Whatever happened to the mile-long Freedom Ship?

From ALL VIEWS web site...
By Dave Stancliff
It would make the Queen Elizabeth II look like a peanut shell bobbing in the ocean. It was to be a floating city with condominium housing for 50,000 people. Projected to be a mile long, with an airstrip to accommodate turboprop aircraft, it would have a duty-free and rapid transit.
What would have been the largest unconventional ship (more like a series of linked barges) in the world, the Freedom Ship, is still confined to blueprints, blustering, and the hovering specter of lawsuits.

Read the rest of this story here.

Pirate Bay Trial Spurs New Web Site to Protest the Ruling

From ars technica this morning...

"Pirate Google" sets sail to show copyright hypocrisy

The Pirate Bay defendants wanted to know why they were being prosecuted while Google was not, even though Google also indexes .torrent files. A new site called "Pirate Google" tries to make the same point; we speak with the site's anonymous creator.

By Nate Anderson  April 29, 2009

The Pirate Bay trial saw the defendants trot out "the Google defense" on multiple occasions: Google indexes .torrent files, so what's wrong with our doing it? That point didn't sway the judge, who saw a world of difference between what the two sites did, but it did resonate with at least one Internet coder, who last week rolled out The Pirate Google.

Read the rest of the story here.

I talked about this story back in March 2009 in:

Avast Mate! There's pirates on the high seas, the web, and Wall Street.

Will everyone cool off so we can talk about climate warming?

Last Sunday's As It Stands column - EPA validates global warming threat, but don't expect change soon - has fired up many readers and inspired others.

I learned one thing about the negative responses; they nearly all (99%) had a common denominator; Al Gore. His name is like waving a red flag in front of a bull to Conservatives.

They centered their criticism of the column around my mention of Al Gore. The mere mention of his name resulted in polarization. The rest of my message was lost on them as they lashed out like startled snakes!

Using the term "global warming" seems to polarizes people. Some come back with facts of their own, based upon their research. Those are the ones I like. Others go off in triads that aren't even worth reading.

When I make the mistake of responding to some remarks on the Times-Standard Topix Forum, trolls go on holiday and hang around the thread making hateful and stupid statements.

I think it's one of the only Online topic forums that I've read where so many trolls dwell daily. Sometimes I appeal for mutual respect, but that just makes the trolls bolder. I wish they had the guts to use their real names. Trolls are bored web bottom-feeders.

In an interesting email message, David Walker warned me that "I was being taken for a ride by Al Gore." My email response to him was, I thought I made a miscalculation using Al Gore's name because it polarized so many readers, and for using the term "global warming." Walker was one of many who pointed out how much money Gore is making, and that he believes Gore is a phony. I have no problem with people who feel this way, but I wish they would calm down and watch their blood pressure. No one's name (and that includes ex-president Bush) should have so much power over a person that they loose the senses!

I noticed on the forwarded email addresses that Walker sent my column to Senator Fran Pavely (Senate District 23) with a wry comment (before going off about Al Gore) "I wish I had what Dave was smoking!" Walker also forwarded Sen. Pavely this May 25, 2004 Associated Press article by Don Thompson, Fire and water drive western growth, prompt warming conference Pavely describes herself on her web site as an Environmental Crusader.

More links provided were, The Union Tribune Online edition "Reader comments section"

http://www.marinij.com/opinion/ci_11608523 which led to the full article

LAO confirms fraudulence of claims AB 32 is benign

which ran in the Marin Independent Journal's Online edition.

I've always been aware of the power of words. Most writers are.

I guess I didn't realize how politically charged Al Gore's name really is. I've seen him called every name in the book in the last few days. But I also read that many people believed in what he was doing. In this case some readers could only focus on his name. I don't believe they took the column as a whole. The moment they saw Gore's name it was over and the blinders descended.

I'm really considering not using the term "global warming" anymore because it's too politically charged. I don't want to lose readers who freeze up when they see it. Climate warming might not be a bad idea. If you have any thoughts on terms that would be less polarizing feel free to make a comment below.

As It Stands,Labels can be divisive. I have a column coming down the pipe on that subject soon.

Scott seemed to savor being propelled into space suddenly!

 

Image via asset.soup.io

Lakers wrap up Round One and eliminate a tough Jazz team

  Like a cat teasing it's prey, the Lakers let the Jazz back into the game in the fourth quarter, then pounced and put their opponent down.

  The final score was 107-96 Lakers. Now they get to sit back, after closing out the 1st round of the playoffs 4-1, and wait for the winner of the Portland vs Houston series. Houston leads 3-1.

  There's no doubt in my mind that Andrew Bynum isn't ready to play yet. He's looked horrible in the first round. Fortunately, other Lakers are stepping up for the playoffs.

  Lamar Odom has been a monster and finished last nights game with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Kobe...well he was Kobe with 31 points, and a lot of acrobatic moves. It doesn't look good for Walton however.

  Team doctors say he has a partly torn ligament in his ankle. It's too bad because he was playing tough and smart ball. Ariza looked like his usual hustling self after a poor game four.

  It was a hard fought series that got chippy at times. In a rare ejection for him, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, had to head for the locker room during the final two minutes of play. The Jazz proved to be a rough and tumble opponent.  

Photo by Wally Skalij/LA Times

Living On The Edge: Thrill Seekers in the Animal Kingdom

 

  

Top Photos and Bottom left via Amazing Animals  Bottom right Photo via  crazyphotos.com

Debtor Prisons in the 21st Century USA: Did you know that Americans can be locked up because they can't afford to pay court fines?

GUILTY OF BEING POOR           

By Eric Ruder

The jailers of the 19th century — even in the pre-Civil War South — largely abandoned the practice of imprisoning people for falling into debt as counterproductive and ultimately barbaric. In the 1970s and ’80s, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that incarcerating people who can’t pay fines because of poverty violates the U.S. Constitution.

Apparently, though, some states and county jails never got the memo. Welcome to the debtors’ prisons of the 21st century. Click here to read the rest of the article.

image via loomisnews.wordpress.com/

Monday Madness: The start of a work week depresses many Americans

GOOD MORNING HUMBOLDT COUNTY!

Do Mondays depress you? Or, is it just another work day with no significance?

Let me know what your Monday's are like. Meanwhile, feel free to look over the links provided here on the subject.

Click here to read The Times of India newspaper article titled: Battling the onset of Monday Depression.

Click here to read one blogger's opinion, Christine Stapleton's: Monday, Monotony and Depression.

Click here to read another blogger's, Phil Monroe, thoughts: Anecdotal Science Monday: Anxiety-Depression-Anger

image via stumble

America's grudging recognition of global warming isn't going to bring changes soon enough for some....

I discuss global warming and the EPA's admission that it is a real threat to Americans today - 4/26 -

in the Times-Standard.

Are we too late to reverse the deadly trends that have polluted the earth?

After all of our governments nice talk about recognizing global warming is industry going to make any meaningful environmental changes soon?

image via stumble

"Now you know why they call it 'fast food' Larry told Leo during a power lunch the other day...

Image via Stumble

How smart is this cat? He's just inches from becoming bird food!

Clarence thought that his lucky day had arrived, as he stealthy approached the biggest birdie he had ever seen! Little did he know that he was about to use up eight of his nine lives!

Photo via I'm am bored

History shows there's hope for struggling newspapers today!

From the ALL VIEWS web site  today:

By Dave Stancliff
My first job as an editor of a weekly newspaper, The Desert Trail in Twentynine Palms, gave me the opportunity to meet Bill Underhill, an old-time newspaper publisher, and one of the first homesteaders in the area in1928.

Bill Underhill established The Desert Trail in 1935 and sold it many years later when he retired. It’s now owned by Brehm Communications, Inc. Bill still lived in Twentynine Palms when I arrived in 1981.

I got to talk with him and his wonderful wife Prudie, who was still very active in the community, many times.
Their mom-and-pop business thrived for so many years that they became a rich part of the town’s history. Read the rest here.

image via Getty Images

Signs of the Times? Homeland Security preparations parodied

•      
• Left - If you are trapped under falling debris, conserve oxygen by not farting. Middle - If your intended destination is suddenly vaporized, consider pulling over and watching the cool light show. Right - If your building collapses, climb under your table and practice yoga postures.
• To see more signs go to this parody site

Step right up and scope out Scott Wade's Dirty Car Art Gallery!

   TITLE: American Gothic

 DESCRIPTION: A little Grant Wood action. American   Gothic has always been one of my favorite paintings, but I was surprised at how much is in the painting I hadn't noticed. Nothing like trying to copy a master's work to reveal its subtleties.

 CREDITS: Scott Wade

 Click here to visit Scott's site that displays a whole lot more of his fantastic dirty car art. Be prepared to be impressed.

Marijuana: The herb that keeps on giving....

SexPot: Want to Have Great Sex? Smoke a Joint

By Josey Vogels, My Messy Bedroom. Posted April 18, 2009.

Marijuana has been used as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years.

So what exactly is it about weed that turns people on?

 Click here to see article in AlterNet.

Here are some weird laws that are on the books in Ohio...

In Akron - It is illegal to display colored chickens for sale.

I think you'll find the following laundry list of weird laws in Ohio interesting.

Here they are at Weird Facts          Photo via Smashz's Photostream

Perry had a creepy feeling that someone was watching him!

photo via stumble

Reality TV: When do producers go too far for good ratings?

This is my first article with ALL VIEWS online publication. I hope you enjoy it.

STEP RIGHT UP FOLKS AND MAKE FOOLS OF YOURSELVES!

By Dave Stancliff
Popular reality shows on television are about as real as the tooth fairy.

I hope this doesn’t come as too harsh a shock to hardcore fans seeking escape from their own reality. It’s just an uneasy fact.

Read the whole column here

Blogger Blather: A few notes and some surprises this morning...

I was surprised to see my column from last September (14th) Judge says Feds violated 10th Amendment by subverting State Marijuana Laws - on the Times-Standard 10 Most Read list this morning (#3 at 9 a.m.)

Last year this column was the Most Read Online story. It went viral instantly.

To see this same column pop up again today tells me there's currently a blog, or blogs, that are featuring the column. Like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going and going.

I'd like to thank my most recent Follower, Ginabobina, for picking this blog to read.

I also was surprised to see national Opinion columnist and chief mergers and acquisitions reporter for The New York Times, Andrew Ross Sorkin, is following my blog via Twitter. I got an email this morning to that effect. Now,I just have to figure out what this Twitter stuff is all about. My ignorance is boundless, when it comes to new technology! 

Image via www.tenthamendment.com

KUDO FOR THE DAY: there's a good opinion piece by James Faulk in today's Times-Standard on Page A-4 A Day Without Reporters - that talks about the importance of newspapers and reporters in our society. I've been working on a column about newspapers, and how they are going to survive in today's fierce media competition, so I read Faulk's column with great interest. His points about reporters in the trenches is right-on. For those of you who enjoy attacking newspapers and reporters, I suggest you read this article. You might have a change of mind. If not, you'll at least be aware of a reality in the reporting world of newspapers, blogs, television, and radio.

HOW POPULAR IS MY COLUMN - As It Stands - IN THE T-S THIS YEAR? LAST YEAR? LAST MONTH? WHAT'S HOT? WHAT'S CONTROVERSIAL? TOP SCORING? Click here to get the answers from the Times-Standard's own files.

ONE FINAL NOTE: I got this email a little while ago, and it just seems to be the theme of the day for me:

Hi ,
I came across your blog  at Blogger.com. It is very well written and interesting. I like how you have explored the topic. If you are interested, I would like to extend an invitation to join All Voices. It's a citizen journalist site. We discuss, debate and write about everything under the sun here.The site has a lot of people who are passionate about writing and use this as a tool to make a difference.
All Voices also has an incentive program for writers who can earn up to $10,000 cash. You can visit http://www.allvoices.com/journalism for more details and do register if you are interested.
Thanks,
Tara

Children and Video Games: Experts look at possibility of addiction!

I've watched my grandchildren play with video games and have been amazed at their dexterity and comprehension of the games intricacies.

This morning I ran across an article on the subject that I'm going to share with you.

From the Washington Post:

Video-game addiction a real problem, study finds

By Donna St. George | The Washington Post

April 21, 2009

"A new study concludes that children can become addicted to playing video games, with some youths skimping on homework, lying about how much they play and struggling, without success, when they try to cut back.
In what is described as the first nationally representative study in the U.S. on the subject, researcher Douglas Gentile of Iowa State University found that 8.5 percent of American youths ages 8 to 18 who play video games show multiple signs of behavioral addiction.
"For some kids, they play in such a way that it becomes out of balance. And they're damaging other areas of their lives, and it isn't just one area, it's many areas," said Gentile, a psychologist and assistant professor whose study was posted online Monday by the journal Psychological Science."

Read the whole story here.

photo via Tim Boyle / Getty Images