Music Review: Ed Sheeran's "=" Album by Esmeralda Gomez

Music Review: Ed Sheeran's "=" Album

A while back ago I wrote about Ed Sheeran’s single “Bad Habits” and how it debuts his new music era. So now that his = album has been out for some time, I want to come back to him and review his work. I had suggested his new album will be electronic music since “Bad Habits” resembles techno. This was basically a guess, but I didn’t expect to get it right. Yet despite this new change in genre, there are echoes of his past self, which is symbolized in the equal sign for his music and life. “An equals symbol is the end of a question and start of an answer, it’s in the middle of the two. I definitely feel like being 30 I’m on either side.”

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The Mitchells Vs. The Machines: The Critique About Technology by Esmeralda Gomez

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines: The Critique About Technology

The Mitchells vs. The Machines is a beautiful movie with various types of art styles, family-themed, and has queer representation with funny characters. And while I want to give more reasons to watch the movie, I’d like to talk about something else- the critique it offers about technology. Throughout the movie, we see the family theme focus on the father and daughter with Rick and Katie since their relationship isn’t that great. It is known through a series of photos that they don’t get along, and later we understand that technology is the problem since she always has her phone in her hand.

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3 Reasons To Read The Webtoon "I Love Yoo" by Esmeralda Gomez

3 Reasons To Read The Webtoon "I Love Yoo"

When I read I Love Yoo, I was trying to decipher what type of love was occurring and where it was going to go until I realized I was taking away the story’s value of what it had to offer me- the human experience of trying to make deep connections with others while having trauma. But fair warning: It might appear like True Beauty, but the two webtoons are really different. Most people who see parallels between the stories only view it from the “love triangle” angle that True Beauty establishes, but that does not exist in I Love Yoo. I say this because this was the headspace I was stuck in when I focused on the “romance” that was occurring that made me miss the story’s value.

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How Venom Is Eddie's Shadow Self by Esmeralda Gomez

How Venom Is Eddie's Shadow Self

In the craft of storytelling, there’s this thing called the "shadow," which is essentially a character that the “hero” has to confront if they want to overcome an obstacle, achieve growth, and reach their goals. The character is often a “villain,” but they embody the problematic parts that belong to the hero, which get ignored by subconscious suppression. But the term "shadow" came from Carl Jung's work in psychology and his concept of “shadow work” which was built from Freud's work on repression. If you’re unfamiliar with the “shadow self,” know that it is the self that’s suppressed from the conscious mind. This is because the shadow self is the negative emotions, thoughts, and behavior that a person is unaware of because they don’t want the negative traits associated with them, but they can surface when a person is triggered. But because they suppress their shadow self so much, they won’t remember their hurtful actions or words after the triggering event has passed.

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The Best Version Of The Legend Of La Llorona by Esmeralda Gomez

The Best Version Of The Legend Of La Llorona

Growing up, I knew La Llorona as a wailing woman who drowned her children. My dad would dismiss the stories saying the cries heard in Mexico were simply cats. He told me this the first time I was exposed to her story, seeing no need to scare me into behaving since Catholicism did that too much- which he tried limiting my exposure from. But as much as I want to credit him for my logical and realistic mind, I’m here to tell you which version of La Llorona is best to tell. Throughout South America, Mexico, and the Southwest of the United States there are regional variations of La Llorona. Yet despite them, the most famous tale from them is that La Llorona was a beautiful peasant woman who married a rich ranchero. They’re said to have lived happily with children until her husband brought home another woman and condemned her and his children back into poverty.

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How Coraline Jones And Jack Skellington Are Similar by Esmeralda Gomez

How Coraline Jones And Jack Skellington Are Similar

You may have heard this already, but the Tim Burton film The Nightmare Before Christmas displays cultural appropriation and capitalist exploitation. This is bad, but this happens from Jack's existential crisis that comes from his inability to appreciate his life after living the same way for so many years. And in a way, he’s not so different from Coraline. You might think I’m crazy, but hear me out. When Coraline is bored, she explores. She meets her neighbors out of boredom instead of curiosity and interest in who they are and their lives. In the book, she does this a lot since Wybie doesn’t exist, though even when the movie occupies her time with Wybie, she tolerates him out of boredom in the beginning until the trouble is stirred up with the beldam.

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The Philosophy Of Names In The Movie Coraline by Esmeralda Gomez

The Philosophy Of Names In The Movie Coraline

When I first saw the movie Coraline, I was horrified by the creepiness, so I made sure to never watch it again. But I saw it as a child, so of course, I was scared. However, as an adult, it’s still terrifying, which I respect and love. Because of this, I read the book and there’s something I noticed that makes me love the written story more- the motif of names with identity and listening. It sounds weird, but there’s a philosophy behind names and identity. I kid you not, there’s literal philosophy about names and their semantics. But don’t worry, I won’t bore you with the theories and their technicality.

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The Philosophy Of The Movie "Free Guy": On Reality, Purpose, And Change by Esmeralda Gomez

The Philosophy Of The Movie "Free Guy": On Reality, Purpose, And Change

Most simulation movies have taken place in video games as our favorite idea from our technological advancement.However, they’ve involved humans living in videos games, like Ready Player One. Even the Japanese show Sword Art Online centers on living in a video game. But in Free Guy, Guy belongs to a video game as an NPC. This idea is new to the gaming genre but not new to The Truman Show. If you haven’t seen the movie, The Truman Show is about a man named Truman discovering that his world is artificial by making connections that he’s on a live tv show. At the end of the movie, Truman escapes the show to enter reality, which is an option Guy doesn’t have since he artificially belongs to the game Free City as an NPC. In other words, as movies have played with the simulation theory itself, Free Guy has played with the idea of being fake instead.

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Why Is "Sex Education" The Best Teen Show On Netflix by Esmeralda Gomez

Why Is "Sex Education" The Best Teen Show On Netflix

Sex Education is a Netflix original show that’s British. It’s perfect for teens because it deconstructs American cliche narratives by fleshing out each character three-dimensionally and dynamically while exploring themes on self-discovery, human connection, and sex. Note that because the show involves sex, there is nudity. So if that’s not something you can tolerate, I don’t recommend this show. Though, if you’re on the fence about it, I recommend trying to overlook that aspect since the stories are irreplaceable and invaluable. Here’s why Sex Education Is The Best Teen Show

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Here Is Why "The Kissing Booth" Film Series Is Problematic by Esmeralda Gomez

Here Is Why "The Kissing Booth" Film Series Is Problematic

The Kissing Booth 3 is the third and final installment of the film series, The Kissing Booth, so the franchise is being obsessed over by fans as it comes to an end. If you haven’t seen any of the films, you might get drawn into watching them from their hype. But I’m here to tell you not to watch them! And if you’ve seen them, I’m here to tell you why the franchise is problematic. Though, before getting into it, I’d like to note that I’m guilty of enjoying the first film until the second was released. I couldn’t put my finger on the red flags at the time, but the more I thought about them, the more I learned why I hated this franchise. With that said, don’t be ashamed if you didn’t notice these problems either!

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8 Reasons Why The FX Show "Pose" Deserves More Attention by Esmeralda Gomez

8 Reasons Why The FX Show "Pose" Deserves More Attention

When the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community are presented in film and tv, they’re either supporting or minor characters that get killed off, stereotyped, or simply underdeveloped. But Pose has a special place in LGBTQ+ history since the story is about ballroom culture in the trans community during the 80s in New York with a specific focus on Black and Latina women. So throughout the seasons, we get to witness them trying to live their best lives, despite their hardships with the AIDS epidemic and discrimination. The show is then about trans history and their struggles during this time period, but it’s also about the hope and love that make them strong and resilient.Though, other reasons make this show great.

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6 Native American Books To Read In Order To Support BIPOC Artists And Anthologies by Esmeralda Gomez

6 Native American Books To Read In Order To Support BIPOC Artists And Anthologies

When it comes to supporting BIPOC artists, it can be difficult to know where to start. I personally had a hard time searching for contemporary Native authors that wrote science fiction or fantasy. However, I eventually came across a group of books that I read and loved. Sadly, they’re not as widely known as they should be. So if you’re having a hard time finding a good read, here’s my personal and recommended list of Native stories, but note that most of them are anthologies. Love Beyond Body Space and Time is a science fiction and fantasy anthology with LGBTQ+ characters in interactional stories written by Indigenous authors. In “Imposter Syndrome” by Mari Kurisato, Aanji is an AI in the process of transitioning as a human, which parallels the trans journey of hormone therapy and plastic surgery.

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The Symbolism And Influence Of The Netflix Series "Money Heist" by Esmeralda Gomez

The Symbolism And Influence Of The Netflix Series "Money Heist"

There are movies and shows like Ocean’s Eleven, or Now You See Me about heists for personal gain by stealing banks and casinos. Some add a Robin Hood element, making them political action films, but they still steal from businesses. Money Heist doesn’t do this; instead, they directly take money from the government by breaking into and create one billion euros in the mint of Spain to escape the country and gain financial freedom. It’s stated in season two by The Professor to Raquel that the government has repeatedly poofed money into the hands of the rich during economic crises while the working class suffered. The government wasn’t called thieves nor punished for their corruption, so he’s doing the same. In particular, he says, and I quote:

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3  Reasons Why "The Suicide Squad" Is Better Than "Suicide Squad" by Esmeralda Gomez

3 Reasons Why "The Suicide Squad" Is Better Than "Suicide Squad"

The film Suicide Squad (2016) was hyped up from its premise, actors, brand, and studio company, making it successful in the box office. However, it left DC fans disappointed. Now in 2021, there’s a new film called The Suicide Squad. What’s up with that? And I’m with you; I was equally confused by the title. These days franchises avoid placing numbers in their titles, so it comes across as a reboot or sequel. But it’s neither. According to James Gunn, The Suicide Squad is a stand-alone film. James Gunn was initially hired by Warner Brothers to write a Superman movie. But he had a particular interest in “The Suicide Squad” comics, specifically with John Ostrander's version and his idea of the villains being disposable. How’s the film not a reboot then? Because the multiverse exists. Yet some features make it sound like a sequel.

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12 Books To Read If You Are OBSESSED With Tudor History by Kathlyn King

12 Books To Read If You Are OBSESSED With Tudor History

As a descendant of Owen Tudor and the Tudor Dynasty of England, family drama kind of runs in the blood. My ancient family’s drama has been so tantalizing juicy that it still captivates and demands attention 500 years after these events have played out. As a lover of all things history, especially in Tudor England, I am blessed with the fact that so many people are also obsessed with Tudor drama. So much so, that this obsession has given us countless books, movies, and tv shows that feed us entertainment about Britain’s most iconic and infamous dysfunctional dynasty.

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7 Reasons Why Everyone Loves Lore Olympus by Esmeralda Gomez

7 Reasons Why Everyone Loves Lore Olympus

From among the myths of ancient times, Greek Mythology is the most famous and well-known pagan pantheon from being depicted in films. Although, the stories the film industry tells are either about legends or events of the war. Because of this, they don’t show the true personalities of the Greek gods. One of the most famous stories is “Hercules” by Disney, which has shaped some people’s views on certain gods that are false from the narrative of many myths. But a famous webtoon called “Lore Olympus” has gained popularity doing the opposite. Instead of smudging the truth, the author of “Lore Olympus,” Rachel Smythe, writes a modern retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth where (most of) the gods involved have the personalities from their original myths while humanizing them, making the story perfect for mythology junkies.

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Why "A Quiet Place" Is Not A Political But A Family Film by Saira V Ramjit

Why "A Quiet Place" Is Not A Political But A Family Film

While the actress playing the heroine in the Horror movie,A Quiet Place 2was pleased about reprising her role as Regan Abbott, she was nervous about finding a leader in herself. As she begins to rethink the relationship between herself and her father who has now died saving her brother and herself in the first film "A Quiet Place" - on how he would help the family survive the world if he was still alive. Her character then finds herself in a situation where she tries to push Emeritt, a family friend to help her find a way to save her family from the monsters. A Quiet Placeis a movie about a family living in a world filled with these monsters that hunt by sounds so they must live in complete silence which we now understand in A Quiet Place 2came from outer space. A Youtube video by The Take called Is A Quiet Place Political?

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Netflix’s “Sweet Tooth” Makes A Better Environmental Statement Than The Comic Book by Esmeralda Gomez

Netflix’s “Sweet Tooth” Makes A Better Environmental Statement Than The Comic Book

The Netflix series “Sweet Tooth” and comic book have two different origin stories with two different purposes of ‘The Sick.’ In the show, it’s an environmental statement, but in the comic, it’s an act of revenge. In the show, we learn that Pubba and Bear believe the virus is Nature’s way of healing herself from humans’ destruction. And that the hybrid children are supposed to rise and become the new inhabitants of Earth. But without their expression, this would be a common belief among the audience since our reduced activity has reduced air and water pollution during the pandemic. It didn’t reset Earth, but we saw her revive a bit.

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15 HAUNTINGLY Good Haunts In Savannah, Georgia by Kathlyn King

15 HAUNTINGLY Good Haunts In Savannah, Georgia

As a born and bred South Georgian, who has been to Savannah more times than I can recall, and as a lover of all things paranormal and spooky, there are few places I love more than this city. The hostess city doesn’t just host thousands upon thousands of tourists and locals with good food, beautiful architecture, and southern hospitality; it is also the permanent home to countless souls who are bound to loom over its squares, streets, taverns, inns, and halls for eternity. Why is Savannah claimed to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States? Founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, the city of Savannah has been no stranger to death, disease, and siege for almost 300 years of its existence.

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Netflix’s Comedy Special "Inside" Is A Chaotic Reflection Of 2020 by Esmeralda Gomez

Netflix’s Comedy Special "Inside" Is A Chaotic Reflection Of 2020

Written, directed, and edited by Bo Burnham throughout the pandemic, “Inside” is a comedic film that features songs and bits about his isolation and mental health, which captures how a majority of people felt during the pandemic. But 2020 was more than the pandemic. After the death of George Floyd and the BLM protects, there has been a stream of activism on social media of BIPOC influencers educating about systemic racism, toxic masculinity, misogyny, colonization, and so much more. Some people have been enlightened, while others choose to be ignorant and gaslight activists and allies. However, some people aren’t quite enlightened and do performative activism, which is done by “allies” to be a part of the “trend.” These people have been overwhelmingly White. Because of this, Bo Burnham’s “Inside” also has songs and bits that mock the White lens and their response to social issues.

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This Is Lovecraft Country: A Deep Dive Into The World Of The Best-selling Book And Hit HBO Series by Joseph Poulos

This Is Lovecraft Country: A Deep Dive Into The World Of The Best-selling Book And Hit HBO Series

Matt Ruff's 2016 novel Lovecraft Country was renowned for its sci-fi originality and its unforgiving take on racism in the 1950s. It was so successful that it was made into an equally-acclaimed streaming series on HBO Max. The series starred Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors in the lead roles. It was produced by some huge names such as JJ Abrams, Jordan Peele, and Misha Green. Although both the novel and the series feature monsters and ideas from H.P. Lovecraft's iconic bibliography, they also center on fantastical cults as well as hot takes on racism from the era of segregation. Fans of the series who have not read the book may wonder what the similarities between the two actually are.

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All About Jonathan Franzen's Next Big Release  "Crossroads" by Joseph Poulos

All About Jonathan Franzen's Next Big Release "Crossroads"

Jonathan Franzen is one of the most revered writers of the 21st century. Author of the legendary 2001 novel The Corrections, considered by many to be his magnum opus, he was also called "Great American Novelist" by Time Magazine.The Corrections earned him a National Book Award as well as earning him a spot on the shortlists for the Pulitzer Prize. After this, Franzen continued his success with his 2010 novel Freedom, as well as 2015'sPurity, all of which have had critical and commercial success unrivaled by his contemporaries. Many have wondered what is next for this prolific author's career. He is scheduled to release his next book,Crossroads on October 5th, 2021.

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Everything You Need To Know About Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Film Soggy Bottom Starring Bradley Cooper by Joseph Poulos

Everything You Need To Know About Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Film Soggy Bottom Starring Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper's most recent success came with Lady Gaga in 2018's A Star Is Born,which he produced, directed, and starred in. The film was a huge hit, earning the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as 7 other Academy Award nominations. Now Bradley Cooper is back with big-time director Paul Thomas Anderson, their first collaboration, and PTA's first film since his acclaimed 2017 film, Phantom Thread. Paul Thomas Anderson's next film, titled Soggy Bottom will feature Bradley Cooper in the lead role as a film director and producer in Hollywood. The movie will be set in 1970's Los Angeles, CA. It will be released November 26, 2021.

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Spoiler-Free Assessment Of Haruki Murakami's Book 1Q84 by Joseph Poulos

Spoiler-Free Assessment Of Haruki Murakami's Book 1Q84

Japanese author Haruki Murakamiis one of the most beloved writers of the last 20 years in any country. Though he has plenty of amazing books in his catalog, many consider his 2011 magical realist novel, 1Q84his best. Featuring a dual storyline involving alternate timelines taking place in 1984, the book is a clever fantasy entry and praised the whole world over. Haruki Murakami's book 1Q84 was released in three volumes from 2009 to 2010, with english releases in 2011. It widely regarded as his best novel, and features magical realism and an alternate timeline story taking place in Tokyo in 1984.

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Why Judas And The Black Messiah Makes You Feel Uneasy by Joseph Poulos

Why Judas And The Black Messiah Makes You Feel Uneasy

Judas and the Black Messiahis one of the most beloved and successful movies of 2021. It shows us the history of the Black Panther Party, and also explores the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. It is a powerfully dark movie and describes the relationship between Fred Hampton and undercover FBI informant William O'Neal. O'Neal tries to set Fred Hampton up and is eventually responsible for his death at the hands of the FBI. The score, composed by Mark Isham and Craig Harris is a stressful and dark creation. It allows us to follow Stanfield's character on his treacherous road to betraying Chairman Fred Hampton. The film currently holds a 96% rating on Rottentomatoes.

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Candyman Kyle Busch Dominates To Win The First Inaugural Circuit Of The Americas Race At Austin For His 98th Xfinity Series Win by Joseph Poulos

Candyman Kyle Busch Dominates To Win The First Inaugural Circuit Of The Americas Race At Austin For His 98th Xfinity Series Win

Kyle Busch has always had success in NASCAR's Xfinity Series. The 2009 Xfinity Series Champion also has two NASCAR Cup Series Championships, his most recent in 2019. While 2020 was a hard year for Kyle Busch, in terms of wins, he has not slowed down in the Xfinity Series at all. Since Kyle Busch often competes in the Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, it was no surprise to see him at NASCAR's first trip to the road course in Austin, Texas, known as Circuit Of The Americas. He has racked up road course wins across both series, and was a favorite for this Xfinity Series race. Kyle Busch led 35 of 46 laps to win the race in his Skittles #54 Toyota Supra.

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The Best Episode Of The Sopranos: "The Ride" by Joseph Poulos

The Best Episode Of The Sopranos: "The Ride"

During the quarantine for COVID-19, a ton of new fans have been drawn to HBO's The Sopranos. The show has received critical and commercial success since it first aired in 1999. Now that the sample size of viewers has grown, it is time to discuss which episodes of The Sopranos are the best. The best episode of The Sopranos is titled "The Ride". It features several intersecting storylines involving Christopher Moltisanti and Paulie Gaultieri and uses the ride as a metaphor for life, danger, and drug addiction. The year 2020 was a big one for fans of The Sopranos. An official re-watch podcast starring Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa aired on YouTube and is still going on at this very moment. Robert Iler and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played AJ and Meadow Soprano, respectively, started their own talk show podcast called Pajama Pants.

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The Best Great American Novel: A Top 10 by Joseph Poulos

The Best Great American Novel: A Top 10

The Great American Novel is an elusive beast. American Literature, especially in the 20th century, has yielded some extremely memorable and critically classic books. Before we go through the best Great American Novels of all time, let us first define what a Great American Novel is: The Great American Novel (GAN) is a Western novel which is said to capture the essence of spirit of America. Its author is typically American and speaks about the identity of America itself. American Literature is known far and wide as some of the best reading to ever be published. The subject is vast, and as a result, there are many contenders for the title of Greatest American Novel. Ranging from older classics to post-9/11 chronicles, here are some of the best American novels of all time.

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History Behind Leonardo DiCaprio’s Movie, Killers Of The Flower Moon by Joseph Poulos

History Behind Leonardo DiCaprio’s Movie, Killers Of The Flower Moon

Though Leonardo DiCaprio has been the source of the famous "pointing meme" lately, there is now some fresh DiCaprio-related news to share. Leonardo DiCaprio’s last film, 2019’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood left fans and film buffs alike asking for more. Here is everything we know about Leonardo DiCaprio's next film: Killers Of The Flower Moon. Leonardo DiCaprio is set to star in Martin Scorsese’s next film, Killers Of The Flower Moon. Costarring Robert De Niro, it takes place in the 1920’s when members of the Osage Tribe are murdered, sparking an investigation by J. Edgar Hoover.

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Prince Phillip Funeral : Prince Harry's First Time Back Home Since Oprah Interview by Joseph Poulos

Prince Phillip Funeral : Prince Harry's First Time Back Home Since Oprah Interview

Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, was best known as the Royal Consort to Queen Elizabeth II. Since his death, many have wondered what his funeral was like, when it would be held, and how this would affect his grandson Prince Harry. Here are the details on everything we have been able to uncover about Prince Phillip's funeral and Prince Harry. Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, age 99, died in his sleep on April 9th, 2021. His funeral took place on April 17th, 2021 at Windsor Castle. His grandson, Prince Harry flew to The UK for this funeral. Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, and husband of Queen Elizabeth II died in his sleep on a calm Friday morning in The United Kingdom. He had been the longest-serving royal consort in history. Plans for his funeral were already in place before he died.

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How Has The Horror Genre Changed For The Years To Come? by Jay Fare

How Has The Horror Genre Changed For The Years To Come?

In March of 2020, everything stopped. As COVID-19 descended on the world, we all descended into our houses, and many of us descended into isolation. We asked ourselves millions of questions about how to cling to normalcy, and how to adapt to this newness, and some of those questions have gone unanswered. Theatres were hit particularly hard, and film projects ground to a halt; even Hollywood shut down. From the ashes, however, rose “quar-horror” movies like Host, which exploded into everyone's newly screen-bound lives during our first quarantined summer. Host, and other horror films made during the COVID-19 pandemic, seek to explore the questions that this global disaster has left us asking.

Jay Fare
entertainment . 10 min read
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Why Anime Lovers Just Cannot Miss These Anime Releases by Kcschooluse

Why Anime Lovers Just Cannot Miss These Anime Releases

As an avid anime watcher, I am very excited for this upcoming fall season, as many anime shows are set to be released. While the pandemic has postponed the release dates of numerous shows, directors and animators have worked hard to successfully release content. I hope that even if you aren’t infatuated with the genre, you can try watching these shows for the first time! Below, are the five soon to be released anime shows that are sure to captivate the hearts of watchers: After a long-awaited six years since its first release date, the last season of Haikyuu is finally out. Starting from October 2nd, new episodes are being released every week. Haikyuu!! is a volleyball anime famous for its intense plot and compelling backgrounds of each character as they compete in a high school volleyball tournament?

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