Month: September 2022

fans of Chicago Med ‘s Marlyne Barrett will recall emotional scenes theactress filmed in 2019 when her character, charge nurse Maggie Lockwood, wasbattling breast cancer. Yet what the star hasn’t revealed until now is thatshe has been quietly facing cancer herself, ever since doctors discovered afootball-sized tumor on her uterus and left ovary in July.

“I’m an extremely private person, but I felt a responsibility to tell mystory,” says Barrett, 44, who has 11-month-old twins Joshuah-Jireh andAhnne-N’Urya with her husband, pastor Gavin Barrett. “When my character wentthrough breast cancer, I had a sea of ​​people reach out to me through socialmedia. They brought me courage, and so I felt a sense of inevitability to meettheir hearts where they met me.”

Barrett, who is also known for her role on The Wire , says she also hopes toinspire others to share their own painful or uncomfortable truths. “We ashuman beings are so scared to face the mortality of life, or to even pronouncethe word cancer,” she says. “But we have so much more strength inside of usthan we think.”

Marlyne Barrett

George Burns Jr./NBC

Barrett’s arduous cancer journey began two months ago when, following a herniarepair in April, she started feeling off. “I had this accumulation of fluid[in my abdomen] that I couldn’t shake,” she says. “I looked like I was ninemonths pregnant. And I also had shortness of breath, but no pain, which wasinteresting.”

RELATED: Jane Fonda, 84, Diagnosed with ‘Very Treatable’ Cancer and IsUndergoing Chemo: ‘I Feel Very Lucky’

On July 18, doctors informed Barrett that she had a mass on her ovary anduterus; the actress was stunned by the news. “The initial experience was ashock, a shock to my womanhood,” says Barrett, who has no family history ofeither uterine or ovarian cancers. “I didn’t believe them, but when theyshowed me the CT scan, I went, ‘Oh my word.’ The first questions were, ‘Am Igoing to live?’ I just fell into my husband’s arms. It still takes my breathaway when I think about it.”

Story continues

Despite her fears, Barrett jumped into defense mode as doctors informed hershe’d need “aggressive” chemotherapy before an eventual hysterectomy. “Thebest way I could experience was to meet it,” she says. “There’s no runningfrom it because it’s my life. And eventually you just surrender because it’sso much bigger than anything you’ve ever faced. I found this courage and Ijust hunkered down and said, ‘I’m going to face this. ‘ “

When it came to the inevitability that she’d lose her hair, “I didn’t want togive the power to chemo,” says Barrett. “My hair has always been an essence ofbeauty. But I took my own razor and I shaved my head. I did it in front of mybabies so they’d see it was still Mommy. I wept, I wept, I wept. But it was abeautiful experience to do it in front of them.”

Throughout the journey, Barrett has also found endless comfort in Gavin, whomshe wed in 2009. “I’m married to the most incredible man,” she says. “I getpins and needles in my limbs from the chemo and he’ll drop everything to giveme food and hand massages. He’s dropped everything just to give me love.”

CHICAGO MED — “How Do You Begin to Count the Losses” Episode 801 — Pictured:(lr) Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood, Nick Gehlfuss as Will Halstead

George Burns Jr./NBC

Throughout her physical discomfort, Barrett has worked steadily, leaning onher Chicago Med cast and crew for extra support when needed. “I’ve hadpeople shave their heads on set to support me,” she says, fighting tears.

RELATED: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Star Kornbread Reveals Cancer Diagnosis:’Absolutely Curable’

In order to keep working, “I start an hour earlier to get my bearings before Istart my day,” says the actress, who also takes naps and occasional days offto keep up her energy.

In addition, “because of the mass, my mid-range is a different size, so thecostume department does an incredible job,” says Barrett. “Interestinglyenough, my character on the show already wears a wig!” And ultimately, “workbrings me a lot of joy right now,” she says. “It brings me a lot of reprieveto think about something other than, ‘When is my next chemo shift?’ and ‘Howam I going to hug my children?'”

Now, as she prepares for her third round of chemotherapy at City of Hope inLos Angeles, Barrett says she’s taking it “one day at a time.”

“I have a wave of emotion that comes,” she admits. “But it’s okay not to haveit all together. You can’t tangibly hold onto fear. But I’m holding ontofaith.”

Continues Barrett: “I find new strength to carry on every day because of [mychildren]. I want to see them get married one day. And I will.”

Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

ReviewIn our playlist we guide you through the current range of on-demandfilms, series, albums and podcasts. What must you (not) have seen or listenedto and why? Today the science fiction series Andoro.

Andoro

• • Star rating * Star rating * Star rating * Star rating * Star rating

Science Fiction (Disney+)

Every corner of the Star Wars universe is now so eagerly grazed by Disney+that it is waiting for a series in which one of the many droll robots gets alife story in serial form. The franchise from creator George Lucas will oneday go down in Hollywood history as the most exploited business model.Competitor Star Trek despite all the spin-offs is currently behind.

In the Star Wars deluge are now spotlighting characters who actually hadminor roles in the movies. The last example concerns Cassian Andor who isknown from the cinema film Rogue One Not really a hit from the movie series.

Once again, actor Diego Luna can take on the role of this rebel with whom – asthe fans know – things don’t end well in the film. The series with his lastname Andoro is thus a precursor to these events. Andor is followed in hisearly years as he breaks the law, steals parts from spaceships and doesn’teven shy away from murder when he is harassed by two law enforcement officers.

The first three episodes are a lead up to what Andor is really good at;espionage. Fans know that five years after this series he is in _Rogue One_becomes involved in the attack on the Death Star space station.

Text continues below the photo.

Andoro © Disney+

But before that happens, Andor is hunted by wild animals who keep themselvesalive with shady practices. The viewer learns about his background and hisorigins from an unknown planet where he was part of an Inca-like communitythat is accidentally pulled out of isolation by a crashing spaceship.

Andor is a slightly deviant hero in the Star Wars -chronology. He is goodand not. Diego Luna had a more rewarding assignment in that regard than EwanMcGregor, among others, who recently appeared in the series _Obi-Wan Kenobi_despite a promising start had significantly less exciting material at itsdisposal.

Oh yeah, Andor also has an inevitable sidekick in the form of a robot thatlooks like a red rotary vacuum cleaner. The character goes by the name B2EMO.As the Star Wars exploiters are ever in need of a spin-off idea, this couldbe an option. Or not.

Our apologies

Unfortunately, we cannot show this social post, live blog or otherwise becauseit contains one or more social media elements. Accept the social media cookiesto still show this content.

Change cookie settings

Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!

Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.

Last February, images leaked out showing the rapper abusing his thengirlfriend Jaimie Vaes. The months after, Jorik, as Kleine is really called,decides to stay away from public events for a while. With his visit to thepremiere of Tino’s theater show, he seems to feel comfortable enough to minglewith the stars again. Those present let RTL Boulevard know that Jorik had agreat time. In addition to appearing good-humored and relaxed and greetingeveryone around him, the rapper is well received by the artists andcelebrities present. Photos and videos are circulating online showing Jorikbeing welcomed with a hug by celebrities such as Samantha Steenwijk and EdwinSmulders. Kleine also shares some of these in his Instagram Stories (see laterin the article).

Kleine, together with two friends, would have been in the vicinity of KrisKross Amsterdam and Rachel Hazes. The concert is also very popular, becauseaccording to the same insiders, he goes crazy like the rest of the audience,especially when Tino sings the song ‘Gabber’. He is also said to be dancinghappily with his friends at the afterparty.

These sources also report that the rapper tries to stay away from all thepress as much as possible. He does give one interview to a magazine. Thishappens off camera.

Although Kleine does not want to appear in front of the camera during thepremiere, he informs RTL Boulevard that he is doing well. He also says that hefinds it a pity how things are sometimes ‘taken out of context’ and that he’cannot say anything about it because everything gets twisted anyway’. He alsosays that he finds it difficult to keep seeing or hearing things about himselfon the juice channels. He can ‘almost no longer enter a club like Air’ orstories appear that he says he cannot defend himself against. His fathertherefore advises him that he better not go to such a club so that he nolonger has a problem.

He also returns to a video that appeared on the Instagram channel of his exJaimie Vaes earlier this week. It shows that son Lio is hugged and kissed byher new flame. Jorik says about this that he has not followed Jaimie for sometime, but that he does receive these kinds of videos from his environment. Andthat’s not very nice, he says, because he loves his son very much and this isdifficult to see.

Lil ‘s stories:

Tino Martin himself says he is happy with the arrival of his big littlefriend. “Great, isn’t it! It’s coming too. So in that respect, friends,colleagues, everything was here tonight. I don’t have to add that much,” saysthe singer. Show news. Earlier this year Tino called Jorik another ‘dick’ inQmusic morning program _Mattie & Marieke_This in response to the leaked imagesof the assault. Due to the incident, the rapper was also no longer welcomeduring Tino Martin’s concert series in the Ziggo Dome. The singer seems tohave forgiven his ‘gabber’ for his misstep.

Daniel Franzese

Amanda Edwards/Getty Daniel Franzese

Daniel Franzese says he “and the other big queer guys” are overlooked forroles — like the one played by Brendan Fraser in The Whale.

“I love Brendan Fraser, [so] I’m very conflicted,” the mean girls actor, 44,tells PEOPLE of Fraser’s role as a gay 600-lb. reclusive writing instructorwho is struggling to reconnect with his teenage daughter ( _Stranger Things_star Sadie Sink). “Seeing him get up so modest in Venice and have that moment,I was very happy for him. He’s a lovely man. And it’s great. But why? Why goup there and wear a fat suit to play a 400-lb. queer man?”

Franzese goes on to say that “actors like me and my colleagues” would “jumpat” the opportunity to star a movie like The Whale which has awards buzz forFraser’s acclaimed performance.

“To finally have a chance to be in a prestige film that might be award-nominated, where stories about people who look like us are being told? That’sthe dream,” Franzese continues. “So when they go time and time again and castsomeone like Brendan Fraser, me and the other big queer guys, we’re like,’What the…?’ We can’t take it!”

Reps for Fraser and the movie’s director, Darren Aronofsky, did notimmediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment Monday.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE ‘s free daily newsletter to stayup-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity newsto compelling human-interest stories.

Brendan Fraser in The Whale

Courtesy of A24 Brendan Fraser in The Whale (2022)

RELATED: The Special Way Daniel Franzese Honored His Mother on RuPaul ‘sSecret Celebrity Drag Race

Franzese tells PEOPLE that Aronofsky “is one of [his] favorite directors,” butsays, “I would have loved to have read for this. I mean, who knows more aboutbeing an obese queer man than an obese queer man?”

Story continues

“But I guess you can go ahead and wear a fat suit and do what you got to doand get your Oscar. We’ll just sit here, waiting,” Franzese says.

According to the RuPaul ‘s Secret Celebrity Drag Race star, “The biggestproblem we have right now in our industry is that people like me and mycolleagues can’t really sell movies overseas if we are actually queer becausethe world is homophobic.”

“Even if America is ready for a gay person in the lead like that, they have ahard time selling the movie overseas, so they get scared,” Franzese says. “Butit’s going to take risk-takers and real trailblazers to let us cut our teethin these roles as actors so we, too, can have a shot at a full career inHollywood.”

RELATED VIDEO: The Whale Star Brendan Fraser Felt “Sense of Vertigo”Removing 600 Ibs.-Man Prosthetic Suit

Aronofsky, 53, told Vanity Fair in an interview published last month thatFraser carried between 50 and 300 extra pounds during filming, depending onthe scene. The movie takes place entirely within his character Charlie’s homeover the course of less than a week.

“I became accustomed to wearing Charlie’s body pretty quickly,” Fraser toldthe PEOPLE and EW video studio during an interview at the 2022 TorontoInternational Film Festival earlier this month, according to EntertainmentWeekly. “I discovered that, once I took it off, I could still feel thesensation of wearing it, almost like an undulation.”

The Mummy star added, “At the same time, once I took all the applicationsoff at the end of the day, I felt a deepening sense of respect for people wholive in that corporal being, because I could remove it like clothing andwardrobe and makeup , and their challenge to do that with their own body isnot as sudden.”

The actor, who reportedly worked with the Obesity Action Coalition forresearch, said his experience in The Whale “gave me an appreciation for theincredible courage they have to possess themself with for their very survival,and it takes an incredibly strong-willed and physically strong person to liveinside a body that is, in Charlie’s case, hundreds and hundreds of pounds. “

Honoree Brendan Fraser accepts the TIFF Tribute Award for Performancepresented by IMDbPro for ‘The Whale’ onstage at the TIFF Tribute Awards Galaduring the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival at The Fairmont Royal YorkHotel on September 11, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario.

Tommaso Boddi/Getty Brendan Fraser

RELATED: A Timeline of Brendan Fraser’s Career and Comeback

“In my mind, it looked like it belonged in the Tate Modern gallery,” Fraseradded of the mold that was created for him from digital scans of his body. “Itwas that striking to behold. I say this because it’s important to have respectfor those who do have that corporal being.”

“I learned almost in a way, poetically, that you need to have incrediblystrong will of spirit and body to inhabit a body the size of Charlie’s, andthat’s an appreciation that I grew to respect more and more each day,” hesaid.

The Whale marks Fraser’s first leading role since 2013’s breakout_according to _variety . He had a role in last year’s No Sudden Move plusrecent TV stints on shows like Doom Patrol , The Affair and Trust.Fraser was expected to play the villain in the HBO Max batgirl movie beforeit was reported in August that the film was shelved indefinitely.

Samuel D. Hunter wrote the screenplay based on his play of the same name. The2012 production debuted off-Broadway to acclaim from The New York Times andit won a Drama Desk Award, the Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding play and aGLAAD Media Award.

Megan Thee Stallion is encouraging her fans to check in on their mentalhealth.

The 27-year-old musician appeared to confirm she recently launched a mentalhealth resources website. On Sept. 25, she shared atweet from a fannamed Shea Jordan Smith, a senior digital political strategist, who revealedthe website is titled “Bad B—s Have Bad Days Too.”

The name is a reference to her current single called “Anxiety” from her secondalbum, “Traumazine.”

“Megan @theestallion created a websitethat compiles a list of diverse mental health resources and is sending it outto her fans and followers,” Smith wrote, including the link to the website.

in the TwitterthreadSmithincluded photos of the website as well as what appeared to be a message pennedby the “Body” rapper.

“Hottie! You know how much mental wellness means to me, so I created a hubwith resources that can help when you might need a hand,” the tweet said.“Head to badbitcheshavebaddaystoo.com now and check it out. Love y’all so much— @theestallion.”

The website features links to free therapy organizations and other mentalhealth resources like helplines. Further down, fans can find resourcedirectories for different organizations that specifically support Black womenand members of the LGBTQ+ community.

At the bottom of the website, there is a link to help fans find a therapistand sign up for updates for new resources.

Throughout her career, Megan has been open about her mental health struggles.

In her song “Anxiety,” she raps, “They keep sayin’ I should get help/ But Idon’t even know what I need/ They keep sayin’ speak your truth/ And at thesame time say they don’t believe .”

Last month, she sat down with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis todiscuss how “Traumazine” allowed her to be more vulnerable.

“I could be sad and I’ll write a song like ‘Body,’” she said. “Or I could bepissed off and I’ll write a song like ‘Freak Nasty.’ I don’t write songs abouthow I feel, I write songs about how I want to feel.”

Story continues

She continued, “So I feel like, on this album, it’s probably the first time Ifigured out how to talk about what I want to say, like, express myself alittle bit more.”

Megan shared that in the past she was taught not to discuss her personalbusiness with other people.

“I feel like it’s been so easy for people to tell my story for me, speak on mybehalf because I’m a nonchalant person,” she added. “But, like, I see now thatit can get out of control. So I feel like I wanted to just take control of mynarrative, take control of my own story. Tell it my way. Tell it from me.”

In 2021, Megan spoke about going to therapy to seek help after the death ofher parents.

Mom Holly Thomas died in March 2019 after battling brain cancer and her fatherdied when she was a teenager, People reports.

During Season Two of the Facebook Watch series “Peace of Mind with Taraji”last year, Megan said, “I’ve lost both of my parents. Now, I’m like, ‘Oh mygosh, who do I talk to? What do I do?’ And I just started learning that it’sOK to ask for help. And it’s OK to want to go get therapy.”

She told host Taraji P. Henson that she had previously thought seeing atherapist would make her “weak.”

“As a Black person, and when you think of therapy you think of, ‘Oh my gosh,I’m weak.’ You think of medication and you just think the worst,” she said inthe episode titled “Slaying Adversity with Megan Thee Stallion.” “That’s kindof what you see on TV too. Like, therapy wasn’t even presented in the media assomething that was good. Now, it’s becoming safe to say, ‘Alright now, there’sa little too much going on. Somebody help me.’”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

There are so many streaming services these days that you don’t know what towatch anymore. BECAUSE lends you a hand and selects the five biggest releases.So you don’t have to miss anything, whether it’s Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV+or one of the other streaming services.

We are really spoiled with all streaming services these days. More than ever,we get a whole mountain of new series and movies every week that we can watchright away in our living room. WANT editor Jeroen Kraak makes a list of thebiggest releases at the beginning of each week. So you know what to lookforward to on Netflix, Apple TV+, HBO Max and all other services.

Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video

Also this week there are quite a few new titles coming up. Dive into amysterious murder case, or just enjoy a beer. It all happens on Netflix andthe other streaming services.

Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga | Netflix | September 28

It was one of the most striking events of 2021, the GameStop story. It waslike a Robin Hood story. Through Reddit, users massively bought shares ofGameStop. The aim was to counter large investors who bet on a fall in prices.

The big investors supposedly went short which is bad for a company. However,as a result of the Reddit users, the price went up 1,500 percent. Which was amajor financial setback for the rich. In this documentary we get a better lookat the group of misfits who have the big bucks.

My Best Friend ‘s Exorcism | Amazon Prime Video | September 30th

It’s fall and so it’s time for some real horror on Amazon Prime Video. Thistime we go back to the year 1988. Sophomore Abby and Gretchen have been bestfriends since fourth grade. But after a night of nude swimming goes horriblywrong, Gretchen starts behaving… differently.

Abby’s investigation leads her to some startling discoveries—and by the timethe story reaches its terrifying conclusion, Abby and Gretchen’s fate will bedetermined by a single question: Is their friendship strong enough to defeatthe devil?

Maria Marta: El Crimen Del Country | HBO Max | September 30th

Like Netflix, HBO Max also has local originals. This time, a series fromArgentina is coming to the streaming service that is based on a true story.

In 2002 there was a controversial murder case in the country involving MariaMarta Garcia Belsunce. The woman was a sociologist and volunteered. One dayshe is found dead in her bath. Family and police assumed a fatal accident, butthat was not the case. What’s behind the murder?

Want to know more about the murder? There is also a documentary about the caseon Netflix.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever | Apple TV+ | September 30th

The Greatest Beer Run Ever is the title I am most looking forward to.Because let’s face it, what could be better than an Apple TV+ movie about bie?Stream a good movie with a beer in hand.

Why Apple TV+ is more successful than Netflix and Amazon Prime

The Greatest Beer Run Ever on Apple TV+ is based on a true story. In thisadventure we follow John ‘Chickie’ Donuhue. In 1967 he leaves New York forVietnam to track down his childhood friends and bring them a beer. They fightin the Vietnam War. He lands in the middle of it and that opens his eyes.

Human Playground | Netflix | September 30th

From Apple TV+ we go back to Netflix. Human Playground is a special title onNetflix. This documentary was made by the Dutchman Tomas Kaan in collaborationwith the well-known actor Idris Elba.

Especially if you want to understand more about your fellow man, this serieson Netflix is ​​an ideal support. In the documentary we see the evolution ofman on the whole world. From ancient rituals to billion-dollar companies.Everything will pass.

Gwyneth Paltrow is taking the phrase “birthday suit” to a whole new level.

In honor of her 50th birthday on Tuesday, the Goop founder posed wearing goldbody paint — and nothing else — to celebrate her milestone year.

She shared with Goop followers and her fans that the photo shoot was a littledose of fun and a beautiful way to celebrate turning 50.

“All I know is that they’re painting me gold and that I have to be naked,”Paltrow shared. “I feel so good turning 50, and this is about expressing thatsense of energy and optimism that I’m experiencing. It’s more about the femalegaze and just a sense of fun.”

Though it looks like Paltrow simply coated herself in gold paint beforeposing, she actually used several of her favorite Goop products to prep forthe fun photos. She prepared her skin and hair with her favorite products,including GOOPGENES All-in-One-Nourishing Face Cream, GOOPGENES NourishingRepair Body Butter, GOOPGENES Clean Nourishing Lip Balm and G.Tox HimalayanSalt Scalp Scrub Shampoo.

Gwyneth Paltrow Poses Nude Covered in Gold Body Paint for Provocative 50thBirthday Shoot

Courtesy Andrew Yee

RELATED: Gwyneth Paltrow Celebrates Turning 50 with Bikini Pic: I ‘Let Go ofthe Need to Be Perfect’

Paltrow may just be turning 50 this week, but she started celebrating early —and reflecting on her life thus far.

In a post published to the Goop blog, Paltrow wrote that she’d “hurt people”and apologized for any past actions.

Noting that is she moving into a “new territory” of her life, Paltrow saiddoing that “requires owning my mistakes and finds me prostrate, praying I havelearned from them all.”

“Accomplishments (or things I did), though known and quantifiable, feel partof this linear past, less relevant. My errors, which live in the shadows,slippery and dark, are harder to define,” she added. “Not because I don’t knowwhat they are, but because we keep them hidden, out of the logbooks.”

Story continues

RELATED: Brad Pitt Debuts New Skin Care Line, Credits Ex Gwyneth Paltrow forGetting Him to Wash His Face

Gwyneth Paltrow Poses Nude Covered in Gold Body Paint for Provocative 50thBirthday Shoot

Courtesy Andrew Yee

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE ‘ s free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox everyFriday.

Continuing her candid blog post, Paltrow then noted that the “transition intothe sweetness requires these be brought into the mind to adjudicate (do amendsneed to be made to anyone or to myself?), then into the heart, to beforgiven.”

“I have hurt people, never intentionally, but I have done so just the same. Ihave let people down by not being who they needed me to be. I have betrayedmyself to keep the peace,” she wrote. “I have crossed lines, the thoughts ofwhich sometimes rip me from sleep and suspend me into the hollowness of shamefor a long, dark night.”

Paltrow, who is mom to daughter Apple, 18, and son Moses, 16, with ex ChrisMartin, also wrote that she is “not sure I believe in going back in time tocorrect mistakes,” adding, “Every one of those sleepless hours that came fromone of these transgressions against myself or others has led to something.”

Paltrow then apologized to “anyone that had a negative experience with me,”writing, “I would like to fully acknowledge myself. I am imperfect, I can shutdown and turn to ice, I have no patience, I swear at other drivers, I don’tclose my closet doors, I lie when I don’t want to hurt feelings.”

RELATED: Gwyneth Paltrow Gives a Look at Her Luxurious In-home Spa as SheShares Her Self-Care Routine

Gwyneth Paltrow Poses Nude Covered in Gold Body Paint for Provocative 50thBirthday Shoot

Courtesy Andrew Yee

Paltrow also shared a black-and-white photo of herself on Instagram, guidingher fans to Goop’s website to read her “musings on a milestone.” In the photo,she’s carefree and jumping around in the grass in a bikini with a huge smileon her face. She shared an additional glimpse of her bikini look on Goop’swebsite, this time in full technicolor.

Back in October 2021, Paltrow chatted with PEOPLE about aging and how shestill struggles with her body image.

“Unfortunately, we’re always looking at ourselves with a critical eye,” theGoop founder explained at the time. “I would love to get to a place where Idon’t do that anymore.”

She continued, “I want to show up for myself in a more loving way, becauseit’s all going south from here! There’s nothing we can do about it.”

First the street lighting, then most of the living rooms and after a fewminutes the spotlights on the clock tower of the Pieterskerk: at the stroke of10 p.m., lights went out everywhere in the center of Leiden on Sunday evening.Hundreds of people, shoulder to shoulder between the battlements of LeidenCastle, let out a collective cry of surprise as the lights went out. “I’venever seen anything like it,” a bystander told his neighbor a few minuteslater.

All this in the context of ‘Seeing Stars Leiden’, an initiative of artist DaanRoosegaarde in collaboration with Leiden, this year’s European City ofScience. The idea: the less light, the more stars emerge, which otherwiseremain hidden behind the glow of urban light. The hour and a half of darknessrequired months of preparation, ranging from informing and activatingresidents to experimenting with putting out blocks of street lighting.

Link

The value of this venture is, to a large extent, philosophical: ‘By showingpeople the stars, we want to reconnect them with each other and with thecosmos,’ says Roosegaarde. ‘People have been inspired by the starry sky formillennia, but light pollution is slowly disappearing that connection.’

The relationship between humans and the starry sky is not the only thing thatdeteriorates due to light pollution. Another victim is our biorhythm. Light,natural sunlight, signals the brain to inhibit the production of the ‘sleephormone’ melatonin. As soon as the daylight disappears, this plug is removedand melatonin is produced, resulting in drowsiness.

As far as the regulation of melatonin is concerned, it does not distinguishbetween sunlight and artificial light. This emerged from a playful study bythe American sleep physiologist Ken Wright, who sent test subjects on a week-long camping trip with a strict ban on turning on artificial light in theevening. The result: they got tired on average two hours earlier.

robins

Animals are also confused by artificial light: robins can be found singingunder a street lamp at night, migratory birds continue to circle en massearound oil platforms without reaching their destination and sea turtles losetheir way to the beach, where they lay their eggs. Even the increasingmortality of insects has been linked to artificial light: in the darkness,moths gather under artificial light, where they easily become prey topredators.

Moreover: artificial light is expensive, and also burns in places where it isof no use to anyone. Roosegaarde calls it ‘bullshit light’: light from emptyoffice buildings or billboards, for example. To save money, the LED lamp is onthe rise, but as a result the night is becoming increasingly blue, which manyanimals are extra sensitive to.

More and more people and organizations see the return of darkness as a way outof this cat-and-mouse game. For example, since 2006 provincial environmentalfederations have been organizing ‘The Night of the Night’ when winter timebegins. Also this year, on October 29, lights will go out everywhere in theNetherlands, from restaurants, offices and highways to Ikea stores.

‘Dark Reserves’

In addition, the Netherlands has two ‘dark reserves’ with a strict policyagainst artificial light: Lauwersmeer National Park, on the border ofGroningen and Friesland, and the Boschplaat on Terschelling. In these reservesyou can even see the Northern Lights on a good day. These ‘Dark Sky Parks’ arenationally recognized and designated by the International Dark-SkyAssociation, which is committed to preserving darkness worldwide.

Crowds and togetherness during Seeing Stars in Leiden.Image Raymond Rutting /de Volkskrant

There was no such absolute darkness in Leiden on Sunday. Many living rooms,shop windows and billboards remained brightly lit, and student associationssuch as Minerva also failed to do so. Moreover, the evening was cloudy: onlyhalf an hour pieces of the starry sky were clearly visible. Despite thesesetbacks, the evening’s goal had been achieved: “I now see about as many starsin the middle of the city as I would on any other day in the middle of thePolder,” said Tünde, an astronomy student who observed the stars in a park.showed with his telescope.

Volunteers were lined up in this manner all over town, and long lines ofpeople were waiting at each telescope to take a look as well. ‘In terms ofstargazing, it may not have been the best evening’, said Frans Snik, anastronomer at Leiden University and involved in organizing the event. ‘But itwas a great social experiment. The crowds, conviviality and togetherness werethe success. Everyone in Leiden looked up for a moment.’

Photographers Chris and Marjan led the way Manners Magazine to InternationalBeyoncé Day at Club NYX. They came back with 11 beautiful portraits of whatyou might call super fans.

There are many reasons to admire Queen B. Her music, the fashion and art,Beyoncé the power woman, the beautiful woman, her mega shows, and so on.

International Beyoncé Day at Club NYX, Amsterdam

The most outspoken fans gathered at Club NYX on Friday, September 23. Thismeeting place on Reguliersdwarsstraat is one of the rare clubs in Amsterdamthat is still reminiscent of the open-minded 80s and 90s in the capital. Amelting pot of all cultures, subcultures and sexual preferences is the normalstandard here.

Once a year, the club is filled with Beyoncé fans, in all keys. Chris andMarjan portrayed some of them during International Beyoncé Day. With the keyquestion: what makes Queen B so special?

Sarah

21 years Utrecht

“Beyoncé is the epitomy of black power and female power. She’s gorgeous. Andshe makes a completely different album every year, with a different sound thatyou can just enjoy.”

Sarah (Photo: Chris and Marjan /Manners)

Syfan

24 years Bovenkarspel

“I became a Beyoncé fan when I was nine years old. She has given me a lot ofinspiration during a difficult time in my life. When I was young I lost a lotand Beyoncé helped me with her music. I appreciate what she stands for andwhat kind of music she makes.”

Syfan (Photo: Chris andMarjan / Manners

Marc

48 years Amsterdam

“I saw her concert in New York in 2013. Then I became a fan. I don’t likeDestiny’s Child, only Beyoncé. Jay-Z is good too by the way. And that Jay-Zsong with Alicia Keys too.”

Marc (Photo: Chris andMarjan / Manners)

Stefano

24 years Rotterdam

“I grew up with her music because my cousins ​​were big fans of her. And Ilove the music she still makes. Always groovy, always vibey, always somethingnew and that just attracts me.”

Stefano (Photo: Chrisand Marjan / Manners)

Keo

32 years Amsterdam

“Beyoncé stands for freedom for me. Thanks to her music I can be as expressiveas I want and express all my feelings. Beyoncé is a platform.”

Keo (Photo: Chris andMarjan / Manners)

Reuben

27 years Amsterdam

“I’ve been giving an annual Beyoncé party for five years now. It’s kind of anunofficial pre-party for this party. She is the greatest entertainer alive. Ireally like the way she makes music, how she makes art, how she lives herlife. And I’m also a big fan of marketing. I wish I had that grain of thought,how she positions herself in the music world and in the world itself.”

Reuben (Photo: Chris andMarjan / Manners)

Vanity

27 years Rotterdam

“There are several reasons why I am a fan of Beyoncé, but I will give one: shecompletes me. My drag is also partly inspired by her. I saw her for the firsttime when I was seven. I thought she was a goddess with so much power. Ithought I want to be like that when I grow up and here I am.”

Vanity (Photo: Chrisand Marjan / Manners)

Josephine

20 years Flushing

“Actually, I don’t really like her music. But because my best friend and alsoex-brother-in-law is a huge Beyoncé fan, I can’t ignore it. partition Ireally like it, that’s just a horny song.”

Josephine (Photo: Chrisand Marjan / Manners)

Vincent

21 years the Hague

“She is inspiring, every song is a new inspiration, every album is somethingdifferent, she reinvents herself every time. The first song I heard from herwas Crazy in Love or Naughty Girl. I was a fan right away.”

Vincent (Photo: Chris andMarjan / Manners)

jewel

25 years the Hague

“I think her strength is very strong. As a black woman, she is one of the mosticonic women of the past fifty to a hundred years.”

jewel (Photo: Chris andMarjan / Manners)

Themida

21 years Amsterdam

“Beyoncé empowers women, I appreciate that about her. And of course herlooks.”

Themida (Image: Netflix)

Also view the artwork of Renaissance , Beyoncé’s most recent album. Thosephotos were shot by the Dutch photographer Carlijn Jacobs.

Colombian pop singer Shakira could face up to eight years in prison in a casewhere Spanish prosecutors have accused her of tax fraud.

Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, is facing sixcharges alleging she failed to pay the Spanish government nearly $15 millionin taxes between 2012 and 2014. The prosecutors said they would also seek afine of $24.5 million.

The singer “trusts her innocence and chooses to leave the issue in the handsof the law,” her public relations firm Llorente y Cuenca said in a July 27statement.

Here’s everything to know about the pending tax fraud case:

Will Shakira go to trial for tax evasion?

A Spanish judge on Tuesday approved a trial after Shakira rejected asettlement deal offered by prosecutors. A trial date has not been set yet.

Prosecutors in Barcelona said on July 29, 2022 that they would seek a prisonsentence of more than eight years against global music superstar Shakira.

If she is convicted, prosecutors are asking the court to hand down a sentenceof eight years and a hefty fine.

A judge can waive prison time for first-time offenders if they are sentencedto less than two years behind bars.

Tax fraud case: Spanish prosecutors seek 8-year jail sentence for singerShakira

When was Shakira charged or tax fraud?

Prosecutors charged Shakira with tax evasion in December 2018, alleging shefailed to pay millions in taxes to the Spanish government between 2012 and2014.

Shakira listed the Bahamas as her official residence for tax purposes duringthose years, but prosecutors say she was in fact living in Spain with her now-ex partner, Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué, father of her two children.

Shakira charged: Spanish court hits singer with multi-million dollar taxevasion suit in Spain

What has Shakira said about the tax fraud trial?

Shakira tested before a judge in 2019 as part of an investigation into heralleged tax evasion and denied any wrongdoing. Her PR firm said sheimmediately paid what she owed with interest once she was informed of the debtby the tax office.

The case hinges on where she lived during the years in question.

Story continues

Previously: Shakira denies any wrongdoing in Spanish tax fraud case

The court denied her appeal in May and recommended trial.

Spanish Judge Marco Juberías wrote that his three-year probe found thereexisted “sufficient evidence of criminality” for the case to go to trial.

What is Shakira’s tax dispute about?

Experts think this case is about the meaning of the word “resident” underSpanish tax law.

It comes down to counting how many days in a year a person has lived in Spain– one day, 50 days, 365 days? – before being considered a “tax resident,” saysDouglas S. Stransky, a partner in Boston-based firm Sullivan & Worcester whopractices international tax law.

“Is one considered a resident of a country by buying a house in that countryeven if that person is only there for four days?” Stransky says. “I think inthis case it is true that Shakira did spend time in Spain, but the realquestion is whether she spent enough time there so as to be considered a taxresident of the country.”

How do other entertainers avoid international tax issues?

.

Tax lawyers help Shakira and other global performers figure out where they owetaxes based on their citizenship, where they live most of the time and wherethey perform in any given year, says international tax law expert **** KevinE. Thorn, managing partner of Thorn Law Group in Washington.

Thorn thinks Spanish authorities may not fully understand the complexinterplay between different countries’ laws and international treaties when itcomes to taxes.

“They’re rushing to judgment without all the facts and without understandingall the laws that could come into play here,” says Thorn, a former IRS lawyer.”They’re trying to pressure her to come to the table without all the factsbeing out there.”

Why is Spain threatening Shakira with prison?

So far, Spanish authorities have not presented any evidence publicly tosuggest Shakira committed a tax crime as opposed to a tax mistake.

Thorn says he believes prosecutors haven’t helped their case for a quicksettlement by publicly threatening Shakira with prison before a trial. “If amistake was made (about her taxes), her lawyers will fix it, but I’m not sureit’s a criminal matter,” Thorn says.

As in the US, Stransky says, most tax disputes in Spain are civil matters, notcriminal matters.

“Most of the time in cases like this, the government doesn’t go the criminalroute,” Stransky says. “My guess is that (Spanish authorities) are trying topressure her into settling the case by (deploying) the bad publicity and thethreat of jail.”

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shakira ‘s tax fraud case goesto trial: Your questions answered