“INTO THE WOODS”: A Fantastical Fairytale Of Mystery & Enchantment October 12, 2023 Share When the late Tony and Pulitzer Prize Winning Composer and Lyricist Stephen Sondheim invited audiences to go with him Into the Woods, they found it populated with characters uprooted from childhood fairy tales in a forest deeply shaded by adult longings, disappointments, trials, tragedies and a few hard-won triumphs. Audiences and critics alike responded with the original 1988 Broadway Blockbuster bringing home Tony Awards® for Sondheim’s score and James Lapine’s book. Proving its timeless appeal, a new production in 2002 won the Tony for “Best Revival of a Musical.” Into the Woods opens Slow Burn Theatre Company’s 2023/2024 Season in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presented by American National Bank from Saturday, October 14th through Sunday, October 29th. This modern classic weaves together a fantastical fairytale of mystery and enchantment with a euphoric score creating a sophisticated musical. The story follows the Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's spell, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. The cast features Ben Liebert and Melissa Whitworth as the baker and his wife and Carbonell-Winning Actress Jeni Hacker as the witch. They are joined by Carbonell Winners Elizabeth Dimon, Jinon Deeb and Patti Gardner along with Aaron Atkinson, Mikayla Cohen, Kimmi Johnson, Matthew Korinko, Stephen Fala, Luis Pablo Garcia. Michael Materdomini, Ralph Meitzler, Kristi Rose Mills, Sergi Robles, Katherine Stenzel and Giselle Watts. Director Patrick Fitzwater heads a creative team that includes Music Director James Mablin, Scenic Designer Kelly Tighe, Costumer Designer Rick Peña, Lighting Designer Clifford Spulock and Assistant Lighting Designer Stevie Bleich. The Production Team includes Production Stage Manager John Murdock, Assistant Stage Manager Sam Kronhaus and Technical Director Timothy S. Dickey. Performance times vary with the company also offering an open captioned performance on Sunday, October 22nd at 2:00 p.m. in which spoken dialogue scrolls across a digital screen as the action occurs on stage. The open captioned performances of Slow Burn Theatre productions this season are generously underwritten by the Amaturo Family Foundation. This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Into the Woods was originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Performance times vary. Slow Burn Theatre’s 2023/2024 Season continues with Disney’s The Little Mermaid (December 16th -31st), Sister Act (February 3rd - 18th), The Prom (March 23th - April 7th) and The SpongeBob Musical (June 8th - 23rd). Major support for the Slow Burn Theatre Company is provided by the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at: www.BrowardCenter.org - Or: www.Ticketmaster.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222; in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 Southwest Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For more information visit: www.BrowardCenter.org The Broward Center 2023/2024 Season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and UHealth University of Miami Health System. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit: www.BrowardCenter.org < Previous News Next News >

Red Ribbon Week Honors Former DEA Agent, Asks Youth To Commit To Drug-Free Lifestyle DEA Miami Field Division October 31, 2024 Share Nearly 40 years ago former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped, tortured, and killed while serving in Guadalajara, Mexico. An 11-year DEA Veteran, Camarena was close to exposing a multi-billion-dollar Marijuana and Cocaine pipeline operating throughout Mexico. He was on his way to meet his wife for lunch when five armed men surrounded his car and took him. His wife and three children never saw him again. Following his death, Camarena Clubs formed in his hometown of Calexico, California Club members and teachers wore Red Ribbons and pledged to live drug free to honor the sacrifices Camarena made. Eventually red ribbon gained popularity and spread across the country with Red Ribbon Week being observed October 23rd - October 31st. This year’s theme is “Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free,” which inspires everyone to play their part in cultivating safe, healthy, drug-free communities. “Red Ribbon Week remembers the life of a tenacious DEA Agent who refused to back down from Drug traffickers,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Kiki said one person can make a difference. I believe it’s important to keep his memory alive. It’s also a great opportunity to reach out to area schools and reinforce living a drug-free life.” DEA Miami Field Division will present at 10 area schools during Red Ribbon Week. These include high school students all the way down to second graders. A big part of DEA’s message—aside from living Drug free—is making smart choices. “Making smart choices needs to become a habit,” said Reuter. “If you do that, you’ll minimize the times you find yourself in dangerous or risky situations.” More than 107,000 Americans died from drug poisonings last year, so it’s critical to reach young students. “They need to know what’s out there and the dangers associated with it,” said Beverly Jones, a Deerfield Beach Elementary School second grade teacher. “We need to show them how to be Drug free because peer pressure is a real thing. I have a child in middle school and one in high school and the pressure is there. They tell me that.” Speak To Your Children To mark the beginning of Red Ribbon Week 2024, Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging parents to speak to their children about the dangers of Substance Abuse. Red Ribbon Week is the largest Drug-Abuse Prevention campaign in the nation. Each year, more than 80 million Americans show their commitment to a Drug-Free lifestyle by wearing a Red Ribbon. However, more than 100,000 people still die nationwide to Drug overdoses each year, mainly because of Illicit Fentanyl brought across the wide open U.S.-Mexico Border. Studies show that the fastest growing age group dying of Fentanyl Poisoning is children younger than 14. To help parents express the dangers of Substance Abuse to their children, Attorney General Moody is sharing helpful resources. Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “We are in the grips of a National Opioid Crisis, with more than 100,000 Americans dying from Drug Overdoses every year, mainly due to Illicit Fentanyl from Mexico. But it isn’t just a problem for adults—the fastest growing age group dying of Fentanyl Poisoning is children younger than 14. During Red Ribbon Week, I’m urging parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of Drug Use and remind them that one pill can kill.” Last month, Attorney General Moody recognized Florida heroes who saved a 7-month-old baby who overdosed on Fentanyl. First responders arrived on the scene and used Naloxone, a Rapid Opioid Overdose Reversal Medication, to save the baby’s life. Attorney General Moody’s Helping Heroes program provided the Naloxone used by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department first responders. To help parents talk with children about drug dangers, Attorney General Moody is sharing the following resources: Fast Facts on Fentanyl Toolkit: Attorney General Moody released this toolkit to help parents protect children from digital drug dealers. The resource highlights the dangers of Fentanyl and helps parents talk to their children about the dangers of Drug Use: https://www.myfloridalegal.com/files/pdf/page/1598F7F0F1874E3F852588600057D3AE/general-information-fast-facts-fentanyl.pdf Dose of Reality Florida: This online resource provides information about Opioid Misuse and Addiction, Safe Storage of Prescription Painkillers and guidelines on responding to an Opioid Overdose: https://doseofrealityfl.com Treatment Atlas: Treatment Atlas is a tool to help Floridians struggling with Addiction find specialized treatment. This free and confidential resource contains information about nearly 500 treatment facilities across Florida alone: https://treatmentatlas.org Red Ribbon Week began in 1988 following the tragic death of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Camarena. Today, this week-long event is an annual catalyst promoting healthy, Drug-Free Lifestyles. Learn more about Red Ribbon Week here: https://www.redribbon.org < Previous News Next News >

Adopt A Lovebug & Walk With The Animals February 2, 2023 Share Beautiful Harlow (ID 663650) is a fun-loving, 68-pound gal who is sweet, playful and loves to play with her friend Haywood who looks identical to her. While they don’t have to go home together, if you adopted the duo, you would have constant entertainment. This two-year-old lovebug is social, likes to play in the baby pool and enjoys meeting new people. She would love to be your sweetie for this Valentine’s day and many more. Five-year-old Rosie (ID 664166) was given up after having a home her entire life because someone was allergic to her. Now Rosie is very nervous at the shelter, but we know if the right cat lover takes her home and gives her the TLC she needs, she will be fine. Her previous family said her nickname is "Nosy Rosie," and she will check on everyone. She is a talker and if you've been away for a bit, she may tell you stories. Rosie will meow to tell you she is hungry or ready for you to wake up. Make sure you have a carpet scratcher for her, and she will use it. While she has not lived with other pets, she is good with older kids. To meet Harlow, Rosie or any other pet, complete the pre-adoption application at: https://humanebroward.com/ The Humane Society of Broward County is located at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 and the adoption kennels open daily at 11 a.m. If you have questions, call: (954) 989-3977 Extension#: 6 and if you can’t adopt, please share. The dogs are also in need of durable chew toys if you would like to drop some by. VCA Walk For The Animals The Walk will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park, 80 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the optional Walk starts at 10:00 am. Visit over 30 booths offering games, exceptional products, and services, and more. If you are unable to attend, no worries! They still want YOU to walk in your own neighborhood on Walk Day or stay home (maybe in bed) - but still help gather donations to help the HSBC. If you are participating virtually, they recommend mapping out 1 mile in your neighborhood, park, or wherever you’d like to participate. They will have virtual activities available as well. Stay updated by subscribing to Walk for the Animals emails and checking back to Walk4theAnimals.com regularly. If you can't find what you're looking for you can always email them at: info@walk4theanimals.com There is no registration fee for the Walk, however, this is the shelter's largest fundraising event of the year. They encourage all participants to register their team and fundraise with them. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals in their care, the educational programs they support and the services they extend to the community. Walk for the Animals is a family-friendly event. Children are always welcome. They even have a Kids Zone where they can do activities and crafts, making it a very memorable day for them. Leading up to the Walk, kids are very active in fundraising. They can collect coins from family and friends, and they ask for donations for the animals in lieu of gifts and more. Kids enjoy giving back to the animals. They even have a Virtual Kids Zone. Children and families can participate in DIY dog and cat crafts that you can make for your own animals at home! Although they'd love to see everyone on Walk Day, attendance is not a requirement. Animal lovers that want to help the homeless animals in our community but cannot make it on March 4th can still register as a Walker. You will still have access to the website tools to raise funds and you can still have fun planning events, knowing you are helping the animals. Track your donations on your Personal Fundraising page or use the donation form available on our Helpful Downloads page: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/walk4theanimals/donate/ Donations that are not collected online can be sent to: Humane Society of Broward County, Attention: Walk For The Animals, 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. You can register today for the walk at: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/walk4theanimals/ < Previous News Next News >

Flirting with Fame: 50 Years of Celebrity Encounters By A Hollywood Publicist Thu Aug 25 2022 16:01:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Weapons of Love - Lag Ba’Omer 101 Fri May 24 2024 16:09:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Theft Of A Nation - How The Deep State Swamp Is Stealing The People's Power By John & Nisha Whitehead Aug 13, 2025 What On Earth Is Happening To This Country? How, over the course of 250 years, did we go from prizing self-government to allowing a corrupt, self-serving ruling elite to dominate us with terror campaigns, brute force, and psychological warfare? Don’t be fooled: the madness, mayhem and malice unfolding in America is not politics as usual. It’s not a partisan hardball. It’s not bureaucratic overreach. It’s theft in the gravest sense imaginable: the theft of our nation, the theft of our sovereignty as citizens, the theft of our constitutional republic. The government is seizing what does not belong to it: our voice, our rights, our power to choose and to resist. It is robbing us of the very tools of self-government—accountability, transparency, representation, free speech, bodily autonomy—and replacing them with coercion, propaganda, and force. So when the White House threatens to withhold FEMA aid from states that won’t endorse its foreign policy? That’s theft. When the president attacks the courts for calling out executive overreach? That’s theft. When the media is muzzled, the police state expands, and new concentration camps rise? All of it—theft. We are being robbed blind in broad daylight by the very individuals entrusted with safeguarding our rights and our republic. Despite his assurances to the contrary, Donald Trump never had any intention of draining the swamp. He is the swamp. Yet make no mistake: this didn’t start with Trump. The groundwork for this theft was laid long before—through successive administrations, both Republican and Democrat—that expanded executive power, hollowed out the Constitution, and normalized the rule of force over the rule of law. What Trump has done is remove the mask, weaponize the tools of tyranny, and accelerate the dismantling of the republic in full view of the people. Here are just a few of the many ways the Trump administration—no different than its predecessors in motive, yet far more brazen in execution—is stealing the birthright of the American people and cementing the transformation of the republic into a government of wolves. • Police, once tasked with serving the people, now act as an occupying force. • ICE agents, incentivized by massive $50,000 bonuses and shielded from accountability, behave more like mercenaries than law enforcement—operating far outside the bounds of due process. • Fourth Amendment protections, under constant assault, have become optional. • Elected representatives enrich themselves through insider trading, while the crises they help manufacture devastate the populace. • Federal courts are being threatened or ignored outright when they attempt to check executive overreach. Judges who speak out are branded enemies of the state. • Whistleblowers, journalists, and truth-tellers are prosecuted, surveilled, or silenced—treated as threats to national security. Journalism, once protected as a check on power, is under siege. • Statisticians, public health experts, and government researchers are being purged or silenced when their data doesn’t support the administration’s narrative. We are living in the shadow of George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth, where facts are negotiable, history can be rewritten, and reality is whatever the Deep State says it is. • Disaster relief, foreign policy, and executive authority have been weaponized to punish dissent. • The Department of Justice has become a tool of loyalty enforcement—targeting dissenters while shielding cronies. • Meanwhile, the Epstein files remain sealed. Despite public outcry and compelling evidence of elite involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network, the Trump administration has refused to release the full client list or investigative records. In doing so, it continues the bipartisan pattern of shielding the powerful from scrutiny while everyday Americans face ever-expanding surveillance, suspicion, and punishment. • Public lands are being auctioned off to corporate allies without oversight or accountability. • Citizenship is no longer a birthright but a privilege granted or revoked by political fiat. • Digital platforms, pressured by federal agencies, now censor views deemed “inconvenient” to the state. • Education is being reshaped to discourage critical thought and enforce ideological conformity. • Government services, once created to serve the public good, are now political weapons—used to reward loyalty, punish dissent, and control the masses through selective aid and ideological enforcement. • Executive orders have become tools of rule-by-decree, bypassing Congress and obliterating checks and balances. • Economic chaos is being weaponized strategically. By manufacturing crises, withholding aid, and destabilizing budgets, the Deep State has found a new way to consolidate power, transfer wealth upwards, and condition compliance. • Corruption is not punished. It’s rewarded—so long as it serves the power elite. And while all of this is happening, the Trump administration is doing everything it can to keep the citizenry distracted, divided, and demobilized—peddling outrage, manufacturing crises, stoking culture wars and threatening global wars. Bit by bit, freedom is being caged. And what is emerging in its place is a vast, inescapable prison—walled in not by bars, but by bureaucracy, deception, and brute force. When “we the people” no longer have a say in how we’re governed - when we have no way to guard against our trust being abused and our rights violated - when we have no way to counter government efforts to silence our voices, manipulate our choices, and erase our rights—what remains is not a constitutional republic. Yet the government—present and past—is stealing more than just power. It’s stealing the people’s ability to be the government. This is not just about the loss of freedom. It is the systematic dismantling of self-government—of the people’s role as the final check on power. This is the theft of a nation in real time by those entrusted with the highest offices of power, who use their power to strip “we the people” of our sovereignty and our rights. The founders warned us against kings. What we face now is far more insidious: an executive branch that pays lip service to freedom while locking down the nation. This is not how free people are governed. This is how free people are ruled. If the people are no longer allowed to check power, to criticize it, to reform it, to influence it, or even to see it—then we no longer have a government of the people, by the people, or for the people. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, we have a government against the people. The answer, as the Founders understood, is that there is power in our numbers if only we would stand united against tyranny. Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law, human rights and popular culture. John Whitehead's commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org . Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org Previous Next

Keller’s Korner - 2026 Cadillac Championship By Neil Keller May 20, 2026 Welcome To Keller’s Korner. It Was Another Spectacular Cadillac Championship At The Trump National Doral In Miami, Florida. The Tournament Ran From April 30 Through The Final Round On May 3, 2026, Marking A Celebrated Return To A Venue Rich With History. From 2007 through 2016, the Cadillac Championship was held annually at the Doral before departing the site—only to make its long‑awaited comeback this year. The Trump Organization hosted the event, and with President Donald Trump, his family, and guests in attendance, the grounds featured a significant Secret Service presence throughout the weekend. During the final round, I spoke with Eric Trump, son of President Trump, and asked for his thoughts on the tournament. Eric responded, “This has been incredible. It is exciting with the best players in the world playing.” If this were the Olympics, it would have been an American sweep of the medals. Cameron Young, Scottie Scheffler, and Ben Griffin led the way, with many fans expecting Scheffler—the world’s #1 golfer—to take home the title. But Cameron Young ended all suspense early, winning wire‑to‑wire with a commanding six‑shot advantage. On Sunday, President Trump was on site, and the golfers were well aware of his presence, underscored by the heightened security around the course. After securing his victory, Cameron Young spoke about the experience. “He was just very complimentary,” Cameron told the media. “I’ve been fortunate to meet him before, and that’s especially with us golfers—it’s something he loves, and I think he appreciates how good everybody is on the PGA Tour. So, really just hugely complementary, and I, of course, thanked him for hosting us and that was about it.” He added, “It’s very unique. He’s a very, very interesting man. He’s very powerful, and it’s an honor to get to play in front of him. Hugely grateful to him and his family and his organization that has these beautiful properties and allows us to come and play great golf tournaments on them. This is a special place and a great championship golf course. I’m thankful to have it back in the schedule.” Spotlight on the Jewish Golfers As always, I make it a priority to highlight the Jewish athletes competing in sporting events. This year’s Cadillac Championship featured four Jewish golfers: Daniel Berger, Max Greyserman, Max Homa, and David Lipsky. Daniel Berger Daniel Berger, 33, grew up in Key Biscayne, Florida. At just 13 years old, he made a hole‑in‑one—an early sign of the talent that would carry him to four PGA Tour victories. Interestingly, Daniel never played for his high school (Dwyer High School) golf team in Palm Beach Gardens. I had the honor of speaking with his father, Jay Berger, who was watching his son at the golf tournament. Jay was a former world‑class tennis player who reached a career‑high ranking of #7 in 1990. I asked Jay who first introduced Daniel to golf. “That was me,” Jay said. “We expressed our desire for him to go for it as a career. He started playing golf at the age of 11 in Key Biscayne.” Jay added proudly, “He is a great kid.” Daniel finished the tournament at 6 under, tying for 23rd place. Max Greyserman Max Greyserman, 30, grew up in New Jersey and now resides in Palm Beach Gardens. He has one professional win so far and interviewing him was a pleasure—especially when I noticed the belt he was wearing, decorated with the Israeli flag. “I got this belt from Athletes for Israel,” Max told me. I immediately told him how proud I was to see it. When I asked how he felt about his Saturday round, Max said, “I did not play great. I shot even. This is a tough course.” I asked who first got him into golf. “My parents did,” he said. “I was only 3 or 4 years old.” I then asked if he had a Bar Mitzvah. Max smiled and said, “Yes, I did.” His favorite golf course? He didn’t hesitate: “Augusta National,” home of The Masters. Max finished the tournament at 4 under, tying for 38th place. Max Homa The second Jewish Max in the field, Max Homa, grew up in California and now lives in Arizona. In my view, the 35 year old is currently the best Jewish golfer in the world, with six PGA Tour victories to his name. Max has a Jewish mother, attended Hebrew School, and had a Bar Mitzvah. In a 2023 Masters survey about the Champions Dinner menu, Max famously said, “I’m half‑Jewish, so maybe I’d throw in my mom’s matzo ball soup.” The course played tough all week, with temperatures soaring into the 90s on one of the days. Max finished at 4 under, tying for 38th place alongside Greyserman and nine others. David Lipsky David Lipsky, 37, grew up in Southern California and has a unique background—his father is Jewish and his mother is Korean. David told me his parents introduced him to golf when he was ten years old. He finished the tournament at 4 over, placing 71st. Overall, this was a great tournament offering fun times for people of all ages. Neil Keller is a Jewish historian. Visit www.NeilKeller.com to learn who is Jewish. Neil Keller and Eric Trump Daniel Berger with his caddie Neil Keller with Max Greyserman Max’s belt with the Israeli flag Max Homa David Lipsky Previous Next

Stage 954: One Of The Hottest Concert Venues In Broward County For Live Music Thu Dec 01 2022 17:09:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Trump’s Palantir-Powered Surveillance Is Turning America Into A Digital Prison By John & Nisha Whitehead Jun 11, 2025 Call It What It Is: A Panopticon Presidency. President Trump’s plan to fuse government power with private surveillance tech to build a centralized, national citizen database is the final step in transforming America from a constitutional republic into a digital dictatorship armed with algorithms and powered by unaccountable, all-seeing artificial intelligence. This isn’t about national security. It’s about control. According to news reports, the Trump Administration is quietly collaborating with Palantir Technologies—the data-mining behemoth Co-Founded by billionaire Peter Thiel—to construct a centralized, government-wide surveillance system that would consolidate biometric, behavioral, and geolocation data into a single, weaponized database of Americans’ private information. This isn’t about protecting freedom. It’s about rendering freedom obsolete. What we’re witnessing is the transformation of America into a digital prison—one where the inmates are told we’re free while every move, every word, every thought is monitored, recorded, and used to assign a “threat score” that determines our place in the new hierarchy of obedience. The tools enabling this all-seeing surveillance regime are not new, but under Trump’s direction, they are being fused together in unprecedented ways—with Palantir at the center of this digital dragnet. Palantir, long criticized for its role in powering ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids and predictive policing, is now poised to become the brain of Trump’s surveillance regime. Under the guise of “data integration” and “public safety,” this public-private partnership would deploy AI-enhanced systems to comb through everything from facial recognition feeds and license plate readers to Social Media posts and cellphone metadata—cross-referencing it all to assess a person’s risk to the state. This isn’t speculative. It’s already happening. Palantir’s Gotham platform, used by Law Enforcement and military agencies, has long been the backbone of real-time tracking and predictive analysis. Now, with Trump’s backing, it threatens to become the central nervous system of a digitally enforced authoritarianism. As Palantir itself admits, its mission is to “augment human decision-making.” In practice, that means replacing probable cause with probability scores, courtrooms with code, and due process with data pipelines. In this new regime, your innocence will be irrelevant. The algorithm will decide who you are. To understand the full danger of this moment, we must trace the long arc of government surveillance—from secret intelligence programs like COINTELPRO and the USA PATRIOT Act to today’s AI-driven digital dragnet embodied by data fusion centers. Building on this foundation of historical abuse, the government has evolved its tactics, replacing human informants with algorithms and wiretaps with metadata, ushering in an age where pre-crime prediction is treated as prosecution. Every smartphone ping, GPS coordinate, facial scan, online purchase, and Social Media like becomes part of your “digital exhaust” — a breadcrumb trail of metadata that the government now uses to build behavioral profiles. The FBI calls it “open-source intelligence.” But make no mistake: this is dragnet surveillance, and it is fundamentally unconstitutional. Already, government agencies are mining this data to generate “pattern of life” analyses, flag “radicalized” individuals, and preemptively investigate those who merely share anti-government views. This is not Law Enforcement. This is thought-policing by machine, the logical outcome of a system that criminalizes dissent and deputizes algorithms to do the targeting. Nor is this entirely new. For decades, the Federal Government has reportedly maintained a highly classified database known as Main Core, designed to collect and store information on Americans deemed potential threats to national security. As Tim Shorrock reported for Salon, “One former intelligence official described Main Core as ‘an emergency internal security database system’ designed for use by the military in the event of a national catastrophe, a suspension of the Constitution or the imposition of martial law.” Trump’s embrace of Palantir, and its unparalleled ability to fuse surveillance feeds, Social Media metadata, public records, and AI-driven predictions, marks a dangerous evolution: a modern-day resurrection of Main Core, digitized, centralized, and fully automated. What was once covert contingency planning is now becoming active policy. What has emerged is a surveillance model more vast than anything dreamed up by past regimes—a digital panopticon in which every citizen is watched constantly, and every move is logged in a government database—not by humans, but by machines without conscience, without compassion, and without constitutional limits. This is not science fiction. This is America—now. As this technological tyranny expands, the foundational safeguards of the Constitution—those supposed bulwarks against arbitrary power—are quietly being nullified and its protections rendered meaningless. What does the Fourth Amendment mean in a world where your entire life can be searched, sorted, and scored without a warrant? What does the First Amendment mean when expressing dissent gets you flagged as an extremist? What does the presumption of innocence mean when algorithms determine guilt? The Constitution was written for humans—not for machine rule. It cannot compete with predictive analytics trained to bypass rights, sidestep accountability, and automate tyranny. And that is the endgame: the automation of authoritarianism. An unblinking, AI-powered surveillance regime that renders due process obsolete and dissent fatal. Still, it is not too late to resist—but doing so requires awareness, courage, and a willingness to confront the machinery of our own captivity. Make no mistake: the government is not your friend in this. Neither are the corporations building this digital prison. They thrive on your data, your fear, and your silence. To resist, we must first understand the weaponized AI tools being used against us. We must demand transparency, enforce limits on data collection, ban predictive profiling, and dismantle the fusion centers feeding this machine. We must treat AI surveillance with the same suspicion we once reserved for secret police. Because that is what AI-powered governance has become—secret police—only smarter, faster, and less accountable. We don’t have much time. Trump’s alliance with Palantir is a warning sign—not just of where we are, but of where we’re headed. A place where freedom is conditional, rights are revocable, and justice is decided by code. The question is no longer whether we’re being watched—that is now a given—but whether we will meekly accept it. Will we dismantle this electronic concentration camp, or will we continue building the Infrastructure of our own enslavement? As I point out in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, if we trade liberty for convenience and privacy for security, we will find ourselves locked in a prison we helped build, and the bars won’t be made of steel. They will be made of data. Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law, human rights and popular culture. John Whitehead's commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org. Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org Previous Next

Miami Art Week 2022: Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) Announces Fall Programming November 24, 2022 Share The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) is proud to announce its Fall 2022 and Miami Art Week programming. The exhibitions, which open throughout the Fall, will also be celebrated during Miami Art Week with a public opening December 1st, 2022, as well as additional programming. “We are pleased to showcase these impactful and timely exhibitions during Miami Art Week, when the eyes of the global art world are focused on our community,” said Chana Sheldon, Executive Director of MOCA. “Each of these artists aligns with the museum’s mission to offer fresh perspectives, which challenge established narratives and connect diverse audiences to underexplored artists and ideas.” Debuting this month, Didier William: Nou Kite Tout Sa Dèyè through April 16th, 2023 is the largest retrospective of Didier William’s career. Translated as “We’ve Left That All Behind,” the show presents an in-depth look at the Haitian-born, North Miami-raised artist’s career and memory among the very neighborhood where he once grew up. Curated by Erica Moiah James, Ph.D, the exhibition will feature over forty works spanning multiple mediums and including some of his newest paintings. Complementing the painted work and speaking to the close relationship of painting and printmaking in William’s practice, are new drawings and artist books. The show also includes William’s first monumental sculpture: a 12-foot tall wooden body emblematic of a religious column present in Haitian worship rituals. In a blend of personal reflections, biographical anecdotes and art historical moments, some of the works in the show recontextualize historical iconographies and ideas, stripping them of their “known” truths and transforming each into something entirely new. By doing so, William playfully and unapologetically reclaims autonomy over a fragmented record of history, engaging his personal connection to the complexity of immigrant narratives and queer identity to create opportunity for investigation and redemption. “I want the audience to be involved in that complexity that sometimes will resolve and sometimes won't resolve,” said William. “For which sometimes there might be a translation and other times there might not be a translation. Those moments of failed translation are just as important for me and just as powerful.” In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum will partner with Ten-Time Emmy Award-Winning Producer and Director, Marlon Johnson to produce a documentary highlighting the artist and will partner with a vast network of scholars to present a series of public programs. The museum will also publish an accompanying exhibition catalogue. Opening this month is Kanaval, a retrospective by photographer, filmmaker, Curator and writer Leah Gordon that documents twenty years of Carnival in Haiti. Curated by MOCA Curator Adeze Wilford, the exhibition consists of a series of black-and-white photographs taken on a mechanical medium format camera. The images are contextualized by a series of oral histories relayed by various troupe leaders, who also oversee the design of the costume and generate the narratives surrounding Carnival. Their stories reflect the wealth of invention, fable and self-generated mythology prevalent in much of Haitian culture. The photographs will be accompanied by a new feature-length documentary on the carnival providing a kinetic counterpoint to the portraits. “I’m excited to bring Kanaval to MOCA,” said Adeze Wilford, MOCA Curator. “For decades Leah has documented and helped to platform a people’s history of Haiti through her photographs. This exhibition brings that practice further through her new film that provides an incredible perspective to an intergenerational conversation about tradition that is ever evolving.” Also on view will be VantaBlack’s To What Lengths, which will be open to the public on MOCA Plaza through January 20th, 2023. Selected in MOCA’s 2022 Open Call to artists for its “Art on the Plaza” series, To What Lengths will showcase a key component of VantaBlack’s artistic practice by reflecting on legacy building and preservation as foundational to Black culture and other diasporic peoples. The South Florida-based artist will explore how ideas about legacy are woven into everyday actions by activating five palm trees on the MOCA Plaza with large-scale braids, adorned with beads, metal, and artificial sunflowers and gardenias. The braids of each tree will follow stylings representative of the women in VantaBlack’s family. “Hair grooming through different braiding techniques has been passed down through the matriarchs of my family,” said VantaBlack. “It is a vehicle for sharing oral history, bond building between generations and a form of caregiving, amongst many other traditions. The positioning of one body between another creates a space of vulnerability. Valuable memories are created and exchanged through this process which also helps develop a lifelong skill.” Miami Art Week Programming and Schedule MOCA will celebrate the exhibitions with a Miami Art Week reception on Thursday, December 1st, 2022 to include a VIP reception (invitation only) from 6–8 p.m., and open to the public from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. The museum will also hold an Artist and Curator-led Exhibition Tour on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. The museum will also offer extended hours throughout the week. In MOCA’s continued efforts to include diverse voices and perspectives, the exhibitions will be accompanied by a robust series of educational and public programming. The museum’s extended hours for Miami Art Week: • Sunday, November 27th, 2022 – Tuesday, November 29th, 2022: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Wednesday, November 30th, 2022.: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. • Thursday, December 1st, 2022: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Open Hours), 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (VIP Reception by invitation), 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Public Reception) • Friday December 2nd, 2022 - Sunday, December 4th, 2022: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Saturday, December 3rd, 2022: 11:00 a.m. (Artist and Curator-Led Exhibition Tour) General admission is $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, students and visitors with disabilities and free for MOCA Members, City of North Miami residents and children under 12. About the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami MOCA North Miami presents contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs and collections. Inspired by its surrounding communities, MOCA connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas and voices and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts. MOCA developed from the Center of Contemporary Art which was inaugurated in 1981. The establishment of the permanent collection coincided with the institution’s move into their current building designed by Charles Gwathmey of GSNY in 1996. For more information visit: https://mocanomi.org/ < Previous News Next News >

Uvalde Texas: Do Not Let This Tragedy Spread Fear, Let It Awaken Your Purity of Purpose By Tracy Renee Lee June 30, 2022 Share Although I have long been involved in politics, it is not something I seek or enjoy. Yet, try as I might, it calls me back into its web of disappointment and deceit as politicians threaten the integrity of our beloved constitution and the rights guaranteed therein. I am not a political writer and I like it that way; I want to keep it that way. But, recent events pull me beyond my desire to leave it alone into an instinctual reaction to speak out. I would rather not write on this subject; however, my heart wants to help those who have suffered, and my soul won’t rest until I do. I live in the Great State of Texas and I am grateful to reside here. Like most people residing in Texas, I tend to be directionally conservative. I believe in self-reliance, individual responsibility, and accountability, and that my safety along with that of my children and grandchildren, first and foremost, is my responsibility. I live among like-minded people because that is where I feel the safest. Additionally, although my husband and I experience the deficits of age, we plan and train to rely upon ourselves should anything dangerous or threatening come our way. Sadly, the school shooting in Uvalde, TX has clearly broken our hearts. I want to ignore it, but as a grief counselor, American citizen, and grandmother, I know that avoidance is not the answer. I am not related to anyone involved in this tragic event, but I have lost loved ones to murder, and I have suffered, down through the depths of my soul, the loss of a grandchild. The losses suffered in Uvalde, TX are so tragic, that once again, I find myself activated in an issue that should never have happened. This violent and senseless loss of life is impossible to reconcile for the survivors. For those of us outside of the immediate community of mourners, reconciliation of this nature is likewise fleeting. The irrepressible nature of those seeking political gain from such an event is repulsive and should be suppressed. The interference of incompetent government overreach contributing to this tragedy, must, however, be addressed. Had this interference not existed, 19 children, two teachers, and one husband might very well remain as living souls. Upon the birth of my first child, I realized that not one living soul would be willing to take a speeding bullet or walk through lava for my children, without personal regard or hesitation, save it be their parents. From that moment on, I became my husband’s partner in their defense. To protect my children from physical harm, emotional manipulation, psychological intimidation, spiritual death, and intellectual propaganda, I removed them from public school. In my opinion, their education and safety were more important than political correctness and propaganda. Some holding public office, point their fingers away from their failures by beating drums that do not exist. They would have us believe that taking our defense away from us would make us safer. I’ve seen their defense strategies, they never have, and never will work. Had one teacher pulled a sidearm and shot the shooter dead, there might remain 22 living souls who now lie in caskets beneath the earth’s protection. Had the parents been allowed to protect their children, rather than held at bay through inhumane government interference and intimidation, their children might remain with them today. If we, like the generations before us, would take it upon ourselves to protect our own, we would realize that it is our right and our nature to do so. I taught my girls that their safety was their own responsibility. Now I ask you to realize the same. Do not let this tragedy spread fear. Rather, let it awaken your purity of purpose to be personally accountable for yourself and your family. Stop insanity and evil before it turns your life into a tragedy. Complacency is not noble; honor, bravery, loyalty, truth, integrity, and conviction are. Grief is the most painful of human emotions. Let us comfort those who mourn the loss of their beloved children, and let us recognize senseless political confines masquerading as protective policies. Exercise your power to protect your families from inhumane predatory theories that reduce your right to protect yourself and your family from criminals, predators, and oppressive government. Repress political focus that promotes evil over people. “The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people.” (Abe Lincoln) Do not let the cowardly sin of silence usher in the cancer of defeat. Stand against evil or battle never-ending grief. The loss of a child is the most difficult grief to survive. When senseless brutality is involved, recovery becomes complicated and can remain a lifelong battle for parents. Lifelong grief will wreak havoc on one’s mental, psychological, and physical health. It may also lead to early death for the survivor. Politics should never enter into the experience of death, especially when it involves a child. Parents should be allowed as much comfort as humanly possible upon the loss of their children. Unfortunately, with this tragedy, politicians with their politics were waiting in the wings and before the facts were even known, they, and the media, jumped in to stake a claim and further their agenda. My heart goes out to all of the families of Uvalde, TX. Terrorism has invaded their borders and every parent who has a child, as well as every child attending that school is frightened and traumatized. Life will never be the same for any of them and fear will accompany their steps as they reenter school and travel through life. I don’t know what the school will do, they must provide safety and security, but how do you overcome this tragedy? My heart bleeds for the parents who have lost their children, the families of the lost teachers, and for the husband who died from the stress and heartache inflicted upon him at the loss of his beloved wife. I ache internally for the children who survived this terror. How will it affect their lives and their freedom? And parents who must drop their children off at school there must be filled with rage and fear beyond comprehension. I understand that my political views may not be your political views, nor the views of the surviving families. I also understand that confusion and emotions run high when terror claims the lives of innocence. I do not wish to offend anyone, however, we must put a stop to the erosion of safety and liberty within our society. And, we must, as human beings, offer support, understanding, and love to those who have suffered this horrific tragedy. My heart goes out to you, the survivors of Uvalde, TX, and I pray that you will be able to one day find a path that allows the pain of this unfair and unfathomable tragedy to release your heart from the suffocation it has inflicted. As a survivor of tragic loss, I know that some of you have probably wished death upon yourselves. I hope that this shall not be your fate. I hope that you know there remain others who love and need you, and who want to be able to reach out to help you through this loss. Some may not know what to say and therefore avoid speaking in an effort to spare you additional pain. Feel and accept their love and prayers for your healing, and know too, that the nation yearns for your recovery. My name is Tracy Renee Lee. I am a Certified Grief Counselor (GC-C), Funeral Director (FDIC), published author, syndicated columnist, Podcaster, and founder of the “Mikey Joe Children’s Memorial” and Heaven Sent, Corp. I write books, weekly bereavement articles, Podcasts, and Grief BRIEFs related to understanding and coping with grief. I am the American Funeral Director of the Year Runner-Up and recipient of the BBB’s Integrity Award. It is my life's work to comfort the bereaved and help them live on. For additional encouragement, please visit my podcast “Deadline” at https://open.spotify.com/show/7MHPy4ctu9OLvdp2JzQsAA or at https://anchor.fm/tracy874 and follow me on Instagram at "Deadline_TracyLee". < Previous News Next News >

Look What Fell Out De Mango Tree: A Special Event Presented By R. Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s Consul General Wed Feb 21 2024 17:19:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)