How is the poisoning of the Flint, Michigan water supply not more of a national news story? The Republicans of Michigan, in an effort to take control of Democratic districts they've not been able to win in elections, put forward an anti-American program to overrule the voice of the voter, installing an Emergency Financial Manager in cities with budgetary issues, who's sole responsibility was to cut expenses. In the case of Flint, a decision was made: even though the water supply of Flint (the Flint River) was polluted, the residents of Flint didn't deserve the cleaner, slightly more expensive Lake Huron water they'd been drinking. They flipped the switch back to the Flint River. The Flint River is highly corrosive (MMM, yum!), the it was determined by the Republicans the $100 a day chemical agent which would make the water 90% safer (only 90%???) was too expensive for the non-Republican voters of Flint. That's when things got worse. The corrosive characteristics of the Flint River water started to immediately erode the antiquated lead water pipes of Flint, dumping highly toxic lead into the water, where it was easily absorbed into humans, including children. When medical professionals and scientists started to scream the water was poisoning the residents, the initial response of the MIGOP was to call them all liars. Only after dragging a local pediatrician, who dared to speak the truth, through the mud did the Republicans finally fess up. They'd poisoned the entire city's water supply in a pathetic attempt to save a few bucks. It's now starting to come to light they knew months before hand the water was too dangerous to consume, and ignored the warnings. Some people, including Governor Rick Snyder, need to go to jail.
This is another perfect example of why we should never trust the modern Republicans and their insatiable, money worshipping policies. Much like Wisconsin, and their dramatic loss of worker's revenue, loss of jobs, plummeting education system, and rotting deer carcasses on the side of the road, Republicans are solely responsible for this failure. Never trust modern Republican policy.
Three things I want to bring up about April Gehl. She's the high school senior who, after the Wisconsin High School Athletic Association (WIAA) made the foolish decision to outlaw taunting and aggressive cheers at high school sporting events, decided to show the world her wit and intelligence by tweeting, 'EAT S--T WIAA." Oops, it appears Jane Austen forgot the comma. She was suspended for five games, but not from school. My first point is how she's getting treated in the media. The idea she's some sort of victim because she was "only bringing truth to the masses" is a laughing joke. She's no hero; she's an idiot who thinks grunting the loudest is how to effectively protest rulings she doesn't agree with. She didn't start a petition, or send a "I disagree" tweet. Nope, she swore like an ignorant moron, not like a misunderstood protagonist.
The reason the media is trying to turn her into martyr is because she is a pretty white girl with red hair from rural Wisconsin. I GUARANTEE, if she was African American, the media would be painting her in a whole different light. "How disrespectful! Her parents clearly have failed! Someone needs to teach her her place!" This is just the latest example of the racial double standard in America; when white kids do stuff like this, it's the reaction of the authorities which is out of line. If it was a black kid, the narrative validates any punishment up to, and including, her being gunned down by a police officer. At the very least, without a doubt, if she were African American, she'd been suspended from school.
The last issue is something we've talked about over and over again. Parents, if you don't teach your children proper social media etiquette, you're dooming them for failure. April Gehl is a victim of bad parenting; for teaching your kid to swear like a sailor in public (yes online social media is public), for teaching her to show so little respect for the people who've been placed in charge of the sports leagues SHE has chosen to participate in, and, as some media outlets have reported, for the parents to act like she's the frail innocent in this situation. God awful parenting...Teach your children the rights and wrong of social media or expect them to learn the hard way.
The Minnesota right is getting ready to gear up a major anti-transgender initiative, one which will primarily focus on bathroom usage. I could point out how off the Republicans are for being so obsessed with individual bathroom usage, but I prefer to try to defend my religion. I'm Catholic. The people who are trying to turn transgender bathroom rights into a political issue are doing so while draping themselves in Christianity. I don't think Jesus died on the cross so in 2016, his name would be used to vilify a child who is questioning their sexual identity.
Jesus does not want you to use his name to discriminate, or to limit someone's rights, or to be invoked when someone complains about 'being persecuted' because a different group achieved the same rights they've always had. Imagine if all the people who will try to use Christianity, God and Jesus too validate their hatred, and their persecution agenda, instead focused on all the positive, loving and welcoming aspects of Christianity. Instead of funding an ad campaign of hatred, they instead used that money to feed the hungry. Imagine if the focus of Christianity was about doing good deeds in the community, caring for our fellow man and woman. Imagine.
Mad Max: Fury Road deserves an Oscar nod. Watch it, without the kiddos.
I'm going to really miss Alan Rickman. Hans Gruber from Die Hard is one of the all time great villains in movies. Professor Snape is one of the most heroic, complex and endearing characters, and Elliott Marston was the lynchpin in a very underrated Western, Quigley Down Under.
David Bowie...I'm still very sad. Ch-ch-ch-changes...
speaking of which...
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