#her and rihanna are doing more for the world than our actual government

[daenerys-targaryen]

isn’t it crazy that this whole time we’ve supported and been there for taylor her entire career and now she’s being there for us in the best way she can :’)

#leah rambles 🌻 #text #she's so giving :( #she's saving so many people from so much #with just.. a simple donation... #she's really an angel #her and rihanna are doing more for the world than our actual government #sm #anyways i adore her

[helloworlddemo1122-yahoopar-blog]

Summer Film Preview: 27 of the Most Anticipated Movies of the Season!

Among ET's 90 top picks for summer are our 27 most anticipated films of the season.

Every summer, there is no shortage of new films to blow audiences away at theaters -- and blow away records at the box office. This summer, things are looking especially massive. Blockbuster season kicks off in a huge way with the highly anticipated back-to-back releases of Deadpool 2and Solo: A Star Wars Story, ushering in an onslaught of franchise films with new installments of Jurassic World, Marvel's Ant-Man, Mission: Impossible and The Purge.

Not everything is a sequel, though. Of the originals is the eagerly awaited adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians, marking the first time a major studio has produced an all-Asian-led film since The Joy Luck Club; Spike Lee's latest, BlacKkKlansman; and -- because it wouldn't be summer without one -- a shark attack flick, The Meg, starring Jason Statham.

But no matter what you’re looking forward to, there's plenty to choose from among these 27 sure-to-be hit films.

Deadpool 2 (Out Now)

The Deadpool sequel is bigger, louder and packed with more violence and superpeople, dick jokes and fourth wall-breaking meta-ness than the original X-Men-adjacent movie. And while that all sounds like a recipe for a bloated case of sequelitis, Ryan Reynolds and co. not only pull it off, but top the first.

Directed by: David Leitch | Written by: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Ryan Reynolds Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams

Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 25)

Forget everything you think you know about the legendary smuggler and prepare for the unexpected. That's the best advice we can give you about Star Wars' latest anthology installment, which, sure, features the Kessel Run and Han Solo and Chewbacca's origin story, then blasts off for so much more.

Directed by: Ron Howard | Written by: Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Emilia Clarke

American Animals (June 1)

The Orchard / MoviePass Ventures

According to the minds behind American Animals, while most movies are based on a true story, this one is a true story, about four college students who plan "one of the most audacious art heists in U.S. history." It also marks the first appearance on this list by the true star of the summer movie season: Ann Dowd.

Directed by: Bart Layton | Written by: Bart Layton Starring: Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Jared Abrahamson, Ann Dowd

Hereditary (June 8)

A24

Following its screening at Sundance earlier this year, Hereditary was hailed as the scariest horror movie in years -- if not of all time. As for what actually transpires in the film, well, that is best left vague. Brace yourself for hypnotically unnerving tongue pops and flashbacks to Toni Collette's iconic turn in The Sixth Sense.

Directed by: Ari Aster | Written by: Ari Aster Starring: Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd

Ocean's 8 (June 8)

This year's Met Gala might as well have been early promo for Ocean's 8, which centers on another heist-happy Ocean, Debbie, who assembles a team of women to help rob a fictional Met Gala. (If you do some simple math, it seems Anne Hathaway's mark is one of the eight, too.) Unfortunately, Rihanna will likely not be dressed as a sexy pope.

Directed by: Gary Ross | Written by: Gary Ross and Olivia Milch Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (June 8)

Focus Features

If you were a child in the '60s -- or '70s, '80s, '90s, the aughts, really, if you were a child ever -- then Won't You Be My Neighbor? will be a nostalgic return to your younger years, a look at the long-running and formative TV series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the man behind it, the late Fred Rogers.

Directed by: Morgan Neville

Hearts Beat Loud (June 8)

Gunpowder & Sky

This gem of an indie is for anyone who has ever wished Nick Offerman could be your best friend, your dad or both: Kiersey Clemons plays Offerman's daughter and reluctant bandmate as they navigate fame and family in Hearts Beat Louder. Sprinkle in a queer romance and an earworm-y soundtrack, and what more could you ask for?

Directed by: Brett Haley | Written by: Brett Haley and Marc Basch Starring: Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Toni Collette, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner

Hotel Artemis (June 8)

Global Road Entertainment

Read this logline: "Set in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, Hotel Artemis is a high-octane action-thriller starring Jodie Foster as The Nurse, who runs a secret, members-only hospital for criminals." Now re-read that sentence over and over and over until you go insane and this becomes your most anticipated movie of the year.

Directed by: Drew Pearce | Written by: Drew Pearce Starring: Jodie Foster, Dave Bautista, Sofia Boutella, Zachary Quinto, Sterling K. Brown, Jeff Goldblum

Incredibles 2 (June 15)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

It has been well over a decade since the original Incredibles arrived in theaters and, even now, under the looming threat of superhero saturation, that first film remains one of the best superhero movies period. Finally, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack are back, with Frozone and, of course, Edna.

Directed by: Brad Bird | Written by: Brad Bird Starring: Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine Keener, Sophia Bush

Tag (June 15)

Warner Bros. Pictures

This is a movie about tag -- as in, the game in which you tag someone and they are then "it." Specifically, Tag is about a group of childhood buddies who have been playing tag one month out of the year, every year, for 30 years. If you are wondering, Where do they come up with this?!, it was a Wall Street Journal article.

Directed by: Jeff Tomsic | Written by: Rob McKittrick and Mark Steilen Starring: Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Jon Hamm, Hannibal Buress, Isla Fisher, Leslie Bibb

Damsel (June 22)

Magnolia Pictures

If you hear that Robert Pattinson is starring in a Western, you probably have a notion of what that film is. Damsel is not the movie you're imagining, guaranteed -- unless, of course, you pictured a screwball comedy about a pioneer who voyages west with a drunkard and a miniature horse named Butterscotch.

Directed by: David Zellner and Nathan Zellner | Written by: David Zellner and Nathan Zellner Starring: Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, David Zellner

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (June 22)

In the colossally successful Jurassic World, the dinosaurs destroyed the park, as dinosaurs are wont to do, and now Isla Nublar is threatening to destroy the dinosaurs. Thus, Claire and Owen are enlisted to help save the dinosaurs from a second extinction -- and that's only the beginning of this adventure.

Directed by: J.A. Bayona | Written by: Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, James Cromwell, Justice Smith

Under the Silver Lake (June 22)

A24

Something about those hot summer nights must make us itch for a mystery, because this is yet another noir-y flick arriving in cineplexes, albeit a very modern take on the genre. Andrew Garfield plays a stoner Angelino who begins sleuthing when his dream girl disappears in the middle of the night without a trace.

Directed by: David Robert Mitchell | Written by: David Robert Mitchell Starring: Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough, Topher Grace, Jimmi Simpson

The First Purge (July 4)

Universal Pictures

There's something almost comforting about knowing that every (sometimes every other) Independence Day brings a new installment in the ongoing Purge franchise. Who knew a nutty little murder flick could have so much steam? This one goes back to the beginning and the invention of a government-sponsored killing spree.

Directed by: Gerard McMurray | Written by: James DeMonaco Starring: Lex Scott Davis, Y'lan Noel, Luna Lauren Velez, Joivan Wade, Marisa Tomei

Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6)

Consider the Ant-Man sequel a respite for those still reeling over the ending of Infinity War, a plucky comedic romp about heroes who shrink, supersize and now fly, too, which probably won't leave you frantically wiping away tears as the theater lights come on. Also, Michelle Pfeiffer plays a superhero!

Directed by: Peyton Reed | Written by: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari and Paul Rudd Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hannah John-Kamen, Michael Peña

Sorry to Bother You (July 6)

Annapurna Pictures

There is original, and then there is Sorry to Bother You. If a stranger, more out-there film has ever been made, I haven't seen it. I've never seen anything like this, a satiric tale about a telemarketer who uses his "white voice" to get ahead that feels at once painstakingly plotted and completely free-associated.

Directed by: Boots Riley | Written by: Boots Riley Starring: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Steven Yeun, Armie Hammer

Whitney (July 6)

Whitney is not the first documentary to turn the lens on Whitney Houston in the years since her 2012 death, but it is the first to be endorsed by her estate, featuring interviews with loved ones of Houston who had never spoken publicly before and bombshell revelations that made news ahead of Whitney's official release.

Directed by: Kevin Macdonald

Eighth Grade (July 13)

A24

You know how adults always say, "I'm so happy I didn't grow up when there was social media." Watch this Sundance drama, comedian Bo Burnham's directorial debut, and feel that tenfold, alternately a cringey and heartwarming look at what it means to be coming into your own -- yes, with YouTube and Twitter.

Directed by: Bo Burnham | Written by: Bo Burnham Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (July 20)

Is Meryl Streep's character still alive for the Mamma Mia! sequel? Supposedly. We do know that we will see a younger version of Donna (played by Lily James) as the ABBA singalong jumps back in time to show the Dynamos' origin story, while in the present, Donna's daughter is pregnant with a baby of her own.

Directed by: Ol Parker | Written by: Ol Parker Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Lily James, Colin Firth, Cher

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (July 27)

Paramount Pictures

After successfully completing five other supposedly impossible missions, whatever Ethan Hunt is tasked with in Fallout should be considered mission: pretty difficult but manageable. Still, Tom Cruise continues to up the ante in insane and preposterous ways, like jumping out of a plane at 25,000 feet, for one.

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie | Written by: Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett

Christopher Robin (Aug. 3)

If you enjoyed last year's period drama Goodbye Christopher Robin, about the real boy who inspired the creation of Winnie the Pooh, then you are sure to enjoy this, too, Disney's less historical, more fantastical tale about grown-up Christopher Robin and how Pooh and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood gang help him rediscover his imagination.

Directed by: Marc Forster | Written by: Alex Ross Perry Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Jim Cummings, Chris O'Dowd, Brad Garrett, Toby Jones

The Spy Who Dumped Me (Aug. 3)

I would pay money to watch Kate McKinnon read the phone book. Thankfully, she gets much more to do in this action-comedy, in which Mila Kunis plays the unwitting woman dumped by a spy. McKinnon plays her bestie, and the two quickly find themselves in over their heads trying to stop a terrorist group and save the world.

Directed by: Susanna Fogel | Written by: David Iserson and Susanna Fogel Starring: Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Sam Heughan, Gillian Anderson, Justin Theroux

BlacKkKlansman (Aug. 10)

Focus Features

Spike Lee is back with his latest joint, the so-crazy-it-must-be-true saga of Ron Stallworth, the first black police officer in Colorado Springs, and his undercover operation to infiltrate a local Ku Klux Klan chapter, which was so successful that he eventually became its head.

Directed by: Spike Lee | Written by: Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Willmott Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Laura Harrier

The Meg (Aug. 10)

Warner Bros. Pictures

No summer is complete without a silly shark attack movie, and for the summer of 2018, The Meg fits that bill and then some. First of all, the shark in question is a megalodon, which basically just means a REALLY BIG F**KING SHARK, and hopefully Jason Statham will punch it at some point, right?

Directed by: Jon Turteltaub | Written by: Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber Starring: Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson, Bingbing Li, Cliff Curtis, Masi Oka

Crazy Rich Asians (Aug. 17)

Based on the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians is about a Chinese American professor who travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family and discovers they are -- you guessed it -- crazy rich! Hijinks ensue. This is also the first Hollywood movie with a majority Asian cast in 25 years, i.e., crazy overdue.

Directed by: Jon M. Chu | Written by: Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Jeong

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (Aug. 17)

Netflix

Here's one YA fans have been waiting for. Based on the bestselling novel by Jenny Han, the title refers to letters our heroine, Lara Jean Covey, writes to her past crushes, love letters they are never meant to see -- but do, after they're accidentally mailed out. You don't need to head to the cinema to swoon over this one; it's streaming on Netflix.

Directed by: Susan Johnson | Written by: Sofia Alvarez Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Emilija Baranac, Israel Broussard, John Corbett

The Happytime Murders (Aug. 17)

Nothing says summertime like puppets snorting ecstasy and soliciting sex. The Happytime Murders -- no lie, from the same director as The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island -- is about police partners, one felt and one Melissa McCarthy, investigating who is shooting the stuffing out of puppets.

Directed by: Brian Henson | Written by: Todd Berger Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale

MORE SUMMER PREVIEW:

Summer TV Preview: 26 of the Best New and Returning Series to Watch!

Summer Music Preview: 17 Albums We Can’t Wait to Hear

Summer Theater Preview: 11 Must-See Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows

Summer Book Preview: 9 Beach Reads by Bill Clinton, Emily Giffin, Lauren Weisberger and More!

#_uuid:f0508f89-4289-323f-92f6-941e821681f7 #_revsp:new_provider_with_logo_342 #_lmsid:a0VK0000001yfWcMAI

[bubbleray57-blog]

"That's nothing," says Giselle, Christina's louder, drunker, and more exotic looking co worker.

"Our credit card machines were down one day, and a customer of mine got so pissed from waiting that he threw a fork at me! "Yeah, well, at least no one ever dined and dashed on you," Christina says, trying to one up her friend. "This professional looking couple came into my restaurant with two laptop bags and a lot of files. They looked like they were having some kind of extravagant business lunch, lots of drinks, appetizers, entr dessert, coffee, everything, and throughout their meal, they kept on leaving to go outside and smoke cigarettes. "After they were done eating, they got up one last time to go smoke, and on their way out, they asked for their check. I didn't think anything of it because all their files and their laptop bags were still at the table. Plus they came back every other time they left to smoke. So ten minutes pass, they're still not at their table, but I don't think much of it because I was in the weeds. Next thing I know, 20 minutes have passed, they're still not at the table, so I go outside to look for them. They're gone, I'm freaking out, so I go up to their table, open up their laptop bags, and find telephone books inside. The files were filled with magazines and blank pieces of paper. Their bill was well over $100, and I had to pay for the whole thing." Sounds like the working stiff got stiffed. And as a bartender slides a foamy six dollar Clickkeyword[Hoegaarden+Original+White+Ale]" >Hoegaarden before me, I throw down a ten dollar bill, add two more bucks, and tell her to keep the change. "That was nice of you," says Dale, a friendly but weasely looking 27 year old with a birthmark on his neck. Noting he's wearing a Clickkeyword[Florida+Gators]" >Florida Gators shirt, I ask if he ever had a thankless college job. "I worked at a really small cineplex in Clickkeyword[Gainesville]" >Gainesville, actually," he says with a toothy yet charming smile. "I remember when that Dukes of Hazzard movie came out a few years back, all the rednecks in town came out of the woodwork its opening weekend.

That was expected. But I got a little confused when they kept on asking for nothing but empty plastic cups and napkins at the concession stand. "Turns out they were chewing tobacco while watching the movie and spitting it into the cups. I spent that whole weekend cleaning up nothing but empty Grizzly dip canisters and brown mucus. I still cringe whenever I see Clickkeyword[Jessica+Simpson]" >Jessica Simpson or Clickkeyword[Johnny+Knoxville]" >Johnny Knoxville bad memories." Looking back toward Yard House's transparent keg room filled with barrels, I spot a Simpson esque blonde at a high top table slamming a frilly ruby red grapefruit drink with three girlfriends. So I mosey on over. Amanda, who's 25 years old, blue eyed, and an obvious fan of the Clickkeyword[M%c2%b7A%c2%b7C%2c+Make up+Art+Cosmetics+Inc.]" >MAC makeup counter, doesn't work. "My boyfriend works instead," she says, curling a set of French manicured nails around the stem of a fresh Clickkeyword[Sex+and+the+City]" >Sex and the City ish cosmo like libation as a waitress places similar looking cocktails in front of the BFFs. "I had a really bad experience applying for a job once and decided working wasn't for me." With that kind of ambition and work ethic, Amanda is clearly the Harvard alum, career minded Miranda of this group. "Right out of high school, I found a listing for a $20 an hour receptionist at a massage parlor on Clickkeyword[Craigslist+Inc.]" >Craigslist. During the interview, the owner asked me if I'd be OK with male clients walking around the place nude." "I don't know. Let me ask my parents what they think about that." "He said, 'I really don't think you should tell your parents about this kind of job.' Ends up the place was filled with prostitutes. Can you believe that?! Suddenly, Claudia, a nasal brunette in ankle boots, leggings, and an awkwardly placed waist belt, pipes up. "I'm so jealous that you don't have to work," she says while sloppily splashing an ounce or two of her Miami ice martini onto the table. "I work as a personal assistant and it totally sucks! "Once my boss asked me to shave the back of his neck. It was totally gross! Another time, I wore a Clickkeyword[Ralph+Lauren]" >Ralph Lauren polo to work you know, the kind that has a little horse emblem on the chest." Harlem woman sues after getting herpes from Rihanna Rihanna performs at Barclays Center in New York City earlier this month. A Harlem woman contracted herpes when sampling lipstick at one of the sultry singer's Barclays shows.Related Stories Rihanna teams up with MAC for new makeup collection Rihanna lost $9 million thanks to accountant's bad advice: Court filings Katy Perry ties with Rihanna for most No. 1 singles on Billboard Top 40 charts Drake, Rihanna spotted getting cozy at Los Angeles nightclubShe wanted her lips to look hot not inflamed.A Harlem woman claims in a lawsuit that she got herpes at a Rihanna concert in Brooklyn from lipstick the singer endorsed.Starkeema Greenidge, 28, alleges she contracted the virus when a representative of MAC Cosmetics applied a used tube of RiRi Woo to her smackers.PHOTOS: RIHANNA'S NAUGHTIEST MOMENTS"I wasn't able to work for two weeks. It cost me a lot of money," Greenidge, a waitress, told the Daily News on Wednesday.She said she slapped MAC with the suit in Manhattan Supreme Court in hopes of forcing the company to be more sanitary in the future. The singer actively promoted MAC products during concert where Harlem girl got herpes."This is going to happen over and over again if nothing is done," said Greenidge.RELATED: CHRIS BROWN LIVING WITH KARREUCHE TRAN: REPORTWhen she went to the May 7 Barclays Center concert, she stopped at a MAC popup shop there and let a rep apply ruby red lipstick to her upper lip.The employee instructed her to "press her lips together and spread the lipstick around," according to the suit."(MAC) didn't use a fresh or new lipstick tube, but rather one that had been used for other patrons," the suit charges.RELATED: AMANDA BYNES SAYS CHRIS BROWN BEAT RIHANNA FOR BEING UGLYStarkeema Greenidge's Manhattan lawsuit claims the MAC pop up shop outside of Barclays was where she sampled the lipstick that gave her herpes.The suit contends MAC "should have known . it was unsanitary and exposing patrons to possible spread of disease."Two days later, Greenidge developed a cold sore on her lip that her doctor diagnosed as herpes.Requesting unspecified damages, Greenidge claims the herpes has caused her "mental anguish and emotional distress."RELATED: AMANDA BYNES TO CHRISSY TEIGEN: 'YOU'RE AN OLD, UGLY MODEL'MAC officials could not be reached for comment. Rihanna signed a deal in February to create her own MAC makeup line.MAC officials could not be reached for comment. Rihanna signed a deal with the makeup giant In February to create her own cosmetics line. Her RiRi Woo lipstick was inspired by the singer's favorite MAC red, Ruby Woo lipstick, according to the company's announcement of the deal.The release of the Rihanna endorsed beauty products coincided with the pop and R superstar's "Diamonds World Tour."Editor's Picks Assemblyman accused of accepting bribes by former mistress and chief of staff Hell hath no fury like Assemblyman William Boyland Jr.'s former chief of staff and mistress. Armed with a government cooperation agreement, Ry Ann Hermon took the witness stand in Brooklyn Federal Court Thursday and promptly buried Boyland deeper than the snow piling up outside. "It was love at first sight," says Lisa Amentas, opening one of 50 boxes of roses 300 flowers to a box delivered to Bayside Florist in Bayside, Queens, in anticipation of Valentine's Day.NYPD makes two arrests in Bronx homicide Two men have been arrested in the shooting death of a 25 year old Bronx man who was trapped by gunmen in the lobby of a project building and sprayed with bullets, police sources said. Has everything you need all in one place I have been visiting the apple store in Westfields Stratford great staff :) having a very busy lifestyle I am so impressed with this shopping Centre. Easy to park, 2 hours free parking clean, accessible, polite and professional staff, loving it. A huge asset for the Olympics coming up and the many thousands of visitors will all find something they love here. I would advise picking up a map when you come in as its a big place and take s little time to navigate around. Favourite stores Apple and Mac makeup. Have fun, you'll need a day to get around and truly appreciate and enjoy this beautiful shopping centre. I visited Westfields Shopping Centre with My Parents in March 2012 for the first time. We were all impressed, we do not live in London so we travelled by tube from were we were staying in London. Nearest tube station is White City and Shepherds Bush. We travelled to White City and it was a 5 min walk past the BBC TV Studios to Westfield Shopping Centre. there is cheap mac makeup uk , which is an experience to walk through and window shop unless you are fortunate enough to actually shop there! There are numerous high street shops for everyone else like ourselves. There are plentiful eating and drinking establishments again ranging from Burger King to Searcy's Champagne Bar. There are many areas to rest you feet with small leather seats and big screen TV's. They advertise car parking at 2.50 for first two hours and 5 there after so we making consider taking my the car in future. Heather Meets Barbie This beauty video demonstrates how to create a Barbie Loves MAC makeup look with MakeupGeek. Marlena, aka MakeupGeek, is a freelance makeup artist living in Michigan. Marlena says "Makeup isn't just paint for the face, something to cover blemishes, or even something fun to do in my spare time it is truly my power boost for self esteem.

#Mac makeup #Mac cosmetics

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 9/14/2019

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Saturday, September 14th, 2019. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Saturday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

RIHANNA, PM IN DAZZLE AT DIAMOND BALL–Models, musicians, actors and many more notables came out in droves Thursday night to celebrate superstar Rihanna’s fifth annual Diamond Ball at Cipriani Wall Street, an event to benefit her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF). Though Rihanna, in a Givenchy Haute Couture ball gown  stole the spotlight, another of her guests commanded similar attention: Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Mottley — who made history in 2018 as the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of the nation where Rihanna was born and raised — was honored with the 2019 Diamond Ball Award for breaking barriers. Mottley was cited for a 25-year career as an advocate for education, as well as championing causes which empower youth and women. But speaking with the Hollywood Reporter ahead of the charity gala, hosted by Seth Meyers, Mottley downplayed her own achievements against Rihanna’s contributions to their homeland. Barbadian charities receive assistance from CLF — founded by Rihanna in 2012 and named after her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite — which benefits impoverished communities across the globe, with an emphasis on health, education, arts, culture, emergency response and combatting climate change. Mottley told the Hollywood Reporter: “It’s so special what she’s been able to do. “Barbados is a place where we believe in helping those who cannot help themselves or who are not strong enough to carry themselves. And Rihanna has been able to exhibit that so beautifully in all that she’s done. She carries with her the DNA of the country. “When we became an independent nation [in 1966], our prime minster at the time said that we should be friends of all and satellites of none. “That requires a nobility of spirit, that requires an ability to also recognize that you are as strong as the weakest among you. That’s what Rihanna represents for us.” According to the politician, Rihanna’s impact on her country will be “written about in history books”. Mottley elaborated: “Her legacy is going to be global, but I think it’s also going to very much be coloured by her Barbadian upbringing and the values that she received while she grew up and was nurtured in our country. “And she is still very much a part of it. How she speaks and how she behaves is as Barbadian as you get.” Rihanna also paid tribute to “role model” Prime Minister Mottley. She told the audience: “The Prime Minister of Barbados , the Honourable Mia Mottley; she has been such a role model in my life for many, many, many many years, years before she ran to be Prime Minister, this is a woman that I respected. “I respected her morals, I respected her aspects on different things politically and  just her willingness to go against the grain, to go against what is safe. She is very brave, she is very daring and that comes with what she is passionate about and that is a woman I can respect always because that is kinda what I hold myself to.”(BT)

STALLED –The island’s largest rum producer has over 400,000 bottles of rum stuck in containers in the Bridgetown Port awaiting shipment delayed because of the teething problems at the docks associated with the rollout of the new Asycudo World system. According to Managing Director of Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd Raphael Grisoni the shipments intended for Europe and the United States have been there for two weeks. He believes some of the fallout could have been mitigated with better communication from Port officials. This morning, he told Barbados TODAY, “We are the largest exporter of rum in Barbados and for 13 days we cannot export a single container of rum and we actually have 38 containers at the port waiting to be loaded on the ship. This is a major order for us. I understand that this thing will again open up next Friday, so it will be three weeks of non- export activity for us,” said Grisoni, who noted that his fellow rum producers were equally down-spirited by the same challenge. He explained that while the delays have not so far resulted in the cancellation of orders, they certainly place the company at a disadvantage, as this shipment is the stock which retailers depend on in preparation for November and Christmas sales. “It is a big problem because at this time of year we are shipping for the Christmas season for markets like Europe, so it is really painful. The problem is with the communication about when systems would be ready. It was not until yesterday [Thursday] that we learnt that the system would be up next Friday and while that is fine, there could have been better communication,” he contended. Since switching to the new paperless platform on September 9, Customs has been plagued with several issues. Newly appointed Comptroller of Customs Owen Holder has promised it will take the Customs and Excise Department one more week to iron out any kinks it has encountered in upgrading its system from ASYCUDO ++ to ASYCUDO World. “I am very familiar with implementing these systems and I understand the teething issues that will develop with a new system, but from what we are seeing in Barbados currently I can say this is a normal process of implementing the system. So I wish to assure the public that within probably a week’s time it will definitely settle down.” However, Grisoni argued that while he is happy that things will be back on track and function with even greater efficiency than before, he is concerned that there was apparently no backup in place, which could have kicked in to prevent these counter-productive delays. “You must realize that the country’s exports were paralyzed because of the system and I am surprised that we didn’t have a backup system or used the old one just for a couple of weeks, at least to export bulk and avoid congestion in the port,” he said pointing to the anticipated congestion by the backlog. “Next week is going to be a type of traffic jam-like situation when things open up again and I expect that customs will be overwhelmed, so I don’t know if they have extra resources to clear this backlog. Will we have the resources to clear quickly or will we again miss the ship going out? These are the big questions which still need answering but I don’t have the answers right now. It is a real concern for us,” he stressed Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn maintained that the upgrade to ASYCUDO World was especially critical to Barbados. He said while its installation had been delayed since 2014, Government was pushing ahead in its bid to improve the ease of doing business in Barbados. “I want to stress that as we go through this modernization of Customs that the upgrade to ASYCUDO World is critical to Barbados’ competitiveness. “We do not want people waiting in the Port for any extended period of time, waiting on Customs to process goods unless there is a particular reason based on the risk management protocols that have been established, because whilst we are facilitating business there is a national security component that is critical as part of the Customs’ function…” Straughn pointed out. This morning Minister Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland, also made an appeal for patience from the business community. “ASYCUDO World is just one of the activities in a whole list of activities that this Government will implement in terms of improving the ease of doing business and cross border trade facilitation, ASYCUDO World provides the foundation for something bigger to come, which we call the Electronic Single Window… As Minister of Small Business I am happy that we are to implement this because it would increase the ease of doing business and reduce cost,” said Sutherland. He added, “We recognised that there were disruptions and customs has promised to put plans in place, so please just bear with us because it is not going to last.” When contacted the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry  BCCI promised to comment but up to time of publication none was forthcoming. (BT)

‘FIRE SALE’ OR FARMING FOR CLICO ESTATES?- The fate of eight plantations, covering close to 2,000 acres of farmland in St John’s farming belt that have been lying idle since their owner went out of business a decade ago, is at the centre of a political firestorm being played out on talk radio and social media. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir and the Democratic Labour Party, which formed the Government when insurance giant CLICO collapsed, have clashed over allegations that the Barbados Labour Party Government plans a “fire sale” of CLICO farmlands as residential property “under cover of darkness”. The CLICO farms consist of approximately 1,790 arable acres: 941 acres at Todds and 850 acres at Wakefield. Todds is an amalgamation of four farms – Henley, Pool, Bowmanston and Todds, while Wakefield incorporates Clifton Hall, Hothersal, Lemon Arbor and Wakefield. Now the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has called on  Weir to back up the denial he made on a radio call-in. On Wednesday, the DLP’s Agriculture and Environment spokesperson Andre Worrell first claimed that the Todd’s and Wakefield estates are to be sold off. Then, Weir took to Down to Brass Tacks programme on Starcom Network to refute the suggestion. “I don’t know how you could turn agricultural land into a [residential] development without first involving the Ministry of Agriculture. “We have a Chief Agricultural Officer who is highly trained and makes informed decisions on these things before they even reach Town Planning [Office],” Weir said. But in a release published on its Facebook page today, the DLP said a Ministerial statement was needed for clarity, contending that Weir’s words on the radio programme did not hold any weight. “Mr Weir has been a Cabinet member long enough to know that interventions on radio talk shows are not enunciated Government policy. “At no time in his extensive telephone conversation did Weir say that the CLICO lands will be offered to farmers or shareholders for agricultural purposes. “Had the Government been transparent in its initial sale announcement there would be no need to speculate. “The Agriculture Minister is also aware that the final word regarding change of use is not his. Those decisions are made by the Minister in charge of Town Planning: The Prime Minister.” The DLP claimed that the farms “are in the high productivity agro-ecological zone and have traditionally been at the upper end of the agricultural productivity scale”. Under the 2008-2018 DLP administration, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Barbados Agricultural Development Management Company (BADMC) and the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC) to bring those lands back into agriculture. A formal plan entitled Returning CLICO Lands To Full Production was drafted. Then DLP maintained that farmers, either through co-operatives or as sole purchasers, should be offered the opportunity to buy or lease the plantations. The party said: “We have maintained that sub-division of prime agricultural land in these economic circumstances for housing development purposes should never be an option in a country with a food import bill in excess of $600m. “There should be no fire sale of prime agricultural land under cover of darkness. “Barbados must have an official Government position specifically targeting the plans for the CLICO agricultural lands at Todds and Wakefield Plantations.” (BT)

MASSY OISTINS BACK IN BUSINESS –After four months of having to travel out of their community for grocery shopping, Oistins residents have returned this morning to the reopened Massy supermarket at the 40-year-old Southern Plaza shopping complex. After being closed for upgrades since May, Minister of Commerce Dwight Sutherland and area MP Ralph Thorne were on hand for the official re-opening of the store which employs 65 people. Barbados TODAY witnessed large numbers of shoppers in the supermarket, many of them freely expressing their happiness that the store had re-opened as well as their satisfaction with the new look and shopping experience.Massy Stores CEO Randall Banfield said: “It would have been an inconvenience for customers who would have shopped here, and we understand that. “We would have provided some shuttle services to get them into some other stores because we have our network of stores nearby. “It is really nice to have the store opened again and we have heard from customers yesterday and today how pleased they are to have the store in Oistins re-opened and in the fashion that we have done it.” Banfield revealed that the store, which is now smaller in size, has been retrofitted with the latest energy saving devices, a move which was praised by Sutherland. The Minister praised the conglomerate for ensuring that the new supermarket was in keeping with Government’s vision for green energy. Sutherland declared: “We have recognised in an era such as this, the use of technology is critical. “I want to shower praise on Massy Stores for investing in state-of-the-art equipment as it relates to refrigeration. We are seeking to become fossil fuel free by 2030. “So, I want to congratulate Massy for leading the charge. They have not only re-opened the store, but they have done so with the Government’s mission in mind.” He also praised the supermarket for sticking to local producers, and urged others to do likewise. The Minister added: This is just an example of what we as a Government would love to see. “Re-opening the store paved the way for small businesses to ply their trade and to have an outlet for their products. “I want to thank Mr Banfield because he has stuck to local producers and helping us build out industries such as the pork industry because these are critical to our development.” (BT)

FOOD COURT REOPENS – With the exception of three eateries undergoing renovations, the all-clear has been given by the Ministery of Health for the reopening of the food court at Sheraton Mall. And yesterday those opened were doing brisk business.On Tuesday, all 21 of the food establishments at the popular Sargeant’s Village, Christ Church mall were ordered shut, with the ministry explaining that after numerous inspections over six days there were “several conditions” in violation of the health services food hygiene regulations. Owners were instructed to carry out the “necessary remedial action”.The cleaning was led by the mall’s general manager, Kamaal Bennett, along with sales and marketing manager Adrian Clarke of Pilot Management Services.Bennett said they began cleaning on Tuesday night, working through to the wee hours of each morning.“Based on the reopening of the stores, the inspectors themselves commended us on the work done. There are three stores which remained closed - Piggies, Yvonne’s and Arabian Knights - but it has nothing to do with the cleaning; they are closed due to ongoing renovations,” he said.  (SS)

VAPING HARMFUL – The Ministry of Health has warned the public about the dangers of vaping, particularly on the heels of reports of a rash of deaths and severe breathing illnesses linked to the habit in the United States. In a statement issued today, the ministry said that the cause of the illnesses, which have so far resulted in six deaths, was still not entirely clear, but investigations were ongoing by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George, said the fairly recent fad, mostly among teenagers and young adults, has involved smoking flavoured e-cigarettes with nicotine oils and more recently marijuana oils. The ministry advised that particularly minors, pregnant women and people who have never smoked should avoid vaping since they were at increased risk of adverse reactions, including respiratory illnesses. People who vape were warned against using home-made solutions, and the ministry stressed that it did not recommend e-cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking aid. The Health Services (Smoking Regulations) 2017 defines electronic smoking devices as tobacco products for the purposes of restricting their marketing and sales to minors and forbidding their use in public spaces. In the more than 450 cases so far confirmed in the United States, breathing problems ranged from coughing and difficulty breathing to chest pain. There were also gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.The non-specific symptoms being experienced include fever and fatigue. The Ministry of Health said it will be issuing guidelines to healthcare providers summarizing the situation and sharing the local case definition for surveillance purposes. The ministry is also asking hospitals and urgent care providers to ask patients who come in with “significant respiratory distress” whether they had been vaping prior to the illness.(BT)

ABUSER BACK IN COURT – A 32-year-old man who admitted to assaulting the mother of his child and harming her will make his next court appearance on September 18 along with the complainant. Shirmaro Andre Michael Coward, of 2nd Avenue, Richmond Gap, St Michael appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today and pleaded guilty to committing the act against Shaddriese Marshall on September 2. Prosecutor Victoria Taitt told the court that the two have been in a relationship for the past two years and share a one-year-old child. Taitt said on the day of the incident the accused, who had been verbally and physically abusive to the complainant, went over to her house to drop off their son. When Coward arrived there however, he began using abusive language to Marshall, embarrassing her and causing her to walk off in the direction of her house. Coward grabbed her by the hair and started punching her on the face and head. Marshall began screaming. Her mother come to her assistance and Coward ran away. However, the prosecutor said, the accused subsequently returned and Marshall called the police. While she was doing that Coward punched her in the head again before running off for a second time. After hearing the facts Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant ordered that Marshall be summoned to court for September 18. With a warning to stay away from the complainant, she granted Coward, who was represented by attorney-at-law Mohia Ma’at, $2,000 bail which he secured with one surety. (BT)

SHOPLIFER JAILED - When a 42-year-old man took up a $967.99 pair of sunglasses and slipped out of Cave Shepherd last week without paying, he sent security on a futile search for him. A worker recognised Allan Orlando Simmons when he entered the store. Two days later, the thief, who has no fixed place of abode, returned to the scene of the crime and approached the same worker who had seen him and begged for money. Simmons who is known to the courts, was apprehended by security personnel, who then turned him over to police, prosecutor Victoria Taitt revealed as she outlined the facts. “I would like some leniency because my mother and grandmother died and my father put me out. I used to work but got into a little trouble,” Simmons told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant. About the item he stole, he admitted, “I took off the tag but gave it to someone because it was too expensive. “I am a man who normally wears glasses because of the sun.  But I want some leniency in this position . . . I was at the prison before it was burned down. I want some leniency, “ he told the magistrate. However, Cuffy-Sargeant informed him that the last time he was before the court was also for theft of items from the same store. For his crime the District ‘A’ magistrate sentenced Simmons to two months in prison.(BT)

LOBO’S CASE ADJOURNED – An Argentinian man charged with theft of money from two of this island’s financial institutions remains on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds. Joaquin Alberto Lobo from Caseros, Buenos Aires, Argentina has been on remand at the St Philip institution since his first appearance before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant back in July. The 33-year-old alleged ATM skimmer, who arrived in Barbados on July 3, is accused of stealing $3, 040 cash belonging to the Barbados Public Workers Credit Union Limited between July 6 and 7. He is also charged with stealing $79, 770 cash belonging to CIBC First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited between July 5 and 8. He has denied the first charge but was not required to enter a plea to the second charge, as it is an indictable offence. When Lobo appeared before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court this week the cases against him were adjourned until October 9.(BT)

ARCHER PUTS ENGLAND AHEAD – Jofra Archer took 6-62 to give England the upper hand in the fifth Ashes Test, despite yet more runs from Australia’s Steve Smith on day two at The Oval today. Pace bowler Archer was supported by three wickets from left-armer Sam Curran – including two in two balls – as the tourists were bowled out for 225. Through it all, Smith stood firm, and it was his wicket – lbw to Chris Woakes for 80 – that England and their supporters celebrated the most. It says much about Smith’s stellar summer that this was his lowest score of the series and the inability to reach a century felt like a relative failure. England batted twice in the day. In the morning they went from 271-8 to 294 all out, a total that looked short of par on a flat pitch.(BT)

KING OVERCOMES BRAZILIAN – Top tennis player Darian King battled hot sweltering conditions in Criciuma, Brazil yesterday to set the customary Davis Cup template for the Bajan team by defeating homeboy Joao De Menezes 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 after two hours and 37 bruising minutes. Facing vocal home crowd support as well as meeting 22-year-old De Menezes on the latter’s favourite outdoors clay court, King struggled early to find his rhythm against the recent Pan Am gold medallist in Peru. Even so, the 3-6 score-line did not reflect the closeness of the games in the opening set with both players fighting to establish an advantage.However, King’s ground strokes and greater experience then showed the disparity between the two players with the Bajan ranked at 169 to De Menezes’ 194. Unreeling his passing forehand blazers and deft backhand strokes, King moved from 1-1 in the second set to 4-1. De Menezes then found a Samba wave as well as his favourite clay underfoot to battle back to 4-4 in games winning a double break point at 3-4.King held his nerve and serve to triumph in the second set to set up the decider. With De Menezes committing a double fault in the first game, King did not capitalise fully as he also made the same error. Racking up winning break points on either side of a similar success by De Menezes, King stroked his way within sight of victory 4-1 before the Brazilian fired his sole ace of the match to keep hope alive 2-4.But, as customary as rain on Kadooment Day, King took the match to give Barbados a 1-0 advantage in the contest. However, southpaw Haydn Lewis could not maintain that edge going into today’s doubles as he folded to Thiago Monteiro 2-6, 2-6. (SS)

CALL FOR NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING – A secondary school teacher wants to leave the chalk and talk style of teaching in the dust. Regina Layne thinks that the traditional method is stopping students from reaching their full potential.Layne, who recently received her diploma in education from Erdiston Teachers Training College, was speaking at the St Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School where the C.O. Williams Group and the Eden Lodge Youth Charitable Trust presented the school with a television and projector system.“It is going to take a while to get it started but. . . I think we do too much writing in the exercise books. I think if we stop the writing we might be able to complete the syllabus in time because we are never able to finish it.  “If we reduce the amount of writing that the students do, and if we prepare and give them more, we could accomplish more,” Layne said at the Richmond Gap, St Michael School.During the presentation, she advocated for more creative student-centred approaches. (SS)

HONOR YOUR PLEDGES – As Barbados prepares to disperse its first traunch of financial assistance to the Bahamas, CARICOM Ambassador David Comissiong is pleading for Barbadians who have pledged money in last Sunday’s telethon to honour their commitments. In fact, Comissiong told Barbados TODAY that Government is currently over $150,000 short of the near $500,000 pledged last Sunday night at the Rise Bahamas mediathon. After a ceremony at the Sea Breeze Beach House in Maxwell Christ Church to announce a $24,000 donation by Ocean Hotels Barbados, Comissiong said he was extremely pleased with the outpouring of support from Barbados’ working class and private sector. He however stressed that citizens needed to follow through on promised donations to make the initiative work. “We are now in the process of getting people to honor those pledges and collecting everything in the account at CIBC First Caribbean. As of Wednesday, we were up to approximately $278,000 so we still have some additional pledges to be honored and paid in,” he said. “We will be doing our follow up work and we know there will be some lag but we want to get the first donation out next week with the understanding that more money will follow as it comes into the bank account.” He added: “The funds will go directly to support on-the-ground relief efforts in the Bahamas. The figure we gave out at the end of the mediathon was 441,000. That represented a combination of cash payments at the CBC studios, credit card payments made on the Sunday, cheques made at the CBC studios and payments at various branches of the CIBC bank and pledges.” Comissiong encouraged Barbadians to be proud of their efforts and encouraged citizens to find strength in the organs of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which is the primary coordinator of the Bahamas relief efforts. “The churches that immediately supported the fundraising efforts for the Bahamas, the companies like Cave Shepherd, Ocean Hotels and all the others that have been donating to this cause since last week, it shows that we are on the ball, we are being proactive and we are helping ourselves. We are not waiting for outside actors to come to our rescue. We are helping ourselves,” said the Ambassador.(BT)

There are 109 days left in the year Shalom!  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell

[maxwellyjordan]

Justices to take up case involving faith-based adoption agencies and same-sex couples

The Supreme Court returned from its winter recess today with just one new grant from last week’s private conference, but the newest addition to the court’s merits docket is a significant one. Next term the justices will hear oral argument in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a challenge by several foster parents and Catholic Social Services to the city’s policy of cutting off referrals of foster children to CSS for placement because the agency would not certify same-sex couples as foster parents. After they lost in the lower courts, the challengers went to the Supreme Court, where they asked the justices to weigh in on three questions: what kind of showing plaintiffs must make to succeed on this kind of religious discrimination claim; whether the Supreme Court should reconsider its 1990 decision in Employment Division v. Smith, holding that the government can enforce laws that burden religious beliefs or practices as long as the laws are “neutral” or “generally applicable”; and whether the government violates the First Amendment when it makes participation by a religious social-services agency in the foster-care system contingent on actions and statements by the agency that conflict with the agency’s religious beliefs.

Elsewhere on today’s order list, the justices asked the federal government for its views on Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra and Thomas More Law Center v. Becerra, a pair of challenges to a policy of the California attorney general’s office that requires registered charities to disclose the names and addresses of their major donors. The lawsuits were filed by a pair of conservative advocacy groups, who argued that the policy violates the First Amendment, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled for the state. There is no deadline for the federal government to file its brief.

The justices sent Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan v. Feliciano, a case involving the First Amendment, the rights of religious organizations and the extent to which courts must defer to how those organizations have structured themselves, back to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court for another look. The case arose when a pension fund for Catholic school employees in Puerto Rico stopped making payments, prompting the employees to sue not only the fund, but also the Archdiocese of Puerto Rico and the Catholic church there. Courts in Puerto Rico treated all of the Catholic institutions on the island – the archdiocese, the dioceses that comprise the archdiocese and the parishes – as one legal entity and ordered nearly $5 million in assets to be seized from the churches to pay the pensions. The archdiocese asked the Supreme Court to review the ruling; in June, the justices asked the federal government for its views. The federal government told the justices that the Puerto Rico decision “violates the fundamental prohibition on denominational discrimination” and recommended that the court either vacate the lower court’s ruling and send it back for further proceedings or grant review.

In an eight-page per curiam – that is, “by the court” – opinion today, the justices followed the federal government’s suggestion to vacate the Puerto Rico Supreme Court’s ruling and send the case back. The justices explained that the Puerto Rico trial court did not have the power to issue orders seizing the Catholic church’s assets and requiring it to pay millions of dollars because the archdiocese had moved the case to federal court. The justices acknowledged that, as the federal government had argued, the state court’s lack of authority to hear the case might not “prevent us from addressing additional errors, including those asserted under the Free Exercise Clause.” But, the justices continued, “we think the preferable course at this point is to remand the case to the Puerto Rico courts to consider how to proceed in light of the jurisdictional defect we have identified.”

Justice Samuel Alito filed a concurring opinion, which was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. In Alito’s view, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico had interpreted a century-old U.S. Supreme Court decision incorrectly when it concluded that the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico is a single entity for purposes of being held liable in civil lawsuits. It would have been, Alito argued, “appropriate for us to reverse the decision below on that ground were it not for the jurisdictional issue that the Court addresses.” Moreover, Alito continued, “the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment at a minimum demands that all jurisdictions use neutral rules in determining whether particular entities that are associated in some way with a religious body may be held responsible for debts incurred by other associated entities.”

The justices denied review in the case of Texas death-row inmate Rodney Reed, who was convicted of the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites but has consistently maintained that he is innocent. Reed’s case has garnered widespread support, including from celebrities such as Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna and Beyoncé. The prime suspect in the case was originally Stites’ fiancé, Jimmy Fennell, a police officer who was later sentenced to 10 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting another woman. But suspicion shifted to Reed, who is African American, when his DNA matched the DNA of a small amount of semen in Stites’ body. Reed was convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to death.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor filed a statement regarding the denial of certiorari in which she noted that another proceeding in Reed’s case is ongoing in the Texas courts. In that proceeding, she stressed, “Reed has identified still more evidence that he says further demonstrates his innocence. It is no trivial moment that the Texas courts have concluded that Reed has presented a substantive claim of actual innocence warranting further consideration and development on the merits.” Moreover, Sotomayor added, the court’s refusal to hear Reed’s petition today “does not pass on the merits of Reed’s innocence or close the door to future review.” Sotomayor concluded by observing that, for her, “there is no escaping the pall of uncertainty over Reed’s conviction” or “any denying the irreversible consequence of setting that uncertainty aside.”

The court also denied review in Patterson v. Walgreen, involving the question of exactly how much employers must do to accommodate an employee’s religious practices. Under federal law, an employee cannot be fired for practicing his religion unless the employer can show that it cannot “reasonably” accommodate the employee’s practice without “undue hardship.” The petitioner in the case, Darrell Patterson, is a Seventh-day Adventist who does not work from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. In 2011, Walgreen fired Patterson after he did not come to run a training session on a Saturday afternoon; instead, Patterson held the training a few days later, so that the company still met the internal deadline that had prompted it to schedule the Saturday training.

When Patterson sued Walgreen in federal court, the company defended itself by arguing that it had tried to accommodate Patterson by offering him a lower salary and a demotion; moreover, it added, allowing him to take Saturdays off would be an “undue burden” because it might need to hold trainings on Saturdays more often in the future. After the lower courts agreed with Walgreen, Patterson went to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to weigh in on three issues: whether an accommodation, like the demotion and pay cut offered by Walgreen, can be “reasonable” when it doesn’t completely eliminate the conflict between an employee’s job and his religious practice; whether the employer must show an actual, rather than a speculative, burden; and whether the justices should overrule Trans World Airlines v. Hardison, their 1977 decision holding that employers can only be expected to shoulder minimal costs to accommodate their employees’ religious beliefs. In March of last year, the justices asked the federal government for its views; the federal government recommended that the justices deny review of the first two questions but take up the third question.

The justices denied Patterson’s petition today. Alito concurred in the denial of review, in an opinion joined by Thomas and Justice Neil Gorsuch. Alito agreed with the federal government that the justices should consider whether to overrule Hardison, but he concluded that Patterson’s case was not an appropriate one in which to take up that question.

The justices turned down Arizona’s request to be able to file an original action – that is a complaint in the Supreme Court – against California, challenging the constitutionality of California’s application of a tax to Arizona limited-liability corporations that invest in California corporations. Thomas dissented from the denial, filing an opinion that was joined by Alito. Thomas argued in his brief statement that although the justices “have discretion to decline review in other kinds of cases, we likely do not have discretion to decline review in cases within our original jurisdiction that arise between two or more States.”

In Baldwin v. United States, the justices turned down a request to decide whether to overrule the court’s 2005 decision in National Cable Telecommunications Association v. Brand X Internet, holding that a court’s interpretation of a statute trumps an agency’s subsequent construction that is entitled to deference only if the earlier court decision held that its interpretation was dictated by the plain text of the statute, leaving no room for the agency to exercise discretion. The question came to the court in the case of Howard and Karen Baldwin, who filed a claim for a refund of $167,663 with the IRS. When the IRS said that it had never received the claim, the Baldwins filed this lawsuit, and at trial they were able to prove the date on which the claim was postmarked, consistent with federal law and the longstanding precedent of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. But on appeal, the 9th Circuit ruled for the IRS, concluding that an August 2011 interpretation of federal law by the IRS superseded the prior law. [Disclosure: The author of this post was among the counsel to the respondents in Brand X.]

Thomas dissented from the denial of review in Baldwin. Although he was the author of the court’s decision in Brand X, Thomas wrote that he would now “revisit” the ruling. Thomas began by asserting that the Supreme Court’s 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, holding that courts should generally defer to an agency’s reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute that it administers, “is in serious tension with the Constitution,” the Administrative Procedure Act “and over 100 years of judicial decisions.” But in any event, Thomas continued, he had “become increasingly convinced that Brand X was still wrongly decided because it is even more inconsistent with the Constitution and traditional tools of statutory interpretation than Chevron.”

The justices did not act today on two challenges to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which they considered for the first time at last Friday’s conference. The petitions have been relisted for consideration at this Friday’s conference; orders from that conference are likely on Monday, March 2, at 9:30 a.m.

This post was originally published at Howe on the Court.

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[biofunmy]

What Does Being Best Dressed Mean?

This weekend, the International Best-Dressed List was released — its 79th iteration, but the first under its new caretaker, Airmail, the Graydon Carter newsletter/zine. Did you notice?

Once upon a time the crowning of a new set of style royalty was so newsworthy that reporters from The Rocky Mountain News to The Daily Mail in England would vie for the scoop. And yet this year, the announcement that Cate Blanchett and Roger Federer had taken top honors, that Janelle Monáe, Zoë Kravitz, LeBron James and Zac Posen (among others — 30 in all, from 16 countries) had also been recognized, feels more anticlimactic than edge-of-the-seat anticipatory.

Despite our seeming unending appetite for “best of” lists (which this year has taken an even more extreme turn thanks to the end of the decade), all of them apparently read and pored over and shared until they trend on a variety of metrics, are we, actually, over the best-dressed list? The one that was among the first of them all?

I am beginning to think the answer is yes.

In our fractured world, where the individual has become ascendant and the digital sphere has elevated the obscure to the influential, where trends have devolved into everything you want all the time, and formality has become a choice rather than a professional diktat, the idea of an unnamed group of people ruling on who is “best dressed” seems increasingly as anachronistic as “no white after Labor Day.” (Tell that to Nancy Pelosi.)

“Best dressed” has become an empty term. This is a time of “viral dress” and “influential dress,” ideas that often have little do with the subjective value judgment attached to the word “best,” and which are measurable in some objective way.

But “best,” with all its implications of a certain elite and ineffable — what? style, good taste, elegance? — seems tied to another era, one in which a small group acted as gatekeepers of power, not to mention of social and cultural capital.

It is an era chronicled extensively in a book by Amy Fine Collins, a journalist who is herself in the Best-Dressed Hall of Fame, published earlier this fall by Rizzoli (and who is part of the governing body of the current International Best-Dressed List).

Though it is not the first book about the list — in 2004, Eleanor Lambert, the founder of the list, was a co-author of “Ultimate Style: The Best of the Best-Dressed List” — it is the most comprehensive.

“The International Best Dressed List: The Official Story” is filled with swanning, swooning pictures from the 1940s to today: of Babe Paley, Jackie Kennedy and Bianca Jagger; Sidney Poitier, Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

It also includes gossipy tidbits about how the list was made, how it evolved to reflect the society it chronicled, and a relatively convincing case for why, though it has been debated and dismissed and decried almost since its inception (in 1999 The New York Times called the list “absurdly quaint”), it is still going.

Founded in 1940 by Ms. Lambert, a publicist, as a scheme to draw attention to the American fashion industry, the best-dressed list aimed to celebrate both individual style and those who invested in a more classic elegance: the looks of singularities like Diana Vreeland and China Chow, as well as famous designer champions like C.Z. Guest and the Duchess of Windsor.

They were women (and latterly men) who went to the sort of events that were often photographed, thus putting them in a position to influence other people’s choices.

It has changed with the times, no question. Attempted to stay current. Diversified. Youthquaked. Celebrated celebrities who became style setters when, as Ms. Fine Collins said in an interview over tea at the Carlyle, “the fashion and entertainment industries began to converge.”

As you go through the decades, you see figures emerge on the list as they emerged on the pop culture scene: Mary Tyler Moore, Diahann Carroll, Rudolf Nureyev.

The list tried to fight against some of the worst evolutions in fashion. In 2003, after Ms. Lambert retired and “bequeathed” her invention to four editors — Mr. Carter, Ms. Fine Collins, Reinaldo Herrera and Aimée Bell — it moved, with some fanfare, to Vanity Fair.

At the time, Ms. Bell told The Times, “Those who are dressed by stylists are banned from the list.” (That notion obviously didn’t last long, since it would have taken every celeb off the table, which was not a tenable proposition for the magazine.)

But as much as it has changed and been, as Ms. Fine Collins said, “elastic and flexible and able to adapt to what is happening in the zeitgeist,” it has also relied largely on certain commonalities: access, privilege, the ability to go out a lot.

Even as it became more diverse, it became more diverse within certain very limited paradigms, chief among them fame and money.

And it has spawned an entire sector.

We can thank the International Best-Dressed List for Mr. Blackwell’s Worst-Dressed list, founded in 1964. For the fact that almost every magazine now has its own best-dressed list, including People (Best-Dressed Stars), GQ (Best-Dressed Men) and Sports Illustrated (Best-Dressed Athletes). For Vogue one-upping them all with Best-Dressed of the Week and for Vanity Fair further clouding the issue by continuing to curate its own best-dressed list even after Mr. Carter, Ms. Fine Collins and Ms. Bell left in 2017, Ms. Lambert’s list in hand.

For the Oscars and the Met gala getting their own best- and worst-dressed lists — multiple versions. For Roger Stone, the clotheshorse and political operative convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress, creating his own: Mr. Stone’s Best and Worst Dressed List (presumably not anymore). For the fact that there is now a best-dressed list for pretty much anyone’s liking.

Indeed, if I were making a list, it would include, say, the women in white at the State of the Union. The woman in Sudan (also in white). The yellow vests. Billy Porter in a dress at the Oscars. Lizzo with her little bag. In other words, the moments in fashion this year when dress became a symbol of social and political change. But that’s me. You try! (It’s both a fun and difficult exercise.)

And though the caretakers of the International List claim theirs is the only true list, since it was the first, there’s nothing that says primogeniture equals ownership in this particular case.

Which is why, though the book was conceived in part as an argument that said list — the original one, with past and pedigree — can be seen as a mirror held up to society, a history in chiffon and silk, it functions less as a case for the list’s continued relevance than as a very well-accessorized memorial.

That’s why the unveiling of the latest iteration of the list seems like the echo of a coda to a symphony heard long ago.

After all, if there is one truism of today it is that everyone can take pictures of themselves in their bedrooms (or on the street or outside a space they may not actually have access to) and have their photos reach a million people — thus, potentially, changing how others dress.

And those people don’t need the approval of the insiders to do it. In fact, the lack of approval of insiders is part of their appeal.

“The International Best-Dressed List: The Official Story” By Amy Fine Collins

So if the International Best-Dressed List really is a reflection of the times, perhaps the only way for it to truly represent where we are now is for it to acknowledge its own natural, gorgeously appointed, demise.

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[kartiavelino]

DeRay McKesson Reignites Feud With Shaun King In Weblog Put up

Written by Zayda Rivera DeRay McKesson is getting at Shaun King once more.  “We by no means intention to copy the facility dynamic of the system we’re up in opposition to — a system that embraces a devious lack of transparency, willingly sacrifices the susceptible to guard itself, and replaces reality with handy lies,” the activist wrote in a blog post published by Medium.com Thursday (Sept. 12).  “But Shaun King has executed simply that,” he wrote.  Shaun King shortly responded on Twitter. “On a number of events over the previous Three years, I’ve provided a public & personal olive department with @Deray,” he tweeted shortly after the release of McKesson’s blog.  “Civil rights elders and mediators requested me to take action, and I did. He refused every time,” King added. “Even at present, he has erased the 50+ households who brazenly mentioned I did nothing however help them.”  On a number of events over the previous Three years, I’ve provided a public & personal olive department with @Deray. Civil rights elders and mediators requested me to take action, and I did. He refused every time. Even at present, he has erased the 50+ households who brazenly mentioned I did nothing however help them. — Shaun King (@shaunking) September 12, 2019 McKesson’s weblog was meant to be a name for King to halt all his efforts with organizing and fundraising and raises considerations a few just lately printed 72-page report meant to clear King’s identify of previous accusations of impropriety. “I wrote about Shaun King in an effort to carry readability to a set of points that proceed to be a subject of dialog re: fundraising, organizing, & activism,” he explained in a tweet. “I hardly ever interact in these discussions publicly, however felt compelled given the noticed sample.”  I wrote about Shaun King in an effort to carry readability to a set of points that proceed to be a subject of dialog re: fundraising, organizing, & activism. I hardly ever interact in these discussions publicly, however felt compelled given the noticed sample.https://t.co/FlTJOcMF86 — deray (@deray) September 12, 2019 “I welcome honest critiques,” King tweeted Thursday (Sept. 12). “Earnestly so. Each venture I’m part of has layers upon layers of accountability and transparency. It’s all right here. 72 pages. No person was paid for this report. Folks put their names & reputations on the road behind it.”  I welcome honest critiques. Earnestly so. Each venture I’m part of has layers upon layers of accountability and transparency. It’s all right here. 72 pages. No person was paid for this report. Folks put their names & reputations on the road behind it.https://t.co/cmxkK8AKRE — Shaun King (@shaunking) September 12, 2019 In 2015, King blocked McKesson on social media after he was requested about his monetary mishandling of cash raised for his or her Justice Collectively venture. In June, King appeared on BET’s Black Coffee and addressed accusations in opposition to him, denying he ever took a dime of the cash he raised.   “I’ve to determine the 2 or three issues I do properly… [those] are a pair issues, fundraising and getting individuals related to a difficulty,” he mentioned, including that the tales of him stealing cash “is a lie.” “At first, when individuals say that, that’s against the law,” King mentioned. “Each time I’ve raised cash for a household or a trigger, [had I even] saved 50 cent of that cash, I’ve dedicated a felony. You aren’t allowed to lift cash for something, and pocket it on the low. Anytime I’ve raised cash, I’ve all the time had two or three different full time jobs myself.”  McKesson’s weblog submit, which he wrote with the assistance of different activists, raises the problems he had with King in 2015 and brings it full circle to at present. “Shaun has adopted a uniform sample over time, a sample that has compelled me to talk up, once more,” McKesson wrote.  Johnetta Elzie, a frontrunner within the Blacks Lives Matter motion, was one of many individuals who teamed up with McKesson for his newest weblog submit.  “I helped DeRay put this collectively, together with many different Black ladies, so that there’s a clear report re: Shaun King,” she tweeted with a link to the blog post. “Learn it. The receipts are there. We love receipts.” I helped DeRay put this collectively, together with many different Black ladies, so that there’s a clear report re: Shaun King. Learn it. The receipts are there. We love receipts. https://t.co/HCtkDvXP99 — Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) September 12, 2019 King additionally acquired assist when placing collectively his latest report titled “Shaun King Fundraising Report :: An Expert Review Panel Analyzed $34.5 Million King Raised for Families, Charities, Causes, and Campaigns,” and McKesson has taken up challenge with those who assisted him as a result of it was “not unbiased” work by King, however as a substitute one thing his friends co-authored. McKesson named individuals like Rob Smith, an editor for the Truthful Punishment Venture the place King labored beforehand, and Becky Bond, co-founder of Actual Justice PAC with King. “7 consultants reviewed 5 years of my tax returns, 10+ years of all of my financial institution accounts, and examined each fundraiser I’ve ever executed. That is their 72 web page report,” King wrote on Twitter to explain the report. “When requested why the panel was assembled by his buddies, colleagues, or co-workers, he famous that having individuals he knew, versus an unbiased audit, was probably the most ‘environment friendly’ method to get it executed,” McKesson wrote.  He additionally questioned why King takes credit score for fundraisers he didn’t begin just because he shared them on social media.  “This is able to be akin to me saying that I absolutely paid your youngster’s faculty tuition as a result of I posted the hyperlink to the school fund,” McKesson wrote. “Or that I raised thousands and thousands of {dollars} in a single minute as a result of I amplified the most recent fundraiser for The Purple Cross.  “He typically bullies and intimidates those that ask questions in any respect, turning his ire particularly at Black ladies, trying to scare inquirers into silence,” he added.  Twitter has been on hearth since McKesson’s weblog submit went stay, and there’s individuals supporting each side. “I agree. The vitality and time it has taken to persuade the lots that he’s ‘a fraud’ might actually be higher spent organizing,” one person tweeted. “What a disgrace.”  I agree. The vitality and time it has taken to persuade the lots that he’s “a fraud” might actually be higher spent organizing. What a disgrace. — M. Alexis (@MorriNkomo) September 13, 2019 “Deray simply as a lot as a scammer as Shaun King which is the funniest a part of all this,” another tweeted. On Thursday (Sept. 12), the Clara Lionel Basis’s government director stood by the choice to honor King at Rihanna’s Diamond Ball regardless of the scandal surrounding him, reports U.S. News & World Report. “We determined to honor Shaun King for a cause, and we determined to honor Shaun King for that very same cause tonight,” Justine Lucas mentioned through the occasion.  Simply earlier than the occasion, Cardi B additionally stood up for King, studies U.S. Information & World Report. “One of many foremost the explanation why is so necessary for me to be right here is as a result of Rihanna is honoring Shaun King,” the Grammy Award-winning rapper mentioned. “Lots of people have to observe Shaun King on Instagram. He protests a lot for all minorities, he protests a lot for the entire whole world.”    On Friday, Cardi defended herself from the critics on Twitter, who condemned her help of King. “Pay attention I’m not going to analysis he say she say. Im not going to analysis gossip or shit from the previous. I solely know what I see NOW. I see that after I scroll down my Instagram individuals running a blog about celebrities or Trump dum shit. I’m going to at least one web page and I see a person educating his … followers…”  Pay attention I’m not going to analysis he say she say .Im not going to analysis gossip or shit from the previous .I solely know what I see NOW .I I see that after I scroll down my Instagram individuals running a blog about celebrities or Trump dum shit .I’m going to at least one web page and I see a person educating his … — iamcardib (@iamcardib) September 13, 2019 She added, “Followers placing movies from all all over the world of people who find themselves dealing with poverty, disaster, and mistreatments. Opening our eyes to see the bullshit the Governments doing. Im not out right here telling myself Wow this man proper right here is placing a lot data that ain’t know.” Followers placing movies from all all over the world of people who find themselves dealing with poverty,disaster, and mistreatments.opening our eyes to see the bullshit the Governments https://t.co/6LiMccEO8v not out right here telling myself Wow this man proper right here is placing a lot data that ain’t know — iamcardib (@iamcardib) September 13, 2019 She continued, “Nothing about let me go google dangerous shit in regards to the particular person so I can hate him. That is not what I do. I by no means mentioned he must be president or run for presidency however he do quite a bit for me in order that’s good for me.” Nothing about let me go google dangerous shit in regards to the particular person so I can hate him .Thats not what I do.I by no means mentioned he must be president or run for presidency however he do quite a bit for me in order that’s good for me . — iamcardib (@iamcardib) September 13, 2019 (Picture: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Pictures, Steven Ferdman/Getty Pictures) Get the most recent from BET in your inbox! Join now for the most recent in superstar, sports activities, information and elegance from BET. By clicking submit, I consent to receiving BET Newsletters and different advertising and marketing emails. BET Newsletters are topic to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Customers can unsubscribe at anytime. BET Newsletters are despatched by BET Networks, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. www.bet.com OR JOIN US ON http://feeds.wager.com/~r/AllBetcom/~3/HahQrxU1Rck/deray-mckesson-reignites-feud-with-shaun-king-in-blog-post.html The post DeRay McKesson Reignites Feud With Shaun King In Weblog Put up appeared first on Kartia Velino. https://kartiavelino.com/deray-mckesson-reignites-feud-with-shaun-king-in-blog-post/

[airoasis]

The Secret Society of the Illuminati

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/the-secret-society-of-the-illuminati/

The Secret Society of the Illuminati

– This week on BuzzFeed Unsolved we’re masking the Illuminati. Is is an actual thing? What the hell is it? – it is not a factor. – okay, process it with an open intellect, let’s get started. – best. – Shockingly, the Illuminati sincerely has an extraordinarily actual historical foundation. In 1776, in Bavaria, Germany, Adam Weishaupt, a German professor, prompted the superb of French philosophy. As a rule secularism and rational notion, decided to type an institution to shield these beliefs. Adam Weishaupt viewed becoming a member of the freemasons to help propagate his views however unfortunately, would not manage to pay for the admission cost. (laughter) So as an alternative, Weishaupt formed a secret group of his possess. He known as it, The Order of the Illuminati. I do not consider they met with the aid of the instruct tracks it used to be in general a basement, kinda like this. It was most likely whatever like this. – Yeah, well we will bet yeah. – I don’t know why i am holding that, k. The Illuminati had an anti-religious stance and concerned with the goals of self-capabilities, self-improvement, social reform and free concept.Naturally, conservatives viewed this a hazard to the church and by using the mid to late 1780s, the Illuminati used to be stopped and the energetic recruiting people into secret societies, was criminalized. Nevertheless, Weishaupt and the Illuminati would go Kobe in the fourth quarter. And continue to push on, persisting with meetings and finally spreading to France earlier than disappearing into obscurity. However, some individuals think, they survived. This is a part of an interview I had with an proficient.- good they believe that the core crew was fashioned back then and has evolve and so again in the 1920s, there have been some fascists who believed that the Illuminati had been a gaggle of Jews who controlled the sector. Right after World warfare II, extremist anti-communists believed that the Illuminati have been a gaggle of communists who managed the sector and most just lately the Illuminati conspiracy theorists believe that the Illuminati are a part of the new World Order.- Many humans feel the Illuminati seeked to make a dominant one world totalitarian govt, referred to as the brand new World Order. Correctly, in a 2013 countrywide ballot with the aid of public policy polling, 28 percentage of voters ballot feel within the probability of a brand new World Order. Some individuals suppose that the affect of the Illuminati and the brand new World Order, goes as high as the president of the united states. Here is an eerie clip from an historic George H.W. Bush speech when he used to be in workplace. – we’ve before us, the possibility to forge for ourselves and for future generations, a brand new World Order, an international with the guideline of regulation, now not the law of the jungles, governs the behavior of international locations, after we are successful and we will be able to be. We had an actual threat at this New World Order. An order in which a credible United nations can use its peacekeeping role to satisfy the promise and vision of the UN’s founders. – All this begs the question, what is the New World Order and what will it do? Assuming the Illuminati and the brand new World Order are one within the identical, let’s hop down the rabbit hole and take a appear at one of the most theories as to who’s in the New World Order.This primary conception is from a man named Mark Koernke. AKA "Mark from Michigan." A proper wing militia activist and propagandist who believes that the new World Order is made above the U.S. Govt, the UN and more than a few different businesses pushing an global agenda. He believes this institution will do away with American’s rights, type an all strong executive and put non-Illuminati contributors in camps run by using F.E.M.A. The 2d theory is from David Icke who believes that world leaders including Queen Elizabeth, President Barack Obama and the Clintons are honestly form transferring wizards. These lizard elite, are at the back of the freemasons and the Illuminati. The lizard race feeds off the human race and occasionally demands human sacrifices. Actually, the identical 2013 national poll photo an previous expose that four percentage of voters polled believe that, "Lizard humans manipulate our societies." The third theory is that the brand new World Order is hooked up to the anti-Christ considering that the Illuminati are Satanists.Pat Robertson, a conservative Christian wrote a book on the brand new World Order, that claims the crew is responsible for the French Revolution, the writing of the Communist Manifesto and the creation of the Federal Reserve, all in the service of creating, "a brand new order for the human race beneath the domination of Lucifer and his followers." The fourth idea is from Donald Marshall who believes that the Illuminati are killing celebrities and changing them with clones, used to brainwash society. I’m going to fuckin’ look it up right right here. – appear up Dolly the sheep. – alright first-class i will seem it up and did she begin off as just a little baby sheep? – sure. – whatever, ok, it appears there used to be a sheep clone. – Oh, apparently. – Purported famous person clones outed by means of web (mumbles), incorporate Beyonce, Eminem, Al Roker. And many more, but clone theorists additionally consider they’ve video evidence. – Marshall Mathers, some of you may comprehend him as Eminem however he is gonna join the Saturday night time crew with a tune intro commencing subsequent Saturday night but folks I wanna take you the world premier…Marshall are you k? – Yeah sorry– (laughter) are living television freaks me out somewhat bit. – good there you go, live television freaks him out a bit bit. – good, here’s Al Roker’s clip. Realize what she’s says, after which discover what his face goes to. – Why is that this a code phrase. – Some persons believe maybe it is like a trigger sequence the place his brain’s now receiving recommendations and being intellect manipulate. – Al Roker’s the Manchurian candidate and he’s gonna kill the president. – (laughs) Yeah. – Like they are saying in Catholic tuition, go away room for the holy ghost. (mystery track) – The expression he has on his face when he is frozen, is so fuckin’ funny to me, every time I watch it ‘reason I have no idea what it is, it can be like look. – you recognize what really, he looks like he just pooped his pants. (laughter) Who’s next? – this is Beyonce, incidentally, she did this for goodbye, I had to pace up the video.There she is going and then I fast forwarded the video here. She’s in some weird trance, I truely do not know what she’s doing. – She’s writing Lemonade in her head correct now. (laughter) – whether or not or now not individuals suppose this clone thought, many conspiracy theorists agree, that primary celebrities are within the Illuminati. They point at apparel picks and hand gestures. Often that of a pyramid, which is visible as an Illuminati symbol, as proof that designated celebrities are in the Illuminati. Beyonce and Jay-Z have been known to make a pyramid like symbol with their arms. Despite the fact that, this is additionally just like the emblem for Jay-Z’s label, Rockefeller files. – right (laughs). – however the flip on that, perhaps there is a rationale why he selected that image, see what I simply did there? – Yeah, you did it correct. – I did it.The title of their baby, Blue Ivy, has been interpreted to stand for, born living underneath evil, Illuminati’s very youngest. (laughter) – Wow, I can’t think they’d identify her anything with so apparent of a secret message in there. – nevertheless, both stars have denied their affiliation with the Illuminati in songs. Here’s a excerpt from Beyonce’s Formation, "Y’all haters corny with that Illuminati mess," and here is excert from Jay-Z’s verse in a song Free Mason, "I stated I was once robust, not that i’m a mason i am red scorching, i’m on my 1/3 six, but a satan i am no longer." other celebrities comprise Kanye West, who owns a necklace containing the emblem of the attention of Horus, which is related to the Illuminati and likewise obvious on the buck bill. Which by the way, the Fed, greenback bill, there it’s correct there, it is pretty apparent. Kayne’s interruption of Taylor Swift on the 2009 video track awards was said to be a method of initiating Taylor Swift into the Illuminati via humiliating or hazing her. However, here’s a quote from Kanye on the Illuminati, "i’m tired of men and women pinpointing musicians as the Illuminati. That’s ridiculous.We do not run anything; we’re celebrities." different celebrities which were accused of being within the Illuminati comprise woman Gaga, Rihanna, Madonna and Katy Perry simply to call a number of. She what you simply did. – Jesus Christ. (laughter) i am sorry Kobe. – The entire room is shaking correct now. Oh my God, I believe we just had an earthquake. – i’m sorry Kobe. – hold in intellect that it can be lovely convenient to make a claim that somebody is within the Illuminati. Hell, swiftly perusing my co-employee Quinta Brunson’s Instagram feed, I might see a couple of references to the Illuminati. – fairly? – just looking by means of the pics. Yeah, there’s even a snapshot the place i actually make the Rockefeller sign, in one among her portraits and it used to be rapidly called out by a remark, Illuminati verified. She additionally seems to be absent from her desk fairly traditionally. Perhaps to take care of Illuminati affairs. What if you’re within the Illuminati? – seem, i’m not in the Illuminati. – Wink. – i am not in the Illuminati, Quinta’s no longer within the Illuminati, you’ll be.- it’s lovely difficult to get into. And on that notice, i might prefer to point to a internet site called IlluminatiOfficial.Org and on that website, there may be a page referred to as join the Illuminati. An awfully interesting proposition certainly. So I reached out for an interview and here’s what I acquired again from their public members of the family director. Here is what the alleged Illuminati PR director wrote again based on my interview request, "unluckily contributors of the Illuminati aren’t currently on hand for on digital camera interviews." She also recounted, "there are numerous misconceptions about my client’s organization," and referred me to the website’s beliefs section. Which, is summary and quite exciting to claim the least however let’s consult with the professor an additional time. I assume the final question would be, what percent would you put on that the Illuminati is truely an actual factor. – good it used to be an actual factor, again in 1780 nevertheless it’s not a real thing anymore. I might say one hundred percent, it’s now not an actual thing. Many of the conspiracy theories make this loopy jump at some point, the place you’re following the path of evidence and it is smart and it is sensible and it makes sense and out of the blue, it’s crazy.- I would see an international where typically matters go past science or fact, that leap of faith is what you must make, to get to the reality. Might be that is just the loopy individual inside of me. (laughter) – i admire how you just out yourself as one of the crucial loopy men and women that she finds hard. – this is the thing, I saw the seem on her face after I mentioned that, she didn’t looked joyful. Am I gonna say outright the Illuminati is a real factor? No, i’m now not gonna say that but, is it possible? Yeah, it’s viable, why not? The fact that there might be some, all understanding institution beneath everything. – Are they Skyping, how are they assembly, the place are they assembly? They’re like, oh let’s simply meet in Toledo this yr (laughter) at the Radisson.- we have angered them once more. – Yeah. – do not talk about Toledo. (laughter) The factor i am pronouncing is, nothing’s unattainable. Typically you just gotta look at some thing with an open intellect, it’ll look crazy on the skin and i’ll admit, this all looks crazy. – So it is viable that there’s an institution centered by way of lizard folks, who most likely abduct and clone celebrities. – i’m no longer pronouncing pronouncing there may be lizard, ah fuck that’s what i’m saying. – Say lizard men and women out loud. – No. – Yeah. – No (laughs). – own it Ryan, say lizard people out loud. – We might sit down right here and speak about this all day but regardless, the existence of the Illuminati will stay unsolved.- well tell us in the comments if you happen to feel Ryan’s in the Illuminati ‘motive now i am sold. – (laughs) k. The good news is, you made it via this episode. The unhealthy news is, this is the last episode for this season of BuzzFeed Unsolved however, double excellent news, (laughs) Double excellent news. – Double excellent news is– – Double good information is there may be a new season children. And if i’m nonetheless alive in October, the new season will start. So hopefully i’ll see you there and i will be respiratory. If you happen to aren’t assassin and all of the persons that I’ve slided have not killed me, the Zodiac or the guys in Black or the Illuminati or of course, Quinta Brunson. .

[batterymonster2021]

The Secret Society of the Illuminati

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/the-secret-society-of-the-illuminati/

The Secret Society of the Illuminati

– This week on BuzzFeed Unsolved we’re masking the Illuminati. Is is an actual thing? What the hell is it? – it is not a factor. – okay, process it with an open intellect, let’s get started. – best. – Shockingly, the Illuminati sincerely has an extraordinarily actual historical foundation. In 1776, in Bavaria, Germany, Adam Weishaupt, a German professor, prompted the superb of French philosophy. As a rule secularism and rational notion, decided to type an institution to shield these beliefs. Adam Weishaupt viewed becoming a member of the freemasons to help propagate his views however unfortunately, would not manage to pay for the admission cost. (laughter) So as an alternative, Weishaupt formed a secret group of his possess. He known as it, The Order of the Illuminati. I do not consider they met with the aid of the instruct tracks it used to be in general a basement, kinda like this. It was most likely whatever like this. – Yeah, well we will bet yeah. – I don’t know why i am holding that, k. The Illuminati had an anti-religious stance and concerned with the goals of self-capabilities, self-improvement, social reform and free concept.Naturally, conservatives viewed this a hazard to the church and by using the mid to late 1780s, the Illuminati used to be stopped and the energetic recruiting people into secret societies, was criminalized. Nevertheless, Weishaupt and the Illuminati would go Kobe in the fourth quarter. And continue to push on, persisting with meetings and finally spreading to France earlier than disappearing into obscurity. However, some individuals think, they survived. This is a part of an interview I had with an proficient.- good they believe that the core crew was fashioned back then and has evolve and so again in the 1920s, there have been some fascists who believed that the Illuminati had been a gaggle of Jews who controlled the sector. Right after World warfare II, extremist anti-communists believed that the Illuminati have been a gaggle of communists who managed the sector and most just lately the Illuminati conspiracy theorists believe that the Illuminati are a part of the new World Order.- Many humans feel the Illuminati seeked to make a dominant one world totalitarian govt, referred to as the brand new World Order. Correctly, in a 2013 countrywide ballot with the aid of public policy polling, 28 percentage of voters ballot feel within the probability of a brand new World Order. Some individuals suppose that the affect of the Illuminati and the brand new World Order, goes as high as the president of the united states. Here is an eerie clip from an historic George H.W. Bush speech when he used to be in workplace. – we’ve before us, the possibility to forge for ourselves and for future generations, a brand new World Order, an international with the guideline of regulation, now not the law of the jungles, governs the behavior of international locations, after we are successful and we will be able to be. We had an actual threat at this New World Order. An order in which a credible United nations can use its peacekeeping role to satisfy the promise and vision of the UN’s founders. – All this begs the question, what is the New World Order and what will it do? Assuming the Illuminati and the brand new World Order are one within the identical, let’s hop down the rabbit hole and take a appear at one of the most theories as to who’s in the New World Order.This primary conception is from a man named Mark Koernke. AKA "Mark from Michigan." A proper wing militia activist and propagandist who believes that the new World Order is made above the U.S. Govt, the UN and more than a few different businesses pushing an global agenda. He believes this institution will do away with American’s rights, type an all strong executive and put non-Illuminati contributors in camps run by using F.E.M.A. The 2d theory is from David Icke who believes that world leaders including Queen Elizabeth, President Barack Obama and the Clintons are honestly form transferring wizards. These lizard elite, are at the back of the freemasons and the Illuminati. The lizard race feeds off the human race and occasionally demands human sacrifices. Actually, the identical 2013 national poll photo an previous expose that four percentage of voters polled believe that, "Lizard humans manipulate our societies." The third theory is that the brand new World Order is hooked up to the anti-Christ considering that the Illuminati are Satanists.Pat Robertson, a conservative Christian wrote a book on the brand new World Order, that claims the crew is responsible for the French Revolution, the writing of the Communist Manifesto and the creation of the Federal Reserve, all in the service of creating, "a brand new order for the human race beneath the domination of Lucifer and his followers." The fourth idea is from Donald Marshall who believes that the Illuminati are killing celebrities and changing them with clones, used to brainwash society. I’m going to fuckin’ look it up right right here. – appear up Dolly the sheep. – alright first-class i will seem it up and did she begin off as just a little baby sheep? – sure. – whatever, ok, it appears there used to be a sheep clone. – Oh, apparently. – Purported famous person clones outed by means of web (mumbles), incorporate Beyonce, Eminem, Al Roker. And many more, but clone theorists additionally consider they’ve video evidence. – Marshall Mathers, some of you may comprehend him as Eminem however he is gonna join the Saturday night time crew with a tune intro commencing subsequent Saturday night but folks I wanna take you the world premier…Marshall are you k? – Yeah sorry– (laughter) are living television freaks me out somewhat bit. – good there you go, live television freaks him out a bit bit. – good, here’s Al Roker’s clip. Realize what she’s says, after which discover what his face goes to. – Why is that this a code phrase. – Some persons believe maybe it is like a trigger sequence the place his brain’s now receiving recommendations and being intellect manipulate. – Al Roker’s the Manchurian candidate and he’s gonna kill the president. – (laughs) Yeah. – Like they are saying in Catholic tuition, go away room for the holy ghost. (mystery track) – The expression he has on his face when he is frozen, is so fuckin’ funny to me, every time I watch it ‘reason I have no idea what it is, it can be like look. – you recognize what really, he looks like he just pooped his pants. (laughter) Who’s next? – this is Beyonce, incidentally, she did this for goodbye, I had to pace up the video.There she is going and then I fast forwarded the video here. She’s in some weird trance, I truely do not know what she’s doing. – She’s writing Lemonade in her head correct now. (laughter) – whether or not or now not individuals suppose this clone thought, many conspiracy theorists agree, that primary celebrities are within the Illuminati. They point at apparel picks and hand gestures. Often that of a pyramid, which is visible as an Illuminati symbol, as proof that designated celebrities are in the Illuminati. Beyonce and Jay-Z have been known to make a pyramid like symbol with their arms. Despite the fact that, this is additionally just like the emblem for Jay-Z’s label, Rockefeller files. – right (laughs). – however the flip on that, perhaps there is a rationale why he selected that image, see what I simply did there? – Yeah, you did it correct. – I did it.The title of their baby, Blue Ivy, has been interpreted to stand for, born living underneath evil, Illuminati’s very youngest. (laughter) – Wow, I can’t think they’d identify her anything with so apparent of a secret message in there. – nevertheless, both stars have denied their affiliation with the Illuminati in songs. Here’s a excerpt from Beyonce’s Formation, "Y’all haters corny with that Illuminati mess," and here is excert from Jay-Z’s verse in a song Free Mason, "I stated I was once robust, not that i’m a mason i am red scorching, i’m on my 1/3 six, but a satan i am no longer." other celebrities comprise Kanye West, who owns a necklace containing the emblem of the attention of Horus, which is related to the Illuminati and likewise obvious on the buck bill. Which by the way, the Fed, greenback bill, there it’s correct there, it is pretty apparent. Kayne’s interruption of Taylor Swift on the 2009 video track awards was said to be a method of initiating Taylor Swift into the Illuminati via humiliating or hazing her. However, here’s a quote from Kanye on the Illuminati, "i’m tired of men and women pinpointing musicians as the Illuminati. That’s ridiculous.We do not run anything; we’re celebrities." different celebrities which were accused of being within the Illuminati comprise woman Gaga, Rihanna, Madonna and Katy Perry simply to call a number of. She what you simply did. – Jesus Christ. (laughter) i am sorry Kobe. – The entire room is shaking correct now. Oh my God, I believe we just had an earthquake. – i’m sorry Kobe. – hold in intellect that it can be lovely convenient to make a claim that somebody is within the Illuminati. Hell, swiftly perusing my co-employee Quinta Brunson’s Instagram feed, I might see a couple of references to the Illuminati. – fairly? – just looking by means of the pics. Yeah, there’s even a snapshot the place i actually make the Rockefeller sign, in one among her portraits and it used to be rapidly called out by a remark, Illuminati verified. She additionally seems to be absent from her desk fairly traditionally. Perhaps to take care of Illuminati affairs. What if you’re within the Illuminati? – seem, i’m not in the Illuminati. – Wink. – i am not in the Illuminati, Quinta’s no longer within the Illuminati, you’ll be.- it’s lovely difficult to get into. And on that notice, i might prefer to point to a internet site called IlluminatiOfficial.Org and on that website, there may be a page referred to as join the Illuminati. An awfully interesting proposition certainly. So I reached out for an interview and here’s what I acquired again from their public members of the family director. Here is what the alleged Illuminati PR director wrote again based on my interview request, "unluckily contributors of the Illuminati aren’t currently on hand for on digital camera interviews." She also recounted, "there are numerous misconceptions about my client’s organization," and referred me to the website’s beliefs section. Which, is summary and quite exciting to claim the least however let’s consult with the professor an additional time. I assume the final question would be, what percent would you put on that the Illuminati is truely an actual factor. – good it used to be an actual factor, again in 1780 nevertheless it’s not a real thing anymore. I might say one hundred percent, it’s now not an actual thing. Many of the conspiracy theories make this loopy jump at some point, the place you’re following the path of evidence and it is smart and it is sensible and it makes sense and out of the blue, it’s crazy.- I would see an international where typically matters go past science or fact, that leap of faith is what you must make, to get to the reality. Might be that is just the loopy individual inside of me. (laughter) – i admire how you just out yourself as one of the crucial loopy men and women that she finds hard. – this is the thing, I saw the seem on her face after I mentioned that, she didn’t looked joyful. Am I gonna say outright the Illuminati is a real factor? No, i’m now not gonna say that but, is it possible? Yeah, it’s viable, why not? The fact that there might be some, all understanding institution beneath everything. – Are they Skyping, how are they assembly, the place are they assembly? They’re like, oh let’s simply meet in Toledo this yr (laughter) at the Radisson.- we have angered them once more. – Yeah. – do not talk about Toledo. (laughter) The factor i am pronouncing is, nothing’s unattainable. Typically you just gotta look at some thing with an open intellect, it’ll look crazy on the skin and i’ll admit, this all looks crazy. – So it is viable that there’s an institution centered by way of lizard folks, who most likely abduct and clone celebrities. – i’m no longer pronouncing pronouncing there may be lizard, ah fuck that’s what i’m saying. – Say lizard men and women out loud. – No. – Yeah. – No (laughs). – own it Ryan, say lizard people out loud. – We might sit down right here and speak about this all day but regardless, the existence of the Illuminati will stay unsolved.- well tell us in the comments if you happen to feel Ryan’s in the Illuminati ‘motive now i am sold. – (laughs) k. The good news is, you made it via this episode. The unhealthy news is, this is the last episode for this season of BuzzFeed Unsolved however, double excellent news, (laughs) Double excellent news. – Double excellent news is– – Double good information is there may be a new season children. And if i’m nonetheless alive in October, the new season will start. So hopefully i’ll see you there and i will be respiratory. If you happen to aren’t assassin and all of the persons that I’ve slided have not killed me, the Zodiac or the guys in Black or the Illuminati or of course, Quinta Brunson. .

[nickyschneiderus]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez parody accounts are all the rage on the right

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Of course, when the phrase first emerged in the 1700s, we didn’t have Twitter parody accounts.

By any measure, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has made an immediate and powerful impact on the American political scene. She has drawn the ire of the conservative media. She has sparred with Democratic politicians and media elites. As all true celebs must do, she appeared on a Twitch stream fundraiser for trans rights. And, oh yeah, she is working on policy.

In this day and age, it is difficult to point to one particular achievement that signals AOC has “arrived” in the pantheon of policial celebrity, but one way to tell that you’ve made it in 2019 is a rash of Twitter parody accounts using your picture as their avi.

Take, for instance, the emerging 2020 presidential field. There are a ton of Bernie Sanders parody accounts, thanks to his 2016 run. Kamala Harris, Beto O’Rourke, and Joe Biden all have their fair share. However, also-rans like Julian Castro, Amy Klobuchar, Sherrod Brown, and John Hickenlooper have scarcely a parody account between them. No publicity is bad publicity, even terrible parodies.

Given Ocasio-Cortez meteoric rise to national prominence, it should come as no surprise that it takes little digging to find at least a dozen parody accounts that tweet regularly in the “voice” of AOC. Ocasio-Cortez parody accounts have become so prevalent that Twitter appears to have made a concerted effort to purge accounts that are being mistaken for AOC’s actual account by users. Two recent accounts were suspended yesterday by the social media giant.

The voice, as these conservative parodists would have it, is generally a conservative caricature of the left-wing lawmaker: communist, careless, and clueless.

You have @CortezOcasia, who uses their account to retweet other political parody accounts mocking liberal figures like Don Lemon and Nancy Pelosi. You’ve got the more straight-laced @RepOcasioNY14, who tries to make AOC seem even more left than she actually is by retweeting Cornell West videos and posting about doing socialism with Rihanna:

Nice work this election cycle @rihanna. We'll turn this place Socialist at all costs!! #workingman #struggles

— @Rep Ocasio-Cortez (@RepOcasioNY14) November 10, 2018

Then there’s @0casio2018 (that’s with a “zero” not an “O”) who imagines Ocasio-Cortez with a valley girl affect, adding “likes” and “umms” between airheaded comments and pie in the sky redistributive proclamations.

Lot's of talk about Trump like owning the gov't shutdown, how like arrogant, ugh! He's prez for 2 years and like thinks he OWNS gov't, I never like saw a receipt. I know he's rich, but I need like proof he owns the shutdown. #Ocasio2020 @BarrettBrief #socialismsaveslives

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@0casio2018) December 21, 2018

@2018_Ocasio doesn’t offer much actual parody, but rather uses the account to rehash the usual Fox News anti-socialist talking points: Venezuala, government overreach, and the rise of “PC culture.”

pic.twitter.com/4BURHBzfd2

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY14, PAC) (@2018_Ocasio) December 10, 2018

And of course, there’s @Crazy_AOC, who has amassed 12,000 followers with their wild-eyed AOC avi and non-stop shitposting of conservative memes.

Socialism. My precious. pic.twitter.com/M7Ye6HpnJC

— Crazy Ocasio-Cortez (@Crazy_AOC) January 21, 2019

pic.twitter.com/RntclnXVa2

— Crazy Ocasio-Cortez (@Crazy_AOC) January 21, 2019

pic.twitter.com/iav4STyald

— Crazy Ocasio-Cortez (@Crazy_AOC) January 15, 2019

For those not familiar with Twitter parody account culture, you might be asking yourself one key question: Why aren’t these accounts funny?

Unlike parody of accounts of fast food restaurants or meme hats, Twitter political parody accounts have other goals besides viral humor. On both sides of the aisle, many parody accounts are painfully unfunny. Instead, they offer an outlet for the user to anonymously complain about politics in opposition to their own. Not only does the user feel more comfortable posting under their parodic nome de plume, but like-minded users feel more comfortable sharing these posts, as evidence by their massive follower counts.

There are probably a number of reasons that an account named @PelosiLuvsDebt69 could garner orders of magnitude more followers than some random person tweeting political screeds as themselves. But the most obvious (next to mistaken identity) is that even if there are no jokes, the guise of parody makes the posts seem less angry.

It is also undeniable that satirical posts online have the power to sway this discourse. Jokes about AOC’s proposed 70 percent marginal tax rate on those who make over $10 million have morphed the discourse so much that many Trump supporters believe that she actually proposed a 70 percent tax rate on all income of all citizens.  

This betrays the real purpose of political parody accounts: it’s about ideology, not jokes.

Parody accounts prioritize politics over humor on the right and the left. Throughout the last two years, Democrats have gleefully spread tweets from accounts mocking President Donald Trump. Like their conservative counterparts, these are more about political point scoring than joke telling.

Nancy Pelosi is being controlled by the RADICAL LEFT who want to end family separation, pay federal workers and give people healthcare! I'm just waiting for permission to end the shutdown from my dominatrix Ann Coulter.

— Donald J. Drumpf (@RealDonalDrumpf) January 20, 2019

Generally, tweets from these accounts have more in common with an Aaron Sorkin “Have you no decency sir” monologue than a stand-up comedy set.

The tradition of political parody accounts being more about partisanship than punnery dates back well before Donald Trump or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took the national stage. From @MexicanMitt to @InvisibleObama parody accounts have been a way for partisans to take shots at politicians for years.

Popular parody accounts of our current moment follow the same tack of fiery opinion rather than actual humor.

Trump era favorites like @RoguePotusStaff, @AltHomelandSec, and @HoarseWisperer have followed a similarly dry playbook and have been rewarded with similarly outsized follower counts. (Disclosure: The author has been blocked by @HoarseWisperer on Twitter).

If you want further proof that political parody accounts aren’t just about being funny, look at the people who run them. Non-political parody accounts are often thought of as an outlet or even a potential opportunity for professional comedians. The man behind @LosFelizDaycare is a professional comedy writer and the alter-ego of @Seinfeld2000 is a TV producer. By contrast, political Twitter parodists come from all walks of life, including airline copywriters and government bureaucrats. The goal often seems to be blowing off a little political steam than gaining writerly esteem.

All of this is also true of the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez parody accounts. Though the form of the tweets varies from “dank” memes to tossed off one-liners to vitriolic Fox News links, the critiques are the same. An AOC parody account tends to take the same lines of political attack that you see on Fox News. They go after the freshman congresswoman for being too far to the left, too unrealistic, too young, and too female.

The accounts share the same distrust and distaste for socialism, progressivism, and the stereotypical hallmarks of the millennial generation. For these tweeters, AOC stands in for a generation of people looking for a free hand out who don’t yet comprehend the sophisticated machinations of the world around them. 

The Daily Dot interviewed @AlexandraOcasi6 and @aocpress (both user prefers to remain anonymous) about what motivates them to maintain their version of an AOC parody. Since this interview, @AlexandraOcasi6 has been suspended by Twitter, along with other AOC parody accounts including @Cortez4Prez2020. The Daily Dot reached out to Twitter for comment but has not heard back.

With their account, @AlexandraOcasi6 posted a mix of jokes and conservative criticism of the congresswoman. While more explicitly rightwing accounts like @Crazy_AOC often delve into racial and gendered memes, @AlexandraOcasi6 preferred to critique Ocasio-Cortez on policy. Their account often made jokes about Ocasio-Cortez’s tax policies, redistributive/socialist proposals, and mocked her opposition to Trump administration efforts to build a wall on the Mexcian border.

When @AlexandraOcasi6 did make a gendered joke, it was usually in the popular voice common to these accounts, which portrays AOC as a naive millennial, complete with “likes” and “umms.” The jokes were generally more about her age than her Latinx or female identity.

Like many Republicans (the user identifies as “pretty right of center”), @AlexandraOcasi6 dislikes the congresswoman’s policies because they find them unrealistic and believe that her young fan base has more energy than they do coherent politics, they told the Daily Dot:

“AOC is a fun character to parody because most of the things she says are super uninformed and would definitely qualify as gaffes if she didn’t have so much devotion from her fans.  It cracks me up how many insane things I’m able to publish that her followers totally agree with because they’ve already bought what she’s selling.”

Or, up until Twitter cracked down.

I shouldn't have used quotes because you will prove yourself in congress (as if you haven't already and not that you have too). You are absolutely right about the sexism. #meToo

— Peacockblue (@peacockblu) January 6, 2019

@AlexandraOcasi6 admits that they were motivated to create the account partially because they have a fondness for Ocasio-Cortez’s youthful energy. Their thoughts on AOC echo what a conservative might begrudgingly admit about Barack Obama or Beto O’Rourke:

“At the same time, she seems like a really genuine person so I find myself liking her at a certain level.  It’s a lot more fun satirizing someone who makes you smile than someone who makes your skin crawl because being mean-spirited just seems exhausting.”

However, the user behind @AlexandraOcasi6 doesn’t necessarily think that the prevalence of AOC parody accounts will lead to a political future beyond the House of Representatives:

“I think she’s so set on breaking things in Washington, that she’ll eventually make herself a ideological pariah with the Democratic caucus, which will prevent her from influencing anyone outside of her social media sphere.  She’s also deeply naive and I think she knows it. She’s still more of an activist than a legislator so I don’t see her becoming a pillar of our government any time soon.”

@AOCpress takes a similar tone with their account and has similar views on Ocasio-Cortez.

Their tweets paint a picture of AOC as ill-informed and naive, unfit for office and unschooled in political realities. The person behind @AOCpress is a parody account veteran, having run a parody account of Mike Pompeo until being suspended from Twitter. The Pompeo account was sometimes mistaken for the former CIA directors actual account, and was often retweeted by Donald Trump Jr. and Anne Coulter.

PRESS RELEASE: I just drafted an executive order to remove the immoral fencing from around the White House.

— AOC Press (@AOCpress) January 13, 2019

These immigrants wouldn’t be undocumented if ICE didn’t steal their documents.

— AOC Press (@AOCpress) January 9, 2019

Like @AlexandraOcasio6, they shy away from gendered or racial jokes, but like to take on millennials and what they view as the extremity of PC culture.

PRESS RELEASE: AOC announces her decision to go pronoun-free. Please refer to AOC as “your honor.”

— AOC Press (@AOCpress) January 4, 2019

@AOCpress personally views Ocasio-Cortez and her fans as unintelligent. They told the Daily Dot, “I chose AOC because I think she’s dumb as hell and I can attribute any dumb things to her.”

The person behind @AOCpress also identifies as a conservative: “I am an ardent Trump supporter and have been since June 16, 2015.” Prior to starting their AOC account, they ran a Mike Pompeo parody account aimed at promoting the conservative EX-CIA chief.

Unlike @AlexandraOcasi6, @AOCpress sees Ocasio-Cortez as a serious political threat. “I believe AOC is a real threat and if the Country continues on this downward spiral I see a President AOC within the next 25 years.”

Only time will tell if @AlexandraOcasi6’s prediction will come true or if @AOCpress is right.

Will Ocasio-Cortez catapult to the kind of notoriety that leads to immortal parody accounts like @PimpBillClinton (234,000 followers, still tweeting)?

Parody account fame doesn’t necessarily mean enduring political fortunes, just ask @ShitToddAkinSays (RIP) or @TomCoburnsBeard.

While the future remains to be seen, one unassailable fact remains true in the age of politics and social media: if nobody’s parodying you, it’s probably because no one is listening.

from Ricky Schneiderus Curation https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-twitter-parodies/

#Ricky Schneiderus Curation

[lua-leia]

Blog-bullying needs to stop

I joined tumblr with a certain level of hesitancy. We have the right to share our opinion, and we’re entitled to it. But there’s also something called rhetorics and argumentive analysis. I’ll get back to that later. I’m sick and tired of celebrities being bullied. I don’t care if it’s Justin Bieber, Taylor, Miley, Rihanna, Katy, Amy Schumer, Lorde, Gigi, Kendell, The Kardashians. I don’t know these people personally, a bit biased as when it goes to Taylor, my account it dedicated to her after all. But why is it that we like to dedicate long tumblr posts calling Katy a liar, Miley is an attention-seeking whore, Jennifer Lawrence is a white feminist and the list goes on an on. Do you know these people personally, other than what you’ve read in the tabloids? Can you give me an account of something anti-femnistic, awful, rude or just downright evil action they did while you were in their presence? I don’t think so, and if you can, I’m deeply impressed and I’ll gladly listen. But judging someone based on what tabloids say? On how people are presented on TV, or how interviews are interpreted is just wrong. And it’s the worst kind of argumentation you could ever produce because your sources are a downright disgraceful. We expect so much of celebrities. We place them on this God-like-piedestal and we expect them to act in a certain kind of way, so our norms and values are pleased. 1. They’re probably nothing like you 2. The world doesn’t revolve around you and what you need from celebrities If you do something wrong, you can apologize and people will evidently forget about it. If Jennifer Lawrence makes a mistake, she can apologize, but it’ll always be remembered through the internet which will feed off of it. It’ll be repeated 1000000 times and eventually, we might begin to believe it because everyone talks about and repetition is like a golden sales-technique. If you want to get political: how do you think Trump won the election? Repetition. How can it be true, that forgiveness and the act of an apology doesn’t matter when it comes to celebrities. They’re no better than you or me. Yeah, they decided to live in the spotlight, but I’m pretty sure they don’t use their celebrity status to offend anyone, at least not on purpose. Or maybe I’m just naive.

I saw a post calling Amy Schumer, Jennifer Lawrence, Taylor Swift and Lena Dunham white feminist. Why? Because you read something in a magazine. Because they don’t use their social media as political platforms? Because they don’t make public statements? Because you haven’t seen them do stuff? Excuse me, but do you know what they do in their private time? Have you considered that their celebrity status doesn’t reflect what they do at home, because they’re constantly in the spotlight. Did they sign a superstar-contract that says they’re not allowed to have flaws? Did they bind themselves to a contract, that says they have to mix politics into their working careers. I don’t do any of that either. I might share a political article or two, but I don’t blast my opinon everywhere either, but I guess I’m a bitchy white feminist + racist too, so what does it matter? I usually don’t call people out, but I’ll attach some of the comments. It’s like there’s gone a sport into hating what’s popular to hate? Why? Are you jealous? Do you envy them? Did they hurt you? Also! Who taught you that it’s alright to call someone a bitch? Yes, if they murdered someone, go ahead, if they raped someone and there’s enough proof, yes, go ahead. You’re entitled to your opinon, but are you really entitled to calling someone a bitch, someone disgusting, racist, misandrist, untalented and ugly in a public forum without personally knowing the person? I know it’s easy to say a lot of things behind a screen - to be honest, I’d probably never say this out loud in public. On the internet we want attention because it’s easy because social media enables instant gratification.. this is not a good thing. We now how to stage, portray and write things that’ll gain likes and hearts and reblogs. But making a post: where you call someone a bitch or other names is just tacky and a sign of bad manners. I have another word for it actually. It’s called bullying! I call it pinning women against women which is very not feministic. Everyone makes mistakes, but while we get to apologize for it, or defend ourselves when our words are twisted and we’re misunderstood, celebrities don’t. We remember all of the bad stuff that’s written about them, we remember their faults and mistakes and scandals, actions they’ve apologized for, actions they’re embarrassed or ashamed of, because it’s what we remember, because the media and the tabloids keep these actions on repeat and they keep bringing them up.

I’ve done some things in my life I’m not proud of, I’ve hurt people, not intentionally, I’ve lied to protect myself and I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I can’t imagine having them plastered all over the internet, having the entire world watching while it’s escalating, even if I apologized. Is there such a thing as forgiveness? A lot of bad shit is happening in the world. Lack of gender equality, how racial minorities are disgustingly treated (I hate the word race, because the word separates humans, and we subconsciously believe that we’re different), religious wars are surrounding the western world, governments are crumbling and people are dying in the most treacherous situations. How is it going to help if we don’t accept apologies, if we don’t acknowledge forgiveness? I admit it, I am white (i’m pretty pale actually) and I am priviledged (I grew up in the western world with a mom and dad), and I’m christian. I’m labeled as the typical white blonde girl who doesn’t know a thing or two, I’m also labelled white stupid feminist, I’m labelled clueless for enjoying Taylor Swift and her music and sometimes ugly or gross, or brainwashed, and people tell me that I shouldn’t complain, cause’ I’m priviledged and it hurts. It freaking hurts. It hurts when you read things about you that dictates that you’re a bad person and you want to hurt people intentionally. I’ve never attended a femnistic demonstration, but I believe in femninism and I believe that men and women should be equal. I’ve never attended a blacklivesmattermovement, but that doesn’t mean I don’t support black/hispanic (again with the races!!! Argh I hate them) I SUPPORT HUMAN BEINGS. But I bet i’ll get a lot of crap. Claiming I’m fake, playing the victim, crying for attention, but thank god I’m just Lea and not Taylor Swift. This won’t be talked about on The Late Night Show, but I’m sure if Kim Kardashian posted this kind of post it sure would, and she’d get completely different reactions than me. And we’re not perfect robots, and we make mistakes, at least I do and I expect nothing more from celebrities. Was this rant necessary? Nope! But I’m entitled to my opinion. I hope I didn’t offend anyone cause’ if I did, I’m truly sorry, cause’ that was never my intentions. Lots of love ❤️ Even to the people who’ll call me a white priviledged bitch ❤️❤️

[16033268mmu]

First Draft of Full Script

[the conspiracy theories passage]

-          (in the background “I remember”)

-          “The archetypal conspiracy theory might go something like this: there is a clandestine secret society in our midst… they are alien to all we believe in and are about to seize control of the world… they are everywhere… they are ruthless and powerful… they are sexually depraved… they perform the most heinous crimes known to mankind.

Belief in conspiracy theories is more than just a belief in an occasional underhand plot. It is a belief system that asserts that world events are being governed in secret by a group of ultra-powerful puppeteers behind the scenes. While little may be done about this apparent corruption, at least we can have the satisfaction of having worked out what is going on.

Of course, one can argue that obsession with conspiracy theories serves only to demonstrate the lunatic paranoia running rife in today’s society. Much talk about conspiracies is dismissed as paranoia and much of it is paranoia. But in reality, history has proved all too well that politicians lie, presidents lie and bureaucrats lie. If we continue to be gullible and believe everything that is presented to us, the truth will never come out. It becomes not only interesting and revealing but an absolute priority to question authority and, more specifically, the authoritarians.” – Jamie King

(1:52 minutes) [Jamie King is given credit up on the projector screen during or after the last sentence of this]

 [Slide afterwards for 5 seconds: “I would like to think that my life isn’t a conspiracy.”] – maybe/undecided.

 [the facts]

-          There are little job prospects even if you have a hundred qualifications – fact.

-          Ben Ali had ties to the mafia – fact.

-          The council of Sidi Bouzid took away what they say was an unlicensed market stall and thus, a man’s livelihood – fact.

-          Mohamed Bouazizi doused himself in petrol and set himself alight in front of the council building – fact.

-          Former president Ben Ali, promised to send him to France for medical treatment, however no such transfer was made.

-          He died in hospital on the 4th of January 2011, or as I remember it, my sister’s birthday.

(2:42 minutes)

[personal story] + [historical story]

-          Have you ever woken up to fireworks and found out they were gunshots?

-          Or seen your favourite uncle change before your eyes as he’s taken in by a whole new belief system? A belief system that does not care for you or me but it makes him feel safe because his son just died and he can’t let go.

-          I remember…I remember…I remember.

-          I remember the need to stock up in case it became too dangerous to leave the house. No, that’s not right, that hasn’t happened yet.

-          I remember Rihanna being number one in the charts. Her song was blasting out of every shop radio and people were dancing in the streets. But that wasn’t what I was talking about…

-          Ah yes, my sister’s birthday… She was six. Do you remember being six? I don’t. It must have been a pretty insignificant time for me.

-          My sister though, she had balloons, homemade cake and a waiter singing her “Happy Birthday.” She died of embarrassment.

-          Birthdays are something we can be certain about, there’s always a birthday going on somewhere.

-          I know for certain that Wikipedia will tell me one thing about what came after the 4th of January 2011, and my mind will tell me they are wrong.

My mind also tells me that Mohamed Bouazizi died one day after he was hospitalised when the facts say it was 18 days though.

-          Mainstream news articles will state that former President Ben Ali was overthrown quite quickly, but it feels a lot longer to me remembering it.

-          Am I wrong, or are they?

Why do I have to pick a side?

-          All I know is that I cannot find one reputable source that can tell me exactly what happened.

-          What are facts? Who decides that facts are facts anyway?

-          Hello?

-          Hello!?

(5:21 minutes)

-          I remember…I remember.

-          I don’t remember.

[“I remember” audio mashup] (3:00 or 3 and half minutes edited down to tops - the rest is for the national anthem)

[slides with the news articles and alternative writing start to come up halfway through this]

[At some point also the straitjacket will come off]

-          I remember sitting on my cream sofa while my dad was watching the news.

-          I remember seeing a man lying in a hospital bed.

-          I remember seeing the president come and shake his hand.

-          I remember thinking, who is this man and why is the president shaking his hand?

-          I remember the man dying.

-          I remember seeing riots in Tunis and thinking it would never come to my town.

-          I remember my mum telling me that everybody started running out of the café she was having her coffee in.

-          I remember curfews and threats.

-          I remember my good friend’s uncle being shot by a rooftop sniper. He still talks about him today.

-          I remember feeling fortunate that nobody in my family had been.

-          I remember the need to stock up in case it became too dangerous to leave the house.

-          I remember sitting on my cream sofa and seeing on the news that an opposing diplomat had been assassinated for speaking out.

-          I remember going out to the local shop after the riots had reached my town to stock up, but really because I was curious to see it…

-          I remember how quiet the town was, like it had been empty for years.

-          I remember staying as close to the walls as possible when being outside.

-          I remember the shop lady saying that ten people had died last night.

-          I remember being so immune that I thought, oh that’s not a lot.

-          I remember Rihanna being number one in the charts.

-          I remember my dad keeping a pitchfork under his bed.

-          I remember leaning that this had started because a wronged man had set himself alight outside of the council building.

-          I remember hiding in the back of a taxi because the driver wanted work but did not want the other taxi drivers to know that he was undermining their strike.

-          I remember taking my IGCSEs at the British Embassy.

-          I remember speaking to a Libyan girl there about the fact that her country was now also rioting.

-          I remember Rihanna’s song: Love the Way You Lie being my mum’s ringtone.

-          I remember filming the broken escalator in a shop that had been torched.

-          I remember my brother being excited that school was closed for a week.

-          I remember when “a week” changed to “indefinitely.”

-          I remember the BBC news calling my dad up and him being worried to speak to them because everything was being monitored.

-          I remember Channel 4 news calling my mum up the next day and her saying that everything wasn’t actually that bad at the moment.

-          I remember the whole neighbourhood banding together, blocking off the entrance with barrels and setting up a neighbourhood watch.

-          I remember hearing rumours about people in white cars coming around to loot and kill people.

-          I remember my dad telling me that if anything happened to him, he had buried our passports and some money in the back garden.

-          I remember him taking it back out three weeks later when he’d calmed down a bit.

-          I remember finding this funny.

-          I remember not realising how much this had affected me until I began writing this down.

-          I remember news that the president had died of stress…then that he had fled but had, had a heart attack on the plane…then that none of this were true and that he was actually still alive, hiding out.

-          I remember the military fighting the police and not knowing who was on our side.

-          I remember, not in a depressive way, being ready if we were to die and quite accepting of it because at least we would go together.

-          I remember thinking how stupid I was to think that.

-          I remember knowing…

-          I remember not knowing…

-          I remember not accepting…

-          I remember seeing all rules, cultural, societal ideologies for what they are, just that.

-          I remember feeling a freedom that I had never felt before.

-          I cannot explain it in a logical way.

-          I might not even be able to explain it at all.

-          But I can try.

[Standing up for national anthem]

Or

-          I remember not being able to explain it in a logical way.

-          Hence my trouble with this solo.

[sweeping and cleaning the set when national anthem comes on]

The “I remember” audio mashup section is still being recorded, therefore the order of it may change and most certainly the length as it will be a mix of both live and recorded lines.

The idea for this piece is based around the start of the Tunisian Revolution. Though, as it is supposed to be personal to me, with this piece I am attempting to let the audience inside my head. I want them to experience just how messy and confusing it can be with a lot of different people telling me a lot of different things about what happened - most of the time, what they’re saying, conflicting with what I saw. Add to that, the fact that memory is supposed to be fallible, how can I really trust myself? I must piece together what is true with the knowledge that I believe I have.

The outcome of my experience has given me a great kind of freedom. After seeing such a tightly woven set of ideologies collapse, I am more susceptible to spotting them and being able to question why they have been put in place. For me, it was a revolution within a revolution - one inside my head and one outside of me happening in the country. My aim is taking the audience on this journey of strange happenings and revelations.

#Solo Performance Process