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Sunday, July 7, 2024

Sandy Johnson

Acting Appreciation

Sandy Johnson is best known for her brief yet pivotal role as Judith Myers in the 1978 film Halloween. She gained widespread recognition for playing the character who is brutally murdered by her crazed younger brother, Michael Myers. Cue iconic theme song.

Born on July 7, 1954, in San Antonio, Texas, Sandy moved to California in her teens and attended Santa Monica Community College. To help her father pay for cancer treatment, she reached out to Playboy. Photographed by Mario Casilli, the 5'6" beauty was featured as Playmate of the Month in the June 1974 issue.

After appearing in a few films, Sandy took a long break from acting to focus on other pursuits. She earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. in Texas and went into special education. After more than 20 years away from the industry, Sandy returned to acting and now participates in horror conventions.











Sources:

Wikipedia

https://unicornsandyj.com/index.html#/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0426184/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_smhttps://babesrater.com/infinite-scroll/52928/sandy-johnson

https://babesrater.com/person/52928/sandy-johnson

https://www.thenude.com/Sandy_Johnson_48314.htm

https://hotnessrater.com/infinite-scroll/52928/sandy-johnson

https://www.ogglebooble.com/album.html?folder=1704

https://www.boobpedia.com/boobs/Sandy_Johnson

https://www.babepedia.com/babe/Sandy_Johnson

Thursday, July 4, 2024

From Presidents to Kings: The Erosion of Checks and Balances in Modern America

Pardon the Interruption

Everything I learned in college about the presidency and the Supreme Court has been turned upside down. 

Last week, the Supreme Court overturned a longstanding precedent that required courts to defer to reasonable agency decisions when federal law is silent or unclear. This new decision means that courts no longer have to accept federal agencies' expertise when reviewing challenged regulations.

Then, on July 1st, the Supreme Court decided that presidents have absolute immunity for "official acts." This is far from what we were taught in government class. We learned that the U.S. Constitution establishes three separate but equal branches of government, each accountable to the others, creating a system of checks and balances to maintain a steady balance of power.

The textbooks emphasized that presidents don't get everything they want and that the presidency is an elected position with authority equal to and independent of the national legislature. For 248 years, it has been understood that the president is not a king, queen, pharaoh, or emperor. Granted, some presidents have found ways to overcome limitations, sometimes using covert methods that led to trouble, such as Richard Nixon spying on his "enemies" and Reagan authorizing arms sales to Iran. Nixon resigned after facing impeachment, and Reagan took full responsibility for the affair on national television. Now, the Supreme Court has decided that those instances were within the scope of presidential "official acts."

In reality, these cases highlight why Republicans have sought to fill the Supreme Court bench with conservatives. According to this logic, Nixon shouldn't have been impeached, Reagan had every reason to sell arms to Iran, but Bill Clinton should have been impeached because he had sex with an intern. 

Now, the head of the Republican Party is inching closer to being re-elected as president. He has repeatedly indicated his plans to hold those accountable by sending "never-Trumpers" to jail and mentioned that he plans to be a dictator on the first day of his presidency. We can't ignore these comments or dismiss them as banter. Donald Trump is serious about what he says and what he plans to do on day one if he returns to office.

Meanwhile, we have an 81-year-old president who seems to be becoming less cognitive by the day. President Biden's poor performance in the recent debate has many in the Democratic Party worried that this election is lost. Some are already calling for him to step down. Even U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, an Austin liberal, is asking Biden to let someone else take the helm. 

If Biden decides not to continue his campaign, his delegates will have to select a new candidate at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19th. Will the convention mirror the chaos of 1968, which also took place in Chicago? What will the outcome be? Who would be the candidate? Can a candidate gather enough support before Election Day in November? This is a very scary time for many of us because the outcome will determine the next "king."


Mike Luckovich (July 2, 2024)




Wednesday, July 3, 2024

John Singleton Copley

Art Appreciation

John Singleton Copley, born on July 3, 1738, in Boston, was a seminal figure in the development of American art. Despite having little formal training, Copley became a masterful self-taught painter, renowned for his striking portraits and historical scenes. His ability to capture the essence of his subjects with meticulous detail and vibrant realism set him apart from his contemporaries and established him as a leading artist in colonial America.

One of Copley's most significant works is "Boy with a Squirrel" (1765), a portrait of his half-brother Henry Pelham. This painting showcased Copley's remarkable skill in rendering textures and materials, from the softness of the boy’s skin to the intricate details of the squirrel's fur and the glass of water. The painting was brought to London for an exhibition, where it received praise from artists. Historians would later consider the work pivotal in both Copley's career and the history of American art.

Another important work by Copley is "Watson and the Shark" (1778), which depicts the harrowing rescue of Brook Watson, who lost his leg to a shark attack in Havana harbor. The painting is notable not only for its dynamic composition and emotional intensity but also for its departure from Copley’s typical portraiture. It demonstrated his ability to convey action and narrative on a grand scale, further cementing his reputation as a versatile and innovative artist.

Copley’s "The Death of Major Peirson" (1783) is a powerful historical painting that captures the heroic defense of Jersey during the American Revolutionary War. The composition, with its vivid depiction of battle and poignant portrayal of sacrifice, illustrates Copley’s mastery of both color and form. This painting, like many of his works, reflects his keen interest in historical themes and his ability to convey complex emotions through art.


Boy with a Squirrel (1765)
 
Watson and the Shark (1778)

The Death of Major Peirson (1783)


Sources:

Wikipedia


https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1133.html

https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Singleton-Copley

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Violet Rain

Acting Appreciation

I recall encountering an adult video featuring the stunning and charming Violet Rain, who portrayed herself caught shoplifting. To escape her predicament, she gives the store manager a memorable experience.

Jazmine Nicole Dominguez, better known as Violet Rain, was born on July 2, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona. Raised by her grandmother, Violet developed an interest in modeling from a young age. This sweet, down-to-earth girl moved to Los Angeles to pursue her modeling dreams.

Violet entered the adult entertainment industry at age 18. One of her earliest scenes was for Net Video Girls in August 2018. The 5'7" brunette starred in more than 40 scenes during her one year in the industry.

On March 3, 2019, Violet reportedly visited a club in North Hollywood and was later found at the emergency room of Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital in East Los Angeles the following morning. It is believed she may have overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl. Violet passed away on March 13, 2019.

During an episode of the Holly Randall Unfiltered podcast, photographer and writer Gustavo Turner shared his insights into the struggles of young adult film stars like Violet Rain with drugs. He explained, "Just as middle-class kids experiment in college, these girls come from different backgrounds. They come to Hollywood at a college age, but they are not protected by a university or campus police. So, when they experiment in the real world, they're actually in L.A., in Hollywood. They are doing nothing different than what upper-middle-class girls do at university."





Sources:

https://www.babepedia.com/babe/Violet_Rain

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-jazmines-funeral

https://youtu.be/B1X1Kj1EnQk

https://mikesouth.com