Free Republic

Not too long ago, Gavin Newsom got caught with his hand in the cookie jar of political cronyism. In response to a draconian law passed raising fast-food worker wages to $20 an hour, known as A.B. 1228, Newsom carved out a little exemption for his friends at Panera Bread on the laughable grounds that these establishments bake bread on the premises. In reality, the owner of several Panera establishments was a high school buddy who was a really good donor to his campaigns. Once caught, Newsom backed off, but right when he thought no one was looking, he went right...

Social media users have criticized Universal Studios Hollywood, for its new “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” attraction due to the ride ‘vehicle’s body size limitations, which some have deemed “ridiculous.” The ride vehicle can only accommodate people who have a 40-inch waist or smaller, according to the theme park website. “Guests whose waistlines are 40” or greater may not be accommodated on the ride and are strongly encouraged to try the test seat provided at the entrance of the attraction to assist guests in determining their ability to ride,” the website stated. The theme park said that its decision to include...

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – When Southern California’s theme parks reopen as early as April, it could be with one very significant and silent difference: no screaming on rides. The California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA), a trade group which represents theme parks statewide, is backing a plan that would tamp down on shouting on rides, such as rollercoasters, in an effort to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus... California’s reopening guidelines calls for businesses to limit activities that can spread the virus, such as singing and shouting. That means that visitors to parks such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Six...

ORLANDO, Fla. — A retired Ormond Beach police officer said he was unwelcome at Universal Studios in Orlando when he showed up with his girlfriend for Halloween Horror Nights and was told he couldn't come in with the shirt he had on. Retired Ormond Beach police Officer Vince Champion says he went to Universal Studios on Nov. 1 wearing a shirt that says on the front, “Retired Police Officer” along with the blue line in the flag. Champion said he was stopped at security and told that he could not go into the park with anything that said “police officer”...

The studio's decision came a day after President Trump took aim at the film, saying it was "made to inflame and cause chaos." The story follows a group of elites hunting "deplorables" for sport. Universal has decided to scrap the release of The Hunt — an R-rated satire in which elites hunt "deplorables" for sport — following a series of mass shootings across the country. The film had been set to hit theaters on Sept. 27. The studio's decision came a day after President Donald Trump took aim at the film — though he didn't name its title — and...

Not hard confirmed by Universal, but was told at dinner tonight that all full-time employees Universal Studios - Florida, the theme park in Orlando, will be getting a $1,000 bonus due to Trump tax cut. All four employees, who are at executive level, said they have been officially told the bonus will be in their next paychecks. One item that adds credibility to this is that they were told that bonus actually paid will be somewhat less than $1,000, as taxes will be deducted from this, as it is legally considered "ordinary income." More to come, as the good news...

CLERMONT, Florida (CNN) — Just days after getting arrested in a child sex sting, Robert Kingsolver is a long way from his beloved job at Walt Disney World. Inside his rented house in a suburban Orlando neighborhood filled with children, he sits in a folding chair in a nearly empty room, wires dangling in the corner where his computer used to be connected. Now, he can’t be online or near children. “My life is ruined,” he told CNN in an interview at his home. “My family’s life is ruined. My kids’ life is ruined. I’ve devastated my parents because of...

Lawsuits alleging the sexual abuse of minors in a Hollywood pedophilia ring were filed in Hawaii Monday against three prominent Hollywood executives: David Neuman, Gary Goddard, and Garth Ancier. The suits were announced at the Four Seasons Hotel by Jeff Herman, the attorney representing Michael Egan, the man who alleges he was sexually abused by "X-Men" director Bryan Singer as a teen. Variety reports that: Ancier is the former president of BBC Worldwide America and headed the Fox entertainment group while Neuman is the former president of Disney TV. Goddard heads a design firm in Los Angeles which has created...

What can be political about Halloween? Especially Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando. Well, guess what? Universal Studios in Orlando this year actually turned a Halloween Horror Nights show into what is obviously a not very subtle Obama campaign rally in which the Romney type candidate declares he lied in the debate and that he shoves grannies off the cliff. Think I'm kidding? Then read the words of Marla Knowles, a blogger at BIZPAC REVIEW, who went to Universal Studios last weekend and reported her unpleasant experience of Universal Studios pushing Obama propaganda and Romney slamming on their customers:...

ORLANDO, Florida -- Universal Studios Florida plans to close one of its oldest and most popular attractions next month to make way for a new attraction. The theme park announced on Facebook on Friday that on Jan. 2 it will permanently shut down its "Jaws" ride, which is based on the blockbuster 1975 Steven Spielberg movie. It was one of the original features at the park when it opened in 1990. The surrounding "Amity" area inspired by the island where the movie was set will also close down to make room for a new attraction. The park isn't releasing any...

Progressives are on the move once more. Wisconsin lit the spark, as workers, students, teachers and farmers occupied the state’s capitol in February and launched recall elections that sobered conservative Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his legislative allies. Occupy Wall Street turned that spark into a conflagration that swept the nation. Last week, in Ohio and Maine and even Mississippi, voters overwhelmingly rejected efforts to trample worker rights, constrict the right to vote and roll back women’s rights. These electoral victories have led pundits to wonder whether Occupy Wall Street will imitate the Tea Party and stand candidates for office....

ORLANDO, Fla. — It is billed as a leisurely boat tour. The shark surfaces, its fin slicing through the water. The boat's captain, armed with a grenade launcher, blasts away at the bloodthirsty monster. Nearby gas lines explode and a column of fire erupts into the blue sky. We feel the heat from the flames, hear the shark's body churning in the water. A child hides her face in the crook of her mother's arm and whimpers as chilly water sprays everyone on the boat. Of course, it isn't real. It's the "Jaws" ride at Universal Studios in Orlando, an...

Low water pressure hampered efforts today to fight a fire that raged through the Universal Studios backlot in Universal City, destroying a soundstage, the theme park's King Kong attraction, a video vault and sets such as the Courthouse Square seen in "Back to the Future" and the New York street scape from "Bruce Almighty." As the equivalent of two city blocks burned -- firefighters were still dousing hot spots 10 hours after the blaze began in predawn darkness -- a mushroom-like cloud of smoke drifted over surrounding neighborhoods, raising some health concerns. A large explosion near the video storage building...

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Firefighters are fighting a massive blaze that broke out on a lot at Universal Studios Sunday morning, that has left at least one firefighter injured. Los Angeles fire Capt. Frank Reynoso told FOXNews that over 100 city and county firefighters have been called to battle the fire, which was reported just before dawn Sunday on a sound stage on a back lot. "We are using a 3rd alarm assignment," said Reynoso, who said at least one explosion was reported during filming, which was going on at the time. Thick columns of smoke have been seen rising...

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — A massive fire raged on a back lot at Universal Studios early Sunday, devouring several movie sets, including mock New York and New England streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Daryl Jacobs said at least one building had burned and as many as three blocks of movie facades were destroyed. Though the fire was contained, it was still raging, Jacobs said. "The facades are constructed of heavy timber and they tend to burn quite freely," he said. The blaze broke out just before dawn on a sound stage,...

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - A Los Angeles fire official says a large fire is burning on a lot at Universal Studios. Angeles fire Capt. Frank Reynoso says the blaze was reported just before dawn Sunday on a sound stage on a back lot. There are no immediate reports of injuries. Reynoso says filming could have been going on at the time and that there has been at least one explosion. He says the fire is contained to the back lot, and firefighters are working to ensure the flames don't spread to nearby brush. Helicopters are dropping water onto the burning...

http://www.1164.com/universal/aerial/colonial-drive/index.html

Universal Studios is opening up a Harry Potter theme park in Florida — complete with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade village. "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," will open in late 2009 in Orlando, officials said Thursday. "The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," said author J.K. Rowling, who has been working with a creative team to make sure the park resembles the books and films. More than a dozen artists and designers lead by Stuart Craig, the production designer...

Opening the Book of Daniel I watched the opening episodes of NBC’s new sitcom (I think that’s what it was) “The Book of Daniel”. I was aware some critics had panned the show ,and that a few NBC affiliates opted not to carry it. Having watched the first two hours, I was happy to note there were frequent commercial breaks ;which helped break up the monotony of the archly written and played scenario. While I watched, I had a nagging sense of déjà vu-but it wasn’t until this morning that I figured out what that was all about. The Book...

TAMPA -- It cost Barry Grayson $600 to tour Busch Gardens the other night with his family, but the Bradenton man says it was worth every penny to have a guide escort them to the front of the line of major attractions at Busch's annual Halloween event. The fee was more than double the regular admission price for Grayson's five-member party. But for an increasing number of tourists at theme parks and attractions, paying extra to break in line or join a custom tour is the only way to go. Hour waits for rides marred his family's otherwise pleasant visits...