Friday, August 14, 2015

Bad Intentions: Caught Before Anyone is Harmed

Good Day World!

The bad guys don’t always get to carry out their bad intentions.

Sometimes they are thwarted by chance, good police work, or alert citizens.

For example:

A New York cop pulled a vehicle over the other day for a traffic violation, and was surprised to find a loaded Bible during a search brought about because of the scent of marijuana. (Source)

Loaded Bible? Well, actually it was container that looked like a leather-bound King James Bible. But instead of the word of God, it contained a loaded Glock 17, 10 bullets and a magazine.

In my book, that means the owner had bad intentions. The police felt the same way and arrested him on a weapons charge.

The next case is about a Cincinnati man accused of bringing a loaded gun to campus during officer's visitation day.

Kamaron Lyshe had a gun concealed under his shirt and told officers three different stories about why he was there.

At his sentencing the Judge concluded he brought the gun with bad intentions. “It could only be one thing” the Judge said regarding the reason Lyshe had the gun.

In some cases bad intentions are avoided by the sheer stupidity of the person committing a crime.

Authorities say a New Jersey man planning a burglary inadvertently dialed 911, allowing dispatchers to listen in on his conversation. Somerset County prosecutors say Branchburg police received the errant call on July 27, but were unsure of the caller's location.

They learned that the phone number had recently been assigned to 42-year-old Scott Esser, of Elizabeth who was promptly arrested.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Editor’s Note: I’ll be gone Aug. 15th & 16th. Back on Monday the 17th.

 

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Finally! A Reproducing Robot!

Image result for robots having babies

Good Day World!

I Robot is a reality.

The movie “I Robot” came to mind when I read about what researchers were doing with artificial evolution experiments recently.

More on that shortly.

One of my favorite robot movies harkens back to the silent film era. If you have a few minutes watch…

METROPOLIS
In the future city of Metropolis, people are divided into exalted thinkers and downtrodden workers, and a robot disguised as a woman causes sexually charged mischief. Fritz Lang's masterpiece (1927) was the most expensive silent movie ever made.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Researchers have demonstrated a sort of rudimentary artificial evolution: a robot that creates generations of smaller "baby" robots, evaluates them and selects the best to "live" on — just like Mother Nature.

Check this video out

“The study was led by Fumiya Iida at the University of Cambridge.

A "mother robot" assembled smaller robots by gluing together pieces, some of which were equipped with motors, in various configurations.

It then observed how quickly the resulting "children" could move, and then kept the designs of the fastest ones and disassembled the rest.

It then included this information when creating a new "generation" — either mutating the successful designs or integrating them into less successful ones.” (Source)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Sing along with ‘It’s My Party and I’ll Whine If I Want To’

Good Day World!

Are you ready to sing along with the latest big hit in political tunes?

“It’s My Party and I’ll Whine if I Want To” (to the tune of It’s My Party by Leslie Gore) is currently the number one hit on the Political PlayBill Chart.

The source for this tune came from Donald Trump in a recent NBC interview where he declared;

“I do whine because I want to win and I’m not happy about not winning. And I am a whiner and I keep whining and whining until I win.”

Okay then -with apologies to Leslie Gore’s classic - here’s how the new song goes:

It's my GOP Party, and I'll whine if I want to
Whine if I want to, whine if I want to
You would whine too if everyone was after you!

Nobody knows how to solve immigration
But me
So quit calling me a racist
When I’m telling you how things should be

It's my GOP Party, and I'll whine if I want to
Whine if I want to, whine if I want to
You would whine too if people picked on you!

Watch all the re-runs of my TV show all night
But leave me alone for a while
while I dance with extremists
And I sport a smile

It's my party, and I'll whine if I want to
whine if I want to, whine if I want to

Oh, Jeb and Hillary just walked through the door
Like a queen with her King
Oh what a campaign surprise
Hillary’s wearin' his ring!

It's my party, and I'll whine if I want to
whine if I want to, whine if I want to…

                                                                         ****

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

You Aren’t Going to Like This: Air Traffic Controller Study Suppressed

Good Day World!

It’s never good when a government entity hides something from the public.

It’s even worse when public safety is at risk.

If you’re a frequent flyer who thinks air traffic controllers’ are always alert and rested, you may want to sit down for a moment.

(Illustration source)

Nearly four years ago, Federal Aviation Administration officials knew there was a problem – air traffic controllers’ schedules were causing chronic fatigue. That meant they knew most workers were less than alert.

The suppressed study found that nearly 2 in 10 controllers had committed significant errors in the previous year — such as bringing planes too close together — and over half attributed the errors to fatigue.

So why have Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials been so secretive about this study that was produced by NASA at the FAA's request?

You’d think it was in everyone’s best interest to keep the national air traffic system safe. But in spite of repeated requests and a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press, the FAA stonewalled them.

FAA officials also refused to share the report with researchers from the National Academies, which advises Congress on science issues.

However, the AP was finally able to obtain a draft of the final report dated Dec. 1, 2011.

WHAT PROMPTED THE STUDY?

The impetus for the study was a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board to the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to revise controller schedules to provide rest periods that are long enough "to obtain sufficient restorative sleep."

The study was completed several months after a series of incidents involving controllers falling asleep on the job embarrassed FAA officials and led to the resignation of the head of the agency's air traffic organization.

After the incidents, the FAA and the controllers' union announced several changes to address fatigue, including requirements that there be at least two controllers on duty after midnight and that controllers be provided at least nine hours between shifts to rest.

But the transportation safety board told the FAA in 2013: "We are concerned that, given the realities of the time required for an employee to commute home and back to work, and to attend to personal and family needs, a nine-hour break may not allow enough time for an employee to obtain eight continuous hours of sleep." (Source)

So far, nothings changed. There’s a lot of talking going on, but no action. Meanwhile somewhere in an airport near you there’s an air-traffic controller struggling to stay awake!

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Monday, August 10, 2015

Bullying Others Doesn’t Lend Credibility to “Black Lives Matter” Activists

  Good Day World!

African-Americans have a good reason to be upset with policing practices that marginalize them.

(Photo -Mara Willaford, Black Lives Matter activist, disrupts Social Security Works Coalition's celebration of entitlement services, where Bernie Sanders was scheduled to speak. ALEX GARLAND)

But that shouldn’t mean acting like rude asses to get their message out to the public.

Black activists have a forum in the mainstream media and social media. They can apply for permits to march and protest their plight in any state, or city.

Some protestors – in particular “Black Lives Matter” activists – however, are going too far with their methods of getting their message out.

For example:  

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders had to leave a campaign event in Seattle without giving his speech Saturday after "black lives matter" activists took over the podium.

Two black women walked up and literally pushed the presidential candidate aside, shredding any pretense of being civil.

They approached the podium just as Sanders began addressing the crowd of several thousand, and demanded the microphone. Sanders stepped aside, and one woman got into an argument with an organizer, shouting "We are angry!"

After she got the microphone, the crowd booed. They didn’t come to hear a protest, they came to listen to a man who was running for president and to see what he stands for.

It was the second time in a month that “black lives” activists protested racial inequality by interrupting an event. On July 18, "black lives matter" demonstrators entered a Netroots Nation forum and took over that program.

But these activists felt that their message was the only one that mattered. By rudely taking over a public forum they overstepped the bounds of decency. Sander’s should have been able to speak without being intimidated.

It’s called Free Speech. 

If “black lives matter” activists want to get their message out to a receptive audience they need to respect others, and to stop bullying people who are only exercising their First Amendment rights.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Sunday, August 9, 2015

‘Lone wolves’ are stalking our judicial system

Good Day World!

No man-made judicial system is perfect.

The United States boasts about it’s justice system with 12 jurors ultimately deciding a person’s fate.

But let’s be clear on one thing; the system can be gamed.

(Illustration source) 

Instead of talking about all the ways lawyers can subvert justice through technicalities, I’m just going to center on ONE WAY our judicial system can be sabotaged.

First, this recent story:

“The jury deciding whether Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes should be sentenced to death ended deliberations Friday after it became apparent one juror would not budge from her opposition to a death sentence, a juror told reporters.

Because the jury could not reach a unanimous decision, Holmes will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for opening fire during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" on July 20, 2012, killing 12 people and wounding 70 others.” (Source)

If you haven’t already guessed where I’m going with this, it’s simple: one person can prevent justice by ignoring facts because they don’t believe in something – like the death penalty.

Yes, potential jurors are vetted by the prosecution, and the defense. But, if that person choses to lie about their real feelings about a certain subject - like their beliefs regarding the death penalty, they can.

In that case, the trial is over before it begins. One person is all it takes to disrupt justice. That same person could have other reasons to lie, like concealing their connection to the accused (friendship or a bribe to lie) in order to obtain a mistrial.

Today, you often hear the term “lone wolf.” It’s usually in reference to a terrorist activity. I’m suggesting that “lone wolves” are also stalking our justice system.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

 

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Not Quite ‘Beam Me Up Scotty’ Science But Still Sick

                                        Good Day World!

How 21st century.

It looks like a skateboard mimicking a laptop computer on steroids, and it can transport you up to seven miles on a single charge.

Pretty cool huh?

Speaking of transporting…here’s a vintage moment:

"Beam me up, Scotty" is a catchphrase that made its way into popular culture from the science fiction television series Star Trek. It comes from the command Captain Kirk gives his chief engineer, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, when he needs to be transported back to the Starship Enterprise. (Source)

BACK IN THE REAL WORLD

Japanese designers at Cocoa Motors, have created WalkCar, a tiny motorized transporter (Photo on top of page), small enough to fit in a bag, so that you can take it wherever you go.

To operate it, you just lean your body toward your destination and it moves with you, similar to a Segway. (Source) To see it in action, watch this video.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Friday, August 7, 2015

Oops! That was a mistake!

                                   Good Day World!

Mistakes - we all make them.

They range from being embarrassing, to downright deadly.

Walking down the information highway today, I discovered three good examples regarding how mistakes can affect our lives.

Let’s start of with this story:

An Arizona bounty hunter was booked after he and his team mistakenly raided the home of the Phoenix police chief while looking for a fugitive, authorities said.

(Photo-Brent Farley/Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)

Brent Farley, owner of NorthStar Fugitive Recovery in Mesa, along with members of his team and those from Colorado-based Delta One Tactical Recovery surrounded Chief Joseph Yahner's home late Tuesday night, police said.

Farley was charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Can you imagine how pissed off that police chief was? They woke him up in the middle of the night pounding on his door and shouting curses. He answered the door in his underwear and a police baton.

I’m betting Farley vets the next case a little more carefully.

-------------------------------------------

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently launched a website to attract female fans (Red) but I think it’s a big mistake.

You be the judge:

The team’s website has a feature on the “Red Women’s Movement” th01102da90eb68a718688e686ac79b920at the Bucs hope will change the way football is enjoyed by women.

(Photo - Getty Pictures)

This program’s kickoff party includes a few reasonable and non-insulting things such as an “Insider’s Talk” with General Manager Jason Licht, and some appearances by former Buccaneers.

But it quickly devolves into: “…gameday style tips from local area experts, and even a RED Lifestyle Lounge session to educate attendees on the art of incorporating their passion for the Bucs into their other lifestyle interests such as tailgating and home entertaining.”

So, in case you’re one of the female of the species in greater Tampa, who is looking for the right blend of Warren Sapp with a parrot on his shoulder and Martha Stewart for her home, they’ve got you covered.

They’re also here to help the ladies with technical football concepts like the “play clock,” since girls can’t possibly understand such subtle nuances of the game.

-----------------------------------------

Deaths by medical mistakes hit records

More than a 1,000 people die each day from a medical mistake.

It's a chilling reality – one often overlooked in annual mortality statistics: Preventable medical errors persist as the No. 3 killer in the U.S. – third only to heart disease and cancer – claiming the lives of some 400,000 people each year.

It's not just the 1,000 deaths per day that should be huge cause for alarm, there's also the 10,000 seriously complicated cases resulting from medical errors that occur each day. 

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Why Americans Will Proudly Continue to Lead the World in Gun Deaths

Good Day World!

No matter what sources you want to tout there’s no doubt that the USA leads the world in gun deaths.

You know why? We love guns.

Excerpt from Happiness is a Warm Gun by The Beatles

“Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun.
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
When I hold you in my arms
And I feel my finger on your trigger
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because happiness is a warm gun.
Happiness is a warm gun
Yes it is.
Happiness is a warm, yes it is, gun.
Well, don’t you know that happiness is a warm gun, mama.”

But guns aren’t really cuddly. The USA sets the standard for the planet when it comes to mass killings on a regular basis. We’re putting little third world countries to shame when it comes to slaughtering our own on a monthly basis!

Beyond the fact that we love our guns, here’s some more answers to a few questions you might have about guns and mass shootings, including:

How common are mass shootings in this country?
How many people own guns?
Are mass shootings becoming more common?
When were deadliest shootings in U.S. history?
Is the United States an especially violent place, compared to other countries?
Where is violence most common in America?
Is the number of guns related to the number of homicides?
Is gun control?
Is there public support for gun control?
What about for particular gun control policies?
How do mass shootings affect public opinion on this issue?

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

They really didn’t do that….did they?

                                                Good Day World!

Barnum and Bailey would be proud.

The 2016 presidential election is already a 3-ring circus despite being over a year away.

We’ve got a ringmaster, Donald Trump, setting his GOP opponents on fire with his hair-blazing comments. In response, his opponents have been jumping through hoops to get their moment on center stage.

What a show. You won’t believe some of the antics thus far. As a matter of fact your first response will probably be, “They really didn’t do that…did they?”

Ted Cruz Making Bacon

In a minute-long video released Monday, the 44-year-old senator from Texas, decided not to address political issues.

"There are few things I enjoy more than, on weekends, cooking breakfast with the family. Of course in Texas, we cook bacon a little differently than most folks," he said over music that could have been from the opening of an action film.

The video then shows the conservative candidate wrapping a slice of bacon around the barrel of an assault rifle and covering it in aluminum foil before emptying two magazines in a barrage of shots fired at an indoor target.

"There's grease coming down," Cruz declares, satisfied that the gun has gotten hot enough to cook the bacon.

Rand Paul’s Chainsaw Attack

Sen. Rand Paul took a chainsaw to the tax code, literally. But even a slickly produced campaign video couldn’t cut through the frenzy over Donald Trump.

The Kentucky Republican released an edgy video Tuesday called “How would you kill the tax code?” Sporting a black “Detroit Republican” T-shirt, Paul talks about creating a one-page tax form with a 14.5% flat tax and destroying “all 70,000 pages” of the U.S. tax code.

Then, for dramatic effect, he sets stacks of paper on fire, shoves them in a wood-chipper and takes a chainsaw to them, while an electric guitar squeals the national anthem.

Lindsey Graham Clobbers Cell Phone

Graham is trolling Trump in a video for IJReview, a conservative news site.

Using fire, a toaster oven, a golf club, a cleaver, and other fun but totally unnecessary methods, he destroys a bunch of flip phones—and one unfortunate blender.

"Or if all else fails, you can always give your number to The Donald," Graham says in closing, before hurling one last phone off screen "for the veterans," a dig at Trump's attack on Sen. John McCain's time as prisoner of war.

Three examples are enough for now. If you’d like to add one, please let me know. I have a hunch there’s a whole slew of ridiculous stunts upcoming before this election is over.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

It's Time to Pay Up Donnie!

It's looks like there will be some prime real estate going on the market soon in New York City. Convicted rapist and former president ...