Sources: NFL used polling firm to get public opinion on Colin Kaepernick
ATLANTA – Four months into quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s 2017 free agency and heading into intensified criticism from President Donald Trump over player protests, the NFL used a Washington consulting firm to ask Americans whether Kaepernick should have been signed by a team, according to sources familiar with the league’s research.
The poll was conducted by The Glover Park Group, a consulting firm that was co-founded by then-NFL communications chief Joe Lockhart, sources told Yahoo Sports. The data sought by the NFL included fan attitudes about a few high-profile league concerns, including domestic violence, gambling, player protests and player safety. Sources noted that Kaepernick was the only player singled out in the research for specific opinions, which were then compiled and sent to various league officials, including commissioner Roger Goodell and several other high-ranking executives.
The poll could create a significant point of contention in Kaepernick’s collusion complaint against the NFL, raising the question of why the league conducted opinion research with its fan base about the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback. The existence of polling data on Kaepernick could also raise the question of whether the research went beyond high-ranking NFL executives to ownership groups or other team personnel who could have signed the quarterback…….
READ MORE——> https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-nfl-used-polling-firm-get-public-opinion-colin-kaepernick-050421636.html
It Is Illegal for Donald Trump to Block You on Twitter Just Because He Is a Big Baby Who Can’t Take Criticism Monique Judge
Wow I had to rewrite my thoughts on this artcle. Like many of us do. Or LOTS of us do we read the title and go off just the title and DON’T take the time to READ the good Tea! Read on my tisppers!
Not surprisingly, the GREAT Men & Women of the FBI are starting to speak out against Comey, McCabe and all of the political corruption and poor leadership found within the top ranks of the FBI. Comey was a terrible and corrupt leader who inflicted great pain on the FBI! #SPYGATE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2018
A federal judge in New York City ruled Wednesday that the ability to view and engage with Donald Trump on his personal Twitter account is part of our constitutional First Amendment rights, and his blocking people simply because he doesn’t like their criticisms of him is a violation of those rights.
Since his election, Trump has continued to tweet from his personal Twitter account under the user name @realDonaldTrump—despite the fact that there is an official presidential Twitter account that he could use. In July, a group of seven Twitter users who were blocked by Trump after criticizing him on the platform filed a lawsuit against him, arguing that his Twitter feed is an official government account, and preventing users from viewing it is a violation of their First Amendment rights.
According to the New York Times, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York agreed, and she wrote in her ruling that “the speech in which they seek to engage is protected by the First Amendment,” adding that both Trump and White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino “exert governmental control over certain aspects of the @realDonaldTrump account.”
“The viewpoint-based exclusion of the individual plaintiffs from that designated public forum is proscribed by the First Amendment and cannot be justified by the president’s personal First Amendment interests,” Buchwald wrote.
The government tried to argue that Trump uses his personal account in a personal capacity, but Buchwald concluded that he “uses the account to take actions that can be taken only by the president as president.”
Isn’t it funny how the biggest bully on Twitter can dish it out but can’t take it when it gets thrown back at him?
This is the same person who uses his account to attack the media, make claims of fake news and demean journalists everywhere, all in a plot to discredit them so that, in his words, according to prominent journalist Lesley Stahl, “when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you.”
The one person who should be an example of upholding the Constitution is the main person looking to tear it down and destroy it every chance he gets.
Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University—which joined the lawsuit— served as counsel to the plaintiffs. He told the Times that it’s clear what Trump needs to do now in light of the judge’s ruling.
“The position the Trump administration is taking is that the president is entitled to block people, and that the court lacks the ability to order him to do otherwise,” Jaffer said. Although the judge had not ordered it, he said, “The right thing for the president and his social media director to do would be to log into the president’s account and unblock everyone who has been blocked on the basis of viewpoint.”
We won’t hold our breath waiting for that to happen. This administration doesn’t care one bit about the rule of law. These people think they are above it, as evidenced by the statement made by a spokeswoman from the Justice Department, which is representing the president in the case.
“We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision and are considering our next steps,” she said.
As for the judge, Buchwald did not issue an injunction to force the president’s hand but, rather, is relying on him to do the right thing.
“Because no government official is above the law and because all government officials are presumed to follow the law once the judiciary has said what the law is, we must assume that the president and Scavino will remedy the blocking we have held to be unconstitutional,” she wrote in her ruling.
READ MORE FROM THE ROOT.COM
Elfen’s TBT Music Video of the week 1984 Midnight Star Operator
Midnight Star was one of the hottest bands throughout the 1980’s. I was 12 in 1984. And my Mama would not allow me to watch any music videos. But I snuck and watched this one though!
Midnight Star Operator
Elfen’s R&B TBT 1984 Midnight Star Operator
Midnight Star Plantary Invasion release date November 11th 1984
OMG I LOVED THIS SONG BACK IN late 1984 and 85!!! Operator stayed 1# on the R&B top 40 for 5 weeks! Beverly Hills Cop was in theaters and made $15,214,805 that weekend. TV Shows that year was St Elsewhere, Webster, The Cosby Show, Hill Street Blues. 1984 you could hop in your car, take a bus or walk to your local record store and get this album for about $9! I know this album wore the niddle on the record player! Next Thursday I’ll be featuring one of Michael Jackson sisters! See you next week!!
Iowa mom pulled son into path of train in apparent murder-suicide
BELLE PLANE, Iowa – Authorities say a woman and boy whose bodies were found at a railroad crossing in eastern Iowa died in a murder-suicide, according to KCCI.
The incident happened May 4. Teresa Gerleman, 35, and her 8-year-old son, Henry Fields were found by police officers responding to a Belle Plaine crossing around 5 a.m. Friday.
The Iowa Public Safety Department said after speaking with Union Pacific Railroad employees, video footage from the Union Pacific engine and a multitude of interviews, the conclusion is Gerleman committed suicide and pulled her son into the path of the train, thus killing him as well.
“Evidence at the impact site indicates Gerleman waited near the railroad tracks for the Union Pacific train to approach,” Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation officials said in a statement. “Gerleman and her son Henry can be seen on video crossing the tracks and as the train draws near, Gerleman returns to the center of the tracks and at the last moment pulls Henry into the path of the train.”
Ruth Ann Stratto, who lived across the street from Gerleman, said she still gets choked up thinking of the 35-year-old and her 8-year-old. Stratto said Gerleman and her son died just a few blocks north of their neighborhood.
“I heard the train just squeal their brakes,” Stratto said.
Friends of Gerleman created a Facebook page entitled, “In Loving Memory Of Teresa Gerleman & Henry Fields” as a tribute.
According to the Facebook page, Gerleman was dealing with family issues and had just recently moved to Belle Plaine.
“I think it’s very tragic,” Stratto said. “I’ve got grandchildren (and) great grandchildren. My heart goes out to that little boy.”
Just a week before Gerleman and her son died another man threw himself in front of a train on the same crossing.
Friends told KCCI that Gerleman and the man were connected, but authorities could not confirm the claim.
Family members told KCCI that there will be no funeral for Gerleman.
via: http://pix11.com/2018/05/23/iowa-mom-pulled-son-into-path-of-train-police-say/
Man accused of stabbing pregnant girlfriend joked on Facebook, with knife, about ‘murdering’ a birthday cake
THE BRONX — The photos from nine years ago seem eerie, when you consider what 30-year-old Oscar Alvarez is now accused of doing.
The Bronx resident, charged with viciously stabbing his pregnant girlfriend multiple times early Wednesday—resulting in the loss of their unborn baby girl—is seen in Facebook pictures celebrating a family birthday in 2009.
Alvarez is holding a cake knife in one hand and hugging his mother with the other. The caption? “About to murder that cake, lmao.” Other photos show Alvarez about to cut the cake.
The remark seems somewhat prophetic of bad days to come, because Alvarez is now charged with repeatedly stabbing his live-in girlfriend, Liv Abreu, who was 26 weeks pregnant with their daughter.
An argument broke out in the couple’s third floor Bronx apartment on Walton Avenue early Tuesday morning.
Alvarez allegedly stabbed Abreu, a former U.S. paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, in the chest and side multiple times.
Alvarez told police he cleaned up and changed his clothes. He allegedly took Abreu’s cell phone, when he left the apartment, so she couldn’t call for help.
When he finally went out about 30 minutes after the stabbing, a critically wounded Abreu managed to drag herself to a neighbor’s apartment on the second floor to call 911.
Earlier this month, Alvarez had reposted a “selfie” he took on his October birthday in 2013. He’s wearing a nice suit and tie. One of his aunts posted a message, telling him to give a kiss to “Liv.”
Back to the birthday celebration from March 2009. A second photo of Alvarez holding his mother tight is captioned, “My mom and I. She loves me.”
Alvarez is now being held without bail on Rikers Island, charged with the attempted murder of Abreu.
An NYPD source explained to PIX11 that the loss of an unborn fetus is not considered a homicide.
Aaron Hernandez’s Fiancée Shayanna Jenkins Reveals She Is Pregnant 13 Months After His Death
Aaron Hernandez‘s fiancée at the time of his death, Shayanna Jenkins, is expecting a child 13 months after he hanged himself in prison.
The mother of one, who shares daughter Avielle Janelle with the late football player, announced her pregnancy on Instagram with a bump-revealing photo on Tuesday.
Jenkins also revealed the sex of her baby, writing she was expecting a second daughter, although she did not comment on the paternity of the child.
“Many of you have had speculated that I may be expecting another miracle which is very accurate, I wanted to take time and process and post when I was ready to. I wanted to have a moment for myself alone with my daughter … we are beyond excited about the new addition and chapter we will soon begin,” Jenkins, 28, wrote in the caption.
“I couldn’t be a luckier woman to have such a perfect little girl that’s prepared to become the best big sister, and even more blessed to welcome another babygirl [sic] to our home,” she continued.
“BabyG we are very excited to meet you !!! Mommy and sissy will continue to wait patiently for your arrival. I thank everyone for the continued support and appreciate the respect for our privacy that has been shown” she added.
Jenkins and Hernandez welcomed their daughter Avielle, 5, in 2012. In November of that year, the two also became engaged although they never married.
Hernandez, a former tight end for the New England Patriots, was arrested in 2013 for the murder of Odin Lloyd, a man dating Jenkin’s sister. As he awaited trial, he was charged with the fatal drive-by shootings of Daniel Jorge Correia de Abreu and Safiro Teixeira Furtado.
Shayanna Jenkins and Aaron Hernandez
Shayanna Jenkins and Aaron Hernandez
More
He was given a life sentence for the murder of Lloyd, Hernandez was acquitted of the double homicide in April 2017 and, just days later, he was found dead in his prison cell. The disgraced sportsman had killed himself, he was 27.
“Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population unit,” a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Corrections read at the time. “[He] hanged himself utilizing a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.”
• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.
In May 2017, Jenkins appeared on the Dr. Phil show and said she did not believe the athlete killed himself, despite authorities’ determination otherwise.
“I don’t think this was a suicide,” she told Dr. Phil citing his acquittal and pending appeal on the Odin case. “That would make me doubt that he took his own life. He was very positive, so excited to come home.”
She added that Hernandez had spoken with their daughter after his acquittal and told her, “Daddy’s gonna be home.”
READ MORE——–> https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/aaron-hernandez-fianc-e-shayanna-225739843.html
Looks like I’ll be sitting out the NFL again next season and the season after that etc.
It was much easier to boycott the NFL last season than I anticipated. For one, I underestimated how much I’d enjoy having my Sundays back. Also, my NFL fandom belongs to a team with a racist name that also happens to suck more often than not, so boycotting because the NFL blackballed Colin Kaepernick was as much “Why don’t I just enjoy life” as it was actively taking a stance.
But a stance I did take. I specifically didn’t watch NFL games because I think the NFL is remarkably tone-deaf and places the value of a dollar over the rights of persons from affected communities to use their tremendous platform to speak on issues that directly speak to them. And it also kept Kaepernick out on purpose because white people put up a stink. But the league sucks in lots of other areas, too.
When the NFL stops a person from being able to even support breast-cancer awareness in the name of his own mother during months that the NFL doesn’t have a specific interest in doing so, there’s a problem.
Thus, I was right there with my support of all the players who chose to kneel or protest silently against police brutality, following in the activist steps of Kaepernick who wasn’t able to do so on the field. Fuck the NFL.
So, I sat out last season, and haven’t worn any NFL-related ’nalia since longer than I can remember except for that one time I wore my Colin Kaepernick jersey to Jay-Z’s 4:44 concert stop in Washington, D.C…..
READ MORE——> https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/looks-like-i-ll-be-sitting-out-the-nfl-again-next-seaso-1826266326
Elfen’s Neosoul Hip Hop Music Video of the week Wednesday May 23rd 2018
Do you see who I see? Will Smith makes a cameo! Dj Jazzy Jeff and Will are FaceTimin’ Dayne and Rhymefest! Download Dj Jazzy Jeff’s new album M3 on Apple iTunes or Bandcamp