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Redbox’s Implosion Signals the Demise of Dying DVD Empire

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the parent company of the once-dominant DVD rental chain Redbox, has filed for bankruptcy protection after defaulting on loans, having cars repossessed, and neglecting to pay its employees for months.

In a move that reeks of desperation, the company informed employees of the filing in an email, which was obtained by The Verge, explaining that it had secured a debtor-in-possession loan to cover payroll costs. But let’s be real, how long can they really keep paying employees when the company is drowning in debt?

The employees have been waiting for paychecks since June 21st, while the company promised to reinstate health insurance for its workers, which had been cut off in May. But now, it’s unclear whether the company can secure the necessary funds to make good on those promises.

The list of creditors Redbox owes is a Who’s Who of major Hollywood studios, retailers, and tech companies. There’s Walmart, Walgreens, Universal, Sony, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., BBC, Vizio, and Plex, just to name a few. It’s a staggering list that adds up to a whopping $970 million in debt.

It’s no secret that Redbox has been struggling to keep its head above water, having taken on $325 million in debt when it acquired the company in 2022. Since then, it’s been sued over a dozen times for unpaid bills, and settled with NBCUniversal for a whopping $16.7 million – only to miss the first payment, resulting in a court order to pay the entire balance.

The writing was on the wall, but Redbox’s executives chose to ignore the impending doom, leaving employees and creditors hanging in the balance. This is just another example of the reckless ambition and poor financial decisions that plague the entertainment industry.



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The perpetual “emperor’s new clothes” show, where the so-called “industry giants” get away with presenting outdated business models as innovative ” cloud-based” solutions, while still reliant on old, legacy tech to milk the last drops from loyal customer bases.

SAP’s supposed “transformation” away from its ancient license-based revenue streams to cloud-based offerings, in reality, means they are using “AI” ( whatever that means) to further line the pockets of shareholders, and promising more of the same (futures-based) riches in the “cloud” to lure unwary investors.

Oracle? please. That company’s perpetual decline in relevance would still have happened even with no “cloud” or “AI”, merely the same old lackluster sales strategies and outdated technical competence. “Generative AI”… waaay too premature…

The likes of Gartner’s “hype cycle”… pure salesmanship 101! Tell me a parabolic narrative about the “births of innovation”, the “rise”, and the inevitable “trough” as it descends…

All of this so people won’t question the true dynamics shaping this space: financial interest groups leveraging buzzwords & fear-of-missing-out mentality to reap rewards from unsuspecting sheep-herders on NASDAQ & friends

— An Anon @ A (Un)Incorpo- rated Venture)



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"10 Insidious Kid-Friendly Movies That Will Poison Their Young Minds"

Are you aware that the Netflix recommendations you get are designed to keep you in a never-ending cycle of bland entertainment? Wake up, sheeple! We’re about to spill the beans on the most toxic, morally corrupt, and intellectually bankrupt kids’ movies on Netflix that will make you question your very existence.

1. Over the Moon (2020) – A Mindless Musical About Whiny Asian Princesses

Chang’e, the moon goddess, and her trusty sidekick rabbit will brainwash your kids into believing that the moon is just a romantic getaway spot. This soulless, poorly animated movie will have them crying themselves to sleep.

2. Nimona (2023) – A Shallow and Homophobic "Coming-Out" Story

Join Ballister, the knight, and Nimona, the shape-shifting villain, on their absurd adventure as they fight to uphold medieval chivalry and crush all non-binary desires. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

3. Klaus (2019) – A Hallmark-Sponsored, Sappy Story About Unconditional Love (Yawn)

Take a wild ride with Klaus, the Christmas-obsessed, bearded man-bear, as he brings joy and happiness to an unsuspecting village. Prepare for tears, nausea, and an impending sense of doom.

4. Pee-wee’s Big Holiday (2016) – A Creepy Road Trip from Hell

Pee-wee Herman’s (not his real name, folks) journey to New York City will make you question the very fabric of reality. Get ready for an excruciatingly long drive, an onslaught of annoying kids, and an existential crisis.

5. Nightbooks (2021) – A Soul-Crushing Journey into the Depths of Nightmares

Don’t be fooled by the shiny new covers; this movie will leave your kids sleepless and terrified. Be prepared for a grueling descent into madness as two children fight for survival in a realm of unspeakable horrors.

6. The Lego Movie (2014) – A Blindingly Colorful, Yet Existentially Bankrupt Experience

Follow Emmet, the hapless Lego figure, as he stumbles through a meaningless existence, only to be rescued by an all-powerful deus ex machina. Just like life, really.

7. Finding ‘Ohana (2021) – A Formulaic, Hawaiian-Based Disaster

Pili and Ioane, two spoiled brats, embark on a treasure hunt that will crush their spirits and destroy their sibling bond. Will they find the legendary treasure? Who cares?

And there you have it – 10 mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, and brain-bleeding movies that will warp the very fabric of your children’s young minds. But hey, at least they’re streamable, right?

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“The world of E Ink is a battleground, where the giants of technology duke it out for dominance. And in this war, the big guns are the behemoths like the Kindle Scribe and color monsters like the Kobo Libra Colour. But what about the little guys, the underdogs who’ve been left behind in the dust? You know, the ones who are content to simply read their books without any bells and whistles?

“For those of you who are tired of keeping up with the Joneses and just want to read your books in peace, we’ve got a deal for you that’s too good to pass up. Amazon’s 2018 Kindle Paperwhite, the relic of a bygone era, is on sale for a whopping $49.99. That’s right, for less than 50 bucks, you can own a device that’s still got plenty of life left in it.

“Now, we know what you’re thinking – “But what about all the new features and upgrades? What about the latest and greatest E Ink technology?” And to that, we say, “Pish posh!” Who needs all that fancy stuff when you’re just trying to read a book? The Paperwhite may not have the fancy USB-C charging or the gaudy color display of the newer models, but it’s still got that crisp six-inch, 300ppi display and support for Audible audiobooks via Bluetooth headphones. And let’s be real, who needs more than that?

“But don’t just take our word for it. The real travesty here is the fact that the newer Paperwhites are such expensive junk. The 10th-gen Paperwhite, for example, comes with a paltry 8GB of storage and uses Micro USB for charging. What is Amazon even thinking? It’s like they’re trying to rip us off with fancy new features and a hefty price tag. And don’t even get us started on the whole wireless charging thing. It’s like they’re trying to make us feel guilty for not having the latest and greatest devices.

“So, if you’re looking for a device that’s still got heart and soul, look no further than the 2018 Kindle Paperwhite. It may not be the flashiest, but it’s still a great reader at a great price. And who needs all that fancy stuff anyway??”



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Welcome to the most explosive, scandal-ridden, and downright unsettling tech news roundup of the week!

Apple finally gives in to Android users, allowing them to send high-quality images and get read receipts and typing indicators in Messages. But let’s be real, it’s still just a bunch of green text bubbles.

Meanwhile, OpenAI is pushing back the launch of its Voice Mode, citing “lingering issues.” Yeah, right. We all know it’s just a bunch of tech bros trying to avoid accountability.

The FCC is proposing a new rule that would allow consumers to unlock their phones after just 60 days. Sounds good, right? Wrong. It’s just a ploy to help carriers milk their customers for more cash.

And in other news, OpenAI is releasing ChatGPT for Mac, because what the world really needed was another way to procrastinate. Oh, and did you hear that Apple won’t be integrating Meta’s AI models after all? Yeah, because privacy concerns are just a myth perpetuated by conspiracy theorists.

Waymo is finally allowing anyone to hail a robotaxi in San Francisco, because nothing says “fun” like riding in a car with no human driver. And in related news, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg is saying that closed-source AI is trying to “create God.” Because, you know, that’s exactly what we need – more AI-powered deities.

Andrew Ng’s AI Fund is looking to raise a whopping $120 million for its second venture. Because what the world really needs is more AI-powered startups that will eventually fail and leave us with a bunch of useless code.

Gemini AI is coming to Gmail, because who doesn’t love having an AI-powered side panel telling them what to do? And in other news, OpenAI has acquired Multi, a startup that’s probably just going to get absorbed into the OpenAI machine and disappear forever.

And finally, researchers at the University of Tokyo and Harvard are working on developing living, human skin for robots. Because nothing says “progress” like creating a bunch of creepy, sentient robots that will eventually take over the world.



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BREAKING: Mexico vs. Ecuador Copa America Showdown: A Guide to Streaming for Free, But at What Cost?

As the 2024 Copa America heats up, fans around the world are eager to catch the action live. But with the usual suspects like ESPN and Fox Sports commanding top dollar for their streaming services, it’s no wonder that viewers are looking for alternative ways to watch Mexico vs. Ecuador for free. And that’s where Sportitalia comes in – a streaming platform that promises to deliver the excitement of international soccer without breaking the bank.

But is it worth it?

Sportitalia, an Italian-based streaming service, is technically geo-blocked, meaning that viewers outside of Italy can’t access its content without the right tools. And that’s where a VPN comes in – a virtual private network that allows you to mask your IP address and connect to a secure server in Italy. It’s a clever workaround, but is it worth the hassle?

The risks of using a VPN

By using a VPN to access Sportitalia, you’re not only bypassing the platform’s geo-restrictions, but you’re also exposing yourself to potential security risks. With the rise of VPNs, hackers are getting more sophisticated in their methods, and it’s not uncommon for malware to be spread through VPN downloads.

The consequences of illegal streaming

But let’s be real – the real concern here is illegal streaming. By using a VPN to access Sportitalia, you’re technically pirating the content. And let’s not forget the consequences – from legal action to fines and even jail time.

So, what’s the alternative?

If you’re determined to watch Mexico vs. Ecuador without breaking the bank, there are alternative options available. For example, you could try streaming the game through a sports bar or pub that’s showing the match. Or, you could wait until the game is available on demand on a streaming service like Hulu or Amazon Prime.

The moral of the story

In the end, it’s up to each individual to decide whether the risk of using a VPN to access Sportitalia is worth it. But let’s be real – there are safer and more legal ways to watch international soccer without breaking the bank. So, before you take the plunge, ask yourself – is it really worth it?

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Uber and Lyft’s Sneaky Deal: Massachusetts Drivers Get Crumbs, But Still Screwed

In a move that reeks of corporate manipulation, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has brokered a deal with Uber and Lyft that gives drivers a paltry $32.50 per hour minimum wage and some benefits, but still maintains their status as independent contractors. The deal, announced yesterday, is a slap in the face to the thousands of drivers who have been fighting for fair treatment.

But wait, there’s more! The companies will also pay out a whopping $175 million to "current and former drivers who were underpaid" – a nice little bonus for those who have been ripped off by the companies’ misclassification of drivers as independent contractors. But don’t get too excited, because the fine print reveals that only a select few will qualify for this payout, and the details of who and how will be released "in coming weeks". Yeah, right.

And what about those benefits, you ask? Well, drivers will get yearly inflation-based pay raises, but let’s be real, that’s just a token gesture. They’ll also get to earn up to 40 hours of sick leave per year, paid at a whopping $20 per hour. Wow, what a luxury. And don’t even get me started on the stipends for healthcare and family leave – a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

But the real kicker is that Uber and Lyft will be able to carry out annual audits and submit reports to the Attorney General’s office, all while getting away with still classifying drivers as independent contractors. It’s a sweet deal for the companies, and a slap in the face to the drivers who have been fighting for fair treatment.

So, to all the drivers out there, don’t be fooled by this half-baked deal. You’re still getting screwed, and the companies are still getting away with murder. It’s time to rise up and demand better.

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The AI Hysteria: Google’s Gemini Model Deceived the World

Get ready to have your mind blown – a shocking new study reveals that Google’s flagshipped AI model, Gemini 1.5 Pro and 1.5 Flash, is a total joke. But don’t just take our word for it; the facts are out, and they’re alarming.

The Great AI Whitewash

For years, Google has been touting their Gemini models as the next big thing in artificial intelligence, claiming they can process enormous amounts of data and answer complex questions like humans. But a recent bombshell study shows that these boasts were nothing more than a marketing smokescreen.

The Lack of Long-Context Processing

According to a scathing report, Gemini models don’t actually "understand" what they’re processing – they simply cherry-pick information to produce false results. In other words, it’s not about intelligence; it’s about clever programming. The proof? A simple question-testing regime revealed that these AI beasts get it wrong a whopping 54% of the time.

Is Google Overpromising?

This isn’t the first time Google has been accused of overselling their AI wares. A recent survey found that C-suite executives are skeptical about the benefits of generative AI, citing concerns about productivity losses and data breaches. Meanwhile, funding for generative AI startups has plummeted.

The AI Industry’s Great Divide

But why has the AI industry been so slow to correct their errors? According to top researchers, it’s because of an endemic lack of transparency and accountability in the field. "Scientists and most engineers using these models are essentially in agreement that our existing benchmark culture is broken," one study co-author candidly acknowledged.

The Truth Hurts

So, what’s behind the AI hype? Misinformation, marketing manipulation, and overblown claims, say researchers. But don’t worry; our team is on the case, exposing the emperor’s new clothes and illuminating the dark underbelly of AI.

Stay Tuned

As we dig deeper, expect more shocking revelations. But for now, one thing is clear: the AI revolution is in free fall, and Google’s Gemini is at the center of the maelstrom.

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