Good boy post.

SUCH A GOOD BOY, MAX! He stayed with his 3-year-old human who was lost near Warwick last night while we frantically searched for her. For keeping her safe, you're now an honorary police dog. 🐶https://t.co/QiszGFP4gg via @ABCNews pic.twitter.com/xxRc6ndeaK

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) April 21, 2018

I must have seen this story dozens of times yesterday on the internet, and finally it just wore me down until I posted it.

This is what love is.

What devotion is.

What selflessness is.

Dammit, now I want a dog.

On his last day on the job employee of Twitter shuts down Donald Trump's account, becoming a national hero with the flick of a switch.

Uh guys? Did trump get kicked off of twitter? pic.twitter.com/4AXTqVLD7S

— 👻Imani Gandy👻 (@AngryBlackLady) November 2, 2017

Courtesy of Raw Story: 

A few hours after President Donald Trump’s Twitter account went dark for a blissful 11 minutes, the company responded to the incident, claiming it was the result of human error on a customer service employee’s last day. 

“Earlier today @realdonaldtrump’s account was inadvertently deactivated due to human error by a Twitter employee. The account was down for 11 minutes, and has since been restored. We are continuing to investigate and are taking steps to prevent this from happening again,” the company wrote. “Through our investigation we have learned that this was done by a Twitter customer support employee who did this on the employee’s last day. We are conducting a full internal review.”

I have to admit that when I first heard about this in the comment section here on IM, I thought it was somebody pulling my chain.

But nope, some patriotic American actually did manage to shut the orange tinged shitgibbon up for eleven whole minutes.

Hell even his own Chief of Staff has never seemed to have managed that as effectively.

As you may imagine those who still had functioning Twitter accounts were quick to celebrate this hero.

🎊Twitter's Employee of the Month🎊#trumptwitter https://t.co/xDGwrVkhYt

— Gerard Henderson (@GerardHendersen) November 3, 2017

Just gonna say it, the employee at Twitter who shut off Trump's account for 11 mins could become a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.

— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) November 3, 2017

Making a kickstarter to tear down a confederate monument and put up a statue of this ex Twitter employee https://t.co/X1Ajh67qD7

— Emily Kirkpatrick (@kirkpate) November 3, 2017

I think that last one is my favorite.

At the very least this person should never have to pay for drinks for the rest of his life. 

Conservatives freak out when they learn that even though Bradley Cooper played one of their heroes in a movie, in real life #I'mWithHer.

wow Republicans turn on American hero Chris Kyle pic.twitter.com/kMyysc81LM

— Matt Binder (@MattBinder) July 28, 2016

Courtesy of Syracuse.com:

Newsflash, America: Bradley Cooper is not Chris Kyle. He just plays him on television in a movie. 

The "American Sniper" actor came under fire Wednesday when he was spotted in the audience at the 2016 Democratic National Convention with his girlfriend, Russian model Irina Shayk. Cooper was a trending topic on Twitter as social media users were apparently surprised to discover he's not really a Republican after playing Kyle, a conservative hero, in Clint Eastwood's movie about the late Navy SEAL sniper.

I love this one.

People are upset that Bradley Cooper who played Sniper Chris Kyle is a democrat 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/brxNyaZOPP

— Yukio Strachan (@boldandworthy) July 28, 2016

And this one.

this bradley cooper thing has me so upset im burning all his dvds

— dan (@DanHRothschild) July 28, 2016

I guess that is what happens when you watch too much Fox News and can no longer separate reality from fantasy.

Come to think of it much of what we think we know about Chris Kyle is actually bullshit.

A little good news to start our week. This magnificent bastard is now cancer free!

Courtesy of BBC:  

"My most recent MRI brain scan did not reveal any signs of the original cancer spots nor any new ones," Mr Carter said in a statement. 

The 91-year-old first announced the news during a Sunday school class in Plains, Georgia. 

Mr Carter, who was president from 1977 to 1981 and won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, revealed his illness in August. 

Doctors have been treating four small melanoma lesions on his brain. 

Last month, Mr Carter said he was responding well to treatment and there were no signs of further cancer growth.

There are only a handful of people who I would get on a plane and fly just to have dinner with them. 

Th first, of course, is President Obama.

The second is Jon Stewart.

And the third is President Jimmy Carter.

And I would gladly pay for the meal and sit for hours after eating, just to listen to him talk, and pick his brain.

It would be a joy.

He is, probably not surprisingly, also one of only two Christians who I believe exemplify the very best that that religion represents.

The other is Fred Rogers, who I think may be one of the kindest, most gentle people ever to walk this earth

I am very glad that Jimmy Carter is going to remain with us a little longer. And I have little doubt that Jimmy Carter will spend the time that he has left making this world a better place to live.

Just like he has been doing for the vast majority of his life.

As expected the Mama Grizzly could not be happier at her cub Bristol's newest engagement.

Courtesy of Granny Grifter's Facebook page: 

Our families couldn’t be happier for Bristol and Dakota! We’re honored to welcome Dakota into our family. He’s an American hero and patriot whose service to our country – like all his fellow Medal of Honor recipients – has been above and beyond the call of duty; but even more important is he’s a good and kind man who loves Bristol and Tripp, and is loved by them. They met last year when he was in Alaska to film an episode of “Amazing America,” and even then it was noticed that just as we like to describe Bristol as “an old soul” wise beyond her years, the same also applies to Dakota. (A clear demonstration is the fact that he flew up North last week to ask both Todd and Bristol’s grandfather, Chuck, Sr., for her hand in marriage!) 

Rascal Flatts dedicated a perfect song to them last night during their concert as Dakota proposed; it sums it up best: “Every long lost dream led me to where you are... they were like Northern stars pointing me on my way into your loving arms. This much I know is true – that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.” 

Yes, God working behind the scenes to turn beauty from ashes. Had tough circumstances in their lives not occurred, and had they reacted differently to those circumstances, they’d have never met. Dakota’s story is told in the book “Into the Fire.” 

Thank you for letting us share good news today! 

- Sarah Palin

Yeah clearly Palin recognizes all of the new opportunities to get in good with military families, and to get a little of that sweet, sweet SarahPAC money, that this engagement offers.

You know if Track won't show up when asked and join the Palin dog and pony show, well by gum Bristol will lure a military guy that will. Hey, and this one is even an actual medal winning, genuine hero.

According to Bristol the two of them have been kinda sorta dating since Meyer came up last year to film an episode of "Amazing America." But some of my sources are not exactly convinced that what happened back then can really be considered "dating."

And besides she was seen with Joey Junker a number of times since then.

A Palin two timing? Say it ain't so. 

What is clear is that Palin herself has been admiring the goods since at least January of this year.

Some of you have been wondering how this might effect Levi's custody case, and unfortunately I don't know for sure.

However the custody situation is still not completely settled from what I hear so one has to wonder what Levi will do if Bristol now decides that she wants to live in Kentucky with Dakota, and take Tripp with her?

As somebody who had their child moved out of state by an ex I can tell you first hand that it is literally one of the worst things that can possibly go through as a parent, and if I had it to do over I would NEVER have allowed that to happen.

Of course all of this might be rendered moot, as Bristol's history with men is somewhat spotty.

And she DOES come from a family of famous quitters.

So we really have no idea if this will stick.

After all we do remember this, right?

  And not that I'm at all superstitious, but who in the hell gets engaged on Friday the 13th?

Texas Governor to declare Feb. 2 as "Chris Kyle Day." Well of course he is.

I have declared Feb. 2 to be Chris Kyle Day in Texas. We honor our military heroes. @ChrisKyleFrog #txlege #tcot pic.twitter.com/rhLhIlevNM
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 30, 2015

Let's face it, a man famous for killing over a hundred men, women, and children with a gun, how could he not get a day named after him?

Add to that the fact that he is also a famous liar and to be honest I don't see how Texas had any choice.

I imagine that Florida will now have to declare a "George Zimmerman Day" just to save face.

Wayne LaPierre was wrong. What it takes to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with some pepper spray.

Jon Meis, hero of Seattle Pacific University.

Courtesy of The Guardian:  

On Thursday afternoon at half-past-three, a man walked into Otto Miller Hall at Seattle Pacific University, carrying a shotgun and a handgun. He opened fire, killing one person and injuring three more. 

When the shooter stopped to reload, according to police reports, an engineering student named Jon Meis sprayed him with pepper spray, incapacitating him, before grabbing him in a chokehold. Passers-by helped Meis hold the gunman until police arrived on the scene. 

"There are a number of heroes in this," assistant police chief Paul McDonagh said, according to the Associated Press. "The people around [the gunman] stepped up."

Now I am in no way attempting to suggest that a can of pepper spray is the best possible deterrent against a gunman. Every situation is different, and what works once, may not work the next time.

However it is worth noting that Mr. Meis did not accidentally shoot an innocent bystander while incapacitating this killer, nor did his efforts to stop him result in the shooter's death.

Years ago, during my initial training in martial arts, I asked my instructor why he would not teach me to use the Chinese sword that he wielded with such grace and power.

His answer in response was that weapons can malfunction, be stolen, or misplaced but a well trained body, fueled by courage, would never let you down.

I would say that in this case his words proved somewhat prophetic as they have multiple times during my own life.

This young man demonstrated something that many 2nd Amendment advocates seem to lack, the ability to overcome his fear.

Good News Friday: President invites school shooting hero, Antoinette Tuff, to the White House.

Courtesy of CNN:  

President Barack Obama said he plans to invite Antoinette Tuff to visit the White House. 

Tuff is the hero bookkeeper who talked a suspect into surrendering during a Georgia school shooting Tuesday. 

During an exclusive interview with CNN "New Day" anchor Chris Cuomo that airs Friday, Obama said what Tuff did was "remarkable" and something that "probably saved a lot of lives, including the life of the potential perpetrator." 

"Here is somebody who is not just courage, not just cool under pressure, but also had enough heart that somehow she could convince somebody that was really troubled that she cared about him," Obama said. 

The president continued: "I think we might have to have her maybe make a visit to the White House."

Earlier the President had also called Tuff to praise her quick thinking:

On Thursday, Obama called Tuff to tell her that her actions made him and first lady Michelle Obama proud. The president said he learned about her heroic actions by listening to her 911 call and reading the sequence of events. 

"She was pretty cool, too," Obama said about her telephone exchange with Tuff. "She was happy about it." 

If you are like me you have probably heard that incredible 911 call  several times, as it was played in an almost continuous loop on every news channel imaginable yesterday (With the possible exception of Fox News. I didn't check.) Personally I found that every time I heard the call the more impressed I was by this brave woman's ability to remain calm and to use compassion to connect with a man who was clearly suffering.

The White House honors many people, from athletes, to war heroes, to music legends, but I cannot think of anybody more deserving right now to meet the President than this amazing woman.

Hopefully he will also present her with the Presidential Citizens Medal, because I cannot imagine a more deserving recipient.

Among documents stolen by Edward Snowden is the detailed blueprint for how the NSA works. Uh oh!

Courtesy of Boston.com: 

Edward Snowden has very sensitive ‘‘blueprints’’ detailing how the National Security Agency operates that would allow someone who read them to evade or even duplicate NSA surveillance, a journalist close to the intelligence leaker said Sunday. 

Glenn Greenwald, a columnist with The Guardian newspaper who closely communicates with Snowden and first reported on his intelligence leaks, told The Associated Press that the former NSA systems analyst has ‘‘literally thousands of documents’’ that constitute ‘‘basically the instruction manual for how the NSA is built.’’ ‘

‘In order to take documents with him that proved that what he was saying was true he had to take ones that included very sensitive, detailed blueprints of how the NSA does what they do,’’ Greenwald said in Brazil, adding that the interview was taking place about four hours after his last interaction with Snowden.

I swear in my nine years of writing for this blog I have NEVER run across a story for which it was so difficult to form a definite opinion. Is Edward Snowden a champion for the rights of citizens to resist the government's efforts to spy on them? Or is he a traitor to the country and ultimately a dangerous threat to our security?

The article up above certainly reinforces the latter interpretation. Clearly if this "blueprint" falls into the hands of those who wish us harm, or simply want to find a way around our defenses, they would now have the means to do both.

And Greenwald's assurances that the data is encrypted does not exactly put my mind at ease.

Like I said yesterday, and for which I received aggressive blowback from some, IF Snowden's actions result in the end of the NSA data mining programs, or some modifications and assurances that it was no longer scooping up EVERYTHING we post or email online, he could well be ultimately considered a heroic champion for individual privacy.

However if these "blueprints" fall into the wrong hands, and there is some controversial information that it has already happened, then Snowden would rank right up there with Benedict Arnold and Aldrich Ames.

What is clear is that this is a story that is not yet finished, therefore making it impossible to determine how the final chapter will play itself out.

For those who view Snowden as a criminal, there is ample evidence to support that contention.

However there are those on the other side who view him as a hero. In fact heroic enough to have already been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Edward Snowden on way to Ecuador. So what do we think of this?

Courtesy of RT News:  

The plane carrying whistleblower Edward Snowden has landed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. The former CIA contractor, who left Hong Kong in a bid to elude US extradition on espionage charges, is on his way to a ‘third country’ via Russia. 

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino announced via twitter that Snowden had applied for asylum. 

Interfax news agency is citing an unnamed source in Sheremetyevo airport management, saying that Snowden is still at the airport. 

"Snowden is a transit passenger, his next flight is to Cuba, he remains in the airport complex – where he’s supposed to be, waiting for the next flight," the source said. 

A source at Aeroflot Russian Airlines told the agency that the whistleblower, who is accompanied by WikiLeaks representative, Sarah Harrison, has rented a suit at the airport’s «V-Express» Capsule Hotel. 

“He arrived. But he can’t leave the terminal because he doesn’t have a Russian visa,” the source said. 

Two cars with diplomatic license plates of Ecuador – the country named among Snowden’s possible destinations – were spotted at Sheremetyevo airport. 

Ecuador’s ambassador to Russia, Patricio Chavez, arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport after Edward Snowden's plane touched down in Moscow. 

Okay I am not going to prejudice any discussion by telling all of you what I am thinking about this whole thing right now, though I ma thinking quite a lot actually, and instead open up the floor to discussion on whether you think Snowden a hero, a criminal, a dupe, or a facade for others to hide behind.

I will weigh in with one opinion however. I saw Glenn Greenwald on MTP today, and he came off as a complete asshole. Not that assholes can't be right, but he did not do himself too many favors with his attitude and arrogance.

I'm just saying.

Ed Schultz interview of Scott Prouty, the man who filmed the 47% video and derailed Mitt Romney's campaign.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I was absolutely riveted to this thing last night, and essentially planned my entire evening around watching it.

My first takeaway is how humble Mr. Prouty is and that he really seemed to be motivated by nothing more than the desire to reveal the truth about a candidate that he felt was lying to the American people.

My second takeaway is that we need to hold a parade in this man's honor.

Gabby Giffords triumphant return to the floor of Congress to vote on raising the debt ceiling.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Amazing!

That was JUST what we needed at this time of acrimony and strife.

And now for some good news.

From MSNBC:

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has recovered enough from a bullet to the brain to ask for toast with breakfast.

Few details are available, but Pia Carusone, Giffords' chief of staff, confirmed that the congresswoman made the verbal request on Monday when hospital workers at TIRR Memorial Hermann brought her a meal.

"Yes, that's accurate," Carusone said in an e-mail.

She is now speaking "more and more" since she uttered her first words several days ago, spokesman C.J. Karamargin told the Associated Press on Wednesday. He didn't know what her first words were.
Though small, the request for toast first reported by Politico marks a milestone for the congresswoman, who was shot in the head in a Jan. 8 shooting spree in Tucson that killed six and injured 13.

Now that is an amazing woman!  I think there are some pretenders out there who could learn a little something about what it means to be tough and how to overcome obstacles from Gabby Giffords.

Don'tcha think?