'Looking For Alaska' (Music From The Hulu Series) Available Everywhere Now

'Looking For Alaska' (Music From The Hulu Series)

Milan Records, an imprint of Sony Music Masterworks, today releases Looking for Alaska (Music from the Hulu Series). The album includes music from Hulu's newest original limited series, produced by Josh Schwartz (The O.C., Gossip Girl) and based on John Green's bestselling novel. Set in 2005, the series features music specific to the early 2000s era, carefully curated by Schwartz and music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas (The O.C., The Twilight Series) as a sonic companion to the show's coming-of-age narrative. 

The nostalgia-inducing repertoire includes much-loved tracks from Bloc Party, The Strokes, José González, Rilo Kiley, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Modest Mouse, as well as newly recorded covers of the era's biggest hits by contemporary, up-and-coming artists Bailen, BEGINNERS, Fleurie, Kat Cunning, Mating Ritual, Miya Folick and Young Summer.

"Building this soundtrack with Alex Patsavas and Stephanie Savage has been one of the most fun and fulfilling parts of Looking for Alaska," says show creator and executive producer Josh Schwartz. "Hearing these songs again was like visiting with old friends -- and they only get better with time! We're also really grateful to the artists who performed original covers and brought their own unique take and creativity to these iconic songs." 

"Looking for Alaska is such a beautiful, yet timeless coming-of-age story," adds music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas. "The mix of songs in the show speaks to that timelessness by combining original artists from the era (The Strokes and Modest Mouse) with current versions of the era's best (Death Cab For Cutie ) by some of the most important new artists of 2019."

Looking for Alaska

Streaming exclusively on Hulu now, Looking for Alaska is an 8-episode limited series based on the John Green novel of the same name. It centers around teenager Miles "Pudge" Halter (Charlie Plummer), as he enrolls in boarding school to try to gain a deeper perspective on life. He falls in love with Alaska Young (Kristine Froseth) and finds a group of loyal friends. But after an unexpected tragedy, Miles and his close friends attempt to make sense of what they've been through.

The series stars Charlie Plummer, Kristine Froseth, Denny Love, Jay Lee, Landry Bender, Sofia Vassilieva, Uriah Shelton, and Jordan Connor. Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us) and Timothy Simons (Veep) also star.

Created for television by Josh Schwartz, the series comes from Paramount Television and Schwartz and Stephanie Savage's Fake Empire. Savage and Schwartz will serve as executive producers. Alongside Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, John Green, and Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner of Temple Hill. Fake Empire exec Lis Rowinski will co-executive produce. Sarah Adina Smith (Hanna, Legion) directs the first episode.

Looking for Alaska

'Looking For Alaska' (Music From The Hulu Series) Tracklisting:

1. So Here We Are – Bloc Party
2. I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Miya Folick (Death Cab For Cutie cover)
3. Ask Me Anything – The Strokes
4. To Be Alone With You – Fleurie (Sufjan Stevens cover)
5. Crosses – José González
6. Orange Sky – Kat Cunning (Alexi Murdoch Cover)
7. Macarena – BEGINNERS (Los Del Rio Bayside Boys Remix Cover)
8. With Arms Outstretched – Rilo Kiley
9. Salvation – Bailen (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club cover)
10. The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
11. Take Me Out – Young Summer (Franz Ferdinand cover)
12. An Honest Mistake – Mating Ritual (feat. Lizzy Land) (The Bravery cover)
13. The World at Large – Modest Mouse
14. Looking for Alaska Score Suite – Siddhartha Khosla

SOURCE: Sony Music Masterworks

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Ministry of Woke Debuts Single 'Orwellian World', Uses Hip-Hop to Tackle Military Industrial Complex, in Time for Canadian Elections [Video Included]

'Orwellian World' by Ministry of Woke uses hip-hop to address the dangers of military industrial complex

Ministry of Woke, a brand-new band, based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is debuting their single, 'Orwellian World', to tackle the issue of military industrial complex. It addresses the young generation's frustration with politicians engaging in reckless arms trade with dictatorships, particularly Saudi Arabia, but also other dictatorships such as UAE, Syria and Bahrain and authoritarian leaders of nations such as China and Russia. It draws parallels between the current Saudi-led genocide in Yemen and the Holocaust. 

• The song, while composed in English, features a phrase each from Arabic, Hebrew, and Farsi.

'Orwellian World' by Ministry of Woke

'Orwellian World' is inspired partly by George Orwell's classic novel, 1984, and draws on many concepts and ideas in the novel. It also draws on the artists' own experiences as a victim of terrorism, including terrorist events that were financed by Saudi Arabian monarchs.

Ministry of Woke's current focus is on releasing the album to coincide with the Canadian federal elections, and bringing focus to Canada's role in the genocide in Yemen. 

• The band may re-release the same song or a similar song in the future to coincide with American 2020 elections. 

The single, 'Orwellian World' addresses the ill effects of military industrial complex from a global perspective and points out the problems associated with it, especially in relation to arms sales to dictatorships like Saudi Arabia.

End Arms Sales - Stop arming dictators!

With the current Canadian focus, the band's website forwards to endarmssales.com, which also belongs to the artists, to educate all Canadian voters, young and old, about the devastation Canada is engaging in by trading arms with the Saudi dictatorship. 

They are asking the question "How Are We Different From The Nations That Traded Arms With Nazi Germany?".

The Lyrics:

"We live in a crazy Orwellian world War is peace and peace is war Politicians cryin’ out their crocodile tears Always feeding on our fears Paying fake homage to the holocaust Selling weapons at the highest cost selling genocide to dictators Yeah they are nothing but a bunch of rich traitors I see the reflection of Auschwitz in Yemeni farms and townships selling them arms to the Arabian Nazi who call the land of Hijaz Saudi! In the impoverished deserts profiting weapons and famine While shareholders are purchasing yachts Yemeni children starve getting their world torn apart our generation will be different No more military industrial complex No more war, no more ignorance No blood stained pay checks We’re millennials and generation X We’re educated, we’re the apex, we waste less We ain’t impatient, we’re just tired of waiting tired of doublethink, doublespeak and double standards, time to double down or beat it Vote with your money, vote with your vote Raise your avaaz and say “no more”! I grew up In Karachi terrorised by Taliban My school was bombed twice my uncle paid the sacrifice they blew the mosque at Friday prayer The story’s like a nightmare Terrorists give a damn about places of prayers And Don’t expect to see this on TV or CNN nightly lullabys of gun fire houses surrounded with barbed wire daily Saudi terrorism Victimized by fascism We became numb to the crimes and violence And never ending sirens I left Pakistan to start anew came to the west and I bid Pakistan adieu I am not Liberal nor Conservative nor Republican, Democrat or Alternative Jesus or Mohammed wouldn’t sell arms that cause genocide and so much harm there is no permanence with you and me Only God willing permanent peace with human beings love your neighbour as you love yourself ואהבת לרעך כמוך Ve Ahav’ta Lere akha Kamokha (Hebrew: love your neighbour As you love thyself) our generation will be different No more military industrial complex No more war, no more ignorance No blood stained pay checks We’re millennials and generation X We’re educated, we’re the apex, we waste less We ain’t impatient, we’re just tired of waiting tired of doublethink, doublespeak and double standards, time to double down or beat it Vote with your money, vote with your vote Raise your avaaz and say “no more”! گه زیادی نخور goh ziyadi nakhor (Farsi: don't eat a lot of shit) Americans suffering from fake news CNN had us long confused The Sun, The Posts, The Daily Mail We’re drinking cocktail of lies Fox the biggest fake news of all has foxed us Murdoch is leading US to its downfall, too astounding lying to us selling bloodshed Spending trillions of tax dollars on the manslaughter attacks Who’s the antagonist and the protagonist act? امر بالمعروف و نہی عن المنکر Amr bil Maaroof Wa nahi Anil Munkar (Arabic: Enjoin The good And forbid the wrong/evil) Gold around Obama, Harper and Trump collars bowed down to dictators drooling over petro dollars we will end racism, and anti-Semitism we will end Islamophobia and sexism will will end homophobia and fascism we will end all phobias and every “isms”! x2 our generation will be different No more military industrial complex No more war, no more ignorance No blood stained pay checks We’re millennials and generation X We’re educated, we’re the apex, we waste less We ain’t impatient, we’re just tired of waiting tired of doublethink, doublespeak and double standards, time to double down or beat it Vote with your money, vote with your vote Raise your avaaz and say “no more”!"

The Video:

The song is available on most major streaming platforms:

• Spotify:
• Apple Music:
• iTunes:
• Amazon Music

SOURCE: Ministry of Woke

Stars Speak up for Working Animals Overseas in New Animated Film for Charity SPANA [Video Included]

Brian Blessed, Deborah Meaden and Peter Egan lend voices to highlight the plight of animals overseas

Actor Brian Blessed OBE, Dragons' Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, and Downton Abbey and After Life 2 star Peter Egan, have joined together to speak up for working animals around the world, in a new animated film for the charity SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad).

SPANA improves the welfare of working animals in 26 developing countries worldwide, providing free veterinary treatment, training for owners in how to better look after their animals and humane education for school children.

The film aims to raise awareness of the lives of working animals overseas by showing the solidarity of our own working animals on strike. A sniffer dog (voiced by Brian Blessed), police horse (Peter Egan) and sheepdog (played by Deborah Meaden) are comically shown ignoring their daily duties and protesting in solidarity with animals in developing countries.

Around the world, more than 200 million working animals, such as horses, donkeys, camels and elephants, support the livelihoods of more than half a billion people in the poorest communities. By transporting food, water, firewood and people, they make it possible for families to earn a small income.

However, these animals often endure terrible working conditions, carrying backbreaking loads in extreme temperatures. In the vast majority of cases, they face short and painful lives, with no access to veterinary care when they are sick or injured.

Brian Blessed (image via SPANA)

Brian Blessed said: 'I support SPANA's work wholeheartedly, and it was wonderful to be a part of this new film. In the poorest communities across the world, people work tirelessly to simply put food on the table for their families – and working animals are their lifeline. The lives of these people and animals are unimaginably difficult, but we can help make a considerable difference to them.'

The Video:

• SPANA worked with award-winning agency Don't Panic to create the awareness-raising film.

SOURCE: SPANA

More Magic Awaits … Be the First to Unlock It With Wizarding World Gold

More Magic Awaits … Be the First to Unlock It With Wizarding World Gold (PRNewsfoto/Wizarding World Digital)

Today, we are delighted to announce further details about Wizarding World Gold, an annual, paid subscription which will unlock early access, exclusive benefits and enhanced experiences when it officially launches later this autumn.

• This spellbinding, new subscription will offer fans the opportunity to enhance their free Official Harry Potter Fan Club experience and is available to pre-order from today. 

Subscribers to Wizarding World Gold can look forward to a host of new benefits, including a magical welcome gift, currently not available anywhere else! The gift includes the interactive Keys and Curios journal, featuring a specially designed cover by MinaLima - the graphic design team behind some of the most iconic and memorable visuals from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.

This beautiful and intricate journal will arrive personalised with your name, Hogwarts house and more – meaning no two journals will be the same. Inside, you'll discover interactive secrets and surprises, which are updated monthly and are unlocked as you explore the new Wizarding World app.

• Also included in the gift is a postcard print of J.K. Rowling's original Hogwarts sketch and an exclusive collectible pin badge, which features the Enchanted Key emblem!

As well as your welcome gift, a year's Wizarding World Gold subscription will unlock:

• Wizarding World Originals – Immerse yourself in our new video series which is set to unravel the mysteries and uncover the secrets from all corners of the Wizarding World. Learn about the creative talent and craftspeople who bring you closer to the magic in The Workshop and discover our pick of behind-the-scenes content in From The Archive.
• eBooks – Take the magic of J.K. Rowling wherever you go with all seven eBooks of the original Harry Potter stories, available on the Wizarding World app for the duration of your subscription.
• Collectible pin badges - You'll receive the first pin badge in your welcome gift. Plus, claim collectible pin badges from selected Wizarding World UK and US locations including: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatres in London, New York & San Francisco, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and Hollywood as well as at the iconic Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ in King's Cross Station, London.
• Special events – Get access to Gold subscriber events throughout the year, such as the Wizarding World Christmas Party in the Great Hall at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London later this year.
• Exclusive discounts - Enjoy discounts from the new Wizarding World.com shop, the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ in King's Cross Station, London, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Exclusive Vacation Package at Universal Orlando Resort, as well as Warner Bros. Studio Tour stores in both London and Hollywood.
• Priority booking - Look forward to priority access to tickets for the most popular Wizarding World events and locations, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child shows in London, New York and San Francisco as well as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.
• Early access - Unlock early access to limited-edition Wizarding World Gold merchandise ranges and curious collectibles - before they go on general release.
• Plus, plenty of perks – including new quizzes and puzzles, chances to win once in-a-lifetime experiences and much, much more!

Fans can enjoy all this for just $74.99 (US) or £59.99 (UK) per year. In addition, Wizarding World Gold will soon be available to purchase as a gift box subscription - the perfect present for any Harry Potter fan! It launches this autumn online at WizardingWorld.com, the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station in London as well as Warner Bros Studio Tour Gift Shops in London and Hollywood.

Want to be among the first to get your hands on a Keys and Curios journal? Fans can pre-order their Wizarding World Gold subscription from today on WizardingWorld.com, with full benefits unlocked later this autumn.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter (Image from Warner Bros.)

About Wizarding World Digital  

Wizarding World Digital is a joint venture between Pottermore Ltd and Warner Bros. and is dedicated to delivering innovative and digital experiences for all fans of the Wizarding World. In 2019, it launched the Wizarding Passport, Wizarding World mobile app, WizardingWorld.com and The Official Harry Potter Fan Club.

About Wizarding World

More than two decades ago, a young Harry Potter was whisked onto platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station, and readers everywhere were swept along with him into a magical universe, created by J.K. Rowling. In the years since, the seven Harry Potter bestsellers have inspired eight blockbuster movies, an award-winning stage play, and, more recently, the start of the Fantastic Beasts five-film series. People of all ages have been enthralled by these extraordinary adventures, set within an expanding universe, inspired by the vision of J.K. Rowling. For today's growing worldwide fan community, and for generations to come, the Wizarding World welcomes everyone to explore more of this magical universe — past, present and future. The Wizarding World also provides fans with an instant, trusted kite-mark of quality and authenticity.

About Pottermore Publishing

Pottermore Publishing is the global digital publisher of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series as well as other audiobooks and eBooks from the Wizarding World. It leads the way in innovative digital publishing and to bring new generations of readers together with long-standing fans, celebrating and bringing to life the stories that first began with the Boy Who Lived.

• Visit PottermorePublishing.com for the full range of publishing, including language availability as well as forthcoming releases.

SOURCE: Wizarding World Digital

During October's Adopt-a-Dog Month, American Humane and Hallmark Channel Remind Animal Lovers That Every Hero Needs a Home

During American Humane's 38th national "Adopt-a-Dog Month," the organization and Hallmark Channel are urging animal lovers everywhere to save a life by adopting a canine companion in need of a home.

For thousands of years, dogs have been our best friends, our protectors, and often our heroes, improving and even saving lives. That is why each October, American Humane, the country's first national humane organization and the nation's leading first responder for animals in need, encourages animal lovers to repay the favor by adopting a dog from a local shelter or rescue group during its annual "Adopt-a-Dog Month." 

This year, American Humane is teaming up with Hallmark Channel's "Adoption Ever After" campaign to help get more of the millions of beautiful animals left in shelters each year into forever homes. All throughout the month, you can go to AmericanHumane.org to find tips on preparing your home for a new four-legged companion, other vital information, and social media campaigns and blogs to help build a better world for our best friends.

If you're already a dog lover, or just need an extra push to bring home a pup waiting for your love, be sure to tune in to the 2019 American Humane Hero Dog Awards on Hallmark Channel Oct. 21 at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT (check local listings for exact date and time). The heartwarming stories of amazing dogs (including rescued shelter dogs) who improve and even save our lives will make you realize that every dog is a hero and every hero needs a home. 

• Make this the month you bring your hero home, watch the Hero Dog Awards, and spread the word with the hashtag #adoptioneverafter.

A poster from a previous 'Adopt-A-Dog Month' campaign (image via the American Humane site)

Here are a variety of ways to celebrate Adopt-A-Dog Month:

Adopt from a shelter or rescue group

When you're ready to open your heart and home to a new best friend, adopt from your local animal shelter or rescue group. Talk with shelter staff to find the perfect dog for you and your lifestyle, and remember that older dogs make excellent pets too.

Spay or neuter your dog

Have your dog spayed or neutered, thus preventing the possibility of unexpected, and potentially unwanted, puppies. Spayed and neutered animals have been shown to lead longer, healthier lives and have fewer of certain behavioral problems than animals who have not been spayed or neutered.

ID your pet

By putting identification on your dog, either in the form of a tag, a microchip or both, you will reduce the possibility that your pet will become one of the presumably "homeless" dogs that end up at your local shelter. Only 15-20 percent of dogs who enter a shelter are reunited with their owners. Make sure your dog is one of the fortunate few by outfitting him with proper identification!

Support your local shelter

Show the pets at your local shelter or rescue group that you care by donating time, money or supplies like pet food, leashes, beds and toys. Call the shelter to see what supplies or services are needed most. Even the smallest effort can make a difference.

SOURCE: American Humane

'Transparency: An LGBTQ+ Glass Art Exhibition' Makes West Coast Debut at Museum of Glass

Pearl Dick. Us, 2017. Blown, sculpted glass; 12 1/2 x 16 x 6 inches. (Photo by Randy Korwin. Courtesy of the National Liberty Museum.)

The nation's first museum exhibition of Studio Glass works produced exclusively by artists in the LGBTQ+ community, Transparency: An LGBTQ+ Glass Art Exhibition makes its West Coast debut at Museum of Glass on October 12, 2019. 

Curated and organized by the National Liberty Museum, this three-dimensional mediation on queer experience emphasizes the importance of being open about identity, a hallmark of liberty and creative freedom.

Transparency, which originally opened for Pride 2017, speaks both to the medium of glass and to the artists' freedom to acknowledge their identity, regardless of the political or artistic consequences. It includes work by more than 20 glass artists, including Nancy Callan, Pearl Dick, Tim Tate, Kim Harty, Joseph Sircoulomb, and Sabrina Knowles and Jenny Pohlman. The featured pieces were chosen by the artists, keeping with the spirit of self-advocacy and creative self-expression that characterizes Pride.

"The National Liberty Museum's mission is to promote freedom and self-expression, and nothing better exemplifies that more than this groundbreaking exhibition," said Meegan Coll, Director of Glass Programs at the National Liberty Museum. "We are so excited that we could partner with Museum of Glass to not only bring the work of these artists but also the message of Transparency to the West Coast."

The opening of Transparency at Museum of Glass correlates with Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience, happening October 17-20. Refract is the nation's newest festival showcasing creative uses of glass in the Pacific Northwest. 

• In partnership with Refract, Museum of Glass will celebrate Transparency with an opening party, including a meet and greet with several participating artists, DJ, cash bar, and free access from 12-2pm on Sunday, October 20.

'Seaform Pavilion, Chihuly Bridge of Glass' - Museum of Glass, Tacoma

About Museum of Glass

Located in Tacoma, Washington, Museum of Glass is a premier contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glassmaking in the West Coast's largest and most active museum glass studio. 

Opened in 2002, the Museum has established a reputation for hosting impactful and engaging artist residencies, organizing nationally traveling exhibitions, and creating unique programs for visitors while building a growing permanent collection chronicling the development of modern and contemporary glass. 

Museum of Glass provides an environment for artists and the public to ignite creativity, fuel discovery, and enrich their lives through glass and glassmaking. 

• Museum of Glass is a non-profit organization sponsored in part by the City of Tacoma Arts Commission, ArtsFund, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, The Dimmer Family Foundation, and the Driscoll Foundation.

SOURCE: Museum of Glass

Get Free Comic Books During Halloween ComicFest at Local Comic Book Shops

Get Free Comic Books During Halloween ComicFest at Local Comic Book Shops (image via HalloweenComicFest.com)

On Saturday, October 26, participating comic shops across North America and around the world will hand out more than 1.7 million free comics to anyone who comes into their shop during Halloween ComicFest! During the event, anyone who goes into a participating comic shop can choose a free comic from the 28 titles available this year and participate in the fun Halloween-themed activities hosted by the comic shops. 

• The annual event is a great way to welcome curious, first-time readers as well as longtime comic book fans into local shops to experience all the horror comics and spooky delights comic shops have to offer.

Twenty-eight free comics, including 19 full-size comics and 9 mini comics can be picked up. This year's titles include Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider: King of Hell #1, Iron Man: Road to Iron Man 2020, Miles Morales: Spider-Man #0, Star Wars: Boba Fett #1; DC Comics' DCEASED #1, The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid/ Black Canary: Ignite, and DC Superhero Girls: At Metropolis High; and Pokémon Adventures, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Spook House, among other spooktacular titles for comic readers of all ages.

Halloween ComicFest also features "The Greatest Halloween Costume Contest Ever!", running now through November 1st at 2pm EST. Fans can enter one of five categories – Superhero/Comics, Video Games, TV/Movie, Horror, or Original – just by taking a picture of themselves in costume and submitting the photo on the Halloween ComicFest website. Six winners will be selected at random: five first prize winners who will receive a $50 shopping spree to their local comic shop and one grand prize winner who will receive a $500 shopping spree to their local comic shop!

"We want communities to participate in Halloween ComicFest not only to discover the great selection of comics offered, but also to experience comic shops as premiere destinations for spooky Halloween fun. Your local comic shop is a great place to meet like-minded people and discover new comics and cool pop-culture items available each week and all year long," said Halloween ComicFest spokesperson Ashton Greenwood. "This year is the perfect time to visit your local comic book shop and celebrate Halloween ComicFest!"

• For more information about Halloween ComicFest, the free comics, costume contest, and to find a participating comic shop, go to halloweencomicfest.com. It's time to get in your Halloween costume and take your family and friends to check out the free comics and fun at your local comic shop!

About Halloween ComicFest

Halloween ComicFest is an annual event where participating comic book specialty shops across North America and beyond celebrate the Halloween season by giving away free comic books to anyone who comes into their shops. 

The event is held the Saturday before Halloween and is the perfect opportunity to introduce friends and family to the many reasons why comic shops are a great destination for Halloween themed comic books, products and merchandise. 

• From zombies, vampires, monsters and aliens to costumes and more, comic shops have it all when it comes to Halloween fun!

SOURCE: Halloween ComicFest

Nestlé Develops 'PB Triple Play' - A Fully Plant-Based 'Bacon Cheeseburger'

Nestlé debuting first-ever vegan bacon cheeseburger

Nestlé announced today that it has developed vegan alternatives to cheese and bacon, designed to complement its existing plant-based burger patties. This makes it the first food and beverage company to develop and produce all three essential elements for a no-compromise plant-based 'bacon cheeseburger'.

This complete burger solution will first be offered to professional clients such as restaurant and foodservice operators. Nestlé's plant-based burger patties are already available to food professionals, with the full package including the vegan alternatives to cheese and bacon following in 2020.

Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said, "More and more consumers are looking for delicious, nutritious and sustainable plant-based options when they dine out. We have now raised the bar by developing a 'PB triple play' of ingredients for an all-time classic: the bacon cheeseburger. We're continuing to make good on our promise to offer consumers food that is right for them and right for the planet."

The 'PB triple play' is intended to appeal to consumers who are actively seeking to reduce meat in their diet and switch to plant-based meals more often. It delivers on familiar tastes that consumers are seeking out in plant-based alternatives. The vegan cheddar cheese alternative has the texture, meltability and delicious, rich taste of a dairy cheese. The vegan bacon alternative becomes crispy and chewy when cooked, similar to animal-based bacon, and has the same satisfying flavor.

With Nestlé's plant-based burger patties providing the perfectly juicy, meat-like base, the 'PB triple play' offers an amazing vegan burger experience. The plant-based 'bacon cheeseburger' is significantly lower in fat and saturated fat, free of cholesterol and has a higher fiber content compared to a standard bacon cheeseburger. Like Nestlé's existing plant-based offerings, the new products will also have a lower environmental footprint.

Nestlé leveraged its R&D expertise and proprietary technology to develop the vegan alternatives to cheese and bacon, using a combination of natural ingredients such as plant-based proteins, fibers and oils. In creating these ingredients, culinary chefs and food scientists worked alongside foodservice experts to tailor the products for use in professional kitchens, taking into account their specific cooking and serving requirements.

• The company also offers a variety of vegan burger sauces to create a completely plant-based and delicious burger experience.

The move is part of the Nestlé's efforts to speed up the transformation of its portfolio with innovative, sustainable products. Nestlé recently announced its ambition to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This includes offering more plant-based food and beverages.

• Nestlé has already launched its Sweet Earth Awesome Burger in the United States and its Garden Gourmet Incredible Burger in Europe for retail and foodservices.

SOURCE: Nestlé

Related Video:

Trade War: Containers Don't Lie, Navigating the Bluster

Trade War: Containers Don't Lie, Navigating the Bluster - book cover

Today the decorum of trade negotiations has been replaced with a trade war reality show leaving the world as a whipsawed spectator. For the first time in history, the curtain of trade negotiations has been torn off, creating a turbulent, emotional environment of fear, anxiety, and hope. Global markets and businesses both large and small are trying to navigate the Twitter storms of President Trump—the threats, declarations of winning, and blame. This rhetoric has intentionally buried and distorted the truth of the trade war. That is, until now.

Best-selling author Lori Ann LaRocco has written a detailed examination of the current global trade and tariff wars, entitled: Trade War: Containers Don't Lie, Navigating the Bluster. The book tells the true story of the trade wars through the experiences of American farmers, industry, ports, and markets, in the words of those involved and impacted, and with the trade data, which does not lie.

The flow of trade is agnostic and does not play favorites. Ninety percent of the world's trade is transported by water. The magnitude of the water superhighway is extraordinary. More than 9 billion tons of cargo—the equivalent of more than a ton for each person in the world—is transported by over 86,000 ships each year. This tremendous volume provides the tea leaves for divining the story of trade negotiations.

China is not the only country in a trade war with the United States. It is a multifront war involving Turkey, Russia, the E.U., Japan, and India. Canada and Mexico were also included but recently worked out a trade deal, which has still not been ratified by Congress. This global trade war has impacted U.S. industries ranging from agriculture to steel, motorcycles to whiskey.

Some markets were simply wiped out with the stroke of a pen.

"Our European buyers told us they wanted to put all shipments on hold until the trade talks get settled out," said Tom Lix, CEO of Cleveland Whiskey. "Once the tariff was official, shipments were then canceled. The E.U. made up 15 percent of our overall revenue. Now it's gone."

Join author LaRocco as she leads readers through fake headlines, Twitter rants, and geopolitical calculation on a story about globalization in the throes of change. Read how businesses, individuals, and even countries are victims, villains, and heroes as told by actual trade data. Ms. LaRocco notes, "China wants a basket of trade and they are doing just that. If they cannot trade with the U.S., they are finding alternatives."

According to the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the United States soybean industry would need to have a 92 percent market share with every country that is importing soybeans right now to make up for the loss of trade with China. The volume of the trade shows the uphill battle of the soybean farmer.

Ms. LaRocco has dug deep into U.S. trade, and while businesses have been successful in expanding into new or existing markets, the fact is China is not buying, and the empty bucket of China is difficult to fill. "It takes seven Vietnams to make a China," explained Gene Seroka, executive director for the Port of Los Angeles, the United States' largest port.

The changing patterns of trade reveal the truth. Containers don't lie.

Praise for Trade War: Containers Don't Lie, Navigating the Bluster:

"If you want to understand the nuts and bolts of President Trump's trade war—how we got here and its fallout on global trade, industry and the economy—then you must read this book. Lori Ann LaRocco is masterful at weaving together a clear picture of the trade war, which will become more important to all our livelihoods as it rages on." – Mark Zandi, chief economist, Moody's Analytics

"Whatever side of the debate you are on LaRocco's extensive research on the impact of the trade war speaks for itself. Trade War: Containers Don't Lie, Navigating the Bluster provides tremendous data on the impact of the flow of global trade. Very compelling!" – Gerald Storch, Founder and CEO of Storch Advisors, Former Vice Chairman Target, Former Chairman and CEO Toys "R" Us and Former CEO of HBC (Parent of Saks, Hudson's Bay, and Lord & Taylor)

"LaRocco's book shows you the underlying truth of this trade war. The export and import data shows the dramatic trends of how quickly tariffs have impacted the competitiveness of the United States. Import growth from U.S. competitors cannot be spun away with rhetoric. In the pursuit of 'fair trade,' the American farmer and other industries have been negatively impacted. The equilibrium of a free trade world has been thrown off. The 'benefit' of this multi-front trade war has yet to be realized. The indisputable proof based on the flow of trade only shows disruption." – Anthony Scaramucci, SkyBridge Capital Managing Partner

"Lori Ann has done an excellent job of using readily available data combined with personal interviews to lay out the real life effects of our current trade war and the structural changes that are underway as a result. I found the insights provided to be most helpful in pointing out many of the difficulties that lie ahead." – Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) Former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

"President Donald Trump trade policy is the most significant and risky presidential economic policy decision of the past half century. Lori Ann's book provides a real time account of the events and the real time consequences of the President Trump trade decisions to date. Her research is impeccable and her knowledge of trade routes and evaluation of container trade provides a guidepost that every policy maker should heed. This is a very important book for the future of the U.S. economy because it sounds an alarm about the trade war now before it is too late to take corrective action. Win or lose this trade war, what is happening today in trade will be analyzed and evaluated and criticized and praised for years. This book will be invaluable to that evaluation." – Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) former Banking and Agriculture Committee member

"Lori Ann LaRocco has provided a first class analysis of current shipping patterns, and their implications for global trade. By doing so, she has given us a book that is a must-read for any student of global trade (and the global economy)." – David M. Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group Co-Founder, Co-Executive Chairman

"Lori Ann LaRocco's prescient book is a clarion call, and makes a compelling, timely and well-documented case for how our trade flows, our joint production platforms and integrated supply chains, and the openness of our economies and dare I say our societies too, need to be defended, but also explained and articulated to a sceptic and, in some cases, angry public." – Arturo Sarukhan, (former Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., 2007-13)

Lori Ann LaRocco (image via loriannlarocco.wordpress.com)

About the author:

Lori Ann LaRocco is senior editor of guests for CNBC business news. She coordinates high-profile interviews in business and politics, as well as special multimillion dollar on-location productions for all shows on the network. Her specialty is in politics, working with titans of industry. 

LaRocco is the author of Dynasties of the Sea, Part 2: The Untold Stories of the Postwar Shipping Pioneers (Marine Money, Inc., 2018), Opportunity Knocking (Agate Publishing, 2014), Dynasties of the Sea: The Shipowners and Financiers Who Expanded the Era of Free Trade (Marine Money, Inc., 2012), and Thriving in the New Economy: Lessons from Today's Top Business Minds (Wiley, 2010).

SOURCE: Marine Money

Transgender Love Story "Just Another Beautiful Family" Wins Audience Choice Award at CIFF

A tender love story about a family with a transgender parent won the Audience Choice Award at Calgary International Film Festival. (Photo credit: Dana Pugh.)

The short documentary film "Just Another Beautiful Family" won the Audience Choice Award at the Calgary International Film Festival on Wednesday, October 2nd. The film follows Katherine and Nick North's own family of 7, which on the surface looks like a typical suburban family, with a twist: Nick is transgender.

"Our goal is to show people an example of what a happy, loving family looks like with queer parents," says Nick North, who co-wrote, co-directed, and co-produced the film with his wife, Katherine North. "As cool as it is for us to win this award, I actually think it's a sign of progress for all of us. Three years ago when I came out, I don't know that a trans film would have been this loved and accepted. We wanted to show everyone that there are so many kinds of beautiful families."

The film's synopsis reads: Just an ordinary suburban family-- except that Dad's transgender, Mom's queer, and there are five kids in this minivan. This is one family's true story of identity, trust, and transformation. Too many transgender kids wonder: Will I be loved? Will I get to have a family? Will it all be ok? Here's the answer: a love story about family, finding your true self, and becoming who you really are.

The "Just Another Beautiful Family" Short Documentary

About The Norths: 

First-time filmmakers Katherine and Nick fell in love, turned their worlds upside down, and lived to tell about it. Their first joint project is this personal documentary about how they fell in love, became a blended family with FIVE kids, and navigated Nick's gender transition from female to male. 

This is the first of many projects they hope to do together (in addition to coparenting, driving the minivan, and doing to the dishes) as part of their Beautiful Families project, which shares stories about all sorts of underrepresented and nontraditional families-- because every family is a beautiful family.

The North family: just an ordinary suburban family with five kids, a naughty puppy, and a minivan. (Photo credit: Dana Pugh)

• Just Another Beautiful Family premiered as part of the Alberta Shorts program at Calgary International Film Festival, and is now available in full online. This film was made possible with support from TELUS STORYHIVE.

SOURCE: Katherine and Nick North

It's The Year Of Rembrandt Again, To The Delight Of Museum Audiences

Amsterdam, Netherlands - April, 2017: Visitors watching ‘The Night Watch,’ Rembrandt’s largest and most famous painting in Rijksmuseum’s Gallery. (Shutterstock)

Among Dutch-speaking art lovers, 2019 is known as a Rembrandt-jaar (Rembrandt year), one marking the 350th anniversary of the death of the artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It is the cause for the beloved artist — who painted in the 1600s — to be commemorated with exhibitions, publications and even delicious treats.

A milestone Rembrandt year occurred 13 years ago, with the fourth centenary of his birth. The worldwide professional organization of curators of Dutch and Flemish art, CODART, recorded 83 exhibitions between 2005 and 2007 in honour of that Rembrandt year.

And, yet, with the 2006 Rembrandt-jaar still fresh in the memories of many, one may wonder, why are we celebrating Rembrandt again? What appeal does this European male artist have for us in 2019?

The Rembrandt years

Amy Golahny, Richmond Professor of Art History Emerita at Lycoming College, describes the 2006 exhibitions as focused on newly discovered documents and the contextualization of the master within the economic, diplomatic and historical role of art. One consequence of this year was the increase in monographic exhibitions of art by those in Rembrandt’s orbit, such as his master Pieter Lastman and his colleague and a competitor Jan Lievens.

A substantial 53 shows dedicated to the artist are listed on the CODART web site this year. These include Leiden circa 1630: Rembrandt Emerges, organized and circulated by the Agnes Etherington Art Centre of Queen’s University, where I am a curator and resident researcher. The show focuses on the development of Rembrandt’s pictorial language among a network of colleagues in his native city of Leiden.

The Next Rembrandt: Blurring the boundaries between art and technology: the challenge to see if Rembrandt could brought to digital life to create a new painting.

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the foremost collection of Rembrandt’s art in the world, took a broader perspective in All the Rembrandts, which showcased its holdings of 20 paintings, 60 drawings and 300 of the finest impressions of the artist’s prints. From examinations of Rembrandt’s early years to a comprehensive view of his accomplishments across media, this year’s exhibitions delve deeply into the development of this singular artistic personality.

The earliest Rembrandt year seems to have been 1906, the 300th anniversary of his birth. That year spurred the placement of a commemorative plaque on the site of his birth home and the erection of a sculpted likeness in Leiden, as well as the purchase of the artist’s home on the Breestraat in Amsterdam to create a museum.

These early acts were as much monuments to the man as much as to his oeuvre, which reveal the lingering 19th-century romanticization of the artist as a Dutch national hero. Subsequent Rembrandt years — 1956 and 1969 — have concentrated on bringing together masterpieces by Rembrandt and his pupils so as to further delineate their individual oeuvres.

In anticipation of the 1969 Rembrandt year, the Rembrandt Research Project, which became the authoritative voice in determining the authenticity of Rembrandt paintings, was founded. Clearly, these commemorative years have had a huge impact upon our understanding the artist’s oeuvre and his biography.

The artist

Rembrandt van Rijn, ‘Self-Portrait’, around 1629, oil on panel (Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Courtesy of The Clowes Fund, C10063.)

There is a rich body of period documents that convey the painter’s character. Authors frame his personality as one rooted in a sense of conviction and autonomy and he seems to have experienced many of the trials and tribulations of modern life.

He was a late bloomer, and began his art education at the late age of fifteen or so; he believed so audaciously in his own skills that he proclaimed he could sell an unsatisfactory commission depicting a man’s beloved to any interested buyer.

After the death of the love of his life, he took up with the nursemaid and, subsequently, the housekeeper, with whom he had a child out of wedlock. He declared insolvency after unwise financial decisions.

There is something perpetually intriguing about his depiction of the human condition. His powerful colour, robust forms and imaginative interpretations humanize familiar narratives in striking ways. His early masterpiece, Judas Returning the Thirty Pieces of Silver of around 1629, for example, communicates the physical burden of treachery in horrifying terms: clothing rent in desperation, scalp bleeding after a violent fit, hands clasped in agony, body contorted in humiliation and despair.

Rembrandt van Rijn, ‘Judas Returning the Thirty Pieces of Silver’, around 1629, oil on panel (Private collection. Morgan Library & Museum/Private Collection)

Many scholars; numerous creative endeavours like novels, movies and works of art; and even new applications of technology.

Rembrandt, through his acute observation of the human condition, has incited new reflections upon our place in the world and our contributions to it.

The shows
Why have museum exhibitions been so fundamental to this investigation of Rembrandt?

The curatorial act is a powerful strategy for imbuing the Old Masters with agency in the modern world. That act can unify contemporary themes with historical grounding, inviting the viewer to consider artworks as living objects bearing renewed meaning through the interpretative material presented in the gallery. The curatorial act can also invoke deeper understanding through comparison with other objects, illuminating new perspectives on familiar works.

Curators, as stewards of collections, have the responsibility to think creatively and broadly about the current pertinence of historical artworks. This can be seen in some of this year’s Rembrandt exhibitions.

We are delighted today to launch a call for artists to participate in an exhibition celebrating 350 years since #Dutch master artist #Rembrandt van Rijn died. ‘Rembrandt@350: Zimbabwe remasters a Dutch icon’. Launch in both #Bulawayo & #Harare with @BYOgallery & @NatGalleryZimb. pic.twitter.com/HBM0gFaCja

— Dutch Embassy Harare 🇳🇱 (@NLinZimbabwe) August 2, 2019

Among the more incisive investigations are Rembrandt and Saskia: Love and Marriage in the Dutch Golden Age at Fries Museum in the Netherlands, which explores notions of status and social expectations within the framework of Rembrandt’s marriage, and Rembrandt@350: Zimbabwe remasters a Dutch icon, which features local artists’ responses to Rembrandt, plus six of the master’s etchings and a life-sized print of The Night Watch (which is now undergoing in-gallery analysis streamed live online.

The exhibitions on view this year demonstrate that new perspectives can deepen our access to and appreciation of the past. Each era curates the Rembrandt that it desires.
So, in this Rembrandt year of 2019, how are you celebrating the master?

Rembrandt van Rijn, ‘Head of an Old Man in a Cap c. 1630, oil on panel. (John Glembin/Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen's University. Gift of Alfred and Isabel Bader, 2003)

About Today's Contributor:

Jacquelyn N. Coutré, Bader Curator/Adjunct Assistant Professor, European Art, Queen's University, Ontario

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.