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☆ Netflix 'Christmas Carol' reboot 'Spirited' misses Elon Musk irony
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Ani Bundel | Ani Bundel Is A Cultural Critic Who Has Been Writing Regularly Since Her Work Can Also Be Found At Elite Daily | Weta'S Telly Visions | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The Americanized “Spirited” is available on Apple TV+, while the British-based “Scrooge: A Christmas Carol” debuted on Netflix on Friday. Originally published in 1843, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was that era’s equivalent of a bestseller, with 13 editions published in the first year of print alone. (“The Muppet’s Christmas Carol,” for example, cast perpetual hero Kermit T. Frog as Cratchit rather than Scrooge.) The animation is vibrant, capturing the feel of the old Claymation-style Christmas TV specials. It is a bizarre and somewhat grotesque rewriting of the story’s moral; it's “A Christmas Carol” seen through the lens of bothsiderism.

☆ Georgia voters cast over 350,000 ballots for the Senate runoff on the last day of early voting, setting a single-day record
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Georgia voters on Friday cast over 350,000 ballots, setting a one-day statewide early voting record. The previous one-day early voting record was on Tuesday when nearly 310,000 voters cast ballots. On Friday night, Sterling praised the efforts of election officials and precinct workers who had prepared for early voting, which began in some localities last week. Before Friday, the one-day record for early voting in Georgia was set during the 2018 midterm cycle, when 233,000 people voted on the last day of early voting that year. Headed into Election Day on Tuesday, turnout among Georgia voters sat at 26.4% as of December 3, per the secretary of state's office.

☆ Raphael Warnock has a 4-point lead over Herschel Walker in the Georgia Senate runoff: poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Warnock has a 50%-46% lead over Walker in the Georgia Senate runoff, per a new SurveyUSA poll. Independents, a critical slice of the Georgia electorate, backed Warnock over Walker by 13 points. In the poll, Warnock enjoyed near-unanimous support (95%) among Democrats, while Walker earned the backing of 87% of Republicans; 11% of GOP respondents crossed party lines to support Warnock over Walker in the survey. Because no candidate received 50% of the vote at the time, a runoff election was triggered. A recent Emerson College Polling survey showed Warnock leading Walker 49%-47% among likely voters, while a new CNN poll had Warnock ahead of Walker 52%-48%, also among likely voters.

☆ Danny Masterson trial hung jury gives defense team a second shot at this strategy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Danny Cevallos | Danny Cevallos Is An Msnbc Legal Analyst Who Practices In The Areas Of Personal Injury | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

A criminal defendant is presumed to be innocent. And that’s why the decision not to put Masterson or other defense witnesses on the stand made sense. Criminal defendants testify in a minefield that accusers do not. For starters, a criminal defendant might inadvertently “open the door” to harmful evidence that otherwise would be inadmissible. Because the first trial has now ended in a hung jury, the defense may rethink their original strategy.

☆ The divorce lawyer who's represented Johnny Depp, Kim K, and Angelina Jolie charges $1,000 an hour and says tough love is how she gets things done
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Mark Ellwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Laura Wasser is a divorce lawyer whose clients have included Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. "You'd go to someone's bar mitzvah and say, 'You're Dennis Wasser's daughter,' and they'd say, 'You're at that table,' according to whether my dad had represented the mom or the dad," she said. She'd majored in rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley, and realized quickly that what she'd loved most about those studies was vital in divorce cases, as was her age and gender. She's a spokesperson for Divorce.com, the do-it-yourself split site, as its chief of divorce evolution and has hosted several podcasts, including "All's Fair with Laura Wasser" and "Divorce Sucks! With Laura Wasser," where one guest was the Kardashian momager and matriarch Kris Jenner.

☆ The Disney Store in Japan is selling a shirt that shows Winnie the Pooh holding up a white sheet of paper — the same protest symbol sweeping across China
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Britney Toh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Japan's Disney Store is selling products featuring Winnie the Pooh clutching a piece of blank paper. The products, which range from t-shirts and hoodies to tote bags and mugs, seem to be limited only to Japan's Disney Store, as they are not sold in the international Disney Store. Screenshot of Japan's Disney Store. Screenshot of Disney Store website. The Disney Store did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ Will Smith's 'Emancipation' scores mixed reviews so far
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Ben Foster, Jordyn McIntosh, Jeremiah Friedlander, Will Smith and Charmaine Bingwa attend a premiere for the film "Emancipation" in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 30, 2022. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniDec 1 (Reuters) - Apple TV+’s 2022 slavery drama “Emancipation", actor Will Smith's first film since his famous slap of comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, has received mixed early reviews from film critics. The movie has scored a 59% positive rating on Rotton Tomatoes so far, with 14 out of 24 reviewers applauding the film as of Thursday afternoon. The first batch of reviews have earned “Emancipation” the rotten label, as many reviewers voice their disappointment in the historical action film’s execution. “Emancipation devolves into a confused jumble of messages,” Lovia Gyarke from The Hollywood Reporter wrote.

☆ Helena Bonham Carter voices support for JK Rowling and Johnny Depp
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Helena Bonham Carter is coming to the defense of two fellow members of the “Harry Potter” universe. Addressing the controversy around views Rowling has expressed that have been criticized by some as transphobic, Bonham Carter called the backlash “horrendous.”“I think she has been hounded,” she said. “Everybody carries their own history of trauma and forms their opinions from that trauma, and you have to respect where people come from and their pain,” Bonham Carter said. “People will jump on the bandwagon because it’s the trend and to be the poster girl for it,” Bonham Carter told the Times of Heard and the #MeToo movement. It has become quite hysterical and there’s a kind of witch hunt and a lack of understanding.”CNN has reached out to representatives for Bonham Carter, Depp and Rowling for comment.

☆ Rap industry leaders say hip-hop should not be the ‘scapegoat’ for the growing violence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Candice Williams | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +14 min

The hip-hop community calls for change, but there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to the violence. So I think hip-hop is the scapegoat for a lot of things.”Greg Yuna and Lenny Santiago. Some of those murders are now being explored in a new WE tv’s docuseries “Hip Hop Homicides,” which looks at the shooting deaths of rap artists including Pop Smoke, XXXTentacion and King Von. In some cases, money exacerbates some of these things.”Although Lathan believes there should be more accountability in hip-hop from those who create the violence, rap artists can’t always be blamed for the violence that surrounds them or happens to them. Caz said that in those days hip-hop music was used as a form of escape.

☆ Stand up comedy booms in Venezuela, but politics are off stage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Johnny Carvajal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The public and comedians alike are worn out by issues like constant power or water cuts and growing income inequality, Rodriguez noted. Those new opportunities to get onstage, alongside an uptick in video-based social media such as Tik Tok, have been a boon for young comedians, locals say. Yet for all the gags about daily life, Venezuela's new generations of comedians tend to steer clear of political jokes. "(Venezualans' humor follows) the style of North American comedy ... which talks about everyday life, not political issues," said Laureano Marquez, 59, a renowned humorist and political analyst. "It's too damn good when you find a purpose in your day-to-day work, getting the laughs," she said.

☆ 15 Best Dress Shoes for Men, According to Style Experts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

The laces and classic body shape are characteristic of traditional men’s dress shoes, while the rugged rubber soles still make a statement with any formal outfit. “Good leather shoes are not an arena in which it pays to cut costs,” he says, recommending investing in “the pair of a decade” from this made-in-England favorite. (Crockett & Jones has regal and Hollywood credentials: the brand received a Royal Warrant of Appointment in 2017, and this is the style of dress shoes worn by Daniel Craig’s James Bond). Sleek sneakersEcco Soft 7 City Sneaker $170 at NordstromThe key to dressed-up sneakers is finding a leather pair free of busy accents or logos. The style is “acceptable to wear with dress clothes,” confirms Los Angeles-based personal stylist Rayne Parvis, who advises people to wear these sneakers in place of brown lace-up dress shoes.

☆ Factbox: What's at stake in Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But he may have less opportunity for flashy moves, as Republicans will hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. SENATE COMMITTEESBecause of the 50-50 Senate divide, committee memberships are currently doled out evenly. Tied votes in committees on legislation or presidential nominations block, at least temporarily, such measures from advancing to the full Senate. A Walker win would give national Republicans a boost, having seen their standing in the state of Georgia erode toward Democrats over the last few years. A Warnock victory could indicate that Democrats are making inroads in places where they have had difficulties gaining traction in the past.

☆ Factbox: What is at stake in Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

As Election Day neared, Georgia election officials reported heavy turnout in early voting. But he may have less opportunity for flashy moves, with Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. SENATE COMMITTEESBecause of the 50-50 Senate divide, committee memberships are currently doled out evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Tied votes in committees block legislation and presidential appointments, at least temporarily, from advancing to the full Senate. One-third of Senate seats are up for election every two years.

☆ Lily-Rose Depp explains her silence on Johnny Depp’s drama
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Lily-Rose Depp is familiar with fame. “When it’s something that’s so private and so personal that all of a sudden becomes not so personal…I feel really entitled to my secret garden of thoughts,” the younger Depp told Elle. And I’m really ready to be defined for the things that I put out there.”Paradis is a star in her native France and Depp talked about how much she idolized her mom growing up. Now she’s carving her own path, having appeared in several productions like the 2019 film, “The King.”Depp said she finds celebrity “a weird thing to navigate.”“It’s different experiencing it firsthand rather than by proxy,” she said. “I guess it’s something that I’ve had to make my own way with.”“The Idol” is set to air next year on HBO, which is owned by CNN’s parent company.

☆ National feminist organizations break their silence on Amber Heard in an open letter of support
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Kat Tenbarge | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

It was written by a group of people who identify as domestic violence survivors and supporters of Heard. Many who did speak out in support of Heard, including the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, were met with ferocious backlash from Depp’s supporters online. Others who signed the letter echoed their concerns that reaction to the trial on social media was harmful to everyday victims of domestic violence. Since the trial, there has been more public support for Heard on social media, the spokesperson for the group behind the letter said. She and other anonymous Heard supporters had been “working to combat disinformation for months” when they joined for the open letter initiative.

☆ Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff says the difference in competence between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker is the 'most dramatic that I have ever seen in electoral politics'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff said fellow Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock is "an asset to the nation." Ossoff told Insider that Warnock stood above his opponent in "qualifications, competence and quality." Warnock is locked in a competitive Dec. 6 Senate runoff election with Republican Herschel Walker. "The contrast between Senator Warnock and his opponent in terms of preparedness, in terms of qualifications, competence and quality, is the most dramatic that I have ever seen in electoral politics," Ossoff told Insider. In the November general election, Warnock led Walker 49.4%-48.5%, with the incumbent Democrat receiving 1,946,139 votes to 1,908,424 for Walker, per Insider and DDHQ.

☆ Margot Robbie says her 'Pirates of the Caribbean' spinoff was canceled by Disney
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Oscar nominee said the “Pirates of the Caribbean” spinoff in which she was set to star has been canceled. Robbie said work had stopped on the planned “Pirates” film because Disney didn’t want to move forward with it, according to her Vanity Fair cover story. Robbie and Hodson were first attached to the project in June 2020, one of two planned “Pirates” films, the Hollywood Reporter said at the time. The film series’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed Robbie’s involvement as recently as May of this year. The original “Pirates” film series was loosely inspired by the Disney theme park ride of the same name and starred Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

☆ A female-led 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie has been scrapped at Disney, Margot Robbie says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Margot Robbie says her "Pirates of the Caribbean" spin-off movie is dead at Disney. "I guess they don't want to do it," Robbie told Vanity Fair. Actress Margot Robbie told Vanity Fair in a story published on Monday that a spin-off movie she was set to star in at Disney has been scrapped. Christina Hodson, who also wrote Robbie's "Birds of Prey," was set to write the "Pirates" spin-off movie. THR reported in 2019 that a sixth "Pirates" movie, described as "reboot," was in development, which Robbie's movie would have been separate from.

☆ Lindsey Graham says critics of Georgia GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker are 'trying to destroy' him to 'deter young men and women of color' from joining the party
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Lindsey Graham said critics of Herschel Walker sought to "deter" young minorities from embracing the GOP. "If they destroy Herschel, it will deter people of color from wanting to be a conservative Republican," he said. Walker will Sen. Raphael Warnock in Georgia's hotly-contested Senate runoff election on Dec. 6. They're trying to destroy Herschel to deter young men and women of color from being Republicans," Graham said. "If they destroy Herschel, it will deter people of color from wanting to be a conservative Republican because you just have your life ruined.

CIA officer Johnny "Mike" Spann. Tyson tried to come to his aid after hearing Spann call his first name, and found four men on top of Spann, Tyson said. “But when it mattered, he ran towards his comrade — Mike Spann. Having already lost her husband to the war, Spann said the chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan and its aftermath have been incredibly painful to watch. Nutsch is part of the group now working to help former Afghan allies escape the Taliban.

☆ Gallagher, watermelon smashing comedian, dead at 76
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Comedian Gallagher, best known for his watermelon-smashing comedy routine and many popular specials in the 1980s, died Friday morning, according his manager Craig Marquardo. Gallagher’s most famous bit involved a hand-made sledgehammer he called the “Sledge-O-Matic,” which he would use to smash food on stage, spraying the audience. Comedian Gallagher circa 1970s. Bill Johnson/Denver Post/Getty Images“That was something else he liked to claim credit for, which was physically engaging the audience in that manner,” the obituary said. “While his counterparts went on to do sitcoms, host talk shows and star in movies, Gallagher stayed on the road touring America for decades,” the obituary said.

☆ Raphael Warnock says Herschel Walker has ‘no vision’ for Georgia, kicking off opening salvo for Senate runoff election: ‘He’s trafficking in division’
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Raphael Warnock on Thursday set the stage for his Senate runoff campaign against Herschel Walker. Warnock during his speech said Walker had "no vision for our state or for our country." Herschel Walker has shown us that he's not capable. Herschel Walker has no vision for our state or for our country. Maybe because he has no vision, he's busy trafficking in division."

☆ Pivotal Georgia Senate race between Warnock and Walker headed to a runoff, secretary of state says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Christina Wilkie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The hotly contested Georgia Senate race will head to a runoff between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican former NFL player Herschel Walker, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said. The Georgia race, one of the most competitive in the country, could help to determine control of the Senate, along with remaining races in Arizona and Nevada. The presence of Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver, a 37-year-old Atlanta businessman, helped to deny Warnock and Walker the majority they needed to win outright. With 96% of the vote counted Wednesday, Warnock had won 49.2% of the vote to Walker's 48.7%, according to NBC News. In 2020, when Warnock was challenging then-incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, another Republican in the race, Doug Collins won 20% of the vote, sending Loeffler and Warnock to a January runoff that Warnock won.

☆ Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker will face off in a December 6 runoff election in Georgia with a 4-week campaign blitz unlike any other
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker are set to face off in a Dec. 6 Senate runoff, per Insider and DDHQ. The time between the general election and the runoff is shorterAfter Warnock and Ossoff flipped both of Georgia's Senate seats from then-GOP Sens. Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker. To meet eligibility requirements to cast a ballot in the runoff election, an individual must have been registered to vote by November 7. The Biden and Trump factorsIn 2020, Biden became the first Democratic presidential nominee to capture Georgia since Bill Clinton in 1992.

☆ Chris Evans named 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People magazine
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES — Chris Evans may have put down Captain America’s shield but he’s got a new badge of honor: he’s been named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. Evans, who for nearly a decade played Captain America in Marvel’s sprawling superhero films, takes the baton from another Avenger, Paul Rudd. “It’s ripe for harassment.”Among those likely to heckle him are co-stars and previous Sexiest Man Alive winners like Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth. Evans’ first film role came in 2000′s “The New Comers” and he played superhero Johnny Storm in two “Fantastic Four” films released in 2005 and 2007. “It’s something that as I become old and saggy I can look back on and say ‘I remember then…’” Evans said.

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