Random Thoughts….
There’s a lot of stuff rattling around in my brain—random thoughts about this and that…
So, as the late comedian George Carlin used to say—here’s a few of my brain droppings.
FLIGHTS OF FANCY
The disappearance of Air France flight #447 over the Atlantic has unleashed a huge amount of speculation from the media— more than usual perhaps because the plane was lost over a desolate section of Ocean with no aural communication from the crew.
One of the early—and oft reported pieces of speculation was that “lightning brought down” the huge jet.
Trouble with that “theory’’ is that it can be disproved with the click or two of a computer key, and the blabbering no-nothings of the media did not a seconds research before spewing out useless garbage.
All the speculating newsies had to do was a quick Google search for “aircraft & lightning” they would have found a tons of information about how planes are designed to withstand lightning strikes…
They’d find stats showing dozens of aircraft are struck every month by lightning world-wide.
Do the genius brains in newsrooms need more proof?
A few more keystrokes would have revealed this video of Qantas Jet struck while in mid air:
OR this video of a jumbo jet getting struck just after takeoff…
There are several other videos on line, including a small, private plane getting zapped by lightning and shots from inside the cabin of an aircraft of a lightning strike.
It’s not necessary to post ‘em all—you get the point.
WHOSE THE BIGGEST TWIT?
Back in April, Actress Demi Moore got all kinds of headline coverage when a San Jose, California woman sent her an on-line suicide threat via Twitter.
Her followers saw the threat and called the local police who interrupted the woman’s suicide attempt.
Although Moore didn’t save the life, she got the credit…
Now— a city councilor in Atlanta, Georgia has used the Twitter to save someone right in front of him.
As you can read here, Councilman Kwanza Hall spotted a woman having a seizure on a street corner.
He decided to Tweet for help because his cell phone battery was low, and he feared he wouldn’t have enough juice to stay on the line with the local 9-1-1 center.
His text: “Need a paramedic on corner of John Wesley Dobbs and Jackson st. Woman on the ground unconscious. Pls ReTweet
That message was picked up by his followers—and with-in seconds—an ambulance was dispatched, arriving in time to save the woman’s life.
I betcha she’s “singing” the praises of Twitter today.
—Steve
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Bits & Pieces, Odds & Ends Version20.0
Gasoline prices are marching upward again….
The North Koreans are threatening to unleash the nuclear genie….
The automakers are still reeling….
And the media desperately continues to scare us with Swine Flu horror stories about a disease that’s about as mild as a bad head cold…
So how does this blog respond to all of that?
We ignore it all, and look at the wackier side of life in this installment of:
SMILE AND THE TERRORISTS HAVE WON….
Thanks to Osama Bin Laden and his ilk—we can now look forward to having our crappy driver’s license photos look even worse…
Seems that states around the country are prohibiting smiling for picture that’ll go on your license..
The reason—facial recognition software.
Seems the smile wrecks the software’s ability to recognize photos already in the data-base of known faces.
So, smile at the risk of national security.
If you do, I guess law enforcement won’t be able to tell if you’re just a speeder, or someone who wants to destroy all American infidels.
GETTING YOUR GOAT #1
A tiny, little turtle is getting the goat of the Maryland State Highway Administration—literally.
Seems a highway bypass project has to go around the habitat of the endangered Bog Turtle.
That’s the easy part.
As you can read here, the hard part is trying to figure out how to remove weeds and brush in the habitat without using chemicals or techniques that might harm the little reptiles.
Enter the goats.
As the video below shows—they’re pretty good at clearing the land–while letting the turtles live in their bog.
GETTING YOUR GOAT #2
Goat herds may be good for Maryland Highway officials—but not for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Seems a family outside the city proper had a herd of 15 goats, two horses, a llama and an emu.
As you can read here, neighbors complained about the smell and noise of the animals—so, the city slickers on the board of supervisors came up with a solution.
They said the family could ONLY keep 10 goats, two horses, a llama and an emu.
Apparently, 10 goats don’t make as much noise or smell as bad as 15 goats.
I never knew that.
—Steve
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The Road Less Traveled….
While the American automotive industry begs for bailout cash and threatens us with dark tales of bankruptcy and economic turmoil—-
—-there are folks out there who are trying to innovate and improve the automotive industry…
Check ‘em out….
SHOWING ‘EM THE DOOR….
A California based company has come up with a concept that’ll make any car cool—while getting rid of the standard door.
Jatech uses what it calls a rotary drop door to allow easier access into and out of any automobile.
It turns your ride into an elegant coach.
As you can see in this video— the door just disappears under the car—sliding away in a matter of seconds.
As the company’s website shows, the disappearing door can be outfitted any ANY kind of vehicle—and has the approval of major automakers.
THIS CAR’S SWEET….
How’d you like to have a car that’s not only Biodegradable—but runs on Chocolate?
Well, a team of British researchers from the University of Warwick have developed just such a vehicle.
World First Racing’s Formula 3 race car runs on Bio-diesel that’s made from vegetable oils and waste from chocolate factories.
Not only that—but the major components of this little beauty are made from various organic substances.
- The steering wheel is constructed from carrot fibers
- The foam in the seats is from soybeans
- The rear view mirrors and body panels are made from potato starch
- The brake pads are made from cashew shells.
95% of the vehicle is Biodegradable, as you can read on World First Racing’s website here.
Researchers think that’s the way to go with ALL cars in the future.
Of course, with all those parts made from food, I suppose you could always serve your old car for dinner instead of trading it in for a new model.
DO WE REALLY WANT TO DO THIS…..
With the government moving closer and closer to taking over the U.S. auto industry, we really ought o give this some thought.
The following video gives us a taste of what could happen if the folks who brought you FEMA decide they’ll start selling us cars too.
—Steve
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Eat Up…
A number of fast food places have tried to dispel the nation that fast food is bad by coming up with a variation on the slogan: It’s not fast food—its good food fast…
But many still regard fast food as bad food…and there are continuing attempts to warn us that we are what we eat…
Here’s a couple of the most recent examples:
DRIVEN TO OVER EAT….
Saying that it’s worried that over half the adults in its state are obese—the Massachusetts Public Health Council got a law enacted requiring restaurant chains with 20 or more in-state locations to post calorie counts next to each item on their menus or menu boards— including all items sold at the drive-up window as you can read here.
Apparently, figures show 65% of ALL fast food purchases occur at the drive-up window..
Do you think a little calorie sign next to those burgers and fries is going to thin-up those hungry hoards who are too fat to get out of their cars to when ordering their fast food?
I think not…
Maybe they ought to require folks get out of their cars and WALK to the fast food place to get their grub.
At least they’d burn off more calories than if they drove up to the take-out window.
THAT’S A BIG ORDER…
Daly City is a small community South of San Francisco with about 10,000 residents….
Although small, students at the local high school are trying to make a big decision… They have decided they don’t want any more fast food joints in their town.
As you can read here, 900 Jefferson High students presented the town council with a petition asking it for a moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in town.
They say there’s already too many unhealthy places to eat in Daly City..
And they aren’t stopping at local fast food restaurants either.
They say their next project is to “fix the food in their cafeteria.”
Considering the “mystery meat” and other inedible concoctions that I remember from my high school cafeteria days—the Daly City kids could be on to something.
PSST..WANNA BUY SOME STONE GROUND OATS?
One of the fastest breakfasts on the planet is a bowl of cereal…
Some, like the high-sugar kiddy stuff are defiantly in the category of “junk food”…
But would you call a breakfast cereal a DRUG?
Well, that some are calling Cheerios.
As it says here, because the cereal box cites a clinical study which reads “eating two servings a day of Cheerios helps to reduce bad cholesterol — when eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol” the FDA figures that makes Cheerios a drug.
Cheerios maker says the FDA approved the health claims 12 years ago—but is now upset about how the information is presented on the box…
It’s enough to give you a headache..
Hey— could I take a Cheerio for that instead of an aspirin?
—Steve
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Bits & Pieces, Odds & Ends Version19.0
There’s always something happening that frosts my cupcakes—and when EYE get enough cupcakes sitting on my mental counter-top it’s time to serve them to you in :
IT GIVES ME FEVER….
After several weeks of Swine Flu coverage—we may be on the verge of learning the real truth about the way this strange genetic makeup of the H1N1 virus came about.
As you might recall scientists said it contained a here-to-for unseen combination Swine, Bird and Human flu…
A couple of weeks back, we speculated in this post the virus might have been artificially created.
Now as you can read here the researcher who helped create the anti-viral medicine TAMIFLU believes the H1N1 virus was a HUMAN creation that accidentally escaped a research lab.
Adrian Gibbs bases his conclusion on H1N1’s genetic blueprint, and says so in a report.
The World health Organization is investigating his claims while some are trying to pooh-pooh Gibb’s allegation.
But with four decades of studying the evolution of germs, my money’s on Gibbs.
GENERATING A CONTROVERSY…
First they told us we were running out of oil—but not to worry because we had plenty of coal that we could use to generate power..
Now, these two studies by researchers at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Washington claim we’ve overestimated the amount of coal we have available—and that we’ll hit peak production of it by 2025..
So, that pretty much gives us about 15 years to come up with workable, available alternative energy sources.
Can we beat the clock—or will we wait till 2024 before we do something?
IF x2=y>4 YOU MUST BE A THIEF….
The latest piece of Big Brother technology comes in the form of mathematical algorithms that check out surveillance video to figure out if you’re a shoplifter.
The BIG Y supermarket chain in Massachusetts has installed a system in its 57 stores that takes video camera feeds and runs them through a mathematical formula
As you can read here, the algorithms then decide if the store’s cashiers are engaging in an activity known as “sweethearting” where-by cashiers don’t ring up items as they work the check-out line.
If the system detects a problem, it alerts store security and then shows them the suspected video clip.
Stoplift, the company that invented the system claims on its website that it’s an accurate detector of employee theft.
But, knowing that math errors do occur in computer code, EYE would be a little worried about getting accused by a line of code that might corrupted.
—Steve
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Twitter Updates for 2009-05-12
- it’s the real game 7 tonite in raleigh…if the ‘canes lose tonite–the betting is it’s over for them ’cause they won’t overcome in Boston #
Funny Fur Sure….
There’s a lot of depressing and upsetting news out there what with the economy, gas shortages and whatnot…
So, because we’re having a “ruff” time—I thought we’d give folks a little something to ‘howl’ with laughter about…
What’s so dog-gone funny?
Well—take a look at some of this stuff and see…
HE’S PRETTY CAGEY…
Here’s a clip of a pup is in his crate—along with two others… But he’s done more than just take his puppy chow…
He’s been watching HOW that crate was opened and closed….
Check out how he not only escapes—but frees the other inmates…
And keep a sharp eye on the bones in the other cages… He takes ‘em after freeing his puppy comrades…I’m thinking that’s HIS REAL motivation for freeing the other dogs!
GUARD DOG…
This fellow bought a German Sheppard as a guard dog—and —the dog was great at guarding the house..
There was just one, teeny, tiny problem with the dog’s work..
As this security cam video shows—the dog didn’t understand that he was supposed to keep people from coming IN the house– not keep ‘em from going OUT of the house…
A PAIN IN THE GLASS…
Here’s another dog with door problems…
Only this canine won’t go out the door—even when there’s NO door there to impede his exit !
THAT’S WHY THEY CALL ‘EM FAITHFUL ….
Ever wonder WHAT your dog does when you’re NOT at home?
Well, filmmaker John Noble wondered the same thing.
He placed a bunch of cameras around his home to record the activities of Jesse the Labrador Retriever from sunup to sundown.
Here’s Jesse’s day compressed down into 2 minutes.
No wonder they call it a dog’s life!
—Steve
Link to the video and to the story Steve covered today on NBC-17
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Remembering A Class Act….
With the passing of Paul Newman, Hollywood and the the world lost a class act.
During his illness— Newman never played the sympathy card—and kept his pain private.
He was well known for his charitable works funded in large part by his company Newman’s Own foods.
But long before he established that charity—-I was witness to an act of kindness by Paul Newman that took place nearly two decades ago.
Here’s the account of that incident which was first posted on this blog almost exactly a year before he died.
~~~~~
ORIGINALLY POSTED SEPTEMBER 29, 2007
~~~~~
Seems a day doesn’t go by when there’s not a news story about the mis-deeds, bad actions, or just plain horrendous attitude of some Hollywood star.
You’d think they all were a degenerate bunch of self-serving pleasure seekers.
But, back in 1982, an incident occurred that put Paul Newman on the top of my permanent list of all-time class acts, while he was in Boston shooting a movie titled, The Verdict.
They were shooting on “G” street in South Boston—an area of tightly packed, turn of the century homes much like this…
Because of the way the houses are constructed—when they catch fire, it’s hard to stop the blaze before it destroys the whole building.
As it turned out—just such a fire broke out in “Southie” several doors down from where Newman and his crew were shooting interior scenes in a home on “G” street.
Upon arriving at the scene—I soon found a woman who lived in the burning home. She’d lost everything—managing to escape with the clothes she was wearing and her beloved dog—nothing more.
As I stood there interviewing her in the drizzle—the trauma of her heart-wrenching ordeal was obvious to all.
The noise and commotion caused by the fire stopped the filming near-by. Among those who came out to see what was going on was Paul Newman.
Word of what happened to the woman reached him.
He COULD have ignored what was occurring.
He COULD have called for his limo, and left.
He COULD have done a lot of things.
But, minutes after I interviewed the woman who was wandering aimlessly in distress—Newman quietly made his way over to her, and began to comfort her. A few minutes later, as a crowd began to gather around them—he sent her his trailer—and told the crew to take care of her there.
I recall reporting on his actions in one of my subsequent radio reports from the scene.
The name of the woman, and what happened to her in the months that followed are impossible to recall. All I have for reference these days are my hand scrawled notes on the back of the fading photograph taken by a local newspaper photographer.
But, although the photograph is fading—the memory of a legend’s kindness to someone he’d never see again
remains as bright as his star in Hollywood’s history.
—Steve
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It Comes Down To Number Two…
With the economic crisis getting saturation coverage this past week—a lot of the more interesting political stories have managed to be downplayed…
But when you’re cooking political stew—there’s always time to left it bubble long enough for some of the other ingredients to make their way to the top…
WITCH ONE IS SHE?
One of the more fascinating stories to emerge this week was one where Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin got blessed to protect her from WITCHCRAFT !
Back in 2005—she was videotaped in the Wasilla Assembly of God church, holding her hands open as Kenyan Bishop Thomas Muthee asked Jesus Christ to keep her safe from “every form of witchcraft”.
The clip below shows the actual “blessing” part of the ceremony. If you want to see the entire session–there are much longer clips floating around on the net—but this will give you the gist of what took place….
Remember how Rev. Wright’s videotaped sermons came back to haunt Barack Obama?
We’ll have to see if the same ghosts go after Palin in the coming days—especially if the economic story begins to fade.
THAT HIS-STORY AND HE’S STICKING TO IT….
And when it came time to talk of the economy, Joe Biden wanted to explain how good leaders take the bull by the tail and face the situation..
In an interview with Katie Couric he proudly spoke of the great words of FDR who went on TV to quell the nation’s fears after the stock market crash in 1929..
Trouble was Herbert Hoover was the president then—and TV hadn’t been invented…
I wonder what he would have said if Katie asked him to spell Potato ?
LOOKS LIKE BILL IS CRACKERING UP….
It was a classic two-fer for Bill Clinton the other night on Larry King Live.
Not only did he confuse the master of the obvious question—but he also managed to insult scores of southerners–without Larry King asking a follow-up or calling him out on it.
Clinton said he’d suspend campaigning for Obama during the upcoming Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur..
The CNN transcript says King asked, “Are you kind of feeling Jewish that you’re waiting until after the Jewish holidays?”
Clinton replied, “No. But…if we’re trying to win in Florida, it may be that,”
He then explained the Obama people want to send him to Florida because “they may want me to go to sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the ‘cracker vote’ there.”
Larry King— and the rest of the media— gave Clinton a pass on that one.
Wadda think the reaction would have been if Obama uttered those words?
—Steve
Link to the video and the story Steve covered today on NBC-17
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They Can’t Feel Our Pain…
As the financial markets continue to flail in a sea of red ink and proposed bailouts—our elected representatives are looking at tossing billions at the problem….
But—do they really understand how it affects us?
Based on a recent survey by the capitol hill newspaper Roll Call it would appear many of the most influential members of Congress have no REAL IDEA what the average American is now facing..
As you can read here, the paper’s 2008 survey of the 50 richest members of Congress shows a cross section of Democrats and Republicans who are so financially well-to-do that they are out of touch with the problems you and I deal with every day.
At the top of the list is Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts with $230.98 million to his name.
At the bottom is Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois with a reported $5.02 million in assets.
From number 1 to number 50—and everywhere in-between are representatives who:
· Have no clue what a budget breaker it is to pay $4.00 a gallon for gas…
· Don’t know what it’s like to have to put groceries back once they’re in the check out line because they find they don’t have enough money to afford all the items they need..
· Don’t know what it’s like to have to decide which creditors get paid this month—and which don’t as people struggle with escalating expenses ..
· Have no understanding of the fear that permeates those close to retirement age—who look at their 401-K’s and realize they’ve lost two thirds of their value..
These members of Congress not only DON’T feel our pain— but CAN’T feel our pain because their wealth insulates them from the daily financial crises that afflict more and more Americans.
Plus….
They don’t worry about health care—they get it free for life.
They don’t worry about retirement because get a great government pension.
And now— after returning to work just two weeks ago following their summer recess— Congress gets ready to do what its members do best—go on vacation again…
They need the rest—because everyone knows how hard they’ve worked to address things like the energy situation, which began to cripple our economy during the summer.
Yep—our out-of-touch lawmakers have plenty of personal financial security to do what they want—anytime they want.
But, when WE turn to our representatives for relief— they respond by picking our pockets and handing over more billions to those who’ve created this financial mess.
On second thought—I think Congress out to go on recess..
And this time—they ought NOT to come back—ever.
—Steve
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