February 28, 2016

Raccoon vs 8 yankee stadium employees

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Sorry, raccoon population of Tampa. If you want to see the Yankees in spring training, you’re

to have to buy tickets like everyone else.

On Sunday, while Yankees players were in the clubhouse for an MLBPA meeting, members of the grounds crew battled a feisty raccoon that climbed to the top of a net behind home plate.
Don’t worry. Despite that reaction from the media watching the standoff, the furry mammal was just fine.

The Daily News reported “the pesky little critter took off through the stands toward right field, prompting eight stadium workers to follow it in that direction. The raccoon moved back toward home plate and up into the upper level of seats, eventually escaping the ballpark without being caught.”

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/raccoon-yankees-spring-training-field
Raccoons are terrible, evil creatures that have no business being anywhere near humans. Seriously, look at that demon in the picture above. Horrific. Having said that, sending animals plummeting to what should be their death is not cool. Luckily, the raccoon that climbed to the top of the netting behind home plate at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on Sunday survived after being knocked to the ground by a groundskeeper.

Jared Diamond, who covers the Yankees for The Wall Street Journal, managed to capture the ordeal on video. As you can see, the groundskeeper up in that cherry picker doesn’t seem to have any idea what he’s doing and at some point, if they really wanted the raccoon gone, somebody should have maybe called animal control.

After being violently jabbed with a pole and falling a considerable distance, everyone watching assumed the raccoon was dead.
Turns out those bastards are kind of hard to kill.
http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/282543/daring-raccoon-survives-attempted-murder-at-yankees-spring-training/

February 28, 2016

Scalia Took 258 Subsidized Trips While He was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 23 in 2014 alone

http://lawnewz.com/high-profile/scalia-took-258-subsidized-trips-while-he-was-a-u-s-supreme-court-justice/

fascinating New York Times report documented the 258 subsidized trips that late Justice Antonin Scalia took while he was on the Supreme Court from 2004 to 2015. The newspaper reports that Scalia went on at least 23 privately funded trips in 2014 alone to places like Hawaii, Ireland, and Switzerland. Many of the trips were part of sponsored events like moot courts or speeches. Interestingly, many justices partake in all expense paid trips with the purpose of helping inform the public about the function of the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the revelation certainly raises interesting questions about the propriety of these free trips.

“I am worried about the public perception of gratitude, even if there is no effect on your behavior,” Stephen Gillers, a professor at the New York University School of Law told the Times. “And the greater the luxury, the greater the risk of public suspicion.” Ethic rules prevent judges from accepting from anyone that has matters before the court.

In fact, when Justice Scalia died earlier this month, he was a guest at a hunting lodge near Marfa, Texas. Most legal experts say they don’t see anything wrong with Scalia accepting a free room.

One group, Fix the Court, however, believes the Justice should have been required to disclose more of these outside events. “Supreme Court justices should advise the public of their appearances outside of the court and allow media cover for most of them,” the group says.

As for disclosure, the group says “Supreme Court justices should submit consistent, detailed finance disclosure reports each year and publish them online like other top government officials.”

February 28, 2016

Jailed for being homeless. Cities across the country are adopting legislation to prevent tent cities

Ray Lyall, 57, homeless for two years, has worked with Denver Homeless Out Loud (DHOL) for the past 22 months. He was arrested on October 24, along with others working on DHOL’s Tiny Homes project. Since he was released from jail, he has been camping with a group at a site in Denver at 26th and Lawrence Streets, which was raided on December 3. Lyall says the camping ban is used to target people sleeping outside and give tickets for other offenses. “Can’t have anything under or over you,” he says, explaining the camping ban. “I can lay in the freezing snow but I can’t have anything on my back.”
Fort Collins, a college town at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills, prohibits practices such as loitering, “misuse of public waters,” and “camping or pitching a tent without permission.” Being homeless here necessitates invisibility, and consequently, isolation. Things that offer safety and even comfort at night—tents or multi-person encampments—make hiding difficult, and often land homeless people in jail.

“I’ve been to jail twice for camping,” Fiala says between swigs of coffee and bites of a doughnut, pulling his jacket tight around his small frame.

“I’ve been in for camping and for trespassing,” chimes in Steve, who doesn’t give his last name. A dad with a perfect goatee and cheeks rosy from the incoming chill, Steve hesitates to offer more. But others in the group nod in agreement.

“Yeah, I got ticketed twice for sleeping under the Linden Street Bridge,” Fiala says, jumping back in. “I was sick, sleeping on a mattress under the bridge, and they woke me up and gave me a ticket. I balled it up and threw it in their face. ‘F— you! I’m not gonna pay that. I can’t pay that.’ So I ended up in jail for failure to appear.”
http://www.salon.com/2016/02/28/jailed_for_being_homeless_partner/

February 27, 2016

"Trump likes to sue people," Rubio said. "He should sue whoever did that to his face"

http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-marco-rubio-makeup-ears-spray-tan-2016-2

Rubio gets in the gutter

February 27, 2016

Republicans have an All-Star bench of presidential candidates, "what an all star team!", july 2015

At least 15 major candidates are currently seeking the Republican nomination for the presidency. They're an All-Star squad of predominantly conservative talent, with a deep bench of both veterans and rookies. And as with the National League selections, the people are driving the front-runners rather than the establishment or the media. Hopefully we'll see the same outcome.

Many Democrats are gleefully predicting doom for the Grand Old Party, though. "It's a circular firing squad," one friend recently told me.

Nonsense. Any veteran campaign operative will tell you it's always a short-term gain for a candidate to sail through a primary, but a long-term loss if the other party emerges with a battle-tested and confident candidate, whose campaign survived the many primaries and whose network was strengthened.

"It's a headache that -- with a few bumps -- could become a nightmare," wrote Jamelle Bouie in Slate.com. "In the last primary, right-wing rhetoric from marginal candidates was enough of a force to push Romney to the right ... There's a great chance this could repeat itself."

A conservative candidate in the general election? One can only dream.

Sure, there are a few moderates, but for the most part the rest round out a field of the best presidential contenders in decades. I'd be very happy to vote for at least a half dozen of them, which is far more than the one or two who usually grab my attention.

Let me offer a quick look at how this Southern conservative – on social, fiscal, and defense issues – would vote for the current contenders:

Jeb Bush: He was a good governor, but I won't vote for him on principle. If another country rotated its presidency amongst a single family, our State Department would probably say it was an oligarchy masquerading as a democracy.

Ben Carson: Regretfully, no. He's a great man and a great voice of conservatism, but he's too unfamiliar with all of the issues. Stay in the movement longer than a minute and come back then.

Chris Christie: Nope. He has a horrible record of appointing judges – something that's essential in today's post-constitutional environment.

Ted Cruz: Yes. Brilliant and committed: a true believer, he is.

Carly Fiorina: Talented, but no. Same problem as Carson; lead the debate for a while and come back when you've earned your stripes.

Lindsey Graham: Someone recently said he is the answer to a question that's not being asked. No way.

Mike Huckabee: I worry that his bleeding heart will spring a leak in our treasury, as it did in Arkansas, but I'd consider voting for the man.

Bobby Jindal: Absolutely. It's ironic that Christianity in America is being most strongly defended by the son of Hindu immigrants. I love this guy.

George Pataki: Who? See "Graham," above.

Rand Paul: Yes! Wait ... what did he just say? No! Oh, I just can't make up my mind.

Rick Perry: Best record of any politician in America. Yes.

Marco Rubio: Best vision of any politician in America. Yes. His attacks against Cuban communism get me fired up, too. "Wolverines!"

Rick Santorum: Probably the candidate I most relate too, so of course.

Donald Trump: No. I agree with some of his thoughts, but he's supported too many Democrats to hold our party's banner.

Scott Walker: Second best record of any politician in America. He can win on conservatism, and he can govern with conservatism. Yes.

What an All-Star team! There's youth. There's diversity. There's energy. Compare that squad with the Hillary-or-Nothing campaign being waged for the Democrat nomination and it's easy to see that all of the momentum rests with the Republicans. And that, as in baseball, could mean the ballgame. I expect it'll be a home run derby that'd make the Babe proud.
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/07/republicans_have_an_all-star_b.html

February 27, 2016

Wonder woman endorsed Hillary

We caught up with the 1970s TV superheroine and longtime Democrat — who endorsed Hillary Clinton even before the Democratic presidential candidate had entered the race — last month.



“I have very liberal views, and I have very strong views, but I also appreciate the office of the presidency, and there’s no one in that office that isn’t trying the very best they know how to do the right thing for America,” Carter said.

“We have enough people working against us. I think we need to start bringing people together,” the entertainer added.

When asked her thoughts on the field of 2016 White House hopefuls, Carter said that her pick might already have all the support she needs.

“What is interesting to me is that I think the people that are not behind Hillary will never be behind Hillary. And I’m not so worried about that,” she said.

Saying she endorses Clinton “all the way, all the time,” Carter, 64, heaped praise on

http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/267122-wonder-woman-on-2016-we-need-to-start-bringing-people-together

February 27, 2016

California museum's bald eagle flies off. Found safe a few days later

A Northern California museum’s missing bald eagle has landed safely after flying off and spending several days on the lam.

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Sequoia, a 25-year-old eagle was back at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo after she left her handler during a public flight demonstration at Byxbee Park in Palo Alto on Monday afternoon, director John Aiken told KTVU Fox 2.

Sequoia became agitated by a hawk and wandered away, according to Aiken.
The eagle was found without a feather out of place by two women hiking in Rancho San Antonio Preserve in Los Altos, the San Jose Mercury reported.

The hikers snapped a photograph of the eagle and sent it to the museum in a text. The museum confirmed it was indeed Sequoia and Aikin rushed to meet the hikers on the Chamise Trail, the paper reported.

"By the time I got up there, she had flown off," Aikin told the paper. "I went over to the edge of the canyon and there she was."

Aikin blew a whistle and held out a dead white mouse. Sequoia flew right to him, the paper reported.

Following some rest and a bath, Sequoia was back to greeting kids visiting the museum and zoo Friday afternoon.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/02/27/california-museum-finds-bald-eagle-safe-after-missing-several-days.html
The eagle was rescued years ago from the wild after suffering a gunshot wound that paralyzed her tail. Her handlers were worried about her because she's been in captivity most of her life and cannot hunt on her own.

Sequoia was taking part in a flight training exercise Monday when she got distracted and flew away from her handlers.
http://abc7news.com/society/palo-alto-museums-missing-bald-eagle-has-been-found/1220476/

February 27, 2016

Reuters on three man race: Trump 49, Cruz 26, Rubio 21 with 3 days to go

Source: Hotair

The dust is still settling from Thursday night’s rowdy debate, but if it’s having any effect on the frontrunner thus far, Reuters’ five day rolling sample isn’t finding it. And as the numbers continue to stack up with only three days to go until the big event on Tuesday, the sense of panic among the establishment is spreading.

U.S. Republicans in Washington are coming to grips with what many of them not long ago considered an unimaginable reality: Donald Trump is likely to be their presidential nominee and standard-bearer.

The prospect of Trump winning the Republican primary had been the stuff of Washington jokes, whispered hallway conversations and eye-rolls, even as he led in public opinion polls for months and dominated debate after debate.

But with the brash billionaire now winning three straight contests in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, denial is giving way to a mostly gloomy acceptance that he may have too much momentum to be stopped, especially if wins big in key Southern primaries next week that look favorable to him.

Read more: http://hotair.com/archives/2016/02/27/reuters-on-three-man-race-trump-49-cruz-26-rubio-21-with-3-days-to-go/

February 27, 2016

Man faces deportation after prank on girlfriend backfires

Kentucky man may have succeeded in pranking his girlfriend, but he's likely to be deported because of it.

His girlfriend of three years returned home from work to find the door to her apartment kicked in.

She describes finding the apartment in disarray, "I came through-- he had tables flipped over, my chair flipped over. There was blood on the walls."

Finally she found her boyfriend face down on their bed, covered in what she thought was blood, an 8-inch knife stuck in his neck. "I screamed and took off running and went across the street and called the police that my boyfriend was murdered."

She says, "the only time he was hollering it was a joke was when the police came through the door and he had the knife in his hand, he dropped the knife and said it was a prank for my girlfriend because she was a few minutes late from work."

Police weren't laughing and soon discovered the prankster, David Herrera-Giminez had an active warrant for a failure to appear.

Now he sits in jail, facing deportation to Mexico.

http://m.wpxi.com/news/news/man-faces-deportation-after-prank-girlfriend-backf/nqXsZ/

February 27, 2016

'I'm an abortion travel agent' and other tales from Texas' new desert

Source: cnn

Austin, Texas (CNN)Daytime turns to dusk as Natalie St. Clair's phone lights up with text messages. They come from clients across the vast Lone Star State.

One needs a bus from Texarkana to Shreveport, Louisiana. Another traveling from Corpus Christi to San Antonio has to find a hotel room. A third must get to Fort Worth from a small town in the western part of the state. A fourth reaches out from Lubbock to say she missed her appointment in Dallas.

To the stranger at a party who asks what she does, St. Clair keeps her answer vague: "Just feminist stuff." But the truth is blunt, bold and a sign of the times: "I'm an abortion travel agent."

It's a job that emerged after Texas enacted House Bill 2 in 2013, imposing a new round of restrictions on abortion care and abortion providers. Two key parts of the law have been challenged all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which hears arguments in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt on Wednesday.

____
Enter Fund Texas Choice, where St. Clair, 23, works as the operations manager and is the organization's only full-time employee. While other funds have helped pay for abortions for decades, this one answers a different call necessitated by HB2. It's for anyone who doesn't have a vehicle or must drive two hours or more on their own to reach a clinic.

Working out of an office in Austin, St. Clair often wires women gas money. (PayPal would be easier, but it requires a bank account, something many clients don't have.) In rural parts of Texas, just getting that wired money can require travel across multiple towns to reach a MoneyGram at Walmart. She books flights, taxis, bus tickets and hotel rooms. She regularly studies Greyhound routes and bookmarks airline schedules. Once she drove 3½ hours one-way to hand deliver last-minute financial help.

She tells stories of women who offer to sleep in their cars. Hell will freeze over, she says, before she'll let that happen.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/26/health/texas-abortion-access-desert/index.html

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College students, addicts who don't believe they are fit to be mothers and women who already had children would pull into the parking lot. Martinez remembers them arriving in cabs, old jalopies and fancy SUVs — some even with McCain/Palin bumper stickers. Women who might rail against abortion in their social circles, she says, were happy to accept Planned Parenthood's services once they got pregnant.[/
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Long detailed eye opening article!!! 😔😥