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UPI
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Movie review: New 'Dora' movie carries 'Indiana Jones' torch
1 of 5 | Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) and Dora (Samantha Lorraine) explore the Amazon in "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado," on Paramount+ Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Spataro/Nickelodeon/Paramount+ LOS ANGELES, June 30 (UPI) -- Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, premiering Wednesday on Paramount+, turns the Nickelodeon animated series Dora the Explorer into a thrilling live-action adventure for families. Like 2019's underrated Dora and the Lost City, it harkens back to the best classic adventure movies. As a toddler, young Dora's (Scarlett Spears) Abuelo (J. Santiago Suarez) tells her about the legend of Sol Dorado, an Incan treasure that grants a wish. He also gives her Map, which does not speak in this iteration. Map seems to be blank, but fills in with crayon art whenever Dora needs directions in her adventures. This is a lovely way to visualize that Map is essentially Dora's own sense of direction; it just skips the part where she researches and draws it herself. As a toddler, watching Camila the Crusader (Daniela Pineda) appears to be where Dora picked up the habit of looking directly into camera and asking the audience questions. As a teenager, Dora (Samantha Lorraine) and Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) have explored the Amazon rainforest but still have not found Sol Dorado. The pair get a job at the Jungle World theme park, where Camila now works. Camila's secret excavation behind the park leads Dora, Diego, coworker Naiya (Mariana Garzón Toro) and Naiya's brother Sonny (Acston Luca Porto) on another jungle adventure. Dora and her friends explore booby trapped caves and temples loaded with gross bugs. Their adventure is more Indiana Jones than Dial of Destiny was. Dora solves riddles through her knowledge of Incan history. Her spirit is selfless and optimistic for the joy of discovery, not for profit. She doesn't outright say Sol Dorado belongs in a museum, but she shares the morality and sentiment of Indiana Jones. Dora loses Map early in her quest, so the heart of her adventure becomes learning to chart her own course. Kids going on adventures was also a Steven Spielberg staple outside of his grown-up Indiana Jones movies. This was already inherent in the animated Dora, but both live-action movies have risen to the high standard of kids' adventures. Sol Dorado filmed in Colombia and the physical jungle is palpable in the adventure, as are interior sets of those caves and temples. The actors are hanging on vines and crouching under collapsing ceilings. There are computer generated elements like Boots the monkey (voice of Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias), whom only Dora understands. Swiper the stealing fox belongs to Camila, but artificial characters fit way better in a practical location than actors fit in artificial worlds. Map represents the central theme of Dora's quest, but her Backpack also appears. The film approaches its seemingly infinite contents with an appropriate nonchalance, while dismissing it as a tool to circumvent any of the adventure's challenges. By the time Dora meets her, Camila has lost her spirit of discovery since her TV show ended. Recognizing it in Dora could be a cliche, but Dora puts it in poignant context. Dora says, "I may have lost my map but you lost your compass." She articulates the difference between getting lost and losing one's purpose. With this moral compass, Dora also captures the spirit of Indiana Jones better than the recent streaming film Fountain of Youth. Dora still has a sense of humor, but not at the expense of its characters' heroic qualities. Jungle World does test Dora's patience. She begins a tram tour with the infectious enthusiasm of her real adventures, but repetition and animatronic displays wear on her quickly. There is a fun tram chase through the park before they go back to the jungle. And Jungle World is where the audience learns Diego and Naiya used to date, adding a teen Romancing the Stone dynamic to the rest of their adventure, updated for a couple who have ghosted each other. The English language film frequently drops in Spanish words. They are simple words like eschucha and vamanos, which may be familiar as "listen" and "let's go," even to viewers who have never taken a language class. Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado captures Dora's inclusive spirit while using Incan legend to inspire curiosity and valuable moral lessons. If it is a success on the streaming services, more adventures with this gang would be welcome. Fred Topel, who attended film school at Ithaca College, is a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Read more of his work in Entertainment.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Abortions in the US are on the rise three years after Roe v Wade was overturned
Three years after the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, erasing the national right to abortion and paving the way for more than a dozen states to ban the procedure, the number of abortions performed in the US is still on the rise – including in some states that ban the procedure. US abortion providers performed 1.14m abortions in 2024, according to new data released on Monday by #WeCount, a Society of Family Planning project that has tracked abortion provision since 2022. That's the highest number on record in recent years. 'We were really surprised to see the numbers go up over time,' said Ushma Upadhyay, a University of California, San Francisco professor who serves as co-chair of the #WeCount steering committee. 'Abortion bans haven't really stopped people from needing abortion care. It's just made it harder for them to be able to get it.' Although most of the abortions documented in #WeCount's report took place in person, a growing number of abortions are occurring through telehealth, including among patients living in one of the dozen-plus states that ban virtually all abortions. In a telehealth abortion, patients generally meet virtually with a provider before receiving abortion pills through the mail. By December 2023, 19% of abortions took place through telehealth – but by December 2024, that share had risen to 25%. In the last three months of 2024 alone, more than 70,000 abortions were performed through telehealth. These abortions are particularly popular in states with large rural regions, such as Montana, Nevada and Hawaii. Much of the increase in telehealth abortions can be attributed to the spread of 'shield laws'. Enacted by at least eight states since Roe's fall, these controversial laws are designed to protect abortion providers who treat women in states with bans from prosecution by those states. Demand for shield-law abortions has soared over the last two years. In July 2023, when the first shield-law abortion providers started operating, they facilitated fewer than 6,000 abortions for people living in states that ban almost all abortions or that restrict telehealth abortions. In December 2024, these providers performed almost 14,000 abortions. 'There's more abortion taking place in Mississippi today than there was prior to Dobbs,' said Dr Angel Foster, a co-founder of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project (Map), which uses shield laws to ship abortion pills out to about 2,500 patients a month. 'That really speaks to how little access some folks had to in-clinic abortion care prior to Dobbs and how shield law provision and telemedicine has really stepped into that space.' #WeCount also collected information on how many abortions were reported to government authorities in states with abortion bans in 2024. On average, states where abortion is totally banned saw just 30 in-person abortions a month, #WeCount found. All abortion bans permit abortions in emergency situations, but activists have long contended that that bans' exceptions are written so narrowly and vaguely that they are unworkable in practice. Since Roe fell, dozens of women have come forward to say they were denied emergency abortions. In Upadhyay's view, the #WeCount data backs up the claim that exceptions don't work. 'That seems very low,' Upadhyay said. 'That is something that I think states with abortion bans should be paying attention to and be concerned about.' The future of shield laws is now in doubt, as anti-abortion activists are trying to test their durability in court. Texas has sued a New York doctor over accusations that she mailed abortion pills to a woman in Texas, while Louisiana has indicted the same doctor for allegedly mailing a pill to that state. Access to the common abortion drug mifepristone is also under assault. Martin Makary, the FDA commissioner, and Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, have called for a 'review' of mifepristone, which is typically used in telehealth abortions – and which has been deemed safe by more than 100 studies conducted across dozens of countries. Kennedy specifically cited the results of a flawed analysis pushed by anti-abortion groups that claimed the complication rates from taking mifepristone are higher than previously known. 'Clearly, it indicates that, at very least, the label should be changed,' Kennedy told the Missouri senator Josh Hawley, a Republican, during a congressional hearing. For now, however, Foster remains optimistic about the future of her work. 'There will be a point where growth stops. There's a finite number of people who have an abortion each year,' Foster said. 'But I do think within our practice and within the shield law space we are anticipating that there will continue to be growth in demand.'
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Tens of Thousands In California Told To Stay Indoors
Tens of thousands of people in southern California have been advised to remain indoors as "emergency" air quality conditions impact parts of the Coachella Valley on Friday. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) AirNow map, which provides a real-time snapshot of air quality, shows that air pollution levels around Cathedral City and Thousands Palms are "very unhealthy" to "hazardous" on Friday morning. The warnings mean that the risk of negative health effects from air pollution is increased for everyone, not just vulnerable populations. Air pollution and extreme heat pose significant health risks to the general public, in particular for the young, seniors and vulnerable populations such as those with underlying respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. The EPA warns that the current air pollution levels can lead to serious health issues, including reduced lung function, severe respiratory symptoms including chest pain and aggravated coughs, and increased hospital admissions. The AirNow Map shows that a maroon warning - the highest category - is in force for Cathedral city, which has a population of more than 50,000 people. A "hazardous" maroon warning means that pollution levels are of "emergency conditions," and that "everyone is more likely to be affected," the AirNow website says. A "very unhealthy" purple warning - the second highest category - covers Desert Edge, Sky Valley, Thousand Palms and Sunair. AirNow says that the risk of health effects are "increased for everyone" in these areas. Meanwhile, red warnings are also in force in the Coachella Valley in Rancho Mirage and parts of Palm Desert, along with a large area along the California-Arizona border including Yuma. Red warnings mean that "some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects." The EPA said that residents should stay inside wherever possible while the air quality is so poor. "Everyone: Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Sensitive groups: remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Follow tips for keep particle levels low indoors." It added: "The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles... [which] aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases - and even are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions." Jonathan Grigg, professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London, told Newsweek previously: "There are very clear links between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases." Air quality warnings are updated regularly by the EPA and National Weather Service. Residents in affected areas can access daily forecasts and health guidance via and local agencies, with officials providing current information as environmental conditions develop. Related Articles What Is A Heat Dome? Millions To Face Scorching Temperatures This WeekendRare Summer 'Winter' Storm To Strike With Two Feet of SnowUS Heat Wave Warnings: Live Tracker Maps 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The President Is Dead (In Helldivers 2)
'The President of Super Earth has been killed in action by the Illuminate during the fall of Prosperity City.' That was the message that greeted Helldivers 2 players when they logged on last night in one last bid to repel their invading squid-like foes. Some truthers think the hit was inside job. When the dust settled Friday morning, the battle to save Super Earth was over and players had succeeded in winning the extraction shooter's biggest showdown since it launched. Pus they got a new battle station to celebrate. 'The devastation wrought upon our home is immense,' read the latest in-game dispatch from Arrowhead Game Studios. 'Only two Mega Cities remain standing: Prosperity City and Equality-on-Sea. The remainder have been vacated by the enemy, having suffered catastrophic damage at their hands.' New Major Orders are still pending, but in the meantime players get to vote on where to move the new DSS battle station that aided in the fight, and that provides extra military bonuses to Helldivers fighting on whatever planet it orbits. For anyone who missed the last two weeks, a brief series of entries on the Galactic Map recaps the events from the Illuminate's arrival and torching of Mars and other planets, all the way through players' epic last stand to protect Equality-on-Sea (Helldivers' version of Shanghai). A lot of creative military tactics were improvised and deployed to take down the massive invading Leviathan ships, and a wave of negative Steam reviews, purportedly from Chinese players angry, due to a potential mistranslation, about why they couldn't seem to fully liberate Equality-on-Sea, appears to have subsided. reddit-thread-Helldivers-1kz1lp4 What happens next is anyone's guess. Arrowhead Game Studios might take some time before kicking off whatever it has planned to let players catch their breath. Maybe the development team is lining up a revenge campaign, or maybe there's still another shoe to drop and Super Earth isn't quite in the clear after all. A new president? In this economy? Maybe they're just an Illuminate plant after all, ready to control Super Earth from within. The beauty of Helldivers 2's fascist space satire is that nothing is ever quite out of the question. May kicked off one of Helldivers 2's biggest balance patches and content updates in some time, including a new Warbond battle pass with additional melee weapons and the ability to level up and customize most of the shooter's guns. I wouldn't bet on any other big updates anytime soon. That said, Summer Game Fest is just around the corner and Arrowhead used host Geoff Keighley's last big gaming showcase to announce the addition of the Illuminate to the fray. Who knows what's in store for the second half of Helldivers 2's second year? . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Time of India
From Helmets to Mind Maps: Reclaiming focus in a distracted world
Ravindra Kondekar, an alumnus of IIT Bombay, spent more than 27 years working in the Indian technology industry. He has worked in software development for the Department of Space and for many multinational corporations. He is also the inventor of 4 Patents granted by USPTO. Today, he works as a productivity consultant, helping others reach their full potential by working smartly to the best of their abilities. His teaching experience early in his career, MBA education, and senior management roles in corporate add to his ability to quickly grasp the productivity problems faced by his clients and coach them on best practices for personal productivity. LESS ... MORE 'Perhaps the most difficult thing that a human being is called upon to face is long, concentrated thinking.' – Hugo Gernsback, inventor and science fiction pioneer, writing in the 1920s …And that hasn't changed. Whether you're a software developer designing a complex system, a UX designer crafting a seamless experience, an artist conceptualizing your next piece, or a blogger crafting this post (me ) — focused thinking remains the backbone of meaningful work. To protect that focus, Gernsback invented The Isolator in 1925 — a strange helmet that blocked sound, light, and even oxygen to help the wearer concentrate. Fascinating? Yes. Practical? Not quite. But do we have something better today? Fortunately, yes. Especially when you're trying to break down a complex project, plan meaningful actions, and bring your full focus to the task at hand — there's a tool that rises to the occasion. That tool is the Mind Map — practical, visual, and surprisingly powerful. Popularized by Tony Buzan, the Mind Map was designed to tap into memory, creativity, and understanding. But one thing it definitely delivers is focus. Its true usefulness lies in the mindfulness required to create it. You can't Mind Map on autopilot. It compels you to slow down, make connections, and visualize the bigger picture — making it a surprisingly effective way to brainstorm and shape a clear, actionable plan for your projects. It's like a thought processor — taking in your jumbled ideas and outputting a structured, prioritized list of actionable tasks. How Mind Maps Help Deconstruct complex projects into manageable parts Clarify each step on the path to achieving your goals — main or minor Channel your full attention where and when it matters most Generate a focused to-do list with clearly defined, actionable tasks And when it comes to action planning, the Mind Map naturally encourages what Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman called slow thinking — the deliberate, focused, and reflective kind of thought that leads to better decisions and clearer outcomes. A little while back, I was reinvited to a podcast by Prina Shah on the topic of why the time-blocking method doesn't work for many people. I had to create content for my talk — and what else would I do but start with a mind map? As the mind map evolved, so did my content. It became richer, more structured, and clearer. In the end, I delivered the episode with confidence — thanks to the clarity the mind mapping process brought me. In a world that demands speed, mind mapping invites you to pause — not to delay, but to think clearly before you move. And sometimes, that's all the difference between scatter and strategy. Try it for your next project — especially one of those tough nuts you've been avoiding. See what happens when you give your brain the structure it craves. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
