In the headlines as the week closes
The Hillary Clinton campaign used an attack ad by a superPAC run by Karl Rove against the former Secretary of State as justification for their latest email to subscribers to their mailing list, asking for donations to fight these kinds of ads.
Reporter's note: I don't see her campaign decrying the attack ads taken out by superPACs that support her, slamming her primary opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders. Does that mean it is okay for Democrats to attack one another but not okay for Republicans to attack Democrats?
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A very, very rare set-used version of the Princess Leia "slave" costume from Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi will be auctioned off on October 1st. Estimates are that it may bring $120,000 although considering how rare it is, some experts predict a much higher price.
Reporter's note: I wonder if Carrie Fisher has maintained her 50 lb weight loss from 2011 and just how close she could come to wearing that outfit again. I bet Jenny Craig would pay a lot for a commercial where she is wearing that costume.
* * *
National Park officials have identified the seven people who died at Zion National Park in Utah when flash floods swept them away while they were canyoneering. Park Rangers warned them against going because of the danger from heavy rains, but policy prevents them from performing skill assessments/preventing guests from going if they want to go.
Reporter's note: Given the dangers present in all of our national parks, I'm not sure any policy that prevents visitors from doing things would be wise. Best that the Park Service ensure that visitors are fully informed of the risks before they can go into areas where high levels of danger exist. Then again, when people ignore warnings about proper food storage where bears are present is proof that all of the warnings in the world won't prevent people from being dumb.
* * *
A delivery driver for Papa John's Pizza in North Carolina was given a choice. Remove his Confederate flag decal plate or lose his job. TMZ.com reported this story and pointed out they were told customers had taken to Yelp.com to complain.
Reporter's note: This seems to have occurred in Huntersville, NC and there was only one complaint on Yelp about it. This isn't a freedom of speech issue either. If an employer doesn't want you using your vehicle to deliver their product due to your choice of vehicle decorations, that's their prerogative. A reminder that the First Amendment only limits government in infringing on your freedom of expression.
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A judge has thrown out Lindsay Lohan's lawsuit against Fox News, Sean Hannity and Michelle Fields for defamation of character. Lohan had sued after Collins said Lohan and her mother Dina Lohan had used cocaine together. The judge pointed out that the Lohans are public figures and that the statement wasn't made maliciously. He also pointed out that truth is a defense against allegations of defamation.
Reporter's note: Filing the lawsuit was a waste of time. They had to know they were going to lose.
* * *
This is a check that was written as a donation to a school that uses the Common Core teaching methodology. It was written using Common Core math standards. Can you determine how much it is supposed to be worth?
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Coca-Cola says the IRS is coming after them for $3.3 billion in back taxes, plus interest. The allegations of underpayment involve claims that the company is charging its foreign subsidiaries lowered licensing fees for products in order to shift income away from the higher corporate income tax rates in the U. S. They plan to fight it out in court if necessary.
Reporter's note: This kind of case is usually settled for a much smaller amount that what is originally billed. But this is also evidence of yet another way U.S. corporations attempt to avoid paying taxes.
* * *
Martin Winterkorn is the CEO of Volkswagen. He issued an apology saying he is sorry that his firm had "broken trust" with its customers. The EPA has charged the company with installing software in its diesel cars sold in the U.S. that cheated on emissions testing. The California Air Resources board discovered the cheating after conducting road tests and getting different emission level results in comparison with the ordinary, stationary testing done to register vehicles. Over 500,000 cars had the software, which enabled emission control equipment only when vehicles were being tested.
Reporter's note: This is one where there should be jail time, not just big fines for deliberately polluting the environment of our country. They didn't sell these cars in Germany.
Reporter's note: I don't see her campaign decrying the attack ads taken out by superPACs that support her, slamming her primary opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders. Does that mean it is okay for Democrats to attack one another but not okay for Republicans to attack Democrats?
* * *
A very, very rare set-used version of the Princess Leia "slave" costume from Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi will be auctioned off on October 1st. Estimates are that it may bring $120,000 although considering how rare it is, some experts predict a much higher price.
Reporter's note: I wonder if Carrie Fisher has maintained her 50 lb weight loss from 2011 and just how close she could come to wearing that outfit again. I bet Jenny Craig would pay a lot for a commercial where she is wearing that costume.
* * *
National Park officials have identified the seven people who died at Zion National Park in Utah when flash floods swept them away while they were canyoneering. Park Rangers warned them against going because of the danger from heavy rains, but policy prevents them from performing skill assessments/preventing guests from going if they want to go.
Reporter's note: Given the dangers present in all of our national parks, I'm not sure any policy that prevents visitors from doing things would be wise. Best that the Park Service ensure that visitors are fully informed of the risks before they can go into areas where high levels of danger exist. Then again, when people ignore warnings about proper food storage where bears are present is proof that all of the warnings in the world won't prevent people from being dumb.
* * *
A delivery driver for Papa John's Pizza in North Carolina was given a choice. Remove his Confederate flag decal plate or lose his job. TMZ.com reported this story and pointed out they were told customers had taken to Yelp.com to complain.
Reporter's note: This seems to have occurred in Huntersville, NC and there was only one complaint on Yelp about it. This isn't a freedom of speech issue either. If an employer doesn't want you using your vehicle to deliver their product due to your choice of vehicle decorations, that's their prerogative. A reminder that the First Amendment only limits government in infringing on your freedom of expression.
* * *
A judge has thrown out Lindsay Lohan's lawsuit against Fox News, Sean Hannity and Michelle Fields for defamation of character. Lohan had sued after Collins said Lohan and her mother Dina Lohan had used cocaine together. The judge pointed out that the Lohans are public figures and that the statement wasn't made maliciously. He also pointed out that truth is a defense against allegations of defamation.
Reporter's note: Filing the lawsuit was a waste of time. They had to know they were going to lose.
* * *
This is a check that was written as a donation to a school that uses the Common Core teaching methodology. It was written using Common Core math standards. Can you determine how much it is supposed to be worth?
* * *
Coca-Cola says the IRS is coming after them for $3.3 billion in back taxes, plus interest. The allegations of underpayment involve claims that the company is charging its foreign subsidiaries lowered licensing fees for products in order to shift income away from the higher corporate income tax rates in the U. S. They plan to fight it out in court if necessary.
Reporter's note: This kind of case is usually settled for a much smaller amount that what is originally billed. But this is also evidence of yet another way U.S. corporations attempt to avoid paying taxes.
* * *
Martin Winterkorn is the CEO of Volkswagen. He issued an apology saying he is sorry that his firm had "broken trust" with its customers. The EPA has charged the company with installing software in its diesel cars sold in the U.S. that cheated on emissions testing. The California Air Resources board discovered the cheating after conducting road tests and getting different emission level results in comparison with the ordinary, stationary testing done to register vehicles. Over 500,000 cars had the software, which enabled emission control equipment only when vehicles were being tested.
Reporter's note: This is one where there should be jail time, not just big fines for deliberately polluting the environment of our country. They didn't sell these cars in Germany.
posted by me at 11:55 AM
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