#Most Anticipated October 2023 Book Releases

[halloweendailynews]

Watch Our 'Making of Halloween' Trilogy Book Unboxing [Video]

Watch Our 'Making of Halloween' Trilogy Book Unboxing [Video]

The new hardcover coffee table book, Halloween: The Official Making of Halloween, Halloween Kills, and Halloween Ends was released in October of 2023, and we just got our hands on a copy of this must-own behind the scenes restrospective of the most recent trilogy of Michael Myers movies. Written by Abbie Bernstein, this official companion book covers the making of this much-anticipated movie…

[thisisadecisionimayregret]

mid-year book podcast freak out 2023

Got tagged by @allcountersarehipheight, which thank you so much for tagging me, I love to be tagged in things lol, but uh

I kinda realized that I haven't read enough books to actually do this lmfao. I did start reading Ancillary Justice this past week, and I read the book How to Keep House While Drowning (definitely recommend), and I've read a decent amount of fanfic.

But (as you know) I've had some Big Life Changes this year. Who knew, looking for apartments, packing, moving across the country, and starting a new job seriously eats up time and makes reading books difficult lol.

So anyway. The only media I've actually really consumed this year are podcasts, cause the move if anything only increased the time available for listening to podcasts. And this looked fun. So I'm gonna just. freak out about podcasts for a minute

Best book podcast you’ve read heard so far this year

The White Vault. Hooooly shit y'all. This show. I'm feeling so insane about it rn, and I am really looking forward to their next season whenever it releases and listening to their patreon-only miniseries in this world. I am just in awe of their entire production, the writing, the creeping dread and terror (my roommate laughed at me for my reactions), the fucking sound design!!!! lemme say, having Done sound design work myself, shit is hard and they really made this show next level real. And god it is impossible not to fall in love with the characters and sucked into the plot. If you hear it, it hears you too....

Best sequel you’ve read heard so far this year

The PALISADE season of Friends at the Table!! Another installment in their Divine Cycle stories and it continues to be my favorite podcast on the planet. It makes me feel so much I have trouble putting any of it into words. I can only scream incoherently and reblog the gorgeous wonderful fanart for this show. Everyone needs to listen to fatt right now immediately. This is not news to anyone who follows me lmfao

New release you haven’t read heard yet

The new season of Life with LEO(h)! I loved the first season, and I am really excited to listen to the second one that's releasing now. I haven't quite gotten around to it though, it's one of the shows where having both earbuds in helps me keep track of everything, and since I'm usually listening to stuff at work where I can't have both earbuds in, it's just been. Sitting in my playlist, waiting to be played.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Within the Wires season 8, definitely. I've been listening to the show since the first episode released in 2016 and it has remained one of my all time favorite podcasts for that entire time. I have no idea what the next season's focus will be, it's always something different, and it always always wrecks me, and it is always rearranges my brain. October can't come soon enough.

Biggest disappointment

The Two Princes. I had listened to the first season whenever that came out, but didn't follow it when it went exclusive on spotify, cause fuck spotify, but this year they quietly gave up on making it spotify exclusive. And maybe the fact I had enjoyed but felt pretty meh about season one should've been a hint for my reaction, but hey, they autodownloaded, so I decided to listen to seasons 2 and 3. And y'know. It was fine. It just wasn't particularly good. Idk, maybe I'm not the target audience for that show.

Biggest surprise

Lost Hills: The Dark Prince. It's a surprise cause it's not something I would've sought or picked out to listen to on my own. But you know the thing some shows do, where they go "hey, we're promoting another podcast, so we're dropping their first episode in our feed, enjoy" and you just go along with it instead of skipping, and afterwards you go "hm well I haven't cared about malibu or surfing At All my whole life, but now i just Gotta know the fucked up history of this One Dickhead who had a huge influence on the surfing culture that extends into the present day." Well. Here we are.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Fool & Scholar Productions! Not debut, but new to me. They're the team responsible for The White Vault (among other shows I am looking forward to listening to). Seriously, their writing and their audio production are so so so excellent and I really admire their dedication to Getting things Right, particularly in regards to how they write international characters and go to great lengths to cast people from those cultures and who speak those languages to act. And although I haven't had a chance to listen to their TWV patreon-miniseries Imperial, the whole thing about using an endangered language in it and working with speakers and scholars of that language to get things right is just. Wow. It's incredible and I am (again) so excited to listen to it and their other shows, this team really just makes the language nerd and audio nerd in me vibrate

Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character

This was so difficult but I gotta say, Vivian Exler from the Upstairs and Downstairs game of fatt Road to Palisade. Gardner/groundskeeper who gets the revolutionary zines and is constantly bickering with the mechanic. I am predictable and quickly become a fan of any Jack de Quidt character and Vivian was no exception.

Book Podcast that made you cry

Yet another win for The White Vault here. It made me cry multiple times, for sad reasons, and I mean this another glowing recommendation for this show. Love to be made to feel emotions

Book Podcast that made you happy

Ologies with Alie Ward!! Literally this podcast is just a constant source of joy and makes me so happy to be on this planet. Every single ologist Alie interviews is so genuinely excited about their subject and it is endlessly fascinating to learn more about the world around us. There's episodes that definitely can be bummers, but even the bummer episodes ultimately instill in me optimism and hope and appreciation. And also I get to leave every episode with a handful of fun facts I can bring out at parties when I'm anxious.

Alright, there we are! I'm gonna tag @housetalis (eternal thanks for introducing me to TWV) and @grand-magnificent. Feel free to do the original book freakout or do a podcast freakout or to not do it at all — no pressure either way!

[bulletnotestudies]

End of the Year Book Tag 🍂

thank you @dreamofghosts and @the---hermit for tagging me <3

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish? oh i have a couple 'on hold' at the minute, but tbh i'm not sure it i'll actually finish them my the end of the year or just dnf them (piranesi, will my cat eat my eyeballs, spy x family vol.1)

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year? not really - i was planning on reading lots of horror throughout the month of october but then life got in the way (positively, for a change :))

Is there a new release you're still waiting for? nope, my most anticipated reads have all been released by now (namely: we all fall down by r. szabo, the sunbearer trials by a. thomas, and the atlas paradox by o. blake)

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year? the sunbearer trials by a. thomas, the wicked king by h. black, and my reread of the king's men by n. sakavic (but who knows, i'm 10201% a mood reader lol)

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year? hmm i don't think so? maybe one of the cruel prince books but we'll see

Have you already started making reading plans for next year? oh i just have my endless ongoing tbr + i think i *might* give 90 books a go in 2023 :)

tagging @bennistudies @selkiestudies and @asteristudy xx

[cyarskaren52]

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.theroot.com/the-most-viral-moments-of-2023-1851131581?

CULTURE

The Most Viral Moments Of 2023

From Keith Lee causing chaos in Atlanta to a boat brawl, here's our list.

By

Candace McDuffie

Published5 hours ago

As 2023 wraps up, it’s safe to say that it was full of unpredictable moments. From that notorious Montgomery boat brawl to Keith Lee vs. Atlanta, here are the most viral moments from the last year.

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2 / 15

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That Infamous Boat Brawl

When a group of white men attacked a Montgomery Black riverboat co-captain for asking them to move their their boat, Black folks nearby ran to his defense. The result? One of the most viral and epic moments of 2023.

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3 / 15

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Rihanna’s Pregnancy Reveal

Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show was the most watched in the history of the event. She also revealed her baby bump on live television, much to the excitement of partner A$AP Rocky.

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4 / 15

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The Idol’s Awfulness

No one has ever questioned The Weeknd’s vocal abilities, but his acting skills are unbelievably bad. HBO’s short-lived series “The Idol,” in which he starred, also showcased bad plot lines, bad dialogue, bad music—and just an overall ridiculously bad time.

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5 / 15

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Anything Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, “Worthy,” was released this year and was even more salacious than anticipated. From detailing the night of “The Slap” to opening up about her entanglement with August Alsina, the book—and extensive press tour—made Jada the talk of 2023.

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6 / 15

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Frank Ocean Flubs

Thousands of music fans braved the Coachella heat to see Frank Ocean—a renowned musical recluse—perform his hits. What they got was a bizarre and lackluster show as well as a cancelation of his performance for festival’s second weekend.

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7 / 15

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Ice Spice’s SNL Fail

Ice Spice’s popularity skyrocketed in 2023, but her live performance skills still left much to be desired. Her appearance on Saturday Night Live received a slew of criticism about how the rapper needs more practice on the stage.

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8 / 15

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Keith Lee’s Atlanta Chaos

When Keith Lee visited Atlanta to review several restaurants throughout the city, he called out its inconsistent dining restrictions and long wait times. He started an all out war online about the city’s food culture and doubled down on his stance. 

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9 / 15

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Jimmy Butler’s Emo Moment

Jimmy Butler set the internet ablaze with his emo look during a Miami Heat media day. His ensemble included black nails, numerous face piercings and straightened hair. Good for you, Jimmy.

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10 / 15

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Kelis and Bill Murray

Somehow, 2023 became the year that Kelis and Bill Murray were rumored to be dating. We just want to forget about it, to be honest.

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11 / 15

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Cardi B’s Microphone Toss

When a fan threw a drink on Cardi B during an appearance in Las Vegas earlier this year, the emcee retaliated by throwing her microphone. The message: Don’t mess with a girl from the Bronx.

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12 / 15

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The Renaissance Tour

All year, social media feeds were flooded with Beyoncé fans showing off what they wore to her Renaissance tour. Sis had one of the highest grossing tours of all time, released a film based on the shows and possibly saved the economy. Well done, Bey.

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13 / 15

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Taraji Goes Rogue

During a press tour for her film “The Color Purple,” Taraji P. Henson opened up about her struggles in Hollywood as a Black actress. She discussed pay disparity and letting go of her team after they failed to capitalize on her success.

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14 / 15

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Trina Weirdly Praises Bey

A clip resurfaced from an October interview with Trina, in which she called Beyonce the number one female rapper in the game when she does rhyme. Her baffling praise was questioned by internet users—especially Nicki Minaj fans—who didn’t understand why they omitted the “Pinkprint” rapper altogether.

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15 / 15

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Sent from my iPhone

[ugdigital]

Multi-Award Winning Singer-Songwriter-Producer And Author, JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS Wraps 2023 On A High Note….

New York, NY - October 25, 2023 - Renowned multi-award singer-songwriter-producer and author, Jonathan McReynolds closes out 2023 on a high note. This year has been nothing but a non-stop rollercoaster-ride filled with amazing highs for the Chicago native.

Last week, the GMA DOVE Awards were handed out to the best of the best in Gospel music and Jonathan McReynolds was front and center not only as presenter, but also as a winner as he walked away with the "Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year" for his smash single, "Your World."

This past summer, Jonathan McReynolds co-hosted the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Awards alongside Tasha Cobbs Leonard. The evening was filled with lots of joy and excitement as his protege' and artist signed to his own record label, Life Room Label, multi-award winning artist, DOE, walked away with three Stellar Awards.

Earlier this year, Jonathan release his much anticipated fifth studio album, "My Truth" to rave reviews. The 12-track album still remains on top of the Billboard Magazine Gospel Charts and holding strong at #20 this week. "My Truth" delivered the powerful and former #1 Gospel song in the country, "Your World". The song went on to hold the #1 spot for 7 consecutive weeks. “Your World” reminds the listener of God’s sovereignty – a bop, intentionally upbeat, and happy. Jonathan McReynolds shares, “This song reflects my evolution and growth. I am not the same person I was when I wrote my first album. Now, I am secure enough to take more risks and remove any limits to my creativity. It’s God’s World, and we are just living in it!”

With the success of the "My Truth" album, Jonathan embarked on his national headlining "My Truth Tour." The tour became one of the most talked about tours of the spring. Jonathan would leave it all on the stage, night after night and city after city. In making sure to always give back, Jonathan partnered with Compassion International, a child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian aid organization that aims to positively influence the long-term development of children globally who live in poverty. "I am truly thankful for the year that I have just had. I always love and appreciate "album years", as it allows for me to go into the world with a specific theme and new message to touch the fans." "I am already looking forward to 2024 and start the creative process for another album," shares Jonathan.

As an author, McReynolds’ first book, “Make Room: Finding Where Faith Fits,” draws on testimonies in scripture and from personal experiences to invite readers to make room for God in every area of life. Jonathan is in the process of adding finishing touches to his sophomore book, to be released in 2024, under his new publishing deal with W. Publishing. Also in 2024, Jonathan McReynolds will add the title of Professor to his hyphenate, as he will teach a "Christians In Culture," course at The Moody Theological Seminary.

[marattsirelson]

Travel Apps Better Than Websites But More Progress Necessary

Travel Apps Better Than Websites, But More Progress Necessary https://ift.tt/qxmHCU2   Those are the findings of the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Travel App Satisfaction Study and the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Travel Website Satisfaction Study, released on October 17, 2023.   Apps Provide More Satisfaction, but Further Work Needed to Catch Up One of the key findings of the study is how customers prefer to work with travel provider websites and smartphone apps. On average, travelers are happiest with hotel and rental car smartphone apps, followed by airline apps, rental car websites, hotel websites, with airline websites the least satisfying tool.   “Travel apps and websites are unique because they are most frequently used when travelers are experiencing some level of stress, like when they are in travel mode, juggling bags, watching the clock or trying to navigate an unfamiliar place,” Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power, said in a press release. “Apps and websites hold a great deal of information about the particular user and their journey, making use of that information to personalize the journey, anticipate and provide support are critical to improvement.”   Although travel apps seem to create the most delight for travelers, the findings from the study suggest the industry needs to do more to satisfy their audience. As a whole, the travel industry’s website presence ranks below the insurance industry by nearly 80 points.   Among individual providers, Alaska Airlines ranks the highest in satisfaction for both airline apps and airline websites. Southwest Airlines ranks second for travel app satisfaction, but third in website ratings. Conversely, JetBlue scored second in website satisfaction and third among travel apps.   Travelers were split when it comes to hotel chain’s digital performance. World of Hyatt earned the top satisfaction rating in both website and mobile apps, while Hilton Honors came in second in both categories. While Choice Hotels was tied with Hilton for app satisfaction, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts earned third in the website category.   Between rental car providers, National Car Rental was the unilateral winner for both app and website satisfaction. Alamo ranked second in both categories. Enterprise earned the third spot for app satisfaction, while Hertz earned third place for website satisfaction.   Share your tips for getting the most out of online booking on the FlyerTalk Forums. via FlyerTalk – The world's most popular frequent flyer community https://ift.tt/hIKnTuU October 18, 2023 at 09:28PM

[bloodmaarked]

seasonal fears, seanan mcguire

released 2022

read: 08 september 2023 – 15 october 2023

3.5* rounded down. whoops this was disappointing. i anticipated seasonal fears so hard after how obsessed i was with middlegame, but it just wasn't on the same level at all.

seasonal fears takes place in the same world as its predecessor but takes a more fantastical approach (rather than science fiction) to its new cast of characters. which was unexpected, and even if i can't say it was necessarily bad, i did miss a lot of the mind-bendingly clever sci-fi feel that i'd gotten used to in middlegame. while middlegame completely had its claws sunken into my brain as i tried to understand its world and the plot and where it was going, seasonal fears sort of took my hand and brought me on a meandering stroll along a river. i don't know how well that metaphor holds up, but all this to say, it was a lot more boring and waaaaay more anti-climatic. i feel like nothing much really happened? we follow our two main characters on this huge journey to become the living embodiment of the seasons and compete for these legendary crowns, and yet it was sort of just... a long road trip? an occasional fight? a whole lot of talking and explaining and questions? and then wrapping up what we'd been building towards in the space of about two (short) chapters. not only that, but it was built up to be this epic fight for the crowns, and in the end, it was... nowhere near that (without spoiling); there were no stakes whatsoever.

the cast of characters was a lot less sharp and compelling than in middlegame. i didn't care all that much about melanie or harry. the balance of the perspectives of the two was really odd; most of the focus was on harry even though he was the far less interesting of the two. the appearance of the original cast was alright i guess. i don't know, it's just that everything about how middlegame was crafted felt so razor sharp and this was a butter knife in comparison. it's not a bad book, and i might have enjoyed it more if it was a standalone, but it was just a little disappointing as a follow-up.

apparently, the next instalment, tidal creatures, is coming next year? and i can't lie, i'm still very excited to read it in the hopes that the series could get back to the way it was and this was just a dud entry. still, middlegame reads completely fine as a standalone entry, so if it's something you'd consider reading, I highly recommend it still - it's brilliant!

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[djarshaddj]

Leo Day 1 Advance Booking Report

Leo Day 1 Advance Booking Report: Thalapathy Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Trisha, and Arjun led one of the most anticipated PAN World films of 2023, “Leo,” which is part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), gearing up for grand entry in the box office on October 19th, in Tamil. Apart from this, it is expected to release the film in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi-dubbed languages. After the film…

[greensparty]

Stuff I'm Looking Forward to in October

Can't believe it is now Q4 of 2023! In addition to Columbus Day (Oct. 9), Indigenous Peoples' Day (Oct. 9) and Halloween (Oct. 31), here is what's on my radar this month:

Movies:

The Exorcist: Believer

Using the same approach as 2018's Halloween, which was a direct sequel to the 1978 original, the same director David Gordon Green is doing a direct sequel to the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist. I would call myself cautiously optimistic (2018's Halloween rocked, Halloween Kills was bad, and Halloween Ends was somewhere in between), but with original star Ellen Burstyn back, hopes are higher than the past Exorcist sequels, prequels and TV series. Opens 10/6.

The Royal Hotel

In 2020, I was lucky enough to interview Kitty Green, director of The Assistant. Now she's back with a thriller with her Assistant star Julia Garner. Opens 10/6.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese's 3.5 hour epic about the FBI investigation into murders in the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma is THE most anticipated movie of 2023. Hands down! Opens 10/20.

The Holdovers 

An Alexander Payne movie is always a big deal, even when the movie is a letdown (i.e. Downsizing). Here, he reunites with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti for a dramedy about a New England boarding school in 1972. I'm there! Opens 10/27.

Film Festivals:

IFFBoston Fall Focus

My favorite film festival is Independent Film Festival Boston, which takes place in the Spring. IFFBoston’s mini-fest Fall Focus happens in the Fall to showcase some of the Fall festival darlings before they get released during end of the year Awards Season. This year's Fall Focus is from Oct. 19-22 at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square.

Music:

Ringo Starr Rewind Forward

In the last few years Sir Ringo Starr has been knocking out killer EPs including 2021's Zoom In and Change the World (both were included on my Best Albums of 2021 list) and last year's EP3 (read my review here). Now he is back with a new EP that features a collaboration with his former Beatle bandmate Paul McCartney! EP drops 10/13. (Review to come).

Chris Shiflett Lost at Sea

In addition to his "day job" as the guitarist for Foo Fighters and his Walking the Floors podcast, Chris Shiflett has released some solid solo albums. I was lucky enough to see him do a solo show at City Winery in Boston in 2018 (read my concert review here) and review his 2019 album Hard Lessons. His new solo album drops 10/20. (Review to come).

The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds

The Stones are releasing their first studio album since 2016 and first of original material since 2005. Expectations are high and the good news is they did some recording with Charlie Watts before he died in 2021. Special guests include former Stones bassist Bill Wyman, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Lady Gaga. Album drops 10/20.

Dhani Harrison INNERSTANDING

I was a big fan of Dhani Harrison's 2017 album IN//PARALLEL (read my review here) and after some soundtrack work and overseeing Dark Horse Records (started by his father George), he is back with a new album. Digital release on 10/20, and physical release coming 2/9/2024.

Nirvana In Utero 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition

Last month marked the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's third and final studio album. Back in 2013, I picked up the 20th anniversary edition. Much like the 2021 edition of Nevermind, they aren't just re-releasing the same reissue, they are re-releasing the In Utero album remastered along bonus tracks and some live selections, a Dec. 1993 concert in L.A. and a Jan. 1994 concert in Seattle (not to be confused with the Live and Loud concert from Dec. 1993). Various editions drop 10/27.

Books:

Nelson and Alex Demille Blood Lines

My good friend Alex DeMille collaborated with his father who happens to be Nelson DeMille on 2019's The Deserter. Now they are back with a new book due 10/10.

Bob and Erin Odenkirk Zilot & Other Important Rhymes

Speaking of parent and child book collaborations, one of my favorite actor/writers Bob Odenkirk has written a children's book illustrated by his daughter Erin. When I covered Bob Odenkirk's Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award at Harvard University earlier this year, he briefly mentioned this. Book release on 10/10.

TV:

John Carpenter's Suburban Screams

John Carpenter hasn't directed a movie since 2010's The Ward (written by my pals the Rasmussen brothers), but he's been keeping plenty busy making music with his son Cody and Godson Daniel Davies (read some of my reviews here). Now he is directing an original series premiering on Peacock on 10/13.

DVDs:

Alf: the Complete Series

The folks at Shout Factory are releasing a definitive DVD collection of every episode of Alf (1986-1990), the Alf Animated Series (1987-1990), Alf Tales (1988-1990) and the 1996 TV movie Project: Alf (read my recent blu-ray review here). For fans like me, this is very exciting and they even have some bells-and-whistles in various editions being released on 10/17.

[biblionerdreflections]

Most Anticipated October 2023 Book Releases

There are so many great books hitting shelves in October. These 10 are just a sampling of the ones I hope to add to my personal library: Continue reading Untitled

[madlovenovelist]

Most Anticipated New Book Releases October 2023

There wasn’t a lot that I instantly felt like I must have for the October Release Schedule – only 2 titles really grabbed me: ’10 Things That Never Happened’ sounds stupid in the most glorious way, and considering I’ve enjoyed Alexis Hall’s writing in the past, I’m definitely snapping this one up. ‘Starling House’ sounds like a spooky atmospheric read that tickles my chicken. 10 Things That…

[zgamesuae]

Shadows of History: Navigating 9th Century Baghdad in Assassin's Creed Mirage

Introduction

Prepare to be transported to a realm of intrigue and mystique as Ubisoft’s upcoming release, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, takes players on a captivating journey to 9th Century Baghdad. With its origins narrative of the enigmatic character Basim, this installment hearkens back to the series’ roots, embracing stealth, parkour, and acrobatic assassinations reminiscent of the beloved Altaïr and Ezio adventures. In this blog post, we delve into the key details and features that make Assassin’s Creed Mirage one of the most eagerly anticipated games of 2023.

A Return to Roots: The Essence of Mirage

As the franchise evolves, Mirage steps back from the sprawling open-worlds of its recent predecessors, Valhalla and Odyssey, and opts for a more intimate and focused gameplay experience. This back-to-basics approach is embodied in the re-emphasis on social stealth, parkour, and agile assassinations — elements that defined the early days of the series. Players can expect a return to the core mechanics that made Assassin’s Creed a household name among gamers.

Release Date and Platforms

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is poised to grace gamers’ screens on October 5, 2023 — a week earlier than its original release date. This change means that players will be diving into Basim’s story ahead of schedule, an exciting prospect for eager fans. The game will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One. Additionally, PC gamers can experience the magic via the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store.

Editions for Every Fan

When Mirage arrives, players will have three editions to choose from:

Standard Edition: Priced at AED 199, offering the core experience.

Deluxe Edition: Available for AED 249, including DLC inspired by Prince of Persia, adding extra depth to the game.

Collector’s Case: For avid fans, the AED 699 Collector’s Case features a 32cm Basim figurine, a map of Baghdad, an exclusive steel book, and more.

Pre-ordering the game secures exclusive access to the ’40 Thieves’ side quest, providing an extra layer of excitement for those eager to jump into the world of Mirage.

The Miraculous Setting: 9th Century Baghdad

The historical backdrop of Mirage is 9th Century Baghdad, a time when the city was a hub of knowledge, art, innovation, and commerce. This setting, situated a few decades prior to the events of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, offers players the chance to experience the evolution of Basim as an assassin against the rich tapestry of the Golden Age.

Mirage’s Scale and Gameplay

The game’s design embraces a more contained approach compared to its expansive predecessors. The city of Baghdad is divided into four unique districts, each intricately designed to provide a bustling and immersive environment. Ubisoft’s meticulous attention to detail ensures that every move and choice players make in the city has a tangible impact on their surroundings.

Stealth, Parkour, and Assassinations: The Core Gameplay

Mirage shines brightest in its focus on core gameplay mechanics that defined the earlier entries in the series:

Stealth: Ubisoft has reworked detection systems, granting players more control and granularity when approaching targets.

Parkour: Traversal through the city is a thrilling experience, with enhanced agility and new parkour moves like the pole vault for tackling obstacles.

Assassinations: Mirage introduces the concept of ‘Black Box missions’, allowing players to plan and execute assassinations creatively. Upgradable Assassin Tools and new assassination animations are at your disposal.

Narrative and Character Development

The storyline of Mirage offers a more linear experience, reminiscent of the original Assassin’s Creed games. Basim’s transformation from a young street thief to a Master Assassin is at the heart of this narrative, offering players insight into The Hidden Ones, the ancient organization founded by Aya and Bayek.

Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a masterful blend of history, myth, and innovative gameplay mechanics. As players step into the shoes of Basim and navigate the intricate world of 9th Century Baghdad, they will rediscover the essence that made the franchise a sensation. With a release date moved forward, a captivating setting, and a focus on core gameplay, Mirage promises to deliver an immersive experience that will leave a lasting mark on the Assassin’s Creed legacy.

[awfullydxpeched2]

Topics I am researching for a future assignment:

Music and culture

The experience of being a fan of music

Fandom and music

The importance of fans in music

Why music is one of the most important things in my life

Why 1980s music is one of the most innovative decades

Goth isn't dead, it's just underground

A History of Darkwave music

A history of Depeche Mode's enduring passionate fanbase, despite their underground status

2. Something I did this week: 

I went to lunch with my dad at Burger Patch in Davis. It's one of my favorite restaurants, especially as a vegan. It was good to see him. I'm very close to my dad, and ever since I moved out last October to Davis it's been difficult not being able to see him as often so it was good to have lunch with him and spend time with him.

3.

 Two quotes: 

“And while it remains difficult to forecast how technology trends will play out, business leaders can plan ahead better by watching the development of new technologies, anticipating how companies could utilize them, and understanding the factors that impact innovation and adoption.” (Analytics Insight)

“These represent the upcoming shift in application design and development, where consumers will utilise a single app to manage the majority of systems in an enterprise ecosystem. Over 50% of the world’s population will utilise superapps on a daily basis, predicts Gartner.” (Analytics Insight)

4.

 This week I am researching the Tubbs fire, for my American Studies Seminar on Natural Disasters. I am writing a paper on the wildfire and the communication methods used in communicating the imminent danger of the wildfire to local communities in 2017. I am using these resources: 

Gabbert, Bill. "Kincade Fire burns into two fires from 2017." Wildfire Today. October 29, 2019. https://wildfiretoday.com/tag/tubbs-fire/ Links to an external site. Accessed February 1, 2023. 

 Barber, Phil. "A Walk in the Ashes of the Tubbs Fire: Five years after Sonoma County's worst disaster." The Press Democrat. October 3, 2022. https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/a-walk-in-the-ashes-of-the-tubbs-fire-five-years-later-in-sonoma-county/ Links to an external site.  Accessed February 2, 2023. 

5. Links to five or more discovered resources (including articles, podcasts, books, websites)

6. Response to a compelling paragraph from a news story concerning Silicon Valley: Get Ready to Meet the ChatGPT Clones

"Last week, LLaMA, an AI model developed by Meta—and similar to the one at the core of ChatGPT—was leaked online after being shared with some academic researchers. The system could be used as a building block in the creation of a chatbot, and its release sparked worry among those who fear that the AI systems known as large language models, and chatbots built on them like ChatGPT, will be used to generate misinformation or automate cybersecurity breaches. Some experts argue that such risks may be overblown, and others suggest that making the technology more transparent will in fact help others guard against misuses."

This paragraph stood out to me, particularly the part about the fear of it spreading misinformation. I think this is a valid concern; with the AI's ability to generate its own content in response to a user-generated question, a question created with the intent of creating misinformation, I think this could be a problem when it comes to politics.

7. Response to an assigned reading: https://journalism.columbia.edu/best-journalism-advice

I really enjoyed reading the advice given in this article. The one that stood out to me the most was the idea of doing in depth research before, and doing in depth interviews. When I started doing journalism I think that was something I underestimated a little, which is why I struggled with some pieces at first. I think with some time, I realized that doing proper interviews and research will help a story idea appear with ease, and this is now something I apply to all writing, not necessarily just journalism, and have found ideas come much more easier to me now.

8. An anecdote about something you did this week:

I started meeting up with my boyfriend at the Shields Library Reading Room to do study sessions on Monday and Wednesday's from 12:00 to 1:30 before going to journalism. It's been a way to spend time together while doing other things, but has been also a way for me to learn more about him as a student and his interests in relation to his major, and to understand him more intellectually as we've been having conversations about linguistic anthropology and I understand a new subject more, as well as his passions.

[reviewsthatburn]

Recent reviews:

BLACK WATER SISTER by Zen Cho is Fantasy, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Jess starts hearing her deceased grandmother's voice in her head. Told in Third Person with Single POV.

THE LAKE OF SOULS by Darren Shan, book 10 of Cirque Du Freak is Fantasy/Horror, with queer character(s), marketed as Middle Grade. Darren and Harkat go through a portal to a strange and horrifying place to find out who Harkat used to be. Told in First Person with Single POV.

THE SAVAGE DAWN by Melissa Grey, book 3 of The Girl at Midnight is Fantasy, with queer character(s), marketed as Young Adult. Echo has to try and stop the Dragon Prince without losing herself entirely. Told in Third Person with Ensemble POVs.

THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES by Sangu Mandanna is Contemporary/Fantasy, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Mika Moon is a witch, hired to teach three young witches to control their magic. Told in Third Person with Ensemble POVs.

LORD OF THE SHADOWS by Darren Shan, book 11 of Cirque Du Freak is Fantasy/Horror marketed as Middle Grade. Darren returns to his hometown with the Cirque, anticipating one more chance to stop Steve Leonard. Told in First Person with Single POV.

ON THE EDGE by Ilona Andrews, book 1 of The Edge is Fantasy/Romance marketed as Adult. Rose lives in the Edge and works as a cleaner in the Broken so she can can take care of her brothers. A blueblood from the Weird comes to have her, but first they must fight off a horde of creatures hungry for magic. Told in Third Person with Ensemble POVs.

Full newsletter at link.

[aion-rsa]

The Exorcist Reboot Will Kick Off Trilogy With Ellen Burstyn Returning

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The power of Christ may compel you, but at least in Hollywood the Devil still holds some sway. Indeed, an entire trilogy of The Exorcist sequels is now taking shape at Blumhouse Productions, Universal Pictures, and Peacock, and the new movies will even see Ellen Burstyn reprise the role of Chris MacNeil for the first time in 50 years. That’s some damn powerful casting.

Producer Jason Blum recently revealed to Den of Geek that David Gordon Green was writing a sequel to the seminal 1973 horror movie which would “be like David’s Halloween sequel,” referencing the 2018 reboot that ignored all the previous Halloween follow-ups and acted as a definitive follow-up to the 1978 original. That movie has since been spun off into a full fledged trilogy, including this October’s Halloween Kills. At the time, it was an open question whether that meant Green’s The Exorcist would ignore the other Exorcist sequels and prequels released between 1977 and 2005. However, in a recent interview Green suggested that his new film would not necessarily contradict those other sequels, even as it goes in its own way from them.

We now have a lot more clarity on what that way is thanks to Universal, which has confirmed the new movie will star the Tony-winning Leslie Odom Jr. in an unspecified role, as well as Burstyn. Additionally, they revealed actor-writer-producer Danny McBride and Scott Teams co-wrote the story for the new Exorcist movie. (McBride previously co-wrote 2018’s Halloween.) The finished script for the new movie is penned by Green and Peter Sattler (Broken Diamonds), and is already considered to be the first part of a trilogy. Further the movie has been slated for an Oct. 13, 2023 release date.

The news is fairly remarkable on several levels. First there is the fact that Burstyn is reprising the role of Chris at all. Burstyn famously declined appearing in John Boorman’s misbegotten Exorcist II, which arguably sank all interest in the series as a franchise for a generation (more on that in a moment). While the movie unfortunately saw Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Kitty Winn return and somewhat besmirch their characters from William Friedkin’s 1973 masterpiece, Burstyn was vindicated by how scathingly the movie was received, including by the author and screenwriter of the first Exorcist, William Peter Blatty. Blatty won an Oscar for adapting his own book of the same name into the first movie, and eventually wrote and directed the single Exorcist sequel worth a damn, Exorcist III (1990)—but even then that was only a tangentially connected semi-spinoff of the original film that utterly ignored Exorcist II. It also failed at the box office in part due to the reception of Exorcist II.

Nonetheless, as the years have passed the original Exorcist has remained widely considered to be one of the scariest films ever produced, if not the scariest. It is also the highest grossing horror movie of all-time when adjusted or inflation. While its direct sequels didn’t succeed at the box office, the movies it influenced are legion, including recent box office hits like The Conjuring franchise.

It’s likely for that reason Universal and Peacock are betting so big on the brand being worthy of resurrection in the year of its 50th anniversary. The original movie still has a grim aura around it, even for folks who’ve never seen it. Blum told us this month that “I love to do [these] kinds of movies because people are very emotional about it… Remember most of the audience coming to this—95 percent of the audience who will, if we do our job right, come to see this movie—will not have seen the first Exorcist or even heard of it.”

That level of potential profitability has led to a whole trilogy to be planned, and with Peacock to be visibly announced as a partner in the venture, possibly suggesting the sequels will have a truncated theatrical window, albeit Universal has made clear the first movie will debut in theaters in 2023. It’s also led talent like Odom to join the project. A star of stage and screen, Odom won a Tony for playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton and has since been nominated for an Emmy this year for that same performance. He has also been nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami. He also is currently filming Rian Johnson’s highly anticipated Benoit Blanc mystery, Knives Out 2.

So getting Odom to agree to lead The Exorcist for a new generation while also getting Burstyn to agree to reprise one of her most beloved roles after she wisely turned down Exorcist II suggests a lot of money and confidence in the Blumhouse approach to the material. Albeit, if Burstyn is coming back, I am sure fans will already be speculating if and when Linda Blair will be invited to join in the franchise-building exercise…

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The post The Exorcist Reboot Will Kick Off Trilogy With Ellen Burstyn Returning appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[pastordorry-blog]

Let’s Talk about Mindset

John 9:1-12

John Week 7

August 19, 2018

            Have you heard that Uber is planning to start demonstration flights of air taxis in 2020?  Yup, air taxis.  This is not a joke, and no, it’s not a re-make of the Jetsons.  It’s for real!  Uber has designed a prototype of an electric air taxi that seats four passengers plus a driver in a long tube.  It has a top rotor that allows it to take off like a helicopter and rear power that allows it to run like a plane.  It will be quieter more efficient than any aircraft, fixed or rotary wing, currently traveling our skies.  Uber expects the air taxis to go between 150 and 200 miles an hour—pretty quick!  And they will fly at an altitude of one to two thousand feet.  They will take off and land at air taxiports that will be built on top of buildings.

Sound crazy?  2020 is only two years away.  Uber plans to test these air taxis in Dubai, Dallas and Los Angeles, and it won’t be until 2023 at least that they come to Philadelphia.  But, according to one news article I read, “As nonsensical as it may seem, flying cars are on the brink of takeoff.”  Get it?  Flying cars, on the brink of takeoff?  I’ll believe it when I see it!

But, honestly, I already do believe it.  When I was growing up, my family had an avocado green telephone with a rotary dial attached to the wall.  That was the only phone in the house.  If you wanted to talk on the phone, you had to do it in the kitchen.  When we got a cordless phone, it was still connected to our land line, but now you could talk anywhere in the house!  That was a huge deal!  Now, phones have evolved even more.   Whodda thunk thirty years ago that our phones could also be our address books, our maps, our cameras, even our entire library?  Maybe that isn’t how you use your phones, but you know enough people who do use their phones that way to be confident this works.    Change comes our way that we could never anticipate, never imagine.  So I am keeping an open mind about the air taxi concept.  It is very possible that within the next ten years, the majority of us will have had a ride in one!

I know, that is very hard to believe.  Hang on to that feeling, then, as we look at our scripture lesson for today. "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  Jesus' disciples looked at the blind man, and all they could see was that he was either a sinner himself, or the product of sin.  That is how they were raised to think.  For most of Jewish history, people assumed that if something bad happened to you, either you or your parents had sinned.  If you were righteous, you got rewarded with a long life, lots of children, and material blessings. But if you were a sinner?  You punished you by either keeping you from living a long life, or keeping you from prospering, or keeping you from having children that couldn’t carry on your family name.  We could call that a mindset of judgment.

About four hundred years before Jesus, people started to question the mindset of judgment, and we got books like Job and Ecclesiastes in the Bible as a product of this discomfort.  Not all bad people get punished; not all good people get blessed.  But even despite this questioning, it was still the prevailing mindset in Jesus’ day.  So naturally, the disciples looked at the man born blind and saw a sinner, or the product of sinful people.  But Jesus! When he looked at the man born blind, he saw something completely different.  Jesus saw a man born to reveal the works of God.  Jesus saw a saint.  This is what I would call a mindset of grace.  And it is grace that sets us free.  The man born blind got set free, not only of his limited sight, but he also got set free from a rigid stereotype about how God works.

Freedom is an amazing and complicated gift.  Uber is sinking all this money into the flying taxi program in order to help people break free from the traffic jams that dominate travel is many of our urban centers.  Maybe they will put in air taxis along the Blue Route!  I know some people who would love that.  Jesus didn’t come to help us break free from rush hour congestion. But he did come to help us break free of the mindset of judgment.  He looks at each one of us, and instead of seeing our flaws and our limitations, he sees people born to reveal the glory of God!  What greater freedom could there be than to be set free to become the creatures God intended for us to be from the very beginning?

The thing about the judgmental mindset, though, is it is hard for people to get past. After the blind man was healed, people in that community struggled with the man's identity.  Was he the beggar they used to see, the man blind from birth? Some people said yes, some said no, they weren't sure, because how could a man born blind suddenly be able to see? This was as shocking an idea to them as air taxis are to us.  

         If you go home this week and read the rest of chapter 9 for yourself, you will find out that this miracle healing disturbed the Jewish officials so much, so they hauled the blind man in for questioning.  At first the blind man said he was healed by "that man, Jesus". Later he would go on to say he was healed by a prophet, and then ultimately, he boldly proclaimed that he was healed by the Son of God!  The Jewish officials were convinced he was a liar, a fraud, a sinner of some sort, because they had been raised in that judgmental, fixed mindset.  But a mindset of grace sees something different.  But when Jesus looked at that man, he saw an evangelist, a witness, a disciple.  He saw a man born to glorify God.  And by the end of chapter nine, the blind man saw himself that way, too.

         I don't think it's by accident that John does not give us the name of this man born blind, because this man's story could be all of our stories.  Not that we were born blind.  But we were all born with some limitations, and all of us have experienced suffering.  None of us is perfect.  Others might look at us and see us as sinners.  We might have even been taught that this is how God prefers to view us.  But what if that is not how God looks at us at all? What if, when God sees each of us, God sees people born to glorify God?  What if God see people, born to be, each in our own way, evangelists, witnesses, disciples?  What if, when God sees us, God sees saints?  And what if, we grew to see ourselves that way, too?

         The ministry of Jesus Christ was always drawing people away from the mindset of judgment, into the mindset of grace and the freedom that grace produces. He quoted the prophet Isaiah and said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)  This is more than a story about a man born blind being healed. This is a story about a man becoming free to see himself the way God sees him.  Not as a sinner.  But as a saint.  Someone called and gifted to participate in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Since coming to Lima, I have been thinking a lot about God’s “vision” for our church.  What does God see when God looks at us?  What does God want to see?  These days, it seems every church is supposed to have a unique slogan for marketing itself, and a “signature mission” that they are known for, even a particular way they like to worship.  Well, here at Lima, we have at least three slogans for marketing ourselves; we are exploding with mission support, donating to over two dozen agencies and causes every year; and we have four very distinct worship services!  I knew one of my goals this year needed to be to help us discern a more unified mission, but I didn’t know how that would be possible.

But lo and behold, one morning I was getting out of the shower, and it occurred to me, “What if the vision for Lima Church is simply this: every member engaged in meaningful ministry”?  You may already know this, but maybe you don’t:  when God looks at you, God does not see sinner or righteous.  The day will come when there is a great judgment, but for now, I believe God simply sees us as people, like the man born blind, who are born to reveal the glory of God.  We are born to do God’s works.  What that boils down to for me is, all of us are ministers!  What God wants to see when God looks at us is an army of ministers at work both in the church and beyond it.

This idea, that all of us are ministers, might sound as crazy to you as flying taxis.  That’s why I’m talking to you about it now.  During September and October, I will be meeting in small groups to try to get to know you all a little better, and one of the questions I will be asking you is, “Tell me about your ministry.”  I don’t want anyone to feel put on the spot or pressured to come up with an answer.  So think about it.  Maybe you hold a leadership position at the church, and if so, thank you for your ministry! But my guess is, there are many other places the people of this congregation find themselves engaged in ministry. In fact, I know you are engaged in ministry, because I see ministry just about everywhere I go.  Recently I went for a colonscopy, and I was very nervous about it, and when I told the nurse I was very anxious, you know what she did?  She put her hand on my shoulder and gave me a very reassuring squeeze. I noticed later she was wearing a cross necklace.  I wonder if she knows that she has a ministry of compassion?  What a blessing to me.

I lost my driver’s license last weekend and went to the photo license center across the street here on Thursday, and while I was there I got a little confused about the system.  One of the employees very patiently and calmly explained where I should go next. I believe he has a ministry of peace-keeping, right there at the DMV.  Maybe your ministry is to positively impact the people you work with, or who work for you, or who you work for.  Maybe your ministry is to encourage the students who wait at your tables in your retirement community.  Maybe your ministry is to pray every day for your children and grand-children, or for the children in our school district.  Maybe your ministry involves caring for our environment.  Whatever it is, I hope you will own it, and I can’t wait to hear about it!

Two thousand years ago, faithful Jews looked at people with the mindset of judgment: either you were righteous, or you were a sinner, and the results could be clearly seen.  When Jesus healed the man born blind, he threw all of this in to question.  He spit into some dirt, made a paste, and mucked things up so that eventually we would all see things clearly.  Jesus wants us to have this mindset of grace so we never limit our potential by some out-dated beliefs about ourselves.  It’s true, we are ordinary, sinful people—but through the extraordinary grace of God, we are also Christians, little Christs, designed and called to carry on the work Jesus began.  

The world is changing very rapidly these days.  Uber is betting that air taxis will set people free from traffic jams. We will have to wait and see on that. But we already know, Jesus came to set us free from spiritual traffic jams.  We don’t have to wrestle with questions about who sinned or are we being judged.  Instead we can embrace the grace, and see the world as one great opportunity to demonstrate God’s loving kindness.  What is your ministry?  In the name of Jesus, Amen.