For Beatles ‘64 , now streaming on Disney+ , producer Martin Scorsese and director David Tedeschi compiled restored footage of the band’s first arrival in America, back in February 1964, when the quartet played the Ed Sullivan Show on CBS and their first US concert in Washington DC. Originally shot by filmmakers Albert & David Maysles, the footage combines with other archival material of the era to present the mood of America as Beatlemania hit its shores; new interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are featured, and Beatles ‘64 also includes appearances from Smokey Robinson, Ronnie Spector, Little Richard, and testimonials from fans who remember what the music felt like in the moment. BEATLES ‘64 : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT? The Gist: Once the Beatles got here, the Maysles brothers filmed the combo over a period of 14 days, and that footage was eventually released in various forms, including The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit . But while Beatles ‘64 incorporates a lot of it, it also includes nearly 20 never-before-seen minutes. The result is a balance between what feels familiar – like pandemonium at the airport, and John, Paul, George, and Ringo cutting it up in their initial press conference – and entire stretches that, with the value-add of careful restoration, present the quartet in crisp, candid, and completely unstructured moments. The new interviews with McCartney and Starr in ‘64 aren’t your standard sit-downs, either, but instead feature the surviving Beatles pursuing memorabilia from across their career, such as Ringo’s original Ludwig drum kit from their American performances, and reflecting on the live wire vibe that was America in 1964. “We learned it wasn’t quite the story,” Paul says of their expectations. But the Beatles themselves were discovering things, too, like the stink of classism from upper crust Brits in New York, who treated the working class boys from Liverpool like dirt. (Paul on these “posh” people: “We didn’t give a fuck .”) As the Maysles footage captures them cooped up in the Plaza Hotel, chatting with NYC radio personality Murray the K in what today would feel like a podcast, the documentary cameras also catch extended segments with the fans clamoring outside. There is a lot of screaming, of course. But Beatles ‘64 includes looks at the individual voices, faces, and fashions that were part of the Beatles fan hubbub. “They were the first white artists of their magnitude to say, ‘Yeah, we grew up listening to Black music,” Smokey Robinson says in Beatles ‘64 , and it’s a highlight of how the film ties the band’s arrival in America to how they participated in the country’s changing complexion. For the establishment, the Fab Four represented ideas they couldn’t control; for parents, a boldness that worried them. Technological advances, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and movements for Civil Rights: Beatlemania was a component in all of it as it represented the beat of a transformed world. What Movies Will It Remind You Of? Whenever it seems like they’ve finally run out of archival Beatles material, a new project comes along. Beatles ‘64 joins Let it Be , a restored version of which was released earlier this year, while back in 2021, Peter Jackson put out Get Back , an exhaustive three-part docu-series that repurposed the stuff filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg had originally shot for Let it Be . But also notable here are the films of Albert & David Maysles, the insightful documentary team whose work included Gimme Shelter and Grey Gardens . Performance Worth Watching: There are a few standout remembrances in Beatles ‘64 from fans who were there. “Music is a thing,” David Lynch says, “like fire or water or air,” and for him, the Beatles’ arrival was definitely elemental. And recalling the reaction from American parents, writer Joe Queenan says they saw the Fab Four as “The end,” a negative force for subversion. “They’re gonna subvert our youth by encouraging people to have a good time.” Memorable Dialogue: “They wanted to know everything about America, the food, the groups, the dancing,” the late Ronnie Spector says of the Beatles in an interview included in ‘64 . When they arrived at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, they already knew Spector from playing shows together in the UK. “But I’ll tell you the truth: they had to escape. So I got a limousine, we went down the back stairs, and went to Harlem. ‘Nobody’ll notice you up there.’” Sex and Skin: Nothing here. Lots of John, Paul, Ringo, and George in their shirtsleeves in the Plaza Hotel, though, which feels weirdly intimate since in those days they were always seen in suits. Our Take: The restoration work that went into Beatles ‘64 really becomes apparent in footage of the quartet as they perform live in 1964. The camera angles aren’t new, and neither are the featured songs. But the material looks and sounds better than it probably ever has before. At the Washington arena gig, everything that matters is forward in the mix – guitar parts, harmonies, Paul’s thumping bass, and Ringo’s nimble drumming, instead of that detail getting drowned in the raging mono clamor of thousands of screaming fans, as it has for decades. While there will probably never be a shortage of Beatles content aimed directly at the hearts and minds of willing and eager heads, ‘64 stands out for its careful, considered approach to presenting these guys as what they were: a kicking rock band with a ton of charisma, especially on stage. Our Call: Stream It! This is obvious if you’re a completist, as the modern restoration techniques used in Beatles ‘64 are able to present the group with a lot of new verve. But for other curious viewers, ‘64 also presents a critique of American society as it was when the Fab Four arrived to make their first big splash. Johnny Loftus ( @glennganges ) is an independent writer and editor living at large in Chicagoland. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift.Scotland’s World Cup qualifying fixture dates and kick-off times confirmed in full – including Hampden double-header
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The right frame can freeze a moment in time, creating meaning for the masses from a fist pump over a bloodied ear , a bridge crumbled by a ship , towns shredded by nature , and a victory sealed with an on-field kiss . In 2024, photographers across the U.S. captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election , to hurricanes and fires that ravaged communities, to campus protests over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The gallery from The Associated Press illustrates a new chapter of political history — the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump , the moment President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run again , the campaign sprint by Vice President Kamala Harris in Biden’s place, and the raw emotion from voters during a grueling contest ultimately won by Trump . Related Articles Hurricanes whipped through the country with devastating imagery, leaving a path of wreckage and death from Florida to Appalachia . After Hurricane Helene , Lake Lure in North Carolina was shown in a jarring photo covered in shards of debris thick enough to hide the surface of the water. Hurricane Milton ripped apart the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays. The scale of destruction experienced in some corners of the country in 2024 was hard to capture and might have been harder to fathom. That was the case when a container ship slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse and crumple around the vessel, killing construction workers on the bridge. As flames torched the landscape in California , another image captured firefighters and sheriff’s deputies pushing a vintage car away from a burning home. Elsewhere in California , one photo is aglow with bright orange flames, broken up only by the subtle features of an animal running through them. But hope also persevered in the face of devastation. In Helene’s aftermath , an image from Crystal River, Florida, shows Dustin Holmes holding hands with his girlfriend, Hailey Morgan, as they sloshed through floodwaters with her 4- and 7-year-old children to return to their flooded home. And in Manasota Key, Florida, a family was lit up by the glow of flashlights as they walked to check on their home damaged by Milton. Other photos from 2024 also grabbed the darkness and shadows to emphasize light: among them, a rocket liftoff and a total solar eclipse . And, yes, eclipse glasses were back in style for a shared moment of skygazing. But many other photos delivered a blast of color, from the spectrum of the northern lights across a Maine sky to a crew of workers wading into the deep-red of a Massachusetts cranberry bog . And, once again, Taylor Swift captured the country’s attention, even as a part of the crowd. She rushed down from the stands to kiss her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship , en route to another Super Bowl win.A number of prominent pundits, including former City defender and club ambassador Micah Richards, have questioned why the Belgium international has not been starting games amid the champions’ dramatic slump. City have not won in seven outings in all competitions – their worst run since 2008 – with De Bruyne featuring only as a substitute in the last five of those matches after recovering from a pelvic injury. The latest came with a 12-minute run-out in Sunday’s demoralising 2-0 defeat at Premier League leaders Liverpool, a result which left City 11 points off the pace and fifth in the table. Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast it appeared “there’s some sort of rift going on” between De Bruyne and Guardiola while former England striker Gary Lineker added: “It seems like all’s not well.” Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said he felt “something isn’t right” and fellow Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, the ex-Manchester United right-back, described the situation as “unusual, bizarre, strange”. Guardiola, speaking at a press conference to preview his side’s clash with Nottingham Forest, responded on Tuesday. The Spaniard said: “People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don’t want Kevin to play? “The guy who has the most talent in the final third, I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together? “He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club, but he’s been five months injured (last season) and two months injured (this year). “He’s 33 years old. He needs time to find his best, like last season, step by step. He’ll try to do it and feel better. I’m desperate to have his best.” De Bruyne has not started since being forced off at half-time of City’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan on September 18, having picked up an injury in the previous game. Both the player and manager have spoken since of the pain he was in and the need to ease back into action, but his spell on the bench has been unexpectedly long. The resulting speculation has then been exacerbated because De Bruyne is in the final year of his contract but Guardiola maintains nothing untoward has occurred. He said: “I’d love to have the Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love it to – but he is not 26 or 27 any more. “He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. You think I’m complaining? It’s normal, it’s nature. “He’s played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games and I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have. “But, always I said, he himself will not solve our problems, like Erling (Haaland) won’t solve it himself. We attack and defend together. “We want the best players back. Hopefully step by step the confidence will come back and we’ll get the best of all of us.”A look back at 2024 in photos
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic is returning to the Dallas lineup Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing the Mavericks’ two previous games with a left heel contusion. Doncic won last season’s scoring title with a career-best 33.9 points per game and is fifth in the NBA this season averaging 28.9, and seventh in assists, averaging 8.2. He had triple-doubles in three of his last four games, including his most recent appearance last Sunday with 45 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 143-133 win at Golden State. The defending Western Conference champions are 18-10, fourth in the West, and have won 13 of their last 16 games following their only losing streak of the season, a four-game skid from Nov. 8-14. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
A look back at 2024 in photosPeople are just finding out why plane window shades must be up during take-off and landing
Nandkumar M. Kamat The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-COV- 2 created a new lexicon- lockdown, social distance, brain fog, long COVID, etc. Following a public vote in which over 37,000 people had their say, Oxford University announced that the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024 is ‘brain rot’. Defined as the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state” caused by the overconsumption of trivial online content, brain rot reflects a growing anxiety about the psychological and cognitive toll of excessive internet use. In an era where digital engagement dominates daily life, the phrase encapsulates a societal reckoning with the unintended consequences of our reliance on technology for information, entertainment, and social interaction. While the internet offers unprecedented access to knowledge and connectivity, overindulgence in low-quality digital content poses significant risks to mental well-being, intellectual capacities, and physical health. Although ‘brain rot’ has surged in popularity recently, the concept is not new. The phrase dates back to American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who, in his 1854 memoir ‘Walden’, warned against the intellectual stagnation that arises from society’s preference for superficial engagement over meaningful reflection. In the 21st century, the term has been repurposed to describe the cognitive decline attributed to overindulgence in digital distractions. The rise of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube has provided fertile ground for this phenomenon. Their algorithms encourage endless scrolling through bite-sized, visually engaging, and often trivial content. This environment is particularly influential among Generation Z and Generation Alpha, who have grown up immersed in a digital ecosystem that prioritises immediate gratification and rapid consumption. The resurgence of ‘brain rot’ as a cultural concern is underscored by its staggering 230% increase in usage between 2023 and 2024. The term encapsulates behaviours such as ‘doomscrolling’, where users compulsively consume distressing or meaningless online material. While often framed humorously by younger users, the term reflects a genuine awareness of how digital habits can erode mental focus, critical thinking, and overall well-being. The effects of brain rot extend beyond humour and cultural memes. Psychologists and neuroscientists have highlighted how excessive screen time and overexposure to trivial digital content can lead to a range of cognitive and psychological issues. One of the most visible effects is a decrease in attention span. Research indicates that platforms offering short-form content, like TikTok, condition users to expect constant stimulation, making it challenging to focus on longer or more complex tasks. This fragmented attention undermines the brain’s ability to engage in deep, meaningful thought — a phenomenon Nicholas Carr described in his book ‘The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains’. Carr argued that “the internet is chipping away our capacity for concentration and contemplation”. Another significant concern is the impact on mental health. The phenomenon of social comparison, exacerbated by the curated and often idealised content on social media, can lead to feelings of inadequacy, reduced self-esteem, and even depression. Users are frequently bombarded with unattainable images and lifestyles for the average person, fostering a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. Coupled with the compulsive nature of doomscrolling, these behaviours create a feedback loop that reinforces anxiety and stress. Beyond cognitive and emotional issues, brain rot is linked to physical health problems. Excessive screen time has been shown to cause digital eye strain, neck pain (‘tech neck’), and disrupted sleep patterns due to prolonged exposure to blue light. Sleep disturbances, in turn, exacerbate cognitive decline, impair decision-making, and contribute to mental health challenges. Despite widespread concerns, some researchers caution against overgeneralising the impact of digital consumption. Critics argue that the association between screen time and cognitive decline is often correlational rather than causative. A study from UNSW Sydney found that while excessive screen time correlates with certain negative outcomes, it is difficult to establish direct causation. Moreover, the phenomenon known as the Flynn Effect—where average IQ scores have risen over the past century—suggests that cognitive abilities are not necessarily deteriorating despite increased digital engagement. These findings highlight the complexity of understanding how technology shapes the brain, indicating that individual outcomes may vary based on content quality, user habits, and personal resilience. Addressing the challenges posed by brain rot requires a multi-faceted approach that empowers individuals to regain control over their digital consumption. One effective strategy is the practice of digital detoxing, where individuals intentionally disengage from digital devices for specified periods. Activities like reading, spending time in nature, or participating in face-to-face social interactions provide meaningful alternatives that promote cognitive and emotional well-being. Mindful consumption is another crucial strategy. Users can mitigate the adverse effects of trivial digital engagement by curating online content to include educational, substantive, and enriching material. Setting time limits for social media use and avoiding addictive design features like infinite scrolling can also foster healthier habits. For younger generations, parental guidance is essential. Encouraging screen-free activities, setting clear boundaries for device use, and fostering open discussions about the impact of social media can help children develop a balanced relationship with technology. Educational initiatives also play a pivotal role in addressing brain rot. Schools and universities can incorporate digital literacy programmes that teach students about the risks of excessive digital consumption and the importance of critical thinking in navigating online content. These initiatives not only equip individuals to make informed choices but also help create a broader cultural shift toward healthier digital habits. The recognition of ‘brain rot’ as a cultural phenomenon in 2024 reflects a pivotal moment in the relationship between humanity and technology. As digital platforms evolve, the potential for cognitive and psychological harm will likely increase unless proactive measures are taken. Integrating artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and other emerging technologies into everyday life could amplify the risks of overconsumption and mental stagnation. Nicholas Carr’s warning in ‘The Shallows’ remains relevant: “As we rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence.” The future of brain rot also raises questions about societal priorities. Will pursuing digital convenience and entertainment continue to overshadow the importance of intellectual growth and mental health? Or will society embrace a more balanced approach that prioritises mindfulness, education, and well-being? The answers to these questions will shape not only individual lives but also the trajectory of human culture in an increasingly digital world. As we move forward, it is imperative to foster a critical dialogue about the role of technology in our lives and to cultivate habits that support sustained cognitive and emotional health. In doing so, we can harness the benefits of the digital age without succumbing to its pitfalls. For the youth and students of Goa, the challenges of brain rot are especially pertinent. Social media addiction and the constant influx of trivial digital content threaten to undermine this tech-savvy generation’s intellectual and creative potential. Goa’s rich heritage, natural beauty, and vibrant community offer opportunities to counter these risks. Young Goans must balance their digital lives with activities that foster deeper connections, intellectual growth, and a sense of purpose.
