Left Coast Sports Babe

Hope everyone had a happy Easter. And enjoy Monday – “Half-price chocolate bunny day.”

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On perhaps a less exciting note, it’s also national “egg-salad sandwich for lunch day.”

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Golden State Warriors probably figured they only needed to play one quarter to beat  Trailblazers. Fans might have preferred they made it the first.

On the other hand, television advertisers want to thank the Warriors for keeping it close enough not to have viewers turn off the fourth quarter.

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Golden State considered to have 99% probability of beating Portland in their series.  Hardcore Trail Blazer fans going  “So you are saying there’s a chance?”

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Early days but 2017  SF Giants seem to be able experts at playing JUST poorly enough to lose .

SF Giants  don’t look like themselves this spring. But San Jose Sharks are in their usual playoff form.

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Per the Wall Street Journal United’s CEO Oscar Munoz has “pledge to empower gate agents and other employees to use their common sense to defuse tense interactions.” Good idea. If common sense were only more common.

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#BeeGees trending. You know you’re getting older when your first thought, oh, no, did Barry die too?

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Apparently Melania & Barron to move to White House this summer. But where will Trump spend his summer weekends? Guessing not DC or Florida

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Trump now tweeting “Why would I call China a currency manipulator when they are working with us on the North Korean problem? We will see what happens!”

So when the problem gets “solved” they go back to being manipulators?

(Someone HAS told the President China might have people who read English and follow him on Twitter?)

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One of Trump’s Easter tweets: “Someone should look into who paid for the small organized rallies yesterday. The election is over!”

California Chick-fil-A franchise had 3 cow mascot costumes stolen from shed this week. What an udder nightmare.

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Headline  – “Cavs feel disrespected as #1 seed.” Guessing game 1’s close call against the Pacers  isn’t going to do much to disabuse that notion.

Ohio State spring inter-squad spring football game attendance today – 80,134. And guessing more of them stayed until the end until most 49ers fans during a regular game.

Arrests were made when protestors & supporters clashed at pro-Trump rally in Berkeley. And who saw that coming? #ifonlytheywerearmed

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Not sure how many of the local Berkeley protesters were arrested for taking down Trump fans. But after their release on bail maybe some of the more successful ones might be offered tryouts for the Cal football team?

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Well played SNL for  TRULY live tonight. Probably better ratings too as West Coast viewers can’t sometimes say “meh reviews, going to bed.,,,”

Although Melissa McCarthy may be one of the few liberal Americans wishing that Spicer stays on. #jobsecurity

Casey Anthony is reportedly pregnant again. This might make even the most ardent conservatives question defunding Planned Parenthood.

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VP Mike Pence and wife Karen in Seoul. CNN photos show her wearing leggings. Guess they didn’t travel on United Airlines.

Trump has been quiet about North Korea failed missile launch. Maybe he doesn’t want to think about idea of blowing something up & failing?

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Reports are that when he visits England this fall, Trump has indicated that he wants to ride, not in a motorcade, but in the Queen’s Coronation carriage.   Well, it makes a certain amount of sense for a President who has clearly shown that starting now,  leadership should be hereditary.

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Apparently Melania Trump and Barron ill be moving into the White House this summer, and FLOTUS has hired an interior decorator. Based on Trump Tower pictures, that interior decorator may make Americans long for the days of just spending money on NY security.

Yeah!  Massero’s home run against Colorado tonight now means that SF Giants left fielders have half as many home runs as Madison Bumgarner.

A jury found Aaron Hernandez not guilty in his most recent murder trial. Does that mean the Patriots might offer him another contract?

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The Seattle Mariners have sold out of toasted grasshoppers in each of their first three home games. Just wondering, how many beers on average has each buyer of grasshoppers consumed?

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So is saying a radio station plays “adult hits” somehow supposed to make us feel younger than calling it an oldies station?

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United Airlines’ pilots union has issued a letter saying they were “infuriated” over the O’Hare incident: “this occurred on one of our contracted Express carriers, separately owned and operated by Republic Airline, and was ultimately caused by the grossly inappropriate response by the Chicago Department of Aviation.”
Guess they didn’t need to add “and this isn’t helping our stock and thus pensions.”

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United say they will  stop having police take psgrs from planes. Instead w/ overbooked flts they’ll send all on board & play airline Hunger Games?

Delta Airlines apparently will now authorize employees to offer up to almost $10,000 in compensation to give up seats on overbooked flights. Will this be known internally as the “Take that, United rule”?

The Texas State Supreme Court struck down a request by “affluenza” teen Ethan Couch, to get out of prison a year early.
Who says there’s no bipartisan agreement in this country?
“I feel so sorry for him.” said nobody.

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So Canada already has Justin Trudeau and now they add legalized marijuana?. Now that’s just piling on.

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Trump loves publicity & signing ceremonies, but he signed bill allowing states to defund #PlannedParenthood in private, #Profilesincowardice

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North Korea’s Vice Minister Han Song Ryol told AP that the country has determined that Trump administration is “more vicious and more aggressive” than Obama’s. What was their first clue?

Trump, who’s been attacking NATO regularly,  “I said it was obsolete, it’s no longer obsolete.”  So on top of all his other “successes” Trump has now made NATO great again?

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Melania Trump flew down separately with Barron from New York to join Donald in Mar-a-Lago for Easter.   At a cost to taxpayers of over $100,000.   Even now might it have been cheaper to have her and Secret Service fly United and pay whatever other passengers demanded to give up their seats?

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Then Melania will head up to DC, possibly with a stop in New York, certainly returning to New York, for the annual White House Easter Egg hunt Monday.

Even Woody Hall is going, hmm, do we really need the eggs?  (Annie Hall joke for youngsters.)

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Trump is being uncharacteristic vague about whether he personally authorized #MOAB strike. Translation – he wants to make sure it’s popular and doesn’t backfire

Trump refuses to release White House visitor logs to public. No GOP outcry. They do realize there might be another Dem President someday?

From T.C.  Tim Tebow has now homered twice in the minors. He is not so happy with his fielding though, complaining that his throws from the outfield to home plate keep getting intercepted by the shortstop or second baseman.

One week, and 5-6  games into the MLB season,  there are no teams without a win.   The Cleveland Browns and SF 49er are thinking, “amateurs.’

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Well, on a brighter note for  SF Giants fans, after the 1st week of season team  has the same number of wins as the Yankees.

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On another brighter note for SF Giants fans bullpen didn’t blow another lead tonight. #smallmercies

Not saying #SFGiants should considering signing Tim Tebow. But he has same # of hits as their 2017 left fielders. And prayer can’t hurt.

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All these measures to speed up the game and draw more fans.  Uh, it was the first Saturday of the MLB season & not a single game on national network TV. @CBS @NBC @ABC @FOX

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Going into tonight, well, it could be worse. SF Giants pitchers have the highest ERA in baseball so far, at just under 7. But Jeremy Guthrie started today for the Nationals and gave up 10 runs in the first. #wannagetaway?

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ESPN reports Dallas Mavericks will honor Tony Romo at their home finale Tuesday by making him “a Maverick for a day,” Nice gesture, and at least the Mavs don’t have any of that playoff pressure.

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Google being investigated for allegedly paying women less than men for same work. The company didn’t think workers could google salaries?

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Trump tweeted Saturday morning “Congratulations to our great military men and women for representing the United States, and the world, so well in the Syria attack.”
Well, at least he didn’t tweet out “Mission Accomplished.”

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Trump has declared April 9, “National Prisoner of War Day.” Not that he likes any of those honorees, bcause they were, you know, captured.

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So in the midst of all this craziness anyone but me notice we haven’t heard anything from Sarah Palin lately?

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30 triathletes suffered symptoms of hypothermia and 1 was hospitalized after they swam in 37 degree Lake Berryessa in Napa Valley this morning before biking. And millions of American couch potatoes will read this story and go “See!”

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One person killed and two others wounded in a shooting at a fancy Coral Gables mall today. Apparently not “terrorism” but a disgruntled former employee with a gun. Move along, nothing to see here.

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Should we really be surprised JJared Kushner is now such a close advisor to the President. It’s closest Trump can get to dating his daughter.

SF 49ers released CB Tramaine Brock after his arrest on domestic violence charges. Too soon to start a pool on which team desperate at the cornerback position will decide Brock deserves a 2nd chance?

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Friday night after  a Tiger-free tournament in Augusta. Anyone know who’s leading the Masters?  Yeah, me neither.

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2 home runs in a game?  Who does #BrandonBelt think he is? #MadisonBumgarner? #SFGiants

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Can someone connected with the #SFGiants bullpen put in an emergency call to Annie Savoy. #BullDurham

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Is there a record for number of lost leads by a team in a single season? Asking for Orange and Black friends. #SFGiants

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I miss the days when the biggest story of the morning in the US  would have been #AaronRodgers and #OliviaMunn breaking up.

An employee of the National Firearms Museum in Virginia, which is run by the NRA, was injured on the job Friday. He was taking part in firearms traning and accidentally shot himself.

Mean bitch karma and her friend irony for the win.

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A woman at Disney World was arrested and charged with child abus after she allegedly choked a teenage girl who she said was blocking her view of Magic Kingdom fireworks. Back on your game, Florida. #ifonlyshewasarmed

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#BrianWilliams described Syrian missile strikes as beautiful. Well, no doubt because he was so proud of building & launching them himself.

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Reports are that Bannon has been trying to insult Jared Kushner by calling him a “Democrat.” And Dems are going, “Wait, we don’t want him either.”

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USA Today heading “Big jobs miss: Employers add disappointing 98,000 jobs in March” Somehow missed the Trump tweet taking credit.

Report from KGW in Portland says that 858 TSA airport screeners tested positive for drugs or alcohol between 2010 and 2016. Makes a certain amount of sense, hard to imagine doing that job day in and day sober.

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Bus to hell time. A dismembered body was reportedly found inside a San Bruno home. “The San Bruno Police Department is investigating this incident as a homicide.”
Just guessing it wasn’t a suicide.

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So what if costs to taxpayers are $2.5 mill a weekend at Mar-A-Lago. Not as if any Trump donors are profiting from it….

Headline in the British #Guardian: “White House has no clear plan for next steps in Syria after missile strike.” You had me with 1st five words.

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Look, I don’t pretend that I know the answers in Syria. It’s a mess. But hope anyone supporting the idea of war is either ready to go fight in one, or send their children/grandchildren.

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And heck, Donald Trump has fired more missiles into Syria than he has accepted Syrian refugee children.

A Canadian comment from T.C.  “Donald J. has removed White House chief strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council. This is to make room for 11 year old Barron Trump to take over the position as soon as his school year in New York finishes in June.”

Early times. But thinking #SFGiants bullpen pitchers who were optioned to AAA this might not want to get too settled in Sacramento.

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Three days into the season, the only undefeated team in the National League is the Washington Nationals.    Maybe even the baseball gods are feeling sorry for D.C. these days.

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A Northern California woman sustained major injuries but is expected to survive after she tried to take a selfie in a restricted area of the Foresthill Bridge. Another Darwin #Misseditbythatmuch

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Germany may start fining social networking sites up to $50 million if they don’t remove hate speech/”fake news.” Will there be @POTUS exception.

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NBA game tonight featured Nets vs 76ers, with 46 wins between them. Five words “Thank heaven it’s baseball season.”

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At Johnny Cueto line drive to right field Tuesday night in his second at bat was first time an SF Giants pitcher has been retired in 2017. #pitcherswhorake

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Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and the Dodgers struggling against lefties.

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Lexi Thompson lost an LPGA tournament because a fan called in the next day saying officials missed Thompson slightly moving her ball. In related news, the St. Louis Cardinals called MLB. They want that 1985 World Series trophy. #DonDenkinger.

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Last night’s #nationalchampionship did answer one question “Whatever happened to all those replacement refs?”

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#TonyRomo is going to retire from professional football. So that still mean there’s a chance he could sign with the #49ers.

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Although it’s tough, Tony Romo retiring less than 6 months after the Cubs win the World Series.    Double blow for comedy writers.

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A picture is circulating of 6’5″ NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio crammed into a coach seat on a cross-country Delta flight. “Don’t even think about it” said Chris Christie.

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And I thought “He went to Jared” was irritating enough when it was just a jewelry commercial.

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Spicer attacks ProPublica, Trump Jr. says Pizzagate blogger deserves a Pulitzer. Just another day in the new abnormal.

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Got it, everything inherited that’s good, like low unemployment & a recovering economy is Trump’s doing, Bad stuff like Syria Obama’s fault.

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22 companies have pulled ads from Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News show. Could put the show in jeopardy, not for sexual harassment but for $$$.

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North Korea reportedly fired a ballistic missile towards Japan. Waiting for Trump to respond after getting intelligence briefing from Jared.

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Ivanka Trump says she doesn’t know what it means to be “complicit.” Well, another example of overrated expensive private school educations.

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Trump called Putin w/ his condolences on St Petersburg subway bombing, Vladimir appreciated it as he hadn’t heard from Donald in 12 hours.

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Trump now finds time to tweet about Drudge report but nothing on Russia bombing. Because no Americans killed & bomber wasn’t an immigrant?

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So while Trump is tweeting outrage on leaks think he could spare a little outrage and compassion for dead children in Syria?

Can Madbum play left field when he doesn’t pitch for the SF GIants? And bat fourth?

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One of Bumgarner’s two 400 plus foot home runs was against Zack Greinke.  Clayton Kershaw has to be really happy the Dodgers didn’t open against the Giants.

Two blown SF Giants save in one game. Too soon to talk about the curse of Casilla?

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This was not been a good opening day for closers. (Rodney, Melancon and Oh all gave up runs in the 9th)  Can we blame Trump?

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MLB Opening Day, firs game is Yankees – Rays?  In St. Pete.   What? The Red Sox didn’t want to risk their opener being snowed out?

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Derrick Rose is out for the rest of the NBA season. Making him luckier than Knicks season ticket holders.

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So a TV viewer watching Saturday”s 3rd round of the ANA Inspiration LPGA golf tournament on tape-delay Sunday contacted officials to say Lexi Thompson had very slightly moved her ball after marking it before putting for a tap-in. Thompson was then, while leading by 2, at the 14th hole of the final round, assessed a 4 shot penalty, 2 strokes of which were signing the suddenly wrong 3rd round scorecard. She ended up tying for the lead but losing in a playoff.
I don’t want to hear that the balk rule is the stupidest in pro sports ever again.

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As GOP tries to become party with best circular firing squad, maybe Democrats could stop infighting long enough to watch?

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Trump says “surveillance and leaks” are the problem. I suppose he thinks @washingtonpost & Deep Throat were the problem with Watergate

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Nikki Haley today “Certainly, I think Russia was involved in the election. There’s no question about that,”
Is Haley bidding to be President Pence’s VP choice?

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Jared Kushner is in Iraq right now. Trying to find a location for a Trump/Scion hotel Baghdad?

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Trump today in an interview with the Financial Times “Yeah, I don’t lose.” #alternativevictories?

More Trump to the Financial Times  “If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.” Well, sure, now that Trump’s already used his plan to beat ISIS.

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A newspaper in Juarez, Mexico says it is shutting down because too many journalists have been murdered. So yes, media attacks can get worse.

From Alex Kaseberg  “A survey shows the number of older women binge drinking has increased significantly. Asked to comment, Hillary Clinton said, “Shut up and do a Jager shot.”

Anyone but me still having a hard time getting adjusted to hearing “Defending World Champion Chicago Cubs?” #OpeningDay

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Another March Madness draws to close. Now the real challenge, getting millions of Americans as thoughtful & involved w/ voting as their brackets.

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Wonder how many turned #SouthCarolina #Gonzaga game off at half figuring it was over. & Zags had won. They were right. Sort of. #FinalFour

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And thousands of youth basketball coaches have the all time video to illustrate the lesson “box out.”. #Oregon #UNC #FinalFour

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James Harden claims Draymond Green punched him on his sore wrist last night Green responded He pinched me, so I punched his wrist,” Green said. “That’s pretty much it. He does it often actually, which is kind of adolescent, but whatever.”
Six words. “Thank God Opening Day is Sunday.”

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Feel for Jon Samuelson at Women’s Final Four.  He’s the  dad of Connecticut’s KatieLou & Stanford’s Karlie.   He was stressed about conflicting loyalties. But had to assume at least 1 daughter in final

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April Fool’s Day was a lot more fun when America didn’t have daily Presidential tweets rivaling any absurdity we could come up with.

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Maybe if Ivanka & Jared really want to do a holy thing on Sabbath they could take her dad’s phone with them when they go offline for day

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A homeless man was arrested & charged with arson in connection with the collapse of Atlanta’s I-85. So our infrastructure is in such wobbly shape terrorists don’t need bombs they can just set fires under freeways?

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And just guessing this homeless man will now end up with state-paid, and mandated, housing for from 5- to 15 years.

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As GOP tries to become party with best circular firing squad, maybe Democrats could stop infighting long enough to watch?

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The NY Times reports Bill O’Reilly or Fox have paid $13 million to five women since 2002 over sexual harrassment complaints “in exchange for agreeing to not pursue litigation or speak about their accusations against him.”
O’Reilly says it’s just because of his “high-profile job” that makes him “vulnerable.” Right, because every male celebrity pays out this kind of money regularly? #SMH

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Now there are reports security experts are worried about laptop bombs, which could lead to more restrictions in bringing them on planes. So we’re already spending over $7 billion a year on TSA, waiting hours in lines, can’t bring toiletries, bottled water or wine with us, and now we may not be able to work or entertain children on planes.
In many ways the terrorists have already won. #fearitself

5-time Olympic gold-medal swimmer Dana Vollmer, 6 months pregnant, plans to race in 50-meter freestyle next month. Weaker sex my ass.

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Wonder if Vollmer might actually have an advantage – swimming in the carpool lane?

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Tiger Woods says he will not be ready to play in #TheMasters. A shame that Tiger doesn’t feel able even to play two rounds of golf.

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Just what college sports needs, another all #SEC championship. Seriously,  congrats to #MississippiState, ending #UConn 111 game win streak in the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

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Probably more people had Gonzaga,  South Carolina, Oregon and UNC in the men’s final four than had South Carolina vs Mississippi State in the women’s final.

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Apparently the entire coal mining industry in this country employs few workers than Arby’s.  And moreover, as customers know,  Arby’s is a more consistent source of cheap gas.

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If V.P Mike  Pence feels it’s inappropriate to have dinner alone with a woman without his wife present fine. But really to avoid all appearances of impropriety why doesn’t he also eschew having dinner alone with other men?

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Condoleezza Rice met with Trump today in the White House, after reportedly meeting privately with Pence earlier. So presume due to the VP’s beliefs no food or drink was served?

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#FoxNews upset “private citizens” affiliated w/ Trump “wrongly unmasked…for political purposes.” Funny, I clearly missed their outrage over Valerie Plame.

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Pretty clear if Trump had social media during Watergate he’d be tweeting calls for prison time -for John Dean & “Deep Throat.”

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Jon Stewart would be proud. Trevor Noah on @TheDailyShow “Paul Ryan has turned into such a pussy it’s amazing Trump hasn’t grabbed him yet.”