text:
A novel by Geoff Ryman
British Science Fiction Association Best Novel (nominee)
David, a young scientist investigating what happens to the brain during the process of learning, suddenly finds himself the subject of a bizarre experiment. On the way home from the lab one night he spies Tony, a fitness instructor from his gym, on the same platform waiting for the tube. David's had an obsession with Tony for weeks, but Tony's barely noticed him at all. Until now. When David imagines the man naked, an extraordinary thing happens: Tony strips there and then on the platform and offers himself in front of all onlookers. Horrified, David flees. But back at his flat, Tony reappears, as if by magic. And disappears, when David wishes him away. And reappears when he calls him back. David can conjure up anyone, from any time, and he does: Billie Holliday, Johnny Weismuller, Daffy Duck, Picasso, Sophia Loren, even his younger self. Mad with lust and losing all scientific objectivity, he runs the gamut of his fantasies until, sated and morally bankrupt, he's forced to confront himself. It is not a pretty sight.
Used availability for Geoff Ryman's Lust
Hardback Editions
August 2003 : USA Hardback
Paperback Editions
July 2004 : USA Paperback
June 2002 : UK Paperback
February 2001 : UK Paperback
Kindle Editions
January 2013 : Australia, UK Kindle edition
August 2004 : USA, Canada Kindle edition


text:
NBC and Starz have given TV fans tons of be excited about in the coming months. Check out the list of new shows we can expect to see in the near future.
Starz signs on for two shows featuring Latinx casts
According to Variety, Starz has two shows featuring Latinx casts in the works. The first, Vida, follows two sisters as they learn secrets about their family and themselves.
"'Vida' follows two Mexican-American sisters, Emma and Lyn, from the Eastside of Los Angeles who couldn't be more distanced from each other. Circumstances force them to return to their old neighborhood, where they are confronted by the past and shocking truth about their mother's identity."
Vida's showrunner will be Tanya Saracho, and Alonso Ruizpalacios will direct the premiere. The show will star Mishel Prada, Karen Ser Anzoategui, Chelsea Rendon, Carlos Miranda, Maria Elena Laas, and Melissa Barrera. Sexual diversity will also be a feature of the show; Ser Anzoategui is a non-binary Latinx/Chicanx actor, artivist and playwright, and Laas' character on the show, Cruz, is described as an "enigmatic lesbian who has a checkered history with [Prada's character and one-half of the show's main sister character leads] Emma."
The second show, Family Crimes, seems much more generic in the sense that it's about a well-tread storyline–Mexican organized crime. The show, created by David Ayer, focuses on a woman who has to learn to live a new life.
…[T]he project follows a young Latina who is forced to reinvent herself when the federal government closes in on her family due to their ties to organized crime in Mexico. She must learn to navigate the web of deceit and danger in the criminal underworld in order to survive.
NBC redirects focus on diversity in new projects
According to the Hollywood Reporter, NBC has committed to a family drama created by Sleepy Hollow co-showrunner Albert Kim.
The story is being described as a "multicultural soap" as well as a modern-day Anastasia story of a woman who grew up in the U.S., unaware of the wealth and status she is set to receive.
The project…revolves around a family-owned Korean electronics corporation that is rocked when its CEO dies on the eve of launching their American subsidiary, with his will revealing the existence of a previously unknown heir. Kim based the original concept on Korean chaebols, multinational business conglomerates like Samsung that are run by single ruling families that often go through succession drama.
Her initiation into a family she never knew about "ignites a Shakespearean battle for power amongst her newfound siblings in the Los Angeles-based drama."
Kim will executive produce the show with Dan Lin under his Warner Bros. Television-based arm, Lin Pictures.
Kim's show will feature a nearly all-Asian cast, and incredibly enough, this isn't the only show NBC is committing to that highlights diversity both behind and in front of the camera. According to NBC News, NBC has committed to a legal drama that would star the first Sikh lead in American network television.
The show will be co-executive produced by activist, filmmaker and lawyer Valarie Kaur and based on a concept by her husband Sharat Raju, an NBC Emerging Directors Program alumnus.
According to Kaur, the idea, which she and her husband worked on with their friend Tafari Lumumba, would feature "a band of law students in a renegade law clinic, fighting the good fight." The show is being produced under America Ferrera's new production company. Ferrera and Kaur's relationship began when Ferrera featured Kaur on several panels for NBC writers rooms and showrunners, which led to This Is Us featuring a Sikh character in the show.
NBC has also put into development Love After Love, sold from Kaptial Entertainment and Universal TV. According to Deadline, The show is written by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen and based on the Argentinan series Amar después de amar otherwise known as ADDA.
An extramarital affair is exposed in a car crash that leaves the man in a coma and the woman missing–soon to be found dead of a gunshot wound. As their spouses try to piece their lives back together, police struggle to solve an ever-deepening mystery. Think The Affair/Unfaithful meets How to Get Away with Murder.
What do you think about these shows? Give your opinions in the comments section below!
Loved this article? Follow JUST ADD COLOR at @COLORwebmag and on Facebook!
Katie M. Logan, Virginia Commonwealth University
During the first few weeks of the Trump administration, we've seen increased pressure on Muslim and immigrant communities in the United States.
In the face of these threats, which Marvel superhero might be best equipped to defend the people, ideals and institutions under attack? Some comic fans and critics are pointing to Kamala Khan, the new Ms. Marvel.
Khan, the brainchild of comic writer G. Willow Wilson and editor Sana Amanat, is a revamp of the classic Ms. Marvel character (originally named Carol Danvers and created in 1968). First introduced in early 2014, Khan is a Muslim, Pakistani-American teenager who fights crime in Jersey City and occasionally teams up with the Avengers.
Since Donald Trump's inauguration, fans have created images of Khan tearing up a photo of the president, punching him (evoking a famous 1941 cover of Captain America punching Hitler) and grieving in her room. But the new Ms. Marvel's significance extends beyond symbolism.
In Kamala Khan, Wilson and Amanat have created a superhero whose patriotism and contributions to Jersey City emerge because of her Muslim heritage, not despite it. She challenges the assumptions many Americans have about Muslims and is a radical departure from how the media tend to depict Muslim-Americans. She shows how Muslim-Americans and immigrants are not forces that threaten communities – as some would argue – but are people who can strengthen and preserve them.
After inhaling a mysterious gas, Kamala Khan discovers she can stretch, enlarge, shrink and otherwise manipulate her body. Like many superheroes, she chooses to keep her identity a secret. She selects the Ms. Marvel moniker in homage to the first Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers, who has since given up the name in favor of becoming Captain Marvel. Khan cites her family's safety and her desire to lead a normal life, while also fearing that "the NSA will wiretap our mosque or something."
As she wrestles with her newfound powers, her parents grow concerned about broken curfews and send her to the local imam for counseling. Rather than reinforcing her parents' curfew or prying the truth from Khan, though, Sheikh Abdullah says, "I am asking you for something more difficult. If you insist on pursuing this thing you will not tell me about, do it with the qualities benefiting an upright young woman: courage, strength, honesty, compassion and self-respect."
Her experience at the mosque becomes an important step on her journey to superheroism. Sheikh Abdullah contributes to her education, as does Wolverine. Islam is not a restrictive force in her story. Instead, the religion models for Khan many of the traits she needs in order to become an effective superhero. When her mother learns the truth about why her daughter is sneaking out, she "thank[s] God for having raised a righteous child."
The comics paint an accurate portrait of Jersey City. Her brother Aamir is a committed Salafi (a conservative and sometimes controversial branch of Sunni Islam) and member of his university's Muslim Student Association. Her best friend and occasional love interest, Bruno, works at a corner store and comes from Italian roots. The city's diversity helps Kamala as she learns to be a more effective superhero. But it also rescues her from being a stand-in for all Muslim-American or Jersey City experiences.
Fighting a 'war on terror culture'
Kamala's brown skin and costume – self-fashioned from an old burkini – point to Marvel Comics' desire to diversify its roster of superheroes (as well as writers and artists). As creator Sana Amanat explained on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" last month, representation is a powerful thing, especially in comics. It matters when readers who feel marginalized can see people like themselves performing heroic acts.
As one of 3.3 million Muslim-Americans, Khan flips the script on what Moustafa Bayoumi, author of "This Muslim American Life," calls a "war on terror culture" that sees Muslim-Americans "not as complex human being[s] but only as purveyor[s] of possible future violence."
Bayoumi's book echoes other studies that detail the heightened suspicion and racial profiling Muslim-Americans have faced since 9/11, whether it's in the workplace or interactions with the police. Each time there's been a high-profile terrorist attack, these experiences, coupled with hate crimes and speech, intensify. Political rhetoric – like Donald Trump's proposal to have a Muslim registry or his lie that thousands of Muslims cheered from Jersey City rooftops after the Twin Towers fell – only fans the flames.
Scholars of media psychology see this suspicion fostered, in part, by negative representations of Muslims in both news media outlets and popular culture, where they are depicted as bloodthirsty terrorists or slavish informants to a non-Muslim hero.
These stereotypes are so entrenched that a single positive Muslim character cannot counteract their effects. In fact, some point to the dangers of "balanced" representations, arguing that confronting stereotypes with wholly positive images only enforces a simplistic division between "good" and "bad" Muslims.
Kamala Khan, however, signals an important development in cultural representations of Muslim-Americans. It's not just because she is a powerful superhero instead of a terrorist. It's because she is, at the same time, a clumsy teenager who makes a mountain of mistakes while trying to balance her abilities, school, friends and family. And it's because Wilson surrounds Kamala with a diverse assortment of characters who demonstrate the array of heroic (and not-so-heroic) actions people can take.
For example, in one of Ms. Marvel's most powerful narrative arcs, a planet attacks New York, leading to destruction eerily reminiscent of 9/11. Kamala works to protect Jersey City while realizing that her world has changed – and will change – irrevocably.
Carol Danvers appears to fill Kamala in on the gravity of the situation, telling her, "The fate of the world is out of your hands. It always was. But your fate – what you decide to do right now – is still up to you … Today is the day you stand up." Kamala connects the talk with Sheikh Abdullah's lectures about the value of one's deeds, once again linking her superhero and religious training to rise to the occasion. In both cases, the lectures teach Kamala to take a stand to protect her community.
Arriving at the high school gym now serving as a safe haven for Jersey City residents, Kamala realizes her friends and classmates have been inspired by her heroism. They safely transport their neighbors to the gym while outfitting the space with water, food, dance parties and even a "non-denominational, non-judgmental prayer area." The community response prompts Kamala to realize that "even if things are profoundly not okay, at least we're not okay together. And even if we don't always get along, we're still connected by something you can't break. Something there isn't even a word for. Something … beautiful."
Kamala Khan is precisely the hero America needs today, but not because of a bat sign in the sky or any single definitive image. She is, above all, committed to the idea that every member of her faith, her generation, and her city has value and that their lives should be respected and protected. She demonstrates that the most heroic action is to face even the most despair-inducing challenges of the world head on while standing up for – and empowering – every vulnerable neighbor, classmate or stranger. She shows us how diverse representation can transform into action and organization that connect whole communities "by something you can't break."
Katie M. Logan, Assistant Professor of Focused Inquiry, Virginia Commonwealth University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Looks like Fox is not looking to be outdone by ABC and its inclusive comedies. Fox is making history by buying an autobiographical comedy Reservations, bringing a Native American story to the forefront of American TV.
So what do you need to know about this groundbreaking comedy? Thanks to Deadline, here are the big three facts you need.
1. Reservations comes from writer Lucas Brown Eyes: Lucas Brown Eyes (pictured above), a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, got his start with the ABC Disney Writing Program in 2014 and worked on various Disney shows including Freeform's Young & Hungry, where he worked as a writer and executive story editor, and KC Undercover.
2. Reservations is based on Brown Eyes' own experiences growing up: The show follows a Native American family "that trades their impoverished reservation for Los Angeles, a move inspired by the dreams of a 14-year-old boy to live in Hollywood." The move to the glitzy, fame-obsessed town puts the family through an intense (but hilarious) adjustment process.
The story mirrors what Brown Eyes' family did to help him achieve his writing dreams. As stated in his biography on IMDB, Brown Eyes' family moved to California so he could study film and television at the Orange County High School of the Arts.
3. The show is brought to us by the people who brought us the new Pennywise: Reservations is the first sale David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith's KatzSmith production company has made under their new deal with 20th Century Fox. KatzSmith is proving itself to have an eye for what the zeitgeist want to see; they are behind theIt reboot, and they're also backing the new Beetlejuice sequel and a film version of Kung Fury.
Loved this article? Follow JUST ADD COLOR on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
The Academy has taken a huge step forward with rectifying their "white old man" look by adding a new freshman class of 774 actors and directors, including Gal Gadot, Leslie Jones, Jordan Peele, Nazanin Boniadi, Grace Lee (whom I've interviewed before), Zoë Kravitz, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Betty White (why hadn't she been added yet???), B.D. Wong, Donnie Yen, Leslie Jones, Riz Ahmed and Dwayne Johnson.
(For the full list of new members from all branches, visit Oscars.org.)
According to the Oscars' stats, the new members hail from 57 countries and are 39 percent female, with seven of the branches inviting more women than men. Thirty percent of the new members are also people of color.
This is a vast improvement for the Academy, especially taking in where the organization was about a year and a half ago, with threatened boycotts and outrage over the lack of minority-led Oscar nominated films. Fans had utilized April Reign's hashtag #OscarsSoWhite to voice their anger, and the Academy has taken meaningful steps to respond, first by adding more members from various backgrounds last year, and now this new batch of members this year.
Of course, even though these numbers are huge steps in the right direction, there are some gaps that need to be filled. Such as there aren't many listed who are also disabled. I say "many" because there could be people with invisible disabilities, such as mental illness, that are listed. As of my review, I only see one actor with a physical disability, Warwick Davis. The focus for the Academy right now is purely on gender and race demographics, but it'd be great to see the organization focus on disability demographics as well, since it might spur the organization to recognize films that feature actual disabled actors.
Also, there aren't any Native actors listed and there's very little Latinx and LGBT representation as well. Bigger gains could be made on these fronts. But on the whole, this fleshed-out Academy voting board will benefit both the Academy itself and movie goers, despite the opinion of one Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter.
Usually, I refrain from jumping on fellow movie critics and analysts, since oftentimes, we are getting paid for our opinion, and an opinion is something that you can either agree with and support or disagree with and turn the other way. However, for Feinberg's analysis about the new batch of voters, I have to make an exception for.
Feinberg's initial point—that jamming the voting board with more actors might seem more like a vapid political move to avoid bad PR—is rather innocuous by itself. You can either take it or leave (and even as an innocuous point, I would leave it because of the positive impact any move, including ones that could be seen as vapid and political, could have on the poor state of representation in Hollywood today). But what gets more intolerable is how aggressive Feinberg becomes in discrediting the actors who got the invite.
I hate to single anyone out, but I don't even think the people who I am going to reference would argue that they have had the sort of film career that already merits an invitation to the film Academy. Let's start with this year's invitees to the acting branch, whose names are the most familiar to the general public. Wanda Sykes? Zoe Kravitz? Terry Crews? Really? Some have made only one big-screen contribution of any note, such as Wonder Woman's Gal Gadot. And many are predominately known for their work on the small screen: The Night Of's Riz Ahmed, Atlanta's Donald Glover, Underground's Aldis Hodge, Saturday Night Live's Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon, The Cosby Show's Phylicia Rashad, The Golden Girls' Betty White and Mr. Robot's B.D. Wong (I have similar reservations about several white male invitees, as well, such as Mad Men's Jon Hamm and ex-bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno.)
…None of this is intended to insult the talent and/or doubt the future potential of any of these individuals, but rather to examine and question what the Academy is trying to do here. I believe that the Academy's intentions are admirable, but that its tactics are foolhardy. The bottom line is that the Academy cannot fix the industry's diversity problems any more than a tail can wag a dog. This is not a problem that can be reverse-engineered.
Feinberg might write that he's not trying to insult these newly-minted Academy members by rejecting their entire body of work as a reason to be invited into the Academy, but that's exactly what he's doing. First of all, he's acting like none of the people he's listed have ever been in movies–they all have film credits to their name along with television credits. I mean, how many Jurassic Park films does B.D. Wong have to be in to be recognized as an actor in a film franchise, not to mention the voice of Mulan's (bisexual) partner, Shang? Before Mr. Robot, Rami Malek was a film actor, having been part of the Night at the Museum and Twilight franchises. Heck, he just finished a movie, Buster's Mal Heart. Doesn't Rogue One count as a good reason for Riz Ahmed to be a part of the Academy? Also, are you really going to go as far as s**t on someone as respected and beloved as Betty White?
The bottom line is you can't be invited to the Academy unless you've been in the movies or work in the film industry in some way (along with some other qualifiers such as sponsorship, etc.). For Feinberg to say that because these actors in particular have made their mark in TV as well is needlessly splitting hairs. Secondly, why not add them to the Academy?? What's the big deal? With as long as these folks have been in the game, and with as many hours as they've dedicated to their craft, they deserve to give their say on what they feel are the best films of the year. It's not like they don't know what makes a good story, and that's all a film is–a story. It would seem the only problem is that the Academy has proven that they aren't just inviting people for good PR; they're inviting people to double down on the promise it made to its members and audiences alike–to create an organization that actually reflects the movie-going public.
Feinberg is poking a bear by singling out majority POC actors whilst adding parenthetically that he has some gripes with two white male members, as if that makes his poking okay (and tell me why Hamm and Ferrigno can't sound off on films?). This is not the hill to die on, especially if your argument is created from something as baseless as "they've been on TV, therefore the films they've been in don't count towards Academy membership."
Feinberg does write in an earlier post about the new members that "there is a refreshing presence of other highly accomplished minorities throughout the list" and that many among the new members, particularly the new members of the directing branch, should have been invited long ago. However, he takes such a disturbing tone in his later analysis, with the excuse for it being the argument that adding more people of color to the Academy won't stop racism from happening in Hollywood at large. But you can't be both for and against more representation in Hollywood, unless you're a champion at doublethink. Besides, arguing that the Academy can't solve racism is like not seeing the forest for the trees.
The gag is that everyone knows the Academy can't solve industry racism by itself. The Academy, and its viewpoints up until the past year or so, is a product of a society that is still grappling with the realities of race, the sexual spectrum, mental illness, and how to deal with all of it in a respectful manner. There's a lot more that has to happen inside of Hollywood to truly change the industry culture, sure. There's also a lot that has to happen outside of Hollywood before it begins to trickle into Hollywood en masse. Like the Academy, Hollywood's ills are only a product of America's ills.
But that's not to say the trickle isn't already happening. We've seen more filmmakers bolstered by the many avenues now available to producing their visions, and we've seen more and more actors of color and marginalized communities speak out against terrible treatment in the industry. We've also seen the online community of movie fans—the audience members themselves—voice their frustration with the industry on social media, their message finding a place where it can be amplified and heard by The Powers That Be.
All of this led up to many watershed moments of representation in the past year, but none that inhabit the whole purpose of expanding the Academy more than Moonlight, an indie film showcasing a story about black gay men, winning the Oscar for Best Picture. Only two years ago, a film like that wouldn't have made it to the nomination rounds. But, because of an Academy that had more minority members, Moonlight got the organization's attention and became the Best Picture Winner, beating out a movie that couldn't be more Status Quo if it tried, La La Land.
Also, the fact that more people from underrepresented communities will now have a chance to give other creators from underrepresented communities Oscar nods, it'll give those creators the same clout and marketability their white counterparts have been enjoying for years. It'll also give films featuring minority casts the same monetary and critical opportunities white films have never been without. In short, it'll open up more possibilities in Hollywood for directors and actors, which will lead to more films being made, more awards given, and so on and so forth. The expansion of the Academy has the potential to have a snowball effect in Hollywood, and it can only be for the positive.
So, I, as a fellow entertainment analyst and critic myself, can't abide the rhetoric that moves like these don't change anything. It's like telling the members of SNCC back in the '60s that their sit-ins at lunch counters wouldn't amount to anything. Since we can now take for granted the concept of sitting at a booth in a restaurant, it would seem their sit-ins did make a world of difference. You can't throw out progress just because it is slow and not immediately all-encompassing. That's ridiculous.
I suggest for readers to take a look at Flavorwire's article "THR Doesn't Think All Those Women and POC 'Merit' Academy Inclusion'" by Jason Bailey, since he goes more in on Feinberg's hitpiece-as-analysis way more than I did. But what Bailey writes at the end is particularly important:
It's one thing for Academy members, terrified of their own obsolescence, to voice these thoughts in private (and, as writer Charles Bramesco notes, in the Reporter's loathsome annual tradition of 'Anonymous Oscar ballots'). But it's reprehensible for an industry publication like THR to hand Feinberg the bandwidth to mouthpiece it for them, with all the conviction of a country-club president who assures us that it means nothing that their membership is all-white. It's just how things are done around here.
To end this on a positive note, I'm excited that so many actors, many of whom should have been a part of the Academy in the first place, have now been added to this illustrious roster. I'm sure they'll serve the organization well, and I can't wait to see what films they nominate for 2018.
The first trailer for Star Trek:Discovery is out, and it's everything I'd hoped it would be and more!
Long-time sci-fi fans who also happen to be women of color know just how rare it is to see a woman of color in the Captain's Chair. With Star Trek, the closest we've gotten is Lt. Nyota Uhura, who manned the communications for the Enterprise. She wasn't a captain (until much, much later in the Star Trek canon), but she was on the bridge, showing young girls that they too could shoot for the stars (even if you'd only end up hitting the clouds).
This go round, we have female captain and a female first officer in Star Trek: Discovery. Michelle Yeoh plays Captain Georgiou and Sonequa Martin-Green plays Commander Michael Burnham. Here's more about the show from ExtremeTech:
"Star Trek: Discovery is set ten years before the events of the original series and takes place in the original timeline, not the alternate future the Romulan Nero created when he traveled back in time, killed George Kirk, and later destroyed Vulcan. Its lead character is Commander Michael Burnham, played by Sonequa Martin-Green of AMC's The Walking Dead. Unlike previous Star Trek shows, Discovery won't deliberately focus on the captain (or space station commander) as its protagonist. Her nickname, "Number One," is a delibarate homage to the character of the same name from the Star Trek pilott "The Cage," as played by Majel Barrettt. Burnham is human, but was raised on Vulcan by Vulcans, which explains some of the setting of this trailer."
What I love about this first look and synopsis, aside from it just being Star Trek, is that it seems like there will be (or there is the potential for there is to be) a nuanced look at race, culture, and the push and pull of the two. All of this seems to be embodied in Martin-Green's character. Of course, in the future, everyone's post-racial to a degree. But Since we're in 2017, I like how Burnham is a black woman who is 1) not defined by an American stereotype of "blackness," and 2) has a struggle between her humanness and her cultural upbringing on Vulcan. I think this type of character could appeal to many audience members who have grown up wrestling with parts of their identity that society wants to put at odds with each other; maybe the most analogous situation is a trans-racial adoptee who recognizes that they are not the same race as their parents, but have grown up in their parents' culture instead of the culture everyone expects from them.
On the whole, though, it's just fun to see two women running the show. Both actors have proven themselves time and again (Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon among her other films, Martin-Green's character Sasha on The Walking Dead), and it's so rewarding to see two women of color hold down the fort in a genre that is still dominated by white men. I can't wait to see them in action.
What do you think about Star Trek: Discovery? Give your opinions in the comments section below! Star Trek: Discovery debuts with a two-part season premiere this fall on CBS, with the full season airing on CBS All Access.
Riverdale Season 1 | Episode 8 | "The Outsiders" | Aired March 30, 2017
Yes, this is how I feel right now about Riverdale, and all of that got bottled up and compacted into this particular episode. Yes, Polly had her baby shower, she's moved in with the Blossoms, Archie and Betty found out that Jughead's dad is a Serpent, Kevin's Serpent boyfriend Joaquin is having second thoughts about deceiving him, etc., etc. Now, let's get to what really needs to be discussed: JUST WHERE IS THIS SHOW HEADING?!
I feel like this show is treating us like how Lisle Von Rhuman treated Madeline Ashton in Death Becomes Her. Riverdale is teasing us with a show beyond our wildest imaginations–inclusion, diversity, a fresh take on Archie and the gang, etc.–and it gives us what we think we want. But then, it comes back to us and says, "Now, a warning." To which we say, like Madeline, "NOW a warning?!" For us, that warning would have been that the show would begin to lose its way and forget what made its characters great and, indeed, avatars for those who didn't feel included in their everyday lives.
First of all, I feel like, and have always felt like, Riverdale has the potential to be amazing. There's so much raw stuff inherent in the Archie Comics canon and it's so frustrating to see how little the show is using what it could use. Instead, it's pulling from every kind of pop culture reference from the past 30 years to show it's "smart" and "edgy" and "hip." And yet, it still comes off as dated and try-hard.
I think Emily Nussbaum hit the nail on the head in her review of the show for The New Yorker, "Archie's and Veronica's Misconceived Return to Riverdale," in which she eviscerates the show for the reasons presented above. To quote her:
"…[S]even episodes in, it's devolved into dull cosplay bracketed by bogus profundity. Betty and Veronica don kink-wear and roofie Chuck Clayton, a slut-shaming football player. The girls' tart-tongued gay bestie, Kevin (a character from the new version of the comic strip), seduces a bi-curious Moose. Archie, when not working out shirtless, pursues a songwriting career. "Your songs," a critical music professor sneers at him. "They're juvenile. They're repetitive." That's true of 'Riverdale,' too, but the show clearly knows it and doesn't care. Every time a plot feels corny or prurient or preachy, there's an acknowledgment in the dialogue. It gets exhausting, like hanging out with someone who keeps saying, 'God, I'm such a nightmare!'"
It's like the show desperately wants to prove that it's new and fresh. "This isn't your mom's Archie!" is what it wants to say. But it's consistently showing that it's a a show that doesn't realize that teenagers, in general, don't talk in decades-old references, which makes it seem like this is a show actually for older Archie fans who recognize all of these references from their own childhoods. As Nussbaum said, the show brings up Lolita, Rebel without a Cause, Wild Things, Gossip Girl, Beverly Hills 90210, Pretty in Pink, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill, and plenty of others they off-handedly mention in snarky asides. Like, what do you actually want to be, show! Are you for the young kids or are you for 30-year-olds? Make up your mind!
I have been growing frustrated by the plot becoming a spinning-of-the-wheels type situation. Jason's killer is no closer to being found, and clues seem to keep simultaneously popping up and disappearing at the same doggone time. At this point, I'm not sure if I'll even be shocked when I find out who the killer is because I'm just so bored with the whole procedural element. Again with the references, with the murder mystery itself, the show is trying to be Twin Peaks, another reference for someone much older than the target audience. But, if the show is trying to pull a Twin Peaks-ian surrealist-fest, then when are we actually going to get into the surrealism? Again, Archie Comics has tons of surrealist moments, and that's not even counting the amount of side-universes they have. Surrealism could come in the form of simply introducing Sabrina, a teen witch who often wants to use her powers for good, but usually ends up messing things up and has to right everything back to how it was. Sabrina could come into town, learn about the murder mystery and, after becoming friends with Cheryl and learning of her sadness, reverse time so that Jason is still alive. That could also be a good opportunity to introduce Afterlife with Archie at this moment, since Jason would be, in a way, undead. There's your second season.
Or, the show could become a true deconstruction of the idea of classic Americana, something it was billed as being but hasn't truly delivered on yet. Instead of having Jughead tell us that's what the show is every week in his voice overs, we could actually see some depth of character and real explorations of race, class, gender, sexuality, and anything else that could use a thorough prodding. I'd say that if Riverdale wanted to take notes from a show doing that right now, it'd be Atlanta. This show, like Riverdale, uses the backdrop of a well-known city to explore the underpinnings of American society and culture, and it does so in a specific, tailored way. It doesn't have to prove to the audience that it's "edgy"–it shows its edginess in each episode by delivering on its synopsis each week.
If any place needed a deconstruction, it would be a fictional town like Riverdale, which has stood as a the center for clean-cut "American" life, which usually means white life. With much of the cast race-bent, this would have been a great opportunity to see just how destructive and soul-wrenching it can be to live in a town in which you're the minority (which, in turn, provides context for the larger conversation about living in a country which still harbors racism against you). We could see how some folks in the football stands might be surprised to see Reggie as the captain of the team. Or, there could be some townspeople who resent that Mayor McCoy won over the white candidate (something the character actually brings up in an episode). Or, we could get more insight into the life of Moose, who doesn't yet have the courage to live his life as an out gay young man due to fear, pressure to be "manly" or what have you. We definitely could have used Chuck, Josie, and Trev to explore life for black kids in a majority-white town.
I write about this in my piece for Ebony, "Riverdale's Woke Report Card: Does the Drama Get Its Black Characters Right?". I give the show a passing grade, ultimately, but I still write about how the show really needs to do better by its black characters.
"Out of the Pussycats, Josie is the one who has been given the most screen time; Valerie has only just now started coming up the ranks, but only because of her relationship with Archie. Meanwhile, Melody still hasn't spoken more than two words during the run of the series and Pop Tate and Mr. Weatherbee may have been racebent, but they also don't say much either—and in the case of Pop Tate specifically, nothing at all. Pop Tate is a conundrum; even though it's great to see more representation on screen, it's also puzzling as to why he has to be characterized as a silent, kindly butler of sorts, even though he's the owner of the teen hangout, The Chocklit Shoppe. Basically, Riverdale's Pop Tate reminds me too much of Uncle Ben, and I don't like it."
The show proved my point once again by making Valerie merely a sounding board for Archie this episode. She had three lines, and not one of them was about her point of view or her opinion on the matter of Archie's dad being driven to near bankruptcy. Instead, her lines were there just so Archie could say he was going to go after the Serpents, as well as to give the appearance that they're in a loving, stable relationship (which we see in the previews for next week that that might not be the case after all). The next time we see Valerie, she and Melody are at Polly's baby shower, saying nothing.
If the show wants to be actually inclusive, the least it could do is not make its brown and black characters set dressing or talking props. The most it could do is not create a problematic plotpoint of a black boy in handcuffs at the mercy of a white girl who is acting out a revenge fantasy.
Also for diversity, the show could do well to actually eliminate Bughead and reinstate Jughead as an aromatic, asexual boy, since that's what he actually is.
Comics Alliance's Andrew Wheeler wrote "Jughead, Bughead, and the Need for Asexual & Aromantic Heroes in Comics" to point out just how demoralizing Riverdale's asexual erasure is (and how it flies in the face of their "inclusion" standpoint).
Wheeler interviewed colorist Sigi Ironmonger (a grey-asexual nonbinary trans-man); webcomic creator Sarah "Neila" Elkins, (romantic asexual), webcomic creator Jayelle Anderson (demisexual) and literature student LuciAce (aroace) about their opinions on Jughead in the comics and in Riverdale. They mentioned how important it is to have asexual representation in the media, especially for young kids still figuring out who they are. As Elkins said:
"To me it's important because, growing up, I didn't know it was a possibility to be asexual. I thought there was something wrong with me that I wasn't interested in the idea of having sex like other girls my age. Friends called me a 'prude.' These were good friends of mine, friends who were also queer, that didn't know that asexuality is a queer identity. Even among the 'weird kids' I was the odd one out.
I think if there was more representation (or any) of asexual and aromantic characters in comics as well as other books aimed at young readers, and other media, that my friends, and myself, would have known I wasn't broken or weird. I didn't learn about asexuality as an orientation until I was out of college. I stumbled across it online and thought, "Oh, wow! That's what I am! This makes so much sense!" I don't want anyone else to have to go through that, so I write asexual characters in my stuff. I hope to write something in the future, be it a comic or a novel, that's aimed at younger readers."
They also discussed how disheartening it was to see Jughead and Betty actually become an item, erasing the canonical asexuality the character had before (and, as far as I'm concerned, has always had). To quote Ironmonger, Elkins, Anderson and LuciAce:
Ironmonger: "Honestly, as soon as I heard about the erasure, I've steered clear of the show, so I can't speak of the storyline at all. I don't watch a lot of TV as it is and I don't feel like prioritizing something like that, you know? I don't really understand a decision like that and I can't stand shoe-horned relationships of any kind but especially at the expense of LGBTQ+ ones."
Elkins: "I really had my hopes up about that show before it came out. I was so hopeful I know I dismissed friends who said "you know they're just gonna screw it up, right?" My friends were right. They announced online that Jughead in Riverdale "wouldn't be asexual" and that he'd "totally want sex" or something like that. It deflated the big hope balloon I had clung onto that we'd finally have some representation on TV in a show aimed at younger viewers. It was crushing. I can't even bring myself to look at the commercials for the show. Each time I hear the music for them I mute the TV or change the channel."
Anderson: "Getting rid of this trait in Jughead for the television show just perpetuates the cycle of normalizing often hypersexual behavior that doesn't fit everyone's life. Sometimes young people's only role model are the characters they see on television, so it is important to show that asexuality is a thing, too."
LuciAce: "I'm really angry about the way they're handling things. Having aroace representation on TV would have been huge, and instead, they… made him straight? Because apparently there aren't enough allo straight characters on TV yet. I've never seen a character like myself on TV, and I would have been a die-hard fan of the show if they'd kept Jughead aroace and touch-averse like he is in the comics. As it is, the show just makes me furious and sad."
The show seems to have an understanding of just how offensive Betty and Jughead as an item are, which seems evident in how they are doubling-down on shoving it down our throats (or so it seems, since the episodes have been filmed months before now). Having Jughead and Betty kiss in almost every scene seems and feels unnatural, just like how it felt unnatural when writers would try to give Jughead an interest in girls in certain comic book issues. Jughead's characterization just isn't one in which he's a guy who is interested in the opposite or same sex like that, and that's perfectly fine and normal. However, the show's insistence on making him straight and sexual feels like a very 20th century thing to do. If we're in an age where Kevin Keller can be proudly out as a gay teen, then we should also be in the age where Jughead can be proudly out an asexual aromantic teen. Teens in general, regardless of sexuality, shouldn't be made to feel like they have to be in a relationship to be normal.
The last grievance I have is about that twist of a plotpoint with Hal Cooper, who apparently forced Alice Cooper to have an abortion. ¿¿Qué??
Why, what when and where did this plotpoint have to come up? Why have we had such little to show for Hal's characterization until now? I know we had that part where he told Betty that Polly was with the Sisters for whatever dire reason they have, but I wish we had gotten the sense that Hal was a total abusive husband way before now. If that had been built up from the very beginning, that would have been really interesting and it would have given us more reason to try to understand Alice until this very episode. We would already know why she acted like someone driven to desperation–it's because she's been brainwashed by her husband's fruitless demand for perfection from his family.
I guess what I'm getting at ultimately with this point is that for this to be a dramatic show about a murder, there are literally no dramatic stakes coming out of these characters. Yeah, we get it every once and a while, like with Jughead confronting his father and still trying to find some hope in his heart for him, and Cheryl coming to grips with her brother's death. But the show is quickly losing the plot of both what it wants to say and who these characters are. The reason we have connected with these characters for 50+ years is because of their relatable cores. We all know some hapless goof like Archie, who is a great friend, but is endearingly clumsy (and sometimes emotionally tacky) all other areas of his life. We know someone like Jughead, who is so cool and interesting, yet they're so enigmatic, you feel you know nothing about them. Veronica is definitely that person that many of us wish we could be–cool, rich, and a boy magnet–while Betty is who we feel we are at the present moment–the girl or boy next door, nice, loyal, but just "regular." Their strengths and flaws are what make them so much fun, and either you see yourself or you see your best version of yourself in these characters. Right now, I'm not seeing anyone I relate to anymore. I was seeing it at the beginning of Riverdale, but now, as Nussbaum points out, all we're getting is some great cosplay without the real commitment.
I'll say that the only person in the main cast who feels like they are with their character in spirit is Cole Sprouse. Not too many of the main cast have read the comic books back to front, but Sprouse has said in many interviews how he studied his source material and, in so many words, came in with a gameplan as to how to approach Jughead from a position that would remain true to the character. However, the show itself is limiting him from actually playing Jughead the way he truly wants to play Jughead, I feel. While the powers that be want Jughead to be a sexual being, Sprouse has been advocating for Jughead to be canonically asexual, as he is in the comics. However, the powers that be aren't hearing him, and it's a shame, since not listening to the actor who knows the character is what could actually make this show a whole lot better and definitely a whole lot more interesting.
In short, I hope the show quits trying to prove that "It Goes There" like Degrassi and actually goes there. If this is going to be a teen murder mystery, then by all means, up the murder, up the mystery, and definitely up the characterizations, plots, and respect for the differences in others.
If you told anyone that the movie that was going to shake up the superhero genre in the best way would be the film adaptation of Power Rangers, they would be shocked and probably, in some strange, elitist, I'm-too-old-for-Power Rangers way, appalled. But Power Rangers has come out of the blue as the film when it comes to portraying a diverse group of people in a way that is both organic and makes sense for today's world and today's multicultural and diverse audience.
The two characters that have set Power Rangers apart from other films are Trini (the Yellow Ranger), played by Empire star and pop singer Becky G., and Billy (the Blue Ranger), played by Me and Earl and the Dying Girl's RJ Cyler. Trini is the first LGBT character in the Power Rangers universe and her story includes her coming to terms with her sexuality and her "girlfriend problems."
"For Trini, really she's questioning a lot about who she is. She hasn't fully figured it out yet," said director Dean Israelite to The Hollywood Reporter. "I think what's great bout that scene and what that scene propels for the rest of the movie is, 'That's OK.' The movie is saying, 'That's OK,' and all of the kids have to own who they are and find their tribe."
Cyler talked to ScreenRant about how he got into character as Billy and what he learned about respectfully playing a person on the autism spectrum.
"I wanted to show a different…viewpoint of people that are seen as bieng on the spectrum…Or people dignosed with autism, 'cause it's like I feel like us being outsiders looking in and I take that, I cast my own stone when I say that, 'cause there's a lot that I didn't know before," he said.
"I actually sat down and shut my mouth and actually just listened and you know, accepted every bit of information with no judgement," he said. "I know that it was my job to show, you know, that people that are on the spectrum are just regular people, literally just how we talk, how me and [Becky G] talk, they feel the same way, they have the same emotions, they wanna be loved…they want relationships; they want, you know, connections, and it's just like I was really excited to be able to play tthat 'cause I know it means so much to so many people, 'cause all of us are affected by it…and it's something I feel like we needed to have in this movie to be honest."
If you're an O.G. Power Rangers fan, then you know that the show has always included a diverse cast, which, in retrospect, might have been kinda daring for the time (despite the fact that the black and Asian cast members were the Black and Yellow Rangers…) I know for sure that, despite for the subject color naming, I was positively affected by Power Rangers, since I saw myself in both Zack Taylor (Walter Jones) and Trini Kwan (Thuy Trang, RIP), who was the only woman of color on the original season, I should add. It seems like we're seeing another generation of action fans being positively influenced by Power Rangers again, if Twitter is anything to go by.
Yes, We are different and yet we are the same. Thank you for this eye opening character from the latest movie power rangers #Autism #Blue pic.twitter.com/D1PTI3xQLL
— Autism Trust (@AutismTF) March 25, 2017
Power Rangers gave use a gay Latina super hero, a poor Asian super hero and a black super hero with autism. Representation matters.
— Tuxedo Mask Off (@RexTestarossa) March 25, 2017
They handled Billy's autism really well in Power Rangers as well, maybe the best representation of it I have seen on film?
— DP (@Dragonpiece) March 24, 2017
Praise the lord the new Power Rangers film has a ranger with autism, a gay ranger & a diverse cast of heroes. How can u say it isn't badass?
— Zaynah (@Lazanyah) March 24, 2017
As someone with autism, I think it's so cool that the Blue Ranger in the upcoming #PowerRangers film will have a form of autism.
— Connor Behrens (@ConnorFilm) March 20, 2017
Power Rangers 2017 defying my expectations:
-yellow ranger: gay
-blue ranger: has autism
-reviews: good
Holy shit
— NickLungless Is Cunk (@spidersigma) March 20, 2017
I just saw @PowerRangers and it was good movie. The one thing that stood to me that blue ranger was was on autism spectrum. I was so happy.
— Sean (whovian brown) (@bobie2491) March 27, 2017
One of the power rangers in the new movie has autism and it gives me so much hope for my life
— frannie sheinberg (@FlavaFran) March 26, 2017
One of the @PowerRangers, Billy, will now be a role model for autism children around the world to strive and dream bigger than before 🙌🏽
— Lowkey Papi (@FatmanDaJefe) March 26, 2017
Thank you for bring my childhood to life, @PowerRangers. Also, thank you again for shining a positive light on the Autism community.
— Lowkey Papi (@FatmanDaJefe) March 26, 2017
Saw Power Rangers tonight. It was pretty great to see a character with autism be a hero. Highly recommend this movie.
— Madisyn Bowen (@ThatMadisyn) March 26, 2017
LGBTQ, Autism, Black, White, Latina, Middle Eastern #PowerRangersMovie is a real modern day superhero film #DIVERSITY, #UNITY, #POWERRANGERS
— Saif Almuhairbi (@kboom22) March 26, 2017
In short Power Rangers has shown all of these other blockbuster films how it's done when it comes to representation. There's no time to worry about box office returns or any other political machinations when it comes to showing people as they exist in the world. I'll definitely have to check out Power Rangers for myself, because it might just help me with my own increasing knowledge about where I sit on the autism spectrum (since, from research I've done and from personal anecdotes I've heard about myself, I believe I'm a prime candidate to be diagnosed with ASD). Growing up during a time when your own vision of autism was Rain Man, it'll be refreshing to see a different portrayal of a condition that affects all of those affected in many different ways.
What do you think about Power Rangers? Give your opinions in the comments section below!
It's already a cliche to say this, but Into the Badlands Season 2 showed up Iron Fist in nearly every way possible. If there Hollywood needed an example of how to make an inclusive martial arts-based action show that doesn't appropriate cultures but actually respectfully melds cultures together into something new and original, then Into the Badlands is that much-needed example.
Did that sentence confuse you? Let me just break down what I'm trying to say in some bulleted points while telling you what you need to know about the jaw-dropping Season 2 premiere.
• The beginning didn't linger.
I hope you had your Into the Badlands DVDs or On Demand players handy to catch up on the first season, since the show didn't waste any time jumping back into the story and the action, and that's great, because while the show's story is fantastic, the biggest selling point are the extensive, thought-out, creative fight scenes.
We've dropped in on Sunny (Daniel Wu, who is also one of the show's executive producers) after being transported to a slave colony to work in the mines. Gone are the days of being a Clipper (aka an upper-tier slave), and now, all Sunny cares about is getting out of the mines and back to Veil (Madeleine Mantock) and his new baby. And hopefully to get back on the right terms with Veil, since his role in her parents death is…dubious.
(Look, let's get this out of the way right now in this huge aside; Sunny didn't kill Veil's parents. BUT, he did stand by while Quinn (Martin Csokas) killed them with Sunny's sword. BUT, Quinn also threatened to kill Sunny. BUT, Sunny can totally take down Quinn, and he didn't. BUT, Sunny was just waking up to the system as it is and he didn't realize he was a slave until he realized he wanted more for his life, particularly because of his relationship with Veil. As you can see, the circular argument can go on and on. But bottom line is that he didn't kill Veil's parents, but he didn't stop Quinn due to self-preservation and, to be blunt, selfishness. He wanted to be around to be with Veil, and he didn't really think enough about Veil's parents to realize he needed to stop Quinn from killing what could have become his own extended family. However, how did he think he could go explain this to Veil??? Not to be glib, but he didn't think the "I'll stand by like my hands are tied" thing through at all.)
At any rate, Sunny wants to get his family back and find his redemption. Right now, it seems like he could and he couldn't; his new bunkmate frenemy Baijie (newcomer to the show Nick Frost) sold him out in order to try to secure his own freedom, but Sunny already had a plan before Baijie ratted him out; Sunny wants to try to take out the big wrestler of the group in order to become the new head of the slave food chain and, possibly, get his chance to escape.
HOWEVER, before we even get to Sunny making a plan, we immediately see Sunny try to escape from the first few minutes of the show. IT WAS INTENSE! THIS IS HOW YOU START AN ACTION SHOW!
• The diversity and badassery of the Into the Badlands' women
I can honestly say that this is one show that treats its women with respect. (Except for that one woman Baijie straight-up punched unconscious just to get a ring to buy his freedom. Baijie should know better than that.)
Overall, the women on Into the Badlands have thoroughly impressed me, even more so this season. One criticism that some, including Mediaversity Reviews, pointed out is that despite the presence of Veil and the awesomeness of The Widow, the show was centered around white feminism. (Li of Mediaversity Reviews also breaks down just how diverse the main cast is, which is that it's pretty diverse and more multicultural on an individual-by-individual basis than I initially gave the show credit for. For instance, Mantock is black, Hispanic, and white, not just black as I alluded to in my recent Into the Badlands article. My bad.)
However, one of this season's mission statements seems to be to correct that oversight, since this season, we're seeing a much more diverse range of women, including The Master, played by Chipo Chung, who is Asian and black and the most powerful person on the show, period. As many online have noted, the show seems to be a masterclass for Marvel on how to 1) create a show with a POC Iron Fist and 2) how to simultaneously make an Iron Fist with Asian heritage and a proper female Ancient One that doesn't appropriate the culture she's supposed to be a part of (and, again, is an Ancient One with Asian heritage). She's everything we wanted both Iron Fist and the Ancient One to be.
And Tilda (Ally Ioannides), who was just The Widow (Emily Beecham)'s daughter, has now been elevated to Regent. And her crew is also amazing.
Afros in the Badlands – I'm here for it! #IntoTheBadlands #ColorMeBadlands pic.twitter.com/TwMbU9Bi9a
— Rebecca Theodore (@FilmFatale_NYC) March 20, 2017
And another upcoming new baron, Baron Chau, looks like she can f*** some people up good-fashioned. I can't wait to see her fight scenes, especially if she has fight scenes against The Widow. (She's got to have some fight scenes against The Widow.)
There's a new player in the game. Baron Chau arrives this season. #IntotheBadlands pic.twitter.com/GVkIldRw9h
— Into the Badlands (@IntotheBadlands) March 18, 2017
• A diversity masterclass for other shows
Yes, the show's Season 2 premiere had a serendipitous moment by coming on during the same weekend as Iron Fist's premiere, simultaneously one-upping it and showing it how it's really done when it comes to the martial arts game. But the show is a masterclass for any new series looking to infuse cultures together without appropriating or otherwise offending its audience.
This is something that was taken seriously last year, as evidenced by the whole spiel Wu had about rewriting Romeo Must Die through Sunny and Veil, but this year, the crew has taken their commitment to diversity even more seriously than before. We have the examples of the women above, but we also have just the worldbuilding in general. In every scene, you have a multicultural world which reflects the show's multicultural audience. The world itself doesn't particularly rest on whiteness as a default or as a power play, something I originally thought the show was using in the first season with Quinn's family, coupled with the fact that Quinn and The Widow were the only barons we saw until the introduction of Edi Gathegi's Jacobee (I still wish we saw more of Jacobee).
We're also getting yet another baron; along with Chau, we're also getting Baron Hassan, and the two of them together have opened up the baron game in the vein of Jacobee; anyone can be a baron, and knowing that anyone can attain that kind of power is refreshing, and in its own way, subversive, since the power everyone's battling over is the same original sin that started America in the first place–slavery. It's interesting that even though the America Into the Badlands inhabits is a post-apocalyptic type of America, it's still a country that wrestles with the concept of power through owning others.
Baron Hassan: Baron of Textiles.
See him in action when #IntotheBadlands returns. pic.twitter.com/reX1gD4D7B
— Into the Badlands (@IntotheBadlands) March 18, 2017
• Surprises on surprises on surprises
We had the surprise of the Master being who she is, the surprise of The Widow upping her game this season (her big set piece was amazing to view, and I could watch that over and over again), and the surprise of Veil finally having her baby. But the biggest surprise was seeing QUINN AS VEIL'S CARETAKER! What kind of Frankenstein nonsense is happening right now?! We all thought he was dead! What is he doing with Veil and Veil's baby?! Also, is he trying to seek redemption as well, or is he trying to regain his power to take on his son Ryder (Oliver Stark), who is now the new baron?
Overall, I'm PUMPED! I can't wait to see where the rest of this season is taking us! What did you think of the first episode? Give your opinions in the comments section below!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Five Things You Need to Know About Travel Insurance
Even the most seasoned travelers sometimes feel confused about travel insurance — what's out there, what it covers, whether or not they need it.
While coverage and policies vary from state to state, of course, here are some basics of travel insurance to get you started:
1. There are five main types of travel insurance. What you might need depends largely on what kind of trip you're taking, what kind of traveler you are, and how frequently you travel. The five main types are:
• trip cancellation and interruption (full or partial reimbursement for a trip you need to cancel prior to departure, a trip that gets cancelled because a tour company or resort goes out of business, or a trip that gets cut short for a wide variety of reasons)
• medical (for health issues that occur outside of your normal coverage area)
• evacuation (due to disaster, dangerous weather, political emergency, or medical emergency)
• baggage (reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage)
• flight insurance (also called "crash coverage," this is basically a life insurance policy that covers you while you're on the plane, in the event of a statistically-rare crash)
Travel expert Rick Steves explains the way they generally work is like this:
"The various types are generally sold in some combination — rather than buying only baggage, medical, or cancellation insurance, you'll usually purchase a package that includes most or all of them. If you want just one type of coverage in particular — such as medical — ask for that (though it might come with a little cancellation or baggage insurance, too). 'Comprehensive insurance' covers all of the above, plus expenses incurred if your trip is delayed, if you miss your flight, or if your tour company changes your itinerary."
2. Just because you have health insurance at home does not mean that it will cover you on your trip. You need to check the ins and outs of your particular health insurance policy. It may cover you while you travel, but many do not. In fact, some insurance policies don't even cover health emergencies experienced on foreign-flagged vessels — which is what most cruise ships are. Check with your provider, ask your travel agent for suggestions, and of course direct any insurance-related questions to the provider. As Steves puts it, "Before purchasing a policy, ask your insurer to explain exactly what's covered before and after you get to the hospital."
3.Avoid purchasing travel insurance from the company that's also hosting your trip. The reason for this? If that company goes out of business, chances are, so does their insurance.
4. Some companies offer comprehensive coverage that can serve as your primary coverage while you're traveling. What does this mean, and how can it benefit you? It means that the insurance company will pay first, regardless of what other insurance you have. They don't even inquire about additional insurance, saving you tons of paperwork and out-of-pocket expenses. TravelGuard and Travelex are two such companies that provide these policies as an option.
5. Weigh the cost of the trip with the cost of insurance. If you just bought a $79 ticket for a quick weekend in Chicago — is it worth it? Maybe, maybe not. If, however, you're headed out on a once-in-a-lifetime trip that you've been saving for for months, travel insurance is likely a great idea.
If you're looking to maximize your fun and minimize your risk, travel insurance might be just the right option for you. Take your time, ask tons of questions, and find what works best for you and your family.
Have questions about insurance – or any other travel-related topic? I'd love to sit down with you in person or over the phone and get to know you and your travel plans better. To get in touch, just click here.
Eight Top Greek Island Destinations
Greece has always been an ideal Mediterranean vacation destination. With over 1,400 islands (230 inhabited), it can be hard to choose which one to visit first. Hopefully, these eight guidelines will assist with your decision.
Best Nightlife:
Mykonos, also known as 'The Island of the Winds', is world renowned for their vibrant nightlife. Little Venice and Paradise Beach are popular party destinations where clothing is optional, and the LGBT scene is major. There are male go-go dancers everywhere and parties typically last all night. July and August are the main months for tourism and the wildest parties.
Best Traditional Village Life:
The island, Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades and has a little over 6,500 inhabitants and a bit over 20 small villages. Naxos has ancient towers, paved streets and has maintained its unique Venetian architecture.
Best Kite-boarding and Windsurfing:
With gusty winds that can be seen from a mile away; Paros island is best known for kite-boarding and windsurfing sports goers. Santa Maria, Prassonisi, and Pounda are the main beaches where the sport is practiced. The Thalasea Sports Center is the bay of Mikli Vigla and is a popular hub for the sport.
Best Beaches:
Located in the Aegan Sea, Milos is a beautiful volcanic island that is rich in minerals as well as rich history. Firopotamos, Kastanas and Paliorema are some top beach destinations in Milos. The white-washed Cycladic villages and black sands are picturesque backdrops. Although some may be only accessible by boat, there are over 80 mini beaches throughout Milos that you can explore.
Best for Nature Lovers: Ikaria has some of the World's most pristine and untouched nature territories. It has been identified as a place that promotes life longevity and better overall health.
Best Robinson Crusoe Destination:
Koufonisia is comprised of two islands, Pano (upper) and Kato (lower). The preferred way to navigate the area is by foot or cycling as everything is within walking distance. The island has a museum and many sightseeing options.
Best Couples Getaway:
Folegandros does not get the crowded tourist scene as most Greek towns do. They have a broad selection of restaurants and cafes. Chora is the main village and has been preserved well, noting open landscapes and clifftop housing.
Best Food:
Cretan cuisine focuses on all-natural ingredients and can be enjoyed at any local tavern throughout the islands. Some dishes include Dakos, Gamopilafo, Mizithropita and Apaki.
Now you're all set! With a myriad of beautiful architecture, scenic waterfronts and rich history. There is so much to enjoy!
Call Shore Travel to assist you in planning your vacation to the Greek Isles.
How to Pack Like An Expert
How to Pack Like an Expert
New York Times writer Susan Heller famously said, "When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money."
Even when we have great intentions, it's easy to overload our suitcases. We wind up dragging a lot of stuff around. There's more to keep track of; it winds up being a lot of physical and mental clutter. And, of course, we wind up paying a ton of extra fees for the additional weight and luggage.
So, rather than viewing efficient packing as a practice in minimalism, I like to think of it as a challenge that helps you make the most of every vacation: you have what you need, you're freed up to not have to lug around a bunch of extra weight, and you can put that saved money towards a special souvenir, a nice dinner out, or another cool experience.
So what are the secrets that seasoned travelers use to guarantee expert packing? Here are the top 6:
1. Remember the 80/20 Principle — that is, 20% of what you pack will be 80% of what you actually wear. If you're like most people, you've already noticed this. You pack four pairs of shoes, but you really only wear one pair every day. You pack three sweaters and a shawl that you never use, because you wind up just wearing your favorite light jacket that goes with everything you own.
2. Don't pack for every possible situation. Pack for an average day. There's no way you can cover every contingency. Look at the forecast, the average temps and weather for that time of year, and go with that. If there's a freak week of rain in what's normally a sunny season — unless you're headed to an extremely remote area that sees few travelers, it's very unlikely that you won't be able to purchase a rain coat or an umbrella where you are. If there's a cold snap, there's probably also a store nearby with just the thing you need.
3. It's okay to wash. If you're going to be gone for three weeks, pack enough clothes for one. If you're a hardcore DIYer, almost every resort or town in the world has a Laundromat or laundry service. If you're feeling like you want break from daily tasks and routines and you're really looking forward to the luxury of having other people pamper you, have your clothes laundered and folded for you. It's still often cheaper than luggage fees!
4. For warmth, go with layers over bulk. Pick several thin layers with insulating, wicking fabrics — merino wool is a great one — over a big jacket. Heavier items like jackets and sweaters don't offer the flexibility. They're just hot, and when the sun comes out, then you have to cart around a huge coat. But a compact zip-up fleece can roll up easily into a bag or backpack in the afternoon and then come back out again for that sunset walk on the beach.
5. Think: mix and match, simplified palette, and multi-function items. If three tops match three bottoms, you've got nine possible outfits. Add in a Swiss-Army-Knife travel item like the popular Chrysalis Cardi, and you've got one item that converts into eight different things. As travel blogger Fred Perotta says: bring pieces, not outfits.
6. If you've got to have something bulky and heavy -- wear it, don't pack it. Hiking boots, down jacket, that awesome cable knit wool cardigan — these might very well have a great place on your trip, but they shouldn't be in your suitcase. Wear them on the plane. You can easily pack several versatile layers for the space that one sweater would take up.
If you're ready to pack for an adventure, I'd love to talk to you about it. I know we can find a place that's just right for you — and I'll even give you insider tips packing suggestions for your specific destination! You can reach me today by clicking here.
History Isn't Promised
History Isn't Promised
As human beings, we're guilty of saying "We'll go there on our next trip," and "There's always next summer." The truth is, next year isn't always promised. Just last month, the world watched Notre Dame become engulfed in flames, losing three main parts of the historical structure. Now, France is racing to repair the damage before the foundation weakens from spring rains.
The tragedy brings to mind how blessed we are to have sites that recognize and honor our history. Even more so, gratitude floods my heart that we can visit and experience these bucket list wonders.
Believed to be royal or sacred land during the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu is an awe-striking sight stretching over five miles. It's covered in over 150 temples, houses, and sanctuaries in the countryside of South America.
Bucket List Item: Watch the sunset in the ruins of Machu Picchu.
The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the pyramid complex honors royalty of the kings and queens of the Egyptian Fourth Dynasty. The entire complex is made of varying-sized pyramids, tunnels and chambers, temples, sacred walls and tombs, cemeteries, and more.
Bucket List Item: Take an illusionary picture "kissing" the Great Sphinx in the Pyramid Complex in Giza, Egypt.
The massive, three-story stone amphitheater was home to the most gruesome gladiatorial combats. The building features the most advanced architecture of its time with a 20-foot basement that transforms the battlefield into an aqua theatre and housed animal cages for exhibit.
Bucket List Item: Enjoy an exclusive Rome rooftop dinner and Colosseum night tour that includes viewing the underground chambers.
Representing the United States' birth, growth, development, and preservation, Mount Rushmore was creatively crafted (using dynamite!) in the mid-1900s. Mount Rushmore annually attracts two million tourists who visit to delve into our national history, hike our national parks, and explore the museums honoring our iconic presidents.
Bucket List Item: Hike to visit Mount Rushmore and take a short drive Bear Country USA to see black bears, elk, mountain lions, buffalo, and other wildlife from the comfort of your car!
Discover the over 13,000-mile-long wall that was built collectively starting in 770 BC to protect Chinese border. The Great Wall of China holds the record for the longest building project. Only about 30% of the wall remains due to natural causes and human damage.
Bucket List: Enjoy a cultural experience during a 4-day Beijing tour, taking in the most beautiful views of the Great Wall by night at the Simatai section, which is the only section to offer night tours.
The sad news of Notre Dame shocked the world, although it sets the example as to why it's crucial to see the top items on your bucket list. Because of donations and laborers, Notre Dame may stand a chance to be restored.
And because you have a travel agent who has the ultimate industry connections and education, you have the best chance in witnessing the most majestic historical sites around the world.
Don't wait! History is happening now!
-KHM Travel Group
Call Shore Travel to assist you in planning the next adventure for your bucket list travel.
firstname.lastname@example.com (410-221-2991)
How to Skip TSA Security AND Immigration Lines For Good
If you're a frequent traveler, you've undoubtedly had the near-universal experience of enduring a TSA security line or an immigration line upon re-entry to your home country.
What if you could bypass these lines for good?
You may have heard of Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. You fill out a fairly lengthy application, pay $100, and if your application passes the initial phase, you're invited to an in-person interview/screening at a participating airport. If you pass that phase of the application, you are granted a Global Entry ID. In a nutshell, this is how it works:
At airports, program participants proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingertips on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and make a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit. (www.globalentry.gov)
In addition, people who are approved via the Global Entry program can also participate in TSA Pre-Check, which allows people to skip regular TSA security lines at participating airports and go through an expedited line — without having to remove shoes or other clothing items, open laptops, or do any of the other things that take up time in line.
Global Entry (and the accompanying TSA Pre-Check) is a good fit for your flying needs if:
In addition to inside information on things like Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check, as your travel advisor, I have many great helpful hints and connections to make your next trip an amazing one. I would be thrilled to meet with you and plan out your next great adventure! You can reach me by clicking here.
Destination Inspirations: Alaska
A Once In A Lifetime Trip
Alaska should definitely be on your bucket-list travel! Considered to be one of the last frontiers of the world and the 49th state in the union, Alaska is a gem of the world. It is a land of ice, bald eagles, mountains, grizzly bears, and the epitome of the American spirit. One of the best ways to see Alaska is by cruise and there are a couple of different ways to do this. The variations include the type of ship and whether you want to tour the Inside Passage or the Gulf of Alaska.
Large Ship vs. Small Ship
There is not one ship better than the other, they just offer different experiences for their guests. Larger ships have the amenities comparable to an all-inclusive resort and they stop in all the most popular ports. They also offer excursions like whale-watching and dog sledding atop breathtaking glaciers. The smaller ships are more intimate, and they tend to spend more time in the wild backcountry of Alaska. For example, it is not unheard of for the guests on smaller ships to visit Glacier Bay for 2 days and explore other areas by kayak.
Gulf Of Alaska
These cruises go through south-central Alaska. There are 3 different start points for these cruises; Steward, Whittier, or Vancouver. You will go through most of the same ports as you would if you were touring the Inside Passage, but these cruises are one way. They travel north or south depending on where you start your trip. It is nice to extend these cruises on land, both before and after to explore more of Alaska.
Some of the stops on these cruises include:
● A few days before the cruise or after it in, either, Anchorage or the Kenai Peninsula
● College Fjord- which is dotted with amazing glaciers
● A few days in Denali National Park
Inside Passage
When a cruise is going along this path it will run from the narrow strip near the Canadian border all the way to the Panhandle (which is the beginning of the Gulf of Alaska). This option runs round trip out of either Vancouver or Seattle. This cruise option is the most popular and many of the sights that you will see on this cruise are going to be very similar to the ones that are included for the Gulf of Alaska option. Sights that may be seen include:
● Juneau- the capital of Alaska
● Ketchikan is a great location for fishing and a look into the life of Native Alaskans
● Glacier Bay National Park
● Skagway- a gold rush town with a lot of history
Alaska should be on your list of possible cruises. There are so many amazing sights, beautiful landscapes, and experiences that you will not see anywhere else in the world. It comes down to taking your time to figure out which one of these itineraries is right for you. Figure out what type of excursions you want and the experience you would like to have on the ship. These will be the factors that will help to determine which is best for you.
My family experienced Alaska on an inside passage itinerary last summer aboard Emerald
Princess. It has truly been one of my best adventures yet. I enjoyed the scenic beauty of the
glaciers, the history of the small towns, and the first-time adventure of white water rafting (It
was pretty mild!-They took it easy on me!) while taking in the breath-taking views of the
Shore Travel


text:
May 20, 2018
Alexis Manigo, like most 16 year olds, desired to have her own money. She applied for a job. When the hiring manager asked for documentation, that's when her life began to unravel. Everything she thought and knew about herself was a lie.
May 7, 2018
The FBI, DEA, and other alphabet agencies are tenacious on the path of drug dealers who murdered one of their own over 30 years ago. The agents have not given up. We are thankful they continue to pursue justice no matter how long it takes. #FBI #DEA #Drugs #Justice #Mexico #mostwanted #Camarena...
Apr 26, 2018
This bank failure devastated the Black community. They felt betrayed, abandoned, and distrustful of the banking system. Is this why Blacks have not pursued economic equality as fervently as social justice? #USCivilWar #banking #finance #blackhistory #investing #financialliteracymonth #savingmoney #socialjustice
Apr 14, 2018
This question was asked by a southerner in the months following the #USCivilWar and right after the ratification of the 13th amendment in #Georgia. What did this writer propose America should do with the colored people and why did America not do it? After all, it had been done before. #Confederacy #History #News...
Mar 29, 2018
This man was the best inland pilot on the coast. He defied the traditions and stereotypes of the time and dispelled the rumors of the Civil War that exist to this very day.


text:
And one of my favorite things to do is take something old and make it useful again.
I love finding lost keys, old watches, vintage hankerchiefs, and of course, glittering jars and rusty tins full of buttons. I guess you would now call me an 'upcycler', although I have been playing around with stuff like this for years, before it became rather chic to embrace old things.
The hunt can be even more fun than actually working with what I find. I am just itching for the first yard sale ads to appear in the classified section. But now I also have to scout Craigslist, and of course there is an app for that (may need to borrow Charlie's Itouch now and then).
Last fall my dear friend Joanne and I hit up a great sale at the State Fairgrounds, and our treasures almost didn't quite fit in the car. The security guard stood watching us, looking dubious, but we proved him wrong.
I stumbled across an old wire cart, hidden amongst discarded foot baths and plant pots. I had been wanting one for a while, ever since I had seen one rescued and put to use again.
Of course, it has sat in the basement since that warm September day, forgotten.
But while getting ready for all of my shows this month, I realized I needed something with wheels to help me haul my goodies around.
So I pulled it out, dusted it off, and made it a pretty new dress.
Five dollars well spent.


text:
Delve into the complex world of vintage champagne
Discover how it is made, and what exactly qualifies it as 'vintage'
Why it is a delicate and intricate process for the champagne maisons to master
I've spoken before about champagne, explaining everything from the various grapes and their characters to what the hell riddling actually is. Yet as I said then there was one very important aspect to champagne that I missed out: vintage.
The reason is simple, that reason being that the concept of vintage is not. The general consensus is that vintage champagne is by its mere existence more prestigious – and therefore better – than standard bruts and even reserves. The first thing you need to understand is that that is not true. Not by a long shot.
In essence, a vintage champagne reflects a specific year. It might use the same mix of grapes as any other sparkling wine, but they all have to be harvested within that 12-month period. It's a pretty simple idea to be honest and one that's adhered to rigidly, but also one that raises a host of problems for the champagne houses.
Champagne as a region is anything but consistent. Year on year the climate can be drastically different – more rainfall, higher temperatures, frost at precisely the wrong time – and therefore so too can be the grapes. One year the chardonnay may be terrible but the pinot noir superb (much like 2016 to be honest) which changes the wine drastically.
Now, every champagne maison has it's own house style which is reflected in their non-vintage bruts. These bruts are designed for consistency and are therefore the same no matter whether it's 2010 or 2017. A huge part of that consistency is the blending in of reserves from previous years which, by their previously-stated nature, is impossible for vintage.
This means that vintage champagnes are entirely dependent on the whims of nature. Chefs de Cave can of course make the most of what they have, but a bad year for Champagne tends to mean a bad vintage. Indeed, if the harvest is awful enough there simply won't be any vintage champagne made.
It's a problem that many houses face, especially those for whom vintage is their lifeblood. Dom Perignon is the most important example; their vintage-only policy has caused them plenty of hassle more than once in the past.
The upside is that chance to miss a year cuts out the worst of the mishaps that could happen. It ensures a kind of baseline of quality, part of the reason so many epicureans go crazy over vintage. The thing is, that's still no guarantee that the wine is exceptional, just that it's good enough. What a vintage does guarantee however is character.
Because a vintage is a reflection of the year itself, it often forces Chefs de Cave to step outside their comfort zones. They have no control over which grapes do best in a year and so have to make the most of their ingredients. Given that these individuals are phenomenal at what they do, the result will always be good but, more importantly, will often be surprising.
Imagine what would happen if one year the chardonnay crop failed completely. I'm talking not a single grape making it to juicing. Most bruts would be fine, relying on their reserves to re-create house styles, but what would happen to vintages? Some houses would obviously pull out, not willing to try without Champagne's key bounty. Others however would produce a very unusual wine indeed.
Let's say this happened in 2018. Given this year's harvest it's not beyond the realms of possibility. It doesn't matter whether the wine produced would actually be to your taste or not, it would become one of the most famous – perhaps notorious – years in champagne history. The prices of the vintages that were produced would be astronomical and would become the crowning glory of many a collection.
Would they therefore be good? Would a wine made out of desperation, one that reflects a terrible year for the entirety of champagne actually be as delicious as that auspicious price tag would attest to? It's very unlikely, which is exactly the issue with vintage champagne.
To the well-informed, who knows which years in history were good for champagne, the kinds of people that you hear saying in over-loud voices "ah 2006? What a fine year that was!" vintage is the best there is. To everyone else… well, like anything you just need to be careful. You never know quite what you're going to get.
Words by: Sam Kessler


text:
Diwali celebration Saturday in Danbury
DANBURY -- The Indian Association of Western Connecticut will celebrate the Hindu holiday of Diwali on Saturdayin the Police Athletic League building at 35 Hayestown Road.
The event will feature a pooja, or prayer, to the Hindu deity Ganesh and the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. There will also be a garba, or dance, a popular tradition that originated in the Indian state of Gujarat.
The event will run from 6 p.m. to midnight. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free.


text: Hello guys, just went through your profile now and see you guys do engineering too and its gr8. This is the thing, have tested almost all the engineer s in my area but none of them is able to repair my tab screen by name XTOURCH PF83. So I guess you guys are my last hope now cos on that tablet lies my school project and important stuffs.please I need you to reply me ASAP! you can contact me through08134644535 or [email protected]


text:
The perfect blend of the past with the present for future first class fliers.
Slip-on bootie design for ease of entry.
Mesh forefoot for breathability.
Synthetic mud guard on the heel adds durability.
*Our Jordans come in youth sizes, so to find the perfect fit, women should choose a size and a half smaller than their regular shoe size.


text:
Olympus E-M10 Mark III gets 4K and smarter Auto
Olympus is giving its pleasingly retro E-M10 a revamp, with the Mark III promising to make the Micro Four Thirds camera even easier to use. Envisioned as a straightforward upgrade path for smartphone photographers wanting to take a big step up in the images they're capturing, the E-M10 Mark II nonetheless still had its foibles. Now, Olympus says, it has taken the user feedback onboard and addressed it with the Mark III - not to mention adding features like 4K video capture.


text:
In the world of cryptocurrency, fortunes can be made overnight, and the winners of this digital lottery differ from those in previous manias. The shadowy beginnings, at once anarchistic, utopian and libertarian, have drawn an odd lot of pioneers—from antiestablishment cypherpunks and electricity-guzzling "miners" to prescient Silicon Valley financiers and a larger-than-usual assortment of the just plain lucky "hodlers," the typo-inspired crypto jargon for "buy-and-hold" investors. Given this universe's opaqueness and hyper-volatility, we're presenting Forbes' first-ever list of the richest people in cryptocurrency in net-worth estimates in ranges. The numbers were based on estimated holdings of cryptocurrencies (a few provided proof), post-tax profits from trading crypto-assets and stakes in crypto-related businesses, and locked in the estimates using prices on Jan. 19, 2018. It's a near certainty that we've missed some people and that some of Forbes' estimates are wide of the mark. But this was equally true when we launched the first Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans in 1982. At the time, many people said we couldn't—or shouldn't—publish. Forbes did so anyway, firm in the belief that we made the world a better place by shining a light on the invisible rich. And Forbes believes this report on crypto wealth accomplishes the same goal, as Forbes Editor Randall Lane explains in his editor's letter. Fortunes of this magnitude should never be allowed to lurk in the shadows. Reported by Pamela Ambler, Angel Au-Yeung, Grace Chung, Jeff Kauflin, Alex Konrad, Laura Shin and Nathan Vardi
No Data


text:
By Bryan Logan
Screenshot via Fox News
Fox News host Sean Hannity took a moment out of his program Monday night to address rumors that he may be looking to leave the network.
Hannity hinted earlier in the day that he would address the rumors, and he saved it for the final minutes of his program.
"By the way, special thank you to all our friends in the media that were tuning in tonight, maybe for the first time. And all the lies you've heard about me are not true," Hannity said.
The Daily Beast published a story hours earlier citing sources who said Hannity was looking for the exits after Fox News copresident Bill Shine resigned earlier in the day. Shine's departure follows star anchor Bill O'Reilly's high-profile ouster in the aftermath of a sexual-harassment scandal.
Last week, Hannity offered a public defense of Shine, saying his departure would mean "the total end" of Fox News "as we know it."
When the report about Hannity caught some attention Monday afternoon, the Fox News host tweeted, "If I have anything to say about Fox News I will say it tonight at 10 est. All I'll say now is this is true," he said, pointing to an article from Independent Journal Review that countered assertions he was looking to leave the network.
NOW WATCH: 'OJ had me shook': A Georgetown professor reveals what it was like to talk to OJ Simpson after bashing him on national television
May 1, 2017 at 11:49PM
via Feedburner http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/a0rsm0uA-7I/sean-hannity-leaving-fox-news-not-true-2017-5
via Blogger http://www.bsnscnslt.com/2017/05/the-lies-youve-heard-about-me-are-not.html
via Blogger http://www.bsnscnslt.com/2017/05/the-lies-youve-heard-about-me-are-not_1.html


text:
What a waste of natural resources that GREENLEAF rag is. Not only is it just the half-hearted crowing of a minority administration trying to look like it's making a difference, but it's also the typical (of all political parties) dishonest reporting of the current state of affairs; in particular: "Meanwhile the city's much loved parks have been shielded, which means they are all open and properly maintained." Well, when was there ever a park in Brighton shut due to lack of maintenance? The answer is, of course: never – otherwise The "much loved" Level would've been shut down years ago and still be shut. And in terms of "proper" maintenance, "much loved" Queen's Park is set on the same course as The "much loved" Level with the total lack of maintenance of the dry stone retaining walls being, doubtless, part of the same long term care strategy that was applied to The "much loved" Level, i.e. the one where the council lets the basic fabric of a property fall into wrack and ruin and then looks around for handouts to restore it. [Didn't work with the West Pier, ed.] So, as with The "much loved" Level, be prepared for " "much loved" Queen's Park to suffer an emetic dose of Heritage Lottery Funding to blight an otherwise "much loved" park.
"Green councillors have won…£1.2 million for the regeneration of the Level." No, Greens, the host body, the Conservatives, did (admittedly with a great deal of help from your parasitic selves) – you just signed off on the crass project.
More smug photos of Jason Kitcat to contend with (kat and kream spring to mind). Still you can't blame the Greens for trying to avoid a "Charles Kennedy" moment – though is it really wise to make Bill Randall Mayor? Doesn't that entail a lot of "entertaining"? Perhaps that Chas K moment will entertain us after all.
And just keep banging on about what a great job the Greens are doing about the parking! Keep encouraging all those visitors to drive to Brighton, don't deter them from using their cars! Refurbish that Regency Square car park! Now that you, the Greens, have had to lend £3 million of our money to the i360 you've got to protect the investment by funneling those polluting cash-cows down to the sea-front for years to come!
Ah, let's, yet again, take a moment to contemplate the meaning of Green Integrity. Mmm, that's better.


text:
From Healthy Jewish Kitchen by Paula Shoyer ($24.95, Sterling Epicure, November 2017)
- 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup sunflower or safflower oil
- 1/2 cup water
- Honey for drizzling (optional)
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
- 3 Tbsp ground almonds
- To make dough, place all-purpose flour, white whole-wheat flour, whole-wheat flour, sugar, salt, oil, and water into the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix with a dough hook attachment, or by hand, until mixture comes together into a ball. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest for 1 to 2 hours at room temperature.
- To prepare filling, heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add coconut oil, brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir. Add apples to pan and cook them, stirring often, for about 6 to 8 minutes, until apples are fork-tender. Place mixture into a bowl and let it cool for 10 minutes. Add ground almonds and mix well.
- When dough is ready, preheat oven to 375°. Divide dough into 3 pieces. Cut off a large piece of parchment paper and sprinkle it with some all-purpose flour. Roll out a piece of dough into a rectangle about 8 by 14 inches, lifting dough a few times to add more flour underneath it. Place a third of filling down length of dough, 2 inches from edge. Fold in right and left sides (the short sides) about 1 inch from edge. Roll long end of dough (with filling), into a tight, long log. Place it on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan lined with parchment. Repeat same steps to make 2 other logs.
- Bake strudel for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it is lightly browned, and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature with a drizzle of honey over top, if desired.
This recipe may be made 2 days in advance. You may want to rewarm the strudel after the first day.
Per serving: 189 Calories, 3 g Protein, 28 g Carbohydrates, 3 g Fiber, 8 g Total fat (3 g sat), 50 mg Sodium, ★ Vitamin B1 (thiamine), E, Phosphorus