By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 53 seconds ago

Science fiction has been warning us about the dangers of seemingly helpful technological innovations for over a hundred years. Even before computers were found in every home and in our pockets, overreliance on technology has been a common theme, including in the legendary anthology series, The Twilight Zone.

“Nick of Time” was released on November 18, 1960, and while it’s about a man’s dependence on a cheap fortune-telling novelty toy, it still works. 66 years later, in the era of ChatGPT and AI language models that are all too willing to provide advice. 

William Shatner’s Choice Paralysis

“Nick of Time” stars William Shatner as Don Carter and Patricia Breslin (future wife of Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell) as Pat Carter, newlyweds stuck in a small town in the middle of Ohio, when they come across a cheap fortune-telling novelty machine in the booth of a roadside diner. Don plays with the machine by asking it if he’ll get a promotion when he gets the affirmative response, “It has been decided in your favor.” One call to New York later, Don realizes he got the promotion, and his fascination with the tabletop trinket quickly becomes an obsession. 

Don continues asking questions to the devil-topped fortune-teller and receives inane generic responses, from “that makes a good deal of sense,” to “the answer to that is obvious,” and of course, “try again.” Paralyzed by indecision without the guidance from the fortune-teller, Don remains trapped in the booth, waiting for an answer to the question, “Where should we live?” Unlike most episodes of The Twilight Zone, Pat breaks her husband free from his obsession, and they leave town, but the ending shows another couple, trapped, unable to leave until the fortune-telling machine says they can. 

The unsubtle message of “Nick of Time” is the importance of human connection over a machine. The Twilight Zone has stood the test of time because of the universal morals at the heart of its twisted stories. 50 years later, Her told a similar story of a man becoming infatuated with a machine, and Ex Machina added a new wrinkleby giving the machine a human form. The AI in both movies is far, far more advanced than a penny fortune-teller, but the end result, obsession, decision paralysis, a loss of human connection, it’s all the same. 

The Twilight Zone Is A Timeless Classic For A Reason

William Shatner went on to star in another, better-remembered episode of The Twilight Zone, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” and a little show you may have heard of called Star Trek. His overacting has been parodied for decades, but as both of his appearances in Rod Serling’s masterpiece show, when asked to play a man slowly losing his mind, there’s no one better. 

The Twilight Zone is still one of the greatest shows of all time, and episodes like “Nick of Time” prove why no amount of reboots and revivals can match the simple effectiveness of the original. In 1960, no one imagined that we’d eventually have an app on our phones that acts exactly like the devil-head fortune-teller from the episode, but it doesn’t matter. The early horror sci-fi series could have been talking about television, computers, or telephones, and its point would still land: don’t let technology rule your life. Though today, a character would come right out and say, “go touch grass.”

Queen Latifah turned NBA All-Star weekend into a full-on family affair, popping out with her son Rebel for the 3-Point Content in Inglewood, California on Saturday, February 14. Queen was living for the vibes, while Rebel brought some next-level cuteness.

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Queen Latifah’s Son Steals The Spotlight With Courtside Cuteness

Latifah’s son Rebel got the ultimate VIP treatment at NBA All-Star weekend. He wasn’t just chilling courtside with his mom, he hit the court to snap photos with Damian Lillard. Lillard won the 3-point contest racking up 29 points in the final round, and then posed with Queen Latifah and Rebel after the big W! Rebel was cheesing so hard, clearly hyped to be in the building, while Queen was living for their mother-and-son date. Some folks online were completely shook after seeing Rebel. To be fair, Latifah maintains a lowkey lifestyle and doesn’t really much about him or her partner, Eboni Nichols, on social media.

TL Goes WILD Over Queen & Rebel’s Mommy-Son Outing

Folks didn’t let up on being surprised to learn that Queen Latifah had a son. Some said they were today years while dropping reactions in The Shade Room’s comment section. Others were living for the cuteness and letting everyone know they are real fans, admitting they knew she had a baby boy with her partner, Eboni.

Instagram user @apple_the4biddenfruit wrote, “He’s adorable omg 😍” 

Instagram user @djcori.jaye wrote, “Damn her DNA 🧬 is strong 💪🏾!” 

While Instagram user @bigbabykrys wrote, “I see we’re all finding out this information at the same time 😳” 

Then Instagram user @buttascotch_ wrote, “He looks just like Eboni 🥰” 

Another Instagram user @_whitneysanders wrote, “Son???! Where tf have I been?” 

Instagram user @addshawn wrote, “He has a cool name. Imagine hearing ‘Rebel Latifah’ over the loudspeaker at school.” 

While another Instagram user @tfaulk86 wrote, “I love me some Queen Latifah🔥” 

Then another Instagram user @spanish_sosa wrote, “This is a great pic❤️” 

Finally, Instagram user @monique.frances80 wrote, “Wow I had no idea. He’s adorable. ❤️” 

Rebel Stays Lowkey But Pulls Up To NBA Games

If you’ve been out of the loop like some of the Roomies, Queen Latifah and her partner Eboni Nichols are parents to Rebel. They reportedly conceived him through IVF, with Eboni carrying him, and he was born in 2019. Even though Queen tends to refrain from posting on social media, Rebel has popped out with her at NBA games before.

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Whew! Barack Obama is weighing in on the wild world of social media and public discourse, and it looks like President Donald Trump might’ve sparked another round of online chaos. Across social media, folks were reacting in full force after a controversial clip involving the Obama’s made its way across timelines. And now, the former POTUS is finally speaking out.

RELATED: Trump & White House Address Backlash Over Controversial Video Depicting Obamas As Apes (VIDEO)

Obama Stays Unbothered Amid Trump Drama

In a recent interview on ‘No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen,’ former POTUS Barack Obama didn’t hold back when discussing social media controversy, indirectly addressing a viral video on former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social. He called out the loss of shame and decorum in public behavior, saying, “And what is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office.” Additionally, Obama reflected on the contrast between the online chaos and the everyday kindness he still sees across the country.

He also shared these thoughts during the podcast conversation, noting that while the social media “clown show” chaos “gets attention” and serves as a distraction, it doesn’t reflect the majority of Americans. While traveling around the U.S., he still meets people who “still believe in decency, courtesy, and kindness,” Obama shared. Furthermore, he emphasized that even amid the online madness, him and Michelle remain unbothered and steadfast.

The Roomies Didn’t Come To Play On This One

As soon as the clip dropped, folks ran straight to TSR’s Instagram comment section, praising Obama for being a class act. Meanwhile, a few cheekily asked when is he going to say “it’s on sight” to Trump. And, of course, many just admitted they miss the days of him in office.

One Instagram user @frog_ismynickname said, “When President Obama speaks… we listen. 🎤🙌”

This Instagram user @theamyyedit shared, “I miss having an articulate, well mannered president 🥹”

And, Instagram user @_lavishlifechi added, “Very classy and well spoken …. my FOREVER president 😌”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @kissesfromkayy wrote, “Hearing his voice is comforting and reassuring 🥺🤎”

While Instagram user @spoken_highly commented, “Greatly Put Mr.President 🫡”

Finally, Instagram user @sirramoan said, “…a part of me wishes he’d be like ‘look, he knows when he sees me it’s on sight’“

The Video That Had Everyone Talking

As previously reported, the offensive clip in question crudely depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes and sparked immediate outrage across the political spectrum. Democrats, Republicans, and senior GOP members like Senator Tim Scott condemned it, with Scott calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” The White House initially dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage” before blaming a staffer and eventually deleting the post.

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‘Selling Sunset’s Jason Oppenheim
Jessica & I Broke Up

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February 15, 2026
11:55 AM PST

Manchester Orchestra
Timothy Very Dead at 42

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Authorities are shedding light on a potential timeline into the ongoing investigation surrounding Savannah Guthrie’s mom Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told The New York Times on Friday, February 13, that investigators are still “looking hard,” with about 400 people on the case. While he is certain that the team will find Nancy and her abductor, he noted he’s unsure of when that will happen.

“Maybe it’s an hour from now,” Nanos said of the search. “Maybe it’s weeks or months or years from now. But we won’t quit. We’re going to find Nancy. We’re going to find this guy.”

News broke on February 1 that Nancy had been reported missing by a family member who called 911. (Nancy shared daughters Savannah and Annie Guthrie and son Camron Guthrie with Charles Guthrie, who died in 1988 after a heart attack.)

Related: Savannah Guthrie’s Mom Nancy’s Search Mission Is a ‘Race Against Time’

The search to find Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, is “a race against time,” according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. Nanos appeared during the Tuesday, February 3, broadcast of the Today show and said he hopes “that window hasn’t closed” as the investigation into 84-year-old Nancy’s disappearance continues. “We took some samples that […]

As the search continues, multiple SWAT, forensics officers and law enforcement vehicles were spotted in Nancy’s neighborhood on Friday, according to CNN and NewsNation. CNN reported that police officers converged on two locations but did not make any arrests. Authorities did question a man about his apparent involvement, but he was ultimately released.

“We may see a couple more of these as this goes on,” CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller told the outlet, speculating the case will likely move fast since there’s a “victim in the balance.” He added, “I think we saw that again last night, but this particular lead is not going to go any further.”

A representative for the Sheriff’s department also confirmed that there had been “law enforcement activity” in the area on Friday related to Nancy’s potential kidnapping case.

“Because this is a joint investigation, at the request of the FBI, no additional information is currently available,” the statement read via X. “There is no press briefing scheduled for tonight regarding the Nancy Guthrie investigation.”

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Related: SWAT, Forensics, Authorities Swarm Nancy Guthrie’s Neighborhood Amid Search

 Authorities are seemingly intensifying their search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for nearly two weeks. Multiple SWAT, forensics officers and law enforcement cars were spotted in Nancy’s Tucson, Arizona, neighborhood on Friday, February 13, according to CNN and NewsNation. CNN reported that police officers converged on two locations without making […]

Savannah, meanwhile, has been absent from the Today show since her mom’s disappearance but has issued several public pleas to “bring her home.” In a February 4 Instagram video, Savannah and her siblings shared a personal message to Nancy.

“Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman. You are God’s precious daughter, Nancy,” Savannah said at the time. “We believe and know that even in this valley, He is with you. Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest.”

Annie added, “Nancy is our mother, we are her children. She is our beacon. She holds fast to joy and all of life’s circumstances. She chooses joy day after day despite having already passed through great trials of pain and grief. We are always going to be merely human. Just normal human people who need our mom. Mama, if you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you.”

Days later, Savannah shared home videos with Nancy. “Our lovely mom. 💛,” she wrote via Instagram on Thursday, February 12. “We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 15 seconds ago

The new Star Trek spinoff, Starfleet Academy, has had a controversial launch, and I have been one of its harshest critics; after all, the show’s casual mangling of franchise lore and cringeworthy humor is sometimes downright painful to watch. However, the one criticism that I’ve always found insane is fans hating how the show often focuses on its young cadets learning something about themselves and embracing a hidden power they didn’t realize was there. The reason this critique is so silly is simple: Starfleet Academy is explicitly designed as a Young Adult show, and this kind of storytelling is a major part of the most famous YA literature.

Season 1 of Starfleet Academy has spent many episodes focusing on specific characters: “Kids These Days” is all about Caleb losing his mother and becoming a criminal who seeks redemption (not to mention a surrogate mommy figure) in Starfleet. “Beta Test” focuses on how Betazed princess Tamina builds a new life for herself at the War College, and “Vox in Excelso” is about the Klingon Jay-Den making peace with his family and with the cultural heritage that he simultaneously embraces and rejects. Most famously, “Series Acclimation Mil” focuses on SAM as she studies Benjamin Sisko, all in the hopes of being a better emissary for her holographic race.

You Can Blame Harry Potter For This

These kinds of stories aren’t for everyone, and they will be particularly disappointing to fans who want stories with higher stakes. However, Star Trek fans who relentlessly dunk on these kinds of stories are missing the point of what Paramount is trying to do: recruit younger fans into the Star Trek family. With Starfleet Academy, they are attempting to do so in the most straightforward way possible: by copying the formula made famous by Harry Potter and countless other book franchises aimed at Young Adults. 

Ask yourself: beyond the specifics about wands and broomsticks, what is the story of Harry Potter about? It’s about the titular character leading a fairly boring existence until he is plucked out of obscurity and whisked away to a magical academy. There, he learns that he is a special person of important destiny, one who is destined to take on the greatest threat the Wizarding World has ever known.

May The Odds Be Ever In Paramount’s Favor

This basic formula plays out again and again in YA literature: The Hunger Games, for example, is about an unassuming young woman who receives special training and taps into abilities that help her take on a fascist dictator. Twilight is about an equally unassuming young woman who falls in love with a vampire, eventually discovering special mental abilities that she uses to save the day before becoming a creature of the night. Oh, and Percy Jackson & the Olympians involves the titular everyman character finding out he’s a literal demigod whose training will eventually help him overcome a Titan bent on ruling the world.

Starfleet Academy is doing its own version of this with its cadets: the academy functions a bit like Hogwarts, representing an entirely new world to these traumatized youngsters who grew up during the Burn. There, they all discover that the things that have always made them outcasts are actually special strengths that can help them serve the greater good. Caleb’s lifetime of criminal activity makes him a scrappy and resourceful hero, SAM’s relative lack of life experience gives her fresh insights, Jay-Den’s rejection of Klingon values helps him become a better Starfleet officer, and so on.

Kids Will Be Kids (Even Chosen Ones)

Does this mean you need to magically like Starfleet Academy’s preferred brand of storytelling? Of course not: by definition, YA literature is aimed at young adults, and many longtime Star Trek fans are very thoroughly middle-aged. Therefore, it’s no great shock that stories designed to appeal to teenagers are often off-putting to older viewers who are unlikely to pick up such books in the first place. 

However, Starfleet Academy has been (slowly but surely) getting better at balancing out its YA-centric “everyone is a special chosen one” storytelling with more serious and ambitious episodes aimed at more discerning viewers. In time, Paramount may succeed and, like JK Rowling’s famous books, appeal to fans of all ages. If not, though, this attempt to appeal to bite Harry Potter’s style could backfire, casting “Avada Kedavra” on the franchise and killing Star Trek altogether.