Christian groups in South Korea are calling on the World Evangelical Alliance to put on hold plans for its next General Assembly in Seoul next year.

File: (L-R) "The Sarah Silverman Program" writer Harris Wittels, comedian Sarah Silverman, executive producer/head writer Dan Sterling and actress Laura Silverman, arrive at Comedy Central's Emmy Awards party at the STK restaurant Sept. 21, 2008 in Los Angeles.; Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Harris Wittels, a comedy writer who worked on "Parks & Recreation," has died at 30, the Los Angeles Police Department's Jane Kim tells KPCC.

Wittels was discovered by his assistant around 12 p.m., Kim said, and was already dead. Kim said that Wittels' death was a possible overdose, but that the Coroner's Office would determine the cause of death. Wittels had attended drug rehab twice.

Comedy Central, where Wittels worked on "The Sarah Silverman Program" and "Secret Girlfriend," confirmed Wittels' death, as did the comedy show he appeared at Wednesday night.

Comedy Central tweet

Meltdown Show tweet

Wittels was also well known for his @Humblebrag Twitter account and later book, helping to popularize the idea online of the false modesty of bragging while trying not to look like you're bragging.

Wittels had spoken about his struggles with addiction in places including Pete Holmes's podcast "You Made It Weird" in a November episode.

"I just really stopped caring about my life," Wittels said on "You Made It Weird," explaining how he got into doing drugs. "I just really started to think, well, if I'm only here for 80 years, then who cares if I spend it high or not?"

Wittels received his first big break when Sarah Silverman saw him performing comedy and gave him a job writing for her Comedy Central show.

Wittels also wrote for HBO's "Eastbound & Down," several MTV awards shows and the American Music Awards. He had a recurring role on "Parks & Recreation" and was a regular guest on the "Comedy Bang Bang" podcast.

Comedians, actors and fans mourned Wittels' death online.

Harris Wittels Storify

See Wittels in a scene from "Parks & Recreation":

Wittels on Parks & Recreation

Listen to Wittels on "Comedy Bang Bang":

Wittels on Comedy Bang Bang

This story has been updated.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Coming soon: An inverted pendulum ride named Up and Overboard and Mach Fun tower ride

Dutch publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning has announced plans to use AI for translating commercial fiction, drawing sharp criticism from literary professionals despite promises of human oversight and author consent. Award-winning translator Michele Hutchison, who won the 2020 International Booker Prize, argues that translation extends beyond word conversion. "We build bridges between cultures, taking into account the target readership every step of the way," she said, noting that translators convey rhythm, poetry, and cultural nuances while conducting precise terminology research.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

[allAfrica]

Chanel Maya Bank plays Sawyer Bennett in 'Gossip Girl' Gossip Girl star Chanel Maya Bank’s has sparked panic as she has been missing since two weeks.Chanel aka Sawyer Benett reportedly disappeared in Los Angeles. Her family members, including her mum, Judy Singh and cousin, Danielle-Tori...

John Krasinski reportedly could not believe being named the Sexiest Man AliveJohn Krasinski as 2024’s Sexiest Man Alive invoked a mixed reaction from social media, pleasing some fans while leaving the others disappointed. Meanwhile some social media users have found an interesting link...

Ameesha Patel was age shamed after her intimate picture with businessman Nirvaan Birla went viral on social media. While Ameesha is 49 years old, Nirvaan is 30.

On the anniversary of religious freedom for Christians in Italy, OM Arts International hosts its first OM Arts School of Missions at Forterocca.

1. Ameesha Patel sparks dating rumours with Nirvaan Birla after cozy Dubai pic goes viral  TOI Etimes
2. Gadar 2 Actress Ameesha Patel Gets Age Shamed As She Drops A Cosy Photo With Nirvaan Birla  Zee News
3. Ameesha Patel gets trolled over intimate pic with businessman Nirvaan Birla  ap7am
4. Ameesha Patel’s Cozy Photo With 'Darling' Nirvaan Birla Triggers Dating Rumours  News18
5. Did Ameesha Patel Confirm Dating Nirvaan Birla? Gadar 2 Actress Drops Romantic Pic From Dubai Getaway With 'Darling'  Times Now

1. WhatsApp Wedding Invitation Scam Sparks Concerns: All You Need to Know  Republic World
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4. WhatsApp wedding invitations are the new cyber trap — here's how scammers are stealing your data  CNBCTV18
5. What is wedding invitation scam, how to protect yourself from it?  DNA India

Alison Hammond's fall not even halfway into the Great British Bake Off's week eight caused chaos in the tent.

A stunning video of lava flowing over snow in Iceland has gone viral, captivating viewers worldwide. Captured by Icelandic photographer Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, the mesmerizing footage showcases a steady stream of lava swiftly moving across a pristine snow-covered landscape at Sundhnúkagígar

Naresh Meena, an independent candidate and former Congress member, slapped Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Choudhary after a heated argument at a polling booth in Rajasthan's Deoli Uniara. The incident was recorded on camera by a local, and now, the video is going

1. 'Taking revenge on society': Deadly Zhuhai car attack sparks questions in China  BBC.com
2. Man Upset About Divorce Allegedly Rams Car into Crowd, Killing 35: Reports  PEOPLE
3. Video: 35 killed in mass hit-and-run in Zhuhai, China  CNN
4. Driver rams his car into crowd in China, killing 35. Police say he was upset about his divorce  The Associated Press
5. Zhuhai car attack: China clears memorial as government scrambles to respond  Reuters

It’s another crossover episode of PCCH! This time Christina and Christian take on one of their favorite shows: Parks and Recreation! They discuss the interplay between communion and otherness, the theological value of beauty, and the redemption of all things, including our own pasts. They close with the Top 5 Parks and Recreation Quotes.

He was one of the original Evangelicals who came to Orthodoxy from Campus Crusade for Christ along with Fr. Peter Gillquist, Fr. Jon Braun, Fr. Gordon Walker, and others. He compiled the well-loved writings of the Apostolic Fathers, and he was the project director for the Orthodox Study Bible. Fr. Jack Sparks fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, February 8, 2010. AFR talks with Fr. Peter Gillquist.

Many online are raising questions about a recent spate of public violence, as officials continue to censor discussion.

Decision to deepen levels of parks following monsoon has created a breeding ground for diseases

Meghan Markle sparked another controversy after she wore a poppy that slightly differed from that of Prince Harry's in a recent video addressing children's digital safety.

A journalist has pointed out that the Duchess of Sussex’s poppy lacked leaves on the stalk, resembling...

Prince Harry sparks frenzy because of his ‘terrorizing' plans for Christmas

Prince Harry’s terrifying effect on Christmas in 2024, for the Windsors has just become a point of conversation.

So much so that one expert has even stepped forward to offer his thoughts on the...

Parksessions with the Nike-Team

Felix Prangenberg was after the Vans BMX Street Invitational Contest in Huntington Beach with his Nike team mates Garrett Reynolds , Chad Kerley and Dennis Enarson in Nevada, where the guys filmed a little skatepark video for Vitalbmx . Enjoy the video, your kunstform BMX Shop.

Video: Vitalbmx

Subscribe our youtube channel: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/kunstformbmxshop

Held once every 10 years, the IUCN World Parks Congress provides a unique opportunity to bring about change, not only for today, or tomorrow, but for the decade ahead. It will be a gathering not just for protected area professionals but for everyone who cares about the health of humanity and our natural world.  On behalf of the IUCN and its partners, Parks Australia and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services,  I encourage you all to join us on this journey and help provide inspiring solutions for our planet’s most precious natural areas.

Congress registration is now open online. The ‘Early Bird’ registration fee is available until 30 June, and you can also benefit from the preferential rates for IUCN Members, Commission members and staff.

An excellent way to keep up to date is to visit the World Parks Congress website and to subscribe to the Congress newsletter.

Find an amusement park near you for some summer thrills.

The post 14 amusement and water parks to visit in New England this summer appeared first on Boston.com.

Voluntary sector providers of local authority services say ideology must not hamper effective service provision

The Israel Nature & Parks Authority (INPA) is using PowerG™ technology from Visonic Ltd., Tel-Aviv, Israel, a developer and manufacturer of wireless home security and safety systems and components, to enable research that will help protect the griffon vulture population in Israel.

The FTC's new rule has triggered a lawsuit from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, raising concerns about legal costs and economic impact on businesses.

In a new white paper released in partnership with Resideo, Parks Associates examines practical solutions and the latest advancements in smart home technology that contribute to energy management.

Greenbelt, MD — The results of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week are in.

Hundreds of hikers and skiers started the new year outside as part of New Hampshire State Parks' First Day Hikes program. Five parks throughout the state - Monadnock, Franconia Notch, Odiorne Point, Milan Hill, and Bear Brook - welcomed visitors with trail maps, campfires, and hot chocolate.

Edgar Wright attends the 55th Annual International Cinematographers Guild Publicists Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 2, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.; Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

The joke about Sparks — if you’ve even heard of them — is that it’s the best British band to come out of America. That confusion is why Edgar Wright, the director of “Baby Driver” and “Shaun of the Dead,” wanted to make his first documentary about the group, headed by brothers Ron and Russell Mael. Quite simply, Wright was tired of explaining who the band was and why he loves them. His documentary, called “The Sparks Brothers,” premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. John Horn talked with Wright after its January premiere about his personal connection to the band, how he connected with the brother, the editing process of the documentary and more. The film is in theaters now.

With guest host John Horn

Guest: 

Edgar Wright, director of the new documentary “The Sparks Brothers;” he tweets @edgarwright

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

With a call for a concerted effort to build a more robust native seed supply and industry, a recent National Academies report helped spur important local, state, and federal action. The momentum continues as native seed stakeholders gather in Washington, D.C., for the 2023 National Native Seed Conference.

Noam Shazeer, an AI pioneer who left Google in 2021, has returned to the company after Google paid $2.7 billion to acquire his startup, Character.AI. Shazeer is now a vice president at Google and will lead the development of their next-generation AI project, Gemini. This move highlights the intense competition for top AI talent in Silicon Valley.

Sparkswelll was built to support online fundraising, communication with supporters, event scheduling, email campaigns, supporter data management and field canvassing. The platform also supports federal election financial reporting requirements.

Mark Rosen has leveraged thousands in grants to improve the City of Highland

Mr. Parks channels years of expertise with Ford into his current work with LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Despite all the promises from major hotel companies to disclose "Resort Fees" upfront – the "Junk Fee Equalizer" was hit with another "surprise" at checkout.

Preventing Weapons from Entering the Park

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/06/trumps-election-victory-sparks-dismay-among-climate-community.html By Sam Meredith – CNBC Donald Trump’s election victory on Wednesday sparked a palpable sense of dismay among the climate community. The 78-year-old, who has called the climate crisis “one of the great scams”, has pledged to ramp-up fossil fuel production, pare back outgoing President Joe Biden’s emissions-limiting regulations and pull the country out […]

Theme park experts say advanced robotics technologies help bring popular film and TV characters to life in convincing ways.

Orlando's theme parks and attractions dominate the nominations of 10Best travel website's reader poll.

“It was equal parts travel logistics, physical endurance and Disney stuff,” says Nathan Firesheets about his Disney Global Ride Challenge.

Universal parent company Comcast’s executives are hopeful this year’s sizeable theme park investment will pay off as the division set an earnings record last quarter and the company’s international theme parks “roar” back from COVID restrictions.

Smart energy communities could be a ‘game-changer’ in the transition to renewables, says SETU’s Sean Lyons.

Read more: Why small energy parks are a smart piece of the clean-energy puzzle

Josh Sparks, CEO of Infinity Home Services, shares the history behind his company and provides a sneak peek into his upcoming presentation at the 2024 Best of Success conference.