Composer Jerry Herman

(Composer and lyricist; born July 10, 1931, in New York City)

It only takes a moment to realize that Broadway's Golden Age is alive and well and thriving as long as Jerry Herman's around. "When they passed out talent," the legendary Carol Channing has said, "Jerry stood in line twice." Almost single-handedly, the creator of Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly!, Mame, La Cage aux Folles and so much more has revitalized and nourished the all-American tradition of great and unstoppable show tunes. His music and lyrics have kept audiences tapping their feet, humming along, and wiping their eyes with tears of joy for generations.

Even as often he's been underrated as being too easy to like in a world of dark and foreboding musicals, too entertaining, too tuneful and much too upbeat, the genius of Herman's deceptively simple songs cuts through any shortsighted criticism. "Jerry has succeeded so well in his mission that people don't give him credit," said Michael Feinstein, "because to be simple without being cliche is nearly impossible."

Herman's genius, in truth, is not so much simple as it is subtle. For all his cock-eyed optimism-and very much in the tradition of his forefathers Rodgers and Hammerstein-a Herman musical always carries a message of timeless values, of humanity's triumph over hatred and ignorance, of happiness over despair. 1983's La Cage aux Folles, a smash hit on Broadway and a Tony Award winner in all three of its Broadway productions-and counting-is not only a bona fide crowd-pleaser but also the most sweetly radical musical of its age.

Here on the Broadway stage, decades before the fight for marriage equality hit the headlines, was a pair of gay dads raising a family, and here was "...a man singing a love song to another man-I don't think that's ever been done in a Broadway musical before." Herman told The Washington Post that during previews in Boston "I didn't know whether or not they'd throw stones. The audience gave it an ovation." "By the time Georges and Albin-having weathered a son's passing ingratitude and a zealot's intolerance-walked hand in hand into the St. Tropez sunset, the audience was on its feet," The Washington Post reported. "What La Cage aux Folles celebrates, after all, is loyalty and love, respect for others and respect for self and, yes, even family. The good old values."

Gerald Herman was born in New York in 1931 and raised in Jersey City. His parents Harry and Ruth ran a children's summer camp in the Catskills, where young Jerry surprised everyone by teaching himself the piano. Once, he recalled years later, "my parents took me at a tender age to see Annie Get Your Gun, and I was absolutely dazzled. I have one of those retentive ears, and when I came home I sat down at the piano and played about five of the songs. My mother was amazed." Many more would be amazed. At 17, he was introduced to Frank Loesser, who encouraged him to continue composing once he heard some of Herman's songs.

He went to the University of Miami, joining its adventurous theater program and himself appearing in undergraduate shows including the musical Finian's Rainbow. His alma mater since then has honored this distinguished alumnus and today boasts the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at the heart of its drama program. After graduation from Miami, Herman headed back to New York and put together a review of his songs so far: I Feel Wonderful opened at the Theatre de Lys in Greenwich Village October 18, 1954 and ran for 48 performances. He was just getting going. While playing piano in a New York jazz club called the Showplace, Herman brought together his friends Phyllis Newman and Charles Nelson Reilly for another review called Nightcap, which opened in 1958. This one ran for two years. In 1960 came Herman's Broadway debut, alongside material by Fred Ebb and Woody Allen, in the review From A to Z. That same year came Parade, also at the Showplace, starring Reilly and Dody Goodman. A hit, Parade moved to the Players' Theatre and it was during this run that a producer asked Herman if he would be interested in writing a musical about the founding of the state of Israel.

Milk and Honey, starring Molly Picon as the ultimate Hadassah lady, opened in 1961. It earned Herman his first Tony nomination for Best Musical of 1962. He had arrived. It was David Merrick who brought together Herman and the first of his vulnerable but ultimately invincible heroines, Dolly Levi. Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing opened in 1964, ran for 2,844 performances, became Broadway's longest-running musical and has been revived often since. It swept the Tony Awards, taking home a then unmatched 10 including Best Musical and becoming one of the happiest episodes in the history of the Broadway musical. Mame followed in 1966, starring Angela Lansbury and teaching the world that in the toughest times "We Need a Little Christmas." What has followed amounts to a life-affirming body of work rivaled by few: Dear World, the underappreciated Mack Mabel, The Grand Tour, Mrs. Santa Claus, Jerry's Girls, and of course La Cage aux Folles.

The theater world knew a good thing when it heard and saw it: Tonys, Drama Desk Awards, Theatre World Awards all followed, as did a 2009 Special Tony Award for Lifetime achievement, and a 2010 Drama Desk Special Award for "enchanting and dazzling audiences with his exuberant music and heartfelt lyrics for more than half a century." Right now in the 21st Century, we can be sure that someone, somewhere is singing a Jerry Herman song. That's one happy way we know the man's been right all along: the best of times is now.

WE LOVE CONSPIRACIES CONSPIRACIES WE LOVE

Conspiracy theories have legitimized violence, impaired public health, and undermined democratic governance. Containing their harms begins with understanding the theorist, not the theory.  CONSPIRACIES THAT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xMGlbFSWWc

THE RISE OF PORTALS & THE PARALELL UNIVERSE

Could 2024 be the year humans open the first portal to a shadowy dimension which mirrors our own world?

Scientists in Oak Ridge National Laboratory in eastern Tennessee hope so, and have completed building equipment they are to test this summer which may allow us the first glimpse of a parallel universe which could be identical in many ways to our own, with mirror particles, mirror planets and possibly even mirror life.

That is according to Leah Broussard, the physicist behind the project, who described the attempt to reveal a hidden shadow world as “pretty wacky” in an interview with NBC last week.

The discovery of a concealed mirror world may sound like science fiction from the Stranger Things series, but it has been repeatedly suggested by physicists as a tempting means of explaining anomalous results. However, as yet, hard evidence such a realm exists has refused to manifest itself.

One set of anomalous results, and the ones which inspired the research, date back to the 1990s, when particle physicists were measuring the time it took for neutron particles to break down into protons once they were removed from an atom’s nucleus. 

Two separate experiments saw the neutrons broke down at differing rates, instead of decaying and becoming protons at exactly the same rate, as was expected.

In one, the free neutrons were captured by magnetic fields and herded into laboratory bottle traps, and in the other they were detected by the subsequent appearance of proton particles from a nuclear reactor stream.

Those particles fired out in the stream from the nuclear reactor lived on average for 14 minutes and 48 seconds – nine seconds longer than those from the bottle traps.

It may sound like a small difference, but it has troubled scientists.

But the existence of a mirror world offers a credible explanation: That there are two separate neutron lifetimes, and it could be that around 1 per cent of neutrons could be crossing the divide between our reality and the mirror world before crossing back and then emitting a detectable proton.

The new experiment will fire a beam of neutrons at an impenetrable wall. On the other side of the wall, a neutron detector will be set up, which normally would expect to detect nothing.

THE CHRIS BENOIT MURDER SUICIDE CASE Another thing that could have had weight in the story and in this tragic ending was the fact that Chris's brain was totally out of shape, had cet after having had constant traumas in his head. Literally, Chris's brain was the same as an 85-year-old elder with Alzheimer. The fault of this is the damn ambition and the little care that the directors of the WWE had for their fighters. Certainly, every fight was a performance and they had a script, but the acrobatics and the use of metal chairs to hit each other put their health and integrity at risk.

Eerie Twist In Wrestler's Murder-Suicide

Investigators are looking into who altered pro wrestler Chris Benoit's Wikipedia entry to mention his wife's death hours before authorities discovered the bodies of the couple and their 7-year-old son.

Benoit's Wikipedia entry was altered early Monday to say that the wrestler had missed a match two days earlier because of his wife's death.

A Wikipedia official, Cary Bass, said Thursday that the entry was made by someone using an Internet protocol address registered in Stamford, Conn., where World Wrestling Entertainment is based.

An IP address, a unique series of numbers carried by every machine connected to the Internet, does not necessarily have to be broadcast from where it is registered. The bodies were found in Benoit's home in suburban Atlanta, and it's not known where the posting was sent from, Bass said.

Benoit allegedly strangled his wife and son during the weekend, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before allegedly hanging himself on the cable of a weight-machine in his home, police said. No motive was offered for the killings, which were discovered Monday.

Over a two-day period from June 22 to June 24, 2007, Chris Benoit, a 40-year-old Canadian professional wrestler employed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), murdered his wife Nancy and their seven-year-old son, Daniel, before hanging himself at their residence in Fayetteville, Georgia, United States.

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The wrestling world stopped in June of 2007 when a tragedy beyond anything the industry had ever seen occurred over a three day period in Fayetteville, GA. The industry had dealt with a considerable number of younger wrestlers die from a variety of causes. Drug abuse, suicide and freak accidents had hit the industry hard. But this was something different. One of the top performers in the industry, Chris Benoit, who had been heralded for years and was a former world champion had killed his family. The impact on the industry continues to this day as it still remains a tragedy that is seldom talked about in the industry.

Chris Benoit started wrestling in Canada in the mid-1980′s. He started in the wrestling promotion that was started by the famed Hart family. Bret and Owen Hart’s father Stu ran that territory in the area around Calgary. Benoit was known to idolize the “Dynamite Kid (real name Thomas Billington) for his style of wrestling which was really ahead of his time. Benoit was shorter in stature than a lot of wrestlers being under six feet tall and learned to do an intense and brutal style of wrestling that made fans notice him even though he was not as large as many other competitors. Steroids were also rampant in the industry during that decade and Benoit did utilize them to build an incredible amount of muscle.

As the years went by Benoit traveled to Japan and eventually wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) but he became nationally known when he joined World Championship Wrestling. Benoit was brought into the legendary “Four Horseman” stable led by Ric Flair primarily due to his abilities as a top level performer in the ring.

Nancy Benoit got into the wrestling business a few years after Chris and started as a valet and manager in WCW in the late 1980′s. She was most well known for playing the villainous manager “Woman”. During this time she was married to wrestler Kevin Sullivan who was several years older than her.

During the mid-90′s when Benoit was married, Sullivan booked a wrestling angle with Benoit where in storyline he started an affair with Nancy. But that on-screed romance developed into a real life romance and the two eventually divorced their respective spouses and got together as a couple. Which is ironic being that Nancy Benoit’s ex-husband Sullivan booked that original wrestling angle.

Nancy Benoit eventually left wrestling but Chris continued to make progress in his career. He eventually won a world title in WCW then left for the WWE (then WWF) in 2000. Around that time Nancy and Chris got married and had their son Daniel.

Chris’ career continue to ascend during his time in WWE as he eventually won the world title in the main event of Wrestlemania XX.

June 2007

It was the weekend going into the Monday Night Raw that was slated for June 25th, 2007 and Benoit was slated to appear. But no one had heard from Benoit in the days leading up to the event and missing performance dates was very out of character for him. Wrestler Chavo Guerrero spoke about cryptic voicemails and text messages he received from Benoit and reported it to WWE management. This was spoken about on the “Dark Side Of The Ring” documentary produced by Vice TV. Eventually police went to the Benoit home at the request from WWE to conduct a welfare check. Investigators in Fayetville, GA found the bodies of Benoit, his wife Nancy and his son Daniel. Nancy Benoit was killed by asphyxiation and her hands and feet were bound. His son appeared to have been sedated and was also killed by asphyxiation. Then Benoit eventually took his own life by hanging himself on a weight machine.

Prior to police determining the cause of death and who was responsible WWE was put in a position on how to deal with the news publicly because Raw was about to go live. The “Dark Side Of The Ring” documentary shows Vince McMahon gathered all the performers together to break the horrific news to them. The show was essentially cancelled and turned into a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family. But as the hours went by later in the evening WWE learned the true horror of what had happened in the Georgia home and responded the next night. The following night WWE had the broadcast of their ECW show and at the beginning of the show McMahon gave a statement:

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Last night on Monday Night Raw, the WWE presented a special tribute show, recognizing the career of Chris Benoit. However, now some 26 hours later, the facts of this horrific tragedy are now apparent. Therefore, other than my comments, there will be no mention of Mr. Benoit’s name tonight. On the contrary, tonight’s show will be dedicated to everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident. This evening marks the first step of the healing process. Tonight, WWE performers will do what they do better than anyone else in the world: entertain you.”

McMahon provided a similar statement later in the week on their episode of Smackdown. That was the last time WWE ever mentioned Chris Benoit. The company went to great lengths to erase him from all WWE material. While there is still Benoit matches in their archives that can be found on Peacock, there has been no content produced by WWE since 2007 where Benoit is included.

Nancy Benoit’s sister Sandra Toffoloni has spoken in depth about her thoughts on the crime and what exactly happened on the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast hosted by wrestling star Chris Jericho who was a longtime friend of Benoit.

The public demands answers.

No other scandal in the history of professional wrestling made mainstream headlines like the Benoit tragedy. Cable news networks led a large number of shows for days analyzing the murder-suicide. A lot of that had to do with beliefs that steroids may have played a role in the tragedy. Benoit’s autopsy report showed he had a considerably high testosterone level in his body at the time of death leading many to speculate that “roid rage” may have caused the murders. Further investigation showed that he had been prescribed testosterone by his doctor. Many of those medications along with other prescription drugs were found in the home. It was later determined the testosterone was prescribed to supplement his levels due to years of past steroid use.

Marc Sotkin - TV Writer/Producer/Show Runner

Marc Sotkin is an award winning writer, producer, and director who has influenced some of Americas most Iconic Television shows.  His Credits Include: Blanskys Beauties- You Wish- First Time Out- Platypus Man - The Sinbad Show - The Golden Palace- The Golden Girls- It's a Living- The Line- Laverne & Shirley- I'm a Big Girl Now- Working Stiffs- The Garry Shandling Show

In 2015 He wrote the award winning short, THE DECISION and is the author of  several books, "With Time Off for Bad Behavior", "The Comatose Adventures Of Lenny Rose" and Kinda Dirty Paris Confessions.

Marc was also the host of his own podcast "Everything About it is Appealing"

Marc is the recipient of the prestigious Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy/Variety Series or Special. He is always candid, always informative and is always welcome. Welcome Marc Sotkin.

Our Special Musical Guest is Country Music Hall of Famer Lacy J. Dalton 

The Queen of Country Music

Lacy J. Dalton (born Jill Lynne Byrem on October 13, 1946 in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania), is an American country singer and songwriter with a career that has spanned many decades and touched the hearts of millions of music fans. In March 2017 Lacy J Dalton was inducted into the North American Country Music Association International Hall of Fame, and in 2022 she was awarded a Lifetime Career Achievement Award from the Josie Music Awards, the largest independent music awards show in the country.

She’s one of the most instantly recognizable voices in music – the woman People Magazine called “Country’s Bonnie Raitt.” From the first time Lacy J Dalton caught the public’s ear, that soulful delivery, full of texture and grit, has been a mainstay of Country Music. When you sit to listen to a Lacy J Dalton album, you find yourself pulled in by the very power and heart of this vocalist, because she’s not merely performing a ten-song set, she’s bringing each and every tune to life. It’s as if they were all written especially for her.

Prior to recording with Harbor Records in 1978 as Jill Croston, she like many before her, held many jobs to survive and support her family. As a truck stop waitress and singer, she would wait tables and then take the stage to sing a few songs. In June 1979, Lacy J Dalton was signed by Columbia Records and quickly rose to national prominence with Crazy Blue Eyes, which she wrote with her longest friend, Mary McFadden, and which raced to #7 on the Billboard Country Charts.  Her hard work and dedication paid off in 1979 when she was awarded the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Female Vocalist of the Year.

Lacy’s success was powered not just by the artist’s recordings, but by a stage show that truly electrified audiences. She quickly became one of the few women who could successfully open a show for the likes of Hank Williams, Jr., Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard or Charlie Daniels. Not only could she do it, but she left audiences across the country hollering for more. Her signature song 16th Avenue, became the Anthem for Nashville songwriters.  Her other hit records are legendary million-airplay cuts and include Crazy Blue Eyes, Takin’ It Easy, Everybody Makes Mistakes, Hillbilly Girl with the Blues, Hard Times, and the worldwide hit Black Coffee.

In addition to her Top New Female Vocalist award, she also brought home numerous Grammy nominations and 3 prestigious, back to back (1979, 1980, 1981) Bay Area Music Awards for Best Country-Folk Recordings. Lacy appeared on those shows with the likes of Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane.

Lacy's collaboration with Willie Nelson on his platinum Half Nelson CD was a high spot for her. Lacy is the only woman featured on that recording (which included singing legends Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, Merle Haggard, Julio Iglesias, George Jones, Leon Russell, Carlos Santana, Mel Tillis, Hank Williams Sr., and Neil Young), and was awarded a Platinum Record for it. She also received a Gold Record from Hank Williams Jr. in 1985 for her support performances throughout his Five-0 Tour, where she opened for him at a time when it was unusual for a woman to do so. Her career includes accomplishments in music, film and radio.  In music, they range from her instantly recognizable charted hit songs to her notable duets recorded with George Jones, Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare, Glen Campbell, Eddie Rabbit, David Allen Coe and many others. Her film debut was in the motion picture Take This Job And Shove It, and her acting has also included live stage and theater performances. Until recently, Lacy J Dalton also hosted a weekly radio show called Mustang Matters.  Podcasts of past shows are available to listeners on the internet at www.americamatters.us

Following a successful career in country music, Lacy decided to draw on all her musical experiences including country, rock and folk, and cross over into the Americana genre.  This blend of musical styles allows her to express herself in a way that demonstrates all the facets of who she is as a singer/songwriter.  She became an independent artist and formed her own label called Song Dog Records.  Under this label, she has released three albums to date.  The first was Wild Horse Crossing in 1999, followed by the Last Wild Place Anthology which went #1 on the World Independent Chart, and a year later went #1 on the American Western Music Chart. Then Allison Eastwood, Clint Eastwood's daughter, used the hit song Slip Away from the Anthology CD on the sound track of her independent film, Don't Tell. In 2010 Lacy also released a tribute to Hank Williams Sr. entitled Here's To Hank.

Today, Lacy continues to record new music and perform live shows whenever possible.  She tours mainly west of the Mississippi and loves small boutique venues and old theaters with great sound quality and warm, receptive audiences she can really connect with.  She recently recorded some electrifying new music for an EP that was released in January 2019.  When hearing the signature song Scarecrow, her good friend Reverend Barbara Ann Fletcher remarked “that song makes you a whole new you, and it makes me a whole new me.”  And that’s exactly the response Lacy was hoping for.

In addition to her musical career, Lacy has been involved in various service projects through several charitable organizations – namely, the Let ‘em Run Foundation, William James Associates Arts in Corrections, and Rotary International. 

In 1999, Lacy co-founded the Let ‘em Run Foundation which received its 501(c)3 designation from the IRS in 2004.  The Let 'em Run Foundation is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing America's wild horses and burros who have no voice.  Let ‘em Run’s mission is to serve as an educational, fund-raising and public relations entity, through its own efforts and in assisting similar non-profit organizations, to promote the appropriate and compassionate management of the wild horse, estray horse, and mustang population of the U.S. and other species of endangered or mistreated animals. 

From 2015 through November 2018, Lacy and her partner, Dale Poune, worked with the William James Arts in Corrections program at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, California.  Their work there has been focused on teaching basic song writing skills and techniques, music theory and guitar playing to level 4 inmates.  Through their classes, a select group of inmates got the opportunity to learn the basic principles of guitar playing and song writing which they then used to develop songs and lyrics, both individually and as a group.  The class culminated with the inmates recording those musical compositions and giving a live performance to an audience of prison and non-prison personnel.  In addition, several inmates were able to go on to teach basic guitar to other inmates in the classic “each one teach one” teaching tradition.

Finally, Lacy is an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Reno, and a Paul Harris Fellow.  Lacy has written two songs for Rotary, which she then recorded on a CD to be used as a fundraising opportunity for the Reno club.  Lacy also performed at the Rotary International Convention in New Orleans in 2011, and has been a key note speaker and headline performer at several club meetings and district conferences.

Vincent Kennedy McMahon was the CEO and Chairman of the Board at World Wrestling Entertainment for decades before “voluntarily” stepping down.

McMahon, who was a former wrestler before taking over the WWE business, confirmed in June 2022 that he was resigning from his post while the company investigated misconduct claims against him.

Several hours later, McMahon opened smackdown with great fanfare. “It is a privilege as always to stand before you here tonight, the WWE universe,” he said during the June 17, 2022, broadcast. “I’m here simply to remind you of the four words we just saw in what we call our WWE signature. Those four words are: then, now, forever, and the most important word is together. Welcome to SmackDown!”

Amid McMahon’s exit from the WWE executive suite, federal law enforcement officials have continued investigating the allegations. The former pro athlete has not yet been charged with a crime.

Nearly two years later, McMahon faced a second misconduct scandal when a former WWE employee accused him of sexual assault, trafficking and abuse in a January 2024 lawsuit. He denied all claims before resigning from WWE’s parent company, TKO Group.

THE EPSTEIN EPILOGUES PART II Who did Jeffrey Epstein work for?  What did he do for a living, and on "Who's behalf?  Where did his money come from? And where is it now? What really happened to Jeffrey Epstein? (August 10th 2019)  Found dead in the most secure maximum federal facility in the world, the N.Y Federeal Detention holding Center. Suicide or Murdered? Evidence strongly suggests that he was in fact murdered.  Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Baden has suggested that he did not die fri=om suicidal hanging as we are being led to believe.  We will unravel the truth.

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July 2009: Epstein is released from jail. For the next decade, multiple women who say they are Epstein’s victims wage a legal fight to get his federal non-prosecution agreement voided, and hold him and others liable for the abuse. One of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, says in her lawsuits that, starting when she was 17, Epstein and his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, set up sexual encounters with royalty, politicians, academicians, businessmen and other rich and powerful men, including Britain’s Prince Andrew. All of those men deny the allegations.

November 2018: The Miami Herald revisits the handling of Epstein’s case in a series of stories focusing partly on the role of Acosta — who by this point is President Donald Trump’s labor secretary — in arranging his unusual plea deal. The coverage renews public interest in the case.

July 6, 2019: Epstein is arrested on federal sex trafficking charges after federal prosecutors in New York conclude that they weren’t bound by the terms of the earlier non-prosecution deal. Days later, Acosta resigns as labor secretary amid public outrage over his role in the initial investigation.

Aug. 10, 2019: Guards find Epstein dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York City. Investigators conclude he killed himself.

July 2, 2020: Federal prosecutors in New York charge Ghislaine Maxwell with sex crimes, saying she helped recruit the underage girls that Epstein sexually abused and sometimes participated in the abuse herself.

Dec. 30, 2021: After a monthlong trial, a jury convicts Maxwell of multiple charges, including sex trafficking, conspiracy and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity.

June 28, 2022: Maxwell is sentenced to 20 years in prison.

THE EPSTEIN EPILOGUES Who did Jeffrey Epstein work for?  What did he do for a living, and on "Who's behalf?  Where did his money come from? And where is it now? What really happened to Jeffrey Epstein? (August 10th 2019)  Found dead in the most secure maximum federal facility in the world, the N.Y Federeal Detention holding Center. Suicide or Murdered? Evidence strongly suggests that he was in fact murdered.  Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Baden has suggested that he did not die fri=om suicidal hanging as we are being led to believe.  We will unravel the truth.

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July 2009: Epstein is released from jail. For the next decade, multiple women who say they are Epstein’s victims wage a legal fight to get his federal non-prosecution agreement voided, and hold him and others liable for the abuse. One of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, says in her lawsuits that, starting when she was 17, Epstein and his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, set up sexual encounters with royalty, politicians, academicians, businessmen and other rich and powerful men, including Britain’s Prince Andrew. All of those men deny the allegations.

November 2018: The Miami Herald revisits the handling of Epstein’s case in a series of stories focusing partly on the role of Acosta — who by this point is President Donald Trump’s labor secretary — in arranging his unusual plea deal. The coverage renews public interest in the case.

July 6, 2019: Epstein is arrested on federal sex trafficking charges after federal prosecutors in New York conclude that they weren’t bound by the terms of the earlier non-prosecution deal. Days later, Acosta resigns as labor secretary amid public outrage over his role in the initial investigation.

SUSIE MAE MCC OY (AKA) SWEET GEORGIA BROWN

South Carolina’s Susie Mae McCoy was a bright eyed girl with dreams of becoming a big time wrestling star when the 19-year old started training with The Fabulous Moolah and her then husband Buddy Lee in 1957. Moolah was one of the biggest female stars in America at the time and had started a stranglehold on booking women within the NWA and other territories following the decline of Billy Wolfe‘s monopoly. Renamed as Sweet Georgia Brown, McCoy made her pro wrestling debut a year later, in 1958, at the age of 20. Sweet Georgia Brown was Moolah’s first African-American student in her school and Moolah and Lee had high hopes for the emerging fad in pro wrestling “Negro Women Wrestlers”.

But despite her fame and rise on the women’s wrestling circuit, Sweet Georgia Brown lived in fear for much of career. At first, it was from the rampant racism of the south – at some venues, she was smuggled in in the trunk of a car so that the KKK or other extremists wouldn’t be tipped off to a black women entering the arenas or hotel rooms.

But sadly, the most real terror was the clear and present danger of her trainer and manager, Moolah and Buddy Lee. Moolah and Lee would take a whopping 25% of their booking fees off the top (sometimes even more), often pocketing much more, leaving the wrestlers with barely enough to survive. In order to secure better booking for herself (or her girls to get better pay for herself), she would systematically prostitute her trainees to other promoters or even wrestlers. Sweet Georgia Brown was not immune to these heinous practices.

At only 19-years old, Susie Mae McCoy became South Carolina’s first black female wrestler. In 1957, she went to train under one of wrestling’s biggest names, The Fabulous Moolah and her husband, Buddy Lee. She chose the name “Sweet Georgia Brown” and by the time she was 20, she was one of Moolah’s most successful wrestlers.

Even though she was incredibly talented, she was still taken advantage of due to her age and race. Throughout her career in the deep south, she had to hide in the trunks of cars to avoid the KKK, who would protest the thought of a black woman being allowed in arenas and hotels. On top of that, Moolah and Buddy Lee took 25% of all of her profits, leaving McCoy with little to support herself. In the Vice documentary Dark Side of the Ring, it was finally revealed that Buddy Lee himself was the father of one of McCoy’s children, confirming long held rumors that Lee forced his trainees to sleep with him in exchange for better bookings.

Despite these challenges, McCoy remained strong and by 1963, she was chosen to beat the very white and very blonde Nell Stewart for the NWA Texas Women’s title. This would make her the first black woman to ever win the belt in one of the NWA’s largest territories.

Sweet Georgia Brown retired in 1972. According to her family, she could no longer endure the abuse of Lee and Moolah. She died in 1989 from breast cancer at 51. Her successful 15-year career in one of the most racist, toughest and sexist industries around is truly badass.

THE CHANGING FACE OF HOLLYWOOD It’s getting harder and harder to tell movie stars apart... Beyond the Chrises (Pine, Hemsworth, Evans, and Pratt,) there are Ryans Gosling, Reynolds, and Phillippe. And Ryan Murphy shows have a rotating cast of square-jawed, dark-haired guys who are so interchangeable it’s even a joke on set. Instead of movie stars, we have movie star types. So who are these male movie star types, and why is it getting harder and harder to tell your favorite actors apart? THE BIGGER PICTURE

Remember on the pilot episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody when that popular kid called the Sprouse twins "the clones"?  Well, identical twin jokes aren't what we're going for here. We're referring to the celebrities whom conspiracy theories believe have either been cloned and/or are being impersonated.

Many of these theories posit celebs have died and their replicas are walking among us. Disney's Alice better be thankful she never fell down this twisted rabbit hole. Check out these crazy theories below.

POST MALONE/BEIBER Apparently, some people believe Post Malone and Justin Bieber are the same person. "Why... how...," you ask? According to Kendall, "If you pitch down a Justin Bieber song, it starts to sound like Post Malone, and if you pitch up a Post Malone song, it sounds like Justin Bieber."

Not gonna lie, they do actually sound alike.

MILEY CYRUS One day, Miley Cyrus is being cute, innocent Hannah Montana on Disney Channel. The next, she's grinding onstage and dancing ~provocatively~. According to one theory, Disney allegedly killed the starlet and dumped her body in the California desert after her rebellious streak went too far. Some people think she was either cloned or one of her background dancers (some say body double) is pretending to be her.

Even more bizarre, one YouTube video claims Miley is a Reptilian Shapeshifter Hybrid and that she blinks sideways.

BEYONCE Theorists believe producers got ahold of some of Bey's stem cells back when she first started singing, knowing her talent would be such a waste if she died prematurely. Apparently, they claim Bey died in 2000 (though some think it was in 1999), making the Beyoncé we know and love today a clone.

TAYLOR SWIFT AND ZEENA LA VEY Zeena LaVey, aka Zeena Schreck, is a former high priestess of the church of Satan, and people are convinced she and Taylor Swift are clones. As Seventeen previously wrote, people noted Zeena was reportedly a high priestess from 1985 until 1990, just one year before Taylor was born.

JON BENET RAMSEY/PERRY The death of 6-year-old beauty pageant queen JonBenét Ramsey in 1996 still remains unsolved, but some people believe pop star Katy Perry is actually JonBenét. Allegedly, she was kidnapped by the Illuminati, went into hiding, then returned to society as Katy Perry.

AVRIL LEVINE Fans believe the Avril who gave us "Sk8er Boi" is not the same person who gave us "Hello Kitty." In fact, after Avril's debut album, Let Go, dropped, her grandfather died and a Brazilian fan site claimed she fell into a depression and allegedly died. Her doppelgänger, friend Melissa Vandella, then took her place.

Of course, the person behind the Brazilian fan site admitted he made everything up to show how you can get anyone to believe anything they read online.

BRITNEY SPEARS Back in 2001, a rumor that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were in a car crash spread like wildfire, thanks to radio DJs Kramer and Twitch, aka Keith Kramer and Tony Longo.

The DJs claimed Britney died and Justin was comatose, prompting a plethora of concerned phone calls to the LAPD. Kramer and Twitch were later fired for making the false report, but that didn't stop the conspiracy theorists from chiming in.

People believe the Britney we've been loving since the "car crash" is actually a clone, and the real Britney actually died.

Special Guest Actor Brian Ceponis Brian Ceponis had a couple of different professions before acting, including jobs in the financial services rackett and a career in pro volleyball that took him to  lands far away. 

Brian retired from volleyball in 2004 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full time. He spent 11 years working in Hollywood, racking up a number of TV and Film credits ...

In 2015, Brian's career shifted to the east coast and his current home city of Pittsburgh, and he has since worked on numerous films, television shows and stage productions.

In late 2019 early 2020, Brian co-founded RedSlate Films and has taken on the additional roles of producer, director, editor and writer.

Otis was trained in Portland, Oregon, by Sandy Barr.[1][2] She feuded with another of Barr's trainees, Velvet McIntyre. The two women competed against each other in singles and tag team matches in Vancouver All Star Wrestling.

Both women continued their feud while working for NWA Pacific Northwest under promoter Don Owen. They eventually ended their feud and formed a tag team. The duo won the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship on May 13, 1984, in Calgary, Alberta.[3]

In 1983, the World Wrestling Federation withdrew from the National Wrestling Alliance, and when McIntyre and Victoria rejoined the promotion in 1984, they were immediately recognized as holding the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship. The duo defended the championship against the team of Wendi Richter and Peggy Lee multiple times, including a match on April 23, 1984, in Madison Square Garden.[3][4] On September 1, 1984, Otis suffered a career-ending neck injury defending the tag team titles in Philadelphia.[5] The title she held was retired shortly thereafter. Desiree Petersen later replaced Victoria when she was let go from the WWF in 1984.

While in the WWF, she also wrestled in singles matches as a challenger against WWF Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah who was also responsible for training her, and booking her, which she discussed in detail while appearing on The Fabulous Moolah episode of Dark Side of the Ring.

In 2012, Desiree Peterson and Princess Victoria managed pro-wrestler Rescue 911 (Christopher Annino) and Lady Liberty (Nikki Moccia) at a Showcase Pro Wrestling event in Clinton, Connecticut for Cystic Fibrosis awareness. Prior to her move to Washington Victoria lived in Virginia and volunteered her time at South Hampton County Animal Shelter. Otis is retired from professional wrestling and now resides in Washington.[6]

In July 2016, Otis was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[7] According to her, due to WWE’s lack of medical attention, she is fully disabled and sometimes has to use a wheelchair.[8] In September 2018, the lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant.[9]

MUSICIAN DOUG KAETZ Doug Kaetz is a former Ski Instructor and Philadelphia school teacher who's passion for music lead to a full time career following his dream of making music. His story like many who succeed is full of travails, triumphs and some tragedy. Listen as this young man with a dream tell of what it takes to live the dream.

W.O.K.E.- "WILLINGLY OVERLOOKING KNOWN EVIL"

The definition of "woke" changes depending on who you ask.

The term has recently been used by some conservatives as an insult against progressive values.

The term, however, was originally coined by progressive Black Americans and used in racial justice movements in the early to mid-1900s.

To be "woke" politically in the Black community means that someone is informed, educated and conscious of social injustice and racial inequality, Merriam-Webster Dictionary states.

One of its earliest uses was in a historical recording of the protest song "Scottsboro Boys" by Lead Belly. In that recording, it was used as a term about staying aware of the potential for racist violence as a Black person in America.

James Beard Wrestling Promoter & Von Erich Family Friend The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who make history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.

ean Durkin’s first two features, “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and “The Nest,” have a manner that I’d describe as apologetic realism: there’s something he’s bursting to say, but he forces it into the confines of tightly crafted dramas. Those films have a tamped-down melancholy that hint at how much he’s holding in check. He doesn’t lay his voice on the line, but, by forcing his characters into frameworks with a too-clear point, he never seems to explore their lives fully, either. His third feature, “The Iron Claw” (which opens December 22nd), is different. In this group bio-pic of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers, Durkin’s brand of realism is even more rigorous, yet unapologetic. He still has plenty to say, but this time his characters do more than fit his ideas—they inspire his imagination, largely because they themselves are creators of fantasy.

As presented by Durkin, the patriarch, Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany), has a chip on his shoulder the size of a sequoia, and he matches it with colossal dreams of vengeful success that overwhelm everyone in his life. The story starts in the nineteen-sixties, when Fritz, a struggling wrestler, splurges on a Cadillac to foster an illusion of success, while imbuing his two young sons, Kevin and David, with a gospel of fanatical self-reliance that’s also an imperative to be the “toughest” and the “strongest.” The movie’s protagonist, and its occasional narrator, is the grownup Kevin (Zac Efron, imposingly muscled), the family’s oldest surviving son. Kevin’s older brother, Jack, Jr., died in an accident at the age of six. Jack’s death is one of the key reversals that shadows the family, leading to the pervasive, publicity-fuelled notion—one that the Von Erichs take grimly seriously—of a family curse. The heart of the drama begins in 1979, when Kevin is making a name for himself in the ring—namely, the Sportatorium, a small Dallas arena that Fritz owns and operates. “We loved wrestling,” Kevin reminisces in voice-over, and it shows, even as the rest of the movie depicts how that love was lost, along with many of the people he loved.

“The Iron Claw” is as exuberant as it is mournful, and the high spirits of performance and achievement are inseparable from the price that they exact. Kevin is disciplined, focussed, and grounded; he’s a vigorous and enthusiastic performer, leaping from the ropes, raging, slamming, punching, and putting on a show with the maneuver—the skull-squeezing Iron Claw—that made his father famous. But for Fritz it isn’t enough that Kevin is locally successful; Fritz, who believes that he was wrongly denied the sport’s heavyweight championship, lives for the day that one of his four sons—and, indeed, preferably all of them, in succession—will win that belt. (In real life, there were five at the time; Durkin cuts one, Chris, the youngest, out of the story.) But what does it mean for a pro wrestler to win? The movie makes the matter apparent, by way of a bit of dialogue that’s dropped into the movie sweetly and aptly—in the sequence in which Kevin connects with Pam (Lily James), a determined and self-aware young autograph seeker with an ulterior motive. The scene of their meeting is one of the most charmingly written and performed romantic encounters of the year in movies (up there with the elevator encounter in “Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game,” which started the year in romance), and the date that follows is similarly witty, wry, and tender.

HORROR FILM DIRECTOR GLENN MARTIN Michael Pare, Robert Romanus, Beverly Randolph, Jennifer Banko, Georgia Simmons, Brian Ceponis and Julia Reilly.

-------------------------------------------------------

Glenn Martin has achieved cult status as the director of such macabre classic as "Kampout", "Cemeteries: Curse of  The Hanging Judge", "When Night Comes", "The Searching" &  In The Shadows . He is my special guest and joining him tonight is the principal cast of his latest 2 films . Ladies & Gentlemen Mr. Glenn Martin ..... (Ask about the status of Scacred Grounds: Forbidden) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Pare  (Both Eddie & The Cruisers, Streets of Fire, The Philadelphia Experiment, May Day, Wrongful Death & The Virgin Suicides) 200 plus films

Robert "Bob" Romanus  (Fast Times at Ridgemnt High  ... "Mike Damone") 80 plus films                                            (Personal & Group Acting Coach)

Beverly Randolph  (The Return of the Living Dead,  Freaks of Nature)

Jennifer Banko    ("Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood")                                ("Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III"

Brian Ceponis      (In The Shadows, The Searching, Upcoming Films "Grind", "Cabrini" & "Wolf Hollow")

Julia Reilly   (Tammy-TV's "Stranger Things" & TV Movie "The Secrets She Keeps")

Georgia Simmons - (The Searching, Wig'd Out & The Secret Life of Amy Benson - Possum Trot)

actors on cell phones who are more interested in selling movies than making them. sean penn

PARE' QUOTE

I've been playing heroes, and heroes are not normal people. You can't find a leading man doing a nine-to-five job on Wall Street. And that hurt because they said, "You can't play a regular person, Tom Cody was also bigger than life. And in The Philadelphia Experiment, I'm a time traveler for god's sake. So for a long time, all I played was cops, heroes and soldiers.[2]

—Paré on being typecast as a macho man.

OUR SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE A WHO'S WHO of HORROR Michael Pare, Robert Romanus, Beverly Randolph, Jennifer Banko, Georgia Simmons, Brian Ceponis and Julia Reilly.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Glenn Martin has achieved cult status as the director of such macabre classic  Americana as "Cemeteries: Curse of  The Hanging Judge", "When Night Comes", "The Searching" &  In The Shadows . He is my special guest and joining him tonight is the entire cast of his latest 2 films . Ladies & Gentlemen Mr. Glenn Martin ..... (Ask about the status of Scacred Grounds: Forbidden) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Pare  (Both Eddie & The Cruisers, Streets of Fire, The Philadelphia Experiment, May Day, Wrongful Death & The Virgin Suicides) 200 plus films

Robert "Bob" Romanus  (Fast Times at Ridgemnt High  ... "Mike Damone") 80 plus films                                            (Personal & Group Acting Coach)

Beverly Randolph  (The Return of the Living Dead,  Freaks of Nature)

Jennifer Banko    ("Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood")                                ("Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III"

Brian Ceponis      (In The Shadows, The Searching, Upcoming Films "Grind", "Cabrini" & "Wolf Hollow")

Julia Reilly   (Tammy-TV's "Stranger Things" & TV Movie "The Secrets She Keeps")

Georgia Simmons - (The Searching, Wig'd Out & The Secret Life of Amy Benson - Possum Trot)

actors on cell phones who are more interested in selling movies than making them. sean penn

MICHAEL PARE' QUOTE

"I've been playing heroes, and heroes are not normal people. You can't find a leading man doing a nine-to-five job on Wall Street. And that hurt because they said, "You can't play a regular person, Tom Cody was also bigger than life. And in The Philadelphia Experiment, I'm a time traveler for god's sake. So for a long time, all I played was cops, heroes and soldiers."

—Paré on being typecast as a macho man.

THE BEST OF THE BEST IN 2023 WOW We strive always to bring you the very best in news, sport, pop culture and all the happenings from every facet of our lives, all year long. That means bringing you The Newsmakers, The Movers and The Shakers, The Headliners and The Showstoppers and Yet Again even WE managed to outdo ourselves in 2023 with the cream of the crop, the Creme de la Creme. In this show alone by any standard a blockbuster on any mainstream media program here is what you can expect.  No less than not one. but 2 Country Music Hall of Famers, Lacy J. Dalton and Sylvia Hutton, an Academy Award nominee, who is also a multi Emmy Award winning writer producer and actor, and the man who writes the Academy Awards, Bruce Vilanch. l also sit down with multi talented Tom Jones Tribute artist and lookalike, my neighbor growing up in Barrington New Jersey, Steve McCoy. Tom Jones said, "Steve Does Me Better Than I Do."  We find out what its like to "become Jerry Lewis with the man of many faces Angelo Capone, the man who IS Jerry Lewis. Remarkable is what he is. Remember TV child actor Johnny Whitaker (Jody from TV's Family Affair?) He's here too! That's just a teaser of what to expect in this all star year end extravaganza. What a way to kick it in 2023.  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Open Forum with MadDog & Pitbull (Surprize by Actor Johnny Whitaker) Our guest of honor was late for his own birthday party tonight ... tune in to see how it unraveled and what ensued. LOL You never know what you will get with Whats The Buzz America's Best Popcast. 

CHRISTMAS LESSONS FROM MOM AND DAD

WHY MY HUSBAND AND I CANCELLED CHRISTMAS

It’s true. We have cancelled Christmas in our house this year. Well. at least the version of Christmas our boys have been focusing on.

Let me explain. We have not cancelled putting up decorations, celebrating the birth of our Savior, or any of our other heartwarming traditions. But, we have cancelled presents, Santa, and stockings. Their letters to Santa this year will be asking Santa to find someone who needs their presents more than they do.

Here is why – My husband John and I feel like we are fighting a very hard uphill battle with our kids when it comes to entitlement. It is one of the biggest struggles as a parent these days in middle class America. Our kids have been acting so ungrateful lately, and they expect so much even when their behavior is disrespectful. We gave them a warning, either it was time for their behavior to change or there would be consequences. We patiently worked with them for several months and guess what, very little changed. One day after a particularly bad display of entitlement John said, “we should just cancel Christmas.”  And, so that’s what we did.

OPEN FORUM AND ANYTHING GOES An open forum discussion on the topics of the day.

OPEN FORUM AND ANYTHING GOES

RISING STAR: ACTOR/MODEL GUNNER POPE Gunner Pope is a 21 year model. Breaking his way into acting. Gunner attended school in a little town called Independence, Ky. He attended school in his beginning years in Bellevue, Ky and then went to school in Ft. Thomas. Gunner spent most of his time in school involved in sports, doing everything from Wrestling to playing Football and Baseball.

He was a wrestler in the 7th grade all the way through high school. Gunner's willingness to learn helped him develop his confidence and break out of his shell while wrestling in school. Gunner's high school wrestling career also taught him how to become more disciplined, to always stay humble and to appreciate the rewards of hard work. Even though this young man did very well in the sports area of his High School years, he had strong aspirations of going into modeling and acting. He has had the support of his Mother and Father along with the support of his two siblings while starting on a new path into Acting.

He wanted to learn acting so badly that he asked his parents to gift him Headshots along with Acting classes. (Most kids want a car), but this young man kept it simple by asking for the tools he needed to help him advance himself into a new career. Gunner had the opportunity to join in on the (Bike Riders Movie) while it was filming in Cincinnati. Gunner is working toward the requirements to become a SAG-AFTRA registered member.

The young man is well on his way to learning that the world will now become his stage. The sky is the limit for Gunner and there is nowhere but up for him moving forward. Gunner would like to follow in his favorite Actors footsteps (Tom Holland) because he is completely confident and has always stayed humble.

THE FUNNIEST TIKTOKS From comedy skits to dance routines to random tips and hacks, TikTok is home to video content about basically anything you can imagine. And with millions of users enjoying the app daily, it’s no wonder why so many people are trying to launch their social media platform on TikTok. 

Whether you’re new to the TikTok influencer game or you’re an established creator, there are always new things you can learn to give your content a competitive edge. If you’re looking to create viral content, keep in mind that there’s no magic formula to become TikTok famous. But you can boost your chances of earning some internet fame by using TikTok voices.

In the world of TikTok, getting one million views on a post isn’t as big of a deal as you’d think. Truly viral posts get into the eight or nine figures. So the fact that Khaby Lame consistently gets at least 10 million views on his TikToks should show you how good they are. The comedian has made a name for himself as an everyman, pointing out the futility of overly complicated life hacks with a sarcastic smirk. Someone carefully performs “surgery” on a bag to extract a scrunchie and an AirPods case? Lame responds to the video by plopping down his backpack and unzipping it with a look on his face like, Can you believe this guy?

THE VATICAN ARCHIVES

The word ‘secret’ in the Vatican Secret Archives may be the reason for some of the rampant speculation about what goes on in there. But it makes the archive sound much sexier than it is.

The ‘secret’ part of the name comes from the Latin name, the Archivium Secretum Vaticanum. The word secretum has branched in English meaning. On one hand, it can mean “secret” or “hidden.” On the other, it can mean “personal” or “private” (in the sense of private property). This is what the name of the archive actually means—the personal archives of the pope. It is for this very reason that last year, Pope Francis changed its name to the Vatican Apostolic Archive to try and distance it from its reputation.

This already makes them a lot less exciting, I know, even if there are about 50 miles of shelf space in them. They are a treasure trove me as a medievalist, though, if not so much for conspiracy theorists.

THE VATICAN ARCHIVES

1. The Chief Exorcist of the Vatican Performed 100,000+ Exorcisms

Although exorcism is believed to be a practice only seen in horror movies and is the Middle Ages, the practice continues to be alive in the Catholic Church. Father Gabriele Amorth is a late Priest and served as the chief exorcist of the Vatican. He served for 60 years, and is believed to have performed approximately 160,000 exorcisms. The exorcism rite, however, is not just limited to the late chief exorcist. It has been performed by various Popes over the years. In 2018, BBC reported that the Vatican welcomed 250 priests from across the world to an annual workshop.

2. The Vatican Helped Nazi War Criminals Escape the Allied Forces

After the victory of the Allied Forces in Germany to end World War II, the Nazis were forced to seek refuge outside Europe. Thousands of Nazis managed to escape to South American countries, specifically Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.

Harvard researcher Gerald Steinacher wrote a book that shows travel documents pointing to the Vatican having helped the Nazis travel to these countries. Steinacher argues that it was done with the hope of reviving European Christianity and fear of the growing influence of the Soviet Union. The Vatican, however, has refused to comment on these claims.

3. The Vatican Made Money from the Holocaust

In addition to aiding the escape of thousands of Nazis from Europe, the Vatican was also involved in helping smuggle Nazi looted art, golf, and other property belonging to Jewish families. 

Gerald Posner, an American journalist, says that Bernardino Nogara, the financial advisor to the Vatican is believed to have been one of Nazi spies. He is believed to have instituted a horrifying scheme that allowed the Vatican to invest money in Italian insurance companies that kept the assets from the life insurance plans of the murdered Jewish families. Since the Vatican was an investor and not a direct insurer, they did not need to return any of the money made using the scheme.

4. Scandals of the Vatican Bank

The Vatican Bank, also called the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR) has been involved in numerous scandals. 

The most controversial is their dealing with Hitler. Gerald Posner, a historian, points out that the Vatican received Church Tax from Hitler every year. 

A substantial amount of money was paid to the IOR, so that it cannot be tracked by western banks. The IOR was used to store billions of dollars, the details of which have never been publicly revealed.

5. Vatileaks

A book named ‘His Holiness’ was released in 2012, which is based on the leaked secret papers of Pope Benedict. The private documents were leaked by Benedict XVI's own butler to the author, Gianluigi Nuzzi.

After reviewing these documents, an internal investigation was held. The investigation revealed that individuals who were not from the Vaitcan were blackmailing gay bishops since they had broken their celibacy vows. Pope Benedict CVI went on to resign from the Papacy in 2013 due to this scandal. 

6. The Apostolic Penitentiary

The Apostolic Penitentiary is a secret tribunal that investigates so-called ‘heinous’ crimes of individuals. It was supposedly found in 1179, and was kept secret until 2009. Only the pope can grant absolution to people brought to this tribunal. Examples of sins include attempting to assassinate the pope, a priest exposing the sin or identity of a person who has confessed to them, and so on. The pope acts as the head of this tribunal, and is called the Major Penitentiary, and can either offer absolution, or let the automatic excommunication stand. 

7. Dead Man on Trial

In 897 AD, the Catholic Church put a dead man on trial. Known as the 'Cadaver Synod,' the posthumous trial of Pope Formosus was held by Pope Stephen VI, his successor. Formosus was accused of usurping the papacy,  despite being dead for 7 months by that point. The body of the pope was exhumed, dressed in ecclesiastical attire, and brought to the papal court for judgment. A deacon was even appointed to speak on the dead Pope’s behalf. He was found guilty; all his acts as pope was declared null and void; his body was stripped off the garments and dressed in rags; his three fingers of benediction were cut off and his body was cast into River Tiber, where ancient Romans disposed off their infamous criminals for centuries.  

Conspiracy Theories About the Vatican’s Secret Archives

1. Jesus Does Not Exist

There are reports that the Archives contain communication between Emperor Nero and Saint Paul regarding the existence of Jesus. Some clergy believe that the Vatican is hiding proof that Jesus Christ did not exist. 

2. Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life

Rumors suggest that the Vatican holds proof of the existence of extraterrestrial life, in the form of extraterrestrial skulls. Some sources say that the Archives contain proof that the pope is conspiring extraterrestrial beings to implant everyone on Earth with computer chips. 

3. Three Secrets of Fatima

The controversial Third Secret of Fatima is believed to be a secret document hidden within the Archives. In 1917, three children from Portugal received prophecies, one of which was witnessed by thousands of people. The supposed suppression of this Third Secret fueled rumors that its contents were regarding a nuclear holocaust, natural disaster, and so on. The release of the contents of this Secret in 2000 did not do much to quell speculation. 

4. Home to the Largest Collection of Pornography

Some conspiracy theorists believe that the Vatican Archives contain the largest collection of pornography in the world. Copenhagen’s Museum of Erotica confirms these speculations, in addition to writings by National Review founder William Buckley Jr, and scholar Camilla Paglia. 

5. They are Controlled by the Illuminati

Some people believe that despite their dissolution in the medieval times, the Illuminati has solely built itself up, with its members placed in some of the most powerful positions across the world. One such powerful office is the Vatican, where many of its prominent members are believed to be part of the Illuminati. 

6. It is Home to a Time Machine

Believed to have been built by an Italian scientist and priest, Father Pellegrino Maria Ernetti, the Chronovisor is a device that apparently allows people to view the future and past. Although there is no record of such a device, some people believe it is hidden somewhere in the Archives.

BEING THANKFUL 

Gratitude helps people create greater happiness and enjoyment for everyday activities. Gratitude improves health and builds strong relationships not just with other people but with one's own self. Gratitude helps us feel more trusting, more social, and deepens our existing relationships. Waking up everyday with a more optimistic approach increases energy to go about your day with more enthusiasm and creates a more welcoming energy for people around you. Completing tasks with a more uplifting attitude can make the menial everyday tasks less overwhelming. To be thankful for everything that is happening now in this moment, makes my life feel more fulfilling. Gratitude allows us to take our time and enjoy what we are creating instead of rushing to get it done. It has a survival value of reciprocity: helping others and being helped in return. Research shows that there are areas of the brain involved in experiencing and expressing gratitude. The fact is: it's a practice. Every moment is a conscious effort and an opportunity to count one’s blessings Everyday, as I inhale my first waking breath I give thanks to the ones before me that fought for the rights I am enjoying today. As I take my first step, I thank the people who protect and heal the earth. As I say my first good morning, I give thanks as I am blessed to be surrounded by company and support. When I dance, it’s a practice of my humility and gratitude, as I give and receive energy. To give back, I try to support and stay aware in order to do my part to leave this world better than I received it for the next generation. When going through a difficult time, the value of gratitude gives me a sense of resilience. It gives me hope and strength to get back on my alignment. Gratitude makes me feel centered, lifted, and grounded. In times like this, in the COVID-19 epidemic, I am grateful for the people that are fighting for the People. I am grateful for the people who choose to become medical experts in-order to defeat this enemy, which is affecting us all, those who are fighting for people politically, even though we have never met. I give my thanks to those who are entertaining people on the internet, keeping people active, healthy, and hopeful. To the backbone of any country I give my biggest gratitude. They are the agriculturists who are still working in order for their nation to be nourished and fed. To every essential employee risking their health and their families' health in order to go to work. I give thanks to humanity.

- Alan Perez

THE GOOD NEWS There Is Still Hope For Humanity

HOW DID GOD BECOME A BIGOTTED ZEALOT?

In Jesus’ day, a handful of Jewish groups and political parties sought to govern or influence the day-to-day life of the Jews living in Palestine. Given their views, many of these groups would have taken a keen interest in the life and ministry of Jesus, and not always in favor or support.

The historian Josephus write of four prominent groups:

The Pharisees, who Jesus frequently clashed with and admonished for their legalism and hypocrisy, were fastidious about the Law and its application. As religious fundamentalists, they were often the most rigid and overbearing, maneuvering to protect their wealth and preserve their political power at all costs, even if it meant blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22-29) or partnering with the Romans to have Jesus crucified (John 18).

The Sadducees, also mentioned in the gospels, were a more wealthy, aristocratic, and liberal group, known for their denial of the supernatural.

The Essenes, though not mentioned in Scripture, were a third Jewish party and a more monk-like group of aesthetics and celibates who lived in the desert and devoted themselves to the study of the Old Testament.

The fourth group, and the most politically minded and feared among the Jews, were the Zealots.

In the first century, The Zealots were a notorious sect of Jewish patriots who sought to overthrow the Roman occupation of Palestine through violence, terror, and political intimidation, often resorting to murder, assassination, and militant action to further their agenda. Ironically, one of Jesus’ own disciples, Simon the Zealot, was a member of this group before being called to follow Christ.

Their name, derived from the Greek work zelos, fit the Zealots’ reputation as those with a passion, zeal, or fervor of spirit.

Of course, this begs the question: what were the Zealots so fervent and passionate about?

Although they held many religious views with the Pharisees, the Zealots were known more for their hatred of Rome than anything else. It was this resentment and animus towards the Roman occupation that inspired the Zealots to become one of the most violent and aggressive groups in the region.

Odd and Unusual News from Around The Globe A look at some of the most unusual news stories from around the world as collected by Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. God Help Us All

5 Ways to Know if Your Relationship is Worth Saving

Article by Christine Eartheart (Life Coach)

1. Are you committed to growth? The first way to know if your relationship is worth saving is that you are both committed to growth, individually and together.

When couples reach out for support, they are often in a difficult time of heightened conflict, betrayal, or disconnect. During our first session, it’s common for them to ask: “can this relationship be saved?”

After supporting thousands of couples, we’re convinced this is the most important predictor when it comes to the chances of a couple succeeding.

No matter how big your challenges may be, if both of you are committed to learning everything possible from what hasn’t worked in the past and implementing positive changes, there is tremendous potential to turn your relationship into the one you’ve both always wanted.

2. Do you genuinely respect one another? The second way to know if your relationship is worth saving is that you both have a genuine willingness to respect how each other thinks and feels.

Compatibility does not mean you have to be the same. In fact, it is your differences that can keep things exciting, and most of us unconsciously seek someone who will balance us and help us grow.

However, a thriving relationship requires each of you to honor one another in mind, body, heart, and spirit. You need to be interested in and respectful of each other’s feelings, perspective, and physicality.

3. Do you share values? The third way to know if your relationship is worth saving is that you share many of the same values, as they deeply influence what you set as priorities in your life.

When you live your life in alignment with your values, you feel happy, confident, and fulfilled.

Some examples of values would be honesty, integrity, joy, love, kindness, generosity, compassion, ambition, courage, accountability, faith, family, fun, freedom, discipline, harmony, awareness, equality, positivity, acceptance, passion, ease, balance, adventure, and peace.

4. Do you share a vision? The fourth way to know if your relationship is worth saving is that you share a vision for your lives. This essentially means that you want the same things in life. Do your dreams match up?

For example, if one of you wants to have children and the other prefers a child-free life, your visions may not match up. If one of you wants a free-spirited life of travelling the world year-round, and the other wants to settle down and grow all your own food, your visions may be best pursued apart.

Of course, be flexible and find creative ways for each of your dreams to coexist. At the end of your lives, you just want to know that you both have fully lived, without regret or sacrificing too much.

5. Are you willing to forgive one another? Lastly, in order to move forward together, it’s essential that forgiveness occurs. This can certainly be a process and take time.

However, the key is that you both are willing to eventually forgive one another for whatever has happened in the past, allowing you to fully open your hearts to all that can be in the future.

It’s natural to question your relationship over time. This does not at all mean you are doomed or not meant to be. In fact, most couples have vast untapped potential and, chances are, so do you!

10 advantages of full-time employment Advantages of full-time employment include:

1. A steady income Full-time employers are legally obliged to pay their employees an agreed fixed salary every month, every week or twice a month. They're also required to pay legally mandated tax and pension contributions while honouring commission payments and bonuses earned as agreed in the employment contract. The employee receives the same amount of pay each month, giving them financial peace of mind and security. A steady income gives you the ability to budget, save and efficiently manage your money.

2. Fixed working patterns As a full-time employee, your employment contract would set out working structures which define the days you're expected to work along with start and finish times. This fixed working pattern enables you to plan your week and commitments to fit your job schedule for a healthy work-life balance.

3. Insurance benefits Most full-time employers offer benefits such as dental plans and life assurance as a way of attracting and retaining reliable professionals. Depending on the company, role and industry, employers may offer anything from health insurance to short-term disability coverage. Some employers pay insurance policies in full while others provide a company discount to help cover medical expenses.

4. Paid time off Full-time employment requires companies to offer their employees paid leave. This can be anything from sick leave and paid holidays to paid time off during certain bank holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Parental leave with pay is offered by some organisations, allowing professionals to spend time with their newborn babies. Paid leave varies from employer to employer but most offer staff a minimum leave period. The amount of paid leave you get depends on seniority, your employment contract and time served with the company.

5. Greater career advancement opportunities Full-time employees have access to promotion and career growth opportunities within the work environment. They can take on greater responsibilities in a new role, learn a new skill or earn more money, increasing their income. Since companies view full-time employees as a long-term investment, they're more likely to invest in their careers to help them grow and advance. Employers may provide training programmes, workshops and mentorship to support employees in their professional development.

6. Professional relationships Full-time employees can network and build meaningful and healthy connections with peers and industry leaders. Close business relationships develop when meeting people at company meetings, workshops, team building events, training programmes and conferences. Professional relationships go a long way in helping you expand your career network while teaching you about different aspects of your industry and company.

7. Professional training opportunities Companies may offer full-time employees on-site professional training to increase their competencies and abilities. This allows them to gain new skills and learn and grow in their careers and fields of interest. Some full-time employers encourage their staff to continue further study, or continuous professional development (CPD), and may reimburse their tuition fees. Continuing their education while working enables employees to enhance their skills and gain further certification relevant to their profession.

8. Office amenities Office amenities can be a perk of working on company premises. Some companies provide such perks as on-site fitness centres and lounge areas, unlimited parking spaces and conference rooms for meetings. Others provide access to office amenities for entertainment and relaxation. Office amenities could include free snacks, reliable, fast Wi-Fi, dining options, snack bars and gaming centres.

9. More perks Full-time employment perks come in all shapes and sizes and vary from employer to employer. Some companies may provide senior employees with a company car which may also relate to the job role. Employees may be offered discounts on products and job-related items or given access to information and opportunities.

The term “brainwashing” was first used in the 1950s by American journalist Edward Hunter, reporting on the treatment of American soldiers in Chinese prison camps during the Korean War. Brainwashing techniques have been documented as far back as the Egyptian Book of the Dead and used by abusive spouses and parents, self-proclaimed psychics, cult leaders, secret societies, revolutionaries, and dictators to bring others under their thumbs and manipulate them seemingly willingly. These techniques don’t involve fantastic weapons or exotic powers, but they do involve an understanding of the human psyche and a desire to exploit it. By understanding these techniques better, you can learn how to protect yourself and others from them.

Possible candidates include:

People who have lost their jobs and fear for their future. Recently divorced people, particularly in a bitter divorce where children feel vulnerable.

Those suffering from lingering illness, especially one they don’t understand. People who have lost a loved one, particularly if they were very close to that person and had few other friends.

Young people away from home for the first time. These are particular favorites of religious cult leaders.

People who are regarded as socially awkward by their mainstream peers. They frequently tend to be loners but seek like minded people who might be few and far between.

One particular predatory tactic is to find out enough information about the person and his or her belief system to explain the tragedy the person has experienced in a manner consistent with that belief system. This can later be expanded to explain history in general through that belief system, while subtly modifying it to the brainwasher’s interpretation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brainwashing is used to describe an abrupt, induced attitudinal change. Methods used to induce this change include isolation, monopolization, debilitation and exhaustion, drugs, torture, enforcement of routine, and hypnosis.  

It can also include news coverage, government manipulation, scare tactics, product marketing, advertising campaigns, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and of course Twitter. Another heavily used source of Brainwashing is Social Media influencers and of course, peer pressure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1: Understand that those who attempt to brainwash others tend to prey upon the weak and vulnerable. Not everyone is a target for mind control, but certain people are more susceptible to forms of it at different times. A skillful manipulator knows what to look for and targets people who are going through a difficult period in their life or a change that may or may not be of their own making. 

2: Be aware of people who try to isolate you or someone you know from outside influences. As people who are experiencing a personal tragedy or other major life change are inclined to feel lonely, a skillful brain-washer works to amplify those feelings of loneliness. This isolation can take several forms. For young people in a cult, it may be preventing them from contacting their friends and family members. For a significant other in an abusive relationship, it may mean never letting the victim out of the abuser’s sight or permitting contact with family and friends. For prisoners in an enemy prison camp, it may involve isolating prisoners from one another while subjecting them to subtle or overt forms of torture.

3: Watch for attacks on the victim’s self-esteem. Brainwashing only works when the brainwasher is in a superior position to the victim. This means that the victim has to be broken down, so the brainwasher can rebuild the victim in his or her image. This can be done through mental, emotional, or ultimately physical means for long enough to physical and emotionally wear down the target. Mental tortures may begin with lying to the victim and then progress to embarrassing or intimidating the victim. This form of torture can be done with words or gestures ranging from an expression of disapproval to invading the victim’s personal space.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Emotional tortures are not kind, of course, but may begin with verbal insults, then progress to badgering, spitting, or more dehumanizing things such as stripping the victim to be photographed or just looked at. The goal of these activities is to break down your natural instinct to fight back so that you become placid.

Physical tortures may include starvation, freezing, sleep deprivation, beatings, mutilations, and others, none are acceptable in society. Physical torture is commonly used by abusive parents and spouses, as well as in prison and “re-education” camps.

The Legal Argument

Although brainwashing can produce profound alterations in character, values, and disposition, it cannot easily be accommodated by such current criminal defenses as mental incapacity, automatism, or coercion. A justification for making brainwashing an excusing condition can be found in each of three major approaches to excusing criminal liability: (1) that punishment should be withheld where it is incapable of having a deterrent effect, (2) that a moral license to punish should not extend to cases where the defendant's actions could not be regarded as voluntary, and (3) that excusing conditions are those that preclude an inference from the act to the actor's character. Although several criticisms might be advanced against the proposed defense, psychological evidence exists to establish beyond doubt the brainwashing phenomenon and its causal link with illegal acts. There are valid moral arguments that brainwashing should afford an excuse to all crimes. They are based on the idea that a person acting when brainwashed is not properly regarded as the same person who reverts to normal behavior after deprogramming. A total of 52 footnotes are provided.

TV & Film Producer/Director/Writer Marc Sotkin 

Marc Sotkin is an award winning writer, producer, and director who has influenced some of Americas most Iconic Television shows.  His Credits Include: Blansky's Beauties -You Wish-First Time Out-Platypus Man -The Sinbad Show -The Golden Palace-The Golden Girls-It's a Living-The Line-Laverne & Shirley-I'm a Big Girl Now-Working Stiffs- The Garry Shandling Show In 2015 He wrote the award winning short, THE DECISION and is the author of  several books, "With Time Off for Bad Behavior", "The Comatose Adventures Of Lenny Rose" and "Kinda Dirty Paris Confessions" . Marc was also the host of his own podcast "Everything About it is Appealing" Marc is the recipient of the prestigious Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy/Variety Series or Special. He is always candid, always informative and is always welcome. Please Welcome Marc Sotkin.

You Are Being Brainwashed and You Don't Even Know It!!! The term “brainwashing” was first used in the 1950s by American journalist Edward Hunter, reporting on the treatment of American soldiers in Chinese prison camps during the Korean War. Brainwashing techniques have been documented as far back as the Egyptian Book of the Dead and used by abusive spouses and parents, self-proclaimed psychics, cult leaders, secret societies, revolutionaries, and dictators to bring others under their thumbs and manipulate them seemingly willingly. These techniques don’t involve fantastic weapons or exotic powers, but they do involve an understanding of the human psyche and a desire to exploit it. By understanding these techniques better, you can learn how to protect yourself and others from them.

Possible candidates include:

People who have lost their jobs and fear for their future. Recently divorced people, particularly in a bitter divorce where children feel vulnerable.

Those suffering from lingering illness, especially one they don’t understand. People who have lost a loved one, particularly if they were very close to that person and had few other friends.

Young people away from home for the first time. These are particular favorites of religious cult leaders.

People who are regarded as socially awkward by their mainstream peers. They frequently tend to be loners but seek like minded people who might be few and far between.

One particular predatory tactic is to find out enough information about the person and his or her belief system to explain the tragedy the person has experienced in a manner consistent with that belief system. This can later be expanded to explain history in general through that belief system, while subtly modifying it to the brainwasher’s interpretation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brainwashing is used to describe an abrupt, induced attitudinal change. Methods used to induce this change include isolation, monopolization, debilitation and exhaustion, drugs, torture, enforcement of routine, and hypnosis.  

It can also include news coverage, government manipulation, scare tactics, product marketing, advertising campaigns, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and of course Twitter. Another heavily used source of Brainwashing is Social Media influencers and of course, peer pressure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1: Understand that those who attempt to brainwash others tend to prey upon the weak and vulnerable. Not everyone is a target for mind control, but certain people are more susceptible to forms of it at different times. A skillful manipulator knows what to look for and targets people who are going through a difficult period in their life or a change that may or may not be of their own making. 

2: Be aware of people who try to isolate you or someone you know from outside influences. As people who are experiencing a personal tragedy or other major life change are inclined to feel lonely, a skillful brain-washer works to amplify those feelings of loneliness. This isolation can take several forms. For young people in a cult, it may be preventing them from contacting their friends and family members. For a significant other in an abusive relationship, it may mean never letting the victim out of the abuser’s sight or permitting contact with family and friends. For prisoners in an enemy prison camp, it may involve isolating prisoners from one another while subjecting them to subtle or overt forms of torture.

3: Watch for attacks on the victim’s self-esteem. Brainwashing only works when the brainwasher is in a superior position to the victim. This means that the victim has to be broken down, so the brainwasher can rebuild the victim in his or her image. This can be done through mental, emotional, or ultimately physical means for long enough to physical and emotionally wear down the target. Mental tortures may begin with lying to the victim and then progress to embarrassing or intimidating the victim. This form of torture can be done with words or gestures ranging from an expression of disapproval to invading the victim’s personal space.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Emotional tortures are not kind, of course, but may begin with verbal insults, then progress to badgering, spitting, or more dehumanizing things such as stripping the victim to be photographed or just looked at. The goal of these activities is to break down your natural instinct to fight back so that you become placid.

Physical tortures may include starvation, freezing, sleep deprivation, beatings, mutilations, and others, none are acceptable in society. Physical torture is commonly used by abusive parents and spouses, as well as in prison and “re-education” camps.

The Legal Argument

Although brainwashing can produce profound alterations in character, values, and disposition, it cannot easily be accommodated by such current criminal defenses as mental incapacity, automatism, or coercion. A justification for making brainwashing an excusing condition can be found in each of three major approaches to excusing criminal liability: (1) that punishment should be withheld where it is incapable of having a deterrent effect, (2) that a moral license to punish should not extend to cases where the defendant's actions could not be regarded as voluntary, and (3) that excusing conditions are those that preclude an inference from the act to the actor's character. Although several criticisms might be advanced against the proposed defense, psychological evidence exists to establish beyond doubt the brainwashing phenomenon and its causal link with illegal acts. There are valid moral arguments that brainwashing should afford an excuse to all crimes. They are based on the idea that a person acting when brainwashed is not properly regarded as the same person who reverts to normal behavior after deprogramming. A total of 52 footnotes are provided.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

"And that no man might buy or sell, unless that he had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty and six. (666)?

Revelation! 666 is not the number of the beast (it's a devilish 616)

A newly discovered fragment of the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament indicates that, as far as the Antichrist goes, theologians, scholars, heavy metal groups, and television evangelists have got the wrong number. Instead of 666, it's actually the far less ominous 616.

The new fragment from the Book of Revelation, written in ancient Greek and dating from the late third century, is part of a hoard of previously unintelligible manuscripts discovered in historic dumps outside Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. Now a team of expert classicists, using new photographic techniques, are finally deciphering the original writing.

Professor David Parker, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham, thinks that 616, although less memorable than 666, is the original. He said: "This is an example of gematria, where numbers are based on the numerical values of letters in people's names. Early Christians would use numbers to hide the identity of people who they were attacking: 616 refers to the Emperor Caligula."

The Book of Revelation is traditionally considered to be written by John, a disciple of Jesus; it identifies 666 as the mark of the Antichrist. In America, the fundamentalist Christian right often use the number in sermons about the coming Apocalypse.

  Can You Unknowingly Take The Mark of the Beast

The mark of the beast has been a popular topic among Christians and non-Christians for centuries, gaining momentum in recent times. As our world becomes increasingly chaotic, talk of the apocalypse abounds. As our world becomes more technologically advanced, some worry that they might accept the mark of the beast unknowingly.

The Mark of the Beast in the Bible

The apostle John recorded a vision in Revelation that gives us some details about the mark of the beast. John sees two beasts in his vision. The second beast exercises authority and performs miracles on behalf of the first beast. The second beast “also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16–17). From this description, we know that the mark of the beast, whatever it is, will be forced on all people, not just certain populations. We also know that the mark is tied to commerce and will be required for any type of financial transaction. People will be forced to take this mark on the right hand or in the forehead, and somehow the mark will incorporate the name of the beast or the number representing his name—a number that verse 18 identifies as 666.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST - PUBLIC OPINION

A simple internet search for “mark of the beast” will open an endless jumble of speculation and conjecture. Some believe the mark of the beast will be akin to the chip found in today’s “smart” credit cards. The thought is that a similar chip will be implanted in the skin (where it cannot be lost) and give the bearer access to his or her financial data. Others believe that the mark will be a tattoo or a type of bar code. Another theory is that the mark of the beast will involve artificial intelligence or a genetic modification to “boost” humanity to the next level of evolution. Some worry that many have already taken the mark of the beast unknowingly and point to the COVID-19 vaccinations as the vehicle to administer it. Such claims agitate people’s fears unnecessarily. The mark of the beast does not exist yet. And when, in the future, the mark is forced on the world, it will be impossible to receive it unwittingly.

BRUCE VILANCH Bruce Vilanch was born a long time ago in a land far away called New York City. He is a writer and actor, performance artist and sometimes Christmas elf. He is universally regarded as a writing genius and Best known for the films "You Don't Mess with the Zohan", "The Ice Pirates" and his writing collaboration for Comic Relief V a show in which he appeared with his friend Billy Crystal.

He's witty, charming, dashingly handsome, and has one hellova tee shirt collection. Join me as I welcome 2 Time Emmy Award Winning writer, actor and comedian, Bruce Vilanch to the show.

You Don't Mess with the Zohan The Ice Pirates Comic Relief V The 64th Annual Academy Awards

INTERVIEW WITH THE MADDOG Slasher Scotty McCoy YouTube Channel Welcome to Slasher Scotty's YouTube channel. You have come to the right place to listen to all things horror and slasher related. Slasher Scotty will be uploading content to this page that includes interviews with various celebrity guests, rankings videos, top 10 videos, The Body Count, among others. Below is the schedule for when these videos are posted:

BIBLE PROPHECY FULFILLED IN THE TIME OF ISREAL

About 200 years in advance​—long before the king was born—​the Hebrew prophet Isaiah mentioned Cyrus by name and described how he would conquer the mighty city of Babylon.

Isaiah 44:24, 27, 28: “This is what Jehovah says, . . . ‘the One saying to the deep waters, “Be evaporated, and I will dry up all your rivers”; the One saying of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd, and he will completely carry out all my will”; the One saying of Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Your foundation will be laid.”

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the army of Cyrus diverted the waters of the Euphrates River, which flowed through the city of Babylon. Cyrus’ strategy enabled his troops to enter the city along the riverbed. After taking the city, Cyrus freed the Jews who had been captive in Babylon and allowed them to return and rebuild Jerusalem, which had been destroyed 70 years earlier.

Isaiah 45:1: “This is what Jehovah says to his anointed one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut.”

The Persians entered the city through the massive two-leaved doors in the city wall, which had carelessly been left open. Had the Babylonians been aware of what Cyrus was planning, they could have shut all the gates that opened onto the river. But as it was, the city was defenseless.

BIBLICAL PROPHECY & THE NEWS

BIBLE PROPHECY FULFILLED IN THE TIME OF ISREAL

About 200 years in advance​—long before the king was born—​the Hebrew prophet Isaiah mentioned Cyrus by name and described how he would conquer the mighty city of Babylon.

Isaiah 44:24, 27, 28: “This is what Jehovah says, . . . ‘the One saying to the deep waters, “Be evaporated, and I will dry up all your rivers”; the One saying of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd, and he will completely carry out all my will”; the One saying of Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Your foundation will be laid.”

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the army of Cyrus diverted the waters of the Euphrates River, which flowed through the city of Babylon. Cyrus’ strategy enabled his troops to enter the city along the riverbed. After taking the city, Cyrus freed the Jews who had been captive in Babylon and allowed them to return and rebuild Jerusalem, which had been destroyed 70 years earlier.

Isaiah 45:1: “This is what Jehovah says to his anointed one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut.”

The Persians entered the city through the massive two-leaved doors in the city wall, which had carelessly been left open. Had the Babylonians been aware of what Cyrus was planning, they could have shut all the gates that opened onto the river. But as it was, the city was defenseless.

TV DANCE JUDGE MARY MURPHY She answered a newspaper advertisement for studio instructor trainees. She became an instructor after only one week, and the studio owner invited her to attend the United States Ballroom Championships in New York City, which was the event that influenced her to commit to a career in ballroom dancing.

Murphy moved to California and searched for a dance partner while working as an instructor. During the U.K. Open Championships in England, she met Manfred Stiglitz and a dancing partnership was formed. The two began to compete and eventually became the 1990 and 1991 Austrian National Champions. Despite their success, the constant travel and Murphy's domestic commitments took their toll. Murphy had opened the Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego in 1990 and found it difficult splitting herself between these two obligations.

For the next five years she went on to build a list of accomplishments with partners based in California, earning titles at the Southwest Regional Dance Tournament, the Saint Louis Star Ball, and the International Grand Ball. With partner Bill Milner, Murphy made the U.S. Open Standard final in an unprecedented six months. Finally, in 1996, she and partner Jim Desmond made the final of the U.S. Open American Smooth and won the U.S. Open American Nine Dance. She retired from competition and shifted her focus toward her dance academy.

LADIES OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME LACY J DALTON Lacy J. Dalton (born Jill Lynne Byrem; October 13, 1946)[1] is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for her gritty, powerful vocals, which People Magazine likened to a country equivalent of Bonnie Raitt.[2]

Dalton had a number of hits in the 1980s, including "Takin' It Easy", "Crazy Blue Eyes", and "16th Avenue". Though absent from the U.S. country charts since 1990, she still continues to record and perform, having most recently released three independently recorded albums: Wild Horse Crossing on Shop Records in 1999; The Last Wild Place on Song Dog Records in 2004; and her 2010 self-released Here's To Hank.[3]

When asked about her musical influences, she replied: "Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Janis Joplin, Robert Johnson, Karen Dalton, Fred Koller, Big Mama Thornton, Billie Holiday, Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette and J. J. Cale."[4]

SYLVIA Sylvia Jane Hutton (née Kirby, born December 9, 1956[1]), also known mononymously as Sylvia, is an American country music and country pop singer and songwriter.[2] Her biggest hit (a crossover chart topper), was her single "Nobody" in 1982.[3] It reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 9 on the Cashbox Top 100, and number 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. The song earned her a gold record certification and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Her other country chart hits include "Drifter" (number one in 1981), "Fallin' in Love", "Tumbleweed" and "Snapshot". She was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for 1982. She is also credited with making the first "concept" music video clip to air on Country Music Television (CMT), with "The Matador".

IS HISTORY A LIE?

Finding truth in history is about understanding that this truth is not absolute. In this sense, truth is based on perspective. The perspective of the person who captured it and the person interpreting it. And the perspective of the translators and editors and primary sources. We don’t get to be invisible observers of moments in the past, and we don’t get to go into other minds. The best we can do is keep our eyes open and keep our biases in check. And what history can teach us is found not just in the moments it tries to describe, but also in what we choose to look at and how we choose to represent it.

WEAPONIZING THE WEATHER Prior to the Environmental Modification Convention signed in Geneva in 1977, the United States used weather warfare in the Vietnam War. Operation Popeye saw the use of cloud seeding over the Ho Chi Minh trail. It was hoped that the increased rainfall would reduce the rate of infiltration down the trail.

A research paper produced for the United States Air Force written in 1996 speculates about the future use of nanotechnology to produce "artificial weather", clouds of microscopic computer particles all communicating with each other to form an "intelligent fog" that could be used for various purposes. "Artificial weather technologies do not currently exist. But as they are developed, the importance of their potential applications rises rapidly."

The Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (Geneva: May 18, 1977, Entered into force: October 5, 1978) prohibits "widespread, long-lasting or severe effects as the means of destruction, damage or injury". In 1972 an ENMOD convention on weather warfare presented that this permits "local, non-permanent changes". The "Consultative Committee of Experts" established in Article VIII of the Convention stated in their "Understanding relating to Article II" that any use of environmental modification where this is done "as a means of destruction, damage or injury to another State Party, would be prohibited.".[3] It also suggests all signatories are expected to abstain from using weather modification to cause harm at any scale, stating "military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques, would result, or could reasonably be expected to result, in widespread, long-lasting or severe destruction, damage or injury." However, the treaty does not directly condemn military use of weather modification when it does not directly cause harm,[3] such as the United States' use of weather modification in the siege of Khe Sanh, discussed above. The limitations of the treaty, and its application only to signatory states, allow weather warfare to continue to play a role in warfare throughout the twenty-first century. The United States prohibits weather modification without permission of the United States Secretary of Commerce.

IS CLIMATE CHANGE REAL OR IS IT BULLSHIT PROPAGANDA?

With the United Nations climate change summit now underway in Paris, those opposed to tackling greenhouse gas pollution from fossil fuels are engaged in a last-ditch desperate attempt to prevent a new international agreement.

It is little surprise then that ‘The Wall Street Journal’ has published a long and rambling polemic by two of the UK’s most prominent campaigners against the regulation of the pollution from fossil fuels.

The article by Matt Ridley and Benny Peiser of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, which lobbies against policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, recycles a series of ‘sceptic’ talking points, to create a false impression of the science and economics of climate change.

They start with the standard ploy of misrepresenting the scientific evidence for climate change.

First they claim that global mean surface temperature has “gone up only very slowly”. They add that “the world is barely half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than it was about 25 years ago”. In fact, the World Meteorological Organisation has warned that the last five years are the warmest such period since instrumental records began in the 19th century, and that the average global temperature for 2015 is likely to be about 1 centigrade degree higher than the average during the pre-industrial era, before the burning of fossil fuels started to dump large volumes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Viscount Ridley and Dr Peiser downplay the significance of this rise in global mean surface temperature, which may seem small compared to local daily fluctuations. But it should be remembered that the global mean surface temperature during the last Ice Age was only about 5 centigrade degrees lower than today. During the last major interglacial period, which ended about 116,000 years ago, global mean surface temperature was no more than 2 centigrade degrees higher than today, but the polar land-based ice sheets on West Antarctica and Greenland were much smaller, and global mean sea level was between 5 and 10 metres higher than today. This shows the profound consequences of what may appear to be relatively small changes in global mean surface temperature.

Viscount Ridley and Dr Peiser next seek to obscure the impacts of the rise in global mean surface temperature that has already occurred, falsely claiming that “on a global scale, as scientists keep confirming, there has been no increase in frequency or intensity of storms, floods or droughts”. This is blatantly misleading.

The most authoritative assessment of the scientific evidence, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2013, concluded: “Changes in many extreme weather and climate events have been observed since about 1950”, including a likely rise in the frequency of heatwaves in large parts of Europe, Asia and Australia, and an increase in the number or intensity of heavy precipitation events in North America and Europe.

Viscount Ridley and Dr Peiser try to hide the true picture on floods and droughts by ignoring the fact that the impact of climate change varies between regions, which means some parts of the world are becoming drier while other parts are becoming wetter.

Hence the IPCC noted that “although the most evident flood trends appear to be in northern high latitudes, where observed warming trends have been largest, in some regions no evidence of a trend in extreme flooding has been found”.

And on drought, the IPCC found that “it is likely that the frequency and intensity of drought has increased in the Mediterranean and West Africa and decreased in central North America and north-west Australia since 1950”.

Similarly the data for storms across the world also presents a complex picture, but the IPCC noted that it is “virtually certain” there has been an “increase in the frequency and intensity of the strongest tropical cyclones since the 1970s” in the North Atlantic basin.

Hence, the attempt by Viscount Ridley and Dr Peiser to focus only on global trends is really an obfuscation of the evidence of regional changes.

They also turn a blind eye to the growing number of studies that have analysed how climate change has increased the probability of different types of extreme weather. Recent research by scientists around the world found that climate change influenced the probability of the frequency and severity of many extreme weather events in 2014.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/your-complete-guide-to-false-propaganda-masquerading-as-serious-commentary-about-climate-change/

What Does The Bible Say About A. I. (Artificial Intelligence)

There are no easy answers for Christians willing to entertain these questions. And, certainly, there’s a case to be made that Christians shouldn’t bother in the first place. The Christian Bible never anticipates non-human intelligence, much less addresses the questions and concern it creates. It does, however, teach that God has established a special relationship with humans that is unique among all creatures. Russell Bjork, a professor at the evangelical Gordon College who is cautious about broadening the Christian understanding of personhood to include AI, argues in the journal Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, “What makes humans special is not what humanity is, but rather it is God’s relationship to us based on his purpose for making us.”

In addition to the Bible, many Christians look to their ancient creeds for guidance. One of the most popular, the Nicene Creed, speaks of Jesus as “the only son of God, begotten, not made.” The implicit corollary is that humans are God’s children who are made, not begotten. Christians believe that God makes humans, but humans make machines. By this logic, one might conclude that AI could not be considered God’s children or possess a soul.

Another Viewpoint To Consider

But this hasn’t stopped Kevin Kelly from beginning to advocate for the development of “a catechism for robots.” A catechism is a statement of faith usually framed in a question-and-answer format that outlines orthodox belief and is typically taught to children in some religious traditions. Kelly says he takes the idea “very seriously” and even suggested it in a keynote talk at Q conference, an annual gathering of more than 1,000 prominent Christian leaders.

“There will be a point in the future when these free-willed beings that we’ve made will say to us, ‘I believe in God. What do I do?’ At that point, we should have a response,” Kelly says.

A.I. Helping Bolster Your Faith

Here is one last mischievous point: AI actually could bolster a person’s faith. “For some people, religion is precisely about recognizing that I, as a human being, am not God and so I don't have all the answers and will inevitably be wrong about things,” he says. “If that is one’s outlook, then finding out you were wrong is a good thing. It simply confirms what you already knew: that life is about trusting God and not trusting in my own understanding.”