A petition to move Halloween to the last Saturday of the month is picking up steam
There are lots of reasons to hate holidays: traffic, awkward family reunions, expensive gifts that would wring a tear from anyone’s wallet. But if there’s one celebration absent from all of this holiday drama, it’s Halloween.
It’s too bad that, more times than not, the sugar-laden holiday is set right in the middle of the week, when would-be revelers have to get to bed early.
But there’s a petition aiming to change that. This time, instead of demanding #Justice for A$AP Rocky or storming Area 51, it’s lobbying to bump Halloween from October 31 to the last Saturday of the month.
The petition, launched last year by the nonprofit Halloween & Costume Association, argues that moving the date of Halloween will lead to a “safer, longer, stress-free celebration.”
The association didn’t respond to requests for further comment.
The roots of Halloween are a lot deeper than Party City commercials might have you believe. Halloween, an abbreviation for All Hallows’ Eve, originated as a pagan festival celebrated by the Celts thousands of years ago.
As a part of Samhain, a celebration of summer’s end, people went “souling” — they’d go from door to door asking for “soul cakes” or food and drink in exchange for a song, dance or prayer. Trick-or-treating got its start there. Now, it’s the main way we choose to commemorate October 31. But trick-or-treating can be dangerous.
So how does moving a date make this spooky holiday safer? In theory, it would mean Halloween would kick off during daylight hours and not interfere with work or school schedules.
Maybe that’s what makes the petition appealing to so many. The organization has scraped together 58,980 signatures, and more are coming in by the day.
After its rallying cry, the petition lists safety tips for both parents and partiers. “63% of children don’t carry a flashlight while they are (trick)-or-treating. Grab a clip-on light if they don’t want to carry one! Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween.”
Why is a petition started a year ago just picking up steam in the middle of July? The fiery glory of the Fourth of July must have worn off, and people are looking to the next holiday up on the calendar.
via: https://pix11.com/2019/07/25/a-petition-to-move-halloween-is-picking-up-steam/
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Bette Midler calls African American Trump supporters ‘blackground,’ is slammed as ‘racist’
Bette Midler is facing backlash after suggesting that President Donald Trump paid African American supporters to add “blackground” to his rally.
The outspoken Trump critic took to Twitter Wednesday to share a photo of a group of black men standing in the crowd behind Trump during one of his reelection rallies.
“Look, there are African American men in this shot! How much did he pay them to be ‘blackground’?” Midler, 73, tweeted to her 1.7 million followers.
Her remark was instantly slammed as “racist” and “really sick.”
“Wow, Bette! That’s some racist crap right there. I guess an old, white woman like yourself gets to decide what and how black people should believe and vote,” @staceybeast tweeted, while @Sammurica wrote: “People of different races are allowed to support whoever they want. Shocking, I know.”
User @derek_mafs added: “Wow this is a disgusting comment on so many levels? ‘blackground?’ Really? You are really sick, Bette.”
Midler hasn’t deleted the controversial tweet from her account, where she has since tweeted about former special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony.
She also replied to a user who posted a screengrab of her tweet and called her “#BigotBette,” writing, “Those who scream the loudest (and drop the most F-bombs)…”
Ignoring the swipe at her commentary, Midler responded to the mention of her cursing.
“As many as I feel like! Personally, I enjoy swearing. Why don’t you try it, you uptight…..ha!” she wrote.
Trump hasn’t addressed her tweet yet.
“Your wit and good nature really lifted my spirits; as a newly washed up psycho, I am very grateful for your thoughts and prayers,” she added.
Midler is a frequent and outspoken critic of Trump. The Oscar-nominated actress/singer caused waves on Nov. 14, 2018 when she went after first lady Melania Trump by sharing an image from the former model’s steamy shoot with British GQ in 2000.
Article via USAToday
Kim Kardashian CLAPS BACK @BetteMidler @ChloeGMoretz @piersmorgan for making fun of her N*DE SELFIE
Four teens charged in attack on flight attendant and American girlfriend who refused to kiss
Four teenage boys have been charged with an aggravated hate crime after brutally beating two women who refused their demands to kiss while aboard a bus in London last May, authorities said Thursday.
The teens attacked 28-year-old Melania Geymonat, a flight attendant from Uruguay, and her American girlfriend, Chris, on the upper deck of a bus traveling through West Hampstead, London, in the early hours of May 30. The women were beaten and robbed. A photo after the incident showed their bloody facial injuries.
Two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were charged with an aggravated hate crime under the Public Order act, the Metropolitan Police Service announced in a statement. The identities of the teens were not released.
One 16-year-old faces an additional charge of theft and handling stolen goods, while the other is accused of possessing cannabis. The 15-year-old was also charged with theft and handling stolen goods.
The teens were scheduled to appear in Highbury Corner Youth Court on Aug. 21.
Speaking after the attack, Geymonat said the teens demanded the women kiss while making crude sexual gestures and throwing coins at them.
“The next thing I remember was Chris in the middle of them and they were beating her,” Geymonat said. “I didn’t think about it and went in. I was pulling her back and trying to defend her so they started beating me up.
“I felt blood, I was bleeding all over my clothes and all over the floor.”
Both women were taken to a hospital and received treatment for facial injuries.
Article via FoxNews
Woman charged after McDonald’s employees say she fired a gun over cold fries
(Meredith) — A Georgia woman is facing charges after employees of a Savannah-area McDonald’s said she fired a gun inside the restaurant over cold fries Tuesday.
WTOC reports that Lillian Tarver left the Garden City McDonald’s with her order and then came back inside, saying her fries were cold. Employees told WTOC that an argument and physical fight ensued, and Tarver fired a gunshot at the floor. According to WJCL, Tarver also allegedly took money from the cash register.
No one was injured in the incident, but employees tell WTOC they are fearful to go back to work.
Tarver then left the restaurant but was later found and arrested by police. She faces 12 charges, including aggravated assault, battery, armed robbery and reckless conduct. Bond information was not available.
Photo Credit: Chatham County Detention Center, Google Maps
80-year-old Nashville man accused of raping 7-year-old girl while her father went to store
NASHVILLE (WSMV) — Nashville Police have arrested an 80-year-old man accused of raping a 7-year-old girl.
According to arrest records, the victim said her father left her alone with Dionicio Hernandez while he went to the store and Hernandez penetrated her. Hernandez admitted to the crime.
Hernandez is charged with two counts of felony rape of a child and was booked into jail on $300,000 bond.
Photo Credit: Metro Nashville PD
Jeffrey Epstein found nearly unconscious in NYC jail cell after possible suicide attempt
Convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was found in his cell on Tuesday nearly unconscious with injuries to his neck after a possible suicide attempt, sources said.
Epstein was discovered by guards sprawled out on the floor at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he’s being held without bail on sex-trafficking charges, according to law enforcement sources.
The multi-millionaire financier was taken to a nearby hospital.
It’s unclear how Epstein suffered his neck injuries.
Investigators believe Epstein may have done it to himself either on purpose or as a ploy to get transferred out of the jail, sources said.
It was also possible that Epstein was attacked by another inmate, the sources added.
Epstein was busted July 6 on sex-trafficking and conspiracy charges for allegedly sexually abusing underage girls at his Manhattan townhouse and his $12 million estate in Palm Beach, Fla., between 2002 and 2005.
He’s pleaded not guilty to the charges and appealed a judge’s decision to keep him behind bars pending a trial.
Photo Credit: AP
2 Men Fined After Eating Raw Squirrels in Anti-Vegan Stunt in London
There were the vegans who “terrorized” the butchers. Now, meat eaters tried to terrorize the vegans.
The BBC reports a macabre scene in London on March 30 earned two men disorderly conduct convictions and fines on Monday.
Gatis Lagzdins, 29; and Deonisy Khlebnikov, 22, stationed themselves in front of a food stall at the Soho Vegan Food Market and began to eat dead but raw squirrels—ones that still possessed their skin and fur, reports USA Today.
You can view two grisly photos here; they show one of the men wearing a “veganism = malnutrition” shirt.
A British prosecutor says people asked the men to stop but they did not comply, and their “pre-meditated actions” distressed both adults and children.
The men are said to be anti-vegan and claimed they were demonstrating the dangers of not consuming meat by eating the squirrels. They were fined $500 and $250, respectively
via: https://ktla.com/2019/07/24/anti-vegan-stunt-had-men-eating-raw-squirrels/
Photo Credit: Crown Prosecution Service in London
Mom accused of killing 4-year-old son with table salt reaches plea deal
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A Tucson woman accused of killing her ailing 4-year-old son with table salt in 2015 has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Pima County prosecutors say 35-year-old Ashley Castro reached a plea agreement in the case Monday.
They say Castro is facing up to 25 years in prison when she’s sentenced on Sept. 30.
Castro was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder after her young son died at a hospital in November 2015.
Authorities say Ezekiel Castro was being treated for a heart condition at the time.
Tucson police say Ashley Castro admitted to giving her son a mixture of salt and water that she carried for use as a mouthwash.
Authorities say the high level of sodium put the child in critical condition, leading to several hemorrhages and a stroke.
Photo Credit: Pima County Sheriff’s Department
Woman arrested after pouring alcohol into mouth of Taco Bell worker at drive-thru
(Meredith) – A sheriff’s office in Oregon said it made one of the “weirdest DUI” arrests over the weekend after a woman pulled up to a Taco Bell drive-thru and poured Hennessy into the mouth of an employee.
Elianna Aguilar-Aguilar, 23, apparently didn’t notice the Washington County Sheriff’s sergeant behind her in line when she reached through the drive-thru window and gave the worker a swig of alcohol on Saturday.
The sergeant immediately followed Aguilar-Aguilar out of the parking lot and pulled her over, the Oregonian reported. Two passengers were also in her vehicle.
Aguilar-Aguilar was booked into the county jail on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants, according to KPTV. The sheriff’s office said she had a blood alcohol content of .12 percent.
Deputies talked to the Taco Bell worker following the incident. He said most of the alcohol spilled on him, and he didn’t consume any of the Hennessy, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Brian van Kleef.
Photo Credit: Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Newborn baby abandoned on doorstep with heartbreaking note
ORLANDO, Fla. (WKMG/CNN) – Police are investigating after a 1-day-old baby boy was found wrapped in a T-shirt on a woman’s doorstep.
Althea Brown said she still cannot believe someone abandoned the baby Saturday morning outside her unit at the Willow Key Apartments in Orlando, Fla.
“It’s incomprehensible to me,” she said. “I don’t know if it was a neighbor… or if it was just somebody that decided to use this place as their escape.”
Brown had already left for work when she got a call from a neighbor saying they heard the sound of a baby crying.
When officers arrived at the apartment, they found the infant, who appeared to be in good health. The baby was taken to a children’s hospital.
Sgt. Eduardo Bernal said detectives are also examining a note that neighbors found with the baby. The note appears to have been written by the mother, detailing a domestic violence situation
“We’re not going to specifically talk about a note being part of this case,” Bernal said. “But we are looking into all the circumstances with that.”
Police are still investigating the incident, and the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the police department.
Officers are also reminding the public that before 7 days old, an unwanted newborn in Florida can be taken to a hospital or fire station. There are no criminal repercussions in such cases.
Photo Credit: mysanantonio.com