November 30, 2014

Police Who Shot 12-Year-Old Tamir Rice Did Not Give Him First Aid

he two Cleveland police officers who killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice did not administer first aid after they shot him down, according to Cleveland officials.

It took almost four minutes before a detective and an FBI agent arrived on the scene and administered first aid on the boy, who was eventually rushed to hospital where he died of his injuries, local station WEWS‑TV reported.

Officer Timothy Loehmann shot Rice on Saturday after he and another officer pulled up to a gazebo where Rice had been spotted playing with a toy gun. Police say the two were unaware of Rice's age and that the gun was harmless.

Authorities released video of the shooting on Wednesday at the behest of Rice's parents.

The footage revealed the few seconds it took for the officers to pull up their car and shoot Rice down. It did not show the following minutes in which they reportedly failed to administer first aid.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/police-tamir-rice-no-first-aid

November 29, 2014

GOP Staffer Apologizes For Lecturing Obama Daughters To 'Show A Little Class'

A Republican staffer on Friday apologized for a Facebook post that criticized Malia and Sasha Obama's appearance at the annual White House turkey pardon ceremony, one of America's silliest holiday traditions.

Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), wrote that the two teenagers should "try showing a little class," "dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar," and, most of all, "don't make faces" at Very Serious public events.

Read the full rant via Gawker:

Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department. Nevertheless, stretch yourself. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events.

The First Daughters join President Obama at the ceremony every year, where they can hardly contain their disdain for the lame dad jokes that predictably follow. Before approaching Mac and Cheese, the two turkeys, the president remarked that it was "puzzling that I do this every year." Malia even declined her father's offer to pet one of the pardoned turkeys with a nonchalant, "Nah."

Lauten later apologized for rushing to judgement on Facebook.

"I reacted to an article and quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager," she said. "After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents and re-reading my words online, I can see more clearly how hurtful my words were. Please know that these judgmental feelings truly have no pace in my heart. Furthermore, I'd like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/gop-staffer-apologizes-for-lecturing-obama-daughters-to-show-a-little-class/ar-BBg8JmR?ocid=mailsignout

November 29, 2014

Slain Austin shooter likely had anti-immigrant motive

AUSTIN, Texas — A white, middle-aged gunman, in what appears to be a politically motivated anti-government attack linked to immigration, fired more than a hundred rounds at buildings in downtown Austin early Friday and tried to set fire to the Mexican consulate before he died of a gunshot wound.

Police identified the gunman as 49-year-old Larry Steven McQuilliams and said he had a criminal record. No details were immediately released about his background.

Police were investigating whether he was killed by a police officer who fired at him in front of police headquarters or died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

A police sergeant putting away police horses for the night shot the suspect with one hand while holding two horses by the reins in the other, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo told reporters.

Between about 2:20 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. CT, McQuilliams fired at several buildings in downtown Austin, including police headquarters and the federal courthouse. He also tried to torch the Mexican consulate using several small propane cylinders, but the fires were put out before the flames could spread, Acevedo said.



http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/28/gunman-killed-targeted-austin-buildings/19607141/

November 29, 2014

Ferguson protesters march through San Francisco Union Square

Demonstrators are marching through Union Square in San Francisco, protesting the Ferguson decision and disrupting shoppers and holiday festivities on Black Friday.

SKY7 HD is following the protest march that started at Justin Herman Plaza near the Ferry Building and traveled down Market Street and has approached Union Square.

Marchers have been walking for more than half an hour, which has raised concerns from merchants and others who have been enjoying Black Friday and the tree lighting ceremony at Union Square.

San Francisco police have requested two wagons in anticipation of arrests. Police said there were reports of protesters breaking windows and throwing rocks. Several windows at Macy's have reportedly been smashed and demonstrators have entered the Westfield Mall. Some employees at a jewelry store in Union Square are hiding after seeing protesters carrying hammers.

The demonstrators at the tree-lighting ceremony chanted "Black Friday doesn't matter, black lives matter" as pedestrians passed by carrying large shopping bags full of goods from nearby department stores.



http://abc7news.com/news/ferguson-protesters-march-through-san-franciscos-union-square-/415178/

November 28, 2014

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Official Teaser

November 28, 2014

Black Friday shopping crowds thin after Thanksgiving rush

(Reuters) - Mall crowds were relatively thin early on Black Friday in a sign of what has become the new normal in U.S. holiday shopping: the mad rush is happening the night of Thanksgiving and more consumers are picking up deals online.

Most major retailers now open their doors Thursday evening and offer extended holiday deals rather than limiting them to one day. The result is a quieter experience on what has traditionally been the busiest, and sometimes most chaotic, shopping day of the year.

"It just looks like any other weekend," said Angela Olivera, a 32-year old housewife shopping for children's clothing at the Westfarms Mall near Hartford, Connecticut. "The kind of crowds we usually see are missing and this is one of the biggest malls here. I think people are just not spending a lot."

The crowds normally reserved for Black Friday morning appeared Thursday night. Over 15,000 people lined up for the opening of the flagship store of Macy's Inc (M.N) in New York on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer Terry Lundgren told CNN. Police responded to a handful of incidents at Wal-Mart Stores (WMT.N) on Thursday, including to break up a fight over a Barbie doll in Los Angeles, CNN said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/28/us-usa-holidaysales-black-friday-idUSKCN0JC1GU20141128

November 28, 2014

Our formula for the best Thanksgiving possible

1. Me, my partner and our son.
2. No annoying extended family.
3. Perfect weather, sunny and 65 degrees.
4. No turkey, just great dim sum in Chinatown.
5. All natural fruit smoothies for dessert.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

November 27, 2014

Dim Sum for Thanksgiving!!

We cannot stand turkey so always look for something non-traditional. This year we are walking over to Chinatown for the most fabulous dim sum in the City

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

November 25, 2014

MSNBC Commenter: Michael Brown was put on trial tonight.

Exactly!

November 24, 2014

Mark Leno to Challenge SF Mayor Lee In November

State Senator Mark Leno will announce after Thanksgiving that he will run against San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee in the November 2015 election, Beyond Chron has learned from multiple sources.

Leno has been floating his intentions for some time, and apparently got enough positive feedback to decide to move forward. Leno may also have been influenced to run by Nancy Pelosi’s showing no signs of giving up her congressional seat, the only office other than mayor that would be a step up from Leno’s current office. Last week, Pelosi took the media to task for it “double standard” when it comes to focusing on the age of female but not male politicians. She did not sound like someone who would be leaving office anytime soon, and her performance remains at a high level.

With a congressional seat unavailable, Leno has little to lose by running for San Francisco Mayor. And while he faces an uphill battle against a popular incumbent, at this point in 1990 incumbent mayor Art Agnos was considered a shoe-in for re-election in November 1991.

An election Agnos lost.



http://www.beyondchron.org/leno-challenge-mayor-lee-november-2015/