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Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Antisemitic hate crimes in New York City more than doubled last month from a year ago, New York Police Department data show — a troubling trend that unfolded against a backdrop of high-profile figures making headlines for remarks targeting Jewish people. The five boroughs had 45 antisemitic crimes in November compared with 20 in November 2021, according to newly released NYPD statistics. The 125% jump came the same month two men were busted for plotting to shoot up a city synagogue. Meanwhile, the musician Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has unleashed a steady stream of antisemiti… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Many people flock to cities, but can urban areas actually be detrimental to mental health? A study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports suggests that traffic sounds may be related to increased depression, while birdsongs may be related to reduced anxiety. Our environments have profound effects on our mental health. While many young people want to live in cities and experience a fast-paced urban lifestyle, there are some significant disadvantages that come with it. One such disadvantage can be hearing the bustle of traffic and people constantly. Past research has shown that man-made soundsc… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost A study of UK athletes and their coaches found links between psychopathy and both anger and aggression. Machiavellianism, another dark personality trait, predicted anger. The study was published in Psychology of Sport & Exercise. Emotions are important in sport. This is particularly the case with anger that can both aid and harm performance. Key features of anger are strong feelings of annoyance, displeasure and hostility. A person can become angry when his/her identity or self-esteem are threatened. Anger has the potential to mobilize a person’s energy, but is very difficult to control and ma… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sharon Stone says her AIDS charity work “destroyed” her career. The 64-year-old actress first became involved with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, back in the 1990s and in 1995 she was asked to stand in for former chairwoman Dame Elizabeth Taylor at the organisation’s annual fundraising event in France – but Sharon has now revealed her devotion to the cause left her without work for eight years. Speaking during a talk at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Friday (02.12.22), she explained: “I had pretty big shoes to fill with Elizabeth Talyor at amfAR … When I was approached in Cannes, I was like, ‘Can I take Elizabeth’s place?’” The actress discussed the role with her former publicist Cindy Berger, with Sharon admitting the PR guru cautioned her against it, saying: “She said, ‘If you do this, it will destroy your career’. At the time you weren’t allowed to talk about AIDS. She got hives on her neck. I said, ‘I know, but I am going to do it, you’re gonna kill me’. She replied, ‘And if you don’t, I am gonna kill you.” Sharon explained she faced a lot of “hate” over her activism on behalf of AIDS/HIV research causes – revealing it harmed her acting career and she even faced death threats. She went on: “I had no idea of the resistance, cruelty, hate and oppression that we would face … “I stayed for 25 years until we had AIDS remedies being advertised on TV like we have aspiri. It did destroy my career. I didn’t work for eight years. I was told if I said condom again, funding would be removed. I was threatened repeatedly, my life was threatened, and I decided I had to stick with it.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung and Nate Raymond WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday began hearing arguments in a major case pitting LGBT rights against a claim that the constitutional right to free speech exempts artists from anti-discrimination laws in a dispute involving an evangelical Christian web designer who refuses to provide her services for same-sex marriages. The justices were hearing Denver-area business owner Lorie Smith’s appeal seeking an exemption from a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and other factors. Lower courts ruled in favor of Colorado, including the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021. Smith, who runs a web design business called 303 Creative, contends that Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act violates the right of artists – including web designers – to free speech under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment by forcing them to express messages through their work that they oppose. The case follows the Supreme Court’s narrow 2018 ruling in favor of Jack Phillips, a Christian Denver-area baker who refused on religious grounds to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The court in that case stopped short of carving out a free speech exemption to anti-discrimination laws. Like Phillips, Smith is represented by attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative religious rights group. The Supreme Court did not take up one aspect of her challenge to Colorado law based on religious rights also protected by the First Amendment, focusing on free speech instead. Colorado, civil rights groups and numerous legal scholars have said that endorsing Smith’s free speech arguments could lead to widespread discrimination against LGBT people and others. “It would encompass not only a business’s objections to serving certain customers motivated by sincerely held religious beliefs, but also objections motivated by ignorance, whim, bigotry, caprice and more – including pure expressions of racial, sexist or anti-religious hatred,” the state wrote in a legal brief to the Supreme Court. Public accommodations laws exist in many states, banning discrimination in areas such as housing, hotels, retail businesses, restaurants and educational institutions. Colorado first enacted one in 1885. Its current law bars businesses open to the public from denying goods or services to people because of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and certain other characteristics, and from displaying a notice to that effect. The Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, has become increasingly supportive of religious rights and related free speech claims in recent years even as it has backed LGBT rights in other cases. The court legalized gay marriage nationwide in a landmark 2015 decision and in 2020 expanded protections for LGBT workers under federal law. Smith, 38, said she believes that marriage should be limited to opposite-sex couples, a view shared by many conservative Christians. She preemptively sued Colorado’s civil rights commission and other state officials in 2016 because she feared she would be punished for refusing to serve gay weddings. Similar legal fights involving other small business including a wedding photographer and a calligrapher owners have been waged in other states. A ruling in Smith’s case is expected by the end of June. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in Washington and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by Morning Honey When Gus Kenworthy came out as gay in 2015, he wasn’t sure how people would react to the news. Fortunately, the Olympian, who retired this year, feels like a million bucks and has the support of others along the way. “It’s been such a blessing for me to be able to live my life out and be openly gay. I’m proud of that, and I get to celebrate that. I also get celebrated for that when brands want to partner with me. I remember when I came out or when I was thinking about it, I was scared I was going to lose all my sponsors because there had never been anyone out in skiing before,” the 31-year-old… Read More View the full article

Published by Tribune News Service When we want to describe a world that is chaotic and dangerous, few metaphors are more apt than “jungle.” We say, “It’s a jungle out there.” Robert Kagan puts the term to good use in his 2018 book “The Jungle Grows Back.” He argues that the “liberal world order” that we have come to regard as inevitable is actually a mythical seven-decade reprieve from history-as-usual that began after World War II. For thousands of years, the story of humankind, Kagan says, is more accurately described as a “long tale of war, tyranny, and poverty.” These millennia were characterized by repression and disregar… Read More View the full article

Published by TravelPulse Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, is nestled on one of the largest, deepest and most stunning natural bays in the world, Bahia de Banderas. The title of World’s Friendliest City has been awarded to Puerto Vallarta thanks to the warmth of its people and for welcoming visitors with open arms. For more than 60 years it has established itself as a premier destination for the LGBTQ+ community, and no wonder, because in addition to the warm hospitality, Puerto Vallarta offers a wide variety of attractions, from restaurants and bars to spas and exclusive tours. That’s not to mention almost … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jeff Mason and Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Actor George Clooney, singer-songwriter Amy Grant, singer Gladys Knight, composer Tania León and rock group U2 were celebrated on Sunday for their contributions to the arts at a White House reception ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors show. The Kennedy Center event, now in its 45th year, recognizes stars from music, stage and screen for their contributions to American culture. At a reception for the five honorees at the White House beforehand, President Joe Biden addressed each personally, praising their individual talents and said they embodied the spirit of the country. “To see each other, to see ourselves in one another, to unite in common cause – tonight we celebrate a truly exceptional…group of artists,” Biden said. The room was packed with celebrities, the White House’s second star-studded event in recent days. Actors Julia Roberts and Matt Damon were seated next to each other, in front of journalist Katie Couric. In the front row former Washington, D.C. police officer Michael Fanone, who was beaten defending the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was seated next to singer Eddie Vedder. Clooney, an actor and filmmaker who played a doctor on the popular NBC television show “ER” before launching a movie career that earned him two Academy Awards, has also drawn praise for his humanitarian work. Grant rose to prominence as a contemporary Christian music singer who later crossed over to pop stardom, amassing six Grammy Awards. Knight, who has won seven Grammy Awards, is famous for hit songs including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia” as the lead singer of The Pips, which became Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1962. Cuban-born León is a conductor as well as a composer, whose orchestral piece “Stride” won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music. Irish band U2, with members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., has won 22 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Will Dunham, Heather Timmons and Cynthia Osterman) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @kellyripa/instagram Kelly Ripa never shies away from showing off her hunky husband, Mark Consuelos, on Instagram — and it turns out fans have none other than Madonna to thank for the endless shirtless snaps! Last month, the TV star explained on an episode of the “Everything Iconic” podcast that she purposely started posting sexy photos of her man after finding out the music icon followed her on social media. “I immediately sort of changed everything I posted,” confessed the mother-of-three. “I started posting only shirtless photos of Mark because I was like, ‘Madonna doesn’t want to see my kids. She wants to see eye candy.'” Nonetheless, the actor is guilty of sharing quite a few scantily clad photos himself — scroll down to see some of Consuelos’ hottest pics! @kellyripa/instagram This past August, Ripa shared what she called “a thirsty reminder” to watch her game showGeneration Gap, posting this sultry snap of the Riverdale star. “Objects may be thirstier than they appear ,” she quipped in the caption. Pals like Lisa Rinna couldn’t help but comment on the pic, with the reality star writing, “Thank you Kelly .” @kellyripa/instagram The Ed alum shared a cheeky post as her man worked on his tan poolside, captioning the photgraph, “Adequate sun protection? .” @kellyripa/instagram Oh, la, la! The parents-of-three never worry whether or not their PDA embarrasses their kids, as evidenced by this suggestive swimsuit-clad shot. @kellyripa/instagram Hot stuff! “#Tbt one year ago, when the air conditioner gave up, so did @instasuelos ,” the actor’s wife wrote alongside a photo depicting him sweating through his tank. @kellyripa/instagram Who wears short shorts? The blonde beauty decided to get in on the fun while celebrating a pal’s special day. “Happy birthday @jakeshears thank you for letting us be a part of your new album’s cover art. Coming soon!” she joked of the trio’s poses. @instasuelos/instagram A few years ago, the dad-of-three got to work on cleaning, joking he now has a “love story” with his power washer. “I’m not sure you have to wear these glasses or flex while using but it seemed appropriate,” the former soap opera star added. “I smell a side business.” View the full article

Published by Ultimate Prince Dolly Parton has revealed a few more details about her upcoming rock album, which she decided to make after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. She’s previously said that former Journey singer Steve Perry would be heard on the LP and that she was aiming to have Robert Plant and Jimmy Page guest on a new cover of Led Zeppelin classic “Stairway to Heaven.” In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (video below), she unveiled the record’s title and said it would also include songs by Prince, the Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd, along with s… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP The US Supreme Court is to hear a suit filed by a Christian website designer who declines to provide wedding services to same-sex couples Washington (AFP) – Can a business owner cite her religious convictions in declining to provide service to a same-sex couple? The conservative-dominated US Supreme Court is to examine the question on Monday in a case that closely resembles one from just a few years ago, pitting religious liberty and free speech rights against anti-discrimination laws. In June 2018, the nation’s highest court partially ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who had refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The latest case involves a suit filed by Lorie Smith, owner of 303 Creative, a website design company also in Colorado. Smith has said that as a devout Christian she cannot produce wedding websites for same-sex couples because it would be “inconsistent” with her religious beliefs. Colorado’s anti-discrimination law prohibits businesses from refusing service to someone on the basis of sexual orientation. An appeals court ruled against Smith and she appealed to the Supreme Court. ‘To speak or stay silent’ In accepting the case, the court said it would examine whether Colorado’s law “to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment.” In their brief to the court, lawyers for Smith said she is “willing to create custom websites for anyone, including those who identify as LGBT, provided their message does not conflict with her religious views.” “Forcing artists like painters, photographers, writers, graphic designers and musicians to speak messages that violate their deeply held beliefs fails to comport with the First Amendment’s promise of ‘individual dignity and choice,'” they added. Attorneys for Colorado said the law “simply requires that, once a business offers a product or service to the public, the business sells it to all. “The company can define its service however it wants — including offering only websites that include biblical quotes describing marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” they said. “But the company must sell whatever it offers to customers regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or other protected characteristic,” they said. ‘Replay of Masterpiece Cakeshop’ David Cole, national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the latest case is a “replay of Masterpiece Cakeshop,” the earlier case involving the baker. “If the courts were to recognize a First Amendment right of the businesses that sell expressive services to discriminate, then architects could refuse to design homes for Black families,” Cole said. “Bakeries could refuse to make custom birthday cakes for Muslim children. Florists could refuse to provide flowers for a gay person’s funeral.” In the previous case, the justices voted 7-2 that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had displayed anti-religious hostility toward the baker, thus violating his constitutional rights. The court, however, did not squarely address the issue of whether a business can decline to serve gays and lesbians on religious grounds. The Supreme Court has undergone a radical transformation since that ruling, with two conservative justices nominated by Donald Trump replacing two liberal justices, giving conservatives a 6-3 majority. Trump’s Republican administration defended the position of the baker in the 2018 case, while this time the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is backing Colorado and its anti-discrimination laws. The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its ruling before the end of June. View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Brad William Henke, who was best known for his role on Orange Is the New Black, has died at 56. His manager issued a statement confirming the news. “Brad Henke was an incredibly kind man of joyous energy. A very talented actor, he loved being a part of this community….and we loved him back,” Matt DelPiano wrote. “Our thoughts are with his wife and family.” Henke reportedly died in his sleep, but the cause of death is unknown. IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED THIS YEAR! Henke played college football at the University of Arizona and went on to be drafted by the New York Giants in… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Anilya Boro may not have won the crown at India’s Miss Trans NE pageant this year, but competing while having her parents there to support her was a validation in its own right. “I must prove to my parents that I can do something as a girl,” said the 22-year-old. “I didn’t win a title, but I am very happy that my parents were at the show to support me. Now they have accepted my decision to live as a girl and undergo surgery, but they don’t want me to rush through.” Twenty transgender women walked on a stage dressed as ethnic and tribal characters in the beauty pageant, drawing rounds of applau… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Latin pop star Gloria Estefan has spoken about the complicated family dynamics around her daughter Emily‘s coming out. Estefan told CNN’s Chris Wallace about the fact that she was reluctant to allow Emily to come out to her late mother because it is such a “taboo” in the Latin community and the stress may have affected her health. >WATCH: EMILY ESTEFAN’s uINTERVIEW NOW! “In the Latin community, a lot of these subjects aren’t touched,” Estefan explained, though she assured viewers, “Emily, I thought, would feel comfortable coming out to me.” She then later explained that her mother suffered fro… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sally Field has named Burt Reynolds as her “worst” on-screen kiss. The Oscar-winner, 76, shamed the late actor, with whom she starred in ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ and who she dated, when a viewer of Thursday’s episode (02.12.22) of ‘Watch What Happens Live’ asked her to describe her least favourite film smooch. She asked: “Shall I really name names here?” before host Andy Cohen urged: “I think you should,.” Sally went on: “OK, this is gonna be a shocker. Hold on, folks. Burt Reynolds. “It was just not something he really did very well. I could go into detail, but you don’t want to hear it.” When Andy asked if ‘Boogie Nights’ actor Burt, who was killed by a heart attack aged 82 in September 2018, used too much “tongue” Sally clarified: “Just a lot of drooling was involved.” Sally was in a relationship with Burt from 1976 to 1982 has called their bond “indelible” and told Page Six after the Hollywood veteran’s death: “There are times in your life that … never fade away. “They stay alive, even 40 years later. My years with Burt never leave my mind. “He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy.” She also told ‘Good Morning America’ about their time together: “Four days felt like four years… we were sort of, you know, deeply entangled. “That nature of it wasn’t just, ‘Oh, this is a love affair.’ “There was some ingredient between us having to do with my caretaking and him needing to be taken care of.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Spice Girl Mel B gave fans what they really, really wanted this week, dubbing late-night TV host James Corden the “biggest d**khead” in Hollywood. On Friday, December 2, the “Spice Up Your Life” artist appeared on popular U.K. talk series The Big Narstie Show, where she got candid about which celebrities are less than pleasant — a list prominently featuring the eponymous Late, Late Show star. “There’s a few. James Corden, Geri Halliwell, Jessie J and me,” she quipped before detailing that the famous funny man’s notoriously sour attitude seemingly swayed her sentiments. mega “I think you always have to be nice to the people that you work with — whether it be production, camera guys, sound, lighting,” explained the singer, who had previously appeared on the late-night talk show in 2016 and 2018. “We all work for the same thing, so you should always be nice, and he hasn’t been very nice.” JAMES CORDEN ADDRESSES RESTAURANT BAN ON ‘LATE LATE SHOW’: ‘I MADE A RUDE COMMENT & IT WAS WRONG’ Mel B’s comments come weeks after Corden’s alleged attitude made headlines due to high-end restauranteur Keith McNally calling the comic his “most abusive customer.” mega “I don’t often 86 a customer… today I 86’d Corden,” McNally, the owner of NYC hotspot Balthazar, wrote on Instagram. “It did not make me laugh.” Beyond her apparently shared disdain for Corden, the star also got candid about her relationship with Halliwell — a.k.a. Ginger Spice — revealing the fellow Spice Girl could be “really f**king annoying.” Yet it seems Halliwell isn’t the only Spice Girls member with a penchant for snark. Back in September, Mel C, a.k.a Sporty Spice, revealed she was almost booted from the band after telling off Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham, after the 1996 Brit Awards. mega “As we were all leaving, you know we’d all had a little bit of champagne. We were all a little tipsy, probably quite drunk and there was a little incident,” she recalled. “It was nothing huge in my mind. I told Victoria to f**k off. We all have these kerfuffles in our lives. It was under my breath. It wasn’t an aggravated or aggressive thing that I did.” Yet it seems her bandmates disagreed. “The next day the girls told me under no uncertain terms that it was unacceptable,” Mel C explained during a recent podcast appearance. “Then Simon Fuller, who was our manager at the time, wanted to speak to me. And I was threatened with being ousted from the band if any behavior like that happened again.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega It looks like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have seemingly lost another person in their inner circle: Tom Cruise. According to Radar, the actor, 60, was put off by the pair’s TV-tell all, which aired in March 2021, in addition to their desire to constantly be in the press. “Tom has followed Harry and Meghan’s saga very closely and is shocked by it all,” a source said. “He used to be a big fan of theirs Meghan’s in particular, and even considered getting her involved in one of his movies.” When Meghan, 41, and Harry, 38, first moved to the U.S., the Top Gun alum was apparently looking forward to working with the Suits star — but now that is “off the table,” the insider stated. In May, Cruise was spotted hanging out with Prince William, 40, and Kate Middleton, 40, at the premiere, which didn’t seem to sit well with the California-based couple. mega DEATH THREAT TERROR: TOM CRUISE ENLISTS HEAVY-DUTY BODYGUARDS & RAMPS UP SECURITY TEAM AFTER RECEIVING CHILLING TAUNTS FROM EX CREW MEMBER “Meghan and Harry seem seriously envious that they’ve lost out on this Hollywood friendship, but he’s just the latest in a long line of power players who’ve given them the cold shoulder!” the insider claimed. As OK! previously reported, the handsome Hollywood star was also friendly with Queen Elizabeth before she passed away on September 8. “The Queen let it be known that she was really disappointed not to have met Tom at the pageant, so he was invited to have a special tour of Windsor Castle with everything laid on for him,” a source spilled of their first meeting. “Afterwards, just the two of them had tea together.” “She loved seeing him and they really hit it off, so much so that she invited him back for lunch,” the source added. “He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter.” mega While attending the Platinum Jubilee in June, Cruise praised the late monarch. “She’s just a woman that I greatly admire. I think she is someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion,” the Mission Impossible lead stated. “What she has accomplished has been historic.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Northrop Grumman Corp on Friday rolled out its new B-21 “Raider” jet, the first of a new fleet of long-range stealth nuclear bombers for the United States Air Force. The B-21 was unveiled during a dramatic ceremony at Northrop’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, offering members of the public the first look at the new bomber. The B-21, which carries a similar “flying wing” shape to its predecessor, the B-2, will be able to deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons around the world using long-range and mid-air refueling capabilities. The aircraft were projected to cost approximately $550 million each in 2010 dollars, or about $750 million in today’s inflation-adjusted dollars. The Air Force planned to buy at least 100 of the planes and begin to replace B-1 and B-2 bombers. Northrop beat out a team comprised of Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp when it won the 2015 contract to make the bomber. Engine-maker Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems and Spirit Aerosystems are among the more than 400 suppliers in 40 states. Northrop is calling the plane a sixth generation aircraft given its ability to connect to other aircraft and easily integrate future weapons into its systems architecture. The B-21 also features more durable, stealth-enabling low observable surface material that will require less maintenance and keep operations costs and downtime to a minimum, Doug Young, sector vice president and general manager at Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, told Reuters in an interview. The presentation provided the first video and photo images of the new bomber. Previously, only artist renderings have been published. Six of the planes, which is to have its first flight in mid-2023, are in various stages of assembly. More than 8,000 people from Northrop Grumman, industry partners and the Air Force currently work on the program. (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; additional reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by David Gregorio and Lincoln Feast.) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’ deals with the themes of love and death. The 58-year-old Mexican filmmaker is proud of his stop-motion take on Carlo Collodi’s 1883 story and says it has parallels to today’s world. He explained: “I thought it was important to deal with how briefly we have each other and how life is made valuable by death, which are concepts that are very, very Mexican, but [ones] that, ultimately, I believe in. “The film is thematically about different types of fatherhood — what it is to be a father, what it is to be a child. And there are different types of parental figures in the movie. Some are lethal, some are exploitative, some are permeable to love. And, finally, a very paternalistic concern is the fascist idea of the Fatherland and the father-figure style of leadership. ““I was hoping to talk about things that were very important for me and that would reflect today. One of the things that I cherish as a virtue is disobedience. I thought that the idea of Pinocchio behaving as a free agent and a disobedient soul in a time when obedience is expected of everyone would be very important, especially in a moment like now.” del Toro also revealed that ‘Pinocchio’ won’t be his last time working on animation. He said: “My hope right now is to slow down, and the ideal place to slow down for me is animation, because it is far more my speed. We were able to react to the material on a week-to-week basis. We were able to re-board sequences, we were able to add sequences. It is really a beautiful pace that is more deliberate, but also just simply more organic to the way I like to make movies. I intend to, if I can, transition between live action and animation, and slowly but surely lean toward animation.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -A group of people tried to take a mural by graffiti artist Banksy in Ukraine on Friday by cutting it off a battle-scarred wall where it was painted, the governor of Kyiv region said. The group managed to slice off a section of board and plaster bearing the image of a woman in a gas mask and dressing gown holding a fire extinguisher on the side of a scorched building. But they were spotted at the scene in the city of Hostomel near Kyiv and the mural was retrieved, Oleksiy Kuleba said in a statement. The image was still intact and police were protecting it, he added. “These images are, after all, symbols of our struggle against the enemy … We’ll do everything to preserve these works of street art as a symbol of our victory,” he said. Banksy, whose work can sell for millions of dollars on the art market, confirmed he had painted the mural and six others last month in places that were badly affected by heavy fighting after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. One of the other murals shows a girl gymnast performing a handstand on a small pile of concrete rubble. Another shows an old man having a bath. Police published images of the yellow wall in Hostomel, with a large patch cut all the way back to the brickwork. A number of people were arrested at the scene, they said. Russia’s war in Ukraine is now in its tenth month. Moscow’s forces were pushed back from around Kyiv in the first phase of the war, but fighting rages on in the east and south. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth; editing by Andrew Heavens) View the full article

Published by AlterNet At 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security published its latest terrorism threat report, and for the first time LGBTQI+ people were listed as “targets of potential violence,” which DHS warned could be “lethal.” Barely hours later, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace shared the news with Chasten Buttigieg, who was so stunned for several seconds he was speechless. “I don’t know, I didn’t see that, and that – that hurts to that hurts to hear,” replied Buttigieg, who is married to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Chasten Buttigieg had been invited to discuss his moving Medi… Read More View the full article

Published by Taste of Country While some people are advocating to officially name Dolly Parton the Queen of Christmas, perhaps the Most Interesting Woman in the World would be more fitting. The country veteran stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Nov. 30 and shed light on some wild rumors swirling on the internet about her. Does Dolly Parton Dress Like Santa Claus Each Christmas?Perhaps Parton is the Queen of Christmas. After confirming that her holiday decorating does include a Christmas tree in every room, Fallon asked if it’s true that she dresses like Santa each year. “I do. That’s true. Well, see, I’m … Read More View the full article

Published by PopCrush It appears as though the tables have turned for fans of the embattled rapper Kanye West. Yesterday, (Dec. 1) West appeared on Alex Jones’ Infowars show, where he spewed several antisemitic remarks such as that he sees “good things about Hitler” and that “I love Hitler.” However, his fans have turned the artist’s Reddit page into that of a Taylor Swift appreciation area. The post that spearheaded the movement declared the new area: “This is now a Taylor Swift Subreddit. We had a good run fellas” and has more than 33,000 upvotes. Since its declaration as a Swift fan site, comments have come in a… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Kate Holton and Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) -Elton John will headline Glastonbury next summer in the last British show on his lengthy global farewell tour at the renowned music festival on Worthy Farm. One of the biggest selling artists of all time, John has never played Britain’s leading music festival and said an appearance on the Pyramid Stage on the last night of the 2023 event would be the perfect way to bow out in Britain. The 75-year-old activist and singer of hits such as “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man” is coming towards the end of a “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour after more than… Read More View the full article