most people have likely done at one time or another: complain to others about feeling judged or dismissed during an interaction, maybe even take to social media to post about it. But just because we might all have the same impulse, we all don’t have the same reach and […]
3,156-pound pumpkin grown in Rhode Island is inspected for possible world record
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. | A Rhode Island pumpkin grower appears to have broken the world record for the heaviest pumpkin, with his giant squash topping the current record by nearly 300 pounds (136 kilograms). Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island, weighed his pumpkin Saturday at a contest in New England and is now waiting […]
What to Stream: Katseye, ‘VisionQuest,’ ‘Tenzing’ and a new ‘Castlevania’ game
A new album from Katseye and the Marvel series “VisionQuest” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Judd Apatow’s tribute to Norm Macdonald, “Dopamine Chamber” from Fontaines D.C. […]
Lightsaber Darth Vader used in ‘I am your father’ duel in ‘Empire Strikes Back’ goes up for auction
LOS ANGELES | In July, a lightsaber with Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” sold for $3.75 million at auction, the highest price ever fetched for a prop used in a “Star Wars” film according to the auction house. Now, someone can buy the saber that did the severing. A Darth Vader […]
What to Stream: Oasis doc, Pitbull, ‘Carrie’ series, ‘Gears of War: E-Day’ and ‘Disclosure Day’
“Disclosure Day” and a new album from Pitbull are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger,” Troye Sivan’s fourth album and the highly […]
Tips for getting a professional headshot that feels authentic and conveys the image you want
Getting author photos made to promote his first book was a meaningful experience for freelance journalist Philip Eil. The professional photographer he hired was friendly and supportive, he said, and he liked watching her work during the several hours they spent together. She shot some close-ups in her studio and then took outdoor images of […]
Here’s why experts say now is an ideal time to protect yourself from flu
It’s October and time for flu shots. Medical experts urge getting a flu vaccination soon, before influenza starts spreading widely — and to get up to date on protection against other fall respiratory viruses, too. Updated COVID-19 shots are available now, plus shots for people especially vulnerable to another winter risk called RSV. While these […]
Giggle for God: America’s witty church signs aim to inspire, attract drivers and passersby
WOODBURY, Minn. | “Forecast: God reigns and the Son shines.” In mid-September, the large electronic sign of a Lutheran church flashed this message by a throughfare between growing subdivisions and cornfields in a Twin Cities suburb. The messages on Resurrection Lutheran Church’s sign range from witty to practical to profound. It’s an effort to inspire […]
Worries about an AI internet takeover gain new urgency among doomsday scenarios
In a summer filled with revelations about artificial intelligence’s rapid development, researchers were especially alarmed by runaway bots finding their way onto the internet and, in at least one instance, coordinating there with one another. Could a swarm of AI agents take over the entire internet? It’s a possibility that could be only six to […]
At 10 years old, Smithsonian’s Black museum is undaunted amid pressure from Trump administration
WASHINGTON | Deeply impactful exhibits, ticketed galas and educational events are expected ways to celebrate a world-class museum. But at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which marks the 10-year anniversary of its opening on Thursday, the singing of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” will give the event the flavor of a down-home […]