BOJACK HORSEMAN Stream on Netflix. This talking horse has certainly had his ups and downs over the course of this series, often sabotaging his own success with drugs, alcohol and other destructive behaviors. But as the show enters its final season, BoJack (Will Arnett) seems to be on the path toward accepting responsibility by entering rehab. Elsewhere in Hollywoo, Diane (Alison Brie), Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris), Todd (Aaron Paul) and Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins) grapple with their own definitions of happiness as their brightly colored animated world changes around them. The show, a sendup of Hollywood, will also tackle film franchises, mergers and unionization efforts. These eight episodes serve as Part 1 of the final sixth season, with Part 2 coming Jan. 31.

KILLING ZOE (1994) Stream on Amazon, Hulu, Vudu; Rent on iTunes, Google Play and YouTube. In her review for The New York Times, Janet Maslin summed up this film from the director Roger Avary as fiercely ambitious but way out of control. Avary, who has worked as a writer with Quentin Tarantino on Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, also penned the script for this film, which centers on a violent, bloody bank heist at the hands of a safecracker and his childhood friend. Ahead of the job, the two men have a night of debauchery in the Parisian underworld and then march into the bank the following day to collect their score. In nasty episodes meant to make A Clockwork Orange look like a day at nursery school, the robbers don party masks, revel in the terror theyve created and kill their hostages with hair-trigger petulance, Maslin writes.

ROTHKO: PICTURES MUST BE MIRACULOUS Stream on PBS platforms. This American Masters documentary delves deeper into the career of the painter whose work covers the walls of museums and whose life inspired the Tony Award-winning play Red. Mark Rothkos legacy and contribution to the Abstract Expressionism movement is explored in interviews with his children, Kate and Christopher, curators, art historians and conservators. Alfred Molina plays Rothko in re-enactments of the painters life, using segments from his personal diaries as a guide.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 11:30 p.m. on NBC. Chance the rapper joins Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears as one of the few celebrities to host the show and perform as the musical guest on the same night.

WOMEN OF IMPACT: CHANGING THE WORLD 10 p.m. on National Geographic. This month, National Geographic released a new book that compiles images from the magazines archives to create a comprehensive visual record of the lives of women from across the world. The magazines November issue, written and photographed exclusively by women, will also celebrate perspectives on modern womanhood. As a companion piece to those projects, this special features new and archival interviews with more than 40 history-making women, including the ocean explorer Sylvia Earle, the journalist and author Martha Raddatz, the photographer Ami Vitale and the scientist Jane Goodall.

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Whats on TV Saturday: BoJack Horseman and Saturday Night Live - The New York Times

Valerie Jarrett has made a few notable hires in her career. Before serving as senior advisor to President Barack Obama, she launched her political career working for the Chicago mayor's office, where she says she made her "best hire ever."

During the summer of 1991, a resume came across her desk for a 26-year-old Chicago native, Princeton grad, Harvard Law alum and second-year associate at a private law firm.

"The name at the top was Michelle Robinson," Jarrett writes in her book "Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward." (Robinson was at the time engaged to Barack Obama.) Her joining Jarrett's team at the mayor's office that summer kicked off a decades-long working relationship that would take all three to the White House and beyond.

While Jarrett was impressed with the young lawyer's resume, it was the job interview that clinched the deal. Here's what Jarrett says made that in-person meeting a success, and how anyone can harness the same winning formula.

Jarrett reviews a lot of resumes, so if one stands out to her, that's already a good sign. But during an interview, she doesn't want to hear any more about a candidate's work history.

"I always say to people, 'Tell me something that's important to you that isn't on your resume,'" Jarrett tells CNBC Make It. She opens this way because candidates should presume the hiring manager has already read their resume and doesn't need to be reminded of all their career moves.

"It just takes the conversation to a more relaxed personal place to begin with," she adds.

Oftentimes, candidates will respond by telling Jarrett about an interesting place they've traveled to, an instrument they play, a foreign language they studied, or other passions and pursuits outside of work.

Jarrett says her goal is to put people at ease during a job interview, and that she doesn't view them as a test. Instead, getting to a more personal space helps Jarrett understand what drives the candidate beyond the job title. For example, some of Robinson and Jarrett's first conversations during that job interview were around family and how it impacted the young professional's desire to no longer practice law.

"That's when Michelle Robinson told me about her father and her best friend having died within the last year, and how that motivated her to want to have a more purposeful life," Jarrett explains.

Jarrett, who had also lost a relative recently, could relate.

Throughout her four-decade career, Jarrett says she's been better able to invest in and mentor people she cares about, built through a sense of trust. In addition to getting a sense of personality, Jarrett also likes to hear what the job-seeker hopes to accomplish once they leave the job they're interviewing for.

"I often say to people, 'What job do you want to have after this job?'" she says. "I ask that question because I want to make sure it's a good fit and the job they're interviewing for will prepare them for the next one."

Candidates don't always have an answer to this it's likely they're just focused on landing the job in front of them that they haven't thought about the next move which Jarrett says is perfectly fine. But she does want to make sure the opportunity she can provide them will help them achieve their next goals.

"I really do believe the interview process should be a two-way street," she says, "and as an employer, I should be thinking thoughtfully about the person applying for the job to make sure it's actually going to prepare them for the next step."

Career experts agree candidates should ask questions throughout the interview, not only to show interest in the company, but also to better understand if it's the right fit for them.

That's what Robinson did back in 1991, when a 20-minute interview turned into an hour-long conversation.

About halfway through, Robinson began to engage in a "rigorous and thoughtful grilling" about staff, organizational chart, projects and assignments, Jarrett writes in her book. While this caught the hiring manager off-guard, it was another sign that the candidate was thinking seriously about how the job would shape up for her.

"To be able to realize that it was as important for her to want to work with me as it was for me to want her showed a maturity I certainly didn't possess at her age," Jarrett writes.

By the end of the discussion, Jarrett offered Robinson a job on the spot (even though she hadn't gotten manager approval yet). Robinson joined the mayor's office later in the summer of 1991.

As an employer, I should be thinking thoughtfully about the person applying for the job to make sure it's actually going to prepare them for the next step.

These days, Jarrett wants to hear candidates ask similar questions of what her expectations are, "because that's a way of recognizing that they have to fit not just the job description but also what my expectations might be.

"The more questions, the better," Jarrett tells CNBC Make It. "I like a candidate who comes in and isn't afraid to ask questions and is forthcoming and honest."

She also appreciates honesty when a candidate admits they don't know how to answer a question she asks. "That takes courage in a job interview, so that would impress me," Jarrett explains. "I'm looking for examples of integrity and self awareness and humor." A candidate who says they need time to think through an answer can offer a thoughtful response later in the interview or in a followup correspondence.

Once a candidate lands the job, however, Jarrett says it's crucial to continue checking in and course-correcting expectations in the workplace. She encourages workers to seek out feedback early and often, rather than relying on a typical company review period.

"Feedback when you get a job offer is just one data point," she explains, "but I think people need to go back and touch base pretty periodically. Say with your supervisor, 'Are we on track here?' And also, are there things you need that you're not getting? Then you've got to speak up as well."

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Don't miss: Michelle Obama: If you're afraid to use your voice, give up your seat at the table

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Valerie Jarrett says this one quality is why she once hired Michelle Obamaand anyone can harness it - CNBC

Executive Summary

Its extremely difficult to instill purpose in others. It takes more than motivational talks, lofty speeches, or mission statements to spread purpose. In fact, if overblown or insincere, those methods can backfire, triggering cynical reactions. Purpose is a grand word, but in the end, its about helping people see their impact on others and helping them develop a story about why they love what they do. If you keep that in mind, and take a personal, authentic, and perpetual approach, youre likely to find success.

No one wants to be a nine-to-five robot. People want to feel inspired, find meaning, and see the impact their work has on others. And when they do, theyre more engaged, innovative, and productive. That isnt a secret or a revelation. Its common sense.

If youre a leader, helping others feel a sense of purpose can be a powerful tool. So, why then do so many leaders have trouble lighting up their employees?

The simple answer is its extremely difficult to instill purpose in others. It takes more than motivational talks, lofty speeches, or mission statements to spread purpose. In fact, if overblown or insincere, those methods can backfire, triggering cynical reactions.

Purpose is a grand word, but in the end, its about helping people see their impact on others and helping them develop a story about why they love what they do. If you keep that in mind, and take a personal, authentic, and perpetual approach, youre likely to find success.

First, purpose needs to be personal, and, because purpose is meant to elicit an emotional reaction, purpose needs to be felt. You cant just talk about purpose.

Imagine youre the head of a college fundraising effort to help fund scholarships for underprivileged kids. How would you motivate your volunteers? According to a study by Adam Grant, if you stood in front of the group and talked about the impact of their work, you probably wouldnt improve anyones performance. But, if you invited a current scholarship recipient to share their personal story, that would be much more impactful. In fact, in Grants study, after volunteers had listened to a scholarship recipient, they raised almost 400% more money than average.

When I was telling some leaders from F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies, about the fundraising study, one of them lit up and blurted out, This just happened to us!

She explained how her team worked in the medical-devices division. Her group was sometimes looked down upon by people in the organization who thought that chemistry was more sexy than engineering. Many people in the division were not fully engaged, and the morale of the team was pretty low. One day the leader arranged for a customer to tell the team her personal story.

This customer had diabetes and had to test her blood daily to make sure her insulin dose was right. Unfortunately, this poor woman misunderstood how much blood was needed and was pricking her finger more than she needed to in order to get the blood. It not only hurt every day, so that it became something she dreaded, but she also was making a mess of her fingers. She would work her way down one finger from the tip to the knuckle, get it all inflamed and sometimes infected, before moving to the next finger. She said it got to the point where she would sit on her hand to hide the damage from others. She stopped going out to dinner because she was so embarrassed.

The diabetic then told the group how they had improved her life when they invented a little finger-pricking device. You put it on the end of your finger and click it. It takes the absolute minimum amount of blood, is almost painless and leaves almost no cut at all. She told how, because of this device, her hands have healed, and she can go out to dinner without feeling ashamed about herself. She told the group: You people changed my life.

The Roche leader told us that the medical device team was really affected by this patient testimonial. She said that it was very emotional in the room during the meeting. And for months, people felt more purpose.

It doesnt matter what line of work youre in. If people see the cause and effect between their inputs and their teams progress, or understand the impact of a customer getting their product on time, or experience first-hand how their role is necessary to other people, theyll feel a sense of purpose.

But heres the thing. You need to believe what youre saying and doing. This makes all the difference. If your attempts at creating purpose do not align with your other leadership behaviors, employees will view your tactics as manipulative rather than inspirational.

Right after the woman at Roche shared her inspirational story, for example, a man raised his hand on the other side of the room and said, Yeah, they tried that bullshit on us too.

I have this boss who has never talked about anything but quarterly profits and hitting shipping targets, he continued. Well, he must have come to London Business School and heard you talk about this study because one day he drags a patient in to our weekly meeting and makes her tell us this story of how the drugs saved her life. I mean, trying to exploit our emotions to make us work harder? Using a patient to manipulate us!? Thats pretty low.

We can learn so much through this exchange.

If youre a leader, and youre trying to sell people on purpose but you havent acted consistent with that purpose in the past, your message will backfire. Humans are authenticity-detection machines: were attracted to sincerity and repulsed by lies and insincerity.

So tread lightly. If youre personally inspired by listening to customers, and really believe in what youre saying, then go for it. If youre not, you might create more feelings of manipulation than inspiration.

Even if you make purpose personal and authentic, you cant just do it once. Instead, you need to make it a routine.

Dr. Dorothee Ritz, the General Manager of Microsoft in Austria, encourages her employees to go out in the field and experience the clients problems first hand. One small team spent a week out on the street with police officers, trying to understand when and where remote data could help them. Another team spent two days in a hospital to observe and understand what it would really mean to help it become paperless.

Ritz said these immersion experiences were enlightening for people. She said they came back illuminated, and it was clear to her that employees personal experiences increased their sense of purpose, since they witnessed the why of their work. Ritz watched employees dive into their projects with more energy and enthusiasm after they had witnessed the clients needs themselves.

So after a year of experimenting with this initiative, Ritz put something more secure in place. She selected a set of key customers (whom she calls partners) across industries ranging from car manufacturing to retailers to hospitals. And then 15 people from Microsoft a team ranging from senior leaders to associates go on-site at each company and ask lots of people at lots of different levels: What are your challenges? They talked to people in IT, of course, but they also talked with business decision-makers across different functions.

At Tesla, for example, Ritz told me how Microsoft employees at different levels got to practice a conversation that started with Teslas needs instead of Microsofts products. They focused on holes in the process that Tesla needed to address. At a major retailer, a Microsoft employee who was very close to the Xbox asked some very grounded questions about issues with the console. This led to a useful, practical discussion rather than high-level executive speak, which helped move the whole conversation toward practical solutions that the team could go back and work on. These Microsoft teams came away with a few new contacts. But Ritz said what was even more important, these teams understood the purpose of the projects based on witnessing the situation and hearing about the companies issues first-hand.

Ritz invested deeply in client experiences that allowed employees to witness the impact of their jobs first-hand, which helped them build emotional connections with the client and the work, and which helped Microsoft explore and learn as an organization.

Purpose can be a powerful tool for leaders who want to inspire people to bring their best to work. But most leaders agree that employees do not get their organizations purpose.This is because purpose is personal and emotional. It is often managed poorly by transactional leaders who deliver speeches about lofty societal goals rather than helping put employees in direct contact with the people they serve. Purpose can work wonders for employee contributions when leaders start with a personal, authentic, and perpetual approach.

Adapted from Alive at Work: The Neuroscience of Helping Your People Love What They Doby Dan Cable.

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Helping Your Team Feel the Purpose in Their Work - Harvard Business Review

BEACHWOOD, Ohio Less than halfway through his first term, Mayor Martin Horwitz of Beachwood could be removed from office.

A source in City Hall confirmed its over some sort of workplace harassment involving a member of the law department, and this is serious.

In an Aug. 22 City Council meeting, President Brian Linick announced the legislature had appointed Carole Rendona former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohioas Special Counsel to investigate the allegations, declaring this to be an "urgent measure."

Rendon is a partner at the high-powered law firm BakerHostetler, and 3News has learned City Council is spending $30,000 for her expertise. In the past, has included high-profile, crisis-level litigation, much of which involved intense public and media scrutiny, according to the companys website.

In a city agenda announcing a Special Council Meeting set for next Wednesday, listed items include, "BakerHostetler will summarize the investigation" and "Council will consider discipline of an elected official for conduct related to the performance of the official's duties or to consider that person's removal from office."

According to the city's ordinances:

"Council may remove any elected officer of the City for failure to possess or continue to possess any qualification of office established by this Charter, for a violation of the officer's oath of office, or for the conviction, while in office, of a felony. Council shall give an elected officer a written copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard, with at least fifteen (15) days prior notice of the time and place of hearing. The removal of an elected officer shall require a two-thirds vote of Council."

We tried to speak to the mayor, and released the following statement:

"On August 22, 2019, Beachwood City Council began an investigation into comments I am alleged to have made. Based on the posted agenda for the Council meeting of October 30, 2019, I understand that Council plans to review a summary of the investigation and consider next steps.

"I have been informally made aware of these allegations. Based on what I have been told, the allegations are a mix of misconstrued comments, statements taken out of context, and complete untruths. To be clear, nobody has claimed that I touched them inappropriately, said anything overtly sexual to them, propositioned them, or demeaned them. To the contrary, since taking office, I have demonstrated the highest levels of respect, appreciation, and support for our staff. This is not only a personal value of mine, but something I consider essential to our Citys success.

"As a lifetime Beachwood resident and elected official for 24 years, I look forward to a public airing of this matter in order to clear my name. My record of service over many years, working with countless individuals to advance our community and improve Beachwood residents quality of life, speaks for itself. I encourage City Council and our residents to closely examine the facts in this matter. Im confident that they will show that I have done nothing wrong, and that these claims are baseless."

He added, "At this point, this is my only statement and I am not responding to phone, email or in-person interviews until after Wednesday night. Thanks for your cooperation."

In the meantime, after reaching out to every council member (including employees in the Law Department), the only responses we received were that they are following a specific process and will disclosure the charges and identities of those involved in their Wednesday Meeting.

Sources tell 3News there's some "bad blood" between the mayor and a council member or members, which may be partially what's driving this. But ultimately, it's the special counsel who's going to have a big say on how this turns out, and we plan to be there to hear her findings.

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Beachwood Mayor Martin Horwitz investigated for workplace harassment - WKYC.com

Executive Summary

Choosing your first job can be daunting, since this decision forms the foundation of your career path and directly impacts lifelong earnings. The author applies the basic tools ofrisk management to understanding, evaluating, and weighing the merits of various job opportunities. By understanding how idiosyncratic and systemic risks affect ones wages, and by rating different types of companies as the equivalent of growth stocks or value stocks, one can create an individual career plan to take the right risks to earn the desired rewards. By setting clear goals, understanding risks, and evaluating ones risk tolerance, one can be well prepared to pick the ideal first job.

Overwhelmed by student debt and underwhelmed by your career choices?Its normal to feel anxious. The economy is undergoing a radical transformation as technology changes the nature of work and some jobs disappear. To make matters more complicated, most industries are dominated by a handful of superstar, productive firms that shower their employees with most of the economys wage gains. If you work at these firms, you get more raises, learn useful skills, and get a stamp of approval that offers credibility throughout your career. If you dont, your career and wages could stagnate.

Picking the right path has never felt more crucial to lifelong success. But fear not you can make the right choice by applying some basic risk management tools to your most valuable asset: your future earnings.

The simplest and most effective risk management tool is setting clear goals. It can also be the hardest part because most people dont know what they want. I still marvel at people I knew in college who at 22 knew they wanted to be an equity research analyst, have three children, and live in the suburbs. Many of them got all of these things. I dont know if they are happy or not. But no doubt, possessing such clear goals increased the odds of getting what they wanted.

But most of us dont have such clarity at 22, or even 52. And thats fine. One way to find some answers is to think long and hard about what you want out of your career, rather than specific milestones and job titles.

Some say chase your passion; others say you need to grow up, get a sensible job, and develop fun hobbies. I tend to lean toward the passion camp with a big dose of realism. If your passion is fiction writing, there are ways to fulfill your passion and not be a novelist. What it is about writing that you love: Is it the process? Is it the creativity? Is it working alone? There may be paths that offer those things without taking on the long odds of writing novels marketing, public relations, media, or teaching.

Consider the risks you face around your goals. Generally, there are two kinds of risk you need to manage: idiosyncratic risk (risk that may be unique to you or a specific job) and systematic risk (risk that applies to the whole economy).

An example of idiosyncratic risk is if you work at a company that goes out of business because of bad management. Or maybe you quit because its a bad culture fit. You can manage this risk the same way people do in investing by diversifying your skills and job options.

An example of systematic risk is if you lose your job (and paycheck) if the economy goes into recession. This kind of risk can be more damaging because you may lose your job at the worst time: when the stock market is down, theres more unemployment, and its harder to find a new job.

The good news is people who face more systematic risk tend to get paid more. This is one reason why jobs in finance pay so much finance firms pay big bonuses when times are good and are quick to lay people off when times are bad.

Is it worth taking on more systematic risk for more pay? Thats a personal question based on your preferences and lifestyle. Some people prefer higher job stability to higher pay, the way many investors forgo big gains for a safer portfolio. Consider what risk you can tolerate.

These kinds of risk have always existed, but idiosyncratic and systematic risk have taken on a new dimension in the modern economy. Theres the systematic risk your job will disappear because it can be done by a machine. And theres the idiosyncratic risk youll end up at a company that cant compete. How you deal with these risks requires a more complex strategy.

In his book How to Win in a Winner-Take-All World, New York Times reporter Neil Irwin argues that working for a particular kind of company is like choosing a type of stock. Whats right for you depends on your risk tolerance, your income needs, and what you can get. Picking one of these types of firms (or if they pick you) is only the first step, and like any investment strategy you also need a plan to manage risk.

Irwin argues superstar firms are the job equivalent of growth stocks they dominate their industries and appear poised for more growth in the future. If you are lucky enough to land your first job at a superstar company (like Google, Walmart, or Gagosian), it can be a great start to your career.

But it would be a mistake to think its a golden ticket. These kinds of jobs are not right for everyone. There is less upside the best time to join Google was its early days that are long gone. Superstars have already become large companies, and in order to succeed you must navigate their bureaucracy and politics and avoid becoming pigeon-holed in the same job function. Big superstar firms have lots of leverage over their employees, since they often have a culture where you are supposed to be grateful to work there. That means it can be harder to gain recognition, be entrepreneurial, and move forward within the firm. Also, just because a company is large and successful does not mean you dont face some idiosyncratic risk. A superstar firm today may not be one tomorrow.

Another option is going to a start-up, which offers upsides if it is the next Google. Odds are it wont be, but in a smaller firm you are less boxed into a certain role, have more responsibility, and learn new skills. Downsides include tremendous idiosyncratic risk the odds are decent the start-up will fail. Theres also a chance it will be poorly run and youll learn fewer transferable skills and more bad habits. There is also the risk of years in start-ups where you are paid mostly in worthless stock options. Start-ups also pose more systematic risk because start-ups need external financing that is dependent on the business cycle.

A third option is what Irwin likens to value stocks: companies that are under-valued, perhaps past their heyday, and limping along in the middle of the pack (or even on their way down). The advantage of getting hired at these companies is they are more likely to give a young, ambitious person short on credentials a chance. You also learn a lot when a company is doing things wrong; knowing what does not work can be equally valuable. But there are odds you get lost in their bureaucracy since older companies can be more rigid and resistant to change. You also face a decent chance of losing your job.

If you had a crystal ball, the ideal career is to start at what will be a successful start-up and stick with it until it pays off. Then go on to another. But just like investing in the stock market, we dont know the future of any one company, so you must take a chance. Your best bet is to go with the company that feels like the best fit, where you feel youll learn the most, and find good mentors. Odds are this first job wont be your last, and youll work at all different kinds of firms over your lifetime. But getting the right start provides a good foundation to take the right risks and manage whatever a changing economy brings.

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How to Weigh the Risks When Choosing Your First Job - Harvard Business Review

Rorschach, whose visage is prominently featured in HBOs new Watchmen series, is a growly detective who wears a mask, hunts criminals, and refuses to compromise on his principles. That probably sounds familiar.

But Rorschach isnt parodying the icon with pointy ears and the cape. His black and white moral ideals are a political philosophy that Watchmens writer, Alan Moore, found laughable, not laudable.

Heres the real comic book origin story of Rorschach, starting with something that seems obvious, until you realize its anything but.

At least, not primarily.

In the early stages of conception, Moore planned for the leads in Watchmen to be heroes from the stable of Charlton Comics, which DC Comics had recently acquired. But when DC editorial decided theyd rather incorporate those characters into the main DC Universe, Moore and artist Dave Gibbons created original characters to evoke similar well-known comic book archetypes. Doctor Manhattan evolved from a carbon copy of Captain Atom to a parallel for Superman. The Comedian mashed the Peacemaker with Nick Fury.

And it would be easy to assume, in this era, that Rorschach is supposed to represent Batman. After all, Batman is exactly the kind of guy who opens a comic by monologuing about how dirty his city is. Batmans traumatic past has transformed him into a criminal-hating revenge machine who mistrusts all authority. Batman smashes through windows to interrogate thugs by breaking ribs and fingers.

But Rorschach isnt solely based on Batman because Batman wasnt any of those things when Watchmen was written. The Batman of the early 80s was darker than his 1960s counterpart, certainly, but he was still gadget-loving and justice-devoted. What we consider the foundational texts of our modern idea of Batman The Dark Knight Returns (1986), Batman: Year One (1987), Alan Moores own The Killing Joke (1988) simply had not been written yet when Watchmen #1 (1985) came on the scene.

The schlubby Nite Owl (who evolved from a retread of Blue Beetle) is just as much a Batman analogue as Rorschach, with his nocturnal animal theme, his basement full of gadgets, and his fancy vehicle with its onboard flamethrower.

Rorschach owes his ideals, his visual design, and his penchant for violence, to a couple of other characters who were doing the Late-80s-Batman thing way before Batman. Namely, the vigilante detectives known as the Question and Mr. A.

Mr. A first appeared in a 1967 issue of the underground comics anthology series witzend, as a vigilante who wore an impassive steel mask and the wardrobe of a 1940s private detective fedora, suit, and tie but all in white. His calling card was a literal card with a half-black, half-white face, symbolizing his belief that there was no grey area of morality, only good and evil. And, of course, he was the enlightened man who could tell the difference.

Less than a year later, the Question came on the scene, as a backup feature in Blue Beetle. He was a vigilante who also dressed like a 1940s private detective and wore a pseudoderm mask that made him appear to be entirely without facial features. But unlike his other Silver Age comics contemporaries, hed leave the occasional criminal to drown if he felt they deserved it.

The Question and Mr. A were both from the pen of writer-artist Steve Ditko, one of the co-creators of Spider-Man. The reason they seem so similar is that the Question was simply Ditkos attempt to make Mr. A fit into Comics Code restrictions, which would make him a much more lucrative project.

Both characters were Ditkos way of expressing his politics through the superhero metaphor.

Ditko was an avowed Objectivist, following the philosophy first espoused by Ayn Rand, which rejects altruism for the individualistic platform that mans moral obligation is to achieve his own happiness and act as his own judgement determines. Therefore, unobstructed free capitalism is the only moral society, and the only role of the government is to provide police, armed forces, and objective courts.

With Mr. A and the Question (and a few other characters, notably DCs Hawk and Dove) Ditko sought to express that philosophy through fiction, much as Rand herself had done with novels like The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. And naturally, with superhero comics as his genre of choice, that meant that Mr. A and Ditkos Question (though other creators would shift the Questions ideology significantly) were dealers of Objectivist justice.

Fools will tell you that there can be no honest person, Mr. A tells the reader in one story, That there are no blacks or whites ... that everyone is grey! [...] When one knows what is black, evil, and what is white, good, there can be no justification for choosing any part of evil! Those who do so choose, are not grey but black and evil ... and they will be treated accordingly!

In another Mr. A story, Ditko presents a hippie in tattered clothes and hair as the enemy of the good, as the man exhorts the masses to follow his brotherhood of the collective. We must banish individual selfishness, rights, property and good! [...] There is no one truth, but a truth that works for the common good! No differences are important! Better or worse is a cruel hoax! All must blend into equality! Ignore impotent reason and logic! Forget right or wrong!

Ditkos implication is that an altruistic push for equality, peace, and the haves helping out the have-nots is the path to a slave society. The bamboozled men taken in by the hippies words agree: Some guys never learn to compromise, to give in ... stubborn ... wont listen to reason ... greedy ... wont share their good fortune ... they need a practical lesson in getting a long with people.

Its not hard to see the path from Mr. A to Rorschach, who refused to compromise even in the face of armageddon.

Moore has minced no words about how he never intended Rorschach to be a laudable hero. And over the years, hes also talked about his opinion of Ditkos openly Randian leanings.

The writer respected Ditkos commitment to putting his politics in his art, telling Comic Book Artist magazine that that in some ways set him above most of his contemporaries. But he felt pretty differently about the content of those politics.

I have to say I found Ayn Rands philosophy laughable, Moore continued. It was a white supremacist dreams of the master race, burnt in an early-20th century form. Her ideas didnt really appeal to me, but they seemed to be the kind of ideas that people would espouse, people who might secretly believe themselves to be part of the elite, and not part of the excluded majority.

Moore and Gibbons Rorschach isnt the shining example of the philosophy that Mr. A represents. Rather than exhibiting objective moral beliefs about every persons right to pursue their own happiness, he is a casual misogynist and homophobe. His closest allies find him, at best, off-putting and hard to get along with contrary to Randian reasoning, his commitment to his ideals has not brought him personal success or happiness.

Rorschachs final act of Watchmen, in which he refuses to keep Ozymandias hoax a secret, is considered by many to be the characters most purely heroic moment. But its an empty one, as Rorschach believes that hes already spoiled the whole thing by mailing his journal to the New Frontiersman. Moore and Gibbons had a different idea in mind: Not self-motivated heroism of the individual, but the self-imposed tragedy of individualism.

We realized Rorschach wouldnt survive the book, Moore told the BBC documentary Comics Britannia. It just became obvious; we realized that this was a character if ever there was a character that had a king-sized death wish. He was in pain, psychological pain, every moment of his life, and he wanted out of it, but with honor in whatever his own twisted standards of honor might have been.

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Alan Moore created Rorschach to dunk on Randian superheroes - Polygon

Pop-punk heavyweights All Time Low have announced theyll be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their much-loved album Nothing Personal with the release of a brand new re-recording of the record. Its Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute will be released on November 8, featuring a new version of every song on their classic 2009LP.

Alongside the music, the band have produced a documentary that charts the entire recording process and features in-depth interviews with all four band members, as well as input from the producers that worked on Nothing Personal. In addition, the Maryland natives have announced a set of anthology shows to commemorate the occasion, with concerts in Los Angeles, Chicago and New Jersey taking place across eight dates inDecember.

Nothing Personal was the bands third album, and helped launch them on a career trajectory thats seen them grow into a giant of contemporary rock. In the decade since its release the band have headlined festivals, played arenas around the world, and even topped the UK album charts in 2015 with their sixth LP, FutureHearts.

READ THIS: The 51 greatest pop-punk albums of alltime

It was the infectious songs from Nothing Personal like Weightless and Lost In Stereo that set All Time Low on that path to stardom, though. Here, frontman Alex Gaskarth fills Kerrang! in on the anniversary celebrations, teasing what fans can expect from the new release, and reflects on the legacy of an album that changed theirlives

Have you been plotting this anniversary release of Nothing Personal for a long time, Alex?Yeah weve always known we wanted to do something special to celebrate this album, and make it something that went beyond anthology shows. We did 10-year anniversary concerts for [2007 album] So Wrong, Its Right, so we wanted to go a step further for Nothing Personal. In the end, we came up with the idea of doing a documentary, so we sat down and spoke about the album in great depth, and got the producers of the record involved, too. It was fun diving back into the Nothing Personal world and taking a walk down memorylane.

Did it feel strange for you to be subjects of a documentary?No, because we all love talking about ourselves! (Laughs) It was a bit surreal, sure, but were not doing this for us. As cheesy as it may sound, weve done this as a thank you to all the people who have supported us over the past 10 years. Above all else, this is for thefans.

What was it like having a camera crew film you while you recorded?It was very odd to have those cameras in our faces! It takes you out of the moment because youre trying not to break the fourth wall, and it kind of feels like being in a zoo, only its one where thousands of people are going to watch you from the comfort of their homes! We tried our absolute best to not let it affect us, but its a vulnerable situation to be in when youre trying to play every note perfectly. Weve been filmed playing before, so it wasnt quite a baptism of fire, but it was definitely a different experience for us. Im glad we did it, though it was super fun to be back at Red Bull Studios, which is where we originally recorded the bulk of Nothing Personal. It was nice to revisit thosememories.

Did you alter or reimagine any of the Nothing Personal songs while you were in the studio?We talked a lot about whether we should totally rearrange the songs and approach them from a fresh angle, but were quite precious about those tracks, and we know were only going to be doing a handful of Nothing Personal shows in a select few places, so we decided itd be best to recreate that live experience as authentically as possible for those who cant be there. Consequently, we stayed pretty true to the original versions when we were in the studio, but we did change a few parts along the way and make some improvements. I didnt go in and rewrite the lyrics to Therapy or anything like that,though!

Which was your favourite song to revisit?I really liked doing Walls it stood out to me as one that was really fun to sing, and its got a cool energy to it. Theres plenty of emotion in that song, and the chorus really allows you to belt some notes. Im eager to play that one live I think itll provoke one hell of asing-along.

As well as the special edition of the album, youve announced some Nothing Personal shows for December in the U.S. Whats the plan for those?Well be playing Nothing Personal front-to-back, which will be cool because there are some songs on that record that weve never played live, like Walls. Itll be interesting to see the audiences reaction to hearing those songs live for the first time. The shows will be great moments to share with our fans, and well be playing a full set alongside the anniversary material. The ferocity with which people attacked these tickets the minute they went on sale was mind-blowing to us I believe the shows were sold out within hours so if thats any indication of the fanbases excitement, Im pretty sure these gigs are going to beinsane.

Which of the Nothing Personal songs that youve not played live a lot previously are you looking forward to performing?Ive always loved Sick Little Games. We played it for a tour or two a few years ago, but then it fell back into the shadows. I really like anything that I got to work with Butch Walker on he recorded Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Dont) with us as well, but thats been a set staple of ours since it came out. Rocking Sick Little Games is something Im excitedabout.

READ THIS: We Are Not A Cult: Remembering the war onemo

Has it been a challenge to relearn some of these older songs?Weve had to work at it, yeah, but its been a cool process. Its crazy how that muscle memory can still be there a decade on some of these songs exist within us like we wrote them yesterday. It was kind of spooky being able to pick some of them up again soeasily.

Ten years on, which song from Nothing Personal stands out as the best, in your humble opinion?Weightless, hands down. Calling it timeless might be a stretch, but its a song thats totally synonymous with our band, in the same way that Dear Maria, Count Me In is. Weightless has really stood the test of time, and it speaks to what All Time Low has always been about; its a banging rock song, and thats what we love writing. Its a career-defining track forus.

How far did the initial success of Nothing Personal surpass your expectations at the time?Thinking back, we were insanely excited during that period. Coming off the back of So Wrong, Its Right, it felt like things were growing for the band and like we were connecting with more people. We were champing at the bit to keep going, despite there being more pressure around us and the term sophomore slump being thrown around somewhat. Not delivering was something we were fearful of, but we wanted to put a new spin on All Time Low and really push the envelope and show what we could do. We were young and not that self-aware, and all we wanted was to make music. We were very driven in that regard. Writing a record and getting out on tour was the aim for us, but the way things snowballed totally blew usaway.

You worked with several different producers on Nothing Personal, something that not many rock bands were doing at the time. Looking back, what was that process like, and what kind of impact did it have on the finished product?Its interesting, because that was never really the plan the intention was to just work with one producer. But then we hit our stride in terms of writing and it became apparent to us that different producers could bring different things to the table. In the end we thought, Lets just go for it and do things the way they do in the worlds of pop and hip-hop. There werent a whole lot of bands allocating work like that at the time. The Matches were one band that were working that way thats how they made [2006 album] Decomposer but they were one of our few contemporaries that were willing to do that. We took inspiration from those guys, and it meant we ended up with a record that had ideas from a variety of different musical worlds. To be honest, listening back to Nothing Personal, I do feel like it lacks a little focus at times and feels a bit all over the place, but that speaks to where we were as artists back then. That album was us figuring out what All Time Low was, what we should sound like, and how to not just write fast, four-chord rock songs. Nothing Personal was us branching out and doing different things for the first time, like adding electronic beats, programming and a ballad all elements that had previously been missing from our music. The whole process really allowed us to explore oursound.

Finally, how important do you feel the release of Nothing Personal has been to All Time Lows success, and what legacy do you believe its left?Nothing Personal really solidified us as a band and ensured we could have a career. It took us from being a buzz act in the Warped Tour scene with a bit of hype behind us, and turned us into a breakout band that was able to tour the world. The release of that album led to multiple festival offers and the prospect that we might some day play arenas. Before then, that kind of stuff was merely a pipe dream for us. Nothing Personal really set us up for where we are now. On So Wrong, Its Right, we were still trying to find our feet as a band and establish who we were, whereas with Nothing Personal, we burst out of the gates and into a full sprint, and we never looked back.

Its Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute is set for release on November 8 via Fueled ByRamen.

Posted on October 24th 2019, 10:36am

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Alex Gaskarth Reflects On The Legacy Of All Time Low's Nothing Personal - Kerrang!

Robert Whittaker is one of the world's most respected mixed martial artists, with an explosive fighting style that has made him a middle-weight champion.

Now the Aussie athlete is stepping outside the ring to share his story of determination and success with his fans.

Watch the interview in the clip above

'The People's Champion' will get 'Up close and Personal' with the audience when he embarks on his major tour across Australia, kicking off in November.

For the first time ever, he will share his story, delve into the personal challenges he has faced and explain how he has overcome them to become one of the greatest and most respected mixed martial artists of all time.

"I just want to get out there and to tell my story," Whittaker told Sunrise.

"I've gone through trials and tribulation and if one guy can relate to my story or can take something from it then I'll feel the entire tour has been successful."

"I grew up in a split family, housing commision. It certainly had an impact on the man I am today."

"I want to show what you can achieve, even with the minimum resources you're given."

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UFC Legend Robert Whittaker to share his story on Aussie speaking tour - 7NEWS

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) knows what you're probably going to order before you do. The company has been employing new technology that helps it predict orders, allowing it to fill those orders faster and increase customer satisfaction.

CEO Steve Easterbrook said during the chain's third-quarter earnings call:

We continue to move quickly to deploy Dynamic Yield, technology which improves our ability to offer customers what they are likely to want using machine learning to make suggestions based on time of day, weather and popular menu items.

Technology, including Dynamic Yield, computerized ordering kiosks, digital menu boards, and app-based delivery, has helped the company drive a 4.8% increase in same-store sales in the United States and a 5.9% increase globally. The fast-food giant has delivered 17 consecutive quarters of global sales growth, and on Tuesday morning the CEO attributed part of Q3's increase to "gains in global guest counts."

McDonald's has posted another quarter of strong growth. Image source: McDonald's.

McDonald's executives spent much of the latest earnings call talking about technology. Easterbrook explained that those efforts are focused on driving positive customer experience.

"With digital, we are working hard to fill customers' desire for simpler, smoother, and more personal engagement over our digital platforms, including kiosks, drive-throughs, and our mobile app," he said, continuing:

Nowhere was the power of our emerging digital ecosystem more on display during the third quarter than in China. The market drove strong comp sales growth in part by delivering tangible members-only benefits to our digital community, which now stands at 100 million registered members.

Digital, he added, also promotes delivery, which is another growth driver for the restaurant stock. In the U.S., digital sales have helped increase check size, which led to the comparable-store sales increase even in a quarter when foot traffic was down.

Food was also part of the company's success story. CFO Kevin Ozan explained what was working during his remarks:

Our iconic core menu continues to fuel results from the fresh beef QPC [Quarter Pounder with Cheese] and QPC deluxe line ... Our customers are showing us that our investment in fresh beef is paying off, as we continue to grow burger share. Additionally, our Worldwide Favorites promotion that launched in quarter two and carried into quarter three resonated well, and customers especially love the Stroopwafel McFlurry.

The success of fresh beef is interesting because of how McDonald's added it to its menu. The chain did not drop frozen beef on most of its burgers. Instead, it added fresh beef to the Quarter Pounder line. That gives the customers who care an option but keeps prices down for those who don't.

When it comes to technology and digital, the company has focused on changes that improve the consumer's experience and drive higher sales. Customers can see the app and ordering kiosks, but they may not notice behind-the-scenes technology, such as drive-through timers, which have improved order delivery speeds.

They also may not be aware of Dynamic Yield, but they are increasingly being affected by these changes. That's a strong plus for the company, which could post major gains if it can increase customer counts to its U.S. stores.

Originally posted here:
McDonald's Relies on Technology and Beef to Drive Growth - Motley Fool

If there ever was a trailblazer, its NBC News Correspondent Kelly ODonnell, who today is the first woman to receive the Career Achievement Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress from the Radio and Television Correspondents Association. Having spent 25 years at NBC News covering everything from Capitol Hill to the White House, along with high-profile races and high-stakes issues including immigration and gun rights, Kelly has claimed a front-row seat to history. Here, Kelly shares her story along with some practical advice to help navigate this fast-moving, reactive world.

What has led you to where you are today?

After graduating from Northwestern and a start in local news, I've spent more than 25 years at NBC News working in Los Angeles, New York, stints in Denver and London before reaching our Washington bureau. My work has taken me to all 50 states and 56 countries. I am grateful that so many different experiences and assignments across the country and around the world enhanced my knowledge and perspective before I was able to apply those to covering politics in Washington.

On Oct. 24, 2019, Kelly O'Donnell became the first woman to receive the Radio & Television Correspondents Associations Career Achievement Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress.

What pivotal moment throughout your career most stands out in your mind?

"I felt the impact of all of that energy and emotion as I reported that news."

Its hard to choose just one, but more recently I recall the weight of the moment when I broke the news that Hillary Clinton had conceded the presidential race in a phone call to Donald Trump. That one act, steeped in the history of campaigns, is riveting because it so captures a final and consequential point when a long, costly and emotional campaign journey for the country ends. The concession call brings peak emotions to each side. I felt the impact of all of that energy and emotion as I reported that news. I could feel the giant page turning.

What do you see as the major opportunities and challenges for women today?

Its important for women journalists of each generation to take time to learn about the sacrifices, boundaries and barriers that the women who came before us faced, endured and surpassed. Few things in life are new and a connection to the story of our own career field and the women who paved the way is important.

What advice or tips can you share?

"Opinions and advocacy may be on trend at times but its not the foundation of what we do."

One bit of advice: actively practice your ability to separate your own opinions and emotions from the stories you cover. Developing the skills and instincts that result in fair-minded coverage takes thoughtful effort. Opinions and advocacy may be on trend at times but its not the foundation of what we do.

A simple tip: label all your stuff. In busy workspaces, file centers, hotels and the like, I have left behind too many essentials but I have also had fantastic moments when someone returned my missing phone or charging cable because it had my name on it. Kindergarten rules can pay off.

How has the role of a reporter changed for women in her 25 years?

The good news for women is that more opportunity exists with more expectation that a work-family balance is possible and even expected. One challenge for young women is that faster success and opportunity can come with the risk that bumps in the road are more visible and costly.

Who has helped you in your journey and how have they shaped your thinking?

Beyond supportive family and close friends, special colleagues over the years have always lifted me and helped me find my way through the rough patches. Television is a team sport and the collaboration involved has always pushed me to be better and made the ride more fun.

How do you think about and approach work-life integration?

Being honest with yourself about what is realistic. After 25 years at the network, I still work weekends and holidays frequently. That is the nature of the work and accepting that makes for a much happier experience. Prioritize those family and personal events that are most important and be there but most everything else falls behind the demands of work. Its all about expectations.

Knowing what you know today, what one thing would you have done differently early in your career?

I wish I had started a journal of my experiences. That would be a treasure now. I have scripts, photos and mementos to help me remember but a personal narrative would mean so much.

If you werent doing what youre doing now, money or talent would be no object, what would you be doing?

If only I could be a time traveler so I could move back and forward across time to see how things all got started and how they work out.

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NBC News' Kelly O'Donnell Reflects on Lessons Learned During Her Award-Winning Career - Adweek