Monthly Archives: June 2017

In the main event of the night, the always solid veteran Cortez, takes on Prez Mafia. For Cortez, this is really another day at the office. He's battled a virtual who's who in battle rap, and has generally acquitted himself quite well. Unlike many of the battlers on this card, this really isn't a make or break battle for Tez', as not only does he have a long battle history to fall back on, he's booked for URL's Double Impact 2, just a few weeks later.

For Prez though, this really is a huge opportunity. Near the start of Prez's battle career in late 2013-early 2014, he had picked up a good deal of hype, with fans being very excited about the potential that he was showing. By the end of the year though, he had parted ways with URL and became a free agent. After taking a few battles on smaller platforms, Prez was exposed for lifting an entire verse from a 2007 song and using it in a battle. Obviously, this did significant harm to his standing in battle rap, and at that time it seemed as though a return to the top platform in battle rap was unlikely. Now, 3 battles into said return, Prez seeks to take his biggest step towards fully re-establishing himself in this battle. A convincing win against a respected vet like Cortez could do just that, so look for Prez to come out with something to prove.

In a matchup of two Pennslyvania emcees, Bill Collector takes on Uno Lavoz. Though many were skeptical of Lavoz when he came over to URL initially, his first two battles, against Jae Laww and Young X were actually quite well received, and it had looked like he may have found a home on that platform. This came to an abrupt halt however after a poor performance against Cortez in a battle that URL to date have not chosen to release (it happened in 2015). Since this point Lavoz has been absent from the URL stage, and is looking for a strong performance to bring him back into the fold.

So while Lavoz never quite got his footing on the URL stage, Bill Collector was at one time one of the most promising faces in the league. Part of the original (and in many eyes the best) PG class, Bill came on platform with much hype and fanfare. Despite his undeniable talent, his career on URL hit several speed bumps. From legal issues to public spats with URL management, the last few years have been a tumultous time for the Norristown emcee. With this being the second URL battle of the year for Bill, a good showing could help cement his return and lead to some bigger names in his future.

In the trailer voiceover, Beasley referred to Young Kannon and Money Bagz as being a battle of two of the most underrated emcees in the culture. Underrated has to be a difficult label for a battle rapper, it's undeniably a compliment, the statement that they are more talented than their buzz would suggest, but at the same time, it begs the question, "if they are so talented, why are they so slept on?" Ascension is a name which will perfectly fit this battle, as both guys will be seeking to shed the label "underrated" with a dominating performance that forces fans to take note of them, and the next time they're booked for a battle, we're not calling them underrated, we're calling them top tier.

The event goes down June 11 in New York City, and as always, BattleRapDotCom will be in the building. Check out the site for live updates if you can't make it out.

Predictions? Let us know in the comments below

Go here to read the rest:

URL's Ascension Goes Down June 11 - BattleRap.com

Author and activist Naomi Klein was on a visit to Sydney last November when Donald Trump shocked the US and Western political establishment by taking the White House.

"I think a great many of us felt that the world had just turned upside down, but [in Australia]I literally felt the world had turned upside down," she says, recalling that moment of supreme disorientation.

Since then, unlike many American liberals, Klein has been fixated less by the drip-drip of revelations about the Trump campaign's murky links to the Kremlin, and more with what she calls the "corporate coup" taking place under cover of the President's antics.

"I'm not saying don't look into Russia, of course that should be investigated," she told Fairfax Media.

"But to say to US voters, 'I am going to protect your jobs, I'm going to protect social security, I'm going to protect your healthcare, I'm going to stand up for the little guy, I'm going to drain the swamp - and then bring in half your cabinet from Goldman Sachs? And pass or try to pass the most aggressive pro-corporate legislation that the US has ever seen? I'm comfortable calling that a corporate coup."

Klein is speaking by phone from her native Toronto, a few days in advance of the global release of her latest book No Is Not Enough, a scathing polemic on the Trump phenomenon.

In many ways the book picks up and continues passionate campaigns she waged in previous volumesNo LogoandThe Shock Doctrine on the failings, as she sees it, of modern capitalism, andThis Changes Everything, her call to arms for urgent action on climate change.

No Is Not Enoughlooks at how the election of Trump has turbocharged those issues for the progressive movement in the US and elsewhere.

Klein's core thesis is that Trump's elevation to the apex of political power in the West is not an aberration but"the logical conclusion of the worst trends of the past half century", including rising inequality.

As a branding exercise, she writes, it's a triumph: the presidency is the "crowning extension of the Trump brand". Trump's wife Melaniaand children are "spin-off brands".

"After decades of seeing the public sphere privatised in bits and pieces, Trump and his appointees have now seized control of the government itself. The takeover is complete,"she argues.

Klein, who backed Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential nomination contest, takes plenty of swipes against Clinton in her new volume.

The presidency is the crowning extension of the Trump brand.

Controversially, she argues the Clintons helped pave the way for Trump by "blurring ethical lines" when they allowed the Clinton Foundation to accept massive donations from private and foreign government sources while Hillary was secretary of state under Barack Obama.

Challenged on this harsh judgment Klein pushes back.

"The Clintons blurred the lines, there is no doubt. But what really paved the way for Trump was the narrative of the CEO saviour," she claims.

"The idea that our problems are going to be fixed by a Richard Branson or a Bill Gates out of the goodness of their hearts, with their massive profits that they earned in very large part because of the frenzy of deregulation that took place in the 90s ... when we seriously behave as if a multimillionaire like Gates is going to fix malaria and AIDS and climate change for us, that prepares our brains for Trump's message which is, 'Sure I don't have any experience, but I'm rich so I can fix this'."

Klein is appalled by Trump's announcement the US will pull out of the Paris climate accord, but says this is largely "optics", and that the real damage is being done with dismantling of the Clean Power Plan, the centrepiece of what the US brought to Paris under Obama.

Having seen for herself the impact of coral bleaching when she visited the Great Barrier Reef during her Australian visit, she says climate change remains an "existential crisis".

"You don't get a do-over on a drowned country," is how she puts it in the book.

"In the real world, what matters more than the Trump show is how much carbon is being emitted, and the way countries which are not the US respond to this," she tells Fairfax Media.

"And I think Australia is particularly vulnerable, because you have a government that I think would be quite happy to seize on any excuse to go, 'Well, see we can't be uncompetitive.' "

If there's a silver lining for Klein in the advent of Trump, it's that he seems to be turning voters off those of his ilk elsewhere.

"It seems to be serving as a kind of warning in many places,"she says, "people going, whoa, we don't want to go down that road."

"We have seen this with the European elections, and we may well see it with climate ...it's really about how the rest of us respond."

Not Is Not Enough is released on June 13

Go here to read the rest:

Donald Trump ascension a corporate coup, says activist author Naomi Klein - The Sydney Morning Herald

SORRENTO - A total closure of I-10 eastbound ended earlier than expected - around 7 o'clock Sunday morning.

A stretch of I-10 going toward New Orleans had been closed since Friday night, the second time this year, so crews could replace an overpass that's been out of use since 2015.

The ramp being repaired is Airline Highway to I-10 westbound. It was damaged back in 2015 when a contractor that was moving large machinery, hit the ramp.

Dr. Shawn Wilson, DOTD secretary, says the same company that broke the ramp, is fixing it, and paying for it.

"It does happen where contractors are involved in accidents just like regular travelers are, in this case they did the right thing, and said look... we want to fix it for you, and we'll absorb the cost like were gonna have to pay for anyway," he said.

This same detour happened back in March, so crews could remove the ramp, and fix it, just to the side of the interstate.

"Putting it back is probably a little more complex than taking it out, because you have to make things work and you have to put it back together again to ensure its safe for users to travel under it," said Wilson.

The ramp was not in place when the interstate reopened Sunday. It's not immediately clear if crews had trouble replacing it or why it's not finished. The ramp appeared to be wedged into place Saturday, though.

I-10 will reopen Monday morning, but the ramp won't be ready just yet, it will take another month for finishing touches on the ramp.

Original post:

I-10 closure in Ascension over but ramp repair not complete - WBRZ

Bram has been in the wrestling industry for years. He has been all over the place. He has competed with WWE, Impact Wrestling and promotions like NOAH in Japan. While it seems not everything has always gone his way, he has still made a name for himself.

Bram recently appeared on the Art of Wrestling Podcast where he spoke about being in The Ascension, being suspended from Japanese promotion NOAH due to an image posted on social media, working for Dixie Carter and the success of his ex-wife Charlotte.

Bram first spoke about working for Dixie Carter, Billy Corgan and Jeff Jarrett while being in Impact Wrestling. Bram explains that Corgan is a close friend of his and is very talented. He explains he never had a problem with Dixie Carter. Finally, he respects Jarrett and is glad to have him back with Impact.

I love Billy Corgan! Hes a close friend of mine and someone I hold in high regard. His mind for the business, and business in general, is impeccable. Having him on board for the time he was with us, for me, was fantastic. Im pretty sure all the boys would agree with that too. I always liked Dixie a lot and she was good to me. I had no issues with her whatsoever. What goes on in the office or behind closed doors is not my business, nor do I put much thought into it, my job is to entertain. Anthem seem keen to get stuck into Impact and turn it around for the better, so Im all for it. Having Jeff Jarrett back is great, its his baby at the end of the day and he gets and understands the business from every angle.

Recently, Bram was suspended from a NOAH show he and Robbie E were to compete at due to a photo posted on social media of him laying on an ice-cream fridge. He spoke about this with Colt Cobana, the host of the podcast.

Robbie E and I were asked to come over to Japan to take part in the Global Tag League. Robbie and I were killing it as a team over there and had great matches. I love Japan and their style and I was excited to have the opportunity to go over there and wrestle for NOAH. Their office is great and the boys were great to us. I loved it! However, one evening, as a joke, I laid on an ice cream fridge and took a picture, which I put on my Instagram account. I was trying to be funny and meant no harm, I had no idea it would upset people, no idea! I publicly apologized for the incident to the media, but it was too late, NOAH suspended me due to the picture. I hope one day I can return to NOAH and finish what I started. I like it there. The relationship between NOAH and Impact is completely fine and theres no hard feelings. I just had no idea it would be such a bad thing and honestly meant it only to be funny. Im hoping once the dust settles I can go back, because I know they liked me.

Back in FCW and the early days of NXT, Bram was signed with WWE and was part of The Ascension, which also included Ricardo Rodriguez, who many may remember as Alberto Del Rios (now Alberto El Patron in Impact Wrestling) exclusive ring announcer. He speaks on his time as part of what was once a stable.

The Ascension was cool and I am glad I was a part of the early stages. I am still close with both guys, Konnor and Viktor. I wish them nothing but the best and success. What we did and what is on TV now is a completely different product to what we were doing when I was part of it, so I cant really comment. However, they are on TV and making money so to me that is still a successful endeavor.

Finally, he spoke on his ex-wife Charlottes progress in wrestling. He had nothing but nice things to say about her, explaining that she is the best womens wrestler in the world, even better than many of the men.

I cant say I watch a lot of womens wrestling, but I will watch if Ashley [Charlotte Flair] is on. Without sounding bias, Charlotte Flair, is my ultimate favorite. Shes the best in the world when it comes to womens wrestling. Hell, shes stepping on the dudes toes too! She has so much natural charisma, its effortless to her. Its like shes been doing it forever and shes only been doing it for a handful of years. I love watching her work.

Charlotte is scheduled to enter the first ever Womens Money In The Bank match alongside Natalya, Becky Lynch, Carmella and Tamina at Money In The Bank.

With H/T to WrestlingInc for the quotes.

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FCW Alexander Rusev Colin Cassady vs. The Ascension (June 24th 2012)

Editors Note:

Bram is a veteran in my eyes. I love what he had to say about Charlotte, despite their past. I would love to see him come back to WWE, as it has been reported in the past. Though he seems happy with Impact Wrestling.

What do you think about Bram? Did you know about the NOAH incident?Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page or Twitter account. Additionally, you can find me on Twitter at @SOSNH1995.

Read more from the original source:

Bram on Ex-Wife Charlotte, Being in the Ascension, Being Suspended and Dixie Carter - Wrestling Rumors (blog)