More from the article ...

... The Washington National Opera stressed the "amicability" of its decision to end its longtime residency at the Kennedy Center. But it said the center's new business model, which requires productions to be fully-funded in advance, is incompatible with the usual mix of ticket sales, grants and donations that cannot all be secured ahead.

"Opera companies typically cover only 30-60% of costs through ticket sales, with the remainder from grants and donations that cannot be secured years ahead when productions must be planned," the statement said.

The company added the model also does not accommodate its artistic mission, which aims to balance popular works such as West Side Story, slated for May 2026, with more obscure and experimental operas, such as the little-known Scott Joplin work, Treemonisha, scheduled for March. "Revenue from major productions traditionally subsidizes smaller, innovative works," the statement said.

Artistic director Francesca Zambello, who has led the company for 14 seasons, shared her regrets in a statement with NPR, while also looking to the future. ...

@#8 ... Offer each citizen 100K then take a vote. ...

So, the only way to assure Pres trump's whims regarding Greenland is to purchase votes?

That leads me to ask ...

Does Pres Trump think that everyone's actions are so easily purchased as his Oval Office actions seem to be?

... President Trump declared a national emergency to shield Venezuelan oil revenue held by the U.S. government ...

Pres Trump has previously stated that the revenue from Venezuelan oil sales would be held in private bank accounts.

I agree.

Child sexual abuse is bad, more horrific.

But to ascribe it as a Hollywood problem is wrong.

@#1 ... a musical lollipop ...

The local CT evening news showed a video of that.

Lemme see what I can find.

OK, found this ...

More from the article ...

... Among those getting the notorious "anti-awards" for invasive, wasteful or fragile products were an eye-tracking AI "soulmate" companion for combating loneliness, a musical lollipop and new AI features for Amazon's widely used doorbell cameras.

Shouting at a bespoke AI' fridge that also hawks grocery products

Samsung's "Bespoke AI Family Hub" refrigerator received the overall "Worst in Show" recognition from the group of consumer and privacy advocates who judged the contest.

Samsung invites users to speak to the refrigerator and command it to open or close the door, but a demonstration at the sprawling Las Vegas technology expo showed it didn't always detect what people were saying if there was too much ambient noise.

That was just part of the complications and reliability concerns Samsung added to an appliance that's supposed to have one important job: keeping food cold, said Gay Gordon-Byrne of the Digital Right to Repair Coalition in a recorded video ceremony announcing the anti-awards. ...

@#3

Vaguely reminds me of Puerto Rico wanting to become a State, but the GOP preventing it from happening because Puerto Rico might be a blue state or its residents have the wrong skin color.

Yet, speaking of US security ...

@#161 ... You're a pathetically bad liar. ...

So, I'm not the only one here who has noticed that?

It almost seems to appear as if that trolling alias participates more to disrupt and revel in the reactions of the more sane participants, than it participates in wanting to contribute.

But, that's just my opinion ...

@#159 ... This is because of sanctuary policies. ...

Do try harder.

@#68 ... You can see that he moves his iPhone to his other hand ...

Please post a link to the video and the timestamp within the video.

thx.

@#153 ... The share of arrested immigrants who had been convicted of violent crimes has dropped from 9% in January to less than 5% in October.

The share under Biden was consistently between 10% and 11% during the same period in 2024. ...

Wait, what?!?!?

Fmr Pres Biden's record of arresting the "worst of the worst" is better than Pres Trump's?

@#146 ... Some deportations won't have a criminal charge attached. ...

@#15 ... Ah, yes, the exact same "morality" that had him boning a porn star while his 3rd wife (who he cheated with on his 2nd), was nursing their newborn.

Party of family values.

Yep.

We're f**ked. ...

Currently looks that way ...

... 'Medical Condition'...

fwiw, I was scheduled for an operation back in November (nothing serious).

Then I got an email telling me that the operation had to be re-scheduled because the surgeon ~went on unexpected medical leave.~

Stuff happens.

@#3

I have a different opinion.

I do not like to see Americans suffer.

And I want to help Americans understand how to prevent their suffering, regardless of their political opinion.

America's diversity (politically and otherwise) is what makes us strong.

@#53 ... Yes, living in fear ...

The linked image says that ~Americans are living in fear that they could be killed for hitting ICE agents with cars.~

Really?

Is that what happened in this event?

And is that why Americans are living in fear?

It is not because ICE is using facial recognition tech to ~visit~ the homes of peaceful protesters?

OK, maybe the people of Greenland want independence.

Kudos to them, btw.

Next, let's do Guam, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, etc., etc...

But I have to ask, is there desire to be subservient to Pres Trump's whims and exploitation?

Asked differently, as I have heard, the people of Crimea did not like being a part of Ukraine. But they apparently did not want to be under Pres Putin's rule, either.

@#113 ... Here's a solution - enter legally. Problem solved. ...

I agree. And I have always agreed. If you are in the Country illegally, please find an exit. But ...

But, and your current trolling alias had to know there was a "but" ...

Of course I also asked about the effects upon the economy. Even Pres Trump seems to realize the contributions of illegal migrants as he seems to mostly avoid targeting red-state facilities (farms, meat-processing plants) that employ illegal immigrants.

Back in the Biden presidency, Pres Biden wrangled Congress to enact a bill that would have satisfied most of the Republican demands for controlling illegal immigration.

t looked like it was going to pass on a bi-partisan basis.

But, then, what happened?

Then candidate Trump issued his dictum to the Republicans in Congress, do not pass that bill. We need it as a political talking point in the upcoming election.

So, then candidate Trump, politics over what is good for the Country.

@#15 ... Is that why all oil companies are leaving California? ...

No.

@#65 ... ICE approaching/standing in front of the car rather than approaching from the side (procedure and common sense) ...

From the videos I have watched, painfully ...

The ICE agent was standing on the side of the car, with his body away from the car as he was firing his weapon with one hand while using his cell phone with his other hand.

The car was turning away from him, not into him.