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http://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Daniel-Palencia-Cubs-NLWCG3.jpgDavid Banks-Imagn Images They say that in order to thrive in stressful and uncertain times, the key is to focus on the things you control. And who are “they” exactly? Mostly people who traffic in self-help cliches on the internet. But cliches are cliches for a reason. They’re rooted in some measure of truth. And in a decisive Game 3 on Thursday, the NL Wild Card Series between the Cubs and Padres was ultimately decided by control — in nearly every sense of the word. The type of control that refers to whether a pitcher can find the strike zone, the type of control a manager exercises over bullpen usage, and the type of control exerted over batted ball outcomes when lockdown defense becomes a critical component of a team’s identity. In a 3-1 Cubs victory over the Padres, neither team looked dominant, but Chicago dominated the variables within its control, while San Diego seemed to be pulling blocks from a Jenga tower on an inning-by-inning basis and hoping to stay upright until its offense could break through with a few runs. But things got wobbly early for the Padres. Coming off his age-38 season, Yu Darvish got the start for San Diego. He made multiple trips to the IL during the regular season with elbow inflammation, and despite Darvish’s return to the active roster, in his postgame comments to the media, Padres manager Mike Shildt implied the pitcher was never fully healthy. As a result, Darvish posted a career-low strikeout rate to go along with a career-high home run rate and ERA, while totaling just 72 innings pitched. On Thursday, Darvish opened up the first inning leaving fastballs over the heart of the plate and missing the zone badly with his breaking pitches. He did not seem in control. He made it through the first inning despite allowing a leadoff single to Michael Busch on a middle-middle cutter. Nico Hoerner rolled over a low slider. He snuck a couple of fastballs past Ian Happ for a strikeout, and then catcher Freddy Fermin cut down Busch attempting to steal second. In the second inning, Darvish allowed back-to-back hits to start the frame. Then with his four-seamer leaking over the plate and his cutter failing to miss bats regardless of location, he opted for sinkers against Cubs catcher Carson Kelly. The first missed low, the second induced a swinging strike despite missing inside, and the third rode even further inside, hitting Kelly and loading the bases for Pete Crow-Armstrong. After how poorly things went with the sinker, Darvish went back to his curveball, but spiked it in the dirt. In the hole 1-0, and likely looking for a strike, he attempted another four-seamer, which again caught too much of the plate. Crow-Armstrong dropped the pitch into center field for a single, plating a run in the process. With Darvish lacking both control and command of his pitches, Shildt attempted to regain control and made a call to the bullpen. But when Jeremiah Estrada entered with no outs and the bases loaded to face shortstop Dansby Swanson, he opted to stay away from his 97-mph fastball, and instead threw Swanson five sliders and two splitters. Swanson swung at the only three offerings in the zone, fouling off a slider and a splitter. The other four pitches missed badly, so Estrada walked in a run on the first batter he faced. Given the situation, choosing to spam sliders and splitters cedes too much control, even if those pitches are designed to generate whiffs outside the zone. Swanson remained disciplined, controlling what he could control and swinging only when needed. Estrada struck out the next batter on three straight fastballs and wound up throwing two innings without allowing any more runs. Shildt then got an inning each from Michael King, Wandy Peralta, Robert Suarez, Adrian Morejon, and David Morgan. And when rattled off like that, it sounds as though Shildt executed a nice, tidy, controlled game plan. The Cubs only scored once more, but despite the results, Shildt’s bullpen management featured difficult-to-follow logic and unnecessary risks. For instance, why was Estrada first out of the bullpen, when his performance in August and September had dropped off significantly relative to his numbers in April and May (a 5.19 ERA compared to a 2.49 ERA)? Why did he stay in the game for two innings when he’d only been asked to get six outs once all season? If King, a former reliever, was going to be available out of the bullpen anyway, why not let him provide some length rather than Estrada? And when King did eventually enter the game, why only use him for one inning? There’s an argument for wanting to secure a favorable matchup for the left-handed Peralta with several of Chicago’s lefty hitters due up, but why not let Peralta catch Busch, the switch-hitting Happ, and Kyle Tucker the next time through the order? As it played out, Busch next came to the plate in the seventh with Suarez on the mound to start a second inning of work. Like Estrada, Suarez has not been called upon to pitch more than one inning very often. He’s only needed to sit down and then get back out there and warm up again four times this year. And in this instance, Suarez was sitting for a while. The top half of the inning included both a Cubs pitching change and a challenge attempting to overturn a successful steal of second by Xander Bogaerts. When Suarez finally did toe the rubber against Busch, he threw four straight changeups, then piped a fastball down the middle that Busch deposited in the right field bleachers to extend Chicago’s lead to 3-0. Surely Shildt entered an elimination game with a backup plan for this year’s less reliable version of Darvish, and he certainly has more detailed information on the status of his pitching staff than we do, but the way the game script unfolded did not give the appearance of a measured and carefully plotted deployment of pitching resources. By contrast, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had five innings to cover with his bullpen, and his strategy was fairly straightforward to decode. But before he needed to make the call to the pen, starting pitcher Jameson Taillon — who like Darvish is currently a somewhat diminished version of his former self, but still possesses a vast arsenal of pitches to work with — navigated four scoreless innings with less-than-overwhelming stuff by strategically mixing and locating six distinct pitch types. And unlike Darvish, Taillon was able to locate his pitches well enough to control the narrative throughout his outing. Then Counsell finished out the game by setting up his best right-handed relievers to face the formidable (and righty-heavy) top of San Diego’s lineup and dropping in his left-handed relievers, or rather, his relievers who fare better against left-handed hitters, to face the pocket of lefties at the bottom of the order (Ryan O’Hearn, Gavin Sheets, and Jake Cronenworth). And though none of O’Hearn, Sheets, and Cronenworth own significant splits against left-handed pitching, Counsell’s strategy was clearly designed to play to the splits and strengths of his staff, rather than trying to contort his roster to exploit opponent weaknesses. And Counsell’s tact worked. Right up until the top of the ninth, when reliever Brad Keller, in his second inning of work, completely lost his feel for where the baseball was going and plunked both O’Hearn and Bryce Johnson (who entered the game to play left field after Jose Iglesias pinch-hit for Sheets in the sixth) in consecutive plate appearances. But according to Counsell’s plan, that was the place in the lineup where a lefty killer is meant to enter the chat anyway, so in came Andrew Kittredge (a righty with reverse splits) to close things out for Chicago. Though sound pitching strategy is important — and even if Darvish had gone toe-to-toe with Taillon, and Shildt had used his bullpen in a more sensical manner — none of it matters if the team doesn’t score runs. And the Padres were held scoreless until a ninth-inning home run from Jackson Merrill. But Chicago’s excellent pitching wasn’t the only reason for that. San Diego made some solid contact, the type that normally goes for a hit, only for that contact to be swallowed up by the Cubs defense. Some might call that bad batted ball luck, but I’m not sure luck had much to do with it. Rather, the Cubs purposely assembled a roster with Dansby at shortstop, Hoerner at second, and Crow-Armstrong in center. So as the final exhibit of Chicago taking control of this decisive Game 3, let’s run through some defensive highlights. PCA set the tone in the first inning with a sliding grab for the first out. In the fourth, Swanson leapt to snag a line drive, couldn’t quite hold on, but managed to ignore his chain falling off and recovered in time to make the throw to first, in part, because the batter (Luis Arraez), knowing Swanson’s reputation, assumed the shortstop made the initial catch. Then in the sixth, Swanson opened the inning with a sliding play on a grounder, and followed that up by showcasing some lightning fast footwork to start a 6-3 double play. In the seventh, Hoerner got in on the action with a leaping grab of his own, followed by a quick-release throw to second, that didn’t succeed in doubling off Bogaerts, but remains worthy of oohs and aahs. The Cubs now move on to face the Brewers in the Division Series starting on Saturday in Milwaukee. Source View the full article

Photo Credit: Olivia Wong/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images Renowned author Stephen King recently wrote an article in which he praised the works of acclaimed novelist Dame Daphne du Maurier. In the piece, he shared his thoughts on the concept of spoilers while dissecting du Maurier’s writing style. What Stephen King had to say about people cribbing about spoilers In a recent piece for The Guardian, Stephen King expressed his opinions about the concept of spoilers. He touched upon the subject while writing about Du Maurier’s style of concluding a horror story in an “unsettling” way. He explained how she leaves it up to the readers to decide to come to their own conclusions. King writes, “I am impatient with the idea of ‘spoilers,’ a term that’s come into vogue along with other unpleasant side-effects of the internet in general and social media in particular.” By his tone, it seems like the King of horror has some very strong viewpoints on the topic. “I find ‘You spoiled it!’ to be, typically, the cry of spoilt people.” He then elaborates further, writing, “I’d argue you can rarely spoil a good story, because the joy is in the journey rather than the arrival.” The accaimed author then goes on to make a point about Du Maurier. “Du Maurier’s stories are a notable exception to that rule. To talk about any of them at length would destroy their effect,” he writes, commending Du Maurier’s skill. Giving high praise to her once more he says, “Suffice it to say that you are in the hands of a master storyteller. A diabolical one, at that.” This article by King comes at the same time as Du Maurier’s release of a new collection of dark short stories, After Midnight: Thirteen Chilling Tales, which features an introduction by Stephen King. The post Stephen King Argues Against People Who ‘Cry’ About Spoilers appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Pro Scouting Analyst Fellowship Location: Baltimore · MD Reports To: Manager, Professional Scouting Job Summary: This individual will support the efforts of the Professional Scouting department by conducting extensive evaluations of professional players in the United States and abroad. The employee will utilize multiple information sources, relying heavily on video analysis while also working closely with the Baseball Analytics department. This is a seasonal position that is based out of Baltimore, MD. Preference will be given to candidates who can begin in the off-season, though summer-only candidates will be considered as well. Primary Responsibilities Compose scouting reports on professional players utilizing video, technology, and in-person looks to enhance the club’s decision-making process. Monitor roster dynamics of other organizations and leagues, maintaining prospect lists, depth charts, and positional rankings. Distribute target lists (FA, trade, Rule 5, international professional players, etc.) to scouts, coaches, and front office staff and coordinate responses for recommendations. Monitor scouting reports for consistency, accuracy, and compliance. Coordinate scout schedules and track coverage of target players. Troubleshoot technical and equipment issues, provide solutions to video scouting assignments, coordinate data-sharing agreements, and perform other administrative duties as assigned. Assist with data analysis, maintenance, and collection. Prepare tools, visualizations, and reports to aid in disseminating information throughout Baseball Operations. Qualifications Exceptional knowledge of baseball and of sabermetric research and principles. Demonstrated experience with player evaluation. High level of attention to detail. Strong oral and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with staff members of all levels. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SQL, R, and Python preferred. Degree or equivalent experience in a STEM field preferred. Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays and to travel as needed. DISCLAIMER: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. The duties listed do not represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT: The Baltimore Orioles are an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Baltimore Orioles to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race (including hair textures, afro hairstyles, or protective hairstyles), color, national origin or ancestry, religion or creed, gender or sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, veteran’s status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. The anticipated hourly rate for this role is $20/hour. Benefits include concession and merchandise discounts, free parking, and limited complimentary baseball tickets to home games. A 401(k) plan with discretionary employer match available after one year of service and 1,000 hours is also available. This information is being provided in accordance with the Maryland Equal Pay for Equal Work – Wage Range Transparency law. To Apply To apply, please follow this link. The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Baltimore Orioles. Source View the full article

Baseball Technology Fellow Primary Purpose The Cleveland Guardians Fellowship program is designed to accelerate the pace of development and impact for people interested in working for our organization. Fellowship roles are focused on solving complex challenges, which involve developing innovative approaches, tools, and techniques to meaningfully drive the organization forward. Fellows will be exposed to work across multiple departments and have access to and be encouraged to use a suite of internal, proprietary resources. The Cleveland Guardians Fellowship program is all about fostering your growth and making an impact within our organization. As a fellow, you’ll take on real challenges and come up with creative solutions that help move us forward. You’ll get to work with different departments across the organization, gaining hands-on experience and using some of our exclusive, in-house tools. It’s a great chance to dive in, learn, and make a difference! We are seeking Fellows to join our Baseball Technology department. Each Fellow will work full-time with one of our minor league affiliates (Columbus, Akron, Lake County, Lynchburg, and Arizona Complex) and report to the Baseball Technology, Player Development, and Baseball Operations departments. Fellows will be expected to manage the collection of multiple data streams and operate as a resource for both coaches and players. This position will include travel to away games. We’re looking for someone who’s curious, creative, and open to new ideas—someone who loves working in a team setting. You should be comfortable communicating with others, building solid relationships, and explaining complex ideas in a way anyone can understand. You’ll also have the opportunity to take the initiative and perform research in the area of your choosing that helps push forward the Guardians’ approach to player development. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Baseball Technology: Operate and maintain bat/ball tracking systems and emerging sports science technologies. Manage pre-game, in-game, and post-game video processes. Manage the corresponding data and video collection process and assist with interpretation & distribution. Assist the Information Systems team with Baseball Technology related troubleshooting and support. Coaching Staff Support: Support Minor League field staff with Advance Scouting Process. Assist affiliate staff with various administrative tasks (i.e. daily scheduling, team travel). Assist Minor League field staff with pre-game activities. Baseball Development and Analysis: Collaborate with coaching staff, Player Development, and Baseball Operations to monitor player goals and player progress. Perform ad hoc research and analysis, both at the request of staff and independently. Communicate findings and insights to Minor League Coaches, Players, and Player Development and Baseball Operations Departments. Education & Experience At the Cleveland Guardians, we are all about creating an environment that brings out the best in everyone. It is a big part of who we are, how we compete, and how we make an impact in our community. We want every employee to feel like they truly belong here. We also know that people sometimes hesitate to apply for jobs unless they check every single box on the qualifications list. We are looking for the best person for the job, and we know that you might bring skills and experiences that are not exactly listed but could be a huge asset to our team. So, if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every single qualification. Bachelor’s degree or Prior Professional Experience. Demonstrated passion for at least one of baseball technology, scouting, baseball analytics, sports science, hitting or pitching analysis and/or biomechanics, strength and conditioning, motor learning, or other baseball/softball related field. Job Skills Organization: Ability to create, maintain and execute a schedule effectively. Work Ethic: A relentless drive to collect more and better information. Passion: Demonstrate a clear passion for the game, teammates, the organization, and learning. Resourcefulness: Utilize organizational resources to develop and understand organizational philosophies. Strategic Thinking: Employ a problem-solving mindset and strategic thinking. Time Management: Ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment. Collaboration: Partner with staff and players and exhibit excellent written and verbal communication skills. Preferred Experience While we are looking for a variety of diverse skill sets for this role, we know that past Fellows who have thrived in this role possessed certain skills that are best aligned to the game of baseball. If you have demonstrated experience with any of the following, you may be better positioned to thrive in this role. Conversational Spanish or better a plus. Experience with video editing software a plus. Experience with SQL and statistical software (i.e. R, Python, Stata, SAS) a plus. Proficiency with Microsoft Office. Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics and publicly available research. About Us: In Baseball Technology, our shared goal is to identify and develop diverse players and front office teammates who contribute to our mission. By working together effectively and collaboratively, we create a family atmosphere that supports learning as we strive for excellence in everything we do. We believe that we will achieve our goals by making evidence-based decisions and creating environments that support our people and empower them to learn. To Apply To apply, please follow this link. The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Cleveland Guardians. Source View the full article

Back in 2023, I wrote about how the average age of the most commonly banned books is 14 years old. The books being targeted are nowhere near new, and this is important to talk about because it highlights the charade undergirding the “parental rights” movement. A good chunk of the most banned books were sitting on shelves when these parents were themselves teenagers and they didn’t cause such fomenting then. Today’s teens, who were born between 2006 and 2012, are significantly more diverse than in previous generations. One-quarter of teens identify as LGBTQ+ — and that’s the 25% who openly identify that way — while only half of today’s teens identify as white, non-Hispanic. One in four of today’s teens are Hispanic, 14% are Black, 6% are Asian, and 5% are bi- or multi-racial. Nearly 1/4 of Generation Z are the children of immigrants and 66% live in a household with married parents. All of that data comes from PEW Research. Books by and about people of color, queer people, and those living at the intersections of those identities have increased in publication since the founding of We Need Diverse Books in July 2014, 11 years ago. This was a watershed year, as it came with increased demands for better representation in books, especially in YA. Things are still nowhere near parity with what the U.S. population looks like, but for the purposes of this post, what’s important to know is there are more books by and about BIPOC and queer people in YA than ever before. Despite growth in diversity both in publishing and in young people, it is curious to see that the most banned and challenged books in the USA aren’t primarily new titles. These books, many classics of course, are not contemporary depictions of concerns or realities of today’s teens; good literature endures, so this isn’t a condemnation of that. Instead, it’s meant to be a reminder that the rhetoric around these so-called inappropriate books is pulled from contemporary partisanship and applied to titles that have been sitting on shelves for several years, if not several decades. Many of the books that “parental rights” advocates challenge are books that were sitting on shelves when they were the same age as their kids, if no sitting on shelves when their parents were kids. Why the anger now? Because it’s convenient and because it’s all made up. In the nearly two and a half years since last looking at the average age and publication dates of the most frequently banned and challenged books, there have been big changes in the ways that books are targeted. Early in the rise of book banning, titles were targeted on the local level. That is, we’d see one or several books become issues in individual school districts or public libraries–and to be clear, those were being shepherded by national organizations who operated on the local level. In the time since, the efforts have become far more about implementing laws and regulations at the state level that curtail or remove access to books in those same local-level institutions. So rather than seeing a number of books by authors of color being banned at different libraries, states are now subjecting and directing all public libraries to remove books tackling topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) or “gender ideology”–books with LGBTQ+ topics. Recognizing this shift is important, as it helps understand the different numbers related to the books being banned and because it better showcases why and how engaging with legislators is crucial for the efforts to stop book censorship. The trend in book censorship is upward. That’s why so many of the early participants in book banning are now part of the current federal administration (see Moms for Liberty’s part in a “DEI” snitch line via the Department of Education and their engagement in creating a “new” civics curriculum to lie to young people about America’s history). Utilizing the most recent data from both PEN America and the American Library Association (ALA), I’ve noted the publication dates for every title in the top 9/10 most banned and challenged books. You can spend time looking at PEN and ALA’s introductions to understand why the titles differ slightly between the organizations. PEN America’s Most Banned Books 2024-2025 A Clockwork Orange, published in 1962 Breathless, published in 2020 Sold, published in 2006 Last Night at the Telegraph Club, published in 2021 A Court of Mist and Fury, published in 2016 Crank, published in 2004 Forever…, published in 1975 The Perks of Being a Wallflower, published in 1999 Wicked, published in 1995 The average publication date of PEN America’s most banned books for the 2024-2025 school year is 2000, making the average age of the books being banned in US public schools 25 years old. Given that there is a big spread of dates with PEN’s most banned books, it’s worth looking at the median publication date and age as well. The median publication date is 2004, making the median age of the books being banned in US schools 21 years old. That’s a lot older than the books being banned in the 2023 analysis. The average publication date then was 2008, making them an average of 15 years old; the median publication date then was 2014, with a median age of 9. The American Library Association’s Most Challenged Books of 2024 All Boys Aren’t Blue, published in 2020 Gender Queer, published in 2019 The Bluest Eye, published in 1970 The Perks of Being a Wallflower, published in 1999 Tricks, published in 2009 Looking for Alaska, published in 2005 Me & Earl & The Dying Girl, published in 2012 Crank, published in 2004 Sold, published in 2006 Flamer, published in 2020 The average publication date of the American Library Association’s most challenged books from 2024 is 2006, making the average age of the books being banned in US libraries 19 years old. For sake of consistency, let’s also look at the median dates and ages of these titles. Our two median publication dates are 2006 and 2009, averaging 2007.5; let’s make it 2008 for simplicity’s sake. The median publication date is 2008, making the median age of the books being banned in US libraries 17 years old. That is also a lot older than books being banned in 2023. The average publication date then was 2010, making them 13 years old; the median publication date was 2015, making the median age eight. Now let’s look at the combined dataset to see what the average age of the most banned books as recorded by two different institutions is. To do this, I’ve only included each book on the list once, even if it appears on both lists. There are 16 unique titles. The full list of books and publication dates that are the most banned in the country over the last year are: A Clockwork Orange, published in 1962 Breathless, published in 2020 Sold, published in 2006 (on both lists) Last Night at the Telegraph Club, published in 2021 A Court of Mist and Fury, published in 2016 Crank, published in 2004 (on both lists) Forever…, published in 1975 The Perks of Being a Wallflower, published in 1999 (on both lists) Wicked, published in 1995 All Boys Aren’t Blue, published in 2020 Gender Queer, published in 2019 The Bluest Eye, published in 1970 Tricks, published in 2009 Looking for Alaska, published in 2005 Me & Earl & The Dying Girl, published in 2012 Flamer, published in 2020 The average banned book in America was published in 2003, making the average age of the books being banned most frequently right now 22 years old. Again, this is a lot older than just two years ago. If you want to go with median, there are two middle dates, 2006 and 2009, again averaging 2007.5. let’s make it 2008 for simplicity’s sake. The median publication date is 2008, making the median age of the books being banned in US libraries 17 years old. These are not new books. This kind of data is interesting to consider and indicative of how slapdash and nonsensical the push to ban books is. There’s nothing cohesive here except an interest in removing the stories, voices, and perspectives of people of color, of queer people, and of books that speak honestly to the issues of sex, sexuality, puberty, and adolescence. The ages of these books is not reflective of the thousands of other books being banned right now, across the country, and it is certainly not reflective of the hundreds or thousands of books not being purchased or being quietly removed from shelves through silent/quiet censorship. But again and again: it’s not new books. The “parental rights” advocates are not doing anything radical or interesting. They’re only pushing their agendas into public institutions of democracy as a means of toppling the few spaces in American life that are about embracing, celebrating, and meeting the needs of the whole community and doing so on shoestring budgets. Book Censorship News: October 3, 2025 In what is some really devastating and infuriating news, “A district court in Florida on Monday ruled that the Escambia County school board had not violated the First Amendment rights of students or authors when it removed a children’s book from its school libraries called “And Tango Makes Three,” which is about two gay male penguins raising a penguin chick.” This is one of two lawsuits against the Escambia County school board, and this decision included references to the recent Fifth Circuit case about the First Amendment rights of public library users in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Amanda Jones, librarian who has been at the front lines in the fight against censorship for years, is among TIME Magazine’s 100 Next. An amazing and necessary honor. Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (TX) has removed over 700 books from shelves. My book Body Talk is among the 700. Moorhead, Minnesota, schools have removed the book Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness from their middle school shelves, as some have called it “racist.” Recall Minnesota has an anti-book ban bill. . . and the book isn’t racist. Leander Independent School District (TX) has pulled dozens of books from classroom shelves, including classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, in response to the new Senate Bill 12. That bill is their “anti-DEI” law. U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania are trying to pass a bill to un-ban the nearly 600 books pulled from military schools nationwide. (My book Body Talk is among them). “Should we override what a trained teacher thinks is appropriate curriculum?” Fuentes asked. “Yes,” replied board member Matt Freeze. “As a board, we control what we want our students to read and have. We decide what we want in our school.” A perfectly indicative conversation in places like Indiana, where school board members are excited to be endowed with power over education, even when they themselves know nothing about how education works. Florida’s state officials released their annual list of books banned across the state, but it is a deep undercount, completely ignoring the rash of bans that occurred over the summer. The bigots running the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) plan to continue withholding state funds to Fairhope Public Library, as Fairhope won’t ban all of the LGBTQ+ books that the APLS wants gone. Speaking of APLS, Alabama residents have until October 14 to submit comments related to their plan to ban all transgender books from minors in libraries. “A new parental guidance labeling policy, intended to alert parents of young readers about mature themes in Alamance County [NC] library materials, is being implemented in such a piecemeal fashion it borders on obstruction, according to a member of the county’s library committee who helped to shepherd the policy to adoption by Alamance county’s commissioners this spring.” Remember labeling is still censorship and it opens up the library to plenty of lawsuits. What happens if they don’t label a book that the banners don’t like? Lawsuit. Not to mention that labeling appropriate takes a long time; the library probably got no additional support to shove through the board’s agenda here. School board members of Escambia County Schools (FL) past and present are still trying to get out of testifying in the lawsuit over their rampant book banning. Cromaine Public Library (MI) has “taken action” on 34 books, following complaints over 200. The “actions?” They include labeling books (setting themselves up nicely for potential lawsuits), removing books, or relocating books. All of these actions are book censorship. A nice profile of a new chapter of the student-run DAYLO group in South Carolina. How are incarcerated individuals faring when it comes to book bans in California prisons (where, recall, there is an anti-book ban law related to prison censorship)? The answer is not good. There’s a new lawsuit against West Point Academy, related to curtailing faculty speech and banning books. “A Davidson County school board member is pushing to remove four books from school libraries saying they contain sexually explicit and inappropriate material. ” That North Carolina board member is both a pastor and newly elected board member. Cool. The Daviess County, Kentucky, judge who oversees appointments to the local public library board just denied two of the picks by the state library and archives. In place of those, he chose a local pastor and attorney that local book banners are celebrating: While we’re in Daviess County, here’s what the situation has looked like at their public library. The details the writer drops in this piece are excellent: ““Jesus issued a powerful warning against anyone who would cause little ones to stumble or fall into sin,” said one man, reading from his phone an AI overview provided by Google.” York Public Library (ME) will continue to have Pride flags and displays in their new teen area, despite vandalism. “In June, Jackson County [NC] commissioners voted 4-1 to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library system and begin the year-long disentanglement process from the 80-year partnership over LGBTQ+ content.” Cutting off your entire taxpayer base from a wealth of materials because the right-wing board doesn’t like queer people. Super great stuff. Adding a little more to this story: not all of the municipalities covered by this county library are happy about it. Colorado’s Anythink Libraries are making 300 banned books available to all state residents digitally. A west Michigan “parental rights advocate” had a judge dismiss her lawsuit against the local school district she’s been pestering because they did not harm her First Amendment Rights by asking her to stop calling out staff members on her social media. Also this: “Boone also claimed the district violated Title IX, saying she was “marginalized” by the community for voicing her objection to the school’s book offerings. The judge ruled that because she claims she was marginalized, not her students in the district, she had no standing to sue under Title IX.” The Meeker Regional Library Board (CO) met to discuss their collection policies this week, leading to one board member to pen an editorial for the paper about why they got involved in the board. Why, you may wonder? “I believe a culturally and morally conservative approach in the collection of books and materials in the library is beneficial to our community. I also desire to see more books and materials that support a Christian worldview. I am not trying to create a seminary-like collection. I believe a more balanced collection policy is needed to represent our traditional, political and socially conservative community, I will continue to strive to that end. My personal action point came at the meeting in 2022 when the book “Gender Queer” was discussed at a public meeting. I believe this book meets the definition of pornography and promotes an immoral and harmful worldview. ” This isn’t an unbiased board member. This is a board member who only cares about getting rid of what they don’t like and amping up what they do. Public libraries meet the needs of the whole community which, no matter what a board member believes, is not entirely “traditional, political and socially conservative.” Those are dog whistles. This letter is unhinged. The Taliban has banned 700 books and 18 academic subjects in Afghan universities; most of those relate to women and women’s rights. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it? Next week is Banned Books Week. It’s going to be a lot of information and programming and events. Let’s not forget that the goal is to encourage collective action that lasts the whole year. One thing I hope might help? A free printable bookmark with steps anyone can take to protect the freedom to read. I made these for my local indie and am now sharing with anyone who may find them useful. View the full article

Specialist, Pro Acquisitions DEPARTMENT: Pro Acquisitions – Baseball Operations ORGANIZATION: Chicago Cubs REPORTS TO: Vice President, Pro Acquisitions LOCATION: Arizona or Florida FLSA STATUS: Exempt BEING PART OF THE TEAM Our business is a team sport that began on a field with baseballs and bats and has evolved into one of the most recognizable brands in sports and entertainment through Cubs baseball and live events. Our success is driven by our people, who work to create and inspire change in an engaging, collaborative and inclusive environment. As a team, we continue to build a culture on and off the field that delivers unforgettable experiences for one another, our fans and community. In support of that effort, we expect associates to work primarily in our office. Are you ready to be part of it? OUR STORY THE CHICAGO CUBS FRANCHISE The Chicago Cubs franchise, a charter member of Major League Baseball’s National League since 1876, has won the National League pennant 17 times and was the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles in the 1907 and 1908 seasons. In 2016, the Chicago Cubs made history again when the team won its first World Series in 108 years, ending the longest championship drought in North American sports. Known for its ivy-covered outfield walls, hand-operated scoreboard and famous Marquee, iconic Wrigley Field has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916 and is the second oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. In 2009, the Ricketts family assumed ownership of the Chicago Cubs and established three main goals for the organization: Win the World Series, Preserve and Improve Wrigley Field, and Be a Good Neighbor. HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE: The Pro Acquisition Specialist plays a key role in supporting the organization’s player evaluation and acquisition processes. The Specialist must be local to or willing to relocate to Florida or Arizona and will focus on live scouting coverage of players, producing high-quality written reports, capturing high-speed video, and contributing to the organization’s understanding of player value. The Specialist will also be tasked with ad hoc video reports. In the offseason, the Specialist will attend workouts in the assigned region and will also be expected to conduct or assist with ad hoc research projects to enhance player evaluation frameworks and decision-making processes. This role requires strong scouting instincts, proficiency with analytical methods, and the ability to synthesize information into actionable recommendations. The position is ideal for someone passionate about player evaluation who can balance traditional scouting with modern analytical approaches. THE DAY-TO-DAY: Provide in-person scouting coverage of players during the season, producing timely and detailed reports on player skills, performance, and projection. Capture high-speed video of players at games and workouts. Complete video scouting reports as assigned. Attend offseason workouts in assigned region. Build and maintain relationships with league personnel, coaches, and other contacts in assigned region. Conduct offseason project work, which may include research and other initiatives to support player acquisition. Contribute to the continuous improvement of scouting workflows, evaluation methods, and decision support processes. WHAT YOU’LL BRING: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to produce clear, detailed scouting reports. Demonstrated understanding of fundamental scouting principles and current baseball analytics research. Ability to integrate scouting insights with data-driven analysis to enhance player evaluations. Proficiency in SQL, R, and/or Python for data manipulation and research. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to balance live coverage demands and offseason project work. Passion for talent evaluation, baseball operations/analytics, and learning. WHAT SETS YOU APART: Previous experience with in-person player evaluation. Experience with statistical analysis; prior baseball research is a plus. Knowledge of current trends in baseball industry and Major League Rules. Familiarity with professional and amateur baseball player pool and independent baseball facility landscape. Understanding of current player development best practices. TOTAL REWARDS: Paid time off: Personal, Sick, Vacation Time 401K Plan Employee Contribution & Employer Match Company Vehicle and Gas Card Benefit Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance Health & Wellness engagement & programming Variety partnership discounts Tuition Reimbursement The Chicago Cubs and its affiliates embrace diversity and are committed to building a team that represents all communities. We hold ourselves accountable to include new and different voices in our organization. Everyone is welcome here, and we celebrate what makes each of us unique. Response Expectations: Due to the overwhelming number of applications we receive, we unfortunately may not be able to respond in person to each applicant. However, we can assure you that you will receive an email confirmation when you apply as well as additional email notifications whether you are selected to move forward for the position or not. Please note, we keep all resumes on file and will contact you should we wish to schedule an interview with you. The Chicago Cubs and its affiliates are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusion and employing a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics. To Apply To apply, please follow this link. The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Chicago Cubs. Source View the full article

Photo Credit: HBO Max John Cena’s titular character in Peacemaker Season 2 may have to fight one final villain in the upcoming Episode 8. The penultimate chapter of the sequel installment saw Chris Smith and his team face off against his Earth-X brother, Keith Smith, aka Captain Triumph, causing many to speculate that he might return as the main antagonist for the season finale. Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 7 sets up Captain Triumph as a villain In Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 7, the white supremacist version of Auggie and Keith Smith finally encounter the original Chris Smith. The duo also learn that he was the one responsible for the death of Earth-X’s Peacemaker. Already on edge due to his brother’s demise, Captain Triumph completely loses his composure after the Earth-X Vigilante ends up killing Auggie Smith as well. A Nazi sympathizer due to how history unfolded on his Earth, Captain Triumph goes on an unhinged rampage against Chris Smith and his friends but ends up on the losing side with Emilia Harcourt pulling up a gun on him in Episode 7. While they leave him to his fate instead of killing him, Harcourt teases that it is highly likely that Keith might follow their footsteps to Earth 1 to exact revenge. As such, many DCU fans have reportedly theorized that Captain Triumph might return in Episode 8 as the final villain of Peacemaker Season 2. Notably, James Gunn, in the latest episode of the official Peacemaker podcast, also stated that “in one way,” Season 2 conveyed “Captain Triumph’s origin as a super villain, a white supremacist piece of s— super villain. And at the end [of Episode 7], we see that look in his eye.” Therefore, all things point towards a potential showdown between Captain Triumph and the Peacemaker in the final episode of Season 2. Regardless, if David Denman’s Keith Smith fails to make an appearance in the sequel edition, fans can expect him to return to wreak havoc in Chris Smith’s life in a potential Season 3 or other Peacemaker-centric DCU projects. Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on SuperHeroHype. The post Why Captain Triumph Could Be Peacemaker Season 2’s Real Villain appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Hulu The Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 3 release date and time are right around the corner. This sports comedy series was co-created by Michael Waldron and Glen Powell. Notably, Powell plays the eponymous role. Its supporting cast members include Steve Zahn, Perry Mattfield, and Frankie A. Rodriguez. Titled “3RD QUARTER,” the episode takes place during the second half of the season opener against Ole Miss. When South Georgia Catfish finds themselves on the losing side of the game, Chad and Jake join forces in hopes of turning the game. Here’s all you need to know about the episode’s release date, time, and streaming details. When is the Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 3 release date & time? The episode’s release date is October 7, 2025, and its release time is 12 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) and 3 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). Check out its release times in the U.S. below: TimezoneRelease DateRelease TimeEastern TimeOctober 7, 202503:00 a.m.Pacific TimeOctober 7, 202512:00 a.m. Find out how many episodes will be available to watch in Chad Powers Season 1 right here. Where to watch Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 3 You can watch Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 3 via Hulu. Hulu offers subscribers a variety of film, television, and documentary content for streaming. It is also home to anime content. What is Chad Powers about? Chad Powers follows Russ Holliday, an arrogant college football quarterback whose world turns upside down after he makes a critical mistake on the field that ruins his career. Seeking a fresh start, he assumes the identity of oddball Chad Powers and joins a struggling football team at a small college. The official synopsis for Chad Powers is as follows: “Eight years after an unforgivable mistake nukes his promising college football career, hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday tries to resurrect his dreams by disguising himself as Chad Powers – a talented oddball who walks on to the struggling South Georgia Catfish.” The post Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 3 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Direct links to applications (please see job details below): Associate Analyst, Player Information Associate Analyst, Player Optimization Intern, Data Science Associate Analyst, Player Information Location: Citi Field – Queens, New York Job Description: GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Perform thorough research analysis on Mets players to help staff build and maintain individual Player Plans Transform internal data and model results into actionable information that enhances both in-game and player performance strategy Monitor and report on in-season performance trends, delivering key insights to coaches and leadership Develop systems that allow staff to efficiently come to conclusions consistent with organizational philosophy Drive growth of Mets coaches through continued education Provide feedback to the rest of Baseball Analytics and Baseball Systems on reports, models, and tools that impact player analysis As time permits, analysts will be assigned additional coding and/or statistical modeling projects related to the position Ad hoc requests from Baseball Analytics in line with these job responsibilities Work with other analysts to help improve each other’s coding abilities and quantitative abilities POSITION REQUIREMENTS Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field or equivalent experience Significant experience in R, Python, or similar, as well as proficiency in SQL Fluency in Spanish is a plus Domestic travel required throughout the length of the position Must be able to work unconventional hours APPLICATION QUESTIONS To apply for this position, please respond to the questions below and upload your answers as a PDF file alongside the resume. Please limit responses to 200 words. Who is an upcoming MLB free agent that you feel is undervalued and why? When evaluating outfield defense, which metric(s) would you use and why? The above information is intended to describe the general nature, type, and level of work to be performed. The information is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The individual selected may perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The New York Mets value the unique qualities individuals with various backgrounds and experiences can offer the organization. Our continued success depends heavily on the quality of our workforce. The Organization is committed to providing employees with the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. Hourly Rate: $20 – $25 For technical reasons, we strongly advise to not use an .edu email address when applying. Thank you very much. To Apply To apply, please follow this link. Associate Analyst, Player Optimization Location: Citi Field – Queens, New York Job Description: Summary: The Player Optimization Associate Analyst will be responsible for building tools to identify and aid implementation of optimization and improvement strategies for both internal and external players. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Analyze new data sources and their potential to explain baseball performance Collaborate with Biomechanics and Performance teams to analyze players’ physical capabilities Present research and tools to coaches to aid implementation of optimization strategies Systematically identify internal and external players with room for optimization Work with Data Science team to understand how players’ capacity to improve impacts their value Perform research that explains how players are able to express skills on the field Expand the organization’s understanding of how players can improve relative to expectations Requirements: Creativity and curiosity regarding the game of baseball Ability to collaborate and work within and across teams Strong verbal and written communication skills Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and execute tasks under time constraints Knowledge of baseball technology, including but not limited to KinaTrax, Blast Motion, Hawk-Eye, and force plates Interest in public baseball research Experience in R, Python, or similar programming languages, and proficiency in SQL Statistical modeling experience. Experience in Biomechanics is a plus Must be able to work unconventional hours APPLICATION QUESTIONS To apply for this position, please respond to the questions below and upload your answers as a PDF file alongside the resume. Please limit responses to 200 words. When trying to understand how fast a player should be able to swing a bat, what information would you seek and why? When evaluating outfield defense, which metric(s) would you use and why? When looking at how much a pitcher can improve, what information would you consider? The above information is intended to describe the general nature, type, and level of work to be performed. The information is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The individual selected may perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The New York Mets value the unique qualities individuals with various backgrounds and experiences can offer the organization. Our continued success depends heavily on the quality of our workforce. The Organization is committed to providing employees with the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. Hourly Rate: $20 – $25 For technical reasons, we strongly advise to not use an .edu email address when applying. Thank you very much. To Apply To apply, please follow this link. Intern, Data Science Location: Citi Field – Queens, New York Job Description: Summary: The New York Mets are seeking an intern in our Baseball Analytics Department for the summer of 2026. During the summer, the Intern will build, test, and present statistical models to inform the decision-making of our Baseball Operations department. This position requires strong background in complex statistics and data analytics, as well as the ability to communicate statistical model details and findings to both a technical and non-technical audience. Prior experience in or knowledge of baseball is a plus, but is not required. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Build statistical models to answer a wide variety of baseball-related questions affecting the operations of the organization using advanced knowledge of statistics and data analytics and exercising appropriate discretion and judgment regarding development of statistical models Interpret data and report conclusions drawn from their analyses Present model outputs in an effective way, both for technical and non-technical audiences Communicate well with both the Baseball Analytics team as well as other Baseball Operations personnel to understand the parameters of any particular research project Qualifications: Pursuing a degree in statistics or a related field Professional experience in a quantitative position is a plus Strong background in a wide variety of statistical techniques Strong proficiency in R or Python Strong communication skills Ability to work cooperatively with others The above information is intended to describe the general nature, type, and level of work to be performed. The information is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The individual selected may perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The New York Mets value the unique qualities individuals with various backgrounds and experiences can offer the organization. Our continued success depends heavily on the quality of our workforce. The Organization is committed to providing employees with the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. Hourly Rate: $20 – $25 For technical reasons, we strongly advise to not use an .edu email address when applying. Thank you very much. To Apply To apply, please follow this link. The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the New York Mets. Source View the full article

Photo Credit: Hulu Viewers are wondering how many episodes are in Chad Powers Season 1 and when each new episode comes out. This sports drama series was co-created by Glen Powell, who also stars in it, and Michael Waldron, best known for his work on projects like Loki and Heels. The story follows Russ Holliday, a college football quarterback who ruins his promising career after making a careless yet critical mistake on the field. Wishing to start over, Holliday disguises himself as Chad Powers and, as a walk-on player, joins a struggling football team at a small college. Here’s all you need to know. How many episodes are in Chad Powers season 1? Chad Powers season 1 has 6 episodes. All six episodes of Chad Powers follow the eponymous protagonist as he deals with the challenges that come with the new football team he joins. Viewers can expect Powers to go through a considerable change in his character as he meets new people and navigates various experiences. Chad Powers’ cast includes Glen Powell, Perry Mattfield, Quentin Plair, Wynn Everett, Frankie Rodriguez, and Steve Zahn. When do new Chad Powers episodes come out? New episodes of Chad Powers Season 1 typically come out every Tuesday. The first two episodes of Chad Powers were released on September 30, 2025. Subsequent episodes will air every Tuesday until October 28, 2025. Check out the list of episodes, their titles, and release dates below: Episode 1 – “1st Quarter” – September 30, 2025 Episode 2 – “2nd Quarter” – September 30, 2025 Episode 3 – “3rd Quarter” – October 7, 2025 Episode 4 – “4th Quarter” – October 14, 2025 Episode 5 – “5th Quarter” – October 21, 2025 Episode 6 – “6th Quarter” – October 28, 2025 How to watch Chad Powers’s new episodes You can watch Chad Powers season 1 via Hulu. Hulu is a renowned streaming service that offers subscribers a plethora of film and television content. Moreover, the streamer is home to a sizable library of anime content, both subbed and dubbed. The official synopsis for the series reads: “Eight years after an unforgivable mistake nukes his promising college football career, hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday tries to resurrect his dreams by disguising himself as Chad Powers – a talented oddball who walks on to the struggling South Georgia Catfish.” The post How Many Episodes Are in Chad Powers Season 1 & When Do They Come Out? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Mark Ruffalo recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and talked about his early acting days. Sharing a funny story, he reminisced about fellow actor Benicio del Toro. He revealed that the two were in an acting class together, and their very first class turned out to be unforgettable. Mark Ruffalo reveals a funny acting class incident with Benicio del Toro Mark Ruffalo said that Benicio del Toro was effortlessly charming in their acting classes together. The Hulk actor went on and described his former classmate’s signature look and said, “He was the coolest dude. He was the Puerto Rican James Dean… had his cigarette pack rolled up, his little St. Christopher medal, white T-shirt, cool, distressed jeans.” Ruffalo continued down memory lane and revealed one of their very first assignments together. It was to take the lyrics of a song and deliver them as a “serious” monologue. During this task, Benicio del Toro decided to take up the song “Light My Fire” by The Doors. Ruffalo said that Toro was able to impress everyone with its delivery. Reflecting on the same, he said, “Our first assignment was to take the lyrics of a song and say them to someone—act them out in a serious way. He did ‘Come on, baby, light my fire’ … and it was amazing. I was like, ‘That guy is a star. I don’t even know what I’m doing here.’” Questioning him further, Fallon asked what song Ruffalo picked for the same assignment. The actor confessed he did an impression of the “Happy Birthday to You” song. Ruffalo insisted that his performance was “horrible” compared to what Benicio had done before him. However, Fallon was adamant about praising Ruffalo for how he tackled the task with a song that has very less lyrics in it. The post Mark Ruffalo Imitates Benicio del Toro in Hilarious New Video appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

I don’t think I need to explain why freedom of speech has been at the forefront of my mind over the last couple of weeks, but I have noticed that there’s been a lot of confusion in the media about censorship and who is actually allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights. In case there’s any confusion, here are a handful of recent news items about what First Amendment violations (by the government, no less!) actually look like. Author and former Utah Poet Laureate Paisley Rekdal talks about how she lost a speaking gig at the US Air Force Academy because of critical comments she made about Trump on social media. “I had the right to say what I liked on social media; the academy had the right to determine whether I spoke on its campus…[but] professional writers reading this will take my cancellation as a warning to watch what they say on Facebook or X, and may fall silent accordingly.” Donald Trump recently invited a twelve-year-old boy to speak at a Religious Liberty Commission event about how he was “forced” to read aloud from a picture book, “promoting a message of radical gender ideology that is contrary to his religious beliefs and ours.” The book in question was My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart, and the author has responded, saying that Trump was using his book and the twelve-year-old boy as political pawns. “‘The irony here is that they want acceptance for their beliefs, but not to extend that acceptance onto others.'” While we celebrate recent legal and legislative wins for IMLS, it’s also important to remember that the Trump administration is using IMLS as a propaganda tool, and their Freedom Trucks project is historical erasure masked as a celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Related: “The White House plans to conduct a far-reaching review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of America’s 250th anniversary to ensure the museums align with President Trump’s interpretation of American history.” To quote 1984, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” A Texas A&M professor has been fired over comments made about gender identity content in her children’s lit class. From the article: “The announcement came after a video circulated online Monday showing a student confronting a professor over content related to gender identity in the class, sparking backlash from Republican lawmakers and calls for investigations, a response from the U.S. Department of Justice, and a statement from the Texas A&M System chancellor pledging to discipline the professor.” 12 Phoenix-area libraries have quietly removed more than 50 books about sex ed and puberty from their children’s sections after complaints from conservative Christians. These changes also notably come after three new Republicans were elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. However, these changes only affect libraries operated by Maricopa County, not city-operated libraries such as the Phoenix Public Library system. View the full article

Photo Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Emily in Paris stars Ashley Park and Paul Forman have reportedly broken up. The two actors met on the sets of the show and had been in a relationship for nearly two years. However, the pair has now decided to end their relationship. Emily in Paris costars Ashley Park and Paul Forman break up Ashley Park and Paul Forman, co-stars of Netflix’s Emily in Paris, have reportedly broken up after nearly two years of dating. According to the sources close to TMZ, the couple broke up in September 2025. Earlier, breakup rumors began when Park attended Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding without Forman, sparking speculation about their status. While the reason behind their split is still private, it is confirmed that they have called it quits. The pair met on the sets of Emily in Paris when Paul Forman joined the cast for Season 3. He plays Nicolas de Léon, Mindy Chen’s (Park) on-screen boyfriend. The rumors about their relationship sparked in late October 2023, when they arrived at an event holding hands. The couple had been seen together publicly since, confirming their relationship in January 2024 after Ashley’s hospitalization due to a severe health issue. During an interview with Cosmopolitan, Park revealed more about their relationship. “In the beginning, we were just friends, because I was at a point where I was like, ‘I will never date an actor again,” Park shared. “And one of the first things he said to me was, ‘I’ve never dated an actor.’ And I was like, ‘Amazing.’” Park continued talking about how they remained friends for a long time. She shared that they bonded further on a volunteer trip to Poland, helping Ukrainian refugees. During this trip, she witnessed Forman’s incredible generosity as he interacted with children who had lost their fathers to the war, offering them support and acting as a father figure. This made Park realize that her feelings for Forman had turned into something more than just friendship. It wasn’t until they were filming one of their final scenes together that Paul confessed his feelings. At the time, Ashley tried to convince him that his feelings were just a result of their job, but ultimately admitted her feelings for him. Despite their breakup, Ashley Park and Paul Forman will return for Emily in Paris Season 5 on December 18, 2025. The post Emily in Paris’ Ashley Park & Paul Forman End Relationship After 2 Years appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images George Clooney, who is soon set to appear in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, recently opened up about his carpool duties for his twin daughters in an interview. The veteran actor spoke out about his family life and duties while discussing his film. It seems that even the biggest of stars are not far from carpool duties when it comes to their children. George Clooney accepts he has become a carpool dad for his twin children George Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, married in 2014 and had twins, Ella and Alexander. The veteran actor has kept his children away from the spotlight for the most part, but he has often talked about them publicly. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight at the NYFF premiere of Jay Kelly, the actor spoke about his family. During the conversation, he was asked if he’s a carpool dad. Clooney responded positively to the question and said, “I am. I drive a van.” He added, “The other day I had six kids singing all the songs from Hamilton in the back. And by the way it’s a little off putting when you hear them singing some of the lyrics — for eight-year-olds.” He also commented on how becoming a father changed his approach to work. The O Brother, Where Art Thou star elaborated, “I work less, but that’s okay, you know,…I’m really enjoying my life. I’m enjoying spending time [with my family], I enjoy driving the kids to school and all that stuff, it’s fun.” This is not the first time Clooney has gushed about his family life and how much he enjoys it. Back in 2024, he spoke to GQ on a similar subject and said, “I’m going to give myself time with my kids. I really enjoy driving them to school, and my wife and I are having a really wonderful time. So I don’t want to lose all of that.” This was during the promotion of his movie, Wolfs, which also starred Brad Pitt. Jay Kelly will arrive in limited theatres on November 14, 2025. It will get a Netflix release on December 5, 2025. The post Jay Kelly’s George Clooney Confirms He’s Now a Carpool Dad to His Twins appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm / Disney+ David Harbour is said to be in discussions to join his Avengers: Doomsday costar Pedro Pascal in Andor series creator Tony Gilroy’s upcoming film Behemoth!, creating a stir among fans. This potential collaboration comes as Harbour prepares to conclude his run on Stranger Things. Although the high-profile pairing has yet to be confirmed, it has already generated considerable buzz. Fans are eager to see the Stranger Things star team up with Pascal for the project. David Harbour in talks for Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! with Avengers: Doomsday costar Pedro Pascal David Harbour is reportedly in negotiations to join Pedro Pascal in Behemoth!, the highly anticipated new film from Andor creator Tony Gilroy. This is Gilroy’s first project as both writer and director since The Bourne Legacy in 2012. Fans are particularly excited to see the two actors together, as they are also set to share the screen in Avengers: Doomsday (via Deadline). As of now, the plot details remain largely under wraps. However, the story is said to focus on a cellist. Production is scheduled to begin this fall in Los Angeles under the Searchlight Pictures banner. Gilroy will produce alongside Sanne Wohlenberg, with Damián García handling cinematography. Harbour, known for his role as Jim Hopper on Stranger Things, is preparing to conclude the series with its fifth and final season premiering later this year. Represented by WME and Sloan Offer Weber, he is lining up major projects following the conclusion of his iconic TV role. Harbour recently wrapped production on the HBO limited series DTF St. Louis and is set to reprise his role as Red Guardian in Avengers: Doomsday. The actor will return for the sequel to Universal’s action film Violent Night. Meanwhile, Pascal has had a particularly busy 2025 with projects including The Materialists, The Last of Us Season 2, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Eddington. He has been attached to Behemoth! for several months. Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on SuperHeroHype. The post Stranger Things & Star Wars Actors Could Unite in Andor Creator’s Next Movie appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

Photo Credit: Warner Bros. With fans of the Robert Downey Jr.-led Sherlock Holmes franchise still rallying for a third installment, actor Eddie Marsan has provided a discouraging update regarding the threequel. Marsan, who plays Inspector Lestrade in the fan-favorite film series, shared his opinion regarding the dwindling prospects of Sherlock Holmes 3 in a recent interview, claiming that he is unsure if the movie will ever materialize. Eddie Marsan isn’t sure Sherlock Holmes 3 will happen after two Avengers movies While speaking with ScreenRant‘s Grant Hermanns about his upcoming feature, All the Devils Are Here, Marsan expressed doubt that Sherlock Holmes 3 would ever reach a stage of completion due to the constant delays in its production. “Every year, I hear that they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it, and it never happens,” the English actor noted before adding, “I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s ever going to happen.” Marsan’s comments about Sherlock Holmes 3 come after Susan Downey, who served as a producer in both the 2009 flick and its 2011 sequel, admitted that they “came pretty close at one point” to making the much-awaited threequel. The producer disclosed that before the COVID-19 pandemic put everything on hold, the Sherlock Holmes team was actively working towards turning the project into reality. “It just didn’t work out timing-wise, because we couldn’t get it in before Jude [Law] was going to be unavailable,” Robert Downey Jr.’s wife explained during an interview with Collider. Downey even shared some tidbits about the plot of the film, adding that Sherlock Holmes 3 has “always been kind of set in America.” Helmed by Guy Ritchie, the first Sherlock Holmes movie came out on the big screen in 2009, with its sequel, A Game of Shadows, hitting theaters in 2011. Since then, there have been little to no official updates regarding a third installment. With Robert Downey Jr. returning to the Marvel setup in 2026 with Avengers: Doomsday, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, the future of Sherlock Holmes 3 appears bleak at best, at the time of writing. The post Sherlock Holmes 3 Movie Gets the Worst Update From Franchise Actor appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

From romance novels to thrillers to historical fiction, these were the most read books on Goodreads this month. As you might expect, most of the titles in the top five are new releases: three of them came out this year. The Wedding People by Alison Espach came out mid-2024. But The Housemaid by Freida McFadden came out in 2022, and McFadden has had many new releases since that haven’t been unable to unseat it in the top five. There’s a simple explanation, though, which is that The Housemaid has a movie adaptation coming out later this year. Will you be watching? Three New Books Out in September You Should Know About Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a few new books out last month that deserve wider readership. To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage I just finished this and loved it! To the Moon and Back is about Steph, who is determined to become the first Cherokee astronaut. We also follow her sister, an Indigenous artist and social media influencer; her mother, who is keeping secrets about her past; and Steph’s college girlfriend, whose custody case between her Cherokee biological father and white adoptive parents made her a household name as a toddler. It’s a fascinating and complex literary fiction novel that I hope will get the attention it deserves. —Danika Ellis Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy Legendary writer Arundhati Roy writes about her experience growing up with a single mother in Kerala, India. Her mother, Mary, passed away in 2022, and Roy was startled by the depth of her grief. She began to write about her mother “to be able to continue to love her.” Roy’s first memoir is a stunning rumination on grieving and the messiness of truly loving someone. —Kendra Winchester Fate’s Bane by C. L. Clark Agnir has grown up a captive of an enemy clan, a part of their world for as long as she can remember. When her love for the chieftain’s daughter reveals a magic that could bind her family and their enemy together—or destroy them—they must decide what they will sacrifice to keep the peace. —Liberty Hardy The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week #5: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Emily Henry is a staple author on the bestseller lists and the Goodreads most read list, so it’s no surprise to see her newest title here. It follows two writers competing to write the official biography of a reclusive heiress. It was read by 48,000 users in September and has a 4.0 average rating. #4: The Wedding People by Alison Espach This Read With Jenna pick follows Phoebe, a suicidal woman who has decided to give herself one last splurge at the Cornwall Inn. When she arrives, everyone assumes she’s there for the wedding, and she and the bride end up confiding each other. This was read by almost 58,000 users, with a 4.1 average rating. #3: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden This is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It’s about a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of. It was read by almost 69,000 Goodreads users, with a 4.3 average rating. #2: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Taylor Jenkins Reid is best known for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six. Now, she’s back with a new novel about two women astronauts in the 1980s. It came out in June and became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. It’s also a Good Morning America Book Club Pick. 76,000 Goodreads users marked it read last month, and it has a 4.4 average rating. #1: Wild Card by Elsie Silver This is the fourth book in the Rose Hill series, all about single dads who “find their happily ever afters in a rugged lake town, nestled in the Rocky Mountains.” In Wild Card, Sebastian is a pilot with smoldering chemistry with his new roommate, Gwen—who also happens to be the ex-girlfriend of his estranged son. If he ever hopes to repair the relationship, she’s strictly off limits. But how long can they deny the sparks flying between them? Almost 87,000 users marked it as read in September, and it has a 4.2 average rating. If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists. Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books. View the full article

Photo Credit: HBO Max The promo for Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 8, features Chris, aka Peacemaker, in jail. The latest and penultimate episode ends with intense and emotional scenes that lead to his arrest, setting up a promising and intriguing finale. Here are the details on what happened in the latest episode. Why does Peacemaker get arrested and put in jail in Season 2? Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 7, “Like a Keith in the Night”, focuses on Peacemaker and the rest of the gang trying to escape Earth X. After realizing that the alternate universe was dominated by the Nazi, Chris and Harcourt escape the A.R.G.U.S. headquarters. On their way, they encounter Keith and Augie in their suits, who take them back to their house to learn what’s happening. During their conversation, Vigilante breaks into the house through the window and stabs Augie in the neck, killing him. This works as a catalyst that starts a fight between them and the police department, who were also outside their house. Furthermore, Kieth blames Chris for Augie’s death, yelling at him, “What did you bring here? What is wrong with you?” His words mark the first step toward Chris’s realization of the results of his actions. Meanwhile, both Vigilantes fight the cops, and the rest of the crew runs for the portal to escape to their dimension. However, Keith attacks Chris, pinning him down and beating him. As a result, Eagly and everyone else grab Keith and stab him. Seeing his brother die (once again), Chris yells at them to stop. Realizing the chaos and death they’ve caused, he yells at everyone, saying, “What’s wrong with all of us?” Chris holds Keith and apologizes for what he’s done as flashbacks of the people that he killed play. He says, “I’m sorry. I’m so f—— sorry. This is me. Everything I touch. It’s not your world that’s wrong, or mine. It’s me.” When they finally reach their dimension, Peacemaker closes the portal and surrenders the object and himself to A.R.U.G.U.S. He also clears everybody’s names, citing that they convinced him to surrender. Ultimately, Chris feels guilty for the deaths he has caused, be it by choice or otherwise. Even in the Episode 8 promo, he calls himself “angel of death”, showcasing how he has started perceiving himself. The post Why Peacemaker Is in Jail in Season 2 Episode 8 Trailer? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article

I’m writing to you from the last day of September, and I am beside myself with excitement to start my October reading. Every year, I set aside books specifically to read in October: horror novels, witchy books, and anything that feels like it is best read amongst falling leaves. This is my favourite reading month of the year, and I have a staggering TBR I want to get through. October is also Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon, which I’ve been celebrating twice a year every year for more than a decade. It’s a day of snacks and reading with friends, and it’s my personal favourite holiday. I plan to read a lot of books that day, but with the stacks of books I currently have out from the library, it won’t be enough to get through them all! But before we get into the October TBR, let’s wrap up September. Here’s what I read this month, including one that I consider a big accomplishment to get through. All Access members, read on for my September reading wrap-up. This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. What did you read in September, and what’s on your October TBR? How is your progress through Read Harder going? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The #1 New York Times bestselling series from Kate McKinnon continues in Secrets of the Purple Pearl. The Krenetics Research Association, a nefarious group of mad scientists, haven’t given up on resurrecting their fearsome leader, Talon Sharktūth. But the Porch sisters are on to them, plus their mentor, Millicent Quibb, has a plan! Is it a good plan? Hard to say! Get ready for more secrets, more science, and less sense in this second installment of The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science. Fantasy is known for its epic adventures and intricate worldbuilding, but many of the best fantasy stories also have a healthy dose of humour. I’m a huge fan of the Discworld series, for adults, and the Skulduggery Pleasant YA books, but there are also plenty of brilliantly funny middle grade fantasy books out there. In fact, middle grade is the perfect age bracket in which to blend fantasy and comedy: middle grade fantasies are often set in bright, sparky worlds, with larger-than-life magical characters who can kickstart hilarity and action-packed scenes that lend themselves to some magical slapstick. These middle grade fantasy stories from the past few years mix humour and magic effortlessly, making them thrilling and funny reads. There are stories that explore what happens when you accidentally mix magic and baking and then unleash the results on unsuspecting townspeople. We have tales that feature magical creatures who interact with the world completely differently from the young human heroes, with hilarity ensuing. There are snarky best friend groups, main characters dealing with the cringe factor of finding out about their dad’s childhood hijinks, and talking animal sidekicks who never fail to raise a smile. Here are some of the funniest middle grade fantasy books for fun-loving readers of all ages. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi Aru Shah and the End of Time is an epic adventure featuring famous figures from Hindu mythology, but it’s also a fun, witty read. The story follows Aru, a young girl who lives in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. It is a rollercoaster ride through history and legend, with Aru and her friends encountering gods, monsters, and a talking pigeon named Boo. Chokshi creates funny and courageous characters that all readers will root for. Witchlings: House of Elephants by Claribel A. Ortega The third installment in Claribel A. Ortega’s acclaimed Witchlings series, House of Elephants, picks up after the thrilling climax of The Golden Frog Games, which saw one of the titular Witchlings placed under a terrifying curse. Despite the increasing stakes in Ortega’s magical world, where malevolent forces are rising to demonise Spare witches, House of Elephants keeps the sparky, funny interactions between its main characters that make the Witchlings books such great reads. A Taste of Magic by J. Elle When young Kyana Turner discovers that she’s a witch, she starts spending her Saturdays at Park Row Magick Academy, a local magic school run out of a nearby salon. Kyana discovers an aptitude for Potions, which gels perfectly with her knack for baking. When the school is threatened because of a lack of funding, she decides to enter a baking competition to win the money needed to keep the school open. With intricate worldbuilding and a fantastic magic system, A Taste of Magic also has plenty of hilarious hijinks when Kyana’s magic behaves in unexpected ways. Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo by Philippa Leathley At first glance, Inkbound might seem like a dark fantasy middle grade series. Set in a world where ten-year-old children receive magical tattoos that show their fates, it follows Metty Jones, whose skull tattoo tells the world that she’s destined to be a murderer. However, despite mayhem, magic, kidnappings, and the rise of a sinister group known as the Black Moths, Inkbound still brings plenty of laughs as Metty awkwardly tries to make her way through an unpredictable world. Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas Angie Thomas’s magical middle grade series is as funny as it is fantastical. Nic Blake is a young girl raised by her magician father, hiding their powers from the ordinary humans in their town. But although she knows magic is real, she never suspected that her favourite book series was based on her father’s childhood adventures with his best friend. When Nic discovers the truth, she also finds out that the dangers her father faced haven’t gone away, and she has to take them on with her own friends. As Nic explores the Manifestor world, plenty of laughs ensue, along with thrills and chills. The Case of the Chaos Monster by Patrice Lawrence Patrice Lawrence’s Elemental Detectives series may deal with serious themes, such as the plight of child workers and colonialism in a fantasy version of Victorian London, but it also includes plenty of humour. In this second installment, Marisee and Robert set out to find out why London’s music has disappeared, setting out into the worlds of the Elementals to solve the mystery. The Elementals and their strange outlooks on the world always strike a funny chord, whether it’s the ditsy nature of the air-spirit Fumis, or the constantly-changing society of the water elemental Chads. School for Fireflies by Erica Gomez Another fantastic magical school story, School for Fireflies follows Siddy and Zadie, two new students who are swept up in learning spellcrafting and other skills—until they’re sidetracked by solving a mystery. With plenty of wit and warmth, School for Fireflies is a funny read as well as an action-packed adventure. Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones Fans of Welsh mythology will love Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend, the tale of a group of children who have the souls of witches from the past and stand against the terrifying King Arawn of the Otherworld. Alongside the high fantasy, there’s a lot of humour: Vivi discovers that Excalibur is tiny, that talking ghost dogs exist, and that having water-based magic powers is trickier than she’d thought. Looking for more middle grade fantasy? Try 10 Epic Fantasy Books for Middle Grade Readers, or The Best Middle Grade Fantasy Series to Discover Right Now. View the full article

Appalachia is a region full of insightful literature and rich storytelling traditions. And when it comes to true tales, we have a diverse range of perspectives. From literary icon Nikki Giovanni to indie bookstore owner Mandi Fugate Sheffel, our writers have seemingly endless stories to share. Here are a few of Appalachia’s must-read nonfiction titles of 2025. The New Book: Poems Letters Blurbs and Things by Nikki Giovanni Affrilachian poet Nikki Giovanni was a national treasure who passed away in 2024. The New Book is her last collection, and it should be savored. It’s full of poetry and short pieces of prose, letters, and even a recipe. Giovanni was a truth-teller and a woman who fought for a better world. Her work is full of her wisdom, love, and passion for life. Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance by Denali Sai Nalamalapu While Denali Sai Nalamalapu isn’t originally from Appalachia, they have come to call the region home. As a climate activist, Nalamalapu worked with activists to resist the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which spans around 300 miles from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia. Holler is a graphic memoir that follows a handful of people through their experience of resisting the pipeline and illustrates how the project deeply impacted their lives. Queer Communion: Religion in Appalachia edited by Davis Shoulders Pastor’s kid Davis Shoulders knows what it’s like to grow up queer in a religious household. This experience drew them into conversations about how queer and trans identities intersect with religious communities in Appalachia. Now Shoulders has gathered LGBTQ+ writers with a range of backgrounds and experiences, each with their own perspective on spirituality. Queer Communion is a moving essay collection that doesn’t shy away from the hard conversations around faith and queer identity. The Nature of Pain: Roots, Recovery, and Redemption amid the Opioid Crisis by Mandi Fugate Sheffel Mandi Fugate Sheffel has supported hundreds of authors’ stories through her bookstore Read Spotted Newt. Now she’s here to tell her own story. Fugate Sheffel grew up in a holler in Kentucky, raised next to trees and streams. But when the opioid crisis hit Appalachia, she found herself in a cycle of addiction she never thought she’d break. The Nature of Pain is a story of love, family, and the bonds that stay with us through our darkest moments. Cipher: Decoding My Ancestor’s Scandalous Secret Diaries by Jeremy B. Jones When Jeremy B. Jones first found his ancestor’s journals written in a strange sort of code, he found it amusing to learn the random details of how a 19th-century man spent his days. But soon, the journals became so much more. He began researching his ancestor’s history and putting together a fuller picture of his life. Told in alternating chapters between memoir and his ancestor’s story, Cipher delves into bigger questions around knowing his family history and how that impacts him in the present. You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot. Happy Reading, Friends! ~ Kendra View the full article

Working every day got you down? Disenchanted with the capitalist hellscape that is our Western world? If you’re looking for an escape from all of that, then Beatriz Serrano’s Discontent is not the novel for you. However! If you’re looking for a book that hears you, sees your frustrations, and commiserates with you, this one is really going to capture your attention. And maybe even make you laugh. With the way everything has shaken out in 2025 so far, who doesn’t need a good laugh? Discontent by Beatriz Serrano, translated by Mara Faye Lethem According to late-stage capitalism, Beatriz Serrano’s protagonist in Discontent has it all. Marisa is extremely successful at her job at a top advertising agency in Madrid. Her apartment is stunning, and her friends-with-benefits neighbor isn’t too bad to look at either. But as the title of this novel suggests, Marisa is dissatisfied with her life. Marisa hates her job, she hates her coworkers, and she feels a dark cloud of depression hanging over her. In typical millennial fashion, Maris deals with her discontent by tuning out while she’s in the office and tuning into YouTube videos. At night, she takes Valium and puts on ASMR videos to help her sleep. And then she gets up and does the same thing again, every day. The only thing that brings her joy is visiting her favorite museum. Otherwise, she spends her days longing for a way out of her soul-sucking job. So when her boss announces that everyone will be going on a mandatory work retreat, Marisa can’t understand why everyone else in her office seems so excited about it. This retreat is her worst nightmare, especially because Marisa is afraid that spending more time with her coworkers and her boss doing “activities” will reveal the truth: that she has faked her way to the top, stolen work from others, and built an entire career off of lies. If this story sounds bleak and depressing and TOO REAL for you, then I beg you to give it a read. You’ll be surprised by just how funny and relatable this novel is. In a world driven by hustle culture, it was wonderful to read a character who reflected the feelings many of us have about capitalism and corporate mentality on our darkest days. Some of the actions she takes—especially towards the end (but no spoilers)—might seem extreme, but who among us hasn’t gone there in our heads at least once? And there is a feeling of catharsis seeing someone else play through our most extreme thoughts of “what if.” Also… I know I’m not the only one who can relate to a character who is fully obsessed with YouTube videos. Discontent is as hilarious as it is unhinged. In less than 200 pages, I found myself really pulling for this flawed but relatable protagonist. This was Spanish writer and journalist Beatriz Serrano’s first novel, and I will definitely be checking out whatever she does next. Happy reading, bibliophiles! Feel free to follow me on Instagram @emandhercat, and check out my other newsletters, The Fright Stuff and Book Radar! View the full article

I’m sure we all have at least some idea of what a “witch hunt” is. Still, after hearing the term abused for so many years, it can’t hurt to take a moment and think about what it means and what the consequences of real witch hunts are. Both of these concepts are explored at length in Ben Wickey’s masterpiece, More Weight. Stunningly illustrated and meticulously researched, More Weight primarily follows Giles and Martha Corey, both of whom would be executed for witchcraft. The title comes from Giles’s last words, said to his executioners as he was pressed to death with large stones. Their story, and the story of the other falsely accused witches (and they were all falsely accused), is harrowing and occasionally gruesome. As it spirals toward its inevitable conclusion, the reader is forced, again and again, to confront the true costs of abandoning logic, reason, mercy, and justice. The farther we get from the 1692 witch hunts, the more we interpret the whole episode less like a serious lesson and more like a marketing opportunity. Witch-themed media gleefully reference the murders, while Salem’s economy depends on Halloween-based tourism and merchandising. Trump is one of the worst offenders in the scramble to detach the concept of a witch hunt from its terrible origins. And yes, Wickey does mention the current president, giving him as much attention as he has ever deserved: two small panels in the outro. Wickey rightfully points out how Trump compares himself to the Salem witches to try to gain sympathy while distracting from the fact that, unlike those executed in 1692, there is ample evidence to show he is guilty of the crimes he was convicted of. These days, it’s more important than ever to think about the words we use and what we really mean by them. A witch hunt is not some historical curiosity that we can harmlessly profit from. It isn’t a synonym for “people telling me facts I don’t want to hear,” or even leveling accusations, true or otherwise, against a single person. Its victims are not martyrs for some spiritual or proto-feminist cause. They were real, deeply flawed people who were denied basic rights and decency in the name of fighting a threat that no one could prove actually existed. And the consequences are harrowing: People ripped from their homes and forced to defend themselves before a court that has already made up its mind. Accused men, women, and even a child confined to an airless dungeon on the word of a few individuals that some in the community already knew or suspected were lying. Wealthy, influential people accused of witchcraft allowed to flee while the poor and the belligerent are ruthlessly, publicly murdered and dumped in unmarked graves. Judges who face no consequences for condemning the innocent, even when they arbitrarily move the goalposts of what is and is not acceptable proof of witchcraft so they don’t have to admit their mistakes. This doesn’t sound anything like what has happened to Trump and his ilk. It does come awfully close to what they have inflicted on other people, though. We shouldn’t be surprised: the Salem witch hunters were, by and large, shameless individuals who cared more for power than for people. They and Trump would get along just fine. I’m not saying you have to stop watching your favorite Halloween movies or anything like that. But I do recommend taking some time to think about how the victims and perpetrators of past witch hunts are treated—and taking care with how we invoke their memory. View the full article

Horror readers, our favorite month is finally here! We’ve been so fortunate with so many good horror books releasing all year round. But there’s something extra special about horror that comes out in October, the best month of the year. Does that mean the best horror novels of the year are coming out this month? I’ll let you be the judge. Here are some of the most exciting scary books you can read this October. Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer (Quirk, October 7) Ruth feels trapped in her life and trapped in the closet in the small, conservative town of Kill Devil, Kentucky. When her manager at the craft store where she works finds out she’s living with her girlfriend, Ruth gets fired. But she’s not going down without a fight. In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift yarn from the store, and instead, she finds herself captured by the religious group that runs the store (and the whole town). As Ruth comes face-to-face with the dark secrets behind Kill Devil, will she be able to make it out alive? Check out another couple of horror reads to have on your radar this fall, and this list of most anticipated fall sci-fi, fantasy, and horror according to Goodreads. And because horror obviously isn’t just for October, make sure you subscribe to The Fright Stuff to get all the horror book recommendations and news all year long. View the full article

Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images The Smashing Machine stars Dwayne Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr and Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples. The movie covers Kerr’s rise in MMA, his battle with addiction, and the ups and downs of his relationship with Staples. It’s set to release on October 3, 2025, and fans are eager to know where Kerr and Staples are now. Where is Dwayne Johnson’s Mark Kerr from The Smashing Machine now? Mark Kerr was born on December 21, 1968, in Toledo, Ohio. He started in wrestling but switched to MMA in 1997, debuting against UFC fighter Paul Varelans. Kerr became a top name in the world of MMA, becoming a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, and fought in PRIDE FC, earning the moniker “The Smashing Machine” for his fighting style. In 2009, Kerr retired from MMA and started working for a Toyota dealership till 2015. In 2019, Kerr revealed he had been suffering from peripheral neuropathy since 2016. He created a GoFundMe to pay for his treatments. Lately, he’s been involved in the promotion of The Smashing Machine, which is getting huge Oscar buzz. It is inspired by the 2002 HBO documentary about Kerr. The original documentary also follows Kerr’s journey to becoming a top MMA fighter while struggling with addiction. Where is Emily Blunt’s Dawn Staples from The Smashing Machine now? Dawn Staples studied at Phoenix College, was a model, and later became a real estate investor. Mark Kerr’s risky fighting career put a strain on their marriage, which ended in 2015. Today, Staples works as an interior decorator and owns Final Touches by Design, a studio based in Phoenix. The Smashing Machine explores Kerr’s relationship with Staples, a former Playboy model whom he married in 2000. Furthermore, they share a son, Bryce, who played football in high school. The post Where Are The Smashing Machine’s Mark Kerr & Dawn Staples Now? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. View the full article