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Five students from the UAB College of Arts and Sciences will have their films shown at the 23rd annual Sidewalk Film Festival from Aug. 23-29. Five short documentaries made by students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences will premiere during the 2021 Sidewalk Film Festival. All five films were accepted to compete in the Short Documentary Film Competition during the 23rd annual festival. The UAB student films are:  “ist Unbound” by Palavi Ahuja “Lace ’Em Up” by Brianna Madry “No Trespassing” by Sabrina Palmer “Land Without Demand” by Luke Schlauder  “Firmly Rooted” by Caleb Wood  Ahuja, Madry, Palmer, Wood and Schlauder were students of Michele Forman, director of the UAB Media Studies Program, during the spring 2021 semester. The 23rd annual festival will take place Aug. 23-29, in the Theatre District of downtown Birmingham. For ticket information, visit the website at www.sidewalkfest.com. After their premiere, the films will be available to stream online via the UAB Media Studies Vimeo Channel. The channel features UAB student films from the Ethnographic Filmmaking class and more. Visit UAB Media Studies Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/mediastudies/collections.

Global PartnerExclusive Interview: Standup Journal caught up with motivational maverick & madman Chris Bertish while in So. Africa for the release of his film, “Last Known Coordinates”. A Film about SUP Crossing the Ocean, Solo. Part I:  Welcome to an opening conversation from an exclusive interview series with Chris Bertish. We’d like to have YOU join in and ask the next questions for our follow-up interview. Read on. “Last Known Coordinates” is Bertish’s long-awaited new film featuring his extraordinary 2018 solo SUP Crossing of the Atlantic ocean. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, it is well worth the watch and incredibly motivating. The film is available for download here: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com Vimeo: httos://vimeo.com/ondemand/lastknowncoordinates Last Known Coordinates:  www.lastknowncoordinates.com Chris Bertish website:  www.chrisbertish.com Ask Chris Bertish a Question In Standup Journal’s first interview (above), Bertish discusses “Last Known Coordinates”, the challenges of film making and his uncanny ability to see himself through any hardship. The conversation evolves around the logistics of managing to film while solo paddling across the Atlantic ocean, to the massive editing the film had to undergo as a result of the pandemic. As always, Bertish’s insight, perspective and motivational force are worth the listen. Standup Journal’s next…

William Burke (Colman Domingo) in Candyman. Whatever your entertainment needs, we got your back (and hopefully your mind) with Queerty’s weekly “Culture Club” column with some of the highlights of new releases, streaming shows, classics worth revisiting, and what to drink while you watch. The Step Out: Candyman Clive Barker’s iconic boogeyman returns in this new film, a sequel that gives the franchise the Halloween treatment by mostly ignoring the low-rent sequels to focus on the events of the original movie. This new Candyman follows Alexander (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a Chicago artist who becomes obsessed with the legend of the Candyman—that is, a different but similar Candyman than the killer depicted in the original film. As his research continues, he becomes haunted by visions of the spectral killer, and the bodies around him begin to pile up. We’re very happy to report that this new entry in the series includes identifiable queer characters, and also features a standout performance by queer actor Colman Domingo. The script burdens his character with long passages of exposition, and in the hands of a lesser actor, those scenes could sink the whole movie. Fortunately, Domingo rises to the occasion, delivering his dialogue with raspy-voiced…

Staff says congressman filters but does not block all feedbackLinda Steniford of Lakeland is not a supporter of her congressman but is a follower — on Facebook.In May, Steniford noticed that U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland, posted a clip of a speech he made on the House floor to commemorate National Police Week.“Sadly, our police force faces unprecedented attack,” Franklin said in the short video posted to his official Facebook account. “Last year, 264 enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, nearly double the amount from 2019.”Franklin then criticized some in Congress for seeking to reduce law-enforcement funding.Steniford posted a comment, linking to a CNN story that attributed the spike in officer fatalities to COVID-19, with the virus accounting for 55% of the deaths.Campaign finance: Scott Franklin's campaign donations rank among lowest for any House incumbent from FloridaMore on Franklin: US Rep. Scott Franklin: House role finally becoming what I expected“Incomplete info for another half truth post!” Steniford wrote.  » Read More

Giphy paid dividends to shareholders before Facebook bought it in 2020, Bloomberg reported.  That lowered the value of Giphy's assets, exempting it from telling officials of the deal before it closed. Experts say the move was completely legal at the time, and it highlights potential holes in antitrust laws. Loading Something is loading. US authorities continue to train their watchful eyes on Facebook over anticompetitive concerns, and more details just surfaced about its mid-2020 acquisition of gif creator Giphy.Sources told Bloomberg Monday that Giphy paid dividends to investors before Facebook bought it, lowering the value of its assets and helping the deal fly under regulatory radar. Axios reported at the time a deal value of $400 million. US law as of 2020 states that if a company's assets are worth less than $18.8 million, then it and the acquirer don't have to notify antitrust regulators about their deal. Facebook told Congress last year that it didn't report its Giphy acquisition because it wasn't required to.  » Read More

Are you in a situation wherein you feel someone has blocked you on Snapchat but are still doubtful? Here's how to sort this out. One day a person is sending Snaps and a few days later everything could be gone. There might be many instances where you can find your Snapchat friends going missing and it could be a result of blocking. Given the importance of social media, this is as horrid as a real-life breakup. Also Read - Top 10 free apps on Google Play store in India in August 2021: Meesho, Instagram, Snapchat, more Top this up with the inability to find if you are indeed blocked and you are all set to have a social media crisis. But, it isn’t the end of the world! If you really need to find out if you are blocked (before moving on), there are a few methods you can try. If this is a sigh of relief for you, continue reading. Also Read - Now TikTok copies Snapchat, begins testing Stories feature How to see if someone blocked you on Snapchat? Before we tell you about the ways you can take to see if you are blocked by someone on…

Mack Beggs poses for a photo with his niece. Mack Beggs For four years, the name Mack Beggs has been associated with courage as well as controversy, related to the unjust decision by some states and school districts to restrict transgender student-athletes like him from competing with those who are cisgender, meaning they’re not trans. Back in 2017, when he was still in high school, Beggs was a wrestler forced by Texas law to compete against cis girls because his birth certificate at that time listed his sex as female. He identifies as a male, and ever since 2019, his birth certificate has matched his gender identity. Beggs won the state girls’ wrestling title in both 2017 and 2018 and joined a college men’s team after graduation. But he says his wrestling days are behind him now. “I feel like wrestling is kind of, like, done,” Beggs told me in a recent Zoom interview. These days, the 22-year-old psychology major at Life University in Georgia is focused on his studies, learning mixed martial arts and continuing his advocacy for transgender rights through his social media platforms, like Instagram. Mack Beggs on Instagram Instagram portrait by Bella Newman Beggs is part…

Nasa's post has prompted people to share various comments.(Instagram/@nasa) “Reminds me of an abstract painting,” wrote an Instagram user while reacting to Nasa's Instagram post. By Trisha Sengupta UPDATED ON AUG 26, 2021 03:14 PM IST “Every photo tells a story,” this is how a post by Nasa, which has now gone viral, starts. If you are someone who follows the Instagram page of the space agency, then you may be aware of the various posts they often share. While some of their posts are about the universe outside our Blue Planet, a few of their posts are about the Earth too. This post about how each photograph has a story to tell is one such share that shows the “changing surface of our planet.”“Utilizing 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. The broad spectral coverage and high resolution of ASTER provides scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring of dynamic geological and atmospheric conditions and temporal change on Earth,” Nasa wrote.In the next few lines, they mentioned the places the…

Vermont reported one new covid 19 death and 120 new cases on Wednesday. 3 new positive covid tests were reported in Windham County.  In New Hampshire, three deaths and 329 new cases of the covid virus were reported., with 23 positive tests in Cheshire county.  In Massachusetts, there were 3 dead and 1,400 new covid cases, with 6 in Franklin County. Two people have been   sentenced  for drug trafficking at 50 Central Street in Brattleboro. The U S Attorneys office says 52 year old  Jorge Delaoz, 52, of Brattleboro, will serve 40 months in jail. 25 year old Matthew Sinclair, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, will spend 18 months behind bars.  Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford  says both men will serve three-year terms of supervised release to follow imprisonment. Previously, Delaoz had pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl, and Sinclair had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute. The sentencing took place at U S District court in  Rutland.. A Lowell Massachusetts  man was arrested yesterday and charged in connection with receiving child pornography over Snapchat.  23 year old Chayanne Nieves, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. Following an initial appearance today…

Luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren has announced its partnership with social networking and avatar simulation app Zepeto. The app allows users to function in a fully articulated virtual world where they can socialise with others using a customisable 3D avatar. Users will be able to purchase a completely digital Ralph Lauren clothing collection, reminiscent of its physical apparel, giving users the opportunity to dress their 3D avatars in exclusive products. The Ralph Lauren x Zepeto collection will feature 12 looks in total, with over 50 unique items on offer, including a mix of vintage Polo Ralph Lauren designs and pieces from its current summer collection. Shoppers will be able to get their virtual hands on limited edition skateboards and other special pieces exclusively designed for the collection. In addition, players will also have access to a Ralph Lauren themed virtual world, including digital versions of three iconic brand locations such as the Madison Avenue Flagship and Ralph’s Coffee Shop. The interactive spaces aim to celebrate the brand, encasing its attitude and spirit in a digital sphere. “Ralph Lauren’s new partnership with Zepeto further demonstrates our belief that innovating in virtual worlds is essential to engaging the next generation of consumers,”…