In that I’m loving the 2018 Winter Olympics, let’s start this round-up with the US Bobsled team (above), shall we? Happy Friday!
InstaHunk Round-Up
Shirtless Tongan Pita Taufatofua Finishes His Cross-Country Ski Olympic Event
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| Pita Taufatofua |
Pita Taufatofua, who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Taekwondo and in the last year learned cross-country skiing in 2017 to compete in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, finally ran his race today.
Exalting that he “finished the race and didn’t ski into a tree,” the handsome Tongan gratefully accepted his 114th place finish in the men’s 15KM Free, which wasn’t last!
Pita finished 23 minutes behind gold medal winner Dario Cologna, but ahead of Sebastian Uprimny of Colombia and German Madrazo from Mexico.
In case you missed it, check out my report on Pita’s incredible journey to the Winter Olympics here.
Two days ago, Pita shared his strategy with USA Today, “First step, finish before they turn the lights off. That’s number one. Don’t ski into a tree. That’s number two.”
On Instagram, Pita posted the photo above with this message:
“Couldn’t be happier! Got my best time, finished the race and didn’t ski into a tree! But more importantly, I got to share the experience with all our friends from the other exotic countries who never gave up! Soo much respect to them, the medalists and all athletes from around the world who represented their countries with pride”
Pita had this inspiring message for his home country:
Pita Taufatofua, the shirtless Tongan flag bearer, is the true embodiment of the Olympic spirit ❤️ #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/Vi1zrqwZX9— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 16, 2018
Couldn’t be happier! Got my best time, finished the race and didn’t ski into a tree! But more importantly I got to share the experience with all our friends from the other exotic countries who never gave up! Soo much respect to them, the medalists and all athletes from around the world who represented their countries with pride!A post shared by Pita Taufatofua (Pita T) (@pita_tofua) on Feb 16, 2018 at 5:58am PST
Pita was at the finish line to cheer his friend German Madrazo to the end:
Because he is my friend….A post shared by Pita Taufatofua (Pita T) (@pita_tofua) on Feb 16, 2018 at 9:42am PST
Not many people saw how hard he fought for the privilege to be called an Olympian. I did, I was there everyday watching and fighting with him. He spoke highly of his love for his family, for his maker and for his Country. I have so much respect for this man. #Mexico #Family @german_madrazoA post shared by Pita Taufatofua (Pita T) (@pita_tofua) on Feb 16, 2018 at 9:55am PST
Parkland Shooting Survivor: Society Will Shrug This Off But “March For Hours” Over A Rainbow Wedding Cake
Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper today, Parkland student Cameron Kasky called out Americans who offer little more than “thoughts and prayers” when shooting tragedies happen, but will “march for hours if they have to bake a rainbow wedding cake.”
“This is the time to talk about guns. There’s much more that can be done, much more that needs to be done and much more that people like Sen Marco Rubio and Governor Rick Scott are not doing. It’s scary to think these are the people who are making our laws when our community just took 17 bullets to the heart.
“It feels like the only people who don’t care are the people making the laws. There is a segment of this society that will shrug this off and send their thoughts and prayers but march for hours if they have to bake a rainbow wedding cake.”
Kasky also called the response by Republican lawmakers a “facade” acted out via talking points from the National Rifle Association.
Watch Kasky below.
Fischerspooner’s New Music Video “Butterscotch Goddam” From New Album SIR
Queer pop duo Fischerspooner releases their first album in nearly a decade, Sir, today via Ultra Records.
Entirely produced by REM’s lead singer Michael Stipe, the artists say the project presents “a resistant narrative with an overtly queer and celebratory body of work in response to the current atmosphere in America.”
Reviewing the new album, OUT gushes:
The end result is not only the most compelling full-length the group has committed to tape, but a record with overwhelming immediacy. Sir courses with the excitement of a first foray into cruising and spins tales of lust lost and found under the spell of the dance floor, told through songs made precisely for said dance floor. It is a true rarity—even in today’s crowded musical landscape—to find an album that so wholeheartedly celebrates the complexities of the gay male experience—in particular, sex—from one extreme to the other.
In addition to the new album, Fischerspooner releases the gorgeous and evocative music video today for “Butterscotch Goddam,” which was directed by Carlo Van de Roer.
Watch the video below and check out the new album here.
FBI Admits Failing To Follow Up January Tip On Florida School Shooter Nikolas Cruz
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| FBI Director Christopher Wray |
The FBI has issued a statement via press release which admits that, due to a break in protocol, a tip from a person “close to Nikolas Cruz” (who shot and killed 17 people at a high school in Florida this week) was not followed up which might have led to early intervention with Cruz.
On January 5, 2018, a person close to Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBI’s Public Access Line (PAL) tipline to report concerns about him. The caller provided information about Cruz’s gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.
Under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life. The information then should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami Field Office, where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken.
We have determined that these protocols were not followed for the information received by the PAL on January 5. The information was not provided to the Miami Field Office, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said: “We are still investigating the facts. I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public. It’s up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly.
“We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy. All of the men and women of the FBI are dedicated to keeping the American people safe, and are relentlessly committed to improving all that we do and how we do it.”
Special Counsel Robert Mueller Indicts 13 Russian Nationals For Interfering In 2016 Presidential Election
At a press conference this morning, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced Special Counsel Robert Mueller has indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities with “the stated goal of “spread[ing] distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general.”
The indictment says that the aim of the defendants was “supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump and disparaging Hillary Clinton.”
Operating under the name Internet Research Agency LLC, the defendants “sought, in part, to conduct what it called ‘information warfare against the United States of America’ through fictitious U.S. personas on social media platforms and other Internet-based media.”
The indictment lists, for example, Instagram accounts named “Woke Blacks,” “Blacktivists,” and “United Muslims of America” to discourage minorities from voting for Hillary Clinton or even voting at all.
More from Bloomberg:
In a Feb. 10, 2016, planning memo, the Russians were instructed to “use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trump — we support them).”
The operations also denigrated candidates including Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, Trump’s rivals in the 2016 Republican primary, the indictment said.
The efforts included contact with “unwitting” Trump campaign officials, with the goal of “impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful government functions” including the election.
The group bought advertisements on U.S. social media, created numerous Twitter accounts designed to appear as if they were U.S. groups or people, according to the indictment. One fake account, @TEN_GOP account, attracted more than 100,000 online followers.
The Russians tracked the metrics of their effort in reports and budgeted for their efforts. Some traveled to the U.S. to gather intelligence for the surreptitious campaign, according to the indictment. They used stolen U.S. identities, including fake driver’s licenses, and contacted news media outlets to promote their activities.
In September 2016, the group ordered one worker to “intensify criticizing Hillary Clinton” after a review found insufficient anti-Clinton activity.
Donald Trump, who has called the investigation into Russian meddling a hoax, was briefed on the indictments this morning.
You can read the full indictment here. I suggest you take a minute and do so. This is not a hoax.
Here’s Rosenstein announcing the indictments this morning.
Rod Rosenstein says the indicted individuals allegedly conducted what they called “information warfare against the United States”https://t.co/4TNtF0WbVQ pic.twitter.com/e8r3AWYiML— Bloomberg (@business) February 16, 2018
Jesus. Mueller’s indictment says the accused Russians tried to suppress minority turnout: pic.twitter.com/FCkicyOGRl— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) February 16, 2018
Donald Trump Lies: “Democrats Totally Abandoned” DACA Recipients
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| Donald Trump |
One day after three different plans to restore DACA protections failed to reach 60 votes in the Senate, Donald Trump attempted to shift responsibility for the ongoing debacle to the Democrats even though it was Trump himself who unilaterally ended the program.
A fourth plan, that was favored by Trump and sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley barely eked out 39 votes.
This morning Trump tweeted, “Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats…totally abandoned! Republicans are still working hard.”
He is literally lying to the American people. And the Twitterverse was not having it.
Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats…totally abandoned! Republicans are still working hard.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2018
Fact check: Trump ended DACA https://t.co/CRxS4b5dYA— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 16, 2018
Not that this excuses him, but I genuinely believe he doesn’t remember or understand that he alone ended DACA. https://t.co/cXEU4IjUQQ— Teddy Goff (@teddygoff) February 16, 2018
1) The President ended DACA unilaterally.
2) He then said: work out a bi-partisan bill I’ll sign anything you bring me.
3) He was promptly brought a bi-partisan deal. He rejected it.
4) He was then brought a *second* bi-partisan deal with even more support. He rejected *that*— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 15, 2018
1. Trump canceled DACA by executive order.2. Trump killed bipartisan legislation to help DREAMers.
3. Trump is trying to blame Democrats (good old-fashioned lying) because he doesn’t want to face the political fallout for killing a program supported by 80% of Americans.
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) February 16, 2018
No one is falling for this. YOU ended #DACA protections. YOU threatened to veto a bipartisan solution in the Senate. #Dreamers’ lives are being thrown into chaos, and YOU are to blame. https://t.co/tQwbeC9S94— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) February 16, 2018
Dale Hansen: “I Thought Guns Don’t Kill People – People Do. Is This The People We Are?”
As we’ve come to expect, Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen often brings clarity and common sense to the forefront regarding painful challenges in the U.S.
Today’s commentary addresses the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 dead.
“And here I thought guns don’t kill…people do. Is this the people we are?”
Just watch my man Dale.
New York State Will Investigate Claims That Insurance Companies Denied Healthy Gay Men Coverage
According to reports, some insurance companies appear to be denying insurance policies to gay men who admit to taking medication that protects them from HIV infection.
Wait – what? These are healthy guys who are taking preventative steps to avoid HIV infection and insurance companies are holding it against them?
Not only is that not cool, it’s also probably illegal.
From The New York Times:
Such denials would amount to illegal discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the companies doing so could be penalized, said Maria T. Vullo, the state’s superintendent of financial services.
The investigation was triggered by an article published Tuesday by The New York Times, she said.
The Times reported that various insurers around the country had denied policies to gay men after learning they took Truvada, a cocktail of two anti-AIDS drugs, to avoid catching H.I.V. through sex. To get insurance, some men even stopped taking the protective drugs.
The practice — known as “pre-exposure prophylaxis,” or PrEP — is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have shown that people who take the drug every day have nearly a zero chance of becoming infected, even if they are in a long relationship with an H.I.V.-infected person or have sex with many strangers without condoms.
The investigation was prompted by another story in the NY Times about a doctor who couldn’t get disability insurance because he admitted to taking PrEP.
Meme Of The Day
