Latest news with #JackWarner
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Quatermass Xperiment review – Hammer first sci-fi hit is brash, watchable B-movie
In the early 1950s, there could hardly have been a bigger and more delirious pop culture phenomenon in Britain than The Quatermass Experiment, Nigel Kneale's wildly popular science-fiction drama serial for BBC television, which spawned its own spoof version on The Goon Show ('The Scarlet Capsule') and paved the way for Doctor Who. It was also turned into this brash standalone feature from 1955 from Hammer; it was the company's first real hit, and an unusual example of the high-minded BBC feeding content to this garish movie outfit. Hammer of course was in time to discover that its vocation was not really for futurist twilight-zone sci-fi but for the atavistic world of vampires and mythic beasts. This forthright and watchable picture, with its terrific cast of veteran players such as Jack Warner, Thora Hird and the totemic Sam Kydd, is entirely happy in its own B-movie skin, with the 'X' in 'Xperiment' gleefully signalling its identity as a pulp shocker; though it is also recognisably part of the English science-fiction tradition of John Wyndham, a world of strange doings in the innocent English shires with the frowning authorities – uniformed coppers, men from the ministry and white-coated medics – withholding the facts from the excitable public for their own good. It's also an ancestor of Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. A spacecraft crashes back to Earth in an English field, creating a gloriously surreal image of the rocket upturned in the earth, as big as Stonehenge, to the horror of the scientific project leader Professor Bernard Quatermass, played with brusque assertiveness by veteran American actor Brian Donlevy; two of its three crew (no one uses the term 'astronaut') have vanished, and the third, Victor Carroon (Richard Wordsworth) is carried out of the wrecked craft, catatonic with horror, and apparently in the very early stages of some hideous metamorphosis. Could it be that the three voyagers have encountered a shapeless intergalactic entity out there in space which has consumed two of them and insidiously entered the third, preparing parasitically to take over Planet Earth? It could. With stolid Inspector Lomax (Warner) in pursuit, the Carroon alien-humanoid makes its escape from hospital, leaving a giveaway slimy trail everywhere, and has a Frankensteinian encounter with an innocent little girl (a young Jane Asher) somewhere in Deptford before morphing into a thoroughly bizarre octopus-like creature like something out of a film by shlock specialist Ed Wood Jr. In fact, the creature's preposterous appearance surely taught subsequent directors like Spielberg and Ridley Scott the vital importance of not showing too much too soon or in too much explicit detail. But it gives director Val Guest the opportunity for a barnstormingly ambitious and Hitchcockian finale in Westminster Abbey, with the monster making its appearance in the middle of a live TV transmission about its architectural history. (I bet they wished they'd gone for a pre-record.) Startlingly, the programme's resident expert Sir Lionel Dean (Basil Dignam) looks at the monster's victim lying dead on the floor and with considerable sang-froid suggests they simply continue the programme in another part of the abbey. It all looks a bit rough and ready sometimes, but it is performed with resounding theatrical panache, and the extended sequence where an aghast Quatermass and his associates watch the silent onboard film, recovered from the spacecraft wreckage, is genuinely eerie. The Quatermass Xperiment is in cinemas on 5 June for one night, and is on UHD and Blu-ray from 9 June.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Beloved sports bar chain quietly closes multiple restaurants
The sports bar space has become incredibly challenging because it's wildly crowded. You have national players like Buffalo Wild Wings which run massive advertising campaigns that make them the default choice for many players. In addition, there are regional favorites like Miller's Ale House, Duffy's, and countless others that offer quality food and an excellent sports experience. Related: Beloved taco brand making post-Chapter 11 bankruptcy return Duffy's, a Florida-based chain, even offers 2-for-1 drinks. That seems like it should not be legal (and it probably isn't in some states) but it's allowed in Florida and offering that all-day promotion has proven to be a major draw for the chain. In addition to chains that define themselves as sports bars, you also have players including Chili's and Applebee's. These restaurants are not exactly sports bars, but they offer a sports-friendly menu and plenty of televisions. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Both of these chains have also recently leaned heavily into value. That has worked incredibly well for Chili's which has seen sales surge. Applebee's has recently brought back its popular all-you-can-ear promotion and offers really cheap drinks. Neither brand offers anyone's favorite food, but they have menus filled with comfort food favorites that most people like well enough. A riblet may not be your first choice, but make them all-you-can eat and throw in a cheap beer or mixed drink and you have an offer that's hard to compete with. Walk-Ons takes the classic sports bar and democratizes it while adding a Cajun flair to the menu. Instead of being built around star athletes, it's a tribute to the last guys on the bench. "Our love for the game, community, and bringing the heart of a walk-on to the restaurant space began with the dreams of our Founder, Brandon Landry and his partner, Jack Warner, in 2003. We've worked hard over the years to create a restaurant and bar concept that pairs attention-to-detail and culinary excellence with a little Louisiana spice, pulling in that underdog mindset and hospitality, making you feel like family the moment you walk in," the company shared on its website. Much like they did as athletes, the founding duo built the brand without much support. These weren't scholarship players or trust fund babies, these are two partners who scrapped and hustled. More Food + Dining: Domino's Pizza unveils generous deal amid alarming consumer trendSteak 'n Shake's beef tallow fries aren't as healthy as they appearThe Cheesecake Factory makes bittersweet changes to its menu "Despite having little business experience and a lack of financial support, Brandon and Jack took what they learned on-court – hard work, dedication, and the commitment to excellence, and put it into a restaurant vision. Their passion to create a concept built on culture and inclusivity pushed their dream into a reality when on September 9, 2003, Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar opened for business, right next to their homecourt – LSU's Tiger Stadium," the company added, Walk-On's has mostly been a success. The chain had over 80 locations in 14 states, but it has also closed a number of locations over the past couple of years. As a private company, Walk-On's does not share any financial information publicly. The company celebrates new openings on its website, but does not mention its many closures. Its location in Kissimmee, Florida, for example, opening in 2024 and closed less than a year later. That location was near a thriving Miller's Ale House, a busy Chili's, and a Hooters that has remained open despite the chain's struggles. The Walk-Ons had a lot of competition in that area which contains thousands of hotel rooms and rental properties serving the Orlando theme parks. It's common for most casual eateries in that area to have a waitlist even on weeknights. A number of other Walk-On's locations have also closed, according to data from Google. Waco, Texas: The Waco location closed on May 3, 2025, with no specific reason provided for the closure. Opelika, Alabama: The Opelika location closed on February 3, 2025, due to low sales. Fayetteville, North Carolina: The Fayetteville location on Skibo Road closed on May 8, 2024,Bristol, Tennessee: The Bristol location closed on February 3, 2025, with the restaurant chain confirming the permanent closure. Wilmington, North Carolina: The Wilmington location closed on May 28, 2024, with some reports indicating that employees were not paid on time leading up to the closure. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Several locations in the Myrtle Beach area also closed permanently, with the last one closing on November 4, 2024. Broussard, Louisiana: The Broussard location closed on February 3, 2025. Despite its select struggles, Walk-On's has continued to open locations during the period these (and perhaps other) locations have closed. The chain opened a new location in March. Related: McDonald's announces major store change to win back customers "Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is excited to announce the official grand opening of its newest location in Southaven, MS. The celebration took place on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 6715 Snowden Lane, Southaven, MS, 38672 and featured a series of exciting festivities that highlighted Walk-On's commitment to the community," it shared on its website. The chain also remodeled an Atlanta sports bar into a Walk-On's in January. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RIC cutting 20 degree programs due to ‘low demand'
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A group of Rhode Island College students and faculty members gathered Thursday outside the R.I. State House to voice their disapproval with planned cuts at the school. RIC's president, Dr. Jack Warner, announced in a letter that 20 degree programs will be suspended due to low enrollment, while 15 more will be consolidated. The cuts are effective this fall, but Warner said students currently enrolled in the affected programs will be able to complete their degrees. According to data provided by RIC, some of the majors being cut have had only a handful of completions in recent years, while others haven't had any at all. They include art and music education, creative writing, French and Portuguese. Warner said the school conducted a thorough review of its programs to weed out those with 'very low demand.' 'For bachelor's degrees, any program that graduates fewer than eleven students a year for three consecutive years should be subject to review. For master's degree programs, the threshold is fewer than six graduates for three consecutive years. All programs falling below these benchmarks were included in this review process,' he wrote in the letter. See the full list of affected programs at the bottom of this article. Students who attended Thursday's rally said they're frustrated that they didn't have any input during the process. They're also troubled about the types of programs being cut. 'In national higher education, we are seeing a growing desire to cut the liberal arts in favor of pre-professional careers,' one faculty member said. RIC student Judy LaRose told 12 News she isn't just upset about the cuts, but also the lack of warning. 'I was shocked. I was surprised because of the lack of communication leading up to,' LaRose said. 'I just think that there could have been a lot better communication to the students and to the professors. I think we deserved that as the student body of RIC.' 'This news may come as a surprise to some members of our campus community, and I understand that change of this kind is often a source of trepidation,' Warner wrote in the letter. 'I can't emphasize enough that this work should be a regular part of our housekeeping processes; it only seems new and novel because it has not been done for so long.' No faculty positions are expected to be impacted by the cuts, according to Warner. He said the college will next be meeting with leaders of the affected programs to 'hear any concerns.' 'This is not easy work, but it is important,' Warner added. 'The result will be a stronger, more effective and more efficient institution that better serves students and produces more graduates prepared to help power our state.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rhode Island College earns top federal marks for cybersecurity program
Gov. Dan McKee and Rhode Island College President Jack Warner are seen at an event announcing the school's designation as a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) As higher education faces potential cuts to federal funding and grants, Rhode Island College (RIC) just received a prestigious recognition to help boost its cybersecurity program's access to federal money and support. The National Security Administration (NSA) affirmed RIC as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, the school announced at an on-campus event Monday. The NSA award is given to schools that meet high standards for cybersecurity education, and gives schools additional grant opportunities via the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation. Schools may choose from one of three specialties within the designation, and RIC's program falls under the 'cyber defense' banner. The specific program recognized at RIC is a Bachelor of Arts in computer science with a minor in cybersecurity. RIC's cybersecurity major, which was added to the school's offerings after the minor, is eligible to be considered for the NSA branding starting in 2026. 'This recognition tells the world that Rhode Island College is the gold standard for cybersecurity education,' RIC President Jack Warner said at the event. 'Our graduates will enter the workforce prepared to tackle the complex digital challenges of the next century.' The cybersecurity minor is part of the school's Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies, which opened in 2023. Warner was joined by former U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, who chairs the Institute, and a sampling of Rhode Island's elected officials, including all four of the state's Congressional delegates plus Gov. Dan McKee, state Sen. Lou DiPalma of Middletown and Marianne Raimondo, dean of the business school at RIC. Langevin, who formerly sat on the U.S. House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, was praised by his former colleagues as a keen observer and early evangelist of cybersecurity's importance within government. 'This day should probably be known as Jim Langevin Day,' Sen. Jack Reed said during his turn at the podium. 'Jim was one of the first members of Congress to recognize the criticality of cyber in our daily lives.' Delegates emphasized the need for a workforce well-trained in the art of defense. U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner pointed to China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as significant sources of cyber threats. In his time on the Committee on Homeland Security as well as its cybersecurity subcommittee, Magaziner said he's learned a lot about other nations' interest in cybercrime. 'The Chinese government employs literally tens of thousands — not hundreds, not thousands, but tens of thousands of people — whose whole job is to go to work every day and try to hack into the systems of the United States,' Magaziner said. 'And when I say hack into systems in the United States, I don't just mean the Pentagon or government systems. I mean water, sewer, electrical grids, Air Force … just the scale of it is unbelievable.' Langevin, himself a RIC graduate, acknowledged his emphasis on cyber during his time as a congressman. 'I cannot think of a more meaningful way to continue my career in cybersecurity policy than to help craft the way we train the next generation of cyber security professionals, cyber defenders,' Langevin said. The federal designation is another show of support for the institute, following voter approval last November of a ballot question that authorized bond spending for capital improvements at RIC and University of Rhode Island. RIC is using its $73 million share of the nearly $161 million bond to turn Whipple Hall into a dedicated home for the institute, which will include new spaces for students to learn cyber defense techniques. That includes an IBM Cyber Range, which simulates cyberattacks so students can learn how to respond in real time. Construction is currently underway and is expected to be ready by the time the academic year starts in the fall. After the speaking program, Suzanne Mello Stark, chair of the Computer Science and Information Systems department at RIC, called the designation 'really exciting…It means that we are vetted. Our students are vetted,' she said. 'So if they go apply for jobs in cybersecurity, they will see that they come from a school that meets the requirements of the National Security Agency.' Stark pointed to the federal Scholarship for Service Program as one benefit of the designation. The program lets students get a scholarship, a stipend, and job experience working in government cybersecurity positions ranging from federal roles to tribal positions. Douglas Alexander, the institute's director, said the designation was a bright spot amid recent funding woes nationwide. 'When it comes to the military and cyber security, I think we're all in agreement that this is an important program to keep going and to keep supporting the nation, and I don't think there's a lot of partisan politics involved in that,' he said. And it's not just the federal government that needs workers with strong information technology skillsets, Alexander said. Smaller government entities often need competent IT professionals the most, and usually can't afford dedicated cybersecurity positions like larger companies can. Having previously worked in a municipal role in Warwick Public Schools, Alexander said he 'knows that feeling of being pulled in a million different directions.' 'The contrast between the commercial sector and the public sector is really stark, and we really need to do a lot to close the gap,' Alexander said. 'Really fundamental IT skills are also something that the state lacks, just in head count, just in personnel. The IT folks that we have are brilliant. I know a lot of them, and they are working really, really hard … but we just don't have enough of them.' Students learn the ins and outs of basic network security in the school's cyber program, Alexander said, with the hope they'll be able to tackle positions ranging from municipal IT officer to cyber analyst at large corporate firms. And he hopes the new cyber range will facilitate more of these connections between industry, government and higher ed, especially once construction is complete and people know what the space is capable of. 'That kind of cross pollination … is our secret weapon here in Rhode Island, because we can all travel to one place in a day, unlike a lot of states, where you see each other once a year,' Alexander said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Community Focus: RIC President Jack Warner
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Jack Warner, the recently inaugurated president of Rhode Island College, joined 12 News at 4 to talk about the school's 2025 priorities, its Hope Scholarship, and trends in higher education. Watch the full interview in the player above. Community Focus: RIC President Jack Warner January 29, 2025 Community Focus: Seismologist discusses Maine earthquake January 28, 2025 Community Focus: What's being done to improve maternal health? January 27, 2025 Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
