fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
What Is A Virtual Tour?
By: Virtualtech Design
Tags: Healthcare, Covid 19, Lifestyle, Health, Virtual Reality

As time moving forward, the healthcare industry is innovative day by day. Hospitals, Clinics or other healthcare facilities are also innovative to stay connected with the people.

Virtual tour has become a new strategic marketing tool to help medical facilities offer better communication with those who need the care. Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities can provide potential patients with an immersive, interactive experience in their facilities from the comfort of their own home.

These interactive displays are perfect for capturing the attention of users interested in visualizing your facilities, and seeing what quality of medical care they can expect. You get to highlight all your best features, while patients won’t feel apprehensive or nervous about starting medical care at an unfamiliar centre.

How Does Virtual Tour Work?

A virtual tour is extremely easy to operate and manage. You’ll be given a completely 360 degree, panoramic walkthrough of your waiting rooms, recovery rooms, patient rooms, medical equipment, and anything else important. Using the mouse, users can simply click anywhere in the tour, and drag their cursor around to see all angles of an area. Interactive “hotspots” give users the opportunity to learn even more about a specific piece of equipment or certain areas of your facility.

Photographers will visit your facility, take footage of all the places you want to include in your tour. We send that to our graphic designers to be compiled into an immersive, interactive panoramic experience using our 360 virtual tour software. The process won’t disrupt your business operations, and thanks to our unique approach, we can produce your video content in 10% of the typical timeframe.

We offer fully customizable interactive virtual tours. Our virtual tours are 100% customizable to fit all your specific needs. Healthcare facilities are not created equally, so we provide a full list of customizable options to better cater your tour for your specific patients. You’ll be able to choose the background music, add voice-over narration, translate it into bilingual versions, and request photo touch-ups.

Let’s connect with our team today and set up a consultation with us and we’ll provide you with a quote for any custom virtual tours you require. We don’t just make virtual tour videos, we create a captivating experience.

Contact

Phone: 212–951–1010

Email Address: info@virtualtechdesign.com
Moving into turbulence, uncertainty, novelty, and ambiguity
By: Benjamin P. Taylor
Tags: Covid 19, Innovation, Future, Complexity, Public Service

We are definitely in the next, uncertain phase of the pandemic.

What are the top three things you think that leaders in government, business, and society need to be focused on?

This Wednesday sees the next meeting of our learning community to build back better in the days after — join us if you wish: https://www.publicservicetransformation.org/2020/04/the-days-after-a-learning-community-to-build-back-better/

We’re asking: how can public services deal with the complexity of working in current circumstances AND support better citizen and community outcomes?

What we see are dozens of different major issues, all interacting…

hybrid working

how much to ‘return to normal’ and how much to move to a radical new approach

the financial pressures of COVID on top of austerity and “Brexit”

burnout and trauma in the workforce and community

people with very different needs and focus

backlogs and built-up pressures, especially in care and health

economic impact and changed economic patterns

a desire to work from bottom-up and a lack of knowledge about how to do it

Put these in the mix together, you get true complexity!

Here’s our overview from June:

https://chosenpath.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/2021-07-23-psta-learning-community-to-build-back-better-in-the-days-after-v1.0bt-with-notes-no-attendees.pdf

So what do you think the top three priorities should be?

They could be particular issues, ways of working, concepts, principles, whatever… let us know and it will feed in to our thinking!
Role of Technology during Covid-19 Pandemic
By: Pranav Mohan
Tags: Technology, Covid 19, Blog

Role of Technology during Covid-19 Pandemic

The covid-19 Pandemic has wreaked havoc on the whole world. Our lives, both personal and professional have been greatly impacted. During this time of fear and uncertainty, our willingness to adapt to technology has been our lifeline. Pranav Mohan Jul 5·2 min read

Covid-19 has directly impacted close to 1.45 billion students as schools and colleges have shut down. Most educational institutions have started to offer online courses to make sure that education is not disrupted due to the pandemic.

The online grocery market has witnessed tremendous growth as people are preferring home delivery to stay safe. Online teaching and work from home is a blessing that comes due to technology and is the greatest solution that helps in social distancing. Work from home has ensured business continuity. But just like the sides of a coin, technology has its own minus points.

We have become more dependent on technology during the pandemic. More exposure to mobile radiation is increasing the cases of eye problems like myopia. People are watching movies late at night which affects their sleep cycle which results in fatigue and sleepiness. People are falling prey to fake news which is one of the factors in the increase of Covid-19 cases. An increase in digital gadget use is causing reduced physical activities. Increased use of technology by children can cause low creativity.

I do not mean to say that we should not use technology. But we should not let it rule over us.

The pandemic has hit labour-intensive sectors like food, retail, logistics and manufacturing businesses. Robots are used to clean infected areas and for delivering food to quarantined people. Swab collection is conducted to help medical professionals. Thanks to technology, we can develop vaccines. Thermal guns are used to measure the temperature of people.

Technology has helped in three medical activities- diagnosis, surveillance and prevention.

Covid-19 has proved that technological innovations have been helping in managing the pandemic in a timely, systematic and calm manner.

In the end, I would like to add that advancement in technology is steadily progressing; it will undoubtedly continue to grow exponentially. It’s we humans who have to adapt to changes in technology faster and continue to invest in building the technology systems for better preparedness.

I hope you like this blog. Don’t forget to share your suggestion in the comments section. Do share this blog.

Visit my Blog website- https://dailyboxchat.blogspot.com/
Heineken Emerged as a Savior for Local Bars During Lockdown
By: Anshu Kumari
Tags: Covid 19, Helping Others, Local Business, Really Good Marketing, Marketing

Heineken Emerged as a Savior for Local Bars During Lockdown

Its ‘Shutter Ads’ campaign even won a Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions 2021 Anshu Kumari Jul 5·4 min read

Photo by Thiago Miranda from Pexels

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world.

Many places went on complete lockdown. Nothing other than the bare essentials were available. The governments had shut the shops down. Many lost their jobs. They had to develop other sources of income for their livelihood.

More or less, everyone suffered due to this.

Larger brands had suffered damages too, but they had other sources of income. They digitized their products quickly and cut back some losses. But the small retail-based business survived solely on their stores operating. And they were closed with no information on when they could open again.

But a few bigger brands have lent a helping hand to their smaller counterparts. They have tried to lessen the financial strain for small businesses.

Heineken is one of the leading breweries in the world. It has been in business for more than 150 years. It has over 300 brands available in more than 190 countries. Despite the pandemic, its reported net profit for the first two months of 2021 was €168 million.

It has launched many campaigns during the past year. But its ‘Shutter Ads’ and the ‘Back to Bars’ campaigns have been aimed towards the local bars.
Sleepless nights nocturnal behavior...
By: Kamran Siddiqui
Tags: Covid 19, Positivity, Poetry, India, Original

Sleepless nights nocturnal behavior...

Eyes wide open and mind occupied..

This lockdown makes us really horrified..

Solitary confinement is never we desired for..

But God's will is superior of us all...

Unseen terror has confined us in our homes..

Our actions being watched over by drones...

Covid 19 is a new threat to humanity..

It doesn't discriminate between a common man and a celebrity...

It has engulfed our freedom..making us shake in terror..

But surely we will screw it sooner or later..

Perhaps it's not just a disease but God's anger..

Let's pray together to get rid of this danger..

Keeping aside all the differences let's make humanity strong..

Social distancing is the mantra to fight this moron..

A pleasant morning is waiting for us after this dreadful night..

So be in captivity and soon our future will b bright..

Surely this too shall paas..

And will leave unforgettable scar on human race..

This pandemic will teach us life important lessons which humanity will embrace..

Losses will be huge ..

But this world will change and will accelerate at a positive pace...

Leaving behind all hatred and negativity..

We March to a new world full of peace and positivity..
COVID-19 Vaccine Impact on Inorganic Color Pigments Market Size To Reach $51.5 Million By 2027
By: Rajesh Varma
Tags: Covid 19, Thermoformed Plastic, Global

COVID-19 Vaccine Impact on Inorganic Color Pigments Market Size To Reach $51.5 Million By 2027 Rajesh Varma Follow Jul 5 · 2 min read

Thermoformed Plastics For Printing Market Growth & Trends

The global thermoformed plastics for printing market size is anticipated to reach USD 51.5 million by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2020 to 2027. Rapidly increasing expenditure on advertisements from major economies, especially in the U.S., is projected to largely contribute to the growth in demand for thermoformed plastics for printing over the forecast period.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) is a modified version of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) with improved durability. PETG has glycol added to PET, which prevents crystallization during the extrusion process. PETG is a clear and transparent material and is widely used in display and outdoor signages and promotional and branding products. Acrylic material offers properties, such as optical clarity, excellent impact resistance, high resistance to sunlight, low molding shrinkage, and high dimensional stability. These properties make acrylic suitable for use in the manufacturing of display and outdoor signages and promotional and branding products.

The market in India is anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to the growing signage and advertising industries. In the advertising industry, the display and outdoor signage application segment plays a major role in promoting and branding the products by placing the banners and display boards in areas, such as multiplexes, retail outlets, pubs and bars, restaurants, banks, and Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs). According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) report, India’s advertising industry is the second-fastest-growing industry in Asia, after China, in 2019. As a result, manufacturers from across the world are exploring and investing in the Indian market, which, in turn, is expected to increase the demand for thermoformed plastics over the forecast period.

Request a free sample copy or view report summary:

Thermoformed Plastics For Printing Market Report

Thermoformed Plastics For Printing Market Report Highlights
V-Moda unveils its first wireless headphone with active noise cancellation, the M-200 ANC
Tags: Cutting, Entertainment, Security Cameras, Gear

V-Moda unveils its first wireless headphone with active noise cancellation, the M-200 ANC Katie Jan 27·2 min read

V-Moda is a well-regarded headphone maker that offers a variety of high-quality over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear models. At CES 2021, the company expanded its lineup with the announcement of its first Bluetooth wireless headphone with active noise cancellation (ANC), the M-200.



This is an over-ear (circumaural) design that features 40mm drivers with neodymium magnets and copper-clad aluminum-wire (CCAW) voice coils within optimized housings. The result is a frequency response that extends from 10 Hz to 40 kHz—in fact, this headphone is Hi-Res Audio certified in wired mode—with a sensitivity of 101 dB (±3 dB) at 1kHz/1mW, an impedance of 30 ohms, and a maximum input power of 1,000mW at 1kHz.



For wireless listening, the M-200 ANC implements Bluetooth 5.0 with support for the aptX HD, AAC, and SBC codecs. The battery offers up to 20 hours of playtime between charges, and connecting it to a power source for 10 minutes gives you a 1.5 hours of playtime.



[ Further reading: The best headphones you can buy ]With a free app for iOS and Android devices, you can set the active noise cancellation to one of 10 different levels. In addition, the app provides equalization capabilities, including six presets for different genres and a manual setting that lets you tailor the sound exactly as you want.



V-Moda The earcups on the M200 ANC can be customized with unique shields.



Speaking of customization, V-Moda is known for offering a selection of decorative aluminum shields that mount on the outer surface of the earcups. You can even have your initials, logo, or other artwork laser-engraved or color printed onto custom shields.



V-Moda touts the overall build quality and comfort level, with a fully adjustable, steel-core headband covered in polyurethane leather, which is soft, flexible, and breathable. Likewise, the earpads are made from memory foam and covered in PU leather, and they attach to the earcups magnetically, making them easy to remove for cleaning or replacement.



The onboard controls are intuitive, and the M-200 ANC supports Google Assistant and Apple Siri for voice commands with a state-of-the-art microphone in the earcup, which also serves phone calls. A feature called Voice In lowers the volume and disables ANC while you cover the left earcup with your hand, letting you hear your surroundings or converse as needed, then return to your music effortlessly.



The M-200 ANC is available now for a list price of $499.99. For more info, click here.



Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.
Sonos introduces a replacement battery kit for its Move portable smart speaker
Tags: Electronics, Music, Security Cameras, Cutting

Sonos introduces a replacement battery kit for its Move portable smart speaker Nikki Jan 27·2 min read

When the battery in the typical Bluetooth speaker fails after several hundred charging cycles, you’re left with a useless brick in need of e-cycling. But that won’t be a problem with the Sonos Move, because the manufacturer just announced the availability of a $69 battery-replacement kit.



Mentioned in this article Sonos Move Read TechHive's review$399.00MSRP $399.00See iton Sonos When we reviewed the Move in September, 2019 Sonos declined to answer how many charging cycles buyers should expect its battery to last. They did, however, tell us the speaker was designed to resist memory problems stemming from leaving it on its charging dock even after short periods of use.



[ Further reading: The best smart speakers and digital assistants ]A firmware update released in July 2020 promises to increase run time to 11 hours on a full charge. The company now says you should expect the Move’s battery’s lifespan to “last around three years or 900 charges,” depending on usage.



The DIY battery kit, available in black or “lunar” white to match your speaker, includes the battery itself plus replacement screws and the tools needed to accomplish the task.



Sonos also announced a limited-time partnership with Convoy Network, an independent platform for Spanish-language audio content (podcasts and live audio) in Latin America. Beginning January 12, Sonos users will have access to Convoy Network’s full range of content once they add they add the service in the Sonos app. The company has not said how long Convoy Network will be available to Sonos users.



Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.
This glorious 65-inch 4K Roku TV is a jaw-dropping $400 today
Tags: Electronics, Entertainment, Lighting, Security Cameras

The Super Bowl is coming, and if you plan to watch the big game you're going to need a bigger screen. Best Buy has you covered today with a Westinghouse 65-inch 4K Roku smart TV for a measly $400Remove non-product link—$200 off the MSRP and one of the best prices you'll ever see.



The TV itself features 4K resolution, as well as HDR 10. We wouldn't call that true HDR as this TV doesn't get quite bright enough to qualify, but you'll certainly notice the improved picture over similarly sized sets without it. With Roku on board, you have access to all your favorite streaming services including Apple TV, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Starz, and more. This TV also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, as well as integrating with other smart home devices.



For ports, it has three HDMI one of which has HDCP 2.2, as well as one USB 2.0 for thumb drives and other storage devices. It's also packing one digital optical audio out and analog audio out. For connectivity, you get Wi-Fi and Ethernet, but no Bluetooth.



Add it all up and you've got one heck of a bargain for just $400. So go grab one and get read to watch the big game in style.



[Today's deal: Westinghouse 65-inch 4K Roku smart TV for $400 at Best BuyRemove non-product link]



Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.
Is Your Arlo Camera Offline? Here Is How To Fix It
Tags: Security Camera, Technews, Services, Technology, Tech

Is Your Arlo Camera Offline? Here Is How To Fix It Lieke Follow Feb 11 · 3 min read

No one can deny that no other security camera will provide you the protection as Arlo Camera does. Isn’t it? But, several times you may end up facing the Arlo Camera Offline error. In this article, we are going to discuss each little detail about this problem. So, sit, relax, and read all the points carefully.

Security cameras are really very necessary for one or other reasons and there is no doubt about this. But, most of the time, we also have to take care of them so that they will function properly.

We just wanted to say that try to learn some troubleshooting steps so that you can fix this issue quickly.

How To Fix When an Arlo Camera Is Offline?

If you are facing any issue while using the Arlo security camera, you just need to follow the troubleshooting steps given below:

You just need to turn off your Arlo security camera and then remove the batteries from it. Now, you need to wait for a couple of minutes and then reinsert the batteries back to their place. Turn on the camera and if you have noticed that there are no LED lights, make sure you have inserted batteries accurately. After you turn on the camera, amber lights mean that the battery of the camera is low. Hence, this could be the main reason why your Arlo Won’t Connect to WiFi. It would be better if you replaced the batteries with new ones. Even after replacing the batteries with the new one, if still Arlo Camera Not Recording, check the settings. If still, your camera is not in online mode, turn off the device and sign out from the Arlo app. Even after trying each and everything if you’re still using your Arlo camera offline, you need to reset your device and set it up again.

All the above steps that we have mentioned above are enough to fix the offline issue of the Arlo camera. So, from the next time when you will face a similar issue, repeat the steps.

Quick Fixes When Arlo Camera Keeps Going Offline

In most cases, we have noticed that the above-mentioned steps failed to fix the issue. Hence, we are also going to tell you some advanced steps for the same. Here are some of them:

You need to verify whether your power adapter has been properly connected to the base station or not. Check whether all the cables are properly connected or not. Also, don’t forget to check whether the power adapter is in working condition. Replace the power adapter with the new one if still you are facing the Arlo Camera Offline issue. You can also use an ethernet cable if your router and ethernet cables are not connected properly. Also, don’t forget to check whether your router is working accurately or not.

Conclusion

Arlo serves one of the best security cameras and there is no second thought about it. But, most of the time you may need to face some issues like Arlo Camera Offline. This is why we have already provided all the solutions that are needed to fix the problem.
Monk episode review — 1.11 — Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: 2000s, Monk, TV, Comedy, Mystery

Original air date: October 11, 2002

Director: Milan Cheylov

Writers: Andy Breckman and Tom Scharpling

Rating: 8/10

I don’t know if having Willie Nelson be a guest star on this episode was in any way inspired by Johnny Cash being the murderer in a Columbo episode, but I’d like to think it did, as that’s one of my favourite Columbo episodes. Unlike that one, though, here, Nelson plays himself, and here, he’s not the murderer, but is the primary suspect.

And like in “Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man,” of course Monk inexplicably has an interest in one of the aspects of the case. In this instance, he’s a huge Willie Nelson fan, as was his wife.

It’s a little strange, but I’m here for it, because I’m also a Willie Nelson fan. Nelson’s accused of having murdered his manager, as only he and a blind woman are seen in an alley when he’s killed.

It’s a fun little story, and I like all the Monk and Willie interactions. There’s a really funny small moment where Monk goes on Nelson’s tour bus and mentions that he smells something, clearly hinting at Willie’s weed use, but Nelson kind of shrugs it off, saying that he doesn’t smell anything, and neither does Monk.

Monk gets the opportunity to play clarinet live on the radio with Willie’s band for “Georgia on My Mind,” and it’s the best scene of the episode. Monk is so excited, but right before it starts, a radio engineer puts his mouth on the piece, so Monk just sits there terrified throughout the performance, eventually whistling when he should be playing the clarinet.

The episode ends with Monk and Nelson playing “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” at Trudy’s grave, and it’s a lovely little scene. So lovely in fact that I kind of wish it wasn’t in the first season. It seems like something that should be indicating closure, like after her murder is solved, or something.

Anyways, I do like the episode, and I probably like it more than I should, and it’s 100% because of Willie Nelson. I don’t think the writing is the sharpest of the series, but I don’t know, it’s just kind of a feel-good episode. And it has one of the best Sharona’s love life is absolutely miserable jokes that you don’t see coming.
The Sopranos episode review — 3.8 — He Is Risen
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: TV, The Sopranos, Tv Reviews, Television, Drama

Original air date: April 15, 2001

Director: Allen Coulter

Writers: Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, and Todd A. Kessler

Rating: 8/10

Joey Pants is really growing on me here. I still can’t stand listening to him because of his voice and accent, but he so perfectly embodies his asshole of a character. He’s probably the most easily hatable one on the show so far.

Here, Ralph laments the way Tony treated him, and even considers switching families, until Gigi Cestone passes away, and he’s promoted to captain. He wants to confirm that it’s based on merit, but Tony won’t do that.

Tony also meets a woman, Gloria Trillo (Annabella Sciorra), at Dr. Melfi’s office after a mixup on the time of her appointment.

He eventually meets her at the car dealership where she works, and sleeps with her.

Meadow’s also sort of in a relationship with Jackie Aprile, Jr. (Jason Cerbone). She hasn’t been speaking to her dad much recently, I guess following her breakup, which she blames on him.

In the best moment of the episode, Tony tries to speak with her before Thanksgiving dinner, thinking of the woman that Ralph killed, and how he could have helped her, but chose not to.

It’s a really powerful moment, and it is the highlight here, but there are plenty of other solid moments.
Show
By: Sam Z.
Tags: Weird, TV, Millennials, Comedy, Music

I should make a show. I already have a million-dollar idea: The millennial version of Cheers.

Cliff could be played by Jeffree Starr (he’d have to grow a mustache) and Norm could be Michelle Phan (she’d have to grow a mullet). Justin Bieber could be Sam Malone, although we’d have to change his sport from baseball to lacrosse because no one would believe Bieber would have been on the Red Sox. Diane could be played by Logan Paul.

The bar would be a bubble tea house. Instead of alcoholism, they all have seasonal depression.

If you’re not crazy about Justin Bieber as Sam Malone, don’t worry. Sam will be written off the show within the first two seasons for sexual harassment. He’ll be replaced by Kirstie Alley.

Maybe there are those who say that a traditional sitcom will not do well with the under-40 set, but don’t worry about that either. We’re not planning on getting anything but a cult following. Our plan is to get canceled in the third season, right after we go viral. The online outcry will be deafening, especially when we hire Barack Obama to Tweet about how much he likes the show, and then threaten Lin-Manuel Miranda with nude pics if he doesn’t retweet.

From there, we will get picked up by a prestigious streaming network, such as YouTube, Hulu, downloadfreeTV.com, and keep the show going until Logan Paul gets ousted for sexual harassment.

I think I’m really going to do this. I think it’s a great idea.
STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS
By: Dan Owen
Tags: Review, Star Trek, TV, Culture, Television

“Calypso” ✭✭✭✭✩

An outlier of these four shorts is “Calypso”, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay) from a story he and Sean Cochran cooked up. Unlike the other three instalments, this one doesn’t feature any of Discovery’s regular characters and makes the bold decision to set its story a thousand years in the future, for a tale inspired by Homer’s The Odyssey.

These shorts are canonical in Trek, so it’s brave of them to tell a story where the USS Discovery has been parked somewhere in deep space for the past millennium. Maybe the producers will come to regret this short’s existence (which may not even be seen by very many people) because now they can’t ever destroy the Discovery, and the series itself must somehow end with Discovery mothballed close to Alcor IV? Or will they maybe have to deliver a later episode that provides the backstory to this short?

Arriving aboard the derelict USS Discovery is Craft (Straight Outta Compton’s Aldis Hodge), a survivor of a war who escaped in a pod. Investigating this abandoned ghost ship, Craft comes to realise that the only other “occupant” is Zora (Annabelle Wallis) — the ship’s artificially intelligent computer, which I assume has evolved to become sentient over the centuries (but it’s not made clear). And so begins a touching and fascinating love story between this battle-scarred man and a kindhearted machine, as Craft is nursed back to health by a disembodied female voice that can cater to his every need — and even project an image of “herself” to be his dance partner in one delightful sequence on the Bridge.

Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi (Falling Skies), “Calypso” is an episode that will provoke a lot of nerdgasms (this is the further into Trek’s imaginary timeline than we’ve ever been), while also making you wish the excellent Aldis Hodge could somehow return by playing his own ancestor. I’m also even more excited for the upcoming miniseries focusing on Captain Picard because Chabon is part of the writing staff.
Review: ‘Utopia’ — Season One ★★★☆☆
By: Dan Owen
Tags: Review, TV, Frame Rated, Culture, Television

Review: ‘Utopia’ — Season One ★★★☆☆

The setup of Utopia will be familiar to British viewers of the original Channel 4 series, with a few tweaks and improvements. The way Utopia’s artwork hides various clues and cyphers is better explained and utilised, with a welcome focus on its strange drawings and their hidden meanings. I don’t recall the UK series giving this aspect of Utopia as much attention, so I loved how Flynn’s scripts delve into ‘the hook’ of the series with more enthusiasm and skill. It helps bind you to the characters when presented with a puzzle to obsess over with them.

But there are other changes to this remake which are of mixed success. Perhaps because there are eight episodes instead of six, matters are complicated with the introduction of two new characters with their own subplots. Firstly, there’s pharmaceutical genius Dr Kevin Christie (John Cusack), whose laboratory is struggling to launch a miracle food; and secondly, there’s a virologist called Michael Stearns (Rainn Wilson) who comes to believe a lethal virus he discovered has been released into the US population. Neither character was part of the UK Utopia, so they represent a sizeable chunk of the season’s story that isn’t as predictable. — Excerpted from the full review here…
I don’t encounter a lot of people who believe big & popular con-theories, but when I do, I’ve…
By: Nicky Mccatty
Tags: TV, History, Conspiracy, American, Christian

I don’t encounter a lot of people who believe big & popular con-theories, but when I do, I’ve noticed, they seem to find my incredulity to be evidence that they are enlightened while I’m still “in the dark.”*

*I hate, I mean, I totally H8! deploying the term Dark & its synonyms as markers of evil or anything other than absence of light in physics. So, tongue sotto sotto voce in cheek.

Beside the influences you mention, there are also widespread “misconceptions” which, when exposed factually, assist an individual’s or group’s inclination to dismiss or accept ideas that comport with factual stuff. Eg, once a Black American has learned about the tons of elisions in the national historical narrative, it gets easier, apparently, to accept some inaccurate storylines: another That Proves It (so just shrug), like with pharma — Tuskeegee — and other “medical research” that’s basically another German atrocity. How does one prove “ok that was disgusting but this time I’m not lying?” I tend to reject conspiracy theories, and yet from reading real American history, what do you expect?

I’m not xtian, so sometimes, when attempting to persuade somebody that they need to make informed second- and third-look evals, I have recommended that they read The Historical Jesus, and also get a real idea of just how an anti-establishment Talmud student, in an academy with Hillel, might look at things, at that time.

Needless to say…
Monk episode review — 4.3 — Mr. Monk Stays in Bed
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: Monk, TV, Tv Reviews, Comedy, Mystery

Original air date: July 22, 2005

Director: Philip Casnoff

Writer: Hy Conrad

Rating: 7/10

When with her daughter and Monk, Natalie gets way too much change from the pizza delivery guy, so she tracks him down to pay him back. But when she gets there, he’s dead.

And meanwhile, Monk gets the flu, and there is no one less self-reliant.

He has a specific system for Natalie to dispose of his used tissues, and he consults a medical dictionary to conclude that he has the Ebola virus.

Julie also gives him a card that plays music when you open it, and it drives him nuts. As you might guess, that comes back later at a crucial, and satisfying, moment.

With Stottlemeyer and Disher busy with a case of much higher priority, Natalie investigates the dead pizza man herself, finding that whoever it was that was dead was not the person that had come to her door.

She tries to work with Monk, but he’s mostly uncooperative and just all around msierable. So she investigates things herself, even finding the guy that did it. She eventually sneaks into his house when he’s away, and Monk tells her to look for blood on the bathroom lightswitch, which she finds. When he comes back, she hides, but drops her phone.

The “Here’s what happened” is then delivered over the phone by Monk to the killer himself, which leads him to take Natalie hostage as he looks for the one last remaining piece of evidence: the pizza box.

It’s a gimmick episode in the sense that the entire appeal is Monk isn’t out there investigating, but it’s a gimmick I’m not really a big fan of, since that’s why we’re watching the show. It is fun to see Monk do some of his neurotic shit in bed, though, like eating his alphabet soup in order.
Star Trek episode review — 2.19 — A Private Little War
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: Star Trek, TV, Tv Reviews, Science Fiction, SciFi

Original air date: February 2, 1968

Director: Marc Daniels

Writer: Gene Roddenberry (story by Don Ingalls)

Rating: 9/10

The Enterprise visits an old planet that Kirk has been to before. The society when Kirk was there was rather primitive, but he did like it. Now he sees that they’re much more advanced, as they now have guns.

Kirk and McCoy investigate on the planet in native dress, and they’re attacked by a really funny looking creature, a Mugato. It’s one of my favorite Star Trek monsters. It’s wonderful.

There are two warring societies and the one that Kirk likes is the one with less advanced weapons. He tries to supply them with guns, saying that they need to be on equal footing, but Kirk’s old friend, Tyree (Michael Witney), doesn’t want them.

Tyree’s wife, Nona (Nancy Kovack), also fucks a lot of things up, but her death complicates things, as it makes Tyree want revenge.

This is a pretty interesting story and it’s one of the better ones featuring the Enterprise encountering alien cultures. It’s well written and has a couple of nice guest stars. It’s one of the better episodes.
Breaking Bad episode review — 3.6 — Sunset
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: Breaking Bad, TV, Tv Reviews, Drama, 2010s

Original air date: April 25, 2010

Director: John Shiban

Writer: John Shiban

Rating: 10/10

This episode is a freakin’ ride — easily one of the best so far. Walt starts working at Gus’s new lab, meeting his new lab assistant, a mild mannered middle aged man named Gale Boetticher (David Costabile).

Gale’s definitely a bit of a loser, but he’s nice to Walt, and Walt seems to like him enough.

Jesse’s being watched from outside by Hank, who waits for him to make a mistake. It turns out that Hank makes the mistake, though, as he calls Walt and asks him if he knows anything about Jesse having an RV. Walt calls Saul to give him a heads up about this, as he doesn’t want to talk to Jesse, fearing his house may be bugged.

He shows up at the junkyard himself to destroy the RV, and Badger calls Jesse to tell him that. Jesse then rushes to the junkyard, with Hank on his tail.

Hank and Jesse hide in the RV as Hank tries to find a way in.

The man tasked with destroying the RV, Old Joe (Larry Hankin), insists that probable cause doesn’t apply here, since it’s a domicile, not a vehicle. Hank removes some duct tape to reveal bullet holes, and Walter quietly tellse Jesse to say that he had no reason to think there were bullets behind the tape unless he would have removed the tape illegally.

Hank has met his match in both Old Joe and Hank quietly advising Jesse from the inside. He’s content to wait for a search warrant, and Walt knows that’s what’s going to happen, so he needs to come up with a new plan. He calls Saul, and then Hank receives a call saying that his wife has been in a car accident and is in the hospital.

He rushes away, giving Jesse, Walt, and Old Joe the time to move and also destroy the RV. When Hank arrives at the hospital, he realizes he’s been duped.

The episode concludes with Gus meeting the Cousins and saying that while Walt is off the table, he gives them permission to kill the man who literally killed Tuco: Hank.

It should be noted, as well, that the episode opens with a flashback to Hector Salamanca when he was a much younger man. He complains over the phone of a South American man that he calls a chicken seller (Gus), saying that you can never trust a South American. He’s also with the cousins when they’re much younger.

This episode is fantastic. The whole private domicile sequence is as suspenseful as the series gets, honestly.
Friday the 13th: The Series episode review — 1.23 — Badge of Honor
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: Fantasy, Horror, TV, Friday The 13th, Drama

Original air date: July 9, 1988

Director: Michelle Manning

Writer: Roy Swallows (story by Jim Henshaw and Roy Swallows)

Rating: 5/10

It genuinely feels like there’s a lot missing from this episode. Like something just feels off. The climax is really abrupt, and it really didn’t feel like a climax until the episode ended pretty abrutply afterward.

Jack isn’t there, but that’s not that unusual at this point. Dude just can’t give two fucks about tracking down these cursed objects sometimes, I guess.

This episode also doesn’t really feel like a Friday the 13th: The Series episode. It has kind of an ’80s noir kind of feel, like Miami Vice or something like that. I found it kind of refreshing, but that didn’t keep it from being one of my least favourite episodes so far.

The plot revolves around a cop who failed at setting up a drug bust, and now is out for vigilante justice with the help of the cursed sheriff badge that he has.

It’s a bit unclear as to how the badge kills people. He places it on people and they basically convulse and go crazy, with some violent noises, but I guess the badge just kind of burns through where it’s placed. It’s a little weird.

Also, Micki’s visited by her old friend and lover. Is she still engaged? Anyways, Ryan’s suspicious of him because he’s in the middle of a half-assed will-they-won’t-they with Micki, of course. But seeing him be jealous over this kind of thing just makes him seem unlikable.

The episode gives a surprisingly little amount of screentime to Micki and Ryan, as we get long stretches where they don’t appear. To be honest, this is the best stuff in the episode, too.
YOU’VE BEEN ASKED TO APPEAR ON A TELEVISION PROGRAMME
By: Karen Sterling
Tags: TV, Firewalking, Programme

YOU’VE BEEN ASKED TO APPEAR ON A TELEVISION PROGRAMME

It’s an exciting, jolly day out. Different to what I normally do.

I was down in London at a well-known film studio as a guest on a popular prime time TV show. Its all hush hush until it airs in a couple of months.

It was the 42nd television programme that I’ve been featured on — yes, I still count them, as well as the 2 Blue Peter badges I proudly own.

I’m often asked what my secret is for being on so many shows. I don’t have an agent or know anyone of influence in telly land. I don’t pitch or contact them either. (I’m bloody good at what I do) They call me.

Here’s what I do:

I’m completely honest and direct. If someone has an idea or thought about an activity and I know that it doesn’t work they way they think it would, or its unsafe, I tell them and offer an alternative.

Plan, prepare, practise…rehearse at home, and rehearse again.

The call sheet is private and confidence, never show/share it with anyone.

On the day: bring everything you think you’ll need; refreshments, snacks, books. You can be waiting around. If I’m there with my team I bring games like Connect 4, something that can be packed up quickly if needed. Never keep people waiting.

Never expect a lavish catering service, they have budgets too. If they do provide food/snacks, don’t be greedy.

Do your own makeup and hair. If they offer to do yours, brilliant but never expect or demand it.

If you think your outfit will need a quick freshen up, pack a travel iron. You may be assigned a dressing room, but don’t expect one. You may be waiting in a communal area

You will be asked to be on site long before you’re needed. They want to ensure you’re there; they don’t like being kept waiting for you to grace them with your presence whenever you feel like rocking up.

Schedules can and will change when filming.

You will be assigned a Runner — be nice to them. They are not your personal servant. They are there to aid the smooth running of filming as much as they can. Don’t be a Diva.

The Runners also act as The Gatekeeper to keep you from wandering around the set, trying to talk to the onscreen talent or pitching your magnificent ideas to the directors and producers. Behave. Be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be.

Remember Runners are potentially future bookers for shows, they will remember how you treat them.

When its time to film your piece — take some deep breaths, say and do what you do. If you mess up, move on quickly, it wont be re-shot unless they want it to be.

If the programme isn’t going to be aired until some time in the future, they will tell you to keep it quiet. No details or sneaky photos on social media. You can shout to the rooftops after it is aired.

Most importantly, enjoy the experience, I love having a glimpse into another world.

Watch, listen and learn from your time.
Gallagher Girls on the Small Screen?!
By: Nhyira M
Tags: TV, Literature

The Gallagher Girls is a great series. It focuses on a group of female teens, enrolled in spy school, from the POV of Cammie Morgan. They deal with the typical drama of teenage years plus the spy school pressure. So, I decided to put together what I believe would be a great cast, if it were ever to be made into a TV Series in 2020.

Joey King as Cammie Morgan

With a CV including appearances romances such as the famous/infamous (depending on which way you look at it), ‘The Kissing Booth’ film series, to DC’s The Flash, she could very well be perfect the role of the main character Cammie.

Zendaya as Rebecca Baxter

Zendaya may very well be a veteran with titles including The Greatest Showman and Euphoria, plus roles in the MCU to name a few — and at the young age of 24 — but her elegance and experience would be perfect for the likable character of Bex.

Lili Reinhart as Macey McHenry

Macey and Lili (I believe) complement each other very well, both ways. With Lili’s experience in teen romances including Chemical Hearts, and with a teen drama series like Riverdale, she could slip into Macey’s role with ease. Plus a cameo even in Charlie’s Angels (2019), she’s pretty much prepared to play anything!

Olivia Rodrigo as Liz Sutton

Alright, I know what you’re thinking: “Of course she’s gonna bring in the Disney girl, too.” But you’re forgetting that all she needs now — I think, but I’m not an expert or anything so don’t quote me on this — is a breakout role, that lets her disembark from the Disney shadow. So, she’s well-known for roles in HSMTMTS and Bizaardvark (pretty significant roles), and maybe a Gallagher Girls adaptation can do for her what happened to the likes of Efron.

Jennifer Lawrence as Rachel Morgan

Well of course Jennifer Lawrence became pretty famous when she joined the cast of The Hunger Games, but she’s been in X-Men stuff as well. I guess the similarity between the two is action, which has gotta tell you something, and the Gallagher Girls includes quite a bit of action, as you’d expect from a spy series. So you know, could be perfect.

Jackson Rathbone as Joe Solomon

And well, The Twilight Saga is pretty famous and grossed $3.3 billion globally, so you probably recognise this guy as playing Jasper, who was turned whilst in the Army during the Civil War. But that’s not all that Jackson’s name can be found; he was part of ‘The Last Airbender (2010)’. So, ranging from a romance to action, he’s pretty well covered.

Dylan O’Brien as Zach Goode

Alright, so Teen Wolf, yeah, but also The Maze Runner. And that Bumblebee movie — Transformers — so still seen a lot. Zach Goode, I believe, could be played very well by an actor like this.

Then of course, there are the other characters, like Townsend, Madame Dubney, Patricia Birmingham, etc… who I’ve obviously not included, which gives you the chance to comment below who you’d cast for them, plus you can dispute those included in the article.

N.B. I am not an expert in casting, so I’m not looking at all the technical stuff.
Monk episode review — 2.5 — Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: Monk, TV, Comedy, Television, Mystery

Original air date: July 25, 2003

Director: Lawrence Trilling

Writer: Daniel Dratch

Rating: 8/10

Stottlemeyer’s got issues with his wife, Karen (Glenne Headly), leading him to stay with Monk, which goes about as well as one might expect. The plot here revolves around the murder of the oldest man in the world, a nearly 115-year-old San Francisco resident, whose life was the subject of a documentary film Karen made nearly five years ago.

Monk actually doesn’t have too much to do in solving the crime. It’s mostly Stottlemeyer’s episode, which is kind of nice to see. He’s also seen reflecting relatively early on in an unsolved hit and run of a teenager, so you realize pretty early that this is going to be tied to the murder.

And the way it’s tied to it is pretty great. But still, this is about the Monk and Stottlemeyer conflict. Stottlemeyer drives Monk nuts with things such as vacuuming diagonally and setting his alarm for 7:53 instead of 8:00.

It’s wonderful, and I love the buildup to their actual argument, as well as the argument itself, which is really the first time we’ve seen Monk pissed off, and it’s hilarious what sets him off.

Another highlight here is when Monk and Stottlemeyer enter the home of someone who had been murdered, only to find that a snake has gotten loose. It’s a pretty damn strong entry in the series.