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Diablo IV 2.4.0 PTR to Preview New Features Before Season 10

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Diablo IV will open its 2.4.0 Public Test Realm (PTR) ahead of the next season. The testing period allows players to try the upcoming patch changes and new features before season 10 goes live.

According to Blizzard Entertainment, the PTR will include trial runs of the base game and the Vessel of Hatred edition. Specifically, this phase focuses on features like refined Infernal Hordes, Chaos Perks, and the all-new Chaos Armor.

In addition, the video game developer emphasizes that the updates will change how players approach gearing, increase the intensity, and add bonuses.

Revamped Infernal Hordes Bring Higher Stakes

Diablo IV: Season 10 is set to introduce more intense Infernal Hordes. During a run, players will encounter fresh Chaos Monsters that become buffs when destroyed. At the same time, there are Chaos Waves that increase difficulty but reward more once survived. Ultimately, users will be given the chance to choose between going against the Fell Council or battling Warlord of Blood Bartuc to end the Infernal Hordes run.

Chaos Perks Redefine Buildcraft

Chaos Perks are shaking up the buildcraft of Diablo IV with many ways to play. They introduce a new layer of progression to the game. Available in four rarities (Magic, Rare, Legendary, Unique), these perks change the way skills function. Each class gets 16 perks — four for each rarity and four for each class. Specifically, the Chaos Perks in the new patch update allow players to dispense devastating combos, chaotic bursts, and risk-reward mechanics. With both universal and class-specific options, Chaos Perks unlock distinct, game-changing playstyles.

New Chaos Armor Unlocks Untapped Power

Chaos Armor debuts as the game’s latest Unique Armor type. Additionally, it is more powerful than other Unique items in previous versions of the game. As it serves as a stronger Item slots counterpart, it unlocks new ways for players to unleash destruction. Likewise, it will always appear at maximum power level and at least have one greater affix. The armor also shifts into items that occupy a different slot than its original type. Particularly, the Chaos Armor will be available in slots such as the boots, chest, gloves, helm, and pants.

The upcoming 2.4.0 PTR for Diablo IV will be live from August 19 – 26. Accordingly, Blizzard Entertainment will gather community feedback to make necessary adjustments in order to remove bugs and fine-tune the overall gameplay. Furthermore, the PTR allows the developers to enhance the gaming experience as they test new systems.

A Guide to the Best Lightweight SPFs of 2025

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When it comes to skincare, one step you should never skip is suncream. With summer in full swing, it’s especially important to stay consistent, to reduce the risk of sun damage, and protect your natural glow. Often, SPFs consisted of a heavy greasy formula, which made applying makeup on top feel suffocating. However, there have been many recent developments in making them more comfortable to wear, as well as product launches that provide protection of up to SPF 50 but feel undetectable – as if you’re wearing nothing. Now, with shelves full of options, it can be overwhelming to identify which formulas deliver and show results. That’s why we’ve rounded up the absolute best SPFs that beauty lovers swear by and do more than protect – they elevate your routine. 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir Daily Invisible Fluid SPF 50 

This sunscreen is a lightweight serum base which utilises UVAir technology to protect you from harmful UV rays whilst keeping oiliness to a minimum for up to 16 hours! This SPF not only offers invisible protection to the point where you forget you’re wearing it, but it also contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to help even out skin tone and give a smooth, skin-like finish. An additional plus is that this La Roche-Posay formula is non-comedogenic and therefore won’t clog up your pores like some others – perfect for those with normal to oily skin types.

Available at La Roche Posay for £25.00.

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50 

This K-Beauty SPF is a rice water infused lotion which after applied, dries down to a sheer satin finish. Although this product is highly moisturising and deeply hydrating, it is weightless and gentle on the skin – perfect for those with sensitive skin types or acne prone skin. Formulated with calming extracts, this SPF avoids any stinging or irritation upon application. On top of that, this silky sheer sunscreen will leave your skin glowing, blurring any imperfections, yielding a radiant glass skin appearance.

Available at Boots for £13.95.

Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 30 

This lightly tinted cream enhances your natural glow by adding a subtle, luminous sheen – it’s like your skin but better. This viral SPF is made up of a weightless formula that protects your skin from sun damage without the stickiness and grease. It also again contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to not only maintain the skin’s protective moisture barrier, but also promote firmer, more resilient skin. Overall, if you’re going for a dewy sun-kissed look, the Supergoop! SPF is definitely worth including into your skincare routine!

Available at Space NK for £18.00.

La Mer The SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid 

This luxurious lotion blends well and melts into the skin, giving that natural feeling, so that you can stay protected without the white cast. Formulated from sea kelp and antiaging vitamins and minerals such as La Mer’s Miracle Broth, this holy grail SPF keeps the skin soft, supple, and hydrated whilst preventing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. With this lightweight formula it helps your skin to fend off premature ageing, as well as sun damage. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a high-end, breathable sunscreen that actually feels good on your skin, and plays nice with your makeup, then your search ends here!

Available at LA Mer for £95.00.

Book Review: The Cinema of Kinoshita Keisuke

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A note before we begin. Although the editors of the tome under review elected to list Japanese names in their native order—family name first, personal name second—I will use this format only when citing the book’s title and specific television shows. Japanese names in all other instances will appear in the western format: personal name first, surname last. So: I’ll call The Cinema of Kinoshita Keisuke and The Kinoshita Keisuke Hour by name, but otherwise refer to the eponymous director as Keisuke Kinoshita.

In Audie Bock’s 1978 study Japanese Film Directors, Masaki Kobayashi—the maker of such classics as Samurai Rebellion (1959), The Inheritance (1962), and Kwaidan (1964)—said the following about his mentor, Keisuke Kinoshita: “He can do anything; no one has as much breadth as he does. He’s a real film genius, the only one in the postwar era.” Despite this praise and their professional association, these directors, in many ways, couldn’t have been more unalike. Kobayashi directed a mere twenty features; Kinoshita helmed fifty-one—nearly three times as many. Kobayashi, through his movies, depicted a harsh world populated by rebellious characters; Kinoshita used cinema to showcase an unabashed love for humanity. Kobayashi abhorred television, shooting his drama The Fossil on the condition that he could subsequently edit the show into a 200-minute movie; his mentor not only embraced the small screen but used it to forge a second career in 1964. And in terms of book-length studies in English: Stephen Prince blessed us with a valuable Kobayashi tome in 2017; Kinoshita, sadly, has long lacked the same level of scholarship.

But now, almost thirty years after the man’s death, Edinburgh University Press has published a volume to help fill that gap. Edited by David Desser and Earl Jackson, The Cinema of Kinoshita Keisuke: Films of Joy and Sorrow is a collection of thirteen essays with topics ranging from the titular moviemaker’s technique to the impact his work had on generations of moviegoers (and, it turns out, television viewers). Kinoshita started directing in 1943, the same year as his contemporary Akira Kurosawa. (Eerily enough, they each passed away in 1998, shortly after Kinema Junpo magazine ran a special issue on the two “perhaps,” as Lauri Kitsnik suggests in her essay, “in anticipation […] of the impending demise of both filmmakers.”) Kinoshita is arguably best known for the tear-soaked drama Twenty-Four Eyes (1954), about a schoolteacher who watches her students grow up through Japan’s prewar, wartime, and postwar years. And while The Cinema of Kinoshita Keisuke grants substantial attention to that picture, the book goes above and beyond to discuss other titles in his filmography and how they operated within their genres and aesthetic frameworks.

The thirteen essayists pick and choose from Kinoshita’s fifty-one pictures to delve into their chosen topics. Earl Jackson discusses the “contrary messages” of Kinoshita’s wartime films, Daisuke Miyao tackles cinematography and filters it through the observations of New Wave director—and former assistant to Kinoshita—Yoshishige “Kiju” Yoshida, etc. And in what is most welcome for enthusiasts of the filmmaker under discussion, at long last we’ve received a healthy dose of information regarding the director’s television career. Kinoshita not only endorsed TV but even went so far as to form his own production company to capitalize on the medium. And given that the shows he made (Kinoshita Keisuke Theater, The Kinoshita Keisuke Hour, Kinoshita Keisuke’s Songs of People) aren’t available outside Japan, it’s a treat to at least learn about their origins and reception.

Sprinkled in along the way are glimpses into the director’s life and personality. One highlight comes from filmmaker Yoji Yamada, who comments that no one could join Kinoshita’s team unless they were “an elegant, well-groomed young man.” This (perhaps facetious) remark fits in with speculative tangents attempting to draw connections between the story/visual elements in Kinoshita’s films and their maker’s sexuality. In 1951, the director made a film called Wedding Ring, about a married businesswoman and the emotional fracas she experiences after meeting a handsome doctor played by Toshiro Mifune. This picture contains numerous shots of Mifune—including one wherein the camera travels up his body as he prepares to leap into the ocean—that Earl Jackson has suggested not only represented the heroine’s viewpoint but was also Kinoshita’s way of encouraging “an identification with the onscreen woman by gay male spectators.” In the book, Jackson further speculates that Kinoshita, through his experience as a gay man, might’ve sympathized with a subplot in 1954’s The Garden of Women regarding a young girl who is forbidden to be with the person of her choosing.

The Cinema of Kinoshita Keisuke is rich with translated statements from the titular director as well as his staff—not to mention film scholars in Japan. (In fact, one of the essays, Mina Ku’s, originally appeared in the Japanese publication Eizogaku and was converted into English for this book by Adam Sutherland.) However, there is a particularly disturbing bit of “research” worth addressing. The second-to-last essay comes from editor David Desser, who at one point directly quotes Wikiwand, of all places! Now, I’m the first to admit that wikis can play a role in contemporary research: as starting points to scan references and compile lists of resources to look into later. But to quote a platform that anyone can edit at any time—to treat it as the final step rather than the first—is immediately suspect. To Desser’s credit, he does this just once, but I won’t pretend I wasn’t disappointed to see a reputable scholar resort to such laziness.

Keisuke Kinoshita’s filmography has never been more accessible to Occidental viewers: the bulk of his works is presently available on platforms such as the Criterion Channel in the U.S. and on BFI Player and Box of Broadcasts in the U.K. Given that we live in an age when one can enjoy gems such as The Girl I Loved (1946), Carmen Comes Home (1951), A Japanese Tragedy (1953), and The Snow Flurry (1959), it’s ideal and only fitting to also have an informative text on the man who made them. The Cinema of Kinoshita Keisuke is a much-needed book that has arrived at the most opportune time.

How 5G Will Transform Real-Time Multiplayer Experiences on Mobile

Remember when phone games lagged, had long loading times, or suddenly lost connection? With 5G, those problems are going away. 5G makes games faster and smoother. This helps a lot, especially when playing with others on platforms like https://20bet.com/prematch in real time.

Why 5G Matters for Gamers

In games like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG, even one second of delay can make you lose. 5G makes this delay much shorter. It is up to 100 times faster than 4G. The time it takes for your phone to talk to the game server can be as low as 1 millisecond. This changes the game a lot.

The Rise of Competitive Mobile Gaming

Mobile games used to be easy—just tap and swipe to pass time. Now they have ranked matches, tournaments, and esports too. Players expect high performance and instant responses. 5G helps deliver that. It keeps matches fair and quick, making mobile games feel more like console or PC experiences.

The World Becomes a Playground

With 5G, your world becomes part of the game. You can play AR battles near your house or join hunts that change with real events. Before, you needed good Wi-Fi or fancy phones. Now, 5G helps these games work well anywhere.

Fewer Drops, More Wins

Let’s say you’re playing a battle royale game on the bus. With 4G, you risk getting kicked off during a signal hiccup. With 5G, the connection is steadier. It can handle more users at once without slowing down. That means fewer dropped matches and more solid victories.

Cross-Platform Play Gets Better

Real-time games are becoming more connected. You can play against friends on a console, a PC, or another phone. But the biggest challenge? Keeping everyone in sync. 5G helps mobile gamers keep up with faster systems. It evens the playing field.

Cloud Gaming Without Limits

5G makes cloud gaming better. Instead of your phone running the game, a strong computer far away does it. You watch and play on the internet. 5G gives fast and steady internet. This helps games run smoothly on your phone. Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now already work on phones. With 5G, they will work even better.

Bigger Worlds, Smaller Phones

Game developers can create massive online worlds without needing players to own high-end phones. Why? The game runs mostly on the server. 5G helps your phone send and get data very fast. This makes the game feel like it’s happening right now. It also lets mobile games try new ideas.

Teamwork Feels More Natural

Voice chat is a huge part of multiplayer games. You need to talk to teammates clearly and instantly. On 4G, voice can lag or cut out. On 5G, it’s clear and smooth, even during fast action scenes. That makes communication easier, smarter, and more fun.

Games Can React in Real-Time

Imagine a game that changes with the weather, traffic, or events near you. With fast 5G, your phone can do this easily. Developers can update games on the fly or let players influence live maps and characters. The game world feels alive and connected.

More Players, Less Chaos

Have you ever been in a match with 100 players and everything starts lagging? 5G can handle more people playing at the same time. Whether it’s a massive PvP battle or a live event in an open world, everyone stays connected without slowing down.

Power Efficiency for Longer Play

5G networks are not just fast—they’re smart. They use energy more efficiently. Your phone’s battery won’t run out fast during quick games. You can play longer without needing to charge.

Room for Creativity

Developers are excited. With fewer tech limits, they can try new ideas. They can make games that use real places, live play, or groups of players. , we’re likely to see games that couldn’t exist before now made possible by 5G.

Better Performance in More Places

4G has trouble in crowded areas—like concerts, sports events, or airports. 5G is built to support many devices in one place. So whether you’re at a festival or walking through a city square, you can still enjoy smooth real-time games with friends nearby or across the world.

From Solo to Social

Real-time games are more than just fast—they’re social. They’re about sharing wins, cheering for your team, or planning moves together. 5G boosts all of that. It makes every multiplayer game feel more alive, more connected, and more personal.

More Than Just Phones

5G doesn’t just help smartphones. It connects smart glasses, AR headsets, and wearables too. That opens doors to new mobile game formats. Picture playing a real-time strategy game on your glasses while walking in the park. The lines between physical and digital blur even more.

Access for All

In many areas, 5G is spreading faster than fiber internet. This means more people can play fast games without buying costly equipment. A phone and a good data plan could be all you need to enjoy cutting-edge multiplayer titles. That’s a big deal for global gaming growth.

Challenges Ahead

Not everything is perfect. 5G still needs wider coverage. In rural or remote areas, the signal may not be strong yet. Also, data usage can grow fast, and not all plans are affordable. Game studios must make games that work well even if 5G is slow or weak.

Preparing for the Future

Game companies are already building for 5G. They’re testing live battle systems, real-world multiplayer maps, and interactive cloud features. They’re thinking ahead to what players will want—and how 5G can make it happen. This is just the beginning of a new gaming era.

Behind the Lens: How Modern Visuals Amplify Our Cultural Moments

In today’s cultural scene, visuals are no longer just supporting elements. They have become central to how we experience and remember moments. Whether it’s a music video drop, the unveiling of a new art collection, or a behind-the-scenes look at a fashion shoot, imagery shapes how we connect with these events. It influences how stories are told and how audiences engage with them.

Awing Visuals, known for its cinematic style, is a reminder of how much thought goes into capturing these moments. Their work shows that intentional, high-quality visuals can turn an event into something that resonates far beyond its original setting. When the camera becomes part of the storytelling, the audience is invited into an experience rather than just shown a snapshot.

Visual Storytelling in the Music World

Music releases have always been about sound first. But in recent years, visuals have taken on an equal role in the overall impact of an album or single. Artists release visualizers, short films, and behind-the-scenes reels that expand on their creative vision. These pieces give fans more than just a track to play. They offer a mood, a narrative, and a context that deepens the listening experience.

Think of a live performance captured with care. The lighting, camera angles, and pacing can make viewers at home feel the same energy as the crowd in the venue. In many cases, these videos become part of the artist’s identity, influencing how the music is remembered.

Art Exhibitions in Motion

In the art world, exhibitions were once limited to those who could physically attend. Now, video coverage and carefully shot photography bring these events to global audiences. The movement of a camera through a gallery can recreate the feeling of walking between works. It can capture the play of light on a sculpture or the texture of a painting in a way that still images cannot.

For curators and artists, this opens up new possibilities. Documenting an exhibition is no longer just archival work. It becomes part of the artistic process, with the video itself serving as a creative interpretation of the show.

Fashion’s Dynamic Side

Fashion has long relied on strong visuals, but the shift toward digital media has pushed the medium further. Editorial shoots now blend photography with video, creating hybrid pieces that feel alive. Social media clips capture the movement of a dress or the personality of a model in ways a single frame never could.

Fashion week coverage is another example. Live streams, recap videos, and designer interviews give viewers a complete experience. They can see the garments, hear the music, and feel the atmosphere of the show from anywhere in the world.

Why Visuals Resonate in Culture

High-quality visuals connect with audiences on an emotional level. They make cultural moments more accessible and memorable. They give context to what is being shared, whether that is a song, an artwork, or a clothing collection.

Here are a few reasons why visuals play such a powerful role in cultural storytelling:

  • They set the mood. Lighting, framing, and movement work together to create a feeling.
  • They provide context. Viewers can understand the environment, the people involved, and the significance of the moment.
  • They enhance memory. A striking image or video clip can stick in someone’s mind long after the event.

The Balance of Art and Documentation

Visual storytellers often walk a fine line between documenting and interpreting. The goal is to preserve the authenticity of the moment while adding artistic elements that enhance it. Too much manipulation can make a piece feel staged. Too little attention to detail can make it flat or forgettable.

The best cultural visuals often feel both spontaneous and intentional. They have a rhythm and flow that guides the viewer’s eye, while still letting the raw energy of the moment shine through.

The Technology Behind the Lens

While the artistry of the creator is most important, technology has made modern cultural visuals more dynamic than ever. Lightweight cameras, drones, and stabilizers allow for shots that were once impossible. Editing tools give storytellers the ability to shape footage in creative ways without losing authenticity.

These tools don’t replace vision. Instead, they expand what is possible. They let creators match the tone of the visuals to the tone of the cultural moment they are capturing.

Bringing Audiences Closer

One of the most valuable outcomes of high-quality visual storytelling is the way it bridges gaps. People who can’t attend a concert, gallery opening, or runway show can still feel like part of the experience. They can watch, rewatch, and share these moments with others.

For cultural movements, this is crucial. It means that important moments don’t fade as soon as they are over. They live on in ways that inspire new conversations and connections.

A Future Where Visuals Lead the Way

Looking ahead, it’s clear that visuals will continue to drive how we engage with culture. Short-form video, immersive livestreams, and interactive media will give audiences even more ways to participate. Cultural highlights will not only be documented but reimagined through creative visual work.

The challenge for visual storytellers will be to keep the human touch in a world where technology can do so much. The most memorable moments will always come from a balance of skill, style, and an understanding of the culture they aim to capture.

The Language of Luck: How Culture Shapes Casino Terminology Worldwide

Casinos are more than just places to gamble; they are living examples of how language and culture intertwine with the pursuit of luck. From the clatter of roulette wheels in Monte Carlo to the bright lights of online platforms like the 4Rabet website in India, the terminology used in gambling is heavily influenced by local customs, history, and even superstition. For newcomers, registering and exploring these platforms is easy—you can start your gaming journey seamlessly at 4Rabet registration, giving you access to a wide array of slots, table games, and live dealer experiences while learning the language of luck.

Understanding casino terminology is more than just memorizing words; it’s about appreciating the culture that shaped them. Words like “hit,” “double down,” or “jackpot” carry different connotations across regions, reflecting the local attitude toward chance, strategy, and celebration. As you play and explore online casinos, you’ll notice that cultural nuances affect everything from the names of games to the gestures, slang, and superstitions that players follow.

Origins of Casino Terminology

Many gambling terms have roots in history and society. In European casinos, words like “croupier” (French for dealer) and “roulette” (meaning “little wheel”) are borrowed from the French language. In contrast, American casinos introduced terms like “hot streak” or “cold table,” reflecting both the optimism and superstition inherent in the Las Vegas gambling culture.

In Asian cultures, terminology often ties into luck and symbolism. For instance, in Chinese casinos, numbers like 8 and 9 are considered auspicious, and phrases like “fu” (meaning fortune) are commonly used. Understanding these terms can give players insight into local traditions and help them navigate games more effectively.

The Role of Superstition in Language

Superstition plays a central role in shaping casino terminology. Phrases like “lucky charm,” “beginner’s luck,” or “jinx” are common across the gambling world, yet each culture interprets them differently. In Japan, for example, certain gestures or rituals before placing a bet are believed to influence outcomes, while in the West, players often focus on lucky coins or specific numbers.

The language of luck isn’t just poetic; it’s functional. It gives players a sense of control in an inherently unpredictable environment. Knowing which phrases are considered lucky or unlucky can even influence how you approach betting strategies.

Table Games and Cultural Nuances

Table games are a prime example of how culture shapes terminology. Blackjack, poker, baccarat, and roulette each have distinct linguistic traditions.

  • Blackjack: Terms like “hit,” “stand,” and “split” originated in English-speaking countries and reflect a strategic approach to the game. In French, the game is called “Vingt-et-Un” (21), emphasizing the goal rather than the actions.
  • Poker: Known for its bluffing and psychological tactics, poker has spawned a rich vocabulary, including words like “all-in,” “call,” and “river.” Many of these terms have evolved differently in international poker circles.
  • Baccarat: Popular in Asia and Europe, baccarat terms often reflect elegance and simplicity. Words like “punto banco” (player-bank) come from Italian and Spanish origins.

By understanding these variations, players can appreciate the historical and cultural context behind every table game.

Slot Machines: Universal Yet Culturally Infused

While slots are visually universal, their terminology and themes are heavily influenced by culture. In the United States, classic slots use terms like “reels,” “paylines,” and “jackpot,” often featuring symbols such as cherries, bars, and sevens. In Japan, pachinko machines use terms like “hanabi” (fireworks) and “koi-koi” (a traditional card game), blending cultural storytelling with gameplay.

Online casinos like 4Rabet integrate these diverse traditions, offering slots with themes that appeal to players worldwide. By exploring these games, you not only chase wins but also learn how cultural context shapes the gaming experience.

Language of Luck in Online Casinos

With the rise of online casinos, the language of luck has evolved yet again. Digital platforms offer chat functions, interactive guides, and community forums where players share tips and slang. Terms like “cash-out,” “multiplier,” or “demo mode” are now standard in online gambling, bridging cultural gaps and creating a new global casino lexicon.

Platforms like 4Rabet website in India allow users to register easily at https://4ra-bets.com/registration/ and dive into this multilingual, multicultural world of betting. Here, players encounter traditional casino terminology alongside digital-era phrases, reflecting the evolution of gambling language in the modern age.

Regional Variations and Local Flavor

Even within the same game, regional terminology can differ. For example:

  • In the UK, poker terms like “flop” and “muck” are widely used, while in Asia, English terms are often adapted into local phonetics.
  • Roulette in Europe uses French phrases like “la partage” (a rule that gives half the bet back on zero) while American casinos refer to “even money” bets.
  • Slot bonuses may be called “free spins” in the West but “bonus rounds” or “mini-games” in other cultures.

Recognizing these differences enriches the gaming experience and helps players communicate more effectively with international communities.

Influence of Media and Pop Culture

Television, movies, and online content have also influenced casino terminology. Shows like Las Vegas, movies like Casino Royale, and streaming content from platforms like YouTube have introduced audiences to poker slang, betting jargon, and the dramatized language of high-stakes gaming.

This media exposure has helped standardize certain terms across regions while also introducing playful, culturally-specific expressions that add flavor to online casinos.

Learning the Language of Luck

For new players, learning the language of luck can be both practical and entertaining. Understanding terms improves gameplay, allows you to follow instructions, and helps you engage with other players. Many online platforms, including 4Rabet, provide guides, tutorials, and customer support to familiarize users with key phrases and game mechanics.

Exploring the cultural roots of casino terminology also adds a layer of enjoyment. Whether it’s learning why the number 8 is lucky in Chinese culture or why “double down” conveys boldness in English, these insights deepen your appreciation for the global gambling tradition.

Final Thoughts

The language of luck is more than words—it’s a reflection of history, culture, and human psychology. From European croupiers to Asian numerology, from classic table games to modern online slots, every term carries meaning, tradition, and sometimes superstition. By understanding these nuances, players can navigate casino environments more confidently and enjoy a richer gaming experience.

Platforms like 4Rabet website in India provide an excellent gateway into this world. By registering at 4ra-bets.com/registration/, players can access a vast selection of games, explore cultural influences, and immerse themselves in the global language of luck—all from the comfort of their own home.

Whether you’re chasing jackpots, testing strategies, or simply enjoying the thrill of the spin, knowing the language behind the games makes every bet more meaningful and every win more rewarding.

Perfect Match Season 4: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

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Perfect Match has a lot going for it. Besides the fun format, it features contestants from the Netflix Reality Universe. Many viewers are already familiar with them from popular titles like Love Is Blind or Too Hot to Handle.

There’s no wonder the series continues to be a hit. Season 3, now in the rearview mirror, is currently the number 7 show on the platform globally, with 2.8 million views this week alone. If you’re hungry for more episodes, the odds are looking good.

Perfect Match Season 4 Release Date

At the time of writing, Netflix hasn’t officially announced Perfect Match season 4. That said, strong viewership numbers are always a positive sign. Plus, the streamer sometimes waits a bit before giving the green light, so we’re cautiously optimistic about the show’s future.

The first season of Perfect Match premiered in 2023, with subsequent ones following in 2024 and 2025. As long as the series gets renewed, we’ll likely get more episodes sometime in summer 2026.

Perfect Match Season 4 Cast

Since there’s no news on season 4 yet, we also don’t know anything about the cast. Nick Lachey hosts the series, but it’s going to be a while until we find out which contestants from other reality shows are ready to take on a new challenge.

The season 3 cast featured  stars from Love Is Blind, Too Hot to Handle, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, The Circle, The Bachelor, Love Island, and more.

What Is Perfect Match About?

Love and strategy collide in Perfect Match, which makes the show particularly addictive.

The reality series challenges contestants to form connections while competing in compatibility games designed to test everything from communication skills to trust. Each night, couples pair off and move into private suites, while the singles left unmatched risk elimination.

The twist lies in power. Winners of the daily challenges also gain control over the game, with the ability to shake up existing relationships by sending new contestants into the mix or splitting up established couples.

While that may seem complicated at first glance, once you learn the rules, you’ll be a goner. The show’s blend of romance and rivalry invites drama, so each episode becomes an intoxicating mishmash of steamy moments and unexpected twists.

The show retained its format for season 3, when Lucy and Daniel were crowned winners. We don’t expect a potential Perfect Match season 4 to shake things up too much. Why mess with a successful formula?

Are There Other Shows Like Perfect Match?

If you’re into Perfect Match, you’ll probably enjoy other shows that tackle romance and competition. The list includes The Ultimatum: Queer Love, The Mole, Bachelor in Paradise, Battle Camp, and Ex on the Beach.

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes Season 2: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

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Will our collective fascination with serial killers ever fizzle? Based on how many people watched the latest installment of Netflix’s Conversations with a Killer series, it’s highly unlikely.

Tackling the notorious David Berkowitz, known as Son of Sam, the docuseries is currently a top 10 show in 20 countries where the streaming service is available. It also gathered 1.7 million views in the last week alone, proving that the true crime genre still has a hold on audiences worldwide.

Could this mean more similar content is on the way?

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes Season 2 Release Date

At the time of writing, there’s no official news on a potential Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes season 2. That said, the series will probably continue to profile other killers.

The Son of Sam Tapes is the fourth chapter in the Conversations with a Killer series. Previous installments focus on Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy.

While we might have to wait a couple of years for a fresh batch of episodes, it will be worth it. So far, each new entry in the franchise has been equal parts disturbing and illuminating.

The Son of Sam Tapes Cast

  • Mary Murphy
  • Joseph Borrelli
  • Jack Jones
  • Lawrence Klausner
  • Manny Grossman
  • Marlin Hopkins
  • Richard Edmonds

What Is Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes About?

This gripping docuseries offers an unsettling look into one of America’s most infamous serial killers.

Over the course of three episodes, this installment in the Conversations with a Killer anthology revisits the 1976–1977 terror inflicted on New York by David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam.

The series delivers audio interviews, present-day reflections from reliable sources, and archival information. Together, the mix allows viewers to delve deeper into Berkowitz’s psyche, as well as understand the societal impact of his crimes.

We learn more about Berkowitz’s troubled upbringing and the motivations behind the killings. Additionally, the docuseries offers a comprehensive analysis of his mindset, while also explaining how the case became a touchstone for modern true crime.

If you’re interested in the genre, it’s a must-watch for sure.

Are There Other Shows Like Conversations with a Killer?

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam season 2 might not become a thing. But if you found this installment interesting, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the rest of the anthology.

Other recent true crime docuseries on Netflix include Amy Bradley Is Missing, Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, Attack on London, and Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30,000 Ft.

Album Review: Cass McCombs, ‘Interior Live Oak’

“I never lie in my songs,” Cass McCombs repeats on ‘I Never Dream About Trains’, a highlight from Interior Live Oak, his 11th album, which means he has certainly released over a hundred. Lest you take his words at face value, the odd specificity of the ensuing lyrics should elicit some skepticism (“I never dream about holding you tight/ On the sand in Pescadero”). What he sings on the previous song, though, is much closer to the truth: “I mean everything I say, or something quite like it.” The meaning of Interior Live Oak, a 12-song double album that follows 2022’s excellent but much more concise Heartmind, remains elusive, but McCombs manages to weave it all together, singing through a cast of unreliable narrators that only cement his own musical consistency and earnestness. They are dancers and cynics, real and imagined, brutally honest and spiritually truth-bearing. If they all, at times, seem buried in sleep, that’s because dreams, they say, have no lies to hide.


1. Priestess

One of two songs produced with Sam Owens (aka Sam Evian), ‘Priestess’ is an elegy – “of sorts,” the press bio aptly clarifies – for a friend, though the lyrics are as cryptically phantasmagoric as the hook is tight. “You saw that each one of us/ Are opaque as woven air/ Your dark humor no one could touch,” McCombs sings, capturing a whiff of it, but too intimate to be brutally honest.

2. Peace

Introduced by an exquisite acoustic riff and ending with a scruffy guitar solo, ‘Peace’ feels like a warm extension of ‘Priestess’ – both were advance singles – fixating on the word we use to bid farewell. It’s not so much about being fearless in the face of death so much as embracing fear amidst certainty. 

3. Missionary Bell

With death still on his mind, McCombs gets more earnest and philosophical, his acoustic guitar playing simpler. As he lingers on the metaphor of “fathomless oceans,” his stately melody is the opposite of discordant, carrying you gently along. There are no bad songs on Interior Live Oak, but few as understated, and none better. 

4. Miss Mabee

McCombs breaks the mood with a chugging, playful song that relies on the titular bit of wordplay (“Maybe Miss Mabee will, maybe Miss Mabee won’t”). Not much more to offer, but it does its job.

5. Home at Last

McCombs keeps things humorous with ‘Home at Last’, only this time it’s moodily self-deprecating. He’s aware of having to make a double album cohere instead of feeling like a disparate collection of songs, and it comes through even in the subtlest lyrical decisions: “Greeted by the hand of my maker/ I will shake it a lot/ Maybe some old streetlamp will blink once for me/ Maybe not.” Mr. Mabee, perhaps?

6. I’m Not Ashamed

Returning to unadorned, nostalgic sweetness, the narrator digs up a past without shame – a childhood where he’d climb on top of cherry trees, threatened by teeth-baring clouds – and projects it onto the present. If only the course of our lives could feel so weightless and pure; something’s lost in growing up, but maybe we can learn from it. 

7. Who Removed the Cellar Door?

Widening the scope of the album, ‘Who Removed the Cellar Door?’ is quite a filmic interrogation of the titular prompt, with a strong melody that makes it easy to follow the narrative. Co-producer and longtime collaborator Chris Cohen helps create an ominous atmosphere, weaving the song around wafts of guitar and low-end fuzz. 

8. A Girl Named Dogie 

After ‘Miss Mabee’ we get ‘A Girl Named Dogie’, which maintains the previous song’s brooding atmosphere. The premise is familiar: the girl moved to New York “from somewhere hella plain,” though McCombs takes that line in a surreal direction by rhyming it with “and brought with her the rain.” Aided by Jason Quever, the song is sparser and drenched in reverb rather than layers of instrumentation, unexpectedly lighting up as if to illuminate the dark stage where the girl dreams herself a star. To match the glammy guitar solo he somehow finds space for, McCombs then starts yodelling. Just in case you’re starting to drift off.

9. Asphodel

Anchored by a driving guitar line and fluid drumming, ‘Asphodel’ is generous towards mysticism, neither ridiculing nor indulging in it. It revolves around a portal beneath San Francisco’s TransAmerica Pyramid leading to the city’s dark underworld – and where, a junkie informs the narrator, a flower grows in the dark. He juxtaposes fantastical details with incontrovertible truths: “The oak is alive by what is buried underneath.” His tone ultimately, once again, becomes elegiac, the flower harnessed for its figurative power, a spiritual warmth not even a cynic could deny.

10. I Never Dream About Trains

The suspiciously titled ‘I Never Dream About Trains’ is made all the more ironic by McCombs’ sensitive delivery: “Having cooled all desire/ I don’t require a thing from the Fates.” Maybe the latter line is true, but desire shows no signs of cooling. Maybe you can’t waltz loss away, but you can sort of wink at it.

11. Van Wyck Expressway

In another instance of smart sequencing, the desire is plainly revealed, if rather ambivalent: “I want something I can’t have/ I have something I don’t want.” ‘Van Wyck Expressway’ houses one of the album’s most mesmerizing melodies, swayed by fingerpicked guitar and cello that complement McCombs’ hushed vocals. “Human life is sleeping life,” he sings. Yet he can’t escape the vestiges of his own experience, laid out there in the dreams.

12. Lola Montez Danced the Spider Dance

Another cinematic song in the vein of ‘Who Removed the Cellar Door?’, this one stretches over seven minutes and centers on the Irish woman who became famous as a Spanish dancer (and whose list of lovers included pianist Franz Liszt and novelist Alexandre Dumas). Soundtracking her “final dance of desire,” the song is slow-moving but could use a few more textures to justify its length. Fictional as it may be, it inadvertently encapsulates the themes of the album in a couple of lines: “Unpleasant dreams, dark desires/ Poisoned spirits and flying embers.”

13. Juvenile

If ‘Miss Mabee’ was playful, ‘Juvenile’ is downright goofy, adopting the perspective of the adolescent as much as it is admonishing him. Primus catch a stray among the things that suck (everything), while the singer cautions against advertising that promotes the power of the new: “New map/ New crap/ New music/ That don’t slap.” Except Interior Live Oak, of course. McCombs knows he’s not saying anything new, but it still slaps. 

14. Diamonds in the Mine

‘Diamonds in the Mine’ feels like a breath of fresh air at this point in the tracklist, lighthearted and comforting. Darkness is coming, he admits, but there’s no need to fear it because nothing stays the same. It’s a simple message, but Sam Owens does a wonderful job colouring in the spectral arrangement. “Glimmer adieu,” turns out, is just another way to say peace. 

15. Strawberry Moon

The night has come, and as all lovers (our narrator included) gravitate towards the same titular beauty, McCombs offers them another waltz. When the city sleeps is when the music comes alive.

16. Interior Live Oak

If Interior Live Oak is a sleepy (complimentary) record, McCombs finishes it off with its rowdiest track, drunk on thunderous riffs and double-time drumming. If you’ve just woken up, it makes you want to fall back into the slumber, just to remember what the dreams were all about. 

8 Albums Out Today to Listen To: Cass McCombs, Dijon, Pile, and More

In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on August 15, 2025:


Cass McCombs, Interior Live Oak

Interior Live OakCass McCombs has returned with his first solo studio album in three years, Interior Live Oak. The wondrously contemplative follow-up to 2022’s Heartmind finds the singer-songwriter returning to his longtime label home of Domino, following a series of albums with ANTI-, and was previewed by the singles ‘Priestess’, ‘Peace’, and ‘I Never Dream About Trains’. Inspired by his return to the label as well as last year’s reissue campaign, McCombs revisited the economical approach of his earlier songwriting, working with past collaborators such as Jason Quever (Papercuts) and Chris Cohen.


Dijon, Baby

Dijon BabyDijon’s bold, fiery, buoyant new album Baby has arrived, just a week after it was announced. It’s his first album in nearly four years, following Absolutely, though he’s recently contributed to a streams of records including Bon Iver’s SABLE, fABLE, Justin Bieber’s Swag, and Mk.gee’s Two Star & the Dream Police. The record was mostly made at home, in isolation with Dijon’s new family, with help from Andrew Sarlo, Henry Kwapis, and Michael Gordon.


Pile, Sunshine and Balance Beams

Pile CoverPile waste no time charging into their ninth album, Sunshine and Balance Beams, their first with Sooper Records. Relentlessly foreboding and epic in scope, the record journeys towards acceptance: “of oneself, one’s environment, and one’s limits,” per a press release. Founder Rick Maguire elaborated: “I’ve used ambition and daydreaming as a motivator for as long as I can remember, and I still do. The fulfillment I receive from pursuing art has been a guiding force for me, but it can be damaging when that pursuit teases capitalist expectations of where you might be able to go and then doesn’t square with the reality that follows. I tried to write this as a story.”


Chance the Rapper, Star Line

Star Line coverChance the Rapper has self-released his first LP since 2019’s The Big Day. Crafted with longtime producer DexLvL, Star Line features guest spots from Lil Wayne and Smino (on the early single ‘Tree’), Vic Mensa, Jamila Woods, BJ the Chicago Kid, Joey Bada$$, Jazmine Sullivan, Young Thug, and TiaCorine. It was informed by the rapper’s travels to Ghana, Jamaica, and art fairs around the world.


Pool Kids, Easier Said Than Done

Easier Said Than Done coverAnxiety-ridden yet breezy, mathy yet melodic, Easier Said Than Done is Pool Kids’ most ambitiously pop-leaning effort to date. The Tallahassee band’s third album follows their 2022 self-titled LP and features the advance tracks ‘Leona Street’, ‘Sorry Not Sorry’, and the title track. “There’s a lot of Florida imagery and a lot of really specific glimpses from tour on this album,” Christine Goodwyne said of her lyrical approach. “By letting myself get specific, I feel a lot more emotionally connected to the songs. It’s a very personal record for me and for the whole band, too. I was writing about what life has been like for all of us over the last few years. I feel like all of us can relate to a lot of the songs.”


New Radiations

Marissa Nadler, New Radiations

There’s nothing quite like Marissa Nadler’s dreamlike, darkly enchanting songs, and her new album New Radiations is no exception. Here, the singer-songwriter takes its hauntedness to the next level by enlisting mixing engineer Randall Dunn for an entirely percussionless, droning kind of Americana. “Psychic vibrations and new radiations have taken their toll on me,” Nadler sings on the title track, yet compels you to stay attuned. Along with ‘New Radiations’, the record was preceded by ‘Hatchet Man’ and ‘Light Years’.


Kaytranada, Ain’t No Damn Way!

KAYTRANADA_AIN'T NO DAMN WAY_DIGITAL COVERKaytranada has dropped a new album, Ain’t No Damn Way!. Marking the Canadian DJ and producer’s first new original music since 2024’s Timeless, the record is billed as “an intentional return to his dance music roots.” In an Instagram story earlier this week, Kaytranada said, “Letting y’all know that this album is strictly for workouts, dancing and studying and for my people that love beats.” He also shared the single ‘Space Invader’.


Racing Mount Pleasant, Racing Mount Pleasant

Racing Mount PLeasantFans of Black Country, New Road will find a lot to like on Racing Mount Pleasant, the self-titled debut album by the Michigan seven-piece formerly known as Kingfisher. It opens with ‘Your New Place’, a 7-minute track that swells and shapeshifts in vivid, heart-wrenching fashion. The song previewed the album along with the previously unveiled ‘Call It Easy’ and the title track, and there are a lot more gems to be found in it.


Other albums out today:

Steve Gunn, Music For Writers; Alison Goldfrapp, Flux; Black Honey, Soak; Conan Gray, Wishbone; Molly Tuttle, So Long Little Miss Sunshine; Maroon 5, Love is Like; Rise Against, Ricochet; Joseph Decosimo, Fiery Gizzard; Babyface Ray, Codeine Cowboy; Protect, 500 Days of Summer; Ganser, Animal Hospital; Audrey Hobart, Who’s the Clown?; Hit Boy, Software Update; Evidence, Unlearning Vol. 2; Fletcher Tucker, Kin; ROSIE, City Woman; Recoechi, Flavaz; Hussain Bokhari, Possessions; The Crabs, Years at the Unknown; Garage Sale, Any Day Now; Jordan Davis, Learn the Hard Way; Christina Carter, Like a Bayou to Its Gulf.