Director James Gunn giving his take on new 2021 version
DC FanDome is an event, geared for DC Comic fans, that features a jam packed event of panels, info on video games, and highly anticipated teasers, trailers and behind-the-scenes peaks of upcoming DC movies. The DC FanDome only lasts 48 hours, a two day event full of virtual events. The first day just happened on August 22, 2020 and the next is set for Sept 12, 2020 in case you missed day one.
As part of the first first wave of the virtual convention, James Gunn revealed video footage of behind-the-scenes production and in process scenes of “The Suicide Squad”. The star studded cast, as shown below, includes actors that will be be reprising their roles from the 2016 version (Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn) and also a huge list of stars to play DC villains. In an article by Variety, it was reported that Gunn dug deep into DC comics to find a wide range of villains for the movie and even invented a few villains from his own imagination for the project.
https://youtu.be/xLNofMawA2c
Idris Elba plays Bloodsport
Margot Robbie plays Harley Quinn
Viola Davis plays Amanda Waller
Sean Gunn plays Weasel
Pete Davidson plays Blackguard
Daniela Melchior plays Ratcatcher 2
Joel Kinnaman plays Colonel Rick Flag
Nathan Fillion plays TDK
Jai Courtney plays Captain Boomerang
Steve Agee plays the on-set King Shark and John Economos
Mayling Ng plays Mongal
David Dastmalchian plays Polka-Dot Man
Alice Braga plays Sol Soria
John Cena plays Peacemaker
Juan Diego Botto plays Presidente General Silvio Luna
Peter Capaldi plays The Thinker
Michael Rooker plays Savant
Flula Borg plays Javelin
Joaquín Cosío is Mayor General Mateo Suarez
Jennifer Holland plays Emilia Harcourt
Storm Reid plays Tyla
Its not exactly clear if “The Suicide Squad” is a prequel, reboot or some other form of a non-sequel feature but, as was indicated by producer Peter Safran, that the movie will not be a direct sequel to the original, “It’s not Suicide Squad 2. It is not a sequel. I will leave that alone but, yes, it’s called The Suicide Squad.” Production of the film was wrapped before COVID, and the movie is scheduled to be released in theaters on August 6, 2021.
https://youtu.be/Wemdq9-cfws
Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.
Each week, there are book titles released from various publishers and with so many to choose from it can feel quite daunting to keep up with the times. We’ve curated a handful of book titles that have just been released and definitely deserve some air time. Among our picks, a few have already began to also be highly regarded by the likes of New York Times, Slate, and LA Times as recommended picks. This is the perfect time to discover a fresh new read and add an undiscovered gem to your book collection.
The fiction picks, below, include: Must I Go, Afterland, Hieroglyphics, and I Hold a Wolf by the Ears. Whether you are in the mood for literature that touches on the dynamics of family life, romance, short psychological stories, or thrillers; our picks will have something for everyone. The nonfiction picks: Intimations and Memorial Drive – one is a series of personal essays about unprecedented situations of our time and the other deeply personal memoir of a daughter with experienced life with tragic beginnings.
Below we have provided some additional information from the publisher and options for purchase if interested. Click any of the below book links to check out more booklists and how you can support your independent bookstores. Happy reading!
Must I Go
Click to See “Must I Go” and help Lynxotic. Also Available on Amazon.
“One of our major novelists” (Salman Rushdie) tells the story of a woman reflecting on her uncompromising life, and the life of a former lover, in this provocative novel.
Lilia Liska has shrewdly outlived three husbands, raised five children, and seen the arrival of seventeen grandchildren. Now she has turned her keen attention to the diary of a long-forgotten man named Roland Bouley, with whom she once had a fleeting affair. Increasingly obsessed with Roland’s intimate history, Lilia begins to annotate the diary with her own rather different version of events, revealing the surprising, long-held secrets of her past.
She returns inexorably to the memory of her daughter Lucy. This is a novel about life in all its messy glory, and of a life lived, by the extraordinary Lilia, absolutely on its own terms. With great candor and insight, Yiyun Li navigates the twin poles of grief and resilience, loss and rebirth, that compass a human heart.
Afterland
Click to See “Afterland“ and to help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
Most of the men are dead. Three years after the pandemic known as The Manfall, governments still hold and life continues — but a world run by women isn’t always a better place. Twelve-year-old Miles is one of the last boys alive, and his mother, Cole, will protect him at all costs. On the run after a horrific act of violence-and pursued by Cole’s own ruthless sister, Billie — all Cole wants is to raise her kid somewhere he won’t be preyed on as a reproductive resource or a sex object or a stand-in son. Someplace like home.
To get there, Cole and Miles must journey across a changed America in disguise as mother and daughter. From a military base in Seattle to a luxury bunker, from an anarchist commune in Salt Lake City to a roaming cult that’s all too ready to see Miles as the answer to their prayers, the two race to stay ahead at every step . . . even as Billie and her sinister crew draw closer.
A sharply feminist, high-stakes thriller from award-winning author Lauren Beukes, Afterland brilliantly blends psychological suspense, American noir, and science fiction into an adventure all its own — and perfect for our times.
Hieroglyphics
Click to See “Hieroglyphics“ and to help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
Lil and Frank married young, launched into courtship when they bonded over how they both–suddenly, tragically– lost a parent when they were children. Over time, their marriage grew and strengthened, with each still wishing for so much more understanding of the parents they’d lost prematurely.
Now, after many years in Boston, they’ve retired to North Carolina. There, Lil, determined to leave a history for their children, sifts through letters and notes and diary entries–perhaps revealing more secrets than Frank wants their children to know. Meanwhile, Frank has become obsessed with what might have been left behind at the house he lived in as a boy on the outskirts of town, where a young single mother, Shelley, is just trying to raise her son with some sense of normalcy. Frank’s repeated visits to Shelley’s house begin to trigger memories of her own family, memories that she’d hoped to keep buried. Because, after all, not all parents are ones you wish to remember.
Hieroglyphics reveals the difficulty of ever really knowing the intentions and dreams and secrets of the people who raised you. In her deeply layered and masterful novel, Jill McCorkle deconstructs and reconstructs what it means to be a father or a mother, and what it means to be a child piecing together the world around us, a child learning to make sense of the hieroglyphics of history and memory.
I Hold a Wolf by the Ears, Laura van den Berg’s first story collection since her prizewinning book The Isle of Youth, draws readers into a world of wholly original, sideways ghost stories that linger in the mouth and the mind. Both timeless and urgent, these eleven stories confront misogyny, violence, and the impossible economics of America with van den Berg’s trademark spiky humor and surreal eye. Moving from the peculiarities of Florida to liminal spaces of travel in Mexico City, Sicily, and Iceland, I Hold a Wolf by the Ears is uncannily attuned to our current moment, and to the fears we reveal to no one but ourselves.
I Hold a Wolf by the Ears presents a collection of women on the verge, trying to grasp what’s left of life: grieving, divorced, and hyperaware, searching, vulnerable, and unhinged, they exist in a world that deviates from our own only when you look too closely. With remarkable control and transcendent talent, van den Berg dissolves, in the words of the narrator of “Slumberland,” “that border between magic and annihilation,” and further establishes herself as a defining fiction writer of our time.
Intimations: Six Essays
Click to See “Intimations“ and to help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
“Intimations captures the uneasiness of our modern moment as Smith reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic and relates it to issues of privilege and inequity. Her urgent voice tackles everything from what becomes important during isolation to the global response to George Floyd’s killing. The author asks questions, both timely and timeless, about how we respond to crisis and suffering.” —TIME, Best New Books of July
Written during the early months of lockdown, Intimations explores ideas and questions prompted by an unprecedented situation. What does it mean to submit to a new reality–or to resist it? How do we compare relative sufferings? What is the relationship between time and work? In our isolation, what do other people mean to us? How do we think about them? What is the ratio of contempt to compassion in a crisis? When an unfamiliar world arrives, what does it reveal about the world that came before it? Suffused with a profound intimacy and tenderness in response to these extraordinary times, Intimations is a slim, suggestive volume with a wide scope, in which Zadie Smith clears a generous space for thought, open enough for each reader to reflect on what has happened–and what should come next. The author will donate her royalties from the sale of Intimations to charity
Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir
Click to See “Memorial Drive“ and to help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
At age nineteen, Natasha Trethewey had her world turned upside down when her former stepfather shot and killed her mother. Grieving and still new to adulthood, she confronted the twin pulls of life and death in the aftermath of unimaginable trauma and now explores the way this experience lastingly shaped the artist she became. With penetrating insight and a searing voice that moves from the wrenching to the elegiac, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey explores this profound experience of pain, loss, and grief as an entry point into understanding the tragic course of her mother’s life and the way her own life has been shaped by a legacy of fierce love and resilience. Moving through her mother’s history in the deeply segregated South and through her own girlhood as a “child of miscegenation” in Mississippi, Trethewey plumbs her sense of dislocation and displacement in the lead-up to the harrowing crime that took place on Memorial Drive in Atlanta in 1985.
Memorial Drive is a compelling and searching look at a shared human experience of sudden loss and absence but also a piercing glimpse at the enduring ripple effects of white racism and domestic abuse. Animated by unforgettable prose and inflected by a poet’s attention to language, this is a luminous, urgent, and visceral memoir from one of our most important contemporary writers and thinkers.–Time
Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.
In her latest podcast she dishes on feelings brought on the current state of the world…
The former first lady, Michelle Obama spoke with her friend Michele Norris on the second episode of her new podcast and shared an incredibly relatable feeling for many of us… she’s dealing with “some form of low-grade depression”.
Many public figures don’t make it a point to discuss private and personal matters like mental health. With so much going on in the world, it is extremely helpful and insightful to know that that most people wouldn’t be feeling “normal” or happy, based on the experiences of a “famous person”. Such a presence like Michelle Obama speaking out and giving depression and mental health anecdotes, culled from her deeply personal experiences, in general is much appreciated. Such generous sharing of her feelings could potentially help people to de-stigmatize depression.
A timely message we can all take to heart
Obama was able as always to beautifully articulate the turmoil that the world has been experiencing: coronavirus, racial strife, and the Trump administration and how it has taken a toll on her.
“Not just because of the quarantine, but because of the racial strife, and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting.”
michelle obama
As only Michelle Obama can, in her podcast she talks about staying optimistic and hopeful during these turbulent times, and gave the sage advice to always listen to your spirit and body and take the time to recharge.
Sony has some major news for gamers. On June 11, 2020, during the streaming event “Future of Gaming”, it was announced that the next-generation Playstation 5 (PS5) would be released later this year. Viewers got a sneak peak at the aesthetics of the completely redesigned console hardware. The sleek and futuristic look makes for a stark comparison to the previous model. In addition there will be a handful of accessories that match the PS5 design including a new headset called the Pulse 3D.
There has not yet been an exact release date set, but according to the Sony website, it appears have plans to stick with the originally projected holiday release. They have also not yet mentioned any information regarding pricing. Based on news from Bloomberg, Sony’s cost to manufacture the console has been estimated at $450 but this does not necessarily reflect what the end retail price will be, although it could be expected to be significantly higher.
Click Here to See “Blood, Sweat, and Pixels“ to Help Lynxotic and Other Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
With any new hot product there will be some serious buzz, and Sony is anticipating a surge of sales. It has been reported that there will be a limit of one per customer, initially, as the company gears up for pre-orders. The fact that Sony’s landing page has a photo place-holder for the PS5 on Amazon strongly suggests information on pricing and a specific release date may be coming very soon.
Below are a breakdown of some of the specifications and what to expect with the new PlayStation console.
Custom CPU, GPU and SSD with Integrated I/O
4K – TV Gaming
Up to 120fps with 120 Hz output
HDR Technology
8K Output – 4320p resolution display
Microsoft offers new version of Xbox: The Series X
Oh wait, that’s not all. Microsoft is also very much in the mix with the upcoming release for its newest generation console, the Xbox Series X, which is anticipated to have a late 2020 release. The Series X was originally unveiled at the Game Awards last year on December 13, 2019. There is also another influx of new information on Xbox games released for the new console and was revealed during its Games Showcase.
Below are a breakdown of some of the specifications and what to expect with the new Xbox console
12 Teraflops
Variable rate shading and Variable refresh rate
Supports 120 fps
Custom built SSD
Games and Pricing
As for the prices of 2020 game titles for the next-generation console for both consoles, big news was just announced by Ubisoft. It was confirmed that during an earnings call that games will be the same price as current generation games which typically average around $60.
Both Playstation and Xbox will support backward-compatibility, meaning if you have previous generation games they will still work with the newest console. Although there will be massive competition against the two tech giants, a release of next-gen consoles regardless of which -is huge. Countdown to holiday season begins now!
Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.
Announced in late June at Apple’s World Wide Development Conference and currently running a beta trial before getting released next fall, iOS 14—the upcoming operating system for the iPhone—will offer users a lot of new experiences and options. Some of the most exciting changes it offers will come in the Messages app, where people go to send and receive most texts.
For years, iMessage has been a pretty simple and straightforward platform for sharing and exchanging messages via the iPhone. Group chats have always been an option on Messages, but still, users often opt to download Slack, GroupMe, or Facebook Messenger for more sophisticated or efficient groups.
iOS 14 is aiming to change that, as its biggest upgrades in Messages focus on refining the group message experience. First, users will finally have the option to pin conversations in their Messages conversation screen. This means that you can select up to nine conversations to be at the top of the list when you open the app. It will certainly help users keep their closest contacts and most important groups highly accessible.
Within the conversations, users will also have the ability to create threads and mention people directly. Much like the “Reply” option on Facebook’s comment section, iMessage’s “unthread” utility will let people respond directly to individuals within a larger group message. This will save users the time of starting a separate message when they want to address someone in the group directly. Moreover, it will also make the group chats more efficient, as topics and messages will no longer avalanche and interrupt on top of each other without organization.
As for the mention feature, people will now be able to call out individuals within the group. Much like how on Slack or Facebook you can highlight an individual by typing “@” before their name, iMessage under iOS 14 will let users carry out the same function, but with no “@” symbol necessary—the phone will just recognize the name when typed. Likewise, when someone is mentioned within a chat, iOS 14 will give that person a separate notification. That way the mentioned individual knows when he or she is brought up and becomes more aware of the conversation. It’ll be particularly useful when you’re mentioned in a thread that you’d otherwise would ignore or keep on mute.
Click to See “The Four” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
Lastly, for bells, whistles, and aesthetic’s sake, the new Messages will allow group chats to have Group Photos and it will offer a variety of new Memoji. Group Photos will provide conversations with fun identity signifiers as they sit in the app. Meanwhile, the Memoji will make for more visual communication options while using Messages. The new Memoji include 20 new hairstyles and face-coverings along with additional age and headwear options. There will also be three brand new stickers: a hug, a fist bump, and a blush.
Many of these novel features and more will also be available on the iMac under the new macOS Big Sur, which will similarly come out sometime later this year.
The iOS 14 will also feature an updated home screen with widgets and a more organized app library, as well as a built in translator, a virtual CarKey app, picture-in-picture technology, and an upgraded Apple Maps with a long-overdue cycling option. All of this is exciting, but as aforementioned, Messages is (and always has been) one of the iPhone’s premiere utilities. Messaging is at the very core of what makes a SmartPhone a SmartPhone.
Therefore, under iOS 14, it looks like the SmartPhone is about to get little smarter.
The “Trump Whisperer” Sarah Cooper Triumphs again with new clip
These days there’s easy and endless material, updated on the hour that presents insane opportunities to laugh at our president. In all the horror and seriousness of the past week, still the comic parade continues. Never would I have guessed that a portion of a cognitive assessment test would bring about so much media attention, especially in a comical way.
Five simple words: “Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV” has sparked a virtually endless barrage of content and has become a viral moment; a feeding frenzy of material from social media, of course, and TV comedians. Writer and comic Sarah Cooper is one that made a particularly noteworthy appearance. She shared one of her signature lip-syncing videos “How to person woman man camera tv.” This kind of hilarious, great work is nothing new for Cooper, who has been active over the past months making over 20 lip-sync videos titled “How to President” that have clocked over 1.5 million views on her YouTube and Tik Tok accounts.
The Lincoln Project also released a funny ad that doctored a video to resemble a laugh-track laden situation comedy such as the hit comedy sitcom show “Seinfeld”. The clip plays out hilariously edited bits and pieces of the President’s interview with Fox News anchor Chris Wallace.
When asked about the Fox poll that posits the question – whose is more competent? Wallace tells Trump that Biden beats him. Trump then crafts his reply, as he attempts to defend himself, claiming the test “gets very hard, the last five questions” and “Nobody has done what I’ve done.”
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) which is not really a test, is a series of mental tasks that include being asked to identify images of animals, recall the date and memorize a sequences of words. The assessment is actually supposed to be quick and easy as its a straightforward screening tool to measure different areas of the brain responsible for short-term memory, spatial awareness and executive brain function.
Trump has made it a point to brag that he “aced” the cognitive tests, while most people, rightly, are aware that the test isn’t to gauge a person’s IQ/intelligence but rather to measure for potential impairment in cognition which includes memory. His pride in passing this impairment “test” has been inspiration for a wide variety of comic gold.
Enter Late Night for some more laughs
Stephen Colbert’s “A Late Show”, Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show” and Trevor Noah’s “The Daily Show” all took turns poking fun at President Trump.
Doctor Anthony Fauci has held the position of Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) for nearly 50 years and most recently the lead expert in the Trump Administration’s White House Coronavirus Task Force. Dr. Fauci has, from the beginning, vocalized his predictions about COVID-19, warning the public of its seriousness and the urgent need to take precautions (social distancing and wearing a face covering). Recently, however, The White House has lobbed seemingly random criticisms against the doctor. For example, Trump, in an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, called Fauci a “nice man, but he’s made a lot of mistakes.” Also Peter Navarro, Trump’s Trade Advisor, in an op-ed in USA Today, wrote that Fauci “has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on”. In a recent response Fauci called the attacks “bizarre”, and added that Peter Navarro was “in a world of his own”.
The Lincoln Project has put together a succinct and poignant look at this exchange in a new ad, released on July 15, 2020, contrasting the “American Hero” and “Natural Leader” with the abysmal conduct of the President during the coronavirus pandemic and crisis. (above)
So why would anyone attack and blame Fauci, who has served as a medical advisor for 6 different presidents? Perhaps, as shown in the video, while Fauci has been nothing but upfront and honest, Trump has failed America and repeatedly lied about the severity of the virus, confidently stating, the now obviously absurd opinion, that the virus will just “disappear one day like a miracle”.
In the text accompanying the clip on their web site, the group added:
“Dr. Fauci has served both Republican and Democratic administrations. He is a profoundly respected physician, whose work has improved the lives of millions of Americans,” said Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project. He continued, “President Trump’s incompetence has cost 130,000 Americans their lives, sickened millions more and wrecked our economy
The Lincoln Project
The Lincoln Project is a super-PAC formed in 2019 by a group of Republicans that hold a singular mission: To defeat Donald Trump and Trumpism.
Conservative Republican Org a.k.a. RVAT’s new ad highlights the need for a Nov. 3rd Trump Loss
Another video has been released from Republican Voters Against Trump, who are more simply referred to as RVAT, a political initiative launched by Defending Democracy Together, with a view to safeguarding the 2020 presidential election against a Trump victory. The clip below shows how the president and in particular his adoring VP, Mike Pence, have uttered numerous falsehoods about the realities of the coronavirus, in stark comparison to the truth and facts, such as the increasing spread of the virus and how case numbers are rapidly rising.
The United States continues to report record high totals of daily new cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many states have had different approaches to reopening and face-covering restrictions, and those with more lenient restrictions have had major surges of new confirmed cases. As the new academic year is fast approaching, there are many school districts struggling to decide if they will be opening up normally or will start with online classes only.
Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.
Truckloads on the road to fulfill Tuesday launch orders…
Simon and Schuster, the publisher for the upcoming exposé of how the Trump family “created the world’s most dangerous man” according to the book’s subtitle, will be officially on sale next Tuesday. Previously it had been scheduled for release on July 28th.
The new plan for the accelerated publication appears to be based on the release, last week, of the publisher from a temporary restraining order. Since there are tens of thousands of copies already in the hands of reviewers and as pre-release stock for bookstores, it is highly unlikely that any further legal maneuvering can prevent the release next Tuesday.
Some details begin to emerge from the author herself
The back cover information, also posted today on the publishers web site, gives substantial insight into the style and direction of the book. Quoted directly from the text, we get a taste of the kind of analysis that one could expect from a Psychologist with a PhD from the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, which is the biographical description given by Simon & Schuster of Mary Trump’s educational background.
Using highly personal insights, culled from her close family ties, into the childhood of the President, it paints a picture of arrested development and emotional immaturity, based, according to the author, on “abuse”.
Today, Donald is much as he was at three years old: incapable of growing, learning or evolving, unable to regulate his emotions, moderate his responses, or take in and synthesize information.”
Although there appears to be little chance of a legal challenge toward the publisher, it is likely that the legal representatives of both Donald Trump and his younger brother Robert will continue with all possible challenges, if only to prevent Mary any opportunity to profit from sales of the tomb.
“That Fred would become the primary source Donald’s solace when he was much more likely to be a source of fear or rejection put Donald into an intolerable position: total dependence on a caregiver who also caused him terror. Donald suffered deprivations that would scar him for life.
— MARY L. TRUMP IN “TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH
As of this writing the book sits at the top of best seller lists, while the West Wing exposé, John Bolton’s “The Room Where it Happened”, is at #2.
Now, as if that was not enough regarding well-timed Trump related book bombshells, according to a google books summary posted by the publisher, Gallery Books, (which is an imprint of Simon & Schuster) Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, known to be close friend of Melania Trump is also planning to release a tell-all about the First Lady “this fall”. Wolkoff who was former adviser to the East Wing, will divulge details from their 15 year relationship. Titled: ‘Melania and Me: My Years as Confidant, Advisor and Friend to the First Lady’ it will be on shelves as early as September 1st, based on a Vanity Fair report
The New York Times also reported that Wolkoff was cooperating with Manhattan federal prosecutors in their investigation of Trump inaugural committee and its fundraising and spending practices. The article also delves into disputes between the soon-to-be author and the White House regarding the circumstances under which she left her position as East Wing advisor.
A description of the book by the publisher, as detailed in the Vanity Fair piece, says that it will start when Wolkoff met Melania and became friends, and weave through her help planning the 58th presidential inauguration, along with “navigating the White House and East Wing.”
Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.
Find books on Politics, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org
Less of a diet and more of a way to regulate eating patterns…
A lot of us have been spending much more time at home due to the isolation safety measures and business restrictions as a result of COVID-19. If you’re like me – that also means you’re eating much more than usual too (easy and fast access to the kitchen, right?).
If you are looking to lose some weight or just detox your body, it can be difficult to choose which method of weight-loss strategies to turn to. One way to curb eating and also a popular way to lose weight is through intermittent fasting, which is essentially eating during specified times of the day only.
Intermittent fasting is less of a diet and rather more of an eating pattern where a person will regularly alternate between periods of fasting and eating. One main distinction that sets fasting methods apart from other weight-loss programs, is the fact that the focus is concentrated more on when you eat, rather than what you eat.
Having a specific time frame or window when you eat and when you fast allows your body a break from eating, since eating requires energy from your body to breakdown your foods, ect. Fasting is one way to re-train your body to learn to recognize when you are actually hungry and not just artificially satisfying your appetite. This is key for people that eat every two hours or enjoy frequent snacks. Insert myself.
The reduction in calorie intake (as a result of eating fewer meals) should result in weight loss, however it’s recommended not to compensate by indulging in more food than you regularly would eat after the fasting periods. Overeating would defeat the purpose and most likely not yield the desired effects of shedding any pounds.
There are different ways in which you can fast, below is some key highlights on the three most common methods: the fast diet, time restricted diet, and the alternate day fasting diet. Also included are some books reading by experts in the field of intermittent fasting, health and nutrition.
The “Fast Diet”
This method involves eating low calories for two out of seven days and then eating a normal calorie intake for the other five days (also known as the 5:2 plan). Various sources indicate that the daily calorie intake, on the low calorie days, should be typically in the 500-600 calorie range. This method is found to be the easiest and sustainable since it is not really fasting, but instead just limiting your calorie intake for two days out of the week.
Click to See “The Fast Diet” and at the same time help Lynxotic and All Independent Local Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon
With this plan, there is no specific time frame within your “fast” day (“fasting” for this plan doesn’t involve not eating, rather how much you can eat). The intake during your fasting days, which should always be non-consecutive, will require that you budget your calories wisely as they are limited to the range mentioned above.
Again, the focus isn’t on the types of food you eat, although, generally and according to common sense, the foods should be “normal” (as in, not junk food), for best results.
“Fast Diet” was popularized by journalist Michael Mosley who authored a book of the same title. Is it possible to eat normally, five days a week, and become slimmer and healthier as a result? Simple answer: yes. You just limit your calorie intake for two nonconsecutive days each week–500 calories for women, 600 for men. You’ll lose weight quickly and effortlessly with the FastDiet. Scientific trials of intermittent fasters have shown that it will not only help the pounds fly off, but also reduce your risk of a range of diseases from diabetes to cardiovascular disease and even cancer. “The scientific evidence is strong that intermittent fasting can improve health,” says Dr. Mark Mattson, Chief of the Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, and Professor of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University. This book brings together the results of new, groundbreaking research to create a dietary program that can be incorporated into your busy daily life. Also Available on Amazon.
There are different names (16/8, the 16 hour fast or Leangains protocol) but the method, regardless of the moniker, involves restricting your daily eating to an eight hour period, then fasting for sixteen hours between (i.e. 16 hours of no eating then 8 hours to eat). For example, “fasting” from 8PM until noon would be followed by an eating period from noon until 8PM.
In the journal Nutrition and Healthy Aging, a study on obese adults during a 12 week period found that an 16/8 hour time-restriction in eating patterns resulted in an intake of fewer calories, some weight loss, and lowered blood pressure scores.
Every- Other- Day- Diet AKA Alternate Day Fasting / Eat-Stop-Eat
This approach alternates the fast days and normal days throughout the whole week. With the fast days following the same limited caloric intake as in the “Fast Diet”, approximately 500-600 calories per day. During the normal days, a person can eat whatever they want, which is the greatest benefit in trying this diet since there isn’t sustained feeling of deprivation from the foods that you love to eat.
Since the outcome of this “every-other-day” fasting routine is to do a partial fast (reduced calorie intake not a complete liquid-only diet) either three or four of the seven days, it has the effect of reducing the weekly calorie intake slightly more than the “Fast Diet”.
Click to See “The Every Other Day Diet” and at the same time help Lynxotic and All Independent Local Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon
Dr. Krista Varady has been researching intermittent fasting for over ten years and has written the widely popular title on the subject, “The Every Other Day Diet”. That’s the satisfied declaration of a dieter who lost 41 pounds on the Every-Other-Day Diet. (And kept it off ) You too can expect dramatic results with this revolutionary approach to weight loss that is incredibly simple, easy, and effective. Created by Dr. Krista Varady, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois, the Every-Other-Day Diet will change the way you think of dieting forever. Among its many benefits:
It’s science-tested, science-proven. Dr. Varady has conducted many scientific studies on the Every-Other-Day Diet, involving hundreds of people, with consistently positive results published in top medical journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Obesity. Unlike most other diets, the Every-Other-Day Diet is proven to work. Also Available on Amazon.
Feeling hungry will most likely be inevitable, and is the main side effect when fasting. These feelings are usually temporary as your body needs to adjust to new eating schedule. Eating high fiber and / or high protein foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, beans and even high fiber chewable supplements, can ease the feelings of hunger during fasting. Drinking lots of water is another helpful tip. Black coffee and tea can help with low energy, focus and concentration with the added perk that both have no calories.
** It is important to consult your doctor prior to any diet, especially for pregnant women or people that have diabetes, weight issues, and/or any other medical conditions that makes fasting inadvisable. **
At WWDC 2020, a first ever Apple virtual special event, the company officially announced the next update to the Apple Watch operating system called watchOS 7, which will have many new changes including custom personalization along with health and fitness features. The update is expected to be available to the public (for free of course) later this year, most likely around September, which is when the iPhone 12 is also anticipated to be released. The WatchOS 7 update has been confirmed to be functional on the Apple Watch versions 3, 4, and 5. Which means if you have the earlier versions like Apple Watch Series 1 or 2 you will not be able to retrieve the update.
One of the features includes big new upgrades to the Workout app which is one of Apple’s most popular and most used apps on the smartwatch, according to internal analytics, presumably. Running, swimming, rowing, cycling and more are some of the current commonly used workouts that can be tracked on the Apple Watch. Now, four completely new workouts will be available – Dance, Core Training, Functional Strength Training and Cool-down which will offer custom-built motion algorithms and heart rate sensors to best track your movements.
Dance is set to be added as a total body workout and will have the ability to track movements from a handful of the most popular dance styles that includes Hip Hop, Latin, Bollywood, and Cardio Dance (see video, above). Getting accurate tracking and credit for dancing previously proved challenging since dancing is not always repetitive and rarely has synchronized arm and leg movements like running and walking often do. With the newest update, Apple is using advanced censor fusion that will combine data from the heart rate sensor, accelerometer and gyroscope to get a better full body reading (movements in your arms and legs ) that will generate a more accurate ‘calories burned’ calculations for dance movements.
The OS7 will also track accurate calories for: Core Training, Functional Strength Training, & Cooldown. Core training where exercise is primarily focused on abs and back. Functional Strength Training is a workout type that helps you get stronger and move better for everyday activity. And Cool-down which can be added onto various workouts is when you want to continue with easy movements and stretches to bring heart rate and breathing back to normal.
Not bad. Sounds like very little new on paper, but if you use the workouts, like I do, these small changes represent more freedom to do what you want, and add a more natural feeling to your routine.
All your workouts can be tracked extensively with tons of precise data within the Activity App which is completely redesigned in the new update. The redesign has a new summary tab system to allows seamless switching between the Activity, Workouts, Awards and Trends views, all within one tab. The Activity App has also received a new moniker – and will be called simply: “Fitness”.
In a show of solidarity with the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests now happening daily and nightly for several weeks, the annual Hollywood Pride March was held as a Celebration of Color. With the news focused on the situation related to the killing of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, the sunny California style of the march seemed a world away, almost. The escalating anger on the east coast due to yet another unnecessary and unacceptable killing of a black man was clearly not far from the thoughts of those present.
The large group, which grew during the route made it’s way from Hollywood Blvd. at Highland Ave and then down a large stretch of Sunset Blvd. There was a well armed police presence but, fortunately no incidents or violence reported.
Underneath the sunshine and pride that this event was always meant to represent was a somewhat more somber tone, one of serious intent and a will to follow through with the theme of desperately needed change that is spreading across the country.
High-Occupancy Autonomous Electric Vehicle (AEV) proposal Courtesy The Boring Company.
On June 3rd, 2020, the San Bernardino Country transportation (SBCTA) agency voted to move forward with a proposal for a high speed tunnel from Elon Musk’s Boring Company. The tunnel would link Rancho Cucamonga with the Ontario International Airport. If finalized, this would mark the third major accomplishment from the company.
The Boring Company is currently in progress working on the tunnel to connect the Las Vegas Convention Center which has been slated to be operational by CES in January of 2021. The company also won the contract to build an express loop for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport which is pending.
The SBCTA Authority Board of Directors support and view the tunnel as a cheaper and faster alternative to the other above-ground rail projects. With the unanimous vote for the proposal, staff will begin to pursue the project deeper and postpone the $3 million study that was to be conducted for airport-rail connections.
Curt Hagman, San Bernardino County Supervisor introduced introduced the idea after touring and taking a ride in the test tunnel at The Boring Co. facility in Hawthorne, California.
“It get us thinking in a new way. This is something that can be done relatively quickly and inexpensively.”
Curt Hagman / San Bernardino County Supervisor
The proposal involves building a 2.8 mile tunnel that would take passengers in electric cars to and from the airport with speeds up to 127 miles per hour ranging from 90 seconds to 2 minutes to reach its destination. The tunnel would be approximately 14 feet in diameter and 35 feet below ground. The original plan called for customized Tesla cars, however according to Hagman, the company is set to develop electric vans in order to seat more people, up to 12 passengers and their luggage, which would increase the daily capacity of up to 1,200 people per day.
SBCTA estimates the final cost of the project could range near $60 million with costs of upwards of $75 million which is significantly less expensive than the alternative light rail systems that were quoted in the range of $1-1.5 billion.
The Ontario Airport Loop is expected to be complete in approximately 4 years which is again far faster than the 10 years quoted for the construction of light railing systems. The SBCTA Director of Transit and Rail, Carrie Schindler explained in a statement given to local news, “It is much more cost-effective. I do anticipate the need for outside funding but at a reduced level as compared to building surface projects.”
Teaching children early can help to create a better more “woke” generation
It has long been time, but it is never too late to begin to educate ourselves about the injustice and racism that African Americans and people of color face (especially if coming from a place of privilege).
The murder of George Floyd has created a national outrage with Black Lives Matter protests happening all across the globe. As yet another person of color has been killed at the hands of police officers there has been an uproar and a demand that a conversation about racism be had. And those that have experienced/witnessed injustice and racism as well as the family members that have lost loved ones – need and deserve a change.
Yet the heavy topic of discrimination and racism may feel like it is difficult to know where to start, with many parents struggling to find the right words to help their youth understand what is going on and what they should do about it.
We have curated a list of children’s book with a small summary from the publisher and additional information on where to purchase if interested. These texts can aid in educating your child from a young age about the history of racism and discrimination, as well as equip them with knowledge and inspire them with hopes for a better and more equal future. For a list of more titles of anti-racist children’s books, see link.
Click to see “Woke“and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon and Walmart.
Woke: A Young Poet’s Guide to Justice is a collection of poems to inspire kids to stay woke and become a new generation of activists. Historically poets have been on the forefront of social movements. Woke is a collection of poems by women that reflects the joy and passion in the fight for social justice, tackling topics from discrimination to empathy, and acceptance to speaking out. With Theodore Taylor’s bright, emotional art, and writing from Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood, kids will be inspired to create their own art and poems to express how they see justice and injustice. With a foreword by best-selling author Jason Reynolds. Click to see “Woke” also available on Amazon and Walmart.
Click to see”Antiracist Baby” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon and Walmart.
From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist comes a fresh new board book that empowers parents and children to uproot racism in our society and in ourselves.Take your first steps with Antiracist Baby! Or rather, follow Antiracist Baby‘s nine easy steps for building a more equitable world. With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Providing the language necessary to begin critical conversations at the earliest age, Antiracist Baby is the perfect gift for readers of all ages dedicated to forming a just society. Click to see “Antiracist Baby” also available on Amazon and Walmart.
Click to see “The Power Book“ and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon and Walmart.
With this inspiring and brightly illustrated guide to power, learn about the different types of power, what it means to have power, and what you can do with your own power to create positive change in the world, no matter who or how old you are. What makes you the boss of me? What makes a king a king, or a queen a queen? Why can some people vote for their leaders, but other people can’t? Does having lots of money make you powerful? Why are there fewer female scientists, leaders, and artists than men in history books? These are things that kids wonder about. The Power Book answers these and other questions in a relatable way for young people, including thought-provoking discussions on challenging topics, like war, bullying, racism, sexism, and homophobia. You will gain an understanding of your place in your family, your school, and the world, and will discover ways in which you can use your own power to shape the future. Click to see “The Power Book” also available on Amazon and Walmart.
Click to see “I Am Enough” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon
A New York Times bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards picture book winner! This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another–from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo. This is the perfect gift for mothers and daughters, baby showers, and graduation. We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.Plus don’t miss I Believe I Can–the next beautiful picture celebrating self-esteem from Grace Byers and Keturah A. Bobo! Click to see “I Am Enough“, also available on Amazon.
Who are you? What is racism? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? What can you do to disrupt it? Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation. “In a racist society, it’s not enough to be non-racist–we must be ANTI-RACIST.” –Angela Davis. Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins of racism that we are still experiencing, and give you the courage and power to undo it. Each chapter builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. 20 activities get you thinking and help you grow with the knowledge. All you need is a pen and paper. Click to see “This Book is Anti-Racist“, also available on Amazon.
Click to see”A is for Activist” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon
A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for. The alliteration, rhyming, and vibrant illustrations make the book exciting for children, while the issues it brings up resonate with their parents’ values of community, equality, and justice. This engaging little book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future, and calls children to action while teaching them a love for books. Click to see “A is for Activist” also available on Amazon.
The new film mimics real life (sans 5 years or so) bringing the characters and actors together again after 30 years to reprise their excellent roles and adventures. Alex Winters and Keanu Reeves are back as Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted “Theodore” Logan to revisit the plot twists and add a few more 30 years older and still très excellent.
As is to be expected and adored, challenges abound and hilarity ensues, with the trailer already tinged with a sweet comic potency due to the aged dynamic duo faithfully playing their younger selves with no held back pride or shame at exposing themselves in decrepitude of the physical form due simply to the years gone by.
With no hard fast release date due to the uncertainty of the level safety that a theatrical celebration of such excellence would enjoy, summer is at least promised and that would be a righteous chance to party on to the new historical phase of in-theater celebration of celluloid for the next generation.
We hope in all certitude that the original date for release, which was August 23rd, can be help or at least will be in the vicinity of the actual theatrical one. Orion Pictures Release with distribution by Warner Brothers.
Thoughtfully selected titles chosen for entertaining page-turners
Reese Witherspoon launched her company named “Hello Sunshine” in November 2016. The actress wanted to share her passion in discovering stories that center around women and her media company provided the virtual space to showcase women storytelling that can be seen through film, TV, and other digital platforms.
Shortly after her company was formed, in 2017, Witherspoon started up a book club, simply called “Reese’s Book Club”. Since June 2017, each month, Reese picks one book to share with her club that centers around an inspiring story about women – with all book selections written by female authors. Her picks have been praised by Publisher’s Weekly and also often hold top spots on the New York Times Bestsellers list.
Reese Witherspoon is one of only a select few celebrities that have established book clubs, other celebs include: Jenna Bush Hager, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kaia Gerber and last but not least the famous Oprah.
“We are about shining a light on female authorship and agency”
reese witherspoon on hello-sunshine website
As of May 2020, Reese has recommended a total of 36 monthly titles with her June pick coming up very soon. Witherspoon’s September 2017 pick “Little Fires Everywhere” was even adapted for video and costarred in by the actress which is now available for streaming on Hulu and also available on Amazon Prime Video.
Check out the following links to see the list of all Reese’s book club picks. Below we have also provided information on all the latest 2020 selections from Reese’s book club complete with a short summary from the publisher and additional information where you can get more information and purchase if interested:
Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist–and confidante–to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own.
Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood.
As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow–a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does. Click to see “The Henna Artist“, also available on Amazon and Walmart.
There is a voice of longing inside each woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good partners, daughters, mothers, employees, and friends. We hope all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to be grateful, hiding our discontent–even from ourselves.
Click to see “Untamed” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
For many years, Glennon Doyle denied her own discontent. Then, while speaking at a conference, she looked at a woman across the room and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There She Is.
At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high. But she soon realized they had come to her from within. This was her own voice–the one she had buried beneath decades of numbing addictions, cultural conditioning, and institutional allegiances. This was the voice of the girl she had been before the world told her who to be. Glennon decided to quit abandoning herself and to instead abandon the world’s expectations of her. She quit being good so she could be free. She quit pleasing and started living. Click to see “Untamed“, also Available on Amazon.
Click to see “The Jetsetters” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.
When seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins submits a sexy essay to the Become a Jetsetter contest, she dreams of reuniting her estranged children: Lee, an almost-famous actress; Cord, a handsome Manhattan venture capitalist who can’t seem to find a partner; and Regan, a harried mother who took it all wrong when Charlotte bought her a Weight Watchers gift certificate for her birthday.
Charlotte yearns for the years when her children were young, when she was a single mother who meant everything to them. When she wins the contest, the family packs their baggage–both literal and figurative–and spends ten days traveling from sun-drenched Athens through glorious Rome to tapas-laden Barcelona on an over-the-top cruise ship, the Splendido Marveloso.
As lovers new and old join the adventure, long-buried secrets are revealed and old wounds are reopened, forcing the Perkins family to confront the forces that drove them apart and the defining choices of their lives. Click to see “The Jetsetters“, also Available on Amazon.
Emmeline lives on a remote island with her father, who teaches her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t explain are the mysterious scents stored in glass bottles that line the walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates them.
As Emmeline grows, however, so too does her curiosity, until one day the unforeseen happens, and Emmeline is vaulted out into the real world–a place of love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge.
To understand her past, Emmeline must unlock the clues to her identity, a quest that challenges the limits of her heart and imagination. Captivating and emotional, The Scent Keeper explores the provocative beauty of scent, the way it can reveal hidden truths, lead us to the person we seek, and even help us find our way back home. Click to see “The Scent Keeper“, also available on Amazon and Walmart.
Click to see “Such a Fun Age” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.
Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same.
So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains’ toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store’s security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right. Click to see “Such a Fun Age, also Available on Amazon and Walmart
An attendee of the Wild Memorial Day of Beach Parties has tested positive for the coronavirus and may have been contagious during the event
The video above, of a pool party sans distancing, in the area made famous by the Netflix series “Ozark” is just one of many examples of a wild weekend that seemed to surpass even pre-pandemic levels of reveling and rioting.
The health department in Camden County Missouri, Health Department stated that the individual had also visited various bars in the area during that weekend. The illness became symptomatic.
Here is the timeline of the infected persons movements as provided by the Camden County Health Department:
Saturday, May 23: Backwater Jacks: between approximately 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Shady Gators and Lazy Gators Pool: 5:40 p.m.-9 p.m.Backwater Jacks: 9:40 p.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, May 24: Buffalo Wild Wings: 1 p.m.-2 p.m.Shady Gators: around 2:30 p.m. until around 6:30-7 p.m.
Missouri has had about About 12,700 people that tested positive for coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic and about 730 have died from Covid-19 infection, according to state data.
This out-come was generally feared by the medical experts, and it appears that other than professionals and medical front-line personnel no-one was considering the 1918 pandemic experience where a too early loosening of quarantine controls resulted in a powerful second wave of the flu epidemic a month or so later.
From Sea to Shining Sea hardly a mask to be seen…
It now remains to be seen if these other Memorial Day gatherings produce any cases or even contribute to as renewed rise in cases and deaths in the many areas that hosted massive, unprotected crowds during the holiday weekend:
Not only on the West Coast, but all the way on the other side of the country in North Carolina, crowds gathered to celebrate. The video below shows a NASCAR crowd whooping it up to the whining engines, shoulder to shoulder with no mask in sight. There appears to be an “instinct” and a feeling among the US population that there’s no longer any need to pay any attention to the coronavirus or contagious diseases of any kind. Let’s hope that feeling really is “magical” because, if not, June is going to be a blowback party of the wrong sort.
One case from a crowded party from an individual that attended various public bars and restaurants the entire weekend does not mean that others will have been infected also. It is also true, however, that if one patient has been isolated already that had the virus during that weekend of partying, it is more than likely that there are others. We can only hope that this, along with the gradual but intensive shift town crowds and unprotected gathering will not begin a new wave of cases. One only has to look at the protests this weekend to see another example of a dangerous situation where many people are at risk of spreading the virus and infecting themselves and others.
After a Wild Memorial Day of Beach Parties, BBQ and Pools Gone Wild is the 2nd Wave Coming?
Anyone who’s seen the stories or noticed what’s been trending on twitter knows by now that the extended holiday weekend was a scene for the ages. It appears that our patience with lockdowns and quarantines is not just running out, it has literally exploded into its opposite.
The video above, of a pool party sans distancing, in the area made famous by the Netflix series “Ozark” is just one of many examples of a wild weekend that seems to have surpassed even pre-pandemic levels of reveling and rioting.
In Los Angeles, perhaps due to the aversion to flying to out-of-town destinations during a pandemic, the beaches were mobbed like it was 4th of July 2018. Photos of Venice beach circulated twitter on Saturday and the whole weekend appeared to have elevated traffic levels above what is traditionally seen on otherwise sleepy holiday weekends.
This out-come was generally feared by the medical experts, and it appears that other than professionals and medical front-line personnel no-one was considering the 1918 pandemic experience where a too early loosening of quarantine controls resulted in a powerful second wave of the flu epidemic a month or so later.
From Sea to Shining Sea hardly a mask to be seen…
Not only on the West Coast, but all the way on the other side of the country in North Carolina, crowds gathered to celebrate. The video below shows a NASCAR crowd whooping it up to the whining engines, shoulder to shoulder with no mask in sight. There appears to be an “instinct” and a feeling among the US population that there’s no longer any need to pay any attention to the coronavirus or contagious diseases of any kind. Let’s hope that feeling is “magical” cause, if not, June is going to be a blowback party of the wrong sort.
The scary part, if you are among those that actually believe the scientific studies, is that the highest level of contagion is during the asymptomatic phase of a person that has contracted the virus. This would imply that any one of these healthy looking folks could be an asymptomatic carrier and could transmit to dozens, hundreds or even thousands as they come in contact. Can’t help but think of the choir in Washington State that shared the infection at a practice session at a rate of almost 90%. 2 died within 14 days.
So let’s hope that this is the day we all get a “pass” from above and that it is not the beginning of any new wave of cases or, worse. Let’s just enjoy the sunshine, our youth and some burgers and brews. And hope for the best.
With movie theaters shut down around the globe and many films either getting delayed releases or siphoned off to streaming services, Warner Brothers has been anomalously adamant about keeping its highly anticipated Christopher Nolan directed “Tenet” on schedule for a July 17th theatrical release. It recently reaffirmed this plan by releasing a new trailer.
“Tenet” is a sci-fi action spy film, but like most Chris Nolan projects, details about the (presumably intricate) plot have been kept under tight wraps. We don’t even know the names of the characters and from the trailers, all we can decipher is that it will have to do with time travel/inversion to prevent World War III and “something worse” than nuclear holocaust. Overall, it looks very twisty and complex… classic Nolan.
Perhaps the reason Warner Brothers has been so steadfast about a theatrical release for “Tenet” is that Chris Nolan is a highly cinematic filmmaker. The director of “Inception,” “Interstellar,” and “The Dark Knight,” Nolan frequently shoots in IMAX and his final products are visual feasts best served on the big screen. He blends practical and visual effects in a manner that few other directors can pull off nowadays and is considered one of the few remaining auteurs in the business, able to rake in blockbuster revenue and hype without relying on franchise or studio labels.
Visual feast could be vicarious travel replacement for fans
For “Tenet,” Nolan shot the film on location across seven countries, working with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and an all-star cast including John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Kane, and other recognizable faces (including Indian stars Dimple Kapadia and Denzil Smith). Behind the camera, Nolan also teamed up with editor Jennifer Lame, VFX supervisor Andrew Jackson, SFX supervisor Ludwig Göransson, and executive producer Thomas Hayslip. Nolan being a Brit himself, “Tenet” is an acutely international production.
Right now, a few theaters are opening back up, so maybe come July, “Tenet” will be able to deliver on its high box office expectations. However, most intended summer blockbusters have been pushed back to November at the earliest. If the pool of open theaters is not large enough by the intended release date, perhaps “Tenet” will follow suit.
Until then, we will have to wait with bated breath, theorizing what the movie could be about, what weight its palindrome of a title carries, and when we will actually get to see it. One thing’s for sure, though, the film will definitely throw us for unexpected loops and keep us on the edge of our seats. After all, this is the director who most recently gave us the Oscar-nominated WWII epic “Dunkirk,” started his career with the chronologically warped “Momento” and came into the spotlight by transforming the superhero genre with his thrilling reimagining of Batman over a decade ago.
We can’t wait to find out what this modern master of suspense has up his sleeve this time around.
Europe Leads the Way and U.S. Justice About to Arrive
It is safe to say that Google is a hegemonic force in the digital world. The site practically has a monopoly on internet searches and it holds nearly a third of the money tied up in online advertising. Because of the United States’ lax laws regarding cyber security, Google’s dominance has largely gone unchecked over the years. That is, until now.
Click to see “Life after Google” and help Lynxotic and all independent bookstores
According to the New York Times, the U.S. Justice Department is currently planning to hit Google with a long overdue antitrust suit. The Department hopes to get the charges out by the beginning of the summer, and although details are still under wraps, it’s likely that they will aim to hold Google and parent company Alphabet Inc. accountable for its monopolistic control of the internet.
Of course, Google does not actually “own” the internet—nobody does. Nevertheless, Google has sliced itself a disproportionately large piece of the pie. In its nebulous origins, the worldwide web was hardly created with intentions, but it started out as a place of anonymity and level playing-fields for all users. Unfortunately, in the age of ubiquitous social media, online anonymity is a thing of the past, and technological juggernauts like Google have severely skewed that long lost level playing-field ideal.
Now, more than ever, big tech must be held to account
Not only does Google’s tyranny stray from the internet’s egalitarian genesis, but it also strays from the rule of law. 1890’s Sherman Antitrust Act banned monopolies in the United States as well as trusts that hurt trade. The federal government enforced the act in 1948 to break up Hollywood’s overbearing studio system in U.S. v Paramount. It recently made an appearance in the 1990s, when the Justice Department sued Microsoft, leading to a 2001 settlement with the company.
Click to see “Goliath” and help Lynxotic and all independent bookstores
Government entities have tried to get Google on antitrust operations before. In 2013, the Federal Trade Commission investigated the website for antitrust violations, but dropped the case after nineteen months. Quite frankly, Google possesses near-untouchable power, and as aforementioned, our federal laws regarding the internet are quite loose. Thus, even though Google clearly holds too much influence for any one company, it remains a difficult beast to pin down.
If the Justice Department does manage to win against Google this time around, it could be the start of a much needed crackdown on algorithmic dictatorship. Not just Google, but Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and Apple have all faced criticism for their exploitation of user data and capitalism. Many believe that it is time for these companies’ unregulated dogmas to end.
Accountability is key, even for seemingly nonthreatening businesses that exist in the digital ether. The Justice Department expects that attorney generals from many states will join the them in this crackdown on Google, paving the way for a more technologically equitable future.
Summer 2020 will be one that many will have never ever experienced in their lifetime. You can even say, it will be “one for the books” (pun intended). With many stay at home orders set to extend into the summer months, picking up a new book and reading is one of the many things we can do to pass the time and can be both entertaining and ensure you are staying safe. Below is a list compiled of high reviewed and new releases that are currently available or soon to be available to enjoy.
If you want to see more details or purchase the titles have clickable links: Stay safe and happy reading.
Click to buy “All Adults Here” and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores
Astrid’s youngest son is drifting and unfocused, making parenting mistakes of his own. Her daughter is pregnant yet struggling to give up her own adolescence. And her eldest seems to measure his adult life according to standards no one else shares.
But who gets to decide, so many years later, which long-ago lapses were the ones that mattered?
Who decides which apologies really count? It might be that only Astrid’s thirteen-year-old granddaughter and her new friend really understand the courage it takes to tell the truth to the people you love the most.
Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Daphne hasn’t spoken one word to Drue in all this time–she doesn’t even hate-follow her ex-best friend on social media–so when Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer,
Daphne is rightfully speechless. Drue was always the one who had everything–except the ability to hold onto friends. Meanwhile, Daphne’s no longer the same self-effacing sidekick she was back in high school. She’s built a life that she loves, including a growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer. Letting glamorous, seductive Drue back into her life is risky, but it comes with an invitation to spend a weekend in a waterfront Cape Cod mansion. When Drue begs and pleads and dangles the prospect of cute single guys, Daphne finds herself powerless as ever to resist her friend’s siren song: Click to see “Big Summer”.
Click to buy “Untamed” and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores
Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live.
It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table. And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so that we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is. Untamed shows us how to be brave. As Glennon insists: The braver we are, the luckier we get.
The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body…On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed: Click to see “The Guest List”.
Click to buy “The Vanishing Half” and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores
The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities.
Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?
The novella is a form King has returned to over and over again in the course of his amazing career, and many have been made into iconic films, including “The Body” (Stand By Me) and “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” (Shawshank Redemption). Like Four Past Midnight, Different Seasons, and most recently Full Dark, No Stars, If It Bleeds is a uniquely satisfying collection of longer short fiction by an incomparably gifted writer: Click to see “If It Bleeds”.
Click to buy “The Dutch House” and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores
At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.
Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together.
Throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.
Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation–awkward but electrifying–something life changing begins. Also a Hulu original series available to stream now: Click to see “Normal People”.
Inspired by the immediate success of the podcast, Moe has written a remarkable investigation of the disease, part memoir of his own journey, part treasure trove of laugh-out-loud stories and insights drawn from years of interviews with some of the most brilliant minds facing similar challenges.
Throughout the course of this powerful narrative, depression’s universal themes come to light, among them, struggles with identity, lack of understanding of the symptoms, the challenges of work-life, self-medicating, the fallout of the disease in the lives of our loved ones, the tragedy of suicide, and the hereditary aspects of the disease.
Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way: Click to see “The Only Good Indians”.
Click to buy “Parakeet” and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores
A novel that does justice to the hectic confusion of becoming a woman today, Parakeet asks and begins to answer the essential questions. How do our memories make, cage, and free us? How do we honor our experiences and still become our strongest, truest selves?
Who are we responsible for, what do we owe them, and how do we allow them to change? Urgent, strange, warm-hearted, and sly, Parakeet is ribboned with joy, fear, and an inextricable thread of real love. It is a startling, unforgettable, life-embracing exploration of self and connection.
Davy and Joe were drinking pals back in their Dublin youth. Davy rarely sees Joe for a pint anymore–maybe one or two when Davy comes over from England to check on his elderly father. But tonight Davy’s father is dying in the hospice, and Joe has a secret that will lead the two on a bender back to the haunts of their youth: Click to see “Love”.
Click to buy “A Burning” and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores
Jivan is a Muslim girl from the slums, determined to move up in life, who is accused of executing a terrorist attack on a train because of a careless comment on Facebook. PT Sir is an opportunistic gym teacher who hitches his aspirations to a right-wing political party, and finds that his own ascent becomes linked to Jivan’s fall.
Lovely-an irresistible outcast whose exuberant voice and dreams of glory fill the novel with warmth and hope and humor–has the alibi that can set Jivan free, but it will cost her everything she holds dear. Taut, symphonic, propulsive, and riveting from its opening lines, A Burning has the force of an epic while being so masterfully compressed it can be read in a single sitting.
Majumdar writes with dazzling assurance at a breakneck pace on complex themes that read here as the components of a thriller: class, fate, corruption, justice, and what it feels like to face profound obstacles and yet nurture big dreams in a country spinning toward extremism. An extraordinary debut.
Prizes for Art and Thought Still Matter in a World Afflicted by a Pandemic
In a world marred by pandemic, awards ceremonies linked to artistic or intellectual achievements may seem like a fantasies. Nevertheless, such roadblocks have not stopped the Pulitzer committee from announcing their prestigious prize recipients for 2020.
Pulitzer Prizes are awarded every year in twenty-one categories. They are given for outstanding American achievements in journalism, literature, and music composition. Every year showcases immeasurable talent, and this year is no different. The New York Times and The New Yorker racked up the majority of newspaper and magazine awards. However, The Baltimore Sun won for local reporting and Kentucky’s The Courier-Journal won for best breaking news reporting.
Meanwhile, the general nonfiction category saw a tie between Anne Boyer’s “The Undying” and Greg Grandin’s “The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America.” Jericho Brown won the poetry prize for his collection of poems “The Tradition” and W. Caleb McDaniel won in history for “Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America.” Simultaneously, Anthony Davis won in music for his opera “The Central Park Five.”
The biggest win of the year, however, went to Colson Whitehead in the fiction category for his bestselling novel “The Nickel Boys.” At just 224 pages, “The Nickel Boys” is short but strong. A piece of historical-fiction, in chronicles the story of two boys attending a reform boarding school in Florida at the height of the Jim Crowe era. The book is a brutally honest portrait of race relations in America, and it brings to the foreground some haunting aspects of our nation’s past that many modern citizens tragically overlook.
Colson Whitehead’s win was even more momentous because the author won the Pulitzer Prize for his last book as well, 2017’s Civil War novel “The Underground Railroad.” Whitehead’s second win puts him in a very elite category of two-time Pulitzer fiction prize winners. The only other authors to have earned the honor more than once were William Faulkner, Booth Tarkington, and John Updike. However, none of these iconic writers ever won the title for two consecutive books, making Whitehead a trendsetter.
Aside from Whitestand’s groundbreaking achievement in fiction, the 2020 Pulitzers also made some noise in the drama category, giving the award to playwright Michael R. Jackson for his musical “A Strange Loop.” The play follows the story of an overweight gay blackman who aspires to greatness despite feeling constantly out of place in the world. An all-black ensemble cast accompanies him, personifying his inner conflicts throughout.
The fact that a musical won in the drama category is noteworthy in and of itself, as the Pulitzer committee rarely considers the genre. Nevertheless, it is the vital, somewhat radical content of “A Strange Loop” that truly makes it a worthy victor.
Lastly (but certainly not least), this year’s biography award went to a new Susan Sontag biography by Benjamin Moser. “Sontag: Her Life And Work” is Moser’s third book, and only his second biography. The book spares no detail in sharing the late writer’s amazing life, dissecting her unparalleled multidisciplinary contributions and her profound intellectual prowess across the twentieth century.
These picks for the Pulitzer Prize, along with all the others, are groundbreaking literary and journalistic achievements. Happily, this year’s winners offered a plethora of diverse content, with stories that celebrate different perspectives and share unsung outlooks. This bodes well for future of American letters.
Click to buy “The Nickel Boys” and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores
Moving up the major release of “Rise” a full 2 months
Break out the lightsabers and pour yourself a tall glass of blue mile, because Monday is May the 4th (be with you), a global holiday celebrating everything Star Wars. Disney is getting in on the action by bumping up the home release of “Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker” on Disney+. Releasing the ninth and final film in the Skywalker saga now comes a whopping two months earlier than its originally scheduled debut for the streaming site— a sure treat for cooped up moviegoers itching to binge more content during the quarantine.
The Star Wars fun does not stop there, though. Disney+ is also airing the final episode of “The Clone Wars” on the 4th. The acclaimed and beloved animated series has been off the air since 2014, but Disney decided to make a final season for their streaming site in 2020. Episodes have come out stagnantly since February 21st, and the conclusion arrives appropriately on May the 4th, putting Star Wars fans of the edges of their seats.
As if all that wasn’t enough, Disney+ still has one more surprise up its sleeve for the global Star Wars day. On the 4th, the site is also releasing a making-of documentary on “The Mandalorian,” the first live action Star Wars series that met immense praise at the end of 2019. “The Mandalorian” wrapped its first season in December and has already been renewed for a second and third season. It met record-breaking viewership figures and was a huge draw for Disney+ subscribers upon the service’s launch last November. Given that “The Mandalorian” sports some of the best writers, directors, and VFX people in the television game (not to mentioned executive producer John Favreau), the making-of story is bound to spark intrigue from Star Wars fans and general cinephiles alike.
Photo / Disney
Making the most of this springtime celebration of the saga to boost Disney+ awareness
Clearly, Disney is doing its best to make May the 4th a special occasion. This is the first May 4th that Disney+ has been in existence for, and it also falls at a time when audiences are stuck at home with nothing but streaming services to keep them entertained. This would not be the first time that Disney+ pleasantly surprised fans during the quarantine, though, as the site also expedited releases of “Frozen II” and Pixar’s “Onward” in light of the pandemic.
Moreover, the holiday arrives at a potentially uplifting time, as movie theaters are slowly opening up again. Perhaps a few theaters in the newly reopened Texas and Georgia will be able to host some May 4th Star Wars celebrations on the big screen.
While there are currently no new Star Wars theatrical releases on the horizon, 2020 remains an active year for the franchise. Not only is “The Mandalorian” season 2 scheduled for release in October, but the creative minds at Disney and Lucasfilm are currently working on a Ewan McGregor-starring Obi-Wan series for Disney+ as well as an enigmatic multi-media project titled “The High Republic” which launches in August. Meanwhile, the long awaited Cassian Andor series remains in development as well as an additional Star Wars show helmed by “Russian Doll” co-creator Leslye Headland.
Not only is “The Mandalorian” season 2 scheduled for release in October, but the creative minds at Disney and Lucasfilm are currently working on a Ewan McGregor-starring Obi-Wan series for Disney+
Disney’s parks—and therefore Galaxy’s Edge and Rise of the Resistance rides—sadly remain closed right now. Nevertheless, the House-of-Mouse is offering a lot for May the 4th 2020. Fans will surely have more than enough to get them through the day, lost and relishing in the plethora of new and familiar stories from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
![[ENGLISH] PS5 - THE FUTURE OF GAMING SHOW](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RuLci-lSeCo/hqdefault.jpg)
