Sanders drowned out at speech with campaign’s own noisemakers

The Battle Born/Battleground Dinner hosted by Nevada Democrats at the MGM Grand on Wednesday night appeared to be a bit of a struggle for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, caught between appreciation for his boisterous supporters and struggling to be heard over them.

The problem? While former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s camp played to the eyes with neon blue glow sticks, Sanders’ campaign went for the ears, passing out red air horns and yellow vuvuzelas. (The horns earned international infamy during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.)

The problem for Sanders was that not only did supporters eagerly use their noisemakers before — and during — the event but also in the middle of the Democratic presidential candidate's speech.

When Sanders took the stage, there was a chorus of high-pitched squeals from the air horns mixed with deep blasts from the vuvuzelas — a cacophony that continued for several moments as Sanders tried to begin his speech.


http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/jan/07/sanders-drowned-out-at-speech-with-campaigns-own-n/

On guns, Sanders has an authenticity problem

But here’s the thing: When Sanders and his supporters defend his votes, they like to make the point that Sanders has represented Vermont, where an awful lot of pickup trucks sport NRA stickers, and where an awful lot of gun dealers make a decent living and don’t want to get sued out of business.

“I come from a rural state, and the views on gun control in rural states are different than in urban states,” Sanders explained during the Democratic debate in Las Vegas in October. In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” last year, he said: “The people of my state understand, I think, pretty clearly, that guns in Vermont are not the same thing as guns in Chicago or guns in Los Angeles. In our state, guns are used for hunting.”

In other words, Sanders was representing the interests of his constituents. And you know what that makes Bernie Sanders?

A politician, that’s what.

And this is the problem the gun issue creates for Sanders. Because a politician is precisely what he purports not to be. His entire rationale as a candidate is that he alone chooses principle over polls, that he votes his convictions and can’t be corrupted by powerful interests or his own ambition.


https://www.yahoo.com/politics/on-guns-sanders-has-an-1337642634199094.html

Is California headed for a Dem vs Dem Senate race in November?

The latest statewide Field Poll finds many voters not paying much attention to California's upcoming June open primary election to succeed Barbara Boxer for U.S. Senate. Greater than four in ten likely voters (44%) say they are undecided or do not express a preference. However, among voters who do offer a choice, state Attorney General Kamala Harris continues to lead, with 27% of likely voters supporting her candidacy. In second is fellow Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez at 15%. Three Republicans – Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, and two former California Republican party chairmen, Duf Sundheim and Tom Del Beccaro – trail in single digits.

Preferences at this stage are largely partisan and ideological, with both Harris and Sanchez the choice of most of the Democrats and liberals expressing a preference, and the Republicans dividing up the preferences of likely GOP and conservative voters. However, about twice as many Republicans (58%) and strong conservatives (66%) are undecided in the poll as are Democrats (30%) and strong liberals (27%). Because of this, the current standings could change once more Republican and strong conservatives weigh in on the contest, especially if one of the Republicans is able to attract their attention and interest.

Both Harris and Sanchez are better known than are their GOP rivals. About six in ten likely primary election voters (59%) can offer an opinion of Harris, with 38% viewing her favorably and 21% unfavorably. About half of the likely June electorate (51%) expresses an opinion of Sanchez, although views about the Santa Ana Congresswoman are more mixed, with 27% viewing her positively and 24% negatively. By contrast, only about three in ten likely voters have formed an opinion of the three Republicans, and each receives more negative than positive ratings among those expressing an opinion.

The latest survey is the third time The Field Poll has gauged likely voter preferences in the U.S. Senate race. Since the June election for U.S. Senate will be an open primary, all candidates regardless of party will be listed together on the same ballot and voters from all parties can choose to vote for a candidate from any party. The top two finishers regardless of party affiliation then move on to a fall general election showdown.


http://www.field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2523.pdf

The Rise of Superhero Therapy: Comic Books as Psychological Treatment

Dr. Patrick O’Connor has been incorporating geek culture into his sessions since 2010, while he was working with kids in foster care. The idea came to him after thinking about the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson——better known as Batman and Robin——and how Dick came to live with Bruce after his family was killed, essentially becoming the billionaire’s foster son.

“I began to wonder what stories would be out there of Batman and Robin comic books that maybe my kids would relate to,” O’Connor tells The Daily Beast. “Anything about ‘You’re not my real dad,’ or ‘I shouldn’t have to listen to you,’ but then listening to that guidance and maybe starting to buy into that relationship——to try to learn from somebody who’s more experienced but also cares for you and your well being.”

O’Connor eventually found himself over at Graham Crackers Comics, a chain in the Chicago area, looking to explore his idea further. He figured he would search for Batman titles first, since that’s what initially brought him to the store, but where to go from there? Well, if he planned on introducing stories into sessions with patients, he knew that he would need to use complete stories. So he began hunting for sequential issues, finding packs of Spider-Man, Steel, and Hawkman along the way. Then he got to reading. Keeping a word document by his side, O’Connor would record the things the heroes or villains would go through——recurring themes like “facing fear,” “losing a loved one” or “being different.” His notes eventually formed the basis of Comicspedia, an online database filled with hundreds of individual comic book summaries and their respective psychological focuses. But more than that, his research paid off in his sessions.

“I noticed that, naturally, not only did the kids get excited about it and started looking forward to therapy, it really brought out a lot of stuff that they wanted to talk about——a lot of deep issues,” O’Connor says. “It made the relationship between my clients and myself a lot richer.”


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/17/the-rise-of-superhero-therapy-comic-books-as-psychological-treatment.html

Rachel Keller Cast as Female Lead in FX’s X-Men Spin-Off Legion

Deadline reports that “Fargo” star Rachel Keller has been the first cast in FX’s television spin-off of the X-Men franchise, Legion. Her specific character is being kept under wraps for the time being, but she is described as “a scrappy, optimistic woman.” The outlet also notes that her mutant powers may have something to do with physical touch.

The first of two planned X-Men TV series, Legion will tell the story of David Haller. Since he was a teenager, David has struggled with mental illness. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he’s confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real. Of course, comic book fans know Haller as the schizophrenic son of Charles Xavier.

“It’s conceived more as a standalone,” executive producer Noah Hawley previously said about the show’s connectivity to the X-Men films. “I don’t want to say too much more about it on that level, but certainly it’s not constructed as a back-door anything. It’s more just that there’s a story that I want to explore that has to fit into that larger universe, which is exciting.”

Hawley (“Fargo,” “Bones”) will write the Legion pilot and serve as an Executive Producer along with Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Wolverine), Bryan Singer (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Superman Returns), Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Martain), Jeph Loeb (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Marvel’s Daredevil”), Jim Chory (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Marvel’s Daredevil”) and John Cameron (Fargo, The Big Lebowski).



http://www.superherohype.com/news/361953-rachel-keller-cast-as-female-lead-in-fxs-x-men-spin-off-legion#7xHYZh6JdQycLpC4.99

Deadpool | Blatant Bachelor Baiting TV Spot - VIDEO

Marvel Releases New Doctor Strange Sanctum Sanctorum Concept Art

The new concept art shows off the Sorcerer Supreme’s famous home, the Sanctum Sanctorum. Located in New York’s Greenwich Village, Stephen Strange’s townhouse is mystically warded against supernatural intruders, and contains numerous mystical artifacts.




http://comicbook.com/2016/01/04/marvel-releases-new-doctor-strange-sanctum-sanctorum-concept-art/

'Creed' and 'Fruitvale Station' Director Ryan Coogler Tapped To Lead Marvel's 'Black Panther'!!!!

After numerous rumors surrounding the director of Marvel’s forthcoming flick “Black Panther” -- including Ava DuVernay forgoing the opportunity -- it appears the comic movie studio has finally made its decision.

In the February issue of Empire magazine, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed “Creed” and "Fruitvale Station" director Ryan Coogler as the film’s director -- which will feature a majority black cast and star Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa. For Feige, he said it is important for the film’s script to reflect the comic’s story of incorporating T’Challa’s origins in Wakanda.

"This one is important," Feige said. "Not only do you get an unbelievable lead character, but you also get all of Wakanda which is a whole new setting and culture to explore.”

Feige went on to add that the action adventure will focus on the family and royal struggle of T’Challa as he discovers what it means to be king. The developing motion picture will mark the studio's first stand-alone black superhero movie.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/creed-director-ryan-coogler-tapped-to-lead-marvels-black-panther_568aa572e4b06fa68882e6b1

Daredevil Season 2 to Debut March 25th Against Batman V Superman

It seems rumors of Daredevil releasing earlier this year than it did in 2015 are true. ComicBook.com has learned from independent sources that Marvel and Netflix are aiming to launch Daredevil season two on March 25, 2016.

If that date sounds familiar and you somehow missed the headline, that's the release date of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, making this debut announcement a firm salvo in the war between Marvel and DC Comics. Daredevil season one launched the Marvel TV/Netflix partnership to critical acclaim, and releasing the second season, which also introduces the Punisher and Elektra to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the same day that WB is trying to build their own cinematic universe for DC Entertainment's cast of characters is clearly a deliberate plan.

It will present an interesting challenge to both pieces of comic book based entertainment. One is 10 hours, and comes at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers, meaning fans can sit and watch it at home. The other is probably 2-2.5 hours, and costs an average of $9 a ticket (plus involves heading out). Die-hard fans of both sets of heroes will likely make time for both in opening weekend, but more casual fans could be affected, potentially choosing one or the other.

This isn't the first instance of these "release date wars" between Marvel and DC. After DC/WB had announced a release date for Batman v Superman of May 6, 2016, Marvel went ahead and announced the same date for Captain America: Civil War, with the first weekend of May traditionally being the debut of a Marvel-related movie for the last decade or so. DC/WB blinked first in that game of chicken, bumping their release up by five weeks.


http://comicbook.com/2016/01/04/daredevil-season-2-to-debut-march-25th-against-batman-v-superman/

Vanilla ISIS Are Already Getting A 93 Percent Discount

The takeover of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon appears to be more than just a protest of the impending imprisonment of two ranchers who set fires that spread into public lands. The armed demonstrators are led by Ammon Bundy, whose father, Cliven, has refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the federal Bureau of Land Management to own some public lands or to regulate their use for grazing. But the government is giving the Bundy family a pretty good deal on the grazing rights it refuses to pay for.

In 1993, the bureau declined to renew Cliven Bundy’s grazing permits in parts of Nevada that were reserved for a threatened desert tortoise. But Bundy continued grazing his cattle there anyway and refused to pay any fines or fees. He claimed that the land really belonged to him, so why should he have to pay over $1 million in fines?

Now his son has furthered the fight by seizing the Oregon refuge. In a news conference Sunday, Ammon Bundy explained that he was there in protest of the “unconstitutional transactions of land rights and water rights.”

Those transactions, though, can be a pretty good deal, regardless of their constitutionality. According to a 2015 report by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Bureau of Land Management’s fees for grazing cattle on public land are much lower than the fees charged by private landowners, and they’ve only become cheaper in recent years.


http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-armed-oregon-ranchers-who-want-free-land-are-already-getting-a-93-percent-discount/