NFL Not The Only "Thing" Trumpsters Are Boycotting -- October 21, 2017

North Dakota state capitol circa 1948 (from Facebook, sent in by Don, thank you:

Cover-up?

• arrested for DUI on September 30, 2017
• not made public until October 20, 2017
• blood alcohol level: more than twice the legal limit
• $500 fine and that's about it (maybe)
• story buried so far down in The Bismarck Tribune "no one" will see it 
• I guess if you are a government official ....
• will plea guilty as charged: ND Tax Commissioner

Active rigs:

$52.07↑	10/21/2017	10/21/2016	10/21/2015	10/21/2014	10/21/2013
Active Rigs	54	34	68	191	182

NFL not the only "thing" Americans are boycotting: from showbiz411 --

It’s a bizarre season in Hollywood. Almost nothing is “working,” and the studios can’t afford to waste any more money hoping things will turn around. They’re pulling flops from theaters earlier than usual.

This weekend, for example, Warner Bros. is putting out a white flag on “Blade Runner” after three tough weeks.

They’ve cut the number of theaters showing Denis Villeneuve’s beautiful film by 855. So far, “Blade Runner” has made just $66 million.  Audiences have not clamored to it. And now, week by week, Warners will quietly take it away. [My own thoughts on Blade Runner 2049 are posted here.]

Warner’s isn’t alone. Universal is pulling Tom Cruise’s  “American Made” from 539 locations after a month in release. The Doug Liman directed thriller has made just $43 million. Good reviews haven’t helped push Cruise fans to theaters. One problem was lack of promotion since Cruise wasn’t available. Also, audiences may have just soured on him after “The Mummy” and other flops. With both studios, it wasn’t for lack of trying.

The biggest decease (de-crease, but pun intended here) is for the revived “Flatliners.” With just $16 million in the till, Sony would be better off paying people to see this turkey. They’re retreating from 1,433 theaters this weekend, leaving “Flatliners” to breathe on its own. It will be completely dead by Sunday.

Also just about dead is the much praised “Battle of the Sexes,” Fox Searchlight couldn’t get anyone to go see it despite great reviews and excellent marketing. I’m actually dumbfounded that it’s made just $11 million. FS is killing off 849 screens. Ouch! And “Battle” was supposed to yield some awards action.

Warner’s, meantime, is facing more trouble than the other studios. Their “Geostorm” is going to be a disaster this weekend.

Rumor: the only one standing in line in Nashville, TN, for this global-warming movie was Algore --

Four other new films are showing little traction among moviegoers. The most prominent is costly weather disaster drama “Geostorm,” which is heading for a financial disaster with an opening weekend of $13 million at 3,246 venues for Warner Bros. The studio — which had forecasted a finish in the $10 million to $12 million range — took the unusual step of not holding Thursday night previews, as it had not held screenings for critics.

US murder rate, ranking among cities: Chicago is not #1. St Louis, MO, has that distinction. Most recent data, 2015.

1. St Louis, MO (rising since 2013)
2. Baltimore, MD (surge in 2015)
3. Detroit, MI (flat)
4. New Orleans, LA (falling since 2007, but slight rise recently)
5. Birmingham, AL (surged in 2015)
6. Jackson, MS (flat)
7. Baton Rouge, LA (slight rise recently)
8. Hartford, CT (surged in 2015)
9. Salinas, CA (surged in 2015)
10. Milwaukee, WI
13. Savannah, GA (and surging in 2015)
19. Atlanta, GA
25. Chicago, IL (relatively flat)