All posts tagged: Realistic

Idris Elba says his playing James Bond isn’t ‘realistic’ — some audiences wouldn’t accept a ‘Black male’ in the role

Idris Elba says his playing James Bond isn’t ‘realistic’ — some audiences wouldn’t accept a ‘Black male’ in the role

Published by Sam Flores

Idris Elba has been at the center of speculation about playing James Bond since Daniel Craig stepped out of the role in 2021. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. But in an interview with British GQ published Monday, Elba himself dismissed the talk as unrealistic, saying certain audiences would never accept a Black man in the iconic role of the British superspy. “It was never legit. It was always just a rumor,” said Elba, the star of “The Wire” and “Luther.” “I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing.” “James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. But I was complimented by it,” Elba said. “And also, I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world,” he said. “And won’t go for a Black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.” According to British GQ, the rumor began after the election in 2008, when …

How to actually reduce your screen time: 12 simple, realistic tips to stop doomscrolling | Technology

How to actually reduce your screen time: 12 simple, realistic tips to stop doomscrolling | Technology

Published by Sam Flores

Everywhere you look, people are glued to their smartphones. If you haven’t noticed this phenomenon, it’s likely because you, too, are glued to the little dopamine-deliverer. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. In March, Meta and YouTube had to pay a combined $6m after a US court found that the tech companies’ platforms were designed to be addictive. Put such tempting apps in a device that’s carried everywhere, and that’s a recipe for compulsive behaviour. “We’ve outsourced our brain to California – our emotions, our thinking,” says Prof Marcantonio Spada, emeritus professor of addictive behaviours and mental health at London South Bank University, and chief clinical officer at Onebright, a private therapy platform. “I started my career in academia researching alcohol and nicotine, and then I came to realise 15 years ago that we would end up having a bigger problem with technology,” he says. Phone addiction doesn’t yet have the social stigma of alcoholism, nor the obvious physical side effects, but …

Zelenskiy’s Top Aide Says Peace Deal by Winter Is ‘Realistic’

Zelenskiy’s Top Aide Says Peace Deal by Winter Is ‘Realistic’

Published by Sam Flores

KYIV, June 1 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President ⁠Volodymyr ⁠Zelenskiy’s chief of ⁠staff, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Monday he ​believed agreeing a deal to end the war against Russia ‌by winter was a “realistic” ‌outcome. Zelenskiy said in an interview aired on ⁠Sunday ⁠that he wanted to press on with talks on ​securing peace with Russia, which have stalled in recent months, before the onset of winter to take account of Kyiv’s ​improved strategic position. Talks brokered by the United States ⁠on moving ⁠toward a peace accord ⁠have ​ground to a halt as Washington has focused on ​the conflict in ⁠Iran. Budanov said he expected a U.S. delegation to visit Moscow and Kyiv in the near future, without giving details. “This is the president’s instruction: to try ⁠to end this war as soon as possible … preferably before ⁠winter,” he told reporters at a press conference. “In my opinion, this is absolutely correct, timely, and realistic.” Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian officials have said the advance of Russian forces has slowed on the ground while Ukraine has …

6 Realistic Ways To Trust Men Again After Your Heart Has Been Completely Shattered | Elizabeth Stone

6 Realistic Ways To Trust Men Again After Your Heart Has Been Completely Shattered | Elizabeth Stone

Published by Jenni Sidey

People do some terrible things to each other, but this doesn’t change the fact that you probably want someone to love. This is how I realized I had vastly underestimated men and not given them any respect at all. I never had a strong example of the trusting love I wanted. I only had a completely shattered heart. Yet, to get something, one must first realize it exists. If you don’t believe trustworthy men are out there and attainable, why would you continue to look for them? If I wanted to find love, I would have to completely remodel my perspective.  If you are harboring negative attitudes about what men want and who they are, this is likely causing you problems in creating a healthy relationship with someone who deeply loves you. So, it helps to drop the story that you are somehow sleeping with the enemy and begin appreciating men. Here are some realistic ways to trust a man again after your heart has been broken: 1. Set aside your ideas of how you …

How ‘Forza Horizon 6’ Created the Most Realistic Open-World Japan in Gaming History

How ‘Forza Horizon 6’ Created the Most Realistic Open-World Japan in Gaming History

Published by Jenni Sidey

In the opening moments of Forza Horizon 6—the latest entry in Microsoft’s wildly popular open-world racing video game—the player’s guide, Mei, makes a promise: “Hey. I know you won’t hear this until you land… but you are going to love it here.” Playground Games—the team behind the Forza franchise—had the authority to make this claim. Previous games in the Forza Horizon series took players to locations such as Mexico, Australia, and the French and Italian Rivieras, earning the series a reliable fanbase among gamers who wanted to drive the world’s most impressive cars around the world’s most tantalizing sandboxes. But when polled, fans had repeatedly requested—if not begged—that Forza Horizon take them to Japan. The developers of the Forza Horizon franchise weren’t surprised. It wasn’t just that Japan had a robust car culture, obvious not just from industry giants like Toyota and Honda but in the long-running manga series Initial D. It was that the country also offered the diverse array of locations—massive cities, blooming fields, snow-capped mountains—that would make it a delight to speed …

Plex has a brutally realistic crime drama you can binge for free, and it’s not in English

Plex has a brutally realistic crime drama you can binge for free, and it’s not in English

Published by skeptic

Detective shows are police procedurals are a dime a dozen, and many of them are extremely good. You may think that you’ve seen all there is to see when it comes to cops, robbers, and the sometimes blurry line between the two. But that’s when you have to broaden your horizons a little bit. There are crime dramas from around the world that rival anything Hollywood has ever put out, and one of the best is available to watch for the low price of zero dollars on the free streaming service Plex. Spiral is the best crime drama you’ve never heard of The dark side of the City of Light Spiral is a French series that ran for an impressive eight seasons on Canal+, from 2005 to 2021. Some of the main cast stuck around for the whole of that time, including Caroline Proust as Laure Berthaud, a Paris police officer and the head of a special investigation team; Thierry Godard as Gilles “Gilou” Escoffier, a loose canon who works under Berthaud; and Audrey Fleurot …

‘Faces of Death’ Depicts Realistic Snuff. That’s Not the Most Disturbing Thing About It

‘Faces of Death’ Depicts Realistic Snuff. That’s Not the Most Disturbing Thing About It

Published by skeptic

“If you’re going to bring Faces of Death into the modern era,” says director Daniel Goldhaber, “on some level, you have to contend with the fact that Faces of Death is everywhere.” In 1978, John Alan Schwartz’s low-budget, exploitation horror movie Faces of Death was unleashed upon the world. Less a movie than a feature-length clip reel, the film presents itself as a documentary in which a pathologist (played by an actor) shares his collection of snuff footage (mostly fake) with the audience. Despite the fakery involved in its most gruesome scenes, the film became an underground phenomenon on VHS, attracting legions of horror buffs eager to test their mettle with what they thought was footage of the real torture, violence, and murder. Nearly 50 years on, real snuff is everywhere, and Goldhaber and co-writer Isa Mazzei—the duo share a “film by” credit—have a new angle on the scuzzy classic. Their rebooted Faces of Death is a straight-ahead horror thriller starring Barbie Ferreira as Margot, a content moderator for a TikTok-like social video app who …

Start small, grow what you like and be realistic: how to start a vegetable garden | Well actually

Start small, grow what you like and be realistic: how to start a vegetable garden | Well actually

Published by Sam Flores

Maybe it’s because I’ve lived in cities my whole life, but I can’t think of anything more luxurious than popping out to your garden and eating a fresh tomato straight from the vine. How decadent to enjoy its crisp, bright flavor and the smug satisfaction that you coaxed this food into being with your own hands. But what does becoming a modern-day Demeter actually entail? What if you don’t have a yard, or even a balcony? And is it worth growing your own food when supermarkets exist? “A vegetable garden can be any size,” says Matt Mattus, senior director of horticulture at the American Horticultural Society. You don’t even need access to outside space, he says. Yes, it’s more effort than popping to the store, but there are huge benefits to growing your own veg, experts say. First, the taste and freshness. “There are no words that can describe the crunch and flavor of a fresh-from-the-garden carrot or potato,” says Mattus. There are also health benefits, says Carole Connare, editor of the Old Farmer’s Almanac …

“I’m in my 40s and my number one goal is to be really strong”—a trainer and mom of four shares her realistic weekly workout routine

“I’m in my 40s and my number one goal is to be really strong”—a trainer and mom of four shares her realistic weekly workout routine

Published by Jenni Sidey

Welcome to Workout Diaries, a series where we ask expert trainers to talk us through what a week of exercise looks like for them, helping you figure out how to develop and maintain an effective workout routine. Sara Haley is a trainer based in Santa Monica, CA, who works primarily with midlife women. As well as being a pre/post natal exercise specialist, she’s a busy mom of four. Over the years, Haley’s fitness priorities have evolved. “I’m in my 40s, and my number one goal is to be really strong,” she tells Fit&Well. Article continues below You may like Since becoming a parent, Haley says she has had to be realistic about how much movement she can really fit into her weeks and focus on what’s most important for her. “Sometimes, when you’re a parent, your life isn’t about you anymore, and so you’re trying to squeeze [workouts] in,” she says. With all her children in school, she’s been able to start training more. But she says it’s important to be realistic with where you’re …

Don’t stop at Duolingo, set realistic goals, balance skills: how to start learning a new language | Well actually

Don’t stop at Duolingo, set realistic goals, balance skills: how to start learning a new language | Well actually

Published by Sam Flores

If there’s one thing guaranteed to make a pop-culture character look cool and sophisticated, it’s being multilingual. Think James Bond, Yasmin from Industry or Scrooge McDuck. Learning a new language not only makes you look cool – it also allows you to familiarize yourself with another culture, connect with new people and enjoy a wider variety of art and media. And it’s good for your brain. Studies have shown that learning a new language is associated with improved concentration, stronger communication skills, a more powerful memory and greater creativity. But if you’re not an international man of mystery, an heiress or a billionaire duck, how does one go about it? While there are a number of ways to learn languages, there is one thing all polyglots – people who speak several languages – share, Dr Lydia Machova, a language mentor and former interpreter, said in a popular TED Talk: “We simply found ways to enjoy the language-learning process.” Below, experts share how you can start learning a new language. How do humans learn languages? To …