HOMELESS CAMEL

According to ESPNChicago, it's for a 5th round pick. Part of me is sad to see him go, but then they really do need to wipe the slate clean, wish we could have gotten something more than a 5th. Saves money moving forward, so I guess that's good.

KIPS BAY — A public elementary school is abolishing traditional homework assignments and telling kids to play instead — outraging parents who say they may pull their kids out of the school. Teachers at P.S. 116 on East 33rd Street have stopped assigning take-home math worksheets and essays, and are instead encouraging students to read books and spend time with their family, according to a letter the school’s principal, Jane Hsu, sent to parents last month. “The topic of homework has received a lot of attention lately, and the negative effects of homework have been well established,” Hsu wrote in her letter, which was sent home with students. “They include: children’s frustration and exhaustion, lack of time for other activities and family time and, sadly for many, loss of interest in learning.” Hsu explained that the school spent more than a year "analyzing studies focused on the effects of traditional homework" and decided that it was more important for the Pre-K through fifth grade students to do activities that “have been proven to have a positive impact on student academic performance and social/emotional development” such as reading at their own pace and playing. Elementary School Dumps Homework and Tells Kids to Play Instead - Kips Bay - DNAinfo.com New York

Archaeologists have discovered two lost cities in the deep jungle of Honduras, emerging from the forest with evidence of a pyramid, plazas and artifacts that include the effigy of a half-human, half-jaguar spirit. The team of specialists in archaeology and other fields, escorted by three British bushwhacking guides and a detail of Honduran special forces, explored on foot a remote valley of La Mosquitia where an aerial survey had found signs of ruins in 2012. Chris Fisher, the lead US archaeologist on the team, told the Guardian that the expedition – co-coordinated by the film-makers Bill Benenson and Steve Elkins, Honduras and National Geographic (which first reported the story on its site) – had by all appearances set foot in a place that had gone untouched by humans for at least 600 years. “Even the animals acted as if they’ve never seen people,” Fisher said. “Spider monkeys are all over place, and they’d follow us around and throw food at us and hoot and holler and do their thing.” Archaeologists find two lost cities deep in Honduras jungle | World news | The Guardian

If he would have been flying a fridge, he could have walked away injury free.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A southwest Florida man put his dead neighbor in the bed of his pickup truck and drove to his lawyer’s office claiming he’d killed the man in self-defense. Attorney Robert Harris told the News-Press of Fort Myers that 52-year-old John Marshall showed up around 4 p.m. Wednesday, saying he didn’t know who else to trust. Man drives neighbor?s dead body to lawyer?s office | fox8.com

(Bloomberg) -- New York will become the largest U.S. school district to close in observance of the Muslim holy days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The mayor announced the policy Wednesday at a Brooklyn public school where 36 percent of its students were absent the last time Eid al-Adha occurred on an instructional day. The program will begin in the school year that starts in September. “This is about respect for one of the great faiths of this Earth,” said de Blasio, a 53-year-old Democrat. In past years, “either the child went and pursued his education and missed his religious observance or the other way around. That is the kind of choice that was wrong to have to make for these families. New York City Will Close Schools to Observe Muslim Holidays - Bloomberg Business

I feel bad for UK fans having to relive that moment at least once a year in March and however many other times when "great finishes" come up. Even with the national titles since then and Calipari's success, that would still drive me nuts. With that said, Laettner will be doing an autograph show here in Chicago in May, anyone want anything signed? If I can't interest you in that, Jenna Jameson will be at the same show. :lol2:

Lake Wales, Florida -- Lake Wales Police say a man called 911 to lure law enforcement officers to a house on Tuesday and then opened fire on them, wounding two of the officers. John Goepferich, 59, called 911 about 5:55 p.m. and reported gunshots coming from his residence at 743 Hillside Ave. Lake Wales officers arrived on the scene and immediately came under fire. More than 100 rounds were fired in the gun battle that lasted about 15 minutes. Gunman lured officers to house, opened fire

HAMILTON, Ohio- A man commented on his own wanted poster on the Butler County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. On Monday, the sheriff’s office posted photos and information on Andrew Dale Marcum, of Lemon Township, in hopes of arresting him. The 21-year-old is accused of safe cracking, abduction, assault and domestic violence. Hours after being featured as the warrant of the week, Marcum commented on the sheriff’s office post. Ohio fugitive responds to his photo on sheriff?s Facebook page | fox8.com

In 1959, investigators ruled that the most likely cause of the crash was pilot error, a ruling that Peterson's boss at the flying service still disputes to this day. The NTSB agreed to consider another investigation after receiving a letter from L.J. Coon. He's an experienced pilot from New England who contends there were other issues the board should investigate, including weight and balance calculations, fuel gauge readings and a rudder. Board considers reopening investigation into plane crash that ca - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

A group of inmates rescued a female correction officer who was nearly raped by a hulking prisoner inside a locked vestibule on Rikers Island Saturday night, The Daily News has learned. The inmates helped responding correction officers frantically tear away Plexiglas on the outside of the bubble-like watch post inside the Anna M. Kross Center at 8:15 p.m., according to multiple sources. A skinny inmate slipped inside the so-called “A station” bubble through the small crack and opened the security door. A team of inmates then took down the assailant, Raleek Young, 27, until other officers arrived. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/exclusive-rikers-island-inmates-save-prison-guard-rape-article-1.2135187

I believe the stat is this is first time a team not named North Carolina or Duke has won back to back regular season titles since NC State in 70's. They will hopefully get Justin Anderson back for Louisville, at least ACC tournament. I'm trying to enjoy the ride, but I really want to know how this is going to end.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A teacher was found hanged to death in a Southern California high school classroom when students arrived on Monday, police and fire officials said, in what was being investigated as an apparent suicide. Jillian Jacobson, a 31-year-old photography teacher, was found by students in a classroom at El Dorado High School in Placentia, about 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Los Angeles, said Lieutenant Eric Point of the Placentia Police Department. "It's still under investigation by our detectives, however everything points toward suicide," Point said. He said that Jacobson, who was married, did not leave a suicide note in the classroom. Teacher found hanged in Southern California high school classroom

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has nearly completed a highly critical report accusing the police in Ferguson, Mo., of making discriminatory traffic stops of African-Americans that created years of racial animosity leading up to an officer’s shooting of a black teenager last summer, law enforcement officials said. According to several officials who have been briefed on the report’s conclusions, the report criticizes the city for disproportionately ticketing and arresting African-Americans and relying on the fines to balance the city’s budget. The report, which is expected to be released as early as this week, will force Ferguson officials to either negotiate a settlement with the Justice Department or face being sued by it on civil rights charges. Either way, the result is likely to be significant changes inside the Ferguson Police Department, which is at the center of a national debate over race and policing. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/02/us/justice-department-report-to-fault-police-in-ferguson.html?_r=0

A near-record load of marijuana -- more than 15 tons -- was seized this week at the Otay Mesa border crossing from a truck carrying a shipment of mattresses and cushions, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Agents found 1,296 packages of marijuana inside the truck's trailer. The 31,598 pounds of pot had an estimated street value of $18.96 million, officials said. The truck driver, a 46-year-old Mexican national, was arrested and the truck-and-trailer and its contents seized. The seizure was made Thursday night when the truck was directed for an X-ray exam and agents noticed "an anomaly." 15 tons of marijuana seized at Otay Mesa crossing, Border Patrol says - LA Times

Taco Bell recently invited us over to their test kitchen to try a top-secret new dessert they plan to release. That said, here are our own photos of the new Cap'n Crunch Delights going into test immediately. Made with Cap'n Crunch Berries cereal and a warm, gooey milk icing, the Delights are the newest addition to Taco Bell's dessert lineup. EXCLUSIVE: Taco Bell Testing Cap'n Crunch Donut Holes Stuffed with Milk Icing

Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina, describes itself as a “liberal arts” institution, but as far as that freedom applies to the hearts and minds of its students, it seems limited. In response to two male athletes on its volleyball team coming out in an article published on OutSports.com last year, the college, which is aligned with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian tradition, released a strongly worded denouncement of homosexuality on campus that many read to be a behavioral ban. The document, titled “Statement on Human Sexuality” was submitted by the Student Services and Athletic Committee and adopted by the board of trustees last Friday. It reads: “We believe the Bible teaches that monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is God’s intended design for humanity and that sexual intimacy has its proper place only within the context of marriage. “Sexual relations outside of marriage or between persons of the same sex are spoken of in scripture as sin and contrary to the will of the Creator (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:9-11). “Therefore, the Erskine community is advised to practice humility and prayerfulness when engaging in any conversations or other actions related to these topics. Erskine’s conduct policies and procedures seek to uphold biblical standards, promote repentance and grace, and point people to Jesus Christ. “As a Christian academic community, and in light of our institutional mission, members of the Erskine community are expected to follow the teachings of scripture concerning matters of human sexuality and institutional decision will be made in light of this position.” South Carolina college denounces homosexuality after two volleyball players come out as gay - The Washington Post

So if/when McCown and Manziel can't get it done, who is the next QB in line?

Rams first district title since 2008

Back to back titles for Boyd County, the 20th title overall for Lions! :thumb: My faux pas if thread needs to be changed from Final to Championship

Fred Phelps, founder of he staunchly anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, had a long and contentious relationship with the FBI, according to the late pastor’s newly released 250-page bureau file. Phelps, who died in March 2014 at age 84, was known best for leading protests at funerals to highlight the church’s crusade against homosexuality. He also attempted a U.S. Senate run in 1992, gaining almost 31 percent of the vote in the Kansas Democratic primary, and launched three failed gubernatorial bids. The FBI's first mentions of Phelps occurred in 1967, when a confidential informant told the bureau that Phelps was “in need of psychiatric care.” At the time, he had been at the helm of Westboro for more than a decade but primarily worked as a lawyer. However, it would not be the last time Phelps or the church caught the attention of federal law enforcement. He appears in FBI records in almost every year from 1993 to 2006. By August 2005, the bureau said in a memo that the Westboro Baptist Church founder was “well known to the FBI.” Anti-gay crusader had 250-page FBI file | TheHill

Thank you for updates, the demon is dead!!! Until next year's district playoffs :lol2: Congrats to the Royals on getting that darn elusive 36th district title. NOW time to work on getting that 15th regional championship

A man in Hunt County, Texas, who allegedly shot his neighbor's two dogs and then boasted about the killing on Facebook, is being investigated by the local Sheriff's Department. Statement from the Royse City Fire Chief Allegedly, a member of the Union Valley Fire Department posted a boast on Facebook claiming that he killed 2 dogs on his property. He included pictures of the deceased dogs. His Facebook identified himself as a fireman and claimed that he lived in Royse City. We have received a deluge of angry emails and phone calls this morning. To set the record straight…. the person has been suspended as a Union Valley fireman, and lives outside of our city limits. Any offense did not occur within Royse City jurisdiction. Texas man's online boast about killing dogs has led to investigation - National Dogs | Examiner.com

Went to the game tonight, great environment and pardon my ignorance since I haven't seen Indiana play this year. Does their offense always consist of throwing the ball around the perimeter for 25 seconds and then chucking up a 3 or a contested shot? They did hit 9 three's in the first half and the score was still tied at 40. Made no sense why they waited so long to press because once they did, Northwestern was rattled, but at that point, it was too late.

After nearly eight centuries of accusing the black rat for spreading the bubonic plague, scientists say they have compelling evidence to exonerate the much-maligned rodent. In the process, they’ve identified a new culprit: gerbils. It’s always the cute ones you have to watch out for, isn’t it? According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, climate data dating back to the 14th century contradicts the commonly held notion that European plague outbreaks were caused by a reservoir of disease-carrying fleas hosted by the continent’s rat population. After 8 centuries, rats exonerated in spread of Black Death. Gerbils implicated. - The Washington Post