The National Security Threat of Domestic Terrorism (Depicted by the News Media)

Posted by historymaniacmegan on September 24, 2016

american-domestic-terrorism

When Americans think about terrorism, they usually imagine 9/11 and other attacks perpetuated by people who aren’t from this country and who aren’t like us. Groups like Al Qaida and ISIS usually come to mind. Yet, while foreign terrorist attacks like 9/11 are enough to make us frightened and willing to send troops to Afghanistan, there’s a national security threat more pressing that most people don’t pay much attention to. It’s called domestic terrorism which refer to terror acts carried out by US citizens or permanent residents on US soil. Domestic terrorists have committed 80% of attacks since 9/11 and killed more Americans on US soil than their foreign counterparts. Under current US law enforcement, the USA PATRIOT ACT defines acts as domestic terrorism those in which:

involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
appear to be intended –
1. to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
2. to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion;
3. to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping;
occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Accurately referred to as “America’s Favorite Domestic Terrorist,” legendary abolitionist John Brown has become a highly controversial figure both for his anti-slavery ideology as well as his violent tactics. But he perfectly illustrates why Americans may have a hard time recognizing domestic terror even in their American history books.

But when it comes to identifying domestic terrorism in contemporary culture, a lot of Americans struggled since the perpetrators may look like them and may share ideas that they kind of agree with. A good case in point is American abolitionist John Brown who’s known for participating in Bleeding Kansas and trying to overthrow the institution of slavery through staging an unsuccessful raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859 that killed 7 and injured 10. Brown’s raid on a government arsenal in present day West Virginia clearly fit USA PATRIOT ACT’s definition of domestic terrorism. Brown’s raid involved acts dangerous to human life that violated US and state criminal laws, were clearly intended to intimidate civilians and influence government policy, and definitely occurred on US soil. The fact he believed himself an instrument of God’s wrath in punishing men for the sin of slavery certainly proves that his extremist beliefs had a religious dimension. But since Brown’s motivation behind his attack on Harper’s Ferry was to overthrow the institution of slavery, well, he’s rarely seen as such even by modern day academics. Mostly because Americans agree that slavery was a very terrible sin and the fact it divided the country as well as took 4 year civil war to outlaw it. So in hindsight, Brown’s idea of destroying the institution of slavery through violence isn’t really that crazy (though to a point). And it’s mainly because of Brown’s abolitionist views no matter how extreme they were that he’s often seen as a heroic martyr and visionary to many people. Nevertheless, Brown’s actions prior to the American Civil War and the tactics he chose still make him a very controversial figure today. But Brown’s life and our perception of him illustrate why a lot Americans have difficulty identifying acts of terror by our fellow countrymen in the nation. This is a problem as I explain in this post in FAQ and list format.

This is a photoshopped picture that advocates gun control. However, it also illustrates the problem the media has with identifying domestic terrorist attacks.

If law enforcement has a clear definition on what domestic terrorism is, why is the term used so subjectively as a media and political term?

It’s mainly because when it comes to domestic terrorism, law enforcement and the mainstream media live in two different realities and have very different motivations for identifying what constitutes one. And the latter usually has more influence on the American people. Since American law enforcement’s main priority is ensuring public safety, their criteria for identifying terrorists acts is based on criteria defined in the USA PATRIOT ACT. So when it comes to defining domestic terrorism, all law enforcement care about is whether the act was criminal and endangered human lives, whether it was intended to promote a political agenda through coercion or intimidation, and whether it was committed by someone who lived in the US on US soil. That’s it. By contrast, the media defines domestic terrorism quite differently through the following criteria:

One of the most significant factors in how the media determines whether a violent attack is domestic terrorism is the suspect’s identity. If they’re Muslim, chances are that they’ll be labeled as a terrorist is very high.

Perpetrator’s Race and Cultural Identity – If the perpetrator is a Muslim American, their chances of being seen as a domestic terrorist are extremely high regardless of motivation. If it’s a non-Muslim white American with a conventional name, their chances of being seen as a domestic terrorist are usually dependent on other factors. As for the likelihood of non-Muslim blacks and Hispanics perpetrators, it’s very hard to say since both groups are often associated with criminal stereotypes though neither are widely perceived as terrorists.
Perpetrator’s Motivation– Any American Muslim perpetrator who commits an act of terror in the name of Islam will be automatically be labeled a terrorist in the media as well as linked to foreign Islamic terrorist groups like Al-Qaida or the Islamic State. Black and Hispanic perpetrators will only be identified as such if they’re connected to known terrorist groups or embrace an extremist ideology. But when it comes to non-Muslim white terrorists, it can vary considerably depending on their motivation. White violence against women, racial and religious groups, LGBT people, disabled people, and immigrants will usually be seen as hate crimes at best but not always and not without controversy (if the incident is covered at all). Yet, many hate crimes usually qualify under the USA PATRIOT ACT’s definition of domestic terrorism anyway. Anti-abortion and ecological extremists are less likely to be seen as domestic terrorists since a lot of people hold anti-abortion and environmentalist views. So like John Brown, labeling them as such is controversial though they’ll certainly be seen as nuts regardless political ideology. Then you have the anti-government perpetrators whose acts of terror may cause controversy if ever labeled domestic terrorism. This is especially the case when you’re talking about right-wing extremists or the open carry crowd (though open carry may be legal in some states, carrying a gun in public is an act of intimidation and coercion so it qualifies).
Nature of the Attack– In the media, the nature of the attack matters considerably such as the method and body count. Perpetrators who stage bombings that kill lots of people will most likely be seen as domestic terrorists. So would any attacks that involve hijacking, bioweapons, mass poisoning, hostage taking, chemical weapons, kidnapping, and property destruction. Shootings may depend on whether the perpetrator is either Muslim or clearly committing a hate crime. At any rate, they have to involve violence and/or fatalities. Despite causing hundreds of millions in property damage and having a sheer volume of crimes, eco-terrorists aren’t really seen as such since a lot of their crimes don’t get people killed. Same goes for left-wing Communist and anarchist terrorists. Merely using guns to intimidate people based on political ideology may not be labeled as domestic terrorism when it clearly is. Cyberterrorism may get some attention even though it’s not considered such while paper terrorism doesn’t get much attention at all.
Location– Attacks that take place in major cities are more likely to be labeled as domestic terrorism than ones in less urban areas, especially if they take place near places of great significance. In some ways, this makes sense but also ignores a lot of other terror incidents that take place around the country.

Meanwhile, if the perpetrators in question are white, right-wing, and stage a heavily armed takeover of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon, you might expect headlines like this. Since AP is held to very high journalistic standards, this headline tweet is appalling. These guys aren’t peaceful protesters. They have guns with them and they took over a national wildlife refuge in order to intimidate people and influence government conduct. It’s domestic terrorism, plain and simple.

If you watch TV news, you might get the impression the media is more likely to label a violent incident as domestic terrorism based on a biased set of criteria which gives Americans the impression that terrorists tend to be Islamic extremists. When in reality, Muslim terrorist attacks aren’t a very big threat to national security, even after 9/11. Why the media decide does this:

Contrary to what you might be accustomed to on the news, anti-government, racist, and other nonjihadist extremist killed nearly twice as many people as those by Islamic jihadist since 9/11. Many Americans don’t realize this, especially if they’re on a steady diet of Fox News. Maybe that’s because most nonjihadist terrorists are white.

Desire to Avoid Controversy– Domestic terrorism is a loaded word. And while the mainstream media likes sensational news stories, they also take great aims to avoid offending people. This is particularly true when a terror incident involves right-wing extremists since a lot of mainstream media outlets are owned by large corporate conglomerates. Some like Fox News even have a right-wing ideology. That’s not to say leftist terrorists exist since they certainly do since Occupy Wall Street might qualify since they have a long list of property crimes, rampant drug use, rape, murder, and assaults. But when Janet Napolitano brought up the threat of right-wing domestic terrorism in 2009, Republicans were furious.
Public’s Unwillingness to Identify with Terrorists– Like I said about terrorists, people are more comfortable to label a terrorist act as such if the perpetrator is different from them. And since a lot of people don’t know anyone who’s Muslim, Muslim perpetrators are more likely to be seen as terrorists than their non-Muslim counterparts. But when a terror incident involves white supremacists and other right-wing extremists, a lot of conservative politicians hesitate to declare it as such. Many of them even downplay dangers posed by right-wing extremism altogether. This is especially when Fox News glorifies a Nevada rancher who engaged in an armed standoff against the feds over grazing rights and a bunch of armed men for occupying a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon and the fact the current GOP presidential nominee has been endorsed by white supremacists. When it comes to right-wing domestic terrorism, most conservatives are like Draco Malfoy. Sure they may be totally comfortable having racist, xenophobic, homophobic, sexist, and anti-government views. And yes, they may not be happy with the political and cultural landscape these days as well as nostalgize about a past that never was. But like Draco Malfoy on Muggle-borns, most of these conservatives are neither extreme in their viewpoints nor are willing to resort to violent terrorist acts for them. On the other end, I may believe that this country should do more to protect the environment and stop climate change but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to bomb an animal testing facility because that’s crazy. But when someone commits an act of violence on behalf of their political agenda, it makes a lot of people who may share that perpetrator’s view to some extent very uncomfortable and reluctant to address it as an act of terror. So they don’t.
Sensationalism– We should understand that sensationalism sells and the media does everything it could to exploit violent terror incidents. The more violent it is and the nuttier the perpetrators seem, the more attention it will get and more ratings the media outlet will have. This is especially be the case if the perpetrator is Muslim.

According to a local law enforcement survey the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security, anti-government terrorism was seen as the top terrorist threat in their jurisdictions. And that percentage is far more than those who listed anything relating to Islamic terrorist threats. The media doesn’t really pay attention to this because most anti-government terrorists are white.

Unfortunately, the way the news covers domestic terror attacks has very negative repercussions in the country. Now it’s one thing to call a mass shooting in San Bernardino and at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando as domestic terrorism. Same goes for the Boston Marathon bombings. But it’s another when both these attacks are seen as acts of domestic terrorism while the mass shootings at Pittsburgh, Tucson, and Charleston are not. Rather as far as the media was concerned, these were attacks made by violently mentally ill white men. Sure it was an accurate assessment, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. For one, the man who fired an AK-47 at 5 cops in Pittsburgh was a white supremacist who believed Jews secretly ran everything and that Obama wanted to take away his guns. But as far as the media is concerned, he was just a crazy nutjob who killed 3 cops after his mom called police over a domestic dispute concerning a dog peeing on the carpet. Second, the Tucson shooter who tried to assassinate Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was a conspiracy theorist who believed in a New World Order to brainwash people. Third, the shooter who killed 9 people at the Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston was a white supremacist who donned a pro-apartheid jacket on his Facebook page, had a Confederate flag license plate, told racist jokes, advocated segregation, and went on a racist rant on how blacks are raping white women and taking over the world. Furthermore, he specifically chose to fire upon blacks at the church due to its long association with civil rights activism. Yet, these terror incidents were reported. Most aren’t covered by major news outlets at all. Negative repercussions of inadequate and sloppy coverage of domestic terrorism include:

The heavy attention on Islamic terrorism in the US media outlets had perpetuated rise and acceptability of Islamophobia as well as led to American Muslims being targets of everything from harassment to outright deadly violence. Featured here are American Muslims Yousef Abu-Salha, his brother-in-law Deah Barakat, and his sisters Yusor and Razan. Save for the Yousef, three people would later become victims of an anti-Muslim hate crime in a Chapel Hill condominium by one of their former white neighbors who was banned from the building. The man basically broke into Deah and Yusor’s condo and killed them and Razan in cold blood. Yousef would later say, “It’s a shame that you turn on a major news channel and you see a news story about ISIS and then they’ll cover our story and they do an okay job, but immediately after it will be another story about these radical groups. I think it sends US citizens a bad message that these Muslims are all the same.”

Legitimizes Discrimination– The media’s coverage of Islamic terrorism since 9/11 in the US and abroad has contributed so much to Islamophobia that Muslims in American pop culture have been nastily stereotyped as fanatical Islamic terrorists who hate our country and our western values. Each terror attack since then have been filtered by the media and consumed by the public as wrongdoings of Muslims around the world. Muslims have been further vilified and dehumanized in Hollywood movies like American Sniper. Because of this, American Muslims, Middle Easterners, and South Asians have become acceptable targets for profiling, oppression, and even terrorist attacks. For many Americans, just looking like a Muslim makes them an automatic terror suspect by default as well as someone to be feared. This is a major reason why welcoming Syrian refugees in the US has been so controversial even though it shouldn’t. Around the country, mosques have been fired on, defaced, or burned. Muslims have been shot and killed execution style in their living rooms, fatally stabbed on their way home as well as been beaten in their stores, schools, and on the streets. They’ve also been kicked out of planes, egged outside Walmart, scorched with hot coffee in a park, shot in cabs, and punched while pushing their children in strollers. They’ve had clothes set on fired and their children bullied in school. They’ve been threatened by neighbors who’d burn down their house if they didn’t move away as well as had their cemeteries vandalized and Quran desecrated. They’ve been fired for wearing hijabs and for praying. A Muslim congressman has received death threats. In Irving, Texas, heavily armed right-wing gunmen blocked entrance of a mosque and held banners reading, “we are the solution to Islamic terrorism.” Other armed anti-Islam demonstrations and “Muslim-free” businesses raise deep concerns. Civil and human rights advocates are challenging the use of “domestic terrorism” believing that it’s doled out in a racially-discriminatory manner that merely exacerbates hate they and law enforcement are trying to prevent. Exacerbating hate on a group of people who just happen to have the same religion as terrorists is not a solution to Islamic terrorism and just makes it worse. The fact that 55% of Americans hold an unfavorable view of Islam makes Islamophobia not just the biggest threat to American religious freedom, but also a potential threat to national security since Muslim communities play a crucial role in alerting law enforcement to terrorist threats.
Does Not Represent Reality– While the American public rightfully sees Islamic terrorists as a threat to safety, the reality of terrorism exists in all forms and that terrorists come from all racial and cultural backgrounds as well as embraced a wide range of extremist political and religious ideologies. For law enforcement officials, the biggest terrorist threats aren’t jihadists. Rather it’s far right wing extremists that have carried out well over half of the deadliest US terrorist attacks since 9/11, committing 93% of all extremist murders in the last 10 years. Most of their extremism is homegrown as well as pose a very real danger to this nation’s character such as pluralism, tolerance, and equality, which form the basis of a liberal democracy. Though jihadist terrorism is often reported on the news, the US has seen very little violent extremism by Muslims. On the other hand, white supremacists are among the most lethal since they’ve committed 83% of all right-wing extremist murders and 77% of all extremist killings in the past decade as well as were involved in 52% of shootings with police. They also regularly engage in various terrorist plots, acts, and conspiracies as well as other traditional forms of crime. Anti-government extremists, right-wing militias, and sovereign citizens are among the most common. But no matter what their ideology, right-wing extremists are also more numerous, cover a larger geographic range, and are more likely to live in your neighborhood. Not representing these groups in the media as the terrorists they are that we should condemn is very irresponsible, even if the station is Fox News.
Promotes Cultural Profiling– How the media has reported domestic terrorism can also lead to real but ineffective policies that have resulted in cultural profiling, particularly of Muslims and people suspected of being one. Those charged with plotting terrorism for the Islamic State faced more severe charges than militia members, “sovereign citizens,” and other anti-government extremist who’ve been prosecuted for similar activity (even though many more terrorist attacks in the US are carried out by non-Muslims). After 9/11, many American Muslims, South Asians, and those of Middle Eastern descent found themselves being subject to harsher security checks as well as are more likely to be on a no fly list or subject to surveillance. As a result, trust between law enforcement and Muslims has been strained. In recent years, anti-Islam bills became laws in 10 states. Florida and Tennessee passed laws revising the way they approve textbooks for classroom use as a direct result of anti-Islam campaigns. Don’t get me wrong, Islamic terrorists do exist in this country and do pose a threat to national security. But profiling Muslims as suspected terrorists by default is never excusable since the vast majority of them are regular people like us who just want to live their lives in peace and mind their own business.
Fails to Hold Public Figures Accountable for Their Rhetoric– The media is a huge influence in the American public but we should be aware what many public figures may say could be taken out of context by some nutjob who’d use it in a terror attack. It’s been widely suggested that political rhetoric may play a role in fueling hate crimes, especially since Donald Trump started running for president as well as said very hateful things about almost every demographic imaginable. But since he started running and calling on Muslim bans, anti-Muslim hate crimes dramatically increased to its highest levels since the aftermath of 9/11. It doesn’t help that Trump has been endorsed by white supremacist organizations whom he’s consistently failed to denounce. A lot of what’s said on Fox News has probably led to a lot of terror attacks and it doesn’t help that they have glorified anti-government terrorists like Cliven Bundy as heroes as well as inspired many nutcases to do horrible things that have killed people. Not to mention, a lot of conservative special interest groups have said similar things as well as many Republican politicians. I know there are liberal groups and Democrats who might inspire some degree of terror violence. But I single out conservatives since right-wing terrorism has become much more of a problem in recent years, according to terror experts and government organizations.And yes a lot of these radical right-wing extremists consume conservative media outlets like Fox News.
Ignores Very Real Threats– While Muslim terrorism in the news stirs fear and hatred for even the most ordinary Muslim Americans, the far more serious threat of the radical right has received relatively little attention. But bring that fact up in front of Republican politicians, expect outrage and even offense as an attack to demonize the right. The media seems to be just as deft to these threats, especially if it’s Fox News. Such response leads to downplay to take such threats as seriously as they should be by the public. Radical Right-Wing terrorists present a more deadly threat given their affinity for hoarding weapons and explosives. Not paying attention to these terrorists has consequences such as emboldening these people to carry out mass casualty attacks. Americans are much more likely to live near a white supremacist or anti-government sovereign citizen than a jihadist (A nearby town in my area had its own Klu Klux Klan chapter). When we’re talking about racial and religious minorities, living near a radical right-wing terrorist can put them in very real danger.
Compromises Public Safety for Vulnerable Populations– Whenever domestic terror incidents aren’t reported and treated as the heinous acts they are, people are left very vulnerable to attacks. This was very apparent in the South during segregation when countless African Americans were subject to lynchings as a way to control black communities and retain white supremacy. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans and other activists were frequent targets of white supremacist violence. Though white supremacy is no longer as acceptable as it was, the hateful ideology and violence hasn’t gone away. Recent incidents including a white supremacist firing on Black Lives Matter activists in Minneapolis, a NAACP building bombing in Colorado, and a black church shooting in Charleston. In every terror attack involving Muslims since 9/11, hate crimes against Muslims in America have become alarmingly high. A study from Georgetown University has reported 174 incidents of anti-Muslim violence from 2015 consisting of 12 murders, 29 physical assaults, 50 threats against people and institutions, 54 acts of vandalism, 8 arsons, and 9 shootings or bombings. Contrary to what the media might say, Muslims are far more likely to become terror victims than terror perpetrators. However, Muslims and blacks aren’t the only group in the country vulnerable to domestic terrorism in the nation even by white supremacists. White supremacist groups also target immigrants, minorities, Jews, LGBT people, and sometimes Christians. Targets for anti-government and sovereign citizens are law enforcement and other authority figures. Still, not recognizing clearly politically motivated attacks by non-Muslim perpetrators leaves many Americans especially vulnerable.

It is no secret that now GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has been endorsed by the Klu Klux Klan over his racist remarks on Mexicans, blacks, immigrants, and Muslims. However, Trump hasn’t distanced himself from this white supremacist terrorist organization which has a long history of violence against blacks since its formation during Reconstruction. If a presidential candidate from a major party can’t denounce a terrorist endorsement, then that person isn’t fit to be president. Seriously, the KKK are beyond deplorable.

As you can see the state of how the news media depicts domestic terrorism is appalling. Excessive coverage of one group of terrorists has led to disproportionate fear, suspicion, and unjust discrimination against a religious minority and other others. But significant less attention of a far more serious homegrown terrorist threat has gone under the media radar and has neither been sufficiently challenged by our political culture nor law enforcement. Not only this disproportionate rate of media coverage lead to increased profiling and discrimination, it also makes the US less safe as a whole. Furthermore, it makes public figures less likely to take responsibility for their rhetoric that could inspire many of these nutjobs to commit heinous acts. Now while the government may be slow to act on domestic terrorism, the media doesn’t have to. In fact, if the media just got it together and report domestic terrorist attacks in a way they should, then it might actually encourage leaders to come up with policies combating it. After all, people didn’t take lynchings as serious acts of terrorism meant to intimidate black people during segregation in the South until Ida B. Wells investigated them in the 1890s and began an anti-lynching campaign to spread awareness about the atrocity. Today she is turning in her grave. If the news media should cover domestic terrorism correctly, then it must be depicted in a way that’s represents the reality. By that I mean showing that domestic terrorism can take many forms, be motivated by different ideologies, and committed by people of many different backgrounds. And that all these domestic terrorists should be treated as a national security threat to be taken seriously.

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Here we come to a bunch of heavily armed open-carry activists “protesting” at a mosque in Phoenix against “Islamic Radicalism.” In reality, they’re just a bunch of armed terrorists who are using their guns to intimidate the Muslims who worship there. This isn’t peaceful protesting, it’s domestic terrorism and should be treated that way. This should neither be tolerated nor encouraged by anyone. It’s utterly disgraceful anyone there with a gun wasn’t arrested. Because the country needs to know that armed protest rallies are never ever acceptable.

The Many Corruption Scandals of Donald Trump (You’re Welcome, Hillary)

Posted by historymaniacmegan on September 18, 2016

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Okay, I was actually not going to post this article. But since my parents found Trump presidential campaign ad on one of my articles, I feel that I have no choice but to do this. During the 2016 campaign season, the media tends to cast Donald Trump as the crazy/racist one while portraying Hillary Clinton as the politically corrupt one. However, while I don’t contest that Hillary hasn’t been a saint for the last few decades, but to say that she’s more corrupt, untrustworthy, and dishonest than Trump, well, that’s just completely wrong. I’m well aware that the news media tends to cover Hillary’s political and personal baggage on the airwaves down to the last detail while sending legions of journalists in their midst whenever she’s implicated in a government investigation. But all of what’s turned out of those findings about Hillary is just that she happens to be a flawed but normal politician. The only thing that’s abnormal about her is that she’s a former First Lady. That’s it. Yes, she has baggage but a lot of her and Bill’s cases involve suspicion and shadowy links. But all that just adds fuel for the conspiracy theorists at Fox News. Still, though I don’t have any objections to the press covering Hillary this way, especially in a presidential election year, they don’t seem to do the same to Trump. Because when Trump is implicated in anything, the media just glosses it over briefly and moves on. This is not how candidate scandals should be covered, especially if we’re talking about the scandals surrounding Trump which I think are well worth revisiting and discussing. Compared to Hillary, Trump has a long and documented history of corruption since the 1970s and his flamboyant corruption run to the very core of his identity and prospective governing choices. Hell, many of his scandals have been recorded in court cases and legal proceedings. Sure he may have a complete lack of public office experience, but his resume is far from clean unlike most novice candidates. A lot of the stuff he’s done is downright appalling as well as shown that he’s willing to risk ruining people’s lives in order to get what he wants with no second thought. So if you’re a person who disdains corruption, then your rationale for voting for Trump to elect him is nothing short of idiotic. Yes, the Clintons may be corrupt practitioners of Washington’s cash-for-access culture as well as careless and susceptible to greed. But their corruption only pertains to normal, political things. Sure that doesn’t excuse their behavior, but their deeds aren’t unprecedented. Trump on the other hand, is corrupt on a historic scale and the fact people are willing to trust him over Hillary to run the country is insane. Here I have a rough cheat sheet of Trump scandals you might want to see for yourself. Consider this a highlight reel except that the highlights tend to show Trump as awful person he is. These are not in chronological order. It’s also a long post and viewer discretion is advised.

Business Failures:

1980s: Used junk bonds to build Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City (despite claiming he wouldn’t) and was unable to keep up with interest payments once the casino was built. So Trump declared bankruptcy in 1991 which led him to sell his yacht, his airline, and half of his ownership in the casino.

1983-1985: Bought the USFL New Jersey Generals for $9 million but the league lost $30 million for obvious reasons regardless of how the team was doing. Lobbied to move the USFL games to the fall to compete with the NFL which commanded the TV networks. So Trump’s lawyers and the league filed a $1.69 billion antitrust and monopoly lawsuit against the NFL. Jury awarded the USFL $3 million in damages and the league later folded.

1989-1993: Acquired 17 Boeings Eastern Air Shuttle and 17 Boeing 727 that formed Trump Airlines which he aimed to make it more Trumpy luxurious for $380 million on 22 small bank loans. Customers used to Eastern Air Shuttle’s no frills service could no longer afford it and it never turned a profit. It didn’t help that Trump was more interested in revamping this airline to suit his image instead of focusing on his customers’ real needs. Not to mention, the high price of jet fuel due to the Gulf War in 1991. As Time explains, “The high debt forced Trump to default on his loans, and ownership of the company was turned over to creditors. The Trump Shuttle ceased to exist in 1992 when it was merged into a new corporation, Shuttle Inc. No word on whether the gold-plated faucets survived the merger.”

1989: Launched Trump: The Game which was a Monopoly themed board game with a lot of illegal stuff in it that failed within a year. A 2005 attempt at reviving the game via The Apprentice also failed.

1992: Declared bankruptcy when Trump Plaza went bust after losing more than $550 million. Though he gave up his stake, Trump insulated himself from personal losses and managed to keep his CEO title. However, he surrendered any salary or role in day-to-day operations. By the time all was said and done, he was $900 million in personal debt.

1995-2004: Declared bankruptcy when Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts was $1.8 billion in debt before later emerging as Trump Entertainment Resorts. Though Trump was chairman of the new company, he no longer had a controlling stake in it. Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts had lost money every year while Trump ran it as CEO which later lost its shareholders and 90% of their money. And at the start, the company already had a $494 million in long term debt but its borrowings ballooned to $1.7 billion by the end of the next year. In the Trump Hotels and Casinos transaction to buy Trump Taj Mahal for $898 million, the company would take $817 million in junk bonds at 11.25% interest. Trump Taj Mahal was already losing money from the start because its big interest burden due to Trump financing its construction with junk bonds in the 1980s. In 1996, Trump Hotels would by Trump’s Castle for $520 million with the announced price at a staggering 18 times cash flow. It’s not even clear whether the Castle was worth its over $350 million debt load. By 2002, Trump Hotels’ debt was $2.1 billion and its leverage ratio expanded to 27, approaching levels that sank Lehman Brothers during the 2008 financial crisis. Meanwhile Trump paid himself $32 million. It was the worst performing publicly trading gaming company at the time, especially from 1995-2000 when the sector itself was going gangbusters.

1995: Lost $916 million according to his tax returns from that year.

2004: Licensed his name to Trump Signature Collection clothing line which is manufactured in China and Mexico. After accusing Mexico of sending its rapists in to the US, Macy’s dropped the line. Now the company Phillips-Van Heusen which manufactures his line said after losing its main retail outlet at Macy’s, plans to dump Trump in 2018. Not to mention, Trump has ironically threatened Apple, Carrier, and Ford to strongarm them into bringing their outsourced workers back to the US. Hell, in 2005, he even expressed support for outsourcing.

2006: Launched Trump Vodka which aspired to make “Trump and Tonic” the most ordered drink in America. Folded in 2011.

2006: Launched Trump Mortgage just when the housing bubble was reaching its bursting point and dismissed talk about it on CNBC by saying, “Who knows more about financing than me?” Apparently anyone who thinks starting a mortgage company at the time was a very bad idea. Company folded 18 months later to nobody’s surprise.

2006: Launched travel site Go.Trump which focused on luxury hotels. Failed within a year.

2007: Launched Trump Magazine which targeted affluent readers and covered luxury living. Failed within 2 years.

2007: Launched Trump Steaks which bought meat from the Sysco-owned Buckhead Beef which used the name and sold them through a New York City technology store called The Sharper Image. Company folded within a year for obvious reasons. Seriously, who the hell sells steaks at a technology store?

2009: Declared bankruptcy when Trump Entertainment Resorts fell again which led him to resign from the board though the company retained its name. In 2014, he successfully sued to take his name off the company and its casinos, one of which had already closed and the other being near closing. The Trump Plaza Casino and Hotel has closed permanently. Over the 15 years Trump served as chairman of both Trump Hotels and Resorts and Trump Entertainment Resorts, both companies posted net losses with profits being decimated by gigantic interest costs at $1.7 billion, excluding extraordinary items.

Screwing Workers:

1970s-present: As of 2016, he and his companies have been sued 20 times for mistreating female employees. These include a woman in Miami fired for getting pregnant, two women fired for complaining about co-worker sexual harassment, a female supervisor who Trump pulled aside to complain about hiring, another supervisor being threatened with punishment for not firing a female employee for being fat, a married waitress Trump subjected to unwanted flirtations, and a number of women testifying Trump repeatedly instructing managers to hire younger and prettier workers at his LA golf club.

1980: Demolished the Bonwit Teller store and its architecturally beloved Art Deco edifice (though he promised not to) in order to build Trump Tower. In order to accomplish this, the managers hired 200 undocumented Polish workers to tear it down, paying $5 an hour for backbreaking work when they were paid at all. Workers didn’t wear hard hats and often slept on site. Workers who complained about back pay were threatened with deportation. Trump claimed he was unaware that undocumented immigrants were working at the site (while testimony under oath shown by Massimo Calabresi proves that Trump was aware of undocumented workers being employed there). In 1991, a federal judge found Trump and the defendants guilty of conspiring to avoid paying Local 95 construction workers’ union pension and welfare contributions. The decision was appealed, with partial victories on both sides, and settled in 1999. Marco Rubio used this story in a debate to accuse Trump of hypocrisy in his illegal immigration stance and rightfully so.

1980s-present: Has been subject to various complaints and lawsuits by contractors, waiters, dishwashers, and plumbers who have worked on his projects and claimed that his company has stiffed them for work as well as refused to pay for their services. USA Today did a lengthy review of this, finding that some of these contracts were for hundreds and thousands of dollars, many owed to small businesses that failed or struggled to continue because of unpaid bills. Not to mention that Trump was found to have improperly withheld compensation for undocumented Polish immigrant workers. In regards to these wage theft allegations, Trump has offered various excuses like shoddy workmanship. However the scale of the problem that includes hundreds of allegations makes it hard to credit. In some cases, even lawyers Trump has hired to defend him have sued him for failing to pay their fees. One Trump employee admitted in court that a painter was stiffed on account that managers had determined they had “already paid enough.” These cases are particularly damaging since they show Trump not driving a hard bargain with other businesses as well as harming ordinary, hard-working Americans. Not only that, but he’s now being sued by little girls who performed during his campaign. And it’s because he’s running for president and is subject to such scrutiny that I decided to do a blog post on wage theft. Trump’s record on stiffing workers out of their hard earned money should get long-term media attention because it shows us the kind of sociopath he is.

1980s-present: Despite his immigration stance, has hired foreign guest workers at his resorts which involves a claim that he can’t find Americans to do the work. This even when Americans applied for the same positions. Guess foreign guest workers are easier to exploit and are less likely to complain about wage theft.

1999-?: Has been subject to claims by former models at Trump Model Management that they and others worked for the agency in the US despite not having proper permits. Some worked on tourist visas, either never getting the correct permits or getting them only after working in the US illegally for months. Some models also received H-1B visas which a special type of permit for workers in specialized industries, a program Trump has criticized. In true Trump fashion, the models were kept under squalid conditions while earning almost nothing for the work they did. It’s even embarrassing that Trump has argued for much more enforced immigration laws as well as building a wall and making Mexico pay for it. There’s even scrutiny over his current wife Melania’s immigration status at the time as well.

2000s: Spent half a million dollars to a law firm in order to keep service employees from his Las Vegas hotels and resorts from unionizing. According to a 2015 lawsuit by the Culinary Workers Union, Trump Hotel Las Vegas “violated the federally protected rights of workers to participate in union activities” and engaged in “incidents of alleged physical assault, verbal abuse, intimidation, and threats by management.” That October, the owners sued the Culinary Workers Union and another, alleging they had knowingly distributed flyers falsely stating that Trump had stayed at a rival unionized hotel instead of his non-unionized establishment. Today, it’s said that the average worker at Trump’s Las Vegas hotels earns $3.33 an hour, well below the minimum wage.

2012: According to the Daily Beast, forced production employees from The Apprentice to work in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy despite New York City being effectively shut down and in a state of dire emergency. Employees had to brave dangerous commuting conditions to get to Trump Tower. One ex-employee remembered, “We were in his building, and we fought with [a] manager, who said, ‘It’s not from me, it’s from [Donald Trump] himself.’ Ivanka [Trump] did very nicely [come down] and thank us for coming in. She really was very nice but we were all [thinking], ‘Well, it was easy for you Trumps to simply come downstairs, why are we here?’” Trump would go on to use the hurricane as a PR coup and promote birtherism.

Unfair Business Practices:

1980s-2000s: Has been repeatedly fined for breaking rules related to his operation of his casinos. In 1990, his father Fred strolled in the already troubled Taj Mahal and bought 700 chips worth $3.5 million. Though this purchase helped the casino pay its debt due at the time, Fred Trump had no plans to gamble which led to New Jersey’s gaming commission ruling it a loan violating operating rules and fined Trump $30,000. Of course, Taj Mahal went bankrupt the following year. As noted above, New Jersey also fined Trump $200,000 for arranging to keeping black employees away from Mafioso Robert LiButti’s gambling table. And in 1991, the Casino Control Commission fined Trump’s company $450,000 for buying LiButti 9 luxury cars. In 2000, Trump was fined $250,000 for violating New York state law in lobbying to prevent an Indian casino from opening in the Catskills, fearing that it would compete against his Atlantic City casinos. Trump would admit no wrongdoing in the New York case but he’s now out of the casino business.

1986: With aims to expand his casino empire in Atlantic City, mounted a hostile takeover of Holiday and Bally by buying up stock in the companies in order to gain control. But Bally found what he was doing and sued Trump for anti-trust violations arguing, “Trump hopes to wrest control of Bally from its public shareholders without paying them the control premium they otherwise could command had they been adequately informed of Trump’s intentions.” Trump gave up in 1987 but was fined $750,000 by the Federal Trade Commission for failing to disclose his purchases of stock in the two companies, which exceeded minimum disclosure levels.

1990s: Along with his demolition contractor, was sued by Vera Coking for damage to her home during the construction of Trump Plaza and Casino. In 1997, she dropped the suit against Trump and settled with the contractor for $90,000. She refused to sell her home to Trump and won a 1998 Supreme Court decision that prevented Atlantic City from using eminent domain to condemn her property.

1990s-2000s: Had a campaign denigrating Native Americans and their casinos which led to a testimony before Congress. “If [Indian gaming] continues as a threat, it is my opinion that it will blow. It will blow sky high. It will be the biggest scandal ever or one of the biggest scandals since Al Capone. That an Indian chief is going to tell [mobster] Joey Killer to please get off his reservation is almost unbelievable to me.” His words were so incendiary that lawmakers challenged him to release information to the FBI. One said it was the most irresponsible testimony he’d ever heard. At the same time, he pursued deals with Indian casinos and even struck an arrangement with one of them. As Newsweek reported, “And in his purposeless, false and inflammatory statements before Congress, Trump alienated politicians from around the country, including some who had the power to influence construction contracts—problems that could have been avoided if he had simply read his prepared speech rather than ad-libbing.”

1994: Tried to cash in through dumping 24 million gallons of raw sewage in the Hudson River.

1994-2000s: Escaped a crippling debt load by selling the Riverside South development to a group from Hong Kong who let him keep a 30% stake in the partnership. Trump would later oversee construction of several Trump branded apartment towers and had plans for his logo to be spread over a big stretch of western Manhattan. However, in 2005, his Hong Kong partners who had a controlling stake decided to sell and use the proceeds to buy two skyscrapers without the Trump name: 1290 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan and 555 California Street in San Francisco. Trump hated the deal and sued his partners to block it, arguing that the development bearing the Trump name was worth about $1 billion more than the price his partners had agreed on. Yet he ended up massively profiting from the transaction when Vornado Trust bought out his partners at a price valuing the two buildings at $2.6 billion. Trump remained in the partnership and saw his stake soar.

1993-1996: Opened his 290-foot Trump Princess Indiana riverboat casino in Gary, Indiana with the promise to donate 7.5% of its proceeds to charity before dumping his local minority investors. The jilted investors sued for breach of contract but he settled with 6 of them a year later for a total of more than $2.2 million. But no foundation was ever created and two investors refused to settle. Though the jury didn’t find Trump guilty of fraud (though his company liable), they awarded the remaining two investors $1.33 million. This led Trump to avoid making a charitable contribution that would’ve been worth $4.5 million to $30 million. He also cut a deal with the mayor before dumping the investors for a different foundation which Trump would run himself and wouldn’t receive any benefit from the riverboat. Trump would later win this suit against the two remaining investors on appeal. In 2005, Trump sold the Indiana riverboat for a quarter of a billion to Barden.

2004-2015: Hosted The Apprentice and later Celebrity Apprentice on NBC which made him a star. But not without controversy. There were instances Trump systematically demeaning women and discussing which ones he’d like to have sex with as well as getting input from the men. There was also a time when he made them work after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. However, while winners have been named “executive vice presidents” as well as given an “owner’s representative” title, they were actually employed as publicity spokespeople for the Trump Organization. Second season winner Kelly Perdew claimed on his first day working for Trump, he was introduced to Florida developers working on a Trump-based condo, the Trump Tower, in Tampa. He was later told he’d appear at promotional events to help encourage sales.

2005: Received $17 million in insurance for hurricane damage to his Mar-a-Lago club. The Associated Press found little evidence of such large scale damage which wasn’t backed up by club members and even Trump supporters in the Palm Beach area. One of them even talked about how Trump threw a wedding at Mar-a-Lago for his son Donald Jr. two weeks after Hurricane Wilma, which had 370 guests. And claimed that while the celebration had to be moved from the front lawn due to storm damage, the rest of the place was fine. Palm Beach County building department shows no records for construction on that scale during the storms save a $3,000 permit for repairs to storm-damaged outdoor lighting and the vacuuming of sand from the property’s beachfront pool. Trump later transferred some of the $17 million into his personal accounts. It’s likely that this is a classic case of insurance fraud.

Screwing Clients, Customers, and Tenants:

1981-1986: Bought a building in Central Park South with aspirations to build luxury condos despite that the current tenants at the time were understandably unwilling to let go of their rent-controlled apartments. Trump used every trick in the book to get them out, even trying to reverse exceptions that the previous landlord had given him such as knocking down walls and threatening eviction. Tenants complaints range from cutting off heat and hot water as well as having building management refuse to make repairs or take action on any pest infestations (leading to two swearing in court that mushrooms grew on their carpet from a leak). Trump would later place newspaper ads offering to house homeless New Yorkers in empty units since he didn’t intend to fill the units with permanent residents anyway. City officials turned him down over the idea seeming inappropriate. Trump also sued tenants for $150 million when they complained. However, Trump gave in, settling the tenants and agreeing to monitoring. The building still stands today with his son Eric owning a unit on the top floor.

2013: Is sued by members of the Trump National Golf Club of Jupiter, Florida for breach of contract. In this class action lawsuit, the members allege that after Trump bought the resort from Marriot, he unilaterally changed membership terms in ways that converted their refundable deposits ranging from $55,000-$221,000 into nonrefundable deposits. Trump and his team deny any wrongdoing and the trial was set a week before the RNC.

Discrimination:

1973-1975: The Department of Justice filed suit against him and his father for housing discrimination at 39 sites around New York on grounds that Trump Management had refused to rent or negotiate rentals to racial minorities. The DOJ also charged them requiring different rental terms and conditions due to race as well as lied to blacks that apartments were unavailable. Trump called such accusations, “absolutely ridiculous.” He even denied the charges and insisted that the government was trying to force his company to rent to welfare recipients. The Trumps would later hire former Joe McCarthy defender Roy Cohn and sue the DOJ for $100 million. In the end, they settled with the government, promised not to discriminate, and submitted to regular review by the New York Urban League. But neither would admit their guilt.

1978: The Department of Justice brings him and his father back to court on contempt of consent decree pertaining to their promise not to discriminate. According to Wayne Barrett from Trump: The Deals and the Downfall, “Cohn picked up his argument where he’d left off, branding the new case a ‘rehash’ without ‘the slightest merit,’ attributable to ‘planted malcontents .’ It all remained irrelevant to Donald. The bottom line was that two government discrimination lawsuits had had no effect on the company’s ability to make development deals, usually with the government’s help. The charges were just not a part of the world in which he operated.”

1992: Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino fined $200,000 over managers removing black card dealers at the request of a certain big-spending gambler. Trump has had a long record disparaging his black casino employees as “lazy” in vividly bigoted terms. A former employee at Trump’s Castle claimed, “When Donald and Ivana came to the casino, the bosses would order all the black people off the floor. It was the eighties, I was a teen-ager, but I remember it: they put us all in the back.” A 1991 book about Trump by former Trump Plaza and Casino John O’Donnell has Trump saying, “And isn’t it funny. I’ve got black accountants at Trump Castle and Trump Plaza. Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.” O’Donnell also reported Trump saying of a black employee, “I think the guy is lazy. And it’s probably not his fault because laziness is a trait in blacks. It really is, I believe that. It’s not anything they can control.”

1996: Sued by 20 African Americans in Indiana for failing to hire mostly minority workers for a riverboat casino at Lake Michigan.

Shady Ties:

1970s-?: Has been linked to the mafia many times over the years with varying degrees of closeness. Many seem to be the sorts of interactions with mobsters that were inevitable for someone in the construction and casino business at the time. Though Trump has portrayed himself as an unwilling participant, not everyone agrees since strings of other allegations persist. For instance, Trump’s lawyer Roy Cohn also represented Genovese crime family boss Tony Salerno. Cohn would later be disbarred for fraud and other serious wrongdoing in 1986. And according to investigative journalist Wayne Barrett, Trump paid twice the market rate to a mob figure for the land under Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. Michael Isikoff reported that Trump was close to John Gotti associate Robert LiButti whom he invited on his yacht and helicopter as well as bought him 9 luxury cars in one case. Though Trump has been questioned in court over the ties, he’s never been convicted of anything. Though Trump Plaza was fined $200,000 for keeping black employees away from LiButti’s table at his behest and $450,000 for giving him the cars. Say what you want about Ted Cruz, but his suggestion that Trump’s ties with the mafia which could be more extensive than reported might be a reason why he won’t release his tax returns seems to make a lot of sense. Because Cruz had evidence to back up this claim.

1982: Dealt personally with mob-linked figures while opening his first Atlantic City Casino. They were widely known “agent” of the Philadelphia mob’s Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo, Kenneth Shapiro and Teamster and known mobster associate Daniel Sullivan who co-owned a site Trump needed for his casino. The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump negotiated with them directly to lease the land and told a New Jersey regulatory agency that “They are not bad people from what I see.” In 1984, Shapiro testified in front of a grand jury to funneling thousands of dollars in contributions from Trump to Atlantic City mayor Michael J. Matthews who Trump was barred from contributing on his own due to his casino ownership. Trump denied the charge telling the Wall Street Journal, “I’m not interested in giving cash, OK?” Shapiro’s brother Barry claimed that Trump never reimbursed Kenneth for his illegal contributions on the former’s behalf. Now Trump refusing to pay Shapiro is believable. But Trump not being interested in giving to political candidates, no way.

1990s: Is brought to the site of the 45 story Trump Tower Philadelphia by business partner Raoul Goldberg. In 2000, Goldberg was sentenced to 46 months in prison for trying to ship tens of thousands of ecstasy pills to the US.

1992: Senate subcommittee named then Trump Taj Mahal foreign marketing vice president Danny Leung as an associate of the Hong Kong-based organized crime group 14K Triad. Leung was also said to give complimentary tickets for hotel rooms and Asian shows to numerous Asian organized crime associates and members. The report also identified 3 other triad-connected business associates or former Trump casino empire employees. Also, according to the New York Daily News in 1995, Leung “flew in 16 Italian crime figures from Canada who stole more than $1 million from the casino in a credit scam. The incident was never reported because Trump never filed charges.” Leung has denied his organized crime affiliation while his casino and junket licenses were renewed.

1998: Despite being against normalizing relations with Cuba as far back as 1999, has done business with the country during the US Embargo, which is a violation of federal law. Yes, it’s a stupid policy but the law is the law. Then again, the Castro brothers aren’t the worst business partners he’s had.

1998-2003: Rented New York office space to the Iranian Bank Melli, one of the largest state-owned banks in the world. US authorities have linked Bank Melli to terror groups and Iran’s nuclear program.

2000s-present: Went into business with Azerbaijani billionaire playboy Anar Mammadov whose father is the country’s transportation minister. The project in question was to build a Trump Tower in Baku. Mammadov’s wealth has resulted in part from his father’s political connections as well as rich oil resource boom and has mounted mounted a PR campaign to rehabilitate Azerbaijan’s kleptocratic image in the West by courting some of Washington’s most powerful politicians. Azerbaijan is considered to be one of the most corrupt countries in the world due to its intolerance of dissent and the high wealth concentration among the politically powerful and their families. The Mammadovs have been called “The Corleones of the Caspian” and US diplomats have described them as notoriously corrupt even by Azerbaijani standards. They’re also deeply in business with an Iranian-owned firm called Azarpassillo which seems like a front organization for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. We’re not sure how much Trump, his family, or his organization knows about the Iranian Mammadov partnership. Yet, while this instance sounds like fake news, it’s not since you’ll find similar articles in mainstream press like The New Yorker. But if he has any part in it, it won’t be the first time he was involved with a money laundering scheme.

2003-?: Worked with Felix Sater who had a 1998 racketeering conviction for a $40 million Mafia-linked stock fraud scheme and who had then become an informant against the mafia. Trump’s attorney claimed that Sater worked with Trump scouting real estate opportunities but was never formally employed.

2009: Allegedly tried to raise money from the regime of Muammar el-Qaddafi as well as set up a meeting to discuss business ventures. This despite the Libyan dictator’s notorious sponsorship of terrorism that has killed scores of Americans. Trump even had Qaddafi rent his opulent Westchester estate to erect a huge traditional tent during his stay and sacrifice a live lamb while in New York for a United Nations Assembly. Qaddafi agreed to stay at Trump’s property mostly because the despised tyrant had been obviously turned down by many other venues. The town of Bedford would yank permission for the tent after a storm of publicity stoked outrage which scuttled the Libyans’ plans and forced their leader to stay in Manhattan indoors. So Qaddafi never got the chance to sleep there.

2014: In New York Magazine, said of billionaire Jeffery Epstein, “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” Epstein has been named in multiple lawsuits over the last several years for statutory rape, served 13 months in jail, and is a registered sex offender for life at Level 3 (the most dangerous kind. He has settled a few of them but still faces more than a dozen from women who claim he sexually assaulted them as minors.

2016: Despite claims to get tough with China, his Trump Bay Street real estate project in Jersey City is courting investments from Chinese backers through a program called EB-5, which lets foreign investors receive visas in exchange for $500,000 in a project promising to create jobs. Department of Homeland Security says the program lacks adequate background reviews. Since applicants are sometimes cleared in less than a month, critics say that the government is essentially selling visas foreigners with no proven skills, possibly paving way for money laundering and compromising national security. Of course, despite warning about the dangers of immigrant screening, Trump doesn’t seem to use background checks. Trump Bay Street is being built by Trump’s son-in-law’s company. And it doesn’t help that Jared Kushner’s father Charles was a former rainmaker in New Jersey Democratic politics who pleaded guilty to a federal campaign finance violation and filing false tax returns as attempts to silence a witness. The elder Kushner was sentenced to jail for two years on plea deal arranged by then US Attorney Chris Christie but he remains active in the company.

Sexual Misconduct Allegations (some of these may not be proven):

1980s: Allegedly shamelessly and repeatedly tried to seduce Robert LiButti’s then 30-something daughter Edith while still married to his first wife Ivana and even gave her a Mercedes Benz for her birthday but was threatened by the New Jersey mobster with castration. This according to David Clay Johnston.

Early 1980s: Allegedly sexually assaulted Jessica Leeds during a flight. According to the New York Times, “Mr. Trump raised the armrest, moved toward her and began to grope her. Ms. Leeds said she recoiled. She quickly left the first-class cabin and returned to coach, she said.”

1989: According to a book by Harry Hurt, Trump allegedly raped his then wife Ivana after getting angry at her over a painful scalp reduction surgery. Ivana would later claim that her husband had raped her and that she “felt violated” during their divorce proceedings. Yet Ivanna would later release a statement saying: “During a deposition given by me in connection with my matrimonial case, I stated that my husband had raped me. [O]n one occasion during 1989, Mr. Trump and I had marital relations in which he behaved very differently toward me than he had during our marriage. As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness, which he normally exhibited towards me, was absent. I referred to this as a ‘rape,’ but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.” Yet, keep in mind that Trump was having a five-year affair with future second wife Marla Maples and sought not only to publicly humiliate Ivana but also to profit from her humiliation. When The Daily Beast reported the incident, Trump’s right-hand man Michael Cohen threatened reporters and claimed-incorrectly-that a man can’t legally rape his wife. In 1992, Trump would sue Ivana for not honoring a gag clause in their divorce agreement by disclosing facts about him in her best-selling book and won. It’s one of several cases where Trump has been accused of misogyny including his comments of Megyn Kelly or his fury toward a lawyer who asked for a break to pump breast milk during a deposition in which Trump said, “You’re disgusting” and walked out.

Early 1990s: Allegedly groped aspiring model Kristen Anderson beneath the skirt in a Manhattan nightclub. Anderson related the experience to friends but hasn’t come forward until recently. She believes the incident took place at the China Club where Trump was known to pick up women.

1992: Embarked on an ill-fated effort to in running the American Dream pageant which resulted in him getting sued by George Houraney and Jill Harth. In it, they alleged that Trump kept black women out of the pageant as well as breach of contract. Harth would file another suit against Trump for alleging sexual misbehavior. According to her, Trump groped her at a party, made passes, and forced her into bedrooms. He was even said to join another model in bed, uninvited, late at night as well as calling all women bimbos and most gold diggers. “Basically he name-dropped throughout that dinner, when he wasn’t groping me under the table,” she later said in a 1996 deposition. “Let me just say, this was a very traumatic thing working for him.” This would eventually escalate in what she calls “attempted rape.” She claimed, “He pushed me up against the wall, and had his hands all over me and tried to get up my dress again … and I had to physically say: ‘What are you doing? Stop it.’” Harth would drop her suit while she and Houraney settled with Trump for an unannounced sum. Trump has denied all allegations. Later beauty pageants scandals include winning a $5 million lawsuit against a former Miss Universe contestant who claimed that the pageant was rigged and a debacle with NBC and Univision over his comments about Mexicans. In the latter, Trump bought out NBC’s share and sold the company as well as sued Univision but settled in February.

Late-1990s: Was sued by a woman in Florida for $125 million on grounds that he had sexually harassed her and pulled out of a deal when she didn’t respond to his advances in 1993. Trump has denied the claims and the case appeared to be later withdrawn.

1996-2015: Owned the Miss Universe Organization.During this time he’s been alleged to walk in to contestants’ dressing rooms while they were changing (even the teens), kissing contestants against their wishes, pitting women against each other, groping, and acts of humiliation to contestants who wouldn’t tow the line. Trump described walking in unannounced on nude or partially dressed beauty pageant contestants to Howard Stern, “You know, no men are anywhere. And I’m allowed to go in because I’m the owner of the pageant. And therefore I’m inspecting it… Is everyone OK? You know, they’re standing there with no clothes. And you see these incredible-looking women. And so I sort of get away with things like that … I’ll go backstage before a show, and everyone’s getting dressed and ready and everything else.”

1997: Allegedly sexually assaulted then Miss Utah Temple Taggart. According to her New York Times testimony, “‘He kissed me directly on the lips. I thought, ‘Oh my God, gross.’ He was married to Marla Maples at the time. I think there were a few other girls that he kissed on the mouth. I was like ‘Wow, that’s inappropriate.’”

1997: Allegedly sexually assaulted Cathy Heller at his Mar-A-Lago resort during a Mother’s Day brunch. According to the Guardian, she said that Trump, “took my hand, and grabbed me, and went for the lips” in front of her husband, children, and in-laws. She leaned back to avoid him and almost lost her balance. She claimed Trump angrily barked, “Oh, come on,” before he grabbed her again, went for the lips, and planted a kiss near her mouth after turning her head away. Heller was “angry and shaken” and didn’t know how to react. But said that Trump was “pissed” because he “couldn’t believe a woman would pass up the opportunity.”

1998: Allegedly sexually assaulted life coach and yoga instructor Karena Virginia. According to her, Trump approached her with a small group of men while commenting on her legs, grabbed her by the arm while she waited for a ride after the US Open in Queens, New York. She continued, “Then his hand touched the right side of my breast. I was in shock. I flinched. ‘Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know who I am?’ – that’s what he said to me. I felt intimidated and I felt powerless.”

2003: Allegedly sexually assaulted Mindy McGillvray. According to the Palm Beach Post, “McGillivray, 36, said she was groped by Trump at Mar-a-Lago 13 years ago. She said she never reported it to authorities. But her companion that day, photographer Ken Davidoff, vividly remembers that McGillivray pulled him aside moments after the alleged incident and told him, ‘Donald just grabbed my ass!’”

2005: Talked to Billy Bush in a bus on Access Hollywood about aggressively kissing women, and how he, as a celebrity, can “grab them by the pussy.” He also discussed his pursuit of an unnamed married woman later revealed as the show’s former host, Nancy O’Dell. “I moved on her, and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and fuck her. She was married,” he told Bush. “And I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, ‘I’ll show you where they have some nice furniture.’ I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything. She’s totally changed her look.” Trump claimed it was locker room talk but this is worthy of attention. By the way, he later tried to get O’Dell fired while she was pregnant.

2005: Allegedly sexually assaulted People Magazine writer Natasha Stoynoff when she interviewed him and his wife Melania. According to Stoynoff, while Melania changed, Trump took her into another room. “Within seconds, he was pushing me against the wall, and forcing his tongue down my throat,” she claimed. Later, he told her, “You know we’re going to have an affair, don’t you?” She told a colleague about it after the trip and thought about reporting it. But she wrote, “I was ashamed and blamed myself for his transgression. I minimized it (‘It’s not like he raped me…’); I doubted my recollection and my reaction. I was afraid that a famous, powerful, wealthy man could and would discredit and destroy me, especially if I got his coveted PEOPLE feature killed.”

2005: Allegedly sexually assaulted then Trump Tower-based real estate receptionist Rachel Crooks during an elevator ride with him. According to the New York Times, “Aware that her company did business with Mr. Trump, she turned and introduced herself. They shook hands, but Mr. Trump would not let go, she said. Instead, he began kissing her cheeks. Then, she said, he ‘kissed me directly on the mouth.’” Trump later asked for her phone number and that he wanted to give it to his modeling agency. Crooks told her then-boyfriend and sister as soon as it happened.

2006: Allegedly sexually assaulted adult film star Jessica Drake and her friends at his hotel suite at Lake Tahoe and offered her $10,000 for sex when she declined. Drake declined again.

2006: Allegedly sexually assaulted Miss Finland Ninni Laaskonen by grabbing her by the butt before the two were set to appear on David Letterman. She described,”He really grabbed my butt. I don’t think anybody saw it but I flinched and thought: “What is happening?” Someone later told her that Trump liked her because she looked like his wife Melania when she was younger.

2007: Shared a story in his book Think BIG and Kick Ass where he’s giving a speech in front of 20,000 people and is asked by an attractive woman if she could audition for The Apprentice. Trump called her up and asked if she’s ever cheated on her husband. She says she had but she’s never told him. Trump then advised her to hire a lawyer and sign a pre-nup as a divorce would likely ensue. This was featured in a chapter centering around the importance of pre-nups which Trump has some expertise in like two failed marriages and excessive adultery.

2007: Allegedly kissed, groped and thrusted against Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos. She also alleged Trump made 2 unwanted sexual advances toward her, once at a bungalow where he kissed her open mouthed, grabbed her breast, and started thrusting his genitals. Trump denies this.

2010: According to CNN anchor Erin Burnett, she claims that Trump kissed one of her female friends in a Trump Tower boardroom that year. She said, “Trump took Tic Tacs, suggested I take them also. He then leaned in, catching me off guard, and kissed me almost on lips. I was really freaked out.” Trump later invited her friend to his office where he made further advances, gave her his cell phone number, told her she was special, and asked her to call him. The woman said she, “ran the hell out of there.”

2011: Grabbed and kissed former Miss Universe Australian Jennifer Hawkins onstage in front of thousands of people. Trump was allegedly angry with Hawkins thinking she slighted him by supposedly declining to appear with him at an event in Sydney. Afterwards, he told the audience, “Get even with people. If they screw you, screw them back 10 times as hard. I really believe that.” This was caught on tape and there is a video of it you can watch.

2013: Allegedly sexually assaulted then Miss Washington USA Cassandra Searles. In June 2016, Searles reportedly posted a photo of herself and Trump on her Facebook page saying, “Do y’all remember that one time we had to do our onstage introductions, but this one guy treated us like cattle and made us do it again because we didn’t look him in the eyes? Do you also remember when he then proceeded to have us lined up so he could get a closer look at his property? … Oh I forgot to mention that guy will be in the running to become the next President of the United States.” She later commented, “He probably doesn’t want me telling the story about that time he continually grabbed my ass and invited me to his hotel room.”

2016: Allegedly charged in with child rape of a 13 year old girl for which there is an eyewitness and credible information to support the claim. The woman filing suit claims in 1994 she was enticed to attend parties with the promise of money and modeling jobs at the home of Jeffrey Epstein, after the man was convicted of misconduct with another underage girl. Anyway, she alleges that Trump initiated sexual contact with her on 4 separate occasions, with the 4^th being “savage sexual attack” in which he had her tied to a bed and forcibly raped her while she pleaded him to stop. He threatened that she and her family would be “physically harmed if not killed” if she ever told anyone. Epstein’s party planner was an eyewitness who wrote, “I am coming forward to swear to the truthfulness of the physical and sexual abuse that I personally witnessed of minor females at the hands of Mr. Trump and Mr. Epstein . . . I swear to these facts under the penalty for perjury even though I fully understand that the life of myself and my family is now in grave danger.”

Government Money Shenanigans:

1970s-present: As of 2016, has received $885 million in New York tax breaks, subsidies, and grants for his apartment, hotel, and office developments in New York City. According to New York Magazine, Trump seems to have worked to extract as many incentives and exemptions as he could out of the New York government for his real estate projects through his and his father’s political connections. de Blasio and Giuliani administration veteran Alicia Glen characterized Trump as “probably worse than any other developer in his relentless pursuit of every single dime of taxpayer subsidies he can get his paws on.” For his first big development, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Trump got a city record 40-year tax break for the $120 million project which has now cost the city $339 million in forgiven and uncollected taxes.

1970s-present: Structured his companies to allow him to have lucrative personal tax advantages while limiting his personal liability should the business go bad. According to the New York Times, Trump formed a partnership between himself and a corporation he wholly owned and created for this specific purpose. While many real estate had a similar structure, Trump played on a vastly different scale than most as his leverage was the stuff of legend. Once these partnerships were in place, Trump looked for financing. For instance, to purchase and finish construction on his Taj Mahal, Trump sold half a billion dollars in bonds (IOUs with interest) to individuals, companies, and banks. Yet, within its first year, Trump already started missing interest payments (as is the case since he used junk bonds). Yet, it wasn’t the only one of Trump’s businesses that hemorrhaged money. By the late 1980s, several of Trump’s casinos and properties suffered significant losses, the majority of which ended up on Trump’s tax returns. Trump turned these losses into personal gain through a Net Operating Loss or NOL in order to offset personal income losses for almost two decades. Yet, by then, his creditors stated forgiving his debt since they wanted to salvage what’s left of their investments. His forgiven debt which included the renegotiated bonds used to finance the Trump Taj Mahal which could be deducted from Trump’s personal NOL. So in order to avoid taxes on the forgiven debt and protect his NOL, Trump used a partnership equity for a debt swap that was actually closed by Congress. This was a move that even Trump’s lawyers said was legally dubious as well as made illegal in 2004.

1978, 1979, 1984, and 1995: Paid no federal income taxes. Though this doesn’t mean he paid federal income taxes in other years or has since 1995. These are the years we know he didn’t.

1980s: Cheated New York City out of nearly $2.9 million for his projects.

1980s-2000s: Sued mayoral administrations of Ed Koch, Rudy Giuliani, and Michael Bloomberg for tax breaks totaling almost $173 million. $157 million were ultimately granted to Trump Tower and Trump World Tower with condominiums among the most expensive in the city.

1995-present: Has received special tax breaks and loopholes over his business failures in order to avoid paying federal taxes possibly for 18 years.

2000s: Took $150,000 from the Empire State Development Corporation which was designed to help small businesses after 9/11 when many of them were destroyed or went under. At the time, Trump’s 40 Wall Street building had suffered economically and employed fewer than 500 people. But the last condition was controversial, according to the New York Daily News who found that the program had “ignored the federal definition of a small business and adopted a much looser standard. The ESDC used employee counts…to determine whether applicants were small businesses. Federal law requires that the size category of the types of businesses most common in lower Manhattan—finance, insurance, real estate, and law firms—be determined based on annual revenue.” Local politicians were furious that they issued an open letter demanding that Trump return the money.

2013: Received a New York tax rebate available only to those who earned less than $500,000 annually, undercutting claims that he makes hundreds of millions in income. Trump later called the rebate an error.

Charity Scams:

1980s-present: Has made numerous claims on promising to give to charity in his promotions despite that media organizations have been unable to verify his claims.

1987-present: Though often promising to give to charity, his Trump Foundation has proven rather skimpy on the gifts over the years and when it has given, the money has often come from other pockets than Trump’s, including outside donors and even NBC. Most Trump Foundation donors made only one contribution between 2001-2014 and most don’t talk about it. Most of the donors were either working with Trump or received something from him around the same time he donated. It has also collected more than $600,000 from other charities. Its case involving a $25,000 donation to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been under special scrutiny since she later dropped investigations over Trump University and Trump Institute shortly afterwards. Both Trump and Bondi said there was no quid-pro-quo but the donation was illegal and the foundation was fined. A Washington liberal watchdog group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics charges that other laws might’ve been broken as well. Basically, it can be well established that Trump has used is charity as a personal slush fund since reporters have found no abiding cause like disease and disorder research or a particular college. The Washington Post has also found that the Trump Foundation never had any legal authorization to raise funds as a charity.

1987-2008: Has only contributed $5.4 million of his own money to the Trump Foundation. Has not given since then. It’s a known fact that most of the Trump Foundation money comes from others though Trump tends to take personal credit for the organization’s gift giving. This isn’t normally seen when it comes to a rich person’s private charity. He’s also been known to attend charity events without leaving a check.

1988: Promised to donate $2 million made from advising Mike Tyson to charity through his foundation. But the Trump Foundation never received the donation. That same year, Trump promised to donate $50,000 he made from a Pepsi commercial to charity. Once again, his foundation posts no record of that donation.

1989-present: May have deliberately directed personal income owed to him toward the Trump Foundation in possible violation of tax rules. A September 2016 report from the Washington Post reported that Trump had previously directed others to divert $2.3 million owed to his organization as income to his foundation as donations, possibly to evade personal income taxes. And old Associated Press coverage suggests he may have done this as early as 1989. IRS rules prohibit individuals from diverting taxable income toward charities if they benefit directly from them. That is, unless the individual declares the income on personal tax returns which Trump still hasn’t released. This includes $1.9 million from Richard Ebbers who had bought goods and services from him, $5,000,000 from Vince and Linda McMahon from 2007-2009 after Trump had appeared in 2 WWE events, $400,000 from Comedy Central for appearing on a celebrity roast, $150,000 from People Magazine in return for exclusive photos of his son Barron Trump, $500,000 from NBC Universal in 2012 for hosting The Apprentice, and $100,000 from Donna Clancy whose family law office rented space in the Trump Organization Wall Street building.

1995-1999: Made a $50,000 each year through Trump Foundation funds to the National Museum of Catholic Art and Library. A 2001 Village Voice report claimed that after visiting the East Harlem museum, found that the facility contained, “next to no art,” and no official connection to the Catholic Church. This despite having a 10-year track record of soliciting large-scale donations for its collection. With the Washington Post, the Voice determined that Trump may have directed the grants to the museum to curry favor with its chairman Eddie Malloy who was also head of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. The organization worked on behalf of one of the workers’ unions who worked with Trump on construction projects.

2000s: Through Trump Foundation money, contributed at least $385,000 of grants to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since 2006. In response the, cancer institute has honored Trump variously as “Grand Benefactor” and “Grand Honorary Chair” at its annual fundraisers held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. He may have also earned more money on the event fees it received from the institute than the Trump Foundation paid in grants since hosting high profile charity events there can cost as much as $300,000.

2001: Made a $10,000 pledge to the Twin Towers Fund on the Howard Stern Show, which was founded by then New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and later administered as part of the New York City Public and Private Initiative, “to benefit the families of firefighters and police officers who died in the attacks.” During the 2016 RNC, Giuliani claimed that Trump made “anonymous” donations after the September 11th attacks. Yet, such donations have never been identified. Giuliani also said in support of Trump’s candidacy, “Every time New York City suffered a tragedy Donald Trump was there to help,…. He’s not going to like my telling you this but he did it anonymously.” Maybe, but the New York City Comptroller’s office told the New York Daily News that it had manually reviewed “approximately 1,500 pages of donor records of the Twin Towers Fund and the related entity NYC Public/Private Initiatives Inc., containing the names of more than 110,000 individuals and entities that were collected as part of the audits” all through August 2012. According to the News, then Comptroller Scott Stringer “found that Trump and [the Trump Foundation] hadn’t donated a dime in the months after 9/11.” Yet, because the review period only covered one year after the attacks, the Comptroller’s office was “unable to conclude definitively” that Trump never gave to the fund after August 2002. Additionally, according to IRS Form 990 tax filings, the Trump Foundation made no grants to the Twin Towers Fund or to NYC Public/Private Initiative from 2002-2014. Though Trump may have personally made a donation after August 2002 which wouldn’t have shown up in the foundation’s records. He’s also made similar claims about contributing to the American Red Cross which have been unsubstantiated.

2004-2015: Despite being highly visibly praised for his generosity and frequent offers to donate to his contestants’ charities on The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice, he ultimately either directed the Trump Foundation to make a grant or had NBC Universal make the donation instead.

2005: Trump Foundation received $100,000 for work by Melania Trump on a Norwegian Cruise Line segment that was later included on The Apprentice.

2005-2014: Through Trump Foundation money, made various grants to other foundations without fulfilling IRS “expenditure responsibility” rules. By law, the Trump Foundation is responsible for ensuring that any grant it makes with another private foundation is strictly used for charitable purposes as well as required to attach full and detailed reports describing the grant money’s use to its IRS Form 990 tax return for each year a grant to a private foundation is made. Trump Foundation tax returns show that it failed to do this for all 20 grants it made to private foundations during this time which total to at least $488,500 and could be subject to significant fines and penalties.

2006: Contributed $1000 to the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Fund, which is a controversial Scientology program co-founded by Tom Cruise. This charity provided a “purification rundown” for firemen and others who inhaled toxins while working near the smoldering remains of the World Trade Center.

2007: Promised to make a $250,000 donation to Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces but didn’t.

2007: Wife Melania bid $20,000 on a 6 foot portrait of him created by a “speed painter” at a breast cancer fundraiser which as at Mar-a-Lago, using Trump Foundation money. Trump kept the painting which now reportedly hangs at one of his golf courses. If so, then according to tax experts, it could violate IRS rules against self-dealing. The Trump Foundation also paid $12,000 for a football helmet and jersey signed by Tim Tebow in 2012.

2007: Trump Foundation reported a $5,000 grant to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation before later claiming that it took the check back. The Chicago charity, however, claimed it never received the check from the Trump Foundation at all.

2007: Appeared at a Celebrity Fight Night Foundation fundraiser to benefit the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center in Phoenix, Arizona. According to the Organization’s spokesperson, Trump stipulated in return for his offering a New York-based dinner for himself and his appearance, that a share of the Parkinson’s charity share the total proceeds with the Trump Foundation. The Trump Foundation’s share amounted to $150,000 of auction proceeds that would’ve otherwise have gone to the center benefiting Parkinson’s Disease research. I’m sure the Trump Foundation money went to pay off some Trump lawsuit settlement at the time.

2007-2015: Eric Trump Foundation raised over $16.3 million through his charity golf tournaments, outings, and marathons with the proceeds meant to go to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. According to two people directly involved with these events, in 2011, Trump “specifically commanded that the for-profit Trump Organization start billing hundreds of thousands of dollars to the nonprofit Eric Trump Foundation.” As CNN reports, “According to IRS tax filings, the costs for the golf invitational from 2007 to 2010 were approximately $50,000 per year. In 2011, that jumped to about $142,000. The 2012 golf invitational cost the foundation $59,000. Costs in 2013 again jumped to $230,000, and $242,000 in 2014, and $322,000 in 2015, its final year. It’s unclear why the costs went up and how much of that money went to the Trump Organization.” The Trump Organization took at least $1.2 million with part of it having no documented recipients while $500,000 of the money was donated to other charities, many of which were connected to Trump family members. It’s very clear that the Eric Trump Foundation was just another way for Trump to make money. Eric suspended operations of his foundation in 2016, by the way.

2008: Bought a $120,000 luxury trip with Trump Foundation money during a charity auction. It’s said that the Washington Post has confirmed that Trump has only donated $10,000 to charity within the last 7 years.

2010: Through Trump Foundation money, contributed $150,000 to the Palm Beach Police Foundation which led to Trump receiving the “Palm Beach Award.” Yet, money came from the New Jersey based Charles Evans Foundation and when those donations stopped, so did the Trump contributions to the police charity as well. Adding insult to injury, the Palm Beach Police Foundation has even held its “Police Ball and Auction” at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach which paid $276,463 in rental fees in 2014. The 2014 tax form also lists $44,332 in unattributed “direct expenses” paid by the police foundation for the same event as well as $36,608 in “direct expenses” for its annual “Golf Classic,” which the police foundation also holds at the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago golf course each year. In fact, each year from 2010-2014, the police foundation’s public tax records show significant “direct expenses” incurred for bot the Police Ball and Auction and the golf tournament, though expense categories weren’t listed in filings.

2010: Through Trump Foundation money, contributed heavily to anti-vaxxer non-profit Generation Rescue which headed by actress, former Playboy model and fucking ignoramus bitch Jenny McCarthy (I really hate this woman). The anti-vaxxer cause is a dangerous one since it has encouraged parents not to vaccinate their kids which has led to outbreaks of measles and other diseases as well as put other children at risk. It’s also based on junk science of the vaccine-autism link that doesn’t exist. Furthermore, the anti-vaxxer movement also brands those on the autism spectrum as damaged individuals like it’s something parents should fear more than measles. In reality, having a child with autism is not nearly as bad as having a child with measles. At least autism isn’t contagious and doesn’t kill children. Besides, by the time autistic children are vaccinated, it’s most likely that they already have autism from the time they were born.

2010s: Through Trump Foundation funds, paid $158,000 to the Martin Greenberg Foundation as a settlement from a lawsuit brought by Greenberg against the Trump National Golf Club Westchester at Briarcliff Manor, New York. In it, Greenberg claimed he rightfully won a $1 million prize for scoring a hole-in-one in a 2010 charity golf tournament at the club. But the club denied the award on technical grounds, arguing the hole was shorter than 150 yards. To raise the money for the settlement, the Trump Foundation auctioned a prize of lifetime membership at Trump-owned golf courses with the winning bid bringing a $157,000 donation to the foundation. It’s likely the bid was above the actual membership value and the winner might’ve believed he was donating to the foundation for charitable causes instead of a lawsuit settlement to offset a payment at another foundation. In September 2016, the Washington Post reported that the Trump Foundation’s grant to the Greenberg Foundation was directly linked to the legal settlement, likely violating IRS self-dealing rules by using charitable funds to pay Trump’s personal and business obligations.

2012-2014: Through Trump Foundation, made grants totaling at $20,000 to a high school band and choir in return for performances at his resorts. The Palm Beach Post suggests that Trump may have benefited personally from this.

2013: Made a $5,000 grant with Trump Foundation money to the non-profit DC Preservation League. According to the Washington Post, the nonprofit’s support “was helpful” to the Trump Organization in obtaining the rights to convert the old Washington D.C.’s historic Post Office Pavilion into the Trump International Hotel, which has recently opened. The Trump Foundation’s ads in the event programs promoted Trump’s hotels, in violation of IRS self-dealing rules.

2013: Through Trump Foundation, donated $10,000 to the V Foundation, a cancer fighting group founded by former basketball coach Jim Valvano in return for the V Foundation fundraiser at his Trump Winery in Virginia.

2014: Purchased a 4-feet tall painting of himself from the 1990s at a charity auction with $10,000 of Trump Foundation money. A photo of this portrait was found on a Trip Advisor review of Trump National Doral Miami and later by a reporter from Univision who went to the club and asked various staff about the painting. The reporter eventually discovered it hanging on a wall at the golf resort’s Champions Bar & Grill restaurant.

2016: Held a fundraiser in Iowa for veterans’ groups which was launched as a protest event after he refused to attend the Fox News debate and raised less than the $6 billion he initially claimed. It is unlikely that Trump contributed $1 million of his own money which the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation hasn’t confirmed. Some groups have complained that they haven’t received their money yet. It’s likely that he’s committed fraud. Though he claims to be an “ardent philanthropist,” he’s actually only donated $3.7 million to his own foundation between 1990 and 2009 while WWE’s Vince and Linda McMahon have contributed $5 million to his foundation. Overall he’s said to only contribute a paltry $6.7 over the last 20 years. He ranks among the least charitable billionaires in the world.

2016: Directed $100,000 of Trump Foundation funds to the National September 11 Memorial Museum days before the 2016 New York primary where he was on the ballot, mischaracterizing foundation grant as a personal donation. May not be fraud, but it’s highly suspicious.

Lawsuits:

1970s-present: As of 2016, has been subject to numerous lawsuits including 79 branding and trademark cases, 6 campaign cases, 1,863 casino cases, 206 contract dispute cases, 130 employment cases, 61 golf club cases, 191 government and taxes cases, 13 media and defamation cases, 191 other cases, 695 personal injury cases, and 621 real estate cases. This makes 4,056 in all. USA Today has a whole article on it with graphs to show. You got that right.

1970s-present: As of 2016, has been named in 169 federal lawsuits.

1974: While being pursued by federal prosecutors for illegal housing discrimination against African Americans, admitted his company, “had been destroying their corporate records for the previous six months and had no document-retention program,” according to Newsweek.

1980s: Sued Julius and Edmond Trump who were trying to buy a chain of drug stores with their business being called, “The Trump Group.” This was mostly because they happened to be businessmen who had the same last name he did. Trump alleged that the two brothers were nothing but a pair of late arriving immigrants trying to piggyback on his good name. According to him, “Plaintiffs have used the Trump family name for 40 to 50 years in the New York area. More recently, the Trump Organization has come to stand for respectability and success across the United States. The defendants are South Africans whose recent entrance in the New York area utilizing the name ‘the Trump Group’ can only be viewed as a poorly veiled attempt at trading on the goodwill, reputation and financial credibility of the plaintiff.” This took 5 decades to resolve, it was thrown out.

1984: Sued a Chicago Tribune architecture critic for $500 billion for criticizing his plans to build a skyscraper in Lower Manhattan when he hadn’t even hired an architect yet.The case was dismissed.

1990: Named defendant in 21 lawsuits filed by different businesses and individuals, several on grounds of securities fraud and breach of contract. Most complaints stemmed from Trump’s corporation filing for bankruptcy from creditors following construction of the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City. According to The New York Times, the resort was $3 billion in debt.

1990s-2000s: Has sued Palm Beach 3 different times. In 1992, he sued membership club Mar-a-Lago for $100 million. The council gave in and allowed him to make some of his property into a private club. Has sued the Palm Beach Airport for noise violations and tried to prevent them from expanding near his private club. This legal fight cost Palm Beach taxpayers at least $600,000. The latest one was in the late 2000s which was featured on the Colbert Report. In this one, Trump sued Palm Beach for $25 million on grounds that the town cited him for displaying an American flag on his property on a pole that didn’t meet its standards (it was too tall). Trump told Politico, “The town council of Palm Beach should be ashamed of itself. They’re fining me for putting up the American flag. This is probably a first in United States history.” God, I really feel bad for this community.

1993: Sued wealthy financier and Jay Pritzker for civil racketeering over his family’s management of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City where they were equal partners.

1995: Trump Organization was sued by a building superintendent for false imprisonment, alleging Trump security guards assaulted his wife and child. He said he had information about financial improprieties at Trump buildings and sent his wife and 12-year-old son to pick up some relevant documents. But the lawsuit claimed the office they were in was broken into by a screwdriver: “Four men prevented Hatixbe Bajrushi and her son from leaving. Matthew Calamari, the hulking head of security, shoved the boy. Trump’s brother-in-law, James Grau, barked questions, demanding to know why they were there. Michael Nicoll, another guard, pushed them back when they tried to leave. Grau snatched her purse and passed it to Calamari, Nicoll, and Domenic Pezzo to rifle through.[…] Calamari threatened to harm the family if they spoke to police about what happened, according to the lawsuit. After 90 minutes, the police arrived and the Bajrushis were freed.” None of the security guards named in the lawsuit were charged. But FBI agents told Buzzfeed News that 2 of them were questioned as “persons of interest.”

1995-2003: Was sued by ex-wife Marla Maples’ personal assistant which was eventually dismissed. But not without accusations of nude pictures being sent to the tabloids and panty stealing.

2005-2009: Sued New York Times reporter Tim O’Brien for $5 billion over libel. This over O’Brien publishing a 2005 book Trump Nation in which he estimated Trump’s net worth at $150-$250 contrary to the billions he claimed earning ire from his subject. The suit was tossed but not without Trump saying that he estimates his wealth based on his mood on any given day, not his financial statements. Yet, O’Brien has mocked Trump’s current net worth claims while Trump has said on the campaign trail and in an interview with the Washington Post that he wants to make it easier to sue for libel. The Post combed through Trump’s deposition in the case and found 30 instances where he admitted to having lied. As of this year during the presidential campaign, Trump still hasn’t released his tax returns mostly because the public doesn’t care, according to him.

2005: Sued a casino by claiming his former co-worker had conspired against him. The defendants asked Trump’s team to turn over records if they could prove he knew about the deal before 2001, his case had no standing. Yet, despite extensive discovery requests, all that Trump’s team eventually turned over was just a small box of documents with no relevance to the lawsuit. A follow-up review found everything on any Trump company servers before 2001 had been deleted, according to Newsweek.

2006: According to USA Today, was court ordered to hand over several years’ worth of e-mails but claimed that the Trump Organization routinely erased e-mails and had no records from 1996-2001. The defendants said this amounted to destruction of evidence which was never resolved. A Trump IT director testified that Trump Tower executives relied on personal e-mail accounts through dial-up connection. Trump casino unit General Counsel Bob Pickus verified that claim saying, “Every year everything was just wiped out and deleted from pretty much everybody’s computers.” This despite that Trump launched a high-speed Internet provider in 1998 as well as announced that he’d wire his whole building with it. Another said Trump had no routine process of preserving e-mails before 2005. Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld told USA Today, “I was a bit incredulous that an organization of that significance doesn’t do email. I had heard a number of things in 24 years on the bench, but that stuck in my mind.”

2007: Sued law firm Morrison Cohen who represented him for several years over treating him as a cash cow because of fees it sought from him after it won a case where Trump claimed he’d been overcharged by a contractor for work on a golf course. Remember this is from a guy who has been reported to never pay his contractors or lawyers. The firm countersued Trump seeking an extra $470,000 in unpaid legal bills. He settled with an undisclosed sum.

2008: Sued Deutsche Bank and Fortress Investment Group, along with a long list of smaller lenders who were financing his 92-story Chicago hotel and condominium project. Earlier, Trump had personally guaranteed $40 million of Deutsche Bank’s $640 million construction loan but when the money was due, he asked for an extension citing the recession. They refused. In court documents, he condemned Deutsche Bank’s “predatory lending prices,” and partially blamed the global institution for causing the financial crisis, asking for $3 billion in damages. The bank countersued Trump for the $40 million that was promised. They reached an agreement in 2010 with the loan extended to 5 years.

2008: Sued Rancho Palos Verdes, California where he developed a golf course for $100 million in damages for allegedly violating his civil rights and defrauding him. The town’s annual budget is $20 million. The suit charges that the town had been delaying plans for adding 20 luxury grounds of Trump’s National Golf Course, while requiring stringent environmental and safety studies since the area is known to have landslides. But Trump insisted that the town has forced him to spend “millions of dollars on unnecessary, repetitive, unreasonable and unlawful geologic surveys.” He was also pissed that locals balked at renaming a highway Trump National Drive. The judge ruled against part of his claims by denying him permission to build the luxury homes, noting that such plans were never submitted to the city. But it has approved plans for another 36 homes.

2013: Sued comedian Bill Maher who offered on The Tonight Show to give Trump $5 million if he could prove that his father wasn’t an orangutan (as a spoof of Trump’s offer to give $5 million to charity if President Obama would release his records and applications for colleges and passports). Trump sent a copy of his birth certificate to Maher but the latter didn’t pay up. Trump would say, “He has not responded, and the reason he hasn’t responded is his lawyers probably tell him, ‘You’ve got yourself a problem.’” Maher would reply on his show, “Donald Trump must learn two things–what a joke is, and what a contract is.”

2013: Countersued New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for $100 million for malicious prosecution over bringing suit against Trump Institute and Trump University seeking $40 million in restitution for fraud and other violations. The counterclaim was dismissed 3 months later with permission to refile if Trump successfully defends himself against Schneiderman’s underlying pending suit.

Scams:

Mid-2000s: Involved in condo hotels, a pre real-estate crash fixation in which people would buy units they’d use for vacation but would be rented out as hotel rooms for the rest of the year with the developer and owner sharing a profit. For a variety of reasons, this turned out to be a terrible idea resulting in condo buyers suing over claims they were bilked. Trump’s role in the project is uncertain since he’s often sold his name rights to developers where he gets payoff and the aura of luxury the name imparts. But in some condo hotel suits, buyers complain that they bought these properties as investments because of his name only to realize he was barely involved. Trump has also been subject to complaints about his involvements in a multi-level marketing scheme. In Manhattan’s Trump SoHo, it turns out that Trump’s partners had a lengthy criminal past. Bayrock Group’s Tevfik Arif had been detained in Turkey on suspicion of running a high priced prostitution ring. This consisted of him setting up trysts between wealthy businessmen and Eastern European models, some underage aboard a $60 million yacht once used by the nation’s founder Ataturk. The police raid kind of plays like a scene from the first Taken movie. Felix Sater was a convicted stock swindler who had an associate show up in a court-ordered ankle monitor and escaped prison only by helping to convict 19 others, including 6 members of New York City’s crime families. Two associates served prison time for cocaine. Trump claimed he didn’t know this but settled the lawsuit with buyers and that the project was financed by questionable sources in Russia and Kazakhstan (though he didn’t admit to any wrongdoing). In Fort Lauderdale, Trump International Tower and Hotel went into foreclosure and Trump has sued the complex’s developer. In 2013, he settled a suit with prospective buyers who lost millions when a Baja Mexico development went under. Again, Trump blamed the developers, saying he only licensed his name.

2005-2010: Started Trump University, an online “university” to teach his real estate development secrets. Students spent up as much as $35,000, some after being suckered in by slick free “seminars” to learn how to get rich. One ad promised that they would “learn from Donald Trump’s handpicked instructors, and that participants would have access to Trump’s real estate ‘secrets.’” In reality, Trump had little to do with the curriculum or instructors while many “students” have since complained that Trump U. was a scam. Well, at one time it had some prestigious instructors but over time “the faculty” became a motley bunch of misfits. Also, it wasn’t really a “university” by any definition and would later change its name to the “Trump Entrepreneur Initiative” because the school just happened to violate New York law by operating without an educational license. The school shut down in 2010 but the litigation continues. Trump is now being sued by New York for bilking students out of $40 million and is subject to 2 class-action lawsuits in California. In the meantime, Trump has appeared to trying to intimidate plaintiffs, including countersuing one for $1 million (a favorite litigation tactic of his) and refusing to let her withdraw from the suit. While his lawyers have cited positive reviews, former students say they were pressured to give those. A set of damning internal documents were released under court order in May. And Trump decided to attack the judge, claiming that his Mexican ethnicity made him biased. Republicans would later repudiate him across the board while some have openly called him racist. There are lots of articles on this.

2005-?: While operating Trump University, franchised his name to Mike and Irene Milin who ran Trump Institute as well as were known serial operators of get-rich-quick schemes. Trump didn’t own company but instead, licensed his name, appeared in an infomercial, and promised that he would hand-pick instructors (like with Trump U). According to Jonathan Martin, Trump Institute’s course materials contained textbooks found to be plagiarized. The Milins were forced to declare bankruptcy in 2008 because of law enforcement investigations and lawsuits against their company. But Trump Institute continued on a few years afterwards. One of Trump’s aides said he was unaware of the plagiarism but claimed he stood by the curriculum.

2006-2015: Was spokesman for an investment telecommunications company called ACN where investors had to hand over a $500 sign-up fee and then build a consumer base of new investors in a pyramid scheme fashion. Obviously, the entire thing toppled over and investors lost hundreds of thousands of dollars while Trump walked away with millions. A 2011 episode of The Apprentice was devoted to hawking an ACN videophone which has since flopped. Today, ACN is regularly accused of operating a pyramid scheme by its disaffected sales associates.

2009: Franchised his name to the Trump Network which was already accused of being a multi-level marketing scheme pertaining to multivitamins while under Ideal Health. This involved customers mailing in a urine sample which would be analyzed for them in a specially formulated multivitamin package. The company fell on hard times within a few years, leaving some salespeople in tough financial straits. One single mother ended up losing her house and had her car repossessed in the middle of the night.

Suppression and Intimidation:

1990: Threatened to sue Philadelphia brokerage house Janney Montgomery Scott unless they fired gaming securities analyst Marvin Roffman over issuing a negative forecast for Trump Taj Mahal. The firm complied and fired him for “insubordination” but Roffman’s forecast was accurate. Roffman later founded a financial advisory firm the next year that ran more than $500 million by 2007 and now lives in a 40 room and 15,000 square foot mansion in Delaware. Yet, he later said, “But that doesn’t excuse the hell he subjected me to in 1990, sliming my reputation so much that I got fired and couldn’t find another job as an analyst. He acted viciously towards me because, I guess, he felt that I had personally attacked his brand. His image is all-important to him.” According to Barron’s, his life immediately after being canned was a living hell, especially when he sued his former employer for wrongful discharge and Trump for defamation and interference with his contractual relationship with his employment by threatening legal action if Roffman didn’t apologize for his Wall Street Journal remarks. He sought $2 million in punitive damages. Both cases would be settled after dragging on for months. Nevertheless, compared to a lot of Trump’s victims, Roffman was lucky.

1991: Suppressed an 80 – minute documentary called Trump: What’s the Deal? with threats of litigation to broadcasters and distributors. This is because the film painted a powerful and disturbing portrait of Trump as a financial Dorian Gray whose public image bears little resemblance to his conduct away from the cameras, including hiring actors for $50 each to applaud at his campaign announcement. While Trump presents himself as a businessman so skilled in deals as an art form, the film takes down this façade by showing him manipulating politicians and the criminal justice system, pocketing millions in taxpayer welfare, not paying people he hired, doing some of his biggest deals with mobsters, keeping a cocaine dealer as his helicopter pilot, and evidently benefitting from having his sister work in the Justice Department before being appointed as a federal judge. It even featured former advisors and employees describing furious tirades that no one, not even his family, could escape as well as how he lacks any real friends. Though Trump succeeded with suppressing the documentary, it’s now available online for those interested in watching it.

2009: An attorney named Kristopher Hansen called the FBI and reported receiving a threatening phone call from a man believed to be Trump’s bodyguard. At the time, Hansen represented a group of investors in Trump’s casino company, which was going bankrupt (potentially costing them $1.25 billion in defaulted debt). He told the local police that the caller threatened his wife and children: “My name is Carmine. I don’t know why you’re fucking with Mr. Trump but if you keep fucking with Mr. Trump, we know where you live and we’re going to your house for your wife and kids.” According to Buzzfeed’s Jason Leopold, the FBI found Hansen’s account credible enough that they gave him a portable recording device and asked him to record any other calls they got. Meanwhile, they traced the number showing up on Hansen’s BlackBerry to a Manhattan phone booth across the street from the theater that hosted The Late Show with David Letterman, where Trump taped an appearance a few hours after the call was made.

2011: Sent New York Times writer Gail Collins a copy of her column on his potential presidential run with “The Face of a Dog” written all over it.

2011: Threatened to sue rapper Mac Miller for his “Donald Trump” song with a music video that became a Youtube sensation. Between obscene lyrics, Miller vowed to “take over the world when I’m on my Donald Trump shit.” Trump wasn’t amused when the rapper sent him a wooden plaque honoring the song’s success. He tweeted to Miller “I’m now going to teach you a big boy lesson about lawsuits and finance. You ungrateful dog!” The rapper replied, “i’m not trying to put any negative energy into the world. @realDonaldTrump let’s be friends.” No suit has been filed.

2011: Threatened to sue MSNBC host Laurence O’Donnell who accused him of being worth less than $1 billion. Trump tweeted, “I heard, because his show is unwatchable, that @Lawrence has made many false statements last night about me. Maybe I should sue him?” He then went on to say he was substantially worth more than $7 billion with very low debt, great assets. O’Donnell replied that the threat was “awfully soft” for Trump and insisted, “I know his big secret, his biggest secret, and he knows that I know it: Donald Trump cannot afford to sue me.=”#45055857″>”

2011: An unnamed man approached porn star Stormy Daniels in a parking lot while she was with her infant daughter and implied she’d face bodily harm if she spoke about Donald Trump and their affair ever again: “a guy walked up on me and said to me, ‘Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.” And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, ‘That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her mom.’ And then he was gone.”

2013: Threatened to sue Angelo Carusone, organizer of a campaign to get Macy’s to drop Trump as a celebrity spokesperson and remove Trump-branded products from its shelves. The petition claimed that Trump had “long engaged in sexist behavior” and “used his public platform to deny the reality of climate change.” In a letter, Trump’s lawyer accused Carusone of using “mob-like bullying and coercion” and informed him that if he failed to cease and desist, Trump would sue him for no less than $25 million in damages. However, he’d soon back out. But Carusone would get his wish in 2015 after Trump called Mexicans rapists and criminals.

Political Misdeeds:

1980s: According to a New York State report, Trump circumvented corporate and personal donation limits by contributing money to candidates from 18 different subsidiaries, rather than giving in his own name. Trump told investigators he did this on the advice from lawyers which wasn’t illegal. He also said the contributions were not to curry favor with business friendly candidates but to simply satisfy requests from friends. However, it’s apparent he was trying to curry favor with business friendly candidates since that’s why most business people contribute to political campaigns in the first place.

1990s: Promised an amusement park in Bridgeport, Connecticut that fell through after a bitter struggle with rival Steve Wynn, which resulted in him owing $300,000 in back taxes. This was forgiven by the mayor at the time if Trump would sell the land for $1. That mayor would later spend 7 years in prison on corruption charges.

1991: Was part of a determined and successful lobbying campaign to change several tax rules, including one that would let him use his NOL to offset all personal income. This cleared the way for Trump to avoid paying federal income taxes on ventures including The Apprentice for which Trump claims he was paid over $200 million.

2010: Donated campaign money to then Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott who was also looking in to investigating Trump University. And like Bondi, Abbott decided not to pursue it mostly due to “political reasons” according to a former Texas official.

2010: Trump Foundation made a $10,000 donation to the American Spectator Foundation which is a nonprofit group that publishes the arch-conservative magazine of the same name as well as $5,000 to the Liberty Foundation which is an advocacy group run by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s wife.

2011: Through the Trump Foundation, made a $10,000 donation to the Palmetto Family Council, a group which opposes divorce, same-sex marriage, and abortion in South Carolina.

2012: Through the Trump Foundation coffers, made a $100,000 donation to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and $35,000 to Samaritan’s Purse. Both are Christian nonprofits run by Franklin Graham with the former being an advocacy group. When Trump proposed banning Muslims from entering the US late in 2015, Franklin Graham took to Facebook to defend him. Other conservative and religious groups have also been Trump Foundation grantees around the same time including the American Conservative Union, the anti-abortion group Justice for All, and the Texas-based evangelical ministry the Family Leader Foundation.

2013: Donated money to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s reelection campaign while her office was deciding whether or not to pursue a fraud case against Trump Institute and Trump University. Bondi dropped the investigation 4 days after the Trump Foundation contributed $25,000 to And Justice For All, which was backing her reelection. The Trump Foundation later recorded the incorrect recipient as the gift and later had to pay a $2,500 penalty to the IRS but even then didn’t recoup the money as required. I believe the correct term describing this transaction is a bribe. After that, a liberal watchdog group filed a complaint to the IRS accusing the Trump Foundation of using the charity to benefit a group’s leader. At the same time, Trump’s family gave more to her while Trump himself hosted a fundraiser at his Mar-A-Lago in Florida, charging less than market rate and less than he charged his own campaign to host events there. When this came to light in 2016, Trump moved $25,000 from his personal account to compensate his foundation and paid a $2,500 IRS fine. Trump Foundation representatives have said the contribution was made in error (yeah right).

2013: Trump Foundation donated at least $40,000 to the Drumthwacket Foundation a charity dedicated to preserving the New Jersey governor’s mansion and whose other donors have close ties to Chris Christie.

2013: Through the Trump Foundation, granted $10,000 to the Iowa-based The Family Leader which is a conservative Christian organization whose stated mission is to, “strengthen families, by inspiring Christ-like leadership in the home, the church, and the government.” Following the grant, its leader Vader Plaats invited Trump to speak at a leadership summit. These grants may have been illegal since The Family Leader is a 501(c)(4) corporation established to “develop, advocate and support legislative agenda at the state level” and not a charity. Thus, the Trump Foundation legally can’t donate money for non-charitable purposes. Though Trump may have intended to donate to The Family Leader Foundation which is listed as a 501(c)(3).

2013: Contributed $50,000 of Trump Foundation money to the American Conservative Union’s Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC, to which he was invited to speak. In that same year, he was also invited to speak to the Economic Club in Washington DC after the Trump Foundation made a grant there.

2014: Trump Foundation made donation to the Moran Eye Center, a Utah hospital sponsoring Kentucky US Senator Rand Paul’s annual medical trips to Central America to perform eye surgery in poor and rural communities. Trump even sponsored one such trip to Guatemala.

2014: Made a $100,000 through the Trump Foundation to Citizens United, the infamous conservative group best known for a lawsuit that resulted in the US Supreme Court striking down many limits of the kinds of campaign donations Trump has criticized during his candidacy. This 2009 case permitted corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money backing political candidates. Even better, Citizens United was engaged in a lawsuit with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman who was also pursuing a civil lawsuit against Trump University. Schneiderman’s office called this donation part of a vendetta by Trump while Citizens United has rejected claims between the donation and its own lawsuit against the New York attorney general. Schneiderman is currently investigating the Trump Foundation as we speak.

2015: Made a $100,000 donation through the Trump Foundation to Project Veritas, which is a charity run by conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe, infamous for his notorious character assassination of ACORN. In October 2016, O’Keefe released a video that purportedly reveals how Democrats incited violence at Trump rallies. During the third presidential debate, Trump claimed that the new videos O’Keefe produced and released that week proved that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama “hired people” and “paid them $1,500,” to “be violent, cause fights, [and] do bad things” at Trump rallies. Since we’re talking about James O’Keefe who’s been under fire by people claiming he smeared them, we shouldn’t take his claims seriously.

Presidential Campaign:

2015-2016: Has used his entire presidential campaign as an outgrowth to build and promote his personal brand. Has devoted speeches to attacking a judge in the fraud suit against his “university,” encouraging surrogates to do the same, and promising to relaunch the enterprise if elected. Celebrated Brexit which drove down the pound’s value and proved helpful for driving his visitors to his Scottish golf course. When asked if he would put his holdings in a blind trust, Trump replied he would but defined “blind trust” to mean that his children would run his business for him, which is not what a blind trust is.

2015-2016: May have directed money from the Trump Foundation to finance his presidential campaign.

2015-2016: Has spent millions of dollars in campaign funds for his businesses which accounts for 7% of the money going to various Trump venues, an aviation company he owns, Trump Tower for office space, his corporate staff, and various other vendors. Meanwhile, he’s been paid $1.6 million by the US Secret Service to travel on a plane owned by one of Trump’s companies.

2015: Campaign launches Make America Great Again PAC, a pro-Trump Super-PAC created by Stephanie Stephanie Cegielski which is financed in part by Ivanka Trump’s mother-in-law Seryl Kushner whose husband was a convicted Democratic financier Charles who was sentence to 2 years in prison on 18 federal charges. Cegieleski now believes Trump is mentally unfit for office and the Super-PAC is now defunct after 4 months in operation (though the group’s website is said to still be in operation as of March so the Super-PAC may still be active). Though the official excuse is Trump’s disavowal of Super-PACs, it was also facing scrutiny over suspect collaboration with Trump’s campaign office.

2015: Trump Organization’s general counsel sent a cease-and-desist letter to Right to Rise PAC which was a PAC for the Jeb Bush campaign. In it they preemptively warned that aired any misleading or defamatory ads against Trump, they’d be sued. RTR said it was a leadership PAC not a Super PAC and didn’t produce TV ads. RTR also filed a complaint against Trump with the Federal Elections Commission for allegedly violating election laws by using his corporate in-house counsel for campaign purposes. Trump has denied wrongdoing. The FEC confirms the complaint but declines to comment.

2015: Is sued by 5 men who demonstrated outside a Trump presidential campaign event at Trump Tower citing that his security staff punched them. They also allege that city police advised the security guards that the men were permitted to protest there. Several people videotaped the incident.

2016: Hired Corey Lewandowski as his campaign manager despite his relatively short resume. For a time, it seemed to work well until a Brietbart reporter tried to ask Trump a question after a press conference. Lewandowski reached out and wrenched her out of the way. Though the two insisted that the incident never happened and that Fields was “delusional,” witnesses and surveillance footage acquired by Jupiter Police from Trump National clearly show otherwise. Lewandowski was arrested for battery but the prosecutor didn’t press charges. Trump has said that he could’ve been in danger, since Fields’ pen could’ve been a bomb (for the love of God, this is just bullshit).

2016: Might’ve illegally offered Ben Carson a job after he dropped out of the presidential race.

2016: Found in FEC filings by the Daily Beast that his presidential campaign had spent more than $55,000 buying his own book, Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again. Meaning that Trump used campaign donations to buy a book, sending cash back to himself. Copies were also given to delegates at the Republican National Convention. According to campaign expert Paul S. Ryan, this maneuver goes against FEC rules as he told the Beast: “It’s fine for a candidate’s book to be purchased by his committee, but it’s impermissible to receive royalties from the publisher… There’s a well established precedent from the FEC that funds from the campaign account can’t end up in your own pocket.” The Huffington Post later discovered that Trump jacked up rent for campaign offices when he stopped funding his own campaign.

2016: According to the Huffington Post, there’s not yet publicly disseminated evidence that Trump misused New York City police officers to retaliate against his perceived enemies as well as to harass and threaten his opponents’ personal safety.

2016: Hired Paul Manafort as his campaign manager who has been known to offer his services to pro-Russian Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych and Philippines leader Ferdinand Marcos, both who were driven from power by popular revolution (with one infamously married to an avid shoe collector). Ukranian ledgers reveal that the Yanukovych regime paid Manafort $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments. Manfort has also lobbied for Saudi Arabia, a Bahamian president suspected of narcotics trafficking, and a former Angolan rebel leader accused of torture. And he has been well compensated with his firm said to accept clients who’d pay $250,000 a year as a retainer.

2016: Recruited Roger Ailes as a campaign adviser after he was forced to resign as CEO of Fox News over sexual harassment allegations from dozens of women. According to these women, Ailes’s behavior was positively monstrous. But what you might not know is that Ailes’s abusive and predatory actions toward women were so well-known and so loathsome that the folks in the Nixon administration refused to allow him work there in 1969. This is despite playing a key role in getting Nixon elected. The Nixon administration was responsible for Watergate.

2016: Quintupled rent charged to his campaign for using Trump Tower between March and July, despite it having fewer paid staff in the latter month. It’s obvious that Trump has raised the rent once his campaign has been financed primarily by outside contributions rather than the candidate himself. The Wall Street Journal has reported that 17% of Trump’s campaign spending has gone to companies linked to himself, his children, or to reimburse their travel expenses.

2016: Is endorsed by US Representative Chris Collins who becomes his first congressional backer. Yet, a new report suggests that he only did so because state party and bigwig Trump ally, Carl Paladino blackmailed him by threatening to deploy his vast political resources against him. He also aggressively pushed and threatened Republicans on New York’s delegation to Congress and its state legislature to support Trump. Basically he did this by writing in an open letter, “This is our last request that you join ‘Trump for President’ and try to preserve what’s left of your pathetic careers in government.” In addition, he threatened Republican delegates to the 2016 RNC if they didn’t vote for Trump as pledged, “I don’t trust our entire delegation (…) I’d certainly whack them if they went off the reservation.”

2016: Received first campaign donation from Aon Corp. Newman Team CEO, Pamela Newman who has also gave money to Trump’s Super-PAC and hosted a fundraiser dinner for him. Trump’s campaign in turn paid Aon $300,000 for insurance.

2016: Ran an Op-Ed in a Northern Marianas newspaper ahead of the territory’s primary which was virtually identical to a piece Ben Carson wrote a few days prior.

2016: Threatened to sue Ted Cruz to reverse the Iowa Caucus results due to him allegedly making misstatements about Ben Carson leaving the race. He then repeatedly sued to have Cruz declared constitutionally ineligible for the presidency because he’s not a “natural born citizen.” To be fair, Cruz was born in Canada but since his mother was born in the US, he certainly qualifies.

Miscellaneous:

1989: Faked a near death experience to get front page headlines after a tragic helicopter accident kills 5 including 3 Trump executives. He claimed that he was supposed to be on that helicopter but changed his mind at the last minute.

1996: Already struggling Trump Hotels and Casinos is offered a boost from the Hard Rock chain owner the Rank Group by proposing an investment in Trump’s Castle that would’ve helped reverse declining fortunes for the company. This consisted of Rank proposing purchasing a 50% interest in as much as $350 million and valuing the property at $180 million more than what Trump paid for it. All Rank wanted was to rebrand the property simply as Hard Rock. Any sane business person in Trump’s position would take this deal. But not Trump who backed out at the last minute because he wanted his name to stay on the property and that it be renamed Hard Rock at Trump’s Marina. Rank walked and the Trump Hotel stock price continued to dive. Trump later told Fortune magazine that he remembers nothing about negotiations with Rank.

2000s: Though he did give an eloquent defense of New York’s response during 9/11, has ignored pleas to help 9/11 first responders pass the James Zadroga Act reauthorization which set up a healthcare fund for police, firefighter, and other rescue workers. Several other candidates had but Trump remained silent despite receiving multiple letters and calls from the Citizens for Extension of the James Zadroga Act, according to ABC. One of the group’s board members told the network, “I’m mortified that he can stand in front of the nation and wrap himself in a flag.”

2000: Starred in a Playboy soft-core porn. Though not illegal, it’s not something that puts him in a decent light.

2003-?: According to Newsweek, Trump Hotels wiped, “the data from everyone’s computers every year,” according to Newsweek. Lawsuits show that Trump and his companies regularly delete e-mails and other records since the very beginning.

2006: Bought an estate at Balmedie, Aberdeenshire in Scotland and built a golf course, against the wishes of locals. Trump promised the town his golf course project would create 6,000 jobs but later admitted, it only produced 200.

2007: Advised investors to buy “Subprime Mortgages At A Discount, And Repossessed Houses At Low Prices.” According to NBC, “The subprime mortgage crisis alone caused millions of Americans to lose their homes, but that same Globe and Mail piece reports Trump was ‘advising investors that there are now great deals in buying subprime mortgages at a discount, and repossessed houses at low prices.’”

2012: Despite his claims on sheltering thousands of people at Trump Tower after Hurricane Sandy, he was required by law to do so with the Trump Tower lobby having a 350 person capacity. No one has backed up his claims.

2015: Claimed in a financial statement that he’s given away $102 million worth in land but never supplied any information as to what this land is. My guess it’s probably some real estate on Middle Earth.

2015: In a financial statement, claimed an income of $362 million which was later determined as gross revenue and his actual income is likely one third of that.

2015: Claimed that he saw people jumping from the World Trade Center from his apartment even though Trump Tower is located more than 4 miles from the site. So it’s dubious at best.

2016: Though regularly boasts being worth $10 billion, a Fortune analysis estimated it’s likely between 1/3 and ½ that amount.

For more:

http://thejoshuablogs.blogspot.com/2016/08/heres-proof-of-donald-trumps-failures.html– this features a list of links from various sources such as The Washington Post, USA Today, PBS, Rolling Stone, Associated Press, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and other reputable sources. You’ll find plenty of information backing up my claims right here. Feel free to look.

http://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/trump-lawsuits/– Lists everything you want to know about Trump’s lawsuits.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/donald-trump-scandals/474726/– A rough cheat sheet from The Atlantic on Trump’s scandals. It’s one of my main sources. And yes, they have links an sources to prove it.

http://www.vox.com/2016/10/12/13265206/trump-accusations-sexual-assault – Lists all of Trump’s sexual assault allegations so I don’t have to.

The Electoral World of Campaign Merchandise

Posted by historymaniacmegan on September 9, 2016

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As you should know by now, 2016 is a presidential election year in which American voters will soon choose a new president since the perfectly good one we have already is about to serve out his two terms. This year our two nominees consist of a perfectly normal politician and former First Lady who a lot of people don’t seem to like for not very good reasons at times and a racist lunatic con artist whom you shouldn’t trust with running your small business, let alone the country. Seriously, there is no logical reason whatsoever to vote for Donald Trump. I mean this guy is possibly a psychopath who cares about nobody but himself and he’s a horrible businessman. Anyway, as with many election years you’re bound to find a lot of crap being sold way overpriced. You may have the conventional pins, ribbons, T-shirts, signs, and posters. But you also have other crap that might make you scratch your head. And that’s what I will show you. By the most of these will be from more recent elections.

Celebrate Donald Trump’s candidacy with this Trump rally pack for 6.

On second thought, don’t. Because that’s celebrating the worst possible decision you’ll make in your life. Seriously, Trump supporters, please don’t vote for this guy.

2. Refresh your thirst with this Marco Rubio water bottle.

Well, that’s a way to own up to an embarrassing moment on TV. Yeah, Rubio wasn’t looking presidential when commenting on Obama’s State of the Union.

3. This Bobby Kennedy mug looks quite trippy.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy ran for president in 1968 and could’ve been the Democratic nominee. But somebody had to shoot him after he won California.

4. Don’t let relatives tread on you with this Ted Cruz ugly Christmas sweater.

And yes, it looks about as ugly as you’d expect. Then again, it might make relatives punch you in the chest where Cruz’s face is.

5. There will be hell toupee with this crocheted Donald Trump beanie.

Yeah, it’s ugly just like Donald Trump’s rug on his head. Don’t know if these women are Trump supporters but I highly doubt it.

6. Show your support for Carly Fiorina with this jeweled pin.

Paid for by the dollars of all the workers Fiorina fired from Hewlett Packard before it went to shit. Yes, she was that bad.

7. Nothing makes you go for Trump than this butt plug.

Let’s just say having Trump up in my ass is the last place I’d want him to be. Actually, that might be tied with in my life, in my area, or in the White House. Seriously, I really wish this guy would go away.

8. Make yourself smell nice with Gold Water or Johnson Juice.

Yes, they actually had these during the 1964 presidential campaign. I don’t know why they thought it was a good idea. Or why they decided to put the stuff in cans.

9. For your Jeb Bush rally, these paper plates will always come in handy.

I bet these are overpriced since they have Jeb’s face on them. Too bad the White House was only a dream for him in 2016.

10. Show your love of Rand Paul and his hatred for drones with this “Don’t Drone Me, Bro!” T-shirt.

Yes, tell them how much you hate drones but love Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. You know the guy who’s backing the libertarian principles of his dad that have no use in reality.

11. Show your support for Hillary Clinton with these pink boy short underwear.

Or at least show these underwear to let people know that you’re not an idiot when it comes to politics. And that you don’t want your president to set a terrible example to your kids.

12. Let your friends remember how many times Mitt Romney changes positions with this pair of flip flops.

Still, these sandals might make you feel nostalgic for 2012. At least I’d be able to vote for Obama for reelection. Still, at least Romney didn’t change his position on Trump whom he will not vote for this year.

13. With these boxers, you can be brief about your support for Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio boxers? Seriously, this guy must’ve aching for campaign contributions. Still, when it comes to underwear, this is probably overpriced.

14. Be able to stop traffic near New Jersey bridges with this Chris Christie crossing guard.

This is brilliant. I mean we all remember this guy from Bridgegate right? You know when he stopped all those cars in traffic to get back at politicians who wouldn’t support him?

15. If you’re a Christian conservative, then you’ll love this Mike Huckabee dart board.

Or if you really hate him that throwing darts at his face helps you let out your aggression. Works either way. Glad he’s gone. Hope he didn’t forget to slam the door on his way out.

16. Feel the excitement for South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham with these boy shorts.

Hope this kind of underwear doesn’t give away Graham’s sexual preference. Still, I can’t believe these exist.

17. Fans of Rick Santorum might want to join his bandwagon with this Santorum sweater vest.

After all, Santorum is most famous for wearing them on the campaign trail. Still, remember that he’s incredibly loathed in Pennsylvania that people devoted a lot of energy to replace him with Bob Casey. And Casey won by a landslide since he’s way less prone to embarrassing his own state every time he opens his mouth.

18. Make yourself seem like a hero with this Marco Rubio hero T-shirt.

Yes, I’m sure it’ll make anyone look heroic until You have to debate with a fat guy from Jersey in New Hampshire. Yeah, Christie definitely caused a lot of damage to Rubio’s campaign.

19. This autographed constitution shows how much Rand Paul holds it close to his heart.

And it could be yours for $1,000 so you can use it to justify your free market fantasy. Too bad Rand ended up suspending his campaign in the end.

20. Send your Trump supporter friends this card for Saint Patrick’s Day.

Okay, that seems a bit mean. However, we must accept the fact that friends don’t let friends vote for Donald Trump.

21. Hold in hope for Trump with this prayer candle.

Or just look at the outside to understand Trump’s inflated sense of himself. Seriously, why would anyone light a candle for this monster?

22. This T-shirt shows how Hillary sucks but not like Monica.

Okay, that’s really sexist and very inappropriate. Still, at least Hillary doesn’t suck like Trump who’s way more crooked than her.

23. See the revolution with this Rand Paul eye chart.

Because Rand Paul is an ophthalmologist, they have this. Too bad he didn’t defeat the Washington machine.

24. Host your own fiesta with this Jeb Bush guacamole bowl.

Probably the most expensive dip bowl you’ll ever buy. I guess this was used to cater to the Hispanic vote.

25. If you love Dr. Ben Carson, then you’ll love these scrubs.

Still, just because this guy could separate co-joined twins doesn’t mean he’d be great at running the country. Also, remember he’s now supporting Donald Trump and can be quite weird.

26. Keep your lips from chapping with I Kiss Barack Obama chapstick.

Well, even if you put it on a pig, it’s still a pig. Also, you’ll lose it before your done with it. So why pay more for chapstick?

27. Take out your anger with these Obama and McCain inflatable punching bags.

Guess this was a great way to take out one’s anger issues in 2008. Still, they both seem to look badass on these.

28. Support William McKinley, get this soap baby.

Yes, they had campaign swag back in 1896. Don’t understand why McKinley supporters would sell this because it looks really creepy.

29. Silver bugs go to William Jennings Bryan while gold bugs go to William McKinley.

This had something to do with the Republicans supporting the Gold Standard and the Democrats supporting the silver currency model. The gold bugs won out.

30. Those who like Ike should get this Dwight D. Eisenhower pot holder.

Yes, it’s a potholder with Eisenhower’s face on it. Yes, I know it’s freaky. But it’s from the 1950s.

31. Feel the Bern with these Bernie Sanders underwear.

Because there’s nothing sexier than having a picture of an old Socialist Jew on your ass. Still, I like Bernie, but this is ridiculous.

32. If you support John Kaisich, you might want this cup.

Or as I call Kaisich, “the last possible sane guy to quit in the 2016 GOP primary.” Then again, he kind of sucked.

33. Be in the true American spirit with this Ted Cruz coloring book.

Apparently, the GOP voters didn’t “c” Cruz for president. Yet, Cruz would later decline to support Trump at the GOP convention. What an asshole.

34. Stand with Rand in these flip flops.

Because you have to bring libertarianism into the public shower. Yet, Rand didn’t last too long in the primaries though.

35. If you support Trump then this glass brick shows how you’d want his wall one brick at a time.

Even though Trump’s wall isn’t going to keep people from coming into the country and will be a massive waste of money. I mean can’t we just let the undocumented immigrants already here become citizens? It’s the least we can do.

36. Let people know who Donald Trump really is with this “Make Donald Drumpf Again” hat.

Because it’s a play on “Make America Great Again,” which John Oliver parodied on his show. And yes, these hats sold like wildfire.

37. These Trump condoms are said to be “Yuuuuge!”

Yeah, Trump thinks he’s huge all right even though his tacky style seems to suggest he’s compensating for something. Still, these are funny.

38. Your cat will enjoy hours of fun with this Donald Trump cat scratcher.

Because you probably had fantasies of setting your cat on him but know it’s illegal to do so. So this is the next best thing.

39. Keep your feet snug and warm again in these Donald Trump hair slippers.

Made by Gucci which costs $1,800 which I think is way overpriced. Seems like somebody there doesn’t like Donald Trump. But overpricing these is kind of fitting when it’s inspired by New York’s most expensive piece of garbage.

40. Feel the Bern this Christmas season with this Bernie Sanders ugly sweater.

Sure he’s a Democratic Socialist Jew from Vermont. But at least he always speaks his mind for the little guy.

41. This T-Shirt shows how much Jeb Bush admires his dad.

But when it came to his older brother George W., Jeb declined to comment. But while Dubya’s presidency was a disaster, even he knows not to vote for Donald Trump.

42. If you want Richard Nixon now, wear this hat.

Yet, you might want to reconsider since Nixon’s guys gave you Watergate. Then again, I’m just speaking from hindsight here.

43. If you want a tough guy from New Jersey, this Chris Christie thong is just the ticket.

It’s one of the few types of underwear that could stop miles of traffic. Just ask Chris Christie.

44. So will it be Trump flakes or Clinton Crunch?

Just go with the Clinton Crunch, please. The Trump Flakes contain too many nuts.

45. If you like Dogald Trump, carry this tote to show how he wants to deport all cats.

Then again, Dogald Trump seems a better choice for president than his human counterpart. The worst thing he does is piss on the carpet everywhere.

46. Bring in the campaign spirit this year with this Donald Trump pinata.

I heard it’s used by Mexicans as an anger management tool. So if you feel like beating Trump apart with a stick, this one’s for you.

47. Clean up after your pet with these Dump for Trump poop bags.

Sure cleaning after your dog during the day is a pain. But with these at least you can give Trump the kind of shit he deserves.

48. Remember, kids, Bert + Ernie = Bernie. It’s simple.

So I guess they’re really feeling the Bern on Sesame Street. Guess it’s understandable.

49. Now you can get a signed copy of Scott Walker’s Unintimidated.

Because this guy isn’t intimidated by Wisconsin public workers going on strike after he threatened to take away their collective bargaining rights. Seriously, this guy is a piece of shit. But at least he didn’t stay long in the GOP primary.

50. There’s a chance this Hillary’s hard drive might contain the e-mails everyone’s talking about.

Of course, despite the news media’s endless coverage, nobody cares about Hillary’s damn e-mails. Besides, Trump is way more crooked than her by a long shot.

51. Don’t worry, blacks, Nixon shows he likes you, too. Just think how many of them are in the Nixon Administration.

Not sure if I see any high ranking cabinet members here. But on the bright side, aside from Nixon, I don’t recognize anyone from Watergate.

52. For those who are undecided, this T-shirt is for you.

I guess this is the kind of T-shirt that reflects what a lot of people are thinking. Like a lot of Republicans who declined to attend the GOP Convention.

53. This T-Shirt is a lot like Mitt Romney, 100% Reversible.

To be fair, he did help pass a comprehensive healthcare bill in Massachusetts which inspired Obamacare. But that was before he was against it.

54. Feel the Bern in your coffee.

For some reason, this is just the thing to put on a mug. Don’t mind if he calls himself a Socialist.

55. Show your support for Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too with this log cabin.

Note that William Henry Harrison used this for his election campaign to make himself the man of the people in 1840. This despite that he was actually born on his dad’s Virginia Plantation and that his dad signed the Declaration of Independence. Also, Harrison drops dead 30 days after his inauguration.

56. It’s not a party unless you have a Bill and Hillary corkscrew and nutcracker.

These days, referring Hillary as a “nutcracker” might be seen as a compliment. This especially when you have her running against Donald Trump. As for Bill, you know why he’s got a corkscrew.

57. Show your support for Hillary with this pantsuit T-shirt.

Yes, we know that it’s Hillary’s signature outfit. Probably not one you should wear for work.

58. This T-shirt shows that Ted Cruz was the Zodiac Killer.

Just remember this is a joke during the GOP Primary. I don’t think Cruz was the Zodiac Killer because he would’ve been a kid at the time, if he was ever around.

59. If you can’t send your dad a Father’s Day e-mail, send him this.

Once again, they make fun of the e-mails. Look, Hillary may have made mistakes but there are bigger things to talk about than her e-mails like Trump not paying his workers.

60. This paper ornament shows the Elizabeth Warren and Bernie dream team.

Yes, I know it shows them in a disco. But they’ll always be a dream because Bernie lost the Dem primary and Warren had no desire to be veep.

61. Show you feel the Bern with these Bernie Sanders earrings.

Because there’s nothing more stylish than wearing earrings with an old man’s face on them. Yeah, that’s ridiculous.

62. This Che Guevara portrait of Bernie is especially iconic.

Then again, you might not want to compare Bernie to Che Guevara. Because Che wasn’t a very nice guy. Seriously, he wasn’t.

63. Cover your cat’s butt hole with this Donald Trump cover.

From Refinery29: “Does the sight of your cat’s booty bother you? Stare at Donald Trump’s face, instead!” On second thought, I’d rather stare at the cat’s butt hole.

64. What’s not to love about this Bernie Sanders mouse pad?

I mean Bernie holding a kitty in the galaxy? Who can resist that?

65. Have a Biden Christmas with this ornament.

Then be very disappointed when you find out he’s not even running for president. Then again, I’m kind of glad he’s not.

66. Have your baby feel the Bern with this onesie.

From Refinery29: “Dress your baby in this awesome onesie and tell bedtime stories about economic and social injustice.”

67. Show that Rubio is your bae with this T-Shirt.

From Refinery29: “Show you’re a fangirl of Florida’s baby-faced senator with this punny shirt.” Then again, I think the word “bae” is lame and that Rubio ran a shitty campaign.

68. Make your legs great again with these Donald Trump leggings.

Actually, you might want to go with your regular legs. Having Donald Trump’s face like that looks disgusting.

69. Trump supporters in the LGBTQ community can get their campaign T-Shirt.

I’m not sure how many LGBTQ would want this, especially since Mike Pence is his running mate. But maybe there are LGBTQ people out there who can be just as clueless about politics as their straight counterparts.

70. Women, don’t you wish you can shed your menstrual blood on Trump? Now you can with this sanitary napkin.

Even better is that this is washable. I’d especially recommend this for any women Trump has greatly insulted over the years.

71. With this Trump cutting board, you can make cheese grate again.

That’s pretty clever. Yet, I doubt that Trump would ever make America great in any capacity. In fact, his presidency would be a national nightmare.

72. Those who like Marco might want to wear this polo.

Remember, “Marco” “Polo,” get it? Still, he’s now running for reelection for his Senate seat.

73. Pay $500 so you can help Marco Rubio buy a plane ticket.

Even funnier is that you have a picture of Southwest Airlines. It’s the airline that has a no-frills service and cheap tickets. Guess Rubio must be desperate for campaign money.

74. As John McCain’s runningmate, Sarah Palin is a MILF on the ticket.

Well, this is from 2008 when Palin caused a sensation as the VP candidate. But a scary woman to have on the ticket who didn’t have a lot of experience? You betcha.

75. Now you can grow your own Obama Chia head.

There was some scrutiny on this one for some reason. But this is pretty funny in a disturbing way.

76. Now your dog can look to make America great again with this Donald Trump wig.

This dog understandably doesn’t look happy. Well, if someone put a Trump wig on me without my consent, I would, too.

77. Clinton supporters in Wisconsin may want to get this cheese hat.

Note that we’re talking about Bill here and not Hillary. Since this is from 1996.

78. Keep yourself clean this campaign season with these presidential soaps.

Consists of Trump, Cruz, Bernie, and Hillary. Guess they were the only ones running in the primaries at the time.

79. Cuddle up with these 2008 presidential Cabbage Patch Kids.

Well, these are interesting. Wonder who came up with that concept. Guess the Palin one has the most outfits out of the bunch.

80. This presidential campaign season, help yourself to some candidate embroidered toilet paper.

Includes Hillary, Bernie, and Trump. I’m sure the Trump one sold the most for obvious reasons.

81. Stand with Rand with these Rand Paul car mats.

Well, you can’t really stand on these when you’re in the car. But it’s the thought that counts.

82. If you like Rand’s dad, enjoy endless hours with these Ron Paul action figures.

Ron Paul ran for president in 2008 and 2012. He’s like the GOP’s Bernie except that he wants to end the Fed and other unrealistic stuff. And that nobody listened to him.

83. Snuggle up this campaign season with this Bernie Sanders teddy bear.

From the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. Yes, Socialism has never looked any cuter. Nor has Bernie.

84. With this Sarah Palin doll, you can have fun for hours.

Sure she’s dressed up in a skimpy outfit. But she was a gimmick runningmate from the get go. And once said she could see Russia from her house.

85. This poster shows that Ted Cruz is blacklisted and loving it.

Of course, he’s blacklisted because he once called for a government shutdown when he couldn’t get his way on the budget. This was a terrible and selfish idea. But that’s Ted Cruz for you.

86. Let your friends choose their campaign swag with this Bernie Sanders gift card.

Warning: Doesn’t work for purchasing Hillary gear or stuff from big corporations. So you’ll only be stuck using it to buy crap on Etsy.

87. Keep your computer protected with this Rand Paul Spy Cam blocker.

Not sure if it actually works against the NSA or at all to tell you the truth. But sometimes it’s the thought that counts.

88. Say it in a big way with this Rand Paul greeting card.

Man, Rand Paul seems to have a lot of strange campaign stuff here. Guess that card shows how much he hates big government. Figures.

89. Take a nip with this Jeb Bush hip flask.

Because chances are you’d probably use it a lot in the 2016 GOP primary race. Because Jeb didn’t do well in that race.

90. This Ted Cruz poster should inspire courageous conservatism.

But to me it shows a man with great delusions of grandeur who likes to throw in a hissy fit whenever he doesn’t get his way. However, couldn’t really blame him for dissing Trump at the RNC.

91. Show your support Rick Perry with this mugshot T-Shirt.

This shirt was made when he was under indictment for abusing his gubernatorial office. The person on the back is a DA who was prosecuting him.

92. Have lots of fun with this blow up Donald Trump sex doll.

Guess this was made to suit the sexual fantasies of gold diggers and masochists everywhere. Seriously, why?

Guess this was made to suit the sexual fantasies of gold diggers and masochists everywhere. Notice that he has no balls.

93. Seems like I knew that Ted Cruz was always a vampire, especially in this portrait.

And I thought the vampire from Nosferatu was ugly. You might want to punch this vampire in the face.

94. Make coloring great again with this Trump coloring book.

And that, my friends, is how Donald Trump sees himself. Yet, I think his personality tends to resemble Lex Luthor but way dumber with more hair.

95. Smell rich with Trump’s success perfume.

Well, it’s the kind of scent where you spend a lot thinking you’ll smell like success. But you’ll actually smell like shit.

96. Wear this T-Shirt to show that you’re wild for Ted Cruz.

Seems the kind of Ted Cruz shirt that Ted Cruz would make on Etsy. To get campaign money.

97. Show your support for Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren with these granny panties.

Yes, these do exist but they weren’t as popular as the Truman/Barkley ones. By the way, Earl Warren would go on to become one awesome Chief Supreme Court Justice who had his court unanimously rule against school segregation.

98. If it’s your birthday, then you better show Trump your birth certificate.

This especially goes if you’re Latino because he’ll suspect that you’re not legal. Yeah, you can see why Hispanics don’t like the guy.

99. Calm down on your own Ted Cruz “Breathe” yoga mat.

Didn’t know that Ted Cruz’s campaign even sold yoga mats. Because Cruz doesn’t strike me as a yoga kind of guy.

100. Make American Great Again by buying your own broken Trump watch.

Because if Trump didn’t inherit $200 million from his daddy, he’d be selling these. You got that right. He’s a trust fund baby con artist.

Not Licensed by the NFL Professional Football Craft Projects (Second Edition)

Posted by historymaniacmegan on September 5, 2016

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Now it’s on to the crafts which I have more enjoyment compiling on this blog than the merchandise. Mostly because the craft projects seem more creative to look at and I don’t have to see a lot of stuff that might make me cringe. Then again, you might’ve noticed why some NFL teams might appear on these posts than others. Well, the map might provide a reason for that. As you see here, some NFL teams might have larger fan bases either due to geography, population shifts, or what not. Geography is usually a dominating factor as seen by the map. But you might notice that some teams tend to have fans well beyond their geographic range. This might be due to some fans moving to different places, the brand of the team, or other mitigating factors. It’s complicated. Nevertheless, it does explain why I’m bound to find so many craft projects inspired by the Dallas Cowboys and barely any relating to the New York Jets on Pinterest. So before the first NFL games of the season, I give you another treasure trove of NFL craft projects that aren’t licensed by the NFL and are probably less expensive to make anyway.

This Denver Broncos apothecary jar is great for storing candy.

Sure the candy may be red. But the colors certainly embody the Broncos’ mile high spirit.

2. This stained glass decanter is just perfect for anyone who supports the Baltimore Ravens.

This is especially when one’s anticipating that their team will have as shitty season as last year like the Ravens did. Still, the design is quite ornate.

3. Light up a room with this Pittsburgh Steeler glass block.

Just an old window glass block with a light bulb in it to spread out the light. Is topped off with a black and gold ribbon.

4. Show the Atlanta Falcons are the pride of Georgia with this wooden pallet.

Though my relatives from Georgia might beg to differ. Still, this is a rather artistic design Falcons fans would love to have.

5. Lounge around outside this season with a San Francisco 49ers lawn chair.

Another wooden masterpiece. Just a lawn chair painted with colors belonging to the 49ers which fans might want to have.

6. Any female Ravens fan would just love to have these feathered earrings.

Yes, they’re certainly fitting for a team with a black bird mascot. But this does not mean they’d go well on just about anything.

7. A wreath supporting the Cincinnati Bengals always has to be striped.

At least it doesn’t look as bad as the teams uniforms. Like the orange ribbon on this.

8. An Indianapolis Colts horsehoe could easily be made with buttons.

Well, blue and white buttons anyway. But if you decide to do so, always use buttons of different sizes.

9. Nothing inspires pride like this Dallas Cowboys quilt.

This is a mostly white and silver one with the trademark navy blue Dallas stars. Quite magnificent if you ask me.

10. This bauble wreath would look great on any door of an Indianapolis Colts fan.

But remember to handle this with care. Because baubles are rather delicate things that can easily break when dropped. Keep that in mind.

11. No Pittsburgh Steeler fan should ever be able to resist this little snowman.

Yes, this little guy is made of cloth and donning the black and gold. So adorable.

12. Any little girl can keep warm in the Mile High City with this crocheted Denver Broncos hat.

It’s even shaped as a football as well as has a bow and pom poms. So cute.

13. With this Baltimore Ravens wreath, Ravens games are a festive occasion.

Unless you’re my aunt living in Maryland. Then Ravens games where they beat the Steelers aren’t so much fun. Nor when they’re in the Super Bowl.

14. Always have your gear in store with this Dallas Cowboys cabinet.

Yes, this is a cabinet painted in Dallas Cowboy colors. Lovely color scheme but keep it away from my dad.

15. With the right colored strips, you can make a Denver Broncos pillow cushion.

This one uses Broncos, white, orange, and blue. Some of the material might be fuzzy according to the picture.

16. A little girl’s ears could be just as snug with this crocheted Green Bay Packers head band.

It even has a flower on it with a Green Bay Packers’ logo. So cute.

17. This crocheted cozy set is just the thing for Seattle Seahawks fans on game day.

Includes coasters, bowl warmers, and a table cloth. Perfect for gaming occasions.

18. Grace your door in Florida with this Miami Dolphins wreath.

I guess "Fins" is a team chant here. Because their mascot is the dolphin, get it? Still, dolphins can be quite vicious if you let them.

I guess “Fins” is a team chant here. Because their mascot is the dolphin, get it? Still, dolphins can be quite vicious despite their cute image.

19. Ladies, step right out in style with these Oakland Raiders high heels shoes.

They come fully decorated in silver, white, and black. But I wouldn’t recommend you wear them when you’re at the stadium.

20. Seattle Seahawks fans will certainly envy anyone wearing a crocheted hat like this.

This one even has a flower on it, too. Like the navy blue and bright green stripes.

21. Keep your flowers growing with these Pittsburgh Steeler flower pots.

Notice how they’re all stacked together in the black and gold. Any gardener in Steeler nation has to have it.

22. A Seahawks bottle lamp looks great with glass stones all over it.

This is especially when they’re in blue, white, navy blue, and light green. Love the ribbons on the top.

23. Light up your living room with this New England Patriots bottle light.

Sure this may be plainer than the Seattle Seahawks one. But that doesn’t mean it’s better to those outside New England.

24. Your block is always safe with this Seattle Seahawks fire hydrant.

Sorry, but I don’t think this is for sale because it’s a fire hydrant. But since it’s painted in the Seahawks mode, it goes on this post.

25. This simple Steeler wreath is great for any Steeler house.

Since it consists of a yarn wreath Steeler logo. Doesn’t have anything else too fancy. Just a simple logo.

26. Be a diva in your tailgate kitchen with this New York Jets apron.

Due to having a small fanbase, I don’t find a lot of Jets stuff on Pinterest. But I have this on the post so Jets fans won’t be ignored.

27. This Dallas Cowboys cooler always brings the rustic tailgate touch.

Yes, it’s cooler even though it’s made of wood siding and resembles an end table and a wooden chest. Yes, those Cowboys fan can be pretty creative.

28. This Dallas Cowboys coffee table will certainly make fans green with envy.

Yes, Dallas Cowboy fans’ creativity should not be underestimated. Have to admire how this person used tiles on this wooden table. Lovely.

29. No Seattle Seahawks fan would want to go without a beaded medallion like this.

This one shows a realistically ferocious hawk in beaded for but in Seattle Seahawk colors. Amazing artistry.

30. Of course a Miami Dolphins wreath always has to have a dolphin.

And an aquamarine dolphin in front of the wreath, too. Even though most real life dolphins aren’t even that color.

31. Grace your Dallas door with this Cowboys shiny star yarn wreath.

It’s certainly a shiny wreath with a glittering star. Guess this person really wanted to stand out with their Cowboys pride.

32. Keep warm during the winter with your very own crocheted Seattle Seahawks afghan throw.

Guess this was made by someone with a little too much time on their hands. Still, you have to love the detail on this.

33. Keep a room well lit with your own Seattle Seahawks glass block light.

This one uses the Seattle Seahawk logo and contains a green seahawk eye. Wanted to put it on last year’s NFL craft post but didn’t have the room. So it goes on this one.

34. This New York Giants lamp goes well in any boy’s bedroom.

It even has the “NY” from the New York Giants in wooden blocks. Along with an New York Giants lampshade.

35. Any little Steeler girl should delight in this Terrible Towel dress.

Yes, Myron Cope’s old Terrible Towel can be used to make this adorable dress for a toddler. So cute.

36. Keep your drink from ruining the table with these Dallas Cowboys coasters.

Each are made of some stone with the Dallas Cowboy star on them. And they’re all tied in a ribbon when not in use.

37. Keep your money secure with this Cincinnati Bengals change purse.

Because sometimes change can always fall out of somebody’s pocket. I mean we’ve all been there.

38. This tulle wreath on anyone’s door certainly shouts out true Washington Redskins pride.

And on this wreath, the only thing to offend anyone is merely the name. So it’s you don’t put this on your front door if you live near a reservation.

39. Fans would love to gather around this Dallas Cowboys round table.

Another example in Dallas fans’ creativity. Have to admire the color on this. Lovely.

40. Have your guests keep their things safe with this New England Patriots receptacle.

Made from wood and painted in Patriots colors for your desire. Patriots fans would definitely love this.

41. This decomesh wreath only shows black and gold Steeler pride.

Helps that the Steeler logo is surrounded by gold ribbon. What Steeler fan wouldn’t want this?

42. Nothing shows pride for the New Orleans Saints like this spotted fleur d’ lis hanging.

After all, it’s a symbol of the Saints team. Like the ribbon decoration, too.

43. This yarn floral wreath was made in the spirit of the San Diego Chargers.

Yes, it might look like an ordinary wreath but it says “SD” and it’s in Chargers colors. Love the flowers.

44. This Seattle Seahawks fireplace has to be seen to be believed.

As with the fire hydrant, it’s not for sale at all. But you have to admire how the Seahawk logo blends in with the stone work.

45. For the Christmas season, this Ravens sled will bring joy and good cheer.

Well, in most Ravens households anyway. But I have to admit, the snowman is adorable.

46. This Baltimore Ravens wreath comes with a flowery touch.

It even has a black bird in the center along with purple flowers. But it’s a Ravens’ wreath because of the logo on the top.

47. This license plate decoration is befitting for Tennessee Titans pride.

I don’t see a lot of Tennessee Titans crafts either. But I think this is certainly a fan worthy decoration.

48. Any New England fan would certainly want this light up Patriot.

Great for hanging on walls as well as outside. Though I wouldn’t recommend the latter outside New England for obvious reasons.

49. Kick back and relax outside with this Pittsburgh Steelers porch swing.

This one is certainly in the black and gold spirit. Definitely the pride of someone in Steeler nation.

50. Show your support for Steeler Nation with this Pittsburgh Steeler light up star.

Even has yellow flowers to bring the gold in the black and gold. Love the black star and lights.

51. A Baltimore Ravens wreath should always have feathers.

Helps if they’re big and black, too like you’d see on a raven. Also like the flowers as well.

52. Salute your team with this Chicago Bears clothes pin wreath.

What wonders you can do with clothes pins. Even has a “C” so you can tell it apart from the Denver one.

53. Any little Indianapolis girl would delight in this crocheted pom pom hat.

Yes, I know it’s another pom pom hat. But it’s in a different style than the one from Denver. So cute.

54. Any Arizona Cardinals fan could only dream of a mosaic table like this.

Like how it just has the Arizona Cardinal and how it’s surrounded with regular colored stones. Probably made by someone with too much time on their hands.

55. This beaded fleur d’ lis doesn’t lack the New Orleans Saints spirit.

It’s also great when it’s used, for a Mardi Gras decoration, too. But you probably already knew that.

56. Have a seat on this Seattle Seahawks dining chair.

Yes, it’s a Seahawks dining chair. Don’t ask me how I managed to find so many Seahawks stuff. They just seem to have a lot on Pinterest for some reason.

57. This black and gold Steeler R2-D2 is just the thing for any fan in the galaxy.

Yes, someone took the time to make this. Probably someone at CMU. Don’t ask me why.

58. This black and gold evergreen Christmas wreath is perfect for any door in Steeler country.

It even has a gold “Steelers Country” panel and gold ribbon. Also lights up.

59. This Jacksonville Jaguar wine glass certainly comes with the bling.

Of course, we all know this kind of glass isn’t for drinking. Then again, it’s not like the Jaguars are known for being a winning football team, anyway.

60. Any Green Bay Packers fan would want to grace this wreath with bows.

And each bow is in green or yellow with the Packers logo on them. Befitting for football season in Wisconsin even though it’s more suited for Christmas.

61. Pray for your team’s victory with this New England Patriots rosary.

For Catholics in New England this is a sacred and holy objects. For Catholics in the rest of the country, it is an object of great evil.

62. This Seattle Seahawks lighthouse will always help you find your way.

Even has a bright green light in consistency with the team’s colors. Not sure if it’s a good or bad thing.

63. No little Minnesota Vikings fan should be without their own crocheted Viking helmet.

This little guy seems to look happy in this horned and braided cap. But watch the horns. So cute.

64. Midwest fans would surely delight in this Minnesota Vikings birdhouse.

This one even has two holes which is just as great for the birds in the winter. Like how it has purple and yellow stripes.

65. On this Dolphins wreath, Miami comes out sparkling.

Or in sparkling letters anyway. Like the aqua colored bow on top. Lovely.

66. These stained glass bottle lamps light in the true Green Bay Packers spirit.

It’s amazing what you can do with stained glass. Yet, I’m sure these lamps will stand out if you turn them on.

67. Pittsburgh Steeler birds will always find themselves at home at this birdhouse.

I really wanted to add this birdhouse in last year’s NFL craft post. But didn’t have much room. So it’s going on this one. All in all, I think this one is particularly charming.

68. This New Orleans Saints wreath will surely make for a festive team salute.

Had to include at least one New Orleans Saints wreath on this post. This one has “Saints” on one of the ribbons.

69. May this wreath welcome you to the Steeler Nation.

Another simple Steeler wreath. Only this one uses only black and gold yarn, ribbons, and letters.

70. These New Orleans Saints bottle lamps make for festive lighting.

You can also uses these for Mardi Gras parties as well. But this one certainly displays the Saints logo in black.

71. Anyone in Steeler Nation would love to hang a canvas like this on their wall.

Yes, this showcases all the stuff associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m sure any fan would be proud of it.

72. Guess this tin can man is a Dallas Cowboy fan.

I know that I show a lot of Dallas Cowboy stuff on my NFL oosts. But I couldn’t pass this guy up. Seriously, I haven’t seen any other tin can guy like this.

73. How about an Indianapolis Colts horseshoe on your door?

After all, it’s a horse symbol. Not to mention, the polka dots on blue even add to its charm.

74. This Philadelphia Eagles wreath comes in the ribbon of its team spirit.

Let’s not mistake it for anything associated with the New York Jets. Because both teams use a similar color scheme.

75. This glass Pittsburgh Steeler snowman will melt your heart.

Yes, I know it’s another Steeler snowman. But this one is made from glass blocks and lights up. That’s different. Still, it’s adorable.

76. This Panthers wreath makes a charming addition to any Carolina home.

This only uses a rather simple design with a football, helmet, name, and ribbon. Love the ribbon though.

77. This crocheted New York Giants blanket is a real patchwork.

Guess this was made from a variety of different pattern squares in red, white, and blue. Hope it’s easy on the eyes.

78. Only a die hard Giants fan could hang a red and blue deco mesh football on their door.

You were probably relieved that it said “Giants” and not “Patriots.” I certainly was since the Pats aren’t known for exactly playing fair.

79. This Seattle Seahawks flower pot buddy is always great for growing things.

I know I had a lot of Seattle Seahawks stuff on this post. But I just couldn’t past this little guy up, especially with his little pot arms and legs. So cute.

80. Nothing makes a home game day more festive than a Baltimore Ravens bead wreath.

I know there were bead wreaths from other teams I could’ve used. I just felt this one looked the best. I don’t care what team it is.

The Interesting Life of NFL Merchandise (Second Edition)

Posted by historymaniacmegan on September 3, 2016

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Of course, the start of the NFL season marks that time of year when people watch the pro football games on TV while the more diehard fans spend loads of money on a bunch of overpriced NFL licensed crap. Yes, the NFL is perhaps the most commercially successful sports franchise in the country and it’s no wonder. But $300 for a jersey for God’s sake? That’s just highway robbery, man. Seriously, the NFL makes billions of dollars selling such shit. Not to mention, since more people watch NFL football than any other sport in the country, these games tend to be prime time for sponsors everywhere to air their new commercials whether they be for beer, food, cars, or boner pills. Actually, they’d advertise anything if they could get away with it. Nevertheless, the NFL’s commercial success in merchandise has provided so many products as well as the unlimited opportunity to make fun of them mercilessly. So I’ve decided to take full advantage of it like I did last year. Thus, I give you another collection of crazy officially licensed NFL crap to view for your reading pleasure.

This Green Bay Packers storage box is a perfect place for your Packers gear.

Hope it goes well with the green and yellow furniture in the room. May even double as a seat on certain occasions.

2. Play your favorite Madden video games with this Dallas Cowboys controller.

Or you can just buy a regular video game system that already has the controllers with them. Makes more sense.

3. Keep your furry friend warm this winter with this New England Patriots knit pet hat.

I don’t know about you. But I don’t think you need to buy this to keep your dog warm outside. Because they already have something that keeps their head warm. It’s called fur.

4. Dress up your little girl this season with their very own Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit.

From Bustle: ” If you had aspirations to audition to be a DCC (Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader) but didn’t make the cut, no need to worry. You can start training your baby girl with her very own mini-version of the iconic uniform.”

5. Keep your booze with you in this handy Jacksonville Jaguars hip flask.

This handy flask is best for sneaking booze in the stadium as well as drowning your sorrows when the Jaguars lose. Of course, the latter happens quite often.

6. Ladies, keep yourself warm with this Chicago Bears reflective bomber jacket.

From Bustle: “Athleisure, sports luxe, sporty chic — whatever you want to call it, wearing sweatpants in public is a fashion movement, ladies. For attending a sports event, it makes perfect sense. Yet this quilted varsity bomber jacket highly resembles a fire retardant blanket.”

7. Ladies, proclaim your support for the New England Patriots with this Patriots Diva T-Shirt.

Now there’s something I really like to know about this shirt. Do they make any for men? Because this shirt perfectly describes Tom Brady to a tee.

8. Dry yourself off with this Miami Dolphins hooded towel.

Well, it might be useful. However, the design on this one is ugly and wearing one like that seems kind of ridiculous to me.

9. There’s no reason not to be chic on game day without a Carolina Panthers caftan.

Sorry, but this a poncho. A Carolina Panthers poncho. And it looks pretty stupid if you wear it with shorts.

10. Impress your guests next time they come for the big game with this Oakland Raiders iron wrought door.

Really? An iron wrought door depicting the Oakland Raiders? Couldn’t they just use the door that came with the house. Sure it’s nothing fancy but at least they didn’t have to pay a bunch of money on it.

11. Support the Kansas City Chiefs with this flair hair hat.

So if you want to show support for the Chiefs while looking like Guy Fieri at a tailgate party, this is for you. Of course, how many people would wear this in public I don’t have the slightest idea.

12. Ladies, show your support for your Detroit Lions with this quality long sleeve shirt.

Has the “I’ll be your halftime show” on the back. And I know very what that means which has nothing to do with marching bands.

13. For your game room, these Green Bay Packers pool balls.

I’m sure regular pool balls will do just fine since they’re cheaper anyway. Seriously, I have no idea who buys crap like this.

14. Lounge by the pool drinking a cold one with this Pittsburgh Steelers beer floatie.

For some reason, I’m not a fan of having food and beverages in the pool. This especially goes for alcoholic drinks. This beer floatie is absurd.

15. Keep your pet warm and snug with this New Orleans Saints dog fleece.

For one, New Orleans isn’t a cold place during the winter. Secondly, even if it was, dogs already have something that keeps them warm and dry in colder weather just fine. It’s called fur.

16. Speaking of furry friends, any pooch is bound to enjoy this Chicago Bears chew toy.

For the love of God, you can buy regular chew toys for your dog almost anywhere for a cheaper price. And they won’t know the difference.

17. Light up your room with this Philadelphia Eagles helmet light.

I have one for an LSU light in the college merch post just so you know. Nevertheless, this Tiffany style lamp probably seems more fit for a bar room than anywhere else.

18. Fire up hotdogs and hamburgers on game day with this football shaped charcoal grill.

Yes, I’m familiar with people grilling stuff up on game day. But does the grill need to be football shaped? Probably not.

19. Enjoy Madden with your very own Seattle Seahawks Xbox.

Yes, video game systems are expensive. But does this mean you should buy them with your favorite team? Are you kidding me?

20. This Oakland Raiders candy dispenser is great in any room.

For one, this looks like something you’d see in a store. Second, people make their own. So why the NFL sells this is kind of pointless, really.

21. Keep warm during the colder months with your very own Miami Dolphins sweater vest.

Is it ever sweater weather in Miami during the winter? I thought winters there were at low temperatures of 75 degrees.

22. Show how you love big sacks, ladies, with this Detroit Lions T-shirt.

To those who don’t live in the US, a sack is a play in football when a quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can make a pass. Yet, I know the connotations one might get when looking at this shirt.

23. Carry your things to the game in your very own Philadelphia Eagles gym pack.

Yes, I know this was designed for kids. But does this mean having an eagle on the bag was a good idea? Not how I see it.

24. Open doors easier with this NFL licensed football pull doorknob.

Because why waste your time hurting your wrist and pulling the door open when you can have this? Because opening a regular door really isn’t that hard.

25. Watch the game on Sunday with your very own Miami Dolphins remote control.

Since when did anyone need a team issued remote control? Couldn’t a regular and cheaper remote do just fine? Crazy.

26. Own a piece of Green Bay Packers history with your very own check signed by Vince Lombardi.

Of course, this costs like $1700 but that’s beside the point. However, to me, this is seriously not worth it.

27. Show how much you love her with this Oakland Raiders heart necklace.

That is only if she specifically asks for one. If she doesn’t, then don’t. That’s all I have to say.

28. Keep your beverages well insulated with this Detroit Lions glitter thermal cup.

It even has glitter on it to appeal to women. Because women seem to like anything that sparkles. Seriously, why?

29. Have yourself laid to rest in none other than your very own Dallas Cowboys casket.

Now you can show your support to your beloved Cowboys from beyond the grave. Definitely fit for any overly devoted fan.

30. Keep yourself safe from danger with this Pittsburgh Steelers handgun.

Okay, NFL coffins are one thing. But NFL handguns, well, that’s completely fucked up. Seriously, guns are dangerous and people get killed by them every year. Why do they want to put team logos on them is beyond me.

31. Keep your room cool during the summer with this Pittsburgh Steelers ceiling fan.

Regular ceiling fans work just as well in any room. And at a lower price. So why is this necessary is beyond me.

32. You can cook anything for the big game on these Dallas Cowboy casserole dishes.

And you can cook anything on any casserole dish you buy in a store. They’ll also be cheaper, too. So these things shouldn’t be necessary.

33. Keep your food chilled for tailgate in this Dallas Cowboys cooler cart.

Resembles something you might see in some school cafeteria. Save for the place for drinks. Seriously, why?

34. Spice up the night with this San Francisco 49ers Enamour Chemise.

From Vice: “The French may have invented love but some genius who has only been close to women on the subway at rush hour came up with this number and slapped an iron-on NFL logo patch where lace meets highly flammable poly-blend. As an added bonus, the structured cups are so strong you could pour your Frappachino in there if you wanna go hands-free. The guy who made this thinks you can wear it anywhere, is why.”

35. Nothing’s more stylish for the big game than this All-Star long sleeved Dolman T-shirt from the New York Giants.

From Vice: “Knowing that a garment had a make-it-work moment when an overworked, underpaid, quite possibly underage garment worker fell asleep at the shears and sliced a hole in the arm empowers me to go on in this biggest make-it-work moment of all: life.”

36. Go to the game in style in these Jacksonville Jaguars high end sequin boots.

Sorry but I believe the time of sequins has passed after the 1980s. And the fact these are UGG boots make these even tackier.

37. March down the aisle on your big day with this Pittsburgh Steelers wedding dress.

For one, the dress looks more like it was made from some Steeler bedsheet than anything. It’s more like a long sun dress you’d wear at a family reunion. Not something for a wedding.

38. If you’re thirsty drink out of this large New York Patriots cup.

I don’t know about you. But it seems like whenever you’re sipping from the straw, you’re sipping from this guy’s head. Kind of creepy if you think about it.

39. Nothing makes you look more stylish than a pair of Baltimore Ravens suede wedge heels.

These ones are tackier than the ones I showed you last year. Because they have leopard printed on the insides. Probably overpriced.

40. Have your little one cuddle with their very own mustached dog plushie from the New England Patriots.

Sorry, but this dog doesn’t seem like he has a mustache. More likely he seems to be suffering from some fungal disease I probably saw on Wikipedia while I was researching the jackalope for my mythical creatures series.

41. Keep yourself warm during the big game with this Seattle Seahawks blanket coat.

It’s like a hooded snuggie that you wear the other way. Though it may keep you from freezing, it’ll also make you look like an idiot.

42. Nothing makes a hallway look better than this Philadelphia Eagles stairwell carpet.

Because in order to match the Eagles memorabilla, you must have Eagles hallway carpet. Couldn’t a plain white carpet do just fine? Or better yet, how about just leave the plain old wooden floor alone.

43. Carry around your things at the stadium with this Denver Broncos sequin decorated purse.

Well, it doesn’t have a lot of sequin decoration. But if it didn’t have any at all, it would’ve looked just fine and less expensive.

44. Have your furry friend rest nice and easy with this Green Bay Packers pet bed.

For God’s sake, chances are your pet doesn’t care about your team. And it will be just as happy if you give it a plain pet bed for a lower price at Pet Smart. Seriously, team pet stuff isn’t about the pets. It’s about the owners.

45. Always know what time it is with this Houston Texans cuckoo clock.

If it didn’t have the Houston Texans stuff on it, it would just be a plain red, white, and blue cuckoo clock. But putting football stuff doesn’t enhance its beauty at all.

46. Nothing says sexy time like a lacy Dallas Cowboy thong.

I know why women wear thongs and I’m sure it’s not for comfort. But seriously, why did someone think putting NFL names on it was necessary? It’s not.

47. Come home for the holidays in this Miami Dolphins ugly Christmas sweater.

If we’re talking about Miami Dolphin fans, I think an ugly Christmas light weight shirt would be more appropriate. But to each his own.

48. Keep your money safe in your very own New England Patriots piggy bank.

Because there’s no team that’s synonymous with integrity like the New England Patriots. You know the team known for spying on players with hidden cameras, deflating footballs, and tampering with radio signals.

49. Keep yourself warm this winter in your very own Miami Dolphins knitted cap.

Unless you live in Miami since it’s known for 80 degree winters. Yeah, I’m sure it wouldn’t be necessary in a place like that.

50. Keep your wine on hand with this Pittsburgh Steelers wine holder.

It even has a clear metal basket to store corks. Nevertheless, do they have one for box of wine? Because my dad usually goes with that.

51. Get yourself high on life with this Oakland Raiders marijuana pipe.

Yes, it does exist and it's only legally sold to those with a medical marijuana prescription in California. Yet, legal to anyone in Colorado or Washington State.

Yes, it does exist and it’s only legally sold to those with a medical marijuana prescription in California. Yet, legal to anyone in Colorado and Washington State.

52. Now your furry friend can support your team in this Miami Dolphins pet tutu dress.

I don’t think this little dog is liking being in this outfit. I mean do dogs really care about sports? No. So why buy something like that? It’s ridiculous.

53. There’s nothing your man will like more than to see you wearing Seattle Seahawk nipple pasties.

Really? Seahawk nipple pasties? I can understand a Seattle stripper buying these. But anyone else, not so much.

54. Support your team with this Philadelphia Eagles cosmos hat.

Think of seeing your NFL team logo on a trippy backdrop. Might go best when smoking dope with an NFL pot pipe.

55. Enjoy hours of fun with this NFL Rush Zone board game.

I don’t know about you. But I think this would be more appropriate as a video game than a board game. Perhaps for fairly obvious reasons.

56. Entertain guests during the big game with a Saint Louis Rams cheese board.

Because there’s no reason why watching the big game should be like going to a cocktail party. You got to have some class here.

57. Eating on ears of corn hasn’t been better than with a pair of Rams corn cob holders.

You can buy corn cob holders anywhere for a small price. Why do these even exist and as footballs? Because it really doesn’t do well with finger grips.

58. Keep your license plate held up on your car with these Saint Louis Rams license plate screws.

Because why deal with regular screws that have been on your car to begin with? After all, people want to see fancy plate screws even if they can’t see them.

59. Relieve chapped lips with a tube of Saint Louis Rams lip balm.

After all, there’s nothing like supporting your team than buying a tube of overpriced chapstick you’ll probably lose before you’re done with it. Yeah, ridiculous.

60. Always be prepared for anything with a Saint Louis Rams roadside emergency kit.

Look, I can understand that an roadside emergency kit is useful. But why go with an overpriced NFL licensed one if you can buy a regular one from almost anywhere? That just doesn’t make sense to me.

61. Always keep control of the road with a Saint Louis Rams steering wheel.

Because why deal with the steering wheel you already had when you bought the car? It doesn’t show support for your team. Seriously, why?

62. Listen to the sounds of country with former Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaws I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.

Yes, this does exist as I’ve seen it on Pinterest. However, I doubt that you’ll find anything good on it.

63. Keep your pet nice and warm in this Houston Texans dog hoodie.

Not sure how cold it gets in Houston. But if it does, I’m well aware that dogs already have something that could keep them warm and dry. It’s called fur.

64. Support your team with this Houston Texans: 1961 AFC Champions T-Shirt.

Just ignore the fact it was the Houston Texans have only been around since 2002. That it was the Houston Oilers who won the 1961 AFC Championship. And that the Houston Oilers are now the Tennessee Titans. So the 1961 AFC Championship bit shouldn’t be on there.

65. Decorate your garden with this Carolina Panthers tree face.

Whether on or off a tree, this kind of decoration is unsettling. Maybe because it puts a face where it shouldn’t belong.

66. Nothing makes you more manly than a Washington Redskins assault rifle.

Especially recommended for white men with masculinity issues. Seriously, other than killing people, assault weapons have no other purpose. So there’s no point they should even be legal.

67. Always be handy with your own Dallas Cowboys Swiss Army knife.

For nothing says you love America’s Football Team like having a pocket knife that was invented in a country that hasn’t fought a war for centuries. Yes, I’m talking about Switzerland, folks.

68. Wrap your presents with some Kansas City Chiefs wrapping paper.

Because why wrap your son’s birthday gifts in the cheap wrapping paper you can find anywhere? I mean you’re just going to throw it away afterwards anyway.

69. Have hours of fun playing New England Patriots Monopoly.

It’s not only the only game where cheating’s allowed but also encouraged. Just ask Tom Brady and Bill Bellichek.

70. Keep snug and warm this winter in a pair of Miami Dolphins leggings.

Of course, if you live in Miami, expect them to be covered in sweat when you’re done with them. Because Miami’s a hot place.

71. Keep your beer on hand with this Houston Texans beer cozy.

Isn’t beer supposed to be a cold beverage? So why does this exist? We’re not in Europe!

72. Keep your ingredients organized with these Dallas Cowboys kitchen containers.

Each one is marked with a navy blue Dallas star. Though you could find similarly plain ones at any place that sells kitchen wear. And at a lower price.

73. Keep your beverages cool with this Kansas City Chiefs six pack cooler.

You can even fit bottles and cans in them. Of course, you can fit a lot more in a regular cooler. But why would you want that?

74. Show your team is great with this replica 2005 Philadelphia Eagles NFC Championship Ring.

From SB Nation: “Now whenever makes a joke about how the Eagles have “no rings” you can show them this. And then they will still laugh at you.”

75. For evenings during the game, impress your guests with a Denver Broncos fire pit.

It’s a fire pit with the Denver Broncos logo. But the horse looks especially menacing in flames.

76. Nothing looks better on a girl than a pair of Hello Kitty Denver Broncos earrings.

Just what the hell does Hello Kitty have to do with NFL football? I don’t understand it.

77. Support your team by wearing this Hello Kitty Denver Broncos stadium pin.

Once again, I don’t understand the connection between Hello Kitty and football. Seriously, why does this even exist?

78. No quality rec room should be without a Pittsburgh Steelers dart board.

Enjoy hours playing a bar room game specifically designed for the designated drivers. Because you know what drunk Steeler fans would do in a game of darts.

79. Make sure your devices are juiced with a 1600 mah Baltimore Ravens power bar.

When I looked at this, I had no idea what this was used for. And to be honest, I’m still not sure what its exact purpose is.

80. Enjoy a garden breeze with this Pittsburgh Steeler wind chime.

Okay, the concept of this seems good. But the colors on this are all wrong. the star colors are supposed to be gold, red, and blue. Not red, white, and blue.

NFL Fans Dressed and Ready for Game Day (Second Edition)

Posted by historymaniacmegan on September 2, 2016

Once again, here am I outside in my Pittsburgh Steelers regalia with my Terrible Towel. Unlike last year, I have on a Steeler sweatshirt even though it’s not the kind of weather to wear it. But along with the hat, it’s to make my outfit different than it was last year.

Along with children going back to school, one of the things that marks the dying days of summer is none other than the start of the NFL football season. Last year, I did a post on crazy NFL fans dressing up in a variety of ridiculous costumes which got a rather pleasing reception. So I decided to do another for this year. Besides, you can’t capture the fan craziness out in the NFL in just one post. Nevertheless, those who ask why I do posts on NFL football over other sports. Well, even though I’m not a big sports fan I do have my reasons. First, NFL football is a huge deal in the US and is the most popular pro sport in the country. And it’s especially popular in my neck of the woods where almost everyone’s favorite pro sports team is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Second, unlike basketball, hockey, and baseball, it has a definite season that spans from September to January as well as pre-season period in August and a post-season period to February. Third, the Super Bowl is treated as an unofficial national holiday and is normally the most watched thing on TV of any given year. If you look at any most watched TV broadcasts ever in the US, most of them will revolve around Super Bowls. Hell, the only broadcasts that weren’t Super Bowls on the list are the finales of M*A*S*H and Cheers (which coincidentally aired the very day my sister was born). Fourth, my college alma mater Saint Vincent in Latrobe has paid host to Steelers training camp since the late 1960s which draws large crowds. And finally, since my dad is a big Steeler fan, I grew up more exposed to NFL football more than most pro sports. But he’s not nearly as crazy as these people. So for your reading pleasure, I give you another treasure trove of crazy NFL fans in their full team regalia.

Sorry, Christians, but it turns out that the Lord Jesus Christ is for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Okay, it’s a Steeler fan dressed like Jesus. But I know a lot of Christians won’t like this, especially if they’re from Dallas, Cincinnati, Baltimore, New England, or anywhere outside Pittsburgh.

2. This dad tries his best to bring up his son in the Houston Texans tradition.

Like how he has a matching stroller. Of course, I guess his kid isn’t old enough for the bull horns and face paint.

3. You don’t have to be human to show your love to the Green Bay Packers.

Because even this bull dog is a known cheesehead. Then again, their owner most likely is and it doesn’t really care about sports.

4. Since Stephen King lives in Maine, it’s only natural for killer clowns to cheer for the New England Patriots.

Well, I’m not sure if Stephen King even cares about NFL football. But he did write at least one story featuring a killer clown. And he is from New England. So it fits.

5. This Oakland Raiders fan gives no bones about what you think.

Yes, I know I had to include Raiders fans in this post at some point. Doesn’t hurt he he’s wearing an autographed helmet, too.

6. Don’t look now, but I’d watch out for this guy’s cheese.

Because for this Packers’ fan, his cheese on a stick has teeth. So if you’re not a fan of the Green Bay Packers, you might want to watch out.

7. Apparently, Oakland Raider fans aren’t the only scary sports enthusiasts out there.

These Houston Texans fans wear skull masks and funny hats. But they take their team so seriously that you should be wary to laugh in front of them in their silly costumes.

8. This Cincinnati Bengals’ fan would surely stand out in their large striped cowboy hat.

Doesn’t hurt this person has the make up and accessories to match. Wouldn’t want to sit near someone like that in the stands.

9. In Seattle, don’t be surprised to see Seahawks fans in feather headdresses like this one.

Interestingly, the Seattle Seahawks logo design is most likely taken from Pacific Northwest Native American totem poles. But nobody discusses it. Then again, the design might be a coincidence anyway.

10. Speaking of the Seahawks, this crazy colored gorilla always seems to turn out for them.

Then again, he might be a sasquatch who keeps to himself in the forest and only turns out for Seahawks games. Why Bigfoot enthusiasts don’t notice, we’ll never know.

11. This old gnome always goes for his beloved Oakland Raiders.

He even wears, chains, swords, and skulls for good measure. So don’t try to mistake him for some evil henchman from some fantasy story. He’s just a Raiders fan.

12. This Seahawks fan never hesitates to show off his prized bobble head doll.

Don’t mind that he has a skull face and a large blue mohawk. He’s just really proud of his team.

13. When his Minnesota Vikings need more power, he never hesitates to cut the cheese.

There’s another guy who wears a chainsaw hat for Dallas. But I think the one pertaining to Green Bay is funnier.

14. As Green Bay Packers call themselves cheeseheads, Chicago Bears fans go with graters.

You have to admit it, the concept is very clever. After all, Green Bay and Chicago are big rivals since they're in the same NFC conference.

You have to admit it, the concept is very clever. After all, Green Bay and Chicago are big rivals since they’re in the same NFC division.

15. This Washington Redskins fan goes to the games in his best feather headdress.

Native Americans, I give you full permission to look upon this man in disdain for offending your culture. Then again, how many times have there been calls to get to Washington Redskins to change their damn name. Because “redskin” is a derogatory racial slur.

16. Seems like the Thing really enjoys his Cincinnati Bengals.

As for why he only has one large fist, I really can’t say. Guess he lost the other one?

17. These Cincinnati Bengal fans could make cowboy hats from six pack boxes.

Yet, while one woman goes for Miller, the other goes for Coors. Nevertheless, they’re on the same team so it doesn’t matter what beer they drink.

18. Any demonic papa would be proud to bring up a child in the Denver Broncos tradition.

Even better when both father and child wear jerseys with the same number. Not sure if this is heartwarming or creepy. Okay, it’s kind of ridiculous. Then again, that may not really be a child.

19. Hey, I didn’t know Hulk Hogan was a Buffalo Bills fan.

Actually this is a Buffalo Bills fan dressed as Hulk Hogan. But you have to admire his mustache and feather boas.

20. This Steelers fan always attends the game in stripes.

But even he wouldn’t wear those ugly bumblebee throwback uniforms.But he would paint his face in stripes.

21. Let’s hope the Green Bay Packers don’t fail Vader this year.

Because Darth Vader possess a strong power guided by the Force and hates when people fail him. So if the Packers suffer a losing season, some of them may not be back next year. Like Aaron Rodgers.

22. Sometimes a Raiders fan just has to go with the skulls and a full shoulder pad rib cage.

Yes, I know real rib cages on humans don’t look like that. But I don’t think this guy gives a shit. Also, the skulls have swords stabbed through them.

23. What the hell is Walter White doing at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game?

Okay, this is a Buccaneers fan in a biohazard suit akin to Walter White. Very different story. But crazy just the same. Wonder if he gets hot in there.

24. This Dallas Cowboy fan only went with nothing but a hat, cape, and face paint.

I guess he’s going to be a very itchy man by the end of the game. But he seem to feel like it’s worth all the trouble for the photo.

25. You underestimate how much the undead support the Miami Dolphins.

Because he really seems to get himself out there. And compared to his team, he really scares the shit out of you.

26. Scary Ohio clowns go for the Cleveland Browns.

Unfortunately, for this guy, he might be more intimidating than the team. Seriously, the Browns aren’t well-known for their penchant for winning.

27. So I guess the people of Kansas City, Missouri love their team so much that even their high church leaders go for the Chiefs.

Okay, he’s just a fan dressed as a bishop or the Pope. But I think the red Chief vestments suit him.

28. Just because she’s wearing black birds, doesn’t mean she’s a Ravens fan.

In fact, she supports the Oakland Raiders. And she even makes herself more mysterious with a mosaic mirror mask.

29. Saint Vince is always cheering for his Green Bay Packers on the sidelines.

Saint Vince is a legend among Green Bay Packers fans that I just had to include him. By the way, the “Vince” here is Vince Lombardi. And he even has a cheese staff, too.

30. This man gets on a horse to support his beloved Denver Broncos.

Yes, it’s a face horse he’s wearing. But it still looks incredibly outrageous that I had to include it.

31. For this Detroit Lions fan, he can’t go wrong with a lion hat and sunglasses.

Then again, given how the Lions aren’t known for their winning seasons, such costume might be enough. But it’s good enough for this post.

32. When it gets cold, these guys show up to Packers games in scarves, ear muffs, and striped overalls.

They also dye their hair green and paint their faces for support. Yes, they look outrageous but they don’t care.

33. Surprised to see Thor and Iron Man at a New Orleans Saints game.

Thought football would be among the last things they’d be concerned about. Then again, that Thor has dark hair so it’s probably not really them.

34. Somehow this Dallas Cowboy fan has to show that his team are champions.

Yes, I know that the Dallas Cowboys have won 5 Super Bowls. But they haven’t won one since the 1990s when they were up against the….okay, maybe I shouldn’t go there.

35. Sometimes a Carolina Panthers fan has to take the big paws out.

And with the pig paws this guy certainly has. Even has his face painted and blue hair to boot.

36. This Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan even lends his horn for the team.

Of course, the baubles around his neck don’t make him seem very intimidating. But perhaps he’s in a yuletide mood at this point.

37. To these Philadelphia Eagles fans, the game is for the birds.

And by that, I mean large birds of prey who aren’t falcons. Like that one guy’s beak, by the way.

38. While Green Bay has the Packers bulldog, Pittsburgh has its own Steeler poodle.

Yes, this was done with pet body paint which most veterinarians ask pet owners not to do. But this is just hysterical that I had to put it in.

39. Even western bikers go for the Oakland Raiders.

And as far as I know about Raider fans, these two will fit right in. And they’d even be seen as normal in comparison.

40. This Saint Louis Rams fan goes all out with the horns.

Yet, since the Rams decided to return to LA, it’s hard to tell for much longer. Mostly because sports fandoms can be unpredictable things.

41. Guess someone has already hulked out at the Green Bay Packers game.

So is this a very good thing or a very bad thing. Also, I don’t think hulks look great in yellow clown wigs but that’s just my opinion.

42. The Bronconator always has two unicorns on his side during a game in Denver.

Yes, those are unicorn figurines. But do you think he really cares? Probably not. Then again, they could be horses all along.

43. Seems like the masked Charger Cowboy and Bolt Man are very good friends.

Seems like neither is a fan of the Indianopolis Colts. But down in San Diego, they seem like old pals.

44. When it comes to supporting the Chicago Bears, there are no limits to foam.

Here is this guy with foam paws and a bear hat. And he seems really psyched up for the game.

45. Apparently, Oakland Raider fans are a scary bunch.

Doesn’t help that they dress in creepy black and white costumes. And I sure as hell wouldn’t want to run into this guy.

46. Seems like the Buffalo Bills fans support Rex Ryan by the foot.

Not sure what the feet are supposed to mean. But I wonder what the guys in front of them would think about them. Because that would be interesting.

47. For this Baltimore Ravens fan, it’s purple hair or no hair.

He also goes with beads, hard hat, and purple face paint for good measure. Let’s hope he’s not going to a Steelers game.

48. This luchador Chicago Bears fan is ready to rumble.

Seems like I have a lot of Chicago Bear fans on this post already. Not really sure why.

49. One has to be quite ingenious to have their own Pats hat.

And it seems to resemble the logo quite well if you look at it at this angle. Though we all know what the New England Patriots are like (cheaters).

50. No, I don’t think that’s the Green Bay Packer cheerleading squad.

In fact, I bet any money that these are all guys. Still, you have to admire their sense of humor in this one.

51. Didn’t expect to see a Transformer at a Cincinnati Bengals game.

He even has the shoulder pads and jersey to match. Which begs the question for me.

52. This Indianapolis Colts fan has her team on her lips.

They’re probably fake lips. But they still look just as ridiculous along with the clown wig and glasses.

53. This New Orleans Saints fan even has some gold teeth to spare.

Let’s hope those teeth are fake which they most likely are. Yet, they seem to go well with the hat.

54. Supergirl always cheers for her New York Giants.

Wait, doesn’t Supergirl have blond hair? So this probably can’t really be her.

55. This luchador always goes out of the way to support his New England Patriots.

Even though spandex is hardly a great insulator. And the fact, a lot of fans outside New England hate them.

56. This Steeler fan will do whatever it takes to see his team win.

Even if it means donning a Steeler suit of spandex. Not sure if that’s even comfortable. But he’s proud of it.

57. Looks like we’ve come across one of the infamous Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders.

Okay, that’s a fat guy dressed as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. But if he wants to dress like that, it’s his choice. Even if he looks utterly ridiculous.

58. Apparently, this Elvis is an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers.

He even has it on his maroon jacket if you know where to look. And I thought Elvis was more of a Titans fan.

He even has it on his maroon jacket if you know where to look. And I thought Elvis was more of a Titans or Panthers fan.

59. Oh, no, the Miami gorillas are on the loose!

No need to worry, they’re Dolphins fans just here for the big game. How they got into street clothes, I’ll never know.

60. Sometimes you need a hat to cover your head now and then.

And there seems to be no shortage of Green Bay Packers fans in outlandish costumes. This one included but his outfit is mild compared to some.

61. Blueberry always tries to make his Indianapolis Colts his top priority.

Doesn’t hurt that he has a Colt hat and paints his face blue. Wonder how long it takes for him to prepare for a big game.

62. Looks like the Gremlins express support for the New Orleans Saints.

Guess anyone in New Orleans doesn’t have to worry about their electronics and appliances falling apart during football season on Sunday. Because these two will be watching the game.

63. This Green Bay Packer fan is always excited when his team scores.

He’s even wearing a field gold hat and has everything in green and yellow. So he’s all pumped up for the Packer game.

64. Does that guy have an Eagle on his chest?

Apparently, he’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan even if the eagle is a bit large on him. Wonder how he carries himself in that jersey.

65. This pirate always tries to look his best at an Oakland Raiders game.

Well, at least he’s not wearing a skull mask, spikes, or skulls all over him. Like his hat.

66. For some reason, this creepy Arizona Cardinals fan likes to show up in a red feather suit.

Yes, I know his face will give you nightmares. But he’s just here to watch the Cardinals. So it’s no big deal.

67. For lady Viking fans, always go with purple hair in Minnesota.

Furry cone Viking helmets also work by the way. Even if they have braids dropping from them.

68. Check out this undead Raiders’ fan’s bony fingers.

Yes, they may be big and bony. But you’d certainly not want this Raider’s fan to show up at your house at night.

69. This Buffalo Bills fan always cheers for his team to lead the charge.

Yet, since the Bills aren’t among the best NFL teams they probably wont. Kind of feel sorry for this guy.

70. Those who liked the Denver Broncos Barrel Man in last year’s NFL fan post will like Barrel Boy.

He’s like the Barrel Man but more pint sized. And incredibly adorable, too.

71. Not all Oakland Raiders fans are tall and scary. Some look quite chic.

This woman is wearing a corset and leather along with her scary Raiders makeup. But hers only covers half her face.

72. This Houston Texan fan always like to accentuate his shoulder pads before the big game.

And yes, it looks really ridiculous. But not to this guy. To him, he looks cool.

73. This Cincinnati Bengals’ fan would never leave home without his Bengal hat.

Doesn’t hurt if he paints his face with Bengal stripes to match. Even though he might stand out from a crowd.

74. For the New York Jets, no one can possibly ever forget old Fireman Ed.

Fireman Ed is one of the better known New York Jets characters. Can always be recognized by his fireman’s hat. Crazy.

75. This Miami Dolphins fan goes all out on her orange and white.

Doesn’t matter if she’s tacky in her large orange hat. As long as she’s wearing Dolphins, it’s all good.

76. This Buffalo Bills fan will even wear sequins for his beloved team.

He’ll also wear arm covers with red and white strips descending from them. But he feels it’s all worth it.

77. The Celebrity Queen proudly supports her New England Pats.

Sure they may be cheaters. But as long as she’s concerned, they’re her cheaters and she still loves them. Same can be said regarding other Patriot fans.

78. There’s no costume that’s too elaborate and over the top for this New Orleans Saints fan.

And yes, he’s dressed in feathers galore like he works in some Las Vegas show. Wonder how he manages to sit in the stands during the game.

79. There’s never enough pom poms for this Pittsburgh Steeler fan.

And yes, he’s all covered in them from head to toe. He may even have some left over, too.

80. Not sure what to think about this Bengals fan making a hat from the old pigskin.

Sure the Bengals play football. But that just makes anyone look pretty strange. Doesn’t help with the foam paws either.

81. I guess you can call these guys the literal Dallas Cowboys.

Yeah, I don’t think the Dallas Cowboys are actual cows. But I think these costumes are udderly hilarious. Love it.

82. No, I don’t think that’s a Steeler cheerleader for they don’t exist.

Just another fat Steeler fan in a skimpy outfit and wig. Yeah, he doesn’t look great in that outfit.

83. This Miami Dolphins fan has a dolphin on each shoulder.

He even has pom poms and face paint for good measure. But compared to a few other Miami fans, his costume is quite tame.

84. This Green Bay Packer fan sees himself as a fence painter.

Or a “defense painter” to be more specific. Nevertheless, wouldn’t want to sit behind him in the stadium during a game or beside him.

85. The New York Giants Queen seems to have something to say.

I guess this is a Giants parody of the Patriots’ Celebrity Queen. Makes sense. At least the signs are funnier.

86. Any room for two big skulls in Baltimore?

Don't worry, they're just skull masks. I'm sure Ray Lewis isn't hiding in one of them. Honest.

Don’t worry, they’re just skull masks. I’m sure these women aren’t meaning to frighten anyone.

87. Baltimore’s Captan Dee Fense is always at the Ravens’ side.

Yes, there’s an actual guy like this in Baltimore. However, the Ravens didn’t seem to go for defense much last season. Heh, heh.

88. This Steeler fan always goes for some more Cowher Power.

Unfortunately, Cowher hasn’t coached the Steelers for some time now. But this guy’s hat is totally ridiculous.

89. Warbonnet and spiked shoulder pads, a great Redskins fan do make.

But when it comes to Native American relations, you wouldn’t want to show up in a pow wow in this. Seriously, Native Americans don’t view wearing warbonnets in sporting events very highly at all.

90. In Houston, Elvis always makes his support for the Texans perfectly clear.

Yes, he has the Houston Texans logo on the back of his cape. And it’s all sparkly, too.

91. This Browns fan has his hat dripping with bones.

Let’s hope he doesn’t attract any dogs with them. Also would say the same about the sausage around his neck.

92. These Dallas Cowboy fans have their love for their team on their chests.

And in full body paint, too. One of them has the Dallas star in a jigsaw puzzle mode.

93. Even Santa Claus thinks that the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best in the NFL.

He even has a gold suit to show for it. Just see him wave the iconic Terrible Towel.

94. Guess this German barmaid is dressed to support the Minnesota Vikings.

After all, the Midwest is full of Germans and Scandinavians. Or at least it was. Still, this is clever.

95. Guess you’ll always have to have one crazy Jack-o-Lantern rooting for the Cleveland Browns.

Then again, he’s bound to give more nightmares to children than the team ever will. Seriously, the Browns aren’t known for winning a lot.

96. Darth Maul doesn’t like it one bit when there’s a call against his Vikings.

Sure he’s supposed to have a red and black face. But the overall costume is brilliant.

97. Seems like this Jacksonville Jaguars fan has bee under the weather lately.

After all, he seems to have a lot of junk in his hair. Maybe because it’s due to hurricane season.

98. Looks like flaming hair tends to run in this family.

Oh, wait they’re Tennessee Titan fans. And they really seem to be dressed their best for the game. Probably it might be since they’re rich enough for front row seating.

99. Atlanta Falcons fans always tailgate in feathers.

Wonder what this woman is doing here. Probably some dance or having a good time. Hope she doesn’t get those feathers everywhere.

100. Here we have 2 Steeler fans who came all the way from Mexico.

You can tell by their black and gold ponchos and sombreros. But they must be very diehard fans to travel this far.

Not Licensed By the NCAA College Athletic Craft Projects

Posted by historymaniacmegan on August 26, 2016

CFBMapIII

So I’m down with fan costumes and merchandise. Now it’s on to college sport craft projects. You might’ve noticed that unlike the NFL craft post, I didn’t include a picture of myself. Mostly because I don’t have any college sport craft projects so I decided to go with the college football fan map instead. I figured since college football season is soon to begin next week. And if I decide to go with a craft post during March Madness, I’ll use a basketball one. Anyway, you may not think that sports and crafts go together if you haven’t been on Pinterest or Etsy. Yet, even though more men like sports and women do crafts, understand that there are plenty of female sports fans out there as well a guys who do crafts. Then there are college athletes like famed Penn State football player Rosie Grier who later played for the LA Rams and took up needlepoint as a hobby. If you look on Pinterest, you’ll find a lot more sports team crafts on there than you can imagine. However, when it came to looking for craft projects in college sports, it’s a bit tricky. Along with the merchandise, I had to google names of several different colleges to find them. Because if you just type anything relating to college sports crafts, you’ll just end up finding stuff mostly from Alabama and LSU trust me. So for your reading pleasure, I give you a treasure trove of the unique craft projects of college sports. Most of the craft projects featured will be representative of Division I teams, naturally.

Any Iowa Hawkeye fan would love to drink from this painted wine glass.

Of course, these glasses are never for drinking. But I’m sure Iowa fans would want one anyway.

2. Tennessee Volunteer fans would definitely adore this football door hanging.

It’s in orange and white with polka dot lines. But it’s a rather charming football decoration.

3. With an old window frame and tiles, you’ll have this Alabama Crimson Tide board.

You can even use it to write things down like a shopping list or Alabama’s football record. This person uses chalk.

4. Any Mountaineers fan would surely envy anyone with this WVU quilt.

Sure it might not look like much. But it’s sure to keep warm during cold evening games in Morgantown.

5. Georgia Bulldog fans will definitely want a wreath like this for their front door.

Yes, it may seem quite fancy from what you’d expect from a college sports wreath. But fans are bound to love it.

6. This Iowa State wreath is all covered in ribbons.

Iowa State is the other Iowa university but the one you probably don’t hear about. Unless you live in Iowa. However, its fanbase is mostly concentrated around Ames.

7. At this house marks Mountaineer country.

Yes, this is a WVU ribbon wreath. But I think the arrow really makes it work here.

8. Anyone at Happy Valley will love these Penn State pillow cushions.

This is a fairly simple design with just “We Are Penn State.” But it’s effective.

9. This WVU wreath will make a welcome addition to almost any West Virginia door.

Yes, it’s another WVU wreath. But I really like this design and how the letter stand out that I had to put it in the post.

10. This UNC wreath is certainly a charm on any front door.

This one has white and silver berries as well as shiny ribbon. And the UNC letters are in a whimsical font.

11. Any fan of the Buckeyes will want this Ohio State pallet on their wall.

It depicts the Ohio State logo with the state of Ohio. What Ohio State fan wouldn’t want that?

12. University of Washington Huskies fans might like to have these blocks on their mantle.

Sure each may have a decoration. But “Huskies” is in purple in order to really stand out. Adorable.

13. Sometimes at Ohio State, it’s best to aim for simplicity.

This Ohio State ribbon wreath does exactly that. Just the logo and flowers. That’s it.

14. When it counts, best to have Auburn University in big bright letters.

Yes, it might require electricity and somewhere to be plugged in. But you have to admit, it’s a dazzling sight.

15. Kansas State Wildcat fans might go with a simpler approach to their front door.

This purple yarn wreath only has KSU, a white flower, and a white ribbon. But it looks charming just the same.

16. Even a Fightin’ Irish need some rest which this Notre Dame chair is well suited for.

This is a wooden chair painted with Notre Dame colors. And yes, the Fightin’ Leprechaun is in the seat.

17. Any Oregon Duck fan will want to hang this decomesh wreath on their door.

This one has the Oregon University colors as well as a ribbon. Love the decorations on this.

This one has the Oregon University colors as well as two ribbons. Love the decorations on this.

18. Penn State will always remain with Nittany Lion fans forever.

Penn State fans seem to be that way for some reason, especially the alumni. Of course, my dad didn’t care for Joe Pa he was a major reason why PSU didn’t play Pitt for decades.

19. For Purdue Boilermaker fans, this bottle lamp will light up a room.

Purdue is in Indiana. They’re called the Boilermakers because of the railroad system. And their Boilermaker Special mascot is a nice, shiny train.

20. With old junk, you can make a charming Crimson Tide elephant.

This was made from old license plates and a shovel. I think it looks better than Alabama’s real mascot.

21. Longhorns fan should store their candy in this handy dispenser.

I’ve put a lot of these in various craft posts. But this seems to only require a flower pot and a fish bowl as far as I’m concerned.

22. Iowa Hawkeye fans will want to cuddle with this Iowa pillow.

It’s a pillow of the state of Iowa. And I guess the heart is where the University of Iowa is. Makes sense.

23. This Alabama Crimson Tide wreath is great to hang anywhere.

This uses yarn and houndsooth ribbon as well as an “A” and flowers. Any Tide fan would want to roll with it.

24. Tell your Texas team to “Hook Em’ Horns” with this wreath.

Yes, it’s a University of Texas decomesh wreath. No, I don’t like the colors. But at least a Longhorn fan might enjoy it.

25. A Michigan State Spartan fan must keep warm with a knitted hat like this.

It’s a knitted Spartan hat. May not protect you in battle against the Persians. But will keep you warm in Michigan weather.

26. Any Auburn Tiger fan should have a floral wreath at their door.

Well, this is lovely. Love the ribbon and blue flowers. Gives a nice homey feel.

27. For Gamecocks fans, this University of South Carolina wreath should suit your fancy.

If it wasn’t for the darker red and the logo, I would’ve thought it was a Crimson Tide wreath. And yes, their team is called the Gamecocks. I did not make that up.

28. No Nittany Lion fan could ever resist this PSU wine glass.

Sure it’s not as fancy as the Iowa wine glass. But it does have a certain charm to it. Like the ribbon.

29. Light up the room at night with this wooden WVU lantern.

It’s very simple but it’s well painted with blue and yellow. Perfect for any Mountaineer fan.

30. This yarn Michigan Wolverine wreath has an intricate floral design.

Guess it took a lot of time with the decorations. But it certainly looks lovely in front of the window.

31. There’s nothing more quaint than a yarn Baylor wreath.

This wreath may use a green and yellow diamond pattern. But it’s certainly a wonder to look at.

32. Blue ribbons and baubles go great with a yellow WVU window frame.

Love the decor on this. Great to hang on the wall. Who knew West Virginians could be so creative?

33. This Notre Dame wreath will make a rustic addition to any Fightin’ Irish home.

Sure it might not be as showy as some of the wreaths. But I like the wooden panel as well as the ribbons on here.

34. This simple frame will satisfy any Crimson Tide fan.

It just has a lovely bow and “Bama.” What more can a Tide fan want?

35. Auburn Tigers should carry their things in this bucket.

This is decorated in orange and navy blue polka dots. And it’s lined with a striped orange ribbon.

36. This Nebraska Husker wreath is made of rather fine feathers.

Well, fake feathers, anyway. But you have to love how the decorated N really stands out.

37. Don’t worry this, LSU Tiger crab won’t hurt you.

Yes, it’s a LSU crab and it’s painted as a tiger for decorative purposes. I know what you’re thinking but to me, it’s cool.

38. Make your Spartan pride soar with this Michigan State bottle lamp.

I know it has an “S” on it. But it’s representative of Michigan State. Don’t ask me how that works.

39. Let the light in with this Michigan State Spartan suncatcher.

Of course, it’s not really a craft project. But since some people do make their own suncatchers, I’ll allow it.

40. Georgia Southern Eagles fans should really enjoy a wreath like this.

I know the Georgia State Panthers isn't as popular as the Georgia Bulldogs. But I love GSU's color scheme.

I know the Georgia Southern Eagles aren’t as popular as the Georgia Bulldogs. But I love GSU’s color scheme.

41. Any Hawkeye fan could ever dream of having this Iowa table.

I think this was more of pet project and is probably not for sale. But I can see why they’d take pride in producing it.

42. Any Wolverine fan would treasure this stained glass Michigan block.

This stained glass block is surely a gem. Like how the light shines through the blue and gold.

43. A UCLA Bruins fan should keep their head snug with this crocheted cap.

Bruins are bears, by the way. Just so you didn’t know that. Yet, the light blue and yellow go very well with the bear ears.

44. This striped LSU Tiger wreath certainly has character.

Yes, it may have a few flowers. But the real spirit in this wreath is in the purple and gold stripes.

45. If your baby needs to rest on the go, this Mizzou cover will do quite nicely.

Well, that looks quite cute. Like the stripes on it. Very creative.

46. For Clemson Tiger fans, there’s nothing to hate about this wreath.

I think this person used letter tiles for this. Gives the wreath its whimsical charm.

47. This Alabama Crimson Tide owl is certainly a hoot.

The owl is red with houndsooth wings. But fans will surely find it adorable.

48. This Notre Dame bauble wreath will surely make the game a festive occasion.

The baubles may be made from glass and metal. But it’s great for a Christmas decoration if the Fightin’ Irish make the BCS Bowl series.

49. Any FSU fan would envy anyone with a mosaic Seminole table.

Someone seems to have too much time on their hands to do this. But I do admire the craftsmanship.

50. Any Penn State football fan would adore these Nittany Lion nesting dolls.

Not sure who all these players are. But I do think these dolls are very well made. Lovely.

51. This LSU deco mesh wreath will make any game a party.

Sure it might not have any Mardi Gras beads. But it has tiger stripes on the letters so that’s something.

52. A true Ohio State fan would certainly hang this buckeye wreath on their front door.

This is decorated with buckeye nuts and moss. Very fitting with the Ohio State spirit and very creative.

53. State College birds will rejoice with this Penn State birdhouse.

This one has a license plate over it. Not sure if it enhances the appeal. But Nittany Lion fans will enjoy it.

54. This glass window is sure to make any Georgia Bulldogs fan rejoice.

Yes, it’s an old window that’s decorated with Georgia Bulldog stuff. A must for any diehard fan.

55. This little Ohio State lighthouse is sure to be a Buckeye delight.

This is a light that’s made from flower pots. Like the lamp on the top as well as the painting.

56. Nothing is more festive for a Notre Dame game than this Mardi Gras bead wreath.

An LSU one would’ve been more appropriate. But I really like this Notre Dame one for some reason. Perhaps blue and gold are a great combination.

57. This Iowa end table will go quite nicely at any Hawkeye home.

Has Iowa on all sides in wooden letters. And it’s certainly well painted. Someone must have too much time on their hands.

58. Nittany Lions fans are bound to fawn over this Penn State wreath.

It’s deco mesh with ribbons. But it also has a wooden Penn State panel in the center where it counts.

59. These crocheted Purdue booties would be great for any little Boilermaker.

They even have Purdue ribbons along with the gold and black. So cute.

60. No little Mountaineer could resist this plush WVU rabbit.

Hell, this rabbit is so adorable that even parents might want it. Anyone WVU fan would want to cuddle with it. So cute.

61. Kick back and relax in these Michigan State Spartan lawn chairs.

They even come in a set with a Spartan head rest. Great for outdoor home tailgate parties.

62. Light up your Mountaineer nights with this WVU bottle light.

Seems to glow brighter than a couch fire in Morgantown. Love the blue ribbon.

63. Any LSU Tiger fan could not resist these stained glass bottle lights.

Like how they have the purple paw prints with the LSU letters. Really brings out the light. Love these.

64. Red and black go quite well with this wreath from Texas Tech.

Texas Tech University may not have team as popular as the Longhorns. But you have to admit, the Red Raiders have a great color scheme that works.

65. This medal Auburn sign has the Tigers’ classic cry.

Not sure about the deal with “War Eagle!” is since their mascot is the Tiger. But I do love the ribbons and font on this.

66. Wildcat fans would surely love to have this Kentucky rag wreath on their door.

Haven’t had anything from the University of Kentucky on here yet. Still, this one has stripes as well as whimsical font to go with it.

67. This fleur de lis door hanging will go well at any LSU Tiger house in Baton Rouge.

This one even has tiger stripe ribbons and purple deco mesh. Love it.

68. This Penn State wreath has a down home rustic charm.

Sure it might not use a lot of decorations. But the ribbon on the navy blue makes it so lovely.

69. This Michigan State quilt will keep any Spartan warm.

Like how they had a patchwork S. It’s in green but has a certain charm to it if you ask me.

70. Any child who loves the UCLA Bruins would want to cover up with this doll.

Well, it’s not exactly a teddy bear. But it’s adorable in a Tim Burtonesque sort of way. Cute.

71. Keep warm during the Hawkeye game with this Iowa quilt.

Unlike some of the quilts I’ve seen, this one has a nice patchwork design. Like the Hawkeyes in the corners.

72. As well all know, Notre Dame is the pride of old Indiana.

Of course, Notre Dame is perhaps the most interesting thing to come out of Indiana. But the gold logo looks really cool in the blue background.

73. Ohio birds are sure to adore this Buckeye approved Ohio State birdhouse.

Yes, it may look like a small, wooden birdhouse. But the Ohio State logo surrounds the hole.

74. For a Texas A&M fan, this Aggie cross is a holy relic.

This is made of wood and has stripes on a panel. Yes, this is a Christian symbol but I’ll allow it since it’s a work of art.

75. This WVU light post will lead you to Mountaineer country.

This lamp post might have blue arrows leading to where you need to go. Is quite quaint on any lawn. Love it.

76. Black and red flowers go great on any Georgia Bulldog wreath.

For a team with a rather intimidating mascot, this is a very beautiful wreath. I’m sure any fan would enjoy this in their home.

77. Perhaps a Florida Gators fan can go with a more floral look.

The flowers may be fake in this but they’re certainly lovely. Doesn’t hurt if the gator is in the center.

78. Grace your front door with this Notre Dame wreath in full Fightin’ Irish glory.

Love how the gold logo stands out from the blue. Wouldn’t mind having this at my door. Not sure if I’d want a Notre Dame one though.

79. Mizzou Tiger fans can’t resist this wreath.

This is a gold wreath with a black Mizzou ribbon. Very well done, according to some fans.

This is a gold wreath with a black Mizzou ribbon. Very well done, according to what some fans may say.

80. No Seminole can’t resist this FSU flower pot football player.

Yes, this is an FSU flower pot person who’s made from flower pots. And yes, it’s certainly adorable.

NCAA College Athlete Exploiting Merchandise

Posted by historymaniacmegan on August 26, 2016

Here am I in my University of Florida Gator snuggie I received from an uncle of mine who lives in Panama City, Florida. Sure it’s not appropriate for summer weather. So I only wore it for the photo. Then again, considering that the University of Florida doesn’t have a lot of cold weather, this Gator snuggie is perfect for my opening post picture.

As I said before, college sports is a huge business in the United States despite that practically all college athletes don’t get paid in any tangible currency. Sure they’re supposed to receive an education from the school. But plenty barely have any time for that, particularly if they’re Division I. Nevertheless, since college sports are incredibly popular, it should surprise nobody that you’ll find a lot of college sports crap if you look hard enough. Yes, I know that colleges make money from ticket sales, tuition payments, contributions, and the like. But as long as there are people willing to buy overpriced crap, they might as well reap in the benefits. Besides, in college sports, it’s usually the brand that’s more important than the players since they’re only in the programs for up to 4 years before graduation anyway. Hell, some don’t even graduate if they become eligible for the pros (despite that this doesn’t happen very often. And when it does, there’s a strong chance they may not be nearly the star player they once were in their college days. Just ask Heisman winner Tim Tebow). Nevertheless, I can go along with showing you all the jerseys and other items they sell. But you’d probably be bored with it. So instead, I’ll show you items that might make you scratch your head since few would even consider buying something like that at all. Most of these items are from Division I schools naturally.

Take your little one to the big game with this purple and gold LSU stroller.

Not sure about you. But I don’t think any parent should take young children to a Division I college game. It’s not very kid friendly environment and they’d probably be whiny the whole time.

2. This Penn State bar counter is perfect for tailgating at Happy Valley.

That is, if you have a pickup to carry it in and are willing to spend a large amount of money on outdoor furniture. Other than that, it’s not worth it.

3. This Oregon hoodie allows you to carry a beer bottle in your pocket.

However, if you see someone with a hoodie like this on them as well as a beer bottle in them, they may have a problem. This is especially if they have beers in both hands, too.

4. Sing the blues when your team loses with this WVU acoustic guitar.

Because singing annoying country music is a much better way to deal with your emotions than setting a couch on fire. At least it won’t lead to calling the fire department.

5. No LSU fan’s home is complete without a Tiger toilet seat.

This is actually a vintage item and may not be available. But it’s made from solid wood and intricately carved.

6. Get your pet in the Buckeye spirit with this Ohio State feed bowl holder.

Because your dog will really be grateful that you did. Though Rover would’ve been just as happy if you bought a plain one for less money.

7. Have your baby show Wildcat pride on March Madness with this University of Kentucky blinky.

For the love of God, these overpriced pacifiers aren’t worth your money. Seriously, why do they even exist? Just get a regular one for your baby. It’s cheaper.

8. Stomp in support for your Nittany Lions with these Penn State cowboy boots.

I can understand if these are sold in the western colleges, especially if they have a western themed mascot. But Penn State? State College was never in cowboy country!

9. This chic University of Kentucky sequin purse is Wildcat approved.

Yes, I know that there are plenty of women who are fans of college sports. Some even played them. But this pink sequin UK purse is utterly ridiculous.

10. Ladies, show your Duck pride with this University of Oregon sequin bra.

Why the fuck does this even exist? Seriously, sequin bras are stupid enough. But ones with college logos on them? I don’t know if that’s worse.

11. Texas Longhorn fans will surely adore these University of Texas wedding garters.

Yes, I know football at all levels is very big in Texas. But I still don’t understand why these Longhorn garters have to exist. It’s crazy.

12. Light it up this summer with this geometric Notre Dame fire dome.

Yes, you got that right. Think of it as a geometric shape iron dome with Notre Dame stuff on it. Will certainly light up the sky.

13. Show your Buckeye pride with these Ohio State lawn frogs.

I know lawn ornaments can be pretty ridiculous. But college team lawn frogs? That’s just a whole another level.

14. Now you can know how cold it is in Columbus with this Ohio State gnome thermometer.

I don’t know about you. But I think thermometers shouldn’t hold bias to the seasons. And this gnome is obviously carrying a snow shovel.

15. Put your Wildcats on your toast with this University of Kentucky branding toaster.

Yeah, I know I showed you similar stuff in my NFL merch post. But these colleges tend to sell similar products. And a lot of them tend to be ridiculous as well.

16. Propose to your Buckeye girlfriend with this Ohio State engagement ring.

Then again, guys, on second thought, don’t. Seriously, just because you and your girlfriend are friends of Ohio State, doesn’t mean you should. Because it might backfire.

17. Keep your drink at your side when watching the Fightin’ Irish with this Notre Dame hip flask.

And yet, another example of Notre Dame playing to offensive Irish stereotypes. Because what is anyone going to keep in a hip flask? Water? Oh, hell no.

18. Grace your living room with this stained glass Mizzou Tiger lamp.

Because nothing makes your home look chic like a Tiffany style lamp of your college team. Then again, it probably looks better at a sports bar.

19. Keep your basement well furnished on game day with this set of Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish bar stools.

Another case of Notre Dame playing to derogatory Irish stereotypes. But at least it’s not as bad as with the hip flask. Great for any Irish pub.

20. Fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide will enjoy this commemorative golf set.

Sure there may be people who enjoy golf in Alabama. But just because someone enjoys college football, doesn’t mean they like golf, too. Just saying.

21. Show support for your Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium with this digital jersey pin.

It’s a pin that has an on going message saying, “Go Nittany Lions!” Yet, it must be very expensive if you ask me.

22. Nothing makes a night worth remembering than a bonfire in a Texas Longhorn fire pit.

Because why go through all the trouble of making one in your own backyard when you can buy this? Yes, it might be more expensive but that’s beside the point.

23. Why carry your stadium seat and cooler separately, when this USC cooler knapsack lets you do both in one piece?

Now that’s very convenient. However, you’ll probably save more money buy a plain one instead. Just saying.

24. This Penn State pocket watch makes a great gift for any Nittany Lion fan.

Well, if he’s your grandpa who went to Penn State before Joe Pa coached there. But other than that, I’m not sure.

25. Show your Crimson Tide spirit in your truck with these Alabama University truck mats.

Well, if you have a pickup that has 2 rows of seats. Yet, not all pickup trucks actually do.

26. Wipe your mess clean at the game with these NCAA licensed paper towels.

Pictured are Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M. Of course, regular paper towels do the job just fine, are probably cheaper, and you can get them anywhere.

27. Keep yourself warm and snug at the games with this LSU Tiger snuggie.

Because how else are going to keep warm in Baton Rouge on those 70 degree days? Also, it’s kind of ugly.

28. Now you can move around with ease in this Ohio State motor scooter.

Because bicycles are so overrated, right? Still, I’ve never seen anyone using a motor scooter and I think this one is expensive as hell.

29. You’re always ready for tailgating with this USC picnic set.

For nothing makes you more ready for college football than showing up at the tailgate party with a wicker picnic basket. Also, does this one include dishes and utensils for more than one person? Because it doesn’t seem like it.

30. Now you can make your home smell like a lucky shamrock with this Notre Dame scented candle.

Yes, Yankee Candle really does sell these. I didn’t make this up. They have ones for other teams, too. Yet, the Notre Dame one is among the few that make sense.

31. Get comfortable watching the Panthers with this University of Pittsburgh helmet armchair.

Seems a bit high, don’t you think? Also, not sure if I really want to sit in one of those, anyway.

32. Make your Iowa University tailgating complete with this Hawkeye portable grill.

Then again, it might’ve been cheaper to get a similar plain grill and place a Hawkeye sticker on it. But that’s just my opinion.

33. Mountaineer fans can enjoy endless fun with WVU Monopoly.

It’s like Monopoly except the winner hast to torch their couch on fire. Because that’s a crazy WVU tradition.

34. Always be ready for anything with this USC Trojan toolbox.

Well, anything that comes to home repair or home project. However, I don’t think it includes the kind of tools you’ll need to build a massive wooden horse though.

35. Nothing makes you more pumped for an Oregon Duck game like these tye die shirts.

I’m sure any resident campus hippie will certainly dig them. Hey, I didn’t say they couldn’t be sports fans, too.

36. Now you can support your Ducks in the comfort of your home with one of these Oregon armchairs.

Comes in Oregon Duck colors which might clash with some of the living room furniture. Then again, why does sport team furniture even exist?

37. It’s not a day of Penn State football without this Nittany Lion pigskin toaster.

Even brands the Penn State logo on your toast. Why you’d think it’s necessary is beyond me.

38. Keep yourself warm this winter with some blue hot chocolate from the University of Florida.

Because you’re bound to need some hot drink to keep you from freezing during a 70 degree winter in Gainesville. So why not take the chance than on a beverage that might make your lips and tongue look like you’re suffering from hypothermia?

39. Step out in style in these LSU jeweled high-heeled shoes.

I don’t know about you. But I’d rather attend a college game in more comfortable footwear. High heels are for more high end occasions like parties.

40. May your bathroom be a tribute to your team with this Mizzou Tigers toilet.

Now that’s one of the most tacky toilets I’ve ever seen. I mean tiger stripes? That’s insane.

41. Keep your home secure with your very own Alabama Crimson Tide handgun.

Oh, my God, please tell me that this doesn’t exist! Seriously, these things kill people that there’s a reason why Texas professors don’t want them in their classrooms. And I hope this weapon is never seen on a college campus ever. Also, hope they don’t have one for Virginia Tech.

42. Support your college team from beyond the grave in this LSU casket.

Yes, these team caskets do exist. Yes, I know it’s ridiculous and think a regular one is cheaper. But somehow there’s a demand.

43. Drink like a true Nittany lion fan with these Penn State light up reusable ice cubes.

Yes, you read that right. These are reusable ice cubes with Penn State logos. Don’t ask me how that works. They also light up.

44. Enjoy the great stadium popcorn taste at game day with your very own University of Kentucky popcorn maker.

Because why go through the trouble with the microwavable stuff when you can get this? Then again, there are plenty of ways to make popcorn without buying expensive stuff like this.

45. Now you can fish with Mountaineer pride if you have this WVU fishing lure.

Not sure if the fish would go for a WVU fishing lure. And in some West Virginia rivers, I’m not sure if you’ll find fish in there at all.

46. Keep your food nice and cool with your very own Ohio State refrigerator.

College team mini fridges are one thing. But a standard fridge? I don’t think anyone’s buying it. Besides, you can easily use different color tape to obtain the look anyway.

47. This Christmas, make sure your kids are well behaved with this University of Kentucky Elf on the Shelf.

And I thought that the regular Elf on the Shelf was creepy that I devoted blog posts making fun of it. Yeah, this is insane.

48. Get your drinks during tailgating with this LSU R2-D2 drink server.

To be fair, this R2-D2 was painted with LSU colors. Yet, it’s pretty ridiculous just the same, especially if it’s near younger college students.

49. Keep yourself warm at Happy Valley with these Penn State heavy duty Nike gloves.

Then again, they may not be for winter. Besides, I think you can get a cheaper pair practically anywhere.

50. Make bath time so much fun with this Nittany Lion duck from Penn State.

Okay, this is freaky. I mean it seems to be a cross between a rubber duck and and a mountain lion. Then again, the head reminds me more of a bear. Seriously, why?

51. Keep your wine at hand with this Iowa Hawkeyes high heeled wine holder.

I don't understand why such wine holders even exist. I mean even regular ones seem tackier, especially with encrusted gems.

I don’t understand why such wine holders even exist. I mean even regular ones seem tacky as hell, especially with encrusted gems.

52. Step out at any time of the year in this Syracuse adjustable dress.

Well, at least this one doesn’t have the Orange mascot on it. Yet, how is this 4 dresses in one? What its secret?

53. Keep your hair nice and neat with your very own Florida Gators straightener.

So there are hair products with sports logos? And in sport colors, too? Wouldn’t a regular straightener do just fine?

54. Come to the game in style with a pair of University of Tennessee sunglasses.

By the way, these are for women since they have sparkly rhinestones encrusted on them. I know it’s crazy, right?

55. Ladies, keep yourself in the team spirit with these NCAA nail polish sets.

Pictured here are Alabama, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. And did I tell you they come in football helmet bottles?

56. These NCAA candle warmers are just what everyone needs.

I have no idea what these actually do besides possibly warming a candle. But isn’t that what a flame is supposed to do?

57. Nothing looks better on a cake in West Virginia than this WVU burning couch candle.

Now the age old WVU victory celebration is now a candle. And there's plenty of wax to go around.

Now the age old WVU victory celebration of vandalism is now a candle. And there’s plenty of wax to go around.

58. Nothing looks better in a Florida State Seminole fan’s cabinet than this commemorative FSU decanter set.

Those who know about American history may remember that many Native Americans didn’t take well to alcoholic beverages. So kind of makes this gift kind of inappropriate for a Seminoles fan.

59. This Penn State collectible gas station shelf provides sufficient storage space.

I can understand a regular gas station shelf if you want to go for a retro look? But this? Seems more appropriate for a bar.

60. Light it up in your home with this stained glass LSU helmet lamp.

I was going to include one of the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFL merchandise last year. But I couldn’t. So here’s the LSU Tiger one.

61. I’m sure any woman Texas Longhorn fan would want a bouquet of roses like these.

Yes, they make these. But while some school colors may work on floral displays, Texas University’s isn’t one of them.

62. Get some outdoor rest in this LSU canopy hammock.

Think I might’ve featured one of these in my outdoor items post. Then again, I might not have.

63. This Iowa Hawkeye fridge comes with a tap for serving drinks.

Sure this will be all the rage at Iowa University parties. Even when the students are underage, too.

64. At Michigan State, Juke ‘Em is a football card game.

Not sure how this is played or whether it’s present on college campuses. But the graphics remind me of band aid packaging.

65. No Penn State bathroom should be complete without a Nittany Lion shower curtain.

Then again, in light of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, I'm not sure if these should be on the market. Of course, perhaps I should've kept my mouth shut on that. But I couldn't resist.

Then again, in light of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, I’m not sure if these should be on the market and I’ll just leave you at that. Of course, perhaps I should’ve kept my mouth shut on that. But I couldn’t resist. Now I feel terrible.

66. This Fightin’ Irish bar sign will certainly light up a room.

Seems like something you’d see at an Irish pub. Like if it was in Las Vegas.

67. Now you can watch your Mountaineers on your very own WVU couch.

Yes, watch the Mountaineers on this WVU sofa. And when it gets old and starts falling apart, you can give it a proper send off the next time they win.

68. Tailgating at Wisconsin University has never been so much fun than with this football helmet drink dispenser.

I was going to use an LSU one. But since I haven’t featured anything from the Wisconsin Badgers, I decided to go with this.

69. Your little ones feel snug and warm in these Florida Gator booties.

Because those 70 degree winters can really cause a freeze. Still, its unlikely they’ll ever be used on the Florida University campus.

70. Now your pooch can show support for the Tar Heels with this North Carolina cheerleading outfit.

It’s one thing to have a cheerleading outfit for a little girl. But one for a dog? I really don’t understand.

71. Your little one can’t go to a Michigan Wolverine tailgating party without this high chair.

I was wondering if they have fold up high chairs like that. Wish I could find one of these for my outdoor post.

72. Make your place more interesting with this FSU hat and face.

Is it just me, or do I find this utterly creepy. I mean it doesn’t have a head for God’s sake. Don’t know why they thought it was a good idea.

73. Any Wolverine football fan will sure adore this Michigan Mr. Potato Head.

Seems like there’s a Mr. Potato Head for everything these days. Even in college football apparently.

74. No female Wolverine fan should go without their very own Michigan football purse.

Yes, it’s a purse shaped like a football. No, I’m not sure if anyone would buy it but some people might like it.

75. Keep your dog safe in warm in these fleece Michigan Wolverine pajamas.

This dog seems to have this: “Kill me now” look in its face. Seriously, dog pajamas? Most dogs don’t even wear them. Besides they have something to keep them warm through the night anyway. It’s called fur.

76. Keep your kid safe in the car with this Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish car seat.

Comes with its own cup holder, too. Also, a plain car seat like this one is probably cheaper, anyway.

77. Get in the Christmas spirit with these Michigan State Spartan candy canes on your tree.

I’m sure these are for decoration since they seem to have a place for string on them. Yet, they also look rather disgusting despite being green.

78. Have your little one snuggle up with their very own Dream Lite Otto the Orange from Syracuse.

Of course, your kid will be puzzled on why an upstate New York college has an orange as their mascot. But there are some things that you can’t really explain.

79. Have hours of Nittany Lion fun with this Penn State arcade game machine.

Yes, this exists. I guess this has to do with football. Probably incredibly expensive and so not worth it.

80. Always know where the wind is blowing with your very own Ohio State weather vane.

Like you really would buy it and attach it to the roof of your house. Give me a break, you wouldn’t even if you’re a diehard Buckeyes fan.

College Sports Fans Dressed in School Spirit Attire

Posted by historymaniacmegan on August 25, 2016

Since I went to Saint Vincent College, I decided to dress in my alma mater’s attire. Here I am with a Saint Vincent College football hat as well as my March of the Bearcats jacket, polo, and basketball T-shirt. Yes, it’s a Division III school, but it’s in the spirit of the article. After all, this is about school spirit anyway.

In late August, it’s not unusual to see college kids moving into their dorms on campus with freshman doing so for the first time. However, it’s very likely that the college athletes have already moved back on campus and are preparing for another season, particularly football players. And if they’re on a Division I team, then they’re probably under a lot of pressure to do their best that some of them may not have the time to do any actual schoolwork. Let’s just say going to a Division I school on a full athletic scholarship isn’t nearly what it’s cracked up to be. And that’s nearly getting into how the NCAA profits from these kids tremendously despite that they don’t even pay them a dime. Anyway, in America, college sports are big business and sometimes it’s not unusual for people to feel more loyalty to their college teams than their pro teams. It may be because they went to the school themselves like my dad with Slippery Rock or me with Saint Vincent. Sometimes it might be because the college is within a closer geographic proximity which I think is the case with many WVU and Crimson Tide fans since West Virginia and Alabama don’t have any Big 4 pro sports teams within their state. Not to mention, there are more college teams than pro teams. Yet, these colleges do have their fans and some of them can be outright crazy. And that’s where I come in to show you some of the craziest college fans decked in their ridiculous game day finest so you can see for yourself. Because although I may not be a big sports fan, I do know that college sports are very popular that people would go to these ridiculous lengths to support their team. So for your college reading pleasure, I give you a treasure trove of wacky college sports fans to enjoy. Most of them will be from Division I schools, naturally.

Seems like Dumbledore or Gandalf the White made a presence at Happy Valley.

I think he was wearing this during a white out PSU game. But the wizard beard and body paint is just the same.

2. This South Florida woman is totally pumped to see her beloved Bulls.

And she has a horn hat as well as painted her whole body to prove it. Okay, she’s wearing a camisole, but still. This is over the top.

3. At the University of Michigan, all this guy needs is body paint, a helmet, and shoulder pads to support his Wolverines.

Yes, this guy is in full regalia as we know it. Still, he doesn’t have a nice message for Ohio State at any rate.

4. Introducing the Pitt Penguin.

Okay, he’s not a player for the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s just a fan of the Pitt Panthers in a penguin suit. Yes, I know it looks ridiculous.

5. These Happy Valley bunnies have come out on a winter’s day to support their Nittnay Lions.

Now this has to be PSU school spirit at its finest. Doesn't hurt that some of these guys are clad in pink bunny suits. Love it.

Now this has to be PSU school spirit at its finest. Doesn’t hurt that some of these guys are clad in pink bunny pajama suits. Love it.

6. The biggest WVU fans always go with their full body paint on.

WVU fans are a particular lot in the college landscape. The Mountaineer football team has a very passionate fanbase. It’s also said that a lot of fans have taken up the practice of couch burning.

7. This Montana fan has got his war paint on.

And he seems to have rather ornate shoulder pads to match. Like how he has the hand print on his face.

8. Here we have a Florida State Seminole fan in full war bonnet attire with a Northern Illinois husky admirer.

Just for the record, I don’t condone the Seminole wearing the war bonnet and fully understand that it’s highly offensive to Native Americans. However, since this is a college fan post, his ridiculous war bonnet attire is so over the top that I just couldn’t resist leaving it out.

9. A fan from the University of Kansas can’t be fully dressed without a feather headdress.

Kansas U’s mascot is the Jayhawk. And yes, this is fairly offensive to Native Americans but equally outrageous. Yet, I think it’s golden.

10. This Pitt girl bares her midriff even when it’s snowing outside.

Yeah, I know bare midriffs aren’t a great idea in snowy weather. But I do like her Panther hat and makeup though.

11. To this guy from the University of New Hampshire, the Wildcats are always #1 in hockey.

Doesn’t hurt that he’s wearing a puck hat to boot. Also he painted his face white and light blue.

12. At Louisiana State, a mother always tries to foster her love for the Tigers to her daughter.

However, I’m not sure going to an LSU game topless in body paint is a good idea. Because body paint is no substitute for a shirt in my opinion.

13. At the University of South Carolina, this man dons his chicken hat with pride.

South Carolina’s mascot is the game cock which is a chicken once used in the now illegal practice of cockfighting. Yes, you read that right. Don’t ask me, that’s how they call it.

14. This Arkansas fan is a true hog’s head in the making.

The University of Arkansas’s mascot is a razorback which is an aggressive wild pig. And the rap pigs get, razorbacks can be downright nasty.

15. This Temple fan dons a red sombrero to support the Owls.

Contrary to the sombrero, Temple is a college in Philadelphia. Also, owls are cool, by the way.

16. These University of Cincinnati fans are decked with all the bells and whistles.

Well, they have red and black shoulder pads along with crazy hats. But they’ll do for this fan post. Also, Cinci’s mascot is a bearcat which isn’t a fierce creature by any stretch.

17. This Central Florida fan shows his pride for the Knights by painting himself in gold.

Like the navy blue touches, blue wig, and pom poms. This guy has great talent. Must be a repressed art major.

18. Have you ever met a Florida Gator head?

Now this is the kind of Florida Gator we all should be rooting for. And I favor this one over the obnoxious Tim Tebow any day of the week. Love it.

19. At Mississippi State University, someone seems to take “Respect the Bell” to a whole new level.

He also tends to take “more cowbell” to a whole new level as well. Since he’s dressed like one. Wonder how he sits and goes to the bathroom.

20. This Louisville fan wears his Cardinal pride on his face.

That is a great make up job if I ever saw one. Almost looks like a cardinal face. Awesome.

21. Check out this man’s Iowa suit.

Well, it’s a hawk suit and striped coveralls. And it’s tacky as can be. But at least he’s in the Iowa spirit of things.

22. On game day, LSU Tiger fans go all out.

LSU fans tend to be a little crazier college sports fans than some of the other schools for some reason. But I like the purple kilt in this.

23. These Kansas State fans want to scare the death out of their enemies on the stands.

Yes, they may be wearing purple skull heads. But they’re probably as harmless as can be. They’re just supporting their Wildcats at the game.

24. He may only wear a barrel but at the University of Wyoming, he’s having a barrel of fun.

Yes, there’s a University of Wyoming and their team is the Cowboys. Yet, their color scheme is different from the NFL Dallas team. So there’s nothing to worry about.

25. At the VCU basketball game, these Ram fans go with clown wigs and beads.

The “Save Shaka Smart” on their foam hands refers to the team’s head coach at the time who led the Rams to a winning season as well as the NCAA Men’s Final Four. However, he didn’t stay for long and is now coaching for the University of Texas.

26. Hope you’re not scared by this Virginia Tech clown.

Then again, since he can induce nightmares, I think he might make a better VT mascot than the one they have now. Still pretty scary, though.

27. At Virginia Commonwealth University, these guys are pumped for the Rowdy Rams.

I hope my sister likes these guys since they’re from her school in Richmond. One of them is even dressed like Hulk Hogan and another guy is wearing a kilt.

28. Iowa Hawk couples who see games together stay together.

And yes, they dress up in ridiculous costumes together. Like the woman’s beak and braids which I think are perfect.

29. Who knew they crowdsurfed in the Navy?

Well, the military branch academies do compete in the NCAA Div. I athletics. But I’m not sure if they count as colleges. Nevertheless, love the blue hair.

30. Oklahoma Sooner fans dress in full clown attire for their team.

Yes, I know they look like a couple of clowns in pajamas. But I’ve seen fans in more ridiculous outfits than that. You’ll probably find this amusing though.

31. At Tennessee, even the cafeteria chefs come out to support their Volunteers.

Doesn’t hurt that he has a Tennessee apron and chef’s hat to match. But among all the orange, he certainly stands out.

32. Once a Texas Longhorn man, always a Texas Longhorn man.

He even has a Longhorn hat with players’ signatures on it. Must be a real fan to go that far.

33. This Notre Dame fan goes all out to show pride for his Fightin’ Irish.

Not sure what to think about having Winnie the Pooh in his crotch area. But he wears a nice Irish flag suit.

34. At WVU, this woman is willing to go full Mountaineer on game day.

After all, she’s dressed in buckskin attire, complete with coonskin cap and fringes. She even carries a stick for good measure.

35. These Florida Vikings seem a little disappointed.

But at least they dressed in crocheted Viking hats with beards. Looks ridiculous but should keep them warm.

36. From Texas A&M, I give you the Aggie hat.

Like how she used small plush cows for it along with signs. So clever.

37. This Volunteer fan paints himself with orange and white on game day.

Yes, he’s from Tennessee. And yes he wanted his paint job to match his hair. Because he’s cheering for the Volunteers.

38. At Kansas State, this man will do anything to see his Wildcats win.

Even if it means, resorting to crazy hair styles and coming to games with a cow skull. Yes, he’s willing to try anything.

39. At South Florida, you’re bound to find some creative fans during the tailgate parties.

Of course, these guys consist of two men in sparkly body paint an a guy in a grass skirt and pom pom bra. Yes, you have fans like that.

40. This guy goes for the Miami Canes all the way.

And he’s decked in Miami Hurricane colors like a true South Floridian. Even has glasses to match.

41. Didn’t know Dorothy, Thing 1, and Thing 2 were huge Boise State fans.

Odd, since I’d imagine Dorothy to support a college team in Kansas since she’s from there. As for Thing 1 and Thing 2, I think they’re both guys. But to each his own.

42. These Oregon Ducks fans will rock and roll all night on game day.

They even have the Kiss faces with green and yellow makeup. And they’re wearing matching wigs, too.

43. These Texas Longhorn women wear their team spirit on their hair.

Yes, that’s Texas Longhorn hair. And yes, you’d more or less expect in in Dr. Seuss. But at least it’s in the spirit of things.

44. This Kansas Jayhawks fan is a bit blue.

Okay, so his team lost. Big deal. But I do like how he’s wearing a Jayhawk outfit though.

45. As Darth Vader said at Texas, “May the horns be with you.”

Okay, he may not have said “May the Force be with you” in Star Wars. But it’s in the spirit.

46. At Ohio State, Big Nut is a self-professed member of the 6th Man Club.

Of course, Ohio State is better known for football than basketball. But it’s a great picture that I couldn’t resist.

47. Stripes and spots really stand out for this University of Georgia fan.

Yes, I know it looks tacky. But what does he care? He’s there to support his Bulldogs.

48. This Crimson Tide fan is always an Alabama boy at heart.

Yes, that’s a guy in football gear and coveralls. Don’t ask me how he got that idea. But he makes it work.

49. A big foam cowboy hat will surely stand out at Oregon.

Sure it makes you look like an idiot. But at least his hat matches with his jacket. I’ll give him that.

50. At the University of Miami, these two guys show their spirit other fans can’t even fathom.

Yes, one has a horned ibis helmet while the other has a Bane mask. But they have their flags and banners on full display.

51. This Boston College fan wears his hat to show his Eagle pride.

Now that hat is just so unreal. Just looks like a small carousel. Someone must have too much time on his hands.

52. For the Florida State Seminoles, this woman dresses in full buckskin attire.

Yes, she loves the Florida State Seminoles so much that she’s willing to practice cultural appropriation to show her team spirit. Yes, Native Americans, I give you permission to facepalm at this time. Yes, it’s very offensive and something you shouldn’t do at a football game.

53. These Boise fans come dressed in their finest feathered hats.

Of course, one is dressed as a pimp which is kind of insulting to blacks. But that’s beside the point. Like the other guy’s shoulder pads though.

54. These Ohio State Buckeye fans know how to show pride in the stands.

Love how all are in their Buckeye regalia for the game. One of them even has a buckeye necklace. Love it.

55. These cuddly Baylor Bears have come to watch a basketball game.

Helps that Baylor’s mascot is a bear. Still, the faces are cuddly but it’s hard to find a guy in an animal costume adorable. But this isn’t bad.

56. Hey, it’s the guys from Duck Dynasty at Saint Louis.

Okay, these are people dressed up like characters from Duck Dynasty. Like the one in the balloon hat the best.

57. Seems like a VCU basketball game is one fit for a Pharaoh.

And he’s in the King Tut headdress to match his stripped sleeves to boot. Wonder what my sister will think about this.

58. Missouri University always tries to project a friendly face.

These are members of the Missouri band dressed up as Sesame Street characters in the stands. Yes, they seem to be having a good time.

59. This Alabama fan knows that his Crimson Tide are the champs.

And champions the Crimson Tide certainly are. Mostly because the BCS system is rigged in their favor.

60. At Gonzaga, this guy goes all the way for his Bulldogs.

And yes, he’s in a clown and cape attire for good measure. Kind of wish there was a March Madness fan tournament where the more outrageous costume wins the round.

61. At Oregon State, these nuns will pray for God’s wrath on anyone who doesn’t support their team.

Yes, they’re guys dressed as nuns. But as a Catholic, I don’t find their outfits offensive. In fact, I think they’re quite clever to tell you the truth.

62. You can’t go to an Oregon Ducks game without a Oregon clam bra.

Yeah, I know what that girl is thinking about sitting next to a guy dressed like that. But I think the Oregon shell bra is quite clever and hilarious.

63. Hey, is there a smurf in the crowd?

This is a scene from Duke where the fans paint themselves with blue body paint. I know it’s ridiculous but it’s a tradition. Don’t ask me.

64. This University Washington fan is trying to take a picture from a king’s eye view.

Guess someone wants a good view of the Huskies. Even in a crown and gold mask which seems more suitable for Mardi Gras than anything.

65. Hope these LSU fans are able to cash in but it seems unlikely.

Yes, these are guys dressed as pimps. I don’t know why they do that. But they look ridiculous enough that they go on this post.

66. This Alabama fan is willing to roll in the Tide.

Like how the guy is wearing a Tide box hat with 2 rolls of toilet paper. Seems quite simple compared to the other fans on this post.

67. Yes, there’s no doubt that Oregon fans are bananas.

These two even dress in Oregon banana suits for the Ducks. Yes, I know it defies some degree of logic.

68. Today, I introduce you to none other than Florida Gator Man.

He even comes with a long gator tail to show his prowess. And to slap around fans from the other team. He never fails.

69. Oregon Ducks should know better than mess with Oregon Vader.

Because he really doesn’t take it kindly when the Ducks lose. Players might want to stay on his good side.

70. Didn’t know the Joker was a Georgia Bulldogs fan.

However, I wouldn’t want to sit near the Joker in the stands. Has a reputation for being pretty insane.

71. So this is what it’s like to be a Volunteer in a pool of Gators.

So Florida was the home team in this game against Tennessee? Makes sense but the Gator fans don’t seem too happy.

72. At Pitt, some fans live the blue and gold.

And yes, he seems to be wanting to lead the crowd into the Pitt Panthers spirit. Even if he looks totally ridiculous for the occasion.

73. At LSU, this man goes for the full Tiger suit.

Yes, the outfit looks totally hideous and not something you’d want to wear on the street. But this guy is supporting his team. Don’t judge him.

74. As an LSU fan, this woman takes being a Tiger quite literally.

Yes, she’s dressed and painted to look like an LSU Tiger. Yes, it’s insane. But at least she’s wearing a bra.

75. At North Carolina University, these fans decided to go Tar Heel blue.

Yes, North Carolina’s mascot is a Tar Heel which looks like a ram. However, it does look quite intimidating and isn’t lame.

76. This Notre Dame fan is proud that he’s Fightin’ Irish.

However, he might want to tone down the sleazy leprechaun look. Because it may offensive to some of my Irish viewers.

77. When it comes to supporting the Oregon Ducks, this guy shows his pride dressed in a hula skirt and flower bra.

Yes, I know he’s dressed like that when it’s probably not ideal to do so. But he certainly stands out in the crowd.

78. FSU man comes to Florida State to inspire Seminole pride.

Finally, a Florida State man on this post who’s not dressed to offend Native Americans. He’s a superhero instead.

79. Never fear, Seminole Man is here.

Yes, that’s another Florida State superhero fan in body paint. But his initials on his chest are SN for Seminole.

80. At Boise State, you can’t leave out the blue haired Elvis impersonators.

Guess they get quite an audience. Like their orange scarves and glasses along with their white suits.

81. Now these guys just roll with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

So they have toilet paper rolls on their helmets and are wearing large red Tide boxes. Love it.

82. At Pitt, you’re bound to find a few strange hats out there.

This guy seems to have a Pitt Panther on an aircraft carrier. Hate to sit behind him or stand.

83. At Georgia Tech, Yellow Jackets fans may seem more inclined to yellow.

Apparently, that seems to be the case. Not sure if seeing them in real life hurts the eyes.

84. These Georgia Bulldogs fans seem to come quite spiked at the shoulders.

Well, they have spikes in their shoulder pads. But I’d really not want to sit next to any of them even on a good day.

85. These people always know how to support their Trojans at USC.

Funny, I hadn’t had California college fans on here yet. But while one is in a swimsuit, the other is in hoplite armor.

86. At USC, the girls are said to deck themselves in red and gold on game day.

At least the red body paint isn’t as harmful on the skin as a tanning booth. But the one in gold seems like she might have jaundice.

87. A college football fan always tries to foster their love of the game to the next generation.

But whether I approve of this Tennessee Volunteers fan and his sons wearing gangster outfits is another matter. Still, they seem rather well dressed despite the dad resembling a creamcicle.

88. This man knows how to show off his WVU Mountaineer pride without burning a couch.

Well, he’s dressed like a Mountaineer with a raccoon tail and coveralls. He also has light up glasses, too.

89. At Happy Valley, when in doubt, go with blue hair.

Seems like what this girl has done in the stands at a Penn State game. She’s even wearing beads.

90. This Rowdy Rams fan knows how to make an entrance.

He’s even wearing golden ram horns at a VCU basket ball game. Very fitting at that school.

91. Among America’s finest in blue, this bear is true fan among them.

Luckily for them, it’s a guy in a bear costume. But I love how he seems to be cheering on in the stands.

92. At Missou, this Tiger fan goes for the ultimate body paint tribute.

Is it a bit too much? Yes. Will he look ridiculous? Yes. Does he have artistic talent? Yes.

93. At the University of Arizona, this Wildcat fan is a real hotdog.

Not sure why anyone would dress as a hotdog to support their college team. But this person seems to have a great costume nonetheless.

94. This USC fan seems to be a real pinhead.

Because he has a hat with a lot of USC pins on it. And you can barely see the hat other than the plume on top.

95. For some reason University of Nebraska fans tend to wear corn hats and hold up one of their shoes.

Nebraska’s team is the Huskers. And yes, some of them wear corn heads which I think is ridiculous. But the shoe thing speaks for itself.

96. This Stanford fan will not be mocked for supporting his team.

Even if he’s wearing big red glasses and a blue clown wig. And did I say he’s a drummer?

97. These Uncle Sam Navy fans will knock your socks off.

Yes, they’re in Uncle Sam suits with boxing gloves. But They seem to have a really good time nonetheless.

98. At Syracuse, it doesn’t hurt to dress like an orange in the stands.

Sure it might make you look like an idiot. But hey, it’s not that fans come to the games to look good, especially when they wear outrageous outfits.

99. At the University of Utah, the Pumpkin head man comes out to support the Utes.

Probably something this guy does for Halloween. Wouldn’t want to sit behind him in the stands though.

100. At Colorado University, this guy will do what it takes to show his Buffalo pride.

I think this guy might be dressed as a character from the Halo video game. But I’m not sure. But I like the horns though.

The Matter of Voter ID Laws

Posted by historymaniacmegan on August 18, 2016

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Since this is a presidential election year in the United States, it’s not unusual to hear about voter ID laws which require some form of identification in order for a person to register to vote. As of 2016, 33 states have passed such laws. And since 2012, 17 states have new voter restrictions in place. The voter requirements in these states but the most popular measure in recent years is requiring citizens to show a photo ID to vote (though some may simply require a utility bill or bank statement). At the federal level, the 2002 Help America Vote Act required voter ID for all new voters in federal elections who registered by mail and who didn’t provide a driver’s license number or the last 4 digits of their Social Security number that was matched against government records. Proponents of these laws argue that voter ID laws are a common sense effort and places little burden on voters. They also have considerable support among Americans from all party lines. However, the laws have been subject to considerable controversy and various lawsuits at both state and federal levels. In 2013, the Supreme Court overturned parts of the Voting Rights Act that required approval for voter registration changes such as Voter ID laws, making it more difficult for voters to challenge them. Nevertheless, federal courts continue to rule on voter registration cases and there are sure to be more lawsuits to come. Since the right to vote has been enshrined as a fundamental right for all Americans 18 or over, I believe that voter ID laws are nothing but voter suppression tactics that should have no place in the democratic process.

Since the 1870s, African Americans and other ethnic and racial minorities in the South have been known to be targets of disenfranchisement, especially under segregation. In fact, this was a main reason why we had the Civil Rights Movement in the first place. Nevertheless, many states that have voter ID laws have had a history of disenfranchising minorities as well as high levels of racial stereotyping among whites. Not only that, but many older blacks in the South may not be able to get a photo ID because they were born during segregation and don’t have birth certificates.

Voter ID laws are racist.– Anyone who knows about American history could tell you that voting restrictions have a long history with racism. In fact, since after Reconstruction in the South, white Southerners would institute a series of laws, constitutions, and practices that were deliberately used to disenfranchise black citizens from registering to vote and voting. Measures used to disenfranchise blacks consisted of poll taxes, grandfather clauses, literacy tests, eight box laws, white primaries, and others. Were they constitutional? No, because the 15^th Amendment stated that voters shouldn’t be discriminated by race. Did the federal government do anything to stop it at the time? Not until after WWII. Nevertheless, many of these disenfranchisement measures in the South were a major reason why the Civil Rights Movement existed in the first place which eventually led the federal government to enact the Voting Rights Act as well as the 24^th Amendment abolishing the poll tax in national elections. As 2016, as many as 25% of voting age African American citizens 20% of Asian Americans, and 19% of eligible Hispanics, don’t have government issued photo identification, compared to only 8% of their white counterparts. Native Americans have also been fighting a slew of court battles over voter ID laws as well. Not to mention, out of the 33 voter ID states which have laws to prevent voter impersonation, only 6 of them have the same standards applying to absentee voters who usually tend to be whiter and older than their in-person counterparts. Mail-in absentee voter fraud is more common than voter impersonation. African American and Latino voters are known to be disproportionately low income and may not just lack a voter ID but also not be able to procure the underlying documentation necessary to obtain one. Latinos are also among the fastest growing racial demographics in the nation. It doesn’t help that some of the states that have passed voter ID laws have had a history of discriminating against minority voters as well as the fact that many older African Americans in the South simply don’t have a birth certificate due to being born during segregation. This July, a 3 judge panel of the 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals, struck down North Carolina’s voter ID law requirements, finding that the new provisions targeted African Americans with “with almost surgical precision,” and that legislators had acted with clear “discriminatory intent” in enacting strict election rules as well as shaping rules based on data about African American registration and voting patterns. There’s also a correlation that the higher the racial stereotyping in a voter ID state among whites, the stricter the voter ID laws. So to compare voter ID laws to Jim Crow is not a stretch, especially since most voter ID proponents tend to be white.

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When it comes to voter ID laws, minority groups, the elderly, the young, and the poor tend to be disproportionately affected by them. This graph from the Brennan Center and Mother Jones shows this.

Voter ID laws are discriminatory against minorities, the poor, elderly, students, and the disabled.-According to the NYU Brennan Center, more than 21 million Americans (or 11% of eligible US citizens) do not have government issued photo identification and a disproportionate number of them are low-income, racial and ethnic minorities, and the elderly. 18% of Americans over 65, 18% of Americans between 18-24, and 15% of those making less than $35,000 a year don’t have voter ID. Aside from possibly disenfranchising minorities, many low income people simply can’t afford the necessary documentation to get an ID or have the time to get one (because a lot of them work long hours and have low job security). Many don’t have any education past high school so sorting out many potential agencies and requirements to get a photo ID can be challenging. Those without a driver’s license in rural areas may not have access to transportation while many senior citizens may not own a computer as well as have birth certificates with erroneous names (since a lot of mistakes were made in old birth certificates. And corrections cost money). College students are often not at their permanent residence during election times, are less likely to drive, and their student ID may not be seen as valid in states like Texas. Then you have many elderly African Americans in the South who can’t get a photo ID because they don’t have a birth certificate on record (due to being born during segregation). Homeless people can’t get an ID because they have no permanent address. Then you have voters who were born in a different state than they lived in now. Obtaining needed documents from another state costs extra money and often requires another agency in another state that the voter may not have lived in for many years. Finally, you have women who’ve changed their legal names after they’ve gotten married or divorced who may have difficulty obtaining ID in states where the name has to exactly match the voting rolls, especially if they’re low income, elderly, or minority. This goes the same for transgender people as well.

In recent years, states with strict voter ID laws tend to be championed by Republican dominated state legislatures. Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight has measured that such states tend to have lower voter registration as well as a higher Republican net swing. Sure this might sound biased even though I’ve checked and tried to use a graph from as reputable source as I can.

Voter ID laws are not politically neutral.-Until recently, only a handful of states required voter ID. Today 33 states do. In a recent opinion by US Circuit judge Richard Posner, a Reagan appointee, compared the laws to the poll tax implemented to stop blacks from voting in the Jim Crow Era South. To him the only reason to impose voter ID laws, “is to discourage voting by persons likely to vote against the party responsible for imposing the burdens.” Posner is probably right since many voter ID laws tend to be sponsored by Republicans and passed by Republican dominated state legislatures, especially in swing states where elections are more competitive. One of the strictest and infamous voter ID laws is in Texas where voters must show one of 7 forms of state or federal issued photo ID, with a valid expiration date: a driver’s license, a personal ID card issued by the state, a concealed handgun license, a military ID, citizenship certificate or a passport. And the name must exactly match the one on the voter rolls. So concealed weapons permit fine, but not state issued student ID cards. Clearly there’s political bias here, especially if you consider that Texas is a Republican dominated state that allows guns on college campuses while young people are more likely to vote Democrat. So are racial minorities who consist of a fast growing electorate and poor people. Meanwhile, an older black veteran who showed 3 forms of ID was turned away in 2013. Also, despite being the more common form of voter fraud, only 6 out of the 33 states have voter ID laws pertaining to absentee voters who tend to be older, whiter, and more conservative than the voters most of these laws target. Then there’s the fact Republican politicians have been heard made comments Pennsylvania’s House majority leader Mike Turzai boasting that strict new voting laws would “allow Governor Romney to win” the state in 2012 (though these laws were struck down later). At the same time, a conservative group called True the Vote claimed that Democrats routinely drop off busloads of illegal voters at polling throughout the country despite evidence to the contrary. North Carolina county precinct chairman Don Yelton told the Daily Show in 2013 that if the state’s new voter restriction “hurts a bunch of lazy blacks who just want the government to give them everything, so be it.” So there’s evidence to suggest that conservatives understand that keeping certain kinds of people away from the polls is kind of the point and voter ID laws may have helped conservatives keep liberal-leaning demographics away from the polls amid record low-turnout. Despite that voter ID laws have wide support in the US, bipartisan legislation it is not.

The vast majority of voter ID laws have been put in place to deter voter impersonation. According to News21, there have only been 10 known cases of this since 2000. More people have been struck by lightning or claimed to see UFOs than commit voter impersonation, a crime you’ve have to be crazy to do.

There is no need to prevent voter fraud.– While proponents of voter ID laws tend to talk about voter fraud like it’s a major crime wave, the mere suggestion that “voter fraud is rampant” earned a “Pants on Fire” rating from Politifact. Most voter ID laws are aimed at voter impersonation of which there were only 31 documented cases in the US from 2000-2014, out of a billion ballots cast, by the way. More people have been struck by lightning or claimed to see UFOs that same period. Proponents may also alleged that registrations of dead and out of state voters as a vulnerability in the US electoral system. After all, Pew cited that there were more than 1.8 million dead voters and 3 million registered in multiple states nationwide. And voter ID supporters fear that motivated individuals could exploit registration irregularities to impersonate dead voters or former residents, casting multiple fraudulent ballots. However, most cases of alleged voter fraud involving dead people have been shown as a result of incorrect matching of voter rolls and death records as well as clerical errors. Not to mention, the basic fact it’s not unusual for multiple people to have the exact same name. Besides, such form of fraud is illogical as the risks such as a $10,000 fine or 5 years in prison far outweigh the benefits of casting an extra vote for the voter’s desired candidate. Besides, voter impersonator takes a lot of effort which according to a Wisconsin judge, “To commit voter-impersonation fraud, a person would need to know the name of another person who is registered at a particular polling place, know the address of that person, know that the person has not yet voted and also know that no one at the polls will realize that the impersonator is not the individual being impersonated.” Someone would have to be absolutely insane to commit something like that because one vote isn’t guaranteed to sway an election. Multiple studies have shown that almost all cases of in person voter fraud are the result of a voter making an honest mistake, and even these are extremely infrequent. Besides, absentee ballot fraud is more common than voter impersonation, but not by much. Then you have proponents claiming about ballot stuffing undocumented immigrants voting, too. But voter ID laws don’t prevent these things and neither are significant problems. Thus, voter fraud is anything but rampant and mostly nonexistent.

Voter ID law proponents tend to think that getting a state photo ID is relatively easy and free. My experience with getting a photo ID in college taught me quite differently even though I was able to get a ride from my dad (since I don’t have a driver’s license), had all the documentation, and lived near a DMV that was open 5 days a week. Many people who live in voter ID states don’t have the documentation on hand, don’t live near an accessible DMV, and face other obstacles preventing them from obtaining a photo ID. So what may seem easy and free to one person is actually costly and burdensome. Then again, even under the best circumstances, obtaining a photo ID is still pretty damn hard.

Getting a state photo ID card is more difficult than it looks.– When I first got my state photo ID in college (since I don’t have a driver’s license), I was required to have my birth certificate, my Social Security card, and other documentation to show to the DMV. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my Social Security card with me at the time since my parents kept it in the fire safe so we had to go back. Luckily my parents had saved the documentation so I could get one with few problems. After all, the nearest DMV to me is only closed on Sunday, Monday, and holidays, with 8:30 am-4:15 pm for regular business hours, save Thursday when it’s open till 6. Besides, I have parents who could drive me. Still, advocates of voter ID laws make it seem that getting a photo ID is easy for anyone who’s eligible to vote when my firsthand experience tells me that it’s not necessarily the case. And for a rural resident without a driver’s license, I had it easy and under the best circumstances. For thousands of eligible citizens, obtaining a photo ID can be costly and burdensome. Though many states with strict voter ID laws offer a free, these IDs require documents like a birth certificate that can cost up to $25 in some places or possibly more. Many people in rural areas have trouble accessing ID offices, especially if they don’t have a driver’s license. A 2015 Alabama lawsuit cited a high schooler who couldn’t vote because she lacked a driver’s license. Sure she could get a state issued ID at the nearest DMV like I did. But the nearest DMV to this girl is only open one day per month and she has no access to public transportation to another DMV that’s 40 miles away round trip. But at least she doesn’t live Sauk City, Wisconsin whose DMV office is only open 4 times per year while 25% of Wisconsin’s DMVs are open less than one day per month. If you’re an African American born in the Jim Crow South before 1960, there’s a good chance you don’t have a birth certificate and may need to go to court. If you work in a low wage job, do think your boss would mind if you take several hours off work to get a government issued ID? Most of the time they’d fire you if you try. If you live in another state from the one you were born in, you might have to pay a pretty penny or travel great distance to fetch those records. And if you live in Texas, there’s a 1 in 3 chance that your county has no ID-issuing offices at all, leading some rural residents to travel 100 miles to the nearest location and only a quarter of those offices have extended hours.

This map shows the costs on voter ID laws in each states with them at the time. Note that many of these states are strapped for cash and can use their funds for better things like education. Basically, voter ID laws cost the government more money to combat a virtually non-existent problem.

Voter ID laws cost taxpayer money.– While many courts have accepted voter ID laws, they’ve only done so as long as the states have key provisions such as making sure the voter ID is free of charge (they’re not), accessible to everyone (they’re not), and that there are public outreach and education efforts to make everyone aware of the new requirements. However, none of this is free to the taxpayer and implementation costs millions of dollars in voter ID states. $20 million on average, in fact, including the state’s price to issue free cards to avoid costly lawsuits, voter education and publicity to inform voters and ensure they aren’t turned away at the polls, and dozens of new costs for state and local officials from updating forms and websites to hiring staff to inspect IDs and handle provisional ballots on Election Day. So enacting these laws aren’t cheap. Add to that the financial costs states are spending to defend them in the courts, too.

This is a flyer on Pennsylvania’s voter ID law which was passed in 2012 and struck down by a state judge in 2014 who saw it as unconstitutional since it places an undue burden on hundreds of voters. To be fair, even if the main part of the Voter Rights Act was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013, the constitutionality on voter ID laws is not sound.

Voter ID laws are unconstitutional.– The right to vote is protected by more constitutional amendments than any other right we enjoy in the United States along with additional federal and state statutes which guarantee and protect voting rights. Declarations by the Supreme Court state that the right to vote is fundamental because it’s protective of all our other rights and that states can’t value one person’s vote over another. Sure the Supreme Court may have struck down a critical part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, this does not mean that voter ID laws are constitutional. While some state IDs are free (though many tend to average $22), the documentation required like passports, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates are often not. And many Americans simply can’t afford to pay for them. Could be an equivalent to a poll tax? Possibly and I know poll taxes go against the 24^th Pennsylvania’s voter ID law was struck down by Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley in 2014 as “violative of the constitutional rights of state voters” as well as to place an undue burden on hundreds of already registered voters due to lack of infrastructure and state support for obtaining required IDs.

Rally Marks 1-Year Anniversary Of Supreme Court Decision On Voting Rights Act

Caption: “WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 25: Activists attend a Voting Rights Amendment Act rally in Capitol Hill June 25, 2014 in Washington, DC. The rally marked the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder which held a section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is unconstitutional.” In American democracy, voting is a fundamental right and a sacred civic responsibility. Voter ID laws are unfair, disenfranchise people, as well as decrease people’s confidence in the system that some may not show up at the polls.

Voter ID laws violate civil rights and undermine the democratic process.– In democracy, nothing is more fundamental than the right to vote, which is deemed sacred since it gives people perhaps the only political voice they have in elections. Disenfranchisement is to deprive a person of that voice while voter ID essentially disenfranchises people through requirements in a discriminatory fashion and placing unreasonable requirements on individuals for registering or voting. Furthermore, it places a disproportionate burden on millions of voters on an infraction that’s only possible but highly unlikely and unproven. Voter ID laws also lead to lower turnouts since they decrease many voters’ confidence in the system since they’re seen as a way to prevent certain types of voters from casting their ballots. They are unconstitutional and illegal for they discriminate against the poor and racial minorities as well as have been implemented to influence election incomes. These states need to get rid of these oppressive laws which make voting a privilege, not a right which it is.

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The thoughts and perceptions of an aspiring writer on life and the world around her

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