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Among the many epic box office flops listed were Marvel Studios’ The Marvels, The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom by DC, Disney’s Wish, and Migration by Illumination/Universal. Disney did especially poorly in 2023, ceding its seven-year-running box office crown to Universal. The comprehensive, 1,700-word report provided a laundry list of excuses for the Silver Screen slump. I counted seven such justifications: pandemic recovery, “the same old franchise fare,” changing audience tastes, “superhero fatigue,” a lack of consumer interest in moviegoing, an “abundance of streaming product,” and no idea really. Every reason under the sun, in other words, except the one staring all of us in the face: Hollywood went woke. Read the rest here. What do you think? Do you go to the movies less now than before? If so, why?

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Looking for a new hobby to try? Or maybe you have started something new and want to learn more about it? Or just want to find a group of like-minded people to chat with? Here is a master list of all the hobbies and groups for discussing them on Reddit. Example: ( Of course we have this cool "Clubs" feature here you could always use too! ) Check It out here.

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This film, shot in 1947, shows operations at the Spencer Co-Op and more. It was filmed by a crew from Finland. While there is narration, it's completely in Finnish. The website caption translates to:

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Governor Kathy Hochul today delivered the 2024 State of the State Address and released her “Our New York, Our Future” agenda. The State of the State includes 204 bold initiatives to make New York more affordable, more livable and safer. “The State of New York is stronger, healthier, safer and more affordable than it was two years ago when I became Governor, but there is more work to do,” Governor Hochul said. “Every proposal announced today serves to improve our state and ensure our communities are not just surviving, but that they are thriving. Our New York is our future, and the future is brighter than ever.” The agenda was revealed as follows: Fighting Crime and Keeping New Yorkers Safe Hochul's office says that since she took office two years ago, shootings and murders have declined by double digits. To build on that progress, Governor Hochul proposes: Cracking down on retail theft with a dedicated State Police “Smash and Grab” unit and an interagency Joint Operation on retail theft New initiatives from Office of Gun Violence Prevention to continue progress in fight against gun violence Providing new funding and tools to prosecutors to hold domestic abusers accountable Allowing additional crimes, such as graffiti and arson, to be prosecuted as hate crimes New legislation to crack down on illicit cannabis storefronts that undermine public health and disturb communities Treating Serious Mental Illness That Threatens Public Safety Decades of disinvestment in mental health are having a devastating effect on our State, and as a result too many vulnerable New Yorkers are slipping through the cracks. Governor Hochul proposes: Opening 200 new psychiatric inpatient beds under a multi-year expansion plan Establishing a law enforcement and mental health coordination team and funding crisis intervention training for law enforcement Improving mental health admission and discharge procedures for hospitals Funding mental health court expansion and court-based mental health specialists Increasing transitional and specialized housing Addressing The Youth Mental Health Crisis After convening New York’s first-ever Youth Mental Health Summit in 2023, Governor Hochul is recommitting her efforts to help struggling kids and teenagers by: Providing resources to schools so that every school that wants one can open a school-based mental health clinic Establishing new Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams statewide Expanding loan repayment programs for children’s mental health practitioners Pushing for the passage of legislation that would hold social media companies accountable Transforming and Strengthening New York’s Health Care System To stabilize and transform the state’s health care system, Governor Hochul announced a health care agenda that includes: Expanding affordable health care options through NY State of Health and better access to primary care Continuing aggressive efforts to combat the opioid crisis and support individuals struggling with addiction Supporting providers by launching the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program and strengthening cybersecurity Improving access to mental health and addiction services by expanding out-of-network coverage when timely appointments are not available for in-network coverage The Consumer Protection and Affordability Agenda As part of last year’s Budget, Governor Hochul secured a minimum wage increase to raise wages through 2027 and then index it to inflation – a change that began taking effect earlier this month. To build on her mission of protecting New York consumers and keeping money in New Yorkers’ pockets, Governor Hochul says she will: Propose the first expansion of New York's consumer protection law in more than 40 years Advance legislation to ensure Buy Now Pay Later loan providers treat customers fairly Expand paid medical and disability leave benefits over the next five years Eliminate co-pays for insulin cost-sharing for any New Yorker on a State-regulated health insurance plan Combat medical debt and protect low-income New Yorkers from medical debt lawsuits Addressing the Housing Crisis by Increasing Supply Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis, and will focus in 2024 on giving New York City what she believes are the tools they need to construct more housing. Proposals include: A four-part proposal to help New York City increase its housing supply by incentivizing construction of new housing, including affordable housing; encouraging affordable in office conversion projects; allowing New York City to add residential density on certain projects; and legalizing basement and cellar apartments Create a $500 million capital fund to support the development of up to 15,000 units of housing on state-owned land Strengthen the Pro-Housing Communities program by making the certification a requirement for accessing $650 million in state discretionary funding Take action to combat housing discrimination against Section 8 voucher recipients and affordable housing providers Strengthening New York’s Economy Governor Hochul says she remains committed to making New York the most business-friendly and worker-friendly state in the nation. To build on her progress toward building a 21st century economy in New York State, Governor Hochul says she will: Launch Empire AI, a first-of-its-kind consortium to unlock the economic potential of artificial intelligence Bolster state efforts to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow by establishing a network of four advanced manufacturing training centers along the I-90 Corridor in Upstate New York Grow statewide business attraction efforts with a $100 million expansion of FAST NY program to prepare sites to be shovel-ready Support immigrant entrepreneurs to drive innovation and economic growth Seek stronger protections against wage theft and child labor law violations Expand the State workforce by removing barriers to hiring qualified candidates Ensuring New York’s Clean Energy Future Is Affordable Governor Hochul’s office says her commitment to energy affordability has resulted in an average savings of $1,400 for each eligible utility customer. Governor Hochul is taking steps to expand those savings by: Introducing legislation to support responsible, equitable and effective gas system transition planning Introducing legislation to create a one-stop-shop for the environmental review and permitting of major renewable energy and transmission facilities Launching Statewide Solar for All initiative to deliver an electric bill credit of $40 per year to more than 800,000 households Protecting New Yorkers from Extreme Weather As extreme weather becomes a more frequent occurrence across the state, Governor Hochul has developed a comprehensive resiliency plan to keep New Yorkers safe, including by: Making homes more resilient, expanding voluntary buyout programs and directing the Codes Counsel to overhaul building codes design Protecting communities through major investments in statewide disaster response and equipping localities with new tools Responding to extreme heat through funding for cooling capacity at schools and supplying air conditioners to medically vulnerable New Yorkers Repairing aging infrastructure and making State agencies more sustainable and climate resilient Conserving New York’s Extraordinary Natural Resources To build on the success of the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and water funding programs, Governor Hochul is moving forward with transformative environmental protection plans including: Planting 25 million trees by 2033 with a focus on urban areas to mitigate extreme heat Protecting clean water and introducing new initiatives to assist municipalities in meeting their drinking water and clean water funding needs. Protecting our lakes by directing key investments to address the root causes of harmful algal blooms NY SWIMS: the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming Better Transit, Safer Streets Governor Hochul's office says she has made transformative infrastructure investments that will transform the way New Yorkers live, work and get around. As part of the State of the State, she is proposing: Planning the expansion of the Second Avenue Subway to Broadway Moving forward to the engineering phase of the Interborough Express Combatting fare evasion by drivers and subway riders Providing New York City with tools to lower its own speed limits through “Sammy’s Law” Expanding Access to Affordable, High-Quality Higher Education Governor Hochul says she is committed to supporting public higher education and helping students access a high-quality, affordable education. In the 2024 State of the State Governor Hochul is proposing: Offering direct admission to high achieving students from the top 10 percent of New York high school classes to SUNY and CUNY campuses New legislation requiring school districts to ensure every high school senior completes the FAFSA Ensuring eligible students take advantage of SNAP benefits to address food insecurity among college students Boosting college student voter participation by having SUNY and CUNY provide information about voter registration in various campus information packets "Back to Basics" Plan to Improve Reading Proficiency The reading curriculum taught in many schools for the past two decades has been proven to be ineffective -- especially for students with dyslexia or who are learning English as a second language. Governor Hochul is proposing: Her "Back to Basics" reading plan to take statewide action to ensure that every school district utilizes instructional best practices grounded in the evidence-based Science of Reading approach. A $10 million investment to train 20,000 teachers in “Science of Reading” instruction A SUNY and CUNY Microcredential Program for teachers to ensure the next generation of educators utilizes evidence-based best practices Boosting college student voter participation by having SUNY and CUNY provide information about voter registration in various campus information packets Supporting New York’s Children and Families As New York's first "mom governor", Governor Hochul is proposing a comprehensive approach to protect New York’s children and families. This includes: New $7 billion Medicaid initiative secured from the Biden Administration Six-point maternal and infant health agenda Increase access to high-quality child care and provide new grants and incentives to providers Working with the federal government to provide continuous Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for eligible children up to age six Securing $200 million in federal funding for nutrition assistance from the USDA’s Summer EBT program $50 million anti-poverty pilot program targeting cities in Upstate New York with high poverty rates Fostering an Inclusive New York At a time where hate and bias crimes are increasing, the governor says New Yorkers must stand together. Governor Hochul is proposing: Expanding support for New Yorkers with disabilities through increasing integration, employment and independent living opportunities New commitments to First Nations, including expansion of dental care Taking action to strengthen data privacy for abortion providers Strengthening services for LGBTQ+ and TGNCNB New Yorkers Expanding mental health support for and recognition of New York State’s veterans Strengthening New York’s Agricultural Industry Proposals to boost New York’s dairy and agricultural industry will promote a more resilient future for the state’s agriculture, food and forestry sectors. These proposals include: Financially bolstering New York’s dairy industry A full suite of workforce strengthening tools created and managed by Cornell University’s Agricultural Workforce Development Program Promoting a One Health approach Increasing youth agricultural leadership and education opportunities Growing New York’s bioeconomy Launching a blue food transformation Inspire Stronger Communities Through Office of Service and Civic Engagement Led by Lieutenant Governor The brand-new Office of Service and Civic Engagement within the Lieutenant Governor's office will preside over a statewide strategy to create accessible public service opportunities. The Office will launch an Empire State Service Corps Program in partnership with SUNY, modeled after the California College Corps, to connect students with opportunities to serve their communities. Service opportunities could include tutoring school-aged children, distributing meals to those in need, and taking climate action.

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Here's a couple more from Reddit: And this one got a lot of mentions:

This could soon trickle down to school board members as well: A California couple sued two school board members who blocked them on Facebook after they made critical remarks. OsakaWayne Studios via Getty Images by Charles J. Russo, University of Dayton If a school board member has a social media account, would it be wrong for them to block someone and delete their comments? That’s a question the Supreme Court has decided to take up after public officials, including two school board members, blocked constituents from seeing their accounts or removed critical comments. At stake is what constitutes state action – or action taken in an official governmental capacity – on social media. Under the First Amendment, officials engaging in state action cannot restrict individuals’ freedom of speech and expression. A ruling in the case, likely to come in spring or early summer 2024, could have broad implications for American society, where nearly three-fourths of the population use social media in their daily lives. The ruling could also establish whether social media accounts of public officials should be treated as personal or governmental. In a joint oral argument, the Supreme Court heard two separate cases on the matter, including the one involving school board members, in late October 2023. Interestingly, lower courts reached opposite outcomes, prompting the question of whether a post on a personal social media page can be considered state action. The school board case Beginning around 2014, two school board candidates in the Poway Unified School District in San Diego created Facebook and Twitter, now X, pages as part of their campaigns for office. They continued to use them after they were elected to communicate with residents and seek their input. In 2017, the school board members blocked a couple with children in the district from commenting on their pages. Christopher and Kimberly Garnier repeatedly posted criticism on those pages over such issues as the board members’ handling of race relations in the district and alleged financial wrongdoing by the then-superintendent. The Garniers responded to being blocked by filing a lawsuit. In the resulting case, O'Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed that the two school board members violated the Garniers’ First Amendment rights to free speech and expression. The court rejected the board members’ claims that their accounts were private because they were not controlled by their boards and their posts were not directly related to their official duties. Christopher and Kimberly Garnier. Courtesy of Cory Briggs The 9th Circuit judges made three points in ruling that the board members violated the First Amendment. First, the pages identified the board members as government officials and displayed their titles prominently. Second, the social media accounts provided information about school activities. And third, the board members solicited constituent input about school matters on the social media pages in question. However, the court concluded that the board members were not liable for monetary damages. This is because at the time the school board members blocked the Garniers, no court had yet established whether the First Amendment applies to public officials’ speech in the context of social media. It was – and remains – a new frontier in the law. Critical comments over COVID-19 Conversely, in a similar case in Port Huron, Michigan, the 6th Circuit made the opposite ruling. Years before he was appointed city manager in 2014, a man named James Freed created a personal Facebook page that he eventually made public when he reached the limit of “friends” allowed on Facebook. Once in office, he used the page for both personal and professional reasons, posting updates about his family as well as policies he was working to implement. During the pandemic, constituent Kevin Lindke posted on Freed’s page, criticizing his handling of the public health crisis. Freed deleted Lindke’s comments and blocked him from the page. Lindke sued. In Lindke v. Freed, the 6th Circuit affirmed that Freed did not violate the First Amendment in deleting and blocking Lindke’s comments. And like the 9th Circuit in O'Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier, the court concluded that people’s First Amendment rights to comment on public officials’ social media pages had not yet been established. The 6th Circuit ruled that Freed posted on his social media page as a private citizen, rather than as a governmental official. The court determined this for three reasons. First, no state law required him to run a social media page. Second, state funds and resources were not used to run the page. And third, the page belonged to Freed as an individual, rather than to the office of city manager – unlike the @POTUS page on X, for example. Therefore, the court concluded that the postings did not constitute state action subject to the First Amendment. In April 2023, the Supreme Court agreed to intervene in both cases. The future of the cases Both cases not only have consequences for citizens’ First Amendment rights but also for social media companies and users. The Court may decide whether social media platforms such as Facebook and X can be liable for allowing a public official to block private citizens from commenting on their accounts. These cases might also establish rules and standards about how public officials can control their social media accounts and the role of the courts in these disputes. In a brief supporting the city manager in Lindke v. Freed, the U.S. Department of Justice basically argued that if the government neither owns nor controls the personal social media accounts of public officials, their behavior on the platforms “will rarely be found to be state action.” The DOJ added that preventing public officials from blocking some messages might make them less willing to speak out about important issues. They warned that this could reduce, rather than enhance, free speech and discourse on matters of public interest, whether in schools or other agencies. On the other hand, organizations such as the ACLU argue that allowing public officials to restrict comments on social media would be detrimental to democracy by limiting free speech. “The upshot of the government officials’ argument is that they should have a constitutional blank check to silence or retaliate against their constituents for expressing disfavored viewpoints on social media,” the ACLU wrote about the two cases. “This would give officials a way to short-circuit our most fundamental First Amendment protections.” Depending on how the court rules, social media may be headed into a new era of who can access and comment on the accounts of public officials. Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

This week Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled her Back to Basics plan to improve reading proficiency in New York as a part of her 2024 State of the State. To transition New York to reading instruction that teaches students the foundational skills they need to become proficient readers, Governor Hochul will introduce legislation that ensures evidence-based best practices are used throughout New York. “Reading is the foundation of our education system, but New York State is currently not meeting basic reading proficiency levels,” Governor Hochul said. “We cannot continue to allow our kids to fall further behind by utilizing outdated and discredited approaches to reading comprehension. Our Back to Basics initiative will reset how schools approach reading, returning to scientifically proven techniques. Along with investments in teacher training programs, we are tackling this issue head on to make sure our teachers and kids are set up for success.” The ability to read by third grade is an important indicator of a student’s future success. Students who do not achieve proficiency by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school, with dropout rates even more pronounced for students of color and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, failure to ensure reading proficiency at an early age has a cascading effect, potentially derailing a student’s academic trajectory, impacting future earning potential, health, and wellbeing. Recognizing the urgent need to improve reading proficiency and ensure student success, more than 30 states have transitioned to a ‘back-to-basics’ approach. The "new" approach will actually look quite familiar to many over the age of thirty, as it incorporates phonics which was taught until about twenty years ago. “There was this idea about 20 years ago. They thought, ‘Hey, there's a whole different way of learning. Why don't we just put kids in a room with books? And they'll figure it out,’” Hochul said. “Let's teach the kids what they mean. And that's the difference that has not been taught.” Governor Hochul’s Back to Basics  reading plan takes statewide action to ensure that every school district utilizes instructional best practices grounded in the Science of Reading. Governor Hochul will seek passage this year of legislation to require that the State Education Department (SED) promulgate instructional best practices in reading instruction, and that school districts adopt those practices. This approach includes teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension. By September of 2025, all school districts will need to certify with SED that their curriculum, instructional strategies, and teacher professional development align with all elements of the instructional best practices. Governor Hochul also announced $10 million for teacher training programs to ensure teachers are prepared to utilize evidence-based standards in the classroom. The New York State United Teachers and the United Federation Teachers have already begun training thousands of teachers in the Science of Reading, and this funding would support the training of 20,000 additional teachers and elementary school teaching assistants. 

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