ificandream

ificandream's Journal

May 1, 2024

Fox News takes down Hunter Biden 'mock trial' miniseries after lawsuit threat

Source: CNN

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Fox News on Tuesday removed a six-part Hunter Biden miniseries from its streaming platform, after his attorneys threatened to sue the right-wing network over the incendiary and at-times sexually explicit program about his legal troubles. The removal is a swift response from the conservative media juggernaut, whose spokespeople were defending the material as recently as Tuesday morning.

“This program was produced in and has been available since 2022,” a Fox News Media spokesperson said in a statement. “We are reviewing the concerns that have just been raised and – out of an abundance of caution in the interim – have taken it down.”

The program, titled “The Trial of Hunter Biden,” was an offering on the Fox Nation digital streaming network. It was also promoted on Fox News, the cable TV channel. As of Tuesday afternoon, the link on the Fox Nation site for the six-episode series was not working. Episodes that were available before the lawsuit threat are no longer accessible.

The dispute primarily revolves around sexually explicit images of Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, with women that were shown on-screen during the program, which featured a “mock trial” about his overseas financial dealings that led in part to his federal tax indictment and has also fueled House Republicans’ struggling impeachment inquiry into his father.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/30/politics/hunter-biden-fox-nation-series-removed/index.html

Fox will always be a garbage dump even though they took this down. They are the enemy, not the New York Times, not MSNBC.

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Photograph caption: Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, February 28, 2024. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

April 30, 2024

TCM Saturday May 4 - Bogie and Bacall, Steve Martin, Barbra Streisand, Portnoy's Complaint

-- THE DAY AT A GLANCE --

STEVE MARTIN
Father of the Bride (1991)
Pennies from Heaven (1981)

TCM LATE NIGHT: THE RAT PACK
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)

TCM DAYTIME - WEEKEND FEATURES
Maya (1966) (6:15 am ET)
MGM Cartoons: Grin and Share It (1957)
Believe It or Not #10 (1932) (short)
Glimpses of Peru (1937) (short)
Walking Dead, The (1936)
Directors Playhouse: The Brush Roper (1955)
Popeye: Never Kick a Woman (1933)
Falcon Takes Over, The (1942)
Buzzin' Around (1933) (short)
Tonight and Every Night (1945) (Musical Matinee)
Angels in the Outfield (1951)
Liquidator, The (1966)
Billy Budd (1962)

TCM PRIMETIME: TCM SERIES: TWO FOR ONE - SPIKE LEE
Face in the Crowd, A (1957)
Ace in the Hole (1951)

NOIR ALLEY
Dark Passage (1947)

TCM LATE NIGHT: THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE
Yentl (1983)
Portnoy's Complaint (1972)

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-- COMPLETE DAY SCHEDULE --

12:00 AM Father of the Bride (1991)

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A father's mixed feelings about his daughter's marriage makes the wedding a torturous occasion for him.
Dir: Charles Shyer Cast: Steve Martin, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Diane Keaton
Runtime: 105 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: George's middle name, Stanley, is named after Spencer Tracy's character in the original Father of the Bride (1950).

2:00 AM Pennies from Heaven (1981)

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Arthur sells sheet music and fantasizes about a world that should behave according to the lyrics of the songs he sells. Eileen fantasizes about love. In their minds, these two share a romance, singing and dancing to the popular music of the 1930s.
Dir: Herbert Ross Cast: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Christopher Walken
Runtime: 107 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-MA CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
COSTUME DESIGN -- Bob Mackie
SOUND -- Michael J. Kohut, Jay M. Harding, Richard Tyler, Al Overton
WRITING (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) -- Dennis Potter

Trivia: Christopher Walken's bar-top dance scene took two months of rehearsal and two days of shooting. He claims he got compliments later from fans Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

4:00 AM Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)

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A Chicago gangster stumbles into philanthropic work during a gang war.
Dir: Gordon Douglas Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.
Runtime: 123 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Oscar nominations: MUSIC (Scoring of Music--adaptation or treatment) -- Nelson Riddle
MUSIC (Song) -- "My Kind Of Town," Music by James Van Heusen; Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

Trivia: The same day as the funeral scene was filmed was also the day that President John F. Kennedy (a personal friend of Frank Sinatra's) was assassinated. After the assassination, Sinatra regretted for the rest of his life leaving in the line "You come over like George Washington I'll send you back like Abe Lincoln."

Trivia: A scene depicting a kidnapping was filmed, but cut when star Frank Sinatra's son was kidnapped.

6:15 AM Maya (1966)

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An American boy runs away in the Indian jungle after a fight with his father.
Dir: John Berry Cast: Clint Walker, Jay North, I. S. Johar
Runtime: 91 mins Genre: Adventure Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: Veteran voice actor Paul Frees overdubbed virtually all of the adult male Indian actors, presumably for release in the United States. Frees' credits in animated films and television include Rocky and Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Walt Disney's The Haunted Mansion and many of the Christmas productions from Rankin-Bass.

8:00 AM Cartoon: Grin and Share It (1957)
Spike tries to do away with Droopy after they finally strike gold in their shared mine.
Dir: Michael Lah Cast: Bill Thompson
Runtime: 6 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: Y

8:07 AM Short: Believe It or Not #10 (1932)
This short entry in the "Believe It or Not" series, features various sights and oddities, such as a golf course made from Civil War trenches and a Native American who can paint upside down. Vitaphone Release 1364.
Dir: null Cast: Leo Donnelly, Robert L Ripley, Alfred J. Goulding
Runtime: 7 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N

8:15 AM Short: Glimpses of Peru (1937)
A short film on the land, people and customs of Peru.
Dir: James A. Fitzpatrick Cast: James A. Fitzpatrick (narrator)
Runtime: 8 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N

8:24 AM The Walking Dead (1936)

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A framed man comes back from the dead to seek revenge.
Dir: Michael Curtiz Cast: Boris Karloff, Ricardo Cortez, Edmund Gwenn
Runtime: 66 mins Genre: Horror/Science-Fiction Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: The "glass heart" machine used to revive John Ellman in the film was said to be "nearly a prefect replica" of an actual perfusion pump - a device designed to keep organs alive outside an organism's body - which had been built by Charles Lindbergh when the legendary pilot and engineer was working with a Nobel-winning scientist at New York's Rockefeller Institute research labs in the mid-1930s.

9:30 AM Short: The Brush Roper (1955, from the Screen Directors Playhouse TV series)
An aging Western storyteller sets out to catch a raging bull on his own, in this episode of the Screen Directors Playhouse television series.
Dir: Stuart Heisler Cast: Walter Brennan, Lee Aaker, Edgar Buchanan
Runtime: 30 mins Genre: Western Rating: TV-PG CC: N

10:00 AM Cartoon: Never Kick a Woman (1933)
Popeye's sweetheart Olive Oyl goes in for boxing lessons and when she catches her teacher flirting with Popeye she steps out and gives the teacher an excellent demonstration of boxing.
Dir: Dave Fleischer, Seymour Kneitel Cast: Jack Mercer, Mae Questel
Runtime: 6 mins Genre: Animation Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

10:07 AM The Falcon Takes Over (1942)

A society sleuth and a lady reporter try to track down a murderous thug's lost girlfriend.
Dir: Irving Reis Cast: George Sanders, Lynn Bari, James Gleason
Runtime: 63 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: This is the first of three film versions of Raymond Chandler's "Farewell, My Lovely", with Gay Lawrence standing in for Philip Marlowe.

11:30 AM Short: Buzzin' Around (1933)
In his rush to demonstrate his invention of "wonder liquid," a country boy unknowingly grabs a jar of moonshine instead in this short film. Vitaphone Release 1509-1510.
Dir: Alfred J. Goulding Cast: Roscoe "fatty" Arbuckle, Fritz Hubert, Al Ochs
Runtime: 20 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

12:00 PM Tonight and Every Night (1945)

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An American girl falls for an RAF pilot while performing at a British music hall. Rita Hayworth's performance in the song "You Excite Me" is often cited as one of her best.
Dir: Victor Saville Cast: Rita Hayworth, Lee Bowman, Janet Blair
Runtime: 92 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
MUSIC (Scoring of a Musical Picture) -- Marlin Skiles, Morris Stoloff
MUSIC (Song) -- "Anywhere," Music by Jule Styne; Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

Trivia: Rita Hayworth was pregnant during production. As a result, the musical numbers were filmed first, before the pregnancy began to show. As filming progressed, great care was taken to hide her growing belly with muffs, furniture and purses.

1:45 PM Angels in the Outfield (1951)

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The short-tempered manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates mends his ways in return for a little divine assistance.
Dir: Clarence Brown Cast: Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn
Runtime: 102 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: Favorite film of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Trivia: Bing Crosby appeared in the film because, at the time, he was a partial owner (approximately 15%) of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Trivia: The uncredited hat check girl was played by Barbara Billingsley, future TV mother as June Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver (1957) and the jive-talking passenger and interpreter in Airplane! (1980).

3:45 PM The Liquidator (1966)

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A killer-for-hire gets mixed up with a plot to assassinate England's Prince Phillip.
Dir: Jack Cardiff Cast: Rod Taylor, Trevor Howard, Jill St. John
Runtime: 104 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-14 CC: Y

Trivia: The title song was sung by Shirley Bassey who had recently sung the title song for the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964).

5:45 PM Billy Budd (1962)

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Adaptation of Herman Melville's classic tale of a ship's captain caught between an innocent young sailor and an evil officer.
Dir: Peter Ustinov Cast: Terence Stamp, Peter Ustinov, Robert Ryan
Runtime: 112 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Oscar nominations: ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE -- Terence Stamp {"Billy Budd"}

Trivia: Herman Melville had been writing poetry for thirty years when he returned to fiction with "Billy Budd" in late 1888. Still unfinished when he died in 1891, it was forgotten. Melville's biographer accidentally stumbled upon it when going through a trunk of Melville's papers in his granddaughter's New Jersey house in 1919. Melville's widow worked to help complete it, and it was finally published in 1924. Over the years, other unsatisfactory versions were published, but it wasn't until Melville's original notes were found that the definitive version was ultimately published in 1962. Coincidentally, Sir Peter Ustinov's movie version was released the same year.

8:00 PM A Face in the Crowd (1957)

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A female television executive turns a folk-singing drifter into a powerful media star.
Dir: Elia Kazan Cast: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa
Runtime: 126 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: Film debut of Andy Griffith.

Trivia: This was Patricia Neal's return to the screen after a four-year absence from Hollywood, an absence that was precipitated by a much-publicized affair with Gary Cooper (who was married at the time) and a subsequent nervous breakdown.

10:15 PM Ace in the Hole (aka, The Big Carnival, 1951)

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A frustrated former big-city journalist now stuck working for an Albuquerque newspaper exploits a story about a man trapped in a cave to rekindle his career, but the situation quickly escalates into an out-of-control circus.
Dir: Billy Wilder Cast: Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur
Runtime: 111 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-PG CC:

Oscar nominations:
WRITING (Story and Screenplay) -- Billy Wilder, Lesser Samuels, Walter Newman

Trivia: After the film was released, it got bad reviews and lost money. The studio, without Billy Wilder's permission, changed the title to "The Big Carnival" to increase the box office take of the film. It didn't work. On top of that, Wilder's next picture, "Stalag 17 (1953)," was a hit and he expected a share of the picture's profits. Paramount's accountants told him that since this picture lost money, the money it lost would be subtracted from the profits of "Stalag 17".

12:15 AM Dark Passage (1947)

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A man falsely accused of his wife's murder escapes to search for the real killer.
Dir: Delmer Daves Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bruce Bennett
Runtime: 106 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: The third of four films made by husband and wife Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The other three are To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), and Key Largo (1948).

Trivia: The actual 1937 Art Deco apartment building used in the film (located at 1360 Montgomery St. in San Francisco) is still standing as of 2023. The apartment (No. 10) is marked by a cardboard cut-out of Humphrey Bogart, which can be seen from the street. The site is visited frequently by fans of vintage film noir. The unit has one bath, one bedroom and 861 square feet, and was last sold in 2016 for $1.5M.

2:15 AM Yentl (1983)

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A young Eastern European woman, circa 1904, disguises herself as a boy in order to pursue her passion for studying holy scripture.
Dir: Barbra Streisand Cast: Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving
Runtime: 134 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-14 CC: Y

Oscar nominations: ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE -- Amy Irving {"Hadaas"}
ART DIRECTION -- Art Direction: Roy Walker, Leslie Tomkins; Set Decoration: Tessa Davies
(*WINNER*) MUSIC (Original Song Score or Adaptation Score) -- Song Score by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
MUSIC (Original Song) -- "Papa, Can You Hear Me?," Music by Michel Legrand; Lyric by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
MUSIC (Original Song) -- "The Way He Makes Me Feel," Music by Michel Legrand; Lyric by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

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Trivia: Amy Irving became the first actress to be nominated for an Academy Award and a Razzie for the same performance. She won neither.

4:30 AM Portnoy's Complaint (1972)

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wwwDuring a session with his psychoanalyst, Alexander Portnoy rants about everything that is bothering him and it's a long list. His complaints include his childhood and his family with an emphasis on his mother, his sexual fantasies and the problems that he has with women, and his obsessive feelings about his Judaism.
Dir: Ernest Lehman Cast: Richard Benjamin, Karen Black, Lee Grant
Runtime: 101 mins Genre: Adaptation Rating: TV-MA CC: Y

Trivia: A news article noted that Mike Nichols urged producer/director Ernest Lehman to cast Richard Benjamin, who had acted in Nichols' Catch-22 (1970). Benjamin had three years previously shot to fame in Goodbye, Columbus (1969), another Philip Roth novel adapted to the screen.

April 29, 2024

TCM May 2024 At a Glance - Star of the Month; Theodore Bikel, Betty Garrett tributes; showcases for Gable, Sinatra

TCM MAY 2024 AT A GLANCE - Star of the Month, Birthday tributes to Theodore Bikel, Betty Garrett; Showcases for Steve Martin, Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable

STAR OF THE MONTH - Sessue Hayakawa (Mondays)

Kintarō Hayakawa (Japanese: 早川金太郎, Hepburn: Hayakawa Kintarō, June 10, 1886 – November 23, 1973), known professionally as Sessue Hayakawa (早川雪洲, Hayakawa Sesshū

, was a Japanese actor and a matinée idol. He was a popular star in Hollywood during the silent film era of the 1910s and early 1920s. Hayakawa was the first actor of Asian descent to achieve stardom as a leading man in the United States and Europe. His "broodingly handsome"[2] good looks and typecasting as a sexually dominant villain made him a heartthrob among American women during a time of racial discrimination, and he became one of the first male sex symbols of Hollywood.[3][4][5]

After withdrawing from the Japanese naval academy and attempting suicide at 18, Hayakawa attended the University of Chicago, where he studied political economics in accordance with his wealthy parents' wish that he become a banker. Upon graduating, he traveled to Los Angeles in order to board a scheduled ship back to Japan, but decided to try out acting in Little Tokyo. There, Hayakawa impressed Hollywood figures and was signed on to star in The Typhoon (1914). He made his breakthrough in The Cheat (1915), and thereafter became famous for his roles as a forbidden lover. Hayakawa was one of the highest paid stars of his time, earning $5,000 per week in 1915, and $2 million per year through his own production company from 1918 to 1921.[6][7][8] Because of rising anti-Japanese sentiment and business difficulties,[9] Hayakawa left Hollywood in 1922 and performed on Broadway and in Japan and Europe for many years before making his Hollywood comeback in Daughter of the Dragon (1931).[10]

Of his talkies, Hayakawa is probably best known for his role as Kuala, the pirate captain in Swiss Family Robinson (1960) and Colonel Saito in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), for which he earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[11] Hayakawa starred in over 80 feature films, and three of his films (The Cheat, The Dragon Painter, and The Bridge on the River Kwai) stand in the United States National Film Registry.

Spotlight - First Name Basis (Wednesdays)
Special Theme - The Art of Artifice (Tuesdays)
Special Theme - Director Frank Borzage (2, 9, 16)
Guest Programmer - (31)
Memorial Day Weekend Marathon (24 - 27)

WEEKLY SHOWCASES --
MUSICAL MATINEE Sat. Noon (ET)
4 - Tonight and Every Night (1945)
11 - Sweet Charity (1969)
18 - The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
25 - Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)

NOIR ALLEY Sat. Midnight, Sun. 10 am (ET)
4, 5 - Dark Passage (1947)
11, 12 - Follow Me Quietly (1949)
18, 19 - (P) Take Aim at the Police Van (1960)
25, 26 - TBA

SILENT SUNDAY NIGHTS Sun. Midnight (ET)
5 - The First Auto (1927)
12 - The Merry Widow (1925)
19 - The Kiss (1929)
Love (1927)
26 - The Flying Fleet (1929)

TCM IMPORTS Sun. evening 2 am (ET)
5 - A River Called Titas (1973)
12 - Unknown Pleasures (2002)
The World (2004)
19 - No End (1985)
Blind Chance (1981)
26 - The Burmese Harp (1956)

SELECTED DAILY SHOWCASES
May 1 - Sci-fi
May 2 - Birthday tribute Theodore Bikel
May 3 - Steve Martin
May 6 - Wives, Ex-Wives and Lovers
May 7 - Flowers
May 8 - Westerns
May 9 - Clark Gable

William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960) was an American film actor. Often referred to as the "King of Hollywood",[2] he had roles in more than 60 films in a variety of genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades of which was as a leading man. He was named the seventh greatest male movie star of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute.[3]

Gable won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the romantic comedy, It Happened One Night (1934). He was further Oscar-nominated for his roles as Fletcher Christian in the drama Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), and Rhett Butler in the historical romance drama Gone with the Wind (1939). He received Golden Globe Award nominations for his comedic roles in Teacher's Pet (1958), and But Not for Me (1959). He also starred in Call of the Wild (1935), Key to the City (1950), and Mogambo (1953). His final on-screen role was as an aging cowboy in The Misfits (1961).

Gable was one of the most consistent box-office performers in the history of Hollywood, appearing on Quigley Publishing's annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll sixteen times. He appeared opposite many of the most popular actresses of their time. He frequently acted alongside Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Norma Shearer and Ava Gardner. Gable died of a heart attack in 1960 at the age of 59.

May 10 - Birthday tribute David O. Selznick
May 12 - Mother's Day
May 13 - Director Clarence Brown
May 14 - The Gulf States
May 15 - Writer Dalton Trumbo
May 16 - Film Noir
May 17 - Spies
May 19 - Director Frank Oz
May 20 - Mediterranean History
May 21 - Call Me Mister
May 23 - Frank Sinatra; Birthday tribute: Betty Garrett

Frank Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor. After winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for From Here to Eternity (1953), he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962). Sinatra also appeared in musicals such as On the Town (1949), Guys and Dolls (1955), High Society (1956), and Pal Joey (1957), which won him a Golden Globe Award. Toward the end of his career, he frequently played detectives, including the title character in Tony Rome (1967). Sinatra received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971. On television, The Frank Sinatra Show began on CBS in 1950, and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

May 24 - Comedies
May 28 - Cursed
May 30 - International Incident
May 31 - Bank Robbers

MAY PREMIERES
May 1 - Moon Zero Two (1969)
May 3 - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
May 6 - The Tong-Man (1919)
May 11 - Synecdoche, New York (2008)
May 17 - The Murder of Mary Phagan (1988)
May 18 - Take Aim at the Police Van (1960)
May 26 - The Cold Blue (2018)
May 31 - The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and
Motor Kings (1976)
May 31 - Scott Joplin (1977)

April 29, 2024

You know Trump is ticked about this.

April 25, 2024

Notorious far-right blog The Gateway Pundit declares bankruptcy over 2020 election-related lawsuits (with filing links)

By Oliver Darcy and Marshall Cohen, CNN
Published 5:48 PM EDT, Wed April 24, 2024

The Gateway Pundit, the notorious far-right blog and prolific publisher of conspiracy theories, said Wednesday that it had filed for bankruptcy protection as it grapples with litigation related to its coverage of the 2020 election.

The move comes as the staunchly pro-Donald Trump website, which promoted the false notion that the 2020 election was stolen by President Joe Biden and his allies, faces multiple lawsuits over its bogus claims.

One of the lawsuits, filed by two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, accuses The Gateway Pundit of publishing stories that falsely accused them of election fraud, which the pair said prompted a wave of harassment and threats of violence. The judge has rejected several attempts to throw out the case, which is currently in the discovery phase ahead of a potential trial.

Another lawsuit, filed by a former Dominion Voting Systems executive, accuses the outlet of defamation. The Gateway Pundit denies wrongdoing in both cases.

April 24, 2024

From a non-Georgia DUer, is it likely MTG will get voted out?

From my POV, it would appear to be an uphill battle, but is there a chance?

April 24, 2024

Deep Purple to release new album (press release)

New York, NY (April 24, 2024) – One of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time releases new album ‘=1’, on July 19th via earMUSIC.

The first single will be unveiled on April 30th at midnight, a taster for the full 13 tracks of pioneering and rip-roaring rock 'n' roll. Deep Purple continue their charge of recent years, releasing hit albums and filling arenas around the world, adding yet more layers to their 100 million album selling legacy.

The band are credited as one of the key originators of heavy rock and have constantly progressed their boundaries of music. They are fronted by the legendary Ian Gillan, whose vocals have defined generations, accompanied by the masterful bassist Roger Glover, the powerhouse drummer Ian Paice, and the maestro on keyboards Don Airey. This is the band’s first album with sensational guitarist Simon McBride, who seamlessly slotted in when longtime member Steve Morse left due to personal circumstances. Since 2022, Simon has already played to Deep Purple audiences totalling more than half a million people.

But Deep Purple is more than just their members and ‘=1’ embodies the essence and attitude of their 1970s incarnation possibly more than any other album in recent memory. With the legendary Bob Ezrin once again producing, the record evokes the pioneering band’s classic sound, without relying on nostalgia.

The enigmatic title ‘=1’ symbolises the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one.

Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris, and Berlin in recent days (link to images here).

With three consecutive No.1 albums in their back pocket, this is Deep Purple at their pinnacle. ‘Now WHAT?!’ (2013), ‘inFinite’ (2017), and ‘Whoosh!’ (2020) have sold over one million copies worldwide, making Deep Purple one of the most successful rock bands currently active. The latest studio album, “Whoosh!”, reached #1 on the album charts in 7 countries and charted in the top 10 in another 12.

Taking the US by storm this summer Deep Purple will be shaking the walls of arenas, with an explosive lineup of unforgettable hits taken from their repertoire of rock spanning over half a century.

‘=1’ will be released on July 19th via earMUSIC as Ltd. CD+DVD (Digipak), CD (Jewelcase), 2LP Gatefold (black, 180g), Ltd. Purple 2LP Gatefold (180g), Ltd. Crystal Clear 2LP (180g) and Ltd. Box Set (CD+DVD Digipak, 2LP black Gatefold, 3x exclusive 10” vinyl editions feat. live recordings from Deep Purple’s 2022 tour, exclusive Collector’s T-shirt, 2x exclusive guitar picks, 1x exclusive art print, 1x exclusive lanyard, and the chance to win a Golden Ticket giving access to all shows on the Deep Purple “=1 MORE TIME”-tour).

All LPs include a rich 12-page vinyl sized booklet.

The bonus DVD features the approx. 60min documentary ‘Access All Areas’ joining Deep Purple backstage on tour and providing an exclusive look behind the scenes.

Further exclusive items are available via the official album store (here): Ltd. 2LP Picture Disc, Ltd. Cassette, strictly limited canvas signed by all band members – limited to 50 items only and various other merchandise items.

=1 MORE TIME TOUR DATES:
Aug. 14 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live
Aug. 15 – Tampa, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
Aug. 17 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Aug. 18 – Durant, OK @ Choctaw Casino – Grand Theater
Aug. 19 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
Aug. 21 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Aug. 22 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Aug. 23 – Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Aug. 25 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Aug. 27 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Aug. 28 – Gilford, NH @ BankNH Pavilion
Aug. 30 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Aug. 31 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sept. 1 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sept. 3 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Sept. 4 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC
Sept. 6 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Sept. 7 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
Sept. 8 – Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain

Tickets are available at www.deeppurple.com

April 24, 2024

Day 1 Trump trial transcript now online

Link is here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218886369#post2

April 23, 2024

New York Courts to Publish Daily Transcripts of Trump Trial (NY State Unified Court System press release) (Update 4/23)

NEW YORK–With opening statements starting today in the historic trial The People of
the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump (# 71543/2023), Chief Administrative Judge
Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George
announced that trial transcripts will be available to the public on the court system’s
website at https://ww2.nycourts.gov/press/index.shtml. The court system is taking the
novel step of posting the daily transcripts of the trial proceedings on its public website–
which falls in line with its landmark innovations to publish online the court’s filings and
decisions, as well as the case exhibits–to ensure broad and continuous public access to
this extraordinarily high-profile case. A certified transcript of each day’s trial proceeding
will be posted online and publicly available before the end of the next business day.

“With current law restricting the broadcasting of trial proceedings and courtroom space
for public spectators very limited, the release of the daily transcripts on the court
system’s website is the best way to provide the public a direct view of the proceedings
in this historic trial,” said Chief Administrative Judge Zayas. “This measure is in the
interest of the public good and aligns with the court system’s commitment to judicial
transparency and its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to, and understanding of,
the courts and justice system.”

“This historic case, which has generated unparalleled public interest, calls for this
historic step by the court system. I am pleased to join Chief Administrative Judge Zayas
in announcing that the trial transcripts–providing a word-for-word account of the
proceedings–will be posted daily on our website, giving the public ready access to the
full, accurate court record. This will serve to enhance public understanding of the trial
with minimum disruption to the courtroom proceedings,” said First Deputy Chief
Administrative Judge St. George.

Press release link: https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/pdfs/PR24_19.pdf

Transcripts page link: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/press/index.shtml

---------------------------

UPDATE: Transcript for Day 1, Monday April 22: https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/P.v%20Trump%20Transcript%20042244.pdf

April 23, 2024

LEGENDARY ROCKER SAMMY HAGAR TO BE HONORED WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME (press release)

This press release was issued today by the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will honor rocker Sammy Hagar with the 2,779th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, April 30, at 11:30 am PT at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard. Hagar will receive his star in the category of Recording. Speakers joining emcee Guy Fieri will be John Mayer and Tom Consolo, Hagar’s longtime manager.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and worldwide have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

ABOUT OUR HONOREE

"The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to honor rock legend Sammy Hagar for his contributions to the world of Rock & Roll music,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “From his humble beginnings in Fontana, California to strolling the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a young boy, he has truly come a long way!" added Martinez.

For the last five decades, Sammy Hagar has been one of rock music's most dynamic and prolific artists, amassing 25 Platinum albums on sales surpassing 50 million worldwide. His decades-long career has spanned breaking into the industry with the seminal hard rock band Montrose and his multi-platinum solo career to Sammy’s ride as the frontman of Van Halen, Chickenfoot, and now his latest supergroup, The Circle. Along his journey, he has set the tone for some of the greatest rock anthems ever written, including "I Can't Drive 55," "Right Now," and "Why Can't This Be Love," and has earned himself the highest respect in the music industry with a Grammy Award and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Sammy is also a dedicated philanthropist, a #1 New York Times best-selling author, and an auspicious entrepreneur.

Since launching his flagship Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 1990, Sammy has turned a lifelong passion for great food, music, and spirits into a thriving lifestyle brand encompassing successful restaurants, bars, spirits and retail. A pioneer in the spirits industry, Hagar made history with his creation and eventual sale of Cabo Wabo Tequila. His award-winning portfolio spirits now includes Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, a partnership with Rick Springfield, Santo Spirits, a partnership with Guy Fieri, Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktails and Red Rocker Brewing Co.

For decades, his annual birthday bash has been one of the year’s most legendary jam sessions for rockstars to perform at and coveted events for music fans to attend. There are now Cabo Wabo Cantinas in Las Vegas and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, plus four Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill restaurants, which are located in the major airports of Maui, Honolulu, Cleveland and Las Vegas. In spring 2023, Sammy introduced Cabo Wabo Beach Club in Huntington Beach, California. Sammy donates his proceeds from Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill and Cabo Wabo Beach Club to local charities. On May 17, Sammy’s Island will launch at the Palms Casino Resort, a tropical pool getaway featuring delicious food, refreshing cocktails made with Hagar’s signature spirits, and live music performances. The grand opening of Stage Red, a performance venue which has been renamed in his honor, opening on June 15. The theater, in Hagar’s hometown, will serve as a cornerstone for city leaders’ plans to create a regional draw in downtown Fontana, California.

Never one to hit the brakes, Sammy expanded his successes into publishing, television, radio and beyond. His three books include “Sammy Hagar’s Cocktail Hits: 85 Personal Favorites from the Red Rocker,” “Are We Having Any Fun Yet?,” and “Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock,” his #1 New York Times best-selling memoir. On television, fans have watched him on season 11 of “The Voice,” where he was a mentor for Team Adam, and during five seasons of the hit series, “Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar.” He’s also the host of “Sammy Hagar’s Top Rock Countdown,” a weekly syndicated radio show broadcast to 90+ U.S. stations.

His debut album with The Circle, “Space Between,” entered the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at #4 on May 10, 2019, and debuted at #1 on four Billboard charts. Their second album, “Crazy Times,” dropped in September 2022, and debuted at No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Album chart - their second top 10. The album was produced by 8-time Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb and the band’s tour in support of the album earned universal praise from fans and critics alike.

This summer, Hagar and longtime bandmates Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham will join forces with guitar great, Joe Satriani, for the highly-anticipated The Best of All Worlds Tour. “It’s crazy to think that it’ll be 20 years since Mikey and I played many of these songs with Van Halen on the 04’ Best of Both Worlds Tour,” said Hagar. “With Joe on board, we can take a deeper dive into those years which will be really cool for the fans, and us.” Collectively, Anthony, Satriani and Bonham have played together in nearly every phase of Hagar’s career including Van Halen, Chickenfoot and The Circle, so fans can expect a setlist which draws from some of the biggest rock anthems of the last four decades including, “Finish What Ya Started,” “5150,” “Your Love is Driving Me Crazy,” “Best of Both Worlds,” “Sexy Little Thing,” “One Way To Rock,” “Right Now,” “Eagles Fly” and more.

In 2021, Sammy was the first person to be awarded the accreditation of Honorary Ambassador of Los Cabos, Mexico, for his contribution to the development and promotion of Los Cabos and the economic growth of México.

Sammy’s humble beginnings instilled in him an unstoppable work ethic that’s been the driving force behind his rise to the top as a musician and entrepreneur - and continues to fuel his dedication as a philanthropist. “It's where all my drive comes from,” Sammy explains. “I was willing to work hard to ensure I was never poor again. Even now, I can still go to that place and remember that feeling, but now it drives me to want to give back and to show kids that if you work hard, there’s going to be an open door out.” Sammy and his wife Kari created the Hagar Family Foundation in 2008 and have personally donated more than $4 million back to local communities, including giving to food banks in every city he’s performed in for more than a decade. In 2014 he also founded “Acoustic-4-A-Cure,” an annual Bay Area concert benefiting the Pediatric Cancer Program at UCSF's Benioff Children's Hospital, that’s featured performances by some of the biggest names in music. In recent years, he’s also become an in-demand speaker alongside new friends like Warren Buffett, but his favorite role remains being a great husband, father, and grandfather.

Website: http://www.redrocker.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sammySammy

Facebook: https://facebook.com/sammySammy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sammySammy

YouTube: https://youtube.com/sammySammy

These ceremonies are free and open to the public.

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Number of posts: 9,381

About ificandream

Writer, journalist with over 35 years at a daily newspaper, then an author and a freelance writer.

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