News and Headlines: In The News, Politics, World News, Commentary/Opinion, Satire/Comedy.
In The News:
Working Mother of 3 Faces $100,000 Parking Violation
In Lantana, Florida, that is exactly what happened to local homeowner Sandy Martinez.
The city fined her more than $100,000—at a rate of $250 per day—for violating an ordinance regulating how one can park their car on their own driveway. When stacked on top of the astronomical fines the city imposed for two other trivial code violations—$47,375 for a storm-damaged fence and $16,125 for cracks in her driveway, each of which she fixed as soon as she could afford to—Lantana has fined Sandy over $165,000.
That outrageous amount is nearly four times her annual income and more than half the value of her home. But the government cannot lock you into a lifetime of crushing debt for such harmless code infractions.
That is because Florida’s Constitution clearly forbids “excessive fines.” This protection enshrines a centuries-old axiom: The punishment must fit the crime. By trying to impose ruinous fines on Sandy for such minor infractions, Lantana is violating Sandy’s constitutional right to be free from excessive fines.
To fight back, she’s teamed up with the Institute for Justice (IJ) to file a lawsuit in Florida state court to hold the city accountable for this unconstitutional behavior.
Ex-US Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to Nassar charged
John Geddert was charged with two dozen crimes, including forms of human trafficking, a step that prosecutors acknowledged was an uncommon use of Michigan law.
He’s also accused of lying to investigators in 2016 when he denied ever hearing complaints about Nassar, who is serving decades in prison for sexually assaulting female athletes in a scandal that counted hundreds of victims and turned USA Gymnastics upside down.
Geddert is accused of recruiting minors for forced labor, a reference to the gymnasts he coached, according to documents filed in an Eaton County court.
The charges against Geddert include two counts of sexual assault against a teen in 2012.
73-year-old leads Atmore Police on chase, striking cruiser and nearly hitting officer with car
It all started when police responded to United Bank on Nashville Avenue in response to a person being disorderly and refusing to leave the property.
Once on scene officers tried speaking to the driver, identified as 73-year-old Lem Roy Sanders, but that’s when Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks says Sanders sped away, nearly striking an officer with his car. Sanders led authorities into Florida where he then struck an unmarked Atmore Police cruiser in the parking lot of Piggly Wiggly off of Highway 97.
Chief Brooks says officers then broke the driver’s side windows to remove Sanders from the vehicle. He was taken into custody by the Escambia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office.
Man calls 911, confesses to shooting naked man outside home
The man was carrying a Bible and knocking on doors the Sunshine Garden Apartments when someone there shot him, Pembroke Pines police Major Al Xiques told the South Florida SunSentiniel.
Police were already on their way to the area to investigate reports of a naked man when another 911 caller said he had just shot the man, police said.
Police were already on their way to the area to investigate reports of a naked man when another 911 caller said he had just shot the man, police said.
No more mister: Mr. Potato Head goes gender neutral
The change will appear on boxes this year.
Toy makers have been updating their classic brands to appeal to kids today. Barbie has shed its blonde image and now comes in multiple skin tones and body shapes. Thomas the Tank Engine added more girl characters. And American Girl is now selling a boy doll.
Hasbro said Mr. Potato Head, which has been around for about 70 years, needed a modern makeover.
Teacher accused of calling student’s ‘Black King’ T-shirt racist is investigated
Latrell said during science class at Heartland Middle School, his teacher abruptly changed the subject from the periodic table to asking what his shirt read.
“She said that if she had a shirt that said white queen, it would have been racist,” Latrell said. “Then after that, she said we need a white history month. I said Black people don’t have enough recognition, and we barely learn about Black people in February at my school.”
Latrell told KFOR that the majority of his class sided with the teacher, calling his shirt racist.
LAPD investigates Koreatown assault on Air Force veteran Denny Kim as possible hate crime
Denny Kim, a Korean-American who grew up in Los Angeles, described in a recent on-camera interview with KNBC how he was knocked down and berated with racial slurs in Koreatown on Feb. 16.
“I was terrified for my life,” Kim recalled, still showing signs of a black eye about a week after the assault. “They started calling me ‘ching-chong,’ ‘g—,’ ‘Chinese virus,’ just all sorts of nasty stuff. They eventually struck me on my face and I fell down to the ground.”
There have been at least 2,800 incident reports of hate crime from 47 states and Washington, D.C., since March 2020, Stop AAPI Hate — which is tracking ant-Asian crime in the U.S. — said in a report published in December.
Activists, joined by actors Daniel Dae Kim and Daniel Wu, are holding press conferences and virtual events calling attention to what they describe as patterns of abuse related to blame placed on the Asian American community for the coronavirus pandemic.
Several arrested in NYC during Daniel Prude protest
Dozens of protesters marched through McCarren Park in Williamsburg around 7 p.m., prompting a large police response with about 300 cops.
Several protesters began attacking pedestrians and spray-painting a cab on South 4th Street and Driggs Avenue near the Williamsburg Bridge, the witnesses recalled.
Videos on Citizen App shows large crowds at the scene, and a police chopper can be heard hovering over the area.
The protest came a day after a grand jury voted not to indict the Rochester police officers who were involved in the death of Daniel Prude, a black man who was suffocated while he was naked and having a mental breakdown on March 23.
Instagram influencer who posed nude with endangered elephant responds to critics: ‘I love and respect animals’
Alesya Kafelnikova, 22, originally shared a video from the shoot to Instagram on Feb. 13, according to The Sun. A few days later, she uploaded another photo of herself with the elephant, along with a caption reading, “to love nature is human nature.”
But among the many fans who liked Kafelnikova’s photo, a number of critics took issue with the influencer staging her shoot with a critically endangered animal that was likely transported to Bali for tourism purposes — including an advocacy group campaigning to save Asian elephants.
“It is a pity that people see this as vulgarity, and not as a beauty and love for nature,” she wrote. “I love animals, I love elephants! And I love Bali so so much! I hope each of you will awaken an aesthetic love for my post and the beauty.
“It was a private photo shoot, I didn’t have a purpose to hurt the feelings of local people at all.
Anti-Trump sentiment, not science, may be behind Dems’ school closures, liberal NY Times columnist writes
In an opinion article published online Thursday, a top liberal columnist for The New York Times blamed Democrats for the harm being inflicted on millions of the nation’s children by a year of school closures – describing it as a “tragedy we haven’t adequately confronted.”
He notes that at least one Democrat, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, pushed for schools to reopen in her state, “and kids there are better off because she did.”
Elsewhere, however, millions of the nation’s schoolchildren have missed in-person learning for many months because of coronavirus mitigation policies, a situation that may result in “permanent damage” — both to the children and the nation’s future, Kristof writes.
“The blunt fact,” he continues, “is that it is Democrats – including those who run the West Coast, from California through Oregon to Washington State – who have presided over one of the worst blows to the education of disadvantaged Americans in history.”
Victim’s glasses allegedly found in car of South Dakota AG who said he hit a deer
The state’s Department of Public Safety on Tuesday released recordings of investigators questioning Jason Ravnsborg about the Sept. 12 crash that left 55-year-old Joseph Boever dead.
The footage shows how, during a Sept. 14 interview, detectives told Ravnsborg that they had discovered a pair of broken glasses on the front passenger floorboard of his vehicle.
“They’re Joe’s glasses,” an agent says, referring to Boever. “So that means his face came through your windshield.”
Upon hearing that, Ravnsborg looked down and sighed deeply, before shaking his head, the footage shows.
“I did not see those glasses until you showed them to me,” he said.
U.S. jobless claims fall to 730,000 but layoffs remain high
The latest figures come as the job market has made scant progress in the past three months. Hiring averaged just 29,000 a month from November through January.
Though the unemployment rate was 6.3% in January, a broader measure that includes people who have given up on their job searches is closer to 10%.
All told, 19 million people were receiving unemployment aid as of Feb. 6, up from 18.3 million the previous week.
About three-quarters of those recipients are receiving checks from federal benefit programs, including programs that provide jobless aid beyond the 26 weeks given by most states.
AT&T ‘proud’ to partner with Chinese telecom giant controlled by communist party
Tucker Carlson Investigates: AT&T and CEO John Stankey lobbied on behalf of Chinese telecom giant; Former Commerce Undersecretary Corey Stewart gives insight.
Politics:
Biden bulldozes Trump’s classical architecture mandate for federal buildings
In deference to a bygone era, Trump signed an order that told architects to look to “America’s beloved landmark buildings” such as the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Department of the Treasury and the Lincoln Memorial for inspiration, and to avoid brutalist architecture that has sprung up since the 1950s.
Trump criticized more recent federal buildings as “undistinguished,” “uninspiring” and “just plain ugly.” The order uses the San Francisco Federal Building as an example, calling it “one of the ugliest structures in the city.”
The order was not strictly enforced, only expressing a preference for classic architecture. The specifics of Biden’s order are not entirely clear, but it does instruct the director of the Office of Management and Budget and any related agencies to “consider taking steps to rescind any orders, rules, regulations, guidelines or policies, or portions thereof, implementing or enforcing the presidential actions” that include the architecture order.
Biden’s order may put him at odds with the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts (CFA), an independent federal agency that advises lawmakers “on matters of design and aesthetics.”
Andy Ngo testifies at US House hearing on domestic terrorism
On 24 Feb., 2021, Andy Ngo gave testimony to the U.S. House judiciary hearing on the “Rise of Domestic Terrorism.”
He spoke about the organized mass violence carried out in the Pacific Northwest throughout 2020 involving Antifa groups and cells.
Democrat Congressmen Want To Ban Fox News!
Commentary/Opinion:
Two Democrat Congressmen are trying to get Fox News, OANN & Newsmax kicked off the air.
Here’s The Simple Truth.
Rand Paul Destroys Potential HHS Deputy Over Government Helping Kids Change Their Gender
“Dr. Levine you have both supported allowing minors to be given hormone blockers to prevent them from going through puberty as well as surgical destruction of a minor’s genitalia.
Like surgical mutilation, hormonal interruption of puberty can permantely alter and prevent secondary sexual characteristics.
The American College of Pediatricitons that 80 to 90 percent of pre-pubertal children with gender dysphoria will experience resolution by late adolescence if not exposed to medical intervention or social affirmation,” Paul said.
“Dr. Levine do you believe that minors are capable of making such a life changing decision as changing ones sex?”
“The specific question was about minors. Let’s be a little more specific since you evaded the question. Do you support the government intervening to override the parents’ consent to give a child puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and/or amputation surgery of breasts and genitalia,” Paul followed up.
McMorris Rodgers Slams Dems Pressuring Companies to Censor Outlets: Like “Chinese Communist Party”
House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) on Wednesday slammed Democrats for wanting to censor conservative media outlets, after Democrats sent a letter to cable, satellite, and streaming companies pressuring them to combat “disinformation.”
Recall Newsom organizer: ‘Draconian’ COVID rules will hurt California for decades
Recall Gavin Newsom organizer discusses the nearly two million signatures collected for the effort and how the governors’ policies will impact California businesses for decades.
WATCH: Democrat Uses ‘Fine People Hoax’ in Hearing, Gets Fact-checked on the Spot
President Joe Biden made the hoax a core part of his presidential campaign — despite being informed it was untrue:
Lee, who chairs the U.S. House Judiciary Committe’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, tried to use the hoax in a hearing titled “The Rise of Domestic Terrorism in America.”
She cited Charlottesville in attempting to attack what she called “attempts to equate white supremacy to anarchists, activists, and other groups who are opposed to white nationalism and other domestic terror.”
She added, referring to Charlottesville: “No, there are not good people on both sides.”
Biggs, who is the ranking member of the Republican minority, then rolled the tape.
Stimulus check: $1,400 for you, $1,400 a week for federal employees
President Joe Biden’s coronavirus stimulus package outlines a one-time $1,400 check to families financially affected by the virus.
Yet the fine print in the House stimulus bill sneaks in this fascinating nugget: If you’re a federal employee, you can receive $1,400 a week in paid time off for 15 weeks if you decide to stay at home and virtually school your child.
So, let’s get this straight. The Biden administration has issued school reopening guidance that effectively keeps kids at home learning indefinitely. Teachers unions are refusing to go back to in person learning and protesting at every turn. Just Wednesday, Montgomery County, Maryland teachers staged a drive-in, honking their horns in defiance of returning to in-school learning.
Meanwhile, millions of families are trying to balance work with virtual learning and child care — with only a lousy one-time $1,400 check to help compensate them for their efforts. Yet federal government employees will be paid weekly not to work.
The entire thing is insane, and another example of how the swamp takes care of its own.
Tucker: Democrats are importing migrants to expand voting base
Commentary/Opinion:
Tucker Carlson explains why the estimates used to count America’s illegal immigrants is off by millions.
Larry Elder SHUTS DOWN Reparations Bill at Congressional Hearing | Larry Elder
Commentary/Opinion:
Larry recently spoke at the House Judiciary Committee on “reparative justice,” which is a fancy way of saying reparations, and you can bet he had a few things to say.
In this episode, Larry debunks the whole idea of reparations and describes it as the extraction of money from people who were never slave owners to be given to be people who were never slaves.
Plain and simple, Larry’s father always said the Democrat party wants to give you something for nothing, and when you try to get something for nothing, you always end up getting nothing for something.
World News:
Bangladesh: Muslims attack and severely injure Hindu families, vandalize their homes
“Islamists unleash series of attacks on minority Hindus in Mymensingh, Bangladesh,” Hindu Post, February 24, 2021
The radical Islamists have carried out a string of brutal attacks in Bangladesh on Hindu minorities in recent times and the frequency of such attacks is increasing with each passing day.
A local Muslim gang of Mohammed Hafizuddin attacked Hindu families at Tarakanda Upazila Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The goons attacked the family with the intention of evicting them from their land. The family members were badly injured. The attackers did not even spare the women and their houses were also vandalized.
In all cases of attacks on Hindus, Islamists have adopted the same strategy of ransacking and burning houses and places of worship belonging to the minority Hindu community. According to these radicals, the purpose of the attacks is to free Bangladeshi soil from the Hindu community and also to occupy their properties and assets….
U.S. cannot trust Iran, must thwart its nuclear quest; Greek-Turkey tensions – TV7 Israel News 25.02
1) Jerusalem’s top defense official warns that regardless of any agreement reached with the Islamic Republic of Iran, its newly acquired knowhow and experience within the context of Tehran’s nuclear project, are irreversible
2) Tensions are once-again seemingly on the rise between Greece and neighboring Turkey, after the latter sent a new scientific research vessel into the Aegean Sea.
German police raid suspected Islamic extremists in Berlin
Some 850 police, including SWAT teams, were involved in the raids of apartments linked to members of the organization known as Jama’atu Berlin, the state Interior Ministry said.
The organization, whose name translates literally as the “Berlin Group,” was banned by Berlin’s state Interior Minister Andreas Geisel ahead of the raids on the grounds it was a “very radical” group that followed the Islamic State group’s ideology.“
The ban is another clear signal to all religious extremists,” Geisel said.
“We will fight the roots of terror. We will tolerate no place where terror is preached and the so-called Islamic State is glorified.”
Mother in Istanbul throws 4 children out apartment window to save them from fire, video shows
The incident happened on Wednesday at a five-story building in the Esenler district, located on Istanbul’s European side.
In video taken from the street below, the mother is seen dropping each child from the window as a cloud of black smoke pours through the opening.
C”First, black smoke started to come out,” the neighbor said. “Then, the children started shouting from the windows. And we opened the blankets. A woman threw the children down from above. So, we caught four kids with blankets.”
Commentary/Opinion:
The Trilogy of Islam
The Trilogy of Islam is the Koran, Hadith (Mohammed’s traditions) and the Sira (Mohammed’s biography). These three works contain the complete doctrine of Islam.
If it is in the Trilogy, it is Islam. If something is not in the Trilogy, it is not Islam.
The smallest part of the doctrine is in the Koran. 86% of the three texts is devoted to Mohammed and only 14% is devoted to Allah in the Koran.
Once you understand the Koran, the Hadith and the Sira, the basis of Sharia law is clear.
These texts describe how a human is to act in all areas of life; there is no human action that is not found in Sharia and hence, in the Trilogy.
Ozzy Man Reviews: Destination F (Vol.15)
Here’s me commentary on Destination F#%KED! Volume 15.