Author: Tommy

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout” showing July 12-18 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3lOdro44Zg A horrible film, an American tragedy, worldwide nightmare. Hollywood’s infamous flop, “The Conqueror,” stars John Wayne as Genghis Khan, embodying a slew of racist and sexist problems. Its enduring notoriety stems from the tragic fact that nearly half its cast and crew developed cancer, revealing a tale of government deception and negligent production choices, highlighting the devastating impact of nuclear fallout. “The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout” will be shown at the…

By Tommy Acosta He ain’t gonna do it. He ain’t gonna quit. He is in for the long run. And just because he had a bad night, doesn’t mean he can’t have a brighter day. Analyzing everything we are being fed by the media, one can tell reading between the lines that the old coot plans to make it to the finish line. The Democrats, or whoever controls the party right now, have an ace up their sleeve. They know something. They are smugly sitting on a “Trump” card and they shortly will be playing it. There is a disturbance in…

By David Stephen Advances for AI safety are not currently a problem of evaluations or benchmarks for models, since new benchmarks alone are unlikely to solve the current problems of misinformation and deepfakes—images, audios and videos. There are several present risks with AI that new evaluation methods may do little or nothing to solve. How is it possible to trace the AI source of some misinformation or voice cloning for deception? How can a post-guardrail AI model that produces a problematic output be penalized for its actions? Already there are several benchmark and evaluation rankings for LLMs. While they measure…

Sedona, AZ -Steakhouse89 in West Sedona is now hosting bands and single acts starting Sunday, July 14 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Club89 Room. Kicking off the series Is Mr. Don Julio &The Dons, featuring Dan Vega on guitar and vocals; Fernando Leon (Don Julio) on guitar and vocals; Jeff Camption on guitar; and Tina Reichew on percussion. Vega is also a well-known and respected singer/songwriter and recording artist, considered a top musical talent throughout the Greater Sedona area. The band plays a mix of Flamenco and Pop music that is all their own, interchanging originals and standards throughout their…

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “She Rises Up” showing July 12-16 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. “She Rises Up” chronicles the remarkable journeys of three women who are helping to lift their communities out of poverty through the local businesses they fight the odds to maintain. Gladys Yupanqui of Peru founded a mini-market and is looking to expand. Magatte Wade of Senegal is building a cosmetics manufacturing company. Selyna Peiris of Sri Lanka is expanding the textile company founded by her mother. Nearly one-third of all countries have…

Yavapai County News – Early voting begins Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Ballots will be mailed to voters requesting Automatic Ballot-by-Mail on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Be sure to sign your ballot affidavit envelope in your original handwriting. Voters may vote early in-person or vote a replacement ballot beginning Wednesday, July 3 – 26, 2024 at the: Yavapai County Recorder’s Office – 1015 Fair St., Prescott, M – F 8am – 5pm Prescott Valley across from library entrance – 7351 E Skoog Blvd, Prescott Valley, M – F 9am – 4pm Yavapai County Recorder’s Office – 10 S. 6th St., Cottonwood,…

… some special shots I have been working on over the weekend. In the kitchen I have a wall devoted to our cats … there are two 11 x 14 watercolors of Nimbus and Q and a photo of One and it is time for a photo of Katie to go up too. The watercolors are beautiful, but only partial heads so I have redone the image of One and completed one of Katie. That is Katie above this text and immediately below is a new photo of Katie … below Katie is a portrait of one of our Bobcats and…

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is taking its show on the road with its new “Movies on the Move” mobile movie truck and outdoor film experience … now heading to The Village! The next event of the summer will be Tuesday, July 9 at The Collective in the Village of Oak Creek, featuring the blockbuster big screen box office sensation “Hairspray”. Showtime will be at dusk (approximately 7:45-8:00 p.m.). Bring your lawn chairs and your family and friends and enjoy “Cinema Under the Stars” on the festival’s giant outdoor screen with state-of-the-art projection and sound! The festival’s…

Arizona News – There’s good news for drivers planning road trips over the Independence Day weekend this year. The Arizona Department of Transportation says no construction closures are scheduled on state highways from Wednesday afternoon, July 3, to Monday morning, July 8. While ADOT focuses on giving motorists a break from closures for improvement projects over the holiday weekend, drivers in turn should focus on safety when behind the wheel. Steps to take include checking your car’s tire pressure, engine fluid levels and getting adequate rest before starting out on a trip. Packing extra drinking water as part of an…

Arizona News – The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation for Community & Health Advancement has opened applications for its 2024 Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker grant. This year’s grant will tackle the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. The grant will provide $75,000 to a project that builds social connections and community that, ultimately, improves health. Nonprofits and schools in Arizona can apply from July 1 to July 31, 2024. In 2023, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared a national epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. The issue affects at least one in two adults in the US, impacting their physical, mental, and social…

Sedona,AZ — Greetings Sedona voters.  My name is Donna Michaels. I am currently a member and Vice Chair of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors representing, District 3, and I am running for re-election in 2024. My job as a Supervisor is centered on the unique challenges of managing growth and development in rural areas, like Sedona, Arizona. I work to balance economic growth with environmental preservation and affordable housing, while ensuring fair representation for all community members. My responsibilities as Supervisor include safeguarding consumers and protecting vulnerable populations, including seniors, and the viticulture industry, by emphasizing the importance of…

By Roseanne Jennings Sedona, AZ — Arizona is one of the hottest states in the country, and that’s something you’ll definitely feel in Sedona. In fact, NOAA’s citizen scientists recently mapped the city in 2023 to confirm that urban centers can be up to 20 degrees hotter than rural areas, as Sedona alone regularly experiences days where temperatures reach above 90 degrees. That makes it risky for the city’s many tourists, who may not have the same heat awareness as locals. However, it can even be more dangerous for residents, as the median age in Sedona is 60 years old. If…

Sedona, AZ — Spiritual care is an integral aspect of holistic well-being, addressing the spiritual dimension of health. It goes beyond traditional therapy to nurture the spirit, providing support and resources to help individuals find meaning, purpose, and inner peace. What is Spiritual Care? Spiritual care involves practices and support systems that help individuals connect with their inner selves and the greater universe. It is about nurturing the spirit, fostering a sense of purpose, and promoting overall well-being. Unlike conventional therapy, which primarily focuses on the mind and emotions, spiritual care encompasses the mind, body, and spirit, aiming for a…

Sedona News – The Rotary Club of Sedona Village launched the new Rotary year through the annual officer transition ceremony held at the home of Bob and Gayle Burns. Outgoing Club President Miki Dzugan recognized her leadership team and outlined numerous successful Village Rotary projects, including support for the Red Rock High School Interact Club, providing student summer camp scholarships, conducting a Veterans Raffle that raised $15,000 for veterans’ needs at the Prescott Regional Veterans Hospital, and continuing the development of the Rotary Community Garden. Chuck Marr was installed as the Club’s President for the new Rotary year. Chuck is…

Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to join theatres around the world to present the global 2024 encore of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” showing July 7 and 10 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. In celebration of Columbia Pictures 100th anniversary, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” returns to the big screen in theaters nationwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSpQ3G08k48 The epic Steven Spielberg film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning two Oscars for Best Cinematography and Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing (for former Sedona resident, the late Frank Warner). Richard Dreyfuss stars as cable worker…