Author: bestmedeal

Scarlett Johansson thinks her career could have gone a different direction ifshe continued to take “bombshell-type” roles. The 38-year-old actress sat downfor a rare podcast interview on Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi andrecognized how 2003’s Lost in Translation set her on a certain trajectory.

“It sort of was my transition into my adult career,” Johansson, who made herfilm debut at age 9, recalled. “I had a really hard time doing Lost inTranslation. I was 17, I was far away, I was working with Bill Murray who Iwas an enormous fan of and he obviously has a very big personality and he’ssort of a formidable character at times. Our characters have this kind of reallove for one another, this profound relationship, and that was hard for me to— I struggled with that for different reasons.”

Weeks after wrapping Sofia Coppola’s romantic dramedy, Johansson went on tofilm Girl With the Pearl Earring alongside Colin Firth. After finishing bothmovies, Johansson felt like she was in a “weird fever dream.”

“Young girls like that are really objectified and that’s just a fact,”Johansson said at one point, explaining how her career began with “this pathof ingénue.”

“I did Lost in Translation and Girl With the Pearl Earring and by thatpoint, I was 18, 19, and I was coming into my own womanhood and learning myown desirability and sexuality. I think it was because of that trajectory Ihad been sort of launched towards — I really got stuck,” Johansson told Bozzi.”I was kind of being groomed, in a way, to be this what you call a bombshell-type of actor . I was playing the other woman and the object of desire and Isuddenly found myself cornered in this place like I couldn’t get out of it.Right around that time is when I met with Bryan.”

Johansson is referring to CAA partner and co-chairman, Bryan Lourd. Theactress credits the powerhouse agent, who is married to Bozzi, with changingher career.

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“It would be easy to sit across from someone in that situation and go, ‘Thisis working,'” she said. “But for that kind of bombshell, you know, that burnsbright and quick and then it’s done and you don’t have opportunity beyondthat. And I just felt, how is this burning out so quickly? It was aninteresting, weird conundrum to be in but it really came back to doing work —to working at it and trying to carve a place in different projects and work ingreat ensembles.”

One “incredible opportunity” that came along was the second IronMan movie.

“That part at the time was very underdeveloped and oversexualized, but Iwanted to form a relationship with Jon Favreau, who I worked with a couple oftimes after that, who’s an inspiration for me. And I also wanted to work withKevin Feige, who’s the head of Marvel, who I knew had a vision for this bigpicture, which at the time people forget, that genre was not what it is now,”Johansson continued. “The first IronMan with Robert Downey was a sensation,it was unprecedented.”

Johansson is now one of Hollywood’s highest-earning stars and has beennominated for an Oscar twice since teaming up with Lourd. While some may thinkthat gold statue is her dream, Johansson’s ultimate goal may come as asurprise.

“I really love producing and I love producing other people’s stuff,” shedeclared. “My ideal job is a corner office on the Disney lot.”

Johansson sued Disney last year for simultaneously releasing Black Widow intheaters and on its streaming platform Disney+, claiming the move violated hercontract. The two reached a confidential settlement rumored to be around $40million. Sounds like that’s all water on the bridge.

_MORE: Scarlett Johansson taking on her first lead role in a television

“Make it dark and a little scary,” was director David Lynch’s request tocomposer Angelo Badalamenti as they began their decades-long collaboration onthe film Blue Velvet (1986). Lynch added that his music could also be “themost beautiful thing”. Lynch’s words perfectly characterize Badalamenti’smusic: hauntingly romantic, but always with a dark, ominous undertone.Badalamenti also wrote the incantatory music for the Lynch films Wild atHeart , Lost Highway , The Straight Story (more pastoral than gloomy),Mulholland Drive the TV series Twin Peaks and the movie sequel, Fire WalkWith Me. They are atmospheric scores that transition seamlessly into thesoundtrack full of gritty sounds that affect the subconscious.

‘Today, no music’

Badalamenti’s symbiotic partnership with Lynch is legendary. That has now cometo an end: Badalamenti died on Sunday 11 December at the age of 85. In hisdaily YouTube column Weather Report Lynch said on December 12 as a tributeto his friend: “today, no music”. Lynch hired Badalamenti in 1986 as a singingcoach for Isabella Rossellini, the rest is history. He was so impressed thatBadalamenti took the whole score for it Blue Velvet could write.

The songs that Badalamenti wrote together with Lynch are also an inseparablepart of the soundtrack. For example, Isabella Rossellini (with the angelicvoice of Julee Cruise) sings ‘Mysteries of Love’ Blue Velvet : the motifreturns in the film in several beautiful orchestrations.

In 1990, Badalamenti received a Grammy Award for his beautiful theme for thetelevision series Twin Peaks , melancholic, moody synthesizer sounds – thesoundtrack album became a bestseller. In front of Twin Peaks Badalamentiwrote a special theme for each character, including the brooding, jazzy-sounding “Audrey’s Dance” and, of course, “Laura Palmer’s Theme,” named afterthe murdered protagonist of the series. Julee Cruise sang the dreamy ‘TheNightingale’ and ‘Falling’. Lynch and Badalamenti produced her ethereal album_Floating Into the Night_ (1989) which has been described as ‘dream pop’. ThenDavid Lynch Twin Peaks in 2017 Badalamenti also wrote new music for it, someof his last compositions.

Andy Badale

Before Badalamenti got into film music, he co-wrote pop and soul songs underthe name Andy Badale. So are on Nina Simone’s album High Priestess of Soul(1967) to find two songs by him, Nancy Wilson sang his ‘Face It Girl, It’sOver’ and collaborated with electronic music pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey. ForPerrey’s breakthrough album Mood Indigo (1970) he co-wrote fivecompositions. He also worked as an arranger, including for the Pet Shop Boys.His interest in (alternative) pop music resulted in the group in 1996 Boothand the Bad Angel his collaboration with singer Tim Booth of the British bandJames.

In addition to his soundtrack work for and with Lynch, he has also composedmemorable music for Paul Schrader’s films on several occasions. Badalamenti’sown favorite score – apart from his collaboration with Lynch – was forSchraders The Comfort of Strangers (1990), richly orchestrated, sometimesominous music with a slightly oriental touch. In addition, Badalamenti workedwith several French directors from 1995, including Nicole Garcia ( L’adversaire) and Jean-Pierre Jeunet ( La cité des enfants perdus , Un longdimanche de fiançailles ).

Griezmann es en cierta forma el éxito de Francia, pero Kilian es la estrella.Giroud es los goles del ausente Benzema que sumados a los de Mbappé llevan aFrancia en volandas, aun cuando Inglaterra se lo puso difícil. Y, ya hablandode ausentes, estando todo el mundo en Qatar, no he visto a Zidane, que sesupone podría ser el relevo de Deschamps. Me parece que va a ser complicadosacarle del banquillo viendo como da con la tecla del cambio generacional sinperder ninguna de las virtudes del equipo… y es que Francia es un tremendoussemillero de jugadores.

Solo al final pienso en otra ausencia, España. Y desde la lejanía veo losacontecimientos y trato de volver a Qatar, quizás porque egoístamente noquiero dejar de disfrutar de las semifinales de la Copa. No quiero pensar encomo se tomaron las decisiones, antes y después, como se llegó a esto… como segestionarán los vaivenes en el estilo y… sé que hay jóvenes y buenosjugadores, sé que hay futuro y esperanza. Lo que no sé es si seremos capacesde volver a los campeonatos no siendo favoritos como en el 2008.

Comedian Mark Curry posted a lengthy Instagram video on Saturday alleging ahotel he stayed at in Colorado Springs racially profiled him.

“When is it going to stop?” Curry said in the clip, which now has over 96,000views.

According to Curry, 61, the alleged incident occurred at The Mining Exchange,a Wyndham Grand Hotel & Spa, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In his socialmedia video, Curry claims he was sitting in the lobby drinking coffee when anemployee who said they were with security asked him if he was a guest.

Curry said he declined to answer, but the man did not leave him alone.

RELATED: Grand Canyon National Park Removes ‘Offensive’ Name of PopularHiking Trail in Support of Havasupai Tribe

Curry’s Instagram video includes part of the alleged confrontation betweenCurry and the hotel employee that lasts for nine minutes before Curry goes tothe check-in desk to make a complaint. In the clip, at the front desk, theattendant asks Curry if he is a hotel guest, with Curry responding, “Didn’tyou check me in?”

“Black man and a hotel lobby, it’s impossible that he has a room here,” Currycaptioned the video on Instagram. “No, I have a suite! He walks up to me withno badge on. I don’t know who this man is. And asked to see my hotel keyWyndham racism.”

Curry did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

In a statement to PEOPLE, the Mining Exchange said they “are committed toproviding a safe and inclusive space for all guests and employees.”

“We deeply regret this incident and have reached out to Mr. Curry to offer notonly our sincere apologies but a full refund of his stay and an invitation toreturn, at no cost, anytime in the future. As a respected community partner,we are also using this opportunity to revisit training with our staff, helpingto ensure all interactions are reflective of our company values.The MiningExchange plays a special role in the Colorado Springs community, and we willcontinue working each and every day to ensure that our hotel remains a spacethat is open and welcoming to all,” the hotel said.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl95gKNo4T9/?hl=en. MARK CURRY/Instagram

MARK CURRY/Instagram

RELATED: Dave Chappelle to Executive Produce 4 Comedy Specials for NetflixFollowing ‘The Closer’ Criticism

Curry said in his Instagram video that he did not want to tell them he was aguest at the hotel because there were numerous White people in the lobby whowere not bothered by the hotel employee who approached him.

In the social media clip, the comedian also threatens to call the policebefore returning to his room and encouraging his followers to call the hotel.

“Three hundred White people in the lobby, 300, eating and drinking,” Currytold his followers. “I sat down in the lobby to have some coffee, get out ofmy room and these motherf–ers going to jam me up, ask me, do I belong in thehotel?”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl95gKNo4T9/?hl=en. MARK CURRY/Instagram

MARK CURRY/Instagram

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Curry’s post garnered support from his followers, including his celebrityfans.

“Shameful! Absolutely Disgusting!” commented Raven Symone. “Love you mark! Noone deserves this!”

Comedian DL Hughley said he jumped on the phone to call the hotel.

“You good my dude??? I’ve called the number a bunch of times can’t getthru!!!!” Hughley commented on the post.

Curry said in his Instagram video that he planned to check out after theincident in the lobby.

MytelcoMost consumers now know that it is worthwhile to compare yoursubscription for mobile phones, internet and TV from time to time, andpossibly switch to another provider. The prices vary from time to time, soyour current subscription may no longer be the cheapest. Sturdy temporarypromotions also pop up regularly. Mijntelco.be helps you on your way.

Many consumers still don’t compare enough, even though that is child’s playthese days, just like switching. We list the cheapest formulas of the moment.

Switch to a new mobile phone provider, with number portability : you cando that in these 3 simple steps.

internet

For the most interesting internet offer, we look for a basic formula:unlimited internet and a speed of 100 Mbps. Based on these criteria, Telenet’sEasy Internet subscription comes first. Cost price: 31.41 euros per month. Asmall side note is that the start-up costs are 135 euros.

By way of comparison: the same subscription (Internet Maxi) will cost you EUR51.99 per month at Proximus, although the start-up costs there aresignificantly lower at EUR 59. At the moment, Proximus also offers a freeinstallation, as well as a 12 euro discount during the first 6 months.

If you are looking for higher speeds, Mobile Vikings presents itself as aprice breaker. An internet subscription with fiber, good for speeds of up to 1Gbps, costs 55 euros per month. The start-up costs are normally 149 euros. Atthe moment, however, the start-up is completely free.

Tip: You can also find an internet subscription for 25 euros per month.View the cheapest formulas on the market here.

Mobile

The mobile phone subscription market is more competitive than ever. We’relooking for a standard plan that fits most user profiles: unlimited calls andtexts, and at least 5 GB of mobile data.

For 10 euros per month (now with a 25 percent discount during the first 6months) it is clear that Youfone is the strongest in this. If you payparticular attention to data volumes, then edpnet is the price breaker. For 11euros per month you get 10 GB of mobile data and 400 calling minutes. For 15euros per month you will find the same at Mobile Vikings, but with unlimitedcalling minutes.

The perfect formula largely depends on your consumption : compare mobilesubscriptions for small, average and large consumers here.

A bundle with internet and mobile phone

When we bundle services together, things change. If you are looking for thecheapest subscription for internet and mobile telephony today, using the samecriteria as before, you will soon end up at edpnet. A VDSL XL subscription,good for internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps, unlimited calls and 10 GB ofmobile data, will cost you EUR 50.95 a month (with a EUR 4 discount during thefirst 12 months). The start-up costs amount to 149 euros.

By way of comparison: a Flex XS subscription with Proximus costs EUR 63.99 for100 Mbps, unlimited calls and 5 GB of mobile data. Attention: at the momentyou get a 4 euro discount on this subscription during the first three monthsand there are no start-up costs.

For higher internet speeds, the Fiber XL subscription (500 Mbps download,unlimited calling and 10 GB mobile data) from edpnet is by far the mostattractive formula. You pay 45.95 euros per month for this. You currentlyreceive a 102.85 euro discount on the start-up costs (fiber networkconnection).

Compare subscriptions with internet and mobile (including temporarypromotions) : you do that here.

A bundle with internet and TV

As stated earlier, the market for mobile phone subscriptions is verycompetitive today. Small players with competitive prices are coming up strong.That is why it is not unwise to take out a separate mobile phone subscription,in addition to a bundle for internet and television. Here too we look for thecheapest formula for internet at a minimum speed of 100 Mbps.

Today we find the cheapest subscription for internet and TV at Orange. HomeInternet (150 Mbps) and Orange TV Lite (a limited number of channels via theapp) together cost you 50.50 euros per month (with 59 euros start-up costs).But even if you want to watch all channels via a decoder, Orange appears to bethe price breaker here. For a monthly fee of 59 euros you receive HomeInternet and Orange TV at your home (again with 59 euros start-up costs).

A Flex S subscription with Proximus will cost you 63.99 per month for the sameservices. Proximus currently offers free installation, as well as a 4 eurodiscount during the first 3 months. ** The cheapest subscriptions for internet and TV (including temporarypromotions)?** The Mytelco.be comparator offers an overview.

An all-in bundle

But it can also be done more easily, of course, by taking out a subscriptionthat includes internet, TV and mobile telephony: an all-in formula. We againuse the same criteria for our search, and guess what? While Proximus wasalways relatively expensive for the separate bundles, the provider is thestrongest for the all-in bundles.

At the top is the Flex XS bundle, which offers you internet at a speed of upto 100 Mbps, unlimited telephony with 5 GB of mobile data and limited TVviewing via the app. Cost price: 72.99 euros per month, now with freeinstallation and 4 euros discount during the first 3 months.

A side note: when slower internet speeds aren’t a problem, or when telephonydoesn’t need to be unlimited, things change quickly. The absolute leader isScarlet, the low-cost subsidiary of Proximus. Trio Mobile will cost you 50euros per month, now with free start-up costs. This allows you to watch TV viaa decoder to a limited number of channels and you receive internet at a speedof 50 Mbps. Your corresponding mobile subscription includes 600 callingminutes and 6 GB of mobile data.

Compare all-in subscriptions (including temporary promotions) : you do

Stuart Margolin, who won back-to-back Emmys for his recurring role as Evelyn“Angel” Martin in The Rockford Files and racked up more than 120 careerscreen credits, died today, his stepson Max Martini said on social media. Hewas 82.

In an Instagram post (see it below), Bosch: Legacy regular Martini wrote: “Aprofoundly gifted step-father that was always there with love and support forhis family. RIP Daddy. Keep ’em cold.” He did not provide a cause of death orother details.

More from Deadline

Margolin won Emmys in 1979 and 1980 for the respective fifth and sixth seasonsof NBC’s The Rockford Files , playing the former cellmate of Jim Rockford(James Garner). Appeared in more than three dozen episodes, including theseries’ first and last, his shady-but-ending character constantly soughtRockford’s help after getting mixed up with former criminal associates.

James Garner and Stuart Margolin in ‘The Rockford Files’

The Rockford Files was an initial hit, ranking No. 14 among primetime showsin a three-network universe during its initial 1974-75 season and spurring aTop 10 single with its Mike Post’s instrumental theme song. But it became moreof a cult series after that, failing to make the full-season Top 30 again asit bounced around NBC’s schedule but winning the Emmy for Outstanding DramaSeries in 1978. It also was nominated in the category for its last two seasons.

Margolin reprized his Angel role in eight Rockford Files TV movies duringthe 1990s, a tribute to the show’s enduring popularity.

But it was hardly Margolin’s only credit.

Margolin appeared opposite Garner in series before and after The RockfordFiles. He was a regular on the short-lived Western Nichols, playing thetown bully to Garner’s violence-hating, get-rich-quick-minded titlescharacter. The show lasted one season on NBC in 1971-72.

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They would return for another NBC Western after Rockford ended. BrettMaverick was based on Maverick , the 1957-62 series starring Garner — wholeft in 1960 — as a wisecracking, dapper ladies man and cardsharp. Margolinco-starred as Philo Sandine, an Indian scout-slash-con man that wasn’t too farremoved from his Angel character. The series lasted one season in 1981-82 andaired in reruns on NBC in 1990.

Margolin began his career in the early 1960s, doing guest shots on suchpopular series as The Fugitive, Ben Casey and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.Margolin continued to appear on TV throughout that decade in memorable andenduring shows including Ironside, The Virgin ian, The Monkees, Bewitched,The FBI and The Partridge Family. He also became a familiar face on the randyanthology comedy Love, American Style, appearing in more than two dozenepisodes from 1966-73.

Margolin landed another 1980s series-regular role in the NBC sitcom mr.Smith, playing the boss of a character who was charged with keeping track ofthe title character — a talking orangutan who is America’s latest secretweapon. The high-concept but low-rated show lasted a handful of episodes infall 1983.

After that, Margolin settled into mostly character-actor mode, guesting onsuch series as Hill Street Blues, Crazy Like a Fox and The Tracey UllmanShow. He did land one more regular role, on the Canadian dramedy _Mom, P.I.,_playing a cynical private investigator who hires a widowed waitress (RosemaryDunsmore) as an assistant. It aired two seasons from 1990-92.

Margolin continued to work in TV for the next three decades, with guestcredits on popular shows including Touched by an Angel , 30 rock and_NCIS_ along with a recurring role on Beggars and Choosers.

He would get one last series-regular gig with Stone Undercover (aka TomStone ), a syndicated cop drama that aired 26 episodes on CBC in Canada from2001-02. Margolin played Jack Welsh, an old friend of the title star (ChrisWilliam Martin), who was — of course — something of a con man and helped theundercover Stone trap crooked businessmen.

Margolin also did some film work, mostly during the 2000s and 2010s. Among hisfinal credits was a role in 2018 the revived Fox sci-fi drama The XFiles.

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Rebel Wilson says suffering a concussion five years ago made her prioritizeher health.

“I didn’t realize how prevalent it is, I was lucky,” Wilson recalls to YahooEntertainment. “It happened when I was on a movie set and I went to thehospital and got treated properly… half of the people who think that theymight have a concussion actually don’t get any kind of medical assistance.”

While filming Isn ‘t It Romantic in 2017, the 42-year-old actress slippedand fell on a grass hill and lost consciousness.

“Your brain is so important and if you sprained your ankle, you’re probablygoing to rest it or seek some medical help, so why wouldn’t you when you’vehad an injury to your brain?” she shares, adding: “The biggest regret I haveis that I was kind of pressured to go back to work after I had a concussion.”

Wilson says she returned to set to work “a full 16 hour day” despite having aterrible headache which lasted days.

“Knowing what I know now is I would’ve rested. That would’ve been the moreappropriate thing. But at the time, I felt pressure… you can’t see a brokenbrain. And with my concussion, they couldn’t ‘t see it. I looked normal, Ilooked like myself. So they’re like pressing me to go back to work,” Wilsoncontinues.

Now, Wilson is partnering with Concussion Awareness Now, a program from Abbottand the Brain Injury Association of America, for a new PSA encouraging peopleto “seek medical treatment” if they hit their head and “to not feelembarrassed or silly.”

Of experiencing a head injury, Wilson says “it wasn’t fun, all you want to dois lie down in a dark place.”

“I love my job and didn’t wanna let anybody down, but from what I know is thatI would’ve valued my own health more and rested,” she declares.

Wilson’s concussion played a part in launching her “year of health” in 2020.

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“I’d never really thought about my own personal health. I don’t know, when youare younger and you’re just like carrying on and I was having a fun life andgoing around the world and eating whatever I wanted before then ,” sheexplains. “Turning 40, it was like, ‘OK, now’s the time to be a healthierversion of myself.'”

Wilson concentrated on both “physical and mental health.”

“Your brain is a big part of that. And I’ve just learned to value my ownhealth more from going through that process,” she adds.

Wilson says her priorities have “100 percent” shifted again as she recentlywelcomed daughter Royce Lillian. The actress and her partner, Ramona Agruma,announced the birth of a baby girl in November via surrogate.

“I’m realizing I can only like do jobs now if I really, really want to dothem. I love what I do, but my daughter is now first priority and so I justwanna spend as much time with her as I can, ” the Pitch Perfect star says.”It’s gonna be an interesting balance, but I’m learning just how hard it is,how awesome and rewarding obviously.”

Wilson notes she’s “lucky” as she has help around her: “I’m in a privilegedsituation.”

“My baby just turned one month, it’s all so new to me and I’m just amazed andoverjoyed and I think she’s a little miracle,” Wilson adds.

The actress was privately dealing with an “emotional” fertility journey whilefilming her new movie The Almond and the Seahorse. In the film, Wilson’shusband suffers a traumatic brain injury and their love is trapped in thepast.

“My character Sarah in the movie really wants to have a child, and that reallyechoed with me, because at the time, I was going through [egg retrieval] andthen at the end of shooting… I found out that it wasn’t successful in turningin any of those eggs into embryos,” Wilson recalls, calling the news “a realgut punch.”

“The prep and the shots and everything… it really messes with your hormones,”she says of the IVF process. “I would get a bit depressed afterwards becauseof all the hormones leaving your body that you’ve been pumped up on.”

Wilson adds, “You get so excited that maybe the cells are growing, and thenthey’re not and it’s just really crushing. My story ended up happily and Ihave an amazing healthy daughter now, but I know that doesn’t happen foreverybody and the struggles of it.I had to do five egg [retrieval] proceduresto get my daughter,” Wilson adds.

The actress channeled her emotions into the dramatic role, which is one fansaren’t used to seeing her play.

“I started my career as a dramatic actress and I know people know meinternationally as a comedic actress,” she says. “Now that in my 40s I’m kindof showing more versatility and can show people these other sides of me. TheAlmond and the Seahorse is really raw, emotional, gutsy acting and it wasreally great to try to flex that muscle. It was a bit rusty, that actingmuscle, but I was really glad I got to start flexing it again.”

The Almond and the Seahorse hits theaters on Friday, Dec. 16.

MORE: Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma have date night at US Open

He had thought it before, communication coach and podcast makers Lars Duursmatells RTL Nieuws. This week he decided to draw attention to it in his mediapodcast and in a personal threadTwitter.

The immediate cause was a comment that presenter Gordon Heuckeroth made as atable guest at Op1. Among other things, he was invited to promote the newseason of Down the Road, which will be broadcast by SBS6 later this year.

At the talking table, he said, “If only we all had a little down, the worldwould be a much better place.”

‘Down is not fun’

Asked what he meant by that, Gordon added: “The sincerity, the honesty, thepurity, the love, the pure human being without prejudice.”

The comment fell completely wrong with Lars Duursma. “The world definitelywouldn’t be better off if we all had a little bit of down. It’s a limitation,which isn’t a nice thing to have at all.”

Duursma has seen this up close almost all his life. “My little brother Jesperspent the first year of his life almost exclusively in the hospital. He hasheart problems. Later he also had depression and testicular cancer. All thingsyou see more often in people with Down.”

He continues: “The people portrayed in programs are – say – the ChampionsLeague. Smart, easy to understand. Viewers often find them very moving: lookat all those lovely people with Down.”

You don’t see people who can’t talk, aren’t potty trained, have majorbehavioral problems or stuck at the thinking level of a two-year-old, Duursmawrote on Twitter.

Television darlings

Down with Johnny, Upside Down, Down for Dummies and thus Down the Road, awhole list of titles that have appeared on Dutch TV in recent years, in whichyoung people with Down syndrome generally play the leading role. “They arereal television darlings.”

For parents of people with Down’s syndrome, many of those programs aredownright confrontational: “On TV they constantly see people doing all kindsof things that their own child will never be able to do. That hurts. And fromthe environment, comments such as: You’re lucky to have such a cutie in yourfamily.”

To laugh?

His own parents are consciously watching, but not at all: “Why so manyprograms about Down syndrome and much less about other mentally handicappedpeople? Can you sometimes laugh more at people with Down syndrome, they askthemselves. While they have been caring for them all their lives: what ishappening with our son when we can no longer care for him?”

Jesper does not belong to that ‘Champions League’ that you usually see on TV:”My brother is super sweet and handy in many ways. He can Facetime, forexample. And send apps, although sometimes you have to decipher what he meansexactly. But purely “Looking at his IQ, he is not that smart. He needs a lotof help and guidance. He can talk, but is not easy to understand foreveryone.” Lars emphasizes: “My parents care for him with great love, but thatis a heavy task that rests on their shoulders.”

Reaction presenter Gordon: ‘Integrity is paramount’

“We are aware that there are degrees, very serious cases too. And that is alarge group. I realize that it must be a difficult task for parents when achild needs so much care,” said presenter Gordon Heuckeroth when asked on thephone.

“I would really like to make a beautiful documentary about that group, showwhat Down’s syndrome is like. I heartily welcome that. Because it’s not justpeace and quiet.”

The presenter therefore understands the criticism that the various televisionprograms together provide a one-sided cliché image: “Down is perhaps presentedtoo up.” He says about his program Down the Road: “We don’t exploit people forentertainment, integrity is paramount. I think it’s great to be able to showhow this group can participate, fall in love, want to get married.”

All a little down?

The program is close to his heart, says Gordon: “In the new season, Daphnetells her parents that she has decided not to have children. Because she sees- she says – what she herself ‘did to her parents’. That kind of I find itvaluable to visualize dilemmas.”

About his comment ‘everyone was just a little down’, Gordon wants to say: “Ifyou see the group in my program: honest, sincere and yes, also happy…then Ithink society is souring, but it doesn’t bother them at all. That was what Iwanted to say.” Finally, laughing: “That group gives me more love than I getduring a year of walking in Amsterdam.”

SBS also emphasizes the good intentions in a response and says: “Down theRoad revolves around young people with Down syndrome who – each in their ownway – deal with themes such as adventure, friendship, love and newexperiences.”

‘Must be understandable’

Regina Lamberts is director of the Down Syndrome Foundation. “We often receiverequests to help find people to make a television program about. Then therequirement is invariably: they must be able to speak intelligibly. Andpreferably also be able to answer questions well.”

But then a lot of people drop out. Lamberts: “Roughly 80 percent havedifficulty articulating or finding words, or both.”

Whether it’s because of ‘one-sided’ television programs or not, she certainlyrecognizes that there is a wrong image of people with Down syndrome. “Thosechildren with Down syndrome are always so cheerful, you often hear. Then Ithink: yes, bye!”

And that can certainly be annoying for parents: “If you have a child whodoesn’t fit into the picture, you spend the whole day explaining that yourreality is different.”

All different

She continues: “There is simply no such thing as ‘the person with Down’ssyndrome’. They are people who have some of the same characteristics inappearance, but who are otherwise very different. resemble their parents.”

They all have a disability and they all need guidance, says Lamberts. But,”That ranges from a little bit to 24/7 and everything in between.”

A few thousand likes, hundreds of retweets and many approving reactions fromparents and healthcare workers: Lars Duursma’s story does not seem to stand onits own.

Honest is better

“As a mother of a beautiful boy with Down with a very low level, I often runinto that wrongly painted image, someone responds on Twitter. “A fairer imagewould be better for people with Down and their caregivers.”

Another writes: “From the professional field I have seen them come and go: theenthusiasts who like to work with people with Down syndrome. Drinking coffeetogether and cuddling a lot. Until they get to know the other 99 percent.”

No ill will

So Duursma loosens things up. He would like to emphasize: “I think that peoplewho make such programs do not do so with ill will. They sincerely want to makea beautiful program. But the misleading cliché image created by all thoseprograms together is really harmful.”

En la localidad estadounidense de Moab, Utah, varios deportes extremosconviven en unos escenarios de película del oeste. En un lugar en el que nohace tanto el pueblo indio campó a sus anchas recorriendo enormes espaciosdesiertos salpicados de torres caprichosas de arenisca se citan ahoraescaladores, ciclistas de montaña o saltadores base. And semejante parquetemático salvaje los servicios de rescate trabajan a destajo, pero no siempreson los primeros en acudir a un rescate. El pasado 26 de noviembre, laescaladora local River Barry, de 30 años, descolgaba de su pickup su bici demontaña cuando asistió al salto de un participante australiano (su nombre noha sido revelado) del festival de salto base Turkey Boogie. El saltador apuróal máximo su caída antes de abrir su paracaídas, pero nada fue como debía. Enlugar de salir volando en dirección contraria a la pared, ésta pareciósuccionarle: un par de segundos después, se estrelló contra ella y cayó aplomo. Entonces se dio el primer milagro: la tela del paracaídas quedóenganchada en un saliente de roca, impidiendo que se estrellara contra elfirme.

River Barry se preguntó dos cosas: ¿cuánto tiempo aguantaría la tela sinromperse? Y ¿cuánto tardaría en darse un rescate? Entonces, apareció en elparking Justin Beitler, amigo de la víctima, pidiendo material de escalada.River Barry no solo tenía cuerda, dos arneses y dos juegos de empotradorespara escalar fisuras en la roca, sino que se ofreció a acompañarlo. Al llegaral pie de la pared, resultó que Beitler apenas tenía experiencia comoescalador, con lo que Barry decidió asumir el liderazgo. Y ocurrió el segundomilagro. Una fisura rectilínea conducía directamente hasta el accidentado,colgado 25 metros por encima de sus cabezas. “Yo puedo escalar eso”, dijoBarry, convencida de que su experiencia le permitiría salir del paso. “Es comosi no pensara y tan solo actuara”, admitiría después para la prensa local.

La víctima estaba inerte, inconsciente y barry pudo ver salpicaduras de sangreen la roca. Puede que estuviese sin vida. No se veía rastro de equipo derescate alguno, así que Barry se colgó las piezas de autoprotección de suarnés, se ató la cuerda y, asegurada por Beitler, empezó a escalar una fisurajamás escalada antes. En un momento dado, la fisura se mostró demasiado ancha:Barry no tenía piezas tan grandes para autoprotegerse, pero decidió seguir,animada por la posibilidad de volver a protegerse adecuadamente unos pocosmetros por encima. Entonces, la víctima despertó, empezó a gemir y agitarse:ahora, la tela podía rasgarse y el herido caer encima de ella. Barry seconcentró en tranquilizar al herido, liberó una de sus piernas de entre lascuerdas del paracaídas y se aplicó en montar un anclaje sólido que soportaseel peso de ambos. Por si acaso, montó uno doble. No dejó de repetirse, como sifuese un mantra, que debía de velar por la seguridad, no precipitarse,asegurarse a la perfección de que cada paso dado era eficaz. Cortó las cuerdasdel paracaídas una tras otra hasta que pudo notar en su arnes el pesotransferido del accidentado. El asegurador descolgó a ambos hasta el suelo, laabrazó y le dijo: “Gracias por salvar a mi amigo”. Los servicios de rescate,que ese día atendieron tres accidents de salto base, llegaron justo en esemomento para evacuar al herido al hospital, donde se recupera favorablemente.

River Barry, a la altura del accidentado, maniobra para rescatarlo.

De no haber mediado River Barry, los servicios de rescate no hubieran tenidomás opción que descolgarse desde lo alto de la pared (the 450 metros), en unaactuación que hubiera llevado horas. Seguramente, el accidentado hubierafallecido. “Estoy agradecida de haber estado allí, y de haber podido hacer miparte de trabajo”, explicó Barry a la prensa local. “Ese día entendí lafragilidad del ser humano y la capacidad de las personas de hacer algo sinpensar en las consecuencias. La mente, el cuerpo y el alma tienen una grancapacidad para acudir en ayuda de quien lo necesita”, concluye.

A lot of excellent records from Belgian soil were released this year, of whichwe have already presented the twenty best to you, but a lot of good albumswere also released by our northern neighbors in 2022. The Dutch music scene isperhaps more booming than ever and the list of fine Dutch long players thatwere released this year was therefore very long. So it’s up to us to decidewhich ten of these are among the best of the year. It took quite a bit of painand effort, but we succeeded: here we present you the ten best Dutch albums ofthe past year!

10. Boudewijn de Groot – Wind feathers

When we heard that Boudewijn de Groot was going to release an album, wewondered how this would sound and what the man still had to tell us after somany years in the music world. A lot, as it turned out, because Wind springs_can be called one of his most personal, but also gloomiest albums. After a fewtough years and losing friends with whom he worked closely, de Grootsummarizes his story in this album. He complains in “Earth” and “Spring” andrecalls old memories with the fairly energetic “The Lady With The Dog”. He canstill touch us deep in the heart, as he does with “The More I Closer”. It isnot a very cheerful album, but _Wind springs shows once again that we canonly call Boudewijn de Groot a legend of the Low Countries. It is thereforemore than normal that this long player should not be missing in our top ten.

9. Banji – Freshcakes

While there’s no denying that the coronavirus has been a nuisance in severalways, the temporary standstill of the world has also led to good in somecases, such as Banji’s debut album. The foursome from Utrecht had enough timeto work on during the lockdowns Freshcakes. The debut is a very successfulindie pop album with fascinating, messy rock elements sprinkled through it.The record is bursting with ambition, energy and confidence, with songs thatare each catchy and playful. It is practically impossible not to get excitedabout songs like the excellent “Listen” and the catchy “Chills”, or to feelnothing at all about the fantastic build-up in “Maybe”. Banji has been namedas one of the greatest musical talents in the Netherlands for some time nowand by us with Freshcakes to deliver one of the best Dutch records of theyear, the quartet proves to be more than worthy of that title. The future forthe people of Utrecht is undoubtedly bright!

8. Beach Dog – Beach Dog

David Achter de Molen is no newcomer to the Dutch music scene. Five yearsafter the breakup of the band John Coffey, the man started to itch to makemusic again. He found a few new band members and that’s how Beachdog was born.On the self-titled debut album you can hear how hard the band can rock. Shedoes this with strong guitars, hard drums and the recognizable hard voice ofAchter de Molen. This success formula can be heard in the loud sing-along“Dog” and also on “Milk” the group shows that it can go hard. In addition torough songs, Beachdog manages to surprise us with an organ solo by Robin Pisoin the melodic “Good Morning”. The men hoped to fill a gap in the Dutch bandscene with this album and if it is up to us, the first steps have been takenwith Beach dog!

7. TAPE TOY – Honey, WTF

TAPE TOY has been working their way for several years now. In 2017, thetalented band won the Amsterdamse Popprijs, after which they scored a fewminor hits. When the world went into lockdown during the corona pandemic, themembers of TAPE TOY dived into an old farmhouse to make their debut album. Theend result, Honey, WTF , saw the light of day early this year and in themeantime the record has become one of our favourites. The bubblegrunge musiccomes on Honey, WTF expressed with solid guitar work and poppy sing-alonglyrics. Although the lyrics on the album can be quite dark at times, the songssound energetic and are easy to listen to. What also stands out for us is thevoice of singer Roos, because between the rough guitars her voice is very softand pleasant to listen to. TAPE TOY delivers with Honey, WTF a fine andaccessible album, which in our opinion should not be missing from end-of-yearlists.

6. Bongloard – People Overreacting To My Behavior

When we first saw the name Bongloard, we were immediately sold. A dash ofhumor that we could immediately link to the music that the trio bringsforward: garage fuzz rock. On debut album _People Overreacting To My Behavior_immediately shows the group that it is more than just that funny name. Songslike “Frenemies” and “The Gram” let the fuzz shoot lushly around, causing ourcaps to fly off and we head straight for a moshpit. The latter even ends in anexplosion of riffs that would make death metal bands jealous. In this way,Bongloard leaves no stone unturned with this debut. A dash of surf on “Dream”provides some extra dynamics, after which “The End” closes the album in afurious way. Strong debut, that’s for sure!

5. Joost – Friesland

Recently, the name Joost Klein is no longer unknown to many. The Dutch rapperconquered a lot of hearts in both the Netherlands and Belgium in a short time.He is known as an artist who makes very diverse music. One time it’s drum andbass, the other time trap and then techno again. We previously described hismusic as deadly honest and that is exactly what makes Joost Joost. It is alsoprecisely because of this that thousands of fans adore him. That honesty iscertainly reflected on Friesland , the album that includes “Music on hold”and “Florida 2009”. The mix of atmosphere and genres ensure that it is arecord that is anything but boring and also does a lot with the audience live.Just look at the images of “Florida 2009” on Pinkpop. It is therefore morethan logical that Joost with Friesland ranks fifth in our top ten.

4. Klangstof – Godspeed To The Freaks

With both the new ep oceanview as the long player Godspeed to the Freaks_on the shelves, 2022 was a productive year for Klangstof, the Dutch indie rockband around frontman Koen van de Wardt. The latter album in particular left astrong impression and the group effortlessly makes it into our top ten of thebest Dutch albums of the year. After all, on the album we not only hear a muchmore organic sound than we are used to from the band, the whole also sounds alot more mature. By building more calm layers into the songs, the rhythms andmelodies also get plenty of room to convince. After all, the honest andemotional lyrics ensure that _Godspeed to the Freaks comes in like acaptivating album; one with which Klangstof not only targets the head, butalso the heart.

3. Personal Trainer – Big Love Blanket

Personal Trainer has been making waves in the Dutch music scene for quite sometime (and beyond, given that we and the BBC are also big fans of the band),but a full-length from the seven-member company has been a bit delayed. Itfinally appeared earlier this year Big Love Blanket , with which theAmsterdammers proved to be worth the wait. If you’re looking for a cohesivemusical story, this isn’t the album for you, but Personal Trainer has neverbeen that sort of group. The charm of the band is precisely that it is just alarge and chaotic group of friends who like to make music; something thatcomes out very well on Big Love Blanket. It is a record that simply dripswith authenticity and Dutch sobriety and with which Willem Smit proves to be avery cool frontman, precisely because he just does his own thing and does nottry to live up to certain expectations. Personal Trainer gives us with BigLove Blanket one of the best Dutch albums of the year, and we can’t wait tosee what the future holds for this band!

2. MEROL – Consolation Prize

A few years ago, MEROL gained fame in the Netherlands with the playful “NICEWITH THE MEIDS”. After this hit, she did not sit still: some modest hitsfollowed and her participation in them The smartest person in the world_ensured that we in Belgium can no longer ignore Merel Baldé. On her debutalbum _Consolation prize shows MEROL that she is a keeper in the Dutch musicworld. Songs like “full” and “mixed signals” drag us to the dance floor, while”mixed shower” is a typical naughty song that only MEROL can make. In additionto danceability and mischievousness, the singer also convinces us with hervulnerability in “crying for nothing”. The diversity in her songs ensures thatthe album never gets boring and is therefore rightly one of the best Dutchrecords of the year.

1. S10 – I Will Exist Forever As Long As You Remember Me

2022 was a special year for S10. The singer has graced several major pop andfestival stages, participated in the Eurovision Song Contest through which shegained greater awareness among the mainstream audience and, in our opinion,released the very best Dutch album of the year. I Exist Forever As Long AsYou Think Of Me is not only one of the most beautiful album titles we’ve seenthis year, but also a beautiful representation of coming of age andvulnerability. The sincerity, honesty and hope with which Stien den Hollanderexplores her complex feelings on this record, testifies to the enormous growthof the singer.

On her third album, S10 succeeds in combining different genres into anidiosyncratic whole and providing us with potential hits in the form of “WhatIf Nobody Waits For Me” and the Froukje collaboration “Nooit Meer Regret”. Onthe other hand, she also effortlessly responds to our emotions. Songs like“Lonely Height”, “Jupiter” and “Do you hear me” really touch us in theirvulnerability and recognisability. I Exist Forever As Long As You Think OfMe balances somewhere between light and dark, between right and wrong,between profit and loss, and does so in the most beautiful way possible. It isnot very surprising that S10 __ stands head and shoulders above everything!

Would you like to take a trip through the Dutch musical year? We chose onesong from each album and poured everything into a playlist on Spotify. Enjoyit!

This list was compiled by all bears. The reviews were written by Stephanie vanTol, Lotte Verhulst, Elisa Cogneau, Niels Bruwier, Robbe “Boubacar” Nerinckxand Steven Scheers.