Saturday, September 5, 2009
Doctors' surprising list to stay healthy
Doctors' surprising list to stay healthy
Many of the things doctors say to do to stay healthy don't involve food or pills.
The 'Letterman' of a lifetime
The 'Letterman' of a lifetime
A comedian dying of cancer finally achieves his lifetime goal: To appear on "Late Show."
Arabs moving into Jewish areas
Yousef Majlaton moved into the Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Zeev for such comforts as proper running water and regular garbage pickup.
Holy city twist
Holy city twist
Airline Employees Indicted for Illegal Immigrant Smuggling
The U.S. Department of Justice said Friday in a statement that two ticket agent contractors who worked for Delta Airlines and a luggage handler have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to smuggle illegal immigrants into the U.S. The three were indicted by a federal grand jury in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Electricity bills might start dropping
Electricity bills might start dropping
Some consumers could benefit from a rare national decline in power usage.
The hardest cars to find and buy now
The hardest cars to find and buy now
These hot-ticket autos last only days on the lot, and some are virtually sold out.
Houses you can get for $50,000
Houses you can get for $50,000
To find a house at this price, you'll need to be flexible on location, size, and other amenities.
President Obama's Weekly Address
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, August 29, 2009
This weekend marks the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of the Gulf Coast. As we remember all that was lost, we must take stock of the work being done on recovery, while preparing for future disasters. And that is what I want to speak with you about today.
None of us can forget how we felt when those winds battered the shore, the floodwaters began to rise, and Americans were stranded on rooftops and in stadiums. Over a thousand people would lose their lives. Over a million people were displaced. Whole neighborhoods of a great American city were left in ruins. Communities across the Gulf Coast were forever changed. And many Americans questioned whether government could fulfill its responsibility to respond in a crisis, or contribute to a recovery that covered parts of four states.
Since taking office in January, my Administration has focused on helping citizens finish the work of rebuilding their lives and communities, while taking steps to prevent similar catastrophes going forward. Our approach is simple: government must keep its responsibility to the people, so that Americans have the opportunity to take responsibility for their future.
That is the work that we are doing. To date, eleven members of my Cabinet have visited the Gulf Coast, and I’m looking forward to going to New Orleans later this year. To complete a complex recovery that addresses nearly every sector of society, we have prioritized coordination among different federal agencies, and with state and local governments. No more turf wars – all of us need to move forward together, because there is much more work to be done.
I have also made it clear that we will not tolerate red tape that stands in the way of progress, or the waste that can drive up the bill. Government must be a partner – not an opponent – in getting things done. That is why we have put in place innovative review and dispute resolution programs to expedite recovery efforts, and have freed up hundreds of millions of dollars of federal assistance that had not been distributed. This is allowing us to move forward with stalled projects across the Gulf Coast – building and improving schools; investing in public health and safety; and repairing broken roads, bridges and homes. And this effort has been dramatically amplified by the Recovery Act, which has put thousands of Gulf Coast residents to work.
As we complete this effort, we see countless stories of citizens holding up their end of the bargain. In New Orleans, hundreds of kids just started the school year at Langston Hughes elementary, the first school built from scratch since Katrina. The St. Bernard Project has drawn together volunteers to rebuild hundreds of homes, where people can live with dignity and security. To cite just one hopeful indicator, New Orleans is the fastest growing city in America, as many who had been displaced are now coming home.
As we rebuild and recover, we must also learn the lessons of Katrina, so that our nation is more protected and resilient in the face of disaster. That means continuing to rebuild hundreds of miles of levees and floodwalls around New Orleans, and working to strengthen the wetlands and barrier islands that are the Gulf Coast’s first line of defense. In Washington, that means a focus on competence and accountability – and I’m proud that my FEMA Administrator has 25 years of experience in disaster management in Florida, a state that has known its share of hurricanes. And across the country, that means improving coordination among different agencies, modernizing our emergency communications, and helping families plan for a crisis.
On this anniversary, we are focused on the threat from hurricanes. But we must also be prepared for a broad range of dangers – from wildfires and earthquakes, to terrorist attacks and pandemic disease. In particular, my Administration is working aggressively with state and local governments – and with partners around the world – to prepare for the risk posed by the H1N1 virus. To learn more about the simple steps that you can take to keep you and your family safe from all of these dangers, please visit www.ready.gov.
So on this day, we commemorate a tragedy that befell our people. But we also remember that with every tragedy comes the chance of renewal. It is a quintessentially American notion – that adversity can give birth to hope, and that the lessons of the past hold the key to a better future. From the streets of New Orleans to the Mississippi Coast, folks are beginning the next chapter in their American stories. And together, we can ensure that the legacy of a terrible storm is a country that is safer and more prepared for the challenges that may come. Thank you.Daily Almanac
Today is Saturday, Sept. 5, the 248th day of 2009.
There are 117 days left in the year.
Today In History September 5, 2009
There are 117 days left in the year.
Today In History September 5, 2009
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
London, England, United Kingdom
Warsaw, Mazowiekie, Poland
Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
as well as Singapore, and the United States
London, England, United Kingdom
Warsaw, Mazowiekie, Poland
Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
as well as Singapore, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Change can be stressful, and that applies to changes for the better, too.
It means leaving behind what was familiar and embarking on a new way of life.
And you definitely have some changes (for the better) heading your way.
So how can you minimize the stress and maximize the positive?
You can acknowledge that things might be crazy for a little while.
And that things will settle down soon.
And, yes, that things are most definitely going to be different around here.
Well, if I have to ...
Change can be stressful, and that applies to changes for the better, too.
It means leaving behind what was familiar and embarking on a new way of life.
And you definitely have some changes (for the better) heading your way.
So how can you minimize the stress and maximize the positive?
You can acknowledge that things might be crazy for a little while.
And that things will settle down soon.
And, yes, that things are most definitely going to be different around here.
Well, if I have to ...
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sony unveils 3D television
Sony unveils 3D television
A technology currently confined to a few cinemas could be brought into living rooms next year.
Man who called 911 charged with mobile home deaths
Police have arrested a family member who called 911 on eight counts of first-degree murder in the slayings of people found in a Georgia mobile home.
Man who called 911 charged with mobile home deaths
Man who called 911 charged with mobile home deaths
Jews who escaped Nazis as kids recreate train trip
Elderly Holocaust survivors were reunited at a London railway station Friday with the man who saved them on the eve of World War II — a now 100-year-old former stockbroker who rescued hundreds of Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.
Full Story
Full Story
Panthers fan says he was tossed out for cheering
There are some crazy, passionate football fans for every team. The Carolina Panthers have a few who dress up with blue hair and Panther claws. And there are other fans who lead the crowd in cheers. One of those fans was tossed out of Thursday night's game.
"In 1993 when the tickets went on sale, and Jerry Richardson was saying, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you,' I said, 'You're welcome,'" said Joe Nejberger.
A Panthers PSL owner since day one, he says he's "sat in the same section for 14 years now."
Nejberger even has a routine he does after every Panther touchdown.
"I put my hands out with my fingers extended as if they were claws. I say, 'How 'bout them Panthers. ... About 10 years or so ago I started adding the choreographed 'C-A-T-S. What's that spell? CATS,'" Nejberger said.
But at Thursday night's preseason game against the Pittsburg Steelers he says, "This little feller in a red shirt said I needed to sit down, and I said, 'I've been doing this for 14 years. You got to be kidding.' Next thing I know there was a posse of cops, a deputy sheriff and Charlotte police escorted me to security."
Nejberger says Panthers security never gave him a reason for booting him from the stands. He says they just told him, "You have to go or we're going to have to put you in jail."
Nejberger says he was not intoxicated at the time.
"You can't get drunk on $7 beers. No, I was not drunk at all," he said.
After calling and e-mailing the Panthers all day Friday, Nejberger got an e-mail from the stadium operations manager telling him they are investigating the incident and will need the weekend to talk to everyone involved.
Nejberger just wants an apology.
"If I feel good about the response I get from the Panthers, I will not sell my tickets or PSL. I'll consider coming back to the games," he said. "Right now my tickets are on sale. I'm disgusted."
Nejberger says he's hurt by all this and he finds it ironic that he's the one guy that gets the crowd going and cheering even when the Panthers are losing.
Hallucinating sanity in the middle ages
Hallucinations weren’t considered madness in middle ages. (neither are they considered madness among the wing nuts of today)
Hallucinations and Their Impact on Art:
What is more curious to the contemporary man is that the medieval description of insanity does not include hallucinations; and the experience of possession (passivity phenomena) is not described as occurring concurrently with or as part of a visionary state.
In Western Europe from AD 500-1500, people who heard voices or saw visions considered themselves, and were considered buy their contemporaries, to have had an actual perceptual experience of either divine or satanic inspiration. They were not considered mad and were not treated as such. Hallucinations (fantasmata) were only considered mad when combined with trickery (prestigiae).
Wing Nuts take a strong stand against … learning?!?
This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the wing nut’s usual stances on education:
If there is anybody out there who still doesn’t believe that the wing nut media will attack President Obama no matter what he does, consider this: Wing nuts are telling children to skip school as a protest against Obama’s encouragement of students to stay in school. [...]
There’s nothing you can imagine that is too crazy for these people to say. They’ll claim Barack Obama was secretly born in Kenya (his birth announcements in Hawaiian newspapers were just one part of an elaborate, decades-long conspiracy involving Kenyans, the media, Hawaii’s repugican governor, and the Stonecutters). They’ll say he has a diabolical plan to create government “death panels” to kill off the old and the young. They’ll claim he is building a secret private army (consisting of — I swear I am not making this up — AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteers) that is “just as strong” as the U.S. military so that he can “seize power” and create a “thugocracy.” [...]
So Glenn Beck and his fellow tinfoil hat-wearers sprang into action. Beck went off on his “indoctrination” rant, warning of secret private armies (no, he isn’t worried about Blackwater — it’s the thought of English majors signing up to help teach people how to read that keeps him up at night).
Myths of the full moon explained
With tonight's Full Moon and the weirdness this is a timely piece.
Calibrate your HDTV and save money
Calibrate your HDTV and save money
Basic adjustments on your TV's picture settings can mean using 50 percent less electricity.
Cartoon Break
Back in 1929 UB Iwerks drew for Disney. In 1937 he drew for Columbia.
From 1929 "Skeleton Dance"
From 1937 "Skeleton Frolic"
From 1929 "Skeleton Dance"
From 1937 "Skeleton Frolic"
Regulators shut down bank in Missouri
Regulators on Friday shut down First Bank of Kansas City in Missouri, pushing to 85 the number of banks that have failed this year under the weight of the soured economy and rising loan defaults.
That makes 85 US bank failures this year
That makes 85 US bank failures this year
Police have made a further arrest in connection with Britain's biggest jewelery robbery.Thirsty Florida woman accused of stealing change
A 19-year-old woman was accused of taking $7 in change from a car parked at a police station.
Thirsty Florida woman accused of stealing change
Thirsty Florida woman accused of stealing change
South Carolina Man Tries to Set Record for Grape Catching
A Midlands, South Carolina man is trying to break a somewhat bizarre world record.
Eat clean, function better
Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, alongside lean proteins and carbohydrates, can help improve everything from body shape to libido.
Eat clean, function better
Eat clean, function better
The 100K Milestone
We reached 100,000 readers for the year just a moment ago.
It took 247 days and an average of 405 readers per day, but we did it.
Having starting out the year averaging over 600 readers a day we were hit hard by the "Summer Slump" and vacation season that is just ending.
C'est la Vivre.
It took 247 days and an average of 405 readers per day, but we did it.
Having starting out the year averaging over 600 readers a day we were hit hard by the "Summer Slump" and vacation season that is just ending.
C'est la Vivre.
School library goes bookless
School library goes bookless
A 144-year-old prep school discards its "outdated" 20,000-book collection.
Just a little case of profiling
The drug warriors at the US Forest Service want campers to be alert for other campers who might "eat tortillas, drink Tecate beer and play Spanish music because they could be armed marijuana growers".
Palin Resignation Costs Alaska At Least $40K
In typical repugican fashion ...
Waste, all they do is waste, anything and everything.
Early estimates put the cost of Sarah Palin's midterm resignation as Alaska governor at a minimum of $40,000, not including a special legislative session partly linked to her departure.
Palin Resignation Costs Alaska At Least $40K
Waste, all they do is waste, anything and everything.
Early estimates put the cost of Sarah Palin's midterm resignation as Alaska governor at a minimum of $40,000, not including a special legislative session partly linked to her departure.
Palin Resignation Costs Alaska At Least $40K
Get on board, or get out of the way
The following letter was sent to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the repugican senator from Iowa.
Health care reform WILL pass regardless of whatever the shrill wing nut shills scream and their mindless drones march in lock-step to.
Dear Sen. Grassley: Stop with these “pull the plug on grandma” statements and the “death panel” remarks concerning health care reform with the public option. The majority of Americans want this in the bill and will remember your comments and lies on this subject.
Union leaders have spoken about the Republican leaders’ comments, the busing of radical people to town meetings, some with guns, and the fear your people are creating for old people.
You will be remembered during your next election for these acts. Can’t your Republicans and blue-dog Democrats have truthful debates about health care reform?
Stop lying to the very people who elected you. This is totally out of hand, and now we hear comparisons of this to Germany under Hitler. Enough is enough. Your job is to represent and support American people; like it says, “We the people ... for the people.” What happened to that?
Ask the seniors on government-run Medicare. Ask the veterans on government-run vets insurance if they want to give it up. And ask your fellow senators if they want to give up their government-run health care.
Get on board with health care reform with the public option, or get out of the way.
*****
Health care reform WILL pass regardless of whatever the shrill wing nut shills scream and their mindless drones march in lock-step to.
US kidnapping case has police checking other unsolved murders, child abductions
Police are scouring old records of major unsolved cases in northern Nevada to determine if any match the profile of the man charged in the abduction and assault of a Lake Tahoe girl 18 years ago.
US kidnapping case has police checking other unsolved murders, child abductions
US kidnapping case has police checking other unsolved murders, child abductions
Is the World Joining in a Hitler Love Fest?
You know what, in 2 days in the media, Hitler has been featured in the Buchanan controversy, racial attacks and now a safe sex marketing campaign.
Is the World Joining in a Hitler Love Fest?
Is the World Joining in a Hitler Love Fest?
Fair's latest fried-food craze
Fair's latest fried-food craze
The State Fair of Texas has dished up deep-fried Twinkies, deep-fried Oreos, and deep-fried Coke.
Team of geeks cracks spy trade
Team of geeks cracks spy trade
A group of young engineers builds an unlikely following in U.S. spy circles.
Lobster wars rattle tiny island
Lobster wars rattle tiny island
Long-simmering feuds suddenly turn ugly on a remote fishing island 20 miles off the coast of Maine.
Proverbial Wisdom
- The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.
- Chinese Proverb
(Man, this explains why I shine so brightly - all the polishing I've had over the years)
Susan Boyle outdoes Whitney Houston
Considering Boyle has TALENT and Houston never did it is hardly surprising.
Susan Boyle outdoes Whitney Houston
The Scottish singer's still-unreleased debut tops Amazon sales, beating out Whitney Houston.
Things to get for absolutely free
20 things to get for absolutely free
Find out what you can get without paying a dime — from shipping to movies to kids' meals.
Hidden pockets of elderly in poverty
The official poverty rate for Americans 65 years and older has stood for years at 10 percent, the lowest rate among age groups.
Goat found in the Bronx
It's another case of the wandering goat.
Officials say an emaciated-looking Nubian goat wandered onto the property of a nursing home in the Bronx, where two other goats were discovered in July.
Goat found in the Bronx,
third in more than a month;
their origin remains a mystery
Officials say an emaciated-looking Nubian goat wandered onto the property of a nursing home in the Bronx, where two other goats were discovered in July.
Goat found in the Bronx,
third in more than a month;
their origin remains a mystery
Man fires cannon, hits neighbor's house
A Pennsylvania history buff who recreates firearms from old wars accidentally fired a 2-pound cannonball through the wall of his neighbor's home.
Fifty-four-year-old William Maser fired a cannonball Wednesday evening outside his home in Georges Township that ricocheted and hit a house 400 yards away.
Man fires cannon, hits neighbor's house
Teen who cries blood gets help from experts
Calvino Inman had just stepped out of the shower one evening in May when a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror caused him to panic.Al Franken talks an anti-healthcare-reform mob down
When Senator Al Franken was confronted by an angry mob of teabagger/anti-healthcare-reform types, he calmly, rationally and intelligently talked them down, setting an example for how to conduct reasoned discourse that relies on facts and rationality rather than jingoism.
Intelligence always wins, folks.
British musicians speak out against disconnecting accused infringers
Paul McCartney, Elton John and other prominent British musicians have spoken out against the government's ridiculous proposal to disconnect people who've been accused of infringing on copyright from the Internet, calling it 'expensive, illogical and "extraordinarily negative".' Damned right. Cutting entire families off from access to e-government, health information, work, education, friends, family, and freedom of expression freedom of assembly and freedom of the press because someone accused one member of infringing copyright is terrible.
The UK government's own research shows that households without Internet access operate at a huge disadvantage, paying more for basic necessities than online counterparts -- everything from premiums on their phone- and gas-service because they can't opt for electronic statements to missing out on jobs and other opportunities. To treat the Internet as a luxury item that can be taken away from whole housefulls of people because one member has been accused of a civil infraction flies in the face of justice, proportionality and due process. Civilised countries don't engage in collective punishment.
In a statement seen by the Guardian, a coalition of bodies representing a range of stars including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John and Damon Albarn attacks the proposals as expensive, illogical and "extraordinarily negative".The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (Basca) and the Music Producers Guild (MPG) have joined forces to oppose the proposals to reintroduce the threat of disconnection for persistent file sharers, which was ruled out in the government's Digital Britain report in June.
The plans have already been attacked by privacy campaigners, internet service providers and a range of MPs, some of whom accuse the business secretary of being influenced by secret meetings with senior figures from the music and film industry, a charge he denies.
The coalition accuses the government of being backward looking, saying there is "little support from logic" in proposals to cut off file sharers - a move welcomed by the record companies and UK Music, the umbrella body for the entire industry.
The statement says: "We vehemently oppose the proposals being made and suggest that the stick is now in danger of being way out of proportion to the carrot. The failure of 30,000 US lawsuits against consumers and the cessation of the pursuit of that policy should be demonstration enough that this is not a policy that any future-minded UK government should pursue."
23 Davidson College students ill with flu
Twenty-three Davidson College students have been diagnosed recently with Type A influenza, but most cases have been mild, college officials said this afternoon.
“Their fevers broke quickly, and several of these individuals have already been diagnosed as well enough to return to classes and regular activities,” Dean of Students Tom Shandley said in a letter today to students, faculty and staff. "Instead of the initial seven days that was forecasted, we have found that the full recovery has come in 3-5 days.”
The students had all gone to the college's health center because they had such flu-like symptoms as fever, body aches, runny or stuffy noses, sore throats, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, Shandley said.
The college has an emergency flu plan based on federal guidelines that call for ill individuals to be isolated from the rest of the community. Ill Davidson College students who live in a single room are allowed to stay there and self-isolate, Shandley said. They must wear masks whenever they have to leave the room, but meals are delivered and they are kept isolated from others on the hall, he said.
Ill students who share a room are moved to two large dormitory lounges with separate showers and HVAC systems. Meals are delivered to the rooms by workers from the college's Dining Services, and staff check on the students throughout the day, Shandley said.
Students who test positive for the flu are prohibited from attending class until cleared by the Student Health Center, generally after they have been free of fever for 24 hours and/or their symptoms begin to abate, he said.
Woman sues Billy Graham group over race
A black woman has filed a lawsuit against the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, saying she was abruptly fired from the organization after complaining it was not reaching out to African-Americans.
Kimberly McCallum of Charlotte says in the lawsuit filed in Mecklenburg County that she was the only black employee working in the association's executive offices when she started there in February 2007. She complained to her superiors later that year when she was asked to recruit congregations to a camp program but found that a list of 635 prospective churches had only three congregations that were primarily black.
McCallum was told a week later that her job was being eliminated.
The association declined to immediately talk about McCallum's job but called her allegations "preposterous."
*****
Knowing Billy Graham and his organization (read: Cult), 'preposterous' is the last word that could be used to describe her allegations
Big payday after decades behind bars
Big payday after decades behind bars
Inmates freed by DNA evidence are becoming instant millionaires in Texas.
WWII pilot hoping to find lost wings
WWII pilot hoping to find lost wings
Bernerd Harding buried his pilot's wings in a German cellar 65 years ago. Now he plans to dig them up.
Sixty-five-years ago, 1st Lt. Bernerd Harding huddled in a cellar with a few other airmen captured by German farmers and buried his pilot's wings, fearful he'd be beaten or shot as an American bomber pilot.
Cops shoot Fire Chief in court
This is way sane people avoid Arkansas
The story has it all - a B-Movie plot writers wet dream: a tiny, dust blown town rising up against their own draconian police force, a gang of cops shooting a fireman in front of a judge, it's utterly unbelievable and a made for TV movie already written for the producers.
I'll never drive through Jericho, Arkansas, in this or any other lifetime - bet on it.
No charges for the cop who shot the man in court and in the BACK?! And possible charges for the man that was SHOT?! Something is definitely whack in Jericho, Arkansas.
The story has it all - a B-Movie plot writers wet dream: a tiny, dust blown town rising up against their own draconian police force, a gang of cops shooting a fireman in front of a judge, it's utterly unbelievable and a made for TV movie already written for the producers.
I'll never drive through Jericho, Arkansas, in this or any other lifetime - bet on it.
It was just too much, having to return to court twice on the same day to contest yet another traffic ticket, and Fire Chief Don Payne didn't hesitate to tell the judge what he thought of the police and their speed traps.The response from cops? They shot him. Right there in court...
It was anger over traffic tickets that brought Payne to city hall last week, said his lawyer, Randy Fishman. After Payne failed to get a traffic ticket dismissed on Aug. 27, police gave Payne or his son another ticket that day. Payne, 39, returned to court to vent his anger to Judge Tonya Alexander, Fishman said.
It's unclear exactly what happened next, but Martin said an argument between Payne and the seven police officers who attended the hearing apparently escalated to a scuffle, ending when an officer shot Payne from behind...
Prosecutor Lindsey Fairley said Thursday that he didn't plan to file any felony charges against the officer or Payne. Fairley, reached at his home, said Payne could face a misdemeanor charge stemming from the scuffle, but that would be up to the city's judge. He said he didn't remember the name of the officer who fired the shot.
No charges for the cop who shot the man in court and in the BACK?! And possible charges for the man that was SHOT?! Something is definitely whack in Jericho, Arkansas.
The Beatles ... Rock Band
I might actually break down and learn to play video games for this one ...
| The Beatles: Rock Band - Opening Cinematic | ||||
| ||||
How workers get stiffed out of pay
How workers get stiffed out of pay
The average lower-paid worker gets cheated out of their rightful income, a study finds.
Daily Almanac
Today is Friday, Sept. 4, the 247th day of 2009.
There are 118 days left in the year.
Today In History September 4, 2009
There are 118 days left in the year.
Today In History September 4, 2009
Our Readers
Some of our reders today have been in:
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Nice, Provence-Alpes-Cote D'Azur, France
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
New Delhi, Delhi, India
London, England, United Kingdom
Tangier, Tangier, Morocco
Upper Hut, Wellington, New Zealand
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
as well as Scotland, and the United States
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Nice, Provence-Alpes-Cote D'Azur, France
Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
New Delhi, Delhi, India
London, England, United Kingdom
Tangier, Tangier, Morocco
Upper Hut, Wellington, New Zealand
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
as well as Scotland, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
No matter where you go, what the circumstances are or why you happen to be there, more often than not, you're likely to be made the honorary principal -- and the financial secretary.
Most times, you don't mind -- you often enjoy it.
If this is one of those times when you don't want to be on duty, bow out graciously.
If you see a need, as usual, you'll jump in and help.
But for your own sake, do take some time off.
Way ahead of you.
No matter where you go, what the circumstances are or why you happen to be there, more often than not, you're likely to be made the honorary principal -- and the financial secretary.
Most times, you don't mind -- you often enjoy it.
If this is one of those times when you don't want to be on duty, bow out graciously.
If you see a need, as usual, you'll jump in and help.
But for your own sake, do take some time off.
Way ahead of you.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wing Nut loser loses finger
Heard the one about the finger at the health care rally MoveON held?
The wing nuts (one in particular) were spoiling for a fight and they got one.
But to hear them tell it they are the 'victim(s)' here.
However as usual they aren't telling the truth - not even half truth.
From an eyewitness who was there ...
The wing nuts (one in particular) were spoiling for a fight and they got one.
But to hear them tell it they are the 'victim(s)' here.
However as usual they aren't telling the truth - not even half truth.
From an eyewitness who was there ...
Eyewitness account from karoli @ drumsnwhistles:To be clear here: there were no threats, no dark moods, and there was no mob. I repeat, there was no mob. We were peaceful people holding candles and signs.
One petite woman was also handing out single payer flyers. She was passionate about it, but not rude, not mean, always smiled, and simply offered the flyer. At some point, she crossed back over (she may have run out of her flyer supply. I don’t know for sure. But she was not in any way confrontational.)
All of a sudden, I saw a very tall man in an orange shirt (yes, he is in the photo I linked you to) confront her, verbally at first. her back was to the thruway, and he was shooing her, approaching her, speaking to her in a very aggressive fashion (observation from body language only) and waving his arms in a shooing motion. With each step she took back, he took one forward, shooing her more. From where I was, it appeared as though he were telling her to get on her own side of the street, and backing it up with a very clear physical threat. Even from where I stood, it chilled me. I pointed it out to others and called out for anyone with a video camera to aim it over there. (I had a small Nikon cam with me that does video, but it would have been useless in that light.)
Ultimately, she did cross the street and come back over to our side.
Several minutes later, there was another altercation. My best recollection is that this man saw what happened to the woman and reacted to it. I cannot say with certainty where he was when he saw it — he may have arrived and was navigating his way through that group, or he may have crossed the street to defend her. He was confronted by the same man. I could tell from where I was that the man was belligerent, angry, and confrontational.
The man in the orange shirt hit the pro-reform guy (I’m going to call him pr guy just to keep the players straight), hard. ( tweeted in real time) He punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground and into that thruway. As you can see from the photo, cars drive straight through that without stopping. The pro-reform guy could have been run over. He got up, tried to get back up on the curb, but orange shirt guy was in his face. Finger in his face, pr guy standing, steps up to the curb, and there’s a scuffle. Orange shirt seemed to have pr guy in a hold, but again, I was across the street, so won’t state that as absolute fact. Next thing I see is pr guy’s hat being tossed into the street, both yelling at one another, then orange shirt walks away, pr guy picks up hat and crosses to our side.
When he gets to our side, he tells a story in one sentence: “He punched me hard, straight in the face, so I bit his finger off.”
Honestly, I thought he was exaggerating. I guess he wasn’t.
I’ve given this report to the police along with my photos. I am not heralding anyone as a hero here. I certainly do not celebrate the idea of anyone biting anyone else, no matter what the reason. However, there is no question that orange shirt guy was aching to fight, was willing to pick a fight, and certainly didn’t care who he fought with. He chose people who were shorter than he, and he used his voice, his body, his body language and his height to intimidate them.
Don’t be fooled by reports ginning up sympathy for that 65-year old guy or worse yet, reports characterizing him as a senior citizen. He was aggressive and ready to mix it up.
*****
The wing nuts are already spinning this to make it sound like MoveOn was looking for trouble and ready for blood.
As said before they are all lies.
The anti-reform guy (who, ironically, is on medicare and is having his finger-re-attachment surgery paid for by we the taxpayers) is the guy that started trouble.
The anti-reform guy is the guy who threw the first punch.
The anti-reform guy is the guy that kept getting in people's faces.
The anti-reform guy is the guy who continued the screaming when the other guy was down on the ground.
The anti-reform guy is the guy who picked a fight.
The anti-reform guy lost the fight.
As said before they are all lies.
The anti-reform guy (who, ironically, is on medicare and is having his finger-re-attachment surgery paid for by we the taxpayers) is the guy that started trouble.
The anti-reform guy is the guy who threw the first punch.
The anti-reform guy is the guy that kept getting in people's faces.
The anti-reform guy is the guy who continued the screaming when the other guy was down on the ground.
The anti-reform guy is the guy who picked a fight.
The anti-reform guy lost the fight.
Unemployment benefits are drying up
Unemployment benefits are drying up
By the end of the year, 1.3 million jobless Americans will have exhausted their government aid.
Arson caused massive LA fire
Arson caused massive LA fire
Authorities find the starting point of the blaze that killed two firefighters.
Man On Death Row Gets Jail Term For TV Criticism
A Shi'ite who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for 16 years for insulting the Prophet Mohammed was sentenced this week to another five years in jail for criticizing the Saudi justice system, an activist said.
Man On Death Row Gets Jail Term For TV Criticism
Just a little bit silly don't you think? Then again he is on death row 'insulting' a dead guy ... a dead guy that has been dead for over 1ooo years - so which is sillier?
Man On Death Row Gets Jail Term For TV Criticism
Just a little bit silly don't you think? Then again he is on death row 'insulting' a dead guy ... a dead guy that has been dead for over 1ooo years - so which is sillier?
Swine flu vaccine breakthrough?
Swine flu vaccine breakthrough?
Companies claim to have a single-dose shot that could stretch limited supplies.
Happiest cities in the world
Happiest cities in the world
One country has two cities ranked in the top 5 in a new happiness survey.
Bad Eyesight ... Have a stroke?
Malcolm Darby, 70, wore eyeglasses since he was a young child to compensate, he says, for being "blind as a bat." Last year, the Leicestershire, UK man suffered a stroke and now has perfect vision. Physicians operated to remove the blood clot apparently blocking 80 percent of his carotid artery. When Darby woke up, he noticed that his eyesight was just fine without his spectacles. From The Telegraph:
When Dr Darby woke from the anaesthetic he said he thought his vision had become even worse.
He said: "I was still a bit fuzzy from the surgery but reached for my glasses and put them on and I couldn't see a thing.
"I thought, 'oh no' I'm going to have to spend more money on new glasses.
"Then when I took them off I noticed a nurse carrying a newspaper upside down and I could read what it said. It didn't register at first and then suddenly I realised I could see.
It is unclear why the stroke or the operation appears to have caused such a dramatic improvement in Mr Darby's sight but doctors believe there may have been pressure on the optic nerve at the back of the eye which was relieved as the clot was cleared.
Dr Martin Fotherby, consultant stroke physician at Leicester Stroke Centre, said: "It's pretty unusual. It's a mystery."
Health News
In Health News:
Discovery of HIV's weak spot boosts vaccine quest
Antibodies that bind to a hitherto unknown weak spot on HIV have been found, reviving hopes that a potent vaccine is within reach
Doug Melton: Finding a cure for diabetes
Creating insulin-producing cells from skin cells is just the first step towards a cure for the disease, says Harvard Stem Cell Institute's co-director
Science News
From BBC-Science:
 | | The Arctic region cooled for two millennia, research reveals, before warming abruptly in the last century. |
| The vast Andromeda galaxy has expanded by consuming stars from smaller galaxies, research shows. | | Britain's oldest original computer, the Harwell, is about to be restored to full working order. |
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