'Avoid using water other than for flushing until further notice'

'They tend to under-deliver for Trump'

'awesome'

Jimmy McCain is a living, breathing White Dude, and he's for Kamala Harris.

'More likely to Defeat Lazy Jon'

You can tell this is gonna be a banger

News Wicked Glinda and Elphaba Are Very Close in Latest Wicked Trailer By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on September 5, 2024 Credit: Universal Pictures Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: Universal Pictures We have another trailer for the film adaptation of the musical Wicked, and this one centers on the close relationship between Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda. The two, who are widely known as nemeses from the Oz novels (where they go by the monikers of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good), started as dear, dear friends. This trailer, which is initially set up from Glinda’s point of view, shows how the two befriended each other in magic school and held hands a lot. It also boasts a song or two from the musical, and gives us more of the teacher Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh as well as Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. Here’s the synopsis for the film, which is directed by John Chu: The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked, which is apparently just the first of two planned movies [ed note: not that you’d know that from this trailer?] is set to premiere in theaters on November 22, 2024. Check out the trailer below. [end-mark] The post Glinda and Elphaba Are Very Close in Latest <i>Wicked</i> Trailer appeared first on Reactor.

Excerpts Young Adult Read an Excerpt From Alicia Jasinska’s This Fatal Kiss A whimsical fantasy filled with dark magic and flirty, polyamorous romance… By Alicia Jasinska | Published on September 5, 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from This Fatal Kiss, a young adult romantasy novel by Alicia Jasinska, out from Peachtree Teen on September 24th. Cursed to haunt the river running through the magical spa town where she drowned, Gisela is a water nymph who dreams of returning to the living world and the family she left behind. All it takes to regain her humanity is a kiss from a mortal… but everyone sees her as a monster.And then there’s Kazik, the brooding, interfering, spirit-hunting grandson of a local witch. He’s determined to rid the world of unholy creatures like Gisela. After Kazik botches Gisela’s exorcism, she strikes up a deal. She won’t tell the other spirits that he’s losing his magic, if he agrees to play matchmaker and helps her get a kiss. But Gisela’s plan goes awry when Kazik also falls for the devilishly handsome young man that she sets her heart on—someone who could be linked to Gisela’s troubled past. 1 The Drowned Maiden Gisela “You’re sneaking off rather early today,” Wojciech called out. “It’s not even dusk yet.” Gisela’s steps faltered. A wash of rainbow light poured through the Crystal Palace’s domed ceiling, rippling over the floor to shine a watery spotlight on the elegant figure making his way down a monumental flight of steps toward her. For a brief disorientating second, Gisela thought she might be staring into a mirror. Wojciech’s green-black hair and hooded wine-red eyes could have been a reflection of her own. Only, his skin was darker, a warm clay brown next to her ghostly blue-green complexion. His lips were carmine, where hers were tinged violet. She usually preferred it when the water goblin took human form—his true form was honestly quite terrifying. But this new guise was just creepy. “You’re looking awfully youthful, Grandfather. You’re not feeling self-conscious about your age again, are you? You can be honest with me. You’re only at least a thousand years old.” Wojciech, who currently didn’t appear to be a day over twenty, pinned her with a flat, unimpressed look. A soft chime-like tinkling, the noise a spoon made when it tapped against a teacup, filled the air like a warning. Gisela glanced over her shoulder at the giant pillar in the center of the palace atrium. The glittering monstrosity shot to the ceiling and was so wide around its base that even a half dozen water nymphs couldn’t have touched hands if they’d stretched their arms around it. A honeycomb of shelves cut into its surface, and on those shelves rested thousands and thousands of seemingly innocuous teacups upturned upon their saucers. Buy the Book This Fatal Kiss Alicia Jasinska Buy Book This Fatal Kiss Alicia Jasinska Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget “May I remind you, child,” Wojciech said, his voice low and melodic, “that growing old is an accomplishment. I’ve outlived civilizations, survived more than you could imagine.” The ethereal tinkling increased in volume, the drowned souls he’d trapped inside each teacup pushing against the walls of their tiny porcelain prisons. Only the Sea Tsar himself was said to have a grander collection of human souls. Wojciech reached the ground floor of the atrium. “If you’re going out, take Tamara with you. Don’t make me ask you twice.” “What? Why?” Gisela whined. A second figure appeared at the top of the stairs: a girl with soft chestnut-brown curls and anxious red eyes; her skin had the same ghostly pallor as Gisela’s. The new girl. Gisela’s gaze darted back to Wojciech, her eyebrows pinching together in a silent plea. Wojciech’s smile was sharklike, full of unreasonably sharp teeth. Even in this handsome human form, he maintained a few monstrous traits. “This is Tamara’s first time celebrating Green Week with us. Show her where the humans leave their offerings. Get to know each other. I think the two of you might have a lot in common.” Gisela doubted it. Saints, she didn’t want to be stuck playing nursemaid for somebody who was new to all this. Perhaps she shouldn’t have joked about Wojciech needing dentures—or maybe this was punishment for accidentally smashing one of his precious teacups and setting a soul free? Or it was another one of his games. You never could tell. Tamara came down the stairs and paused, shifting her weight from foot to foot, twisting her fingers in the ghost-white fabric of her flowy dress. She rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms as though she were anxious or cold. The air was always cooler down here in the depths of the river, in Wojciech’s realm, and strangely wet, as though you were constantly walking through a mist. As a mortal child, Gisela’s favorite bedtime tales had been about the wodniki—the water goblins, the old river gods, the keepers of the drowned—who lived in grand underwater palaces carved from crystal and gold. Not that she’d ever admit as much to Wojciech. You’ll know the water goblin by his dripping clothes, by the sodden squelching of his boots, and by the wet footprints he leaves behind, her Great-Aunt Zela had told her. If you ever visit the old country, darling, when you cross a river, you must carry breadcrumbs in your pocket and say a prayer so as to avoid meeting with him. He can drown you on dry land so long as he has even a spoonful of water. Gisela’s skirt billowed about her knees, free from the bonds of gravity that governed the living world. It hadn’t been so very long ago that she’d been the new girl here, waking in a strange and unfamiliar place, in this palace built upon the riverbed. When Wojciech told her that her mortal life was over, that she’d never turn seventeen nor grow old nor see any of the people she loved ever again, she’d almost despaired. She’d wanted so badly to go home. She still wanted to go home, was determined to, which was why she didn’t have time for this. “Can’t one of the drowners do it?” she asked, already knowing the answer. “Or Yulia. Can’t Yulia show her around? She’s good at that. I’m busy. I have things to do.” She shot Tamara an apologetic glance. “Yulia’s already on the surface,” Wojciech said. “She snuck off earlier, muttering something about honey cake.” Gisela cursed. Every spring during Green Week, the local townsfolk honored the rusałki—water nymphs, like her and Yulia and Tamara. They left shiny baubles and trinkets by the riverbanks, strung gifts from the branches of the trees in the forest: garlands of bright flowers, hair ribbons dyed eye-catching colors, and necklaces of glossy beads. They’d even leave offerings of food: eggs and sweet grain puddings, honey cakes and handfuls of sugary berries. They were bribes, prizes left out to placate hungry ghosts. People hoped that if they appeased the water nymphs, they wouldn’t bewitch and harm their loved ones. Competition for such offerings was fierce. There were only so many treats to go around, and no matter how many years you spent haunting the deep, how accustomed you grew to the water goblin’s feasts of catfish and eel, you never quite forgot the taste of human food, of home. If Yulia ate all the honey cake, Gisela was going to make sure she drowned in the river. Again. “Oh, and Gisela?” Wojciech drew a handkerchief from a pocket of his emerald-green suit and began polishing a teacup he’d selected from one of the pillar’s little nooks. “Make sure you tell Tamara what will happen to her if she strays too far from my river. I want to avoid trouble this week. Keep an eye out for our resident exorcist. He’s been overzealous in his duties lately. So overzealous, I can’t help but wonder if somebody has been provoking him.” “Whoever could that be?” Gisela said, trying for innocence and not quite succeeding. The teacups on the shelves rattled ominously. The sudden sharp glint in Wojciech’s eyes was a reminder of just who she was dealing with. Maybe it was better to go along with what he wanted for now. “Fine, fine. I’ll take her with me. But are you sure you don’t want her to stay behind and help you with the polishing? I mean,should you really be doing all the housework at your age?” Wojciech’s lip twitched. Gisela quickly grabbed Tamara by the wrist. “We’ll see you later, then! Don’t break a hip!” Excerpt from This Fatal Kiss / Text copyright © 2024 by Alicia Jasinska. Reproduced with permission from Peachtree Publishing Company Inc. All rights reserved. The post Read an Excerpt From Alicia Jasinska’s <i>This Fatal Kiss</i> appeared first on Reactor.

News Poker Face The Cast for Poker Face Season 2 Is Ridiculously Impressive By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on September 5, 2024 Credit: Phillip Caruso/Peacock Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: Phillip Caruso/Peacock Rian Johnson is known for populating his projects with A-list ensemble casts, and the second season of Peacock’s Poker Face is no exception. Deadline recently broke the news that Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Margo Martindale (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Americans, Cocaine Bear), and BJ Novak (The Office) will all appear in the upcoming episodes with series star Natasha Lyonne. They join other big names, including Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad), Katie Holmes (Dawson’s Creek), Gaby Hoffmann (Transparent, Field of Dreams), Kumail Nanjiani (The Eternals), Sherry Cola (Joy Ride, Good Trouble), Kevin Corrigan (The Mentalist, The Departed, Pineapple Express), Ben Marshall (Please Don’t Destroy), and Katherine Narducci (Euphoria) on the call sheet. For those of you who missed the first season, Poker Face is a murder mystery series where Lyonne’s Charlie Cale has an uncanny ability to know when someone is lying. Season One saw her on the run and solving murders along the way, with an equally great ensemble cast appearing in each episode as potential murderers or victims for the crime in question. The setup is Columbo style, with the audience knowing who committed the crime from the beginning and Lyonne working to uncover the why and how as the episode progresses. Johnson created the series and directed episodes, and Season Two is showrun by Tony Tost. No news yet on when Season Two will be available on Peacock. In the meantime, you can (re)watch the first season on the streaming platform. [end-mark] The post The Cast for <i>Poker Face</i> Season 2 Is Ridiculously Impressive appeared first on Reactor.

Instead of using fossil fuels, we’re told to use “clean” energy: wind, solar, or hydropower. Hydro is the most reliable. Unlike wind and sunlight, it flows steadily. But now, environmental groups want to destroy dams that create hydropower. “Breach those dams,” an activist shouts in my new video. “Now is the time, our fish are on the line!” The activists have targeted four dams on the Snake River in Washington state. They claim the dams are driving salmon to extinction. It’s true that dams once killed lots of salmon. Pregnant fish need to swim upriver to have babies, and their babies swim downriver to the ocean. Suddenly, dams were in the way. Salmon population dropped sharply. But that was in the 1970s. Today, most salmon make it past the dam without trouble. How? Fish-protecting innovations like fish ladders and spillways guide most of the salmon away from the turbines that generate electricity. “Between 96% and 98% of the salmon successfully pass each dam,” says Todd Myers, environmental director at the Washington Policy Center. Even federal scientific agencies now say we can leave dams alone and fish will be fine. But environmental groups don’t raise money by acknowledging good news. “Snake River Salmon Are in Crisis,” reads a headline from Earthjustice. Gullible media fall for it. The Snake River is the “most endangered in the country!” claimed the evening news anchor. “That’s simply not true,” Myers explains. “All you have to do is look at the actual population numbers to know that that’s absurd.” Utterly absurd. In recent years, salmon populations are higher than they were in the 1980s and ’90s. “They make these claims,” Myers says, “because they know people will believe them … they don’t want to believe that their favorite environmental group is dishonest.” But many are. In 1999, environmental groups bought an ad in The New York Times saying “salmon … will be extinct by 2017.” “Did the environmentalists apologize?” I ask Meyers. “No,” he says. “They repeat almost the exact same arguments today, they just changed the dates. I invited 10 activist groups that want to destroy dams to come to my studio and defend their claims about salmon extinction. Not one agreed. I understand why. They’ve already convinced the public and gullible politicians. Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson says, “There is no viable path that can allow us to keep the dams in place.” “We keep doing dumb things,” says Myers. “We put money into places where it doesn’t have an environmental impact, and then we wonder 10, 20, 30 years [later] why we haven’t made any environmental progress.” Politicians and activists want to tear down Snake River dams even though they generate tons of electricity. “Almost the same amount as all of the wind and solar turbines in Washington state,” says Myers. “Imagine if I told the environmental community we need to tear down every wind turbine and every solar panel. They would lose their minds. But that’s essentially what they’re advocating by tearing down Snake River dams.” I push back: “They say, ‘Just build more wind turbines.'” “The problem is, several times a year, there’s no wind,” he replies. “You could build 10 times as many wind turbines, but if there’s no wind, there’s no electricity.” Hydro, on the other hand, “can turn on and off whenever it’s needed. Destroying hydro and replacing it with wind makes absolutely no sense. It will do serious damage to our electrical grid.” “It’s not their money,” I point out. “Exactly,” he says. “If you want to spend $35 billion on salmon, there’s lots of things we can do that would have a real impact.” Like what? “[Reduce the population of] seals and sea lions,” he says. “The Washington Academy of Sciences says that unless we reduce the populations, we will not recover salmon.” “People used to hunt sea lions,” I note. “Yeah, that’s why the populations are higher today.” But environmentalists don’t want people to hunt sea lions or seals. Instead, they push for destruction of dams. “Because it’s sexy and dramatic, it sells,” says Myers. “It’s more about feeling good than environmental results.” COPYRIGHT 2024 BY JFS PRODUCTIONS INC. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post A Dam Good Argument appeared first on The Daily Signal.