Latest news with #Fleischer
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare Civil War flag sold at Columbus auction for $468,000
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A long-lost Confederate flag, captured at the Battle of Gettysburg and among the rarest Civil War artifacts, sold for $468,000 at an Ohio auction house last month. Carried by the 11th Virginia Infantry during Pickett's Charge, a failed Confederate assault in 1863 on the Gettysburg battle's third day, the flag was acquired after heated bidding between four phone bidders on April 26 at Fleischer's Auctions in Columbus. The charge, named after Gen. George Pickett, who led more than 12,500 soldiers that day, resulted in mass casualties and ultimately led to the Confederacy's defeat. Columbus dispensary issued product alert for 'edible glitter' in cannabis gummies The auction house, one of the nation's leading purveyors of early American antiques and artifacts, previously estimated the flag could sell for $150,000 to $300,000. 'It's recognition as one of the most valuable Civil War artifacts sold in recent years rightfully reflects its importance,' auction president Adam Fleischer said. 'We were honored to facilitate the sale and ensure it was preserved so that future generations can appreciate and learn from it.' The flag was one of 564 lots in Fleischer's premier spring auction, yielding a combined price realized of $2,326,440. Other items included a portrait of Revolutionary War artillerist Alexander Ramsey Thompson I, accompanied by his commission signed by President George Washington, which sold for $50,400. A high-grade sword presented by the 3rd Mississippi Infantry to Colonel Richard H. Ballinger sold for $90,000, and a cast of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's bust portrait by Augustus Saint-Gaudens was acquired for $120,000. While all Confederate battle flags are rare, the one sold by Fleischer is significant because it's the only unaccounted-for flag that was captured from a regiment in Pickett's division, Fleischer said. Other such flags are accounted for and reside in museums or institutions, which means this flag is the only one left that's privately owned. Several Virginia color bearers who carried the flag were wounded or killed before it was captured by Cyren B. Lawton, a Union lieutenant from the 16th Vermont Infantry who died shortly after in hand-to-hand combat. The flag was preserved by fellow Vermont officer Henry F. Dix, who quietly passed down the artifact through generations of his family. Central Ohio advocate says RFK Jr.'s autism comments concerns families Still, the flag's whereabouts were generally unknown for more than 150 years, Fleischer said. Dix's family held onto the artifact until about the 1940s or '50s, when it was given to a family friend who also passed it down. The flag didn't resurface until the owner brought it to a Georgia collector show in 2021, and the discovery was announced to the collecting community. The artifact's current owner turned to Fleischer's, which also sold the sword of Civil War Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman last May, to list the flag for bidding. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Migratory songbird's gut may contain answers
Researchers studying how the Yellow-rumped Warbler — a bird common to Frederick County this time of year — digests wax myrtle berries say the findings could lead to insights about invasive species, ecological impacts and possibly even how to recycle plastics. Data from eBird, a database of observations compiled by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, say that observations of the Yellow-rumped Warbler in Frederick County spike both in late April into early May and in October. The bird appears in over 1 in 3 submitted checklists from the county in the eBird database during those periods. Robert Fleischer, emeritus research zoologist at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, said it is "not a rare bird at this point." Fleischer is an advisor to Alison Fowler, a post-doctoral researcher at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, on the research into the species that many birders call a "Butterbutt." The Yellow-rumped Warbler, a migratory songbird, spends its summers in northern Canada and much of the northern United States. During the winter, the Butterbutt stays in and around Maryland while other types of Warblers migrate further south. The Yellow-rumped Warbler has evolved to be able to digest wax myrtle berries and bayberries, which are common in the region in places like Assateague Island National Seashore. Fleischer said that while some robins and cedar waxwing can also eat these types of berries, "in terms of an insectivorous bird, this is very unusual." This adaptation helps the bird survive winters — at unusually northern latitudes — when insects, a major part of its normal diet, are hard to find. The waxy berries have high fat content, which Fleischer called "fat bombs." Exploring the implications of this rare trait inspired Fowler to apply for a biodiversity fellowship with the Smithsonian. "It provides an interesting insight into these adaptation strategies that we don't see too often," she said. Fowler has received funding both through a competitive grant and other internal resources, which allowed her to work with a team of over 14 as the project had expanded and grown. "It's been fun to work with so many types of scientists," Fowler said. Fleischer said that compared to a research institution, a national network provides for a wider breadth of research collaborators. "That's the beauty of the Smithsonian National Zoo," he said. The team caught Yellow-rumped Warblers in nets at Assateague National Seashore and Edgewater, collected fecal samples and released the birds. They also collected berries to study. The initial aim was to identify the bacteria in the Butterbutts' gut that allows it to digest the waxy coat surrounding the fatty berries. That led to questions about how diets change in captivity by studying those Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The study also looks at the microbiomes of other songbirds, using DNA sequencing, to compare different digestive systems. They have also looked into ecological impacts. "She keeps finding new paths to take," Fleischer said of Fowler. Fowler said that when looking at the whole ecosystem, the researchers wondered if both populations rely on each other. The wax myrtle grows in such specific regions and creates "monocultures" as Fleischer said, that perhaps the process of digestion helps spread the tree's seeds. However, the ability to spread seeds may have a downside that the researchers are also looking into. The Chinese tallow tree was introduced into the U.S. by Ben Franklin in 1776, according to the USDA. The Chinese tallow is considered invasive by the USDA and has berries that are toxic to cattle. Fowler said the Yellow-rumped Warbler could inadvertently be spreading the invasive species. "That's our worry," she said. Another area of study is how the bacteria in the birds' guts could be similar to those in insects. Fowler said that insects that can digest wax can also digest plastics because it is similar chemically. A next step for the researchers will be to test which of the bacteria identified through the research is able to digest wax or plastic on plates. "It may even help with recycling plastics down the road," Fleischer said. The researchers said that while they have identified bacteria of interest, they are still collecting data and performing tests. Fowler said they hoped to submit their findings for publication in around six months. Stacy Small-Lorenz, landscape and avian ecologist with the University of Maryland Extension, said people interested in seeing the birds this spring will have the best luck looking in forest or green spaces like parks or yards.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare Civil War flag to be sold at Columbus auction
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A long-lost Confederate flag, captured at the Battle of Gettysburg and among the rarest Civil War artifacts, will be a top lot for bidders at an Ohio auction house this month. Carried by the 11th Virginia Infantry during Pickett's Charge, a failed Confederacy assault in 1863 on the Gettysburg battle's third day, the flag is one in a series of items open to bidders on April 26 at Fleischer's Auctions in Columbus. The charge, named after Gen. George Pickett, who steered more than 12,500 soldiers that day, resulted in mass casualties and ultimately led to the Confederacy's defeat. All about six new Ohio laws that went into effect this week 'The Battle of Gettysburg was what most historians consider to be the turning point of the Civil War,' auction president Adam Fleischer said. 'After the battle was lost by the Confederate Army, it really represented a decline in their momentum. It was the Confederacy's last attempt to invade the North. Pickett's Charge was the focal point of the battle.' While all Confederate battle flags are rare, this one is significant because it's the only unaccounted-for flag that was captured from a regiment in Pickett's division, Fleischer said. Other such flags are accounted for and reside in museums or institutions, which means this flag is the only one left that's privately owned. Several Virginia color bearers who carried the flag were wounded or killed before it was captured by Cyren B. Lawton, a Union lieutenant from the 16th Vermont Infantry who died shortly after in hand-to-hand combat. The flag was preserved by fellow Vermont officer Henry F. Dix, who quietly passed down the artifact through generations of his family. Still, the flag's whereabouts were generally unknown for more than 150 years, Fleischer said. Dix's family held onto the artifact until about the 1940s or '50s, when it was given to a family friend who also passed it down. The flag didn't resurface until the owner brought it to a Georgia collector show in 2021, and the discovery was announced to the collecting community. OSU President seeks legislative clarity after student visas revoked without notice The artifact's current owner turned to Fleischer's, which also sold the sword of Civil War Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman last May, to list the flag for bidding. The auction house, one of the nation's leading purveyors of early American antiques and artifacts, estimates the flag could sell for $150,000 to $300,000, or more. Fleischer recognizes the flag's contentious symbolism, as a long-standing reminder of the nation's racist history that also now holds dueling associations with white supremacy and southern heritage. However, the auction president noted that the item remains as a historical artifact, not a monument. 'I know that as a symbol, it can be divisive but I would remind people, who I think are upset by its mere existence, that a Union officer lost his life to capture it,' Fleischer said. 'When learning about the history of the flag, I think it's important to meditate, not just on what it represents as a symbol, but also the actual history of the artifact.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
See - Sada Elbalad
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
"Now You See Me 3" Gets Official Title and Fourquel
Yara Sameh The Four Horsemen's next cinematic adventure has a title: 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't.' And the thieving magicians' third big screen heist won't be their last — a fourth film is already in development with Ruben Fleischer returning to direct. Before Fleischer gets to work on the fourquel, 'Now You See Me 3' will open in theaters on November 14. Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Morgan Freeman will reprise their roles from the first two films while Ariana Greenblatt and Rosamund Pike will join the cast. 'We were so happy with the director's cut, we're already developing the next chapter,' Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said Tuesday morning at CinemaCon, the annual convention for movie theater owners. 'We can't wait for audiences to discover what he's done with the third film and thrilled he'll be making even more magic with us.' Lionsgate brought a first-look at the third installment, a sequel to 2016's 'Now You See Me 2' and 2013's 'Now You See Me.' As a refresher, the series focuses on the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horsemen (Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco and Fisher). However, they're disbanded in the early moments of this third film as Eisenberg's character tells a new generation of crooked magicians that his former comrades are dead. 'To me,' he clarified. 'Things got too real for them. They gave up stuff.' The threequel picks up with a diamond heist that involves two generations of illusionists — the Horsemen seemingly come out of retirement and join newcomers Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa — to take down dangerous criminals. 'I like our odds,' Greenblatt's character says in the trailer, which hasn't yet been revealed to the public. The first two films were commercial successes — and the kind of mid-budget production that traditional studios rarely greenlight these days. The original grossed $350 million while the sequel generated $334 million. Bobby Cohen, who originally developed and has produced all the films in the series, will return to produce the new installment alongside Alex Kurtzman of Secret Hideout. Meredith Wieck will oversee the project for Lionsgate. 'Directing 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' was as much fun as making any movie in my career,' Fleischer said. 'It combines two of my favorite things — heist movies and magic — and working with this incredible cast was truly magical. Of course I want to keep it going.' read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Maguy Farah Reveals 2025 Expectations for Pisces News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Now You See Me' Sequel Finally Gets the Title We've All Been Waiting For
'Now You See Me' is set to be a longterm part of Lionsgate's theatrical slate, as the studio has not only announced a new title for the thriller series' upcoming third installment, but is also putting a fourth film in early development with Ruben Fleischer to direct. The third installment, set for release on Nov. 14, is now called by a title some have jokingly been asking for: 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't.' Fleischer directs the installment, which sees newcomers Rosamund Pike, Dominic Sessa, Justice Smith and Ariana Greenblatt join series regulars Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Morgan Freeman. Bobby Cohen, who originally developed and has produced all the films in the series, will return to produce the new installment alongside Alex Kurtzman of Secret Hideout. Meredith Wieck will oversee the project for Lionsgate. 'Ruben has delivered all of the twists and turns and sleight-of-hand that audiences expect from this franchise while upping the stakes and scale in every way. We can't wait for audiences to discover what he's done with the third film and thrilled he'll be making even more magic with us,' said Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson, who announced the deal during the studio's CinemaCon presentation on Tuesday. 'Directing 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' was as much fun as making any movie in my career. It combines two of my favorite things—heist movies and magic—and working with this incredible cast was truly magical. Of course I want to keep it going,' Fleischer said. Robert Melnik negotiated the deal on behalf of Lionsgate. Fleischer is represented by CAA and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. The post 'Now You See Me' Sequel Finally Gets the Title We've All Been Waiting For appeared first on TheWrap.
