Year: 2014

Categories
Celebrities

Actress Courtney Love Says She’s Found The Missing Malaysia Plane

With the whole world transfixed on what’s happening in Malaysia with the missing MH370 and its passengers, everyone has taken to the internet, learning about latitude and longitude and the three important metrics needed to correctly determine the Global Positioning of any ‘receiver’ on earth.

Enter Courtney Love.

Love has done her part to help out and has somehow figured out where the missing plane went down. She took to Twitter and Facebook to share her findings. “I’m no expert,” Love declares, “but up close this does look like a plane and an oil slick.”

The link in her tweet lead to an ocean showing three red arrows pointing to what Courtney said was oil and another red arrow in the bottom saying “Plane?”. She added her initials.

The items in the picture could be reflections of sunlight on the water’s surface or debris of some sort. Love however, thinks this could be more, like a plane or more specifically, the missing MH370.

You can’t blame her for trying. But I agree with the top commenter on her Facebook page. After seeing Love’s discovery, the commenter wrote:

“What are the odds though that it would land right next to a red sign saying ‘plane’?

Exactly!

Categories
Politics Racism racist Republican

This South Dakota Republican Lawmaker is All FOR Racism

I know right? These days it seems like all Republican lawmakers are in favor of racism, or secism, or any other forms of isms you can think of. The examples are overwhelming.

Here’s another example. His name is Phil Jensen and he is a Republican Senator from Dakota.

It is Mr. Jensen’s position that businesses should be allowed to refuse blacks service if they so choose.

Here’s Phil Jensen, in his own words.

“If someone was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and they were running a little bakery for instance, the majority of us would find it detestable that they refuse to serve blacks, and guess what? In a matter of weeks or so that business would shut down because no one is going to patronize them,” Jensen told the Rapid City Journal in a story that suggested he just might be the crimson red state’s “most conservative lawmaker.”

In this year’s legislative session, Jensen offered up a bill that was even more extreme than the legislation in Arizona that would have given businesses an opening to discriminate against LGBT customers.

Unlike the Arizona bill, Jensen’s measure was explicit. It aimed to give business owners permission to deny service based on a customer’s “sexual orientation” without the fear of a lawsuit.

The legislation was ultimately killed in committee, with one GOP lawmaker calling it “a mean, nasty, hateful, vindictive bill.”

But Jensen, who moved to South Dakota from Kansas in 2003 with a sign taped to his truck saying he was heading north to “Vote Senator [Tom] Daschle Out,” remains steadfast in his support of the bill.

“It’s a bill that protects the constitutional right to free association, the right to free speech and private property rights,” he told the Journal.

Jensen did not respond to TPM’s request for comment.

Categories
New York News Politics

New York Sign – “Die De Blasio! Die!”

Such vitriol. What would prompt two New Yorkers to stand on a cold New York street early in the morning holding a sign calling for De Blasio’s dearh? The new mayor is planning to rid the city of the horse drawn carriges, a staple of Central Park in Manhattan, and people are really upset about that.

Calling the horse drawn carriages “inhumane” de Blasio promised to quickly end the practice.

“We are going to quickly and aggressively move to make horse carriages no longer a part of the landscape in New York City,” de Blasio said, according to NBC New York. “They are not humane. … It’s over.”

Animal rights advocacy groups lauded de Blasio’s pledge.

“We believe that the use of carriage horses in 21st century New York City is unnatural, unnecessary, and an undeniable strain on the horses’ quality of life,” Stacy Wolf, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Group, said in an email to NBC News.

Carriage operators beg to differ.

Stephen Malone, who’s been in the business for 26 years, told NBC News that he anticipates a long and contentious bout with de Blasio over the proposed ban.

“We look forward to having a long battle with him,” he said.

According to Malone, who’s father began in the business in 1964, there have been only three horse fatalities due to traffic in 30 years.

Malone added that he and and the other carriage owners are willing to sue de Blasio and the city if need be to protect their livelihoods.

One carriage and horse owner, who asked only to be identified as Robert, told NBC News on Monday that the carriage ride is iconic to the city.

“People expect us to be here,” he said. “It’s like taking away the Empire State Building. It’s the same as taking the (Christmas) tree from Rock Center.”

Since Central Park opened in 1857, horse-drawn carriages have traveled through the park in its sundry narrow passage ways, Sid Kolo, field manager for New York Central Park Tours, told NBC News.

Categories
Healthcare ObamaCare

Another Milestone – Obamacare Hits The 5 Million Mark for Enrollees

The Obama administration announced Monday that more than 5 million people have signed up for new insurance plans under the health-care law, suggesting new momentum for the program as the deadline to get covered this year approaches.

About 800,000 people selected health plans on the state and federal insurance marketplaces in the beginning of March, officials said in a blog post — almost as many as signed up during the entire month of February. The figure brings the administration closer to Congressional Budget Office projections that 6 million people would enroll by the end of March.

Officials had predicted that the pace of enrollments would pick up this month, because March 31 is the last day to sign up for a marketplace plan and avoid a fine. The health law requires most Americans to have health insurance or incur a penalty of $95 or 1 percent of their income this year, whichever is higher.

The Congressional Budget Office had initially projected that 7 million people would sign up for new health plans by the end of March. Analysts revised that estimate last month, after it became clear that enrollment would be depressed by the technical difficulties on HealthCare.gov and a number of state-based insurance Web sites.

Categories
Foreign Policies Russia

Jimmy Fallon on The Russia/Ukraine Invasion – Video

In his opening monologue, Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show briefly mentioned the incident involving Russia and Ukraine.

Video.

Categories
Death Penalty Politics

Florida Has Never Executed a White Person for Killing a Black Person

ThinkProgress is reporting that Florida has executed 84 people since the Supreme Court announced the modern death penalty regime in 1976. Zero of them are white people sentenced to death for killing an African American. Indeed, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, “no white person has ever been executed for killing an African American” in the state of Florida.

Nor is Florida particularly unusual in the racial impact of its death penalty. In Alabama, 6 percent of murders involve black defendants and white victims, but 60 percent of black death row inmates were convicted of murdering a white person. In Louisiana, a death sentence is 97 percent more likely in murder cases where the victim is white. Nationwide, only 20 white people have been executed since 1976 for killing a black person. By contrast, 269 black defendants were executed for killing someone who is white.

As ThinkProgress’ Nicole Flatow and Adam Peck explained in January, nearly all of the people executed in 2013 were convicted of killing at least one white person. Of the 39 executions that took place last year, 32 involved a white victim — and only one white person was executed for killing only a black man:

Categories
Featured

Employee Kills Boss Because Boss Took a Picture Of Employee

Loved ones of “Jimmy the Greek Taverna” owner Dimitrios Karaloukas gathered to celebrate his life at the Glades Road restaurant he owned and loved Friday, one day after the man was fatally stabbed by an employee police said was angry about a photo.  

“He would just hang out, and just sprawl out. Had a nice personality. Just a very nice man — the whole family,” one person said. “We all, everywhere, feel terrible.”

Tilus Lebrun, 36, was arrested Thursday evening after deputies say he fatally stabbed Karaloukas in a restaurant because the boss took a photo of him without his permission, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

He worked at Jimmy The Greek Taverna Restaurant in Boca Raton, where witnesses say he pulled out a knife and stabbed the restaurant’s 61-year-old owner. Officials say the owner was sitting down in the restaurant when he was attacked by Lebrun. He was stabbed three times on his left side and once in his back and later died of his injuries.

An unidentified male who was an employee at the restaurant was also attacked by Lebrun. The victim was stabbed numerous times and is undergoing lifesaving surgery at Delray Medical Center, authorities said.

Deputies found Lebrun near the restaurant outside wearing an apron and holding a large knife. He later told deputies, “I killed him because he took my photograph on March 2nd and posted it on the internet,” according to authorities.

Categories
Gun Control gun control Politics shooting

#GunsUp – 15 Year Old Accidentally Shot his 11 Year Old Cousin Dead

Tragedy has struck an Ohio family after a 15-year-old boy accidentally shot his 11-year-old cousin dead when they were left home alone.

According to News Net 5, Ashton Nicholson was pronounced dead after his unidentified cousin killed him with a gun found in his parents bedroom.
Lt. Gregory Johnson told the site:

“I have nothing to indicate that it was an intentional act, nothing to indicate that whatsoever. This is a terrible tragedy that he was involved in, but I have to give him credit for standing up.”

The gun was not secured, which was how the 15-year-old boy knew where to find it in the house. The boys were home and not at school because it was a snow day.

When the 11-year-old – who was said to have also handled the gun at one point – was shot, the 15-year-old’s older brother called 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher:

“My brother just shot my cousin on accident… Oh my God, he shot him with a pistol.”

Johnson also said that he wants this case to be a lesson to parents who hold guns in their house to be more responsible about securing them.
We pray for family of these young boys during this tragic time.

Categories
Politics

Hillary Clinton and Rand Paul Tops The List for 2016

Sen. Rand Paul leads the GOP 2016 pack, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is more likely to be perceived as capable of handling crises than is President Barack Obama, according to new survey data released Sunday.

A CNN/ORC International survey found Paul the slight favorite for his party’s nomination, with 16 percent of those polled on the question tapping the Kentucky Republican as their choice for the 2016 GOP nod. He was closely followed, within the margin of error, by 2012 vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who pulled in 15 percent; and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, with 11 percent.

Perry, whose unsuccessful 2012 bid was characterized by a series of high-profile missteps, made a big splash at the Conservative Political Action conference earlier this month. Like Paul, he has signaled he is weighing a 2016 presidential bid.

On the other side of the aisle, Clinton was the prohibitive Democratic favorite according to the survey, clocking in with 63 percent support for the 2016 presidential nod. She was followed by Vice President Joe Biden at 13 percent.

The March 7-9 survey of 801 adults across the country — including 367 Republicans and voters who lean Republican; and 372 Democrats and voters who lean Democratic — hase a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Other data from CNN/ORC indicated that 64 percent of Americans surveyed perceived Clinton as “tough enough to handle a crisis” and the same percentage of people called her a “strong leader,” while only half called Obama a “strong leader” and 53 percent said he is “tough.” Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed considered her likable, the poll said. However, the survey also found that only 50 percent of those polled would be “proud” to have her as president.

Categories
Politics

RNC Chairman Says Paul Ryan Should be “Commended” For Calling Minority Men Lazy

Come on.  Did you really expect Reince Priebus to disagree with Ryan?

Priebus made an appearance on CNN over the weekend and responded to the controversial hole Paul Ryan dug for himself when he casually said that the inner cities, “generations of men” are “not even thinking about working or learning the value and the culture of work.” Priebus – who once proclaimed that the Republican party needs to do more to reach Blacks, Latinos, Women and younger people – couldn’t use the opportunity to denounce Ryans racist statement. Instead, he commended the racism.

On Sunday, CNN’s Candy Crowley asked Priebus if he thought the remarks were “artfully phrased.”

“I’m not sure,” Priebus shrugged. “Here’s what I would say, why was Paul even talking about this? The reason he was talking about it is he devoted a large part of his life — starting back when he worked for Jack Kemp — on finding ways to tackle poverty, to free up capital, to create opportunities in urban areas around this country.”

“Whatever race, whatever gender, we are the ones leading the way, I think, in this country on these issues,” he added. “And so I commend Paul for his work that he’s doing around country.”

Categories
Politics

Sen Chris Murphy – No Military Option for US Regarding Russia in Ukraine

Although Sen John McCain thinks otherwise, Senator Chris Murphy told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos there was nothing the U.S. could do militarily to prevent Russia from moving into Eastern Ukraine following its seizure of the Crimean Peninsula. But Murphy advocated for new sanctions on Russia that could put economic pressure on President Vladimir Putin and prevent further Russian action in Ukraine.

“Clearly, this is a longer-term effort to build up the Ukrainian military,” said Murphy. “But if on Monday, we announce – with the European Union – a set of crippling sanctions coming after not only individuals, but Russian business entities, I think that sends a strong message to Putin.”

“I think [Putin] marched into Crimea because he didn’t believe that the United States and Europe would actually take a chunk of flesh out of his economy,” Murphy added. “And, if we stand together on Monday, that gives us a chance, at least, to change the calculus in Moscow.”

When asked about the effectiveness of economic sanctions, Murphy said, “We have to wait for our European friends to tell us if they’re willing to move forward… There is no doubt that if you cut off Russian gas to Europe, it will hurt. There’s no doubt that if you freeze Russian assets in places like Germany and Great Britain, it will hurt them.”

“But this is a threat to the territorial integrity of Europe – who knows who’s next?” he added.

Categories
Health

Technology – Medics can Remove Kidney Stones from Patients in One Procedure

Doctors may soon be able to remove kidney stones from patients in just one procedure following the development of pioneering new treatment. 

The procedure, known as bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopy, aims to clear both kidneys at the same time, instead of during two separate operations.

It involves visualising and positioning stones with a ureteroscope, before using a laser beam to break them up.

Pioneering treatment: Bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopy involves visualising and positioning kidney stones, left, with a ureteroscope, before using a laser beam to break them up. Right, a patient’s stone-free body is pictured post-operation, with ‘stents’ inserted to allow any stone fragments to pass down from both kidneys

Traditionally, patients are forced to undergo treatment on each kidney individually during separate hospital admissions.

Kidney stones, which affect around 10 to 15 per cent of men, compared to just 2 to 7 per cent of women, develop when crystals of salt accumulate into stone-like lumps and are not flushed out of the body.

WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?

Kidney stones, known as nephrolithiasis, develop in one or both of the kidneys when crystals of salt accumulate into hard stone-like lumps.

Small stones may be passed out in urine and even go undetected, but medium-sized or large stones might block part of the urinary system, such as the urethra.

If this happens, they can cause severe pain in the abdomen or groin, and may case a urinary tract infection.

Kidney stones are fairly common and are typically seen in people aged between 30 and 60.

They affect around 10 to 15 per cent of men, compared to just 2 to 7 per cent of women.

Source: NHS

They can lead to stone blockages in the urinary system and cause pain and recurrent urinary tract infections or sepsis.

Bhaskar Somani, consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital, is helping to develop the use of the technique to clear both organs at the same time.

‘Stone treatment no longer has to be carried out in a staged manner when we have a chance to make people stone-free in one sitting,’ he said.

‘Performing them separately means they have more hassle, more time off work and, logically, if both stones can be removed at the same time then why do it at different times and prolong discomfort for these patients.

‘The idea is to clear all stones in both kidneys at the same time rather than individually as patients then only have to undergo one procedure and, as a result, only one anaesthetic.

‘In particular, for patients with urinary tract infections who have stones in both kidneys, it is sensible to try and clear everything at once as you can’t be sure which side is causing the infection.’

He added: ‘Many surgeons may be fearful of attempting both sides due to the risk and worry of causing trauma to the kidneys.

‘But, with the right expertise, confidence and experience, the benefits of a single procedure far outweigh the risks of performing more work in a single session.’

Expert: Bhaskar Somani (left), a consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital (right), said a recent study had seen the pioneering technique performed on 22 patients – with a 92 per cent success rate

Mr Somani said a recent study had seen the technique performed on 22 patients suffering from kidney stones – with a staggering 92 per cent success rate.

More than three-quarters of patients were sent home the same day – with others suffering only minimal complications, comparable to those recorded following individual procedures.

‘Our data, which we believe is the first published and presented series in the UK, suggests this is a safe and effective technique with minor complications that are equivalent to individual procedures and can be used as standard treatment,’ said Mr Somani at a regional meeting of the British Association of Urological Surgeons.

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