LGF Pages

The Greatest (Movie) Speech Ever Made

theye1 — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:02:13 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Video

73 years later is still relevant and powerful as ever.

It's also because of this movie that Charlie Chaplin was labelled a "premature anti-fascist."

Iranian Photographer Wins Awards at World Photo Press

ggt — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:07:23 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Click the link to see the pictures.

Iranian photographer Ebrahim Noruzi has won two awards at the World Photo Press 2013. The winners of the world's largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest were announced on Friday. Noruzi won the first prize of the Observed Portraits Section for his photo collection "Victims of Forced Love".

More: Iranian Photographer Wins Awards at World Photo Press

2nd link--collection of photos

The Singing Ringing Tree

Romantic Heretic — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:02:49 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Some people built this strange looking statue in England.

And this is what it sounds like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve6PTrlLGOU&feature=share

Radio Host Wants to 'Shoot Hillary Clinton in the Vagina' and Says, 'I Want Her to Feel the Pain'

ggt — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:52:38 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

YouTube

More: Radio Host Wants to 'Shoot Hillary Clinton in the Vagina' and Says, 'I Want Her to Feel the Pain'

Dairy Farmers and Workers Help Each Other Survive

wrenchwench — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:41:29 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Dairy farmer John Rosenow stands in front of a semi truck. His 550 dairy cows fill one semi every day to sell across the street to the cheese factory. Photo by Laurel Morales

John Rosenow is a fifth-generation dairy farmer, but times have changed since his Norwegian ancestors began farming in Cochrane, Wis. And Rosenow has changed with the times. Much of his workforce is now from Mexico, and Rosenow travels regularly to their village in southern Mexico to meet their families.

[...]

Rosenow’s business has grown. He and his workers now milk 550 cows, three times a day. Eight out of 20 hired laborers are from Mexico. Family and neighbors make up the rest.

"I’ve been called slave trader," Rosenow said. "I’ve been called someone that runs an underground railroad and probably a whole lot of worse things behind my back. What I basically am is I’m a dairy farmer trying to make a living in a difficult industry."

[...]

Since Rosenow has gone down, 150 other Wisconsin dairy farmers have followed.

"The employers realize that they owe these guys a lot more than just a paycheck," Duvall said. "And so they become interested in their welfare and in their family’s welfare. And they are extremely marginalized in these communities. They’re some of the poorest places in all of Mexico."

"It was quite a powerful experience to visit those people that are back there getting checks from their husband usually working up here," Rosenow said.

[...]

Read the whole thing here: Dairy Farmers, Workers Help Each Other Survive There's also an audio clip and more photos at the link.

Not many employers think they owe more than a paycheck to their employees. I agree with Erasmo; Rosenow es buena gente.

NYPD Arrested and Committed Woman to Psychiatric Ward for Legally Baring Breasts

ggt — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:02:30 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

MANHATTAN (CN) - "Topless paparazzo" Holly Van Voast claims in court that New York City police repeatedly arrested and institutionalized her for legally baring her breasts while wearing a Marilyn Monroe wig and Don Juan mustache.

Van Voast aka Harvey Van Toast sued New York City, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, the Metropolitan Transit Authority and dozens of police officers in Federal Court. The 46-year-old performance artist calls going topless part of her commitment to "personal, artistic and gender freedom," inspired a "broad artistic community of punk drag" performers such as Little Kimchi, Misty Meaner and Mary Jo Cameltoe, according to the complaint.

Van Voast says the law has been on her side since 1992, when the New York State Court of Appeals dismissed an indecent exposure violation against Rochester woman Ramona Santorelli.

More: NYPD Arrested and Committed Woman to Psychiatric Ward for Legally Baring Breasts

Tonight's Shabbos Menu (& Recipes)

Alouette — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:45:16 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Tonight's menu:

Baked Gefilte Fish
Broiled Rainbow Trout
Redskin Potato Salad
Chicken Noodle Soup

Wine: Herzog Zinfandel
Dessert: Frozen Strawberry Daquiri

Tomorrow's menu:

Gefilte Fish, Trout
Romaine/Avocado Salad
Olive Pasta Salad
Redskin Potato Salad

Middle East Oven-Fried Chicken

Wine: Herzog Orange Muscat
Dessert: Frozen Margaritas

Middle East Fried Chicken Recipe

1 broiler chicken, cut into 8ths
1/4 c. unbleached flour
1/2 c. Panko breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp. Za'atar seasoning
1 Tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 425. Put 1 Tbsp oil in a Pyrex 9x13 baking dish and place in the oven.

While oven is heating, put flour, bread crumbs, and za'atar into a gallon plastic bag. Add chicken pieces 2 at a time and shake until well coated. Carefully with oven gloves, remove the preheated baking dish and place the chicken pieces skin side down. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn pieces over and bake for 15 minutes or until brown and crispy.

Can serve hot or cold!

Redskin Potato Salad

6 Redskin potatoes
1/2 c. frozen peas & carrots
1 small red pepper
1 small red onion
1 sour pickle

Dressing:
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. Henri's dressing
1 Tbsp. Dijon or coarse brown mustard

Microwave the potatoes for 6 minutes, turn over and micro for 6 more minutes. Let cool. Peel the potatoes (or you can leave the skins on if you like) and cut into cubes. Microwave the peas & carrots for 4 minutes, drain and add to potatoes. Chop the onion, pickle & red pepper.

Mix dressing and pour over salad and toss until well coated.

Shabbat shalom!

Ms. Magazine ---January 2014 WOMEN'S Healthcare and the ACA

ggt — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:27:23 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

No one complained when preventive coverage started first for kids and adults in 2010. But when it was time to offer preventive coverage specifically for women's health, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and conservative politicians realized that prevention also means contraception-- and they tried to stop health reform in its tracks. The Obama administration stood strong, however, and the women's coverage has started to take effect.

All insurers now have to cover well-woman exams (thanks to the lobbying efforts of women senators such as Barbara Mikulski), contraception and breastfeeding (even the expensive stuff such as IUDs and breast pumps), cancer screening such as mammograms and Pap smears, domestic-violence screening and STI counseling. If you're working for Catholic Charities or a religiously affiliated hospital, however, don't bother asking your HR department about any of this: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has created a work-around so that the bishops don't have anything to do with your contraceptive coverage. According to Mayra Alvarez, director of public policy in the Office of Health Reform at HHS, "We've really worked hard to find the best compromise between respecting religious concerns and women's access to contraceptive services. ...The important compromise is that the religious employer itself is not going to be connected to the policy but the woman will continue to receive the information and the benefit directly from the insurer."

In other words, every insured woman's contraceptive needs will be covered--at no extra cost to her.

More: Ms. Magazine

Women BEWARE when travelling INTERNATIONAL: UAE Rape Victim Jailed -

ggt — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:23:21 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

There are two videos at the link as well.

Gali was using her laptop in the hotel's staff bar when her drink was spiked. She awoke to a nightmare beyond belief: she had been savagely raped by three of her colleagues. Alone and frightened, she took herself to hospital. What Alicia didn't know is that under the UAE's strict sharia laws, if the perpetrator does not confess, a rape cannot be convicted without four adult Muslim male witnesses. She was charged with having illicit sex outside marriage, and thrown in a filthy jail cell for eight months.

More: UAE Rape Victim Jailed - Sunday Night - Channel 7 - Yahoo!7 TV - Yahoo!7 TV

Your Weekly Peggy Noonan Three Martini Column

Skip Intro — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:09:17 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

We are in the midst of the worst Washington scandal since Watergate. The reputation of the Obama White House has, among conservatives, gone from sketchy to sinister, and, among liberals, from unsatisfying to dangerous. No one likes what they're seeing. The Justice Department assault on the Associated Press and the ugly politicization of the Internal Revenue Service have left the administration's credibility deeply, probably irretrievably damaged. They don't look jerky now, they look dirty. The patina of high-mindedness the president enjoyed is gone.

After wading through that pile of poo, I need a drink, and this is only the first paragraph!

More: This Is No Ordinary Scandal

Allen West Named Fox News Contributor

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:03:46 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

"Representative West's congressional and military experience along with his fearless approach to voicing key issues will provide a valuable point of view to the Fox News lineup," Fox News Vice President Bill Shine said in a statement.

More: Allen West Named Fox News Contributor

Its categorized as "Entertainment" since even the Fox News Channel itself makes a distinction between "Hard News" and "Entertainment". The problem is, most views don't have the IQ to tell the difference and so when you mix the 2 together you get Faux News.

Anastasia Adair, Colorado Woman, Dies After Assault Rifle Accidentally Discharges

Skip Intro — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:51 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

A Denver-area woman died Tuesday night after an assault rifle she was handling accidentally fired and shot her in the head.

Witnesses told ABC Denver affiliate KMGH that Anastasia Adair, 22, was passing an AK-47-style assault rifle to her husband, Dana "Shane" Adair, when the gun went off. A second shot was fired when Anastasia fell and dropped the rifle, but no one was hit by it, two witnesses and the husband told police.

Shane Adair told police that the gun had a light trigger pull. Federal Heights Police Lt. Gary Toldness said that the fatal bullet's trajectory appeared consistent with the witness accounts of an accidental shooting. The investigation is continuing.

According to the Denver Post, the incident occurred while the couple and three housemates were drinking beer in their garage. Toldness told the Denver Post that the shooting will be treated as an accident, but authorities will investigate how much alcohol was in the victim's blood.

More: Anastasia Adair, Colorado Woman, Dies After Assault Rifle Accidentally Discharges

IRS Official Lois Lerner Called Lawyer to Plant Targeting Question

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:54:37 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

The veteran tax lawyer whose pre-arranged question to an IRS official at a panel last week prompted the admission that the agency had targeted conservative groups said in a written statement on Friday that she did not know what the answer to the question would be.

More: IRS Official Lois Lerner Called Lawyer to Plant Targeting Question

Question That Sparked IRS Scandal Was Planted

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:51:40 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

"It was a prepared Q & A," outgoing acting IRS chief Steven Miller told Congress on Friday, in response to a question from Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA).

Nunes asked Miller if the question itself, which was asked by Celia Roady, a veteran tax lawyer, was planted in advance.

"I believe we talked about that, yes," Miller responded.

More: Question That Sparked IRS Scandal Was Planted

4 Things We Should Remember When Arguing About Politics

UNIXon — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:16:40 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Political discourse in America has reached levels of douchebaggery previously only theorized about but never observed, like conversational dark matter. We're in a whole new world of hating people based solely on their opinions on a few key issues, and since this is unexplored territory, our conversations about politics are usually only a couple notches beyond the "hold your breath until the other person agrees with you and/or you die" technique.

Article at Cracked.

LAPD Reformed as Federal Oversight Lifted, City Leaders Say

Rightwingconspirator — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:58:55 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Los Angeles leaders say the Los Angeles Police Department has undergone a dramatic transformation since federal oversight of the agency was ordered 12 years ago.

The dismissal Wednesday of the so-called consent decree, which arose largely out of the Rampart corruption scandal and addressed basic problems of accountability that stretched back decades, delivered a largely symbolic, but nonetheless important milestone for the LAPD as it continues to disassociate itself from a past marked by abuses and turmoil.

"In these last 12 years the Los Angeles Police Department did not just comply with the consent decree, they took it to heart. They used it as a guide to change their culture," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a news conference with Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and members of the Police Commission, the civilian board that oversees the department. "The entire department, from the officers on the beat in the neighborhoods to the top brass downtown, have made these reforms their reforms."

Beck credited the department's officers for adopting the changes imposed on them from the outside. He reserved special praise for an advisor, Gerald Chaleff, who worked closely with him and Police Chief William J. Bratton on putting the decree in place.

More: LAPD Reformed as Federal Oversight Lifted, City Leaders Say

Today's Right Wing Upset: Obama Abusing Government Power by Daring to Use an Umbrella in the Rain

Skip Intro — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:21:58 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

It must be a slow news day for the right wing media, especially after President Obama shut down a couple of conspiracy theories, or at least somewhat. So, Drudge Report, Twitchy and the Weekly Standard have stumbled on to Obama's next dastardly deed. President Obama (wait for it) uses an umbrella when it rains. That rat bastard! Obama acts like he's the President or something.

Why the uproar? President Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan held a joint press conference, and when the rain started coming down, Obama signaled for umbrellas for the PM and himself. Obummer could have left the PM shivering in the rain, in which case, that would go down even worse.

Drugde cut the picture to only show Obama.

More: Today's Right Wing Upset: Obama Abusing Government Power by Daring to Use an Umbrella in the Rain

But wait! There's more.

Princess Moosebottom weighed in on the scandal, too.

Scandalous Hat TrickMr. President, when it rains it pours, but most Americans hold their own umbrellas. Today in... fb.me/zAZryzjj— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) May 17, 2013

Uh-huh.

What to do in Orange County - LA - San Diego

oaktree — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:43:46 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Seems a good way to solicit ideas for touristing destinations and activities. Will have 4-5 days so some opportunity for visiting multiple sites.

And since I do have an interest in history and military history items in that area will be welcome suggestions. (The USS Midway down in San Diego is already on the list.) If there is anything California-geology related that would be welcome since that is also an area of interest and the state has a lot of varied geology unto itself.

Tesla Motors Can't Email Customers, Says North Carolina Law

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:51:31 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

since they were voted for by Republicans in a Republican administration?

A new law passed by the North Carolina state Senate would apparently make it illegal for Tesla Motors to e-mail its customers, Voelcker writes. The law is an effort to prevent what the North Carolina Automobile Dealers' Association terms 'unfair competition' by Tesla Motors.

More: Tesla Motors Can't Email Customers, Says North Carolina Law

Just like voter suppression efforts at the state level where Republicans are in charge, this is a bald-faced effort to change the terms of competition in a local market. "Tesla" is a "new-fangled" company that is easily associated with "modern society" symbolized by President Obama. Just like many local efforts, one cited above - voter suppression, and others like restrictions on abortion, many of these efforts will be constitutionally challenged at SCOTUS. And will be found unconstitutional unless self purported "Constitutionalist" but maybe soon to be proven to be so, "Legislative Activist" Judge Scalia wins.

Hmmmm..Were the latest problems at the IRS "naturally discovered"

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:30:24 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

You may recall that the IRS scandal emerged in unusual fashion: an acknowledgement of it by an IRS official during a Q&A at a tax lawyers conference in Washington a week ago today. (TPM's Eric Lach reported earlier this week on the circumstances of the revelation and how stunned members of the audience were when it happened.)

Today, under questioning from Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), acting IRS Director Steven Miller seemed to acknowledge that the question in the Q&A was planted. But his answer wasn't entirely clear, and Nunes oddly failed to follow up. More soon.

More: Hmmmm...

Ohio Republicans Push Law to Penalize Colleges for Helping Students Vote

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:24:49 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

"What the bill would do is penalize public universities for providing their students with the documents they need to vote," Daniel Tokaji, a professor and election law expert at Ohio State University told TPM. "It's a transparent effort at vote suppression -- about the most blatant and shameful we've seen in this state, which is saying quite a lot."

The legislation is a provision in the state budget that was backed by the Republican majority in the Ohio House of Representatives. It is now headed to the Ohio Senate, which also has a GOP majority.

Currently, Ohio requires voters to be "a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days

immediately before the election in which you want to vote" and to provide photo identification, a current utility bill, a bank statement, current paycheck, current government check, or "an original or copy of a current other government document, other than a voter registration acknowledgement notification mailed by the board of elections, that shows the voter's name and current address." Students who live in dormitories and do not have state identification or a job or bank account in Ohio might not be able to meet this requirement even if they have lived in the state for over a month. Public universities provide letters or utility bills to students to help them meet the residency requirement for voter registration. If the legislation is passed, it would force schools that provide this documentation to charge out-of-state students the same tuition they charge students from Ohio.

This change would effectively eliminate out-of-state tuition, which is more expensive than the rates currently charged to students from Ohio. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, university officials have said they will continue to provide the documentation even if this item remains in the state budget and a group called Innovation Ohio that opposes the legislation has estimated the will cost the schools about $272 million.

Supporters of the legislation said it will streamline government.

"The amendment has the purpose of getting a discussion going on sort of the mismatch that exists in Ohio, where we have one requirement for when a student becomes in-state for tuition purposes and another requirement for voting," Republican state Rep. Ron Amstutz told the Enquirer.

More: Ohio Republicans Push Law to Penalize Colleges for Helping Students Vote

Amazon Deal of the Day: Savings on Studio Ghibli Films

MichaelJ — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:18:17 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Gold Box Deal of the Day: Up to 55% Off Studio Ghibli Films on DVD and Blu-ray
Today only, May 17, 2013, save up to 55% on select Studio Ghibli favorites, including Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, Spirited Away, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and more on DVD and Blu-ray in our Gold Box Deal of the Day.

More: Gold Box Deals

Time to pick up some of these great films from Hayao Miyazaki.

Tunneling KFC Gaza Rooster to Gazans Craving the World Outside

Alouette — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:34:10 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

NY Times reports: Tunneling KFC to Gazans Craving the World Outside

GAZA CITY — The French fries arrive soggy, the chicken having long since lost its crunch. A 12-piece bucket goes for about $27 here — more than twice the $11.50 it costs just across the border in Egypt.

And for fast-food delivery, it is anything but fast: it took more than four hours for the KFC meals to arrive here on a recent afternoon from the franchise where they were cooked in El Arish, Egypt, a journey that involved two taxis, an international border, a smuggling tunnel and a young entrepreneur coordinating it all from a small shop here called Yamama — Arabic for pigeon.

“It’s our right to enjoy that taste the other people all over the world enjoy,” said the entrepreneur, Khalil Efrangi, 31, who started Yamama a few years ago with a fleet of motorbikes ferrying food from Gaza restaurants, the first such delivery service here.

There are no name-brand fast-food franchises on this 140-square-mile coastal strip of 1.7 million Palestinians, where the entry and exit of goods and people remain restricted and the unemployment rate is about 32 percent. Passage into Egypt through the Rafah crossing is limited to about 800 people a day, with men 16 to 40 years old requiring special clearance. Traveling through the Erez crossing into Israel requires a permit and is generally allowed only for medical patients, businessmen and employees of international organizations.

Palestinians generally refer to Gaza as being under siege or blockade by Israel, and isolation from the world is among the most common complaints of people here. That can create an intense longing for what those outside Gaza see as mundane, or ordinary.

“The irregular circumstances in Gaza generate an irregular way of thinking,” explained Fadel Abu Heen, a professor of psychology at Al Aqsa University in Gaza City. “They think of anything that is just behind the border, exactly as the prisoner is thinking of anything beyond the bars.”

Professor Abu Heen noted that when Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, breached the border with Egypt in 2008, during the height of the Israeli siege, thousands of Gazans flooded into El Arish and bought not just medicine and food staples but cigarettes, candy and things they did not need — just to show they had managed to bring something back from outside. Breaking the blockade, then and now, is seen as part of resisting the Israeli enemy, giving a sense of empowerment and control to people here, even if it comes in the form of fried chicken.

Even as Israel has relaxed restrictions on imports over the past few years, hundreds of illegal tunnels have flourished in Rafah. Weapons and people are smuggled underground, but so are luxury cars, construction materials and consumer goods like iPads and iPhones. And now: KFC.

Formerly called Kentucky Fried Chicken, a KFC franchise opened in El Arish, just over Gaza’s southern border, in 2011, and in the West Bank city of Ramallah last year. That, along with ubiquitous television advertisements for KFC and other fast-food favorites, has given Gazans a hankering for Colonel Sanders’s secret recipe.

I used to support Obamacare

Bulworth — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:01:32 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

It's all about the paper.

For many years I have been among that class of citizens anxiously desiring health insurance coverage for all Americans. I'd thought my reasons were sound: the country is fabulously wealthy; if we can afford luxurious salaries for sports people, media personalities, Wall Street financiers, the least we can do is ensure a minimal standard of life for the least among us. Also, too: most people get their health insurance through their employment, subsidized by the federal government, so it's only fair and equitable that hardworking Americans who work for employers who don't take advantage of the federal government tax subsidy to insure their workers should have the same access to life-giving medical care as everyone else who is subsidized by federal government tax dollars, like members of Congress.

And maybe all of that is still true in some way. And maybe the goal of universal healthcare is still a valid and desirable one, someday in the future, at a more convenient time and place, when the takers in society are more deserving.

But, folks, let's admit the facts that with Obamacare we are facing Tyranny of the worstest kind. While the bill contains many bad things, like death panels and FEMA trailer camp prisons for conservatives, those abominations are the least of its problems. Today I learned the true cost of this hideous act, which bans the use of pre-existing conditions by insurance companies and expands health insurance to 30 million Americans: the amount of paper used to explain and implement Obamacare is a real lot. Stacks in fact. I mean, just look at the f0cking pictures of all that paper!1!!!1!!1

Speaker Boehner and his staff, rather than discuss needless plans of their own for making sure all Americans have access to quality healthcare and insurance, which is subsidized for many Americans by the federal government, unveiled a blockbuster of proof and evidence of the legislation's Abuse Of Power. The Speaker had one of his underlings, who also probably has government paid for and subidized healthcare coverage, wheel in a big, big stack of paper that represents all the paper necessary to provide healthcare coverage through Obamacare to 30 million Americans who don't have the same healthcare Speaker Boehner and his family and his legislative aids have access to, subsidized by the federal government.

Folks, I'd never in all of my life seen paper stacked that high. I'm almost too embarassed to talk about it. Who knew? Why wasn't this information provided before? If I'd known, or had the slightest inkling of the fact that it would take this much paper to ensure that people with life-threatening pre-existing conditions could get health insurance coverage, I never would have supported it. But I'll admit it now: all my previous arguments and beliefs about the necessity of make quality and affordable health insurance available for all just falls all to pieces when I see all this paper. I know of no way to confute such impeccable logic.

Hopefully President Obama will see this super stack of really tall paper and come to the same opinion of mind as I have done. There must be no delay. With the House having acted, they have passed the Take Healthcare Away From People baton to members of the U.S. Senate.

And this matter accomplished, the nation can turn to other important matters of less government like banning gay marriage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/us/politics/house-votes-again-to-repeal-health-law.html?ref=us&_r=0

Chris Herren Tells Bromfield Teens and Parents Tough Truths

geoffm33 — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:46:58 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

I grew up about 30 miles North of Chris Herren. Being the same age, I followed his career from Highschool through College at Fresno State then to the hometown Boston Celtics via the Denver Nuggets. So his fall from grace (after what appeared to be a remarkable recovery) was disappointing.

This article...

Herren tells Bromfield teens and parents tough truths

...sums up what Herren has been doing since getting clean in the middle of 2008. Here are some great quotes from the article:

On coming back home to play for the Celtics, essentially drug free:

Back in his home town of Fall River, Herren invited old friends to a barbecue. During the party, one of his high school buddies sold him an Oxycontin pill.

"I had no idea," Herren said. "That decision changed my life forever. From that 40-milligram pill for $20, I ended up taking 1,600 milligrams a day, for $25,000 a month. I had no idea."

From the ages of 28 to 32, Herren described himself as "a stone-cold street junkie." His basketball career gone, he described selling his wife's jewelry and his children's video games to get drug money. Not until he had suffered a couple of near-fatal overdoses and been rejected by his family did he finally face his problem and stick with a rehabilitation program.

On what or who a drug addict is:

"The image of a drug addict has changed," Herren said. It is not the junkie on the street corner anymore, but the kid in the fashionable jeans and trendy boots. "Every drug addict has a first day. That street corner, that's the last day."

On the other dangers teens are facing:

Herren noted that drug abuse is not the only form of self-harm that takes place among young people. He described a young woman at one of his talks who was cutting herself in response to bullying at school. Then he looked out across the seats in Cronin and addressed the audience directly.

"To the kids who ducked their heads when I said 'cutting,' I saw it," he said. "Pull someone aside and say you need some help."

More: Herren Tells Bromfield Teens and Parents Tough Truths - the Harvard Press

Freeper Madness: Obama's True Agenda - Dadaist Islam!

euphgeek — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:12:22 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Zounds! Kenny Bunk has found the method to Obama's madness!

BTW, for what it's worth, I am becoming convinced that the key to "understanding" the Obama Phenomenon is Deconstruction Philosophy, Dadaism

More: Freeper Madness: Obama's True Agenda - Dadaist Islam!

Conservative Comic Says Joke's on Liberals - Patrick Gavin

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:12:02 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Golub's role models in the field are Fox News's Greg Gutfield ("the godfather of all of us") and Rush Limbaugh ("hilarious ... genuinely funny"). Golub admires Stephen Colbert, but his Comedy Central pal, Jon Stewart, not so much.

"He's a mean-spirited bully," said Golub. "I think he takes cheap shots. I think his entire act is 'conservatives are evil.' I don't think it's hip and the best comedians, they don't need to curse. ... Jon Stewart, every night he thinks his idea of being hip and edgy is the same tired, 'Bush lied, Sarah Palin is dumb, Michele Bachmann is evil.' It's just boring.' Colbert manages to do it in a way that, unlike Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, is not so mean-spirited, because comedy should not be destructive."

More: Conservative Comic Says Joke's on Liberals - Patrick Gavin

I confess that I had to wiki "Greg Gutfield" and now that I see the photo and read the words I say, "Oh yeah, that guy". And will again, shortly forget who he is exactly.

Then, at one point in the video he says John Stewart said, "Hey Bernie, F you" when making a point regarding one of John Stewart's hits on Bernard Goldberg of Fox News. I have to confess that, all though I knew a little more about Goldberg I had to wiki him as well. Now, as far as ol' Bernie goes, it all makes sense; he's an old guy, sports caster who writes books about "liberal elites" (laying the tracks for Sarah a few years before her meteoric rise and subsequent Greek-tragedy like fall, "Flying too close to the sun" and all that) and makes all the old and or out-of-touch people who watch Faux News, feel like they aren't. All you have to say to Bernie and people like him is "Hey, F you" as they are self parodies.

I think that this is a metaphor for "modern conservatism" and the Republican Party; "Humor is a whift of ----" and if you are not smart enough to "get it" you can't really be, or appreciate funny. And that goes for most things in everyday reality as well, you have to be at least 1/2 level smarter than the normal everyday happenings or "you just don't get it".

Terrorist Entered Witness Protection, Then Fled the United States

WinstonDodson — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:34:16 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

Should you ever be accused of terrorism, here's what you should do: Snitch on your friends, demand to be placed under witness protection, then fly out of the country. According to a stunning report from the Justice Department's internal watchdog, this is remarkably easy to do -- and it's actually happened.

More: Terrorist Entered Witness Protection, Then Fled the United States

Conversation overheard at first TSA security station, "Hello, my I see your ID and boarding pass please?" "Fred Smith traveling to Yemen huh? Have a nice flight". Turns to fellow TSA agent and says, "Fred Smith, looks more like a Mohammed or an Ahmed if you ask me!" and they both laugh "ha, ha, ha, . . . . ".

Ideas for thing to do in San Francisco

Dark_Falcon — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:27:30 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

I saw the The “What to Do in New York City” Open Thread and decided to ask a similar question about San Francisco. My parents are taking a vacation there soon and I'd like to ask my fellow Lizards if they can recommend any good things for them to see or do there. Please keep in mind these are older folks and on the conservative side culturally, though they are both tolerant and good humored (and I'm lucky to have them).

Suggestions warmly welcomed.

Klingenschmitt Blames 'Demonic Spirits' for Something That Never Even Happened

RealityBasedSteve — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:50:15 PDT

Direct link to article... [littlegreenfootballs.com]

More: Klingenschmitt Blames 'Demonic Spirits' for Something That Never Even Happened

Court Martialed Navy Chaplain Klingenschmitt is continuing to flog the dead horse that the track team in Texas was disqualified for praising God on his newest you-tube vids. This despite the fact that the athletic league posted a press release back on the 6th where the student admitted that the gesture was "The thrill of victory" and not religious in nature.

I've posted comments on the youtube vids, they are awaiting approval, but somehow I have a feeling that they will never see the light of day. :)

You do realize that the story about the athlete being disqualified for praising God has been totally discredited by the University Interscholastic League, his parents and the student himself don't you? A press release dated 6 May 13 by the UIL has the student and his parents saying it wasn't religious, that it was "the thrill of victory" and that his rights weren't violated.

You may want to take this this video, since for 10 days what you are saying as fact is known to be false.

I really don't want to link to the vids, but if you insist you can get to them from the top link in this post.

RBS