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Pope Francis pens prayer thanking hospital staff, as he shows “mild improvement” : NPR

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Pope Francis pens prayer thanking hospital staff, as he shows “mild improvement” : NPR


A priest holds a photograph of Pope Francis during the nightly rosary prayer service in St Peter’s Square on Thursday, March 6 in Vatican City.

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe


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Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

Pope Francis, who has been unable to appear in public for several weeks due to ill health, released a prayer on Sunday thanking hospital staff for his care.

The pontiff has been receiving treatment at a Rome hospital for nearly a month, and the Vatican announced that he is experiencing a “gradual, mild improvement” in his health, and remains in stable condition.

According to a health update from the Holy See Press Office on Saturday, Francis has shown “a good response to the therapies,” but doctors at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital continue to consider his prognosis as “guarded,” which means the outcome is still uncertain.

The 88-year-old entered the hospital on Feb. 14 for a case of bronchitis. Francis had part of his lung removed in his twenties due to an infection, and he was briefly hospitalized for a case of bronchitis in 2023.

But his most recent hospitalization has been marked by several complications. Shortly after being admitted in mid-February, Francis suffered a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract,” which lengthened his hospital stay. The pope was then diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and given supplemental oxygen. He has also been afflicted by several episodes of “acute respiratory crisis.”

On Saturday, the Holy See Press Office said Francis had remained in stable condition for the last few days, with stable blood work results and no fever. The pope was resting Sunday morning after a quiet night, Vatican officials said.

In the text of the Sunday Angelus prayer prepared by the pope and released by the Vatican, Francis called for a “miracle of tenderness” for those experiencing hardship and thanked healthcare workers across the globe.

“During my prolonged hospitalization here,” Francis said in the prayer, “I too experience the thoughtfulness of service and the tenderness of care, in particular from the doctors and healthcare workers, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart.”

The pope also offered a prayer for people living in countries experiencing armed conflicts, and thanked those who volunteer in their local communities, as the Jubilee for the World of Volunteering event was taking place in Rome over the weekend.

“In our societies, too enslaved to market logic, where everything risks being subject to the criterion of interest and the quest for profit,” Francis said, “volunteering is prophecy and a sign of hope, because it bears witness to the primacy of gratuitousness, solidarity, and service to those most in need.”



This story originally appeared on NPR

For California towns with bear problems, using dogs to hunt is no fix

LATimes
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For California towns with bear problems, using dogs to hunt is no fix


California’s black bears are clever, resourceful and opportunistic. They eat anything and everything — fruits, nuts, insects, human food and pet food. They love bird feeders. They poach mountain lion kills — such as deer — that they find. It’s called kleptoparasitism. They can use their bottom teeth to work open an unlocked car door. If they find a way into your house and kitchen, they can open jars of peanut butter and jam and, of course, honey.

They are the only bear species in the state, and, despite the name, their fur ranges in color from blond to black. It’s been a century since the grizzly bear was hunted to extinction in California, leaving only its image, ironically, on the state flag.

Estimating black bears’ numbers is a fraught exercise. In its draft Black Bear Conservation Plan, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates — using new methodology — the population at about 65,000 and says it has been stable for a decade. (For years, the department had estimated the population at 35,000 using less advanced statistical modeling.) Wildlife strategist Wendy Keefover of the group Humane World for Animals — formerly the Humane Society of the United States — argues that number is simply a guess, and she cautions against putting too much emphasis on it because apex predators such as bears are sparsely populated and reproduce slowly.

Whatever has happened with the bear population, we know for sure that reports of bear-human interactions have gone up. According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, reports have been increasing for decades — not due to more bears but to more people living and vacationing in bear territory. There were an average 674 reports annually from 2017 to 2020, but that shot up to 1,678 per year during 2021 and 2022. The Lake Tahoe Basin and the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains were particular hot spots.

California Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas), whose district includes one of those hot spots, has introduced Assembly Bill 1038, which would allow hunters to haze bears — but not kill them — by having dogs chase them. Hounding of bears by hunters during bear hunting season was outlawed by the Legislature in 2012 and shouldn’t come back even if hunters don’t intend to kill the bears.

As in 2012, it remains cruel to bears, who end up exhausted and clinging to a tree. Dogs and bears may fight. And it’s unclear how chasing a random bear, perhaps in a forest, is going to discourage it from foraging for food around humans. (The Department of Fish and Wildlife already allows, in limited situations, particularly problematic bears in communities or near livestock to be hazed by dogs.)

Another part of Hadwick’s bill would authorize the Fish and Game Commission to decide whether hunters could use hounds once more to hunt and kill bears. The Legislature already banned this practice, and relinquishing its power over that ban to an appointed commission makes no sense.

Although this bill’s proposals are not helpful, bear-human encounters are dangerous and should be minimized. There’s a better way to do that. The department and animal welfare advocates strongly urge Californians to find ways to make homes, cars, campsites and farms unattractive to bears. There are numerous suggestions. Bears love smelly food. Don’t leave any food outside. Use trash cans with bear-proof latches. Take all food out of your car and then lock the car doors. On doorsteps, put down mats that cause a mild electric shock when a bear steps on them; they’re called “unwelcome mats.” Crawlspaces under decks should be secured. Remove bird feeders from your yard.

Livestock should be kept in secure pens at night. Electric fencing can be installed around chicken coops and enclosures. And for bears that keep snooping around houses or livestock, there are ways of hazing that don’t involve dogs chasing them. Motion-activated lights, noise makers and alarms can scare bears away.

And don’t feed them. In fact, it’s prohibited in the state of California. But Ann Bryant, executive director and a founder of the Bear League in the Tahoe Basin, says some vacationers do it anyway, putting food outside wherever they are staying in hopes of luring a bear and then snapping a picture. It works — and then the bear comes back expecting more food. That’s when Bryant, whose organization’s volunteers help people live more harmoniously with bears, gets a call from someone wanting to know how to make the bear stop coming around.

Bryant’s advice is simple and straightforward: Stop putting out food, and if the bear shows up again, “You stomp your feet and yell, ‘Get outta here!’ You’re taking away his confidence that people are going to be nice and feed them. You have to let the bear know the party’s over.”

So with all these methods, why do bears keep coming around? “These methods do work,” says Fish and Wildlife spokesman Peter Tira. They just need to be more widely adopted: “The key is ongoing education and awareness, forming good habits, reaching both residents and visitors to bear country.”

It will be up to the department to more aggressively get the message out. But here’s some advice that tourists should remember, says Bryant: “Think always in the back of your mind, ‘I’m in bear country.’”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

White confirms FBI director’s interest in UFC team-up: ‘He’s dead serious’

MMA Mania
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White confirms FBI director’s interest in UFC team-up: ‘He’s dead serious’


UFC fighters get all sorts of opportunities to make a little extra cash outside the cage. Maybe it’s a Monster sponsorship or a Jose Cuervo commercial. And soon it could be a plum gig training FBI agents self-defense if Dana White and new FBI director Kash Patel have their way.

Patel generated lots of headlines and raised eyebrows last week when he suggested a partnership with UFC could help agents beef up their hand to hand combat abilities. The idea of getting law enforcement to train in combat sports like boxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu isn’t new at all, but looping in the UFC certainly is. And it’s no fleeting fancy.

Patel was cageside at UFC 313 and spoke to White about the idea.

“After he said that, my phone blew up … everybody wants to be the trainers of the FBI guys now,” White said. “I’ve got everybody hitting me up. But he’s dead serious about that. I talked about it tonight, he’s dead serious. So we’ll see how that starts to come together.”

This is just the latest example of the UFC continuing to be intertwined with the current Trump administration. White was a vocal supporter of the president through his first term and one of the few high profile people who supported him between terms and during the rocky road to his second electoral win. That earned him a speaker’s spot during Trump’s victory speech, which he used to thank his cadre of podcasting buddies for making everything possible.

In the first UFC pay-per-view following Trump’s win, the president-elect and half the power players in his incoming administration showed up cageside to celebrate. And now Trump’s FBI director Kash Patel is looking to integrate the organization into the training regiment for agents.

The promotion has certainly come a long way from events held in Dotham, Alabama that couldn’t even be bought alongside pornos on cable pay-per-view.




This story originally appeared on MMA Mania

‘new age porch pirate’ ring and MacBook fraud

AppleInsider
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‘new age porch pirate’ ring and MacBook fraud


Ginza Apple Store in Tokyo

Federal prosecutors charged more than a dozen people for their alleged roles in a sophisticated theft ring, while an executive in Japan was arrested over MacBook-related fraud in this week’s Apple Crime Blotter.

The latest in an occasional AppleInsider feature, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.

13 people charged in federal “new age porch pirate” case

At the end of February, federal prosecutors in New Jersey filed charges against 13 people, who they alleged operated “an international network that stole thousands of shipments of iPhones and other electronic devices around the United States.”

The defendants, one of whom lives in the Dominican Republic while the rest live in New York and New Jersey, are accused of acting as “new age” porch pirates.

Prosecutors say they stole FedEx shipments containing iPhones, iPads, and Samsung devices while also bribing employees of a certain cell phone carrier to obtain “orders, names, tracking numbers, and delivery addresses.” Some of the defendants operated a “fence” operation out of a residence in the Bronx, prosecutors said.

All thirteen defendants were charged with conspiracy to transport and receive stolen property. Two were charged with wire fraud conspiracy, and two were charged with the transportation of stolen property.

Four arrested in $500,000 Florida UPS theft ring

Four suspects have now been arrested in what police are calling a theft ring, involving the stealing of UPS packages containing iPhones and Macs in South Florida. According to CBS 12, the ring was caught when T-Mobile realized they had lost more than $500,000 at two specific stores.

They then put GPS tracking devices on packages, which led them to California.

Three of those arrested so far, per the report, are UPS employees, with one of them a supervisor, and one of the accused conspirators ran a recording studio that was used as a front for the ring.

Chinese executive in Japan arrested for MacBook discount scheme

A 35-year-old Chinese man who works in Tokyo as the head of a computer retailer has been charged with executing a scheme, in which students from China studying in Japan bought MacBooks at the Apple Store with their student discounts and then sold them abroad.

The Japan Times reports the Metropolitan Police Department arrested the man, initially charging him with having the students buy 18 MacBooks from two Tokyo Apple Stores, although they claim he ultimately obtained around 700 computers. They also say the scheme involved the company’s credit cards and that a go-between was a woman “affiliated with a crime syndicate known as the Chinese Dragon.”

The man denies the claims.

Stolen debit card used at Ohio Apple Store

Police in Akron, Ohio, are looking for two suspects who they say used a stolen debit card at the Summit Mall Apple Store on February 12.

According to Cleveland 19, the two spent $860 at the store, and then another $600 at a second location. The police released a photo of the two suspects on Facebook:

Man claiming “Spark Order” stole Apple Watches, AirPod Pros from Walmart

Police in Nebraska are looking for a man who they say took two series 10 Apple Watches and two Apple AirPod Pros from a Walmart and lied to store employees that he was picking up an order from the delivery service Spark.

According to KLIN, police suspect the man is part of a group that has been targeting Walmart stores throughout different parts of Nebraska.

Search of son’s Apple Watch helps man uncover possible conspiracy to arrest him

A man in Florida is suing a local police department, claiming that a police officer was having an affair with his former girlfriend, and the two conspired to have the man arrested. He claims he uncovered the conspiracy after discovering “racy texts” on his son’s Apple Watch, which formerly belonged to the ex-girlfriend.

Law and Crime explains that the lawsuit by Julio A. Trejo, filed in Miami-Dade County, claims the ex-girlfriend and policeman texted about having Trejo arrested. The idea was for him to miss a permanent injunction hearing and therefore risk losing custody of his children.

Man sought for stealing iPad from New Jersey service area

New Jersey State Police are looking for a man who they say stole an iPad from a service area on the Garden State Parkway in mid-February.

According to Patch, police say the man took the iPad from the counter of the service area’s gas station and then headed south on the Parkway.

The police released photos of both the man and his car.

Man charged after child sex abuse material found on iPad

A 42-year-old Idaho man has been charged with several crimes, including video voyeurism, possessing child pornography, and domestic battery, after the offending images were discovered on an iPad.

MagicValley.com reports the discovery of the images led to an argument that resulted in the alleged domestic abuse.

Man who stole iPhone from mosque in Singapore gets more than two years

A man in Singapore was arrested for stealing an iPhone and two bags from a mosque while the owners of the items were praying. When the owner of the iPhone confronted him, the man asked for $300.

Since the man was “on remission order for previous drug offences” and had failed to remain indoors at a halfway house, he received a jail sentence.

According to Straits Times, the man was sentenced to two years, 10 months, and 130 days after pleading guilty to three charges.



This story originally appeared on Appleinsider

Everything About Sandler’s Sequel to 1996 Comedy – Hollywood Life

Hollywood Life
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Everything About Sandler’s Sequel to 1996 Comedy – Hollywood Life


Image Credit: Netflix

The 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore is back for another round.

Adam Sandler, who starred in and co-wrote the original, has reunited with friends and co-stars reprising beloved roles, alongside new faces like Travis Kelce and Bad Bunny. Kyle Newacheck will direct, while the original director, Dennis Dugan, will serve as one of the executive producers alongside Jack Giarraputo, Robert Simonds, Judit Maull, Kevin Grady, David Bausch, and Barry Bernardi.

Here’s everything we know about the long-awaited sequel, slated to release on Netflix.

Who Is Confirmed to Be in the Cast of Happy Gilmore 2?

The golf comedy will be a reunion for Sandler and his co-stars Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald, who are set to reprise their roles. Bowen returns as Virginia Venit, a PGA Tour publicist-turned-romantic interest for Happy, while McDonald will again portray the cocky pro golfer Shooter McGavin, who tries to thwart Happy’s meteoric rise out of jealousy.

“Shooter McGavin and Virginia Venit, please report to the green,” Netflix shared in a post on X. “Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald will return in Happy Gilmore 2!”

In an April 2024 appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Sandler expressed interest in bringing comedian Drew Carey into the movie after Bob Barker, Carey’s Price is Right predecessor, appeared in the original. Patrick also confirmed on the show that he will be in the movie.

“When we were writing stuff, Bob (Barker) was alive,” Sandler said. “When we were writing stuff, Carl Weathers was alive. When we were writing stuff, Joe Flaherty was alive. It sucks. We love those guys. They’re such a big part of the movie and just great people. But we’re going to get them involved. Somehow, they’ll be involved.”

Barker died in 2023, and Weathers and Flaherty passed away this year.

Bad Bunny, who ventured into Hollywood with roles in films like Bullet Train (2022) and Cassandro (2023), is confirmed for an unspecified role in Happy Gilmore 2. “Benito 🤝 Sandler,” read the X post, using Bad Bunny’s real name, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. “Benito Martínez Ocasio will star in Happy Gilmore 2!”

In an August 2024 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Sandler teased a cameo by Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who is set to appear in the upcoming Ryan Murphy series Grotesquerie on FX and will host the new spinoff Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, premiering in October. “Travis mentioned it, so we have a nice something for Travis,” Sandler told Fallon. “He’s gonna come by. He’s a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life.”

In the same month, Sandler confirmed to Indiewire that Benny Safdie would “have a juicy part” as well.

Some professional golfers have joined the roster, too, including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, and Will Zalatoris.

Where Did Happy Gilmore Leave Off?

The original sports comedy film follows Happy Gilmore, a hot-tempered, unsuccessful ice hockey player who discovers a unique talent for golf—specifically, a powerful and unorthodox swing.

When his grandmother risks losing her home due to unpaid taxes, Happy enters a golf tournament to earn money. Despite his lack of experience and knowledge of golf etiquette, he quickly draws attention for his raw talent. He teams up with former pro Chubbs Peterson, who helps him refine his skills.

Happy becomes a sensation on the PGA Tour with his unconventional style and crowd-pleasing antics, but clashes with snobbish pro Shooter McGavin, who sees him as a threat. In a climactic showdown, Happy triumphs at the Tour Championship, winning back his grandmother’s house and receiving a vision of his late mentor, Chubbs.

What Is Happy Gilmore 2 About?

Netflix has yet to release plot details for the sequel, but Sandler and a castmate have shared a few hints. In August 2024, Sandler confirmed that the film is about “an older guy who played golf a long time ago.” He also mentioned that his character appears in flashbacks to the 1950s, though he couldn’t reveal more.

While appearing on Today with Hoda & Jenna on Sept. 12, 2024, Bowen talked about her return as Virginia and confirmed that she and Happy “are very much together.”

Sandler and Tim Herlihy, his co-writer from the original film, have been working on the script since February 2024, according to a post on X.

When Will Happy Gilmore 2 Be Released?

The film was initially said to premiere on Netflix sometime in 2025, but according to Deadline, which reported on February 13, the specific release date is July 25.

On September 9, 2024, Sandler teased that production on the comedy is underway by sharing a photo on Instagram of the iconic hockey jersey. “It ain’t over. The way I see it… we’ve only just begun,” he wrote in the caption.




This story originally appeared on Hollywoodlife

The beautiful UK town now living in the shadow of a failed tourist attraction | Travel News | Travel

Express.co.uk
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The beautiful UK town now living in the shadow of a failed tourist attraction | Travel News | Travel


Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, during a visit to the market town of Narberth (Image: Getty)

Narberth, a charming small town with a population of just over 3,000, is bustling with activity as locals and visitors alike explore its high street, independent shops, cafes, butchers, bakeries, and other delightful offerings. The town’s compact size and close-knit community are part of its charm – you’re never more than two minutes away from anywhere, and everyone knows everyone.

However, this corner of Pembrokeshire relies heavily on one thing: tourism. Despite having a population of around 125,000 – roughly half that of Swansea – the county attracts millions of visitors each year.

According to a report by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, there were 6.6 million visits in 2022 alone. However, the recent announcement that Oakwood – Wales’ largest theme park located just five miles from Narberth – would not reopen for the 2025 season has sent shockwaves through the community.

The park’s owners, Aspro Parks, admitted that it was no longer financially viable to operate and maintain the once-popular family attraction, reports Wales Online.

Since its opening in 1987, Oakwood was a major attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually during its heyday. People flocked from all corners of Pembrokeshire, Wales and the UK to experience the park

Read more Gorgeous French town where you can save £500 on a holiday

The shop's owner Mark Richards can remember when Oakwood first opened back in the 1980s

Shop owner Mark Richards can remember when Oakwood first opened back in the 1980s (Image: John Myers)

While there’s been a general agreement that Oakwood’s golden era has passed, the closure of one of Pembrokeshire’s most iconic landmarks has undoubtedly left a sense of melancholy. Oakwood held significant importance in this region, and it would be rare to find someone in Wales who hadn’t visited.

Mark Richards, co-owner of Useful and Beautiful Things, an antique shop in central Narberth, and a local born and raised in Pembrokeshire, reminisced about Oakwood’s inauguration. He expressed his sorrow, saying: “It’s sad. I know a lot of people who have worked there and the employment side of it is really the loss.”

Despite the closure, Mr Richards remains hopeful that businesses like his won’t be affected as Narberth attracts visitors for various reasons. He said: “We are so lucky in Pembrokeshire to have so much – things like Folly Farm and Heatherton (World of Activities) – and what I found was that people tended to go to Oakwood and spend the day there rather than come into Narberth. Bluestone [Resort] is different. If that closed it would be a huge blow because people stay there and then travel here, which is the nearest town, and it’s thriving.”

Useful & Beautiful Things, an antique shop in the centre of Narberth

Useful & Beautiful Things, an antique shop in the centre of Narberth (Image: John Myers)

What’s the magic behind Narberth’s charm?

“I don’t know what makes it so great,” said Mr Richards, reflecting on the loyalty of customers who frequented his shop years ago and continue to return. “People want to come back to Narberth. It’s full of small independent shops and people like wandering around.”

An aerial picture of Oakwood shows rollercoasters and other rides

Oakwood featured rollercoasters and other rides but had been going downhill for a number of years (Image: Getty)

Fire & Ice in Narberth

Fire & Ice in Narberth (Image: John Myers)

However, Narberth wasn’t always the trendy hotspot it is today. Nowadays, strolling through its streets gives you the sense of being in a fashionable, lively, and contemporary town, resilient against the challenges that plague high streets nationwide in an era dominated by online shopping.

“Back in the ’70s and ’80s it was quite a rundown market town,” Mr Richards recalled. “It had a lot of pubs and it was a rough old place. A gallery opened in the high street (The Golden Sheaf Gallery, open since 1992) and that seemed to start the ball rolling. It’s all changed for the better now.”

Just across the way, near the town’s clock tower, lies Fire and Ice, a craft bottle shop that never fails to impress with its extensive selection of artisan ciders, spirits, and craft ales. And let’s not forget the ice cream – so scrumptious that in 2023, the Guardian named the shop one of their ’10 great places to eat ice-cream in the UK’.

The clock tower at Narberth Town Hall

The clock tower at Narberth Town Hall (Image: John Myers)

Owner Ivan Wilson has just returned from holiday to the shocking news of Oakwood’s closure. Having worked at the theme park over 20 years ago, capturing thrill-seekers’ experiences on the iconic Vertigo ride, his primary concern is for the employees who will be left jobless, particularly young people and students who rely on summer work to pay off student debts.

“People are going to be without jobs this summer,” he expressed. “The park employed a lot of young people and students and if you have student debts you need that summer work. I don’t know what impact it will have on Narberth itself. A lot of Oakwood’s visitors were on day trips so I don’t think we will miss out from a trade point of view in town.”

Although he believes Narberth’s trade won’t be significantly impacted, as many Oakwood visitors were day-trippers, Wilson is worried about the broader implications for Pembrokeshire’s tourism industry.

“Have the dynamics changed?” he pondered. “What has Pembrokeshire got apart from tourism?” Wilson also discussed the complexities surrounding council tax rates on second homes, currently set at a 200% premium, which will decrease to 150% from April.

He noted that this has driven away people who previously spent money in the area, affecting local economies. Furthermore, Wilson expressed concerns about the potential introduction of a tourism tax in the coming years and its impact on towns like Narberth.

“It’s hard work running an independent shop in Narberth at the moment with all the increases we are having to deal with,” said Mr Wilson. “It’s just the two of us here [at Fire and Ice] so we are lucky that we don’t have to employ anyone else. I would have concerns if I worked in hospitality.”

Kevin Hart, who runs The Snooty Fox, a pub, restaurant, camp site and events venue next door to Oakwood Theme Park

Kevin Hart, who runs The Snooty Fox, a pub, restaurant, camp site and events venue next door to Oakwood Theme Park (Image: Media Wales)

Just a stone’s throw from Oakwood, Kevin Hart, who operates The Snooty Fox — a pub, restaurant, campsite, and events venue — does work in hospitality. From his car park, one can spot some of the rides and, usually, the rushing carriages of Megafobia would be audible in the upcoming months.

“It’s been going downhill for a while,” Mr Hart commented. “Our camping guests, who would stroll over to Oakwood, often reported many closed rides. People say it’s declined over the years, but I believe [the closure] will impact us.

“Thankfully we get a lot of trade from Bluestone because people stay there for a few days and like to go out and about and explore the area so we get a lot of them coming here for food. It would be nice if Bluestone could buy [Oakwood] and do something with it. If it had been kept up it could have been brilliant so we are still hopeful that someone could take it over and bring it back to what it once was. It’s dwindled off in the last few years so the closure is not a surprise but there are a lot of other facilities [in this area] and there’s still a lot of things to draw people.”

Victoria James, owner of clothing boutique Rock n Rolla

Victoria James, owner of clothing boutique Rock n Rolla (Image: John Myers)

In the quaint town of Narberth, Victoria James, proprietor of the chic Rock n Rolla retro clothing boutique, acknowledges that the loss of a significant tourist draw like Oakwood Theme Park is indeed a “major blow”. Yet, she remains optimistic about the town’s resilience, believing it won’t suffer from the closure.

She explains: “Narberth draws people because it’s a bustling, vibrant market town with a lot of independent shops – that’s what makes it unique. Narberth is quite busy now but it gets busier at the start of the holiday letting season. I think Oakwood was a destination in itself so I don’t think it will have a big effect on the town.”

The Wales Tourism Allowance has voiced concerns, labelling the situation as “just the tip of the iceberg for Welsh tourism”. While the full repercussions of Oakwood’s shutdown are yet to be determined and may require several summer seasons to fully grasp, the community of Narberth remains hopeful.

They believe their charming town and picturesque county possess ample allure to withstand this latest challenge.



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

Dentist reveals 2 common mistakes people make that turn teeth yellow

Express.co.uk
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Dentist reveals 2 common mistakes people make that turn teeth yellow


With so many different brands of toothpaste promising maximum whiteness, a dentist has revealed the common mistakes when it comes to oral health and the prevention of losing your teeth’s natural whiteness. A hollywood smile is what many dream of and it does not always have to come at a hefty cost if you have the proper information and understanding of how to look after your pearly whites.

There is nothing more discouraging than yellow discoloured teeth, as your smile is the first thing most people notice about you, and it does not mean you are doing anything wrong – there are just a few tweaks you can make in your routine to notice the difference. With 20 years of experience in the field, dentist Dr Ferakh Hamid has urged people to take care of their teeth by doing a few things different in the morning and the evening. There is so many quick fixes and easier options of going to the dentist to get your teeth proffesionally cleaned and whitened for hundreds of pounds, but tackling the issue without harsh chemicals might be the more finanicially cost effective and easiest thing you can try to do first.

The expert suggests that you may not be preparing your toothbrush correctly in order to brush properly, and whilst you may think there is only one way to put toothpaste on a brush, you’re probably wrong.

Dr Hamid warned that if you brush your teeth too soon after consuming acidic foods or drinks, it can be one of the main causes of yellow stained teeth.

The dentist also mentioned that wetting your toothbrush whilst there is paste on it is the key difference in keeping your teeth white rather than dry brushing.

If you’re brushing right after eating acidic food, the enamel may be too weak to handle brushing, and there is a risk that you’re just moving the acid around your mouth instead of cleaning it.

The dentist says the way to avoid this is to soften the bristles. This also keeps teeth white and shiny.

He adds: “When you wet the bristles, they soften up. This means when you brush, it’s gentler on your gums and teeth, helping to avoid any irritation or damage.”

On top of wetting your toothbrush, you should also make sure to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, and not skimp out on the time.

Then, make sure to clean your tongue once a day and visit your dentist at regular intervals to keep on top of your oral health.

Dr Hamid said: “Keeping up with these steps will help prevent dental problems and keep your mouth feeling great.”



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

Why Gene Hackman’s Final Film Bombed at the Box Office

MovieWeb
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Why Gene Hackman’s Final Film Bombed at the Box Office


The entertainment community recently lost an icon when the legendary Gene Hackman died at the age of 95. While there are still some unknowns surrounding his death, no one is disputing his status as a Hollywood legend. The French Connection, Superman, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven, Hoosiers, The Firm, and The Royal Tenenbaums are just a few of his acclaimed works. But there’s one title that’s far less well-known, and it was Hackman’s final film prior to retirement.

Hackman’s last onscreen appearance was in 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport. He played a former President of the United States who retired to a small town in Maine and befriended a local handyman, played by Ray Romano. Welcome to Mooseport was a critical and commercial failure, and it did not deserve to be Hackman’s last outing. But was its underperformance the reason for his retirement? Or were there other factors that led to him leaving the spotlight? Whatever the case, Gene Hackman was Hollywood royalty. He deserved a better film to cap his successful five-decade career. Let’s look at what we know about Welcome to Mooseport, why it failed, and how it shaped the remainder of Hackman’s life.

‘Welcome to Mooseport’s Plot and Underperformance

So what happens in this movie? Some spoilers for the 20-year-old dud to follow. Hackman plays Monroe “Eagle” Cole, a retired former President. After leaving office, Cole moves to his vacation home in the town of Mooseport, Maine, to get away from his ex-wife, Charlotte (Christine Baranski). When Mooseport’s mayor dies, Cole expresses an interest in running for the position. That way, his home can serve as his official office and cannot be sold or taken by his ex-wife. Cole’s opponent in the race is local hardware store owner Harold “Handy” Harrison (Ray Romano), who enters to win back his estranged girlfriend Sally (Maura Tierney).

Related


New Details of Gene Hackman’s Death Reveal a Sad Truth About the Actor’s Passing

As more details emerge about the passing of Gene Hackman and his wife, a sad picture has been created about his final days.

Cole brings his established Washington insiders to assist his Mooseport campaign, while Handy refuses to resort to cheating or dirty politics. Cole realizes he is running against a truly honest person for the first time, and both men end up encouraging the voters to cast their ballots for the other. Handy and Cole each learn something about themselves, the politics of winning, and what’s truly important in life.

In addition to Romano, Hackman, Baranski, and Tierney, the film also starred Fred Savage, Rip Torn, June Squibb, and Edward Herrmann, among others. But how did it all go so wrong? Welcome to Mooseport grossed just $14.6 million after its initial 12-week theatrical run. That was less than half of its $30 million budget. The critics weren’t too kind either, as it sits at an unimpressive 13% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Reviewers highlighted the toothless political satire, bland comedy, and dull writing. Hackman’s performance was praised by some, noting that he did what he could with the weak script. But it wasn’t up to par with his past filmography. Romano, who was primarily known for his sitcom work at that time, couldn’t match Hackman’s power as a co-leading man. Though the most shocking review easily came from Roger Ebert himself, who actually awarded three out of four stars. He noted that the story worked due to the inherent charm of Romano and Hackman.

Hackman’s Retirement After ‘Welcome to Mooseport’

President Monroe Cole wound up being Gene Hackman’s last role before retirement. So, did Welcome to Mooseport‘s failure kill Hackman’s entire career? No, not directly. Shortly after its release, Hackman gave an interview where he outlined that he had no upcoming projects lined up and was effectively retired. He would later explain that he officially retired for health reasons, citing the stress that acting placed on him.

Despite this, he didn’t leave the industry entirely. Hackman narrated four episodes of the NFL series America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions in 2007. The next year, he made his last onscreen appearance as a restaurant patron on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Hackman briefly paused retirement to narrate the Marine Corps documentaries The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, the Marines (2017). He permanently ended his career after that, only making sporadic public appearances until his 2025 death.

Gene Hackman in The Conversation

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Gene Hackman Remembered by Hollywood as Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, and More Reflect on a “Giant Among Actors”

Bill Murray recalled working on ‘The Royal Tenenbaums,’ while Dustin Hoffman likened the Hollywood star to Marlon Brando.

There’s no doubt that Gene Hackman was a staple of Hollywood for decades. Did he deserve a more well-received swan song? Yes, but Welcome to Mooseport didn’t take away from the career he had. His decision to step away also represented something rare in the industry: an actor prioritizing their own well-being above all else. So many famous faces work themselves into the ground, so it’s refreshing to see an A-lister recognize when it’s time to step away.

Hackman managed to live to 95, an impressive run for anyone. But now that he’s gone, maybe some Hackman fans want to take another look at his final big-screen escapade. Has Welcome to Mooseport gotten better with age? Maybe, but it’s practically impossible for any satire to out-crazy the current political climate. Welcome to Mooseport is streaming on Prime Video.



This story originally appeared on Movieweb

It’s Hard Not To See Those Things On The Internet

ScreenRant
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It’s Hard Not To See Those Things On The Internet


The Last of Us season 2 is likely to be controversial, and its new star is preparing for the chaos. While season 1 focused largely on Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal), The Last of Us season 2 will introduce Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby. The new episodes will be an adaptation of The Last of Us Part II, which was a critically renowned but deeply divisive video game. The sophomore season will return on April 13, and it is expected to be as controversial as the game was.

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley at SXBW, Dever opened up about her response to the upcoming backlash. Despite knowing about the controversies surrounding her character, Dever is more interested in maintaining the right mindset. She is focusing on collaborating with her colleagues, rather than on the viewers preparing to lash out at her character. Check out her quote below:

ScreenRant: Do you pay attention at all to how people anticipate a character portrayal like Abby’s, or do you just go in and do your own thing?

Kaitlyn Dever: Well, it’s hard not to see those things on the internet. It’s hard not to stop myself from looking at it every once in a while, especially going into this, for sure. And I want to do this character justice and make the fans proud by bringing her to life in this kind of way.

But my main focus was just the collaboration between Neil and Craig, and making sure I was really getting to the core of who she is and what drives her and her emotional state; her anger and her frustration and her grief and all of that. I wanted to make sure that that was what I was focusing most of my energy on.

What Dever’s Awareness Means For The Last Of Us

Abby Will Not Be Exactly The Same

Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby is a deeply divisive character and has been since she was first introduced. She was largely introduced in the game The Last of Us Part II, which was released on June 19, 2020. After pitting herself against Joel, she quickly earned the ire of many players. She serves as Ellie’s primary antagonist and spends much of the game unaware that Ellie is secretly tracking her every move. As her Seattle-based quarantine zone falls apart, Abby’s life will be further complicated by the fact that many viewers will outright hate her.

Her original actor, Laura Bailey, reportedly received death threats after the game was released.

There is, of course, the potential that Abby’s story will be changed. In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley, showrunner Craig Mazin promised that the story would have a few key revisions. After being questioned about how much audiences already know the story, Crowley emphasized that “They think they do“. One major change that already exists is that Dever is not nearly as muscular as the game’s depiction of Abby was. Abby’s frame was controversial, so that change could be an indicator that the show is looking to change the audience’s expectations and limit the negative responses.

Our Take On Abby’s Controversies

It Is Better If Dever Is Prepared

Even with the changes, it is likely that much of The Last of Us season 2’s backlash will strike Dever directly. It is unfair, but it is the harsh reality of life as a public figure. Her original actor, Laura Bailey, reportedly received death threats after the game was released. Dever being prepared for that possibility is certainly good news. No one deserves attacks for simply accepting a role, but it is the reality of life in the age of modern entertainment. The industry can work to contain that backlash, but Dever needs to prepare herself in the meantime.



The Last of Us Season 2 Official Poster


The Last Of Us

8/10

Release Date

January 15, 2023

Network

HBO Max

Showrunner

Craig Mazin






This story originally appeared on Screenrant

Lady Gaga slays on ‘SNL’ with musical sketches, ‘Mayhem’ performances

LATimes
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Lady Gaga slays on ‘SNL’ with musical sketches, ‘Mayhem’ performances


The best “Saturday Night Live” episodes tend to bend to the sensibilities of the host, and sometimes the musical guest, drawing from their talents as fuel for the big sketch-comedy machine. It can be even more seamless when the host is also the music act, as Lady Gaga demonstrated in her first guest hosting appearance since 2013.

What kept her away for so long? Gaga is a natural on the show, and in this outing, she was able to use her tremendous singing voice and dance moves in multiple sketches, be funny enough to blend in with the rest of cast, and vow not to appear in another “Joker” movie.

She performed two high-energy musical numbers from her new album “Mayhem,” “Abracadabra” and “Killah.” For “Abracadabra,” she wore a bright red bodysuit with a flappy skull attachment and ended up atop a stack of prone bodies. I will not be convinced it wasn’t a low-key homage to the movie “Conclave.”

Gaga sang with Bowen Yang in two sketches, one featuring a couple in a restaurant singing an updated version of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” and another about why slang like “slay” and “bop” should no longer be appropriated. She also sang an ode to a weight-lifting mouse named Pip. In one sketch, she tried to sell the concept of a Roarin’ ‘20s funeral with Heidi Gardner, and in a pair of commercial parodies, little red glasses for women of a certain age and L’Oreal Easy Run mascara that made crying clearly visible. She also was part of a Satanic ritual at a Friendly’s restaurant triggered by a customer lying about their birthday.

Sometimes “SNL” doesn’t use all the talent it can from a very talented host, but this time, with Gaga, the results were impressive throughout.

This week’s cold open focused on the reported yelling match between Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Marcello Hernández) and so-called Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk (Mike Myers, returning) during a White House meeting. President Trump (James Austin Johnson) tries to smooth things over between Rubio, whom he calls “my good little Marco” before Anglicizing his name to “Mark Ruby.” Each of the characters retreats into internal monologues, with Rubio hearing the episode-ending music from “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Trump realizing he doesn’t have to say everything out loud and Musk making a Dr. Evil pinky gesture while wondering if taking a government job was a bad idea. “America’s doing ‘bad guy’ now,” Trump implored. Surprisingly, the sketch didn’t feature an actual shouting match between Rubio and Musk, and the Myers impression of Elon already feels like it’s overstaying its welcome in only its second appearance.

Lady Gaga’s monologue began with some jokes about the age of female pop stars (she’s 38, but joked that artists like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX are much older). Gaga touted her acting skills, and owned winning a Razzie Award for worst onscreen duo (“Joke’s on them… I love winning things!” she said); she also mentioned that the man she’s engaged to was set up by her mother. She concluded, “I promise to act. And to sing. And to not do ‘Joker 3!’ “

Best sketch of the night: Why isn’t rideable luggage in more rom-coms?

There are a lot of reasons why this sketch could have gone off the rails for technical or live TV reasons: for one, it features a real puppy. It has a lot of green-screen effects of people riding luggage on a highway. It even features a sequence with Lady Gaga and Hernández, who play young lovers, riding luggage backstage and through the audience. But somehow the weird sketch about a woman moving to France for culinary school and getting to the airport on rideable luggage manages to be absurd — it includes a biker gang, the Sons of Samsonite — and sweet at the same time. It’s an unexpected delight.

Also good: Never underestimate Pip the vengeful mouse

A lot of pre-filmed sketches billed as “A Dan Bulla Short” end in sequences of shocking, cartoonish violence, and this one is no exception. But before it gets there, it tells the story of a bullied tiny mouse named Pip who goes to high school and is laughed at for wanting to compete in a weightlifting competition. Lady Gaga, as a sympathetic classmate, sings a very good song as Pip trains by using a hot dog wiener as a heavy bag and bench presses blocks of cheese. “Give a mouse a cookie and he’ll get lazy,” she sings, “give a mouse a challenge, he’ll work like crazy.” It turns out Pip can’t lift a lot of weight, but he can get revenge on someone who bullied him.

‘Weekend Update’ winner: Oh Lord, it’s Lady Gaga’s (fake) husband

Kenan Thompson portrayed outspoken former NBA star and current ESPN commentator Kendrick Perkins, but it was Mikey Day as “Lord Gaga,” the fictional husband of the host, who ruled “Update” this week. Making puns based on Lady Gaga songs and tropes (“She married a Lord. I was simply born this way”), Lord Gaga minimized his wife’s achievements and income before making implications about Colin Jost’s very famous wife, Scarlett Johansson. “Can you imagine a man whose wife makes more money than he?” Lord Gaga cried, “What a living nightmare!”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

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