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junker-town · 6 years

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McElwain makes sense as Michigan WRs coach, despite odd announcement

If you’re just catching up, here’s why Florida fired McElwain (and why his new job should be a solid fit).

The episode that led up to Jim McElwain’s firing by Florida last October was bizarre.

While the Gators were on a two-game losing streak, the coach gave a press conference in which he implied that he, his family, and other members of the program had faced death threats. The school, of course, met with McElwain to learn more about that serious problem, but then said in a statement that McElwain didn’t offer any further details.

That led to questions about whether McElwain had made the threats up. Further information never came out. The program was already under a cloud because of an ongoing credit card and ID theft scandal involving several players, and the Gators decided to get rid of McElwain. The school paid him $7.5 million of an anticipated $12.9 million buyout, with the death threats thing and the school’s relationship with his agent both floated as reasons.

A few weeks later, Florida hired Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen to replace McElwain.

Michigan hired McElwain as wide receivers coach in March and announced his hiring with what we’ll call optimistic language.

Nobody who watched Florida the last few years would call the Gators’ offensive “explosive,” unless the context was to call it “an explosive dumpster fire” or something like that.

But here was Michigan’s description:

McElwain’s units were explosive on offense during his time at Florida, especially through the passing game. His 2015 aerial attack became Florida’s first since 2009 to throw for more than 20 touchdowns with fewer than 11 interceptions (on 405 attempts), and the team’s 410 attempts in 2016 were the most by any Gator team since 2002. Six receivers recorded multiple receiving touchdowns in both of those seasons, a feat not previously accomplished since 2008.

Those were some really odd stats to choose. Florida’s offense was terrible.

McElwain is an easy coach to make fun of, for obvious reasons.

And it’s not just because Florida fired him after making it seem a whole lot like he’d made up death threats as a ploy for public sympathy during a losing streak.

Before the season, a picture emerged of some naked guy on a boat humping a dead shark. It was not McElwain. But the guy looked a lot like McElwain:

Who is this man? Please RT, find him & ask him why he did this? Where is the humour in humiliating slaughtered animals? @ChrisGPackham pic.twitter.com/uHN37OywCx

— Anneka Svenska (@AnnekaSvenska) May 5, 2017

Rumors swirled: Had McElwain gotten completely nude and then planted his body on top of a dead water animal? McElwain did not laugh the rumors off. He referred to Sharkgate as an attack on the university and an attack on his family.

In general, McElwain’s public image was that he took himself too seriously. That he won the SEC’s JV East division two years in a row before getting bounced by Alabama didn’t make him any less of a target for ire or humor.

He’s definitely qualified for his job Michigan, though.

He’s been a receivers coach at a handful of places before, including Louisville and Michigan State. He was once upon a time Alabama’s offensive coordinator, before he left for the head job at Colorado State and then in Gainesville. In addition to his experience coaching receivers, McElwain can use recruiting relationships from Florida to help him at Michigan.

And on his way out of Florida, McElwain did a really good thing.

After Florida fired McElwain, he sold his house for $400,000 less than he’d paid for it a couple of years earlier. Many of us joked about him “taking another loss.”

It later came out that the McElwains had sold their house to a family with two children who had disabilities. The house had ramps, lifts, and wide hallways that made it a good fit for wheelchairs. The McElwains’ real-estate agent said they didn’t play the market as aggressively as they could’ve, instead selling it to a family that could use it.

McElwain was an easy coach to joke on, but no jokes here: That was a good thing.

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politicalfilth-blog · 7 years

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Manifesto Meltdown: May Denies U-Turn On “Dementia Tax”

We Are Change

Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has said that a Conservative government would set an “absolute limit” on the amount that people pay for social care, dubbed the “Dementia Tax”, in a U-turn on plans included in her party’s election manifesto last week.

U-turn coming on social care. There will be a cap. Read today's @EveningStandard for the details

— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) May 22, 2017

May is coming under pressure to drop or water down her controversial shakeup of social care that has been branded a “dementia tax”, amid warnings that it is unfair and could deter older people from seeking care. Over the weekend the polls showed the gulf between the two parties narrowing to nine points.

The Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, called it a “manifesto meltdown” but said it changed nothing. “As Theresa May has made clear herself, nothing has changed and her heartless dementia tax remains in place. He went on to say, “This is a cold and calculated attempt to pull the wool over people’s eyes.”

The prime minister has faced a backlash about the proposal to make elderly people pay for care in their own home unless they have less than £100,000 in assets, as it would force them to use up the value of their residential property for the first time.

During a speech in Wrexham to launch the Welsh Tory manifesto, May said:

“So I want to make a further point clear. This manifesto says that we will come forward with a consultation paper, a government green paper. And that consultation will include an absolute limit on the amount people have to pay for their care costs.”

However, the prime minister refused to be drawn on the level of the new cap. May denied that there had been a change of direction and said she was simply clarifying the points in the manifesto, however, details of a cap were not contained in the manifesto.

Sky’s Economic Editor Ed Conway said: “It’s pretty clear, when you look at the manifesto this was not there. It looks to have been ruled out, if not explicitly, then very much implicitly and lo and behold, it suddenly changed and a cap has been added in the last few hours, it seems.”

What is the “dementia tax”

leftfutures.org gives the best explanation, included here:

“Presently, recipients of residential care have to part fund the service they receive if they have assets in excess of £23,250. If they are applying for a place in a home, they have to include the value of their house in the means test. As around two thirds of pensioners are home owners, this often means selling the house from under them to pay for their care package – though an option exists to defer costs. To demonstrate, assume a 75 year old pensioner requiring residential care has £25k in savings and their house is worth £89k. Leaving aside income and assuming that person then lives for a further six years (in line with current life expectancy), according to care costs calculators for Staffordshire (because that’s where I live) you’re talking upwards of £190k. Note this will vary from county-to-county and by local authority area. Therefore, our pensioner would presently be required “contribute” almost £91,000. The remaining £23k of their assets will remain theirs. If on the other hand our pensioner requires domiciliary (at home) care, the application in this case would take into account their savings only. This care is cheaper, costing between 70-75% of being in a home and their contribution would be just £1,750 (again, leaving aside income from their pension(s)).

What they giveth in one hand they taketh with the other. Under the proposals in their manifesto, our imaginary pensioner above wouldn’t have to pay anywhere near as much as the Conservatives promise to raise the capital floor to £100,000. Their contribution would shrink to just £14,000. Sounds alright, doesn’t it? But here’s the catch. The Conservatives want to redefine the asset base so the house is counted for residential and domiciliary care. Another change is they will only come for the assets after the person in receipt of care has died. On the surface then, pensioners who are poorer or moderately okay like the example given would benefit. But older people whose combined assets are in excess of £100,000 are going to get clobbered. Or, rather, their families and children are. The problem for the Tories is this is their vote base, and there are millions of pensioners in this position. All of a sudden, estates of people in receipt of domiciliary care are going to receive steep bills after their loved one has died.

This sets up all kinds of problems and difficulties. For pensioners living as couples, how does this recoup costs from shared assets like a home? If their house is £250,000, would the estate be expected to pay £150,000 or £25,000? And in either case, would the surviving partner be expected to liquidate their shared asset to pay the bill? Likewise, for live-in carers who might be sons, daughters or whatever, can we safely assume that they will be expected to sell up their inheritance to pay the balance off? And what will they do about the scramble of elderly people transferring ownership of assets to relatives before they put in a care application and therefore avoid the charges? Unfortunately, none of this is clarified in their manifesto. Unlike Labour who provided costings for their pledges, the Tories chose not to.”

There has been a backlash from members of the public who fear receiving demanding letters from the council asking them to hand over tens, and in some cases, hundreds of thousands of pounds, all while grieving for their relatives. One of the criticisms is that no one can really do anything to avoid the tax since old age brings health complications and an unlucky number of people will develop dementia.

Even May’s own Tory ministers and newspapers who would normally be supportive, are not going to defend her proposal.

Our front page exclusive @EveningStandard on social care u-turn + @Arsenal isn't for sale & Charles Powell on risks of big Tory majority pic.twitter.com/wQwf290hzp

— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) May 22, 2017

May argued that the policy was necessary to create a “sustainable future for social care”, saying there would be 2 million more people over 75 coming into the system over the next decade.

The negative reaction to the “dementia tax” is spreading over the internet and social media and is the top trending Twitter topic in the UK today.

The Conservatives are obviously worried and have gone into damage control mode, even paying for an add to appear as the top result on Google.co.uk today.

The Conservative manifesto also scraps the ban on elephant ivory sales.

Conservatives remove UK ivory trade ban from their manifesto. Profits antiques trade matter more than saving Africa's elephants disgraceful! pic.twitter.com/yyRdpb8Gst

— Anneka Svenska (@AnnekaSvenska) May 18, 2017

The public have been baffled as to why May has included such controversial and unpopular proposals in her manifesto.

May has surely produced the most bizarre and ill judged Tory manifesto ever. Attacking pensioners, children, elephants & foxes. Why?

— Pamela Fitzpatrick (@CllrFitzpatrick) May 21, 2017

A quote from a Daily Mail article written in March, entitled “Tories’ shame over blood ivory”, exlpained:

A much more likely reason (for the Tories dropping the ivory ban) is that they are being swayed by the powerful antiques industry, which fears it will lose millions of pounds if antique ivory sales are stopped, and whose figurehead happens to be Victoria Borwick, Conservative MP for Kensington, and president of the British Antique Dealers’ Association.”

Sorry for the distressing image, but we have to let people know what voting Tory means. pic.twitter.com/xOsUeQdXC6

— Not The Tory Press (@NotTheToryPress) May 20, 2017

The most powerful UK antique traders association is The British Antiques Dealers’ Association, and their President, Lady Victoria Borwick (also the Conservative MP for Kensington) can be seen shaking hands with Theresa May in the image above.

Needless to say these proposals, that also includes a free vote to repeal the Hunting Act, have been very unpopular.

Help to EXPOSE Theresa May's harrowing and cruel policy to bringing back fox hunting. #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/H50qszKOcH

— Scarlet (@CupcakkeHub) May 22, 2017

In 2015, moral people defeated the attempt by the then Conservative Government to bring back #foxhunting. We will do so again this year. pic.twitter.com/JgABi5iVPq

— Marcus Papadopoulos (@DrMarcusP) May 16, 2017

Last week, Theresa May said that “there is a need to keep fox numbers down” and that hunting was “less cruel than other methods”. CEO of League Against Cruel Sports, Eduardo Goncalves, had the following to say in response:

“Contrary to what the Prime Minister mistakenly said, anyone who feels the need to kill foxes should never use hunting with dogs, as it is in fact one of the cruellest methods available. This is due to the long chases of the target animal involved. There is enough evidence to suggest that hunted animals suffer whilst being chased by dogs regardless of how they are then eventually killed.

“There are two key points to this argument. Firstly, there is no need to control wildlife populations including that of foxes because their populations self regulate. Claims that fox populations are increasing out of control are completely false. Secondly, hunting has absolutely nothing to do with wildlife control, it is about a blood sport, plain and simple – killing for fun.

“The vast majority of the public want to keep hunting for sport illegal, and it is only a very small minority of influential figures who want to satisfy their blood lust once again and make ripping apart animals for sport legal. What we want is a future free from cruelty.”

The public are wondering if the Tories are trying to sabotage their chances at winning the general election.

For those in the UK, to vote in the General Election on June 8, you need to register by 11:59pm today! You don’t need to register again if you’ve already registered.

You can change the world. But first you need to raise your voice. Please, register to vote. You have 12 hours left.https://t.co/I5vzqmeprO

— Jack Xatzinikolas (@MxJackMonroe) May 22, 2017

The post Manifesto Meltdown: May Denies U-Turn On “Dementia Tax” appeared first on We Are Change.

from We Are Change https://wearechange.org/may-denies-dementia-tax/

#We are Change #We Are Change

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dmbreport-blog · 7 years

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That — ahem — nude guy with the shark? Florida says it is not Jim McElwain

Over the weekend, a photo shared via Twitter by U.K.-based TV presenter Anneka Svenska showed a rather large naked man lying on top of a shark. Who is this man? Please RT, find him & ask him why he did this? Where is the humour in humiliating slaughtered animals? @ChrisGPackham pic.twitter.com/uHN37OywCx — Anneka Svenska (@AnnekaSvenska) […] The post That — ahem — nude guy with the shark? Florida…

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#@dmb_report

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junker-town · 7 years

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Michigan’s mentions were filled with sharks after McElwain hire annoucement

Like clockwork.

Michigan Wolverines football announced the hiring of former Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain on Tuesday, his first gig after parting ways with Florida in late October. OK first and foremost, look at this dang picture:

Please join us in welcoming Jim McElwain as our Wide Receivers coach!#GoBlue » https://t.co/pCwkflnSgY pic.twitter.com/vR90ZWm8Bp

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) February 20, 2018

I’m not sure if his teeth were in fact photoshopped here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were. This photo is also terrifying, but I digress.

Back to the more important matter here — people definitely haven’t forgotten about McElwain’s whole shark fiasco. You remember that picture that surfaced last summer of what looked like him humping a shark in the nude:

Who is this man? Please RT, find him & ask him why he did this? Where is the humour in humiliating slaughtered animals? @ChrisGPackham pic.twitter.com/uHN37OywCx

— Anneka Svenska (@AnnekaSvenska) May 5, 2017

Let’s just say McElwain was less amused than the internet was.

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One of the big reasons the sharks jokes never really died was when he was asked about it two months later at SEC Media Days. Instead of just laughing it off, he put himself and the sharks further back into the news cycle:

This is why #SECMD17 is the best SEC Media Days ever. Jim McElwain asked about naked shark pic... again. #Gators pic.twitter.com/HvDD7DL1ru

— Daren Stoltzfus (@DarenStoltzfus) July 11, 2017

“Can you tell me what it’s like to wake up and realize that you’re going to have to answer questions about whether you were nude on top of a shark?” a reporter asked McElwain while the coach stood at a podium.

McElwain smiled at first and commented that he appreciated the humor in the question. But he then turned steely.

“What it did that actually not only attacked the university, but attacked my family, when you know it’s not you. You know, I bust chops with the best of ’em, now. And yet, when it got personal,” he said, and then trailed off and nodded.

Everyone was pretty much over it at this point, but when he said all this, it was a whole new ballgame. Naturally, Michigan football’s mentions were filled with shark tweets galore all Tuesday afternoon with the McElwain annoucement:

pic.twitter.com/a9iLhYIA2i

— Dustin Thomas (@dusty_thomas14) February 20, 2018

LETS GET WEIRD 〽️ pic.twitter.com/HYM5Gz2cp1

— Magnus (@jager10magnus) February 20, 2018

pic.twitter.com/0l59C88ypE

— Jimmy (@HarbaughWeTrust) February 20, 2018

If the sign of a great coach is riding naked on the back of a dead shark...then you guys got the best. Congrats.

— #KeepTheChief (@jack_kananian) February 20, 2018

pic.twitter.com/WgfdbuYhuO

— All aboard the Jaggin Wagon (@FartsNSharts69) February 20, 2018

Think this is a smart move... No sharks in Michigan and they have great Dental Insurance... pic.twitter.com/3zEX4glozx

— Mike Sheridan (@mike_sheridan) February 20, 2018

Run every route with porpoise, guys. https://t.co/Z48DG29q9v

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_SEC) February 20, 2018

A very sad day for all the sharks in Michigan

— Lewis Rukab (@LewisRukab) February 20, 2018

Depending on how McElwain does in Ann Arbor, I think it’s safe to say he won’t be escaping these jokes anytime soon, especially if it doesn’t work out well for him. In the meantime, stay golden, college football fans.

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junker-town · 7 years

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Jim McElwain still doesn't think that shark-humping meme is all that funny

Florida’s coach says the ordeal “attacked the university” and “attacked my family.”

This man who was photographed humping a dead shark while naked looks a lot like Florida Gators coach Jim McElwain. It set off a major college football offseason story.

Who is this man? Please RT, find him & ask him why he did this? Where is the humour in humiliating slaughtered animals? @ChrisGPackham http://pic.twitter.com/uHN37OywCx

— Anneka Svenska (@AnnekaSvenska) May 5, 2017

The naked shark guy has since been identified as Not Jim McElwain. But before that, the coach had to field questions about whether or not he’d humped a dead shark while naked on the deck of a boat. McElwain was less amused than the internet was.

youtube

McElwain can smile about it now, but he still doesn’t think it’s that funny.

It’s SEC Media Days week in Hoover, Ala., and McElwain again fielded a question about the shark-humping photograph.

This is why #SECMD17 is the best SEC Media Days ever. Jim McElwain asked about naked shark pic... again. #Gators http://pic.twitter.com/HvDD7DL1ru

— Daren Stoltzfus (@DarenStoltzfus) July 11, 2017

McElwain smiled at first and commented that he appreciated the humor in the question. But he then turned steely.

“What it did that actually not only attacked the university, but attacked my family, when you know it’s not you. You know, I bust chops with the best of ‘em, now. And yet, when it got personal,” he said, and then trailed off and nodded.

Time heals lots of wounds. But when, through no fault of your own, you become the subject of a national inquiry into whether you got naked and performed a sexual act on top of a deceased water animal, I could see how that could open a wound that would take more than a few months to entirely heal.

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junker-town · 7 years

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Naked shark guy identified as not Jim McElwain

We now know the man behind the meme is reportedly a former New York police officer.

Below is a simple picture of a naked man on top of an (assumedly) dead shark.

Who is this man? Please RT, find him & ask him why he did this? Where is the humour in humiliating slaughtered animals? @ChrisGPackham http://pic.twitter.com/uHN37OywCx

— Anneka Svenska (@AnnekaSvenska) May 5, 2017

That man looks quite a bit like Florida head coach Jim McElwain, especially thanks to his teeth. That compelled Deadspin to ask a Florida spokesperson if this was, in fact, Jim McElwain. The spokesperson said it was not.

On Tuesday night, McElwain spoke to the media before a booster club meeting and was asked the hard question by the assembled media. From the horse’s mouth, we had a denial thanks to the intrepid journalism of Edgar Thompson from The Orlando Sentinel.

youtube

"Well, first and foremost, I don't know who it is, but it isn't me,'' [McElwain] said.

When a follow-up question was asked by Thompson about McElwain's thoughts on how something like that even becomes a story in today's age, McElwain remained firm.

"I guess that's for you guys to answer,'' he said. "You know, in the world we live, what is a story? I just know this, it isn't me."

Days later:

Naked shark guy identified as former NYC police officer, Orlando TV reporter says https://t.co/qbr6Nmqh2O http://pic.twitter.com/K973iRsqCo

— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) May 12, 2017

WKMG-TV sports anchor David] Pingalore said the shark picture has been around for a couple of years, and also explained why the photo was taken in the first place.

“That picture was on the internet two years ago. This woman from the United Kingdom had send the tweet out, then Deadspin, what they did, was [ask] ‘is this Jim McElwain or not?’ They didn’t say it was.”

He said the photo was meant to be a parody. “They were mocking, according to this gentlemen, I guess in the UK there’s some websites that naked women get on sharks, so they were trying to mock what women were doing with sharks.”

If you took McElwain’s word for it, then this situation was done and dusted. But if you’re a conspiracy theorist, then you had ammo because, damnit, that guy looks a whole helluva lot like Jim McElwain.

But alas, McElwain was already on record as not being a fisherman, although he does have a boat on property in his native Montana. If he’d gotten over his fear and taken up the hobby now that he lives in the Sunshine State, then maybe you would’ve had something to go on. But it was pretty clear that it wasn’t him.

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