Entertainment
Six Teachers on What Their Jobs Are Really Like
“I would love to see more coverage of teaching,” commented a Virginia-based reader named Meghan. “I’m a high school social studies teacher with more than 130 students, and I often feel like I’m performing a standup comedy show for an audience that isn’t there by choice. The profession has a lot of nuance that most people don’t know about.”
Curious to learn more, we asked six teachers to share some of the highs, lows and funny moments of their careers…
On teaching the different ages:
“Kindergartners go bananas over anything if you say it in a really enthusiastic way. You could tell the class, ‘You’re going to get a piece of paper!’ and they’ll start screaming like the audience members on Oprah.” — Jen, elementary school reading intervention
“I love middle schoolers, but they smell terrible, so I keep an air purifier running all the time. The other day I put a note in the homework section of the board to make sure to wash their hoodies. It’s a lovable funk, though! They also love when I listen to songs or read books that they suggest.” — Lexie, middle school language arts
“High school kids feel so deeply. I love the teenage drama about everything from lipgloss and the Edgar haircut to their relationships and the chisme. They remind me of what it was like to be young and think that every moment is life-changing.” — Christina, high school English
“Most of my students are early 20-somethings experiencing the first tastes of adulthood while shedding their childhood selves. The mismatch of goofy lightheartedness with their desire to be earnest and professional is refreshing. Also, the exhaustion on the faces of students who have to show up for an 8:30 a.m. class is so painful it’s funny.” — Kait, college literature
On meaningful moments:
“I once taught a lesson on depression and anxiety, and the 12- to 14-year-old girls taught me what a ‘crying session’ was, and how it helped them get out of a funk. To this day, I can’t get over how in tune they were with their emotions, and how open and honest they were.” — Julian, seventh and ninth grade health and P.E.
“When teaching second grade, I end each day with story time. We read a lot of The Magic Treehouse and The American Girl series, and the kids get excited to see what happens. I loved those books as a kid, and seeing the students’ curiosity reminds me that when teachers authentically love something, students often grow to love it, too.” — Jen, elementary school reading intervention
On hard parts of the job:
“Maintaining work-life balance with a young child at home. Also, the threat of gun violence. I have monthly nightmares about gun violence in my school.” — Lexie, middle school language arts
On career surprises:
“Back in high school, whenever I took a career quiz, the answer was always ‘a performer.’ I’d use this as proof to my parents that I should be rockstar. But my dad, who is a teacher, would always say, ‘Well, as a teacher, you’re always performing.’ Now I know that sentiment is 100% true. Standing in the front of the classroom feels like you’re on a stage, and I’m micro-dosing performer skills every day.” — Pablo, eighth grade U.S. history and ninth grade world geography
“I work with a lot of multilingual learners, and one of my main goals is to help them pass the ELPAC, a language assessment exam that affects the track of their education. Kids don’t always understand why this test is a big deal, so one of my goals is to help them understand what happens if they pass. In general, as adults, it’s easy to not take the time to really explain to kids, ‘This is what X is, this is why we are doing it; this is what happens if you don’t learn it, this is what happens if you do learn it.’ In this class, I’m always blown away by how motivated and engaged students become when they understand how it relates to them personally. This past year we printed so many certificates, and I was so proud.” — Jen, elementary school reading intervention
On advice for newer teachers:
“Don’t take things personally. A lot of teachers, including myself, have empathy as one of their core values. So, when a kid acts up in class, it’s hard not to see their behavior as a personal attack. But the book The Four Agreements completely shifted my outlook on this. Other people’s actions usually have nothing to do with us and also don’t reflect who they are as a person.” — Pablo, eighth grade U.S. history and ninth grade world geography
“Children don’t get to choose the adults in their lives, so you should strive to be someone they would choose. Also, it’s important to be nice to yourself. Teaching is not for the faint of heart.” — Kait, college literature
On what we wish parents knew:
“Parents often think that their influence wanes during the teenage years, but that’s not true. Make space for your teen to talk to you, even if they reject most opportunities. I’ve read so many essays about how much my students love their parents. They’re just testing boundaries.” — Lexie, middle school language arts
“Thank you for entrusting us with your child, it is the greatest honor. Know that when they are in my classroom, they will be cared for and seen.” — Christina, high school English
Thank you so much to everyone who shared, and a HUGE thank you to all the teachers out there. Please share your thoughts below, if you’d like…
P.S. A teacher’s week of outfits, and the way to actually ease kids’ separation anxiety.
(Photo from Abbott Elementary.)
Entertainment
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is over $100 off right now at Amazon ahead of Prime Day
SAVE OVER $100: As of June 3, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is marked down to $369 at Amazon. This is $130 off its full price of $499.
$369
at Amazon
$499
Save $130
If you spend a lot of time in front of your TV, a soundbar is a must-have for your setup to boost your sound system. While some come with hefty price tags, the good news is that Amazon already has excellent deals on select models ahead of Prime Day. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is one of them, which has had $130 slashed off its price tag.
As of June 3, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar in black has been marked down from $499 to $369 at Amazon, which is a pretty solid price cut. Its lowest-ever price at the retailer may have been $349, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, but that’s just a $20 difference. It’s certainly still worth grabbing at this price, and we think it’s one worth grabbing in general.
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When it comes to our top picks for soundbars, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 lands as our ‘More Affordable Sonos Pick’ in our roundup of the best soundbars. This is because “it offers impressive value for the money.” It’s a soundbar that’s “incredibly easy to set up, and because it can sync with your other Sonos products, it’s easy to build a genuine home theater surround sound system.”
Speaking from experience, I definitely think the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is worth having for your TV. Whether I’m watching movies, shows, or playing games, it delivers crisp, clear sound so I can catch every detail on screen. I’ve also paired it with two Sonos Era 100 speakers to create a surround-sound setup, and the good news is those are on sale at Amazon right now as well. It’s the perfect time to scoop everything up for an audio upgrade.
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Don’t miss out on this chance to save on the Sonos Beam Gen 2 at Amazon.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
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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The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is over $100 off right now at Amazon ahead of Prime Day
The Controversial, R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller That’s Better Than The Book
