Author: Eric Mawuli DJIRACKOR

Augusta Animal Services: Home for the Paw-lidays 2024  WJBF-TV
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As much as we love covering the careers of prominent actors like “Spider-Man” franchise star Zendaya or “Mad Max: Fury Road” protagonist Tom Hardy, there’s something uniquely exciting about looking at the work of a fast-rising star like Louis Partridge. Since appearing in Netflix’s “Enola Holmes,” opposite “Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown, the 21-year-old English actor has appeared in some high-profile films and television shows, building his resume under the guidance of visionaries like Matthew Vaughn and Academy Award-winners Danny Boyle and Alfonso Cuarón.
At present, it sure seems as though Partridge is preparing to set the world on fire for the next few years, with starring roles in Steven Knight’s “House of Guinness” and George Jaques’ “Sunny Dancer” on the way. He’s also slated to appear in Noah Baumbach’s next film and will seemingly lead a new(ish) action franchise for Vaughn. If you want to get acquainted with someone who may well be one of the defining young actors of the late 2020s, you’ll definitely want to check out the films and television shows below.

“Argylle” had a bit of a tough go when it was released in early 2024. Though we at /Film found it to be a wild, twisty, and mostly satisfying romantic action-comedy, critics at large were pretty harsh on Matthew Vaughn’s spy romp — an icy reception which played a part in its unimpressive $17.4 million opening weekend. By the time it bowed out of cinemas, it hadn’t even grazed $100 million in worldwide box office returns against an admittedly ludicrous budget of $200 million. That said, for fans of Vaughn, spy movies, and especially Louis Partridge, “Argylle” is required viewing.
The film follows writer Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) after she unwittingly becomes enmeshed in a world of spies, secret organizations, and criminal masterminds. Her spy novels (which themselves follow a fictional operator named Argylle, played by Henry Cavill) are apparently so realistic and well written that they border on prophetic, making her authorly brain a priceless asset to the villainous Division.
Given its abysmal box office numbers, chances are readers of this article won’t have heard much about “Argylle” beyond its viral marketing campaign, with its mystery novelist, Taylor Swift connections, and stoked interest around Agent Argylle’s true identity. But the film boasts more than superficial intrigue. Its biggest action scene is arguably one of the best romantic movie moments of 2024, and Vaughn’s signature, colorful touch is more fearless here than in his adaptations of other work. As for Partridge, it would be a massive spoiler for us to even talk about who he plays, and he’s not in the film much. However, if you’re a fan of his, you’ll definitely want to give “Argylle” a watch, as it could very well shape the next chapter of his career as an actor.

For fans of historical epics, Netflix’s “Medici” may hit the spot. Produced in Italy, it chronicles the lives of the powerful Medici family, who ruled as lords over 15th century Florence.
Louis Partridge joined the series for its third season as Piero de’ Medici, the eldest son of Lorenzo “The Magnificent” de’ Medici (Stuart Martin). The majority of the season focuses on bringing Lorenzo’s story to a close, having been the series’ protagonist following a 20-year time jump after the end of Season 1. His controversial decisions while serving as Lord of Florence begin to yield unexpected consequences, corroding the trust of his advisors, friends, and family, as well as his own moral compass.
The series takes a somewhat ahistorical approach to Lorenzo’s end, steering him toward the same fate in a significantly darker fashion. Piero, then, must reckon with even more responsibility at a young age, all while trying to make sense of the way his family and home have radically changed before his eyes. It may not be a history lesson, but “Medici” offers an accessible window into a unique political world, along with plenty of excitement and some compelling performances, especially from Partridge.

If contemporary biopics are more your thing, Louis Partridge is excellent in the FX miniseries “Pistol,” which tracks the musical journey of the English punk band the Sex Pistols. Directed by Danny Boyle and based on the autobiography “Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol” by guitarist Steve Jones, it primarily looks at their history from Jones’ perspective. Partridge has a meaty supporting role as Sid Vicious, the band’s darkly enigmatic bassist.
The actor was cast as Vicious almost immediately after he became the breakout star of Netflix’s “Enola Holmes,” a young adult mystery film starring Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill in the universe of Sherlock Holmes. “I was worried about getting typecast as the posh, floppy-haired kid — and here’s me playing Sid Vicious…” he told Rolling Stone in 2022. 
Indeed, the two artists led very different lives, with Partridge having to consult with an expert to better understand the role drugs played in the rockstar’s life. He died of a heroin overdose in 1979 at the age of 21 — just two years older than Partridge was while shooting “Pistols.” “I just tried to understand him,” he said of playing the controversial figure. “[Vicious’ behavior] comes from a place of insecurity. … He sees a crowd and acts up to them; he wants to get a reaction because he just wants some attention and love. I feel sorry for him in that respect but, as well as being the innocent Sid, he was also that other Sid at many points of his life.”
The series is as raw and powerful as the band that inspired it, and Partridge shines in each of his scenes. Unfortunately, because Disney made the decision to pull a baffling amount of shows from both Disney+ and Hulu, it’s difficult if at all possible to watch.

If “Argylle” was tough to write about without revealing the twists that make it worth watching, “Disclaimer” is almost impossible. Written and directed by Academy Award-winning auteur Alfonso Cuarón and starring equally lauded actors Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, it tells three interweaving stories that together have the potential to destroy multiple lives — that is, if you can trust any of those stories at all. The two present-day stories follow different perspectives of a feud between documentary filmmaker Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) and writer and academic Stephen Brigstocke (Kline). Stephen believes Catherine was responsible for the death of his son Jonathan, and he enters Catherine’s life with a novel that purports to tell the story of why.
In the third story, Louis Partridge stars as Jonathan Brigstocke, destined to meet his demise following a passionate romantic affair with a young Catherine (Leila George). Coming on the heels of the rock-and-roll style of “Pistols,” it was a very different working environment for Partridge. “I enjoyed [filming “Pistols”], and I enjoyed mucking around on set and being physical,” he told Collider. “[But] Jonathan was very much informed by what Alfonso was after, so I did feel tightly bound for a lot of it because he was after getting a specific shot or holding a position.” 
Still, Partridge appeared more than thrilled to accept this challenge, as he was working with a caliber of artists he’d always dreamed of. “My word, sharing a screen with [Blanchett] is unreal,” he marveled. “Also, it was just a big confidence boost to know that Alfonso wanted me in there at all and trusted me with that role and to tell a story alongside these people at the top of their game. It was amazing.”

Of course, as his first major starring role, we had to include Netflix’s “Enola Holmes” on this list. The film tells the story of the titular heroine (Millie Bobby Brown), the younger sister of famed private detective Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) and the significantly less-famed bureaucrat Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin). When the two brothers attempt to send her away to boarding school following the sudden disappearance of her mother (Helena Bonham Carter), Enola finds herself unexpectedly wrapped into a mystery.
The focus of her investigation happens to be Viscount Tewkesbury, a romantic if slightly confusing boy played by Louis Partridge. For some unknown reason, Tewkesbury has been targeted for assassination by the mysterious contract killer Linthorn (Burn Gorman). Though we won’t spoil how this plot ultimately unfolds, Partridge is perfectly cast in this role and plays extraordinarily well against Brown’s hyperintellectual Holmes. Both actors were still teenagers while working on the film, with Partridge auditioning in the middle of final exams at school. 
“I learnt how to balance having a laugh and joking on set from Millie, while also getting on with the actual serious work,” Partridge shared to The Gentleman’s Journal. “I also learnt how helpful it can be to really get along with who you’re working with. That can give you complete freedom to try new things and not feel embarrassed when they don’t go right.” 
Partridge is also featured in the sequel “Enola Holmes 2,” which some argue is even better than the first.

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Giving people the ability to shape the internet and their experiences on it is at the heart of Mozilla’s manifesto. This includes empowering people to choose how they search.
On Nov. 20, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed proposed remedies in the antitrust case against Google. The judgment outlines the behavioral and structural remedies proposed by the government in order to restore search engine competition.
Mozilla is a long-time champion of competition and an advocate for reforms that create a level playing field in digital markets. We recognize the DOJ’s efforts to improve search competition for U.S. consumers. It is important to understand, however, that the outcomes of this case will have impacts that go far beyond any one company or market. 
As written, the proposed remedies will force smaller and independent browsers like Firefox to fundamentally reexamine their entire operating model. By jeopardizing the revenue streams of critical browser competitors, these remedies risk unintentionally strengthening the positions of a handful of powerful players, and doing so without delivering meaningful improvements to search competition. And this isn’t just about impacting the future of one browser company — it’s about the future of the open and interoperable web. 
Since the launch of Firefox 1.0 in 2004, we have shipped with a default search engine, thinking deeply about search and how to provide meaningful choice for people. This has always meant refusing any exclusivity; instead we preinstall multiple search options and we make it easy for people to change their search engine — whether setting a general default or customizing it for individual searches. 
We have always worked to provide easily accessible search alternatives alongside territory-specific options — an approach we continue today. For example, in 2005, our U.S. search options included Yahoo, eBay, Creative Commons and Amazon, alongside Google. 
Today, Firefox users in the U.S. can choose between Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Amazon, eBay and Wikipedia directly in the address bar. They can easily add other search engines and they can also benefit from Mozilla innovations, like Firefox Suggest.
For the past seven years, Google search has been the default in Firefox in the U.S. because it provides the best search experience for our users. We can say this because we have tried other search defaults and supported competitors in search: in 2014, we switched from Google to Yahoo in the U.S. as they sought to reinvigorate their search product. There were certainly business risks, but we felt the risk was worth it to further our mission of promoting a better internet ecosystem. However, that decision proved to be unsuccessful. 
Firefox users — who demonstrated a strong preference for having Google as the default search engine — did not find Yahoo’s product up to their expectations. When we renewed our search partnership in 2017, we did so with Google. We again made certain that the agreement was non-exclusive and allowed us to promote a range of search choices to people. 
The connection between browsers and search that existed in 2004 is just as important today. Independent browsers like Firefox remain a place where search engines can compete and users can choose freely between them. And the search revenue Firefox generates is used to advance our manifesto, through the work of the Mozilla Foundation and via our products — including Gecko, Mozilla’s browser engine. 
Since launching Firefox in 2004, Mozilla has pioneered groundbreaking technologies, championing open-source principles and setting critical standards in online security and privacy. We also created or contributed to many developments for the wider ecosystem, some (like Rust and Let’s Encrypt) have continued to flourish outside of Mozilla. Much of this is made possible by developing and maintaining the Gecko browser engine.  
Browser engines (not to be confused with search engines) are little-known but they are the technology powering your web browser. They determine much of the speed and functionality of browsers, including many of the privacy and security properties.  
In 2013, there were five major browser engines. In 2024, due to the great expense and expertise needed to run a browser engine, there are only three left: Apple’s WebKit, Google’s Blink and Mozilla’s Gecko — which powers Firefox. 
Apple’s WebKit primarily runs on Apple devices, leaving Google and Mozilla as the main cross-platform browser engine developers. Even Microsoft, a company with a three trillion dollar market cap, abandoned its Trident browser engine in 2019. Today, its Edge browser is built on top of Google’s Blink engine.
So how do browser engines tie into the search litigation? A key concern centers on proposed contractual remedies put forward by the DOJ that could harm the ability of independent browsers to fund their operations. Such remedies risk inadvertently harming browser and browser engine competition without meaningfully advancing search engine competition. 
Firefox and other independent browsers represent a small proportion of U.S. search queries, but they play an outsized role in providing consumers with meaningful choices and protecting user privacy. These browsers are not just alternatives — they are critical champions of consumer interests and technological innovation.
Rather than a world where market share is moved from one trillion dollar tech company to another, we would like to see actions which will truly improve competition — and not sacrifice people’s privacy to achieve it. True change requires addressing the barriers to competition and facilitating a marketplace that promotes competition, innovation and consumer choice — in search engines, browsers, browser engines and beyond. 
We urge the court to consider remedies that achieve its goals without harming independent browsers, browser engines and ultimately without harming the web.
We’ll be sharing updates as this matter proceeds.
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In a shocking turn of events, Bitcoin’s price has taken a significant blow, falling over 8% in recent days, bringing its value to below $94,000.
The world’s most prominent cryptocurrency is not alone in its downward spiral—Ethereum and other leading digital assets have also faced substantial losses.
This marks a stark contrast to the record-breaking highs Bitcoin saw earlier this year, fueled by optimism and growing institutional interest.
Experts point to a mix of factors: the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance on interest rates, fears of a slower-than-expected rate cut cycle in 2025, and the looming release of the PCE index, which could heavily influence market expectations.
Investors in the cryptocurrency market, historically sensitive to macroeconomic shifts, are now bracing for more volatility as central bank policies continue to weigh heavily on market sentiment.
Further compounding the situation is the broader trend of poor performance across the crypto market.
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, has seen its price dip by 5%, and other altcoins have followed suit, losing significant market cap.
Even lesser-known tokens, once riding high on speculative hype, have seen sharp declines, with many investors beginning to question the sustainability of the recent crypto boom.
While Bitcoin has had an impressive run this year, up by 130%, the momentum seems to have faltered as global economic conditions tighten. The so-called “Bitcoin bubble” has deflated faster than many anticipated, leading to widespread uncertainty within the digital currency community.
Analysts suggest that despite the short-term setbacks, Bitcoin’s long-term outlook remains solid, especially if global inflation continues to surge, potentially positioning it as a hedge against fiat currency devaluation.
However, many caution that investors should be prepared for more volatility as the markets adjust to a new normal under tighter financial conditions.
As we approach the final days of December, crypto investors are hoping for a holiday miracle that might lead to a swift recovery. But for now, Bitcoin’s harsh drop serves as a reminder of just how volatile the crypto market can be, leaving many to wonder: Is the digital gold rush over, or is this just another dip before a bigger rally?
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds and more news comes in from the crypto world.
Also Read
SEC Approves First Hybrid Bitcoin-Ethereum ETFs
Cryptocurrency market experiences a sharp decline: What’s behind the downturn?
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State Policy and Religious Freedom: The Faith & Freedom Index  The Federalist Society
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For the third consecutive year, Sheboygan has been named a host of the P1 offshore Triple Crown race series. The event on August 8-10, 2025 will be the second leg in the series, with the first taking place in New Orleans, and the final in St. Petersburg, Florida. Each event delivers six races with a special prize fund awarded to champions in each class. In addition, next year’s event will include the P1 AquaX Jet Ski competition among the many races offshore of Sheboygan.
Mayor Ryan Sorenson said that the City was “…thrilled to welcome back the Powerboat P1 Midwest Challenge to the beautiful shores of Sheboygan, the Malibu of the Midwest, for the third year in a row.” He said that “This event has become a highlight of our summer, showcasing our city’s dynamic waterfront and bringing together residents and visitors for an unforgettable ride.”
Sheboygan’s leg of the series is expected to draw thousands of spectators, provide a significant economic boost to the economy, and reinforce Sheboygan’s reputation as a destination for premier events. All three rounds will be broadcast live on MAVTV, streamed on P1’s live-streaming platform, as well as on FanDuel Sports Network and international sports channels.
In addition to the races, the P1 Marine Foundation will contribute proceeds from the Triple Crown to support local non-profits focused on marine conservation, water safety, and youth educational programs.
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Cillian Murphy plays an Irish family man who feels compelled to help a “fallen woman” (Zara Devlin) escape the convent where she’s locked up in “Small Things Like These.”
Lionsgate
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When we talk about the best years for movies, you’ll hear arguments for 1939 and 1946 and 1959, 1975 and 1994 and hey what about 2007? All GREAT years for film. It’s a fun debate without right or wrong answers — but I think it’s much trickier and I would argue nigh impossible to definitively call out any given year for being among the worst. I don’t think 2024 will be remembered as one of the GOAT years in movie history, but here’s just 10 of the films that fell short of making my list of the 10 best:
“Emilia Pérez”

“Maria”

“A Real Pain”

“Blitz”

“We Live in Time”

“Saturday Night”

“Blink Twice”

“Civil War”

“Bikeriders”

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”
That’s an impressive and disparate roster of films ranging from blockbusters to period pieces to sharply honed indies, from biopics to musicals to sequels and prequels — all of them well worth your time. Pretty good year. Pretty pretty pretty good.
And that’s before we even get to my Top 10!
The new version of “Nosferatu,” starring Nicholas Hoult, is the stuff of nightmares.
Focus Features
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has voiced its protest over the depiction of rats in Robert Eggers’ visually stunning, deeply disturbing and weirdly beautiful, gothic retelling of the vampire classic. Yeah, well what about the humans who had to endure arguably the most chilling cinematic depiction since “Willard”?
I mean that in the most complimentary way. Everything about “Nosferatu,” from the bone-chilling visuals to the performances by the chameleonic Bill Skarsgård as the lovestruck and blood-struck Count Orloc and Lily-Rose Depp as the human object of his obsession to, yes, those rats, is the stuff of nightmares — and the stuff of one of the best horror movies of the 21^st century. See it: In theaters starting Tuesday.

Carrie Coon (left) and Elizabeth Olsen play sisters worrying about their dad’s health in “His Three Daughters.”
Netflix
Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen shine in this brilliant set-piece by writer-director Azazel Jacobs about three siblings (one is a stepsister) who gather in the New York apartment where their father is in the room down the hall and is dying. Each of these three brilliant actors is given multiple showcase moments, and they’re spectacularly, devastatingly, memorably great. See it: On Netflix.

Colman Domingo plays a man acting and writing with a prison’s theater troupe in “Sing Sing.”
A24
The always riveting Colman Domingo gives one of his career-best performances as an imprisoned man who lives to write and act in this astonishingly original work from director Greg Kwedar, written by Kwedar and Clint Bentley. Based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, “Sing Sing” joins “The Shawshank Redemption,” “The Birdman of Alcatraz,” “Cool Hand Luke” and “The Hurricane” on the short list of the best prison movies ever made. See it: In theaters (for the second time) starting Jan. 17.

Mike Faist and Zendaya star as tennis players in a complicated marriage in “Challengers.”
MGM
It’s a tennis-a-trois, done with dark humor and bruising style by director Luca Guadagnino and writer Justin Kuritzkes. This is kind of like the “Tin Cup” of the tennis genre, only without the easy warmth and charm. Zendaya is quite wonderful as a mostly terrible person who goes from tennis ace to tennis coach after a crippling injury, and Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor are terrific as the best friends who both fall for her. The last moment of this film is bonkers — and perfect. See it: On Prime Video and MGM+.

“A Complete Unknown,” about Bob Dylan’s rise to fame, stars Timothée Chalamet as the singer-songwriter.
Searchlight Pictures
We’re not supposed to compare performances because it’s an exercise in apples and oranges, yet we do it every year with all those awards shows, so I’ll jump in and say that with due respect to Rami Malek and his Oscar-winning turn in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Timothée Chalamet and the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” blow the doors off that performance and that film. See it: In theaters now.

The ABC Sports control room at the 1972 Olympics switches gears to cover an act of terrorism in “September 5.”
Paramount Pictures
Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum tells the story of the ABC Sports crew’s coverage of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympics in docudrama style, with most of the action taking place in and around the control room as the legendary Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard) and his team wrestle with the ethics of covering an act of terrorism in real time. This is one of the best movies about TV news coverage I’ve ever seen. See it: In theaters starting Jan. 10.


A powerful CEO (Nicole Kidman) has an affair with an intern in “Babygirl.”
A24
We’ve often heard the term “Elevated Horror” — but is there such a thing as “Elevated Erotic Thriller”? Writer-director Halina Reijn’s sexy, stylish and unnerving workplace drama certainly fits the bill, with Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson igniting the screen as a powerful, married CEO and the intern with whom she has a torrid and dangerous affair. It’s somehow classy and wonderfully trashy at the same time. See it: In theaters starting Wednesday.

Jax (Lily Gladstone, right) hopes to keep custody of her niece (Isabel-Deroy Olson) in “Fancy Dance.”
Apple Original Films
Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) gives one of the most resonant and authentic performances of the year as Jax, a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation in Oklahoma who is prone to getting into trouble and is desperate to maintain custody of her 13-year-old niece Roki (Isabel-Deroy Olson) after her sister Tawi (Hauli Sioux Gray) disappears. Equal parts thriller, police procedural, cultural study and family drama, “Fancy Dance” never hits a wrong note. See it: On Apple TV+.

A Russian oligarch’s son (Mark Eydelshteyn) married a Brooklyn stripper (Mikey Madison) on a whim in “Anora.”
Neon
Writer-director-editor Sean Baker’s frantic and raw and searing crime drama/romance/comedy reminded me of the Safdies’ “Uncut Gems” in that it’s so visceral and so intense that it’s almost uncomfortable to watch. After getting memorably charred, literally, in both “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” and “Scream” (2022), Mikey Madison gives a nomination-level performance as the adult dancer who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. (Mark Eydelshteyn is electric in the role.) A wholly original piece of work that is reminiscent of the best original indie of the 1970s. See it: In theaters and on demand.

Once again, we’ll compare performances. As much as I admire
Cillian Murphy’s Oscar-winning turn in “Oppenheimer,” I’m an even bigger fan of Murphy’s quietly heartbreaking work in this instant masterpiece from director Tim Mielants about a simple and decent family man in the small-town Ireland of 1985 who cannot turn his back on a scandal that’s been playing out in the local convent for as long as anyone can remember. Murphy’s Bill Furlong is the most unlikely hero you’ll ever see in one of the best movies you probably haven’t seen, but my hope and prayer is that you give it a look. “Small Things Like These” is one of the prime reasons why this was actually a damn good year for the movies. See it: On demand.

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As TCM is promoted in Hong Kong, a primer on the cultural ‘treasure’  South China Morning Post
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Bitcoin falls 9%, dropping below $93,000 as sell-off intensifies  CNBC
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