Britney Spears was charged in California on Thursday (April 30) with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, authorities said.

RELATED: Oops, She Did What? Britney Spears Released From Jail After Arrest In California For Alleged DUI 

What To Know About Britney Spears’ Charge

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office charged Britney Spears with a single misdemeanor count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug. However, the criminal complaint does not specify what kind of alcohol or drugs, or what amount, Spears allegedly used.

Police arrested Britney Spears on March 4. She was pulled over for driving her black BMW fast and erratically on U.S. 101 near her home, per the California Highway Patrol. She appeared to be impaired and took a series of field sobriety tests. Following Britney Spears’ arrest, law enforcement took her to a Ventura County jail. 

Where Is Britney Now?

Britney Spears was released on bail the following day on March 5. Police completed their investigation and presented it to prosecutors on March 23. A representative at the time called Spears’ actions “completely inexcusable.” Also, the rep said it would ideally be “the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”

Spears voluntarily checked into a substance abuse treatment facility just over a month after the arrest. However, a representative for the 44-year-old pop star had no immediate comment on the latest udpate, per the Associated Press.

What Happens Next In Spears’ Case?

Britney Spears’ arraignment is set for Monday (May 4). Because it is a misdemeanor charge, she will not be required to appear in court, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the case will be handled according to their standard protocol for defendants with no DUI history, no crash or injury on the road and a low blood-alcohol level.

In court on Monday, prosecutors plan to offer Spears a “wet reckless,” which allows a defendant to plead guilty and get a year of probation, credit for any time served in jail, a required DUI class and state-mandated fines and fees. The offer is common, especially for defendants who have independently shown motivation to address their problems and seek treatment, the district attorney’s office said.

The singer has a home in Ventura County just outside the Los Angeles County line. Her arraignment will take place in the city of Ventura, a seaside community of about 110,000 people about 70 miles northwest of downtown LA.

Britney Spears After The Conservatorship

In 2008, a court placed Britney Spears under a conservatorship, run primarily by her father and his lawyers. That conservatorship would control her personal and financial decisions for well over a decade. Finally, in 2021, it was dissolved.

Since then, Spears has married and divorced. Also, she’s released a bestselling, tell-all memoir, ‘The Woman in Me.’ However, in music, she has essentially been retired in recent years. Her last full album dropped in 2016, but she released a few collaborative singles since then, including, ‘Hold Me Closer’ and ‘Matches.’

RELATED: Oop! Bobby Brown Says He “Couldn’t Take It” After Hearing Britney Spears’ Spin On His Hit ‘My Prerogative’ (WATCH)

AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

By Robert Scucci
| Updated 20 seconds ago

“I’m a bad man! I commit egregious acts of corporate espionage in my sleep. I extort my neighbors into helping me operate my highly illegal gambling and drug-running syndicate. I vape in public bathrooms that have ‘No Vaping’ signs. I loiter at the Pokémon card vending machine outside of my local Kroger so I can snag all the good ones and sell them on eBay despite the explicit instructions posted all over the place telling me not to do this. I document all of my crimes extensively, and have a massive paper trail.

But don’t worry, because when the FBI and a rogue beat cop collaborate to finally lock me up for good, I have the best solution: I’ll compile all of these incriminating paper documents, throw them into a comically large barrel, and drop a single match into it right before I walk off into the sunset without ever looking back. There’s no way they’ll ever catch me.”

Sounds pretty stupid, right?

This is standard practice in crime movies and TV series, and it’s all for dramatic effect. When you break it down, though, the old flaming barrel evidence destruction dodge leaves a lot to be desired.

On one hand, I get it. We need a visual representation of a very bad person, in a last-ditch effort, trying to destroy evidence that will later come back to bite them in the ass. It’s a great visual shorthand to show the audience that the criminal in question is taking the necessary steps to make sure there’s no record of their crimes against humanity. However, it’s clear that none of these guys have ever seen that Smokey Bear commercial that instructs you to let the fire burn down, hit it with a bucket of water, mix it with a shovel, and hit it with even more water. You have to be thorough.

Not only are these idiots not making sure the evidence is thoroughly destroyed, they’re also not making sure the surrounding structures don’t burn to the ground, adding yet another offense to their rap sheet.

The Smartest Criminals Do The Dumbest Things 

I’ve been thinking about the flaming barrel trope, and evidence destruction in pop culture in general, ever since I sat down and watched 2025’s Relay. In the film, a fixer named Ash (how fitting) uses a complex network of jerry-rigged communication systems involving jailbroken burner phones and a telecommunications device for the deaf that he uses in collaboration with a legitimate relay service for the hearing impaired. The man’s a genius, and he operates like a ghost. He knows where and when to show up when he’s fixing to get his whistleblowing clients out of a jam. He knows how to not blow his cover. He communicates by proxy to get the job done, and he’s always one step ahead of everybody.

But when it comes time to destroy the evidence, what does he do? He rips the document in half, tosses it in a trash can, and sets it on fire. The guy who’s so careful that most of his clients don’t even know what his voice sounds like just tosses the documents all willy-nilly in front of a train full of potential witnesses before getting back to work.

Are you a fan of Breaking Bad? If so, you already know how painstakingly careful Gustavo Fring is in running his meth empire. He has an overseas alliance with an obsessive-compulsive contact at the Madrigal Electromotive GmbH megacorporation named Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, an accounting expert who can cook the books with her eyes closed. He distributes Walter White’s meth across the Southwest United States through the distribution lines already in place from his sprawling fried chicken enterprise, which operates as a front for his more illicit activities.

Going even further into how careful Fring is, the meth he distributes comes from an elaborate, $8 million underground lab that took the entirety of Better Call Saul to construct. It’s hidden under an industrial laundromat with state-of-the-art air filtration systems that let him cook massive quantities without ever being detected by the authorities. Werner Ziegler, who built the facility brick by brick, was executed under Gus’ order when he inadvertently compromised the project’s secrecy.

Living his double life as a fast food franchisee turned drug lord, Gus Fring once forced his assistant manager, Lyle, to clean the fry baskets until his hands bled while he sat in his office for hours, waiting for one of his associates to complete a series of dead drops, establishing an alibi and keeping his hands clean.

It’s all a really smart way to operate, but this level of obsessive attention to detail goes completely out the window when Gus makes incriminating phone calls, barks orders into a flip phone, breaks it in half, and simply tosses the device into the trash can in front of his place of work, something he does often. If you want a prime example of dropping the ball at the one-yard line, this is it. After all, we see what finally happens to Gus when he stops being careful (ding, ding, ding!).

I could list examples of sloppy evidence disposal all day, every day, but it’s such a common occurrence in the media that all I ask of you, dear reader, is that you open your eyes and see for yourself.

Shred It, Bro!!!

It’s very rare that this kind of behavior gets called out in TV and movies, but a great example of the trope being dismantled can be seen in 1992’s Batman Returns. Corrupt businessman Max Shreck thinks he’s in the clear after flushing shredded documents down the toilet. What he didn’t anticipate was Oswald Cobblepot, more affectionately known as The Penguin, painstakingly piecing the documents back together to blackmail him, famously saying he accomplished this with “a lot of tape and a little patience.”

Listen, I’m not telling anybody out there to go out and commit crimes. I’m not encouraging more thorough concealment of heinous acts that should, by all rights, land you behind bars. But you have to think about the implications here.

I worked for years as a payroll auditor, and we had those giant Shred-It bins all over our office. When I first started that job, I asked the higher-ups what happened to those bins when they were swapped out every week. Without hesitation, they told me they were loaded onto trucks, shredded into confetti, rendered into pulp, de-inked, and manufactured into new, blank paper. After that, a Certificate of Destruction is issued, stating, for legal purposes, that these bins full of Personally Identifiable Information were securely disposed of. A chain of custody is documented, and that’s that.

I’m not a criminal, and I’d argue that I’m not even all that smart a civilian. But when I’m tossing out a paystub or an old tax document, you better believe it’s thoroughly destroyed after it’s served its purpose. Proper document destruction is an integral part of both criminal and civilian life. If there’s any lesson to be learned here, whether you’re a good guy or a bad guy, it’s that if insidious people want to access your deepest, darkest secrets, your old 1099-NECs, or even worse, your entire iPhone camera roll full of trash riffs, they’ll find a way if you’re not careful.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 minute ago

It’s not uncommon for your typical disaster movie to have a non-human antagonist in the form of a hostile alien takeover, or even a comet hurtling toward Earth. The drama that we so desperately crave often presents itself as a conflict between overreaching government agencies and civilians who find themselves at odds with one another in their efforts to battle some unknown force of nature. In the case of 2022’s Moonfall, we don’t get much aside from “the moon is up to something, and we have to kill it.”

This Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) directed film could be described as a B-movie with a $150 million budget. The special effects and cinematography are quite impressive, but the screenplay leaves a lot to be desired. Despite Moonfall’s shortcomings, it’s incredibly fun to watch, and leans into all of the science-fiction disaster movie beats that we all know and love.

We Have To Kill The Moon!

Moonfall’s story starts in 2011, when Brian Harper’s (Patrick Wilson) Space Shuttle, the Endeavor, gets attacked by some unknown anomaly that kills one of his crew members, and leaves the other unconscious. Upon his return to Earth, Harper is immediately disgraced by NASA because there were no other witnesses to the disaster, leading everybody to believe that he was responsible for the incident.

The rest of Moonfall takes place 10 years after the incident, and we learn that everybody should have taken Harper a little more seriously. Harper, who can barely make rent, but still somehow has disposable income to work on classic cars and motorcycles in his garage, makes a modest living through public speaking as a former astronaut.

We learn that Harper is estranged from his teenage son, Sonny (Charlie Plummer), who is serving time in jail and awaiting trial after getting in a highly publicized high-speed chase with the cops. Though Moonfall very much needs this secondary plot to make the story relatable, it spends too much time trying to establish drama on Earth, and it feels more like an afterthought rather than a primary source of tension.

At the same time, the bickering between Harper, his ex-wife Brenda (Carolina Bartczak), and her new husband Tom (Michael Pena), provides a healthy amount of comic relief. Meanwhile, conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman (John Bradley), is conducting his own research, and makes a shocking discovery about the moon that corroborates Harper’s initial claims.

Houseman has reason to believe that the moon is a man made mega-structure that is powered by a white dwarf star, and suspects the moon has been knocked out of orbit, causing irregular seismic and gravitational activity on Earth.

NASA makes a similar discovery, and wants to keep the issue under wraps. But Houseman already posted his findings on social media, and immediately causes a global panic, which carries Moonfall into its third act.

Harper suits up with Jocinda Fowler (Halle Berry), the other surviving member from the 2011 incident, and Houseman. They defy logic in every conceivable way as they board a rocket with severely damaged engines, and their goal is to blow up whatever it is inside the moon that’s causing the disturbances.

At this point Moonfall is operating on two fronts: outer space, and Earth. Having reason to believe that the moon can detect the presence of electronics, the crew relies on Houseman’s on-the-fly hand-calculated flight paths without the guidance of an onboard navigation system. Luckily, Houseman is quite good at math, and they’re able to continue their mission as intended.

Back on Earth, Sonny gets himself into another high-speed chase, but this time he’s speeding away from looters who want his oxygen tanks. The chase sequences also defy logic, as the moon’s gravity seems to pick and choose what objects (and people) get thrown around.

In a classic “race against the clock” kind of scenario, Moonfall haphazardly jumps between these two settings for the remainder of the film, tries to put a neat bow on the narrative, while also trying to leave the ending open for a sequel.

What Critics Say About Moonfall

Not only did the film perform poorly at the box office, it was critically panned upon its release, receiving a 35 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Moonfall may very well have been a failed attempt at recreating the glory Independence Day, but it’s still a highly entertaining disaster movie that deserves your attention. Though the premise is highly flawed, it still delivers a satisfying amount of action and comedic relief between otherwise highly predictable beats.

As of this writing, Moonfall is not available for streaming, but could be viewed on-demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

While Avengers: Age of Ultron probably isn’t people’s favorite MCU movie, (even though, I, for one, think it’s underrated), Chris Evans’ Captain America is certainly many people’s favorite superhero, and for good reason. He represents the best in humanity, never forgetting Dr. Erskine’s (Stanley Tucci) warning in Captain America: The First Avenger, to not forget about being a “good man,” when he’s trying to be a “perfect soldier.” Many also resonated with Cap’s anti-government sentiment, which really began in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and then came to fruition in Captain America: Civil War.

Age of Ultron largely skipped over this aspect of the character, however, instead focusing on the personal divide between Cap and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). And yet, one deleted scene from Avengers: Age of Ultron not only showed exactly why Steve Rogers connected with so many, but also would have shown the beginning of the end for the Avengers, as well as continuing this arc of the character becoming more nomadic. Not only should the scene have been kept in to show this character beat, but it would’ve begun the conversation around Cap’s costume, which we would later see thoroughly explored in later MCU projects. And though we’ll get to see how Rogers’ story continues in Avengers: Doomsday when Evans returns for his long-awaited return to the MCU, it’s worth noting that one of the most significant moments came in a divisive Marvel movie.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Had a Deleted Scene With Captain America Tossing His Helmet

Image via Marvel Studios

The deleted scene in question is one that occurs at the beginning of the third act. The scene shows Cap and some other Avengers, including the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), getting out of the Quinjet in Sokovia before battling Ultron (James Spader). Cap sees graffiti artwork that depicts him as a “fasista” (fascist) as he goes to put his helmet on. Upon acknowledging how the Sokovian people feel about the Avengers, a western force entering their country to conduct operations without sanction, rather than wearing the accessory, Steve throws it back in to the jet, allowing people to see his face and therefore connecting with the people of Sokovia more.

While it is understandable why such a scene would be removed for runtime, with Age of Ultron already having a 2-hour 21-minute length, this scene should have been kept because it shows the growing divide in the Avengers that would continue into Captain America: Civil War. Throughout Age of Ultron, we see how Iron Man and Cap disagree, with Iron Man being a “big picture” thinker, whereas Cap is far more grounded, and this scene would have shown Cap’s side quite well, as most of Age of Ultron dealt with Iron Man’s paranoia.

This ‘Age of Ultron’ Scene Would’ve Started a Conversation Around Captain America’s Costume

This isn’t the first time Captain America’s costume has been a contentious issue. In The Avengers, it is Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) who says people need the classic “old-fashioned” Captain America costume and see it as something familiar to give them hope, before the world changed with the reveal of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the more fantastical elements. Therefore, with Cap throwing away this helmet, we’re seeing him doubt the message that the Stars and Stripes and the idea of a soldier fighting for America are good ways to be a superhero for the world, a refreshingly self-aware representation of how many in the world view not just the West, but America itself. This idea is also discussed in Falcon & The Winter Soldier, where Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) points out the inner conflict he faces as a Black man wearing an American flag.

All of this is to say that this deleted scene should have been kept because it is part of the story of Captain America and his costume, and the costume truly does mean so much to the audience and character. Wearing a uniform or flag matters, and we cannot pretend it doesn’t. In this deleted scene, we see Cap beginning, more than ever, to outright reject his Western-centric image, and it would have been a nice clue as to the way the series was going to start turning. Some could argue that Captain America: The Winter Soldier did show this, yet that doesn’t mean Age of Ultron should’ve ignored it the way it did, as it focused on a more personal conflict rather than internal one on Cap’s side.

RELATED: Who Ordered Crime? Chick-fil-A Employee Allegedly Busted In $80K Mac & Cheese Scam

Domino’s Driver Accused In Tip Dispute Turned Violent

According to a probable cause affidavit from the Fulton Police Department, officers responded shortly after 7:20 p.m. to a residence on Bluff Street after reports of a crash involving injuries. The caller alleged that a Domino’s driver became upset over not receiving a tip and struck someone with his vehicle before leaving the scene. The victim and a witness told police the situation escalated after a verbal argument, with Walton allegedly yelling profanities and making threats before getting into his car.

Police Say Walton Fled Scene After Alleged Collision

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Walton engaging in the heated exchange. Following, he returned to his vehicle and accelerating toward the victim, who was walking up the driveway. Police say the victim was struck and landed on the hood of another car, suffering visible injuries to his hand and additional scrapes. Authorities also noted that Walton fled the scene “at a high rate of speed” without contacting police.

Walton Held After Alleged Admission To Police

Officers later tracked Walton down at a local Domino’s, where he was taken into custody following the alleged incident. During questioning, investigators say he admitted to driving toward the victim but claimed his intent was to “scare” him. Additionally, Walton also acknowledging that he left the scene afterward. Authorities further noted that Walton has a prior criminal history, including convictions for domestic assault and false imprisonment. Walton reportedly faces multiple felony charges and remains held at Callaway County Jail without bound as the case moves forward.

RELATED: Oh, Nah! Woman Sues Trader Joe’s After Allegedly Finding “Finger” In Orange Juice As Her Past Cases Reportedly Resurface

The internet stays in debate mode, and this time folks have their eyes on 21 Savage, thinking he just addressed GloRilla’s sister Victoria Woods after she took shots at Latto amid her pregnancy. 21 didn’t drop any names. He just slid in with a quick lil’ message on social media, but now fans are trying to read between the lines, wondering if he was clapping back at her.

RELATED: Latto, Drake & Soulja Boy Catch Strays As Victoria Woods Claps Back At Sister GloRilla Over ‘GOMF’ Diss (VIDEO)

Fans Think 21 Savage Low Key Reacted To Victoria Woods’ Viral Video

On Friday, May 1, 21 Savage came through with a message making it real clear that people might think they know him, but they don’t. Out of nowhere, the rapper dropped a post on his Instagram Story that read, “I really learn things about my life on here,” alongside three laughing emojis. He didn’t tag anyone, but fans think he was lowkey clocking GloRilla’s sister Victoria Woods after she called out Latto in a now-viral video. In the clip, Victoria specifically says Big Mama isn’t claimed by her man in public and alleges she’s having a baby by a married man.

“Latto, you not even getting claimed in public by your baby daddy, b***h. Like, h*e you pregnant by a married man while you wanna sit here and put Glo on a record,” Victoria said.

The internet streets have been trying to prove that Latto and 21 are expecting a child together ever since she announced her pregnancy in March. The speculation grew even more after fans thought they peeped some clues in Latto’s ‘Business & Personal’ music video. The visuals show a mystery man with tattoos that folks think resemble 21’s, and his baby photos seemingly appear in the scrapbook Latto puts together. But even with all of that, neither Latto or 21 have confirmed whether they’re expecting a child together.

Social Media Can’t Agree On Whether 21 Was Just Posting Or Responding

After The Shade Room reposted 21’s message, folks ran to the comment section. Plenty of Roomies said they think his post was a lil’ clap back at Victoria Woods. Peep some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @karranr_ wrote, “This in reference to StudRilla for sure.” 

Instagram user @____cretia_x wrote, “Speak on the pregnancy dawg we craving the tea😭😭😭” 

While Instagram user @prettyjazzlifts wrote, “So you learned about the baby on TikTok like we did?”

Then Instagram user @just__sayingtho wrote, “Basically he said ain’t married…but if y’all want to keep on with the lie y’all created just keep going.”

Another Instagram user @myrical.c wrote, “So he ain’t married ?🫠😂” 

Instagram user @doniesharoshae_ wrote, “Lmao. Latto told him he better say sum. 😂”

Then another Instagram user @emis_mommyyyy wrote, “You responding when she never said your name .. although it might be in reference to, you responding is still very telling sir 😂” 

While another Instagram user @1994rebel wrote, “I knew he was gone say sumn 😂”

Finally, Instagram user @b3autiful_._ wrote, “Not Brorilla brought him out the woods 🤣🤣🤣🤣” 

Why Did BroRilla Call Out Latto?

You’re probably wondering why Latto caught a stray in Victoria Woods’ clap-back video. Well, Victoria it appears Victoria made her video in response to Glo’s diss on Latto’s ‘GOMF.’

On the record Glo says: “Get out my face, ho (Ho), beggin’ for change, ho (Yup). Get you a hustle and get that p***y out your face, ho (Yup). You coulda been anything, it’s a million ways to get paid, ho (Yup). But you ain’t s**t but a freaky stud that’s laced.”

Victoria clearly peepd it and wasted no time going in on her sister while calling out Big Mama too. She didn’t stop with the ladies either. Victoria also came for Drake and Soulja Boy. She went off on Drizzy for suing Kendrick Lamar over his diss track. Woods didn’t spare Soulja one bit either, she criticized his style just because he sampled the song. Latto’s ‘GOMF’ actually samples Soulja’s 2007 hit, ‘Yahhh.’

“Soulja Boy your outfit still big as f**k ever since youuuuuuu and you lame as f**k and can’t rap. I’m coming for all y’all heads, f**k all y’all and anybody who like that motherf*****g song and has stamped it…” Victoria said in the clip.

RELATED: Alleged Mom Of 21 Savage’s Two Sons Seemingly Reacts To Latto’s Pregnancy Reveal (PHOTO) 

If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that warm weather means wedding invitations are heading your way. After all, spring and summer are peak wedding seasons, so if you don’t have an outfit to wear just yet, keep reading. We found a gorgeous wedding guest dress that thousands of Amazon shoppers can’t stop gushing over, and it’s actually more affordable than you think.

Whether you have an outdoor garden wedding, a traditional church ceremony or maybe an engagement party, this flattering maxi dress fits the bill. It has all the makings of a boutique-looking find with a low $58 price point (it probably costs less than the gift you bought the happy couple!). The dress has earned over 3,000 five-star ratings from shoppers who are obsessed with its luxurious appearance and comfortable design. The dress truly gives you the best of both worlds, and arrives at your home in just two days with Prime shipping.

Get the Prettygarden Satin Cocktail Dress for $58 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

You’ll certainly draw all the attention when you step foot into the venue wearing the Prettygarden Cocktail Maxi Dress. It has a high mock neckline, a sleeveless design and a cinched waist that gives you an hourglass appearance. Additionally, shoppers love that the dress hugs the body slightly while still feeling relaxed. You can sit, stand and dance the night away without a care in the world. Oh, and it’s safe to go without shapewear, per shoppers.

Made with satin-like materials, the maxi dress has a rich sheen appearance that catches the light nicely and gives off an elevated look that works for all kinds of dress codes. Reviewers swear that the fabric feels lightweight, soft and semi-stretchy. Plus, this pick resists wrinkles, making it ideal for destination weddings. No steamer needed! Unlike other wedding guest dresses on Amazon, this one actually has a liner that slims and prevents the fabric from clinging to your skin, which will come in handy if you break a sweat on the dance floor.

You can grab the elegant dress in over 20 colors, including spring-ready shades like orange, purple and pink. However, we’re obsessed with the pretty floral option that feels on par with the season. The pattern also works in your favor to hide bumps and lumps, giving you a win-win.

Whatever style you choose, you’ll look positively rich. For a casual beach wedding, style the dress with a wide-brim hat, woven clutch and raffia heeled sandals. Attending a traditional church wedding? Opt for a wrap, shoulder bag and open-toe heels. The options are endless!

One Amazon shopper who is “obsessed” wrote, “This dress is the perfect blend of classic style and elegance. The length was spot on, and the material was impressively soft and flowy. I loved that it worked just as well with flats as it did with heels . . . comfort is key for long events like this!”

Another person couldn’t get over the flattering design: “This dress is very forgiving. Even with mom tummy, it does not show anything,” they wrote. “So comfortable and flowy!”

With thousands of five-star ratings, tons of color options and a slimming, comfortable style, this designer-looking dress is one you don’t want to miss out on. At just $58, it’s one of the most affordable wedding guest dresses you’ll find.

Get the Prettygarden Satin Cocktail Dress for $58 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more wedding guest dresses, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: Trending! Amazon’s Hottest Wedding Guest Dresses Are Surprisingly Luxe

Advertisement

You just got the wedding invite, the ceremony is in three weeks and your closet is full of ‘maybe’ dresses that don’t quite work. Sound familiar? Finding wedding guest dresses that feel fresh, age-appropriate and actually flattering can turn into a frustrating, expensive spiral through department store racks. Here’s the good news: Amazon has quietly […]

Video game adaptations have become increasingly popular, and they’re targeting an audience beyond those interested in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. While traditional adaptations may have been boxed in by their faithfulness to the source material, Prime Video’s Fallout uses the original games as a launchpad for more creativity. The world is vast and complicated, but the series tells a surprisingly emotional story about three characters of different affiliations whose paths cross. Fallout isn’t a standard post-apocalyptic story because it isn’t filled with the doom and gloom that has come to dominate science fiction; instead, its compelling new landscape feels like a futuristic Western that opens up a new frontier for humanity.

Even though the series includes a fair number of flashbacks that explore how a retrofuturistic society became a decimated wasteland, Fallout creatively establishes different factions of humanity. Members of the military organization known as the Brotherhood of Steel, including Maximus (Aaron Moten), gather pre-war technology to expand their domain. Other survivors have endured in a series of underground Vaults that aren’t exposed to the dangers of the surface, but Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) escapes from her home in Vault 33 to search for her father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), who is part of a conspiracy that she hasn’t been aware of. Perhaps the most intriguing story is that of Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins), a former Western actor who has survived centuries as a mutated being known as the Ghoul. Fallout is a series that is peppered with Easter eggs for devoted gamers, but it’s also perfect for anyone who likes a good binge-watch.

‘Fallout’ Is an Accessible Video Game Adaptation

Fallout is refreshingly light on exposition, given that the worldbuilding within the games is fairly elaborate, but the series revolves around several key points of view. Each of the lead characters has been forced to question their reality in one way or another, and their individual paths of discovery make for interesting drama. Lucy learns that the Vaults she has spent her life in represent only a small portion of what the world has to offer, and that she has been lied to about what is outside of the bunkers. Similarly, Maximus has spent his entire life dedicated to the chivalrous ways of the Brotherhood, but begins to recognize that it isn’t quite the honorable organization that he had thought it might be. Cooper’s development is particularly fascinating because it’s set within two different timelines of 2077 and 2296; while the Cooper of the past learns that there are those in power who are benefiting from the disaster that has ravaged the Earth’s surface, the Ghoul is dead-set on finding his family and doesn’t care what lines he needs to cross to achieve that goal.

Fallout is one of the most ambitious shows on television when it comes to scale alone, featuring breathtaking visuals and some of the most action-packed storytelling on any streaming series. The style doesn’t simply copy video game cut scenes; the series feels lived-in, particularly in moments that observe the different cultures that emerged in locations across the surface. That being said, the most exhilarating set pieces would be worthless if Fallout didn’t have the writing to match it, and thankfully, the show has interesting ideas about both history and legacy. Lucy and Maximus discover that lies are no way to withstand societal infrastructure, no matter how comforting they may seem; conversely, the Ghoul has spent so much time without forging connections that he has become oblivious to the monster that he has become.

‘Fallout’ Is Only Getting Better After Two Seasons

Fallout is the rare big-budget, buzzy show that has managed to get released on a consistent schedule, and as a result, it hasn’t lost momentum. While the first season was released as a binge-drop, Season 2 premiered new episodes weekly, in a decision that proved its staying power. There’s too much detail in each episode to fully appreciate it in a single sitting, and the gap between new releases has allowed fans to develop even more intricate theories. However, Fallout is still designed to be watched in quick succession because of how serialized the story is, so anyone trying to binge the series over the course of a single weekend could do so easily.

In an era where many shows hit a sophomore slump, Fallout only gets better, with a second installment that is funnier, weirder, and even more emotionally satisfying than its predecessor. It hasn’t yet become diluted by spin-offs or jumped the shark with its story, making now the perfect time to catch up with a show that is likely to continue for many more years. Escapism can often be a term that is used in a derogatory way, but Fallout is a series that provides maximum entertainment while also having much larger ideas on its mind.

By Joelle Renstrom
| Published 1 hour ago

Elon Musk is now one of the most famous and successful people in the history of the human race. He’s become a real-life Tony Stark, but he didn’t get that way overnight. It took a lot of work and a lot of reading.

These are the books that he says most influenced his life.

Elon Musk’s Nonfiction Book Recommendations

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel.

Musk met Thiel when Thiel was running PayPal and Musk was running a rival payment company. Musk wholeheartedly believes Thiel knows how to create and run “breakthrough” companies.

Ignition!: An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants by John D. Clark

It doesn’t sound like beach reading, but apparently it’s “really fun.” Clark’s account of the history of rocket fuel draws on his background as a chemist and also explains the science and the politics behind the industry.

Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down by J.E. Gordon

Another book Elon read to familiarize himself with rocketry and structural engineering.

Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson

It’s probably unsurprising that Musk cited the book Einstein: His Life and Universe as a formative read. Like Musk, Einstein overcame some difficult personal circumstances to become one of the most renowned scientists of all time. Isaacson’s biography of Benjamin Franklin was also formative for Musk, not just because Franklin was a scientist, but because he was an entrepreneur. He calls Franklin “one of his heroes.”

Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by. Nick Bostrom

Worth reading Superintelligence by Bostrom. We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 3, 2014

I’m happy to see Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies on the list. The book influenced Musk’s thinking about the dangers of AI, which is something all scientists and engineers need to keep in mind.

Elon Musk’s Favorite Fiction

Musk reportedly had a rough early childhood in South Africa. He was runty and too smart for his own good, and kids called him “Muskrat.” So he’d do what a lot of people with rough childhoods (and adulthoods) do: he escaped into fantasy and science fiction.

Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Musk is a big Asimov fan and calls Foundation “one of the all-time best.”

The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings was one of the books Musk sought refuge in during childhood.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Musk infamously loves The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which helped him cope with what he calls an “existential crisis” during his early teenage years. Where Nietzsche and Schopenhauer failed to guide Musk through that time, Adams’ ridiculous romp succeeded.

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

Lastly, Musk was a huge fan of Robert Heinlein, specifically The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and Stranger in a Strange Land, even though according to Musk, the latter “kind of goes off the rails at the end.” True. However, he named his AI Grok after a term used by Heinlein in Stranger in a Strange Land.

Gwyneth Paltrow has long been a fan of keeping her routine streamlined, and the Goop Beauty Microderm Body Polish is proof. The two-in-one formula — which is currently discounted during Amazon’s Summer Beauty Event — is one of the first products she reaches for in the shower, setting the foundation for the pared-down routine she shared in her “everything shower” breakdown on Goop. There, she explained how this “two-in-one trick” helps her focus on fewer, high-performing steps that make a bigger impact.

The formula functions as both a cleanser and an exfoliator — and that combination matters more than it sounds. Cleansing helps remove sweat, oil and daily buildup sitting on the surface of the skin, while exfoliation goes a step further by lifting away dead skin cells that can make skin feel rough or look dull. Combining the two in one step means you’re addressing both every time you shower, which helps keep skin clearer, softer and more even-feeling overall.

Get the Goop Beauty Microderm Body Polish for $38 (was $48) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Related: Meghan Markle Uses This Viral Rice Polish for ‘Subtle Exfoliation’

Meghan Markle’s beauty routine changes periodically, but one thing remains constant: she always gives her skin the royal treatment by prioritizing ingredients such as rice enzyme powder, which effectively cleanses and deeply nourishes the skin. In an interview with Allure, the Duchess of Sussex revealed Tatcha’s Rice Enzyme Polish as the product behind her effortless glow. […]

Advertisement

As far as exfoliation, this body polish is thorough without feeling aggressive. Finely milled mineral particles work across the skin to loosen and lift dead skin cells, buildup and residue from things like sunscreen or self-tanner. As it’s massaged, you’ll feel it actively smoothing the texture in real time (you know, that slightly gritty, satisfying polish that leaves skin immediately softer once rinsed). With consistent use, that surface-level smoothing adds up, helping skin look more even and less dull over time.

The texture plays a major role in its performance. It has a creamy, dense base that spreads easily over damp skin, allowing the exfoliating particles to glide instead of drag. That cushion keeps it from feeling harsh, even if you spend a little extra time working it into rougher areas. It rinses clean without leaving behind a heavy film, but it also doesn’t strip the skin, so you’re left with a balanced, comfortable finish rather than tightness.

One Amazon shopper who called the polish “incredible” said it leaves  “skin feeling so soft,” while another deemed it the “best scrub ever.”

If your routine feels like too many steps for not enough payoff, this is an easy place to streamline. Shop the Goop Beauty Microderm Body Polish now while it’s 20% off!

Get the Goop Beauty Microderm Body Polish for $38 (was $48) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more exfoliating body cleansers here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: Gwyneth Paltrow‘s Cardigan Gives L.A. Rich Mom Vibes — The $48 Look

Advertisement

We’re hitting the mid-spring mark, but the temperature outside has other ideas of what ‘warm’ is. With lingering 60-degree temps, most of Us are still reaching for our sweaters — but after peeping Gwyneth Paltrow‘s latest rich mom outfit, we’re not too mad about it. The Marty Supreme actress was seen at Jennifer Meyer‘s baby […]