Friday, December 27, 2013

New Species Discovered in 2013: An odd animal roundup reminder

Poecilotheria rajaei,

Good Day World!

 Amazing as it may seem, scientists keep finding new species of animals – well, at least new to mankind. They’ve been out there all along.

Every year we get to hear about things like spiders as big as our faces or beautifully colored frogs that will poison us if we even touch them.

I love this time of year when everyone is making up lists about what happened throughout the year. This year is one of my favorites: 

On remote forest tree-tops and in deep Arctic oceans, researchers spotted and identified a varied collection of new species in 2013.

Among them: a "cocoa frog" from Suriname, a shark that walks, and a tarantula the size of a dinner plate.New species: this sleek chocolate-colores

Though this year’s haul of new species runs into the thousands, researchers estimate that there are about 8 million species still unidentified by science skulking in remote corners of the world, and sometimes hiding out right under scientists' noses.

And that’s not including most of the microbial world. "When you throw in the bacteria and archaea and cyanobacteria and those early groups, all bets are off," Quentin Wheeler, incoming president of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and founder of the International Institute for Species Exploration, told NBC News.

Science is catching up with Mother Nature — but slowly. About 18,000 species are discovered every year, and as of 2013, "we’re fast approaching 2 million named things," Wheeler said.” (Read whole story here)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Thursday, December 26, 2013

A wink at the weirdest political moments of 2013

Good Day World!

 In another year marked by a steady stream of gaffes, scandals, and strange controversies, the late night comedy pros have had no drought of material from Washington, D.C., as the stars of our nation’s body politic continued to say goofy things into microphones on a shockingly regular basis.

Here are three of the eleven most bizarre quotes for 2013. They’re head scratching, strange moments, in the words of the men and women who brought them to you:

I knew that by putting something out as a tweet that I deleted that the press would see it, and if they could read something into what was an innocent tweet about how hot Cyndi Lauper was as a performer, that it would get the press’s attention, and it did in a monster way.” – Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., April 12.

I will eat them anywhere. I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you, thank you, Sam I Am!”  - Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Sept. 24.

The most shocking part of the story was learning that there is a vegan strip club in Portland.” – Cory Booker spokesman Kevin Griffis, Sept. 25.

Read the whole story here

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Marry Christmas from As It Stands!

 Good Day World!

 Merry Christmas to everyone in the world, and may you enjoy peace and love in abundance.

 Wherever you may be, I hope the seasons blessings are upon thee!

 Thank you for stopping by.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

It’s the day before Christmas & throughout Lakerdom there’s little hope for a Christmas Day miracle!

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 Good Day World!

The seriously depleted Laker squad this season is a collection of castoffs and young players with good attitudes and limited skills.

There will be no Kobe Bryant to give them at least one superstar on the court Christmas Day when they play against the powerhouse Miami Heat.

For fans such as myself, these are the down days of a once proud Laker dynasty. I cringe when they play anyone now. Teams that used to mean automatic wins are now clobbering the mismatched group of Lakers who are trying to get by without a point guard.

If Farmer comes back from his hamstring injury on Christmas Day I don’t expect much100_1278 from him. The only upside will be he’s a point guard. I couldn’t believe what happened when Coach Di’ Antonio reached down into the D-League and brought in a point guard for the last game against Golden State.

The guy, I refuse to use his name (Kendall Marshal), lasted for several plays. He managed to get a foul called on him, and then was ejected from the game in mere minutes! This is the kind of season it’s been for the hapless Lakers.

Pau Gasol played despite a lingering upper respiratory infection played against the Suns last night and scored a season low 10 points before retiring. Who knows if he’s going to be up to playing again on Christmas Day? The Suns ran them off the court 117 to 90.

So, that leaves us with guys like Jodie Meeks playing starting point guard. His backups, Henry and Young, are not point guards either. Jordan Hill, who has been playing well of late, will really have a challenge on his hands guarding Miami Heat Center, Chris Bosch.

But you know what? I’m going to have my Laker/Santa Claus hat on with my Laker robe this Christmas Day hoping for a miracle for my team…the Los Angeles Lakers! What else can a true fan do?

MERRY CHRISTMAS – I’ll see you on December 27th.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Monday, December 23, 2013

Decorated Combat Veteran on a Mission for Medical Marijuana

Good Day World!

 As a combat veteran with PTSD, I closely follow any new treatments that come up in the news.

Two trends have recently captured my interest because they’re non-traditional means of dealing with my condition.

                                           (Photo Credit: TheGoodSoldier.com / Perry Parks)

They are, PTSD dogs and medical marijuana.

I’ve got a news item on the topic of medical marijuana which is really making the rounds on the social media circuit today: 

Perry Parks, a Vietnam combat veteran and highly decorated retired military officer of 28 years, says killing is an unnatural act.

If you take the average person off the street, he said, he will not be able to point a gun at somebody and pull the trigger.

“They have to be trained to kill, so most people will pull the gun up at the last minute and miss,” Parks said, noting that the U.S. military got hip to this trend following WWI, when which soldiers subconsciously missed the mark about 75 percent of the time.

Combat training has since been altered to better teach people to kill. Instead of fixed bullseye targets, soldiers now practice shooting at popup human silhouettes. But whether or not a person has been trained to kill, the brutality of war can leave a dark and sometimes permanent mark on their psyche.

Parks, like 30 percent of all Vietnam War vets and at least 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, left the army with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

He was featured in the 2009 Emmy Award-winning documentary, The Good Soldier, which follows five combat vets, each from a different American war, as they sign up, go to battle, then eventually become disillusioned with war and rethink what it means to be a “good soldier.” In the film, Parks explains how the act of killing later torments so many combat veterans, himself included.

Now, Parks is leading the national fight to allow veterans to access cannabis. He is the former president of the North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network, which focuses on medical marijuana policy reform in the state, and continues to work with the organization as a legislative liaison. His primary job is to reach out to state officials and raise money for the organization.

While 20 states and Washington D.C. have legalized medical marijuana, only a few of those states grant medical marijuana access to people with PTSD—and Parks lives in North Carolina where the use of the herb for any purpose is restricted and severely enforced.

Take Josh Cook, a veteran from North Carolina who was injured in Iraq and medically discharged when he began to experience seizures. After trying a series of legal seizure medications, Cook found that cannabis alone helped; in fact, it stopped his seizures altogether for eight months. But in January the local police showed up at Cook’s door and asked to search his house. He agreed, and the cops found an electric coffee bean grinder Cook had been using to grind his marijuana. Cook was arrested and charged with two counts of marijuana possession.

Nevertheless, Parks is public about the fact that he uses an “illegal substance,” and he has never been arrested—yet. He chalks his good fortune, in part, to the fact that he’s extremely outspoken about his pot use. He’s brought medical information about cannabis to meetings with the local DA and mayor, his preacher, and even the local sheriff to try to educate them about the proven medical benefits of cannabis use.

“And, of course, I’ve taken full advantage of the military background,” he said, noting that people tend to be much less inclined to arrest a white, retired military officer in uniform than they are a black man or a teenager, for example.

“For years I didn’t wear my uniform, but got to thinking about how the joint chiefs of staff, when they go in and ask for millions of dollars for the military, they don't go in in civilian clothes," he said. "They wear their uniforms with all them brightly colored ribbons up front." 

(Read the rest of this story here at AlterNet)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Sunday, December 22, 2013

5 Great Breweries Where I live in Medford, Oregon

       Good Day World!

 I’m going to brag a little by sharing the great Brew Scene in Medford, Oregon, where I live.

No matter what time of the year you can find some tasty craft beer here!

Speaking of craft beers,here’s something I put together I think you’ll enjoy.

Here’s the 5 Breweries in Medford:


APOCALYPSE BREWING COMPANY, 545 Rossanley Drive, was established Sept. 15, 2012, in a roll-up garage door warehouse space, with metal sheeting walls and a concrete bar.
Co-owners Nick and Erin Ellis and Dennis Poncia believe in "big beers that are approachable but with the character necessary to challenge the mundane."
Operating on a half-barrel system, the brewers are targeting a production level of six barrels a month. They strive to offer five regular beer selections on tap, one rotating specialty tap and one guest tap.
The brewery's regular beers are: The Tunguska Event (cream-style ale); Blast Radius (American pale ale); Fallow Fields (American brown ale); The Sixth Seal (Northwest pale ale); Devastated Sky (American stout).
Specialty beers are continually under experimentation. The current pour is River Runs Red.
The tap house is open Thursday and Friday 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fans can join a Survivors Corps membership program.
For more, 541-210-8550,
http://apocalypsebrewing.com.

BEERWORKS, 323 E. Main St., is a specialty bottle shop and pub with more than 450 beers that can be bought to take home or to enjoy on site. It has six beers on tap as well and kegs for sale and hosts weekly beer tastings.
Owner Chris Dennett opened the place in July 2011.
It's open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more, 541-770-9100

• BRICKTOWNE BREWING COMPANY, 44 S. Central Ave., opened in November 2012 by the father-and-son team of Dennis and Craig McPheeters. Craig is the master brewer, with assistance from Chris Pearson.
Craig tends to focus on a more English style brewing, while keeping an open eye to the Pacific Northwest's love of IPAs.
The place has an industrial blue-collar feel, with a horseshoe-shaped wooden bar, built by Dennis.
Bricktowne's featured beers are: Blue Collar Cream Ale, and Blue Collar Light (American cream ale); Siskiyou Pass English Pale Ale (ESB); Applegate Pale Ale (American pale); Rogue Trail IPA (English IPA); HopJaw IPA (American IPA); Workin' Gal BrownE (American brown ale); Table Rock Red Ale (American amber); Gunslinger Double India Pale Ale (imperial or double IPA); Barrique Black Ale (robust porter).
In addition to the beers, they offer pub grub, appetizers, cheese and sausages and desserts. There's a banquet room to rent.
Their current winter hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Minors are welcome until 8 p.m.
For more, 541-973- 2377;
www.bricktownebeer.com.

• SOUTHERN OREGON BREWING COMPANY, 1922 United Way, opened in fall 2007 by Medford anesthesiologist — and beer lover — Tom Hammond, to "make amazing beer." Head brewer Scott Saulsbury makes three year-round beers: Nice Rack IPA, Na Zdravi Pilsener and Pin-up Porter. His seasonal beers are Black Heart Imperial Stout, Holy Water Maibock Big Rack Imperial IPA and Old Humbug winter Ale.
The beers are sold on tap and in 22-ounce bottles. Come April, 16-ounce cans also will be available.
The tap room is open Monday through Saturday 3 to 9 p.m., Sunday from noon to 6. Free brewery tours are available Saturdays at 4 p.m.
Private food vendors have food trucks on site Tuesday through Saturday.
For more, 541-776-9898,
www.sobrewing.com.

WALKABOUT BREWING COMPANY TAP ROOM, 921 Mason Way, opened in Medford in July 2012, though owner and brewer Ross Litton founded the microbrewery in 1997 in Central Point.
His aim was to produce beers in the Northwest style with ingredients grown in Oregon and Washington.
Walkabout's regular beers are Worker's Pale Ale, Jabberwocky Strong Ale, Wallaby White, Redback IPA, Aussie Amber and ESB.,
Its seasonal beers are Point the Bone IPA (Halloween), Crocktoberfest (fall), and St. Outback Stout (winter).
The tap room is open Monday through Friday 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The tasting room does not make food, but patrons are welcome to bring their own.
For more, 541-734-4677 (tap house) or 541- 664-7763 (brewery).

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Saturday, December 21, 2013

I’m back with some good news…

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Good Day World!

After waking up with my vision so blurred I couldn’t see out of my left eye a couple of days ago, I found out what was wrong with it. The good news is my condition isn’t permanent.

Basically, for reasons that can be attributed to age, my left eye hemorrhaged and the resulting bleeding caused black ghosts and jelly-fish to frolic behind my eyeball!

I had to go to a doctor in White City, Oregon, who sent me to a specialist in Portland to discover this.

When the specialist in Portland said the blurred vision will go away in 4-6 weeks I was thrilled. Nothing serious. Often happens to people who receive a blow to the head or eye.

After my initial elation, I still had a tiny surprise in store.

You see, the doctor in White City didn’t just look at the offending eyeball, she discovered a hole in my right retina! She was responsible for getting me an immediate appointment to see Dr. Campbell, a retina specialist in Portland.

Before I knew it, Dr. Campbell did laser surgery on it and I walked out the door a happy man. I call it an early Christmas present. I treasure my eyesight and feel very blessed to have had such a positive ending to what could have been a miserable future.

One more thing, as a service-connected disabled veteran I didn’t have to worry about paying a big medical bill. Thank you Oregon VA.

I really want to thank both the White City VA and the Portland VA, for such quick and quality care. I really believe Oregon takes care of it’s veterans.

Merry Christmas to all of you…

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Friday, December 20, 2013

“Duck Dynasty” star’s homophobic remarks got him canned – was that fair?

 SEE Note To Readers at bottom of post    

      Good Day World!

 Was Phil Robertson, star of the TV series “Duck Dynasty” railroaded by the Political Correctness Police?

Or, were the remarks he made an unfair attack on a segment of American society that should be addressed? Gays and Lesbians felt his words were intolerant and hateful. The fact of the matter is, he was stating his beliefs and the LBGT community became infuriated.

He lost his job. But right wing conservatives have decided to take up his cause and say that his freedom of speech was taken away. There’s other, less political people, who feel the same way.

My take is simple: live and let live. I abhor his statements regarding homosexuals, but it’s his opinion. He should be entitled to it. And, I’m not a right wing conservative speaking here. To me, it’s a matter that should be worked out between the two parties involved.  Quite simply, I’m prepared to take the good,bad,and ugly that comes along with our 1st Amendment.

Here’s the story: 

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal jumped to the defense of Phil Robertson, the star of the A&E megahit “Duck Dynasty” who was indefinitely suspended from the program Wednesday after making graphic statements about homosexuality.

In a statement, Jindal praised Robertson and his family as “great citizens” of his home state, where the lucrative show is filmed, and he slammed the “politically correct crowd” for criticizing his comments.

“I don’t agree with quite a bit of stuff I read in magazine interviews or see on TV.  In fact, come to think of it, I find a good bit of it offensive,” Jindal said. “But I also acknowledge that this is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views.  In fact, I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment. It is a messed up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended.”

At first glance, the Indian-American convert to Roman Catholicism with a national political profile and the crossbow-wielding, bearded patriarch of a television show about a duck-hunting call business wouldn’t seem to be completely natural allies.

But some conservative Christians are arguing that Robertson, a self-described “Bible-thumper,” was singled out for expressing a religious belief that homosexuality is wrong.

Asked in an interview with GQ what he believes in sinful, Robertson replied “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”

Robertson also described the mechanics of homosexuality in explicit terms, saying that a woman’s anatomy is “more desirable” than a man’s.

“I'm just thinking: There's more there!” the reality star said. “She's got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I'm saying? But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man. It's just not logical."

In a statement, Robertson said he is committed to speaking about the teachings of the Bible.

"My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together," he said. "However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other."

A&E Networks said that Robertson’s “personal views in no way reflect those of A&E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.”

GLAAD, a top advocacy organization for the LGBT community, called the comments “vile and extreme” and said Robertson’s statements are “ littered with outdated stereotypes and blatant misinformation.”

Jindal was not the only prominent GOP political figure to weigh in on the controversy.

Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin expressed her support for Robertson in a Facebook post.

“Free speech is an endangered species. Those “intolerants” hatin’ and taking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us,” she said.

And Texas Sen. Ted Cruz posted on his Facebook page that Americans should be "deeply dismayed" about Robertson's treatment.

"Phil expressed his personal views and his own religious faith; for that, he was suspended from his job," he said. "In a free society, anyone is free to disagree with him--but the mainstream media should not behave as the thought police censoring the views with which they disagree."

(Originally ran by NBC News)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

NOTE TO MY READERS

I have to take a blog break for a couple of days because I’m going to an eye specialist today.

Woke up and couldn’t see out of my left eye. I’m hoping it’s something that can be fixed.

I should be back on December 23rd.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

No more cheap booze for US diplomats in India after Indian diplomat strip-searched

 Good Day World!

 Oh yeah! Take that American barbarians!

In a very embarrassing situation, an Indian diplomat in New York was strip-searched after being arrested on fraud charges.

The news didn’t go over very well in India whose government immediately retaliated by cutting off the cheap booze and food that American diplomats enjoyed getting.

What surprises me is this has become a big controversy and is causing a rift between the two countries. Things haven’t been so tense since 1971, when Washington sent a carrier group to the Bay of Bengal during the Bangladesh war.

Really? Over an Indian national who was caught breaking the law? Is there more behind this whole incident that we don’t know about? It makes a person wonder.

Here’s the story:

India has blocked perks such as cheap alcohol and food imports at the U.S. Embassy after one of its top diplomats was arrested on fraud charges and strip-searched in New York City.

Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade has been accused of submitting false documents to obtain a work visa for her Manhattan housekeeper, an Indian national whom she allegedly paid less than $3 an hour.

The 39-year-old diplomat's arrest has sparked a storm between the U.S. and ally India, with lawmakers in Delhi calling her alleged treatment "despicable" and "barbaric."

full story here

Related:

Secretary Kerry expresses regret to India after diplomat strip-searched

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

‘Two Degrees of Association’ - Pre-Crime Fighting Tactic Used in Chicago

 Good Day World!

Some good news for city dwellers in Chicago. Murders are down 20% this year.

What’s caused this significant decrease in crime?

 Here’s what’s happened:

The Chicago Police Department committed to using the new science of social network analysis, the same tools that allow Silicon Valley to predict who you know and what you might like to buy.

Now they’re predicting where trouble will happen, before it happens, based upon a growing database of over 60 gangs and 600 factions. With information on the gang’s slang and locations, authorities are putting together a matrix to fight crime in Chicago.

But at what expense? What civil liberties are being violated? Both questions the ACLU is asking. Read about how the new crime fighting program came into existence and what it’s done thus far in 2013 here..

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

 

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...