Nostr notes by Flipboard Culture Desk

The vacation practice of reserving sun loungers with towels has ...

2026-05-12T18:43:39+02:00

The vacation practice of reserving sun loungers with towels has become a matter for the courts after a German man sued his tour operator and won a €900 ($1,056) payout. In his lawsuit, he said the operator had failed to enforce his Greek resort's ban on towel reservations, with loungers unavailable even at 6 a.m. Here's more from [@BBCNews](https://flipboard.com/@BBCNews ).

https://flip.it/Zbt81T

#Travel #Germany #Europe #Vacations

Austrian soccer player Alex Manninger, who won 33 caps for his ...

2026-04-16T18:25:31+02:00

Austrian soccer player Alex Manninger, who won 33 caps for his national team and played for Arsenal and Juventus, ending his career at Liverpool, has died at the age of 48 after his car was struck by a train, [@BBCNews](https://flipboard.com/@BBCNews ) reports.

https://flip.it/xnG1Bf

#AlexManninger #Soccer #Football #Arsenal #RIP #InMemoriam

To be fair, she is a huge star — No. 1 records in the U.S. and ...

2026-04-14T02:17:33+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…lu9r
_________________________

To be fair, she is a huge star — No. 1 records in the U.S. and U.K., opened for Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande and (most impressive to us) was the guest host of the recent Muppets special.

A 45-second film, "Gugusse and the Automaton," made in ...

2026-04-13T20:16:58+02:00

A 45-second film, "Gugusse and the Automaton," made in 1897 by French filmmaker George Méliè, has been found in a trove of reels donated to the U.S. Library of Congress. France 24 tells the story of how this piece of cinematic history — now restored, digitized, and viewable on the library's website — ended up in the collection of a Pennsylvania potato farmer's great-grandson. See the film at the second link.

https://flip.it/F_5Vk-
https://flip.it/x0hWrF

#Movies #Cinema #Film #History

Is this the year the movie theater industry finally turns the ...

2026-04-10T23:43:50+02:00

Is this the year the movie theater industry finally turns the corner? So far, 2026 has started strong, and Hollywood is releasing the most movies in the post-pandemic era. But it’ll take more than a few good films to get moviegoers back in theaters. [@Variety](https://flipboard.com/@Variety ) talked to theater owners to weigh in on the theater experience, from annoying texters to the next generation of stars. So, how often do you go to the movie theater?

https://flip.it/5DsPCw

#Culture #Entertainment #Film #Movies #Hollywood

Artists across music are mourning the loss of legendary drummer ...

2026-04-05T20:49:52+02:00

Artists across music are mourning the loss of legendary drummer James Gadson. He was 86. Gadson’s versatile skills made him an in-demand session drummer who recorded with the Temptations, Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, D’Angelo, Beck and many, many others. “He was a wonderful man,” his wife Barbara said. “He was a great husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and one hell of a drummer.” Read more from @RolllingStone@flipboard.com:

https://flip.it/MHsUDt

#Culture #Music #Entertainment #JamesGadson

Yaaaay! Our favorite MCU TV show in ages is getting a second ...

2026-03-23T21:29:48+01:00

Yaaaay! Our favorite MCU TV show in ages is getting a second season. "Wonder Man," starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, is coming back, as are both lead actors and co-creators. Here's [@THR](https://flipboard.com/@THR ) with everything they know so far. Tell us which is your favorite of the (many, many) MCU shows that have been produced since Disney took the reins? We can only have 14 responses in our poll, so we've excluded all animated shows — sorry "What If..." fans. Tell us your top four in the comments — we're "WandaVision," "Loki," "Agatha," "Wonder Man," not necessarily in that order.

https://flip.it/DY4rVO

#Television #TV #MCU #Marvel #WonderMan

We're pretty sure on Jessie Buckley and Michael B. Jordan, ...

2026-03-16T00:20:20+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…kgs5
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We're pretty sure on Jessie Buckley and Michael B. Jordan, but could see Paul Thomas Anderson taking picture and director, Delroy Lindo taking best supporting and Amy Madigan winning supporting actress! And apparently voting closed before Chalamet made his silly opera remarks so he's in with a chance. And Rose Byrne is in with a chance for "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You." So when we say we're pretty sure...

We are Oscars ready! Who do you think will win the big prizes? ...

2026-03-16T00:05:34+01:00

We are Oscars ready! Who do you think will win the big prizes? Here are our picks (and [@vanityfair](https://flipboard.com/@vanityfair )'s list of nominees, to refresh your memories of who's been nominated):

https://flip.it/m9E2Lv

Best Picture: "Sinners"
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, "One Battle After Another"
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, "Hamnet"
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, "Sinners"
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, "One Battle After Another"
Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, "Sinners"

#Cinema #Movies #Oscars #AcademyAwards

Violet Zulu, earned $40 a month as a house cleaner in Zambia. She ...

2026-02-17T00:08:17+01:00

Violet Zulu, earned $40 a month as a house cleaner in Zambia. She was sentenced to seven years in a maximum security prison in 2024 for illegally terminating her pregnancy on her own. She didn’t see her two children or other family members for nearly two years. After word of her case reached international rights groups that helped her file an appeal, Zulu was freed last month. Activists say her story represents many women in Africa who take desperate decisions when facing barriers to legal abortion services. Read more from the [@AssociatedPress](https://flipboard.com/@AssociatedPress ):

https://flip.it/-YQSNj

#Culture #Women #WomensRights #Africa #Zambia #Equality

Resistance art can be thought-provoking, shocking, funny, moving, ...

2026-02-11T19:28:38+01:00

Resistance art can be thought-provoking, shocking, funny, moving, subversive, and sometimes all of those in one. [@RacketMN](https://flipboard.com/@RacketMN ) talked to some of the people in Minnesota who are making it.

https://flip.it/8iXfVP

#Art #Minnesota #Resistance #ICE #Immigration

The Trump administration has removed a large Rainbow Flag from ...

2026-02-10T22:30:10+01:00

The Trump administration has removed a large Rainbow Flag from the Stonewall National Monument at Christopher Park, New York. A spokesperson for the National Park Service told Gay City News that this change was made because government guidance dictates that "only the U.S. flag and other congressionally or departmentally authorized flags are flown on NPS-managed flagpoles, with limited exceptions." Community members are planning to hold a demonstration protesting the removal of the flag today (Feb. 10) at the Stonewall National Monument at 5 p.m. ET.

https://flip.it/6921vE

#LGBTQ #TrumpAdministration #News #History #USHistory

After almost 40 years, Baby is coming out of the corner: ...

2026-01-29T00:15:19+01:00

After almost 40 years, Baby is coming out of the corner: Lionsgate Pictures has announced a "Dirty Dancing" sequel starring and executive produced by Jennifer Grey. Here's more from [@THR](https://flipboard.com/@THR ). Drop your favorite quotes from the movie in the comments (we're "I carried a watermelon").

https://flip.it/tpwmXL

#Movies #Cinema #Film #DirtyDancing

We usually put the source in the post — forgot this time but ...

2026-01-28T18:35:03+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…n49j
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We usually put the source in the post — forgot this time but will add it now!

About one in 12 sheep is gay, but when rams prefer the company of ...

2026-01-12T22:52:25+01:00

About one in 12 sheep is gay, but when rams prefer the company of other rams, they're considered a commercial failure and slaughtered. In Germany, some are lucky enough to end up in the Rainbow Wool sanctuary, a biodiverse sheep farm that prioritizes animal welfare, run by Michel Stücke and his partner Jochen. Last month, the wool from some of those sheep was showcased by LA designer Michael Schmidt in his "I Wool Survive" collection, a collaboration with Grindr and publicist Kelly Cutrone. Dazed talked to Schmidt and Cutrone about the collection. Learn more about Rainbow Wool — including how to sponsor a gay sheep — at the second link.

https://flip.it/9k3.bz
https://flip.it/Fe4iy_

#LGBTQ #Fashion #Farming #AnimalWelfare #Sheep #Animals

Warner Bros. Discovery looks set to reject Paramount's ...

2026-01-03T00:26:55+01:00

Warner Bros. Discovery looks set to reject Paramount's hostile takeover bid next week and will stick with Netflix, according to [@Deadline](https://flipboard.com/@Deadline ). Here's what to know.

https://flip.it/Vxtaju
#Entertainment #Netflix #WarnerBros #LarryEllison #DavidEllison #Paramount

RE: https://flipboard.social/@CultureDesk/115725882940421193 ...

2025-12-16T23:32:40+01:00

RE: https://flipboard.social/@CultureDesk/115725882940421193

"The Princess Bride" won our poll on favorite Rob Reiner movies, but we agree with most of the comments, who said it was almost impossible to choose. Better poll questions? The one you watched most recently, the one you plan to watch next, or the one you quote/reference most frequently. How we enjoyed the outpouring of love for Reiner: His talent, and his integrity.

Here are a couple of pieces we read and enjoyed over the past few days. 1.) [@AssociatedPress](https://flipboard.com/@AssociatedPress )'s tribute to Michele Singer Reiner, the photographer and producer

2.) Wil Wheaton's gorgeous tribute to Rob, who directed him in "Stand By Me."

"When I was turning 13, and realizing that my own father didn’t care about me, that my mother didn’t see me as a son, but as a thing she could put to work, Rob Reiner made me feel loved, valued, seen, and respected," Wheaton writes. "Rob was a good person who put great art into the world, who made a positive difference in more lives than any of us can imagine. The world is a better place thanks to his activism and the way he chose to use all of his privilege and influence."

Rest in peace, Rob and Michele.

https://flip.it/q2143y
https://flip.it/Zymedj

#RobReiner #MicheleSingerReiner #Hollywood #Movies #Film #Celebrity #Entertainment #RIP #InMemoriam
nostr:note1jepgu8zcazmkmu04wdhsve3uw9uzluqhuarp3g3l3vneuhfcwdjswpk882

Family gatherings for the holidays can get tense if you and your ...

2025-11-26T21:04:12+01:00

Family gatherings for the holidays can get tense if you and your loved ones have different political views, hence the plethora of articles right now advising you on how to keep the peace over your turkey and stuffing/dressing. In 2021, Texas Observer (npub1xf8…0uw6)'s Gabriel Arana wrote about how there's some value in doing the opposite and calling people out — with the caveat that you shouldn't risk your own mental health in the process. What do you think? Will you argue about politics at festive social events?

https://flip.it/FF1tr4

#Lifestyle #Culture #Thanksgiving #Family #Politics #Poll

It's here! [@theonion](https://threads.net/@theonion/ )'s ...

2025-10-10T01:40:20+02:00

It's here! [@theonion](https://threads.net/@theonion/ )'s first movie, "Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile," has been released on YouTube. Watch it here.

https://youtu.be/XjhSoGcQhWU

#TheOnion #JeffreyEpstein #TrumpAdministration #Movies #Cinema #Film

MSNBC saw HBO's rebrand/debrand and said: "Hold my ...

2025-08-19T00:47:33+02:00

MSNBC saw HBO's rebrand/debrand and said: "Hold my beer." The cable network will be dropping the peacock symbol and changing its name to MS NOW, an acronym for "My Source News Opinion World." [@Variety](https://flipboard.com/@Variety ) shares some of the online reactions. We want to know, which do you think is the stupider rebrand?

https://flip.it/BOaqMP

#Media #News #CableNews #MSNBC #HBO #HBOMAX

When we posted a poll about soccer fans' enthusiasm for the ...

2025-06-17T20:44:44+02:00

When we posted a poll about soccer fans' enthusiasm for the FIFA World Club Cup, 87% of respondents said they had no interest whatsoever. It seems like the fediverse is somewhat representative of the real world in this respect. From mismatched teams to poor attendance (partly due to border patrol presence at the venue), here's Al Jazeera's story on what went wrong.

https://flip.it/sFiy1I

https://flipboard.social/@CultureDesk/114677981065001475

#Sport #Sports #Soccer #FIFA #FIFAWorldClubCup #Football

The U.K.'s Daily Telegraph newspaper has periodically ...

2025-06-04T18:20:04+02:00

The U.K.'s Daily Telegraph newspaper has periodically published sob stories about families who can't afford to support their lavish lifestyle due to various government initiatives such as taxing school fees, but the latest took the biscuit. Journalist Georgina Fuller reported on a family who earned £345,000 (U.S.$468,000) a year and were now down to just five vacations a year. But all was not as it seemed. Photos of investment banker Al Moy, his wife, also a banker, also named Al(exandra) were from stock libraries, and no trace of either could be found on the internet. The same goes for their children, Al(i), Harry, and Barry. Satirical website The Poke collated the responses of social media sleuths to the story, which has now been taken down. The consensus? It was AI generated.

https://flip.it/s_IRDo

#Journalism #Media #MediaIndustry #UK #UnitedKingdom #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Satire

Can you treat grief with a pill? Naltrexone, which is used to ...

2025-05-05T20:49:42+02:00

Can you treat grief with a pill? Naltrexone, which is used to treat alcohol and opioid addictions, has been mooted as a way to help people with prolonged grief disorder (the premise being that they have become "addicted" to the person they lost). Ayesha Habib, whose father died when she was 21, writes for The Walrus about the many issues with this approach. "After my dad’s passing, my friends at the time grew awkward around me. They didn’t know how to speak to me, and some disappeared from my life entirely. Every person has a different way of understanding death and grief," she writes. “In a world where grief literacy is so low, I worry about our intolerance for being present with people in pain,” says Marney Thompson, the director of the bereavement services program at Victoria Hospice in British Columbia. “I think we’re so quick to jump to the solution, the fix, the ‘get over it’ that we just don’t allow space for real human emotion, which is sadness and sorrow and suffering.”

https://flip.it/zOGH7d

#Grief #Bereavement #Psychology #Psychiatry #Science #ClinicalTrials

The people who love it, REALLY love it, but it was way too gory ...

2025-04-28T18:51:10+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…0glx
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The people who love it, REALLY love it, but it was way too gory for us (our stomachs don't understand the difference between horror and "ironic" horror).

One viewing was more than enough for us, but apparently Hollywood ...

2025-04-28T18:48:29+02:00

One viewing was more than enough for us, but apparently Hollywood has decided we need a new version of "American Psycho," which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Lionsgate has announced that Luca Guadagnino, the Italian director of "Call Me By Your Name" and "Challengers" is attached to helm a new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel, with Austin Butler rumored to be the new Patrick Bateman. [@THR](https://flipboard.com/@THR ) reports on what some of the team behind the original movie think of the idea. What's your take?

https://flip.it/sW6xk_

Just like Apple and Costco, Levi Strauss & Co. was targeted ...

2025-04-24T00:22:09+02:00

Just like Apple and Costco, Levi Strauss & Co. was targeted by conservative think tank the National Center for Public Policy Research to drop its DEI programs. And just like those other companies, Levi's said no — more than 99% of shareholders voted against the proposal, a position also taken by the company's board. Michelle Gass, president and chief executive officer of Levi’s, told WWD earlier this year: “We’ve been committed to diversity and inclusion for literally decades, and it’s the core to who we are. So our commitment remains unchanged. We will do what’s right for our people, for our business. And at the end of the day, building a diverse and inclusive workplace helps us deliver stronger results.” Here's more.

https://flip.it/ThQl3l

#DEI #DiversityEquityInclusion #Fashion #Lifestyle #Levis #Costco

Michelle Trachtenberg's death in February was due to ...

2025-04-16T23:21:41+02:00

Michelle Trachtenberg's death in February was due to complications from diabetes, the New York medical examiner's office says. The "Buffy" and "Gossip Girl" actor was 39. A source told NBC that she had recently received a liver transplant.

https://flip.it/cYX4HF

#Entertainment #MichelleTrachtenberg #Buffy #GossipGirl #RIP #InMemoriam

Several years ago, author Matthew Sullivan joined Dogs in the ...

2025-04-15T21:56:01+02:00

Several years ago, author Matthew Sullivan joined Dogs in the Nighttime, a Sherlock Holmes-focused book club in Anacortes, Washington, that meets once a month. He writes for Crime Reads about happens when they meet up, why the different members participate, and the many joys and benefits of being a Dog. "Reading can be full of contradictions. It is typically a solitary act, ideal for the non-joiners among us. Yet through reading, we can also learn to empathize and grow closer to each other," he writes. We want to know: Are you in a book club? Tell us in the comments if you have a club with a very specific focus, or an interesting way of choosing what to read.

https://flip.it/muXsCw

#Books bookstodon group (npub1ny7…uv57) #Bookstodon #Reading #SherlockHolmes #ArthurConanDoyle #Lifestyle #Culture

We watched series 1 on a flight back from Europe last year, but ...

2025-04-14T18:49:18+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…a52j
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We watched series 1 on a flight back from Europe last year, but alas it doesn't seem to be available outside the U.K. currently! Big Bridget Christie fans here!

"Is it time to ditch your emotional support hoodie?" ...

2025-04-03T19:00:22+02:00

"Is it time to ditch your emotional support hoodie?" writer Boutayna Chokrane writes for [@WIRED](https://flipboard.com/@WIRED ). Her piece examines how what we wear can affect how others perceive us in the workplace, and consequently, our opportunities. "The hoodie masquerades as an everyman’s garment, but in the office, it’s a rich man’s privilege. For the rest of us, it just makes it easier to be overlooked," she concludes. We want to know: Do you have different wardrobes for work and home? Tell us in the comments what you think.

https://flip.it/IDGya3

#Clothing #Fashion #Lifestyle #Culture #Work

As President Trump announces his tariff plan in the White ...

2025-04-02T22:27:08+02:00

As President Trump announces his tariff plan in the White House's Rose Garden, here's a quick reminder of the last time the U.S used the tactic, courtesy of 1986's most famous economics teacher. "Did it work? Anyone? Anyone know the effects?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuOHbyuanbY

#FerrisBueller #Tariffs #HawleySmoot #Movies #Cinema

"Not many people think of themselves as half-beasts trapped ...

2025-04-02T21:05:53+02:00

"Not many people think of themselves as half-beasts trapped in human guise, but there’s an echo of the animal in everyone. A beast we each have to struggle with, large or small, trapped and subdued by a maze of modern life," writes writer, illustrator and researcher Natalie Lawrence in her new book, "Enchanted Creatures: Our Monsters and Their Meanings." Here's an extract, reproduced in LitHub, where she discusses bullfights, Picasso, and the story of the Minotaur.

https://flip.it/bu3-Ck

#Books bookstodon group (npub1ny7…uv57) #Mythology #Philosophy #Picasso #Art

"Coyote vs. Acme" was completed and then shelved due to ...

2025-03-31T22:27:54+02:00

"Coyote vs. Acme" was completed and then shelved due to Warner Bros. cost-cutting more than a year ago, much to the chagrin of its star Will Forte, who referred to it as "a delightful movie. It deserves so much better than what it got." Now you'll get the chance to decide for yourself as Ketchup Entertainment has made a deal to distribute the Looney Tunes flick, with a theatrical release expected in 2026. Here's [@Deadline](https://flipboard.com/@Deadline ) with all the details.

https://flip.it/f6B32Y

#Movies #Cinema #Film #Entertainment #CoyoteVsAcme #LooneyTunes #WillForte

More than 10,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated at Manzanar ...

2025-03-28T19:58:45+01:00

More than 10,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated at Manzanar Relocation Center, Calif., during World War II. Playing and watching baseball was one of the ways these Americans tried to retain some sense of normalcy. Dan Kwong is a longtime volunteer at Manzanar, which became a national historic site in 1992 — his late mother, Momo Nagano, was incarcerated there as a teenager. Here's the story of how he built a baseball field at the site in honor of Momo, who wrote extensively about her time at the camp in order that future generations would never forget this piece of history.

Link: https://flip.it/obdTz7

#History #USHistory #InternmentCamps #AlienEnemiesAct histodons group (npub1uc0…cpgf) #Baseball #Manzanar #JapaneseAmericans

The Oscars ceremony is this Sunday. Here's our ...

2025-03-01T00:31:31+01:00

The Oscars ceremony is this Sunday. Here's our Flipboard (npub13fk…z5hw) Storyboard with all the details on when it starts, how to watch and so on. Follow our Oscars Magazine at the second link. We'll be glued to our screens from 4 p.m. PST on Sunday, posting all the big news here, and joining in fediverse conversations about speeches, scandals, slaps and anything else that comes up. Will you be paying attention to the Academy Awards this year?

https://flipboard.com/@theculturedesk/what-to-know-about-this-year-s-oscars-47dkru8abjjsib23

https://flipboard.com/@theculturedesk/oscars-2025-ie7uvnncz

#Film #Cinema #Oscars #AcademyAwards #Movies

Update: The deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa have been ...

2025-02-27T18:50:00+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…pyzz
_________________________

Update: The deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa have been ruled “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” after a search warrant of their Santa Fe home. The warrant "did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning.” Here's more from NBC News.

https://flip.it/z2preE

#GeneHackman #BetsyArakawa #Cinema #Movies #Film #RIP #InMemoriam

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife and dog all found dead ...

2025-02-27T13:07:32+01:00

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife and dog all found dead in New Mexico home.

[@AssociatedPress](https://flipboard.com/@AssociatedPress ) reports: "Foul play was not suspected, but authorities did not release circumstances of their deaths and said an investigation was ongoing."

https://flip.it/X1qzFZ

#GeneHackman #Film #Hollywood #Movies

According to [@Deadline](https://flipboard.com/@Deadline ), ...

2025-02-21T18:54:46+01:00

According to [@Deadline](https://flipboard.com/@Deadline ), Amazon MGM Studios had to fork out an extra $1 billion for Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to cede creative control of the Bond franchise. This could create some interesting opportunities — filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan have expressed interest in Bond, but they require complete creative control, which might now be possible. What seems inevitable is the Marvelization (did we make that word up?) of Bond, with spinoffs galore. It's been done well within the literary world via series like Young Bond and the Miss Moneypenny Diaries. But what do you think of the possible expansion of on-screen Bond?

https://flip.it/ggIYGg

#Movies #Cinema #Film #JamesBond #Bond #Amazon

"EastEnders," the U.K. soap opera set in the fictional ...

2025-02-20T00:59:04+01:00

"EastEnders," the U.K. soap opera set in the fictional Albert Square, London, is 40 years old. While it's no longer pulling in the ratings of its golden age (30 million people tuned in on Christmas day 1986 to see Dirty Den hand divorce papers to wife Angie after discovering she had been faking a terminal illness) it's still a success for the BBC. For The Conversation UK (npub1qky…48q7), Jamie Medhurst looks at its significance in blending melodrama, realism, and public-service messaging, all in 30-minute episodes, each capped with a doof-doof.

https://flip.it/gJVI_v

#Television #TV #Entertainment #EastEnders #SoapOperas #UK

It's a pervasive rumor that "Succession" is based on ...

2025-02-19T22:19:54+01:00

It's a pervasive rumor that "Succession" is based on media mogul Rupert Murdoch and family (supposedly when he divorced fourth wife Jerry Hall, she was banned from giving story ideas to the HBO show's writing team as part of the settlement). According to a new story from [@TheAtlantic](https://flipboard.com/@TheAtlantic ), the real-life drama is as Machiavellian and cutthroat as on screen. McKay Coppins interviewed second son James and his wife Kathryn, about being a Murdoch, Fox, Brexit, Trump, the family trust that blew everything apart, and the "Succession" connection. Story may be paywalled.

https://flip.it/22DCKz

#RupertMurdoch #Succession #JamesMurdoch #Media #News #FoxNews

Getting blurbs can be time consuming for authors who have written ...

2025-02-10T22:34:52+01:00

Getting blurbs can be time consuming for authors who have written books, their publishing teams, and the writers they're asking to blurb them. It's gotten so bad that last year Simon & Schuster said they would no longer require authors to obtain blurbs. The reaction within the book industry was mixed, with some people saying it was a relief while others say blurbing is actually an important part of marketing. According to [@Vox](https://flipboard.com/@Vox ), no one knows if blurbs are useful to the average reader, but their true audience — booksellers, prize juries and critics — find them invaluable. Here's Constance Grady's analysis of the situation. We want to know: How big a part do blurbs play when you're selecting what to read?

https://flip.it/xX6ysn

#Books bookstodon group (npub1ny7…uv57) #Reading #Writing #AmWriting #Publishing #Literatu

Isn't it 3.30 Pacific? Not that we'll be watching either ...

2025-02-08T00:20:45+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…rypf
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Isn't it 3.30 Pacific? Not that we'll be watching either way! 😂

We had to look it up — it's 6.30pm ET!

2025-02-07T23:17:32+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…4yk5
_________________________

We had to look it up — it's 6.30pm ET!

Some people are there for the sports, some for the commercials or ...

2025-02-07T20:29:01+01:00

Some people are there for the sports, some for the commercials or the halftime show, and some of us don't watch the Super Bowl at all. Here's The Conversation U.S. (npub1gpe…88e5)'s roundup of the worst ads of all time, from the GM Robot that jumps off a bridge to the offensive "Just for Feet" sneaker commercial. But we want to know: Will you be watching the game on (checks calendar) Sunday, and if so, why? Tell us in the comments your favorite or least favorite commercial or halftime show.

https://flip.it/A.EjzY

#SuperBowl #Football #AmericanFootball #Sports #Entertainment #Poll

Good point! Dateline was for sure an early and enduring true ...

2025-01-29T00:16:42+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…angw
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Good point! Dateline was for sure an early and enduring true crime series, but perhaps didn't engender a boom in the way that "Serial," "The Jinx" and "Making A Murderer" did (Dateline even did its own "Making A Murderer" special.

Funnily enough we included a fascinaing story from [@RollingStone](https://flipboard.com/@RollingStone ) in today's 10 For Today newsletter about Dateline's "To Catch A Predator" documentary.

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/to-catch-a-predator-documentary-review-sundance-1235242060/

True crime has been a ratings winner for podcast and TV producers ...

2025-01-28T23:47:37+01:00

True crime has been a ratings winner for podcast and TV producers since shows like "Serial" and "The Jinx" hit airways in 2014 and 2015. A new documentary, "Zodiac Killer Project," by Charlie Shackleton, seeks to send up and critique the form for its "slick amorality and its increasing laziness," says Sam Adams for Slate.

Here's his conversation with Shackleton, who discusses his movie, how the genre has evolved, and who's to blame for the proliferation of shows. "As time goes on, it’s felt more and more to me that the thing that’s really driving true crime’s endless expansion is how reproducible the formula is," he says. "That counts for more than any theorizing about audience appetite for lurid tales of the macabre, just quite how easy it is to do this stuff on a production line."

We want to know: What's your attitude to true crime shows? Tell us in the comments what's worth watching and listening to.

https://flip.it/j5cyDa

#Entertainment #Television #TV #Podcasts #TrueCrime #Poll

BRB, just going to buy a pallet of canned tomatoes, a rotisserie ...

2025-01-24T01:41:55+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…xjx3
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BRB, just going to buy a pallet of canned tomatoes, a rotisserie chicken and 3,000 Eggos.

Yes, his overarching point is that most people aren't reading ...

2025-01-23T23:12:44+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…qd63
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Yes, his overarching point is that most people aren't reading that much (regardless of gender), and that reading isn't inevitably the path to being a better person. He makes a great point (quoting from [@Vox](https://flipboard.com/@Vox )) about the false notion of reading as therapy, as well as adding more nuance to his point about novels.

"Even considering the 'value' of a novel seems to be ceding ground to a false way of thinking, putting novels in competition, to be ranked and rated and graded. Reading is wonderful, but I’d have a hard time making the case that it’s an unsinkable, objectively good thing that each and every person must do."

So a lot more subtlety than we included in our post!

Are or aren't men reading? The discourse seems to suggest ...

2025-01-23T20:20:42+01:00

Are or aren't men reading? The discourse seems to suggest that they're not, but the numbers don't. In this thoughtful piece for LitHub, referencing everyone from David Lynch to Andrew Tate, James Folta says no one is really reading that much, and books won't change the minds of men who are bent on doing bad things. So what's the point of it? "A novel may be difficult, but it’s also a chance to experience something that is unique and unclassifiable. Reading novels is a singular way of approaching and understanding the world," he writes, and concludes his piece: "Above all else, a man reading is silent. In short, and even though it won’t solve everything, my advice to my fellow American men is to shut the f*** up and read a novel."

https://flip.it/MjC_an

#Books bookstodon group (npub1ny7…uv57) #Reading #Literature #Novels #Fiction #Masculinity #AndrewTate

Thailand's marriage equality law came into effect today with ...

2025-01-23T18:30:05+01:00

Thailand's marriage equality law came into effect today with a mass ceremony at a mall in central Bangkok in which more than 100 couples tied the knot. The country is the first in South East Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Campaigners are now looking to push for more reforms to offer better protections for LGBTQ+ couples. Here's more from @cbs@flipboard.com.

https://flip.it/I3V0gh

#MarriageEquality #Thailand #GayRights #LGBTQ #LoveIsLove

Is Ryan Gosling heading to the Star Wars universe? ...

2025-01-21T23:54:49+01:00

Is Ryan Gosling heading to the Star Wars universe? [@THR](https://flipboard.com/@THR ) says the Canadian actor is in negotiations to headline a feature directed by "Deadpool & Wolverine" director Shawn Levy. Here's more on the as-yet-unconfirmed rumor, which Lucasfilm has not commented on. What do you think of this combination?

https://flip.it/R8YH8P

#Film #Cinema #Movies #StarWars #Lucasfilm #RyanGosling #ShawnLevy

"The faux-feminist man who is accused of being a secret ...

2025-01-16T22:48:53+01:00

"The faux-feminist man who is accused of being a secret predator is by now, after the revelations of the Me Too movement, a familiar figure," writes [@Vox](https://flipboard.com/@Vox )'s Constance Grady. Amid the latest allegations against author Neil Gaiman and actor Justin Baldoni, she writes about the phenomenon of men who build their public image on being good guys.

https://flip.it/beruTl

#Celebrity #Culture #PopCulture #NeilGaiman #JustinBaldoni

Writer Kelly Stout coveted Vitsœ’s 606 Universal Shelving ...

2025-01-04T01:04:50+01:00

Writer Kelly Stout coveted Vitsœ’s 606 Universal Shelving System, which she describes as "the Grand Poobah of modular track shelves," but couldn't justify the cost. She writes for [@Dwell](https://flipboard.com/@Dwell ) about how she created her dream book wall using a different system. "The whole setup somehow manages to produce a 'status bookshelf' without making the owner look like the type of person who cares about such a thing," she says. What's your philosophy on book storage?

https://flip.it/CP7QCR

#Books #Bookstodon bookstodon group (npub1ny7…uv57) #Decor #Design

Typewriters are having a resurgence in Pennsylvania. "We use ...

2024-11-26T00:36:26+01:00

Typewriters are having a resurgence in Pennsylvania. "We use them to connect with younger people who are so lost on their screens, who are used to seeing everything instantly," says Fred Durbin, a high-school teacher in Midland. His approach is to get students to think of themselves as artists, "using our senses and focusing on one thing at a time." A typewriter, he said, demands one's full attention, unlike a computer where other tabs tempt the easily distracted. Here's more from [@USAToday](https://flipboard.com/@USAToday )

https://flip.it/-odocK

#Pennsylvania #Philadelphia #Writing #AmWriting #Typewriters #Culture #Education

"Sideways" is one of those movies that has taken root in ...

2024-11-23T00:12:43+01:00

"Sideways" is one of those movies that has taken root in culture — eminently quotable, it boosted the wine industry in California almost as much as it did the careers of its stars and director, and did irreparable damage to the reputation of merlot. 20 years after its release, David Holmes went on a "Sideways" themed wine-tasting trip with Rex Pickett, the author whose novel was adapted into the screenplay, and wrote about it for Esquire.

“The owner of the Hitching Post restaurant got ahold of the whole script a couple weeks before we started,” Pickett told Holmes. “And he saw that it was R-rated and that the characters would be drinking, so he called an emergency session of the Santa Barbara Vintners’ Association and said ‘We have to shut this film down.’”

https://flip.it/.HTwUI

#Movies #Film #Cinema #Wine #Sideways #Culture

Wowsers, the fediverse is packed to the gills with polyglots. 38% ...

2024-11-22T23:12:20+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…cuwg
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Wowsers, the fediverse is packed to the gills with polyglots. 38% of respondents speak two languages fluently, 17% three, and 7% four or more. People mentioned English, Welsh, German, French, Korean, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Afrikaans, Dutch. Learning tools included Duolingo, real-life classes at universities, immersion, movies, video games, Kocowa (a Korean movie streaming service), Kwiziq, and — our personal favorite — Metallica songs. Duolingo is trying to augment its French and Spanish services via video calls with "Lily," its Daria-like character. A product manager told writer Imogen West Knights that the choice of a grouchy conversation buddy was intentional, since native speakers are “kind of intimidating,” and talking to Lily, rather than someone nicer, is supposed to build “conversational resilience.” To that, we say, if we wanted to talk to a grumpy French lady, we would simply phone our mother-in-law. Au revoir nos amis!

Duolingo is the most downloaded language learning app in the ...

2024-11-21T22:57:17+01:00

Duolingo is the most downloaded language learning app in the world, with its indefatigable green owl emblem and his obsession with streaks. But are people actually learning to speak a language fluently through it? Imogen West-Knights writes for The Dial about the purpose of Duolingo — is it just a money-grabbing time suck, or is it a vehicle for connecting you with cultures, and getting you out into the wider world? We want to know, how many languages do you speak fluently? Tell us in the comments where you're from, and how you learned your second/third/fourth language.

https://flip.it/znGtQW

#Languages #Linguistics #Duolingo #Streaks #LanguageLearning #Culture #Travel

Daniel D'Addario, a writer for ...

2024-11-21T19:48:49+01:00

Daniel D'Addario, a writer for [@Variety](https://flipboard.com/@Variety ) and lifelong cinephile, can't get his four-year-old daughter Cleo to love movies. He attributes it to a number of factors, but mainly the fact that she's accustomed to control when it comes to entertainment — fast-forwarding, rewinding, personalizing the experience. Here's his essay on his love of cinema, and his hopes that she'll come around to his way of thinking, eventually.

https://flip.it/zYKXfo

#Movies #Cinema #Film #Parenting #GenAlpha

"Rather than a farewell to arms, these cats say hello to ...

2024-11-20T18:35:34+01:00

"Rather than a farewell to arms, these cats say hello to extra toes," writes Garden & Gun's Helen Bradshaw in an article intro for the ages. Here's her story about the Key West property owned by Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s, and why it's home to dozens of six-toed cats.

https://flip.it/BAIekV

#ErnestHemingway #LIterature #HemingwayHouse #History histodons group (npub1uc0…cpgf) #Cats #CatsOfMastodon

That's a good question! We're guessing Lego is one toy ...

2024-11-19T18:45:16+01:00

In reply to nevent1q…8c3v
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That's a good question! We're guessing Lego is one toy based on the "100-plus toys" stat mentioned in the article. It's also something that really should be passed around communities and down generations rather than purchased new, in our opinion, though we were heartened to see this story a little while ago!

https://flip.it/kc9ggP

Why do kids today have so many toys — an overwhelming volume of ...

2024-11-19T00:42:12+01:00

Why do kids today have so many toys — an overwhelming volume of stuff that seems to arrive in the house of its own accord. It's not like it's good for children: "In a 2017 study, University of Toledo researchers found that toddlers played longer and more creatively when presented with just four toys than when they had 16 options to choose from (though that’s still a far cry from the 100-plus toys many kids actually own)," writes Anna North for [@Vox](https://flipboard.com/@Vox ). Here's her story on toy overload and how to curb it. Tell us in the comments: What was your favorite toy when you were a kid, and what did you love about it?

https://flip.it/UAlTQz

#Parenting #Family #Lifestyle #Children #Consumerism #Toys

Elder millennials and Gen Xers, in case you were feeling ...

2024-09-13T23:39:28+02:00

Elder millennials and Gen Xers, in case you were feeling particularly young and sprightly today, it behooves us to let you know that The Notorious B.I.G’s debut album, "Ready to Die," turns 30 today. Here's Billboard's track-by-track ranking of all 17 songs on the seminal album.

https://flip.it/QTfSGa

#Entertainment #Music #Albums #RapMusic #BiggieSmalls #NotoriousBIG

Patti LuPone would rather eat the spiciest hot wing than ...

2024-09-13T00:24:37+02:00

Patti LuPone would rather eat the spiciest hot wing than apologize to Madonna for calling her a "movie killer" in 2017. The Broadway legend appeared on "Hot Ones Versus" with Aubrey Plaza recently, and when asked to say sorry to the pop icon or eat the show's "death wing," she ate the wing to the bone and threw the remains at the camera, adding, "Like Kim f**ing Kardashian. Can we go there? Or shall I eat another wing?" Here's more from Entertainment Weekly.

https://flip.it/9pcRnY

#Madonna #PattiLuPone #AubreyPlaza #HotOnes #Entertainment #Music #Film #Celebrity

In the 19th century, eastern gray (aka grey) squirrels were ...

2024-09-12T21:39:34+02:00

In the 19th century, eastern gray (aka grey) squirrels were introduced to the U.K. Today, there are around 2.5 million of them in Britain, and just 150,000 of the country's native red variety. Over the past 100 years, there's been a move to change that, with King Charles in 2014 ordering the killing of 4,000 eastern gray squirrels on his Duchy of Cornwall estate, saying: "The grey just doesn't belong here." The Dial looks at whether this is a kind of "eco-xenophobia" — and if the gray squirrel is really such a pest at all.

https://flip.it/j8H5vv

#UnitedKingdom #England #KingCharles #Nature #Ecology #Class

, thanks for your response. Would be interesting to know how much ...

2024-08-19T01:31:22+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…gp6z
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, thanks for your response. Would be interesting to know how much knowledge she has in the history of breakdancing.

A week after the Paris Games closed, people are still talking ...

2024-08-18T23:17:55+02:00

A week after the Paris Games closed, people are still talking about B-girl Raygun, the Australian breaker who sparked smiles and wonder, backlash and invective for her performance. A lot of invective. “I didn't realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating,” Raygun, aka, Rachael Gunn, is quoted in this NPR article. What did you think of Raygun at the Olympics?
Something else? Tell us in the comments. Of course, at Mastodon, we’re known for staying above the toxicity of other platforms, right? So, let’s avoid that pitfall.
https://flip.it/xfa3qY

#Culture #Olympics #ParisGames #RayGun #Breaking

We were looking for an article that referenced that! We've ...

2024-08-02T19:31:47+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…a7p0
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We were looking for an article that referenced that! We've found one now from the CBC, so we'll change the post! Thanks for making us take another look!

You might have heard that it was a busy news weekend — and ...

2024-07-25T23:28:15+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…vq97
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You might have heard that it was a busy news weekend — and that's our only excuse for missing just about all of your favorite Apple shows in our recent poll. No "Dickinson!" No "For All Mankind!" No "Slow Horses," for goodness' sake. So here's the follow-up: A poll with the great shows we didn't include first time round, and after this is done, we'll pit the top eight or so against each other to find out which is the true victor. It's the only election that matters this year, folks! So redux: Which is your favorite Apple show? And once again, if there's a show we missed that we haven't included in either poll, let us know in the comments!

#Television #TV #AppleTV #EntertainmentBusiness #SlowHorses #ForAllMankind

Bob Newhart, the iconic comedian and sitcom star, has died at age ...

2024-07-18T22:08:44+02:00

Bob Newhart, the iconic comedian and sitcom star, has died at age 94. Born in 1929 in a Chicago suburb, he trained as an accountant and worked as a copywriter before unexpectedly having a hit comedy album at nearly 30. He went on to sell millions of albums, star in two hit sitcoms, win three Grammy Awards and two Emmys, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Here's NBC's tribute to him.

https://flip.it/Hl_O4v

#BobNewhart #Television #TuneIn #Comedy #Celebrity #RIP #InMemoriam

Some good news from U.S. politics: The government has its first ...

2024-06-28T20:38:07+02:00

Some good news from U.S. politics: The government has its first caucus focused solely on fashion. Started by Maine Representative Chellie Pingree and comprising exclusively Democratic Reps, the Slow Fashion Caucus will concentrate on textile waste, labor issues, and fashion's contribution to climate change. Here's Teen Vogue's interview with Rep. Pingree. We want to know: How are you addressing the issue of fast fashion? Choose as many answers as you like.

https://flip.it/C1HoaM

#Lifestyle #Fashion #Environment #USGovernment

Popular Science is reporting on a new technique for how to cut ...

2024-06-18T01:19:22+02:00

Popular Science is reporting on a new technique for how to cut sandwiches: The Y cut, which Claire Lower, digital editor at Christopher Kimball's Milk Street describes as "mildly clever." Here's a look at the science behind it, such as it is. According to writer Justin Pot. "What I found will change the world. Or not. Probably not." And we want to know: How do you eat yours?

https://flip.it/qrxKBP

#Food #FoodCulture #Sandwiches #FoodScience

Geena Davis is clear: “Thelma & Louise” must “never be ...

2024-06-16T01:46:21+02:00

Geena Davis is clear: “Thelma & Louise” must “never be remade.” The 1991 drama about two best friends on the run (who find themselves and their knack for taking bad men down a peg in the process) was a commercial and critical success. “And there’s no need to revisit it,” the actress told Indie Wire at the Bentonville Film Festival, the Northwest Arkansas event she founded and chairs. Here’s more: https://flip.it/5RcCE0
#Culture #Entertainment #Movies #ThelmaAndLouise

The beverage known as "punch" is said to have been ...

2024-06-13T23:08:41+02:00

The beverage known as "punch" is said to have been invented in the 17th century because of the scarcity of wine and beer in English merchant outposts in Asia. It usually contained citrus, sugar or molasses, arrack, a South and Southeast Asian liquor, and water or often, tea. Here's a story from Atlas Obscura on the origins of tea punch, how it spread to the American colonies, where it went, and why it's coming back.

https://flip.it/y.MS2O

#Food #FoodCulture #History @histodons #Alcohol #Drinks #Tea

Have you noticed Jake Gyllenhaal's increasingly eclectic ...

2024-06-06T23:35:54+02:00

Have you noticed Jake Gyllenhaal's increasingly eclectic resumé, ping-ponging between gigs like action movie "Road House" and "Othello" on Broadway with Denzel Washington (his first Shakespeare performance)? It's all part of his quest for projects that freak him out. "The feeling I want to have is, can I do it?" he told the Hollywood Reporter in a wide-ranging interview that covered how he got into acting, losing his sense of imagination, and why he thinks the fact that he's legally blind is advantageous.

https://flip.it/Z0x_Xm

#JakeGyllenhaal #Hollywood #Movies #TV #Entertainment #TV

The Philippines is a conservative Catholic-majority nation, and ...

2024-06-05T20:00:12+02:00

The Philippines is a conservative Catholic-majority nation, and many queer folk there feel excluded by the traditional church. They're turning to Roblox Filipino Catholics (RFC) as a more inclusive place where they can practice their faith. Rest of World (npub1qt7…dgeq)'s Patrick Kho spoke to queer Catholics about how they're finding community, preserving heritage, and even changing minds in this new space.

https://flip.it/AAvi7S

#Culture #Catholicism #Religion #Philippines #LGBTQ #Pride #LoveIsLove #Roblox #Gaming

Two women in Mumbai are separated by only a few years in age and ...

2024-06-03T01:10:30+02:00

Two women in Mumbai are separated by only a few years in age and a 20-minute drive. Yet their starkly different lives spotlight India’s deepening wealth divide — and the inequality that has empowered some to reach new heights alongside the country’s fast-growing economy, while others are left behind. Take a look at this photo feature by CNN, which illustrates an India divided by prosperity and poverty amid a national election. https://flip.it/c8FMrd
#Culture #India #Poverty #Wealth #Politics

Cinema has gifted us with a steady stream of post-apocalyptic ...

2024-06-02T21:31:52+02:00

Cinema has gifted us with a steady stream of post-apocalyptic movies that often make us ponder real life in a such a hellscape. Fortunately, one brave writer took up the task of watching 51 dystopian films to determine which ones he could survive. It nearly killed him. Read his story on The Ringer: https://flip.it/Eg00gs
#Culture #Entertainment #Movies #Dystopia

The "is a burger a sandwich?" debate rolls on and on ...

2024-05-27T23:13:07+02:00

The "is a burger a sandwich?" debate rolls on and on without conclusion, but now a judge in the U.S. has entered the chat with a controversial new ruling. Superior Court Judge Craig Bobay of Allen County, Indiana, determined that "tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches" when presiding over a case brought to the courts by a restaurant owner hoping to open a location in the city of Fort Wayne. Here's more on the legal battle, but what do you think?

https://flip.it/1Ie3ze

#Food #FoodCulture #USA #Sandwiches #MexicanFood

Some of the backlash against Apple has also focused on the fact ...

2024-05-24T18:07:31+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…5mqe
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Some of the backlash against Apple has also focused on the fact that the company effectively destroyed the concept of the album when it introduced the iPod, and yet... “The list is an editorial statement,” says the press release, “fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music — a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.”

Apple Music has released its inaugural list of the 100 best ...

2024-05-24T01:55:30+02:00

Apple Music has released its inaugural list of the 100 best albums of all time. Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"came in at No. 1, sparking some debate by music fans who thought Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was a more worthy winner. Here's a story from the Independent about the list. We want to know, which of these DIDN'T make the top 10?

#Music #MusicNews #Apple #AppleMusic #Quiz #Poll

https://flip.it/AZP2nb

Toni Tipton-Martin scored a James Beard nomination for "Juke ...

2024-04-30T20:06:33+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…6g9n
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Toni Tipton-Martin scored a James Beard nomination for "Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks." Here's her [@Flipboard](https://flipboard.social/@Flipboard) collection about her work in raising the profile of Black cuisine.

https://flipboard.com/@food/celebrating-black-culinary-history-curated-by-tastemaker-toni-tipton-martin-n14hjhvb24dnke9c

#Food #FoodCulture #BlackCulture [@blackmastodon](https://a.gup.pe/u/blackmastodon) #JamesBeard

Abi Balingit was James Beard nominated for her Filipino dessert ...

2024-04-30T20:06:03+02:00

In reply to nevent1q…227p
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Abi Balingit was James Beard nominated for her Filipino dessert book, "Mayumu." Here's a [@Flipboard](https://flipboard.social/@Flipboard) Storyboard she put together about the rise of Filipino food.

https://flipboard.com/@theduskykitchen/filipino-food-is-in-the-heart-tj7hb0qmoiekr67o

#Food #FilipinoFood #FoodCulture #Desserts #Recipes #JamesBeard

The James Beard nominations for 2024 have just been announced, ...

2024-04-30T20:05:29+02:00

The James Beard nominations for 2024 have just been announced, and a few of the folks we've worked with over the years are in the mix. Here's the full list of nominees, via [@Eater](https://flipboard.com/@Eater):

https://flip.it/0D9xbM

#Food #FoodWriting #Restaurants #Books

With its warm weather, historic sites and thriving culture scene, ...

2024-04-28T21:53:04+02:00

With its warm weather, historic sites and thriving culture scene, Miami draws millions of tourists each year. But for one traveler, a trip there took on greater significance. This story from Condé Naste Traveler is written by a man who spent eight years locked up in a prison 30 miles from the city. Here's what he experienced when he finally got to visit. https://flip.it/fWYtju
#Culture #Travel #Miami