Another historical site being destroyed in Iraq

The Associated Press reports in Saturday night runs:

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials in the northern city of Mosul said Saturday that militants with the Islamic State group have begun demolishing the ancient archaeological site of Hatra in northern Iraq in a push to rid its territory of symbols it says promote idolatry.

The 2000 year old city began being destroyed hours ago with an explosion and the sights and sounds of bulldozers leveling the history that existed there..

THE SHADOWY FIGURE ON A COLD NIGHT

I love quiet walks after sunset–cold kills but sometimes it’s worth it just to breathe in some fresh and clean air..Tonight, while undertaking one of these daily mind clearing excursions, my eyes were focused in on a distant shadow that seemed to be walking towards me.. My dog didn’t notice, he was busy locating the spots every other neighborhood dog found before him..

The silhouette was large, looked tall.. I squinted my eyes extra-hard to see if I could see a dog with him or her. If that was case, I’d have to quickly think up a new route because, for some reason, my dog Mutley doesn’t do very well during encounters with his fellow canines..

It did not look like my fellow night walker was alone, no evidence of a dog with him in his travails.. nothing which indicated that Mutley would face competition..

This true story–I swear to you–got weirder as the time went on.. I stopped briefly and allowed Mutley to take care of his business, and my eyes were closely fixated on this large hulking character.. I looked away for a moment and when my eyes went back to the road, the shadowy man was gone. Without a trace..

I picked up in speed because I wanted to get as close as I could to the scene of his existence before he would be gone, running perhaps behind someone’s house or lurking around shrubbery..

I found no evidence.. Heard no sound.. And even after using the flashlight on my phone, didn’t see even one footstep in the snow–new fallen snow today as a shower covered up some of the melting that had occurred previously today.

I was left wondering if what I had just seen was a figment of imagination, a shadow person in real life, or just some quick kid wearing a large overcoat, darting as fast as I he could away once he saw me look at him.

If you go down a paranormal road, it is a little freaky.. If you keep it logical, it’s alarming. Why would someone want to hide from another approaching human..?

The ABCS of insanity

ADAM ROCKOFF in the DAILY BEAST wrote about the ABCS OF DEATH case, and the jail time for Sheila Kearns for showing the movie to a class..

He wrote, in part:

Substitute teacher Sheila Kearns did a very stupid thing when she showed a horror movie to a Columbus, Ohio high school class. But she doesn’t deserve to go to jail.

And this:

Kearns showed abysmal judgment—although she maintained throughout her trial she was unaware of the film’s content. She should never be allowed near a classroom again. But jail? These were high schoolers. Not kindergarteners.

I am in full agreement and have written countless stories on my website concerning this case, and the bizarre chastisement of this woman as some sort of modern day witch. I wonder if her race had something to do with it..

There is a point of ridiculousness too. Chances are most of the students in the class already saw the ABCS OF DEATH–and if they did they would realize it wasn’t even that great of a movie, even the lower forms of people who live and breathe snuff films were not overly excited about this or even the sequel..

Rockoff writes more,

More disturbing than the draconian sentence is the law under which Kearns was prosecuted. Her crime falls under an umbrella of moral codes known colloquially as “obscenity laws.” And while they might seem like a relic from a time when rock and roll was the devil’s music, they’re still on the books in almost every state in the Union.

I am glad, truly glad, that someone besides me is 1) paying attention to this story and 2) upset by the insanity of putting a woman in prison for something that, under all scenarios, isn’t a crime..

MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT, COMING THIS SUMMER

ART BELL PICKS A NAME

# # #

The anticipation continues to build for the return of Art Bell to the world of radio--podcasting seems to be the clear intention, along with a 'big player' yet to be named making a deal with the talk show legend..

Bell, who left Sirius Radio in 2013, is announcing that 'MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT' is going to be the name of his new radio show. Even more interesting is how Bell picked it: For days he has been in constant communications with the users of BELLGAB.COM asking them what they think a good name should be.. the common consensus--and poll result--was the name Bell announced today would be the new title of the program.

Bell wrote on Facebook:

Midnight in the Desert

That will be the name of my new show! Hi everybody here is a update for you. It is looking like the deal will close and the show will start to air in late July but we still have not signed on the dotted line.

The show will be truly International. I will not be using regular media to promo it, instead I will be asking all of you to plaster info about it everywhere, we will demonstrate the power of Social Media, but not yet, it is still to early. I truly will be depending on my Friends. This is truly going to be fun.

Art

The social media world is ready.

During Bell's post-Sirius days, the #FreeArtBell campaign raged across the Sirius XM Facebook page with enraged users demanding the satellite radio company end their non compete with Art Bell. They did not, but now two years later the Bell tolls again in a new form.

It seems more likely that Bell is going to be a show of and for the people--he is upgrading his typical 'mysterious and reassuring' stance online to become fully engaged with the fans that follow him.

Bell has also said that the Crystal Gayle song written for him, also titled Midnight in the Desert, will close the nightly show..

The newest name will be a delight, especially to the users of BELLGAB who picked it..

 

CAPITALIZING ON A MEME

The DRESS went viral last week. Is it black? Blue? Yellow? Or white..

So many debates took place in living rooms across America. While President Obama was mum on NET NEUTRALITY, and the real for the new Internet still had yet to be revealed (AND STILL HAS YET TO BE REVEALED), the debate over a dress color went viral and cruel. It even divided my family..

No better time like now to capitalize on the event..
Which is exactly what The SALVATION ARMY is doing with a new advertising featuring a battered woman wearing the very dress that caused so much pointless division among the millions debating it..

The ad says this: "Is it so hard 2 see black & blue? 1 in 6 women are victims' ... Along with those words: An image of a woman, clearly with the makeup of abuse on her body, in the dress--clearly this time a dress that is gold and white.



The campaign showcases how marketing is now done: Cheap and efficient. And effective all around.

At one time, the question was: Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
Now the real mystery may be: Is life a meme or are memes just life? And amazing fodder for viral marketing techniques..

The overall response from Facebook and Twitter users seeing the marketing campaign has been positive--the dress is ad is powerful and now puts important colors into perspective--things that really matter..

 

THE SO-CALLED JOKER

The next JOKER of this new generation, Jared Leto, shared an image of himself on INSTAGRAM showcasing what is either blonde or green-tinted hair..

LETO's newest photo added some more logs on the fire of controversy about his pick to play the CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME in the next BATMAN flick..

David Ayer's SUICIDE SQUAD will feature the star, for better or for worse..

Debate had raged with Leto's initial cast as the JOKER in the film.. And now these new images may either cause applause or cue a laugh track.

Love that Joker?
No one may be Heath.. But LETO may try.

HARRISON FORD IN PLANE CRASH

 





Harrison Ford has been seriously injured in a plane crash.. this is a developing story

So far known: The plane lost power..

Also known: Harrison Ford is injured but it is not life threatening, we are being told..

ISIS destroys history

NIMRUD DESTROYED BY ISIS

ISIS ATTACKS A MAJOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN IRAQ »

Anne Barnard in the NEW YORK TIMES has the best report online tonight regarding what ISIS has just to the ancient site of NIMRUD in Northern Iraq..

Barnard writes,

It was the latest in a series of attacks on ancient structures and artifacts in Syria and Iraq that the group has destroyed in the name of its harsh interpretation of Islamic law. Last week, Islamic State militants videotaped themselves destroying statues and artifacts in the Mosul Museum and at the Nergal Gate entryway to ancient Nineveh. The militants captured the city during its offensive blitz through much of Iraq last June. “The terrorist gangs of ISIS are continuing to defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity after they committed a new crime that belongs to its idiotic series,” the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page, referring to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh.

And more:

Nimrud is the sprawling site of a city founded by the Assyrian King Shalamansar I, who died in 1245 B.C. Among the most impressive objects at Nimrud are the colossal statues known as “lamassu,” mythological creatures that depict either lions or winged bulls with bearded human heads. Pairs of the 17-ton statues are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

More on the breaking news today from NBC NEWS dispatches:

A statement from Iraq’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities didn’t elaborate on the extent of the damage, saying only that the group continues to “defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity” with this latest act.

Nimrud was the site of what has been called one of the greatest archaeological sites ever discovered in history..

THE ABCS OF SENTENCING

THE ABCs OF DEATH case settled..

AP:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former substitute teacher convicted of showing a movie including graphic sex and violence to a high school class was sentenced on Wednesday to 90 days in jail.
Sheila Kearns, who was convicted in January of four felony counts, apologized in court, saying she hadn’t watched the movie before showing it to her Spanish classes at Columbus’ East High School in April 2013. The movie, “The ABCs of Death,” consists of 26 chapters, each depicting some form of grisly death and representing a letter of the alphabet, such as “E is for Exterminate,” ”O is for Orgasm” and “T is for Toilet.”

She faced a greater amount of prison time than this..
I still don’t even understand how she is getting prison time for showing a movie that released in various venues and one that most people in the class probably already saw in some form or another at home.. A firing justified? Yes. Prison time? I still don’t get that..

We previously reported about the Kearns case on this website and have continuously questioned why the outcry over the case even took place.

Now, the chapter is closed with the sentencing today.. One I still don’t get completely.

But no one else seems to be a little queasy with an African American teacher being thrown into jail for showing a horror movie–a legal horror movie–to a class.

AS a matter of fact, media sources are busy playing up the ‘horror’ of her crime, as evidenced by insane headlines running across the NET:

A HORROR MOVIE FOR A SNOWY THOR

Another snowy night.. potentially a housebound day tomorrow for lots of folks in the eye of THOR.. So why not turn off the lights, close the blinds, and entice your mind with a movie about the surreal, unreal, and paranormal. DARK SKIES is one of those films. Try it on for size—an abduction movie with dark shadow aliens, the Greys, evolves quickly into what I think was one of the most legitimately scary and good movies I’ve seen in quite some time.

There are some memorable scenes.. memorable characters. Specifically the idea that the other worldly suddenly presents itself into the lives of mundane people is freaky.

Besides one annoying scene I thought was plagiarism—a family sitting down to a dinner prior to an alien invasion like in SIGNS—the movie was strong and had a good alien premise. If you like alien movies. Or scary ones..

Add to the agenda a dark room and healthy snacks..I think it’s worth it.

Find it on NETFLIX if you can’t find it anywhere else..

After the movie, lighten the mood with the Ballad of the Greys.

UK CENSORS HORROR MOVIE

A horror film featuring neo-Nazis terrorizing Jewish families has been banned in the UK..

The name of the film is HATE CRIME. The premise, as though you could not tell from the headline, is this: Anti-Semitic thugs breaking into the family’s home and mutilating and sexually abusing family members..

The British Board of Film Classification ruled that a substantial part of the 70-minute film was “unacceptable” .. even more: They have decided that the movie cannot be released in theaters OR on DVD.. And more, the Board made a decision that even if controversial scenes were cut, the movie was not able to be approved by for release in Britain..

MORE from the description:  The Jewish family featured in the film, directed by James Cullen Bressack,  just arrived in a neighborhood.. While recording their son’s birthday, the home is invaded by the drug enthused anti-Semitic criminals.

The Facebook page for the film has over 2,000 likes but does not mention the recent British ban to fans.

A number of fan reviews online showcase the common thread that the film is disturbing and violent..

Perusing the reviews that currently exist on IMDB, a mixed bag of emotions are presented.  One review called the movie pointless, another said to ‘avoid at all costs.’  The movie is called ultra-violent and called a cultural commentary on hate crime.

Bill Nye the genetically modified guy

Suddenly MONSANTO and GMO have a brand new proponent: Bill Nye the Science Guy..

In 2005, he said we should farm responsibly.

Now he is completely fine and in favor or corporate led farming. What made the bow-tie wearing pro-vaccine scientist in chief become such a fan of GMO farming?

He is quoted on REAL TIME with Bill Maher saying, he  “went to Monsanto and I spent a lot of time with the scientists there.  have revised my outlook, and am very excited about telling the world. When you’re in love, you want to tell the world!”  Pretty amazing what ONE VISIT can do.

PRO-GMO sites are happy.

Others are scratching their heads and wondering if Bill’s bow tie was too tight..

So who owns Art Bell?

THE COLLECTIVE COPYRIGHT CLAIM

U7 Radio is broadcasting Art Bell DREAMLAND reruns again tonight–at least for now.  The war between U7 and executives for Premiere and iHeartRadio is continuing after the initial shot across the bow when the empire struck back.

But eyebrows were raising tonight after attorneys for iHeartRadio expanded their copyright claim over Coast to Coast programs to include DARK MATTER shows that Bell broadcast on Sirius radio in 2013 during his brief stint.

The full text of the newest message U7 received was printed in full.. And re-printed here:

Dear Sir:
I, the undersigned, CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY that I am the owner or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of certain intellectual property rights, said owner being named Premiere Radio Networks, Inc. (“IP Owner”). I have a good faith belief that the listings or materials identified in the addendum attached hereto are not authorized by the above IP Owner, its agent, or the law and therefore infringe the IP Owner’s rights according to state, federal, or United States law. Please act expeditiously to remove or disable access to the material or items claimed to be infringing.

I may be contacted at:
Printed Name: Ellen Lockwood
Title & Company: Senior Paralegal, iHeartMedia, Inc.
Street Address: 200 East Basse Road
City and State and Zip: San Antonio, Texas 78209
Email (correspondence): ellenlockwood@iheartmedia.com
Email (for infringing parties): infringerissues@iheartmedia.com
Telephone: 210.822.2828
Fax: 210.832.3149
Truthfully,
/Ellen Lockwood/
Ellen Lockwood, ACP, RP
Senior Paralegal
Certified Paralegal – Intellectual Property Specialist
Addendum to Notice of Infringement
Name of Intellectual Property Owner: Premiere Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Inc.
Work infringed: Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell radio programs
Type of Infringement: Copyright infringement – unauthorized copies of copyrighted works made available for performance
URL of Infringing Items: http://u7radio.org/
Ellen Lockwood, ACP, RP
Senior Paralegal
Certified Paralegal – Intellectual Property Specialist
iHeartMedia, Inc.
o 210.832.3382 | m 210.863.4884
200 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209
EllenLockwood@iHeartMedia.com
- ksb

And more: The assertion was made that Premiere owns not only Coast programs but also DARK MATTER episodes!

Premiere owns all Coast to Coast, Art Bell, and Dark Matter programs on the list at the link below

The immediate outcry on BELLGAB was one of confusion mixed with consternation.  Even Art Bell weighed in, writing

Wow, They must have a much bigger reach then I thought. Perhaps they made a bigger deal with Sirius/XM
then even I thought…..goodness that’s some claim!! Dave is really something. Hard to believe they would make
a Legal claim like that if not true.

Art

Meanwhile, DREAMLAND programs air on the U7 stream–and plenty of other running streams are still online broadcasting Coast programs.

The fascinating aspect has now become: Just who owns ART BELL?

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: U7 TAKEN DOWN

The popular U7 Radio website has been forced to take down its much listened to Art Bell 24/7 stream tonight after Premiere Radio Networks issued a cease and desist order. The copyright claim was sent to the site, and u7radio.org published the text both on its site and Facebook page.

The full screen cap:



There were rumors for several days a copyright claim would be presented to the site.. Now, the full effect of the takedown is seen: no stream. No site.

Just days earlier U7 announced a new app for the android that was on the way. 

And tonight, just like the Fine Art Stream last year, this site has ceased to exist..

ONE MAN’S TRUTH, ANOTHER MAN’S TRASH

GOOGLE WANTS TO RANK WEBSITES BASED ON FACTS NOT LINKS – 28 FEBRUARY 2015 – NEW SCIENTIST »

Being trustworthy and accurate could help a web page rise up Google rankings if the search engine giant starts to measure quality by facts, not just links

Lots of people are quite worked up over this.. As a matter of fact, the grand implication here is that GOOGLE is simply the Orweillian ‘Ministry of Truth” ..

Right now, Google uses a complex algorithm of determining the number of links going TO a site as the way to measure how far up in the search a certain website will be.  Of course, people would argue that sites containing lots of misinformation will be too high in results and bad information will be spread.. you know, like the bad information that typically disseminates from MAINSTREAM news outlets during breaking news events..

But now the ‘ministry of truth’ idea comes into play, where Google will tap into a fact vault to compare with search terms. Of course, one man’s facts is another man’s figuring.. facts change. Historical accounts converge to paint very different pictures from those presented in the G-rated history books we have become grown to reading in our formative years..

The ‘fact optimization’ idea will most likely create a brand new multi-billion dollar industry.. I can see it now, people who specialize in advertising ‘facts’ ..

But a long time ago, if Google would have been around, a ‘fact’ would have been a flat earth theory..

And if someone googles “Best sex of 2015” … will there be a fact algorithm to present it? Because let’s not kid ourselves on what people Google—anyone with a website can tell you some of the bizarre terms that land them on their pages..

So for all of those upset by this, I get it. I am uncomfortable, too.

But there’s always STARTPAGE. And for those more old fashioned folk, you can always still ask Jeeves, even though he has been vanquished from the askeeves search page.

SNOW GLOW OVER WEEKEND BOX

BOX OFFICE TOTALS COMING IN..

Studio execs are blaming weather for some less than stellar numbers.

WILL SMITH'S 'FOCUS' NOT IN CLEAR FOCUS.. Less people went to see this film than expected.. Luckily the film was cheap to make. With only $19 mil so far racked up, though, more sales will need to be generated to pay off Warner Bros..

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE was still second in week three..

Number three was the SPONGE still soaking up family friendly movie goers.. The film came in with $11.2 mil for the weekend and has thus far made $140 mil in four weeks..

The LAZARUS EFFECT had little effect on the box office, it was expected by many to come in 4th place for its first week .. Instead, another set of women --maybe for the second time--went to see FIFTY SHADES OF GREY.. Mr. Grey ended the third week in the box office with almost $11 mil and a grand total of $147 mil since its release in early Valentine's Day weekend..

And finally, in fifth, a weak LAZARUS EFFECT with a little over $10 mil total. Respectable perhaps.. but the numbers tell a bigger story. The movie had a 13% increase in sales on Saturday when compared to its opening Friday.. but by  today it crashed 45%.

Even more: All movies crashed Sunday with uncertain weather conditions nationwide.. a snow and ice storm stretched from the Midwest to the Northeast.. and it with an average of 38% decreases in ticket sales took place across the board..