Catégorie : Articles

By Jazz Tangcay
Artisans Editor
SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses plot points in “The Deliverance,” now playing on Netflix.
“Nothing says evil like black sclera contact lenses.”
That was the key to Glenn Close’s devil-possessed transformation in Lee Daniels’ “The Deliverance.” In addition to the special lenses, Close spent four hours in the makeup chair, with special effects makeup artist Jason Collins at the helm.
Based on a true story, “The Deliverance” follows Ebony (Andra Day), a single mother taking care of her three kids (Caleb McLaughlin, Demi Singleton and Anthony B. Jenkins) and sick mother Alberta (Close) in a new house that seems to be haunted. As the story unfolds, the characters are tormented by demons. Alberta, who is undergoing chemo for cancer, gets possessed by the devil and becomes almost unrecognizable.

Related Stories

VIP+

AI Entertainment Studios: The New Breed of Companies Pioneering Gen AI-Powered Production

'Suits LA' Casts Maggie Grace, Matt Letscher, Sofia Pernas, Carson A. Egan in Guest Star Roles (EXCLUSIVE)

With the possession coming towards the end, Collins didn’t just want to slap prosthetics on Close and lose the actress under all that makeup. “You want to identify that it’s Alberta. This is a connection the audience has had, and you don’t want to take them out of it,” he says.
But it all began with getting the demon eyes right, using black lenses. Collins was fully prepared to rely on VFX to correct everything digitally in post-production. But he asked Close if she would use black scleral contact lenses – a special lens that covers the white of the eye. “I asked her, ‘Do you think this is something you could do?’ And she’s such a great trooper and a great actress, and she said, ‘I’d like to try to do it practically if we can because I want to feel it.’ And we popped those suckers in there,” says Collins, adding that Close opted for the larger lens that covered the majority of the white of her eye.
Once Alberta’s demon eyes were in place, Collins says the character came to life and he centered the makeup around that. “We really brought out the cheekbones, and we did a lot of veining.”
The veining process of making her skin look translucent took up to two hours of airbrushing. Another two hours were spent on prosthetic application – eyebrow covers and a full neck application complete with saggy skin.
Close also needed a bald cap. Says Collins, “The bald cap was a two-piece cap – the back piece goes on first, and the front goes on over it. It already had hairs that had been individually punched in piece-by-piece.” He adds, “To get that bald cap ready, it took someone in my studio about three days to punch the hair in, one hair at a time.”

With Alberta’s teeth, Collins says it was important for audiences to know this was no longer Alberta but the demon. “In a scene like that, we wanted something that was really evidentiary and a quick read that it was demonic and evil,” says Collins.
Chris Lyons of Fangs FX, based in the U.K., made the teeth. “We sent him over a design, and he went bigger and chunkier than I normally would. But when I showed Lee the teeth, he went with that set because they read so quickly.”
Other minute details that helped Close’s devilish transformation were long toenails – an idea that she came up with. Lee loved the idea but wanted extra. “He said, ‘Long fungus-ridden toenails.’ Nothing says demon like that,” says Collins. “So we went to town on the toenails.”
A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast
The Business of Entertainment

source

FLOOD DAMAGE IN SWANNANOA — Cars are caked in mud on a heavily damaged street in Swannanoa in Buncombe County following Hurricane Helene.
Maureen Miller

FLOOD DAMAGE IN SWANNANOA — Cars are caked in mud on a heavily damaged street in Swannanoa in Buncombe County following Hurricane Helene.
Maureen Miller
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” (Isaiah 43:1-2a NKJV).
We met on a warm October afternoon when I was serving in hurricane-hit Swannanoa.
It had only been a dozen days since Western North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Helene. My medical doctor husband had an obvious place to volunteer, but what about me? That’s when I heard God’s whisper.
A once-upon-a-time elementary teacher as well as “Mosie” to my grand-girls, God knows me well. He created me with a love for teaching, forming inside me a heart of compassion for children. What better way to serve than with kids?
As I sat in sunshine, its warmth almost seemed a mockery after the devastation days prior. We knew there were many displaced children. Not only had some lost their homes, they had lost the continuity of a school day.
Still, with schools closed, I wondered where they were. Most of those I watched were adults, either standing in food lines or serving others behind makeshift counters. And while some appeared weary, many wore smiles, seemingly hope-filled. They’d survived.
My thoughts were interrupted. “Wanna read a book?” I shielded my eyes to look up. A young woman held the hand of a tot in a ladybug shirt and leggings. “Lookie there. Playdough, bubbles, books. Why don’t-cha sit a spell?”
Smiling at the pair, I patted the spot beside me. “Sit here, sweetie.” That’s when I learned her name.
“Go on, Royal. Listen to the nice lady.” Turning to me, “Mind if’n I get in that there line?”
“No, of course. She’ll be fine with me.”
I handed the child a crayon before opening a coloring book. Flipping through, Royal chose a page with a smiling Pluto Pup.
Over the next few minutes, we colored the Disney dog a shade of pink to match Royal’s shoes. Next, we read a board book. Finally, we blew bubbles. That’s when the toddler’s attention was drawn to a pile of stuffed animals.
“Want a stuffie to take home?”
The little girl’s eyes widened, and she stood, then toddled over to make her choice. Running a tiny hand over the plush toys, she stopped on a brown bulldog. “Dis one.” She picked it up and clutched it to her chest, planting a kiss on its soft head.
It was then her mother returned with a plastic to-go bag filled with several Styrofoam boxes.
“Ya ready, Royal?” Her gaze met mine. “Didn’t give ya no trouble, now did she?”
I shook my head. “None at all. Perfect princess.” I smiled. “And I love her name. It’s just right for her.”
The young woman’s T-shirt caught my eye. It had Faith, Hope, Love written across the front.
“Hey, I gave Royal a gift to take home. Would you like one too?”
Her face brightened. “I reckon I would. Hear that, Royal? You’re not the only one gettin’ a present.”
I dug in my bag. Earlier that day, my friend, Pastor Jimmy Haynes — a Gideon with Gideons International — donated several Bibles for us to hand out. This seemed the perfect time. “Here you go.”
The young woman took it and smiled.
“Thank you. I really appreciate it, ma’am.” Turning to her daughter, “See here, Royal? This Bible — this is Momma’s gift.”
As the pair walked down the Swannanoa street that, only a week and a half earlier, had nearly washed away, I thought — She’s right. God’s Word is a gift, a love story offering the gift of salvation made possible by the greatest Gift.
Jesus. It’s why He came — for moments like this one, for people like these.
And because He came, we can be adopted, then called by name as God’s daughters and sons. And that means, every one of us, too…is royal.
If interested in knowing more about sharing a personal story for an upcoming collaborative on hope in and through Hurricane Helene, contact Lisa Crowe at lisa.lynn.crowe@gmail.com.

Your comment has been submitted.

Reported
There was a problem reporting this.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to read or post comments.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
Sorry, an error occurred.

Already Subscribed!

Cancel anytime
Account processing issue – the email address may already exist
Get quarterly updates Check here to sign up!
Don’t miss out! Be a WNC insider with The Guide’s e-newsletter and you’ll always have plans.

Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Invalid password or account does not exist
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.

Secure & Encrypted
Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
A receipt was sent to your email.

source

A top crypto strategist thinks the digital asset market is in a position to witness a bullish continuation even as Bitcoin (BTC) trades below $100,000.
Pseudonymous analyst The Flow Horse tells his 251,400 followers on the social media platform X that he believes the doors are open for Bitcoin and altcoins to spark surges.
“The window of opportunity is between now and the second week of January for things to pop.”
The analyst’s outlook stems from the idea that traders believe the incoming Donald Trump presidential administration will be incredibly bullish for crypto. Trump has signaled that under his administration, the US government’s anti-crypto agenda would end, and he has even suggested a Bitcoin treasury to help get the country’s finances in order.
But the analyst highlights that his predicted window for crypto rallies will close just days before Trump’s inauguration. He argues that traders will likely be in for a rude awakening after Trump takes over the White House on January 20th, 2025
“The market had to some degree priced in a most fairytale scenario – one where the United States establishes a Bitcoin reserve and Lummis’s bill passes smoothly.
However, as reality sets in, that optimistic positioning will likely fade, especially as it becomes clear that Trump will encounter significant resistance in pushing many of his initiatives through.
This is a good thing.”
The analyst also warns that he thinks crypto will print a local top around the time Trump officially begins his second term as US president.
“Like I see no one open to the idea that we are very close (weeks to a quarter) to a nice top.
Just people under the impression that because of Trump the markets have to go up.”
Looking at the macro landscape, The Flow Horse says capital is still expensive compared to the 2020 cycle when the Fed was forced to drop interest rates close to zero due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If you believe this cycle will surpass the previous one wildly, you should have a clear thesis explaining how it achieves this without the support of the robust credit markets that helped the prior.” 
At time of writing, Bitcoin is trading for $94,455.
Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/wangmando/phanurak rubpol
Covering the future of finance, including macro, bitcoin, ethereum, crypto, and web 3.
Categories
Bitcoin • Ethereum • Trading •
Altcoins • Futuremash • Financeflux •
Blockchain • Regulators • Scams •
HodlX • Press Releases
 
ABOUT US | EDITORIAL POLICY | PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS AND CONDITIONS | CONTACT | ADVERTISE
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
JOIN US ON X
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
COPYRIGHT © 2017-2024 THE DAILY HODL
© 2024 The Daily Hodl

source

source

source

Coin Master players can use multiple ways to obtain free spins and coins, with redeeming daily active links being one of the best methods. For December 25, 2024, the developers shared two links on Facebook and one on X, all of which give free spins upon redemption. However, none of these links provide free coins.
That said, this article lists all the active links for today, along with a guide on how to claim the freebies from them.
Looking for Crossword hints & solutions? Check out latest NYT Mini Crossword Answers, LA Times Crossword Answers, and USA Today Crossword Answers
By redeeming all the active links, you will receive 25 free spins from each, adding 75 spins to your inventory. That said, here are the links that grant freebies today:
The steps to redeeming the daily Coin Master links are below:
Note that, you must redeem freebies from the above links within three days, as they will expire afterward. Additionally, each active link grants freebies only once per account.
Quick Links

Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation

source

Advertisement
By ACI Africa Staff
Nairobi, 24 December, 2024 / 11:19 pm (ACI Africa).
There is a growing “spiritual crisis” among some members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers/CSSp.), the Superior General of the 321-year-old Missionary Congregation with members across all continents, most them natives of Africa, has warned.
In his Christmas 2024 message to Spiritans and Lay Spiritan Associates (LSA), Fr. Alain Mayama laments “impoverished” spirituality, which he has established during his visits ing Spiritans in their respective apostolic communities is in stark contrast with other situations, where he founded regular prayer to be “at the heart” of the Spiritans’ lifestyle. 
“In many places, in the apostolic communities I have had the privilege and joy of visiting, confreres strive to live a simple and regular life of prayer,” Fr. Mayama says.
For the Spiritans in these apostolic communities, he adds, regular prayer life “is at the heart of their daily activities, and this can be seen in the quality of their community and missionary life.”
“Sick or elderly confreres who have embarked on a new mission have told me how happy they are to be able to accompany the Congregation’s mission through prayer,” Fr. Mayama says about a section of the 2,714 Spiritans present in some 60 countries across the globe according to the 30 April 2024 statistics of the Congregation.
Advertisement
The Superior General’s experience of Spiritan apostolic communities, where members have embraced a prayerful lifestyle contrasts “other places” he visited where “we see an unacknowledged spiritual crisis developing.”
In these places, he observed “a relationship with God that has become impoverished, erased, where we no longer have a sufficient relationship with God to be able to live from it.”
To underscore the danger of allowing the “unacknowledged spiritual crisis” to develop, Fr. Mayama, the first African Spiritan Superior General, cites Pope Francis, the Spiritan Rule of Life (SRL), and the two founders of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Claude François Poullart des Places and François Marie Paul Libermann.
Pope Francis has drawn the attention of members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) to “the danger of neglecting the interior life and adapting to the style of the world,” the Superior General of the Spiritans since his election in October 2021 says in his Christmas 2024 message referring to the Holy Father’s address to women and men Religious during the 2024 World Day of Consecrated Life, on February 2. 
“The Holy Father is concerned about the inability of some consecrated people to slow down and make room for God’s action within them,” Fr. Mayama says, adding that the Pontiff is faulting “the growing tendency to get too caught up in our apostolic activity, at the risk of turning Christian and religious life into ‘a lot of things to do’ and neglecting the daily search for the Lord in prayer and meditation.”
The link between prayer and apostolic work is emphasized in the SRL, the Rome-based Superior General says and goes on to cite SRL #87 that states, “our prayer and our apostolic work are ultimately linked. They complement each other. Union with God in prayer leads us to be of service to others, and the apostolic work we do is, in its turn, a worship offered to God in the Spirit (Rom 1:9) and a deepening of our union with Him.”
The native of Congo-Brazzaville lauds the two founders of the Spiritans for demonstrating the link between prayer and pastoral activity.
Claude Poullart des Places and Libermann, Fr. Mayama says, “are our models of the link between union with God and pastoral activity. They didn’t become founders overnight, nor as a result of a well-developed, preconceived strategic plan, but rather thanks to a personal and persevering spiritual experience, a desire to be in the presence of the Lord, listening to Him and worshipping Him.
Poullart des Places, a native of France who gave up the practice of law to study for the Priesthood founded a community for youthful men with the wish to become Priests in 1703. He dedicated the community to the Holy Spirit, calling it the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. 
Some 150 years later, Libermann, a converted Jew, established another religious family also in France, bearing the name, the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, thus the official name, the “Congregation of the Holy Spirit under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”.
Advertisement
On 8 March 2023, a delegation of Spiritans had an audience with Pope Francis to mark the 175th anniversary of the re-founding of their Congregation that is present in some 60 countries across five continents.
Through the years, the Congregation has had 25 Superiors General. Fr. Mayama is the first African native Superior General of the Congregation, whose membership has undergone a “significant demographic shift”.
Sharing the latest statistics of the Spiritans in his Pentecost 2024 message, Fr. Mayama said that for every 10 Spiritans, seven “come from 25 circumscriptions in Africa”, comprising 1,906 members (70.23%).
“Perhaps more striking is the fact that of the 532 professed scholastics, 480 come from Africa (90.23%); 1 from Europe (0.19%), 10 from the Indian Ocean (1.88%); 1 from North America (0.38%); 9 from South America (1.69%); 8 from the Caribbean (1.50%); 22 from Asia (4.14%)” and none from Oceania, he said in his Pentecost 2024 message. 
In his Christmas 2024 message, the Superior General of the Spiritans calls upon his confreres to embrace the “process of spiritual renewal” that is part of the Congregation’s “animation plan” that is in its second phase that was launched on October 2, the anniversary of Claude Poullart des Places.
(Story continues below)
The spiritual renewal, Fr. Mayama says, entails coming “to the truth within ourselves, as regards our prayer: personal and community prayer, the reading of the Word of God and the Eucharist celebrated in connection with our apostolic life.”
It also entails rediscovering “the absolute necessity of prayer, drawing inspiration from the examples and writings of our two founders.”
“Each community, despite the daily demands of its missions, will need to establish a schedule for daily prayer according to what is possible in its particular situation,” Fr. Mayama says referring to the Spiritans’ animation plan that is in its second phase.
“May the celebration of the Mystery of the Incarnation, where we contemplate the Word of Life, the Infant Jesus, being reborn in the life of each one of us, help us to give more time to God in prayer, in the midst of our pastoral occupations,” he implores in his Christmas 2024 message in which he recognizes Pope Francis’ invitation to participate in the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year as “Pilgrims of Hope”.
He further implores, “May the Virgin Mary, who gave the world the Saviour, help us to welcome with joy and enthusiasm the invitation to personal and community spiritual renewal.”  
ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Accessible worldwide at virtual.basilicasanpietro.va, the free interactive platform allows anyone in the world to “visit” the virtual 3D model of…
“I’m excited to have come to pray in the actual place of the Ascension… I want to be closer to…
Speaking in Dili’s cathedral, Pope Francis challenged East Timor’s Catholic leaders to renew evangelization efforts, declaring that the nation’s position…
Contact info:
Father Don Bosco Onyalla
Editor-in-Chief, ACI Africa

source

Mahakumbh 2025: Prayagraj’s 1,400 year legacy of spiritual significance, from Xuanzang to the grandest pilgrimage  Organiser
source

December 25, 2024
Bobbi Althoff has found love again months after finalizing her divorce with Cory Althoff.
The Really Good Podcast host confirmed that she is in a new relationship by posting a clip on TikTok.
In the viral video, Bobbi can be seen sharing affectionate moments with her new partner. However, the clip did not reveal her new beau face, leading to speculation among her fans.
Many fans believed her mystery partner to be NFL player Sean Murphy Bunting, who was seen carrying Bobbi on his shoulders at a bar in July.
Addressing the speculation, the 27-year-old influencer posted another clip on the video-sharing app and clarified that the man in the TikTok video was not Sean.
“It is not Sean in the video. Out of respect for his girlfriend, can you guys please stop spreading that rumor,” she wrote.
“In fact, [I] am not dating anyone who you’d ever guess so leave all these random guys who I’m friends with/some who I’ve never heard of alone lol,” Bobbi added.
Copyright © 2024. Geo Television Network. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us | Authors

source

Yoon Suk Yeol defies another request for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law earlier this month.
South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeolon Wednesday refused to honor a summons from the state’s anti-corruption authorities.
South Korea’s anti-corruption authorities, along with prosecutors, have launched probes into Yoon over his sudden decision to declare martial law earlier this month.
The martial law declaration drew immediate opposition from politicians, with lawmakers having quickly passed a resolution demanding Yoon lift his order.
On December 14, lawmakers voted to impeach the president over his failed attempt to impose military rule.
This means the president has lost his presidential powers. But impeachment does not mean that Yoon can be removed from office immediately.
That decision will have to be reviewed by the Constitutional Court, a process that could take months.
Yoon did not appear for questioning as of 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Christmas Day as requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported an official saying the agency would continue waiting for Yoon to show up on Wednesday. It would need to review the case further before seeking an arrest warrant, the official added.
Yoon also did not respond on December 15 to a separate summons by prosecutors who are investigating the martial law declaration, Yonhap said. 
Days after his attempt to impose martial law, Yoon apologized saying he would not evade legal and political responsibility over his actions.
But opposition party members have criticized his repeated defiance of the summons and have warned against possible destruction of evidence.
Yoon faces a string of investigations, including potential charges of leading an insurrection, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty. 
mk/rm (AFP, Reuters)

source