Terrorist currency, controversial pardon, and scientists trying to read your brain

Good Day World!

Today, I’m going to ask 3 questions to spur your interest on some current events:

1) When do you know for sure that your not slowing down ISIS, a Muslim terrorist organization?

a) When they increase their numbers after US coalition attacks?

b) When they confidently mint their own currency in Gold, Silver, and Copper?

c) When they continue to take over cities despite numerous US coalition airstrikes?

d) All of the above.

2.) Should Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe pardon his son for felony conviction?

a) Yes

b) No

c) OH, HELL NO!

3.) Can Scientists really read your brain?

a) I sure hope not.

b) Yes

c) Not yet, but they’re trying to.

If you’d like to share your answers either comment here (see link below) or Tweet me at https://twitter.com/AsItStands63 )

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Riots don’t solve social problems, they contribute to them

(REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

                                                Good Day World!

The citizens of Ferguson and Berkeley, Mo, are living in fear.

They fear that if a grand jury decision doesn’t indict a white cop for shooting a black youth their community is going to be in a state of war for days – perhaps even longer.

Welcome to America in the 21st century.

Berkeley Ferguson Grand Jury Alert

“City of Berkeley, Missouri alert to residents about the upcoming grand jury decision regarding Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson fatally shooting Michael Brown. Ferguson, which borders Berkeley, was home to protests and riots after the police shooting. The bulletin advises Berkeley citizens to "make sure your home and family are prepared for a period of disruption."

Thousands of lives disrupted. For what?

A case that has been tried in the public court and judged by hot-headed activists. That’s what is happening.

To take Michael Brown as an example of all the innocent black young men that have been treated badly by cops throughout the nation, is a travesty.

We know, from a film taken minutes before his death, he was a thug. Anyone who walks into a store, steals cigars, and shoves innocent people aside in distain, is not a good example of black youth being unfairly treated.

Think about it.

Most people don’t really know the whole story. All they’re hearing is a one-sided account from his thug friend (who was with him in the store film). Yes, there were conflicting accounts. But why not let the Grand Jury work that out?

No one has heard the officer’s full account yet. He said he was defending himself, but the exact circumstances haven’t been revealed. Why not let forensic evidence tell the story?

What’s really sad is thousands of people’s lives will be disrupted because a group of people – not the parents by the way – are saying they want justice which translates to “they want their way or hell is going to break loose.”

If the parents are asking for peaceful protests, then the agitators who want violence should listen and reconsider looting and ransacking two towns in order to make a “social statement.”

Bottom line; riots are not the way to solve problems. They just create wider social divides.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Back to Blogging! I have returned…

Good Day World!

It’s been an interesting break.

As judge (and chief opinionator) for this blog, it’s time for me to start researching interesting stuff to share.

During the short week I was gone, Oregon legalized marijuana, mankind landed a space vehicle on a moving comet 3 million miles away, Veterans Day was celebrated, and I got sick as a dog on a plane while transporting two cats to their new home...my house.

My pug, Molly, hasn’t met the two new additions to our family yet. That ought to be interesting, and worthy of a a future post.

It’s good to be back home.

I look forward to settling into my blogging routine as winter comes early. Can you say “Polar Invasion?” Last year year it was the “Polar Vortex.” I think I like that description for oncoming bad weather better. 

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Alert! Blog Break: Publisher Says It’s Only Temporary

Good Day World!

Time for a blog break.

I find it refreshing. And necessary.

In this age of technology, I think it’s a good idea to unplug occasionally. I turn off my PC, the TV, and take a break from everything virtual.

I’ll actually do everything in real time for the next week. 

From November 4th through the 11th, I’ll be wandering the hinterlands with my honey. If all goes well, my next post will be on the 12th.

Here’s an election day story for you: Bush, Kennedy and more: 5 political dynasties to watch Election Day

Since I’ll be gone on Veterans Day, I’m going to give a shout-out right now to my fellow veterans; “Peace!”

I want to thank you, valued viewer, for stopping by this blog.

Take a minute, and check out the links on the right side of this page.

You’ll find newspaper columns I wrote, and all of my past posts (going back to July 2005), a link to my novella RAFTER’S REDEMPTION, and a link to an ongoing book project – THE JET CHRONICLES.

I hope you come back to visit again soon. Have a good one!

Time for me to walk on down the road…

“The life which is unexamined is not worth living.” - Plato

 

 

 

How to create awesome glazes for your precious pottery

Good Day World!

It’s time to get glazed…but not confused!

I put together a learning board on glazing pottery last year that was really popular with viewers (still is) while working at Learnist.

It’s titled Awesome Glazes for Pottery.

Glazing is important for earthenware vessels. Without it they wouldn't hold liquids due to porosity. Glaze is also used on stoneware and porcelain.

Check out the links and information on glazing origins, art, applications, techniques and how to apply it like a pro.

According to this Wikipedia article, from 552 to 794 AD, different colored glazes were introduced during the Kofun period of Japan.

The earliest example, Sue ware, was decorated with natural ash glazes and were green. In the 13th century, flower designs were painted with red, blue, green, yellow and black overglazes.

Learn about bisque firing, baking and glazing your pottery creations at Howstuffworks.

Using glazes requires a lot of experimentation and practice. Many factors, like the kind of kiln or the kind of clay you use, impact the final result.

Above all, have fun!

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Time to FACT CHECK campaign whoppers before elections

Good Day World!

Just the facts, please.

By the time the last polling booth closes on Nov. 4, a staggering amount of money — $4 billion, by one estimate — will have been spent on the midterm elections.

What did all that money buy?

A lot of false and misleading TV ads.

The facts too often did not support the over-the-top rhetoric used by both sides. Here’s a breakdown of the bullshit being broadcast in hopes of getting votes:

SENIOR SCARE

There were plenty of claims to scare seniors. But they were ghost stories — both frightening and fanciful.

Midterm Medicare Mudslinging, Oct. 3
More Senior Scare in Arkansas, Aug. 22
Social Security Scare in Louisiana, Aug. 7
Medicare Ghost Stories, July 9
Old Medicare Claims in Arkansas Senate Race, Feb. 21

COAL-FIRED WHOPPERS

The whoppers in Kentucky and West Virginia were often fueled by America's No. 1 energy source, coal.

Bogus Attack in Coal Mine Country, March 19
Doubling Down in West Virginia, Sept. 16
Kentucky Coal Connections, Oct. 7
No Proof of 'Lying,' Oct. 15

OBAMACARE

'Cassidycare?' Come On! July 11
Who Supports Obamacare in Georgia Race? July 16
Obamacare Ad Onslaught, April 11

DISHONORING VETERANS

Moldy Baloney About Vets' Benefits, June 5
Democratic Assault on Cassidy's Record, Sept. 3
No Cuts for Military Vets, Sept. 18
Braley's VA Hearing Attendance Under Attack, Aug. 1

MISLEADING ADS ABOUT TAXES

McConnell's Bloated Tax Boast, April 23
Grimes Ad Misses the Mark on McConnell, Oct. 23
Cantor Mislabels Opponent, May 5
Cantor Mislabels Opponent, The Sequel, May 28
Editing Out the Facts in Alabama, June 25
More Carbon Tax Distortions, July 24
AFP Distorts Begich's Carbon Tax Stance, Feb. 28

WAIT ... THERE'S MORE!

Disconnecting the Dots in Arkansas, April 11
Hijacking History in Arkansas, Sept. 24
Abortion Attack Goes Too Far in Montana, May 22
Perdue Distorts Nunn Campaign Memo, Sept. 12
Double Whopper Against King, Oct. 10

 

Ancient Teotihuacan tunnel in Mexico yields treasure trove of ritual objects

(Photo - A scanner view of a tunnel under a pyramid at the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, Mexico.)

A sacred tunnel discovered in the ancient city of Teotihuacan is filled with thousands of ritual objects and may lead to royal tombs, the lead Mexican archaeologist on the project said Wednesday.

The site is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City. The ruins have long been shrouded in mystery because its inhabitants did not leave behind written records.

(Rest of the story)

Would you benefit from ‘Social Media Cleansing’?

Good Day World!

Are you hyper-connected?

Does your smartphone go with you to the bathroom?

Can’t sleep unless your smartphone is in bed with you?

Is your face buried in Facebook, video games, twitter, texting, sexting, chatting, and Googling your days away?

It’s time you came up for air my friend!

A recent study found people have become so used to continuous outside stimulation that a large number of them would rather experience minor electrical shocks than spend time alone with their thoughts.

What’s the matter with that picture?

Another study found many students couldn’t concentrate on homework for more than two minutes without checking their social media accounts or writing an email.

Wow!

Sadly, too many people feel disconnected when they’re offline.

Virtual reality threatens “real time’ life experiences in our techie culture. I highly recommend a “social media cleansing” to help keep yourself grounded.

If you’re not sure how addicted you are to your smartphone/social media, take a break from it for a few hours. Turn it off.

If those hours seemed like days, the answer is obvious. The question now is, what are you going to do about it?

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Finally! Evidence discovered about Amelia Earhart’s fate

Good Day World!

It appears Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan died as castaways on a tiny atoll after their plane went down. 

Researchers have suspected as much for decades, but there’s been no positive proof…until now.

A fragment of Amelia Earhart's lost aircraft has been identified to a high degree of certainty for the first time ever since her plane vanished over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937, in a record attempt to fly around the world at the equator.

New research strongly suggests that a piece of aluminum aircraft debris (Photo) recovered in 1991 from Nikumaroro, an uninhabited atoll in the southwestern Pacific republic of Kiribati, does belong to Earhart’s twin-engined Lockheed Electra.

The breakthrough would prove that, contrary to what was generally believed, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, did not crash in the Pacific Ocean, running out of fuel somewhere near their target destination of Howland Island.

(Photo courtesy Miami Herald)

Instead, they made a forced landing on Nikumaroro' smooth, flat coral reef. The two became castaways and eventually died on the atoll, which is some 350 miles southeast of Howland Island.

It’s the first time an artifact found on Nikumaroro has been shown to have a direct link to Amelia Earhart. (Read full story at Discovery News)

Related:

This article from the Earhart Project webpage summarizes Amelia Earhart’s famous last flight, and documents when the patch/fragment was put on the plane in place of a window.

You’ll also found out about TIGHAR (pronounced “tiger”) an acronym for The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting responsible aviation archaeology and historic preservation.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Is it possible that you’re biased? Find out here

Good Day World!

Are you biased?

Not sure?

Would you like to know if you are?

Psychologists at Harvard, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington created "Project Implicit" to develop Hidden Bias Tests — called Implicit Association Tests - to measure unconscious bias.

To take Project Implicit's Hidden Bias Tests, click here. You may be asked to register.

ABOUT STEREOTYPES AND PREJUDICES

Hidden Bias Tests measure unconscious, or automatic, biases. Your willingness to examine your own possible biases is an important step in understanding the roots of stereotypes and prejudice in our society.

The ability to distinguish friend from foe helped early humans survive, and the ability to quickly and automatically categorize people is a fundamental quality of the human mind.

Categories give order to life, and every day, we group other people into categories based on social and other characteristics.

This is the foundation of stereotypes, prejudice and, ultimately, discrimination.

You’ll learn about:

Definition of terms - How do we learn prejudice? - How are our biases reinforced? - How do we perpetuate bias? - About Hidden Bias – and more.

Time for me to walk on down the road…