Ian McKellen on Returning as Gandalf: ‘They Better Be Quick’

By Nikki Reese | September 03, 2024
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Resilience & Mindset Mastery
Atlanta Black Pride: A Festival of Community, Culture, and Courage

Under the hot sun in Piedmont Park, Michael Roberts, donning a blue-and-white crop top with jean shorts, grooves to Afrobeats with friends. It's his first Pride event, having traveled from Macon to experience Atlanta Black Pride. Despite the 90-degree heat, Roberts is lost in the moment, waving a Pride flag fan. For him, Black Pride is about embracing his unique identity as a young, queer Black man without the burden of balancing masculinity and femininity for others. The Pure Heat Community Festival, part of Atlanta Black Pride, saw thousands gather to celebrate with food, performances, and advocacy, highlighting the importance of safe spaces for people of color. Despite a vandalism incident at the event's main venue, organizers remained resilient, focusing on community strength and support.

Health
Lessons for Texas: Italy’s Success with Tiny Community Health Homes

In early 2020, as a new and deadly virus ravaged Italy, the world watched in alarm. Empty streets, overburdened doctors in protective gear, and images of body bags dominated the news, foreshadowing the crisis that would soon hit the United States. When COVID-19 struck, the lessons from Italy pushed states like Texas to act swiftly with lockdowns, testing, and healthcare preparations. However, neither country had time to build the resilient healthcare systems needed to combat such a crisis. Both Italy and the U.S. had long prioritized flashy hospitals and specialized care over primary care, a decision that proved costly during the pandemic. Italy has since learned from this mistake, investing $17 billion in COVID-19 relief funds from the EU into its health system, with a focus on strengthening primary care and keeping people out of hospitals. A similar overhaul is desperately needed in the U.S., particularly in Texas, where the lack of primary care providers is among the worst in the nation.

Entertainment
Ian McKellen on Returning as Gandalf: ‘They Better Be Quick’

Sir Ian McKellen is open to returning as Gandalf in the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, but it needs to happen soon. At 85, the actor revealed that while he's been informed about potential new films featuring Gandalf, the script isn't written yet, so the filmmakers "better be quick." McKellen recently experienced a fall during a London performance of “Player Kings,” leading him to reflect on aging. Although the fall left him feeling physically weak, he remains active, usually working or preparing for new projects. However, he plans to take the rest of the year off, not out of necessity, but because he simply wants to.