On any given day, particularly the weekend, there are more than a handful of different options you can choose from when you are deciding what to stream for some entertainment. Almost every week, in fact, yes, there is on almost every streaming platform, some new and exciting content to watch.
Not only is it difficult to keep up with the constant changing slate of offerings, but they way they are presented often makes it more difficult to sort though the new, the type and the quality of film or show you might want to choose.
We try to cut through the confusion and give a little bit of help to make choosing an entertainment option less of a chore and more of a joy. There’s a big-time partnership between Warner Brothers and HBO max which is adding a lot of fresh new content to the premium streamer this year. Here are some of the highlights we’ve seen so far:
Although “Wonder Woman: 1984” in not considered a new release anymore since it was released in theaters and the HBO Max streaming platform Christmas day. Time is running out on being able to watch the superhero sequel, there are only days until it will be no longer available to stream, Jan. 25, 2021 to be exact. And if you do watch, its more than worth the wait to sit and watch the post-credit scene.
“Euphoria” Part 2
The release of the second part of the 2-part special episode “Euphoria” will get a little bump to its release. Originally slated for Jan 24, it will be released Friday Jan 22. Titled: ‘“F*ck Anyone Who’s Not A Sea Blob”. As for the actual Season 2 of the show, the release date is unclear due to the pandemic and difficulties resuming production, we may just have to wait until later in 2021 or even 2022.
The Little Things
Another anticipated HBO Max movie is “ The Little Things”. Denzel Washington plays Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter (played by Rami Malek) to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case. The movie also has includes actor Jared Leto.
“Justice League”
Some new updates have recently surface about Zack Snyder’s version of Justice League. Originally the concept was the 4 hours of footage would be cut into 1 hour segments (multi-part series), however based on a screenshot posted from the director’s Vero account, it will actually be a 4-hour movie. The film is still on schedule to be released for the dual: theater and HBO Max premier this coming March 2021.
The end-all and be-all of memes emerged out of the inauguration…
In a move that transcends the presidential, Bernie Sanders now owns the internet. All he needed was the right mittens and a countenance of equanimity, rising above to see into the center of all being and nothingness.
Like a zen monk or Yoda on steroids, he accomplishes all by doing little, even nothing, beyond his mind bending position and posture. Ever modest and with a meaningful invisible wink, he disavows any knowledge of his splendor or any plan to conquer all:
“I was just sitting there trying to keep warm, trying to pay attention to what was going on,”
-Bernie Sanders / Interview Late Night With Seth Meyers
Meanwhile, there has been a meaningful and valid response to the triumph, and it all gets back to a t-shirt and mittens.
Now that there has been an endless stream of replication and iteration based on the genius moment, we best begin at the beginning and trace this new species of viral wonderfulness back to its humble source: the photo:
#BernieSanders We love the Bernie memes being shared all day. Taking special requests where do you want to see Bernie? Bernie – our heart will go on pic.twitter.com/zPSJVlfuSG
And to you, Amazon, you can not have this meme for your endless self-aggrandizement, and here is the obvious reason why:
On #PrimeDay, let's not forget. During the pandemic, Jeff Bezos became $97 billion richer by increasing prices by up to 1,000% on essential items and denying hazard pay and paid sick leave to over 450,000 of his workers. It's time to break up Amazon and tax the rich.
There’s a strange and oddly fitting feeling as Les Misérables spoof soars on a sad yet freeing occasion
On the eve before the final hours of Trump’s bizarre and sick term in office, James Corden and company took the time to put together this video musical spoof that captures the odd combination of joy, disgust and freedom that comes with the knowledge that, going forward, all things Trump will recede in importance, inexorably.
For most of us, that would be along the lines of “the sooner-the-better” that he has finally disappeared from the public discourse and most of all from the political life of the USA.
At the same time, many of us, particularly in the media, have had an odd way of life due to this wannabe tyrant dominating the airwaves and news-cycles. It’s become such a daily ritual to follow the outrage and try, in any way possible, to stand up and challenge the criminal ideas and even actions that have swirled around us in a way that has been so consistent that it almost became “normal”. Almost.
It never was normal, and that’s where the odd “joy”, as can be heard in various tenor tones from this song, is also an honest reaction to history, finally, moving forward. And perhaps, there is the ever so faint recognition that we, all of us, played a small part in making sure that this man’s sick and twisted dreams did not continue to impact our reality for more than his four year term.
Not surprising, but always a pleasure, her dress was over-the-top and voice rung out to the heavens
Near the opening of the well planned and nearly perfectly executed inauguration ceremony, Lady Gaga sang her powerful rendition of the National Anthem and did not disappoint.
Afterward she could be seen chatting animatedly through her mask with former President Obama and others, drawing plenty of attention for her golden dove of peace.
My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly. I will sing to the hearts of all people who live on this land. Respectfully and kindly, Lady Gaga. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸
Marie Kondo wants to help others find joy in the act of tidying up. The opportunity to reassess and bring more awareness to our personal belongings in a more mindful way is her unique approach to cleaning.
Best Known for her bestselling books, “ The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, “Spark Joy”, more recently Kondo is gaining fans for her Netflix show, “Tidying up with Marie Kondo”.
On a mission to inspire others and to “spark joy”, she’s aided by her expertise in tidying along with her organizational method called KonMarie.
Thoughts of tidying often conjure up an end result of little more than a somewhat cleaner and more tidy outward appearance. Marie Kondo’s special talent is to help illuminate many indirect personal benefits that can arise as a result of confronting your sub-conscious attachments to belongings.
Marie’s unconventional and heart-warming approach is refreshing and helpful in comparison to how most people view cleaning (example: as a dreaded chore).
Take the clothes in your hands and see what you feel. If they make you feel happy and motivated, keep them. On the contrary, if they make you feel guilty or bring you unhappy emotions, let them go. By letting go, you can make space for clothes that make you happy and support you.
Her methods are systematic and start by organizing items based on categories (versus by location). There are five categories that are in a specific order: clothing, books, paper, komono (which encompasses kitchen, bathroom and garage), and lastly, sentimental/emotional items.
As can be seen in her Netflix Show, when first coming into any clients home, Kondo first greets the home, allowing the residents to give thanks to the home for shelter and protection, and as a formal way of communicating the beginning of the tidying process.
Under her system, each category requires you to accumulate all the items together (e.g. gathering clothing from all rooms and creating a large pile) in order to pick up and touch each individual item.
The very act of collecting all belongings within each category forces one to confront the possessions and, in some cases, take a hard look at any excessive materialism.
Only items that spark joy, creating a warm and positive feeling (“holding a puppy feeling”) should be kept and items no longer wanted or needed, are to be thanked and and then let go.
By choosing to keep only items that spark joy and letting go of unnecessary items a cathartic refocus can occur, leading to understanding of what is most important and, ultimately, learning to cherish what you have, in order to achieve greater happiness in life.
One noteworthy film released by Netflix so far in 2021 is “The Minimalists: Less is Now”. Made by the creative duo Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus, the documentary takes a look at overconsumption and how the two blogger / podcaster / filmmakers came to their new careers as minimalist advisors for the masses.
There’s been a bit of a wave of minimalism of late which seems to be rising in tandem with trends like Marie Kondo’s de-cluttering advice and ‘joy in the act of tidying up’. This roughly corresponds in some ways with the aligned philosophical surge of interest in Stoicism, which has seen renewed interest in recent times, perhaps due to the same forces of chaos and overconsumption that led the minimalist duo to begin their de-cluttered lifestyles.
A further, only partially explored connection from the film, is the influence of digital advertising, social media and the current unfolding crisis due to the massive big tech monopolies controlling our world. The hit Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma” itself does not do a lot more than scratch the surface of the problems and issues of social media and big tech dominance, and, clearly, would be beyond the scope the less ambitious “The Minimalists: Less is Now”.
Kudos for taking on big subjects and paring down to digestible fare
However, one of the threads of the film does deal with the perceived issues of increasingly more manipulative ad systems and more powerful, targeted, barrage of messages to buy that emanate throughout our lives from Facebook, Google and Amazon, who they point out in the film control over 70% of all digital advertising.
The primary threads in the film are the twin biographical stories of the two authors, who were best friends since childhood, interspersed with interview footage from various experts in the ways that our culture can lead to overconsumption and unhappiness, even as we all try to chase the American dream.
In the end, the film is an enjoyable and thought provoking introduction to the ethos “less is now” and how to benefit from having a de-cluttered life. The personal and conversational presentation using the filmmakers’ personal stories and presenting them with both on camera confessional footage as well as illustrative “flashbacks” is perhaps the largest factor that makes this a satisfying, if light-hearted, journey into self-betterment through less.
Olivia Rodrigo, the 17 year old high school senior made major headlines shattering streaming records with the official release of her debut single “Driver’s License”. Best known for her role in Disney+’s “High School Musical: The Series”, however, the newcomer will now be known for her chart-topping song.
The kind of immediate response and millions of streaming requests is not that common for newer artists, its not typical for a singer that isn’t established to so quickly gain traction and quickly reach the top of the charts. Usually this is reserved for well known artists including the likes of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, BTS, Ariana Grande, ect.
“I truly do think this is just a lightning-in-a-bottle moment that sort of brought together a number of factors in a way that they haven’t really been brought together recently,”
– Becky Bass / Spotify Global Hits lead
In an Apple Music interview, Rodrigo described “”I wrote the bulk of the song literally crying in my living room, and I think that it definitely has that feel to it,” she continued by describing her inspiration for the song, referencing Gracie Abrahm’s song “Minor” was a major inspiration. “I was driving around my neighborhood, actually listening to really sad songs and crying in the car, and I got home and I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll write a song about this, crying in the car.'”
Some of her fans speculated that the song was about Rodrigo’s breakup with co-star Joshua Bassett.
On Jan. 11, "drivers license" by @Olivia_Rodrigo set the Spotify record for most streams in a day for a non-holiday song.
“Drivers License” broke several Spotify records for the most streams in a single day on Jan 11 for a non-holiday song with 15.17 million global streams. Then in continued its momentum the next day, Jan 12. continuing to beat the previous day, with 17.01 million streams. In addition to Spotify records, Amazon Music reported that Rodrigo now help the record for the most requested song in one day globally via Alexa.
A closer look at what’s coming when the first official trailer drops
Warner Brothers just released ‘first look images’ for the upcoming “Mortal Kombat”. movie, the live action film inspired by the wildly popular video game.
The cast, or rather fighters, include: Mehcad Brooks as Jackson “Jax” Briggs, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, Josh Lawson as Kano, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade and Max Huang as Lung Lao Max. Lewis Tan will be in the movie playing an all new character, (character Cole Young) never before seen in the franchise.
The newly available photos, give fans a teaser and glimpse into what will be in store come April: fighting and bloodshed!
“Mortal Kombat” is scheduled for release in theaters and HBO Max streaming platform (available for 31 days from theatrical release) starting on April 16, 2021.
The streaming wars are looking to be forever, which at least is producing a bountiful harvest
After the serious brouhaha surrounding the massively groundbreaking new deal for HBOmax to get all Warner Brothers releases to stream on the same day those new films get to theaters, we are now seeing an avalanche of content building up for release in the first half of 2021. Netflix has new titles releasing weekly and Apple TV+ are hot on their heels.
Quality is king of content, however, and it does look like HBOmax will be able to hold it’s own. You can get a first glimpse below and see if the titles are tempting enough:
Locked Down / January 14, 2021
Just as they decide to separate, Linda (Anne Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor) find life has other plans when they are stuck at home in a mandatory lockdown. Co-habitation is proving to be a challenge, but fueled by poetry and copious amounts of wine, it will bring them closer together in the most surprising way.
The Event / January 14, 2021
A four-episode culinary series premiering January 14 on HBO Max, takes viewers into the kitchen of Wolfgang Puck’s elite catering company as his team tackles some of the industry’s biggest, most exclusive events. Known as the crème de la crème of the industry, Wolfgang Puck Catering is responsible for some of the nation’s most legendary corporate, cultural, and entertainment events. Placing viewers both behind-the-scenes and inside these lavish affairs, The Event follows renowned restaurateur Wolfgang Puck and members of his skilled catering team through every step of their intricate execution process. Each episode features a different high-profile event – from the SAG Awards to HBO’s “Westworld” premiere party – offering access to trade secrets and an unprecedented look into the creative development, planning, and immense scope of running a world-renowned catering company.
Search Party / Season 4 / January 14, 2021
https://youtu.be/VgG1B6w39XI
In the new season, Dory (Alia Shawkat) is held prisoner by her psychotic stalker Chip (Cole Escola), who is determined to make Dory believe that they are best friends. Meanwhile, Portia (Meredith Hagner) is starring in a film about the trial, although not as herself; Elliott (John Early) has switched party lines to become a far-right conservative talk show host; and Drew (John Reynolds) is trying to escape his dark past by working as a costumed cast member in a theme park. As the friends begin to connect the dots that Dory might not be touring Europe as her faked social media posts suggest, they must decide whether or not to put their traumatic pasts behind them and once again become a search party – but this time, for Dory.
Gomorrah / Season 3 / January 21, 2021
Genny takes control and ultimately rules over Naples and Rome. Within his network two women rise to power: Annalisa, named “Scianel”, a key drug pusher and a natural leader, and Patrizia, one of Genny’s most faithful foot soldiers. When Ciro forms a new partnership with the young and ambitious Enzo, a light that once vanished from Ciro’s eyes reappears. The former street-level drug dealers cast their net far beyond the city of Naples and the borders of Italy. Genny, Ciro and Enzo are about to make peace, when Enzo demands a sacrifice.
The Little Things / January 29, 2021:
Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.
Arthur’s Law / Available now:
Follows unemployed Arthur Ahnepol (Jan Josef Liefers), who wants his obnoxious wife to die to claim the life insurance and start a new life with his mistress, which sets off a series of disastrous events.
Perfect Life / January 21, 2021:
After getting dumped by her long-term boyfriend and pregnant by a one-night stand, María’s meticulous life plan begins to slip into disarray – but her sister Esther and best friend Cristina are determined to see her through.
Selena + Chef / Season 2 / January 21, 2021:
https://youtu.be/CUcJMjw18-g
The series features the multi-platinum selling recording artist, actress, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist as she navigates unfamiliar territory: making delicious meals while stuck at home in quarantine. Selena continues her cooking adventures at home with a new roster of all-star chefs that help her whip up delicious dishes.
Netflix is outdoing itself with an aggressive release schedule for 2021
Netflix just dropped a major bombshell, that they will be premiering a brand new movie every week of 2021. The estimated total will be, it appears, upwards of 71 new movies with all the various genres covered! (action, sequels, dramas, musicals and more).
Streaming is looking like a permanently dominant dissemination method for visual content going forward, as, in addition to Netflix, HBOmax is getting all of the WB theatrical slate based on the initial North American debut schedule, while Disney is going full bore with a string of Star Wars and Marvel spin offs. A slew of books are also getting film treatment including best selling titles: The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window, Munich, The Last Letter from Your Lover.
Netflix just dropped a major bombshell, that they will be premiering a brand new movie every week of 2021.
That means there will be a total of 71 new movies with various genres (action, sequels, dramas, musicals and more!).
This comes after other major streaming platforms like HBO Max slated to release all its theatrical films to stream simultaneously and Disney announcing a string of Star Wars and Marvel spin offs, including WandaVision.
According to the press release: “Netflix will bring you a new movie every week featuring the biggest stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, Gal Gadot, Dave Bautista, Naomi Watts, Jake Gyllenhaal, John David Washington and Octavia Spencer. And films from your favorite filmmakers like Zack Snyder, Nora Fingscheidt, Joe Wright, Antoine Fuqua, Shawn Levy, Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman and the directorial debuts from Halle Berry and Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
Below are some of the upcoming releases with trailers for the next two months:
PIECES OF A WOMAN (JANUARY 7):
When a young mother’s home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning that fractures relationships with loved ones in this deeply personal story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.
OUTSIDE THE WIRE (JANUARY 15):
Set in the future, Harp (Damson Idris), a drone pilot, is sent into a deadly militarized zone where he finds himself working for Leo (Anthony Mackie), an android officer, tasked to locate a doomsday device before the insurgents do.
THE WHITE TIGER (JANUARY 22):
Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav) narrates his epic and darkly humorous rise from poor villager to successful entrepreneur in modern India. Cunning and ambitious, our young hero jockeys his way into becoming a driver for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra-Jonas), who have just returned from America. Society has trained Balram to be one thing — a servant — so he makes himself indispensable to his rich masters. But after a night of betrayal, he realizes the corrupt lengths they will go to trap him and save themselves. On the verge of losing everything, Balram rebels against a rigged and unequal system to rise up and become a new kind of master. Based on the New York Times bestseller and 2008 Man Booker Prize-winning novel.
PENGUIN BLOOM (JANUARY 27):
Penguin Bloom tells the true story of Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts), a young mother whose world is turned upside down after a near-fatal accident leaves her unable to walk. Sa m’s husband, (Andrew Lincoln), her three young boys and her mother (Academy Award-nominated Jacki Weaver), are struggling to adjust to their new situation when an unlikely ally enters their world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin. The bird’s arrival is a welcome distraction for the Bloom family, eventually making a profound difference in the family’s life.
FINDING ‘OHANA (JANUARY 29):
A summer in rural Oahu takes an exciting turn for two Brooklyn-raised siblings when a journal pointing to long-lost treasure sets them on an epic adventure with new friends, and leads them to reconnect with their Hawaiian heritage.
THE DIG (JANUARY 29):
As WWII looms, a wealthy widow (Carey Mulligan) hires an amateur archaeologist (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain’s past are illuminated in the face of its uncertain future.
Sam Levinson teams up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker (Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love. Working with cinematographer Marcell Rev, Levinson creates a film of rare originality; an ode to the great Hollywood romances as well as a heartfelt expression of faith in the medium’s future.
I CARE A LOT (FEBRUARY 19):
A crooked legal guardian who drains the savings of her elderly wards meets her match when a woman she tries to swindle turns out to have equally shady ties of her own. Starring Rosamund Pike, Eiza Gonzalez, Dianne Wiest, Peter Dinklage, Chris Messina, and Isaiah Whitlock Jr.
Upcoming slate for Apple TV+ Reveals gradual upward slope to content
Until now Apple TV+ is still a bit of an also-ran. With Disney having an incredible run and HBO max making waves with its new Warner Brothers deal, even as Netflix and Amazon continue to ramble on, Apple’s premium streaming service seems almost like an underdog.
One thing about Apple, though, they rarely go into anything without a lot of planning. In this case with upfront investments of over $6 billion, anyone signing up now, or still taking advantage of the free subscription offers, can rest assured there will be a steady stream (sorry) of new content arriving for the foreseeable future.
Not everything gets announced and given a firm release date in advance, with the production schedules still in a bit of chaos, but we’ve made a list of what will be coming up soon. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page if you want to see the shows that are already released and can be seen immediately.
Apple TV+ is releasing new movies in the next few months. “Losing Alice”, “Palmer”, “Cherry”, and Billie Eilish documentary “The World’s A Little Blurry” have been announced so far, please check out the trailers below:
Losing Alice / January 22, 2021
“Losing Alice” is a thrilling cinematic journey that uses flashbacks and flash-forwards in a satisfyingly complex narrative that takes the viewer through the conscious and subconscious of its protagonist’s mind. The series follows Alice (played by Ayelet Zurer), a 48-year-old female film director, who feels irrelevant since raising her family. After a brief encounter on the train, she becomes obsessed with a 24-year-old screenwriter femme fatale, Sophie (played by Lihi Kornowski), and eventually surrenders her moral integrity in order to achieve power, relevance and success. Through the prism of this female Faust, the series explores issues such as jealousy, guilt, fear of aging, and the complex relationships women have among themselves and each other. But above all, “Losing Alice” is a love letter for the still-too-rare female director.
Palmer / January 29, 2021
After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie’s past threatens to ruin his new life and family.
The World’s A Little Blurry / February 26, 2021
“Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry” tells the true coming-of-age story of the singer-songwriter and her rise to global superstardom. From award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, the documentary offers a deeply intimate look at this extraordinary teenager’s journey, at just 17 years old, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording and releasing her debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?”
Cherry / March 12, 2021
CHERRY follows the wild journey of a disenfranchised young man from Ohio who meets the love of his life, only to risk losing her through a series of bad decisions and challenging life circumstances. Inspired by the best-selling novel of the same name, CHERRY features Tom Holland in the title role, as an unhinged character who drifts from dropping out of college to serving in Iraq as an army medic and is only anchored by his one true love Emily (Ciara Bravo). When Cherry returns home a war hero, he battles the demons of undiagnosed PTSD and spirals into drug addiction, surrounding himself with a menagerie of depraved misfits. Draining his finances, Cherry turns to bank robbing to fund his addiction, shattering his relationship with Emily along the way. Brought to the screen in bold, gritty fashion by visionary directors Anthony and Joe Russo, CHERRY is a darkly humorous, unflinching coming-of-age story of a man on a universal quest for purpose and human connection.
And here are the shows available to watch on AppleTV+ right now
The growing mistrust of institutions is a breeding ground for Disinformation, Kooks and Dangerous lack of common sense
Conspiracy theories have been around as long as so called civilization, although they are not an artifact that exposes the best of our species. Typically conspiracy theories begin to form when there is fear, mistrust and anxiety, uncertainty or even feelings of powerlessness. It is no surprise that for many Americans, there are warranted reasons to hold any of the above feelings.
This has laid the groundwork for misinformation, disinformation and propaganda to hold the new name “fake news” a moniker embraced by the most fake and most blatant propagandists. You can almost hear them chanting “I know you are but what am I” like some deranged schoolyard manic. Qanon, Cults and simple ignorant lack of recognizing simple lies, such as the “Michigan Man of the Year” award Trump has repeatedly claimed to have won (there is no such award) are seemingly everywhere.
Some theories turned out to be real – such as the Watergate Conspiracy that was simply covered up, and those examples are what make it so hard, particularly for the average person, to differentiate between the “wacko” and the plausible.
The serious study of propaganda, particularly in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia is a great place to start to unravel the mess that seems to swirl all around us. Many of these, mostly simple, techniques are being reused with a digital amplifier and algorithmic acceleration.
The Future remains Fertile Ground for even more Outrageous Theories
Regardless how 2021 will soon look with US elections finalizing, becoming familiar with the “dark arts” of how to initiate, propagate and benefit from “fake news” will be highly useful going forward.
To that end, we’ve assembled some suggestions for reading and reflection on the subject. Perhaps understanding the telltale signs of misinformation can be useful even if you are not considering a career as a CIA operative or anti-propaganda czar. Or maybe the past examples of extreme theories, and how they caught the imagination of so many, can serve as entertainment for any who are fascinated by the possibility of a trip down the rabbit hole.
Click here to see “1984” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmare vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever.
“1984” is still the great modern classic “negative Utopia” – a startling original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing from the first sentence to the last four words.
No one can deny this novel’s power, its hold on the imagination of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions – a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.Click here to see “1984“ and help Independent Bookstores.Also available on Amazon.
Jesse Walker’s The United States of Paranoia presents a comprehensive history of conspiracy theories in American culture and politics, from the colonial era to the War on Terror.
The fear of intrigue and subversion doesn’t exist only on the fringes of society, but has always been part of our national identity. When such tales takes hold, Walker argues, they reflect the anxieties and experiences of the people who believe them, even if they say nothing true about the objects of the theories themselves.
With intensive research and a deadpan sense of humor, Jesse Walker’s The United States of Paranoia combines the rigor of real history with the punch of pulp fiction. This edition includes primary-source documentation in the form of archival photographs, cartoons, and film stills selected by the author. Click here to see “The United States of Paranoia” and help independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Nazism was deeply rooted in German culture. From the fertile soil of German Romanticism sprang ideas of great significance for the genesis of the Third Reich ideology–notions of the individual as a mere part of the national collective, and of life as a ceaseless struggle between opposing forces. This book traces the origins of the “political religion” of Nazism.
Ultra-nationalism and totalitarianism, racial theory and anti-Semitism, nature mysticism and occultism, eugenics and social Darwinism, adoration of the Fuhrer and glorification of violence–all are explored. The book also depicts the dramatic development of the Nazi movement–and the explosive impact of its political faith, racing from its bloody birth in the trenches of World War I to its cataclysmic climax in the Holocaust and World War II. Click here to see “Understanding Nazi Ideology” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Click here to see “Hidden History“ and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Starting with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Don Jeffries chronicles a wide variety of issues that have plagued our country’s history. Whether it is the assassinations of MLK and RFK, Iran-Contra, the Oklahoma City bombing, TWA Flight 800, voting fraud, or 9/11, every major disaster or war that we’ve witnessed has somehow been distorted by those who are supposed to be protecting us.
Jeffries also delves into extensive research on the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. – and what he finds will shock you. So whether you’ve only heard bits and pieces of these stories or you’ve read several books on the topics, Hidden History is the book that belongs in every conspiracy theorist’s library, as the information included here has never been collected together in any other published work available. So sit down, strap in, and get ready to be shocked and awed by how much has been hidden by our government over the past fifty years. Updated, this version features a new introduction by political insider Roger Stone. Click here to see “Hidden History” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Reprinted to coincide with the release of the new Aaron Sorkin film, this book provides the political background of this infamous trial, narrating the utter craziness of the courtroom and revealing both the humorous antics and the serious politics involved.An afterword by the late Tom Hayden examines the trial’s ongoing relevance, and drawings by Jules Feiffer help recreate the electrifying atmosphere of the courtroom.
Opening at the end of 1969–a politically charged year at the beginning of Nixon’s presidency and at the height of the anti-war movement–the Trial of the Chicago Seven (which started out as the Chicago Eight) brought together Yippies, antiwar activists, and Black Panthers to face conspiracy charges following massive protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, protests which continue to have remarkable contemporary resonance. Click here to see “Conspiracy in the Streets” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Click here to see “Caste” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.
Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people–including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others–she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. Click here to see “Caste” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Click here to see “Chaos” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Over two grim nights in Los Angeles, the young followers of Charles Manson murdered seven people, including the actress Sharon Tate, then eight months pregnant. With no mercy and seemingly no motive, the Manson Family followed their leader’s every order — their crimes lit a flame of paranoia across the nation, spelling the end of the sixties.
Manson became one of history’s most infamous criminals, his name forever attached to an era when charlatans mixed with prodigies, free love was as possible as brainwashing, and utopia — or dystopia — was just an acid trip away. Twenty years ago, when journalist Tom O’Neill was reporting a magazine piece about the murders, he worried there was nothing new to say. Then he unearthed shocking evidence of a cover-up behind the “official” story, including police carelessness, legal misconduct, and potential surveillance by intelligence agents. Click here to see “Chaos” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
After all the Bizarre and Not-Funny Events of the Week this is well….Bizarre Period
In a somewhat famous and now infamous episode of The Simpsons, Homer has a dream (nightmare?) relating to the U.S. elections, that were about to take place. The segment aired on November 1, 2020, and, in the end, became eerily prophetic. It didn’t take long for the world, particularly on Twitter, to take note and react.
In his dream, he never ends up voting and the scene cuts to January 20th, 2021, inauguration day, a day that has not yet arrived, of course, but, as if often the case with physic phenomena, the details had a shocking correlation to what we all witnessed on January 6th, 2021.
#DiaperDon trends as Trump has a T-day Tantrum behind a Very Tiny Desk
The date discrepancy is worth noting, since some of the scenes that were not directly accurate on January 6th, could well be at a future date.
The clips show apocalyptic, war like scenes, buildings burning, robots all around and the course horsemen bearing flags that read: famine, war, and pestilence.
Another clip from the 1996 episode “The Day the Violence Died” shows the constitution (as a person) atop the Capitol hills steps saying “Doors open boys” resulting in a horde of amended bills (also anthropomorphized) toting shot guns and bombs as they storm the building.
The visual similarities, how the mob is somehow savage and yet ridiculous and mirrors the videos and photos of real life to a T. Maybe there’s more than just the ability to predict the future at work here? Maybe there’s a message of wisdom in Homer’s dream?
A relatively low budget film without big marketing mojo is getting added to prestigious best film of 2020 lists. First it was the AP critics, now the National Society of Film Critics has followed suit.
Also, as with the AP, “First Cow” was a runner up. “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” got a nod as well.
The concept is sure to be relatable for many, as it deals with struggles to survive in hard economic times, and follows her journey and experience traveling across the American Heartland looking for ways to get back on her feet.
The story is based on the book of the same title, telling a tale of darker side of the American economy, one where many low-cost labor pools have resulted in many transient older adults, Americans that have to be incredibly resilient and find creative ways in order to survive.
The movie stars Frances McDormand, who plays as a widow, unable to afford her home during the recession, sells her home and packs up all her necessities into her van. There she embarks on journey through the American West, living in her van, as a modern-day, nomad, picking up seasonal work and relying on the compassion and generosity in her travels. Written, edited and produced by Chloe Zhao.
Upcoming drama focusing on the complicated matters of Love
Zendaya, most recently known for her HBO episodic work in “Euphoria” is making a return to the big screen for the Netflix. The actress will be joining John David Washington (“Tenet”) in the romance film “Malcolm & Marie”, which was shot in black and white.
The upcoming film was created by Sam Levinson (also writer, producer and director of “Euphoria”) and was among the first films that were put together during the pandemic. It has been reported that the production team went above and beyond with precautions to be compliant with the covid-19 protocols.
“Malcolm & Marie” focuses in on a couple’s conversation regarding their past relationships.
The film, which is scheduled for release Feb. 5, has already started to stir up talks of an Academy Award nomination for Zendaya, and as can be hinted from trailer she gives highly charged, emotional performance.
“I am so grateful to this cast and crew, many of whom are my ‘Euphoria’ family, for coming together during such uncertain times. We felt privileged to be able to make this film together and we did so with a lot of love. We are all thrilled that it has ended up with Netflix which is unparalleled in allowing filmmakers the freedom to tell their stories that reach audiences all over the world.”
Following leaks and rumors, a more definitive statement from Hyundai
In December 2020, a Reuters story cited sources with knowledge of the project to confirm the existence of the long rumored “Project Titan” otherwise known as the “Apple Car”. Now, based on a statement from a Hyundai spokesperson, “AppleCar” is moving forward in the form of discussions with potential manufacturing partners.
Hyundai also confirmed to CNBC that discussions with Apple has begun, but added the caveat that they “understand that Apple is in discussion with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor. As the discussion is at its early stage, nothing has been decided.”
This hesitation could stem from the possibility that the initial statement may have been interpreted as hinting that an agreement could be imminent, sending Hyundai’s stock 23% higher. The surge in the price followed a report by the Korea Economic Daily which had implied that Apple suggested the tie-up and Hyundai Motor was reviewing terms.
Apple doing what Apple does
Even after the Reuters report in December, many were still skeptical, and today the time frames being discussed are very conservative mentioned a 7 year time horizon, even while the Reuters report mentioned at least the possibility, however remote, that 2024 could see an actual release onto the consumer market.
It is historically established that Apple often enters established markets for specific products and, in may cases, makes a ultra high quality, uniquely “Apple” version. EVs are now firmly established as the future of individual sustainable transport, but with Tesla having set the quality and popularity bar as high as it has, Apple will have a challenge ahead of it to produce a likely self-driving fully realized electric vehicle to match the state of the art in 2024 and beyond.
At CES 2020 Hyundai unveiled new technologies they already have in development, such as EVs, driverless and even flying cars.
The fact that Tesla founder Elon Musk is now the richest man in the world, after removing that title from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is not a factor in the “race” to build the best software and hardware for the future of EVs, but is an added dramatic fact that serves as a backdrop to the intrigue.
And hey, wow, imaging having a variety of non-polluting, sustainable energy vehicles to choose from by the worlds top manufacturers and with Apple and Tesla battling it out at the high end to provide the best and most desirable.
A reminder from the Lincoln Project about what that flag stands for.
A fitting and well made documentation of just what is symbolized by this flag and an implication of the horror of seeing it defiantly waved inside and around the capitol after a violent riot on behalf of Trump.
Midnight Autofahren through Berlin mixed with a Psychedelic Visualization of Tomorrow
Night views of Berlin with mental memory materials echoing forward. Thoughts manifest toward a space ship example song. How to relax? How to sleep? How to dream? A smooth experience of where. Minimal and fluid yet encouragement reliability source code. Hello. Thanks for listening.
Spirit in the Woods Official Music-Video: Exotic Animals in an Ambient Mix of Audio-Visual Adventure
Spirit in the Woods Official Music-Video: Exotic Animals in an Ambient Mix of Audio-Visual
Alien Genius Sensitivity: Galactic Theory Ambient Trance
Space visualizations of epochs unwound above. Inside metal galaxies of tone and perspective lanes into joy. Relaxation alternative nodes for belief of tunnels of impact arrows. Space Force Mix 22XLT
Northern lights: Aurora Borealis – Ambient Music-Video – set to ‘on a blue day’ by Alejandro
Ambient Music-Video – music video for northern lights on a blue day by Alejandro ( can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3j0qH4f ) – time-lapse night photography – night sky dancing with Northern Lights against an aural backdrop of soothing yet upbeat groove. The combination can be heard seen and felt.
Melania’s doppelgänger re-appears and is now being accepted as “real” without question
Clearly, looking at these photos and tweets it’s crazy obvious that an entirely different person than Melania is standing next to Trump, holding has hand (enthusiastically, no less) and smiling, waving and then chats with him in ways completely out of character compared to the typical behavior of FLOTUS herself.
Even more odd are the ubiquitous captions stating that the photos are of “President Donald Trump standing next to First Lady Melania Trump” when that is so obviously not the case. In the first wave of fake Melania sightings, folks on Twitter began a guessing game and many felt that it was an established probability, if not a fact, that the real Melania was M.I.A. and a body double had been hired to take her place.
At this point the resemblance is so far off and the various features, hair color, nose, lips, breasts half the size, the whole lack of corresponding features is so incredibly, blatantly, visible that it is a form of unintentional fraud for news outlets, large and capable ones such as CNN, Wapo and more, to be playing along with the ruse.
This is the kind of omission of ‘news’ that is mind boggling; only Twitter cares?
Some still seem to believe that Melania changed her body, face, hair and so forth and others, apparently, just want to play along and accept the non-explanation from Trump as the automatic truth; as if he is saying, “it’s all fine here, my wife is definitely not avoiding me or refusing to been seen with me in public together…”
Others on Twitter are mentioning the fact that they both seemed to have abandoned Barron Trump, who is usually seen next to Melania, and whom, presumably she would not leave behind during Christmas break in Florida. Some, as is to be expected on Twitter, poked fun at Trump’s complaints about FLOTUS not getting magazine cover shoots and adds the twist of the mystery double for good measure…
And, of course, many are reveling in the observation that the “real” Melania would not be so cheerful, and definitely not be seen enthusiastically squeezing Donald’s hand and chatting with him so willingly and attentively. There have been so any memes of her pulling away and smiling “fakely” only to suddenly frown when she thinks that the cameras are not focused on her, and have been shared over the last weeks and months, that it’s impossible to take any of this seriously.
A beautiful winter sunset in the Mojave is a perfect backdrop for music, Meditation and Yoga stretching. Contemplative, inwardly focused yet surrounded by natural beauty and peace. The perfect relaxing counterpart to a hectic, overburdened existence, a way to take solace in the elements and dream of a better tomorrow…
Adventure Island Voyager: Winter Escape into Tropical Bliss
The music winds and floats and takes a dream to a foreign unknown shore. Endless summer and a sunset island fantasy come true. Enjoy the track and transport your mind into relaxing sea and surf. Ambient Relaxation Therapy Forever. Featuring: Surf “Pondering” by Arulo
This girl in the Late Afternoon Sunset is Like a Dream on Skates
A dream like scenarios with a girl on skates enjoying and exploring golden hour as the sun sets. Music is mysterious and ambient with a quality of unreality and illusion, though the title is “Lust or Love” by Arulo, it imbues less a feeling of lust but rather metaphysical floating in a world of dreams and random thoughts.
Surf Sounds of Air and Sunset, aDrift among the Palm Sweet Soliloquy
Lonely wafted and adrift in clam and clean motionless ocean glass. Colors of the sky with incredible soft pastel rays of light, rising from the furthest point of infinity. Gulls fly and dreams envelope now.
Surf Sounds of Air and Sunset, aDrift among the Palm Sweet Soliloquy
The music winds and floats and takes a dream to a foreign unknown shore. Endless summer and a sunset island fantasy come true. Enjoy the track and transport your mind into relaxing sea and surf. Ambient Relaxation Therapy Forever.
Lonely wafted and adrift in clam and clean motionless ocean glass. Colors of the sky with incredible soft pastel rays of light, rising from the furthest point of infinity. Gulls fly and dreams envelope now. Featuring: “Opalescent” by Eugenio Mininni
Floating over A Crystal Stream in an Impossibly Green Forest
Imagine floating above a crystal clear mountain stream deep at the heart of a beautiful green forest. Sounds of water flowing, birds and mysterious living spirits surround and envelope your senses. Relaxed, clear minded, calm yet alert and aware. Exploration and introspection. Feeling, breathing, living. Forest Walk. “Forest Walk” by Eugenio Mininni: Song can be downloaded here.
Paramount Mists of Exploration: Mountain Peak Delight Enhancement Mix
Icy piano spine chilling thoughts that rise. Above with air crisp clarity and brightness built in snow covered misted waves. Frozen forms enchanted and found above. Above the day where sleep is lost and life denies music spring song. Enhancement mix 2.
Ceremonial Sustenance Waveforms: Standing Above from Within Ourselves
Rising frames of soft and billowing rewards. Running, rising erupting smooth and soothing mysterious regeneration mind. Mixed believers and trance warrior hope. A flame, and drops of wonder.
As massive political and economic crises come into focus a must-solve climate issue looms
After nearly four years of madness emanating from the White House, now, even as the world reels from a pandemic that has yet to show signs of abating, another issue is still to come back into the center of our consciousness, and soon. If and when the vaccines and immune system strengths among survivors increases, other serious issues will come to the forefront, if not sooner.
Along with another great recent documentary on how to solve the climate crisis, “Kiss the Ground“, this documentary is inspired by the book by Naomi Klein and is called ‘This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate’. It is unique in that it exposes the deep and obvious ties between failed capitalist systems and the climate crisis. Since we are already facing, as 2021 rapidly approaches, a twin if not triple group of crises, with the economic devastation potentially even worse, in the coming years, than either the pandemic or the climate crisis, the message of this film is more urgent than ever.
The premise that the climate crisis actually presents an opportunity to change the entire world economic system for the better has been made even more pertinent and cogent by the events of 2020, both by the political disaster brought about by Trump, particularly his anti-environmental crusades, and the pandemic, which brought economic hardship upon millions worldwide.
The future is, in some ways, clearer than ever before
The positive side of this debate, what ‘could be‘ rather than the devastating and depressing reality of what already is, has a great potential to become a growing and expanding movement in 2021 and beyond. Ultimately, the climate crisis, as an extinction level threat, is, without a doubt, a wake-up call for the entire human race and almost certainly the last one that will be coming.
In other words, we all need to wake up to what might be the only solutions to this threat, or else we simply won’t be around to try any alternative solutions.
