Entertainment
This Wisconsin Couple Lives in a Yurt, and Winter Is Their Favorite Part
“There was no big aha moment,” says Elaina Jindra, a public school dean who lives in a 350-square-foot yurt with her husband, Zach, in rural northern Wisconsin. “Over time, we just grew curious about what life could look like and wanted a new experience.” Today, Elaina gives us a tour, with photos by Xee Vang…
On changing things up: Zach and I lived in a house in Milwaukee, when we realized that we were at a stage in our lives where we could uproot ourselves and do something different. So, we quit our jobs, purged 65% of our belongings, and put our house on the market.
Dining table and chairs: thrifted.
On choosing the yurt: We considered things like moving abroad, getting a tiny home, or living out of our Subaru Outback, but in the end, living in a yurt felt like the easiest and most cost-effective option. A tiny home can be expensive, takes longer to set up, and has utility costs. A yurt comes in a DIY kit that we could build in one day.
Sofa: Crate&Barrel. Light pendant: “I made this pendant using an old shade from a Target lamp we got as a wedding gift.” Basket: World Market. Desk: vintage.
On planning: It took us 15 months to find a piece of property that didn’t have any county rules, since those usually require lots of building permits. Before we officially bought the land, we were out here marking the yurt’s dimensions with our footsteps in the snow, and measuring out each piece of furniture that we’d be bringing.
Stove: Ace.
On yurt necessities: You cannot survive in a yurt in Wisconsin without a wood stove. Also, candles. You gotta have that cozy, intimate lighting.
On neighborhood critters: When living in a yurt, you can hear everything. The spring peepers and loons are incredibly loud. There’s also a big owl that perches itself on a tree nearby and hoots all night. We’ve heard howls from a neighboring wolf pack. We never have those peaceful evenings that we envisioned we would get out here! But hearing the sounds of wildlife is amazing.
Bed: West Elm. Throw pillows: made by Elaina. Rug: thrifted.
On thoughtful details: A lot of yurts have a tight lattice with a vinyl interior, which many people prefer because the vinyl is very durable and lasts for years. But we chose a yurt with a very large lattice and wool interior. Aesthetically, it’s a lot prettier. We also want parts of this yurt to decompose, so we can leave as small of a footprint as possible.
On living without Wi-Fi: We don’t have Wi-Fi but we have really good cell service for calling and texting family and friends. We also live three miles from a trailhead that has excellent Wi-Fi, vending machines, and overall good vibes. Zach is a wedding photographer, so we go to the trailhead when he needs strong internet connection to edit photos and upload clients’ galleries.
On a smart meal hack: One of the ways I clean out the fridge is by gathering whatever bits and bobs we have leftover and throwing them on a pizza. I call it ‘garbage pizza’ and it’s inspired by Anne-Marie Bonneau, the Zero Waste Chef. I’ve been obsessed with her since college. She’s inspired me to get creative about eating everything in the fridge, instead of tossing stuff out.
On an eye-opening habit: A couple years ago, Zach and I started keeping track of what we spent our time and money on. At the beginning of each month, I always predicted that my spending would be low because ‘I don’t buy anything.’ However, by the end of the month, I would realize that wasn’t true. Now we’re actively trying to avoid buying things we don’t absolutely need.
On a much-needed break: As a dean, I spend most days indoors at work. Since the school district is small, I wear a lot of hats, but essentially I am there to support staff and students. I usually do something outdoors right after work, and then I’m pretty happy to be nice and cozy with the fire when I get home.
On forming new rituals: Everything out here takes a bit longer. Sometimes, after a long work day, I don’t want to do the dishes, then haul and dump our seven-gallon jug of waste water outside. When chores come at the wrong time, they can feel annoying. But we knew about all of these trade-offs beforehand, so we try not to complain.
The yurt in the winter.
On winters: Winter is our favorite season because it’s ultra cozy. Last year, a couple days got down to the negative 30s. But we just kept the wood stove going.
On sweet realizations: Zach and I got married when we were both 23 — we were babies. I feel so lucky because even though we didn’t know who we were back then, we’ve managed to grow well together. None of this would have been possible without him believing that we could live happily in a 350-square-foot home. He pushes me out of my comfort zone.
Sauna: SaunaLife.
On a wood-fired sauna: We don’t use the sauna much in the summer but love stepping inside it in the winter. It’s our #1 party move when hosting friends.
On living off-grid: We have a generator that we charge with solar panels, so there is running electricity. We also have a back-up gas generator that we use every three to four days in the winter. But if things ever stop working, we’ll be okay. We’re both avid backpackers, so we’re used to going days without access to hot water or electricity.
Solar-powered shower: Outsunny. Outhouse: “It was actually made by some people in our local Amish community.”
On showers: We have a solar-powered shower, which we use in the summer. For the rest of the year, we take our showers at the gym! Getting a membership to a nice gym and utilizing their shower is a frugal minimalist hack. Ours is only nine minutes away, and it has all the amenities we need. We often end our day there and have made friends with the staff.
Yurt: Yurta.
On mixed reactions: It’s funny to hear people’s responses when we tell them how we live. Some people are like, ‘You know, you don’t have to live like that, right?’ or ‘I can help you out if you need it.’ And then other people are like, ‘Oh my god, that’s so cool!’ and want to know every detail.
On big realizations: Living here has clarified what resources we need to actually thrive, not just survive. And we’ve learned that we don’t need that much. We feel so lucky to be able to take this chance and explore. Living sustainably was one of our motivators for living in a yurt, but we also wanted to slow down. To notice when the wind is blowing and pay attention to the fullness of the moon.
Thank you so much, Elaina!
P.S. Many more house tours, including an architect couple who lives in a spaceship apartment and a 175-square-foot apartment in New York City (“I just call it ‘my room’”).
(Photos by Xee Vang for Cup of Jo.)
Entertainment
The Controversial, R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller That’s Better Than The Book
By Joshua Tyler
| Published
In 2006, the Wachowskis, the minds behind The Matrix, poured the proceeds of their success into a lie. A lie they hoped would reveal the truth.
At first, it seemed to work. People bought tickets, critics liked it, and there was hope that their idea might lead to change on a significant scale. Now, 20 years later, the exact opposite has happened. The dark future their movie predicted is closer than ever.
This is why V For Vendetta failed.
V For Vendetta Was a Conventional Success
By any conventional measure, V for Vendetta was not a failure; it was a moderate success. It got generally positive reviews, performed solidly at the box office, and more than made its budget back.
But V for Vendetta isn’t a conventional film. So before we determine why it failed, let’s define what V for Vendetta is.
V’s Truth And His Vendetta
Based on the same-named comic series written in 1982 by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta tells the tale of a near-future England run by an oppressive government and a man, known only as V (Hugo Weaving), who sets out to destroy it. V is a terrorist, and he achieves his goals by murder, subterfuge, and blowing things up. He bursts onto the scene clad in dark clothes, hidden behind a Guy Fawkes mask, and spouting dialogue so complex and full of high-dollar words that it’s nearly another language.
While skulking London’s deserted, under-curfew streets, he rescues a waifish girl accosted by Fingermen, the government’s assault-hungry secret police. The girl is Evey (Natalie Portman), and it’s the 5th of November, a day the people of Britain will remember.
V takes Evey under his wing as he embarks upon a strategy of governmental destruction. He’s a terrorist, but he’s not terrorizing the people. Instead, his goal is to awaken and empower them, while striking fear into the heart of England’s totalitarian government. “If you want to see who is responsible, look no further than a mirror,” he tells the country’s citizens. “I understand, you were afraid,” he says by way of forgiving them.
It’s the people who put Britain’s corrupt, hate-driven government in power, and it’s the people who must stop it. “People should not be afraid of their governments,” pronounces V, “governments should be afraid of their people.”
V for Vendetta is a visually rich, dark, and resonant film; one that uses style to convey substance under the guise of pure entertainment. The Wachowski brothers’ script is a faithful adaptation of its source material, tweaked just enough to update it and properly translate it to the screen.
Is the movie political? Yes, but not necessarily in a way specific to any modern political party. It was, after all, written in 1982. These are the same political paradoxes that have been plaguing man for centuries. If you’re British, you’ll almost certainly find a way to apply it to Keir Starmer or Tony Blair, but that’s only because the film’s themes are universal.
Hugo Weaving is incredible as V, acting underneath a stiff, somewhat silly mask that completely covers his face, his eyes, or anything else he might use to convey the slightest emotion. Yet somehow, V is the film’s most passionate, powerful character.
Hugo uses his voice and physicality to convey that, to bring an awkward, faceless creation to electrifying life. V calls himself an idea, and with Weaving playing him, he’s a very powerful idea.
But Natalie Portman’s Evey becomes the real heart of the movie. V is an unstoppable force; Evey is a real person, caught up in his deadly rebellion. Her conversations with V, not the movie’s one or two action bits, are the driving force of the Wachowskis’ script. Evey resists V’s crusade against oppression; her mind rebels at what he says out of fear and self-preservation. So will you.
V For Vendetta’s Forbidden Message
Referencing the still unseen film back in the days before it was released, one member of a politically minded film forum was quick to declare: “You can’t make a movie about a terrorist now without endorsing bin Laden.” It’s that mindset that makes V for Vendetta so unsettling.
Sometimes, it almost feels like you’re watching something forbidden, like you’re seeing something you shouldn’t be allowed to see. It’s shocking that a movie like this ever actually got made. It’s even more unbelievable that a major Hollywood studio made it. Would the Wachowskis have been allowed to make it if they were making it now? I doubt it.
It’s fun to accuse Hollywood of excessive activism. Most of the modern message-pushing they do isn’t bravery; it’s adopting a trend and claiming to be a rebel. Not so with V for Vendetta. It’s a purposefully uncomfortable film, one that will affect different people differently depending on what you bring in with you.
Yes, V for Vendetta is rebellious and risky, subversive and dangerous. But it’s not cynical. V’s naïve take on the world is one that believes in the basic strength and goodness of people as strongly as it believes in the intrinsic corruptness of big government. It’s a viewpoint that almost certainly has no basis in reality, but that’s alright.
What makes the film great is that you’re not asked to subscribe to its philosophy, only think about it and take note. It’s not a call to rise up against your rulers, but a warning about the way fear can be used to give a person or organization too much power. It’s an old lesson, but one that bears frequent repeating.
Why V For Vendetta Failed
“By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.” – V’s personal motto
V for Vendetta is an idea. An idea’s success or failure must be measured by its impact on the world around it. V for Vendetta had none.
The movie planted a few quotes in the minds of those who saw it. People love repeating that “governments should be afraid of their people” one. But at no point did V for Vendetta cause anything to change.
By any measure, governments have only grown more powerful and less afraid of their people since 2006. In response, people have rushed to hand off even more power to centralized authority figures, citing safety, equity, or some other concern as justification.
Had V for Vendetta flopped and become a cult classic, people would be whispering its words in secret late-night showings. Had it been a box-office juggernaut, it would have cemented its place as a permanent fixture in our culture. It did neither, so it fades away, taking not just its message, but the message of the comic on which it’s based, along with it.
V for Vendetta’s idea has been neutered, and mid-level success was the tool used to do it.
Entertainment
Grab the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Display Box on sale for under $100 at Amazon
TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart 2025 Booster Box on sale for $99.62, down from its current standard price of $105.59. That gets you 24 ready-to-mix Jumpstart boosters, with every pack including 20 cards, all the lands needed to play, and at least one Rare or Mythic Rare card.
Credit: Magic: The Gathering
$99.92
at Amazon
$105.59
Save $5.67
If you’ve been thinking about getting into Magic: The Gathering without immediately needing to learn every corner of deckbuilding, Jumpstart is still one of the easiest ways to get started with the trading card game, and you can now do so with its biggest box on sale.
As of June 3, Amazon lists the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart 2025 Booster Box for $99.62, with the item shipped and sold by Amazon itself rather than a third-party seller. This is a 90-day low price; Amazon’s typical price for the 24-pack box is $105.59, saving you $5.97 with this sale price.
On the other hand, you can save even more when shopping outside of Amazon. TCGplayer listings starting at $89 with shipping included, dropping below its $89.09 market price. Slightly higher, Walmart sits at $89.99 via Flipside Gaming.
Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Boosters are built around the idea of getting started simply by opening two boosters, shuffling them together, and starting to play — with no drafting, no decklist research, and no digging through your bulk box for lands required.
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Each of the included 24 Jumpstart boosters contains 20 Magic cards with all the lands already included. Every booster also comes with one anime-inspired card and at least one Rare or Mythic Rare, which is a plus for collectors.
There are over 46 possible themes, too, including Goblins, Dinosaurs, Ninjas, and other chaotic little pairings that can make each game feel different.
To get ready for what’s to come in MTG, you can preorder the 30-pack Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box for under $140 — a record low price. Right now, though, you can also buy the Magic: The Gathering Aetherdrift Bundle on sale for $40.
If you’re also a Pokémon TCG fan, although it is currently not available on Amazon, the newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.
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Entertainment
Samsungs 32-inch Odyssey G5 QHD gaming monitor has dropped to a record low price on Amazon
TL;DR: Amazon has slashed the price of the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) QHD gaming monitor to $219.99, $130 off its original $349.99 price; that’s its lowest price with the retailer ever, and it still offers a 1440p gaming display with a 180Hz refresh rate.
$219.99
at Amazon
$349.99
Save $130
With the rise of OLED and 4K gaming monitors, HD and QHD models are getting more affordable than ever — and you can now score $130 off a top-tier 32-inch unit from Samsung.
As of June 3, the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) QHD gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for only $219.99, down 37% from its usual list price, and is sold and shipped by Amazon directly. With that $130 drop, this gaming monitor is now at its lowest Amazon price ever, as confirmed by price-tracking site camelcamelcamel.
For this massively lower price, the G50F offers QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, similar to standard HD but with 1.7 times the pixel density for a fuller display, without making the more expensive jump to 4K. Whether you’re catching up on RPGs like Crimson Desert or linear action-adventures like 007: First Light, everything will still be sharper and pleasing to the eyes.
For lovers of fast-paced multiplayer games like Fortnite, the fast IPS panel also brings a 178-degree viewing angle to help keep the picture clear, while the 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG response time keep gameplay both buttery smooth and far more responsive
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Despite not being 4K, the Odyssey G5’s display still includes HDR10 for brighter highlights and deeper-looking shadows. Plus, the included AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility helps keep any visuals intact by reducing screen tearing as much as possible.
On the off chance you’re open to diving into 4K, LG’s 32-inch OLED UltraGear monitor has been cut to just under $800 on Amazon, too.
For a model that’s a bit smaller, the 27-inch, 1440p LG OLED UltraGear gaming monitor is now only $500, down nearly half.
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If you’re also a Pokémon TCG fan, although currently not available on Amazon, the newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
The Controversial, R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller That’s Better Than The Book
Grab the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Display Box on sale for under $100 at Amazon
