(Silver Screen Capture)

By Stephen Michael Brown
Chief Film Critic, Silver Screen Capture

Real-life stories of Hollywood royalty, chronicles of singing poets and lovers, displays of supernatural super heroics and much more will vie for your attention across multiplex and media as the fall film season gets fully underway.

Filmmakers continue to showcase the movies they've been safely creating during the pandemic, and you'll get a variety of new fare to enjoy on both big screens and home streaming in the months ahead.

Anticipated sequels and franchises include "No Time to Die," the latest Daniel Craig 007 film; "Dune," which covers half of the dense sci-fi novel about outer- space wars; "Halloween Kills" with further mayhem between Michael Myers and scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis; and "Maverick," Tom Cruise's long-awaited follow-up to "Top Gun."

True-life sagas range from director Ridley Scott's chronicle of a murderous fashion family with "House of Gucci," starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver to Aaron Sorkin's "Being the Ricardos," with Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as television idols Lucy and Desi Arnaz. Two tragic legends also get the big-screen treatment as Kristen Stewart plays Princess Diana in "Spencer" and Ana de Armas embodies Marilyn Monroe in "Blonde." And "King Richard" stars Will Smith as the father and coach of the Williams tennis sisters.

After the recent successes of Marvel on television, an emboldened box office run should continue with recent Oscar winner Chloé Zhao's"Eternals," featuring an ensemble of immortal gods such as Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek plus the third in the latest "Spider-Man" trilogy," "No Way Home," injecting a bit of twisty multiverse time travel into the teen webslinger's adventures.

"Dear Evan Hansen" with Ben Platt as a troubled teenager opposite Amy Adams and Julianne Moore, ushers in a season of musicals, followed by Peter Dinklage in an acclaimed crooning performance as "Cyrano"; Andrew Garfield as an artist on the brink of hitting it big as he faces an early mid-life crisis in "Tick Tick Boom"; the Colombia-set Disney animated family feature "Encanto," about a magical family and Steven Spielberg's version of "West Side Story," starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as star-crossed lovers in the ganglands of New York.

Awards season will heat up when Martin Scorsese presents "Killers of the Flower Moon," starring Leo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro, Jane Campion showcases "Power of the Dog" with Kirsten Dunst and Benedict Cumberbatch, and Guillermo del Toro delivers "Nightmare Alley" with Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett. The next movie by the droll Wes Anderson, "The French Dispatch," features talent such as Timothée Chalamet and Bill Murray.

Some other anticipated fare includes "Don't Look Up," a comet comedy with DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence; Kenneth Branagh's personal black-and- white historical drama "Belfast" with Jamie Dornan and Judi Dench; and the artsy "Last Night in Soho" with eccentric leading lady Anya Taylor-Joy. Plus there's some unexpected casting including Denzel Washington as the title character in "Tragedy of Macbeth" and Brendan Fraser as a 600-pound man in "The Whale."

There's something for everyone, and expect these and many more to receive their bite-sized reviews weekly at www.SilverScreenCapture.com.

(NewsUSA) - The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to live most of their lives, including work, entertainment, and personal interactions, online. All this screen time has taken a toll, as more people of all ages are reporting symptoms of "cybersickness."

Cybersickness was a phenomenon before the pandemic, but had been studied mostly in the context of up-and-coming virtual reality games. Cybersickness is a form of motion sickness, characterized by nausea, disorientation, and oculomotor disturbances, according to a study of the problem by Kay Stanney and colleagues, published in 2020 in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.

A recent article in National Geographic explains how cybersickness is seasickness in reverse. Instead of your body moving while your perception thinks you should be still, such as the experience of being on a boat while looking at a fixed horizon. In a virtual world your body is still, but your senses are perceiving motion, whether through video games, zoom meetings, or just endless scrolling.

Fortunately, the dizziness and discomfort of too much screen time can be eased by some of the same strategies that work on other types of motion sickness.

For example, the Sea-Band wristband is designed to relieve the symptoms of motion and travel sickness naturally through the use of acupressure. Specifically, the Sea-Bands include studs sewn inside that put gentle, steady pressure on the P6 (Nei-Kuan) acupressure point. Studies have shown that applying pressure to this point relieves the nausea associated with motion sickness.

"Because the bands do not use drugs, they do not cause any of the side effects associated with anti-nausea drugs and can be worn on each wrist whenever you feel nauseous," according to the company website.

Sea-Band wristbands can be used by anyone, adults or children, and usually have an effect on symptoms within five minutes of putting one on, according to the company. Sea-Bands are latex-free, washable, and reusable, and they can be used in combination with other anti-nausea medications.

Sea-Bands can help relieve not only the nausea and dizziness associated with motion sickness and cybersickness, but also post-surgery nausea, nausea associated with chemotherapy, and nausea associated with pregnancy. And Sea-Band products are HSA- and FSA-approved, so they are covered by many health insurance plans.

For more information, visit sea-band.com.

(NewsUSA) - With school back in session, now is a good time for college students to consider their potential career options.

Unfortunately, many students know little about the financial planning profession. This includes being unfamiliar with what financial planners do, the variety of career opportunities available, the skillsets that are helpful in the profession and how the career can be personally rewarding.

What Financial Planners Do

Financial planning is much more than working with spreadsheets, budgets, sales and stock tickers.

Financial planners help individuals and families make sound financial and investment decisions to achieve life goals based on their priorities and fundamental values. They can help their clients save for college, pay off debt, purchase a home, start a business, preserve family wealth and plan for retirement. Financial planners can also help businesses design and manage retirement plans and other financial welfare programs for their employees.

Most people think all financial planners are "certified," but this isn't true. Just about anyone can use the title "financial planner," but a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional is a financial planner that has met rigorous qualifications. Most important, a CFP® professional made a commitment to CFP Board to act in the best interests of their client.

A CFP® professional establishes a one-on-one relationship with each of their clients. They also provide holistic advice to guide clients through all aspects of their finances and help them maximize their potential for meeting their financial goals.

Career Opportunity

The financial planning profession is in a period of significant growth.

For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 19,200 openings for personal financial advisors are projected each year throughout the next decade. Many of these openings are expected to result from the need to replace advisors who transfer to different occupations. What's more, part of this aging wave includes advisors themselves, many of whom -- about 37% -- are expected to retire over the next decade.

As for opportunity, financial advisor-related jobs are ranked fourth in "Best Business Jobs" by U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, those who obtain credentials, such as CFP® certification, will likely have the best job prospects.

Helpful Skills

To help clients reach their financial goals, financial planners need knowledge of budgeting, taxes, financial products, investments and investment markets.

They also need to possess analytical skills, as it is common for entry-level professionals to start their career supporting a financial planner. In this role they would gather and maintain client data, enter it into financial planning software, and then analyze and examine financial plans with the financial planner or the financial planning team.

As for interpersonal skills, students considering a career in financial planning should enjoy working on teams, helping and responding to people, and communicating with others. They should also enjoy listening to people's needs, asking questions and developing financial plans -- while possessing high integrity and a "coaching" mindset.

A Rewarding Career

A financial planner also enjoys the rewards that come with helping their clients bring all of the pieces of their financial lives together. For example, a career in financial planning can provide:

• Personal fulfillment of helping others. Financial planners help others enjoy secure and productive lives by guiding them through key financial decisions.
• Mental stimulation. A good financial planner knows more than just money, they understand the psychology of their clients and enjoy helping people achieve sound financial goals.
• Work-life balance. Financial planners have the freedom and flexibility to balance their personal and professional lives. The variety of career options enables them to build the work-life balance they want.
• Flexibility. Financial planning careers take many paths, from working at firms of all sizes to striking out on your own.

Students considering a career in financial planning should check to see if their college or university has a CFP Board Registered Program and read stories from CFP® professionals about their careers in financial planning and why they love what they do.

By Heidi Splete, Senior Writer 
For NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - Cooling towers, a key component on large buildings, require special levels of cleaning to control biocontaminants including Legionella, heterotrophic bacteria, and others. However, poorly maintained towers, which are often treated with corrosive chemicals, can become 'super spreaders' of Legionnaires' Disease, an acute bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract that is not rare and causes severe pneumonia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, potable water is the most frequent source of Legionella exposure, but cases have been linked to cooling towers. Because it is difficult to distinguish from other forms of pneumonia, unless specifically investigated, many cases of Legionnaires' Disease go undiagnosed and unreported.

In August 2019, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) reported that the real number of Legionnaires' disease cases may be as many as 70,000 cases per year in the United States.

Clean, efficient, and effective treatment of cooling towers can improve the air quality and reduce the spread of disease-causing bacteria into the atmosphere. A novel, chemical-free technology, the Plasma Disinfection System (PDS) uses a combination of high-temperature plasma streamers, ultraviolet rays, and ozone to reduce the impact of air- and water-borne bacteria and viruses that can spread in public spaces through cooling towers.

The PDS is a state-of-the-art, fully-automated, integrated treatment technology for liquids.

What makes PDS solution unique is its combination of three major treatment technologies: novel plasma (the 4th state of matter) plus two traditional technologies (biocidal ions and hypochlorite), that work together to provide continuous reduction and management of Legionella and bacterial growth in water systems. The PDS also reduces the use of corrosive chemicals, thereby vastly extending the life and warranty life of costly mechanical equipment.

Public health organizations in the United States and worldwide have expressed concerns over the risks for Legionnaire's Disease and other respiratory infections due to poor management of cooling towers. Private industry has responded by publishing guidance for water management programs.

In June 2017, the CDC published a toolkit for businesses on "Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth & Spread in Buildings;" the toolkit stated that "legionella water management programs are now an industry standard for large buildings in the United States."

Visit www.reverseionizer.com for more information about how Reverse Ionizer's chemical-free technology can improve air quality in public spaces and reduce the spread of disease.

(NewsUSA) - Despite challenges over the past year, more than half of U.S. adults are optimistic about the next six to 18 months, according to two nationwide surveys commissioned by the Contact Lens Institute. That translates to people planning to socialize more and concentrate more on health -- including eyesight.

"America is once again focused on the future. Great vision and contact lens options play a huge role in turning plans into reality. That's why we launched See Tomorrow (SeeTomorrowNow.com) and our companion sweepstakes, pinpointing what U.S. residents want as the pandemic subsides and helping them get there," says Contact Lens Institute Executive Director Stan Rogaski.

The research uncovered five eye-opening trends taking place across the country:

Things are Looking Up. 59% of the more than 1,000 adults surveyed report they are optimistic about the next six months. The data is similar for 12-month and 18-month horizons, with 56% and 57% of people saying they are optimistic, respectively.

Plans to Do More. Presented with several options about what people wanted to do more of as restrictions are lifted, approximately one in two said they want to dine out (52%), gather with friends (48%), and travel (45%) more. At least one in three are craving more live entertainment (34%) and shopping (33%), and just under a quarter of U.S. adults (24%) are eager to take on more physical activities, such as personal fitness or sports.

More Spending Ahead. Consumers strongly affirmed they would spend on what matters most. Compared to before the pandemic, 35% are willing to spend more on things that improve their future, 38% are willing to spend more on things that improve their health, and 32% are willing to spend more on things that make them feel good about themselves.

Healthy Eyes Matter. An overwhelming 89% of respondents indicated their eyesight and eye health were important to the pursuit of a promising future. That tied mobility as the highest ranking health factor, with heart/cardiac health trailing closely at 88%. Roughly four in 10 U.S. adults are thinking more about their overall health than before the pandemic -- with 25% specifically thinking more about their vision.

Missing Out on Contact Lenses. 57% of adults who require vision correction know little about contacts or have no opinion. They're missing out on incredible advances in comfort and vision quality, plus innovations that extend everyday contact lens use from children to seniors.

"Considering how much people are linking good vision to their future prospects, there's no better time to ask your eye doctor about contact lenses," says Dr. Rick Weisbarth, an optometrist and immediate past chairperson for the Contact Lens Institute. "Many people who traditionally couldn't wear contact lenses are happy to find they now can, and quickly gain all the sight and lifestyle benefits that align with their post-pandemic plans."

The See Tomorrow Sweepstakes can make it easier for Americans to follow their dreams. The Contact Lens Institute is giving away $25,000 in prizes, including daily draws for Amazon.com gift cards and three grand prize membership packages provided by LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, and City Sports Club. There is no purchase necessary. Legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., 18+ can enter and view the Official Rules by visiting SeeTomorrowNow.com through September 24, 2021. Void where prohibited.

Contact Lens Institute members include Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

See full-sized image here.

(NewsUSA) - Parenting has been described as "the toughest job you'll ever love," and figuring out how to keep your baby safe can be one of the most difficult elements of parenting. Child safety in the home is especially important as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic keeps more young children at home for longer periods of time.

"The best way to conduct a home safety check is to get down on all fours and look up at the world from the point of view of a crawling child," says Carolyn Ziegler, co-founder and product development director for Dreambaby.®

"It's amazing the hidden dangers you will identify," she adds.

The right child safety products are designed to make life easier for parents while keeping children safer at home and on the go.

Dreambaby® is a family-owned company with more than 20 years of experience in developing affordable, easy-to-use safety products.

With more young children at home (and more parents still working from home), safety products such as the Lever Door Lock from Dreambaby® provides peace of mind for parents by preventing curious children from exploring potentially dangerous areas of the house, such as laundry rooms, basements, or garages. The lock fits most lever-door handles, and can easily be engaged and disengaged by adults without the need for a key.

The arrival and increased distribution of coronavirus vaccines means that more people are venturing out of the house, and taking their babies with them. But child safety doesn't stop at the front door.

The Dreambaby® Non-Contact Rapid Response Infrared Forehead Thermometer provides a reliable reading within seconds of holding the device approximately one inch from the skin, so parents and caregivers can determine immediately whether fever is present.

Once you are out and about, the Dreambaby® Oxford Baby Carrier keeps your baby more secure, comfortable, and close to you. The carrier is designed to be worn three ways, with baby in front facing inward, in front facing outward, or riding backpack style with the carrier strapped on the parent or caregiver's back. Special features include an ergonomic design, easily adjustable and removable headrest, padded shoulder straps, lumbar support, and breathable mesh lining.

Visit dream-baby.com for more information about ways to keep your children safer, healthier, and happier.

(NewsUSA) -The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to encourage time outdoors as a way to gather safely and reduce stress in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, shade structures have become an integral part of everyday life. A customized shade structure encourages outdoor activities by providing both sun protection and physical distancing.

Shade 'n Net, one of America's largest manufacturers of fabric shade systems, can design a customized shade structure that will enhance the value of a home or business. Shade structures create new usable space outdoors by covering a pool, patio, or play set, and they can block up to 97% of UV radiation to help protect against skin cancer.

Shade 'n Net is a family-owned company with a long history of success and a team of experts that can work with architects and customers to design the perfect shade structure.

"Structures are manufactured with top quality steel components and high-density polyethylene material that allows heat to escape while protecting anyone and anything underneath it from the sun's harmful UV rays," according to the company website. The structures are warrantied for 20 years, and the fabric covers are warrantied for 10 years.

Other uses for Shade 'n Net structures at home include covering for driveways, boat or RV storage, and outdoor pet areas.

But that's not all: customized shade structures provide solutions for many other settings to promote safe, comfortable outdoor interaction.

Schools can utilize shade structures strategically in drop off/pick up areas, sport courts, playgrounds, outdoor cafeteria seating, outdoor learning spaces, amphitheaters, bleachers and dugouts, spectator seating, covered staff parking, covered bus parking, and covered bike racks.

Restaurants can use customized shade structures to meet the increased customer interest in outdoor dining, to create curb appeal, and to provide comfort for customers waiting in line or in curbside pickup areas. Car detailers can provide shade for employees who are working outside for long periods; day care centers can create covered outdoor spaces; offices can provide covered parking areas.

Community venues that can benefit from the safety and comfort of shade structures include churches seeking covered spaces for overflow attendance, foodbank distribution, and other activities such as Bible studies and classes. Parks can enhance the experience for visitors of all ages by creating covered basketball courts, splash pads, playgrounds, dog parks, picnic tables, and performance stages.

Visit shadesolutions.com for more information.

(NewsUSA) - Transportation technology is critical to the American economy, as are the skilled technicians who help maintain steady supply chains and get goods where they need to go.

The demand for transportation technicians is surging. However, many students planning their futures and individuals considering career changes don't realize the opportunities and the potential for success in transportation technology and repair.

Often underestimated as "blue collar," or "grease monkey" jobs, today's transportation technicians are actually high-tech "new collar" workers who depend on their computer skills and fluency with the latest in digital technology.

"A modern car runs on approximately 100 million lines of computer code, more than twice that of the NASA space shuttle," says Mike Pressendo, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for TechForce Foundation.

"Now, with electric vehicles set to become more common than ever before, the list of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills transportation technicians need continues to grow. These are skilled, well-paying, technical jobs that literally keep America rolling."

According to a 2021 survey, 62 percent of high school students want to forge their own educational path, with 29 percent saying that the pandemic's financial impact makes them less likely to attend a four-year college. Unfortunately, many students don't know about the tech-school career options available to them. A staggering 63 percent said they wish their school provided more information about different types of fulfilling careers.

The TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has created the first and only social network designed and gamified for tech students and professional technicians to connect with each other, schools, industry and employers. TechForce connects students and career changers to a career guide, available at TechForce.org/CareerGuide. The TechForce social media also showcases the "Because I'm a Tech..." campaign, which features a diverse group of technicians sharing their stories of successful and secure skilled technician careers.

TechForce's social network supports the growth and placement of skilled technicians, with opportunities for career exploration, scholarships, free technical training and events. The online platform also connects schools with industry resources.

"Next-gen techs are digital-native, yet there was no commercial-free digital environment for them to connect with peers, showcase their talents, check out employers and compete for points, status and prizes," according to TechForce CEO, Jennifer Maher.

"TechForce is the first and only social network of its kind, full of engaging content and designed by GenZers for GenZ as the place for aspiring and working techs to explore and advance their careers."

For additional information about TechForce's social network, visit JoinTechForce.org.

(NewsUSA) -As we head into fall and go back to school, it's more important than ever to carry on with healthy hydration habits from the long, hot days of summer. The human body is made up of 50% water. In order to achieve peak hydration needs, kids ages 4-8 require five cups of water per day and kids ages 8+ require 7-8 cups per day.

"Unfortunately, water isn't the most tasty or easy-to-drink liquid so often we substitute it with other things such as milk, sports drinks, OJ or fruit concentrates," says James Mayo, Co-Founder and CEO of SOS Hydration. "These substitutions offer some hydration benefits, but also come with excessive amounts of sugar and high calories that kids don't need. Just take a peek at the nutrition panels the next time you reach for one of these beverages. Many of these drinks disguise their contents on the front by clever marketing or small pack sizes, but look at the truth panel on the side to see the amount of calories and also in many cases the amount of artificial ingredients. A carton of OJ or apple juice can have 100 calories and a fruit concentrate pouch can have 60 with some cartons that call themselves honest still having a heaping of 40 calories and excessive sugar."

The next option for hydration you might consider are the water- enhancing powders. Many of these products tout ultra hydration but, again, one would be wise to visit the nutrition panels first as they are often loaded with artificial ingredients. "Some electrolyte drink options for kids on the marketplace lead people astray with their 'organic' ingredients or 'physician- recommended' but be wary of sugar, which is not the ideal product for kid's hydration," James warns.

This truth led SOS Hydration to launch a healthier choice for kids' hydration: SOS Kids, featuring PAW Patrol. SOS Kids, now available at Walmart in-store and online, was specially-formulated for daily hydration by SOS Hydration Co-Founder and board certified Internal Medicine physician Dr. Blanca Lizaola-Mayo to help keep children optimally hydrated, and actually avoid becoming dehydrated in the first place -- a condition that compromises the body and mind in a variety of ways. SOS Kids has only three grams of sugar in a 12-ounce serving; is boosted with Vitamins A and C, minerals Zinc and Magnesium; and contains no artificial additives -- all designed to keep kids ahead of their hydration needs so they can perform better and get more from their days.

This launch coincides with SOS Hydration's first annual "National Family Hydration Awareness Month" initiative this September, during which the public is invited to learn about the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits of pre-hydrating to avoid becoming dehydrated.

To learn more, visit www.SOSKidsHydration.com.