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Penguins are insanely resilient—and these explorers are revealing their secrets

Penguins are insanely resilient—and these explorers are revealing their secrets

Borboroglu's initiatives to create protected areas for penguins have helped conserve some 32 million acres of habitat, on land and at sea. Now 55, he takes inspiration from the birds' resilience—the way they swim hundreds of thousands of miles for food, avoid predators and pollution, and survive in environments increasingly impacted by climate change. 'When you see penguins making that big effort,' he reflects, 'you say, How can I give up?'
Being recognized as an Explorer of the Year alongside his filmmaker friend, Borboroglu says, is 'fantastic … a great combination of different kinds of explorers and expertise.'
At first, Gregory says, he was hesitant to make a documentary about penguins. The Emmy-winning host of the Disney+ series Animals Up Close, who has shot for iconic series like Planet Earth and Frozen Planet, knew that filming in penguins' harsh habitats would be tough—and worried the species was already plenty documented. 'If you're going to make a series called Secrets of the Penguins,' he says, 'you've got to show people something they've never seen before.'
But Gregory embraced the challenge. To film one of the series' three episodes, he camped for more than two months near an emperor penguin colony in Antarctica's Atka Bay. He was documenting a critical phase in a penguin's life cycle, when juveniles, abandoned by their parents, are left to figure out how to become a 'proper adult penguin,' getting themselves to the ocean to swim and hunt.
Gregory succeeded spectacularly in capturing behaviors never before filmed, including footage of hundreds of young emperor penguins entering the sea by 'BASE jumping' off a 50-foot cliff. 'I really think it's going to blow people's minds,' he says. 'I thought I knew what penguins' limits were. I was wrong.'
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First Look at MINNIE'S MIDNIGHT MASSACRE Turns a Classic Cartoon Sidekick Into a Murderous Killer — GeekTyrant
First Look at MINNIE'S MIDNIGHT MASSACRE Turns a Classic Cartoon Sidekick Into a Murderous Killer — GeekTyrant

Geek Tyrant

timean hour ago

  • Geek Tyrant

First Look at MINNIE'S MIDNIGHT MASSACRE Turns a Classic Cartoon Sidekick Into a Murderous Killer — GeekTyrant

Filming wrapped last week on a new low-budget horror flick titled Minnie's Midnight Massacre , which gives us a deranged spin on a public domain character from Disney. This time it's Minnie Mouse, and we have a first look at the murderous version of the character. The project is being executive-produced by Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey team Stuart Alson and Nicole Holland, so you already know the kind of ridiculous ride this is going to deliver. That movie and its sequel raked in over $7 million each at the box office, so expect this new twisted fairytale to try and tap into that same viral horror energy. As for the story? Minnie is out for blood, hunting down the childhood bullies who made her teenage life a living hell. Leading the massacre is Hannah Hueston. The film is directed by Brett Bentman ( 90 Feet From Home ) and produced by Tiffany McDonald and Derrick Redford. Bentman told Deadline: 'We wanted to bring the black and white sidekick to life. We'd see Willie in all these reimaginings, but what about Minnie? Why not give her some spotlight?' ITN Distribution is repping the film, and if Blood and Honey taught us anything, it's that, for some reason, audiences are showing up for these no-budget public domain nightmares.

Review: The new $7 billion Epic Universe in Florida leaps into immersive experiences
Review: The new $7 billion Epic Universe in Florida leaps into immersive experiences

Miami Herald

timean hour ago

  • Miami Herald

Review: The new $7 billion Epic Universe in Florida leaps into immersive experiences

ORLANDO, Fla. - Three words. "Disney's in trouble." My 14-year-old daughter spoke those words after we were transported into Super Mario Land via an enormous green water pipe (it was an enclosed escalator illuminated by green LEDs), just like in the classic Nintendo video game "Super Mario Bros." - warp sound effect and all. We emerged, mouths agape, from Princess Peach's castle to see animatronic piranha plants, mushroom-shaped Goombas pacing back and forth, spinning coins and floating question-mark blocks. Against the scenic backdrop of a clear blue sky with puffy white clouds on a mildly hot day, it almost made me feel like I was standing in the actual game I played as a kid in the late 1980s. Super Mario Land was just one part of Super Nintendo World, one of five themed "worlds" inside Epic Universe, NBCUniversal's newest theme park in Orlando that cost a reported $7 billion to construct. The 750-acre Epic Universe, more than a decade in the making, also features three hotels with a combined 2,000 rooms, and more than 50 "awe-inspiring attractions, dining and shopping experiences," according to Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal. The park, which officially opened May 22, is separated into five areas: Super Nintendo World; Celestial Park; Dark Universe; The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic; and How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. Single-day park tickets to Epic Universe were not yet available for the park's second weekend, which is when my family went. So we secured a three-day Universal Orlando package - two days to park-hop between Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure or Volcano Bay, and the third day to visit Epic. We paid about $160 each for the three-day pass in April. Single-day Epic Universe tickets now start at $179. Innovative thrills I'm always intrigued with the technology behind rides and attractions. With Epic Universe, Comcast received 161 patents for new innovations, including special animating effects, ride designs and robotics. One of those patents is for Mine-Cart Madness, a thrill ride in Donkey Kong Country at Super Nintendo World. The ride uses a vertical arm connecting the cart to a hidden track, creating the illusion of jumping over gaps or from one track to another. In Super Mario Land, a sensor-infused slap bracelet allows you to collect coins like you would in the game by pounding the bottoms of those floating question-mark blocks. Augmented reality (AR) is used for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, a thrill ride based on the Mario Kart video game series. We steered through race courses wearing AR visors (the Rainbow Road course was the ultimate treat). But the high-resolution projection-mapping tech and animatronics on Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, a ride in Dark Universe, was my favorite of the day. The new Harry Potter area is set in 1920s Paris and is based on the "Fantastic Beasts" films and the British Ministry of Magic from the "Harry Potter" series. Like at the Potter lands at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, guests can use sensor-connected wands to interact with projections and animatronics. Sustainable spaces Most theme parks, like Busch Gardens in Tampa or Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, give you concrete walkway after walkway that only guide you to the next attraction, quick-service restaurant or gift shop. Even at Walt Disney World, it's difficult to navigate the slender walkways, especially when a group decides to stop and discuss their next move. At Epic, there was plenty of walking space leading to various parts of the park. I didn't feel overwhelmed by the crowd. Mind you, several theme-park bloggers said Epic was at half-capacity at about 15,000 during its first few days, because most attendees either purchased the three-day pass or were season passholders. Still, it was relaxing. I learned that Epic Universe is a sustainable park. Over 165,000 plants - including trees, palms, bamboo, shrubs and groundcover - are irrigated with reclaimed water. Electric buses, powered by floating solar panels, take guests from resort hotels and parks to Epic Universe. There are millions of energy-saving LED lights, and filtered water refill stations so people don't toss plastic bottles. Solar panels in the parking lot provided a canopy of shade to vehicles in what I assume were premium spaces. Truly immersive Epic Universe was epic. The attention to detail makes the new park a winner. From trash cans blending into the bright architecture of the queue line for Yoshi's Adventure, to the "Back to the Future" Easter egg featuring a flux capacitor on the back of each vehicle on the Stardust Racers dueling coaster in Celestial Park, Universal scribbles over and completely rewrites the old theme-park recipe of fast coasters, character appearances and merchandise. Universal leverages its movie magic, cutting-edge technology and fandom to deliver a 750-acre experience that apparently isn't even finished yet. Some other theme parks have an area or two that are truly immersive and yield a sensation of amazement. I can name two. There's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World and the World Showcase at Disney's EPCOT. Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe rivals both. For those who couldn't care less about Nintendo nostalgia, the 1920s-era design and architecture of the new Harry Potter land and Darkmoor, the Transylvania-esque town that is home to Universal icons like Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster, are intriguing. You don't have to get on a ride to enjoy the place. When the sun sets, the Cosmos Fountain Show across seven acres of water in Celestial Park features choreographed water jets that shoot up 135 feet, with LED lights that interact with music from Universal films, Harry Potter, "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Super Mario Bros." We must have sat for 15 minutes or longer, staring at the dancing fountains in front of the new 500-room Universal Helios Grand hotel. We had a nice indoor lunch at the Meteor Astropub, one of many restaurants in Celestial Park. There are two live shows: Le Cirque Arcanus in Ministry of Magic (which appeals to "Fantastic Beasts" fans) and "The Untrainable Dragon" in the Isle of Berk. We decided to try the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry thrill ride, which combines animatronics and screen technology. The ride was experiencing technical difficulties and was delayed. We thought people would exit the queue and we'd be closer to the loading area once it restarted. Others apparently had the same idea. We waited for nearly two hours underneath London's Whitehall after being transported through the Floo Network (Floo powder is the green substance used as a mode of transportation by wizards and witches in "Potter," giving off green smoke). That attention to detail in the queue made the wait easier to survive, at least for me. If we could do it all over again, we'd probably trade the ride for the circus show. There's always next time. _______________ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.

Lewis Capaldi Partners With BetterHelp to Give Fans 734,000 Hours of Free Online Therapy
Lewis Capaldi Partners With BetterHelp to Give Fans 734,000 Hours of Free Online Therapy

Business Wire

time2 hours ago

  • Business Wire

Lewis Capaldi Partners With BetterHelp to Give Fans 734,000 Hours of Free Online Therapy

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After two years away from the spotlight, Lewis Capaldi broke the silence and made a courageous return to music with his new single 'Survive' – a bold, brave anthem that addresses a challenging period in his career that peaked at Glastonbury in 2023. Capaldi cites therapy as the reason he was able to return to music, and he wants others to have access to the same support. To do this, he's teaming up with BetterHelp, the world's largest online therapy platform, to share his own mental health experience and give away 734,000 hours of free online therapy (honoring Capaldi's 734-day break to focus on his mental health) – providing fans a free month of BetterHelp. 'Therapy is the reason why I am able to be a musician again,' said Capaldi. 'I don't think I'll ever stop going to therapy after the impact it's had on my life over the past two years." Share As part of the partnership, Capaldi released an exclusive video chat for BetterHelp chronicling for the first time his mental health experience during his two year break – including how he navigated anxiety and how mental health support got him to where he is today. In it, he shares how finding the right therapist and engaging in therapy has helped him to 'feel the best he's felt.' View the video here. 'Therapy is the reason why I am able to be a musician again,' said Capaldi. 'I don't think I'll ever stop going to therapy after the impact it's had on my life over the past two years. I want to support my fans as they've supported me, which is why I'm donating 734,000 hours together with BetterHelp.' Capaldi said anxiety had 'overtaken' him by the end of his 2023 tour – when his mental health challenges reached their peak. The Scottish superstar made the decision to step away from music and focus on his mental health. Capaldi has now come full circle, making a triumphant return to Glastonbury, with a surprise performance that made it clear he is not just surviving, he's come back even stronger, watch here. 'We've seen through our data that globally 3 in 4 people agree that seeking mental health support is important, yet most people are afraid to ask for help,' said Sara Brooks, Chief Growth Officer of BetterHelp. 'To have someone as globally recognized as Lewis Capaldi share so authentically how getting help through online therapy has transformed his life is incredibly powerful. We're grateful to have Lewis speak up and use his platform to help break down the stigma of therapy.' For more information about the partnership and to access a free month of therapy, visit About Lewis Capaldi: 2X GRAMMY® Award-nominated, BRIT Award-winning artist and songwriter Lewis Capaldi's debut album, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, was the biggest selling UK album of 2019 and 2020, propelling him from bedroom musician to superstar. 'Someone You Loved,' his 2019 global megahit, has been certified Diamond (10x Platinum) in the U.S. and stands as the UK's most streamed song of all time and the fourth highest ever streamed song in the world. In addition to a GRAMMY® nomination for 'Song of the Year', the single won the BRIT Award for 'Song of the Year' alongside Capaldi's 'Best New Artist' trophy. 'Someone You Loved' stands as the UK's most streamed song of all time and the fourth highest ever streamed song in the world. With Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent, he scored his second UK No. 1 album and three UK No. 1 singles, "Pointless,""Wish You The Best" and "Forget Me." The 2023 album earned praise from the likes of The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, NME, GQ, Stereogum, TIME and many more. April 2023 brought the release of the raw and compelling, GRAMMY®-nominated music documentary L ewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now, in partnership with Netflix, BMG, & Pulse Films – available to watch globally on Netflix now. Taking its name from the album's closing song, the feature-length documentary shot straight to the top of the Netflix chart, making it the most watched film on the platform since its release. Capaldi's new single 'Survive' is out now. About BetterHelp: BetterHelp was founded in 2013 to remove the traditional barriers to therapy and make mental health care more accessible to everyone. Today, it's the world's largest online therapy service – providing professional, affordable, and tailored therapy in a convenient online format. BetterHelp's network of 30,000 credentialed therapists has helped millions of people worldwide take ownership of their mental health and work towards their personal goals. As the unmet need for mental health services persists, BetterHelp is committed to expanding access to therapy globally.

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