The Senate Ways and Means Committee took a very different tack. Its 10-page version basically said, Well take away the States 10 percent skim off the surcharge, but no extension; youre on your own.

That draft unanimously passed the full Senate and went over to the House.

House Finance Committee Chairwoman Sylvia Luke and Senate Ways and MeansChairwoman Jill Tokudaplayed key roles in the various drafts of the rail tax bill.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

There, the House Transportation Committee kept the bill alive by putting blanks in it its draft extended the tax to an unspecified date, reinstated the skim but replaced the percentage with a blank percent to recover the states costs and a blank percent that would go the DOT for state highway projects.

The House Finance Committee then filled in the blanks, extending the tax for two years, and dropping the skim to 1 percent, none of which would be earmarked for the DOT.

This version went to the conference committee, and then surprising things started happening.

First, the Senate proposed a new draft, radically different from the version that passed the Senate, which extended the surcharge for 10years and raised the skim to 20 percent.

The House came back with a draft that left the GET surcharge untouched, dropped the skim to 1 percent and raised the hotel room tax from 9.25 percent to a hefty 12 percent.

The latter proposal, though innovative, caught the hotel industry unaware, prompting vigorous objections. Then-Senate money chair Tokuda agreed to that version with tweaks a few hours later, thereby making the final decking deadline.

After frantic meetings through the weekend, the money chairs, apparently with some members of the hotel industry, reached a compromise involving a shorter GET extension and a lower TAT hike.

Amendments were introduced on the chamber floors to implement the agreement, although another version with only a GET extension and no TAT increase, which Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell supported, was circulating in the Senate.

The House passed one version and jettisoned its speaker, while the Senate adopted the other version and deposed Chairwoman Tokuda.

With no agreement between the chambers, neither version can be enacted. That is where we are now.

Original post:
Tom Yamachika: Anatomy Of The Epic Fail On Rail - Honolulu Civil Beat

It was last fall, and negotiations with the Elmore Sports Group to bring its AA minor league San Antonio baseball franchise to Amarillo were creeping along. Its not that they were at an impasse, but something needed to be done to get talks off high center.

Wichita, Kan., with its 400,000 population and serious talks of a $60 million stadium along the Arkansas River, was an inviting suitor. So too was Amarillo, but negotiators on behalf of the citys Local Government Corp. believed they needed a buzz.

We had to create an advantage, said Alex Fairly, president of the Fairly Group, a risk management firm whose clients include Dave and D.G. Elmore among many professional and collegiate sports teams and organizations. We needed to do something they just couldnt say no to. It had to be shocking.

The plan was to not just tell, but show the Elmores how committed Amarillo was to affiliated minor league baseball and rejoining the Texas League with a new downtown stadium. The plan was to sell all the inventory in the to-be-built $45.5 million stadium.

That meant the big-ticket items of suite sponsorships, stadium and field naming rights, and Founders agreements. More than that, it meant getting these commitments in writing. Fairly said the group did its homework on the likely number of suites in a AA stadium, their pricing, lease terms and length.

Then Bill Gilliland of the Gilliland Group, who could sell manual typewriters to Bill Gates, spearheaded the effort along with Amarillo National Bank chairman and president Richard Ware and former Maxor Corp. chairman Jerry Hodge.

I said, Can we sell this? Fairly said. Bill said, Yeah, we can sell this. How much time do we have? I was in no position to give him a deadline, so I asked him, How much time do you need?

He said, Can I have 10 days? I said, Yeah, you can certainly have 10 days.

This wasnt Gillilands first fundraising rodeo. He helped lead the effort for private donations for the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts nearly 15 years ago. The goal was to get five-year written agreements on an unspecified number of suites in an unknown location within the stadium.

It was the easiest thing I ever did in my life, Gilliland said, and keep in mind, we had nothing to really show anybody. Two or three asked me how big the suites were, and then it was, Sorry I asked. Im in.

Thats the kind of town we live in. We had $20 million raised for the Globe-News Center and no one had any idea what it would look like. People were not necessarily supporting baseball in this. They were supporting Amarillo.

Fairly and Hodge met with Dave and D.G. Elmore in the groups Bloomington, Ind., headquarters in November with something significant to show them. They had it all commitment letters for all the major sponsorships, from suites to naming rights in place.

You may have to clean up my language, but Amarillo was sucking hind teat for a while, Hodge said. I felt like we were second to Wichita and we had to somehow stay in the mix. The turning point was the financial package.

A game-changer

If the goal was to shock and create an advantage, it worked. It left the Elmores now looking hard at a city that was essentially all dressed up with no place to go. Amarillo had the voter approval and financing in place for a new stadium, but was in need of an anchor tenant.

For the last year, we had the financial model in place, Amarillo Deputy City Manager Bob Cowell said. We could have easily secured the architects, designed it and had the thing under construction.

But everyone has been clear, both previous and current councils, and both LGCs, theyve all said were not going to put that kind of money into play without definitively knowing whos going into that.

Once the Elmores received the financial package from Fairly, Hodge and Ware, the unknown team that would go into the unbuilt stadium took shape.

We have moved teams at various times in our 36-year history of owning ballclubs, DG Elmore said, and as I reflect, I dont think there is a time we have seen the level of business support like this. The suites, the founding sponsor, the naming rights, its really unprecedented. This type of support is fantastic.

The belief was at that point that ownership and the city had a deal. While no letter of intent was signed, the two sides at least had a verbal agreement.

They were shocked, Fairly said. Their comment was this had never been done in minor league baseball. No city has had everything sold before a team committed to play there.

And it was not a braggadocios presentation, but We want you to come here. We went there still thinking there was a 10 percent chance we were getting a team, but we left feeling like partners that day.

Said Gilliland: Im a car salesman, and I dont want to say there was no doubt in my mind because anything in the world can happen, but after that, my opinion was we were going to get a AA team and they (Elmores) were going to be the owners. When they came back, and gave a full report, I thought, Boy, oh boy.

But at that point, which team would come to Amarillo was uncertain because of San Antonios struggles regarding the possibility of building its own new stadium. There was a possibility at the time, a good possibility AAA Colorado Springs would relocate to Amarillo for a few years while waiting on San Antonio to figure out its stadium situation.

They put it that way, Fairly said, because they were still hopeful something would break for them in San Antonio. It belongs there. We knew if Colorado Springs came to Amarillo, it would eventually move because we are not a AAA market. We talked in detail about the transition and how the plan would look, but at the end of the day, were a AA market.

Nothing left to chance

Just to cover all the bases pun intended negotiators provided the Elmores a five-year weather report from the local National Weather Service on conditions at 7 p.m. in the spring and summer. One reason the Colorado Springs team was moving was not only altitude, where thin air causes the ball to fly and skews pitching and hitting statistics, but also cold springtime temperatures that affects crowds.

The NWS data, however, was not promising. From April through September, it showed average wind speed at more than 20 mph.

Then Jerry had the idea, you know I think its better downtown, Fairly said.

They got weather data from KVII, a stones throw from the new stadium. Its report was much more promising.

We got hour-by-hour data, Fairly said. The average wind speed was around 10 mph. They average temperature is below 90. The humidity is low. So downtown Amarillo is one of the best places in the country to play baseball at that hour. We showed we can be an incredible place to play baseball weather-wise.

Negotiations on lease terms with the subcommittee and Elmore continued into March. At this time, interim city manager Terry Childers had been fired. For most of that time, Cowell was the nuts-and-bolts point person.

Bob hadnt been part of the critical discussions, but he became so critically valuable to this deal, Fairly said. Bob Cowell probably saved this deal, honestly. If we hadnt had Bob to keep us straight on some critically important things, I dont know where we would be.

Like any negotiations of this size, there were still snags. One was paid parking, an important revenue producer for all Texas League teams. The city, to some degree, will compete with the Elmores on parking revenue.

Amarillo will receive revenue from the adjacent city-owned parking garage, while club ownership will get money from approximately 1,000 fixed parking spots on-site at the new stadium.

I had no idea parking could be so complicated, Fairly said.

The other issue is a city tax on each ticket sold. It was finally agreed that Elmore would absorb that cost, which was negotiated at a fee of $175,000 into the lease. Exact terms of the lease will not be available for at least two weeks, but it will be the highest in the Texas League, Fairly said.

I felt great about the negotiations, DG Elmore said. I tell you, we deal with a lot of municipalities, and have rarely experienced the environment of pro-business, support and excitement about baseball that we have seen in the Amarillo community. Everyone is pulling in the same direction. Everyone wants the same thing.

When the AAA Pacific Coast Leagues executive committee in May gave Elmore permission to move Colorado Springs to San Antonios AA stadium until a new one is constructed, that paved the way for Amarillo to get its AA franchise. Negotiators could begin to let out a sigh.

Jerry and Alex were the perfect pair to put this together, Ware said. Jerrys love of baseball and Alexs connections are probably unmatched in this for any minor league city in the United States. Were so lucky to have both of them. This truly would not have happened without both of them.

It likely would not have happened without the signed commitments for major inventory six months ago. That spoke loudly, especially with Wichita squarely in the picture. Its not an exaggeration to say that Wednesdays news conference announcing the official move may not have occurred without those commitments.

Thats hard to say, but its probably true, DG Elmore said. Theres a lot of things involved in moving three teams to various cities, but its not an overstatement to say the corporate community in Amarillo, doing what they did, was a very key factor.

It was probably the clinching element that said we need to go to Amarillo. We need to do this. It minimized our risk in going to one of the smaller (AA) markets that we had a choice. We want to put baseball in Amarillo not just for 10 to 15 years, but I want my childrens children to one day head off to Amarillo for a ballgame.

More here:
Anatomy of a deal: Amarillo financial package was turning point for ... - Amarillo.com

When Obamacare was forced on the nation by former President Obama and the Democrats in control, Americans responded by handing Republicans the keys to Congress. The irony is that they could very well lose that same majority if they dont deliver on four election cycles of campaign promises. Late Thursday, the draft repeal plan, which had been holed up in leadership and committee meetings, was finally released to mixed reviews. At least four senators Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Ron Johnson put leaders on notice that they would need to see more changes before lending their support. Currently, for a variety of reasons, we are not ready to vote for this bill, but we are open to negotiation and obtaining more information before it is brought to the floor, the statement said.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), whos adamant about voting before the July 4th holiday, has a week to get everyone on the same page, which President Trump is optimistic the GOP can do. Its not that [these four conservative senators are] opposed. Theyd like to get certain changes. And well see if we can take care of that, he promised. On Twitter, he was even more exuberant. I am very supportive of the Senate #HealthCareBill. Look forward to making it really special!

In many ways, The Wall Street Journal points out, the 142-page bill is a lot like the Houses American Health Care Act. The plan would end Obamacare penalties, cut taxes on higher earners, and revamp Medicaid. But in other ways, its not. It isnt clear if those changes, such as the shape of the tax credits and a more gradual phasing-out of the Medicaid expansion, would be enough to attract more centrist Republicans without alienating the most conservative lawmakers in both chambers.

As far as FRC is concerned, the plan isnt perfect but weve been working with the Senate and the White House to iron out the problems so that pro-lifers can support it, and we will continue to do so. Friday morning, in a meeting with the White House, HHS Secretary Tom Price, and other pro-lifers, we discussed our concerns in greater detail namely that the legislation fulfills the longstanding promise to protect taxpayers and the unborn.

In a joint statement with SBA List, we explained that the expectations of the pro-life movement have always been clear. The health care bill must not indefinitely subsidize abortion and must re-direct abortion giant Planned Parenthoods taxpayer funding to community health centers. The Senate discussion draft includes these pro-life priorities, but we remain very concerned that either of these priorities could be removed from the bill for procedural or political reasons. We are working closely with our pro-life allies in the Senate to prevent this from happening as it could result in our opposition. We are confident that the pro-life Senate will ultimately move forward with our pro-life priorities intact.

But the Senate needs to hear from you so that they are reminded they need to listen to us. Let your leaders know that you elected them not just to finish the job but to finish the forced partnership between taxpayers and the abortion industry!

Originally published here.

Its rare to get good news from the courts these days, but in Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant (R) got exactly that. Before the ink had even dried on his Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, a group of liberal activists at the ACLU filed suit. In one of the more ironic parts of the case, the group went to court not over what had happened under the law but what might happen if Christians could opt out of ceremonies or jobs that violated their faith. That speculation was enough for a lower court judge, Carlton Reeves, to block the measure from taking effect.

Fortunately, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals doesnt base their judgements on speculation, but on facts. And Thursday, a panel unanimously overturned Reeves, arguing that the plaintiffs didnt even have the standing necessary to sue. Gov. Bryant, who was the picture of courage in passing the bill last year, felt vindicated. As I have said all along, the legislation is not meant to discriminate against anyone, but simply prevents government interference with the constitutional right to exercise sincerely-held religious beliefs.

Under H.B. 1523, no one is allowed to discriminate not against same-sex couples and not against Christians. All the law does is ensure that the government cant punish someone for their natural views on marriage or sexuality. Theres no fine print giving people the right to deny services, despite the Lefts bogus propaganda. If coexistence is the goal, then this law provides the path. Alliance Defending Freedoms Kevin Theriot agrees with us that Mississippians shouldnt have to live in fear of losing their careers or businesses simply for believing in natural marriage.

As Ryan Anderson explained, When the government takes Americans to war, exceptions cover pacifists. When the government guarantees abortion, exceptions cover pro-lifers. These exemptions dont amount to establishments of any religion, and neither do laws protecting dissenters after Obergefell.

Unlike other cases, which have been about the laws merits, this was about the groups standing. In order to sue, the ACLU needed to establish an injury, and all the activists could come up with was that they felt stigmatized and insulted because of the law. FRCs Travis Weber points out, Courts have been facing this type of tenuous, emotionally based allegation of injury more and more in recent years, and they only bog down the judicial system with claims that were never meant to be brought in the first place. When such claims are allowed to proceed, and a law is struck down, the effect is that one more area of our democratic process is chiseled off and placed into the hands of activists who would happily destroy the process if that meant they could achieve their aims.

Thanks to the Fifth Circuit, Mississippis law still stands. And, maybe just as importantly, liberals were held in check. Like the rest of America, these judges are probably tired of the Left trying to push agendas through the courts that they cant pass legislatively!

Originally published here.

America is under new management all right and the Trump administration isnt just making that clear at home. The United Nations got one of its first tastes of the change in U.S. policy during a debate over a Canadian resolution in Geneva earlier this week. As part of a push to eliminate violence against women, the UN tried to slip in language about the importance of access to health care (read: abortion). Women should have the benefit of comprehensive sexual and health-care services including modern contraception, prevention programs for adolescent pregnancy, and safe abortion where such services are permitted by national law.

Obviously, the American delegation is opposed to violence against anyone, including women. But, as Jason Mack, the U.S. First Secretary to the UN, told the body, We do not recognize abortion as a method of family planning, nor do we support abortion in our reproductive health assistance. That said, Mack went on, America strongly supports the spirit of this resolution and joins other members of this Council in condemning all acts of violence against women and girls.

Pro-lifers cheered the move, which comes on the heels of other major changes on the world stage. Just last month, the Trump administration announced that it wasnt just reinstating the Mexico City policy but redirecting billions of dollars of global aid to groups that dont perform or promote abortion. Our hats go off to the White House for exceeding everyones expectations on the issue and protecting millions of innocent children in the process!

Originally published here.

This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.

See the original post here:
The Anatomy of Health Care Deal - Patriot Post

Since 2005 the cast of Greys Anatomy has made us laugh, cry, and even taught us some life lessons. The shows title character Dr. Meredith Grey has been at the forefront of those life lessons. Over the years her storyline has subtly taught us things about love, triumph, and loss. Here are a few life lessons weve learned from Dr. Meredith Grey, along with a few quotes from her to sum it up.

1. Dont apologize to others if they cant accept how you cope

Quote: I make no apologies for how I chose to repair what you broke.

Plain and simple, when someone does you wrong or breaks your heart its not their place to judge and critique how you repair yourself. Its crazy how often we care about how the person that has done us wrong judges our coping mechanisms.

2. Dont be afraid to make mistakes, just make sure you learn from them.

Quote: We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep todays possibility under tomorrows rug until we cant anymore.

In life, you cant fear making a mistake, or youll never get a chance to live and grow. The path to a better you will ultimately be paved with many mistakes.

3. Dont be afraid to push the envelope to get what you want

Quote: At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries dont keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. Thats how were made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.

I agree 100%. Sometimes the only way to move forward is to move past self-imposed boundaries. In fact, most boundaries and limitations only exist in our minds.

4. Not trying is the biggest mistake you could ever make.

Quote: Knowing is better than wondering, waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying.

When its all said and done who wants to look back at life with a bunch of should ofs, would ofs, and could ofs? Definitely not me.

5. Never give up

Quote: If theres just one piece of advice I can give you, its thiswhen theres something you really want, fight for it, dont give up no matter how hopeless it seems.

Perseverance has been attributed as a key to success from such notable names as Oprah, Steve Jobs, and Warren Buffet. When trying to achieve a goal you will face setbacks, disappointments, and unforeseen obstacles. If the goal is worth achieving you should never give up. Indeed, this is a timeless life lesson.

Conclusion

Greys Anatomy is one of the longest running scripted TV shows ever. Its also been ranked as one of the highest revenue earning shows per half-hour in terms of advertising. With those two things in mind, Greys Anatomy will likely be on your TV screens for may more years to come. Which means that Dr. Meredith Grey will be there imparting her wisdom. Make sure you tune in and dont miss the lesson.

Here is the original post:
Life Lessons Dr. Meredith Gray Has Taught us on Grey's Anatomy - TVOvermind

Let's call a spade a spade: Grey's Anatomy is a ridiculous showin the best way possible, of course. The staff at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is under constant duress. Fires! Plane crashes! Multiple, tragic deaths! These doctors seriously can't catch a break. Just when you think Meredith Grey and company are in the clear, bam: We're hit with a car crash or an affair or Bailey missing her own wedding. To call Grey's Anatomy "bonkers" would be a gross understatement.

So it's only fitting a show like this have a dramatic title. Grey's Anatomy is a great name because it's ambiguous to folks who don't watch the show. Who is Grey? And whose anatomy are we exploring? The title lends itself nicely to messy melodrama.

But it was almost called something completely different. And not just different: boring. In a new interview with BuzzFeed, Kate Walsh (who played Dr. Addison Montgomery for eight glorious seasons on Grey's, and then for another six on Private Practice) revealed producers tried to change the name of the show three times.

"With Grey's, I remember because I came in at episode eight, at that time the morale was really low. They kept changing the name of the show. It was Doctors and then Surgeons and then Complications, and I was like, 'What a bullshit show title!' Grey's Anatomy is the perfect title," she said.

Um, Doctors? Surgeons? Complications? Those aren't hit show titles. Those are General Hospital knockoffs that air for two seasons in a Friday-night slot and develop a small, cultish following on Reddit.

Praise be that the producers came to their senses and just left the title as is. Yes, the show probably would have done well with a generic title, but it wouldn't have the same kick. And what's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital without a little kick?

View post:
'Grey's Anatomy' Producers Tried to Change the Show's Name ... - Glamour

"I remember because I came in at Episode 8 at that time the morale was really low. They kept changing the name of the show. It was Doctors and then Surgeons and then Complications and I was like, 'What a bullshit show title!' Greys Anatomy is the perfect title. To keep our morale up they started showing us episodes at Friday lunches that were already edited. And I was like, 'This is a really good show,' and I was so excited to be a part of it."

Read the original here:
7 Iconic "Grey's Anatomy" Stories Kate Walsh Just Told - BuzzFeed - BuzzFeed News

It wasnt all bad.

Really.

The last hour or so of Wednesday nights game surely was a series of unfortunate events. And well get to most of those in a minute, but, first, something good that actually came from one of the worst games of the season, a game that ended with the Phillies on the losing end for the 39th time in their last 50 games.

Nick Pivetta, the 24-year-old right-hander the Phillies once acquired for Jonathan Papelbon, is beginning to resemble the pitcher who dominated the competition in Triple-As International League in April. In his eighth career MLB start, Pivetta struck out a career-high 10 before walking a batter and took a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning.

After sporting a 5.12 ERA and allowing five home runs and an opponents 1.025 OPS in his first four starts, which earned him a trip back to Triple-A, Pivetta has a 3.91 ERA in his last four since returning to the Phillies, hes allowed just two homers and held the opponent to a .220/.304./.354 slash line.

Pivettas fastball was sitting at 94-MPH on Wednesday night and he was commanding it with the confidence of a veteran starter, not a kid that looked shell-shocked in May. Going to Allentown to work on his off-speed stuff helped, but so did reconnecting with his confidence, the mojo that can help a young pitcher take the important next step in their maturation.

As baseball players, you get into a rhythm, Ive gotten into a rhythm here and theres still stuff I can work on to help this team win more but I still put my team in a position to win, Pivetta said Wednesday night. Ive got more time here, got more confidence.

Pivetta is averaging 9.78 strikeouts-per-nine innings this season, which ranks second to the Angels Alex Meyer among rookies with at least 40 innings of work. Hes struck out 19 of the last 49 batters hes faced in his last two starts while walking just three batters in the same 13-inning span.

OK, now that thats done, onto the bad

It probably felt like a broken record last night for Phillies fans watching the bullpen blow the 5-3 lead Pivetta turned over to the relief corps.

Joaquin Benoit, one of the offseason moves that really hasnt panned out well for general manager Matt Klentak, served up a home run to the first batter he faced in the eighth inning, Cardinals pinch-hitter Jose Martinez, to make it a one-run game. Benoit has given up at least one run in three of his six appearances this month.

Hector Neris, one of baseballs best eighth-inning relievers in 2016, continued to be one of baseballs least trustworthy closers in 2017. He served up a game-tying homer to the second batter he faced in the ninth; Neris has served up five home runs in 13 save situations this season and opponents have a .879 OPS against him in save opportunities this season, compared to a .623 OPS in non-save opportunities. Perhaps its time to put him back in the eighth and let that be that.

But who should close? Pat Neshek makes a heck of a lot of sense, given his success this year. Yeah, he probably wont be here in a month as one of the teams two attractive trade deadline chips (along with Howie Kendrick) but that doesnt matter much now. Let him close until then.

Speaking of Neshek, there was a little confusion as to why he wasnt called on to pitch at all on Wednesday, when every other reliever that entered found a new way to turn a winnable game into a disaster. After the game, manager Pete Mackanin said Neshek was unavailable, as veteran relievers sometimes are through the course of a season.

He told me he couldnt pitch, Mackanin said. He was just sore.

According to Neshek, this isnt exactly true. Prior to the game, Neshek said Mackanin told him he was down, meaning he wouldnt be using him and instead would be giving the 36-year-old a day off after working in six of the previous 10 games (and warming up in another one of those contests but not entering, too).

Neshek may have asked for a day before Mackanin gave him the heads-up prior to the game but he may have also taken the ball if asked on Wednesday night, too.

One last bullpen note: its probably time to send Edubray Ramos to Triple-A.

Hes walked 20 batters and allowed 32 hits in 30 innings. Ramos 1.73 WHIP ranks 174th of the 189 major league relievers with at least 30 innings. Jeanmar Gomez, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday, was just ahead of him (173rd) with a 1.70 WHIP.

I dont know what to tell you, it looks like hes mixed up or something, Mackanin said of Ramos, who struck out 40 and walked 11 in 40 innings last year as a rookie. Hes not the same guy.

Despite being one of the Phillies few talented left-handed hitters capable of hitting anywhere toward the top of the lineup, Odubel Herrera was once ago promoted from a premier spot in Mackanins batting order to the sixth spot prior to Wednesdays game. Herrera had been leading off since Cesar Hernandez was placed on the DL, but his .291 OBP and 13 walks (fewer than every other regular whos been healthy all year) in 68 games are conducive of a leadoff hitter, of course.

Perhaps the lineup shift woke Herrera up. He went 2-for-5 with a double and a couple of RBI. Hes hitting third this afternoon.

But, yup, were burying the lede. In the bottom of the ninth, with the game tied, Herrera blatantly blew through third base coach Juan Samuels stop sign when Freddy Galvis doubled to left field.

Herrera was easily out by a few yards. Rally, over.

I was playing aggressive, Herrera said after the game through an interpreter. I wanted to win the game. So when I was rounding third, I put my head down. I kept going to home plate. Yeah, I saw (the stop sign). But I saw it late.

Samuel tried to physically place himself in front of Herrera as a last-second move after Herrera ignored him, to no avail. Samuel said it was the first time in his coaching career that a player ignored his stop sign at third.

I'm watching the plays in front of me, Samuel said. I put the brakes on, you've got to stop, whatever the situation is.

Herrera was one of the few bright spots on the Phillies roster in 2015 and 16, slashing .291/.353/.419 with 23 home runs, 51 doubles, and 41 stolen bases, and finishing as a finalist for the National League Gold Glove Award for center fielders last season. The 25-year-old has taken a major step back this season (.255/.291/.405, 13 walks, 68 strikeouts in 289 plate appearances).

The Phillies awarded Herrera with a five-year, $30.5 million contract this winter. It looked like a smart, team-friendly deal at the time, even getting it in place before Herrera was eligible for arbitration.

But now? Despite Herreras physical talent, he makes enough regular mental mistakes to make you wonder whether that was such a smart deal after all.

Follow Ryan on Twitter: @ryanlawrence21

Like the new PhillyVoice Sports page on Facebook.

More:
About last night: Anatomy of one of Phillies' worst losses of 2017 - PhillyVoice.com

Sunday at the Hammerstein Ballroom in midtown Manhattan, 181 of the hottest dancers in New York Citywith a roster of special guestsperformed with an absolute minimum of costuming. What could be more educational? The biggest seminar on the perfection of male and female dancer bodies was attended by eager students willing to toss large handfuls of crumpled tuition dollar bills at the nearly naked instructors, and it was all for a good cause! Broadway Bares Strip U raised $1.57 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Want to meet some of the dancers? Check out their Instagram feeds.

Read this article:
Advanced Anatomy Classes at Broadway Bares's Strip U | Out ... - Out Magazine

Kate Walsh will always have a bit of Addison Montgomery in her.

The actress rose to fame onGrey's Anatomystarring as the girl every avid watcher loved to hate. After two seasons as a main character opposite Ellen Pompeo andPatrick Dempsey, Walsh parlayed Addison into her own spinoff,Private Practice. Now four years after the hit medical drama said goodbye to the infamous neonatal surgeon, Walsh is reflecting on the role that changed her life.

During a Q&A with Buzzfeed, Kate said she'll never forget her entrance at the end of seasonone.Grey's fans will vividly remember when she (and her fiery red locks) surprised estranged husband Derek Shepherd (Dempsey) and his new girlfriend, Meredith Grey, (Pompeo) at the hospital. She recalled, "I got more calls and attention from that 60-second scene than anything in my career before.Isn't that funny?"

Walsh continued, "Everyone hated me, but at that time there was no Twitter. There were chat rooms, but I never really went on them. I kind of liked being the Wicked Witch from the East. Or the wicked bitch. [Show creator] Shonda [Rhime's] really gifted at flipping every character that's seemingly awful. It's a great lesson in how to have compassion for people that you initially hate."

ABC

The 13 Reasons Why staralso dished on-set secrets from the early days ofGrey's...long before the critical acclaim, sky-high ratings and Emmy awards.

Walsh explained, "With Grey's, I remember because I came in at episode 8, at that time the morale was really low. They kept changing the name of the show. It was Doctors and then Surgeons and then Complications and I was like, 'What a bullshit show title!' Grey's Anatomy is the perfect title."

"To keep our morale up they started showing us episodes at Friday lunches that were already edited," she revealed. "And I was like, 'This is a really good show' and I was so excited to be a part of it. I was supposed to do a pilot for another sitcom on ABC, and it didn't end up getting picked up and then they called me to be a series regular on Grey's and the world changed. It was stunning, right? It was really phenomenal."

With such fond memories, does Kate ever reminisce with aGrey's Anatomybinge-watching sesh? "I don't!" she admitted, "Once in a while I'll see a gif somewhere online. It would be really interesting to go back and watch nowthat would be really cool."

"It was funny, I was on The Today Show and I didn't know that Taye Diggs was guest-hosting and they showed a little clip of us when Sam and Addison were dating [on Private Practice] and I was like, 'Oh my god, who is that girl?' It's like watching someone else. I don't usually watch myselfI get a little freaked out. It's not good for me."

Walsh is evidently still a huge fan of the long-running series, and was just as shocked when producers killed off McDreamy in season 11. "Well, I was surprised when they killed off Patrick," she dished. "It had been so long and I was like, 'Oh, really?' And I tuned into that episode. It was like, 'Oh, I guess I should watch this.'

Here is the original post:
Kate Walsh Talks Playing ''Wicked Bitch'' Addison Montgomery on ... - E! Online

Police patrol the scene at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park following a mass shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, June 14, 2017. (Photo: Al Drago / The New York Times)

In the immediate aftermath of theAlexandria shootingon June 14, theNew York TimesandVice Newsjoined therising chorusofright-wingoutragewith two pieces denouncing growing "left-wing extremism." They failed to mention, of course, therising tideofbloodsheddue to attacks byfar-right activistsbeforeandsinceTrump's inauguration, the current president'sownendorsementofviolenceon thecampaign trailor the long history of right-wing forces urging their followers to embraceSecond Amendmentremediesas a solution to politics they oppose. On the surface, these shoddy pieces seem driven by a desire for hits, but lurking behind these words is the very real possibility of a new political panic targeting US progressive and left organizing and action.

Throughout US history, the forces of the left have suffered from numerous political purges, usually referred to as panics or scares, each of which were incited by incidents like the Scalise shooting. The first example was thesuppression of the US Socialist Party and the Industrial Workers of the Worldfor their opposition to US participation in the First World War in the First Red Scare. This position was hardly unique to the left, withantiwar sentiment enjoying broadsupportin US society. The Wilson administration responded harshly with the notoriousEspionage and Sedition Acts, giving the state the tools needed to smash organized opposition. These effortsculminated in the brutal Palmer Raids, spearheaded by the FBI, which broke the back of the US left as punishment for their opposition to the war and radical actions, such asthe Seattle GeneralStrike.

Similar fear-mongering was used to brutal effect during the late 1940s and 1950s with the Second Red Scare, better known asMcCarthyism. Using the trials ofAlger Hiss,theRosenbergs, and the wave ofstrikesand labor actions of 1946, including theOakland GeneralStrike, as fuel, a new blaze was ignited.Many lost their jobs or were driven out ofthe country,radical elements of the labor movement were purged, and once again, the organized left was forced underground.

A similar push was attempted, with more limited impact, starting in the late 1980s and 1990s to tar the environmentalist movement withthebrush of terrorismduring theGreen Scare.

Viewed with these recent examples of anti-left suppression in mind,the reaction to the Scalise shooting presents a very real threat to left and progressive activism. As was the case in past panics, there is a rising tide of progressive sentiment with increasing strength and traction. BetweenBlack Lives Matter,the climate change movementand theFight for $15, grassroots action is advancing with an energy, cohesion and fury unseen in decades. Resistance to the forces of the far right, similarly, is increasingly galvanized and determined as shown bythe airport shutdowns,opposition to the anti-Sharia marchand growingAntifa action. Evenlocal and state governments are openly defying the federal governmentover the Paris climate deal.

In light of this,the Russia investigations that refuseto go away,Trump's failureto pass Trumpcare, implementhis infrastructureplanorbuild his wall,the current administrationandCongress' growing unpopularity,it should be no surprise theright will try to use Alexandriato justify decisively crushing all opposition. From their perspective, they arebesetby foeson all sideswho stand in the wayof "Making America Great Again." Nothing would be a more effective distraction with the bonus of eliminating all obstacles to their goals than firing up a new panic to consume their enemies.

In these times, it is absolutely critical those engaged in progressive and leftist organizing push back hard, fast and aggressively against any attempts at initiating a political purge. We must push back against false claims and exaggerations asserting leftist violence is somehow a greater threat than the proven, increasing wave of far-right violence. We need to educate our communities in effective civil disobedience tactics, defense against the far right and effectively thwarting malicious prosecution. We must also educate people in what we are fighting for, continue our work, expand our coalitions and refuse to be cowed by any attempts by the powerful to intimidate us. As every day since January 20, 2017, has shown, mass resistance is working. If we mobilize support, refuse to cooperate with abuses of authority and stand together, we can stop the new political panic before it starts.

At Truthout, we never shy away from holding corporate and political forces to account -- but this kind of journalism is only made possible by readers like you. If you like what you're reading, make a donation!

View original post here:
The Anatomy of a Purge: The Left Must Resist Demonization - Truth-Out