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I think our cab driver thought we were a bit mad. “You just got here from America and yer goin’ to Belfast?” Yes, yes we were.We killed some time (and got a snack!) at a fantastic coffee shop called Coffee Angel which is directly across from the train station. Delicious coffee and pastries, and a much needed sit-down after a very long journey. Due to rail work, train service was suspended for part of the way and we boarded buses for a portion of the journey. Signs were non-existent for the bus diversion and there was confusion among the non-locals, but all went smoothly regardless, and the scenery was lovely regardless of the mode of transport. I do wish I’d had a proper window seat for the first bit of rail travel, but once we changed seats after the bus portion I was happy! We arrived to Belfast’s Great Victoria Street Station and walked the 5 minutes to our hotel- The Europa. The Europa is centrally located, comfortable, and historic. It’s known as “the most bombed hotel in Europe” as it withstood 36 bomb attacks during “The Troubles”. While the hotel has clearly been renovated (it’s beautiful now! ), there’s a photo wall that shows it in various states of damage. We are both history nuts, so this was fascinating. After checking into the hotel and getting settled, we went to Crown Bar across the street. This Victorian-era “gin palace” has got to be one of the most beautiful drinking establishments in the world- we were blown away by the ornate interior.We were able to get a snug right away (there are 10 original snugs- small wooden booths, with mirrors, gunmetal plates, and even a bell to ring for service), and had a proper Guinness. We tried to imagine what it would have been like there in the late 1800s! Then we walked around the city center. It was a Saturday in November, and the streets were packed with shoppers. We visited the stunning Belfast City Hall and took in their “100 Years of Northern Ireland” exhibit. We saw Belfast’s Big Fish (or “The Salmon of Knowledge”), first installed in 1999 and covered in ceramic tiles depicting scenes from the city’s history. We took so many pictures of street art and amazing architecture that our phone batteries were nearly dead by late afternoon! We decided to take a black cab tour with Paddy Campbell’s Belfast Famous Black Cab Tours. Our driver took us to sites in both Protestant and Catholic areas, and gave us his perspective on “The Troubles”. Fascinating, heartbreaking, and profound. We saw murals, peace walls, memorials, and the longest continuous wall of street art in Europe. After the tour we were ready to warm up with a good meal! We had dinner reservations at Coppi in Cathedral Quarter. The meal was wonderful, just wonderful. They serve Cicchetti, or small plates, and we had delicious Italian food in a lovely, cozy atmosphere. After dinner we went to The Dirty Onion and Yardbird for a pint and some live music. A four-piece band played traditional Irish folk tunes. Beautiful music, the perfect ending to the day. Early the next morning we had breakfast at St Georges Market, a Victorian covered market that has a Sunday morning brunch event complete with a live jazz band. The food, music, and atmosphere were incredible. We even picked up several gifts for family back home from some of the fantastic craft vendors. I had “Ulster Fry” a traditional Northern Irish breakfast (soda bread, potato bread, eggs, tomato and sausage). My husband had a crepe with homemade lemon curd and we shared a bacon butty. Oh my goodness, the food- amazing! After breakfast we walked a bit, taking in more of the beautiful architecture before parting ways with Belfast. When we boarded our late morning train to our next destination (Portrush, to see the Giant’s Causeway), we both agreed Belfast left quite an impression. Next time: Giants, castles, haunted hotels, and coastal adventures!Other recommended stops if you have time (we didn’t but these were recommended by our cab driver! ): Titanic Belfast Museum, Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum, Crumlin Road Gaol, and Belfast Castle.

What I learned in Belfast: Belfast is easy to navigate by foot, but there are lovely cabs everywhere. Just don’t try to tip cab drivers, they absolutely do not want you to, trust me! Learn the slang for money (quid). Use pound sterling, not euro, in Northern Ireland. And if you want to take pictures of murals, be respectful of the fact that these images are meaningful to locals and often depict very recent events in the city’s history.

Rea is from Raleigh, NC, she works as a Librarian and is a History Geek. Her main hobbies include reading, travel and spending time with her Husband, Jack. She runs a travel blog called @CashTipsandPlanesTickets on Instagram. We are extremely excited that Rea will be sharing her adventures, tips and stories from her travels with us here at the Storyteller.

With thanks to: Rea Patterson, The Storyteller Blog Editor: Mishka Maharaj Design: Kayla Tweedie.

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Welcome to the blog! My name is Mishka and I am a graduate from Montreal. I am the founder and editor of The Storyteller. I love travelling and hearing stories from around the world. This blog is a platform where I tell my travel stories and also showcase other voices, this allows others to tell stories of their adventures, tips and advice on travelling in a creative and expressive way.

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When we travel, we explore, learn and discover. Traveling expands our hearts and minds, it creates deep connections and endless stories. We know that not everyone has the resources to travel but one can read and dream. So let us share some stories, let’s inspire each other and make dreams come true. -Mishka #thetravelstoryteller 🌍📝🗺✈️

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%d bloggers like this:It’s been over 2 years in the making but the time has finally arrived! We are thrilled to welcome Bored Ape #9600 to the Zedd Squad! pic.twitter.com/lBhmVXnuD0

It is unclear exactly how much Zedd paid for the NFT as he did not provide details of the transaction. Based on OpenSea activity, it appears he purchased it privately from Linden0521, who bought it for 69.69 ETH ($82,233) at the time.

Recently, Zedd has been an active participant in the Web3 space. He has launched his second NFT collection, Genesis Pass and also dropped another on MoonPay’s project for launching utility-focused NFTs, HyperMint.

The BAYC is one of the most successful NFT collections in the world with a floor price of over $100,000. Some of the notable holders include Logan Paul, Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Neymar, Madonna, and more.

Many music artists like Zedd have jumped on the NFT wagon. The Weeknd, Nas, Eminem, Kings of Leon, and Dolly Parton, to name a few. The trend seems to be picking up as the music industry explores Web3 options.

However, not everyone was excited about Zedd joining Yuga Labs’ biggest collection as some criticized the musician for buying an NFT in the bear market. A debate ensued between NFT supporters and critics and whether it was wise for Zedd to invest while others called it a “worthless investment.”

Zedd also shared: “Web 3 gaming/socials/utilities/everything is in total infancy right now.” “It’s interesting to witness the process. Makes me understand more and more why there was so much hype (aka = potential).”

The record producer went on adding: “People are scared of change. It’s silly to laugh at a new technology that’s barely 2 years old but I get it. I think it’s super cool to get to be here I’m the early stages of everything. I remember getting made fun of when I made music on a computer myself.”

Some Web3 enthusiasts even expressed regret for not being able to buy a BAYC NFT when it was affordable. Early BAYC adopters purchased one for only 0.08 ETH during the initial mint on May 1, 2021.

The NFT community showed tremendous support for Zedd joining the Bored Ape Yacht Club, and many shared congratulatory messages on Twitter as well.

“web3 is dead, nfts aren’t doing anything..”

me browsing through these slides: pic.twitter.com/PXcLNd3OP4

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At the intersection of digital art and the NFT future, there is ZestBloom.

ZestBloom, on track to become the premier Algorand NFT marketplace, is already the most unique. We don’t just celebrate creativity, we cultivate it. Through data-driven analytics, our community members curate the high-quality content they want to see, ensuring that your NFTs gain visibility.

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ZestBloom is not your typical NFT marketplace. We don’t just celebrate art, we curate it according to quality. Just because anyone CAN mint on ZestBloom, doesn’t mean everything brought to market will make it to our front page.

No, we created our marketplace to empower digital creators and community members. Through data-driven analytics, our community members decide on what high-quality content they want to see. We see the future of our marketplace as a partnership between artists and art enthusiasts, where quality rules and connections happen.

Being one of the first artists on ZestBloom means getting in on the ground floor of what promises to be the premier Algorand marketplace. We want to help artists like you to create content that resonates, to connect with collectors and community, and we want your work to be a part of our success story.

So fill out the form below and be one of the first artists on ZestBloom. This is your invitation to shape the future of digital art.Here’s a story that’s more than 25 years in the making. It is being made into a musical and has its own YouTube channel. But perhaps its enduring impact is that it’s helping to amplify women’s voices in science.

It is the story of the MIT “hack” or prank called IHTFP, which stands for “I Hate This F’ing Place,” but also “I Have Truly Found Paradise.” Today it is a historical milestone of reclaiming space to celebrate women in science and engineering.

In April 1995, three women donned dark clothes and climbed into the Great Dome at MIT. The night was clear, and the moon was not too bright. As they lay on their stomachs on the cold dome, they looked down through glass windows some 150 feet above the floor. They were surprised to see a student studying in the reading room at 3:00 a.m.

Still there at 3:30. And 4:00. Finally, at 4:30, their patience was rewarded. He left. They unscrewed the glass windows and dropped a thick climbing rope that would lead to a Velcro trail marker.

At about 5:30 that morning, early birds crossing the Harvard Bridge, near MIT’s entrance, could glimpse two figures on top of the dome adjusting a 20-foot banner between the pillars. By the time the morning rush hour arrived, hundreds could see what the alumnae had dubbed a “hack”.

The banner read: JOHN HARVARD —> in six-foot letters, with a giant arrow pointing toward Harvard’s campus across the river. Below that, in three-foot type:

Barbara Liskov —> MIT

Professor of Engineering

First US Woman to Earn PhD in Computer Science

1968 Stanford

“I liked the hack,” Liskov told me recently. “I felt honored.”

In fact, Prof. Liskov was a pathfinder for generations of women in science.

When she arrived at UC Berkeley in 1961 to study mathematics, she was the only woman in a large class. There weren’t even ladies’ rooms.

“It was discouraging,” she told me. “I was very interested in math, but I had no role models, and my professors weren’t encouraging.”

Still, she was determined. She took a job at Mitre Corp. and started teaching herself programming. She went back to school at Stanford, for a Ph.D., and wound up a pioneer in computer language and operating system design.

In 1971 she came to MIT as one of a handful of women professors.

Forty years later she would be awarded the most prestigious honor in computing: the Turing award. Not that there weren’t obstacles along the way.

“I was well aware that there was discrimination against women in academia,” she said. “I was always afraid it was going to happen to me. I just wanted to do my work.

“The hardest part of being one of only a few women in the field was wondering whether I was being judged unfairly. Whenever my papers were rejected, I wondered if it was because the work was inadequate or because I was a woman.

“I was lucky I was stubborn and kept going, but many women got discouraged and dropped out.”

The Hack Evolves into a Mission

Today Professor Liskov’s story is being amplified by an important group: the alumnae. Not only did they create the initial hack but they are still helping women pursue science and engineering. The hack has turned into an important celebration.

What’s most impressive is how the three alumnae have used the hack, and its memory to advance women in science.

Debbie Douglas, MIT museum curator, called the hack of 1995 “one of the most thoughtful ever.” Unlike most hacks that are meant to be pranks or absurdist, such as putting a firetruck or a phone booth on top of buildings, this one had a higher purpose. It called attention, with wit, to the absence of women in science and engineering.

The alumnae got in touch with me because I wrote about a documentary called Picture a Scientist in 2021. “The publicity for Picture a Scientist missed an important story about women in science,” they said. “Our hack began 30 years ago and is still going today.”

One of the alumnae—let’s call her Jane—works in life sciences and was on the dome in 1995. Another—let’s call her Sarah—is still at MIT. The third has moved to Oregon. They prefer not to be named. “We meant the hack to be about Professor Liskov, not us,” they said.

I spoke with Sarah and Jane separately as they told their story.

The lack of women professors at MIT, though evident to all, was little acknowledged in 1995. Each one of them could tell stories of discouragement or harassment. Yet the institution was starting to change.

“When I first got to MIT, there were no women professors in my department,” Sarah told me. “Then Nancy Hopkins got tenure in 1985. When I went for my Ph.D. I said that maybe I could be a professor too.

“When Barbara Liskov became associate provost in 1995, I said ‘Wow.’ She had graduated from Stanford, not MIT, but got tenure at MIT. It would be like going to Harvard and having John Harvard as our teacher.”

At first, with most MIT pranks, nothing was signed. But in1996, women identifying themselves as the “Association of Women Hackers,” initiated another with the banner “≠” (not equal) and smaller text about Liskov. From there it mushroomed.

I Have Truly Found Paradise

IHTFP, the acronym, “took on new meaning,” Jane told me.

“It came to mean; I Have Truly Found Paradise. It was the first hack to be entirely woman led. The first woman president of the alumna association asked for a re-enactment.

“We wanted younger women to understand what we did and take the spirit forward. To watch out for each other; not tolerate harassment, even verbal. Today, 50 percent of MIT students are women. Twenty-five percent of professors are women. The hack has helped create lasting change.”

The association created a website. There’s a banner exhibit at MIT’s Stata Center, an engineering building.

The hack in another photo got featured on Wikipedia with Professor Liskov’s picture. The original hack is still going forward with the “Association of Women Hackers.” Last month a new musical called “IHTFP” was premiered at MIT that describes their adventures.

“Today MIT has many women who are professors and administrators and students,” Jane told me. “But it’s still important to keep awareness going.

“If women in science and engineering want to keep rising, it’s important that we help those who want to advance, but don’t know how to play the game.

“For our hack to grow and help them, we had to reach out. We had to know who to include and trust. There are still too few women in science at other universities. I’ve been astonished at how much can be accomplished when we network and help each other.”

Celebrating Women in Science

Even as the alumnae put on their musical and website, the hack has grown to an annual celebration. Women in science today are encouraged to lead, no longer just on the defensive. On their website they cheer their success:

“We are not a ‘hack’ looking to mock Harvard. We are not a prank. We are the women who were inspired by Barbara Liskov and the hope she gave us. We are women who hacked MIT’s dome in spring 1995 in her honor.”

“We are the women students who have shared the dome and the hacking tradition for generations as MIT evolved to welcome women.

“We create art, music, and hacks to express our love for this Institute that trained us in science and engineering, and trained us to be leaders…

“We are women who have found our paradise in places like the dome and roof, inspiring us even today.”

IHTFP has become a movement. Today the alumnae association has monthly meetings with a dozen active participants.

“We want to inspire women today and encourage them to understand how far we have come,” Sarah told me. “The Great Dome, the giant arrow pointing our way, this has become a celebration of women in science.”

Prof. Liskov agrees. “Women are a part of the culture now, not outsiders,” she told me. “Yet we need women everywhere to become more visible.”

And how can we best help women in science today? “I would say, be true to yourself,” she said. “Go where your passion takes you.”

“But be active in helping other women. We still need support at every step.”

“MIT today is a better place.” Sarah told me. “When women come together to support each other, we can accomplish great things.”

And Professor Liskov? I asked. Did you ever climb the dome yourself?

“No,” she smiled. “Actually I’m terrified of heights.”

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I Had a Fun Interview with Susannah Grant, Writer and Director of “Lessons in Chemistry”

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Jonathan

Yesterday was great fun! I interviewed Susannah Grant, screenwriter and director of “Lessons in Chemistry.”

The Apple TV+ eight-part series is based on Bonnie Garmus’ best-selling novel, and stars Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist in the 1950s and 1960s, denied the right to teach, who becomes an unlikely cooking-show star.

As a reporter writing for Forbes online, I had the opportunity to join a panel of critics and writers as they interviewed Grant about her work, and her personal connection to this remarkable story about women in science and LGBTQ rights.

Here are my two questions that she answered–the first on her inspiration, the other on the TV series. I asked:

“This was such an interesting project to green-light. A brilliant woman chemist becomes a cooking show host – and redefines the relationship between chemistry and cooking. What made you want to take on this project?”

“And, what do you hope this series can teach us? Do you think we’ve made progress in giving women who are scientists and chemists the support they deserve?”

Here is a short excerpt from my piece in Forbes, “Interviewing Susannah Grant on ‘Lessons in Chemistry’.”

Having written and directed great films like ‘Erin Brockovich,’ and ‘Unbelievable,’ Grant knew that this would be a tremendous challenge. The role of cooking-show host-turned-chemist Elizabeth Zott was so different from previous action characters she’d written.

“There just wasn’t anything out there like this,” Grand said. “The novel was just so unique, and Elizabeth so uncompromising. I loved the way she refused to accept the world’s limitations.

“To me this is a story about finding the way through the minefield of life. And not doing it alone. Elizabeth needs her allies and they need her. This is a story of uncompromising individuality and the fact that we need each other to get where we need to go in life….”

You can read my full story here at Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanp/2023/10/25/susannah-grant-brings-lessons-in-chemistry-to-apple-tv/

Take a look and let me know what you think. Have you seen this remarkable series?

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Filed under Celebrity News, Dialogue, TV Shows | Tagged Bonnie Garmus, Brie Larson, Elizabeth Zott, Lessons in Chemistry, Susannah Grant | 2 Comments

‘Leave the World Behind:’ A New Social Thriller from Julia Roberts and Sam Esmail

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Jonathan

On a Tuesday morning in sunny Los Angeles, I’m at a press conference for the new movie “Leave the World Behind,” which had an advance screening last night at AFI Fest. Director Sam Esmail, formerly show runner for “Mr. Robot”, has put together a nail-biting thriller based on the bestselling novel by Rumaan Alam.

The movie stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke. I have already seen it—but sworn to secrecy. I can only say that what starts as a friendly home rental becomes a social thriller about technology, class, and race.

I’m there for an in-person interview, with a limited group of film writers and critics, to hear from the director. I’m writing about it here first. But also because I was able to interview show runner and director Sam Esmail about his partnership with Julia Roberts, who also co-produced the film.

I ask him, “Most of us think of Julia Roberts as doing rom-coms. But this is very different from what we expect. How did this collaboration happen?”

“I had previously worked with her on ‘Homecoming,’ which was also a very dark story,” Esmail said. “And Julia immediately saw that this story perfectly fits what’s happening in the world today.

“She understands that the world is a complicated place and we need to tell stories about that. She’s grown as an actor in ways we never imagined.

“I think we complement each other. We can cut through the B.S. and talk directly about what matters.”

Without breaking any embargoes–the film doesn’t premiere until December 8—I can tell you that this is very different from anything we’ve ever seen with Julia Roberts. She plays a cynical advertising executive whose family’s vacation takes a dramatic turn nobody expected. But the surprises go deeper than simple scares.

This is a movie about who we trust, how rapidly events can change our lives, and what it means to be a family in a world that’s changing at lightspeed.

The movie is produced by Higher Ground Productions, originally founded by Barack and Michelle Obama; and Esmail Corp., the production company Esmail runs with his wife Emmy Rossum. Julia Roberts is not only star but executive producer.

While I can’t give away too much, I can say that Julia Roberts is heading in new directions, both as actor and producer.

“That’s what I want,” she told The New York Times. “I want to be challenged and do things differently.”

So what’s the connection to how we live today?

“We want to raise questions,” Sam Esmail told me. “What happens to our trust and our relationships with others when the world becomes uncertain?”

As for me, I’m a long-time movie critic, and I rarely praise a movie this way. But be prepared for something surprising. I can’t tell you more. But I can say that “Leave the World Behind” is like nothing else you’ll see this year.

The film will be in theaters on Dec. 1st, and available on Netflix Dec. 8. I will be writing a review closer to the opening date.

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Filed under Art of Film, Celebrity News, Popular Culture | Tagged Esmail Corp, Higher Ground Productions, Julia Roberts, Leave the World Behind, Mahershala Ali, Sam Esmail | 2 Comments

My Interview with Gaby Dalkin: Facing Life’s Challenges from Food to Parenting

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Jonathan

Gaby Dalkin is that rare food star who makes you feel good about life. Her food—and her cookbook aptly titled “What’s Gaby Cooking”—are so delicious-looking that you want to go straight for seconds.

But food isn’t the only thing she’s good at.

Her journey—from culinary student to private chef to successful influencer and cookbook author—has been punctuated by triumphs and heartbreaks.

Earlier this month, I interviewed Gaby about how she found success, built a loyal online following, and in the process found her voice.

Here is an excerpt from my Forbes story:

Like many food stars, Dalkin

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