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I ditched Google for DuckDuckGo. Here's why you should too

What was the last thing you searched for online? For me, it was ‘$120 in pounds’. Before that, I wanted to know the capital of Albania (Tirana), the Twitter handle of Liberal Democrat deputy leader Ed Davey (he’s @EdwardJDavey) and dates of bank holidays in the UK for 2019 (it’s a late Easter next year, folks). Thrilling, I’m sure you’ll agree. But something makes these searches, in internet terms, a bit unusual. Shock, horror, I didn’t use Google. I used DuckDuckGo. And, after two years in the wilderness, I’m pretty sure I’m sold on a post-Google future.

It all started with a realisation: most the things I search for are easy to find. Did I really need the all-seeing, all-knowing algorithms of Google to assist me? Probably not. So I made a simple change: I opened up Firefox on my Android phone and switched Google search for DuckDuckGo. As a result, I’ve had a fairly tedious but important revelation: I search for really obvious stuff. Google’s own data backs this up. Its annual round-up of the most searched-for terms is basically a list of names and events: World Cup, Avicii, Mac Miller, Stan Lee, Black Panther, Megan Markle. The list goes on. And I don’t need to buy into Google’s leviathan network of privacy-invading trackers to find out what Black Panther is and when I can go and see it at my local cinema.

While I continue to use Google at work (more out of necessity as my employer runs on G-Suite), on my phone I’m all about DuckDuckGo. I had, based on zero evidence, convinced myself that finding things on the internet was hard and, inevitably, involved a fair amount of tracking. After two years of not being tracked and targeted I have slowly come to realise that this is nonsense.

DuckDuckGo works in broadly the same way as any other search engine, Google included. It combines data from hundreds of sources including Wolfram Alpha, Wikipedia and Bing, with its own web crawler, to surface the most relevant results. Google does exactly the same, albeit on a somewhat larger scale. The key difference: DuckDuckGo does not store IP addresses or user information.

Billed as the search engine that doesn’t track you, DuckDuckGo processes around 1.5 billion searches every month. Google, for contrast, processes around 3.5 billion searches per day. It’s hardly a fair fight, but DuckDuckGo is growing. Back in 2012, it averaged just 45 million searches per month. While Google still operates in a different universe, the actual difference in the results you see when you search isn’t so far apart. In fact, in many respects, DuckDuckGo is better. Its search results aren’t littered with Google products and services – boxes and carousels to try and persuade people to spend more time in Google’s family of apps.

Search for, say, ‘Iron Man 2’ and Google will first tell you it can be purchased from Google Play or YouTube from £9.99. It will then suggest you play a trailer for the film on, where else, YouTube. The film is also “liked” by 92 per cent of Google users and people searching for this also search for, you guessed it, Iron Man and Iron Man 3. The same search on DuckDuckGo pulls in a snippet from Wikipedia and quick links to find out more on IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon or iTunes. For the most part, the top of Google’s page of results directs you towards more Google products and services.

Go further still and search for ‘Iron Man 2 cast’ and Google displays a carousel of names and pictures right at the top of the page. As a result, 50 per cent of all Google searches now end without a click. Great for Google, bad for the list of websites below that also contain this information and that you will never visit. Do the same search on DuckDuckGo and the top result is IMDb. It might sound small but issues like this are fundamental to how the internet works – and who makes the most money from it. Google’s prioritisation of its results, and a perceived bias towards its own products and services, has landed the company in hot water with the European Commission slapping it with multi-billion pound fines and launching investigation after investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour. What’s good for Google, the commission argues, isn’t necessarily good for consumers or competitors.

Then there’s privacy. Search for something on DuckDuckGo and, for the most part, you just get a list of links or a simple snippet with exactly the information you were looking for. And it does all this without storing or tracking my search history. Nor is what I search for collected and shared with advertisers, allowing them to micro-target me with a myriad of things I’m never likely to buy. The ads I do see in DuckDuckGo, which the company explains makes it more than enough money to operate, are more general. My search for bank holidays in the UK returned an advert for a package holiday company.

A quick office survey revealed similar search banality: recent Googles included ‘capitalist’, ‘toxoplasmosis’ and ‘hyde park police’. For the most part, what we’re looking for online is simple: it’s definitions, companies, names and places. Where DuckDuckGo has struggled is when I look for something incredibly specific. So, for example, search for ‘film Leonardo Dicaprio goats scene’ in DuckDuckGo and it doesn’t work out you’re looking for Blood Diamond. Google does. While Google, with its vastly greater tranche of search data, is able to second-guess what I’m after, DuckDuckGo requires a bit more hand-holding. That doesn’t mean I can’t find what I’m looking for, but it does mean I have to modify my search term a couple of times to narrow things down.             

But such moments are rare and fleeting. Yes, Google has more bells and whistles. But such bells and whistles are, once you stop seeing them, easily forgotten. A realisation that most of your online searches are really bloody obvious is somewhat liberating. You don’t need to be tracked and targeted to work out the name of that hideous earworm that’s been stuck in your head all day (in my case it was Vanessa Carlton’s A Thousand Miles, I don’t know why). DuckDuckGo helps you find it in the same way Google does: you tap in a random line of lyrics, it finds them on a site with song lyrics on it and voila, the earworm is dead.

It’s not a fair fight, but it is one, oddly, where the small guy can compete. It might seem ludicrous – DuckDuckGo has 78 employees and Google 114,096 – but often the outcome is the same. For the majority of your searches David, it turns out, is just as good as Goliath.

[peoplemagrpg]

I migliori viaggi del 2020

Il prossimo viaggio? Si comincia dal Paese che ha scommesso tutto sulla felicità, il Buthan, e da una delle regioni italiane più eclettiche: le Marche. Tutto il meglio della guida delle guide di viaggio                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

È il viaggio alla ricerca della felicità il viaggio dell’anno: un itinerario tra monasteri, fortezze, natura selvaggia nel primo Paese al mondo ad aver abolito ogni indice economico dal calcolo del benessere dei suoi abitanti, preferendo basarsi sul miglioramento del loro stile di vita, della loro cultura, dell’ambiente in cui vivono. Ecco il Buthan, da tempo tra le destinazioni imprescindibili dei grandi viaggiatori: ora lo incorona anche la Best in Travel 2020 di Lonely Planet.

LA GUIDA È la guida delle guide di viaggio che ogni anno suggerisce dove andare stilando una classifica di 10 Paesi, Città, Regioni (le trovate tutte nella gallery sopra), scelte dai suoi collaboratori in giro per il mondo.

Sono novità assolute, mete attuali, stimolanti, destinate a diventare di tendenza: potrebbero cambiare il nostro modo di viaggiare. Quest’anno la Best in Travel mette l’accento sulle politiche di tutela ambientale, premiando quelle mete che stanno attuando politiche concrete per il cambiamento: per questo il Buthan è il primo esempio dato che è l’unico paese del mondo a emissioni negative di carbonio, entro il 2020 diventerà la prima nazione a produrre solo biologico, e la sua bellezza è destinata a rimanere intatta anche perché riesce a ridurre l’afflusso massiccio di turisti grazie a tasse di ingresso. Altro esempio, al secondo posto della guida nella classifica dei Paesi, c’è poi l’Inghiterra dove nel 2020 sarà inaugurato l’England Coast Path: il sentiero litoraneo ininterrotto più lungo del mondo, che per la prima volta renderà accessibile l’intero lungomare del Paese. Segue, al terzo posto, la Macedonia del Nord che sta incentivando il turismo verde grazie a nuovi itinerari, come l’ High Scardus Trail, sentiero di 495 km che tocca le vette più spettacolari dei Balcani.

LE REGIONI Prima tra le Regioni, quest’anno è invece la Via della Seta in Asia Centrale resa più accessibile grazie a nuovi collegamenti e politiche di ingressi tra i Paesi che tocca meno restrittive. Al secondo posto di questa classifica spicca l’unica italiana tra le mete della Best in Travel 2020: le Marche la regione italiana che ha tutto, dalle spiagge paradisiache del Conero alle montagne, tradizioni, enogastronomia, e poi tanta storia e arte. Il 2020 sarà tra gli anni migliori per scoprirle dato che Urbino, una delle sue città più belle, guiderà le celebrazioni per il 500° anniversario della morte di Raffaello.

LE CITTÀ Ed è ancora una volta l’arte il miglior pretesto per visitare la prima delle città nella lista delle imperdibili del 2020: si tratta di Salisburgo, la città di Mozart. Il prossimo anno il Festival di Salisburgo, uno dei più importanti festival musicali di musica classica e opera, compie 100 anni e festeggia con un’edizione molto speciale tra mostre, matinée mozartiane, spettacoli. Cercate mete belle ma convenienti? Nella nuova Best in Trave c’è anche una Top Ten Best Value, con la regione di Nusa Tenggara Occidentale (in Indonesia) in testa, seguita da Budapest.

[peoplemagrpg]

Prince Andrew's Office Has Been Moved Out of Buckingham Palace: Report

In the latest news from the fallout following Prince Andrew‘s interview concerning his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his subsequent announcement to “step down” from royal duties, the Duke of York’s office has been forced out of Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth‘s son was told to clear out his staff and office at the monarch’s London home on Friday.

In addition, the outlet reports that Andrew’s private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, was let go from her role due to her part in encouraging the royal to do the interview with BBC.

On Friday, the Queen and Prince Andrew were seen riding horses with two escorts around the Windsor Castle estate — about 23 miles away from London. Both were bundled up in long coats, with the 93-year-old monarch covering up her head with a hood, while Andrew, 59, sported a helmet.

Prince Andrew was also forced to cancel a planned trip to Bahrain with his Pitch@Palace initiative as questions have been raised about whether he will still lead the organization, which helps budding entrepreneurs.

The Duke of York set up Pitch@Palace — an Apprentice-style contest that helps new and emerging businesses network — five years ago. But, as he “steps back” from his public work, he is looking at alternative ways to still be involved with the project.

Andrew’s canceled meeting, which was scheduled for Nov. 27 in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, comes amid claims that he is to sever his ties with the program, which has been one of his most high-profile public works in recent years.

It was revealed Wednesday that the Queen gave permission for her son to “step back from public duties for the foreseeable future” in the aftermath of his explosive BBC interview.

“It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organizations and charities that I am proud to support,” Prince Andrew said in a statement. “Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”

While Prince Andrew will not perform any more public duties as a member of the royal family, not much else will change at this time.

“He remains a member of the royal family,” a royal source says. “As a royal colonel and a war veteran, you can expect to see him at Remembrance Sunday. You can expect to see him on the balcony at Trooping the Colour too.”

The 59-year-old royal will likely retain his title as the Duke of York and keep his place in the line of succession to the throne, which is currently eighth behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s 6-month-old son, Archie. Many family members in the line of succession are not “working” royals, such as Princess Anne’s children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.

Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, also do not have official roles within the monarchy despite having causes that they champion. Their positions will not be affected by Andrew’s decision to withdraw from a public work life.

[peoplemagrpg]

Josephine Skriver Photoshoot

[peoplemagrpg]

Lady Gaga returns to the cinema. She will be Patrizia Reggiani in the Gucci’s murder film!

In the new Ridley Scott’s movie, the pop star will play the heiress condemned for the murder of her ex-husband, heir to the famous fashion house. After the triumph of “A Star is Born”, Lady Gaga returns to the cinema directed by Ridley Scott this time. The pop star will be the main character of the next film by the director of Blade Runner and The Gladiator in which she will play Patrizia Reggiani, Maurizio Gucci's ex-wife, condemned for the murder of the entrepreneur, grandson of Guccio Gucci, founder of the famous fashion house.

THE STORY The play will be based on «The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour and Greed», a book wrote by Sara Gay Forden which tell about the relationship between Patrizia Reggiani and the heir of the italian griffe, hit in broad daylight on the 25th March 1995 by three bullets while he climbed the stairs of his office in Palestro Street in Milan. The Judiciary arrested his wife, soon renamed by the italian press “The Black Widow” and condemned her as the istigator of the murder on 17th March 2000 at twenty-six years of imprisonment.

RETURNS TO THE CINEMA To play the heiress have been considerated many actress, including Angelina Jolie and Penélope Cruz but, at the end, Lady Gaga has been chosen. It’s no coincidence that the pop star has never hidden her will to continue her acting career after the success of “A Star is Born”, a movie that won eight Oscar nominations (including one for the best female main character for the pop star) and has saw her, for the first time, by Bradley Cooper side, with whom she recived the prestigious statuette for the best song assigned to the hit “Shallow”.

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People's Icon! Jennifer Aniston Calls Friends the 'Gift of a Lifetime' at People's Choice Awards

Jennifer Aniston is an icon!

The beloved actress, 50, received the People’s Icon Award on Sunday at the 2019 People’s Choice Awards on Sunday from her close friend and Murder Mystery costar Adam Sandler, who introduced her as “an incredible, caring role model with the biggest heart,” adding, “She’s exactly the way you think she is, everybody.”

“Thank you for this incredible honor. This town throws out a lot of awards, but the People’s Choice, this has always been special to me. As actors, we don’t do this for critics or for each other, or to make out families proud, you know? We do this for the money,” Aniston joked, drawing cheers from the audience. “No, I’m just kidding, we do it for you guys, we really do,” she said. “None of us could do what we do if it was not for all of you, and you all have been so good to me.”

The star added, “If I have any claim to this word ‘icon,’ it’s only because I was able to be on an iconic show, with an iconic cast, and an iconic haircut. Friends was truly — it was the gift of a lifetime, and I would not be standing up here without that amazing show, without those amazing five other actors, and with an audience who stuck with us … You believed in us, you really did, and you believed in those very impossibly large apartments.”

To conclude her speech, Aniston thanked her fans and supporters. “You paved the way for everything that I’ve had a chance to do since and it feels so good, also, that I get to be back on television, where it all started,” she said. “Thank you for being on this journey with me, and just, I love you guys.”

Aniston and Sandler also won comedy movie of 2019 for Murder Mystery.

The awards come as the actress is enjoying a celebrated return to TV with The Morning Show, also starring Reese Witherspoon. The longtime pals, who previously played sisters on Aniston’s hit show Friends, play news anchors at a morning TV show still reeling from the firing of its star (played by Steve Carell) after allegations of sexual misconduct.

Aniston recently proved her icon status when she sent fans into a tizzy by joining Instagram. The actress broke the site — which had a brief moment in time when fans couldn’t follow or see her page — before becoming the fastest person to reach 1 million followers in just over five hours.

The actress also dethroned one famous couple for the title of fastest to 1 million: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Aniston made her debut on Instagram by sharing a selfie of herself with her Friends costars Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc.

The E! 2019 People’s Choice Awards aired from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and were broadcast live on E!

[peoplemagrpg]

Why Your Next Summer Getaway Should Be Above the Arctic Circle

It’s a perfect 70-degree day at the beach: turquoise water glimmers under a warm, unfettered sun. Verdant green peaks are flanked by ribbons of white sand. This kind of island paradise could easily be Hawaii, or the Caribbean; but instead, it is off the northwest coast of Norway, above the Arctic Circle.

Located on the island of Andøya, part of the Vesterålen archipelago, this idyllic place is further north than Reykjavik, Iceland; further north than St. Petersburg, Russia; further north than Anchorage, Alaska. In theory, this place should be covered in an ice sheet. But thanks to the Gulf Stream, the area’s climate is far milder than its northern neighbors. In fact, this region of Norway is the warmest place on earth at this latitude.

Vesterålen seems to be excepted from reality—a lush mirage in a landscape that should be cold and barren. The beautiful summer days are also exempt from another reality: night. The sun doesn’t set for two months—from May 23 to July 21—making summer one long day. (Which means: pack an eye mask.)

Aside from necessitating artificial darkness to sleep, the midnight sun has a broader effect on visitors’ sense of time. Cycles of light and darkness give structure to our days and relevance to timekeeping; but when it never gets dark, the clock and meaning of its hours is upended. To this end, the region garnered media attention in June 2019 when Sommarøy, a nearby island, moved to abolish conventional time-keeping altogether during the summer months. Although this was later revealed to be a publicity stunt coordinated by one of Norway’s tourism agencies, the sentiment behind it is authentic to the local way of life, in which business opening and closing times are all relative.

Another surprise? Summer—in its round-the-clock sunlit glory—is low season in this part of Norway. The region is a popular winter destination for tourists seeking aurora borealis, but summer is mainly for locals, climbers, car campers, and other adventurers. This makes some sense, given the notable lack of easy beach access, one of the hallmarks of summer tourism.

[peoplemagrpg]

Untitled Goose Game - A goose does what it has to do

Benché in realtà non esista un metodo universale, per realizzare un gioco oggi si parte quasi sempre da un documento programmatico. Qualcuno, in genere un game designer, partorisce un’idea di massima su un gioco, la fa a pezzi, ne delinea gli aspetti fondamentali, dalle meccaniche allo stile grafico, poi traduce tutte queste intuizioni in un testo che verrà sottoposto a qualcuno con un qualche potere decisionale. Qualora dal quel foglio si intraveda un barlume di potenziale commerciale, il progetto entrerà in fase di approvazione, quindi il design iniziale subirà una serie di revisioni, verrà stabilito un budget e si cercherà il personale adatto per trasformare le parole in bit. Questo è quello che succede normalmente. Altre volte, invece, qualcuno posta la gif di un’oca nel canale Slack del team, qualcun altro ride dicendo che bisognerebbe farne un gioco e dopo un po’ di tempo salta fuori un indie pazzesco con un’oca come protagonista: Untitled Goose Game.

Quel che avete letto è tutto vero. Untitled Goose Game è nato quasi per gioco e il titolo decisamente provvisorio è testimone di questa origine incredula da cui è poi sbocciato non solo un gioco vero e proprio, ma uno dei più interessanti di questa seconda metà di 2019. Motivata da uno stile grafico accattivante e da un’ironia di fondo un po’ assurda e nonsense, la curiosità intorno al prodotto sviluppato da House House è progressivamente montata nei mesi scorsi, di pari passo a una domanda di fondo semplice: cosa ci sarà da fare nei panni di un’oca? Beh, la risposta non potrebbe essere più banale: molestare ogni singolo essere umano a portata di becco. Perché? Perché sì, ovvio. Volendo per forza ricondurre questo limpido sprazzo di genialità alle più banali categorie che si utilizzano per classificare i videogiochi, Untilted Goose Game andrebbe descritto come un puzzle stealth: un bizzarro punto di incontro tra le vecchie avventure LucasArts e le più recenti incarnazione dell’Agente 47. Subito dopo aver indossato piume e becco dell’oca senza nome, a video appaiono una serie di obiettivi collegati alla prima area di gioco, scritti a penna su un foglio di carta come la più classica delle liste della spesa.

Si tratta, in buona parte, di compiti semplici: oggetti da individuare e da spostare. La proprietà privata tuttavia – o purtroppo a seconda dei punti di vista – è ancora uno dei concetti più cari agli esseri umani, destinati a diventare per questo motivo i nemici giurati dell’oca. O forse l’oca ama molestarli semplicemente perché ne è in grado, chi può dirlo. Di sicuro, il suo starnazzare aspro e la sua capacità di interagire con gli oggetti attraverso il becco torna molto utile per imbastire piccoli e grandi diversivi con cui tenere occupati gli umani mentre i loro preziosi beni personali prendono il volo. Benché quelli appena descritti risultino in fin dei conti i soli comandi che è possibile impartire alla nostra malefica oca, oltre alla possibilità di muovere le ali, anche piani ben più elaborati sono alla portata del diabolico pennuto. Ci vuole un po’ di fantasia, una discreta dose di pensiero laterale e tanto spirito di osservazione, oltre a un minimo di pazienza e al giusto tempismo, ma anche imprese più elaborate possono essere portate a termine da un’oca abbastanza motivata. La seconda categoria di obiettivi manoscritti, infatti, costringe a elaborare macchinazioni più sofisticate il cui fine, inutile dirlo, è sempre quello di dare noia agli umani. Che si tratti di costringere un contadino a indossare il proprio cappello a tesa larga o di rinchiudere un ragazzino terrorizzato dentro una cabina telefonica, si ha sempre la sottile ma concreta impressione che l’oca provi una sorta di sadico piacere nel farlo.

È facile farsi entusiasmare da Untiled Goose Game. L’idea è originale e fuori dagli schemi. La realizzazione tecnica deliziosa e nel complesso il gioco pare non prendersi mai troppo sul serio. In realtà però dietro il look sbarazzino e il caustico cinismo c’è del talento indubbio che traspare da diversi elementi. A partire dai controlli, minimalisti, per necessità nello slancio di realismo attraverso cui sono replicate le possibilità di interazione di un’oca, eppure incredibilmente versatili. Le figure piene colorate a tinte piatte evocano atmosfere da campagna inglese degli anni ’80, tra il bucolico e il rurale: non che l’abbia mai vissuta la campagna inglese degli anni ’80, ma mentre gioco il mio cervello continua a riportarmi al Benny Hill Show, e direi che i motivi sono molteplici. A partire da quella comicità profondamente fisica, fatta di micro gag che si ripetono. Anche se il ragazzino occhialuto si spaventerà sempre allo stesso modo, sarà difficile resistere alla tentazione di mollare un “Honk!” a tradimento ogni volta che si finisce nei suoi paraggi. O trattenersi dal dare fastidio al contadino della prima area, spostando i suoi strumenti di lavoro qui e lì per puro gusto, o forse per ricambiare l’odio evidente con cui l’oca viene accolta ogni volta che varca i confini dell’orto. E come nelle gag di Benny Hill, la musica gioca un ruolo chiave. Se nelle situazioni di normalità la pace del villaggio è scandita solo dai tap tap delle zampette dell’oca in movimento, i momenti di rabbia e gli agguati sono scanditi dalle note dei preludi di Debussy, suonate in crescendo o in calando in combinazione a ciò che a quel momento sta accadendo in scena. La dimensione quotidiana, ridotta e contenuta di Untitled Goose Game è in fondo è il suo punto di forza. Questa volta non c’è un mondo da salvare, una maledizione millenaria da interrompere o un nemico che incarna in sé il male atavico, ma solo un’oca, due comandi in croce e una serie di piccoli compiti in cui cimentarsi. Invece di fare tante cose, Untitled Goose Game ne fa solo due. Per una volta è rassicurante. Non bisogna imparare combinazioni di tasti né viene da chiedersi si ci sia sfuggito qualcosa: tutto è a portata di mano. L’unico elemento esterno richiesto è lo spirito di osservazione, poiché quasi tutte le quest più articolate richiedono di intervenire al momento adatto nelle routine di comportamento dei personaggi del villaggio. Un po’ come in una domenica in provincia, con l’incentivo di potersi comportare peggio che si può.

[peoplemagrpg]

MLB trade rumors: The Yankees target that got away

The Yankees “tried hard” to pry reliever Mychal Givens from the Orioles just before the trade deadline, according to a report from the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

General manager Brian Cashman was believed to be in search of starting pitching at the time, but he repeatedly stressed that he would be open to upgrading the bullpen if starters weren’t available. Ultimately, he didn’t make any deals at the deadline.

It was unclear what the Orioles might have wanted in exchange for Givens.

Givens went 2-6 with a 4.57 ERA in 63 innings and 58 games for Baltimore. He struck out 12.4 batters per nine innings, which was a career-best. But he also walked 3.7 batters per nine innings while surrendering an awful 1.9 homers per nine.

The 29-year-old made $2.2 million last season MLB Trade Rumors projects him to make $3.2 million next year via arbitration.

Below, read a statement that MLB on Friday about three minor-leaguers recently suspended:

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced (Friday) that three Minor League players have been suspended following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

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Chrissy Teigen to Receive 2019 Baby2Baby Giving Tree Award

Chrissy Teigen continues to slay and inspire us!

The non-profit Baby2Baby, which provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and other basic necessities, announced that the TV personality and mother to daughter Luna and son Miles is the recipient of the 2019 "Giving Tree Award." Teigen will be presented with the award at this year's Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell. The gala will be held on November 9, 2019 in Los Angeles.

Every year, Baby2Baby honors a mother who uses their social platform in the public eye to advocate and support the families and children that the organization serves. We all know the Bring the Funny judge is no stranger to using her profile for the greater good.

"I'm incredibly honored to receive the Baby2Baby Giving Tree Award, particularly because the organization is so close to my heart," said Teigen in a press release. "Baby2Baby has given me an opportunity to teach my children the importance of giving back to families struggling with providing their children with the most basic necessities."

[peoplemagrpg]

Lady Gaga torna al cinema.

Dopo lo straordinario debutto in A star is born, Lady Gaga è pronta a tornare al cinema nei panni di Patrizia Reggiani, condannata per aver organizzato l’omicidio del suo ex marito Maurizio Gucci nel ’95

Dopo essersi conquistata Hollywood nei panni di Ally nel film A star is born con Bradley Cooper, aver conquistato due nomination e un Oscar per la migliore canzone originale, Lady Gaga è pronta a tornare sul grande schermo. Questa volta, la popstar sarà una protagonista noir in quanto, secondo Variety, il regista Ridley Scott l’avrebbe scelta per interpretare Patrizia Reggiani in un film sull’omicidio dell’ex marito Maurizio Gucci.

La “Vedova Nera” – come fu ribattezzata – sposata nel ’73 e divorziata nel ‘91, era stata lasciata dopo 12 anni di matrimonio da Maurizio Gucci nel 1985 per una donna più giovane. Nel ‘98 venne giudicata mandante e organizzatrice dell’omicidio dell’ex marito avvenuto sui gradini del suo ufficio di Milano nel 1995. La Reggiani fu condannata a 29 anni di carcere, poi ridotti a 26 in Appello e confermati in Cassazione, ma ne scontò solo 17 dopo aver terminato il percorso di riabilitazione.

Un’occasione imperdibile per Lady Gaga

Il film che Scott ha in preparazione parte dalla biografia The House of Gucci: A sensational story of murder, madness, glamour and greed scritta da Sara Gay Forden, di cui il regista ha acquisito i diritti e con cui torna a occuparsi di cronaca italiana dopo Tutti i soldi del mondo sul rapimento Getty che ha girato anche a Roma. Il film sulla dinastia della famiglia Gucci, scritto da Roberto Bentivegna, sarà incentrato sull’omicidio del nipote del fondatore della casa di moda, Guccio Gucci. La camaleontica Lady Gaga, che ha sempre dichiarato di voler proseguire la sua carriera anche come attrice, era da tempo alla ricerca di un nuovo progetto cinematografico e sembra che l’occasione di un’ennesima metamorfosi artistica non se la sia fatta scappare.

[peoplemagrpg]

Jared Padalecki, Supernatural Star, Arrested for Assault

One of the long-time stars of Supernatural may be in a super amount of trouble with the law. According to TMZ and other outlets, Jared Padalecki -- who stars opposite Jensen Ackles on this beloved CW drama --  was taken into custody on Sunday morning in Austin, Texas.

Here is what we know at the moment about what led to the arrest: based on surveillance footage and the accounts of various onlookers, Padalecki grew extremely violent on the sidewalk outside of a lounge called Stereotype. (Insiders have confirmed that the actor often frequents this establishment.) The ugly incident started after Padalecki allegedly hit a bartender in the face from inside the bar/restaurant ... and then actually placed a friend, who was trying to calm him down outside, in a headlock. The actor also is accused of striking the general manager of Stereotype in the face, prior to the police being called to the scene and restraining him.

In a sort of hilarious and unfortunate twist to the story, Padalecki apparently pulled out a wad of cash and attempted to bribe his way out of the arrest before officers took him in. TMZ writes that Padalecki may be an "investor" in this lounge and possibly even the owner, although this has not yet been confirmed. He was definitely present for its opening last year, however. Check out the following photo as evidence:

Per his booking sheet, Padalecki is facing two counts of assault and one count of public intoxication. His bond was set at $15,000 -- but, as of this writing, it's unclear whether or not he has posted it yet. Supernatural, meanwhile, is the longest-running hit in The CW history. It premiered in September of 2005 and will wrap up its 15th and final season in the spring of 2020.

Padalecki and Ackles have starred on the series since the very beginning, earning a passionate following as two brothers who are constantly doing battle with evil forces in order to save the planet. Talk about a lot of responsibility! In the wake of Padalecki's arrest, an endless array of fans have taken to social media with messages of support for the actor. "I hope you're fine Jared, I'm here for you! Please be fine because it was you who kept me standing all these years. Without you I wouldn't be here today! I love you," one comment read. Added another: "I love you so much. You are an amazing human being. You have your reasons for taking action. I hope you get better, you helped me through my worst moments (even by far). Don't get hurt, don't mind the mean comments. You are important." Padalecki, who also had a prominent role on Gilmore Girls, has not yet spoken about the arrest. Looking ahead, he is slated to appear and produce The CW's reboot of Chuck Norris' Walker, Texas Ranger as his next project

[peoplemagrpg]

The Chorus of #MeToo, and the Women Who Turned Trauma Into Songs

Pissed off, scared, broken—those are the emotions typically associated with songs about sexual assault. But Eva Hendricks, frontwoman for Brooklyn indie-pop band Charly Bliss, sounds positively gleeful about kicking a toxic, abusive ex to the curb and reclaiming her life on this year’s “Chatroom.” “I’m not gonna take you home/I’m not gonna save you, no,” she chants in the chorus, exuding the assurance of someone who knows she is right. “As I was writing it, it was almost aspirational,” Hendricks tells me. “And the more I sing it, the more I really do believe what I’m saying. That’s how pop music works: You put your headphones on and steal this little bit of invincibility for yourself.” Now Hendricks aims to give that moment to others. Though she was nervous at first about releasing the song, “Chatroom” has become her favorite moment during Charly Bliss shows. “It’s always the song that people dance the most to, and scream along to,” she says. “When I look out and I see people feeling the song, it makes me feel like I have a voice in a situation that made me feel totally silenced.” Over the last few years, as movements like #MeToo have destigmatized victimhood by reframing it as survivordom and tried to educate the masses on grey-area issues involving consent, I have heard a loose progression of feminist thought play out in song. It started for me in late 2015, when Lady Gaga released “Til It Happens to You,” a big, ballad-y call for survivor empathy. The song served as the musical centerpiece of The Hunting Ground, a documentary about rape on college campuses, and was subsequently nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars. Watching Gaga shakily perform it at the ceremony in early 2016, flanked by 50 survivors of sexual assault with phrases like “not your fault” written on their arms, something long buried in me shook loose. Since then, I have not stopped noticing the release of new music related to sexual assault and harassment. The most brutally obvious example arrived in mid-2017, when Kesha dropped her third album, Rainbow. Faced with staying silent while pursuing legal recourse against her alleged abuser and label-head Dr. Luke, or allowing him to potentially profit from the art she made out of her pain, Kesha chose the path of healing by releasing a record that chronicled her own recovery. Simultaneously generous and chilling, her single “Praying” hints at a powerful double meaning: She hopes her abuser is praying, both for the forgiveness of his own soul and that she doesn’t come for him like The Bride in Kill Bill. Though the singer has suffered a losing streak in the courts, you could say the #FreeKesha movement still achieved its goal: Amid public pressure, Luke and Kesha’s parent label, Sony, broke off at least some of its ties to the super producer turned pop pariah. There have always been songs inspired by sexual violence, from Bessie Smith’s bittersweet blues laments nearly a century ago, about the then-normalized practice of spousal abuse, to punk pioneers the Raincoats’ 1979 track “Off Duty Trip,” which offers commentary on how men’s professional code—be it soldier, priest, or banker—can unfairly protect them against rape charges. But it follows suit that there would be more space for these works to exist, in overt forms, during moments of broader feminist change and questioning, like the one we’ve experienced in the last two years. When #MeToo spread across social media in late 2017, it put a new spin on the old adage about there being strength in numbers, particularly as it relates to survivors. The amount of people sharing their stories in a way that wasn’t an accusation was so overwhelming, it was impossible to ignore. Couldn’t songs function in this way too, inspiring others to quietly come forward?

[peoplemagrpg]

THE WITCHES ARE COMING

In 18 pointed essays, the author addresses a variety of topics, including frivolous internet sensation Grumpy Cat, South Park, Guy Fieri, and the global significance of abortion rights and gender equality. In West’s opening tirade, she denounces Donald Trump’s repetitive usage of the term “witch hunt” while scrutinizing his uncanny “ability to conjure reality out of hot air and spittle.” This essay serves as the launching pad for further pieces exposing the sorry state of contemporary American politics and popular culture. Tough, irritated, and eager to speak her truth, the author expounds on the unifying aspects of visibility and activism to cultivate change, especially when countering the denigration of women. Her sharp wit and no-nonsense sense of humor also shine through her dissection of the work of Adam Sandler, Gwyneth Paltrow’s diet plan (her avocado smoothie “could give diarrhea an existential crisis”), and how movies like Clue shaped her perspectives and appreciation for one-liners and physical comedy. West rarely minces words, especially regarding documentaries on the Ted Bundy murders and the Fyre Festival or when expressing her sheer appreciation for the legacy of Joan Rivers, and her writing is fluid and multifaceted. Though she often rages at social injustice, she also becomes solemnly poetic when discussing her fondness for the drizzly Pacific Northwest, where she was raised and still resides, a place where she can still feel her deceased father’s presence “in the ridges and grooves of my city—we are close, superimposed, separated only by time, and what’s that? This is the only religion I can relate to.” Only occasionally are the smoothly written essays hijacked by intrusive asides—e.g., her experience inside a proselytizing Uber driver’s car, a scene wedged into her reflections on climate change. Though uneven at times, the author drives home the critical issues of our time while taking time to tickle our funny bones.

Satirical, raw, and unapologetically real, West delivers the bittersweet truths on contemporary living.

[peoplemagrpg]

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Vinyl Soundtrack Set Now Available Again

All told, the soundtrack from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt spans almost two-and-a-half hours of music. That includes music from both of the game’s story expansions, ‘Hearts of Stone’ and ‘Blood and Wine’. While you can readily purchase that soundtrack online, there is a particular vinyl edition of the soundtrack which has long been unavailable. However, the gorgeous Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Vinyl soundtrack set is now back in stock, at least for the time being.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Vinyl Soundtrack Set

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Original Game Soundtrack Deluxe 4LP Set’ is only available from ThinkGeek, where you can get your hands on it for $49.99. The set includes 63 separate tracks on 4 separate LPs; the full soundtrack from The Witcher 3 and its subsequent DLC expansions. To make them all the more visually impressive, the LPs are all colour-pressed; the two LPs featuring music from the core game are white, the Hearts of Stone LP is blue, while the Blood and Wine LP is a lustrous red. The soundtrack features music from CD Projekt Red’s lead composer, Marcin Przybyłowicz, as well as Mikolai Stroinski and Percival Schuttenbach. Check out our interview with Przybyłowicz about the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack here.

The full track listing is as follows:

Disc 1 Side A

The Trail (2:49)

Geralt of Rivia (2:22)

Eredin, King of the Hunt (2:27)

Wake Up, Ciri (1:34)

Aen Seidhe (2:36)

Commanding the Fury (2:08)

Emhyr var Emreis (2:29)

Spikeroog (3:05)

Disc 1 Side B

Silver for Monsters (2:19)

The Nightingale (1:39)

City of Intrigues (2:52)

The Hunter’s Path (2:52)

Widow-maker (2:10)

The Vagabond (2:47)

… Steel for Humans (1:27)

Fate Calls (1:58)

Drink Up, There’s More! (1:36)

Disc 2 Side A

After the Storm (1:31)

Cloak and Dagger (2:46)

Blood on the Cobblestones (2:02)

Farewell, Old Friend (2:52)

The Song of the Sword-Dancer (2:12)

The Hunt is Coming (2:05)

The Fields of Ard Skellig (3:09)

Ladies of the Woods (1:51)

I Name Thee Dea (1:20)

Disc 2 Side B

In the Giant’s Shadow (2:49)

Merchants of Novigrad (3:09)

A Story You Won’t Believe (1:37)

Go For It! (1:08)

The Wolf and the Swallow (2:36)

Like a Wounded Animal (1:11)

Words on Wind (2:48)

On Thin Ice (1:37)

Hunt or Be Hunted (2:25)

Disc 3 Side A

Hearts of Stone (2:53)

Go Back Whence You Came (1:45)

You’re… Immortal (2:54)

Evil’s Soft First Touches (2:48)

Dead Man’s Party (0:49)

Mystery Man (2:41)

Disc 3 Side B

Breaking In (1:40)

Whatsoever a Man Soweth (2:21)

The House of the Borsodis (0:49)

The Temple of Lilvani (2:21)

A Gifted Man Brings Gifts Galore (4:04)

Disc 4 Side A

Blood and Wine (2:57)

Fanfares and Flowers (3:10)

For Honor! For Toussaint! (2:04)

Blood Run (2:01)

The Banks of Sansretour (3:58)

Wine Wars (2:04)

Vivienne (1:36)

Titans of Infamy (1:38)

Disc 4 Side B

On the Champs-Désolés (2:02)

Beyond Hill and Dale (3:04)

The Mandragora (1:53)

Tesham Mutna (2:02)

Wind in the Caroberta Woods (3:19)

The Beast of Beauclair (1:37)

Searching for Cecilia Bellant (2:29)

The Night of Long Fangs (1:44)

Lady of the Lake (1:10)

[peoplemagrpg]

The Witcher: Video Game Franchise

The Witcher is a role-playing game, developed by Polish studio CD Projekt RED. The title was based on the famous fantasy saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, which tells the story of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster slayer. Knowledge of the books is not necessary to enjoy the game. Its story focuses on the events set after the end of the novel. Moreover, the main character unfortunately has been affected by amnesia, so the most important references to books are explained on the spot. Story The story begins five years after the events from the last book in The Witcher saga (Lady of the Lake). Geralt comes back to Kaer Morhen – a ruined stronghold of witchers – only to face a new threat. After repelling an attack of hired thugs, witchers, including the main character, go after the attackers’ employer. Gameplay The player takes the role of famous Geralt of Rivia, also known as the White Wolf. In his youth, he underwent a series of mutations, which made him superhumanly fast and perceptive. He is an experienced warrior, so even at the beginning of the game he is able to deal with several enemies at once. In time, however, Geralt encounters growing challenges - and here comes the character development system. The player gains experience in the traditional way - by killing enemies and completing quests. After reaching the next level, Geralt receives talents that can be spent on new skills or improving traits. An important element of the game, especially on higher difficulty levels, is alchemy. With ingredients obtained from plants and slain monsters, you can prepare potions, which give temporary bonuses (such as faster health regeneration, better reflexes, and vision in the dark). As befits a witcher, the White Wolf uses two swords interchangeably – the silver one for monsters and the steel for humans. Combat is based on the appropriate selection of blade, as well as fighting style. For example, while fighting against an agile opponent, you should use fast style, and when attacked by several enemies – group style. It is also important to perform attacks carefully, as each mouse click starts a new sequence. The point is to perform as long series of attacks as possible, without interrupting it by unnecessary clicking. You explore a semi-open world, divided into regions. All of them (with the exception of the prologue) are located near Wyzima, the capital city of Temeria. In addition to many hours of the main story, the developers prepared a variety of side quests. A strong point of the plot are its moral dilemmas. Just as in Sapkowski’s novels, the game often features conflicting equal rights, and Geralt must choose the lesser of two evils. Any such decision has real, unpredictable consequences, which sometimes come back a few hours later. Technology The Witcher for PC uses heavily modified Aurora graphics engine (known from such games as Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic), created by BioWare Studios. The developers from CD Projekt RED implemented day-night cycle, variable weather, and dynamic shadows. Music composed by Andrzej Skorupa (previously worked on sountrack to Painkiller and Gorky series) stands at a very high level and helps building distinct dark fantasy atmosphere.

[peoplemagrpg]

The Witcher TV series: everything you need to know about the Netflix show

First revealed in 2017, The Witcher TV series is produced by Netflix and is based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Over eight episodes, Superman actor Henry Cavill will bring to life Geralt of Rivia – a mutated, supernaturally-gifted monster hunter who becomes embroiled in the conflict between two powerful human nations: the Nilfgaardian Empire and Northern Kingdoms.

It’s a fantastical setting – there are elves, dwarfs, and cryptozoo of incredible monsters – but it’s nevertheless rich with relatable stories. The books and games are as capable of telling tales of petty human prejudice as they are epic stories of unmatched scale and sweep. And, best of all, we don’t have long to wait: the show will be aired in late 2019.

Don't call it a Game of Thrones copy, though – with at least one cast member for The Witcher, Royce Pierreson, saying the comparisons don't hold up to the unique flavor of the show (via Digital Spy). We also have a Game of Thrones prequel show coming anyway to scratch that itch...

Cut to the chase:

What is it? A fantasy drama, based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher will also be familiar to the fans of the massively-popular video game series of the same name.

Where can I watch it? The Witcher is set to be a Netflix exclusive.

When can I watch it? A firm release date has yet to be set, but The Witcher TV series should air towards the end of 2019.

The Witcher release date

There's no official The Witcher release date announced, though a now-deleted Facebook post (via PC Gamer) may have leaked it. The post said The Witcher TV show was only 97 days away, from September 11, meaning the first episode (or the whole season) could drop on December 17 – perfect for some Winter watching.

The Witcher TV series trailers

Ahead of its full release, Netflix has given fans a glimpse of what the show has to offer in a reasonably lengthy trailer. Take a peek at what’s in store from The Witcher TV series trailer below:

t’s a prestigious production. The showrunner is Daredevil and The Defenders writer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Cavill brings measured star power to the role of Geralt - a stoic, wary, and refreshingly nuanced hero, exploring a world that struggles to accept him.

It helps that Cavill is also a massive fan of the series – apparently, he called his agent every day until the role was confirmed.

The Witcher TV series: story rumors

As anyone familiar with the books or games knows, The Witcher is all about moral ambiguity. The showrunners have promised that characters we’ll hate when we first meet them could become ones we love later on. And even Geralt himself isn’t a classical hero: Witchers kill monsters for money, not altruism, and the SDCC trailer suggests that coin is all Geralt cares about early on.

Cavill has already mentioned that despite Geralt being a hero, he “won’t treat everyone perfectly”. And even the show’s tagline, "The worst monsters are the ones we create" hints at some thematic things: chiefly that in this world, having your horse devoured by a griffon is the least of your problems.

The topline description of the story is simply about a monster hunter struggling to find his place in a grasping, war-torn world. But it’s worth reiterating this is based on the books, not just the games, and that might allay some fears of yet another failed video game adaptation. Because it’s based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, events will take place before the game trilogy.

But even if you’ve only played the games, there’s plenty here you’ll recognise. We don’t yet know exactly which stories are being adapted, but based on the trailers and on what Hissrich has said about The Witcher’s “disjointed family” it sounds like the tumultuous relationship between Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer will be the primary focus.

There are eight Witcher novels - as well as a glut of short stories - and it sounds like the show will take inspiration from the five books that deal with Geralt’s relationship with Ciri. Does this mean that there will be no specific references to the games? That depends. Hissrich has said that if the show runs for multiple seasons, we may eventually get to the games, but right now she’s taking it one season at a time.

She has confirmed, however, that the Witcher bathtub beloved by our sister site PC Gamer may make an appearance. She told io9 at San Diego Comic-Con that yes, "There is a bathtub. I won’t tell you who’s in the bathtub, but there is a bathtub."

The Witcher TV series production design

Design-wise, it’s impossible not to infer some inspiration from the games, although there are some differences. The initial response to the first make-up test of Cavill as Geralt was mixed - specifically, the blond wig made him look more like a Creatine-pumped Legolas than the lithe character we recognise from the CD Projekt Red series. But it makes more sense seeing him in motion in recent trailers, and Geralt’s (apparently very uncomfortable) studded mail armour feels like it could be an in- game drop.

Not all the armour we’ve seen has been positively received: fans of the game were less sold on the crumpled Nilfgaardian armour seen in leaked footage from the set, with one commenter eloquently describing the soldiers as, "ballsacks with swords." There’s a chance it might look this way in order to add some post-production effects, or this could be the finished product.

And then there are Geralt’s swords. Or to be more accurate, , singular. Game Twitter was more-aghast-than-normal on learning the Netflix version of the Butcher of Blaviken only carried one sword, rather than the two he uses in the game (steel for humans, silver for monsters). But this, again, is true to the source material: Geralt has two blades in the books, but he keeps his silver sword on his horse, Roach.

On balance, there are plenty of reasons to be positive. The series won’t break the curse of terrible video game adaptations, because it isn’t one. Instead, Hissrich can draw on a vast selection of stories from a fully fleshed out fantasy universe. There’s a large, dragon-shaped fantasy gap in our TV schedule right now; The Witcher may be exactly the thing to fill it.