Monday, August 29, 2016

MLB ejection four-packs, when you're dead but still alive and more "Luther" may be happening


- Still, Venezuela? Hugo Chavez has been gone from this earth for years, his handpicked successor is perhaps on the verge of being forced out of power and yet, you’re still harassing and imprisoning those who dare to oppose your tyrannical government? Move on, try new things and ….what’s that? Your intelligence agents just raided the home of a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader and taken him back to jail in a move the government claims was necessary to prevent acts of violence? According to Patricia Gutierrez, agents from the Sebin intelligence agency arrived around 3 a.m. without notice at the family home where her husband, Daniel Ceballos, had been held under house arrest. Gutierrez said the agents tossed Ceballos in an ambulance, saying they were taking for a medical exam, but instead transported the former mayor of San Cristobal to the same jail in central Guarico state where was held for more than a year until August 2015, when he was granted house arrest for kidney problems. In a total coincidence, this move comes as the opposition vows a mass protest on Thursday to demand that authorities allow a recall referendum to go ahead. A vote in the affirmative would cut short President Nicolas Maduro's term and trigger new elections, so the government fabricated intelligence that Ceballos was planning to flee before the Sept. 1 protests and carry out violent acts. "The evidence compiled will allow us to continue advancing in necessary investigations to prevent, uncover and neutralize any act that aims to destabilize our democratic system," the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Even if the measure passes, most observers believe it will be difficult to schedule elections this year, but that isn't stopping Maduro’s paranoid regime from clutching and scrambling to consolidate its power in any way possible……..


- The Emmys keep talking, fans keep speculating and Idris Elba keeps giving them hope. Elba, who recently had a Twitter exchange with fans about the status of his detective drama “Luther,” offered a beacon of light for those who want to see the show continue after it returned from a two-and-a-half year hiatus late last year for a pair of hourlong episodes. When asked if there would be more of “Luther,” Elba was optimistic about the idea - even bullish. The fan asked Elba, "what's the chance of a new series of Luther?" to which he replied, "Big chance. Watch this space.." Before coming back late last year, the show had new episodes in 2011 and 2013, suggesting that maybe this will be an every-other-year thing going forward. Last month, Elba was being interviewed and fielded a question about the possibility of turning “Luther” into a feature film. "A film is on the wish list. I think John Luther could transfer really well to a film. We haven't quite got there yet, but yeah man, it could happen,” Elba said before turning his focus to the show’s original home on television. “I'd like to [do more episodes]. The audience loved John Luther and I don't think the story's over yet." In July, it was announced that Elba has been nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance in Luther's recent two-part special, the third time he has been recognized by the Emmys and proof that when the show is actually producing content, it tends to be pretty damn good……..


- Every now and then, there’s a truly hilarious story of a person who, for some odd reason, is believed to be dead even though they’re alive and well. It’s not hilarious to that particular person, but for the rest of us, it’s a chance to have a good chuckle at general governmental incompetence. Barbara Murphy of Roy, Utah is one of these people and according to the federal government, she’s been deceased for two years. "This is the walking dead," Murphy jokes about her plight, which she became aware of two weeks ago. "It's the only thing carrying me through this. I don't know what else to do but laugh." Her problem stems from the fact that a death certificate has been connected to her, leading the Social Security Administration to believe she died in July 2014. Because of that document, the government is attempting to take back two years' worth of Social Security payments and to recoup any Medicare or Medicaid dollars put toward Murphy's treatment during that time. Yes, they want a refund for medical treatments to aid a woman who is supposed to be dead but by virtue of receiving medical treatment, is probably alive. She’s reached out to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), but has unsurprisingly received no reply. This poor woman is worried that her situation won't be resolved by the time her next round of bills come true and the Social Security Administration isn't saying much at this point, choosing to hide behind bureaucratic excuses and rhetoric. Murphy first became aware of her plight when she was out for a Friday night dinner with her granddaughter on Aug. 12 and her waitress informed her that her card had been declined. When her granddaughter called the bank, she was told the account had been frozen after the Social Security Administration issued notice of Murphy’s death. From there, the situation has only become more fun and chuckles with each passing day………


- Is Mike Everitt in the running for first place in some sort of Major League Baseball umpire fantasy league ejection pool? If so, he’s kicking ass and closing the season strong even though doing so made him a few enemies over the weekend at Comerica Park. Everitt issued not one, not two, not three, but four ejections to the Detroit Tigers during the team's 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Everitt’s trigger-happy ways left Tigers players and manager Brad Ausmus confused and infuriated, not to mention the home crowd in a rage. One of those tossed by Everitt was Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez, who incurred his first career ejection for what he felt was a fairly innocuous comment in the sixth inning. "I don't know, man, he had a short leash today, I guess. I just told him he's having a bad day. Honestly, that's what I said. 'You're having a bad day today, huh Mike?'" Martinez recalled. Everitt asked him to repeat his remark, baiting Martinez, who obliged and was tossed. The good news is that he had company in the clubhouse while waiting for the game to end, as designated hitter Victor Martinez was previously tossed in the bottom of the third inning for arguing balls and strikes. Ausmus and hitting coach Wally Joyner also got the boot during the game, making it seem as if Everitt perhaps had a vendetta against the Tigers for reasons that remain unclear. Having a five-game win streak snapped is bad enough in the midst of a pennant race, but having a vindictive umpire targeting you makes for an awkward evening at the ballpark……….

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