Tag Archives: consciousness

general

‘Pluribus’ Book by Rhea Seehorn’s Carol Sturka Available to Download

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Are you a big fan of mindless escapism? Well, you’re in luck. An excerpt from the fictional book *Bloodsong of Wycaro*—the latest novel in Carol Sturka’s *Winds of Wycaro* romantasy series—is now available to read on Apple Books.

*Bloodsong of Wycaro* is featured within the new sci-fi drama *Pluribus*, produced and distributed by Apple TV and created by Vince Gilligan. You can download the 11-page chapter [here](#).

In the first episode of *Pluribus*, Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn) reads an excerpt from *Bloodsong of Wycaro* during a book signing at Barnes & Noble. Many of her fans confront her about why the series’ heartthrob, Raban, is not featured on the cover. These concerns are addressed in a “Letter From the Author,” where Carol also shares her thoughts on the tale of Sisyphus.

Within *Pluribus*, Carol loathes her bestselling work—and the fans who devour every page. The description of *Bloodsong of Wycaro*, which is the fourth book in the *Wycaro* series, reads:

> “Take sail with Lucasia, Captain of the duneship *Mercator*, as she traverses the amaranthine sands of Wycaro seeking a cure for the insidious illness felling her crew. As Lucasia navigates a treacherous storm, she is haunted by memories of Raban, the rogue who stole her heart before walking the plank. Seething with passions which cry for release, she soon learns the only thing worse than finding yourself alone in the dark is discovering you’re not alone.”

Sound familiar?

*Pluribus* follows Carol after an Earth-shattering event known as “The Joining,” when all but 12 people on the planet are suddenly taken over by a mind virus that transforms them into friendly, all-knowing entities sharing one collective consciousness. Carol, described as “the most miserable person on Earth,” must fight for her individuality while the rest of the world tries to figure out how to “fix” her.

*Pluribus* debuted on November 7, and the first three episodes are now available to stream on Apple TV.
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/pluribus-book-wycaro-carol-sturka-how-to-read-1236582365/

crime, law, politics

Mountain View barber, an HIV positive man accused of sexually assaulting 60 men, appears in court

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — An international effort has led to the arrest of a wanted Mountain View man, Franklin Enrique Sarceño Orla, 35, who appeared in court on Monday.

Sarceño Orla is accused of assaulting at least 19 men, with the number of victims potentially as high as 60, in incidents dating back to 2018. He made his first court appearance in a Santa Clara County courtroom, where he faces charges that could lead to life in prison.

Mountain View Police Department Detective Lauren Riffel, the lead investigator on the case, revealed that Sarceño Orla allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted multiple men while working as a barber.

“When you have more than one, that’s crazy enough,” Det. Riffel said. “When you have more than 5, 10, going all the way up to over 60 people — talking to 60 humans that were victimized in a certain population — it’s terrible to have to hear these stories over and over again.”

Sarceño Orla had fled the country to Guatemala but was recently brought back to the United States for his court appearance. District Attorney Jeff Rosen explained that Sarceño Orla skipped court after posting bail following his arrest for his first alleged rape last fall.

Court documents detail a troubling series of crimes dating back to 2018. Victims reported losing consciousness after sharing drinks with Sarceño Orla, then waking up injured in his home. Some of the victims were clients at his home barber shop in Mountain View, while others were men he met in local nightclubs.

Additionally, DA Rosen confirmed that enhancements have been added to the charges because Sarceño Orla is HIV positive.

“Once this individual fled the country, we made sure that we did everything we could to bring him back,” Rosen said. “We don’t forget.”

Mountain View Police Chief Michael Canfield praised the survivors who came forward, helping to bring this case to justice.

“In my career of almost 27 years, I have never seen a case like this with this scope, with his breadth of impact on our community,” Chief Canfield said. “With this arrest, our community is safer and our victims know that there is justice that they can seek.”

Sarceño Orla remains in custody after a judge ruled no bail will be allowed. He is scheduled to return to court for his next appearance in January.

### Resources
If you or someone you know needs help with sexual assault, rape, or abuse, please seek support from local resources and organizations specializing in victim assistance.
https://abc7news.com/post/franklin-enrique-sarceo-orla-mountain-view-barber-accused-sexually-assaulting-least-19-men-makes-1st-court-appearance/18078303/

accident, crime, death, local, traffic

Woman Dies After Car Plows Into Pedestrians Near Nagoya Station

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NAGOYA, Oct 15 — A woman who had been in critical condition after being struck by a small car near JR Nagoya Station was confirmed dead on October 15, according to Aichi Prefectural Police.

The 49-year-old victim was one of three pedestrians hit at an intersection in Nakamura Ward when the vehicle veered out of its lane.

A 36-year-old male company employee, who was also in critical condition, has regained consciousness but suffered a fractured spine and other serious injuries. Another victim, a 48-year-old female temporary worker, sustained a severe neck fracture.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, including the possibility that the driver crossed over lane markings before the collision.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147291.php

business, entertainment, india, media, movies

Does Prabhas’s ‘The Raja Saab’ have no OTT buyers?

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**Does Prabhas’s ‘The Raja Saab’ Have No OTT Buyers?**

*By Shreya Mukherjee | Oct 03, 2025, 05:12 PM*

**What’s the Story?**

The digital rights deal for Prabhas’s upcoming film, *The Raja Saab*, is yet to be finalized. This delay has reportedly caused concern among the makers, who are actively seeking a lucrative offer for the film’s OTT rights.

**Budget Concerns: Top Platforms Reluctant to Splurge**

The production team has reportedly spent around ₹400 crore on *The Raja Saab*. However, top streaming platforms seem hesitant to invest heavily in acquiring the digital rights. They are reportedly playing hardball in negotiations, aiming to secure a lower price as the makers grow eager to close the deal.

Sources suggest, “The top platforms are not in the mood to shell out huge amounts on this horror comedy which has mostly Telugu nativity.”

**Marketing Strategy: Trailer Released to Generate Buzz**

To keep the film in the public consciousness and attract potential buyers, the makers recently released the trailer for *The Raja Saab*. While Prabhas enjoys a massive fan following worldwide, the film’s genre—a horror comedy, rather than an all-out actioner—is affecting its appeal among the wider audience.

*The Raja Saab* is slated to hit theaters on January 9, 2026.

**Film Insights: What to Know About ‘The Raja Saab’**

Directed by Maruthi, *The Raja Saab* has completed principal shooting except for one romantic song scheduled to be filmed in December. The movie has been in production for over two years and faced delays due to Prabhas’s injury and his busy schedule.

Alongside Prabhas, the film stars Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar in lead roles.

Stay tuned for more updates as the film approaches its release date.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/uncertainty-surrounds-the-raja-saab-ott-deal/story