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Highlights: Students, Parents & Teachers Face Off With Marco Rubio And NRA At Gun Violence Town Hall

Fred Guttenberg faces off with Sen. Marco Rubio

Last night’s Town Hall hosted by CNN was a rough ride for Sen. Marco Rubio and NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch as they took questions from parents and students regarding the tragic gun massacre that took place last week in Parkland, Florida.

You can listen to and read a full transcript of the Town Hall moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper here.

Just a few highlights:

• Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime Guttenberg who was killed in the shooting, told Rubio “your comments this week and those of our president have been pathetically weak.”

“Look at me and tell me. Guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids in this school this week,” Guttenberg said. “And look at me and tell me you accept it and you will work with us to do something about guns.”

Rubio later tweeted, “Banning all semi-auto weapons may have been popular with the audience at #CNNTownHall, but it is a position well outside the mainstream.”

• Student Cameron Kasky asked Rubio to say he wouldn’t take more money from the NRA. Rubio has received over $3.3 million from the NRA over the course of his political career.

“Can you tell me you won’t take a single donation from the NRA?” Kasky said. “In the name of the 17 people who died, you can’t ask the NRA to keep their money?” Rubio did not answer, saying only “people buy into my agenda.”

• Student Ryan Deitsch asked Rubio why it’s fallen to students and young people to take up the cause of gun violence after our lawmakers have dodged the issue for so long.

“We would like to know why do we have to be the ones to do this?” Deitsch asked. “Why do we have to speak out to the [state] Capitol? Why do we have to march on Washington, just to save innocent lives?”

• And the insanely calm and confident Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma González asked NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch if the NRA supports making it harder to obtain semiautomatic and fully automatic weapons.

“Dana Loesch, I want you to know that we will support your two children in a way that you will not,” said Gonzalez. “The shooter at our school obtained weapons that he used on us legally. Do you think that it should be harder to obtain these semiautomatic and the modifications for these weapons that make them fully automatic like bump stocks?”

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#TBT: Greg Laswell “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”

After listening to kenneth-in-the-212‘s posting of Robert Hazard’s version of “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” (which I loved), I’m in inspired to share one of my favorite recordings of the Cyndi Lauper classic.

I love when folks speed up or slow down a well-known track and the reinvention reveals a whole new flavor to the tune.

I found Greg Laswell’s melancholy cover of GJWTHF refreshing in it’s reflective, pensive approach.

It always slows me down and makes me think.

Listen below. Check out more from Laswell on iTunes.

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Former Arkansas Judge Sentenced To 5 Years Prison For Trading Dismissals For Nude Photos

Former Judge O. Joseph Boeckmann

Via CourtHouseNews:

A former Arkansas judge was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison for dismissing minor criminal cases in exchange for nude photographs or sexual favors from male defendants.

O. Joseph Boeckmann, a former district court judge in Cross County, pleaded guilty in October to wire fraud and witness tampering. He admitted on Wednesday that the seven-year-long scheme defrauded cities and counties of money and property they should have received as fines or fees from the people whose cases were fraudulently dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker also fined 72-year-old Boeckmann $50,000 and sentenced him to three years of supervised release after he does his time.

Prosecutors said Boeckmann admitted abusing his judicial position to dismiss traffic citations and misdemeanor criminal charges for young men in exchange for what he claimed was “community service.” He used his access to them during their purported community service to take photographs of them in compromising positions.

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News Round-Up: February 21, 2018

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• In case you missed it, Jim Newman definitely wished you all a Happy Valentine’s Day (above)

• Melonie Diaz has been cast as the first magical sister in the Charmed CW reboot. She’ll play “Mel,” the time freezing lesbian sister of the trio of witches featured on the show.

• American voters overwhelmingly support allowing undocumented children brought to the U.S. as children, so-called “Dreamers,” to remain and eventually apply for citizenship by 80%-16%.

• Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy says he’d like to explore acting as his next chapter and Wes Anderson would be his dream pick as director. Hey, Wes…

• Defense Secretary James Mattis’ deadline for recommending how to handle transgender military service members came and went today. What next?

• MTV fired reality personality James Eason for homophobic tweets that compared gays with dogs or fleas, or something really stupid.

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Gus Kenworthy Gives Ski Lesson To TODAY Show Hosts

Gus Kenworthy with Hoda Kotb & Savannah Guthrie

From The Today Show:

Skiing doesn’t come naturally for TODAY’s Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, so they enlisted the help of Olympic medalist Gus Kenworthy.

See how well they do on the bunny slope and if they can make it to the bottom.

I loved when Gus was teaching the ladies to walk in ski boots: “Sissy that walk!”

So, I can ski. But I’m totally up for a piggy-back ride on Gus’ back. #PleaseOhPlease

Or at least an apes-ski cocktail with Gus? Can we ask Matthew Wilkas to join?

Can you imagine a better ski instructor?
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Trailer: Netflix Reboots “Lost In Space”

OMG – I loved the original 60s TV sci-fi series Lost In Space.

And now, Netflix has announced a new reboot to the journey of the Robinson family who heads out into the universe in search of Alpha Centari.

The Robinson family, part of a highly trained mission to establish a new colony in space, is unexpectedly pulled off course forcing them to crash land on a lost planet.

Lost in Space premieres April 13, 2018. Watch the trailer below.

#DangerWillRobinson

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White House Holds ‘Listening Session’ With High School Students On Gun Violence

Donald Trump hosted a “listening session” at the White House today inviting students who were present at the Parkland, Florida, shooting last week as well as parents who lost children in the Sandy Hook massacre five years ago.

I’ll say up front the crowd seemed to be very “Trump-friendly” in makeup.  Lots of “I think you’re doing a great job” was heard throughout the discussion.

One of the prevailing ideas seemed to be arming and training teachers with guns as a solution. Trump calls it “concealed carry for teachers.”

My first thought upon hearing that is that every on-duty police officer who was shot in the line of duty was armed. Armed and trained to use their firearm.

What is a 7th grade social studies teacher with 30 frightened students going to do with a Glock?

I don’t know what the answers are although I think universal background checks for all gun purchases would be a good start.

And 97% of Americans agree with that concept according to the latest polling.

Additionally, sixty-six percent of Americans support stricter gun laws.

I think if you can’t legally buy a drink or are on a ‘no-fly’ list, you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun.

I do think sane adults should be able to buy the hunting rifle they desire after passing a background check.

The founding fathers had no idea when they penned the Constitution we would have such weapons of mass destruction like AR-15s.

There will be an open Townhall on CNN tonight airing at 9ET/6PT.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Less than two years ago, Trump argued AGAINST more guns in schools:

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Hump Day: InstaHunk Round-Up

Gus Kenworthy (L) and Eric Radford (R)

Out Winter Olympic medalists Gus Kenworthy of the US and Canadian Eric Radford finally found a chance to meet up during the games in PyeongChang. Hard to think of two better InstaHunks to begin this Hump Day edition of InstaHunk Round-up. The two apparently met up at Canada House which is also generously doubling as this year’s Pride House. From Eric’s Instagram:

Finally got to meet the man! Was fun talking with @guskenworthy and visiting the Pride House here in #Pyeongchang. #Olympics #pyeongchang2018 #pridehouse #Canadahouse #outandproud #️‍ #athlete #athletes #figureskating #ski #lgbt

 

A post shared by Quin Bruce (@quin_bruce) on Feb 20, 2018 at 2:04pm PST

 

 

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Feb 20, 2018 at 7:49am PST

Sunny ☀️A post shared by O B A I D (@obaid_habibi) on Feb 20, 2018 at 7:20am PST

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Mississippi: Starkville City Council Denies Permit For Pride Parade

With no explanation offered, the aldermen of Starkville, Mississippi, voted to deny organizers of a proposed Pride Parade a permit for the event.

The city council voted 4-3 against granting the permit to Starkville Pride even though 16 citizens showed up to speak in favor of the event.

“It’s unfortunate that you go through the process, you do everything you’re supposed to do and you get denied, really without any explanation as to why,” alderman Jason Walker, who voted to approve the permit.

Only two spoke against allowing the event.

Resident Dorothy Isaac said she was against the parade because “God created Adam and Eve.”

“Do not turn our city into a sin city,” Isaac said. “It should not be this.”

Starkville is a college town home to Mississippi State University. You can imagine there might be several LGBT students who would have liked to take part in a Pride event.

Starkville’s mayor, Lynn Spruill, denounced the decision saying “I think it sends a message that we are not the inclusive community that I believe us to be.”

With Starkville being home to Mississippi State University, Mayor Spruill noted that Oxford, Mississippi, where the University of Mississippi is based, has held gay pride parades for several years.

(source)