Croatian hunter killed by stray bullet while "hunting" farm raised lions. I believe that is Karma calling on line one.

Courtesy of SF Gate:

A Croatian big game hunter was preparing to shoot a lion during a hunting expedition in South Africa when he himself was shot and killed. 

Pero Jelinic, whose friends say had "hunted everything that could be hunted in Europe," had already killed one lion and was sighting in a second Saturday at a remote lodge near Setiagole, according to Total Croatia News. 

Initially, the bullet that hit Jelinic was described as "stray," but police are now investigating the incident as a possible homicide. 

The lions were captive-bred. They had been farm-raised to be hunted in a legal yet controversial sport often called "canned hunting." 

Well it's about time the lions started shooting back.

You know I am not much of a fan of hunting in the first place, but what possible challenge is it to kill animals hand raised by other humans?

I mean it would be just as macho as using a high powered rifle to pick off family pets in people's backyards.

Asshole deserves to die. 

Great white hunter gets crushed by large grey elephant in Africa.

Courtesy of the Telegraph: 

A South African big game hunter died after being crushed by an elephant cow that had been shot on a game reserve in Zimbabwe at the weekend. 

Theunis Botha, 51, was leading a hunt with clients when the group accidentally walked into the middle of a breeding herd of elephants at the Good Luck Farm near Hwange National Park late on Friday afternoon, Zimparks spokesman Mr Simukai Nyasha said. 

Three of the elephant cows charged the hunters. Mr Botha fired a shot from his rifle but he was caught by surprise by a fourth cow that stormed them from the side, the Afrikaans news site Netwerk24 reported.

He shot these majestic animals in a place called "Good Luck Farm?"

 What, they didn't have any cows he could shoot instead?

This is one of those instances where you have to remind yourself that a man lost his life, and you should not feel any pleasure or sense of satisfaction.

But then you read that the man trained dogs to harass and chase the animals toward him so that he could shoot them more easily, and the struggle becomes just that much more difficult.

So let us mourn the passing of this man, but also remember that he died doing what he loved, slaughtering animals to make himself feel more manly.

Of course in the end he probably felt less like a man, and more like a mancake.

McDonald's employee resource site gives advice against eating their food. Awkward!

Courtesy of CNN: 

It seems that McDonald's has finally realized how tone-deaf its internal employee resource website was. It has shut it down. 

The final straw? A tip on the site to employees to avoid McDonald's fare. 

A graphic on the site shows a meal with a cheeseburger, fries and drink under the caption "Unhealthy choice." Next to it is a picture of a sub, a salad and water under the caption "Healthier choice." 

The fast food giant found itself again having to deflect unwanted attention from its internal site this week after CNBC reported that McResource ostensibly advises McDonald's employees to not eat at McDonald's. 

"Fast foods are quick, reasonably priced, and readily available alternatives to home cooking. While convenient and economical for a busy lifestyle, fast foods are typically high in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt and may put people at risk for becoming overweight." 

Visitors to McResource Line on Wednesday were greeted with this statement: "We are temporarily performing some maintenance in order to provide you with the best experience possible. Please excuse us while these upgrades are being made." 

McDonald's confirmed the site had been taken down in a statement posted on its website. "A combination of factors has led us to re-evaluate and we've directed the vendor to take down the website. Between links to irrelevant or outdated information, along with outside groups taking elements out of context, this created unwarranted scrutiny and inappropriate commentary. None of this helps our McDonald's team members."

You know I am not actually a believer in karma per se, but you have to admit that this is pretty awesome.

You may also remember that in the recent past McDonald's gave employees economic advice that suggested they get a second job in order to make ends meet, or return purchases.

Gun store owner who sold weapons used in Newtown massacre has license revoked.

Courtesy of Journal News: 

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has permanently revoked the federal firearms license of East Windsor, Conn., gun store owner David LaGuercia, whose shop reportedly sold guns used in the Newtown school massacre and a second Connecticut mass shooting. 

ATF spokeswoman Deb Seifert told The Journal News on Thursday that she could not be more specific on the reasons LaGuercia’s license was revoked. It was revoked Dec. 20 and the 60-day time frame to appeal has expired. 

“It’s been revoked,” Seifert said. “It’s final at this point.” 

Seifert declined to comment on any criminal investigation into Riverview Gun Sales, which ATF agents raided in December, days after the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary left 26 dead. She referred questions on any criminal probe to U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Tom Carson, who could not be reached Thursday for comment. 

In December, LaGuercia said in a statement that he was “absolutely appalled” to learn that a gun he sold to Nancy Lanza may have been used by her son Adam in the Newtown massacre. 

“There is nothing more devastating than the loss of a child, and I am absolutely appalled that the product that was sold several years ago would be used in this type of crime,” he said in the statement at the time. “Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and, as a father of three, I know firsthand of a parent’s loss and it’s the worst nightmare. 

“We are cooperating with law enforcement in their efforts to get to the bottom of this senseless tragedy,” he said. Citing anonymous sources, The Hartford Courant has reported that the guns used in the Newtown massacre, including a Bushmaster rifle, and the mass shooting at Hartford Distributors Inc. in 2010 that left eight dead were both bought legally at LaGuercia’s gun shop. 

I don't know if this has any actual connection to the shooting, nor do I see how it could be right now, but I will say that just having this happen might send a signal to OTHER gun shop owners to be very careful as to who they sell their guns to.

I would also have to imagine that this gun store owner was probably devastated to learn that the guns that he put out on the street were used in such a horrendous massacre.

I think if it were me I would not want to continue on in that business.

Tennessee Republican lawmakers all for school vouchers until they realize that Islamic schools can apply for them as well. Uh oh!

Courtesy of Raw Story:  

Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are threatening to block Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s school voucher bill over fears that Muslim schools could receive funding. 

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported on Monday that Haslam hinted that he would withdraw his bill after objections from Republican lawmakers that it was not broad enough and that the vouchers could be used by Islamic schools. 

Over the weekend, state Sen. Jim Tracy (R) had told The Murfreesboro Post that he had “considerable concern” that tax dollars could go to schools that teach principles from the Quran. 

Tracy, who is on the Senate Education Committee and identifies himself as a member of the Church of Christ, insisted that Islamic school funding was an “an issue we must address” before the voucher bill can go forward. 

“I don’t know whether we can simply amend the bill in such a way that will fix the issue at this point,” he said. 

On Monday, Tracy told the News Sentinel that his staff had determined that there was at least one Muslim-oriented school — Pleasant View School in Memphis — that would be eligible for vouchers under the governor’s plan. 

And state Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R) worried that an attempt by Sen. Brian Kelsey (R) to broaden Haslam’s bill from the bottom 5 percent of schools to every school in the state would only make more tax dollars available to Islamic educators.

So to be clear, schools that ignore science and indoctrinate your children into the Christian religion are fine, but if they ignore science and indoctrinate your children into Islam? Not so much!

"I don’t know whether we can simply amend the bill in such a way that will fix the issue at this point." Not without exposing your agenda to the world, and stomping on the Muslim communities 1st Amendment rights you can't.

These morons simply did not think through their plan to undermine the public school system and implement a plan to indoctrinate children. If they push through this voucher system they may soon have Islamic schools, Hindu schools, and even Scientology schools, vying for their state dollars.

But if they amend the program to block those other faiths from being able to participate they invite criticism, and undoubtedly very expensive lawsuits, which would most likely undermine the e3ntire program.

Damn I love karma!

John Boehner forced to pull "Plan B" vote due to lack of support from Teabaggers. Hah!

"Come on guys, you're making me look bad here."

Courtesy of First Read:

After a cancelled vote on a contingency bill and a dramatic defeat for Republican leadership, United States House members will head home for the Christmas holiday without legislative action to halt a mix of automatic spending cuts and tax increases set to take effect in just 11 days. 

Lacking enough support to pass a backup proposal to avert the "fiscal cliff," House Republican leaders on Thursday night were forced to pull from the floor a vote on 'Plan B' legislation that would have preserved Bush-era tax rates for all earners making less than $1 million but raised rates on the country's top earners. 

House Speaker John Boehner intended that the last-ditch tax effort, coupled with revised spending reductions, would give the GOP-dominated House continued leverage in its negotiations with the White House and the Senate, both controlled by Democrats. But it was ultimately brought down by conservative Republicans reluctant to raise tax rates on any Americans, even the nation's top earners. 

The House will now recess for the Christmas holiday, leaders said. Members have been advised that the House will return "when needed" before the end of the year. 

"The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement. "Now it is up to the president to work with Senator Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff. The House has already passed legislation to stop all of the January 1 tax rate increases and replace the sequester with responsible spending cuts that will begin to address our nation's crippling debt. The Senate must now act."

Oh my God this is awesome!

Here's Boehner trying to strong arm the President by telling him he was going to walk away from the deal THEY were working on and pass his own damn bill, and he finds himself stood up by his own party.


Karma baby!

Let's end the day on a high note. Crazed pro-gun nut Ted Nugent will NOT be returning to the Discovery Channel.

Ted Nugent with one of his less attractive groupies.

Courtesy of Raw Story:

In addition to cancelling its popular “American Guns” reality show, The Discovery Channel confirmed to Raw Story on Tuesday that firearms enthusiast Ted Nugent will also not be returning to the channel in any form or fashion. 

Speaking to Raw Story in remarks specified as “not for attribution,” a spokesperson admitted that “Ted Nugent’s Gun Country” didn’t do very well when it aired in October, even with fellow firearms fashionistas. Nielsen Ratings placed the viewership at about 864,000 people in all. But the network’s decision is not just about the numbers. 

After Friday’s devastating massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, the spokesperson said that Nugent would definitely not be returning to the Discovery Channel. 

“‘American Guns’ concluded earlier this year,” the network’s prepared statement explains. “Discovery Channel chose not to renew the series and has no plans to air repeats of the show.” 

Although the Discovery Channel’s statement did not directly link the cancellation of “American Guns” to Friday’s massacre, the channel’s spokesperson did say the tragedy “has really started something,” but didn’t specify what that something may be. 

Nugent’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. 

You know sometimes it is really hard to remain a skeptic when the karmic justice smells this sweet.

Forbes Magazine chooses the 100 MOST powerful women. Hmm, is somebody missing?

Angela Merkel, Forbes magazine's choice as the number one most powerful woman.

So I was read this list from Forbes, and I was fascinated with the diversity of the women represented by this list. Everything from politicians, to journalists, to entrepreneurs, to activists, and much more are represented on this list.

Hillary Clinton, Forbes magazines' choice as the SECOND most powerful woman.

Now Forbes magazine is generally considered to be a fairly conservative magazine, so you would think that it's choices would be comprised mostly of woman who shared their ideology, but I did not find that to be the case.

Michelle Obama, Forbes magazine's choice as the seventh most powerful woman.

In fact, along with the First Lady,  both Lady Gaga and Nancy Pelosi made the list, and I would certainly NOT consider them favorites among the conservative class.

However as I was going down the list, I could not help but notice that there was somebody, who you MIGHT expect to have a place on this list, missing.

I racked my brain but for the life of me I could not figure out who it was.

I mean it was right on the tip of my tongue but I just could not seem to figure out who was not represented on this list.

Ooooh, that's right.  Well isn't THAT interesting?

The 2008 VP nominee, queen of the Teabaggers, shill for Fox News, reality show mainstay, Sarah Palin is NOT represented anywhere in the list of the top 100 most powerful women in the world?

Awesome.

You know all I have ever wanted was to help make this imbecile irrelevant. Mission accomplished.

Now if I can only help do the same for the entire Republican party.

P.S. Do you know what might be the unkindest cut of all for the Grizzled Mama?

That the woman who she undoubtedly sees as her personal Fox News interviewer/facilitator/gopher was named the 94th most powerful woman in the world.

I am SO looking forward to their next interview together.

Sarah Palin gets booed on Dancing with the Stars.

Here it is on YouTube!



From Gawker:


Sarah Palin is in tonight's DWTS audience to support her daughter, Bristol (watch Bristol's grody routine from last week here). Tom Bergeron interviewed Palin a bit ago, and—just beforehand—the audience booed. Loudly! What gives?

Sorry it took me a little bit to regain my composure after I was doubled over laughing at that clip. So good.

Oh that just made my night.  You see Sarah?  Once you leave the safety of Fox News THIS is what America really thinks of you!  Still want to run for President?

Update: The Daily Beast has a write up on this as well and a video with MUCH better audio!



By the way the Palin-bots are VERY upset about this and have launched a coordinated effort here, and all over the blogosphere, to minimize the embarrassment for Sarah.  It almost seems like they were prepared for something like this to happen.

Update 2: Here is a link to watch Bristol's dance.  After watching you can ask yourself if she REALLY deserved a score of 22, or whether or not the judges are a bunch of pussies who are too intimidated by the prospect of having their e-mail in-boxes overflowing with threats from Palin-bots to give out the score the dance actually deserved.