Keynote address definition

Instagram / @__jodiii__ Sesame Place has heard all the outrage over alleged racist snubbing at the hands of some of their mascots -- and now, they're rolling out a major plan of action ... with specific steps. Park leaders announced comprehensive initiatives Tuesday to address what much of the public has perceived as intentional discrimination as it pertains to Black children ... some of whom have filmed not-so-nice encounters with costumed characters. Among things Sesame Place says it's going to implement ... an overall racial equity assessment to review what their current policies demand of staffers, plus new standard operating procedure for workers as well. TikTok/@frobabies The assessment, they say, will be done by internal and external stakeholders -- including noted leaders in the field, who'll see this through to completion to make sure SP stays on track -- and there'll also be mandated anti-bias training and an education program meant to make all … [Read more...] about Sesame Place Announces Comprehensive Plan After Character Racism Scandal

Twenty-three-time Grand Slam champ Serena Williams will retire after playing in this year’s U.S. Open this month, the tennis player says in a new Vogue magazine article and on her own social media accounts. In the Vogue article published online today, Williams dismisses the word “retirement,” preferring instead to use the term “evolution.” “I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me,” she says, specifically noting that she’ll work with her venture capital firm and devote time to her growing family. Although she did not specify a date for her departure from professional tennis in the Vogue article, she suggested on social media that this month’s U.S. Open might be her last event. “The countdown has begun,” she wrote, adding, “I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.” Williams said in Vogue that she and husband Alexis Ohanian plan to have another child: “In the last year, Alexis and I have been trying to have another child, and we recently … [Read more...] about Serena Williams Plans Retirement Sometime After U.S. Open

After a decades-long, historic run as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Serena Williams is officially walking off the court for the last time. In a new essay penned for Vogue , the athlete announced her decision to begin “evolving” out of tennis – she thinks retirement is too heavy of a term – to focus on expanding her family and business ventures. “There is no happiness in this topic for me,” she wrote. “I know it’s not the usual thing to say, but I feel a great deal of pain. It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads. I keep saying to myself, I wish it could be easy for me, but it’s not. I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.” Williams revealed that she had mulled over the decision to step away from the sport for a while. But it was her daughter, Olympia, dropping not-so-subtle hints that she wants a baby sister that helped seal the deal. Because if … [Read more...] about Serena Williams Retiring From Tennis After U.S. Open: ‘It’s the Hardest Thing That I Could Ever Imagine’

A former crewmember on the reboot of The Wonder Years has accused Fred Savage of forcing himself on her at a bar one night in a new Hollywood Reporter piece detailing some of the allegations that may have led to Savage’s ouster from the show earlier this year. Back in May, Savage was fired from his role as executive producer and director of The Wonder Years following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct. Executives at Disney, which owns ABC — the network on which The Wonder Years aired — declined to share details, though reports at the time highlighted incidents of “verbal outbursts and inappropriate behavior.” According to the new THR piece, Savage’s exit came after a group of six women who worked on the show sent a complaint to Disney and spoke to an HR executive about their concerns in February. While they all acknowledged that Savage could be kind, charismatic, and supportive, they claim he was also prone to bouts of anger and verbal … [Read more...] about Fred Savage Accused of Forcing Himself on Ex-‘Wonder Years’ Crewmember in Bar Bathroom

BritBox is hoping to carve out a niche for Anglo-centric programming in the U.S. and its boss has taken a particularly British swipe at rival streamers for their attempts. Opening the streaming service’s virtual TCA panel, CEO Reemah Sakaan took aim. “While other streamers have definitely discovered the quality and power of the British genre and in recent years, they’ve been originating some great British shows, they are accessories and not part of the core offering,” she said. “The streamers are well intentioned. However, they definitely lack a little of what we would define as the essence of British, you might hear the accent see the settings and costumes, but in reality, they’re what we would call British-ish. At BritBox, there’s no extra -ish,” she added. “We were born in America, but we’re wholeheartedly British undeniably authentically and fanatically so. British is in our brand, it’s in our name. No one can match our UK scale nor our sensibility, which are the two … [Read more...] about BritBox Boss Takes Gentle Swipe At Rival Streamer’s UK Content: “They’re What We Would Call British-ish” – TCA

The set of Justified: City Primeval just can’t catch a break. Someone on Monday night threw an incendiary device on set while production was underway in a Chicago neighborhood, Deadline has confirmed. The device did not explode and no one on the cast or crew was hurt, according to a local report. The incident happened almost three weeks after production on the FX drama was halted after two cars, whose occupants were engaged in a gunfight, smashed through the show’s barricades. No one was injured during the intrusion, though shell casings were found on the set later. The cast and crew hit the ground and took cover when the incident occurred near the city’s Douglass Park. Star Timothy Olyphant , who is reprising his role as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, was present. As a result of the incident, Sony beefed up protection on the Chicago set by adding a security team trained in high-threat situations. Deadline learned that an experienced hostage negotiator who … [Read more...] about ‘Justified: City Primeval’: Incendiary Device Thrown Onto Chicago Set; No Injuries Reported

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Google ’s move into the wireless earbuds space has been hit or miss ever since the first pair of Pixel Buds were released back in 2017. Connectivity issues, an uneven fit and subpar sound quality plagued the original Pixel Buds, disappointing fans and audiophiles alike. And, while Google substantially upped its game with the Pixel Buds A-Series , fans of the brand were still waiting for a pair of true wireless earbuds that could compete with the likes of Apple’s AirPods Pro and Sony’s WF-1000XM4 buds . Five years later and we finally have a winner. All hail the Google Pixel Buds Pro , a pair of stellar noise-cancelling wireless buds that can stack up against the competition. Amazon Buy: Google Pixel Buds Pro at $199.99 A Pop Of Color: Unboxing The Pixel Buds Pro Google’s Pixel Buds Pro are available … [Read more...] about No More Connection Drops: Google’s Pixel Buds Pro Give Apple Serious Competition

UPDATED with detailed summary of the investigation: The company that produced the ill-fated Rust movie has been slapped with a fine of $136,793 by the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau for its “willful and serious” violation of workplace safety procedures. The fine, which is the maximum allowable, follows the Bureau’s six-month investigation into the circumstances leading up to the accidental shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on October 21. “There were serious management failures,” state Environmental Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said in a video statement (watch it below), “and more than sufficient evidence to suggest that if stardard industry practices were followed, the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutching and the serious injury to Joel Souza would not have occurred. … This is a complete failure of the employer to follow recognized national protocols that keep employees safe.” Read the report … [Read more...] about ‘Rust’ Production Company Fined Nearly $137,000 For “Willful & Serious” Safety Violations: “An Avoidable Loss Of Life Occurred”

Evan Dando — Lemonheads frontman, one-time alternative rock “it” boy, and notorious hedonist whose career was the very definition of sex, drugs, and rock & roll — is set to tell his life story in an upcoming memoir. Titled Rumors of My Demise — a tongue-in-cheek nod to the seeming inevitableness of Dando’s premature death in the Nineties — the tome tracks the singer’s wild, excessive life. “My life is a muddy river. I thought I should add more dirt,” Dando said in a statement of his memoir, which he co-wrote with music writer Jim Ruland. “From starting out in Boston’s hardcore punk scene in the Eighties to becoming a Nineties icon as the Lemonheads lead singer, Dando is the embodiment of the golden age of alternative rock & roll-bacchanalian tours with the Lemonheads, two gold records, and all several lifetime’s worth of drugs, sex, and parties,” Gallery Books, the memoir’s publisher, said of Rumors of My Demise . “Dando’s memoir will set the record straight on … [Read more...] about Lemonheads’ Evan Dando Pens Memoir ‘Rumors of My Demise’

Ben Affleck just put his Pacific Palisades mansion on the market -- for a whopping $30 million -- definite proof he and Jennifer Lopez have officially shacked up together. X17 Affleck, who married J Lo back in June, listed the 7-bed and 9-bathroom home Tuesday for $29.995 million ... he bought it back in 2018 for $19.250 million. It should come as no surprise the house has plenty of space, with a massive pool and spa and 13,500-sq-ft of living space. onthejlo The timing of the sale is certainly interesting, we told you a couple months ago it appeared Ben and Jen had moved into a massive mansion , previously owned by billionaire and Mariah Carey 's ex, James Packer ... so Ben would need to unload his current crib. Gallery Launch Gallery Backgrid We're told Ben and Jen are currently leasing that home, which Packer bought years ago for $60 million ... so the lease ain't cheap. As we told you, Ben's … [Read more...] about Ben Affleck Lists Pacific Palisades Home for $30 Million