Go Skins

Too bad it didn't take your auto signature picture, Jamie!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/07/26/trump-announces-ban-on-transgender-people-in-u-s-military/?utm_term=.ab7e59b84681 In tweets Wednesday morning the president wrote: “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you”

Y'all got a triple play last night, yet the Yankees scored because the bases were loaded. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2723775-todd-frazier-hits-into-run-scoring-triple-play?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Then you get stories like this: http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/24/us/livestreamed-deadly-crash-that-killed-teenage-girl-trnd/index.html

Along the same lines: http://www.hollywood.com/general/spielberg-resigns-from-boy-scouts-board-57167345/ Oscar-winning producer and director Steven Spielberg announced Monday that he is stepping down from his position as an advisory board member of the Boy Scouts of America. “The last few years in scouting have deeply saddened me to see the Boy Scouts of America actively and publicly participating in discrimination. It’s a real shame,” Spielberg said from a prepared statement. “I thought the Boy Scouts stood for equal opportunity and I have consistently spoken out publicly and privately against intolerance and discrimination based on ethnic, religious, racial and sexual orientation.” Spielberg did not specifically name which “intolerance and discrimination” he was referring to. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the Boys Scouts’ national policy banning gay members and leaders is constitutional and would be allowed to continue.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/07/24/umpire-convinces-5-year-old-reds-fan-to-kick-marlins-dee-gordon-in-the-shin/?utm_term=.2aa677e44c7a “It was all planned,” Leo’s mother, Amy Danzo-Schneider, told MLB.com. “He’s not the type of kid who would go up and kick someone. Dee Gordon was motioning Leo to come to him. The umpire went with Leo, and Leo said the umpire told him to kick [Gordon].” Gordon, who appeared to laugh off Schneider’s assault, singled to lead off the game and promptly stole second base. Meanwhile, Schneider’s favorite player, Reds leadoff man Billy Hamilton, went 3 for 4 in Cincinnati’s 6-3 victory.

https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2017/7/23/16017140/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-apple-siri-movie Steve Jobs isn’t the only famous Apple figure that can be turned into movies (or an opera, evidently.) Tomorrow, your favorite bad listener voice assistant Siri will star in its own film featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I wish I was kidding. The “movie,” titled The Rock x Siri: Dominate The Day, is a collaboration between Johnson and Apple — think of it as an extended commercial similar to what the company did with Taylor Swift and Apple Music last year. Except instead of a series of short, cringeworthy clips, the ad arrives with an over-the-top poster featuring various types of automobiles, a stage, space, and... Chinese lanterns? Here’s the full poster if you want to take a stab at guessing what it all means.

Somewhat off topic, but today's Washington Post has an article about best ballparks: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/07/11/how-thomas-boswell-ranked-all-30-mlb-ballparks-and-grouped-them-in-four-tiers/?utm_term=.235d1ad77309#comments 18. Cincinnati. People say it was built on the cheap. They say it looks like the circus came to town with pinwheels and riverboat restaurants above the outfield. They say the Ohio River beyond right field is brown. They say it’s an uphill walk back to downtown. They say … oh, gimme a break. I like it. It’s an enthusiastic homer-happy little park that feels open — to the sky, weather, views of the (muddy) river.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/Donald-Trump-Jr-Release-Emails-Russian-Lawyer-433852983.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_DCBrand President Donald Trump's eldest son has released an email chain that he says led to a meeting with a Russian lawyer in June, during the presidential campaign. In the emails, Donald Trump Jr. is told that the lawyer has been given incriminating information on Hillary Clinton supplied to a billionaire linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin by a Russian prosecutor. He is told that a "Russian government attorney" was arriving in New York City from Moscow to meet. The revelations about the meeting, which took place in Trump Tower and was attended by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, have fueled new questions about the Trump campaign's possible ties to Moscow, which are being scrutinized by federal and congressional investigators. In one email, Donald Trump Jr. is told: "The Crown prosecutor of Russia met with his father Aras (Agalarov) this morning and in their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father. This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump - helped by Aras and Emin" Agalarov, Aras' son.

Binge watched "13 Reasons Why" over the last two Sunday's. I am glad social media wasn't around when I was in high school, but I think most of the situations that were portrayed seemed realistic. There are a lot of time jumps and I am convinced Netflix has a problem about getting a show going at the beginning (this was the issue I had w/Stranger Things but the kids acted really good) and not at the end. The way this show is set up, it is one episode per character, but it doesn't go as deep as it should have till the last 3 episodes.

Jon Morosi‏ Sources: #Nationals showing interest in #Reds closer Raisel Iglesias. He has a 1.59 ERA, 15 of 16 in save opportunities. @MLB @MLBNetwork

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/06/reds-activate-brandon-finnegan-move-bronson-arroyo-to-60-day-dl.html The Reds announced Monday that they’ve activated lefty Brandon Finnegan from the 60-day DL and cleared a spot on the 40-man by transferring veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL. Righty Lisalverto Bonilla was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to clear a spot on the active roster. Finnegan, 24, has been out since April 15 with a shoulder injury and has made just three starts for Cincinnati this season. The absence of Finnegan and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who entered the year as the Reds’ top two starters, has been a massive factor in the team’s MLB-worst 6.19 rotation ERA.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-han-solo-movie-firing-new-details-behind-phil-lord-chris-miller-exit-1016619?utm_source=twitter Meanwhile, Lord and Miller, the exceptionally successful team behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, were chafing, too, according to a source close to them. There were "deep fundamental philosophical differences" in filmmaking styles, this person says, and the directors felt they were being given "zero creative freedom." They also felt they were being asked to operate under "extreme scheduling constraints" and "were never given enough days for each scene from the very beginning." Shortly after the shoot in the Millennium Falcon, on June 20, the world learned that Kennedy — with the backing of Disney studio chief Alan Horn — had taken the extraordinary step of firing Lord and Miller. Obviously, Kennedy knew this would set off a storm of publicity that no one wants or needs in any movie — especially one in the Star Wars universe, where every move is closely watched by a gigantic audience with a sense of ownership. It's rare and undesirable enough to fire any director. Firing established players like Lord and Miller, who have a fan base ready to give them the benefit of any doubt? That shocked Hollywood's most seasoned veterans.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/26/professor-fired-after-defending-blacks-only-event-on-fox-news-i-was-publicly-lynched-she-says/?utm_term=.4fe992fdf117 Earlier this month, political commentator Lisa Durden gave a fiery interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News, defending a Black Lives Matter chapter’s decision to host a Memorial Day event exclusively for black people. “Boo-hoo-hoo,” Lisa Durden, who is also an adjunct professor at Essex County College in Newark, said in the June 6 television appearance. “You white people are angry because you couldn’t use your ‘white privilege’ card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter’s all-black Memorial Day celebration.” In the heated exchange, Carlson responded by calling her “hostile and separatist and crazy.” “You’re demented actually,” he said. “You’re sick and what you’re saying is disgusting and if you were a Nazi I would say the same thing to you.” Durden’s remarks spurred both criticism and praise on social media. But what happened less than 48 hours later prompted an even stronger reaction. On June 8, with about a week left of her summer session of teaching, Durden’s employers at Essex County College suspended her. About two weeks later, Durden was fired from the community college. The college’s president announced the decision in a lengthy statement Friday, days after Durden met with school officials in a community forum. Anthony E. Munroe, Essex County College President, said the administration was “immediately inundated with feedback from students, faculty and prospective students and their families expressing frustration, concern and even fear that the views expressed by a College employee (with influence over students) would negatively impact their experience on the campus.”

Apparently, today it was. Jamie and I were there. You can thank him for the win.