Latest news with #ToothFairy
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'I am very compassionate': Joni Ernst defends her 'we all are going to die' remark
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst defended her controversial statement "we all are going to die," at a town hall meeting and said that "you need to listen to the entire conversation." Speaking to CBS News on Monday, Ernst said, "I'm very compassionate, and you need to listen to the entire conversation." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During a heated town hall on Friday, Senator Joni Ernst sparked viral attention with remarks about mortality as she defended a controversial GOP-backed domestic policy bill. The legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill act—a nod to former President Trump's nickname for it—seeks to implement work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients, among other reforms. Tensions rose when Ernst attempted to explain the proposed changes to Medicaid, prompting someone in the crowd to shout that the policy would lead to deaths. Ernst elaborated that the legislation would "focus on those that are most vulnerable" and assured that "those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid we will protect." Subsequently, Ernst posted an ironic video apology on Instagram, stating, "I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth. So, I apologize. I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the Tooth Fairy as well." Her remarks drew criticism from potential electoral challengers. Democratic nominee candidate Nathan Sage accused Ernst of showing contempt for constituents, whilst State Representative JD Scholten announced his campaign launch, citing Ernst's town hall behaviour as motivation. The House legislation would implement additional Medicaid restrictions, including requirements for non-disabled adults without children to work, volunteer or study. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It also introduces more frequent eligibility assessments, reduces funding for states covering undocumented immigrants, freezes provider taxes and prohibits gender transition service coverage. The proposed modifications to Medicaid and SNAP could generate substantial savings, potentially funding extensions of Trump's 2017 tax cuts and enhanced border security measures. Ernst acknowledged at the town hall that whilst she supports certain aspects of the House-passed legislation, "the bill will be changing" as it progresses through the Senate, where some Republicans advocate for reduced Medicaid cuts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Faith Salie offers her two cents on the end of the penny
What is worthless, but priceless? Overlooked, but treasured? Ubiquitous, but ephemeral? What makes us stop in the street to transcend our pride and stoop to pick it up? It's the humble, shiny, tiny penny. The Treasury announced it will cease making new pennies by early next year. Will they disappear immediately? No. But like so many things in our lives – reliably snowy winters, face-to-face conversations, books whose pages we can turn – pennies are fading away. Before you shrug me off as a sentimental fool old enough to remember visiting the penny candy store on Cape Cod, I do understand that pennies are "outdated" and "inefficient." The government spends about 3.7 cents to make 1 penny. That's a loss of $85 million last year alone. And around half of us don't even carry cash anymore. I don't think the Tooth Fairy believes in pennies nowadays. So, canceling them makes "cents." But in a world where it seems like everyone's looking down, a penny can remind us things might be looking up ... you know, pennies from heaven? You know who was on the first penny in 1792? A woman! It was deemed un-American back then to depict a ruler on a coin, so pennies featured Lady Liberty. It wasn't until 1909 that President Lincoln's face graced the coin. His iconic profile was designed by a Lithuanian-born Jewish immigrant, Victor David Brenner, who created what's thought to be the most reproduced piece of art in history. 1943 pennies were made of zinc-coated steel, because copper was needed for World War II. Should we just throw that history away? Well, yes! As long as we imbue each toss with our wishes. "A penny for your thoughts" was coined nearly 500 years ago by Sir Thomas More, back when offering someone a penny meant their musings were really worth something. These are just my two cents, but ... nobody throws a bitcoin into a fountain. Call me a numismatic nostalgic, but in a world full of crypto and virtuality, I'll keep my eyes peeled for the tarnished, tangible, inefficient promise of luck. For more info: Story produced by Liza Monasebian. Editor: Ed Givnish. See also: Face value: Portraits on money ("Sunday Morning")Moneymakers: Artists at the U.S. Mint ("Sunday Morning") Almanac: "In God We Trust" ("Sunday Morning") The history of the penny ("Sunday Morning") The wonderfully weird world of artist Luigi Serafini Fans turn out for estate sale at home of Tom Petty Trump says Musk is "not really leaving" as DOGE savings lag behind projections
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Fans all have same reaction to Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's 'unrecognisable' look in new film
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson looks unrecognizable in the new trailer for The Smashing Machine as fans of the Hollywood heavyweight are in awe of his acting skills The trailer for the latest film featuring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has been released - and the wrestler-turned-actor is almost unrecognisable. The Smashing Machine, co-starring Emily Blunt, tells the real-life story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr during the pinnacle of his career in 2000, as he grapples with addiction, love, friendship, and the brutal world of fighting. The story is set against the backdrop of the raw and unfiltered era of mixed martial arts, and Mark's relationship with Dawn, portrayed by Mary Poppins actress Emily Blunt. In the trailer, we hear Dwayne's character proclaim: "Winning is the best feeling there is. "It's 40,000 people in there cheering you on. There's no other high like it in the world." These lines encapsulate the central themes of the movie, which delves into Mark's addiction to painkillers. Sporting a full head of hair, The Rock undergoes a dramatic transformation for the film, directed by Benny Safdie. Mark Kerr, known in the fighting world as 'The Smashing Machine' due to his formidable and aggressive style, soared to fame in the late 90s and early 2000s, reports the Mirror US. A former collegiate wrestler who transitioned into an MMA powerhouse, Mark Kerr is celebrated as a two-time Heavyweight Tournament Champion. His compelling narrative was previously brought to light in a 2002 HBO documentary bearing the same title. Scheduled for an October 3 release, the A24 movie will feature Emily Blunt as Mark Kerr's partner, Dawn Staples. Also appearing will be big names like Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, and Bas Rutten. The biopic has been in development since 2019 following Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's production company Seven Bucks securing the rights to the tale. Dwayne himself is no stranger to the world of combat sports, originally stepping into the spotlight as a WWF (now WWE) wrestler back in 1996. Given the ferocity showcased in his portrayal of Mark Kerr in the film's trailer, there are whispers of potential accolades for the superstar - already a staple in the 'World's Richest Actors' rankings - when awards season approaches. Enthusiastic fan reactions to the recently unveiled trailer hint at a warm public reception, with anticipation building to see the former wrestling champ tackle a dramatic character. One excited fan wrote: "I'm actually really intrigued by this. Seeing Dwayne doing something more serious actually looked awesome. Excited for this." Another said: "It's a unique compliment for the Rock when no one recognizes him in a film. I'm glad he challenged himself for this role. He is phenomenal in this trailer and I can't wait to see it." Another user wrote: "This is the most vulnerable The Rock has been since Tooth Fairy," and another added: "25 years of starring in films and The Rock finally makes his acting debut! I'm just glad that Dwayne Johnson finally looks like not Dwayne Johnson in a movie ffs. Makeup and prosthetics aside, will the acting actually be good? I guess we'll only know after watching the movie." Another said: "THIS is what Dwayne needed. To branch out from being a bro's bro in movies. Perfect way to cast him too, this is one hell of a story and I really feel he is bringing in his A-Game to acting for once."
Spectator
01-05-2025
- Spectator
AI killed the Easter Bunny
On the grounds of advancing age, I had decided to ignore all the chatter about artificial intelligence and devote my remaining time to things I could properly understand. Then I discovered that one of my own copyrighted properties, the fruit of a year's work, had been scraped into the AI maw without so much as a by-your-leave, and it became personal. I wrote to my MP who responded with template blandishments. This government… committed to blah blah… exciting prospects… safeguarding… potential opt-out system… a close watch, yadda yadda… Feeling impotent and no further forward, I returned to my knitting. It took the murder of the Easter Bunny to rouse me from the torpor of denial. My six-year-old grandson, hanging out with friends who knew how to question Google AI, had been informed there is no rabbit who brings chocolate eggs. It's just your parents, dumbo. They buy the eggs from the supermarket and hide them in the garden. In that moment of brutal AI revelation, I fear Father Christmas also received his P45. Likewise the Tooth Fairy. Whether this myth-busting applies to bogeymen and things that go bump in the night, I'm not sure. I do know, without consulting Google, that the ethics of terrifying today's delicate children are no longer clear. Screen monsters are probably OK but the kind of flesh-and-blood horrors I was threatened with as a child – Flannel Foot the silent burglar, the Man with the Big Stick and, most sinister of all, the Ten O'Clock Horses, who came for you if you were still playing on the street after dark – are now likely considered too horrific for tender ears.
Irish Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson unrecognisable in new role
The long-awaited trailer for The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, has finally been released - and the transformation the wrestler-turned-actor has undergone for the movie is jaw-dropping. His Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt appears alongside him in this gripping drama that tells the tale of iconic MMA fighter Mark Kerr, as he navigates the highs and lows of addiction, love, friendship, and his career during its 2000 pinnacle. The film delves into the life of the UFC champion during the raw and unfiltered early days of MMA, highlighting his relationship with a character played by Mary Poppins lead Emily Blunt. Fans get a snippet of Dwayne's portrayal when his character declares in the trailer: "Winning is the best feeling there is. "It's 40,000 people in there cheering you on. There's no other high like it in the world." These lines give insight to some of the central narratives of the flick, including a gritty look into substance misuse, with a focus on prescription drug dependency. Audiences will see a different side of The Rock, complete with a full head of hair, under the directorial vision of Benny Safdie. Named 'The Smashing Machine' due to his formidable style in the ring, Mark Kerr reached celebrity status in combat sports in the nineties and the turn of the millennium, reports the Mirror US. A former collegiate wrestler who made a name for himself in MMA, Mark Kerr is a two-time Heavyweight Tournament Champion. His journey has already been chronicled in a 2002 HBO documentary bearing the same title. The film will be released on October 3, with the cast also including Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, and Bas Rutten. This long-anticipated project began when "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks company snapped up the rights to the MMA fighter's tale back in 2019. Dwayne, having launched his career in the WWF (now WWE) in the late '90s, could be looking at an awards season flurry if the reaction to the trailer is anything to go by. The Hollywood heavyweight, often spotted on lists of the 'World's Richest Actors', might just add another feather to his cap with this role. The teaser has already sent waves of excitement through the audience. One viewer said: "I'm actually really intrigued by this. Seeing Dwayne doing something more serious actually looked awesome. Excited for this." Echoing this sentiment, another commented: "It's a unique compliment for the Rock when no one recognises him in a film. I'm glad he challenged himself for this role. He is phenomenal in this trailer and I can't wait to see it." One user joked: "This is the most vulnerable The Rock has been since Tooth Fairy," while another added: "25 years of starring in films and The Rock finally makes his acting debut! I'm just glad that Dwayne Johnson finally looks like not Dwayne Johnson in a movie ffs. Makeup and prosthetics aside, will the acting actually be good? I guess we'll only know after watching the movie." Another viewer said: "THIS is what Dwayne needed. To branch out from being a bro's bro in movies. Perfect way to cast him too, this is one hell of a story and I really feel he is bringing in his A-Game to acting for once."
