Prop 8, Rick Santorum and a Sea Monster

Good morning!

A federal appeals court decision to strike down California's same-sex marriage ban, Prop. 8, continues to a hot topic on social sites.  The decision has drawn a widespread praise from opponents, and outrage from supporters.  "Prop 8, sashay away," Ru Paul tweeted.  "Prop 8 architects: Every civil rights battle is eventually won by the oppressed party. Save your hundred mil and buy some Bud platinum," wrote Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("Modern Family").  While on the other side of the coin, Newt Gingrich (or someone for him) tweeted, "Court of Appeals overturning CA's Prop 8 another example of an out of control judiciary. Let's end judicial supremacy."

Meanwhile, Gingrich did not have a good night.   Neither did Mitt Romney, for that matter.   Nope, the spoils go to Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania Senator who keeps rising from the ashes of the also-rans.  Santorum swept Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado on Tuesday.   The votes in Missouri and Minnesota are non-binding, meaning no delegates awarded, but the victories keep Santorum alive in the race for now and raise fresh doubts about whether Romney has the right stuff to become the eventual Republican nominee.

On the basketball court, Paul Pierce passed Larry Bird for second place on the Boston Celtics' all-time scoring list.  Pierce hit a three-pointer early in the third quarter of the Celtics 94-84 win over Charlotte. Pierce scored 15 in the game, giving him 21,797 for his career.   If he is able to play for another three or four years and remain a Celtic, he could catch John Havlicek's franchise record 26,395 points.

Another trending basketball note comes from Los Angeles where Clippers guard Chauncey Billups has been lost for the season with a torn left Achilles' tendon.   Billups suffered the injury during Monday's win over Orlando.   "I will be back," Billups said after learning his season was over.

Ricky Williams will not be back.  Again.   Williams, 34, informed the Baltimore Ravens that he is retiring after racking up more than 500 yards in 2011 as a back-up.   His career has been notable if not unconventional.   After winning the Heisman Trophy, New Orleans coach Mike Ditka traded 1999 draft class to move up and draft him.   Williams failed to reach 1,000 yards in his rookie season, but then exploded for four straight 1,000 yard seasons including a 23 touchdown season with Miami.  He opted for retirement after testing positive for marijuana in 2005, but then came back in 2007 to rush for another 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2009.

The picture of a 40-plus foot whale shark found near Karachi, Pakistan reminds me of something out of a classic tale of sea monsters.   

The whale shark was spotted ten days ago about 93 miles from Charai Fishery in Karachi.  Whale sharks are incredibly large considering they live primarily on plankton.    The fishermen tried using two cranes to lift it, but they need more cranes and several hours to get the 40 to 50 foot, 6 foot wide whale shark out of the water. It was sold for $18,750.

 

Back in 2004, Josh Dueck broke his back doing a ski flip, leaving him as a full paraplegic. For the past 8 years one of his dreams has been to do a flip on snow again. On February 3, 2012, Josh became the first person to perform a backflip on snow in a Sit Ski!

 

A group of young musicians has gone viral.  They play the banjo, fiddle and a guitar, and pretty darn good too!

 

Check out the tallest high school basketball player in the world put on a display in this viral video.  How does anyone guard this guy?!?!

 

A waterskier in Florida had an unexpected pair of partners join in the fun!

 

Think turtles are slow?  Not this Florida Softshell.

 

And that's the trend!

Have a great day,

 

Bob