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Background: November

October 19, 2017 by Terry Moseley

Between now and the end of the year, there’s a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill, the FIFA corruption trial kicks off in Brooklyn, Trump visits Asia, retailers brace for the holidays, and the award season is up-and-running. Updated October 21.

November 1: Twenty three (23) working days left in 2017 according to the House Majority Leader’s calendar and on the to-do list: healthcare, budgets, trade, and taxes. On the radar: whether or not the U.S. House of Representatives reauthorizes Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a controversial provision that allows overseas electronic surveillance but ends at the end of the year.

Speaking of controversy, executives from Twitter, Facebook, and Google are scheduled to testify before the Senate and House Intelligence Committees and face questions as to how these platforms were used to spread fake news and influence last year’s election. Hashtag #awkward.

November 2: United Nations International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. This year alone, 30 journalists have been murdered as per CPJ. The latest victim was Malta journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53, killed by a car bomb on October 16th. A critic of the current government, she published allegations linking the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to the Panama Paper scandal.

November 3: U.S. President Trump heads off to Asia. On the list: Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines. On the agenda: North Korea, trade, and meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Dutuerte, accused of crimes against humanity as well as battling Islamic State group-affiliated militants. Unclear if there will be live Tweeting from the DMZ.

November 4: Occupy Trump. As per Politico, nearly a year after U.S. President Trump’s election, members of the Resistance are planning to descend upon America’s major cities with the intention of occupying city centers and parks until Trump and Pence have left the building. Hope they’re bringing a set of spare clothes because it’s gonna be awhile.

November 6: FIFA corruption trial re: United States vs. Napout. Background: Former FIFA vice president Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay is accused of taking bribes from companies while president of CONMEBOL, the FIFA-affiliated confederation that governs soccer in South America. There are 26 co-defendants with the majority having entered guilty pleas and awaiting sentencing. Location: U.S. Eastern District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

November 7: Election Day in the U.S. and it’s all about state and local elections with an eye on Utah, New Jersey, Virginia, New York, Maine, Ohio, and Georgia.

November 8: 51st annual CMAs a/k/a Country Music Association award ceremony hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley in Nashville, Tennessee. Although singer Jason Aldean was shut out in all categories, expect memorials and tributes dedicated to the victims, families, and first responders at his concert in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1st when a gunman killed 58 people.

November 12: 24th annual MTV Europe Music Awards return to London and hosted by Rita Ora. Yes, it’s still a thing.

November 18: Look up to catch a glimpse of a dazzling light show from space otherwise known as the Leonids. Every few decades, this comet generates a storm where more than 1,000 meteors can been seen an hour. The last time the Leonids were that strong was in 2002.

November 19: 45th annual American Music Awards. Diana Ross receives a Lifetime Achievement Award but it’s still a man’s world as Bruno Mars leads with eight nominations, including Artist of the Year against Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Ed Sheeran and The Chainsmokers – each with five noms.

November 23: Thanksgiving Day. America gives thanks, turns on the 93rd annual Macy’s Day Parade, eats turkey, and watches a lot of football. T-minus 33 days until Christmas. For the first time in NFL history, three (3) games will be played.

November 24: Black Friday. Because not everyone watches football, retailers open their doors and slash their prices on Thanksgiving night to woo customers out of the house and open their wallets. Although declining in numbers compared to online sales, last year’s Black Friday sales rose 21.6% to $3.4 billion USD with a big chunk attributable to mobile purchases.

November 26: Canadian as maple syrup and Justin Trudeau, the NHL celebrates its 100th anniversary and where it all began: the Windsor Hotel in Montreal, eh.

November 27: Cyber Monday. Coined in 2006, today’s the day to get deals not found in brick-and-mortar stores. Truth be told, that’s pretty much the case every day of the year but I digress. In 2016, $3.45 billion was spent online, more than 12% from the previous year and the largest online sales day in U.S. history.

November 28: Grammy nominations announced in Los Angeles but the big news is that the upcoming 60th annual award ceremony is returning to New York for the first time since 2003. Madison Square Garden will be the venue and James Corden is the host.

November 30: Today marks the official end of the Atlantic hurricane season, one of the most lethal and costly on record. This year was the first time since 1893 that ten hurricanes formed in a row.

Filed Under: November 2017 Tagged With: AMAs, Asia, Capitol Hill, CMAs, Facebook, FIFA, Google, Grammys, hurricane season, Leonids, Macy's Day Parade, NFL, NHL, Trump, Twitter

Politics, pop culture, and groundhogs

January 29, 2016 by Terry Moseley Leave a Comment

The political season in the U.S. goes into prime time starting in February as the countdown begins to Super Tuesday while the sports and entertainment industry celebrate the best of show including the 50th annual Super Bowl, the 58th annual Grammys, and the 88th annual Academy Awards.

Considering the lineup, it’s no surprise that “sweeps” kick off starting February 4th – March 2nd.

HOLIDAYS:

February is Black History Month in the US and given the recent controversy re: lack of diversity in Hollywood, timing is everything.

February 2nd: Groundhog Day. Not only one of my favorite Bill Murray films, but a day to see if
Punxsutawney Phil emerges from Gobbler’s Knob amidst the bright lights of the news crews to save or condemn us to six (6) more weeks of winter based on his shadow. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will miss the annual ceremony at the Staten Island Zoo to stump for Hillary Clinton in Iowa but New Yorkers know the real reason why Hizzoner is keeping his distance.

February 8th: Chinese New Year a/k/a Year of the Monkey and while I have no idea what that means, it seems appropriate for this year’s news cycle.

February 14th: Valentine’s Day. Mercifully, it falls on a Sunday this year.

February 15th: Presidents’ Day. It’s plural to represent all U.S. presidents – past and present. Wonder who will celebrate next year?

CAMPAIGN 2016

February 1st kicks off Iowa’s caucuses for both parties with the Democratic and Republican winners scoring bragging rights and momentum into the New Hampshire primary

February 3rd: CNN hosts a Democratic town hall in New Hampshire which is curious because tomorrow is pretty much more of the same.

February 4th: MSNBC just announced that it will hold a Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire ahead of the first primary.

February 6th: GOP debate before the NH primary. At this point, it doesn’t even matter if Trump shows up to the event as he will be discussed in absentia.

February 9th: New Hampshire primary: expect to see picturesque shots of snow and local villages. Also, an important time for those lagging in the polls to impress the New England constituency.

February 11th: Democratic debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ahead of the caucus in Nevada.

February 13th: GOP debate in South Carolina and primary to follow.

February 20th: Two-fer. For the Republicans, it’s the South Carolina GOP primary – often considered a “do-or-die” event and Nevada, it’s caucus time for the Democrats and the last big election before Super Tuesday on March 1.

February 23: Now the GOP rally and caucus in Nevada.

February 25: GOP debate. Last time to knock it out of the park before Super Tuesday

February 27: South Carolina feeling the love as the Democratic primary kicks off and candidates rethink their respective strategies.

March 1: Super Tuesday. It’s go-time as twelve (12) states either have a caucus or a primary. Much like the Hunger Games, someone is go’n down.

ENTERTAINMENT/AWARD SEASON:

February 7th: 50th annual Super Bowl kicks off with the Carolina Panthers vs Denver Colts. Without the Green Bay Packers, I’ll only be watching for the ads and the halftime show starring Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars. Estimated viewership: more than 110 million fans around the world.

February 15th: The 58th annual Grammys hosted by L.L. Cool J.and airing for the first time on a Monday in a bid to boost ratings. The “In Memoriam” segment is going to be lengthy as 2016 said goodbye to Ian Fraser Kilmister a/k/a Lemmy, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, amongst others.

February 28th: The 88th annual Academy Awards hosted by Chris Rock who zinged the Oscars on Twitter:

The #Oscars. The White BET Awards. https://t.co/8qjLR0uysI

— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) January 15, 2016

Filed Under: February 2016 Tagged With: Academy Awards, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Chinese New Year, Coldplay, Election 2016, Grammys, Groundhog Day, Super Bowl, Valentine's Day

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Journo. Mischief monger. Former @Reuters & Hill staffer. Known to photobomb the red carpet. | terry@newsmaven.com

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