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The Shark ChillPill got me through the hottest day of the year

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Portable fans are a hot-weather staple. When I got married on a sweltering July day, one of my bridesmaids passed me a portable fan, which didn’t leave my side all day. So it’s no surprise that personal fans are coming back in even bigger ways this summer.

Personal fans can be found for under $20, but this year, some big names in appliances are joining the trend. Dyson dropped its $99 personal fan, but not before Shark launched the ChillPill this year. Shark’s personal fan features the most unique and elaborate design of any personal fan. Even Justin Bieber collaborated with Shark on a special edition of the ChillPill just in time for Coachella.

So I put the Shark ChillPill to the test on the hottest day of the year, and spoiler, my cats might love this fan more than I do.

An innovative design, but is it practical?

person holding folded up shark chillpill

The Shark ChillPill fan looks like a a small pair of binoculars, but twists so you can hold one side while the other blows cool air.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The design is unlike any fan I’ve encountered IRL. It’s two cylinders stacked on top of each other. The piece with the actual fan can twist to work from different angles. Rather than a wand-like grip, it’s bulkier, which makes it feel awkward to hold. That said, the design makes it exceptionally easy to set down on surfaces. Suddenly, I had a mini desktop fan. I liked it best when stationary and imagined that, if I had used it while walking, it might have felt too big to hold.

The ultimate test will be when I take it on my European honeymoon and see how it holds up in the peak summer heat, whether I’m walking through ruins or lounging in a cabana.

It comes with three swappable fan heads

The ChillPill comes with three different attachments. The basic fan head, a misting fan head, and a metal cooling plate — each of which felt particularly useful in my time testing it on a sweltering day.

person using shark chillpill cooling plate on their skin

The Shark ChillPill comes with three swappable heads, including a cooling plate.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The standard head doesn’t need explanation, while the other two have a little more flair. The attachment with a stainless steel surface is a cooling plate that claims to lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. While I can’t confirm that exact amount, I can say that on a 90-degree day when I was sweating without air conditioning, it was an incredible relief when pressed to my wrists, neck, and temples.

For those in dry heat, the misting head is particularly attractive. I tried it out in the New England humidity, and I have to say, it was still so refreshing, especially in the hottest temperatures. For as much as I love it, my two water-loving cats love it more, eagerly running over whenever I turn it on.

The only downside to the misting head is that it has a mini tank and runs out fast, especially when you turn up the speed. You can shut off the misting to conserve water, and then it operates like a standard fan head.

10 speeds of cool that’s most effective up close

The Shark ChillPill settings screen

The screen displays what speed the fan is set to and as you can see, also displays the battery status, too.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Shark ChillPill is secretly pretty smart. It has slightly different controls based on which fan head you use, and it automatically registers when you swap them. On the side of the ChillPill is an on/off switch, but to start it, you need to press the digital screen, which turns on the cooling function.

There are 10 speeds to choose from, and on sweaty days, I found I never needed to go beyond level three for a nice breeze. But I also didn’t necessarily want to, as the ChillPill gets loud fast. If you were to crank it up to 10 in a public space, it would be making a scene. However, you do need to turn up the fan strength if you have it positioned far away, as I didn’t find it had a very long reach.

Battery life made for summer travels

A Shark ChillPill running the misting function

The Shark ChillPill’s misting function in action.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

When fully charged, the fan lasts up to 11 hours. Using it intermittently over a few weeks, the battery held strong. The battery’s strength is pretty impressive, and I’d feel confident bringing it on summer travels, knowing it will last all day and only need to be charged overnight. It recharges via USB-C, which most phones and tech use these days, meaning you won’t need to pack an extra charger.

Let’s talk about the price

Part of the appeal and widespread use of portable fans is their affordability. Most options on Amazon are under $20, and even Shein and Temu sell them alongside festival wear (though we’re not sure we recommend them). So it’s startling to see the Shark ChillPill’s price of $149.99. It’s more expensive than Dyson’s portable fan ($99.99) and/or even a home fan like the super powerful Vornado 660 ($89.99). It’s the same price as Shark’s larger, more powerful FlexBreeze HydroGo Pro.

Even with its features and extra fan heads, and even though I love the fan, I still think it’s way too expensive. If it were just $100, I’d say it was a good value, but for such a small, limited-use device, I don’t think it’s a great value, especially when you can get a much larger fan for much less than $150.

Is the Shark ChillPill worth it?

person holding Shark ChillPill over grass

Is the Shark ChillPill worth $149.99? We’re undecided.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Shark ChillPill is the most unique take on the personal fan that I’ve ever encountered. With 10 speeds, it’s effective at cooling you down, even on the hottest of days. With special attachment heads like the mister and cooling plate, it goes above and beyond most portable fans. Even with powerful settings and long battery life, it isn’t without its downsides. Its innovative design may serve more as a hindrance, especially when you’re on the go. But more importantly, is it worth its $149.99 price tag? I’m not so sure.

If you’re eager to spend the money, the Shark ChillPill is an effective and useful way to stay cool, but I think you should wait to buy it until it’s on sale.

Available in haze, matcha, carbon, glacier, iced latte, dragon fruit, and rose gold colorways

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Raunchy, Extremely R-Rated Comedy Is A Broke Bachelor’s Worst Nightmare

By Robert Scucci
| Published

The late 90s and early aughts were rife with raunchy comedies, some of which fared better than others. 1998’s There’s Something About Mary was an instant classic that cleaned house at the box office, and 2005’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin marked a return to form for the genre. Those years in between, however, produced some rough entries that are all but forgotten today because they placed too much emphasis on tasteless gags over meaningful storytelling. 2001’s Tomcats is one such film, and it’s honestly a rough watch, but not for the reasons you’d think.

The film’s overall setup, conflict, and story beats are all solid, believe it or not, but they’re simply used as a springboard for as many raunchy gags as humanly possible. If you’re into that kind of thing, you’ll probably have a good time with Tomcats, but I have no qualms saying its 13 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes comes from the fact that most of these gags don’t add anything to the movie. Instead, they pad the runtime with cheap laughs rather than character development.

A Great Wager And Setup

Tomcats starts at a wedding, where a group of bachelors make a wager. They all throw money into a high-yield account, and the last single man standing gets to claim the pot. As time passes and interest accrues, we’re left with two bachelors, Michael Delaney (Jerry O’Connell) and Kyle Brenner (Jake Busey), and roughly $500,000 up for grabs.

After a falling out with his girlfriend, Shelby (Julia Schultz), Michael racks up a substantial gambling debt with a casino pit boss named Carlos (Bill Maher), who says in no uncertain terms that if the money isn’t paid back within 30 days, he’ll be killed. Knowing the only way he can make good on what he owes, Michael hatches a plan to trick Kyle into getting married.

Tomcats 2001

Michael learns there’s only one woman Kyle would ever consider settling down with: Natalie (Shannon Elizabeth), a woman he had a one-night stand with at a wedding years earlier, ditched on the side of the road with a roll of quarters, and thinks of as the one that got away. As it turns out, Natalie works as an undercover officer, knows how to profile people, and agrees to sabotage Kyle’s bachelor lifestyle in exchange for half the winnings. At this point, we only vaguely know about Natalie’s history with Kyle, and the fun comes from wondering whether she’s simply in it for the money or if that’s just an added bonus to a revenge plot she has against him.

From this point forward, it’s basically a sizzle reel of sex gags, gamer words, and even an entire sequence involving a lost testicle at the hospital that adds about 10 minutes but no substance to the story. It will, however, probably make you want to throw up in your mouth. You’ll know it when you see it.

Too Much Funny Equals Not Funny

Tomcats 2001

Odds are, if you’re firing up Tomcats, it’s because you’re looking for some offensive humor to gawk at, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem is that movies like this focus more on the gags than the storytelling, which is a shame. This is exactly the kind of humor I’m tuning in for, but it needs to be anchored in somewhat believable scenarios and carried by people who are at least a little likable.

That’s why There’s Something About Mary and Knocked Up work while this film fails to stick the landing. Michael isn’t necessarily an unlikable protagonist, but he doesn’t have much of a personality either. He’s just a conduit for jokes. Kyle, who’s supposed to be his foil, is the most reprehensible womanizer to ever grace the silver screen, and his exploits are fun to watch, especially when they backfire. But again, he’s just another conduit for jokes that could just as easily be swapped with any other male character in the movie.

Tomcats 2001

It’s almost as if every guy in this movie is based on the same archetype. One’s a little smarter, one’s a little more sensitive, and so on. They’re all variations of the same guy, so whenever a joke needs to be jammed into a scene, anybody can reliably deliver it. As much as this sounds like a good idea, it doesn’t work in a comedy where you’re dealing with some pretty awful people from start to finish.

The romance between Michael and Natalie develops into a satisfying arc, but by the time we get there, it’s one lost testicle, Jake Busey in a thong, and a grandma dominatrix scene too late. There’s simply too much schtick without ever giving you room to breathe.

Tomcats 2001

Is Tomcats a misunderstood classic? Far from it. Is it 13 percent bad? I’m inclined to say no, but I wouldn’t put it above 30 percent either. It’s one of those films that relies on you trusting your own taste and whether you enjoy the talent involved. There are some clever one-liners and sight gags worth checking out, but the whole is far less than the sum of its parts.

As of this writing, Tomcats is streaming free on Tubi.


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How to watch Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


The second weekend of the 2026 Nations Championship lines up six big games, including Australia vs. France.

Both teams took very narrow losses in the first week, with Australia losing to Ireland and France losing to New Zealand. They both lost by just two points each. Now both teams are looking to make a comeback as they face off in Brisbane.

If you’re interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. France?

Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 8:40 a.m. BST on July 11. This fixture takes place at the Suncorp Stadium, Australia.

How to watch Australia vs. France for free

Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Australia vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit ITVX

  5. Watch Australia vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN’s regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

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Raunchy AI Bros Accidentally Remind Us Who The Hottest Woman On Netflix Is

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated

Years after the advent of generative AI, there are still endless debates about how this tool should be used (or if it should be used at all) for creative purposes. One reason for the controversy is that purely AI-generated images often have a creepy, downright uncanny look about them. However, even the biggest AI skeptics have to reluctantly give the tech props for one thing: parody. Basically, apps like ChatGPT and Grok are really good at tweaking existing images based on various prompts. Recently, users on X have discovered this while cranking out the last thing you’d expect: AI-modified Seinfeld images. 

It all started when one user generated an image of a fully bald and bearded George; that user surprised himself with how sexy the new and improved Costanza looked. Other users tried their hand at other characters, and it didn’t take long for the platform to be flooded with modified images of Elaine. Many who posted these images commented on how much sexier it made the character look, but that was a mistake because it unleashed a flood of angry responses. All of these responses basically said the same thing: that the AI was completely unnecessary because Seinfeld-era Julia Louise-Dreyfus has always been one of the hottest women on the planet!

From George To Art Vandelay

While the discourse on X eventually centered on Elaine, it all began with George. This character was always written as a bit of a lovable loser, and the producers made him look that much schlubbier by having actor Jason Alexander wear clothes a size too small. It made for an ongoing visual gag on the show; decades later, X user @e_cdalton decided to create his own visual gag, using AI to remove the remainder of George’s hair and give him a beard. The user says that his original intent was “to mock the modern ‘bald plus beard’ look” and he was shocked by how “great” the new appearance was. 

After that, the user riffed on how Jason Alexander would have constantly been named one of “People’s Sexiest Men,” but at the expense of Seinfeld’s overall quality. As his post gained traction (over 35,000 likes as of this writing), @e_cdalton began posting AI images of other characters on the show. While the hipster versions of Jerry and Kramer were particularly fun, many users on X became fascinated with the user’s new version of Elaine. With straight hair, bangs, and a denim jacket, she looked like the protagonist (or, at least, a supporting character) in every Millennial manic pixie dream girl movie ever made. 

Millennial Elaine Isn’t Real, She Can’t Hurt You

Unsurprisingly, countless X users chimed in about this Seinfeld icon’s AI-assisted new look. There was some initial pushback, of course: some pointed out that she just looked like Zooey Deschanel from New Girl, and others pointed out that artists transformed these characters into Millennials a decade ago, without AI. For the most part, though, users gushed about how great this new Elaine looked, and many couldn’t resist creating their own versions. This included a blonde Elaine, a weirdly Laura Boebert-esque Elaine, and my personal favorite: Cowboy Bebop Elaine. Before these users could have too much fun, though, they got collectively bodied by an army of Julia Louise-Dreyfus superfans.

Those fans were mostly here to share the same message: that Julia Louise-Dreyfus was a complete smokeshow and could never be improved by AI chicanery. Several of them also pointed out that the AI bros were creating “new” looks that Louise-Dreyfus already rocked on Seinfeld. For example, the character actually had straight hair and bangs in the show’s final seasons. She also wore glasses, which may come as a surprise to everyone adding them to her character via AI. These often-hilarious user responses were a reminder that for all of its impressive features, even artificial intelligence can’t improve upon perfection.

Want to get a closer look at the hottest woman on Netflix? You won’t see her nipples or anything (at least, not unless you get a Christmas card from her), but you can gawk at Julia Louise-Dreyfus until October, when this hit sitcom finally leaves the streaming platform. There, you can enjoy her nearly hypnotic beauty for yourself in glorious widescreen. Remember, there’s no need to create some gooner AI demon version of Elaine when you can just watch the actual show; to paraphrase one of Seinfeld’s other characters, she’s real, and she’s spectacular!


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