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Check Out Walt Disney Australia’s Release Schedule As Of February 2022

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2021 has been a tough year for the movie industry. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to drastically affect the world, the year’s biggest films were caught in the crossfire which resulted in a number of setbacks and cancellations brought upon by the pandemic. However, Walt Disney Australia has decided to put some of these skepticisms to rest, with the company revealing their Australian release schedule for all their films until 2023. Without further ado, check out Walt Disney Australia’s release schedule as of February 2022.

Introducing Sasha Anne: A YouTuber Who Overcame Dyslexia To Become A Successful Beauty Influencer And Entrepreneur

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Photo Credit: Matt Doheny Photography 

YouTuber, beauty influencer, and entrepreneur, Sasha Anne has made a name for herself commanding internet attention through her makeup tutorials and beauty transformations. Her popular YouTube Channel videos and tutorials currently average 18,000 views. As a makeup artist and entrepreneur, Sasha wants to inspire other girls to achieve their dreams. She has recreated several incredible cosplay makeup styles including Elsa and Anna from Frozen as well as a number of informative hauls and reviews. The Shorty Awards, also known as the “Shortys”, is an annual award show recognizing the people and organizations that produce real-time short-form content across Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch and the rest of the social web actually recognized Sasha’s work by awarding her a Shorty Awards Audience Honor for empowering young women with her Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman inspired transformation. Sasha has also worked with high-profile makeup artist Dani Fonseca, who happens to be one of Lady Gaga’s makeup artists.

Since she was a child, Sasha has been fascinated with faces and facial expressions. When Sasha was eight she was diagnosed with dyslexia – a condition that explained her difficulty and hesitation to use speech to express herself. She turned to music and art as ways to express herself. She taught herself to watch people’s faces and expressions carefully to help her understand the language they used. Faces spoke to her. Not words.

When she turned 11 she discovered makeup and made a leap from drawing faces to drawing on faces. This was it for Sasha – her “ah-ha!” moment. Her world changed and she embraced this unique way of expressing herself.

At 13 she launched her own YouTube channel and reached out beyond her familiar circle of friends and started sharing her discoveries with other young girls across America. She started creating how-to tutorials for different looks and exploring different products. Her following quickly began to grow and engage with her. As questions started to come in, she would take time to respond thoughtfully and advise younger girls as they tackled their own challenges. Sasha is a natural role model like a caring big sister.

Her love of makeup inspired her to establish her own lip gloss beauty line called “Teeny Wee” Lip Gloss which was in fact, developed and founded by Sasha when she was only 17. Equally as important as her love for animals. Teeny Wee Lip Gloss is cruelty-free as compassion for all animals and a personal gesture of love for her dog Chloe. Launching her own cosmetics company is a dream come true for Sasha. Her goal is to make people smile when they see her videos and make a difference in people’s lives.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Sasha Anne to discuss her journey as a beauty influencer and entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

1. Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

I’m 20 years old and a student at FIT in NYC. I started my YouTube channel SashaAnne when I was a freshman in High School and focused on makeup transformations. I was nominated for a Shorty award at 16 years old for my Cinderella Makeup transformation and won a Shorty when I was 17 for my Gal Gadot/Wonder Woman empowering women transformation. I strongly believe in the power of makeup as a way for young women to express themselves. I was painfully shy as a child and teenager. I am dyslexic and as a child words were challenging. Makeup allowed me to be whomever and whatever I want to be. It emboldened me. The strength that I found carries me through everyday life whether I am totally barefaced or made up.

I was very recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I will be starting treatment in 10 days and hope that the inner strength I found will carry me through the harder journey I now face.

2. Can you describe your journey? When did you start?

As my YouTube channel and my social media presence increased in popularity, I had an idea for a tiny lipgloss during my Senior year in high school. I envisioned a lipgloss small enough to tuck into a tiny pocket. I persevered, asked friends and family for help, and started my SaahaAnne brand with the launch of five tiny lipglosses. Those sold out and I’m currently launching a new product line which will be out within a few months. Production was set back by a few months because of COVID.

3. What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

The SashaAnne brand is growing beyond lipgloss and we are relaunching a few surprise lifestyle products within the next few months. We have been working on the concept and packaging for a few months and I’m very excited.

4. What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers?

I am very active on all social media platforms. I have recently revamped my website SashaAnne.com where you can see everything that I’m doing and get to know me and my personal journey. My blog is going up as well.

5. What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

My business has only been up and running for two years. It took a year for it to gain traction and I attribute that to my social media presence and my makeup transformations on YouTube.

I gifted my lipglosses at various fashion events such as Teen fashion week in New York City and that helps with audience awareness.

6. How did your brand stand out from the rest of the other brands out there that is similar to your niche?

The tiny lipglosses which were the first product I launched stood out because they were so small and easy to take anywhere for a touch-up. They fit in the tightest jean’s pocket and smallest purse. They were moisturizing and highly saturated with colors I mixed myself.

7. What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

Once the SashaAnne brand sold out two of the more popular colors of lipglosses in late February, I had to decide whether to continue to produce the lipglosses or relaunch a new product line. I decided to relaunch. It was a big decision but while we are in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I came to the occlusion that lipgloss is probably not a realistic product to be manufacturing.

8. What mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?

The three mistakes that come to mind are:
a. I should have done more research when sourcing packaging.
b. I was impatient. Patience is very important. You need to do it right the first time.
c. I tried to do too much myself. You need to get the right team in place to help.

9. If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

There’s not much more I could have done differently. I was 17. I had an idea. I was passionate and ambitious and I am glad I made mistakes then. I learned from those mistakes and won’t make them again.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Take a breath and think before you leap.

What advice would you give to a newbie influencer setting up their first business?

You absolutely must find people you trust in the industry. Do not be afraid to ask for help. It’s a lot of hard work so make sure you are prepared for the time commitment.

 

LEGOLAND® California Resort And Ferrari Announce World Premiere Of New Interactive Attraction Built On Kids’ Creativity!

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The world’s first LEGO® Ferrari “Build and Race” interactive attraction is coming to LEGOLAND® California Resort in spring of 2022.

LEGOLAND® Parks, a global leader in family entertainment, and Ferrari, the world’s most recognizable luxury sports cars brand, announced the world’s first LEGO® Ferrari “Build and Race” interactive attraction is coming to LEGOLAND® California Resort in spring of 2022. Featuring a life-size Ferrari F40 model developed by the LEGO® Group, Build and Race puts guests in the driver’s seat as they make their way through the “garage” to the “racetrack” using their creativity and imagination to build, test, and race their own LEGO Ferrari.

“Ferrari is renowned for manufacturing cars unique in terms of performance, innovation and design, setting the standard for luxury and excellence within the automotive world. We have millions of young guests who can be inspired from this to create their own unique cars in this one-of-a-kind testing and racing facility,” said LEGOLAND California Resort President Kurt Stocks.

“We are excited to build upon our existing relationship with the LEGO Group by combining our leading brands within this transformative entertainment attraction. The Build and Race experience has been designed to engage with both Ferrari and LEGO lovers of all ages, aligning with Ferrari’s strategy to reach out to its younger fans,” said the Director of Location Based Entertainment & Esports for Ferrari Annabel Rochfort.

Build and Race features three zones designed to be interactive and inspiring.  A LEGO pit crewmember will greet guests as they enter the attraction, sharing Ferrari fun facts, race history, and showcasing themed LEGO race gear and awards. Once inside the garage, guests have the opportunity to sit in a life-size Ferrari F40 model developed by the LEGO Group and have their photos taken. The journey continues as guests get to tap into their creativity and build their own LEGO Ferrari car to race at one of three racetracks which include the test zone, steering test track, and speed test track. Each track offers guests different obstacles, challenges, and a chance to clock in the fastest time. A DUPLO® build zone offers younger guests the chance to drive their imagination and design their own creation out of bigger bricks as well! LEGO Minifigure mechanics and crew members will prompt build inspirations throughout the entire experience.

Finally, once guests have customized their vehicles, raced them through the obstacles, and heard the engines roar, they will be able to create a custom digital Ferrari race car. Guests can digitally scan their vehicle and further customize their Ferrari along with their Minifigure racing driver. Once complete, the cars are digitally projected on a LEGO racetrack based on Pista di Fiorano (a private racetrack owned by Ferrari mainly for development and testing purposes) and guests can compete with other cars digitally for the fastest race lap!

Build and Race will be included in the price of admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. For more information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com/California.

This article was sourced from a media release sent by PR Newswire

Introducing Heartthrob Boy Band 4*Town From Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red”

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According to “Turning Red” director Domee Shi, if you set a 13-year-old girl’s coming-of-age story in the early 2000s, it’s pretty much mandatory to include a boy band. “We needed our character Mei to be obsessed with something that her mom would not approve of,” said Shi. “Boy bands were the first step into the world of boys for a lot of girls that age. The guys were all super pretty, polished, soft and loving, and they had of way of bringing girls and their besties together. Plus, I thought it’d be really cool to create an animated boy band.”

Enter Pixar’s first-ever boy band, 4*Town. Filmmakers called on GRAMMY®-winning singer-songwriters Billie Eilish and FINNEAS to write the fictional band’s songs—three in total, including the song “Nobody Like U” featured in the new trailer. “When we first started talking about Billie Eilish and FINNEAS—back before they’d won a billion GRAMMYS—we could see then how they had their finger on the pulse,” said producer Lindsey Collins. “We were big fans. We met with them and pitched this crazy idea of a boy band, asking if they’d be interested in writing and producing the songs. They were!” 

Eilish, whose sophomore album, “Happier Than Ever,” debuted at No. 1 in the Billboard 200 in the U.S. and in 19 countries worldwide, made history as the youngest artist to win in all the major categories at the 62nd GRAMMY® Awards, receiving an award for best new artist, album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, and best pop vocal album.

FINNEAS, the youngest ever to win the GRAMMY® for producer of the year (non-classical), built a sterling discography penning and producing smashes for a cadre of superstars—not only for his sister, Billie Eilish, but also Justin Bieber,  Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, Tove Lo, Kid Cudi and Ben Platt, among others. His debut solo album “Optimist” is out now.

GRAMMY®-, Oscar®- and Emmy®-winning Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson (“Black Panther,” “The Mandalorian”) is composing the score for “Turning Red.” “I’ve been a fan of his for a while,” said Shi. “We were drawn to his versatility—he’s a composer, but he also produces pop music. We knew he would help us create a very unique sound.”

Joining previously announced Rosalie Chiang and Sandra Oh, who lend their voices to Mei and her mother Ming, are Orion Lee as the voice of Mei’s dad, Jin, and Wai Ching Ho as the voice of Grandma. Mei’s tightknit group of friends are voiced by Ava Morse as Miriam, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya, and Hyein Park as Abby. Tristan Allerick Chen voices classmate Tyler, and Addie Chandler lends his voice to Mei’s secret crush Devon. Providing the harmonious voices of the members of 4*Town are Jordan Fisher, Grayson Villanueva, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo and Finneas O’Connell. Rounding out the voice cast are James Hong, Lori Tan Chinn, Lillian Lim, Mia Tagano, Sherry Cola, Sasha Roiz and Lily Sanfelippo. 

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! Directed by Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short “Bao”) and produced by Lindsey Collins “Turning Red” releases March 31, 2022.

You can view the new trailer below:

Top 4 Reasons Why Diet And Fitness For Kids Are Important

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Research shows that more and more children have become overweight. Parents don’t always have the time to cook a homemade meal. Fast food can be addictive, and this is a major problem. Children are also not getting enough exercise, and this is largely because of the fact because of the way information technology has taken over. Kids have become glued to television, the internet, and mobile phones. Parents need to realize how important diet and fitness is for their kids and why they need to learn about this from a young age.

Here are some of the reasons why diet and fitness for kids are so essential:

It can lead to health problems

It may not be a problem when children are still small. Parents won’t notice that their kids are putting on a little bit of weight. They may not be as active. They will appreciate the fact that they are doing well in school. However, the negative side of things starts to catch up in due course. When there is a lot of sugar in the diet, children will develop diabetes. This is difficult to deal with in one’s life. When they become used to fast food, it is difficult to break the habit. A high carbohydrate diet can cause more complications. Children need to eat vegetables and fruit.

Family dinners and healthy meals create a bond

More and more families are so busy that they begin to drift apart. In the past, families would eat together and discuss their day. However, these days, kids may eat in front of the television and parents eat at different times. It is important that mealtimes are planned and mom prepares the meals ahead of time so that the family can connect.

Team sports lead to socialization

It is important for children not only to exercise but also to be able to get fresh air and socialize with their friends. Team sports are a great way of allowing children to get fit. However, it is also another way in which children get to meet other kids. It is a way in which they are able to build confidence and self-esteem. They learn to work together in a group and become less isolated.

Encouragement and Involvement

Children enjoy routine. They need structure in their lives, so it is important that they are introduced to various activities which take place on various days. It is up to the parent to encourage the child to ride their bike or to take them out for a weekend and go hiking. They should participate in something like this where they are not exposed to any form of technology.

Children should be encouraged to eat healthy meals at dinner. However, it is important to pack something healthy in their lunch box as well. They need to be encouraged to eat a good breakfast as well.

Walt Disney Animation Studios Reveals Details For All-New Original Feature Film

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The concept art is now available for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming feature film “Strange World.” The original action-adventure journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest—and by far— most crucial mission. According to director Don Hall, “Strange World” is a nod to pulp magazines—popular fiction from the first half of the 20th century that was printed on inexpensive wood pulp paper. “I loved reading the old issues of pulps growing up,” he said. “They were big adventures in which a group of explorers might discover a hidden world or ancient creatures. They’ve been a huge inspiration for ‘Strange World.’”

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original action-adventure “Strange World” journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest—and by far— most crucial mission. Helmed by director Don Hall (Oscar®-winning “Big Hero 6,” “Raya and the Last Dragon”) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer “Raya and the Last Dragon”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Big Hero 6,” “Tangled”), “Strange World” releases November 23, 2022. © 2021 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Kids Summer Festival 2022 & Kids On Tour 2022 Offer Art Making Activities For The Whole Family At NGV International

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The NGV Kids Summer Festival returns in 2022 with nine days of FREE artist led activities, events, performances and dance workshops created especially for kids, teens and their families running from 15 – 23 January. Reflecting the festival’s theme ‘Art for the whole family’ the 2022 festival will offer activities including dance performances by Indigenous Outreach Projects and L2R, art making activities inspired by NGV’s summer program and Relaxed Sessions in the new kids exhibition The Gecko and the Mermaid: Djerrkŋu Yunupiŋu and Her Sister.

NGV Kids on Tour returns in January 2022 to over 120 venues across regional and metropolitan Victoria to offer FREE artist designed activities, games and workshops easily accessible to families in their local communities. With over 120 venues participating the NGV Kids on Tour 2022 program will reach more families than ever before.

Kids Summer Festival highlights include:

  • Dance performances – Families can dance along to lunch time performances in the Great Hall throughout the festival presented by creative hip-hop group Indigenous Outreach Projects, who work with Indigenous communities across Australia, and Footscray-based organisation L2R, who deliver dance programs, performances and workshops for children and young people across Melbourne’s Western suburbs. Selected performances will be accompanied by Auslan interpreters.
  • Kids Disco Parties – Trent Ray from Kids Disco Parties Melbourne will lead dance workshops for families to learn easy-to-follow moves for children as young as two years old and encourage kids to express themselves through dance and play.
  • Big and Bold Jewellery making with Haus of Dizzy – In this workshop created by Wiradjuri designer Kristy Dickinson, from Haus of Dizzy, kids will learn how to make paper jewellery designs inspired by the costume pieces in NGV summer exhibition Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto. Dickinson will teach families how to create super-sized paper bracelets using accessible materials in a new and exciting way.
  • Paper Hats with Architecture for Kids School – Architect and educator Louise O’Brien, from Architecture for Kids School, will lead a paper hat making activity in the Great Hall inspired by the NGV Garden and the 2021 NGV Architecture Commission pond[er], a pink pond inspired by inland Victoria’s pink salt lakes. O’Brien will demonstrate how kids can make sculptural hats using paper and craft materials to design their own wearable architecture.
  • The Gecko and the Mermaid: Djerrkŋu Yunupiŋu and Her Sister – NGV’s new kids exhibition celebrates the vibrant culture and community of the Yolŋu people through the work of two pioneering artists and sisters. The exhibition features artworks depicting creatures including geckos, turtles, and lizards and will introduce young audiences to Yolŋu art, culture and language and provide an opportunity for children and families to learn more about and engage with the rich culture from North-East Arnhem Land.
  • Relaxed sessions – Early morning relaxed sessions for The Gecko and the Mermaid: Djerrkŋu Yunupiŋu and Her Sister will be running Monday 17 to Friday 21 January from 8.30 am – 10.00 am. Relaxed sessions provide an opportunity for young visitors with autism or disability who may benefit from a quieter experience to access the children’s exhibition before the Gallery opens with fewer visitors and reduced sensory stimuli. There will also be sensory maps available to help visitors navigate the exhibition.
  • NGV Teens Styling a Look – This two-hour workshop led by Melbourne-based fashion stylist and creative director Aurie Indianna will teach teens industry first knowledge about becoming a stylist, preparing for photo shoots and styling celebrities. Indianna’s clients include rapper Baker Boy, singer Elliot and hotel W Melbourne.
  • Playgroups Victoria drop-by sessions – Not-for-profit organisation Playgroups Victoria will host drop-by playgroups in the Asian Art Gallery at NGV International encouraging young families to build social communities and facilitating sensory based activities responding to key themes in current NGV exhibitions including cultural diversity, use of everyday materials and experimentation.
  • Activity trails – Activity sheets will be available throughout the festival inviting families to explore the NGV. Yolŋu author, filmmaker and artist Siena Mayutu Wurmarri Stubbs has created an activity trail in collaboration with NGV to lead families on bird watching expeditions in the Grollo Equiset garden. Activity sheets will also guide visitors through the NGV Collection to discover family favourite artworks and to the Maree Clarke: Ancestral Memories exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia to learn about Possum-skin cloaks through Clarke’s work.

Tony Ellwood AM, Director of the NGV, said: ‘The Kids Summer Festival is often a child or families first interaction with the NGV and can be a formative experience for young people. Offering free art and design inspired activities is an integral part of NGV’s year-round program for kids and teenagers and offers young creatives an opportunity to engage with art in a fun and accessible environment.’

The Honourable Danny Pearson, Minister for Creative Industries, Victorian Government, said ‘Each year the NGV Kids Summer Festival offers Victorian families an opportunity to explore their creativity in the heart of the city. This program offers an abundance of free events and activities that is available for everyone and highlights the important role NGV plays for young people and their families in the thriving cultural landscape of Melbourne.

Upon arrival visitors will be asked to present proof of vaccination status if over the age of 12 and two months and enter your contact details for contact tracing purposes. For further information on proof of vaccination please see our website for more details.

NGV Kids Summer Festival runs 15 – 23 January 2022 and is FREE. Bookings are recommended for all events. Capacity for in-person events may be limited due to social distancing. Further information is available from the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE

NGV Kids Summer Festival is generously supported by City of Melbourne. NGV sincerely thanks the Packer Family and Crown Resorts Foundations for supporting NGV Kids and Learn programs as part of the Your NGV Arts Access Program for Students, Children and Families.

This article was sourced from a media release sent by NGV Media & Public Affairs

The Trailer For 20th Century Studios’ “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” Is Here

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20th Century Studios has released the trailer and still images for “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” which will open in Australian cinemas on MAY 26, 2022.

“The Bob’s Burgers Movie” is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy®-winning series. The story begins when a ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers, blocking the entrance indefinitely and ruining the Belchers’ plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business afloat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family’s restaurant. As the dangers mount, these underdogs help each other find hope and fight to get back behind the counter, where they belong.

“The Bob’s Burger’s Movie” showcases voice talent which includes Kristen Schaal, H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, Zach Galifianakis, Kevin Kline, and David Wain. The film’s director is Bernard Derriman and its co-director is Loren Bouchard. The screenplay is by Loren Bouchard & Nora Smith. The producers are Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith and Janelle Momary.

Check out the trailer below:

The Big Reason You Should Think Twice Before Posting Photos On Social Media

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Are you oversharing? The pictures you post online reveal more than you might expect.

As some COVID-19 restrictions get lifted, people are spending more time in social places and are very eager to showcase their life outside home online. Visited your favorite restaurant for the first time after lockdown? Better post a picture of the memorable event! At least, that’s what the majority do.

However, not many think of the dangerous outcomes of posting on social media. According to BrandWatch, 3.2 billion images and 720,000 hours of video footage are shared daily, making those people perfect targets for thieves and cybercriminals.

“People share information about themselves in exchange for positive reactions or when they need to vent. However, every picture we post may set off an incident of cybercrime,” says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN.

While most social media users know they shouldn’t reveal their home address, current location, or phone number on Facebook, many still share entertaining photos or social plans. Such information might seem innocent to share, and potential threats tend to be overlooked.

Are you oversharing?

Since vacation season is upon us and everybody hopes for less strict COVID-19 rules, the expert has made a list of the most common mistakes. If you make at least one of them, have no doubt that you can become a target for hackers frequenting the dark web.

You share your location. You post pictures with location tags of your whereabouts, letting everyone on the internet know where you are and where you live. If you’re on a trip, and the only one guarding your property is your neighbor’s cat, rest assured that criminals will consider breaking in.

You share your address. You take pictures of your house, allowing others to figure out where exactly you live and what items you own. Sharing where you live can do more harm than you think. A Japanese pop star posted a selfie with a reflection of a train station on her eyeball. This minor detail helped a stalker trace her location and sexually assault her.

You vent or rant on social media. Pressure at work, family duties, and social tensions might result in a burning need to vent. Never do that online: what gets on the internet stays there forever. Personal feelings should be shared with close circles rather than publicly.

You post images that contain minors. Even high-profile parents like Pink and Gwyneth Patrow have given up posting pictures of their children. This is not only because of the hateful comments they receive, but also because kids are often mocked at school for being featured in their parents’ snaps.

You share your intimate pictures. This is a classic —  engaging in sexting and sharing nudes. The number of image-related crimes grew by a triple-digit during the pandemic, as people engaged in intimate conversations more than usual. As a result, NordVPN’s recent survey revealed that as many as 36% of Brits are highly worried about their stored personal pictures being made public.

You have all the trending social media apps on your device. Choose a few. Do you really need Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and all the other social media apps? These applications have access to your gallery, location, and contacts, meaning they collect and store your data, which might not always be that innocent.

You never turn off Wi-Fi on your mobile device. Your phone is continuously scanning for trusted Wi-Fi networks. Once you get close to your home or work, your device automatically connects to the network it finds. This is convenient, but, along with these constant joining requests, your phone gives out a lot of valuable information about you. There are tools that collect the names of all nearby Wi-Fi hotspots, including your home network. This data is then sent to public websites like Wigle.net, which create heatmaps of Wi-Fi hotspots. Anyone can find your home address — even a non-techie stalker from your college or office.

You use your work device for personal needs. Are you guilty of browsing X-rated content, looking for a new job, or shopping online on your work computer? It is very likely that your boss or the tech guy will know about it. Your internet service provider keeps logs of where you go and what pages you visit. Keep your personal matters on your personal devices. And use a VPN to keep your private affairs really private.

You use the same password or its variations for multiple accounts. If you use the same password on multiple platforms, you are making it easier for hackers to get to your private accounts. Additionally, don’t risk it by using the most popular passwords of 2020, as identified by NordPass’s research. For example, ‘123456’ has been breached more than 23 million times and takes a second to crack. Among others are ‘picture1′, ‘password’, ‘senha’, ‘qwerty’, ‘abc123′, ‘Million2′, ‘iloveyou’, ‘password1′, and others.

You never check the background of the picture you are about to post. The last piece of advice is to simply follow common sense. Surely,  anyone can make a mistake, just like Lisa Kudrow, who accidentally posted a picture containing a post-it note with her passwords. Consider the internet a public space — everyone can see you both from the good angles and the bad.

“Besides cyber threats, it’s fun to post photos and let everyone know you’re having a cocktail at a nearby bar, but that sends a clear signal to burglars that your home is empty,” Daniel Markuson adds. “Even the people who feel sufficiently educated about online privacy still reveal their personal details online. Millennials especially tend to post their social activities online.”

ABOUT NORDVPN

NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider used by over 14 million internet users worldwide. NordVPN provides double VPN encryption, malware blocking, and Onion Over VPN. The product is very user-friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, has over 5,000 servers in 60 countries worldwide, and is P2P-friendly. One of the key features of NordVPN is the zero-log policy. For more information: nordvpn.com.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review: Is It Worth Your Money??

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Sequels are more often than not derivative stand-ins for the, usually, superior predecessor films; incapable of being surpassed much less properly followed up. “Ghostbusters” is a timeless classic; following a formula no continuing sequel or ill-fated all-female reboot could duplicate successfully. For years, people eagerly awaited the third entry to close out the trilogy but that day and film never came, and eventually; Harold Ramis passed and it seemed like all hope was lost for a proper cap off to such an iconic franchise. Things remained dead and dormant until low and behold; Jason Reitman, son of the original film’s director; Ivan Reitman, took it upon himself to craft the ultimate love letter and cinematic send-off to his father’s flawless work with “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

Set many years after the dissolvent of the original Ghostbusters team, a mother (Carrie Coon) and her children; Phoebe and Trevor (Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) lose their home and are forced to move to a dilapidated house; left to them by their deceased grandfather, in the middle of nowhere to try and make a fresh start. While discovering long-forgotten secrets about their family, Phoebe and Trevor inform their teacher (Paul Rudd) about strange goings-on at their house and in town. Soon, an ancient evil from the Ghostbusters’ past becomes unearthed and now a new generation of Ghostbusters must take on the proton streaming mantle and stop this threat before the world is engulfed by the dead rising from the graves once again.

After the awful, disastrous bomb that was Paul Feig’s “Ghostbusters,” the story and the legacy desperately needed a fresh start. “Afterlife” is, in many ways, not just a continuation of the original story but a genuine love letter to the actors, the fans, and to the reunion that we all hoped we could see but was sadly denied. This is very much a family story; right down to the lineage connecting the director’s love for his father’s work. There are so many callbacks from signature sounds, signs, dialog, and imagery that lovingly take us back to everything that came before while still crafting a new story with new characters that fit into the narrative without being carbon copies of Spengler or Venkman.

While the nostalgia factor plays high with the ghosts featured here, they’re given new takes and new approaches that keep them from being rehashed golden oldies so old and new fans will definitely appreciate them. I cannot begin to describe how pleased I was to see practical effects returning in this modern-day blockbuster. Watching Paul Rudd wrestling with a terror dog face to face while gawking at miniature Stay Puft Marshmallow men in a Walmart brought me more joy and satisfaction than I ever thought possible. Speaking of joy, kudos and much applause are deserved by Mckenna Grace; easily the best character in the film. She may be young but she carries the film with effortless grace (pun intended); nailing every intentionally bad joke and providing an adorable sense of weirdness that perfectly fits in this kind of framework.

Finn Wolfhard is always a welcomed presence though personally, I felt this film could have used more of him and a more developed role outside of “car guy,” same could be said for his would-be girlfriend who got even less but deserved more. Time management seems to be the biggest problem for Jason Reitman’s nostalgia wave to overcome. It takes a bit too long for the new crew to catch their first ghost (though when they do it’s definitely one of the biggest highlights of the film) and other elements including further exploring Ivo Shandor feel rushed for the sake of time. The film wants you to get a feel and sense of who these characters are and how their family is going to hit you in the feels and funny bones then mix in the ghostbusting and try to make it all work cohesively together. For the most part, it works but not quite all the way.

In a lot of ways, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” relies too heavily on callbacks and fan service to feel like a complete film. This feels like an apologetic reunion to give the fans and Harold Ramis what they always wanted to see happen but spends a bit too much time doing that instead of paving the way for a proper passing of the torch generational send-off. However, while not every new character in the film gets proper in-depth examination, the ones that do excel in personality creativity and genuine comedic spontaneity. Grace and Rudd expand the universe brilliantly with their chemistry and comedy and the stellar ghost hunting sequences are a true spooktacular spectacle to behold when they do occur. There’s room to grow and room for more beyond a fond farewell to Harold Ramis’s legacy and I hope we won’t have to wait another decades-long wait for more.

I give “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” 3 stars out of 4 stars.

Editorial credit: Sarunyu L / Shutterstock.com