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From Glinda To Elphaba, Here’s What “Wicked” Would Look Like As A 1950s Live Action Movie
Wicked Characters 1950s Live Action
Ever wondered what the beloved characters from Wicked would look like if they stepped out of the Land of Oz and into the golden age of Hollywood? Well, I did! Using AI, I reimagined Elphaba, Glinda, and the rest of the cast as if they starred in a glamorous, Technicolor, 1950s live-action adaptation. Here’s the results:
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Glinda:
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Fiyero:
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Elphaba:
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Nessarose:
6.
Dr. Dillamond:
7.
Pfannee:
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Madame Morrible:
9.
Shenshen:
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The Wizard:
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Chistery:
And finally…
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Shiz University
Which one was your favorite? Comment below!
The ‘Errors Tour’: Fans Point Out Mistakes in Taylor Swift’s Official Tour Book
Emily M., a 26-year-old Taylor Swift fan in Washington State, woke up early on Saturday morning to join the line at her local Target with one goal: secure a copy of The Official Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour Book, released exclusively by the Tortured Poets Department pop star in a direct deal with the big-box wholesaler. With her $40 purchase, Emily expected a glossy coffee table keepsake chock full of the biggest moments on tour. What she got were pages full of mistakes.
@emermore7 I know I’m not the only one disappointed with the Eras Tour book, but I haven’t seen anyone else talk about the glaringly obvious grammatical errors and clunky sentences within the pages. I make this video with peace, love, and a general frustration about how easy many of these problems could have been fixed with one more set of editing eyes. This book just had so much potential, and with a little tweaking it could have been absolutely spectacular. #erastourbook #errorstour #booktok ♬ Cruel Summer – Taylor Swift
“People are lovingly dubbing this the errors tour book right now,” Emily noted in a TikTok that now has over 1 million views and hundreds of thousands of comments. “When I got home, I was actually blown away by the amount of grammatical mistakes I saw. I saw so many, in fact, that I am seriously questioning if this book was even edited.”
Emily isn’t the only one. Thousands of Swift fans have taken to social media with their discontent over the highly anticipated photo book. The complaints are varied. Some have posted photos of clunky grammar, factual mistakes on dates, and spelling errors in the lyrics of famous Swift songs.
Instead of “This is my trying,” Swift’s Folklore song is written, “this is me rying.” The full list of concerts is missing a Toronto date. A major complaint is also the photos, which fans have noted are pixelated, grainy, and low quality. A sparse few even received books with missing sections or inside pages flipped upside down. And photos that feature Swift and her line of dancers are cut so that Swift is almost hidden in the crease of the book’s pages. (Representatives for Swift did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.)
Mistakes in publishing happen. But as the book that was heralded as Swift’s rejection of traditional publishing houses by selling directly through Target, fans say the errors raise major concerns over whether the book really was a burden of love or a cash grab.
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The Eras Tour photo book was marketed by Swift as way for fans to commemorate her record-breaking and world-capturing two-year tour — which became the highest-grossing concert tour ever in 2023. When Swift announced the book, she said its 256 pages would include commentary and over 500 photographs from the live show. “Here is the official retrospective of the most wondrous tour of my life, my beloved Eras Tour,” Swift shared in a statement. “Thank you to the fans who came to this show. You were what made The Eras Tour what it became.” Each era, she said, would receive its own spotlight in the book, accompanied by commentary written by Swift herself about the performance photos and behind-the-scenes images. But in typical Swift fashion, the pop superstar and music magnate didn’t release the book through any of the biggest publishing houses. Instead, she cut out the middleman entirely and released the book exclusively through Target.
Sophie Vershbow, a former publishing marketer and now journalist, tells Rolling Stone that Swift’s decision to release her book on her own sparked speculation among experts about whether it could lead to a change in celebrities’ relationships with publishing. She notes that in a similar fashion, Swift bypassed film studios and released her Eras Tour Concert Film directly with AMC Theatres.
“Book publishers rely on these very large celebrity deals to carry their balance sheet throughout the year. Most books do not turn a profit for a publisher, so they’re really taking a couple of big bets a year and hoping that those pay off,” she tells Rolling Stone. “Anytime someone does a thing like this, you have to think about how it might impact people down the line. When you’re talking about massive celebrities, logically, you could see someone with a massive team learning from how Taylor Swift did it.”
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While Vershbow wrote in Esquire in November that a successful Eras Tour book launch could see celebrities attempting to follow in Swift’s footsteps, she also notes that many people underestimate the sheer work, time, and manpower it takes to get a book ready for release — something she speculates might have something to do with the glaring errors in Swift’s book.
“A lot goes into making a book. Printing, editing, there are so many parts of publishing that people don’t even think about. And now we’re seeing online that there are quality issues with the book,” Vershbow adds. “I went to the Eras Tour. Taylor Swift is not a sloppy person. And I have to imagine that there were good intentions to keep quality high on this, but that there’s a lot of things that her team didn’t consider, simply because they are not publishing experts.”
While fans debate whether to return the books or keep them as is, the mistakes haven’t affected sales. According to Business Insider, Target has named The Eras Tour Book as their highest selling work of the year, meaning even when disappointed, Swifties are still a force to be reckoned with.
From VOA Mandarin: Biden hits hard at China’s AI; Trump may pound harder
The Biden administration issued what is likely its final set of export control rules against Beijing earlier this week. The rules forbid companies from exporting an important chip component crucial for training artificial intelligence to China. Experts say it will further constrain the Chinese supply chain for AI. They also expect the next Trump administration…
Philippines and Israel seek to boost two-way tourism
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Holiday Gift Guide 2024: The Best Travel Jewelry
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedinIt’s tempting to take precious jewelry with you when traveling. The pieces we cherish are often expressions of our personality and add a touch of polish or pizzazz to any outfit.
However, bringing expensive valuables on a trip can pose unnecessary worries.
You risk losing something that holds sentimental value and may be irreplaceable.
You need to consider where to store expensive jewelry when you aren’t wearing it. Taking it in and out of a safe in a hotel room or cruise ship can be a hassle.
Finally, attracting attention by flaunting valuable possessions may not be prudent, depending on the value of the piece and your travel destination.
Travel jewelry is an elegant solution. It can be faux jewelry that mimics the real thing or less expensive pieces that are simply fun to wear.
We trolled the internet and spoke to frequent travelers to find travel jewelry at a range of price points that was classy-looking but didn’t cost thousands of dollars:
Coeur de Lion GeoCUBE Rose Gold NecklaceCoeur de Lion GeoCUBE Rose Gold NecklaceCoeur de Lion
Coeur de Lion jewelry is handmade in Stuttgart, Germany. The company uses high-quality materials (such as crystals, gemstones, and stainless steel) to create modern and timeless pieces that are made to last.
The collection of classic GeoCUBE necklaces is geometric in design and made with natural stones in a choice of colors. The stones are threaded onto gold or silver stainless-steel necklaces.
The necklace shown couples feminine rose-colored tones with shimmery rose gold accents. It is beautifully packaged in a gift-worthy designer box and retails for $265.
Colby Davis Pendant: Saint Christopher PendantColby Davis Saint Christopher pendantColby Davis of Boston
Colby Davis of Boston was founded by a mother-daughter team in the Back Bay neighborhood of the city. The duo specializes in glass enamel art.
This Saint Christopher pendant is made of gold vermeil (which is more durable than gold plating) and comes in three different sizes: small, medium, and large. You can also personalize the color of the glass enamel inlay, which has an image of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. The engraving on the back side of the pendant reads “Safe Travel, Safe Return.”
Colby Davis offers the option of 16, 18, or 20” chains, sold separately. The pendant looks lovely layered or on its own. These pendants promise to protection wearers from travel problems. The small one shown retails for $165.00.
Joanna Buchanan Starburst EarringsJoanna Buchanan Starburst EarringsJoanna Buchanan
These statement earrings by designer/curator Joanna Buchanan, shown in Lazuli Lazuli, can be worn with a navy sweater and blue jeans and would look just as great with a dinner dress. They are also available in coral, topaz, or turquoise.
The earrings sport a fanciful, geometric Art Deco shape and are made of brass plated in 24K gold with real lapis lazuli. They have a 2.25” drop and arrive in a lovely ready-to-gift box. They retail for $248.
Mejuri LabGrown Diamond Pear Climber StudsMejuri LabGrown Diamond Pear Climber StudsMejuri
Called climber studs or ear crawlers, these fashion-forward earrings offer the appearance of multiple piercings climbing up the ear but require only a single piercing.
Made by Mejuri, a company that began in Toronto and is now a global brand, the earrings are 14K gold with three pear-shaped diamond studs. Each stone is about .022 carats, and the earrings’ length is 4.65mm (just shy of two inches.) The studs are set with SCS Certified Sustainability Rated lab-grown diamonds—ethically and responsibly produced diamonds that meet rigorous standards for sustainability. They retail for $498.
Brilliant Earth Devon Paperclip NecklaceBrilliant Earth Devon Paperclip Chain NecklaceBrilliant Earth
This 16” paper clip chain necklace with a lobster clasp is stylish and can be worn separately or layered with other pieces. It’s shown paired with another necklace (also offered by Brilliant Earth).
The chain has large links that are attractive on a solid color top or dress. It is equally appealing worn under a low-cut blouse. It comes from Beth Gersten and Eric Grossberg, who founded Brilliant Earth in 2005 with a mission to make sustainable and ethical jewelry. Brilliant Earth has stores nationwide, including three in New York City. This necklace shown ist in 14K yellow gold and it’s also available in white gold. Retails for $395.
Brilliant Earth Paperclip Necklace
Patou Gold-Plated EarringsPatou Gold-Plated Coin EarringsPatou
Contemporary interpretations of gold coin jewelry are always classic. These oversized coin earrings bear the imprint of Patou, a fashion house created by Jean Patou in 1914.
Handcrafted in Indonesia, these gold-plated brass earrings with a hammered texture were inspired by antique coins. They are engraved with the Patou logo and have a comfortable push-back closure. They come packaged in an organic cotton dust bag (perfect for travel) and delivered in a recycled cardboard box. Retail at $270.
Patou Gold-Plated Earrings
Bea Bongiasca BB EarringsBea Bongiasca BB EarringsBea Bongiasca
Bea Bongiasca opened her flagship store at 25 Via Solferino in Milan in 2019. The designer is known for her playful, non-traditional style and use of classic metals paired with bright enamels, not common in fine jewelry.
These signature earrings have a bold look with kinetic movement. Made in Italy, they are elegant in 9K yellow or 925/100 silver, but they can be customized with enamel cuffs in different colors that hang on the earring, adding length and motion. Retails for $480.
Sophie Monet The Lillith EarringsSophie Monet The Lillith EarringsSophie Monet
Working primarily in wood, Sophie Monet is a line of jewelry handcrafted by Sophie Monet Okulick in Venice, California. The designer works with scrap pieces of wood from her father’s workshop to create wearable art inspired by nature and the earth. Her sleek, spirited, geometric designs have been featured in Vogue and Elle magazines.
These Lilith earrings are neutral in color, made with wood spheres and freshwater, irregularly shaped Barouque pearls. It’s a great beachy look for a cruise or resort vacation. Made with gold-plated brass ear wires, they are light and easy to wear. Retail for $175.00.
GERMAN KABIRSKI Verina Peridot RingGERMAN KABIRSKI GERMAN KABIRSKI
One of the worst things to lose or misplace while traveling is your wedding band or an expensive cocktail ring. This Verina Peridot Ring is simply dazzling and adds a touch of glamour to any outfit. The lime green gemstone is set atop 925 silver plater with white rhodium and 18K gold.
The brand was founded in 2000 by a contemporary jewelry designer, German Kabirski, a member of the leading US jewelry association, Jewelers of America. He is known for his rebellious approach to jewelry design. Retails for $470.
Arden Round Amethyst Floating NecklaceAmethyst Floating NecklaceArden Jewelers
Arden Jewelers is a family-owned business in Sacramento that has been operating for over 35 years. The jewelers recommend silver as an excellent choice for travel jewelry because of its lower price point and flexibility for dressing it up or down.
The rich purple amethyst gemstone is set in a simple but attractive sterling silver bezel to be worn on its own or with layers. The sterling silver cable chain is a delicate one that doesn’t compete with the stone. Retails for 295.00.
GLAZD Jewels Tennis SetGlazed Drip SetGlazd
Based in New York and shipping globally, GLAZD Jewels couples the latest jewelry trends with affordability. All the jewelry is made from sterling silver 925 and stainless steel; the pieces are hypoallergenic, won’t tarnish or turn skin green, and are waterproof, promising longevity.
The bundle shown includes the Tennis Drip Necklace and Tennis Drip Bracelet. It comes in a silver or gold finish and both pieces comes in two different lengths. Set retails for $130.“High-value items should stay safely at home or in a hotel safe when absolutely necessary, but affordable travel pieces can let you enjoy your vacation worry-free.”
Ashleigh Trent, co-founder of Tower Street Insurance.
If you do take it with you, read my blog post that includes Tips For Traveling with Precious Jewelry on MoreTimeToTravel.com
Jennifer Jolly’s top tech picks this holiday season
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Still scrambling for the perfect presents for everyone on your gift list? You’re not alone—most of us are! Tech expert Jennifer Jolly has some fantastic gift ideas to wow your loved ones.- Lingo by Abbott Continuous Glucose Monitor-iRobot Roomba Combo® 10 Max Robot + AutoWash™ Dock- Blink Mini 2- Scooby-Doo Character Studio- ROLI Piano M: Smarter Piano LearningAbout Jennifer JollyJennifer Jolly is an Emmy award-winning journalist and tech-lifestyle expert who writes, broadcasts and speaks about technology relating to everyday life. Jenn is the nationally syndicated tech-life columnist and “Tech Now” host for USA Today and its newspaper and broadcast affiliates. She also regularly contributes to the Today Show and many other radio and television news programs. Her stories and commentary reach an estimated two billion people every month. Interview Provided by techish.comCopyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.
One of the best movies of the year is also the most surprising
This has been a great year for movies. But one of the best has surprised audiences with every showing. Sean Baker’s Cinderella story put Anora (Mikey Madison) in an impossible situation and she made us laugh and cry through the entire film.
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Anora tells the story of a sex worker from Brooklyn who meets a young man named Vanya (Mark Eidelstein) who is visiting from Russia. He pays her to sleep with him and the two spend a week together before they decide to get married. While Anora thinks this is the fairytale she’s been waiting for, she quickly learns that Vanya isn’t the strong man she thought he was. A lot of the film is centered around Anora stuck in a car with people who work for Vanya’s parents, going to find them. She fights with Igor (Yura Borisov) and calls him names and thinks that she is still going to end up in love with Vanya at the end of the day. What made Anora so captivating to watch was Madison. She embodies this young woman who is so used to making others feel good that when she finds her own happiness, she wants to cling to it. Anora never feels shallow. She feels like a character who has had to fight for everything in her life, including what she thinks is love. At first, you think that Anora’s story is one of greed or a woman trying to find money to leave her life behind. Vanya is that ticket out. But really, Anora thrives in Anora’s inability to really let herself understand love instead of accepting what she thinks is love from Vanya. Watching her stuck in a car, searching for a man who abandoned her, you really see the pain that takes over her.
Mikey Madison is perfection A movie like this can feel gratuitous but Madison’s take on Anora brings a sadness to her. She doesn’t seem to hate her life as a dancer and sex worker but we watch as she is promised “more.” That hope takes over and she is genuinely happy for one moment with Vanya and it makes the third act that much more heartbreaking. When Igor and Toros (Karren Karagulian) and Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan) all force her to travel with them to find Vanya, we get to watch as she slowly loses hope that he really does love her. By the end of the movie, she is alone and back where she started but an appreciation is born between Igor and Anora that leads to one of the more devastating final scenes in a film this year.
I feel like Baker’s take on a woman like Anora is really something special. She could have across as shallow or desperate but Madison brings us an Anora who is fully realized when we first meet her. We are just on a journey of self discovery with her and realizing her own worth. She is someone who doesn’t understand what love can be and Anora leaves us heartbroken but also hopeful that she can find it outside of the whirlwind of Vanya.
It is easily one of the best movies of this entire year and one that will stay with you.
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Ukraine demands Russia return ‘kidnapped’ children
UNITED NATIONS — Ukraine demanded Wednesday that Russia end what Kyiv called “the largest kidnapping campaign in modern history” and return Ukrainian children forcibly transferred from its territory during the ongoing war. “Ukraine is searching for nearly 20,000 children who were subjected to illegal deportation and forced transfer,” said Daria Zarivna, an adviser to Ukraine’s…
Where to watch and stream all 6 ‘Home Alone’ movies this holiday season
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but the holiday season hasn’t truly begun until you’ve watched “Home Alone,” the iconic film series that launched Macaulay Culkin to superstardom. “Home Alone” has inspired several mischievous spinoffs over the years, but diehard fans are pretty partial to the original two films, two of which star Culkin as Kevin McCallister. Whether you’re watching them for the first or 100th time, the holiday season is a great time to grab a lovely cheese pizza and say, “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals.”Here’s how to watch “Home Alone” in 2024.How to watch ‘Home Alone’ (1990)Macaulay Culkin in ‘Home Alone.’AlamySynopsis: As the youngest of five children, Kevin McCallister knows all about feeling misunderstood. While getting ready for a family vacation to Paris, the 8-year-old’s frustrations come to a boiling point and he wishes that his family would disappear. The next morning, his parents forget him at home while they’re rushing out the door with the rest of their crew. When he realizes he was left home alone, Kevin does what any kid his age would — eats junk and watches rubbish — and he faces some of his biggest fears, like his scary basement. Then he’s forced to defend his castle when a pair of burglars, called the Wet Bandits, set their sights on his home. With little time to prepare, Kevin gets to work laying out a maze of traps for the crooks and serves up plenty of laughs along the way.Where to watch it: “Home Alone” is currently streaming on Disney+ and Sling TV (premium subscription). For those looking to rent or buy the film, it’s available on Amazon Prime, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube. How to watch ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’ (1992) Culkin in ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.’Alamy Synopsis: After defeating the Wet Bandits and reuniting with his family on Christmas last year, Kevin is looking forward to a less hectic holiday this year. When his family decides to travel to Florida, Kevin is worried he won’t see any Christmas trees, but he goes along for the ride. In the hectic airport, Kevin gets separated from his family and ends up on a flight to New York City while the rest of the McCallisters land in sunny Florida. While he’s in the Big Apple, Kevin books himself a giant hotel suite, heads to the biggest toy store around and eats the finest delicacies the big city has to offer (a.k.a. pizza). Unfortunately, he runs into his old foes, who just broke out of jail and reinvented themselves as the Sticky Bandits. Another battle ensues while Kevin is forced to think outside of the box now that he’s not on his home turf anymore. Where to watch it: “Home Alone 2” is currently streaming on Disney+ and Sling TV (premium subscription) and is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango at Home and Google Play.How to watch ‘Home Alone 3′ (1997) Alex D. Linz in “Home Alone 3.”Everett CollectionSynopsis: Sure, it’s the first “Home Alone” film without Culkin in it, but “Home Alone 3” is a classic all the same. Alex D. Linz stars as Alex Pruitt, an 8-year-old who’s forced to fend off international criminals while he’s home alone with the chicken pox.After hiding a military computer chip in a toy car, four spies misplace the coveted item in an airport baggage kerfuffle. It ends up in the hands of Alex, whose house comes under siege when the crooks attempt to take it back. Much like Kevin, Alex knows how to defend his home and gives the criminals a run for their money. Where to watch it: “Home Alone 3” is currently streaming on Disney+ and Sling TV (premium subscription). It’s also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube. How to watch ‘Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House’ (2002)’Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House’ Everett CollectionSynopsis: Nine-year-old Kevin (Michael Weinberg) isn’t thrilled to spend Christmas with his dad at his new girlfriend Natalie’s (Joanna Going) home, but he sure enjoys all the cool tech gadgets she has in her smart house. Kevin puts all those cool gizmos to the test when his enemy Marv (French Stewart) attempts to break in to Natalie’s home and takes the burglar on a wild ride. Where to watch it: “Home Alone: Taking Back the House” is currently streaming on Disney+ and is available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Fandango At Home, Google Play and YouTube.How to watch ‘Home Alone: The Holiday Heist’ (2012)’Home Alone: The Holiday Heist’Everett CollectionSynopsis: Unlike the other “Home Alone” films, this version features two kids who are home alone when they encounter several burglars. Ten-year-old Finn thinks his new house is haunted and creates a ghost trap. He gets more than he bargained for when three criminals try to break into the home to steal a painting while he’s alone with his sister. Luckily, Finn has quite a few tricks up his sleeves and is ready with plenty of booby traps. Where to watch it: “Home Alone: The Holiday Heist” is currently streaming on Disney+. It’s also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Fandango At Home, Google Play and YouTube.How to watch ‘Home Sweet Home Alone’ (2021)’Home Sweet Home Alone’Alamy Synopsis: The most recent installment in the “Home Alone” franchise is “Home Sweet Home Alone,” which debuted on Disney+ in 2021. Archie Yates plays Max, a young boy whose family accidentally leaves him at home while they’re traveling to Tokyo for the holidays. When two burglars (played by Rob Delaney and Ellie Kemper) attempt to rob his home, Max gets creative and devises a plan to defend his territory. Devin Ratray, who played Kevin’s brother Buzz in the original “Home Alone,” makes an appearance in the film, and plays a local police officer.Where to watch it: “Home Sweet Home Alone” is currently streaming exclusively on Disney+.