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.
With the patience of a much more mature individual (not unusual for this prodigy) a perfect retort nearly a year later
Using the exact text of a facetious and immature tweet, typical for Trump, Greta has the last word with an entirely appropriate, if sarcastic, tweet of her own.
We must all hope, that with Trump’s Twitter account finally silenced for good, we will see and hear more from Greta and the extremely important movements that she led. Instead of making snide comments about her and her cause, as Trump so often did, we can expect that the Biden administration will do its best to face the, very real, challenges of climate change head on and bring together many from around the world to find solutions. Or at least begin the process of admitting the scope of the dangers and begin to address them.
This beautiful planner will help you schedule your appointments and daily activities, plan events, set goals, and get things done. It will also make a perfect gift for family and friends.
Features:
– January 2021 – December 2022
– 8.5″ x 11″
– Monthly spreads with holidays (2 pages per month)
– Yearly reference calendars
– Extra lined pages to record notes
– Pages to write down important dates
– Contacts page
– Laminated cover, matte finish
– Perfect binding to secure pages for the next two years and beyond
This one year daily journal is perfect for big planning. Plan for a month from now or a year from now in one convenient planner.
This beautiful boho-inspired journal will help you to accomplish your goals over the next year, once you spend time to think of them, plan for them, write them down and schedule them in your planner.
A compact and easy to carry planner that is convenient to use with matte textured cover and sheets.
The Mindfulness Daily Journal includes:
Private information page to write all your personal information.
2021 calendars with beautiful rainbow illustrations.
Journal prompts to allow you to reflect on how your feelings and gratitude.
Journal pages where you can write all your daily memories, diaries and adventures.
Size is 8″ x 10″, easy to carry around.
This Mindfulness Daily Journal makes the perfect gift Easy to carry – this journal is the perfect size for traveling.
This three year planner is perfect for big planning. Plan for a month from now, a year from now or three years from now in one convenient planner.
This planner will help you to accomplish your goals over the next three years, once you spend time to think of them, plan for them, write them down and schedule them in your planner.
A compact and easy to carry planner that is convenient to use with matte textured cover and sheets.
The 2021-2023 Planner includes:
– 36-month pocket calendar for the years 2021-2023.
– One month for every two page spread.
– Dated January 2021 – December 2023.
– 2021-2023 Yearly Overview, Contact Name, and Notes.
– Size is 8″ x 10″, easy to carry around.
This 3 Year Planner makes the perfect gift Easy to carry – this planner is the perfect size for traveling.
Packed with profanity and lots of funny, swearing stickers for adults, this sarcastic and humorous carpe diem swear planner says it like it is while keeping you organized.
It’s time to cut the crap with a motivational, badass calendar so you can get sh*t done all year–maybe swearing will help! Also makes the perfect gifted organizer for women or men in your life!
Features:
Four pages of funny, swear word journal stickers for adults
6″ x 8″ planner with durable hardcover and double spiral binding
Elastic band closure
Environmentally responsible, FSC certified paper
Year at a glance
Monthly and weekly spreads with ample writing space and “sh*t to remember” lists
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.
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
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.
According to White House insiders, using a double is a known technique, used since at least 2017
In a soon to be moot “conspiracy” theory that has gone on since around 2017, both evidence and speculation has pointed to a body-double replacing Melania at various times when “Melania” is seen next to her husband.
Since Trump’s loss to Biden in November, it seems that the effort in trying to hide the subterfuge has been lacking, and many photos of the double have surfaced, particularly during Trump’s recent trip to his resort residence in Florida.
This post is an updated and expanded version of our recently published story: Trump Travels with Mystery Double: zero mention in media, which compiled some of the many instances of photographic evidence (some seen again herein), mostly published originally on twitter accounts. As we pointed out in the original article, the fact that the press continued to caption and refer to these charades as “President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump…” is, in and of itself, an additional strange feature of the phenomenon.
Thanks to a tip from a reader’s comment to the original piece, it does appear, at least to the eyes in the Lynxotic Newsroom, that the double is, in actuality, Melania’s sister, Ines Knauss, seen below. Two years older than her sister, at 52, Ines differs from Melania in the cut of her nose and lips, though they are very similar. This may also be due to a lack of surgical enhancement, which can be seen by comparing older and more recent photos of Melania.
Melania’s “squinting cat eyes” which may also benefit from artificial enhancement, are typically not an issue for the double since huge very dark sunglasses are usually employed to make any direct eye-to-eye comparison impossible.
Melania’s doppelgänger, based on a tip from a reader, is likely her sister: Ines Knauss
Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director, once appeared on Have You Been Paying Attention?, an Australian game show, and was apparently able to confirm that the First Lady, in fact, does have body double.
“You know Michael Cohen, the President’s lawyer, insists that there is a body double and insists that actually her sister sometimes replaces her on the campaign trail,” he told viewers.
Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director, once appeared on Have You Been Paying Attention?, an Australian game show
Scaramucci went on, adding “Usually when you see somebody more affectionate with Mr. Trump,” referring to Melania’s body-double. “Let me put it to you this way, when he loses [the election] on Tuesday, I’m going to be a happy camper, but nobody is going to be happier than Melania.”
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 chatting 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.
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.
Christmas day will give millions a nice dose of the much-needed entertainment most of us crave. Fortunately there’s a whole bucket of highly-anticipated blockbuster releases. There will be many options on where to stream, with almost every major streaming service set to release a major film on December 25th including movie theaters.
We’ve created a comprehensive list below of movies plus trailers of all you can watch!
“Wonder Woman: 1984”: Theater release and HBO Max:
Most noteworthy, as its release date has been pushed and pushed for what seems like years, will be the Xmas release of “Wonder Woman: 1984” to both theaters and a 30 day streaming period on HBO Max. Patty Jenkins’ follow-up to the 2017 “Wonder Woman” has generated so much buzz, DC Comic fans can rejoice the film will finally be available to watch. Based on the fan reaction from the early showings, there is no secret that this is a must see movie, starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, and Pedro Pascal.
“Soul” / Disney+:
This Pixar movie has also been riddled with issues relating to a final release date. Instead of the traditionally theatrical release, “Soul” will be premiering exclusively on the Disney+. This will mark the first Pixar film to bypass a theater release altogether and instead offer it solely on the streaming platform This animated production boasts a star-studded cast including Jamie Fox, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Basset and long-time Pixar alum John Ratzenbrerger.
“News of the World” / Theaters:
A Western drama that follows a widowed Civil War veteran, Jefferson Kyle Kidd, who comes across a young girl taken by the Kiowa people. Jefferson played by Tom Hanks must take a long and perilous journey to return the girl to her family. Taken place within the harsh and unforgiving plains of Texas, the two encounter many dangers and must fight for survival. Based on the historical novel by Paulette Jiles. The movie will reportedly be released through Netflix internationally, however there is no clear release date for U.S. viewing on the streaming platform at this time.
“We Can Be Heroes” / Netflix:
A follow-up or homage of sorts to the 2005 “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” done by Robert Rodriguez is another fun film to be released. This time around, a group of children of superheroes must team up to save their parents after being kidnapped by aliens. Taylor Dooley reprises her role as Lavagirl. “We Can Be Heroes”stars Priyanka Chopra, Pedro Pascal, Christian Slater, Christopher McDonald and more.
“Promising Young Woman” / Theaters:
A dark comedy/thriller follows Cassandra Thomas, who goes by “Cassie” played by Carey Mulligan. Nothing is what it seems in Cassie’s life, with an unexpected encounter, she is given the chance to take charge of her life. Moviegoers will watch as this “Promising Young Woman” takes revenge against the men who have treated her wrong in the past. Emerald Fennell makes her directorial debut along with a support cast that include: Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Laverne Cox and Alfred Molina.
“Sylvie’s Love” / Amazon Prime Video:
Set in the late 1950’s Harlem, a young woman named Sylvie played by Tessa Thompson has a whirlwind summer romance with a saxophonist that takes a job at her father’s record store. Years later, the two reconnect and soon discover that their feelings have not faded.
“One Night in Miami”/ Theaters:
This film centers around the fictional tale of a meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown. Set in the aftermath of Ali’s (Cassius Clay) 1964 boxing match against Sonny Liston. Together the 4 iconic black men meet up in a Miami hotel room to change the course of history in the segregated South. Based on the play written by Kemp Powers. Regina King directs this period drama with cast including: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr. This movie is available to watch in Theaters on Christmas day, however it won’t be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video until January 15.
“Pinocchio” / Theaters:
This retelling of the classic animated Disney version gets a live-action reboot with Roberto Benigni playing as Geppetto and Federico Lelapi as Pinocchio. The film has already been released in Italy, the movie is set to be released in theaters for the U.S. on Christmas day.
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Shondaland brings Julia Quinn’s romance novels to the screen
Shonda Rhimes is known for her widely successful TV shows, including the popular titles: “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Scandal” and “How to get away with Murder” to name just a few. Creator and Producer Rhimes is at it again, this time not for the ABC network where most of her series live, but for the Netflix streaming platform.
Her incoming series “Bridgerton”, will be played out in 8 episodes and will be released Christmas day. Her inspiration was based on the steamy romance novels by Julia Quinn that follows the eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family in London.
The show’s setting reveals the lives of the Bridgerton family, living among the high society elites in the Regency-era England (around 1800’s). The siblings look for love and happiness, while encountering power struggles, love tangles and all kinds of other drama. Based on the trailer, “Bridgerton” appears to be a mix of the historical meets modern.
Very typical of romance in the 19th century where sexual relations were usually kept off screen or rather behind closed doors, this show will be very different. For the Netflix show, buckle up, as the series will be laced with all things associated with carnal pleasures: scandal, sex, romance, gossip, and more sex (enough to make Jane Austen blush).
Rhimes also inserted more of her own styles, incorporating 21st century twists, particularly by casting diverse characters throughout the series. The show’s Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuvel, is black, which showcases how the series will be a nice twist to the typical period pieces that have been adapted to TV and film. Also the the series will score orchestral version of current pop hits by Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.
Below is our pick of some anticipated titles coming to a screen the first of the year
Watching and streaming videos have undoubtedly been a source of how the majority of us have entertained ourselves throughout the year. With the entertainment industry and filming slowly ramping up, 2021 will likely yield some great TV shows.
We already know streaming movies come next year will be plentiful on HBO Max, as they announced 17 new movies releases and Disney+ will also bring a flurry of new content to its platform. Next year, TV shows hold a plethora of options, whether it be brand new shows, or renewed and limited series, TV watchers will have more than enough content to choose from.
The Serpent / BBC
Streaming January 1. The story of how the conman and murderer Charles Sobhraj, played by actor Tahar Rahim, was eventually caught and imprisoned. Posing as a gem dealer, Sobhraj and his girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc, played by Jenna Coleman, traversed Asia in 1975 and 1976, committing a spree of crimes along the ‘Hippie Trail’.
History of Swear Words / Netflix
Streaming January 5. Nicolas Cage explores the history, usage and cultural impact of the most notorious swear words in the English language. Each episode will examine the use and cultural impact of words like “damn”, “sh*t”, “fu*k”, “bit*h”, “pus**”, “dic*”, “cu**”, and I’m sure many other good ole cuss words you can think of.
Dickinson / Apple TV +
Streaming January 8. The second season continues to follow the budding writer Emily Dickinson. Played by Hailee Steinfeld, she uses her outsider’s perspective to explore the constraints of society, gender and family in the 19th century.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer / Netflix
Streaming January 13. This historical documentary that follows the young detective Gil Carrillo and legendary homicide investigator Frank Salerno as they work timely to catch the “Night Stalker”. Beneath the sunlit glamour of 1985 LA lurks a relentlessly evil serial killer. In this true-crime story, two detectives won’t rest until they catch Richard Ramirez, who was eventually arrested for his terrible crimes.
WandaVision / Disney+
Streaming January 15. As part of the many Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shows to be released through Disney+ comes “WandaVision” Living idealized suburban lives, super-powered beings Wanda and Vision begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. Starring Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Evan Peters and Kat Dennings.
Academy Award winner George Clooney took on dual roles as producer and star in the now available Netflix movie “The Midnight Sky”. The film is based and adapted off the science fiction novel by Lily Brooks-Dalton called “Good Morning, Midnight”.
During an interview with the NYT, Clooney talked about the movie, as well as his thoughts on the future of movie theaters and Hollywood.
His thoughts on his movie premiering on a streaming service and the future of theaters:
“People want to get out of their house — I got twins, man! And it’s still a great way to ask somebody out. Comedies are great in cinemas, scary movies are great in cinemas. So I don’t see it completely going away.”
How would he know without box office numbers if his movie would be a “success”:
“Look, I’ll be 60 this year, and I get to be on a set with people I adore and work in a profession that I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to do. So I guess that’s sort of the victory in the whole thing. I didn’t have it for the early part of my life — I did jobs I hated and lived for the weekend.”
His character in the movie is a man focused on career versus love and family. Was that ever him?
Yeah, but I hadn’t found the person that filled everything up for me, that would have made me fully in love. I dated a lot of really terrific women, but Amal showed up and suddenly it was like, “Well, this is different on every level for me.” I don’t think I was actively saying, “I’m just going to work on my career and I’m not going to have a wife.” That was the story that got told about me, but it wasn’t really the reality.
“The Midnight Sky” has already been delivered as a crowdpleaser among those that have viewed the film and has garnered talks that Clooney is in line for multiple Oscar category nominations; for best director and picture. Clooney’s fellow cast include: Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo.
The film is a post-apocalyptic story about an astronomer named Augustine, played by Clooney. Set in a remote outpost in the Arctic, he receives news of a catastrophic event, forcing him and his fellow scientists to evacuate. After refusing to leave his post, he come across a mysterious child, Iris, played by newcomer actor Caoilinn Springall. Together they race to contact a group of astronauts who are making their return home from a mission to Jupiter in order to avoid the global catastrophe.
Check out “The Midnight Sky” is now available to stream on Netflix.
So many unexpected life changes, now maybe a pivot to a new definition of health is needed
It’s no secret that 2020 was off the charts in challenges, to put it mildly. If you are like many that typically gear up to buy their annual memberships to gyms come January, you may be rethinking the decision. This year, as you already know, gyms, along with many other establishments were subject to many sporadic closures, and now an almost total lockdown and the worst of the pandemic (hopefully) hits through the end of the year.
One bright spot: as a result of the restrictions, many of us were forced to find new and creative ways in order to get our fitness on.
As we turn to a new year, it’s likely that a new perspective toward health, fitness and diet has become paramount, and demands a re-thinking of what our real goals should be coming off a terribly difficult year and searching for a better 2021.
Beauty and the beast are worthy goals, 2 B sure, but health and true strength are forever
Striving for that ripped, skinny, almost photoshopped physic, counting calories with restrictive diets may no longer be the end-all be-all and automatic go-to that it once appeared to be. Perhaps adding a renewed focus on health and resilience is a more appropriate path going forward.
Exercising and eating for strength, working towards performance and promoting restoration, prevention and optimal nutrition appear to be the best new trends for health and wellness.
We have curated a list of realistic and smart-wellness centered books to jumpstart or continue on a path towards a better 2021.
Feel-Good Fitness: Fun Workout Challenges to Inspire Your Fitness Streak
Click here to see “Feel-Good Fitness” and help Independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Feel-Good Fitness from pro runner Alysia Montaño offers a year of fun and fresh fitness challenges that will build your strength and endurance. Alysia’s fitness challenges will make you smile while you sweat because Alysia’s not your typical fitness trainer. She’s a mom of two who knows real workouts don’t require a pricey gym membership.
With Alysia’s practical workout program, you can get fit in 30-60 minutes a day while tackling achievable fitness challenges. Each challenge takes on a different goal over 3-4 weeks, which means you’ll achieve new fitness with every new program and never get bored–all while building confidence. Click here to see “Feel-Good Fitness” and help Independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Stretching to Stay Young: Simple Workouts to Keep You Flexible, Energized, and Pain Free
Increase your flexibility, strengthen your body, and stretch your youth. Our bodies were designed for movement, but as we age, our joints and muscles become tighter. Stretching is a gentle, simple activity that anyone can do to alleviate aches and pains, as well as improve range of motion and flexibility.
This book guides you step-by-step through each stretch, arming you with the confidence you need to progress into deeper levels of stretching for enhanced flexibility, reduced pain, decreased stiffness, and better quality of life for years to come. No matter your age or level of activity, this guide will help you ease into the wonders of stretching, to reduce stiffness and feel your best. Click here to see “Stretching to Stay Young” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
The One-Minute Workout: Science Shows a Way to Get Fit That’s Smarter, Faster, Shorter
Finally, the solution to the #1 reason we don’t exercise: time. Everyone has one minute. A decade ago, Martin Gibala was a young researcher in the field of exercise physiology–with little time to exercise. That critical point in his career launched a passion for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), allowing him to stay in shape with just a few minutes of hard effort. It also prompted Gibala to conduct experiments that helped launch the exploding science of ultralow-volume exercise.
Now that he’s the worldwide guru of the science of time-efficient workouts, Gibala’s first book answers the ultimate question: How low can you go? Including the eight best basic interval workouts as well as four microworkouts customized for individual needs and preferences (you may not quite want to go all out every time), The One-Minute Workout solves the number-one reason we don’t exercise: lack of time. Because everyone has one minute. Click here to see “The One Minute Workout” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Training for a Healthy Life: A Daily Food and Fitness Journal
Set Yourself Up for Better Health!Open this fitness journal and start your journey to a healthy new you! This easy-to-use book will help you record your everyday stats in order to solidify healthy eating and exercise habits. Whether your goal is losing weight, exercising more, or changing your self-care routines, this handy journal will keep you on track as you set out on a healthy new path.
Training for a Healthy Life features easy ways to: Record important daily stats. Write down your weight, what you ate, how much you exercised, and how well you took care of yourself every day. Review your progress. Weekly check-ins help you chart your progress and adjust your habits moving forward. Track your goals. Set your goals as you start your journey, record daily goals, and evaluate your success at the end of the book. Click to see “Training for a Healthy Life” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
The Fitness Chef: Eat What You Like & Lose Weight for Life – The Infographic Guide to the Only Diet That Works
Discover how to lose weight for good. No gimmicks, no rules, no tough exercise regime. Just a straightforward, proven science-based method. Graeme Tomlinson, a.k.a. The Fitness Chef, has amassed over 600,000 instagram followers thanks to his myth-busting health-and-diet infographics. In this digestible infographic guide, you will discover: how to lose weight and keep it off forever and why you don’t need a complicated new diet, slimming-club rules or a personal trainer.
Empower yourself to make informed food choices and be inspired by Graeme’s 70 easy, lower-calorie versions of popular foods – including curries, fry ups and even fish and chips.ou can still eat your favourite biscuits and enjoy carbs, fats and sugar. After reading this book you will be able to make informed food choices for the rest of your life and succeed at any weight-loss goal. Click to see “Eat What you Like” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Seinfeld” holiday Festivus is among us: Time for the Airing of Grievances
Every year on December 23, a different kind of holiday comes round, one that stands apart in its unique perspective and knocks traditional celebrations aside, with humor. If you are finding it hard to muster any “holiday cheer”, don’t worry, that is why Festivus was created, a holiday for the rest of us.
If you have no idea what Festivus is, that ok, it is a made-up holiday many have come to celebrate, originating as a plot twist from the 90’s sitcom “Seinfeld”.
The holiday exists in stark contrast to the traditional, not surprising, being that it is a concoction from a 90s sit-com. Instead it’s taken on a life in the real world as a non-religious and anti-holiday of sorts, veering far from the realm of commercial (gift giving) so heavily associated with December holidays.
“I’ve got a lot of problems with you people!”
Festivus also comes with some pretty unique traditions, including gathering round a bare aluminum pole (instead of decorated tree or lit Menorah) for the “feats of strength” display (a wresting match). Then in the ultimate Festivus ceremony; an orgy of comic-relief known as the “airing of grievances”.
The latter is an opportunity to gather round and let the people in your life know exactly how they have disappointed you. Or really just a time to comically and exaggeratedly complain about literally anything and everything that has happened to you throughout the year.
Festivus is, of course no more possible to physically stage this year than many aspects of the traditional holiday festivities. However, it does have one huge advantage, in fantasy, over traditional holiday celebrations.
It allows for, and even demands, an insane explosion of complaining, a cathartic griping and a no-holds-barred primal screaming against the “year-like-no-other” a.k.a. the year from hell.
And maybe a deluge of grievances and an orgy of anger is the only release that would allow us to make it whole past the holidays in into 2021.
And maybe, the turning of the wished for happy holiday clichés on their head, one day per year in any case, is just what we need to end this sh*t-show of a 12 month stretch. That’s why we should all honor; Festivus for the rest of us.
Check out the below meme-worthy posts that epitomize Festivus :
It has been well over 30 years since the original 1988 classic “Coming to America” first hit the big screen. In the anticipated sequel, we’ll see some of the same actors reprise their role, especially stars Eddie Murphy as Akeem, Arsenio Hall as Semmi and James Earl Jones as King Jaffe.
Fans of the original will be happy to see familiar faces for the 80’s movie, as well as see some newcomers for the sequel, including: Wesley Snipes, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, and Teyana Taylor.
At the wish of his dying father, King Jaffe, Prince Akeem of Zamunda who will soon take over the thrown needs a male heir. However new information arises about the prince’s past that he already has a son back in the United States, so as the trailer teases:
“Prepare the royal jet. We are going back to America.”
“Oh hell no, your majesty!”.
-Eddie Murphy as Akeem, Arsenio Hall as Semmi
“Coming 2 America ” was written by creator of “Black-ish” Kenya Barris. This film was originally slated to be released late 2020, but has now been scheduled for release on March 5, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.
Top 10 YouTube stars and their earning power for the year
Most of the 2019 top earners spots have carried forward into 2020 and continue to rake in millions of dollars and subscribers for their video clips. With Ryan Kaji at #1 and Mr. Beast at #2 it appears that the absolute top of the YouTube pyramid, both have a formula that just keeps on going. Both the numbers based on earning and, even more so, views, are absolutely astronomical – implying a kind of snowball effect for the top accounts.
Surprising because of his age, yet at the same time not so surprising, is how 9-year-old Ryan Kaji of “Ryan’s World” has once again placed at the very top of the list for the highest paid YouTuber for 2020. Starting up in 2015, his videos have since totaled a whopping 43,907,425,279 views (43 billion!).
Last year he earned $26 million and this year he earned a considerable amount more at $29.5 million. That is a whole lot of money for making videos that show the young boy unboxing toys, creating DIY arts and crafts and science experiments.
“The nine-year-old star is flying high—literally. This November he became the first YouTuber featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a float based on his superhero alter ego. It was a marketing ploy as much as it was a thrilling moment for the kids who tune into Kaji’s videos of DIY science experiments, family storytime and reviews of new toys. That’s just the start: The bulk of his business comes from licensing deals for more than 5,000 Ryan’s World products—everything from bedroom decor and action figures to masks and walkie talkies.”
#1 Ryan Kaji
Earnings: $29.5 million
Views: 12.2 billion
Subscribers: 41.7 million
#2 Mr. Beast (Jimmy Donaldson)
Earnings: $24 million
Views: 3 billion
Subscribers: 47.8 million
#3 Dude Perfect
Earnings: $23 million
Views: 2.77 billion
Subscribers: 57.5 million
#4 Rhett and Link
Earnings: $20 million
Views: 1.9 billion
Subscribers: 41.8 million
#5 Markiplier (Mark Fischbach)
Earnings: $19.5 million
Views: 3.1 billion
Subscribers: 27.8 million
#6 Preston Arsement
Earnings: $19 million
Views: 3.3 billion
Subscribers: 33.4 million
#7 Nastya (Anastasia Radzinskaya)
Earnings: $18.5 million
Views: 39 billion
Subscribers: 190.6 million
#8 Blippi (Stevin John)
Earnings: $17 million
Views: 8.2 billion
Subscribers: 27.4 million
#9 David Dobrik
Earnings: $15.5 million
Views: 2.7 billion
Subscribers: 18 million
#10Jeffree Star
Earnings: $15 million
Total Views (from June 2019 to June 2020): 600 million
Coming just a few days before Christmas this year, Jupiter and Saturn will appear within a hair’s-breadth of one-another to the naked eye
Although most of us consider this to be one of the worst, if not the worst, year that we are aware of, it may close out with something miraculous. If you take the time to gaze heavenward on December 21st,, just after sunset, you might see it: A Christmas Star.
Already in early December the two giant orbs can be seen ever so gradually nearing each other, as if they are feeling some sort of mutual attraction, an odd couple. perhaps, Jupiter and Saturn.
And, according to celestial experts at NASA, they will continue to converge until they appear nearly co-joined: just 1/10th of a degree apart, with a barley perceptible gap in-between.
It was in 1226 that this could last have been witnessed
Though these couplings are known to occur in intervals of roughly 20 years, this year they will be the closest they have been to each other since 1623. In that year, however, they were too near the sun to look at, and because this year the event will take place on the winter solstice, you’d have to go all the way back to 1221 for a similar show.
These two spectacular giants, which are the largest in the entire solar system, each with a personality, astrologically speaking, so divergent that they are said to be more like opposites, rather than twins or lovers.
Jupiter, a king and believed to be bringer of good fortune, looks the part in a spectacular explosion of color and power, planet of miracles, hope, and opportunity.
Saturn, meanwhile appears mysterious, unpredictable, even dangerous. Saturn has an air of the impossible and the forbidden. Best known, in astrological circles, for the so-called “quarter-life crisis” and for unexpected challenges to the status-quo.
Across the USA, a view of the two planets coming into near-alignment is going to be most visible and best viewed, just after sunset, in the southwestern part of the sky.
In a glimpse into the relativity of all things in the universe, though this duo will appear to be close together — resembling a double star or a gleaming figure 8 shaped blob, the two planets will not , in reality, be that close.
They will actually be more than 400 million miles apart. It is only from our lonely vantage on this little blue planet that they will appear to be “close” to each other.
Since it will be 2080 before a similar spectacle will grace our view, and that means that all but those who are currently quite young will not likely be alive, it is imperative to search the southwestern sky (from the USA) both the day before, after and of course on December 21st: as this is a rare opportunity to witness a spectacular and special event, and a last chance to do so for a long, long time to come.
The movie “Braven” follows the story of a logger and his father who head to their hunting cabin for a nice quiet weekend. What they find is anything but quiet, as the two find themselves in a kill-or-be-killed scenario. Joe Braven, played by Momoa, fights for survival, and to defend his family after he encounters a gang of ruthless drug traffickers.
Athough the movie had its original theatrical release in 2018, this action thriller, available to stream on the Netflix starting Dec. 18, has already quickly jumped to the #2 slot.
Alongside Jason Momoa, the film stars: Garret Dillahunt, Stephen Lang, Jill Wagner and Brendan Fletcher.
Former President Barack Obama continues his annual tradition, one that he has observed since he was first in office, where he shares his list of favorite TV shows and movies for the year. Throughout the years Obama has limited his selection to 3, yet he expanded his list to 10 for 2020, apparently because, like the majority of us, he had a lot of extra time on his hands to stream and watch videos.
In his tweet, Obama said:
“Like everyone else, we were stuck inside a lot this year, and with streaming further blurring the lines between theatrical movies and television features, I’ve expanded the list to include visual storytelling that I’ve enjoyed this year, regardless of format,”
Among the top TV shows chosen include: “The Queen’s Gambit”, “Mrs. America”, “Better Call Saul”, “The Good Lord Bird”, “The Last Dance”, and “I May Destroy You”.
On the film side, Obama’s choices, which not surprisingly also include some of AP’s list of best movies: “Mank”, “Boys State”, Lovers Rock”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, and a documentary produced by Barack’s production company, “Crip Camp”.
Like everyone else, we were stuck inside a lot this year, and with streaming further blurring the lines between theatrical movies and television features, I’ve expanded the list to include visual storytelling that I’ve enjoyed this year, regardless of format. pic.twitter.com/a8BS8jDkSs
We’ve included some TV and movie trailers that held the top spots for Obama’s movie list. All the videos below are currently available to stream through the various platforms: Netflix, HBO, Showtime, Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video:
![PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN - Official Trailer [HD] - This Christmas](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7i5kiFDunk8/hqdefault.jpg)
