Facebook back to silencing people on GOP orders

A regular commenter on The Online Lunchpail who I know personally has just had 2 Facebook accounts taken away in the past 2 days because she disagreed with someone.

The first recent revocation was because she criticized the Newport school system. The second occurred this morning because she posted a message on a local political forum detailing how the Republican Party of Kentucky had blacklisted her from appearing in a medical information video because of her politics. (People who weren't qualified to appear have been hired instead because of their political connections.)

She's right: They're out for blood. It's been years since I've seen it this bad. Accordingly, the Fascism Advisory System is being "upgraded" to severe (Elmo).

I've been apprised of the situation in greater detail this afternoon.

She also says her Outlook account was apparently hacked, for it had been disabled because someone sent spam from it. But this account has been restored.

Trump tried pressuring FBI to lie

Folks, Donald Trump could really be in trouble this time. This is worse than Watergate, by far.

It seems the Trump regime wanted the FBI to lie about communications between Trump associates and Russian officials. During the election campaign, Trump aides were in touch with Russia.

But the FBI refused Trump's request to suppress the stories.

How does Trump escape real trouble for this? I just don't understand how he can.

(Source: http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/23/politics/fbi-refused-white-house-request-to-knock-down-recent-trump-russia-stories)

The video you've been waiting for!

If you happen to make YouTube videos, and if you happen to rock a visible overbite, count on getting requests like this from friends and fam. You probably wouldn't oblige, but I will, because I'm just so cool.

People want me to make a video in which I open the pull-tab on a can with my teeth - and use my peculiar chompers to lift the can. That I can do. And I can do it without spilling the contents of the can everywhere like a slob - at least if I lift it before I open it.

Oh, and these are friends asking me to do this. They're political allies, and they appreciate my sense of humor.

In this video, I use that handsome overbite to open a can of Cincinnati-style chili. I didn't spill a drop or slosh the stuff everywhere. Ninety-five percent of people wouldn't be able to do any of the things I do in this video. But I can. Brings a whole new meaning to "can-do" spirit...

Kentucky bill would legalize wage theft

Fascism is on the march in Kentucky, courtesy of alt-right State Sen. Chris McDaniel.

McDaniel's Senate Bill 237 would legalize wage theft and run afoul of a gamut of federal labor laws. Among other things, it would:

• Let employers take money from employees' paychecks to pay for workplace thefts allegedly committed by other workers. That's like if you go out and rob a bank because your boss doesn't pay you.

• It would repeal the minimum wage for many workers, especially those in the amusement industry.

• It would rob tipped workers of their tip money.

• It would state that lunch breaks and rest periods would no longer be required.

• It would exempt a host of industries from federal overtime rules.

Who voted for this clown? It doesn't matter, because McDaniel was allowed to run unopposed last time - just because.

No hate in the 'Gate!

Did you know that I went Roads Scholaring in Southgate yesterday? Sure. Sure you did.

This outing yielded 8 utterly pibtastic photos and videos, and you're gonna peep 'em until your ears digest themselves..

http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/sou17.html

California city endorses Trump impeachment

You gotta hand it to the city of Richmond, California.

With Donald Trump's thugocracy in power for only a month, Richmond City Council has already voted to urge Congress to impeach him. Council cited his business holdings as the reason. Council's vote was unanimous.

A Trumper disrupted the council meeting by gloating, "You don't have a voice because the GOP controls Congress and you people are stupid enough to think Congress will impeach Trump." How many city councils in urban areas do the Republicans control, brainiac? That's where the real power is going to be - if the cities have the guts to use it.

(Source: http://6abc.com/politics/california-citys-council-votes-to-impeach-donald-trump/1767691)

It's not for you, revisited

I shouldn't even have to tell people this, but I must.

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed to anyone. So this is something else I've discussed with a friend - lest the need arises. If I die, my cellphone is to be turned off. Calls are not to be answered. The phone is not to be rummaged through for photos or anything else. My contact list is not to be viewed or used. Odds are that any individuals on my contact list will know I'm dead shortly after it happens anyway. They don't need to be called.

It's a shame I have to tell people this, but I don't trust anyone. People going through my mail or my cellphone scares the living dickens out of me, because some things are simply private. They're not intended for public consumption.

Fight against abusive teen programs continues

After I participated in a series of protests that successfully shut down a chain of confirmedly abusive teen residential programs in the late 2000s, the fight continues.

It continues against phony "rehabs", "therapeutic boarding schools", and psychiatric "hospitals" - programs based on a failed model.

I'm humbled to learn that I'm one of America's leaders in fighting against this abuse. I've been held back by health conditions, and I'm not any more powerful than a small-town mayor. I can't afford to hire my own ambassadors. But this is one issue where I lead - because most of our public officials do not. The crisis of institutional abuse has been catatonically swept under the rug.

This blog continues to attempt to be a referral-free zone. I will not refer anyone to a residential program.

What some people still don't seem to know is that I'm a regional coordinator for HEAL...

http://www.heal-online.org

Somehow, my close family members didn't know this, even though I told them ages ago. They now think I retconned HEAL into existence going back 5 years or so to when I was appointed as a coordinator.

Remember, it was also HEAL that busted NorthKey for its unsafe food handling practices.

Terrifying dream last night

This is the bullshit I've had to worry about for the past 30 years every night when I go to bed.

I had a nightmare that I was working or volunteering at some large medical facility or hospital. One of my old schoolmates - the same Enemies List inductee who threw a piece of wood at me in shop class and later knocked my tooth out on the school bus - showed up for some psychological test. I was assigned to escort him down to a special waiting room in the back.

When we got there, he started harassing me. In response, one of the other hospital staffers asked me to leave the hospital. I was fired.

A family member showed up and drove me home, and I had to explain the experience to them.

But the Evil Empire normalizes all the violence that happened to me in school - even if I still have nightmares about it 30 years later.

So when does the punishment phase finally begin?

Have no fear, the March ish is here!

Wow, this is a good ish!

The March edition of The Last Word is now pub-a-roo, and it's gonna cause your butt to fly off in public!

This is of course yet another month in which people chomped beegee and thought it was uproarious, because that's what people do. They even ruined their gum with peanut butter! But there's other interesting stuff too, like...

• Amazon and EBay scammers.

• Adults doing donuts at their high school stadium.

• AN AMATEUR TATTOO!!!!!!!!!!

• The hypocrisy of "school choice" and Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.

• People farting and making it stink.

• Kids making hilarious paper airplanes out of an idiotic school assignment.

• Vacationers writing Janet Jackson lyrics on a hotel wall.

• Dogs chewing up dentures.

• And more!

So squander your bandwidth by reading the latest ish on Scribd...

https://www.scribd.com/document/339737966/The-Last-Word-3-2017

If that doesn't work, squander my bandwidth by reading it here...

http://bunkerblast.info/lastword/lw1703.pdf

Newport must fight religious discrimination

The campaign of religious persecution going on in Kentucky of late is unprecedented in modern America.

If you look northeast at 5th & Saratoga in Newport, you'll see a billboard for what's called Ark Encounter. A strange thing that Ark Encounter is. It's a dominionist theme park 30 miles south run by the Answers in Genesis cult.

You may argue Ark Encounter is strictly a ministry. Ministries wouldn't be expected to hire anyone who doesn't follow the ministry's beliefs. But Ark Encounter has received millions of dollars in handouts funded by Kentucky taxpayers. This is unconstitutional, of course, yet it occurs anyway. Plus, once you accept taxpayer dollars, you're no longer just a ministry. Entities that receive taxpayer money are not allowed to hire people based on their religious beliefs. Yet the taxpayer-funded Ark Encounter requires employees to sign a statement of faith affirming that they follow Answers in Genesis.

It is state-sponsored discrimination. There's no other word for it.

This obligates the city of Newport to remove the billboard. If it does not do so, Newport itself is practicing illegal discrimination. Newspapers can't run classified ads for apartments that practice housing discrimination. Why should a city allow discriminatory businesses to advertise on its billboards?

In Kentucky in 2017, anyone who is not a dominionist is suffering the most extreme religious persecution seen in America in modern times. Anyone who believes in truth and love will find themselves a target.

Bevin caught lying about Volvo plant

This is a day ending in y, which means Matt Bevin lied.

During Bevin's much-laughed-at State of the Commonwealth speech, he said the Swedish ambassador told him that Volvo refused to place a factory in Kentucky because the state had no right-to-scab law then.

But the ambassador - Björn Lyrvall - says that's a lie. Lyrvall told Bevin no such thing.

In addition, Volvo officials say that so-called "right-to-work" laws were not a factor in deciding where to build a factory.

Just impeach the little liar already.

(Source: http://insiderlouisville.com/metro/government/swedish-ambassador-volvo-dispute-gov-bevins-claim-that-company-would-have-opened-plant-in-kentucky-if-it-had-right-to-work-law)

Massie gives completely crazy interview

Wow.

Just wow.

This looks like something from The Onion. But no. It's real.

You've got to see how crazy our congressman has become...

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/17/nkys-massie-warns-deep-state-cnn/98061044

Here's a summary of that interview: Our already-unpopular right-wing congressmoron - Thomas Massie - gave an interview with CNN in which he said several bizarre things.

He said the military and intelligence officials are trying to draw Donald Trump into a war with Russia. Later, he said Barack Obama tried to cover up Saudi Arabian involvement in 9/11 - even though 9/11 happened years before anyone ever heard of Obama.

This ranks up there with the time Mitch McConnell thought Israel was covered by a dome.

UK wastes $4M on locker room

I don't want to hear another word about how Kentucky universities can't have all the programs and facilities they want because of "budget cuts." Ever.

As Northern Kentucky University sells its radio station, and as the asswipe Matt Bevin slashes university budgets across the state, the University of Kentucky is planning to throw away $4 million renovating the locker room for its men's basketball team. The Republican legislature had actually approved $5 million - while other university programs have been cut for decades.

Also, even though Title IX requires parity of athletic programs, there are no similar plans to renovate the locker room for the women's basketball team.

Congratulations, Repubs, you fucked up at least 2 things today: You squandered millions of dollars and you violated Title IX. What is it with Republicans and failure?

The university also wants millions to replace the ceiling tiles in the arena - and a $21 million dining facility for athletes.

(Source: http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article133334234.html)

People bubbled with spearmint Bubble Yum and thought it was funny (Bubble Gum Weekend)

It's spearmint!

It's spearmint gum!

It's spearmint bubble gum! Thus its mere existence is funny.

Remember when the Bubble Yum wrapper used big, bubbly lettering? Remember when they had a spearmint flavor? Remember when people bubbled big, green bubbles with it?

Back around 1978, Bubble Yum aired a memorable commercial for its spearmint flavor. People in the commersh bubbled and laughed uncontrollably about it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIQwtZxPnxE

A brief synopsis in case you're afraid the bubbles in the ad will expand out of your screen and engulf you: The ad included a group of adults at a boring party. A woman sticks toothpicks into pieces of spearmint Bubble Yum and arranges them on a plate - like they're hors d'oeuvres. The woman's husband laments, "The party's dying and you're playing with Bubble Yum."

But all is well, because partygoers grab up all the beegee and blow bubbles that pop all over their faces.

Because I'm sure that's all you do when you go to parties with other mature, intelligent people.

Just think! 20 more Scholaring photos!

Tuesday's Roads Scholaring with the Road Ruiner was like an electric bunker blast wisping up US 22!

It yielded 20 photos, and you're gonna peep 'em until your peepers are all peeped out...

http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/cinne17.html

Kasich has his most ridiculous idea yet?

Gosh, who voted for this clown?

Ohio's Tea Party Gov. John Kasich has just emitted what may be the worst idea yet of his reign. Under his budget plan, Kasich would require teachers to complete an "externship" at a business in order to renew their teaching license. This means teachers would have do extra work at a business or chamber of commerce. The reason for this is because Kasich wants Big Business to be involved more in education.

As if Big Business doesn't commandeer our schools enough?

Kasich also wants to pack each school board with 3 businesspeople. I'm not saying that being a businessperson should automatically disqualify someone from being on a school board. But if there are school board seats reserved for businesspeople, why not some reserved for labor reps too?

All the Far Right cares about is molding our young people into cheap, docile labor to be exploited as cogs in the wicked capitalist system.

WNKU sold to evangelical broadcaster

Yet another religious radio station in greater Cincinnati? You have got to be kidding me!

Nobody listens to radio anymore - unless it's WNKU, I've noticed. The station owned by Northern Kentucky University actually still has listeners.

But for the past year - ever since the scumbag Matt Bevin slashed funding to all state universities by 4.5% - WNKU has been on the chopping block. I truly believe Bevin pressured the university into making no attempt to ensure WNKU was sold to a responsible owner. I absolutely and honestly believe that. I think Bevin wanted it to be sold to someone that shares his ideology.

Of course, the university gave him what he wanted. After my experiences with NKU's suppression of dissent, that doesn't surprise me. The school is selling WNKU for $1.9 million to Bible Broadcasting Network - which already owns almost 50 stations nationwide and perhaps hundreds of low-power translators. BBN broadcasts what is described as "conservative evangelical" programming. NKU's Portsmouth simulcast is being sold to Educational Media Foundation, another religious broadcaster that already owns too many stations. The Middletown simulcast is awaiting a buyer too.

The FCC will of course rubber-stamp this purchase. They always do. It's easier for some checkbook clergy operation to buy a station in a major city than it is for the average person to buy a pack of bubble gum.

Since the FCC won't intervene, the city of Highland Heights should evict the station.

Congratulations, Matt Bevin and the FCC! Because of the FCC and Bevin not doing their jobs, about the only interesting thing we have now on local radio is American Top 40 reruns on WGRR. It's a shame I'll have to sit through all those commercials for cosmetic dentistry services I don't want, but I still enjoy hearing ol' Casey.

(Source: https://radioinsight.com/headlines/116522/bible-broadcasting-to-acquire-wnku-cincinnati)

Oregon may repeal Sudafed prescription law

The far-right drug warriors cheered back in 2006 when Oregon became the first state to pass a law requiring a prescription for over-the-counter cold and allergy medicine that contains pseudoephedrine. The lying sack of shit media was happy to help the failed drug war cause by falsely claiming that the Republican-backed law reduced the incidence of meth labs. (Oddly enough, the Portland media is so right-wing that it makes the Cincinnati media look like The Last Word in comparison.)

Of course, they clammed up the moment a real drug case fell right in their laps, but that's another matter entirely.

Now there's a bill in Oregon that would repeal the prescription requirement. If it's repealed, it would make Mississippi the last state that requires a prescription for allergy medicine.

(Source: http://koin.com/2017/02/13/or-may-drop-pseudoephedrine-prescription-requirement)

Indiana town continues classist land grab

Fascism is on the march in Charlestown, Indiana.

The town is home to a neighborhood called Pleasant Ridge - which has lots of low-income, working-class people. Some are families, and some are elderly or suffer from life-threatening illnesses. For over a year, right-wing city officials have been trying to demolish the neighborhood and replace it with luxury housing and upscale businesses.

Officials' language about Pleasant Ridge is openly classist. Officials called the neighborhood a "menace" to the rest of the town. They say Pleasant Ridge stands in the way of reshaping Charlestown as a more conservative high-end suburb. The city has fined Pleasant Ridge landlords - not because they did anything wrong, but because they want to encourage them to sell their property to developers.

Even the usually conservative Institute for Justice calls the case "the most outrageous property rights abuse in the U.S. right now." Pleasant Ridge residents have even filed a lawsuit accusing the city of being in cahoots with the developer. The lawsuit claims property owners can skip the fines by selling to the developer - as long as they sell all their properties in the neighborhood, not just those with the fines.

When city officials' campaign against Pleasant Ridge began, city council passed a resolution calling for a "permanent solution" to the neighborhood. A "permanent solution"????? Really????? Uh. That really sounds...bad. Very, very bad. The resolution also referred to Pleasant Ridge as "the projects" - which isn't even an official name for it, but was included just because of the images it evokes.

Of course, land grabs like this aren't limited to small towns. We've seen them in Cincinnati too, and elsewhere locally. I've discussed before that Over-the-Rhine has been slowly gnawed away at for some time by developers and the hated 3CDC. As idiotic as that land grab is, Charlestown officials aren't even pretending to be nice about theirs.

The Charlestown lawsuit may have slowed the city's campaign of econocide - but a lot of damage has already been done, and it's placed a lot of stress on ailing residents. Hopefully, what remains of Pleasant Ridge can be saved before it's too late.

(Source: http://www.courier-journal.com/longform/news/local/indiana/2017/02/08/residents-cling-homes-city-calls-menace/97402812)

Finally caught up on my Scholaring photos!

When will I be caught up on my recent Roads Scholaring photos? When the bubble gum busts.

The bustage must have taken place, because I'm finally caught up!

Best all, this is a new era in Scholaring, as now we have the Road Ruiner - an electric bicycle! You're gonna love it!

First off, we've got several items from a Road Ruiner outing on Waterworks Road in Newport...

http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/waworks17.html

As a bonus, we've got a few photos from a very minor automotive Scholaring in Highland Heights...

http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/hh17.html

It fails to stink.

Trump threatens Cincinnati over immigration rule

You don't threaten our cities like this, Donald. Ever.

After Cincinnati recently declared that it is a sanctuary city that will protect immigrants, so-called President Trump is now threatening to cut off federal funding for the city's roads, bridges, and other projects.

The Western Hills Viaduct is about to collapse, and Donald Trump is trying to cheaply manipulate the city like this.

22 more Scholaring photos!

Twenty-two in a bottle of poo!

Last year was a slow one for Roads Scholaring, but I've now got all of 2016's Scholaring photos up, and the final batch from last year includes 22 photos from Newport!

Nothing great, but this time, I focus primarily on the urban prairie where KY 9 is plowing through...

http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/morenewp16.html

Missouri enacts Klan-backed "right-to-work" law

The state of Missouri has long had a self-destruct button that's been tightly guarded enough to not have a lying piece shit like so-called Gov. Eric Greitens touch it. But today he pulled the trigger, and yet another state's economy has been replaced by a cloud of sawdust.

Today, Greitens signed a Ku Klux Klan-backed "right-to-work" bill into law - ignoring an earlier referendum in which Missouri voters soundly rejected such a measure.

Hey, I know what we can do about it: Blow a bubble. That'll show them! No, seriously, I know what we can do about it: Blow a bubble inside a bubble. That'll really show 'em!

But seriously. Ever consider just ignoring the fucking law? I don't go around encouraging people to break the law. But this law is unconstitutional, so it's fair game.

I posted some Scholaring photos and thought it was funny

Nineteen! Nineteen! Nineteen!

I have 19 brand bippus bustin' new Roads Scholaring photos and videos from the Cincinnati area that will cause a 10-foot-tall Sesame Street sign to sprout forth from your noggin.

Our first set focuses on the river cities of Campbell County (the cool part)...

http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/daynew16.html

The next set focuses on Cincinnati's East End neighborhood and even has a few bonus items from Silverton...

http://www.bunkerblast.info/roadpics/cineast16.html

Why not peep and weep?

Kentucky GOP praises racist legislator

When the openly racist Dan Johnson received the Republican nomination for a Kentucky House seat last year, the reason for it couldn't have reflected well on the Republicans. At first I thought it was because Republican voters voted for him (since Kentucky has a closed primary), but actually it was because party leaders selected him because they didn't have a candidate. (Why weren't Democratic leaders allowed to select a candidate in districts where they had none?)

This means leaders of the Republican Party of Kentucky put their stamp of approval on Johnson's racism. The Media tried to make it look like the GOP didn't actually support Johnson. Nothing can be further from the truth. They picked him.

Now that Johnson has taken office, Republican leaders in the Kentucky House are praising him. Republican Whip Kevin Bratcher said of Johnson, "He's making good votes. He seems like a fine fellow."

Meanwhile, State Rep. Wesley Morgan - a Dan Johnson-style bigot - has introduced bills to benefit his own liquor stores. It's a felony for legislators to take official actions that would "derive a direct monetary gain."

(Source: http://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/article130293554.html)

People Scholared in 1993

Remember the '90s? Remember helmet hair, Surge soda, and Roc?

People went Roads Scholaring in the decade of incoherence. Taking road photos and videos was tricky back then, and not as easy to do as it is now. But back in 1993, someone did so - right here in Campbell County! Best all, they started in my hometown of Highland Heights.

And now they've put their 1993 Scholaring video up on YouTube for the whole wide world to ogle (beep)...



Before anyone asks, I didn't make that video. In fact, there's a brief scene I couldn't watch, because it triggers traumatic memories I can't handle. But let me break this clip down for you: It starts in Highland Heights, and you see some boarded-up and dilapidated buildings there. Remember, 1993 was a sorry chapter in local history.

You'll also notice an already-stale Q-102 playing on the radio. If you're into Road Scholaring, there do appear to be at least a couple of very old traffic signs when they drive through downtown Alexandria late in the video.

Plus, 1993 was the year The Last Word was founded. I attended NKU and worked at the public library back then.

But nobody in this video bubbled.

America gets another major Interstate

If you're a Roads Scholar, you'll be interested to know about this story. Maybe not pleased, but interested.

America now has an Interstate 14. It's the little woocap that runs from Copperas Cove to Temple, Texas. That's only 25 miles, but Texas wants to expand I-14 from one end of the state to the other. Why, I don't know.

I'm pretty sure I was on this freeway during my 2015 Texas fact-finding mission.

Meanwhile, still no TANK service to Silver Grove.

Trump convoy belonged to SEAL unit

We gave military leaders the benefit of the doubt when they said a convoy sighted in Louisville carrying a blue Donald Trump flag didn't actually belong to the military. But now that claim has fallen to rack and ruin.

Now a Navy spokesperson admits that the convoy belonged to an out-of-town SEAL unit traveling between training locations. This means they violated regulations by flying a Trump flag. However, those who posted the flag might not have been SEAL's, for these units also carry support staff.

The Navy may initiate disciplinary action following this partisan display.

(Source: http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/article130287814.html)

Trump's Supreme Court pick started fascist club

As Donald Trump nominates Neil Gorsuch - a right-wing federal judge - to the Supreme Court, it's now been discovered that Gorsuch founded an openly fascist club at an elite prep school he attended.

Gorsuch called his organization the Fascism Forever Club, and he says it was designed to fight the "left-wing tendencies" of his high school teachers. He served as president of this club until he graduated.

Gee, Donald, nice job of vetting this guy before you nominated him. Of course, George W. Bush is just as guilty as Trump is, because it was the thug Bush who appointed Gorsuch to his current judgeship. Trump and Bush probably just don't care. Sometimes it's easy to forget that Bush was endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan.

Cincinnati congressman posts anti-Jewish material

Steve Chabot - the unpopular Cincinnati congressman - is a particularly nasty Tea Party loudmouth. Now he's been caught posting an item from an anti-Jewish website on his own political blog.

While arguing that the media is hostile to Donald Trump - a claim that is laughable on its face - Chabot posted a quote from Steve Bannon that used the triple parentheses "echo" commonly used as an anti-Jewish symbol. The image also included a link to an anti-Jewish website.

Chabot did this on purpose. He knew exactly what he was doing. He can't claim he didn't know.

Trump order kills elderly woman

Donald Trump has blood on his hands, and needs to be prosecuted.

Trump's travel ban against people from predominantly Muslim countries has killed a 75-year-old woman who had been a legal American resident for 22 years. The woman had flown to her native Iraq to visit family - but when she became ill, Trump's order prevented her from returning to the U.S., and she died. Her son - an American citizen - was allowed to return. The son - who had fled Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War and now owns a Detroit-area business - places the blame squarely on Trump.

Dictator Trump has been in power less than 2 weeks, and already this happens.

People have a right to count on their government to protect their families. It's one of government's most basic charges. Predictably, it has failed with Trump at the helm.

(Source: http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/232856168-story)