Category Archives: culture

Nurses at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital take young patients trick-or-treating

The Halloween spirit was thriving at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Southwest Miami-Dade.

The hospital’s nurses and young patients enjoyed a fun-filled day of dressing up, embracing the festive atmosphere together.

From colorful costumes to cheerful decorations, the celebration brought smiles and laughter throughout the hospital, creating memorable moments for everyone involved.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/nurses-at-nicklaus-childrens-hospital-take-young-patients-trick-or-treating/

King Charles Destroys His Brother Over Epstein. America Dithers

Born into unimaginable luxury and showered with honors, the man formerly known as His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York, will henceforth be addressed as plain old Mr. Mountbatten Windsor.

This significant change marks a new chapter in his life, stripping away the royal titles that once defined his public persona. The transition reflects a departure from the privileges and formalities associated with his former status, bringing him closer to the experiences of everyday citizens.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-10-31/epstein-files-king-charles-destroys-his-brother-andrew-while-america-dithers

Ink & Dagger Reunite For First Show In Almost 15 Years

Happy Halloween, boys and ghouls!

In the nasty ’90s, the vampire-themed hardcore band Ink & Dagger emerged from the scary streets of Kill-adelphia. They brought their brand of beastly terror all across the land until frontman Sean McCabe’s sudden and untimely death in 1999. (That’s not me being spooky—he really died.)

Ink & Dagger reunited in 2010, slaying some shows with Thursday singer Geoff Sick-ly standing in for McCabe. A few weeks ago, they announced plans for some rotten reissues and more shivery shows at their hometown’s Worst Unitarian Church.

The first of these shows just happened, and it was a graveyard smash!
https://www.stereogum.com/2328351/ink-dagger-reunite-for-first-show-in-almost-15-years/news/

Why Was Melissa Barrera From ‘Scream 7’? Here’s the Reason She Got Axed & Her Response

**Scream 7 Release Set for February 2026 Amid Controversy Surrounding Melissa Barrera’s Departure**

The highly anticipated *Scream 7* is finally slated for theatrical release in February 2026, arriving more than two years after the unexpected firing of Melissa Barrera from the project. When news of her exit broke, horror fans were shocked, with some vowing to boycott the upcoming installment. However, with original final girl Neve Campbell and fan favorites like Matthew Lillard returning to the franchise, many remain excited to see Ghostface unleash terror once again.

**Melissa Barrera’s Role in the Scream Franchise**

Melissa Barrera has appeared in two *Scream* films: 2022’s *Scream* and 2023’s *Scream VI*, portraying Samantha “Sam” Carpenter. Her character quickly became a fan favorite, making her sudden removal from *Scream 7* all the more surprising.

**Why Was Melissa Barrera Fired From Scream 7?**

Spyglass Media reportedly fired Melissa Barrera due to her public comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. In one of her Instagram Stories, Melissa wrote:

*“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity, no water. People have learnt nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”*

Following the backlash, Spyglass Media released an official statement to *Variety* through a spokesperson:

*“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”*

**Director Christopher Landon Clarifies He Did Not Fire Melissa**

Contrary to some rumors, original *Scream 7* director Christopher Landon was not responsible for Melissa’s firing. Addressing the situation on social media, Landon tweeted:

*“This is my statement: Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”*

**Melissa Barrera’s Response to Her Firing**

Melissa addressed the controversy and her dismissal in a heartfelt message, beginning with:

*“First and foremost, I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.”*

She continued:

*“As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore, I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need.”*

Melissa also emphasized the importance of human rights for all:

*“Every person on this earth regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status deserves equal human rights, dignity and, of course, freedom.”*

She added:

*“I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me.”*

**Why Is Jenna Ortega Not in Scream 7?**

Initial reports suggested Jenna Ortega left *Scream 7* due to scheduling conflicts with other projects, such as *Wednesday*. However, in an April 2025 interview with *The Cut*, Jenna clarified:

*“It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling. The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart.”*

She further explained that multiple key figures had exited the film:

*“Not only did filmmaker Christopher exit the film, but directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin also left after I stepped down.”*

Jenna summed up her decision by saying:

*“If Scream VII wasn’t going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time.”*

The *Scream* franchise is undoubtedly navigating a turbulent chapter, but with iconic faces returning and fans eagerly awaiting its release, February 2026 promises an intense and thrilling comeback for Ghostface.
https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/why-was-melissa-barrera-fired-scream-7-5483207/

Fortnite Sidekicks are new customizable companions

Epic Games has announced the arrival of Sidekicks, new companions designed to accompany players in Fortnite. These customizable creatures will be available across multiple game modes, including Battle Royale and LEGO Fortnite, as well as other titles developed by Epic.

Sidekicks are set to debut with the launch of the next season on November 1. As revealed in a recent blog post, these companions will travel alongside players as they explore the map and engage in battles. While Sidekicks do not provide any competitive advantage, they add a layer of personality by mimicking player emotes and reacting to in-game actions.

Most Sidekicks will be customizable upon acquisition, allowing players to personalize their companions. However, once customization choices are finalized, they become permanent. Players can earn Sidekick Points (SP) through gameplay, which can be spent to unlock a variety of new cosmetic options for their Sidekicks.

Several Sidekicks have already been unveiled. Among them is Peels, a playful banana puppy that players can earn through the new Battle Pass starting November 1, 2025. Additionally, Bonesy, Spike, and Lil’ Raptor will be available for purchase in the Item Shop beginning November 7.

With their charm and unique interactions, Sidekicks are set to bring a fun and fresh dynamic to the Fortnite experience in the upcoming season.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146591/fortnite-sidekicks-companions-announced

Now That’s Some Hissing Humor: 27 Cat Memes to Boost Your Spirits Until Halloween

Hello, fellow feline fans! It’s the day before Halloween, that magical time when the air smells faintly of pumpkin spice, half the neighborhood is covered in fake cobwebs, and our cats are one spooky shadow away from accidentally scaring us to death.

The almost-Halloween mood is bubbling with excitement. The costumes are ready (or maybe the cats have already shredded them), and we’re just counting down the hours until spooky o’clock finally arrives.

But how do we pass the time until then? With cat memes, of course! Because let’s be honest—cats and Halloween are kindred spirits. They’re mysterious, dramatic, slightly chaotic, and occasionally seen sprinting across the room at invisible forces.

You don’t need ghosts when your cat already stares at walls like they’re haunted.
https://cheezburger.com/42970373/now-thats-some-hissing-humor-27-cat-memes-to-boost-your-spirits-until-halloween

Nutley’s Meya Ranges takes third in Essex XC Championships

Up until last week, Meya Ranges’ senior season has been all about pacing and patience. Throughout the offseason, Ranges focused on improving her pacing on the course to ensure she could finish races stronger. During the regular season, she was strategically held out of some of Nutley’s dual meets, keeping bigger goals in mind—namely the Essex County and upcoming NJSIAA state and sectional championships.

On Friday at Cedar Grove Park, that training and approach paid off in a big way. Ranges smashed her previous career best by running a 19:09.07 to claim third place at the Essex County Championships. Her medal-winning performance earned her The Observer Athlete of the Week honors.

For Ranges, this marked her second consecutive third-place finish at the Essex County Championships. Last fall, she took third with a time of 19:41.50.

“Going into Friday, I was really confident in myself, and now I have more experience running a 5K,” Ranges said. “I knew how to pace it, and I pretty much ran my own race. I definitely think I’m hitting my stride right now. I think a lot of the credit goes to my training and my coaches. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t run as many dual meets as I did before, just to save my legs for the championship season. I’ve been doing a lot of tempo runs during the dual meets, and that has definitely helped.”

Head coach Kara McNish added, “With Meya, we kind of mapped out the whole season, looking at invitationals and recovery time. I gave her certain days that she wasn’t going to race, like the Essex County Invitational and some dual meets. Last year, we didn’t do that at all, which I think, in the end, weighed heavy on her legs. By the time we got to sectionals and groups, she was feeling it.”

For Ranges, sitting out those dual meets wasn’t always easy. She admitted to feeling a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) as she did her work separately from her teammates.

“I want to save my legs, but I want to be running. I want to be with them,” Ranges said, also crediting swimming and cross-training for helping her get stronger heading into the season. “But I know it’s for the better because Cedar Grove is all concrete, so it’s definitely harsh on your legs. Saving my energy, going to the track, and doing a tempo workout really did help. I felt really fresh on Friday.”

With her legs fresh and another year of experience under her belt, Ranges felt much more comfortable heading into this year’s county meet. Just ten days earlier, at the Super Essex Conference Championships, she set a then-personal best with a time of 19:19.40 at Cedar Grove.

According to Ranges, she didn’t start with the front pack in the field of 106 runners. Instead, she gradually made her way toward the front while saving a strong kick for the end.

“I definitely wanted to go under 19:20, but I really had no idea what was going to happen because everybody in Essex County is so good—everyone’s improving,” Ranges said. “So I just wanted to stay up, run my own race, try to catch up to the lead pack, and then kick at the end. That was my goal, and I executed it pretty well.”
https://www.theobserver.com/2025/10/29/nutleys-meya-ranges-takes-third-in-essex-xc-championships/

Why Bold & Beautiful Fans Think Luna & Sheila May Soon Join Forces

Fans of *The Bold and the Beautiful* can’t stop talking about the latest developments involving Luna Nozawa and Sheila Carter, also known as Sheila Sharpe. The soap has recently delivered plenty of drama, secrets, and confessions, leading many viewers to believe that an unexpected alliance between these two women might be on the horizon.

Given how the storyline is unfolding, there’s a strong argument that Luna Nozawa and Sheila Carter could soon be working together—however uneasy or surprising that partnership may seem. But will Sheila and Luna actually team up in the upcoming episodes of *The Bold & the Beautiful*?

Recent episodes have dropped some major bombshells. Things are rapidly going downhill for Deacon Sharpe and Sheila Carter. Deacon is opening up to his kids and growing closer to psychiatrist Taylor Hayes, signaling a shift in his personal life. Meanwhile, Sheila continues to claim she’s changed, but fans remain skeptical given her long history of revenge and unpredictable emotions. Many believe it’s only a matter of time before she reverts to her old ways—especially once Deacon finally calls it quits.

While Sheila’s world seems to be falling apart, trouble is brewing behind bars for Luna Nozawa. Luna isn’t sitting idle in prison; she’s playing her cards smart. She’s been tugging at Will Spencer’s heartstrings, using their unborn child to gain sympathy and possibly secure an early release.

Word is, Bill Spencer and Katie Logan are already discussing the possibility of bringing Luna back to the Spencer estate. If Will succeeds in convincing them, Luna could find herself right back into the lives of the very people she once went after.

With Luna possibly out of prison and Sheila on shaky ground, it looks like the show is setting up a risky reunion. Fans are buzzing about what could happen if two of the soap’s most manipulative characters join forces. Sheila’s explosive temper combined with Luna’s cleverness could pose a serious threat to the Forresters, Logans, and Spencers.

It’s also important to remember that Sheila Carter is Luna Nozawa’s grandmother and has been quietly watching over and protecting her all along. This family connection adds another layer of intrigue to their potential alliance moving forward.

Stay tuned to *The Bold and the Beautiful* for all the twists and turns ahead!
https://www.comingsoon.net/guides/news/2049380-bold-and-beautiful-sheila-luna-team-up-spoilers-deacon-will

‘Moments of the Unknown’: Justin Aversano Shares Globetrotting Love Letter to Humanity

For his latest project, artist and photographer Justin Aversano—known for his acclaimed series “Twin Flames”—set out with a simple compass: love. Armed with just a camera, intuition, and an unspoken promise to document humanity across all seven continents, Aversano embarked on a remarkable journey.

The result is *“Moments of the Unknown,”* a living archive of global intimacy. This ambitious work is currently presented as an exhibition at Glitch Gallery in Marfa, Texas, coinciding with the Art Blocks Marfa Weekend this month. Additionally, a documentary screening is being held at the nearby Crowley Theater.

Decrypt had the opportunity to sit down with Aversano for an inside look at his journey, reflections, and creative process.

### From a Quiet Film to an Audio-Visual Experiment

Initially, Aversano planned the film to be a much quieter affair.
“It was mostly just gonna be no sound,” he recalls.

However, the project evolved as he traveled across continents into an audio-visual experiment. Hundreds of brief video portraits were stitched together, enhanced by soundscapes sourced from humanity’s most iconic artifact of love and hope: the “Voyager Golden Record.”

This phonograph record, sent into space in 1977, contains sounds and images representing Earth. Carl Sagan chaired the NASA committee that assembled the record.

“I wanted to reintegrate that historical movement in culture and space exploration—and use it as the soundtrack for a film about cultures and continents around the world and how they’re connected,” Aversano explained.

Each location in the film resonates with its own fragment from these sounds. Voices speak in 55 different languages, and delegates from the United Nations each say one simple word: “Hello.” It all culminates with the film’s final line: **“Hello from the children of planet Earth.”**

### Love as a Universal Language

At its core, *“Moments of the Unknown”* is about love—but not just romantic love. It encompasses family, friendship, and a sense of oneness.

“What I discovered while shooting is that love has so many forms,” Aversano shared.
“It became about unity, closeness, intimacy. The love of humanity and recognizing we are one human family.”

Rather than scouting subjects in advance, Aversano woke up each day uncertain of who he would meet. With no checklist for diversity or specific goals, he captured human encounters as they came—children, elders, strangers, twins, entire families.

Even the recurring heartbeat sounds in the soundtrack have personal significance. “That’s family,” he explained. “My dad, my sister, my brother. Moments where I felt presence and love.”

### Self-Portraits, Time Capsules, and a Nod to Twin Flames

Aversano quietly inserts himself into his projects, and *“Moments of the Unknown”* is no exception. His first appearance is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo at a barbershop in New Orleans.

“I just wanted to be a prop in her portrait,” he said.

Another self-portrait appears at Stonehenge on his birthday—an intentional callback to his earliest work, *“The Birthday Project.”* He calls it “an Easter egg,” a thread linking ten years of his artistry.

People reappear over time in his work. They age. Twins emerge, old and new. “I always run into twins,” he laughs, referencing his highly regarded *Twin Flames* series.

*Twin Flames* caught fire with collectors when photos of twin siblings were minted as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain in 2021. Those tokenized photos even made it to auction house Christie’s and attracted celebrity admirers like Snoop Dogg and Gary Vaynerchuk.

“I never say no,” Aversano admits. “It’s twin flames.”

### The Most Remote Chapter: Antarctica

One of the project’s most challenging chapters was shot in Antarctica.

“A two-day boat from Argentina. Seven days there, two days back,” he shared.

When asked to name a favorite country, he answered philosophically:
“You can’t choose a favorite when it’s all one.”

### A Living Diary, Daily NFT Auctions, and Ongoing Connection

Aversano shot the project two years ago and is releasing each portrait and video exactly on the same calendar day it was taken. The series began on April 8 and will conclude on April 7, 2026.

Each evening, he writes a diaristic entry about the person he met that day. He is now auctioning these daily portraits as unique, single-edition NFTs. Impressively, Aversano hasn’t missed a day.

Every day at 12 pm ET, he hosts an X Spaces conversation to discuss the day’s auction, creating an ongoing dialogue with his audience.

### Reflections on Impact and Reception

When asked what he hopes viewers take away from the film, Aversano focused not on legacy or sales, but on emotional connection.
“Did you feel something?” he asked. “That’s all I want.”

Reflecting on the emotional reception he experienced in Marfa last weekend—where he was brought to tears—he said simply:
“I feel blessed, grateful. What more can you ask?”

*“Moments of the Unknown”* stands as a beautiful testament to love, unity, and shared humanity—a powerful reminder that, no matter where we come from, we are all connected.
https://decrypt.co/345942/moments-unknown-justin-aversano-debuts-globetrotting-love-letter-humanity

25 Freshest and Funniest Feline Funnies to Fill Your Week With Fluffy Fabulousness

Sunday morning. Time to take a deep breath. You have a day off, finally. Finally, a break. Some time to rest, to chill, to do the things that we love to do.

Sundays are important not only because we can finally rest after a long week, but also because we can spend our time being *purrductive* in the ways that we actually want to be. It means filling our days with wholesomeness, pawsitivity, fluffy fabulousness, and of course, funny cat memes.

Listen, scrolling through hilarious cat memes really is one of the most productive things that you can do for your mental health. Why? Because it makes you smile. Because whatever you were thinking about and worrying about before, you no longer are. Your brain blanks.

Cat memes are pure. No negativity, no drama, no nothing. When you’re scrolling through these memes, your mind is filled with nothing but that purity and goodness.

And if that is not the *purrfect* way to spend your time productively, then we don’t know what is.
https://cheezburger.com/42867205/25-freshest-and-funniest-feline-funnies-to-fill-your-week-with-fluffy-fabulousness