#and that is just focused on thai and just focused on the bigger players

[panncakes]

genuinely genuinely can't believe that if the schedule gods are kind to us we will have soft high school sapphics, tragic scifi sapphics, dramatic twinplot sapphics, be gay solve crime sapphics, time travel sapphics AND period drama sapphics all join the thai gl pool in 2024

[introvertguide]

Fight for My Entertainment

Over human history, people have found entertainment in a lot of different things. Tastes have changed over time but love of music has been present since the rise of man. Games of athletic prowess have provided drama and amazement for centuries. Even dancing has been a great source of entertainment to the population in some form throughout recorded history. One other thing that seems to keep an audience’s attention is the good old fight to the death. Although there are extreme fighting sports that are popular today, actual murder is severely frowned upon to say the least. Movie audiences still like to see portrayals of the fight to the death and there have been many movies, both good and bad, that satisfy this blood lust. I just wanted to go over some of my personal favorites (and some that really suck):

Ben-Hur (1959) is one of my least favorite movies, but I got to give respect to that chariot battle. I have been to Rome and seen the Circus Maximus field where the movie was filmed and where actual chariot races once took place. The horses and the outfits were great but the real interest to the audience in ancient Rome was the real chance of horrific trampling death with every turn of the race. Visually amazing with dramatic appeal. If this movie was only this, it would be a masterpiece, but there is almost 3 hours of boredom attached around it that really didn’t interest me. Great scene, though.

Spartacus (1960), on the other hand, is one of my favorite movies. It is another epic film and lasts a little bit long, but there are many huge battle scenes with thousands of extras and great one on one gladiator battles. Kirk Douglas is amazing as a gladiator turned general who took on the Roman army. There are a lot of one-on-one fights in this film and, despite the age of the film, still seem pretty realistic. This film is the reverse of Ben-Hur for me, having only 15 minutes of boring material surrounded by great scenes. Fantastic movie.

Edit Note: After rewatching, there are a lot less gladiator fights than I remember. In fact, I only now remember two, maybe three. There is also a lot more preparation for battle than actual battle. The best fighting part is likely when the gladiators first attempt to escape. This movie focuses much more on the repercussions on forcing people to fight instead of actually showing the fights. 

Enter the Dragon (1973) has to be mentioned because it has freaking Bruce Lee. A martial arts phenomenon that passed away far too early, Bruce Lee fights in a tournament to have a chance for revenge. Unlike many fights in which the action was sped up, he is rumored to have been told to slow down so that the camera operators could keep up. This doesn’t have massive crowds but there are still fights to the death for the entertainment of others. I do want to mention that this film is kind of racist and is exploitative along the lines of stereotypes, but the skill is so amazing that I think it rises above the B movie genre and is one of my absolute favorite movies. 

The Running Man (1987) is a movie that is absolutely amazing but not what I would call good. The script is weak, the dialogue is corny, and the acting is laughable. However, it does have Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura in the same movie. I mean, c’mon. A bunch of guys who are serving prison terms are put in a maze with professional killers that have weapons like chainsaws, fire suits, and electric projectiles. And this is all for the pleasure of a TV audience. Very much the modern day Colosseum scenario and a lot of fun to watch. 

Bloodsport (1988) is not a good movie but it is the reason that Jean Claude Van Damme is a household name. The “Muscles from Brussels” really shows off his high kicking skill in a tournament that features more than one fatality in the ring. Look at how much air that guy is getting...the athleticism can’t be denied. The film has a pretty strong cult following and it is another “fun” movie to watch because it does show a lot of very interesting matchups. By the way, the murderous villain in both Enter the Dragon and Bloodsport is played by the same Hong Kong martial artist turned bodybuilder, Mr. Bolo Yeung. A great fighting filming needs both a great hero and a powerful villain and this movie does have both of those things...but that is about it. 

Mortal Kombat (1995) is based on the video game of the same name and boasts supernatural fighters that end their bouts with gory fatalities. It totally delivers exactly that. There are no promises of nice sets, interesting back stories, or special effects and that is good because that doesn’t happen. The one-liners are cheesy, the martial arts are very good, and the soundtrack bumps throughout the entire film. Good enough for me. 

Gladiator (2000) “We who are about to die salute you!” I guess that you can’t have a list of gladiator movies with putting in this one. Russell Crowe plays a disgraced Roman soldier named Maximus who loses his family and is thrown into the ring to die. He works his way through to eventually take on a Roman leader and the whole thing is epic. There are a lot of battles in the Colosseum and they are all glorious. As far as realism and quantity of fights, I think this might be the best. Directed by Ridley Scott, it really takes the viewer and thrusts them into ancient Rome. “Are you not entertained?”

Battle Royale (2000) is the film that so many people cough under their breath when somebody brings up the Hunger Games. This film features a class of children that tormented their teacher so they were all shipped by bus to an island to kill each other until only one person is left. Warning, there is a whole lot of murder and suicide with sharp objects involving children. Each kid also has a choker that blows out their throat if they stop moving. Far and away more gory than its American counterpart, this film does not hold back nor are the contestants prepared for their predicament in any way. Very interesting but really makes the viewer feel that this kind of competition is wrong. Not a “fun” watch. 

Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003) is a fantastic martial arts movie starring the great Tony Jaa as a fighter who partakes in underground street fights in an attempt to find the head of his village’s sacred statue. He takes on some crazy opponents who are much bigger than him, but he is one of the most high flying fighters I have ever seen. His flying knee attacks are just phenomenal. When this guy fights, I am entertained and I am not afraid to admit it. 

The Hunger Games (2012) is the story of youths in a dystopian future who fight to the death representing their district. This is all for the pleasure of the super rich who watch and give help to those players that they like. I think that the premise is so interesting but the heavy helping of teen angst amongst the child death seems weird. The desperation for companionship in the face of death was so much better in Battle Royale, but I still enjoyed this movie. The build up took too long for me, but the last half of the movie is gladiator arena glory. 

Thor: Ragnarok (2017) is a movie that I just thought of last minute but it does have a planet where warriors fight in an arena for the entertainment of Jeff Goldblum. There is a battle between Thor and the Hulk and that is all I really needed to know to be interested. Apparently this fight is amazing to everyone, even aliens on a trash planet. You know that audiences have a taste for carnage when they want to see two superheroes battle.

This list is by no means anywhere near complete so feel free to add on any other great gladiator films. These are just examples of how movie audiences seem to have a little bit of a blood lust and shows our tastes in entertainment have not changed as much as we might think since the days of the Roman Colosseum. I am not immune, but I am glad that my desire to see fighting can be quenched by acting without the need to see somebody actually die.

[alethia000]

[ENG TRANS] 200701 #VogueInConversationwithNICHKHUN

[Thai-Eng trans by Daffodil0624]

Nichkhun: COVID makes me lazy. 😂 It made me think I could not go out to exercise or do many things. In fact, it's just an excuse. If you really want to exercise and take care of your health, you can do it wherever you are (at home, outside, or while you go to work.)  

Nichkhun: When I'm home, I watch Netflix, play games, or practice piano. I don't like to go out much. But I am an active person. When I go out, I would spend my day getting everything done before I go home.

About becoming Broach Nichkhun on #TheBrothersTH  

Nichkhun: Normally I don't like to be a mentor or a judge on audition shows. I don't think I'm talented enough to criticize or judge anyone. But P'Tik told me he wanted to find and teach teens to be both idols and gentlemen. Most importantly, this show isn't scripted. There are no 'drama' or arguments scheduled on any filming days.

Nichkhun: I have worked in many countries and wanted to share my experiences with these kids.

Vogue: So when you were very serious and strict with the kids on the show, it was real.

Nichkhun: Yes. I tried not to be strict. I wanted to know how much they were determined to excel in this field. People who want to enter showbiz have several different reasons, right? Some people want to be famous. Some want to be rich. Some want to show their talents to the world. I had to gauge the reasons they wanted to be a star. These kids were nice and well-mannered. Some of them were not focused/determined and I was strict with them.  When they didn't finish their assignment on time, I was quite strict. But P'Ananda often told me not to scold them. He would do it himself. So I was playing good cop.😆          

Nichkhun: When I watched these kids practice, I smiled to myself and thought of myself practicing over 10 years ago. Among these 20 kids, some of them were very talented. It's a similar situation when I first went to JYPE. If there were 50 trainees, 40 of them were talented and top of the class. The other 10 trainees were cast probably because of their good looks/physical appearance. These 10 trainees would struggle. No matter how much we practiced, we couldn't catch up with other trainees. Even if we worked 2 times harder, it was not enough. If I started from -20, other trainees started from 60. So I really couldn't catch up. Among these 20 kids on The Brothers, there were competitions with themselves and with other kids who had equal skills.  

Nichkhun: When I looked into their eyes, I thought of myself when I was a trainee. Back then, while I was practicing each day, I really couldn't see how my future would turn out. I was not sure when I would sing as well as other trainees. I was not sure whether that was even possible. I couldn't sing, dance, or speak Korean.

Nichkhun: I was scolded so many times. "Why can't you do it? Why can't you compete with others?" I often thought, "Well, you did see my audition tape. You knew how bad I am. Why did you cast me then?" 😂 What's the point of insulting me when you know I am not talented? I was upset for a long time. Until I was fed up with all these insults. "You are not talented. You can't do it. You suck." I didn't want to hear these words anymore. I wanted them to say, "You have improved. You can do it."  I guess my resentment had pushed me to work harder/to improve.

Vogue: But you are a star now.

Nichkhun: Determination/dedication is most important. But luck also plays an important role. I often say I am a lucky guy. If I was not a member of 2PM and didn't debut with 2PM that year, I think I would not be in this position. It was perfect timing. Back then there were not a lot of foreigners who became well-known in Korea. Then 2PM became even more popular because of Heartbeat. That's why I said the timing was perfect.    

Vogue: Hottest want 2PM to make a comeback soon.

Nichkhun: 2PM will definitely make a comeback together. We planned to make a comeback in the middle of next year. But I think it may be delayed because of covid. I don't know how much covid will affect our plans next year. 2PM members meet and talk with each other often. Every time we meet, we talk about the time the six of us stood on stage together. We miss those moments.  

Nichkhun: All those times we spent together were miraculous. I know these 5 friends I have worked with are my best friends. They are friends I love the most. These are friends who can sacrifice their lives for each other. I have worked with these friends and our job is to make people happy. It's something money can't buy. Fate brings the six of us together. It's quite funny when you think about it. I am not Korean. I had never thought of being a singer. I had no desire to enter showbiz. Then I met these 5 friends. It's simply miraculous.      

Vogue: What do you guys talk about besides your work?  

Nichkhun: We spend only 10% of the time talking about our work. 90% are spent on nonsense stuffs. 😂

Nichkhun: I have tried to encourage my friends to play golf. Chansung and Taec have started to play golf. I am still trying to convince others to play too.

Vogue: How long have you played golf?

Nichkhun: Almost 5 years. I like to play golf because I can compete with myself. I play badminton too. It's hard to defeat the other player who's really talented. With golf, I compete with myself. Every time I play, the conditions are different; wind, rain, grass, or myself. It teaches me to be with the present moment. If we think too far ahead, we won't see the target in front of us. We should move forward step by step.      

Vogue: I saw you taking a lot of photos with kids on your IG.  

Nichkhun: I love children. When I went to USA and met my cousin's kids, I wanted to give them good memories which may make them a little happier when they grow up. I want to give them my love. When I look at children, I am a little envious. You have the whole world in front of you. Your life is just beginning. You can be whatever you want to be. It depends on how many good people you will meet during the course of your life, how many good and bad things you will encounter, and how much you will be loved.

Nichkhun: That's why I don't want to give children money. I want to give and show them my love. I want these children to know they are valued. I want them to grow up to be a great person. I want the children I have met to know they were born to be loved. They are the light of our world. I want them to know they are important and valued. These are all the basic things I want them to know.

Nichkhun: I love children. But I don't know when I will have my own kids. People have told me loving other people's kids is a different feeling from having my own kids. There are both positive and negative sides. So I think it is not gonna happen anytime soon. Is that right, Hottest? When I post a photo with kids, 50% of my fans would ask, "When are you gonna have kids? We want to see you playing with your kids."

Vogue: How do you play with kids?

Nichkhun: Throwing them in the air. 😂 And I try not to stand over them. I don't want them to feel I am an adult. If they are sitting and playing on the floor, I will lie down. I will lie down on the floor and play with them. I want them to feel that I am their friend. At the same time, I want them to feel that I can protect them and make them feel safe because I am bigger. Playing with kids is delightful. But at a certain point when kids become hyperactive, it is extremely exhausting for me.  If they like being tossed up high, my arms hurt on the next day. 😂  

Vogue: How long have you worked with UNICEF?

Nichkhun: Seven years. My family have donated to several foundations. When I started working in Korea, I saw UNICEF's ad about children who suffered from malaria. I asked my manager to call them and asked for more details. UNICEF staff in Korea saw my name after I made a donation. They called to thank me. Then years later, UNICEF Thailand asked me to be Friend of UNICEF. I accepted the invitation to be a spokesperson for them.

Nichkhun: For the past 7 years, I have met children in several slums. You won't believe there's a slum right next to a shopping mall in Bangkok. Six to seven families live in a very crowded space not bigger than a bag shop in a shopping mall. People should not have to live in a living condition like that. There are a lot of kids there who should be in schools but they have to work to help support their family or have to take care of their younger siblings. 

Nichkhun: I visited and talked with a family there. The grandparents called their grandkids that it was time to eat. I asked them what did they prepare. The grandkids came running and looked so happy. Then I saw the grandpa took out a ball of old sticky rice, sprinkled some salt, and gave it to their kids who ate it happily.        

Nichkhun: To be frank, I can't totally change their world and the living conditions of people in these slums. The best I can do is telling people as much as I can about what I have seen in these slums. It's not that people aren't interested in these issues. I think they don't realize somewhere not far from their home, there're hundred thousand people who don't have fundamental rights and opportunities they deserve.          

Vogue: Some people know UNICEF help children and they may want to make a donation. Can you tell us how these donations are spent?  

Nichkhun: The most important part is for buying food for children. Especially for children who live in areas that are difficult to access, we provide them with Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) paste, medicines, and water. We have a great campaign that encourages reading too. It's a mobile library campaign. We rent trucks, made them into mobile libraries, and drove to faraway villages in the countryside.  

Nichkhun: Some people may think, "I'm not rich. I don't have extra money to spend on donations." But I think 10 baht or 100 baht monthly donation can make a lot of difference. If people come together and help, it can move things forward. You don't have to donate 10,000 or 100,000 baht. It doesn't have to reach a certain amount of money to be considered a donation. If it truly comes from your heart, 1 baht is enough. If a person makes a 1 baht donation, we will get 10,000 baht from 10,000 people. 10,000 baht can be spent on a lot of things including vaccines and food for kids.    

Nichkhun talked about his Thai horror film ‘Cracked’ which should be released this year but it depends on situations regarding covid.

Vogue: Normally are you scared of ghosts?  

Nichkhun: It's not that I'm not scared. Let's say I am not scared that much. But if you want me to go to a remote, deserted place at night alone, I won't go. 😂

Nichkhun: There was a time that I experienced what Thais call Pee-Um.

(Note: ‘Pee-Um’ means a suffocating feeling / sleep paralysis while falling asleep which is believed to be caused by a spirit.)

Nichkhun: It happened when I stayed at a hotel. It's the first time I stayed at that hotel. People often say after you feel suffocated, when you open your eyes, you will see a ghost sitting on your chest. Sometimes, you will see a ghost standing near your bed. It's the first time I experienced these feelings. I was sleeping. When I opened my eyes, I knew I couldn't move.  I tried as much as I could to open my eyes, raise my head, and look around the room. I hoped to see someone there in the room but, unfortunately, I couldn't see him/her. I was scared but I truly wanted to know whether I had that kind of sense. Too bad I couldn't see anyone so I went back to sleep. 😅

Vogue: Your fans want to know when you will be back to Thailand.

Nichkhun: Today my mom asked me the same question, "When will you come home?" If I go back to Thailand to work on an event/a job, I may spend 2 days working. But I will have to spend 14 days in quarantine (in Thailand). When I come back to Korea, I will have to spend another 14 days in quarantine in Korea too. One month is over. 😅

Nichkhun: So it's difficult to deal with my work in other countries right now. I really want to work and go to several places. Normally, I often flew and worked in several countries. During this time, I have stayed home for months. I'm not used to it. My electricity bill last month is a bit higher than usual. 😂

Nichkhun: I hope everyone is not bored with waiting for me. I hope you guys are healthy. Don't forget to exercise. It's really important. Try to eat food that's good for your health. Keep smiling. It will help make our world a little brighter.

[Thai-Eng trans by Daffodil0624] 

THREAD on Twitter  

Video by Vogue Thailand  ▶️  https://youtu.be/YLySZaAkscA

[businesstriphometie]

An Overview of Traditional Thai Massage

In this distressing world that we live in, elective treatments, for example, knead have gotten well known the world over. Perhaps the most prestigious types of back rub treatment is Thai back rub. In the event that you have at any point visited Thailand, especially the bigger towns and urban communities like Bangkok and Pattaya, you will presumably have seen an enormous cluster of back rub parlors - in the high road, in inns, in fitness centers, etc. In any case, Thai back rub has become an overall wonder and subsequently is polished universally, with both back rub parlors and learning focuses accessible all through the western world just as in its starting points in the east.

In its customary structure, Thai back rub varies from most different types of back rub in that no oils are utilized. All things being equal, pressure is applied to muscles and joints, and the appendages are pulled on, which assists with disposing of strong torment, stress and strain. It's anything but a ton like profound tissue back rub or sports knead, settling on it a well known decision among sports players and unskilled workers. It can profit anyone however, especially on the off chance that you are focused or feeling tense truly. Click this site 출장홈타이

An average meeting keeps going something like 60 minutes, yet can proceed for two hours or more. Many consider Thai back rub to be excruciating, especially if there is any torment or inconvenience in the muscles. Pressing factor is applied at key focuses around the body, then, at that point the appendages are pulled while the remainder of the body is stood firm on immovably in situation. The training is completed on the floor as this makes it a lot simpler for the advisor. Albeit difficult at that point, it's anything but a drawn out helpful impact by really disposing of solid pressure and torment.

Thai back rub is accepted to go back more than 2,500 years, albeit the training has advanced over the long haul. Current Thai back rub is probably going to fuse numerous different types of South-east Asian customs from the nineteenth century, and today there are numerous varieties relying upon the area or individual specialist. It is most ordinarily instructed in Bangkok, albeit Thai back rub schools exist all through the world.

Albeit Thai back rub in its most customary structure doesn't utilize oil and includes profound squeezing and pulling of the appendages as portrayed above, there are different types of back rub accessible that have a Thai subject. The most well-known elective type of Thai back rub treatment is the Thai natural oil rub. Here there is no agony included - rather oils are rubbed into the body for a relieving impact. It is basically the same as Swedish back rub, the distinction being that Thai oils are utilized, to give an interesting minor departure from conventional Swedish back rub.

Different types of Thai back rub incorporate foot back rub, head and shoulder back rub and the sky is the limit from there. There is additionally pregnancy rub, pointed toward giving a remedial encounter to pregnant ladies and facilitating the a throbbing painfulness related with pregnancy. There is even child rub, which as the name proposes is for babies and newborn children. It's anything but an astonishment to numerous that back rub would be reasonable for pregnant ladies or infants, yet done effectively it very well may be exceptionally helpful with no evil impacts to the youngster.

So as should be obvious, Thai back rub gives a wide assortment of special encounters and has gotten extremely famous for unwinding, stress alleviation, relief from discomfort and that's just the beginning. In its most customary structure, no oils are utilized, and there is a component of torment however with long haul benefits. Also, while the best preparing is offered in Bangkok, it is accessible all through the world.

[blackpoolthai]

Consult Professional Massage Therapist to Benefit from Services in Cookson Street

In this unpleasant world that people live in, elective treatments, for example, massage have become famous the world over. One of the most prestigious types of massage treatment is Thai massage. If you have ever visited Thailand, especially the bigger towns and urban areas, for example, Bangkok and Pattaya, you will know uncertainty have seen a huge exhibit of massage parlors, in the high road, in lodgings, in fitness centers, etc. Yet, Thai massage has become an overall wonder and subsequently is polished universally, with both massage parlors and learning focuses accessible all through the western world just as in its starting points in the east.

In its traditional structure, Traditional Thai Massage differs from most different types of massage in that no oils are utilized. Rather, pressure is applied to muscles and joints, and the appendages are pulled on, which assists with killing strong agony, stress and strain. It is a great deal like profound tissue massage or sports massage, settling on it a famous decision among sports players and unskilled workers. It can profit anyone however, especially if you are focused or feeling tense genuinely.

 A run of the mill meeting keeps going at any rate 60 minutes, yet can proceed for two hours or more. Many consider Thai massage to be agonizing, especially if there is any agony or inconvenience in the muscles. Weight is applied at vital focuses around the body, at that point the appendages are pulled while the remainder of the body is held solidly in position. The training is done on the floor as this makes it a lot simpler for the specialist. Albeit excruciating at that point, it has a drawn out helpful impact by really disposing of strong pressure and torment.

 Thai massage is accepted to go back more than 2,500 years, despite the fact that the training has advanced after some time. Current Thai and Body Massage near Blackpool is probably going to fuse numerous different types of South-east Asian conventions from the nineteenth century, and today there are numerous varieties relying upon the area or individual specialist. It is most normally educated in Bangkok, albeit Thai massage schools exist all through the world.

Albeit Thai massage in its most traditional structure doesn't utilize oil and includes profound squeezing and pulling of the appendages as portrayed above, there are different types of massage accessible that have a Thai topic. The most widely recognized elective type of Thai massage treatment is the Thai home grown oil massage. It is fundamentally the same as Swedish massage, the difference being that Thai oils are utilized, to give a remarkable minor departure from traditional Swedish massage. Moreover, you can visit leading center to consult professional Massage Therapist in Cookson Street to benefit from their services.

[kitfoxart]

Rules: Tell your followers 11 random facts about yourself and tag 11 people. Tag backs are allowed but if you get tagged again, you must not repeat any of the facts you mentioned in the previous round. The facts can be absolutely anything, whatever you feel like sharing and whatever comes to mind first. 

tagged by @pentamerous

1. Because I finally live in a place where food will actually be delivered to your home, I’m exploring Chinese food more than I ever did when I lived in Hawaii and sesame chicken is fucking delicious.  But my heart belongs to these little chewy marinated beef thingies that look like high quality dog food.  I swear to gawd.

2. Yesterday some guy tricked me into looking at his penis.  It was impressive enough but what killed me was that when I tried to ask him questions about what the deal was, he actually seemed like a smart and kinda funny guy who just had a nasty habit of being a flasher.

3. I went out with a guy the other night, actually out of my home, which is bizarre for me.  He was an ex-junkie, ex-felon, ex-homeless man, currently dodging a boxcutter-wielding ex girlfriend and living with one mad chemist, one alien hunter, and one guy he described only as “interesting”.  We had Thai, walked on the beach in the dark, and looked at boats.  I really wanted to be his best friend but he hasn’t called me.

4. The tree tattoo I had for years and didn’t like finally got fixed.  The artist made a sketch of what I wanted and it looked great.  When he was finally finished it did not look great.  Now I have to wait till it heals, find another artist, and cover up the cover-up.

5. I am constantly in need of companionship and yet constantly behind on projects I should be working on.  If I gave up trying to chase after people and just focused on work, maybe... oh and stop doing dumb tag memes.

6. A fella online gave me a new nickname.  Dreamy Disaster.  It will replace Rhonda Voux as my new stripper name.

7. When people ask me why I moved away from Hawaii and I don’t want to give them the whole story I usually tell them something nutty and they usually believe me.  Hawaii doesn’t sell Vernor’s ginger ale, so I was like, fuck that.  I’m on the run from my old boss who was a drug lord and I made him one bad latte.  A circus bear fell in love with me and I had to go.  The relationship might have worked but his ex was a... well, you know.

8. It was too dark at night.  I bought myself a nightlight shaped like a mushroom and now it’s too light.  I am thinking the dark may not be the problem.

9. One of my hermit crabs is bigger and more active and running around like a champ.  One of them is pale and dropping claws from stress and hiding under the sand.  Experts say he is molting but I’m worried.

10. A former football player built like a god and looking like a tall Lenny Kravitz just offered to give me the business and I actually said no.  I ACTUALLY SAID NO.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME I SAID NO?!

11. I COULD HAVE HAD THAT AND I DIDN’T, HE WAS INTO MY BIG ASS AND I WAS LIKE ‘OH I’M LOOKING FOR MORE THAN A ONE NIGHT THING BUT YOU’RE ADORABLE, BYEEEE’ WHAT AN IDIOT!

tagging @acroamatica, @duamuteffe, @cilbiscuit, @gingerhaole, @geekymalefeminist, @lotosparvula, @pirateliz, @rocketorca, @simcha-joy, @taylorisweird, @my-life-as-a-bird, @serranodebergerac

[mastcomm]

Your Monday Briefing – The New York Times

Rising concern that coronavirus will slip world’s net

The number of reported coronavirus cases stood at more than 68,500, with nearly 1,700 deaths, including a man in Taiwan with no history of travel to mainland China. Here’s the latest.

Though the pace of increase has slowed, there are new fears of global transmission after an 83-year-old American woman tested positive for the coronavirus in Malaysia. She was one of more than 1,000 passengers who left a cruise ship last week in Cambodia and traveled onward to other destinations.

In Japan, some American passengers are being evacuated from another cruise ship that now has 355 confirmed coronavirus cases. Canada and Hong Kong say they will also evacuate their nationals from the ship, and Australia is sending an expert to weigh options.

Officials in Hawaii are racing to find people who may have had contact with a tourist couple who tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home to Japan.

In China: Placing himself in the middle of questions about the government’s response, President Xi Jinping said in a new speech that he took charge of the outbreak in early January, nearly two weeks before he first spoke publicly about it and when the government was still saying human-to-human spread seemed unlikely.

A Mao-style containment has imposed lockdowns of varying strictness on at least 760 million people, according to our analysis, a major blow to the world’s second largest economy.

Another angle: Although there are only a handful of known cases in the U.S., the outbreak has some Asian-Americans feeling an unnerving public scrutiny for just sneezing.

Adjusting to life in a fire-scarred Australia

The wildfires that ravaged the country are changing what it means to be Australian.

“In a land usually associated with relaxed optimism, anxiety and trauma have taken hold,” our Sydney bureau chief writes in an analysis. And summers are only set to get hotter and smokier, promising humming air filters and children kept indoors.

As Australians stumble toward new ways of work, leisure and life, our bureau chief asks, will a conservative government skeptical of climate change follow?

On the ground: Fires are still burning south and west of New South Wales. In total, tens of millions of acres have been incinerated.

Behind U.S.-Iran clash: months of misjudgments

A nine-month period that shook up the already tense relationship between the two countries began with the Trump administration’s escalation of sanctions and ended with Washington and Tehran in a direct military confrontation.

Our reporters traced the path to last month’s violent standoff, finding a story of miscalculations by both sides.

What’s next? “The chess match continues,” our reporters write. The Senate tried to constrain President Trump, voting last week to require that he seek congressional authorization before taking further military action against Iran. But the measure lacked the support needed to override a promised veto.

Another player: Once based in Iraq, a secretive group of celibate Iranian dissidents — the Mujahedeen Khalq, or People’s Jihadists — gave our reporter a tour of their new home in Albania.

Sri Lankan army chief banned from U.S.

The U.S. imposed an entry bar on Sri Lanka’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, citing his alleged involvement in war crimes during the final stages of the country’s civil war.

The ban is the first significant international penalty against Sri Lanka since it brought the 26-year civil war to a bloody close against Tamil Tiger militants in 2009. Some 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed during the war, and thousands who surrendered to General Silva’s division disappeared.

Sri Lanka’s government condemned the U.S. measure and said there were “no substantiated or proven allegations” against General Silva, but rights groups and some in the country applauded the move.

Looking ahead: The American penalty may spur other countries to impose similar measures, or raise pressure on Sri Lanka to pursue its own war crimes tribunals — though there are signs that the country is taking an illiberal turn under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

If you have 8 minutes, this is worth it

A vital river runs low

The lower Mekong, which runs through five countries and serves as a lifeline for 60 million people, was one of the world’s few remaining free rivers until a Thai-funded dam started operations in November. Now the river is choked, residents told our reporter, and some parts are reduced to a trickle.

“Our nets are almost empty,” a fisherman in Thailand said. “Maybe our way of life on the river is finished.”

Here’s what else is happening

U.S. Justice Department: More than 1,100 former federal prosecutors and justice officials called on Attorney General William Barr to step down and some current prosecutors are expressing concerns about political interference in light of his intervention in the case involving Roger Stone, a friend of President Trump’s.

U.S.-China trade: As the Trump administration considers whether to block transactions between U.S. and Chinese firms and otherwise restrict technology exports to China, some big U.S. tech firms are warning that tougher rules could be disastrous for their business, locking them out of world markets.

Snapshot: Above, flooding in Tenbury Wells, England. More than half a month’s worth of rain fell in one day as a “weather bomb” brought chaos to parts of England, Wales and Scotland.

Michael Bloomberg: As he eyed a presidential run, the billionaire and former New York mayor ramped up his charitable giving. His money created an unmatched empire of influence.

What we’re reading: This essay by the writer and critic Paraic O’Donnell in The Irish Times. Steven Erlanger, our diplomatic correspondent in Europe, describes it as a “moving, sometimes angry contemplation of a life slowly destroyed by M.S., bringing thoughts of how gardens are born in destruction, and how this progressive disease moves with the seasons.”

Now, a break from the news

Neil MacFarquhar, our national correspondent who wrote the story, previously served as the Times bureau chief in Moscow. We talked with him in the following conversation, which has been condensed and edited for clarity.

You wrote that one Sputnik station shares a frequency with a smaller jazz station in Kansas City. What’s it like to be listening to Charlie Parker one minute, and propaganda the next?

You get roughly, “This is Radio Sputnik, broadcasting live from Washington D.C., the capital of the divided states of America.”

The station that has the Sputnik frequency is fairly strong, while the station broadcasting jazz is relatively weak. If you’re by the more powerful transmitter, you get Radio Sputnik

Is this kind of propaganda relatively unprecedented in U.S.-Russian relations?

It depends on your interpretation of “propaganda.” There have previously been radio broadcasts of foreign- owned and financed radio stations into the United States.

But part of the change is the MORE SOUR mood between the two capitals. Under Putin, there has been a much more concerted effort to undermine Western institutions.

The Facebook campaigns focused on the 2016 election and other things we’ve heard about were direct attempts to influence specific groups of people, so it was more manipulative. This is much more subtle. It’s not old-school propaganda, it’s American hosts — before they got to Sputnik they were fairly down on the United States from the left or right — trying to paint the U.S. as damaged goods.

Is it jarring compared to other radio stations on the dial?

It’s talk radio, so they’re riffing off of headlines about impeachment, Kobe Bryant, coronavirus, that kind of thing. The bureau chief in Washington says they’d like to have a station in New York but the cost is bigger than their budget allows.

That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.

— Penn

Thank you To Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford for the break from the news. Adam Pasick, on the briefings team, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about the post-impeachment President Trump. • Here’s our Mini Crossword, and a clue: Zip, zero, nada (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • A. G. Sulzberger, the Times’s publisher, recently received an award from the New England First Amendment. Read his remarks.

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[rodrigohyde]

How the ‘Bright’ stunt team created gritty, realistic action in a world of mystical mayhem

Netflix's new movie Bright is ready to show you a world unlike anything you’ve ever seen. But instead of bringing Bright to movie theaters, the kingpin streaming service is bringing the movie straight into your living room.

Bright, starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, has all the usual ingredients of a gritty, action-focused cop film—huge explosions, wild car chases, gangsters, and mismatched partners—but it’s completely unique in this way: The film takes place in a world where magic is real, and humans, orcs, elves, and fairies are all living alongside each other.

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The genre-bending story follows two LAPD police officers, human Daryl Ward (Smith) and his rookie Orc partner Nick Jakoby (Edgerton), as they go out on what seems like a routine patrol in the city. But when they discover an ancient, powerful, and thought-to-be-lost magic wand, they’re forced to protect a young elf (Lucy Fry) and make sure the weapon doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Given a setting that's as much Lord of the Rings as it is Lethal Weapon, director David Ayer faced a special challenge: making a fantastical landcape feel real. To bring his gritty, realistic style from films like End of Watch, Training Day, and Suicide Squad to the world of Bright, Ayer enlisted stunt coordinator Robert Alonzo to handle the action.

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Alonzo—who has worked on films like Deadpool, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and The Fighter—didn’t just oversee the stunt work. (He estimates that 90% of those stunts were done by the actors themselves, by the way.) Alonzo also designed different fight styles for each character, trained the actors in martial arts, and even directed some of the second unit action scenes.

“In a world where magic exists, basically everyone is like an Olympic athlete,” Alonzo told Men’s Fitness. “Each magical race has different character traits, but everyone has the strength and speed of a Usain Bolt. The Orcs are just bigger, like NFL players, so they don’t move as fast as humans or elves, but are very strong. The elves are more agile, they’re like the elite among these creatures. We had the elves train in Filipino martial arts, Kempo karate, capoeira, and taekwondo; the cops with boxing, Pencak Silat, and Muay Thai, while the Orcs did more of wrestling and Judo."

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The $90 million fantasy-action film is a major bet for Netflix, and one they hope will be a precursor to more big-budget movies in the future.

Alonzo spoke with Men’s Fitness about creating a world of badass action and mystical beings, exploding things around Will Smith, and how they pulled off the biggest stunts in Bright.

Men’s Fitness: What was it like working with a director like David Ayer?

Robert Alonzo: I came into the film a bit late, so I had to jump in headfirst. Working with David was such a blessing. We worked together really well in regards to the story and the action, and how the action interacts with the characters. With all the movies that I work on, I want to make sure that the action isn't just action for the sake of action—[I wanted to make sure] it all lends itself to the story and the plot and the character arcs. David was very supportive of that, and how we wanted to develop a very specific style of movements in regards to the different species that were in this world.

What was it like working with Will Smith on this project?

It's was fantastic—you're working with a seasoned pro. The commitment level from him was off the charts. When you're working with guys who've been in the business for so long like Will, he knows the value of the training, and he knows the value of committing to characters wholeheartedly. The preparation in regards to that is really important. With the schedule that he did have, he’s obviously the lead, so he can only train when the schedule allows for it.

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But he came in, and his ability to adapt to situations on the fly was extremely high. He's just such a positive person and keeps everybody on the set happy. We're shooting nights all the time, people are tired, and he comes in with such a positive vibe, it makes the movie-making process not as arduous, and [not] as tiresome as it can be. He contributes to really wanting to make greatness, and I think we did that here.

How long did it take to shoot some of the action scenes that you directed?

I was in charge of directing action scenes in the third act and the final sequence. Altogether, it took about three days of main unit coverage with David Ayer, plus four days of the action unit where we executed fight choreography and wire work with the cast, stunt performers, stunt riggers, and the special effects team. This was probably one of the hardest projects I've ever had to do, primarily because of working consecutive nights in a row and trying to do as much practical stunt work as we could.

[PQ]

But the joy of working with all the stunt team, with David [Ayer], and with actors like Will, Joel Edgerton, and Noomi Rapace, was a joy. Everyone takes time away from their families for a very long time. They really commit, and everybody from the top all the way to the bottom gave it everything they have. It's really, really a joy to see the passion involved when you're making movies, and especially this one.

What were some of the most difficult parts about shooting those big set pieces?

The most difficult part about shooting these big action scenes was executing all the coverage within a short window of time. The action we were doing required lots of planning to make sure we were effective and efficient. There was a lot on our plate between leading the fight choreography with the cast and doubles, doing the prosthetics, getting the wire work set, crashing through walls, water work, then the VFX elements, and special effects. If we had any snags, we wouldn’t be able to make our days. Fortunately, our cast and crew was very well-prepared and we were able to execute a safe and repeatable plan that enabled everyone to put their best foot forward.

How did you go about balancing the classic cop-style action with the more fantastical and magical elements of the film?

We valued the reality of the action, and the gritty nature of action, but it’s all taking place in this fantastical realm. Unlike Deadpool or Suicide Squad, this isn’t a superhero movie, but there are superpowers and magic, so we designed different actions for the characters and how they fight. And boy, there was a lot of fighting in this movie. Will’s character is a human cop, so we worked on how he could move and his physicality. Being a cop and having to fit into the world of criminals that are orcs and elves, it was a very interesting concept to me.

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I did a character breakdown for how each of the species relates to the physics we understand today. I really concentrated on training the actors to know their own range, distance, and timing, and we incorporated a lot of martial arts training, too. It brings a much higher element of jeopardy, so they can actually get closer to punch, get closer to kick, get closer to weapons—making it more realistic, but obviously safe for them. There was gun training as well, where the actors would be shooting and firing guns, real live rounds. We also incorporated martial arts and trapping elements, some gymnastic drills, boxing with mitts, and a lot of kicking.

What was the coolest stunt or moment you recall from shooting the film?

It’s very difficult to pick the coolest moment, because each action scene had something to offer that was so unique. But there was a scene at the gas station that had its harrowing moments, and there was another scene where the elves’ fighting abilities were first introduced against the Altamira gang. That was a fun one to work on. Another great moment was when the Altamira gang jumped on Ward and Jakoby’s SUV and Jakoby put the car in reverse and peeled off the gang members with other parked cars. Then there’s the action in the third act when the elves return to attack and kill Ward, Jakoby, and Tikka, and a huge fight breaks out—there was a lot of action and blasting through walls in that scene.

Another part that's great is when a bunch of guys are jumping on Jakoby's car, and he uses the vehicle as a weapon. It's just as Jakoby [the Orc cop] is starting to get his feet wet in regards to what it is to actually be a cop in that realm. He's a first-timer, the first orc in the academy or in the force. So for him to be on the front line of an investigation or a case, it's an adrenaline-pumping sequence, to follow his journey and how he shows his resolve in regards to all these wild situations. There are just too many cool moments to choose from.

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Movies and TV

from Men's Fitness https://www.mensfitness.com/life/entertainment/how-bright-stunt-team-created-gritty-realistic-action-world-mystical-mayhem

[dashainthetardis-blog]

Cheat Summoners War

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