“‘Goon’ is apparently a term of endearment in the high schools these days.” —George Zimmerman’s (black) friend Joe Oliver, explaining how some people have misinterpreted what they think they hear on the 911 tape. [ThinkProgress]

Back on February 27, Fox Orlando reported on a local shooting that happened the night before:

A man who witnessed part of the altercation contacted authorities.

“The guy on the bottom, who had a red sweater on, was yelling to me, ‘Help! Help!’ and I told him to stop, and I was calling 911,” said the witness, who asked to be identified only by his first name, John.

John said he locked his patio door, ran upstairs and heard at least one gun shot.

“And then, when I got upstairs and looked down, the guy who was on the top beating up the other guy, was the one laying in the grass, and I believe he was dead at that point.”

This corroborates a few details we already know. There was a fight. George Zimmerman was wearing a red jacket. Zimmerman was the man yelling for help on the 911 tapes. His back was wet and covered with grass. He was bleeding out the nose and the back of his head.

It does not, however, tell us anything new.

Read more »

Our guest columnist is not Andrew Breitbart.

Among a few interesting items uncovered in trying to examine the facts behind the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin without drawing any conclusions, was that a widely viewed photograph of Martin appears to have been altered, somewhat.

Here [left] is what appears to be the original via the Miami Herald.

The one [right] has been observed in the media and at forums such as Democracy Now. Clearly, it has been lightened, or softened, somehow. Along with other possible alterations, he looks far more, perhaps innocent is the right word, in the altered image. For the record, that has nothing to do with the guilt, or innocence, of anyone involved, but more to do with the reporting of the story, which is why I’m bringing it up.

Read more »

“According to the dictionary, ‘nigger’ does not mean black. It means a low down, lazy, sorry, low down person. That’s what the N word means.” —Paula Smith of Hinesville, Georgia, explaining why she’s cool selling “Don’t Re-Nig 2012” bumper stickers. [Forbes, via ThinkProgress]

Fox News Radio’s Todd Starnes to Sean Hannity: “This is what America is all about. Like you said, no hanging chads, we didn’t see any Black Panthers with baseball bats. These were good, American folks going to do their patriotic duty, and I think it’s fantastic. Dixville Notch is just a great little place.” [TPM]

“A judge on Monday blocked the city of San Antonio from renaming a street after the late labor activist Cesar Chavez. The temporary restraining order from State District Judge Antonia Arteaga came just days after the City Council voted along ethnic lines to approve the name change.” San Antonio is 61 percent Hispanic. [Reuters/MSNBC, ThinkProgress]

“The FBI has made an arrest in connection with the attempted bombing along the route of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in downtown Spokane. An FBI source in Washington, D.C., said one man was arrested Wednesday outside a home near Colville, Stevens County… The suspect is believed to be affiliated with white supremacists, the source said.” [Seattle Times]