News The Monkey The Monkey Trailer Is Violently Bananas By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on January 16, 2025 Courtesy of NEON Comment 0 Share New Share Courtesy of NEON Osgood Perkins’ isn’t fucking around with The Monkey, his adaptation of Stephen King’s short story of the same name. (Sorry for the profanity in the sentence above, but after watching the recently released trailer for the movie, my bet is you’ll agree with me using it.) The redband trailer released today confirms that the film from the Longlegs director will be not only a gory one, but also a darkly twisted, dare I say humorous movie. It’s gonna be dark, folks. And weird. And I have a feeling a lot of horror fans are going to be here for it. Here’s the official synopsis for the film: Twin brothers Hal and Bill (both played by Theo James) discover their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths starts occurring all around them. The brothers decide to throw the monkey away and move on with their lives, growing apart over the years. But when the mysterious deaths begin again, the brothers must reunite to find a way to destroy the monkey for good before it takes the lives of everyone close to them. In addition to James (who also does some great voice-over work in the trailer), The Monkey stars Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), and Elijah Wood. James Wan is the film’s producer. [ed note: So what I’m hearing is… The Monkey might also be part of the Malignant-verse.] The Monkey premieres in theaters on February 21, 2025. Check out the trailer below. [end-mark] The post <i>The Monkey</i> Trailer Is Violently Bananas appeared first on Reactor.

Texas A&M University is in legal and political trouble. It faces threats of civil rights liability, the loss of federal funding, and the firing of its president, Mark Welsh III, all because its general counsel, Ray Bonilla, gave the university legal advice that he should have known was unsound. Journalist-activist Chris Rufo revealed on X that Texas A&M University is sponsoring employees’ travel to a racially segregated diversity, equity, and inclusion conference on March 20 and 21 in Chicago. The conference lists Texas A&M among its “university partners” and excludes Asian and white people from attending. EXCLUSIVE: Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending. The university falsely claims that this use of taxpayer funds does not violate the state's DEI ban.@TAMU is supporting racial segregation and breaking the law. pic.twitter.com/pFWYnZdweE— Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) January 13, 2025 Internal emails from the university reveal that Dean Michael Withers solicited attendees from among the university’s faculty and Ph.D. students to represent Texas A&M at the conference. Those emails also reveal that Withers sought the advice of Bonilla, and that Bonilla approved the university’s participation in this racially discriminatory program—even though federal and state law forbid it. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 says that “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Texas A&M receives hundreds of millions of federal dollars, and the DEI conference excludes anyone who is white or Asian. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it illegal to discriminate based on race with respect to any “privileges of employment.” According to the internal emails that Rufo obtained, Dean Withers said that the university sends several of its faculty and advanced Ph.D. students to this conference in their official capacities as “representatives” of the school.  Texas has civil rights laws that mirror the federal ones, and it has another law, SB 17, that forbids Texas universities from engaging in DEI activities that, among other things, give racial preferences to any “participant in any function of the institution.” It’s unclear from the emails that Rufo published why Bonilla advised Texas A&M that it could support and sponsor travel to this racially discriminatory DEI conference. But given that the law is clear, two conclusions suggest themselves: Either Bonilla made an enormous mistake of legal judgment or his judgment was clouded by ideology. It’s no secret that many administrators at America’s colleges are opposed to race neutrality. Harvard recently lost at the Supreme Court, where it tried to defend admissions policies that discriminated against Asian and white students. Other universities are resisting that ruling to preserve racial preferences. Still other universities spend hundreds of millions of dollars creating racially segregated dorms, graduation ceremonies, and programs about “white supremacy culture.” Many universities, including Texas A&M, have embraced “anti-racism,” which calls race neutrality “white supremacy” and whose leading proponent argues that “the only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.” Bonilla seems to be one of those administrators. Before he served as the university’s general counsel, he was a staffer for a Democratic senator, and according to the political donation-tracking website Open Secrets, Bonilla and his former law firm, Ray, Wood & Bonilla, donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates, campaign committees, and PACs. Of course, Bonilla is within his rights to donate to partisans. As general counsel to a public university that takes billions of taxpayer dollars, however, he has a legal duty not to let his political opinions cloud his legal judgment. He might not like state and federal civil rights laws that mandate race neutrality and nondiscrimination, but he cannot tell his client that it can violate those laws. Texas A&M is now in serious legal jeopardy. President-elect Donald Trump made opposition to racially discriminatory DEI programs a central part of his platform. So has Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has threatened to sack Welsh over the matter. Bonilla has put a target on his school’s back. The school could be sued, could lose federal funding, and Welsh could lose his job. Bonilla himself may be at risk with the state bar for advising a state university that it could violate state law. But the risk to Texas A&M students is the greatest. The loss of funding would devastate the school, but the law is what it is. The consequences of violating civil rights law are dire because race discrimination is dire. That’s why it’s so important for general counsels to carefully advise their clients to obey the law. Bonilla’s error, whether motivated my partisanship and ideology or simply poor legal judgment, is enormous, and every university general counsel should be careful not to repeat it. The post Texas A&M’s Partisan General Counsel Puts University in Legal Jeopardy Over DEI appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Outgoing President Joe Biden concluded his presidency with a farewell address on Wednesday night, sharply criticizing what he termed the “tech-industrial complex” while urging tighter accountability for social media platforms. Ironically, Biden’s remarks highlighted the decline of free press and the dangers of “misinformation,” even as his administration has often been linked to censorship efforts and suppression of dissenting viewpoints. During his speech, Biden drew parallels to President Dwight Eisenhower’s famous warning about the “military-industrial complex.” He stated, “Six decades later, I’m equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country as well.” His comments painted a picture of concentrated power in the hands of tech oligarchs, whom he accused of enabling an “avalanche of misinformation and disinformation” to flourish unchecked. The president, leaving office with historically low approval ratings, accused social media platforms of abandoning fact-checking efforts and contributing to the erosion of public trust. “The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking,” Biden said. Biden’s condemnation of social media fact-checking policies appeared aimed directly at Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, whose platform recently transitioned away from third-party fact-checking to a “community notes” model reminiscent of the system employed by Elon Musk’s X. Throughout his presidency, Biden frequently championed tighter controls on digital platforms under the guise of protecting democracy and public health. However, critics argue his administration’s push for censorship often targeted dissenting views and stifled legitimate debate. Biden also lamented the decline of legacy media, suggesting that unchecked misinformation on digital platforms undermines democracy. “We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families, and our very democracy from the abuse of power,” he declared. The president’s rhetoric on misinformation is not without controversy. He has faced repeated accusations of spreading false or unverifiable claims himself, such as recent remarks regarding Los Angeles utilities during wildfire discussions that local officials disputed. Regarding Covid vaccines, Biden also famously said: “You’re not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations,” and added, “If you’re vaccinated, you’re not going to be hospitalized, you’re not going to be in the IC unit, and you’re not going to die.” Those who challenged this idea found themselves banned on several social media platforms. Meta’s recently abandoned fact-checking model, which involved junior writers downgrading posts based on often-disputed analyses, has faced criticism for censoring accurate information that reflected poorly on Biden. The new community-based approach on X and Meta allows users to collaboratively evaluate content, signaling a move away from centralized content moderation. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Biden Warns of Tech Oligarchs’ Power in Farewell Speech, Ignoring His Own Role in Expanding Digital Censorship appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. It’s par for the course for legacy media to serve as the mouthpieces – even when they’re in the same room – of purveyors of entrenched policies that have a habit of spanning different governments, despite them supposedly having significantly different political agendas. An example of this is now coming from the UK, where Laura Kuenssberg of the public broadcaster BBC sat down with Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle – basically to discuss how the much-criticized, sweeping online censorship law, the Online Safety Act, could be made even worse. The key premise is that the law needs expanding, for the sake of becoming more restrictive in different areas. One idea Kuenssberg presented to Kyle is to make sure the law is legislated going forward to deal with private messaging and chatbots. This is only slightly confusing, given that the act, as it is, already covers private messaging; however, the BBC presenter’s tone suggests that despite its broad and troubling scope, the Online Safety Act is still not “good enough” and needs to be broadened to usher in more censorship and surveillance. At the same time, the push to expand the law’s powers is framed in a way that people like those involved in the conversation must consider the safest sell to the public: always supposedly “thinking of the children.” The idea that the Online Safety Act “doesn’t go far enough” and contains “loopholes” that need to be fixed is promoted by the interviewer, and Kyle wasted no time in moving the narrative along by declaring he is “very open-minded” and has already publicly spoken about the need to “legislate into the future again.” Kyle threw in another “bulletproof” scaremongering tactic, mentioning the supposedly serious threat from deepfakes, and, one of the favorite targets of censorship-prone authorities – online encryption. On the latter, he noted that the act already contains a requirement for messaging platforms to effectively backdoor this essential safety feature. “The law says, on messaging, that all developing technology must be used in order to avoid even internet encrypted (platforms) being used to supply and deploy illegal content,” Kyle said. As for deepfakes, etc., this cabinet member uses that to justify what he calls parliament needing to get “more into the cycle of updating the law” frequently. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg Urges UK Tech Secretary Peter Kyle to Expand Online Censorship Laws appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Politicians from the UK’s ruling Labour party are starting to openly “out” the country’s Online Safety Act for the sweeping censorship law that its opponents have all along been warning it is. The extreme case of using the law to completely ban social media platforms in the UK is now being promoted as a possibility by Labour MP Lola McEvoy. “If these big platforms that have huge users don’t comply with the Online Safety Act, then they have no right to be accessed in this country,” the MP said while appearing on a podcast, adding, “So I think that’s what the law’s about.” The masks are coming off, prompted by the latest clash between the government and PM Keir Starmer in particular and X owner Elon Musk – who criticized their role in a historical child sex exploitation scandal in the UK. In addition to saying that failure to comply with the law could result in the platforms getting banned, McEvoy suggested that “unelected citizens from other countries” should not be allowed to criticize UK’s government – she justified this by saying the criticism of Minister for Safeguarding Jess Phillips created “a very dangerous situation,” equating it to “bullying and harassment.” McEvoy even made a point of public figures needing to be even more aggressively protected through censorship – effectively from whatever the government backing those figures decides to pack into the vague categories such as “bullying” and “harassment,” and in that way deal with critical, including legitimate speech. And, where would any controversial call to step up online censorship be, without getting served to the public as a way to above all – protect children? So in addition to blanket bans on accessing apps and platforms for essentially political reasons, China-style, McEvoy recalled that the Online Safety Act also contains the threat of massive fines in case the social media companies fail to comply with what she referred to as “very strict age verification” requirements. McEvoy spoke about regulator Ofcom’s powers, which she described as “really significant” in enforcing the fines under the law that is being gradually implemented. And as that is happening, this MP wants the Online Safety Act to be “strengthened” where it concerns the focus on things it treats as harmful to children, such as access to illegal content or pornography. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post UK Labour MP Openly Suggests Banning Social Media Platforms Over Non-Compliance with Censorship Laws appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Thomas DeVore, the former Republican candidate for Illinois Attorney General, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie of unconstitutional censorship on her government-related social media platform. We obtained a copy of the complaint for you here. The legal action, lodged in the Northern District of Illinois, centers on DeVore’s claim that McCombie banned him from her Facebook page after he criticized her political decisions. According to the complaint, McCombie’s Facebook page, identified in the lawsuit as her “Primary Public Forum,” serves as a platform for discussing government matters with the public. The lawsuit states that after DeVore expressed disapproval of McCombie’s political actions in response to her posts, he was completely barred from the page, and his comments were deleted. This removal allegedly silenced DeVore’s viewpoints from being seen by McCombie’s more than 17,000 followers. McCombie’s office dismissed the lawsuit as politically motivated. “This is a politically motivated legal filing and we look forward to vigorously defending the complaint in court,” a spokesperson said. DeVore is seeking both immediate and long-term legal remedies. His demands include a preliminary and permanent injunction to prevent McCombie from restricting speech on her Facebook page based on content. He also requests a declaratory judgment recognizing that McCombie’s actions violated his First Amendment rights, along with compensatory or nominal damages to be determined at trial, and coverage of his legal fees. The lawsuit highlights that McCombie’s Primary Public Forum had been her sole Facebook platform for government communication from January 2017 until September 2024, when she launched a second page focused on her role as House Minority Leader. However, DeVore argues that the original page remains the primary space for public engagement on governmental issues. DeVore, active on social media, referenced legal precedent in his defense. On January 10, he stated, “It does not matter what kind of social media account it is. It can even be a personal account. As such, when an elected official goes on social media and published content that is in regard to his or her public duties, the page becomes a public forum as a consequence of their actions. It’s no defense to try and argue it’s a non-public forum such as a personal page or political page as once the elected official crosses over, he or she cannot walk it backward.” If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie Is Sued for Alleged First Amendment Violation Over Social Media Block appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Did you know that there are so many uses for your old wine corks? The “cork art” craze has been exploding lately so we wanted to feature our favorite cork projects that you can easily make at home. The more complex projects will use a significant amount of wine corks so make sure every time you have a bottle of wine you save the cork! There are tons of great things that you can use them for even if you aren't making wine cork crafts. You can easily make cork walkways, cork tables, and corn signs with these tutorials that we've featured below. Do you have a favorite cork project that you'd like to share with us? Please leave feedback in the comments section below and we'll be sure to add it to our list! Any interesting stories or fails while attempting wine cork crafts are appreciated. We like to hear about those too! Wine corks are used for multiple purposes. Did you also know that Cork's bubble-form structure and natural fire resistance make it suitable for insulation in house walls, floors, ceilings and facades? Awesome. Here's a few of our favorite projects. 1. Honey Comb Wine Drink Coasters via Lizzy Joe Designs on Etsy  2. Cork Sign For Your Wine Rack This is a fun and clever idea to spruce up your wine selection. Obviously, you will need several corks to make this project to it is suggested that you start collecting. via Pinterest  3. Cork Birdhouses These are so cute! What a fabulous idea. We love how intricate each one of them is. There are lot's of them floating around the internet and tutorials on how to make them! I cannot believe the craftsmanship from something as simple as wine corks . Check out her awesome shop here: CarefullyCorkedCreastions  4. Wine Cork Table Top Deck out your bar with this fabulous wine cork idea. All you need is an old table and voila! You have this fabulous new table top. The best part? It's all made from recycled materials. Never worry about your green initiative with this simple DIY craft project using old corks. via decorating obsessed  5. Wine Cork Wreath Looking for some clever door decor? Check out this beautiful wreath creation by ivingsavvy. We just absolutely love the placement of each of the corks to create a beautiful and intricate wreath. All you need is a little glue and some patience. Enjoy! 6. Wine Cork Succulent Plant Holder I've  been meaning to make these for some time now, however, I have the most trouble keeping succulents afloat. Any advice? I think these cute little cork holders are just incredible. via upcycle that  7. Wine Cork Jewelry Organizer Every gal' needs her jewelry organized and stored appropriately. I thought this idea was so clever and well done. It only takes a few moments to fashion together and the best part about it – it's mostly free! via humble foodie 8. Wine Cork Card Holders This is a great idea for a wedding or even for the office. If you need a creative place to put your cards – check out how to make this awesome cork card holder. I love it! via hope studios blog     9.  Wine Cork Key Organizers Need a free key ring (well, almost free)? All you need is the keyring and you can make yourself an awesome up-cycled cork key organizer. via cleverly inspired 10. Wine Cork Monogram I think this could work perfectly for a child's bedroom. Sometimes perusing Pinterest for hours has it's perks. I really love the idea of maybe painting the corks too? You can definitely play with the idea and make it your own unique design. via Pinterest 11. Make A Wine Cork Bottle Stopper I always find myself needing one of these. For some reason, I never have one laying around even though they're so cheap! I love the idea of using vintage door knobs as cork inserts. It reminds me of something Anthropologie would totally charge a lot of money for. Who needs that when you can DIY!? via anotherdamnwedding 12. Make Wine Cork Thumb Tacks Wine cork thumb tacks on a cork board? Seems like a cork overload but it actually looks pretty awesome.  13. Wine Cork Cheese Spreaders If you're a cheese connoisseur, you must try to make these! I love the idea and I've seen them being sold for much more than the cost of making them yourself. What better to pair with your cheese than wine? via yarnigras blog 14. Make A Wine Cork Floor Mat It makes sense to concoct a mat out of wine corks. To be honest, it didn't make sense until I realized that corks are not slippery and will grip nicely to tile. You'll never worry about slipping out of the bathtub again! via crafty nest 15. Make Herb Garden Skewers Playing off the idea of those little signs you see tucked away in plants at your local garden center I take it! Very clever. Now you don't have to worry about your garden becoming unorganized ever again! These would make fantastic little gifts for Mother's Day or just for a fellow gardener. via shine your light That about wraps up our wine cork craft projects! Did I miss something? Let me know what you think in the comments section below. 2. If you have at least 1 cork: Make a wine cork bottle stopper – See more at: http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2013/08/29/wine-cork-crafts/?crlt.pid=camp.2yAdwPnqT8t1#sthash.00XLFnkX.dpuf test

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