firehose

biggie-large:

When people fuck with me and my crew

Alabama has long been known for defense, partially due to the play of Clinton-Dix in recent years. He should be a much-needed upgrade to the Packers' defense.

With the No. 21 pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected Alabama Crimson Tide free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. After playing on the winningest program of the last five years, Clinton-Dix came into the draft as one of the most well-known players, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Evan Western notes that Clinton-Dix strengthens a secondary that could use some help. He's expected to play across from Morgan Burnett:

Clinton-Dix bolsters the safety position for the Packers beside Morgan Burnett, and will allow Micah Hyde to be used as more of utility defensive back, likely splitting time at both safety and slot cornerback.

Over at The Falcoholic, Murf Baldwin did a great job back in April of showing the strengths of Clinton-Dix. The former college standout has the ability to come down toward the line of scrimmage to act as a linebacker against the run or to drop into coverage and scan the field, covering on both sides of the hashmarks.

Clinton-Dix spent three years in Alabama, playing in 11 games as a true freshman. Last year, he totaled 51 tackles and a pair of interceptions, on his way to earning the distinction of being a first-round talent in the eyes of most evaluators.

Clinton-Dix came in at No. 10 on SB Nation's top 200 big board, and was the top safety to be featured.

Combine results

40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds

Bench reps: 11

Vertical jump: 33''

Broad jump: 119''

3-cone drill: 7.16 seconds

20-yard shuttle: 4.16 seconds

The Saints swapped with the Cardinals, then used the pick to hand Drew Brees another weapon.

You typically don't think of offensive playmakers as a need for New Orleans, but the Saints made a big first-round trade to grab one. The Arizona Cardinals have dealt the No. 20 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Saints, who used that pick to draft wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

The Saints forked over the No. 27 overall pick and their third round pick (No. 91) in order to move up.

The selection of Cooks gives Drew Brees yet another weapon. The Saints' prolific offense lost wideout Lance Moore and versatile running back Darren Sproles in the offseason, so addressing that side of the ball was a focus for New Orleans coming into the draft. Cooks will create a dangerous duo with Marques Colston.

Worth noting is the Saints' swollen salary cap. After signing safety Jairus Byrd to a massive free agent contract, New Orleans has just $4.57 million in cap room to sign their draft picks and fill their roster.

It's sort of a tough day for backers of an initiative that would let businesses refuse to "participate" in same-sex weddings.

The Oregon Supreme Court, after nearly two months, ruled ballot language written by the Oregon Department of Justice passes muster. The campaign Friends of Religious Freedom—an offshoot of the Oregon Family Council—had hoped the court would remove the word "discrimination" from the caption and explanation of the measure, arguing it has a negative connotation. The court also turned down changes requested by same-sex marriage advocates.

The initiative in question would let anyone—individuals, corporations and pretty much everything in between—refuse to participate in a same-sex wedding, civil union or commitment ceremony for religious reasons. There's some debate about what effect the measure's language might actually have, and the ballot title the court approved today lays out a list of six words and phrases that aren't defined.

At very least, the initiative would likely give cover to people like bakers who don't want to provide cakes for same-sex weddings, florists who don't want to make bouquets, and photographers who don't want to snap pictures.

"I wouldn't say it's a loss for us," Shawn Lindsay, an attorney for the Friends of Religious Freedom, said of the Supreme Court's decision. The ruling frees up the campaign to begin gathering signatures—it needs more than 87,000 by July 3—but it first has to have petition sheets approved by the Oregon Secretary of State's Office. That's a "piece of cake," Lindsay said, but he stopped short of saying the campaign would submit the sheets tomorrow.

"We're gonna meet and analyze and discuss what's next."

Also this afternoon, Oregon United Against Discrimination, the campaign fighting the initiative, announced a large coalition of businesses that have joined its cause. Over 160 companies— including Nike, Google, Stimson Lumber (a big-time backer of Republican campaigns), Powell's, Columbia Sportswear and Moda Health— all oppose the measure, according to a press release.

The endorsements will be formally unveiled at a press event tomorrow morning. And they bode well for Oregon United Against Discrimination, which may need to find considerable cash to fight the initiative. Nike, in particular, has shown a willingness to throw money into same-sex marriage efforts.

Ryan Deckert, president of the Oregon Business Association, says the group's 40-business board took a vote to oppose the religious freedom initiative back in March.

"I was taken by how quick and swift the response was," Deckert said. "It didn't take them very long to say: Really bad idea."

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hyperboleandahalf:

Apparently I’ve had a Tumblr account for the last four years and I didn’t even know. I only found out because I tried to join Tumblr and it said the name “hyperboleandahalf” was already taken. I was like, “who would do this?” 

It turns out it was me. I did it.   

Does anyone have advice or experience relating to the "Cards Against Humanity"-sponsored "Tabletop Deathmatch?" (http://tabletopdeathmatch.com/)

I've been encouraged to enter a game there, but am a bit unsure of the costs/benefits of doing so. And, does anyone know if entering would preclude me from showing the same game to publishers?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

From Detective Comics 856, art by JH Williams III, colors by Dave Stewart.

Read 7 remaining paragraphs | Comments

Sammy Watkins makes history.

DRAFT SELFIE (via @lukezim) pic.twitter.com/rP27u83n51

— SB Nation (@SBNation) May 9, 2014

Cool things that just happened to Sammy Watkins

(1) Complete lifelong goal of being drafted into the National Football League.
(2) But first, let me take a selfie with Roger Goodell.

Welcome

givemeinternet:

Ukrainian protesters backed by lvl 37 wizard

tastefullyoffensive:

Prince George is already good at his job. [x]

Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Evan Williams Single Barrel 2004 Edition, Four Roses Small Batch, Angel’s Envy Cask Strength, Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon Whiskey, Jeff’s Chef’s Collaboration, Jim Beam Single Barrel, Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Oola Waitsburg Bourbon Whiskey, Russell’s Reserve Small Batch 10-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

In our May issue, we ran a story previewing the political fight of the season: the no-holds-barred battle for control of Portland's water and sewer systems. For over a century, Portland's City Council has run the iconic Bull Run watershed (and the less charismatic, but equally essential, sewers) directly: under our unusual "commission-style" government, the mayor appoints particular council members to oversee those services. (Though water and sewer are housed in separate bureaus, currently Commissioner Nick Fish holds the reins of both.) 

This month, voters decide if that set-up should survive. A ballot measure pushed by an alliance of activists and business interests would take water and sewer away from Council and establish a new, independently elected board to oversee both.

As might be expected with a measure affecting public utilities (stay with us), it all gets a bit arcane. But here are five things to know:

1 Proponents say City Council wastes ratepayers' money and has jacked up our water bills. Exhibit A in this argument: combined water/sewer rates have shot up over the last decade. As Willamette Week demonstrated with a handy chart, the average Portlander now pays substantially more for those services than Angelenos, Denverites—or, for that matter, residents of Phoenix. (CORRECTION: The original version of this post incorrectly stated that Seattle and San Francisco also have lower rates than Portland. Rates in those cities are, in fact, higher.) One aspect of this situation that receives less attention than perhaps it should: those rate increases are largely due to big-ticket sewer projects—such as the Big Pipe that solved the system's perennial problem of discharging waste into the Willamette—mandated (but not entirely paid for) by the federal government.

2 A few well-publicized money pits are getting plenty of attention. The Council has, indeed, exhibited a bad habit of tapping water and sewer funds for—well, just about anything. In particular, critics of Council's management point to a water-efficient house built on the city's dime (and sold for a hefty lost), and the creation of branded public toilet. While those missteps don't actually add much to an individual ratepayer's tab, they create a severe optical problem for the Council: playing defense, Fish recently promised more rigorous oversight for utility expenditures.

3 Meanwhile, who's paying for the campaign to oust Council from control? Some of the biggest corporate water users in town. While a couple of citizens—an activist and a long-time advocate—are leading the public campaign for the measure, their financial backers prominently include Siltronic (computer chip manufacture requires lots of water) and Portland Bottling, both of which have pumped in multiple five-digit donations. Big local landlords like American Property Management and Commerce Properties ponied up; so has the Hilton hotel chain.

4 Hence, the measure's opponents—City Council, powerful unions, and basically Portland's entire environmental community—brand the proposal a “corporate takeover.” Early campaign rhetoric describes the measure as “underpinned by a strong anti-environment agenda.” Fish and others argue that the same well-heeled forces backing the measure could pack the seven-member board that would run the new water district with handpicked candidates, and dismantle environmental and conservation programs.

5 Whichever side you believe, there's a lot at stake. The two bureaus that run these services—without which, the city of Portland could not exist—control more than $680 million in annual budget, direct nearly 1,100 employees, and run public infrastructure worth about $20 billion. Beyond that, the measure poses an existential challenge to the whole structure of Portland city government: if the Council can lose control of these two essential services, what next?

As our article noted, that big money and hefty clout in question have sparked a campaign of ferocious rheotric. While pro-measure forces all but call City Council corrupt and incompetent, Mayor Charlie Hales has branded the effort "political terrorism" and publicly called its backers "clowns." The Portland Mercury aptly called the contest a "bleak slugfest"; WW reported that "when the campaigns arrived in our office to debate, it was all we could do to keep them from screaming over each other."

Those two papers—and the Oregonian, not usually particularly friendly to this City Council—endorsed "No" votes. Portland Monthly does not do political endorsements. Instead, the whole thing reminds us of a certain classic film about control of another city's water supply, and the murky politics of local power.

 

budaallmusic:

Hip Hop

whitehouse:

It’s time to #BringBackOurGirls.

Read about how the U.S. is helping Nigeria in the search for those who were kidnapped.

WARREN BUFFET THROWIN UP THE WRONG FUCKIN SIGN IF U GOT NO RESPECT FOR THE WU THEN WE GOT NO RESPECT FOR U pic.twitter.com/XvVm0ERhjC

An anonymous reader writes "A study published in March found that that the reason why the U.S. government has sub-par IT programs is because leading commercial IT companies established in the U.S. aren't involved in government contracting. Either the government holds closed bidding, essentially stifling competition to its own disadvantage, or prospective companies are put off by the cost-prohibitive regulations associated with government acquisition given the low returns (less than 10% as compared to 20% or more in the commercial world). The dysfunction that results has been documented by the Government Accountability Office: of 15 Department of Defense IT projects studied, 11 had cost increases (one of which was by 2,333%), 13 had schedule slippages (one of which was by six years), and only three met system performance goals. If the U.S. wants to lead other governments in technical capabilities by tapping into the technology being developed within its own borders, then some say that instead of exemptions and workarounds such as was applied with Healthcare.gov, a complete rebuild of the whole acquisition program would need to be implemented."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

America’s original dog of war fought bravely on the Western Front — then helped the nation forget the Great War’s terrible human toll.

Reber Plan for San Francisco

michaxl:

nickiminajvevo:

can anyone make this transparent for me pls?