Donald Trump to skip Kennedy Center Honors awards program
In a break with tradition, President Donald Trump and the first lady have decided not to participate in events for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors arts awards so honorees can celebrate “without any political distraction,” the White House announced Saturday. The Kennedy Center said it respected Trump’s decision and the show will go on. Past presidents and first ladies traditionally host a White House reception in the hours before the Kennedy Center gala, which they would then watch from seats high above the stage. This year’s honors are to be awarded Dec. 3. The Trumps reached their decision Friday, said a White House official who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. It was made the same day that the entire membership of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities resigned to protest Trump’s comments about last weekend’s demonstrations by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia. The president has blamed “many sides” for the violence that left an anti-racism activist dead. Trump has had a long and contentious relationship with the arts world and some Kennedy Center honorees, who are being recognized for lifetime achievement in their fields, already had said they would not attend the White House reception. One honoree, television writer and producer Norman Lear, had also questioned whether Trump would want to attend the gala, “given his indifference or worse regarding the arts and humanities.” Trump has recommended defunding the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dancer Carmen de Lavallade said on her website this week she was honored to be recognized, but would not go to Trump’s White House. “In light of the socially divisive and morally caustic narrative that our existing leadership is choosing to engage in, and in keeping with the principles that I and so many others have fought for, I will be declining the invitation to attend the reception at the White House,” she said. Singer Gloria Estefan earlier had said that she would set her personal politics aside to accept the honor, now in its 40th year. She said the image of a Cuban immigrant, like herself, being honored is important when Latino immigrants in particular have “taken a beating in the recent past.” Estefan once hosted a Democratic fundraiser attended by President Barack Obama. She said she and her husband, Emilio, are not affiliated with a political party. The other honorees are hip-hop artist LL Cool J, who had yet to say whether he would attend the White House reception, and singer Lionel Richie, who described himself as a maybe. Representatives for both celebrities did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday. Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein and President Deborah F. Rutter said they respect Trump’s decision. “In choosing not to participate in this year’s Honors activities, the administration has graciously signaled its respect for the Kennedy Center and ensures the Honors gala remains a deservingly special moment for the honorees. We are grateful for this gesture” they said in a joint statement. The honorees, announced earlier this month, will be celebrated at a Kennedy Center gala in December, featuring performances and tributes from top entertainers that will be nationally televised. A traditional State Department reception and awards dinner Dec. 2 will be held as planned. Rubenstein and Rutter said all five honorees were expected at both events. The White House said Trump and first lady Melania Trump “extend their sincerest congratulations and well wishes to all of this year’s award recipients for their many accomplishments.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Blake Dowling: The official column of hotel tech, Tally, Japan and the FBI
This past weekend, I attended the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Conference. As usual, it was a very positive experience. It was my 11th consecutive conference, and to be surrounded by so many clients, elected officials, and business partners all in one place is a rare opportunity. Putting differences aside, you can spend a weekend together pushing forward the agenda of making North Florida a better place. People on different sides of the political aisle, business rivals, competitors – everyone taking a moment to step away from their divisions and focus on what can bring us together. The only oddity there was that it was recently revealed an undercover FBI agent visited the conference last year posing as Mike Miller, a developer. Hopefully, all those in question will be vindicated as Tally is taking a brand hit with its high crime rate and these investigations. Emcee Gary Yordon defused the events in question lightning fast. Yordon put some lipstick on the situation with a hilarious introduction. He asked all elected officials to stand; next, he asked all Leadership Tallahassee graduates to stand; then (drum roll) he asked all “undercover FBI agents” to stand. ZING. So the elephant in the room became more like a Pomeranian in the room; still there, but small and annoying, versus large and in-charge. Gary, the staff at the Omni and the team at the Tallahassee Chamber did a first-class job with the event. Well done. As with any trip, I try to keep an eye on any new tech innovations in the hotel industry, and this weekend, I spotted a winner — a full miniature keyboard on the back of the remote control. Why is this not the standard? It takes forever (or at least 15 to 20 seconds) to type in a show name on a standard remote with its numbers pad for a Netflix or Xfinity search. So, the keyboard is a game changer. Just like a TV in the mirror spotted at a Marriot earlier this year; the world needs this now. OK, so these are “cool,” but I cannot talk about hotels any further without leaving the world of FBI, the Chamber, business and politics. Now to go across the world to our friends in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. New tech in hotels is pretty neat, but what about a whole hotel that bursts with tech. Meaning a hotel run by artificial intelligence. It’s not in beta mode, it’s not some wacky idea, it is open right now and can be yours for $350 (U.S.) for a two-night stay, according to booking.com. The Hotel is called “Henn-na Hotel” and it is in Sasebo, Japan. The neighborhood is a Disney-like area, complete with all sort of theme parks. Hotel owners claim it to be the most efficient hotel in the world. You are checked in by creepy, I mean, cutting-edge fem-bots or dino-staff. Most of your interactions are with AI. The hotel claims it is 90 percent automated. For example, there is a wacky little robot in your home that helps with wake-up calls, air conditioning, etc. There is also a robot porter, automated cleaning service, and even a robot arm that passes for a coat check. (They do not mention a robot bartender, there is a missed opportunity for awesomeness. I think a Godzilla AI bartender would be cool.) Moving on … there are a handful of humans on staff in case something goes south, which is reassuring. There are not even keys in the hotel, the doors are AI doors with facial recognition functionality built-in. This hotel has horror movie written all over it. Keenen Ivory Wayans (who wrote Scary Movie) Are you listening, man? This script writes itself. Once you check-in, THEY will not let you check out … The world might not be ready for AI hotels, but the world does not ask permission; it just keeps rolling along, disruption, conferences, scandals, robot hotels, elections, North Korean threats, FBI investigations and everything else. Keep your nose clean and buckle up. ___ Blake Dowling is CEO of Aegis Business Technologies and he gave six back-to-back presentations on cybersecurity at the previously mentioned conference, so his voice is shot. Email, please; don’t call with questions.
Email insights: Conservative PAC makes a case for Roy Moore in run-off race
Days after former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore took home the most votes in the Republican primary, advancing to the run-off election and potentially moving one step closer to the U.S. Senate, one PAC is making a case for why he should win the run-off over Sen. Luther Strange. In a Friday email the conservative, Baton Rouge-based Solution Fund PAC emailed Moore’s supporters saying a Republican is expected to win the general election, but if Strange wins over Moore that it’s essentially a loss for Alabama conservatives. “How many times do we see that a Republican wins the seat, but conservatives lose it? And with our almost non-existent “majority”, we cannot afford to lose another seat,” the email read. The PAC also made the argument against Strange for accepting former Gov. Robert Bentley‘s appointment to the seat whilst investigating him. “Judge Moore’s opponent, Luther Strange, has the title of ‘incumbent’ Senator only because he was appointed by disgraced former Gov. Robert Bentley — while supposedly ‘investigating’ Bentley for the crimes that eventually drove Bentley from the governorship in shame. It’s the old boy network at its worst,” the email reads. Moore faces Strange in a run-off Sept. 26. The winner will advance to a Dec. 12 general election where they will face Democrat Doug Jones. Read the full email from Moore’s campaign below: Conservatives FINALLY won a big Senate primary: but can we hold it? On Tuesday, conservative Judge Roy Moore (“The Ten Commandments Judge”) came in first place in the Alabama GOP Senate primary, despite being slandered, defamed, and heavily outspent by liberal PACs aligned with gutless Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. But there were 9 candidates in the race, so Judge Moore unfortunately did not break the 50% barrier. That means he now faces a run-off against scandal-plagued liberal Republican Luther Strange. Please, please, PLEASE help us to make sure Judge Moore makes it through that runoff! You see, the Republican nominee is almost certain to win in November, but if Luther Strange beats Judge Moore for the nomination, it’s the same thing as losing that seat, even if Strange wins in November, as expected. How many times do we see that a Republican wins the seat, but conservatives lose it? And with our almost non-existent “majority”, we cannot afford to lose another seat. Judge Moore’s opponent, Luther Strange, has the title of “incumbent” Senator only because he was appointed by disgraced former Gov. Robert Bentley — while supposedly “investigating” Bentley for the crimes that eventually drove Bentley from the governorship in shame. It’s the old boy network at its worst. All of the solid, traditional conservatives have lined up behind Roy Moore, of course, as have celebrities like Chuck Norris and Phil Robertson. Poll volunteers handed voters a card with Franklin Graham’s words of support for the judge as well. True conservatives love Judge Moore’s unflinching support for restoring our military, repealing Obamacare, building the wall on our southern border, protecting the rights of gun owners, and smashing “Sanctuary Cities.” They especially love that he is a devout Christian and a true constitutional scholar, who will in all things respect our constitution as the Framers intended. Yes, it’s fantastic that an unflinching conservative like Judge Moore came in first in that initial primary, but it is quite ominous that Moore was outspent by McConnell and his cronies by a factor of more than twenty to one. Very, very scary numbers! If you are in a position to help us push Judge Moore past that runoff, click on this secure link to donate. Plus, we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that McConnell and company will spend even more money in the runoff now that it’s down to Strange and Moore. And we know why. They HATE anyone they know they can’t control. Judge Roy Moore is one of those rare birds who genuinely cares more about his country and the constitution than he does about pleasing Mitch or the media or the lobbyists or anybody else. In fact, he’s already proven it: twice. Judge Moore was removed from the Alabama state Supreme Court when he stood on principle and refused to allow liberals in the federal judiciary to strip Alabama state courthouses of copies of the Ten Commandments. It was an issue of state sovereignty — and the idiocy of claiming that the Ten Commandments could possibly violate anyone’s right to worship as he pleased. Judge Moore was right, of course, but the more important point is that he was willing to let that issue cost him his job as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court! He gave up that seat rather than compromise his values. How many politicians do you know who would do that? The good people of Alabama proceeded to vote Judge Moore right back onto the Supreme Court, where he ran into another matter of conscience: federal courts trying to tell Alabama that homosexual marriage had to be recognized by Alabama courts. Rather than give in, Judge Moore continued to fight the good fight. He wrote a memo to judicial officers admonishing them that they must obey the laws of the sovereign state of Alabama, rather than the federal edict attempting to create homosexual marriage. Once again they came after him and ordered that he be suspended from the court. And once again he was out of a job — rather than bend to the Left, he went down fighting, no matter what it cost him. Isn’t that the kind of approach we need in the Senate right now? Someone who cares more about his MISSION than his POSITION? A man who is willing to stand on principle rather than do as the misguided and cowardly leadership tells him? My friend, you know as well as I do that our so-called majority in the Senate is only 52 out of 100 votes, and half of those can’t be trusted most the time. The failed Obamacare vote and a dozen other similar tests have proven that we do not really have a majority. We need more seats! We may pick up a few in 2018, but Judge Moore’s
