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It is often said that the while the Velvet Underground did not sell a lot of records, everyone who bought one went on to start a band. Like the Velvet Undergound, Five-Eight ALSO didn’t sell a lot of records.

Five Eight is a four piece rock band from Athens, GA, though sometimes they were a three piece and sometimes as many as five people on-stage, depending on the weather and people’s medications.

The band’s roots go back many years, preceding the advent of Five-Eight by half a decade. The story begins in Hinman Dormitory on the campus of SUNY Binghamton in Upstate New York. The bottom floor of Hinman was populated by so many socially awkward and conversationally maladroit freshmen that the residents had been nicknamed “Jerry’s Kids” by the rest of the student body. Mike Mantione (guitar, vocals) was ambling down the hallway one afternoon when he peeked into a room and saw Dan Horowitz (bass, banjo) sitting on his bed and improvising a half-remembered version of a Ramones song on a battered, atonal acoustic guitar with a pencil for a bridge. “This is the guy,” Mantione apparently thought to himself, “that I want to play music with for thirty or so years.”

Mike and Dan eventually ended up with a handful of other exceptionally talented social misfits in the Binghamton band The Reasonable Men. The Reasonable Men went on to some local infamy as the party-rock band responsible for songs like “What The Fuck’s Wrong With My Brain?”, “Two Fat Ladies”, and “What I Imagined is a Movie by Me.” At the time, Mantione was lead guitar player and did not write songs. However, Mantione experienced a life-changing event when he had a nervous breakdown and was institutionalized for depression and psychosis. His family signed him out of the hospital against the advice of physicians and Mantione resolved to write his way through it. What followed was the first burst of songs like “Dawn of Son Melody,” “Streets of Fear,” and “Behind the Glass Wall”, all which would eventually become part of the Five-Eight repertoire.

The band had planned to move to Brooklyn as the members either graduated or dropped out of college. Dan Horowitz moved to the city and worked a part-time job while taking boxing lessons in Harlem. Mike went home to Long Island for what was supposed to be a few months, but entered a serious depression and never made it to the city. Dan Farnz, the band’s other principle songwriter, impulsively followed his brother to Athens, GA where his elder sibling was attending law school. He took all of the band’s equipment with him.

Dan Horowitz, Mike Mantione and then-drummer Mike Palmatier ended up following Farnz to Athens, ostensibly to get their equipment back, but eventually the whole band ended up living in the same small house that is shown in the movie ‘Athens, GA: Inside Out” as the one under which Dexter Romwebber lived (in the crawlspace). (Dexter had moved out, by then, of course.)

Dan Farnz left the band and the name was changed from The Reasonable Men to Five-Eight. Mike Palmatier eventually left the band as well. Local drummer Patrick Ferguson joined, first as a temporary replacement when Palmatier was greviously injured in a workplace accident at a lumber yard, then permanently when Palmatier moved back up north. The band put out two cassette-only releases (‘Passive-Aggressive’ and ‘Inflatable Sense of Self’) and began touring heavily in the Southeast with occasional trips to play in NYC.

Five-Eight’s furious live shows and growing regional following caught the attention of Sky Records, with whom they inked a deal in 1990. The band traveled to San Francisco to record ‘I Learned Shut-Up’ at Brilliant Studios with producer Norm Kerner (American Music Club, Angry Samoans). The record was released in 1992 and the band toured heavily behind it, playing over 200 shows before taking a week off to record the follow-up EP ‘The Angriest Man.’

In the weeks prior to recording sessions for ‘The Angriest Man,’ the band had been joined onstage by New Orleans guitarist Sean Dunn. Dunn, a member of the Atlanta band The Blood Poets, had befriended drummer Ferguson outside The Point, a nightclub in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta. Dunn suggested that he might jump up on stage with the band the next time they played Atlanta. Ferguson said he thought this might be a fun idea. Dunn then told Horowitz and Mantione that he was going to play a few songs with them at back-to-back shows in Athens and Atlanta. After the Atlanta show, Sean loaded his amplifier into Five-Eight’s van and joined them for a run down to Mississippi and Louisiana, telling each band member that the other band members had okayed this decision. At their sold-out show at Jimmy’s in New Orleans, drummer Fred LeBlanc (Dash Rip Rock, Cowboy Mouth) approached the band after the show, pointed at Sean and said “That guy stays. That worked.” It was about eighteen months later that the rest of the band realized that Sean had essentially conned his way into the band.

Five-Eight and Sky Records released ‘The Angriest Man’ in 1993 and ‘Weirdo’ in 1994, while the band played more than 200 shows a year, extensively touring the United States. Not long after the release of ‘Weirdo,’ Sky Records was acquired by Atlanta hip-hop label Ichiban. Relations between the band and the label went south fairly quickly.

In late 1994, the band left Ichiban/Sky and eventually signed to former Columbia President (and protagonist of the tell-all record industry expose “Hit Men”) Walter Yetnikoff’s Velvel Records. While on Velvel records, Five-Eight recorded ‘Gasolina,’ their most ambitious album yet, produced by Ed Stasium (Talking Heads, The Ramones, pretty much everybody, really). ‘Gasolina’ was released in 1997. Even with the stellar label pedigree and massive budget, ‘Gasolina’ unfortunately didn’t make a dime. The band continued on its relentless touring schedule until Ferguson announced he was burned out and bored with the whole thing and quit the band. Not long after, Dunn also left. Velvel declined to pick up the option on another Five-Eight record. For a brief moment, Five-Eight considered breaking up, then Mantione and Horowitz recruited fellow Binghamtonian Mike Rizzi to play drums.

It was in the wake of this crushing series of disappointments and disillusionments that Five-Eight wrote what is largely believed to be their most artistically complete and realized album, ‘The Good Nurse'(2000). With his marriage in tatters, his band nearly broken up, close friend and fellow songwriter Graham King undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Mantione wrote a searing and gorgeous conceptual album about illness, hospitals, dying, and broken families. It was celebrated by NPR, Spin Magazine and Alternative Press as Five-Eight’s greatest work.

Five-Eight soldiered on, continuing to tour and write, releasing the self-titled album ‘Five-Eight’ in 2004. Five-Eight refers to the self-titled album as “The Black Album” (a conscious reference to the movie ‘Spinal Tap’), several tracks of which got heavy airplay on the Atlanta Alt-Rock powerhouse station 99X. It was in support of The Black Album that Five-Eight opened for REM on their US tour. It looked for a moment like Five-Eight might finally break through to widespread commercial success.

In 2007, Rizzi accepted an offer to join The Ghost Hounds, an LA band with a growing cult following, often joined onstage by Slash and other Los Angeles rock royalty. With Rizzi relocated to Los Angeles, the band approached Ferguson to play drums again. Ferguson joined “for a few shows” and remains with the band to this day. Together, they made a new album (Your God Is Dead to Me Now, 2011), with Ferguson recording and producing all the tracks. It was during the recording of this record that Sean Dunn moved back to Athens to rejoin the band. The album ‘ended up being one of the band’s favorites and was mentioned favorably by NPR’s ‘All Songs Considered’, as well as by several influential music blogs.

Since the release of Your God is Dead to Me Now, the band has continued to pump out its famously furious live show 20-30 times a year throughout the American Southeast and Midwest, and in late 2013 began discussing the idea of re-releasing its classic Weirdo album. The sonic problems with the original record have been well documented by the band and producer David Barbe, and can be summarized in a footnote by saying that many A&R men in those days were focused on making hyped, over-processed records in an attempt to sound like Nirvana, and the band (and Barbe) wanted and recorded a much different record. Ultimately the A&R man with the label won out and added effects to the mixes similar to a loudness button on a boom box, creating a tinny high, a hollowed out bottom, and an overall sound that lacked the depth of the live (and studio sound) of Five Eight.

Having found the original tapes for Weirdo and energized by the enthusiasm of their current manager Doug Rasmussen, the band began reaching out to record labels and friends and found a highly supportive home in Austin TX based Chicken Ranch Records, whose owner Mike Dickinson, is a longtime fan of the band. The band hired David Barbe and began working on remixing and remastering Weirdo in 2014. Complete with new artwork and 5 unreleased tracks not found on the original Weirdo, Weirdo 2015 was released to high critical acclaim in July 2015. The band appeared in an official SXSW showcase for Chicken Ranch Records in March of 2015 to start its Weirdo re-release tour, and followed its 3 SXSW appearances with shows in New Orleans LA and Pensacola FL.

The band continued to tour the balance of 2015 in support of the Weirdo re-release, making additional stops in Athens GA, Atlanta GA, Oxford MS, St. Louis MO, Augusta GA, and Valdosta GA, and culminated the Weirdo tour with an epic live performance in February 2016 at the Forty Watt in Athens GA–sharing the bill with Centro-matic’s Will Johnson and the Drive By Truckers.

Since February the band has been back in the studio and is near completion on its new album, tentatively entitled “Songs for Saint Jude.” (Saint Jude is the patron saint of lost causes and also figures prominently in the prayers and iconography of Dunn’s hometown of New Orleans.) They are working with producer and Athens based drummer Mike Albanese (Bit Brigade, Maserati, Cinemechanica). The band is also working with Atlanta GA based filmmaker Marc Pilvinsky on a full-length documentary of their now 27-year career as one of the world’s least famous (but extremely popular to those in the know) accidental cult bands to ever come out of Athens GA.

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Five Eight is a group founded 32 years ago in 1992.

Based on our research data, it appears, that the first Five Eight concert happened 34 years ago on Wed, 27 Feb 1991 in Bunratty's - Allston, US and that the last Five Eight concert was 4 months ago on Sat, 16 Dec 2023 in High Dive - Gainesville, US.

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• September 25, 2021 Setlist

Five-Eight Setlist at Southern Brewing Co., Athens, GA, USA

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• Jun 10 2017 Oakland Cemetery Atlanta, GA, USA Add time Add time
• Aug 02 2021 Flicker Theatre And Bar Athens, GA, USA Add time Add time
• Sep 25 2021 September Days Festival 2021 This Setlist Athens, GA, USA Add time Add time
• Jun 24 2023 Athfest Mainstage Athens, GA, USA Add time Add time
• Jul 21 2023 The Earl Atlanta, GA, USA Add time Add time

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They made their name with a high profile appearance in the first installment of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, and their track ‘Woo Hoo’ would go on to become a popular fixture amongst UK advertising, particularly in relation to Premier League football, but there’s plenty more to The 5,6,7,8s than just intelligent placement of their infectious - and very Japanese - brand of indie pop. The all-girl trio, who hail from Tokyo, had already been going for some time before their big break came when Tarantino came calling - they formed the group way back in 1986 - and already had a fervent cult fanbase in their native country, if not in the Western world. In the decade or so since Kill Bill was a box office hit, though, they haven’t really capitalised on that exposure - only a live record cut with Jack White at his Third Man studio represents their studio output since, although they have continued to tour sporadically, making it to China, America and Australia, amongst other nations. Like their contemporaries and compatriots, Shonen Knife, their live shows are energetic, punky affairs, just as reliant on vocal harmonisation as they are on noisy guitars; UK appearances are rare, though, so just when British fans will next get the opportunity to see them remains unclear.

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This was probably one of the best shows I've seen in a few years. They're so fun, and talented, and adorable (yes, I realize "adorable" may not be appropriate to describe grown women, but they just ARE!) I'd watch them 100 times in a row!

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Deep Purple announces 2024 tour with Yes. Get tickets today

In 1972, Deep Purple released the iconic “Smoke On The Water.”

Now, 52 years (!) later, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will celebrate their mega hit on their ‘1 More Time Tour’ with fellow Rock Hall inductees Yes all summer long.

Along the way, Ian Gillan and co. are scheduled to make five New York and New Jersey stops.

First, the heavy hitmakers drop into Camden, NJ’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Friday, Aug. 30.

After that, the London natives swoop into Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center on Aug. 31, Wantagh, NY’s Jones Beach Theater on Sept. 1 and Saratoga Springs, NY’s Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sept. 4.

Deep Purple closes their NY run at Bethel’s Bethel Woods Center For The Arts on Sept. 6.

For fans that can’t wait to rock out to “Hush,” “Highway Star,” “Space Truckin'” — and of course “Smoke On The Water” — tickets for all North American concerts can be picked up as soon as today.

Although inventory isn’t available on Ticketmaster until Friday, April 12, fans who want to ensure they have tickets ahead of time can purchase on sites like Vivid Seats before tickets are officially on sale.

Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.

They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event.

A complete calendar including all North American tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.

The band closed the North American leg of their 2023 tour in Orlando on Feb. 21.

According to Set List FM , here’s what Deep Purple performed — including guitar, keyboard and bass solos — that evening:

01.) “Highway Star”

02.) “Pictures of Home”

03.) “No Need to Shout”

04.) “Nothing at All”

05.) “Guitar Solo”

06.) “Uncommon Man”

07.) “Lazy”

08.) “When a Blind Man Cries”

09.) “Anya”

10.) “Keyboard Solo”

11.) “Perfect Strangers”

12.) “Space Truckin'”

13.) “Smoke on the Water”

14.) “Hush” (Joe South cover)

15.) “Bass Solo”

16.) “Black Night”

Being together for 56 years doesn’t mean Deep Purple doesn’t have more to give to the world.

In 2022, the band reached deep into their archives and dug out “ Extras: The Infinite B Sides and Bonus Songs”  which is a must for any Purple superfan.

However, what we found most interesting was the band’s latest record of original music, 2021’s bluesy, New Orleans-y  “Turning To Crime.”

Featuring epic rock (“7 and 7 Is”) as well as lively party startin’ tunes (“Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu”) and covers from B.B. King (“Let the Good Times Roll”) and Cream (“White Room”), the album is certainly a departure from the hard rockers’ heavy fare they’re famous for.

Still, for our money, the best track on the record is the Southern-fried rock and roll number “Oh Well.”

We’ve been listening to it on repeat all day.

You can hear the jubilant  “Turning To Crime” album in its entirety here .

After over 50 years together — they formed in 1968 — the core of Deep Purple remains the same.

Should you attend a show, here’s who you’ll likely see take the stage:

Ian Gillan lead vocals, harmonica, percussion (1969–1973, 1984–1989, 1992–present)

Roger Glover bass, keyboards, occasional backing vocals (1969–1973, 1984–present)

Ian Paice drums (1968–1976, 1984–present)

Don Airey keyboards (2002–present)

Simon McBride guitars, backing vocals (2022–present)

This tour is a twofer.

Joining Deep Purple on the road are fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Yes.

The long-running prog band is known for their hits like “Owner of A Lonely Heart,” “Roundabout,” “I’ve Seen All Good People” and many, many more.

If you want to dive into their deep catalog, you can find all of Yes’ music here .

It’s hard to believe the ’60s were over 50 years ago now.

Still, many acts that defined the sound of the groundbreaking musical era are still kicking it and on the road this year.

Here are just five of our favorite acts that have been rocking out since Nixon was in office that you can see live in the next few months.

•  Rolling Stones

•  Robert Plant with Allison Krauss

•  Bob Dylan with Willie Nelson

•  Ringo Starr

•  Graham Nash

Need even more classic rock in your life? We’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the  52 biggest classic rockers on tour in 2024 here to find out.

Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase.

The Five: Can Rory McIlroy start strong, other pressing questions at Masters

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Rory McIlroy ahead of the 2024 Masters. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

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It is said that whatever you think about last before going to bed is what you will dream about. It's why Xander Schauffele thinks about a Masters green jacket.

“As many dreams … as I can have wearing a green jacket or someone putting it on me on the 18th green, that's what I try and envision,” Schauffele said Monday.

Schauffele has come close. He finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2019, but Schauffele is still chasing that dream. It’s a universal feeling among those on the grounds at Augusta National. If you’re a professional golfer, you’ve most likely dreamed of a putt to win the Masters or contemplated what you’d put on your Champions Dinner menu. Schauffele is still waiting for a chance to play Augusta National with his dad, Stefan. Schauffele could likely make it happen, but his dad won’t allow it. Not yet.

“He told me a long time ago, ‘I'm only going to play when you're a member,’” Schauffele said.

Someone will realize those dreams this week. Schauffele is one of the favorites coming off a strong start to his season, highlighted by his T2 at THE PLAYERS Championship. But he isn’t one of our biggest storylines. That’s what The Five is dedicated to this week. As players refine their preparation before Thursday’s opening round, let’s take stock of what’s to come. The Five examines the must-follow storylines that set the stage for the year's first major championship.

1. Tiger Woods: Focus on the cut, not contention

When Tiger Woods tees it up on Thursday at the Masters, it will be just his third competitive round of 2024. If he finishes the round, it will be just his second completed round in an official PGA TOUR event since last year’s Masters.

It’s inarguable to say Woods can find magic at Augusta National. It’s also inarguable that Woods lacks the one thing he’s preached as necessary for much of his career: competitive reps. His only start of 2024 came at The Genesis Invitational in February, and he withdrew during his second round with flu-like symptoms.

So what will win out: experience or rust?

That sets up an exciting push-and-pull with history as its backdrop. Woods has made 23 consecutive cuts at the Masters, tied with Gary Player and Fred Couples for the longest streak in tournament history. He can take that record for himself this year.

“I think it's consistency, it's longevity and it's an understanding of how to play this golf course,” Woods said. “... And it means a lot.”

If there’s a place Woods can piece it together, it’s Augusta National. But to expect Woods to contend is difficult, particularly when some of the sport's other top stars are in top form. Woods’ fight to make the cut will still be plenty intriguing and realistic. Holding the consecutive cuts record at Augusta would be fitting for the man who owns the longest consecutive cuts made record on the PGA TOUR.

2. Is Scheffler’s putting fixed?

The saga that never ends. Scottie Scheffler enters the Masters as the heavy favorite to claim his second green jacket in three years. He put together a dominant month of March, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and THE PLAYERS Championship. It looked like he had solved the putting woes that had plagued him from truly dominating the PGA TOUR over the last 24 months.

Then he pulled a 6-footer on the 72nd hole of the Texas Children’s Houston Open to miss a playoff and the possibility of his third consecutive win. Was it a simple misread? Or is it a sign that Scheffler still has some work to shore up the putter in the biggest moments? Remember, Scheffler famously four-putted on the final hole of the 2022 Masters, and the glassy greens of Augusta are no place to lose confidence in your flatstick.

It seems reductive to say the putting is the only thing that matters for Scheffler at Augusta, but he’s shown it to be true. His superb ball-striking has traveled to every event for the past two years. Whether Scheffler wins or loses falls solely on the one variable can’t seem to control: putting.

3. Approach play, fast start key to Rory McIlroy’s chances

Rory McIlroy’s quest for a Masters title is often considered a “matter of when.” Given his talent, stature and course fit, a green jacket is assumed to be inevitable. Yet the more years McIlroy leaves empty-handed, the more the pressure ramps up and the definitive proclamations begin to crack.

This Masters will be McIlroy’s 10th attempt at completing the career Grand Slam. This year also marks 10 years since his last major victory. McIlroy revealed it feels like he’s trying to win his first again. So as close as he’s come to achieving Masters glory, he’s in some ways no closer to it than when he made his debut at Augusta National in 2009.

But for all the consternation McIlroy has faced about his Masters shortcomings, it could all change in four days. To do it, McIlroy will need to improve his approach play, which has been his Achilles’ heel at Augusta National and for most of this season.

There were signs of life at last week’s Valero Texas Open. He finished third in Strokes Gained: Approach and notched his first top-10 on the PGA TOUR this season. That came a week after he sought advice from legendary swing coach Butch Harmon.

But it’s hard to say if that will continue this week. McIlroy has come to the Masters playing amazing and then missed the cut. He has nearly won the Masters after missing the cut the week prior.

The key will be his start. Over the last 10 years, McIlroy’s scoring average in the first and second rounds is 72.3. His weekend scoring average is 69.4, nearly three shots better.

Then there’s this stat: 36 of the last 37 Masters champions have been in the top 10 through two rounds, according to Justin Ray of Twenty First Group.

McIlroy starting slow is not an option. If McIlroy is finally going to get the monkey off his back , there will be signs. It starts with improved approach play and a fast start.

4. Best first-timers class since …

Every crop of Masters first-timers features a few studs. Last year showcased Tom Kim and Sahith Theegala alongside amateurs Sam Bennett and Gordon Sargent. The prior year included Sam Burns and Min Woo Lee.

I’d challenge someone to come up with a better first-timers class than this year’s, though. Among the players making their debut at the Masters are reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Åberg and Nicolai Højgaard – two European Ryder Cuppers – and two PGA TOUR winners under age 23 in Nick Dunlap and Akshay Bhatia.

One swing from every first timer in the 2024 Masters field

The headliners are Clark and Åberg, who enter the week at Nos. 4 and 9 in the world, respectively. Clark, the rare major champion who has not yet played Augusta, might have three wins this season if not for Scottie Scheffler. He finished runner-up to Scheffler in back-to-back weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and THE PLAYERS Championship. He won the rain-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He’s shown himself to be a big-game hunter and is arguably the second-best player in the world right now behind Scheffler. How he tackles Augusta National as a first-timer will be fascinating.

The context of Åberg’s debut might be even crazier. The 24-year-old played in a Ryder Cup, won PGA TOUR and DP World Tour events and cracked the top 10 in the world before playing a major championship. The Masters is not only his tournament debut but his major championship debut. His game is a fit at any course, Augusta National included, but this is a new stage for the Swede – who has handled everything else in his path.

Other first-timers include reigning PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Eric Cole, current-season winners Jake Knapp, Matthieu Pavon, Austin Eckroat and Stephan Jaeger and world No. 1 amateur Christo Lamprecht.

They will all be chasing rarified air. Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 was the last Masters rookie to win the green jacket. If there was going to be a year to do it, it might be someone from this class of first-timers.

5. How will the weather affect the course?

One of the marvels of golf architecture, Augusta National has not had the opportunity to flex its full strength on the field in recent years as rainy conditions have softened what can be a firm and fiery test.

Given early feedback from the ground, that could change this year. Reports indicate the course is as firm and fast as it has been in several years.

“I mean, I was hitting 5-irons that were coming into par 5s that were bouncing, tomahawking over the green, and I was like, ‘This is pretty cool.’ It's been a while,” Schauffele said Monday.

Whether it stays that way will be the question. Current forecasts estimate more than an inch of rain could fall on Thursday, though any precipitation seems largely isolated to just Thursday. With windy and dry conditions expected to come through the Augusta area following the rain, the hope for a firm and fiery test over the weekend is still a strong possibility.

What the weather will do remains to be seen, but players have their preferences on how they would like it to play.

“If the course is playing hard and fast, it's more difficult. Winning score is usually … higher,” 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama said. “When it's wet, I mean, it can go to 20-under. I like both, but if it goes to 20-under, my chances … get slimmer. So, I would like a tougher setup where it plays drier, fast and hard.”

Added reigning Open Championship winner Brian Harman: “I prefer it to be hot and windy. I feel like that gives me the best opportunity. When it's cold and wet, that's kind of a tough row to hoe for me.”

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Bill maher uncovers the truth behind william shatner’s most famous ‘star trek’ kiss, breaking news.

‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)’ Lands At No. 8 On Nielsen Streaming List In Disney+ Debut Week

By Katie Campione

Katie Campione

TV Reporter

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Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) had some tough competition in its debut week on Disney+ .

The film landed on the streamer March 14 and racked up 677M minutes in its first few days on the platform, according to Nielsen . That placed it at No. 8 overall on Nielsen’s streaming list for the week of March 11 to 17.

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Nielsen says viewing was driven by an audience that was 70% female, and it was pretty evenly distributed across age ranges. Naturally, the 18-34 demo had the highest concentration of viewing with 26%.

That’s due in part to the fact that The Gentleman saw a 54% surge in viewership from the week prior, tallying 1.86B viewing minutes during this interval.

In second place with Damsel , which was up 26% from its debut week to deliver 1.5B viewing minutes. According to Nielsen, one-third of viewing to Damsel came from Hispanic homes. 

On Disney+, Bluey ‘s reign continues. The animated kids series bested the billion-minute mark yet again, having done so each week since the week of Christmas, capturing 1.06B viewing minutes to take No. 4.

See more below.

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Bringing audiences together with $23m+ opening.

Emma Stone In Talks To Lead In Untitled Universal Pic; Dave McCary Eyed To Direct

Daniel mays talks ‘franklin’, olivier nom & ‘juliet’ star’s treatment, walter hill on steve mcqueen, eddie murphy & ‘the warriors’: film that lit my fuse.

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More history for Tiger Woods. He makes the Masters cut for a record 24th time in a row

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A howling gust -- the kind that created havoc at Augusta National all day long -- struck the 18th green just as Tiger Woods was lining up yet another testy putt. Fine particles of sand stirred from the pearl-white bunkers, whipping across the slick green surface.

One caddie’s hat was blown off. Woods turned away quickly, avoiding the potentially painful daggers to his eyes.

Not to worry.

It was just a windy respite on the way to another bit of Masters history Friday.

When the blast subsided enough to look again, Woods rolled in a 5-foot putt to cap an even-par 72 that ensured he made the cut for a record 24th time in a row.

Of course, his sights were fixated on a far greater goal — a record-tying sixth green jacket.

Woods broke the cut mark he shared with three-time champion Gary Player, who advanced to the weekend 23 straight times beginning in 1959, and 1992 winner Fred Couples, whose own streak lasted until 2007.

“I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” said Woods, who was at 1-over 145 through 36 holes and seven strokes off the lead. “I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine, and I’ll be good to go.”

It was a grueling day for the five-time Masters champion, even more so considering the 48-year-old has endured numerous injuries, countless surgeries and a devastating car wreck that nearly cost him his right leg.

Woods was back at the course before sunrise to finish up the final five holes of his opening round, which was cut short by darkness after storms Thursday morning delayed the start of the tournament by 2 1/2 hours.

He made a couple of bogeys to complete a 73, then had less than an hour to rest up for another 18 holes.

Remarkably, he played just one less hole Friday than his competitive total through the first three months of the year, his patched-up body no longer capable to handling a regular schedule of events.

Even with such limited preparation, there’s something about Augusta National that always brings out the best in Woods.

“Yeah, I’m tired. I’ve been out for a while, competing, grinding. It’s been a long 23 holes, a long day,” he conceded. “But Lance (Bennett, his caddie) and I really did some good fighting today, and we’ve got a chance.”

Stewart Hagestad, an amateur who missed the cut, marveled at Woods’ performance.

“The guy has barely played at all in the last calendar year, and he’s 1 over,” Hagestad said. “That’s alien stuff. That’s unbelievable.”

With the crowd around the 18th green roaring like it was a Sunday, Woods’ steely demeanor morphed into a huge smile as soon as the round was done. He hugged playing partner Jason Day, and gave another big squeeze to Bennett before a triumphant stroll to the clubhouse, the patrons lining the ropes four and five deep to applaud his effort.

“It was awesome,” said Max Homa, who rounded out the threesome with Woods and Day. “I always wanted to just watch him hit iron shots around here, and I was right up next to him. It was really cool. His short game was so good. I don’t think I can explain how good some of the chip shots he hit today were.”

Homa, tied for the lead with Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler at 6-under 138, was glad to cede the spotlight to Woods.

“He’s special,” Homa said. “We had a really quick turnaround, and if I was feeling tired and awful, I imagine he was feeling even worse.”

Homa was impressed as much as anything by the way Woods maintained his cool on the 18th green when the sand went flying with gusts approaching 40 mph for the second day in a row.

“We had sandblasts for 45 seconds, and I turned around five times so I didn’t get crushed in the face, and he’s standing there like a statue and then poured it right in the middle,” Homa said. “All the cliches you hear about him and all the old stories about how he will grind it out, it was fun to see that in person.”

Woods was as accurate as he’s ever been off the tee as a Masters professional, hitting 25 of 28 fairways through the first two rounds. But one wayward approach shot after another left him to do all sorts of scrambling.

Fortunately for Woods, he knew where to miss and kept pulling off nifty chips and clutch putts to keep his score safely above the cut line, which ended up at 6 over.

“I was forced to get up-and-down a few times today, and I was able to do that,” Woods said. “A lot of those chip shots I was able to get up-and-down because I left it in the perfect spot, and that’s understanding how to play this golf course.”

Woods went through a stretch of six straight hole s before the turn where he made nothing but birdies or bogeys, but he settled things a bit on the back nine with a single bogey at the 14th — where his approach from 150 yards sailed into the gallery behind the green — and a two-putt birdie at the par-5 15th after clearing the pond with two booming shots.

Woods headed into the weekend facing a daunting deficit, needing a comeback of near-record proportions to win the tournament. Jack Burke Jr. had the biggest 36-hole rally, coming from eight strokes back to win the 1956 Masters.

Even though history is against him, Woods still thinks he has a chance to equal Jack Nicklaus’ record of a half-dozen titles.

“I’m right there,” Woods said. “I don’t think anyone is going to run off and hide right now.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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President Milei of cash-strapped Argentina starts another US tour, plans to meet Elon Musk

Argentine President Javier Milei waves as he leaves the stage after speaking to students at Florida International University, Thursday, April 11, 2024, in North Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentine President Javier Milei walks off the stage after speaking to students at Florida International University, Thursday, April 11, 2024, in North Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Argentine President Javier Milei speaks to students at Florida International University, Thursday, April 11, 2024, in North Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — President Javier Milei of Argentina kicked off a visit Wednesday to the United States, where he’ll meet with tech billionaire Elon Musk , as his government seeks an infusion of cash to overhaul Argentina’s embattled economy.

The populist president started his four-day trip in Miami, which hosts one of the largest Argentine population in the US, and home to soccer superstar Lionel Messi . In an event closed to the press, a Miami chapter of the Hasidic group Chabad-Lubavitch honored the president and Karina Milei, his sister and presidential adviser, at a local synagogue for their “tireless efforts for Israel.”

Milei will meet with Musk on Friday in Texas, the president’s spokesperson said, where he will also tour a factory for Tesla, Musk’s electric car company .

Milei’s third trip to the U.S. in merely four months as president comes as he reshapes Argentine foreign policy in line with Washington. Standing beside Gen. Laura Richardson, head of the U.S. Southern Command, at the southernmost tip of South America last week, Milei vowed to boost the nations’ “strategic alliance” — he sees U.S. support as vital to the economic overhaul on which he has staked his presidency .

“We took advantage to present a new foreign doctrine for Argentina,” Milei wrote Wednesday on social media platform X of his meeting with Richardson. In the same post, apparently directed at Musk — a self-declared free speech absolutist — Milei said he promoted “true freedom of expression” and slammed journalists critical of his administration as trying to “stop us from speaking.”

“We are not going to remain silent in the face of slander, insult or defamation,” he wrote.

Milei’s plan to slash spending has encountered resistance in a nation where annual inflation tops 276%. On Wednesday, police forcibly dispersed anti-government protestors blocking a main Buenos Aires artery.

The United States, the biggest investor in Argentina, also has the most influence over the International Monetary Fund, to which Argentina owes $42 billion. The IMF has endorsed Milei’s shock therapy for Argentina, agreeing to disburse $4.7 billion from a bailout package the country took out six years ago.

The State Department’s investment climate statement last year noted “capital controls, trade restrictions, and price controls” hampered investors in Argentina. Milei has vowed to roll back interventionist policies with market-oriented changes favored by business executives, like Musk, one of the world’s richest men who leads rocket company SpaceX, car company Tesla and took over Twitter in 2022.

Milei and Musk — who share a brash personality-driven style and distaste for government overreach — have expressed mutual admiration. Ahead of his inauguration last December, Milei praised Musk as an “icon of freedom.” Musk gushed over Milei’s speech lambasting socialism at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland , commenting “So hot” with a meme of a couple having sex while watching Milei speak.

That’s in sharp contrast to Musk’s clash with Brazilian authorities, who threatened to regulate social media sites and accused Musk of obstruction this week.

With its vast mineral reserves , Argentina has much to offer Musk, a dominant player in the auto industry who has referred to lithium — indispensable for electric car batteries — as “the new oil.”

Milei’s free-market policies have raised hopes in the U.S. that the metal and other badly needed raw materials like lithium can be extracted closer to home, breaking China’s dominance of the battery supply chain. The Biden administration said it was exploring investment opportunities in Argentine lithium earlier this year.

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Kevin spacey thriller ‘peter five eight’ sets release date following u.k. trial.

Invincible Entertainment is backing the film, with CEO Thomas Ashley arguing the disgraced actor “deserves a second shot” after his acquittal in a sexual assault trial in the U.K.   

By Etan Vlessing

Etan Vlessing

Canada Bureau Chief

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Six years after his career imploded amid dozens of sexual misconduct accusations, Kevin Spacey has set a return to theaters. The indie thriller  Peter Five Eight is set to hit in limited release on March 22, 2024.

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“The film deserves to be seen. It’s a great film. And I don’t believe the filmmakers deserve to suffer. And he has been found not guilty and he deserves a second shot, just like we all would,” Ashley tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Spacey stars in the feature as Peter, a charismatic man in a black sedan who shows up in a small mountainside community.

Ashley acknowledges some audiences will boycott the movie over Spacey’s sexual misconduct accusations and legal woes.

“He was acquitted and he went to court and stood trial. And I believe he should get a reprieve,” Ashley argues. “He’s already paid a heavy price for these accusations, a very heavy price. He lost roles. He lost stature. He was kryptonite for a while. He deserves a seat at the table again.”

The actor’s glittering four-decade career imploded in 2017 after more than 30 people came forward alleging inappropriate sexual behavior. The two-time Oscar winner was famously fired from Netflix’s House of Cards and edited out of Ridley Scott’s All The Money in the World and went without work for years.

But in recent years he landed a few roles in the low-budget indie world, including filmmaker Michael Zaiko Hall’s Peter Five Eight , which filmed in late 2021 and early 2022.

In October 2022, Spacey was found  not liable in a civil sexual misconduct trial  brought by actor Anthony Rapp. That was followed by his acquittal in a UK court case. He now faces no further legal action.

Invincible Entertainment has a history of releasing controversial films. In 2016, Ashley’s first theatrical release was Kevin Smith’s horror comedy Yoga Hosers , starred Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith and also featured Johnny Depp, the father of Lily-Rose Depp.

That movie, which Ashley also produced, arrived in theaters not long after Depp faced abuse allegations over his former wife, Amber Heard. “We have a lot of experience with cancel culture. We knew Johnny. We were very convinced he did not do what he was accused of. But the court of public opinion felt very different and our movie really suffered and our investors lost of a lot of money,” he recalled.

Peter Five Eight also stars Jet Jandreau as Sam, a glamorous real estate agent who is revealed to be unhinged and a troubled alcoholic with a dark secret, while Rebecca De Mornay plays Brenda, whom Peter targets for information at the urging of his powerful and shadowy boss, Mr. Lock. The mystery thriller is financed by Mad Honey and LTD Films and is a co-production of Ascent Films and Forever Safe.

While Ashley hopes Spacey will help market the commercial release for Peter Five Eight, he adds it’s up to the actor himself to make good with movie audiences who may not be ready to watch him on screen.

“I think Kevin needs to have that conversation with those people. He needs to reach out and in ways, he already has,” says Ashley.

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THE 10 BEST Khimki Points of Interest & Landmarks

Points of interest & landmarks in khimki.

• Points of Interest & Landmarks
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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Memorial to Citizens of Khimki Who Gave Their Life For Motherland

2. The Square in front of the Government Office

3. Temple of The Resurrection

4. St. George Temple

5. protection of the holy virgin temple.

6. St. Nicholas Chapel

7. St. Mikhail the Archangel Chapel

8. Geroyev Trudovoi Slavy Alley

9. Art Object I Love Khimki

10. Art Object Bench of Reconciliation

11. alley of glory.

• Temple of The Resurrection
• The Square in front of the Government Office
• Memorial to Citizens of Khimki Who Gave Their Life For Motherland
• St. George Temple
• Protection of the Holy Virgin Temple

Moscow - Russian Rivers and Waterways Port of Call

Moscow is a wonderful city to visit, and travelers on river ship cruise tours to or from St. Petersburg spend a few days in Moscow . This capital city of Russia was our last port on a river cruise tour, and we had about four days to see most of the highlights. Our first day we did an overview driving tour and rode the subway under the Mockba (Moscow) River to Red Square. The next day we toured the State Armory and the Kremlin.

These photos show some of the other highlights you can see with three or four days in Moscow .

The Northern River Terminal is located on the Moscow Canal in the northwest section of Moscow at the Khimki Reservoir.

Most river cruise ships sailing between Moscow and St. Petersburg use the ship as a hotel while in Moscow. Because of traffic, it's often a long drive into the city, but the sights along the way are interesting, and you only have to unpack once for the river cruise.

View of Downtown Moscow from Sparrow Hills

Sparrow Hills is the best place to get a great panoramic view of Moscow. The Sparrow Hills overlook the Mockba River and are near Moscow State University.

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

Novodevichy Convent in Moscow was founded in 1524, and was once used as a sort of prison for the unwanted wives and sisters of the Tsars. Peter the Great sent both his first wife and his sister to Novodevichy. Since the convent had such famous nuns, it was very wealthy due to the many donations of the Tsars and their families. At one time in the 1700s, the cloister had over 36,000 serfs working in 36 villages. Novodevichy was ravaged by the French armies in 1812, but the brave nuns saved the buildings by disarming the fuses set to blow them up. The Soviets wanted to make the convent into a museum in the early 1920s, but it was again saved.

Novodevichy also has a cemetery with the graves of many famous Russians, including Nikita Khrushchev, Anton Chekhov, Raisa Gorbachev, and Yuri Nikulin.

View of the Mockba River in Moscow, Russia

The Mockba (Moscow) River runs into the Volga via the 79.5 mile long Moscow Canal.

River ships sailing between Moscow and St. Petersburg on the Baltic Waterways embark and disembark at the Northern River Terminal about an hour's drive from the city. The drive time can vary significantly in length because of the heavy Moscow traffic. The river looks peaceful here, as it winds around the cosmopolitan area of Moscow.

Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer (Cathedral of Christ the Savior) in Moscow

The Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer, also known as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, is the largest church in Russia, holding 10,000 worshipers.

The original Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built over 44 years to celebrate the 1812 victory over Napoleon. It was completed in 1883. Stalin had the church destroyed in 1931, but it was rebuilt using mostly private funds in 1999. The new church is a replica of the original. Note that it took 44 years the first time and only 4 years the second to complete the church! Isn't modern technology impressive.

One interesting tidbit is that it took three attempts to blow up the church in 1931. Stalin planned to build a huge Palace of the Soviets on the cleared land, but engineers determined that the land was too boggy. In the 60 years intervening, the space was used for a variety of things, including a year-round swimming pool!

Vendors' Market and Ski Jump at Sparrow Hills in Moscow

The panoramic view of Moscow from Sparrow Hills is a stopover for most tour groups, so we were not surprised to see a large number of vendors. The ski jump was a surprise, but Moscow gets very cold in winter, so winter sports are very popular. This ski jump is near Moscow State University and has a great view of the city. Seeing this ski jump reminded me of the famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo, which also has a great view of that northern capital city.

Russian Soldiers' Memorial in Victory Park in Moscow

Matryoshka dolls for sale in moscow.

I thought this display of dolls was beautiful! The Matryoshka nesting dolls range in price from just a few dollars to thousands of dollars.

Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia

This small band greeted us at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow. They played a variety of band music and made us all feel very welcome.

Grand Triumphal Arch Celebrates the Victory Over Napoleon in the War of 1812

This arch looks a little like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and it is located near the Victory Park Metro Station in Moscow.

This Grand Triumphal Arch is decorated with the coats of arms from the 48 Russian provinces. To celebrate the victory over France in the war of 1812, it also includes bas-reliefs of the "Expulsion of the French." The arch was originally built in 1834, but has only been on this site since 1968.

It is a little ironic that this arch resembles the Paris Arc de Triomphe , which Napoleon built between 1806 and 1836 to celebrate his French victories.

Moscow Metro Station at the Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square)

This station near Red Square has many statues honoring the workers of Russia.

Moscow Metro Station near Victory Park

The Metro in Moscow is one of its shining industrial achievements. Construction on the Metro was begun in 1931 and continues today. The system has over 165 stations and 155 miles of track. Over 9300 trains, traveling sometimes as fast as 56 mph, navigate the huge system each day. Almost 10 million people ride the Moscow Metro every day, which is more than the New York and London systems combined. We found the Metro to be very efficient, with trains arriving every few minutes.

Navigating the Metro system can be somewhat of a problem for non-Russian speaking riders. Most of the signage is in Cyrillic only, and the stations are quite large. Trying to find the correct exit while walking long distances underground can be challenging.

On our cruise tour, we rode the Metro as a group with our program director from near Victory Park under the Mockba River to Red Square. Several of the group ventured out on their own during our time in Moscow, and many rode the Metro. They all returned with stories of getting lost underground, but none seemed the worse for the experience, and they all loved telling the tales.

Red Square in Moscow

Red Square in Moscow is a must-see for visitors to the capital city of Russia.

The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia

The Kremlin is a favorite of Moscow tourists. Inside these walls are buildings for the government of Russia, cathedrals, and the wonderful State Armory museum.

Taras Bulba Restaurant in Moscow

We enjoyed a traditional Ukrainian lunch at this cute restaurant in Moscow before checking in at our hotel.

Buses Wait for Passengers Outside Museum

River cruise tour groups are usually divided into groups for the duration of the tour. Each group had their own bus when touring.

Military Airplanes at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia

Although much of the military museum was indoors, there was quite a collection of planes, helicopters, missile launchers, and tanks outside.

Foreign Ministry Building, One of Moscow's Seven Stalinist-Gothic Skyscrapers

Seven skyscrapers with layers giving them a "wedding cake" appearance dot the Moscow skyline. The style is considered Stalinist-Gothic.

Russian and American War Veterans at the Central Museum of Armed Forces

Meeting with some World War II Russian War veterans was a highlight of our day at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow.

Rocket Launchers and Missiles at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow

The inside of this museum is particularly impressive, but you will need a guide since all of the signage is only in Russian.

Old Arbat Pedestrian Shopping Area in Moscow

We all enjoyed exploring the shops on this mile-long pedestrian shopping area.

Food prices were high in the tourist attraction, with two small pizzas, two small beers, and a bottle of water at an outdoor cafe costing $40. Many of our group ate at the large McDonalds, where prices were more reasonable.

Female Cosmonaut Model at Star City Cosmonaut Training Center near Moscow

Female cosmonauts play an important role in the Russian space program. In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova from Yaroslavl was the first woman in space.

Souvenir Shop in Old Arbat Shopping Area in Moscow

The area of Old Arbat had many English signs to attract the tourist trade.

Centrifuge at Star City Outside Moscow, Russia

This 18 meter centrifuge is the world's largest. The centrifuge weighs over 30000 tons, and the maximum load is 30 G, but most tests are run at 3 or 4 G.

A centrifuge ride is the first test for a cosmonaut, whose entire training school takes from five to eight years. The centrifuge can simulate the extreme force of gravity that cosmonauts (and astronauts) face when going into space. A centrifuge training session lasts about 30 minutes, and the trainee experiences both the centrifugal force as well as the spin of the pod he/she is riding in. Just typing this makes me a little queasy!

Cosmonaut's Bathroom Facilities on First Space Flights at Star City

Just like in the USA, everyone who visits the Star City cosmonaut training center near Moscow wants to know how cosmonauts "go to the bathroom". They have more sophisticated equipment today, but this contraption from the early space flights is fairly self explanatory.

Star City Tank Used for Cosmonaut Weightlessness Training near Moscow

This 12-meter deep pool is used to simulate weightlessness training. The pool is flooded and the cosmonauts perform repair tasks on the model of the International Space Station. SCUBA diving underwater is very similar to the weightless experience the cosmonauts experience when working in outer space.

Mir Space Station Replica at Star City near Moscow

The original Mir disintegrated when it fell to earth in 2001. Mir, which means peace in Russian, was launched in 1986.

Marvel Paull with Statue of Yuri Gagarin at Star City near Moscow

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space, and the Star City Cosmonaut training center was named after him in 1968.

River Cruise Passengers with Yuri Onufrienko, Russian Cosmonaut at Star City

In case you can't tell, Yuri is the one in the middle. My famous traveling mother, Marvel Paull, is on the left and Dick, a cruise friend is on the right.

A highlight of our day in Star City was a visit with Yuri Onufrienko , a Russian cosmonaut who spent extended time in space at the Mir space station in 1996 and the International Space Station in 2001-2002. Yuri patiently took many questions from our small inquisitive group.

Cosmonaut Space Suit at Star City near Moscow

Cosmonauts sit in this position on take off. Thanks to Jerry G. for the tip about the sign. It says, "Don't touch!"

Stained Glass Window at Star City near Moscow

Program directors at farewell dinner in moscow.

After 16 days of discovery, learning, and fun, we had a farewell dinner with the six Program Directors - Evgeny, Olga, Vladimir, Svetlana, Violetta, and Marina - in Moscow.

The Kremlin is a triangular, walled citadel in the center of Moscow. The Kremlin is considered by most to be the heart of the city. First conceived in the 12th century, the Kremlin (which means fortress) was expanded by Tsar Ivan III (Ivan the Great) during the 15th century. His architects designed the magnificent Cathedral of the Assumption and the Faceted Palace, and the Kremlin was an interesting mix of both Russian and Renaissance styles. During the Soviet time of the 1930s, many of the Kremlin buildings were destroyed or vandalized, and the complex remained closed to the public until 1955.

Today the Kremlin is home to the Russian President and his administration. Many buildings are open to the public, but you may need to be with a guide (check in advance).

I visited the Kremlin when in Moscow on a Russian Waterways cruise tour from St. Petersburg.

The Kremlin was also one of the 21 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of the World.  

Red Square in Moscow, Russia

Red Square's name has nothing to do with Communism or Soviet Russia. The old Russian word for "beautiful" and "red" was the same; the square was supposed to be called "Beautiful Square". Red Square has been the center of Moscow activity since the 16th century when the Tsar cleared the area and allowed vendors, shoppers, and businesses to fill the square. Today this square is surrounded by the Moscow Kremlin, the State Historical Museum, GUM Shopping Mall , and St. Basil's Cathedral .

Many of the important events of the last three hundred years in Russia have been marked by parades or demonstrations in Red Square. Anyone who enters Red Square will have memories from TV or movie reels of this magnificent public square. Those of us who grew up during the Cold War era can remember the parades of soldiers, tanks, and other armaments past Lenin's Tomb just outside the Kremlin Wall. The World War II generation remembers Red Square as the site of a huge victory celebration at the end of the war.

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