The Coal Speaker

Sunday, January 29, 2017

This was my house when I was young in Centralia PA.. the one...

This was my house when I was young in Centralia PA.. the one next to the church to the right. That is the mine fire in the top of the photo..

The image being presented simply for the purpose of nostalgia on a Sunday morning.

THE BEAST soars high again: SPLIT reigns for second weekend

THE BEAST soars again..

For the second week in a row, SPLIT reigned high at the box office, delivering another decisive victory for M Night Shyamalan.

From BOX OFFICE MOJO:

SUNDAY AM UPDATE: Looking to hold on to the number one spot with ease, Universal’s Split brought in an estimated $7.9 million on Friday and is looking at an impressive $25+ million second weekend.

Landing in second on Friday is Universal’s A Dog’s Purpose with an estimated $5.3 million as it looks as if it will finish around $18.5 million for the three-day weekend.

Screen Gems’s release of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is projected to take in $13.7 - $14 million for the weekend after taking in an estimated $5.1 million on Friday.

The stories and video about dogs from DOG’S PURPOSE being treated questionably probably didn’t help the film–and with the cloudy month we had we are sad enough without watching a movie about dogs dying continuously..

That said, I also loved the movie SPLIT.. The ending wasn’t the twist I completely have come to love with M Night, but it worked for the film and the atmosphere presented about a city of Philadelphia under siege from 24 personalities without knowing it..

James McAvoy was impressive, completely impressive. Anna Taylor Joy was as well–as usual M Night cast the film with the perfect people to perform the roles necessary..

This is also a much needed victory for M Night Shyalaman, so many films now he has been hit was criticism..

I have loved each movie he made–even the ones others didn’t..

So happy to see SPLIT performing well..

Weekend final numbers for this week:

Split (3,199 theaters) - $18.8 M
A Dog’s Purpose (3,058 theaters) - $18.0 M
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (3,104 theaters) - $12.2 M
Hidden Figures (3,351 theaters) - $11.6 M
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (3,651 theaters) - $11.0 M
La La Land (3,136 theaters) - $10.0 M
Sing (2,690 theaters) - $5.4 M
Gold (2,166 theaters) - $4.1 M
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2,049 theaters) - $4.0 M
Monster Trucks (2,496 theaters) - $3.5 M

THE BEAST soars again..For the second week in a row, SPLIT...

THE BEAST soars again..

For the second week in a row, SPLIT reigned high at the box office, delivering another decisive victory for M Night Shyamalan.

From BOX OFFICE MOJO:

SUNDAY AM UPDATE: Looking to hold on to the number one spot with ease, Universal’s Split brought in an estimated $7.9 million on Friday and is looking at an impressive $25+ million second weekend.
Landing in second on Friday is Universal’s A Dog’s Purpose with an estimated $5.3 million as it looks as if it will finish around $18.5 million for the three-day weekend.
Screen Gems’s release of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is projected to take in $13.7 - $14 million for the weekend after taking in an estimated $5.1 million on Friday.

James McAvoy was impressive, completely impressive. Anna Taylor Joy was as well–as usual M Night cast the film with the perfect people to perform the roles necessary..

This is also a much needed victory for M Night Shyalaman, so many films now he has been hit was criticism..

I have loved each movie he made–even the ones others didn’t..

So happy to see SPLIT performing well..

Weekend final numbers for this week:

Split (3,199 theaters) - $18.8 M
A Dog’s Purpose (3,058 theaters) - $18.0 M
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (3,104 theaters) - $12.2 M
Hidden Figures (3,351 theaters) - $11.6 M
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (3,651 theaters) - $11.0 M
La La Land (3,136 theaters) - $10.0 M
Sing (2,690 theaters) - $5.4 M
Gold (2,166 theaters) - $4.1 M
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2,049 theaters) - $4.0 M
Monster Trucks (2,496 theaters) - $3.5 M

Confusion over the Trump executive disorder

Reporting from CNN

When President Donald Trump declared at the Pentagon Friday he was enacting strict new measures to prevent domestic terror attacks, there were few within his government who knew exactly what he meant.Administration officials weren't immediately sure which countries' citizens would be barred from entering the United States. The Department of Homeland Security was left making a legal analysis on the order after Trump signed it. A Border Patrol agent, confronted with arriving refugees, referred questions only to the President himself, according to court filings.Saturday night, a federal judge granted an emergency stay for citizens of the affected countries who had already arrived in the US and those who are in transit and hold valid visas, ruling they can legally enter the US.

And more..

It wasn't until Friday -- the day Trump signed the order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and suspending all refugee admission for 120 days -- that career homeland security staff were allowed to see the final details of the order, a person familiar with the matter said.The result was widespread confusion across the country on Saturday as airports struggled to adjust to the new directives. In New York, two Iraqi nationals sued the federal government after they were detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and 10 others were detained as well.

Border blitz! The Trump ban! The overturning judge! All breaking tonight

SATURDAY NIGHTS ARE RIGHT FOR FIGHTING..
THE DRUDGE REPORT SUMMARIZES HEADLINES OF TODAY THE BEST WITH A SERIES OF HEADLINES AND LINKS ..

Protesters Gather At JFK... Taxi drivers strike... Ban includes green card holders... Lawyers move in... Trump expands power of immigration officers... Agents Cheer... Iranian Filmmaker Barred From Oscars... Tehran vows retaliation... GOOGLE Recalls Overseas Staff... Silicon Sultans Panic... Hollywood Meltdown... Journalists Freak...

BORDER BLITZ SPARKS CHAOS REFUGEES TURNED AWAY JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP

Saturday, January 28, 2017

The monocle Mandela Effect

It happened again..

The Mandela Effect, for all its naysayers, seemingly strikes when you least expect it.. at the most comfortable of occasions, you find yourself uneasy.. Uncomfortable.. Unsure of what you may have just realized is true despite what you always knew to be reality.

Last night while playing Monopoly, I took a hard look at the Monopoly Man. I have seen him my entire life. . . from old board games as a child to even the NINTENDO version in the late 1980s, I have always loved the game. The newest version is cool but creepy–a credit card and banking fees, all electronic. So it was that when I figured, alright.. they must have modernized the Monopoly Man to have him loose the monocle.

Thus began another night of Mandela Effect thinking.

See… I went back, and I could not find any image of the Monopoly Man having a monocle. Even odder was finding people in Halloween costumes, dressed as the Monopoly Man with a monocle..

I also founds lots of pop culture references to the monocle.. people writing articles that that to really, really be the Monopoly Man you need a monocle to adorn your face. Even a scene in ACE VENTURA that would muddy the waters..

And nothing..

No evidence that a monocle ever existed..

Nothing to showcase proof that such a facial feature was on the Monopoly Man..

So yet again, another piece of information that weaves together a confusing fabric of the Mandela Effect.

I have long written about this topic on this website.. I have not really opined much about the validity of the effect, whether it’s true that reality has shifted or if we just all remember everything the wrong way.. Except a few times, name the following:

The turkey leg King Henry VIII mystery..

The movie KAZAM that never existed..

And OXICLEAN.. or however you spell it..

Add to that.. the Monopoly Man. And the fact that I have distinct and really vivid memories of the famous figuring having a monocle.

Unless I was just getting him confused with the PLANTERS NUT all of this time?

If it was on the Monopoly Man, no dice.

It’s gone now.

At least gone in this timeline..

Friday, January 27, 2017

John Hurt dead

The Hollywood Reporter:

The British actor of stage and screen also received an Academy Award nom for 'Midnight Express' and was memorable in 'Alien,' three Harry Potter films and 'Doctor Who.'
John Hurt, the esteemed British actor known for his burry voice and weathered visage — one that was kept hidden for his most acclaimed role, that of the deformed John Merrick in David Lynch’s The Elephant Man — has died, according to reports from several British newspapers. He was 77.

The two-time Oscar nominee's six-decade career also included turns on the BBC’s Doctor Who and in A Man for All Seasons (1966), Midnight Express (1978) and three Harry Potter films.

He announced in June 2015 that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Rump.

Phil the Groundhog better get ready

A BIG WEATHER PATTERN CHANGE COMING.. THE HOG WON’T KNOW WHAT HITS HIM..

Seriously.. we are going from a mild winter to a suddenly cold and snowy one here in the East .. This weather model you’re looking at for example shows what MAY be a February 6ish storm along the coast, Nor’Easter potential… Blizzard condition potential.

The big thing will be a bout of not one but SEVERAL storms that can do the same run along land and water ..

The battle line will now be about where the rain and snow falls..

Developing weather..

AN IMAGE TO START YOUR FRIDAY

A BIG WEATHER PATTERN CHANGE COMING.. THE HOG WON’T KNOW WHAT...

A BIG WEATHER PATTERN CHANGE COMING.. THE HOG WON’T KNOW WHAT HITS HIM..

The big thing will be a bout of not one but SEVERAL storms that can do the same run along land and water ..

The battle line will now be about where the rain and snow falls..

Developing weather..

PUT ON YOUR FINEST REDS! HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Facts concerning the year of the Rooster

- Lunar New Year, which also encompasses Chinese New Year or “Spring Festival,” begins on Jan. 27 and ends Feb. 2. While Chinese New Year is part of Lunar New Year, Lunar New Year is not necessarily Chinese New Year — it is more of a blanket term that is celebrated by more than one culture.

- Chinese New Year is based on the ancient Chinese calendar that existed when the Shang Dynasty was in power during the 14th Century B.C. “The Chinese calendar was a complex timepiece,” said Christopher Tin of Better Chinatown USA. “Its parameters were set according to the lunar phases as well as the solar solstices and equinoxes.”

- The Chinese calendar also follows the Chinese zodiac, meaning each year is represented by one of 12 signs of the Zodiac. This is the year of the rooster.

- Home and family are the core principles of the Chinese New Year . New Year in China is the largest period of human migration on earth, according to Tin. “Everyone goes back home to visit their families, and with so many migrant workers, this equates to hundreds of millions of people!” he said.

- One common tradition includes gifting red envelopes, or “lai see,” which are filled with “lucky money.” These envelopes are most commonly given to children by their parents. The amount of money doesn’t matter as it is only symbolic, however, it is usually an even number.

- The numbers eight and 88 are considered especially lucky because “eight” sounds like a word that means “prosperity.”

- Families offer ritual sacrifices of food and paper icons to appease both Gods and ancestors. Paying respects to your ancestors is also a common practice during the new year.

- Dumplings are often created to resemble gold and silver ingots to represent riches and foods like hard-boiled eggs, fish and chicken are all associated with prosperity. Spring rolls tend to represent wealth and sweet rice balls represent family togetherness.

- The color red is often used during the Chinese New Year — so much so it is even featured in food. Red dates, dyed pumpkin seeds and pomegranates are often found on the table during Chinese New Year.

2017 is a Fire Rooster Year. According to Chinese astrology, each year is associated with one of five elements as well as an animal, including gold (metal), wood, water, fire or Earth. The element, combined with the zodiac animal, set the astrology for the year. This year is a fire year, and so those born in 2017 are Fire Roosters. The last Fire Rooster Year was 1957.

Each year, the Chinese calendar assigns an animal from a rotating zodiac of 12 animals. The 12 animals cycle through rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. 2016 was the Year of the Monkey. Apart from 2017, the Year of the Rooster includes the years 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 and 2029.

Famous Roosters include Beyoncé, Bob Marley, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Jennifer Aniston. Famous Fire Roosters include Stephen Fry, Steve Buscemi and Hans Zimmer.

Roosters are characterized as observant and hardworking. Active and talkative, Roosters tend to enjoy social events and being in the center of attention, according to Chinese astrology. They also typically enjoy sports, according to traits set by the astrology.

2017 is set to be unlucky for Roosters, according to Chinese astrology, because being in the year of one’s birth sign does not bode well. Chinese astrology dictates that Roosters will have to monitor their money and health extra carefully. However, when it comes to love, Roosters truly in love are advised to get married. Those in dead-end relationships should consider breaking up, according to the astrology.

PUT ON YOUR FINEST REDS! HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Facts concerning the year of the Rooster

- Lunar New Year, which also encompasses Chinese New Year or “Spring Festival,” begins on Jan. 27 and ends Feb. 2. While Chinese New Year is part of Lunar New Year, Lunar New Year is not necessarily Chinese New Year — it is more of a blanket term that is celebrated by more than one culture.
- Chinese New Year is based on the ancient Chinese calendar that existed when the Shang Dynasty was in power during the 14th Century B.C. “The Chinese calendar was a complex timepiece,” said Christopher Tin of Better Chinatown USA. “Its parameters were set according to the lunar phases as well as the solar solstices and equinoxes.”
- The Chinese calendar also follows the Chinese zodiac, meaning each year is represented by one of 12 signs of the Zodiac. This is the year of the rooster.
- Home and family are the core principles of the Chinese New Year . New Year in China is the largest period of human migration on earth, according to Tin. “Everyone goes back home to visit their families, and with so many migrant workers, this equates to hundreds of millions of people!” he said.
- One common tradition includes gifting red envelopes, or “lai see,” which are filled with “lucky money.” These envelopes are most commonly given to children by their parents. The amount of money doesn’t matter as it is only symbolic, however, it is usually an even number.
- The numbers eight and 88 are considered especially lucky because “eight” sounds like a word that means “prosperity.”
- Families offer ritual sacrifices of food and paper icons to appease both Gods and ancestors. Paying respects to your ancestors is also a common practice during the new year.
- Dumplings are often created to resemble gold and silver ingots to represent riches and foods like hard-boiled eggs, fish and chicken are all associated with prosperity. Spring rolls tend to represent wealth and sweet rice balls represent family togetherness.
- The color red is often used during the Chinese New Year — so much so it is even featured in food. Red dates, dyed pumpkin seeds and pomegranates are often found on the table during Chinese New Year.

Famous Roosters include Beyoncé, Bob Marley, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Jennifer Aniston. Famous Fire Roosters include Stephen Fry, Steve Buscemi and Hans Zimmer.

npr: thebeakerblog: Gorgeous photos from NOAA’s newest weather...

npr:

thebeakerblog:

Gorgeous photos from NOAA’s newest weather satellite, GOES-16.

In the first picture, we see a composite color full-disk image of the Western Hemisphere captured on Jan. 15, 2017. According to NASA, the new weather satellite can image the Earth every 15 minutes, which is five times faster than current devices used by meteorologists and will allow more detailed observations of the atmosphere and weather systems.

“The image is much more than a pretty picture, it is the future of weather observations and forecasting,” said Louis W. Uccellini, director, NOAA’s National Weather Service, Silver Spring, in a news release. “The rapid-refresh of these images will allow us to monitor and predict the evolution of these systems more accurately.”

And yes, that is a real picture of the moon in the second photo. Stunning!

-Patrick

(Image Credit: NOAA, NOAA/NASA)

Start your day with spectacular photos from NASA! 🌔 -Emily

Where were you on January 15 2017 when this picture was taken? ….feel small yet?

NASA cuts another feed..

UFO!

Here is the story..

Yet again NASA is making headlines (at least in British fishwrappers) for cutting a feed after a UFO seemingly was spotted..

The occurrence was seen by one of the many observers, this time John Craddick, who seemingly stare are live NASA footage constantly, trying to find the next UFO ..

He told British press,

He told the Mirror: “I’ve been watching it [the live feed] for years but never seen any UFOs on it before.
"I was showing a friend how it worked at around 11.30pm when the feed cut out, and 35 seconds after it came back on, this object appeared.
"At first it was really small and then it grew bigger, lasting for about 25 seconds,” he said.
Mr Craddick claims that it must be alien because “nothing human can fly that high”

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Another day in the life of the Trump presidency

If you check your favorite news service of choice as of late, you may be noticing a trend.. All Trump, all the time..
And the headlines? So often unkind..

This is a smattering of issues from today.. A screenshot first to capture a moment time:

From the NEW YORK TIMES concerning the sudden (but expected) tension with the land down under the United States:

Mr. Trump’s push to fulfill his campaign pledge and build a border wall brought to a head months of simmering tensions, culminating in a remarkable back-and-forth between the two leaders.By afternoon, Mr. Trump’s spokesman said the president would pay for the border wall by imposing a 20 percent tax on imports to the United States, which he said would raise billions of dollars.The sparring began Thursday morning when the president of Mexico announced on Twitter that he was canceling his meeting with Mr. Trump next week, rejecting the visit after the new American leader ordered the border wall between the two nations.Having called for dialogue in the face of Mr. Trump’s vows to build a wall during the American presidential campaign, President Enrique Peña Nieto ultimately bowed to public pressure in Mexico to respond more forcefully to his northern neighbor.

Concerning that threat of a 20% tax..

President Trump will call for a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports in the hopes of raising billions of dollars to help construct a controversial wall along the southern border of the United States — a move likely to ratchet up the tension between the two nations.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Thursday that the plan had been discussed with congressional Republican leaders and is part of a broader tax reform effort. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told NBC News the 20 percent tax on Mexican imports is one of a "buffet of options", sentiments Spicer also echoed.

And on the DoomsDay Clock:

Moving the Clock 30 seconds, rather than a full minute or more, was a first as well, meant to reflect the fact that while Trump's words on the campaign trail raised the specter of a renewed arms race—Trump tweeted in December that the U.S. must "greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its sense regarding nukes"—it was too early to know exactly what he would do as President. "It is now only six or seven days of the Administration, and actions speak louder than words," said Krauss. "We want to send a message that things are not going in the right direction."

......and it hasn't even been a full week yet.
Welcome to the new America..?

The Northern Schuylkill County prison industry lives to die another day

Score one for corrections in the northern part of the coal region.. today Governor Wolf announced that SCI Pittsburgh would be shuddered in a cost savings move. Surviving was SCI Frackville, and the rest of the prisons in the Northeast, that some thought would have occurred..

Local legislators utilized the event to celebrate with BOILO..

This news came with an obvious sigh of relief from the personnel within the county who rely on the prison 'industry' for jobs.. not only those who work within Corrections but also any remaining local restaurants or hotels that benefit from facility..

For obvious reasons.. some of the biggest industries in Schuylkill County revolve around area prisons..

Vegan wars!

The Unnatural Vegan vs the Vegan Cheetah!
Ramon noodles!
Cheese!?
Who’s more vegan?!
Who’s less?
Ethics and animals, furs and fights..
Vegans Youtubers battle with might…

I think I’ll stick to my one ingredient lifestyle ..

Vegan wars!

The Unnatural Vegan vs the Vegan Cheetah! Ramon noodles! Cheese!? Who’s more vegan?!
Who’s less? Ethics and animals, furs and fights..
Vegans Youtubers battle with might…
I think I’ll stick to my one ingredient lifestyle ..

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

TV icon Mary Tyler Moore died on Wednesday after being...

TV icon Mary Tyler Moore died on Wednesday after being hospitalized in Connecticut, her rep confirmed . She was 80.

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Sunday, January 29, 2017

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Friday, January 27, 2017

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Wednesday, January 25, 2017