January 20, 2017

Celebration of the Lizard King - Jim Morrison

"And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

January 19, 2017

Shin Godzilla Nominated for Best Picture and 10 Other Japanese Academy Awards

Japan makes movies about him, we 'elect' him.



Source: Bloody Disgusting, by John Squires

Imagine that. A Godzilla movie nominated for Best Picture!

Last year’s Toho-produced Shin Godzilla (aka Godzilla Resurgence) has been hailed by many as being the best Godzilla movie ever made, with most at the very least agreeing that it put any American version of the franchise to absolute shame. It was also a huge success at the box office, becoming the highest grossing live-action film released in Japan last year and also the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla film of all time. And now, per the website SciFied, we’ve learned that Shin Godzilla has been nominated for a whopping ELEVEN Japanese Academy Awards.

Talk about a powerhouse monster movie, huh?

Technically called the Japan Academy Prize, the “Japanese Academy Awards” have been given out annually since 1978, and Shin Godzilla is nominated in the following categories this year:

• Best Picture

• Best Director(s) – Hideaki Anno & Shinji Higuchi

• Best Actor in a Leading Role – Hiroki Hasegawa

• Best Supporting Actress – Satomi Ishihara

• Best Supporting Actress – Mikako Ichikawa

• Best Original Score – Shirou Sagisu

• Best Cinematography – Kousuke Yamada

• Best Lighting Direction – Takayuki Kawabe

• Best Art Direction – Yuji Hayashida & Eri Sakushima

• Best Sound – Jun Nakamura & Haru Yamada

• Best Editing – Hideaki Anno & Atsuki Sato

Read it all at: http://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3421587/shin-godzilla-nominated-best-picture-10-japanese-academy-awards/

January 19, 2017

Terri Sewell boycotting Donald Trump inauguration, citing 'disrespect' of John Lewis

Our lone elected Democrat in Washington DC won't be at the farce!

"Upon prayerful deliberation, I have decided not to attend the inauguration of the 45th President. While I have a profound respect for the office of the President, and I accept the results of the election, I simply cannot accept the blatant disrespect shown by President-elect Trump towards American civil rights icon, my colleague, friend and mentor, the Honorable John Lewis. The ongoing attacks against Congressman John Lewis are a direct assault on the sacrifices of those brave men and women in my Alabama district who fought, bled and died for the civil rights and voting rights of all Americans. As always, I stand with my constituents."

"This decision was reached with great deliberation because I am deeply saddened by the negative political rhetoric on both sides. We must move forward together. I sincerely hope that upon his ascension as our President, that President Trump will choose to build bridges, set aside differences and embrace John Lewis. In fact, there is a bridge in my district where we all can gain inspiration, and I invite President Trump and Congressman Lewis to join me in visiting Selma to walk hand-in-hand across that bridge as one nation, indivisible and united."

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/01/terri_sewell_boycotting_donald.html#incart_river_index

January 18, 2017

A Big, Beautiful Band Will Play Trump and Melania's Inaugural First Dance

The swingin’ Tim Rushlow seems like a fitting choice—after all, his website’s tagline is “Get Your Retro On.”

Source: Vanity Fair, by Hillary Busis

With just days to go before Donald Trump’s softly sensual inaugural celebration, we’ve finally learned who will be playing when the newly sworn-in president and his First Lady—Melania, not the other one—gently sway through their ceremonial first dance at the Freedom Ball. It’s not exactly Beyoncé.

Instead, Donald and Melania will enjoy the smooth sounds of Tim Rushlow, a country singer turned jazz crooner, and his accompanying Big Band. The act seems like an appropriate get for the businessman who wants to “make America great again”; their homepage, which features autoplaying audio of Rushlow singing Tony Bennett’s “With Plenty of Money and You,” implores visitors to “get {their} retro on.”

The rest at: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/01/trump-inauguration-first-dance-tim-rushlow

Hot at the Fontainebleau Hotel on the Beach - circa 1964!

January 18, 2017

Obama's parting words: 'We're going to be OK'

Source: CNN, by Kevin Liptak, CNN White House Producer

Barack Obama used his departing words as President Wednesday to offer an assured -- if not entirely optimistic -- outlook for a country governed by Donald Trump.

"At my core I think we're going to be OK," Obama said as he concluded his final news conference at the White House. "We just have to fight for it, work for it, and not take it for granted."

*****

In his question-and-answer session with reporters, Obama said that after two terms of political warfare with Republicans, he was emerging unbowed in his faith in the US and its citizens. But he continued to express concerns about his successor's stance on Russia and his readiness for office.

"I believe in this country. I believe in the American people. I believe that people are more good than bad," Obama said. "I believe tragic things happen. I think there's evil in the world, but I think at the end of the day, if we work hard and if we're true to those things in us that feel true and feel right, that the world gets a little better each time."

*****

Read it all at: http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/18/politics/obama-final-news-conference/index.html

January 18, 2017

Janelle Monae Among Those Slated To Perform At Womens March

Saturday is going to be GREAT!

Source: BuzzFeed, by Blake Montgomery

The Women’s March on Wednesday released the names of the artists who will perform at the kick off of the Jan. 21 protest, with Janelle Monae, Maxwell, and Angelique Kidjo headlining.

Other performers include the Indigo Girls, Toshi Reagon, Samantha Ronson, Emily Wells, DJ Rekha, MC Lyte, St. Beauty, Beverly Bond, Alia Sharief, DJ Rimarkable, Amber Coffman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Climbing PoeTree.

Gloria Steinem and Harry Belafonte are honorary co-chairs, and the march has partnered with Planned Parenthood and other women’s healthcare advocates for a turnout expected to approach around 200,000 people in Washington, DC.

The announcement comes with the addition of Questlove, Grimes, Matt and Kim, KT Tunstall, Neko Case, Rakim, TV on the Radio, and Lila Downs to the March’s Artists Table, a high-profile support committee of around 150 artists chaired by America Ferrera.

More at: https://www.buzzfeed.com/blakemontgomery/janelle-monae-among-those-to-perform-at-womens-march?utm_term=.fjMR0L8K8#.otV9YPWKW

January 17, 2017

200,000 Alabamians could lose healthcare as Obamacare repeal looms

We never even got the Medicaid expansion, so Alabamians are demonstrably dying now!

Source: al.com, by Christopher Harress

*****

Until the introduction of the ACA, as many as two million residents of Alabama struggled to get effective healthcare because of pre-existing conditions, according to statistics provided by Arise Citizens' Policy Project, a non-profit think tank based in Montgomery that advocates for low income Alabamians.

"The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of people and saved thousands of lives across Alabama," said Arise's policy director Jim Carnes. "We urge Alabamians to continue pressuring their members of Congress not to repeal the Affordable Care Act without an immediate replacement that offers comparable coverage and consumer protections. 'Repeal and delay' is a dangerous and unacceptable path."

*****

Representative Terri Sewell, (D-AL) said that she voted against the repeal during the House vote Friday.

"The ACA is not perfect. This is why I have worked across the aisle to increase Alabama's hospital reimbursements, decrease costs to individuals and businesses in states that haven't expanded Medicaid, increase innovation, and stabilize the markets. While the Republicans know what it will take to fix what's wrong with the ACA and build upon what's working, they have yet to produce a replacement plan that works for the American people. Simply put, repeal without replace is a disgrace."

Read it at: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/01/200000_alabamians_could_lose_h.html#incart_river_index

January 16, 2017

Trump Misses The Point Of MLKs Life And Shows Why He'll Be A Presidential Disaster

Source: PoliticusUSA, by Jason Easley

With a single tweet about Martin Luther King, Donald Trump revealed why he is going to be a disaster of a president.

Trump tweeted:


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Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who marched with King, reminded everyone what we are remembering today:


[img][/img]

*****

Donald Trump completely missed the point of Dr. King’s life and work. Trump loves to claim that he is leading a movement, but the president-elect has confused a movement with an egocentric cult of personality. Trump isn’t leading a movement because intellectually incapable of thinking in the terms needed to lead a group of people.

How Trump interpreted the life of Dr. King speaks volumes about the kind of president he will be. Donald Trump will never govern for all Americans. Trump can’t see America. All Donald Trump can see is his own power and interests, and this fatal flaw is why he is destined to fail as president.

Read it at: http://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/16/trump-marks-mlk-day-completely-missing-point-martin-luther-kings-life.html

January 16, 2017

As robots take jobs, Europeans mull free money for all

I am, therefore I'm paid.

Source: AO, by John Leicester

The radical notion that governments should hand out free money to everyone — rich and poor, those who work and those who don't — is slowly but surely gaining ground in Europe. Yes, you read that right: a guaranteed monthly living allowance, no strings attached.

*****

WHY THE MOUNTING INTEREST?

In a word, robots. With automated systems and machines increasingly replacing human workers, France could lose 3 million jobs by 2025, says Benoit Hamon, a former education minister campaigning for the French presidency on a promise of gradually introducing no-strings-attached payments for all. As work becomes scarcer, a modest but regular guaranteed income would stop people from fearing the future and free up their time for family, the needy and themselves, he argues.

It could also encourage people to take risks, start businesses and try new activities without the risk of losing welfare benefits.

*****

"Growth at two, three, four or five percent in western countries: it's finished," he said in a televised debate last week. "We have to speak the truth."

Outside research backs up their arguments. An Oxford University study in 2015 estimated nearly half of the American workforce is at risk of automation.

*****

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7664c680804b4540833055b644919d9d/robots-take-jobs-europeans-mull-free-money-all

January 16, 2017

One last song from 'Austin City Limits' before...