Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster This original essay by novelist Angie Hockman coincides with the release of her new rom-com, “Shipped,” out now from Simon & Schuster (a ViacomCBS Company). The Galápagos Islands are one of the most magical places on Earth. When I traveled aboard National Geographic Endeavour in 2016 for a Lindblad-National Geographic voyage to Galápagos, I never expected how deeply the archipelago—and its precious wildlife, soul-stirring scenery, and local community dedicated to conservation—would touch my heart. READ MORE: No Longer Mister: Hasbro's Mr. Potato Head Is Getting A Gender Neutral Name The experience inspired me so deeply, in fact, that I set my debut romantic comedy novel, “ Shipped ”, on a fictional small-ship adventure cruise in the Galápagos Islands. From cliffsides dotted with preening blue-footed boobies to lush highlands where giant tortoises roam, here are a few of my favorite real-life locations from “ Shipped ” that you can experience in the Galápagos—plus, some quotes taken right from the pages of my book. 1) Punta Suarez, Española Island “There are marine iguanas everywhere . Marine iguanas on rocks. Marine iguanas lying in massive piles, clumped together in the bone-strewn sand. Marine iguanas slinking into the frothy surf next to sea lions lumbering down the beach. The smell might be overpowering, but the sight is incredible.” Photo courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions. Used with permission. When you disembark at Punta Suárez on Española Island for a scenic hike along the coast, prepare to be wowed by wildlife. There are so many marine iguanas, Galápagos sea lions , swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies that you actually have to watch your step. Even more striking? The feeling of pure wonder you experience as you witness waved albatross circling above, preparing to land. Or blue-footed boobies engaging in their epic mating dance. And the view, once ...
Santa cruz mountains
Swalwell: Hawley, Cruz ‘Forfeited Their Right to Question Security’ at the Capitol
Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said Thursday on MSNBC’s “Live” that Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have “forfeited their right to question security precautions at the Capitol” because they voted not to certify the 2020 presidential results. Ruhle said, “I heard you say yesterday that you don’t think Republicans who backed the president, which is basically most of them, should even participate in these hearings. If we continue to take this hyperpartisan approach, are we ever going to find a path to get together, especially on something as important as safety?” Swalwell said, “Well, I don’t think it’s hyperpartisan because there are a lot of Republicans who did not back that. I’m just suggesting that perhaps Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz have forfeited their right to question security precautions at the Capitol. It’d be like allowing an arsonist to call the fire chief in after the village burns and say, ‘Why didn’t you do enough to protect the village?'” Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN ...
Budowsky: Cruz goes to Cancun, AOC goes to Texas
As Texans were enduring unendurable pain during one of the worst disasters in state history, Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Klain on Manchin's objection to Neera Tanden: He 'doesn't answer to us at the White House' Senators given no timeline on removal of National Guard, Capitol fence Shelby endorses Shalanda Young for OMB director should Biden pull Tanden's nomination MORE (R-Texas) took the opportunity to journey to the sun of Cancun, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez More than 700 migrant children in Border Patrol custody: report Democratic fury with GOP explodes in House Budowsky: Cruz goes to Cancun, AOC goes to Texas MORE (D-N.Y.) expressed solidarity with the people of Texas by raising $5 million to provide urgently needed relief — and visited the Lone Star State to support food banks she backs. What is happening in Texas is an indictment of the kind of government that Republicans, led by Gov. Greg Abbott, have brought to Texas. The disastrous sojourn by Cruz to Cancun demonstrates the arrogance of power of certain public officials who are totally out of touch with their people. The important help given to Texans by leaders like former Texas Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke and AOC demonstrate that Democrats at their best stand for competent government and human decency. Ten years ago Texans were clearly warned of the need to weatherize their systems, but Republican governors failed for a decade to take the statewide actions that would have prevented the pain, misery, hunger and death that followed. ADVERTISEMENT And now there are persistent reports of Texans being price gouged by utilities on their electric bills and ripped off by thousands of dollars for a few days of desperately needed electricity at a life endangering moment. The contrast was jarring between Cruz, who took his ill-fated trip to sunny Cancun, which he may someday have to explain in the snows of New ...
Ted Cruz: ‘Criminals, Murderers, Rapists’ Entering on Biden’s ‘Most Radical Immigration Plan Proposed in History’
Sen. Ted Cruz issued a stunning rebuke on Thursday of President Joe Biden’s “most radical immigration plan any administration has ever proposed in history.” “They have proposed allowing every single person who was deported from this country for the last four years to come back. And by the way,” Cruz explained, “they don’t make exceptions for criminals, for murderers, for rapists. I mean, it is utterly bizarre to have a federal administration refusing to enforce the law against violent criminals.” Cruz noted, “And frankly, it makes, it makes our country more dangerous…” Today’s Democratic Party has been radicalized to the point they’re not even willing to enforce the law against violent criminals who are committing horrific crimes. pic.twitter.com/goYvoFhNEj — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 25, 2021 “We are a nation of immigrants and there are wonderful people who come here and come here legally. There’s a right way to come,” the Texas senator said. “But today’s Democratic Party has been radicalized where they’re you know, they’re not even willing to enforce the law against violent criminals who are committing horrific crimes.” Cruz’s comments come amid a federal judge blocking Biden’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from implementing a halt on deportations, a blow to the administration’s efforts to dismantle interior immigration enforcement. Hours after taking office on January 20, Biden’s administration issued a memo that sought to halt most deportations of illegal aliens for at least 100 days. As a result, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit requesting a preliminary injunction on the “unlawful” deportation halt. On Wednesday, United States District Judge Drew B. Tipton granted the preliminary injunction, which prevents the Biden administration from implementing the deportation halt until the U.S. Southern District of Texas District Court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, or the U.S. Supreme Court resolves the ...
Ted Cruz introduces measures to prevent expansion of Supreme Court
close Video Biden sets up commission to study Supreme Court 'reforms' Fox News contributors Marc Thiessen and Ari Fleischer argue whether 'reform' means 'court-packing', on 'The Story' Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas, on Thursday reintroduced legislation designed to preserve the independence of the Supreme Court , including a constitutional amendment that would require the Court be comprised of nine justices. The constitutional amendment has drawn support from a range of Republican cosponsors including Republican Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Marco Rubio of Florida, Todd Young of Indiana and Rick Scott of Florida. The second proposal would prevent the congressional passage of legislation to add more justices to the high court. "As my Democrat colleagues brazenly discuss expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court, this legislation and constitutional amendment ensures we prevent either party from wielding the Supreme Court as a political tool for their own advantage," Cruz said in a statement. "I urge my colleagues to defend the fundamental liberties of their constituents—their religious liberty, freedom of speech, and Second Amendment rights—and swiftly take up and pass these proposals to prevent Court-packing." BIDEN ASKS HIGH COURT TO DROP TWO TRUMP-ERA MEDICAID CASES The legislation was previously introduced in October in response to some Democrats indicating an openness to expanding the size of the high court following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg’s vacancy was filled by Donald Trump-appointee Amy Coney Barrett, marking Trump’s third appointment to the Supreme Court. Justice Barrett also tilted the ideological power balance of the court in favor of conservatives 6 to 3. Democrats often attribute part of that shift in the court to the fact that then-Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., refused to consider Merrick Garland – nominated by ...
