All posts by Madison Santel

Straight outta Brooklyn, NY, Madison covers Ecology and Climate Issues along with Entertainment and Lifestyle.
Entertainment, Movies

WW84 Poster Parade with Trailer

Video

Warner Brothers Kicks Out Promo-Shots Hoping to Build Buzz for Theater Release

https://video-lynxotic.akamaized.net/WW84.mp4
New Official Preview Trailer for “WW84”

“Wonder Woman: 1984” has had a bumpy road finding a release date. The DC follow-up to Patty Jenkins’ sensational 2017 “Wonder Woman” was originally meant to hit theaters last December, but the studio (Warner Brothers) switched up the schedule, pushing the movie back to a summer release date in June. This decision proved to be a poor one, though, as movie theaters closed their doors in March due to the coronavirus and most of them remain shuttered to this day. “WW84” has thus been pushed back further and further. Now, it is aiming for an October 2nd debut.

As an Amazonian princess, Gadot’s character does not age…

Chris Pine also returns from the original “Wonder Woman” cast, reprising his role as love-interest Steve Trevor. Conspicuously, his character unambiguously died in a plane crash at the end of the first film, but the trailer seems to find him alive and well.

Like 2017’s “Wonder Woman,” actress Gal Gadot plays the title superheroine in “WW84.” Although this is only her second stand alone film as the character, Gadot has played Wonder Woman three times in the DC Universe before—appearing in “Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice” and “Justice League” as well as her solo outing.

Read More: Sony And Tom Hanks’ “Greyhound” Goes To Apple TV+ For Direct-To-Streaming Release

Chris Pine also returns from the original “Wonder Woman” cast, reprising his role as love-interest Steve Trevor. Conspicuously, his character unambiguously died in a plane crash at the end of the first film, but the trailer seems to find him alive and well.

To make matters even stranger, there is a seventy year gap between the two films’ settings. The 2017 movie took place in 1918, pinning the protagonist in the middle of World War I, while “WW84” obviously happens during 1984. As an Amazonian princess, Gadot’s character does not age and thus appears the same in both films. This also explains her place in the other, contemporarily-set DC films. However, it still doesn’t quite answer our questions about Chris Pine’s more mortal character, who also appears to still be in his thirties despite the time lapse.

Being part of a superhero franchise, though, these diegetic elements are not worth getting too worked up about. Odds are the movie will explain Trevor’s return in some fantastical, but nevertheless logical, manner. After all, this is the eighth film in the DC Extended Universe. So far, the series has dealt with alien invasions in “Man Of Steel,” Atlantean societies in “Aquaman,” mystical magic in “Shazam!” and so much more. At this point, any explanation seems like fair game.

Great Throwback Aesthetic in Stark Contrast to Our Somber Times

What really sticks out in”WW84″ right now is not the diegetic loopholes, but the novel, vibrant aesthetic. With a few exceptions, DCEU movies often get criticism for their grey pallet and overly-sinister energy. Fans frequently plead for Warner Brothers to offer a bit more color and optimism to the franchise, citing Disney’s Marvel films as exemplars for comic book adaptation.

Happily, “WW84” seems to finally be taking a cue from the fans. From the rainbow tinted posters to the electrifying trailer, the movie is clearly invested in the 1984 setting. It looks like a disco-infused, fun-filled superhero flick, with quality humor, captivating visuals, and a strong cast to carry it along—Pedro Pascal from “The Madalorian” is playing the main villain!

Happily, “WW84” seems to finally be taking a cue from the fans. From the rainbow tinted posters to the electrifying trailer, the movie is clearly invested in the 1984 setting.

Due to mixed reviews, the DCEU has kind of faltered in recent years. A large-scale lateral narrative in the vein of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe is not quite a plausible outlook for DC anymore. Instead, Warner Brothers has been using its DC intellectual properties to focus on stand-alone films such as “Joker” and Robert Pattinson’s upcoming “The Batman.”

However, like the franchise’s last entry, “Birds Of Prey,” “WW84” has direct ties to some of the other DC movies. Thus, the film could possibly lead into something larger. After all, “Wonder Woman” was one of the DCEU’s highest praised movies, championing a female superhero for the first time in a blockbuster film and earning over $800 million at the box office. The success of “Wonder Woman” paved the way for her role in “Justice League,” so perhaps the sequel will carry the franchise to new heights yet again…

That is, if theaters ever open.

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.

Find books on Movies, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

Enjoy Lynxotic at Apple News on your iPhone, iPad or Mac

Lynxotic may receive a small commission based on any purchases made by following links from this page.

Entertainment, Movies

“Wonder Woman: 1984” New Art and October Theatrical Release Date

Video
https://video-lynxotic.akamaized.net/WW84.mp4
New Official Preview Trailer for “WW84”

Warner Brothers Kicks Out Promo-Shots Hoping to Build Buzz for Theater Release

“Wonder Woman: 1984” has had a bumpy road finding a release date. The DC follow-up to Patty Jenkins’ sensational 2017 “Wonder Woman” was originally meant to hit theaters last December, but the studio (Warner Brothers) switched up the schedule, pushing the movie back to a summer release date in June. This decision proved to be a poor one, though, as movie theaters closed their doors in March due to the coronavirus and most of them remain shuttered to this day. “WW84” has thus been pushed back further and further. Now, it is aiming for an October 2nd debut.

Poster: Warner Brothers

Like 2017’s “Wonder Woman,” actress Gal Gadot plays the title superheroine in “WW84.” Although this is only her second stand alone film as the character, Gadot has played Wonder Woman three times in the DC Universe before—appearing in “Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice” and “Justice League” as well as her solo outing.

Read More: Sony And Tom Hanks’ “Greyhound” Goes To Apple TV+ For Direct-To-Streaming Release

Chris Pine also returns from the original “Wonder Woman” cast, reprising his role as love-interest Steve Trevor. Conspicuously, his character unambiguously died in a plane crash at the end of the first film, but the trailer seems to find him alive and well.

Poster: Warner Brothers

To make matters even stranger, there is a seventy year gap between the two films’ settings. The 2017 movie took place in 1918, pinning the protagonist in the middle of World War I, while “WW84” obviously happens during 1984. As an Amazonian princess, Gadot’s character does not age and thus appears the same in both films. This also explains her place in the other, contemporarily-set DC films. However, it still doesn’t quite answer our questions about Chris Pine’s more mortal character, who also appears to still be in his thirties despite the time lapse.

Being part of a superhero franchise, though, these diegetic elements are not worth getting too worked up about. Odds are the movie will explain Trevor’s return in some fantastical, but nevertheless logical, manner. After all, this is the eighth film in the DC Extended Universe. So far, the series has dealt with alien invasions in “Man Of Steel,” Atlantean societies in “Aquaman,” mystical magic in “Shazam!” and so much more. At this point, any explanation seems like fair game.

Great Throwback Aesthetic in Stark Contrast to Our Somber Times

What really sticks out in”WW84″ right now is not the diegetic loopholes, but the novel, vibrant aesthetic. With a few exceptions, DCEU movies often get criticism for their grey pallet and overly-sinister energy. Fans frequently plead for Warner Brothers to offer a bit more color and optimism to the franchise, citing Disney’s Marvel films as exemplars for comic book adaptation.

Happily, “WW84” seems to finally be taking a queue from the fans. From the rainbow tinted posters to the electrifying trailer, the movie is clearly invested in the 1984 setting. It looks like a disco-infused, fun-filled superhero flick, with quality humor, captivating visuals, and a strong cast to carry it along—Pedro Pascal from “The Madalorian” is playing the main villain!

Poster: Warner Brothers

Due to mixed reviews, the DCEU has kind of faltered in recent years. A large-scale lateral narrative in the vein of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe is not quite a plausible outlook for DC anymore. Instead, Warner Brothers has been using its DC intellectual properties to focus on stand-alone films such as “Joker” and Robert Pattinson’s upcoming “The Batman.”

However, like the franchise’s last entry, “Birds Of Prey,” “WW84” has direct ties to some of the other DC movies. Thus, the film could possibly lead into something larger. After all, “Wonder Woman” was one of the DCEU’s highest praised movies, championing a female superhero for the first time in a blockbuster film and earning over $800 million at the box office. The success of “Wonder Woman” paved the way for her role in “Justice League,” so perhaps the sequel will carry the franchise to new heights yet again…

That is, if theaters ever open.

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.

Find books on Movies, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

Enjoy Lynxotic at Apple News on your iPhone, iPad or Mac

Lynxotic may receive a small commission based on any purchases made by following links from this page.

Climate Solutions

2020 likely to be Hottest Year on Record Despite Isolation and Economic Slow-down Lowering Emissions

Above: Photo Collage / Lynxotic / Adobe Stock

One more thing…

With social distancing orders spanning across the entire world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have noticed environmental shifts for the better. Certainly with so many individuals remaining in their homes, the air is cleaner in major cities and people aren’t emitting as much pollution. One might assume that this bodes well for 2020 as a climate-reforming year.

Sadly, although the isolation has probably lowered the carbon footprint in the short term, recent statistics show that 2020 is already on its way to becoming one of the hottest years on record. According to the Global Climate Report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, January-February 2020 was the second hottest of its period on record, with global temperatures 1.16 degrees Celsius over the 20th Century average. The only hotter January-February period occurred in 2016.

Likewise, Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that global temperatures for March 2020 were on par with those of March 2017 and 2019, respectively the second and third warmest Marches on record.

While we are preoccupied with a pandemic…

Coming off of the warmest decade ever, it should not be a surprise that 2020 is already proving to be a blazing year. The high temperatures are inextricably related to climate change, and even if our current isolated situation is causing people to conserve, it is a meager change that can hardly diminish the CO2 trapped in our atmosphere on any tangible level.

Ever since industrial revolution, humans have been pumping carbon into the air, which in turn has been trapping heat and causing global warming. 2020’s high temperatures are only the most recent manifestation of this phenomenon. Essentially, we have over a century’s worth of above-natural levels of CO2 above us. A few weeks, months, or even a full year of low-emission isolated living is not going to magically eliminate the systemic environmental issue at hand.

This is not to diminish the carbon-reducing efforts of individuals—they are certainly impactful on a person-to-person level. However, if the world is to truly combat the crisis and reach salvation for the future, then powerful groups must come together with policies that enact and enforce wide scale reformation.

Even if we all stay at home, abstain from driving, and engage in less carbon-producing commerce throughout 2020, the world-as-it-is will continue to melt, for it is not just the current year that jeopardizes the planet. It is all of the hundreds of years that came before it. If a solution exists, it will not take effect overnight.

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates directly to your inBox.

Find books on Climate Change, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

Enjoy Lynxotic at Apple News on your iPhone, iPad or Mac

Lynxotic may receive a small commission based on any purchases made by following links from this page.

Books, Lifestyle

Summer 2020: Top Eight Books for Ultimate Health and Wellness

Book Collage / Lynxotic

Jumpstart your mind and body this Summer with a great book

Are you looking for your internal reset button? Want to focus on bettering your health and general well-being this coming summer? If so, there are many new emerging books titles that cover health and wellness, with the key focus of making healthier and smarter lifestyle choices – for both your mind and body. If you’re like me – there seems to be nothing left to stream that I haven’t already watched, and since most of us are still stuck at at home because of coronavirus and the continued business restrictions, there is no better time than to start a good read. We have created a curated selections of texts that come highly recommended in the category of health and wellness thus far for 2020.

We have found books that cover a wide range of alternative health options. Whether looking for proven ways to build good habits and break bad behaviors, learn to create wholesome food recipes, get more information on mind and body optimization, or to find the best ways to shed weight – you’ll find all that and more in our 2020 book lists.

Read More: 4 Best Diets: Dash, Mediterranean, Fast and more for Safe and Effective Weight Loss

The titles below have been carefully chosen and represent an eclectic selection on health and wellness and features the authors’ wide ranging expertise in their respective fields. Clinical herbology, integrative medicine, neuroscience, naturopathy, nutrition, and human behavior are all represented. We have provided some book information from the publisher as well as information on where to purchase if interested. Happy reading!

Atomic Habits by James Clear

See “Atomic Habits” and help Lynxotic.

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights. Also Available on Amazon.

The Defined Dish by Alex Snodgrass

See “The Defined Dish“and
help Lynxotic and
Independent Bookstores.
Also Available on Amazon.

Alex Snodgrass of TheDefinedDish.com is the third author in the popular Whole30 Endorsed series. With gluten-free, dairy-free, and grain-free recipes that sound and look way too delicious to be healthy, this is a cookbook people can turn to after completing a Whole30, when they’re looking to reintroduce healthful ingredients like tortillas, yogurt, beans, and legumes. Recipes like Chipotle Chicken Tostadas with Pineapple Salsa or Black Pepper Chicken are easy enough to prepare even after a busy day at work. There are no esoteric ingredients in these recipes, but instead something to suit every taste, each dish clearly marked if it is Whole30 compliant, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and more. Alex includes delicious variations, too, such as using lettuce wraps instead of taco shells, to ensure recipes can work for almost any diet. And for anyone looking to stick to their Whole30 for longer, at least sixty of the recipes are fully compliant. Also Available on Amazon.

Wild Remedies by Rosalee De La Foret and Emily Han

Click to Buy “Wild Remedies” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.

Millions of people are interested in natural or alternative health–but many of them are missing out on the most important ingredient: Nature itself Wild Remedies inspires readers to rekindle their connection with nature by identifying, tending, and harvesting the plant medicine they find growing around them. Experts Rosalee de la For t and Emily Han explain the benefits of 25 commonly found wild plants, many of which are also easy to grow. Readers will also find a wealth of recipes, remedies, crafts, and activities to bring the healing and transformative powers of these herbs to life. After reading Wild Remedies, readers will view their lawns, parks, community gardens, and other natural spaces in a whole new way. Instead of “weeds,” they will see delicious foods like Dandelion Maple Syrup Cake, Nettle Frittata, and Mallow and Quinoa Patties. They will also begin to revel in nature’s medicine chest as they make remedies like herbal oils, salves, teas, and more. Also Available on Amazon.

In the Flo by Alisa Vitti

Click to Buy “In the Flo” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.

The bestselling author of WomanCode presents a biohacking program for women, teaching them how to use their natural 28-day cycle to optimize their time, diet, fitness, work, and relationships.

Women have a important biological rhythm they experience every month that affects productivity, weight, sex drive, energy, and mood. It is essential to be aware of and take care of this rhythm, but it has been widely ignored by medical, nutrition and fitness research. So as women, we diet, we deprive, and we cram as much as possible into our day, striving to accomplish impossible to-do lists, and scheduling our lives based on a 24-hour time cycle, ignoring the intuitive time our bodies naturally keep: a monthly cycle with four hormonal phases that offer incredible advantages. Also Available on Amazon.

Boundless by Ben Greenfield

Click to Buy “Boundless” and help Lynxotic andIndependent Local Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.

What if the ability to look, feel, and perform at peak capacity wasn’t the stuff of lore but instead was within easy reach? Sure, some of us find ways to hit peak performance in one area or another–there are professional poker players, computer programmers, and race car drivers hunched over card games, keyboards, and steering wheels with optimized minds; UFC and NFL gladiators fighting for glory on television with optimized bodies; and monks and meditators roaming the planet with optimized spirits. But in a perfect world, you would be able to have it all: complete optimization of mind, body, and spirit.In Boundless, the New York Times bestselling author of Beyond Training and health and fitness leader Ben Greenfield offers a first-of-its-kind blueprint for total human optimization. Also Available on Amazon.

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson

Click to Buy “The Keto Reset Diet“and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.

Mark Sisson–author of the mega-bestseller The Primal Blueprint–unveils his groundbreaking ketogenic diet plan that resets your metabolism in 21 days so you can burn fat forever. Mounting scientific research is confirming that eating a ketogenic diet could represent one of the greatest nutritional breakthroughs of our time–and that it might be the healthiest and most effective weight loss strategy ever. Going “keto” by eating high fat, low-to-moderate protein and low-carb foods enables you to break free from the disastrous effects of carbohydrate dependency by resetting your metabolism and promoting metabolic flexibility–where your body learns to burns fat instead of sugar for energy, even when you go off plan. Also Available on Amazon.

The Healing Self by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph Tanzi

Click to Buy “The Healing Self” and a help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.

After collaborating on two major books featured as PBS specials, Super Brain and Super Genes, Chopra and Tanzi now tackle the issue of lifelong health and heightened immunity.We are the midst of a new revolution. 
 For over twenty-five years Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D. have revolutionized medicine and how we understand our minds and our bodies–Chopra, the leading expert in the field of integrative medicine; Tanzi, the pioneering neuroscientist and discoverer of genes that cause Alzheimer’s Disease. After reaching millions of people around the world through their collaborations on the hugely successful Super Brain and Super Genes books and public television programs, the New York Times bestselling authors now present a groundbreaking, landmark work on the supreme importance of our immune system in relation to our lifelong health. Also Available on Amazon.

The 10-Day Belly Slimdown by KellyAnn Petrucci

Click to Buy “The 10-Day Belly Slimdown” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.

“This isn’t another gimmicky diet–it’s a powerful eating strategy that will take your extra pounds off quickly, safely, and permanently.” –Mark Hyman, MD, Director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat Fat Get Thin“The best gift you can give yourself is a slim, beautiful, healthy belly–and in this book, Dr. Kellyann, an expert I trust, tells you exactly how to get it.” –Mehmet Oz, M.D. The New York Times bestselling author of Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet reveals her powerful belly-slimming plan that will help you lose up to 10 pounds in 10 days.

The 10-Day Belly Slimdown includes daily meal plans, batch cooking tips to make meal prep a snap, 80 delicious new recipes, and a sensible maintenance plan. As you heal your belly from the inside out, you’ll feel younger, happier, and lighter than you thought possible. Also Available on Amazon.

Find books on Dieting, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

Enjoy Lynxotic at Apple News on your iPhone, iPad or Mac and subscribe to our newsletter.

Lynxotic may receive a small commission based on any purchases made by following links from this page

Tech

Apple WatchOS 7 adds Hand-washing Detection to its health features

Video
https://video-lynxotic.akamaized.net/Handwashing-watchOS-7.mp4
Excerpt from APPLE PRESENTATION VIDEO FOR watch0s 7 FROM WWDC 2020

The 20 second rule automated for your entertainment

With the new update, WatchOS 7, at the WWDC 2020 event, Apple announced a handful of significant updates to its product line. Many were unexpected and some where …yawn, but one in particular was, well, funny but not in a bad way. Apple Watch will do something that no other wearable device has yet to do, automatically detect hand-washing. 

Why is this important?  Well, hopefully most of us know that washing your hands can greatly help to  prevent the spread of germs and protect yourself from getting sick. On a daily we are touching multiple surfaces and while we are all still actively in a pandemic with COVID-19, practicing good hygiene is a major key to lowering your risk as well as to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

Read More: Tons of Changes in Apple WatchOS 7: “Dance” in Re-named Fitness App at top of list

So even though it’s totally obvious we should wash our hands, particularly as we are reminded constantly in the media, it is more than an appropriate for us all to go back to the basics.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands for least 20 seconds. The old trick of singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice is effective. But with the new watchOS 7 update, there will no longer be any guessing as to whether or not you’ve washed your hands for the recommended amount of time.

The Apple Watch will utilize motion sensors and on-device machine learning along with the microphone to automatically detect when you’re washing your hands. Once your watch detects you’re washing (hand motions coupled with sounds of running water and soap suds) – a 20-second timer will begin a countdown.  If you happen to stop earlier than the 20 second mark, you will be prompted by haptic feedback (vibrations) to tell you to continue washing. When a successful 20 second hand washing session has happened, your watch will give you a nice message of “Well Done”. Your Apple Watch will also be able to remind you to wash your hands when you get home. 

Read More: Apple brings increased 4k Quality, Gaming upgrades, Dolby Atmos, and more with tvOS 14

In case you missed it: here’s the breakdown courtesy of the CDC

Again, going back to the basics, here are five simple steps based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to washing your hands the correct way:

  1. Wet hands with clean running water and apply soap.
  2. Lather hands by rubbing them together with soap – including the backs of your hand, between your fingers and under your nails. 
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. 
  4. Rinse your hands under clean running water.
  5. Dry your hands.

Being able to rely on your Apple Watch to ensure you are keeping your hands properly washed and having good hygiene is an added health bonus, that again, while during a pandemic – is not only good for staying healthy but can also protect those around you. Hopefully next year a feature like this one will not be necessary and we can return to more exciting uses for our bionic time piece.

Check out all: Lynxotic Apple Coverage 

Apple Watch – 20 second timer countdown once handwashing is detected

See Apple Watch deals on Amazon.

Find books on Big Tech, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

Enjoy Lynxotic at Apple News on your iPhone, iPad or Mac and subscribe to our newsletter.

Lynxotic may receive a small commission based on any purchases made by following links from this page

Entertainment, Movies, Music

Independence Day 2020: still all about Great Music and Fun

Video

Maybe we should call this the people’s playlist…

“America The Beautiful” broadcast from Washington DC on 4th of July. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps this year in particular – with many reasons to remind ourselves of our rights under the constitution and while we consider the future of the nation, perhaps some historical classic and meaningful titles are in order. Some great songs from our hallowed past, many with a more thought provoking auditory emanation of the American Dream, and perhaps that reflect the real lives and loves of Americans.

This Land Is Your Land

The ultimate people’s anthem. Endlessly influential, from Bob Dylan to Springsteen all the way to the present day. Not to be forgotten. Ever.

The Star-Spangled Banner (Jimi Hendrix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKAwPA14Ni4

Misunderstood, yet insightful to the nth degree. Performed at Woodstock (50 year anniversary happening now) at the height of unrest during the Vietnam War. For many, perhaps the peak and final moments of the 60s. Has taken on mythic status and while the controversy has faded, the insight and bittersweet love for the country shines through, to this day. Hendrix was a veteran and knew exactly what “rockets red glare” really sounded and felt like.

Born In The USA

In the parade of the misunderstood “Born In The USA” may stand as the most misinterpreted song ever. Pride at being born in the USA? Absolutely. Look at the rest of the lyrics to get the more nuanced take on what it means.

America, West Side Story

What can you say? Classic all the way.

Living In America

Anything by James Brown is an American Treasure.

America The Beautiful (Ray Charles)

Ditto

A bit more from The Boss and some lesser known gems to round out the tour:

Find books on Big Tech, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

Enjoy Lynxotic at Apple News on your iPhone, iPad or Mac and subscribe to our newsletter.

Lynxotic may receive a small commission based on any purchases made by following links from this page.

Entertainment, Tech

Apple brings increased 4k Quality, Gaming upgrades, Dolby Atmos, and more with tvOS 14

Video
https://video-lynxotic.akamaized.net/AppleTVOS14.MOV
Apple Presentation Video for TVOS 14 from WWDC 2020

Hardware and Software Updates Combine as Apple Eco-System Expands…

Like most events to take place in 2020, Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference happened virtually this year. Between the dates of June 22 and June 26, the annual Apple occasion was carried out via a multitude of online presentations, as tech reporters, colleagues, and enthusiasts logged on from around the world to hear the latest and greatest in Apple’s developments.

Related: Apple TV+ Goes Big in Series Adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” Trilogy

One of Apple’s more exciting announcements was for the new Apple TV Operating System: tvOS 14. Compared to other Apple devices, Apple TVs are relatively young, debuting in 2007 alongside the original iPhone, but only really garnering traction over the past five years. Today, with iCloud and Smart Homes becoming ubiquitous, Apple TVs offer more utility than even before.

Still, the tvOS updates are rarely as exciting as the iOS or macOS updates for more common Apple devices. Nevertheless, tvOS 14 has some pretty neat offerings—enough to raise a few eyebrows at the virtual WWDC.

Firstly, tvOS 14 is expanding the 4k visual quality that has defined Apple TV’s fifth generation since 2017. In addition to watching regular programming in 4k, users can now experience YouTube videos and a wider breadth of AirPlay streaming in 4k as well. This is something that has not been possible with previous OSs.

https://www.apple.com/105/media/us/apple-tv-4k/2018/cb4271b6_0F8b_4c21_a567_73f8699d143c/animation/dolby/large.mp4
Apple TV 4K with a Dolby Atmos–compatible sound system Visualization: fully immersive three-dimensional audio that sends sound around and above you with pinpoint precision. 

Content Expansion including Gaming options

Moreover, the new OS will make Apple TVs more gamer-friendly than ever before. Not only will it offer greater options from the included Apple Arcade, but it will also make saving easier with the improved seamless ability to switch off between multiple users. This way, everyone can save and resumer their individual gameplay without interfering with other users’ progress. Furthermore, the OS will make AppleTVs compatible with the latest Xbox controllers: Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controllers.

Read More: Tons of Changes in Apple WatchOS 7: “Dance” in Re-named Fitness App at top of list

OS 14 also offers an upgraded Home app for people with Smart Homes. Now, users can access all of their connected HomeKit devices right from the big screen, including camera feeds.

See Apple TV 4k on Amazon

Contrary to the increased connectivity, tvOS 14 also brings novel audio-visual offerings that allow multiple separate experiences on the same screen. There is a new split screen option, letting users watch two things at once such as a workout routine with a sports game, the news with a video game, or the home monitor with a movie. Simultaneously, novel AirPods audio sharing technology will allow multiple people to listen with different AirPods at the same time. Meanwhile, the advanced Spatial Audio feature will provide surround-sound quality audio via the AirPods.

Evidently, there is a lot to get excited about with tvOS 14, as it will bring the television-watching experience to new heights. This is not even to mention the advances in Apple TV+— the Apple TV-exclusive streaming service that launched last fall. The new Operating System aside, Apple TV+ is offering a wide variety of renewed, rebooted, and original content in the coming months. This includes the acquisition of Tom Hanks’ war epic “Greyhound” and an in-house production series adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi classic “Foundation.” The latter was just announced at the WWDC alongside tvOS 14.

The new OS is presently available only for an exclusive bunch in the development world, but it will run a public beta test in July and launch sometime in the fall.

Check out all Lynxotic Apple Coverage

Find books on Big Tech, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

Enjoy Lynxotic at Apple News on your iPhone, iPad or Mac and subscribe to our newsletter.

Lynxotic may receive a small commission based on any purchases made by following links from this page.

Entertainment, Movies

Stream Now: Jon Stewart’s “Irresistible”: New Political Comedy Starring Steve Carell

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/focus_features/irresistible/irresistible-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Original Trailer for “Irresistible”

Rising up to Expose Himself in 2nd Film as Director

On Friday, January 24th, former Daily Show host Jon Stewart made a surprise cameo on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” Rising unannounced from the depths of Colbert’s desk, the comedian was greeted with thunderous applause in the Ed Sullivan Theater, and after humorously declining to comment on recent political news, Stewart debuted the trailer for his new movie “Irresistible.”

Stewart’s “Irresistible” is not to be confused with the 2006 drama-thriller film of the same name. This “Irresistible” is a political comedy characteristic of Stewart’s humor. It is the satirist’s second directorial project, and his first comedy film. While he has a long resume when it comes to writing and producing, Stewart’s only previous directing job was for the 2014 political drama “Rosewater.”

“Irresistible” stars Steve Carell—a former correspondent of Stewart’s on “The Daily Show” from 1999-2005. In the film, Carell plays Gary Zimmer, a top political strategist for the Democratic Party. After seeing a video of a retired Marine veteran (played by Chris Cooper) standing up for undocumented workers in his rural Wisconsin town, Zimmer moves to the small community to help the veteran run for mayor. It is a move to help the Democratic National Committee win back middle America, but as the local campaign gains national attention, the Republican National Committee sends their own representative (played by Rose Byrne) to counter Zimmer’s plan.

When it comes to Jon Stewart, the political commentary is never abstract. “Irresistible” is quite explicit in its contemporary undertones, commentating on the tumultuous relationship between Democrats and Republicans in the United States today. As most politically informed people know, the 2016 election was won by a handful of voters living in small, mostly Midwest districts. Therefore, the face off between Zimmer and his opponent strategist in Wisconsin is particularly telling.

Photo / Focus Features

Stewart Stays involved, albeit in new Role as Producer / Director / Writer

Stewart announced his plans to direct the film back in October, 2018 with Steve Carell already tentatively attached to the lead role. Three months into 2019, Rose Byrne and Chris Cooper also came onto the project. Topher Grace, Mackenzie Davis, and Debra Messing joined the cast a month later.

Focus Features acquired distribution rights to the film in April 2019 and Plan B Entertainment is producing the film with a short list of experienced individuals including Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner of “Moonlight,” Lila Yacoub of “Moonrise Kingdom,” Brad Pitt, and Jon Stewart himself.

While it might seem like Jon Stewart has not been active since his step down from “The Daily Show” in 2015, this is entirely untrue. Over the past few years, he has done much work behind the camera, writing episodes of “The Daily Show” and “The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore” while producing lots of content with Colbert.

Nevertheless, “Irresistible” is indeed one of Stewart’s first high profile productions in a while. Although he is unlikely to appear on screen during the film, he does don the triple creative crown as writer, director, and producer. The movie will also be a return to comedy acting for Carell, who has been doing more dramatic roles of lately, appearing in heavier projects such as “Beautiful Boy,” “Vice,” and “Welcome To Marwen.” He has also been working behind the camera, creating the sci-fi comedy “Space Force” series and the action-comedy “Angie Tribeca.”

“Irresistable”originally scheduled for theaters May 29th is now available to stream:

Stream now on Amazon

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Books, Politics

Black Lives Matter: Antiracist Books and Authors seeing massive Spike in Interest

Awareness and education on race and racism could be a good starting point towards change

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 is still a concern across the globe, however with the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd; prejudice, police brutality, racism, and injustice has been at the forefront of many people news feed.  

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 many people of color constantly face (especially if coming from a place of privilege).

Read More: Meghan Markle new video Post: “The Only Wrong Thing to Say is to Say Nothing”

The unjust murders of African American have created a national outrage as Black Lives Matter protests march all across the globe and demand justice and change to be had. And those that have experienced and witnessed injustice and racism as well as the family members that have lost loved ones – deserve a better version of the world.

We have curated a list of books that will help to educate yourself on how to be anti-racist, as well as provide history of racism and inequality.  Along with the book titles we have provided a small summary from the publisher and additional information on where to purchase if interested. For a list of many more titles relating to the subject of anti-racism, justice, race and inequality, see link.

How to Be an Antiracist

Click to see “How to be Antiracist” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores.  Also available on Amazon.

Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism–and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At it’s core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas–from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilites–that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their posionous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.  Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society. Click to see “How to Be an Antiracist” also available on Amazon.

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

Click to see “I’m Still Here” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon and Walmart.

Austin Channing Brown’s first encounter with a racialized America came at age 7, when she discovered her parents named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools, organizations, and churches, Austin writes, “I had to learn what it means to love blackness,” a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America’s racial divide as a writer, speaker and expert who helps organizations practice genuine inclusion. In a time when nearly all institutions (schools, churches, universities, businesses) claim to value “diversity” in their mission statements, I’m Still Here is a powerful account of how and why our actions so often fall short of our words. Austin writes in breathtaking detail about her journey to self-worth and the pitfalls that kill our attempts at racial justice, in stories that bear witness to the complexity of America’s social fabric–from Black Cleveland neighborhoods to private schools in the middle-class suburbs, from prison walls to the boardrooms at majority-white organizations. Click to See “I’m Still Here” also available on Amazon and Walmart.

So You Want to Talk about Race

Click to see “So You Want to Talk about Race” and
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Also available on Amazon and Walmart.

Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy–from police brutality to the mass incarceration of Black Americans–has put a media spotlight on racism in our society. Still, it is a difficult subject to talk about. How do you tell your roommate her jokes are racist? Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair–and how do you make it right? How do you explain white privilege to your white, privileged friend? 

In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to “model minorities” in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life. Click to see “So You Want to Talk about Race” also available on Amazon and Walmart.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism

Click to see “White Fragility” and help Lynxotic and Independent Book Stores. Also available on Amazon and Walmart.

In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively. Click to see “White Fragility” also available on Amazon and Walmart.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

Click to see “The New Jim Crow” and help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. 
Also available on Amazon and Walmart.

Seldom does a book have the impact of Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campus-wide and community-wide reads; it helped inspire the creation of the Marshall Project and the new $100 million Art for Justice Fund; it has been the winner of numerous prizes, including the prestigious NAACP Image Award; and it has spent nearly 250 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

Most important of all, it has spawned a whole generation of criminal justice reform activists and organizations motivated by Michelle Alexander’s unforgettable argument that “we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.” As the Birmingham News proclaimed, it is “undoubtedly the most important book published in this century about the U.S.” Click to See “The New Jim Crow” also available on Amazon and Walmart.

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

Click to see “Stamped from the Beginning” and
help Lynxotic and Independent Bookstores. 
Also available on Amazon and Walmart.

Some Americans insist that we’re living in a post-racial society. But racist thought is not just alive and well in America–it is more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. And as award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi argues, racist ideas have a long and lingering history, one in which nearly every great American thinker is complicit. In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. Heuses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to drive this history: Puritan minister Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and legendary activist Angela Davis. As Kendi shows, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. They were created to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation’s racial inequities. Click to See “Stamped from the Beginning” also available on Amazon and Walmart.

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Breaking News, Politics

Meghan Markle new video Post: “The Only Wrong Thing to Say is to Say Nothing”

Video
https://video-lynxotic.akamaized.net/Meghan-Markle.mp4

This new video which was just posted on twitter in the last 12 hours, see above, however the video from the ’12 campaign against racism nearly 8 years ago is still very much a valid and informative post relating to Meghan Markle’s perspective and personal feelings on the Black Lives Matter Movement and racism in general.

Read More: Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and more all condemn Trump’s incendiary tweet and Racism

A 2012 video of the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle speaking about her personal experiences with racism has become public news. The video was posted on a fan page (_duchess_of_sussex) that was reposted December 22, 2019 that Hello! Magazine subsequently resurfaced on June 2nd. The video footage comes available at a fitting time when Black Lives Matter protests are happening across the United States following the death of an unarmed George Floyd by the hands of a group of police officers.

The video shows the Duchess of Sussex wearing a t-shirt that reads “ I Won’t Stand for Racism” as part of a anti-racism video campaign for the charity Erase the Hate. Below you can watch the two minute clip originally from February 2012.

Before becoming a mother, Markle verbalizes within the clip her hopes that the world would be more accepting and anti-racist by the she decided to bring a child into the world. “I hope that by the time I have children, that people are even more open-minded to how things are changing and that having a mixed world is what it’s all about.” Meghan and Prince Harry are now parents to their one year old son named Archie and although there have been some changes, much still needs to be done towards racial equality and justice.

Read More: 2020 Pulitzer Picks: “The Nickel Boys” Makes History

Within the clip, Meghan speaks to how she is personally affected and has experienced racism and the perceptions people hold towards her being of mixed race. Markle is a biracial woman, her mother Doria Ragland is black and father Thomas Markle is white.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust also took to its social media, which is overseen by Meghan Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth II. The post can be seen on Twitter on June 1st, with a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the following written caption:

“Young people are vital voices in the fight against injustice and racism around the world,” the organization wrote on its Twitter yesterday. “As a global community of young leaders, we stand together in pursuit of fairness and a better way forward. Silence is not an option. #BlackLivesMatter.”

“My name’s Meghan Markle and I’m here because I think it’s a really important campaign to be a part of. For me, I think it hits a really personal note. I’m biracial, most people can’t tell what I’m mixed with and so much of my life has felt like being a fly on the wall. And so some of the slurs that I’ve heard or the really offensive jokes or the names, it’s just hit me in a really strong way. And then, you know, a couple of years ago I heard someone call my mom the N-word. So I think for me, beyond being personally affected by racism, just to see the landscape of what our country is like right now, and certainly the world, and to want things to be better.

Quite honestly, your race is part of what defines you. I think what shifts things is that the world really treats you based on how you look. Certain people don’t look at me and see me as a Black woman or a biracial woman. They treat me differently, I think, than they would if they knew what I was mixed with, and I think that that is—I don’t know, it can be a struggle as much as it can be a good thing depending on the people that you’re dealing with“

meghan markle / i won’t stand for racism video campaign

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Breaking News, Observation, Politics

Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and more all condemn Trump’s incendiary tweet and Racism

Video

Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Cardi B, LeBron James, Kim Kardashian West and more were online yesterday expressing shock and dismay at the brutal murder of George Floyd. Notably Taylor Swift was so outraged that she vowed to be a part of a movement to vote Trump out of office.

Derek Chauvin was finally arrested on 3rd-degree murder and manslaughter charges after the widely seen video showing him kneeling on the neck of George Floyd before his death sparked massive protests around the country. Some of the protests turned violent and the precinct where Chauvin had been stationed was set ablaze. The celebrity reaction shows that this is about more than the horrific criminal act that took the life of another innocent “alleged” detainee. The systemic racism in the US and, in particular, the police brutality that goes unchecked have reached a boiling point for the entire country.

https://lynxotic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Beyonce-BLM.mp4
VIDEO POSTED BY BEYONCÉ ON INSTAGRAM

Taylor Swift had been criticized in the past for not supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016 – at a time when her massive following could have potentially saved the country form 4 years of Trump’s antics and dangerous policies. This time, however, she vows it will be a completely different story and basically guarantees a loss for the current White House resident on November 3rd. “After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump.”

“After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump.”

Tweet by Taylor Swift

Billie Eilish did non mince words in this passionate indictment of a racist culture seemingly unchecked by reason or intelligence:

As follows various quotes from tweets and instagram posts by other famous names:

LeBron James post on Instagram was unequivocal:

https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/1265839622904479749?s=20

“Enough is enough! What will it take ? A civil war ? A new president? Violent riots ? It’s tired ! I’m tired ! The country is tired !You don’t put fear in people when you do this you just show {what a} coward YOU ARE! And how America is really not the land of the free!”

Cardi B on Instagram

More protests are scheduled for today across the nation and the reaction is in honor of George Floyd but also addresses many more deep seated issues that have been building for more than 4 years. Trump may feel that he scores a political point every time a store is looted but the vast majority has had enough of gaslighting and mind games, not to mention disgustingly racist rhetoric and “dog whistle” innuendo. The steep climb to a November redemption appears to have started.

Read More: 2020 Pulitzer Picks: “The Nickel Boys” Makes History

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Books, Business, Entertainment, Movies

Sony And Tom Hanks’ “Greyhound” Goes To Apple TV+ For Direct-To-Streaming Release

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/greyhound/greyhound-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Trailer for “Greyhound

Competitive bidding underway for films previously set for worldwide release to theaters

Tom Hanks stars in the new Sony Pictures World War II drama, “Greyhound,” which was due for a theatrical release on June 12th. Like many other films meant to come out this summer, though, “Greyhound” has been derailed by the coronavirus and the worldwide shutdown of movie theaters. Thus, the film has been expedited to the streaming market and will now be available exclusively on Apple TV+.

Launched just last November, Apple TV+ has been an underdog in the streaming war so far. The affordable $4.99/month service met some early awards for its highly praised “The Morning Show” and has created a few shows starring major talent such as “Defending Jacob” with Chris Evans and “See” with Jason Mamoa. The platform has also done a few spinoff shows such as the children’s “Fraggle Rock: Rock On” and a revival of Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories.”

Read More: SpaceX Starship Plans for The Moon, Mars and Earth-to-Earth Transport

By-and-large, Apple TV+ has been committed to original content, opting to produce in-house series and movies rather than acquire outside titles. However, Apple TV+ does not have the vast libraries of Disney+, HBO Max, or NBCUniversal’s Peacock. It is a tech company that just entered the film and TV entertainment world and it must to compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime, both of which have created more original series in recent years, but still rely heavily on mergers and acquisitions for variety.

Apple TV+ appears to have a long road ahead in order to gain significant foothold

While Apple’s closed-system quality-over-quantity approach to streaming is admirable, it’s not giving them any leg-up on their rivals. Hence, they are presently bending their own rules a bit, talking with bigger studios about licensing out additional content. The service allegedly paid Sony $70 million for “Greyhound” and according to Deadline, the site will treat the film as its biggest movie release yet.

The deal also works out for Sony. Unlike Disney, WarnerMedia, or NBCUniversal, Sony does not have its own streaming service, so allocating its property to Apple gives them a presence in the streaming world without selling out to one of their theatrical competitors. Of course, Sony would probably prefer to release “Greyhound” on the big screen, but the global pandemic has all but slaughtered that possibility.

Read More: New Trailer for Chris Nolan’s “Tenet”: WB stays true to Original Release Despite Coronavirus

During the coronavirus, all streaming sites have seen increases in activity. Apple TV+, like any of the other platforms, is profiting off of, but also vying for the attention of people stuck at home. Throwing a Sony-produced Tom Hanks war epic in the captive audience’s faces will certainly help the site’s cause.

Aaron Shneider directs “Greyhound,” and its narrative comes from a screenplay by C.S. Forester and Hanks himself. It follows the true story of an American navy ship crossing the Atlantic in the early days of World War II while being pursued by troves of enemy German U-Boats. Apple has not yet scheduled a release date for the film, but it will likely come out sometime this summer.

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Books, Entertainment

Six Succulent Psychedelic Books that can Take you on a Trip to a New Self Understanding

Mind altering psychedelics and LSD have been around since the 1950’s / early 1960’s. More recently they have made a resurgence and the cultural references can be seen in the various media platforms including movies, television programs, documentaries, podcasts and beyond. We have curated a list of some of the more popular book titles relating to psychedelics that range from scientific to a more anecdotal explosion of whacked out exploration and experimentation with the beloved and ever-mind-expanding drug.

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Ken Kesey and his band of the Merry Pranksters became famous for their use of LSD and other psychedelic drugs in hopes of achieving intersubjectivity. The book chronicles the Acid Tests (parties in which LSD-laced Kool-Aid was used to obtain a communal trip), the group’s encounters with (in)famous figures of the time, including famous authors, Hells Angels, and The Grateful Dead, and it also describes Kesey’s exile to Mexico and his arrests.

Author Tom Wolfe  The book is remembered today as an early – and arguably the most popular – example of the growing literary style called New Journalism, “An American classic” (Newsweek) that defined a generation. “An astonishing book” (The New York Times Book Review) and an unflinching portrait of Ken Kesey, his Merry Pranksters, LSD, and the 1960s.

Click to see “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” and at the same time
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Read More: 5 Books that Could Shed light on our Time: Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds

A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life

The true story of how a renowned writer’s struggle with mood storms led her to try a remedy as drastic as it is forbidden: microdoses of LSD. Her fascinating journey provides a window into one family and the complex world of a once-infamous drug seen through new eyes. 

When a small vial arrives in her mailbox from “Lewis Carroll,” Ayelet Waldman is ready to try anything. Her depression has become intolerable, severe and unmanageable; medication has failed to make a difference. Married with four children and a robust career, she “should” be happy, but instead her family and her work are suffering at the mercy of her mood disorder.

Click to see “A Really Good Day” and at the same time
help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores.

The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell

Among the most profound and influential explorations of mind-expanding psychadelic drugs ever written, here are two complete classic books–The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell–in which Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, reveals the mind’s remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness. This new edition also features an additional essay, “Drugs That Shape Men’s Minds,” which is now included for the first time.

Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist, and humanist philosopher. He attended Eton and Oxford and briefly taught at Eton before devoting himself solely to writing. His fifth novel, Brave New World, is one of the most read books in literary history.

Click to see “The Doors of Perception”and at the same time
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Acid Test: Lsd, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal

With the F.D.A. agreeing to new trials to test MDMA (better known as Ecstasy) as a treatment for PTSD–which, if approved, could be available as a drug by 2021–Acid Test is leading the charge in an evolving conversation about psychedelic drugs. Despite their current illegality, many Americans are already familiar with their effects.

Yet while LSD and MDMA have proven extraordinarily effective in treating anxiety disorders such as PTSD, they still remain off-limits to the millions who might benefit from them. Through the stories of three very different men, award-winning journalist Tom Shroder covers the drugs’ roller-coaster history from their initial reception in the 1950s to the negative stereotypes that persist today. At a moment when popular opinion is rethinking the potential benefits of some illegal drugs, and with new research coming out every day, Acid Test is a fascinating and informative must-read.

Click to see “Acid Test”and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores.

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

When Michael Pollan set out to research how LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are being used to provide relief to people suffering from difficult-to-treat conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety, he did not intend to write what is undoubtedly his most personal book. But upon discovering how these remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he decided to explore the landscape of the mind in the first person as well as the third.

Thus began a singular adventure into various altered states of consciousness, along with a dive deep into both the latest brain science and the thriving underground community of psychedelic therapists. Pollan sifts the historical record to separate the truth about these mysterious drugs from the myths that have surrounded them since the 1960s, when a handful of psychedelic evangelists inadvertently catalyzed a powerful backlash against what was then a promising field of research.

Click to see “How to Change Your Mind”and at the same time
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The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead

The book discusses the various phases of ego death that can occur on psychedelics and gives specific instructions on how one should regard them and act during each of these different phases. In addition to containing more general advice for the readers on how to use psychedelics, the book also includes selections of writing presented with the intent for them to be read aloud during events where groups of people take psychedelic drugs together. 

Click to see “The Psychedelic Experience”and at the same time help Lynxotic and all Independent Local Bookstores.

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Breaking News, News

6.5 Magnitude Earthquake hits Nevada/California border, Felt by Thousands

Photo / Adobe Stock

Remote region of Nevada gets an early morning shakeup

USGS (United States Geological Service) reported a 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Nevada early Friday, May 15th, 2020. The quake was upgraded from the first reported magnitude of 6.4 to 6.5 an hour after the initial hit. The quake happened at approximately 4:03 a.m. east of Sierra Nevada, 35 miles from Tonopah near the California/Nevada border. The first temblor, according to USGS, struck 4.7 miles deep and resulted in dozens of aftershocks, some of which were of a magnitude high enough to have been felt throughout the region – ranging from 3.0 to 5.1 with many above the 4.0 threshold.

Director of the Nevada Seismology Laboratory, Graham Kent explained that the state has not experienced an earthquake close the magnitude felt on May 15th since the year December 1954 when two temblors of 6.8 and 7.1 magnitude hit the city of Fallon, Nevada.

Tweets began to pop up from residents ranging from Salt Lake City, Utah to Central Valley in California confirming that they felt the earthquake. Due to the quake hitting near the border of Nevada and California, and although the epicenter was in a remote region, many people were able to feel the quake. USGS revealed that more than 15,000 “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted.

As yet, there have been no reports of casualties, however Esmeralda County Sheriff’s Office shared photos of the US 95 Highway damage resulting in portions of US95 and Nevada 360 Junction in Mineral County being closed for repairs.

On July 4th and 5th of last year, a large rolling earthquake, centered 11 miles from Ridgecrest, CA with a magnitude of 7.1 hit California and was felt all the way to Mexico.

Each time a quake of sufficient magnitude to get all of us to take notice occurs, we are reminded that, living near various active fault lines, it is not a question of “if” a large quake will happen, but only “when”. Therefore it is always good advice to prepare and be ready, even if we happen already to be in the middle of a different type of emergency.

Read More: 7.1 Quake in Southern California was not “The Big One”: Here’s How to Prepare for when the Next One Hits

Helpful tips on how to prepare for when the next big one hits

  • Download maps in .pdf format and store on a laptop (keep it charged). Or just get some of those old fashioned paper maps. 
  • Learn CPR: go to a class and be the one ready to save those around you.
  • For homeowners: check the structural integrity of your foundation. Double-check your earthquake insurance policy.
  • Keep extra water (lots of it) in your home as well as food and other supplies such as medicine, first aid kit and other essentials. Keep empty, safe water containers around to fill for extra H2O. Enough for at least a week or two is advised
  • Be sure that there is some cash hidden for this occasion; ATM machines can also be out for extended periods after a very large temblor.

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Books, Coronavirus, Entertainment

“Wuhan Diary” reveals inside accounts of Coronavirus Lockdown During the Peak

Groundbreaking and unvarnished look at what really transpired

A new book set for release on May 15th, 2020 comes from one of China’s most acclaimed and decorated writers and is a powerful first-person account of life in Wuhan during the peak of COVID-19 outbreak.

It is unclear if and when a physical book will be available for purchase, but for the moment, it is most It is unclear if and when a physical book will be available for purchase, but for the moment, it is becoming available in audiobook and e-book format

Synopsis from the publisher, HarperCollins :

On January 25, 2020, after the central government imposed a lockdown in Wuhan, acclaimed Chinese writer Fang Fang began publishing an online diary. The writer used a pen name rather than her birth name as she wanted to be a “witness” rather than be cast as a critic for or against the Chinese government and how the pandemic was handled.

In the days and weeks that followed, Fang Fang’s nightly postings gave voice to the fears, frustrations, anger, and hope of millions of her fellow citizens, reflecting on the psychological impact of forced isolation, the role of the internet as both community lifeline and source of misinformation, and most tragically, the lives of neighbors and friends taken by the deadly virus. 

A fascinating eyewitness account of events as they unfold, “Wuhan Diary” captures the challenges of daily life and the changing moods and emotions of being quarantined without reliable information. Fang Fang finds solace in small domestic comforts and is inspired by the courage of friends, health professionals and volunteers, as well as the resilience and perseverance of Wuhan’s nine million residents. But, by claiming the writer´s duty to record she also speaks out against social injustice, abuse of power, and other problems which impeded the response to the epidemic and gets herself embroiled in online controversies because of it.

As Fang Fang documents the beginning of the global health crisis in real time, we are able to identify patterns and mistakes that many of the countries dealing with the novel coronavirus have later repeated. She reminds us that, in the face of the new virus, the plight of the citizens of Wuhan is also that of citizens everywhere. As Fang Fang writes: “The virus is the common enemy of humankind; that is a lesson for all humanity. The only way we can conquer this virus and free ourselves from its grip is for all members of humankind to work together.” 

Blending the intimate and the epic, the profound and the quotidian, Wuhan Diary is a remarkable record of an extraordinary time.

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Entertainment, Movies

Quibi Shifts Gears Following Rough Start: Katzenberg Blames Underperformance On Coronavirus

New Subscriber Count Underwhelming

Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman launched Quibi on April 6th. The latest project from the two well-experienced entertainment moguls, Quibi is a streaming service designed for the smallest of screens— namely, smartphones and other mobile devices. The subscription based platform’s initiative is to provide short bursts of entertainment for people on the go, keeping content between seven and ten minutes long apiece.

Quibi entered the streaming war with a lot of hype, propelled by a massive marketing campaign and a line up including several noteworthy filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, Guillermo Del Toro, Steven Soderbergh, Sam Raimi, and more. Many industry insiders had high hopes for the novel platform, even after it decided to stay true to its April 6th launch date amidst the coronavirus.

Sadly, that decision might be coming back to haunt Quibi, as the service came out over a month ago and has so far severely underperformed. The service cost roughly $1.4 billion to create— most of the money coming from Hollywood studio investors and the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba— and according to the New York Times, it has garnered under 2 million active subscribers in its first month. At a price of $4.99-$7.99 per month, this is a long way from breaking even.

Read more: “Quibi Embraces Smallest Screens and Biggest Talent in New Mobile Streaming Service“

Despite knowing the risk of launching Quibi during COVID-19, Jeffrey Katzenberg is now attributing the site’s underperformance to the pandemic. In a New York Times video interview, he unambiguously stated, “I attribute everything that has gone wrong to coronavirus.”

The founder’s rationale is that the platform is best consumed for people with busy, mobile lives. Quibi provides content catered to people on tight schedules, with news and entertainment served in quick doses. Under the current quarantine, however, people are more sedentary than ever before. Katzenberg continued to the Times, “My hope, my belief was that there would still be many in-between moments while sheltering in place. There are still those moments, but it’s not the same. It’s out of sync.” 

This makes sense, but is called into question when considering the success of other streaming sites during the lockdown. Established platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ have benefitted immensely from people staying at home. With theaters closed, lots of content is getting expedited to streaming and these sites are serving as the last lines of entertainment during these isolating times. Netflix has added 15.8 million subscribers in 2020, and Disney+ 4.5 million in the month of April alone.

Of course, Quibi lacks a lot of what these preexisting services have to offer. It does not possess the name brand recognition of a Netflix or Amazon, nor does it have have the vast, familiar library of Disney+. Despite its impressive rolodex of attached producers and a few reboots of popular shows, Quibi has had to build from the bottom up with original programming.

No Blockbuster (yet?) and Now A Changed Attitude Re: TV

Unfortunately, on top of all the circumstantial roadblocks facing Quibi as a company right now, its shows have not been well received either. Many critics and consumers are not buying into the concept of watching content on a phone. Even though Quibi invested lots of effort into creating “turnstyle” technology for a seamless vertical/horizontal viewing experience, the final product has been underwhelming. A review from The Vulture called the technological attempt’s outcome, “a sad cropped, vertical version of a show that looked better in widescreen.”

Now, Quibi is looking towards the future. With so much money and human capital tied up in the project, it has no choice but to keep moving forward, trying to rebound and improve upon itself.

Read more: “Five Stories perfect for our time“

Marketing-wise, Quibi plans to start advertising for individual shows. Up until now, the platform has marketed itself as a whole, with celebrity-endorsed commercials promoting the overall site rather than specific programs. Going forward, Quibi will create more ads centered on particular shows, much in the same vein as Netflix and Disney+.

The site will also be updating its terms of usage. For starters, Quibi users will no longer be tethered to their phone screens. Subscribers will soon be able to watch Quibi shows on their televisions. This was always something that Quibi aspired to in the longterm, but wanted to get its customers used to the small screen standard first. Given the users’ apparent aversion to mobile viewing, though, Quibi is accelerating the process.

Moreover, Quibi content will be sharable on social media going forward. At first, Katzenberg and Whitman wanted to keep all of Quibi (including screenshots) behind its subscriber paywall. Those walls are now becoming permeable, as Quibi demands more traction. Allowing users to share Quibi shows on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will help spread its popularity and get more people talking about it.

Evidently, Quibi is undergoing some changes at the moment. Regardless of the peculiar situation, the bottom line is that Quibi has not been so successful out the gate. Things will probably get even more competitive in the coming months as NBCUniversal’s Peacock and AT&T’s HBOMax enter the streaming world. Consequentially, Quibi executives are changing their approach immediately, lest the Quibi craze be over before it even begins.

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Entertainment, Movies

Elon Musk – Tom Cruise Space Film makes News out of Brilliant Redundancy

Above: photo collage / Lynxotic

Weightlessness becomes the sound stage setting for innovation or absurdity

From “Star Trek” to “Star Wars,” “Interstellar” to “2001,” outer space has been the primary setting for a wide range of science fiction and action movies over the years. Still, never has a film actually been shot in the infinite frontier. Sure we have footage from the stars (even from the moon and Mars), but no feature film has been bold enough to actually construct a full-length narrative with principal photography occurring in space.

All that is about to change, as Deadline Hollywood recently reported that actor Tom Cruise has been in conversation with tech wizard Elon Musk‘s SpaceX to shoot a movie entirely in space… the first feature to ever have its production take place outside planet Earth.

As of right now, details are quite spotty. All we know for sure is that Cruise is on board and so is Musk. The film will not be attached to any pre-existing Tom Cruise franchise and no studio has signed on to the project yet. Also, in typical Cruise fashion, the movie will likely fall into the action genre.

Because COVID-19 has more or less put the film industry on pause indefinitely, significant progress on the project will probably not begin until business is back to normal. Obviously, this movie will require an unprecedented amount of planning. Cruise will need to endure astronaut-like training to face (let alone act in) a zero gravity environment. The same goes for all of the supporting cast and crew members, none of whom have been announced yet.

The project will probably be insurmountably expensive, but with Musk, Cruise, and SpaceX (and by extension NASA) at the film’s back, they will certainly be able to raise the funds and attract major studio interest. A budget has not been estimated yet, but the film could easily end up being the most expensive production of all time. It depends on how many actors, crew members, and sets they need to prepare and transport to beyond the exosphere.

Fringe benefit or impossible to insure, an action stunt that creates headlines, if not much else

Even in his sixties, the eternally youthful Tom Cruise is a perfect pick to lead the first film shot in space. The actor still does his own extreme stunts and the past few “Mission: Impossible” movies saw him leaping from helicopters, hanging off the side of a moving airplane, and scaling the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. If any Hollywood persona has what it takes to perform in space, it is Cruise.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk—who recently had his first child, named X Æ A-12, with partner Grimes—is one of the greatest visionaries alive today. His SpaceX company is behind the electric-powered line of Tesla cars and it is currently planning a flight to the international space station with its innovative Crew Dragon capsule. Having Musk lend his expertise to the film industry will be a real treat.

Cruise is currently awaiting the release of his most recent film, “Top Gun: Maverick,” which has been pushed back from June to December due to the pandemic. The aviator-based action movie is a sequel to its 1986 predecessor, and Cruise stars alongside Jennifer Connelly, Val Kilmer, Jon Hamm, and others. Although Cruise has done copious action adventure films throughout his career, he’s somehow never done one set in space. Given his aptitude for practical stunts, it only makes sense that his first one is filmed there for real.

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Climate Solutions

Sustainable Energy is Now Essential to Rescue Economy and Planet: Earth Day 2020

Photo / Lynxotic / Unsplash

A Sense of Urgency is Only the First Step

This year’s Earth Day will be a little different than last year. Because of social distancing precautions, most of the events tied to the national environmental teach-in will have to be done remotely, with supporters engaging through virtual platforms with activities promoting ecological education and activism.

Click to buy “The Green New Deal”
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While the COVID-19 pandemic might render Earth Day 2020 a less engaging experience compared to its predecessors, it does not reduce the occasion’s importance. In fact, Earth Day is incredibly pertinent for everything the world is going through right now, and as of recent economic developments, it is taking place during an era rife with the winds of change.

Economic conservatism is often one of the biggest things standing between passionate activists and true environmental progress. Obviously, many proposals for how to combat climate change, slash emissions, or protect ecosystems are seen by many as throwing wrenches and regulations into conventional capitalism. For people profiting off of fossil fuels and carbon subsidies, most environmental prerogatives seem fiscally backwards.

Photo / Lynxotic / Unsplash

A Major Shift is already Underway in Every Aspect of Life and the Economy

Right now, however, the winds of change are at hurricane strength. Monday’s oil crash saw the largest drop in crude oil value ever. For the first time, the price per barrel went under $0, and had plummeted all the way to $-37.63 by the end of the day. Although some predict that this drop is a temporary situation that will be solved with the natural economic cycle, many take it as a sign of the fossil fuel industry’s eventual collapse. If there was ever a time to investigate renewable energy as a sound investment, it would be now.

The International Renewable Energy Agency further qualifies this assertion in a recent report. In it, the Agency suggests that investing in green energy right now might be the economy’s best chance at recovery.

Because of the coronavirus, the stock market has plummeted and many people have lost their jobs. Recovering from this crash will take time and many fundamental changes in policy. The process could be expedited, even as the larger problem of climate change is improved, if people invest in renewable energy, as a largely under-tapped sector with virtually unlimited potential.

According to The Guardian’s coverage of the above mentioned report, investing in renewable energy now could add $98 trillion to the GDP by 2050, returning $3-$8 on every dollar invested today. The report also suggests that buying into renewable energy could create 42 million jobs over the next generation, as a green economy would require construction workers for new infrastructure, planners, designers, technicians, and skilled people in all new kinds of trades.

The ecological incentives of investing in renewable energy have always been there, and they always will be. Economic incentives have also been persistent and wise, for saving the world will always be more lucrative than destroying it in the long run. However, the world is in a unique state right now, with circumstances somehow rendering renewable energy potential life saving investment even in the short term.

Highlighting the need to capitalize on this economic opportunity could and should be Earth Day’s top priority. It is almost poetic that on April 22nd, 2020, fifty years after America observed its first Earth Day, now, at a time when the entire world is combatting a disease together, the very urgency and unprecedented extremes we face daily could inspire us to find the precise catalyst needed to ignite a shift toward change for the better.

Of course, many have already pointed out the ecological benefits of so many people staying at home—pollution is down, wildlife is replenishing, and the ozone is redeveloping—but these upsides are temporary. Getting people to invest in and commit to a new kind of energy promises far more longevity, and the spirit of Earth Day, could be our first best hope to save our tiny blue planet.

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Books, Entertainment, Esoteric, Lifestyle

Comic-Con San Diego Cancelled for first Time in Fifty Years due to Coronavirus Pandemic

On Friday, April 17, San Diego Comic-Con organizers announced that the annual event for 2020 will be cancelled for the first time in its fifty year run.

The four-day pop-culture convention traditionally takes place every summer. It is a yearly celebration of all things comic books—from the books themselves to movies, television, novels, and other transmedia adaptations.

While San Diego may not be the largest Comic-Con in America, it is the most prestigious and widely observed of its kind. Roughly 135,000 people attend each year including academics, professionals, and fans, many of whom cosplay as their favorite characters.

SDCC 2020 was meant to take place between July 23rd and July 26th of this year. The organization fought hard to keep the event happening throughout the coronavirus shutdowns. However, its leaders finally pulled the plug, realizing that the packed occasion would severely violate the current social distancing precautions.

The event for this year has not been postponed for any later date, but rather terminated altogether. Nevertheless, those who have already bought tickets will have the options of receiving full refunds or transferring their purchases to vouchers for SDCC 2021.

Economic Fallout hitting Across Multiple Industries

Comic-Con’s cancellation does not bode well for San Diego’s economy. Through tourism and other fiscally stimulating activities, the event reportedly brings in nearly $150,000,000 for the city each year.

Given that COVID-19 has put the entertainment industry on hold for 2020’s foreseeable future, though, perhaps it is fitting that this year’s Comic Con has been cancelled. Comic Con’s paramount draw is the panels of creative professionals who reveal new content and information within their industry. This includes casting decisions, trailers, original ideas, and much, much more.

Because most studios have had their 2020 production and release schedules pulled out form under them in light of the pandemic, it’s unclear how much concrete new information this year’s Comic Con would have to offer. Either way, its cancellation is unprecedented, but if everything is back to normal a year from now, 2021’s convention should have a surplus of exciting news to deliver the culturally famished masses.

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Books, Breaking News, Business, Entertainment

Breaking News: World Reading Marathon Underway- Streaming and Binge-watching still huge but Books are Next

Independent Bookstores, closed and struggling due to Shelter in Place orders, see Massive Surge in Online Sales

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Bookshop.org, where our sister site Cherrybooks.org is currently housed, seeing a huge surge in sales: starting on March 27th the world appears to have run out of streaming shows to binge-watch and decided to consider reading as a serious alternative.

Some stores are reporting a 300% jump, interestingly focused on this weekend in particular. Our sister company has seen similar numbers. More interestingly the titles that people are buying are like a window into all of our thoughts, hopes, fears and desires.

It’s an encouraging sign to see that people are literally taking this serious, daunting situation to heart and rethinking their own lives and even life itself. Naturally, entertaining escape from reality fiction and romantic fantasy fills a need and there is plenty of those kind of titles in the mix.

And, particularly, in the initial surge of interest, books related to epidemiology and any previous history titles related to pandemics and viruses enjoyed a spike in interest.

It’s Amazing to See how Millions are Searching for ways to Learn and Expand Knowledge, as We Hope to Transform Crisis into Opportunity

The depth and breath of the interest appears to be swelling into a second wave of sorts. Just as we are all going through various psychological stages in our reaction to the crisis we appear to have reached a stage where we are learning to accept that the length of self-isolation or physical separation in the name of “flattening the curve” will not be a week to ten days but could stretch into April and even May.

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Lots of time on your hands? Need to save money due to unemployment? Want to do something that you can do alone in quarantine? All of the above apply to these titles and all DIY and How-to books !

This reality has triggered what appears to be a healthy and even heroic response in many. When viewing the titles people are choosing, and the depth of the thought that appears to have gone into those choices, it’s as if there is a massive worldwide army of people with a tsunami of desire to solve problems. From personal, individual problems and hopes, to world wide challenges in matters of health, economics, ecology, politics and so on.

Know of somebody who is lying all the time?
Is he on TV every day? Finding it hard to cope?
This one’s for you. Also available on Amazon

Looking inward and toward the rear view mirror, people are researching history, particularly the 1st world war and its massive flu epidemic, along with the great depression as we ponder our financial and economic fates.

Even deeper inward philosophy, religion and all kinds of introspective longing to understand ourselves and societies and our history can be seen in the book titles. Stoicism books are selling by the dozen, as are, not surprisingly books on christianity and faith. Other religions and philosophies are represented also.

Humor is a big draw at a time we can all use a laugh and a smile. Everything can be seen and felt in the choices people are making as they search for ways to use this mandated time to reflect and regroup. How better to reach out for answers than the oldest technology for wisdom and the progression of ideas: books and solitary reading.

Below: a random smattering of titles from actual orders to illustrate this phenomenon along with our descriptions of the impulses that led to these selections:

Little Fires Everywhere

Also available on Amazon
Also available on bookshop.org

This one is an obvious choice. Eyes tired from binge-watching for 37 hours straight? When you wake up tomorrow you can soothe them by forgoing the video version and going straight to the original. We find a surprising number of people become interested in the original book version of a title after the film or video version already hit the streets…

Mother Teresa

also available on Amazon

Want to do good? Thinking of role models sorely needed in this world of ours? Thoughts leaning toward what a person can do to help others during this time of crisis and suffering? Biographies of inspirational figures, such as Mother Teresa are very popular now, showing a trend towards introspection and the meaning of life and serving others.

The Essential Rumi

Also available on Amazon

How huge is poetry during self isolation? Very. This is one that has been surprising, from modern to romantic to historic classics, poetry books are flying off the shelves like there’s no tomorrow. Which we all hope is not the case. Even if it does turn out that way, what better last thought to savor than one from a great poet?

On Cats 

Also Available on Amazon

From Charles Bukowski to Rumi or Thich Nhat Hanh people are letting words flow from the pages and letting their souls devour the sweet nectar. Whatever style or epoch tickles your fancy it’s out there waiting. Take it and run with it. What have you got to lose?

Rebbe

Also available on Amazon

Religion and Spirituality are huge, which goes without saying. The impulse to look within ourselves is growing stronger even as the world around us appears to be devolving into chaos. Perhaps it’s a feeling of wanting to reach back to our roots and traditions of our families or childhood.

Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years

Also available on Amazon.

Or it could just as well be a strong desire to explore what’s absolutely new and unknown to us. Either way the solitary time in this unexpected environment we find ourselves in is perfect for exploring things we may not have had an opportunity to investigate during “normal” times.

Coping with Your Difficult Older Parent

Also available on Amazon.

Or maybe it’s time to figure out how to solve all the world’s problems. Sure it’s great to start with epidemiology and search for a coronavirus vaccination. But what about the rest of our problems? Or how about just great ideas for better ways to live and organize society? Or political solutions and movements? With enough time on our hands to study and reflect there may not be any problem too big or too complex.

The Soft Addiction Solution

Also available on Amazon.

Somebody said we are all in quarantine and spending all our time eating and fighting with spouses and relatives. Why not take a break and read about how not to fight with each other. Many have apparently taken that advice to heart as some of our biggest sellers are books and how to get along with each other, and ourselves! Reading has a miraculous influence on us to give us the strength and courage to believe that we can fix anything. Even solve our own inner dilemmas and weaknesses.

Of course there is always the pleasure of exploration. Novels and guilty pleasure reads, cookbooks and food, Romance, Sex, Relationships, Children’s Entertainment, Movies and Music, the list goes on and on. The old saying “there’s an app for that was preceded many, many years earlier by a simple truism that has stood the test of time. There’s a book for that.

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Entertainment, Movies, Tech

Lions in Russia: Joke or Twitter Hoax is not the Worst idea, some say

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/the-lion-king-2018/the-lion-king-trailer-2_h1080p.mov
Original Teaser Trailer for “The Lion KIng”

Both Reuters and Newsweek have debunked the viral story that has been spreading around twitter and instagram about 800 lions (and 600 tigers) that were supposedly unleashed on the residential streets of Russia to help encourage people to stay in their houses and practice “social distancing”.

Reuters attributes the post as having originated at “Break Your Own News”, a web site known for generating fake news.

Apparently, the lion in the photo, a staged photo taken in South Africa in 2016, is named Columbus, and was “cast” in the role after having been on loan from a nearby lion park.

It’s odd that when things are the most serious funny things seem to stand out even more. As gallows humor or just a stray internet meme, various truths sometimes converge in an untruth that is nevertheless less apt for the current moment.

In this case there are various hooks that encourage virality. First the photo is fantastic and would be more than just hilarious if it were real. Secondly, who doesn’t believe that Putin would do this? He’s known to have done far worse, and his macho outdoorsman persona fits perfectly.

Then there is the current wave of stories about people, in particular young people, either dying or just looking really stupid after ignoring government orders to shelter in place and maintain social distance. The meme conjures fantasies of such rule breakers being mauled by lions and tigers for their stupidity, only in Russia, of course.

Taking it to a whole other level, the tweet below imagines Donald Trump (from a parody account, of course) congratulating his good friend on the brilliant and “bold steps”, bringing to mind his “bold” comments that he would “open the country” by Easter (April 19th), irregardless of the containment or continued spread of covid-19 a.k.a. the novel coronavirus.

We can just imagine that the amusement of this story could only be further enhanced by reading this highly recommended literary masterpiece: The Lion in Russia” which happens to be book 2 from the “Pussycat Death Squad Series” of kindle books. Happy self-isolating everyone. Feel free to comment and share!

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Coronavirus

To Social Distance is to Save a Life – There are not enough Ventilators if Coronavirus outbreak continues

Why both young and old must practice social distancing amidst COVID-19 pandemic

This is a critical time for all of us to be responsible citizens and practice social distancing.  States and governments have put in place restrictions on mass gathering for a real reason, for our safety and wellbeing. Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic. There is a reason why movie theaters, amusement parks, gyms, dining in at restaurants and casinos are closed and people are hunkering down buying up all the toilet paper.  

A Book on London’s Epidemic “The Ghost Map” Check out Bookshop.org and at the same time help Lynxotic and All Independent Local Bookstores. Also Available on Amazon.

That is because the risk of infection is high among large groups of people. This is why keeping greater than usual physical distance from other people and or objects in public places is so essential. And when maintained correctly can minimize and slow down the transmission of the novel coronavirus. Heavy strain is being placed on hospitals, doctors and medical staff when seemingly healthy people (but carry the virus)  are still going into the public and unintentionally affecting and putting those with compromised immune systems at risk. 

Thus without protective measures, or people living “life as normal” and going into heavily crowded public places and not practicing social distancing – the health care systems WILL NOT have the capacity to care for the sick. Only with protective measures (staying home if sick and steering clear from heavily populated public spaces) can we flatten the curve and allow for our current health care systems to care for the number of cases that require hospitalization. So read a book, listen to an audible, exercise… get creative.

In a widely shared graphic, a tan curve represents a scenario without social distancing measures and where the U.S. hospital system becomes inundated with coronavirus patients. Chart / PBS

Hypothetical yet Realistic

Here is a scenario to better understand the gravity of why social distancing is so important.  Enter  (made up person) Dan, who is a young and healthy man, an extrovert that is use to hanging around with his friends out on the town.  Dan does not like the quarantine restrictions. He shows no symptoms, feels fine and does not know that he is indeed infected with the coronavirus.  Dan goes to a party on a Friday night, a big party with well over 50 people.  The next day, Saturday, 20 of those people from the party feel sick and experience difficulty in breathing and have to go to the hospital.  The hospital at this time is equipped to handle those 20 patients. Again on Saturday night, Dan goes to another big party with over 50 people in attendance, and the cycle repeats – the next day, on Sunday, another 20 people from the party feel sick, have difficulty breathing and have to go to the hospital. Here enters problem – the hospital is now not equipped to handle another surge of 20 people. 

Hospital are equipped with limited supplies and finite number of beds. For critical cases where patiences that are seriously injured or ill are taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) and special medical equipment and services are provided here.

Patients that experience difficulty in breathing, as one of the symptoms of the COVID-19, as the virus attacks a person’s lungs and in severe causes may require the use of a breathing machine also known as a ventilator or respirator. Typically because of the seriousness required to go to ICU – just one ICU bed is usually assigned with a team of medical providers (a nurse, critical care doctor, respiratory technician, phlebotomists, sometimes a nutritionist and/or specialist in infectious disease).

So what happens to the additional 20 people that the hospital cannot accommodate?  Most likely, they have to wait until an ICU bed with a ventilator opens up (which can be up to 2 weeks) or they are sent away.  Even worse, doctors are now being put in situations where they have to choose who to save because of the lack of machines and necessary resources. 

Had Dan not gone to the party on Friday night and heeded to social distancing advice, he would have not affected the first batch of 20 people. Additionally, if Dan would have waited a least 2 weeks between the two parties he attended, that would have also prevented the surge of patients coming into the hospital at the same time and the time gap would have allowed for those using ventilators to get better and free up space for incoming patients. 

Although Dan is fictional, not practicing social distancing does put people in danger, the NY Times reports there currently aren’t enough ventilators to cope with the coronavirus, now imagine it gets worse and people aren’t taking staying at home seriously?

The take away from this is partly cautionary – mostly staying at home is “not fun” – but it is way better to not know what to do with yourself at home (be bored) than be critical ill or dead from the coronavirus.  It is imperative to listen to public health officials and maintain the guidelines of social distancing.  If the collective “we” both young and old can do this, we will flatten the curve, decrease the spread of outbreaks, and take the much needed pressure off hospital and medical staff, and utimately save lives. 

Point blank – there will not enough ventilators to save people if we don’t stop or flatten the curve. Stay home to save a life. Don’t be like Dan.


Emergency Physician Emily Porter, M.D.

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