KODAK BLACK - SKRT Watch a new roundtable discussion from XXL, featuring Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Kodak Black, 21 Savage and Denzel Curry.
If we"re talking "the new wave" (insert wave emoji), then generally, one of these five rappers is entering the discussion. All five are harbingers of a new sound in rap, sometimes met with criticism and confusion by an older generation, but generally met with acclaim if you"re talking to the youth that devour their music.
Lil Uzi Vert, Yachty, Kodak Black, 21 Savage and Denzel were all paired up in the latest XXL Freshmen Roundtable, which touches on fame and fans. Each rapper also goes on to describe what type of music they make, at least from their standpoint-- "I describe myself as a feel good rapper" Uzi says. Yachty tell us, "I make positivity music, the opposite of 21," with21 later chiming in, "I make murder music."
[Gaming] WTF - Niantic Labs shuts down Pokevision and other third-party pokemon finding apps
Niantic, the studio behind Pokmon Go, isn"t too happy some of you have figured out how to find the rarest of pokmon with tracking apps like Pok Radar. In an interview with Forbes on Thursday, Niantic CEO John Hanke claimed he was "not a fan" of such tools and that players "might find in the future that those things may not work." The future, it seems, is now. Earlier today the popular tracking apps Pokevision announced that they were no longer offering their services for the time being, out of a desire to follow "Niantic and Nintendo"s wishes." More are expected to follow.
These apps essentially let players walk right up to the areas where they could find rare pokmon, taking some of the guesswork out of the game but also saving players from hours of sorting through the legions of pidgies and ratatas in the world. In Hanke"s words, they take "some fun out of the game" and he later groups them with a "cheating and spoofing."
But such projects have also been the stars of some of the more fascinating tales to come out of the the summer craze, such as the guy who hooked up Pokmon Go to IBM"s Watson artificial intelligence platform for the sake of finding rare battle pets. Barely a day of release had gone by before players were already tricking the app to respond to false coordinates in an effort to find rare beasts, and a group of Redditors figured out how to show all the rare pokmon in your area on Google Maps. It"s been one of those rare, beautiful occasions when programmers and the general public work and communicate hand-in-hand, possibly even inspiring some future programmers in the process.
John Hanke says it"s cheating. And let"s admit it, if only in the sense that a walkthrough for a game tells you exactly where to go, he"s kind of right. But the apps also provided a workaround for a feature that was always in the game but which never workeduntil the most recent patch, a set of tracks for guessing how far away a nearby pokmon would always show three paw prints, effectively rendering the tool useless. (Now the tracks don"t even show up at all.) Tracking sites, at their most innocent, allowed players to close those gaps.
Hanke"s attitude isn"t going over so well with the declining Pokmon Go faithful, through. Take player Jase Balridge, who said in a tweet this afternoon that Pokmon Go needs such tools because "spawns are way too random and appear in too inconvenient places to not have tracking." Consider Pokevision"s Yangcheng Liu, who tweeted that "You don"t invent Marco Polo, get 80M players to join, then remove the Polo part and expect people to keep playing."
The Pokmon Go subreddit now even has its own "Rage Megathread" aimed at Niantic, where people are venting their frustrations with eloquent statements like "AT LEAST YOU CAN WASTE 10 POKEBALLS FOR A f*****g 10CP PIDGEY, ONCE YOU"RE ABOVE LEVEL 20. ISN"T THAT FUN???"
Surely worst of all (from Niantic"s perspective, at least), players have figured out they can demand full refunds from iTunes because the app now "functions differently than expected." Still another Redditor claims the demand is making things tough at Apple as well:
Ouch. If you reverse your decision quickly enough Niantic, maybe there"s still time to catch "em all.
STATEWIDE (WGME) -- A ticket sold at Hannaford in Raymond, New Hampshire, matches all six numbers in Saturday night"s Powerball drawing and is worth $487 million, according to Powerball officials.
The winning numbers for the Powerball are 11-17-21-23-32 and the Powerball number is 5.
While the grand prize ticket was not sold in Maine, there are still plenty of Powerball payouts -- including one $100,000 winner.
According to Powerball, there are 11,155 winners in Maine.
Many matched the Powerball only, which is only worth a few bucks.
One ticket sold in Maine matches four numbers and the Powerball.
That play took the Power Play option which was x2 for Saturday night"s drawing.
According to Powerball, that ticket is worth $100,000.
Can Melania Trump be First Lady after doing NUDE photo spreads? – CNN anchor
The risque British GQ photo shoot with Melania Trump (then Knauss) from January 2000 being used in a controversial political meme was re-published on the magazine"s web site earlier this month.
Titled "The Future First Lady? See Melania Trump"s n**e photo shoot," the 15-year-old shoot features the then model in various poses in and outside of a private jet.
GQ-magazine.uk.co noticed its repurposed pics, writing: "We always knew American politics was weird, but we didn"t realize it could get this weird..."
The meme making its way around the Internet was one of three ads created by the anti-Trump group Make America Awesome ahead of Tuesday"s Utah caucuses.
However, Trump went after his fellow candidate Ted Cruz instead.
Cruz responded to Trump on Twitter saying, "Pic of your wife not from us. Donald, if you try to attack Heidi, you"re more of a coward than I thought. #classless."
Liz Mair, Republican strategist in charge of the PAC, Make America Awesome, claimed responsibility for the ad.
Many on social media joined in on the latest Trump controversy.
Trump’s Wife"s Nudes Are Being Used Against Him & Trump Warns Ted Cruz (Melania Trump Posed Nude)
Donald Trump praised his wifes demeanor and described her speech at the Republican National Convention as absolutely incredible. He also said that his wife had been working on it for weeks. In an interview with MSNBC, Melania Trump said of her speech:
I read once over it and thats all. Because I wrote it with as little help as possible. Im excited.
ALSO READ: Donald Trump a big scam, just like his Trump University?
Contrary to these statements, Jason Miller, senior communications advisor for Trumps campaign said that a team of writers had worked with Melania in its composition by taking notes of her inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking.
The speech itself was strikingly similar to Michelle Obamas speech at the Democratic National Convention back in 2008. In fact, critics were quick to create jokes that prompted #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes on Twitter.
ALSO READ: Donald Trump rape case not strong enough?
Trumps team denies allegations of plagiarism, calling it absurd. Campaign manager, Paul Manafort said, Theres no cribbing of Michelle Obamas speech. Certainly, theres no feeling on her part that she did it. What she did were use words that are common words.
Perhaps Manafort needs to be reminded that plagiarism is not limited to the copying of words, but even of thoughts, ideas, or expressions; recycling of an authors thoughts, even by substituting words- called rogeting, so as to appear as ones original work is considered plagiarism.
Given that it was indeed Melania Trumps work, how is it that the two contrasting figures managed to come up with a similar thought-process? Are thestatements applicable to the first lady wannabe?
Melania Trumps speech says, From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect.
She continues, They taught and showed me morals in their daily life. That is the lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. And we need to pass those lessons on to many generations to follow because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.
Even to give her the benefit of the doubt, people would be hard-pressed to believe the speech is applicable to the speaker, whose n**e photos are all over British GQ magazine.
Melania Trumps n**e photo shoot shows her on Donald Trumps customized Boeing 727, handcuffed, glittering with diamonds, and holding a handgun.
The morals and values spoke of certainly do not match with the images.
Do you think Michelle Obamas speech was plagiarized? Check it out:
Barack & I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say youre going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you dont know them, and even if you dont agree with them, Obama said.
And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children and all children in this nation to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.
MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell said of Melania Trumps speech, There is no university in America that would not rule this as plagiarism.
Toya Wright Brothers - In Memory of Rudy & Josh Johnson (Footage Inside) Toya Wright at the ATL Premiere of "Growing Up Hip Hop" on January 5, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Credit: Prince Williams/WireImage
Reality star Toya Wrights two brothers, Rudy and Josh Johnson, were shot and killed in New Orleans on Sunday, July 31, according to reports.
New Orleans police discovered two young men who had been shot multiple times inside a car in the citys 7th Ward shortly after midnight on Sunday morning. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
Celebrity Deaths in 2016: Stars Weve Lost
Although officials have yet to confirm the identities of the men, Wrights family members confirmed that the victims were her two brothers, according to local news outlet NOLA.com.
The heartbreaking news comes just three days after Wright, 32, reportedly filed for divorce from her husband, Mickey Memphitz Wright, after five years of marriage. She was previously married to rapperLil Wayne, with whom she shares 17-year-old daughter Reginae, from February 2004 to January 2006.
"Marriage Boot Camp": Memphitz Explodes at Toya "Shut the F--k Up!" "Boot Camp": Tara Reid Dances on Table, Complains to Producer Tara Reid"s Boyfriend Says "She"s Train-Wrecking" Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time
Shortly after news broke about Wrights brothers, several stars took to social media to pay their condolences.
The Toya: A Family Affair alums frenemy K. Michelle tweeted a series of messages, writing, I would DM u but we blocked each other long ago. I just received word of ur loss. Even though weve never met my heart hurts 4u. Nobody deserves that type of pain. We may never be best friend but U are my sister in Christ. I pray for u and your whole family. Continue 2fight for 4ur healing. I understand sleepless nights,but the best thing is the sun comes up in the morning. No beef or hate in my heart 4 you. Only support and prayers up. Please know that G*d has a purpose on ur life. Stay strong.
Stars at Court
Hip-hop star Trina also sent her love to Wright, tweeting, Im praying for @ToyaWright her mom and her family during this horrible tragedy. My heart is heavy. Life is so short.
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Stephanie Whitfield, KHOU 6:35 PM. EST July 31, 2016
KATY, Texas Friends tell us a Katy couple was among those killed in the tragic hot air balloon crash in Lockhart on Saturday.
The husband and wife are Joe and Tresa Shafer Owens. A total of 16 people were killed in the crash that happened around 7:30 a.m.
A GoFundMepage has been set up on their behalf.
According to the fundraising page, Joe worked hard to provide for his family and was always willing to lend an extra hand to anyone in need.Tresa had a long time career at TigerLand Preschool and made an amazing difference in the lives of the hundreds of children she cared for, their families and also her co-workers and friends.
As of Sunday evening, more than $7,000 has been raised to help the family with funeral costs.
Howard County police chief talks about 2 deaths during Ellicott City flood
As soon as the water started rising up Tiber Alley in downtown Ellicott City, Matthew Milani owner of The Rumor Mill Fusion Bar & Restaurant started making adjustments.
First, it was small directives to his restaurant staff, without the guests knowing, to prepare for a shift to the second floor. Then, it was an announcement to the entire Saturday night dinner crowd that they would be heading upstairs.
Eventually, in the calmest voice he could muster and after counting the 47 guests and his eight staff members "a couple hundred times" to make sure all were accounted for Milani told everyone that they would have to evacuate.
And it wouldn"t be easy.
"We took them up a step ladder to the top of our walk-in, to a ladder, to the top of our roof, over a six foot privacy fence to the highest ground on St. Paul street that we could get to," Milani said.
One woman was pregnant, but she made it. Everyone did.
The waters that had forced the dramatic escape plan would go on to destroy much of the restaurant"s first floor.
"You see debris that was actually prep that you did earlier that night, containers that you fill up and use throughout service, all on the ground, silverware and glasses," Milani said. "The high water mark was about 6 1/2 feet inside."
On Sunday morning, the damage came further into focus: storefront after storefront destroyed; massive sink holes up and down the street; small businesses entirely gutted. Two people were killed.
Milani, heading into his 10th year owning the Rumor Mill, attributed their successful evacuation to teamwork.
"They knew what they had to do," he said of his staff, who he heaped with praise.
Donna Gozelanczyk, 62, and her husband Charles Gelso, 74, of Laurel, who were among the 47 guests, agreed.
"The wait staff was incredible," Gozelanczyk said Sunday morning. "They were so calm, helped us over the fence. I wasn"t at all scared last night, it was so organized."
She and her husband were back in town to see if they could find their car, which had been swept away in the flash flood.
They thought they saw it smashed into a shop farther east along the town"s Main Street than they had parked it but weren"t quite sure. It was all so surreal.
"I was fine until I got here," Gozelanczyk said, as emotion flooded her face.
For Milani, that emotion first came when he scaled the fence himself the last one out, after grabbing the insurance binder and cutting off the restaurant"s gas and electricity and his calm demeanor fell away.
"The tears just came," he said. "All your worldly possessions are gone. The way you pay your bills is gone. You"re watching it wash away."
He"s glad he kept it together as long as he did. And, he promises to be back.
"We have to make sure it"s safe before we can even start demolishing things or start throwing things away," he said. "It"s going to be a long road, but it"s going to be worth it."
You know what time it is? Time for Hollywood"s biggest stars to walk away with a brand-newsurfboard!
The 2016 Teen Choice Awardsare finally here and America"s favorite faces from movies, music and TV are heading to The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., for the star-studded awards show.
While tonight"s broadcast will feature performances from Flo Rida, Serayah, Charlie Puth and the cast of So You Think You Can Dance, viewers are also eagerly waiting to see if there favorite star won in their respective category. After all, the winners were all in the public"s hands who voted online for several weeks.
As John Cena and Victoria Justice host tonight"s show, we"ll be updating the winners throughout the night below. Stay turned to see who will be riding off into the sunset with a brand-new trophy.
Decade Award: Justin Timberlake
Story developing...more to come!
The 2016 Teen Choice Awards air Sunday night at 8 p.m. only on FOX.
The Weather Channel meteorologist Dave Schwartz has died after a long battle with cancer, according to the station. He was 63.
"It is with a heavy heart and great sadness to let you know that Dave Schwartz has passed away," the Weather Channel said in a statement on Facebook. "He was a fan and staff favorite because he so obviously loved what he did and had a unique ability to draw viewers into the fascinating world of weather.
"His passion for weather was contagious and inspired many to enter the field of meteorology. His passion and love of weather will never be forgotten, he will be greatly missed."
Schwartz had "beat cancer twice" before his death, according to the news station. Ten years ago, he was given one year to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and an unsuccessful procedure to remove a tumor, the station said. But after radiation and chemotherapy treatments and a second procedure, he was cancer free. Months later, his pancreatic cancer had returned, but he found a treatment and became cancer free once again.
But in 2015, he was diagnosed for a third time. And after taking some time off and receiving comments and messages of support from viewers, he addressed his battle with cancer on-air.
"I want to let you know the reason why I have lost 35 pounds in the last five months is that I am being treated for cancer," he said on World Cancer Day in February. "Stomach cancer, of all things for a foodie."
Schwartz went on to discuss his many battles with cancer, and encouraged cancer patients to seek out cancer-specialized centers and to not lose hope.
His colleagues at the station remember him as "the most creative personality to ever appear on The Weather Channel.
"Everything was genuine about this wonderful man," his longtime friend and colleague Jim Cantore said in a statement. "He was everybody"s friend and that"s what he really wanted to be. He made so many of us laugh, smile, and wish we were like him. He was so genuine and trustworthy things that come from the soul and cannot be taught ... I"m so thankful he was on our team doing what he loved till the end of his time."
Malia Obama Shows Off Her ASS At Lollapalooza 2016!! - The Breakfast Club
If we learned anything from the 1998 Disney movie My Date with the Presidents Daughter (we learned everything), its that the life of a teenager in the White House consists of Secret Service hijinks, daddy-daughter tensions and, of course,a personalized theme songyou cant stop singing 18 years later.
The eldest first daughter decided to eschew expectations of what her duties should be and skipped theDemocratic National Conventionto enjoy the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago instead.
Malia Obamawas spotted at the Cashmere Cat set on Thursday amid a crowd of concertgoers around the same time Hillary Clinton wasmaking history as the first woman to secure a major partys presidential nomination.
The Secret Service was also in attendance to ensure the 18-year-olds safety at the festival. One Twitter user snapped a team of agents dressed in matching plaid shirts and khaki pants at the venue.
Unfortunately, some Twitter users took the opportunity to blast Malia on social media for being A COMPLETELY NORMAL TEENAGER. Cause that worked out so well last time, right?
Thankfully, the sane side of Twitter quickly clapped back at the critics to remind everyone that its perfectly fine for Malia to go to a concert of her choosing, especially after almost eight years of being in the political spotlight.
Dj Khaled - Do You Mind Ft. Chris Brown - Nicki Minaj - August Alsina - Jeremih - Rick Ross - Future
To stare at a Rolls-Royce Wraith is to know it is the great misnomer of luxury cars. There is absolutely nothing wraith-like about the solid curves of DJ Khaleds gleaming white whip, which, on this Wednesday in midtown Manhattan, purrs up to the curb and slows gawping pedestrians in their tracks. The car is simultaneously impressive and a bit ridiculous, like Khaled himself. In his capacity as impresario, producer, DJ, artist and businessman, the 40-year-old is a power-node at the centre of hip-hops universe. Since his 2006 debut Listennn... the Album, Khaled has put out seven more albums, been Grammy-nominated for his track Im On One featuring Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, and worked with just about every other rapper you can think of.
Related: You smart, you loyal: how rap culture embraced the meme
Today, however, he is also known for being a living meme. Snapchat, the video-based social medium which remains bewildering to most people over the age of 21, has become Khaleds kingdom. On it, he broadcasts his days in real time, narrating scenes with catchphrases that are now rap lingua franca (Major key alert!; Another one!; I like that!). They evidence the banalities (breakfast) and extravagances (They dont want you on yachts!) of his lifestyle with inimitable, if unwitting comedy. Later, Khaled will tell me: My everyday language ends up just being contagious, you know what Im sayin?
Related: Hillary Clinton, Snapchat, selfies and the road to wooing millennials
Maybe thats because hes much like a motivational speaker, fond of inviting fans to ride wit me through the journey of more success. Today, on a full schedule of promo for his ninth studio album, Major Key, I get to do just that. At TV and web channel Music Choice, Khaled films the segment Wise Words, a stream of motivational messages delivered to camera. Music Choice has written him a script but it could just as well have used They Dont Want You To Win, an online quote generator that spews Khaled gems ad infinitum. In the green room, he plays back his Snaps after he makes them, his words recorded and replayed until it starts to feel like an echo chamber of bromidic brainwash.
In his tracks and on social media, Khaleds affirmations have the same all-caps hype-man urgency. Off camera, however, things are slower. Dressed in black sweatpants, hoodie and some heavy duty ice, he walks at a lilting shuffle, permanently engrossed in his phone. If someone says his name with enough force and conviction, h**l glance up and switch on a brief, dazed smile at whoever happens to be closest. In these moments he can appear faintly cross-eyed.
This is a ripe moment for slogan-spouting personalities who have levied buffoonery into bewildering heights of power consider, after all, the jokes-made-real of Boris Johnson or Donald Trump. Unlike them, though, Khaled knows what hes doing. Born Khaled bin Abdul Khaled to Palestinian parents in New Orleans, Khaled got his break on pirate radio in Miami, where hed broadcast until late, sleep on the floor for a few hours and then wake up and begin shouting into the mic again. His hustle remains just as relentless: he moved to New York last year for 12 months, just to get a verse from Jay Z for his recent single, I Got The Keys. Jay not only gave him two verses, but ended up directing the video, a montage of prison cells, stand-offs and a suited Jay, Khaled and Atlanta trap mainstay Future, shot in black and white. The biggest hip-hop star in the world is also now Khaleds manager.
Dj Khaled performs with Von Miller.Photograph: Rex
Related: Rick Ross: I aint trying to keep up with the trends
This shouldnt come as a shock. Khaleds newfound social media virality may rely on absurdity he once Snapped getting lost on a jetski while whizzing back from Rick Rosss private island; recently he announced that h**l Snapchat the birth of his child in November but his career is longstanding and legitimate. Still, hes not inclined to reflect on these contradictions. I just feel like Im a music man in full form, he shrugs, because my hands on not just making the music and being part of the creative, but also putting the music out. I do it all. And in a post-Kardashian world doing it all means a total assimilation of self and brand. For Khaled, theres scant difference between shilling gum on Snapchat and getting in the studio.
It connected, everything connected, he says, during our interview in the back of the Wraith, for much of which hes glued to the phone. Obviously Ill always be putting out great music and Ive been a hard-working mogul my whole career, but now with Snapchat, it just shone more light on everything were doing. Thats what we work hard for, a light for your greatness. Since hes on his phone anyway, I ask him if he feels like doing a Snap right now, in the back of the Wraith. He shrugs again, lifts his phone, and with that, several million followers witness their man voice his support for the worlds leading liberal newspaper: Guardian... LONDON BIG UP BLESS UP!
Our next stop is Sony, where a waiting French film crew stare morosely as Khaled begins making phone calls. He mutters a request for some water. I look over to his crew, but theyre so engrossed in arranging bottles of Khaled-endorsed cognac they dont hear him. Theres a stack of water bottles beside me. I hand him one. He takes it wordlessly, without looking up from his screen. When your life is being constantly relayed to millions of fans, theres little space for other interaction.
The moment the interviews over, Khaled is pacing about on the phone once more. You gotta taste this gum, its the most amazing gum! he evangelises. I imagine the person on the other end asks him if hes serious. No Im being real! Youre gonna love it! Back in the Wraith, he looks me in the eye and says, with passion: Everything you see me promote, I love it. If somebody thinks Im selling something, just know I only represent the best.
Khaleds positivity is unwavering and, ultimately, irresistible. He maintains that his Snapchat popularity derives from just being myself and it might be this lack of self-awareness that has made him so successful beyond social media. At his Major Key playback later, the guests revealed to be on the album are testament to that: Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, Drake, Big Sean, Nas and heaps more jostle for space. A blazing, Betty-Wright sampling soul song called Holy Key, featuring virtuosic bars from Lamar, elicits particular awe.
Between tracks, the crowd emit Khaled catchphrases as if unconsciously: major key, someone murmurs approvingly, cloth talk (a Khaledism that roughly translates to wisdom thats going to tell you how to be successful) says another. Man and meme, it seems, are one and the same. On my way to leave, when I shake his hand and tell him Ive had fun, he looks at me with total blankness. I wonder if he knows Ive been within metres of him for the last eight hours. Maybe its only that Snapchat that makes it real.
Is Kodak Black headed to prison for the next three years?
Viral rumors spread this weekend that the 19-year-old rapper had been sentenced to some serious time for the long sheet of charges hes facing, but a number of more reputable outlets have come forward to debunk the rumor and set the record straight.
Kodak Black is still in jail after his latest arrest, which came in May. He was picked up in Broward County, Florida, on charges that included armed robbery and false imprisonment, WSVN reported.
The May arrest came just a few weeks after the Pompano Beach, Florida, native was arrested for another incident in which he allegedly led police on a chase after they tried to arrest him for making a drug deal. He left that incident with charges for possession of cannabis, fleeing from officers, and possessing a weapon by a convicted felon.
So while its clear that Kodak Black is facing some serious trouble, the rumor circulating that hes been sentenced to three years in prison just isnt true. Its not exactly clear how the rumor got started, as DJ Akademiks noted that its difficult to trace it back to the source.
But DJ Akademiks was one of a handful of media personalities trying to debunk the rumor. He posted a YouTube clip calling out those who were spreading the false reports that Kodak Black was sentenced to prison.
His report can be seen below [the video contains some adult language].
False Rumors Claim Kodak Black got Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison, However his Trial Hasn"t Started.: https://t.co/nz1Gnb4zcY via
DJ Akademiks (@IamAkademiks) July 30, 2016
While the story of Kodak Blacks legal problems are the biggest news surrounding him right now, hes still managed to make an impression as one of the most up-and-coming rappers in the industry. As MTV noted, he released a mixtape while still behind bars, one thats made a huge impression on the rap world.
It"s Still Free @KodakBlack1k Until They Free Him ???? pic.twitter.com/s20PttfwX1
New Era Promotions (@NewEraPromo954) July 30, 2016
Some of the tracks on the mixtape also touch on the difficulties hes had keeping out of trouble, the MTV report noted.
The fact that Kodak is in trouble with the law provides a sadly timely backdrop to the tapes best track: Letter, where he describes being in prison and reading a letter from a friend. The song could be over-sentimental, but Kodak infuses it with the levity of two pals talking s**t to each other. His friend just out of jail himself wishes Kodak the best as he keeps fighting his case, tells him how all his friends miss him, dreams of what theyll do together once hes free (I was hoping when I get out we could ride around the city), and even offers a bit of life advice (This s**t just a lesson for you, bruh, pay attention / When you get out, Kodak, just keep focus and keep spitting). Its a novel way of presenting the familiar desire to make it out of a tough situation and to keep ones head up.
Kodak Black released his first mixtape when he was 16 years old, and got his first big break two years later when Drake posted a video of himself dancing to Kodaks song Skrt. Kodak Black later signed with Atlantic Record.
And even after his latest arrest, Kodak Black racked up one of the biggest honors for a new rapper being named to XXLs Freshmen Class of 2016.
Did your favorite artist make the 2016 XXL Freshman Class cover? #xxlfreshmen https://t.co/Texis0i963 pic.twitter.com/842ulMuhTj
XXL Magazine (@XXL) June 13, 2016
There is still a chance that the viral story claiming that Kodak Black was sentenced to prison for three years could soon have a morsel of truth. The rapper is set to go through pre-trial motions in mid-August for his upcoming trial, and until then he remains behind bars after his bond was revoked following the most recent arrest.
ATLANTA (AP) The Braves acquired pricey slugger Matt Kemp and $10.5 million from San Diego for troubled outfielder Hector Olivera.
Atlanta had tried for several months to deal Olivera following his April 13 arrest on domestic violence charges. He is eligible to play again in the major leagues on Tuesday following his 82-game domestic violence suspension. The Padres plan to designate Olivera for assignment when he comes off the restricted list Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced.
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A WARNING MESSAGE OF THE LORD ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD AND JULY 29 2016
by: c*x Media Group National Content Desk Updated: Jul 29, 2016 - 8:24 AM
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They"ve been wrong in the past and hopefully they"re going to be wrong again, but a group that has predicted previous ends of the world has marked today as the day that existence will end.
End Time Prophecies said that the world will come to an end at one point today thanks to a chain reaction caused by a polar flip,Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
What is a polar flip? Is it real?
Scientists at NASA said it does exist. A polar flip has happened many times over the millennia,according to scientists . None of us were alive during the last one - 800,000 years ago. Before that, they happened every 200,000 to 300,000 years.
>> Read more trending stories
Basically what happens is the Earth"s magnetic pull reverses itself. The North Magnetic Pole goes south, while the South Magnetic Pole goes north thanks to the liquid iron in the Earth"s core.
>>Click here to read NASA"s full scientific explanation
So are you going to hold off buying your kid"s school supplies? You may want to think twice.
End Time Prophecies has made a few predictions this year that haven"t come true; for example, a collision between the Earth and a giant asteroid in May.
The group posted its prediction earlier this month warning Earthlings of the end of the world ina 17-minute video on YouTube. A computer-generated female voice backed up the theory with biblical quotes and some special effects, saying that the Earth will crack apart and this will coincide with the second coming of Christ.
The video has been viewed more than 5 million times.
Malia Obama looks like shes been having a blast at Lollapalooza music festival this weekend in her hometown of Chicago, Ill.
The 18-year-old daughter of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama was seen checking out different performances with her friends and was even spotted shaking her booty on stage during Mac Millers set!
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Malia Obama
While standing side stage, Malia showed off her moves, much to the surprise of the crowd who went totally crazy!
Check out the video below
Obama gone have a heart attack when he see this pic.twitter.com/jKxvcxHJcL
beautiful a*s n***a (@sikelikeshitboy) July 30, 2016
Cheesecake Factory"s Original Cheesecake Recipe | Get the Dish
WXYZ - Saturday, July 30 is National Cheesecake Day!
What better way to celebrate than with a little cheesecake?
Our friends from The Cheesecake Factory in Novi stopped in studio to show us how to make Cheesecake Truffles.
It"s a unique treat you can make at home using your favorite cheesecake flavors!
Check out the steps in the video player above.
Here"s a tasty note: On July 30 The Cheesecake Factory is offering all dine-in guests a slice off half-priced cheesecake. There are more than thirty mouthwatering flavors to pick from!
Taking in Lil B.I.G. Pac reminds me of a 2005 book by researcher and educator Joy Degruy, titled Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: Americas Legacy Of Enduring Injury and Healing. Degruy uses six years of field study in places where people of African descent were colonized (including parts of the U.S., the Caribbean, and South Africa) to liken the effects of systemic oppression to those of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She lists symptoms that include: a feeling of foreshortened future, diminished interest or participation in significant activities, outbursts of anger, difficulty staying and falling asleep, and feelings of detachment from others. Degruy points out that these symptoms were never collectively addressed by the U.S. government and, as a result, the fallout from that trauma is ongoing.
On the Lil B.I.G. Pac song Can I, Kodak runs through, in a lullaby fashion, many of the uncertainties that some descendents of colonised black people constantly replay in their heads. He wonders whether h**l be around long enough to truly father his kid. He tells himself that once he attains success, people will be waiting to s****h it right back from him. He asks himself whether he should run in response to a woman telling him that she loves him. While none of these are foreign concepts in rap, when measured up against Degruys work, its not hard to understand why they become conventions in the music. In terms of its sound, Lil B.I.G. Pac doesnt lean on much of whats become expected from Southern rap. Instead of rampant 808 drum sounds or key play popularized by producers like Zaytoven, Kodak borrows inspiration from the pulsating, echoey, bounce-building early music made by the Louisiana rappers hes been likened to, such as Lil Wayne and Boosie Bad Azz.
Like those guys before him, Kodak hits energetic highs and permits himself moments of helplessness. Mid-head bob on Purp, in a low register, Kodak delivers the line, Lord knows Im blessed but sometimes I feel cursed. Later, with infectious force, Phillys PnB Rock delivers the hook on Too Many Years, a somber look into Americas prison system. The song carries an especially heavy weight, given the fact that Kodak is currently in prison, facing previous charges of robbery, false imprisonment, and marijuana possession. Why we keep on falling victim?, Kodak asks. Then theres Today, which Id call a self-care jingle, but one devoid of luxuries like naps and spa time. Instead, all Kodak wants is to be able to walk around freely with his gun concealed, shop without interruptions, and not be Kodak Black, the rapper who has to always take pictures with fans and perform in front of crowds.
Since bubbling online and receiving an infamous Drake co-sign in 2015, Kodaks legitimacy as a rapper has continuously been questioned by hip-hop fans across social media. When he made the cut for XXLs annual Freshman list last month, the criticism accelerated. Beneath Kodaks Freshman freestyle video are YouTube commenters describing him as a trash rapper and praying for the return of real MCs. These are criticisms that effectively breeze by, or totally disregard, the details within his work that reflect hip-hops long history of environmental storytelling.
For the same way we need tracks like Kendricks joyous Alright and Beyoncs emotionally commanding Freedom to boost our morale, we also need Kodak Black. And Future, and Chief Keef, and anyone else whose music we love to bounce to but simultaneously write off as detriments to our collective progression because they rap about popping pills, womanizing, and shooting guns. While those topics can make listeners squeamish, they are a reality of the struggle that many black people experience in this country. Its unfair to expect every person whos raised in environments where such things are normalized to rise above them in one miraculous swoop. Each aforementioned artists music has value because of what it lends to the narrative of our plights and triumphs. Alright and Freedom wouldnt feel so damned good at protests, concerts, or in our living rooms if there wasnt a mournful Too Many Years or a dark No Flocking as a counter balance. Theres a long history of trauma that has led to the experiences of rappers like Kodak and there will be no true victory or liberation until we value our whole story.
Update: After appearing to come out on Snapchat yesterday, Tyler Posey has confirmed he"s not gay, and issued an apology for the confusion he caused with his post.
"Although I"m not gay, I fully support the LGBTQ community," he wrote on Twitter. "This was a moment intended to reflect that."
"And everyone, I am truly sorry to the people I"ve offended or lessened how big coming out is," he continued. "I just want to spread love in this world."
This was a potentially harmful move, and we want to make it 1000% clear that no one should ever -- ever -- feel ashamed for coming out or struggling to come out. If you or someone you know needs some extra help, please head over to the Trevor project for resources that can help make the process a bit easier.
Previously: Tyler Posey, star of Teen Wolf, just posted to Snapchat a video in which he says hes gay.
He snapped the video today (July 29) that shows a street sign that says Gay St. He pans back and forth between the street sign and his face, saying: This is me, I am this and this is me.
He adds: Ive never felt more alive. Im gay!
Weve reached out to Tylers rep and will update the post when we hear back.
Tyler Posey broke off his engagement to Seana Gorlick in 2014, telling People "I still really miss her. I can"t believe I have an ex-fiance." He had been with Seana for a decade.
This post was updated July 29 at 10:22 p.m. to remove irrelevant information.
Mosquitos in South Florida transmitting Zika virus
Florida and national health officials reported the first local transmission of the Zika virus in a US state on Friday, as the state began an aggressive investigation and federal authorities short on funding braced for a health crisis.
Governor Rick Scott reported on Friday morning that four people in southern Florida probably contracted the virus through local mosquito bites, even though no insect trapped and tested in the state has proven positive for the virus so far.
This morning we learned that four people in our state likely have the Zika virus as a result of a mosquito bite. This means Florida has become the first state in our nation to have local transmission, Scott said.
Tom Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said: These are the first cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in the continental United States. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he added: As we have anticipated, Zika is now here.
Related: Florida reports first possible US Zika cases transmitted by mosquitoes
Although there have been more than 1,600 cases of the virus confirmed by health officials in nearly all 50 states, every patient save the four reports in Florida contracted the disease either traveling abroad or through sexual transmission. In Puerto Rico, there are more than 4,500 cases of the virus, virtually all contracted through mosquitos.
As many as 50 pregnant women a day are affected on the US territory, according to the CDC. This is a silent epidemic that is rapidly spreading through Puerto Rico, Frieden said.
The Florida report followed an announcement on Thursday that blood donations were suspended in the affected area until all current samples could be tested.
Two of the cases suspected of local transmission were in Miami-Dade County, and two were in Broward County, Scott said. The patients included one women and three men, and none has needed hospitalization.
Health officials believe that the infections occurred in a very small area just north of downtown Miami, of about a square mile. Officials are now going door to door in the area offering to test the public, and Scott said that they would be aggressively testing people.
While no mosquitoes trapped tested positive for the Zika virus, the department believes these cases were likely transmitted through infected mosquitoes in this area, the Florida health department said in a statement.
All the evidence we have seen indicates that this is mosquito-borne transmission that occurred several weeks ago in several blocks in Miami, Frieden added.
Earlier in July, authorities began investigating the possible first local transmission of Zika, but Scotts near-confirmation on Friday amounted to a serious development of the feared health crisis. There have been 386 cases of Zika reported in Florida so far, mostly in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Fifty-five pregnant women have been affected.
Florida is taking an aggressive approach, Scott said. We have worked hard to stay ahead of the spread of Zika and prepare for the worst.
Scott emphasized that there had been no reported cases of local transmission of Zika in central parts of the state. The Orlando area was teeming with an influx of tourists , attending the cluster of theme parks in the area such as Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. Officials fear local transmission because local mosquitos could spread the disease far more rapidly than isolated travel or s*x.
Experts in the UK recently urged expectant mothers to avoid travel to the upcoming Olympics in Brazil, which has been hard struck by the disease, and parts of the US, including Florida.
There is no treatment or preventive vaccine for Zika. The disease produces mild symptoms for most, such as headache, feverishness and red eyes, and 80% of healthy people who become infected suffer no symptoms.
But for expectant mothers, infection with the Zika virus can lead to infants born with serious brain defects and developmental abnormalities, especially an abnormally small head in a condition called microcephaly.
The CDC has also warned of likely local outbreaks in southern coastal states as the summer heats up, with poor communities in Florida, Texas and Louisiana on the frontline. Texas reported the first case of Zika being transmitted within the US in February, in a case believed to have been passed on through s*x.
We learn more about Zika each day but we recognize that the unknown can be scary, especially for pregnant women, Florida surgeon general Celeste Philip said on Friday. Were committed to sharing as much as we can as soon as we can.
Scott advised women in the affected area of Miami-Dade and Broward counties who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant to consult their OB-GYN for advice and Zika prevention kits.
The governor also ordered emergency funding for testing people, screening donated blood in the affected counties, and for testing mosquitos and reducing their breeding during sweltering summer months.
Florida has a good record combating similar diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya, but Scott has not yet invited in the CDCs wider emergency response team of experts on infectious diseases and the complex logistics to combat them, according to the Florida health department spokeswoman Mara Gambineri.
And a bitterly divided Congress failed last month to pass $1.1bn in federal funding measures to combat the Zika virus, with Texas senator John Cornyn s explaining Republican resistance by saying: We want to make sure were not writing blank checks.
The Florida senator Marco Rubio has bucked his partys line and pleaded for funding. Earlier this month, he called the Zika threat a full-blown health crisis for the US, allying himself with California Senator Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, who said: We need to act now.
Captain Fantastic - Official Movie Review Matt RossViggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, George MacKayUS theatrical: 8 Jul 2016
Captain Fantastic refers to its titular character, Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen), a devout woodsman and Chomskyite who stewards a forest commune of his six children, ages seven through 18, in the temperate and bountiful Pacific Northwest. Ben is a fine captain who has vigorously earned the allegiance of his tribe, each of who dutifully participate in a daily regimen of bluff climbing, running, bow hunting (no guns), and precise analytical readings and presentations of heavy works, a sample of which includes MiddleMarch, Guns, Germs, and Steel, and particle physics. Indeed, an average day at Bens communeat least in his mindwould make Iron Man competitions look like intermediate intramural fluff and even the most demanding University programs as exploitative rackets with an emphasis on regurgitation for an ultimately unquestioned existence.
While Bens militant adherence to the communes perpetuation is intriguing, Captain Fantastic the film has an at times frustratingly milder agenda, which subsumes Ben and guides him toward formulaic solutions which temper the full realization of any kind righteous philosophical bent.
When given the opportunity, Viggo Mortensen convincingly meshes roles as concerned father and wilderness commando into a richly layered, organically driven performance. There are a trove of human interest pieces on Mortensen as an earthy, hyper-intelligent polyglot whose uncompromising conviction to push the envelope is tempered by a gentle reserve. When Captain Fantastic simply lets Viggo be Viggo, the film often thrives.
At the films onset, Bodevan Cash (George MacKay) completes a deer hunting mission which doubles as a tribal rite of passageafter killing the deer with a knife, Bodevan eats a chunk of the deers heart to complete his entry into manhood. Five kids look on. Had their father been played by a lesser actor, concern or outrage may be a lasting affect which would stymie the films intellectual aspirations. However, Ben guides the ceremony with tender, almost resigned deliberation, signifying at once a captains deeply felt pride for his soldiers acceptance of a profound rite, but also a parents lamentation of the tasks potentially traumatic effects. Mortensen, his worldly and humanistic touch reflecting so many emotions at once, is an ideal surrogate for the audience to relax their outrage and reflect on Bens motivations more holistically.
The first act of Captain Fantastic operates at this high level, combining poignant dialogue, acute visual attention to commune lifes daily rigors, and expressive physical performance, to establish a lived-in feel. This segment is a terrific film within the film, and one which may leave some longing for its continuance. But if thats the case, then perhaps your film of choice is closer to Embrace of the Serpent (2016), where a full-blown chaotic relationship to the wilderness is explored, or JauJa (2015), starring Mortensen, in which there is no formulaic interference with his characters fate. In Captain Fantastic, however, the final two acts vigorously seek express formulaic reasons for Bens Thoreau-meets-Chomsky lifestyle, which gravitates Bens choice more toward an experiment.
The formulas begin to take hold when Bens departed wife and mother of six, Leslie Cash, commits suicide. A road trip to Leslies funeral commences and, just as soon as the engine revs up, the film transforms into a plot-orientated machine. One stark story device centers on whether the Cash family will honor Leslies demand, incorporated in a will, to be cremated will succeed over her ultra-rich and hippie-hating father Jacks (Frank Langella) insistence on having a Catholic funeral. The plot thickens even more excessively when Jack responds to Bens explanation of his daughters will with threats of a custody petitiona point which not only insults both Ben and Jacks intelligence, but also overwhelms the films prior nuanced character study into a sublimely fascinating family.
The same can be said for an interlude at Bens sisters home (Kathryn Hahn), which is more or less a side-by-side diagram of suburbanite conformity versus nonconformist life in the wild, with copious amounts of judgmental poo flung at the former. Theres no need for this exposition, particularly when later in the film, the split is summed up by far more elegantly when we see Rellian (Nicholas Hamilton) playing a first-person hunter game at Jackss stately home, the electronic light bathed over his face while Ben watches in a shadowy corner.
Of course, non-conformist judgments arent objectionable, as hippies have taken more than their fair share of mockery from the establishment, so why not a few films which turn matters the other way? Fair enough, but Captain Fantastic never follows through with its judgments and their consequences. There is, for example, a side-plot as to whether Bodevan will choose to attend Harvard and break away from the relatively innocuous fits of anti-social behavior, both which are formulaic if not somewhat Easy Street affairs. Ben has his great parental epiphany on none other than Jacks wide, sun kissed lawn.
At the beginning of the Captain Fantastic, concerns were on whether Bens kids would weather a bluff climb in a downpour. Fireside discussions flowed about Trotsky and great literature. Now this? What happened?
Depending on the audience, the answers will vary. One could argue Captain Fantastic is a sophomoric script altered by mainstream considerations. It can also be convincingly argued that within the film itself, contemporary American life was knocking at the door, and Bens parental instincts demanded compromise.
But theres a scene midway through Captain Fantastic which underpins the films prevailing intentions. Ben, who just led his kids on a free the food mission at a Supermarket, buys a store cake likely full of artificial ingredients which he has outlawed from his commune for years. The cake is somewhat ironically in honor of Noam Chomsky day, and Ben stuffs his face with a mouthful of gooey deliciousness. The scene is a microcosm of Captain Fantastic, which has its Captain, and eats him, too.
Captain Fantastic
Rating:
Argun Ulgen is a film and culture writer residing in New York, NY. Find him on Twitter @BrooklynCycles
Mosquitos in South Florida transmitting Zika virus Related Coverage
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) The second, third and fourth cases of Zika virus have been confirmed in Williamson County.
The travel-related cases were confirmed this week through testing at the Department of State Health Services lab in Austin. The first case was confirmed by the county in May.
The three patients, one over the the age of 50, were infected with the virus during travel to Central America and the Caribbean.
The Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) is asking anyone with symptoms to see a healthcare provider if they visited an area where Zika is present or had sexual contact with someone who has traveled to an area where the virus is present.
GOING IN-DEPTH
As of July 27, there are more than 6,400 confirmed cases of Zika virus in the U.S. and its territories. Thats 1,200 more compared to last week.
More than 850 pregnant women have evidence of having Zika virus.
Click here for a state-by-state table of Zika cases in the United States
Source: CDC
There are no reports of locally-transmitted Zika (mosquito to person) in Williamson County, or even this part of this United States.Four recently infected people in the Miami area one woman and three men are believed to have caught the virus locally through mosquito bites, officials announced Friday.
U.S. health officials said they do not expect a widespread outbreak of the sort seen in Brazil and other countries, according to the Associated Press.More than 1,650 people in the mainland U.S. have been infected with Zika in recent months, but the four people in Florida are believed to be first ones to contract the virus within the 50 states from mosquitoes.
WCCHD says these three new cases in Williamson Countyincrease the chance of local spread of the virus by area mosquitoes.
Residents, especially pregnant women, are asked to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Remember to use an EPA-approved insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, use or repair screens on windows and doors, use air conditioning when available and remove standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs, the department says.
The county says the three infected people are not related to each other.
What we know about the Zika virus
Zika is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus).
A pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy or during birth.
Zika virus infection can cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects, and is associated with other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
A person who is infected with Zika virus can pass it to s*x partners.
Many people infected with Zika virus wont have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms.
No vaccines or treatments are currently available to treat or prevent Zika infections.
For more information, visit www.wcchd.org or www.texaszika.org.
The San Diego County economy took a dip in June as help wanted advertising and building permits dropped, said a monthly study from the University of San Diego.
It was the second month in a row that the index, which looks at economic activities in the region to judge its overall health, declined.
Job growth for the first six months of this year was good, adding 37,000 more jobs than the same time period in 2015. Yet, that data is delayed and the number of employers seeking workers in June declined by 2,800 posts.
The job growth is a measure of the past and it could be that help wanted (advertising) is a measure of the short-term future, said Alan Gin, author of the report for the universitys Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate.
Still, the report said the outlook for the rest of the year looks good, in part because of job growth. There were also some healthy signs in June the national economy was up, as were local stock prices.
USD Index of Leading Economic Indicators
Building permits: -0.63%
Unemployment insurance: -0.49%
Stock prices: +0.96%
Consumer confidence: -0.11%
Help wanted advertising: -1.59%
National economy: +0.64%
Source: University of San Diego
Building permits for residential housing dropped for the fourth month in a row. For the first six months of this year, permits were down 8.2 percent. The number of single-family units authorized were down 25 percent and multifamily down 0.53 percent.
State and local leaders have pushed for more multifamily housing because they say denser development serves more people and is less harmful to the environment. However, a recent report from the London Group Realty Advisors argued the region was too focused on multifamily when millennials will eventually want to move into single-family homes.
The unemployment rate in June rose slightly to 4.9 percent from 4.4 percent in May. It was the first time it was negative in eight months.
Consumer confidence in San Diego was down for the eighth month in a row, which is still a bit of a mystery. One theory from the author is that real wages have not gone up much. Accounting for inflation, wages increased just 1.2 percent from the first quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2015.
CHICAGO He is one of the most prolific American directors of the modern cinema era, and has also forged a career as stand-up comedian, actor, playwright and screenplay artist. He is Woody Allen, and he walked the Red Carpet at the Chicago History Museum on July 21st, 2016, for his new film Caf Society.
The film is his 47th feature film as writer/director, from Whats Up, Tiger Lily (1966) to the present day, and highlights Allens strengths as an artist. Caf Society is filled with romance, heartbreak and the glamour of 1930s Hollywood, and features Steve Carrell, Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively, Corey Stoll and Parker Posey. It is schedule for nationwide release on July 29th, 2016
Woody Allens Latest Film is Caf Society, Releasing Nationwide on July 29th, 2016Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Woody Allen was born Allen Stewart Konigsberg in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935. While in high school, and during brief college stints at New York University and the City College of New York, he wrote gags for newspaper columnists in Manhattan. He legally changed his name to Heywood Allen when he was 17 years old, and shortened it to Woody Allen once his jokes appeared in he newspaper.
Through that media, the writer Abe Burrows (Guys and Dolls) introduced him into a writing development program at the CBS Network when he was 20 years old, and soon he was writing for [Sid] Caesars Hour, The Ed Sullivan Show, Candid Camera, and comedian Bob Hope, whose character was the inspiration for Allens later cowardly courageous persona. Allen estimated that by 1962 he had written 20,000 jokes for other sources.
The next phase of his career involved stand-up comedy, and he played the New York City venues, and was discovered at a Greenwich Village club called The Bitter End. His stand-up style was low-key and conversational, coming from life experiences, without schtick or ethnicity (Allen is Jewish). His act led to TV appearances on The Tonight Show and other ventures, which led to his playwrighting and film directing part of his life course.
Woody Allen on the Red Carpet at the Chicago History Museum on July 21st, 2016Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
His film debut was as screenwriter and actor, for the comedy Whats New Pussycat? (1965). One year later, his first directorial effort (which he also co-wrote) was an off-beat film comedy called Whats Up, Tiger Lily? in which he hilariously re-dubbed into English a James Bond-like Japanese film. At the same time, his stage plays Dont Drink the Water (1966), Play It Again, Sam (1969) and The Floating Light Blub (1969) were onBroadway.
Zika Virus: 4 Possible Non-Travel-Related Cases In Florida
MIAMI - Gov. Rick Scott said Florida is the first state with a locally acquired case of the Zika virus.
Scott said Friday that the Florida Department of Health has concluded that four cases of the Zika virus likely came from mosquitoes in the Miami area.
The governor said no mosquitoes in the state have tested positive for Zika, but he said one woman and three men in Miami-Dade and Broward counties likely contracted the virus through mosquito bites.
He said state health officials believe the infections occurred in a small area just north of downtown Miami.
The area of concentration is in Wynwood, between Northwest Fifth Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard to Northwest 38th Street and Northwest 20th Street.
"If you live in this area and want to be tested, I urge you to contact the county health department, which stands ready to assist you," Scott said during a news conference in Orlando.
Scott"s announcement comes one day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked all blood banks in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to stop collecting blood because of increasing fears of spreading the Zika virus.
OneBlood, a nonprofit blood collection agency, said Friday it has immediately begun testing for the Zika virus. If testing reveals that any blood is reactive for the Zika virus, OneBlood will quarantine the blood, notify the donor and alert state and federal health officials.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he is committed to keeping residents safe from the Zika virus.
"Because our mosquito control efforts have been successful in the past, I am confident that Miami-Dade County is prepared to fight this, just like we -- together as a community -- have fought against West Nile, dengue fever and Chikungunya," Gimenez said.
Copyright 2016 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
My Hot Cheesecake Factory Waiter! Paul Kosmides from The Cheesecake Factory at 12 Oaks joins us in the FOX 2 Cooking School.
(WJBK) - In honor of National Cheesecake Day, which is July 30, The Cheesecake Factory joined us on The Nine to show us how they celebrate their favorite food holiday -- with a unique cheesecake truffle.
This recipe for Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake Truffles comes courtesy of Paul Kosmides from The Cheesecake Factory at 12 Oaks. To learn more about The Cheesecake Factory, visit www.thecheesecakefactory.com.
CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CHEESECAKE TRUFFLES
IngredientsCheesecake slices - We suggest The Cheesecake Factory "Original" and Chocolate Mousse CheesecakeGhirardelli Dark Melting WafersRaw, Whole Hazelnuts (preferably without skin)
Directions1. Begin with your favorite Cheesecake. Remove any loose decorations or whip cream rosettes.2. Use a small 1 oz. scoop to scoop the Cheesecake into round b***s.3. Place scoops onto a wax-paper lined sheet tray.4. Place tray in the freezer for 1 - 2 hours to "deeply chill" the Cheesecake b***s. Keep in freezer until ready to use.5. Meanwhile, using a double boiler over low heat, heat the Dark Melting Wafers to approximately 100" F.6. Meanwhile, place Hazelnuts in a heavy saucepan in a single layer. Place over medium heat. Stir approximately every minute. Cook 5 - 10 minutes or until browned and they begin to give off a nutty aroma.a. Note: If you"re using roasted Hazelnuts instead of raw nuts, we recommend roasting them again to help activate the natural oils and wonderful aromas.7. Remove Hazelnuts from heat immediately so they don"t overcook. (Keep a close eye on them when cooking as they will go from brown to burnt very quickly.)8. Allow Hazelnuts to cool slightly before chopping.a. Note: if using Hazelnuts with skin on, place cooled nuts into a clean, dry towel and roll vigorously between your hands to remove the skin.9. RemoveReRRRRWhile the Hazelnuts are still slightly warm, use the side of a chef"s knife to crush them (similar to crushing garlic) and then coarsely chop to approx. 1/8" pieces. Sift the chopped nuts through a stainless steel strainer to remove any dust, and transfer the nuts into a glass bowl.10. Remove Cheesecake b***s from freezer & completely submerge in the heated Chocolate. Remove with a fork and "bounce" the fork on the surface of the chocolate to allow the extra to drip-off.11. Use another fork to transfer the dipped-cheesecake ball onto the wax paper-lined sheet tray. Sprinkle the top of the Truffle with chopped hazelnuts.12. Transfer decorated Truffles to serving tray.13. If making ahead of time: Transfer to a Tupperware container and store in freezer until ready to serve. (May be stored up to 2-3 weeks.) At least one hour before service, transfer to the refrigerator and serve from a refrigerated state.
Viggo Mortensen in Captain Fantastic, directed by Berkeley resident Matt Ross, is excellent
Three-quarters of the way into Captain Fantastic (opening at Landmarks California Theater on Friday, July 22), I thought I might be watching one of 2016s Best Picture Academy Award nominees. One implausible plot development later, I wasnt so sure but I am convinced that Viggo Mortensen is likely to receive Oscar recognition for his lead role in this frequently excellent (if periodically absurd) new feature.
Mortensen plays the films title character, an off-the-grid Noam Chomsky admirer known more prosaically as Ben. With wife Leslie (Trin Miller, seen only in flashback) Ben has raised his six children in the middle of a Pacific Northwest forest, training them in survivalist techniques and teaching them about great literature, political theory, and the Bill of Rights.
What he hasnt taught them is how to live in the real world, a problem that quickly becomes apparent when the family leaves the wilderness for a funeral in suburban New Mexico. Conflicts rapidly arise between the insular Fantastics and their normal relatives, including Leslies sister Harper (Kathryn Hale), brother-in-law Dave (Steve Zahn), and father Jack (Frank Langella).
Written and directed by Berkeley resident Matt Ross, Captain Fantastic is careful not to pass judgment on these competing visions of the way things should be. (Ross will be doing aQ&A in Berkeleythis Friday,July 22,after the7:05 p.m.screening of Captain Fantastic at theCalifornia Theatres at 2113Kittredge St.) Ben is clearly a loving father, but hes also a martinet whose parenting techniques sometimes border on child abuse; Jack has the best interests of his grandchildren at heartbut is willing to use social status and wealth to make life for Ben thoroughly miserable.
Captain Fantastic is the perfect argument for a Best Ensemble Cast Oscar, featuring excellent performances by all concerned including its youngest thespian, spunky little Shree Crooks, who gets many of the films best lines as six-year-old Zaja. Instead, itll be Mortensen who gets the most attention and deservedly so.
Beyond the implausible plot development (which I wont elaborate upon further), there are a lot of ways Captain Fantastic could have gone badly wrong. Its the sort of comedy-drama that has come to predominate the American independent film-making scene; frequently, these films are overly arch smack-downs of contemporary society (2007s execrable Juno being a prime example). To Rosss considerable credit, this isnt one of those films.
Alec Atkins, Malcolm Brickhouse, and Jarad Dawkins are the subjects of the documentary Breaking a Monster: Unlocking the Truth
I dont like heavy metal, but documentaries about heavy metal (e.g., The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years) are another matter. In the case of Breaking a Monster: Unlocking the Truth, the metal comes with a wrinkle: the band in front of the camera are three African-American middle-schoolers.
First exposed to metal at wrestling shows, pre-pubescents Alec Atkins, Malcolm Brickhouse and Jarad Dawkins decided to form their own band, Unlocking the Truth. Breaking a Monster (also opening at the Shattuck on Friday, and not a reference to the excellent Metallica doc, Some Kind of Monster) skims over their formative years before settling into a blow-by-blow account of their signing to Sony thanks to Welcome Back, Kotter creator Alan Sacks.
The film is clearly intended as part of the bands current promotional drive (their debut album was released last month), but to director Luke Meyers credit Breaking a Monster is a few steps removed from your average band video. As precocious and talented as these lads are, we also see them being put through the music industry meat-grinder, and it aint pretty.
Berkeleysides film writer John Seal writes a column in The Phantom of the Movies Videoscope, an old-fashioned paper magazine, published quarterly. Read more from Big Screen Berkeley on Berkeleyside.
Want to know what else is going on in Berkeley and nearby? Visit Berkeleysides new-look Events Calendar.Submit your own events for free if they arent there already and give them featured status for just a few dollars a day.
Miami artists like DJ Khaled and Ky-Mani Marley brought all corners of hip-hop together this week.
Throughout the week, DJ Khaled has been dropping verse afterverse from the best lyricists in the rap game with singles like Holy Key andDo You Mind. Meanwhile, reggaeton star Farruko and Miamis own Ky-Mani Marleyteamed up to fight off enemies in the visual adaptation of their joint record, Chillax.
But as Dade Countys heavy-hitters soak up the international limelight, rising acts from South Florida like Gill Graff, Grimass, and others also put in work to earn their individual shine. Check out the latest tunes to come from Miami"s chart-topping and up-and-coming artists.
5. DJ Khaled & Friends, Do You Mind.
Not long after releasing his collaboration with KendrickLamar and Big Sean called Holy Key, the King of Snapchat brought singersAugust Alsina, Jeremih, and Chris Brown together with RickRoss, Future, and Nicki Minaj for the next major single off Major Key, Do YouMind. The song was the final teaser before the official release of his ninthstudio album, which is available at stores and digital retailers everywherenow.
4. Gill Graff featuring Bernz, Clarity.
Miami natives Gill Graff and Bernz of the rap-rock band Mayday!recently connected to deliver their fresh collaboration, Clarity. TheVenezuelan rhymer and the veteran vocalist signed to Strange Music aim to makeauthentic lyrics matter in the new age of commercialized hip-hop. The MCs, both of whom recently made our latest list of up-and-coming Latin rappers, come togethershortly after the release of Bernzs solo LP, SeeYou on the Other Side.
3. Grimass, FMF3.
Miami rapper and actor Carlson Grimass Pierre got a lot ofbuzz after he released his single Im That Boy featuring August Alsina. Sincethen, Grimass has been working on exceeding the hype of his breakthrough recordwith joints like Million Dollar Plan and Catch Me If You Can featuring FlyGuy. Earlier this week, Grimass dropped off two fresh freestyles, including FMF3,in which he raps over the Migos track Say Sum.
2. Wifisfuneral featuring Danny Towers, Just a Year Ago."
Wifisfuneral is preparing to embark on his next major toursoon, and what better way to hype up his fans than with a new track? The West PalmBeach resident got together with rising artist Danny Towers to rekindle theirchemistry from their collaboration on Wifis most recent project, Black HeartRevenge. While his loyal fan base eagerly waits to see the Puerto Rican lyriciston stages around the country, you can listen to Wifisfunerals latest release, Just a Year Ago, produced by Henry Daher.
1. Farruko featuring Ky-Mani Marley, Chillax.
Farruko has collaborated with the most prominent Latin artists in the industry, but now hes joining forces with the Marley family to fight off his enemies. The Passion Wine artist links up with Miamis own Ky-Mani Marley for an intense short film for their joint record, Chillax. In the video, filmed in Dade County, Farruko and Ky-Mani team up to escape a squad of enemies out to destroy their lives. Director Jessy Terrero adds the right dramatic touch to Miamis tropical setting.
Last night, pop divas Katy Perry and Lady Gaga injected a little music into Hillary Clinton"s campaign. While Perry took the stage at the televised Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Gaga made a more intimate performance a few miles away, in Camden, NJ. They join the long list of artists, including Demi Lovato, Boyz II Men, Paul Simon and Carole King, who have sung at the DNC this week.
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Perry"s set marked her first major live performance of her newest song "Rise," which she released two weeks ago. She sang the tune, which doubles as a Rio Olympics anthem, followed by her 2013 power-song "Roar."
"I"m asking you to have an open mind and to use your voice, because on November 8th, you"ll be just as powerful as any NRA lobbyist. You"ll have as much say as any billionaire. Or you can just cancel out our weird cousin"s vote, if you like. Because, remember, it"s not where you come from, it"s what you grow into," she rallied the audience before breaking into song.
Perry, who"s joined Clinton on multiple stops on her campaign tour, also urged the viewers to donate to hillaryclinton.com with an interesting bribe: "Maybe I"ll let you borrow one of my outfits," she joked.
Meanwhile in Camden, Lady Gaga took a more laid-back approach (dressed in a white tank top and black ripped jeans) at a free, invite-only event for delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Though she didn"t sing any of her own songs, she performed moving covers of Woody Guthrie"s "This Land Is Your Land," Neil Young"s "Old Man," and The Beatles" "Come Together." For an encore, she returned with Edith Piaf"s "La Vie en Rose." Lenny Kravtiz also performed at the event.
Eric "The Wolfman" Wilkinson"s Commentary $GOOG $AAPL $AMZN
Ahead of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) second quarterearnings results expected today after market close, Piper Jaffray top analyst Gene Munster remains bullish, reiterating a Buy with a price target of $800, marking a conservative just over 8% upsidefrom where the stock is currently trading.
Munster asserts a continued long-term bullish stance onAmazon shares, based on our belief that the companys retail business has a long way to go in both domestic and international markets, its optionality in new verticals and services, opportunities for expansion into SaaS offerings with AWS, and its discount vs. long-term valuation metrics.
Particularly looking ahead to the second quarter, Munster finds an upside to profit margins for Amazon compared to Amazon guidance, its impact on consensus expectation, and a steady outlook for revenue, as units continue to grow by 26%. While Munster acknowledges the Streets margin expectations for third quarter are not ideal, he views the estimates as being a relatively low hurdle as unit growth deceleration should be moderated by a strong Prime Day.
Right now, Munster views Amazon in a favorable position to not only meet guidance, but report above the high end. Munster credits Prime as a key driver of momentum, as well as improved cost/unit structure, better profit performance internationally, and an upside thanks to Amazon Web Services. The analyst believes Amazon has a solid record for transcending high end margin each quarter and predicts the Streets expectations for the third quarter to rise accordingly.
According to TipRanks, Gene Munster is a top, five-star analyst, ranked #13 out of 4,087 analysts. Munsters success rate has excelled at 63%, averaging 16.2% in his annual returns.
TipRanks analytics exhibit AMZN as a Strong Buy. Consider that out of 36 analysts polled in the last 3 months, the majority, 33, rate a Buy, with only remaining maintaining a Hold. The price target is $831.87, marking a close to 13% upside from where shares last closed.
Marc Mezvinsky, Chelsea Clintons husband, is refusing to apologize to investors after losing nearly $25 million of their money in a hedge fund hoping to profit from the turmoil in Greece.
Many of the investors in Mezvinskys fund, Eaglevale, are donorsto his wifes parents. I gave them money because I thought they would make me money, financier Marc Lasry told The New York Times last year.
Eaglevale set up a Hellenic Opportunity Fund, as Mezvinksy and his partners envisioned Greece being on the path to a sustainable recovery. The Greece investment fund collected $25 million by the end of 2014, at the same time when it stopped taking donations as it became clear the Mediterranean country was not on the rebound.
By early 2015 the fund had lost 40 percent of its value and 90 percent of its value up until it closed last month. When The Daily Mail asked Mezvinksy Thursday if he will apologize to investors he refused.
Mezvinskys father was convicted in 2001 for his involvement in a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme.
Hacksaw Ridge Official Trailer #1 (2016) Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer War Drama Movie HD
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A trailer has been released for the incredible true story about World War II titled Hacksaw Ridge.
The plot of the film, according to IMDB, is, WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor.(RELATED:Watch TheTrailerFor Tom Hanks Latest Film Inferno [VIDEO])
WATCH:
The film starsAndrew Garfield, Sam Worthington and Vince Vaughn.
The 2016 PGA Championship kicked off in a rather mundane way Thursday, though business is sure to pick up during an action-packed Round 2 on Friday that will be fighting against potential weather delays.
Baltusrol Golf Club has already proven to be disastrous course for Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, but Jason Day and Rickie Fowler -- still searching for his first major -- stood tough early Thursday and should be in the hunt Friday afternoon.
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