Category Archives: Politically Incorrect

NEW YORK Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding breaks into a laugh as he tries to explain his meteoric career trajectory that has seen him go from being a travel host to rom-com leading man to foul-mouthed villain in Guy Ritchies gangster romp, The Gentlemen out this Friday.

Its crazy isnt it? Golding muses as a wedge of sunlight pushes its way into a suite of a midtown Manhattan hotel.

The 32-year-old British-Malaysian actor, who just a few years ago was working in New Zealand for the BBC and Discovery Channel Asia, was plucked out of obscurity to play Nick Young in 2018s crowd-pleaser Crazy Rich Asians. He then played Blake Livelys husband in the thriller A Simple Favor. Just a few months ago, Golding starred opposite Emilia Clarke in the frothy holiday rom-com Last Christmas.

This week, hes back onscreen as the Chinese gangster, Dry Eye, opposite an ensemble cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell and Michelle Dockery.

McConaughey plays Mickey Pearson, an American heavily invested in the London drug trade who is looking for a way out. Goldings Dry Eye is one of several villains angling to take over his business.

Ive played fairly similar characters to who I am as a person, Golding says. Nick Young (Crazy Rich Asians) and Tom Webster (Last Christmas) are very happy-go-lucky guys who wont let much put them down. But then this character in The Gentlemen, he has a big chip on his shoulder He thinks he can muscle in on something. So playing Dry Eye was a licence to let go.

After his success behind the camera for Disneys live-action Aladdin last year, The Gentlemen marks Ritchies return to the fast-paced crime comedies he became famous for at the beginning of his career, including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

He dipped his toe back in with (2008s) RocknRolla, but I dont think that film hit the same patina Lock, Stock and Snatch had. The Gentlemen is definitely in the vein of those two earlier pictures This throws it back to those classic Guy movies.

After a whirlwind weekend in New York, Golding is heading back to Japan where hes in the midst of filming the lead role in Paramounts G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes.

Golding says the variety of projects and the diverse directors hes worked with has made him want to be more than just a rom-com star, but so far being in front of the camera has been a dream come true.

Its crazy, because I used to stay up with my friends, after a house party and wed stick in Snatch and wed all just watch and crack up all the way through. I dont know how many times Ive watched that film, but its countless now Im working with Guy Ritchie, he says, grinning.

On an unseasonably warm January morning, Golding traced his arc from hairdresser to box office star, mused on the politically incorrect barbs he and his castmates hurl in The Gentlemen and told us why critics were wrong about Last Christmas.

Youve been having a great couple of months. First Last Christmas, which my wife and I had a fun time watching, and now The Gentlemen.

Last Christmas was definitely a crowd-pleaser. Not much of a critic-pleaser (laughs). But Ive had much more of a response off of the backend of Last Christmas than Crazy Rich Asians. It really meant so much to people It was lovely. Moviegoers understood what it was. Its just that bubbly sort of Christmas movie thats like eating a pile of chocolate. You just cant help but love it.

So you were nice guy Tom Webster in Last Christmas and now youre the baddie Dry Eye in The Gentlemen. What was that transition like?

I was filming both of them in London during the same time. One day I was Tom Webster and I woke up the next day and I had to play Dry Eye. But it was less challenging than people would think. It was a lot of fun to play someone so far from my own reality.

Henry Golding as the villainous Dry Eye in Guy Ritchies The Gentlemen. (VVS Films)

What was the best part of playing the villain?

In this case, the barrage of swear words (laughs). Just being able to reel off as many profanities as you can possibly think of in the most creative ways was immense fun. Thats what Guys films are about. Theyre about trying to insult the other person in funny ways. Its what we grew up with watching Snatch and Lock, Stock theyve got so many classic one-liners that we can quote to this day. So working in that environment, especially alongside Matthew and Michelle, was phenomenal. It was one of my favourite experiences Ive had.

Why do you think those early Guy Ritchie gangster movies still resonate?

Some of the scenes in Lock, Stock and Snatch had never been done in British cinema. So when it came to heist movies, he was definitely a trendsetter in that sense. The only other British director from that time that was creating groundbreaking movies in a similar vein was Danny Boyle with 28 Days Later.

Some of the early reviews for The Gentlemen have talked a lot about the films political incorrectness. But thats the world Guy Ritchie is playing in. It wouldnt have occurred to me that some people could take offense.

You know what these films are about. Back in the early days, no one would have complained about the political incorrectness. But now, people are a lot more sensitive, and while they are entitled to their opinion, this is a world which is exaggerated and its full of the bottom of the barrel characters, who arent going to be nice to you. If you met any of the people in this movie, theyd insult you in the most demeaning manner.

Sometimes thats casual racism or sexism or things like that. Youd be fooling people to pretend that doesnt happen. But you have to take it with a pinch of salt. Its entertainment. Its not meant to be seen as a racist film. Everyone in this movie is giving as good as they get. All these characters are, in my words, c- trying to kill each other. Of course theyre going to be nasty Look, we can talk about it til were blue in the face, but its not for everyone (laughs). Thats all I can say. But if youre not too sensitive, youre going to have the time of your life. Its a hoot. Its just a lot of fun.

Two years ago, people hadnt been introduced to you yet. Tell me about your crazy rise?

I dont know how to explain it. It feels earned, for sure. I can safely say that I have worked so hard at doing the best I can and adapting as quickly as possible to this. People often dont realize how much work goes into making a movie, not only the production part, but this part. Coming out, flying 12 hours, getting zero sleep, to promote a movie for three days, non-stop. They see the clips and the interviews, and maybe they think it looks easy.

You not only have to be able to do your job in front of the camera, you have to be able to function inside a marketing machine. But, in terms of the movies, Ive been able to work with some amazing filmmakers. Paul (Feig) twice, John (M. Chu), Guy (Ritchie), Hong Khaou, Robert Schwentke. After this, Im just excited to get myself involved in more eventful movies and Snake Eyes is going to be huge.

Speaking of Snake Eyes, what can fans expect of that movie?

This is an origin story. Its interesting because you have the long-time fans and they have a vision of Snake Eyes in their head, and thats a character that theyve loved for years and years. So, of course, we want to be able to do justice to them. But, at the same time, we want to bring something fresh to it as well. I think weve been able to create a balance within Robert Schwentkes script that pays homage, but at the same time creates our own identity.

You became famous at 30 years old after being a hairdresser and a TV presenter. What was the best part of finding fame as an older person?

I think it helped that I had been able to live a regular existence. You often hear of young stars who get a little taken away by it all. I know that if it all ends tomorrow, Id be pretty fing happy. It wouldnt be as fun, but Id still be going to the cinema to watch movies.

Of course Id be longing to be back in this industry, but Ive had many careers. I was a hairdresser, I was a journalist, and I was a television presenter. Now Im a movie star. Where it goes from here? I dont know. Im just along for the ride.

But I give 110% to it. Thats why I think I can be successful at it. The dedication is real. I think a lot of people, if you just throw yourself into whatever it is you want to do and do the best job and expend the most energy you possibly can, you can succeed at most things. Or at least thats what I hope.

The Gentlemen opens Friday.

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Henry Golding loved cursing in Guy Ritchie's 'The Gentlemen' - Toronto Sun

It is easy to be sympathetic to Attorney General Bill Barrs frustration with Apple just as it was easy to be sympathetic in 2016, when the Justice Department was equally frustrated with the tech giant after jihadists in San Bernardino murdered 14 innocent people.

This time, another jihadist, Saudi air force lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, murdered three members of the U.S. Navy and wounded several others after opening fire at a naval training base in Pensacola, Fla. The jihadist was in possession of two iPhones. He was sufficiently concerned about the contents of one that, during the firefight in which he was killed, he took the time to place it on the floor and fire a round into it, obviously hoping to destroy its contents. But the FBIs adept technicians have the phones working again.

Theres just one problem the same problem that plagued the San Bernardino investigation: The investigators cannot get access to the phones contents without the passwords.

The presumption, just like last time, is that Apple has the trade-secret algorithm that would unlock the phones without triggering any defensive privacy programs. Such a program might erase the contents after a few unsuccessful attempts to break the code, were the FBI to try.

Apple, yet again, is reluctant to help the bureau. And, just as I argued in the San Bernardino case, the company is making an important point. In fact, notwithstanding my admiration for the attorney general and my sympathy for his effort to protect the country, it is a point that has gotten stronger in the ensuing four years. That owes to the governments misconduct and its arrogant indifference to the rights of Americans and the authority of Congress to conduct oversight.

Lets first rehearse the liberty and privacy stakes. These are usually given short shrift, if they are mentioned at all, because these disputes between the states investigators and private tech firms invariably arise after some horrific incident, which we badly want law enforcement to solve.

Its a natural response, but it gives us tunnel vision.

It is not the presumption of our constitutional society that the state is entitled to every private actors assistance in solving crime, nor that the peoples privacy rights are limited by the states claimed need to breach them whenever it declares some emergency. On the contrary, in our republic, the people are sovereign. The government does not have an inherent power to press private actors into its service. (An exception is military service in wartime because, as the Supreme Court observed during World War I, the Constitution expressly empowers Congress to raise armies.)

When legitimate privacy interests exist, it is the governments burden to overcome them, not the publics to justify them. The government is the servant, not the master, and very often the master tells the government no, regardless of how dire the emergency appears to be. The state does not get to ride roughshod over, say, the privilege against self-incrimination, the attorney-client privilege, or the spousal privilege just because its investigators really, really need the information for the purported greater good of solving a case, or even protecting lives.

These are not easy questions, consideration of which is confined to public-safety cases. They have broad implications, calling for excruciating cost-benefit analyses. In modern society, terrorists and dangerous criminals make up a negligible percentage of information-technology consumers. Vastly more common are innocent interlocutors. So are corporations, health care providers and financial institutions, responsible for safeguarding business records, identification data, intellectual property, trade secrets, medical information, financial assets, credit transactions and power grids, to say nothing of protecting their own formulas for thwarting hackers, fraudsters, identity thieves and so on.

In any society with such a premium on information exchange, and therefore such vulnerability to the compromise of vital or personal information, privacy is not merely a desire. It is a valuable commodity. It would be commercial suicide for Apple to ignore that fact to fail to appreciate that, if a tech company shows insufficient zeal in safeguarding its customers privacy, the customers will shop elsewhere.

The government does not want to hear this, but it has made the situation immeasurably less attractive for companies inclined to cooperate. In an era of increasing regulation and criminalization, the unintended revelation of private information can lead to prosecution and civil liability. Crusading state attorneys general use the power to compel production of sensitive information as a painful financial weapon.

In the post-9/11 era, moreover, government has become cavalier about privacy rights, rationalizing that mass intrusions on law-abiding citizens are the necessary price for minimizing the chance of a terrorist attack, and for avoiding the politically-incorrect use of more discriminating surveillance that would spur complaints about profiling.

The public largely tolerated this approach as long as it believed that the threat was severe, and that the government was sincerely confining its efforts to counterterrorism. Over time, however, as 9/11 has faded from memory, the perception of threat is not profound. Indeed, many entering college today were not yet born when those attacks happened. Perhaps more significantly, the government has serially abused and politicized its investigative powers.

The most worrisome aspect of the Russia collusion caper is the erosion of trust in government investigators. National security is one aspect of governance in which our agencies must be able acquire and use intelligence covertly if the mission is to be accomplished. They have to be able to look the public in the eye and say, You can trust us to wield these awesome powers responsibly to use them only for their intended purpose of protecting the American people.

When these awesome powers are used, instead, for political purposes, or to interfere in our electoral process or when the government makes misrepresentations to courts and harvests the sensitive communications data of innocent people then the public becomes convinced that the government cannot be trusted to respect privacy.

And when no one is ever held accountable when officials close ranks to castigate and frustrate examination of their agencies performance the public is apt to say the government cant be trusted with new powers to intrude on privacy. Americans and their congressional representatives may even decide that the powers already conferred need to be reconsidered.

I worry about this a lot. I worked on terrorism cases. Attorney General Barr is right to suggest that we cannot protect the country without robust investigative authorities, and without the cooperation of public-spirited private actors.

It would be nice if Apple could help the Pensacola investigation without weighing all the competing concerns, and if the Justice Department could afford to make its demands for investigative assistance without self-awareness of its role these last years in fueling public skepticism. But that is not the world were living in.

The government does not have an absolute right to commandeer private assistance and intrude on privacy. And tech companies cannot create a backdoor for good-faith investigators to breach the confidentiality of jihadists without making everybodys confidentiality vulnerable to bad actors, who will figure out how to exploit that backdoor.

This is not a problem for Apple to solve. Nor is it a problem for the courts and the Justice Department to navigate based on case-by-case exigencies. It is a difficult challenge in which Congress needs to weigh all the competing concerns and enact a solution if there is one.

Former federal prosecutor Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow atNational Review Institute, a contributing editor at National Review, and a Fox News contributor. His latest book is Ball of Collusion. Follow him on Twitter@AndrewCMcCarthy.

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Apple v. Attorney General Barr: Giving feds access to smartphones is a bad call | TheHill - The Hill

The Uyghur head of a successful real estate firm in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and two of his brothers have been confirmed jailed on charges including extremism, along with at least 20 of his employees, according to official sources.

Ekber Imin, the 51-year-old head of the Guzel Makan (Beautiful Land) Real Estate firm, as well as several other companies, in the seat of the XUARs Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian) prefecture went missing in mid-2018, a Uyghur source living in exile in Turkey told RFAs Uyghur Service, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

The source said that Imin, who was also known as Ekber Dalu, first became wealthy working in the jade trade and had been targeted by authorities after he amassed more than 1 million yuan (U.S. $146,000).

While investigating the whereabouts of Imin, RFA learned from publicly available records that Guzel Makan, which also had dealings with foreign entities, was established in 2007 and had total combined assets of 13.3 million yuan (U.S. $1.9 million).

RFA recently called the Hotan City Public Security Bureau and spoke with a staff member who said they were not familiar with this situation, when asked about Imins disappearance.

An employee with the citys Tax Bureau told RFA that she was unable to answer questions like this when asked whether Guzel Makan was still operating, due to an order issued by the Public Security Bureau, and referred further inquiries to her superiors.

However, a third source, who used to work with a Hotan prefectural legal and political bureau, told RFA in an interview that Imin owned some 30 16-story apartment buildings in Hotan city which together are known as the Baht (Happiness) Apartment Complex, and cited a colleage as saying that he had been imprisoned for reasons that were not immediately clear.

It was about two years ago that they said hed been taken, said the source, who also declined to provide his name, adding that, Where he is, where hes gone, whats happened to himI know nothing.

We heard 25 years, the former legal worker said, referring to the length of Imins sentence.

When asked whether the nature of Imins business had led to his imprisonment, the former legal worker said he was unsure, but that he heard that the company had foreign ties.

Everyone, young and old, knows about [his sentence], he said.

RFA also spoke with a police officer in Hotan city who said he had heard from members of his social circle that Imin was detained, but was unsure when.

They detained him when he was going through a [border] checkpoint, he said, without specifying which one. The XUAR shares borders with Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and the region of Jammu and Kashmir, which is the subject of a territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and China.

The police officer said he believed Imin had been sentenced for life, but admitted that he did not know for sure.

Brothers and staffers

However, a police officer at Hotans Ilchi Market told RFA that not only Imin, but his brothersMemetturdi Imin, 56, and Memetjan Imin, 48were jailed along with at least 20 of Imins employees.

The police officer said that one of the crimes Imin was convicted for was propagating extremist ideology by incorporating ethnic and religious elements into building designs.

I am aware that drivers and staffers of Ekber Imin and his brothers were sentenced, but I dont know the exact number, he said, adding that some of them are serving sentences in a prison run by the Bingtuana name used to refer to the quasi-military Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC).

Ekber and his brothers were sentenced for five different reasons. One was providing so-called cover for a criminal. Memetturdi Imin provided housing to a [camp] detainee who had been released. He was arrested for that reason.

Other sources also confirmed that Imins brothers and staffers had also been either sentenced or sent to camps.

There were two people from our township who had worked at Ekber Imins company and I attended their court hearing, a ruling Communist Party secretary from Hotan citys Ilchi township told RFA, without providing a date for the proceedings.

There were two sessions. One was related to Ekber Imins case. In that case, more than 30 were sentenced.

A businessman from Hotan city who is familiar with the Imins told RFA he knew that Imins two brothers had each been sentenced to 20 years in prison, but I dont know about the names and number of their partners who were jailed.

Another businessman from Hotan prefecture said that seven people, including Ekber Imin, his brothers, and business partners, were sentenced in the last months of 2018.

They are serving their sentences in a prison in Aksu (Akesu) prefecture, he added.

Recent sentences

Last month, sources told RFA that one of the wealthiest Uyghurs in Hotan prefecture had been confirmed jailed for life after his whereabouts were unknown for more than three years, and that dozens of his relatives and employees had also been sentenced to prison.

Eli Abdulla, the CEO of Xinjiang Yu Cheng (Jade City) Real Estate Development Ltd.a company based in the XUAR capital Urumqi that deals in real estate, development, and rentals, as well as the sale of construction materials, chemicals, electronics, and mechanical equipmentwent missing in mid-2016, and was believed to have been arrested by authorities and sentenced a year later.

His situation could not be confirmed amid an information clampdown in the XUAR, where authorities are believed to have detained some 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect ideas in a vast network of internment camps since April 2017. Camp incarcerations are largely extra-judicial decisions.

In September 2018, multiple reports from official media said that Chinas central government had ordered local authorities to investigate the finances of all owners of private companies throughout the XUAR, at the same time that internment camps were being built in the region.

According to the directive, the reports said, private business owners were required to fill out declaration forms at the time that provided detailed financial information about their assets and submit them to relevant government departments, where they were subjected to strict review.

Reported by Shohret Hoshur. Translated by Alim Seytoff, Mamatjan Juma, and Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

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Uyghur Real Estate Magnate Confirmed Jailed Along With Brothers, at Least 20 Employees - Radio Free Asia

Light up a cigar, grab a bottle of scotch and settle in for an evening of naughty humor with Ron White. The foul-mouth Texan is back for more laughter at Aces of Comedy, the stand-up comedy series at The Mirage.

Riding high on the success of his Netflix special If You Quit Listening, Ill Shut Up, he has added a new legion of members to his already large fan base.

Known affectionately as Tater Salad, White lays on politically incorrect humor with heavy doses of sarcasm and irreverence.

Unabashedly patriotic, the U.S. Navy veteran has often devoted his personal time and talents to disaster victims and fellow service members. He even entered the 2016 Presidential race with a campaign slogan of Vote SmartBecause You Cant Fix Stupid.

Still, its our American way of life that provides White with some of his best material. From vacation Bible school to dating websites, California quirkiness to motel movies-on-demand, the headliner turns his hilarious experiences into things we can all relate to. And thats the trademark of a true ace of comedy.

The Mirage, 10 p.m. Dec. 13-14, starting at $59.99 plus tax and fee, 16+. 702.792.7777

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Laugh it up with Ron White - Lasvegasmagazine

For two tumultuous months, Washington has been fixated on what President Donald Trump did. Now its time to work out what should happen to him.

Four renowned law professors showed up before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to conduct an intellectual and rigorous constitutional seminar while ducking the partisan crossfire from Democratic and Republican lawmakers. They had been called to explain the arcane business of impeachment the investigation, trial and possible removal of a president to Americans watching on TV.

Does the Constitution justify impeaching Trump over his attempted manipulation of Ukraine? Three of the high-powered legal quartet the experts chosen by Democrats agreed the President had crossed a line. The Republican witness did not rule out such a verdict but cautioned against rushing a process that could countermand the 2016 election.

On that central question, Pamela Karlan of Stanford Law School had no doubts:

What about how Trumps behavior compares with the actions of other Presidents including the two who were impeached before him and Richard Nixon, who resigned before the House could get to him? It leaves them in the dust, argued Michael Gerhardt, of the University of North Carolina Law School:

But Trump is not just in trouble for his dealings with Ukraine. Hes been blocking the investigation all along, refusing to allow key White House officials to testify and ignoring 71 separate requests for documents by Democrats. Is this also grounds for impeachment? You bet, said Harvard Law Schools Noah Feldman.

But wait could Democrats be a little ahead of themselves here? Sure, the White House is stalling and trying to mire the process in months of legal challenges. But removing a President is the most consequential act in Congress power, and Democrats have not yet used the full extent of the law to force key witnesses to testify. George Washington Universitys Jonathan Turley that Republican-called witness worries that things are going too fast and not far enough:

In his opening statement, Turley said, I get it. Youre mad. The Presidents mad. My Republican friends are mad. My Democratic friends are mad. So were all mad, and where has it taken us? Will a slipshod impeachment make us less mad? Will it only give an invitation for the madness to follow in every future administration? This is not how you impeach an American president.

Yes, Trump was the unwitting subject of a chuckle-filled chat among other NATO leaders, copped Justin Trudeau on Wednesday. But the Canadian Prime Minister insists theyve still got a good relationship.

It doesnt look like a good one Trump, after all, accused Trudeau of being two-faced and hastily stormed off from the London gathering. Their relationship didnt seem that great even before Trudeau was caught gossiping Trump had earlier skewered Canada as slightly delinquent in its fiscal duty to NATO. And last year, they clashed after a G7 meeting in Quebec, with Trudeau calling US tariffs insulting and Trump tweeting from Air Force One that the Canadian princeling was very dishonest and weak.

This is bad news for Trudeaus bid to repair relations with the mercurial US leader who can make life very difficult since the North American neighbors share the worlds most lucrative bilateral commercial relationship. But since both men have a common goal in getting Congress to pass the US-Canada-Mexico trade deal, theyll have to bury the hatchet.

And there may be a political upside for both: Feuding with liberal leaders like Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron is all good for Trumps brand as the politically incorrect, foreigner-baiting America First bulldog. And showing some steel to the bully down south might be just what the PM needs, as he tries to earn back the Canadians trust after a scandal-tainted couple of years and only just winning reelection by the skin of his teeth.

US President Donald Trump met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO meeting in London. We discussed Syria. We discussed the Kurds, Trump said, adding that the border and the safe zone is working out very well and I give Turkey a lot of credit for that. The ceasefire is holding.

In October, the US withdrew forces from northern Syria to make way for a Turkish attack on the USs Kurdish allies. Syrian Kurdish and US officials have said that the attacks continue, despite a nominal ceasefire.

We have soldiers where the oil is and thats the way I like it, Trump also noted.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells office released the Senate schedule for 2020 with just 11 months displayed. January is conspicuously absent. Pencil in a possible Senate impeachment trial.

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Does the Constitution justify impeaching Trump? | News Talk WBAP-AM - WBAP News/Talk

SIR Bruce Forsyths wife says Strictly Come Dancing is now sexier than ever and the late TV legend would have loved it.

Lady Wilnelia Forsyth told how Bruce, the original presenter of the series who spent a decade at the helm, would have celebrated it becoming more risqu.

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The former Miss World, 62, who was married to the telly favourite for 35 years, has only just started to be able to watch the dancing show again following the national treasures death in 2017 from bronchial pneumonia.

And while he would have also embraced the ballroom show celebrating same-sex dancers, she says the all-round entertainer who spent 75 years at the top of the showbiz tree would have lamented the absence of comedy acts and lack of straight-talking as TV stars have grown afraid of being dubbed politically incorrect.

Lady Wilnelia told the Sun on Sunday: At the beginning I just couldnt watch, it was too painful. But this year I have been watching, and it is different.

The dancing is more risqu now, and sexier. Times have changed since the show began.

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You can see a change in the clothes, the dresses, too.

They are beautiful and you could wear them anywhere if they were a bit longer.

I think Bruce would have definitely liked the show becoming sexier. If you do it with style and respect, whats the problem? My husband always moved with the times.

He would have supported same-sex couples dancing together on the show for the same reason.

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After all, if same sex couples are getting married and raising families together, why shouldnt they dance together? This should be normal now.

I remembered recently that in the 1950s Bruce actually filmed a sketch with Norman Wisdom and the two of them danced together as a couple.

If he was here now, I think he would be the most accepting person of same-sex dancing.

The milestone dance was performed last month by male pro dancers Graziano Di Prima and Johannes Radebe. Viewers were quick to praise the move by Strictly.

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And Lady Wilnelia continued: It doesnt matter if its two girls or two guys, its about the dance.

Theres nothing more beautiful than two people moving their bodies together its wonderful.

And its what the audience want to see on Strictly.

The audience have a voice now, because they are talking about the show on social media, and that is very powerful.

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If Bruce was here, hed probably be on Instagram now. But hed have found himself in so much trouble because he always spoke his mind.

That was one of the things I loved the most about him. People dont speak their minds as much now because theyre frightened of a backlash.

Bruce was invited to front Strictlys very first series back in 2004.

Lady Wilnelia told how the star, who had expected all the celebrities to be awful dancers, was amazed by their transformation during the competition.

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But many of Bruces highlights still came courtesy of the shows more comic contestants.

Lady Wilnelia reckons he would be sorry at the absence in recent series of contestants who brought laughter to the show, such as Ann Widdecombe, Russell Grant, John Sargeant and Ed Balls.

She added: There has been a shift away from those acts and its a shame, because Bruce loved them.

He was a born entertainer and they were entertaining.

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I remember Ann in particular because she was so brave at times, but she took the show so lightly. I think thats what people like to see on Strictly. You dont want everyone to be perfect, and you want to see the personalities there.

Recurring ill-health saw Bruce film his last series of Strictly in 2013. Co-host Tess Daly continued in the role and It Takes Two presenter Claudia Winkleman took Bruces place.

But he still loved to watch the programme at home and would send Tess, 50, good luck messages before she went on air.

He also shared close friendships with former head judge Len Goodman and professional dancer Anton Du Beke, with pals often joking that he and Anton could be father and son.

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Lady Wilnelia said: Bruce found Claudia really funny and, though Tess played the straight part to his funnyman on Strictly, he always said how great her sense of humour was.

They had spent so much time together over the years.

She and Len would come down to his dressing room before the show every Saturday.

He and Len, and Anton, would play golf together too. At the time people would joke that Anton and Bruce could be father and son.

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Bruce would have liked to see Anton as a judge, hed have supported him in anything. But I think Anton is just happy to be a part of the family.

Bruce and Wilnelia fell in love after meeting when they were both judges at Miss World 1980, held in the UK. She had won the competition five years earlier.

They married three years later and went on to have son Jonathan, who is now 32.

Wilnelia used to accompany Bruce to the BBC Television Centre where he filmed Strictly on Saturdays.

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Now, watching on telly, she admits it feels like someone is missing.

She went on: I miss Bruce. I miss his silly jokes at the end, which always made me laugh.

I am much better than I was, but its true what people say to you, grieving is a journey. Sometimes its hard because I think about him all the time.

Our house is still the same as it was. And even when Im not thinking about him, something often happens to remind me.

I was playing golf a few weeks ago and I saw a buggy being driven by a gentleman with a hat on. For a minute there was a resemblance and I got very emotional. I couldnt stop myself crying.

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Unfortunately, you just cant avoid things like that.

Christmases and birthdays for his family will never be the same. And only someone who has lost someone so dear will understand how it feels.

But what we had was so much more than a marriage, and thats why it was so special.

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Bruce Forsyths widow says he would have loved sexed-up Strictly and same-sex dancers - The Sun

Drew Mattiola December 7th, 2019 - 2:00 PM

It appears that Disney+ will be doctoring up television programs for its live-action properties, as Billy Magnussen will be reprising his role as Prince Anders in a series about the Middle Eastern royalty according to The Hollywood Reporter.

This will mark the first time the studio has developed a spinoff to one of its live-action remakes. Disney has already gotten to work on this project hiring Jordan Dunn and Michael Kvamme to scribe the script. The series centers around Anders but has not been confirmed as a sequel or a prequel to this years box office hitAladdin, as the studio is still in the planning stages for the project.

Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who were primarily responsible for Aladdins production, return to the set under their Rideback banner with Ryan Halprin serving as an executive producer.Magnussen was mainly responsible for pushing the inception of this series after presenting the idea toAladdins production team.Dunn and Kvamme have been rather busy as of lately and have a plethora of comedy projects in the work, including a film entitled Operation Prince of Freedom,which involves a rather politically incorrect celebrity, the Taliban and illegal immigration. More on this as it develops.

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Aladdin Spinoff Featuring Prince Anders In Development With Disney+ - mxdwn.com

Is it (literally) politically incorrect to ask someone not to play for their country?

George Burnett figured out long ago how to give diplomatic answers to questions that offer the opportunity for undiplomatic responses.

Such was the case when the Guelph Storm general manager and coach was asked about losing Chayka for seven games 10 per cent of the teams season for a tournament many people had never heard of.

We really dont have any say when it boils down to it, Burnett said when asked if the team has to release Chayka. Its an IIHF sanctioned event. We have to support it.

Playing for your country is pretty special and hes done it four times now. This is the fifth ... Well support it, its part of what our responsibility is, hopefully he plays well, stays healthy and comes back and has a monster second half.

That doesnt mean Burnett is particularly thrilled with losing Chayka, who has established himself as one of the teams best players in just his second year.

Not eligible for the NHL draft until 2021, Chayka quarterbacks the power play, kills penalties and has 17 points this season.

His departure, coupled with the injury to Fedor Gordeev, leaves the Storm with six defencemen: three of them rookies and two of them in their second year.

I can moan and groan about it, but hes playing for his country, hes playing for his federation and Im sure he wants to be part of (Russias) under-20 program moving forward.

When I look at it, he played in the tournament last year, hes played for his country at the under-18 twice now, and for me this event is a little bit of a step back. Im happy to see him represent his country but were going to miss him for seven games and thats big, especially with Feddy hurt.

Its not unheard of for a player to decline an invitation to play for their country. Peterborough Petes forward Liam Kirk did it this week when he said no to playing for Great Britain at the World Juniors.

But Kirk is 19, drafted by the NHL and Great Britain is playing in the Division IIA of the World Juniors.

It would be a lot harder for the undrafted, 17-year-old Chayka to say no, even if logging big minutes in seven OHL games is almost certainly going to be better for his development than playing in the World Junior A Challenge.

Instead, you have to suck it up and view it as part of the price of doing business.

And keep your fingers crossed he doesnt get hurt.

Read the rest here:
Should a player ever turn down an offer to play for their country? - GuelphToday

Not getting a gift for someone who got a gift for you; putting together a Christmas lunch thats dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free; and lets not forget having to listen to that one politically incorrect uncle (theres always one). Although the holidays can be a time to relax, rejuvenate, and spend quality time with family, if youve spent one or two holidays in the past crying into your turkey, youre not alone.

In a recent survey,PC Financialdug deep to find out exactly what holiday disasters people have been experiencing over the years, and the biggest things stressing people out.

Holiday wrapping/Shutterstock

If youve overspent on gifts for the holiday this year or in years past, youre not the only one. The survey found that 49% of Canadians have blown their budget over trying to find something for everyone over the holidays. Thats nearly half of the population!

And thats not all. Seven out of 10 Canadians also said theyve compromised on the quantity and quality of gifts theyve bought for friends and family, which makes sense when youre trying to save. But the most awkward part?Forty-three percent said that theyve received a gift when they didnt have one to give back. So. stressful.

People were even prepared to participate in some very un-fun scenarios in exchange for getting out of gift-related tasks. In fact, 35% of Canadians said theyd prefer to be in charge of removing snow at their home for a whole month instead of picking out gifts for everyone in their home. And 38% said they would ring in the new year solo rather than wrap all the gifts in their home.

Holiday spread/Shutterstock

Already drooling at the thought of that Christmas turkey lunch? Although theres nothing better than turkey, its usually not as exciting when youre the one solely in charge of bringing Christmas lunch to life. If youre not lucky enough to be in the company of a potluck-style Christmas meal, being the chef in charge of feeding everyone = stress.

If you find cooking for everyone daunting over the holidays, youre not the only one. Almost half of Canadians say that preparing food is stressful, and 49% stress over working around food sensitivities. Canadians spend over 13 hours planning, cooking, and shopping for meals over the holiday period and 34% said theyd prefer to go to work on a Sunday than prep holiday dinner for their entire family. Thats a pretty big deal.

If youre feeling overwhelmed with holiday stress, know that help is out there. Santas little helpers, aka PC Financial, have put together a Holiday Redemption Hotline so you can vent away all your stories about the cousin that said they were making gravy and forgot, or that awkward moment when you got given a new sweater by your in-laws and didnt have anything to give back. By offering helpful tips, and helping you find an upside to your holiday disasters, theyll help you redeem the holidays.

On December 7, from 9 am to 5 pm, you can call a PC Helper for advice on how to cope with your holiday disasters and get on with whats important having a great Christmas break. Callers could even earn a few PC Optimum points.

You can call the hotline at 1-833-909-1281 or visit PC Financials website to learn about thePC Financial MasterCard, which earns you PC Optimum points for every dollar you spend, no matter where you shop. Its just another way to get ahead of the holiday stress this season.

Link:
This is what Canadians are stressing out about over the holidays (SURVEY) | Etcetera - Daily Hive

Whether you like it or not, the times they are a-changin'.

While some people deem it politically incorrect to continue to sing Christmas songs like 'Baby, It's Cold Outside', others can listen to it in the context of the time in which it was written.

Another controversial festive song over the years is 'Fairytale of New York'. It's a song that is loved by many, but others find the use of the word 'f****t' understandably difficult to get past.

Now, one English radio DJ has taken it a step further by banning the song from his show altogether.

Alex Dyke of BBC Radio Solent went on a lengthy rant about The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl tune on Twitter, in a now-deleted tweet. "Radio, lets ban Fairytale Of New York this Christmas!," he wrote. "'Youre a slut on junk, you scumbag, cheap lousy f****t is this what we want our kids singing in the back of the car? Its an offensive pile of downmarket chav bilge. We can do better!"

Dyke later elaborated on the tweet on his show, calling it a 'nasty, nasty song.'

I hope Im not going to ruin your Christmas, but Ive decided that I am no longer comfortable with playing Fairytale of New York by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl," he said. "I think Christmas songs should be about excited children, toys, Christmas trees, snowy streets, ski lodges, reindeer, wrapping paper, Santa, family, peace on earth and love. I just find the Pogues Fairytale of New York a nasty, nasty song."

He added: "I just think that this guy, this toothless drunk, ruining the romantic image of New York city with a song about heroin is not on. I dont like the lyrics youre bum, youre a punk, youre a slut on junk I think thats absolutely awful. I dont like you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy f****t I find that offensive, I find that an offensive pile of downmarket bilge."

The reaction to his boycott has been pretty vocal on Twitter, with some calling the DJ a 'snowflake' and a 'PC fool'.

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People are very angry that a radio DJ has banned 'Fairytale of New York' - Entertainment.ie