Free Republic

A local theater group is putting on a play, "Church and State," "A topical look at gun violence, religion and politics that is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting." "In the wake of a school shooting in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, a Republican U.S. Senator running for re-election candidly questions his belief in God to a blogger, perhaps crushing his re-election hopes. There are no easy answers in this topical look at gun violence that is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting. Interested in the in-depth Backstory? Read it here. We'll also have copies at the theater." I'd go and...

On an Emmys red carpet filled with designer gowns and dashing tuxedos, Broadway and Black-ish star Jennifer Lewis opted to wear Nike. “I am wearing Nike to applaud them for supporting Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality,” Lewis told Variety during her red-carpet interview before the ceremony. She described her thought process in coming up with the idea to wear Nike as asking herself, “What can I do? What can I do that’s meaningful? I’ll wear Nike. I’ll wear Nike to say thank you. Thank you for leading the resistance! We need more corporate America...

Wow! This is one you need to see. A Mustang tribute to fallen Navy Seals

As an inherently political comedy, CBS’ Murphy Brown revival was fully expected to take on the Donald Trump presidency, and now we know it will include his controversial immigration policies. Relative newcomer Adan Rocha has been cast as a new series regular on the new Murphy Brown, from original creator Diane English and Warner Bros. TV. First appearing in the show’s second episode, he will play Miguel, a Mexican Dreamer who came to the United States at the age of one. Now he’s a college student working at Phil’s Bar alongside Phyllis (Tyne Daly) for extra money to put toward...

One of David Hockney's famous "pool paintings" is coming to auction and is expected to sell in the $80 million range, easily breaking the record for a work by a living artist sold at auction. The British artist's "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)," to be auctioned at Christie's in November, is considered one of his premier works. Christie's has estimated the work at about $80 million, but says it expects it to sell for more. The previous record for a work by a living artist was set by Jeff Koons' "Balloon Dog," which sold for $58.4 million...

I am thinking about setting up a wireless security system. I want just the basic plug in and go, no monthly fees.

A member of the Russian punk rock protest group Pussy Riot is reportedly hospitalized and in critical condition after what those close to the band member suspect may be a poisoning. Pyotr Verzilov is being treated in the toxicology department of Bakhrushin City Clinical Hospital in Moscow, according to Russian news outlet Meduza. Verzilov was hospitalized late Tuesday after losing his sight, speech, ability to walk and consciousness, his partner, Veronika Nikulshina, told the outlet. Nikulshina said Verzilov started to feel unwell following a court hearing on Tuesday. The two were arrested during a day of protests in Moscow earlier...

The Soviet-Afghan War changed the world. This nine-year power struggle in a small, landlocked country ultimately led to some of the most profound moments in modern history. This one conflict sparked the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of Osama bin Laden, the age of jihadist terrorism, and the birth of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. In time, the ripples of the Soviet-Afghan War brought the Twin Towers to the ground, brought American troops to the Middle East, and created a new era of wars and terrorism that plague the world today...

Comedy’s “it” girl, Tiffany Haddish, winning Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for hosting Saturday Night Live, set the tone for what became a historic night at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday. All four guest acting categories went to Black actors, Haddish, Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us), Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Katt Williams (Atlanta) This blows past previous high water marks — in the past two decades, there have been only two instances of multiple wins for black guest actors — in 2003 and 2014. Both times two of the four winners were people of...

A most excellent young songwriter. Kentucky born Tyler Childers. This is real Americana. Enjoy.

Geoffrey Owens is returning to prime time in the wake of a recent job-shaming controversy. The Cosby Show vet has joined the cast of the OWN drama The Haves and the Have Nots in a recurring capacity, according to TMZ. He’ll appear in 10 episodes throughout the upcoming Season 6 in an undisclosed role. Tyler Perry, who created The Haves and the Have Nots, first reached out to Owens via social media on Monday after certain media outlets sought to shame the Cosby alum for working at a Trader Joe’s grocery store in Clifton, N.J. “I’m about to start shootings...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ8RVjm49hE Chopin - Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2 (Rubinstein) DJT ………………… when you feel the heavy evil is too sick in your face ………….. listen to the man, my friend ……… Frederick Chopin. All will be well if you take the time to hear this! I love you DJT ………….. I love Chopin.He loves goodness excellence, and troubled times.Please listen to how this song trails off ……………. It will be like the slow death of the communist/socialist Democrats in this country. ***************I say …………….. even though it breaks my heart that I use this exquisite song here…………………. It is a...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its new planned “popular” Oscar “merits further study” and will not present the new category at the upcoming 91st Academy Awards. The organization stated that “while remaining committed to celebrating a wide spectrum of movies,” it recognized that implementing any new award nine months into the year “creates challenges for films that have already been released.” The AMPAS board of governors will continue to be actively engaged in discussions and will be seeking input regarding the category going forward.

The Mona Lisa, also referred to as La Gioconda (or La Joconde), has endured centuries of fascination by artists, researchers, medical professionals, and even thieves. (snip) The Mona Lisa attracted medical attention in 2004 when a team of rheumatologists and endocrinologists suggested that skin lesions and hand swellings visible in the portrait may be indicative of a lipid disorder and heart disease.Specifically, they asserted that familial hyperlipidemia and premature atherosclerosis could have caused Lisa Gherardini’s death. They also proposed that Mona Lisa’s famous smile may have been the result of Bell’s palsy.After examining the painting, Dr. Mehra and Campbell found...

It appears there has been a recount! As foreshadowed by our August 13 Blind Item, the Kiefer Sutherland drama Designated Survivor — cancelled last May at ABC — has been resurrected by Netflix, with the streamer ordering a 10-episode Season 3. Netflix confirmed the news late Wednesday, while also announcing that Neal Baer (Law & Order: SVU, Under the Dome) has taken over showrunner duties. This marks the series’ fourth showrunner change in two years. To recap: Amy B. Harris (Wicked City) originally served as showrunner on the series (which was created by David Guggenheim), only to be replaced in...

Hollywood celebrities reacted to SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate hearing on Twitter Tuesday with unhinged angry attacks on President Donald Trump and Republican Senators. Before the hearings began, comedian Chelsea Handler called for the Senate to block the Brett Kavanaugh nomination. “We can’t let them roll back the progress we’ve made on women’s rights. We’ve got to keep fighting. The hearings start Tuesday. We’ve tied up their phone lines, now let’s flood their mailboxes! Send this postcard to urge your Senator to BlockBrett,” Handler tweeted.

The next chapter in Dick Wolf‘s criminal justice franchise is officially in the works with NBC ordering 13 episodes of Law & Order: Hate Crimes. Per a release, this new series is “based on New York’s actual Hate Crimes Task Force, the second oldest bias-based task force in the U.S. The unit, which pledges to uphold a zero tolerance policy against discrimination of any kind, works under the NYPD’s real Special Victims Unit and often borrows SVU’s detectives to assist in their investigations.” As you might have been able to infer from that last sentence, the Hate Crimes team will...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsmrpnwwSFY

LifeZette talked to Nick Loeb about the controversy around his pro-life project, which stars Jon Voight, Stacey Dash and Robert Davi The upcoming “Roe v. Wade” movie has quickly become one of the entertainment industry’s most controversial films in recent weeks. It stars Jon Voight, Stacey Dash and Robert Davi, but many people did not even know the movie was underway until a recent Hollywood Reporter story told of a shoot plagued by the exits of multiple people because of the script’s pro-life leanings. Since then, The Hollywood Reporter published another story revealing parts of the script — and claimed...

[Snip] Singer Ariana Grande took the stage to sing "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," a funeral fit for a queen also served as a reminder that there isn't a single place in this country where a woman can feel safe from sexual assault and harassment. Following Grande's performance, Pastor Charles H. Ellis III wrapped his right arm around Grande, pulled her close to him and touched her breast. He did this on stage, in a church, during a funeral -- in front of thousands of attendees. Visibly uncomfortable and tense, Grande forced her way through awkward laughs...