Neighbors Outraged as Man Kills Deer with Bow and Arrow in Monrovia (VIDEO)

It's not like deer are an endangered species or anything, although I can see why neighbors might be a little upset. Why not just leave the little Bambi alone?

Watch, at CBS News 2 Los Angeles, "Caught on Camera: Hunter Kills Deer with Bow And Arrow to 'Put It Out of Its Misery'."

And at the Pasadena Star-News, "Video: Man shoots deer with arrow in Monrovia neighborhood."

New White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci Cancels Politicon Appearance

I think he's got enough on his plate, rather than fly out to Pasadena for this cattle call.

You can always go see Ann Coulter's shtick, heh.

At LAT, "Anthony Scaramucci cancels weekend appearances at Politicon convention in Pasadena."

Keith Jackson Returns to the Rose Bowl

Jackson's last broadcast was the Rose Bowl 2006, which was the national championship game that year, Texas vs. USC. I can't forget that game. USC was so close. Arrghh!

In any case, Jackson, who called games with ABC Sports from 1986 to 2006, is attending today, the first (full) game he's attended since retiring.

At LAT:

A college football icon comes home: Keith Jackson returns to the Rose Bowl game, just not in the broadcast booth https://t.co/Vgi1Vh4P5k pic.twitter.com/ZsInNQ2n8O

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) January 2, 2017

Heading Out for the Dana Loesch Book Signing at Politicon

I'll be spending the day in Pasadena at Politicon, which is supposed to be "the Comic-con of politics."

Here's the full write-up at the Riverside Press-Enterprise, "ELECTION 2016: Meet Politicon, the Comic-Con of politics":

Politicon is unique not only in its approach to politics, but who’s in the lineup. Conservative icons like Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck will share the same buildings and sometimes the same stage as outspoken liberals like Cenk Uygur and Democratic talking heads like James Carville and Paul Begala.

Throw in high-profile politicians -- California Sen. Barbara Boxer, former Mexican President Vicente Fox and a possible Hillary Clinton running mate are scheduled to attend -- artwork displays, live podcast tapings, comedic performances, film screenings and book signings and you get a non-partisan event intended to be a political junkie’s nirvana...

Here's video from last year, "Highlights of Politicon 2015, Held in Los Angeles."

And check the website.

Here's Dana's bio from the lineup page:

Dana Loesch hosts her award-winning, nationally syndicated daily radio show, The Dana Show: The Conservative Alternative from Dallas, Texas where she also hosts “Dana” on The Blaze television network. Dana appears regularly on Fox News, ABC, CNN, among others, and has co-hosted on “The View.” She describes herself as a “conservatarian.”

Dana’s original brand of young, punk-rock, conservative irreverence has found a fast-growing audience in multiple mediums. Dana is listed in the top 40 of Talkers Magazine‘s top 100 “heavy hitters” and was named Missouri’s #1 Radio Personality in 2014. A former award-winning newspaper columnist (and notable blogger since 2001), Dana was ranked as one of the top 16 most powerful mothers online by Neilsen and one of the top 30 Under 30 according to the St. Louis Business Journal. Dana was the 2012 winner of Accuracy In Media’s Grassroots Journalism award as well as the inaugural Breitbart Spirit Award. Dana was one of the original Breitbart editors selected by her late friend and mentor, Andrew Breitbart, to head what was BigJournalism.com and helped break the Anthony Weiner scandal before departing in 2012. Her Best Selling book on gun control, Hands Off My Gun: Defeating the Plot to Disarm America is on shelves now and is turning the tide in the gun debate. Mark Levin wrote of her book that it, “Obliterates every baseless argument made against the Second Amendment.” Sean Hannity quipped, “Buy this book before someone tries to ban it.” Michelle Malkin states, “WARNING: This book is explosive! Mother, wife, New Media warrior and political sharpshooter Dana Loesch confronts the ultimate war on women: gun control.”

Dana co-founded the tea party movement in St. Louis and speaks regularly on the subject of new media, gun control, anti-feminism, and grassroots. A native Missourian, she and her family now live in Texas.

I'm almost half way done with her new book, Flyover Nation. I just started reading it on Thursday, and I've been busy running around this last couple of days too. It's a quick read. Dana's a fabulous writer!

In any case, more blogging tonight or in the morning.

Have a great day!

Threat of Jihad Attacks Brings Highest Security in History of Rose Parade

Following-up from the other day, "Authorities Say Police Officers to Carry Bigger Guns at Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Festivities (VIDEO)."

At LAT, "San Bernardino attack casts shadow over Rose Parade; heavy security evident":

The Rose Parade got underway Friday amid tightened security and in the shadow of a terrorist attack less than a month ago that left 14 dead in San Bernardino.

Law enforcement officials increased security for this year's parade but stressed there was no specific threat against the event.

"We do have strong visible presence. There is plenty of security," said Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez on Friday morning. "We have state, federal and local officers all along the route. There are bomb-sniffing canines, rapid response teams and other less visible resources ready for anything."

Some parade-goers said the extra measures made a difference to them.

As Sanchez spoke a federal agent stood near a stand with a bomb-sniffing dog.

"It is nice to see the dogs," said Tom Kotter with his wife, Margie, from Cincinnati, who were attending their first parade. "It is reassuring. Obviously security is tight. How far is San Bernardino, like 50 miles?"

Elsewhere in Pasadena, people said the San Bernardino shootings were on their minds.

Angela Brown aimed to cash in on Rose Parade all-nighters with an eye-catching hand-painted wooden sign propped up in front of her home near the corner of East Colorado Boulevard and North Bonnie Avenue, an ideal spot to watch the floats drive past. Illuminated with a blinking light, the sign was hard to miss: "Parking $25. DUI $10,000."

But by 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, only one visitor had taken her up on the offer to park their car in Brown's front yard.

"A year ago, I was sold out by 1 p.m. with 10 cars in my yard," said Brown, 40, a veterinary technician. "This year, business is eerily dead, and I think I know why."

"People are afraid -- not of the cold or the traffic or of the trouble finding a place to park near the parade route," she said. "They are afraid of a cocktail of horrible stuff having to do with the terrorist attack in San Bernardino. People are wondering if it is safe or not to come to the Tournament of Roses this year. That's sad."

Gazing at the unusually light crowds on the sidewalk along Colorado Boulevard, she added, "This is most bizarre: there's almost nobody here."

A block away, Valerie Cheng, who has attended all but one Rose Parade over the last 30 years, leaned back in a folding chair and said, "Things are definitely different this year."

"There aren't as many people leaning on their car horns on Colorado Boulevard," she said. "And there aren't as many kids tossing marshmallows and tortillas filled with shaving cream at passing cars."

"It might be because of the terrorist attack," she said. "But, then again, it might be because there's no local team playing in the Rose Bowl this year."

Wrapped in blankets and wearing a heavy overcoat, nearby spectator Chuck Rasmussen, of La Jara, Colo., was more blunt.

"There are a third fewer people along this stretch of the parade than last year," said Rasmussen, a retired high school teacher, who traveled to Pasadena via Amtrak. "It's clearly because people are afraid of terrorism."

"While I was en route on the train, passing through San Bernardino, the terrorist attack did cross my mind," he said. "Gazing out the window, I thought, 'This is where it happened -- and it's not that far from Pasadena.'"

"But then I came to a decision: I'm not going to let it deter me," he said. "The Tournament of Roses is a great American institution."

No sooner had he arrived at the parade route than Rasmussen's wife called with pressing questions...

More.

Rose Parade Skywriters Also Smeared Trump as a 'Fascist Dictator'

Following-up from yesterday, "Trump's Not 'Disgusting' — What's Disgusting is for Leftists to Exploit New Year's to Smear GOP Frontrunner (VIDEO)."

There's more photos at SB Nation, including a picture of the "fascist dictator" smear. See, "Someone is skywriting anti-Donald Trump messages above the Rose Parade." (Via Memeorandum.)

.@iowahawkblog not sure where you're sitting, but new writing: "Trump Is Delusional. Trump Is A Fascist Dictator." pic.twitter.com/szkRrISBJD

— Jeff H (@j_hauser9) January 1, 2016

Also blogging, Ed Driscoll at Instapundit, "POLITICIZING THE ROSE BOWL GAME: “Meet the man behind the ‘Trump is disgusting’ skywriting,” according to CBS."

And Diana West, "Marco Rubio Campaign Donor Behind Anti-Trump Writing In the Sky at Rose Bowl."

And see, at Big Government, "Exclusive — Anti-Trump Air Campaign Donor Stan Pate Denies Connections to 2016 Republicans: ‘This Is All Me’."

Of course he'd deny it. These are leftist attacks. And the link to Marco Rubio's campaign is sickening.

It's Stan Pate, identified at the CBS News report, "Meet the man behind the "Trump is disgusting" skywriting."

Like I said previously, these folks can expect blowback, and it's coming.

Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards

It was their last Rose Parade broadcast for KTLA, after so many years.

At the Los Angeles Times, "Review: Eubanks and Edwards, a Rose Parade tradition we hate to see go":

A half-hour into the 127th Rose Parade, KTLA co-host and New Year's Day icon Bob Eubanks was waxing rhapsodic about the American saddle horse.

Used to draw a Yellowstone tour bus that Scripps Miramar Ranch had sent to the parade to honor the first national park, these horses are, apparently, born with three gaits and taught two more, which Eubanks was just about to explain when longtime co-host Stephanie Edwards broke in.

“Are the three gaits anything like the three types of glue used to put petals on the floats?” she asked, inserting her own famously favorite bit of parade trivia into the commentary.

“OMG,” Eubanks sighed, with his equally signature disdain for the glue.

Edwards then went on to point out some of “our helpful Honda” friends in the crowd, causing Eubanks to gripe: “You interrupted me! I was talking about these horses, they were so beautiful.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said brightly, “you go right on.”

“Aw, they’re gone,” he sighed.

The exchange lasted just a few seconds and as the camera panned from the parade to the commentator’s booth, the two nudged each other and laughed.

“We’ve been fighting for years folks,” Eubanks said, “and it, well, it won’t stop.”

Except, alas, it will.

Jan. 1 marked the last Eubanks and Edwards Rose Parade. The two are retiring after more than 30 years of describing the magic of celery seeds and white coconut sparkles, of exclaiming over the glory of the floats and the hazards of the route, of identifying the various veterans, celebrities and notables waving to the crowds and explaining to national audiences the charms of “really neat” towns like Sierra Madre and Glendale.

We have a year to prepare ourselves, but it probably isn’t enough...

More.

And see, "Rose Parade hosts Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards prepare to banter one last time."

They're both married, but their broadcast relationship is like a second marriage. I would always turn to Channel 5 KTLA to watch the parade, especially because they'd rebroadcast it all day long, and you wouldn't have to wake up at 8:00am to tune in, heh.

They're irreplaceable, but then, all things come to an end at some point, and change is good.

Trump's Not 'Disgusting' — What's Disgusting is for Leftists to Exploit New Year's to Smear GOP Frontrunner (VIDEO)

I was at the Rose Parade this morning.

It's the first time I've ever attended (after all these years, seriously), and I guarantee you the last thing I would've imagined is that I'd be writing this post after a long day of New Year's celebrations. Seems to me the Rose Parade should be relatively politics-free. Sure, it's an old-fashioned cowboy-themed marching-band shindig, but jeez, you think leftists might eschew freakin' skywriting aircraft to smear Donald Trump?

We'd been there for, I guess, about an hour, and all of a sudden all the folks next to me start "oohing" and "awing" while turning around, looking up at the sky. The sun was to our backs so I was basically blinded, but I see the planes skywriting "America is Great." My first thought, since the sun was lined up exactly behind the skywriting, was that the message read "Make America Great Again." But as I looked more closely, I see the planes continue skywriting, streaking the message "Trump is Disgusting" right after "America is Great." So, obviously, some idiot leftists thought they'd be cute and use the New Year's Day setting to score political points, attacking Donald Trump as a "fascist" and a "dictator." I kid you not.

Frankly, I was disgusted.

And I'll tell you, there were a lot of Latinos on the street, and it seemed to me the reception was mixed. Sure, a few people guffawed and hurrahed at the message, but for the most part folks turned back around toward Colorado Boulevard and tried to enjoy their family time amid the festivities. Really, isn't that what it's all about? For us all to be Americans together, for at least one non-partisan day out of the year?

I guess not. Because as soon as we got back to my buddy's house after Pasadena, and we put on KTLA 5 to watch the reruns of the parade, I checked Twitter and Tabitha Bliss was tweeting the big political story of the day, "Skywriters have message for Trump at Rose Parade."

I don't know who paid for the skywriters, but when I find out they're going to be hating life for the rest of this year, because I'm going to make it my business to delegitimize these losers if it's the last thing I do. (ADDED: If it turns out to be Marco Rubio backers, then well, I've really lost my appetite for the Cuban GOP senator from Florida. Talk about blowback.)

In any case, the Hill has the story, via Memeorandum, "Skywriting above Rose Parade: ‘Trump is disgusting’."



Again, I'm really disgusted at this. Bad timing. Bad politics. Bad blood.

Heading Out to the Rose Parade

My young son and I are heading out to Pasadena. One of my old grad school buddies has a parking spot along the parade route, or so I'm told, heh.

Check my Twitter feed for live updates in a couple of hours or so.

And then more blogging later tonight!

Authorities Say Police Officers to Carry Bigger Guns at Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Festivities (VIDEO)

Well, we've got seemingly unprecedented anti-terror preparations taking place all over world, so why would Pasadena be any different.

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

Brown Bear Goes for Swim in La Cañada Pool

La Cañada's up by Pasadena. It's hotter than hell up there, and lots of mountains.

Watch, at CBS News 2 Los Angeles, "Bear Takes Dip In Pool of La Cañada Flintridge Home."

Thousands Brave Bitter Cold for 126th Rose Parade

At the Los Angeles Times:

Ronni Edens bobbed her head as a marching band passed. She's been coming to the parade for more than 30 years, and paused as she tried to nail down her favorite part.

While she was brainstorming, she waved at a man on a passing float. "Happy New Year!" he shouted.

She yelled it back.

"That's the best part," Edens said. "The best part is saying 'Happy New Year' to everyone, even though they're strangers. It's the best way to start a year."

A.J. McCarron's Mom Disses Jameis Winston's Speech on Twitter: 'Am I Listening to English?'

She deleted the tweet, apparently, but not before it was favorited by hottie girlfriend Katherine Webb.

At the Orlando Sentinel, "Jameis Winston tweet: A.J. McCarron's mom apologizes."

At London's Daily Mail, "'Am I listening to English?' Fury as A.J. McCarron's mom takes to Twitter after Jameis Winston's post-game interview - and girlfriend Katherine Webb 'favorites' another insult."

Florida State Levonte Whitfield 100-Yard Kickoff Return — #BCSChampionship

What a game.

At LAT, "BCS championship game: Auburn vs. Florida State live updates":

That seven-year Southeastern Conference stranglehold on college football's national championship has come to an end.

But it died hard.

Very hard.

Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston was outplayed by Auburn counterpart Nick Marshall for three quarters, but the Florida State redshirt freshman showed why he was considered the nation's top player, bringing Florida State back in the final minutes for a 34-31 victory in the Bowl Championship Series title game at the Rose Bowl.

A crowd of 94,208 witnessed it, and 10 times that many will say they were there.

Winston connected with Kevin Benjamin on a two-yard pass just above the outstretched arms of Auburn's Chris Davis with 13 seconds left for the game-winner.

Winston, the first freshman quarterback to lead his team to a national championship, completed 20 of 35 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He also run for 26 yards in 11 carries.

His pass to Benjamin capped a furious final few minutes.

Auburn led, 24-20, after a 23-yard field goal by Cody Parkey with 4:42 left.

That lead lasted 11 seconds -- as long as it took Florida State freshman Levonte "Kermit" Whitfield to sprint 100 yards with the kickoff.

But Auburn came right back with a 37-yard touchdown run by Tre Mason to regain the lead, 31-27. Mason, a Heisman Trophy finalist, finished with 195 yards in 34 carries.

All that did was set it up for Winston's heroics.

He cooly drove Florida State 80 yards in seven plays, the big gain coming on a short pass that Rashad Greene turned into a 49-yard gain.

Green caught the ball in the right flat, split two Auburn defenders, and raced down the sideline.

Five plays later -- on the second play after an untimely Florida State penalty for delay of game -- Winston found Benjamin. Florida State got a pass interference call on the next play, however -- Davis was called for being over Green's back -- moving the ball to the two with a first down.

Top-ranked Florida State capped a 14-0 season. Auburn fell to 12-2 in the final game of the BCS era.

Butthole Bangers on Parade: In-Your-Face Homosexuals Defile Tournament of Roses

I don't think Robin Abcarian gets it --- and that's pretty surprising, considering how well the Duck Dynasty deal turned out for the GLAAD ayatollahs.

Here's her piece, "Relax. Rose Parade gay marriage float is not the apocalypse":

Breaking: Sky still intact after gay wedding on Rose Parade float. Mazel Tov to the grooms! pic.twitter.com/ueUdY4vVRu
— Robin Abcarian (@robinabcarian) January 1, 2014

A commenter named Angela Wingenroth, who identified herself as a stay-at-home mother, vowed not to allow her daughters to watch the parade:

"We don't care what the states say about it -- God is clear that this isn't right and I will NOT have this SHOVED DOWN MY CHILDREN’S THROATS!! The intolerance is theirs. They will not accept peoples' objections to their lifestyle -- you HAVE to accept that it's not just ok, but GOOD or you're a bigot! If they want to get ‘married,’ that's their choice, but my kids don't need to see it.”

Putting aside the twisted logic of accusing someone of intolerance because they are intolerant of your intolerance, I think I can put Wingenroth’s fears to rest.

As it turns out, the gay marriage float, sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is not a “featured float” with microphones. Most people who see it in person will only hear the Indigo Girls song “Power of Two” emanating from its speakers.

As for the actual wedding ceremony? It will be on camera for just 15 seconds, when the float passes in front of the KTLA-TV cameras, at precisely 9:44:50 a.m. Pacific time.

At that moment, Aubrey Loots, 42, and Danny Leclair, 45, who own a chain of Los Angeles hair salons, will be joined in holy matrimony by the Rev. Alfreda “Freda” Lanoix. A lesbian couple, Sharon Raphael and Mina Meyer, who have been together for 42 years and married in California in 2008, will serve as witnesses.

In other words, Ms. Wingenroth, blink and you and your daughters will miss the wedding.

Again, Duck Dynasty shows it's not "twisted logic." Millions of Americans are tired of in-your-face homosexuality. And they're tired of being harassed as "bigots" if they dare express their disagreement with such objectively depraved behavior.

And notice something else here: The Los Angeles Times makes sure to announce how the homosexual wedding went off without a hitch, with a photo of the lucky homos getting married, "Same-sex wedding occurs without incident on Rose Parade float." But the truly big story is how many leftist protesters were arrested while demonstrating against Sea World's parade float. Twitchy has that, "PETA protests Sea World float at Rose Bowl Parade; 17 arrested." I guess that doesn't fit with the left's "radical right-wing" narrative, or something. Pathetic.

PETA tweets fotos of arrest after protesting SeaWorld RoseParade float http://t.co/zdktSoL01w @sarahbatcha #blackfish pic.twitter.com/mPIooJkE4K
— OrcaSOS (@OrcaSOS) January 1, 2014

Homosexuals to Marry on Rose Parade Float — DURING THE ROSE PARADE!

I was just saying how great New Year's Day is in Southern California, although now parents will have to keep their kids from watching television as they try to preserve a little basic decency.

Who organized this bull? My God it's freakin' depraved.

At LAT, "Gay couple to marry on Rose Parade float."

And from the Mad Jewess, "“GAY” FASCISM -- Me & Mine REFUSE to Watch Militant LGBT FAGS Marry at Rose Bowl Parade."

More at ABC 10News San Diego, "San Diego woman calls for boycott of Rose Parade over plans for live gay wedding":

SAN DIEGO - In a Tournament of Roses Parade first, two men will exchange vows live on a parade float, but a San Diego woman isn't happy about the parade's plans for the same-sex nuptials.

Karen Grube has called for a boycott of the annual Tournament of Roses parade over plans for two men to be married on top one of the parade's 46 floats on Jan. 1.

Grube told 10News the traditional family event is not the place for political agenda, and she said, "Growing up and being a part of that whole tradition in Pasadena was just incredible."

Grube said whether you're for same-sex marriage or not, the wedding is a slap to those that don't support it and the 30 states that haven't approved it.

"My stand is mainly to support the voters of California who have said no to this," said Grube.

Grube created a Facebook page asking people to not attend or watch the parade. She also has called parade sponsors asking them to pull their support from the parade, which draws a global audience of about 68 million viewers annually.

"It's an in-your-face political statement; it really is." said Grube, who has contacted the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nonprofit group that organizes the parade.

In a statement, AHF President Michael Weinstein said boycotters should respect the law of the land and denied the organization is making a political statement saying, "Like all of our sponsors and float designers, AHF continues to help make the Rose Parade a premier event through original and creative expressions that connect to parade themes -- as this float does."

Grube is not alone, as Save California, an organization that promotes what it calls moral traditional values, has called on people to protest the parade.

Also atAmericans for Truth About Homosexuality, "Rose Parade’s Homosexual ‘Wedding’ Float Corrupts Children – AFTAH’s Seven Lessons for Christians."

Nothing Matches the Rose Bowl

When I was a kid, New Year's Day made me proud to be a Southern Californian --- especially because of the Rose Bowl. Pasadena was the center of the universe on that day, and back in the '70s, USC almost always played. Running back Anthony Davis was a household name. It's just tradition if you're from around here.

I'm reminiscing now with this excellent report at the Los Angeles Times, "For the best in bowls, the subject is Roses":

A popular national radio host, not from the West, recently wondered out loud why the Rose Bowl was so special. He should have asked Art Spander, the longtime Bay Area sports columnist, who this week will celebrate his 61st straight trip to the Rose Bowl.

Spander, 75, has attended every Rose Bowl since 1954.

The streak started innocently enough, when Spander was a boy growing up in Los Angeles and his father suggested Art could make extra money selling programs at the Rose Bowl.

Spander says he earned 10 bucks during Michigan State's victory over UCLA in the 1954 game. He kept the streak alive as a student at UCLA and then, for more than five decades, as a sportswriter in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

"I just think sitting there is the greatest thing in the world," Spander said during a recent phone interview. "Watching the sun start to set about 4 o'clock, and the shadows falling, with the game going on. It's a great place to be. "

The Rose Bowl is special, first and foremost, because it was first. In fact, it was the only bowl game for decades.

RTWT. It's great.

Pasadena's Cliff's Bookstore Closes: Was One of the Many That Once Lined East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena

These are changing times.

I'm always a little surprised to see independent book sellers these days. I'd never been to Cliff's, although I've made trips to Vroman's Books right there on Colorado Blvd.

At the Los Angeles Times, "Pasadena's Cliff's Books closes up shop":

Bookstores thrived in the Playhouse district in the late 1990s. Vroman's, Super Crown, Borders, Barnes & Noble and four used book stores all made their home along a few blocks of Colorado. Today, only Vroman's, Barnes & Noble and one used book store remain.

Not only is it a tough market for booksellers, the Playhouse district has gentrified in the last decade, making it harder for quirky stores like Cliff's to compete with increasing numbers of big box stores. "Mom and pop stores are going out; you got franchise businesses coming in," said Don Cotten, manager at Angels School Supply, just a couple of doors down from Cliff's.