#undiscovered Vietnam

[travelernight]

Vietnam’s Best-Kept Secrets Top 10 Hidden Wonders Revealed

[trahoalai]

(It’s Time For Water Themed Questions With Julie!) have you ever been in the ocean? if you were a pirate what would you name your ship? do you think there’s undiscovered sea monsters? do you need to go drink water?

Ive actually been drinking plenty of water :DD and artichoke tea its way different than you would expect it to taste haha

yeah around five years ago me and my mom went to vietnam, we had like a boat tour and saw many islands :0 I didnt enjoy it as much as I should have bc the sand was really irritating me, I wanna do it again

also like every time I go to the beach if that counts hehe

ik they're super bad for the environment but I love boats and cruises, theres something soothing about floating and being surrounded by all water.....maybe I was a pirate in a past life lmao. probably after some mythological creature. look up the legend of hoan kiem lake :0

yeah why not. I love paranormal stories and folklore I think its so interesting and it adds spice to my life 💖

[gokitetour]

Tips for a Smooth and Memorable Trip to Vietnam

A trip to Vietnam promises to be a tapestry of experiences that weave together old customs, magnificent landscapes, and a rich cultural history. Strategic preparation is essential to ensuring that your journey is not only effortless but also memorable. The key to a memorable vacation begins with rigorous pre-trip preparations, which include everything from obtaining appropriate travel paperwork to studying the subtleties of local customs and traditions.

The charm of Vietnam extends beyond its stunning surroundings; it is a gourmet sanctuary with a distinct culinary character. Exploring the numerous street food markets and eating renowned meals like pho and banh mi is a crucial aspect of the voyage, providing an intimate connection with the tastes of the nation. Respecting cultural etiquette is also important, since it improves relationships with locals and fosters a greater understanding of Vietnam's customs. Navigating the complex transportation system, from crowded metropolitan streets to tranquil rural areas, necessitates a combination of cautious preparation and a feeling of adventure. Consider going off the beaten road to find Vietnam's hidden beauties as you begin on this journey. This introduction sets the groundwork for a thorough examination of recommendations that guarantee not just a smooth but wonderfully enjoyable journey through Southeast Asia's heart.

Here are some tips for a smooth and memorable trip to Vietnam.

1. Pre-trip preparation: Before departing on your vacation to Vietnam, extensive pre-trip planning is required to ensure a seamless and memorable experience. Begin by getting the essential travel documentation, such as a valid passport and, if necessary, a visa. Research the weather conditions for your vacation, since the climate in Vietnam varies greatly from north to south. To demonstrate respect for Vietnamese culture, become acquainted with local customs and traditions. Make a preliminary schedule of the areas you wish to see as well, providing a fair mix of urban and rural excursions.

2. Culinary Adventure: Vietnamese food is famous across the world for its bright tastes and diversified offerings. Explore the local food scene to make your vacation unforgettable. Don't limit yourself to traditional cuisine; try local favourites like pho, banh mi, and bun cha. Visit lively street markets to experience real cuisine and interact with the people. Be wary about street food cleanliness; seek vendors that have a large client turnover to maintain freshness. Exploring Vietnamese food is more than just a chance to eat; it's also a chance to learn about the country's rich culinary heritage.

3. Etiquette in a Cultural Setting: Respecting local traditions and cultural norms is essential for a pleasant and courteous trip to Vietnam. A basic awareness of Vietnamese etiquette will help you engage with people and have a more enjoyable travel experience. A traditional welcome, for example, entails a small bow and putting your hands together in a prayer-like motion. While entering someone's house, remove your shoes and dress modestly, especially while visiting sacred locations. Learning a few simple Vietnamese words, such as hello and thank you, may help develop friendships and demonstrate appreciation for the local culture.

4. Transportation Suggestions: Getting across Vietnam's transportation system may be an adventure in and of itself. Consider combining forms of transportation to guarantee seamless travel. Domestic aircraft are efficient for long-distance travel, although trains and buses provide a lovely path through the countryside. In cities, use cyclos or the classic cyclo-pousse to experience the colourful street life. Crossing major streets in places like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where traffic may be hectic, should be done with caution. Accept the pandemonium, but do it with caution to ensure a safe and happy journey.

5. Undiscovered Treasures and Off-the-Beaten-Path Locations: While renowned tourist attractions should not be missed, try traveling off the main path to explore Vietnam's hidden jewels. Explore the tranquil beauty of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, complete with spectacular caverns, or immerse yourself in the cultural richness of Hoi An Ancient Town. Take a boat excursion across the Mekong Delta to see the lively river life and floating marketplaces. These less-travelled areas provide a one-of-a-kind and authentic experience, allowing you to engage with the local way of life outside of the tourist traps.

 Finally, arranging a pleasant and memorable trip across Vietnam necessitates a careful combination of cultural appreciation, gastronomic discovery, and strategic preparation. Understanding and accepting the subtleties of Vietnamese living may optimize the kaleidoscope of experiences given by this Southeast Asian treasure, from frenetic metropolitan environments to calm rural getaways.

Exploring Vietnam holiday packages from Delhi or Vietnam holiday packages from India might be a wise decision for individuals looking for a hassle-free trip. These carefully crafted packages frequently offer a perfect combination of local expertise and convenience, ensuring that every moment of your vacation is dedicated to soaking in the beauty and authenticity of Vietnam. As your Vietnamese adventure comes to an end, the memories formed amid the bustling street markets, hidden jewels, and friendly encounters with people will remain as treasured souvenirs. Vietnam's enthralling blend of history, culture, and natural beauties provides an unrivaled setting for an out-of-the-ordinary tour. The enchantment of Vietnam rests in its capacity to leave an everlasting impact on the hearts of individuals who cross its different landscapes, whether navigating the busy streets of Hanoi, sailing the Mekong Delta, or discovering the ancient village of Hoi An. Vietnam calls every stride, every taste, and every interaction a location where the promise of a seamless and enjoyable journey becomes a genuine reality.

[travelcompany]

Unveiling Vietnam’s Best-Kept Secrets: A Journey Beyond Tourist Trails

Discovering Vietnam's Hidden Gems

Vietnam, a country rich in history and culture, goes beyond the well-trodden tourist paths. Venture off the beaten track, and you'll find yourself immersed in a tapestry of hidden delights that truly define the essence of this Southeast Asian gem.

The Charms of Hidden Villages

Embark on a journey to Vietnam's concealed villages, where time seems to stand still. Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions of these lesser-known communities. From the warm smiles of locals to the centuries-old customs, these villages offer an authentic glimpse into Vietnam's soul.

Culinary Delights Beyond Pho

While Pho may be Vietnam's culinary ambassador, exploring off-the-grid eateries reveals a world of undiscovered flavors. From street-side stalls serving Banh Mi with a twist to quaint family-run establishments, every corner offers a culinary adventure waiting to be savored.

Tranquil Retreats Amid Nature's Embrace

Escape the bustling city life and find tranquility in Vietnam's hidden natural wonders. Secluded waterfalls, untouched beaches, and serene mountain retreats provide a serene backdrop for those seeking a peaceful escape. Discover the untouched beauty that nature has carefully preserved away from the tourist rush.

Connecting with Local Artisans

Vietnam's hidden treasures extend to its talented artisans, crafting traditional wonders away from the tourist spotlight. Dive into local markets and witness skilled hands weaving intricate patterns into textiles or molding clay into timeless masterpieces. Connecting with these artisans unveils the true heartbeat of Vietnamese creativity.

Why Stray from the Usual?

Authentic Experiences Await

Venturing beyond tourist trails in Vietnam isn't just about avoiding crowds; it's about embracing authenticity. Every hidden corner tells a story, and every local encounter becomes a genuine cultural exchange. Step away from the ordinary and into the extraordinary.

A Photographer's Paradise

For photography enthusiasts, exploring Vietnam's hidden gems offers a visual feast. Capture the raw beauty of untamed landscapes, the vibrant colors of local markets, and the soulful expressions of hidden communities. Every click of the camera tells a tale of Vietnam's hidden wonders.

Plan Your Offbeat Adventure

Tips for the Intrepid Traveler

Connect with Locals: Engage with the community for a richer experience. Local insights can lead you to hidden gems.

Ditch the Guidebook: While guidebooks are handy, leave room for spontaneity. Serendipitous discoveries often happen off-script.

Embrace Culinary Adventures: Don't hesitate to try local delicacies from lesser-known eateries. The best meals are often found where locals dine.

Read More: Vietnam Travel: Discover the Hidden Gems of Vietnam

[adventuregirl2023]

Embrace Independence: A Solo Traveler's Paradise in Unique Destinations

Introduction

Solo travel is a liberating experience that allows individuals to embrace independence, self-discovery, and the thrill of navigating new landscapes alone. For those seeking unique and off-the-beaten-path destinations, this guide unveils paradises that cater to Best solo travel destinations, providing not only a sense of adventure but also opportunities for personal growth and cultural immersion.

Svalbard, Norway: Arctic Wilderness and Polar Wonders

Tucked away in the Arctic Circle, Svalbard offers a pristine wilderness that is a solo traveler's dream. The archipelago's glaciers, fjords, and snow-covered mountains provide a stunning backdrop for exploration. From encountering polar bears on ice floes to witnessing the Northern Lights in all their glory, Svalbard promises an unparalleled Arctic adventure for those who dare to venture north.

Albanian Riviera: Hidden Gems along the Adriatic Coast

The Albanian Riviera, along the shores of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, remains an undiscovered gem for solo travelers. With its secluded beaches, charming villages, and ancient ruins, this stretch of coastline invites exploration and relaxation. Hike through the Llogara Pass, discover the UNESCO-listed city of Gjirokastër, and unwind on pristine beaches without the crowds found in more touristy destinations.

Laos: Tranquility in Southeast Asia

While neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam attract hordes of tourists, Laos remains a tranquil haven for solo travelers seeking a slower pace. Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site, enchants with its historic temples and French colonial architecture. The Mekong River, vibrant markets, and lush landscapes create an atmosphere of serenity, making Laos an ideal destination for introspective exploration.

The Azores, Portugal: Volcanic Beauty in the Atlantic

Situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores archipelago is a remote paradise for solo travelers seeking natural wonders. Volcanic craters, hot springs, and lush landscapes define these Portuguese islands. From hiking the calderas of São Miguel to whale-watching off Pico Island, the Azores offer a unique blend of adventure and tranquility.

Uzbekistan's Silk Road Cities: Timeless History and Rich Culture

For solo travelers with a passion for history and culture, the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan beckon. Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva boast intricate Islamic architecture, bustling bazaars, and a rich history that harks back to ancient trade routes. Navigating the Silk Road cities solo allows for a deeper connection with the region's storied past and vibrant present.

Faroe Islands: Nordic Beauty and Secluded Serenity

The Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, offer solo travelers a Nordic escape like no other. Rugged cliffs, picturesque fjords, and charming villages characterize these islands. Whether hiking to the iconic Drangarnir sea stack or exploring the turf-roofed houses of Tinganes in Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands provide solitude amidst breathtaking landscapes.

Colombia's Coffee Region: A Cultural Landscape

Colombia's Coffee Region, also known as the Coffee Triangle, offers solo travelers a unique blend of culture, nature, and coffee heritage. Quaint towns like Salento and Manizales provide a gateway to lush coffee plantations and verdant landscapes. Engage with locals, embark on coffee farm tours, and hike through the Cocora Valley for a taste of Colombian hospitality and natural beauty.

Oman: Arabian Nights and Desert Dreams

For solo travelers seeking an Arabian adventure away from the bustling tourist hubs, Oman offers a blend of tradition and modernity. Explore the vibrant markets of Muscat, wander through ancient forts, and traverse the mesmerizing Wahiba Sands desert. The hospitality of Omani locals, the beauty of the Hajar Mountains, and the pristine coastline create a solo traveler's haven in the Arabian Peninsula.

Georgia's Kazbegi National Park: Caucasus Majesty

Tucked away in the Caucasus Mountains, Kazbegi National Park in Georgia provides a scenic retreat for solo travelers. The iconic Gergeti Trinity Church against the backdrop of Mount Kazbek is a visual spectacle. Hike through the rugged landscapes, encounter traditional Georgian hospitality, and immerse yourself in the tranquility of this lesser-explored gem in the South Caucasus.

Conclusion

Solo travel, with its spirit of independence and adventure, becomes even more enriching when explored in unique and offbeat destinations. From the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard to the historic Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan, these paradises offer solo travelers an opportunity to forge a personal connection with diverse landscapes and cultures. Embracing independence in these hidden gems allows solo travelers to navigate their own journey, fostering self-discovery and creating memories that are uniquely their own. So, as you embark on your solo adventures, consider these destinations that promise not only solitude but also the thrill of uncovering the extraordinary in the less-explored corners of the world.

[back-and-totheleft]

"I'm scared for the world"

Longtime filmmaker Oliver Stone has never been shy when it comes to contentious topics or going after accepted thinking. But his new documentary, Nuclear Now — which makes the case for nuclear energy as a silver (not magic) bullet against climate change and the literal end of the world — has a more hopeful tone than most of his earlier work. In the latest episode of On With Kara Swisher, Kara talks to Stone about the film, that shift, and what turns an infamous counterculture warrior into an advocate for nuclear-power plants. In the below excerpt, Swisher and Stone discuss the pros and cons of atomic energy, the decades-old efforts to demonize it, Hollywood’s role in that, and why, in Stone’s mind, more nuclear accidents might have actually done some good.

Kara Swisher: You’ve made over 30 films. You’ve told stories about Vietnam War, greed on Wall Street, figures like JFK, Nixon, Bush, Edward Snowden, Vladimir Putin, and now nuclear energy and climate change. What’s the through line of your career, at what you’re trying to build here with this body of work across complicated, often controversial topics?

Oliver Stone: Well, one doesn’t think about it in terms of — when you’re a young person, you don’t say I’m gonna be this at the end of my life. You just do it as you go, and the issues that concern you often concern the rest of the world. I mean, I have been very conscious of the news, I was raised that way in New York City by my father who was conscious of the news, and I’ve always been interested in who’s president and economic policy. My father was an economist — and trying to follow the trends. Nuclear energy, I mean, the concept of clean energy has been haunting for the last few years. Everyone’s talking about it since they’ve acknowledged climate change, since let’s say the 2000 period. And certainly, Al Gore’s film brought attention to it in 2006. So it’s scary. It’s — even if you don’t accept climate change and some people don’t — what, how, what is the best way to utilize energy in our country? And that could be conservation conscious? And in that regard, when you do the research and you go around and you talk to the scientists, people who know, who don’t just have opinions but who know, it comes out that nuclear energy is a must — is a must.

Kara Swisher: But what made you do that? You said most of your films unpack a lie. You say undiscovered lies that people won’t admit, I think in an interview. Explain the lie that got you motivated to do an entire documentary, a two-hour, almost two-hour documentary.

Oliver Stone: Well, I didn’t see, I didn’t see it as a lie when I started. It was simply to deal with this issue of where are we going? I mean, everyone was talking about taking pro-nuclear, anti-nuclear positions. It’s tedious to listen to these arguments because it’s a what if, what if, what if, kind of question mark. We want to move beyond that and try to solve the problem. So when I read this book called A Bright Future written by Josh Goldstein, who was a professor of international relations, and a nuclear engineer, scientist from Sweden called Stefan Swiss. They laid out in a very simple book, it was very clear — it’s very dry and hard to read — but it’s clear that we’re going to need a lot of nuclear energy in the next 30 years to meet the standards of what the IPCC calls — 2050 is going to be kind of a — breakpoint, when the earth is gonna no longer be able to recover from warming, and it will just keep warming itself.

Let’s say that’s true, but even if it were not true, I would still be saying, and these books would still be saying we need nuclear energy, and we had it, it worked.

Kara Swisher: Sure. I guess what I want to get to is like, why this? There’s crisis all over the  world, including misinformation, political partisanship. What prompted you to come to this. You read a book that you liked, right? Uh, there’s lots of books and lots of —

Oliver Stone: Because I’m scared. I’m scared for the world. I have children, hopefully I’ll have grandchildren. What’s my daughter and son gonna face? It’s the prospect of the earth getting worse, is what scares me. The earth should be getting better because we know, we know more and more and more and we have more tools that help us and we’re not. It’s not getting better. The carbon dioxide poisoning in the air, along with the methane gas poisoning in the air, is growing.

Kara Swisher: So this compelled you to make an argument that the answer is, the solution is nuclear energy. So I want you to explain why you think nuclear is the answer and compare it to solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy that we’ve been sold on. Cause it’s — you can get more out of it. More bang for your buck, so to speak.

Oliver Stone: Yeah. Well, because nuclear operates 24-7, I mean, it’s basically a capacity of about 90 percent plus. It’s always going night and day. Once it’s built, it’s expensive, [but] once it’s built, the maintenance is very smooth and and it runs and it runs and we take it for granted, and we took it for granted in our country. And we never really kind of realized it. We looked to one accident, which was Chernobyl, which terrified the world —

Kara Swisher: And Three Mile Island.

Oliver Stone: I understand why, but that one accident became the basis for closing up nuclear plants, not only in Germany, but even in the United States. Closing them early.

Kara Swisher: And the others, the others, solar, wind are not, renewables are not good enough. They’re too small.

Oliver Stone: Too small on the scale that we need. We need continent size. Plus it takes up a lot of land. you know, in Germany for example, they put up solar panels in a huge solar park, 400, almost 500,000 panels, reflecting the sun. Those panels produced about one tenth of what nuclear produced on five times the size of the land. And the same is kind of true about turbines too, because they take a lot of space.

You know, if we can do it, we should do everything we can. Everything we can.

Kara Swisher: I wanna talk about why we’re not using it. You make a case at the beginning of the documentary about this quite clear, and it’s largely around safety and fear of accidents, essentially. You yourself said you used to be afraid of nuclear energy. What convinced you that it was safe? Because a lot of our fears come from the nuclear bomb, right? So we equate the two.

Oliver Stone: Nuclear bomb and nuclear energy have been conflated into one monster. And the truth is the nuclear bomb is enriched with plutonium, and it makes it highly radioactive and it’s dangerous. It happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which we set off, and people died of radioactive poisoning. But nuclear energy was made in a much lower-level way. The enrichment process is monitored highly by the IAEA, International Atomic Energy Commission. These plants are very, very safe. They’re built along these lines, very strictly in the United States, too strictly. You might argue that there should have been more accidents, because as in any new industry — chemicals, gas, oil, pipelines — there’s a process of learning. I think they did a pretty damn good job. They had one accident in the United States. It was at Three Mile Island and nobody died. The containment structure worked at Three Mile Island, and yet the panic was —

Kara Swisher: So you’re saying it became demonized in this, you know, a nuclear bomb —

Oliver Stone: It was demonized, yeah, by that film by Jane Fonda. That was — and I admire Jane very much for her Vietnam stand, as you know — but it made hysterical. The concept grew, this thing blows up, it’s gonna be a —

Kara Swisher: I’m curious, have you heard from Jane Fonda on this?

Oliver Stone: No, I haven’t, but I wish she would to look at it. I probably — it’s very hard to go back on your thinking and change your mind, but you have to listen to facts.

Kara Swisher: So what changed your mind? You said you were in that camp you were in, in that

Oliver Stone: Yeah, but I wasn’t — I assumed that people knew what they were talking about, but the truth is that the nuclear industry never really had a lobby. They never had, you know, what Wyoming has with coal, or Texas has with oil. They didn’t have a constituency. And no scientists, there was no Einstein around or guess, or Marie Curie, who found radium, to explain it to the people so that they would understand it. And the media got involved, and let��s be honest — they love hysteria. They love sensationalism. When you can talk about an explosion in your backyard the size of a nuclear bomb, it’s gonna make the news. But that’s not the case.

Kara Swisher: All right. We’ll get to the media in a second, but let’s play a clip from the documentary to start. This is President Eisenhower sharing his vision for nuclear energy in a speech to the UN in 1953, followed by your voiceover. Let’s play that.

President Eisenhower: This greatest of destructive forces can be developed into a great boon for the benefit of all mankind. Experts would be mobilized to apply atomic energy to the needs of agriculture, medicine, and other peaceful activity. A special purpose would be to provide abundant electrical energy in the power starved areas of the world. The United States pledges before you to devote its entire heart and mind to find the way by which the miraculous inventiveness of man shall not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life.

Stone (narration): The entire assembly of delegates from around the world, including the Soviet Union, responded with warm and sustained applause.

Kara Swisher: Okay, we’re not exactly living in this nuclear-powered utopia he promised. You argue a few things are to blame. Let’s do a lightning round of some of these things you say have gotten in the way. Let’s start with Big Oil and economic interests here. How did they change things?

Oliver Stone: Well, as we explained in the film,  they knew that this was a threat to their livelihood and their profits. And the Rockefeller Foundation put out a study in 1956, which put its thumb on the scale, and their scientists that were paid for by —

Kara Swisher: This is the oil family.

Oliver Stone: — came out with this conclusion that any amount of radiation is harmful to the human body. This is a study that went right to the New York Times front page. The publisher of the Times was, incidentally, on the board of the Rockefeller Foundation. What happened is that that report is fraudulent and it has been denied by science. It’s been discredited. Low level radiation exists all over the world. It’s with us, its cosmic rays bombard the earth, the sun. We are we’re exposed to radiation, low-level radiation all day long. And people at high levels of altitude or in airliners are more exposed to it and so forth and so on.But when you have that kind of news and then it sticks around. So that perception was there from almost the beginning, from 1956.

Kara Swisher: So they created this lie. They created a lie, bad PR, they put bad PR against it by saying you could die.

Oliver Stone: Well there’s low level radiation and there’s high level radiation. High level radiation is dangerous. The bomb stuff is high level radiation because it’s enriched. The nuclear plant radiation is low level.

Kara Swisher: So Big Oil tried to scare people into thinking you could be mutated.

Oliver Stone: Well they did. And also they went on, in time and now they have declared themselves the perfect partner for renewables. You see why? Because we know that renewables, sun and wind do not work all the time. So what’s the backup? It’s immediately: gas.

Kara Swisher: Coal and gas. Okay. So you talk about the co-opting of environmental groups about a Big Oil’s anti-nuclear agenda, that they shifted. Initially the Sierra Club was pro-nuclear energy and then became anti, and including the Friends of the Earth who was funded by Big Oil. Talk about that.

Oliver Stone: Yeah. It’s very hard to follow the money because it’s always anonymously given, but definitely, Rod Adams in the film tells the story of the Arco investment in Friends of the Earth. Friends of the Earth was one of the first anti-nuclear environmental groups, around 1970. but the chief of Arco Oil & Gas wrote the first check for $200,000 to Friends of the Earth. They got into the business of protesting nuclear energy. Not all the environmental groups did at first, but certainly a lot of them did. Greenpeace followed in 1970. Greenpeace –

Kara Swisher: And so, because why? Because oil was controlling them? I think that’s hard to believe, but that they may have gotten their initial funding from that, but what happened to these groups?

Oliver Stone: Well, who knows what funding continued. We don’t know where the funds come from,, but the point is it, even if it’s not a conspiracy, it’s business as usual — which is the oil companies don’t want to have competition from nuclear.

Kara Swisher: From nuclear. Okay. So we’ve talked about the conflation of nuclear energy and nuclear war. And you point a finger at Hollywood for fear-mongering. How did the films and TV stoke the fear. Obviously, you’ve got Godzilla, that came out after the bomb, you know, Duck and Cover, and then The China Syndrome — all kinds of movies. There’s one movie after the next.

Oliver Stone: Yeah. You don’t forget Silkwood, which is wonderfully filmed with Meryl Streep.. These people are — the film business has been horrible to the nuclear industry. We had all the horror films in the fifties when I was growing up. You know, everything was radioactive. There was always the reason for two heads monsters that existed, fish that came out the sea. Everything that was horrible came from radiation. On top of that, you had this HBO series about Chernobyl, which was extremely successful around the world.

Kara Swisher: So why is Hollywood doing this? The fear — what you call fearmongering.

Oliver Stone: Because they don’t know. Because they don’t know. And it makes, you know, it makes for easy, it’s an easy, what do they call it? It’s a low hanging fruit.

Kara Swisher: You imagine there being a movie? Nuclear Energy Is Great.

Oliver Stone: Yeah, I could.

Kara Swisher: Well, you’ve just made it, but —

Oliver Stone: I had to make it as a documentary because it’s very difficult to — you know, at one point we played, Josh and I played with the idea of doing a scenario about a female scientist, cause that was popular, a female scientist saving the world by her courage and so forth.

Kara Swisher: Through nuclear energy.

Oliver Stone: But, you know, that becomes kind of melodramatic. It’s not really a one-person issue. It’s really a global issue. It can’t be solved by the United States or one side. It’s going to be solved by a consensus in the world.

Kara Swisher: But the popular idea is that nuclear energy is dangerous, is that no matter what, it’s more dangerous than anything else.

Oliver Stone: It was bad. Yeah.

Kara Swisher: Was bad. So there are justified fears we’ve had, as you said. Sure. Chernobyl was the worst one. The UN estimates 4,000 deaths related to radiation exposure. But you and Mr. Goldstein fear it’s that it’s been blown out of proportion.

Oliver Stone: Totally. Compared to Bopal, the deaths at Bopal

Kara Swisher: Which is chemical.

Oliver Stone: Right.  1980 — was it 4? And then in 1975 we had the hydropower dam in China. 250,000 people died. So there are accidents in any industry. The airplane industry had accidents and they were very dramatic. Nothing compared to what the car industry was turning out, as Ralph Nader pointed out. In other words, what’s scary and what’s dangerous are two different things.

Nuclear energy is scary. But compared to the more mundane —  oil, gas, coal — nothing compared to it.

Kara Swisher: So, Fukushima was another one. An earthquake and a tsunami hit in Japan, caused a nuclear disaster at an active power plant. As you point out, natural disasters are going to get more powerful and plentiful. So should we be more — not less — concerned about future Fukushima’s? Or do you think every energy source is at risk?

Oliver Stone:  It’s funny that you call — everyone says Fukushima is a nuclear disaster. It isn’t. It was a tsunami disaster, as we had in the South Pacific. That plant was badly, had a low sea wall, and it was flooded. The generators were flooded, the sea wall was penetrated, but the containment structure held. There was a radiation leak, but again, realize it’s low-level radiation. People were checked out. Nobody died from radiation poisoning. People died from mismanagement. Hospitalization, hospitals were emptied and they rushed, but the Japanese government panicked and closed it down for quite a few years. So it’s just kind of a contagion of fear.

Kara Swisher: it would be like closing down planes if there was one crash.

Oliver Stone: Yeah, like closing down planes or banning knives. I mean, what’s a knife for. A knife is a wonderful instrument. We use it for hundreds of things, but it can also kill people.

Kara Swisher: All right. But you just said something which is — I think a lot of people would get their back up — where you and Goldstein said in an interview, and you just said it: you think that it’s better for nuclear if there were more accidents.

Oliver Stone: Well, I — that’s a form of saying “Yes, we’d get more used to it.” Because people get spoiled. They want zero tolerance. Zero tolerance, in any industry, is almost impossible.

Kara Swisher: So you’re saying accidents normalize the tech, in other words.

Oliver Stone: Accidents normalize. Yes, they do. And, I mean, think about the waste from nuclear compared to ammonia from agriculture—

Kara Swisher: Lot of fear about that.

Oliver Stone: Compared to arsenic, compared to lead, compared to mercury, which is just thrown into our landscape.

Kara Swisher: So that radioactive waste is safer than all the other things that come out of oil, gas, solar panels.

Oliver Stone: And then they talk about a hundred thousand years from now. Okay. Right. But you know, even so, it decays, it decays to almost nothing. Radioactive waste doesn’t move. It’s been over glamorized and over sensationalized and people can always say: What if, what if? But at a certain point you’ve gotta say, “Look, we gotta take the “what if.” Zero tolerance — it’s not gonna happen. We gotta build.”

Kara Swisher: All right, let’s talk about that. The cost. Plants getting built across the U.S. are costing twice as much as their budgets promised. While other countries have been able to do it cheaper, South Korea has actually lowered its costs. Talk about how we get costs down, specifically the rule of SMRs, which are small modular reactors which move around.

Oliver Stone: Well, that is the American way. We we’re building innovative companies, private companies, with the support of the DOE, the Department of Energy — exploring small modular reactors. Bill Gates has invested a lot of money. It looks very promising — what they call a natrium. Natrium is a salt water reactor. Don’t ask me to explain all the details. I’m not a scientist, but it looks good. It cuts —

Kara Swisher: Would you have one in your home when they get small enough?

Oliver Stone: Absolutely. In a second.

Kara Swisher: Interestingly, I had a discussion with Bill Gates about this, who was a big investor in nuclear technology — which of course will add to the conspiracy theories around Bill Gates, and the chips and the vaccines and everything else. But it requires startups to be doing this innovation in nuclear energy.

Oliver Stone: Well we make the point that startups are an alternative to General Electric, because General Electric bills on a big scale, and as it was explained in the film, their nuclear division is a small part of their overall business. They make turbines, they make drilling equipment. It is a huge company, so their motivation to do nuclear is limited. But there’s the small companies that don’t — that need, that do this full time, that this is their motive to begin with. That’s the companies that hopefully will make a breakthrough in America.

Kara Swisher: Yeah. Also, Sam Altman, who is the head of ChatGPT, also has a big fusion [company] he’s working on.

Oliver Stone: Fusion is also for the future, but not now.

Kara Swisher: That’s his great interest. You do explore France as a kind of nuclear energy gold standard. 70 percent of the country gets its energy from nuclear, but there’s serious costs [due to] climate issues. Last year, half of France’s plants were offline for repairs. Unusually high temperatures put more pressure on the plants’ cooling systems. The state funded nuclear power operator, EDF, is billions of dollars in debt. So is France really the shining example?

Oliver Stone: Yes it is. It’s a wonderful example actually, because it’s been working for 50 years. They built 57 reactors, and they’ve been delivering. And France had very low electricity costs and they had very little CO2. But, you know, the French system has to be repaired because it’s been in business for 50 years, at a low price. But there are pipes and corrosion and so forth and so on. But that’s part of the business you —

Kara Swisher: What they did should be the map.

Oliver Stone: Absolutely. And Russia too. Russia built — has 20 percent of its electricity coming from nuclear and they have built some of the finest reactors ever seen. They have this new fast breeder [reactor], which we saw at Beloyarsk in the Ural mountains in the center of Russia, that fast breeder uses its own waste.

Kara Swisher: Of course, it’s paid for by their gas and oil revenues.

Oliver Stone: Well no it’s paid for by the state. That comes from part of their — but gas is no good. Russia is definitely — it’s sad that they do it. But China’s the one that’s building the most nuclear right now. They are investing, according to what I read, $440 billion into building 125 or so new reactors. They already have 50 —

Kara Swisher: Because they need, they, they’ve promised to get to zero emission.

Oliver Stone: Well, that’s one thing. 2038, they will have like all these reactors in place and they’ll be building more. They have promised the president Xi has promised to go to zero emission, by 2060.

Kara Swisher: Right. So we’re not in China, we’re not in Russia, we’re not in France. In the U.S., how do you get politicians behind the nuclear vision in a bipartisan way? Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently went to visit the site of the Fukushima power plant and said she was there “to neither fearmonger nor sugarcoat.” So how do you get people in this country to be bipartisan about nuclear, especially when there’s oil and gas interest and coal interests? Joe Manchin just got it dropped into the debt ceiling bill — a coal plant.

Oliver Stone: Listen, I acknowledge it’s a huge problem to get people to change their ways, but the worst necessity is a mother of invention. The worse it gets, people will see. They know in their hearts that oil and gas are not disillusioned. But as the planet chokes, there will, there has to be change and people will realize maybe too late and they’ll be building nuclear as fast as they can by 2040 or even 2035. But as I said to you earlier, the nuclear business does not have a constituency. They’re not very good at promoting themselves. I talked to these people at Idaho Lab. They all wanna make the next solution, but they don’t have a clue as to how to advertise it like the oil people do or the coal people do.

Kara Swisher: Right.

Oliver Stone: Movies. Movies can help.

Kara Swisher: Let me ask you this. I think it’s a natural question: No nuclear company paid or invested in this movie?

Oliver Stone: No, no. This was done privately.

Kara Swisher: It was Participant [Media].

Oliver Stone: Participant helped us a lot. Jeff Skoll produced the Inconvenient Truth and he was anti-nuclear. We talked and two, three years ago he changed. He read everything he could on nuclear. He’s very bright man, much more scientific than I am, and he’s very happy with this film and wants it to penetrate — he’s doing everything he can to help us.

Kara Swisher: Okay, so you end the documentary on an optimistic note about the pace of technological innovation you’ve witnessed in our lifetime. Why so optimistic? You know, you’re very leaning into entrepreneurship. It’s a bit of a love letter to the nuclear —

Oliver Stone: You could say that at the ending, I want, you know — all I’ve seen in the last few years is dystopian stuff. The films, reading materials, it’s depressing. Everyone — I don’t understand why the movie business is just always about the death and destruction. I guess that makes money.

Kara Swisher: Yeah.

Oliver Stone: I really would like to see a change, and hope, given to the future. When this book I found — Bright Future is about hope and about changing the way we are doing our energy now. It’s doable. That’s what’s frustrating —

Kara Swisher: So, you know, it’s fascinating cause a lot of your movies are dystopian, whether it’s Wall Street, you know — Natural Born Killers really left me … was a bummer, was a fucking bummer, Oliver, I have to tell you.

Oliver Stone: Okay.

Kara Swisher: But I’m saying what shifted you to utopian? Because a lot of your films are darker, I would say. I don’t think they’re like dances in the park. I don’t —

Oliver Stone: No, I’m not known for a Disney approach.

Kara Swisher: Yeah, I don’t see Frozen here.

Oliver Stone: Believe me, I’ve always been an optimist because, sometimes you go to the darker places because you can handle it. You can take it and you don’t get depressed, but you can come out the other end and you’re better for it. That’s the truth about human existence. Suffering sometimes makes us wiser and better people. So the same thing applies in making, creating films like this. Somehow I have an innate optimism. Perhaps it comes from my mother. My father was a pessimist, actually, more than my mother — but my mother was really a believer in humanity. And I repeat that at the end of the movie because the scientist, Marie Curie, one of the greatest, brought us the discovery of uranium and what it could do, and Einstein and people, and even Eisenhower — as dark as it could get during the Cold War, he was still hoping that we could nuclearize our society. And we were close to doing that. I wish we had built more. But I’m optimistic. I’m an optimist.

-On With Kara Swisher podcast, Jul 7 2023

[pronititravelagency]

Vietnam adventure travel for the best fun

Vietnam's peculiar geography makes it the perfect destination for a variety of sports and adventure vacations. Swim between islands, wander through remote communities, spend the night inside the largest caves in the world, or ride a bike through the highlands and down the coast. For your forthcoming trip to Vietnam, consider these four intriguing travel ideas. It's not hard to imagine that Sapa's surrounding hills in Lao Cai were created for breath-taking hikes. It is one of the tallest mountain ranges in Southeast Asia, and its ancient pathways wind through thick woods and over rushing rivers. One of the best ways to visit the northern mountains is on a multi-day trek that allows you to appreciate the diversity of the area. The diversity of the cultures and the topography go hand in hand. As you go from town to hamlet, you will share dinner with a wide range of unique ethnic groups, each with their own language, culture, and traditional costume. Make a travel schedule There are a lot of excellent Vietnam adventure travel tour companies in northern Vietnam. We may design seven-day walks that include six nights and include encounters with the local population. You can enjoy luxury and Lodge in addition to beautiful homestays with people of different races. Open ocean swimming in Lan Ha Bay Overnight cruises have been replaced by open water swimming. Lan Ha Bay, Halong Bay's little sister, has all the scenic drama of its more well-known cousin despite having many fewer cruise ships. Experienced swimmers now have more options for learning about this strange environment. They are able to glide and dive across islands, stopping at undiscovered beaches along route. At the end of the day, savour a fresh seafood BBQ or enjoy a sundowner while seeing an orange-hued sky. Long-standing floating communities on the waterfront provide cultural activities as well. The 110 climbing routes are of such high calibre and the region's wild surroundings have earned it a spot.

[nx42]

The Lost World of Vietnam

Hey everyone, we've got a new video! Join us on an exploration of the jungles and mountains of Vietnam, host to a plethora of mysterious and undiscovered creatures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OKDTUai_Ic

Posted using PostyBirb

[fayyaztravels]

Book a Cheap Vietnam Tour Package From Singapore With Fayyaz Travel

It is much available for those who are also interested in history, and by selecting the best Vietnam Tour from Singapore, travellers can immerse themselves in Vietnam's past. The Cu Chi Tunnels, a guerrilla hideout in Vietnam, are only a few miles outside of Ho Chi Minh City. Travellers can take in some old tales while sipping tea at Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of Hanoi.

Therefore, travellers should select Fayyaz Travels, a carefully thought-out tour package to Vietnam, based on their interests and preferences.

Additionally, learn more from our website about our special offers on well-known Vietnam tour packages like Vietnam honeymoon packages and Vietnam family packages, among others. Fayyaz Travels is the top-rated travel agency in Singapore.

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia with a diverse cultural heritage and a location on the South China Sea. The country offers a vivid contrast, ranging from French colonial landmarks to Buddhist pagodas, bustling cities, and breathtakingly beautiful villages. In addition to its well-known tourist attractions, Vietnam has stunning rivers, beaches, national parks, war history museums, and undiscovered World War II tunnels.

The country of Vietnam stretches out in the form of an S. The nation has beautiful landscapes and hospitable citizens.  Besides being a well-known tourist destination for Singaporeans in Vietnam. such as Sapa, Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Origin Vietnam always offers a fresh itinerary that includes breathtaking views of Ha Giang's terraced rice fields, Ban Gioc's enormous waterfall, and the unspoiled beaches of Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Mui Ne in Lan Ha Bay.

Exotic cultures and beautiful scenery are among the trip highlights

Travellers can take the four days and three nights Vietnam Tour Package from Singapore on flights from Singapore, Taipei, Malina, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The Vietnam Tour Package from Malaysia to Singapore's four-day, three-night itinerary to Hanoi is regarded as the best value.  You are, however, free to alter our family tour package of Hanoi to suit your preferences. Amazing Nature, Motorcycle, Bike, Jeep, Cooking, History, Exotic Culture, Countryside, Study, & Golf Tours are just a few of the options. Fayyaz Travels is a Luxury Travel Agency in Singapore and is ideal for Vietnam tour packages will guarantee that visitors have the best possible time while on their trip.

[navalvessels]

Regardless of severe market regulation, baby food has developed into a multibillion dollar industry. As organizations venture into new regions, Elisabeth Fischer thinks about the open doors and impediments of an industry on the pinnacle of its functional high, quick to investigate markets in agricultural nations.

The business taking care of the littlest among us has formed into a multibillion dollar industry as of late. Because of expanding quantities of working ladies, developing parental worries about sustenance and advanced time limitations, industry-handled baby food assumes a perpetually huge part in satisfying the nourishing needs of newborn children and babies around the world.

As per figures by market research and counseling organization MarketsandMarkets (M&M), baby food created income of $25bn in 2008 and is supposed to develop to $37.6bn by 2014.

While the US Europe actually represent a significant income share, creating economies, for example, China, Vietnam and India give quickly developing markets to industry-handled newborn child food.

Despite the fact that cleanliness and security guidelines are many times stricter in the baby nourishment area, new items and advances, as well as the changing profile of its end-clients towards the grown-up market, conjecture a splendid future for organizations work in baby food. Expertly planned foods fill the kitchen racks of guardians, in different flavors in fluid and strong structures for clients from as youthful as a half year to two years, with scarcely some other area anticipated to encounter a comparative lift in the years to come.

Zeroing in on the improvement of effectively edible and cutthroat food items, for example, baby oats, packaged baby foods, frozen baby foods, baby tidbits and soups, the chances of specific food organizations are ample.

The undiscovered markets in agricultural nations, for example, Asia require the development to new corners of the world and advancing food advancements, new flavors and surfaces to increment deals dynamically.

Be that as it may, baby food organizations need to confront various difficulties as low rates of birth, static market conditions in created nations, advertorial and marketing imperatives, and milk narrow mindedness in children remain closely connected with the developing liability in regards to food security, tidiness and healthy benefit of the food.

"We accomplish in excess of 260 tests on every item to guarantee that they meet all regulation for baby foods," says Hipp Natural Baby Foods - a UK-based auxiliary of the world's biggest baby food producer Hipp - head of marketing Jane Mayall. "There is explicit regulation and the healthy benefits of specific items, for instance baby milks, are totally controlled inside tight boundaries."

In Europe, the 2006 European Commission 'foods for babies and little youngsters - oats and other baby foods' mandate directs the of all shapes and sizes players on the market, setting rules for organizations working in its part states.

The mandate doesn't just set out rules on the organization and naming of baby foods yet in addition gives least and most extreme levels for protein, starches, fat, mineral substances, nutrients and different supplements.

Specifically, the utilization of pesticides specifically is totally bound and the Commission has set out unambiguous guidelines on the presence of pesticide buildups in newborn child sustenance, compelling any distinguishable degrees of pesticides and forbidding the utilization of extremely poisonous specialists in the development of baby foods. Besides, the order additionally directs explicit prerequisites on the utilization of food added substances, the presence of toxins in the items and cleanliness rules.

In the US, comparative regulation by the US Food and Medication Organization's (Fda's) Middle for Food Wellbeing and Applied Sustenance, guarantees the assembling of baby food inside permitted imperatives.

Just the mix of excellent items, lively item testing in participation with guardians and the satisfaction of any guideline brings long haul achievement, says Mayall.

"Notwithstanding the guideline, we have our own qualities that every item should meet, which are far more grounded than the regulation," she makes sense of. Really at that time, the requests of newborn children and guardians can be met and organizations can adapt to the nourishing liability of their food.

Further developing baby food - better flavor, better surface The valuable chance to develop in new and various bearings doesn't just come from new markets in nations like China and India, yet in addition the actual items leave space for development.

Today, business baby food doesn't just assume a critical part in advanced nations however is in many cases a philanthropic help thing in the midst of cataclysmic events and emergencies.

Albeit many guide associations and extremist gatherings, for example, the UK Breastfeeding Hall Gathering, caution that newborn child equation can deter breastfeeding and nearby water supplies might be defiled after fiascos, Portugal Baby Food Market fixed baby food is the best option in contrast to strong foods for infants from the age of a half year. "Baby food in the midst of emergency has surely the advantage of being protected and cleanly ready," says Judy More.

Appropriation and taking care of, notwithstanding, must be in the possession of help associations and overseers. In 2004, the WHO delivered the 'Core values for taking care of babies and small kids during crises', advance notice of hunger brought about by off-base dissemination of handled newborn child food, and setting excellent and wellbeing guidelines for the food gave to stay away from lack of healthy sustenance and diseases.

Somewhere else, market information has uncovered organizations could need to change their track as an ever increasing number of grown-ups can't endure the impulse to open a container of baby food. The world's biggest baby food producer Hipp reported in 2010 the organization was progressively directing its concentration toward the grown-up market as Europe's populace ages.

Around one fourth of the individuals who eat Hipp's pulped dinners are grown-ups, with developing fame among individuals whose capacity to swallow had been significantly decreased through advanced age, dementia or a stroke, as well as moms who attempt to get in shape in the wake of conceiving an offspring. The dinners, which are low in fat, sugar and salt, are an appealing option for calorie-cognizant moms.

"As our general public gets ever more seasoned, baby food is showing that it has a future in the grown-up market," said organization President Claus Hipp as at an organization birthday festivity in Walk 2010. "More seasoned individuals can frequently adapt to the crushed baby food better than customary feasts, yet we're not intending to change our promoting to target them … we need to keep our baby picture."

[icct20worldcupallschedulel]

Motorbike Tours in Vietnam

Vietnam Motorbike Tours is Vietnam’s leading Dedicated Motorcycle Tour company. Based in the South of Vietnam, VMT have a great deal of experience when it comes to delivering Professional, High-Quality VIP premium and budget tours all year round.

Led by Jason, Australian motorcycle enthusiast & VMT founder, we have been touring the most remote parts of Vietnam for the past 10 years. Our goal has always been the same: to deliver quality service and to keep it real! We will show you the true depth of culture of this wonderful country, whilst keeping the riding awesome and full of adventure (always avoiding the typical ’tourist’ routes). This seems to work well, as many of our riders return again and again for more adventures across this beautiful Rider’s Paradise! They simply love what we provide..! Check out our Testimonials HERE for our excellent GENUINE reviews, alongside an adventure-filled ‘Rider Recap’ clip.

TOURS

VMT host top quality, high-end tours all year round, with tours ranging from 1 day to 20 days. 

Our customers include solo riders, couples, families, groups of friends and plenty of motorcycle clubs! Feel free to contact us anytime for any questions, advice or assistance regarding touring Vietnam. If you’re like us and are not into the busy mainstream tourism scene, then you have found the right tour operator..! Our tours are unique and unusual, offering rides through areas that the others have yet to discover. Our tours are designed exclusively for experienced riders seeking the ultimate undiscovered motorcycling holiday. As such, you won’t find us in the ‘not so’ Lonely Planet Guide Book.. But you will find us featured in dedicated motorcycle adventure media! Head over to our Media Coverage page HERE to check out our GoldStar reviews.

Take a look at our ‘tours’ pages to find more details on pricing and inclusions with regards to our Standard Private Tours, Premium VIP Private Tours and Special Event Tours.

Our private tours are designed for riders who are wanting their own private tour on preferred travel dates, or perhaps want to adjust the route to accommodate for certain sights, locations or skill-levels. For more info & pricing on private tours, click HERE.

Our Special Event Tours are fixed-date tours and are open to the public, allowing like-minded riders to join and meet other riders. These tours are always popular, and many long-term friendships have grown from the wonderful shared experience of riding with VMT. For our Special Event Tour calendar & pricing, click HERE.

BIKES

Our fleet of 30 2013-2018 super comfy Lifan motorcycles are perfect for touring Vietnam .reviewed 5stars by MotoGP Legend Gary McCoy after touring with VMT in 2013

These bikes are full sized motorcycles and are perfect for touring Vietnam, offering good comfort and smooth riding for both rider and pillion alike. Our Motorbike Tours in Vietnam are thoroughly serviced and well-maintained before, during and after all of our tours, also meeting both local cc regulations and international travel insurance guidelines for licensed motorcycle riders. Our many riders from all over the world have confirmed that our selection is the right choice for the job and that they are a fun and easy bike to ride in all weather and road conditions.

The Lifan offers good, reliable performance and the fact that everyone is on the same bike certainly helps to keep the playing field even!  

Road speeds in Vietnam are at a relaxed pace, averaging 60-80kph. This certainly adds to the relaxed countryside charm, though that’s not to say you won’t face plenty of challenging riding! Vietnam is a riders paradise .

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Cheap Places Around The World To Live

Cheap Places Around The World To Live Cheap Places Around The World To Live. Do you frequently catch yourself daydreaming about foreign adventures and traveling to new countries while gazing out your cubicle window? Many of us have the same dream of escaping the 9 to 5 grind, and more and more people are actually doing it. Sure, you say, "Perhaps I'll work abroad if I win the lottery! ” Step 1. Look into the most affordable and desirable places to live. Step 2. There, get a job abroad! We have to consider many factors when deciding where to live. The cost of living, the quality of life, the proximity to our family and friends, and the climate are all important aspects that need to be considered. Travel doesn't have to be expensive, which is good news. There are many reasonably priced nations where you can live, work, and possibly even travel while getting much more for your money. We're going to look at the ten most affordable and desirable places to live and work today. image of Cheap Places Around The World To Live How working abroad can benefit from having a lower cost of living The majority of people assume that long-term travel or living abroad will be extremely expensive, and yes, if you choose expensive countries, your hard-earned money may not go very far. But you might be surprised at how well you can live on a moderate salary if you stay away from popular, extremely expensive locations, like Italy or Australia, and stick to some of the cheapest countries to live and work in. When you could be traveling the world, having adventures, and making a good living, why toil away in a downtown office? This year, are you lacking inspiration? In actuality, one of the main incentives for many people to relocate and find employment abroad is a low cost of living. Your expenses should be lower even though salaries are frequently lower. Additionally, there are lots of high-paying jobs to be had, allowing you to live in a low-cost location while still stretching your budget even further. P.S. In order to work abroad safely and legally, National Background Check, Inc. can assist you with all background checks and travel documentation requirements. The ten most affordable countries to live in Here are the top 10 least expensive places to live and work this year, as determined by thoughtful travelers like YOU. 1. Vietnam Vietnam is any budget traveler's dream if they want to live and work in an exotic location without spending a fortune. For expats, it's one of the best and most affordable places to live. There is a lot to see and do in Vietnam, despite the fact that it is still somewhat of an undiscovered gem when it comes to affordable places to live and travel. Vietnam is a destination for travelers seeking adventure as well as beautiful landscapes to explore and delectable local cuisine. Ho Chi Minh City in the south, Hanoi, the nation's capital, in the north, and Da Nang in the country's center are the major cities. These cities will have the majority of jobs. The Vietnamese Dong, one of the few currencies that has fallen in value against the dollar in recent years, is currently valued at around VND23,000 to $1. - Popular occupations: Teaching English is the most sought-after occupation for foreigners in Vietnam. There are many opportunities for English teachers, and the average monthly salary is higher than in many of the nearby countries ($1,100 to $1,700 USD). - Cost of living: The cost of living in Vietnam varies depending on which city or region you choose to reside in, as it does in most other nations. Of course, living in cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi is more expensive, but the pay is also higher. If you stick to local eateries or street food, a small apartment can be rented for about $250 per month, while meals out cost about $1 to $3 and about $10 at Western-style eateries. Local public transportation costs as little as $0.30, and taxi fares start at just $0.50 per kilometer. - Recommended position: English teacher with Premier TEFL in Vietnam 2. In Costa Rica Not just because it's one of the ten cheapest places to live, Costa Rica is probably the most well-known nation in Central America. You will fall in love with this country and its "Pura Vida" vibe right away thanks to the lush jungles, tropical beaches, and welcoming locals. Additionally, Costa Rica is one of the least expensive countries for Americans to live in, so you won't have to go bankrupt while residing and working there. Finding inexpensive flights from the US is also simple, which increases the allure of visiting Costa Rica. Costa Rica is more expensive than neighboring nations like Guatemala and Nicaragua, but the salary premium more than makes up the difference. - Popular careers include English teaching, tourism, and SCUBA diving. - The cost of living ranges from $3 to $6 for a meal at a nearby restaurant, from $300 to $800 per month for rent depending on the size and location of the apartment, and from $0.70 per trip for local transportation. - Job recommendation: Join Gapforce as a diving instructor. 3. Bulgaria Bulgaria may surprise you as one of the cheapest places to live and work, but bear with us. If the high cost of living in nations like France and Italy deters you from working and living abroad in Europe, focus your attention on Eastern Europe. Bulgaria is one of the least expensive places to live in Europe and has quickly gained popularity among tourists. With countries like Greece, Turkey, and Romania right on your doorstep, Bulgaria's central location makes it the ideal place to explore the region on a modest budget. With a history that goes back more than 8,000 years, Bulgaria has a vibrant and rich culture that you can explore during your free time. - Jobs in tourism and teaching English are popular ones here. - Cost of living: A one-bedroom apartment with basic amenities can be rented for as little as $230 per month. A meal at a cheap restaurant will cost you about $5, and public transportation trips can be as inexpensive as $1. - Job recommendation: International TEFL Academy's English teaching position in Bulgaria. 4. Mexico Bravo, Mexico! Why go farther than necessary when Mexico is typically only a quick flight away for Americans and Canadians? Everybody can benefit from Mexico. Think of the pristine Caribbean waters, Mayan ruins in the jungle, and relaxed beach towns along the Pacific. Oh, and have we already brought up the street food? The food is not only mouthwatering, but also incredibly affordable, with options ranging from tacos to tamales, ceviche to aguas frescas. Living expenses can be considerably lower than in Western cities if you stay away from tourist traps like Cancun or Playa del Carmen and choose more regional locations instead, such as Merida or Guanajuato. - Popular occupations in this area include sales, au pair, tourism, and English teaching. - Living expenses range from $200 to $500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, with street food starting at $1 per meal and a monthly pass for local transportation starting at $16. - Job Suggestion: Work as an Au Pair in Mexico 5. S. Africa Do you genuinely want to work and live abroad but are concerned about misinterpreting certain words? You no longer need to worry because there are also some reasonably priced English-speaking nations, such as South Africa, which ranks #5 on our list of the best and most affordable places to live. South Africa may be the least expensive English-speaking nation to reside in. You won't need to attend language school, and most South African cities have a high standard of living that is comparable to that of Western cities, which will make the transition much simpler. This puts it in the running to be the least expensive English-speaking nation to live in! The southernmost country in Africa is also one of the world's most culturally and racially diverse nations, as if that weren't enough. You won't get bored in South Africa because there are safaris, whale watching, river rafting, and zip lining, among other activities. - Popular occupations: Even though South Africa is an English-speaking nation with 10 other official languages, teaching English is still a common choice. Additionally, a wide variety of jobs in tourism and with multinational corporations are available. - Cost of living: A domestic beer costs about $1.70, a one-bedroom apartment rents for about $350-500 per month, and meals at nearby restaurants start at $8. - Work on a humanitarian photography project with Roots Interns is a recommended project. 6. China While China may not be your typical work abroad location, it is possible to work there and earn a very good living. There are many jobs available and higher salaries than in many other Asian nations. Additionally, the economy is booming. Of course, living in a big city like Shanghai or Beijing will cost more money, but salaries will also be much higher. Many work abroad programs will host events and even throw in free Mandarin classes, so you might even end up learning a completely new language while there. China is an amazing country to explore. - Popular careers: The most sought-after profession for foreigners in China is teaching English, but it's also simple to find Au Pair jobs. - Cost of living: If you stay away from the biggest cities, the cost of living in China can be surprisingly low. A meal at a nearby restaurant costs about $3, and rent for a one-bedroom apartment starts at $300. - Recommended position: Join Lo Pair to work as an Au Pair in China 7. Korea, South Although South Korea isn't the most affordable place to work and live, it made this list because of the highly competitive salaries and the frequent inclusion of free housing in programs, which significantly lowers the cost of living. Given that South Korea is renowned as one of the best locations in the world for teaching English as a foreign language, teaching English is the obvious career choice. The beautiful and diverse countryside, the amazing food, and the friendly people make Korea a great place to work, travel, and save money. Korea's modern cities are on par with those in the US and Europe. - Employment hot spots include sales and teaching English. - Cost of living: Although Korea's cost of living is higher than that of Southeast Asian nations, it is still very affordable, with one-bedroom apartments starting to rent for about $375 and restaurant meals beginning at $6. - Teach English in Korea with Teach Away, a recommended career. 8. Thailand Thailand must be mentioned on any list of the best and most affordable nations in the world. Travelers from all over the world had already fallen in love with the Country of Smiles before the release of the film "The Beach." Even in populated areas like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the cost of living is incredibly low. Beach resorts typically cost a little bit more, but they are still inexpensive when compared to other beach resorts around the globe. Thailand is the ideal place to live and work because of its clear waters, fascinating culture, and mouthwatering cuisine. To top it off, Thailand is also one of the safest and least expensive countries in which to live. - English teaching is the most common job here, but there are also hospitality jobs available. - Cost of living: In Chiang Mai, for instance, you can get by just fine on $600 a month. At street stalls, markets, and food courts in malls, $1 meals are available. In a complex designed in the West, rent for a private studio can be as low as $150 per month. The cost of a bus ride starts at about $0.30. - Job recommendation: Teach English with MediaKids Academy in Thailand. 9. Peru Peru might be the ideal nation for you if you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure on a tight budget—plus, it's one of the least expensive places to live and work! Your dollar will go a lot further here than it would in other South American nations because it is one of the world's least expensive countries. Any visitor must hike the Inca Trail and visit Machu Picchu, but there are also a lot of other lesser-known treasures to find. You will have plenty of time to explore the Inca kingdom, from the Ica sand dunes to the Amazon rainforest, if you live and work in Peru. - English teaching, volunteering for charities, and working on conservation initiatives are popular careers here, but you can also find work in marketing or tourism. - Cost of living: A one-bedroom apartment can be rented for as little as $250, while a meal at a nearby market will cost you between $1 and $3. - Job recommendation: Join GoBeyond Student Travel as a Global Service Adventure Guide in Peru. 10. Poland Poland is another wonderful and affordable option if you have your heart set on working and living in one of the most affordable nations in Europe. Poland, which is much less well-known than its neighbor Germany, is gradually developing into a popular destination for tourists and expatriates. The major cities of Warsaw and Krakow are very contemporary and offer all the amenities found in the West, but at a fraction of the cost of a trip to Germany. Teaching is a possibility, but there are a variety of well-paying professional service jobs out there as well. Poland is a popular travel destination, especially for EU citizens, as it is a member of the Schengen area and therefore visa-free. - Customer service and English teaching are in-demand careers here. - Cost of living: A meal out at a budget restaurant costs only about $5, and rent for a one-bedroom apartment starts at about $350. - Get Paid to Teach English Abroad in Poland with a TEFL/TESOL Certification—Recommended Job Wrap up There are many wonderful, incredibly affordable nations where you can live comfortably and earn a living. Utilizing your salary in a low-cost nation can allow you to save money and travel more after your job is done. Whichever low-cost nation you choose from this list, be sure to compare salaries and inquire about any additional benefits or bonuses (like free rent!) that might help your money stretch even further. And most importantly, enjoy your journey! FAQ Cheap Places Around The World To Live What is the cheapest and safest country to live in? 10 cheapest and safest places to live in Albanian world. Portugal. Costa Rica. Panama. Mexico. Thailand. Malaysia. Vietnamese. Which city in the world has the lowest cost of living? Ten cheapest cities in the world 2020. Damascus, Syria. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Almaty, Kazakhstan Buenos Aires, Argentina Karachi, Pakistan. Caracas, Venezuela Lusaka, Zambia. Chennai, India. Which country is the easiest to move to? Here are some of the easiest countries to immigrate to: New Zealand. Australia. Spanish. Paraguay. German. Montenegro. Czech. Thailand. In which country can you live like a king? For those who don't want to retire yet, they also have a great vacation: Cuenca, Ecuador. Coronado, Panama. San Jose, Costa Rica. Koh Samui, Thailand. Vienna, Austria. Cape Town, South Africa. Merida, Mexico. Montevideo, Uruguay. Where is the cheapest housing? 15 Cheapest Countries to Buy an Oklahoma Home. Michigan. Median Home Price: $154,900. Arkansas. Median House Price: $127,800. Alabama. Median House Price: $142,700. North Dakota. Median Home Price: $193,900. Kentucky. Median Home Price: $141,000. Missouri. Median House Price: $157,200. South Dakota. Median House Price: $167,100. Where is the cheapest place to move? Here are the 10 cheapest places to live; You can access the full list here. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Wichita Falls, Texas. Brownville, Texas. South Bend, Indiana. Dayton, Ohio. Toledo, Ohio. Evansville, Indiana. Buffalo, New York. Where is the cheapest place to live in Europe? Cheapest European country for Portuguese expats. The country is known for great food, beautiful beaches, a laid-back lifestyle, and affordable living. Slovenia. This Central European country became an independent country in 1999. Spain. Croatia. Bulgaria. Italy. Read the full article

[rustystars]

texas chainsaw massacre american movie franchise of ALL time bc nothing will beat the thesis statement of Actually none of these incredibly horrible cannibal murders are isolated events they're just the results of the american government being profit driven & sex repressed. Wanna see some boobs

[supersonicart]

Redd Walitzki’s “The Days of Miracles & Wonder” at Corey Helford Gallery.

Opening Saturday, April 10th, 2021 at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles, California is Redd Walitzki’s outstanding solo exhibition, “The Days of Miracles & Wonder.”

Walitzki utilizes a cutting-edge technique that combines oil painting and mixed media on laser-cut panels and takes inspiration from the Pacific Northwest's lush rainforests and the ornate Baroque ornamentation of Bavaria to create pieces that commemorate a moth’s four-week-long lifespan. The vivid muses are often painted in fashionable garb and glamourous settings that are a façade, hiding underlying themes of ecological destruction.

“The Days of Miracle and Wonder” implores the viewer to embark on a journey to a lost time of myth and transformation. When Redd began this series, they were on a journey around the globe, drinking in a myriad of experiences while slipping from one country to the next. Versailles's opulent halls, the misty harbors of Vietnam, and the golden coastline of the Canary Islands all became woven together into a rich tapestry of inspiration. Locked down during the pandemic, these experiences became a well of hope to draw upon as they painted colorful works of daydream and escape. 

Redd shares, “During this strange period in history where it feels like our world is shrinking, these works embrace moments in the past filled with exploration, mystery, and wonder. As nymphs transform into coral and lantern-lit boats drift by moonlight, the paintings lure us into the undiscovered spaces over the edge of the map. This series is a mixture of both wistful nostalgia for a lost time of myth and adventure and the sense that such wonders could bloom again.”

-

Be sure to follow Supersonic Art on Instagram!

[collectorscorner]

CC Blogger - New Arrivals @ Collectors Corner : Wednesday 3/24/21

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Complete list of items shipping to the stores, some items may be limited in availability. If you see anything you want to purchase on the list and are not a subscription member at Collectors Corner, just contact us and let us know if you want an item held at the stores. email - collectorscornermd@comcast.net

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PUBLISHER/TITLE/PRICE

ABLAZE Gung Ho Sexy Beast #3 (Cover A Stephen Segovia), $3.99 Gung Ho Sexy Beast #3 (Cover B Jae Kwang Park), $3.99

ABSTRACT STUDIOS Terry Moore’s How To Draw Expanded Edition SC, $19.99

AFTERSHOCK COMICS Miskatonic #5, $3.99 Shadow Doctor #2, $3.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #318, $7.99

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DIAMOND PUBLICATIONS Game Trade Magazine #254, $3.99 Previews #391 (April 2021), $3.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT Dejah Thoris #11 (Cover A Lucio Parrillo), $3.99 Dejah Thoris #11 (Cover B Vasco Georgiev), $3.99 Dejah Thoris #11 (Cover C Joseph Michael Linsner), $3.99 Red Sonja #25 (Cover A Jae Lee), $4.99 Red Sonja #25 (Cover B Joseph Michael Linsner), $4.99 Red Sonja #25 (Cover C Sanya Anwar), $4.99 Vampirella Vs Purgatori #1 (Cover A Derrick Chew), $3.99 Vampirella Vs Purgatori #1 (Cover B Carlo Pagulayan), $3.99 Vampirella Vs Purgatori #1 (Cover C Joseph Michael Linsner), $3.99 Vampirella Vs Purgatori #1 (Cover D Szymon Kudranski), $3.99

HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE Cold Dead War #1 (Of 4), $3.99 Taarna #4 (Of 6), $3.99

HUMANOIDS House Without Windows TP, $19.99

IDW PUBLISHING Comic Book History Of Animation #4 (Of 5)(Cover A Ryan Dunlavey), $3.99 Comic Book History Of Animation #4 (Of 5)(Cover B Ryan Dunlavey), $3.99 Dungeons And Dragons At The Spine Of The World #4 (Of 4)(Cover A Martin Coccolo), $3.99 Dungeons And Dragons At The Spine Of The World #4 (Of 4)(Cover B Character Sheet), $3.99 Dungeons And Dragons At The Spine Of The World #4 (Of 4)(Cover C Max Davenport), AR Sonic The Hedgehog #38 (Cover A Matt Herms), $3.99 Sonic The Hedgehog #38 (Cover B Thomas Rothlisberger), $3.99 Sonic The Hedgehog #38 (Cover C Nathalie Fourdraine), AR Star Wars Adventures Volume 2 #4 (Cover A Francesco Francavilla), $3.99 Star Wars Adventures Volume 2 #4 (Cover B Yael Nathan), $3.99 Star Wars Adventures Volume 2 #4 (Cover C Francesco Francavilla), AR Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Best Of Michelangelo #1 (Cover A James Biggie), $5.99 Usagi Yojimbo #17 (Cover A Stan Sakai), $3.99 Usagi Yojimbo #17 (Cover B Billy Martin), AR

IMAGE COMICS Big Girls Volume 1 TP, $14.99 Bitter Root #11 (Cover A Sanford Greene), $3.99 Bitter Root #11 (Cover B Blank Variant), $3.99 Crossover #1 (Geoff Shaw 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Crossover #3 (Geoff Shaw 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Department Of Truth #1 (Martin Simmonds 4th Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Department Of Truth #4 (Martin Simmonds 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Department Of Truth #5 (Martin Simmonds 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Die!Die!Die! #14, $3.99 Getting It Together TP, $14.99 Haha #2 (Of 6)(Zoe Thorogood 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Haha #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Roger Langridge), $3.99 Haha #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Paul Rentler) , $3.99 Moonshine #23 (Cover A Eduardo Risso), $3.99 Nailbiter Volume 8 TP, $16.99 Nomen Omen #13 (Of 15)(Cover A Jacopo Camagni), $3.99 Nomen Omen #13 (Of 15)(Cover B Werther Dell’Edera), $3.99 Post Americana #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Steve Skroce), $3.99 Rain Like Hammers #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Brandon Graham), $4.99 Scumbag #6 (Cover A Bengal), $3.99 Scumbag #6 (Cover B Brian Level & Moreno Dinisio), AR Scumbag Volume 1 Cocainefinger TP, $9.99 Skyward HC, $39.99 Stray Dogs #1 (Trish Forstner & Tony Fleecs 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Stray Dogs #2 (Cover A Trish Forstner & Tony Fleecs), $3.99 Stray Dogs #2 (Cover B Trish Forstner & Tony Fleecs Horror Movie Variant), $3.99 Undiscovered Country Volume 2 Unity TP, $16.99

MAD CAVE STUDIOS Pantomime #5 (Of 6), $3.99

MARVEL COMICS Alien #1 (Cover A InHyuk Lee), $4.99 Alien #1 (Cover B InHyuk Lee Virgin Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover C Steve McNiven), AR Alien #1 (Cover D Ron Lim), AR Alien #1 (Cover E Peach Momoko), AR Alien #1 (Cover F Salvador Larroca), AR Alien #1 (Cover G Todd Nauck Headshot Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover H David Finch Launch Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover I InHyuk Lee Premiere Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover J Patrick Gleason), AR Alien #1 (Cover K Patrick Gleason Virgin Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover L Skottie Young Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover M Wraparound Space Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover N Black Blank Variant), AR Alien #1 (Cover O Peach Momoko Virgin Variant), AR Amazing Spider-Man #62 (Cover A Patrick Gleason), $3.99 Amazing Spider-Man #62 (Cover B Dustin Weaver Design Variant), AR Amazing Spider-Man #62 (Cover C Greg Land Spider-Man-Thing Variant), AR Avengers The Gathering Omnibus HC (Steve Epting & Tom Palmer Poster Direct Market Cover), $125.00 Avengers The Gathering Omnibus HC (Steve Epting Sersi & The Avengers Book Market Cover), $125.00 Black Panther #24 (Cover A Daniel Acuna), $3.99 Black Panther #24 (Cover B Joe Quinones), AR Black Panther #24 (Cover C Jen Bartel Shuri Women’s History Month Variant), AR Black Panther #24 (Cover D Michael Cho Black Panther Two-Tone Variant), AR Cable #9, $3.99 Carnage Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Sara Pichelli), $4.99 Carnage Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover B In-Hyuk Lee), AR Carnage Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Ryan Ottley), AR Carnage Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Peach Momoko), AR Carnage Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover E Marco Checchetto), AR Carnage Black White And Blood #1 (Of 4)(Cover F Patrick Gleason Webhead Variant), AR Conan The Barbarian By Jim Zub Volume 1 Into The Crucible TP, $17.99 Excalibur #19, $3.99 Fantastic Four Epic Collection Volume 2 The Master Plan Of Doom TP (New Printing), $39.99 Guardians Of The Galaxy #12 (Cover A Rafael Albuquerque), $3.99 Guardians Of The Galaxy #12 (Cover B Meghan Hetrick Gamora-Thing Variant), AR King In Black Scream #1 (Cover A In-Hyuk Lee), $4.99 King In Black Scream #1 (Cover B R. B. Silva Stormbreakers Variant, AR King In Black Scream #1 (Cover C Ryan Brown), AR Maestro War And Pax #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Dale Keown), $3.99 Maestro War And Pax #3 (Of 5)(Cover B Phil Jimenez), AR Marvel Masterworks Dazzler Volume 2 HC (John Romita Jr. Book Market Edition), $75.00 Marvel Masterworks Dazzler Volume 2 HC (John Romita Jr. Direct Market Variant Edition Volume 302), $75.00 Marvel Masterworks The Invincible Iron Man Volume 13 HC (John Romita Jr. Book Market Edition), $75.00 Marvel Masterworks The Invincible Iron Man Volume 13 HC (John Romita Jr. Direct Market Variant Edition Volume 310), $75.00 Marvel Portfolio Peach Momoko HC, $50.00 Marvel Previews Volume 5 #10 (April 2021), $1.25 Miles Morales Spider-Man #24 (Cover A Taurin Clarke), $3.99 Miles Morales Spider-Man #24 (Cover B Ken Lashley Miles-Thing Variant), AR Punisher Welcome Back Frank Marvel Select HC, $29.99 Savage Avengers #19 (Cover A Valerio Giangiordano), $3.99 Savage Avengers #19 (Cover B Michael Cho Black Widow Two-Tone Variant), AR Star Wars Doctor Aphra #8 (Cover A Joshua Sway Swaby), $3.99 Star Wars Doctor Aphra #8 (Cover B Natacha Bustos), AR Taskmaster #3 (Of 5)(Alessandro Vitti 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Taskmaster #3 (Of 5)(Valerio Giangiordano 2nd Printing Sketch Variant Cover), $3.99 Taskmaster #5 (Of 5)(Cover A Valerio Giangiordano), $3.99 Taskmaster #5 (Of 5)(Cover B Jim Terry), AR Werewolf By Night New Wolf Rising TP, $15.99 X-Men Epic Collection Volume 3 The Sentinels Live TP (New Printing), $39.99 X-Men Inferno Omnibus HC (Marc Silvestri Goblin Queen Book Market Cover), $125.00 X-Men Inferno Omnibus HC (Marc Silvestri/Bret Blevins/Walter Simonson Headshots Direct Market Cover), $125.00

ONI PRESS Aggretsuko Meet Her Friends HC, $11.99 Delicates TP, $14.99 Dryad #9, $3.99

PANINI PUBLISHING Doctor Who Magazine #559, $11.99

SCOUT COMICS Frank At Home On The Farm #3, $3.99 Provenance Of Madness TP (Cover A Paul Jackson), $19.99 Provenance Of Madness TP (Cover B Christian Dibari), $19.99 Rabid World #1 (Of 4), $3.99 Recount #3, $3.99

SCOUT COMICS – SCOOT Catdad And Supermom An Elephant Never Forgets #1, $3.99

SCREAM HORROR MAGAZINE Scream Magazine #64, $9.99

TITAN COMICS Blade Runner Origins #2 (Cover A Angel Hernandez), $3.99 Blade Runner Origins #2 (Cover B Peach Momoko), $3.99 Blade Runner Origins #2 (Cover C Fernando Dagnino), $3.99 Blade Runner Origins #2 (Cover D Robert Hack), $3.99 Blade Runner Origins #2 (Cover E Peach Momoko Sketch Variant), $3.99

VAULT COMICS Hollow Heart #1 (Paul Tucker 2nd Printing Varant Cover), $3.99

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT Belle Thunder Of Gods #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Anthony Spay), $5.99 Belle Thunder Of Gods #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Igor Vitorino), $5.99 Belle Thunder Of Gods #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Nei Ruffino), $5.99

TOYS - T-SHIRTS & COLLECTIBLES POP Animation Naruto Kabuto Yakushi Vinyl Figure, AR POP Animation Naruto Pain Vinyl Figure, AR POP Animation Naruto Shikamaru Nara Vinyl Figure, AR POP Animation Naruto Six Path Sage Vinyl Figure, AR POP Five Nights At Freddy’s Security Breach Glamrock Freddy, AR POP Games Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Pokemon Pikachu Silver Metallic Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Pokemon Ponyta Vinyl Figure, AR POP Garbage Pail Kids Ali Gator Vinyl Figure, AR POP Garbage Pail Kids Jay Decay Vinyl Figure, AR POP Garbage Pail Kids Leaky Lindsay Vinyl Figure, AR POP Garbage Pail Kids Split Kit Vinyl Figure, AR POP Icons Bozo The Clown Vinyl Figure, AR POP Marvel Deadpool 30th Roman Senator Deadpool Vinyl Figure, AR POP Marvel Zombies M.O.D.O.K. Vinyl Figure, AR POP Marvel Zombies Red Hulk Vinyl Figure, AR POP Marvel Zombies Thor Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Bramstokers Dracula With Chase Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Bramstokers Van Helsing Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Bramstokers Young Dracula Vinyl Figure, AR POP Rocks Iron Maiden Number Of The Beast Vinyl Figure, AR POP TV Eastbound And Down Kenny In Mariachi Outfit Vinyl Figure, AR POP TV Good Omens-Aziraphale With Book With Chase Vinyl Figure, AR POP TV Good Omens-Crowley With Apple With Chase Vinyl Figure, AR POP WWE Chyna Vinyl Figure, AR POP WWE Drew McIntyre Vinyl Figure, AR POP WWE Edge Vinyl Figure, AR POP WWE Stone Cold Steve Austin With Belt Vinyl Figure, AR Voltron Ultimates Voltron Action Figure, AR

[back-and-totheleft]

"Nuclear is the only option"

Oliver Stone is rolling deep. The veteran film-maker shows up for an interview with the Guardian with a support team of two: Joshua S Goldstein, a professor who will serve as a real-time factchecker-cum-footnote-provider, as well as a therapist, a twinkly eyed woman who happens to be Goldstein’s wife. “People can get very emotional when they’re reacting to the topic of their film,” she explains of her role. “I’m here in case anyone needs my help.”

Her de-escalation services will not end up being required, but it is admittedly comforting to have an emotional support professional on hand for an interview with the legendary firebrand that is Oliver Stone. As it turns out, the director isn’t looking for a sparring match or a conspiracy theory soapbox. Dressed in a beautifully tailored dark blazer, red pocket square and crisp white shirt, the Natural Born Killers and Wall Street director, who has been giving promotional interviews since dawn, is a gracious if not entirely relaxed interview subject, scribbling mysterious notes onto the margins of a printout while he fields questions.

Nuclear Now, based on a book that Goldstein co-wrote, makes an impassioned case for nuclear energy. Forget wind and solar power being enough, the film tells us. Nuclear is the answer to a world on the verge of losing the race against the climate crisis. Stone reckons it’s his 30th film and 10th documentary, but he thinks of them all as interconnected parts; his life’s work is making movies about the “undiscovered lies that people wouldn’t admit”. Since serving in Vietnam, and briefly driving a taxi, he has been devoted to making movies that prod at our prevailing narratives, be it that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of John F Kennedy or that nuclear is a dirty word.

Stone brings up his 12-hour docuseries The Untold History of the United States. “Chapters [of the docuseries] attacked American history they keep teaching at school and I wish they were teaching my version of it, because I think it’s a lot more accurate than the bullshit you’re getting,” he says gruffly. Nuclear Now stands apart from anything else Stone has made because it’s his first work “about an object, not a person”. And therein lay the challenge. “There’s no sexy chick in the movie,” he says with a note of chagrin. “It’s not like highly original film-making. It’s about assembly, editing, writing.”

A deep conviction that set in after reading the book that Goldstein co-wrote with Staffan A Qvist, a Swedish nuclear engineer, impelled Stone to bring the message to the masses. He started by asking Goldstein to write a fictional treatment of the subject matter. Goldstein’s face lights up at the memory and he goes into Hollywood pitch mode – something to do with a female nuclear dynamo, the American president, a villainous Texan senator, an activist daughter. It was all over the place – from the US to Korea and Russia, ending with a chase scene in Saudi Arabia. Stone called the climax “a made for TV bullshit ending”, Goldstein recalls. “It wasn’t good,” Stone grumbles. They worked on several drafts of a documentary script, a series of versions zig-zagging between their sensibilities until they landed on one that they agreed was suitably informative and entertaining (you can guess who was yanking it in either direction). Stone appears on screen, the reliably blazer-clad student who travels the world to meet with scientists and engineers and a nuclear power influencer who is the project’s closest thing to a Julia Roberts.

“We’re getting it all wrong, and in the face of climate change, nuclear isn’t only an option – it’s the only option,” intones Stone, who says he considers Marie Curie, the Polish physicist known for her work on radioactivity, worthy of sainthood. “The truth is, we had solutions, and we fucked it up.” It all went wrong in the mid-20th century, when nuclear power and nuclear war were conflated and Hollywood started churning out sci-fi movies with phosphorescent freaks and nuclear bomb-wielding villains. By the early 1970s, environmentalists were warning of the hazards of nuclear anything, and sounding alarms about nuclear waste that had the American public in a tailspin.

“There’s not an issue [with nuclear waste], it’s completely handleable, especially compared to the waste of gas, oil and coal, my God,” Stone says. “It gets safer over time because of radioactive decay,” his right-hand man chimes in. “Which you can’t say about the arsenic, lead mercury that are in solar panels or any number of other things.” The film points out that there have been far fewer casualties related to nuclear disasters at Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima than the fatal levels of air pollution produced around the world by coal and other fossil fuels.

Stone still leaves the science to Goldstein, but becomes animated when talk turns to fear-mongering. “Politicians could get votes by making people afraid. And then it’s hard to reverse yourself after many years and say: ‘Well, actually, we’ve changed our mind now. And we see that climate change is the bigger threat and that actually what we told you about this is sort of overhyped.’” Of course he read all the scholarly articles making the case against nuclear. “When you read them, it’s so concentrated. It’s like taking a dose of acid,” the director says. Thankfully Goldstein was on speed-dial, at the ready to review the science and put Stone’s doubts to rest. Goldstein points across the office at a red Exit sign and brings up that it contains small traces of tritium, the same compound in the tanks at the Fukushima power plant. “They have a short half life and they don’t accumulate in your body,” he says. “It’s like the most innocuous thing.”

Stone lives in Los Angeles and has three Oscars, but does not consider himself part of the Hollywood firmament. His feeling of alienation appears to have intensified with this project. “The movie business has not been kind to nuclear at all from Silkwood, The China Syndrome, and all the horror movies of the 50s,” he says, going on to weigh in on the way mainstream cinema has veered off course. “I like the glamour of the old movies. You know, I want to see Elizabeth Taylor and I want to see Brigitte Bardot. Marilyn Monroe. I want to see stars!” Such movie-making has become harder to pull off in a culture that is heavy on the show-all social media and light on the mystique. “I respect reality, but I don’t want to see it necessarily. I like to see heightened reality.”

Stone’s media diet is as idiosyncratic as you might expect. He follows Rumble, the Peter Thiel-backed right-leaning video platform; RT, the Russian state-owned news service; and Al Jazeera. He cops to reading the Guardian every once in a while, “although I don’t like their rightward tilt of recently”. A copy of the New York Times is sticking out of his bag, on a day when the paper published a glowing review of Stone’s new film. He reads the paper with “skepticism”, he says. “I’m reading to see what they think.” And what does he think? “I would say extreme middle,” is how he identifies his position on the American political spectrum. It’s a rather catchy but meaningless term, no? “The truth matters to me and we’re digging for the truth,” he says elliptically. “I think I happened upon a very important subject, which is climate change. And I’m grateful for that. It could be my last film, you know, because I’m at that age where I can keel over tomorrow.” (Stone’s forthcoming documentary about Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is “almost ready”.)

At 76, Stone is four years younger than Joe Biden, who many say is too old to run for a second term. Stone doesn’t want to weigh in on the president’s age and his fitness for re-election. But he will share what he thinks of the guy. “My favorite president was John Kennedy, so if you look at the two Irishmen sideways, you’ll find that John Kennedy is a peace lover. And you find that Joe Biden is a cold warrior in the worst sense of the word.”

The last time the Guardian US profiled Stone, he had just completed a strangely sympathetic 4 hour-long documentary about Vladimir Putin (at the time he said “the Russian people have never been better off”). Have his feelings about the Russian leader changed in the especially troubling years since? “I think Russia is doing a great job with nuclear energy,” he says after a moment’s thought. “China is also a leader in that field, although I never was able to penetrate into China, which was a shame for the movie I wish we had. But Putin is a great leader for his country and the people love him.” And that is as far as he is willing to go. He’s gone far enough already.

-Lauren Mechling, The Guardian, May 1 2023 [x]