All posts tagged: Gimmick

Is this 6-in-1 keychain charging cable a gimmick or pure genius? I tested it and found out

Is this 6-in-1 keychain charging cable a gimmick or pure genius? I tested it and found out

Published by skeptic

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The Zeus-X Go 6-in-1 universal cable is available from Futurizta for $39. It’s a well-made universal cable that features every combination most people will ever need while supporting a 240W power transfer. It’s bulky, and the powder-coated finish isn’t all that durable. Plus, if you primarily use USB-C, you probably don’t need it. When I shared details about my keychain EDC (Every Day Carry), several readers inquired why my setup lacked a multi-connector x-in-1 “universal” keychain charge cable, like the widely-advertised Zeus-X Go Ultra 6-in-1 universal cable by Futurizta, which I’ve seen all across social media lately. Also: 10 tiny ‘everyday carry’ tools and gadgets I keep on my keychain Here’s the honest truth — we have a bit of a complicated history. I actually did carry one for several years, and it turned out to be quite bulky and unwieldy, so over time I found myself using it less and less. But in the spirit of science, and in an attempt to reignite my affection for such gadgets, I got my hands on …

‘Azrael’ review: Samara Weaving, a silent gimmick, and lots of gore

‘Azrael’ review: Samara Weaving, a silent gimmick, and lots of gore

Published by skeptic

What has A Quiet Place wrought? The alien-invasion horror hit that used silence to amp up tension in its rural setting was brilliantly executed. Because the movie’s ravenous extraterrestrial creatures chase sound, the characters don’t speak aloud, and even their audience feels the pressure not to scream. A Quiet Place‘s success with critics and audiences not only spurred a sequel (A Quiet Place Part II) and a prequel (A Quiet Place: Day One), but also opportunistic imitators, eager to take the muted gimmick to make their unaffiliated movies stand out.  Last fall, writer/director Brian Duffield hit Hulu with a strikingly similar concept in No One Will Save You, in which Kaitlyn Dever stars as a country girl plagued by invading aliens while she doesn’t say a word. With Christmas came John Woo’s deeply dismal action dud Silent Night, in which Joel Kinnaman plays a vengeance-fueled anti-hero who, because of a scarring act of violence, is unable to vocalize — but for no apparent reason, no one else talks around him either. Now comes Azrael, a horror …

Divine moment or political gimmick? India gears up to inaugurate huge Hindu temple | India

Divine moment or political gimmick? India gears up to inaugurate huge Hindu temple | India

Published by skeptic

Amid the deafening roar of construction and exuberant cries of visiting devotees, the outlines of India’s largest Hindu temple are gradually emerging. For now, Ram Mandir, in the holy town of Ayodhya, is only half built. The grand pillars, vast domes stretching 49 metres (161ft) high, and elaborate gateways and carvings that will eventually form the final architecture of this much-anticipated temple have all yet to be completed; instead it remains largely a building site, filled with dust, bulldozers, scaffolding and high fences to prevent intruders. Yet, even in its half-formed state this temple has taken on a significance unrivalled by any other religious structure in India. Next week, on 22 January, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, will take part in the inauguration of the Ram Mandir, when an idol of Lord Ram, a Hindu deity, will be placed in the temple’s inner sanctum. The Ram Mandir temple complex is only half built but is already attracting devotees before its grand inauguration by India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. Photograph: Aakash Hassan/The Guardian “This will be …

Menopause Becomes a Marketing Gimmick

Menopause Becomes a Marketing Gimmick

Published by skeptic

How did you celebrate World Menopause Day, on October 18? I spent it wading through emails and posts from what I can describe only as “menopause influencers.” The British broadcaster Mariella Frostrup wanted to talk about urinary incontinence. On LinkedIn, senior female executives posted about hot flashes and fuzzy brains, and an executive coach who identifies herself as the “Founder & CEO at Life Begins at Menopause™” announced that she was “proud to be waving the flag.” In March, the British government appointed a “menopause employment champion,” and last year, a book called Menopausing became a best seller. Over at The New York Times, the advice columnist Philip Galanes recently heard from a woman whose male colleagues refused to believe that her verbal slips were the result of hormonal shifts. These attempts to Make Menopause Happen are largely positive; the subject has always been taboo, because it is that lethal combination of having to do with women’s bodies (ugh) and with aging (ugh). Everyone who starts having periods will one day stop having them, and …