Last Seen Blogs
ayyy28
Ayyyy
emptycanvas42-blog
Confessions From an Empty Canvas
itssummertime
Dum spiro, spero
sugohedekep
Untitled
Text
'BH 90210' recap: Welcome to the surreal world
It's hard to describe what, exactly, "BH 90210" is. It's a new Fox TV show, for sure, a six-week summer fun-run of slightly trashy television set in sunny poolsides. It features (sort of) celebrities playing themselves, but it's not reality TV. It's a revival of 1990s teen classic "Beverly Hills, 90210," but only in the show-within-the-show.
The conceit of the new series is that the original cast of the beloved high- school drama reunites 30 years later at a fan convention and then decides to mount a revival of the series to make money and help their careers. But we're not seeing Kelly and Brendan, we're seeing Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley discussing Kelly and Brandon. Except Garth and Priestley are playing fictional versions of themselves they've invented for the show.
So that means Brian Austin Green isn't with Megan Fox; he's with a fictional pop star named Shay (La La Anthony). Jason is directing a fake superhero TV series. Gabrielle Carteris is the head of the "Actors Guild of America," not the real Screen Actors Guild. And Shannen Doherty, well, they all kind of hate her.
Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling in "BH 90210."
It takes a while into the first episode to figure out what this world is and who the "characters" are. This Tori Spelling apparently has no money (and rents a house). This Shannen Doherty rescues tigers; this Jason Priestley cheats on his wife; and this Ian Ziering owns a workout empire. If you try to figure out how this all corresponds to the actors' real lives, you'd drive yourself crazy. They're mostly playing a random assortment of has-beens trying to reclaim former glory.
Despite all the layers of fact, fiction and hammy performances, "BH" is no disaster. Especially for nostalgia-crazy fans (and there are plenty of them), Easter eggs, in-jokes and photos and clips from the original series will satisfy. If this is the closest thing we get to "90210" coming back (besides the surprisingly fun 2008-13 CW series), it's well, something. And hey, what else are you going to watch in August, anyway?
"BH" kicks off with a familiar but modern update of the opening credits and a dream sequence back at the Peach Pit. We see Tori and Jennie, flying coach to Las Vegas for a 30th anniversary reunion panel. Tori, apparently, is so broke that she's desperate to get into a reality show (and to see her former on-and-offscreen flame Brian Austin Green). Jennie recently split from her third husband, but she's trying to keep it a secret. They're still, of course, best friends.
Jason Priestley, Brian Austin Green, Gabrielle Carteris, Ian Ziering, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling in "BH 90210."
They meet up with Brian, Ian, Gabrielle and Jason in Vegas. Brian is a stay-at-home dad, only slightly jealous of his wife's fame and success. Ian has a seemingly perfect young wife and a new book. Gabrielle is a new grandmother. Jason's trying to make it as a serious director with the help of his publicist and wife (Vanessa Lachey). When the reunion finally happens, it's a little awkward.
After the panel, for which Shannen makes a slightly unwelcome appearance via livestream, the gang gathers at the hotel bar for a round of drinks, and the antics begin. Jennie almost sleeps with a hog farmer, but turns him down when he calls her "Kelly," and she sleeps with Jason instead. Tori and Brian do shots. Gabrielle kisses a female fan. Ian's wife accidentally video chats with him while she's cheating on him. Tori drunkenly breaks into an exhibit holding her famous "90210" red prom dress, steals it, and puts it back on.
They all pile into Brian's private jet to head back to L.A., but the cops are waiting when they hit the tarmac after their theft of the dress. In the middle of all this, there's a lovely toast to the only original "90210" cast member who's not a part of the series, Luke Perry, who died earlier this year.
Shannen Doherty in "BH 90210."
After the actors return back to their normal lives, Tori has the bright idea to capitalize on their tabloid appearance and reboot the original show. How this will come together is left for next week's episode.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Grant Thompson, The Creator Of
A man who ran the popular science-focused YouTube channel, "the King of Random," died Monday in a paragliding crash in southern Utah, authorities said.
Jonathan Grant Thompson, 38, the creator of the King of Random YouTube channel, was identified as the paraglider whose body was recovered near Sand Hollow State Park, Washington County Sheriff Lt. Dave Crouse told BuzzFeed News.
Authorities were alerted to a missing paraglider on Monday night after the pilot was reported to have taken flight from the Dixie Springs subdivision near the state park.
The caller reported that the man was overdue by an hour and wasn't answering his phone. Officers from the Hurricane Police Department and Bureau of Land Management responded to the area.
Using the last-known GPS coordinates for the man's phone, volunteers with the sheriff's search and rescue team located his body.
Washington County Sheriff's Office
A map from the sheriff's office shows the location of the crash.
Sheriff's officials are continuing to investigate the incident and review video from the paragliding equipment to determine what caused the aircraft to crash.
Thompson created the King of Random YouTube channel in 2010. Since then he and his production team have made hundreds of videos featuring science experiments, life hacks, and other projects like how to open a coconut without any tools and how to make gummy LEGOs.
The channel has more than 11 million subscribers and more than 2 billion views.
On Tuesday, the channel posted a video announcing Thompson's death.
"Grant had great love and appreciation for his fans. We invite you to share your thoughts for Grant and the channel in the comments," the channel said. "Please do a random act of love or kindness today in honor of The King of Random. Grant’s legacy will live on in the channel and the global community he created."
News of his death sparked tributes from fans and other creators. In a tweet, YouTube described Thompson as a "gifted, passionate and endlessly curious creator."
"We send our deepest condolences to his loving family, The King of Random team and fans," the platform said.
"He was passionate and fearless with videos that inspired millions of future scientists," tweeted Matthew Patrick, creator of the Game Theorists YouTube channel. "You're gone FAR too soon, but the HUGE positive impact you made will be felt for a long time."
Thousands of fans offered their condolences in the King of Random's comment section, and recalled the impact Thompson's videos had in their lives.
"Every time this man uploaded, I got excited to see what could learn," user Xx_Venomous _Snake_xX wrote. "Rest in peace King you will not be forgotten."
"You made my childhood," another user BobRoss sauce68 said, adding that Thompson was their "idol who inspired my creativity."
"much love R.I.P the king," they said.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Jury to decide damages owed by Katy Perry for ‘Dark Horse’
A jury’s verdict that Katy Perry’s 2013 hit “Dark Horse” improperly copied a 2009 Christian rap song represents a rare takedown of a pop superstar and her elite producer by a relatively unknown artist, and sets up a battle over damages that will begin Tuesday.
Monday’s unanimous verdict by a nine-member federal jury in a Los Angeles courtroom came five years after Marcus Gray and two co-authors, first sued in 2014 alleging “Dark Horse” stole from “Joyful Noise,” a song Gray released under the stage name Flame.
The penalty phase is scheduled begin Tuesday with opening arguments, and will ultimately determine how much Perry and other defendants owe for copyright infringement. Testimony will give jurors a peek into the finances behind “Dark Horse,” a hit single that earned Perry a Grammy nomination and was the second song in her elaborate 2015 Super Bowl halftime performance.
Questions from the jury during two days of deliberations had suggested that they might find only some of the defendants liable for copyright infringement. The case focused on the notes and beats of the song, not its lyrics or recording, and the questions suggested that Perry might be off the hook.
But in a decision that left many in the courtroom surprised, jurors found all six songwriters and all four corporations that released and distributed the songs were liable, including Perry and Sarah Hudson, who wrote only the song’s words, and Juicy J, who only wrote the rap he provided for the song. Perry was not present when the verdict was read.
Other defendants found liable were Capitol Records as well as Perry’s producers: Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Cirkut, who came up with the song’s beat.
Gray’s attorneys argued that the beat and instrumental line featured through nearly half of “Dark Horse” are substantially similar to those of “Joyful Noise.” Gray wrote the song with his co-plaintiffs Emanuel Lambert and Chike Ojukwu.
“Dark Horse,” a hybrid of pop, trap and hip-hop sounds that was the third single of Perry’s 2013 album “Prism,” spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2014.
Her attorneys argued that the song sections in question represent the kind of simple musical elements that if found to be subject to copyright would hurt music and all songwriters.
“They’re trying to own basic building blocks of music, the alphabet of music that should be available to everyone,” Perry’s lawyer Christine Lepera said during closing arguments Thursday.
The defendants’ musical expert testified that the musical patterns in dispute were as simple as “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
But the jury of six women and three men disagreed, finding that the bumping beat and riff at the center of “Joyful Noise” were original enough to be copyrighted.
Perry and the song’s co-authors testified during the seven-day trial that none of them had heard the song or heard of Gray before the lawsuit, nor did they listen to Christian music.
Gray’s attorneys had only to demonstrate, however, that “Joyful Noise” had wide dissemination and could have been heard by Perry and her co-authors. They provided as evidence that it had millions of plays on YouTube and Spotify, and that the album it’s included on was nominated for a Grammy.
“They’re trying to shove Mr. Gray into some gospel music alleyway that no one ever visits,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Michael A. Kahn during closing arguments, when he also pointed out that Perry had begun her career as a Christian artist.
Jurors agreed, finding that the song was distributed widely enough that the “Dark Horse” writers may well have heard it.
Kahn and Gray declined comment but smiled as they left the courtroom after the verdict.
Lepera and other defense attorneys also declined comment outside court. Perry’s publicist did not immediately return an email message seeking comment Monday evening.
Perry, a 34-year-old pop superstar and “American Idol” judge, brought laughs to the proceedings when she testified during its second day when her lawyers were having technical troubles getting “Dark Horse” to play in the courtroom.
“I could perform it live,” Perry said.
No performance was necessary after the audio issues were fixed. Jurors heard both songs played back-to-back in their entirety at the end of closing arguments last week.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Mariah Carey passes the torch to Lil Nas X after 'Old Town Road' breaks Billboard record
Mariah Carey congratulated Lil Nas X on Twitter Monday after "Old Town Road" broke her Billboard record for most weeks at No. 1. And she did it the way everyone should be congratulated: with a kind of weird Photoshop job.
The record was previously held by two songs: "One Sweet Day," Carey's 1995 collaboration with Boyz II Men, and Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito," which spent 16 weeks atop the charts in 2017. This week, "Old Town Road" reached the 17-week mark.
"Sending love & congrats to @LilNasX on breaking one of the longest running records in music history!" Carey tweeted. "We've been blessed to hold this record with a song that means a great deal to @BoyzIIMen and myself and has touched so many. Keep living your best life!"
Sending love & congrats to @LilNasX on breaking one of the longest running records in music history! We've been blessed to hold this record with a song that means a great deal to @BoyzIIMen and myself and has touched so many. Keep living your best life!
SEE ALSO: Lil Nas X accidentally blocks breakfast show camera, charmingly styles it out
She also included a gorgeous Photoshop of herself literally "passing a torch" to Lil Nas X. Never mind that whoever made it picked a photo where his fist is closed — we know that graphic design is their passion.
Lil Nas X responded to Carey's tweet quickly, thanking her and letting her know he's a fan. "You are a legend and an icon and i’m blessed to even have you acknowledging me right now! growing up to your music & now having you talk to me directly is unreal!" he wrote.
wowwww thank you so much mariah! you are a legend and an icon and i’m blessed to even have you acknowledging me right now! growing up to your music & now having you talk to me directly is unreal!
Sending love & congrats to @LilNasX on breaking one of the longest running records in music history! We've been blessed to hold this record with a song that means a great deal to @BoyzIIMen and myself and has touched so many. Keep living your best life!
A wholesome exchange. Now, please release an "Old Town Road" remix together. Thank you!
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Triple Talaq Bill passed: Narendra Modi says legislation clearing RS hurdle is 'victory of gender justice'
n a major political win for the Narendra Modi government, the triple talaq bill today cleared Rajya Sabha hurdle. Put to vote after a lengthy debate, the triple talaq bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 99 to 84 votes.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill will now go to President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent. Once the triple talaq bill gets assent of the President and notified by the government, it will replace the triple talaq ordinance of promulgated last in February.
The triple talaq bill has been a bone of contention between the Narendra Modi government and the Opposition since December 2017, when the government first tabled the legislation in the Lok Sabha. The bill followed a Supreme Court judgment in August that year.
The Supreme Court had declared the practice of instant triple talaq unconstitutional and a divorce pronounced by uttering talaq three times in one sitting void and illegal.
The triple talaq bill of the previous Narendra Modi government lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha upon completion of its tenure. The Rajya Sabha had not approved the bill back then.
It was the first draft legisltation that the Narendra Modi 2.0 cabinet passed after being voted back to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The triple talaq bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha and passed by the house last week. The government did not face much trouble for pushing the triple talaq bill in the Lok Sabha, where it enjoys comfortable majority.
The government tabled the triple talaq bill today in the Rajya Sabha, where the Modi government needed strategic floor management to get approval of the upper house of Parliament. The ruling NDA does not have a majority of its own in the Rajya Sabha.
Number equation before triple talaq vote
NDA constituent, the Janata Dal (United) opposed the triple talaq bill. This brought down the strength of the NDA from 113 to 107.
There are three current vacancies in the Rajya Sabha bringing down its total strength to 242. The JDU abstained during voting on the triple talaq bill. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti also stayed away during voting. This brought down the strenght further to 236.
At least 14 members including Arun Jaitley of the BJP, Oscar Fernandes of the Congress, and Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel of the NCP were absent in the Rajya Sabha. This bring down the effective strength of the Rajya Sabha to 216.
The government required only 109 to get the triple talaq bill passed. The Biju Janata Dal extended support to the NDA on the triple talaq bill. This pushed the NDA-plus' strength in the Rajya Sabha to 113 MPs on the triple talaq bill.
What actually happened
In the end, both sides -- the treasury as well as the Opposition -- polled less than expected number of votes. For the ruling alliance, the AIADMK and abstained JDU. Among non-NDA non-UPA parties, the TRS did not take part in voting.
The AIADMK's decision to walk out ahead of voting on the triple talaq bill came late but it went in favour of the government. The AIADMK has 11 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. This explains reduction in number of votes polled in support of the triple talaq bill.
Several members of the Congress, the NCP, the Samajwadi Party too did not participate in the voting on the triple talaq bill. This translated into lower vote count on the Opposition side, which enjoys majority in the upper house.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Rahul Gandhi back home, Congress to pick new chief next week
New Delhi: With Rahul Gandhi back in town after an overseas trip, the grapevine is rife that Congress may convene a Congress Working Committee (CWC) next week to pick a party president.
Sources privy to developments say that the meet may take place in a couple of days now.
Reportedly, some names have been shortlisted, but the brainstorming and a final decision will be taken by the CWC itself.
However, there is speculation that a brief Congress circle has already chosen its pick and the CWC meeting will be a formality.
A senior party leader on Saturday assured Rahul Gandhi’s attendance in the upcoming CWC but added that he will not take part in electing his successor.
Rahul Gandhi offered to quit as the Congress president two days after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections result- which handed a humiliating defeat to the Grand Old Party. The Congress was reduced to a mere 52 seat presence in the lower house of Parliament.
His offer to resign was rejected first by the CWC on May 25, two days after the results of General election. Since, Rahul Gandhi resigned time and again, only for a back-and-forth with the party command over his refusal to continue as the Congress chief.
Rahul then finally tweeted his resignation letter on July 3- putting all speculation to rest.
Earlier this week, Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and General Secretary Harish Rawat told the media, “His (Rahul Gandhi) resignation has not been accepted by the CWC yet… So technically it cannot be said that the party is headless.”
Congress is also reported to be mulling the idea of a Presidium system, and of having several working presidents.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
My son was not peace as Karnataka CM: HD Deva Gowda
JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda once again raised the issue of how his son, HD Kumaraswamy, was not at peace when he was the chief minister and had “cried at the party office for 15 minutes.”
“I have no issues with the JD(S)-Congress government losing power. My son was never peaceful as the CM and I know he had cried for 15 minutes sitting in JP Bhavan,” Gowda told party workers on Saturday.
The Gowda family becoming emotional at public events was a common feature when the coalition was in power. In July 2018, both Gowda and Kumaraswamy broke down on the dais, when the latter blamed the BJP of creating distrust and suspicion about the government’s programmes among the people.
Kumaraswamy compared himself to mythological ‘Vishakanta’ for swallowing all pains inflicted by the coalition government to offer ‘amrutha’.
“Everyone around me are elated when I was made the CM, but I’m not happy. People surround me wherever I go but they did not remember me while casting votes. Even after undergoing surgery for the second time, I’ve toiled day and night ignoring my health,” he said and broke down.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Firefighters working to put out fire at MGE property on Madison's near east side
MADISON, WI — More than 11,000 customers are without power on what promises to be the hottest day of 2019 so far, after fires at two Madison Gas and Electric substations rocked the city at just after 7:30 a.m. Friday. No injuries had been reported as of just before 11 a.m.
According to Madison Gas and Electric, the fires occurred at substations containing equipment of MGE's and American Transmission Company.
In a press conference led by Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway at just after 11 a.m., the mayor said city officials are working with MGE officials to determine how long it will be before power of restored. The mayor indicated Friday that they don't know whether the power will be back in a matter of hours, or whether it will be days.
According to officials speaking during the press conference, the fires and explosions are affecting residents across the state, after the state's computer system went down.
The power outages have rendered the state DMV's services unavailable, as well as the state's Department of Health Services and the DNR. The state's automated court records system, CCAP, is also down. Gov. Tony Evers dismissed all non-essential state workers working downtown for the day as well.
"Our top prior at city is making sure that vulnerable populations are getting taking care of. We are checking in at every place with young people, seniors. We will deploy what we need to deploy to take care of people," Rhodes-Conway said during a Friday morning press conference. "All of our critical systems have backups ... police and fire operations are normal, so folks don't need to be concerned about that."
As of 10 a.m. Friday, the fires were out, and damage assessment will get underway. Officials with the power utility believe the fires were due to a mechanical issue. Plumes of dense, black smoke could be seen for miles as the flames eclipsed the height of both substation buildings.Outages extend from the west side of downtown's Capitol Square to areas around the Yahara River. MGE officials have no estimated time of restoration, but said they will issue updates as soon as possible.
The Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services, with offices in the downtown area, issued a public notice that they're evacuating their offices due to the lack of power and extreme heat coming Friday: "Due to the extensive power outage in downtown Madison and the extreme temperatures forecast for today, and in accordance with direction from the Department of Administration, all DHS staff and the public should leave the Department of Health Services building locations at 1 West Wilson Street, 1400 East Washington Street, and 600 Williamson Street in Madison."
Utility officials said they've got engineers working with representatives from the American Transmission Company and the Madison Fire Department to investigate the cause.
"Crews are working as quickly as possible to safely restore service. We have no reason to believe the cause of the fire is due to excessive usage from today's high temperatures," a spokesperson from MGE said in a statement Friday.
"Please avoid the area surrounding East Washington Avenue, East Main Street, South Livingston Street and South Blount Street," MGE said in a statement. "MGE regrets any inconvenience and urges customers to seek indoor areas with air conditioning."
The City of Madison Fire Department, which battled the blaze earlier Friday, issued the following updates:
UPDATE — 9:40 a.m.: East Washington Avenue has re-opened.
UPDATE — 9:00 a.m.: The fire on East Main Street is knocked down. Investigation continuing. No reports of injuries.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Virginia Beach Shooting: 12 Killed in Rampage at Municipal Center
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A municipal building in Virginia Beach, Va., was turned into a scene of carnage on Friday afternoon after a longtime public utilities employee began firing indiscriminately at his co-workers with a handgun, the authorities said, killing a dozen people and injuring several others before dying after an extended shootout with the police.
It had been nearing closing time in an office offering some of the most mundane functions of city government, such as paying water bills and applying for building permits, when the employee began stalking through several floors firing at his colleagues, the authorities said.
The loud bursts of gunfire sent workers scrambling and barricading their office doors.
Zand Bakhtiari, 28, who works on the first floor of the city building where the shooting happened, looked out his window about 4 p.m. and saw people screaming and running. “I thought they were running to the scene of a bad car accident,” he said in a telephone interview late Friday.
At that point, he had not heard any gunfire. But right after that, his boss, who had just left, called in an order to shelter in place: There was an active shooter. Mr. Bakhtiari and others in his office shut the door and got down.
He then heard 50 to 60 gunshots. “It was a lot of shots,” he said. Five or 10 minutes later, a police SWAT team came and led them out.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released nor was the motive of the attack. One of those injured was a police officer, who was saved by his bulletproof vest, said Chief James A. Cervera of the Virginia Beach Police Department, who said at an evening news conference that the scene could “best be described as a war zone.”
Bodies were found on all three floors of the building, the chief said. One of the deceased was discovered outside in a car.
He called the shooting a “devastating incident” that “none of us want to be here talking about,” adding that it was “going to change the lives of a number of families in our city.”
Chief Cervera said the gunman, whom he declined to name, was carrying a .45-caliber handgun, with several extended magazines. He had a suppressor on the weapon to muffle the sound, the chief said. The gunman was wounded after an exchange of fire with the police, who later issued first aid on him. But he succumbed to his injuries.
Outside the municipal center after the shooting.CreditWAVY-TV
The shooting took place shortly after 4 p.m. within the sprawling Virginia Beach Municipal Center, a campus of city offices and agencies, including the Police Department. The attack unfolded on multiple floors in Building No. 2, which includes offices for planning and public works, among others, and is adjacent to City Hall. At the scene, bystanders fled for safety and officers converged in large numbers.
“This is the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach,” Mayor Bobby Dyer said at an evening news conference.
“The people involved are our friends, co-workers, neighbors, colleagues,” he continued before his voice trailed off and he bowed his head.
Dale T. Gauding, a spokesman for Sentara Healthcare, said five patients were taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.
Another patient at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital was being picked up by helicopter and transferred to a trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, he said. Details on their conditions were not immediately available.
“This day will not define Virginia Beach,” a City Council member, Aaron Rouse, said at the news conference. “We will show the strength of our city.”
Another Council member, Barbara Henley, told The Virginian-Pilotthat she had been pulling up to City Hall when she heard police sirens and saw police cars. After initially thinking it was an accident, she heard a male voice shout “Get down!” and saw people scattering.
“I was scared to death,” she said.
All over Virginia Beach, residents were trying to process such horror on what had been the close to a normal week. “Pleasantville is no more,” said June P. Kates, a former teacher and resident of Virginia Beach who lives in a retirement community nearby. She said she had been to the municipal center many times.
“It’s so sad. It’s just so sad,” she said. “I just think it’s the saddest thing I can imagine.”
Eerily, the police had scheduled a community workshop for Saturday morning on how to prepare for a mass shooting. The “active threat citizens defense” event had 36 people scheduled to attend, according to the department’s Facebook page.
“Having to face an armed individual with bad intentions is every person’s worst nightmare. You can’t stop crazy, you can only respond to it,” said a brochure for the workshop published by the local ABC News affiliate.
“You don’t prepare for something like this,” said Mayor Dyer. “It’s a nightmare no one wants to actually live through.”
Nothing like this has happened in Virginia Beach in the 40 years that Guy King Tower, a City Council member and retired lawyer, has been living there. “Nothing remotely like it, certainly in my memory,” said Mr. Tower, who has been living in the city since the 1970s but just joined the council a month ago.
He was at the municipal center early Friday afternoon, but left before the shooting. He said that Building 2 — where the shooting occurred — is connected by a tunnel to Building 1, which is the main administrative office.
He said that in addition to a dominant Navy presence, the area also has Marine, Army and Air Force bases. “This is a military town, and people deal with the wages of war on a pretty regular basis,” Mr. Tower said. “There are a lot of people here who have had loved ones in harm’s way. But certainly a mass murder had never happened that I can recall.”
Earlier on Friday, Wave Church, one of the largest evangelical churches in the area with about 6,000 members, hosted a blood drive. Steve Kelly, the pastor, hoped that some of the blood from the congregation might be used to help victims.
“One of our staff, his sister-in-law was in the building, hiding under a desk, texting us to pray for her,” he said. “She is traumatized, but she wasn’t injured.”
The Kempsville Mennonite Church was hosting a graduation celebration for its high school seniors on Friday evening as the chaos unfolded just a few minutes up the road.
William Yoder, 28, was one of the few people there to have heard about the shooting, because members of their community do not have televisions and many do not have smartphones.
“It’s semirural in this area,” Mr. Yoder said. “The civic center is pretty close to farmland, a few neighborhoods. Most times it is fairly quiet.”
“It is pretty shocking,” he added.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
The Latest: Orthodox men dive for cross in Istanbul’s waters
SOFIA, Bulgaria — The Latest on celebrations of Epiphany (all times local):
1:10 p.m.
Dozens of Orthodox men dove into Istanbul’s cold waters to retrieve a cross to mark the baptism of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I led worshippers in the Epiphany, throwing a blessed wooden cross into the Golden Horn inlet.
Michalis Voznakidis from Greece took the cross and the men kissed it before coming ashore. He said “we are here for everyone, for our religion.”
The ceremony took place after Bartholomew granted independence to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, in a historic move that has angered Russia.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Metropolitan Epiphanius I of the new church joined the Epiphany in Istanbul.
The Patriarchate in Istanbul is considered the heart of the Orthodox world and dates back to the Byzantine Empire, which collapsed when the Muslim Ottomans conquered the city in 1453.
12:10 p.m.
Pope Francis has marked the Epiphany feast day by urging people to follow the path of “humble love” and care for those who can give nothing back.
For the Catholic Church, Jan. 6 recalls the journey of the three Magi, also known as kings or wise men, to find Jesus in a humble abode in Bethlehem.
In his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, Francis encouraged getting up “from our sedentary lives” to care for those who are suffering or vulnerable and “those left behind.”
Since becoming pontiff in 2013, Francis has stressed helping those on the margins of society, including the homeless, migrants and the poor.
Francis described as “precious in the eyes of God” mercy shown to those “who have nothing to give back.”
10 a.m.
Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers have plunged into icy rivers and lakes across Bulgaria to recover crucifixes cast by priests in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
Tradition holds that the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year. After the cross is fished out, the priest sprinkles believers with water using a bunch of basil.
Epiphany is held every year on Jan. 6 and marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas.
In the central mountain city of Kalofer, dozens of men dressed in white embroidered shirts waded into the Tundzha River waving national flags and singing folk songs Sunday. They danced for nearly half an hour, up to their waists in the freezing water, pushing away ice chunks.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
The Latest: Orthodox men dive for cross in Istanbul’s waters
SOFIA, Bulgaria — The Latest on celebrations of Epiphany (all times local):
1:10 p.m.
Dozens of Orthodox men dove into Istanbul’s cold waters to retrieve a cross to mark the baptism of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I led worshippers in the Epiphany, throwing a blessed wooden cross into the Golden Horn inlet.
Michalis Voznakidis from Greece took the cross and the men kissed it before coming ashore. He said “we are here for everyone, for our religion.”
The ceremony took place after Bartholomew granted independence to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, in a historic move that has angered Russia.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Metropolitan Epiphanius I of the new church joined the Epiphany in Istanbul.
The Patriarchate in Istanbul is considered the heart of the Orthodox world and dates back to the Byzantine Empire, which collapsed when the Muslim Ottomans conquered the city in 1453.
12:10 p.m.
Pope Francis has marked the Epiphany feast day by urging people to follow the path of “humble love” and care for those who can give nothing back.
For the Catholic Church, Jan. 6 recalls the journey of the three Magi, also known as kings or wise men, to find Jesus in a humble abode in Bethlehem.
In his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, Francis encouraged getting up “from our sedentary lives” to care for those who are suffering or vulnerable and “those left behind.”
Since becoming pontiff in 2013, Francis has stressed helping those on the margins of society, including the homeless, migrants and the poor.
Francis described as “precious in the eyes of God” mercy shown to those “who have nothing to give back.”
10 a.m.
Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers have plunged into icy rivers and lakes across Bulgaria to recover crucifixes cast by priests in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
Tradition holds that the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year. After the cross is fished out, the priest sprinkles believers with water using a bunch of basil.
Epiphany is held every year on Jan. 6 and marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas.
In the central mountain city of Kalofer, dozens of men dressed in white embroidered shirts waded into the Tundzha River waving national flags and singing folk songs Sunday. They danced for nearly half an hour, up to their waists in the freezing water, pushing away ice chunks.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
DigitalPrintIdeas Wishes Merry Christmas
We wish all our readers a merry Christmas. Billions around the world celebrate and commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior of mankind.
In many religions and according to various beliefs, the holiday season is a time of celebration. Whether you traveled home to be with your families, are visiting friends or plan to embark on a lovely trip, please make time for yourselves and enjoy the season. Although the weeks leading up to the holidays can be a bit stressful and chaotic, the holiday season should be about slowing down and taking time to enjoy life’s simpler pleasures with loved ones.
There is still time to enjoy Budapest in its most festive form by wandering down Andrássy Avenue, Váci Street and the Grand Boulevard, all beautifully lit, or by paying a visit to the bustling Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square. And, of course, don’t forget to travel on Budapest’s magnificent Christmas trams, operating until 6 January. The Advent Feast at the Basilica in Budapest is also open. The event recently came in second place in a poll conducted by the European Best Destinations organization measuring readers’ favorite European Christmas markets.
In the name of the whole Editorial Team of Hungary Today, we wish you a very Happy Holiday season and thank you for continuing to be regular readers of our news site and our sister site, Ungarn Heute, and are grateful for all your support, comments and likes on our social media sites.
DigitalPrintIdeas
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Indonesia pop band Seventeen's members dead or missing after tsunami slams stage during performance
Members of the Indonesian pop band Seventeen are seen in a publicity photo. (Instagram)
An Indonesian pop band lost its bass player and road manager after a tsunami struck the beach where the band was performing Saturday night, according to reports.
In a news release, the band named Seventeen confirmed the deaths of bassist M. Awal Purbani, also known as Bani, and road manager Oki Wijaya, the Jakarta Post reported.
Four others associated with the band - guitarist Herman Sikumbang, drummer Andi Windu Darmawan, crew member Ujang, and Dylan Sahara, wife of vocalist Riefian Fajarsyah -- remained missing, according to the paper.
https://twitter.com/jamesmassola/status/1076681918177935360
This (awful) video shows the Indonesian band Seventeen in concert at the Tanjung Lesung beach in Banten - until the tsunami struck. It has been widely shared online. The band’s bass player and road manager are dead, three other band members and the singer’s wife are missing
Seventeen was performing at an event held by state electric company PLN near the shore of Tanjung Lesung beach when the tidal wave hit their stage around 9:30 p.m.
Social media footage of the disaster shows the stage lurching forward into the audience along with the band and its equipment.
Fajarsyah posted a video to his Instagram account, confirming that several band members and his wife, Dylan Sahara, had not been found, according to the Post.
The Indonesian government has said the tsunami, which struck without warning around Indonesia's Sunda Strait on Saturday night, has claimed dozens of lives, left hundreds injured and others unaccounted for.
Scientists from Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics agency said it could have been caused by undersea landslides from the eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island formed over years from the nearby Krakatau volcano.
Hundreds of homes and buildings, including hotels, were swept away.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Insatiable star Debby Ryan and Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun are engaged - Independent.
Netflix star Debby Ryan has announced her engagement to her partner, Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun.
Ryan, best known for starring in teen black comedy series Insatiable on the streaming service, shared their news on Twitter with a number of pictures showing the proposal.
She told her 3.9 million followers: “I said yes! Well technically I said ‘NO WAY’ twice but I meant yes.”
One of the snaps showed Dun down on one knee holding a ring as Ryan laughed in disbelief, against a forest backdrop.
https://twitter.com/DebbyRyan/status/1076678172790280194
Another was a shot of him kissing her head as she still appeared to come to terms with the news.
Dun, 30, shared the same pictures with his 3.8 million Instagram followers and wrote: “I found a tree house in the woods in New Zealand and proposed to my girl.
“She my dude for life. I love you Debby.”
The 25-year-old American actress, who started her career as a child on the Disney Channel, and American musician Dun have been dating on and off since 2013.
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Officer-involved shooting investigation underway in Encino
An officer involved shooting took place in Encino Saturday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
An officer involved shooting leads to an apparent standoff in Encino. Gil Leyvas reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2018. (Published 34 minutes ago)
The shooting occurred in the area of White Oak Avenue and Weddington Street, according to the LAPD.
Newschopper4 Bravo arrived over the scene shortly before 11 p.m., and the manner in which the police were set up on the street and the presence of what appeared to be SWAT officers indicated that a standoff was underway.
The point of focus for police on the ground appeared to be the Holy Martyrs Armenian Apstic church.
Read the full article
1 note
·
View note