Blog masonry

Barry Manilow announces cancer diagnosis, surgery forces postponement of shows

Barry Manilow performs during 'Manilow: The Last Detroit Concert' at Little Caesars Arena, June, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Scott Legato/Getty Images)Barry Manilow has been forced to postpone his January concerts so he can undergo cancer surgery, the legendary singer announced on Monday.In a statement on Instagram, Manilow writes that he'd recently suffered through weeks of bronchitis, so his doctor ordered an MRI to "make sure that everything was OK." He goes on to say that the test "discovered a cancerous […]

December 22, 2025

Music

On This Day, Dec. 22, 2014: Joe Cocker dies at age 70

On This Day, Dec. 22, 2014 ...British singer Joe Cocker died of lung cancer in Colorado at the age of 70.Known for his raspy voice and expressive body movements while performing, Cocker first gained commercial success thanks to his soulful cover of The Beatles’ "With a Little Help From My Friends," which appeared on his debut album.The song, which featured Jimmy Page on guitar, hit #1 in the U.K. and was later used as the theme song for the ABC […]

December 22, 2025

Entertainment

In brief: ‘The Breadwinner’ trailer and more

If you haven't watched the movie Bugonia yet, you'll have an opportunity to do it at home very soon. The Yorgos Lanthimos-directed film arrives on Peacock for its streaming debut on Dec. 26. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons star in the psychological thriller that's been nominated for three Golden Globe awards ...Nate Bargatze makes his feature film acting debut in the official trailer for The Breadwinner. The Sony Pictures film also stars Mandy Moore as a wife and mother who […]

December 22, 2025

Entertainment

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ lights up box office with #1 debut

Zoe Saldaña stars as Neytiri in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash.' (20th Century Studios)We see you, Avatar: Fire and Ash, at the top of the box office.The third film in James Cameron's epic sci-fi series opens at #1 with an $88 million haul in its debut weekend, Box Office Mojo reports.While certainly a good start, Avatar: Fire and Ash has a ways to go if it hopes to catch up to its predecessors. The 20th Century Studios franchise has spawned the highest and third-highest […]

December 22, 2025

Music

The Year in Music 2025: Led Zeppelin gets the documentary treatment, plus ‘Physical Graffiti’ turns 50

After waiting almost four years, Led Zeppelin fans finally got to see the story of their favorite band on the big screen with the February 2025 release of Becoming Led Zeppelin, the first officially sanctioned documentary about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band.The film, directed by Bernard MacMahon, first premiered as a work in progress at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. It took until May 2024 for Sony Pictures Classics to acquire the rights to the completed project.Described […]

December 22, 2025

Entertainment

On ‘SNL,’ Ariana Grande and Cher help Bowen Yang say goodbye

Musical guest Cher, host Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang during promos on Thursday, December 18, 2025 (Rosalind O’Connor/NBC)Ariana Grande returned to host Saturday Night Live for a third time on Dec. 20, and her appearance doubled as a farewell lap for her Wicked co-star and departing SNL cast member Bowen Yang.Grande kicked off the show by poking fun at herself, noting that she'd last hosted about a year ago. "So many people have been asking me if I'm going to revisit […]

December 21, 2025

Viewpoints

The Human Cost Of Inflation: One Mother’s View From The Financial Edge

Christina Kuhn’s life is a daily race against rising prices, stagnant wages and the constant fear that one unexpected expense could cause her family to lose everything. In this intimate portrait of a Michigan family stretched to their limit, we explore what it really feels like to live without a safety net in today’s economy. Christina Kuhn, Michigan resident, mother Links for more info: How to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Getting Help Through 211 America’s Affordability Crisis – Time Magazine […]

December 21, 2025

Viewpoints

The One-Hunded Year Anniversary Of Mount Rushmore

It’s one of the most photographed landmarks in America, but behind the four stone faces lies a story of abandoned visions, a sculptor with a controversial legacy and a mountain long sacred to Native Americans. A century after the project was approved, we have a conversation about the landmark’s lesser-known history and who gets to shape the story of America. Matthew Davis, author, A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore Links for more info: A […]

December 21, 2025

Health

Pregnancy Won’t Protect You: The Maternal Mental Health Crisis

A mental health researcher reveals the secret battle she hid for years – one that nearly took her life during pregnancy. Her story exposes how common and overlooked perinatal depression truly is, and why stigma keeps so many women from getting help. In this powerful memoir-turned-case-study, she hopes to show struggling mothers that they’re not alone. Guest Information: Dr. Kara Zivin, author, Persevered, professor of health management and policy, University of Michigan Links for more info: Zivin Profile Zivin Website […]

December 21, 2025