Published 5:40 pm Friday, November 22, 2024 By Data Skrive There are three games featuring a ranked team on Saturday’s college basketball schedule. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.
Uruguay's voters choose their next president in a close runoff with low stakes but much suspenseVeeva Systems (NYSE:VEEV) Exceeds Q3 Expectations, Stock SoarsGroup commends Tinubu, CDS Musa for tackling security challenges
The Bermuda Police Service is “advising the public to exercise increased caution in the wake of reports of people’s WhatsApp accounts being compromised and used to perpetrate fraudulent financial schemes.” A police spokesperson said, “Hackers reportedly gain unauthorized access to an individual’s WhatsApp account by deceiving the user into disclosing their six-digit verification code. Having gained access, the hackers impersonate the victim and message that person’s contacts, requesting urgent financial assistance or, sensitive information. “What to Look Out For: “Unusual Messages from Friends or Family: If a contact messages you asking for financial assistance, verify their identity through a phone call or in-person conversation before taking any action. “Requests for OTP or Verification Codes: “It is imperative that you do not disclose your one-time password [OTP] or verification codes to any individual, regardless of whether the request appears to originate from a reputable source. “Urgency and Pressure: “Fraudsters frequently instil a sense of urgency in order to compel victims to act without considering the consequences. “Protect Yourself: “Enable two-step verification. Enable WhatsApp’s two-step verification for an added degree of protection. This feature requires a PIN to access your account. “Avoid Sharing Personal Information: “Be cautious when sharing personal or account-related information, even with trusted contacts. Stay Informed: “Regularly update yourself on cybersecurity best practices to recognize and avoid scams. “What to do if you are a victim: “Immediately inform your contacts via alternative means of the hack to prevent further exploitation. “Report the incident to WhatsApp via the in-app help feature. “File a report with the Bermuda Police Service at https://portal.police.bm “The Bermuda Police Service remains committed to raising awareness about digital safety and encourages everyone to remain vigilant. By working together, we can reduce the impact of these fraudulent activities on our communities.” : , , ,Even when Milwaukee opened the season by losing eight of its first 10 games, Bucks coach Doc Rivers knew it was only a matter of time before his team returned to form. Sure enough, the Bucks have won four of their last five games heading into an NBA Cup matchup against the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Seattle (7-5) at Arizona (6-6) Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Cardinals by 2 1/2. Series record: Seahawks lead 28-22-1. Against the spread: Seahawks 5-6-1, Cardinals 8-4. Last meeting: Seahawks beat Cardinals 16-6 on Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. Last week: Seahawks beat Chargers, 26-21; Cardinals lost to Vikings, 23-22. Seahawks offense: overall (16), rush (28), pass (2), scoring (15). Seahawks defense: overall (18), rush (21), pass (12), scoring (12). Cardinals offense: overall (11), rush (6), pass (22), scoring (17). Cardinals defense: overall (17), rush (13), pass (18), scoring (11). Turnover differential: Seahawks minus-6, Cardinals minus-1. DT Leonard Williams has been one of the most dominant players in the league over the past two weeks. Williams had 2 1/2 sacks, four tackles for loss and three quarterback hits two weeks ago against the Cardinals. Williams sacked Aaron Rodgers twice and scored his first career touchdown on a 92-yard pick-6. QB Kyler Murray has had some good moments over the past two games and completed 31 of 45 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings. But he also threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter which proved costly. QB Geno Smith vs. Arizona's defense. Smith has had another solid season and now he'll face an Arizona defense that's been vastly improved over the past 1 1/2 months. The Cardinals have been much more productive in the pass rush with 23 sacks over the past six games. That ranks third in the NFL over that span. Coach Mike Macdonald said he is optimistic that P Michael Dickson (back spasms) will be able to play this weekend, but bringing in another punter this week is “on the table.”.. LB Uchenna Nwosu has a chance to play this week. Nwosu missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury, then injured his thigh in his first game back in Week 5, and has been on injured reserve since. ... The Cardinals are relatively healthy. DLs Darius Robinson (calf) and Dante Stills (back) have been limited in practice this week. The Seahawks have won six straight games in the series going back to 2022. The Cardinals last won 23-13 on Nov. 21, 2021. The Cardinals haven't won at home against the Seahawks since 2020. The Seahawks' next win will be the 400th in franchise history. ... Since Week 9, Seattle’s defense ranks fifth in the NFL with 17.5 points allowed per game, 299 yards allowed per game, and 84.3 rushing yards allowed per game, while ranking sixth in the league with 18.8 first downs allowed. ... The Seahawks have two pick-6s in the past two games, the first time the team has done so since 2012. ... The Seahawks have held three straight opponents to under 300 yards, and fewer than 100 rushing yards. ... Seattle has outscored its opponents by 37 points in the final two minutes of halves this season, the best in the NFL. .. WR DK Metcalf needs one receiving TD to pass Steve Largent for the most in a player’s first six seasons in franchise history with 47. ... Smith needs one 300-yard game to tie Russell Wilson for the most 300-yard games in a single season in franchise history with five. ... WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Needs 171 yards for his first 1,000-yard season, and to become the 10th player in franchise history to reach that mark. ... Arizona has won three straight games at home. The Cardinals outscored those opponents 77-30 while scoring nine touchdowns and allowing none. ... TE Trey McBride has caught 12 passes in two straight games, which is the first time a tight end has had at least 12 receptions in two straight games in NFL history. ... Arizona's six losses have come to teams with a combined 55-18 record this season entering Week 14. ... S Budda Baker has 114 tackles this season, which ranks sixth in the league. ... McBride's caught 73 passes this season. He needs just nine more catches over the next five games to break his franchise record for a tight end. ... WR Marvin Harrison Jr. has caught seven TD passes this season, which leads all NFL rookies. ... The Cardinals have been flagged for 61 penalties this season, which is the fewest in the NFL. But the team was flagged 10 times in last week's loss to the Vikings. Arizona's defense is a strong play at home. The Cardinals are giving up just 17 points per game at State Farm Stadium, which is second in the league behind Pittsburgh. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflWhat The Emerging AI Aesthetic In Film Says About UsSuper Micro Computer said on Friday it has received an extension from the Nasdaq till Feb. 25 to file its delayed annual and quarterly reports, sending the AI server maker's shares up 5 per cent in extended trading. Last month, Super Micro named BDO USA as its auditor and submitted a compliance plan to the stock exchange to file its annual and quarterly reports, after its listing came under threat when it failed to file its annual report in August. The company in August cited a need to assess "its internal controls over financial reporting" for the delay, a day after Hindenburg Research disclosed a short position. Super Micro said on Friday it expects to file all its required reports by Feb. 25, in order for the stock to remain listed on the Nasdaq. The company's AI servers with liquid cooling technology have been seeing strong demand from enterprises looking for hardware capable of powering artificial intelligence applications. Super Micro on Monday began a search for a new finance chief based on recommendations made by a special committee formed to look into its accounting practices.NEW YORK , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation - The global custom apparel market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.17 billon from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.04% during the forecast period. Rise in internet penetration and smartphone adoption is driving market growth, with a trend towards rise of diy culture and maker movement. However, availability of counterfeit products poses a challenge. Key market players include 4imprint Group plc, Adidas AG, Allied Shirts, Amazon.com Inc., CafePress Inc., Carhartt Inc., Cimpress Plc, CustomInk LLC, Designhill Inc., DOWNTOWN CUSTOM PRINTWEAR, Jakprints, Lynka Sp. Z.o.o., Nike Inc., Printful Inc., Redbubble Ltd., Society6 LLC, Spreadshirt Inc., TeeTalkies, THREADBIRD, UberPrints Inc., Vantage Custom Classics Inc., and Zazzle Inc.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The custom apparel market experiences growth due to fundamental requirements like clothing and shifting lifestyles. Active lifestyles fuel the expansion of sportswear and activewear segments in women's apparel. Fashion consciousness and emerging trends boost the popularity of fast-fashion clothing. Brands like H&M and Gap, known for their jerseys and emblems, employ advertising strategies using hoardings, television, and digital platforms. Sensitive topics, marketing strategies, hospitality, logistics, construction, medical, and denim sectors also contribute to the market's expansion. Customized apparel, including embroidery, screen printing, sublimation, heat transfer, reflective finishes, graphic t-shirts, and personalized designs, cater to various industries and consumer preferences. Digital printing technology, using cotton, silks, polyester, and inkjet technology, further enhances the market's versatility. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Market Challenges The custom apparel market faces a significant challenge from counterfeit products, particularly in APAC. Counterfeit apparel, produced through techniques like embroidery, screen printing, and digital printing, undermines market competition. Prices for counterfeit items are significantly lower than genuine branded apparel, leading to market share erosion. Developing countries, such as China , contribute significantly to this issue. Distinguishing original from counterfeit products can be challenging due to the duplication of unique features, logos, and designs. Other factors impacting the market include product quality, import duties, ethical concerns, and fashion trends. Custom apparel offerings include a range of items for women, men, and children, made from various fabrics like cotton, silks, and polyester. Sustainable production and eco-friendly fabrics are also gaining popularity. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This custom apparel market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Women 1.2 Men 1.3 Children 2.1 Offline 2.2 Online 3.1 APAC 3.2 North America 3.3 Europe 3.4 Middle East and Africa 3.5 South America 1.1 Women- Market segmentation in the custom apparel industry is primarily based on end-users, encompassing various demographics and application areas. This segment includes Women, Men, and Children, each with distinct fashion trends and preferences. Lyocell, a sustainable fabric, gains popularity among eco-conscious consumers, particularly in the Women's segment. Men seek Coats, Suits, and Pants, while Children's apparel features Skirts, Shirts, and personalized T-shirts with slogans or emblems. Fashion trends intertwine with social issues, giving rise to customized apparel for causes, such as sports teams' Jerseys. Advertising strategies employ Hoardings, Television, and sensitive topics to boost brand awareness. Upscale Clothes cater to the hospitality industry, while Logistics and Construction sectors rely on Denim and branded workwear. Online and offline retail channels serve as branding tools for customized apparel, fostering bespoke clothing market growth in the retail fashion sector. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) Research Analysis The custom apparel market encompasses various decorative techniques such as embroidery, screen printing, sublimation, heat transfer, and reflective finish. These methods allow for the creation of unique features on graphic t-shirts, customized clothing, and personalized designs, including logos and slogans. Digital printing technology, utilizing inkjet technology, has revolutionized the industry, enabling faster production and more intricate designs. Fashion trends continue to evolve, with personalized clothes, including coats, skirts, pants, shirts, and suits, gaining popularity for their ability to express individuality and support social issues or sports teams. Advertising strategies employing hoardings and television further boost the market's growth, making custom apparel an essential component in both personal and commercial spheres. Market Research Overview The Custom Apparel Market is a significant segment in the global fashion industry, characterized by the production of unique and personalized clothing items for individual consumers. This market caters to various customer preferences and demands, offering a wide range of styles, materials, and designs. The printing technology used in custom apparel production plays a crucial role in its growth, with advancements in digital and screen printing techniques enabling the creation of intricate and detailed designs. Sustainability is also a key trend in the custom apparel market, with an increasing focus on eco-friendly materials and production processes. The market is further driven by the rise of online platforms and social media, which facilitate easy access to custom apparel and enable customers to showcase their unique styles. Overall, the custom apparel market is a dynamic and innovative industry that continues to evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation End-user Women Men Children Distribution Channel Offline Online Geography APAC North America Europe Middle East And Africa South America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It's now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.Striking Woolworths employees are continuing to protest outside the supermarket giant’s distribution centre in Melbourne’s outer south-east, despite a ruling by the industrial umpire yesterday barring striking workers from blocking access to the site. A coach containing a group of people dressed in hi-vis vests arrived at the distribution centre in Dandenong South just before 8am Saturday, but quickly departed after the entrance was blocked by 10 people forming a picket line. A human barricade at Dandenong South distribution centre on Saturday morning. Credit: Adan Carey The supermarket giant has said it is eager to reopen its Melbourne South Regional Distribution Centre as soon as possible, after the Fair Work Commission made an interim ruling on Friday that striking United Workers Union (UWU) members could not blockade the warehouse entrance. There are two picketing groups outside the huge warehouse today. UWU members did not join this morning’s human barricade, rather, a group of sympathisers from other unions stood in a line to ensure the coach could not enter. People inside the coach could be seen filming the stand-off on their phones. It was not clear whether those on board were hired labour. Members of the barricade group chased the coach along Portlink Drive as it departed. A coach arriving at the distribution centre on Saturday morning. Credit: Adam Carey Woolworths has said the industrial action has cost the company at least $50 million so far . Workers are striking for better pay and conditions, and in protest against the use of automation in the Dandenong centre that the union says treats people as though they are robots. The commission did not order the strike to end, finding there was nothing to stop unionised workers from rallying at the four centres – but the picketers were ordered to allow safe passage in and out of the sites. In a statement released on Friday night, Woolworths said it planned to reopen its major Dandenong South distribution centre “as soon as possible”. The supermarket giant’s shelves have been stripped bare as the company was unable to restock groceries during a two-week strike that shuttered distribution centres in Victoria and NSW. Some Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores were also affected. Empty shelves at Woolworths’ Southbank store earlier this week. Credit: Woolworths filed an urgent Fair Work Commission application this week after previously attempting to bus workers – who were not UWU members – across the picket line and into the Dandenong South facility. The supermarket giant abandoned its plans, citing safety fears. The scene this week at Woolworths’ distribution centre in Dandenong South, where a strike has left shelves bare in stores all over Melbourne. Credit: Wayne Taylor The commission heard that about 30 staff, including Woolworths managers, had sought to work at the site before the company abandoned its plans to allow some non-union workers to return to work during the week. It also heard the centres usually had about 100 workers during each shift. About 300 people regularly work at the Dandenong site. Woolworths alleged that the union had breached good-faith bargaining provisions because the picket line blockaded the site. The Fair Work Commission found the union had an obligation not to obstruct work at the site, issuing a bargaining order against the union that it had breached the law in how it had operated the picket line. Commission deputy president Gerard Boyce ruled the picket line across the driveway of the distribution centre had been conducted in a way that was capricious and unfair. “I find that unlawful picketing or conduct that has the effect of obstructing the worksite has occurred,” Boyce said. “I find that the UWU is not meeting its good-faith requirements under the act.” Boyce also said the UWU had failed to provide evidence to support its position that the picket line was within the law. Negotiations between the union and Woolworths about the pay deal continue. Reacting to the decision, a Woolworths spokesperson said on Friday night that the company was “pleased” with the outcome. “Today’s decision is a positive step for our team members who want to get back to work before Christmas,” they said. “It also means we will be able to progressively boost stock levels across stores in Victoria.” The scene at the distribution centre in Dandenong South on December 3. Credit: Wayne Taylor During the hearing, Woolworths described the picket line as forcing it to negotiate with the striking workers’ union as though the company has a “gun to its head”. Woolworths said this week that the strike had cost $50 million in lost sales, and it expects further impacts on turnover until the strike is resolved. The union’s counsel, Hugh Crosthwaite, told the commission that the orders were unnecessary because the picket had not affected bargaining. “Bargaining since [December 2] has continued at great frequency, the parties are meeting regularly,” he said. “Bargaining is progressing in a completely orthodox way. There is simply nothing in the bargaining process to remedy. Indeed while we’re here, bargaining representatives are bargaining.” Crosthwaite also said it was “utterly implausible” that Woolworths could have operated the facility with the few staff it planned to bus in, as they were cleaners and others who did prep work rather than operators of the centre. UWU national secretary Tim Kennedy said this week that the union had been bargaining in good faith for months. “The best way to get workers back to work and shelves restocked in time for Christmas is for Woolworths to concentrate on reaching agreement at the bargaining table. Anything else is a distraction,” Kennedy said. 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Oxford crowned ‘brain rot’ as 2024’s word of the year. Here’s how to make it sparser in your ... [+] vocabulary come 2025. The term “brain rot” has taken social media and cultural discourse by storm, describing the erosion of our intellectual and emotional well-being due to endless consumption of low-quality online content. Coined as far back as 1854 by Henry David Thoreau in Walden , the idea of mental deterioration from trivial distractions has never been more relevant. With a 230% surge in usage between 2023 and 2024, this uptick signals a collective awakening to the negative impacts of our increasingly virtual lives. However, it’s not just a critique of technology—it’s a call for intentional living . While digital content isn’t inherently bad, unchecked consumption can lead to a passive, reactive state of mind that Thoreau himself cautioned against. As our engagement with digital media skyrockets, so do its effects on our mental and emotional health. The consequences of brain rot extend far beyond mere distraction. Here are four key ways it impacts us: Recognizing these impacts is key to reclaiming mental clarity and emotional balance in a digital-first world. But how do we reclaim our mental clarity and restore balance in a world designed to captivate—and often overwhelm—our minds? Here are four effective strategies to protect your brain from the rot of digital overconsumption. FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Stop Sending Texts FBI Warns Smartphone Users—Hang Up And Create A Secret Word Now Gmail Takeover Hack Attack—Google Warns You Have Just 7 Days To Act 1. Curate A ‘Mental Diet’ For Intentional Content Consumption Just as your body depends on a balanced diet for physical health, your mind thrives on the quality of the information you consume. Curate your "mental diet" with the intention to take control of your digital habits. Here’s where you can start: 2. Practice Digital Hygiene for Sustainable Tech Use Practicing digital hygiene means setting boundaries that allow you to use technology as a tool for productivity and connection without letting it dominate your life. Here’s how you can draw them: 3. Reconnect With Analog Experiences For Mental Clarity Analog activities not only ground us in the present but also counteract the mental fatigue that comes with constant digital engagement. Some points to consider here: 4. Elevate Your Cognitive Fitness With ‘Cross-Training For The Brain’ Think of your brain as a high-performance tool that thrives on diverse challenges. Keep it sharp by balancing intellectual tasks in ways that demand both focus and creativity. Next time you feel the pull of mindless scrolling, pause and ask yourself—is this feeding my growth or contributing to brain rot? That simple question might be the first step toward a healthier, more intentional relationship with technology. Wondering if your social media habits are unhealthy? Take the science-based Doomscrolling Scale Test to see if you might have a “doomscrolling” issue.Movie Review: Brave, mesmerizing Amy Adams triumphs over frustratingly odd script in ‘Nightbitch’ The question sounds so basic and friendly. But it’s actually loaded, as many mothers can attest. “Do you just love getting to be home with him all the time?” asks the younger, more put-together woman in the supermarket. “Must be so wonderful. Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press Dec 5, 2024 3:49 PM Dec 5, 2024 3:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Amy Adams in a scene from "Nightbitch." (Searchlight Pictures via AP) The question sounds so basic and friendly. But it’s actually loaded, as many mothers can attest. “Do you just love getting to be home with him all the time?” asks the younger, more put-together woman in the supermarket. “Must be so wonderful.” Wonderful, of course — and sometimes brain-numbing and soul-draining too, some exhausted fulltime moms might reply. Especially if, like Amy Adams’ character in Marielle Heller's “Nightbitch," they’d left their prized art gallery job to this other woman. And so Adams responds, twice, showing in this very opening scene exactly why her typically brave, brutally frank performance lifts this movie from an oddly uneven script to something unequivocally worth seeing. First we get the honest answer, the one no one really gives until later in the shower: she feels “stuck inside of a prison of my own creation,” where she torments herself and ends up binge-eating Fig Newtons to keep from crying. She is angry all the time. Oh and, she has gotten dumber. Then we rewind and director-writer Heller has Adams give her real answer: “I do, I love it! I love being a Mom.” There we are, two minutes and 13 seconds into “Nightbitch” and you may already find yourself wowed by Adams. If not, just wait until her Mother is sitting at a chic restaurant with a bunch of colleagues from the art world, and her fangs come out. And we don’t mean figuratively. We mean literally. Let’s go back to the beginning, shall we? “Nightbitch” is based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder, a feminist fable that the author has said came from her own malaise when pausing work for child-rearing. She sets her tale in an unidentified suburb of an unidentified city. Mother (characters all have generic names), formerly an admired installation artist, spends her weekdays alone with her adorable, blond 2-year old Son. Husband has a job that seems to bring him home only on weekends. The early scenes depicting Mother’s life are tight and impactful, a contrast to the confused havoc that will come toward the end of the film. Life revolves around the playground and the home, with occasional trips to storytime at the library where she notes, in narration, that she has no interest in the company of other moms — why should they be friends just because they're moms? In fact, Mother lives in solitude, and director Heller does a nice job illustrating how that feels you can almost feel the weight of the afternoon coming around, at this comfortable but hardly ostentatious home, when it’s too early for dinner and you’ve done all the activities already and you wonder if you can make it through the day. Then things start to get weird. In the bathroom mirror, Mother starts noticing things. Her teeth are getting sharper. There’s something weird coming out of an apparent cyst at the bottom of her spine. She finds extra nipples. And that’s before she starts eating rare meat. (Also, if you love cats, you may want to close your eyes at one point.) Somewhow Adams, who also produces here, makes these things seem, if not quite natural, then logical. What's happening is that Mother’s frustration is becoming ferocious. Dangerously ferocious. But also — empowering. At night, or so she thinks, she is a wild dog. Aspects of the film work wonderfully. Mother’s relationship with Son (twins Arleigh and Emmett Snowden) is lovely, largely due to a decision to let the young boys talk freely, with the adult actors reacting to their words. It lends a grounding realism to a film that quickly veers surreal. Less successful is the relationship between Mother and Husband (Scoot McNairy), which takes on too much importance as the film goes on, in a baffling way, rather than Mother’s transformation. (Also, just asking, has anyone in this movie ever heard of a babysitter?) More importantly, a story that posits itself on such a tantalizing idea — that by transforming into a dog, Mother discovers her true nature and power —resorts late in the game to a safer story about a marriage that never seemed appealing enough for us to care about anyway. It doesn't help that it's hard to grasp the distracting subplot about Mother’s own mother. None of this takes away from the strength of Adams’ performance. You believe her love for her child as much as you believe her resentment for what he is taking away from her. And Adams can make almost any line work, including one about a walnut. But we digress. It’s an irony that for reasons of storytelling, characters have generic names — because Adams is such a singular and particular, talent. The journey she embarks upon is bizarre indeed, but you won’t regret taking it with her. “Nightbitch,” a Searchlight Pictures release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association “for language and some sexuality. “ Running time: 98 minutes. Two stars out of four. Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More Entertainment News Specially minted Paul McCartney UK coins to go on sale as part of legends collection Dec 5, 2024 4:11 PM Exiled Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's definition of home is shifting Dec 5, 2024 1:44 PM Q&A: Binoche and Fiennes on reuniting for ‘The Return' and fighting for meaningful movies Dec 5, 2024 1:23 PM Featured FlyerMIAMI , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at Art Basel Miami, Blue Square X proudly announced an expansion of its art curation services to further elevate the Vision X LED series. Building on its success with collaborations featuring artists like ThankYouX, Nick Thomm , Brooke Einbender , JN Silva, and institutions such as Art Republic and BlackDove, the company continues to lead at the intersection of art and technology. Past installations include Leila Pinto at Pace Gallery, Jennifer Steinkamp at Lehmann Maupin Gallery, and Anthony Samaniego of Art Republic. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.