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Movie Review: Smelling dirt with Joel Edgerton in Paul Schrader’s murky ‘Master Gardener’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

Paul Schrader plants the seeds of an intriguing melodrama in his latest creation “ Master Gardener.” Sigourney Weaver is a wealthy dowager with a stately name (Norma Haverhill), a large house and a dog she’s named porch dog. She also has a horticulturist (Joel Edgerton) in her employ who she occasionally calls on for extracurricular, indoor activities. There’s even a big charity auction coming up that she and the gardening staff are intensely focused on.But this being a Schrader film (he wrote and directed), it is mostly window dressing. There even is a palpable (and, I’d imagine, intentional) artificiality to the whole endeavor, creating an unease that looms over the most mundane and superficially pleasant interactions. The ceremony never feels quite right. The house, though grand, is also sparse in its décor. It feels like a set — not a place that a real human being lives. We don’t even get to see the charity auction in full swing, never fulfilling Edgerton’s Narvel Roth (ye...

Hamas calls on Palestinians to confront Israeli victory parade in Jerusalem

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday called on Palestinians to confront a flag-waving parade planned by Jewish nationalists through the main Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalem’s Old City.The comments by Hamas added to the already heightened tensions ahead of Thursday’s march and threatened to reignite fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, just days after a cease-fire took hold. Two years ago, an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas erupted during the annual march.While Hamas stayed out of the latest round of fighting, officials with the ruling Islamic militant group urged Palestinians to oppose Thursday’s parade.“We ask the people of Jerusalem to mobilize the masses to confront the march of the flags in Jerusalem tomorrow,” said Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas official in Gaza.Hamas also urged Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and inside Israel to “clash with the occupation” and said it would hold a de...

Tiny Amerindian village in Guyana fights gold mine in key court battle over indigenous land rights

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

CHINESE LANDING, Guyana (AP) — One of Guyana’s smallest Amerindian villages is waging a monumental battle that could decide the amount of control that thousands of indigenous people have over their land in remote parts of this South American country.The village of 225 residents is fighting in court to regain full control over ancestral land where gold miners once were invited in to boost community development but who now are considered unwelcome interlopers who carve up lands that provide food and medicine, and block access for the villagers’ own, smaller-scale mining.“It’s like a part of us has been taken away,” said Orin Fernandes, the village’s toshao, or indigenous leader.Called Chinese Landing for reasons residents no longer remember, the village is deep within lush forests of northern Guyana accessible primarily by riverboat.The villagers, descendants of Caribs, have seen their land shrink as miners scrape back layers of rock and red soil that could otherwise produce pumpkin, ...

See how you can play golf at Wrigley Field in July

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

CHICAGO — While baseball will take center stage for the summer at the Friendly Confines, another sport will have a few days in the spotlight.Upper Deck Golf is staging an event at Wrigley Field that will allow fans to play golf from July 6-9 at the iconic baseball park. Per the company's website, fans will have the opportunity to hit golf balls from the upper deck onto greens that are on the field, with rounds starting & ending at a clubhouse festival in the ballpark.Right now, Upper Deck Golf is having people sign up for either standard or VIP tee time waitlists to get the opportunity to play the sport at Wrigley Field. This is one of ten stadiums where an event like this is being staged, with fans being able to play golf at nine other venues in 2023.Levi's Stadium - Santa ClaraLumen Field - SeattleComerica Park - DetroitCitizen's Bank Park - PhiladelphiaCoors Field - DenverPNC Park - Pittsburgh Busch Stadium - St. LouisCleveland Browns Stadium - ClevelandTarget Field - Minneap...

6@6: How to retire at 55

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

CHICAGO — The dream of any person who works is to someday be able to call it quits on their terms. But in order to retire, you have to save, and that can take decades for some to do, with a few workers never being able to fully walk away from work.So on the "9@9" on Wednesday, we asked a simple question: What would it take to retire at 55?The hosts talked about the things one would have to do in order to be able to have an early retirement on the WGN Morning News while also giving their thoughts on the chances of making that happen. Along with that, the hosts discussed "Bougie Barbie," a new project that would create a robot to watch your kids, a look back at one of Chicago's most famous investigative reports, a "Demon Catshark," and more on the segment.You can watch the entire "9@9" from the May 17 show in the video above.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Mor...

Dean cooks Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Prosciutto

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards shares his recipe for Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Prosciutto.Ingredients For the salad:1 pound pasta  (I recommend farfalle or cavatelli;  something twisted to absorb the dressing)1 cup chopped prosciutto1 grilled green bell pepper1 cup cherry tomatoes, no cooked,  halved1 onion,  rough cut  (I recommend sweet Vidalia onion)1 pound grilled asparagus 1/2 cup kalamata olives halved1/2 cup finely chopped parsley¼ cup toasted pine nuts (carefully, quickly toast the nuts in olive oil or butter until they “just” begin to turn brown.   Remove from heat so they don’t burn. 3/4 cup small mozzarella balls halved1 1/4 cups homemade (recipe below)  or store bought Italian dressing.½ cup grated parmesan cheese  salt and pepper to tasteFor the dressing:¾ cup extra virgin olive oil1/4 cup red wine ...

Kennel safety bill filed after Ponderosa Pet Resort fire passes, heads to Governor Abbott's desk

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A bill filed in response to a fire that took the lives of 75 dogs at a Georgetown pet resort in 2021 passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature this week. House Bill 2063 is aimed at increasing safety requirements in Texas kennels. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk, where it could be signed into law. In September 2021, a fire broke out at the Ponderosa Pet Resort, killing 75 dogs belonging to 59 families. None of the facility's staff members were on site at the time, and there wasn't a sprinkler system. The City of Georgetown told KXAN after it happened that its fire code, as well as federal and state standards, did not require sprinkler systems for a facility of this type and size.  Memorial built after at least 75 pets killed in Central Texas boarding facility fire According to State Rep. James Talarico, after the fire, dog lovers and community advocates organized a petition that garnered more than 17,000 signatures from across the country calling for l...

With Diamond Miller and Napheesa Collier entrenched as franchise building blocks, Lynx feel future is ‘really bright’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

Lynx coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve says she enters the 2023 season both “energized” and “enthused.”Those are two positive adjectives to describe a basketball boss, particularly coming off her franchise’s worst season since 2010. But Reeve has two specific reasons to feel strongly about Minnesota’s prospects moving forward — Napheesa Collier and Diamond Miller.Reeve loves building the organization around someone like Collier. The 26-year-old forward has done so much in such an early window of her pro career, already touting an All-WNBA honor, a Rookie of the Year honor, two all-star selections and an Olympic gold medal.Collier rushed back for the end of last season after having a child specifically to play with retiring Sylvia Fowles in the legendary center’s final season. But Collier admitted she didn’t feel as though she was all the way back until January or February. The Lynx are now getting the full-blown version of their star player, who has taken on ...

Get emergency prepared in Warren County this summer

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - If you live in the southern Adirondacks around Warren County, natural disasters should be an active concern in your life. From wildfires to storm damage, a lot can happen, especially in wooded and rural areas. This summer, Warren County is hosting a training program for those who want to stay on top of their emergency preparedness. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The county will host an education program created by the New York Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program, focusing on natural disaster response and recovery. The session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, at West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 86 Luzerne Road in the town of Queensbury.“This program will cover a wide variety of emergency preparedness topics, including how to develop a family emergency plan, what emergency supplies should be acquired prior to a disaster and numerous other important details to make su...

RCSO seeking man accused of stealing rescue truck

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:23:18 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office (RCSO) is searching for a man accused of stealing a rescue truck that was last seen leaving the parking lot of the Eagle Mills Fire Department and headed westbound on New York Route 2 on Brunswick Road. RCSO says the theft occurred on Tuesday around 10:45 p.m. Image of suspect via Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Deputies say the truck stolen is a 2019 Chevrolet Utility Truck, colored red and yellow with rear roll-up doors. The suspect reportedly had in his possession an unknown make or model orange bike that he placed in the stolen truck.Image via Rensselaer County Sheriff's OfficeImage via Rensselaer County Sheriff's OfficeImage via Rensselaer County Sheriff's OfficeAnyone with information regarding the truck is encouraged to call Rensselaer County Dispatch at (518) 270-5252 and reference RSCO Case #SJS28169.