The Daily Moth 1-2-2020
Hello, welcome to The Daily Moth! Happy New Year. Ready for news?
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Julian Castro drops out 2020 race; Trump and Dems fundraising in 4th quarter
Here are three political news briefs.
The first — Julian Castro has dropped out of the 2020 race for the White House. He used to be an Obama cabinet secretary and was the mayor of San Antonio. Castro, who was the only Hispanic candidate, said he is grateful to his supporters and would keep on fighting.
The second news — President Trump’s re-election campaign announced they raised $46 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 (the last three months). It is the highest amount raised for any 2020 candidate and the Trump team now has over $102 million in cash going into this election year. Trump will have access to even more money from the Republican National Committee and other PAC groups.
The third news is about Democratic candidates’ fundraising.
Sen. Bernie Sanders’s campaign said they raised over $34 million in 2019’s fourth quarter. It is the most any Democratic candidate has raised so far. The money came from more than 1.8 million donations with the average donation amount $18.53.
Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign announced they raised $22.7 million in the fourth quarter.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has not yet released their fourth quarter earnings. Warren did announce at the end of December that she raised $17 million and hoped to hit $20 million before the end of the year.
Pete Buttigieg’s campaign announced they raised more than $24 million.
Andrew Yang’s campaign raised more than $16 million.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s campaign raised more than $3 million.
Castro: https://www.axios.com/julian-castro-drop-out-2020-presidential-race-4d5a5928-84bb-4397-85cd-49b86866280a.html
Trump: https://www.axios.com/trump-fundraising-4th-quarter-2019-ea9e6f65-1d6b-4bb8-8ec8-dca93ea0fe3d.html
Bernie: https://www.axios.com/bernie-sanders-fundraising-4th-quarter-2019-0bac1214-2f43-44da-8b25-e980c9fba9ac.html
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/02/politics/joe-biden-fourth-quarter-fundraising/index.html
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Illinois is 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana
On New Year’s Day, Illinois became the 11th state in America to legalize recreational marijuana. There are now over 30 licensed dispensaries, most of them in Chicago and the surrounding area. There were long lines of customers and the state is expected to rake in half a billion dollars in tax revenue.
Illinois is the second state in the Midwest to permit this, as last month Michigan allowed several shops to sell recreational marijuana, with more stores set to welcome customers in 2020. Michigan was the 10th legal state.
Both states require adults to be 21 years and over to purchase cannabis products. It is illegal to bring it across state lines. Both states say it is illegal to consume marijuana in public, to drive under the influence, or to provide it to underage individuals.
The Motley Fool explained that there are six states that hope to add a recreational marijuana proposal on their 2020 ballots: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, and South Dakota.
Marijuana is still illegal on the federal level and is classified as a “Schedule 1” drug, which means it is considered very dangerous with a high potential for abuse. Marijuana, on the federal level, is considered more dangerous than cocaine or fentanyl. There are many who want Capitol Hill to change this.
A CBS News poll said in 2019, 65% of adults in America thought marijuana should be legal.
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/12/31/illinois-rings-in-new-year-with-its-first-legal-recreational-marijuana-sales.html
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/marijuana-weed-legal-midwest-illinois-michigan-932392/
https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/11/17/6-states-trying-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana.aspx
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/substance-abuse/Pages/Controlled-Substances-Not-Just-Street-Drugs.aspx
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article238886138.html
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U.K. man arrested trying to swim across border
The Detroit Free Press reported that a U.K. man was arrested on December 13 after he swam from Canada to America by swimming across the Detroit River in a wetsuit.
His name is Christopher Sagajillo (56) and he was arrested on the premises of the U.S. Steel Corp. factory on Zug Island. Border patrol agents found a wetsuit, gloves, and several plastic bags left behind by Sagajillo.
He was charged in a federal court in Detroit with unlawful re-entry to the U.S. It seems like it is his second time being busted by immigration authorities as almost ten years ago he was deported from Chicago to the U.K. for overstaying his visa by seven years.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2019/12/31/united-kingdom-man-arrested-swimming-detroit-river-canada/2784343001/
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World News: Denmark wind power; Ghosn escapes Japan; Pope loses patience
Here are three world news briefs.
The first — Denmark announced that 47% of the electricity used in the country came from wind power. They have many wind turbine “farms” in the ocean. Denmark has a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.
The second news — Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman of Nissan and Mitsubishi and Renault, escaped from Japan by secretly flying to Lebanon to avoid a trial for allegations of financial misconduct. Reports say he planned for months to arrange a private jet to take him to Turkey, then to Lebanon. Turkish authorities said they’ve arrested several people in an investigation.
The third news — Pope Francis was seen in a video slapping the hands of a woman who grabbed his arm as he greeted people at the Vatican on New Year’s Eve. The Pope said in an address on New Year’s Day that he lost patience and asked people to excuse him for the bad example.
Denmark: https://www.axios.com/denmark-wind-power-2019-offshore-orsted-vestas-b2aafc36-c8ce-42dd-aaf3-62e86bb40654.html
Ghosn: https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/02/business/ghosn-escape-japan-lebanon-raid/index.html
Pope: https://www.foxnews.com/world/pope-francis-apology-slapping-womans-hand
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Trailer for “A Quiet Place II” with deaf actress Millicent Simmonds
Today Paramount Pictures released an official trailer for “A Quiet Place II.” It is 2:37 long and the link is in the description or the transcript. It has captions.
There was a 30-second teaser video that went out on December 18. This one is the official, longer version.
The sequel is about what happened before the creatures with incredible hearing abilities took over the world as seen in the first movie, as well as what happens after the ending of the first movie.
We see from the trailer that deaf actress Millicent Simmonds is in it, which is the third time she has appeared on the big screen. She plays the character of Regan, the daughter of Emily Blunt’s character, Evelyn Abbott.
The director is John Krasinski, who also directed the first part — it was a box office success with a $340 million haul.
The sequel’s trailer was only posted today but it already has over 7 million views at the time of signing. It will be in theaters on March 20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEMwSdne6UE
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=449644629295616
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/a-quiet-place-part-2-first-trailer-emily-blunt-john-krasinski-162709893.html
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Deaf actor Troy Kostur in Star Wars: The Mandalorian
How many of you are Star Wars fans? Well, you will be thrilled to know that there is a Deaf person who has a role as one of the Tusken Raiders as part of the Star Wars canon: The Mandalorian.
(Picture of TUSKEN RAIDER SCOUT #1)
In Chapter 5 of The Mandalorian, he seeks safe passage across the lands that belong to the Tusken Raiders. The Mandalorian used sign language with one of the Tusken Raiders - it is not American Sign Language, but called Tusken Sign Language (TSL).
Tusken Raider Scout #1 role is played by Troy Kotsur, a Deaf person from California, and he is an artist in acting, directing, consulting, and other things. He has been involved with several films and TV shows such as “The Number 23” and “Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye.”
The Daily Moth reached out to Kotsur for an interview.
RENCA DUNN: You mentioned that you were a Star Wars fan since how old?
TROY KOTSUR: Eight years old! I have been a fan since that age. Remember that in the year of 1977, technology was limited and accessibility for Deaf people were limited, but that Star Wars movie blew my mind. It changed my life. Why? It was like “wet-eyes” – so visual for me. For the first 5 minutes, remember the opening of that movie? The spaceships shooting, the robots, C-3P0 scrambling, and all of that overwhelmed my eyes. I watched it 28 times. I watched the movie “Star Wars: A New Hope” 28 times.
RENCA DUNN: Oh wow!
TROY KOTSUR: My hearing parents were probably annoyed, but they were fine with it because they would go food shopping every time and then picked me up when the movie was over.
RENCA DUNN: Wow! Well, I am curious of your view on the Star Wars movies from back in the old days and up until today with all the modern technology in the movies. Do you miss the old days with how Star Wars movies were made? Or do you like the modern technology used today?
TROY KOTSUR: Good question. Good question. You would need to ask people like your parents’ age and your grandparents, what the best movie they have seen. I am sure they would say “Gone with the Wind” movie. Because it was the first movie with colors, had a swear word, and other things. So, like that- Star Wars was our first experience of seeing new things that blew my mind. I do wonder what the next generation’s movie “inspiration” would be. I am sure that is your experience too. What do you think?
RENCA DUNN: Right, that is true. We have to think about what is the “inspiration” for that specific generation. For me, my perspective, I would say…”Avengers” ?
TROY KOTSUR: Ah yes perhaps!
RENCA DUNN: I have seen people talk a lot about “Avengers: Infinity War.”
TROY KOTSUR: I want to emphasize the “wet-eyes” instead of ears because I am Deaf. You know how I feel. It is what you feel with your eyes. So, I do not blame the Deaf community, many of us love Star Wars because of a million reasons. Star Wars has amazing visuals, characters, aliens, light sabers, so colorful, and everything else!
RENCA DUNN: You say you were a Star Wars fan since you were eight years old. How do you feel about getting this role with this show?
TROY KOTSUR: Really, it is a blessing! When I was eight years old, I dreamed to be part of Star Wars. Many, many years later, almost 40 years later- it is fate.
RENCA DUNN: Kotsur mentioned that when the team got script, it mentioned sign language. One hearing person on the team knows sign language and that person mentioned that a deaf person should consult the sign language and become the role of being a Tusken Raider. Kotsur said that this is a good example for why it is important to have sign language classes for hearing people so they can become our allies for various opportunities out in the world.
We were curious about how Kotsur developed Tusken Sign Language.
TROY KOTSUR: I did research on the culture and environment of Tusken Raiders. I researched on the desert called "sand people." That is what Luke Skywalker calls them "sand people." Anyway, my goal was to avoid ASL. I made sure it became Tusken Sign Language based on their culture and environment.
RENCA DUNN: Kotsur shared what the sign name for Mandalorian is.
TROY KOTSUR: (shows sign for Mandalorian). It’s based on the helmet and the “M” handshape.
(PICTURE OF THE MANDALORIAN)
RENCA DUNN: Is there anything you want to add for our Deaf community who is watching this interview?
TROY KOTSUR: I hope that you keep telling Disney + that you want to see more sign language. I hope that the producers keep an open mind because this is just the beginning.
RENCA DUNN: Thank you so much for your time.
TROY KOTSUR: Wait, one more! I want to say “stay with the light!”
RENCA DUNN: Haha yes, right!
Right. Stay with the Light, always! Thank you Kotsur for your time.
Kotsur said that he hopes his appearance will lead to more opportunities for more Deaf actors to be part of various movies/TV shows.
You can find The Mandalorian on Disney +.
https://starwarsautographnews.com/2019/12/08/deaf-actor-makes-star-wars-debut-in-the-mandalorian/?fbclid=IwAR3docNnOiXqxC1ezkvx2yXdj9Ae17WoCEHA50lDJWWw7mzbJK7aEJeRgco
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That is all for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
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