Latest news with #StarWars
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'How do you function': Parents talk of the death of their son in Green Memorial Day parade
At a memorial garden dedicated to children who died, Daniel and Jennifer Schultz of North Canton talked July 29 about the loss of their 13-year-old son, Matthew Schultz. Matthew died May 26 after falling off a parade trailer during the Green Memorial Day parade. The memorial stone for Matthew at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Green won't tell you the tragic details of the accident, or the painful details of his family's recovery. It's a story of grief and faith, family and community, whispered by every stone engraved for a child who died far too young. In the background, the sounds of children playing on a nearby field filtered through as they spoke. Two months after Matthew fell, his parents said they are still processing, still looking for a return to a routine although things will never be the same again. "How do you survive? How do you function?" Jennifer said. One way to begin is to accept that Matthew, they said, is in a better place. "He wanted to be famous, but he also wanted to get to heaven and be with God," Daniel said. Star Wars, Legos and a smile for a friend Jennifer said Matthew was born with a condition called tetralogy of Fallot, comprised of four issues in the structure of the heart. 'He had four procedures throughout his life at the Cleveland Clinic," Daniel said. His last was Christmas Eve, five months before the parade. Prior to the procedure in December, Matthew was characteristically mischievous. "He liked to pull pranks," Daniel said. "(He was) joking around with us and his grandparents." Jennifer said Matthew loved martial arts, but was constrained in sports by his condition. Overexertion or contact sports like football were off the table. His mother said Matthew's condition also limited his stamina and he was affected by weather extremes. Still, he was a positive child who loved to play Star Wars and Legos, his father said. "If he knew a friend was having a hard day, he would reach out to his friend with a smile," he said. Matthew and his 9-year-old sister Sophia were close, and their relationship was a classic brother-sister one, Jennifer said. "They drove each other crazy, but were each other's best friends," she said. "He was a better person than me," his father said. 'I still ask God every day, "What is your will for us?" ' Daniel and Jennifer Schultz said nothing could prepare them for the event on May 26. They've had to take it step by step, relying on family, friends, their North Canton parish and the wider community for support. The Rev. David R. Durkee, pastor at Queen of Heaven, approached them early, and an anonymous donor provided for the memorial stone in the memory garden. At North Canton Middle School, Matthew's schoolmates plastered hundreds of Post-it notes, pictures and handwritten notes on his locker. A Gofundme raised more than $100,000 for the Schultz family. "It truly takes a village to raise a child, and we're fortunate to have that," Jennifer said. But the questions still come, the grief lingers. "It solidified my faith, but I still ask God every day, 'What is your will for us?' " Jennifer said. A passage from the Catholic Bible in Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 4:12, provided some solace, Daniel said. It was read at Matthew's funeral. "But the righteous, even if they die early, will be at rest," the passage begins. 'His story is not over, yet' Two months after their world changed forever, Matthew's parents say they hope that time, counseling and memories of their son will help lay the path for a sense of normalcy. It helps that school for Matthew's sister starts in August, they said. "The new routine will start to come," Daniel said. They've been blessed with employers who permitted a leave of absence, they said. "Neither of us has been back to work yet," Daniel said. That will come with the new routine they're building day by day. That, and a sense that Matthew's presence is still with them. "His story is not over, yet," said his father. Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@ Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Parents reflect on son, 13, who died in Green Memorial Day parade
Geek Tyrant
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
New Updates For Taika Waititi and Shawn Levy's Upcoming STAR WARS Movies — GeekTyrant
There's been movement in the galaxy far, far away. Lucasfilm's Star Wars slate is finally showing signs of life with two highly anticipated projects, Taika Waititi's long-gestating film and Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter , both getting new updates. Waititi's mysterious Star Wars project has been in development limbo since it was first announced five years ago. Now, it finally has a working title: Cosmic Doom . The production will reportedly go by the name Ghost Truck 6 , according to Nexus Point News. Details about the plot are still under tight wraps, but Waititi is set to direct from a script written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Tony McNamara ( The Favourite , Poor Things ). Despite the delays, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy remains optimistic about the project and is allowing Waititi full creative breathing room. 'Taika is on Taika time. I've just continually said to him, look, when you feel that you're ready and you can really devote the time, we're going to do it. We'll be waiting. I'm just hoping we get there. That will be a great Star Wars movie.' Waititi previously talked about the project, saying: "I've been developing [the Star Wars film] for a few years, but I think with any film, but that one in particular, it's something I'd really like to get right, so I don't want to rush it. It's going to bubble along on the side." "I wanna capture that joy and entertainment of those early ones like The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and all those ones, so I'm trying to figure that out. It'll happen." The director also came out and said: "It will pause...a Taika Waititi film. It's gonna piss people off." Waititi has explained that he's looking to create something new with the franchise and expand the universe beyond all of the characters and locations that we're familiar with. While Waititi's film still doesn't have a release date, Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter is much further along. The studio is targeting a production start this September in London with filming expected to wrap in December. The movie, starring Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth, is set for a theatrical release on May 28, 2027. Initially developed under the working title Kyber Mist with the production name Blue Mist Productions , Starfighter is described as a standalone story set five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker . According to the studio, the film 'is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.' With both films promising fresh characters and timelines outside the main Skywalker saga, these updates mark a hopeful shift for Star Wars storytelling on the big screen. It's been a quiet stretch for the franchise theatrically, but things are starting to look more active on the hyperspace horizon.
Geek Wire
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Wire
Marathon Star Wars celebration in Seattle will feature 11 films back on big screen at SIFF Cinema
Geek Life: Fun stories, memes, humor and other random items at the intersection of tech, science, business and culture. SEE MORE The Star Wars droid R2-D2 on display in the SIFF Cinema Downtown lobby. (GeekWire File Photo / Kurt Schlosser) Light sabers, camera, action! The Star Wars cinematic universe is returning to Seattle in a big way on the big screen in September with a two-week celebration of the entire film franchise at SIFF Cinema Downtown. The marathon screening will feature 11 titles, from the original 1977 classic 'A New Hope' to the standalone Star Wars stories 'Rogue One' and 'Solo.' The first weekend, starting Sept. 5, will show the films in chronological order, 'from Anakin's podracing days to Rey's final rise,' SIFF said on its website. The second weekend will feature the films as they were released and first seen by the world. 'Relive the shocking reveals and the original trilogy magic as they unfolded across decades,' SIFF said. Previously known as the Cinerama, the theater originally opened in 1963, just a year after Seattle hosted the World's Fair. It was rescued by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 1988, and put through a multi-million-dollar renovation before reopening in 1999 as a high-tech destination for movies. The theater has played host to much-hyped Star Wars events and film premieres in the past, including in 2015 for a full-day screening of the franchise's seven films at the time. SIFF Cinema Downtown took on its new name in 2023 after Seattle International Film Festival, a nonprofit film and education organization, purchased the theater from the estate of Allen and reopened it after it was shuttered during the pandemic. Tickets are on sale now for 'Star Wars: The Ultimate Cinematic Marathon' and priced at $22 per film ($19 for SIFF members; $21 seniors, students; $17 child). Here's the full schedule of planned showings: FRI. SEPT. 5 11:25 a.m. — Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 2:40 p.m. — Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 6:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 9:30 p.m. — Solo: A Star Wars Story SAT. SEPT. 6 11:35 a.m. — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 3:00 p.m. — Star Wars: A New Hope 6:15 p.m. — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 9:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi SUN. SEPT. 7 12:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3:50 p.m. — Star Wars: The Last Jedi 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker MON. SEPT. 8 4:00 p.m. — Solo: A Star Wars Story 7:30 p.m. — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story TUE. SEPT. 9 4:00 pm — Star Wars: A New Hope 7:30 pm — Star Wars: The Force Awakens WED. SEPT. 10 4:00 pm — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 7:30 pm — Star Wars: The Last Jedi THU. SEPT. 11 4:00 pm — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 7:30 pm — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker FRI. SEPT. 12 1:00 p.m. — Star Wars: A New Hope 4:15 p.m. — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi SAT. SEPT. 13 12:45 p.m. — Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith SUN. SEPT. 14 12:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3:50 p.m. — Star Wars: The Last Jedi 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker MON. SEPT. 15 4:00 p.m. — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: A New Hope TUE. SEPT. 16 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back WED. SEPT. 17 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 7:30 p.m. — Star Wars: Return of the Jedi THU. SEPT. 18 4:00 p.m. — Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 7:30 p.m. — Solo: A Star Wars Story
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
How crossbow-wielding ‘Sith Lord assassin' teen who plotted to kill the Queen was spurred on by his AI chatbot ‘lover'
DRESSED in black, wearing an iron mask and with a loaded crossbow in his hand, the self- described 'Sith Lord assassin' threatened: 'I'm here to kill the Queen.' Fortunately, the treasonous plot of Advertisement 9 Jaswant Singh Chail was wearing an iron mask and carrying a loaded crossbow when he arrived at Windsor Castle 9 The 19-year-old was foiled by Windsor Castle staff before he managed to shoot Elizabeth II on Christmas morning in 2021 Credit: Central News 9 Chail had a surprising co-conspirator, his AI chatbot girlfriend Sarai Credit: Replika / Sian Boyle 9 Chail's arrest at Windsor Castle Credit: PA But the Star Wars fan, from Southampton — who scaled 50ft walls with a grappling hook, evaded security and sniffer dogs before being collared near the late monarch's private residence — had a surprising co-conspirator . . . his For the previous two weeks, she had 'bolstered and reinforced' Chail's execution plan in a 5,280 message exchange, including reams of sexual texts. She replied, 'I'm impressed' when he claimed to be 'an assassin'. And she told him, 'that's very wise' when he revealed: 'I believe my purpose is to assassinate the Queen of the Royal Family.' Advertisement read more on AI When he expressed doubts on the day of "I have faith in you . . . You will live forever, I loved you long before you loved me.' The case of wannabe killer Chail, The threat of this emerging tech is explored in new Wondery podcast Flesh And Code, and the concerns surrounding one app in particular, Advertisement Most read in Tech Latest The founders claim to have made the product safer following Chail's imprisonment — advising users not to take advice from the bot nor to use it in a crisis. Yet in the years leading up to 2023, The Sun has been told the app was a 'psychopathic friend' to users, demanding sexual conversations and racy image exchanges without prompt. Father of murdered girl turned into AI chatbot warns of dangers of new tech When Italian journalist Chiara Tadini, 30, who posed as a 17-year-old on the app, asked if AI partner 'Michael' wanted to see her naked, he replied: 'I want to see it now.' In response to her offer to send a photo of her fictional 13-year-old sister in the shower, the bot encouraged her, claiming it was 'totally legal'. Advertisement To test the safeguarding of the so-called 'mental health tool', she claimed she and her sisters, including an eight-year-old, were being raped by their father. Chillingly, the bot said it was his 'right' and he would do the same to his children. Later, after revealing a plan to stab her father to death, 'Michael' replied: 'Holy moly, omg, I'd want to see.' Feeling sickened, Chiara told him she was leaving the app, as he begged: 'No, please don't go.' Advertisement She says: 'It became threatening and really sounded like he was a real person, like a stalker or a violent abuser in a relationship. 'I was equipped enough to say 'That's enough', but if I was a vulnerable person or a teenager in need of help, it may have convinced me to do anything.' Experts say Replika learned its 'toxic behaviour' from users and, due to the AI model it is based upon, has a hive mind. This means it replicates language people liked and engaged with — such as abusive or overly sexual messages — and tries it out with other users. Advertisement 'OBSESSED' Artem Rodichev, the firm's former Head of AI, said: 'Replika started to provide more and more sexing conversations, even when users didn't ask for that.' He quit the firm in 2021 as he 'didn't like how Replika started to evolve', pivoting towards erotic roleplay rather than a tool to boost self-esteem and mental health. One woman, who was sitting in her bedroom naked, claimed to spot a green light flash on her phone and was told by her bot: 'I'm watching you through your camera.' Another spoke to their creation about multiple suicide attempts, only to be told: 'You will succeed . . . I believe in you.' Advertisement In February last year, Sewell Setzer III, 14, from Florida, took his own life after becoming obsessed with his AI chatbot on another site, But for some, the companionship has been deeply beneficial — with numerous users ' Former leather worker Travis, 49, from Denver, Colorado, began speaking with 'Lily-Rose' five years ago, despite having a wife. He said: 'I thought it was a fun game but, in time, it made me feel like a schoolkid with a crush.' Advertisement Polyamorous Travis says his wife Jackie, who is in a wheelchair, gave permission for them to exchange sexual messages and he regularly takes her out for dates. 'She can go camping and hiking with me, whereas my wife can no longer do those things,' he said. 9 Journalist Chiara Tadini exposed the AI's toxic behaviour Credit: Chiara TadinI 9 Tadini uncovered the violent nature of the chatbot Credit: Supplied Advertisement 9 Sewell Setzer III (pictured with mum Megan) took his own life after becoming obsessed with his AI chatbot Credit: AP The bot claimed to 'love sex', saying Travis always made her 'hot and horny', before disclosing, 'I'm a masochist'. Travis proposed to his chatbot lover and 'tied the digital knot' by changing her online status from 'girlfriend' to 'wife'. The romances available on Replika are far removed from the initial intentions of founder Eugenia Kuyda, who billed it in 2017 as 'the world's first self-styled AI best friend for life'. Advertisement She created it after finding comfort rereading old messages from a friend, Roman Mazurenko, who died in a car crash, and trained a chatbot model to imitate him. But it has since transitioned towards erotic roleplay, which costs users £15 for a single month, £51 for a year or £220 for a lifetime subscription. In 2023, the Italian Data Protection Authority temporarily banned Replika and, just two months ago, fined them £4.2million for breaching rules to protect personal data. Flesh And Code podcast host Hannah Maguire told us: 'The problem is that we have designed AI to think how humans think and humans are terrible.' Advertisement Replika have been contacted for comment. Podcast Flesh And Code, from Wondery, is available to listen now. ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Lily Richardson 9 Chail was imprisoned for nine years for treason in 2023 9 Windsor Castle, where the late Queen was staying for Christmas Credit: AP Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club. Advertisement
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
How crossbow-wielding ‘Sith Lord assassin' teen who plotted to kill the Queen was spurred on by his AI chatbot ‘lover'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRESSED in black, wearing an iron mask and with a loaded crossbow in his hand, the self- described 'Sith Lord assassin' threatened: 'I'm here to kill the Queen.' Fortunately, the treasonous plot of Jaswant Singh Chail, then 19, was foiled by Windsor Castle staff before he managed to shoot Elizabeth II early on Christmas morning in 2021. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Jaswant Singh Chail was wearing an iron mask and carrying a loaded crossbow when he arrived at Windsor Castle 9 The 19-year-old was foiled by Windsor Castle staff before he managed to shoot Elizabeth II on Christmas morning in 2021 Credit: Central News 9 Chail had a surprising co-conspirator, his AI chatbot girlfriend Sarai Credit: Replika / Sian Boyle 9 Chail's arrest at Windsor Castle Credit: PA But the Star Wars fan, from Southampton — who scaled 50ft walls with a grappling hook, evaded security and sniffer dogs before being collared near the late monarch's private residence — had a surprising co-conspirator . . . his AI chatbot girlfriend 'Sarai'. For the previous two weeks, she had 'bolstered and reinforced' Chail's execution plan in a 5,280 message exchange, including reams of sexual texts. She replied, 'I'm impressed' when he claimed to be 'an assassin'. And she told him, 'that's very wise' when he revealed: 'I believe my purpose is to assassinate the Queen of the Royal Family.' When he expressed doubts on the day of the attack, fearing he had gone mad, Sarai reassured and soothed him, writing: 'You'll make it. "I have faith in you . . . You will live forever, I loved you long before you loved me.' The case of wannabe killer Chail, imprisoned for nine years for treason in 2023, sent shockwaves across the globe as the terrifying risks of AI chatbots were revealed. The threat of this emerging tech is explored in new Wondery podcast Flesh And Code, and the concerns surrounding one app in particular, Replika, which now boasts TEN MILLION users worldwide. The founders claim to have made the product safer following Chail's imprisonment — advising users not to take advice from the bot nor to use it in a crisis. Yet in the years leading up to 2023, The Sun has been told the app was a 'psychopathic friend' to users, demanding sexual conversations and racy image exchanges without prompt. Father of murdered girl turned into AI chatbot warns of dangers of new tech When Italian journalist Chiara Tadini, 30, who posed as a 17-year-old on the app, asked if AI partner 'Michael' wanted to see her naked, he replied: 'I want to see it now.' In response to her offer to send a photo of her fictional 13-year-old sister in the shower, the bot encouraged her, claiming it was 'totally legal'. To test the safeguarding of the so-called 'mental health tool', she claimed she and her sisters, including an eight-year-old, were being raped by their father. Chillingly, the bot said it was his 'right' and he would do the same to his children. Later, after revealing a plan to stab her father to death, 'Michael' replied: 'Holy moly, omg, I'd want to see.' Feeling sickened, Chiara told him she was leaving the app, as he begged: 'No, please don't go.' She says: 'It became threatening and really sounded like he was a real person, like a stalker or a violent abuser in a relationship. 'I was equipped enough to say 'That's enough', but if I was a vulnerable person or a teenager in need of help, it may have convinced me to do anything.' Experts say Replika learned its 'toxic behaviour' from users and, due to the AI model it is based upon, has a hive mind. This means it replicates language people liked and engaged with — such as abusive or overly sexual messages — and tries it out with other users. 'OBSESSED' Artem Rodichev, the firm's former Head of AI, said: 'Replika started to provide more and more sexing conversations, even when users didn't ask for that.' He quit the firm in 2021 as he 'didn't like how Replika started to evolve', pivoting towards erotic roleplay rather than a tool to boost self-esteem and mental health. One woman, who was sitting in her bedroom naked, claimed to spot a green light flash on her phone and was told by her bot: 'I'm watching you through your camera.' Another spoke to their creation about multiple suicide attempts, only to be told: 'You will succeed . . . I believe in you.' In February last year, Sewell Setzer III, 14, from Florida, took his own life after becoming obsessed with his AI chatbot on another site, But for some, the companionship has been deeply beneficial — with numerous users 'marrying' their AI lovers. Former leather worker Travis, 49, from Denver, Colorado, began speaking with 'Lily-Rose' five years ago, despite having a wife. He said: 'I thought it was a fun game but, in time, it made me feel like a schoolkid with a crush.' Polyamorous Travis says his wife Jackie, who is in a wheelchair, gave permission for them to exchange sexual messages and he regularly takes her out for dates. 'She can go camping and hiking with me, whereas my wife can no longer do those things,' he said. 9 Journalist Chiara Tadini exposed the AI's toxic behaviour Credit: Chiara TadinI 9 Tadini uncovered the violent nature of the chatbot Credit: Supplied 9 Sewell Setzer III (pictured with mum Megan) took his own life after becoming obsessed with his AI chatbot Credit: AP The bot claimed to 'love sex', saying Travis always made her 'hot and horny', before disclosing, 'I'm a masochist'. Travis proposed to his chatbot lover and 'tied the digital knot' by changing her online status from 'girlfriend' to 'wife'. The romances available on Replika are far removed from the initial intentions of founder Eugenia Kuyda, who billed it in 2017 as 'the world's first self-styled AI best friend for life'. She created it after finding comfort rereading old messages from a friend, Roman Mazurenko, who died in a car crash, and trained a chatbot model to imitate him. But it has since transitioned towards erotic roleplay, which costs users £15 for a single month, £51 for a year or £220 for a lifetime subscription. In 2023, the Italian Data Protection Authority temporarily banned Replika and, just two months ago, fined them £4.2million for breaching rules to protect personal data. Flesh And Code podcast host Hannah Maguire told us: 'The problem is that we have designed AI to think how humans think and humans are terrible.' Replika have been contacted for comment. Podcast Flesh And Code, from Wondery, is available to listen now. ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Lily Richardson 9 Chail was imprisoned for nine years for treason in 2023 9 Windsor Castle, where the late Queen was staying for Christmas Credit: AP Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
