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Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
In brief: Fleetwood Mac documentary coming to Apple TV and more
The landslide is bringing them to Apple TV. Fleetwood Mac is telling their story in their own words in the Apple Original Films documentary Fleetwood Mac: The Chain. Apple announced the “unprecedented look” is the first fully authorized documentary about the award-winning, culture-defining band. It brings together the voices and memories of Fleetwood members Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and the late Christine McVie. Fleetwood Mac: The Chain will debut Jan. 29 ...Ramy Youssef’s feature directorial debut has added some more star power to the cast. Amanda Seyfried will join Youssef and Sharon Stone in Martha & Muhammad, a new comedy for A24, according to Deadline. Youssef will direct from his own script, in addition to starring. Plot and character details are being kept under wraps, though The Hollywood Reporter previously described the project as telling the story of “a white widowed socialite in New York who develops a relationship with a young Muslim man” ... TNCMS.AdManager.render({region: 'fixed-big-ad-top-asset', slot: 1, fold: "above"}); Another book adaptation is coming to Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios confirmed Thursday it has picked up Butcher & Blackbird, the bestselling thriller novel by Brynne Weaver. Emma Laird and Thomas Doherty are signed on to star in the new film, which follows vigilante serial killers who fall in love as they compete to take out the most targets ... Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Thank you for reading kmaland.comAt KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.
Exposome Signature: A multi‑system view of human adaptation to spaceflight
Spaceflight is extremely challenging for both body and mind. Astronauts experience a combination of stressors – microgravity, radiation, confinement, isolation, circadian disruption and environmental changes – that can trigger physiological responses resembling those seen on Earth in chronic diseases and accelerated aging. One characteristic effect is low‑grade inflammation (LGI), a subtle and persistent activation of the immune system.
Beyond cigarettes: Uncovering the causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers
The disease’s rising incidence among nonsmokers is prompting greater research into its unique characteristics and hopes for more targeted screening and treatment.
Irish state agency rolls out seafood advisory program, connecting businesses with expert consultants
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) recently rolled out the Seafood Business Advisory Program, providing Irish seafood firms with access to external experts.
Tom Skerritt, star of ‘Alien’ and familiar face at SIFF, dies at 93
Tom Skerritt, the acclaimed character actor who starred in “Alien,” “Top Gun,” “Contact” and more, died Wednesday at his home in Seattle. He was 93.
Chris Pratt says Star-Lord will return to MCU after ‘hard action’ was taken to ‘make good on that promise’
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ended with a cryptic teaser indicating the character would return — and Pratt says it’s almost here.
SonicFox Cancels Contract With Gaming Convention After Event Uses Likeness in AI-Generated Poster
Prolific fighting game player SonicFox has terminated their contract with a tournament in Norman, Oklahoma after organizers fed artwork of their mascot character into AI to generate a promotional poster for the event.
World News in Brief: Aid for Ethiopia, Abyei drone strikes condemned, extreme heat and newborn health
The World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up emergency health response operations across Afar, Amhara and Tigray in Ethiopia to address growing humanitarian and health needs resulting from ongoing hostilities.
From PMS to Menopause: Two new clinical studies strengthen the science behind one saffron extract
PMS and menopause represent distinct stages of a woman’s life, with different hormonal patterns and symptoms. Yet both are characterised by significant hormonal fluctuations that can influence interconnected biological pathways involved in emotional well-being, sleep, stress response and overall quality of life
Jalen Hurts' health shouldn't be up for debate
Football has long tradition of treating Black quarterbacks injuries as character referendums first and medical event second.
The Surprising Reason Some People Keep Dating Narcissists, According to Science
A new study suggests people with narcissistic or manipulative traits may be more attracted to partners who share those same characteristics.
Hudson Williams says he’s writing a film but ‘getting tripped up’ over a “Heated Rivalry” parallel (exclusive)
The actor, who’s written multiple short films, talks about getting in his head about a character who’s an ex-hockey player.
Husband-and-wife investors renovate Indian Village home with families in mind
April and James Mulroy aimed to create a high-end product that retained the home’s historical character and one that was particularly appealing to families.
The Romans Hires Burson’s Sam Buckett To Lead MENA Sports & Entertainment Offering
The agency is launching a dedicated sports and entertainment division in the region, building on existing work for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organiser Ethara.
Sahara Ray’s sister pays tribute after model’s death at 34: ‘She was magic’
Ruby Ray remembered her older sister as “a light so bright that this world feels impossibly dimmer without her in it.”
Richard Riehle, prolific character actor from 'Office Space' and 'Bridesmaids,' dies at 78
LOS ANGELES — Richard Riehle, a prolific character actor who portrayed Tom Smykowski, the product manager with "people skills" in Mike Judge's cult classic, "Office Space," has died. He was
John Turturro, thief of New York characters, adds a capstone in 'The Last Pickpocket in New York'
John Turturro grew up in Hollis, Queens, and has lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn, since 1988
'Office Space' star Richard Riehle dies at 78
Actor Richard Riehle arrives at the premiere of New Line Cinema's 'A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on November 2, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)Richard Riehle, known for his role in the 1999 film Office Space, has died. He was 78.A statement shared by Artists & Representatives and Wright Entertainment, Inc. announced Riehle's passing on Monday, writing, "Our industry has lost an exceptional talent, and our community has lost a truly wonderful man.""We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of our beloved client, Richard Riehle, this past weekend," the statement said. "A remarkable actor whose career in theater, film, and television spanned nearly five decades and more than 400 projects, Richard leaves behind an extraordinary legacy."The statement continued, "Beyond his immense talent, he will be remembered for his genuine goodness, boundless kindness, and unwavering generosity, particularly toward emerging actors and filmmakers, whom he encouraged and supported at every opportunity."Born on May 12, 1948, Riehle starred in many television series and films over the years.Notable projects include Casino, The Man from Earth and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.He got his start as an actor at the University of Notre Dame, where he was involved in the University Theatre and starred in several stage productions. He went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in acting and directing from the University of Minnesota.While he's played characters that have an "average Joe" presence, he always made the most of his brief screen time.Some roles that he is remembered for include The Quartermaster in Glory, the train guard in The Fugitive, Reverend Scroggins in Fried Green Tomatoes and Bill Cozbi in Bridesmaids.On television, he starred as Principal Ed Rooney in the 1990 series Ferris Bueller and as grandfather Walt Finnerty in the early 2000s sitcom, Grounded For Life.In 2023, he also played Warden Reynolds in Barry.Riehle is survived by his wife, Jane Latham, and their four children.Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
"This act is intended to demonstrate solidarity with Palestine" - Umurangi Generation studio blocks new game Penguin Colony from being sold in Israel
"In the absence of more organised sanctions," Umurangi Generations studio Origame has blocked the sale of its new game Penguin Colony in Israel.
Pfizer makes ‘business decision’ to end phase 2 trial of autoimmune drug as program’s future uncertain
Pfizer has called time on a phase 2 trial of its CXCR5 antibody in an autoimmune blood disorder, with the company tight-lipped on whether this marks the end of the road for the asset. The Big Pharma had been evaluating the therapy, dubbed PF-06835375, in a phase 2 study of 61 patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) that kicked off in 2022, according to the federal trials register. However, Pfizer confirmed to Fierce on Monday that this study had been terminated “due to a business decision.” “The decision to terminate the trial was not based on any safety concerns,” a spokesperson pointed out. At time of publication, PF-06835375 remained listed on Pfizer’s website for both ITP and lupus. A phase 1 study in lupus wrapped up in 2022, according to the trials database. ITP is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count. Novartis was at one point evaluating its B-cell-depleting antibody ianalumab—recently approved as Fabhalta to treat immunoglobulin A nephropathy—as a potential treatment ITP. But the therapy struggled to demonstrate a benefit in the clinic for this indication. When contacted by Fierce, Pfizer wouldn’t confirm whether all work on PF-06835375 has been halted, and whether the company has any other plans to explore C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CXCR5) as a mechanism. CXCR5 is found in blood cancers such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma chemokine receptor. However, there is little expression in normal tissue, which has led some drug developers to explore its potential. Vincerx Pharma had at one point been planning to take an anti-CXCR5 ADC into the clinic to treat B-cell malignancies, but that ambition was scrapped due to cash constraints. Where Big Pharma is placing its bets is one of the hot topics being discussed at Fierce Biotech's high-impact event in London next month. Find out more information and register by clicking on the banner below: [ ](https://qtxasset.com/quartz/qcloud5/media/image/where_big_pharma_is_placing_its_bets.png?VersionId=B8JrRbJ.pFUSK1pJgjeWHLGm_18RdLAy)
‘He’s solid, has integrity and character’: Longtime TX GOP judge backs Talarico for Senate
Jessica Lange ranks her “American Horror Story” characters: ‘I loved the whole world we created’
In “AHS: 13,” the actress reprises all four: Constance Langdon, Elsa Mars, Sister Jude Martin, and Fiona Goode.
Jessica Lange ranks her ‘American Horror Story’ characters: ‘I loved the whole world we created’
‘American Horror Story’ star Jessica Lange ranks her four iconic characters: ‘I loved the whole world we created.’
Richard Riehle, 'Office Space' character actor, dies at 78
Richard Riehle, the versatile character actor best known for his roles in "Office Space" and "Grounded for Life," has died. He was 78.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory open house returns with record turnout as it navigates rocky funding future
Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory held its annual open house on Saturday, opening its doors in Palisades, New York, to more than 2,500 visitors for a day of lab tours, lectures, and hands-on science exhibits amid an uncertain time for science funding.
Richard Riehle, dependable TV and film character actor who was in ‘Glory and ‘Office Space,’ dies
He often played authority figures but was equally skilled at comedy.
Richard Riehle, dependable TV and film character actor who was in ‘Glory’ and ‘Office Space,’ dies
Beloved character actor Richard Riehle has died at 78.
Richard Riehle, actor in 'Glory' and 'Office Space,' dies
Beloved character actor Richard Riehle has died at 78
Richard Riehle, dependable TV and film character actor who was in 'Glory and 'Office Space,' dies
Beloved character actor Richard Riehle has died at 78. Wright Entertainment Inc. announced Monday that Riehle died on Oct. 15. Riehle's career spanned nearly five decades, with memorable roles in...
Richard Riehle, dependable TV and film character actor who was in 'Glory and 'Office Space,' dies
Beloved character actor Richard Riehle has died at 78.
Sahara Ray, model once linked to Justin Bieber, dies at 34
NEW YORK — Model Sahara Ray is dead at 34. The family of the Australian fashionista once linked to Justin Bieber told TMZ that Ray died Sunday night “surrounded by
Richard Riehle, prolific character actor known for roles in 'Office Space' and 'Casino,' dies at 78
Riehle's signature mustache and warm persona made him a regular staple in TV and film throughout his nearly 50-year career.
Apu speaks on “The Simpsons” for first time in 8 years with the debut of Hank Azaria’s replacement
The character was sidelined following backlash for the white actor continuing to voice the Indian Kwik-E-Mart owner.
Richard Riehle, 'Office Space' actor with iconic mustache, dies at 78
Richard Riehle, the versatile character actor best known for his roles in "Office Space" and "Grounded for Life," has died. He was 78.
'The Simpsons' shocks with return of Apu after controversy
Apu is back on "The Simpsons." In the animated series' latest episode, the character spoke for the first time in almost 10 years.
Apu Gets New Voice: List of ‘Simpsons’ Characters Recast Following Backlash
Apu is the latest in a line of characters that have been recast by the animated show since 2020.
Flames end the Hurricanes' 7-game winning streak
Yegor Sharangovich scored the go-ahead goal with 4:28 left and the Calgary Flames ended Carolina’s seven-game winning streak, beating the defending champion Hurricanes 3-2 on Saturday night for their second victory of the season.
The sport of online harassment
Non-consensually posted intimate images can devastate women – and beget male bonding.The burner accounts on X loosely grouped into the “burnerverse” started by bonding over college sports – but soon took a darker turn when some of them began trying to make salacious rumors or non-consensual intimate images of young women and their names go viral. Ej Dickson investigated the burnerverse for Wired, profiling one of these women who were doxxed – and found links between these burner accounts and college fraternities. But what makes misogyny such a potent tool for men’s bonding? And with laws against non-consensually distributed intimate images in all 50 states – how is it still happening at scale?To talk more about the culture that supports this kind of harassment and the structures that keep it in place, Brittany is joined by Ej Dickson, senior culture writer at wired, and Dr. Mary Anne Franks, professor at the George Washington University Law School and president of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
GTA 6: Can you cheat on someone with a video game character?
Grand Theft Auto VI lets you build and nurture a romantic relationship but some say dates with a fictional character are a step too far.
Ask Rufus: It’s just politics
In this political season, it is interesting to recall some of the characters who have made southern politics a spectator sport. The South has always had more than its fair share of interesting political figures.
NBA bans certain types of sports bets following high-profile gambling scandals involving players
The NBA is banning certain player prop parlays and other wagers while expanding measures to detect suspicious betting activity and protect players from harassment.
‘There Should be a Game Award for Hot Dads’ — Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Devs Are Fully Aware and Loving the ‘Horny’ Fanart for Their Game
The developers behind Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse are enthusiastic about the “horny” fanart they’ve seen of the game’s characters, saying they specifically made them "hot" to appeal to fans.
Trump's team is in chaos as midterms enter final stretch
A White House that has enjoyed relative stability over the past two years has returned to a state of disarray that characterized much of Trump's early political career.
What Makes Your Cannabis Business Buyable Right Now?
It’s a fraught question for many operators: How attractive is my business to potential buyers in the current market? M&A experts offer 5 characteristics buyers are seeking for entrepreneurs considering or curious about their businesses’ potential in an exit. Plus, 5 ways to make your business more attractive to buyers.
Sylvester Stallone explains that shocking “Tulsa King” premiere twist: ‘I wanted people’s jaws to drop’
He believes that he went “as far as I could go” with the characters who met their end at the start of season 4.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Demetrious Johnson Calls the UFC ‘Hypocrites’ Over Recent Cuts
UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson called the world’s leading MMA promotion “hypocrites” over their recent roster cuts.In the past month, the UFC has let go of Michael Page, who was 5-1 in the UFC, and Farid Basharat, who was 7-0 inside the Octagon.UFC president Dana White briefly commented on Page’s release at the time, […] The post Demetrious Johnson Calls the UFC ‘Hypocrites’ Over Recent Cuts appeared first on HEAVY.
Computational Models as Liminal Models in Neuroscience, a Cognitive Science Speaker Series Presentation | Events
Speaker: Danielle Williams, Ph.D. Title: Computational Models as Liminal Models in Neuroscience Short Bio: Danielle is a philosopher of mind and science whose research examines the role of computation in our theories and explanations of the mind and brain. Her work brings together philosophy of mind, cognitive science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, with particular interests in computational theories of mind, computational modeling, and the relationship between different explanatory and modeling strategies in the mind sciences. She also investigates philosophical questions raised by contemporary AI, including the nature of opacity in computational models and its implications for explanation in cognitive science. Alongside this work, she is a historian of cognitive science and AI, examining how the development of computer technology has shaped our conceptions and models of the mind and brain. Abstract: Scientists rely on various types of models to make sense of their phenomena of interest. This has led philosophers to take up a range of semantic, ontological, and epistemological questions about how models represent, what kinds of things models are, what we learn from models, and how they explain. One type of model that has been of particular interest to philosophers is the computational model. Computational models are commonplace in the mind sciences in general and neuroscience in particular, with many asking how computational modeling can help us understand the nervous system and its contribution to cognition and behavior. These questions are particularly pressing in neuroscience, as computational models have become a dominant framework for making sense of cognition. Thus, old questions about model-based science have re-emerged within the context of neuroscience, with many philosophers looking to established frameworks to understand how computational models represent, explain, and contribute to theory development in neuroscience. These established frameworks, however, characterize computational models as a homogeneous type which cannot capture actual modeling practices in neuroscience. In this talk, I argue that computational models in neuroscience are best typed as a kind of liminal model, a type I introduce to capture how the status of a computational model is determined by the epistemic context in which it is deployed. Indeed, the category to which a computational model belongs shifts according to the role it plays within a given context. ASL-English interpreters have been requested. Light refreshments will be provided.
Charity watchdog to criticise ‘intimidation’ after Farage calls for prosecution of groups helping asylum seekers
Charity commissioner to use speech to say there is a difference between ‘heated discussion’ and harassment or abuse
What Is a Person, and How Do We Know?
The characteristics invoked in the abortion debate — consciousness, rationality, and intrinsic human dignity — function as recalcitrant facts for naturalism.
Disneyland Moving Our Favorite Holiday Season Entertainment as New Ride Construction Moves Forward
As construction proceeds for a new ride, Disneyland is moving a favorite live entertainment offering this holiday season.
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
Characteristics of Leadership: Micromanaging
Knowledgeable Alaskans share methods of effective leadership. This month: when micromanagers carry too much of the load.
'Even in politics, there are limits': Amcha Israel candidate resigns amid harassment campaign
How the Zelda Ocarina of Time remake changes the classic game’s script
At the start of the iconic 1998 Nintendo 64 game The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, our playable hero Link wakes up in his tree cabin, heads outside and is greeted by his friend Saria. “Yahoo! Hi, Stotil!" she says. In other people’s copies of the games, she might say “Hi, Link!” or “Hi, Brick!” or use whatever other name the player was allowed to input when first launching the game. The more important point is that she starts with a “Yahoo!” In Nintendo’s 2011 remake of Ocarina of Time for the 3DS handheld, Saria greets Link with that same word. But for the 2026 Switch 2 re-remake of Ocarina of Time, out November 5, Saria’s salutation has changed: “Hello, Link!” she exclaims. There’s no “Yahoo” to be heard. Last month, in an official Nintendo video preview, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma described the remake as a “faithful interpretation using modern technologies.” Faithful means the gameplay hasn’t changed much. Dungeons, quests, and just generally what you do in the game doesn’t seem to have changed, not based on what Nintendo has shown nor the hour of the game I played in New York City a couple of weeks ago. The graphics have been overhauled. The controls have been tweaked. Players can now manually control the camera and make Link jump with the press of a button, both notable differences from the original 1998 design. But Link’s journey appears to take the same path, with the same obstacles in its way. The remake’s biggest alteration to Ocarina of Time that I’ve spotted so far just might be the script. About the game’s story, Aonuma said in September, “We’ve added quite a lot of new dialogue for the characters, so that their personalities shine even more.” Earlier this month, I played a chunk of the Ocarina of Time remake at a Nintendo showcase. In the game’s earliest moments, I made a point of talking to characters and recording what they said. I found the script to be more colorful, more natural in its phrasing, more careful to establish its characters, and certainly more wordy even with the removal of that one “Yahoo!”. I’ve got some very early-game examples, so you can judge the new writing for yourself.
Lena Dunham's 'Girls' is making a comeback — but 1 key character is missing from the announcement
The Emmy-winning show is returning for a limited run at HBO.
Beau Bridges shares promising “Matlock” season 3 update (exclusive)
“I think I’m getting out, and I think there’s probably gonna be a court case,” Bridges teased of his character’s fate.
Metal Detectorists Were Clearing a Deadly Minefield—and Found a 600-Year-Old Lost Weapon Instead
A 28-character inscription names the man who forged Korea's oldest known gunpowder weapon.
Mike Elko was right. There is deep and disturbing college football cesspool
Poor fan behavior escalating from online harassment, to physical confrontations at college football games. It's a cesspool as Mike Elko said.
Backlash grows as 'World of Warcraft: Midnight' continues to represent the most painfully, miserably weak writing in all of Blizzard (12.1.5 SPOILERS)
I'm convinced Blizzard wants me to hate WoW: Retail, as backlash grows to one of its weakest character deaths in recent memory. Maybe ... ever?
This civil war on the British right is a charade – its politics are more united than ever
Don’t be fooled by its bickering leaders. Their calibrated fake fighting will probably end in coalition, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Liew
Aspiring entrepreneurs in Boston pitch business ideas to Ronnen Harary for cash prize
'VisionQuest': Your guide to every AI character in the MCU's newest show
From J.A.R.V.I.S. to E.D.I.T.H., here's every "VisionQuest" AI you need to know, and where you've seen them before
Millard South’s Gustafson earns McAuliffe Prize
Christine Gustafson, a chemistry teacher at Millard South High School, was selected as the recipient of the 2026 Christa McAuliffe Prize for Courage and Excellence in Education. The College of Education and Human Sciences presents the award annually to a Nebraska teacher who exemplifies the character of McAuliffe.
Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon tease ‘The Gilded Age’ season 4: ‘Serious complications in the household’
‘The Gilded Age’ season 4 sees the characters dealing with some big changes. Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon exclusively share what’s to come for the HBO series: ‘She’ll do what she needs to do to save her and her family members.’
Angela Bassett and the “Wildwood” team discuss that high-flying chase sequence (exclusive)
“We hadn’t built much more than chickens, in terms of feathered animals, so an eagle was a huge feat,” Ollie Jones, Laika’s head of character and practical effects, tells EW.
“Baywatch” reboot trailer introduces Stephen Amell’s nepo-baby lifeguard and his own nepo-baby lifeguard
The “Arrow” alum stars as the son of David Hasselhoff’s OG character.
‘Baywatch’ reboot trailer introduces Stephen Amell’s nepo-baby lifeguard
Stephen Amell stars as the son of David Hasselhoff’s character in the first trailer for the ‘Baywatch’ reboot series.
Character.ai files for bankruptcy, citing legal and operational woes
Character.AI files for bankruptcy, citing legal headwinds
Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 to pursue a sale, while Disney offered $20 million for a licence to certain assets.
More than a dozen states ban this kind of sports wager — except when they don’t
Harassment of college athletes is one reason 15 states with legalized sports gambling, including Maryland, ban wagers on individual college players. But a loophole in how fantasy sports are regulated means those restrictions don't always apply.
8 Must-Read Literary Science Fiction Books
These literary science fiction books with stunning prose and complex characters will give you a new perspective on what it means to be human.
'IvyBears' YouTube Breakout Hits Cannes, Spawns Animated Feature
From consumer products to character-driven series, IvyBears goes brand-to-content in a 'reverse flywheel' approach powered by AI and artists alike.
Trillions Of Particles Pass Through You Every Second. What They Are
Neutrinos have always fascinated scientists as they pass through everything that's there on the plant, like Marvel's fictional character Juggernaut (though not like a wrecking ball).
Whistleblowing Portal Launches in U.K. for Entertainment Industry Workers to Report Abuse, Harassment and Discrimination
Workers across the U.K.’s film, TV, music and theater sectors are now able to report whistleblowing concerns, including those relating to harassment and abuse, following the launch of a new portal by ...
Whistleblowing Portal Opens in UK for Film, TV Sectors to Report Abuse
The UK's Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority has launched a new portal for the entertainment sectors to report abuse and harassment
Don’t wait: Why I’m participating in LEAD Class 45
Gen Z Aggie: The Nebraska National Guard taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the right answers. It’s about having strong character.
Mesa School of Business raises ₹110 crore to expand its portfolio of programmes for the AI era
Mesa School of Business has raised ₹110 crore, comprising ~₹85 crore in Series A equity funding co-led by Dharana Capital and existing investor Elevation Capital, and ₹25 crore in venture debt from InnoVen Capital and Alteria Capital. New capital will be used to invest in AI-first curriculum for existing programs, launch & grow new programs and build strategic partnerships with the startup ecosystem.
‘Boy Meets World’ star Matthew Lawrence has spinoff idea for Jack and Eric
‘Boy Meets World’ star Matthew Lawrence has a spinoff idea for his character, Jack, and Will Friedle’s Eric.
Epic Games delays Disney game and tells developers to go "AI first"
Epic Games has delayed its upcoming Disney collaboration - a shooter featuring characters from the Marvel and Star Wars…
Hailee Steinfeld, Rashida Jones star in new 'Hexed' trailer
The character Billie appears in 'Hexed.' (Disney)
‘Play On!’ hits all the right notes
The English Renaissance meets the Harlem Renaissance in “Play On!,” a sparkling show that marries a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night” with the music of Duke Ellington. Conceived by Sheldon Epps, who also directed the original 1996-97 production (first in San Diego, then on Broadway), the show is getting a marvelous revival under his direction to open Chicago Shakespeare Theater's 40th anniversary season.While the title “Play On!” refers to the famous quote about music being the food of love and thus to the dozens of Ellington songs—among them “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good),” “Solitude” and “I’m Beginning to See the Light”—incorporated into the plot, one of the highlights for me is the clever way Cheryl L. West's book reworks the story. Apparently, it's also been updated for this outing, among other things to give the women more agency. In the big opening number (there's a six-piece, horn-heavy onstage band), aspiring songwriter Vy (Hailee Kaleem Wright) is the one to “Take the 'A' Train” to “Drop Me Off in Harlem.” She wants to meet the famous Duke (Edred Utomi) — Ellington, not Orsino, that is — and she seeks the help of Jester (an engaging James Harkness) to find out how. When Jester tells her in no uncertain terms that the music industry is a man's world, she disguises herself as Vy-Man and persuades the Duke to listen to one of her songs. He's suffering from a creative block because he's pining for Lady Liv (Krystal Joy Brown), queen of the Cotton Club, and convinces Vy-Man to bring the Lady the song as if the Duke had written it, promising to reward her with employment. Vy reluctantly complies, and the predictable complications ensue. Lady Liv is attracted to Vy-Man, while Vy is attracted to the Duke and he to Vy, though it disturbs him because he thinks she's a man. The fallout when the deception comes to light bodes ill—at least for a while.Here's where West's book cannily diverges from Shakespeare. Vy's twin brother Sebastian really is dead, so West devises another love interest for Lady Liv basically by rehabilitating the Malvolio character, here named Rev (Alan H. Green), the Lady's uptight, self-important manager. His unrequited love for her is magically transformed after he gets his comeuppance (minus the torture) from Miss Mary (Alanna Lovely), her honey Sweets (James Earl Jones II) and Jester, the stand-in for Sir Toby, who has romantic problems of his own with a woman named CC (Kaylah Janssen). In other words, Rev gets the girl — and also a show-stopping yellow zoot suit from costume designer An-Lin Dauber. All the costumes are dandy, though those for the men have more pizzazz than the women's day dresses. The bilevel, slanted scenic design by Beowulf Boritt brings 1930s Harlem to life in a slightly expressionistic way with the help of Adam Honoré's lighting and Ray Nardelli's sound design. Edgar Godineaux's choreography adds to the period feel, though there could be even more of it.Most of all, the leads have splendid voices, and the performances are terrific. Green's Rev and Harkness's Jester get my vote for comedy chops, and Brown's Lady Liv probably will stay with me the longest for her complexity and big blues number, “I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues.”
Brooklyn store responds to Kelly Clarkson once again, claims she was in their store for ‘5 minutes’
Clarkson slammed the shop on social media over the weekend, claiming they treated her “like Julia Roberts’ character in ‘Pretty Woman.’”
Characterizing the patient experience: The role of patient‑reported outcomes
Biological endpoints are essential, but on their own, they cannot tell the full story. To truly understand the value of a treatment and care surrounding it, we must also seek to understand how patients and carers experience it. This is where patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and observer‑reported outcomes (reflecting the perspectives of non-clinical caregivers) are becoming more prominent in clinical research.
Kelly Clarkson said she received 'Pretty Woman' treatment at NYC shop
Kelly Clarkson said she was treated like Julia Roberts' character in the '90s rom-com "Pretty Woman" when she visited a Brooklyn toy shop.
Why Samantha From Cobra Kai Looks Familiar
Cobra Kai has captured the nostalgia of a multi-generational franchise. But the characters are the only things viewers find familiar.
Republicans want Abdul El-Sayed to be the main character of the midterms. He's happy to oblige
Michigan’s Senate race has become a battle over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Republicans portray him as a dangerous radical; El-Sayed responds by traveling across Michigan and meeting voters.
Republicans want Abdul El-Sayed to be the main character of the midterms. He's happy to oblige
Abdul El-Sayed, holding a handheld mic, slowly shook his head as a woman at his town hall described how she burned through her savings after undergoing emergency brain surgery.
Republicans want Abdul El-Sayed to be the main character of the midterms. He's happy to oblige
Michigan’s Senate race has become a battle over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Republicans want Abdul El-Sayed to be the main character of the midterms. He's happy to oblige
Michigan’s Senate race has become a battle over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Exploring Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services for Adolescents With Depression in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal: Perspectives of Mental Healthcare Providers
Background In Nepal, depression is one of the most common mental health conditions among adolescents, but mental health services for this population remain limited. Previous studies have iden...
Preschool boys favor bigger groups while adults' choices hint at political attitudes
Two cartoon characters appear on a screen. One belongs to a group of three, and the other to a group of two. Which character would you rather play with?
Mattel's latest play to counter slowing Barbie sales: Water parks
With Barbie sales slipping, Mattel is looking to its characters and games to build a new revenue stream: water parks. The El Segundo, California, company has been trying to find
Prospect funeral home owner accused of stalking, threatening former business partner
PROSPECT, Conn. (WTNH) — The owner of a funeral home in Prospect has been arrested following a state police investigation into his alleged harassment and stalking of a former business partner, acco…
Prospect man arrested for allegedly stalking and harassing a former business partner
A Prospect man was arrested for allegedly stalking and harassing a former business partner.
Ohio political blogger found guilty in explicit Shrek meme trial
An Ohio political blogger let out a surprised laugh as he was found guilty of harassment after he sent an explicit digitally altered image of the cartoon character Shrek to a powerful lawmaker.