From Minnesota to New York, it’s Bob Dylan in the building. At just 20 years old, Dylan landed a record deal in 1961 that instantly launched him from a Greenwich Village folk darling into a record-making machine. But like any songwriter, there comes a point when they’re bound to expand their creative repertoire — Dylan included. By 1965, he had begun shedding his folk purist roots for something edgier and more distorted, both in sound and lyricism.

The change didn’t come without criticism, but it was arguably a necessary one, considering how much Dylan had already seen of the music industry. During this period of transition, he wrote a song that was not only criminally underrated, but also showcased just how witty and vigorous his songwriting could be. Rumored to be a commentary on an industry he couldn’t quite get used to, the track is one of the sharpest examples of Dylan’s literary ambition in his craft.

“Ballad of a Thin Man” Shows Bob Dylan’s Mastery of Surrealism and Satire

Dylan’s 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited has plenty of standout moments, not least because it was the first album he recorded entirely with a full rock-and-roll backing band. Released just a month after his notorious electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival ruffled the feathers of folk purists, the album marked a major turning point in his career. But Dylan’s move to electric isn’t its only defining feature. While he’s best known for his protest anthems, he’s just as gifted a storyteller, using surrealism and literary sophistication to explore a world that refuses to make sense.

Who’s Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?

Unlike the grounded, approachable style of his earlier folk songs, “Ballad of a Thin Man” is hauntingly surreal. It follows the increasingly bewildered Mr. Jones, who keeps stumbling into bizarre situations where every question he asks only leaves him more confused. Pencil in hand, he desperately searches for answers, only to be dismissed by the song’s narrator, who mocks him instead. The narrator reminds Mr. Jones that he has “many contacts / Among the lumberjacks” and is “very well read / It’s well known,” yet none of that knowledge helps him understand what’s unfolding around him. The song never explains exactly what Mr. Jones is witnessing, making his confusion — and the listener’s — all the more unsettling.

“Ballad of a Thin Man” Was Originally Rumored to Be a Diss Track About a Journalist

Dylan rarely explains the inspiration behind his songs, but that hasn’t stopped listeners from speculating about the identity of Mr. Jones. One theory suggests the character was inspired by British music journalist Max Jones of Melody Maker. Another claims Mr. Jones was based on Time magazine reporter Jeffrey Owen Jones, who later recalled an awkward encounter with Dylan. According to Jeffrey, Dylan mockingly greeted him by saying, “Mr. Jones! Gettin’ it all down, Mr. Jones?… Time magazine,” before adding with exaggerated enthusiasm, “You going to write a story for Time magazine, Mr. Jones?” The exchange left the reporter feeling like a “village idiot” and “dumbstruck,” fueling speculation that “Ballad of a Thin Man” was Dylan’s pointed critique of intrusive journalists.

It wasn’t until September 1965 that Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and then-New York Post journalist Nora Ephron asked Dylan the now-famous question: “Who’s Mr. Jones?” This time, he finally offered an answer. Although he never mentioned any names, Dylan insisted that Mr. Jones was based on a real person — just not someone who actually went by that name. Dylan described Mr. Jones as an exceptionally meek individual, saying he “puts his eyes in his pocket” and “puts his nose on the ground.” Beyond that, he refused to reveal the man’s identity, joking that the last thing he wanted to do was mention his first name because he’d be sued.

1965 Was Bob Dylan’s Most Experimental Year as a Songwriter

“Ballad of a Thin Man” is just one example of Dylan’s songwriting shift in 1965. On his early 1965 album, Bringing It All Back Home, Dylan first showcased his stream-of-consciousness, unstructured writing style in “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” The song feels like a pastiche of lyrics strung together through similar sounds and rhymes rather than a single, coherent theme. Later that year, on Highway 61 Revisited, “Desolation Row” drew inspiration from the spontaneous rawness of Beat poetry, which makes sense considering Dylan’s friendship with poet Allen Ginsberg.

But for Dylan, surrealism wasn’t just about aesthetics. He used it as a legitimate literary device to address the absurdity of the world. The world doesn’t always make sense, and instead of trying to decode it, the next best thing is simply to become a spectator to the chaos. Dylan finally addressed the song’s true intention during a concert in Japan in 1986, explaining that it was his response to the kind of people who keep asking questions when you’re in a position where you don’t want to answer them. Whether Mr. Jones was actually based on a real person, as Dylan had previously suggested, is another topic of debate. But the sentiment behind the song runs much deeper than simply trying to figure out who Mr. Jones is.

Following one of the strongest debut seasons in Marvel Animation history, X-Men ’97 faced enormous expectations entering Season 2. Fortunately, the first three episodes prove the series hasn’t lost any momentum, delivering another thrilling blend of superhero action, emotional storytelling, and deep comic book lore.

Rather than easing viewers back into the world of the X-Men, Season 2 immediately picks up after the explosive finale of Season 1. With the team scattered across three different time periods, the opening episodes follow multiple storylines simultaneously while laying the groundwork for Apocalypse‘s rise.

It’s an ambitious approach, but one that largely succeeds.

Episode 1 centers on Cyclops, Jean Grey, and the future timeline, adapting elements from The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. Their reunion with Nathan, better known as Cable, provides some of the strongest emotional moments of the season so far. The episode reminds viewers that beneath all of the time travel and mutant battles, X-Men ’97 continues to thrive because of its characters.

X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]

Episode 2 shifts gears with a fun, action-packed adventure featuring Cable, Jubilee, Sunspot, and the formation of a new X-Force. While the episode embraces the over-the-top style of the classic ’90s comics, it also explores the moral differences between Cable’s hardened worldview and Jubilee’s optimism. Their dynamic creates one of the season’s most entertaining character pairings.

The third episode may be the strongest of the bunch, taking audiences thousands of years into the past as Magnetoencounters a young En Sabah Nur, the mutant destined to become Apocalypse. Rather than presenting the iconic villain as a one-dimensional conqueror, the episode explores his origins in a surprisingly thoughtful way. The conversations between Magneto and En Sabah Nur are among the most compelling scenes in the series, adding emotional complexity to a character fans thought they already knew.

Visually, X-Men ’97 remains one of Marvel’s most impressive productions. The animation captures the spirit of the original 1990s series while elevating every action sequence with fluid movement, vibrant colors, and cinematic direction. Whether it’s mutant powers colliding on the battlefield or quieter emotional moments between teammates, every frame feels carefully crafted.

The voice cast also continues to shine, bringing authenticity and heart to these beloved characters. Even with multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously, each episode finds time for meaningful character moments that remind viewers why the X-Men have endured for generations.

The biggest criticism of these opening episodes is pacing. Episode 1 in particular moves through a significant amount of story in a short amount of time, and several of the timelines could have benefited from an extra episode to further develop their characters and emotional beats. It’s less a flaw in storytelling than a reminder that there’s simply so much happening at once.

X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]

Even so, those concerns do little to diminish what has been an outstanding start to Season 2. Marvel Animation has once again found the perfect balance between nostalgia and fresh storytelling, honoring classic comic arcs while keeping longtime fans guessing about what’s coming next.

Three episodes in, X-Men ’97 is already shaping up to be one of the year’s best animated series. If the remaining episodes maintain this level of quality, Season 2 has every chance of surpassing its already exceptional predecessor.

Verdict

X-Men ’97 wastes no time reminding fans why it became one of Marvel’s biggest success stories. While the opening episodes occasionally move too quickly through their ambitious storylines, the outstanding animation, emotional character work, and faithful adaptation of beloved comic arcs make for an exceptional return. After three episodes, Season 2 is firing on all cylinders.

The woman who caught Taylor Swift‘s bouquet has been revealed to be a relative of the Kansas City Chiefs!

The unbelievable coincidence stemmed from Travis Kelce‘s teammate, Trey Smith, attending the highly publicized union between the sensational singer and the athlete on Friday, July 3.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tied the knot, surrounded by love, at Madison Square Garden, with Trey Smith attending alongside his lucky sister, Ashley Smith.

Ashley proudly flaunted her victory at Swift and Kelce’s union on Instagram, revealing that she had caught the “Opalite” hitmaker’s bouquet during the ceremony. The carousel of images featured the media personality’s stunning black dress for the event, along with a shot of her with her younger brother, Trey.

She shared two images with the bouquet, which appeared to include pale pink flowers, Sweet Pea, and Queen Anne’s Lace. Parts of the flowers were bent, and a good portion of it was missing, presumably from the struggle to catch the bouquet. One shot showed Ashley posing with the flowers for a mirror selfie.

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Another image showed her lying on the bed with the flowers by her head. She raved about her lucky moment in the post’s caption, writing, “Celebrated an Enchanting Love S(T&T)ory. And somehow…I ended up catching Tay Tay’s bouquet.” Ashley added:

“So here’s to believing it’s bringing a lifetime of love, luck, and laughter my way. Congratulations, Taylor & Travis! Cheers to forever T&T.”

The Newlyweds Gifted Guests Embroidered Napkins

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More pictures from the carousel Ashley shared included what appeared to be a wedding keepsake. She shared a picture of an embroidered napkin featuring intricate lace edges and lyrics from Swift’s 2014 hit “Blank Space”: “So it’s gonna be forever.”

The wording also featured the date and location of the ceremony, along with the couple’s intertwined “T” monogram featuring two hearts. Although Ashley caught the bouquet, she was not one of Swift’s bridesmaids, as the bride and groom skipped the tradition.

PEOPLE reported that the newlyweds had no groomsmen or bridesmaids at their event. Instead, the entertainer’s brother, Austin Swift, served as her man of honor while her husband’s brother, Jason Kelce, served as his best man.

More About The Wedding Of The Year

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According to the outlet, the couple’s union was officiated by renowned actor-comedian Adam Sandler inside Madison Square Garden. Swift and Kelce donned Christian Dior Haute Couture, designed by Jonathan Anderson, the creative director of Dior Women’s, Men’s and Haute Couture Collections.

The bride stunned in custom Cartier jewelry, and both she and Kelce wore Christian Louboutin shoes. The lovebirds reportedly enjoyed pre-wedding festivities ahead of their big day, with Swift hosting a girls’ weekend in her Rhode Island home.

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Meanwhile, Kelce was believed to have enjoyed bachelor party stops at The Bird Streets Club, a Chris Lake concert, Barney’s Beanery, a NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado, and a golf simulator. Other sources claimed the couple had a more intimate celebration a day before their July 3 union.

Travis Kelce Was Allegedly ‘More Emotional’ Than The Bride

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The stories about Swift and Kelce’s wedding continued, with The Blast covering a source’s claims about the event. They alleged the ceremony was a tear-filled union, with the Kansas City Chiefs player unable to hold back his emotions during the exchange of vows.

“You would think the bride would be the one crying more, but it was actually Travis that was more emotional,” the source shared. They recalled the duo reading their vows from gold books and spending about “20 minutes each,” with Swift singing part of hers to Kelce.

After the ceremony, the source noted Kelce’s mom had invited guests to the reception room where a stage was set up. Additionally, Paul McCartney performed The Beatles’ hit song, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” with stars such as Stevie Nicks also taking the stage.

Taylor Swift Couldn’t Hold Back Her Tears During Vows Exchange

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More sources shed light on what occurred during the July 3 ceremony, with an insider applauding Kelce for remaining composed while waiting for Swift at the altar. They also recalled the singer becoming emotional during their vows.

The Blast shared that the insider claimed Swift couldn’t hold back her tears when Kelce “promised to protect her forever.” Other sources noted the newlyweds’ emotional declarations of love had a similar effect on the crowd, with many wiping away tears by the end of the ceremony.

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“Good Morning America” host George Stephanopoulos dubbed the vows “real, vulnerable, serious and silly, deeply loving.” Other insiders claimed the Kelce family was overwhelmed with the sheer scale of the event, alleging “they’ve never seen anything like the spectacle of MSG.”

By Em Helena
| Published 5 seconds ago

Under the guidance of esteemed director David Fincher, Netflix’s 2023 crime thriller The Killer takes an unexpected turn from what we expect from the hitman genre.

Inspired by Alexis “Matz” Nolent’s graphic novel series, The Killer follows the story of an unnamed assassin and his search for retribution. The film features multiple famous Hollywood talents such as Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, and Charles Parnell.

Michael Fassbender Is A Hitman Out For Revenge

After accidentally killing an innocent bystander while on a hit mission, the unnamed assassin, played by Michael Fassbender, is now forced to face the consequences of his actions on a personal level. When his girlfriend is nearly assassinated in retaliation to his mistake, the anonymous hitman embarks on a worldwide mission inspired by revenge and retirement. 

What sets The Killer apart from most hitman movies is the fact that it starts out as what you would expect from an action movie and then dramatically slows down, honing in on the assassin’s methodology. Also, there isn’t much to really like about the main character, he has no empathy, and nearly no redeeming qualities, putting him in stark contrast to previous hitman protagonists. He is cold, he is uncaring, and the audience is made readily aware of that throughout the film. 

Another David Fincher Hit

Released on Netflix in November 2023, The Killer received high praise. With an audience score of 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes it is clear that David Fincher has, once again, successfully risen to the challenge. With previous titles such as Fight Club, Gone Girl, and Zodiac under his belt, it’s no surprise that he has mastered the thriller genre.

Along with audience popularity, The Killer also received high praise from the Hollywood film circuit. Nominated for several awards and securing the Premio Soundtrack Stars Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Fincher’s new dark take in the Bond-saturated hitman genre has been popular with most audiences. 

Although The Killer is an adaptation of Nolent’s graphic novel series, David Fincher still came to set with his own inspirations. It is rumored that Fincher’s inspiration behind the main character was the common misinterpretation of his film Fight Club. The unnamed assassin is someone who would believe that Tyler Durden is a good person and would be inspired by and find solace in his actions. 

Despite an overwhelmingly positive response to the film, some critics disagreed with the movie’s direction. Manhola Dargis, in a review for The New York Times, called the main protagonist “ loquaciously dull” and further elaborated that The Killer was just a way for David Fincher to kill time. For Dargis, much was left to be desired from the title.

The Killer is currently available to stream on Netflix and clocks in a run time of 119 minutes. If you are a fan of David Fincher or a hitman fanatic, this movie will most certainly jump into your top favorites list. If you are new to these worlds, congratulations! Come into it with an open heart and prepare to have your mind blown. 

Keri Hilson is opening up about her recent “music can harm” tweet, saying it wasn’t about Yung Miami‘s ‘Spend Dat’ single, as internet users continue to weigh in.

RELATED: LisaRaye & Trick Daddy Weigh In On Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’ Amid Controversy Over The Song’s Impact (VIDEOS)

Keri Hilson Says Her “Music Can Harm” Tweet Wasn’t About Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’

Keri Hilson recently sat down for an interview with HelloBeautiful, and during the conversation, she explained that her recent viral tweet “was bigger than that one song.”

“It’s bigger than any one song,” she said. “That tweet was me commenting on the commentary… It was general — I mean, of course… I was aware of what was being talked about. But I just wanted to offer that truth… Let’s not lie to ourselves. We understand the impact that music can have on the culture. On youth. We’ve been talking about this for 40, 50 years.”

Hilson explained that the “lack of balance” and “substance” in music is what “really bothers” her. Additionally, she explained that no artist is “attempting to take Black culture under their wing” and say that they have “something to teach.”

Internet Users Continue To Weigh In On The Song & Keri Hilson Says Her “Music Can Harm” Tweet

Internet users weighed in on Keri Hilson’s tweet, her explanation, and Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’ in TSR’s comment section.

More On Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’

As The Shade Room previously reported, on July 1, Keri Hilson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a message which read, “If music can heal, music can harm too…”

At the time, internet users speculated that her words may have been about Yung Miami’s single, ‘Spend Dat.’ The song, released on April 24, has since sparked controversy over its content and lyrics. As The Shade Room previously reported, India Arie recently turned heads when she shared a few messages about the “mass acceptance” of the song.

Since then, Nicci Gilbert has also weighed in. This, alongside LisaRaye and Trick Daddy. More recently, India Arie returned to social media. This, to share that she was enjoying the “discourse” that the song and her reaction to it sparked.

RELATED: India Arie Doubles Down On Her Comments About Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’ & The TL Is Divided (PHOTOS)

It’s been a great year for Harry Potter fans. The release of the critically acclaimed Audible Full-Cast Audio Editions gave fans months of enjoyment, and quite literally about a hundred hours of compelling and new content. Meanwhile, the first trailer was released for the upcoming HBO series, which premieres at Christmas. However, the Potter stories all started on the page, and that’s why it’s especially exciting to hear that two new Harry Potter books are on the way.

Bloomsbury Publishing is officially releasing two new Pocket Potters books, this time based around two of Harry’s closest friends — Dobby and Rubeus Hagrid. The books are aimed at younger readers, but they’re also the sort of little releases that will inevitably end up on the shelves of people who absolutely do not need more Harry Potter collectibles and will buy them anyway. Accio books, etc.

Hagrid and Dobby Get Their Own Illustrated Guides

Pocket Potters: Hagrid is illustrated by Olia Muza, whose previous work in the series includes the Ron Weasley guide. The book will focus on the lovable Hogwarts groundskeeper’s world, from the warmth of his hut, Fang the dog, his teeth-crunching rock cakes and his best buddies, the acromantula spiders that haunt the Forbidden Forest. It’ll also explore more fun things like the contents of his pockets, his other, more exotic pets, and his life as Care of Magical Creatures teacher. Blast-ended Skrewts are not included as part of the package.

Pocket Potters: Dobby is illustrated by Helen Brady, who is also behind the upcoming Luna Lovegood edition. This fun little guide will focus on details from Dobby’s story, like his earlier life at Malfoy Manor, his love of socks and bobble hats, and that unforgettable incident where Aunt Petunia’s hand-made dessert ended all over the Dursleys’ dinner guests that night in Privet Drive.

The pair join existing Pocket Potters releases for Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Professor Dumbledore, and Luna Lovegood. Each book is full of quotes, story moments, illustrations, and small facts designed to introduce young readers to the Wizarding World in a colorful way.

Pocket Potters: Hagrid and Pocket Potters: Dobby arrive August 13 in the UK. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will arrive on HBO and HBO Max on December 25.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026

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Showrunner

Francisca Gardiner

Directors

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Mark Mylod

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By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 18 seconds ago

Will Smith had a plan to become a major star. When he decided to make the jump from television star of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to international sensation he wanted to be in big-budget Summer sci-fi blockbusters. Independence Day and Men in Black were huge hits, Wild Wild West was not, and while he achieved his goal, his biggest misfire came over 20 years later in 2019. That’s the year he teamed up with Ang Lee for Gemini Man, a sci-fi action movie that makes us long for the days of a giant steampunk spider. 

Gemini Man’s Cutting Edge Technology Falls Flat

Before you notice anything else about Gemini Man the 120 FPS rate sticks out like a sore thumb. Ang Lee shot the film entirely at the enhanced rate that gives it the appearance of a daytime soap opera. The movie ran headfirst into the same technological wall as The Hobbit trilogy in that on one hand, it looks and moves incredibly smooth, but on the other, to most of the public, it was shot on location in the uncanny valley. 

Gemini Man pits Will Smith as Marine Scout Sniper Henry against a digitally de-aged Will Smith in a game of cat and mouse. After Henry kills an innocent man on a mission and leaves the service, Clay (Clive Owen), director of the GEMINI program, concocts the insane supervillain plan to take out Henry and replace him with a loyal, obedient clone. Any Spider-Man fan will tell you that clone stories never work out. Even the addition of Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Benedict Wong in supporting roles isn’t enough to save Gemini Man from the clone curse.

Between the enhanced FPS and a digitally de-aged Will Smith, Gemini Man has aged as well as those potatoes in the pantry you swore you’d cook one day. After Earth has gone through the usual revaluation phase and isn’t considered to be as horrible as it was when it launched, but Gemini Man is, if anything, worse than it was in 2019. Cutting-edge technology backfiring combined with a boring plot has left it with little to no redeeming value.

Gemini Man Is Too Absurd To Be This Serious

The worst part about Gemini Man is there’s no sense of fun to it. Wild Wild West is a bad movie but at least Will Smith, Kevin Kline, and Kenneth Branagh are having fun with the absurdity of it all, and the worst of the Men in Black trilogy, Men in Black III, benefits from Josh Brolin doing a Tommy Lee Jones impression. At the box office, it was rejected by audiences with a dismal take of $173 million worldwide. Sounds great, except it needed to go past $275 million to turn a profit thanks to the production budget of $125 million. It’s expensive to look that bad.

Will Smith recovered from Gemini Man by going back to the Bad Boys franchise with Martin Lawrence. Both Bad Boys For Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die were hits, and he’s currently working on I Am Legend 2 with Michael B. Jordan and Creed II director Steven Caple Jr. No matter how bad the movie retcons the ending of the first, it’ll still be more interesting than Gemini Man.

Gemini Man is streaming for free on YouTube and Pluto TV.

More bad news in the gaming industry, this time from Microsoft. Following the crushing news that Sony and PlayStation are to do away with physical media in the near future, it seems the Xbox side of the aisle is also making some moves. Michrosoft is making a huge round of job cuts, with the gaming division set to be hit hardest by that move. CNBC is reporting that the company is going to be eliminating 4,800 jobs across its business, with 3,200 of those losses set to come from within Xbox through 2027.

For those who can’t quite process that horrific news, that amounts to roughly one fifth of the entire Xbox workforce, according to someone quoted within the CNBC report, and about 1,600 of those roles are being cut immediately, while the rest are expected to go over the next year as Microsoft clears the decks.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told employees that the changes would be staggered because “it is not possible to make all the necessary changes in a single day.” She added that the company expects to return to growth in 2027, though that’s hardly going to be a comfort to the teams that have just had their workforce slashed in dramatic fashion. Her statement concluded:

I want XBOX to be one of the few companies that entertains more than a billion people each day and gives everyone the opportunity to create and connect. I know we can achieve this goal. XBOX has many of the most beloved franchises in entertainment history, talented studios around the world, and we will return to growth in 2027.

What Does the Xbox Restructuring Involve?

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Also part of the restructuring is a plan to spin off four gaming studios from Microsoft. Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions are set to become independent again, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have reportedly entered talks to join new ownership. In addition, there’s also real uncertainty over the future of Arkane Studios, which joined Microsoft through its $8.1 billion ZeniMax Media acquisition in 2021, and they are said to be in dicussions about strategic options but no final decisions have been made for the time being.

In news that is sure to be welcomed by, well, nobody, Microsoft chief people officer Amy Coleman said the company is responding to a workplace being reshaped by AI, though she insisted the technology itself is not directly replacing affected employees. “Some of the tasks we do every day can now be automated,” she wrote, adding that staff will need to “keep learning, keep building new skills, and keep adapting as the work evolves.”

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.