Latest news with #BuzzLightyear
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Disney to open theme park in Abu Dhabi after abandoning diversity push
Disney is to open its first Middle Eastern theme park in a country where homosexuality is illegal after the US media giant watered down its diversity policies. The company has unveiled plans to open a new resort in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which it said will be 'authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati'. Disney's decision to build a resort in the Arab country suggests a significant change in outlook at the entertainment giant, which has long prided itself on its LGBTQ+ friendly stance. Homosexuality is outlawed in the Emirati capital and punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. In 2022, the UAE banned Disney's animated Buzz Lightyear film from cinemas over a same-sex kiss. DEI programmes scaled back The company was previously locked in a long-running legal dispute with Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, over controversial state laws restricting the teaching of sexuality in schools. Disney criticised the bill, dubbed 'Don't Say Gay', prompting Mr DeSantis to strip the company of its right to self-govern its Walt Disney World park, which it had held for more than 50 years. This year, Disney scaled back its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes. It was one of several major US companies to water down their DEI strategies amid pressure from Donald Trump's administration. Despite this, in March, the Federal Communications Commission, the US communications watchdog, said it was opening an investigation into Disney's DEI practices, accusing the company of operating 'discriminatory initiatives'. Disney said it would be 'engaging with the commission to answer its questions.' While there have been no known prosecutions for same-sex activity in the UAE over the past decade, there have been numerous accounts of arrests on public decency grounds for kissing in public or cross-dressing. UAE is a major tourist hub On Wednesday, Bob Iger, the Disney chief executive, said the company had studied the Middle Eastern region 'very carefully' before choosing Abu Dhabi for its latest park. He added: 'Obviously building a theme park in a location is a huge endorsement of that location. It speaks volumes in terms of the ability of that location to sustain a Disney theme park.' Disney said it had chosen the UAE because it is a four-hour flight from a third of the world's population and because of its status as a major tourist hub. Roughly 120m passengers travel through Dubai and Abu Dhabi each year. Disney has struck a deal with Abu Dhabi-based Miral Group, which will oversee the construction of the site. The resort will be located on Yas Island, a pleasure hub already home to Warner Bros and Ferrari theme parks. It is the company's seventh theme park and first new site in 15 years. The original Disneyland was opened in California in 1955.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
She woke up to cicadas buzzing in her head. Here's how she found relief.
She woke up to cicadas buzzing in her head. Here's how she found relief. Show Caption Hide Caption Siblings with hearing loss have magical ASL chat with Buzz Lightyear A trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, turned magical for siblings Jabez and Evelyn when they met Buzz Lightyear, who knew American Sign Language. Victoria Banks woke up from a nap one afternoon in October 2022 to the sound of cicadas buzzing in her head. The Nashville singer-songwriter waited a full day with the high-pitched, pulsing sound before calling her doctor to check her ears. After a full workup, he said the problem wasn't her ears – it was her brain. Banks, 52, learned she was suffering from tinnitus, the perception of sound when there's no external source. If the brain doesn't receive the sound signals it's expecting, it tries to compensate by creating noise, said Emily McMahan, an audiologist who practices in Anchorage, Alaska. "It's the overproduction of brain activity that the person is perceiving as a sound," she said. Tinnitus typically wanes or goes away for about 80% of the patients who report experiencing it, McMahan said. But traditional treatment methods for the remaining 20%, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or hearing aids, aren't always effective. That changed in March 2023 when a new medical device called Lenire was introduced to the U.S. market. Researchers found over 91% of tinnitus patients saw an improvement with Lenire, according to a Nature study of about 200 patients published April 28. But audiologists say the bimodal, neuromodulation device, which retails for about $4,500, isn't for everyone. Only patients with severe cases who are the most dedicated to treating their tinnitus should be considered, said Patty Kalmbach, an audiologist in Denver, Colorado. "When it's put on the proper patient for the proper reasons, the patient does well," she said. "It's definitely not the only tool in our toolbox but it's been a great tool for us to offer to patients who are distraught and it's their final straw." What is tinnitus? Tinnitus can be triggered by prolonged noise exposure, age-related hearing loss, ear trauma or injuries or medical conditions like blood vessel problems or tumors, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Certain medications, such as chemotherapy, have also been associated with developing tinnitus. Between 10% and 25% of adults experience what's medically termed tinnitus, according to the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, but hearing the sound for three months or more is considered chronic tinnitus. Although it can be characterized by a ringing, pulsing, buzzing, hissing or squealing sound, audiologists say the source of the condition lies in the brain's neural networks. People with tinnitus may experience frustration, problems sleeping, relationship troubles, difficulty concentrating, heightened anxiety, irritability and mental health issues. What's the name for that? Easily annoyed by noises like gum smacking or cereal slurping. 'It gave me relief... it gave me power' Banks was also at the end of her rope right before finding Lenire. Like Carrasco, she tried dietary supplements, meditation, oils and other methods suggested by Internet forums. By July 2023, more than eight months after her tinnitus first appeared, the cicada infestation in her head didn't subside. She had difficulty concentrating on her music and her anxiety was at an all-time high. 'It felt like there's something broken in my body that's never going to be fixed,' she said. 'The inability to control it is probably the hardest thing. You feel powerless.' The Lenire device, which looks like an original iPod, sends currents of tongue stimulation that correspond with noises the patient hears through headphones. Patients must wear the device for at least 60 minutes a day for 12 weeks. Banks wore her Lenire device 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night. The tongue stimulations felt like fizzy candy, she said. The device works by training the brain to ignore the tinnitus noise and pay attention to the "right" noises, said Ross O'Neill, inventor of Lenire and founding CEO of Neuromod, a medical device company. "Your brain only has so much attention it can give to any one thing," he said. As patients use Lenire, the device "gradually dilutes" the tinnitus sound. Banks' tinnitus began improving after four months of using Lenire. 'It gave me relief,' Banks said. 'It gave me power over something that I didn't have power over.' Lenire isn't for everyone Lenire works differently for each patient and the key to success is consistency, said Kalmbach, from Denver, Colorado. She doesn't recommend the device to patients who have mild tinnitus or aren't bothered by the noises they perceive. In these cases, treatment can risk worsening their tinnitus by drawing more attention to the noise. For those who can benefit from Lenire, "they need to do the work," she said. This means dedicating at least 60 minutes a day to the device without fail or distractions. The treatment is less likely to work if patients skip days or use Lenire while doing other activities, such as watching television or responding to e-mails. It also means improving lifestyle factors that can impact tinnitus severity such as cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and stressors; improving sleep; and treating other mental health conditions. The device is also not recommended for those who have an implantable device; are pregnant; have epilepsy; have conditions that impact tongue sensitivity; or have mouth lesions, sores or inflammation. The device also shouldn't be used for people with objective tinnitus, which originates from the ear canal as opposed to the brain. Some tinnitus patients have also found relief with other treatment options, but sound therapy "is for a very specific group of patients and it's definitely not for everyone," Kalmbach said. "Lenire is a great treatment but I also think it depends on whose hands it is in." Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pixar Celebrates 'Toy Story''s Upcoming 30th Anniversary with a Clip That Will Give You All the Nostalgic Feels
Pixar is celebrating 30 years of Toy Story. In celebration of the upcoming anniversary of the first of the beloved children's films, the animation studio took a look back at some of the toys' biggest moments while sharing a special message. "One story changed the way we see toys forever," reads a caption between scenes from the films. "Some friendships only get better with time." In addition to sharing the clip on YouTube, Pixar also shared it across other social media with the caption, "30 years of friendship & beyond! 🚀 This year, join us in celebrating the iconic legacy of Toy Story. ❤️ #ToyStory30." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: The Most Popular Toys at the 1995 Toy Fair May Come as a Surprise — Buzz Lightyear, Teacher Barbie and More The first film was released in November 1995 by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, and explored what toys are up to when the kids who own them aren't around. Toy Story saw a happy-go-lucky cowboy figurine named Woody (Tom Hanks) have his world shaken up when his owner Andy (John Morris) received a cool, brand new action figure by the name of Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Hanks and Allen — plus a slew of other stars — reprised their roles in Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019), as well as numerous specials and short films. Chris Evans took over the voice of Buzz in the 2022 spin-off Lightyear, which was not as commercially or critically successful as the main films. The beloved Pixar franchise, known for its heartwarming and nostalgic tales, is set to return with a brand-new adventure. During Disney's D23 expo in August 2024, Pixar shared details about what's next for Buzz, Woody and their toy friends, as well as announcing that the fifth film will be released in June 2026. Director Andrew Stanton, a key figure in the creation of the Toy Story universe, will take the helm and said at D23 that the latest installment will tackle contemporary issues, particularly the impact of technology on childhood play. 'In Toy Story 5 the toys' jobs get exponentially harder when our toy crew goes head to head with what kids are obsessed with today: electronics,' he said at the event. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SeaWorld: Aquatica water park springing into Aloha to Summer event
Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando's water park, is gearing up its springtime event named Aloha to Summer Celebration. The programming will include sand-castle artists, family-friendly dance party, games such as cornhole and ring toss (with prizes), all preceded by a welcome celebration with leis and tropical punch. Aloha to Summer eats will include limited-time island-inspired options such as teriyaki pineapple burgers and ponzu pork dumplings. There's also a new Tex-Mex men at the water park's Kookaburra Kitchen plus tropical sweets such as Hawaiian crumble Dippin' Dots. Disney to shut down Buzz Lightyear ride and give it a new spin The festivities, included with regular Aquatica admission, will be available Saturdays and Sundays between March 29 and May 11. The park's usual array of slides, lazy rivers and splash areas also will be in operation. Once Aloha to Summer wraps up, Aquatica will saw hello to AquaGlow, its after-hours, neon-driven, separately ticketed event. For more information, go to Email me at dbevil@ BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at Legoland Florida plans new roller coaster for 2026
Buzz Feed
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
36 Funny Photos That Make Me Laugh Uncontrollably Every Single Time I See Them
1. This person who shared my hatred of Cybertrucks: 2. This person who warned people about scamming his wife: 3. This person' shower curtain: 4. This person who wrote the work schedule and hadn't realized what they'd done: 5. This person who didn't read the card before giving it to their wife: 6. This person who commented on someone's camouflage attire: 7. This person who labeled parts of the toilet: 8. This person who gave their grandpa a nice mug: 9. This restaurant that had a special Valentine's day deal: 10. This person who put up this wall art at the doctor's office: 11. This person who added some accessories to their bumper: 12. This person who dismembered this poor shopping cart: 13. This person who put a note on this cookie box: 14. This person who botched this design and made it look like it was BBL parking: 15. This person who needs to change their license plate ASAP: 16. This restaurant that had the perfect menu for indecisive customers: 17. This person who was trying their best to go no-contact: 18. This delivery person who followed instructions and put someone's package under their doormat: 19. This person who farted next to their friend's smart thermostat: 20. This person who made this trick sign: 21. This person who told their mom to go outside and look for their package: u/razor10000 / Via 22. This person who encouraged other drivers to collide into them: u/mawktheone / Via 23. This person who created these little sympathy cards: u/nitro_miiike / Via 24. This person who put a not-so-welcoming doormat in front of their home: u/Grasscutter101 / Via 25. This person whose bumper accessory was Buzz Lightyear saving Woody: u/I_Did_it_4_Da_L0lz / Via 26. This person who put a message of..."self love" on a tissue box: u/superfunny / Via 27. This person who announced that they got a raise by sending their friend this picture: u/loanmagic24 / Via 28. These IT employees who presented their coworker with this cake at their going away party: u/ultramagnes23 / Via 29. This rideshare driver who offered a list of different ride experiences: u/PmP_Eaz / Via 30. This person who had a sense of humor after getting a bad review: u/Sclerodermasucks17 / Via 31. This person who carved this Halloween pumpkin: u/RudyWillingham / Via 32. This person gifted their coworker these VERY specific snacks after they broke their toe: u/Brandeeno2245 / Via 33. This person with diabetes who labeled the candy in her house for when her blood sugar gets low: u/3nd1ess / Via 34. The person who gave a glass bottle recycling truck a clever nickname: u/misrdanskellinika / Via 35. This kid who literally did what their parent asked: u/Darzin / Via 36. And finally, this person who put up some ~unique~ Halloween decorations: u/Liteboyy / Via
