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Today in History

657		Mu’awiyan defeats Caliph Ali in the Battle of Siffin in Mesopotamia.
1526		Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon and colonists leave Santo Domingo for Florida.
1529		Francisco Pizarro receives a royal warrant to "discover and conquer" Peru.
1758		British forces capture France’s Fortress of Louisbourg after a seven-week siege.
1759		The French relinquish Fort Ticonderoga in New York to the British under General Jeffrey Amherst.
1775		The Continental Congress establishes a postal system for the colonies with Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general.
1790		An attempt at a counter-revolution in France is put down by the National Guard at Lyons.
1794		The French defeat an Austrian army at the Battle of Fleurus, France.
1830		King Charles X of France issues five ordinances limiting the political and civil rights of citizens.
1847		Liberia becomes the first African colony to become an independent state.
1848		The French army suppresses the Paris uprising.
1886		William Gladstone is replaced by Lord Salisbury as Prime Minister of England.
1918		Britain’s top war ace, Edward Mannock, is shot down by ground fire on the Western Front.
1920		The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified.
1948		In an Executive Order, President Harry Truman calls for the end of discrimination and segregation in the U.S. armed forces.
2005		The shuttle Discovery launches on mission STS-114, marking a return to space after the shuttle Columbia crash of 2003.

Ford will move its small car production out of the country in 2018

The Ford Motor Company will move its production of C-Max and Focus small cars to an undesignated foreign nation in three years, the company announced Thursday. A likely new location is Mexico. Focus is already built at plants in China, Argentina, Germany, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. Germany has a C-Max factory.Ford currently manufactures those automobiles at its plant in Wayne, Michigan, where it employs some 4,400 workers. The company began laying off 700 workers at the Wayne plant in June:
The company's decision sets a potentially combative tone just days before contract talks are scheduled to begin and runs counter to Ford's normal approach to negotiations, which is to emphasize its ability to cooperate with the union. The United Auto Workers union formally opens negotiations with GM on Monday, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Tuesday and Ford the following week.
"It's very, very unusual," UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles says, adding that workers were upset when they were briefed on the news on Thursday. "You never feel good about that kind of information. But I am very, very confident that there will be a replacement product that we will secure for the plant."
Industry analyst Dave Sullivan of AutoPacific called it a "a power move before negotiations start ... Before today, Ford didn't really have anything to negotiate on. The UAW had the upper hand. Now Ford has wiggle room to negotiate for jobs and products."
Ford already makes its U.S.-sold Fiesta subcompact cars in Mexico. With its low labor costs and bilateral trade pacts, Mexico is becoming a hub for auto manufacturing. Honda and Mazda already are making small cars there and Toyota plans to move its Corolla compact operations there soon. Eighteen foreign-owned auto plants are operating in Mexico now, and five more are under construction. A fifth of all cars sold in North America are made in Mexico. The country has seen a 40 percent increase in auto jobs since 2008, to 675,000. The U.S. increase has been 15 percent, to 900,000.

More

Netherlands Company Introduces Plastic Roads That Are More Durable, Climate Friendly Than Asphalt

The company behind the idea says plastic roads could cut down on asphalt-related CO2 emissions.

The Impact Of Fossil Fuel Emissions On Archaeology (And Other Sciences)

We already knew fossil fuel emissions were messing with our future, but now they might be messing with our future's history.

4,000-Year-Old Tablets Found In Turkey Include Women's Rights

The Kültepe-Kaniş-Karum trade colony in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri continues to amaze archeologists, with an expert at the dig revealing that tablets citing women's rights were discovered at the Bronze Age settlement.
From women's rights to the adoption of children and marriages arranged at birth, the tablets include all kinds of civilizational and social data from Anatolia 4,000 years ago.

Rapist, Clinic Bomber Close Out Anti-Choice Demonstrations In Alabama

Operation Save America (OSA) closed out their tour of Alabama by hosting a convicted clinic bomber and arsonist in Montgomery as well as a convicted rapist in Huntsville.

Diabetic Girl Dies In Her Mom’s Arms After Human Smugglers Throw Her Insulin Overboard

Her father threw her body overboard.

What The Supreme Court Has To Say About Sandra Bland’s Arrest

After watching the video, Texas state Sen. Royce West (D) commented that "once you see what occurred, you will probably agree with me she did not deserve to be placed in custody." It is likely that the United States Supreme Court would also agree.

Unhappy passenger knocked himself out after headbutting bus

A bus passenger in Florida got upset at an extra $2 fare on Saturday, so he headbutted the bus, knocked himself briefly, then ran away.

At about 11:35am, the man left a bus at the terminal in Winter Haven. But, he wanted to travel to a new destination. The driver told him he would have to pay another $2 and the passenger got mad. The driver left the bus and went inside the terminal.
The passenger sat on a bench, then walked away. But about four minutes later, he returned and headbutted the glass doors on the bus, shattering the glass. He appeared to be knocked out for a few seconds, but then came round and ran off.

YouTube link.LiveLeak link.

The suspect is described as about 5-foot-9 with a slim build and wearing glasses. He was wearing slip-on shoes with socks, and dark green or grey shorts. His T-shirt has the graphic "Ounces 40" on the front.

Nearly No Consequences For Drunk Executives Who Poured Beer On Native American Children’s Heads

Nearly No Consequences For Drunk Executives Who Poured Beer On Native American Children’s Heads

Pick-up truck pool party stopped while driving down road

A pick-up truck being used by teenagers as a makeshift swimming pool on wheels was pulled over in St. Michael, Minnesota, recently.

A state trooper stopped the 16-year-old driver, Colby Guinea, for driving with a cracked windshield, and found 3 girls in the bed of the truck “with water sloshing out the sides.” The State Patrol report noted "there were 3 females in the back of the bed of the truck, wearing swimsuits and the bed was lined with a tarp and filled with water."
The State Patrol said putting down a plastic tarp and filling your truck bed with water is not illegal in Minnesota, but the shifting water could increase the chance of a rollover. "Don't try this at home,” said Lt. Tiffani Nielson. “Maybe you want to park in the driveway and fill up the back, but as soon as you take it on the road there's a risk of a crash."

YouTube link.

The trooper issued a warning to Guinea for unsafe operation and no current proof of insurance. He was also warned for operating with a cracked windshield. Initially, the trooper cited the three young women for not wearing seatbelts, but then rescinded the citations on the premise that the driver was more responsible for the safety of the occupants.

Drunk driver arrested after falling naked from barn roof

A motorist from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, was found naked on top of a barn on Saturday morning after crashing into a road sign and mailbox and swerving off a road, police say. Police said Daquan Tate, 20, of Hollidaysburg was driving in Blair Township when he repeatedly swerved off and across the road, striking a speed limit sign and a mailbox.
Tate kept driving before he lost control, police said. His car allegedly swerved across the road, struck an embankment and stopped. Tate then fled on foot and was eventually found naked on a nearby barn roof.
Police apprehended him after he fell off the roof. Tate was uninjured. It is unclear if he was driving naked or stripped while on the barn roof. Police say that Tate will be charged with driving under the influence.

One man in jail, another in hospital after dispute over hot dogs

An argument over hot dogs ended with a man from Lewis County, New York, in jail and another man in the hospital.

Lowville Village Police charged 54-year-old George Geer with second-degree assault.
According to police, Geer and his wife's cousin got into a fight on Monday over someone eating all of the household's hot dogs. Geer allegedly beat the unidentified man with a wooden cane.
Police said the victim was taken to the emergency room at Lewis County General Hospital. His condition is not known. Geer was arraigned and ordered held in the county jail without bail.

Man who broke into home stayed under bed in spare room for three days before he was found

A man who broke into a New Jersey home stayed under a bed in a spare bedroom for three days before he was found, police said.

Jason Hubbard broke into the home in Spotswood by walking through an open door as the homeowner was taking out the garbage, according to police. Authorities say he walked into a spare bedroom and stayed under the bed for three days.
While he was there, he charged his four cellphones using an electrical outlet under the bed. Three days later, the homeowner heard a noise in the bedroom and found Hubbard. It wasn't clear if or when he planned to rob the home.
Hubbard has been charged with criminal trespass, burglary and theft of services for the use of the homes’ electrical outlet. He was taken to Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center and is being held for a $50,000.00 bail.

Family threatened with fine for having too many cars in their driveway

A family in Kennesaw, Georgia, has been told by Cobb County officials to apply for permission to park their childrens' cars in their own driveway. The Oviedo family received a notice of violation for having four cars in the driveway.

Illiterate would-be robber mistook fish and chip shop for bookmakers

A would-be robber who planned to steal from a bookmakers ended up mistaking the intended target for a fish and chip shop next door. Derek Carr asked friend Greg Tod to write the robbery demand on the back of a Ladbrokes betting slip because he cannot read or write. Livingston Sheriff Court was told he had planned to rob a branch of rival bookies Corals but the accused went into the local fish and chip shop in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland, instead. When the server realized he did not want chips, he directed the 49-year-old to the bookies shop next door.

Lewis Crosby, prosecuting, said witnesses had earlier noticed Carr, who was carrying a blue plastic bag, was clearly under the influence of something. He said: "Carr entered Coral just before 6pm, walked up to the counter where manager Karen Jamieson was standing and handed her the note. It stated: 'Put the money in the bag or someone will die'. This was read by the complainer who handed the note back to the accused and asked him: 'Are you telling me you're holding me up?' The accused didn't respond at this time however, he opened the carrier bag and said: 'Put the money in the bag'. This was overheard by another member of staff who had been on the shop floor.
"Both members of staff pressed the silent panic alarm. The complainer thereafter informed the accused that she was not giving him any money. The accused smirked and said: 'I was only joking'. He then calmly walked out of the door taking with him his note and the carrier bag." Carr pleaded guilty on indictment to attempting to rob the shop on April 25 this year with the sentence deferred for background reports. Greg Tod, 33, whose address like Carrs was given as Addiewell Prison, had a not guilty plea to the same charge accepted and was formally acquitted. Darryl Lovie, defending, said Carr was so drunk at the time he had no memory whatsoever of the botched robbery bid.
He said: "The chip shop attendant noticed he had a betting slip in his hand and inquired if he could help him. He then realized Mr Carr was in the wrong shop and told him he was in a chip shop not the bookies next door. He didn't write the note. His former co-accused was seen writing the note. Because Mr Carr is illiterate and can't read or write he didn't know what was on the note, but he was aware of his actions. He appreciates the seriousness of his position and has the record of a man who's had a drink and drug problem for a significant period of time. He recognizes that given the seriousness of the charges, its almost inevitable that a custodial sentence will be imposed." Sheriff Peter Hammond called for social work reports to assess Carr's suitability for post release supervision. The case will call again on July 30.

Teenager survived 100ft fall from cliff only to then be bitten by an adder

A teenager from Tintagel in Cornwall survived a 100ft fall down a cliff, only to be bitten by a venomous snake. Brock Leach, 14, was on the clifftop at Trebarwith Strand on Sunday with his 16-year-old brother Josh when he slipped on some lichen and toppled off the cliff, rolling down and bouncing off outcroppings and rocks before landing on a ledge. Josh saw him fall and, despite being frightened and shocked himself, went to his brother's rescue, scrambling down the steep incline to reach Brock's side and, seeing he was still conscious and talking, helping him to a higher spot away from the incoming tide before telling him to stay put while he went to find help. "I got him out of the way to a higher ledge because the sea was coming in," said Josh. "I said to stay there, but he wanted to go with me." Unknown to the boys, Brock had fractured his pelvis as well as suffering severe bruising, but they managed to make their way a little higher up the cliff before Brock suddenly felt a sharp pain in the hand he'd been using to help pull himself along. In another freak stroke of bad luck, the youngster had been bitten by an adder – the only venomous snake native to the UK. In pain, and feeling the adder venom take effect, Brock couldn't go any further so Josh scrabbled to the top of the cliff and flagged down some passers-by who called the emergency services.
Paramedics, lifeguards, coastguards and a helicopter from RAF Chivenor were on the scene within minutes and Brock was flown to the North Devon Hospital in Barnstaple where – his arm swollen to three times its normal size – he was given anti-venom for the adder bite and kept in overnight before being allowed home to recover. The boys' mother, Tracey, said: "I'm really proud of them both. They were both very, very scared. Josh saw his brother disappear and heard him scream as he went over the ledge. He didn't panic. He scrambled down and he made sure he told the people who came to help that it was an adder bite."
Tracey, 47, heard the rescue helicopter from their home in Trewarmett while she was speaking to her husband Dean, 43, online from Vietnam, where he is working as an ocean exploration scientist. She said it had momentarily crossed their minds to worry that their boys were somehow involved but she had looked out the window and seen two small figures in the distance watching the helicopter and thought they were Josh and Brock. She didn't know what had happened until Josh arrived home accompanied by a coastguard, saying: "Don't worry, mum. It's Brock, but he's okay." Their relieved mother said: "It could have been a lot worse. Brock took a real battering but his head and face are completely unscathed. He had a very lucky escape."

Armadillos blamed for spreading leprosy in Florida

Florida health and wildlife experts are warning residents to steer clear of armadillos in light of a reported spike in cases of leprosy. So far this year, nine cases have been reported in Florida, according to the state Department of Health. Between two and 12 cases are reported each year, an agency spokesman said on Tuesday. "Hansen's disease, formerly known as leprosy, is caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria," which has also been found in nine-banded armadillos, deputy press secretary Brad Dalton said.

Each case reported this year has involved people who had direct contact with armadillos, said Dr. Sunil Joshi, president-elect of the Duval County Medical Society, said. Still, health experts warn that contact with the disease-carrying animals is not the only way Hansen's can be transmitted. "Although the mode of transmission of Hansen's disease is not clearly defined, most investigators believe that (Hansen's) is usually spread person-to-person in respiratory droplets following extended close contact with an infected person, such as living in the same household," said Dalton.
While it's possible, there's a low risk of contracting the disease from armadillos and most people coming into contact with them are unlikely to get Hansen's disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Extended close contact with infected armadillos may also pose exposure risk to (Hansen's). For many cases, the exposure causing the infection is unknown because it can take months or years for illness to develop," he added. Even so, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the CDC and the Health Department advise avoiding contact with armadillos whenever possible.

YouTube link.

"Generally, you don't want to be playing with wild animals anyway," Dalton said. Karen Parker, spokeswoman for FWC, echoed that advice. "Teach your kids to stay away from them. Don't try to pet them and don't try to grab them," she said. The animals tend to be skittish anyway, so there's very little risk of coming into contact with them unless they're nesting near your home. Parker also suggested keeping your pets indoors or close by if you spot holes in your yard or your neighborhood to avoid putting them at risk. About 95% of people are resistant to infection, according to the Health Department. Those who do develop clinical illness can experience a variety of symptoms, including infectious to their skin, nerves and mucus.

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