#Jeffrey R. Smith

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Warehouse 13 (2009-2014)

[coollovebibliophilethings]

Hauntings edited by Ellen Datlow

Title: HauntingsAuthor: Ellen Datlow, Pat Cadigan, Dale Bailey, E. Michael Lewis, Lucius Shepard, David Morrell, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Joyce Carol Oates, Elizabeth Hand, Neil Gaiman, F. Paul Wilson, Jonathan Carroll, Terry Dowling, Paul Walther, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Connie Willis, Stephen Gallagher, Michael Marshall Smith, Richard Bowes, James P. Blaylock, Jeffrey Ford, Gemma Files, Kelly Link,…

[blueeyeddarkknight]

Val winning the golden boot award ( most prestigious western award) 👢🪙🤠

Jeff Sutherland interviews Val during the event

Credit : Jeffrey wayne Sutherland on youtube

Val's best Western roles imo

Tombstone 1993

Gore vidal billy the kid 1989

(credit to Marlon Brando for advising him to get into westerns! )

Comanche Moon 2008

Ps I'm not sure if thunderheart is considered a western. What do you think? 🤔

Related posts :

[brokehorrorfan]

4K UHD Review: The Guyver

Following in the wildly successful footsteps of Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Guyver takes a (relatively) grounded approach to its outlandish source material — in this case, a Japanese manga series — without divorcing itself from its comic book roots. Produced by Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator, Society), the 1991 film is directed by special effects wizards Screaming Mad George (Society, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) and Steve Wang (Predator, The Monster Squad).

As the Star Wars-esque expository opening crawl explains, mankind was created by aliens as an organic weapon. The evil Chronos corporation is further developing a technology that allows humans to change into "super monster soldiers" known as Zoanoids for world domination. The only viable defense against them is The Unit, a piece of bio-booster alien armor that increases a human's natural powers a hundredfold, turning them into The Guyver.

Mark Hamill's top billing may lead you to believe that he's the titular hero, but he instead plays a supporting role as a CIA agent investigating Chronos. The real lead is Jack Armstrong (Student Bodies) as Sean Barker, an amateur martial artist who's the only person that can activate The Unit. When his girlfriend (Vivian Wu, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III) is endangered, Sean utilizes his newfound powers to take down Chronos and the Zoanoids.

Armstrong is a bland lead, but it's not entirely his fault. In addition to a mustachioed Hamill channeling Colombo, he has to compete with several scene-stealing character actors. Re-Animator's David Gale chews the scenery as the malevolent head of Chronos, briefly reuniting with Jeffrey Combs as the company's scientist, Dr. East (get it?). Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) plays Gale's right-hand Zoanoid with Jimmie Walker (Good Times) as his rapping goon. Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead) cameos as a scream queen.

But the real stars of the show are the creatures, the designs of which showcase boundless creativity. The Guyver looks like Ultraman by way of Clive Barker, and each Zoanoid adopts a different animal's traits. While a number of other artists were employed to pull off the myriad of monsters, George and Wang's fingerprints are all over the effects, imbuing the alien superhero movie with some disturbing body-horror.

Jon Purdy's script deviates significantly from source material not only in terms of story but also tone. While some of the manga's dark atmosphere and violence remain intact, it's undercut by goofy humor in an attempt to appeal to a younger demographic. Fans of Yoshiki Takaya's original creation were no doubt disappointed (Wang attempted a bit of a course correction with his 1994 sequel, Guyver: Dark Hero), but the tonal confusion is actually charming.

Originally cut down to a PG-13 rating in the US, The Guyver has been newly restored in 4K from the original, R-rated 35mm camera negative with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 options for Unearthed Films' 4K UHD + Blu-ray release. Far removed from the days of Jaws and Alien in which the monster was largely hidden in shadows, George and Wang put their creations on full display — and even with a crystal-clear restoration, the in-camera effects shine.

Two new audio commentaries are included. The first is a lively one with George and Wang, moderated by Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films author Dom O’Brien. It's not the most informative track — the filmmakers admit to not having seen the film in over two decades — but they're enjoying themselves so much that it hardly matters. The second commentary features creature crew members "Evil" Ted Smith and Wyatt Weed, who delve into the nitty-gritty of the effects.

Yuzna and George each sit down for thorough new interviews. Yuzna reveals that he's been approached about a remake, but the rights are complicated, while George's infectious energy lasts the entire 56 (!) minutes. Creature suit camera test footage is included with commentary options from George and Wang or Smith and Weed, while outtakes and a gag reel feature George and Wang commentary.

Other extras include: alternate title sequences in English, German and Spanish; English, German, Spanish, and French trailers (all carrying the alternate title Mutronics); and extensive promotional and production galleries. The collector's edition also comes with the soundtrack CD composed by Matthew Morse (Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker) and a booklet featuring liner notes by O’Brien and Morse.

The Guyver is available now on 4K UHD via Unearthed Films.

[vinylspinning]

Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston (1985)

Full disclosure: I only bought Whitney Houston's first LP so I could feature it in a blog about Clive Davis' autobiography -- coming soon to a Tumblr near you!

But I do have a personal connection with Whitney, not as a fan, but because I worked for RCA/Arista/J Records and Clive in the late '00s and had the opportunity to market the diva's final studio release, I Look to You, in 2009.

By then, Houston's God-given voice had been ravaged by drug abuse and other hardships, but it was showcased in all of its immaculate, superhuman glory on this 40-year-old dbut, which, by the most recent estimates, has sold an astonishing 25 million units worldwide.

That'll happen when an album tops the Billboard charts for 14 weeks (as well as many international charts), spins off three No. 1 singles (at the time a first for a solo female artist), and sells more copies than any other album released in 1985.

Of course a success story of this magnitude doesn't happen overnight; Clive and Arista spent the better part of two years recording this LP and carefully orchestrating Whitney's career launch, including a breakthrough unveiling on the Merv Griffin Show.

The resulting ten songs were painstakingly molded by a committee of hit songwriters and producers that included Jeffrey Osborne, Gerry Goffin, Narada Michael Walden, Michael Masser, George Merrill, La La, Kashif, and Jermaine Jackson!

How could they fail?

The first, a schmaltzy ballad called "Hold Me," actually premiered on her duet partner Teddy Pendergrass' 1984 LP, Love Language, but the second, the sensual "You Give Good Love," landed along with her album in February of '85 and peaked at No. 3.

This set the stage for Whitney's first No. 1, "Saving All My Love for You," which finally unleashed her powerful voice for all to hear, and broke MTV's unstated "color barrier" after her previous submissions had been deemed "too R&B" by the rock-leaning music video network.

"Thinking About You" followed in October of '85, and conversely aimed at reinforcing Houston's reputation with black radio programmers; possibly because Arista would go for all the marbles to cross over the singer's next two, chart-topping hits.

These were the bubbly dance floor smash, "How Will I Know," which won Whitney the hearts of teenagers everywhere (Janet Jackson had passed on recording it!), and one of the '80s ur-ballads, "Greatest Love of All," which secured the approval of their parents.

And so, it was mission accomplished; by those early months of 1986 -- almost exactly one year after the album's release, and quite a bit longer orchestrating the perfect set-up and roll-out -- Whitney Houston was a bona fide superstar!

Her blockbuster record earned four nominations at the 28th Grammy Awards, winning 'Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female,' for "Saving All My Love for You," and it was back in '87 with a nomination for 'Record of the Year for "Greatest Love of All."

And then, over the ensuing two-and-a-half decades, one of the greatest careers in popular music would be constructed ... and then tragically torn down until Houston's demons caught up with her in 2012, at age 48 -- ironically as she was preparing to attend one of her mentor's famous pre-Grammy parties.

But their long and fruitful partnership is exactly why Whitney's name almost inevitably precedes so many other legendary Clive Davis "discoveries" -- Janis Joplin, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Milli Vanilli (ahem!), Sean 'Puffy' Combs (AHEM!), and Alicia Keys -- every time his name and accomplishments are evoked.

When all is said and done, Whitney will always be the jewel in the old man's career crown.

More Huge ‘80s Albums: AC/DC’s Back in Black, A-Ha’s Hunting High and Low, Bryan Adams’ Reckless, Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, The Cult’s Love, The Cure’s Standing on a Beach, Def Leppard’s Pyromania, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms, Duran Duran’s Rio, Foreigner’s 4, Genesis’ Genesis, Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Journey’s Escape, Cyndi Lauper's She’s So Unusual, Huey Lewis and The News’ Sports, Madonna’s Like a Virgin, John Cougar Mellencamp’s American Fool, Men At Work’s Business as Usual, George Michael’s Faith, Pet Shop Boys’ Please, The Police’s Synchronicity, Prince and the Revolution’s Purple Rain, Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A., Sting’s The Dream of the Blue Turtles, Tears for Fears’ Songs from the Big Chair, Tina Turner’s Private Dancer, U2’s The Joshua Tree, Van Halen’s 1984, Yes’ 90125, ZZ Top’s Eliminator.

[palatablepain]

I was looking over my personal bibliography from the past ten months and feeling rather disappointed when I began to count and there were 64 books, 2 book chapters, and 26 articles. (Not counting the bibliographies, articles, and books I've read for specific projects I'm in the middle of doing!)

Here it is. The age recs are based on a homeschooler brought up the way I was, so no indignant mamas would come after me. (I've been keeping bibliographies since I was ten. Ahem. That's another story.)

Akbar, Kaveh.  Calling a Wolf a Wolf (18+)

Alexievich, Svetlana.  The Unwomanly Face of War (18+)

Andrews, Clarence A.  Michigan in Literature

Archer, Sarah.  The Plus One (18+)

Bartel, Timothy E. G.  The Heroines of Henry Longfellow: Domestic, Defiant, Divine

Barthes, Roland.  Writing Degree Zero

Bertman, Stephen, trans. and ed. Erotic Love Poems of Greece and Rome: A Collection of New Translations (16+)

Cain, Amina.  Indelicacy (18+, and a very boring book)

Carson, Anne.  Glass, Irony, and God (20+)

--.  Plainwater (20+)

Cather, Willa.  One of Ours

Cooper, James Fenimore.  The Last of the Mohicans

Dreiser, Theodore. An American Tragedy (18+)

--. Jennie Gerhardt (1911) and Jennie Gerhardt (1992, UPenn Press)

--. Twelve Men

Ernaux, Annie.  A Man’s Place (16+)

Esten, John. Sargent: Painting Out-Of-Doors

Fagan, Kate. What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen

Hemley, Robin.  The Last Studebaker (18+)

Hemingway, Ernest.  The Sun Also Rises

Hill, Archibald.  “Deconstruction and Analysis of Meaning in Literature,” in Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs 36, Werner Winter ed. 1998.

Hotz, Jeffrey.  Longfellow’s Imaginative Engagement:  The Works of His Later Career

Jackson, Shirley.  We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Kafka, Franz.  The Castle

Kandel, Eric.  In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind (16+)

Kant, Emmanuel.  Allen Wood, ed.  Religion and Rational Theology

Laite, Julia.  “A Global History of Prostitution: London,” in Selling Sex in the City: A Global History of Prostitution, 1600s-2000s, pp. 111-137.

Lee, Sung-Yoon.  The Sister: North Korea’s Kim You Jong, the Most Dangerous Woman in the World

Lessing, Doris.  The Golden Notebook (18+)

--. The Grass is Singing

Lockridge, Ross.  Raintree County (18+)

Loos, Anita.  Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Lowell, Amy.  Men, Women, and Ghosts

McCullers, Carson.  The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

McKillip, Patricia.  The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

--. Od Magic

--.  Winter Rose

Menand, Louis.  The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America

Nathan, Jesse. Eggtooth (18+)

Newman, Barbara.  The Permeable Self: Five Medieval Relationships (16+)

Nicholls, David.  Sweet Sorrow (20+)

O’Neill, Eugene.  Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Orford, Margie.  The Eye of the Beholder (18+)

--. Love and Fury (16+)

Oseman, Alice.  Radio Silence (18+ also YA, not for the impressionable)

Patchett, Ann.  Tom Lake (16+)

Plato.  Phaedrus

Public Health, Michigan.  Issued for the General Dispensation of Sanitary Knowledge. Published Quarterly by the State Department of Health, Lansing, Michigan.  Vol. I-IV. 1906.

Richardson, Dorothy.  Pointed Roofs

Richter, Gottfried.  The Isenheim Altar: Suffering and Salvation in the Art of Grunewald

Rooney, Sally.  Normal People (18+)

Roy, Arundhati.  The God of Small Things (18+)

Ruskin, John.  Unto this Last and Other Writings.  Penguin. 1985.

Smith, Ali.  Summer (16+)

Stoltzfus, Ben.  D.H. Lawrence’s Final Fictions: A Lacanian Perspective  (18+)

Stroud, Jonathan.  The Screaming Staircase (1)

--.  The Whispering Skull (2)

--.  The Hollow Boy (3)

--.  The Creeping Shadow (4)

--.  The Empty Grave (5)

Taylor, Samuel.  Sabrina

Thorpe, Helen. Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War (18+)

Todd, Pamela.  The Pre-Raphaelites at Home

Virgil, trans. H.R. Fairclough, rev. G.P. Goold.  Eclogues

--. Georgics.

Wharton, Edith.  Hudson River Bracketed

Online Reading

“George R. Martin Says ‘Game of Thrones’ Creators’ Decision to Have Daenerys Sexually Assaulted On Her Wedding Night Made the Pilot ‘Worse.’”  Kim Renfro.  Insider, Oct 6, 2020.

“The Doleful Max Richter.” Ross, Alex.  The New Yorker, April 10, 2023.

“Prisoner of Narnia: How C.S. Lewis Escaped.” Gopnik, Alan. The New Yorker, November 13, 2005. [Recommends A.N. Wilson’s biography.]

“In Southern India, Relatives Sometimes Quietly Kill Their Elders.” Magnier, Mark.   The Los Angeles Times, Jan. 5, 2013.

“A New Label Revives Forgotten Female Composers’ Music.” Hampton, Olivia. NPR. August 17, 2022.

“Quality of Life.” Patricia Hamilton.  Fare Forward.

“Retiring with a legacy: Patrick Coleman has built the largest collection of Minnesota-related books in the world.” Twincities.com.  July 25, 2021.

“The Riddle of Raintree County.” David Johnson.  Indiana Public Media.org.  October 26, 2007.

“Wittgenstein vs Wittgensten: Language is no map to reality.” Lee Braver. AIT News, Oct 2 2023.

 “A Yale Professor Suggested That Japan’s Old People Kill Themselves in a Mass Suicide, and It Made him a Celebrity.”  Zitser, Joshua.  Insider, Feb 13, 2003.

“How the Poet Christian Wiman Keeps His Faith.”  Casey Cep, The New Yorker, Dec 4, 2023.

“Leaving the Limelight, Entering the Mystery: Engaging Narrative Anagogically.”  Noah Karger. Fare Forward, May 2023. 

“Aristotle, Tocqueville, and ‘Populism Rightly Understood.’” Clifford Bates, Jr. Voegelin View, Aug 29, 2023.

“On the World of Space and Time.” Glenn Hughes.  Voegelin View, Nov 5, 2023.

“Sojourner Truth: Harmonia Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan.” Jeffrey Insko.  New Territory, 2023.

“Dozens of brothels housed in county in early 1900s.” Beth Dippel, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (sheboyganpress.com), Feb 3, 2017.

“Sheboygan a haven for Indian mounds.” Beth Dippel, Sheboygan County Historical Research Center (sheboyganpress.com), Jun 17, 2016.

“Louisiana Spotlight: Booby Trap – The War on Prostitution in New Orleans.” Nationalww2museum.org, Jun 23, 2020.

“’The Soul of the Rose’ by John William Waterhouse,” Alicia du Plessis, artincontext.org, Apr 20, 2022.

“The roots of academic irrationality: how ideology came to dominate the intellect – and rigidity dominated skepticism.”  Ian Pace, thecritic.co.uk, 8 Jan 2024.

“A Translator’s Reckoning with the Women of the Odyssey.” Emma Wilson.  The New Yorker, Dec. 8, 2017.

“Cover Me With Words – Expressing Pain in Poetry,” Rafael Campo, JAMA, Dec 12, 2023.

“I saw my therapist weekly for two years. Then he let slip he’d been watching me.  Had he crossed a line?” The Guardian, 3 Mar 2024.

“Sororal Death and Sad, Sexy Icons: Emmeline Clein on Eating Disorder Memoirs and the Contagion of Identification.”  lithub.com, Feb 28 2024

[cosmosrebellion]

Fantasy Recs:

The Book of Jhereg by Steven Brust (Dragaera) Black God's Kiss by C.L. Moore (Jirel of Joiry) Waylander by David Gemmell (Waylander) The Blacktongue Thief and Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman (Blacktongue) Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb (Realm of the Elderlings) The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law) A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire) The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (World of the Five Gods) The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn) Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook (The Black Company) The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham (The Dagger and the Coin) The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson (The Masquerade) Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard (Johannes Cabal) The Folding Knife by K.J. Parker The Devourers by Indra Das Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke A Country of Ghosts by Margaret Killjoy The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld) City of Bones by Martha Wells The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia A Woman of the Sword by Anna Smith Spark Those Above by Daniel Polansky (The Empty Throne) The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford Books of Blood by Clive Barker Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay The Chatelaine by Kate Heartfield The Etched City by K.J. Bishop The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera Gormenghast by Meryn Peake Viriconium by M. John Harrison Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James (The Dark Star)

Horror Recs:

North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All by Laird Barron The Wingspan of Severed Hands by Joe Koch A Collapse of Horses by Brian Evenson The Immeasurable Corpse of Nature by Christopher Slatsky Negative Space by B.R. Yeager A Natural History of Hell by Jeffrey Ford We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson Furnace by Livia Llewelyn Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt Queen of Teeth by Hailey Piper Leech by Hiron Ennes

Sci-Fi Recs:

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Rosewater by Tade Thompson (Rosewater) Ammonite by Nicola Griffith Dawn by Octavia E. Butler (Xenogenesis) A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany Bang Bang Bodhisattva by Aubrey Wood

AHHHHH!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! All go on The List!! Can't wait to check all of them out!

[arcticdementor]

For The Atlantic’s January/February 2024 issue, 24 contributors consider what Donald Trump could do if he were to return to the White House.

Just the summary page is a hilarious parade of catastrophizing. First, the editor's note:

• A WARNING, By Jeffrey Goldberg

America survived the first Trump term, though not without sustaining serious damage. A second term, if there is one, will be much worse.

Then the rest:

• THE DANGER AHEAD, By David Frum

If Donald Trump returns to the White House, he’d bring a better understanding of the system’s vulnerabilities, more willing enablers, and a more focused agenda of retaliation against his adversaries.

• TRUMP WILL ABANDON NATO, By Anne Applebaum

If reelected, he would end our commitment to the European alliance, reshaping the international order and hobbling American influence in the world.

• LOYALISTS, LAPDOGS, AND CRONIES, By McKay Coppins

In a second Trump term, there would be no adults in the room.

• THE SPECTER OF FAMILY SEPARATION, By Caitlin Dickerson

Donald Trump and his allies have promised to restore their draconian zero-tolerance immigration policy.

• HOW TRUMP GETS AWAY WITH IT, By Barton Gellman

If reelected, he could use the powers of the presidency to evade justice and punish his enemies.

• FOUR MORE YEARS OF UNCHECKED MISOGYNY, By Sophie Gilbert

In a second Trump term, women would once again be targets.

• THE CLIMATE CAN’T AFFORD ANOTHER TRUMP PRESIDENCY, By Zoë Schlanger

His approach to the environment: ignore it.

• IS JOURNALISM READY?, By George Packer

[Which rule is it that says that if a headline is a question, the answer is probably "no"?]

The press has repeatedly fallen into Donald Trump’s traps. A second term could render it irrelevant.

• TRUMP’S POLARIZATION OF SCIENCE IS BAD FOR EVERYONE, By Sarah Zhang

A re­elected Donald Trump would continue to attack studies that stand in the way of his agenda—and to make support for scientific inquiry a tribal belief.

• CORRUPTION UNBOUND, By Franklin Foer

Donald Trump and his cronies left his first administration with a playbook for self-enrichment in a second term.

• WHY XI WANTS TRUMP TO WIN, By Michael Schuman

A second Trump term would allow China to cement its grip on the developing world.

• A MAGA JUDICIARY, By Adam Serwer

In a second term, Donald Trump would appoint more judges who don’t care about the law.

• THE PROUD BOYS LOVE A WINNER, By Juliette Kayyem

A second Trump term would validate the violent ideologies of far-right extremists—and allow them to escape legal jeopardy.

• A PLAN TO OUTLAW ABORTION EVERYWHERE, By Elaine Godfrey

Activists hope a Trump Justice Department would criminalize the procedure, with or without a federal ban.

• THE TRUTH WON’T MATTER, By Megan Garber

If reelected, Donald Trump will once again churn out absurdity and outrage with factory efficiency.

• DONALD TRUMP VS. AMERICAN HISTORY, By Clint Smith

He has promised to impose his harmful, erroneous claims on school curricula in a second term.

• A WAR ON BLUE AMERICA, By Ronald Brownstein

In a second term, Trump would punish the cities and states that don’t support him.

• TRUMP ISN’T BLUFFING, By David A. Graham

We’ve become inured to his rhetoric, but his message has grown darker.

• CIVIL RIGHTS UNDONE, By Vann R. Newkirk II

How Trump could unwind generations of progress

• TRUMP’S PLAN TO POLICE GENDER, By Spencer Kornhaber

His campaign is promising a more repressive and dangerous America.

• A MILITARY LOYAL TO TRUMP, By Tom Nichols

In 2020, the armed forces were a bulwark against Donald Trump’s antidemocratic designs. Changing that would be a high priority in a second term.

• THE LEFT CAN’T AFFORD TO GO MAD, By Helen Lewis

[This one looks like the closest to an even-handed approach, and stands out in comparison to the rest]

A second Trump term would require an opposition that focuses on his abuses of power—and seeks converts rather than hunting heretics.

• WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHE IF TRUMP IS REELECTED?, By Jennifer Senior

Our bodies are not designed to handle chronic stress.

• TRUMP VOTERS ARE AMERICA TOO, By Mark Leibovich

(Note: even this one is totally negative)

If he wins a second term, perhaps we’ll finally dispense with the myth that “this is not who we are.”

[pleasantlyinsincere]

Was tagged by @boshemians to spell out my username as a playlist. (How fun. Thank you!)

P ~ pure morning/placebo L ~ let there be rock/tocotronic E ~ evil/interpol A ~a summer wasting/belle & sebastian S ~ superstar/sonic youth A ~ anxiety attack/jeffrey lewis N ~ needles in the camel's eye/brian eno T ~ the things we knew last night/circa waves L ~ love spreads/the stone roses Y ~ you want it darker/leonard cohen I ~ i'm stepping out/john lennon N ~ new alphabet/eels S ~ santa fe/beirut I ~ i'm so tired/beatles N ~ needle in the hay/elliott smith C ~ carolina drama/raconteurs E ~ edit the sad parts/modest mouse R ~ rebel rebel/david bowie E ~ everybody's got to learn sometime/beck

Tagging @louiselux , @blondecasino , @thestarsarecool and @kinsfaun

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By Luke Broadwater

When inmates are released from federal prison, the Justice Department places a call to their victims, notifying them that the defendant who attacked them is now free. On Tuesday, the phones of U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. police officers were buzzing nonstop.

For Aquilino A. Gonell, a former Capitol Police sergeant, the automated calls began on Monday evening and continued into Tuesday morning after President Trump issued a sweeping legal reprieve to all of the nearly 1,600 defendants, including those convicted of violent crimes, in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Between 7:03 a.m. and 9:37 a.m., Mr. Gonell received nine calls from the Justice Department about the release of inmates.

Mr. Gonell, who was assaulted during the attack and retired because of the injuries he suffered, was as outraged and distraught as he was shortly after the violence.

“It’s a miscarriage of justice, a betrayal, a mockery, and a desecration of the men and women that risked their lives defending our democracy,” he said of the nearly 1,600 pardons and 14 commutations.

More than 150 police officers from the two agencies were injured during the assault on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob four years ago. Some were hit in the head with baseball bats, flagpoles and pipes. One lost consciousness after rioters used a metal barrier to push her down as they marched to the building.

Now many of those officers described themselves as struggling and depressed in response to Mr. Trump freeing their attackers.

In the days and weeks after the riot, several police officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6 died, including Officer Brian D. Sicknick of the Capitol Police, who was attacked by the mob, suffered a stroke and died of natural causes on Jan. 7. Officers Jeffrey Smith of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department and Howard S. Liebengood of the Capitol Police died by suicide in the days after the violence.

Craig Sicknick, the older brother of Brian Sicknick, has dedicated an area of his house to his brother, putting up a portrait and displaying the pocket-size military medallions known as challenge coins and other mementos on a table.

“I think about my brother almost every day,” Mr. Sicknick said. “He spent his life trying to do the right thing. He did it while he was in the military. He did it as a police officer. He did it in his personal life.”

The pardons, Mr. Sicknick said, leave him heartbroken that there will be no accountability for those who stormed the Capitol.

“We almost lost democracy that day,” he said of Jan. 6. “Today, I honestly think we did lose democracy.”

On Capitol Hill on Tuesday, there were few condemnations of the pardons from Republican senators, even those who have spoken out against the violence. And those who did speak out often used the occasion to condemn pardons issued by both former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Mr. Trump.

Senator John Thune, the South Dakota Republican and majority leader, sidestepped questions on Tuesday about whether Mr. Trump acted properly in pardoning the rioters.

“We’re looking at the future, not the past,” said Mr. Thune, who called the pardons “the president’s decision.” He added, “We know the presidential pardon authority was expanded in a massive way by President Biden, and obviously we knew all along President Trump can exercise it like most presidents have, and he did.”

Still, some of the officers who were victims that day are pledging to fight on.

“For anyone who cares about truth and respect for law and law enforcement, his pardons are an unspeakable outrage,” said Patrick A. Malone, a lawyer for seven officers who sued Mr. Trump over the attack.

“The officers I represent will not forget!” Mr. Malone said.

Harry Dunn, one of the most outspoken officers who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6, spent Monday and Tuesday checking in with his former colleagues.

“Everybody’s angry and sad and devastated,” said Mr. Dunn, who has left the Capitol Police.

One officer, Mr. Dunn said, went to bed after a long shift only to be awakened by an automated voice mail from victim services informing him of the release of a Jan. 6 defendant.

“Every officer who testified in court is now getting these automated calls that, ‘Hey this defendant is being released,’” Mr. Dunn said. “The number of calls people are getting, it’s unbelievable.”

Mr. Dunn himself said he is feeling a mix of emotions, including frustration and resignation.

“It’s mind-blowing to me that everybody is now surprised and up in arms about it,” he said, adding that Mr. Trump “said he was going to do it, and what me and the other officers were doing speaking out was getting people to realize what was coming.”

He added: “I get so many messages, ‘Harry, you’re a hero.’ I don’t want to be a hero. I want accountability.”

[bllsbailey]

DOJ's OPR Investigates Jack Smith's Team, Searching For Guideline Violations Following Complaints

An inquiry into whether Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team violated any legal guidelines in conducting their probe against President-elect Trump has been launched by the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

In a letter acquired by The Hill, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) revealed that the office initiated an investigation in June 2023 following a prosecutor’s self-report of a complaint from a defense lawyer involved in the Florida classified materials case.

Following multiple Congressional letters asking for a review of Smith’s work, Jordan explained that Smith’s announcement of resignation from his job as a special counsel sparked an inquiry into “allegations of attorney misconduct by Smith’s office.”

It is mandatory for prosecutors to report certain concerns from defense lawyers, which also requires an OPR review.

“A self-referral therefore is not an indication that misconduct necessarily took place, but merely brings to the attention of OPR allegations made by defense counsel. In this case, the Special Counsel’s Office properly followed this process and alerted OPR to misconduct alleged by defense counsel to the court,” wrote Jeffrey Ragsdale, the career Justice Department attorney tasked with heading the OPR.

Although the specific, detailed scope of the OPR’s investigation is unclear, the letter’s self-referral follows Jay Bratt, a lead prosecutor on the investigation, noting earlier grievances from a lawyer for one of Trump’s co-defendants.

Trump valet Walt Nauta’s lawyer, Stanley Woodward, “accused Bratt of bringing up his interest in a judicial nomination as a pressure tactic,” the Hill reported. After claiming that the accusation was untrue, Bratt said that he was merely pointing out Woodward’s affiliation with a panel that manages judicial nominations.

“Bratt mentioned this to Woodward early in their meeting purely as a matter of professional courtesy and only to indicate to Woodward that he understood that Woodward must have a good reputation. Nothing more was intended,” Smith’s team wrote in court papers in August.

Prosecutors also claimed that after learning that his client was a target, Woodward waited another nine months to file a report about the incident.

“The notion that a 30-year veteran federal prosecutor would engage in such a ham-handed tactic in this sensitive investigation in a meeting alongside three other prosecutors and in the context of his first interaction with a defense attorney is nonsensical,” they wrote.

Ragsdale pointed out that Smith’s work’s completion served as the catalyst for any wider review or evaluation.

“Such a practice ensures that the OPR process is not inappropriately used to disrupt an ongoing prosecution and avoids interference with the court’s own supervision of the case. The policy also allows OPR to consider the allegations as a whole, after the record is complete, and in the context of the full litigation,” he wrote.

Jordan has launched investigations into Bratt personally as well as into Smith’s crew and their contacts.

“While we appreciate you confirming an open investigation into Jack Smith’s prosecutors, we are concerned that your refusal to take prompt investigative steps will allow these attorneys to evade internal accountability by leaving the Department,” Jordan stated.

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[docrotten]

THE BLOB (1988) – Episode 270 – Decades of Horror 1980s

“All I saw was an old man with a funky hand, … that’s all I saw.” Well, there’s a lot more to see than a funky hand! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr, along with special guests Jeff Farley and Ralph Miller – as they get down and dirty and gloppy with The Blob (1988) and its special effects. [NOTE: Technical issues forced Jeff Farley to drop out early in the recording. Bill and Jeff rescheduled a later discussion with Jeff, which was spliced near the end of the original recording.]

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 270 – The Blob (1988)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: A deadly entity from space crash-lands near a small town and begins consuming everyone in its path. Panic ensues as shady government scientists try to contain the horrific creature.

Directed by: Chuck Russell

Writing Credits:Chuck Russell & Frank Darabont (screenplay)

1958 Version: Theodore Simonson and Kay Linaker (as Kate Phillips) (screenplay); Irvine H. Millgate (story)

Produced by: Jack H. Harris & Elliott Kastner

Cinematography by: Mark Irwin

Make up effects designed and created by: Tony Gardner

Creature effects designed and created by:Lyle Conway

Selected crew members:

Jeffrey S. Farley (creature effects crew)

Ralph Miller III (blob mechanic: blob effects crew)

Special visual effects by: Dream Quest Images

Visual effects supervisor: Hoyt Yeatman

Selected Cast:

Kevin Dillon as Brian Flagg

Shawnee Smith as Meg Penny

Donovan Leitch Jr. as Paul Taylor (as Donovan Leitch)

Jeffrey DeMunn as Sheriff Herb Geller

Candy Clark as Fran Hewitt

Joe Seneca as Dr. Meddows

Del Close as Reverend Meeker

Paul McCrane as Deputy Bill Briggs

Sharon Spelman as Mrs. Penny

Beau Billingslea as Moss Woodley

Art LaFleur as Pharmacist / Mr. Penny

Ricky Paull Goldin as Scott Jeske

Robert Axelrod as Jennings

Bill Moseley as Soldier #2 (in sewer)

Frank Collison as Hobbe

Michael Kenworthy as Kevin Penny

Jack Rader as Col. Hargis

Billy Beck as Can Man

Jack Nance as Doctor

Erika Eleniak as Vicki De Soto

Jacquelyn Masche as White Suit #2

Julie McCullough as Susie

Daryl Sandy Marsh as Lance (as Daryl Marsh)

Richard Anthony Crenna as Soldier Outside Town Hall (as Richard Crenna Jr.)

Pons Maar as Theatre Manager

Portia Griffin as Gospel Singer

First, there was the original The Blob (1958), covered by Decades of Horror: The Classic Era #123. After that, there was the sequel, Beware! The Blob (1972), braved by the Grue Crew in Decades of Horror 1970s #63. Then came The Blob (1988), an updated retelling of the original as imagined by Frank Darabont and Chuck Russell and discussed by a previous 80s Grue Crew in Decades of Horror 1980s #126. 

Finally, the current 80s Grue Crew, having some contacts in the effects community, decided to do a deeper dive into The Blob (1988) with a focus on the film’s effects work and enlisted the aid of effects artists Jeffrey S. Farley and Ralph Miller III who worked on Lyle Conway’s blob crew. Ralph shares several mechanical devices used for blob manipulation and stories of the hard work put into the film. Jeff focuses on his work on The Blob, occasionally wandering to other aspects of his career, including Abruptio, his current release.

At the time of this writing, The Blob (1988) is available to stream from Peacock, Paramount+, PlutoTV, and multiple PPV sources. It is also available on physical media as a Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray and as a Collector’s Edition [4K UHD] from Scream Factory. 

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Bill, will be Cannibal Ferox (1981), directed by Umberto Lenzi with special effects by Gino De Rossi. Yup. It must be time for a film initially banned in 31 countries.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Check out this episode!

[delightintruth]

I bear witness that when Christ comes, He needs to recognize us—not as nominal members listed on a faded baptismal record but as thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples. This is an urgent matter for all of us, lest we ever hear with devastating regret: “I never knew you,” or, as Joseph Smith translated that phrase, “[You] never knew me.”

-Jeffrey R. Holland

[yourusatoday]

Introduction: Exploring Edgewell Personal Care Co's Executive Leadership

In the dynamic realm of personal care products, Edgewell Personal Care Co stands out as a key player, known for its commitment to innovation, quality, and consumer satisfaction. To gain deeper insights into the company's strategic direction and operational prowess, it's essential to examine the individuals driving its success – the executive leadership team.

Edgewell Personal Care Co: Pioneering Personal Care Solutions

Overview of Edgewell Personal Care Co

Founded on a legacy of excellence and innovation, Edgewell Personal Care Co has established itself as a leading provider of personal care and grooming products worldwide. With a diverse portfolio encompassing well-known brands such as Schick, Edge, and Bulldog, the company caters to the evolving needs and preferences of consumers across the globe.

Meet the Executive Leadership Team

1. Rod R. Little - President and Chief Executive Officer

As the President and CEO of Edgewell Personal Care Co, Rod R. Little brings to the table a wealth of experience and expertise in driving growth and profitability. With a strategic vision and a focus on operational excellence, Little leads the company in navigating the competitive landscape and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.

2. John J. Faucher - Chief Financial Officer

John J. Faucher serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Edgewell Personal Care Co, overseeing the company's financial strategy and performance. With a keen eye for financial analytics and a track record of fiscal prudence, Faucher plays a pivotal role in ensuring the company's long-term financial stability and shareholder value.

3. Elizabeth C. Smith - Chairman of the Board

As the Chairman of the Board of Edgewell Personal Care Co, Elizabeth C. Smith provides strategic guidance and governance oversight to the executive leadership team. With a distinguished career spanning various leadership roles, Smith brings a wealth of industry knowledge and corporate governance expertise to her position.

4. Jeffrey P. Benjamin - Independent Director

Jeffrey P. Benjamin serves as an Independent Director on the board of Edgewell Personal Care Co, bringing a diverse perspective and strategic insight to the company's decision-making processes. With a background in investment banking and corporate governance, Benjamin contributes valuable expertise to the boardroom discussions.

5. Marisa Iasenza - Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary

Marisa Iasenza assumes the role of Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Edgewell Personal Care Co, overseeing legal affairs, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance. With a deep understanding of legal complexities and industry regulations, Iasenza plays a critical role in safeguarding the company's interests and reputation.

Conclusion: Guided by Visionary Leadership

In conclusion, Edgewell Personal Care Co's executive leadership team embodies a blend of experience, expertise, and strategic vision, propelling the company towards continued success and innovation in the competitive landscape of personal care products. With a steadfast commitment to excellence and consumer-centricity, the leadership team remains poised to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the ever-evolving marketplace.