The story you posted was from 2012 and said it was likely that the law that allowed undocumented immigrants to recieve aid would be repealed. There's also only 3 states that allow for financial aid and 12 that allow these students to pay instate tuition rates. They are not receiving special grants or funds and must qualify like all other students who apply.
I did point out that this issue has been around a while so it's OK for me to post an old article, right? Anyway, the point I intended to focus on is the in-state rates for illegals. The difference can equal tens of thousands of dollars over the course of a four year term. That's a handsome benefit for people who aren't even supposed to be here.
Having an old article for reference is fine. I can see the merit of not using American tax dollars to educate foreigners and also the merit of allowing these individuals, who have received their entire education here, to continue to a higher education. Education is an investment and allowing these people to receive a college education would allow them to give back to their communities and stop a lifetime of government support that they may otherwise need.
These are most likey students that fit the guidelines for instate tuition. Also, burning your Social Security card would not make you an undocumented resident.
Do they fit the guidelines for deportation?
Not necessarily, the guidelines for deportation are not as simple as have you lived in this state continuously for the last two years.
/quote]These are most likey students that fit the guidelines for instate tuition. Also, burning your Social Security card would not make you an undocumented resident.
/quote]These are most likey students that fit the guidelines for instate tuition. Also, burning your Social Security card would not make you an undocumented resident.
WOW....you learn something every day.
Does getting a fake SS make a criminal legal?
Do you want to take jabs or have a larger discussion about immigration?
I think when I get more time I will write something about immigration . Tonight, I am posting about the Log Cabin Republicans not being allowed as sponsors during the Western Conservative Summit. While the Log Cabin Republicans are supportive of the summits right not to allow them to be a sponsor, they do bring up an interesting topic of Republicans sending the wrong message to young voters. I find it interesting that top members of the Republican party keeping calling for their party to become more inclusive or face a dwindling membership; but when the time comes to show that they are a party that accepts everyone they tend to fall short.
The increasingly influential Western Conservative Summit has disinvited a gay Republican group to attend its event this summer a message that sends exactly the wrong message, members of the Log Cabin Republicans say.
The Colorado Log Cabin Republicans had paid a $250 fee to be able to set up a table at the event, but then received a message from John Andrews, head of the Centennial Institute, which is affiliated with Colorado Christian University and sponsors the summit.
You and your members are very welcome to get tickets and attend, but we cant officially have the organization as a partner, exhibitor, or advertiser, Andrews said.
As a private organization, the summit has a right to decide the invite list, Log Cabin Republicans concede. But still.
It is a pretty common issue we face. Theyll take our money, but want us in the closet, said Michael Carr of Denver, a former state Senate candidate and secretary of the state chapter of Log Cabin Republicans.
This is the most important time for us to be reaching out to all types of groups and people, all types of Republicans, all types of conservatives. Young people especially want to see a robust political debate and this dis-invitation is the exact opposite of that. Being perceived as anti-gay turns young people off even more than it does the general public.
Andrews told the gay group that the Log Cabin Republicans worldview and policy agenda are fundamentally at odds with what Colorado Christian University stands for, so its just not a fit. Im sorry it has to be that way.
He reiterated that this morning, telling The Denver Post he was disappointed that no one from the Log Cabin Republicans called him to discuss the situation and instead sent out a news release.
The Log Cabin Republicans exists to redefine the family. Log Cabin Republicans think gay marriage should be the law of the land and Colorado Christian University doesnt believe it should be, he said. They advocate contrary to our agenda and our core beliefs.
He said the groups $250 has been refunded.
The Western Conservative Summit also would not allow vendors who advocate for higher taxes or about the concerns of climate change, and the group has a published policy concerning that, he said. Apparently the Log Cabin Republicans did not read that policy first before submitting its fee, he said, adding a member of the group might have been at an event where he spoke and invited groups to set up tables at the summit.
The Western Conservative Summit has attracted some of the best-known right-siders in the country since it first began. This years event, the sixth summit, will be held from June 26 to June 28 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Speakers include Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.
Two years ago, Log Cabin Republicans played an active role in Colorados election, hammering a wealthy, gay Democratic congressman, Jared Polis of Boulder, who supported measures reigning in the oil-and-gas industry. A radio ad welcomed listeners to Lifestyles of the Rich and Out of Touch. A newspaper ad featured Polis in a crown and robe.
I think it would be hard for most people to believe that a congressman and a lobbyist can have a romantic relationship and not be influenced by each other. Rep. Shuster has kept this relationship a secret for over a year now and it will be interesting to see if there is an ethics committee to see if there are any violations. This should be familiar to him because his father committed basically the same ethics violation and had resigned because of it.
Republican Congressman Bill Shuster is dating a top lobbyist for the leading airline trade group, which spends millions of dollars each year trying to influence the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee he chairs.
The representative from Pennsylvania and Shelley Rubino, 49, vice president of government affairs for Airlines for America, have been in a relationship since last summer,
Politico.com reported Thursday. Shuster divorce last year after more than two decades of marriage.
"Ms. Rubino and I have a private and personal relationship, and out of respect for her and my family that is all I will say about that," Shuster, 54, said in a written statement.
He stated further that his office "has in place a policy that deals with personal relationships that cover my staff and myself. This was created in consultation with legal counsel and goes further than is required by the law. Under that policy, Ms. Rubino doesnt lobby my office, including myself and my staff."
The Associated Press reported via ABC News that Shuster was the top recipient of airline industry contributions last year. He received $128,350 in donations, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In lock step with Airlines for America, Shuster sponsors a House bill that would rescind the Transportation Department rule that requires airlines to display the full price of a plane ticket including taxes and fees wherever such tickets are advertised or sold.
Shuster represents the same his father, Bud Shuster, did previously. Bud Shuster was also the transportation committee chairman, and resigned from the House in 2001 after the ethics committee rebuked him for his own romantic relationship with a staffer-turned-lobbyist, Ann Eppard.
Dr. Oz has recently been under fire by his constituents over his poplular television show and the advice that is being given to the public. Other doctors are calling him a quack and demanding his tenure at Columbia end. Even with his recent congressional hearing, that had several congress members calling his advice unfounded and dishonest, he still has support from Columbia. I have a feeling that Columbia doesnt want to let go Dr. Oz because of the recongintion and money that his fame brings him.
A group of his fellow physicians thinks that TV's Dr. Oz is a money-hungry quack who has no business being on the medical faculty of Columbia.
Dr. Oz himself, aka cardiothoracic surgeon Mehmet Oz, begs to differ. "I bring the public information that will help them on their path to be their best selves," he says in a statement picked up by USA Today.
"We provide multiple points of view, including mine, which is offered without conflict of interest. That doesn't sit well with certain agendas which distort the facts." A spokesman for Columbia, meanwhile, tells the newspaper that the university plans no action against Oz.
A Stanford doctor who was among those who signed the letter thinks Columbia's previously stated defense of "academic freedoms" in this case is ridiculous, reports the Washington Post.
"Freedoms end where patient safety begins, and Oz's promotion of worthless products that might have side effects and that delay patients' seeking safe and effective therapies threatens public safety," says Henry Miller.
Oz has previously come under fire for hawking diet plans and a bean extract that critics say are bogus, and for peddling bunk claims in general.
I wonder what is more embarrassing for Ben Affleck? Having one of your distant relatives being a slave owner or having your private conversation leaked about wanting to hide the fact you have a slave owning relative. It seems like a strange thing to want to hide. Its not as if having a slave owing ancestor makes you a racist or in some way condones their actions.
Hacked Sony emails reveal that actor-director Ben Affleck requested that his slave owner ancestor be removed from his family tree on PBS program Finding Your Roots.
In a series of WikiLeaks emails, the genealogy program's host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. emailed Sony chief Michael Lynton asking "advice" on the actor's request, according to New York Daily News.
"For the first time, one of our guests has asked us to edit out something about one of his ancestors the fact that he owned slaves," Gates emailed Lynton in the July 22, 2014 email chain.
Gates defended the decision to edit out Affleck's ancestor in a statement posted Friday on the PBS website.
The mission of "Finding Your Roots" is to find and share interesting stories from our celebrity guests ancestries and use those stories to unlock new ways to learn about our past. We are very grateful to all of our guests for allowing us into their personal lives and have told hundreds of stories in this series including many about slave ancestorsnever shying away from chapters of a familys past that might be unpleasant. Ultimately, I maintain editorial control on all of my projects and, with my producers, decide what will make for the most compelling program. In the case of Mr. Affleck we focused on what we felt were the most interesting aspects of his ancestryincluding a Revolutionary War ancestor, a 3rd greatgrandfather who was an occult enthusiast, and his mother who marched for Civil Rights during the Freedom Summer of 1964.
PBS also issued a statement supporting Gates' decision:
It is clear from the exchange how seriously Professor Gates takes editorial integrity. He has told us that after reviewing approximately ten hours of footage for the episode, he and his producers made an independent editorial judgment to choose the most compelling narrative. The range and depth of the stories on Finding Your Roots speak for themselves.
I wonder what is more embarrassing for Ben Affleck? Having one of your distant relatives being a slave owner or having your private conversation leaked about wanting to hide the fact you have a slave owning relative. It seems like a strange thing to want to hide. Its not as if having a slave owing ancestor makes you a racist or in some way condones their actions.
What an idiot--Affleck, I mean. My guess is that probably at least 20%-30% of all white Americans, regardless of where they live today, have at least one ancestor who was a slaveowner. Hell, one of Barack Obama's great, great, great grandparents owned slaves in Georgie. If Affleck's ancestor were a founder of the KKK, I'd say he'd have reason to not want this disclosed, but back the half the country was in slaveholding states. While trying to resist invoking Godwin's Law, it would be children in Germany trying to hide the fact that their grandparents were N**is. Back then, who wasn't? By trying to suppress his ancestor, Affleck missed an opportunity to express his views on race in America using his ancestor as an example of the" bad side" and who he is today as the "good side." Instead, he looks like a self-serving jerk.
I wonder what is more embarrassing for Ben Affleck? Having one of your distant relatives being a slave owner or having your private conversation leaked about wanting to hide the fact you have a slave owning relative. It seems like a strange thing to want to hide. Its not as if having a slave owing ancestor makes you a racist or in some way condones their actions.
What an idiot--Affleck, I mean. My guess is that probably at least 20%-30% of all white Americans, regardless of where they live today, have at least one ancestor who was a slaveowner. Hell, one of Barack Obama's great, great, great grandparents owned slaves in Georgie. If Affleck's ancestor were a founder of the KKK, I'd say he'd have reason to not want this disclosed, but back the half the country was in slaveholding states. While trying to resist invoking Godwin's Law, it would be children in Germany trying to hide the fact that their grandparents were N**is. Back then, who wasn't? By trying to suppress his ancestor, Affleck missed an opportunity to express his views on race in America using his ancestor as an example of the" bad side" and who he is today as the "good side." Instead, he looks like a self-serving jerk.
Why would he hide that? Does he feel so guilty that his ancestors owned slaves that he tries to hide it? I have watched that show before. It's very entertaining but, this story is so strange because it seems like this guy in particular would jump at any chance to talk about himself. What is not strange is that these co-conspirators helped him suppress this info. (Liberal-privilege?) Liberal Ben asks liberal host of liberal TV network to help him hide the fact that his ancestors were slave owners. That doesn't sound like something they would suppress at the request of a conservative celebrity guest on that show. Have they ever even had a conservative on that show?
A small city in Missouri caught national attention when roughly half of its employees resigned following the election of its first African-American female mayor.
Many news outlets and bloggers have speculated that racism and sexism drove the exodus in Parma, a city of about 700 near the Mississippi River; whereas several residents say other factors were at play.
Mayor Tyus Byrd, 40, who beat longtime incumbent Randall Ramsey, has not yet released a formal statement on the controversy, but did address it briefly after being sworn in last week.
Moving forward, Ill get with the board. Ill speak here in a little bit, she told KFVS-TV, and well talk and discuss those issues that have taken place today. And well try to get things in order for the city.
The local CBS affiliate reported that three full-time cops and two part-time cops five of the citys six officers quit without notice. Several other officials, including the city attorney and city clerk, also resigned.
Nelvia Donaldson, an African-American alderman in Parma, thinks bigotry is behind the departures that followed Ramseys defeat, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
I think its about being a woman and being black, she told the paper. He (Ramsey) thought he had it in the bag.
Rich Medley, a former assistant police chief, on the other hand, said to the Post-Dispatch that he resigned out of fear that he would not be allowed to do his job properly.
He said the towns officers had several run-ins with members of Byrds family.
Rather than put my life in danger more than I do now on a daily basis, I decided to walk away, Medley said.
Ramsey told KFVS-TV that the departures were over safety concerns, but none of the resignation letters have been made public.
Parma resident Martha Miller, who campaigned for Byrd, does not think the resignations have to do with race, but she disagrees with how they happened.
I think its pretty dirty they all quit without giving her a chance. But I dont think they hurt the town any by quitting, because who needs six police for 740 people, she told KFVS-TV.
There was absolutely no racism that had anything to do with this, Barry Aycock, a white former alderman, said to The Associated Press. We had an election, its over, and were all supporting the new mayor and moving forward.
Lisa Kirk, 58, who owns a convenience store in Parma, was surprised that the town even had six people on its police force.
There was never police around in town, she told the wire service. We have no idea where the six officers worked or who they are. If they did work, I dont know where they were.
Kirk said her shop has been burglarized nine times over the past decade.
One things for sure: Byrd has attracted a lot of supporters on social media since the story broke.
Wonder if the employees will be sued for discrimination? Har har.Reminds me of an old saying..."Not everyone else is wrong." I don't know the whole story, but I wonder if it's as clear as they don't like blacks/women?
For just a moment, monkeys had rights. It wasnt Planet of the Apes but an apparently unintended writ of habeas corpus that granted them momentarily legal person ship. I dont think that animals should have legal rights as people do; Legal protections certainly. Its hard to say how this will all shake out, not the rights of the monkeys, but if they can gain their freedom from scientific testing.
On Monday, Justice Barbara Jaffe of the New York Supreme Court gave legal rights to two chimpanzees, then took them back. The judge initially wrote the words writ of habeas corpus in a court order, implying the chimps had legal person status to challenge their detainment as unlawful. Supporters celebrated the decision before the judge struck out the words. Still, the great apes will receive their day in court, metaphorically speaking.
The Guardian reports two chimpanzees, named Hercules and Leo, are fighting to get out of medical experiments in Stony Brook University on Long Island and resettle in a Florida animal sanctuary. Attorneys at the Nonhuman Rights Project filed the case in December, 2013.
The chimps, defended by human attorneys, won a major victory when the judge granted a writ of habeas corpus, which will force the president of Stony Brook to come to court and defend the detainment. The ruling had the chimps supporters cautiously optimistic.
Lead attorney Steven Wise said, This is one step in a long, long struggle.
She never says explicitly that our non-human plaintiffs were persons but by issuing the order [habeas corpus] shes either saying implicitly that they are or that they certainly can be. So thats the first time that has happened.
He added, It feels great. We knew it was going to happen sometime.
The party didnt last long. The judge quickly erased the chimpanzees legal rights and a spokesman denied she ever meant to imply personhood.
Whether or not they are persons with legal rights aside, the order will still stand, and the university will have to defend the detainment, which is an opportunity the Nonhuman Rights Project welcomes. Science reports the group gave a new statement on the amended order.
This case is one of a trio of cases that the Nonhuman Rights Project has brought in an attempt to free chimpanzees imprisoned within the State of New York through an Article 70-Habeas Corpus proceeding. These cases are novel and this is the first time that an Order to Show Cause has issued. We are grateful for an opportunity to litigate the issue of the freedom of the chimpanzees, Hercules and Leo, at the ordered May hearing.
As for the university, they issued a statement saying they do not comment on pending litigation. The judges order is also largely administrative and does not show any leaning the court might take during the May hearing.
What implications legal rights for chimpanzees would have had for the U.S. legal system could have been interesting, but just getting a chance at freedom will likely be good enough for Leo and Hercules.
Ben Affleck issued a kind of halfassed excuse and probably hopes that this doesnt linger too long. Im sure that he hopes that this blows over quickly and well see if maybe he shares some Batman photos of himself to get people distracted.
Ben Affleck has issued an apology and shed light on attempts to edit out his slave-owning ancestors from the PBS program "Finding Your Roots."
In a post to his Facebook page, Affleck gives his take on events that played out across several emails found in the Sony Wikileaks archive.
The correspondence saw studio chief Michael Lynton and show host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discuss a request from the star to remove the ugly bit of family history.
Read Affleck's full statement:
After an exhaustive search of my ancestry for "Finding Your Roots," it was discovered that one of my distant relatives was an owner of slaves.
I didn't want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves. I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.
Skip decided what went into the show. I lobbied him the same way I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use. This is the collaborative creative process. Skip agreed with me on the slave owner but made other choices I disagreed with. In the end, it's his show and I knew that going in. I'm proud to be his friend and proud to have participated.
It's important to remember that this isn't a news program. Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable. The assumption is that they will never be dishonest but they will respect your willingness to participate and not look to include things you think would embarrass your family.
I regret my initial thoughts that the issue of slavery not be included in the story. We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors and the degree of interest in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery. It is an examination well worth continuing. I am glad that my story, however indirectly, will contribute to that discussion. While I don't like that the guy is an ancestor, I am happy that aspect of our country's history is being talked about.
After an exhaustive search of my ancestry for "Finding Your Roots," it was discovered that one of my distant relatives was an owner of slaves.
I didn't want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves. I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.
Skip decided what went into the show. I lobbied him the same way I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use. This is the collaborative creative process. Skip agreed with me on the slave owner but made other choices I disagreed with. In the end, it's his show and I knew that going in. I'm proud to be his friend and proud to have participated.
It's important to remember that this isn't a news program. Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable. The assumption is that they will never be dishonest but they will respect your willingness to participate and not look to include things you think would embarrass your family.
I regret my initial thoughts that the issue of slavery not be included in the story. We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors and the degree of interest in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery. It is an examination well worth continuing. I am glad that my story, however indirectly, will contribute to that discussion. While I don't like that the guy is an ancestor, I am happy that aspect of our country's history is being talked about.
Ben Affleck
He says he was embarrassed? In what way? He's giving conflicting statements in his apology without revealing any insight into his initial embarrassment. He went on to say - "We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors ...... " Did he come to this conclusion only after the story broke? because that logic would lead one to be unembarrassed by these revelations. How is one supposed to feel? How would you feel? I have come across records that indicate that I may be descended from slave owners. How does this affect me? Am I supposed to feel embarrassed about it? If I was "outed" as a descendant of slave owners, would people think of me differently? I feel bad about the institution of American slavery and it's personal hideous cruelties and societies' residual cruelties based on race, but I do not feel embarrassed because of an apparent ancestral link to slave owners. How would you feel if you knew your ancestors owned slaves?
After an exhaustive search of my ancestry for "Finding Your Roots," it was discovered that one of my distant relatives was an owner of slaves.
I didn't want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves. I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.
Skip decided what went into the show. I lobbied him the same way I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use. This is the collaborative creative process. Skip agreed with me on the slave owner but made other choices I disagreed with. In the end, it's his show and I knew that going in. I'm proud to be his friend and proud to have participated.
It's important to remember that this isn't a news program. Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable. The assumption is that they will never be dishonest but they will respect your willingness to participate and not look to include things you think would embarrass your family.
I regret my initial thoughts that the issue of slavery not be included in the story. We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors and the degree of interest in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery. It is an examination well worth continuing. I am glad that my story, however indirectly, will contribute to that discussion. While I don't like that the guy is an ancestor, I am happy that aspect of our country's history is being talked about.
Ben Affleck
He says he was embarrassed? In what way? He's giving conflicting statements in his apology without revealing any insight into his initial embarrassment. He went on to say - "We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors ...... " Did he come to this conclusion only after the story broke? because that logic would lead one to be unembarrassed by these revelations. How is one supposed to feel? How would you feel? I have come across records that indicate that I may be descended from slave owners. How does this affect me? Am I supposed to feel embarrassed about it? If I was "outed" as a descendant of slave owners, would people think of me differently? I feel bad about the institution of American slavery and it's personal hideous cruelties and societies' residual cruelties based on race, but I do not feel embarrassed because of an apparent ancestral link to slave owners. How would you feel if you knew your ancestors owned slaves?
I'm think he just didn't want to be associated with slavery. His choice in covering up this story made it a much bigger deal then it otherwise would have been. How much time could they have dedicated to this ancestor? I can't imagine there's that much story to tell behind a slave owner. It's not like they were saying that his ancestor single handedly brought slavery to America. His trying to make this a non-story made it a much larger story.
John Jones has been on roll as of late. First, he tested positive for cocaine during his last fight; which is strange, because he was still allowed to compete and defend his title even though they knew he failed a drug test. Now, police have a warrant for his arrest due to a hit and run that he allegedly committed.
I know that hes a big draw for the UFC, but I think that they need to start reigning in their champion. Yeah, hes innocent before proven guilty. But he has a title fight in less than a month and there is some pretty compelling evidence that he committed this crime. Considering the weed, the rental agreement that was made out to him, and eyewitness accounts its seems unlikely that it wasnt Jones that committed the crime. An arrest warrant has been issued for UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in connection with a hit-and-run in the early morning hours Sunday.
The victim in the incident was a 25-year-old pregnant woman. The victim suffered a broken arm, elevating the incident from a misdemeanor to a felony. According to the police report, a man matching Jones description ran from an SUV involved in a three-car accident before returning, grabbing a handful of cash and fleeing again.
An officer at the scene found car rental paperwork linking the car to Jones as well as a marijuana pipe and marijuana.
The Albuquerque Police Department announced via Twitter that the warrant had been issued and that arrangements have been made for the fighter to turn himself in.
Currently, Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), the top-ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA pound-for-pound rankings, is scheduled to fight Anthony Johnson (19-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in next months UFC 187 pay-per-view headliner, which takes place May 23 in Las Vegas.
The UFC recently released a statement stating officials are gathering facts and will reserve further comment until more information is available, but made no mention of Jones possibly being pulled from the card.
There may be hope for some of my friends that are poor shots yet. Self-guiding ammo is now real and apparently pretty accurate. This could be a very useful tool in wartime situations; allowing poor or average marksmen to hit their targets. I think as long as this stays out of the hands of civilians, this is a very important discovery.
In what some might consider a terrifying development, the U.S. military has passed a key milestone in creating self-steering bullets.
Using technology developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), experienced and novice shooters alike demonstrated that they could hit moving targets during a series of tests in February, agency officials announced yesterday (April 27).
Military snipers are often faced with having to hit moving targets in difficult conditions, such as high winds or dusty terrain like that found in Afghanistan. DARPA's Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) program was designed to increase snipers' accuracy in these situations, by improving their range and reducing the time required to hit a target. [Humanoid Robots to Flying Cars: 10 Coolest DARPA Projects]
A video released by DARPA shows how the system uses real-time optical guidance to steer the ammunition to a moving or accelerating target, regardless of weather and other forms of interference.
In the video, an expert shooter fires at a moving target, and the self-steering bullet corrects its course to hit the target. Then, an untrained person who has never used a sniper rifle before takes aim at the moving target and the bullet still finds its mark.
"True to DARPAs mission, EXACTO has demonstrated what was once thought impossible: the continuous guidance of a small-caliber bullet to target," DARPA Program Manager Jerome Dunn said in a statement. "This live-fire demonstration from a standard rifle showed that EXACTO is able to hit moving and evading targets with extreme accuracy at sniper ranges unachievable with traditional rounds."
Dunn added that achieving the self-steering capabilities with a small, .50-caliber weapon was a "major breakthrough," which would make it possible to expand the system to all calibers.
Jon Jones loses his title. A few posts ago I wrote about an alleged hit and run that also injured a pedestrian and after a few days the UFC has stripped him of his title and suspended him. Seems like a step in the right direction for the UFC, who up in till this point, seemed to let Jones get away with far more than most of their fighters.
One of the most ridiculous things that I read today, I cant believe that people could possibly believe that the federal government would create camps to put political prisoners in. Its utterly confounding that conspiracy theorists could convince their governor that he needs to send the Texas State Guard to monitor the American military.
Since General Sam Houston executed his famous retreat to glory to defeat the superior forces of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Texas has been ground zero for military training. We have so many military bases in the Lone Star State we could practically attack Russia.
So when rookie Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was ordering the Texas State Guard to monitor a Navy SEAL/Green Beret joint training exercise, which was taking place in Texas and several other states, everybody here looked up from their iPhones. What?
It seems there is concern among some folks that this so-called training maneuver is just a cover story. What's really going on? President Obama is about to use Special Forces to put Texas under martial law.
Let's walk over by the fence where nobody can hear us, and I'll tell you the story.
You see, there are these Wal-Marts in West Texas that supposedly closed for six months for "renovation." That's what they want you to believe. The truth is these Wal-Marts are going to be military guerrilla-warfare staging areas and FEMA processing camps for political prisoners. The prisoners are going to be transported by train cars that have already been equipped with shackles
.
Don't take my word for it. That comes directly from a Texas Ranger, who seems pretty plugged in, if you ask me. You and I both know President Obama has been waiting a long time for this, and now it's happening. It's a classic false flag operation. Don't pay any attention the mainstream media; all they're going to do is lie and attack everyone who's trying to tell you the truth.
Did I mention the ISIS terrorists? They've come across the border and are going to hit soft targets all across the Southwest. They've set up camp a few miles outside of El Paso.
That includes a Mexican army officer and Mexican federal police inspector. Not sure what they're doing there, but probably nothing good. That's why the Special Forces guys are here, get it? To wipe out ISIS and impose martial law. So now you know, whaddya say we get back to the party and grab another beer?
It's true that the paranoid world-view of right-wing militia types has remarkable stamina. But that's not news.
What is news is that there seem to be enough of them in Texas to influence the governor of the state to react some might use the word pander to them.
That started Monday when a public briefing by the Army in Bastrop County, which is just east of Austin, got raucous. The poor U.S. Army colonel probably just thought he was going to give a regular briefing, but instead 200 patriots shouted him down, told him he was a liar and grilled him about the imminent federal takeover of Texas and subsequent imposition of martial law.
"We just want to make sure our guys are trained. We want to hone our skills," Lt. Col. Mark Listoria tried to explain in vain.
One wonders what Listoria was thinking to himself as he walked to his car after two hours of his life he'll never get back. God bless Texas? Maybe not.
The next day Gov. Abbott decided he had to take action. He announced that he was going to ask the Texas State Guard to monitor Operation Jade Helm from start to finish.
"It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed upon," Abbott said.
The idea that the Yankee military can't be trusted down here has a long and rich history in Texas. But that was a while back. Abbott's proclamation that he was going to keep his eye on these Navy SEAL and Green Beret boys did rub some of our leaders the wrong way.
Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst tried to put it in perspective for outsiders when he explained, "Unfortunately, some Texans have projected their legitimate concerns about the competence and trustworthiness of President Barack Obama on these noble warriors. This must stop."
Another former Republican politician was a bit more pointed.
"Your letter pandering to idiots ... has left me livid," former State Rep. Todd Smith wrote Gov. Abbott. "I am horrified that I have to choose between the possibility that my Governor actually believes this stuff and the possibility that my Governor doesn't have the backbone to stand up to those who do."
There's no argument that after the 2014 election, Texas politics took a further step to the right. The 84th session of the state legislature has given ample proof of that. But the events of this last week have been an eye-opener for Texans of all political stripes.
You will find the names of Texans etched into marble at war memorials from Goliad to Gettysburg, from Verdun to the Ardennes and Washington, D.C. The governor's proposition that these soldiers and sailors constitute a potential threat and need watching as they go about their duties, certainly stakes out some new political ground for the leader of the Texas GOP to stand on.
I saw the fight and like most of you was pretty underwhelmed by what I saw. Now we are finding out that Manny fought with a torn rotator cuff feels and I feel like I was cheated. I cant imagine that he thought that he could beat Mayweather at such a disadvantage. I really wanted Manny to win and now there is talk of a rematch. I know I wont be purchasing any rematch between the two of them but I think a lot of people will. Manny has a lot of fans and they might be holding out for hope that he can beat Mayweather if hes at 100%. Time will tell if this fight will ever happen. Manny still has another 9-12 months of recovery after his sugery and most likely a sports commission to answer to for his injury.
Following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao revealed that he fought with a bum right shoulder.
Turns out its more serious than expected.
On Monday night, Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache told ESPN that Pacquiao has a significant tear that requires surgery and will be out nine to 12 months.
The injury, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach said Saturday, affected the ability to throw his patented right hook. Roach said he even considered postponing the bout after learning of the injury approximately 2 1/2 weeks prior to fight night.
In a joint statement released earlier Monday, Pacquiao and Top Rank elaborated on the injury:
Manny went to see world-class doctors, partners in the prestigious Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who performed tests and, in consultation with Manny, his promoter, and his advisors, concluded that with short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.
After consulting with doctors, Pacquiaos team decided on Toradol, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, as pre-fight treatment. Pacquiaos advisors then contacted the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the group responsible for overseeing agreed upon random drug testing. After speaking with Pacquiaos doctors twice and investigating, USADA approved the proposed treatment (for training and fight night) in writing.
Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100 percent. in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors, Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his pre-fight treatment.
However, USADA doesnt oversee the regulation of fights and is not a governing body. The group simply approved the treatment for the purposes of drug testing.
When the Nevada State Athletic Commission administered the pre-fight examination Friday afternoon, they gave Pacquiao a questionnaire. Question No. 6 asked if he had any injuries to your shoulders, elbows or hands that require examination, and the fighter checked no, the commissions executive director Bob Bennett told USA TODAY Sports on Monday.
In fact, Bennett says the commission wasnt aware of any injury until Pacquiaos team asked for the Toradol injection (as well as Lidocaine, a numbing agent) at approximately 6:08 p.m. PT on fight night.
According to Bennett, Top Rank then alleged that USADA had provided documentation that informed the commission of the shoulder injury, but he says they never received such information. Bennett says he contacted USADA sport testing and resources director Andy Morrison to ask if any emails were sent regarding the injury, and Morrison said he hadnt.
The commission then interviewed Pacquiaos physicians who advised that his health and safety would not be at risk if he fought without the injection. Manny then assured the commission that his shoulder felt fine and strong, and it was not bothering him and that he was ready to fight, per Bennett.
Pacquiao was also interviewed by the commissions physicians at the Friday weigh-in and informed them of no problems with his shoulders. According to the record, his strength appeared equal in both arms and he had full range of motion in his shoulders. That information in addition to his denial of a shoulder injury on the questionnaire led the commission to disallow the injections.
Following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao revealed that he fought with a bum right shoulder.
Turns out its more serious than expected.
On Monday night, Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache told ESPN that Pacquiao has a significant tear that requires surgery and will be out nine to 12 months.
The injury, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach said Saturday, affected the ability to throw his patented right hook. Roach said he even considered postponing the bout after learning of the injury approximately 2 1/2 weeks prior to fight night.
In a joint statement released earlier Monday, Pacquiao and Top Rank elaborated on the injury:
Manny went to see world-class doctors, partners in the prestigious Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who performed tests and, in consultation with Manny, his promoter, and his advisors, concluded that with short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.
After consulting with doctors, Pacquiaos team decided on Toradol, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, as pre-fight treatment. Pacquiaos advisors then contacted the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the group responsible for overseeing agreed upon random drug testing. After speaking with Pacquiaos doctors twice and investigating, USADA approved the proposed treatment (for training and fight night) in writing.
Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100 percent. in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors, Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his pre-fight treatment.
However, USADA doesnt oversee the regulation of fights and is not a governing body. The group simply approved the treatment for the purposes of drug testing.
When the Nevada State Athletic Commission administered the pre-fight examination Friday afternoon, they gave Pacquiao a questionnaire. Question No. 6 asked if he had any injuries to your shoulders, elbows or hands that require examination, and the fighter checked no, the commissions executive director Bob Bennett told USA TODAY Sports on Monday.
In fact, Bennett says the commission wasnt aware of any injury until Pacquiaos team asked for the Toradol injection (as well as Lidocaine, a numbing agent) at approximately 6:08 p.m. PT on fight night.
According to Bennett, Top Rank then alleged that USADA had provided documentation that informed the commission of the shoulder injury, but he says they never received such information. Bennett says he contacted USADA sport testing and resources director Andy Morrison to ask if any emails were sent regarding the injury, and Morrison said he hadnt.
The commission then interviewed Pacquiaos physicians who advised that his health and safety would not be at risk if he fought without the injection. Manny then assured the commission that his shoulder felt fine and strong, and it was not bothering him and that he was ready to fight, per Bennett.
Pacquiao was also interviewed by the commissions physicians at the Friday weigh-in and informed them of no problems with his shoulders. According to the record, his strength appeared equal in both arms and he had full range of motion in his shoulders. That information in addition to his denial of a shoulder injury on the questionnaire led the commission to disallow the injections.
Comments
WOW....you learn something every day.
Does getting a fake SS make a criminal legal?
The increasingly influential Western Conservative Summit has disinvited a gay Republican group to attend its event this summer a message that sends exactly the wrong message, members of the Log Cabin Republicans say.
The Colorado Log Cabin Republicans had paid a $250 fee to be able to set up a table at the event, but then received a message from John Andrews, head of the Centennial Institute, which is affiliated with Colorado Christian University and sponsors the summit.
You and your members are very welcome to get tickets and attend, but we cant officially have the organization as a partner, exhibitor, or advertiser, Andrews said.
As a private organization, the summit has a right to decide the invite list, Log Cabin Republicans concede. But still.
It is a pretty common issue we face. Theyll take our money, but want us in the closet, said Michael Carr of Denver, a former state Senate candidate and secretary of the state chapter of Log Cabin Republicans.
This is the most important time for us to be reaching out to all types of groups and people, all types of Republicans, all types of conservatives. Young people especially want to see a robust political debate and this dis-invitation is the exact opposite of that. Being perceived as anti-gay turns young people off even more than it does the general public.
Andrews told the gay group that the Log Cabin Republicans worldview and policy agenda are fundamentally at odds with what Colorado Christian University stands for, so its just not a fit. Im sorry it has to be that way.
He reiterated that this morning, telling The Denver Post he was disappointed that no one from the Log Cabin Republicans called him to discuss the situation and instead sent out a news release.
The Log Cabin Republicans exists to redefine the family. Log Cabin Republicans think gay marriage should be the law of the land and Colorado Christian University doesnt believe it should be, he said. They advocate contrary to our agenda and our core beliefs.
He said the groups $250 has been refunded.
The Western Conservative Summit also would not allow vendors who advocate for higher taxes or about the concerns of climate change, and the group has a published policy concerning that, he said. Apparently the Log Cabin Republicans did not read that policy first before submitting its fee, he said, adding a member of the group might have been at an event where he spoke and invited groups to set up tables at the summit.
The Western Conservative Summit has attracted some of the best-known right-siders in the country since it first began. This years event, the sixth summit, will be held from June 26 to June 28 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Speakers include Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.
Two years ago, Log Cabin Republicans played an active role in Colorados election, hammering a wealthy, gay Democratic congressman, Jared Polis of Boulder, who supported measures reigning in the oil-and-gas industry. A radio ad welcomed listeners to Lifestyles of the Rich and Out of Touch. A newspaper ad featured Polis in a crown and robe.
Republican Congressman Bill Shuster is dating a top lobbyist for the leading airline trade group, which spends millions of dollars each year trying to influence the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee he chairs.
The representative from Pennsylvania and Shelley Rubino, 49, vice president of government affairs for Airlines for America, have been in a relationship since last summer, Politico.com reported Thursday. Shuster divorce last year after more than two decades of marriage.
"Ms. Rubino and I have a private and personal relationship, and out of respect for her and my family that is all I will say about that," Shuster, 54, said in a written statement.
He stated further that his office "has in place a policy that deals with personal relationships that cover my staff and myself. This was created in consultation with legal counsel and goes further than is required by the law. Under that policy, Ms. Rubino doesnt lobby my office, including myself and my staff."
The Associated Press reported via ABC News that Shuster was the top recipient of airline industry contributions last year. He received $128,350 in donations, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In lock step with Airlines for America, Shuster sponsors a House bill that would rescind the Transportation Department rule that requires airlines to display the full price of a plane ticket including taxes and fees wherever such tickets are advertised or sold.
Shuster represents the same his father, Bud Shuster, did previously. Bud Shuster was also the transportation committee chairman, and resigned from the House in 2001 after the ethics committee rebuked him for his own romantic relationship with a staffer-turned-lobbyist, Ann Eppard.
A group of his fellow physicians thinks that TV's Dr. Oz is a money-hungry quack who has no business being on the medical faculty of Columbia.
Dr. Oz himself, aka cardiothoracic surgeon Mehmet Oz, begs to differ. "I bring the public information that will help them on their path to be their best selves," he says in a statement picked up by USA Today.
"We provide multiple points of view, including mine, which is offered without conflict of interest. That doesn't sit well with certain agendas which distort the facts." A spokesman for Columbia, meanwhile, tells the newspaper that the university plans no action against Oz.
A Stanford doctor who was among those who signed the letter thinks Columbia's previously stated defense of "academic freedoms" in this case is ridiculous, reports the Washington Post.
"Freedoms end where patient safety begins, and Oz's promotion of worthless products that might have side effects and that delay patients' seeking safe and effective therapies threatens public safety," says Henry Miller.
Oz has previously come under fire for hawking diet plans and a bean extract that critics say are bogus, and for peddling bunk claims in general.
Hacked Sony emails reveal that actor-director Ben Affleck requested that his slave owner ancestor be removed from his family tree on PBS program Finding Your Roots.
In a series of WikiLeaks emails, the genealogy program's host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. emailed Sony chief Michael Lynton asking "advice" on the actor's request, according to New York Daily News.
"For the first time, one of our guests has asked us to edit out something about one of his ancestors the fact that he owned slaves," Gates emailed Lynton in the July 22, 2014 email chain.
Gates defended the decision to edit out Affleck's ancestor in a statement posted Friday on the PBS website.
The mission of "Finding Your Roots" is to find and share interesting stories from our celebrity guests ancestries and use those stories to unlock new ways to learn about our past. We are very grateful to all of our guests for allowing us into their personal lives and have told hundreds of stories in this series including many about slave ancestorsnever shying away from chapters of a familys past that might be unpleasant. Ultimately, I maintain editorial control on all of my projects and, with my producers, decide what will make for the most compelling program. In the case of Mr. Affleck we focused on what we felt were the most interesting aspects of his ancestryincluding a Revolutionary War ancestor, a 3rd greatgrandfather who was an occult enthusiast, and his mother who marched for Civil Rights during the Freedom Summer of 1964.
PBS also issued a statement supporting Gates' decision:
It is clear from the exchange how seriously Professor Gates takes editorial integrity. He has told us that after reviewing approximately ten hours of footage for the episode, he and his producers made an independent editorial judgment to choose the most compelling narrative. The range and depth of the stories on Finding Your Roots speak for themselves.
What an idiot--Affleck, I mean. My guess is that probably at least 20%-30% of all white Americans, regardless of where they live today, have at least one ancestor who was a slaveowner. Hell, one of Barack Obama's great, great, great grandparents owned slaves in Georgie. If Affleck's ancestor were a founder of the KKK, I'd say he'd have reason to not want this disclosed, but back the half the country was in slaveholding states. While trying to resist invoking Godwin's Law, it would be children in Germany trying to hide the fact that their grandparents were N**is. Back then, who wasn't? By trying to suppress his ancestor, Affleck missed an opportunity to express his views on race in America using his ancestor as an example of the" bad side" and who he is today as the "good side." Instead, he looks like a self-serving jerk.
On Monday, Justice Barbara Jaffe of the New York Supreme Court gave legal rights to two chimpanzees, then took them back. The judge initially wrote the words writ of habeas corpus in a court order, implying the chimps had legal person status to challenge their detainment as unlawful. Supporters celebrated the decision before the judge struck out the words. Still, the great apes will receive their day in court, metaphorically speaking.
The Guardian reports two chimpanzees, named Hercules and Leo, are fighting to get out of medical experiments in Stony Brook University on Long Island and resettle in a Florida animal sanctuary. Attorneys at the Nonhuman Rights Project filed the case in December, 2013.
The chimps, defended by human attorneys, won a major victory when the judge granted a writ of habeas corpus, which will force the president of Stony Brook to come to court and defend the detainment. The ruling had the chimps supporters cautiously optimistic.
Lead attorney Steven Wise said, This is one step in a long, long struggle.
She never says explicitly that our non-human plaintiffs were persons but by issuing the order [habeas corpus] shes either saying implicitly that they are or that they certainly can be. So thats the first time that has happened.
He added, It feels great. We knew it was going to happen sometime.
The party didnt last long. The judge quickly erased the chimpanzees legal rights and a spokesman denied she ever meant to imply personhood.
Whether or not they are persons with legal rights aside, the order will still stand, and the university will have to defend the detainment, which is an opportunity the Nonhuman Rights Project welcomes. Science reports the group gave a new statement on the amended order.
This case is one of a trio of cases that the Nonhuman Rights Project has brought in an attempt to free chimpanzees imprisoned within the State of New York through an Article 70-Habeas Corpus proceeding. These cases are novel and this is the first time that an Order to Show Cause has issued. We are grateful for an opportunity to litigate the issue of the freedom of the chimpanzees, Hercules and Leo, at the ordered May hearing.
As for the university, they issued a statement saying they do not comment on pending litigation. The judges order is also largely administrative and does not show any leaning the court might take during the May hearing.
What implications legal rights for chimpanzees would have had for the U.S. legal system could have been interesting, but just getting a chance at freedom will likely be good enough for Leo and Hercules.
Ben Affleck has issued an apology and shed light on attempts to edit out his slave-owning ancestors from the PBS program "Finding Your Roots."
In a post to his Facebook page, Affleck gives his take on events that played out across several emails found in the Sony Wikileaks archive.
The correspondence saw studio chief Michael Lynton and show host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discuss a request from the star to remove the ugly bit of family history.
Read Affleck's full statement:
After an exhaustive search of my ancestry for "Finding Your Roots," it was discovered that one of my distant relatives was an owner of slaves.
I didn't want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves. I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.
Skip decided what went into the show. I lobbied him the same way I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use. This is the collaborative creative process. Skip agreed with me on the slave owner but made other choices I disagreed with. In the end, it's his show and I knew that going in. I'm proud to be his friend and proud to have participated.
It's important to remember that this isn't a news program. Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable. The assumption is that they will never be dishonest but they will respect your willingness to participate and not look to include things you think would embarrass your family.
I regret my initial thoughts that the issue of slavery not be included in the story. We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors and the degree of interest in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery. It is an examination well worth continuing. I am glad that my story, however indirectly, will contribute to that discussion. While I don't like that the guy is an ancestor, I am happy that aspect of our country's history is being talked about.
Ben Affleck
It won't let me post a picture of it so here's a link. http://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Jared-Leto-Joker.jpg
I know that hes a big draw for the UFC, but I think that they need to start reigning in their champion. Yeah, hes innocent before proven guilty. But he has a title fight in less than a month and there is some pretty compelling evidence that he committed this crime. Considering the weed, the rental agreement that was made out to him, and eyewitness accounts its seems unlikely that it wasnt Jones that committed the crime. An arrest warrant has been issued for UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in connection with a hit-and-run in the early morning hours Sunday.
The victim in the incident was a 25-year-old pregnant woman. The victim suffered a broken arm, elevating the incident from a misdemeanor to a felony. According to the police report, a man matching Jones description ran from an SUV involved in a three-car accident before returning, grabbing a handful of cash and fleeing again.
An officer at the scene found car rental paperwork linking the car to Jones as well as a marijuana pipe and marijuana.
The Albuquerque Police Department announced via Twitter that the warrant had been issued and that arrangements have been made for the fighter to turn himself in.
Currently, Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), the top-ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA pound-for-pound rankings, is scheduled to fight Anthony Johnson (19-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in next months UFC 187 pay-per-view headliner, which takes place May 23 in Las Vegas.
The UFC recently released a statement stating officials are gathering facts and will reserve further comment until more information is available, but made no mention of Jones possibly being pulled from the card.
In what some might consider a terrifying development, the U.S. military has passed a key milestone in creating self-steering bullets.
Using technology developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), experienced and novice shooters alike demonstrated that they could hit moving targets during a series of tests in February, agency officials announced yesterday (April 27).
Military snipers are often faced with having to hit moving targets in difficult conditions, such as high winds or dusty terrain like that found in Afghanistan. DARPA's Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) program was designed to increase snipers' accuracy in these situations, by improving their range and reducing the time required to hit a target. [Humanoid Robots to Flying Cars: 10 Coolest DARPA Projects]
A video released by DARPA shows how the system uses real-time optical guidance to steer the ammunition to a moving or accelerating target, regardless of weather and other forms of interference.
In the video, an expert shooter fires at a moving target, and the self-steering bullet corrects its course to hit the target. Then, an untrained person who has never used a sniper rifle before takes aim at the moving target and the bullet still finds its mark.
"True to DARPAs mission, EXACTO has demonstrated what was once thought impossible: the continuous guidance of a small-caliber bullet to target," DARPA Program Manager Jerome Dunn said in a statement. "This live-fire demonstration from a standard rifle showed that EXACTO is able to hit moving and evading targets with extreme accuracy at sniper ranges unachievable with traditional rounds."
Dunn added that achieving the self-steering capabilities with a small, .50-caliber weapon was a "major breakthrough," which would make it possible to expand the system to all calibers.
Since General Sam Houston executed his famous retreat to glory to defeat the superior forces of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Texas has been ground zero for military training. We have so many military bases in the Lone Star State we could practically attack Russia.
So when rookie Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was ordering the Texas State Guard to monitor a Navy SEAL/Green Beret joint training exercise, which was taking place in Texas and several other states, everybody here looked up from their iPhones. What?
It seems there is concern among some folks that this so-called training maneuver is just a cover story. What's really going on? President Obama is about to use Special Forces to put Texas under martial law.
Let's walk over by the fence where nobody can hear us, and I'll tell you the story.
You see, there are these Wal-Marts in West Texas that supposedly closed for six months for "renovation." That's what they want you to believe. The truth is these Wal-Marts are going to be military guerrilla-warfare staging areas and FEMA processing camps for political prisoners. The prisoners are going to be transported by train cars that have already been equipped with shackles
. Don't take my word for it. That comes directly from a Texas Ranger, who seems pretty plugged in, if you ask me. You and I both know President Obama has been waiting a long time for this, and now it's happening. It's a classic false flag operation. Don't pay any attention the mainstream media; all they're going to do is lie and attack everyone who's trying to tell you the truth.
Did I mention the ISIS terrorists? They've come across the border and are going to hit soft targets all across the Southwest. They've set up camp a few miles outside of El Paso.
That includes a Mexican army officer and Mexican federal police inspector. Not sure what they're doing there, but probably nothing good. That's why the Special Forces guys are here, get it? To wipe out ISIS and impose martial law. So now you know, whaddya say we get back to the party and grab another beer?
It's true that the paranoid world-view of right-wing militia types has remarkable stamina. But that's not news. What is news is that there seem to be enough of them in Texas to influence the governor of the state to react some might use the word pander to them.
That started Monday when a public briefing by the Army in Bastrop County, which is just east of Austin, got raucous. The poor U.S. Army colonel probably just thought he was going to give a regular briefing, but instead 200 patriots shouted him down, told him he was a liar and grilled him about the imminent federal takeover of Texas and subsequent imposition of martial law.
"We just want to make sure our guys are trained. We want to hone our skills," Lt. Col. Mark Listoria tried to explain in vain. One wonders what Listoria was thinking to himself as he walked to his car after two hours of his life he'll never get back. God bless Texas? Maybe not.
The next day Gov. Abbott decided he had to take action. He announced that he was going to ask the Texas State Guard to monitor Operation Jade Helm from start to finish.
"It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed upon," Abbott said.
The idea that the Yankee military can't be trusted down here has a long and rich history in Texas. But that was a while back. Abbott's proclamation that he was going to keep his eye on these Navy SEAL and Green Beret boys did rub some of our leaders the wrong way.
Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst tried to put it in perspective for outsiders when he explained, "Unfortunately, some Texans have projected their legitimate concerns about the competence and trustworthiness of President Barack Obama on these noble warriors. This must stop."
Another former Republican politician was a bit more pointed.
"Your letter pandering to idiots ... has left me livid," former State Rep. Todd Smith wrote Gov. Abbott. "I am horrified that I have to choose between the possibility that my Governor actually believes this stuff and the possibility that my Governor doesn't have the backbone to stand up to those who do."
There's no argument that after the 2014 election, Texas politics took a further step to the right. The 84th session of the state legislature has given ample proof of that. But the events of this last week have been an eye-opener for Texans of all political stripes.
You will find the names of Texans etched into marble at war memorials from Goliad to Gettysburg, from Verdun to the Ardennes and Washington, D.C. The governor's proposition that these soldiers and sailors constitute a potential threat and need watching as they go about their duties, certainly stakes out some new political ground for the leader of the Texas GOP to stand on.
Following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao revealed that he fought with a bum right shoulder.
Turns out its more serious than expected.
On Monday night, Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache told ESPN that Pacquiao has a significant tear that requires surgery and will be out nine to 12 months.
The injury, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach said Saturday, affected the ability to throw his patented right hook. Roach said he even considered postponing the bout after learning of the injury approximately 2 1/2 weeks prior to fight night.
In a joint statement released earlier Monday, Pacquiao and Top Rank elaborated on the injury:
Manny went to see world-class doctors, partners in the prestigious Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who performed tests and, in consultation with Manny, his promoter, and his advisors, concluded that with short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.
After consulting with doctors, Pacquiaos team decided on Toradol, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, as pre-fight treatment. Pacquiaos advisors then contacted the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the group responsible for overseeing agreed upon random drug testing. After speaking with Pacquiaos doctors twice and investigating, USADA approved the proposed treatment (for training and fight night) in writing.
Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100 percent. in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors, Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his pre-fight treatment.
However, USADA doesnt oversee the regulation of fights and is not a governing body. The group simply approved the treatment for the purposes of drug testing.
When the Nevada State Athletic Commission administered the pre-fight examination Friday afternoon, they gave Pacquiao a questionnaire. Question No. 6 asked if he had any injuries to your shoulders, elbows or hands that require examination, and the fighter checked no, the commissions executive director Bob Bennett told USA TODAY Sports on Monday.
In fact, Bennett says the commission wasnt aware of any injury until Pacquiaos team asked for the Toradol injection (as well as Lidocaine, a numbing agent) at approximately 6:08 p.m. PT on fight night.
According to Bennett, Top Rank then alleged that USADA had provided documentation that informed the commission of the shoulder injury, but he says they never received such information. Bennett says he contacted USADA sport testing and resources director Andy Morrison to ask if any emails were sent regarding the injury, and Morrison said he hadnt.
The commission then interviewed Pacquiaos physicians who advised that his health and safety would not be at risk if he fought without the injection. Manny then assured the commission that his shoulder felt fine and strong, and it was not bothering him and that he was ready to fight, per Bennett.
Pacquiao was also interviewed by the commissions physicians at the Friday weigh-in and informed them of no problems with his shoulders. According to the record, his strength appeared equal in both arms and he had full range of motion in his shoulders. That information in addition to his denial of a shoulder injury on the questionnaire led the commission to disallow the injections.
Following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao revealed that he fought with a bum right shoulder.
Turns out its more serious than expected.
On Monday night, Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache told ESPN that Pacquiao has a significant tear that requires surgery and will be out nine to 12 months.
The injury, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach said Saturday, affected the ability to throw his patented right hook. Roach said he even considered postponing the bout after learning of the injury approximately 2 1/2 weeks prior to fight night.
In a joint statement released earlier Monday, Pacquiao and Top Rank elaborated on the injury:
Manny went to see world-class doctors, partners in the prestigious Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who performed tests and, in consultation with Manny, his promoter, and his advisors, concluded that with short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.
After consulting with doctors, Pacquiaos team decided on Toradol, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, as pre-fight treatment. Pacquiaos advisors then contacted the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the group responsible for overseeing agreed upon random drug testing. After speaking with Pacquiaos doctors twice and investigating, USADA approved the proposed treatment (for training and fight night) in writing.
Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100 percent. in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors, Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his pre-fight treatment.
However, USADA doesnt oversee the regulation of fights and is not a governing body. The group simply approved the treatment for the purposes of drug testing.
When the Nevada State Athletic Commission administered the pre-fight examination Friday afternoon, they gave Pacquiao a questionnaire. Question No. 6 asked if he had any injuries to your shoulders, elbows or hands that require examination, and the fighter checked no, the commissions executive director Bob Bennett told USA TODAY Sports on Monday.
In fact, Bennett says the commission wasnt aware of any injury until Pacquiaos team asked for the Toradol injection (as well as Lidocaine, a numbing agent) at approximately 6:08 p.m. PT on fight night.
According to Bennett, Top Rank then alleged that USADA had provided documentation that informed the commission of the shoulder injury, but he says they never received such information. Bennett says he contacted USADA sport testing and resources director Andy Morrison to ask if any emails were sent regarding the injury, and Morrison said he hadnt.
The commission then interviewed Pacquiaos physicians who advised that his health and safety would not be at risk if he fought without the injection. Manny then assured the commission that his shoulder felt fine and strong, and it was not bothering him and that he was ready to fight, per Bennett.
Pacquiao was also interviewed by the commissions physicians at the Friday weigh-in and informed them of no problems with his shoulders. According to the record, his strength appeared equal in both arms and he had full range of motion in his shoulders. That information in addition to his denial of a shoulder injury on the questionnaire led the commission to disallow the injections.