John Mellencamp brings the heartland to Hollywood

• March 23, 2023

Singer-songwriter John Mellencamp got into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame years ago. He’s in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and there are Grammys, a pair of awards named after Woody Guthrie, and other honors, too.

But there was a time 30 years ago when his beloved grandma wasn’t sure about his prospects for the biggest award of all, Mellencamp told the audience in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Wednesday, March 22.

“She said, ‘You know, Buddy, if you don’t stop that cussing and this wild way of life you’re living, you’re not going to get into heaven,’” he said using the nickname his grandmother always called him.

Grandma’s been gone for years now, though she made it to 100. But we’re here to tell her she shouldn’t worry too much up there in her celestial home. Sure, Mellencamp at 71 still swears like a proverbial sailor, but his beautiful music and big-hearted humanitarian spirit on stage and off should get him through the pearly gates.

“We’re gonna maybe make you think about some things,” Mellencamp said at the close of “Small Town,” one of his signature hits, and the first song of the night to get the crowd up on their feet to dance and sing. And that’s true, whether the thoughts dealt with the human heart or the world in which we all live – one big community, as Mellencamp urged the audience to become.

The curtain raised on a show that spread 20 songs over two hours with Mellencamp and his six-piece band kicking off the roots-rock tune “John Cockers” before sliding into “Paper In Fire” and “Minutes To Memories,” popular album tracks from “Lonesome Jubilee” and “Scarecrow” respectively.

The backdrop on stage was a French Quarter street scene drawn from the movie “A Streetcar Named Desire,” one of the classic movies from which scenes screened with Mellencamp’s commentary mixed in before the show started. Four life-sized figures dressed as film stars such as Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe stood amid the musicians. (Turner Classic Movies is the sponsor of the Live and In Person Tour, the first time the cinema-loving Mellencamp has ever allowed corporate sponsorship.)

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After “Small Town,” the first half of the show focused mostly on deeper cuts and new songs. The unreleased “Hey God” rocked on a bluesy slide guitar and fiddle-fueled melody as Mellencamp pleaded with the Big Guy to lend a hand to a world in turmoil, its chorus seeing Mellencamp singing, “Hey God, if you’re still there, won’t you please come down?”

After a few more familiar tunes, including “Human Wheels” and another great feature of fiddler Lisa Germano on “Check It Out,” a short acoustic set delivered the other new tune. “The Eyes of Portland,” was inspired by an encounter Mellencamp had with a young homeless woman in Oregon several years ago. It, too, featured a simple, direct message in its chorus: “All of these homeless, where do they come from? In this land of plenty, where nothing gets done.”

“Longest Day,” inspired by more of grandma’s wisdom – “You’re gonna find out real soon that life is short even in it’s longest days,” she told him once – added accordion and a second acoustic guitar to Mellencamp’s acoustic.

“Jack & Diane,” another of Mellencamp’s signature odes to small town life, was also done solo acoustic – with backing vocals by several of his young grandchildren, and eventually the entire theater on the a cappella break: “Oh, let it rock, let it roll, let the bible belt come and save my soul.”

The band returned for “I Always Lie to Strangers,” one of two tracks from his 2022 album “Strictly a One-Eyed Jack,” the tune arranged as a kind of cabaret blues number that delivered the today rare sight of a singer on stage smoking an actual cigarette. (There’s probably a fine for that, right?)

“Rain On the Scarecrow,” a terrific heartland anthem, gave voice to the sentiments that led Mellencamp to co-found Farm Aid decades ago, and from there, the rest of the set rocked hard as more and more popular songs surfaced: “Lonely Ol’ Town,” “Crumblin’ Down” mixed with the Van Morrison-led Them’s “Gloria,” and “Pink Houses,” a big hit and a song that like many of his best examines the hard lives and struggling times of ordinary Americans.

After “Chasing Rainbows,” which included introductions for his terrific band, most of whom have played with Mellencamp for years, and one – guitarist Mike Wanchic – who’s been with him for more than 50 years – the night wrapped with a pair of sing-along classics, “Cherry Bomb” and “Hurts So Good.”

Before Mellencamp and the band arrived on the stage, the opening act, such as it was, arrived in the shape of 30 minutes of clips from classic films, chosen by Mellencamp who spoke about their importance to him over time. The movies included Marlon Brando in “On The Waterfront,” “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Fugitive Kind,” Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe in “The Misfits,” and Paul Newman in “Hud.”

Of the James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor film “Giant,” which premiered at the Chinese Theatre next door to the Dolby Theatre 67 years ago, Mellencamp said he’d taken inspiration for the kinds of people and lives led by folks in dusty, isolated places, towns like Seymour, Indiana, where he’d grown up watching these stories.

“Movies of the past just seemed to tell stories that need to be told,” he said in the voice over that accompanied a clip of “Giant” stars James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. “And the characters seemed like people from the places I grew up.”

“Movies also taught me how to smoke,” he added, but, since that wasn’t on grandma’s list, that probably won’t keep him from heaven.

John Mellencamp

When: Wednesday, March 22

Where: Dolby Theatre, Hollywood

​ Orange County Register 

10 most expensive Disneyland items in auction of nearly 900 theme park collectibles

• March 23, 2023

An upcoming auction featuring hundreds of Disneyland items expected to fetch as much as $50,000 apiece will give Disneyana collectors a chance to add a bit of the Anaheim theme park’s history to their personal memorabilia collections.

Heritage Auctions will hold the Art of Disneyland Auction on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26. Select auction items can be previewed at the Beverly Hills auction house daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, March 24.

SEE ALSO: I ate everything at Cafe Daisy in Disneyland’s Toontown — Here are my favorites from best to worst

The auction includes nearly 900 items designed to make Disneyland fans drool — with everything from ride vehicles to character costumes to attraction posters from Walt Disney’s original theme park.

We’ve collected the 10 most expensive Disneyland items in the auction to help you refine your shopping list before the bidding starts. The top 10 list is ranked by estimated auction house prices with online bidding already underway ahead of the weekend auction.

Skyway Attraction Vehicle (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

1) Skyway Attraction Vehicle (Circa 1965-1994)

Estimated value: $50,000+Current bid: $10,500

This exceptionally rare original Skyway bucket ferried visitors over Disneyland for nearly 30 years. The now-iconic rounded buckets with fiberglass bodies and metal frames were introduced in 1965, about a decade after the ride debuted. A small portion of the original cable remains above the canopy of vehicle number 38.

Autopia Mark VII Attraction Vehicle (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

2) Autopia Mark VII Attraction Vehicle (Circa 1967-1999)

Estimated value: $20,000+Current bid: $6,250

The Autopia car used at Disneyland for more than 30 years has been professionally restored to drivable condition with an 8-horsepower engine. The Mark VII model designed by Walt Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr has a front end inspired by a Corvette Stingray and a back-end inspired by an Opal GT.

Main Street USA Bench (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

3) Main Street USA Bench (Circa 1990s)

Current bid: $7,750

The Main Street USA bench has wrought iron side panels with floral patterns and accents painted in Disneyland’s familiar green. The 5-foot-long bench is in good condition with some distortion to the wooden slats and small dings and chips in the metal.

Disneyland Railroad Drumhead Sign (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

4) Disneyland Railroad Drumhead Sign (Circa 1970s to 1990s)

Current bid: $5,250

The back-lit sign features Disneyland’s classic Sleeping Beauty Castle logo screen printed on acrylic board. The 25-inch-wide drumhead was used on one of the Disneyland Railroad’s Holiday trains.

Matterhorn Bobsleds Park Attraction Poster (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

5) Matterhorn Bobsleds Park Attraction Poster (1959)

Estimated value: $5,000+Current bid: $2,800

The very hard-to-find Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction poster features images of the Alps with a caption that reads “Race thru Alpine Passes and Ice Caverns.” The 36- by 54-inch vintage 1959 silkscreened poster has edge wear, hairline cracks and a tiny tear.

Country Bear Jamboree Beehive Prop (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

6) Country Bear Jamboree Beehive Prop (Circa 1970s to 1980s)

Current bid: $4,100

The very rare hand-painted fiberglass prop beehive used in Disneyland’s Country Bear Jamboree attraction oozes with honey and once jiggled to the sound of bees buzzing. The beehive sat atop Country Bear Gomer’s piano with two straws so he could sip the fermented honey.

Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship “Jolly Roger” Flag (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

7) Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship “Jolly Roger” Flag (Circa 1960s to 1970s)

Current bid: $2,000

The exceptionally rare “Jolly Roger” pirate flag flew over the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship restaurant in Fantasyland at Disneyland. The vintage 8-foot-long skull and crossbones flag was hand-produced by Disney artists.

Jungle Cruise Amazon Belle Boat Sign (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

8) Jungle Cruise Amazon Belle Boat Sign (Circa 1955 to 1960s)

Current bid: $1,900

The rare park-used sign from the Jungle Cruise steamboat Amazon Belle still has mounting holes from its original installation. The 52-inch hand-cut wooden painted sign is in fair condition with some chipped paint around the lettering and surface wear from use.

Main Street USA Railroad Station Disneyland Flag (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

9) Main Street USA Railroad Station Disneyland Flag (Circa 1960s)

Current bid: $1,550

The original, double-sided Disneyland flag from the earliest years of the park has Sleeping Beauty Castle, fireworks and letters sewn into both sides. The 40 x 25-inch flag flown over the Disneyland Railroad’s Main Street USA Station is exceptionally hard to find.

Pluto Walk-Around Character Costume Collar Prop (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

10) Pluto Walk-Around Character Costume Collar Prop (Circa 1990s to 2000s)

Estimated value: $1,000+Current bid: $350

The Pluto collar worn by the Disneyland walk-around costumed character has a resin dog tag with the message, “If found, please return to Mickey Mouse.” The inside of the thick fabric collar with Velcro closure still retains its original Disneyland wardrobe label with “Pluto” handwritten in ink.

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​ Orange County Register 

Lakers’ LeBron James rips reports of target date for his return

• March 23, 2023

When will LeBron James be back in uniform for the Lakers? It depends on the source.

The Lakers offered a positive but vague update Thursday, saying the 38-year-old has been cleared for on-court activity and “gradual basketball movement progression.” Specifically, the update said there is no timeline for his return from a right foot tendon injury, which has kept him out of action since Feb. 26.

That was followed in short order with multiple media reports with a target date: ESPN, The Athletic and TNT all reported that James hoped to play in the last week of the season, possibly the last three or four games.

That apparently set off James, who sent out a tweet: “There wasn’t an evaluation today and there hasn’t been any target date for my return. I’m just working around the clock, every day(3X a day) to give myself to best chance of coming back full strength whenever that is. God bless y’all sources. I speak for myself!”

That might not settle things, but the key takeaway – aside from James arguing with reputable news outlets – is that he’s getting closer to a return.

Having James back would be a huge boost to the Lakers (36-37), who were in 10th place in the West as of midday Thursday. When healthy, James has been the team’s leading scorer (29.5 ppg) and leading playmaker (6.9 apg) and one of the leading rebounders (8.4 rpg). James’ return would bring additional scoring and playmaking punch to a group that has gone 11-6 since the trade deadline and already boasts the seventh-best net rating (plus-3.6) in that span.

James has done spot shooting, and teammate Dennis Schröder mentioned last week that he was working out three times a day. But the update also was an upbeat advancement after coach Darvin Ham said Wednesday that James had been “not physically able” to participate in team shootarounds.

That hasn’t stopped him, however, from offering insights to the coaching staff and teammates, Ham said.

“Just talking through different matchups, different guys, giving guys opportunities,” he said. “He’s thrown me a couple of nice ATOs we’ve drawn up in the huddle. It’s been great. He’s just being engaged and really talking through the mentality, that time is of the essence. Only (nine) games left, and we really gotta push through and make this thing happen.”

James’ refuting of reports aligns with his efforts in recent seasons to make a return as soon as possible from injury. Multiple times during his Lakers tenure, James has been upgraded from “out” a day prior to a game all the way to “available” at tip-off. But in his 20th season, his ability to gut out an early return from an injury has been compromised: In the 2020-21 season, James struggled to come back from a high ankle sprain, playing two games after missing 20 straight, then missing six more games after laboring in both losses.

Assuming the reports are credible, the Lakers could face a crunch at the end of the season to get James back in rhythm before a potential play-in game or first-round series. The team’s last five games feature three road games at the Rockets, Jazz and Clippers, followed by two home games against the Suns and Jazz. Given that all three of the final games will be played in Crypto.com Arena, it could represent James’ best chance to ramp back up all within Southern California confines.

Until then, the Lakers’ have had perhaps more success than expected with James out, going 7-5 in the interim. One of the players who stepped into a starting role, Austin Reaves, said the team has been able to thrive off the high stakes of games.

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“Since Bron’s been out, we’ve had to have multiple guys fill what he does because he does everything on the court,” Reaves said. “So I’ve tried to be more aggressive offensively both ways, getting teammates involved, and then also scoring and getting to the line. So it’s really just been going back and playing basketball the way that I love, the way that I’ve always played and having fun with it.”

It’s even more fun, of course, when the whole team is able to play.

Oklahoma City at Lakers

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV/Radio: Spectrum SportsNet/ESPN LA 710

​ Orange County Register 

SZA’s SOS Tour takes fans on an emotional voyage in Inglewood

• March 23, 2023

Figuratively and quite literally, SZA was on cloud nine at the Kia Forum during her first of two headlining evenings in Inglewood on Wednesday, March 22.

Dangling from the edge of a diving board, mirroring the Princess Diana-inspired “SOS” album cover as the show commenced, she sat in isolation as the rich blue ocean waves and soft white sky beamed on a three-sided screen as she looked off into the crowd. The intricate, yet robust stage production reflected how, like the sea with all its ebbs and flows, can weave a greater sense of emotional turbulence in relationships that SZA has been known to put on full display throughout a pair of studio albums.

Then, after she splashed into the water, she rose to deliver “Seek & Destroy” with a gusto that comes after taking a quick dip to regain mental and emotional clarity. Metaphorically, it was evident that for the entire 90-minute set, just like a vigorous ship at sea, SZA too could weather any storm that may come her way.

This tour is in support of SZA’s 2022 record “SOS,” a 23-track R&B-pop and trap love synopsis reflecting on the vulnerability of desperation, revenge and the occasional longing for someone she periodically calls “utterly toxic.” Solána Imani Rowe, professionally known as SZA, amassed mainstream buzz around the record, staying on the Billboard charts at No. 1 for 10 consecutive weeks, being the first woman to do so in over seven years since Adele’s reign with “25.”

Fans packed the arena, carrying SZA tote bags and other merch; some even sporting show opener Omar Apollo gear. The Mexican-American, newly-nominated Grammy artist had fans ready to party before SZA took the stage as he sang songs off his debut album “Ivory,” including “Tamagotchi,” “Evergreen” and “Killing Me.” He was suave, dancing at each end of the stage as fans cheered him.

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“Los Angeles, this is my first arena tour, this is crazy,” he said. And it was, considering his rapid rise to fame.

But the fans were there for SZA, who weaved in and out of her 2017 breakout record “Ctrl” and “SOS.” From the moment she arrived on stage, it was all hands on deck with four backup dancers and a live band to accompany. She sang “Broken Clocks” and “Love Galore,” while walking along what looked like a seaside dock. The crowd belted out the lyrics as she gave the mic over for Travis Scotts’ verse “last time I checked you were the one that left me in a wreck,” on the latter track.

Though she didn’t bring out any surprise guests, SZA was more than enough. She held the audience in the palm of her hand and she never left their sight, even during quick costume changes. At one point, the screens switched to a black and white submarine-like camera, showing SZA changing into a flowy, beach-ready black dress as she perfectly rapped every line of “Smoking on my Ex Pack.” Then, as she was getting her makeup touched up and new mics ready to go, she ascended onto a large sailboat nestled on the stage. The rhythmic beat for “All The Stars,” the collaborative hit with Compton native Kendrick Lamar, began with SZA and backup dancers pacing the stage with some tight-knit choreography.

The best outfit change of the night was during the third act, where SZA, now hovering over the crowd in a lifeboat with a yellow tulle dress, sang “Supermodel” as she threw gold confetti to fans below. With ease, she glided to the opposite end of the arena to a flickering lighthouse, symbolizing the 33-year-old star’s getaway to emotional freedom.

“This song is about a guy who I was supposed to get engaged to but ended up blocking me on everything,” she said as she transitioned into “Nobody Gets Me.” Again, the crowd went crazy, with some tears and screams.

Near the end of the set, SZA made her graceful return to the stage, as the screens depicted the calming waves. Swapping out a dress for a black moto jacket and cargo pants, she exchanged the peaceful seaside moment for a ferocious one as she recreated “Kill Bill,” her standout track, and a shot-by-shot recreation of a scene from director Quentin Tarantino’s film. Coming out swinging with a spiked ball and chain, SZA was ready to take on any ex-boyfriend in sight. Fans also showed they were right there with her, by yelling out the chorus and showing off a middle finger, or two, during “I Hate You.”

Before the house lights came on, she returned to the dock and sat on the diving board as the light transitioned, turning the set into a cotton candy-like sky as she sang “Good Days,” wearing a pink, feathery dress. The encore was ethereal, allowing fans and, most importantly herself, the permission to recognize that after heartache, the sun will shine and tranquility will be found even amid painful turbulence.

SZA: SOS Tour

When: Wednesday, March 22

Where: Kia Forum, Inglewood

​ Orange County Register 

Book ban attempts hit record high in 2022, library org says

• March 23, 2023

By HILLEL ITALIE | AP National Writer

Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022, according to a new report from the American Library Association released Thursday.

More than 1,200 challenges were compiled by the association in 2022, nearly double the then-record total from 2021 and by far the most since the ALA began keeping data 20 years ago.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “The last two years have been exhausting, frightening, outrage inducing.”

Thursday’s report not only documents the growing number of challenges, but also their changing nature. A few years ago, complaints usually arose with parents and other community members and referred to an individual book. Now, the requests are often for multiple removals, and organized by national groups such as the conservative Moms for Liberty, which has a mission of “unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.”

Last year, more than 2,500 different books were objected to, compared to 1,858 in 2021 and just 566 in 2019. In numerous cases, hundreds of books were challenged in a single complaint. The ALA bases its findings on media accounts and voluntary reporting from libraries and acknowledges that the numbers might be far higher.

Librarians around the country have told of being harassed and threatened with violence or legal action.

“Every day professional librarians sit down with parents to thoughtfully determine what reading material is best suited for their child’s needs,” ALA President Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada said in a statement. “Now, many library workers face threats to their employment, their personal safety, and in some cases, threats of prosecution for providing books to youth they and their parents want to read.”

Caldwell-Stone says that some books have been targeted by liberals because of racist language — notably Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” — but the vast majority of complaints come from conservatives, directed at works with LGBTIQA+ or racial themes. They include Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer,” Jonathan Evison’s “Lawn Boy,” Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” and a book-length edition of the “1619 Project,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning report from The New York Times on the legacy of slavery in the U.S.

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Bills facilitating the restriction of books have been proposed or passed in Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma, among other states. In Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved laws to review reading materials and limit classroom discussion of gender identity and race books pulled indefinitely or temporarily include John Green’s “Looking for Alaska,” Colleen Hoover’s “Hopeless,” Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Grace Lin’s picture story “Dim Sum for Everyone!”

More recently, Florida’s Martin County school district removed dozens of books from its middle schools and high schools, including numerous works by novelist Jodi Picoult, Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Beloved” and James Patterson’s “Maximum Ride” thrillers, a decision which the bestselling author has criticized on Twitter as “arbitrary and borderline absurd.”

DeSantis has called reports of mass bannings a “hoax,” saying in a statement released earlier this month that the allegations reveal “some are attempting to use our schools for indoctrination.”

Some books do come back. Officials at Florida’s Duval County Public Schools were widely criticized after they removed “Roberto Clemente: The Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates,” a children’s biography of the late Puerto Rican baseball star. In February, they announced the book would again be on shelves, explaining that they needed to review it and make sure it didn’t violate any state laws.

​ Orange County Register 

Skeptical US lawmakers grill TikTok CEO over safety

• March 23, 2023

By HALELUYA HADERO AND FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. lawmakers grilled the CEO of TikTok over data security and harmful content Thursday, responding skeptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned.

Shou Zi Chew’s testimony came at a crucial time for the company, which has acquired 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.

In a rare bipartisan effort to reign in the power of a major social media platform, Republican and Democratic lawmakers pressed Chew on a host of topics, ranging from TikTok’s content moderation practices, how the company plans to secure American data from Beijing, and its spying on journalists.

“Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security,” Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said in her opening statement. “TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation.”

Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and denied allegations that it’s a national security risk. He reiterated the company’s plan to protect U.S. user data by storing all such information on servers maintained and owned by the software giant Oracle.

“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” Chew said.

On Wednesday, the company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill to lobby lawmakers to preserve the platform. It has also been putting up ads all over Washington that promise to secure users’ data and privacy, and create a safe platform for its young users.

TikTok has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or that it could be used to promote narratives favorable to the country’s Communist leaders.

In 2019, the Guardian reported that TikTok was instructing its moderators to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square and other images unfavorable to the Chinese government. The platform says it has since changed its moderation practices.

ByteDance admitted in December that it fired four employees last summer who accessed data on two journalists, as well as other people connected to them, while attempting to track down the source of a leaked report about the company.

For its part, TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying that 60% percent of its parent company ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group. ByteDance was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs in Beijing in 2012. Responding to a Wall Street Journal report, China said it would oppose any U.S. attempts to force ByteDance to sell the app.

Chew pushed back against the idea that TikTok’s ownership was an issue in itself.

“Trust is about actions we take,” Chew said. “Ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns.”

In one of the most dramatic moments, Republican Rep. Kat Cammack displayed a TikTok video that showed a shooting gun and a caption that included the House committee holding the hearing, with the exact date before it was formally announced.

“You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you can’t even protect the people in this room,” Cammack said to Chew.

Lawmakers sought to paint a picture of TikTok as a Chinese-influenced company interested in gaining profit at the cost of Americans’ mental and physical health. Committee members showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide. Many questioned why the platform’s Chinese counterpart, Douyin, does not have the same controversial and potentially dangerous content as the American product.

Chew responded that it depends on the laws of the country where the app is operating. He said the company has about 40,000 moderators that track harmful content as well as an algorithm that flags material.

“I don’t think I can sit here and say that we are perfect in doing this,” Chew said. “We do work very hard.”

A U.S. ban on an app would be unprecedented and it’s unclear how the government would enforce it.

Experts say officials could try to force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores. The U.S. could also block access to TikTok’s infrastructure and data, seize its domain names or force internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to filter TikTok data traffic, said Ahmed Ghappour, a criminal law and computer security expert who teachers at Boston University School of Law.

But a tech savvy user could still get around restrictions by using a virtual private network to make it appear the user is in another country where it’s not blocked, he said.

To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a $1.5 billion plan called Project Texas, which routes all U.S. user data to domestic servers owned and maintained by Oracle. Under the project, access to U.S. data is managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity called TikTok U.S. Data Security, which employs 1,500 people, is run independently of ByteDance and would be monitored by outside observers.

As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed later this year, Chew said.

Generally, researchers have said TikTok behaves like other social media companies when it comes to data collection. In an analysis released in 2021, the University of Toronto’s nonprofit Citizen Lab found TikTok and Facebook collect similar amounts of user data.

To block such tracking, Congress, the White House, U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have banned the use of the app from official devices.

But wiping away all the data tracking associated with the platform might prove difficult. In a report released this month, the Cybersecurity company Feroot said so-called tracking pixels from ByteDance, which collect user information, were found on 30 U.S state websites, including some where the app has been banned.

Other countries including Denmark, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, along with the European Union, have already banned TikTok from devices issued to government employees.

David Kennedy, a former government intelligence officer who runs the cybersecurity company TrustedSec, agrees with restricting TikTok access on government-issued phones because they might contain sensitive information. A nationwide ban, however, might be too extreme, he said.

“We have Tesla in China, we have Microsoft in China, we have Apple in China. Are they going to start banning us now?” Kennedy said. “It could escalate very quickly.”

___

Associated Press reporter Kelvin Chan contributed to this story from London.

___

This story has been corrected to show Oracle is a software giant, not a server giant.

​ Orange County Register 

How being neurodiverse affects your relationship with money

• March 23, 2023

Money management can be tough for anyone. And one-size-fits-all financial advice can leave neurodiverse (also called neurodivergent) people who are struggling with their finances feeling stigmatized, or at a loss for how to control their finances.

But financial wellness is possible, by leaning on resources that target the neurodiverse community and making strategic use of financial tools.

What is neurodiversity? 

Simply put, “neurodivergence describes how our brains work,” said Maria Davis-Pierre, a licensed mental health counselor and CEO/founder of Autism in Black. Davis-Pierre is neurodiverse; she is autistic and has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The brains of neurodiverse people work in unique ways that differ from the average or “neurotypical” person. According to the Cleveland Clinic, neurodiverse conditions include: autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, social anxiety, bipolar disorder and more.

Neurodiversity isn’t uncommon. According to the National Cancer Institute, it’s estimated that 15% to 20% of the world’s population is neurodiverse. Organizations may use varying definitions for neurodiversity, but that estimate is commonly cited.

How neurodiversity affects your finances

The neurodiverse community has a wide variety of needs and strengths, and that’s also true when it comes to money management. And even neurotypical people struggle with their finances. Getting support may help you better navigate finances in ways tailored to your specific needs.

“Most people tend to have a lack of understanding when it comes to their finances,” certified financial planner Elizabeth Yoder said. She is director of financial planning at Planning Across the Spectrum, which provides financial services to neurodiverse folks and people with disabilities.

“I find that neurodiverse people tend to have similar difficulties to everybody else, but in different ways,” she said. “For example, some neurodiverse people may have trouble with ‘future thinking,’ trouble thinking about why they should be putting money in savings and how.”

Some additional financial challenges might include:

Having trouble remembering to pay your bills on time.
Spending impulsively.
Procrastinating when it comes to non-preferred financial tasks, like budgeting.
Having trouble understanding complex financial planning.

Job security can also be at stake. “Typical work environments are not accommodating to people with ADHD or autism, and without accommodations, it’s hard to be successful,” Davis-Pierre said.

She notes that some neurodiverse people may need to take a lot of time off from work, especially if they have other disabilities, which affects their ability to earn a steady income.

And the high cost of health care can also limit financial well-being. “I spend almost $2,000 a month on ADHD medication, with insurance,” Davis-Pierre said. “I have financial privilege — my husband is a licensed physician and I’m a licensed clinician, but it’s still a lot of money, so imagine what it’s like for people who truly can’t afford it.”

An inability to afford care or medication may affect people’s ability to be productive at work — and make money.

How can you improve your relationship with money?

When you’re neurodiverse, community can be a big resource for getting your finances in order. You don’t have to tackle financial wellness alone, and opening up a discussion may provide reassurance about where you stand.

“People who are neurodiverse sometimes think that they are worse off than they actually are,” Yoder said. She notes that often her neurodiverse clients are more on top of things than they give themselves credit for and that improvements are often made once they feel empowered to ask for help.

Here are some additional strategies to help you improve your finances.

Use technology to make things easier

If you struggle with forgetfulness, procrastination or are generally overwhelmed by staying on top of your bills, automating bill payments can help, provided uneven cash flow doesn’t put you in danger of overdrafts.

If it’s hard for you to have a clear picture of all of your savings goals within one account, consider categorizing them. “Some banks allow you to create savings buckets without opening new accounts,” Yoder said. That way you don’t have to try and wrangle multiple accounts and can instead create categories like “travel” or “emergency fund” within one account.

“Make sure that things are easier for you, consolidate accounts where possible, consolidate multiple 401(k)s and get everything in one place,“ she said.

Don’t force yourself to use tools that don’t resonate with you

Not every financial tool or piece of advice will work for everyone. “If a certain financial tool doesn’t work for you, move on from it,” Yoder said.

Acknowledging that something doesn’t work for you can be an important step in taking charge of your finances.

Ask for accommodations

“We are set up in a world where adults get shamed for needing accommodations, so be honest with yourself and understand the accommodations that you need to succeed,” Davis-Pierre said.

For example, at work, you might ask to bring in your own lamp if the office lighting triggers sensory issues or ask for short breaks throughout the day in order to better focus.

In everyday life, asking for accommodations might look like getting someone to write out instructions for something like filing taxes in a way that makes the process easier for you.

Find support

Lean on resources that support the neurodiverse community. Try searching for community-support groups for neurodiverse individuals in your area.

Support can also come from working with financial organizations that center neurodiverse people, like Planning Across the Spectrum, or with a financial therapist.

Additional resources ranging from job help to government assistance and general information on neurodiversity, include:

Neurodiversity Employment Network.
Neurodiversity Career Connector.
Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion.
Government Benefits.
The Americans with Disabilities Act.
Different Brains.
The Color of Autism Foundation.

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​ Orange County Register 

Anaheim Hills briefs: Rotary Club plans Easter Festival for families

• March 23, 2023

Save the date for the annual Easter Festival sponsored by the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club on April 2 at Ronald Reagan Park. This event is open to the community and is Free to attend.

This all-family community event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will featuresthe club’s famous Easter Egg Hunt with more than 6,000 eggs stuffed with goodies. The event will have two separate areas for younger and older age groups and kids should bring along an Easter basket.

Other scheduled activities include photos with the Easter Bunny and face painting, a balloon shaping artist and Easter Egg coloring and decorating, as well as fun games. All these events are free.

There is an opportunity to participate in a raffle and a silent auction filled with golf packages, restaurant gift cards, hotel stays, children’s bicycles, as well as many other exciting items for bidding. Retail vendors will also be onsite offering various unique and helpful items available for purchase. Snack items such as shaved ice, popcorn, pizza and beverages will be available to purchase.

Come join the fun. For additional information, visit anaheimhillsrotary.org.

Help Marines and families enjoy Easter fun

Patriots 4 Pendleton is sponsoring an Easter basket and gift card drive and the deadline is April 1. The donations will be benefiting the families of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton.

The charitable organization is currently collecting wrapped Easter baskets for young kids, $20 gift cards for teens and $25 gift cards for single Marines. Monetary donations are also accepted.

For drop-off or other information or to arrange for a pick up, contact Carolyn Walters or the organization at [email protected].

Book sale planned at Canyon Hills

The Friends of Canyon Hills Library is preparing for its Books and Baskets sale set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6 and 7 at the branch.

A variety of nonfiction, fiction, children’s and specialty books, as well as Easter items, will be offered at bargain prices. The $2 Bag of Books will also be available and the nonprofit group will provide bags.

Remember, this is a great way to find special books and other items at great prices and all proceeds help the Friends provide services and special programs for the community.

For additional information, contact the branch at 714-765-6444.

Women’s Connection hosts own Easter parade

The Anaheim, Orange and Villa Park Women’s Connection is planning a fun Easter celebration for its next luncheon on April 10 at the Black Gold Golf Club. And all women in the community are invited.

This event includes an Easter hat parade and guests are encouraged to wear a favorite hat and join in. Prizes will be awarded for the most unique, glamorous, funniest and so on. The afternoon will also include vocalist Darene Catuara and guest speaker Pat VanGorder, who will discuss what it’s like to have and to be “The Best of Friends!”

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for socializing and shopping from onsite vendors; lunch and program follow at 11:30 a.m. The day concludes at 1:30 p.m.

Cost is $32 per person and reservation deadline is March 27. Call Barbi Zipperian for additional information and/or reservations at 714-280-9062.

Hunt for eggs, celebrate Easter with Canyon Hills Presbyterian

The Children’s Ministry at Canyon Hills Presbyterian will once again host a community Easter egg hunt on Palm Sunday, April 2, and all children in the community are welcome.

This event begins in the Fellowship Hall, following the 10 a.m. worship service, and includes a continental style brunch and a gigantic egg hunt outside on the church campus.

Canyon Hills Presbyterian begins its Easter day worship services with a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m., and another service at 8 a.m. in the amphitheater of Oak Canyon Nature Center. All are welcome.

Worship in the beautiful and serene outdoor environment among the impressive oak trees and softly flowing streams that give an extra tranquility to the Easter season. Music consists of acoustic guitars and contemporary songs for the 6:30 service, and features Godsend, the church’s contemporary rock band, at 8.

Worshippers for the early services are encouraged to bring along coffee or hot chocolate, a blanket and dress warm and casual for the outside weather.

In addition to the early morning services, a 10 a.m. service will be held in the church Sanctuary, as well as be live streamed. Music for this service is provided by the Chancel Choir, Godsend and other church musicians.

For additional information on services and activities, visit the church website, canyonhillspc.org.

Be fashionable with the Women’s Club

The Anaheim Hills Women’s Club will host a luncheon and fashion show at noon on April 18 at the Anaheim Hills Golf Course, and all women in the community are invited.

An exciting show will be presented by fashion coordinator Eileen Gerber, featuring beautiful clothes and accessories.

The cost to attend is $35 per person and reservations may be made by calling Karon Kelleher at 714-912-4907 or email [email protected]. Reservation deadline is April 10.

Sharon Hlapcich writes about events and happenings in the Anaheim Hills area. Reach her by phone (714-998-4604 or e-mail ([email protected]).

​ Orange County Register