After first stating that he will not seek reelection, and then hinting he may quit before end of term, now Jason Chaffetz is saying that a 12 year old injury has flared up and he needs a leave of absence. Hmmm.

Sorry, would love to investigate Trump's ties to Russia, but I have a boo boo on my foot.

Courtesy of Politico:  

House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz announced Wednesday that he will take a leave of absence from Congress to undergo surgery on his foot, with an estimated return in mid-May. 

The Utah Republican posted a picture of an X-ray on Instagram and wrote that a foot injury he sustained 12 years ago is now prompting him to undergo "immediate" surgery.

The estimated recovery time is three to four weeks. Chaffetz said avoiding the procedure could put him "at risk for serious infection." 

Chaffetz's absence comes amid a crucial stretch for House Republicans and the Trump administration. There are looming votes on a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and, potentially, a close vote on legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. 

"I’m sorry to miss the important work we are doing in Washington," Chaffetz wrote. "This is not an opportune time to be away but medical emergencies are never convenient. I appreciate my constituent’s patience and understanding as I take time to recover."

Look I hate to get all conspiratorial here, but I have had rotting fish heads in my trashcan that gave off less smell than this is giving off.

I am not at all sure of what is happening, but I am all but positive that SOMETHING is happening.

Woman sues due to injury suffered while filming fake reality scenes for Alaska reality show.

Courtesy of ADN:

Susan Aikens, who stars in the reality television show "Life Below Zero," has sued the series producers, alleging she was injured while being forced to film dangerous scenes for fictitious narratives. 

Aikens' grievances largely center on a producer who she alleges was verbally abusive and intimidated her and other crew members. 

The producer demanded Aikens drive her snowmachine into overflow, according to a civil complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage. She was badly hurt in a crash and then made to wait for medical treatment so desirable footage could be captured, the complaint says. 

The 32-page lawsuit lists multiple defendants including the BBC and three of its subsidiaries, producer Aaron Mellman, and unnamed crew members. It alleges the defendants breached a contract, interfered with Aikens' business and intentionally caused her emotional distress.

Years ago my daughter, who worked on some of these shows, clued me into to just how fake they all are. 

In her words literally EVERYTHING that happens is scripted, including fights, love affairs, and yes dangerous incidents.

I think this lawsuit is great in that perhaps it will pull back the veil and allowing potential viewers see that it's all bullshit.

Stephen Colbert brilliantly responds to Sarah Palin's Facebook post about her "rock running" injury.

Courtesy of Decider: 

“Governor Palin, I hope you rest up there heck what with the rock-running and the stone-skipping and the boulder-bingo. Remember my middle name is Tyrone with with the media coverup with the danger zone and everybody cutting footloose loosey-goosey good for the gander, good for the planner of the Down Dog wedding. Hey! The cookies are ready! Track Trig Trig Track Break your momma’s back – why? Because our veterans. Drill baby drill! Try our mozzarella sticks! Ask me about free shipping. God bless it. Just leave it alone, voices.”

Yep that sounds exactly like her.

However for my money nothing beats Stephen Colbert's response to Sarah Palin's bizarre take on Paul Revere's ride.

Late night punchline, just like I predicted back in 2009. 

Baltimore man dies in police custody after having his spine 80 percent severed during arrest.

Courtesy of CBS Baltimore: 

National tensions around police brutality focus right here in Baltimore after a 25-year-old man dies from injuries he sustained while in city police custody. 

On April 12, 2015, at exactly 8:40 a.m., 25-year-old Freddie Gray was apprehended in the 1700 block of Presbury Street.Two minutes later cell phone video shows Freddie Gray screaming as police drag him into a transport van. 

According to a timeline provided by Baltimore Police, at 8:54 a.m. Gray was put in additional restrains inside the van. But, at 9:24 a.m., he was rushed to the hospital–attorneys say his spine was 80 percent severed at his neck where three bones were broken. He later lapsed into a coma and died Sunday morning at approximately 7:00 a.m.

Family and friends are now seeking answers, and are also calling for an independent investigation.

Here is a statement issued by the family's lawyer:

“On last Sunday morning at about 8am, the police chased Freddie Gray, a 27 year old healthy man, without any evidence he had committed a crime. His take-down and arrest without probable cause occurred under a police video camera, which taped everything including the police dragging and throwing Freddy into a police vehicle while he screamed in pain. While in police custody, his spine was 80 percent severed at his neck. He lapsed into a coma, died, was resuscitated, stayed in a coma and on Monday, underwent extensive surgery at Shock Trauma to save his life. He clung to life for seven days and died today at approximately 7am. We believe the police are keeping the circumstances of Freddie’s death secret until they develop a version of events that will absolve them of all responsibility. However, his family and the citizens of Baltimore deserve to know the real truth; and we will not stop until we get justice for Freddie.” 

Some statement seem to indicate that the police chased and tackled the man simply because he was running. 

So we know you can be pulled for "driving while black," but it also seems you can be tackled and arrested for "running while black."

Something about this picture....

I am not usually someone who has an immediate emotional response to images, but this one, from the NBC News coverage of the book about Gabby Giffords written by her husband, has never stopped haunting me.

To be honest, I am not sure I can put into words exactly why it speaks to me the way that it does, but there is something about how fragile Gabby looks, and how tenderly the President in holding her hand....

Anyhow my friend Loriah did a screen capture and sent this to me, so I thought I would share it with all of you, and invite you to share what the photo says to you.  Perhaps in that way I will better understand my own response.

President Obama receives 12 stitches after blow from elbow during basketball game delivered by Hispanic player. Sarah Palin immediately takes to Facebook and claims America under attack by Mexico.

Okay I made that last part up.

Apparently the President received a fairly serious split lip during the game from an opposing team member.  These things happen during contact sports.

Here is the video of Obama leaving the gym and going to receive care from the White House Medical Unit.



According to the Huffington Post:

"After being inadvertently hit with an opposing player's elbow in the lip while playing basketball with friends and family, the President received 12 stitches today administered by the White House Medical Unit. They were done in the doctor's office located on the ground floor of the White House."

The White House announced the culprit who elbowed Obama in the lip earlier today: Rey Decerega, who is the director of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Decerega said in a statement that the game was all in good fun (and didn't apologize):

"I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport. I enjoyed playing basketball with him this morning. I'm sure he'll be back out on the court again soon," Decerega said.

Speaking of Palin, you just KNOW if this same incident had happened to her she would have milked it for all of the sympathy she could, and then her rabid flying monkeys would have started sending the person who elbowed her threatening e-mails demanding that they apologize IN WRITING and then claimed the whole thing was planned by the "Lamestream media."

Watch for Obama to come out in the next couple of days and make a joke about it and most likely take the blame.

Have I said recently how glad I am that this man is our President?