Latest news with #Hamrick
NBC News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
LGBTQ musician goes viral after playing protest song at ‘Hetero Awesome Fest' in Idaho
An LGBTQ musician managed to get a spot on stage at the 'Hetero Awesome Fest' in Boise, Idaho, last weekend, where he put on what he called his 'battle jacket' — which has an upside down American flag on one arm and a rainbow Pride heart on the other — and his tan beret from serving four years as an Army ranger and then played a song in protest about a transgender boy. His performance, which was live-streamed both by the festival and by a local journalist, went viral across social media this week. Daniel Hamrick, a Boise-based musician who performs at Renaissance festivals and with his band, Buzzbomb 7 Eleven, said his goal was to reach children and young adults in religious or conservative families who have to hide who they are for their own safety. 'I believe that anyone who's out has a responsibility to be gay and loud for the people who have to be gay and quiet,' he said in an interview with NBC News. Mark Fitzpatrick, owner of the Old State Saloon, a bar and restaurant in a suburb of Boise, announced the event in April as an alternative and a response to LGBTQ Pride Month, which is recognized annually in June. He said at the time that the event would be a celebration of 'traditional family values' and was inspired by the restaurant's inaugural 'Heterosexual Awesomeness Month ' held last year. The two-day event took place over the weekend in Cecil D. Andrus Park, directly across the street from the Capitol, and featured live music, conservative and far-right speakers and local food and drink vendors. The event's budget was about $85,000 and a few dozen people attended, according to KTVB, an NBC affiliate in Boise. Hamrick said he reached out to the event's organizers shortly after it was announced and coordinated with them over the last two months so he could perform. He said he never lied about who he was or what his intentions were in any of his phone calls or emails. 'I never straight up said, 'I want to play music in support of your message,' but I was like, 'Oh, I'm so excited. I'm so enthusiastic about doing this,' which I was,' Hamrick said, adding that at one point, there was a long silence from the organizers, and he assumed they had Googled him and found his social media, where he posts about politics and has a profile dedicated to his Renaissance festival persona. But then one day, he received an email with administrative information for musicians, 'And I was like, 'Oh, great, I'm in.'' Hamrick arrived at the festival Saturday wearing a short-sleeved button-up shirt and a baseball hat. Once on stage, he asked if there were any veterans in the crowd and put on his tan beret because he said, 'it was important that I opened with, 'I am a veteran. I fought for this country.' I believe in the country that America claims to be, even if it isn't that.'' Then he removed his button-up shirt to reveal a Canyon County Pride cropped T-shirt. He put on his 'battle jacket' and began to play the song, which is called 'Boy.' 'They put him in dresses to keep him in line; they say it's a phase and it's all in his mind. They put him in ballet; he wants to play ball. What matters to him doesn't matter at all. The boy that everyone thought was a girl,' Hamrick sang. Other lyrics in the song included, 'It's not just aesthetics; it's down to his heart. They're breaking his will, and he's breaking apart,' and later in the song, 'Let teacher take a glance, what's in your underpants,' a reference to the surge in state laws that regulate which sports teams trans youth can play on at school and which bathrooms they are allowed to use. Nearly three minutes into the song, one of the festival organizers pulled Hamrick's mic off the stage, and then security escorted him off as he continued to play his guitar and finished the song without a mic, according to a video posted by the Boise Blackbirds Instagram account, which is run by a local independent journalist and activist. Hamrick said he wrote the song last year. He is bisexual and not transgender, but he said he has many loved ones who are trans. 'The song is for everyone who listens to it and feels heard and seen and maybe just a little less alone,' he said, adding that it's for people who might be in conservative, religious communities who don't have a community they can trust. 'Know that your pastor or your parents or your Boy Scout troop leader isn't this insurmountable, unquestionable force of nature, but that if you have to hide right now, then that's what you have to do,' Hamrick said. 'You have to survive. But once you are out of that, there is a community that is ready to take you in and love you and support you.' Fitzpatrick, the festival's organizer, described Hamrick's actions as a 'pathetic and evil act' in an email to NBC News. 'Our festival is a fortress for traditional family values: faith, freedom, truth, and the sanctity of what makes us human,' Fitzpatrick said. 'He lied to us to get a chance to play on stage in front of our guests, children included, stating his act would honor that. When he got on stage, he threw on part of a military uniform dishonoring the Army, and unleashed a song glorifying transgender ideology. It was a vile anthem pushing the lie that boys can be girls and girls can be boys. So I yanked his mic and told him to leave.' He said the festival was still a 'bigger success than I ever dreamed.' He said he spent about $40,000 personally and is 'getting millions in publicity against the Left wing PRIDE nutjobs.' As for Hamrick, he said Buzzbomb 7 Eleven is working on recording 'Boy' and another song so that they can release it publicly. Some of his supporters have called him a 'hero,' but Hamrick said he's very uncomfortable with that. 'If it inspired a lot of people to get involved, that's a wonderful role for me to have,' he said. 'I'm so happy that I get to play that part, but it is just a small part. If you want to send love, send it to your organizers. Send it to the people who are putting together protests, who are doing food drives for unhoused people. There are people who are on the ground, working every day to try to make life more livable for queer people in this country.'
CNBC
11-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
45% of American homeowners have regrets about buying their current home—here's their No. 1 complaint
It's harder than ever to buy a home, and even those who manage to do it often have regrets about their purchase. Some 45% of homeowners have regrets about their current home, according to a recent survey from Bankrate. Their most common complaint: frustration over the price of maintenance costs and hidden fees. A typical American homeowner spends over $18,000 on non-mortgage home expenses every year, according to Bankrate's June 2024 Hidden Cost of Homeownership Survey. In some states, such as Hawaii and California, the fees stack up even higher, reaching around $29,000 every year, per Bankrate's estimate. These charges, such as internet bills, property taxes and maintenance, often aren't front of mind when purchasing a property. But for those who buy a home at the high end of their budget, they can pose a major uphill battle. That's why it's important to factor ongoing homeownership costs into your budget, as well as any offer you make on a property, lest you "get out over your skis," says Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. Without a significant financial buffer, he says, you could end up with surprise costs that force you to forego necessary home upgrades or repairs, or even cause you to fall into debt. Here's how experts say to deal with these sneaky costs. One way to avoid surprise maintenance costs is to get a thorough accounting of the home's potential defects, according to Zillow, a residential real estate platform. At the very least, completing a home inspection will help you enter homeownership with a more complete understanding of what work your home may need, Zillow says. Your inspector may find small, non-deal breaker repairs like plumbing drips or loose handrails, but it's also possible that they uncover bigger issues like foundation cracks. In that case, you'll likely need a second inspection from a specialist. The upside of paying extra for inspections is that you may be able to negotiate repairs into your sale price or have them corrected by your seller, which could save you money up front and down the line, according to Zillow. But, even if you handle repairs early, upkeep will inevitably be required. While it may feel easier to delay updates until things reach their breaking point, Zillow says it's more cost effective to opt for regular, ongoing maintenance instead. To do this, try adding a few regular home maintenance tasks to your seasonal to-do lists, Zillow says. For example, by making an effort to budget out the time — or cash — for a major gutter cleaning in the fall, you may be able to save yourself from an expensive roof repair project by clearing out leaves before they cause a clog. Bankrate's Hamrick says all prospective buyers should consider their full range of financial needs and goals before rushing into homeownership. In the meantime, "there's no shame in renting," he says. "We live in a highly competitive society and economy, and I think all too often people are being overly severe with their judgements about themselves," Hamrick says. "They should give themselves some grace and time if the time currently isn't optimal for buying a home." Move at your own pace in the buying process, and make sure you're confident that it's the best next step for you, he says. After all, deciding you're ready to buy a home isn't just about having enough cash savings to handle up front and ongoing costs, but also about ensuring you're prepared to tackle the full range of responsibilities that come with owning a property. To get a fuller picture of what you can afford, it may make sense to consult a financial professional who can help you assess your home-buying budget.
Epoch Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
US Job Openings Slide to 6-Month Low, Layoffs Fall
Job vacancies declined sharply in March, but little change in new hires and layoffs signals that the U.S. labor market remains solid. The number of job openings tumbled by 288,000, to 7.192 million, the lowest in six months, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Last month's number fell short of the consensus forecast of 7.48 million. Data indicate that the decrease in employment opportunities was broad-based, led by transportation, warehousing, and utilities (negative 59,000), accommodation and food services (negative 42,000), and construction (negative 38,000). Employment vacancies in the federal government also fell by 36,000. While the number of job openings has steadily declined since reaching the March 2022 peak of 12.1 million, other JOLTS metrics indicate the national labor market is intact. Related Stories 4/29/2025 4/28/2025 Job quits—a measure economists use to determine workers' confidence in finding a new position—increased by 82,000, to an eight-month high of 3.25 million. New hires were unchanged at 5.4 million, indicating employers are reluctant to expand their payrolls. Layoffs and discharges fell to 1.6 million, led by the retail trade (negative 66,000) and the federal government (negative 11,000). Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst at Bankrate, says the JOLTS report figures were compiled before President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff plans, so the latest labor dataset could suffer from a lagging effect. 'So, it runs the risk of being somewhat less meaningful given the level of volatility and uncertainty surrounding the economy,' Hamrick said in a statement to The Epoch Times. According to the latest Federal Reserve Meanwhile, 'It may be hard for a while but we need to do something before America goes bankrupt. This should have been done decades ago,' one small business owner said in the monthly survey. Other indicators, meanwhile, could present a snapshot of the broader U.S. labor market. Jobs, Layoffs, and Tariffs This week's main event will be the April jobs report on May 2. Economists anticipate the U.S. economy created 130,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent. 'We acknowledge the high degree of economic uncertainty heading into the forthcoming April employment report, and beyond,' Hamrick said. 'That's another way of saying that we shouldn't be shocked by a surprise in the data. Still, expectations are worth noting.' Market watchers will also monitor payroll processor ADP's National Employment Report. Early estimates suggest the private sector added 108,000 new jobs last month. Global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas will report on U.S.-based employers' planned job cuts. In March, employers announced 275,240 layoffs, the third-highest monthly total on record. The sizable figures were attributed to the Trump administration's plans to cut federal spending and downsize the government workforce. Meanwhile, jobless claims, a weekly gauge of the job market, have been stable. Last week, initial and continuing unemployment claims hovered around their 'The fact that unemployment has remained relatively low despite a significant decline in job openings is unprecedented,' said Cory Stahle, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab, in a In a separate Bureau of Labor Statistics Economic observers have expected seismic shifts in the U.S. labor market because of the new administration's cost-cutting efforts and policy changes, and these concerns have yet to appear in the hard data. Some say data in the coming months should present a clearer picture of how Trump's trade agenda is affecting the economic landscape. The first-quarter GDP growth rate will be released on April 30. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's GDPNow Model estimate, the U.S. economy contracted 1.5 percent after adjusting for gold imports and exports. Paul Ashworth, the chief North America economist at Capital Economics, says a spike in imports dragged down first-quarter growth, which could reverse in the current quarter. 'The reversal of that surge will have an offsetting effect in the second quarter, boosting growth to more than 2% annualised. Over the rest of 2025 and throughout 2026, however, we expect quarterly growth to slow to around 1.5% annualised,' Ashworth said in the Q2 2025 US Economic Outlook As the administration celebrates Trump's first 100 days in the Oval Office, Siebert Financial CIO Mark Malek says observing the next 100 days is crucial. 'For the most part, I think we've seen the worst. We've seen the extremes, in terms of the downside. I think markets now are having a much more positive bend on what's going to be happening in the next 100 days,' Malek said in a note emailed to The Epoch Times.
Miami Herald
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Melanie Hamrick reveals the secret behind her ‘promise ring' from Mick Jagger
Melanie Hamrick is confirming what many have assumed for the past few years. The 37-year-old ballerina has been in a relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, 81, for more than a decade, but has played coy in the past whenever asked if they would be getting engaged. In an interview with Paris Match, published April 9, Hamrick finally let the cat out of the bag. 'We've been engaged two or three years,' Hamrick said to the French publication, according to People — though she remained coy about what's next. 'Maybe one day we'll marry, maybe not. We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything,' she explained, according to People. Hamrick met Jagger in Tokyo in 2014 when the ballet group she was dancing with received tickets to a nearby Rolling Stones concert, according to The Sunday Times. The pair started dating several months later, per Today, and welcomed their first child together — a son named Deveraux Octavian Basil — in 2016. In addition to Deveraux, Jagger shares daughter Karis, 54, with actress Marsha Hunt, daughter Jade, 53, with ex-wife Bianca Jagger and son Lucas, 25, with model Luciana Morad Gimenez. He also shares four children — daughters Elizabeth, 41, and Georgia May, 33, and sons James, 39, and Gabriel, 27 — with ex-wife Jerry Hall. In her interview with Paris Match, Hamrick opened up about the couple's origin story. 'Maybe a spark, but nothing incredible, like, 'Come on, I'll blow your mind and we'll travel the world,'' she said when asked if sparks were flying after meeting Jagger, according to People. 'We didn't even exchange phone numbers. At the time, I wasn't in a relationship, but he was,' she told the outlet, according to People. Engagement rumors began swirling in 2023 after Hamrick was seen sporting a sparkling diamond on her ring finger. In a June 2023 interview with People, Hamrick confirmed that the ring was a gift from Jagger but stopped short of calling it an engagement ring. 'I mean, I have to giggle because did Mick give me the ring? Yes. Is it for that finger? Yes,' she told People at the time — describing herself as a 'live-in-the-moment type of person.' 'In my mind, it's a promise ring. We'll be immature and call it a promise ring,' she continued. Now nearly two years later, Hamrick is confirming that she is (and has been) engaged to Jagger. As for how they've kept their relationship so strong over the past 11 years, Hamrick credits the ongoing support they have for one another. 'We try to support each other, be there for each other, and make sure everyone is happy. That's all that matters to me and all I strive for,' she told Paris Match, according to People. As for the couple's 44-year age difference, Hamrick previously advised fans, followers and media members to 'mind their own business.' 'I don't think about it. Everyone's going to have their opinion,' she told The Times in September. 'If you think about others' opinions, no matter where you are in life, you're going to have a problem and you're going to analyze it,' she added.
Fox News
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Mick Jagger engaged to 37-year-old Melanie Hamrick, but she says 'maybe' to marriage
Mick Jagger's longtime partner Melanie Hamrick revealed she has secretly been engaged to the Rolling Stones frontman for years. During a recent interview with the French magazine Paris Match, the 37-year-old former ballerina shared the news of her engagement to the 81-year-old rocker. "We've been engaged two or three years," Hamrick said, via an English translation of the article published Wednesday. However, Hamrick told the outlet she is uncertain whether she and Jagger will ever tie the knot. "Maybe one day we'll marry, maybe not. We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything," the "First Position" author said. In 2016, Hamrick and Jagger, who began dating in 2014, welcomed son Deveraux "Devi" Octavian Basil Jagger, the "Paint It, Black" singer's eighth child from a fifth partner. While reflecting on the secret to their successful relationship, Hamrick said she and Jagger "try to support each other, be there for each other and make sure everyone is happy." "That's all that matters to me and all I strive for," she added. In June 2023, the pair first sparked engagement rumors when Hamrick showed off a diamond ring on her wedding finger. During an interview with People magazine at the time, Hamrick confirmed the ring was a gift from Jagger but remained coy about its potential meaning. "I mean, I have to giggle because did Mick give me the ring? Yes. Is it for that finger? Yes," she told the outlet. "But are we, like, horny teenagers where we're giving each other … In my mind, it's a promise ring. We'll be immature and call it a promise ring." "Maybe one day we'll marry, maybe not. We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything." Hamrick also shared her thoughts on whether she ever wants to get married. "I don't know," she says. "I'm kind of, like, a live-in-the-moment type of person, so who knows?" Jagger has been married once before. The four-time Grammy Award winner and Bianca Jagger tied the knot in 1971, but they split in 1978. The former couple share daughter Jade Sheena Jezebel Jagger. The singer's other children include Karis Hunt Jagger with actress Marsha Hunt; Elizabeth Scarlett Jagger, James Leroy Augustin Jagger, Georgia May Ayeesha Jagger and Gabriel Luke Beauregard Jagger with Jerry Hall; and Lucas Maurice Morad Jagger with Luciana Gimenez Morad. Jagger and Hamrick first met backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in Tokyo in February 2014. At the time, Hamrick was also touring Japan as a dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. When asked if their meeting was "love at first sight," Hamrick told Paris Match, "Maybe a spark, but nothing incredible, like, 'Come on, I'll blow your mind, and we'll travel the world.' We didn't even exchange phone numbers. At the time, I wasn't in a relationship, but he was." One month after they met, Jagger's longtime girlfriend, fashion designer L'Wren Scott, died by suicide. After her death, Jagger wrote how he was "struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way." Hamrick told Paris Match she and Jagger reconnected five months after they first met. She recalled that a mutual acquaintance gave her phone number to Jagger, who invited her to join him for coffee. The two then embarked on a romance after meeting again in Zurich. In September 2024, Hamrick insisted to The Times she wasn't starstruck by the famous musician. "Ballet dancers meet some of the biggest stars and act, like, 'Who are you?' Because, to us, ballet dancers are the gods. That's who you study and look up to. You're so in your world," Hamrick said. While Jagger isn't in the ballet realm, she said, "Mick is the perfect balance. He's not a ballet dancer, but he is a dancer and a performer, and we understand each other's worlds, yet we're not in each other's worlds." Hamrick also told the outlet she doesn't waste any time thinking about the couple's 44-year age gap. "I don't think about it. Everyone's going to have their opinion," she said. "If you think about others' opinions, no matter where you are in life, you're going to have a problem, and you're going to analyze it. "I put the blinders on. Am I happy? Yes. Are the people in my life happy? Yes. Am I hurting anyone? No. OK, they can mind their own business."
