#dc 2022 slate

[mariacallous]

The man who became a figurehead of the January 6 Capitol riot is planning to run for Congress in Arizona, and he may not even be the most extreme candidate on the ballot.

Jacob Chansley, a January 6 rioter known as the QAnon Shaman who wore face paint and horns to breach the Capitol, pleaded guilty to taking part in the riot. Last week, Chansley filed a statement of interest to run for a seat in Arizona’s 8th congressional district. Chansley, who has lived in the district for 30 years, tells WIRED that he is running his campaign single-handedly and does not plan to accept PAC money. Though he’s not eligible to vote under Arizona law because he is still serving part of his sentence, Chansley is able to run for Congress.

“When I heard that the seat was available, I prayed on it for a while, and the message I got from God was, ‘Do it,’” says Chansley.

In Arizona, Chansley’s decision to run for office is almost standard. Though Chansley may be viewed as a fringe candidate by many, he is not an outlier in a district and state where election deniers and conspiracists are already front and center in the 2024 election races.

Ever since former US president Donald Trump lost Arizona in 2020, the state has become the epicenter of election denial conspiracies and efforts to undermine democracy. The state was home to the Cyber Ninjas–run GOP recount that cost taxpayers millions, and its voters are represented by multiple far-right extremist GOP lawmakers, including state senator Wendy Rogers and US representative Paul Gosar, who have boosted wild conspiracy theories related to vote rigging. Former TV presenter Kari Lake, who has been touted as a possible vice presidential pick by Trump in 2024, continues to claim that the Arizona secretary of state race she lost by 17,000 votes in 2022 was stolen. Lake has also boosted racist “birther” conspiracies about former president Barack Obama and has pushed for journalists and political rivals to be jailed for unspecified crimes.

In Chansley’s home district, a slate of candidates reflecting Arizona’s embrace of extremist ideologies have already declared interest in running for the seat left open by the retirement of US representative Debbie Lesko, a member of the far-right Republican Freedom Caucus in Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

Blake Masters, who ran for a US Senate seat in 2022 and lost, announced he would run for a seat in Arizona’s 8th district last month. During his Senate race, Masters was backed by money from techno-libertarian Peter Thiel, his former boss, as well as an endorsement from Trump, who told him to lean into claims of election fraud if he wanted to win the election. (Masters very much touted 2020 election denial conspiracies, but they apparently didn’t help him win.)

Masters, who published videos of him shooting guns as part of his 2022 campaign, will face a challenge for the GOP nomination from Abe Hamadeh. Hamadeh, a 2022 Republican candidate for Arizona attorney general, also lost his race in 2022 despite having Trump’s endorsement. Hamadeh was one of the loudest voices in Arizona falsely claiming that Trump had won the 2020 election, and he is still trying to have his own loss to attorney general Kris Mayes overturned.

Former US representative Trent Franks, Lesko’s predecessor, is also running again. Franks was forced to resign in 2017 after he offered female staffers millions of dollars to serve as surrogate mothers for him and his wife—and at least one aide was unsure whether Franks was requesting to impregnate her through sexual intercourse or in vitro fertilization.

Anthony Kern, an Arizona state senator who was also in Washington, DC, on January 6, and who has been accused of using campaign finances to fund his trip to the capital, has announced his candidacy for the congressional seat as well. Kern was captured on video entering a restricted area outside the Capitol, though there is no evidence he was violent or entered the Capitol itself, and he has not been charged for any crimes related to the riot.

Kern is, however, currently under investigation by the Arizona attorney general as one of 11 fake electors who signed documents in 2020 to claim that Trump had beaten President Joe Biden in Arizona, even though Biden actually won the state. Kern also took part in the sham hand-recount of ballots in Maricopa County in 2021.

Before becoming a lawmaker, Kern was fired from his position with the El Mirage Police Department for lying to his supervisor about repaying the cost of a tablet computer he had lost. He was placed on a list of Maricopa County law enforcement officials with a history of dishonesty or misconduct.

“The race in general is gonna be wild,” one independent researcher who tracks the far-right in Arizona under the moniker Arizona Right Watch tells WIRED. But, they add, they would still “take Chansley over Kern, who is totally corrupt and batshit.”

And even though the other candidates are possibly more connected politically, Chansley still thinks he has closer ties to voters in his home district.

“Several of the candidates running here in District 8 don’t even live in District 8. I’ve lived in District 8 for over 30 years,” he tells WIRED. “I’m largely doing it on my own. It’s just me and God, man.”

He’s currently working on a campaign website, and plans to begin knocking on doors to meet voters in the next couple of weeks. Chansley is also eager to take part in debates with other candidates. “That's where I think I'll shine,” Chansley says. “I'm ready to debate anyone and everyone that wants to try.”

When asked whether he would be attending a candidate forum being organized by a local community organization on Wednesday night, Chalsey says, “quite possibly.”

Chansley added that he doesn’t want any campaign donations, but says that if people want to support him, they can do so by buying merchandise on his website which includes T-shirts, mugs, and yoga leggings that feature him dressed in the notorious QAnon Shaman garb.

Despite having no experience, no money, no support, and no endorsements, Chansley is still optimistic about winning in 2024.

“I think my chances of winning are good, otherwise God wouldn't have asked me to run,” Chansley says.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

When Peter Else left the University of Arizona in 2005 to live in the San Pedro Valley full time, he planned to spend his retirement farming in one of the most ecologically intact landscapes left in southern Arizona, where the nearby river remains undammed and giant cactuses fill the space between the Galiuro and Rincon mountains. 

But Else, who previously directed the Tucson Area Agricultural Centers at the University of Arizona, soon found himself in the middle of one of the most consequential debates over developing green spaces for green energy. For nearly a decade, he has been fighting the SunZia project—a transmission line connecting 3,000 megawatts of clean energy generated by wind farms in New Mexico to the power grid. The transmission line was routed largely along highways in New Mexico and Arizona but detoured into the San Pedro Valley for roughly 50 miles, cutting through a landscape that for decades avoided most of the impacts of human development. Other routes identified by developers were deemed to have greater negative impacts by federal regulators, while the company said building along existing infrastructure was too costly.  

“I’ve never done anything like that before in my life,” Else said of becoming a citizen intervenor during the Arizona Corporation Commission’s (ACC) permitting process for SunZia, a role that allows citizens impacted by a project to directly participate in its permitting by providing sworn testimony and cross-examining witnesses. “I had no idea what I was getting into.” 

Fifteen years since the project was first proposed and nearly a decade after state regulators began reviewing the project, Else is still involved, suing the ACC, which regulates state utilities, over its issuing of a certificate of environmental compatibility (CEC) to SunZia. The suit argues that the development has fundamentally changed since it was narrowly approved in 2016 and no longer benefits Arizona. 

When SunZia was approved, the project planned to build two side-by-side power lines and connect to a planned substation in Bowie, Arizona. One of the lines built would be an alternating current line, enabling other energy projects in southern Arizona to connect to the grid, while the other would be a direct current line, which doesn’t easily allow for interconnection and is best used for sending large amounts of energy over long distances. But since Pattern Energy purchased the project in 2022, only the DC line is being built after the ACC agreed to separate the permits for both of the lines. The AC line currently lacks the funding to begin construction, and all of the project’s wind energy is slated to be sold in California, where it’s worth more. 

“As a matter of law, the Commission cannot approve a CEC when on one side of the balance is zero (no Arizona purchasers) or noneconomical power, and on the other side is environmental and ecological harm,” the lawsuit reads. “This is an independent reason to remand: the Commission must require Pattern to put on evidence of actual need in Arizona.”

Else’s lawsuit is just the latest in a series of challenges facing SunZia, the biggest renewable energy project in U.S. history, despite construction on the project having already begun. Fights over the development are playing out in state and federal courts. 

Transmission lines are vital to the energy grid and a major component of the transition away from fossil fuels. The lines send energy, often generated in remote places, over long distances, typically to major urban centers. But building them can be a long and tedious process, involving regulators from various states and federal agencies and the consultation and feedback of local and tribal communities, environmental groups and others. 

[pics-and-fanfics]

Looking back at all the “every version of me” posts I’ve made since I started talking about it on here, and I think it’s kinda funny but also sad that the blogs I followed when I first got into this hellsite are blogs I don’t interact with anymore because I’ve drifted away from Marvel

I mean, I still love the Marvel fandom, but it’s just not my thing anymore, you know? And I’m getting so into DC, and I’m really hoping I don’t have that happen again

But that’s not why I wanted to make this post, I wanted to look back at the original idea of Every Version of Me, back when I was just seeing a bit of batfam stuff in my feed and I was just curious (help I’ve been yanked down the rabbit hole)

The original document, which is what I use, but I basically erased it and rewrote it, bc at the time I really started getting into this fic was like early/mid last year, and I wanted to just have a fresh slate

The original idea/doc was put into words in October of 2022 (wow over a year ago) (no, that’s not my real name, deal with it)

And the first picrew I ever made of Skyler (which I still have) was made on May 11, 2023

The original idea of Skyler was an AFAB transmasc with anxiety, depression, ADHD, possible PTSD, asexual, bi-romantic, and a lot of trust issues

His biggest fear was never being good enough, and that Bruce would realize that Skye wasn’t “perfect” aka good enough, and would toss him aside, like everyone else had done

He had trauma from being raped as a kid multiple times and nobody believing him

I think he had an eating disorder? I’m not sure anymore, it’s been practically forever

He had tried to kill himself before, he’d been shoved into hundreds of foster homes between the ages of 7 and 13, bc almost none of the foster homes lasted more than a week. He still has the pocket knife he stole.

He idolized Red Hood, bc that’s who saved him one night when it was cold or he was getting beat up by bigger and stronger people. I don’t really know how or why, but I know that Red Hood saved Skyler, and now he idolizes him, he wants to be just like him. (Think the “big brother I wanna be just like you” edits)

Skyler never changed his name, because it’s something his parents gave him, and it’s one of the only things he had left of them, besides the languages they taught him when he was itty bitty.

Skyler was (and is) Italian and Russian, and knows how to flip you off in more than 3 languages.

Skyler is one of the blorbos that has lasted the longest, even if they did take a back burner a few times, but they never left.

I love Skyler, and I hope you do too.

❤️✍️

[pickledpascal]

Are You Satisfied?

Chapter One

Summary: Elvis Presley's day starts out normal, but ends not so normal.

Warnings: Swearing, existentialism, mentions of mental illness, horrible writing of a southern accent.

Word Count: 3.1k

Are You Satisfied? Masterlist

Next Chapter

-----------

Los Angeles 

May, 1968

Elvis Presley.

A household name for the time, a man that was considered a rebel just about ten years prior. His name was on one of the many stars on Hollywood Boulevard, he starred in movies, he was listened to all over the world. It was safe to say Presley was once the most popular and famous man in the world. But the man himself was having doubts on how he went about it. Really? Advertisements for an at-home sewing machine? Did that really scream Elvis Presley? He was turning into a Hollywood joke the more and more he stayed, especially with the Colonel as his manager. We’ll leech ‘em of all their money and move onto greener pastures, He said. Sure, Elvis thought, but no one else'll wanna hire me after this. 

Speaking of, Elvis had just finished filming his newest movie that was set to come out sometime next year. He ran a hand through his silky black hair as he entered his trailer, slamming the door behind him with a frustrated sigh. Yet another argument with the Colonel about if all this was worth it. He thought so but Elvis, as always, thought differently. He wanted to support his friends and his family but was being pulled into things he would rather not do.

Elvis wished he could have a clean slate, go back to his early days where he was on the road and playing his music the way he wanted. The music he loved. Not the music other people wanted him to do. The man went to sleep that day, a sad look on his eyes before he closed them. He wished that maybe one day, Colonel Parker would finally see his perspective. Elvis was a showman.  He was meant for the stage, to have thousands of fans screaming his name…. Among other things. 

—------------

Los Angeles 

May, 2022

June Monroe.

A young woman who was the polar opposite of…. A certain Rock n Roll star. Sure, she did love rock, but something with a bit more shredding of a guitar. Like AC/DC or Aerosmith. June wasn’t a household name but she was connected to many. After all, being a producer will do that for you. Sometimes, she would even be hired as a music specialist for certain movie productions. Her real dream, though, was to work with a music legend. Hard to do that when most of them are dead but she still held out hope. She could tell some of them were apprehensive, for good reason, she had the style of a goth with the music track record of Taylor Swift. 

June shook her head, adjusting her grip on the guitar case in her hand. She needed to get home. Thankfully, the recording studio she worked at wasn’t too far from her apartment–a small walk from East Hollywood to Central LA. After all, it was too expensive to own a car in California, let alone the busy city of LA.

Tourists were everywhere but it just depended on the route she took if there were more or less. Unfortunately, her route was crowded today. Stepping onto the Walk of Fame, there were what seemed like hundreds of Elvis impersonators with white jumpsuits and over the top accents within a few feet of each other. June was desensitized to it at this point, not sparing them a second glance. 

That was until one bumped right into her. “Hey! Bro, look where you’re fucking going!” June yelled, dropping her guitar case from the collision. “This guitar is expensive, asshole.” She grunted, going to grab it from the trashed sidewalk. As her hand touched the handle, so did the strangers. 

Her head snapped up to retort when her voice got caught in her throat. The man in front of her was the spitting image of him. Elvis Presley. Granted, less stereotypical. His hair slicked back with one simple stray strand across his forehead. He wore a simple black turtleneck with deep blue dress pants paired with glossy black heeled shoes. Was he an Elvis impersonator or some descendant no one knew of?

“I’m really sorry bout bumpin’ into you.” God, even his voice was like Elvis’--deep with a southern twang. But this didn’t seem like an impression, those were usually so eccentric to play up a schtick. How was that possible? June swore she was hallucinating or something, staring into the stranger’s dark blue eyes. “Must’ve gotten lost or somethin’.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck once the guitar was back into the hands of its owner.

June cleared her throat for a moment, her eyes scanning the man for any indication of lying. Usually, she could feel when someone was lying to her or had the intention of doing something wrong–either to her or just in general–but she didn’t get anything from him. Just the pure feeling of being lost or confused. 

“You live around here?” June finally asked after an awkward moment of them just staring at each other. 

Much like how June was appalled as to how someone could look so much like Elvis, and sound like him too, the stranger was astonished by her looks as well. Long jet-black hair with two streaks of a bright blue flowing from around her ears, her face was sculpted beautifully with plump lips, sharp cheekbones, a nice jaw, perfect eyebrows, and freckles dotted on her nose and cheeks with a few larger beauty marks on her chin, cheeks, and forehead. Her eyes were both an icy blue with crystal-like specks of a darker, more saturated blue, but her right had some little specks of green as well. But…. what was in her face? Was that…. Metal? Piercings of silver were in both eyebrows, a ring between her nostrils, bulbs on her nose, and a spike was coming from under her bottom lip. The man also noticed black ink marks just over the neckline of her shirt. 

June wore a simple short-sleeved black turtleneck shirt and dark, ripped, belted high-waisted jeans that were cuffed to show off the boots underneath. The pants even had stitches on the back pockets, a star on the left one and a heart on the other. June even had tattoos on her lean muscled arms. She looked other-worldly to him while she looked like anyone to any other person’s eyes.

He shook his head, glancing over to one of the LED billboards. “No…. uh, not in a long time.” He responded softly, but there was a certain level of excitement beneath his eyes.

“Okay, well, walk with me then, stranger?” June asked before she could think. Something was compelling her to want to get to know this man better. Maybe even learn his name. “I’ll buy you a coffee.” She winked with a smile.

As if he was suddenly parched, the man’s tongue shot out and swiped against his lip. “I’d like that.” He smiled back at her. “My name is Elvis, by the way. May I have yours?” He asked innocently as they started to walk together. June was obviously leading the way. She was the one that knew where the coffee shop was.

June cocked an eyebrow at “Elvis” as she walked. Doubt was settling in her mind. No shot he coincidently looked like Elvis Presley and had his first name too so she simply played along. It had to be an impersonator…. But he was pretty young to be one. Usually, they were in their forties and up. Unless this one wanted a head start or something. For what? She didn’t know. 

“It’s June.” She said, glancing over at Elvis who had a look of excitement in his eyes. He was looking at all the different buildings, new cars, street vendors, and the people. It was like this was all new to him. He looked like a child who just got the newest toy. “Monroe.” June added, not knowing why.

Elvis’ eyes widened, snapping his gaze back to the woman next to him. “Like the movie star?” He asked, voice laced with excitement. Well, that could explain how perfect she looked.

“We’re not related but have the same last name, yes.” June laughed quietly, shaking her head a little before she stopped and opened the door to the coffee shop. She held the door open for Elvis to enter who bowed his head in thanks. When the man stopped at the line, June was concerned. He seemed a bit overwhelmed by the options as he looked up at the menu. “This is a Starbucks.” She whispered softly, confused but trying to comfort him.

“I don’t know what the hell a Starbuck is.” Elvis said, his eyebrows contorted into confusion. If June wasn’t so astonished by that, she would have laughed.

So, instead of letting Elvis pick for himself, June ordered for the both of them. A simple dragon fruit refresher for herself and a hot coffee with mocha for Elvis. As he took a sip of his, it was like he was filled with a new energy. Well, June might’ve just made another coffee addict by accident. She guided Elvis to a booth by the windows and let her guitar case lean against the side of the table.

After taking a sip of her drink, June’s eyes raked Elvis again. He was a little too believable. No one sounded so eerily similar to THE Elvis Presley. “Gimme your ID.” She said suddenly. The only way to confirm this. 

"Alrighty, darlin'." Elvis chuckled softly, hands going to his pockets before he fished out his wallet and plucked his ID from it. 

Before June grabbed it, the condition seemed like it was just brand new and her brain was relieved. Surely he was just coincidentally named Elvis and looked like him! Anything else would be preposterous. Right? Couldn't be anything else. When she did grab it though, that hope died out quickly.

Presley, Elvis Aaron

DOB: 01/08/1935

Issued: 08/16/1967

Expires: 08/16/1975

"Fuck." That couldn't be. Hell, it was even issued in Tennessee. Now, June didn't know the most about Elvis Presley but she knew he lived in Memphis, Tennessee. And this ID looked fairly real, it could probably fool even the police if they didn't look hard enough at it. "You're…. Elvis Presley." June blinked, sliding the ID back towards him as she took a deep breath.

This couldn’t be happening. Elvis was dead. Dead dead. He died decades ago, before she was even born. Speaking of, how old does that make him now? He was still born in ‘35, evident by the ID, but the person in front of her didn’t seem to be a day older than twenty-five. He looked about her age, maybe slightly older but not by much. This was too crazy for June’s already mentally ill brain to handle so she would just ignore it.

Elvis cocked his head at her for a moment, watching her breathing slow as her jaw clenched. “I was tryna tell you that.” He shrugged, a light, playful smile on his lips. 

“What year is it?” June asked quickly, her eyes were frantic. It was very contradictory to her body language that it almost scared Elvis. 

“Well, it ain’t the year I thought it was, that’s for sure.” Elvis joked softly before he answered honestly. “It was 1968, last time I checked.” Well fuck. He’s 54 years in the future.

June ran a hand down her face before she ran it through her hair as well, pursing her lips too. Should she break it to him? She might as well, who knows how long he’s gonna stay here. “It’s 2022.” She said, eyes snapping up to Elvis’ as she admitted that fact. 

She suspected anger, confusion, hell, even fear but what she saw was nothing of the sort. Like most of the emotions she’d seen just a few moments ago, the man’s blue eyes glimmered with excitement. For what? Who the hell knows. It confused June. He knew practically nothing of how the current world was. Perhaps, he was excited to get to know it. To see just how different it is, how better or worse it became.

“I, uh, have an extra room in my apartment if you’d like it?” The offer was out of June’s mouth before she had a second to think. Sure, this was Elvis Presley but she just met the man. She really shouldn’t be offering him a place to stay. 

“If it’s no trouble.” Elvis said softly, his southern accent weirdly comforting to June. She’d never really liked southern accents before, they seemed a little too strange to her. Maybe it’s because she grew up in the north.

June shook her head, “It’s alright, as long as you don’t eat all my food or go digging in my room.” She teased, but there was a glint of threat in her eyes.

Elvis wasn’t sure if he liked that or not. Probably the former. June was so different from any girl he’s ever seen or met before.

—----------

June’s apartment was in East Hollywood, in a relatively new building. Only a few years old. She was lucky enough to get a two-bedroom, not to mention, an apartment close enough to her job that she could walk it. It had a modern style that was mixed with retro elements–mostly the colors–because white and black looked clean, it didn’t add much character. Her kitchen was off to the left as soon as the door opened, the living room just beyond that with the dining table off to the right of the door, there was the extra bedroom next to the stairs that lead up to the master. 

So, yeah, June was pretty lucky.

—----------

Elvis blinked a little at the size of the apartment as he entered. This was much bigger than he expected. He was thinking something more like a New York apartment, although he's never seen one of those either. “Guess I’m with a high roller, huh?” He chuckled softly, nudging June.

The woman shook her head, a small smile on her face. “Not even close. I just have a nice job that gives me some good benefits.” June explained, setting her guitar on the couch before she stretched her arms out and rolled her shoulders. Producing, unfortunately, meant sitting down more than half the day.

As she stretched, Elvis noticed her arms flex ever so slightly and a light heat started to make its way to his cheeks. He never thought he’d like a strong woman before but there’s always a time for firsts.

“What’s that?” Elvis snapped his eyes to the flat black thing mounted on the wall in front of the couch. He went over to it, his eyebrows furrowing. It was glossy and sleek. Was this some sort of art piece?

“It’s a TV.” June laughed quietly, grabbing the remote to turn it on. Immediately, color filled the black screen. It was on some random channel.

The man stepped back and hummed, “I’on think I’ve ever seen a television like this before.” He then looked back at June, catching her gaze.

This had to seem weird. June was introducing Elvis into so many new things in a matter of hours. Starbucks, cars (he’d asked as they walked), electronic key cards (the way June got in her apartment), and now flat screen TVs. There was so much more to learn about this modern world and Elvis was excited to see it all, especially with June by his side. She was so kind and patient with him. He wanted to experience every new thing with her.

“Fifty plus years leaves a lot for improvement.” June winked before turning to the door behind her, motioning towards it. “That room is yours. Tomorrow, we’re going shopping ‘cause I don’t have any extra clothes for you.” She explained before she pulled out her phone to see what shops were around to have a similar style to what Elvis was wearing. 

Catching his eyes, though, June paused. “This is a phone. Telephone.” She clarified, “They improved it so you can’t just call people, but you can search things up, listen to music, play games, and text–write electronic letters to people.” June explained, watching as Elvis made a nod of acknowledgement. Then it dawned on her. June didn’t have a house phone. “I’ll probably have to buy you one….” She whispered to herself.

If Elvis needed her for something, he wouldn’t have any other way to communicate with her besides a phone. A phone he didn’t have. Nor did he know how to use one…. She’d have to teach him.

“Well, that’s a problem for tomorrow.” June hummed, pocketing her phone before she went to her kitchen while Elvis sat on the couch. He was enthralled with the movie playing on the TV. The superhero looked like Captain Marvel, his favorite comic book. June looked through her fridge, pursing her lips. “You got a taste for anything?”

Elvis’ gaze stayed on the TV, “Nah.” He responded, head cocked as he watched. The colors were so vibrant, so different to the unrealistic colorization of the last TV he had before this.

In some ways, Elvis was overwhelmed. Technology was so different, so improved that it propelled society in ways he didn’t quite understand. But June was there to help him understand. But when he found out about voice command technology, June wasn’t the best at explaining that. To her, it just worked.

June sighed, grabbing some leftovers from the previous night to heat up. “Ever try stir fry?” She asked, sure that he didn’t. Elvis probably had the palette of a classic 50s southern boy. Steaks and other hunky types of meat. 

“Can’t say I have.” Elvis hummed, his eyes finally ripping away from the movie playing. “S’good?” He asked as he walked over to the counter and sat down at it. The counter reminded him a bit of counters at some diners he’s been to before. So, it was a breath of something that was familiar with a breath of something new.

June shrugged, “I think so, it’s just meat and veggies with some brown sauce.” She grabbed the first bowl from the microwave before she set hers in there, punching in a time. Then she grabbed a fork for Elvis and set the bowl and silverware in front of him.

Elvis stared down at the bowl, eyebrows furrowing slightly at the contents. Yeah, he definitely liked steak a lot more but he was willing to try it. He speared a piece of chicken with some broccoli and hesitantly put the fork in his mouth. His eyes widened at the taste. It was like something he’s never had before. “Holy shit.” Elvis breathed.

“I know, right?” June winked, a smile on her perfectly sculpted lips.

-------

taglist (open)

@gumdrop0-0

@jihyhoes

[ufonaut]

The delays befalling the Justice Society of America (2022) ongoing series have been a hot topic of debate for almost a full year now and I thought I'd point out that in a podcast interview two months ago (x) Geoff Johns spoke pretty obviously (if not especially candidly) about this exact topic, mirroring something fellow Ghost Machine contributor Bryan Hitch had also previously expressed in regards to the delays on Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor -- both mentioning their series being pushed to come out early due to DC needing to hit certain numbers surely makes it a pattern and puts the blame pretty squarely with the corporate side of things rather than the creative team.

Notably, the dates Geoff Johns mentions are not random examples at all -- both The New Golden Age and Justice Society of America #1 came out in November 2022. However, what if it was only the New Golden Age primer that was meant for that particular release date and JSA itself had originally been slated for an April 2023 release effectively rendering the book late by default? At this point, it seems more than likely.

[comicweek]

The drama is being rehashed at a time when DC Entertainment toppers James Gunn and Peter Safran are poised to close the book on the previous regime’s superhero slate with the Dec. 20 release of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” Since Warner Bros. chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca joined the studio in June 2022, followed by Gunn and Safran’s entrance four months later, the four have been saddled with DC duds they inherited, including this year’s “The Flash” ($271 million worldwide) and “Blue Beetle” ($128 million worldwide).

Still, the “Aquaman” sequel held promise considering that the character’s first outing earned $1.15 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing DC movie ever. But sources say the sequel has endured challenges outside of the Heard saga and was testing in the 60s before being recut in the summer of 2022. Despite the overhaul, the film continued to test in the 60s, prompting a new cut. “The movie is like this echo of regimes,” says one insider. “It’s the last remnant of the Snyderverse, and no one really wants to take ownership of it.” Reshoots took place right up until this year’s WGA strike in May. The on-set source disputes the idea that “Aquaman 2” is troubled, noting that the film was on time, under budget and needed only about a week of reshoots.

Like “Flash,” “Aquaman” can’t shake its lame duck trappings, with the DC universe getting overhauled under new leadership, marking Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s top priority.

In fact, none of the stars cast by Zack Snyder for 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and 2017’s “Justice League” — including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller and Momoa — will reprise their roles in the new DC universe in character. Momoa may return, just not as Aquaman. Sources say the actor has engaged in talks to play Lobo, either in the 2025 reboot “Superman: Legacy,” written and directed by Gunn, or in a standalone film. In a confusing twist, Viola Davis, who played Amanda Waller in both of the recent “Suicide Squad” movies, will remain as that character in the Gunn-Safran DC universe in next year’s Max series “Waller” and possibly in the new “Superman” tentpole. Another outlier is Gunn’s Max series “Peacemaker,” which will be back for a second season with John Cena in the lead.

Meanwhile, there has been some confusion on the series front about who is the ultimate gatekeeper. Unlike the Marvel-Disney relationship in which Marvel controls the creative process and Disney+ merely releases the content, Max is creatively involved with the DC slate. Gunn and Safran don’t enjoy the same autonomy as Marvel’s Kevin Feige. (A Max source says the collaboration between the DC team and Max executives Sarah Aubrey and Casey Bloys has been seamless, including on the upcoming series “The Penguin,” which was forced to shut down production after the WGA strike began but is expected resume shooting as soon as the SAG-AFTRA strike ends.)

Regardless, some on the lot are convinced that another company, most likely Universal, will buy Warner Bros. within two years, making recent DC subplots and upheavals feel quaint.

“The bottom line is they need to get DC to work whether Zaslav owns it, whether Brian Roberts owns it, whether somebody else owns it,” says LightShed’s Rich Greenfield, a Wall Street analyst and venture capitalist.

[krispyweiss]

Ozzy Osbourne Drops out of Power Trip

- “My body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet,” Prince of Darkness says in canceling October festival date

Ozzy Osbourne won’t be playing the Power Trip festival after all.

The 74-year-old former Black Sabbath frontman dropped out of the California heavy-metal fest slated for Oct. 6-8, citing his health.

“Unfortunately, my body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet and I am much too proud to have the first show that I do in nearly five years be half-assed,” he said.

Facing a slew of health problems and having announced his retirement earlier this year, Osbourne says he hopes to return to the stage in 2024. He’s canceled every virtually scheduled appearance since his last full gig in 2018, but did play an abbreviated set with Tony Iommi at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a solo slot at that year’s NFL season opener.

A yet-to-be-announced band of “personal friends” will replace Osbourne at Power Trip, “and I can promise that you will not be disappointed,” he said.

AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Tool are also on the bill.

7/10/23

[alexzalben]

I’m no Nostradamus, but here’s what’s going to happen with DC/Warner Bros based on the past decade or so:

December, 2022: James Gunn and Peter Safran announce their bold plan for DC, to begin in 2024 with a new, cohesive DC universe spanning films, TV shows, video games and more. The Flash is delayed until late 2023.

2023: Warner Bros Discovery releases the remaining slate of DC movies (Shazam 2, Aquaman 2, Blue Beetle). The Flash is delayed until early 2024.

December, 2023: James Gunn and Peter Safran exit DC, citing creative differences. The Flash is delayed until 2025.

January, 2024: Discovery sells WB to Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg delays The Flash indefinitely, noting that they haven’t quite cracked the problem of how his legs work.

2025: Warner Bros Meta releases Batmans and All starring Timotheé Chalamet as the new Batman.

[agentnico]

Most Anticipated Movies 2023

Though the COVID pandemic can still be referenced within the film realm as the recent Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery does, the movie industry itself has now seemingly fully recovered from those lockdown days and we now get to enjoy the full might of Hollywood and indies yet again. As such 2023 is proving to be a stacked yet for movies. There’s a lot of them! So many! Many of which will most likely be crap, but here I am listing the ones I am most excited for. Again, come end of 2023 and prepped for disappointment for a lot of these, but as of right now I am full of hopes and dreams! So, in no particular order...

HONOURABLE CURIOUS MENTIONS: Oppenheimer, Next Goal Wins, The Old Way, Wonka, Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

John Wick: Chapter 4 - It simply doesn’t get better than seeing Hollywood sweetheart the beautiful Keanu Reeves plays an unkillable hitman who is able to kill a man with a single pencil or a book or any item at his disposal, let alone give him a gun. Those headshots then come at the speed of a Call of Duty pro-player! So obviously I want to see what’s next for Mr Wick.

Killers of the Flower Moon - Let the Brendan Fraser renaissance continue! It’s been absolutely adorably awesome seeing him back and looking so happy and pleased to be appreciated for how amazing he is! I mean, yes Killers of the Flower Moon also happens to be a new crime drama from one of cinema’s greats Martin Scorsese featuring a cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert de Niro, but honestly I’m just happy seeing Fraser getting solid work again. Go get them tiger! 

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre - Technically this was originally slated as an early 2022 release, however due to distribution issues it has been moved a year later. Regardless, Guy Ritchie always makes slick gangster flicks, with his recent The Gentlemen being especially cool and badass, so I’m willing to see Ritchie continue making these types of films as many times as he wants, as long as his dialogue stays sharp and Hugh Grant keeps saying “Darling” during every appearance.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie - Setting aside the controversial lack of effort that Chris Pratt is putting into that Mario voice, this animated effort from Universal and Illumination is actually looking surprisingly enjoyable. The animation looks great and there are some great nostalgic call backs to the games, and even the voice cast (aside from Pratt) are all sounding great. That Bowser voice from Jack Black - woah!! Can’t wait to hear more of that! 

Napoleon - Ridley Scott is doing a movie about Napoleon, and Napoleon himself is played by Joaquin Phoenix. Great director, superb actor, an integrally interesting historical figure at the narrative centre... what’s not to be excited for!

Knock at the Cabin - M. Night Shyamalamalamalamadingdong is back with another plot twist. Look, M Night is very hit-and-miss, and when he’s great he’s great, but when he’s bad he’s bad in a fun way. His last film Old was filled with plot-holes, inconsistencies and ridiculous narrative choices, yet I had a ball watching it and pointing out all the obvious foreshadowing. And then Shyamalan is also responsible for The Happening, which, well, happened. Anyway, new Shyamalan film - gimme gimme gimme!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - Before James Gunn fully takes over the running of DC films (though he already took Henry Cavill as Superman away from us the monster!!!) he still has one Guardians film from Marvel left for us. And though I was not a fan of Vol. 2, the recent Holiday Special has reinstated my hope in this ragtag space-travelling group of outcasts, and Gunn himself has been on a roll with The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, so they’ve got this. Also Rocket has an otter girlfriend in this one so I’m ready to witness some animal loving. 

Barbie - Okay, so it’s okay for a guy to look forward to a Barbie movie?? What’s so wrong with that?? It’s not weird! I don’t have a thing for dolls if that’s what you’re thinking. Nope, in fact I am more hoping that similar to how The Lego Movie managed to take a famous toy and create a superbly meta entertaining movie classic, Barbie shows promise to also go against conventional genre tropes and do something different weird. At least judging from that 2001: A Space Odyssey piss-take of the teaser, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have created something real unique. Also Ryan Gosling as Ken.....either the greatest casting choice or the worst decision ever. We’ll see...

Renfield - Nicolas Cage is a worldwide treasure, and one thought that him playing himself in a movie was the craziest thing yet. Nah, now he’s playing Dracula. Yep, THE Nicolas Cage is playing THE Count Dracula! And this time he really is a vampire!

Cocaine Bear - It’s a bear that’s high off it’s tits on cocaine and is going on a murderous rampage whilst trying to get more cocaine. I don’t need this to be a good movie. I don’t need it to win any awards. I just want there to be bears, I want there to be cocaine, and ideally those two to be connected for the entire time. What’s more is this is based on the real life story of a 175lb black bear who ingested a duffel bag of abandoned cocaine in northern Georgia in 1985. I mean yes that bear died fairly quickly, but in the movie they’ve evidently taken some creative choices (and definitely the correct ones!!) and instead this bear is simply killing everyone left and right and being high as a kite. And from that recent trailer from the very first appearance you can tell that this bear is on cocaine. That is all I want. 

[nwemovie]

The Flash movie: Release date, plot details, trailers, cast & more

Travelling back in time to prevent his mother's murder — for which his father was falsely imprisoned, as revealed in Zack Snyder's Justice League — Barry Allen/ The Flash (Ezra Miller) ends up causing a butterfly effect and venturing into alternate dimensions across the multiverse. That's how The Flash will involve at least two returning versions of Batman, played by Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton. Loosely draws from the Flashpoint comic book arc. The Flash is expected to be at the centre of Warner Bros.' revamped strategy to create a shared multiverse for its DC Comics movies and TV shows.

 read another article : Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.

The Flash First Trailer

“Tell me something, you can go anywhere. Another timeline, another universe, so why do you want to stay and fight to save this one?” Michael Keaton’s Batman asks Barry in the opening moments of the trailer. Barry responds, “Because this is the one where my mom lives. I’m not gonna lose her again.”

Barry explains that “time has a pattern that it can’t help reliving. Different people, different worlds, drawn to each other like magnets.” He ends up meeting another version of himself.

The Flash Movie? While rolling out the first plans for the next chapter of DC Studios on January 31, DC bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran revealed what’s going on with Ezra, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, and The Flash movie. James called The Flash “probably one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” according to THR.

Despite ongoing legal troubles, James included Ezra when he said that “there is nothing that prohibits” them from reprising their role as The Flash in future DCU projects. “Ezra is completely committed to their recovery. We are fully supportive of that journey they are on right now,” Peter noted. “When the time is right, when they are ready to have that discussion, we will all figure out what the best path forward. But right now, they are completely focused on their recovery. And in our conversation with them, in the last couple of months, it feels like they are making enormous progress.”

The Flash release date

The Flash will come out in cinemas on 16th June 2023, a week earlier than its previously announced 23rd June 2023 release date.

The release date has likely been pushed forward by a week to avoid Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which finally announced that it will premiere on 30th June.

The film was originally slated to premiere in cinemas in November 2022.

The movie was then brought forward to 3rd June 2022 as part of Warner Bros' response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, before being delayed again by a year.

After months of delays and pre-production, The Flash finally began filming on 26th April 2021.

Fans have already had to wait a very long time to see a standalone film, with Miller having already signed on as long ago as 2014 – so by the time we see the movie, it’ll be almost a decade since the star agreed to play the character. Talk about patience!

Of course in that time the character has appeared in other DC films, but it can surely only be good news that he’s finally getting his own movie.

The Flash movie plot

While the film is largely still a mystery, we do know that it will be adapting the popular Flashpoint comic storyline, arguably one of the most beloved and well-known storylines for the character. In large part due to the way it completely flipped the DC universe on its head.

The Flashpoint timeline is a universe in which the world has been torn apart due to a war between Atlantis and Themyscira. When Barry Allen wakes up in this timeline, he is without his powers and has some memory loss but still retains some memory of the world he used to know.

[historyhermann]

Beauty, dress codes, and fashion: Examining twenty fictional White female librarians [Part 4]

Continued from part 3

Three screenshots of the unnamed librarian in the Totally Spies! episode. The last one is after she starts to become buff.

There are some exceptions, however. For instance, the librarian in Totally Spies episode ("Totally Switched"), who becomes "way buff," as I wrote about back in March when I rewatched the episode. She wears a blazer, a collared shirt, has on glasses, and has her hair in a bun. This similar to how The images of librarians in cinema 1917-1999 displays librarians, or smocks worn by New Zealand librarians into the 1980s, while some librarians adopted corporate uniforms or t-shirts. [20] This unnamed librarian, likely voiced by Janice Kawaye, has an even more professional outfit. She doesn't wear anything that invokes the problematic and is not a degrading sexy librarian stereotype. In her own way, she is classy and chic, or even cool. If she was an actual librarian, she would be among those which author and photographer Kyle Cassidy profiled in his 2014 photo-essay "This is What A Librarian Looks Like" for Slate magazine. [21]

Reprinted from my Pop Culture Library Review WordPress, where this post was published on Nov. 29, 2022.

Of the librarians I've named in this article, arguably the unnamed librarians in Rugrats, Uncle Grandpa, DC Super Hero Girls, and Kick Buttoswki all could be considered spinster librarians of some type, using the definition Snoek-Brown outlines. The same could be said for Violet Stanhhope, Mrs. Higgins, Rita Book, Miss Dickens, Ms. Hatchet, Mrs. Shusher, and Ms. L. Contrasting this would be Kaisa, Gabrielle, Marion the Librarian, Amity, Mo, Myra, Sabine, Desiree, Sara, Sarah, and even the unnamed librarians in Martin Mystery, Steven Universe, and Totally Spies!, who are all information providers. Most extreme is Francis Clara Censordoll, who is not anti-social, a failure, naughty, comic relief, or liberated. She is the librarian-censor. Some might say she is the anti-librarian since she stands against everything that librarians seem to stand for. However, as Matthew Noe, the ALA GNCRT President, pointed out in March, it is going to be hard "to put a stop to this massive censorship lobby harassing libraries and schools when we can't even convince all library workers to stop doing censorship."

On a stylistic note, some of these librarians have an aristocratic style, along with avant-garde and celtic styles. I haven't seen any librarians with art deco, art nouveau, beach bum, beatnik, biker, black loli, babushka bois, bohemian, equestrian, flapper, heavy metal, hippie, hipster, punk, retro / vintage, surf, to name a few styles. Characters like Malkuth in the Library Of Ruina, a simulation game that followed the 2008 game Lobotomy Corporation would fall into the aristocratic and possibly avant-garde styles. I also haven't seen any military librarians. The closest I've come to that are the characters in Library War. Such librarians would likely be bound, if they were in the U.S., by very specific grooming and personal appearance standards. [22]

Those librarians who work in public spaces, especially, would likely be pushed to accept the idea that you need to "dress for success" either with business casual or casual attire which is "smart." This would be reinforced by the common perception in Western society that conflates appearance and health, affecting women, and leading to potential harm. This is made worse by the fact that unattractiveness leads to negative judgment from people. Such negativity can cause isolation, dieting, and emotional distress. Appearance, for humans, is "one of the most direct sources of information about other people." In workplaces, there are additional stresses, like so-called "common standards of professional appearance," which look down upon those with visible piercing and tattoos. This is obviously interlinked with the "societally sanctioned standards of appearance." [23]

There are many librarian styles. Whether they are depicted in pop culture matters since real-life librarians exist and embody those styles. Furthermore, whether librarian styles in real-life translate over to pop culture, in animation, anime, comics, or elsewhere, is anyone's guess.

© 2022 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

Notes

[20] "Library fashion slideshow," New Zealand History, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, accessed Mar. 22, 2022; The Sassy Librarian has a tag on their website with stylish librarian outfits; Roberta, "Rounding Up," The Chic Librarian, Oct. 18, 2013. Wikihow has a whole article entitled "How to Wear the Sexy Librarian Look" in which they describe it as "playing on the idea of a quiet library with a quiet librarian" with clothes like: "partially unbuttoned shirts, dark stockings, sexy heels, and red lipstick." A perfect example of this is a cutaway gag of a librarian in a Family Guy episode where the librarian tries to act sexy but the man looks away.

[21] Kyle Cassidy, "About," This is What a Librarian Looks Like, accessed Mar. 22, 2022; Jordan G. Teicher, "This Is What a Librarian Looks Like," Slate, Feb. 11, 2014. There is also a Tumblr which ran from 2010 to 2020 which smashed stereotypes about what librarians wear, called "Librarian Wardrobe."

[22] "Personal Appearance: Beards and mustaches in the US Navy," Naval History and Heritage Command, May 7, 1963; Devon Suits, "Army announces new grooming, appearance standards," Army News Service, Jan. 28, 2021.

[23] "Dress for Success," Harvard University Facility of Arts and Sciences, Office of Career Services, accessed Mar. 22, 2022; Helen Monks, Leesa Costello, Julie Dare, and Elizabeth Reid Boyd (2021), "'We’re Continually Comparing Ourselves to Something': Navigating Body Image, Media, and Social Media Ideals at the Nexus of Appearance, Health, and Wellness" [Abstract], Sex Roles, 84, 221-237; Atefeh Yazdanparast Ardestani, "The Quest for Perfect Appearance: an Examination of the Role of Objective Self-awareness Theory and Emotions" [Summary], Aug. 2012, UNT Digital Library; D.J. Williams., Jeremy Thomas, and Candace Christensen, "'You Need to Cover Your Tattoos!': Reconsidering Standards of Professional Appearance in Social Work" [Abstract], Social Work, Volume 59, Issue 4, October 2014, Pages 373–375; Leslie J. Heinberg, J. Kevin Thompson, and Susan Stormer, "Development and validation of the sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire" [Abstract], International Journal of Eating Disorders, Jan. 1995; Oleg O. Bilukha and Virginia Utermohlen, "Internalization of Western standards of appearance, body dissatisfaction and dieting in urban educated Ukrainian females" [Abstract], European Eating Disorders Review, Dec. 21, 2001.

[dotthings]

Some further information, according to "sources say" in this THR article about Berlanti's new deal, CW Nexstar expects to have "fewer than 5" scripted originals per season going forward. Like some of us have already been pointing out, they have to be profitable, and the overspending era is over. Fewer shows, made more economically. Not ending the scripted originals. So if THR's "sources" are correct, less than 5 scripted shows total starting 2023-2024.

shows still around from the 2022-2023 slate: 6 WB: AA, AAH, KF, TW (spn), S&L (dc), GK (dc) 2 Paramount: Walker and Windy

And from everything I've read, CW isn't going to keep all its eggs in just the WB and CBS basket, and those studios are about to divest their remaining percentage shares. Just throwing out some numbers here, say CW keeps 2 from the existing WB/CBS slate, plus 2 (?) new shows from other studios. That's keeping 2 out of 8. Or 3 existing slate? and 1 new show?

Either way. The survival rate from the 8 remaining is going to be very lean.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

[stlhandyman]

2 stamps. 2 envelopes. 2 pieces of paper.

I first saw this suggestion to get involved and write the Supreme Court about the 2020 election to let my voice be heard and after a couple of days of pondering on this I researched and found the info and provided it below. 

As posted on my blog: https://tidbitsbyscotty.blogspot.com/2022/12/have-you-written-supreme-court-yet.html Below is the exact copy of the suggested letter to the Supreme Court Letter about the Election Fraud of the 2020 election and how we can lend our voice about this Election Fraud that has been proven by anyone who has been paying attention. This is the same Supreme Court Case that lists the 384 Political Hacks [Senate] who did not stand up when needed and have allowed this current administration to the continued destruction of all that the United States stands for. https://docs.google.com/document/d/109I93EEy9-qQF6R6sjMsoow9KzrWNMnHrfwTwwYNqMc/edit?usp=sharing

 INSTRUCTIONS via https://rumble.com/v20b0em-brunson-letters-to-scotus-with-juan-o-savin-unrestricted-truths-ep.-242.html : 

“How do I write my two letters to the Supreme Court and Brunson Brothers?”

1. Get 2 envelopes, 2 stamps, 2 pieces of paper. 2. On each piece of paper write attention to the “9 Supreme Court Justices”. Express support of Brunson vs Alma S Adams et al, No.: 22-380. Sign your name and date it. You can write more. It’s that simple.

  Here’s a link to a template letter to personalize/print: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vpq-CWbB7mAihrYbmFNVM0FDfIKKWWkg2Nt8HQSZ2oA/edit# 3. You now have either 2 handwritten copies or 2 printed copies. 4. One copy goes into a stamped envelope addressed to: Supreme Court of the United States, 1 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20543. 5. One copy goes into a stamped envelope addressed to: Loy & Raland Brunson, 4287 South Harrison Blvd., Apt. 132, Ogden, Utah 84403. They’re counting your letters! *Add $1 dollar to say thanks. 6. URGENT, the case is slated for JANUARY 6th. Mail your letters! 7. Share with friends & family. Thank you all for doing this IT'S A BIG HELP

Scotty Here is my copy of the document link 

As posted on my blog: https://tidbitsbyscotty.blogspot.com/2022/12/have-you-written-supreme-court-yet.html Below is the exact copy of the suggested letter to the Supreme Court Letter about the Election Fraud of the 2020 election and how we can lend our voice about this Election Fraud that has been proven by anyone who has been paying attention. This is the same Supreme Court Case that lists the 384 Political Hacks [Senate] who did not stand up when needed and have allowed this current administration to the continued destruction of all that the United States stands for. https://docs.google.com/document/d/109I93EEy9-qQF6R6sjMsoow9KzrWNMnHrfwTwwYNqMc/edit?usp=sharing

Source:           https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vpq-CWbB7mAihrYbmFNVM0FDfIKKWWkg2Nt8HQSZ2oA/edit#

2 stamps, 2 envelopes, and 2 pieces of paper is all it takes. i'm out of printer ink so i'm gonna hand write mine out. https://t.co/2Ye3YJBErG pic.twitter.com/GqeiMdifQf

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) December 15, 2022

1> Here is my copy of the document link As posted on my blog: https://t.co/2Ye3YJB6C8 Below is the exact copy of the suggested letter to the Supreme Court Letter about the Election Fraud of the 2020 election and how we can lend our voice about this Election Fraud that has pic.twitter.com/iFlBvDiZrf

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) December 15, 2022

2> been proven by anyone who has been paying attention. This is the same Supreme Court Case that lists the 384 Political Hacks [Senate] who did not stand up when needed and have allowed this current administration to the continued destruction of all that the United States pic.twitter.com/SuPNJdvkab

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) December 15, 2022

.@GOP < good riddance to the Political Hacks masquarading as saviours such as @HawleyMO https://t.co/2Ye3YJB6C8

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) December 15, 2022

Have You Written the Supreme Court Yet??? Info, suggestions, Instructions, addresses, document links https://t.co/XU6WZA8dXE #jan6 #election2020 #electionfraud

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) December 15, 2022

Brunson Letters to SCOTUS with Juan O Savin | Unrestricted Truths Ep. 242 https://t.co/AFaEVujjX3

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) December 15, 2022

[vavandeveresfan]

We won’t see Michael Keaton in “Batgirl.”

Hope you had a Kill Fee in your contract, dude.

Via New York Post:

Holy millions down the drain, Batman! 

The DC Comics film “Batgirl” will be completely “shelved” by Warner Bros., a top Hollywood source told The Post. 

That means it won’t hit theaters or the streaming service HBO Max. Fans will not see it.

The reportedly $70 million movie (the source said the budget was actually more than $100 million), which was doing test screenings for audiences in anticipation of a late 2022 debut, would rank among the most expensive cinematic castoffs ever.  

Those tests were said to be so poorly received by moviegoers that the studio decided to cut its losses and run, for the sake of the brand’s future. It’s a DC disaster.

“They think an unspeakable ‘Batgirl’ is going to be irredeemable,” the source said.  

The Post has reached out to Warner Bros. for comment.

It’s been a monthslong walk of shame for the movie. “Batgirl,” directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (“Bad Boys for Life”), received not a single mention at DC’s Comic-Con panel in San Diego in July — an unusual move that raised industry eyebrows. The much-publicized event, after all, is designed to boost exposure for forthcoming projects just like this one.

Why Warner Bros. Killed ‘Batgirl’: Inside the Decision Not to Release the DC Movie.

Via Variety:

The death of “Batgirl” on Tuesday sent immediate shockwaves through Hollywood. The film — with a $75 million budget that grew to $90 million due to COVID-related overages — had finished shooting months ago and was in test screenings as directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (“Bad Boys for Life,” “Ms. Marvel”) worked through the post-production process. Star Leslie Grace (“In the Heights”) had given multiple interviews expressing her enthusiasm for landing the title role and working with co-stars Michael Keaton (as Batman), J.K. Simmons (as her character’s father, Commissioner Gordon) and Brendan Fraser (as the villain, Firefly).

In other words, the movie was nearly finished, and already building awareness among fans. Why would Warner Bros. Discovery throw all that away?

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, the most likely reason: taxes.

Several sources note that “Batgirl” was made under a different regime at Warner Bros., headed by Jason Kilar and Ann Sarnoff, that was singularly focused on building its streaming service, HBO Max. That effort included Kilar’s infamous decision to release the studio’s entire 2021 theatrical slate simultaneously on the streamer, which helped build the subscriber base but also jeopardized the studio’s reputation with top-tier talent (though many agents and stars privately came to appreciate the move when the company paid generous bonuses as a make-nice).

Even before David Zaslav took the reins of the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery as CEO this spring, the exec went on a well-publicized listening tour designed to repair the company’s relationship with the creative community. As part of that effort, Zaslav has made no secret of reversing Kilar’s strategy and committing to releasing first-run feature films in theaters before putting them on HBO Max.

“Batgirl” found itself on the bad end of that decision, apparently neither big enough to feel worthy of a major theatrical release nor small enough to make economic sense in an increasingly cutthroat streaming landscape. Spending the money to expand the scope of “Batgirl” for theaters — plus the $30 million to $50 million needed to market it domestically and the tens of millions more needed for a global rollout — could have nearly doubled spending on the film, and insiders say that was a non-starter at a company newly focused on belt-tightening and the bottom line. (Spokespeople for Warner Bros. and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment for this story.)

Releasing the movie on HBO Max would seem to be the most obvious solution. Instead, the company has shelved “Batgirl” — along with the “Scoob!” sequel — and several sources say it will almost certainly take a tax write-down on both films, seen internally as the most financially sound way to recoup the costs (at least, on an accountant’s ledger). It could justify that by chalking it up to a post-merger change of strategy.

Doing so, however, would mean that Warner Bros. cannot monetize either movie — no HBO Max debut, no sale to another studio.

What the decision will cost the studio in creative capital, meanwhile, remains to be seen.

[chrisryanspeaks]

Unveiling Superfan's Musical Odyssey: "Twilight Living" and the Journey to ‘Tow Truck Jesus’

Superfan, the artistic moniker of Kali Flanagan, unveils his latest sonic offering, "Twilight Living," accompanied by a visually captivating music video helmed by director G.W. Sailor. Born from a state of dissociation following a brush with vehicular mishap, Flanagan's newest single delves deep into his odyssey within the enigmatic labyrinth of Los Angeles. Through a lens of heightened self-awareness, he traverses the superficial terrains devoid of genuine emotional sustenance, grappling with the ensuing shadows of shame and a profound yearning for obscurity. In "Twilight Living," Superfan lays bare his personal odyssey, weaving intricate narratives akin to exposed nerve endings. With a sagacity that belies its chronological distance, the track resonates as a poignant chronicle of Flanagan's voyage into self-discovery. This introspective journey, marked by previous singles like "Your Desire in Food," "Sewn Up and Handsome," and "75 Germany," forms the nucleus of his forthcoming debut opus, "Tow Truck Jesus," slated for release on June 28th via Nettwerk. Anticipation mounts as Superfan announces a series of album release extravaganzas set to unfold in July, gracing iconic locales such as NYC, San Francisco, and LA. These events promise to be immersive sonic experiences, complemented by the melodic stylings of supporting acts Quiet Light, Operelly, and Autobahn. Crafted between the seasons of 2022 and 2023, "Tow Truck Jesus" emerges as an 11-track magnum opus, chronicling Flanagan's metamorphosis amidst the backdrop of Hormone Replacement Therapy and the tumult of nascent manhood. His vocal timbre, now imbued with a gravelly resonance, serves as a testament to his evolution, mirroring the harmonious convergence of self-acceptance and romantic exploration. Musically, "Tow Truck Jesus" exudes a nostalgic charm reminiscent of indie rock's intimate heyday in the early 2000s, characterized by overdriven detuned guitars and Casio keyboards. Superfan's multifaceted artistry takes center stage, with Flanagan assuming roles as singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Collaborative efforts with luminaries such as Tony Berg and producer Gabriel Wax lend depth and nuance to the album's sonic tapestry. A departure from convention, Flanagan adopts a minimalist ethos during the songwriting process, eschewing complexity in favor of raw, stripped-down compositions. The album's title, a whimsical nod to a shared jest between Flanagan and his father, Patrick, adds a touch of levity to the profound introspection woven throughout. As the release date draws near, aficionados are encouraged to immerse themselves in the haunting melodies of "Twilight Living" and secure their pre-orders for "Tow Truck Jesus." With live performances on the horizon and the promise of more Superfan magic in the offing, the musical landscape awaits with bated breath. Upcoming Live Dates: *= w/ Quiet Light ^= w/ Operelly += w/ Autobahn 7/10 - Somerville, MA @ The Rockwell* 7/11 - New York, NY @ Baby’s All Right* 7/12 - Washington, DC @ DC9* 7/15 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord^+ 7/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo+ 7/18 - San Diego, CA @ The House of Blues (Voodoo Room)+ Read the full article

[audiofuzz]

Unveiling Superfan's Musical Odyssey: "Twilight Living" and the Journey to ‘Tow Truck Jesus’

Superfan, the artistic moniker of Kali Flanagan, unveils his latest sonic offering, "Twilight Living," accompanied by a visually captivating music video helmed by director G.W. Sailor. Born from a state of dissociation following a brush with vehicular mishap, Flanagan's newest single delves deep into his odyssey within the enigmatic labyrinth of Los Angeles. Through a lens of heightened self-awareness, he traverses the superficial terrains devoid of genuine emotional sustenance, grappling with the ensuing shadows of shame and a profound yearning for obscurity. In "Twilight Living," Superfan lays bare his personal odyssey, weaving intricate narratives akin to exposed nerve endings. With a sagacity that belies its chronological distance, the track resonates as a poignant chronicle of Flanagan's voyage into self-discovery. This introspective journey, marked by previous singles like "Your Desire in Food," "Sewn Up and Handsome," and "75 Germany," forms the nucleus of his forthcoming debut opus, "Tow Truck Jesus," slated for release on June 28th via Nettwerk. Anticipation mounts as Superfan announces a series of album release extravaganzas set to unfold in July, gracing iconic locales such as NYC, San Francisco, and LA. These events promise to be immersive sonic experiences, complemented by the melodic stylings of supporting acts Quiet Light, Operelly, and Autobahn. Crafted between the seasons of 2022 and 2023, "Tow Truck Jesus" emerges as an 11-track magnum opus, chronicling Flanagan's metamorphosis amidst the backdrop of Hormone Replacement Therapy and the tumult of nascent manhood. His vocal timbre, now imbued with a gravelly resonance, serves as a testament to his evolution, mirroring the harmonious convergence of self-acceptance and romantic exploration. Musically, "Tow Truck Jesus" exudes a nostalgic charm reminiscent of indie rock's intimate heyday in the early 2000s, characterized by overdriven detuned guitars and Casio keyboards. Superfan's multifaceted artistry takes center stage, with Flanagan assuming roles as singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Collaborative efforts with luminaries such as Tony Berg and producer Gabriel Wax lend depth and nuance to the album's sonic tapestry. A departure from convention, Flanagan adopts a minimalist ethos during the songwriting process, eschewing complexity in favor of raw, stripped-down compositions. The album's title, a whimsical nod to a shared jest between Flanagan and his father, Patrick, adds a touch of levity to the profound introspection woven throughout. As the release date draws near, aficionados are encouraged to immerse themselves in the haunting melodies of "Twilight Living" and secure their pre-orders for "Tow Truck Jesus." With live performances on the horizon and the promise of more Superfan magic in the offing, the musical landscape awaits with bated breath. Upcoming Live Dates: *= w/ Quiet Light ^= w/ Operelly += w/ Autobahn 7/10 - Somerville, MA @ The Rockwell* 7/11 - New York, NY @ Baby’s All Right* 7/12 - Washington, DC @ DC9* 7/15 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord^+ 7/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo+ 7/18 - San Diego, CA @ The House of Blues (Voodoo Room)+ Read the full article