The “no more kangaroo” comments comes after several days of adorable posts by the Olympic medalist during his visit “down under.”
I think it’s pretty clear he saved the best for last 🙂
George Zimmerman To Auction Handgun Used To Kill Trayvon Martin
On February 26, 2012, George Zimmerman shot and killed 17 year-old Trayvon Martin.
A year and a half later, Zimmerman was acquitted on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter based on Florida’s “stand your ground” laws. Zimmerman portrayed himself as the victim in the entire incident.
Since then, Zimmerman has had several run-ins with the police which continue to illustrate violent tendencies.
Now, Zimmerman has chosen to inflame societal concerns once again.
Via the Washington Post:
Now, Zimmerman is auctioning off the 9-millimeter pistol he used to kill Martin on a website called GunBroker.com.
“I am honored and humbled to announce the sale of an American Firearm Icon,” he wrote in the description of the gun used to kill the unarmed, black teenager. “The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012.”
He wrote that the proceeds will be used to “fight [Black Lives Matter] violence against Law Enforcement officers” and to “ensure the demise of Angela Correy’s persecution career and Hillary Clinton’s anti-firearm rhetoric,” though he hasn’t expounded upon how.
UPDATE – Well, that was fast. The listing for George Zimmerman’s gun appears to have been removed from the site. Gee, do you think they were surprised by the uproar?
Rome’s Trevi Fountain Lit Up In Rainbow Celebration For Civil Unions
Ok, so while Italy’s newly approved civil unions may be “marriage lite,” it is a step forward. Especially when you consider Italy was the only remaining major Western country to not recognize same-sex couples.
To celebrate the occasion and show solidarity, Rome’s Trevi Fountain was lit with the rainbow.
Congrats Italy! #Forward
Bobby Holland Hanton, Chris Hemsworth’s Body Double, Is “God-Like” As Well
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Chris Hemsworth’s body double, Bobby Holland Hanton, is just as ridiculously good looking as you’d expect.
There. Now you know. Woof.
Hanton has been working as Hemsworth’s body double since Snow White and the Huntsman, and continued on as stunt double in Thor 2, and has been a part of Team Hemsworth ever since.
Hanton says he has to eat about 35 meals a day and train 2x daily to stay near Hemsworth’s god-like size.
Standing in for Hemsworth isn’t Hanton’s only credit though – he’s been a stunt double for other stars (good-looking ones) like Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, and Chris Evans.
Much more at his Instagram here.
Mitt Romney On Donald Trump “It Is Disqualifying To Refuse To Release Tax Returns”
The 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took to Facebook today to denounce Donald Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns, as every presidential candidate has done since 1976.
It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service. Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity of a candidate’s representations regarding charities, priorities, wealth, tax conformance, and conflicts of interest. Further, while not a likely circumstance, the potential for hidden inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups is simply too great a risk to ignore for someone who is seeking to become commander-in-chief.
Mr. Trump says he is being audited. So? There is nothing that prevents releasing tax returns that are being audited. Further, he could release returns for the years immediately prior to the years under audit. There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trump’s refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them. Given Mr. Trump’s equanimity with other flaws in his history, we can only assume it’s a bombshell of unusual size.
(Anticipating inquiries regarding my own tax release history, I released my 2010 tax returns in January of 2012 and I released my 2011 tax returns as soon as they were completed, in September of 2012.)
Hillary Clinton On Donald Trump’s Tax Returns: “Why Doesn’t He Want To Release Them?”
WATCH: @HillaryClinton: Why doesn't Donald Trump want to release his tax returns? https://t.co/R2J8mzmc3p https://t.co/12GyV9tbl3— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 11, 2016
We were all waiting for this.
Actually, I’m glad to see Hillary’s team pouncing on things quickly as they come up. It’s the way the game is played now.
As Hillary notes in the video, she’s got the past 8 years of her income taxes posted on her website right now.
Pony up, Trumpster.
#ImWithHer
Jeff Daniels Goes “Will McAvoy” On Donald Trump
Jeff Daniels reprises his portrayal of The Newsroom anchor Will McAvoy to talk Trump in a Bloomberg Television produced video featuring With All Due Respect hosts Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
Via Rolling Stone:
“I think for the first time in election history, her opponent might donate to her campaign,” McAvoy joked about the mogul’s past Clinton campaign contributions before launching into a Newsroom-inspired diatribe. “Yeah, Donald Trump is a fact-bending loose cannon who alienates mainstream voters with everything he says, but he gets constant media attention for free. There won’t be a day from now until November that Trump isn’t on every TV channel,” Daniels, in his McAvoy persona, told the hosts.
It’s for that reason – as well as Democrats’ less-than-enthusiastic feelings about Clinton – that McAvoy warns that Trump might be a worthier adversary than many in the political prognosticators are letting on. “Sure, she beats Trump in some categories – like millennials, who don’t even show up to vote. She also leads in the number of messages deleted on her personal email server – but that aside, when you ask, ‘What makes Trump the best-case scenario for Hillary?’ I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. His tiny hands?”
I was a big fan of The Newsroom during it’s run on HBO. Great, sharp writing by Aaron Sorkin, and strong, unapologetic performances across the board.
Donald Trump, Breaking 40 Years Of Tradition, Will Not Release His Tax Returns
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has reversed himself and, in an interview with the Associated Press, announced that he will not be releasing his tax returns before the election in November.
From the New York Times:
“There’s nothing to learn from them,” Mr. Trump told The A.P., explaining that he did not think voters were particularly interested in the contents of his returns.
The release of tax returns is not legally required of presidential candidates, but there is a long tradition of major party nominees putting their returns forward for the public to peruse. Joseph J. Thorndike, an adjunct college professor who tracks presidential tax returns as the director of the Tax History Project, said Mr. Trump would be the first major candidate since 1976 to not make any of his full returns public. President Gerald R. Ford released a tax summary that year.
During the heat of his primary battle, Mr. Trump said he would release his tax information and blamed the delay on the complexity of his finances. He later said that he could not do it immediately because he is being audited by the Internal Revenue Service, and that his lawyers advised him against it. Mr. Trump has also explained that he cannot release returns form previous years because the government audits him almost every year.
Although Mr. Trump has cited the audit as a reason for withholding his returns, Dr. Thorndike noted that President Richard M. Nixon released his under audit, starting the tradition of candidates making theirs public.
“I think 40 years of tradition carries real moral and ethical weight,” Dr. Thorndike said. “It is quite striking that a major candidate would decide not to release their tax information — especially someone with an admittedly complex tax situation.”
Among the most prominent people to call on Mr. Trump to release his returns this year has been Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee who did not want to release his tax returns but finally relented under pressure. One of the people who was encouraging him to do so that year was Mr. Trump, who said that Mr. Romney should be proud of his wealth and not hold back his financial information.
“Mitt has to get those tax returns out,” Mr. Trump said in a Fox News interview at the time. “I’m a little surprised they weren’t better prepared for that.”
You have to wonder what he’s hiding, no?
Nyle DiMarco Makes More History With DWTS First Same-Sex Dance
I wrote Monday about America’s Next Top Model winner and current Dancing with the Stars contestant Nyle DiMarco stopping the show this week with his moving Paso Doble which included a segment where he danced in silence to share with the audience his experience with dance.
Additionally, though, the “sexually fluid” hunk made history Monday night by being the first male star to be part of a same-sex dance on the show.
As part of the Judge’s Team-Up Challenge, Judge Bruno Tonioli worked with DiMarco, his partner Peta Murgatroyd, and actress Jodie Sweetin & her partner Keo Motsepe to present a sexy tango set to “Habanera” by Georges Bizet.
Said DiMarco of the performance, “This is a Dancing With The Stars first, having same-sex dancing. It’s a different experience. Usually I’m lifting Peta but… should it only be for a woman? Maybe Peta can lift me at some stage?”
NPR: HIllary Clinton Starts General Election With Strong Lead In Electoral College
From NPR’s Domenico Montanaro:
Hillary Clinton would have a significant electoral advantage over Donald Trump in the general election, based on an NPR analysis.
The Democratic former secretary of state would start out with already exactly enough electoral votes to win the presidency, 270-191, based on states considered safe, likely and to lean toward either candidate. The ratings, which will be updated at least monthly until Election Day, are based on fundamentals — historical trends and demographics, plus reporting and polling (both public and private).