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| 10 books we are looking forward to this fall |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Lifestyle
10 books we are looking forward to this fall
published
1 hour agoon
by
newspub wire
goodbye and good riddance to the beach read. At least for this year, we can stop pretending that baking on the sand in the hot sun or tilted awkwardly on a damp plastic lounge chair by the pool is the ideal setting for reading. Now, with the fall equinox behind us, we can look forward and embrace the one true ideal season for reading: autumn.
or we can not be so dramatic about it and just say that there are a lot of books coming out between now and the holidays. A few we’ve included in our round up are long-awaited follow ups to stunning entrances onto the literary scene. Others are big, ambitious projects. Others yet are versions of older works only now being translated into english. There are obviously some high-profile titles that we missed in the name of brevity but, hopefully, there are a few titles here that weren’t on your radar before.
fiction
the true confessions of first lady freeman by deesha philyaw (sept. 29)
philyaw’s 2020 short story collection the secret lives of church ladies felt like a discovery. Published by a small university press, the book was brave and honest in its handling of sexuality and religion. It became such a sensation in certain corners of the literary world that you really had to wonder — what the heck has philyaw been up to? Well, we find out soon in her first full-length novel about, well, sex, religion, gossip and marriage.
partita by barbara kingsolver (oct. 6)
it’s kingsolver’s 19th novel. Fresh off her pulitzer prize-winning novel, demon copperhead, one of the most prominent voices in appalachian writing comes out with a book about a pianist on her way to classical music stardom, until that path gets knocked off kilter. Kingsolver herself originally went to college to study classical music but never truly showed her love for it in her fiction — until now.
it’s only dancing by jasmine guillory (oc.T 6)
every now and then i come across a video of a cute couple doing (or attempting to do) the dirty dancing lift. It’s a bold move with a high-risk factor for completely eating it. Well, now jasmine guillory’s showing similar boldness. Her upcoming book — her first ya novel — is a take on dirty dancing. It follows a young girl and her charming dance instructor, as they try to figure out their dance steps — and each other.
the brightness by chad harbach (oct. 27)
this is the long-awaited sequel to harbach’s acclaimed 2011 baseball/campus novel the art of fielding. We return to westish college — but we put down the bats and balls and, instead, focus on sexual assault, feminism, campus politics and the high costs of speaking out.
behind the gate & other stories by amparo dávila, translated by audrey harris and matthew gleeson (nov. 3)
with her 2018 short story collection the houseguest, mexican author amparo dávila became a fixture in the english-speaking cult canon of weird-girl literature. Dávila died at age 92 in 2020 but a new collection of her creepy, unsettling and odd stories are coming in english this fall.
nonfiction
i can’t stop thinking about horses and sex by lisa hanawalt (oct. 20)
a graphic memoir from tuca & bertie creator lisa hanawalt that tells you exactly what it’s about in the title. And the horses bit isn’t a metaphor for life or whatever, there’s actually a lot in here about riding horses, taking care of horses, and how loving horses is both silly/ridiculous/expensive and, also, one of the best things in the world. Ok, maybe it is a bit of a metaphor.
celeste, daughter of the earth and other early poems by enrique lihn, translated by jonathan cohen and david unger (oct. 20)
this book collects translated early works of the celebrated chilean poet enrique lihn. And they have the full-hearted verve and drive of a younger poet. In the poem “steadfast,” the narrator speaks to the subject angrily and bitterly but ends with the lines, “i will live secretly by your side / like the corpse i’ve been since loving you.”
look at me by dustin hoffman with ariel levy (nov. 10)
dustin hoffman is 89 years old now. In his lifetime, he’s been at the center of some of the most enduring images seared into the minds of american culture. You can picture it, can’t you? Him on the bus in the graduate. Him at the office in all the president’s men. Him and the big crocodile thing in hook. It’s a sure bet his memoir will cover at least two of those movies in depth.
weird era: how pitchfork changed music forever: a memoir by ryan schreiber (dec. 1)
as the founder of the music website pitchfork, schreiber had a front-row seat to the changing tides of music, music distribution, music criticism, the internet, snobbery, taste, stardom, obscurity and rating art on a scale of 1-10. The book goes into the origins of pitchfork and offers insight into its eventual sale to condé nast, reminding readers that there is a real person behind that review you hated.
the co-creation: how earth made life and life made earth by olivia judson (dec. 13)
you have to give props to the big swings, and explaining the origins of life on earth is maybe one of the biggest swings you could take. Judson is an evolutionary biologist but has spent most of her career as a science writer, explaining the world and all its inhabitants to the rest of us.
lifestyle
how to have the best sunday in l.A., According to wilmer valderrama
published
2 hours agoon
october 2, 2026by
newspub wire
actor wilmer valderrama, who plays special agent nick torres on cbs’ long-running procedural “ncis,” has chased bad guys all across los angeles. While he appreciates the geographic diversity of the region, valderrama says his love for the city is actually tied to “the gift of being an immigrant.”
valderrama moved to l.A. In 1994 from venezuela with his family. He remembers how scary it was to come to the city of angels, not knowing how to speak english. The family arrived “right before the northridge earthquake, so that was our welcome to l.A.,” He says, adding that his family was living nearby in van nuys.
in sunday funday, l.A. People give us a play-by-play of their ideal sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
but growing up in los angeles, he found a sense of belonging in a multicultural community that gave him an appreciation for different cultures, cuisines and music. “There are so many different cities and zip codes here that make for a multifaceted and multi-heartbeat city,” he says.
valderrama, who starts his 10th season on “ncis” on tuesday, founded the production company wv entertainment, which released the documentary “suárez,” about the first mexican-born driver to win a nascar cup series race, in september on fs1. He also launched wv sound, to help curate iheartmedia’s slate of latin-focused podcasts, and is active in numerous philanthropies, such as co-founding harness with america ferrera and ryan piers williams to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities.
today, valderrama lives in tarzana with his wife, model and padi divemaster amanda pacheco, and their two children, nakano oceana, 5, and wolf monte, 1. He was finishing “that ‘70s show” in 2006, when he noticed that chuck norris was selling his house in tarzana. “I was 26 years old and realized i didn’t know if i was ever going to work as an actor again,” valderrama says. “I bought this little house and the kids were born here. So it’s been kind of a dream to be here long enough to see that happen.”
here’s a look at the actor’s ideal sunday with family.
this interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
7 a.M.: Wake up and go for a walk
my son wakes up and nakano starts asking for mac and cheese. Instead of mac and cheese, we go for a walk to our favorite coffee shop, laidrey coffee roasters in tarzana. They roast their own coffee beans and have an amazing pastry selection. Everybody’s in their sweats and pajamas, we hang out with some of our local baristas, and have a good time. I’m obsessed with coffee. My grandfather was a coffee farmer in pereira, colombia. I grew up with a level of appreciation for coffee that was just insane. For me, coffee is as good as tasting different types of wines. I love going to places that put a lot of emphasis on the curation of their coffee beans and the essence and the blends. How they serve their cappuccino is really important to me. I think it’s a perfect blend of broth and roast. And if the barista wants to add an artistic element, then they have successfully elevated my cappuccino experience. A kiss of hazelnut as a finishing touch too.
9 a.M.: Naps and playtime at the playground
as soon as it hits 9ish, my son needs a nap, so while he sleeps, nakano and i go to a little playground, and i just let her run off some of her morning energy.
11 a.M.: Brunch at the beach
then, we’ll go to the malibu farm pier cafe, and have a really great brunch. I like their chorizo burrito, and i add bacon and avocado to it. Their hot sauce is ridiculous. Nakano gets the swedish mini pancakes, and amanda loves the surfer’s rancheros.
1 p.M.: Paddleboarding in the pacific
at this point, we just walk the beach, and maybe paddleboard around the pier. The waters are pretty calm around that time. My wife is a mermaid. She’s a divemaster, so the ocean is something that’s very important to her. So we’ll always try to find ourselves at the beach. We have our own paddleboards, but there are tons of shops where you can rent boards on pch.
3 p.M.: Time for a snack
around that time, i’ll get hungry again, and everyone’s like, how can you be hungry? We just ate. We’ll go to neptune’s net, which is a nice little coastal drive north on pch. Neptune’s was famous for being in “the fast and the furious.” It’s a really great spot for burgers, fish and steaks, so we’ll just go there for a little snack, and i’ll be the only one eating, because everyone’s still full. I get the fried fish and chips.
4 p.M.: Fun on the santa monica pier
we’ll go for a little drive after that. Sometimes, we’ll take nakano to the santa monica pier. She loves playing the games, and doing the roller coaster stuff. It tends to be pretty fun and lively.
5 p.M.: Slow drive back to the valley
then we slowly snail pace across pch, and go over topanga canyon to get back into the valley. At that point, the kids are taking a major nap in the car. By the time we get back to the valley, i’ll probably pitch what dinner is. And they’re like, how can you still be thinking about food?
6 p.M.: Early dinner means korean barbecue or sushi
we usually end up at this korean barbecue place called the house of galbi in encino. It’s my favorite. They have a great all-you-can-eat menu with really great meats and an assortment of sauces and condiments. They have a prime rib that is phenomenal. Ask for the house hot sauce. It’s probably one of the best things to go with any piece of meat and seafood there. On a sunday, normally there’s certain games, and they have big tvs in there, so you can watch the game while you’re having family time. I completely overeat on a sunday.
if not there, we’ll go to okumura in encino. A young japanese man trained these amazing mexican guys to be incredible sushi chefs. The place is wonderful. It’s been my sushi place for a very long time. There’s a lot of fancy sushi places, but these little hole-in-the-walls are the ones you kind of hang on to, right? They know your usual dishes. They know how to make something up, right? They do this blue crab hand roll and they add some jalapeno and give you a ponzu sauce to dip it in. It’s really special.
8 p.M.: Head home and relax
we get back to the house, and by then, my daughter’s like a bobblehead, trying not to fall asleep. My son is out, so we just take the kids in and put them down. We’ll have a little us time, so we’ll just sit together and chat, talk about the week ahead. We try to watch something together and have movie night as much as we can on sunday. Sometimes we’ll just pass out on the couch because we’re so tired. We’ll wake up at 2 in the morning and zombie our way to bed, you know?
lifestyle
cloaked in anonymity, israeli soldiers describe mass civilian killings in ‘naza’
published
11 hours agoon
october 2, 2026by
newspub wire
for most of the shattering and damning new documentary naza, we are on a series of rooftops in tel aviv, watching the israeli journalist yuval abraham conduct one-on-one interviews with israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel.
the rooftop footage was filmed at night, mostly by abraham’s co-director, rachel szor, and their interview subjects — 24 of them in total — are all cloaked in darkness. We’re told that their appearances and voices have been digitally altered to protect their anonymity. In precise detail, they speak about their role in launching the airstrikes that have killed tens of thousands of palestinian civilians in gaza since the hamas-led attacks in israel on oct. 7, 2023, when around 1,200 people were killed and 250 hostages were taken.
unsurprisingly, naza has already stirred considerable outrage — much of it, it should be noted, from people who haven’t seen and maybe never will see it. Abraham and szor, both israeli filmmakers, have been denounced as traitors in israel, and prime minister benjamin netanyahu himself has threatened to revoke their citizenship. The anonymization of sources has been one of the more contested issues; israel supporters have said it discredits the soldiers’ testimony, while palestine supporters have criticized the film for shielding self-confessed war criminals.
without the promise of anonymity, of course, naza as a film wouldn’t exist. But the reporting that it presents would exist. Much of it has already been published in outlets including +972 magazine, an israeli-palestinian publication; local call, a hebrew-language outlet; and the guardian, which co-produced the film. Abraham wrote many of those investigative pieces himself; he’s also credited the many palestinian journalists who brought these revelations to light.
the testimony is riveting. Some of the interview subjects speak about how they were motivated to help the israeli military annihilate hamas after oct. 7. Some express guilt and regret for their involvement. Others see themselves as cogs in a necessary war machine. But for the most part, the filmmakers are less interested in the questions of why than in the mechanics of how. They want us to understand how these systems of remote surveillance and mass killing work, and to grasp the horrific scale of the civilian deaths.
naza is an acronym for nezek agavi, hebrew for “collateral damage.” It refers to the estimated number of civilian casualties considered acceptable by the israeli military. “Twenty naza” would mean that up to 20 civilian deaths were approved in the elimination of a single target. For one high-value target, a figure of 500 naza was approved — the population of a small israeli town, abraham notes.
the logistics of trackings and killings are calmly and methodically laid out. Because the military can hack into any palestinian’s phone in gaza, their power of surveillance is near-total. We learn about the military’s practice of bombing the homes of suspected hamas operatives at night, while their wives and children were with them. We also hear about the widespread use of ai systems to gather intelligence, much of it faulty, about potential targets.
one of the most chilling passages describes a tracking technology referred to as “where’s daddy?,” Which uses children’s words to confirm whether their targeted fathers are at home. One soldier talks about having used this method on a 12-year-old girl, saying, “you hack her phone and then you kill her.” At one point, abraham asks a subject if israel is committing a genocide. Without hesitating, he responds, “yes. Completely.” As the film notes, more than 73,000 palestinians have been killed in gaza since oct. 7 — and the death toll continues to rise.
i’ve watched naza twice now, both times in a state of quiet horror and fury — and with enormous admiration for abraham and szor’s courage in holding their government to account. My admiration extends to the unerring precision of their filmmaking. Naza runs just 77 minutes. It doesn’t linger on the atrocities it describes, mainly because there are so many of them to address. There’s some archival material, including footage from the early days of israeli intelligence and the building of tel aviv in the 1920s.
but most of the imagery we see is of modern-day tel aviv at night. Szor’s camera captures the glittering lights of the city and often peers into apartment windows, showing us israeli citizens working out, eating meals and watching the news. There’s tremendous power — and, i think, a stealthy indictment — in these everyday images. It’s as if the filmmakers are holding up a mirror image to gaza, turning our thoughts toward the thousands of slain palestinians who were, once upon a time, also just going about their evenings. The most radical thing about naza isn’t that it exposes the machinery of death; it’s the film’s insistence on the value of palestinian life.
lifestyle
l.A. Affairs: he broke up with me but wants to stay friends. So why did he just ask me out on a date?
published
12 hours agoon
october 2, 2026by
newspub wire
i’m driving down laurel canyon boulevard in los angeles, listening to matt’s proposal over my car speaker, my eyes blurry from crying.
“what would you say to one final date?” He asks.
he had broken off our seven-month relationship the day before, revealing he had never developed “strong romantic feelings” for me. Brutal. “Could we still hang out as friends?” He had asked through tears. “I need you.”
yesterday i was stoic. “You don’t want to be in a relationship with me, you don’t get the pleasure of my company,” i had said. It was the kind of line a kerry washington character delivers.
now, as i take a turn too fast, i can’t bear the thought of never seeing him again. I agree to one final date. This could be one last chance to change his mind.
i had felt “strong romantic feelings” from the moment matt had let me cut in front of him at the water station at 4100 bar.
“what a gentleman,” i remarked.
“i’m from the south,” he replied, proudly adjusting his hat.
when he continued the conversation outside, i tried to shake him, sure there was some sort of mistake. But he trailed me like a duckling. Finally, he suggested we make out. I, very much out of character, agreed.
while i tried to sneak out the next morning, he proposed we get brunch. Somehow, we were both reading bob odenkirk’s memoir and had the same favorite tv show, “fleabag.” And we were both in our 30s, balancing inconsistent comedy work with day jobs.
we spent our early days saying yes to everything — impromptu concerts, long walks to echo park lake, arts district bar-hopping — until it felt strange to be alone again. In our first month of dating, i unknowingly gave him covid-19. We spent a week straight in bed together recovering and bingeing “yellowjackets.”
but as time went on, matt was cagey around his phone and reluctant to call me his girlfriend. When i told him i loved him one morning, he said he needed more time, sending me crying into the kitchen in my underwear. Finally, at the end of january, he broke it all off.
i don’t tell anyone about the final date or my plan to win him back. I know it’s not a good idea — and i know i’m going to do it anyway. I will be the easy, breezy dream date.
matt knocks at my apartment. Instead of meeting him at the door with an embrace like usual, i casually yell from the kitchen, “it’s open!” I’m making guacamole, wearing winged black eyeliner and utah curls, trying to steady my hands.
“are we going to be able to have fun tonight?” He asks.
“we have to treat it like ‘the purge,’” i say. “We can say or do anything we want … except talk about the fact that we are broken up.”
he nods. “Deal.”
we decide to walk to the grove. It was our move: a 20-minute stroll to the mall to catch a movie. He holds my hand on the way, more tenderly than he ever did while we were together. As we wait for the light to change, he stares at my face like he’s trying to memorize it.
“my plan is working!” I think. I can’t help but smile.
as we walk down the cobblestone street of the grove, matt mentions that he is looking forward to meeting people at his best friend’s wedding. It was an invite i was hoping for but never got. I picture him in a tux laughing with a beautiful girl on the dance floor, of course.
“i don’t think i can do this,” i say, turning back toward home.
“come on,” he says. “Let’s go to the movie.”
at the amc bar, matt orders a beer. I choose the “love potion,” noted on the chalkboard sign as an early valentine’s day special.
the bartender hesitates. “I’m supposed to be closed.”
“that’s fine,” i say. “I’ll just have the beer.” I’ll take what i can get.
we share a giant tub of popcorn, stealing kisses throughout the previews. We must look like the type of couple that would inspire envy, not one in the process of saying goodbye.
on the walk home, we duck into the kibitz room, the dive bar off canter’s deli on fairfax avenue.
“we just broke up!” We announce as we slide onto our barstools. Cheers erupt. Someone sends over shots.
“to your breakup!”
a few drinks in, i’m kissing matt’s cheek, telling him i’ll never be able to look at another man. That i’m going to a nunnery. I tell him i love him. For the first time, he tells me he loves me too.
the woman sitting next to me leans close. “You’re not going to break up, are you?” I smile. “Classic,” she says.
a live band of middle-aged men begins jamming to an endless chorus of, “because i used to love her, but it’s all over now.” I grab a string of balloons and wrap them around matt, spinning him in circles on the dance floor. “Because i used to love her, but it’s all over now.”
we fall out of the bar into the quiet evening. “Wasn’t that crazy they were playing that song?” I ask.
“what song?” He replies.
“that rolling stones song,” i say.
“i didn’t notice.”
he stays the night. We hold onto each other like he’s headed off to war. As i drift off to sleep, i think, “if these are not strong romantic feelings, i have no idea what is.”
the next morning, we decide to watch “tommy boy.” He hands me a cup of coffee and settles onto the couch, putting his feet up on the ottoman. He is calm, no longer tearful. Whatever urgency he felt the night before is gone.
“do you want to cuddle until i have to go?” He asks.
i sit up. “You’re leaving? For good?”
but he’s already on his phone, getting ready for what’s next.
i’ve since blocked his number. I’m mostly living the self-fulfilling prophecy of the nunnery, though i have recently made a bumble profile.
sometimes i think of that night and the way i was convinced that if i got everything right, if the night felt like us at our best, it might unlock the same passion in him i felt so strongly. But by morning, nothing had changed. I postponed my grief for a night, but it was waiting for me at the door.
my new bumble profile includes the prompt, “describe your perfect date.”
“a walk to the grove, a movie over a shared tub of popcorn, and a stop at the kibitz room on the way home.”
the author is a staff writer on the apple tv show “platonic.” She lives in west hollywood. She’s on instagram: @reeshmeese.
l.A. Affairs chronicles the search for romantic love in all its glorious expressions in the l.A. Area, and we want to hear your true story. We pay $400 for a published essay. Email [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection). You can find submission guidelines here. You can find past columns here. |
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| Galveston Public Schools Hall of Honor inducts 2026 class | High School Sports | |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (9 reads) | |
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Galveston
eight new entrants into the galveston public school hall of honor were celebrated wednesday at a dinner in their honor. Comprising the categories of athletics, government, military service, community service and industry, the class of 2026 are as follows.
military
• capt. George halsey peets jr.
captain george halsey peets, jr., A graduate of ball high schools class of 1926 and texas a&m university class of 1931, answered the call to serve his country in the years leading up to world war ii. As a reserve officer, he deployed to the philippine islands in 1940 with the 31st infantry regiment.
following the japanese invasion of the philippines in december 1941, peets fought alongside american and filipino forces during the defense of bataan. After the fall of bataan on april 9, 1942, he was captured and endured the infamous bataan death march before being held as a prisoner of war at camp odonnell and later at cabanatuan, where he remained imprisoned for more than two years.
in late 1944, as allied forces advanced through the pacific, the japanese began transporting pows from the philippines to japan aboard unmarked vessels known as hell ships. On dec. 13, 1944, captain peets was placed aboard the oryoku maru, which came under attack by american aircraft unaware that allied prisoners were aboard. Although wounded during the attack, he survived the sinking of the vessel.
after enduring additional hardship and imprisonment, captain peets died on december 22, 1944, at pampanga provincial jail in the philippines. Following the war, efforts to identify his remains were unsuccessful, and he is memorialized as missing in action at the manila american cemetery.
captain peetss life reflects extraordinary courage, perseverance, and sacrifice. His service during one of the darkest chapters of world war ii remains a lasting source of pride for galveston, ball high school, texas a&m university, and the nation he served with honor.
government
• jimmy de los santos
a true b.O.I., Jimmy de los santos is a lifelong member of the galveston community whose life has been defined by service, leadership, integrity, and a genuine love for the island he proudly calls home. He attended carver elementary, weis middle school, central middle school, and graduated from ball high school in 1985, institutions that helped shape his character and strengthen his commitment to serving others.
de los santos dedicated more than 20 years to the galveston police department, where he earned a reputation for professionalism, compassion and unwavering dedication. Throughout his career, he was known not only for protecting and serving the community, but also for treating everyone with respect, patience and a willingness to help. His approach to law enforcement reflected his belief that building relationships and making a positive impact are at the heart of public service.
his leadership extended well beyond his duties as an officer. He served as president of the galveston municipal police association, advocating for local officers and promoting unity within the department. He also served as president of the texas municipal police association, representing thousands of officers across the state and championing issues related to officer safety, professional standards and support for those who serve.
throughout his career, de los santos has earned the admiration and respect of colleagues and community members alike. Affectionately known by some as the godfather of galveston, he has become a trusted mentor and leader whose wisdom, consistency, and integrity have positively influenced countless lives. He is widely recognized as someone others can turn to for guidance, encouragement, and support.
beyond his professional accomplishments, jimmy is a devoted husband, father, family man, and role model. The same compassion and dedication he has demonstrated throughout his career are reflected in his commitment to his family. He leads by example, instilling the values of hard work, integrity, kindness, and service to others.
today, he continues his commitment to public service as a lieutenant with the bayou vista police department and as owner of dls security & investigations, bringing decades of experience, leadership, and professionalism to every role he undertakes.
de los santos lifelong devotion to galveston, distinguished record of service, and steadfast commitment to family and community make him an outstanding example of servant leadership and a worthy honoree.
athletics
• larry york
larry yorks career reflects a legacy of pioneering achievement in athletics, sports entertainment, and philanthropic leadership. At ball high school (class of ’72), he broke barriers as the schools first african american no. 1 tennis player, team captain and district champion. He continued making history as the first african american graduate of ball high school to earn a four-year tennis scholarship to sam houston state university, where he was recognized as a moody foundation academic scholar and deans list recipient.
following his collegiate career, york relocated to los angeles, where he became a trailblazer in the sports and entertainment industries. He was among the first african american male producer-promoters working behind the scenes on professional events alongside tennis legends rosie casals and billie jean king. His innovative scholarship-based programming for college men, featured on the phil donahue show, earned national recognition from the chicago tribune, which praised him as a trendsetter and trailblazer for his forward-thinking contributions to sports marketing and entertainment.
yorks influence extends well beyond athletics and media. He is the founder of the athletes in acting awards, which recognizes professional athletes for excellence in film, television, and other media platforms, and the hand up foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarships, mentorship, and career development opportunities for student-athletes pursuing careers in the arts and media.
his commitment to service has included support for numerous charitable causes and organizations, including the first televised united negro college fund telethon alongside lou rawls, lucille balls benefit for childrens hospital in beverly hills, the special olympics, and other national philanthropic initiatives.
in 2025, york further strengthened his impact on his hometown community by founding the galveston county all-sports reunion, an initiative dedicated to preserving and celebrating the achievements of student-athletes, coaches, and administrators throughout the county.
through his groundbreaking accomplishments, commitment to education, and lifelong dedication to service, york has established a legacy as a visionary leader, community advocate and champion for future generations.
• michael holmes
mike holmes is a graduate of ball high schools class of 1969. A standout student-athlete, he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. During his football career at ball high, he earned all-district honors and was named mvp, accomplishments that led to a football scholarship to texas southern university.
at tsu, holmes made an immediate impact as the teams only freshman starter. Playing safety, he earned all-freshman team honors. He was later selected to the all-southwestern athletic conference team and, during his sophomore year, moved to split end, where he led the team in receptions. Holmes went on to serve as team captain and earn all-american recognition. From 1969 to 1973, he established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the nation, setting a tsu record with 20 career interceptions, a record that stood through 2022.
his collegiate honors include selection to the u.S. College all-american team, the pittsburgh courier all-american team, the lubbock all-american team, the chicago all-star team, all-swac honors from 1970 to 1973, and all-conference recognition throughout his collegiate career.
in 1973, holmes was selected by the san francisco 49ers in the first round of the nfl draft with the 18th overall pick. He was named to the nfl all-rookie team as a free safety before continuing his professional career with the buffalo bills, miami dolphins and the winnipeg blue bombers of the canadian football league. During his six seasons with winnipeg, he earned canadian western all-star honors from 1978 to 1980 and was named to the all-cfl team in 1980. Holmes later served as a player-coach in the united states football league, completing a professional football career that spanned more than 12 years.
following his retirement, holmes and his wife, rosa, raised their three children. He continued his commitment to developing young people through sports and recreation, serving as recreation director for the city of houston and coaching youth baseball.
holmes accomplishments as an athlete, coach, mentor, and community leader have left a lasting impact on generations of students and athletes. His commitment to excellence, service, and opportunity continues to inspire those who follow in his footsteps.
• ronald holmes
ronald holmes, a 1969 graduate of bhs, is a distinguished athlete, coach and educator, whose contributions to gisd have left a lasting impact on generations of students and athletes.
holmes began his high school football career at central high school under legendary coach ed mitchell prior to desegregation. As a junior, he earned all-district honors on both offense and defense. Following integration, he continued his athletic career at ball high school, where he was a key member of the highly ranked 1968 football team and earned first team all-district offensive guard and defense tackle, as well as first team all-state offensive guard.
following graduation, holmes accepted a full football scholarship to texas southern university, joining his brother, michael holmes, and several former bhs teammates. During an outstanding collegiate career, he earned all-southwestern athletic conference honors at three different offensive line positions, center, guard and tackle, demonstrating remarkable versatility and athletic ability. He received all-swac recognition as a sophomore in 1970, a junior in 1971 and a senior in 1972.
after earning his degree from tsu, holmes signed a professional football contract with the ottawa rough riders of the canadian football league. He later began his coaching career at tsu before transitioning to the high school ranks.
as head football coach at forest brook high school in houston, holmes compiled 51 victories and established a reputation as a strong leader and mentor. He later returned to his alma mater, ball high school, where he served as head coach and guided the tors to 31 victories.
throughout his career, ronald holmes has proudly represented galveston as an athlete, educator, and coach. His dedication to excellence, leadership, and the development of young people has made a lasting impact both on and off the field. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of student-athletes. He’s a member of texas high school coaches association, knights of peter claver, krewe d’esprit rosaire, and the alpha phi alpha fraternity.
holmes has been married for 47 years to vickie, is the father of ronesha and jason, and a grandfather of four. He enjoys traveling, playing golf, and spending time with his grandchildren. He also continues mentoring students at ball high school.
industry
• michele falk hay
michele falk hay is a proud graduate of ball high schools class of 1986 and earned her marketing degree from the university of houston-clear lake in 1991.
following positions with frost bank, utmb and the eye clinic of texas, hay has devoted more than 17 years to advancing economic development in galveston. She spent 12 years as vice president of the galveston economic development partnership and has served for the past five years as economic development coordinator for the city of galveston.
in her current role, hay oversees and supports a wide range of initiatives that promote growth and investment on the island. Her work includes projects such as lift academys pilot training program, future commercial air service at scholes international airport, development opportunities on pelican island, sports tourism initiatives and the redevelopment of the sandhill crane soccer complex.
a dedicated community leader, hay served as president of junior league of galveston county in 2009, helping guide the organization during the communitys recovery from hurricane ike. She currently serves on the board of directors for the teen health center and remains actively involved in numerous community initiatives.
a passionate advocate for galveston, gisd and ball high school, hay was part of the leadership team that helped organize the mike evans super bowl celebration parade in galveston. Her commitment to the islands growth, prosperity and community spirit continues to make a lasting impact on the city she proudly calls home, as she proudly calls herself a “boi squared,” which simply means, she was born on the island and plans to be buried on the island!
and although hay doesn’t boast or take sold credit for her professional accomplishments, she proudly shares that her greatest accomplishment comes from being a mother and now a grandmother. She and her husband, matthew, employ the same level of teamwork and dedication in raising their family and have enjoyed witnessing their children grow into adulthood and parenthood.
community service
• angela taylor
angela denise taylor was born and raised on galveston island. She is a proud graduate of ball high schools class of 1989 and earned a degree in communication from the university of houston-clear lake.
after a distinguished 15-year career as the first african american community news editor at the galveston county daily news, taylor currently serves as a senior member service representative for coastal community federal credit union.
during her tenure at the daily news, taylor informed and connected communities throughout galveston county through feature stories highlighting galveston isd and other school districts. Her reporting showcased educational programs, student achievements and community initiatives. She also authored a weekly entertainment column and has served on numerous boards and committees, including the galveston college foundation and communities in schools-galveston county. She currently serves as vice president of the ball high school alumni association and president of both the galveston public schools hall of honor committee and the newly formed ball high alumni & scholarship association.
taylor is an avid sports fan and proudly cheers for her beloved ball high school tors and nba superstar lebron james. She enjoys singing at greater saint matthews baptist church and is a member of the houston mass choir. Her dedication to gospel music led to her being crowned national queen of the gospel music workshop of america.
throughout her life of service, taylor has been recognized by numerous organizations for her leadership and community impact. Some of her honors include being named a 2019 woman of excellence by the gamma sigma chapter of zeta phi beta sorority, receiving the 2018 lifetime achievement award from the old central cultural center, the 2018 leadership award from the martin luther king jr. Committee of galveston, and the 2017 community champion award from the galveston chapter of the naacp. She was also named mother of the year by sigma gamma rho sorority in 2016, and has received honors from the sam houston chapter of the national society daughters of the american revolution and the alpha tau zeta chapter of zeta phi beta sorority.
these accolades represent only a portion of taylors contributions to the community she loves. Whether mentoring young women, volunteering with local organizations, or preserving the legacy and traditions of ball high school, she remains committed to serving and uplifting others.
most importantly, angela is a devoted mother to her two sons, joshua and denzel, a proud grandmother of 10, and the daughter of ball high school graduates george evans sr. And phyllis taylor moore. She is also the proud dog mom of her beloved companion, rj.
#onceatoralwaysator #ballhighforever
• dyann polzin
dyann polzin has dedicated more than 50 years to public education and student success, building a distinguished career with galveston isd that has spanned teaching, counseling, campus leadership and district administration. She earned a bachelor of science degree from the university of texas at austin and a master of science degree from the university of houston-clear lake.
polzin began her educational career as a teacher at austin middle school, serving from 1975 to 1989. She then transitioned into counseling, continuing to support students at austin middle school before serving as a counselor at ball high school from 1993 to 2004. Her dedication to student achievement and school improvement led to leadership roles including special projects coordinator, associate principal at ball high school and weis middle school, and principal of weis middle school.
in 2007, polzin advanced to district-level leadership as executive director, and later served as chief human resources, student services and communications officer. In 2017, her role expanded as chief human capital management, student services, and communications officer, where she provided strategic leadership in talent management, student support services and district communications. Throughout her tenure, she has been instrumental in developing and supporting programs that strengthen both employee success and student outcomes across the district.
currently, polzin serves as human capital development director, continuing her commitment to recruiting, developing, and retaining high-quality educators and staff. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to education, leadership, and service to the galveston isd community. |
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| The Night Two Sisters Watched The Beatles And Changed Rock History Forever - New |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (9 reads) | |
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The february night that changed everything on february 9, 1964, millions of americans sat in front of their televisions to watch four young musicians from liverpool make their american television debut on the ed sullivan show . Among them were two sisters growing up in the pacific northwest: ann wilson, thirteen years old, and her younger sister nancy, who was not yet ten. Neither girl could have known that the music coming through their family television would eventually become part of the soundtrack of their own lives.
the wilson sisters had already grown up surrounded by music. Ann was born june 19, 1950, in san diego, while nancy was born march 16, 1954, in san francisco. Their father served in the marines, and their mother had a musical background as a pianist and choir singer. Because of their father’s military career, the family moved around before eventually settling in bellevue, washington. Music became one of the constants in their childhood.
the sisters shared a bedroom, listened to records and radio broadcasts, and absorbed everything around them. But watching the beatles was different. The performance demonstrated something neither sister had fully understood before: music could be more than entertainment. It could be an identity, a rebellion, a career and a way of communicating with an audience.
for ann and nancy, the beatles made the possibility of becoming musicians seem real.
years later, both sisters would describe the impact of that moment in different ways, but the essential story remained the same. They saw a group of young people standing on a television stage, heard the screaming audience, and realized that music could change the direction of a person’s life.
neither sister knew that their own musical journey would eventually take them from seattle-area clubs to international arenas.
they certainly could not have predicted how much resistance they would face along the way.
ann found the band that would become heart by the beginning of the 1970s, ann wilson was already determined to make music professionally.
in 1972, she answered an advertisement for a singer placed by a local band then known as hocus pocus. The group included musicians who would eventually become part of the heart story, and ann’s powerful voice immediately changed the band’s possibilities.
the group soon became heart.
around the same period, ann became involved with michael fisher, who was serving as the band’s manager. Fisher had moved to canada to avoid being drafted during the vietnam war, and the band’s future gradually became tied to vancouver.
ann followed him.
the move was significant. She was leaving the united states and entering a new environment while trying to build a career in a music business that was still heavily dominated by men.
nancy remained in the united states for a while longer.
she had her own musical ambitions and spent time performing folk music while attending college. But eventually the pull of her sister and the band became too strong.
in 1974, nancy left college and moved to canada to join heart.
her arrival changed the sound of the group.
ann brought the extraordinary voice.
nancy brought another dimension through guitar, songwriting and musical arrangements.
the sisters were no longer simply two siblings who loved music.
they were becoming the creative center of a rock band.
dreamboat annie made them stars — but not immediately respected heart’s breakthrough came with dreamboat annie , released in 1976.
the album was initially issued by mushroom records, a canadian label, but it quickly expanded beyond the band’s home market. Songs such as “magic man” and “crazy on you” helped establish heart as a major rock act, and dreamboat annie eventually reached no. 7 on the billboard 200.
for the sisters, success should have meant that the questions would finally stop.
instead, a different kind of questioning began.
because nancy was a young woman playing guitar in a rock band, some people seemed more interested in deciding whether she actually belonged onstage than in listening to what she was playing.
there were questions about whether she was really playing the guitar.
there were questions about the band’s image.
and then came something even stranger.
a photograph of ann and nancy on the cover of dreamboat annie helped fuel an ugly rumor that the sisters were romantically involved with each other.
it was absurd.
they were sisters.
but the rumor spread anyway.
the music industry of the 1970s often treated female performers differently from their male counterparts, and the wilson sisters experienced that firsthand. Their appearance became a subject of conversation in ways that had little to do with their songwriting or musicianship.
yet they kept working.
they kept recording.
they kept performing.
and eventually, all that frustration found its way into one of the greatest rock songs of the decade.
“barracuda” was born from anger in 1977, heart was touring and promoting its growing success when the sisters encountered another reminder that the music industry was not always interested in treating them seriously.
a promoter reportedly repeated the offensive rumor about ann and nancy to them backstage.
this time, the sisters had heard enough.
rather than allowing the insult to define them, they turned it into music.
“barracuda” became the centerpiece of heart’s second album, little queen , and one of the most recognizable songs in the band’s catalog.
the opening guitar riff is instantly recognizable.
ann’s voice comes in with extraordinary force.
and beneath the entire performance is an unmistakable feeling of confrontation.
the song became a commercial success, reaching no. 11 on the billboard hot 100.
but its significance went beyond its chart position.
“barracuda” demonstrated that the wilson sisters could take an insult aimed at them and transform it into something powerful enough to outlive the people who delivered it.
the rumor disappeared.
the song remained.
that pattern would repeat throughout their careers.
whenever people underestimated heart, the band answered with another record.
whenever someone questioned nancy’s musicianship, she played another guitar part.
whenever someone suggested the sisters were finished, they found another way forward.
when the music industry thought heart was finished by the early 1980s, heart had already established itself as a major rock act.
but the music industry changes quickly.
the sound that had dominated the previous decade was beginning to evolve. New artists were arriving, mtv was transforming the way musicians reached audiences, and record labels were increasingly focused on a new generation of stars.
heart’s momentum slowed.
the band experienced lineup changes and commercial difficulties.
to some observers, the wilson sisters appeared to belong to an earlier era.
but ann and nancy were not ready to become nostalgia acts.
they reinvented themselves.
in 1985, heart released its self-titled album.
it was a dramatic transformation.
the rawer rock sound of the band’s early work was combined with the enormous, polished production style of 1980s pop-rock. Mtv embraced the band. Radio embraced the singles.
“what about love?”
“never.”
“these dreams.”
“nothing at all.”
and then came “alone.”
suddenly, heart was not simply back.
the band was bigger than it had ever been.
heart reached no. 1 on the billboard 200 and eventually became a multi-platinum success in the united states. “These dreams” became heart’s first no. 1 single on the billboard hot 100.
the same industry that had begun treating heart as yesterday’s news was now giving the wilson sisters a new platform.
the transformation was remarkable.
they had survived the 1970s.
they had survived the changing music industry.
and they had survived the assumption that female rock musicians had a limited shelf life.
the sisters kept going when others stopped one of the most important parts of ann and nancy wilson’s story is that their success did not depend on a single era.
they experienced the 1970s.
they survived the 1980s.
they continued recording and touring through the 1990s.
they entered the new millennium still performing.
and throughout those decades, the relationship between the sisters remained central to the heart identity.
their careers were not identical.
ann became known primarily for one of the most powerful voices in rock history.
nancy became equally important as a guitarist, songwriter and arranger.
but together they created something neither could have built in exactly the same way alone.
their chemistry became part of the music.
that chemistry also made their story unusual.
the rock world had plenty of famous sibling groups, but ann and nancy wilson represented something different. They were women who had entered a male-dominated genre and refused to accept the idea that they needed to fit someone else’s definition of what a rock musician looked or sounded like.
their instruments were real.
their voices were real.
their songwriting was real.
and their career was far longer than many of the people who had doubted them. |
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| A Wonderful Adventure: Getting to Know Dabdiel Ramos |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Originally born in puerto rico and later moved to rochester, ny, dabdiel ramos, a sophomore at st. Bonaventure university has experienced two extremely different places that have shaped who he is today. Dabdiel can fluently speak spanish and english, and his first language is spanish, since he’s originally from puerto rico. When he talks about puerto rico, he describes it as “amazing and fun.” He is proud of coming from puerto rican culture and being able to reflect on where he came from. Moving to rochester in 2013 was a big change for him, and he says that it often makes him miss his puerto rican roots. One thing people might not know is that although he was born in puerto rico, it is still part of the united states!
if you asked dabdiel to describe himself, he’d ask you to call him “dab,” he’d call himself hilarious, outgoing, kind, and extremely talkative. His friends would probably agree, describing him as outgoing, funny, and just a man with a big heart. He’s the type of person who says that he would do anything for someone he loves and cares for as well as someone who needs help. His kindness is just another trait he hopes people remember about him.
his journey through life has brought him to st. Bonaventure university, where he is studying sports media. He originally started college studying sports management but came to the realization that sports media was a better fit for him. He felt that he understood the field better and that he would receive more opportunities in his future. He chose bonaventure because of the opportunities the school offered through the program he is in (heop, the higher education opportunity program). This program has allowed him to attend college for free.
one of his favorite parts of being at bonaventure has been meeting new people and getting the different kinds of opportunities he maybe couldn’t have gotten when he lived in puerto rico. He’s involved in club baseball, laso (latin american student organization), heop, and a few intramural sports (including dodgeball). College has also helped him learn more about different cultures and understand people from different backgrounds. One of his favorite memories from college so far was meeting his girlfriend, brenna, which has made his overall cllege experience even more meaningful.
baseball has played a major role in shaping who he is today. Through baseball, he learned that failing or making a mistake doesn’t mean you should just give up. It relates to how even if you fail countless times, eventually you will succeed–you’ll just have to try again. That mindset has followed him outside of baseball and into other parts of his life, like his relationships, friendships, family, school, and more.
he considers his mom one of his biggest influences in his life overall. He says that she sacrificed everything for her family and made the impossible possible, and because of her, making it to college and getting in is something he is especially proud of from himself.
another experience that impacted his perspective on life was losing his best friend. Going through that loss truly taught him to appreciate the time he has with the people around him that he loves and cares for, because you never know what could happen tomorrow. It’s a lesson that has made him value his friendships and the moments he gets to share with others.
outside of school, dab enjoys playing baseball, playing video games, listening to spanish music, his mom’s cooking, watching the show the rookie , and if you know him, sleeping. His friends know him for being a baseball fanatic, but they also like to tease him about his height and his forehead.
looking forward to the future, dab hopes to work with a professional sports team. One of his biggest goals is to be known for something important and to spend his life chasing his true dreams. More than anything, he wants people to remember the kindness in his soul and his willingness to help people in need.
when asked how he would describe this point in his life, he said “it’s been a wonderful adventure in my life. Hopefully i can do more.” For dabdiel, his story is still being written, and he hopes the next chapters bring even more opportunities to grow, succeed, and make a difference. |
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| Senior at UH Downtown prevails after being accused of handing in assignments tha |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Senior at uh downtown prevails after being accused of handing in assignments that were ai generated
houston - a university of houston-downtown student who received an f after being accused of submitting ai-generated work successfully appealed the decision, raising questions about how colleges evaluate suspected artificial intelligence use.
what theyre saying:
many students will likely find themselves being accused of cheating with the help of artificial intelligence.
mark pieterson is a senior studying business management at the university of houston downtown.
last august, his music appreciation professor gave him an f claiming, the student submitted several journal entries and discussion posts that were determined to be copy and pasted ai generated.
to be honest, i was shocked. I was incredibly incensed, said mark. In other things, in the course, i received as or either 100% or 90%, so it came as a jarring surprise to me.
mark decided to appeal.
the appeal process started with the professor who accused him in the first place, so mark was denied. Then he lost in the second phase with the department chair of the arts and communication department.
but the student discipline committee made up of four deans ruled in his favor.
the committees decision was based on concerns regarding the reliability and consistency of the evidence used to support the original finding.
this came as a huge relief, mark said. Also, it showed me that if you have the truth on your side, everything comes together.
the source: fox 26 reporter randy wallace spoke with mark pieterson about what happened. |
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| Waverly Chamber Music Series begins Sunday with Pro Arte Quartet |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Waverly — the waverly chamber music series will open its 10th anniversary season at 2 p.M. Sunday with a free performance by the pro arte quartet in the narthex of st. Paul’s lutheran church and school, 301 first. St. N.W.
waverly chamber music series begins sunday with pro arte quartet
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| Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barkers Chocolate Brown Sofa Redefines Warm Minim |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Kourtney kardashian and travis barkers chocolate brown sofa redefines warm minimalism, replacing beige for 2027
a cozy couch color anchors the couples calabasas living room and provides a portrait of the future of welcoming neutrals
sophie edwards
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nothing grounds a living room like a chocolate brown sofa. This furnishing is both soulful and practical, creating an undeniable warmth, and in 2027, homes & gardens predicts they will eclipse even the beige sofa in popularity.
for evidence, look no further than kourtney kardashian and travis barkers living room. Their calabasas home was designed by waldo fernandez to capture an inviting, warm minimalist aesthetic. In the main living area, textured wood and a chocolate brown sofa bring this understated energy to life. It feels simultaneously cocooning and light.
though the whole room is striking, its the velvety living room sofa that ties kourtney and traviss entire look together. This alder sofa from wayfair is a great lookalike, for anyone who wants to recreate their curved chocolate look.
though lighter couches are still popular, theres no question that travis and kourtneys darker sofa color is eclipsing all others this season. Especially for autumn, chocolate brown offers a cocooning feel that fits into almost any style of room.
bo hellberg, design expert and cmo at scandinavian design retailer string furniture explains: chocolate brown is a rich, earthy tone that brings warmth and softness to interior spaces. Its popularity has grown significantly over the past year, thanks to its versatility and timeless appeal. Whether used as a grounding statement on its own or as a sophisticated backdrop to complementary hues, chocolate brown creates depth and balance within a room.
like we see in travis and kourtneys space, its the ideal pick to tie cooler neutrals together. The cream walls and tan rug instantly feel much warmer when paired with their velvety sofa.
shop the chocolate brown edit
it doesnt have to be a sofa. Any splash of chocolate brown can help your home feel more welcoming and layered. These are our editors picks, inspired by kourtney and traviss warm minimalist living room.
design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
as we see from the ultra-soft sillouette of kourtney and traviss sofa, tapping into the warmth of this look is not just about color, but also about choosing a welcoming shape. These soft, bulbous curves help a textural take on a neutral color palette feel extra warm.
jysk’s design and range manager, rikke blaeside advises: the curved sofa trend has given way to all out curvy, chunky mania with bulbous silhouettes taking over. Providing a cosseting and soft finish, bulbous silhouettes will be favoured throughout the cosy season as homeowners seek to create a feel of respite and warmth, while still adding an element of joy and playfulness.
just like chocolate brown, this emerging sofa trend is incredibly versatile. Rikke states: beyond just a curved edged, the bulbous silhouette trend encompasses the full piece for an up-sized look that delivers on style and comfort. Homeowners can go all out and create a statement with on-trend sofas or armchairs, or for those wanting a subtle nod, opt for furniture or accessories with rounded, curved elements such as a table with chunky legs or a rounded vase.
to get started, homes & gardens recommends adding a few soft and curvy chocolate brown elements to your living room to ensure you like the look, which can then be upgraded into a full chocolate brown sofa. Travis and kourtneys home can always act as a guiding light.
love celebrity news and interior design inspiration? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.
sophie is a writer and news editor on the celebrity style team at homes & gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed martha stewart and hillary duff.
in her free time, sophie freelances on design news for westport magazine and livingetc. She also has a newsletter, my friends art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in love & squalor and the isis magazine.
before joining future, sophie worked in editorial at fig linens and home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an msc from oxford university and a ba in creative writing and sociology from sarah lawrence college. |
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| On This Day October 3: History, Famous Birthdays, Deaths & Global Events |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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October 3 is a day etched with monumental shifts across the globe. It is a date that has seen the birth of new nations, the tragic fall of visionary pioneers, the spark of devastating conflicts, and the quiet triumphs of scientific and social progress. History is rarely a single, linear thread; it is a complex tapestry woven from diverse cultures and competing ambitions.
to truly understand what makes october 3 significant, we must look beyond standard textbooks and explore the milestones that shaped both the bangalee sphere and the broader international stage. From the bustling streets of british-era calcutta to the war-torn horn of africa, and from the political drama of post-cold war europe to the ancient battlefields of gaul, the events of this day continue to ripple through modern society.
here is an in-depth, globally minded historical report on october 3.
the bangalee sphere the indian subcontinent, and specifically the culturally rich bengal region (now divided between bangladesh and the indian state of west bengal), has witnessed profound historical moments on this date. These events encompass groundbreaking medical achievements, intense political volatility, and devastating humanitarian crises.
the passing of a medical pioneer: kadambini ganguly (1923) on october 3, 1923, the subcontinent lost one of its most formidable trailblazers. Dr. Kadambini ganguly passed away at the age of 62 in calcutta. Ganguly was not only one of the first two female graduates in the british empire, but she also made history by becoming the first south asian female physician trained in western medicine to establish a successful practice. Facing intense societal backlash, she secured her medical degree from calcutta medical college before traveling to the united kingdom to obtain further diplomas in dublin, glasgow, and edinburgh.
beyond her medical practice, she was a fierce advocate for women’s rights and was instrumental in improving the working conditions of female coal miners in eastern india. Even on the day of her death, she had just returned home after conducting a critical medical operation, remaining dedicated to her patients until her final breath.
the birth of india’s first test-tube baby (1978) october 3, 1978, marked a miraculous scientific milestone in kolkata: the birth of kanupriya agarwal (affectionately named durga), india’s first—and the world’s second—test-tube baby. This extraordinary achievement in in vitro fertilization (ivf) was spearheaded by the brilliant bangalee physician dr. Subhas mukhopadhyay. Tragically, the story is also a harrowing reminder of institutional apathy.
instead of being celebrated, dr. Mukhopadhyay faced severe bureaucratic harassment, skepticism from the medical establishment, and administrative sanctions. Heartbroken and marginalized, he took his own life in 1981. Today, his legacy has been rightfully restored, serving as a powerful symbol of scientific triumph overshadowed by systemic failure.
the arrest of indira gandhi (1977) in the realm of politics, october 3, 1977, delivered a shockwave across india. Former prime minister indira gandhi was dramatically arrested on charges of official corruption. Following her defeat in the 1977 elections—a direct public retaliation against her authoritarian 21-month “emergency” rule—the newly formed janata party government sought to hold her accountable.
the arrest, however, was poorly executed and ultimately backfired. It generated widespread sympathy for gandhi, allowing her to frame herself as a victim of a political witch-hunt. This event catalyzed her stunning political comeback just a few years later.
the peak of the bengal famine (1943) while the bengal famine of 1943 is not relegated to a single day, historical consensus marks october 1943 as the grim peak of starvation deaths. Triggered by a devastating cyclone in october 1942, the situation rapidly spiraled into a catastrophic famine due to the british colonial government’s wartime “denial policies”—which involved confiscating boats and rice to hinder a potential japanese invasion from burma.
the failure of the economic market to distribute food equitable exacerbated the crisis. By october 1943, calcutta was inundated with starving rural refugees, leading to an estimated three million deaths. The famine hardened public opinion against british rule and profoundly accelerated the indian independence movement.
geet sethi’s historic victory (1992) on a lighter, triumphant note in indian sports history, october 3, 1992, saw geet siriram sethi make history. He decisively defeated britain’s mike russell to become the first indian to win the world professional billiards championship. Sethi’s victory cemented india’s dominance in cue sports on the global stage.
global history
to understand october 3 fully, we must travel across continents. This date has served as a launchpad for modern geopolitical alliances, civil rights milestones, and the devastating escalation of global conflicts.
united states: the genesis of a national thanksgiving (1863) in the midst of the bloodiest conflict on american soil, president abraham lincoln issued a historic proclamation on october 3, 1863, designating a national day of thanksgiving. Inspired heavily by the union army’s pivotal victory at the battle of gettysburg and heavily influenced by the tireless campaigning of writer sarah josepha hale, the proclamation set the holiday for the last thursday of november. Drafted by secretary of state william seward, the document was a strategic wartime effort to foster a sense of shared national unity, gratitude, and healing in a deeply fractured republic.
united states: the o.J. Simpson acquittal (1995) few events in modern american history captured the cultural zeitgeist quite like october 3, 1995. On this day, former football star o.J. Simpson was acquitted of the brutal murders of his ex-wife, nicole brown simpson, and her friend, ronald goldman. The “trial of the century” was televised live, and the verdict paralyzed the nation. The polarizing reaction to the acquittal starkly highlighted the deep, enduring racial divides within the american justice system and public perception.
europe: the reunification of germany (1990) october 3, 1990, stands as one of the most joyous and consequential dates in modern european history. Less than a year after the symbolic fall of the berlin wall, the german democratic republic (east germany) officially dissolved and integrated into the federal republic of germany (west germany). This monumental event effectively erased the most glaring physical and political divide of the cold war . Today, this date is celebrated annually as german unity day (tag der deutschen einheit).
africa: italy invades ethiopia (1935) on october 3, 1935, fascist italy, under the dictatorial rule of benito mussolini, launched a massive and brutal invasion of ethiopia (then widely known as abyssinia) without a formal declaration of war. Mussolini sought to avenge italy’s humiliating defeat at the battle of adwa in 1896 and to carve out a new roman empire in africa. The invasion laid bare the absolute impotence of the league of nations, which failed to effectively sanction italy or protect ethiopian sovereignty. This aggressive expansionism emboldened other fascist states, directly paving the way for world war ii.
united kingdom & australia: operation hurricane (1952) the nuclear arms race expanded its terrifying reach on october 3, 1952, when the united kingdom successfully detonated its first atomic weapon. Codenamed operation hurricane , the test took place off the coast of western australia in the montebello islands. This successful detonation made britain the world’s third nuclear-armed power, joining the united states and the soviet union. However, the event left a dark legacy for australia, sparking long-standing debates over nuclear sovereignty and the tragic radiation exposure suffered by local indigenous populations.
middle east: iraq gains independence (1932) following the collapse of the ottoman empire after world war i, the league of nations placed iraq under a british mandate. After over a decade of administrative control and frequent local resistance, the kingdom of iraq officially gained its independence from the united kingdom on october 3, 1932. On this day, iraq was admitted to the league of nations as a sovereign state, marking the end of the mandate era and the beginning of a turbulent modern era for the nation.
africa: the battle of mogadishu (1993) in somalia, october 3, 1993, marked the beginning of a disastrous military operation that would fundamentally alter us foreign policy. American forces attempted to capture key lieutenants of a local warlord, resulting in a deadly urban firefight known as the battle of mogadishu (later popularized in the book and film black hawk down). The tragic loss of 18 us soldiers and hundreds of somalis led to an immediate american withdrawal from the region. The incident instilled a deep reluctance in washington to intervene in future international humanitarian crises for over a decade.
ancient history: the surrender of vercingetorix (52 bc) diving into antiquity, october 3, 52 bc, saw the conclusion of the battle of alesia. Vercingetorix, the fierce leader of the gauls, surrendered his arms to the roman general julius caesar. This decisive victory effectively ended gallic independence, bringing the vast territory of gaul (modern-day france) under strict roman control and setting the stage for caesar’s eventual rise to dictator of rome.
notable births & deaths (global) history is driven by the individuals who shape art, politics, music, and thought. October 3 has seen the arrival and departure of some highly influential figures. Below is a glance at the notable personalities associated with this date.
famous births on october 3 name year nationality profession & legacy thomas wolfe 1900 american highly influential novelist known for his emotionally charged, autobiographical epic look homeward, angel. Gore vidal 1925 american acclaimed author, essayist, and razor-sharp intellectual. Famous for his patrician critiques of american politics and historical novels like burr and lincoln. Chubby checker 1941 american rock and roll singer who permanently altered global pop culture by popularizing the dance craze “the twist.” Stevie ray vaughan 1954 american legendary blues guitarist who revived the blues genre in the 1980s with his fiery, virtuosic playing style. Gwen stefani 1969 american multi-grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and fashion icon; lead vocalist of no doubt and successful solo artist. Zlatan ibrahimovi? 1981 swedish one of the most acrobatic, prolific, and charismatic football strikers of his generation, winning 34 trophies across europe’s top leagues. Famous deaths on october 3 name year nationality legacy / cause of death saint francis of assisi 1226 italian venerated catholic friar and founder of the franciscan order. Known globally for his deep love of nature and animals. Black hawk 1838 native american fierce sauk tribal leader and warrior who led resistance against us westward expansion in the black hawk war. William morris 1896 british renowned textile designer, poet, and pioneer of the british arts and crafts movement, deeply influencing global interior design. Woody guthrie 1967 american the quintessential american folk singer. Writer of “this land is your land,” his music heavily inspired bob dylan and the 1960s folk revival. Janet leigh 2004 american iconic actress best remembered for her legendary performance in alfred hitchcock’s thriller psycho. International observances & holidays october 3 holds immense civic and cultural importance for several nations, celebrated with parades, reflection, and public festivities.
german unity day (tag der deutschen einheit) – germany: as mentioned, this is germany’s national holiday, celebrating the legal and political reunification of east and west germany in 1990.
national foundation day (gaecheonjeol) – south korea: a deeply traditional holiday celebrating the legendary formation of the first korean state of gojoseon in 2333 bc.
iraq national day – iraq: commemorates the nation’s independence from the british mandate and its entry into the league of nations as a sovereign entity in 1932.
mean girls appreciation day: a massive pop-culture internet holiday born entirely from a single line of dialogue in the 2004 cult-classic film mean girls: “on october 3rd, he asked me what day it was.”
“did you know?” Trivia to add a layer of fascinating dinner-table conversation to your historical knowledge, here are a few lesser-known events that occurred on this date:
the publishing of a phenomenon: on october 3, 1955, the very first edition of the guinness book of records was published in britain. Originally intended simply to settle pub arguments, it rapidly evolved into a global, best-selling phenomenon detailing the extremes of human achievement and the natural world.
the v-2 rocket takes flight: on october 3, 1942, nazi germany successfully launched the first a4 rocket, later known as the v-2. Designed by wernher von braun, it flew 118 miles from peenemünde, marking the first time a man-made object achieved sub-orbital spaceflight. While used as a deadly weapon of terror in wwii, the technology directly laid the groundwork for modern space exploration.
a golden day for kids’ tv: american television was forever changed on october 3, 1955, when two massive cultural touchstones for children’s programming premiered on the exact same day: the mickey mouse club and captain kangaroo.
quote of the day “style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”
— gore vidal , celebrated american intellectual and author, born on this day, october 3, 1925.
final thoughts the vast timeline of october 3 serves as a powerful testament to the duality of human history. It is a date characterized by the celebration of unity—seen in the reunification of germany and lincoln’s thanksgiving proclamation—and the heavy burdens of division, from the horrific peak of the bengal famine to the racial fractures exposed by the o.J. Simpson verdict.
it is a day that championed the relentless dedication of scientific pioneers like dr. Kadambini ganguly and dr. Subhas mukhopadhyay, even when society failed to immediately appreciate their genius. By observing the triumphs and tragedies of october 3, we gain a deeper, more nuanced appreciation for the complex global tapestry that has shaped our present reality. |
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| Over 400 items from Paul Reubens career to be auctioned. Here are 6 highlights | |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Entertainment
over 400 items from paul reubens’ career to be auctioned. Here are 6 highlights
published
37 seconds agoon
by
newspub wire
paul reubens’ larger-than-life stage presence as pee-wee herman carried over into the actor’s home-sweet-home — and this month, fans of the late actor can bid on 439 items from his collection.
julien’s auctions is hosting paul reubens’ big auction at the groundlings theatre in los angeles on oct. 28 to celebrate the life and career of the late comedian, actor and writer. Tickets sold out within the day on friday, but the public may participate in the auction online at juliensauctions.Com. Anyone with a groundlings show ticket can view the exhibition until oct. 28.
the auction features pee-wee’s iconic gray suit and other costumes, red schwinn bicycles, dolls, puppets, claymation figures, scripts and more. The memorabilia comes from reubens’ major features and tv shows, including “pee-wee’s playhouse,” “pee-wee’s big adventure,” “the pee-wee herman show,” “big top pee-wee” and “pee-wee’s big holiday.”
reubens created the pee-wee herman character in 1978 while a member of the groundlings company. “The pee-wee herman show” began at the groundlings theatre, moved to the roxy theatre on sunset boulevard and aired as a 1981 hbo special. Reubens parlayed the show’s success into the 1985 hit film “pee-wee’s big adventure.” Tim burton’s feature film directorial debut, the movie had a $7 million budget and earned more than $40 million.
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paul reubens, the actor and comedian best known for portraying the character pee-wee herman on stage and screen, has died. He was 70.
next came the daytime emmy-winning tv series “pee-wee’s playhouse,” which ran from 1986 through 1990 and helped kick-start the careers of now well-known stars including phil hartman, laurence fishburne and s. Epatha merkerson. Feature films “big top pee-wee” (1988) and “pee-wee’s big holiday” (2016) followed. Before his death on july 30, 2023, reubens recorded interviews for the 2025 emmy-winning documentary miniseries, “pee-wee as himself.”
here are six highlights of the auction:
“pee-wee’s big holiday” hero pee-wee herman suit
the iconic slate gray glen plaid suit worn by paul reubens in his 2016 netflix film, complete with white shirt, red bow tie, pocket square, and white loafers. ($8,000-$10,000)
“pee-wee’s playhouse” fridge food
a collection of 12 prop food pieces from the “pee-wee’s playhouse” refrigerator, including a claymation red pepper and bacon with armature arms, olive barbells, frozen food boxes, and desserts. ($800-$1,000)
pee-wee herman 1989 jcpenney 40-inch limited-edition doll
the 40-inch doll made by carousel for reubens’ jcpenney-exclusive line in the late 1980s is one of the rarest pee-wee herman collectibles. Only 2,000 were made in 1989, and some were used as store displays. The doll is in its original box, with the original factory shipping carton. ($300-$500)
paul reubens’ “pee wee” harmonica
a vintage “pee wee” brand harmonica made in occupied japan (circa 1945-1951) in its original box, personally owned by reubens, who cited this brand as the inspiration for his character’s name. ($100-$200)
“pee-wee’s big adventure” replica bicycle with 2011 visionary spike tv scream award
a full-scale replica of pee-wee’s iconic red schwinn dx, ridden by reubens at the 2011 spike tv scream awards where he accepted the honorary visionary award (also included in the auction). ($5,000-$7,000)
production scripts and storyboards
- “pee-wee’s playhouse” season 1 scripts (a collection of 13, one for each episode of season 1 in 1986)
- “pee-wee’s big adventure” script credited to phil hartman, paul reubens, and michael varhol, containing minor differences from the final film including a deleted magic shop scene
- “big top pee-wee,” featuring barnyard and farm animal artwork
- “pee-wee’s playhouse” season 4 storyboards
(each lot range: $500-$700)
movie reviews
movie review – babystar (2025)
published
8 hours agoon
october 2, 2026by
newspub wire
babystar, 2025.
directed by joscha bongard.
starring maja bons, bea brooks, liliom lewald.
synopsis:
a teenage influencer gradually becomes aware of what part she plays in her parent’s online enterprises.
we are now living in a world where some of us have only known a world seen through an online lens. The urge to keep up with algorithms, followers and likes is so much a part of life that sometimes the intense pressure of always being ‘on’ is overlooked or dismissed. For those at the forefront, though, where your life is your business, and literally everything is a promotional activity, lines can, and often do, get pretty blurry.
coming off like a haneke journey into messed-up familial motivations and whims, bongard’s very of-the-moment satirical drama also shares something of the twisted family setups examined in much of yorgos lanthimos’s work. What we have here is a searing takedown of the online world, where identities, lifestyles, and dreams are traded with little insight into what the exponents of these glittering, fantastical style choices are feeling.
but sometimes there isn’t a choice. That is the case with maja bons’ luca, whose most precious memories, of birthday parties or bonding with mother (bea brooks) and father (lilian lewald) over normally private matters, are broadcast right into the accounts and brainwaves of ever-eager subscribers.
part of 16-year-old luca is ok with this; after all, it’s all she’s ever known. Her parents are ambitious, caring on the surface, and provide her with everything she needs. The crunch really comes when a new challenger to her princess status emerges.
when her parents reveal they’re planning to have a new child, and with it more opportunities for views and money, luca hates the idea. It’s a moment that breaks the whole carefully framed ego and life that has been built up for her. But she has reserves of strength she didn’t know, and soon she’s figuring out ways to get out of the influencer palace…
much of the success of this striking psychological drama is down to bons’ subtle performance and the fact that both parents are believable in their single-minded vision. They are not supervillains or monsters, but rather deeply flawed and vain individuals who do not see how they have harmed their child.
luca becomes a figure to cheer on, and bongard is careful to show us the human side of her odd life with genuine emotion bit by bit, not in a landslide of expression. The weird dark humour of the first half gives way to a more sombre reflection on the state of influencer culture and how ruinous for mental health it can potenitally be. The closing chapters shift again, to a dramatic showing of the performer hoping to escape the circus.
flickering myth rating – film: ? ? ? ? / Movie: ? ? ?
robert w monk
https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=embed/playlist
entertainment
‘asco: without permission’ heralds the next generation of l.A. Chicano artists
published
10 hours agoon
october 2, 2026by
newspub wire
the multidisciplinary artist rafa esparza was maybe 19 and in the break room of the now-defunct orchard supply hardware in pasadena when he first found out about the revolutionary art group asco. It was the early 2000s, and he was working full-time while going to school part-time at east los angeles college. He’d bring his homework to his job, and an older colleague, ignacio, took interest in the books he was reading — mostly about chicana/o studies and art.
ignacio grew up in east l.A., And showed esparza a big manila envelope stuffed with incredible sketches and drawings by glugio “gronk” nicandro. Gronk, a friend of ignacio, was one of the founding members of asco, which roared to life as an unapologetically chicano organization in the early 1970s and was made up of east l.A. Natives including patssi valdez, harry gamboa jr. And willie herrón.
esparza is now among two generations of l.A. Chicano and mexican artists who have passed the torch that asco used to blaze its groundbreaking trail. The story of the art group and its descendants, also including maria maea and san cha, is featured in the new documentary, “asco: without permission.” Executive produced by gael garcía bernal and diego luna, the film premiered last year at sxsw and arrives on tv for the first time at 7 p.M. Friday as part of pbs socal’s “voces” series (plus pbs.Org and the pbs app).
the beginning of a movement
when asco first coalesced, gamboa jr. Went to los angeles county museum of art and noticed a striking absence of chicano pieces. In the film, he recounts how, after his concerns were dismissed by a higher-up at lacma, asco decided to take matters into its own hands. The group came back later that evening and tagged the building with their names (“spray paint lacma,” 1972), effectively reclaiming the entire museum as a work of chicano art.
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the no-movie “chicano cinema,” starring harry gamboa jr. (Asa nisi masa films / pbs)
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a group shot of the art group asco. From left to right: willie herrón, gronk, patssi valdez and harry gamboa jr. (Asa nisi masa films / pbs)
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members of the art group asco pose in malibu. From left to right: gronk, patssi valdez, willie herón and harry gamboa jr. (Asa nisi masa films / pbs)
4/7
patssi valdez poses with her golden no-movie award, a parody of the academy awards, protesting the lack of latino representation in hollywood. (Asa nisi masa films / pbs)
5/7
the asco no-movie “the gores (whittier blvd + ax)” (1974). (Asa nisi masa films / pbs)
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the asco no-movie “star” (1980), starring patssi valdez. (Asa nisi masa films / pbs)
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a still photo of the asco performance piece “birds wave goodbye,” from 1972. (Asa nisi masa films / pbs)
asco’s work remained in relative obscurity — living in local mythology through storytellers like ignacio — for decades. Then, in 2011, lacma‘s views evolved and the museum gave asco its first major retrospective, “elite of the obscure.” Documentary writer and director travis gutiérrez senger came across press coverage of the retrospective and felt immediately drawn to the group, connected “on almost a cellular level.”
but it wasn’t until trump’s first run for presidency and subsequent election, when his language around latinos and immigrants dangerously sharpened, that gutiérrez senger knew in his gut that he needed to make this film now.
what set asco apart was the fact that it was an art group, not a singular artist, working in tandem to react to social and political realities, including the 1968 east l.A. Walkouts, the 1970 chicano moratorium, the vietnam war, police brutality and gang violence.
“i would have never done the film if it wasn’t a collective,” gutiérrez senger said. “The thing about art history — and in literature and film — we often canonize individuals. When i saw asco and it was a group, and they’re [on] the cover of artforum or at the whitney … that to me was really, really captivating. And, i thought, also very constructive.
“this isn’t just a group; this is a metaphor for how we mobilize and change,” gutiérrez senger remembers thinking.
art as action
asco was a fecund ecosystem, as is the close-knit community of contemporary artists following in its footsteps. The documentary recounts the history of the original group while heeding its call to action by collaborating with next-gen artists to carry the tradition forward. In 2023, gutiérrez senger curated a pop-up exhibition — featured in the film — alongside pilar tompkins rivas, called “asco and the next gen: an inter-generational celebration of latinx art.” “Asco and the next gen” included esparza, maria maea, san cha, ruben ulises rodriguez montoya, guadalupe rosales, gabriela ruiz and dorian wood.
“when you’re deeply collaborating with folks, and you’re in each other’s mediums and you’re sharing thoughts, and you’re thinking together, conceptualizing together, birthing a project together from scratch, you really have to step beside yourself, and understand that this is something that you’re co-creating,” esparza said. “Versus, i think art teaches us to center the single voice, the singular author of an artwork. And my experience of life, of art-making, has been the complete opposite: i think that we’re constantly reflecting each other.”
esparza’s contribution to that 2023 pop-up was called “corpo ranfla: terra cruiser” and was originally staged outside the fairgrounds of art basel miami a year prior. The l.A. Version took place in the parking lot of an arts district strip mall. Esparza bounced. He lay in a prone position, arms extended, body ensconced in gold and green lowrider armature, adhered to a blue bike frame, rocking on a 25-cent mechanical ride mechanism. The early connections esparza had with asco resonated deeply in his relationship to art-making.
“they’re guerrilla, not asking for permission, just doing what they wanted to do with the help of their collective efforts,” esparza said. “That’s an ethos that’s very present in my own performance work, and it’s something that i hold very dear to me. It’s something that i always want to protect, in terms of how the art industry so powerfully commodifies everything you make as artists. I feel like performance still holds this power to really resist that, depending on how we will it into being.”
moving pictures are part of the revolt
asco also had an interest in film. The art group members didn’t see themselves — or chicanos or latinos — represented in hollywood, so they did it themselves, subverting a movie into a single still photograph that became its own story; an implied narrative. These, featured in the documentary, were called no-movies.
in addition to the “asco and the next gen” pop-up exhibition, gutiérrez senger and the filmmaking team invited multidisciplinary artist maria maea, san cha, musician fabi reyna and mexico city-based ruben ulises rodriguez montoya to create new no-movies, also featured in the film, in response to asco’s original no-movies.
maea first learned about asco through esparza, too. He’s a mentor of sorts to her (they’re part of the same “interlocked brown community,” she says), and they were making adobe bricks together on the banks of the l.A. River for esparza’s 2017 whitney biennial installation when he told her the story about the hardware store and the manila envelope.
“they had a finite amount of resources, and they took this cinematic film lens or film camera film and shot these stills,” maea said. “I think for me, it was so beautiful to see the infinity that could happen in front of it, the story that could happen behind it. It felt like we were just seeing this snapshot of a beautiful cinematic moment.”
the documentary’s new no-movies are slightly longer, but still snippets of less than five minutes. The main character of maea’s “pasado/futuro” no-movie, the being, sprang from the show “l.A. Fonts,” in the artist alfonso gonzalez jr.’S backyard. (“Pasado/futuro” also includes a group of kids working in a garage, meant to emulate asco’s own garage origins — and to represent the next next gen. Its cast includes maea’s younger sister, ariel-evelia tuilaepa diaz.) The being is alien, mystical and magical, a migrant finding her way in a new world. (Maea often works with palm weaving, incorporated here, and palms have their own migration story to l.A.)
“something that really intrigued me was their sci-fi aspect of this film,” maea said of asco. “Like, they lived in a real world where they were experiencing the chicano moratorium, they’re experiencing violence in the streets, and they were also experiencing … the news projected back at them, that they were the issue,” stranger-than-fiction scenarios they synthesized into sometimes-futuristic or dystopian work.
composer and performer san cha’s no-movie, “luna,” made together with the musician fabi reyna, began as a song san cha had written for a friend who had died; she had had a dream of him on the moon. In collaboration with gutiérrez senger, the no-movie evolved into a piece about a lover, played by reyna. Now, “luna” is tender and otherworldly, drenched in the high drama and glamour that san cha so loves.
san cha was born in san josé, then moved to san francisco, where she was taken in by the bay area drag scene — specifically by her drag mother per sia, who’s still there. (San cha recently relocated to amsterdam.)
“she is from south-central, but she studied art, visual art,” san cha said. “She was a photographer, and she really got into the drag scene, and she was super familiar with asco. We would do these processions in the mission, from the mission to the castro … and she would always mention asco in these moments.”
that’s likely because asco’s early performances, as the art historian and curator c. Ondine chavoya points out in the film, emphasized procession, mobility, mobilization and occupation, marking sites of political violence. Once san cha moved to l.A., She found community quickly, too. She met maea — with whom she made a video, “coatlicue,” for the music center’s for the love of l.A. Program — and later lived with esparza.
“we can’t really perform in a vacuum,” san cha said. “I can’t imagine doing this by myself, ever.… When i moved to l.A., There’s someone for everything.… And that way i didn’t feel the need to do everything alone. And even though in l.A. It was a little more professional, there’s so many people that are just like family.”
when gutiérrez singer first started making this film, he thought that it — and asco itself — was about saying “f— you” to the systems and institutions and racism that give us asco. (“Asco” means nausea or disgust in spanish.)
“but at the end of the project, i started looking at the work and myself and the artists i had made the film with, and just seeing this incredible beauty and love,” he said. “And i realized that the power of asco’s work is ultimately about self-love, and that when you feel that — and you can feel almost a collective sense of self-love as brown people — it gives you incredible potential and strength.”
movie reviews
prem keetanu movie review: a breezy gen z rom-com that scores on humour and youthful charm
published
18 hours agoon
october 2, 2026by
newspub wire
story: a jobless engineering graduate, vishal thakur (veer pahariya), navigates one-sided love, the challenges of early independence, and the complexities of modern relationships while figuring out life and love. Review: in an era of complicated relationships and increasingly elaborate romantic dramas, prem keetanu keeps things simple, banking on youthful romance, relatable situations and a generous dose of humour. A remake of girish ad’s 2024 malayalam hit premalu, the film adapts the original’s easygoing charm. While it delivers several laugh-out-loud moments and benefits from a likeable ensemble, its familiar romantic premise and uneven pacing keep it from rising above familiar rom-com territory. The story follows vishal thakur (veer pahariya), a 23-year-old btech graduate struggling to figure out his future. With no clear career ambitions, a strained relationship with his family and little luck in finding a job, vishal is desperate for a fresh start. His dream of pursuing further studies in the us also hits a roadblock. Through it all, his roommate and friend, magan arora (nikhil vijay), remains his constant companion. Vishal’s romantic journey begins with an awkward encounter with suhani sharma (aafiya sayed) during college admissions. A misunderstanding prompts her to curse him with a rather unusual prediction: he will never find a girlfriend in college. Years later, their paths cross again at a wedding, and vishal finds himself falling for her. However, suhani, an it professional, has a different idea of her ideal partner. She prefers someone older, mature and professionally established — qualities embodied by her boss, ranjeet singh (aparshakti khurana). What follows is a familiar romantic tug-of-war as vishal attempts to win her over while confronting the gap between his aspirations and her expectations. The film’s biggest strength is its ability to find humour in everyday situations. The first half, set against the backdrop of campus life and youthful friendships, is lively and entertaining. Vishal and magan’s camaraderie provides some of the film’s funniest moments, with their banter and misadventures lending the narrative an easy, infectious energy. The dialogue-writing by girish ad and deepak kingrani works particularly well, keeping the comedy conversational rather than forced. However, the film’s breezy approach comes at a cost. Unlike chhichhore, which balanced youthful humour with the emotional weight of friendship, failure and growing up, prem keetanu doesn’t explore its characters’ struggles in much depth. Vishal’s uncertainty about his future and his complicated family equation are introduced but never explored with enough depth. The second half shifts towards the central love triangle, slowing the narrative considerably. While the romantic conflict remains watchable, its predictable trajectory and familiar tropes dilute the emotional impact. The performances, fortunately, keep the film engaging. Veer pahariya brings an approachable, boy-next-door quality to vishal, making his romantic insecurities and everyday struggles relatable. Nikhil vijay steals the spotlight through his effortless comic timing. Aafiya sayed makes a promising debut as suhani, bringing freshness and confidence to the role. Aparshakti khurana adds his trademark comic flair as ranjeet, ensuring the romantic rivalry remains entertaining. Rakesh bedi is convincing as suhani’s supportive father. At 138 minutes, prem keetanu is a breezy rom-com that delivers on humour and youthful charm, even if its predictable plot and limited emotional depth keep it within familiar genre territory. Likeable performances, particularly nikhil vijay and aparshakti khurana’s comic turns, make it an enjoyable watch. Overall, it is a light-hearted entertainer that scores on humour and camaraderie but plays it safe with its love story. |
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| Cruces Café Crawl: Five spots to fuel your study sessions |
| Posted on Saturday, October 03 @ 00:03:30 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Coffee: it’s the primary fuel for college students. It might as well be delivered into our systems by iv during finals week.
while supporting my studies, i took it upon myself to visit various coffee shops around las cruces and compile them for your viewing pleasure.
jamila coffee: 111 s. Solano dr. Ste. B
the first thing i noticed when i walked into jamila coffee was just how big it was. There is plenty of seating, including tables, sofas, and even bean bags. Along with free-wi-fi and a student discount, jamila is a perfect spot to sit and study.
their specialties include affogato and frappuccino’s. I tried their mint chocolate frappuccino, which with the student discount came out to around $3. I ordered a small, but when they made too much of it on accident, it was upgraded to a large for free, which is always a win.
i am always looking for unique drinks at coffee shops, and jamila has plenty to choose from. Their menu includes a tiramisu frappe and various flavor combos for their energy drinks.
their hours make them accessible for students, with the shop staying open until 10 p.M. On weekdays. When studying gets boring, they also offer board games, pool, and a projector that plays movies and sports depending on the day.
picacho coffee roasters: 200 w. Conway ave. Unit a
picacho coffee roasters is tucked a little off the road, so i had to look it up to find out about it. Inside, the roasting equipment gives the shop an industrial feel, and the smell is especially heavenly when beans are being roasted. There is a solid amount of seating, free wi-fi, and – perhaps more importantly depending on who you are – vinyl records for sale.
picacho makes its flavored syrups in-house, so i had a lavender matcha, which was perfectly creamy. Its summer drink menu included options like a pb&j latte and toasted coconut ube cold brew. They also sell sourdough, giving the menu a little more variety than your average coffee shop.
milagros coffee y espresso: 1733 e. University ave.
milagros is popular with the college crowd for being within walking distance of new mexico state university, although i have also seen plenty of people from all walks of life there. The shop has both indoor and outdoor seating, along with a designated quieter study room in the back.
one of my favorite aspects of milagros, aside from their actual menu, is the price. I was able to get their banana nutella crepe and an iced matcha for just $9 – a pretty good deal, considering some coffee shops charge that much for a single drink.
between their specials, which includes the espresso shake and affogato iced latte, i tried the latter. The combination of espresso and ice cream in the affogato latte made for a sweet, caffeinated treat that i definitely recommend.
the bean: 1001 e. University ave. Ste d-2, 2011 avenida de mesilla, 2261 calle de guadalupe, and 130 n. Mesquite st.
the bean has four locations across las cruces and mesilla; with its newest location across nmsu’s campus, making it an easy stop after class.
i especially enjoyed their specialty drinks menu, and several options stood out to me this fall. Their autumn latte, almond joy latte, and crème brulé latte are perfect for anyone looking to try something different. I can also vouch for their pumpkin chai and avocado toast.
for those looking to do more than just drink coffee, the bean offers books and board games at their university location to accompany a study session or chat with friends. The university location is on the smaller side, so seating can fill up quickly, while the mesilla location offers outdoor seating as well
grounded: 300 n. Main st.
one of the first things that comes to mind when i think about grounded is the smell of fresh pizza. Its interior has a beautiful, artsy vibe, but the outdoor seating area is what really stands out to me, which hosts their poetry and live music nights.
when it comes to the menu, grounded has a good variety of coffee and tea, with an emphasis on food. Its pizzas and acai bowls are popular, though i would like to give a special shoutout to the salmon salad.
whether you are looking for a quiet place to study, a unique drink to try, or somewhere to meet up, las cruces has plenty of local coffee shops to explore. Visiting these spots is also a small way to support the local businesses that help give the community its character. |
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