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Hollyoaks star Isabelle Smith poses with best mate from rival soap
Iceland’s eight-year battle with Iceland over the name Iceland rages on
The supermarket and Government of Iceland have now entered the third round of legal proceedings.
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One Piece Season 2: Exciting Casting Rumor About Monkey D. Dragon Might Just be True
The second season of Netflix’s One Piece live-action is already in the production phase, but fans are still wondering about the casting of some major characters in the upcoming series. Although many important characters like Vivi, Nico Robin, and Crocodile have been cast, there are still a few left who are going to have a […]
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“75-year-old Meryl Streep is driving her 74-year-old boyfriend”: Forget About Tom Holland and Zendaya, Martin Short’s Romance Could be the Best in Hollywood
Ah, love stories! They prove that Cupid has no expiry date or age limit on his bow, don’t they? Love is like a quirky recipe that allows you to mix any number of delightful ingredients! Sure, we’ve all been swooning over the adorable romance between Tom Holland and Zendaya, but let’s hit the brakes on […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
“Absolutely killed all the momentum”: Eiichiro Oda May Have Gone Too Far in Thriller Bark Arc to Ruin Sanji With the Worst Running Gag
Every One Piece arc has its ups and downs. They can feature some of the most thrilling moments in the One Piece franchise and still have a glaring flaw. An arc that is the perfect example of this is the Thriller Bark Arc. One of the greatest and most memorable moments for Roronoa Zoro happened […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
Woman of the Hour’s opening scene explained
NETFLIX’s Woman of the Hour dramatizes the disturbing tale of ‘Dating Game Killer’ Rodney Alcala.
The serial killer appeared on a popular TV dating show during his murderous spree — here’s everything you need to know about the opening scene of the movie.
Who was The Dating Game Killer?
Rodney Alcala murdered at least eight women and girls across New York, California and Wyoming between 1971 and 1979.
His true body count may be much higher — he is suspected of killing over 100 female victims.
Alcala often lured victims by posing as a fashion photographer.
In 1980, Alcala received a death sentence for murdering 12-year-old Robin Samsoe.
Though this verdict was overturned twice, he was ultimately convicted in 2010 for Samsoe’s murder and those of four other women.
The Dating Game
In September 1978, Alcala appeared as a bachelor on The Dating Game.
He charmed contestant Cheryl Bradshaw, who chose him as her date.
However, Cheryl chose not to go out with Alcala after finding his behavoir “creepy” backstage.
Ongoing investigations
Alcala died of natural causes in 2021 aged 77 at a hospital near the Corcoran state prison in California.
However, investigators have continued their efforts to identify victims following the monster’s death.
Authorities have been painstakingly reviewing the thousands of photographs found in Alcala’s possession in the hope of bringing closure to more victims’ families.
Opening scene of Netflix’s Woman of the Hour
Netflix’s Woman of the Hour opens with a chilling scene based on Alcala’s 1977 murder of Christine Thornton in Wyoming.
It shows The Dating Game Killer in a secluded mountainous area of Wyoming convincing a woman named Sarah to share personal details about her life while he photographs her.
The serene environment quickly turns ominous, establishing a sense of dread that permeates the narrative.
I think I said something along the lines of, ‘If it’s really important to you guys that the movie open in a nightclub and have a certain feeling, that’s fine, but I don’t know how to make that movie’
Anna Kendrick
Assault
As Sarah recounts her story, the atmosphere shifts dramatically.
Alcala’s demeanor becomes aggressive and he suddenly assaults her.
Much of what’s shown was put together from police evidence and his known methods of torture — such as reviving his victims with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation so he can then assault them gain.
As the character says in the film, Christine was with child when she was murdered.
The scene serves as a grim foreshadowing of the violence that will follow throughout the movie.
It also illustrates how he lured victims under the guise of innocence before revealing his true intentions.
Alcala admitted taking photographs of Christine, but denied murdering her.
Christine’s body wasn’t discovered until 1982, and Alcala wasn’t charged with the crime until 2016.
She was identified by her relatives in 2015 after police released Alcala’s photographs.
Family members then provided DNA samples for formal identification.
In the movie, the scene then cuts to black and we can hear casting directors discussing actresses auditioning for a part, which is also analogy for what the audience has just witnessed.
The misogynistic and judgemental comments seem to reflect the way The Dating Game Killer saw his victims — as pieces of meat.
Structure
The film employs a non-linear narrative, shifting back and forth between various timelines and characters.
While it focuses on Alcala’s interactions with multiple women leading up to their tragic fates, it refrains from depicting the actual murders on screen.
Instead, it emphasizes the moments leading up to these horrific events, allowing viewers to grasp the full extent of Alcala’s manipulative tactics.
Creative liberties
While based on real events, Woman of the Hour takes some creative liberties.
For instance Cheryl, who appeared alongside Alcala on The Dating Game, confronts Alcala in a bar after their show appearance — something which did not happen in real life.
The opening scene sets a haunting tone for Woman of the Hour, effectively establishing Alcala as a chilling figure whose charm masks a deeply violent nature.
By focusing on his initial interactions with victims rather than graphic depictions of violence, the film invites viewers to reflect on the broader implications of societal indifference toward such predators.
Anna Kendrick plays a fictionalized version of Cheryl, the contestant who picked Alcala on The Dating Game.
She not only stars in the series, Anna’s also on directing duties and fought to keep the opening scene as it is.
She told Digital Spy: “I was frankly shocked with myself for being so firm.
“I think I said something along the lines of, ‘If it’s really important to you guys that the movie open in a nightclub and have a certain feeling, that’s fine, but I don’t know how to make that movie’.”
Major snooker event returns to nation after 35 YEARS in brand-new state-of-the-art arena with whopping £700k prize pot
HONG Kong is preparing to host its first ranking snooker event in 35 years.
The World Grand Prix is heading on tour to the new state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park.
The competition will take place in the city-state from March 4-9 next year.
Since its inception in 2015, the World Grand Prix has been staged in the UK.
With space for over 4,000 spectators, the Sports Park will play host to snooker’s biggest-ever live audience for a ranking tournament.
Set to open in early 2025, the long-delayed stadium is on the site of the former Kai Tak airport.
Set over 28 hectares, the Main Stadium has a capacity of 50,000 and features a flexible pitch system designed to switch between turf and other surfaces.
Only the most successful 32 players of the season will earn a place in next year’s Grand Prix, which is the opening event in the prestigious Players Series.
Prize money for the event has skyrocketed since last year, from £380,000 to a total purse of £700,000.
And the winner in Hong Kong will walk away with a cool £180,000.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
WST CEO Simon Brownell said: “We are hugely excited to be taking such a massive event to Hong Kong.
“This is a move which is in line with our strategy to have a greater distribution of snooker’s biggest tournaments around the world and further globalise the sport.
“Hong Kong is a territory and market of particular significance for us, and we are delighted to be utilising this new world-class venue.
“Having a long-term ranking event in such a prominent global city is fantastic news for the tour.”
The only previous ranking event in the city was way back in 1989, when Mike Hallett defeated Dene O’Kane 9-8 in the final of the Hong Kong Open.
Two years ago, an invitational Hong Kong Masters saw Ronnie O’Sullivan defeat Marco Fu 6-4 in the final.
The match was played in front of a world record 9,000 fans at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
Brownell continued: “We were impressed by the levels of support at the Hong Kong Masters in 2022.
“The 9,000 fans in attendance for the final created a magical atmosphere.
“We would like to thank F Sports Promotions for bringing us back to Hong Kong and we look forward to working again with the Billiard Sports Council of Hong Kong China in this prestigious event.”
‘Dead’ organ donor comes ‘back to life thrashing around on operating table moments before docs prepared to remove heart’
WITNESSES have described the horrifying moment a man allegedly came back from the dead as surgeons prepared to harvest his organs.
Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover II from Kentucky reportedly started crying and “thrashing” around on the operating table as doctors tested his heart health for transplantation.
In October 2021, Hoover suffered from a drug overdose and after being rushed to the Baptist Health Richmond Hospital he was later declared dead.
The 36-year-old was then wheeled to an operating room to test his suitability for organ donation which included a cardiac catheterization.
However, his sister and witnesses from the hospital have detailed the moment he allegedly regained consciousness as surgeons tried to examine his heart.
“He was moving around — kind of thrashing. Like, moving, thrashing around on the bed,” Natasha Miller, an organ transplant doctor told NPR.
“And then when we went over there, you could see he had tears coming down. He was crying visibly.”
However, officials from Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates who coordinated the transplant have denied that the incident took place.
Miller, whose job it is to preserve the organs that are being donated, described the alleged chaos that ensued as doctors immediately pulled out of the organ retrieval.
“The procuring surgeon, he was like, ‘I’m out of it. I don’t want to have anything to do with it,'” Miller claimed.
“It was very chaotic. Everyone was just very upset.”
She claimed that when her colleague phoned KODA, a supervisor allegedly said that they were “going to this case” anyway and instructed the hospital to “find another doctor.”
Hoover’s sister Donna Rhorer has also claimed that she knew something was not right when her brother was being taken from the intensive care unit.
He appeared to open his eyes and look around, she has alleged.
“It was like it was his way of letting us know, you know, ‘Hey, I’m still here,'” she said.
However, when Rhorer and fellow family members mentioned it to doctors, they were reportedly told it was a common reflex.
Miller’s colleague Nyckoletta Martin who reviewed case notes in case she was drafted into the operating room called it “everybody’s worst nightmare.”
I feel betrayed by the fact that the people that were telling us he was brain dead, and then he wakes up…they’re trying to play God.
Donna Rhorer
“Being alive during surgery and knowing that someone is going to cut you open and take your body parts out? That’s horrifying.”
After the organ transplantation was called off, numerous workers allegedly quit and Martin claimed that many needed therapy as the impact of watching the incident “took its toll.”
HOSPITAL RESPONDS
In response to the claims, the president and chief operating officer for Network for Hope has denied the incident.
“No one at KODA has ever been pressured to collect organs from any living patient,” she told NPR.
“KODA does not recover organs from living patients. KODA has never pressured its team members to do so.”
The hospital has also insisted that “the safety of our patients is always our highest priority.”
“We work closely with our patients and their families to ensure our patient’s wishes for organ donation are followed,” a spokesperson told NPR.
An investigation into the alleged incident has been launched by the Kentucky Attorney General and the US Health Services Resources Administration.
HSRA which plays a role in overseeing organ procurement told NPR that is it “investigating these allegations.”
Meanwhile, Hoover’s sister is now his legal guardian as he struggles with his memory as well as with walking and talking.
“I feel betrayed by the fact that the people that were telling us he was brain dead, and then he wakes up…they’re trying to play God,” she claimed.
“They’re almost, you know, picking and choosing – they’re going to take this person to save these people and you kind of lose your faith in humanity a little bit.”
The Sun has reached out to the Kentucky Attorney General, HSRA, and the Baptist Health Richmond Hospital for comment.
How Kate Middleton & Meghan Markle ‘are on VERY different paths’ amid fallout & contrasting ways they use star power
MEGHAN Markle and Kate Middleton both married into the royal family but are on “VERY different paths”, according to Jennie Bond.
The former BBC royal correspondent shared how the two women are using their star power in very different ways, particularly following Megxit and the Sussexes moving to California.
Jennie told Bella: “Catherine and Meghan are indeed two very different women and are now on very different paths.
“Everything Catherine does is to help others, the disadvantaged, the young, and now those suffering from cancer.
“It’s not for money, or fame or self-aggrandisement. It is to help people who are in trouble or difficulty and to do good.
“I believe Meghan is also using her star power to bring attention to certain causes and people who need help.
“The campaign that she and Harry have started to limit the dangers of the digital world to our children is admirable. But she is also very active in the commercial world.”
During her September announcement that she has finished her chemotherapy treatment, Kate said that she will be “undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months.”
The Princess of Wales has undergone two recent official visits following her announcement that she has finished her chemotherapy treatment.
The first was meeting cancer-stricken 16-year-old Liz Hatton, and the second was sitting down with victims of the Southport attack.
Meanwhile, we saw the Duchess of Sussex looking glamorous in a recycled red dress on the red carpet at the LA Children’s Hospital gala earlier this month.
The swanky appearance was Meghan’s first solo venture in months.
Meanwhile, Meghan’s upcoming ventures include a Netflix cooking show about friendship and her lifestyle brand American Orchard Riviera.
Jennie insisted that there was nothing wrong with Meghan pursuing a more commercial route following stepping back as a senior working royal in 2020.
The royal commentator added: “There is nothing wrong with that – Harry and Meghan were quite transparent when they left the royal family that they wanted the freedom to earn their living in the commercial world, so we should not be surprised when we see her building her brand.”
Tense friendship
The royal wives have had a number of alleged moments of tension of the years, including Meghan telling Oprah Winfrey Kate that made her cry just days before her wedding.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry recalled in his bombshell memoir Spare that the women had a bust-up after Meghan made a comment about Kate’s hormones.
During an interview with The Cut, Meghan was asked if she thought there was hope of a reconciliation between her and the rest of the royal family.
Meghan said: “I think forgiveness is really important. It takes a lot more energy to not forgive.
“But it takes a lot of effort to forgive.
“I’ve really made an active effort, especially knowing that I can say anything.
“I have a lot to say until I don’t. Do you like that? Sometimes, as they say, the silent part is still part of the song.”
Meghan Markle's 'jarring' first meeting with Kate Middleton
MEGHAN and Kate are said to have had a rather fractious relationship, and the American actress revealed what happened on their first meeting.
After announcing their engagement, Meghan and Harry gave an interview to the BBC’s Mishal Husain from their home Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
During the interview, Meghan praised the Royal Family, The Queen and her future sister-in-law Kate Middleton for all being so welcoming.
However, Meghan claimed there was a difference between how formal she and Kate were behind closed doors.
In her Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, the Duchess said: “Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot.
“Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger I didn’t realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.
“I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward facing way of being and then you close the door and think ‘OK we can relax now’.
“But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me.”
Dad, 56, died after suffering ‘flu-like symptoms’ – and sends 4 children heartbreaking letters from beyond the grave
A DAD-of-four died after mistaking his cancer for flu.
Mike Randell, 56, had been feeling “really tired” after what he thought was a run-of-the-mill bout of the seasonal illness.
But when his condition failed to improve, he went to his GP and discovered he had several masses on his bowel and liver.
On the day before he was due to retire, further tests revealed he had stage four bowel cancer.
Mike, from Hythe, Hampshire, died surrounded by his family on October 10, 2022.
His four children – Matthew, 33, Emily, 31, Luke, 30, and Sophie, 28 – then discovered he had written each of them a letter to read after he was gone.
In them, he described how proud he was of the people they had become, and that he had given Sophie’s boyfriend Ash Humphrey his blessing to propose.
After Mike’s “shock” death, his family want to raise awareness of the lesser-known symptoms of bowel cancer, and to fundraise for Cancer Research UK (CRUK).
Sophie, 28, a children’s nurse, said: “He had none of the traditional bowel cancer symptoms when he was diagnosed and only got checked after he struggled to get over a bout of flu in January 2018.
“He just couldn’t get back to how he was before and felt really tired.”
The three most common signs of bowel cancer are blood in your poo, changes in bowel habits (such as needing to go more often or looser stools), and stomach pain.
But other symptoms include unintentional weight loss, a lump in your tummy, feeling a lot more tired than usual, and breathlessness.
While it wasn’t obvious at first, Sophie said that after blood tests, scans and a biopsy, she knew in her heart what was to come.
“With my medical knowledge and after looking for support online, we knew what was coming and I was sure he was going to be told he had advanced cancer,” she said.
“It was so upsetting to have it confirmed that my dad, who was just 56 and due to retire the following day, had stage four bowel cancer.
“We explained to my brother Luke, who has Down’s syndrome, that there was something in dad’s tummy that wasn’t supposed to be there and that he was going to have some medicine that would try to get rid of it.”
Mike, who was “willing to try anything”, began chemotherapy, which helped to shrink the tumours.
He also had surgery to remove the cancer from his bowel, which led him to having a colostomy, or stoma.
You’ve blossomed into everything I could have wished for in a daughter
Mike
“He received more chemotherapy and further procedures to reverse the colostomy, remove some of his diseased liver and part of his lung, and in between all the treatments, my dad managed to have periods of time over those three years when he could live normally and even go away on holiday,” Sophie said.
“He always held onto the hope that the cancer would go away, but towards the end of 2021, he knew the time he had left with us was limited.
“In the last few weeks, he secretly wrote individual letters to each of us, saying how lovely we were and that he was proud of us, and he chose a gift for us so that we always had a part of him with us.
“He decided to spend his final days at home and we all stayed there so we could be with him when the time came.
“He gave both my sister and me a ring which we wear every day and my brothers received a watch.
“It was so emotional reading the letters he gave to us.
“He thanked us for everything we’d done for him and said how proud he was of us and the jobs we do.
“He encouraged us to live life to the fullest and in my letter, he explained that my partner Ash had gone to see him to ask for my hand in marriage and that he had given him permission to propose.
“It’s so important to me and something I really treasure.”
One of Mike’s letters said: “You’ve blossomed into everything I could have wished for in a daughter.”
Another read: “As a nurse, you’ve always had that caring side.”
Exactly two years after Mike died, Ash got gown on one knee at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy.
‘BITTERSWEET’
But alongside the wedding planning, Sophie, her siblings and her mum Jane, 62, are still struggling to come to terms with the fact that Mike won’t be there.
“My dad would be really happy to know I’m engaged and it means a lot to have his blessing,” Sophie said.
“He told me in his letter that even though it will be a bittersweet moment, to remember that it’s our day, to be positive and that he’d be right there with me, just not in body.
“Together, we always hoped that there would be a new treatment that might make dad’s cancer go away so he could share moments like this, but it just didn’t happen for him.
“Now we’re determined to take a stand against the disease and share our story to help accelerate life-saving research and give other people the chance to live longer.”
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain – like doing a number two – but after you’ve been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.
She added: “Losing dad has been so hard, especially on Luke.
“Just before he died, dad gave him a memory box including old pictures of them both, his watch and his old passport.
“He’s doing better now but mentions dad all the time so we talk about him to keep in our memory.
“As we reach the two-year anniversary of losing him, it’s really important to us that we show that cancer can affect anyone’s life, at any time, so we really have no choice other than to unite against it and help support the scientists to keep making new discoveries.”
The family are backing CRUK’s Stand Up to Cancer campaign, which helps to develop new tests and treatments that could help save the lives of more people diagnosed with the disease. .
“Dad was often doing a charity challenge to support other people and this was close to his heart,” Sophie said.
“He was always keen for people to donate towards research after his death to find out more about the disease.
“He’d be proud to help others diagnosed with this disease.
“Every action, big or small, could make a difference.”
