Source: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX / Getty

Vanessa Bryant is deeply hurt by the sharing of graphic photos of the crash site where Kobe Bryant and their 13-year-old daughter Gianna died back in January. She is now calling for the deputy sheriffs to be disciplined for allegedly snapping and sharing the photos, which reportedly show the remains of the victims and the debris of the crash.

Bryant had asked that the crash site be  a no-fly zone and be protected from photographers after her husband’s and daughter’s death out of respect for them and the other seven victims.  This request still didn’t keep the site safe. Two days after their untimely death, photos of their remains were shared and it was noticed after they became a topic of discussion between the first responders, the LA Times reported.

“This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families,” reads a section of a lengthy statement posted to Bryant’s Instagram from her lawyer Gary Robb. “We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated.”

An anonymous person filed a complaint regarding the photos which brought the matter to Bryant’s attention.

“Mrs. Bryant is grateful to the individual who filed an online complaint exposing these acts of injustice, and for the choice to protect human dignity,” the statement continues.

The other victims of the crash were Christina Mauser, Payton and Sarah Chester,  John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli and pilot Ara Zobayan.

Bryant also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter company.

“Defendant Island Express Helicopters’ breach of its duty and negligence caused the injuries and damages complained of herein and Plaintiffs’ deceased, Kobe Bryant, was killed as a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects,” the lawsuit reads.

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CORRECTED: The department at issue is the Los Angeles County Fire Dept (LACoFD) NOT the LAFD KANSAS CITY, Mo.–(repost: BUSINESS WIRE)–Statement From Gary C. Robb, Legal Counsel on Behalf of His Client, Vanessa Bryant: Our client, Vanessa Bryant, is absolutely devastated by allegations that deputies from the Lost Hills Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department publicly disseminated photos from the helicopter crash site. Mrs. Bryant personally went to the Sheriff’s office on January 26th and requested that the area be designated a no-fly zone and protected from photographers. This was of critical importance to her as she desired to protect the dignity of all the victims, and their families. At that time, Sheriff Alex Villanueva assured us all measures would be put in place to protect the families’ privacy, and it is our understanding that he has worked hard to honor those requests. First responders should be trustworthy. It is inexcusable and deplorable that some deputies from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s substation, other surrounding substations and LACOFD would allegedly breach their duty. This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families. We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated. We are requesting an Internal Affairs investigation of these alleged incidents. Mrs. Bryant is grateful to the individual who filed an online complaint exposing these acts of injustice, and for the choice to protect human dignity. We ask that anyone else who has information as to the facts underlying these alleged grievous and shameful incidents contact our office at 816–474-8080 or email via www.robbrobb.com

A post shared by Vanessa Bryant (@vanessabryant) on Mar 1, 2020 at 8:22am PST

Regardless of which side of the fence you find yourself on in regards to The Rise of Skywalker, one thing is known – it had a very interesting production and post production. The final film we saw in theaters was significantly different than what was originally conceived of by J.J. Abrams and crew. They deleted many scenes and concepts. However, we know about them thanks to production art from various sources. But if you’re wondering what a “J.J. cut” of Episode IX might have looked like, then Marvel Comics will have you covered very soon.

Marvel Comics

According to an interview with the comic’s writer Jody Houser for StarWars.com (via SlashFilm),  Marvel Comics’ forthcoming adaptation of the film will include several new scenes and longer versions of existing ones from the film. Houser said “I think one of the great things about adaptations in other mediums is you do get the chance to build out elements of the story there may not have been time or a place for on the screen. Giving light to new scenes gives the creators in these other mediums a chance to add to the story, rather than just translating it for the page.”

These scenes could possibly involve things like Kylo Ren’s meeting with a mysterious oracle, which would show how he learned the location of Vader’s Wayfinder device. This and other lost moments recently surfaced via The Art of the Rise of Skywalker book. So with the inclusion of these scenes, could we finally see Finn actually tell Rey that he’s Force sensitive? Will we also see excised scenes of Rose Tico’s? I for one would really like some mention of who the heck Grandma Palpatine was.

I imagine we could see more scenes explaining things like the Sith Eternal cult, the planet Exegol, the Sith Fleet, and other things the movie left pretty vague and mysterious. Although, with some of those I’d be surprised if we got that much more of an explanation than the recent Visual Dictionary already gave us. But it would be way less awkward in a comic book for a character to just stop in the middle of a scene and give a giant exposition dump. That’s just a staple of the medium.

Marvel Comics

This is a tradition that goes back to the original Marvel adaptation of Star Wars way back in 1977. The writers and artists from that comic were basically working from concept art and script pages, not the final film that everyone eventually saw in theaters. So there were references in the comics to things that later changed. These included a humanoid (but still alien) Jabba the Hutt. The word “Sith” made in into print in the comic adaptation decades before anyone spoke it on film. But it was a word in the original shooting script.

The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker comic adaptation will drop its first of five issues in May, from the creative team of Jody House, with art by Will Sliney, and cover designs by Phil Noto.

Featured Image: Marvel Comics / Lucasfilm

The post THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Comic Will Contain Deleted Scenes appeared first on Nerdist.

Here’s what we reviewed in comics this week that you might want to check out:

Finger Guns #1

This type of magical realism is really wonderful, because it captures the essence of being a teenager so succinctly with the finger gun conceit. The innate desire to have others feel the same way you do just by pointing and having an instant pivot. Richards captures the emotions of the principle characters perfectly, and the dialog is straight forward and to the point. And equally crucially, Richards also knows when to let to the art speak for itself.

Read the Full Review Here

Batman Beyond #41

After this revelation is made, Elainna is seen leading her own Batman-esque internal monologue as she goes on her own investigation into Blight’s actions, only to be surprised when she finds Terry McGinnis being held captive. Remember, she knows who he is, but he has no idea who she is. Even after he gets his memories back.

Read the Full Review Here

Action Comics #1020

Meanwhile, the rest of the Young Justice team got to prove their value by getting a blessing from Superman to do their thing and help him hold down the fort until the Justice League arrives. The banter was also enjoyable. A special shoutout goes out to Lex Luthor telling his accomplices “Don’t aim for the buildings with my name on them,” as if that’s at all possible.

Read the Full Review Here

Suicide Squad #3

Harley Quinn continues to be a delight in everything she does, but especially shines when she’s in a comic book surrounded by people who don’t know what to do with her. Her commentary is hilarious, as always and she makes light of otherwise dark moments. Taylor is having a blast writing this, you can just tell. And Redundo’s art is beautful and efficiently used. Bravo to those two.

Read the Full Review Here

Jessica Jones Blind Spot #4

De Iulis’ art suits this comic. The story is character driven, not having a lot of physical action, so the faces need to be on point. There is a subtlety to the differences in expression that feels genuine. A favorite set of panels was when Jones sees Spider-Man. From the initial, hard ass look there is a slight opening of the eyes to accompany a clasped mouth. It is an easily unnoticed touch that conveys the quick waver in her composure seeing a friend in anguish.

Read the Full Review Here

What books did you check out this week that we didn’t cover? Hit us in the comments or on our social media!

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The post The Pull – 02/26/2020: Goes Bang Bang! appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

Medicare Premium Differences in 2020

Medicare premiums are on the rise. For seniors living on a retirement income, it’s important to know where the increase in cost is coming from. More importantly, it’s essential to learn how you can keep your monthly premiums as low as possible without sacrificing quality healthcare coverage. We will provide a cost breakdown for 2020 and will help you determine how you can save while still ensuring maximum coverage.

Medicare Deductibles 2020

Original Medicare comes in four parts – Part A, B, C, and D.

Part A: Covers hospital stays and expenses. Part A is automatically applied to anyone with Medicare.

Part B: Covers doctor expenses. Part B is optional but highly recommended.

Part C: Covers hospital, doctor, and often prescription drugs. Part C is optional, known as Medicare Advantage, and may help reduce overall healthcare costs.

Part D: Covers prescription drugs. Part D is optional but highly recommended.

Part B, C, and D all have deductibles.

Part A is usually free unless the person applying has worked less than 30 quarters and did not contribute to social security payments.

All premiums are adjusted based on income and change yearly. For 2020, all premiums will increase regardless of your income bracket.

Cost Adjustments

Here is a brief look at changes from 2019 to 2020 Medicare costs.

 *To qualify for free Part A Medicare coverage, an individual must have worked and contributed payment toward social security benefits for a minimum of 30 quarters or 7.5 years.

Medicare Part B Premiums 2020

Knowing how much you’ll be expected to pay for healthcare premiums is important when living on a fixed income. To determine the cost of your Part B premium you’ll need to check your 2018 tax information, as your income from two years prior determines 2020 premium costs.

Part D Premium 2020

The same rules apply for your Part D coverage. Premium costs are associated with your 2018 tax return and vary by plan. The change for 2020 is that, depending on your income level, you will cover the cost of your Part D premium in addition to a surcharge. A higher income results in a greater surcharge. Here is a general estimate:

Income Changes

If changes in your income have occurred, call the Social Security office and submit proper documentation so you won’t have to pay more than necessary. Applicable changes include:

• Marriage, divorce, or widowhood.
• One or both parties stop working or reduce working hours.
• Loss of income-producing property due to natural disaster or another uncontrolled event.
• One or both parties experience ceasing, termination, or reorganization of an employer’s pension plan.
• One or both parties receive a settlement from an employer or former employer due to an employer’s business closing, bankruptcy, or reorganization.

Ways To Save On Medicare Costs

If you’re one of the 7.5 million seniors struggling to afford healthcare necessities like prescription drug coverage, there are savvy ways to save.

Medicare Advantage or Part C

Original Medicare Parts A and B only cover hospital and doctor fees, as seen in the first chart in this article. Unfortunately, this means necessities such as vision, dental, and hearing coverage are not included. If you want a prescription drug plan, you’ll need to purchase a separate plan, either Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan.

With a Medicare Advantage plan, you apply for Part A and B coverage, pay for it together and often receive extras such as vision, dental, and drug coverage. Here’s a snapshot of plan differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage in 2020.

*Not all Medicare Advantage plans cover vision, dental, and hearing.

The biggest savings when choosing a Medicare Advantage plan is the included extras such as vision, dental, hearing, and drug coverage. Often, your Medicare Advantage premium will cost less than if you purchased Part A, B, D, and a hearing or vision plan individually.

Choose Medicare Plans 2020

Choosing the right Medicare plan for your health care is an important step to ensure a healthy and fulfilling future. Making a choice doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated. Talk with a Medicare advisor to determine which plan and cost are right for you.