Latest news with #Swinford
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Conor Walsh: Selected Piano Works review – Quietly persuasive, impressively original of the late Mayo musician
Conor Walsh: Selected Piano Works Director : Keith Walsh Cert : 12A Starring : Conor Walsh Running Time : 1 hr 5 mins There is a great deal about minimalism in this calming documentary about the late musician Conor Walsh . Over a series of interviews the softly spoken subject explains, in appropriately halting language, that he takes the same restrained approach to life as he does to music. Much of the composition was done in the rundown hotel his family once ran in Swinford, Co Mayo . He tells us how 'one hook leads to another' until, ultimately, the first hook is discarded and a fluvial repetition emerges. For the most part, however, his analysis focuses on what he and his music don't do. Late on, he notes that Dustin O'Halloran, of the influential ambient masters A Winged Victory for the Sullen, has synaesthesia, a condition that causes him to see music as colours. Walsh then notes that this is something he himself does not actually experience. READ MORE Few listening to the music will be much surprised by his confessed early influences: Erik Satie, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Aphex Twin. (It would be astonishing if he hadn't mentioned those musicians.) The sense throughout is that Walsh would rather not have to explain how his art works. [ 'It's a shame he's not around to see this' – an album found on Conor Walsh's laptop Opens in new window ] This could prove frustrating, but Keith Walsh 's film subtly works these conversations into a wider aesthetic that hums and throbs to rippling piano refrains. Often surprising images – tears upon a cheek, a hand by a stretch of barbed wire – suggest emotional connections without demanding the music be fitted to unintended interpretations. The director made his film for the Arts Council 's Reel Art scheme, and, like so many fine projects in that strand, it feels no pressure to conform to conventional expectations. Much of Selected Piano Works (the title is a clue) functions as a soothing audiovisual staging of the works themselves. Some feature piano alone. Others insinuate electronic seasoning. Many of those sequences could work in a gallery-based setting, but the film is also a touching study of a fascinating, if allusive, personality. Walsh's is the only voice we hear, and although he is elliptical about the music, he has much to (gently) tell us about a life lived under the cultural radar. He died , at the desperately young age of 36, from a heart attack, in 2016. One can hardly imagine a better memorial than this quietly persuasive, impressively original project. In cinemas from Friday, August 8th
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Blanchard man admits to ISIS-inspired terror plot against OU stadium, child pornography charges
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A 20-year-old Blanchard man is facing up to 45 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to plotting a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS and downloading child pornography, while living a double life, his family was seemingly unaware of. Federal court documents unsealed this week, obtained by News 4, reveal disturbing details about the allegations against 20-year-old Landon Swinford, who admitted to federal authorities that he wanted to carry out an attack at the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in 2023. According to the FBI's newly-released affidavit, when Swinford wasn't busy telling people online to 'spice up your autumn with some cold-hearted Jihad' while scouting places to attack and make himself 'a martyr for the cause of Allah' — he was downloading and watching child pornography, and going out of his way to keep the childhood bedroom he still lived in at his parents' home clean of evidence, so he wouldn't get grounded. OBN arrests man for trafficking, exploitation of a minor The affidavit says FBI investigators first began investigating Swinford in this all in May 2023, when Swinford connected online with an undercover FBI agent posing as a member of ISIS. Swinford sent the undercover agent and other online users messages telling them he'd recently converted to Islam and hated America because: 'I cannot go anywhere without seeing homosexuality,' 'They [America] killed many Muslims and tried to end the Islamic State,' 'They are making it where killing babies is okay,' 'Men who pretend to be women are being allowed into women[s] restroom[s],' America does not follow Sharia Law. He sent the undercover agent pictures of himself in front of an ISIS flag and a video of himself pledging his allegiance to ISIS while holding up a knife and burning an Israeli flag. He later sent a written manifesto declaring, 'I do not care if the world makes me a terrorist, I will cast terror for the sake of Allah.' Court documents say Swinford asked the undercover agent to go with him overseas to train with ISIS. Landon-Swinford-AffidavitDownload He told the agent if that wouldn't be possible, he wanted to 'create a battlefield here,' adding, 'If I can't go to Syria for jihad, I'll just go to Walmart.' He brainstormed potential attacks, initially suggesting running over gay people with his car—until learning it would 'only be big enough to run over six homosexuals' and 'that would not be enough homosexuals.' The FBI says he turned his focus toward OU's football stadium after his grandparents took him to a game in September 2023, texting the undercover agent he 'looked at the barricades and security and thought the stadium could be a potential target for an attack.' The same stadium was the site of a bombing scare in 2005, when an OU student set off a bomb nearby during a crowded game, killing only himself. After that, OU stepped up security, adding more cameras and requiring bag searches at entry gates. In a statement Tuesday, an OU spokesperson told News 4: We are aware of the recent federal court filings and take any potential threat to our community seriously. The safety and security of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors will always be our highest priority. OU has long implemented robust security protocols at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, including metal detectors, surveillance, trained personnel, and other layered safety measures. We are grateful for the work of law enforcement and continue to work closely with them to ensure the safety of our community. Spokesperson for University of Oklahoma Meanwhile, FBI investigators say Swinford ultimately set his targets on New Orleans, where he planned to bomb the 'Voodoo Temple' on Mardi Gras in 2024, and later flee on a cargo ship to the Middle East—even planning to wire the undercover agent money as a down payment for the travel costs. Throughout all this, Swinford worried about what would happen if his parents found out, saying he 'believed he would get in trouble' with them. The affidavit says he asked the undercover FBI agent if he could 'just use cash instead of a debit card because' to send the down payment for travel expenses, because he 'did not want his mother to see charges in his bank account.' Investigators say Swinford told the undercover agent his mother 'must have found' Islamic garb in his bedroom after she entered it in search of a Halloween costume for his younger brother. State of Oklahoma executes death row inmate John Hanson The affidavit says he told investigators he would 'lie to his parents and state the [garb items] were for a Halloween costume.' Ultimately, Swinford told investigators his 'parents confronted him after discovering the kufi in his room. Mr. Swinford said he initially lied to his parents and told them the [garb] was for a Halloween costume,' but 'eventually told his parents he was in contact with someone he believed to be a member of ISIS [the undercover agent]. Mr. Swinford said his father asked Mr. Swinford to give his cellphone to him. Mr. Swinford said he gave the cellphone to his father willingly because he believed giving up the cellphone was the best way to get out of the situation. Mr. Swinford's parents gave Mr. Swinford a new cellphone with a new number as a replacement to his original phone.' It wasn't over just yet. In March 2024, investigators got a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Swinford's IP address had been used to access child pornography. Swinford later admitted everything to investigators. When they asked if he really would've carried out an attack if he had the money, he told them, 'Sadly, yes.' Swinford pleaded guilty to two federal child pornography charges and a terroristic threat charge. In total, he could get anywhere from 25 to 45 years in prison. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors will not ask the judge for the maximum sentence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Deadline nears for REAL ID requirement
Individuals have until May 7 to get a REAL ID to be able to board domestic airline flights or access federal buildings. Beginning May 7 the new high-security form of identification might be needed to conduct personal or professional business. Bethany Swinford, Muskogee Tag Agency office manager, said the REAL ID is mainly for federal use. 'You will use it mainly to fly, go into federal buildings that require a federal ID and military bases,' Swinford said. 'A non-real ID can be issued as a state ID or driver's license. Just a regular state ID will be used for identification purposes only. A regular driver's license will be used as normal just without the federal privileges.' The most common use for the REAL ID will be for airplane travel. It will be required to board a domestic flight. Service Oklahoma says on its web site that as of April 2 over two million READ IDs have been issued in the state. 'If you take a trip within the US, and you fly, you will be required to have a REAL ID after May 7,' Swinford said. 'If you are flying internationally you will need a passport.' The appearance of a REAL ID is not that different from a non-REAL ID. The one major difference is the REAL ID is marked with a gold star in the upper right corner. A REAL ID can be obtained at any Service Oklahoma location or license operator in the state. Several forms of identification will be needed when applying for a REAL ID. 'Documents that are needed would be current passport — if you do not have a current passport you will need to provide a birth certificate,' Swinford said. 'You will need any name change documents. This would include marriage license, divorce decrees if you went back to a previous name and legal name changes through the court system. You will also need to provide two pieces of mail with your name and current physical address — no P.O. boxes.' Swinford said people coming to the tag agency are asked in advance if they are there for a REAL ID. 'If you don't provide the documents needed or ask about the real ID, it may have just got missed,' Swinford said. She also said the fees for the new card is the same as the old one, '$38.50 to renew or $25 to replace and then you get your discounts when you turn 62.' 'Those reduced rates to renew are $21.25 for 62, $17.50 for 63 and 13.75 for 64 and, of course, 65 is free. If you are needing to replace and you are 62-64 that is still $25.'
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Hillsborough deputy shoots, wounds man during domestic call in Riverview
A Hillsborough sheriff's deputy shot and wounded a man who pointed a gun at him during a domestic call in Riverview early Sunday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Manuel Alvarez, 50, was in critical condition Sunday after the shooting inside a home in the 10500 block of Lake Montauk Drive, deputies said. Deputies responded about 4 a.m. to a domestic violence call at the home in the Riverview Lakes subdivision and found a woman who had been assaulted, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies learned that the woman's boyfriend, Alvarez, had beat her up and lit an artificial plant and some other items on fire in a bedroom of the home, Sheriff Chad Chronister said at a news conference later Sunday. The woman said Alvarez was upstairs and armed with a gun. A 30-second clip of body camera video released by the sheriff's office shows Deputy Shawn Swinford, 35, climbing the stairs of the home and calling out to Alvarez by name. 'Come on up, I'll shoot your ass right now,' Alvarez can be heard saying in the video. The video shows Alvarez opening the bedroom door and pointing a gun at Swinford, who takes cover behind a corner, shouts 'gun, gun,' and then fires multiple rounds at Alvarez. Alvarez can be seen crawling on the hallway floor as the clip ends. Alvarez was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition and underwent surgery on Sunday, Chronister said. Alvarez does not have a criminal history and the sheriff's office has not had any prior calls for service at the home, according to Chronister. In 2022, the Tampa Police Department took Alvarez into protective custody under Florida's Baker Act, the sheriff said. Swinford was placed on routine paid leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the shooting. Swinford joined the sheriff's office in July and has no previous use-of-force incidents with the agency, Chronister said. He has eight years of prior law enforcement experience.
