Sulu vs. Kirk: George Takei Talks About "Feud" With William Shatner

George Takei has been talking about his long-lived "feud" with Star Trek co-star William Shatner, explaining what's behind his animosity with his onetime Starship Captain.

Talking to the New York Times to promote his upcoming musical Allegiance, Takei denied that there was tension between the two actors. "It's all coming from Bill," he explained. "Whenever he needs a little publicity for a project, he pumps up the so-called controversy between us."

Takei cited Shatner's YouTube video complaining about not being invited to the actor's 2008 wedding to Brad Altman as evidence, saying, "Two months after my wedding, he went on YouTube and ranted and raved about our not sending him an invitation. We had. If he had an issue, he could have easily just phoned us before the wedding, simple as that. But he didn't. And the reason he raised that fuss two months later is because he was premiering his new talk show, Raw Nerve."

It's all a matter or ego, he continued, "It's difficult working with someone who is not a team player. The rest of the Star Trek cast all understand what makes a scene work - it's everybody contributing to it. But Bill is a wonderful actor, and he knows it, and he likes to have the camera on him all the time."


http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/sulu-vs-kirk-george-takei-talks-about-feud-with-william-shatner/ar-BBleq60?ocid=mailsignout

As debt negotiations founder, Greece moves closer to default

Greece and its creditors hardened their stances Monday after the collapse of talks aimed at preventing a default and possible euro exit, prompting Germany's EU commissioner to say the time had come to prepare for a "state of emergency."

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras ignored pleas from European leaders to act fast. Instead he blamed creditors for Sunday's breakdown of the cash-for-reform talks, the biggest setback in long-running negotiations to unlock aid. He said his government had a responsibility to defend Greece's dignity and would resist demands for further pension cuts.

"It is not a matter of ideological stubbornness. It has to do with democracy," said the prime minister who was elected on a pledge to end austerity.

Athens now has just two weeks to find a way out of the impasse before it faces a 1.6 billion euro repayment due to the International Monetary Fund, potentially leaving it out of cash, unable to borrow and dangling on the edge of the currency area.


http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/6/15/debt-negotiations-founder-greece-holds-steadfast.html

Rachel Dolezal Sued Howard University For Discriminating Against Her For Being White

Rachel Dolezal, the former president of the Spokane Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), sued Howard University for discrimination in 2002, according to court documents obtained by The Smoking Gun.

Dolezal alleged that the school denied her a teaching assistant post, a post-graduate instructorship, and a scholarship because she was white, according to The Smoking Gun.

Dolezal, who then went by Rachel Moore, claimed that the school and Howard Professor Alfred Smith discriminated against her "based on race, pregnancy, family responsibilities and gender" while she was a graduate student in fine arts, according to the Court of Appeals opinion.

She also claimed that the university's decision to remove some of her artwork from a student exhibition in February 2001 "was motivated by a discriminatory purpose to favor African-American students over Moore," according to the court opinion.


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rachel-dolesal-sued-howard-discrimination

Orange Is The New Black Season Three, Episode Six: Mind Blown (Mild SPOILERS)

They took Chang from the least interesting character to the most intereting backstory of the entire series. I won't go into any detail, but who knew such an unassuming woman would have had such a vicious past? I'll never forget the look in her younger version's eyes as she leaned in from the sofa and into the camera. Wow.

Rachel Dolezal Once Told A Student She Did Not Look Hispanic Enough For A Class Activity

The student said that the incident occurred within the first three weeks of an introductory course on race and culture. Dolezal introduced an activity she called “Fishbowl,” in which one student sat in front of the class as others were invited to ask them questions about their racial and cultural experiences.

In the first round of Fishbowl, the student said Dolezal sought out a volunteer of Hispanic background to be questioned.

The student, who told BuzzFeed News that she identifies as Hispanic, grew up in a Spanish-speaking country, speaks the language fluently, and, while she has light skin, believes she has a “pretty solid experience of what it’s like to be Spanish.” She raised her hand to participate.

“I think we should ask another student,” the student recalled Dolezal saying in class.

The student asked why she could not participate.

“Rachel said I didn’t look Hispanic,” she said, and that her instructor “doubted that I could share experiences of racial or ethnic discrimination because I didn’t have the appearance of looking Hispanic.”


http://www.buzzfeed.com/tamerragriffin/rachel-dolezal-once-told-a-student-she-did-not-look-hispanic#.hrNM3NnmW

The 10 Senate seats most likely to switch parties in 2016 elections per the Washington Post

I'll just post the list because it would otherwise be too long. Details are avaiable by following the link:

1. Illinois
2. Wisconsin
3. Florida
4. Nevada
5. Pennsylvania
6. New Hampshire
7. Colorado
8. Ohio
9. North Carolina
10. Arizona


http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/10-senate-races-most-likely-to-switch-parties-in-2016-elections/2015/06/07/d9215fbc-0d13-11e5-9726-49d6fa26a8c6_story.html

Bernie pledges support for Democratic Senate candidates. Will you?

'Daredevil' season 2 cast: Jon Bernthal cast as the Punisher

"Daredevil" season 2 is kicking things up a notch by adding one of the most popular Marvel characters: Frank Castle a.k.a. the Punisher. According to Marvel, the Punisher is going to be portrayed by none other than Jon Bernthal, famous for portraying Shane Walsh in the first two seasons of AMC's "The Walking Dead" TV series.

Frank Castle was once a law enforcement officer who became a ruthless vigilante after the mob killed his whole family. Unlike most Marvel heroes, he has no superpowers and relies solely on guns, wits, and ruthless perseverance. Also, unlike most heroes, the Punisher never hesitates to kill someone.

It is still unknown if the Punisher is going to be working together with Matt Murdock a.k.a. Daredevil or if he will serve as some form of anti-hero or even as an antagonist now that Wilson Fisk a.k.a. Kingpin is behind bars for the time being.

"Jon Bernthal brings an unmatched intensity to every role he takes on, with a potent blend of power, motivation and vulnerability that will connect with audiences," explained Marvel's Head of Television Jeph Loeb. "Castle's appearance will bring dramatic changes to the world of Matt Murdock and nothing will be the same."



http://www.christiantoday.com/article/daredevil.s2.goes.big.casts.walking.dead.star.jon.bernthal.punisher/55941.htm

Greece and creditors fail in 'last attempt' to reach deal

alks on ending a deadlock between Greece and its international creditors broke up in failure on Sunday, with European leaders venting their frustration as Athens stumbled closer toward a debt default that threatens its future in the euro.

European Union officials blamed the collapse on Athens, saying it had failed to offer anything new to secure the funding it needs to repay 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion) to the International Monetary Fund by the end of this month.

Greece retorted it was still ready to talk, but that EU and IMF officials had said they were not authorized to negotiate further. Athens insists it will never give in to demands for more pension and wage cuts.

"This is very disappointing and sad. It was a last attempt to bridge our differences but the gap is too large. One can discuss a gap, but this is an ocean," said a person who was close to the talks.



http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/14/us-eurozone-greece-idUSKBN0OS0E020150614

Iowa open-carry nut gunned down mall worker who filed sexual harassment complaints against him

An Iowa mall cop — with a Facebook account loaded with open-carry and right-wing memes and photos of multiple weapons — is under arrest for shooting and killing a fellow mall worker because she filed sexual harassment complaints against him.

According to The Gazette, Alex Kozak was taken into custody after shooting 20-year-old Andrea Farrington three times in the back while she was at work at the Iowa Children’s Museum in the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, Iowa.

Police say that the 22-year-old Kozak left the mall and went to his home and retrieved a 9mm Glock handgun before retuning and shooting Farrington late Friday night..

KCJJ reports that a cousin of Farrington’s said that Kozak had been harassing the victim for at least six weeks and that she had complained to his superiors about unwanted advances he had made toward her.


http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/iowa-open-carry-nut-gunned-down-mall-worker-who-filed-sexual-harassment-complaints-against-him/