Taco Bell debuts custom Jalapeño Noir wine and pairs well with their Toasty Cheesy Chalupa
Taco Bell is getting into the wine business.
Taco Bell Canada debuted its custom Jalapeño Noir wine on social media.
They stated the wine pairs well with their Toasted Cheesy Chalupa.
The wine will be made available beginning Wednesday on Taco Bell’s Canada website, and in Ontario, CNN reported.
According to CNN, the bottles will sell for $25 Canadian or about $19 US.
via: https://www.pix11.com/news/national/taco-bell-debuts-custom-jalapeno-noir-wine
Photo Credit: Taco Bell Canada
The racist roots of college admission tests
The SAT tests have been criticized in recent years as discriminatory to people with disabilities along with low-income and minority students, but the standardized test also has racist roots.
It was created by a eugenicist and was first given in 1926 to 8,000 high school students. At the time, some schools wanted to diversify their wealthy, prep school student body, but only with other native-born white students.
In the 1920s, eugenics was a movement led by social scientists that believed you could improve the human race by selective breeding. Princeton Professor Carl Brigham was one of those scientists, according to Nicholas Lemann, author of “The Big Test: the Secret History of American Meritocracy.”
The scientists developed tests for the Army during World War I. The tests were supposed to measure the intelligence of recruits so the Army could identify men with so-called superior mental ability and those deemed mentally inferior.
After the war, Brigham published a book called “A Study of American Intelligence.” With it, he sounded the alarm about Europeans streaming in from eastern and southern Europe. He felt they would overwhelm the “races of higher intelligence.”
“The decline of American intelligence will be more rapid than the decline of the intelligence of other European groups, owing to the presence of the n—o,” he argued.
Eugenicists promoted laws and movements for the preservation of racial purity.
Brigham’s next project was the development of the SAT.
National Center for Fair & Open Testing head Bob Schaeffer said that even today, the way the SAT and other standardized tests are used creates further barriers
Still, the SAT and other standardized testing endures, despite the racist roots, but the SAT tests’ days may have an expiration date.
Just this spring, the university of California Board of Regents unanimously approved the suspension of the standardized testing requirement for all California freshman applicants until fall of 2024.
On it’s website, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing has a list of more than 1,500 four year colleges and universities listed as test optional.
Believe or not, it seems Brigham would approve. In the 1930s, he denounced the eugenics movement and became its leading critic. He also disowned his own book, calling it worthless. He campaigned against the SAT as a college admission device up until his death.
via: https://www.pix11.com/news/created-equal/the-racist-roots-of-college-admission-tests
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Police charge juveniles, woman in video showing NJ teen with disability getting pants pulled down
FAIR LAWN, NJ — A child and several teens allegedly attacked a teen with developmental disabilities at a Fair Lawn park, police said Monday.
A 10-year-old boy allegedly pulled down the 14-year-old victim’s pants and underwear as a 13-year-old boy allegedly held the victim in place, officials said. Alis Didrya, 19, and a 16-year-old girl allegedly filmed the incident and posted it to TikTok and Snapchat.
Police said Fidrya will be charged with two counts of invasion of privacy, cyber-harassment and harassment. The 16-year-old female will be charged as a juvenile with invasion of privacy, cyber-harassment and harassment.
The 13-year-old boy and the 10-year-old boy will both be charged as juveniles with harassment.
Fair Lawn Mayor Kurt Peluso said the incident happened at a park built specifically for children with special needs.
“For someone to be here with special needs enjoying the park and then be bullied and harassed is very disturbing,” Peluso said.
via: https://www.pix11.com/news/local-news/new-jersey/police-charge-juveniles-woman-in-video-showing-nj-teen-with-disability-getting-pants-pulled-down
Photo Credit: pix11.com
NJ man fondled store employees, masturbated in front of kids
A New Jersey man fondled two employees at a grocery store and masturbated in front of children, police said.
Thomas Hunter, 30, of Neptune Township, was busted by cops Saturday afternoon at a Stop & Shop on Third Avenue in Neptune City after a female employee told police he grabbed her by the arm and said that “he loves women” as he started to pleasure himself, Neptune City police said.
“The victim attempted to walk away, however Hunter pushed her against a pallet of water,” police said in a press release. “Hunter eventually let go of the victim when she told him the police were on their way.”
Hunter then allegedly sat on the floor of the store, where he “continued masturbating” in the presence of young children. He proceeded to approach another female employee at a self-checkout register, where he walked up to her from behind and rubbed his groin onto her backside, police said.
Responding officers arrested Hunter at the grocery store after a brief struggle, during which he tried to run away, police said.
Both women who police say Hunter victimized worked at the grocery store, Neptune City Police Chief Matthew Quagliato told The Post in an email Monday.
“Our detectives are still conducting follow up interviews and reviewing surveillance footage,” Quagliato said.
Hunter, who was charged with criminal sexual contact, simple assault, false imprisonment, resisting arrest and obstruction, remained held without bond Monday at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, online records show.
Hunter has been previously convicted of robbery twice in Union County, according to New Jersey Department of Corrections records cited by the Asbury Park Press.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/09/14/nj-man-fondled-store-employees-masturbated-in-front-of-kids-cops/
Photo Credit: NJ DOC
Oregon man, freed after using Molotov cocktail to start fire, set six more
An Oregon man was charged with using a Molotov cocktail to start a brush blaze in the wildfire-devastated state — then busted again just hours later for allegedly going back and starting six more, cops said.
Domingo Lopez Jr., 45, was first arrested Sunday afternoon after witnesses told cops he started a fire on the grassy edge of a Portland freeway with an incendiary device made out of a plastic bottle with a wick, the Portland Police Bureau said.
He admitted starting the blaze, which was extinguished without any injuries or property damage, cops said.
Lopez Jr. was booked into jail at 6:45 p.m. Sunday on charges of reckless burning and second-degree disorderly conduct — then released on his own recognizance later that night, court records show.
He was found walking along the edge of the same highway just after 3:30 a.m. Monday as cops joined fire crews to investigate reports of six more fires, Portland police said.
This time, he appeared to start the fires with a lighter, which was seized as evidence, the force said.
He was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation and issued citations for six additional counts of reckless burning, the bureau said.
Luckily, all the fires “were caught early” and “no one was injured and no structures were burnt,” police said.
The alleged arson comes as Oregon is one of the worst hit by wildfires devastating the West Coast, with at least 10 dead in the Beaver State.
The suspected Molotov cocktail attack comes as officials have also denied rumors that fires have been deliberately started by militants connected to ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.
Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara last week called rumors that one of Oregon’s worst fires was being eyed as started by Antifa “100% false information.”
via: https://nypost.com/2020/09/14/oregon-man-freed-after-starting-brush-fire-set-six-more-cops/
Photo Credit: Portland Police Bureau
Young woman deliberately saws off own hand to claim £1million in insurance fraud
Julija Adlesic, 22, told doctors she accidentally severed her hand while cutting branches, but a court found that she intentionally cut it off with a circular saw after taking out five insurance policies.
A young woman who deliberately sawed off her left hand to claim almost £1 million in insurance payouts has been given a two-year jail sentence for fraud.
Julija Adlesic, 22, and her boyfriend claimed the hand was severed above the wrist in an accident while she cut branches, and they left it behind when they went to a hospital for urgent treatment.
But a court in Ljubljana, Slovenia, found that the couple intentionally cut off the hand with a circular saw so that they could make a bogus insurance claim.
An investigation revealed that Adlesic had taken out five insurance policies in the year before her injury, and her 30-year-old boyfriend made internet searches about artificial hands in the days leading up to the incident.
Adlesic was deep in debt and was going through personal bankruptcy proceedings, the court heard.
Despite being given a two-year sentence, her house arrest was lifted and she walked free from court after a judge ruled she posed no danger of reoffending. Her partner was sentenced to three years and was held in custody.
The boyfriend’s 59-year-old mother, who was acquitted, became visibly shaken and lost consciousness after the verdicts and sentences were announced, 24 UR reported.
The court heard that Adlesic, who covered her reattached left hand inside and outside court, stood to gain more than £900,000 in payouts – more than £450,000 as a lump sum and the remaining amount in monthly instalments.
She insisted she was innocent, telling her trial: “No one wants to be crippled.
My youth has been destroyed.
“I lost my hand at the age of 20.
“Only I know how it happened.”
She told hospital staff that the hand was cut off by accident while she was pruning a tree.
A court found that Adlesic and her boyfriend intentionally left the severed hand behind at home instead of bringing it with them to the hospital to ensure the disability was permanent.
It was recovered and reattached by surgeons.
Prosecutors said the fact that Adlesic took out five insurance policies was proof that her hand was deliberately sliced off.
They said her boyfriend’s internet searches were further proof it was a planned and deliberate act.
Adlesic was convicted of attempted insurance fraud.
Her boyfriend’s 66-year-old father received a one-year suspended sentence and two years of probation for his part in the plot.
via: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/young-woman-deliberately-sawed-hand-22671372
Photo Credit: mirror.co.uk
A Los Angeles artist is selling $180 ‘Karen’ Halloween masks, calling them ‘the real monsters of 2020’
Halloween is just around the corner and, as expected, costumes highlighting the most prominent moments of 2020 are sprouting up — including “Karen” masks.
“Karen” has become an umbrella term to describe middle-aged white women who assert their sense of entitlement when they commit actions that some perceive as racist, as Insider’s Rachel Greenspan reported. “Karens” that have been in the news recently include Amy Cooper, who called the police on a Black man in New York in May, as well as a San Francisco woman who called the cops on her neighbor, who was writing “Black Lives Matter” in chalk on his own property.
The “Karen” Halloween masks were created by Jason Adcock, a Los Angeles-based artist for hire according to his Instagram. They’re made with latex and come with styled hair, lashes, and a personal paint job, according to the Etsy description.
Adcock told Business Insider that he’s always worked in retail and has seen lots of “Karens” in their “natural habitat.”
“I was starting on this year’s Halloween projects and kept seeing “Karens” pop up in my news feed and thought, ‘Damn this is the real monster of 2020,'” Adcock said.
The artist is selling two different versions of the “Karen” mask on his Etsy shop under the name kamorascostumes.
One is more in the scary realm, with the face twisted into an angry expression, complete with bulging red eyes and the inescapable blonde wig. The other, which the artist noted on Instagram is the KAREN-19, is similar but is covered in warts and looks sick. The caption describes KAREN-19 as someone who “thought she was slick calling you all sheep and look what happened,” likely referring to those who downplay the COVID-19 pandemic. “Karens” sometimes sport the “Can I speak to your manager?” haircut, a bob that has become associated with the trope.
The masks are priced at $180 and take three to four weeks to process.
via: https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/xandr/los-angeles-artist-selling-180-161730912.html
Photo Credit: Jason Adcock
The ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ mansion is on Airbnb for five nights only
Will Smith is offering fans the chance to kick back in the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” mansion, 30 years after his taxi first pulled up outside the lavish property on the hit ’90s sitcom.
To mark the show’s 30th anniversary, the Hollywood star has teamed up with the owners of the Brentwood, California house to make one wing available for rent on the platform.
On Sunday, Smith, 51, shared a picture of himself posing outside “The Freshest Los Angeles Mansion Around” with DJ Jazzy Jeff — real name Jeffrey Allen Townes — along with the caption: “YOOOO!! Y’all think we should rent out the @freshprincehouse?? We’re making it happen with the squad at @airbnb!! #FreshPrince30th.”
The official Fresh Prince account replied: “Home sweet home!”
While filming of interior scenes took place on sets, the grand mansion, with its distinctive pillars, featured in the opening credits of the show — and whenever Will’s best friend Jazz, played by DJ Jazzy Jeff, was ejected.
“Ready for the freshest staycation ever? If this place looks familiar that’s because it’s just as fly as it was when I first rolled up the driveway,” Smith wrote in the Airbnb description. “I’m back. And this time, I’m handing you the keys so you’ll have my wing of the mansion all to yourself — but my sneaker collection is off limits, aight?”
The price of all this luxury? One night in Smith’s character’s bedroom will set you back $30, and it’s being offered for five nights in total (October 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14).
According to the Airbnb listing, “all meals will be provided and served on silver platters, of course,” and there is a pool that is “great for dips.”
Meanwhile, Smith has released two first-look photos at the upcoming one-off reunion special that will air on the HBO Max streaming service this Thanksgiving.
One of the photos shows Smith sitting down to talk with Janet Hubert, the actress who originated the role of Aunt Viv, for the first time in 27 years.
Photo Credit: Westbrook Media
YouTuber explains why he livestreamed himself pooping on Nancy Pelosi’s driveway
The YouTube star who filmed himself defecating on the driveway of Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco residence said he did so as a “peaceful protest” — but admitted it was a “joke that got out of hand.”
The man, who identifies himself as “Mando” or “Armando” on his online channels and requested to have his last name withheld for fear of retribution, told The Post that the incident started with a joke from commenters on his livestream.
The 28-year-old said he’s part of a niche YouTube community that creates “IRL” or “in real life” livestream videos chronicling long stretches of unfiltered daily life.
He began the channel after he became homeless six years ago, and hoped to show his viewers the realities of living on the street as he traveled from city to city.
But recently coronavirus-related lockdowns made daily life increasingly difficult, Mando said — especially when businesses are closed to customers and no longer allow people to use their bathrooms.
As a result, Saturday’s livestream video, titled “Poopalosi,” began as a protest against a lack of resources for people living on the streets — while people in power, such Pelosi, are able to get haircuts and live their daily lives fairly unchanged.
“I’d been hunting for a toilet all week, and the joke came up in the comments on one of my streams that ‘Hey, you should take a crap at Pelosi’s house,’” Mando told The Post.
“Everyone was enjoying the idea of it, and eventually I just couldn’t hold it anymore.”
In the video, Mando can be seen wandering the streets of San Francisco in search of Pelosi’s home. Once there, he sets up a camera across the street and stands in what appears to be Pelosi’s driveway for several minutes.
He eventually salutes his viewers before squatting down to relieve himself on the pavement.
“That was for President Trump,” he says after exiting the frame.
Mando told The Post that the comment was meant to be “satire,” and that he’s “not really very political,” although he supports President Trump’s accomplishments and is scared about rising crime and the state of the country.
“I fear America is becoming one big burned down city,” he said.
Just a few hours after the incident, Mando said he was stopped by officers with the Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department, who detained him at the behest of Capitol Police, the agency tasked with protecting members of Congress.
“It was scary! I thought my life was over in that moment,” he said.
“They kept asking me, ‘Are you this? Are you that? Are you Antifa?’ And the Capitol Police were definitely watching my channel, because I could hear them on the radio like, ‘Tell him to turn off the stream.’”
A BART Police spokesperson confirmed the account, but said it did not have any further information. Speaker Pelosi’s office and Capitol Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Immediately following the incident, Mando apologized to Pelosi on Twitter, saying, “@SpeakerPelosi I know you may not ever see this but I want you to know, I meant no foul harm yesterday when I did what I did. I’m not proud of it at all and I just would like for you to know that. I have no ill will against you or anyone in an elected officials position.”
Mando also told The Post that the act is “not something I’m particularly proud of,” and that he does not mean any ill will towards Pelosi, or anyone else — although he hopes that his “peaceful protest” will inspire those in power to provide more resources to those who are homeless or otherwise down on their luck.
“What better way to show someone the message, you know?” he said.
“We need more access to bathrooms, we need more access to resources out here.”
via: https://nypost.com/2020/09/14/man-who-pooped-on-pelosis-driveway-calls-it-peaceful-protest/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Sheriff’s deputy in Georgia fired after video shows him repeatedly striking man
A sheriff’s deputy in the Atlanta area was fired for excessive use of force on Sunday after a social media video showed the deputy repeatedly striking a man, according to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office said that a criminal investigation of the incident will be turned over to the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office.
“After being made aware of a video posted on social media involving a Deputy using physical force on a man, Sheriff Victor Hill ordered his entire Internal Affairs Unit to come in and begin an investigation that has been on going since 8 pm (Friday),” according to a statement from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday.
Video of the incident appeared on Instagram, showing two deputies holding the man on the ground and striking him in the face. In the video, one deputy can be heard yelling, “he bit my hand!” A separate video taken from another angle shows children in a car nearby crying and one can be heard yelling, “Daddy!”
CNN reached out to the sheriff’s office for more details but has not heard back. Clayton County is a suburban county located just south of the city of Atlanta.
The man arrested by deputies was identified by his attorneys as Roderick Walker. Jail records show Walker has been charged with two counts of battery and two counts of obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers. There is no bond listed on the jail records.
Torris Butterfield, an attorney hired to represent Walker, said he met with his client for two hours on Saturday and he is actively trying to get bond set so that Walker can be released.
Clayton County Sheriff’s Office said the sheriff requested a signature bond, which would not have required Walker to pay a bail amount, two days ago. However, the Magistrate’s Office denied him a bond because Walker has a felony probation warrant out of Fulton County for cruelty to children, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and a failure to appear warrant out of Hapeville, the sheriff’s office said.
Speaking at a news conference Saturday night outside the Clayton County jail, attorney Shean Williams said the incident occurred after Walker, his girlfriend and one of his children had returned a rental car.
They approached a rideshare vehicle and negotiated a ride home at an agreed-upon rate with the driver, who was off-duty at the time, Williams told CNN.
The car was then pulled over for what was described as a tail-light violation, according to Williams.
Williams said that deputies demanded that Walker show his ID, but he did not have it with him. The deputies became upset when he asked why they needed the ID, the attorney said. Walker told the deputies he didn’t do anything wrong before they told him to exit the car, according to Williams, leading to the officers’ use of force.
Walker received X-rays of his head, which detected no fractures, and is being monitored at the jail hospital by a doctor, the sheriff’s office said.
Some of the social media posts claim the incident involved a passenger in a Lyft vehicle, but the ride-hailing company said that was incorrect.
“We’ve been made aware of a disturbing incident in Georgia,” Lyft said on Twitter. “While we confirmed this did not happen during a Lyft ride, we unequivocally stand against racism and unnecessary use of force.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation told CNN they have not received a request to investigate the incident. The name of the deputy has not been released.
The Georgia NAACP told CNN in an email that they are “calling for the resignation of Sheriff Victor Hill, the termination of the two officers involved, and all charges to be dropped by the Clayton County District Attorney, Tasha Mosley.”
“It’s time for the law to work for brown and Black citizens the way it works for White citizens,” said Gerald Griggs, an attorney for the NAACP Georgia, during the news conference.
CNN’s Kay Jones, Chuck Johnston and Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
via: https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/xandr/sheriffs-deputy-georgia-placed-leave-032142354.html
Photo Credit: aol.com