As Robert Spencer noted, vehicular jihad has come to Manhattan, after stops in Nice, London, Edmonton and other places. The Muslim Sayfullo Saipov killed eight and wounded a dozen innocents by running them over with a rental truck, the first fatalities in that area since other jihadists crashed hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center, claiming some 3,000 lives.
That prompted cheers from Muslims living in New Jersey, also home to Sayfullo Saipov. The jubilant jihadist, a 29-year-old Uzbek, acted on behalf of the Islamic State, which in turn is part of something much larger. Call it the Islamschluss, a global surge that should put things in perspective.
The West and the United States are dealing with a supremacist, expansionist religion that seeks to annex the entire world by any means necessary, especially violence. As in Austria, which the Nazis took over in 1938, the Islamschluss finds willing collaborators, like the weasely Herr Zeller in The Sound of Music. In America, the collaborators bring in Muslims by any means necessary, such as the “diversity visa” of Sayfullo Saipov.
The Diversity Visa program, launched by New York Senator Chuck Schumer in 1990, makes 50,000 visas available, on a random basis, to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Sayfullo Saipov is one of the lottery winners, though what he has to do with “diversity” is a mystery. Uzbekistan is part of the Caucuses region, so he’s a genuine Caucasian, like the Tsarnaev brothers who bombed the Boston Marathon.
Saipov had no skill America needs, but the Diversity Visa program is all about bringing in people America doesn’t need. The United States abounds in truck drivers and cab drivers, and has no need for Uzbek jihadists to perform those tasks.
Likewise, the United States abounds in Information Technology specialists, but congressional Democrats such as Debbie Wasserman Schultz chose to bring in Pakistani-born Muslim Imran Awan. He wasn’t very good at his job but Awan did prove adept at ripping off massive amounts of data from Democrats on the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees, and stashing it on a server controlled by Xavier Becerra, once on Hillary Clinton’s short list as a running mate.
Nobody seems to know what became of the data. Even so, the Democrats not only kept paying Imran Awan but brought in other members of his family, not exactly models of competence and propriety. So it’s clear that the Islamschluss has already annexed strategic territory in Congress and also made inroads in the military.
Those who join the United States Army pledge to defend the United States against all enemies. Major Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, openly identified himself as a “Soldier of Allah,” but nobody saw that as a reason to boot him out, even though he was communicating with jihadist Anwar al-Awlaki about killing Americans.
The authorities had his communications with the terrorist but did nothing to stop Hasan from killing 13 and wounding more than 30 at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009. Like Sayfullo Saipov, Hasan yelled “Allahu Akbar,” as he killed. Even so, the 44th President of the United States called the mass murder “workplace violence,” not even gun violence. He declined to meet with wounded victims of Hasan’s attack, such as Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford, who took seven bullets from the “Soldier of Allah.” Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 but still awaits execution.
The President Formerly Known as Barry Soetoro also traded jihadis Khirullah Said Wali Khairkhwa, Mullah Mohammad Fazi, Mullah Norullah Noori, Abdul Haq Wasiq, and Mohammed Nabi Omari, all Taliban commanders, for deserter Bowe Bergdahl. It was like trading Private Slovik for the German high command, but no surprise.
In the ongoing Islamschluss, the previous president shapes up as collaborator-in-chief. He went to a “predominantly Muslim” school in Indonesia and told the world the future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam. So no surprise he can’t say “Islamic” and “terrorism” in the same sentence.
Likewise, the politically correct lack the guts to criticize Islamic savagery of the kind on display in New York. Their intellectual self-beheading renders them unable to distinguish fact from fiction, friends from enemies, and sensible immigration policies from what amounts to an Islamschluss.
Uzbekistan, a huge former Soviet republic, should be only a destination for Muslims, particularly Muslim refugees. As jihadist Sayfullo Saipov’s murder spree confirms, Uzbekistan is not a good source for immigrants to the United States. For the time being, a good ballpark figure for visas would be zero.
President Trump would do well to toughen vetting and extend the travel ban. The president should also end the Diversity Visa program, the collaborators’ highway for troops of the Islamschluss like Sayfullo Saipov. The time has come to take back the territory they have already annexed in government, the military and on the streets of America.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
How Leftists Aid the Jihadis' Deadly Cause
Great, great piece, from Sultan Knish, at FrontPage Magazine, "The Unholy Alliance's central role in the Halloween Massacre":
Epic Police Partnership Ends
This is really cool.
At LAT, "After nearly 30 years patrolling together, these two LAPD officers end an epic partnership":
At LAT, "After nearly 30 years patrolling together, these two LAPD officers end an epic partnership":
The cops have patrolled together for more than 28 years, one behind the wheel, the other riding shotgun, scanning the streets of northeast Los Angeles for signs of trouble.More.
Both are bald with mustaches, as set in their ways as a married couple. Duarte, the smoother talker, is first to approach a suspect or defuse a tense situation. Marinelli, whose "aw shucks" demeanor masks a sly wit, hangs back to stand guard.
They are friendly or fearsome, depending on what they think you deserve. Homeless people and street vendors get a pass. Car thieves do not. Their adversaries call them Los Dobermans, the Doublemint Twins, Heckle and Jeckle.
In the Los Angeles Police Department, partners typically last a year or two in the same car. Sometimes, working styles clash. More often, someone gets transferred or promoted. A decade together is long, three unheard of.
Patrolling in Cypress Park on a late afternoon last fall, they recall the tragedy and mayhem they have seen on these streets. They point to the alley where Marinelli fatally shot an armed man in 1993. Around the corner on Bank Street two years later, a 3-year-old girl was killed by gang members.
This is one of the last days Harold Marinelli and J.C. Duarte will work together. Marinelli is leaving for knee surgery, then retirement.
"I'm always right, and he's always wrong," Marinelli says.
"I always let him think he's right — just like my wife," Duarte responds.
In June 1988, when the two young police officers climbed into a black-and-white for the first time, their chemistry was immediate. They were the same kind of cop, itching for a caper, obsessed with catching car thieves. No need for promotions or to check out other stations. All they wanted was to work Northeast Division together.
Supervisors tried to break them up. They resisted. Once, they joined a vice squad to avoid being paired with novice cops. When they returned to patrol, they took a demotion, losing two stripes and 5% of their pay to stay together.
Spending all day, every day cooped up in a car with the wrong person can be hellish. One officer wants to run after a suspect while the other insists on summoning reinforcements. One may power through a whole shift without a break, while the other gets cranky without his customary burger stop. In a dangerous situation, partners move in an improvised choreography, wordlessly reading each other's intentions.
"If you don't gel, you can hardly wait for that day to get done," says Jack Richter, a sergeant in media relations, whose longest pairing lasted two years.
Like a good marriage, a good police partnership can thrive off differences. Duarte, 53, speaks Spanish and is better at writing reports. Marinelli, 58, is the quiet one who notices the detail others miss — the one that leads to the bad guy.
Duarte is a meticulous record-keeper, jotting down every hour of overtime the partners have worked. A black binder holds mug shots of every person they have arrested — page after page of scowling photographs, a rogues' gallery of northeast Los Angeles.
There was the suspected robber who led them on a car chase in 1998; the woman they arrested almost a dozen times for drug offenses in the early 2000s before she turned her life around; the boxer known as "Eddie the Animal," whose freedom ended when the partners spotted him in Highland Park on Jan. 3, 2006, and arrested him on a burglary and robbery warrant.
At the station, they are the Baldies, who pepper roll calls with jokes and are admired for their old-fashioned "obs skills" — the ability to size up a situation at a glance.
A few years ago, the partners were driving around Cypress Park, looking to pick up some overtime, when they spotted a man molesting his niece in a parked car. They later took the girl to Disneyland...
Disney Bans Los Angeles Times from Film Screenings in Retaliation for Newspaper's Coverage of Disney's Relationship with City of Anaheim
Here's the September story on the Disney Company's cozy relationship with Anaheim, "Is Disney paying its fair share in Anaheim?"
Disney's retaliating against the paper. See, at Deadline, "Disney Putting Hammer Down on Los Angeles Times Writers."
And today, at LAT, "A note to readers":
It's hard out there, lol.
Disney's retaliating against the paper. See, at Deadline, "Disney Putting Hammer Down on Los Angeles Times Writers."
And today, at LAT, "A note to readers":
The annual Holiday Movie Sneaks section published by the Los Angeles Times typically includes features on movies from all major studios, reflecting the diversity of films Hollywood offers during the holidays, one of the busiest box-office periods of the year. This year, Walt Disney Co. studios declined to offer The Times advance screenings, citing what it called unfair coverage of its business ties with Anaheim. The Times will continue to review and cover Disney movies and programs when they are available to the public.Also at WaPo, via Mediagaze (safe link), "Disney declined to offer LA Times entertainment writers advance film screenings claiming unfair coverage of its ties with Anaheim."
It's hard out there, lol.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Shop Deals
At Amazon, Today's Deals.
And especially, AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, LED Light, 35% Carbamide Peroxide, (2) 5ml Gel.
More, Electric Toothbrush, Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries Black Electronic Power Rechargeable Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity.
Also, Black & Decker WP900 6-Inch Random Orbit Waxer/Polisher.
Here, Meguiar's G18216 Ultimate Liquid Wax - 16 oz. Size: 16 Ounce.
Still more, Paul Mitchell Super Strong Daily Shampoo and Conditioner Liter Duo Set 33.8 Oz.
And, Java Planet - Good Morning USDA Organic Coffee Beans, Medium Roast, Arabica Gourmet Coffee Grade A, packaged in two 1 LB bags.
Plus, Sweet Sweat Performance Jump Rope by Sports Research | Adjustable-length rope for fitness and speed training - Includes bonus Sweet Sweat Gel Sample!
More here, Aquafina Water, 16.9 oz (Pack of 24).
BONUS: Victor Sebestyen, Lenin: The Man, the Dictator, and the Master of Terror (out Tuesday).
And especially, AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, LED Light, 35% Carbamide Peroxide, (2) 5ml Gel.
More, Electric Toothbrush, Oral-B Pro 7000 SmartSeries Black Electronic Power Rechargeable Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity.
Also, Black & Decker WP900 6-Inch Random Orbit Waxer/Polisher.
Here, Meguiar's G18216 Ultimate Liquid Wax - 16 oz. Size: 16 Ounce.
Still more, Paul Mitchell Super Strong Daily Shampoo and Conditioner Liter Duo Set 33.8 Oz.
And, Java Planet - Good Morning USDA Organic Coffee Beans, Medium Roast, Arabica Gourmet Coffee Grade A, packaged in two 1 LB bags.
Plus, Sweet Sweat Performance Jump Rope by Sports Research | Adjustable-length rope for fitness and speed training - Includes bonus Sweet Sweat Gel Sample!
More here, Aquafina Water, 16.9 oz (Pack of 24).
BONUS: Victor Sebestyen, Lenin: The Man, the Dictator, and the Master of Terror (out Tuesday).
For the Dodgers, Lots of Talent But No Guarantees
The latest on the loser Dodgers. Oh, what a bummer was Game 7.
At the Los Angeles Times, "Dodgers have decisions to make in quest for World Series return":
At the Los Angeles Times, "Dodgers have decisions to make in quest for World Series return":
Dodgers have decisions to make in quest for World Series return https://t.co/hOqCsqkbIA pic.twitter.com/7edYGvmW3h
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) November 3, 2017
His eyes gleaming, his season over, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen stood before a crowd of reporters and issued a declaration.More.
"This team is not going to give up," Jansen said. "We're going to bring a championship back to L.A. I promise you that."
On any day before Wednesday — on Feb. 1 or July 1 or Oct. 1 — the words would have sounded like a pledge. But Jansen spoke on Nov. 1, minutes after his team lost to the Houston Astros in the seventh game of the World Series. In moments like these, all proclamations ring hollow.
The 2017 Dodgers won 104 regular-season games and accumulated enough accolades to fill a trophy case — a fifth National League West title, the best regular-season record since leaving Brooklyn, the team’s first National League pennant since 1988 — yet they headed into the winter without reaching the last goal on their checklist. They stood at the base of the summit, but could not reach the top. As the players packed for the winter, they struggled to acknowledge how difficult it might be to get back.
“I’m not really thinking about next year,” pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. “We all know the team we’re going to have coming back.”
The collection of talent does not guarantee a return to the Fall Classic. Houston assembled a similarly youthful roster. There will be healthy challenges from the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals in the National League, while the New York Yankees appear to be a budding force in the American League, along with the Cleveland Indians. And history does not appear to be on the Dodgers’ side.
No team has won back-to-back championships since the Yankees captured three in a row from 1998 to 2000. Since 2000, four teams have appeared in the World Series in consecutive seasons: the 2000-2001 Yankees, 2008-2009 Philadelphia Phillies, 2010-2011 Texas Rangers and the 2014-2015 Kansas City Royals.
Only the Royals won a title in their return engagement — after falling in Game 7 the year before to San Francisco. Kansas City leaned on that agony throughout the following season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested his players could find similar motivation.
"I know our guys and I know that there won't be a hangover," Roberts said. "They will be more incentivized, and I think they'll be hungrier."
Except baseball does not always reward its best. The Indians blew a 3-1 lead in the World Series to the Cubs last October. Focused on atoning, the Indians raced to the best record in the American League this season. Yet they still fell in the first round to the Yankees.
When the heartache subsides, the Dodgers will still enter the offseason in an enviable position. They support the game's largest payroll and run a well-stocked farm system. The overwhelming majority of their roster can return for 2018, and the front office may choose to make only cosmetic changes to the composition of this group...
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Today's Shopping
At Amazon, Gold Box Deals.
And especially, Samsung Electronics UN65MU8000 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model).
Plus, KIND Breakfast Bars, Peanut Butter, Gluten Free, 1.8 Ounce, 32 Count.
Still more, CLIF BAR - Energy Bar - Crunchy Peanut Butter - (2.4 Ounce Protein Bar, 12 Count).
Also, Westmark Germany Multipurpose Stainless Steel Cheese and Food Slicer with Board and Adjustable Thickness Dial (White).
Here, Koffee Kult Medium Roast Coffee Beans, Highest Quality Delicious Coffee, Artisan Blend Freshly Roasted, Whole Bean, 16oz Packaging May Vary.
BONUS: Gordon Wood, Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
And especially, Samsung Electronics UN65MU8000 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model).
Plus, KIND Breakfast Bars, Peanut Butter, Gluten Free, 1.8 Ounce, 32 Count.
Still more, CLIF BAR - Energy Bar - Crunchy Peanut Butter - (2.4 Ounce Protein Bar, 12 Count).
Also, Westmark Germany Multipurpose Stainless Steel Cheese and Food Slicer with Board and Adjustable Thickness Dial (White).
Here, Koffee Kult Medium Roast Coffee Beans, Highest Quality Delicious Coffee, Artisan Blend Freshly Roasted, Whole Bean, 16oz Packaging May Vary.
BONUS: Gordon Wood, Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Eight Slaughtered in Islamic Jihad Truck Attack in New York (VIDEO)
At CBS News 2 New York, at the video, and from Pamela Geller below:
NYC jihad mass murderer entered US via Diversity Visa Program – despite YEARS OF WARNINGS https://t.co/YkSSpMf3SL pic.twitter.com/06KDK7KopA
— Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) November 1, 2017
Trump Orders More Extreme Vetting In Wake Of Fatal NYC Jihad Terrorist Attack https://t.co/lhOa1ljmFb pic.twitter.com/ve22UzUPDu
— Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) November 1, 2017
Sharia-compliant NBC News reports on non-existent “backlash” against Muslim Americans in wake of NYC Islamic attack https://t.co/AiUBCj6OsN pic.twitter.com/kHOvczowuI
— Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) November 1, 2017
Media Outlets Bury ‘Allahu Akbar’ In Reports On NYC Terror Attack https://t.co/BBpb2wxfhj pic.twitter.com/8rGwn15DLp
— Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) November 1, 2017
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Halloween Candy
Just in case, for those not heading out for trick-or-treat.
At Amazon, Deals on Halloween Candy.
And especially, Hershey's Halloween Trunk or Treat Variety Bag, 250 ct, 81.1 oz.
At Amazon, Deals on Halloween Candy.
And especially, Hershey's Halloween Trunk or Treat Variety Bag, 250 ct, 81.1 oz.
ICYMI: Ken Davenport, The Two Gates
This book is worth your time. I'm plugging away on it, although my teaching and grading is cutting into my leisure time, heh.
I'll finish it up soon.
Get yours at Amazon, Ken Davenport, The Two Gates: A Novel.
I'll finish it up soon.
Get yours at Amazon, Ken Davenport, The Two Gates: A Novel.
Liz Habib Chillin'
She took a Hawaiian vacation a few weeks back. Sweet lady, full of life.
#Umbrelladrink ⛱🍷#waikikibeach pic.twitter.com/FKmWQMX31D
— Liz Habib (@LizHabib) October 10, 2017
Alt-Hero Posters
A Vox Day joint, on Twitter:
Coming later today, Alt★Hero posters. Help us Make Comics Great Again!https://t.co/Szc274yaiW pic.twitter.com/LVBJoNfQ1P
— Supreme Dark Lord (@voxday) October 18, 2017
Six Seconds to Live
This is astonishing.
Here, on Twitter.
Here, on Twitter.
Wow. Read this. pic.twitter.com/gg4pkFL23Y
— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) October 23, 2017
Lindsey Pelas
Seen on Twitter. (NSFW at the click-through.)
Lindsey Pelas + en https://t.co/PU9xNST9fC pic.twitter.com/NKUGwe6kai
— Fotos de Famosas (@fotosdefamosas) October 1, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
Shop Today
At Amazon, Gold Box Deals.
Here, EGO Power+ 20-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Lawn Mower - 4.0Ah Battery and Charger Kit.
Plus, Philips Norelco Multigroom 5100 Grooming Kit - 18 Length Settings.
And, Real Good Coffee Co 2LB, Whole Bean Coffee, French Roast Dark, 2 Pound Bag.
More, AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable - 10 Feet (3 Meters) - White.
Also, DONCO Kids 760-CP Low Study Loft Bed, Dark Cappuccino.
Still more, Nestle - Pure Life Purified Bottled Water, 1/2 Liter (16.9 Oz) - 78 Case Pallet.
And, Honeywell HCE100 Heat Bud Ceramic Portable-Mini Heater, Black.
BONUS: Marc J. Hetherington and Jonathan D. Weiler, Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics.
Here, EGO Power+ 20-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Lawn Mower - 4.0Ah Battery and Charger Kit.
Plus, Philips Norelco Multigroom 5100 Grooming Kit - 18 Length Settings.
And, Real Good Coffee Co 2LB, Whole Bean Coffee, French Roast Dark, 2 Pound Bag.
More, AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable - 10 Feet (3 Meters) - White.
Also, DONCO Kids 760-CP Low Study Loft Bed, Dark Cappuccino.
Still more, Nestle - Pure Life Purified Bottled Water, 1/2 Liter (16.9 Oz) - 78 Case Pallet.
And, Honeywell HCE100 Heat Bud Ceramic Portable-Mini Heater, Black.
BONUS: Marc J. Hetherington and Jonathan D. Weiler, Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics.
Astros Beat Dodgers 13-12 in Game 5 of #WorldSeries
Oh boy, what a game!
At LAT:
At LAT:
Astros are one win from World Series title after outslugging Dodgers 13-12 in Game 5 https://t.co/zqjxVOKgpe
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) October 30, 2017
Fright night for Dodgers, who will be haunted by blown leads https://t.co/nDJjO0vDJe
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) October 30, 2017
Astros pitchers say World Series baseballs are fueling homer binge https://t.co/lEGR73jDWj
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) October 30, 2017
RECAP: #Dodgers score three in the ninth to tie it up but come up short in extras, 13-12.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 30, 2017
🔗: https://t.co/AXkIsJ5RnY pic.twitter.com/VWpnqoahrF
Laura Ingraham Brings Populist Fire to Fox
At the Guardian U.K., "‘Trump before Trump’: Laura Ingraham brings populist fire to Fox News lineup."
I love this. I'm all in for @IngrahamAngle -- she brings consistency to the conversation. https://t.co/1X7RANoaPx
— AWR Hawkins (@AWRHawkins) October 29, 2017
Tonight's the night! @IngrahamAngle https://t.co/kt4ggZ4eUX
— LifeZette (@LifeZette) October 30, 2017
Artistic Jack-o'-lanterns
At the O.C. Register, "Incredibly artistic Halloween pumpkins by OCSA students on auction to benefit nonprofits."
Incredibly artistic Halloween pumpkins by OCSA students on auction to benefit nonprofits https://t.co/UUUno5MsxH pic.twitter.com/AOvBvQ9k8y
— O.C. Register (@ocregister) October 25, 2017
Jennifer Delacruz's Monday Forecast
On the eve of Halloween, it's quite lovely.
Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer:
Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer:
Paul Manafort Surrenders to F.B.I.
Well, here's your lead story for the day.
At the New York Post, "Manafort first to fall in Russia probe":
And at Memeorandum, "Paul Manafort, Who Once Ran Trump Campaign, Told to Surrender."
At the New York Post, "Manafort first to fall in Russia probe":
Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manger, and his former business partner surrendered to federal authorities on Monday as the first charges are filed in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.More.
Manafort and Rick Gates were charged with conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and official records, according to the indictment, referring to the Foreign Agent Registration Act.
They were indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday, and the charges were unsealed after they turned themselves in on Monday morning.
Gates is a long time business associate of Manafort’s and his name appears on documents connected to companies created by Manafort in Cyprus to receive payments from politicians and businesses in Eastern Europe, the newspaper reported.
Manafort was hired to run Trump’s campaign in May 2016 but he was forced out just three months later when news reports began questioning his work for Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He has reportedly been a focus of Mueller’s investigation, and gun-toting federal agents burst into his Alexandria, Va., home in July to execute a search warrant.
They retrieved documents and materials a day after he voluntarily appeared before staff members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Manafort’s shadowy work for Yanukovych has drawn recent scrutiny from Mueller’s team of investigators.
They were examining wire transfers made by off-shore companies linked to Manafort that moved $3 million around the globe between 2012 and 2013, BuzzFeed News reported on Sunday.
The transactions were being probed to determine whether Manafort was hiding money from tax authorities or helping clients in Ukraine launder money...
And at Memeorandum, "Paul Manafort, Who Once Ran Trump Campaign, Told to Surrender."
Read the charges against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates https://t.co/s09DhauwWE
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 30, 2017
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun
I'm gonna read this woman's books. She's interesting. Her books are interesting.
At Amazon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun.
At Amazon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun.
With effortless grace, celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie illuminates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra's impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in southeastern Nigeria during the late 1960s. We experience this tumultuous decade alongside five unforgettable characters: Ugwu, a thirteen-year-old houseboy who works for Odenigbo, a university professor full of revolutionary zeal; Olanna, the professor’s beautiful young mistress who has abandoned her life in Lagos for a dusty town and her lover’s charm; and Richard, a shy young Englishman infatuated with Olanna’s willful twin sister Kainene. Half of a Yellow Sun is a tremendously evocative novel of the promise, hope, and disappointment of the Biafran war.
Jennifer Delacruz's Sunday Weather
I meant to post this last night but it wasn't available at YouTube.
Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer, for ABC News 10 San Diego:
Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer, for ABC News 10 San Diego:
Today's Deals
At Amazon, Gold Box Deals.
Also, especially, Apple 12" Macbooks (Certified Refurbished).
More, MARS Chocolate and More Favorites Halloween Candy Variety Mix 95.1-Ounce 250-Piece Bag.
Plus, Philips Norelco Multigroom 5100 Grooming Kit - 18 Length Settings.
And, Real Good Coffee Co 2LB, Whole Bean Coffee, French Roast Dark, 2 Pound Bag.
More, AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable - 10 Feet (3 Meters) - White.
Also, Samsung Electronics UN65MU6300 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model).
BONUS: John Green, Turtles All the Way Down.
Also, especially, Apple 12" Macbooks (Certified Refurbished).
More, MARS Chocolate and More Favorites Halloween Candy Variety Mix 95.1-Ounce 250-Piece Bag.
Plus, Philips Norelco Multigroom 5100 Grooming Kit - 18 Length Settings.
And, Real Good Coffee Co 2LB, Whole Bean Coffee, French Roast Dark, 2 Pound Bag.
More, AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable - 10 Feet (3 Meters) - White.
Also, Samsung Electronics UN65MU6300 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model).
BONUS: John Green, Turtles All the Way Down.
Nadeea Volianova in West Hollywood
At Taxi Driver, "Nadeea Volianova Topless Covering Her Nipples.
And at the Daily Star, "Russian pop babe strips topless to protest 'no boobs allowed' hotel rule."
And at the Daily Star, "Russian pop babe strips topless to protest 'no boobs allowed' hotel rule."
Sunday Cartoons
At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Funnies."
And at Theo's, "Cartoon Roundup..."
Cartoon Credit: A.F. Branco.
And at Theo's, "Cartoon Roundup..."
Cartoon Credit: A.F. Branco.
Rose McGowan on the Red Carpet at MTV Music Video Awards in 1998 (VIDEO)
Following-up, "Refusing Harvey Weinstein’s Hush Money."
I've seen reference to the 1998 MTV video awards, although I missed the part about her dating Marilyn Manson, eww.
It's at YouTube, though, naturally: "Rose McGowan at the1998 MTV Awards."
PREVIOUSLY: "Rose McGowan Escaped a Polygamy Cult When She Was Nine-Years-Old."
I've seen reference to the 1998 MTV video awards, although I missed the part about her dating Marilyn Manson, eww.
It's at YouTube, though, naturally: "Rose McGowan at the1998 MTV Awards."
PREVIOUSLY: "Rose McGowan Escaped a Polygamy Cult When She Was Nine-Years-Old."
Yuli Gurriel's Offensive Gesture
Following-up, "Dodgers Get Even: #WorldSeries."
This is bad. This is really bad.
I gotta say, though. Yu Darvish was classy in response.
On the front-page today, at LAT, "Yuli Gurriel's offensive gesture unleashes World Series debate about racism and political correctness":
This is bad. This is really bad.
I gotta say, though. Yu Darvish was classy in response.
On the front-page today, at LAT, "Yuli Gurriel's offensive gesture unleashes World Series debate about racism and political correctness":
Yuli Gurriel's offensive gesture unleashes World Series debate about racism and political correctness https://t.co/p71n15vpp9 pic.twitter.com/qIZ2QLjAa7
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) October 29, 2017
The world was watching when Yuli Gurriel made a racially charged gesture during Friday’s World Series game.More.
It came after a moment of triumph: The Houston Astros first baseman had just hit a home run off of Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish. He returned to the Astros’ dugout, where he put his fingers to the sides of his face and lifted the corners of his eyes — a “slanted eyes” gesture widely regarded as a racist mockery of Asians.
Gurriel also used the word “chinito,” or “Chinese boy,” in reference to Darvish, who is of Iranian and Japanese descent.
The episode, caught on video and repeated endlessly on television and social media, opened up a new heated conversation about race and identity in professional sports, which has already been grappling with NFL players taking knees during the national anthem.
Many found Gurriel’s antics as juvenile and insulting as they were sadly familiar.
“It just felt like, ‘Man, again?’ Like, we’re so used to this,” Jason Chu, a Chinese American rapper based in Los Angeles. “People don’t even pause. They think that this is acceptable, socially, to target Asian Americans in this way, or Asians in general.”
Chu said trash talk is a routine part of competition, but Gurriel’s behavior was offensive because it mocked Darvish for being Asian.
Well-known Asian Americans, including Los Angeles chef Roy Choi and actor Daniel Dae Kim, spoke out against Gurriel. Kim pointed out that the Gurriel incident was not the first time that slurs and stereotypes have been used against players in Major League Baseball.
“Maybe Gurriel will change that,” Kim said in a tweet to a Times reporter.
On Saturday, Gurriel apologized for his behavior, saying in a statement that he made “ an offensive gesture that was indefensible…. I deeply regret it. I would particularly like to apologize to Yu Darvish, a pitcher that I admire and respect.”
Major League Baseball acted swiftly: Gurriel will be suspended without pay for five games at the start of the 2018 season and will have to undergo sensitivity training. He won’t miss any games in the World Series.
Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the suspension Saturday after he met with Gurriel before the Astros were to play the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series. There is precedent for such a suspension: Matt Joyce of the Oakland Athletics and Kevin Pillar of the Toronto Blue Jays each were suspended two games this season for using anti-gay slurs.
The controversy resonated in both Los Angeles and Houston, which are among the most racially diverse cities in the nation and have prided themselves as being melting pots that welcome immigration and celebrate tolerance. There was debate in both cities about how seriously Gurriel’s behavior should be taken.
In Koreatown, Maria Rizo, who is Cuban American, said she didn’t see anything wrong with it. “It’s like saying African American or Hispanic,” she said.
In Houston, Britny Cuellar and her husband said the gesture made them groan because they worried it would overshadow all the team has accomplished. Cuellar, a 27-year-old schoolteacher, was pushing their 2-year-old daughter in a stroller outside Minute Maid Park on Saturday, decked out in Astros gear...
Dodgers Get Even: #WorldSeries
What a game!
At the Los Angeles Times, "Dodgers pull even in World Series by defeating Astros 6-2 in Game 4":
At the Los Angeles Times, "Dodgers pull even in World Series by defeating Astros 6-2 in Game 4":
"You like that?! You like that?!" #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/JYYoeYrcxf
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 29, 2017
That feeling when you even up the #WorldSeries. #TMGS pic.twitter.com/dRjqLIWgRs
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 29, 2017
Cody Bellinger skidded into second base like a kid on a slip-and-slide, a 22-year-old rookie enjoying the World Series for the first time in four games. He leapt to his feet and banged his hands together. Inside the Dodgers dugout, moments after Bellinger’s ninth-inning double paved the way for a 6-2 victory over the Astros in Game 4 of the World Series, his teammates responded with glee.More.
Bellinger looked stoic. Dirt caked his uniform. Lost for so long, he found himself at an opportune time for the Dodgers, who have evened this series at 2-2. A double by Bellinger in the seventh led to his team’s first run. His next hit put his team ahead and opened the door for a five-run flood.
“Every day you see him grow a little more,” starting pitcher Alex Wood said. “To see him break through was awesome.”
After a sacrifice fly by Austin Barnes padded the lead, Joc Pederson thundered a three-run homer to mute the 43,322 fans at Minute Maid Park. In his first outing since blowing a save in Game 2, closer Kenley Jansen surrendered a solo home run to Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. It was only the second hit of the game for the Astros.
A pitcher’s duel ratcheted up the tension beneath the roof of this ballpark. Wood did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, when Astros outfielder George Springer homered. Houston starter Charlie Morton suppressed the Dodgers until the seventh, when Bellinger recorded his first hit of the World Series and Logan Forsythe tied the game with an RBI single.
Wood pulled his team out of a pit dug by Yu Darvish in Game 3, shielded a tired bullpen from overexposure and kept the Dodgers from falling two games behind the Astros. The offense slumbered at the outset before awakening late. The team turns to Clayton Kershaw for Game 5 on Sunday in a Game 1 rematch with Astros ace Dallas Keuchel. No matter what, the Series will return to Los Angeles on Tuesday for Game 6.
“We’ve got a three-game series now, and we’ve got our guy on the mound tomorrow,” outfielder Chris Taylor said. “We’re right where we want to be.”
The confidence stems from more than Kershaw. The emergence of Bellinger adds to the equation. Bellinger revitalized the Dodgers offense when he was called up in April. He boomed 39 home runs and earned a spot on the All-Star team. As he slumped through this World Series, his teammates and coaches simplified the message directed his way.
A Movie Critical of Female Genital Mutilation?
Well, if the film doesn't criticize Islam it's no good, although this is interesting nevertheless.
At Women and Hollywood, "Aja Naomi King Toplining Drama About Activist Who Fights Against Female Genital Mutilation."
At Women and Hollywood, "Aja Naomi King Toplining Drama About Activist Who Fights Against Female Genital Mutilation."
Aja Naomi King Toplining Drama About Activist Who Fights Against Female Genital Mutilation https://t.co/TSpB9kNN4A pic.twitter.com/kRYqehF1X1
— Women and Hollywood (@WomenaHollywood) October 26, 2017
'Suburbicon' is Worst Release in the History of Paramount Pictures
Heh, serves him right. It just serves radical left-wing hypocrite George Clooney right.
At the Wrap, "With ‘Suburbicon,’ George Clooney’s Box Office Struggles Continue."
And at NYT:
At the Wrap, "With ‘Suburbicon,’ George Clooney’s Box Office Struggles Continue."
And at NYT:
Clooney's "Suburbicon" gave Paramount Pictures the worst wide-release opening total in its history https://t.co/C89rZ6H5l1
— Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) October 29, 2017
Refusing Harvey Weinstein’s Hush Money
Rose McGowan's a radical leftist. She really is. She's about the resistance, lol.
But I like her anyway. I'm cutting her some slack. Politics is messed up as it is. It's tribal. I hate Democrats. But she's becoming an iconic presence, speaking out, and speaking way ahead of everyone else. It's empowering. Of course, she's taking down the left while she's at it, so that's particularly interesting, heh.
In any case, at NYT, "Refusing Weinstein’s Hush Money, Rose McGowan Calls Out Hollywood":
But I like her anyway. I'm cutting her some slack. Politics is messed up as it is. It's tribal. I hate Democrats. But she's becoming an iconic presence, speaking out, and speaking way ahead of everyone else. It's empowering. Of course, she's taking down the left while she's at it, so that's particularly interesting, heh.
In any case, at NYT, "Refusing Weinstein’s Hush Money, Rose McGowan Calls Out Hollywood":
Just before our Weinstein investigation was published, his camp offered Rose McGowan a million bucks in hush money. https://t.co/QkYJlCX1Lo— jodikantor (@jodikantor) October 29, 2017
In late September, just as multiple women were days away from going on the record with reports of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct, one of his alleged assault victims, Rose McGowan, considered an offer that suggested just how desperate the Hollywood producer had become.More.
Ms. McGowan, who was working on a memoir called “Brave,” had spoken privately over the years about a 1997 hotel room encounter with Mr. Weinstein and hinted at it publicly. Through her lawyer, she said, someone close to Mr. Weinstein offered her hush money: $1 million, in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement.
In 1997, Ms. McGowan had reached a $100,000 settlement with Mr. Weinstein, but that agreement, she learned this summer, had never included a confidentiality clause. Ms. McGowan, who was most widely known for her role as a witch on the WB show “Charmed,” had recently developed a massive following as a fiery feminist on Twitter, but she was now, at 44, a multimedia artist, no longer acting, her funds depleted by health care costs for her father, who died eight years ago.
“I had all these people I’m paying telling me to take it so that I could fund my art,” Ms. McGowan said in an interview. She responded by asking for $6 million, part counteroffer, part slow torture of her former tormentor, she said. “I figured I could probably have gotten him up to three,” she said. “But I was like — ew, gross, you’re disgusting, I don’t want your money, that would make me feel disgusting.”
She said she told her lawyer to pull the offer within a day of The New York Times publishing an article that detailed decades of Mr. Weinstein’s alleged sexual harassment, aggression and misconduct toward women, as well as at least seven other settlements he had reached with accusers. After that, the dam burst, with The New Yorker, The Times and other news outlets reporting on dozens of other women’s experiences with Mr. Weinstein.
Mr. Weinstein, his accusers say, built his long history of abusing women on a risky gamble that worked for him over and over — the assumption that money or threats could buy women’s silence on a subject so intimate and painful that most would prefer not to go public anyway. While Ms. McGowan was the rare voice suggesting that the cover-up was not fail-safe, even she considered not naming him, having already, she believes, paid a career price for that long-ago episode and its aftermath.
A Weinstein spokeswoman, Sallie Hofmeister, said that “Mr. Weinstein unequivocally denies any allegations of nonconsensual sex.” Ms. McGowan’s lawyer, Paul Coggins, confirmed that Ms. McGowan received the offer.
By 2015, Ms. McGowan, who felt alienated by the industry, started using her sizable platform on Twitter to maximize her status as both insider and outsider — someone with enough Hollywood experience to speak with authority about sexism within it, and someone liberated enough from its compromises to unleash the fury in her that had been building for years. Only now does the scope of the news about Mr. Weinstein — and the public conversation about what’s wrong with Hollywood — seem to match the scale of her outrage, giving her the clout of a contrarian at last proven right.
On Friday, at the inaugural Women’s Convention in Detroit, she was a featured speaker — a new, combative face of feminism, endowed with Hollywood charisma yet anything but slick. “I have been silenced for 20 years,” she told the gathering. “I have been slut-shamed. I have been harassed. I have been maligned. And you know what? I’m just like you.”
Today's Political Divisions as Bad as Vietnam Era
I don't think is "just Trump," but this is interesting nevertheless.
At WaPo, "‘It’s just messed up’: Most think political divisions as bad as Vietnam era, new poll shows: The Post-U. Md. survey reveals a starkly pessimistic view of the U.S. political system under President Trump":
At WaPo, "‘It’s just messed up’: Most think political divisions as bad as Vietnam era, new poll shows: The Post-U. Md. survey reveals a starkly pessimistic view of the U.S. political system under President Trump":
Most Americans hold starkly pessimistic view of politics under Trump, say divisions are as bad as in Vietnam era https://t.co/nXcNjmVBL2— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 28, 2017
Seven in 10 Americans say the nation’s political divisions are at least as big as during the Vietnam War, according to a new poll, which also finds nearly 6 in 10 saying Donald Trump’s presidency is making the U.S. political system more dysfunctional.More.
The Washington Post-University of Maryland poll — conducted nine months into Trump’s tumultuous presidency — reveals a starkly pessimistic view of U.S. politics, widespread distrust of the nation’s political leaders and their ability to compromise, and an erosion of pride in the way democracy works in America.
Trump’s arrival in the White House in January ushered in a period of big political fights — over issues including health care, taxes and immigration — and a sharp escalation in personal attacks on political opponents, over social media and elsewhere.
Seven in 10 Americans say the nation’s politics have reached a dangerous low point, and a majority of those believe the situation is a “new normal” rather than temporary, according to the poll.
The poll finds that 7 in 10 Americans view the Trump administration as dysfunctional. But dissatisfaction extends well beyond the executive branch: Even more Americans, 8 in 10, say Congress is dysfunctional, and there is limited trust in other institutions, including the media.
“It’s just messed up now,” said Patty Kasbeck, 37, a veterinary technician in Bartlesville, Okla., and a Democrat. “It’s not even a political system. It’s a reality show.”
In the poll, 14 percent of Americans say they view ethics and honesty of politicians as excellent or good, down from 25 percent in 1997 and 39 percent in 1987. And 12 percent say members of Congress base their policies on a set of core values, while 87 percent say they mainly “do whatever is need to win reelection.”
By and large, Americans are feeling frustrated not only with the country’s politics but their ability to talk about politics in a civil way.
“It seems the country is being divided on so many topics and on so many fronts at one time,” said Gene Gardner, a retired communications specialist in Blacksburg, Va., who said American democracy has become “a rock-throwing contest.”
“When people have an opinion, they don’t just say it to their spouse across the dinner table anymore,” said Gardner, 68, who is not registered with either political party. “They put it on Facebook. Everything gets amplified and more angry.”
Recent surveys have shown consumer confidence is up this year and stands at the highest levels in the past decade, so it does not appear that economic concerns are driving discontent with the nation’s political system.
Rather, Trump’s presidency appears to be a more critical factor in informing the way people feel about the state of American democracy.
While the poll finds similar levels of distrust in the federal government as before Trump took office, it also finds that pride in U.S. democracy is eroding. The share of Americans who are not proud of the way the country’s democracy is working has doubled since three years ago — from 18 percent to 36 percent in the new survey conducted among a nationwide sample of more than 1,600 adults by The Post and U-Md.’s Center for American Politics and Citizenship.
And nearly half of those who say they “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s job performance say they are not proud of American democracy today. That’s about twice as high among as those who “somewhat disapprove” of the president’s performance.
Doubts about democracy are not limited, however, to strong Trump critics. The poll finds that 25 percent of his supporters are not proud of the way democracy is working. That’s a higher figure than for the general public since at least the 1990s, polling shows.
“I think that since Trump’s election, there’s a spotlight on Washington and how it really works: that politicians are out for themselves and beholden to special interests,” said Nola Sayne, a paralegal in Logansville, Ga., who supported Trump and says she tends to vote Republican.
Sayne, 54, partly blames the dysfunction on how the Washington establishment has reacted to Trump. “People just flip out at everything he says,” Sayne said.
Elizabeth Johnston, a worker benefits specialist in Paradise, Calif., said she’s “embarrassed for the country” and primarily blames Democrats for the nation’s current political dysfunction.
“They’re acting like the mean kids in junior high,” Johnston said. “They’re all helping to make sure that the president doesn’t succeed.”
Johnston, 58, a registered independent, said there are some things she doesn’t like about Trump, like his “childish tweets.” But she said the country needs to give him a chance. “I love it that he hears us,” she said. “I love it that he wants to cut taxes.”
Strong majorities in both parties say the political divisions today are at least as strong as during the Vietnam War, a period of protest and unrest that is widely viewed as a dark chapter in American political history.
Seven in 10 Americans overall hold that view, but it is particularly strong among those who experienced the Vietnam War era firsthand. Among those who were adults in the 1970s, more than three-quarters say political divisions today are at least as big.
“I’m old enough that I remember the Vietnam War,” said Ed Evans, 67, a lawyer in Sioux Falls, S.D., and a Democrat who was a college student in Missouri at the time. “With Vietnam, at least it was focused on one issue. Here, it’s all over the place. In some ways, this is deeply more troubling.”
Ellen Collins, a retired data architect in Dayton, Ohio, said she remembers hearing her brother, who was in the Army returning from Vietnam, say that he was spit upon in the airport during a layover in San Francisco in March 1968. Still, she is among those who say political divisions in the country are worse today.
“This country is a mess,” said Collins, 69. “There’s no civility. Friends are now enemies. These issues have made people angry.”
She blames Trump in large part, saying he has used divisions “to his benefit, to play on people’s fears.”
Collins cited Trump’s recent sparring with Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) over the president’s condolence call to the widow of a soldier killed in Niger.
“He has an inability to say, ‘My bad,’ and he just keeps going and going,” Collins said. “He’s childish, and he’s a bully.”
Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say America’s politics have reached a dangerous low point, though more Democrats (81 percent) than Republicans (56 percent) hold that view.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Friday, October 27, 2017
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Xi Jinping Enshrined in Communist Party Constitution
He's up there with Mao now.
At NYT, "China Enshrines ‘Xi Jinping Thought,’ Elevating Leader to Mao-Like Status":
At NYT, "China Enshrines ‘Xi Jinping Thought,’ Elevating Leader to Mao-Like Status":
BEIJING — China’s Communist Party on Tuesday elevated President Xi Jinping to the same exalted status as the nation’s founding father, Mao Zedong, by writing his name and ideas into the party constitution.More.
The historic decision, at the end of a weeklong party congress, sent a clear signal to officials throughout China that questioning Mr. Xi and his policies would be ideological heresy.
The decision solidified Mr. Xi’s position as China’s most powerful leader in decades after only five years of leading the country, making it harder for rivals to challenge him and his policies.
While there may be no “Little Red Book” of quotations for mass consumption like in the bygone Mao era, Mr. Xi’s thinking will now infuse every aspect of party ideology in schools, the media and government agencies.
In the near future, Chinese people are likely to refer to Mr. Xi’s doctrines as simply “Xi Jinping Thought,” a flattering echo of “Mao Zedong Thought.”
“This is a way of trying to project his historic stature,” said Wu Qiang, a political analyst in Beijing who formerly taught at Tsinghua University. “The congress report and the party constitution revisions both show that Xi wants to be a kind of peer with the past leaders. That doesn’t mean he sees himself as rivaling Mao in importance, but I think it’s intended to give him an ideological status that can’t be challenged, like Mao in that sense.”
Restoring China to greatness is a central message of Mr. Xi’s philosophy. That goal already has guided Mr. Xi’s policies of building up the military, strengthening domestic controls and raising China’s profile in global affairs.
Approved by the party congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, which meets every five years, the change to the constitution adds a clunky new phrase — “Xi Jinping Thought for the New Era of Socialism With Chinese Special Characteristics” — alongside the hallowed names of Mao and Deng Xiaoping.
While the meaning of those 13 words — 16 Chinese characters — may seem opaque, they are freighted with significance for the future both of the party and of China.
The critical phrase is “new era,” which Mr. Xi has used throughout the congress. He has described Chinese history since 1949 as divided into two eras — the three decades after Mao seized power in a revolution that established a unified People’s Republic and ended nearly a century of civil war and foreign invasions, and the three decades after Deng took power in 1978 and refocused China on developing its economy...
Reckoning with Communism
Turns out there's an amazing conference coming up in a couple of week, in D.C., "Victims of Communism Centennial Commemoration." (Hat Tip: National Review, below.)
EVENT 11/7-9: Victims of Communism Centennial Commemoration via Victims of Communism @VoCommunism #communismkills https://t.co/041v1cg0qV pic.twitter.com/ahrVrpeHz9— Selfish Citizenship (@SelfishCitizen) October 25, 2017
— National Review (@NRO) October 25, 2017
'Start with the men in power who are bullies...'
Following-up from last night, "Mark Halperin Out at NBC, MSNBC, and HBO After Multiple Claims of Sexual Assault."
At Axios, "Post-Halperin, female media exec calls out 'the screamers'":
At Axios, "Post-Halperin, female media exec calls out 'the screamers'":
A well-known female veteran of the media business emailed me as new revelations were posted about Mark Halperin:Keep reading.
"If you are anxiously looking around your media organization wondering who the harassers are or were, start with the men in power who are bullies: who screamed at subordinates, berated them, seemed to take pleasure in humiliating them — often publicly. We all know them. We have all worked with them. There is clearly a correlation between that behavior and this. ... I would love to send a message to the screamers that their behavior will no longer be tolerated."There's clearly a lot of screaming in tech, as well as in media and movies.
The excuse many men gave for not interfering with Harvey Weinstein was that "everybody knew" he was a bully and a jerk — but didn't realize he was also a serial assailant. Arianna Huffington, a board member at Uber, distilled the emerging ethos: "No brilliant jerks allowed."
Halperin's had been quite an empire. If you change the game once, it's pretty cool. Changing the game more than once? Very small club. And Halperin did it repeatedly: "The Note" at ABC ... "The Page" at TIME ... The "Game Change" franchise ... Showtime's "The Circus" series.
His comeuppance all came within 24 hours of CNN's story quoting five women as saying that he "sexually harassed women while he was in a powerful position at ABC News" (political director from 1997 to 2007)...
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Mark Halperin Out at NBC, MSNBC, and HBO After Multiple Claims of Sexual Assault
This is freakin' major.
At the Los Angeles Times, "MSNBC political analyst Mark Halperin losing book deal and TV jobs over sexual harassment claims":
At the Los Angeles Times, "MSNBC political analyst Mark Halperin losing book deal and TV jobs over sexual harassment claims":
#MeToo https://t.co/J4R5sj9wfG
— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) October 26, 2017
To be clear, I was NOT one of the victims in this story about Mark Halperin. I was ANOTHER junior ABC employee he attacked. #MeToo https://t.co/itV6HvEpA2
— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) October 26, 2017
Go back and watch the episode I was on of Morning Joe. This will explain why so many of you asked why he attacked me on live TV
— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) October 26, 2017
I did not report Halperin to ABC because I thought I was the only one, and I blamed myself, and I was embarrassed and I was scared of him.
— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) October 26, 2017
The multimedia career of political journalist and author Mark Halperin is on shaky ground after a report that he sexually harassed five women during his tenure at ABC News.More.
Just hours after the publication of the CNN report late Wednesday, Halperin was pulled from his contributor’s role at MSNBC and NBC News. Penguin Press canceled the publication of his next “Game Change” book about the 2016 presidential campaign, co-authored with John Heilemann. Plans for an HBO miniseries tied to the title were scrapped by the premium cable network, and the next season of the Showtime documentary series “The Circus,” in which Halperin co-stars, appears in doubt.
Five women who worked with Halperin when he was political director of ABC News in the early 2000s told CNN that he propositioned them or touched them inappropriately while on the job. Three women said Halperin pressed up against them while having an erection. None of the women complained to ABC’s human resources department about his behavior. The accusers spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity.
The accusations against Halperin join the growing maelstrom of sexual harassment and assault charges, which have rocked the careers and reputations of former Weinstein Co. co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein, former Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly, screenwriter James Toback, and others. As more women come forward to allege years of bad behavior, the roiling national discussion of workplace harassment shows no signs of abating.
In a statement to CNN, Halperin acknowledged that he mistreated female employees at ABC News and issued an apology.
“During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me,” said Halperin, 52. “I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.”
By Thursday morning, Halperin, a paid contributor who regularly appears on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and other NBC News programs, was on leave indefinitely.
“We find the story and the allegations very troubling. Mark Halperin is leaving his role as a contributor until the questions around his past conduct are fully understood,” the cable network said in a statement.
The alleged incidents involving Halperin occurred when he was political director at ABC News from 1997 to 2007. An ABC News representative said, “Mark left ABC a decade ago and no complaints were filed during his tenure.”
But some women who worked with Halperin at ABC have commented on social media that there had been talk within the company at the time about his treatment of women.
Clarissa Ward, a senior international correspondent for CNN, tweeted out the Halperin story and said, “This was an open story when I was @ABC for years.”
Former ABC News staffer Emily Miller put a #MeToo hashtag on her tweet of the CNN story and said she too was harassed by Halperin. She then added: “To be clear, I was NOT one of the victims in this story about Mark Halperin. I was ANOTHER junior ABC employee he attacked.”
As of Thursday, there had been no sexual harassment complaints filed against Halperin at NBC, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. As an on-air contributor, Halperin does not have an office or work space in the network’s headquarters or newsroom.
Halperin has a multiyear contract with NBC, but such deals can typically be terminated in the event an on-air talent embarrasses the company.
Showtime Networks issued a statement that there had been no allegations of “untoward behavior” by Halperin during the production of “The Circus.” However, the premium cable network said it will “evaluate its options” on going forward with a second season of the program...
Shop Halloween Candy
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The Sound is Going Down
To say I'm sad would be an understatement. This is one of the greatest radio station's since KMET in the 1970s.
Alas, nothing last forever.
At the L.A.-ist, "100.3 The Sound to Be Replaced With Christian Music Station."
And at ABC News 7 Los Angeles:
Alas, nothing last forever.
At the L.A.-ist, "100.3 The Sound to Be Replaced With Christian Music Station."
And at ABC News 7 Los Angeles:
SoCal says goodbye to 'The Sound': #TheSoundLA https://t.co/rV2Xv95S3a
— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) October 25, 2017
Harvey Weinstein and the Myth of 'Toxic Masculinity'
It's Helen Smith, at Pajamas, via Instapundit, "THE INSTA-WIFE: Harvey Weinstein and the Myth of “Toxic Masculinity”."
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
New Deals Today
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Brianna Keilar Reflects on War and Sacrifice
I don't watch CNN anymore, and I didn't even know Brianna Keilar was married, much less to a serviceman, but I do miss watching her for the news. I think she's a good lady. In any case, at CNN:
.@brikeilarcnn: With my husband deployed, covering the news hits home https://t.co/VggthvJHyB via @CNNOpinion pic.twitter.com/T0EQ6udZoq
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 25, 2017
It's telling that you are only now watching this. Been out for years. More evidence U and other media R in a bubble & don't know real people
— Mark Meyer (@markrmeyer) October 21, 2017
My husband is on his sixth deployment right now. You don’t know anything about me. https://t.co/wwTRESCasS
— Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) October 21, 2017
Beating the Heat in San Diego
Well, hitting the beach would be nice.
At the San Diego Union-Tribune:
At the San Diego Union-Tribune:
Locals find different ways to beat the heat https://t.co/z4NhtFDXyV pic.twitter.com/pftEbB7NGZ
— The Union-Tribune (@sdut) October 25, 2017
Majority of Whites Say They Believe Whites Face Discrimination
Well, it's part of the Trump phenomenon, I guess.
Perhaps part of the reason he won.
Interesting, either way. Leftists take heed.
At NPR:
Perhaps part of the reason he won.
Interesting, either way. Leftists take heed.
At NPR:
Lolz: Majority of White Americans Say They Believe Whites Face Discrimination: https://t.co/vzEQj35l4c
— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) October 25, 2017
Francis Paul Prucha, The Indians in American Society
At Amazon, Francis Paul Prucha, The Indians in American Society: From the Revolutionary War to the Present.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Record-Breaking Heat Across the Southland (VIDEO)
My weather app said it was 105 degrees when I left work (in Long Beach) a little after 4:00pm today. But, frankly, it was dry heat, and didn't feel too bad. I even went back out to Barnes and Noble after I got home and changed into some shorts. I picked up a copy of Volker Ullrich, Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939.
I'm going to read some of the book right now, in fact. So, until later, here's CBS News 2 Los Angeles:
I'm going to read some of the book right now, in fact. So, until later, here's CBS News 2 Los Angeles:
Deal of the Day
At Amazon, Today's Deals.
Also, ILM Full Face Motorcycle Street Bike Helmet with Removable Winter Neck Scarf + 2 Visors DOT (M, Matte Black).
And, Soul Young - Long Cotton Scarf for Men - Warm Fringe Plaid Scarves With Luxurious Gift Box.
Plus, Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones - Gold.
More, AmazonBasics AA Performance Alkaline Batteries (48 Count) - Packaging May Vary.
Here, American Signature - Flag Pole Kit - Includes 2.5x4 ft American Flag Made in USA, 5 Foot Tangle Free Flag Pole, and Flagpole Bracket Holder Set.
Still more, Banana Boat Ultra Mist Sport Performance Broad Spectrum Sun Care Sunscreen Spray - Twin Pack - SPF 30, 2 count, 6OZ.
More here, Valvoline 5W-30 MaxLife High Mileage Motor Oil - 5qt (782256).
Also, DASANI WATER BOTTLED DRINKING 16.9 OZ BOTTLES 24 PACK.
BONUS: Rick Richman, Racing Against History: The 1940 Campaign for a Jewish Army to Fight Hitler.
Also, ILM Full Face Motorcycle Street Bike Helmet with Removable Winter Neck Scarf + 2 Visors DOT (M, Matte Black).
And, Soul Young - Long Cotton Scarf for Men - Warm Fringe Plaid Scarves With Luxurious Gift Box.
Plus, Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones - Gold.
More, AmazonBasics AA Performance Alkaline Batteries (48 Count) - Packaging May Vary.
Here, American Signature - Flag Pole Kit - Includes 2.5x4 ft American Flag Made in USA, 5 Foot Tangle Free Flag Pole, and Flagpole Bracket Holder Set.
Still more, Banana Boat Ultra Mist Sport Performance Broad Spectrum Sun Care Sunscreen Spray - Twin Pack - SPF 30, 2 count, 6OZ.
More here, Valvoline 5W-30 MaxLife High Mileage Motor Oil - 5qt (782256).
Also, DASANI WATER BOTTLED DRINKING 16.9 OZ BOTTLES 24 PACK.
BONUS: Rick Richman, Racing Against History: The 1940 Campaign for a Jewish Army to Fight Hitler.
Out in Paperback: Volker Ullrich, Hitler
This is the moment I've been waiting for, not wanting to spend on the hard-back volume.
At Amazon, available in paperback today, Volker Ullrich, Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939.
At Amazon, available in paperback today, Volker Ullrich, Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939.
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