Author: bestmedeal

In Ik Departure XL we follow the adventure of Marja, Hans, Renzo, Wim and Adain Italy and Francine, Rinse, Jan, Fabienne, Oscar and Vanessa on Bonaire. TheItaly fanatics have their eye on ‘a property with potential’ that they want totransform into a group accommodation. Have their dreams come true?

Update Ada, Wim, Marja and Renzo

Slowly, a bit of inner peace is starting to come back. The help of family andfriends, the close friendship in our team, being able to rely on each otherand relying on each other and sharing all emotions together has brought uswhere we are now. It was a turbulent time in every way. These events have ofcourse left the necessary traces. But in between all the setbacks anddifficult moments we kept the humor and that helps to put things intoperspective.

We enjoy the good and beautiful things again. We have had a short holiday andare happy to continue with our ‘project’. And Hans is just there, he watchesand ‘travels’ with us in everything. There is still much to do and we arealways looking forward to it. And after the worst rain, the sun always comesback. Jessica, Marja’s eldest daughter, is expecting her first child.

Life in Italy

Italian life is good. It’s not called ‘La Dolce Vita’ for nothing. Life inthis part of Italy goes more in slow motion than in the Netherlands. Life inthe Netherlands is hectic and busy, there is little real ‘space’. People arealways tightly bound by rules and times. In Italy things are different, whatdoesn’t work today will come tomorrow. We’ve noticed that enough. And well…the wine… the food…

Shot in the case

Two guest rooms are now ready, which we can furnish in the coming days.Furthermore, the roof of the outbuilding has already been replaced quite abit, this is now ‘leak-tight’ for next winter. We also want to move on quicklywith the murals of the balconies above. The colder period of the year iscoming, so we don’t want to wait too long.

It is fantastic to be able to show the guests all the beauty of Friuli and tobe able to offer them the best of both worlds. That is very satisfying. Allthis far away from the hectic pace of daily life in the Netherlands. Notelevision, no radio and sometimes no internet. Walking together in untouchednature, healthy for body and mind.

A dream come true

Life in Italy is one that you can sustain for a very long time. So muchhealthier too, a different pace. Without guests it is relaxed and not havingto do anything. You always have a motivated and cheerful atmosphere withguests, after all they are on holiday! Together we can give the bestinterpretations to this during an organized trip.

It’s a life you can sustain for a very long time>> Ada, Wim, Marja and Renzo

The intention was and is the same, but in hindsight we should have done it atleast ten or fifteen years earlier. We would have liked to have taken on thischallenge at a younger age. And that is separate from the corona time, thesetback and personal events. ‘That’s life’ with everything that goes with it.Participating in Ik Departure XL has been a fun and special experience!

In the future, we don’t see ourselves in a seniors’ flat. Hopefully by then wecan still do and experience nice things with our friends in Italy in goodhealth. With the beautiful nature around us, simplify life, laugh a lot andkeep busy. In short, enjoy the good life!

When the Fisk Jubilee Singers became the first international gospel group everto tour Europe in 1877, they also visited the Netherlands. The group wasformed to raise money for their ailing college in Nashville, but theirpopularity in America and Europe is triggering much more. They introduce theblack spirituals which will later evolve into gospel music, to a wideaudience.

The Dutch halls are also sold out quickly. The reviews are positive and evenKing Willem III gets wind of it. ____He sees the Fisk Singers in Rotterdam andinvites them to a private concert at Paleis ‘t Loo. He pays 500 guilders forthe performances.

2Pac and Typhoon

The preserved royal receipt is one of the surprising finds in the exhibition_Gospel. Musical journey of strength and hope_ in Museum Catharijneconvent.Central to this is the musical appeal of the African-American music genre,which plays a role in several waves of emancipation. From abolition ofslavery, to the civil rights movement and Black Lives Matter, gospel musickeeps popping up.

The musical impact may be even greater. Of course, almost every soul singer isactually a gospel singer, but co-curator and Dutch main gospel asset ShirmaRouse also makes connections with rappers such as 2Pac, MC Hammer and Typhoonand pop icons such as Madonna and Mariah Carey. It is almost impossible not todance through the stately cloisters of the Utrecht museum.

It is remarkable that the museum for religious art chooses not to put too muchemphasis on the religious side. This ensures an accessible focus on music andsocial impact, but also quickly ignores a few inconveniences.

Slave Bible

Of course there is attention for the slavery past, the humus layer of thegenre. A special object is the Slave Bible from 1807, on display for the firstthree months, on loan from the University of Glasgow. There are only threesurviving copies of this selection of Bibles used to Christianize enslavedpeople in the British Caribbean. It is open to the page where texts containingarguments against slavery have been omitted.

Those liberating Bible texts were actually used in the sung in the nineteenthcentury spirituals who gave hope to the enslaved, like Go Down Moses. Theexhibition is not very critical on this point. Yes, the positive message ofgospel emancipated, but it was also a sop to prevent slave revolts. Theinfectious music was also used to get enslaved people into the church, animposed religion that had also served to justify slavery. The exhibitionseparates gospel music from the institutional church, but the two are, ofcourse, intimately entwined.

The same complexity is avoided in the room full of African, Surinamese andAntillean drums in which poet Gershwin Bonevacia discusses on a video howgospel is based on spiritual music that enslaved people played for completelydifferent gods. That it is precisely those gods who are still expelled withsong and sermons in various gospel churches, such as those of the Pentecostalchurch, and are put away as devils, remains undisclosed.

Gospel Queen

Those who come for a beautiful and relevant story about the power of music canindulge themselves in Museum Catharijneconvent. Dutch recordings, such as bygospel queen Mahalia Jackson and the speech by Martin Luther King at hishonorary doctorate at the Free University, bring the American genre closer.

Ample attention is paid to founders such as ‘father of gospel music’ Thomas A.Dorsey, to Aretha Franklin’s monumental rendition of Amazing Grace, and greatslike Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Clara Ward who also brought gospel to thenightclub. The latter can even be seen visiting Hugh Hefner, owner of Playboy.

The role of women’s emancipation in gospel music and thus in the churchremains implicit. More attention could be paid to Tharpe, who was one of thefirst musicians to pick up an electric guitar and tour the segregated South ofAmerica with her also black girlfriend in the 1950s. But not everything fitsin an exhibition around the rich genre. Museum Catharijneconvent at least putsa swinging spotlight on this influential, but often forgotten genre in theNetherlands.

And how did the Fisk Jubilee singers fare in the Netherlands in 1877? Fromresearch by the compilers of Gospel it appears that they became aware of thelack of attention for former enslaved Surinamese in Dutch society. Theydonated the proceeds of their Amsterdam closing concert to Afro-Surinamese.

Gospel. Musical journey of strength and hope can be seen until April 10, 2023in Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht.

It’s October! The month of Halloween. That means time for horror, although notall streaming services pay the same amount of attention to it. However, theyall add new series, new seasons of existing series, films and documentaries,so “there is nothing on TV” is really no excuse anymore.

Prime Video

Lena Dunhams Catherine Called Birdy , starring Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper,and Andrew Scott, is out October 7. The year is 1290. In the medieval Englishvillage of Stonebridge, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy) is the youngest childof Lord Rollo and the Lady Aislinn. Her playground is Stonebridge Manor, ahouse that, like the family, has seen better days. Rollo, who is financiallydestitute and extremely greedy, sees a way out of financial ruin for hisdaughter by marrying her off to a rich man for money and land. But Birdy, likeall great teenage heroines, is temperamental, smart and adventurous, willingto shake off any suitor that comes along in increasingly ingenious ways. Herimagination, defiance and deep belief in her own right to independence put heron a collision course with her parents. When the most despicable suitor of allarrives, they are faced with the ultimate test of love for their daughter.

In the reality series Killer Camp (October 14) 11 well-known influencersfrom the Netherlands will check in at the American “Camp Pleasant” from the80s. However, one of them devises a murderous plan that forces allparticipants to fight for their lives in a strategic cat-and-mouse game. Whileeveryone struggles to unmask the “murderer” among them for a share of the cashprize of 20,000 euros.

During the day, the campers must fight their way through a series of hilariouschallenges, while the “assassin” tries to sabotage their efforts, pullingother players in the process. Once darkness falls, a hapless camper is singledout and “killed” each night in the most gruesome and original retro-esquefashion, forfeiting any claim to the cash prize!

The Peripheral (October 21) centers on Flynne Fisher (Chloë Grace Moretz),a woman trying to keep the pieces of her broken family together in a forgottencorner of America. Flynne is smart, ambitious and doomed to fail. She has nofuture until the future comes for her. The Peripheral is one of masterstoryteller William Gibson’s dazzling, hallucinatory look at the fate ofhumanity and beyond.

The series The Devil ‘s Hour (October 28) follows the story of Lucy,played by Jessica Raine, who is awakened every night by terrifying visions atexactly 3.33 am: the hour of the devil. Her eight-year-old son is withdrawnand emotionless. Her mother speaks to empty chairs. Her home is haunted by theechoes of a life that is not hers. When Lucy’s name is inexplicably linked toa series of brutal murders in the area, the answers that have eluded her forall these years finally come into view. Peter Capaldi plays a reclusivedrifter, driven by a murderous obsession. He becomes the prime target of apolice manhunt led by compassionate detective Ravi Dhillon, played by NikeshPatel.

Also new on Prime Video: the series time the documentary TikTok Boom(both 07 October) and the movies Jackass Forever (October 14) andLicorice Pizza (October 17).

Netflix

There are new seasons of Bling Empire (season 3, starting October 5),Somebody Feed Phil (season 6, from October 18), Unsolved Mysteries(season 3, episode 1-3 on October 18 and episode 4-6 on October 25) and Loveis Blind (season 3, episode 1-4 on October 19 and episode 5-7 on October26).

Appearing on October 19 The School for Good and Evil. In the village ofGavaldon, two misfits and best friends, Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha(Sofia Wylie) share a special bond. Sophie, a golden-haired seamstress, dreamsof escaping her gloomy life to become a princess. While Agatha, with her rawstyle and quirky mother, has what it takes to become a real witch. One night,under the blood-red moon, a mighty force takes them to The School for Good andEvil where the true stories behind every great fairy tale begin. However,something immediately goes wrong, Sophie is sent to the School for Evil, ledby the glamorous and fierce Lady Lesso (Charlize Theron), and Agatha to theSchool for Good, led by the radiant and kind Professor Dovey (Kerry Washington). As if getting used to school with the offspring of the Wicked Witch (FreyaParks), Captain Hook (Earl Cave) and King Arthur (Jamie Flatters) wasn’t hardenough, according to the Schoolmaster (Laurence Fishburne), only true love’skiss can do the trick. the rules change and send the girls to their rightfulschool. When a dark and dangerous figure (Kit Young) who has mysterious tiesto Sophie shows up and threatens to completely destroy the school and theworld beyond, they must do everything they can to achieve a happily everafter.

And as mentioned, it’s October, the month of Halloween, so you can watch fromtoday Friday the 13th, Insidious, Paranormal Activity 3 and the firstthree parts of Scary Movie and from October 4 to one of the many filmswith the title Halloween.

HBO Max

Series getting new seasons on HBO Max in October include stargirl (season3, starting now – episodes will be added gradually), The Cleaning Lady(season 2, starting now) Pennyworth (season 3, starting October 6),Avenue 5 (season 2, October 11), All American (season 5, October 12),All American: Homecoming (season 2, October 12) and The White Lotus(season 2, October 31).

Disney+

The new comedy series The Bear (October 5) is about food, family, thegrind, the beauty of the sense of urgency and the pitfalls. As young chefCarmy (Jeremy Allen White) fights to change both the business and himself, heteams up with a shabby kitchen crew that eventually turns out to be hisfamily.

The Marvel Studios ‘special presentation’ Werewolf by Night (October 7) isdirector Michael Giacchino’s ode to old Hollywood monster movies. We’ll tellyou more about this next week. Because the Marvel series She-Hulk this monthends, after that a new one will also appear Assembled about the series.

In the miniseries candy (October 12) Candy Montgomery (Jessica Biel) is a1980s mother and housewife who had everything: a good husband, two children, abeautiful home, she could even plan and carry out all kinds of sins. When themental pressures of domestic life get to her, she screams with her actions forattention and freedom, until someone tells her to shut up, with deadlyconsequences.

The film Rosaline (October 14) puts a comedic twist on Shakespeare’sclassic love story Romeo & Juliet. The story is told from the perspective ofJuliet’s niece, Rosaline, whom Romeo has recently fallen in love with. WhenRomeo meets Juliet and begins to seduce her, Rosaline is devastated and triesto thwart the famous romance and win her husband back.

Apple TV+

The series Shantaram (three episodes on October 14, then weekly) follows afugitive named Lin Ford (Charlie Hunnam) who tries to disappear into chaotic1980s Bombay. Alone in an unfamiliar city, he tries to stay out of trouble.When he falls in love with an enigmatic woman named Karla, Lin must make achoice between his freedom and love and the complications that come with it.

Raymond and Ray (October 21) follows half-brothers Raymond (Ewan McGregor)and (unexpectedly) Ray (Ethan Hawke) who have lived their lives in the shadowof a terrible father. However, they do have a sense of humor and theirfather’s funeral is an opportunity to reinvent themselves.

Ziggo Movies & Series

Ziggo adds season 2b of . on October 18 Resident Alien , in which an alienmakes an emergency landing on Earth and hides in a remote Colorado town. Hedisguises himself as a doctor, but his mission is jeopardized when a nine-year-old boy sees his true identity.

In the second season of Blood & Treasure (October 3) Danny MacNamara – aformer FBI antiquities expert – and Lexi Vaziri – a fugitive art thief withtrust issues – join forces to track down a terrorist who is financing hisattacks with stolen artifacts.

In the series headhunters from 2020 (October 13), the tough businesswomanDana returns to the Netherlands when she is diagnosed with a life-threateningillness and tries to restore the troubled relationship with her son Lucas.

[BLOG] Well that was the riot again this week, around 538 morning jockWietze de Jager. He says he wants to work one day less on-air against hiscolleagues, gets the whole crowd, including a lot of angry listeners, and thensays it was all just to provoke discussion. Nice piece of spin from Talpa ‘sPR department. But in the same week we are also treated to the news that themorning star of Qmusic, Marieke Elsinga, is peeping out again, just like atthe beginning of the year when it all became too much for her, this time onmaternity leave. Sure, it should happen, but I’ll give you a note that Mariekeno longer returns full-time in the morning of Q.

I understand that Marieke Elsinga says in various interviews that she is a bitsad that she now has to plead with her main employer again. She was just ascomfortable in it, she said. Well she also knows that things will never be thesame as before. A morning show without children is already hard (I can tellyou from my own experience), one with even harder than impossible, accordingto one Wietze de J. Let’s hope it doesn’t become a crybaby because then thedays of Marieke’s radio career are completely numbered . Incidentally, I alsoknow women (from the past) who were just away for a week to let their baby outand then just showed up again on Monday, but well, that was from a time beforethe snowflake generation.

They may say at Qmusic that they are not looking for a replacement for theabsence of their superstar in the morning, insiders know better. The scenariois already being taken into account that Marieke Elsinga can be heard on thechannel for no more than three days a week after her birth (Monday, Wednesday,Friday). Your radio heart is going to bleed from such sadness. Just likeWietze’s lack of motivation, which is now firmly denied, it is clear what thecurrent generation of radio makers has with the medium: nice while it lasts,but if something better/easier/nicer comes along, I’m gone.

In both the case of Wietze and Marieke, they both naturally aimed at thatother, much more eye-catching medium: television. And of course that all-important family, with young children. That’s fine if you want that, but letus know before your radio station invests so much in you. I therefore suggestthat Marieke Elsinga and Wietze de Jager just start a petting zoo together.They can romp around all day long with the offspring. Leave the radiobroadcasting to people who are really passionate about it. Because such amorning show, that’s your baby. You are busy all day long, five days a weekand you need the weekends to recharge or to feed yourself with the latestfilms and series that your audience is also watching.

As I said at RTL Boulevard: you can only win that match in the morning if youput in the full 100%. You are the leading personality for your radio station.This applies to both Wietze and Marieke. Do you think they would have taken itwith the Spice Girls record company if one of them suddenly got pregnant? Evenat castings for important series and films, you will be immediately rejectedif it turns out that you are pregnant or are planning to do so in the shortterm. The bad thing is, of course, that it doesn’t end at all after Marieke’spregnancy, that’s when it starts: the broken nights, the hospital visits, allthe hassle that a young child entails. And Wietze has three of those.

Incidentally, it would be interesting to find out the exact salary of DeJager; if, for example, that’s only a ton a year, then I can understand whyhe’s so committed to his parental leave. Then just give him the amount that amorning jock should earn at a national station: at least double that. Well,then he has to prove he’s worth it.

14 movies are new to HBO Max ‘s offerings. We’ll dive right in, becausethere are a lot of them!

DC League of Super Pets (2022)

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Direction : Jared Stern, Sam J. Levine | cast : Dwayne Johnson, KevinHart, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne

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Every superhero needs a vacation, so does Superman. Fortunately, in such acase, Krypto the Superdog, his four-legged friend, is ready to stop the crime.His dog also has superpowers, which broadly correspond to those of Supermanhimself. Along with a flying cat named Streaky the Super-Cat, Krypto roams thecity to keep things in order and defeat the bad guys. Danger lurks: LexLuthor! Pimps Up, Ho ‘s Down (1998)

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Direction: Brent Owens | cast : The Bishop Don Magic Juan, Ice-T, Big Lex Lex, MikeEpps

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A glimpse into the unknown world of pimps: their daily lives, competition,strategies and the women who work for them.

Zurich (2015)

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Direction: Sacha Polak | cast : Barry Atsma, Martijn Lakemeier, Tristan Göbel,Sascha Alexander Gersak

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The love of her life, Boris (44), a truck driver with a strong and compellingpersonality, is killed in an accident. Luna (36) is his wife and she soonfinds out that Boris led a double life.

The Hitman ‘s Bodyguard (2017)

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Direction: Patrick Hughes | cast : Elodie Yung, Ryan Reynolds, Tsuwayuki Saotome,Roy Hill

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The best bodyguard in the world gets a new client: a hit man who has totestify at the International Court of Justice. They must put aside theirdifferences and embark on an important mission together.

hellboy (2019)

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Direction: Neil Marshall | cast : Mark Stanley, Briain Gleeson, Briain Gleeson,Maria Tepavicharova

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Hellboy is assigned a mission in London where the ancient ghost of an evilwitch has risen from the dead. He must defeat Nimue, Merlin’s associates andthe Blood Queen. However, their struggle will lead to the end of the world. Afate that Hellboy desperately tries to avert.

flyboys (2006)

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Direction: Tony Bill | cast : James Franco, Scott Hazell, Mac McDonald, PhilipWinchester

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This film deals with the adventures of the LaFayette squadron, which consistedof young American volunteers. They developed into the best pilots in France,winning the support of the stiff French. If America is also involved in theFirst World War, the necessary dilemmas arise.

Beyond Sleep (2016)

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Direction: Boudewijn Koole | cast : Reinout Scholten van Aschat, Jakop Ahlbom,Maria Annette Tanderød Berglyd, Anders Baasmo Christiansen

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A young man’s mythical quest for a stone that has fallen from the sky. Indoing so, he travels through the sadistic universe of Northern Europe. Hefinds forgiveness on the verge of madness. Based on the iconic work ‘NeverSleep Again’ by Willen Frederik Hermans.

Zack and Miri Make a Porn (2008)

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Direction: Kevin Smith | cast : Elizabeth Banks, Seth Rogen, Jason Mewes, GerryBednob

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Two best friends Zack and Miri are neck-deep in debt. They think they havefound the solution: making a porn film. They hold auditions and hire a crew.As the cameras roll, they discover that they feel more for each other thanthey previously thought.

Wild (2014)

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Direction: Jean-Marc Vallee | cast : Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski,Keene McRae

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After the death of her mother and the end of her marriage, Cheryl Strayed isvery unhappy. As therapy, she decides to hike the thousand-mile Pacific CrestTrail.

Old love (2017)

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Direction: Nicole van Kilsdonk | cast : Hadewych Minis, Halina Reijn, GeneBervoets, Eva van der Gucht

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Two divorced sixties meet for the first time after many years when their40-year-old son suddenly dies. In the months that follow, they seek comfortfrom each other and their old love flares up again. They enjoy an innocentaffair, which they try to keep a secret from their family. However, that turnsout to be more complicated than anticipated. Just like pushing awayunprocessed problems from the past. Before they know it, like their families,they become entangled in the consequences of this great love.

Monte Carlo (2011)

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Direction: Thomas Bezucha | cast : Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester,Cory Monteith

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A young woman, her stiff stepsister and her best friend use all their savingsto embark on a long-awaited dream trip to Paris. However, this turns out to bea big disappointment. When they decide to interrupt their disappointingjourney and duck into the lobby of a luxury hotel, one of them is mistaken fora spoiled British heiress. Before they can reveal their real identity,however, they find themselves embroiled in all sorts of problems during avacation in Monte Carlo.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

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Direction: Ryan Murphy | cast : Julia Roberts, I. Gusti Ayu Puspawati, HadiSubiyanto, Billy Crudup

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Gilbert (Julia Roberts) decides to leave her safe life behind and travel toItaly, India and Indonesia to rediscover herself.

paddington (2014)

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Direction: Paul King | cast : Tim Downie, Madeleine Worrall, Lottie Steer, GeoffreyPalmer

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Paddington travels to London in search of a new home. Paddington soon realizesthat life in the city isn’t as romantic as he imagined. Until he meets thefriendly Brown family, who read the label on his neck: “Please keep an eye onthis bear. Thank you.”, and offer him a temporary home. Everything seems fineuntil a taxidermist sets his eye on Paddington.

scoop (2006)

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Direction: Woody Allen | cast : Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, IanMcShane

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Journalism student Sondra (Johansson) is removed from the audience during aperformance by a magician (Allen). It is then that she is shocked to learnthat she can hear and see the recently deceased journalist Strombel (McShane).On his directions, she goes after a scoop, and soon finds the aristocraticLyman (Jackman) on the trail.

Once again, seven brave couples say ‘yes’ not only to this televisionadventure, but also to their still unknown love. Blindly, they tie the knot inthe hope that their trust in the experts and science will link them to theright one. For some, that dream has indeed come true.

Sonny and Dylan

Sonny and Dylan couldn’t be happier together. They are one of the successfulcouples of the past season Married at First Sight and after twelve months itis still thick.

After the filming, they want to shout their love from the rooftops, but theyhave to wait until the series has aired in its entirety. “I thought it wasintense that we had to keep our relationship a secret for seven months,” saysSonny in LINDA. “We were really in hiding.”

Still, the couple didn’t just have to hide at home: they could visit familyand friends “who had also signed a secrecy.” “But after a while you’ve hadthat.”

In the video below, the couple – who have been married for one year – tellshow things are going.

Sander and Astrid

Despite their promising start, the marriage between Sander and Astrid fizzlesout. Nine weeks after the wedding, Sander decides to end their union. Althoughthere is no romantic click, Astrid is initially shocked by the decision.

“The butterflies weren’t there, but I thought, this is just the beginning,”she says. “I was like: now it will only start, after the couples weekend. Thenyou are in real life.” It is unexpected that Sander does not want to make anymore effort for her.

As far as is known, Astrid mainly enjoys herself with her friends and there isno mention of a new love yet. Sander is dating and hopes that the early lovebetween him and a new woman will blossom into something beautiful.

Astleigh and Rowan

From moment one, Astleigh and Rowan are on good terms and it still is. Thelovebirds are very fond of each other and have been living together for awhile in Astleigh’s house in Zoetermeer. Together they prove that it ispossible: find love through an experiment like MAFS.

Joep and Caroline

For every success story, there is a couple that doesn’t make it. Although thespark seems to fly at first, Joep soon makes it clear that he is notinterested in Caroline despite the marriage. Something that obviously hurtsher enormously. She still blames Joep for not being given a real chance.

It is unknown how they are doing now. The ex-lovers are removing their socialaccounts after the commotion surrounding their participation.

Antoine and Kim

After their first tumultuous weeks of love, Antoine and Kim put an end totheir marriage. Kim has not yet fully processed the death of her ex-boyfriendat that time and the first cracks in their relationship can no longer berepaired.

Once back in the Netherlands, Kim decides to radically change her life againby returning to Tenerife, the island she has called home for years. She isopen to love again, but has not yet found the right one. Antoine appears to besingle for the time being.

Jan and Birgitte

The total mismatch of the season are Jan and Birgitte. They both hope to findlove, but are matched up with a person who doesn’t really suit them. It istherefore not surprising that no romantic feelings arise and that both Jan andBirgitte choose to hand in the wedding ring.

The two are both left with friendships from the adventure, but they are stilllooking for love.

Maurice and Arjan

Maurice and Arjan may have had the worst experience. Arjan panics at thewedding, after which he throws in the towel before the honeymoon. SinceMaurice is not yet finished with the experiment, the experts give him a secondchance. He goes on a date with three men before deciding he wants to move onwith Dennis.

Unfortunately, that relationship doesn’t last. As far as we know, both Mauriceand Arjan are still single. After MAFS Arjan gets to know a new man, but forsecurity reasons they have to end the relationship.

Eighteen years ago, Hilary Hahn played with the Rotterdam PhilharmonicOrchestra on her 25th birthday in the Concertgebouw. This week she is backwith the orchestra, Thursday in a well-filled Doelen in Rotterdam. she playsit Violin Concerto by Antonin Dvořák; a succession of virtuoso difficulties,which strike almost all of them on the bullseye with full force.

Hahn is the glowing center of the stage and of the evening. You can hardlytake your eyes off her lightning-fast fingers, which show one technical featafter another. It is unbelievably beautiful how each note she plays soundsindividually, takes on a full tone and reaches the entire hall with meaningand flawlessness. She starts tight, slides delightfully over the string at afew moments. A gaping treat.

pom pom pom

And that while Hahn herself looks so relaxed that it seems as if she is tryingsomething for fun tonight. As if her hands just happened to be hers. Herconstant attempts to maintain eye contact with conductor Lahav Shani areendearing, the smiles when she finds that eye contact again heartwarming. Shealso has such a smile for the first violin group, when she has the time tolook, and a few times even for her own violin, as if she is the first listenerto enjoy everything that is conjured from that instrument. When only theorchestra is playing, and she is not for a while, she stands with her hands infront of her lap, violin dangling down, nodding her head to the music she ismuttering, pom pom pom.

Just as impressed as the hall is the Rotterdam orchestra, which, after a fieryintroduction (Jörg Widmanns con brio from 2008), since Hahn’s rise, suddenlynothing more dares. Shani can drag and wave with his arms and prod with hisindex finger as he pleases, his musicians remain timid in the background.They’re forgiven because it’s so endearing to watch the violinists inparticular, when not playing, peer longingly or crouched over the shoulders orunder the armpits of colleagues so as not to miss Hahn’s movement.

New audience

The orchestra was sharper afterwards in the First Symphony by Brahms,although it is difficult to understand why Rotterdam programs such a safeBrahms symphony after such an impassioned and virtuoso first half after theintermission. Safe, or actually even a bit dull. With lots of mids and abuttery sound, Shani tries to provide an interesting counterbalance to theearlier feast, but it feels a bit forced. Shani models mountain peaks wherethe music really only has content for hills. One group nevertheless stands outremarkably, as if they are the only ones who still really feel Hahn’sbrilliance: the horns blow a second half to pass through a ring.

Hahn had clearly drawn a lot of new audiences to the room. After the first andsecond part of Brahms, there was a merry clapping at the back of the hall. Inthe front of the room, just as concentration-breaking, there was loudgrumbling and ssshht.

Former President Jimmy Carter has turned 98 years old, and people all over theworld are joining in the celebration.

Carter, who currently reigns as America’s oldest living president, has had abusy four decades since he left the White House, continuing his philanthropicefforts through The Carter Center, which he founded in 1982 with former firstlady Rosalynn Carter.

In honor of Saturday’s milestone occasion, marking the highest age a former USpresident has ever reached, the Carter Center team has created an onlinebulletin board where admirers of the 39th president can post a message ofappreciation. (The nonprofit organized a similar celebration for Rosalynn’s95th birthday in August.)

RELATED: 15 Heartwarming Moments from Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s Decades-Long Love Story

“As the longest-living president in US history, President Jimmy Carter has hada remarkable life of service that deserves worldwide celebration,” said PaigeAlexander, CEO of The Carter Center, in a statement. “Whether here in Georgiaor in hard-to-reach regions around the world, millions of people havebenefited from President Carter’s commitment to making the world a betterplace.”

Garth Brooks, Jimmy Carter

Mark Humphrey/AP/Shutterstock

The former first couple’s grandson Jason Carter now serves as chair of theCarter Center board of trustees, and says he’s “honored” to be a part ofcarrying on his grandparents’ legacy.

“It’s been awe-inspiring to watch my grandfather live out his values ​​for allthese decades,” he tells PEOPLE. “My earliest memories are from his years inthe White House, and I’ve grown up witnessing and learning from his faith andhis belief in equal treatment and respect for all people.”

Jason adds that President Carter has “always been known for his honesty, hiswork ethic, for asking tough questions, and for his persistence.” (He notesthat Rosalynn prefers to call that last part “stubbornness.”)

Those traits, Jason says, are a large part of why the Carter Center has beensuccessful since its conception, working on “everything from observingelections to resolving conflicts to nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease —which will be only the second human disease ever eradicated! “

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RELATED: How Jimmy Carter’s Presidency Was Really ‘Ahead of His Time,’According to New Documentary

As for how Jimmy and Rosalynn will celebrate the president’s 98th birthday,PEOPLE anticipates that they will enjoy a quiet day at home, as they’ve donefor other recent momentous occasions. Seventy-six years into their marriage —”a true power couple,” Jason says — the Carters continue to reside in thesmall town of Plains, Georgia, where the president was born.

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Though their lifestyle has slowed a bit in recent years, Jimmy and Rosalynncontinue to speak out on important issues while their foundation’s team ofabout 3,000 employees worldwide work on the ground.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carters were vocal aboutwearing masks, even encouraging people to reroute their Carter Centerdonations to groups helping alleviate the suffering of the novel coronavirus.They later appeared in a public service announcement about getting vaccinatedalongside the Clintons, Bushes and Obamas. Earlier this year, President Carterwarned about threats to American democracy posed by far-right extremists.

At the time of publishing, it has been exactly one year since Sonny and Dylanpledge their undying allegiance to each other in ‘Married at First Sight’.High time to look back at all the couples who took the plunge last season.

“I thought it was intense that we had to keep our relationship a secret for> seven months”

Once again, seven brave couples say ‘yes’ not only to this televisionadventure, but also to their still unknown love. Blindly, they tie the knot inthe hope that their trust in the experts and science will link them to theright one. For some, that dream has indeed come true.

Married at First Sight

Image © RTL

Sonny and Dylan

Sonny and Dylan couldn’t be happier together. They are one of the successfulcouples of the past season Married at First Sight and after twelve months itis still thick.

After the filming, they want to shout their love from the rooftops, but theyhave to wait until the series has aired in its entirety. “I thought it wasintense that we had to keep our relationship a secret for seven months,” saysSonny in LINDA. “We were really in hiding.”

Still, the couple didn’t just have to hide at home: they could visit familyand friends “who had also signed a secrecy.” “But after a while you’ve hadthat.”

In the video below, the couple – who have been married for one year – tellshow things are going.

Also read:

MAFS couple Sonny and Dylan found secret relationship ‘intense’

Married at First Sight

Image © Nander de Wijk/NT Visuals

Sander and Astrid

Despite their promising start, the marriage between Sander and Astrid fizzlesout. Nine weeks after the wedding, Sander decides to end their union. Althoughthere is no romantic click, Astrid is initially shocked by the decision.

“The butterflies weren’t there, but I thought, this is just the beginning,”she says. “I was like: now it will only start, after the couples weekend. Thenyou are in real life.” It is unexpected that Sander does not want to make anymore effort for her.

As far as is known, Astrid mainly enjoys herself with her friends and there isno mention of a new love yet. Sander is dating and hopes that the early lovebetween him and a new woman will blossom into something beautiful.

Also read:

MAFS candidates Sylvia and Astrid find each other: ‘So much recognition’

Married at First Sight

Image © Nander de Wijk/NT Visuals

Astleigh and Rowan

From moment one, Astleigh and Rowan are on good terms and it still is. Thelovebirds are very fond of each other and have been living together for awhile in Astleigh’s house in Zoetermeer. Together they prove that it ispossible: find love through an experiment like MAFS.

Also read:

MAFS couple Rowan and Astleigh celebrate anniversary: ​​’Proof that it ispossible’

Married at First Sight

Image © Nander de Wijk/NT Visuals

Joep and Caroline

For every success story, there is a couple that doesn’t make it. Although thespark seems to fly at first, Joep soon makes it clear that he is notinterested in Caroline despite the marriage. Something that obviously hurtsher enormously. She still blames Joep for not being given a real chance.

It is unknown how they are doing now. The ex-lovers are removing their socialaccounts after the commotion surrounding their participation.

Also read:

Caroline confronts Joep: ‘I didn’t get a chance’

Kim and Antoine – MAFS

Image © Nander de Wijk/NT Visuals

Antoine and Kim

After their first tumultuous weeks of love, Antoine and Kim put an end totheir marriage. Kim has not yet fully processed the death of her ex-boyfriendat that time and the first cracks in their relationship can no longer berepaired.

Once back in the Netherlands, Kim decides to radically change her life againby returning to Tenerife, the island she has called home for years. She isopen to love again, but has not yet found the right one. Antoine appears to besingle for the time being.

Also read:

Kim from Married At First Sight commemorates friend: ‘Loss remains’

Married at First Sight

Image © Nander de Wijk/NT Visuals

Jan and Birgitte

The total mismatch of the season are Jan and Birgitte. They both hope to findlove, but are matched up with a person who doesn’t really suit them. It istherefore not surprising that no romantic feelings arise and that both Jan andBirgitte choose to hand in the wedding ring.

The two are both left with friendships from the adventure, but they are stilllooking for love.

Also see:

Birgitte disappointed in MAFS experts: ‘Two different people’

Married at First Sight

Image © Nander de Wijk/NT Visuals

Maurice and Arjan

Maurice and Arjan may have had the worst experience. Arjan panics at thewedding, after which he throws in the towel before the honeymoon. SinceMaurice is not yet finished with the experiment, the experts give him a secondchance. He goes on a date with three men before deciding he wants to move onwith Dennis.

Unfortunately, that relationship doesn’t last. As far as we know, both Mauriceand Arjan are still single. After MAFS Arjan gets to know a new man, but forsecurity reasons they have to end the relationship.

There is no shortage of strong candidates in ‘The smartest person in theworld’, but we were still slightly impressed in recent days by the flexibilitywith which Bart ‘Pluis’ Cannaerts beat himself through the quiz rounds. Thatis not entirely surprising, because the comedian was the only person in theworld to hold all positions in ‘The smartest person’: he was a jury memberdozens of times, he was a presenter for two episodes and now he is working onhis third series as a candidate. The question arises: which place is the best?

Joris BellwinkelFriday September 30, 202212:00

BART CANNAERTS “This place. I like to play games, and ‘The smartestperson’ is a really fun game to play.”

HUMO The playing pleasure is visible.

CANNAERTS «The first two episodes I was very nervous, but as a jury memberI am every time. Then you feel the pressure: I have to be funny now. By theway, presenting was also very intense and exciting, because I wanted toErik ( Van Looy , ed.) and don’t disappoint the editors. As acandidate it is a lot more comfortable, the only pressure is the pressure youput on yourself.”

HUMO Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself?

CANNAERTS “Not very consciously, but I am competitive. I can handle myloss very well, but winning is a little bit more fun. Especially because Iknow: if I win, I can come back.”

HUMO As a child you already designed your own quizzes. That love has nevergone away.

CANNAERTS “No, I think both taking quizzes and thinking up are keitof. Inthe past year I have worked behind the scenes on four TV quizzes. Putting itall together, coming up with the right questions, it’s a bit nerdy, of course,but I like it all a lot.”

HUMO You are gradually becoming the quiz expert in Belgium.

CANNAERTS (laughs) «That is quite a difference with when I took part in’The smartest person’ ten years ago: then I had never participated in a quiz.Hopefully the experience will give me an advantage this time.

»I already notice that I can see through the quiz maker mechanics faster whileplaying. That I have to list five keywords for a certain writer and I canquickly get to the essence: they are still looking for the title of that onebook anyway and I don’t know it, so I’m not going to list all the other thingsI know about that writer.”

HUMO I note: it is a beginner’s mistake to immediately display all yourknowledge.

CANNAERTS “Yes, you should not be distracted by everything you know abouta topic, but think about what the quiz creators want to hear. Especially inthe final, every second is crucial, so you have to talk as little as possibleand shout ‘stop’ as soon as possible.”

HUMO That’s what Erik meant when he said prior to your participation: ‘Bartknows the tricks of the trade.’ Are there still gaps in your generalknowledge?

CANNAERTS «I’m now over 40, so I’m not completely up to date with whatyoung people are doing. When you are 30, you go to parties more often, you goto the cinema more often, you know the popular music.

»Last spring I was allowed to make ‘Today’s Day’ for five weeks, then Ilearned a lot from current events. Then I heard that Rihanna had a childwith A$AP Rocky and I thought: ah yes, now I know A$AP Rocky. I work forthat program with a very young editors and that also keeps me young. _(blows)_Now I sound very old, don’t I?”

HUMO As a quiz maker you undoubtedly watch many other quizzes. Which one doyou look up to?

CANNAERTS “I’m a big fan of ‘Pointless’ on the BBC. Then a hundred Britonsare asked to name a Greek god, for example, and you as a participant must thenname a Greek god who has never or as little as possible been said. That’s sucha wonderfully quizzical thing: wanting to know something that nobody knows. Itis often completely pointless knowledge, but that is exactly what is rewardedin that quiz.”

HUMO During your first participation in ‘De smartest mens’, in 2008, youplayed Philippe Geubels home after just one episode. To do this, you had tolower yourself for 40 seconds in the final game. 40 long seconds, becauseGeubels kept calling ‘ what a loser’ you were.

CANNAERTS (laughs) “Yes, there you saw how completely different weapproached our participation: the difference between a player who really wantsto win and the comedian who is just his funny self. My only plan was: I justhave to win that game here, because who knows, maybe I can reach more comedyfans this way. I was only doing quizzes and nothing else. In the meantime,Geubels was mainly being himself and everything that came out of his mouth washilarious. He did what a comedian should do: joke. And he did it in alegendary way.

“I stayed in it for four episodes myself, I’ve never been funny and it hasn’timpacted my career. Four years later I was allowed to participate againbecause nobody really remembered my passage ( laughs ).»

HUMO After the final, Geubels said that he did grant a ‘comedian on his way’the victory. But look, fourteen years later you are more famous than ever,with your own quiz on One, participations in ‘The very smartest human being’and in ‘The Masked Singer’.

CANNAERTS «I have become more widely known. Thanks to ‘The Masked Singer’,for example, children suddenly know me. On holiday by the sea, the number ofselfies with children went from zero to a hundred last summer (laughs).

»My participation in ‘The Masked Singer’ and the fact that I was allowed toreplace Erik twice as presenter of ‘The smartest man’ may have led to me beingmore top of mind was with the bosses. That because of this I was asked topresent ‘The day of today’ for One and then suddenly came up with my head onTV every day.

“I wouldn’t call this the pinnacle of my career, but it’s probably thepinnacle of my fame.”

HUMO This year it has been fifteen years since you won the Humo’s Comedy Cup.Did you spend a lot of time on career planning during that time?

CANNAERTS «No, there was never a clever plan behind it, I especially hadthe incredible chance that everything overtook me or came my way. Of course Isigned up for Humo’s Comedy Cup because you know it opens doors when you win.That turned out to be the case: I was soon asked to work for television.Called a little later Tom Lenaerts me: ‘Do you want to present ‘ThePappenheimers’?’ Well, yes. At one point he asked: ‘Do you want to set up aproduction house with me?’ Well, yes. VTM asked if I wanted to participate in’The Masked Singer’, Het Geluidshuis asked if I wanted to write a radio play…Well, yes.

“They weren’t all big dreams or things I was desperately waiting for, but Ithought each and every one of them was super cool to do. The lump of butter Ifell into is huge.”

HUMO Are you not only at the height of your fame, but also at the height ofyour happiness?

CANNAERTS (thinks) «I’m doing well, but I don’t often ask myself: howhappy am I now? And is that happier than last week? Happiness is in manythings, isn’t it? Can you really measure that?

»I just took my 6-year-old daughter to school, she is now going to first gradeand a few friends immediately came running up to her to play together. Therealization that my daughter likes to go to school, has friends and ishealthy, we have all the luck in the world in that area too. Yes, I can tellyou that I cycled home this morning with a big smile on my face.”

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