Perhaps it’s just me, but lately I’ve found myself increasingly more able to relate to the John Coffey (Michael Clark Duncan) sentiment expressed in this movie excerpt from the film “The Green Mile”.

The Times of London reports that news celebrity Piers Morgan is throwing in the towel and has announced plans to quit his CNN show, stating that his vigorous anti-gun stance alienated “a vast swath of his audience… we have taken a bath in the ratings…..”

Hmmm.  It’s almost like choices have consequences.  Sometimes significant financial ones.

“Three years after he launched himself on an unsuspecting American public as a prime-time interrogator of politicians and celebrities, Piers Morgan has admitted defeat in the nightly ratings battle and plans to step down from his CNN show.

The former tabloid editor, who has transformed himself into a cable news personality, said that dwindling viewing figures and an anti-gun campaign that alienated a vast swath of his audience had led him to conclude that his show had “run its course”.

“It’s been a painful period and lately we have taken a bath in the ratings,”…

Buh-bye, Piers.  DLTDHYOTWO.  😉

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/medianews/article4014060.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2014_02_23

The Wall Street Journal has a cool comparative feature on a photo of Freedom Square in Kiev, Ukraine.   The photograph compares 2009 to 2014

One of the neat features is the photo is interactive.   CLICK HERE to check it out.

Just when you think the Trayvon Martin story has apex’d away from insufferable you read something blood boiling LIKE THIS MIT media research study, replete with Ryan Julison interview smarm, and the blood pressure cuff needs another replacement.

Martin’s family was able to enlist the legal services of civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump on a pro bono basis. Crump had taken on a previous civil rights case and failed to convict, which he attributed to an inadequate media strategy prior to the trial itself (Caputo, 2012). Crump brought on local lawyer Natalie Jackson, who enlisted the pro bono services of publicist Ryan Julison.

Julison’s pitch did not emphasize the racial element to the story, but underscored agreed upon facts: a neighborhood watch vigilante, who was carrying a gun, shot an unarmed teenager, and was not arrested. Julison was particularly struck by the fact that a neighborhood watch captain would be carrying a firearm with no training of any kind other than a concealed weapons permit (Julison, 2012). Our manual analysis of stories confirmed that this detail had not appeared in most of the local coverage following Martin’s death. Later, Crump, when interviewed about the case, introduced racial framing around the story as the national media began to pay attention (Boedeker and Comas, 2012).  (link)

(more…)

In Austin Texas a woman was jogging.  Police claim she J-walked while jogging so they forcibly stopped her, handcuffed her and demanded id.

She did not have id in her skimpy jogging outfit, so they arrested her for “failure to identify”.

The Texas cops put her in a police car, took her to jail, booked her, mug shot, finger-prints etc., for J-walking and jogging without identification.

A guy across the street saw the whole thing and thought it was ridiculous.  He recorded the incident and took pictures.

Then the general public began using social media to express their outrage.

Unfazed by the action of his police officers, and profoundly unapologetic, the Austin Police Chief, Art Acevedo, told the media the jogger should be grateful the Austin Police Dept didn’t rape her.

(more…)

Very clever, Sochi 😉 #CBCOlympics #ClosingCeremony #sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/IhwIvpUkcR

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 23, 2014

Article about Closing Olympic Ceremony Humor – HERE

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, I didn’t have to undergo the tough times and conditions that my dad did, with no electricity until 1948, and no indoor plumbing until long after he had left home.  I did grow up in a much simpler and more carefree time than my grandchildren today.

One of the things that sticks with me even today, is how our parents let us explore.  In the summers, after some breakfast, I would get on my bike and head for town.  The city limit was just about a half-mile away, but we were “country kids”.  We rode the bus to school.

I would head straight for the Little League park.  I knew that there would be a passel of friends there no later than about 9:00 every day.  We would pick teams and just start playing baseball.  Visions of the greats of our time in our heads.  Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, and even some from our beloved Chicago Cubs, like Billy Williams and the great Ron Santo.  It was always two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning when each of us was up to bat.  You could hear the radio announcers in your head.  The dulcet tones of Vince Lloyd and Lou Boudreau making the call.  Sometimes we were the hero, and on more than a few occasions, it happened.  Steeee-rike three!  You’re out’a here.  I can’t remember how many World Series rings I won and lost. (more…)

Caracas (AFP) – President Nicolas Maduro said Saturday that remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry on the unrest in Venezuela gave violent groups a “green light” to carry out attacks. In a tweet, Maduro also slammed the remarks made by Kerry late Friday as “arrogant” and “insolent.”

“John Kerry threatens Venezuela with more violence, with his statements gives the green light to violent groups to attack our people,” Maduro wrote.

The top US diplomat on Friday condemned Venezuela’s “unacceptable” use of force against anti-government protesters, and declined to respond to a call from Caracas for bilateral talks. (more…)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Suffolk County, Long Island, NY

Suffolk County Police responded to an emergency call at the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington Station, New York.  1 person is declared deceased, and 29 additional persons have been overcome with what is believed to be carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

First responders on the scene were among those sickened and sent to hospital.

As a precautionary measure, the Legal Seafood, CheeseCake factory and Panera restaurants were evacuated…

Developing ….

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/5-Overcome-by-Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning-at-Walt-Whitman-Mall-Restaurants-Evacuated-246717101.html