Liberal_in_LA
Liberal_in_LA's JournalNew poll: Scott Walker has 56% disapproval in WI. most oppose his "right to work" law
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker facing trouble at home, poll shows
Walker's job approval has fallen to 41%, with 56% disapproving, according to the latest Marquette Law School poll, which has been Wisconsin's leading survey. That's the lowest approval figure for Walker in several years of Marquette's surveys.
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Not only has Walker's popularity declined, but voters have soured on the state's outlook. The share who say the state is on the "wrong track" increased to 53%, up from 44% in October.
2016 Republican race up for grabs, Democrats back Clinton, poll finds
2016 Republican race up for grabs, Democrats back Clinton, poll finds
By 38% to 33%, a plurality of voters said the state's budget picture had gotten worse than several years ago, with 25% saying it was about the same. In the fall, shortly before Walker won election to a second term, voters by 44% to 22% said the budget situation was getting better.
A majority also think Wisconsin is lagging behind other states in creating jobs.
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Voters also turned thumbs down on legislation Walker recently signed that made Wisconsin a "right to work" state. By 50% to 44%, voters said they oppose the law, which prevents unions from requiring workers to pay dues or representation fees. The state's unions strongly opposed the law.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-walker-poll-20150416-story.html
Super small San Francisco condo sells for $415K, 291 square feet
Super small San Francisco condo sells for $415K
Here’s something you don’t see every day: A cute, well-kept San Francisco condo has just sold for under a half million.
But don’t let the $415K sale price fool you. At 291 square feet, this itty-bitty SoMa condo is nowhere near as cheap as it is small, like, studio-with-a-Murphy-bed small, or as Curbed described it, like “a particularly spacious walk-in-closet.”
The unit at 195 7th Street first came onto the market in March with a list price of $299K and a listing that described it as a “smart studio condominium” that “packs a lot in a small package.”
And it does have some perks: a sunny bay window, a built-in desk and shelving, and access to a roof deck. The kitchenette even appears to have a mini-dishwasher (AKA more storage). And when the bed’s tucked away, there’s actually a patch of open floor space.
http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2015/04/16/super-small-san-francisco-condo-sells-for-415k/
anti catcall signs posted around NY
Note the 'No Catcall Zone' signs in New York City
By The Associated Press
April 16, 2015 - 11:16 AM
NEW YORK — Dozens of official-looking street signs have been warning New Yorkers that they're in a "No Catcall Zone."
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The Daily News says it's part of International Anti-Street Harassment Week.
Red graphics on white signs show two human figures exchanging remarks as a large cat looks on.
A nonprofit company called Feminist Apparel says it hopes to have at least one sign up in every borough by week's end.
It's also getting out the message with stickers.
http://m.recordonline.com/article/20150416/NEWS/150419491/101019
reward offered for person who left dog and his bed in Goodwill dumpster. dog ok
Authorities say a dog was found trembling after someone discarded the animal and his bed in a Dumpster behind a metro Atlanta Goodwill store.
Fulton County Animal Services said the 1-year-old terrier mix was found Friday after being thrown into the Dumpster behind a Goodwill on Roswell Road on Friday.
A spokeswoman for the LifeLine Animal Project tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://on-ajc.com/1HaBemC) that an anonymous caller reported the abandoned dog to animal services officials.
Karen Hirsch tells the newspaper that the dog was shaking and "freaked out" when he was found.
Hirsch said the 48-pound dog, which Animal Services employees named Broham, is gentle and loving and gets along well with other dogs.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering a $2,500 reward to help find a suspect.
http://m.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/reward-offered-after-dog-found-dumpster/nkwLJ/
The dog got a good bill of health from a veterinarian and tested negative for heart worms, but he does not have a microchip to help track his former owners, Hirsch said. The 48-pound dog, which Animal Services employees named Broham, is gentle and loving and gets along well with other dogs.
But investigators have a big unanswered question: Who left the dog behind?
http://m.ajc.com/news/news/who-threw-a-dog-into-a-goodwill-dumpster/nkt99/
Why Are Political Groups Pretending to Be Debt Collectors?
Why Are Political Groups Pretending to Be Debt Collectors?
On January 25, 2010, a coworker e-mailed me after a brief panic. She had just received an e-mail with the subject line "Final notice," and thought her car was going to repossessed.
But her car wasn't in danger of disappearing—and she e-mailed me because I was the one who sent the message, to her and 250,000 other people, asking them to sign a petition about a public option in the healthcare reform bill.
I was in charge of e-mail advocacy for the blog Firedoglake, and it was part of my job to get people to open e-mails, sign petitions, and make donations to support our work. I thought using "Final notice" would get more people to notice the pitch, which began "This is your final notice to sign our emergency petition to progressive Members of Congress…"
Unfortunately, it appears I was among the first in the political advocacy world to employ that deception, and today the tactic is increasingly common. Recently, I woke up to an e-mail from an address that began FINAL-NOTICE, and the subject line was "AUTO-CONFIRM: [M. Whitney (3/31/2015)]." It wasn't from my bank, but rather the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The DCCC and the House Majority PAC (a group also working to elect Democrats to Congress) are probably the two biggest offenders when it comes to faux-debt collection fundraising pitches, but they are not alone. The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee also sends similar e-mails, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Republican party, and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund have all tried it in the recent past.
http://m.thenation.com/article/204105-why-are-political-groups-pretending-be-debt-collectors
New luxury bus line in sf. only goes to wealthy areas. no children. attendant on board
A luxury-bus startup called Leap Transit relaunched in San Francisco last week, carting passengers from the wealthy Marina district to downtown. It's the latest company to offer a high-end alternative to public transit.
In just a week, Leap has drawn attention for its almost clichéd list of San Francisco amenities.
The five buses are decked out in creamy leather, blue LED lights and reclaimed wood. There's wifi on board (obviously) and outlets for your mobile devices. You can order food and drinks through the Leap app, which also lets you track and board the buses and see who the other riders are. There's iced coffee (Blue Bottle of course), small-batch yogurt, a box of purified water and some $7 raw organic juices.
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To ride this shuttle one must cough up a hefty $6 each way which many, including my colleague, believe is worth the price to avoid Muni, the city’s public transportation service.
I, however, disagree. Not only are there cheaper and more convenient options, Leap is another representation of gentrification in San Francisco and the widening of the gap between lower and upper economic classes.
As of now Leap only provides service with one route, and while the company plans to expand, the current route speaks highly of where Leap wants to keep its customer base. The Marina District is notoriously known for its high-end nightlife, expensive rent and for being a popular destination for young professionals, while the Financial District is the central hub for business executives and fine dining.
Leap CEO Kyle Kirchhoff said in a KQED article that he wanted his service to be used by all types of San Franciscans, not just a high-end customer base. With no wheelchair access, discounts for seniors or reserved seating for disabled and pregnant riders, it’s not hard to be skeptical of Kirchhoff’s statement. Muni provides all of these services as well as allowing children to ride for free. To board a Leap bus, you must be a least 18 years old.
http://goldengatexpress.org/2015/04/14/leap-gentrification-economic-gap/
http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/23/technology/luxury-bus-startup-leap/
Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Website Cuts Kim Kardashian From Photo
Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Website Cuts Kim Kardashian From Photo
JERUSALEM — An Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish news website has cut Kim Kardashian — one of the world's most photographed women — from a photo taken of her in Jerusalem this week.
The original photo of Kardashian, her husband Kanye West and Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat was altered to put Kardashian behind a restaurant receipt. Kardashian was blurred in another.
Nissim Ben Haim, an editor at the Kikar HaShabbat website, said Wednesday they removed Kardashian because she is a "pornographic symbol" who contradicts ultra-Orthodox values.
In an article chiding Barkat for dining with them at a non-kosher restaurant, Kardashian was referred to as "West's wife."
Within the insular Ultra-Orthodox community, pictures of women often aren't shown out of modesty. In January, an ultra-Orthodox newspaper removed German chancellor Angela Merkel from a photo.
http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/israeli-ultra-orthodox-website-cuts-kim-kardashian-photo-n342076
If a Cop Is Recorded Killing Me, You Have My Permission to Share the Video
If a Cop Is Recorded Killing Me, You Have My Permission to Share the Video
Some have debated whether these videos demean the victims—but, unfortunately, they may be the only way to get justice.
By Terrell Jermaine Starr / AlterNet
If a police officer kills me and someone is around to record what happened, I want the world to know that I’m fine with the video being shared.
There is no need to ask my mother, father or any other surviving family members for their permission to tweet, Facebook, Instagram or broadcast the final moments of my life being shot, choked, kicked and punched out of me. I’m black, therefore, in America’s white supremacist society, if a cop kills me, the implication is that I had it coming. I want the world to see that I did nothing wrong.
Share the video. Please. I fear the cop who would end up killing me won’t face prosecution without it. But I know my view isn’t shared by everyone.
After the release of video last week showing Walter Scott, and even more recently, Eric Harris, being killed by police, many have taken to social media to express how such videos do nothing more than demean the lives of those who were brutally killed. Critics also argue that neither the victims nor their families are given the opportunity to consent to the videos' release. Some even suggest that we should stop sharing such videos all together.
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/if-cop-recorded-killing-me-you-have-my-permission-share-video
7 year old boy cried for 45 minutes when he saw his surgery scars. The internet responds:
Carter Gentle of Farmington, Maine, has endured five surgeries for his congenital heart defect. After Carter’s most recent surgery to repair a pacemaker, the 7-year-old boy looked in the mirror at his scars and cried.
Carter’s father, country singer, Mark Gentle, wanted to lift his son’s spirits and turned to his fans on Facebook for help. He posted a photo showing Carter’s scars and asked, “How many likes can Carter get for his bravery?!”
His full post read:
#CHDAWARENESS We were a little apprehensive to post this but I feel it’s important. Carter took his bandages off this morning. He cried for 45 minutes when he saw his scars. He said that he’s afraid people will think he is ugly. This was hard to hear as a parent. We told him that his scars are beautiful and make him look like a superhero. How many likes can Carter get for his bravery?! Feel free to share. #CartersSong #HeartHeroes #CHD
The response was more than the father ever imagined and the image of Carter showing off his scar-covered chest now has over 1 million likes. Hundreds of thousands of people beyond his Facebook fans responded and both Buzz Feed and Today Parents picked up the story.
“He went down to the bathroom to look in the mirror and he just started sobbing. He said, ‘People are going to think I’m ugly. My scars look horrible.’ As a parent, it just tears your heart out. As much as that kid’s been through, the last thing I ever want him to worry about is scars,” Mark told Today Parents.
http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2015/04/14/dad-asks-facebook-to-tell-his-son-surgery-scars-are-beautiful/
Comedian Ricky Gervais leads Twitter campaign against "huntress"
Former winner of Extreme Huntress show sparks fury after she poses SMILING next to dead giraffe
Comedian Ricky Gervais led an online charge against Rebecca Francis
The Brit shared a picture of the grandmother lying next to her 'trophy'
Caused to an online backlash against Francis - with 14,543 retweeting post
Francis is proud of hunting and hopes to inspire more women to take part
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3038493/Former-winner-Extreme-Huntress-sparks-fury-poses-SMILING-dead-giraffe.html#ixzz3XJjXCrFU
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