The official trailer for “Spencer” has been released, starring Kristen Stewart who looks like an absolute ringer for Princess Diana.
There have already been rave reviews since the film had its debut at the Venice Film Festival. Stewart is said to be an Oscar Award top contender for Best Actress.
The movie is set over a single weekend and focusing on how Princess Diana contemplates ending her marriage to Prince charles.
According to Neon, the official synopsis reads:
“December, 1991: The Prince and Princess of Wales’ marriage has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. This year, things will be a whole lot different.”
The movie will be released in theaters later this fall on November 5, 2021. Check out the official trailer, below, for the upcoming biographical drama:
In a tweet on Sunday morning the superstar comedian and actor, 56, announced that he had a positive covid result. He also urged his 5.2 million followers to get vaccinated.
“Hey guys I just found out I have COVID, trust me you don’t want this. Get vaccinated.”
In May 2021, Rock divulged that he had been vaccinated while he was being interviewed on The Tonight Show with Jammy Fallon.
He has spoken out previously and often in favor of people and his fans getting vaccinated.
It is unclear what, if any symptoms he may have. So-called “breakthrough” infections – a positive test in spite of already being vaccinated, are somewhat common, with the statistics showing that, though a vaccinated individual can still carry the virus, hence the positive test result, the symptoms are usually mild and seldom require hospitalization.
These are, of course, generalizations, based on various statistics and studies. A danger, particularly of the new “Delta” variant is that a person is easily infected and the severity of the symptoms differ greatly among individuals.
Hey guys I just found out I have COVID, trust me you don’t want this. Get vaccinated.
So, the likely potential benefit of Rock having had the Johnson and Johnson vaccination in May, is that he could experience milder symptoms that had he not done so.
IN an interview in January with Gayle King on CBS Sunday Morning, Rock replied to queries regarding his perspective on the issue: “Let me put it this way. Do I take Tylenol when I get a headache? Yes. Do I know what’s in Tylenol? I don’t know what’s in Tylenol. I just know my headache is gone.
“Do I know what’s in a Big Mac, Gayle? No. I just know it’s delicious.”
Recently, in early September, US President Joe Biden initiated new vaccine requirements and criticized the choice of roughly 80 million Americans who had at that time not had the jab.
The new mandate calls for all employers with more than 100 workers must require them to be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly.
A post on the celebrity’s instagram stories back in June is now getting some unwelcome attention from the head of U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority Charles Randell.
Randall called out Kim Kardashian West, in particular, in a speech to the Cambridge International Symposium on Economics Crime as he discussed risks in crypto and the needs for token regulation.
Here’s an excerpt from his speech: “Which brings me on to Kim Kardashian West. When she was recently paid to ask her 250 million Instagram followers to speculate on crypto tokens by ’joining the Ethereum Max Community‘, it may have been the financial promotion with the single biggest audience reach in history.”
The concern is that her ad could have easily been confused with Ethereum.”Ethereum Max” is a newer token created by unknown developers. More importantly the price peak, to date, for the not-ethereum coin coincided with Kim’s Instagram ad going live. She is rumored to receive up to $1 million or more per Instagram post.
Despite the name and the similar look of the logo, its is not affiliated with any of the developers behind the already well established Ethereum digital currency known as “Ether” or ETH.
Not only that, but her massive payday for boosting the coin coincided with a price crash for the token immediately thereafter. A classic pump-and-dump scenario.
It is unknown if the E-Max founders and her client, or even she herself “double-dipped” and sold on the bump she and her ad orchestrated, but that, along with the potential victims that bought at the high and subsequently were left holding the bag, are exactly what the questions are all about.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) cautioned against “hype” in the marketing of cryptocurrencies, particularly new tokens backed by celebrities that may end up being fake, as reported in The Guardian.
This is where is the big issue arises since this problem is a fairly common one, generally because crypto names are sometimes not copyrighted, and therefore there can be many look-a-likes, and these can often be riddled with higher risks, etc.
The speculative token hasn’t officially been deemed a scam, however it is quite common for social media influencers to get paid large sums of money by the developers of scam products and services, with little regard to those being “scammed” (that is to say, the general public targeted with the ads) or the total amounts of money lost in “pump-and-dump” schemes.
In this new release, Sally Rooney harnesses Friendship and Coming of Age
Her new novel follows young Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon. Alice is a young novelist who meets a warehouse worker Felix and on a whim invites him to travel to Rome alongside her.
Alice’s best friend Eileen is reeling over a recent break-up, while also flirting with Simon, whom she has known since childhood.
The four young adults are going through the motions but life is catching up with them, the book is largely based on email correspondence between the friends as they talk about life and all things relationships: love, sex, breakups, betrayals, ect.
The author that brought readers Normal People and Conversation with Friends, “Beautiful World, Where Are You” are sure to bring the drama that easily comes along with growing up.
Rooney’s book is out starting September 7, 2021 and is available at Bookshop or Amazon.
Colton Whitehead’s Complex and Charismatic characters tiptoeing on the fringes of Crime
The novel is set in 1960s Harlem and follows Ray Carney, a man that leads a double life. He is a family man, a furniture salesman living in a tiny apartment with his wife Elizabeth and are expecting their second child.
Not many people are aware that Ray comes from a line of uptown crooks. He occasions gets drop-ins from his cousin Freddie who will occasionally drop off a hot ring or necklace to Ray to see for him to appraise.
As he struggles to make ends meet and the bills continuing to build up, he finds himself stumbling fast into the crime world, navigating gangsters, heists and shakedowns.
“Harlem Shuffle” is from Pulitzer Prize Award winning author Colson Whitehead that brought readers “The Nickel Boys” and “The Underground Railroad”.
Equal parts thriller yet hilarious, it’s a “family saga masquerading as a crime novel”, speaking also to the social makeup of race and power, and ultimately a love letter to New York City and especially Harlem.
The book is available for pre-order now and will be published September 14, 2021. Available at Bookshop and Amazon.
What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow
The new episodes will be based on the best-seller fantasy series of the same name (15 books in total) by author Robert Jordan. His first book came out back in 1990 and longtime fans of series have been excited to finally see the screen-adaptation come to life.
Within the trailer you can hear the opening words that are found in Book # 1 of the series “ The Eye of the World”, which emphasizes the cyclical nature of the world (events circle again and again on the wheel of time with important characters reincarnated/reborn through out different times).
“The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again…”
Amazon Prime Video released its official teaser trailer and now there is finally action related to this beloved theme!
In the short video clip, fans are swept into the dangers that await the characters, and we see magic, particularly lots of women (a group named the Aes Sedai) using magic, which is called the ‘One Power’ that helps to keep the world in place.
The Aes Sedai, let by the powerful sorcerer played by Rosamund Pike arrive in a town called Two Rivers where they embark with small group to find the Dragon Reborn, whom is prophesied to be the one who will either save or destroy humanity.
Showrunner Rafe Judkin describes the upcoming series as a the “connective tissue between Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones”. I think even “Shadow and Bone” kind of vibes as well as I watched.
Also there are rumors circling that Amazon Prime will not likely be the only place where fans will get a taste of “The Wheel of Time” , there are also reports that a movie, or rather set of movies (trilogy) is also in the works called “Age of Legends” and will complement the series as a sort of prequel to the novel saga.
Amazon Prime Video plan is currently for a scheduled release of “The Wheel of Time” on November 19.
Her next book continues to share her expertise on the ways of courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy
In her upcoming new book “Atlas of the Heart”, Dr. Brené maps out both an actionable framework and the necessary skills to make meaningful connections.
By using her 20 year experience in the field, Brown is able to artfully explain to readers the journey of our emotions and experiences and how jointly the two help define what it means to be a human being.
The connection with others, being brave and sharing vulnerable moments she believes in the true language of the human experience.
Finding our way back to ourselves and each other, especially in the midst of uncertainty, anxiety and fear – building confidence, courage to walk along side people
Her book is coming out at the very important time, still in the midst of the pandemic when many of us have been very disconnected.
Brown shares, “I want this book to be an atlas for all of us, because I believe that, with an adventurous heart and the right maps, we can travel anywhere and never fear losing ourselves.”
The Western novel The Power of the Dog is set in the 1920’s in Montana. The story follows the domestic drama of two brothers, one of which has a wife and young son and is arriving back to his brothers ranch.
The novel is intense, brutal, and author Thomas Savage does an amazing job at holding the readers captive and on the edge of their seat (couch, beach?, Bed?), desperately wanting to know what will happen next.
Ultimately the triangle makes for intense romantic drama, likely why it was such a successful choice for the adaptation into a full length feature motion picture and attracted such marquee star power in Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst, not to mention a fabled director, Jane Campion.
Even before the debut screening in Venice the film had buzz and respect, in large part due to the stature of the original novel and the choice of director and cast tapped to bring the story and characters to life. The project has been hailed as an example of how successful streaming platforms, such as Netflix, HBO Max, etc, can contribute to the future history of bonafide feature length cinema in the Hollywood tradition.
The 2001 classic that includes an afterword from Annie Proulx due to be released this fall both in theaters and to stream on Netflix. One in which recently was shown on September 1, 2021 at the 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival and met with a 4 minute-plus cheering and applause-filled standing ovation.
We recommend you take the opportunity to enjoy the book and celebrate the theatrical release on November 17, or in anticipation to the release by streaming platform Netflix which is slated to go line on December 1st, 2021.
iOS 15 and WatchOS 8 to expand Features in your Digital Wallet for select states to start soon
Back in June at the WWDC21, Apple announced it was working, along with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), on a new feature that will allow Apple users to replace things in our physical wallet like Driver’s Licenses/State Identification.
The company has now announced that 8 states will take part in the roll out of the feature of users adding their’s licenses to the Apple Wallet (available for iPhone and Apple Watch) to use for airport travel at some participating airports.
There are also various apps and programs in each state for storing vaccination ID status information on the iPhone and this will also eventually, in many cases, migrate to the wallet app. The driver’s license and state ID upgrade, is a very big step, however, as this paves the way for the phone to have wallet status no less valid than a physical wallet full of IDs and credit-cards.
Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah will be among the first states to utilize the capability. Although at this time there is no specific date for timeline.
Just in time for back for in person learning season
This coming school year, for schools within the U.S. and Canada, Apple will offer mobile Student IDs via Apple Wallet, allowing for students to access campus buildings or make school related purchases without having to hold on to a physical card.
As the end of one month ends and another begins, that means many things, but for the Netflix streaming platform, is always means an influx of new content. In this case we are referring to new “classic” content, not including the the extraordinary amount of new movies Netflix plans to release now until the holidays.
Whether its TV shows, movies, Netflix originals, both old and new, we’ve compiled a huge list of everything that is coming to Netflix starting the first of September.
The list combines, truly, a digital smorgasbord of things to watch from classic movies like “Blade Runner”, documentaries including “Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali” or Netflix Originals like “Kate” and “Midnight Mass”. With the selection sometimes feeling stale after a month it is good to get a refresh!
The list is a freaking long one, with over 40 plus titles, some becoming available within hours of this writing. So, without further ado, here are the shows that lie just ahead in your Netflix-future:
Available September 1
How to Be a Cowboy (Netflix Series)
Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror (Netflix Documentary)
A Cinderella Story
Agatha Christie’s Crooked House
Barbie Big City Big Dreams
Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
Chappie
Clear and Present Danger
Cliffhanger
Cold Mountain
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
Dear John
Do the Right Thing
Freedom Writers
Green Lantern
House Party, House Party 2, House Party 3
The Interview
Kid-E-Cats, season 2
Labyrinth
Letters to Juliet
Love Don’t Cost a Thing (2003)
Mars Attacks!
Marshall
Mystery Men
The Nutty Professor, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Once Upon a Time in America
Open Season 2
Rhyme & Reason
School of Rock
Tears of the Sun
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Available September 2
Afterlife of the Party (Netflix Film)
Final Account
Q-Force (Netflix Series)
Available September 3
Dive Club (Netflix Family)
Money Heist Part 5: Volume 1 (Netflix Series)
Sharkdog (Netflix Family)
Worth (Netflix Film)
Available September 6
Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (Netflix Documentary)
Available September 7
Kid Cosmic, season 2 (Netflix Family)
Octonauts: Above & Beyond (Netflix Family)
On the Verge (Netflix Series)
Untold: Breaking Point (Netflix Documentary)
Available September 8
The Circle, season 3 (Netflix Series, new episodes weekly)
Into the Night, season 2 (Netflix Series)
JJ+E (Netflix Film)
Available September 9
Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali (Netflix Documentary)
The Women and the Murderer (Netflix Documentary)
Available September 10
Firedrake the Silver Dragon (Netflix Family)
Metal Shop Masters (Netflix Series)
Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series (Netflix Family)
Prey (Netflix Film)
Yowamushi Pedal, Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road
Kate (Netflix Film)
Lucifer, final season
Available September 13
Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (Netflix Documentary)
Available September 14
A StoryBots Space Adventure (Netflix Family)
Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father, season 5 (Netflix Series)
The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, season 2 (Netflix Series)
You vs. Wild: Out Cold (Netflix Family)
Available September 15
Nailed It!, season 6 (Netflix Series)
Nightbooks (Netflix Film)
Saved by the Bell, seasons 1–9
Schumacher (Netflix Documentary)
Too Hot to Handle Latino (Netflix Series, new episodes weekly)
Available September 16
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (Netflix Family)
Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3, Jaws: The Revenge
My Heroes Were Cowboys (Netflix Documentary)
Available September 17
Ankahi Kahaniya (Netflix Film)
Chicago Party Aunt (Netflix Series)
The Father Who Moves Mountains (Netflix Film)
Sex Education, season 3 (Netflix Series)
Squid Game (Netflix Series)
The Stronghold (Netflix Film)
Available September 19
Dark Skies
Available September 20
Grown Ups
Available September 21
Go! Go! Cory Carson: Chrissy Takes the Wheel (Netflix Family)
Love on the Spectrum, season 2 (Netflix Series)
Available September 22
Confessions of an Invisible Girl (Netflix Film)
Dear White People: Volume 4 (Netflix Series)
Intrusion (Netflix Film)
Jaguar (Netflix Series)
Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan (Netflix Documentary)
Available September 23
Je Suis Karl (Netflix Film)
Available September 24
Blood & Water, season 2 (Netflix Series)
Ganglands (Braqueurs) (Netflix Series)
Jailbirds New Orleans (Netflix Series)
Midnight Mass (Netflix Series)
My Little Pony: A New Generation (Netflix Family)
The Starling (Netflix Film)
Vendetta: Truth, Lies and The Mafia (Netflix Documentary)
Available September 28
Ada Twist, Scientist (Netflix Family)
Attack of the Hollywood Clichés! (Netflix Comedy Special)
Reuters reported today that the Withdrawal from Afghanistan has been completed, according to U.S. officials.
The final chaotic airlift was taking place nearly 20 years after the U.S. invaded the country after Sept. 11, 2001, in response to the attack on the World Trade Center.
More than 122,000 were airlifted out of Kabul in the last 16 days, an action that started just one day before the Taliban regained control.
Remake of the Danish Award winning hit will surely translate to big-time US success
Back in 2018, during the Sundance film festival, Jack Gyllenhaal watched a Danish film “Den Skyldige” (The Guilty). Immediately after experiencing the psychological thriller he knew it could be a hit in English.
The actor then quickly acquired the rights, and now he stars in the remake of “The Guilty“, which will get its premiere on Netflix October 1st, 2021.
During the time that production was initially set to begin for the film, suddenly covid-19 happened, and, as we all know, that put a halt to productions across the entertainment industry.
Yet this film, if it follows the original, is almost uniquely perfect for filming during a pandemic. The movie is primarily centered around one man in one location (everyone else is mainly heard over the phone) – thus the movie was ultimately produced by way of social distance, FaceTime and zoom chats by director and producers. (which is not to say he, at least, phoned-it-in, by any means).
Gyllenhaal plays a demoted police office that now works as a 911 dispatch operator named Joe Bayler. He receives a call from someone in danger, but throughout the call, which takes place in a single morning, nothing is as it seems.
Check out the trailer for the original 2018 version with English sub-titles, of course. The 2021 version set for the Netflix streaming platform does not, as of yet, have a trailer available. Aside from Gyllenhall, additional cast will mainly be comprised of voice performances by the likes of: Ethan Hawke, Peter Sarsgaard, Riley Keough, Paul Dano, Byron Bowers, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, David Castaneda, Christina Vidal, Adrian Martinez. Bill Burr, Beau Knapp, and Edi Patterson.
Thousands crowded near the only way out of Afghanistan ahead of U.S. August 31 deadline
It has been reported that at least two explosions and gunfire occurred just outside Kabul airport. The blast happened around one of the entry gates of the Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday August 26, 2021.
Based on an AMN report and Pentagon statements, the blast may have been the result of a suicide attack. There have been casualties and injuries, including U.S. service members among Afghan citizens, however no additional details have been confirmed.
This is an emerging, breaking story and various outlets, including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and others have reported multiple, sometimes conflicting totals regarding the dead and wounded.
Fox News reported 10 Marines were killed, up from four, according to U.S. officials
“We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties. We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby tweeted.
— Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
The following bullet points were published in the Fox News article cited above:
A suicide bombing outside the Abbey Gate at Kabul’s airport in Afghanistan Thursday has killed at least 10 U.S. Marines and soldiers, U.S. officials tell Fox News.
A U.S. official indicated that the attack set off a firefight at Abbey Gate, where last night, there were 5,000 Afghans and potentially some Americans seeking access to the airport.
A second explosion happened outside the Baron Hotel, sources say.
We were given a warning about fossil fuels. Now we’re living it…
An image from an old newspaper was shared on social media from the account “Historical Photos” and titled “Coal Consumption Affecting Climate”.
The image of the clipping went viral very likely because of the amazing date it was published on, August 14th, 1912. The image has since been seen by over 17k people on Twitter and over 6k on Facebook.
Understandably there were many people that questioned whether the article was actually authentic or merely fabricated. The implication is a big one, that scientists have known for over a century the negative impacts coal consumption has on the climate (and haven’t done much to change it).
As per USA Today, the article is, in fact, real and has been authenticated by Snopes. The text originated from a March 1912 report in the Popular Mechanics magazine titled “Remarkable Weather of 1911: The Effect of the Combustion of Coal on the Climate – What Scientists Predict for the Future.” Similar phrasing was used in the New Zealand newspaper published on August 14, 1912 which is from the viral image.
Chair of the Federal Trade Commission Lina Khan posted on her Twitter the official press release of its position against Facebook.
Pulling no punches the language of the filing leaves no doubt as to the direction of the FTC going forward in this case. Illegal, Bribery, “Buy-or-Bury Scheme” these are characterizations that go to the heart of anticompetitive and monopolistic behavior of the giant. FTC Bureau of Competition Acting Director, Holly Vedova, said ““This conduct is no less anticompetitive than if Facebook had bribed emerging app competitors not to compete. The antitrust laws were enacted to prevent precisely this type of illegal activity by monopolists.”
While The Federal Trade Commission’s mandate has traditionally been “to promote competition and protect and educate consumers” the attempt by big tech to appear “helpful” to consumers with hidden costs and deflated pricing is finally at issue with Kahn in the chair. Khan’s famous 2017 article; “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox“ helped to re-define a new direction for antitrust law for the digital age, which appears to be in the early stages of fulfillment at the agency under her leadership.
FTC Alleges Facebook Resorted to Illegal Buy-or-Bury Scheme to Crush Competition After String of Failed Attempts to Innovatehttps://t.co/tR9yokuyFo
As described in the amended case, upon Facebook starting out as an open space for third party developers, the company quickly reversed (pulling a bait-and-switch) by requiring developers to terms that would have prevented successful applications from emerging as competitive threats to the company.
Greg Abbott, the Republican Governor for Texas tested positive for Covid-19. The news comes in the middle of the legal battles over banning vaccination and mask mandates in the state, despite opposition from both local officials and school districts.
According to NBC News, Abbott is fully vaccinated, there are reports he also received a 3rd booster shot and is currently receiving Regeneron’s antibody treatment (usually exclusive to those with compromised immune systems). Per his communication’s director, he is “in good health, and currently experiencing no symptoms.”
“Governor Abbott is in constant communication with his staff, agency heads, and government officials to ensure that state government continues to operate smoothly and efficiently”
-Mark Miner, the governor’s communications director
Perhaps a “bit” hyprocritcal? Abbott has access and benefits from any and all possible medical services necessary. Unfortunately the same privilege is not available to most ordinary Texans, where currently the state is experiencing a surge of new cases and hospitalizations
A clip from the new talk show with Kevin Hart on Peacock called “Hart to Heart” went viral on Twitter, and to say the clip makes you feel uncomfortable to watch, is an understatement.
Hart had on his show actor Don Cheadle and mid conversation while Cheadle made a comment while divulging his age, Hart, very loudly, responded “DAMN!”. The exchange was awkward and Hart clearly attempted to back-peddle, obviously concerned how the one word response could be interpreted.
An article by Esquire breaks down the Twitter reactions, and the viral post has since been shared 25.6K with nearly 100K likes, as well as Cheadle reactions after-the-fact:
“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:
Above: photo from “Lost Cause” – photo credit: BillieEilish.com
Music Video Vignettes Combined into Prime Day Promotion
Amazon prime is a way for the company to combine and bundle features for a yearly subscription fee. Every year, in addition to the usual subsidized shipping, prime video and the rest, there is Prime Day, which is now upon us. This year that also includes “Prime Day Show” which is a “free” offering for Prime members, basically 30 minute music video vignettes by Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and Kid Cudi.
The long form multi song productions are enjoyable enough, however, it is also true that music videos are a form of free advertising for the artists and songs that they feature. So, in this case that makes this a kind of subsidized collaboration between the artists (presumably paid to have the Amazon moniker associated with their music) and the company.
None of this makes it less enjoyable, of course, but it is interesting how it is not live (nothing like the huge live concerts put on by AliBaba and Tao Bao for “Singles Day” in China, but rather a pre-recorded, fairly standard, traditional, music video style production).
As the shopping kicks off in Ernest later, at one minute after midnight on June 21st, this show could be a way to relax ahead of the shopping frenzy.
The first episode contains several songs by H.E.R., interspersed with short drama interludes and featuring celebrity cameos. All set at Los Angeles’ Dunbar Hotel, known in the 1930s and 1940s as the hub of the city’s Black culture, and the lavish production and assist from acting talent makes for a showcase of songs from her new album, “Back of My Mind”.
Next, in the second episode Kid Cudi goes with an outer Space theme and, similarly, has scenes linking the production extravaganzas built for each song. This is all appropriate since he is presenting songs from his album “Man on the Moon III”.
A second space connection comes from the participation in collaboration from the International Space Orchestra, who happen to be the world’s first orchestra entirely consisting of space scientists from the NASA Ames Research Center, the SETI Institute and the International Space University.
The closing act, of course, is Billie Eilish, and the city of Paris (or at least a studio set of it) is the conceptual backdrop used to elevate what are otherwise live performances for the purpose of creating a video, sans audiences. The first song is set in a romantic hotel room set and features the song “My Future” as well as “Lost Cause”, “Therefore I Am” and “My Power”. As a whole the set is very “jazzy” and has an intimate feel that appears to be a project rendition original version take.
All in all, while there is respectable and well produced performances and visual enhancements, at the same time there is a lack of any event style excitement or sense of a musical live performance (which is not the point, admittedly).
Perhaps the three episodes can best be seen as a kind of chestnut to show fans of the artists that “Prime” is giving back and that the bundling extends beyond free shipping, prime video, prime music, other perks and deals and into another area, event bases collaborations for the sake of commerce.
Not only are thousands of physical products on sale for Prime Day, starting tonight at midnight, but virtual deals, such as films and shows are getting big promotional discounts also. The streaming deals are already live, so if you are inclined to watch while it’s still weekend prime time, a large assortment is available.
Some examples of films currently deeply discounted to view:
Titles that are normally priced higher for rental viewing or purchase are set for a limited time to $.99, $1.99 or $2.99 depending on the title. Naturally the newer and “hotter” the choice the less likely that it is at $.99 cents, but on the other hand, we all have different taste and perhaps you can find a film or show that you have been wanting to see but did not want to pay a higher price to watch.
For some reason, documentary films such as “Chasing Madoff” or “Good Trouble“, the excellent documentary on John Lewis, which is part of a Juneteenth special promotion, tend to show up at the rock bottom price. So perhaps, taking advantage of the promotion as a way to educate and enlighten oneself might be more economical than jumping in to the top hits and most current feature films.
If you do shop around, hovering or clicking on the deals designated with a “$” in the upper left hand corner, you will find at least a few titles here and there at the low $.99 cent watch price. Much more common are $1.99, $2.99 and even $3.99, which is a discount but does not feel like a huge one.
Also, since newer popular titles are normally priced much higher, up to $5.99 and sometimes more, even the $2.99 special price represents a bargain opportunity.
An example of a recently released, high quality film is “The Courier” which is currently available to watch for $2.99 (normally $5.99)
Netflix’s French original series “Lupin” took Netflix subscribers by storm. Millions tuned in, voraciously binge-watching, including myself, furiously consuming the first season when the show debuted earlier this year. Part 1 ended as most shows do these days, leaving us wanting more with a nerve wracking cliffhanger, yet, rejoice streamers, we will not have to wait much longer to tune in to see Omar Sy as Assane Diop for Part 2.
The main character, as mentioned above, Assane Diop, has held a lifelong obsession with Lupin novels and has transformed much of his life, in the process becoming somewhat of a modern-day counterpart to “Lupin, gentleman thief”. His masterminded plans are always artfully crafted with unexpectedly creative genius precision, style and not to mention incredible costume changes.
Those that have not yet seen the series, this is the perfect time to get caught up. The series is inspired on the French fictional character Arsene Lupin created by writer Maurice Leblanc.
The official trailer for “Lupin Part 2” just dropped along with the release date that is now coming soon: June 11, 2021. Those that are deterred from foreign programs because of subtitles, English dubbed audio is also available and this series is abolutely worth the watch.
Pride month power grows as the community becomes larger and stronger
One year ago, June 2020, in correspondence with protests around the country, spurred on by the killing of George Floyd, Pride month parades become protests and took on a new meaning.
In the middle of the pandemic it was a tense time, important elections were on the horizon and the were forces of prejudice and discrimination rising seemingly on all sides. In spite of the challenges and the forces aligned in misguided opposition, bravery and pride could be seen in the street around the US and the world.
Above: West Hollywood, June 2020 Photo: Lyxotic
A year later and there is the feeling, if only a faint one, that a chance exists for all of that to be turned back, not in a day a week or a year, but though the arc of history bending toward equality and inclusion.
And June was wisely chosen with rainbow colors, sunshine and hope for the future in a combination that can lead to hope for the future and joy for today. Joy is a concept that leads to and is a natural part of celebration just as much as pride equals hope, equality, inclusion and love.
June is the time, as spring transforms the world into summer, for us to remember not only the justice that is to come, but the joy of the journey, and even the joy of the righteous struggles to get there.
A way for the world to change must always begin with thoughts, ideas, information, education and, ultimately, understanding. In the books we’ve compiled there are chapters that contain stories of pride and struggles, and with more forthright and open information circulating the possibility for justice can only rise.
So, as June continues to beam it’s sunlit powers throughout the northern hemisphere, it’s a great time to reflect on the road ahead, the progress achieved, and most of all, the reasons for joy and celebration.
A mother’s memoir of her transgender child’s odyssey, and her journey outside the boundaries of the faith and culture that shaped her. From the age of two-and-a-half, Jacob, born “Em,” adamantly told his family he was a boy.
While his mother Mimi struggled to understand and come to terms with the fact that her child may be transgender, she experienced a sense of déjà vu–the journey to uncover the source of her child’s inner turmoil unearthed ghosts from Mimi’s past and her own struggle to live an authentic life.
Mimi was raised in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family, every aspect of her life dictated by ancient rules and her role as a woman largely preordained from cradle to grave.
As a young woman, Mimi wrestled with the demands of her faith and eventually made the painful decision to leave her religious community and the strict gender roles it upheld.
Having risen from the ashes of her former life, Mimi was prepared to help her son forge a new one — at a time when there was little consensus on how best to help young transgender children.
Dual narratives of faith and motherhood weave together to form a heartfelt portrait of an unforgettable family. Brimming with love and courage, What We Will Becomeis a powerful testament to how painful events from the past can be redeemed to give us hope for the future.
June 28, 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, which is considered the most significant event in the gay liberation movement, and the catalyst for the modern fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States.
Drawing from the New York Public Library’s archives, The Stonewall Reader is a collection of first accounts, diaries, periodic literature, and articles from LGBTQ magazines and newspapers that documented both the years leading up to and the years following the riots.
Most importantly the anthology spotlights both iconic activists who were pivotal in the movement, such as Sylvia Rivera, co-founder of Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries (STAR), as well as forgotten figures like Ernestine Eckstein, one of the few out, African American, lesbian activists in the 1960s. The anthology focuses on the events of 1969, the five years before, and the five years after.
Jason Baumann, the NYPL coordinator of humanities and LGBTQ collections, has edited and introduced the volume to coincide with the NYPL exhibition he has curated on the Stonewall uprising and gay liberation movement of 1969.
A singular, beautifully written coming-of-age memoir of a Filipino boy with albinism whose story travels from an immigrant childhood to Harvard to a gender transition and illuminates the illusions of race, disability, and gender Fairest is a memoir about a precocious boy with albinism, a sun child from a rural Philippine village, who would grow up to become a woman in America.
Coping with the strain of parental neglect and the elusive promise of U.S. citizenship, Talusan found childhood comfort from her devoted grandmother, a grounding force as she was treated by others with special preference or public curiosity.
As an immigrant to the United States, Talusan came to be perceived as white. An academic scholarship to Harvard provided access to elite circles of privilege but required Talusan to navigate through the complex spheres of race, class, sexuality, and her place within the gay community. She emerged as an artist and an activist questioning the boundaries of gender.
Talusan realized she did not want to be confined to a prescribed role as a man, and transitioned to become a woman, despite the risk of losing a man she deeply loved. Throughout her journey, Talusan shares poignant and powerful episodes of desirability and love that will remind readers of works such as Call Me By Your Name and Giovanni’s Room. Her evocative reflections will shift our own perceptions of love, identity, gender, and the fairness of life.
Look to the sky for a solar show that will create a stunning glow…
Stargazers and skywatchers are in for another treat, which come about two weeks after the lunar eclipse, also referred to as the “Super Flower Blood Moon”. Tonight and into Thursday, June 10th, an annular solar eclipse called “ring of fire” will be visible. Any discussion of all things lunar, blood moons and eclipses would certainly be congruent with a taste of the astrological perspective.
Unfortunately this time around, no parts of the United States will get to see the full eclipse, however some metropolitan areas like Toronto, Philadelphia and New York will be able to view a partial eclipse a little after the sunrise on Thursday morning.
Getting to see a partial eclipse looks kind of like the sun has a portion taken out of it. In total, this eclipse will last around 1 2/3 hrs (approximately 100 minutes) as it starts at sunrise in Ontario, Canada.
If you aren’t exactly clear on what a solar eclipse is, an annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is farthest from Earth. And because the Moon is far away it appears smaller. The Moon does not block the entire view of the Sun and thus creates the appearance of a ring around the Moon.
The word annular comes from the Latin word for ring. Since the Moon covers the sun’s center and what is left forms a ring, hence the name “ring of fire”.
If you are one of the lucky folks situated along the East Coast and Upper Midwest and want to catch a glimpse at the partial eclipse, it is strongly recommended to use solar eclipse glasses and to not look directly into the sun as it may cause permanent damage to your eyes.
Don’t fret if you aren’t able to experience the upcoming solar eclipse. This summer we have a couple more opportunities to gaze above. There is set to be a Supermoon June 24, a Meteor Shower on July 28, and the Blue Moon come August 22.
We have a couple years until the next total solar eclipse in the United States, in April 8, 2024, weather permitting.
