Entertainment
Dec 13, 2016
Bad Day At Work 'Expressions' As Told By The Shining
The many expressions from The Shining that capture a bad day at work.
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Don't let this stop you from making your car smart. You can change the one you have using smart gadgets that transform your car into a smart car.
Cars are no longer just a mode of transport, where you only worry about the engine and how beautiful its interior is. These days, everyone wants to make their cars smarter, those with advanced technology systems. It makes sense for several reasons. It can make your vehicle more efficient and safer when you need to drive.
Also, a smart car allows you to do more things you love doing while traveling. For example, you may want to play your favorite music, use your favorite apps, or even get directions. And just like with anything, the more you can do with it, the more value you get from it. Here are five excellent gadgets that will help you make your car more valuable and efficient.
Dash Cam
Dashcams are cameras that you mount on the dashboard of your vehicle, typically looking out through the windshield. It is one of the best ways to keep your car and yourself safe. You can use it to capture video or take pictures. It can help you monitor your driving habits or those of people who drive your car. You may also use them for recording road safety and other road-related incidents.
If you want accessories, consider the land rover defender accessories And if you want to mount your camera outside your car buy go pro roof rack mounting brackets, You can then rotate your camera so that it takes photos from different angles and directions.
Cool dashcams have features such as voice control, a microSD to store your videos and photos, GPS, and 4G LTE connectivity. They also come with sensors that will detect and notify you of a crash that might happen. It also goes into an emergency protocol to help save your life. Others have speed camera alerts to notify you where speed cameras are on your route. It lets you check your speed when near the speed camera to avoid getting a speeding ticket.
Roof Rack or Rail
Roof racks are essential, especially if you plan to take road trips or carry heavy luggage. They enable you to save space inside the car. If your car comes with a factory-installed roof rack, you could upgrade it. Use heavy-duty crossbars or side rails to enable you to carry heavy loads.
You can also install a removable roof rack on cars that come without one. You'll need universal crossbars or side rails. As they are removable, you dismount them when you don't need them. The advantage of universal roof racks is you can fix them on any car model and type. You will only need to buy clamps matching your car model.
Smart Tire Safety Monitor
A flat or poorly inflated tire not only makes your car consume more fuel, but it is also a health risk as it can burst as you drive. It is also cumbersome to deflate the car after you've over-inflated it. Therefore, a smart tire monitor is what you need to avoid these problems. You can have an expert insert it onto the tire valves.
They have a sensor that notifies you of the pressure and temperature of the tire. Also, the gadget warns you if there is a problem, such as low pressure or leakage in real-time.
Car Tracking and Diagnostics Adapter
To keep your vehicle running smoothly, you should know the subtle symptoms that can suggest a problem. An adapter that tracks and diagnoses will be helpful here. Insert it into your dashboard, and it will collect information about your car. When your vehicle needs maintenance or oil change, an app will notify you. Moreover, it will notify you when you need to replace faulty parts.
It will be possible to locate your car using the tracker, making it easy to recover if someone steals it. If your vehicle breaks down on the road and you don't know where you are, you can quickly call roadside assistance.
Key Finder
It can be frustrating to lose your car key, especially when you're late for an appointment. You can be smart about it and avoid the hassle of searching for your lost key. Get a key finder. Tracking your keys can help you find them fast if you lose or misplace them.
With some key finders, you can use an app to locate your keys via GPS. Others have Bluetooth capabilities, so you can find your keys using an app. The battery-powered finders are ideal for attaching to anything you don't want to lose. Key finders do more than make your car smart; they are also lifesavers.
We all want to get a smart car, but they are expensive to get. You'll benefit from these modifications as some help you avoid accidents at a low price. Also, you get to enjoy the features of a smart car without buying one
As we humans face loss and grief on a daily basis, it's challenging to see the good in all the change. Here's a better perspective on how we can deal with this inevitable feeling and why it could help us grow.
Loss. What a scary meaning for such a small word. Loss comes in all shapes and sizes. Just like us. Just like human beings.
A loss sends us into a spiral. An uncontrollable, spirling feeling you feel coming up your throat.
"He's gone."
"We did everything we could."
"I'm leaving."
Oftentimes, when we experience loss, we beg for the "one mores". One more hug, please. Can I have one more kiss? Just one more laugh we can share? We wish for these experiences to just happen once more as if that would ever be enough. The reality is that even if we were privileged with one more, we would want another. And another. We'd never be satisfied. We'd eventually just wish for eternity. Loss is necessary. Loss is natural. Loss is inevitable.
Loss was never defined as easy. In fact, it has to be hard. It has to be hard for us to remember. To remember those warm embraces, to remember the feeling of their lips on yours, and to remember the smile on their face when you said something funny.
But why are we so afraid of loss after all? We are so blessed to have experienced it to begin with. It means there was a presence of care. That ache in our heart and the deep pit in our stomach means there was something there to fill those vacant voids. The empty spaces were just simply whole.
We're all so afraid of change. Change in our love life or our families, change in our friendships and daily routines. One day we will remember that losing someone isn't about learning how to live without them, but to know their presence, and to carry what they left us behind. For everything we've deeply loved, we cannot lose. They become a part of us. We adapt to the way they talk, we make them a part of our Instagram passwords, we remember when they told us to cook chicken for 20 minutes instead of 30. "It will be juicier I promise".
We as humans are so lucky to meet so many people that will one day leave us. We are so lucky to have the ability and courage to suffer, to grieve, and to wish for a better ending. For that only means, we were lucky enough to love.
Tom Hardy and Woody Harrelson lead a tigher, more fun sequel to 2018's 'Venom'
When Sony announced that Venom would be getting a stand-alone movie, outside of the Tom Holland MCU Spider-Man films, and intended to start its own separate shared universe of films, the reactions were generally not that kind. Even if Tom Hardy was going to take on the role, why would you take Venom, so intrinsically connected to Spider-Man's comic book roots, and remove all of that for cheap action spectacle?
Needless to say I wound up hopping on the "lets bash 'Venom'" train. While I appreciated how much fun Tom Hardy was having and the visual approach to the symbiotes, I couldn't get behind the film's tone or story, both of which felt like relics of a bygone era of comic book storytelling that sacrificed actual pathos for that aforementioned cheap spectacle.
But apparently that critical consensus was in the minority because audiences ate the film up. In a packed Fall release schedule, $850 million for a Spider-Man-less Spider-Man spin-off was nothing to scoff at and of course warranted a sequel, this time with the character's iconic nemesis, Carnage, to be the big bad. On top of that, Ruben Fleischer would step out of the director's chair in place of Andy Serkis, the visual effects legend behind characters like 'The Lord of the Rings' Gollum and 'Planet of the Apes' Caesar, and a pretty decent director in his own right.
Now with a year-long pandemic delay behind it, 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' is finally here, did it change my jaded little mind about the character's big-screen worth? Surprisingly, it kind of did. I won't pretend that I loved it by any stretch, but while 'Let There Be Carnage' still features some of its predecessor's shortcomings, there's also a tightness, consistency and self-awareness that's more prevalent this time around; in other words, it's significantly more fun!
A year after the events of the first film, Eddie Brock (played by Tom Hardy) is struggling with sharing a body with the alien symbiote, Venom (also voiced by Hardy). While both are aligned in their attempts to reconcile with Eddie's ex-fiancé Anne (played by Michelle Williams), Eddie is more concerned with improving his reporting career, while Venom is more concerned with finding a bad guy for a tasty meal.
Things change when Eddie is contacted by Detective Pat Mulligan (played by Stephen Graham), who says that the serial killer Cletus Kasady will talk only with Eddie regarding his string of murders. His interview with Kasady (played by Woody Harrelson) leads to Eddie uncovering the killer's victims and confirming Kasady's execution. During their final meeting, Kasady bites Eddie, imprinting part of Venom onto Kasady.
When Kasady is executed, the new symbiote awakens, merging with Kasady into a bloody, far more violent incarnation known as Carnage. It's up to Eddie and Venom to put aside their differences to stop Carnage's rampage, as well as Frances Barrison (played by Naomi Harris), Kasady's longtime girlfriend whose sonic scream abilities pose a threat to both Venom and Carnage.
So what made me completely switch gears this time around? There's a couple reasons, but first and foremost is the pacing. 'Let There Be Carnage' is only around 15 minutes shorter than the first film and somehow it makes all the difference.
Serkis and screenwriter Kelly Marcel know exactly where to take the story and how to frame both Eddie and Venom's journeys against the looming threat of Carnage. Even when the film is going for pure, outrageous humor, it never forgets the qualms between Eddie and Venom should be at the center beyond the obvious comic book-y exhibitions.
Speaking of which, it's because of Serkis/Marcel's efforts that Tom Hardy shines even more this time. If you were a fan of Eddie's anxious sense of loss, or the back-and-forth between he and the overly eccentric Venom, you are going to love this movie. Hardy has a great grasp on what buttons to push for both, especially Venom, who has to spend a chunk of the movie contending with losing Eddie altogether and find their own unique purpose (among other things, what is essentially Venom's "coming out" moment that actually finds some weight in all the jokes).
Then there's Harrelson as Carnage and he absolutely delivers! Absolutely taking a few cues from Heath Ledger's Joker, Harrelson is leaning just enough into campy territory to be charismatic, but never letting us forget the absolutely shattered malicious mind controlling the spaghetti wrap of CGI.
Serkis' directing itself deserves some praise too. I can't necessarily pinpoint his style, but like his approach on 'Mowgli,' he has a great eye for detail in both character aesthetics and worldbuilding. That goes from the symbiotes' movements and action bits to bigger things like lighting in a church sequence or just making San Francisco feel more alive in the process.
As far as downsides go, what you see is basically what you get. If you were interested in watching Eddie/Venom put aside their differences to fight the nightmare devil version of themselves, cool, you're going to enjoy this. While I was certainly on that train more here, I also couldn't help but hope for more on the emotional side of things. Yes, seeing the two be vulnerable with one another is important to their arcs and the comedy infusions work more often than not, but it also presents a double-edged sword of that quick runtime, sacrificing time for smaller moments for bigger, more outrageous ones.
In addition, while Hardy and Harrelson are electric together, I also found a lot of the supporting characters disappointing to a degree. Michelle Williams and Reid Scott (who plays Anne's fiancé, Dan) to their credit are given some agency in the story, though you can tell from the first few minutes where their arcs go, especially in how Eddie is centered throughout the story.
Det. Mulligan has a few neat moments, but not enough to go beyond the tough cop archetype. The only one who almost makes it work is Naomi Harris, who actually has great chemistry with Harrelson until the movie has to do something else with her. It's those other characters that make the non-Venom, non-Carnage moments stall significantly and I wish there was more to them.
(*I also won't give it away, but definitely stay for the mid-credits sequence, I did not expect the approach they took and the implications are pretty huge).
'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' is by no means perfect, but it is a more entertaining version of what was trying to get across in 2018; a mess of a lead character mixed with alien weirdness and a dark sense of humor making it stand out along the way. I wouldn't go so far as to have complete faith in this approach to Sony's characters moving forward – Venom or whatever larger plans are in the works – but I could safely recommend this whatever side of the 2018 film spectrum you land on. This kind of fun genre content is sorely needed and I'm happy I had as good of a time as I did.
Overall, I give 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' 7/10
'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' is available in theaters beginning on October 1st.
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Want to follow me on social media? Follow me on Twitter and IG @TheMovieKing45
The sequel to the 2019 reboot is an enjoyable, but unremarkable start to the Halloween movie season
There's a reason why the Addams Family have become icons of the American cartoon pantheon (although having one of the catchiest theme songs in television history doesn't hinder them).
The family of creepy but loveable archetypes have been featured across generations, between the aforementioned 1964 show, the duo of Barry Levinson films in the '90s and, most recently, MGM's animated reboot in 2019.
That project got a mostly mixed reception and, while I'd count me as part of that group, I thought there was more merit to it than I expected. The characters and animation designs felt kind of unique, and when it surpassed whatever mundane story the writers had in mind to be more macabre, it could be kind of fun.
This is to say my reaction wasn't entirely negative when the sequel was announced, as well as just forgetting about it until I got the screening invitation. With that semblance of optimism in mind, does 'The Addams Family 2' improve on the first film's strengths?
Unfortunately, not really. There's fun to be had and the film clearly has reverence for its roots, but between the inconsistent humor and lackluster story beats, what we're left with feels just a bit too unexceptional to recommend.
Some time after the events of the first film, Wednesday Addams (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz) has made an incredible discovery: a way to transfer personality traits from one living being to another. While she looks to grand ambitions for her education, her parents, Gomez and Morticia (voiced by Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron respectively) believe they are losing her and her brother, Pugsley (voiced by Javon Walton), as they get older.
The solution: a family road trip cross country alongside their Uncle Fester (voiced by Nick Kroll) and butler Lurch (voiced by Conrad Vernon) visiting all the great destinations of the United States. Along the way, a subplot begins to unfold with Rupert (voiced by Wallace Shawn), a custody lawyer seemingly convinced that Wednesday is not Gomez and Morticia's biological daughter, and the enigmatic scientist, Cyrus Strange (voiced by Bill Hader), who takes an interest in Wednesday's potentially terrifying work.
With the exception of Javon Walton replacing Finn Wolfhard, the 2019 voice cast returns for the sequel and they're mostly capable here. Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron embody a lot of Gomez and Morticia's obsessively sincere dynamic (it legitimately makes me think they'd be good in live-action) and Nick Kroll delivers a bounty of one-liners that are sure to get a laugh here and there.
But the real focus is on Wednesday, who very quickly becomes the center of the film's narrative and it's where I become the most conflicted. The choice to tease Wednesday's "true" connections to the other Addams is admittedly intriguing, especially for how eclectic their backstories are and the film's choice to frame those questions around Wednesday and Morticia's estranged bond. It's not a lot, but there is some subtext about how children can potentially view the adoption process and how parents choose to frame their relationships with their children.
The animation isn't particularly great, but like the first film, I admire how the character designs all feel uniquely bizarre, again ripped right out of Charles Addams original comic strips and getting moments to be themselves. In addition, while the humor is completely inconsistent, I counted at least half a dozen jokes I cracked up at, most of them leaning into the morbid side of the Addams' personalities and one weirdly placed joke at a gas station (don't ask, I can't explain it).
Getting back to that original Wednesday narrative though, I found myself getting increasingly bored by it as the movie went on. For as cliched as the 2019 movie's story was, it at least felt like an Addams Family movie, with stakes that consistently affected the entire family.
But between Wednesday's forays into Captain Kirk-esque monologues, Fester's subplot with the fallout from Wednesday's experiment, and occasionally shifting back to the house under the protection of Grandmama (voiced by Bette Midler), the movie feels incredibly disjointed. When the film does finally line up its story after over an hour of setup, it feels too little too late, all in the service of a big obligatory action sequence that is supposed to act as the emotional climax and falls completely flat.
It's not that a 90-minute movie can't support these characters, but rather that it chooses to take them away from situational, self-aware comedy moments to make it feel more important. We love the Addams because they're weird, they don't quite fit in, but they're so sincere and loving that you can't help but get attached to them and the film loses interest in that appeal relatively quickly.
(*As a side note that I must get off my chest, Thing, the family's chauffeur who is a disembodied hand, has a watch with an eyeball that allows him to see. There's a joke where Thing is trying to stay awake and has a cup of coffee in the camper. Instead of simply sticking Thing's thumb into the cup, the animators animate said thumb AS IF IT IS A THROAT, SUCKING AND ALL. It's the most disturbing part of the movie, I haven't stopped thinking about it, and now that image is in your head too, you're welcome.)
'The Addams Family 2' is fine, plain and simple. Like its predecessor, I'm probably being way too kind to it considering how utterly unimpressive it can feel, grinding to a halt to make its stakes more theatrical on several occasions. That being said, I can't deny the characters are fun when they get the chance to be, there are some decent jokes, and for a potential Halloween watch, it's a family movie on several levels.
Its always nice to see the Addams pop up on the big screen in whatever capacity they might, but my enjoyment of this movie comes with an abundance of unnecessary caveats.
Overall, I give 'The Addams Family 2' 5.5/10
'The Addams Family 2' is available in theaters and on video-on-demand beginning on October 1st.
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Want to follow me on social media? Follow me on Twitter and IG @TheMovieKing45
The music world is a fast evolving and ever changing landscape of influence. Over the last 20 years, we've seen the influx of home recording technology paired with the rise of streaming, making way for new independent artists and communities to flourish.
The music world is a fast evolving and ever changing landscape of influence. Over the last 20 years, we've seen the influx of home recording technology paired with the rise of streaming, making way for new independent artists and communities to flourish. This is the positive side of the streaming coin, different kinds of music can exist in the same spaces in much more fluid ways. Aesthetic and musical styles are merging and taking on new life in the 21st century. Trends in the music industry can be most easily followed by exploring instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms to see what people are wearing and listening to. Let's take a look at a few style and artistic trends influencing the world of music.
Hip-hop is having a big moment right now. With powerful new releases from Kanye West, Drake and Lil Nas X flooding the airwaves, they're unique brand of style is also taking an influence. Just take a look at the most recent Met Gala pictures to get an idea of what we're talking about here. Mens jewelry is taking the fashion and music industry by storm with so many influential artists expressing their unique craft through their style. Mens hip hop jewelry is a great way to express your passion for the music you love and create a unique look inspired by today's most influential artists.
Classic rock has and always will be a favorite in the music world. Neil Young's famous lyrics still ring true today, rock and roll will never die! Vintage tees and apparel from classic rock bands pull any look together and are the perfect way to express the many facets of your interests and style. The Rolling Stones Merchandise has never been a trendier way to express your love of rock n roll! Spice up your style with their famous logo and get rockin '!
Any music fan should have a decent vinyl setup to listen to their favorite records in the way they were intended to be heard: from start to finish and on a great stereo system. Vinyl has had a huge resurgence over the last two decades and many classic albums have been reissued and remastered for a heightened audio experience. In part, this is a pushback against streaming culture which puts a bigger emphasis on playlists and singles rather than full length album formats. Vinyl is a way for true music fans to dive deep into their favorite records. From the best rap albums of all time to the classic recordings of Pink Floyd, you can find all of your generation's most classic albums right from your home!
For aspiring producers, songwriters and composers, there has never been a time where this much information about music creation and theory has been right at our fingertips. There are so many digital tools available to both make and learn music that almost anyone with an interest can pick them up and start making sounds! Understanding how music works, however, is complex and that's where online resources and tools such as blogs come in handy. You can use these tools to discover useful information such as the difference between rhythm and beat or how to compose a melody to further your understanding of music and how it's made.
If all you do is follow headlines and instagram for your music news, chances are you're missing tons of valuable articles, news, events and new releases that may inspire you. Discover more about the world's greatest music by following music specific news websites and blogs. These are people with the same passion for music as their audience. They know that music news needs its own space, and these blogs are great for discovering new artists and bands to add to your collection of favorite music.
On the rise in popularity again are music festivals, raves and other large gatherings of musicians and audiences. With live music becoming more prevalent after the height of the pandemic, fans are looking for loud and exciting outfits to get back into festival culture. Rave clothes are a really fun way to enjoy these events while expressing your passion for the culture. Stock up on rave supplies for your next electronic music festival! As more and more start to revive their bookings, attendees will want to be prepared with all of their favorite gear.
For musicians, producers, sound technicians and engineers, it's essential to have an idea of what kinds of resources are available online for purchasing instruments and new gear. Virtual shopping has become the way of the future, and having a trusted hub where you can order everything from cables to samplers means that you will always be prepared for action no matter what the gig is. The great thing about buying from online stores is that you can often take advantage of their insurance policies and warranties to get a replacement product if something goes wrong with your original purchase.
Instruments and gear are not just luxurious commodities for those in the profession, they are necessary tools. Just as power tools are essential for carpenters, instruments, microphones, cables and audio interfaces are essential for musicians to practice and work in their craft. At the same time, for amateur musicians it is still just as important to make sure you are buying from a trusted source that offers ideal customer support. Musicians starting out need this just as much as seasoned professionals!
Home studios have largely become the norm in the independent recording industry. With so many options available for making home studios, it just doesn't make sense for producers to rent out studio space except in certain circumstances. The essential pieces to the home studio are this: a computer, a set of microphones and plenty of cables, a powerful audio interface, varying microphone stands and a studio desk with monitors. The piece of this puzzle that often gets overlooked is soundproofing!
Soundproofing is something that can be done in a DIY fashion, or you can order nicer looking sound panels for your space. Depending on your budget and aesthetic preference, raw materials or fully constructed panels are easy to purchase and simple to install. This will help make your home studio dry and ideal for recording delicate parts such as vocals or acoustic instruments. This will also help distribute and absorb sound reflection in your space, which will make your speakers produce a 'truer' signal.
These are just a few of the trends taking the music world by storm. Today's music industry is all about reclaiming style, genre and aesthetic from the industry. Part of the way we can do this is by expressing ourselves more fully, listening to our favorite artists without shame, and taking our creative spaces back into our own control. Nothing is more empowering than having control over your influence, style and preferences. Especially when it comes to personal expression and art. As this new world evolves after a year and a half of rest, it will be inspiring to see where the music world ends up and what trends will appear next.
Songs About Being 17
Grey's Anatomy Quotes
Vine Quotes
4 Leaf Clover
Self Respect
1. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society
2. Radhi, SUNY Stony Brook
3. Kristen Haddox, Penn State University
4. Jennifer Kustanovich, SUNY Stony Brook
5. Clare Regelbrugge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign