Ronald.phillips

Recently on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS I've noticed that after installing dependencies for a number of benchmarks that the Ubuntu Linux installation is simply broken... I can start off with a clean install of Ubuntu 22.04 desktop but then after installing the dependencies for a number of tests, the Ubuntu installation is effectively unusable until going back and reinstalling numerous default packages. The desktop is no longer installed, networking support was dropped, and many other packages went missing. It turns out it's due to problematic and unintentional APT package management behavior that is now being fixed...

After a long day of traveling, you finally get home after some time away, and make a beeline for the bathroom, and your very own, familiar toilet. But instead of the gleaming white bowl you left behind, you find a toilet full of brown lines and a ring. This is (probably) because you live in the 85% of the United…

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Michael Jai White is one of the most underrated talents in Hollywood. The man is built like a brick wall and is a legitimate martial arts expert. There's no reason that he shouldn't be a major marquee star. White has always circled the periphery of uber fame. — Read the rest

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Wired: [R]esearchers from the New Jersey Institute of Technology are warning this week about a novel technique attackers could use to de-anonymize website visitors and potentially connect the dots on many components of targets' digital lives. The findings (PDF), which NJIT researchers will present at the Usenix Security Symposium in Boston next month, show how an attacker who tricks someone into loading a malicious website can determine whether that visitor controls a particular public identifier, like an email address or social media account, thus linking the visitor to a piece of potentially personal data. When you visit a website, the page can capture your IP address, but this doesn't necessarily give the site owner enough information to individually identify you. Instead, the hack analyzes subtle features of a potential target's browser activity to determine whether they are logged into an account for an array of services, from YouTube and Dropbox to Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and more. Plus the attacks work against every major browser, including the anonymity-focused Tor Browser. "If you're an average internet user, you may not think too much about your privacy when you visit a random website," says Reza Curtmola, one of the study authors and a computer science professor at NJIT. "But there are certain categories of internet users who may be more significantly impacted by this, like people who organize and participate in political protest, journalists, and people who network with fellow members of their minority group. And what makes these types of attacks dangerous is they're very stealthy. You just visit the website and you have no idea that you've been exposed." How this de-anonymization attack works is difficult to explain but relatively easy to grasp once you have the gist. Someone carrying out the attack needs a few things to get started: a website they control, a list of accounts tied to people they want to identify as having visited that site, and content posted to the platforms of the accounts on their target list that either allows the targeted accounts to view that content or blocks them from viewing it -- the attack works both ways. Next, the attacker embeds the aforementioned content on the malicious website. Then they wait to see who clicks. If anyone on the targeted list visits the site, the attackers will know who they are by analyzing which users can (or cannot) view the embedded content. [...] Complicated as it may sound, the researchers warn that it would be simple to carry out once attackers have done the prep work. It would only take a couple of seconds to potentially unmask each visitor to the malicious site -- and it would be virtually impossible for an unsuspecting user to detect the hack. The researchers developed a browser extension that can thwart such attacks, and it is available for Chrome and Firefox. But they note that it may impact performance and isn't available for all browsers.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Valve recently ramped up production for the Steam Deck, with more and more pre-orders being fulfilled every single day. As a result, a few of us here at the RPS Treehouse have finally received that much anticipated email letting us know that our little handheld baby is ready to be personally delivered by Gabe Newell dressed like a big stork. Editor-in-chief Katharine was the first to receive their shiny new Steam Deck, following hardware editor James who's had a review copy since February, so we were keen to hear her first impressions of the console.

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Earlier this week, Unity announced they were merging with mobile ads company ironSource, who are arguably best known for developing a malware installer in 2015. Unsurprisingly, game developers were not pleased. If that wasn't enough, however, Unity CEO John Riccitiello was interviewed by PocketGamer.biz on Wednesday, wherein he called developers who failed to plan monetisation strategies when creating their games were “some of the biggest fucking idiots”. Oh dear.

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An anonymous reader quotes a report from BleepingComputer: The Tor Project team has announced the release of Tor Browser 11.5, a major release that brings new features to help users fight censorship easier. [...] The updates in Tor Browser 11.5 focus on circumventing censorship, a process that started a year ago in version 10.5 with improving the Tor connection experience. In the new version, users no longer have to manually try out bridge configurations to unblock Tor. Tor Browser version 11.5 comes with a new feature called "Connection Assist," which assigns automatically the bridge configuration known to work best for the user's location. "Connection Assist works by looking up and downloading an up-to-date list of country-specific options to try using your location (with your consent)," explains the release announcement. "It manages to do so without needing to connect to the Tor Network first by utilizing moat – the same domain-fronting tool that Tor Browser uses to request a bridge from torproject.org." Since Connection Assist is still in an early stage of development (v1.0), the Tor team welcomes user feedback and reports, which would help them iron out any kinks and improve on the system. Another important new feature in version 11.5 is making 'HTTPS-Only Mode' the default browsing mode, so that the connection is through a secure tunnel. This ensures that all data exchange between the user and the server hosting the website will be encrypted, to defend against man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks and to protect users from SSL stripping on malicious exit relays. [...] The third significant improvement in Tor Browser 11.5 is a heavily revamped Network Settings menu, now called "Connection Settings," which should make it easier to find and understand specific settings. Most notably, bridge configuration and connection options have been redesigned to enable quick and easy review and management. Using emojis on the saved Bridges, the new interface offers visualization for the configuration for the first time, making it easy to identify the right bridge and select it when needed. You can download the latest Tor Browser from the official download portal.

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The FCC's 25Mbps broadband standard seemed fast in 2015, but that was seven years ago — and the agency's current leadership believes it's time to raise that baseline. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed raising the minimum definition of broadband to 100Mbps for downloads and 20Mbps for uploads. The previous 25/3 benchmark is both outdated and hides just how many low-income and rural internet users are being "left behind and left offline," Rosenworcel said.

The chair said multiple pieces of evidence supported the hike, including requirements for new network construction stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The FCC had already proposed upgrades to rural speeds through a special program, but this would affect the definition of broadband regardless of where users live in the country.

Rosenworcel also wanted the minimum speed to evolve over time. She proposed setting a much higher standard of 1Gbps down and 500Mbps up for some point in the future. The leader further suggested more criteria for determining the "reasonable and timely" rollout of broadband, including adoption rates, affordability, availability and equitable access.

It's unclear if the standards change will move forward. Ars Technicanotes any proposed upgrade would require a vote, and the current commission is deadlocked with two Democrats and two Republics. As the Senate has done little to advance commissioner nominee Gigi Sohn, there's no guarantee Rosenworcel (a Democrat) will get her way. Telecoms might not be thrilled, either. Comcast only last year raised the speed of its $10 Essentials tier to 50Mbps downstream — it and other carriers might have to invest in better networks to reach the 100Mbps minimum in some areas, let alone a possible 1Gbps threshold.

Season 3 of "The Boys" may have just come to an unforgettably disturbing end, but that doesn't mean fans of the uber-violent and typically irreverent superhero series will be kept out in the cold to twiddle their thumbs until the main series returns for a fourth go-around sometime in late 2023. Creator Eric Kripke has already delivered one spin-off of the original show -- the animated anthology series "The Boys Presents: Diabolical" -- and is now gearing up for yet another one. Teased for the past several months as a college-set series, the live-action spin-off will follow a group of young Supes in "America's only college exclusively for young-adult superheroes (run by Vought International)." Think of it like Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in the "X-Men" franchise, except likely 100% more messed-up and blatantly satirical.

The series has remained untitled to this point, but today we've finally received new information (via IGN) about the show's clever new title, what to expect tonally, a new look at the show's cast, and much more. May we introduce you to the newly-titled "Gen V." Here's everything we know so far about this latest "The Boys" spin-off.

What We Think Gen V Will Be About

"The Boys" has taken a broad view of the ongoing turmoil wrought by the Compound V formula created by the sinister Vought International corporation and its effects on superheroes (and supervillains) throughout the world, delivering a high-stakes narrative that pits the ultra-powerful Homelander (Antony Starr) and his fellow members of the Seven against Hughie Cambell (Jack Quaid), Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), and the rest of the ragtag, anti-Supe Boys. "Gen V," meanwhile, may narrow its focus significantly to just one particularly intriguing setting and the host of characters contained within. If full-grown Supes are able to wreak as much havoc as Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) and his cohorts did in the previous season, who knows what kinds of mayhem a group of hormonal, inexperienced, and unpredictable college-aged Supes could very well unleash.

The results, needless to say, will likely be as gory, horny, and downright gross as the original series. While we know little of the show's plot, which will chart its own unfamiliar waters (the original show was able to borrow from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic series), the official description of "Gen V" is as follows:

Set at America's only college exclusively for young-adult superheroes (run by Vought International), Gen V is an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive Supes as they put their physical, sexual, and moral boundaries to the test, competing for the best contracts in the best cities. It's part college show, part 'Hunger Games' — with all the heart, satire, and raunch of 'The Boys.'

What We Know About The Cast And Crew Of Gen V

Most viewers would agree that one of the greatest strengths of "The Boys" has to do with its killer ensemble cast, each one as talented and charismatic as the next. The original series has depended on stars like Urban, Quaid, Ackles, Karen Fukuhara, Giancarlo Esposito, and more as known quantities to help draw fans in, but even lesser-known newcomers have stepped up and filled out their roles in impressive fashion, all but demanding that they become household names.

By comparison, the cast of "Gen V" are generally young and unproven, but clearly possess an underdog energy that could carry them to the heights achieved by the many stars of "The Boys." The official "The Boys" Twitter account dropped a new video on social media, giving its leads the opportunity to introduce themselves to audiences and set expectations high for what's to come in "Gen V."

Allow us to introduce ya to GEN V, The Boys college spinoff in the works with this brilliant bunch. pic.twitter.com/OOKjjqb87y

— THE BOYS (@TheBoysTV) July 15, 2022

Alternately describing the show as a "rollercoaster," "lots of hormones," and "f***ed up," the new cast waste no time at all likening this spin-off show to the spirit and edginess of the original. The cast includes previously announced stars Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, Marco Pigossi, Lizzie Broadway, Chance Perdomo, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, and Jaz Sinclair. Sinclair's character of Marie, notably, appeared in the last season of "The Boys" as one of the wards at an adoption center for superpowered children that Hughie visits.

Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters will serve as showrunners and executive producers on the series, along with Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Craig Rosenberg, Zak Schwartz, Erica Rosbe, and Michaela Starr all in executive producer roles.

Where And When To Watch Gen V

Though untitled at the time, "Gen V" was originally revealed back in September of 2020 and fast-tracked in the aftermath of high viewership ratings for season 2 of "The Boys." But even then, the core of the show remained the same: R-rated, a premise set at an exclusive Supe-run college, and the implicit promise of all sorts of unsavory events that inevitably come when two or more out-of-control Supes share the same space. Prime Video's investment in "The Boys" has certainly paid off, allowing millions of subscribers to turn the original series into one of the most popular, politically potent, and thematically relevant shows currently on the air. In light of that, it's little surprise that Prime Video would greenlight another spin-off in "Gen V," giving that same target demographic (and ideally new subscribers, as well) even more reason to tune in once the series premires.

Unfortunately, no release date for "Gen V" has yet been announced, but the series is currently in production. Between "The Boys" officially receiving the order for its fourth season and the possibility that the success of "Gen V" could lead to even more spin-offs in the future, it's a great time to be a fan of "The Boys." Check back often for any and all updates on "Gen V" as they come in.

Read this next: The 15 Most Anticipated Comic Book Movies And Shows Of 2022, Ranked

The post Gen V: Everything We Know So Far About The Boys Spin-Off Series appeared first on /Film.

FromSoftware's latest shows little sign of slowing down

[Update: The NPD Group has issued an update, retracting the statement that Elden Ring is one of the all-time top 10 best-selling premium games in the U.S. market.

"Because the ranked charts do not include the full history for all titles and all platforms—across both physical and digital sales—this note was worded too definitively for what is an incomplete comparable universe," wrote NPD's Mat Piscatella on Twitter. "I apologize for the lack of clarity on the note." Elden Ring has, however, still been the best-selling game for four of its five months on the market.

We've since updated the headline. Our original story follows below.]

Elden Ring continues to move copies, and has now hit a new sales milestone. The NPD Group reports that Elden Ring is now among the best-selling premium games of all time in the U.S., in terms of dollar sales.

NPD's report for June included sales updates on many games, though Elden Ring retained the top spot. It's placed first in dollar sales in four of the last five months it's been on the market, and remains the best-selling game of 2022.

According to NPD's numbers, Elden Ring now also ranks among the top 10 best-selling premium games in the U.S. of all time, in dollar sales.

https://twitter.com/MatPiscatella/status/1547928028214267907

Premium games, NPD's Mat Piscatella elaborates, are defined as games with an upfront price tag and exclude DLC, microtransactions, and recurrent post-launch purchases. "Premium includes whatever upfront price a player must pay before being able to play the game," Piscatella says. Piscatella predicted in a recent blog that Elden Ring will be 2022's best-selling premium game in the U.S.

This year's Call of Duty may still be able to give Elden Ring a challenge, but right now Elden Ring is leader of the pack for 2022 sales. It's received nigh-on universal praise and seems like a presumptive favorite for this year's GOTY talks, too. Seems like the sales will just keep on rolling in.

https://twitter.com/MatPiscatella/status/1547928356238176256

June in terms of other games

For other games, June 2022 was an interesting month. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga came in second for dollar sales, while Mario Strikers: Battle League closed in at third with its launch.

Interestingly enough, Overwatch popped back onto the top 20 at fifth overall. This is the first time it's top-20 charted since October 2019, likely due to the Overwatch 2 Beta. Sunbreak also pushed Monster Hunter Rise back into the top 20, landing it a spot at number 13.

The post Elden Ring remains one of the year’s top selling games (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

This is a minefield, but these tips will help you get the best cable for you.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from MIT Technology Review: "People are realizing now: wait a minute, literally everything we do is underpinned by Linux," says Dave Aitel, a cybersecurity researcher and former NSA computer security scientist. "This is a core technology to our society. Not understanding kernel security means we can't secure critical infrastructure." Now DARPA, the US military's research arm, wants to understand the collision of code and community that makes these open-source projects work, in order to better understand the risks they face. The goal is to be able to effectively recognize malicious actors and prevent them from disrupting or corrupting crucially important open-source code before it's too late. DARPA's "SocialCyber" program is an 18-month-long, multimillion-dollar project that will combine sociology with recent technological advances in artificial intelligence to map, understand, and protect these massive open-source communities and the code they create. It's different from most previous research because it combines automated analysis of both the code and the social dimensions of open-source software. Here's how the SocialCyber program works. DARPA has contracted with multiple teams of what it calls "performers," including small, boutique cybersecurity research shops with deep technical chops. One such performer is New York -- based Margin Research, which has put together a team of well-respected researchers for the task. Margin Research is focused on the Linux kernel in part because it's so big and critical that succeeding here, at this scale, means you can make it anywhere else. The plan is to analyze both the code and the community in order to visualize and finally understand the whole ecosystem. Margin's work maps out who is working on what specific parts of open-source projects. For example, Huawei is currently the biggest contributor to the Linux kernel. Another contributor works for Positive Technologies, a Russian cybersecurity firm that -- like Huawei -- has been sanctioned by the US government, says Aitel. Margin has also mapped code written by NSA employees, many of whom participate in different open-source projects. "This subject kills me," says d'Antoine of the quest to better understand the open-source movement, "because, honestly, even the most simple things seem so novel to so many important people. The government is only just realizing that our critical infrastructure is running code that could be literally being written by sanctioned entities. Right now." This kind of research also aims to find underinvestment -- that is critical software run entirely by one or two volunteers. It's more common than you might think -- so common that one common way software projects currently measure risk is the "bus factor": Does this whole project fall apart if just one person gets hit by a bus? SocialCyber will also tackle other open-source projects too, such as Python which is "used in a huge number of artificial-intelligence and machine-learning projects," notes the report. "The hope is that greater understanding will make it easier to prevent a future disaster, whether it's caused by malicious activity or not."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Microsoft caused considerable consternation in the open source community over the past month, after unveiling a shake up to the way developers will be able to monetize open source software. From a report: There are many examples of open source software sold in Microsoft's app store as full-featured commercial applications, ranging from video editing software such as Shotcut, to FTP clients such as WinSCP. But given how easy it is for anyone to reappropriate and repackage open source software as a new standalone product, it appears that Microsoft is trying to put measures in place to prevent such "copycat" imitations from capitalizing on the hard work of the open source community. However, at the crux of the issue was the specific wording of Microsoft's new policy, with section 10.8.7 noting that developers must not: ...attempt to profit from open-source or other software that is otherwise generally available for free, nor be priced irrationally high relative to the features and functionality provided by your product. In its current form, the language is seemingly preventing anyone -- including the project owners and maintainers -- from charging for their work. Moreover, some have argued that it could hold implications for proprietary applications that include open source components with certain licenses, while others have noted that developers may be deterred from making their software available under an open source license.

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An anonymous reader quotes a report from Popular Science: Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library and a massive repository of online artifacts, has been collecting mementos of the ever-expanding World Wide Web for over two decades, allowing users to revisit sites that have since been changed or deleted. But like the web, it too has evolved since its genesis, and in the aughts, it also began to offer a selection of ebooks that any internet user can check out with the creation of a free account. That latter feature has gotten the organization in some trouble. Internet Archive was sued by a suite of four corporate publishers in 2020 over copyright controversies -- with one side saying that what Internet Archive does is preservation, and the other saying that it's piracy, since it freely distributes books as image files without compensating the author. Last week, the ongoing case entered a new chapter as the nonprofit organization filed a motion for summary judgment, asking a federal judge to put a stop to the lawsuit, arguing that their Controlled Digital Lending program "is a lawful fair use that preserves traditional library lending in the digital world" since "each book loaned via CDL has already been bought and paid for." On Friday, Creative Commons issued a statement supporting Internet Archive's motion. In 2006, Internet Archive started a program for digitizing books both under copyright and in the public domain. It works with a range of global partners, including other libraries, to scan materials onto its site (Cornell University made a handy guide on what works fall under copyright vs. the public domain). For copyrighted books, Internet Archive owns the physical books that they created the digital copies from and limits their circulation by allowing only one person to borrow a title at a time. Book publishers, namely Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley Sons, and Penguin Random House, were not keen on this practice, and they have been seeking financial damages for the 127 books (PDF) shared under copyright. Vox estimated that if the publishers win, Internet Archive would have to pay $19 million, which is about "one year of operating revenue." In the most recent filings, the publishers accused Internet Archive of amassing "a collection of more than three million unauthorized in-copyright ebooks -- including more than 33,000 of the Publishers' commercially available titles -- without obtaining licenses to do so or paying the rightsholders a cent for exploiting their works. Anybody in the world with an internet connection can instantaneously access these stolen works via IA's interrelated archive.org and openlibrary.org websites." In its defense, Internet Archive, which is being represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, says that "libraries have been practicing CDL in one form or another for more than a decade," and that Internet Archive lends its digitized books on an "owned-to-loaned basis, backstopped by strong technical protections to enforce lending limits."

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An all-electric future depends heavily on copper, and looming supply shortfalls could hamper nations' goals of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a new report from S&P Global. Unless significant new supply becomes available, climate goals will be "short-circuited and remain out of reach," the report says. CNBC reports: Electric vehicles, solar and wind power, and batteries for energy storage all run on copper. An EV requires 2.5 times as much copper as an internal combustion engine vehicle, according to S&P Global. Meanwhile, solar and offshore wind need two times and five times, respectively, more copper per megawatt of installed capacity than power generated using natural gas or coal. Copper is also key to the infrastructure that transports renewable energy, thanks in part to its electrical conductivity and low reactivity. Its uses include cables, transistors and inverters. The report forecasts copper demand nearly doubling to 50 million metric tons by 2035. By 2050, demand will reach more than 53 million metric tons. To put this figure in perspective, S&P Global noted that that's "more than all the copper consumed in the world between 1900 and 2021." Renewable energy deployment will account for much of the demand spike. S&P Global forecasts copper needed for EVs, wind, solar and batteries tripling by the middle of the next decade. This will happen alongside demand growth from other areas, pushing copper's demand to never-before-seen levels. S&P Global offers two future scenarios in an effort to forecast how short the market will be. Under the "Rocky Road Scenario" -- in which production continues largely as is -- annual supply shortfall will reach almost 10 million metric tons in 2035. In the more optimistic "High Ambition Scenario" -- in which mines increase utilization and ramp up recycling -- the market will still be in a deficit for most of the 2030s. "Under either scenario, there would not be enough supply to meet the demand of Net-Zero-Emissions by 2050," the report concludes. The report notes that it takes, on average, 16 years for a new copper mine to get off the ground. "For the time being, increasing utilization at existing mines and ramping up recycling can fulfill some of the higher demand," it says.

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A new paper, published in the journal Science, found that when the Y chromosome was gone from blood cells in male mice genetically engineered to lose their Y chromosomes, scar tissue built up in the heart, leading to heart failure and a shortened life span. The New York Times reports: Because there was a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the loss of Y and ailments of aging in the mice, the study bolsters the notion that the same thing can happen in human males. Researchers have documented an increase in risk for chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer related to loss of the Y chromosome in many studies over the years, including the new one, which used data from a large genetic study of the British population. The loss of Y could even account for some of the difference between the life spans of men and women, the authors of the Science study say. At least 40 percent of males lose the Y chromosome from some of their blood cells by age 70. And by age 93, at least 57 percent have lost some of it. The chromosome is lost sporadically from blood cells during cell division, when it is kicked out of some cells and then disintegrates. The result is what researchers call a mosaic loss of Y. There is no way, other than to stop smoking, to reduce the risk of losing the Y chromosome. And the condition is unrelated to men having lower levels of testosterone in their bodies as they age. Taking testosterone supplements would have no effect, nor would it reverse the consequences. [...] It is too soon to say what men should do -- other than to stop smoking -- to protect themselves from losing their Y chromosomes or to alleviate the consequences. Those in [the researcher's] group found they could protect the hearts of the mice without Y chromosomes by blocking TGF-beta, a key molecule involved in the production of scar tissue. Dr. Stephen Chanock, the director of the division of cancer epidemiology and genetics at the National Cancer Institute, said the mouse study was "really cool." But he noted that there was no evidence yet that drugs to block TGF-beta would be effective in men who lost their Y. And, for now, there is little point in testing men for loss of Y, Dr. Chanock said, adding, "the over-interpretation of these data for monetary purposes worries me deeply."

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Google is releasing Chrome OS Flex today, a new version of Chrome OS that's designed for businesses and schools to install and run on old PCs and Macs. From a report: Google first started testing Chrome OS Flex earlier this year in an early access preview, and the company has now resolved 600 bugs to roll out Flex to businesses and schools today. Chrome OS Flex is designed primarily for businesses running old Windows PCs, as Google has been testing and verifying devices from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, Toshiba, and many more OEMs. Flex will even run on some old Macs, including some 10-year-old MacBooks. The support of old hardware is the big selling point of Chrome OS Flex, as businesses don't have to ditch existing hardware to get the latest modern operating system. More than 400 devices are certified to work, and installation is as easy as using a USB drive to install Chrome OS Flex.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

With the success of the delightfully queer pirate comedy series "Our Flag Means Death," interest in pirate fiction is on the upswing yet again. Pirate movies used to be a Hollywood mainstay, though, and their recurring themes and tropes are a constant source of entertainment for audiences. Identity, betrayal, redemption, love, guilt, and loss — pirate stories contain the full gamut of human conflicts and emotions, revealing new truths about both these seafaring ruffians and ourselves.

Technology and time have changed the way movies are made, but pirate stories endure because they promise adventure and romance on the high seas. No, they're not usually historically accurate, but that's part of the fun. It doesn't matter if a pirate movie is silent film or a talkie, live-action or animator, and black-and-white or Technicolor. As these 18 films prove, swashbuckling never goes out of style.

The Black Swan

Featuring the familiar pirate movie tropes of court intrigue and double-crosses, "The Black Swan" follows Captain Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power) as he reluctantly gives up the pirate trade to assist famous buccaneer Henry Morgan (Laird Cregar) in his new role as governor of Jamaica. However, Waring falls in love with Lady Margaret Denby (Maureen O'Hara), and soon discovers that her fiancé is plotting to bring Morgan down. As a result, Waring swings into action, setting up an intricate plan to save his pirate friend and prevent Lady Margaret's wedding in one fell swoop.

One of a few Technicolor swashbucklers on this list, the gorgeous visuals of "The Black Swan" earned Leon Shamroy an Oscar for best color cinematography in 1942. His work highlights O'Hara's beauty and Power's seediness. The pair's chemistry is palpable on screen, though it doesn't quite smooth over the rough edges of their questionable courtship. Though pirate movies often feature reluctant romances between noble women and pillaging scoundrels, some of Waring's ploys to woo Lady Margaret will raise eyebrows among modern viewers.

Anne Of The Indies

A lean, brisk pirate yarn that goes in some interesting thematic directions, "Anne of the Indies" features a female pirate captain and flirts with BDSM and bisexuality. Jean Peters stars as Anne Providence, who falls in love with mysterious French sailor LaRochelle (Louis Jourdan) and ultimately follows her heart to her doom. Horror and film noir legend Jacques Tourneur directs, and there's a fatalism to Anne's story that will be familiar to fans of Tourneur's work. As in his classics "Out of the Past" and "Cat People," Tourneur does his best work in the shadows, although the scenes that unfold in Technicolor-shot daylight are perfectly fine as well.

"Anne of the Indies" is loosely based on the true story of pirate captain Anne Bonny. Like most pirate movies, The Guardian notes that the film strays quite a bit from historical fact, but the paper still praises Peters' "fierce lead performance." Peters often affects a clipped monotone in the role, which calls to mind Ann Savage's performance as Vera in the noir classic "Detour." Though Savage has more power and ferocity, Peters still brings an intriguing femme fatale energy to her pirate captain, which makes "Anne of the Indies" a fascinating entry in pirate film canon.

The Pirates Of Penzance

Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, and Linda Ronstadt in a Gilbert and Sullivan production — what more do you need? Evidently, a lot more, at least according to audiences at the time. "The Pirates of Penzance" was a box office flop, which may have partly been due to the studio's controversial decision to air the film on television just prior to its theatrical release. Though it debuted nearly 40 years ago, the home-versus-theatrical-release argument raised by "The Pirates of Penzance" is the very model of a modern major film discourse.

This farcical opera follows Frederic (Rex Smith), a young man mistakenly apprenticed by his nursemaid Ruth (Lansbury) to a band of tenderhearted pirates. Misunderstandings and hilarious leap year shenanigans arise when Frederic falls in love with Mabel (Ronstadt). Though the whole cast is excellent, the movie only really comes to life when Kline's Pirate King is on screen. He steals the show with his elastic face, complete and total commitment to the film's silliness, and knee strength to rival Megan Thee Stallion's. He leaps, spins, and swings across the screen, all while looking dangerously sexy in his low-cut pirate blouse and tight black pants. Kline chews the scenery with delightful verve at every possible moment, making "The Pirates of Penzance" a supremely silly and eminently rewatchable movie.

Treasure Planet

Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Treasure Island" has been adapted for the screen many times, but Disney's ambitious experiment "Treasure Planet" is one of the few films that brings the classic story to outer space. A dying pirate named Billy Bones (Patrick McGoohan) gives young Jim Hawkins (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a sphere that contains a map to the treasure hoarded by the famous pirate Captain Nathaniel Flint. Jim embarks on a voyage to find the treasure, but he runs into trouble when the ship's cyborg cook, Long John Silver (Brian Murray), leads a mutiny to try to claim the treasure for himself.

Though it wasn't a box office success and was rejected by Disney studio heads more than once, "Treasure Planet" is a beautiful work of animation that may have actually benefited from the time it took its creators to get their project off the ground. As co-writer, producer, and director Ron Clements told IGN, the wait was a blessing in disguise because "the technology had time to develop ... in terms of really moving the camera." The result — an intriguing mix of 2D and 3D animation — features breathtaking shots of dying stars and glittering galaxies that give "Treasure Planet" some of the most breathtaking space scenes in modern animation.

Against All Flags

The retina-searing colors in this winning Technicolor pirate picture are just one reason why it belongs on this list. Starring swashbuckler mainstays Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, and Anthony Quinn, "Against All Flags" is a fun and steamy tale of love and spies. Flynn plays Lieutenant Brian Hawke, who volunteers to infiltrate a dangerous band of pirates. Quinn's Captain Roc Brasiliano is immediately suspicious of Hawke, but O'Hara's Spitfire Stevens — the only woman among the "Captains of the Coast" who decide Hawke's fate — takes a shine to him, stoking Brasiliano's jealousy and raising tensions among the group of buccaneers.

O'Hara steals the movie out from under legendary swashbuckler Flynn, purring romantic overtures and then flashing her eyes in pure rage when Hawke displeases her. She truly lives up to her character's name; just like "Anne of the Indies," "Against All Flags" proves that female pirate captains are often the most intriguing. One bit of fitting trivia: Flynn was hesitant about sword fighting with a woman until O'Hara proved how skilled a female combatant could truly be; Spitfire is just as capable with a sword as she is with a deadly glare or a cutting insult.

The Sea Hawk (1940)

You can't talk about pirate movies without mentioning Errol Flynn. The word "swashbuckling" seems to have been invented just for him. One of his last collaborations with director Michael Curtiz, 1940's "The Sea Hawk," stars Flynn as Captain Geoffrey Thorpe, an English privateer favored by Queen Elizabeth I (Flora Robson) who works to protect the Queen's interests against the Spanish armada. Though pirate movies often criticize colonialism, albeit obliquely at times, "The Sea Hawk" is overtly pro-British, which comes as little surprise due to its release date falling so close to the beginning of World War II.

While there are quite a few colorful entries on this list, "The Sea Hawk" proves that black-and-white pirate movies can be just as exciting to modern audiences. As TCM's Robert Osborne said on the film's DVD special features, "People who don't like black and white should always see 'The Sea Hawk.'" Curtiz's dynamic framing and Sol Polito's crisp cinematography combine to make a film that looks gorgeous even when the narrative loses steam. Visual highlights include a climactic sword battle through the Queen's palace that makes breathtaking use of space and shadow; this scene alone earns "The Sea Hawk" its place on this list.

Treasure Island

There have been plenty of film adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous adventure novel (a few of them are even on this list!), but few have endured like Disney's 1950 film. It made history for being Disney's first entirely live-action film and for being the first color version of the story. Like the book, "Treasure Island" tells the familiar tale of Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll) and Long John Silver (Robert Newton), who search for Flint's treasure during a rousing adventure on the sea.

"Treasure Island" is a classic for many reasons, but one of the most notable is Newton's performance as the definitive Long John Silver. Anyone who has participated in "Talk Like a Pirate Day" or has played a buccaneer with a heavy emphasis on his "Arrr"s owes a debt to Newton. More than 70 years after the film's release, Newton's distinctive vocal delivery and facial expressions are still the basis for what audiences imagine when they think of pirates.

The Crimson Pirate

A light-hearted look at life on the high seas, "The Crimson Pirate" stars Burt Lancaster and pokes affectionate fun at classic pirate films. Lancaster plays notorious pirate captain Vallo, who captures Baron Gruda (Leslie Bradley) and comes up with a plan to sell the baron's guns to a group of Caribbean freedom fighters, and then sell their leader El Libre (Frederick Leister) back to Baron Gruda in a profitable double-cross. Lancaster's strong masculine presence, sly humor, and circus skills are on full display in this colorful comedy: Multiple action scenes show off Lancaster's abilities as an acrobat, and he seems equally at home giving orders to a crew of swabs as he does performing impressive pratfalls.

Famed horror actor Christopher Lee plays a military attaché in the movie. In his autobiography "Tall, Dark, and Gruesome," Lee writes that director Robert Siodmak took the original script, which was "serious, nay solemn," and made it a comedy instead. The end result is a delight, finding grace notes in the physical performances of Lancaster and Nick Cravat, who plays first mate Ojo. Their amused grins light up the screen, making "The Crimson Pirate" a joyfully high-energy pirate tale.

A High Wind In Jamaica

An intriguing twist on the typical pirate story, "A High Wind in Jamaica" focuses on the supposed innocence of children who have been inadvertently kidnapped by pirates. The Thornton children are headed to their home country to go to school, but when Captain Chavez (Anthony Quinn) and his first mate Zac (James Coburn) raid their ship, they sneak onto the pirates' vessel and become its newest residents. The children do not understand the havoc that they wreak on the crew, causing accidents and injuries while teasing and playing. They do react to shocking tragedies, though, and Chavez worries for their souls.

Due to studio meddling, director Alexander Mackendrick's vision for the film was tainted a bit, resulting in unimpressed contemporary reviews. However, the film has undergone a recent reappraisal and deserves to be better-known. Quinn and Coburn give exemplary performances, and Deborah Baxter shines as Emily Thornton, the child in whom Chavez takes the most interest. Her morally ambiguous depiction of the "kidnapped" youngster is impressive for an actor of any age, and will stick with viewers long after the credits roll.

The Black Pirate

This silent two-color Technicolor film stars legendary actor Douglas Fairbanks as a young man who avenges his father's death by posing as a great pirate. The most casually bloody film on this list, "The Black Pirate" is a thrilling depiction of the brutality of a pirate's life and serves as a fine showcase for Fairbanks' skills as both an athlete and a performer. It also features many now-famous pirate tropes, including revenge, elaborate disguises, and a focus on roaring adventure.

Film critic Iris Barry's 1926 book "Let's Go to the Pictures" (later retitled "Let's Go to the Movies") calls "The Black Pirate" "far and away the best color-film made." "The Black Pirate" features stunning visuals, including one incredible sequence in which the Black Pirate single-handedly takes over a merchant ship and performs the iconic (and often-referenced) stunt where he slides down a sail with his knife, cutting it in two.

The Pirates! Band Of Misfits

Also released as "The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!," this pirate comedy is a painstaking combination of stop-motion animation and CGI from Aardman Animations, best known for the beloved "Wallace and Gromit" series. The Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) wants to win the annual Pirate of the Year competition. At the same time, when the Captain and his crew run across Charles Darwin (David Tennant) during an attempt at plundering, Darwin realizes that the Pirate Captain's "parrot" Polly is the last living dodo and wants to use her to enter the Scientist of the Year award. Darwin has ulterior motives, though, and the pirates must scramble to defeat his evil plan.

In addition to having beautiful animation, particularly in its lighting and depiction of the sea, "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" features brilliant sight gags, hilarious jokes for kids and adults alike, and a terrific punk and ska soundtrack. The Pirate Captain often remarks on his luxuriant beard (to be fair, it is highly impressive), and he moonwalks as he serves the main dish on "Ham Night." Animated pirates are rarely as funny or as touching as they are in "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," which is just as thrilling and heartwarming as it is comedic.

Captain Phillips

Pirate movies are often suspenseful, but few are as nail-bitingly tense as 2013's "Captain Phillips." Based on a real hijacking, the film tells the story of merchant mariner Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) and his experiences after being taken hostage by Somali pirates. Though the film focuses primarily on the intense action of the pirate attack and Phillips' emotional state as he fights to fulfill his duty as captain of the ship, it does make time to comment on the political and economic realities that drove the pirates to their dangerous trade, creating a fascinating dynamic between Phillips and the pirate leader, Muse (Barkhad Abdi).

Both men give stunning performances. "Captain Phillips" was Abdi's acting debut, and for his remarkable work he was nominated for an Oscar and won a BAFTA for best actor in a supporting role. Hanks should have been nominated for an Oscar as well, particularly for the gut-wrenching scenes in which Captain Phillips' ordeal comes to an end. "Captain Phillips" is an intense movie that can be hard to watch, but this list would not be complete without it.

The Sea Hawk (1924)

The sea battles in this 1924 silent film are so impressive that Warner Bros. often reused them in later nautical films (including the 1940 version of "The Sea Hawk"), realizing that it would be difficult to outdo what director Frank Lloyd achieved. The sprawling story follows Sir Oliver Tressilian (Milton Sills), who is sold into slavery and trapped on a Spanish galley after being framed for murder by his brother. He escapes to a Moorish ship and becomes Sakr-el-Bahr, the titular Sea Hawk, and terrorizes the Christian seafaring world.

"The Sea Hawk" is a fascinating look at betrayal, family, and faith. Sir Oliver renounces his Christianity after seeing the cruelty that the slaves endure on the supposedly Christian ship, then converts to Islam and joins the Moorish fleet. The performances in the film are striking, with stirring action scenes and delightful moments of comic relief, especially in the case of a pirate captain played by Wallace Beery and an amorous neighbor "whose conscience was elastic and whose husband was — old."

Porco Rosso

While most people think of nautical battles when they think of pirates, Hayao Miyazaki's films about air pirates still qualify for this list. They're filled with a thrilling sense of adventure, and they're quite simply brilliant, even if — as some critics argue — "Porco Rosso" is underrated among them. "Porco Rosso" tells the story of an ace fighter pilot (Shūichirō Moriyama) who does battle with air pirates while cursed to live as an anthropomorphic pig. It's a gentle meditation on identity, loss, grief, and love, all conveyed through an intriguing mixture of politics, pirate adventure, and fairy tale.

Miyazaki's animation is gorgeous, and his air battles are just as exciting as the sea skirmishes found in the other films on this list. The titular character is a classic antihero, turning this adventurous anti-fascist tale ("Better a pig than a fascist") into a fascinating character study of love and forgiveness. "Porco Rosso" never goes where you think it will, which is the most satisfying adventure of all.

The Princess Bride

What more can be said about "The Princess Bride"? As Roger Ebert noted in his 1987 review of the film, it's "a sly parody of sword and sorcery movies," but the movie manages to have its cake and eat it too, sending up multiple genres — including the pirate movie — while lovingly recreating them. That mixture of tongue-in-cheek humor and a genuine affection for the act of telling stories is part of the film's winning formula, and ensures it shows up on every possible best-of list.

Farmboy Westley (Cary Elwes) falls in love with Buttercup (Robin Wright) and goes off to seek his fortune so that he can marry her. When his ship is attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts and Westley is presumed dead, Buttercup is promised against her will to the evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). Westley returns, dressed in black and carrying the moniker of the Dread Pirate Roberts, to free his love and defeat the evil prince. Featuring disguises, double-crosses, adventure, sword fights, comedy, and — most importantly — true love, "The Princess Bride" has everything you need in a pirate movie.

Castle In The Sky

"Castle in the Sky" is the second Studio Ghibli film on this list, but it was the first movie produced by the famed animation studio. Sheeta (Keiko Yokozawa) and Pazu (Mayumi Tanaka) are on the run from secret agents, the army, and a family of airship pirates who all want the powerful crystal that Sheeta inherited from her family. In order to find the legendary floating castle of Laputa, Sheeta and Pazu join forces with the surprisingly friendly pirates to try to outrun the sinister forces that want to control the crystal.

"Castle in the Sky" is a breathtakingly magical film with beautiful visuals and, just like "Porco Rosso," a fairy tale ending that swerves away from the expected. In addition to being a beautiful work of animated art and one of the best pirate movies of all time, "Castle in the Sky" was also highly influential on the world of steampunk. In "The Steampunk Bible," authors Jeff VanderMeer and S. J. Chambers call the film "one of the first modern Steampunk classics."

Muppet Treasure Island

Everything's better with Muppets. Add Tim Curry, and you have a bona fide classic. This is the third adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel on this list, and it is by far the most entertaining. Kevin Bishop plays this iteration of Jim Hawkins, while Curry does his best to unseat Robert Newton as cinema's best Long John Silver (and, arguably, succeeds). The vast majority of the rest of the cast is, of course, played by the Muppets, and the classic Muppet ethos is on full display in this joyfully chaotic rendition of the timeless adventure story.

As Kirk R. Thatcher, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jerry Juhl and James V. Hart, told Tough Pigs, "Muppet Treasure Island" was part of an attempt to move the Muppets away from the sweetness of "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and back to a zanier vision of the characters. Sight gags based on Henry Kissinger and Carmen Miranda, along with lavish dance sequences and a pig character named "Spa'am," make sure the film lives up to those wacky ideals. With humor and visual wit to spare, "Muppet Treasure Island" is an imaginative and enduring adaptation of the quintessential pirate story.

Captain Blood

It's hard to beat Studio Ghibli or the Muppets, but this crackling pirate adventure deserves the top spot. This early pairing of Errol Flynn and director Michael Curtiz made stars out of Flynn and his onscreen love interest, Olivia de Havilland. Here, Flynn plays Dr. Peter Blood, who is wrongly convicted of treason and sold into slavery in the West Indies. Arabella Bishop (de Havilland) is entranced by Blood's pride and spirit and purchases him at auction, setting off a chain of events that leads to Blood becoming the scourge of England.

Flynn and de Havilland's chemistry is electric, and it's a thrill to watch a star be born as the charismatic Flynn strikes the perfect balance between charm and arrogance. He is absolutely captivating on screen. Curtiz's visuals are as impressive as always, too, with unique framing and compositions that make the action feel that much more alive. Erich Wolfgang Korngold's stirring score also deserves special notice. This film has everything you want in a pirate movie: adventure, romance, thrilling action, narrative twists, plenty of sea and sword battles, betrayal, and redemption. Nearly 90 years after its release, the film that made the swashbuckling Errol Flynn a household name is still the best pirate movie ever made.

Read this next: The 20 Most Underrated Disney Movies You Need To See

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When the first season "Ms. Marvel" came to an end earlier this week, aside from the major bombshell regarding the superhero's superpower origins, there was one other major revelation that will have significant implications for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

In one of Marvel Studios' signature mid-credits scenes, an exhausted Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) flops down on her bed as her mother (Zenobia Shroff) can be heard off-screen chastising the teen for not doing her science homework. Suddenly, Kamala's bangle begins glowing and swirling blue, purple, and pink energy. As Kamala stands up from her bed in confusion, she disappears in a spiral of color and blasts through her closet door. But when a figure emerges from the damaged door, it's not Kamala that we see. 

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel stands up, the same glowing and swirling energy moving around her hands, now sheathed in fingerless gloves. Looking around the room adorned with endless posters of Carol Danvers in hero mode, the cosmic Avenger looks just as confused as we are. The only person who might know what's going on is director Nia DaCosta (2021's "Candyman"). Not only is the filmmaker at the helm of "The Marvels," which will see Larsen's Captain Marvel teaming up with Vellani's Ms. Marvel on the big screen, but she also directed the mid-credits scene in question.

'That Was Mind-Blowing'

In a recent interview /Film conducted with "Ms. Marvel" directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the filmmakers revealed that they weren't behind the mid-credits tease for "The Marvels." Fallah admitted to us:

"Well, we didn't shoot that [laughs]. Nia DaCosta is directing "The Marvels," she shot that scene without knowing that it would be a post-credit scene. And we discovered [it was added to the finale] when we were color grading. All of a sudden, after the credits, [laughs] we saw that scene. That was mind-blowing. We were like, 'Oh sh*t.' Yeah, then we have questions. We asked Kevin Feige, but Kevin Feige's like, 'No, you stay in the show. You just accept how it is. And everything that's outside of the show, you don't have to know that.'"

Oh, that Kevin Feige is a rascal. This is why filmmakers often have no idea what's going on with characters in other franchises, even if the characters they've been directing appear in one of their own movies. Taika Waititi recently confirmed that he has no additional insight into what's in store for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" despite nearly the entire team appearing in "Thor: Love and Thunder." That's how you keep secrets, folks.

So Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are left in the dark like the rest of us, and they're theorizing too. El Arbi made a safe bet: "I think maybe she's in space somewhere [laughs]. Maybe she's in some universe." Like many fans, he believes that Kamala Khan likely swapped places with Carol Danvers. They didn't swap bodies, like "Freaky Friday," but simply swapped places. Fallah made the bold prediction: "She will be on an adventure." Maybe she'll even breathe or walk around!

Read this next: The 15 Most Anticipated Comic Book Movies And Shows Of 2022, Ranked

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Xbox Wire has the latest from ZeniMax owner Microsoft, as it continues to play with its new toys (thanks Console General). This involves the release of Insider Previews for no fewer than five more...

While a good chunk of the world fell in love with a little green alien from an unnamed "Star Wars" species in "The Mandalorian," "Gremlins" director Joe Dante isn't one of them. He's got a reason for not being a fan, though, and it's questionable. 

If you've never seen "Gremlins" -- and why the hell not? -- it's the story of a young man whose father brings him a gift from a Chinatown antique store. It's a little creature called a Mogwai, who is beyond adorable. There are three rules for his care, though: You can't get him wet, you must keep him away from the light, and you must never, ever feed him after midnight. 

Dante will be appearing in San Francisco on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at the Castro Theatre to present "Gremlins" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" in 35mm, followed by a Q&A after each one. He spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle in anticipation of the event and had something to say about our little green frog-eating pal Grogu from the "Star Wars" series. 

'Completely Stolen'

"I think the longevity of [the films] is really key to this one character [Gizmo], who is essentially like a baby," Dante said during a video chat with the site (who says he gave a "wry smile" when he spoke). "Which brings me, of course, to the subject of Baby Yoda, who is completely stolen and is just out-and-out copied. Shamelessly, I would think."

While I don't agree with him, let me say up front that I adore Dante's work. He's responsible for films like "Innerspace," "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," "Small Soldiers," and "The 'Burbs." Now he's consulting on the upcoming animated series "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai," which stars the voices of Ming-Na Wen, BD Wong, and James Hong that will premiere on HBO Max, which I'm very excited for.

He might be completely kidding, but Mr. Dante, there is room in the world for all sorts of cute things. For instance, I rode around with a Gizmo stuffy in my backpack as a kid, and I also have a "talking" Grogu on my desk. If we're looking at what might have been "completely stolen," I'd say that "Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance" would have a better case here, up to and including that scene where Grogu has to choose an item to determine the rest of his life. 

He Looks More Like A Baby Ewok Than Grogu

Let's look at this. "Gremlins" was released in 1984, while Yoda's first appearance was in "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980. (Yoda is the same species as Grogu, in case you haven't been bombarded by Grogu memes over the last few years.) Gizmo is a companion to a guy who carries him around in a backpack. He's got brown and white fur, with sort of human-looking hands and feet. He has wide, pointed ears on the sides of his head. He can't go in the sun, get wet, or be fed late at night. He multiplies if you splash him. 

Grogu is a baby from Yoda's species who is rescued by the Mandalorian. He's carried around in a floating egg bassinet. He eats frogs and soup (and in my headcanon, he has snicky snacks of chickie nuggies and choccy milk), and what appear to be blue macarons. Grogu is green and has little wisps of hair, but is mostly fuzzless. He has Force powers and could choose to train as a Jedi if he wanted to. 

They do both have big eyes and pointy ears, but honestly, I think other than their similar size and human friend, that's where the comparison stops. Gizmo kind of has more in common with the baby Ewoks from "Return of the Jedi" (that came out a year before "Gremlins") than Grogu. 

It's all good, though. We need as many cute things in this world as we can get. Ooh! Road trip movie with Gizmo and Grogu! Someone make this happen. 

Read this next: The Best Movies Of 2021

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A computer vulnerability discovered last year in a ubiquitous piece of software is an “endemic” problem that will pose security risks for potentially a decade or more, according to a new cybersecurity panel created by President Joe Biden.

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Gather round, for it is "A Knight's Tale" I am speaking of! Over two decades have passed since the captivating underdog story satiated audiences with its thrilling jousting sequences and anachronistic soundtrack. Why, listen to such divine artists as Queen, David Bowie, and AC/DC roar across the list field, matching the enthusiasm of the spectators. The harmony of such entertainment could overshadow the joust, but alas, try as they may, it is the one, the only, Heath Ledger ("The Dark Knight") who exemplifies the fiery beating heart of such a picture.

Only here could you see such a magnificent illustration of a striking being like Ledger as William Thatcher, a talented peasant squire with lofty aspirations of becoming a knight and bringing respect to his family name. While impersonating a knight carries the danger of significant consequences, he quickly proves his worth in his former master's armor and wows the crowd with his jousting prowess. Inspired by his act of mischievous rebellion, young Thatcher, in accordance with his loyal entourage, demands entrance into the hallowed gates of noblemen through the sheer force of their will, their determination, and most importantly, the power of rock.

But with great honors come great challenges. One cannot simply just jump up on a horse and claim victory, for with jousting comes great peril at the hands of the rider. Ledger, as charming as he may be, recognized that some stunts upon the steed are best handled by the professionals.

I'm Ulrich Von Leichtenstein From Guilderland, And These Are My Stunt Men

In an interview with Cinema.com, Ledger speaks on leaving the beautiful but dangerous art of jousting to the stunt crew, who apparently took quite the battle scar home with them:

"We did as much of it as we could, but I'm really not willing to ride a horse towards another rider at full speed and hit them with a stick - or get hit myself. It was just way too f***king dangerous. Stunt guys were getting injured badly. One guy had his jaw ripped back, and had 15 stitches and was back on the horse two weeks later — and it happened again. They were really hitting each other. Unbelievable! So I'd like to have given it a shot, but... (laughs)."

That sounds like a terrifying excursion for any stuntman to experience. No art is worth the harm that comes to those that produce it. In that case, it seems as if Ledger stepping down from some of the most impactful blows was the best case possible. But make no mistake, Ledger can be seen riding the mighty stallion in many shots featured in the finished film.

If you're wondering how exhausting it was to commit to the bit for the sake of this article, know, dear readers, that I had the spirit of Paul Bettany's absorbing wordsman, Geoffrey Chaucer, valiantly guiding my writer's brain through it. Now go, my audience, and tell others what you have just learned here!

"A Knight's Tale" is currently streaming on Starz.

Read this next: The 14 Greatest Science Fiction Movies Of The 21st Century

The post Heath Ledger Wasn't Willing To Put His Health On The Line For A Knight's Tale appeared first on /Film.

Chat service Omegle is on the hook for a lawsuit after its matching system paired an 11-year-old girl with a man who then sexually abused her. A district judge in Portland, Oregon, said the company's system wasn't protected by the legal shield that covers much user-generated content. From a report: The case isn't concluded, but it opens the door to more prosecutions based on how a platform designs its services. The legal complaint, filed late last year, alleges that Omegle's service was defective and falsely represented. It's a common strategy that's often failed in court before, including with Grindr in a harassment case, typically due to the legal protections of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This time, however, Judge Michael Mosman determined that the lawsuit targeted functions specifically designed by Omegle rather than speech by other users on the platform.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

theodp writes: On Monday, a who's who of the nation's tech leaders -- organized as CEOs for CS by the tech-backed nonprofit Code.org -- issued a public challenge in a letter to 'the Governors of the United States', calling on the Govs to bring more computer science to K-12 students in their states. On Thursday, as the National Governors Association kicked off their 2022 Summer Meeting, 50 of the nation's Governors -- many of whom are members of the Code.org-advised Govs for CS -- accepted the nation's CEOs' challenge, signing a Compact To Expand K-12 Computer Science Education, which may involve a number of strategies, including "requiring a computer science credit for high school graduation." News of the Governors' K-12 CS education compact coincidentally came on the same day as the nation's K-12 CS teachers gathered in Chicago to kickoff the Tech Giant and Code.org-sponsored CSTA 2022 Annual Conference.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Microsoft is shifting to a new engineering schedule for Windows which will see the company return to a more traditional three-year release cycle for major versions of the Windows client, while simultaneously increasing the output of new features shipping to the current version of Windows on the market. Zac Bowden writes via Windows Central: The news comes just a year after the company announced it was moving to a yearly release cadence for new versions of Windows. According to my sources, Microsoft now intends to ship "major" versions of the Windows client every three years, with the next release currently scheduled for 2024, three years after Windows 11 shipped in 2021. This means that the originally planned 2023 client release of Windows (codenamed Sun Valley 3) has been scrapped, but that's not the end of the story. I'm told that with the move to this new development schedule, Microsoft is also planning to increase the output of new features rolling out to users on the latest version of Windows. Starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 (Sun Valley 2), Microsoft is kicking off a new "Moments" engineering effort which is designed to allow the company to rollout new features and experiences at key points throughout the year, outside of major OS releases. I hear the company intends to ship new features to the in-market version of Windows every few months, up to four times a year, starting in 2023. Microsoft has already tested this system with the rollout of the Taskbar weather button on Windows 11 earlier this year. That same approach will be used for these Moments, where the company will group together a handful of new features that have been in testing with Insiders and roll them out to everyone on top the latest shipping release of Windows. Many of the features that were planned for the now-scrapped Sun Valley 3 client release will ship as part of one of these Moments on top of Sun Valley 2, instead of in a dedicated new release of the Windows client in the fall of 2023.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Definitive Edition released in November 2021, or so you may have heard. But actually, that was just a decoy, a rouse, a doppelganger, created as part of a sinister government experiment to test how tolerant human eyeballs are to bad rain and water effects, and the real definitive edition has actually only just launched, as a free mod, available to download now.

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