Hit London plays 2:22, Paranormal Activity and A Ghost in Your Ear are now spooking audiences on and off Broadway amid high demand for communal experiences

As we escaped the restrictions of the pandemic, with many also trying to escape the smartphone addiction that was exacerbated by it, there was widespread desire for the in-person communal experience. It was a slow crawl back with casualties along the way but as the Hollywood and Broadway box office return to pre-pandemic levels this year, our craving for IRL thrills appears to be stronger than ever.

It’s why Imax and 4DX formats are breaking records, concert attendance is at a new high according to a mid-year report and the most recently tracked season of New York theatre grossed more than the previous. It also helps to explain why the hottest tickets of the fall are for plays in the most communal genre of all: horror.

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The actor waxes lyrical on directors, dildos on why she hates being referred to as though she’s a dusty old relic

In the late 1950s, Judi Dench was invited to meet a major Hollywood producer about a possible career in the film business. The producer looked at her for a long time and said: “Very nice to meet you but you’ll never make a movie because you have every single thing wrong with your face.” As she left his office, Dench – who was 23 and about to make her professional debut as Ophelia in Hamlet at the Old Vic – breathed a sigh of relief and resolved to concentrate on theatre. Though she dabbled in film and TV, it wasn’t until the 1990s that she became a bona fide movie star, playing M in the Bond films and winning an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. Yet, she notes: “Being onstage is where I feel safest. Yes, I’ve appeared in films, but I’d never consider myself a film actor.”

Dench’s reflections on her working life form the backbone of Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, a memoir built around her conversations with the actor and theatre director Brendan O’Hea, Dench’s friend with whom she also collaborated on 2023’s Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent. This book confirms much of what is already known about Dench: that she is impishly funny, swears like a sailor, and that, despite that film producer’s unkind comments, she has “no hang-ups about what I look like on camera … Acting for me is not about looking glamorous. It’s whatever’s needed for the story.” We also learn that Dench, who is 91, can’t resist a prank: while playing Brecht’s Mother Courage at the Barbican in London, she replaced the drinks her character serves to two soldiers with cider vinegar – “It was a joy watching them knock it back, made even more glorious by the fact they had to ask for a top-up.”

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Immersive portrait of mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson as they seek to become the first people to ski down Everest’s north face

With some of its showings in the huge Imax format, this National Geographic-backed documentary feels like a callback to the early, glory days of large-format cinema when it was all about spectacle and scale, turning footage of natural-world wonders into an immersive experience. Those with a fear of heights or prone to vertigo may find this all a bit too immersive, in fact. That’s even more the case considering the point of the movie appears to be to provoke anxiety in the viewer for nearly the entire running time as we watch the subjects scale the steeper, far less travelled north face Mount Everest and then, for reasons never quite adequately explained, ski back down it again.

Such was the mission of experienced mountaineer Jim Morrison, an amiable-seeming fellow who, like all of those who pursue extreme sports, seems to feel a compulsion to put himself in the kind of grave danger that, should things go wrong, would put other people in danger rescuing him. His partner Hilaree Nelson shares his passion, and the two of them set off to be the first people to ski down Everest’s north face, and the first third of the film tracks them as they plan and eventually do practice runs to achieve this goal. Neither seems able to adequately explain why they’ve chosen to take such a risk, although Nelson tries a bit to articulate her mountaineering life almost as if it’s a career choice that her two teenage sons should simply accept as her choice to make, and maybe even thank her for – even if that means that should she be injured or lost they and Morrison (who is not the boys’ biological father) would also have to deal with the aftermath.

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Travelling in the modern day and age differs significantly from what it looked like a few short decades ago. Today, it is all about apps: you need applications for navigation, booking accommodation, buying tickets for events, following the local news, staying in touch with friends and family, and more. That also means that you depend on connectivity at all times while abroad. The problem is that a lot of people still rely on traditional roaming, while the roaming model is out of date. You cannot choose a specific mobile internet plan that suits your travel plans. Instead, operators have split the world into zones, and each zone has its own pricing, limits, and permissions. That is why many have turned to alternative ways of staying connected, and so far, the travel eSIM has emerged as the most practical solution. Companies like the Swiss eSIM pioneer, Yesim, have recognized the problem that travelers are facing and have come up with a solution. They let you pick a specific plan that will fit your trip. That way, you get to tailor your connectivity experience in advance. Furthermore, you even get to see the price in advance and know exactly what you will have to pay. Home-operator roaming: Connectivity under outdated rules The problem with roaming is that your home operator decides what your internet will be like abroad. When you try to book a flight or a hotel room, you will try to get the best deal possible. That means comparing providers, prices, any potential benefits that different providers offer, and the like. However, with roaming, you can’t do any of that. The terms of your existing home contract still apply, and connectivity abroad just gets added to it. That means that your operator decides what zones are available, what partner networks you can access, and, most importantly, how much they will charge you. You, as the user, can only accept their terms or choose to look for a different way to secure an internet connection. In other words, there is no flexibility and no participation on your end, you can only take it or leave it. Take EE as an example - the official terms for their EE Travel Data pass for Canada and the US say that the user gets 500 MB of data per day. This is not nearly enough for someone who will depend on their phone for everything, from paying for food to comparing ticket prices and booking accommodation. The limit is the same for countless other countries, including Australia, China, India, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, and the UAE. It gets even worse for other countries, including Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Indonesia. For these, the daily allowance is only 150 MB. That essentially forces you to ration your data use very carefully and pick what you are going to use it for. Some providers have introduced daily packages as a secondary roaming option. O2 Travel Bolt On roaming option for Pay Monthly customers charges £7 for every 24 hours of use. They start charging you as soon as you make a call, send a text, or use data for anything. It happens even if your phone updates an app automatically in the background, without you even knowing about it. As a result, you get barely any connectivity, but still have to pay the full price of this deal. For some, that might be fine, but if you aren’t aware of it, you can return home to a surprise bill that you now have to pay. Travel eSIM as an alternative to roaming: Choice and control pass to the user As mentioned, travel eSIM emerged as an alternative to the roaming model. The first thing to note about it is the difference between an eSIM and a travel eSIM. An eSIM is a chip that is built into most modern smartphones, tablets, and similar devices. This chip allows users to install operator profiles offered by travel eSIM providers. This can be done remotely, without having to go to the provider’s shop. It’s as simple as downloading an app. Travel eSIM uses this chip to create a digital service. That typically includes the provider’s app, tariffs, partnered mobile networks, full control of your data, and even top-ups and customer support, should you need them. The system is also quite practical, as you get to set up everything in advance. You don’t have to wait to enter another country to secure your connectivity, but can instead do it from home before you leave on your trip. Start by checking your device’s compatibility with eSIM technology. If it’s compatible, you can download the operator’s app, pick a package for the region you plan to visit, and install the appropriate profile. Then, sit on the plane, travel to your destination, and activate the profile when you get there. You get instant connectivity without having to stand in line at a SIM kiosk, rely on Wi-Fi coverage, or pay high roaming prices. If you are still not sure if a travel eSIM is the right option, consider the following: A one-week trip from the UK to the US will have you paying £7 per day if you are an O2 Travel user. For seven days abroad, that will end up being £49. Alternatively, if you use Yesim’s unlimited package for the US for seven days, the price is only £18.27 as of the time of writing. You buy it upfront, and it won’t activate until you start using it after arriving at your destination. Travel eSIM fits the app-first logic of travel When selecting a plan, you start with the trip itself. In other words, you click on the country or region that you plan to visit. You can also enter the length of your stay there, and how much data you expect you will need. Then, select a tariff to match the parameters. All terms of the deal will be known to you in advance, including the country that is covered by the plan, how long the plan will last, how much data you get, and how much it all costs. Best of all, everything is managed in the app, so you don’t really have to get in contact with anyone. A package can be selected for a single country, an entire region, or a route that includes several countries. You prepare all of this at home, and activate it after arrival. You even get to keep your home number active, since you don’t have to replace your SIM card. That way, any banking messages, service notifications, important calls, 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) texts, and the like can come through and reach you at any time. Yesim: The Swiss standard for travel connectivity If you need a travel eSIM provider, consider the Swiss company Yesim. The firm has been in the travel eSIM market since 2019, becoming one of the pioneers in this sector. Today, it provides connectivity to over 4 million users across 200+ destinations. For travelers, this means that they can rely on one service that they are familiar with regardless of whether they are going on a short holiday in one country or a lengthy, complex trip that will include multiple nations. Yesim’s position as a global provider of connectivity services is also reflected in the fact that the company has become an official partner of the World Players Super League - the largest golf tour in the world. The League holds over 1,800 tournaments in more than 50 countries every year, and is one of the largest events of this kind. The same global scale is evident in Yesim’s pricing options. The firm offers a flexible tariff range, especially when it comes to its most popular packages. For example, the Global Package covers 80+ countries, while the Global Plus Package covers 140+ destinations. These will likely suit those who tend to travel a lot and want to pay a fixed budget. But, if your data needs are unpredictable, you can always pick the Pay & Fly tariff - Yesim’s pay-as-you-go model. This is a single eSIM for 170+ countries, and you only pay for the data that you actually used. Yesim’s offer is known for the ease and simplicity of connection. The firm has created an intuitive app where you simply pick a country or a region, install the profile, and activate it in a few taps after getting there. Plus, the app uses automatic network selection. This is possible thanks to SwitchLess Networks technology, which switches the user to the strongest available network at any given time. This is especially important for remote locations, where connectivity is usually unstable, but it can also come in handy for mass events, when the network may struggle to cope with tens of thousands of connections at once. Yesim also offers the Multiple eSIMs feature, which helps you manage several profiles from a single account. This is convenient for those traveling with their family or a small group. You can even test its service with a trial plan that gives you 500 MB for a symbolic price of £0.45. That way, you can see how it all works for yourself before committing any real money. Lastly, Yesim offers a 15 percent discount to new users who use promocode GETYESIM15, so make sure to use it. Conclusion Since modern travel has evolved and is now an app-first experience, the old roaming model is no longer a good fit for an average traveler. Instead, travel eSIMs give tourists the freedom to choose their location, amount of data, and even to know the cost upfront. Yesim is a prime example of the fact that the travel eSIM model works and that it can satisfy the needs of modern-day travellers. "For Yesim, freedom of connectivity is a fundamental human right that helps people stay close, communicate, and share meaningful moments in spite of distance," emphasizes the company's founder and CEO, Dmitri Verbovski. Contributed by Yesim

Circa 119.000 huishoudens in Nederland houden de thermostaat de hele winter op 15 of 16 graden, zetten de verwarming soms helemaal niet aan of zien af van koken, omdat de energierekening anders niet te betalen is. Die zuinigheid levert hen straks geen steun op uit het Noodfonds Energie, maar sluit hen er juist van uit.

Hoe het Noodfonds rekent

Het kabinet trekt €193 miljoen uit voor het Noodfonds Energie 2026, bedoeld voor zo'n 500.000 huishoudens. Het fonds vergoedt de helft van de energiekosten die boven een drempel uitkomen: 8 procent van het bruto-inkomen voor de laagste inkomens, 10 procent voor iets hogere. Wie €2.000 bruto verdient en €200 aan energie betaalt, valt voor €40 boven de grens en krijgt daarvan €20 terug.

Het systeem beloont wie veel verbruikt. Niet wie het hardst in de knel zit.

Waarom zuinig stoken je uitsluit

Het probleem zit in de logica van de regeling. Die kijkt naar wat je betaalt, niet naar wat je nodig hebt. Huishoudens die de verwarming laag houden, koud douchen of niet koken, verbruiken bewust minder energie dan ze eigenlijk nodig hebben. TNO noemt dat 'onderconsumptie'. Wie de thermostaat op 15 of 16 graden zet, houdt de energiequote onder de 8 tot 10 procent. Op papier geen hoge rekening, in werkelijkheid een koud huis.

119.000 keer dezelfde val

In 2024 ging het om ongeveer 119.000 huishoudens, ofwel 1,4 procent van alle huishoudens in Nederland. Minister Vijlbrief erkende het getal zelf in zijn Kamerbrief van 1 juli 2026. Het Armoedefonds reageerde op diezelfde dag en noemde het Noodfonds 'een tijdelijke oplossing voor een structureel probleem, die niks biedt voor mensen in verborgen energiearmoede'. Directeur Henk de Graaf vatte de paradox samen: "Wie alles op alles zet om betalingsproblemen te voorkomen, wordt daarvoor feitelijk gestraft."

Als je kijkt naar hoeveel energiearme huishoudens bewust minder energie verbruiken, is het percentage nog alarmerender: 49 procent in 2024. Voor de energiecrisis lag dat op 24 procent.

Hoe groter de nood, hoe lager de rekening, hoe kleiner het recht op steun.

Koud wonen is niet onschuldig

De Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie adviseert een binnentemperatuur van minimaal 18 graden voor gezonde volwassenen. De Vereniging Eigen Huis noemt 15 graden de absolute ondergrens: daaronder wordt het te vochtig in huis, met risico op reumatische en astmatische klachten. De WHO wijst koude, vochtige woningen aan als belangrijke risicofactor voor luchtwegklachten, hart- en vaatziekten en mentale problemen. Voor kinderen en ouderen kan een hogere temperatuur nodig zijn.

Wie de verwarming laag zet om de rekening te overleven, betaalt uiteindelijk met zijn gezondheid.

Wat je nu kunt doen

Naar verwachting maakt de minister in september 2026 via een Kamerbrief bekend wanneer het loket precies opengaat. Of de regeling dan wordt aangepast voor de verborgen groep is niet bekend. Gemeenten krijgen in 2026 wel extra geld van het Rijk om huishoudens te ondersteunen, bijvoorbeeld met een energiecoach of hulp bij kleine energiebesparende maatregelen. Neem contact op met je gemeente als je nu al moeite hebt met de rekening.

Het advies is tegelijk helder en wrang: stook wél voldoende. Die hogere rekening kan straks het bewijs zijn dat je steun nodig hebt.

Eerder schreef Welingelichte Kringen over de stijgende energiekosten richting het stookseizoen. Zo betaalt een gemiddeld huishouden inmiddels €277 per maand aan energie en stevent Europa af op een nieuwe gascrisis.

Bronnen: TNO & CBS · Armoedefonds · Keuze.nl · Fondsenwerving.nl · IkWoonLeefZorg

The 2026 World Chocolate Masters has just wrapped up in Antwerp, with some interesting chocolate designs, made for TV theatrical drama and music, and more pictures. Chef Lee Sanghwa explains her aesthetic, while Keita Koshimizu works on his chocolate creation. From the 2022 final, Anna Gerasi concentrates on her work. Glimpses of some 2018 creations.

wing of kaz has added a photo to the pool:

鹿児島県鹿屋市、輝北うわば公園 / Kihoku Uwaba Park, Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture

Niet meedoen aan het Songfestival was het onderwerp dat in alle talkshows ter sprake kwam. Daarbij ging niet om de ethiek achter de beslissing, maar om de „blamage van de NTR” en om AvroTros dat het Songfestival zou hebben „gekaapt”.

De brute moord op Sjef Leukel, in 2004, werd een cold case, maar zijn zoon Patrick en officier van justitie Dave Mattheijs forceerden een doorbraak, door de inzet van commerciële dna-databanken. „Ik wil degene die dit heeft gedaan in de ogen kijken en vragen: wat bezielde je?”

Between a never-ending stream of bizarre media appearances and internal complaints about his excessive drinking, FBI Director Kash Patel is steadily eroding confidence in our country’s federal law enforcement. However, just when you thought he’d brought enough shame to the FBI, he does this: Kash Patel is trying to play off the human centipede he was surgically added to as a Halloween costume.

It really doesn’t get more pathetic than this. How can anyone take the FBI seriously when it’s run by someone attached to a literal human centipede?!

Yesterday, FBI Director Kash Patel arrived to a press conference with his mouth sewn to the anus of an unidentified woman, and his anus sewn to mouth of an unidentified man, which a spokesperson for the FBI claimed was part of Patel’s elaborate “Halloween costume.” Patel was accompanied by 12 other strangers in total, all surgically sewn together orifice-to-orifice into a human centipede, with Patel serving as the center link in the chain of nude, wailing people. Unable to answer a reporter’s question about the FBI’s unconstitutional probes of anti-ICE protestors, Patel instead scribbled “i cant wait for halloween” on a legal pad through tears, visibly suffering as the person whose anus his mouth was sewn to began to pass a heavy bowel movement into Patel. 

According to sources, a number of FBI employees were caught off-guard and dismayed by Patel’s “viscerally upsetting” press appearance, expressing outrage that “the people attached to Patel’s mouth and anus were non-FBI personnel, meaning people with zero security clearance are now privy to sensitive information concerning active investigations.”

“It’s beyond unprofessional for the acting FBI Director to wear a Halloween costume on the job, so that would be a poor excuse for conducting FBI business from the center of a human centipede even if it were true—which it clearly isn’t,” said an Executive Assistant Director at the bureau, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “To wind up in a human centipede and then blatantly lie about it just to save face speaks volumes about Kash Patel’s character. In my 20 years at the bureau, I’ve never seen leadership undermine itself in such reckless, demoralizing fashion.”

Just pitiful. Mr. Patel has single-handedly turned the FBI into a national laughingstock. 

President Trump needs to replace Kash Patel ASAP if he cares about the FBI maintaining a shred of integrity––that is, if this distraction hasn’t destroyed it entirely. Showing up to work naked, weeping, and sewn ass-to-mouth with a dozen strangers would get you fired from most other jobs, but apparently not in the Trump administration. America is so screwed, isn’t it? Ugh.